Rogue Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3), page 15
The screams of the vampire turned muffled as Kodiak gripped its neck with his teeth. Stale blood filled his mouth, and he gagged. He shook his head, breaking its neck before releasing the body and bracing himself to fight the other two.
They weren’t there.
Where are they?
He turned around, using all his senses to detect them on his right. He rushed them, unwilling to let the fight drag on. He wanted the vampires destroyed like they’d tried to destroy his pack.
He leapt toward the nearest vampire, growling deep, expecting to connect with the monster.
Then, something hit him.
The projectile was lightweight, but enough to disrupt his trajectory. Kodiak fell to the ground, barely managing to land on his feet inches away from the vampire.
Angry at his mistake, he crouched to leap again. Searing pain exploded through his body.
He howled, trying to push against the sharp tangle around him that restricted his movement. He couldn’t fight in this, not fully.
Fuck, what is this?
It wrapped around his sides. The thing wasn’t heavy, but it sent pain searing through his muscles, preventing them from working correctly.
He could not take on even one vampire with this around him, let alone three.
He snarled a warning, trying to pretend that he was unaffected.
The vampire he’d planned to attack smirked, standing just out of Kodiak’s range. He made no move to fight back.
Why won’t he fight?
Kodiak pushed through his confusion and increasing agony. Maybe another vampire was about to attack?
Swinging around, Kodiak tried to ready himself to repel an attack from behind. But he soon stumbled, his muscles betraying him as sudden weakness pulsed through them.
No more vampires appeared behind him. He sniffed the air, trying to find out where the last one had gone. It had moved, now standing next to the vampire he’d leapt toward but barely scratched.
Why are they so confident?
Then he realized with horror what was trapping him. His weakness—a silver net. Yet, the pain was nothing like he’d ever experienced before.
“Amdis was right,” said one.
“You doubted, Lazi?” the vampire Kodiak had attacked asked.
“Of course not, Damon. I’ve just never seen how powerfully the silver binds the wolf shifters. We’ve haven’t fought them in years now, remember?”
“Don’t get cocky, Lazi,” Damon said.
“I’m not.”
“Let’s get him into the car and wait this out. This sunlight’s going to give me more than a tan.”
Lazi snorted. “If you stay out here much longer, you’ll to turn to dust and float away. You need Mediterranean heritage, like me.”
“Does that protect you from a stake through the heart?” Damon asked
Kodiak whimpered, the pain increasing as he tried to focus on their conversation.
“You’ve gotta help.” The one called Lazi sneered down at him and kicked him in the ribs. He tried to bite but even that hurt. “The thing looks like he weighs a tonne.”
Damon rolled his eyes. “Garrick, get out here and stop being a scaredy-cat. Help us get this wolf into the car before we all blow away like dust in the wind.”
“I’m not scared. I thought I heard something in the bushes,” Garrick said as he stomped through the bushes to join the others.
He whimpered again, hoping Tamaska was long gone. What a fucking fool he was.
“Well, did you find it?” asked Damon. “The thing in the bushes?”
“It must have been a mouse or something,” Garrick said, brushing leaves off his shoulders.
The others snickered as Kodiak lay still as he could. The pain was almost bearable if he didn’t move. Did the vampires know who they had caught, or did they think he was another pack member?
“Come on. We all need to lift if we’re gonna move him,” Damon said.
Kodiak needed to keep his wits about him, try to gather strength and find a way to escape. That was getting harder, though. The silver shot a constant, burning pain into his muscles radiated out to every part of his body. And movement made it so much worse.
“I’m not touching a fucking wolf,” Garrick said.
“He’s got the silver net on him, he can’t hurt you,” said Damon. “But I told Amdis you weren’t up for the job. And, well, what do you know? You’re not.”
The longer Kodiak stayed in contact with the silver, the worse he’d get, meaning his people were vulnerable. He couldn’t let that happen.
“Not true,” said Garrick, stepping closer to the wolf.
“Prove it, then,” Lazi said.
Garrick hissed.
Kodiak growled low, and tensed his aching muscles. The silver still worked its painful magic on him but he thought of his shifters, of Tamaska and gathered his will, trying to find the power to break free. Maybe if he could catch the net on something he could get loose. A fight between the three vampires could be his only chance at survival.
“Well, are you going to grab a leg each or something?” Garrick said, standing beside Kodiak’s back legs.
“Sure. Then we get him in the car and wait,” said Damon.
Wait for what? The night? Until he died? For Amdis and back up? No, he needed an out, and now, no matter the pain.
He tried to move but the fire of the sliver sunk its electric fangs into every part of him. Fuck.
“That’s a cramped space for a long wait.” Garrick bent down, ready to grab Kodiak’s back leg.
“Got a better idea?” Damon asked.
Garrick shook his head. “No.”
“Didn’t think so.”
The vampire’s cold hand clamped around one of his back legs, repulsing him to the core. But the ice of the touch somehow soothed the burn from the silver and he seized that reprieve. He thrashed about, and the silver netting slipped off to one side.
“Fuck,” Garrick said, jumping back and losing his grip on Kodiak.
“Get the fucking netting,” yelled Damon.
Kodiak didn’t waste the opportunity. Pain or no pain, this was his chance. He bucked and thrashed, throwing more of the net off him and it gave him some energy.
He swung toward Garrick and clamped his jaws around the vampire’s arm.
“Ow! Fuck, get off!” screamed Garrick.
Kodiak sunk his teeth deeper into Garrick’s arm, ignoring the searing pain from the silver still touching him. He shook his head and heard the snapping of bone.
“Fuck!” Garrick howled and struggled, helping Kodiak’s teeth cause more damage as they tore through his muscles.
Kodiak let go and threw off the remainder of the silver net. Garrick cradled his arm. Stumbling to get out of the Kodiak’s way, he fell to the ground.
Kodiak fixed his eyes on his target and pounced. His jaw wrapped around the vampire’s neck. Maybe he couldn’t kill all three, or even escape. But it would brighten his day if he could kill even one.
“Get him!” yelled Lazi.
“Grab the net, get it back on him, quick!” screamed Damon.
Kodiak finished the vampire, ripping its throat, before turning to take on the approaching pair. Still weak from the silver and the exertion of escaping, he struggled to stand. But he wasn’t about to flee. He had to buy the pack as much time as possible to get away.
“Go around that way,” instructed Damon, pointing one way while moving in the opposite direction.
They split up, making it harder for Kodiak to defend himself. But he had a plan. All he needed to do was to endure, to push himself to the limit, and he might just defeat them both.
He ran forward, hoping to confuse them into thinking he wanted to flee. He planned to double back and take them from behind if his body held up. He struggled with every movement, the silver’s damage still moving through him, making him weak and sluggish—for him.
But suddenly he yowled and whimpered as every nerve went haywire and a horrendous weight pressed down on him. His footing faltered and collapsed to the ground. The silver net stretched across him, and he’d been captured again.
“Fuck, that was lucky,” Lazi said as he rushed up to Kodiak.
“This time, lift him so the silver doesn’t fall off,” Damon said.
“How? We need to put a muzzle on him,” Lazi muttered. “Wrap him up tight.”
Damon kicked him “A silver muzzle?”
“Hang on, I’ve got an idea.”
The vampire lifted a thick branch, ready to strike. Kodiak braced himself, too weak to fight back or even move. The silver claimed and bound him.
He’d been captured, well and truly.
Kodiak had failed himself and his pack. His capture could mark the end of Shadow Pack, and he hated to think of what the vampires would do after his wolves were gone.
One thump to the head sent him spiraling into blackness.
CHAPTER 18
Tamaska
Ash’s lead foot on the gas made good time as they returned to Sydney. The farther she rode from the hut, the more she ached for Kodiak and feared she’d never see him again.
Something was wrong.
She sensed it in her heart, her gut, in every fiber of her being.
“We shouldn’t have left him there alone,” she said as she shifted in the backseat of Kodiak’s car, wishing he was there with her.
“You really struggle with the whole, “Do whatever the alpha says” thing, don’t you?” said Ash, looking at her through the rearview mirror.
Tamaska pressed her lips tightly together, biting back a retort. Surely, the pack didn’t blindly follow everything the alpha said. That didn’t make sense to her, but she didn’t want to discuss the technicalities of obedience right now, anyway.
Then again, it really seemed they did. So much of their lifestyle was difficult to wrap her head around and it didn’t help she had a pushy nature she tried to quell. She was in their world now, not the other way around.
Ash…she knew the problem and couldn’t let it go. Not the fact she’d taken the shifter’s computer but no one listened to her. And now…well, now they were in the car on the long drive and the worry for Kodiak at at her and she needed to do something.
Tamaska took a breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t look at anything other than the research on my family and the opal. I was only trying to help. I know It was wrong.”
That was a little harder than it should have been, mainly because the tension in the car was pointed at her and apart from that faux pas, she hadn’t fucked up—this time.
She’d sat and kept out of things, and okay, Kodiak locked her up, but then…
She blew out her breath.
“I’m sorry.”
“I heard.” Ash stopped talking. Then right when Channing started to twist about to look or speak to Tamaska she continued. “I’m not going to say it was fine; it wasn’t—”
“We’re territorial,” Channing said.
Ash sighed. “But tensions are high, emotions. And I get it’s hard, but you need to just do what you’re told. Like we all do. It’s how things are done. It might seem stupid to you, but you’re not one of us.”
Yet, she almost said. Tamaska swallowed it down. For now.
“We all have a tough time with the order and rules here and there, but they exist for a reason.”
“What are the rules?” she asked.
“Whatever Kodiak say they are now he is the big boss,” Channing said, “so we do what he says, and we don’t question. He protects, and we—”
“Kodiak’s as bad as Tamaska at times.” Ash said.
It struck Tamaska right then that Ash wasn’t furious, she was scared. Maybe the rules helped. But then again, so did being proactive.
“You’re both hotheaded and don’t listen.”
“Ash!”
Channing sounded scandalized and Tamaska almost smiled.
“He’s a good leader, and he’s got it in him to be great. I’d follow him anywhere, and I’d punch him, too. But I don’t. Pick your fights. This isn’t one of them. And you know it, Tamaska.”
She rested one foot against the seat, bending a knee to rest her head on. She looked out the window as the rural landscape slowly changed to cityscape. Yeah, she was meant to toe the line, obey and sit back like a good girl, even though she hated it. And his rules…the pack rules…they seemed to be something they all just knew. But it didn’t make it easier. It didn’t make her worry any less.
“But what if he needs our help?” she asked. “I’m not trying to fight or disobey, but…it doesn’t feel right to leave Kodiak, even at his own insistence. Does it to you? Ash? Channing? Roan?”
“He’ll be fine, Tamaska,” said Roan from the front seat. His face paled from the car’s motion.
“Has he contacted you?” asked Tamaska. “Any of you? I know you all communicate through a pack dial up brain service.”
Channing snickered.
But she meant it. During the whole ride, she’d studied Ash, Channing, and Roan for any telltale signs that they were using the pack’s mental connection. Sitting there with them, Tamaska felt like the outsider she was. It made her sick to think he might be calling out, hurt, in pain or worse, and she couldn’t hear him.
But they wouldn’t hide that from her, would they?.
“No,” said Roan.
“So, you don’t know,” she said softly, more to herself than to anyone else. “He could be hurt. We should go back.”
“No!” Ash pushed down on the accelerator.
“He’ll be back, don’t you worry,” said Channing from his seat beside her, reaching over and touching her shoulder. “You’ll see.”
Tamaska nodded. She didn’t share his confidence. All the information in her head she’d learned bubbled up with nowhere to go. It wasn’t about to help right now, just cause more fractures. The last thing they needed.
“He’s a great fighter,” said Roan, turning around to look at her.
“I just wish he hadn’t gone off alone like that.” She met his gaze. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I never see him again.”
That was as close to an admission of love she’d give them.
Roan raised his eyebrow as if making a connection—then he shrugged. “I don’t hear him, so he’s not calling out to us.”
“He sent us away, would he?” she asked, “even if he was in trouble? He’s not the type to bring others into bad trouble.”
No, he was the type to push them away to protect.
If he was here, she’d stangle him. And her eyes burned as she put her fist to her mouth to stop a moan of despair escaping.
“There’s no reason to think he can’t take on a few vampires.” Channing’s hand squeezed her arm. “He’s not Alpha for nothing.”
“I hope he’s okay. I hope he’s not being stupid and brave.” Tamaska pressed her knees together and clasped her hands to comfort herself. She would have done anything to have he arms around her, to hear him reassure her that everything would be all right.
She couldn’t explain it to the others, but Tamaska’s terrible feeling tore through her faster, right to her gut. Her head pounded, and darkness crept over her vision.
“You should use this time to rest a little more,” suggested Roan, his voice soft. “You’re still injured, and the shadows under your eyes suggest you could use the sleep.”
“She would’ve slept plenty if she hadn’t been messing around with my laptop,” Ash said. .
“Oh, you didn’t do that, did you, Tamaska?” asked Channing, his voice light.
“Yes and as you heard, I said sorry.”
“But are you?” he bumped his shoulder into her, clearly trying to stop her worrying.
“Yeah, she fucking did,” Ash snapped. The car started to move faster.
“Slow down, Ash, or I’ll throw up,” Roan said, turning around to face forward.
“Tamaska, in case you haven’t worked this out already, Ash is rather protective of her laptop,” said Channing with a wink. He dropped his voice. “And she’s worried.”
“We all are,” Ash said. “I just…I need… Apology accepted. For now.”
“Eureka. You’re making friends, influencing people,” Channing said. Behind his cheer the worry crept through.
But that comment helped ease some of the tension surfacing within her, as did Ash’s churlish acceptance of her apology. She smiled back at him a little, grateful for the moral support. Ash still acted like she was simmering over her laptop's lengthy, unauthorized use.
“But you should know, Tamaska, our pack has rules, and they must be followed,” said Ash.
“Fuck, Ash, slow down…” Roan’s voice went soft.
Ash groaned and rolled her eyes, taking her foot off the gas.
“Never thought you’d have a weak stomach, with all your medical experience,” said Ash.
“Motion sickness is different.” Roan lay his head back against the headrest.
“Kodiak’s not following the rules, going off by himself. It seems to me that your rules only apply to a select few,” said Tamaska, taking her leg off the seat in front of her.
“It’s different for the alpha,” said Ash. “And different for you, because you’re not one of the pack.”
“Come on, Ash, that’s a bit harsh,” said Channing. “She’s as good as in. You know Kodiak’s chosen her.”
“Chosen me for what?” asked Tamaska. To change her? But that didn’t make sense, that was already on the table. Or wasn’t. Or…or maybe it meant he would do it sooner rather than later.
Though, knowing her luck, it probably meant he would sacrifice her.
She couldn’t even raise a little humor at her lame personal joke.
“That’s for Kodiak to tell you,” Ash said. She maintained a steady speed while slipping easily into the parallel lane to overtake a few slower vehicles on the highway back to Sydney.
At least this time there wasn’t the prickly belligerence in her tone. But still, she asked, “what is it?”
“This really is Kodiak’s news to give,” said Channing.
“You can’t even give me a hint?” She latched on to this because it was better than worrying. Or, better than focusing in on that worry. “Please.”
