Wolf Howl (Wolf Ridge Book 2) Read online

  “What did she want?” Cole demanded as soon as I stepped inside.

  I walked around him. I was in need of some Pop-Tarts; that was, assuming Briar hadn’t eaten them all.

  “I think I have some leads on the blood witches, and I had a nice evening with Amy. Thanks for asking,” I said sweetly.

  Cole wrapped his arm around my waist and spun me around to push me back against the wall. His face was barely an inch from mine. I felt the growl rumble in his chest before it rose up his throat. Leaning in, I took his bottom lip between my teeth and slowly bit down before his demeanor changed into something else entirely.

  “Fae are dangerous,” he whispered.

  “That’s why I told her to go and never come back,” I whispered back.

  Cole relaxed and pressed his body tighter against mine. The warmth of him washed away the last remnants of ice in my veins and quickly replaced it with fire. His hand caressed my hip as he took his time edging in closer, his breath curling across my lips as a devilish smile spread across his pretty mouth. His focus was entirely on my face and my reaction. I shifted my weight and threw his balance off, allowing me to push him back against the other wall where I kissed him hard and possessively.

  Two could play that game.

  27

  I spent most of the day running around the forest. First in my human form, to maintain control and refuse to give in to the wolf when it got antsy. Then in my wolf form with Cole at my side. Adam and Briar were in town. Briar was back at the mechanic’s and was very hopeful of landing the apprenticeship. Adam acted as though he were in heaven working at the bookstore. Everything was falling into place.

  Cole was called away after dinner for something council related. That gave me some time to settle in and do some digging into the blood witches. We just needed to understand what they needed for the next sacrifice, and we’d have them. Of course that was easier said than done, but I was confident.

  I had fifteen tabs open on the laptop to various witch and magic websites looking at Aztec magic and the sigils they might be using. My color-coded notes were looking pretty, even if they weren’t as useful as I’d have liked. We were missing so much. They were somehow even more secretive than the other types of witches. The only thing everyone seemed to agree on was how long lived they were. It was something other less scrupulous covens had looked into. It was thought that their gods were more extreme than others. Where they demanded a far higher price than, say, Maat, they also gave richer prizes in return. Including, some said, millennia-long lives.

  Sighing, I decided it was time to take a break. All I’d discovered was they were likely far more difficult to kill than a normal witch. None of the sigils or myths I’d managed to dig up helped with the photos I’d seen of sacrifices, and I wasn’t willing to wait for more sacrifices to gather more clues. It was a deer this time, but it could be a garou next time. That was not an acceptable risk.

  Stretching, I got up and wandered down to the kitchen to get a hot cocoa and a Pop-Tart. I’d hidden the last of the cookies and cream ones away behind my big ceramic mixing bowl. The rest had been devoured by Briar before I’d known they were in the house. I knew that I could alpha command her to leave them alone, but that felt ridiculous and petty.

  Pricking my ears, I realised that I couldn’t hear the siblings, and it was too early for them to be in bed.

  “Briar? Adam?”

  I looked out into the yard and saw no sign of them. Their car was still in the driveway. Jogging up the stairs my chest began to grow tight as I thought something had happened to them. I knocked on their bedroom doors and peeked inside to find them both empty. Exhaling slowly, I breathed deep and took in their scent. I was a garou, I could track them.

  Following a scent trail wasn’t as easy as they made it look in the movies. I had to keep pausing and breathing in deep where I lost them. Briar’s honey tones were easier to pick up amidst the rich scents of the forest. Adam’s was a little too earthy and blended in. I circled around twice before I really got a grasp on it.

  I ran through the woods oblivious to where I was going. My packmates had disappeared and I needed to get them back. The scent trail took a sharp turn and I followed it before coming to a hard stop. Briar was leaning sullenly against a tree while Adam talked to a tall striking man with sparkling blue eyes. The man held a leather-bound notebook in his hand and stared Adam down.

  “We do not take theft lightly,” the man said.

  I sighed. They hadn’t even managed to go a week without stealing something. I wasn’t sure if I was annoyed or relieved they hadn’t stolen from us, at least.

  “What happened?” I asked as I stepped out of the shadow.

  The man’s eyes turned to me. His tight expression brightened and twisted into a dark smile.

  “I hadn’t been told that beautiful women wander these woods. I’d have come out for a walk sooner.”

  I rolled my eyes and put myself between him and Adam.

  “What happened?” I said firmly.

  The man stood head and shoulders above me. Well-toned muscles were on full view beneath his tight dark t-shirt. Under other circumstances, I’d have been taken aback by how strikingly handsome he was. Standing there in the darkness with my pack in danger, he looked like a monster that lurked in the shadows waiting for innocents.

  “These teenagers broke in my parents’ home and stole this notebook,” he said, holding up the notebook.

  I glared at Briar who remained looking sullen as she dropped her eyes and muttered something.

  “They will apologise, and I will mete out appropriate punishment,” I ground out.

  The man’s mouth spread into a sharp-edged grin as he pushed into my space.

  “I’m Logan Blackthorne, and your packmates stole from me.”

  My blood ran cold. Of all the people they could have chosen to steal from, they went after the notorious hunters!?

  28

  Logan reached out and ran his thumb along my cheekbone. It took everything I had to stop myself from sinking my teeth into him.

  “We have been looking for a pet…” he whispered.

  That was my breaking point.

  I punched him in the throat as hard as I could. He gasped and dropped to his knees with his eyes wide open as he put his hand to his throat. I grabbed his hair and wrenched his head back to look up at me as I snarled, barely keeping my wolf side down.

  “If you or your family come near me or my people again, I’ll make you beg for death,” I said coldly.

  Logan gasped and choked but remained defiant as he stared at me.

  I leaned in and allowed my wolf side forward enough to shift my very sharp wolf teeth. He fought against me as I leaned down and pressed my teeth against his jugular. He tried to shove me off, but I twisted and pinned him to the floor where I sank my teeth into his throat. Not enough to kill him, just enough to leave a reminder of what would happen if he dared return.

  “Next time I won’t stop,” I whispered as I gently caressed his cheek.

  I could smell the fear rolling off him and it sent a thrill through me. There was a temptation to ride that high and push further, but I needed to set a good example for the siblings.

  Standing, I bared my teeth at Briar and Adam. They dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.

  “Home. Now,” I snapped.

  Cole had returned by the time we got back home. Adam and Briar refused to look at me.

  “What the hell were you thinking!? We have simple rules here. You have a nice home, a car, and you go and steal from the Blackthornes!? What is wrong with you?” I shouted.

  Adam eyed the exit of the kitchen and started moving that way.

  “Don’t you dare move one more muscle,” I snarled.

  Briar was sitting at the kitchen table with her arms wrapped around her looking very sorry for herself.

  “Well? Tell me why you did it,” I growled.

  Cole walked into the kitchen and the siblings shrank down e
ven smaller.

  “I needed the thrill,” Briar said softly.

  I heard the lie in her words.

  “Never lie to your alpha,” Cole said coldly.

  A tear trickled down Briar’s cheek but something told me it was a crocodile tear.

  “It was a stupid celebration, ok. We can’t drink, we don’t have any friends, and that’s the closest we can get to the thrill of running,” Briar choked out.

  “If you do it again, you will be handed over to the council,” Cole said flatly.

  With that, they were dismissed, and I had to face Cole’s steely glare.

  “They stole a notebook from the Blackthornes. A ‘Logan’ Blackthorne got in my face, so I sank my teeth into his throat and told him to leave us alone.”

  Cole threw his hands up.

  “Were you even thinking?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “I was thinking that I needed to protect my pack.”

  “By putting a target on our back? The Blackthornes will take that as a damn good reason to take us out. Logan is their precious son.”

  I wasn’t going to back down. Maybe my decision wasn’t the best, but I did what I felt I had to to keep the siblings and Cole safe.

  “They will understand that trying to take us on will result in a loss of life,” I said.

  Cole’s nostril’s flared and his eyes flashed gold.

  “An alpha thinks about the long term, not just what feels good in the moment.”

  The pulse of pride that he was considering me an alpha was overridden by my irritation at the entire situation.

  “We should be thinking what to do about Adam and Briar. They broke the rule and stole something.”

  I wasn’t going to mention that I thought Briar had been lying. We needed to deal with one problem at a time, and my gut twisted at the thought of losing my little pack. It was selfish, but the need for a pack was almost overwhelming.

  Cole pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “How badly did you bite Logan?”

  “Enough to draw blood and scare him, no more.”

  He nodded.

  “His parents are out of town for another month. His sister’s down in Mexico, possibly Chile, no one’s quite sure.”

  He visibly relaxed as he thought everything through. Finally he looked at me with those impossibly beautiful sea green eyes and smiled.

  “I’m glad you’re ok.”

  I shrugged.

  “Just a lone hunter and a couple of teenagers. No big deal.”

  Cole laughed.

  “I wish my evening was so simple,” he said as he turned towards the alcohol cupboard.

  “Council stuff?”

  He nodded.

  “Things are becoming difficult with the fae. There was a change in power recently. A new prince is refusing to step up into his role, and there are smaller factions stirring up trouble.”

  “Anything I can help with?”

  He pulled a bottle of expensive bourbon out of the cupboard and smiled at me.

  “Not right now. It’s all just talk at the moment. You’ll know if things get worse.”

  I went to him and ran my fingertips up over his strong forearm, enjoying the feeling of his skin beneath my fingertips. There was something soothing about it.

  “Do you want to talk about the blood witches?” I asked softly.

  “No.” He sighed. “I can’t. Not yet.”

  He poured us both a generous helping of bourbon and handed me a glass. Raising his, he said, “To complicated relationships and a reduction in paperwork.”

  29

  Adam and Briar had worked hard to make a nice breakfast the following morning. The French toast was edible, and I could see that the charred blackness had once been bacon. They kept their eyes down and didn’t say a word as they waited for us to start eating. It was unbearable. I hated the pressure hanging over us as the younger pack members desperately hoped Cole wasn’t going to kick them out. They picked at their food once Cole and I had both started eating.

  I looked pointedly at Cole. The need to tell Adam and Briar to relax was strong, but I was still new to this garou stuff and I wasn’t going to screw it up. Cole frowned and exhaled.

  “I am not going to hand you the council. Assuming you don’t screw up again.”

  Adam brightened immediately and devoured the over-cooked ‘food’ on his plate. Briar pushed hers around and remained quiet. Once we’d all finished she finally said, “I got the apprenticeship. There isn’t much pay, but they said I have a lot of potential and should be qualified quickly.”

  “That’s good,” Cole said.

  I glared at his back.

  “Well done. Are you happy with the place?”

  Briar nodded.

  “They seem cool. There’s another female mechanic there which helps.”

  Adam hurried her out of the room, and they left soon after. I assumed for their respective jobs, but I couldn’t help feeling a little stone in my stomach wondering if they were getting into trouble again.

  “You need to be firm,” Cole said.

  “I was firm,” I said crossing my arms.

  “They need boundaries and clear rules. It’ll make them feel better,” he said as he approached me.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Bowing and scraping is so last century.”

  He laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist.

  “Don’t let them walk all over you. They’re not as weak and simpering as they like to play,” he said as he stroked my hair.

  I leaned into him and rested my head on his chest, enjoying the moment.

  “Briar’s a manipulative little cow,” I said.

  Cole snorted.

  “She certainly tries.”

  I thought back to the lies and crocodile tears the night before. What had they really been up to?

  A knocking came from the front door before the sound of high heels clattered down the hallway towards us. I bristled at the invasion of my home.

  Cole stepped back, leaving me feeling cold and irritated. I turned to snarl at the invader when Cole said, “Natasha.”

  A beautiful brunette strolled into the kitchen as though she owned it. Her long straight hair fell down her back standing in contrast to her tailored white dress and tawny coloured skin. She turned her dark brown eyes on me and raised an eyebrow.

  “I didn’t realise you’d hired a housekeeper.”

  I snarled.

  “I am an alpha, and you are?”

  She looked down at me from her high heels. Her gaze travelled up and down me, her expression said she’d been left wanting.

  “Oh. You must be the guardian.”

  I narrowed my eyes and tried to restrain my wolf side that was throwing itself against the inside of my mind giving me a headache.

  “Yes. I’m the guardian. And you are?”

  “Cole’s fiancée.”

  I felt as though she’d driven the air from my lungs. Cole hadn’t mentioned anyone important in his life. How could he keep something so important hidden?

  “Ex,” Cole snapped.

  The woman turned towards him with a hurt look.

  “I’ve never looked at another man since you…” she said softly.

  “That was your decision,” Cole said.

  The woman huffed.

  “Well you could at least offer me a coffee.”

  Cole remained rooted to the floor before he grudgingly made some coffee. I sat down at the table and watched the woman closely. She was certainly beautiful, it was easy to see why Cole would be attracted to her. She was most men’s dream, with long slender legs, a small waist, and full pink lips. Her expression turned predatory when she took the seat next to Cole’s.

  “It’s so sweet of you to take in the guardian,” she said to Cole while sneering at me.

  Cole tensed and said nothing.

  “Natasha Bellefleur,” she said holding her hand out to me.

  “Rosalyn,” I said cros
sing my arms.

  “It must be so difficult, finding your place in our world. As both guardian and made. You’re very lucky to have such a generous garou take you under his wing. I’m sure you’ll find someone else to take you in once he returns to his appropriate place, though.”

  My head felt as though it were splitting in two where my wolf side was baying to rip this woman open. An icy rage coursed through my veins and made me set my jaw as my fingernails dug into the palms of my hands.

  “My appropriate place is here, Natasha,” Cole said coolly.

  “Oh don’t be so ridiculous. You are the final Loxwood. Your place is with me sitting on the pack council. We were born to lead. Your little break has taken far too long,” Natasha chided.

  Cole growled and she looked away.

  “You do not hold that position any more, Natasha,” Cole said placing coffee in front of her.

  Cole handed me my coffee before he settled in Adam’s seat between us. My wolf was livid. He should have taken the seat next to me to show his allegiance. I pushed the feeling aside. We were a new thing, I didn’t know what it was but I wasn’t going to be childish about this.

  “Why are you here, Natasha?”

  “To finish old business, of course,” she said with a sickly-sweet smile.

  She took a sip of her coffee while looking at Cole. Natasha turned to me, “Be a darling and get me something to eat.”

  I openly growled. She was pushing my buttons, and the victorious spark in her eyes showed she was getting what she wanted.

  “There are cafes and restaurants in town,” Cole said coolly.

  “I was so looking forward to your cooking,” Natasha said as she put her hand on Cole’s forearm.

  “Get to the point, Natasha,” Cole said wearily.

  “I wanted to catch up with my fiancé. I’ve been worried about you.”

  Cole pulled his arm away.

  “Ex. Do not make me repeat myself again,” Cole growled.