Wolf Howl (Wolf Ridge Book 2) Page 12

  “Don’t look at me like that, witch,” Natasha hissed.

  “Leave, Natasha,” Cole growled.

  “You were supposed to help me,” Natasha said with a whine.

  “I will consider things. My pack is my priority.”

  She huffed and stalked off.

  Cole put his arm around my waist and watched as Amy tentatively opened the box.

  Inside was a small vial full of golden sand, a scarab beetle, and something that looked suspiciously like a snake skin. I recoiled in horror. Everything about it made me want to leave the room. My instincts were screaming at me to get away. How long had it been under my bed? When had someone come into my sanctuary and put it there?

  A flicker of white light passed from Amy’s hand into the box. Her eyes turned glassy and an eerie smile spread across her face before the need to flee left.

  “The magic is neutralised. You should feel better soon,” she said with an odd distance.

  “Who did this? How? Why?” Cole demanded.

  Amy gave him a flat stare.

  “I’m not a seer, Alpha Loxwood. We will look into that.”

  Cole tensed and held me closer.

  “What harm did it do?” he growled.

  “It held back her guardian side. She’ll be fine now. We need to focus on the who and how,” Amy said as she closed the box.

  “It couldn’t have been Natasha, she never went near this room,” Cole said.

  My hackles rose at his need to protect her.

  “I believe it’s a kemetic witch,” Amy said.

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “One who works with the Egyptian pantheon,” Cole explained.

  Well that narrowed it down. There couldn’t have been that many around the area. We’d look into them and see who had come near the territory, who would have something against a guardian, and then make them pay.

  Garou had died because I hadn’t been able to access my guardian side. Their blood was on that witch’s head.

  43

  Once again there was a Morrigan witch knocking on our door. Cole had made us coffee and we had begun looking through the witch registrations in the area. The air was thick with tension and unanswered questions.

  I opened the door and held back a growl. The last thing I was in the mood for was more crap from the witches. The witch standing before me was familiar. Taller than me by a few inches, a mane of dark blonde hair, and a fire burning from within that gave her a fierce presence.

  “Skylar Hackett. I was there when you collected the young garou,” she said simply.

  “What did they steal this time?” I said drily.

  Confusion passed over Skylar’s face before she laughed.

  “Oh, no, I’m here on witch business. You’re the merc who’s going after the blood witches?”

  I stood a little taller and mentally prepared for a fight.

  “And?”

  “I’m here to help.”

  “Why?”

  She pursed her lips. There was clearly something there she didn’t want to discuss.

  “I believe they’re tied into an Apophis witch which I’m hunting,” she finally said.

  I ran the name Apophis through my mind trying to remember who they were.

  “He’s the dark god of the Egyptian pantheon. He embodies chaos and the great serpent,” Skylar said.

  That piqued my interest. We were looking for an Egyptian witch.

  “Come in,” I said.

  Cole looked Skylar up and down and visibly tensed, his eyes turning gold as she casually walked down into the kitchen.

  “Is there any coffee left? It smells amazing and I didn’t get any this morning.”

  Cole looked between Skylar and me. I shrugged.

  “It’s not often a Morrigan witch works like this,” Amy said pointedly.

  Skylar looked at her for the first time.

  “It’s complicated.”

  Amy tugged on my elbow and we went into the living room.

  “She’s torn between two gods. That’s not a good thing,” Amy hissed.

  I had no clue what that was supposed to mean.

  “She’s sworn to the Morrigan, but someone else is calling to her. I can’t feel who, but they’re determined.”

  That sounded really painful. I was glad that garou didn’t usually deal with the gods. Some packs formed a connection with Fenrir, but they were few and far between.

  Amy sighed.

  “Keep an eye on her. A torn witch can be a dangerous thing. The gods will be vying for her attention and tugging on her magic. She could be unreliable.”

  Nothing was ever easy or simple.

  “Thanks for the heads-up,” I said with a smile.

  Skylar was settled at the kitchen table and running her hands over the box that had been under my bed when we returned.

  “This has Apophis’ magic all over it. Where did you get it?” she asked me.

  “Under my bed,” I said as I reclaimed my usual seat.

  Cole watched the new witch with an intensity he usually reserved for prey.

  Skylar turned to fully face me.

  “This is very dark and dangerous magic.”

  “So I’ve been told.”

  “It was used to bind her guardian side,” Amy said.

  Skylar didn’t look at or acknowledge Amy.

  “How did it get there?” Skylar asked.

  “That’s what we’re trying to figure out. Only Morrigan witches have stepped foot in this house,” I said pointedly.

  Skylar chewed on her bottom lip and wrapped her hands around her cup of fresh coffee.

  “He must be using non-witches,” she said distractedly.

  That sounded as though things were getting even more complicated.

  “How would we know who he was using?” I asked.

  “They’d bear a mark,” Amy said.

  “Like a tattoo?” I asked.

  Amy rocked her hand back and forth.

  “Sort of.”

  “It’ll be small, likely a snake. It could be a piece of jewelry they never take off, though,” Skylar said.

  “You seem to know a lot about this,” Amy said.

  Skylar raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m the Morrigan’s warrior, hunting down those who break the laws is my calling.”

  “Now say it like you mean it,” Amy challenged.

  “Stay focused,” Cole growled.

  “They’ll have targeted Rosalyn because she’s a guardian. Guardians are dangerous and capable of getting in the way of nefarious plans.”

  “Did you seriously just say ‘nefarious’?” Amy asked with a laugh.

  Cole smirked but hid it by taking a sip of his coffee.

  Skylar sighed.

  “I believe the blood witches are working with the Apophis witch. I’m not sure why yet, but, if I’m right, then one or both will be targeting garou. Alpha Loxwood, specifically, is in great danger.”

  “I can look after myself,” Cole said.

  “Not against this kind of magic, you can’t,” Skylar said.

  Cole growled and Skylar held his gaze.

  The witch was growing on me.

  “I will speak to my goddess about putting some protections up on the house,” Amy said.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “So what do we do about all of this?” Cole demanded.

  “I believe I have an idea where the blood witches will perform their next sacrifice, but I was hoping that Rosalyn’s guardian instincts could confirm it for me.”

  I held back a groan. Those wonderful instincts that I hadn’t developed yet.

  “Her instincts were bound,” Amy said.

  Skylar looked down at the box.

  “Were. Now they’re not.”

  The pressure was mounting. I needed to dig those instincts out and step up into this guardian role. There were lives at stake, it was now or never.

  44

  We had moved to the living room for a little com
fort. Cole sat next to me, with Amy in front of me and Skylar watching from the comfort of an armchair.

  “Look deep inside of yourself. You are the guardian. It’s in there,” Amy said in a soothing tone that made me want to strangle her.

  I knew she was trying to help, but the calm hippie stuff was making everything worse. The guardian was in there like the wolf, but I was clueless about how to bring it out. We couldn’t afford to waste time meditating, we should have been out there kicking blood witch ass.

  After an hour of peaceful guided meditation, I was no further along than I had been at the beginning. I was just more uptight and in need of a good run in my wolf form.

  “Why don’t you and Alpha Loxwood-” Skylar started.

  “Call him Cole,” I said.

  Skylar smirked.

  “Why don’t you and Cole go for a run; Amy and I will try and pin down the location of the blood witches.”

  I hated the feeling of being sent away while the witches did the hard work, but it made sense. And I did really need to run.

  Things were weird between us as we ran in our wolf forms. Cole remained close and initiated play through small shoves and nips. I wanted to join in and relax into it, but I couldn’t get Natasha or the blood witches out of my head. We pushed ourselves to run faster until we were panting and needed to lay out on the cool earth. Cole lay behind me with his head on my shoulder. I could feel him waiting for me to say something, the almost physical pressure was squeezing my chest.

  “I need to know what’s going on with Natasha,” I said through our mind link.

  Cole sighed and gently nipped my ear.

  “There is an old tie there. I’m… obligated to help her. We are from very old bloodlines, and that makes us bound by politics and history.”

  “That doesn’t excuse her having her hands all over you,” I growled.

  He stood, leaving me feeling cold and alone.

  “It’s complicated, Rosalyn.”

  “Uncomplicate it.”

  “She can provide a real pack.”

  I felt as though he’d driven a pick through my heart. The air was driven from my lungs as the words rattled around my mind over and over. I should have known a turned wouldn’t be good enough for him.

  45

  We shifted back to our human form at the edge of the back yard. Cole took my lower arm and pushed me back against the nearest tree. I bared my teeth, snarling at him. He’d made his feelings quite clear and I’d be moving out as soon as I could. Damn him and his prejudices.

  “Rosalyn,” he said in a cool calm tone.

  That only infuriated me further. He pinned my hands back behind me before I could hit him as I’d planned.

  “Listen to me,” he said softly.

  “I’ve heard enough,” I growled.

  “I care about you.”

  “But.”

  He sighed.

  “I grew up with a pack. Wolves of my bloodline. I was surrounded by my fellow garou. That was all snatched away from me by the blood witches. Natasha can give me that again.”

  “And I can’t,” I said struggling against him.

  Small creases formed around his eyes and a delicate frown tugged at his mouth.

  “I am torn between my head and my heart,” he whispered.

  I swallowed hard as I realised the implications of his words.

  “Rosalyn, we have something! Come on, we’ll see if taking these witches down will bring out your instincts,” Skylar called.

  Cole released me before he leaned in and brushed his lips over mine.

  “My behaviour with Natasha is a means to an end. I always choose my heart,” he whispered in my ear before he stepped back.

  An explosion of butterflies formed in my stomach and I walked away feeling everything at once. Irritated that he hadn’t made things clearer sooner, excited that he did care about me, upset that once again I developing feelings for a man that refused to just be straight-forward.

  “Skylar, I’m going with you,” Cole said.

  “No. The risk is too great. And I’m ‘Sky’.”

  Cole growled.

  She rolled her eyes at him.

  “Don’t pull the big bad alpha on me. You’re their main target. Be a good boy, sit, and stay,” Sky said.

  I covered my mouth to hold back the laughter. I didn’t need to see Cole’s face to see the fury there.

  Sky refused to step foot in my old Mustang. I was deeply offended by her distrust of my poor old car. That meant I had to squeeze into her little Japanese car. Sure it was reliable, and it cornered better than my Mustang could dream of, but it was small, and the engine didn’t even think about rumbling. I was not a convert.

  The music Sky chose could use some work too. I thought of myself as reasonably open-minded, but her playlist bounced between modern country, to old classic rock, back to top of the charts pop, and around some more. I had no idea what to expect next and really missed my nice familiar music.

  “The witches are right on the edge of your territory. They might have been scoping the place out, checking for Cole’s routine and weaknesses. Have you seen any sign of that?” Sky asked.

  I crossed my arms and shot an unamused look at her. The idea that I’d have missed some shady old Aztec scoping the place out got my hackles up.

  “There haven’t been any new scents or tracks. I’m not entirely incompetent,” I growled.

  Sky shook her head.

  “So they’re likely doing it from a distance then. Do you know any witches capable of laying down wards? Amy is sweet and all, but, she’s not really the combat edition.”

  I glared at the witch. She had her moments of being cool, but as far as I was concerned Amy was pack, and I didn’t take kindly to someone being a dick about my pack.

  Sky sighed.

  “Look, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. That’s not something to be ashamed of. I won’t be as fast, strong, or able to catch scents the way you do. You’ll never handle weapons the way I do, and I’m sure Amy has some awesome skills too. So can we move past this growly wolf thing and get to the point?”

  I pushed my wolf side down and tried to focus.

  “No, I don’t know any other witches.”

  “That’s a pain, other witches don’t really deal with Morrigan witches. We’re enforcers; no one wants to be besties with a cop.”

  That made sense.

  “I’m confident this is their main base right now. We’ll go in hard and fast. Kill them before they can get a ritual or sacrifice in place and then figure out their ties to the Apophis witch.”

  I could feel myself being dragged into the Apophis witch mess.

  “How likely do you think it is that the Apophis witch will go after garou?”

  “Very.”

  I rolled my jaw and reminded myself this was what I’d signed up for. Sort of. This is what Valentin had signed me up for.

  “And they’re ridiculously dangerous?”

  Sky grinned at me.

  “The worst.”

  She was enjoying this hunt far too much.

  46

  The neat little cabin before us looked painfully innocent. The white walls were pristine with an elegant wraparound porch, and pale pink curtains framed the square windows. Soft blue flowers with large heads and silky soft petals sat in narrow flower beds, forming a corridor down towards the dark wooden door. It looked like something out of a perfect houses magazine. There wasn’t a single leaf out of place in the entire area.

  We’d parked half a mile away and hiked through the beautiful forest where the sun dappled the ground through the heavy canopy overhead. I swore even the trees were more beautiful with their golden-red bark and vibrant green leaves.

  Beneath that facade of beauty was a distinct feeling and scent of death. I had the sensation of walking over blood and bones despite the fact the ground looked clean and clear. I desperately wanted to sneeze and clear the dusty old skeleton scent from my nose. Pricking my ears, I
heard movement inside, but I only caught one set of footsteps. We were sure there were three or four witches in this little coven.

  Sky had pulled a pair of swords from somewhere. One moment she’d been wearing jeans, shirt, no sheaths or blades on show. The next, she had a pair of swords in her hands and was staring intently at the cabin.

  “I’ll go in the back door, you the front. Don’t let her touch you. Not with a blade, and certainly not with her teeth.”

  “Wait, she’s going to bite!?”

  I knew it was a bit absurd to be horrified by that given my propensity to bite as a wolf, but the feeling of horror remained.

  “Potentially. Do not let her touch your blood in any way.”

  “Got it.”

  Keep the awful blood witch away from my blood. I could do that.

  Sky continued through the woods to the back door, leaving me to cross the wide open space to the front door. The only way I was getting there without the witch seeing me was pure dumb luck. Rolling my shoulders, I allowed my wolf side forward and made a run for it. My knives were in my hands by the time I reached the porch. A shout came from within the cabin and I kicked the front door open. It seemed like a badass move at the time.

  The interior of the cabin was sparse, verging on barren, which meant less furniture to try and manoeuvre around. The floors were smooth and splattered with dark red. The smell of rotting death filled the space making me want to gag. I pushed forward through the square living area into the back of the cabin where I heard soft whispers.

  The witch had formed a circle of entrails and old congealed blood around herself. The smell was overwhelming. I did my best to breathe through my mouth and try to get a look around the room for potential complications. Sky had burst through the door and was wearing what I could only describe as her war face. Her expression was one of pure cold viciousness. She paused and narrowed her eyes at the mess surrounding the witch. The whispering began to pick up pace, and I did what I had to do.

  Knives in hand, I jumped over the bloody mess on the floor and landed in front of the startled witch. Her leathery skin was surprisingly smooth given the age shining from her eyes. Pitch black hair had been left long, tumbling down her back in a thick cascade of darkness. Her clothing was old fashioned with small bones woven into the edges of the vest thing. Blood stained the cuffs of her loose shirt and coated her bare feet.