Her Wolf's Demands: A Wolf Shifter Paranormal Romance (The Witch's Pack Book 2), page 14




“Calm down,” Kieran said, going towards the aggressive wolf.
With a sideways throw of the head, the new-born mutant wolf knocked Kieran aside before lunging at a witch and ripping her throat out in one swift movement. The gurgle of blood in her throat was so loud, I cringed and took a step back.
A gunshot sounded, echoing around the valley. The rogue wolf slumped to the ground, its head expelling a squirt of blood as it landed.
It was lucky it was the middle of the night or a human may have heard and reported it to the police. Not that I’d be opposed to the witches being caught, but the wolves?
Kieran had to be taking advantage of them. Surely they weren’t there of their own volition. How would they react now that one of their own had been put down?
Part of me wasn’t surprised that the wolf had lost control. Wolves had their own magic, they wouldn’t handle the extra pressure from Ertha’s stones.
My chest squeezed as I thought of Drake and Della. Had Drake been able to feel the intensity of magic as it had gone through him? Was Della safe, locked in a hospital? I’d trusted that Laura would be able to take care of them both, but what if the full moon changed Della and she tried to escape?
Keen to watch, but also wanting to check on my mate, I hovered at the edge of the woods. Turning my head to Manual, I nodded twice. It was my signal to get the other wolves out of there. There would be no fight tonight.
“Why did he do that?” I heard Kieran ask Ertha.
They were staring at the dead mutant-wolf as the other one went over and sniffed him. Lifting its head to the sky, it opened its mouth and released an agonising howl.
The air rushed out of my lungs in a sigh. The wolf was clearly in pain from losing… Shit, the grotesque beast abruptly halted its howl and turned to look straight up the hill towards me. He had fucking heard me, despite Della’s spell.
Manual stiffened as he went to move away, his hackles rising. He had just caught sight of the wolf, who now pushed through the witches, even though they tried to stop him.
It was time to leave.
Spinning, I bashed into Manual’s side, urging him on. He fled, his paws light on the earth beneath us. The others ran with us, watching our every move. If the alpha ran, they needed to get out.
Once we were clear of the woods, we sped up, surging up the hill, across the road and onto another hill.
Lowering my head to the side as the pack formed a line behind me, I listened, filtering out the pants of my pack. There, in the distance behind us, was the sound of heavy running paws, pounding the grass. We were being followed by the mutant-wolf and he was gaining on us.
With its newfound power, we wouldn’t be able to outrun the beast. I would have to face it. Alone.
Slowing my speed, I nodded to Manual, who understood what I was going to do. He was my second in command, a clever wolf with heightened instincts. He would’ve heard the enemy, too.
The pack slowed when I barked once, nudging my head forwards. They listened to my command, pushing up the hill and over it.
I dropped away from them, watching their tails retreat and coming to a stop beside a small clump of trees. Did I hide from the beast and jump out? Yes, that would be a good option.
Ducking behind a tree, I searched the incline of the hill below. A dark shadow, moving with lightning speed, soon appeared, heading straight for me. Would he turn towards the trees where I hid or carry on up the hill after my pack?
Either way, I wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Growling low in my throat, I jumped out from behind my tree as soon as the wolf was in line with me. My back paws pushed off the ground, propelling me into the air. The wolf’s head turned towards me, its eyes widening as I landed on its back and snapped at its neck.
It reared up and thrashed around, throwing me from its huge form. It wasn’t as big as the hellhound, and yet, it was almost as strong.
It came at me, charging with its head down. I backtracked away from it, rising in the air as it lifted itself and battered me with its paws. My own paws caught its legs, pushing it away. It might have been a mutant-wolf, but it wasn’t confident in its new body. That gave me a slight advantage.
A bark shot from its mouth as it pushed forward, jumping again. Before I could respond, three other wolves from my pack materialised, leaping onto the wolf and bringing it down. They snapped, snarled, and grabbed hold of its scruff until it surrendered and laid flat on the floor.
My chest puffed as I came forward and inspected the mutant-wolf. Its eyes pleaded with me, the yellow irises spreading as it blinked. It was afraid of what was happening. Good. Maybe we could use its fear to our advantage.
Concentrating, I bowed my head and shifted back to my human body. The others stayed as they were, holding the beast down as I stretched and stood up from my hands and knees.
“We need to get it out of here,” I said, looking down the hill.
There were a couple of shouts followed by the sound of distant panting. Della’s spell would keep us invisible to the Crawley Pack, but the beast we’d captured would have a distinct smell that was easy to follow.
“I promise to help you,” I told the wolf, who blinked twice in understanding.
Dropping to my knees as a wolf howled behind us, I forced my shift, barking the order to move as soon as I was able.
We pushed forward, my pack surrounding the beast who galloped along between us, not daring to even look over its shoulder. It was my hope that the spell would spread to include him, although it was doubtful.
Our speed grew as we ran down the other side of the hill and disappeared under a thick canopy. Manual drew alongside me, his brown eyes questioning as I led the pack towards the cave. Shaking my head side to side, I encouraged my second to take the rest of the pack home and fast.
He shot away, yapping a command to the others, who glanced at me before separating from us. The perplexed beast glanced at me, a look of confusion crossing his eyes as I indicated that he follow me into the cave.
Coming willingly, he stepped inside as I stood back, allowing him to enter first. I went in behind him, close on his heels as he entered the cavern in the side of the hill.
As soon as his nails clipped on the stone floor, I shifted, holding in my grunt so he couldn’t react before I was up on my two feet. Being an alpha gave me an edge on shifting, allowing me to do it in seconds.
Kicking the wolf roughly, I booted him forward, into the cage. It yelped as I slammed the metal barred gate shut and locked it with the new bolt that had been fitted.
My chest squeezed as the memory of Della’s shift shot into my mind. I had failed her that first night, leaving her to fend for herself. Her encounter with Kieran had made our fraught relationship with the Crawley Pack almost tip over into war. No doubt, our actions tonight would be the defining moment that would push the other pack to declare their intentions in coming for us.
“Can you force your shift?” I asked the mutant-wolf, who shook its head from side to side.
Not bothering to reply, I went over to the far corner of the cave and knocked out the loose brick. There was an emergency phone there, wired to ring even with no reception. I dialled Della’s number, praying to the wolf spirit that she answered. She did on the second ring, her breath hitching with a question at the end of her greeting.
“Della, can you flash to me? Now?”
The urgency tightened my throat as I pulled air into my lungs. She didn’t even bother to reply, instead appearing right beside me and making me jump. My heart swelled when she came to me, gripping my hand in hers.
“Can you pop your head out of the cave and wipe the surrounding area clear of scent?” As I spoke, I walked her to the exit and looked outside, sniffing the air.
They weren’t here yet, but if Della didn’t help, they’d be knocking down the door soon.
Without hesitation, Della rushed out, coming back seconds later. The sound of barking reached my ears just as she shoved the door of the cave closed and locked it with the iron bar lock.
When she turned to face me, she was panting and her hair was scruffy. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes tired. It was so good to see her.
Grabbing her elbow, I dragged her to me and wrapped her in my arms. When she bent her head back to look up at me, I dropped my lips to hers and trapped them in a kiss that sent a thrill over my skin.
A growl came from the wolf trapped in the cell. Oh, yeah, I had more pressing matters to attend to, ravishing Della would have to wait.
“Are you okay?” I asked, looking her over.
Nodding, she raised her eyebrows. “I am. How about you?”
Her gaze raked over my naked skin, resting on my manhood. What could I say? Seeing my mate sent blood pounding… everywhere.
“Want some clothes?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips and flicking her eyebrows at me.
“Please.” My muttered reply was drowned out by the rumble coming from the cell.
Clicking her fingers, Della moved around me as the wolf paced up and down, his nostrils flaring as she drew nearer.
Her mouth opened in an O shape as she turned to me and pointed, her eyebrows pulled low in question.
“Apparently,” I started, adjusting myself in my new slightly too tight jeans, “Ertha and Kieran have a thing.”
“A thing?” She almost choked.
Sighing, I shrugged, staring at the deformed wolf who came closer and sniffed Della. “We’ll have to wait until its shift passes and then we’ll find out what the fuck is going on.”
Chapter Fourteen
My fingers tingled as we rounded the curve of the hill and knocked on the cave door.
Drake was close behind me, his spine straight and his eyes clear. It hadn’t taken much to persuade him to accompany me to question the mutant wolf. Malone and some of his wolves were already inside, waiting for us.
The magic from the night before had drained out of Drake and he was feeling quite well. Laura had helped him to control the channelled energy while I’d locked myself in a private room nearby and gone through my second forced shift.
“Malone won’t mind me being here?” Drake asked as we waited for the alpha to open the door.
Glancing at my brother, I sucked in a breath in an attempt to stop the sob that wanted to explode from me.
Once the coast had been clear and there was no sign of Ertha and the Crawley Pack, I’d left Malone to guard the wolf while I checked on Drake to make sure that he’d pulled through the evening okay. Malone had explained what had happened at the ritual, giving me a clue into what Ertha had done.
Luckily, Drake had managed to control the magic on his own. The seriousness of what was happening had helped him to clear his mind a bit more. He would be shaky now, but I could see the signs of his returning health.
“No, this concerns you,” I said over the noise of the metal door unlocking.
Drake nodded, his eyes watching as Malone allowed us entry. He was not used to being around wolves so the culture shock would be interesting.
“Drake.” Malone gestured for us to go in, gripping my brother’s hand in a strong handshake as he passed him. “It’s good to see you.”
My heart swelled, growing heavier with emotion as I followed them. I smiled up at my man when he stroked a finger down my cheek before kissing the same spot swiftly. He smelt of old sweat, pine and mint. He had stayed guard all night, not trusting anyone else to do the job.
“Our new friend is awake.” His deep voice sent a shudder over me as his hand brushed against my arse.
It had felt like a lifetime since we’d been alone, able to be free with one another. And yet, it had only been a matter of hours. Still, there were important things to discuss.
Coming further into the cave, I clenched my tongue between my teeth. Manual, Rochelle, Emiliah and Lionel were there, huddled in the corner. My gaze slunk past them to the man who slumped on the cold ground in the cell with nothing but a thin blanket.
Flicking my fingers, I whispered a spell to create clothes to cover him. Okay, so he might have been the enemy, but no one wanted to see his junk. Certainly not me.
His scent smacked into my face as I drew nearer, the stench different from normal wolves. Usually, I could smell the earth that ran in their veins and the smell of the forest that leaked from their pores, even in human form. This man though, he had an added burnt smell added to his scent.
My eyes had adjusted to the dark as soon as I entered, searching for the one who might have the answers. It wasn’t until Drake leant against the bars, squinting towards the shape in the corner that I realised how good my eyesight had progressed since becoming a hybrid-wolf.
“You’re the witch,” the man said, wincing when I pointed at an old candle that sat in an ancient sconce. A flame burst into life, casting shadows down the wall and highlighting the prisoner.
He had long straggly hair, not unlike my own right now. I hadn’t even had a chance to brush it and neither had he.
“I am the hybrid, yes,” I replied, wrapping my hands around the bars and peering closer.
The man now wore joggers and a Tee, both plain, both a normal size. His light eyes looked up at me from under his hair, which half covered his face. His breathing was shallow, laboured. There wasn’t an obvious difference from him to the other wolves, and yet, there was a hint of anger, pulsing from him.
Malone stepped forward as I was about to speak, taking my hand and pulling me gently. Of course, the questioning was his job, not mine. Regardless of how much I wanted to hate the hairball leaning against the wall, I had to play by the rules.
“Did you come willingly last night?” Malone asked the man.
Standing with his hands in front of him, the alpha watched him closely. The others stayed silent, watching the man also. Not one of them had greeted us when we’d entered. Maybe they were weary of Drake’s presence.
Lionel was the only one who lifted his gaze from the man and looked straight at me. His snarl was unmistakeable as he glanced at Drake, his lips lifting silently. If he dared to harm my brother, I would take him down. They might now be my kind – well, sort of, just a bit smellier – but Drake was blood. He would always come first.
Shifting his feet under him, the wolf nodded. “My name is Neil.”
“What happened to you?”
The straight forward question made Neil’s face screw up. His hand jerked towards his head and tucked his hair behind his ear before he glanced at Drake. “They used us, that’s what.”
“The witches?”
My skin itched, desperate to be scratched as I waited for his answer. I had to be quiet and let Malone do his thing. His sexy voice echoed around the cave every time he spoke, sending pulses through me. Was it totally inappropriate for me to keep sneaking a look at my man’s butt in the too tight jeans?
“Yeah, the bitches. Kieran killed our alpha two days ago, claiming the position,” he spat. “Next thing I knew, we’re being offered as some sort of experiment to the witches. Promised powers beyond our abilities, we were.”
Biting the inside of his cheek, Malone narrowed his gaze on the man. “Hence the weird ritual thing. Did no one challenge Kieran once he took power?”
A quick shake of the head was followed by a growl. “Kieran has the witches on his side. One of them trails around with him all the time, spelling wolves who won’t do as he says. Otherwise, we would’ve killed the bastard by now.”
“He is a bastard!” Rochelle blurted, her cheeks as red as her hair.
“Apparently, we’re going to be part of the witch coven, helping them stabilise their magic or some fucked up witchery,” Neil said, anger colouring his tone.
I knew the wolves disliked us, it had been that way for centuries. However, hearing someone from another pack speak so vehemently about my kind gave me a chill. Ertha really had pissed off a lot of people.
Wait, what had he said? My mind kicked into gear.
“Did they ever use the word familiar?” I asked, stepping up beside Malone, who raised his eyebrows at me.
Smiling apologetically, I looked through the bars, waiting anxiously for the wolf’s answer. My heart vibrated in my chest as sweat broke out on my forehead.
“That was the word, yes.” He frowned, shaking his head violently. “We don’t really understand what one of those is, but we went along with him so we weren’t killed or spelled to stay in wolf form forever.”
A growl rose from every wolf’s throat in the room, including my own. I had never heard of a witch using a wolf for a familiar. It was kinda evil genius, although totally unethical.
“She’s determined to keep you apart.” Neil nodded at Malone and I. “That’s the main reason she’s doing all this, to break your bond and kill Della. She’s afraid of the power you have as a pack now. And quite frankly, so are we.”
Closing my eyes briefly, I inhaled the mixed scents in the cave, almost choking as they overwhelmed me. Hearing that everyone was afraid of me should have made me glad. Instead, it made it harder for me to get on with my life.
“Fuck the lot of them,” Malone pushed through his teeth, “the bond has been sealed and nothing will break it, not even Ertha and her guard dogs.”
Snarling, Neil reared up from the ground and came to the bars, staring threateningly into Malone’s eyes. His challenge was met with a flick of the eyebrows. The wolf wasn’t exactly in a positon to harm the alpha.
“I will not allow my pack to be petting dogs to a witch. I will kill Kieran and end this, now.”
“While you’re at it, Neil,” Lionel called, “call your mutts off our pack. We’ll stop Della from shrivelling your dicks if you stay away.”
The energy in the room pulsed with tension. If Malone wanted to get Neil on our side, it wasn’t working. Not that I believed that the Brighton Pack would want anything to do with the Crawley Pack, but Kieran’s betrayal might work to our advantage.
My insides quaked at the idea of Ertha being successful. I couldn’t be away from Malone. We had an ethereal thread connecting us, forging a bond stronger than anything I’d experienced before. I wouldn’t let the witch take away the only man who had wanted me.