Chapter 19: Chapter Nineteen

Caroline Ryder

Trip and I were huddled together, our fur mingling as we lay low in the underbrush. His low growl vibrated against my side, and I nudged him gently with my tail. His growl faded, and he pressed his shoulder against mine in silent gratitude.

We were hidden behind a dense thicket of bushes and low-hanging branches, watching a trio of humans clumsily navigate our territory.

I had to suppress a snarl as I watched them trample through our woods.

“…Moray sent us to this goddamn mountain,” one of them grumbled.

“Quiet down. The mutts can hear from miles away,” another warned.

“Well, I can shoot from miles away,” the third boasted, hoisting his rifle and peering through the scope as he slowly turned.

Fear spiked within me. Beside me, Trip pressed closer, his body sinking lower to the ground. I looked into his eyes and saw my own panic mirrored there.

He was right. This intrusion was an act of war.

“Just our luck that a pack of mutts moves in next door during the war,” the third man continued, still scanning the area through his rifle’s scope. “As if I didn’t shoot enough back then.”

“You’re going to get us caught,” the second man snapped. “Didn’t you hear those screams earlier? They know we’re here and Randy…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

The third man shrugged. “So what? I hope they find us. I’ve got a full clip I’d love to unload—”

“What a dumb mission,” the first man complained. “We’re so fucking unprepared.”

The men continued to argue as they trudged through our forest, their loud voices making it easy for us to trail them from a safe distance.

But the longer we followed, the more agitated Trip became, small growls escaping from between his clenched teeth.

I tried to stay calm, but my mind kept drifting back to the recent war.

I couldn’t shake the fear that my father and Mick hadn’t made it in time. That my mother had been left to fend off armed humans on her own.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that we hadn’t heard any gunshots yet.

“I just want to get one,” the third man said, his grip tightening on his rifle. “Just one.”

The second man rolled his shoulders. “We all want justice for what’s been happening.”

The third man shook his head. “Moray talks big, but he hasn’t delivered any results.

“The wolves have been coming to our mountain, and he’s done nothing. Let them in, even. And what happened at the hunting shop? That’s messed up.”

The first man nodded. “These mutts are insane. I heard that guy got his throat slashed.”

“Probably did it with their claws,” the third man said, adjusting his gun on his shoulder. “Probably couldn’t control the wild animal inside and just attacked.”

The second man was jittery. “We shouldn’t be talking about this—”

“Scared the wolves will take it personally?” the third man taunted. “We’re already on their mountain. They’re as pissed as they’re gonna get.”

Trip paused beside me, tilting his head as he listened. I heard it too: the faint sound of approaching paws. The humans heard it a few moments later, when the wolves were closer.

Trip nudged me to the side, signaling for me to run, as he rose to his full height.

The humans turned towards the sound, adjusting their gear and raising their weapons.

My heart pounded as the wolves drew closer. I suspected they were young enforcers, eager to prove themselves.

Trip was now fully exposed. I whined and nipped at his paws, but he only flattened his ears against his head and stepped forward, revealing half of his body to the humans.

The first man turned around, his eyes widening in shock as Trip snarled. “Holy fu—”

Trip lunged just as the other wolves burst through the trees, creating enough of a distraction that the other two humans couldn’t get a clear shot.

The three humans went down as Trip and the enforcers attacked. The air filled with the sounds of growls and grunts.

I paced anxiously as I watched the fight. I snapped my teeth when Trip yelped as the third man jabbed his rifle into Trip’s side.

Trip dodged his opponent, and the third man staggered, his leg bleeding and buckling.

Trip snarled.

“Fucking mutt,” the third man grunted, spitting on the ground beside him.

Trip had already disarmed him; the rifle lay discarded to the side. Instead, the third man reached for his belt and pulled out a long, curved hunting knife.

I growled and moved forward, and the man’s eyes widened at the sight of another wolf.

Trip snapped at me and tried to shield me, but I darted forward, determined to protect him just as he would protect me.

“Cute,” the man sneered. “A pair of mutts willing to die for each other.”

I bared my teeth and snarled.

The man didn’t flinch. He was clearly a war veteran, and he flipped his knife in his hand and laughed.

I lunged, aiming for his injured leg. He managed to pull back in time, and my teeth only grazed his jeans before I was forced to retreat from a swing of his knife.

“You’re not as good as your friend,” he laughed.

I growled again, flattening my ears and tail as I let my hackles rise. I flexed my paws, my sharp claws digging into the earth beneath me.

I felt my back legs tense as I prepared to lunge again, but Trip was already leaping over me, his powerful jaws clamping down on the man’s wrist.

Trip yelped as the tip of the knife embedded itself in his shoulder. I whined and joined the fray, helping Trip pin down the unruly man as he cursed and struggled.

The enforcers had an easier time with their opponents; they quickly subdued the two humans, who were trembling with fear.

The third man, however, refused to accept defeat. He yelled and thrashed, ignoring the warning growls and superficial bites we inflicted.

“Fuck you!” he screamed. “You guys are monsters for what you’ve done to us!”

Trip’s growl echoed in the quiet as he pressed his heavy paw onto the man’s chest, his claws just grazing the man’s skin.

I whimpered softly, my tongue darting out to lick at his bleeding shoulder. He growled again, but softer this time, brushing off the injury as if it were nothing.

Suddenly, three gunshots rang out, sending my mind into a whirlwind of panic.

My heart pounded against my ribs as I frantically scanned the area, trying to figure out where the shots had come from. Definitely from the south.

Trip nudged me once, and then I was off, running as fast as I could. I kept my head low as I sprinted, using every ounce of strength and stamina I had to propel myself through the trees.

The ground thudded under my paws and debris flew up behind me as I tore through the earth with each stride.

I skidded to a stop outside my house, the uneasy feeling in the air making the fur on my back stand on end. I circled the perimeter slowly, my eyes scanning the house and the surrounding forest.

I shifted back into my human form and darted into the back of my house, heading straight for my room. I quickly pulled on some clothes and then tiptoed into the hallway. “Mom?” I called out, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Kitchen,” a voice called back.

I froze.

That voice wasn’t my mother’s.

It was Moray.

I clenched my hands into fists as I walked down the hallway, trying to keep my steps steady and even.

Sure enough, Moray was in my kitchen, leaning casually against the counter with a gun resting in front of him.

He had helped himself to some of my mother’s lemonade and was idly playing with the rim of the glass with one gloved hand. “Welcome,” he greeted me, a charming smile playing on his lips.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my teeth gritted.

Moray held up a hand. “Don’t overreact, Caroline,” he said calmly. “I came after your father and brother took your mother to the pack house. Your family is safe. I made sure of it.”

I bristled at his words. “Why?”

Moray took a small sip of his drink. “This is a recon mission, Luna. We’re not here to harm anyone. I just wanted to see what your pack’s defenses were like for when we launch a real attack.”

I growled at him. “That would be a mistake.”

Moray just smiled. “What a cozy home you have,” he said, looking around. “Comfortable.”

“Get out.”

He took another sip of his lemonade, clearly enjoying the power he had over me. “You have a strong spirit, Caroline. I can see why Trip chose you to replace his deceased mate.”

I recoiled at his words. “How the hell do you know—?”

Moray cut me off with a smile. “I know a lot,” he boasted. “And I hope to learn more about you.” I held my breath as he placed his hand on the gun.

“I want to know just how much our alpha cares for his new bitch. How far will he go to protect you, I wonder?”

“You’ll never find out,” I hissed.

Moray picked up the gun and pointed it at my chest. He moved faster than I thought he could in his suit.

It reminded me of our last visit to Mt. Oaks when he had slit that poor man’s throat.

“There are other things I wonder about,” he mused. “Things about your kind I don’t quite understand.

“Did you know the founder of the Sun Warriors was a werewolf? Ironic, isn’t it? She helped the organization study werewolves. We used to conduct tests.”

I remembered those horrors from when I was young. How the rejected mate of the alpha of the White Wolves was responsible for starting the crazed Sun Warriors.

How, a few years before the war started, wolves had been going missing in the West. How Vex had promised us it would never happen in the East.

Moray lowered the gun slightly. “Then Stan Freeman became the new face, exposed wolves to the rest of humanity, and the Sun Warriors abandoned study for violence.

“What happened to the Sydneys of the world? To the Harry Bays?”

Moray shook his head and finished off the rest of his lemonade. “There are so many things I want to know, Caroline.

“For instance,” he said, clicking the safety off the gun, “how many bullets can I put in your body before you die?”

I tensed.

He laughed. “How much pain can your kind endure? What kinds of injuries will you heal from and which are fatal? Does a blow to the head kill you? What about to the heart?

“How fast do your wounds close? How much do you bleed?”

“Kill us if you must but don’t experiment on us like we’re—”

Moray didn’t let me finish. “I want to know these things, Caroline. I want to understand. I’ve never been one for pointless killing, you see. Not when you can kill two birds with one stone.”

I forced myself to calm down, to stop my hands from shaking. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you answer those questions.”

Moray grinned. “You can,” he said, lifting the gun again. “You can help me understand the wonders of your anatomy while testing how far Trip will bend to my will.

“Who knows, Caroline? Together, we could discover exactly how much pain wolves can endure while forcing Trip to relocate his pack off this mountain. Wouldn’t that be splendid?”

“Do your constituents know about the things you wonder?” I asked. “Do they know how curious you are about my kind?”

Moray waved a gloved hand dismissively. “They wouldn’t understand. Small thinkers.”

“I’m also curious,” I said slowly. “I can’t help but wonder if the unrest on Mt. Oaks would cease if you were to vanish.” I gave him a sick smile. “You could help me figure that one out.”

The mayor frowned. “Caroline,” he chided, “you must know that I am not the one to incite bloodlust among the citizens. They’re only upset because your kind has been killing—”

“The war is over,” I stated firmly.

“So, why did one of our residents find a mauled body in the valley between our mountains?” Moray snapped, sounding angry for the first time. “Attacked by a wolf, there is no doubt.

“Your alpha likes to talk about acts of war. Isn’t slaughtering my citizens an act of war?”

“What?” I repeated, almost dazed. “That’s impossible.”

“What about all the times wolves wander into our town, threatening my citizens? Scaring them into locking themselves in their homes until you’ve had your fun and leave.”

I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the wolves your alpha has been sending to Mt. Oaks for years. The wolves that have been terrorizing my people.

“They’re the reason I got elected. The reason Mt. Oaks decided to revolt.”

“No, that can’t be right.” I shook my head, trying to clear it. “Trip hasn’t been alpha for that long. He’s only just returned, so—”

Moray pointed the gun at me again. “Sorry, Caroline, but we can’t keep talking. Time is running out. I’m sure your wolves will have found most of my scouts by now.”

I showed him my teeth. “Trip gave the order to kill.”

“So did I,” he said, his voice flat.

A shiver ran down my spine. “Go back to Mt. Oaks before I have to do something I can’t take back.” I knew it was an empty threat as soon as Moray stepped closer with that loaded gun.

He knew it too. “Time to come with me, Luna. I’d prefer you walked but I can drag you too.”

“You’ll be dragging a dead body,” I spat. “That’s the only way I’d come with you.”

“I’m not against the idea,” Moray growled, “but I’d rather take you alive.”

We stared each other down for a long while, then Moray grabbed my arm.

I pulled away and tried to run, but Moray grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked hard enough to make my eyes water.

The fight in me died when I felt the barrel of the gun against my temple.

“Enough, now,” he hissed. He slid his other hand down my throat, brushed my breast, and took my hand. He twisted my arm behind my back and I cried out when I felt my shoulder pop.

“Get the fuck off my sister.”

Moray jerked behind me as he turned, turning me with him. Grant stood in the door.

I felt Moray tense behind me and he adjusted his grip on the gun while keeping it pointed at my head.

“White Wolf,” he said, “welcome.”

Grant glared at him, a look that even scared me. “Let her go.”

Moray moved the gun from pointing at my head to pointing it at Grant.

“No!” I pushed back against Moray but he held tight. At least he moved the gun back to me, pressing the muzzle into the back of my neck.

“Back up, Caroline,” he whispered in my ear. “Slowly, so you don’t scare your brother.”

With all of my strength and speed, I threw my head back and into his, catching the bottom of his chin and hitting hard enough that he lowered the gun in surprise.

Grant wasted no time, somehow reaching Moray faster than I ever could.

He grabbed the mayor’s collar and threw him against the counter. “Want to know what happens to people who threaten the ones I care about?” Grant asked, his voice flat and chilling.

Moray snarled, trying to lift the gun. Grant disarmed him instantly.

“Want to see what I do to people who kill others?” Grant asked.

Moray spat at him.

With horrifying precision, Grant grabbed Moray’s hand and pinned it to the countertop before he took the heaviest thing he could find—our knife block—and crushed the bones in Moray’s hand.

The same hand that had drawn the knife along the shopkeeper’s throat.

Moray screamed, half in pain and half in utter outrage.

Grant pressed his face close to Moray’s, which was now covered in sweat. “Threaten my family, and I’ll kill you,” he promised. “Kill senselessly, and I’ll make your death meaningless.”

Moray drew in a shaky breath. I watched the muscles in his destroyed hand twitch involuntarily.

“I’m going to make you regret what you’ve done, mutt. Everyone has a weak spot. You must have a mate. I’m going to find her and—”

Grant brought the knife block down again and the resounding crunch made my stomach churn. The mayor’s glove rapidly darkened with blood.

Grant pulled back his lips to expose his teeth. His pale eyes were wide and bloodshot.

“If you find her,” he said tightly, “you would find someone far more dangerous than myself.”

Moray flinched.

I jumped as the back door flew open. Han ran into the room wearing only a pair of loose-fitting shorts. He was holding up the waistband as he looked from me to Grant to Moray.

Grant dropped the mayor, turning to Han as he noticed the frantic look on his face. “What?”

“Ryan Stellar is back,” Han said breathlessly.

I tensed.

“Who the fuck is that?” Grant spat. “What now?”

“Ryan Stellar was the acting alpha while Trip was at war,” I explained quickly. “He wasn’t exactly happy that he was demoted to beta when Trip came back.”

Grant rolled his eyes. “So, what is this guy here for?”

“Trip exiled him,” I said. “Cast him out when Ryan attacked him.”

Grant swore.

“He’s back to challenge Trip,” Han announced. “He caught Trip as he was running here after you, Caroline. You know the rules. The challenger decides when the fight takes place.”

“And it is to the death,” I murmured. It felt like my heart was turning to stone.

Han met my eye with steel. “Awfully convenient that he comes right when the humans show up, don’t you think?”

Grant swore again, and when my eyes slipped to him, I realized the same thing he had. Moray was gone.

I didn’t care. Trip’s life was now at stake. I didn’t pause for either brother as I pushed my way past Han and out of the house.

I had only one thing on my mind and that was Trip. I had to get to him. I had to be at his side. I had to be ready to intervene if necessary.

I didn’t care about the rules of a challenge. I would be exiled for interfering, made to live as a rogue, but I would do it if it saved Trip’s life.

I had lost one mate. I wouldn’t lose another.

I was so focused on Trip that I didn’t hear Han or Grant shouting after me.

I was so focused on saving my alpha that I hadn’t realized that Moray hadn’t run away. He had only relocated.

The only thing that could take my focus from Trip was the bullet that tore through my leg.