Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 98
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
“How bad is it?” questioned Olivia, her voice faint, looking at both witches, since Helena now stood beside Kate.
“I wouldn’t call it ‘bad,’ per say,” the red witch remarked. “It’s massive; that much I can tell you.”
Heaving a long, heavy sigh, Olivia peered skyward wondering if the moon and the stars would show her the way out of this situation. Happily, the wait for David proved short as he and Raul walked out of the Alpha’s cabin.
“I may have figured out a way for you two to have a future together,” Helena announced as the bear shifter made his way towards Olivia. “What you do with it, is your business, but, frankly? I don’t think there’s any other way.”
“What is it?” David asked, curling his fingers around his girlfriend’s wrist.
“My God…” Helena sighed, shut her eyes, and ran her hand through her hair. “You have to separate yourself from your beast. This is the sacrifice that Annabelle spoke of in her letter to you. If you want to start a family with Olivia someday, humanity is your only choice. I have put the wolf in a human in the past, but I haven’t tried this. I am confident it will work; but, like I said, it’s up to you.”
The information hit Olivia like a battering ram. Parting her lips, she stared at Helena, feeling shockwave after shockwave coursing through her body. David banged his forehead with the palm of his hand. The way that she saw the situation, this was no mere sacrifice. David would have to abandon his other half, and everything that went with it. His super physical strength and his extraordinary senses would become a thing of the past, leaving him nothing more than a mere human. Olivia had no idea if he was prepared for that. In her confusion, she tried to ponder what she would do, should the choices be reversed. But, even that seemed impossible for her. Being a shifter had defined her life and her personality, ever since she was brought into this world. How could she know if she would or could let go of her wolf?
“Do you understand what you’re asking of me here?” David finally spoke, his baritone lowering to a soft whisper when he put his arm back down. “How am I supposed to live without my bear? What if some wolf attacks her again, like they did tonight? I won’t be able to protect her.”
“I’m not asking anything,” Helena countered, shrugging her shoulders. “I’m simply suggesting.”
“I won’t be around to protect, if you don’t do as she says,” Yes, that is what Olivia wanted to tell him. She bit her lower lip, struggling to keep her mouth shut as he shook his head in disbelief. The difficulty in his decision was undeniable. He would have to live with it, for the rest of his life. Should she say those words to him however, she would pressure him even further. More than that, Olivia wanted him to see this painful truth all by himself. There was no value in pointing out that they would break up, if he chose his beast over her.
“Well…” he let out a sigh, turning sideways to face Olivia. “You’re my destiny. I guess now is the time to prove that I mean it,” he whispered, bending his head down towards her. David pressed his lips onto her forehead. Her bliss stormed back into her heart, destroying any hint of doubt she might have had about him in its wake. In an instant, her mind flooded with hundreds of things she wanted to say to him. Still, the overwhelmed Olivia could not utter a word. She could only offer him the warm, loving look in her eyes and a broad smile while a tear streamed down her cheek.
“That’s wonderful,” Helena commented with an appreciative nod. “David, stand across from the table. Olivia, come here.”
The bear shifter released her wrist, and then passed her by. Slowly moving towards the witches, Olivia dropped her gaze down to the glowing book, unable to hold back one more tear. Olivia moved around Helena, in the hope that she would once again live up to the reputation of the legendary witch-protector of Paxton. Kate picked up the book from the table, and raised it to her chest.
“Grizzly beast, hear my call
Break your chains, see the light
Give up power, yield control
No more do you have to fight”
A thick, blinding beam of light shot upward from the book as Helena and Kate completed the incantation. Striking David in his chest, it sent him flying back across the yard. The beam in question stayed on him, growing brighter by the second; thin, yellow puffs of steam rose off his body. One by one, they dissolved in the air, forming lines which made contact with one another. Olivia watched how the steam outlined a large, grizzly bear, hovering over David. The beast tossed his head back a split second before his tremendous roar resounded through the wilderness that surrounded them. Its echo was still lingering when beam and beast vanished altogether. Locking her gaze down on his face, Olivia started forward. Her boyfriend was lying on his back, with his eyes shut, not moving. Although Helena had expressed her confidence earlier, she feared the worst. He looked absolutely lifeless. She fell to her knees beside him, stretching her arm towards his face. Upon doing so, however, something happened; something that she did not expect. A rich, fruity scent flowed through her nostrils, resembling that of a peach. David’s shifter scent was still present, but it was waning. This new smell was so strong that it was only a matter of time, before it covered the old one entirely.
“David?” whispered Olivia, leaning over him, her voice shattering. “Come on, baby, please, wake up.”
His lips parted slightly and his eyes flickered. Olivia gasped, sliding her hand down to his neck. Flexing her arm muscles, she gripped his skin, and pulled him up. She thrust her other arm around his shoulders, holding back a sob when he reached up to put his hands on her waist.
“He’s gone,” David whispered. She kissed him on the temple. “I can’t feel him anymore.”
“I know,” Olivia sighed, nodding at the same time. “I can’t believe what you did for me. I can’t thank you enough.”
“For my destiny,” he corrected her, while she eased back; “For my future with her.”
“Yes,” she sighed, a happy smile spreading across her face; “For our future. Guys?” shouted Olivia, lifting her head, and looking up at Helena and Kate over her shoulder. “Thank you. I’ll never forget this.”
“It was our pleasure,” Helena grinned, brushing past the table. “What you just did was very noble, David. You should be proud of yourself.”
“Thanks, but…” he paused, shifting his gaze up to her. “There’s still the matter of my brothers. I need to go see them.”
“No need for that,” the witch shook her head sideways. “Pardon me for interfering, but I went to Highmount this morning. I ran into them on the street. I said I was a friend of the Alpha. I suggested you meet. They didn’t like my idea at first; but, when I told them who I really was, they agreed to a meeting. They’ll be at the western border of the forest, tomorrow night, at eleven.”
Olivia couldn’t believe her. But then again, Helena was the fearless witch, who had risked her life for the Bradfords, over and over again, going up against the nastiest creatures imaginable. Such an act of bravery was to be expected from her. However, with the prospect of a full-scale battle between her pack and David’s brothers closer than ever, her only wish was that one would be avoided. She knew in her heart that he meant them no harm, despite their crimes against their family. Mainly though, they had suffered enough. They had all seen enough death.
Chapter Twenty
Terror gnawed away at Olivia the following day. She couldn’t concentrate on her work, and she barely spoke to David. All she could think about was the meeting with his brothers. Helena and Kate had given them a chance at a common future, but not even that was enough to appease her. What good would it be, if they ended up dead tonight, victims of his brothers’ reckless hate? The answer was simple. It wouldn’t be any good.
As night spread its veils over her birthplace, Olivia considered not showing up at the meeting. In her mind, it was suicide. With David’s powers gone, she would be alone, against two, far stronger creatures. Even one of them could kill a wolf with ease, which her boyfriend had showcased the night before. Glenn and Sam Hudson had not hesitated to end their own flesh and blood. Certainly, they wouldn’t have any compunction against tearing her and David to pieces. However, she quickly rejected that notion. Sooner or later, they would have to deal with this. It was the only thing that prevented them from having a normal life. Olivia dreaded the thought that, someday, she would receive word that David had fallen prey to his brothers. She didn’t even want to think about running into them, and suffering an agonizing death.
The young couple exited her cabin, fifteen minutes before eleven that night. The moonlight was washing over the road and the surrounding buildings when they left her cabin behind. But, this view was not what surprised Olivia. At least ten, large figures were further down the street, moving away from them, heading towards “Joe’s” diner.
“That’s weird,” she remarked, holding hands with David while they walked alongside each other. “Where are they all going?”
“I don’t know,” he replied, focusing his attention on them. “Look, I still haven’t lost hope. I doubt Sam and Glenn want to lose another brother.”
Olivia separated her lips, ready to give him an infuriated response, but, before she could address him, she spotted a female figure, a few yards away from them and to the left. The woman in question strolled into the light of a lamppost behind her, bringing a smile to Olivia’s face. It was none other than Ava. Unlike her, she didn’t seem happy to see her. Instead, she had a rather stiff expression, and did not speak to them. She did close the distance between them.
“Ava, where have you been?” Olivia asked, using a sweet tone of voice. “I’ve been calling you for…”
“I’m sorry, Liv,” Ava interrupted, pressing her lips together. “I screwed up; big time. You needed me, and I turned my back on you.”
“You’re right, I did need you,” Olivia agreed with a nod, stopping in front of her. “But, I can understand why you disappeared on me. You lost it. Trust me, I almost lost it, too, these past few days,” she added, wrapping her arms around her friend’s back.
“Thank you,” Ava sighed, pulling her close in a tight embrace. “God, I’m so relieved.”
“What are you doing out here so late, anyway?” Olivia inquired, leaning back.
“There’s a pack meeting,” Ava informed her, a hint of surprise in her voice. “What, didn’t you know?”
“I didn’t have a clue,” Olivia retorted, glancing up at David first and then back down at Ava.
“Well, last night, our Alpha and our dear witch paid me a visit,” Ava declared. “They told me everything about you, and your…” she paused, and looked up at David, “... big man here. You gave up your beast for my friend? I think I like you already.”
“Nah, who needs a beast, when they’ve found their destiny,” shrugged David, giving her a big smile.
“Yeah, I heard about that, too,” Ava returned the smile. “Shall we?”
Olivia moved off towards the forest border once more, but, this time, her fear had vaporized. In its stead, was a candle of hope; a candle that her friend’s words had lit inside her. Whatever transpired that night, she would not have to face it alone. She would have her pack by her side. Two bears, regardless of their size, were no match for twenty-four wolves.
As the diner drew near, Olivia could see her comrades. Her Alpha’s voice was in the air, loud and clear as usual. He was addressing them, but as soon as their gazes met across the street, he ceased talking. Unfortunately though, Raul’s was not the only pair of eyes that she felt on her. Most of her comrades were staring at her and David as they made their way through them.
“Welcome over,” he muttered, putting his hands on his waist. “I’ve explained the situation to them. The five morons in Jimmy’s plan said they’re ok with what happened to him. They’re not David’s biggest fans, but they promised to me that they wouldn’t hurt him or you in any way.”
“Thank you,” Olivia breathed a sigh of relief. “You’ve been amazing to me lately. I mean, telling David he was welcome here; a pack gathering on my account?”
“You’ve always been one of us,” Raul spoke in a firm tone, intensifying his stare. “Anyway, should they come out all guns blazing, don’t shift. We can handle this. You wouldn’t want to live with that burden. David, if they become hostile, we’ll have no choice.”
“Attacking you will mean that they’ve made their choice,” David pointed out. “I don’t want to see them dead, but, if worse comes to worst…”
“Ok, I get it,” Raul gave a nod of understanding. “It won’t be…”
The Alpha didn’t have the chance to finish his sentence. A deep rumble caused the ground to vibrate beneath their feet. For a moment, Olivia believed that more than ten bears were charging towards the pack. Yet, in a matter of seconds, she could hear the stampede of eight, massive paws, growing louder as they galloped through the forest.
“Alright, boys and girls!” cried the Alpha, glancing around at his comrades. “You know what to do: For our sister in arms!”
At that, each and every rib in the bodies of the twenty-three shifters rippled and cracked: muzzles replaced their human faces; their fur sprang out; hips reshaped; their legs thinned and shortened. None of them felt willing to wait for their rivals. As their beasts ripped out of their skin, the wolves charged forward, and sprinted past Olivia and David. The two, huge bears emerged from a wide gap between two elm trees. One of them was almost black, while the other was a shade lighter than David’s beast used to be. Their roars reverberated through Olivia’s skull. They rushed towards the pack. Raul, Dean and Ray’s lupines, light-gray, brown and silver accordingly, leapt onto the black bear first, before five more of their pack mates followed. Seven more wolves pounced on the brown one. Snarls, growls, yips and agonizing cries filled the air; the outsiders were knocked off balance, almost simultaneously. Their bodies were crushed against the ground and more, snarling wolves gathered around them. Most of them crouched, raising their upper lips staring at their helpless opponents. Dozens of teeth and fangs sank into the bears’ flesh. Their arms, legs, torsos and throats were quickly covered in blood. They squirmed underneath the wolves. Raul’s beast let out a ferocious snarl while he pressed his paws onto the black bear’s chest. Growls and noise began to subside when the bears’ heartbeats weakened. Dean’s wolf released his grip on his rival’s front left leg. Blood flowed down the bear’s chest. But, the Alpha and Martin’s ash-colored wolf would not let go just yet. They dug their teeth deeper as Raul’s brothers stepped off the black bear’s body. His legs twitched one last time, seconds before his brother let out an exhausted breath. The Alpha threw his head back, closing his eyes. His howl of pride tore through the night, reminding everyone, friend or foe, who was the ruler of this land: The Paxton pack.
Olivia tore her gaze away from the battle, at a total loss for words. What could she possibly say to a man who had lost his two remaining brothers?
“Oh, God…” David sighed, holding his hand to his forehead. “They couldn’t let it go, could they?”
“I guess not,” she whispered, curling her arms around his upper back. “I know this might sound stupid, but…” she faltered. “Are you ok?”
“I will be,” he claimed, pulling his hand away from his face, to cup her cheek. “Deep down, I knew this had to be done. I just couldn’t be the one to do it.”
“I love you, David,” Olivia whispered, gazing deep into the greenness of his eyes, her hand slipping up his back.
“I love you, too, my destiny,” he breathed, pulling her close, snaking his arm around her waist. Once again, she lost herself in his large, tight embrace, letting his rich scent flow through her. At last, they were free of all danger. Neither wolves, nor bears could pose a threat now. Their enemies had perished, paying the price for their excessive pride and their stubbornness.
Olivia reveled in the moment, feeling her heart overflowing with joy. The man of her dreams was there with her, for her, sacrificing the greatest gift nature had offered him, in order to have a future with her. As far as she was concerned, there was no bigger proof of love, no nobler act, or any words that screamed “I love you” louder than that. David was the epitome of her knight in shining armor, the kind creature that could sweep her off her feet with a kiss, and take away her fears with a smile. He had been proving that to her, ever since they met in Shandaken, when his thoughts distracted her from her grief, and pulled her out of her misery. From now on, Olivia would try to reward him, by giving all of her love to the man who had gone up against her pack and his own family for her: David Hudson; her destiny; her mate.
*** The End ***
Book 9: A Wolf’s Time
Sarah J. Stone
Chapter One
A strange peace settled over the small town of Paxton. Following the events of June, Raul Bradford stated to his pack that it wouldn’t last long. They could all see the concern in his eyes during meetings. He was uneasy, and he wasn’t afraid to show it to “the sons and daughters of the mountain,” as he proudly called them. To explain his obvious tension, the Alpha maintained that the bears in Highmount would not let the execution of two of their own go unpunished. The pack had killed David’s brothers. In Raul’s opinion, it was only a matter of time, before a few bear shifters invaded their town, seeking revenge for the death of the Hudsons. He even doubled the guards on the Paxton borders, urging his fellow wolves to be more vigilant than ever.
Much to everybody’s relief, though, retaliation never came. It seemed that nobody in Highmount cared much for what had transpired. No bear shifter even approached the wolves’ realm, looking for a fight or just an explanation for the Hudson’s murder. For Ava, this development was most predictable. The two shifter species might share the same, natural enemies, but they were not similar to one another. Wolves lived in packs. Grizzly bears lived solitary lives. Any notion of a pack was a foreign concept to them. She didn’t know the reasons for that. After all, living in tight groups ensured that individuals looked after each other, and fought for the common good. Still, she was not going to ask “why.” The peace and tranquility in her birthplace was too precious for her to question the bears’ choice. It was their decision. All that remained for her, and her kind, was to enjoy the consequences of that decision.
