Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 86
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
As soon as Raul bypassed the last house, the ferocity in their growls increased, sending chills rippling across his skin. The reason for that change was simple: they had caught the vampires’ scent. The foul stench of death was lingering in the air, making Dean’s stomach churn. And, just as he ran up a short hill that blocked his view, he saw their exact location. A bright, blue glow spread across the scorched patch of forest less than fifty yards away from him. Raul shortened his strides when they spotted Damian’s clan, behind Bethels, and Damian himself standing next to him. A red glow shot down to the ground as the pack ranged out facing towards their rivals. Helena and Kate emerged, their backs turned to their foes. Kate’s hands were bound, whereas her mouth had been taped shut. She nodded to Dean’s wolf as he and his comrades halted among the trees, a moment before she and Helena turned around.
“Perfect timing,” Bethels remarked with a smirk. “I see you’ve done as I requested. You have just spared your town and Shandaken from a tragedy. Come forth, Kate,” he beckoned, his gaze locked on Dean’s mate.
“Not so fast,” Helena grumbled, narrowing her eyes at him. “First, you tell us why you want her so badly. Why is she so important to you?”
“She’s one of the great ten, you sneaky, little bitch!” Bethels ground out as his deep-brown eyes darkened with anger. “Something you will never be. Now, let her come.”
“Nonsense!” shouted Helena, the redness in her eyes deepening as she took a short step forward. “It’s written, isn’t it? She’s the one who kills you,”
“Maybe,” Bethels spoke, his voice coming out lazy. “But not if I kill her first.” Then, right as he finished his statement, the wizard thrust his arm out, his palm facing Kate. Helena snapped her fingers. Kate’s bonds and her gag vanished into thin air just as a blue sparkle shot from his hand.
“Now!” shouted Helena, her eyes opening wide when she saw the wizard’s dangerous energy rocket across the forest. In a split second, Kate’s brown eyes narrowed and her face hardened. A blinding, yellow glow sprang from the ground, and shot up her sides. Helena pulled her staff from her cloak. Hundreds of tiny, silver particles were thrown across the forest floor once the energy bolt crashed onto the force field, bringing a cunning smile to Kate’s face. Still, it didn’t stay on for more than a few moments. Assuming her previous, stiff expression, she advanced towards him as his face fell in disbelief.
“You tried to have me killed,” she stated in a commanding tone, slowly lifting her right arm using her confident footsteps to close the distance between them. “You plotted against me,” she emphasized, the shade of her force field dimming to a darker, golden tone. “You blinded my friend,” Kate added as she rolled her fingers into a fist. Just then, his body blurred closer to her as she brought herself to an abrupt halt. He stopped, hardly two inches away from her as she unfurled her fingers. “You’re wrong,” she spoke through gritted teeth, grabbing him by the sides of his black coat. “I won’t kill you. They will,” she continued, casting a swift, sideways glance down at the pack. Flexing her arm muscles, Kate pushed him upwards and a deep grunt fled her lips. Before Bethels knew it, he was flying across the woods. Dean’s gaze followed him. His body tumbled to the ground, and then spun to the right. Raul raised his upper lip in a terrifying grimace, while he watched the wizard passed him by. A ferocious snarl rose up in Dean’s throat, his eyes glazing orange when Bethels turned onto his back. With a few, quick pads, he closed in on him, catching a glimpse of his approaching brother, out of the corner of his eye. He stared down at him and the thought of ending Bethels with a bite to the neck crossed his mind. But, he would do no such thing. He had caused way too much harm to his family to deserve a fast, clean death. The wizard had to suffer. Parting his jaws, he ducked and brought his gaze down to his rival’s wrist. Bethels’ cry of excruciating pain echoed in the wilderness; the beast snapped both bones with a hard bite. His Alpha’s jaws closed around the wizard’s right shoulder when Dean felt warmth in his mouth. One more, quieter moan left him as a third bone crunched under pressure. Letting out one more growl, Raul released him, amid a chaos of snarls, and growls. He stepped onto his chest, and thrust his snout down, stifling out any more noises. Bethels began to thrash underneath him as the wolf’s teeth sank further and further into his flesh. The pulse in his wrist weakened. Dean let go of the wizard’s forearm, hearing the sound of their enemy’s heartbeat fade. Bethels’ body twitched one last time, before his heart ceased beating altogether.
Raul stepped off the lifeless body, lifting his gaze up to meet Damian’s, drops of crimson rolling down his fur. A low growl rumbled in his throat as he burst forward. The vampire blurred nearer as Dean exploded towards him, desperate to finish him and his clan off. Within seconds, the clan was right behind them, galloping towards destiny, their foes’ eyes glowing yellow in the dark. The Alpha leapt onto Damian, knocking him off his feet as the vampire reached his arms out in front of him. Raul thrust his snout down as he found himself in his adversary’s tight embrace. Sadly though, his jaws smashed shut, just next to Damian’s throat. In a quick move, Damian squeezed Raul hard in his arms, and turned them over. A painful yip left the helpless Alpha when the vampire’s grip tightened around him. Nevertheless, Dean was not going to sit by and watch. Craning his neck, he snapped his jaws shut around Damian’s elbow. His teeth ground against the fabric of his coat as he bit down. The sensation of the stiff limb, cracking in his mouth relit his hope. Unwilling to stop, he put more force. The vampire cried out in agony because the powerful jaws shattered his arm. Rapidly releasing it, Dean’s lupine moved around him. He raised his front left paw, and pressed it down on his throat, letting out yet another, vicious snarl. His jaws closed around Damian’s skull as he squirmed beneath him. Filled with a massive urge to punish him even further for his crimes, he yanked his head back. He felt the coldness of his flesh while his foe’s bones crackled. The vampire uttered no more sounds, just before shards of his skin and his hair dropped onto the forest floor. Dean pulled him towards him violently once more, ripping his head off his body.
Panting for breath, he averted his gaze from the dead vampire and looked up. The sounds of mayhem had subsided. Helena and Kate were standing in each other’s arms a few feet behind his Alpha and Ray. A fast sweep of his surroundings told him that each and every vampire had been destroyed. They lay dead on the ground, among their comrades’ limbs and heads. This time, none of his brothers in arms had been killed in action. Raul’s appraising yip sounded like the sweetest reward. The three brothers threw their heads back, almost simultaneously. Their tremendous howls tore through the night, declaring their victory to every world around them, human, shifter or otherwise. Once again, the undisputed kings of the valley had triumphed over the malicious creatures who had meant them harm.
Chapter Twenty Three
The return of the Paxton pack to their birthplace seemed more like a victory parade. Padding proudly alongside one another, and also taking their time, they strolled down the hill. Dean might have enjoyed this more, but he would much rather have gone back home with his mate. Unfortunately, however, as soon as the battle was over, she chose to disappear in a plume of yellow smoke. However, that minor detail was not enough to ruin his fantastic mood. He could rejoin with Kate later on. For now, he would savor the fruit of his and his pack’s endeavors. They had earned this moment, these few minutes with one another. They could roam the forest freely, proud of their accomplishment, without fear that anything might be lurking ahead. So, that was precisely what they did. In spite of their exhaustion, the wolves kept yipping throughout their promenade down the hill, barking or playfully biting each other. The four females in particular chased one another as the ground leveled out. But, their games did not last long. Upon reaching the clearing outside the Bradford estate, they all went their separate ways, leaving the siblings alone.
Strangely enough when Dean crossed the yard, he caught a scent he did not expect: Kate’s cinnamon and it was much stronger than usual. A simple glance up at his roof confirmed his suspicion. She was up there, with a blissful smile on her face.
“Come on up,” she beckoned. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Used to the fact that because she was a witch, her scent fluctuated depending on her mood, he paid no attention to it. It waned in her dark times, and intensified when she found hope. He could still recall his shock on the night that Helena had revealed Kate’s legacy to him. Shifting back into human form, he entered his cabin, rushed upstairs, and put on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt to cover his nudity.
Peace and quiet greeted him when he strolled out onto his roof. His mate was glowing as they began towards each other.
“I thought you’d be in bed by now,” Dean confessed, wrapping his arms around her waist. “How come you’re still up?”
“In bed?” chuckled Kate, her hazel eyes sparkling in the darkness. “No, I’m a little too tense to go to sleep. Aren’t you?”
“I sure am,” he admitted with a nod. “You were phenomenal out there. You showed no fear. You just…” he paused, “…owned him.”
“I had another motive, other than just keeping us safe,” she explained, assuming a more serious tone. “Sure, after my little chat with Helena, I realized I had to step up, but protecting you and my friends were not the only reasons why I did everything.”
“What do you mean?” Dean asked, curiosity written all over his face.
“I mean you should control your urges, just for a little while,” Kate explained, raising an eyebrow. “My doctor said we should abstain from sex during the first trimester. It could be dangerous,”
“Your d…” A massive shockwave coursed through him, preventing him from finishing his sentence. Everything made sense now. Her bliss, the intensity in her scent, and the extraordinary courage she had shown in battle. She was actually carrying the other reason she was fighting for.
“H-How?” stuttered Dean, feeling his heart pounding against his chest, her blissful smile reappearing. “When did you find out?”
“Seriously, you don’t know how?” Kate teased, leaning over towards him. “Anyway, I was two days late, when you exposed Alstead. I was too depressed to read anything into it. But, three days later, I still hadn’t had my period. So, I decided to take a pregnancy test. It came back positive. My doctor confirmed it this morning. I’m five weeks pregnant. And, in case you’re wondering, I didn’t tell you anything, because I’m pretty sure you’d have told me to stay home.”
Whatever feeling of happiness he had felt earlier, paled before the sea of bliss that stormed into his heart. The news sent waves of happiness, coursing through him, like a bolt of lightning, running through a tree. He stared at her, unable to utter a single word as the sound of his heartbeat rang in his ears. Dean firmed his grip, letting the warm look in his eyes do all the talking. In fact, it became so strong that Kate’s feet left the ground. He picked her up, maintaining eye contact with her, and brought her face up to his level.
“I’m going to be a father?” He whispered, losing himself in the beauty of her eyes.
“A wonderful father,” she corrected him, rubbing her nose onto his. Dean laid a short kiss on her mouth, and moved his lips over to her cheek, holding her close as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I love you, Siren,” He said on a breath as she rested her head on his shoulder. “I can’t believe we’re having a baby.”
“We are, Wolfy,” Kate whispered, planting a sweet kiss on the side of his neck. “We are.”
Understanding that any more words could spoil the moment, Dean chose silence over a rebuttal. After all, there wasn’t much that he could say to her. He could rant on about the infinite bliss that had overwhelmed him, but that would tire her and him alike. He wouldn’t complain to her for keeping this a secret from him, either. She was right; most likely, he wouldn’t jeopardize the safety of his mate and their unborn child. And how could he possibly complain to her, especially after she had given him the best news in his entire life? No. It was impossible for him to even consider it.
Dean held in his embrace the woman who carried the fruit of their love, savoring the richness in her scent as he looked up into the sky. The hundreds of flickering stars accompanied the bright, nearly full moon, casting their light down on his birthplace as a powerful breeze tossed Kate’s hair about. It was the first gust in a new life, a life they had both struggled for. Still, it signaled something much deeper than that; the change in his family. Nothing would be the same from now on. In a few months, he would fulfill his life’s purpose. He would hold his infant child in his arms. The dream of fatherhood would no longer be a dream. It would become a reality. He was thrilled to live it with the woman who had mesmerized him, since that night by Clover Lake: the witch who had enchanted him; risked her life for him; the soon-to-be mother of his child; His Siren; His mate.
*** The End ***
Book 8: A Wolf’s Destiny
Sarah J. Stone
Chapter One
“Hail the sons and daughters of Paxton!”
Raul’s stentorian toast signaled the commencement of the pack’s victory celebrations in “Joe’s” diner. The wolves’ cheers echoed back at them from the walls of the hall, as they all raised their glasses to their Alpha. They were in ecstasy, smiling at one another, being their usual, boisterous selves. For Olivia Hunt, one of the newest additions to the Paxton pack, Raul’s words did not mean much. Acknowledging their courage was something that he was obliged to do as their leader. Despite everyone else’s reaction, his flamboyant toast brought a bitter smile to her face, as she lifted her own glass to her lips. The reason for that was simple. She could still recall his brother’s eulogy at the funeral for their two, fallen comrades. In her mind, that held much bigger weight than anything her Alpha said that night. It was an honor to their departed souls, an ideal way to escort them to the underworld, a perfect farewell, in every way. Of course, Olivia would not voice her discomfort to Raul. He had been good to her and her friends so far, and, according to more senior members of the pack, his attitude was not going to change. It wasn’t a matter of fear. Instead, it was a matter of respect to him, as well as everyone else in “Joe’s” diner. Should she speak up, she would ruin their night. Two days after their battle against Damian’s clan, the last thing they all needed was a conflict amongst themselves. Therefore, Olivia selected to take a quick sip of her vodka, and leave the company of her loud comrades.
The moon and the stars were veiled as she walked out into the darkness. Large clouds had filled the sky above her. The air was quite crisp on that late-May night. Peace and quiet, qualities that had long abandoned her birthplace, had finally returned. Yet, as she savored the tranquility around her, two questions rushed into her mind: first and foremost, at what cost had it taken them to retain their lives, along with their territory? It had taken five lives. Yes, five of their own kind had made the ultimate sacrifice. Three of them had perished in the war against Redfield, while two had perished in the battle against his brother. No eulogies would bring them back. Secondly, how long would this peaceful time last? How much time did they have, before another enemy threatened them with annihilation? Who or what would invade Paxton, seeking to destroy them? Olivia could not find answers to either of these issues. Seconds afterwards, she chose to ignore them.
Inevitably, her mind roamed back to the night of Helena’s greatest achievement to date. She had participated in it, leading her friends towards danger, and then away from it, setting up the trap for nearly half of Redfield’s clan. With her help, the mighty witch gave them a fast, spectacular death by fire. Nevertheless, Helena was already a legend, a fearless woman who hadn’t hesitated to go up against an ancient demon like Azazel. Olivia had expected to witness her bravery and her wisdom, and Helena didn’t fail her. Still, the small role she played in the witch’s plan acted as a confidence booster. Before joining the pack, she was unsure whether she could be of any help at all; but, just being around her idol at her finest hour, shattered any shred of doubt. With confidence flowing through her veins, Olivia excelled in two battles, barely suffering any blows from her natural enemies. Regardless of her personal success, however, she couldn’t find any comfort in it. She might have done her best to protect Paxton, but it was simply not enough. Gazing up into the dark sky, the 27-year old blonde wolf began wondering what she could possibly do, in order to avoid any kind of conflict in the future. Sadly and suddenly, though, the loudness that had been contained within the diner picked up volume. Olivia closed her eyes, in silent protest against that rude interruption. However, the noise was once again muffled, as the back door was eased shut. The scent that soon filled her nostrils told her the identity of the person invading her privacy. It was none other than Ava Gordon, her closest friend.
“I’d say I was surprised to find you out here, but I’m really not,” Ava claimed, sauntering towards Olivia. “Frankly; I’m a little too happy to tell you off.”
Ava’s judgmental tone didn’t annoy Olivia. Neither did Ava’s statements upset her in any way. They had been friends for more than twenty years; they knew each other too well, and she had seen Olivia in a similar state the day before.
“Excuse me, but I can’t,” Olivia murmured, looking down at her over her shoulder. “Five of us will never see the light of day again. How can I celebrate?”
“Could you please remind me why we joined this pack in the first place?” Ava wondered, her voice reeking of one of her most distinct qualities: Sarcasm. Olivia did appreciate it more when it was directed towards others; yet, now that she was the victim of her friend’s wit, she didn’t like it at all. “We didn’t sign up for the guys, did we? Did we do it for the money? I’m sorry, I just can’t remember.”
