《Silver in the Dark》


 Chapter 1

    The slick, sharpened bone rattled around the keyhole in the rust-covered iron padlock. AB Negative 2 jiggled the bone within the lock as sweat dripped from his forehead and into his eyes. The salt burned his eyes, but he ignored it. Time was too precious to worry about mere annoyances.


    ¡°Calm yourself, Negative 2. You will not succeed if you can¡¯t control your nerves.¡± O Positive 125 gripped his arm to still his increasingly panicked and random jabs clanging inside the iron lock. 125 exchanged his grip from his arm to his shoulder and pointed behind them toward the resting places of the other children and teenagers.


    Negative 2 ceased his feeble attempts to pick the iron padlock and caught 125¡¯s eyes. The fourteen-year-old boy should have had dark brown skin and curly hair, but his hair had been sheared to the scalp and his skin was ashen from a life in darkness. He continued his gaze to just beyond 125 to examine the sleeping kids.


    The giant room carved out of pure rock was lit only by the hand-sized glass globes, enchanted by the magic of the Fae. The kids¡¯ bodies were impeccably clean, and they slumbered soundlessly with their faces hidden in the shadows where the fae balls couldn¡¯t quite reach. They slept almost on top of one another, attempting to take whatever comfort they could at the touch of a fellow human.


    The caverns might have been the safest place in the world for human children to live, but Negative 2 didn¡¯t consider their existence living. AB Negative 3 drew his eyes against his will. With her blonde peach fuzz hair, the little girl tossed on her dark green sleeping pad that all the children were given to sleep on. On her slender neck, he noticed old scars and new scabs, prompting him to reach up and trace his own marks of slavery.


    They were much more numerous than Negative Three¡¯s. His fingers passed over the scars on the side of his neck toward his and felt the skin there. His fingertips traced the words and numbers that he knew had been branded into his skin. He had never actually seen the brand, but he knew what the raised scar tissue spelled out. Master Augustus 2320 AB Negative 2. His name, or at least what he had been labeled as at birth. Who owned him, the year he was born, his blood type, and finally, the number of that blood type born in that year. He shut his eyes tightly and closed his fist around the bone so hard that it threatened to snap within his fingers.


    125 released his grip on his shoulder as he followed Negative 2¡¯s gaze to the sleeping children. He let out a quiet sigh and shook his head. He leaned in close to Negative 2 and cupped his hands around his mouth, whispering directly into Negative 2¡¯s ear, ¡°You can¡¯t save them, Negative 2. This life is all they know, and they would rather suffer the familiar than brave the unknown.¡±


    125 uncupped his hands and returned his hand to Negative 2¡¯s shoulder. He added force to his grip, sending a shock of pain through Negative 2. The burlap shirt, as rough as sandpaper, rubbed against his skin, taking the top layer with it.


    He shook his head to focus his thoughts and returned to the iron padlock, which was the first step in their escape plan. And they would escape, or they would die trying. Both knew that this early autumn night might be their last alive, but they were determined by the all-encompassing allure of freedom. It whispered to them in their dreams, echoing throughout the silent caverns when no others could hear. The sultry voice of freedom whispered its seductions in their minds until it had driven them both to the point of madness.


    Negative 2 renewed his desperate struggles to pick the lock with a bone fragment that they had stolen from the kitchens. They had planned this for years as they worked their way up in the kitchens from cleaning boys to finally butchers with access to animal bones. The vampires might not have a use for animal meat, but their precious human blood slaves needed to replenish their iron and other minerals if they were to keep feeding their masters.


    They had shaved the bone down until it was perfectly smooth and rounded so that it wouldn¡¯t pierce 125¡¯s innards when he hid the illegal contraband inside himself. The human thralls, who had lost all free will when created by the vampires, searched their cell every single night from top to bottom. They searched the sleeping pads, holes in the cave walls, the floors, and everywhere else they could possibly imagine something that could be used as a weapon against them or their masters could be hidden. Even the children were patted down over their burlap shirts and pants for any once-living materials that could be used as a weapon against their owners. They didn¡¯t think to check inside the children, though. Once they had extracted the sliver of bone, 125 had rubbed it against an edge on the cave wall to give it a sharp point that could be used to pick the iron padlock.


    Negative 2¡¯s shaved black hair provided no protection from the dripping sweat that ran freely down into his eyes. His sickly pale skin glinted in the dim glow of the fae globes. It almost appeared as if he had long since transformed into a specter, but did not have the awareness to realize his death. He jiggled the bone around the iron padlock until, finally, the rusted metal gave way with a loud snap. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and silently pulled the lock off of the iron-barred gate that kept them prisoner.


    125 gave him a dazzling smile and mouthed, ¡°Step one complete. Come Negative 2, our freedom awaits us.¡±


    Negative 2 beamed back to him, ecstatic that he had pulled off the vital component in 125¡¯s plan. 125 dragged open the iron gate, and they both went rigid at the sound of the squeaking metal hinges that connected to the iron bars. They paused, listening intently for any sign of discovery at their escape. A few moments passed, and 125¡¯s shoulders relaxed. He glanced at Negative 2 with his dark brown eyes and gave him the thumbs-up sign. Negative 2 handed 125 the small shard of sharpened bone, and watched him put it in the hemline of his pants for safekeeping. They stalked outside of the cell and into the hallway as quietly as their human motor skills allowed.


    He clung to 125¡¯s burlap shirt and followed on his heels as best he could in the complete darkness of the caverns. Their human eyes couldn¡¯t see anything in the blackness, but they had memorized this path repeatedly through the years. 125 ensured that they practiced at least once a month during the daytime so that they were prepared for any given night when the escape became imminent. They passed darkened lanterns bolted into the cave walls with inactive fae globes that would normally light the caverns during the day. The vampires needed no light and no humans should have been trying to move around the caverns after lockdown. The Thralls had their own personal lantern they could carry if something suspicious needed to be examined.


    Negative 2 shuffled behind 125 as they took turn after turn in the complex cave system. Some caverns were natural while human slaves had carved others out over the centuries. The only sound, other than their muffled shuffling, was the steady drips of water onto the cavern floor. He jumped every time a drop thundered against the stone, breaking the silence of the cavern.


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    As they shuffled along in the unending darkness in front of them, he heard soft snores coming from somewhere in the dark to his left. He paused his shuffling, and his fingers slightly tugged on 125¡¯s burlap shirt. He felt 125 shift and then heard a whisper directly into his ear, tickling him into a shiver.


    ¡°We can¡¯t save those kids either, Negative 2. They will live and die here, just as their parents and grandparents have done for generations. The vampires will keep them as cattle and feed upon them over and over again until their strength finally gives out. We can¡¯t save them because they are already dead. Their hearts just haven¡¯t stopped beating yet.¡± 125 shifted back around and resumed his careful prowling.


    Negative 2 gave one last sorrowful look toward the cell hidden in blackness and hurried to keep up with 125. They made dozens of seemingly random turns with only 125¡¯s right hand on the cavern wall to keep them oriented. They followed the cavern wall until, eventually, they reached a small notch in the wall. Over the years, 125 had chipped away at the stone with small pebbles until a small groove could be felt in the stone. 125¡¯s head snapped up and Negative 2 raised his head as well.


    He could see it. A small square of dark grey, not the all-oppressive blackness that was forced upon them so far in the caves. The vampires might not have needed oxygen, but their livestock did. Ventilation vents were dug to keep an acceptable level of oxygen so that their human meat wouldn¡¯t spoil. This was the closest ventilation duct to Negative 2 and 125¡¯s cell, and they had practiced this dozens of times over the past few years.


    125 shook free of Negative 2¡¯s grasp and began the perilous climb up to the ventilation duct. Natural groves in the rock allowed him to find purchase and slowly ascend ever closer to the shaft in the ceiling. He was weaker than 125, but he was also lighter. He quickly scampered up the limestone walls and trailed 125 as they finally got to where the wall met the ceiling. The wall curved into the ceiling, ensuring that they wouldn¡¯t have to hang by only their hands during their climb to the shaft. This was the most dangerous part of their journey. Of the dozens of practice climbs during the day, they had been forced to climb down most times before they could reach the duct. They had to be perfect tonight, or it would mean their deaths. They would be hanging upside down forty feet above the rocky cavern floor that would provide no cushion for their fall. 125 shifted and Negative 2 could tell he had turned to look down at him.


    ¡°Freedom or death.¡± 125 smiled down at him and then began his upside-down climb on the cavern roof. 125¡¯s hands found traction in the porous rock, holes just big enough for child-sized hands and feet to get a solid grip. He could see 125¡¯s silhouette in the dark grey, as he watched him approach the ventilation shaft. 125¡¯s legs suddenly swung free as the cavern ceiling crumpled around his foot and he was left dangling by his arms above the cavern floor. Negative 2 froze on the wall and held his breath. 125 swung lazily like a pendulum as he tried to gain the momentum to once again get his feet onto the cavern ceiling.


    Negative 2 silently threw one fist up into the air as 125 finally found another ledge and pulled himself up a few feet into the shaft. As the black silhouette that was his feet disappeared upwards into the unknown, Negative 2 took deep breaths and prepared for his own death-defying climb. It was easier for him to pull himself up, and he put less strain on the limestone ledges with his small stature, but he could cover less distance with his short arms and find fewer potential handholds. He scampered across the ceiling of the cavern like an insect and finally reached the hardest part. He had to pull himself up into the shaft only using the strength of his arms.


    He froze in suspended animation for a split second as he defied gravity and hung from the ceiling. He released one hand and now hung by only one arm as he tried to find purchase a few feet higher. Unable to find another handhold, he panicked as his hand slapped around the smooth rock. Finally, he discovered a sturdy ledge to grasp onto and switched his anchor arm. He found another handhold a little further up and slowly pulled himself up until he could find purchase for his feet once again. Once his feet held his weight, he shook his burning arms, opening and closing his aching fingers.


    From somewhere up above, 125 whispered, ¡°Did you make it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the best climber in all of the southern caverns. What do you think?¡±


    125 snorted, and they began their upward climb toward the fresh air and freedom. Although it was only early autumn, the temperature in the cave system never deviated. The chilly air, combined with the moisture of their sweat, seeped their body heat from them at an alarming rate.


    They had to stop frequently to rest their arms, but they made good time. The shaft was just narrow enough for them to push their back against the shaft wall, wedging them and giving them a chance to rest their arms. They had planned their escape to coincide with the rising sun. It needed to be late enough that the vampires couldn¡¯t follow them, but early enough that they had a full twelve hours to break free of the territory before the following night.


    The shaft resounded with grunts and groans, accompanied only by the tumbling of loose rocks that fell down onto the cavern floor. The ricocheting rocks sounded like the crack of a thrall¡¯s whip on skin, and the boys would freeze their ascent, holding their breath. After waiting for a few moments, they would begin their climb once more.


    The shaft became a lighter and lighter grey the further they climbed and their eyes strained, trying to capture any hit of light that found its way to them. They followed a gentle curve in the shaft and his head rammed right into 125¡¯s foot, who had stopped his climb without warning.


    ¡°What are you doing? We don¡¯t have time to stop. Climb. Climb,¡± gasped Negative Two as he rubbed the top of his head.


    125 remained frozen in front of him and he started to panic as he shifted back and forth, trying to see past the other boy. And then, he saw what had stopped 125 in his tracks. His eyes widened, and he gasped as his eyes found thousands of glittering stars. The stars twinkled in their splendor in every corner of his eyesight. Tears formed in his eyes as he took in the majesty of the night sky for the first time in his life. It was true! The stories were true!


    ¡°Do you see them Negative 2? Do you see why we must risk death for the night sky?¡± 125¡¯s voice was cracking with emotion and Negative two gazed upon his friend with profound respect. 125 was the one who had risked his life to eavesdrop on the Thralls and returned to Negative 2 with wondrous stories of another world. A better world. Negative 2¡¯s mind had been cracking under the strain of his miserable existence, and he latched onto the fantastical stories of hope that 125 weaved.


    He wiped the tears from his eyes that were blurring the wondrous sight of the stars. ¡°I see it 125. You were right. All of your stories and promises were real, just like I hoped they¡¯d be. Just like I needed them to be.¡±


    He tapped 125 on the calve and whispered the mantra they had lived by for the past 3 years. ¡°Freedom or death.¡±


    ¡°Freedom or death,¡± 125 answered the battle cry and began the brief climb to the surface. They finally came upon the lip of the shaft with enough visibility to take in their surroundings. He crested the final few feet of the shaft and pulled himself onto the grass that surrounded the deep black pit into hell.


    He lay on the ground in the soft grasses of the forest, gasping deep breaths and shaking his arms to remove the stiffness and soreness. He slowly opened his eyes and beheld the thousands of twinkling lights that glowed defiantly in the unending blackness. Such tiny pinpricks of light promised so many possibilities in the vastness of space. They proved that there was much more to this nightmarish world than the hellish caverns below them.


    They were beautiful, but he couldn¡¯t give their beauty the appreciation they deserved as a giant pale-yellow ball stole his vision. The moon, in all of its glorious grandeur, hung so close in the sky that he wondered if it was possible to climb to it. It was full circle tonight and so big that he could see the craters pocking its surface. He bit his lip until he tasted blood. If an entire moon hung so close, untainted by the vampires, perhaps, they might find pockets of freedom even closer.

 Chapter 2

    Negative 2¡¯s deep raggedy breaths finally slowed, and he sat up to get a better look at their surroundings. Gentle moonlight bathed them in a subtle red glow, allowing his eyes to pick up some slight details of the terrain. The blood-red colored trees of the forests, warped by the vampire¡¯s magic over the centuries, cast a menacing red glow on the boys¡¯ faces. Subtle fog refracted the moonlight off of the ruby-colored trees, giving the illusion that the forest was expunging a bloody mist.


    He didn¡¯t recognize the location where they had emerged out of the caverns. The crop fields and animal pastures that the humans were required to tend to during the days were nowhere in sight. Furthermore, he couldn¡¯t see the fields where the humans were required to exercise to remain healthy and get a full dose of vitamins from the sun.


    They had chosen this shaft for a few reasons. First, it was closest to their cell. Second, it was the only shaft that had enough natural grooves in the stone to make the climb possible. And finally, the release point of the shaft was the closest to the edge of the vampire¡¯s territory. Even so, they had hours of running through the forests before they would get to the outskirts.


    He couldn¡¯t spot any of the guard shacks that were located closer to the main opening of the caverns and near the numerous private exits that only vampires had permission to use.The vampires would never tend to their humans or guard the territory. That was a boredom best suited for their thralls.


    Truthfully, the guards were for attackers from other territories, not to keep the human slaves imprisoned. Ignorance served as the greatest means of control and as the greatest deterrent to escape. Some human slaves lived and died without ever once thinking of escaping their fate. They were unaware that the world outside of the caverns offered them anything different from their own putrid existence, so why would they risk death and torture for the unknown? Only luck and the eavesdropping of 125 sparked the boys¡¯ desire for a life of the countless possibilities that they now knew existed.


    He strained his eyes to see the glow of a lantern that would indicate a thrall patrol was out there in the darkness, but saw none. Thralls were as strong as two men and could venture out into the sunlight without any penalty, but they were mortal. Any injury could kill them as long as it was fatal. The boys would take the odds of a hundred thralls over one singular vampire. At night, at least.


    ¡°Which way should we run?¡± Negative 2 whispered to 125 and shuffled closer to him for comfort. The older boy scanned the horizon, illuminated by the moonlight, and bit his lip.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know Negative 2. We don¡¯t know which way will take us to a human territory. If we run the wrong way and end up in the Shifter or Fae territories, we are as good as dead.¡± He narrowed his eyes as he continued the scan of the forest and pointed in one direction.


    ¡°That way. Our first priority is to get out of the vampire¡¯s territory. I would rather brave the Wilds than stay here. At least that way, our death will be quick.¡±


    125 took off into a light jog, conscious of saving stamina, and Negative 2 did his best to keep up. They stumbled over rocky terrain, falling and scraping their knees more than once. The roots of the trees seemed to have a life of their own, and that life was malicious, constantly snagging their feet and slowing them down. The crisp autumn breeze rustled the long grass poking up in between the boulders and forest floor. They ran for hours without coming across a single thrall patrolling the woods.


    He was exhausted and his legs were shaking. No matter how deep or fast he breathed, he couldn¡¯t seem to get enough oxygen to satisfy his lungs. A splitting pain in his side made him whimper as he tried to keep up with 125. The older boy was faster and stronger, and he was slowly but surely pulling away from Negative 2.


    If he was left alone to escape this foreign forest, he wouldn¡¯t survive. 125 was the mastermind behind this entire escape, and Negative 2 would be lost without him. He redoubled his efforts and pushed his body to the brink of failure to make up the lost ground on 125.


    125 finally came to a stop, gasping for breath, and bent over to prop his hands on his knees. He held out a shaking arm and pointed. ¡°Look Negative 2! It¡¯s the border. It¡¯s marked exactly like they said it would be. We made it!¡±


    Negative 2 strained to raise his heavy head and peered into the moonlit darkness to discover what 125 was so excited about. Up on top of a rocky hill was a twenty-foot-high ornate sculpture bathed in a blood-red glow. The sculpture, made entirely out of old-world steel, announced to any other race that the lands behind the hill belonged to a vampire coven. It was the vampire ankh. A vampire coven would scatter smaller ankhs around the miles of perimeter, but there was always one that they would build elaborately for intimidation. Just like this one.


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    ¡°Come on. We almost made it.¡± 125 scampered up the loose rock toward the top of the hill and headed directly toward the Ankh.


    Negative 2 scrambled to catch up with him, and they got closer and closer to freedom. During their scamper, they kicked bits of rock free, and cuts appeared on their hands and knees from sticks and jagged rocks. The boys paid no mind to the minor injuries, for what was pain in the face of victory?


    The Ankh towered over the young boys and the metal symbol mesmerized Negative 2 as they got closer and closer. It looked like an upside-down dagger with a three-pronged hilt. The tip of the oversized dagger penetrated solid stone and made the ankh immune to the wind seeking to blow it down. Around the top prong of the hilt, a massive circular band of steel connected to the hilt and wrapped itself above the rest of the dagger.


    The moonlight gleamed and glinted off of the smooth metal of the steel, and Negative 2 could see his reflection. He was skinny, with pale sunken skin and green eyes. His shaved black hair was stubbled atop his head. He turned slightly to catch sight of the grotesque scarring on his neck and gazed, for the first time, upon his brand. It marked him as property instead of a unique existence. He stared silently for a few seconds before moving on. That reflection was his past now. He no longer needed to heed it.


    They finally closed the distance to the massive territory marker and walked up right next to it. Negative 2 looked up and up until he could see the top of it. His eyes widened and he wondered how in the world the vampires had placed such a large piece of metal. It was a testament to the strength of the vampire coven to any who sought to test their resolve. 125 inspected the ankh with smoldering eyes and spat on the tip of the dagger.


    ¡°If we make it to a human settlement, I will make it my life¡¯s mission to eradicate every last vampire and thrall in existence. They will never escape my bloodthirst. I will track them to whatever hole they seek sanctuary in and hunt them down one by one.¡±


    125 stared at the ankh with such hatred and violence in his eyes that Negative 2 shrunk back instinctively. The tinge of blood cast from the ruby trees illuminated his face, painting a menacing sight. 125 spat one last time on the metal sculpture and then began his descent down the other side of the hill into the Wilds. They took their first step of freedom into the even more dangerous unknown.


    125 stopped as soon as they reached the bottom of the rocky hill. For the first time, Negative 2 saw the soft browns and greens of a natural forest and teared up at its natural beauty. The slight breeze blowing through the trees comforted him with gentle caresses.


    ¡°Do you feel it, Negative 2? Our first steps outside of those bastard¡¯s territory. Our first steps outside of their prison. Our first breaths as humans instead of livestock.¡±


    125 took deep breaths and raised his clenched fists into the air. ¡°No matter what happens from this next step onward, we did it Negative 2! Whether we die in a day or one hundred years, we will live and die as free humans.¡± Tears streamed down 125¡¯s face as his lifelong dream was fulfilled.


    Negative 2 clenched his little fists and painfully bit his lip. There were not even rumors of anyone escaping the territory, but they had done it. They had put their lives on the line and had bested fate. They basked in their achievement for a few minutes before once again beginning their trot into the Wilds, which wouldn¡¯t and couldn¡¯t be held as territory by any one race. There was no protection outside of the territories and death could find you from any race and in any manner. Wild and untamed danger sounded better than certain systemic torture to Negative 2.


    They used the moonlight to guide their way for another two hours until they finally collapsed, every last ounce of strength drained from their young bodies. Negative 2 lay limply on the forest floor as sticks dug into his back, but he was too exhausted to remove the sharp wood trying to puncture his skin. He could hear water from somewhere in the distance and wondered how big of a stream would create a roar like that. Maybe it was a rumored river that was said to be many times wider and deeper than the stream they used to hydrate the animals.


    Negative 2 rolled over onto his stomach to ease the poke of the sticks and laid face first on the earthen soil. The smell of dirt and plants was so much more welcoming than the mineral smell of the cavern¡¯s stone walls. He opened his eyes and glanced up. Through the sparse trees that fought with each other to find purchase in the sporadic soil, he could see a glow.


    ¡°Look 125! The horizon is getting brighter over there!¡± He pointed toward the horizon as 125 shifted to glance in the direction he was pointing.


    ¡°Less than twenty minutes, Negative 2. Twenty more minutes, and the vampires won¡¯t be able to track us down anymore. We can¡¯t stop now. Freedom or death.¡± 125 groaned as he struggled to lift himself into a sitting position against a tree. He pulled a broken branch from beneath him that he had sat on and started to twirl the branch between his fingers. Negative 2 crawled toward him and leaned weakly against the tree.


    ¡°We need to rest 125. Daybreak is coming and it will be the safest time for us to sleep and regain our energy,¡± Negative 2 whispered in half a yawn, his eyes already beginning to flicker shut.


    125 shook him roughly and jolted him awake with bleary eyes. ¡°We can¡¯t stop Negative 2. I know you are tired. So am I, but we are too close to the territory still to be safe. Patrolling thralls or vampires returning to the territory late at night might still come across our path.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right, you know,¡± a soft voice answered 125 from the cloak of the trees.

 Chapter 3

    The boys bolted upright with shrieks and pressed their backs against the large tree for protection. The thin burlap of their shirts provided no barrier to the rough bark that scraped their skins.


    Across the clearing, a figure glided across the forest floor silently. Its gait was so smooth and precise that Negative 2 couldn¡¯t tell if it was walking or floating a few inches above the rock and soil. It would have been able to sneak up on them easily if it had desired, for it made no noise that he was able to pick up with his ears. He couldn¡¯t make out the body of the figure in the predawn gloom, but he didn¡¯t need to for him to be able to identify it.


    Fluorescent red eyes floated in the darkness, almost as if they weren¡¯t attached to the body that he knew they must have belonged to. A vampire. They were dead. He let out a defeated sigh as all thoughts of fight or flight were immediately squashed. There was no point. They would die and nothing they did could change that fact. Humans just didn¡¯t have the strength or speed to fight a master vampire, and no matter how much they struggled, the outcome was inevitable. He heard a cackle coming from the direction of the bright red eyes and shivered. The fine hair on his neck and arms stood up in some kind of instinctive human warning of danger.


    ¡°Tell me. What are two young livestock not quite at breeding age doing so far away from the caverns?¡± The vampire¡¯s voice was soft and drawled lazily. It did not need to rush or raise its voice to get its point across.


    ¡°If escape was your aim, you should have taken more care to keep your blood in your bodies. Especially with such a rare vintage as AB Negative. The scent seduced and guided me from miles away.¡±


    The vampire emerged from the cover of darkness and gave Negative 2 his first clear view of the monster. There were multiple master vampires in the caverns, and he didn¡¯t know them all. They also fed in the darkness of the caverns, so he never identified who it was that fed upon him. Only the glowing red eyes sparked familiarity in him.


    It didn¡¯t look like the demon that it was. It wore the camouflage that its kind had used to hunt humans for thousands of years. Humans had no defenses against the seduction of the beautiful.


    It was the most handsome human-like figure that Negative 2 had ever seen. It was wearing a ruffled white buttoned-up blouse that was rolled up to its elbows. The top two buttons were undone and gave a glimpse of the hairless marbled chest. A chest straining with barely contained sleek muscles that enraptured human men and women alike. Covering the blouse was a black frock coat that hung to the monster¡¯s knees. Its black trousers reached down to its ankles, where they bloomed outward in a loose fit over its leather boots. The vampire silently prowled closer to them, somehow not disturbing any of the loose rocks or vegetation in its path. Tap. Tap. Tap. The vampire lightly tapped the ground with its cane and pushed up the narrow-rimmed top hat on its head to clear its view of the boys.


    Negative 2 desperately glanced at 125 to see if the genius strategist had a plan to save their lives. 125 was frozen ramrod straight with such hopelessness and resignation upon his face that Negative 2 truly gave up. His friend, who had been plagued with dreams and wild fancies his whole life, couldn¡¯t even imagine a scenario where they would escape.


    ¡°Full names!¡± the vampire demanded as it closed the distance to twenty feet. Negative 2 jumped as the vampire slammed its cane against a branch, cracking it in half with a loud snap.


    ¡°Now!¡±


    125 took a deep breath and looked over at Negative 2, whispering out of the corner of his mouth, ¡°It will kill our entire cell for helping us escape. Don¡¯t tell it anything.¡±


    125 smiled down at him and patted the top of his head in comfort. ¡°Take solace Negative 2. Our last breath will be that of fresh air and as free men. We will die on our feet with the gentle embrace of the moonlight as our companion instead of a living death on our knees in the smother of darkness.


    Negative 2 stood straight and stared the creature down with his shoulders thrown back. They had reached the furthest anyone in the caverns had gotten in centuries. One day, a young slave would hear about their legend, and it would inspire them to attempt their own escape. And one day, one of those kids would truly make it to freedom. He and 125 would become the stepping stones for the next generation that dared to dream of more. He could hold his head up high and die proud of what he had accomplished in his short life.


    They remained silent in the face of a monster that could kill dozens of full-grown humans with little effort. Their silence mocked the creature who could not get two weak beings to cower at its strength. It slammed its cane against a boulder, chipping off a chunk of the hard stone. ¡°I won¡¯t ask you again, livestock. What are your full names? Who is your master?¡±


    125 and Negative 2 stood strong against this force of nature until 125 began to chuckle. With each passing moment, the chuckle grew in intensity and volume, eventually morphing into a full-blown, howling laugh. The laughter echoed off the trees, making it sound like the forest was joining in on the humiliation of the vampire. The vampire and Negative 2 stared at 125 with unabashed shock and confusion.


    He elbowed 125 in the ribs. ¡°125, why are you laughing?¡±


    But 125 continued his tear-dripping laughter in the face of death. He finally composed himself and wiped the corner of his eyes with the back of his hand.


    ¡°Look at this Negative 2. Did you ever think you¡¯d see the day? A vampire on its knees, begging two humans for answers that are etched upon our necks. Be careful monster, or you will put holes in the knees of your trousers.¡±


    Negative two caught on to the plan and started to laugh himself, pointing his finger at the vampire in abject mockery. ¡°It must be a newly created fledgling to be so weak as to beg for answers from two human children. What say you, friend? Should we be merciful and allow the feeble creature to live?¡±


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    The vampire narrowed its glowing red eyes and ground its cane into the boulder, drilling a hole into the solid rock. It released a snarl that revealed its razor-sharp canines that could easily bite through stone, let alone their necks. It began stalking closer to them, one slow step at a time.


    ¡°You dare besmudge a master?¡± it yelled out with ferocious fury, echoing throughout the forest. It stopped its slow pace, released the breath it didn¡¯t need, and eased the tension from its body.


    ¡°No, I know what this is. You want me to kill you in a rage so that I won¡¯t torture you or your coconspirators in your cell. Do not worry livestock. I will take you back to the caverns, and we will have an eternity for us to get acquainted with one another. No matter how pathetic and unimportant your short lives may be, we can¡¯t have our food source running away from us, can we?¡±


    Its lips spread in a condescending smile that only a being superior in every way would feel justified in using. Its claw-like fingernails clinked against the metal cane as the boys stood their ground with their chins lifted in futile defiance.


    ¡°Although, I only need one of you for the details of your escape, and I¡¯m parched from my journey into the Wilds. If only we were able to stomach shifter and fae blood, I¡¯d recommend the extinction of the human race. But, alas, nature is a fickle mistress that strives to keep the balance of the races for some arbitrary reason.¡± The vampire¡¯s pupils reshaped into long vertical slits and its eyes glowed brighter until it was almost a blinding red. It was on the hunt now.


    125 placed a gentle hand on Negative 2¡¯s shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze of reassurance. ¡°Run toward the roar of the bear and let it carry you to salvation.¡± He looked at Negative 2 with a toothy smile as the vampire pounced.


    All Negative 2 could hear was a whoosh and all he could see was a blur as the vampire used its supernatural speed to pounce on the boys. 125 pulled him back by his shoulder and stepped in front of him. The vampire was on him in a split second and his body went rigid as the vampire sunk its fangs deep into his neck.


    Negative 2 stumbled back in shock and stared wild-eyed at the fangs tearing into his friend¡¯s neck. He could hear the suction sounds of the vampire, stealing the gurgling blood that gave his friend life. The vampire, intoxicated by the feed, paid no mind to the human children who wouldn¡¯t be able to pierce its hardened skin with an iron or even silver sword. 125¡¯s dark brown eyes found his green ones and gave him a feeble smile.


    ¡°Run!¡± 125 yelled at the same time he slammed his hands toward the vampire. One hand held the bone, and the other held the wooden stick. He jammed the weapons with as much force as he could muster into the eyes of the vampire. The once-living bone shard and makeshift stake penetrated the eyeballs with a squish.


    The vampire disengaged its fangs from the boy¡¯s neck with a yell of pure agony and rage. It tossed 125 in a blur of speed across the forest, where a loud thud sounded out. A cracking sound rang out as a tree began to splinter and finally fell loudly onto the forest floor.


    Negative 2 ignored the inhuman shrieks of the vampire whose hands were covering its ruined eyes and rushed over to where 125 had landed. He followed the fallen tree and found the small bundle at the base of the trunk. He rushed over to render aid, but the boy¡¯s spirit was already gone. His body lay in a broken heap, laying on his back. His eyes were still open, staring up at the stars and moon with a small delicate smile on his face, frozen in death. 125¡¯s last sight was that of the night sky he had risked his life to see, and judging by his smile, the risk had been well worth it.


    Negative 2 reached out to the vacant eyes that impressed upon him that the empty husk in front of him no longer held his friend¡¯s essence and gently closed the eyelids. He turned his attention to the thrashing vampire, who was yelling in pain and chopping trees down with its metal cane. Its eyes would heal eventually, but it would take time.


    ¡°You think I can¡¯t find you? You think you can escape me?¡± the vampire snarled as spit flew out of its mouth, making it look more monstrous than human. ¡°I can follow your scent. I can hear your heart beating. This changes nothing.¡±


    All fear fled Negative 2 and only numbness remained behind. He didn¡¯t raise his voice because he didn¡¯t have to for the monster to hear him.


    He whispered, ¡°You can chase me, but the sun is rising. Can you find your way back to the caverns blind as you are before the sun burns you alive? One wrong turn, and you won¡¯t make it in time. I¡¯d stop wasting time with a single insignificant livestock and save your life instead.¡±


    He cracked a stick over his knee. ¡°Besides, you may be able to locate me, but you¡¯ve created a lot of deadly weapons that you won¡¯t be able to see.¡±


    The vampire stopped its thrashing and turned toward the horizon, which was getting lighter and lighter. It seemed to have an innate ability to detect the sun. It slowly turned its head straight toward Negative 2.


    ¡°I am Coven Master Augustus. Master of all humans, thralls, and vampires in this territory. Remember the name, boy. You are not free. Your escape has just been extended a little longer. I will find you no matter where you go or how many years it takes.¡±


    The vampire wiped its bleeding eyes and hurled the bone pick toward Negative 2. The shard of bone blurred in the early morning light and the thrumming sound in the wind was the only cue for him to attempt a dodge. He leaned slightly to the side and the very edge of the tip removed a layer of skin across his cheek before continuing and piercing a large tree behind him. The bone shard was thrown with such force that it penetrated straight through the tree and eventually was stuck wobbling in another tree behind it.


    The vampire smirked at him, with rivers of blood flowing down its face from its eyes. ¡°How weak and vulnerable your race is. A blinded throw based on smell and sound is enough to kill ten of your kind. Although, I am impressed by your luck livestock. ¡°


    It started to back away toward the vampire territory as the sun was rising higher and higher now. ¡°It pains me to think that you didn¡¯t share some of that luck with your friend. But forget about the dead. You at least made it out alive, right?¡± The vampire turned to run. It was out of time.


    Negative 2 allowed his own smirk to spread across his face. ¡°My full name is Master Augustus 2320 AB Negative 2, and I am your property no longer monster.¡± He started his backpedal toward the sound of the river. Follow the bear¡¯s roar and let it lead you to salvation. He would follow the last advice of his friend.


    The vampire¡¯s smirk froze as it realized that its own livestock had escaped and injured it. It tilted its head toward the horizon and took off in a blur of speed, in a race for its life against the rising sun.


    Negative 2 took one last look at his liberator¡¯s broken body, still facing the stars. He stopped briefly to pull the bone shard out of the tree trunk and tucked it into his trousers. He turned on his heel and sprinted toward the sound of the river, not looking back. The warmth of the rising sun baked his back as he ran, and he vowed to the sun, the forest, and the gods that he would live a life worthy of 125¡¯s sacrifice.

 Chapter 4

    Noah sat on the box seat of his canvas-covered wagon, holding the reins of two horses, who constantly bayed their displeasure at the additional weight on their harnesses. Dust rose over the dirt road as dozens of wagons, horses, and soldiers trampled the ground mile after mile. The lead wagons kicked up a fine layer of dust, coating the unlucky wagons and men at the tail end of the caravan. Each of the coachmen and soldiers at the back of the caravan wore handkerchiefs pulled up around their noses to keep from inhaling the dust.


    Every wagon in the caravan flew a white parlay flag that would let the other races know that they were a non-combative trade group. Sometimes the flags worked and other times they had little effect on the violence that would descend upon them. Each of the four races possessed goods desired and needed by the other races, allowing a certain degree of decorum for the trade caravans to travel unmolested. But, the land between territories wasn¡¯t called the Wilds for no reason. The Wilds were governed by none, controlled by none, and enforced by none.


    The caravan was returning to the human settlement of Greenwood on the coast after a trading expedition to the nearest fae territory. The men and women of the caravan, so tense and on guard when setting out, were basking in the joy of well-earned wealth and the promise of safety not even a few hours away.


    Noah sat in the coachmen¡¯s seat of his wagon sideways with his feet propped up. He lowered his brown felt cowboy hat to keep the afternoon sun out of his eyes. His long black hair fanned out into a veil that reached down to his shoulders and covered his neck. His outfit was all-around eccentric. Black trousers, a white ruffled shirt, and a black leather trench coat that reached his calves.


    Laid across his knees was a mixed metal cane that contained traces of iron and silver. The handle of the cane ran horizontally on top of the straight metal that made up the bulk of its body. The tip of his cane was currently flat, but with a press of the hidden button on the handle, a spring-loaded blade would shoot out, turning the cane into a small spear. The blade of the cane had a detachable head that would unscrew and allow him to use a blade of whatever material that his opponent was weak to.


    He currently had an iron blade screwed on as they had just made an expedition to a fae territory. In his trench coat pocket, he held a small metal container that contained other blades should the need arise. Silver, bone, and even wood blades were stored orderly and waited for Noah to call upon them.


    The caravan normally kept to single file on the dirt road to avoid creating a clustered target for ambushers. This close to the safety of Greenwood, however, the wagons had broken rank and had formed a small congregation toward the tail end of the caravan. Noah kept to himself as he listened to the other drivers and soldiers gossip around him. The most vocal of which was a young lad of around fourteen, Lazar. Lazar was a skinny beanpole of a boy who was flushed with the success of his first caravan trip into the Wilds. His bronze skin was even darker than normal after weeks of walking beneath the sun.


    He walked the reins of an extra pack mule with his leather boots kicking up dust on the road. His britches and shirt were full of holes, but he¡¯d be able to afford some replacements after this trip. His black hair was shorn close to his scalp and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t get more than a few stray hairs to grow on his chin. Noah cracked his eyes and spied on the lad from under his cowboy hat, wondering why such a young man would risk his life in the Wilds.


    ¡°Did you see that elven woman? She was the most beautiful lass I¡¯ve ever seen. Forget these human wenches. I¡¯m going to marry an elf when I grow up.¡± Lazar kicked a rock on the dirt path and became lost in his fantasies as the other men and women in the caravan laughed. A small smirk found its way onto Noah¡¯s face, but he didn¡¯t partake in the fun. The creak of the wagon wheels and the neighing of the horses fought to be heard over the boisterous laughter.


    John, a giant of a man with a thick grey beard, jumped off of his wagon and landed in a plume of dust. Corded muscle framed the man and scars could be seen along the length of his right arm. He had an eyepatch over his left eye, but no one had ever seen behind the patch, making many believe that he wore it for ascetic purposes. John was one of the few caravanners who had more experience than even Noah. He commanded respect, and if you wanted to survive, you¡¯d best heed his advice.


    ¡°Oh ho, you think so, lad? You think you are going to marry that beautiful elven teenager?¡± He clapped Lazar on the back, causing the boy to stumble forward a few steps.


    Lazar caught his balance and whipped his head around at John with narrowed eyes. ¡°That¡¯s right John. Just because you return to a cold bed every night doesn¡¯t mean everyone has to.¡±


    The other men and women gave a hooting laugh at John¡¯s expense, but John never lost the sly smile on his face. ¡°I stand corrected, Lazar. You are both old and wise. Enlighten me though, what did this elf look like that caught your fancy?¡±


    Lazar looked off into the distance in a daze. ¡°She had beautiful golden hair, the color of sunlight streaming through hay. Blue eyes a deeper blue than any water or sky I¡¯ve seen. She almost seemed to glow in the forest, the trees making way for the sunlight to illuminate her beauty.¡±


    John and the others gave a moment of silence for the beauty of the elven girl and Lazar¡¯s first love. Raucous laughter exploded out of the caravan, spooking the horse and mules as well as Lazar himself. Lazar¡¯s face flushed, and he pointed at each of the caravanners in anger.


    His arm shook, and his lips quivered. ¡°To hell with all of you. You¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll marry that elf and you can all go home to your ugly wives and husbands.¡±


    This seemed to make things worse as the men and women doubled over, laughing even more violently than they already were. John had tears in his eyes as he threw a heavily scarred arm over Lazar¡¯s shoulder. The lad¡¯s legs almost gave out on him as he accepted the weight of the giant¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Listen, lad. The Seelie territories might not kill us on sight like the Unseelie, but they would never send out their high-ranking elves to trade with low beings like us humans.¡± The other caravanners snorted and began laughing once again.


    Lazar shrugged the giant¡¯s arm off of his shoulder and pinned the men with a glare. ¡°I saw the elf, not thirty feet in front of me. You dare make me question my sanity? I have trained with the other children to build my tolerance to such evil.¡±


    John wiped the smile off of his face and sighed. ¡°Lad, we do not question that you saw an elf. We only question that an elf was actually there. Every one of us has been tricked by the Fae at some point in our caravan runs. The exposure that kids get to fae magic isn¡¯t strong enough to build a resistance to their magic in their own territories.¡±


    The men chuckled good-naturedly. Smith, a man with long blonde hair down to his mid back, laughed self-deprecatingly from his box seat. ¡°I strayed from the caravan to relieve myself one time and thought that I had found a jar full of silver coins. I hid the jar from everyone and believed I had struck enough riches to last a lifetime. Once we left the fae territory, I checked the jar discreetly in the middle of the night. Turns out, it was a jar full of leprechaun shit. Little bastards thought it was hilarious.¡±


    ¡°Tell him, Owen.¡± Smith turned to slap the coachmen sitting next to him on the wagon, who had gone awfully quiet. The pale man with a shaved head was as red as a tomato, ready to pop. He shook his head and kept his eyes down at his reins.


    ¡°Tell him Owen or I will,¡± John threatened with a smirk on his face.


    Owen slapped the front of the wagon, causing the horses to neigh loudly. ¡°You bunch of bastards. You promised me that we would never speak of this again.¡± Owen¡¯s lip quivered and his eyes transformed into that of a starving puppy, begging for food.


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    The men looked over at him with sad eyes and sighed until John broke the silence. ¡°Oh, fuck off Owen. We¡¯ve all been tricked by the Fae. Don¡¯t sit there as if you¡¯re heartbroken your chastity was taken like some young lass. ¡°


    Owen¡¯s eyes narrowed in a flash as his sympathy tactic failed. He blew a breath that displaced the lingering dust in the air and gripped his reins with white-knuckled strength. ¡°Fine! You lot are cruel, unfeeling creatures. I laid with a female satyr. There, I said it. Everyone happy.¡± His yell was so loud that the entire line of thirty-plus wagons heard his declaration.


    A hushed silence fell over the men as they took in this scandalous information. Some of the newer men who had never heard Owen¡¯s story had eyes nearly poking out of their head. Lazar gasped and gave the sign of the cross to ward off such malicious evil. Smith seemed to be crying with his shoulders shaking in uncontrolled sobs.


    Owen had his eyes squeezed shut and acted as if he was in physical pain at the declaration. Suddenly, Smith couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and busted out with a barreled chested laugh that carried across the landscape. Owen¡¯s head snapped up to glare daggers at his former friend. One man, then two, started to chuckle until the rest of the men followed suit. They all pointed and laughed at Owen, whose fury would match an enraged shifter. He stood up on his box seat, and his hand gripped the iron sword strapped to his waist.


    ¡°Oh, sit down Owen. We are only having a laugh. We have all been tricked by the Fae and don¡¯t make me start sharing secrets about all of you.¡± John turned to the caravanners and pinned each of them with a glare. That shut them up fast. John was the most veteran man in the caravan and knew every story about everyone.


    One woman, dressed in men¡¯s clothing of a trouser and shirt, failed to stifle her giggles, which cut across the silence. Owen snapped his head toward the woman.


    ¡°And what are you giggling at, my dear lady Lin? Perhaps the lad would like to hear of the magical fae ointment you purchased to keep your skin pale and wrinkle-free.¡±


    The woman snapped her head up as her giggles cut off in a croak. She hid her red face beneath a large straw hat that protected her delicate skin from the sun. Her straight, long black hair was bundled into a ball beneath the hat. She wore an eyeglass that hung over one eye and held a comically large crossbow in her arms. The men turned toward the best sharpshooter in the caravan with obvious interest. The woman who could stare down a pack of shifters and hit them with a bolt in the eye from a hundred yards away with her heart rate never increasing kept her head down, hiding behind the enormous hat.


    A muffled voice rang out from underneath the hat, ¡°Owen! You swore upon your ancestors!¡±


    Owen snorted. ¡°Eh, they weren¡¯t an honorable lot anyway. Bunch of thieves and rogues.¡±


    Lazar looked between the two of them, bickering like secret lovers, and finally called out in exasperation, ¡°Well, what happened?¡±


    Owen smiled wickedly. ¡°Oh, Lin was taken in by the sprite¡¯s stories of a magical ointment that could slow the time of aging. She spent two full caravan trips worth of silver on the small bottle. Turns out the ointment caused hair to grow uncontrollably wherever it was rubbed into skin.¡±


    Owen chuckled. ¡°Caused quite the panic as we all thought a half-shifter hybrid had snuck its way into the caravan.¡±


    The caravanners roared with laughter, and Owen cried tears of joy as he slapped the side of his wagon. With a speed that would impress a vampire, a bolt thudded into the wood of the box seat between Owen¡¯s legs, impaled in the wood, and wobbled. Owen¡¯s laugh cut off in a squeak, and he gulped.


    Noah¡¯s eyes widened beneath his low-hanging cowboy hat and followed the path of the bolt to see a red-faced Lin slowly lowering her crossbow. Note to self. Do not have fun at the best shooter in the caravan¡¯s expense. Owen became quiet, not finding the humor in his story any longer. The caravan grew quiet for a moment as fear permeated everyone.


    Lin¡¯s small voice somehow carried to the other wagons, ¡°That never happened.¡±


    All the caravanners nodded their heads. She could have told them the sky was green and they would have agreed with her at that moment. Lin¡¯s head swiveled around, looking for another target to shift the attention to. Her eyes found Noah, somehow avoiding all the scrutiny thus far. Her eyes narrowed, and she smiled.


    ¡°What about Noah? He¡¯s been here longer than any of us other than John. How about it, John? Tell us about the time the Fae tricked Noah.¡±


    Noah didn¡¯t move from his position and as far as the caravanners could tell, he was fast asleep beneath his cowboy hat.


    John released a long sigh and shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t do that Lin.¡±


    The other men leaned in with interest. ¡°Noah¡¯s never been conned before?¡± Lazar asked.


    John snorted. ¡°Never been conned before? He gets conned so much that I can¡¯t tell what is a con and what he does on purpose.¡±


    ¡°We once found him bound spread eagle and naked in the middle of an incantation circle. A group of pixies had decided to sacrifice him to their goddess of nature. No one could understand how the foot-tall creatures had overpowered him and tied him up.¡±


    Noah didn¡¯t move, but whispered out from beneath his hat, ¡°I told you I was selling the rope and wanted to prove how sturdy it was. It was all a careful plan to make a sale, good sir.¡±


    John guffawed. ¡°What about the time in the black bear shifter territory when we found you about to be executed for trying to ride a cub like a horse?¡±


    Noah peaked out from under his hat and placed his hand on his chest in scandalous affront. ¡°That cub bet me I couldn¡¯t ride it for more than thirty seconds without being tossed. It was a fair and valid bet.¡±


    John gaped at him. ¡°It was the Alpha¡¯s son!¡±


    Noah shrugged his shoulders. The little arrogant brat deserved to be taken down a peg or two. John narrowed his eyes at Noah¡¯s lack of shame.


    ¡°Oh, you have an answer for everything, don¡¯t you?¡± He smiled. ¡°What about the time the very forest turned its wrath against you after you stole that magical fruit the nymphs had been letting ripen for decades?¡±


    Noah grimaced and rubbed at the scar on his shoulder that still itched. A tree limb had defied physics and whipped around to pierce his shoulder during his glorious escape.


    ¡°Yes, I may have miscalculated on that one.¡±


    The men laughed at the legend of the caravan. Everyone respected Noah because he had risked his life in sure-death situations more times than anyone could count and yet, he remained defiantly living.


    John laughed with his head thrown back. ¡°I remember when you first joined the caravan, Noah. You were a wee lad, younger and smaller than even Lazar over there. You had no fear and threw yourself without abandon into sure death countless times. I don¡¯t know which god you have looking out for you, but you have the luck of twenty men.¡±


    The caravanners cheered good-naturedly, but Noah wrung his hands around his cane with such force that his knuckles cracked. He ground his teeth and closed his eyes underneath the privacy his cowboy hat afforded him.


    ¡°Aye, my good sir John. My luck is the fable of legend and death himself has been unable to intervene in my adventures.¡± He trailed off in a whisper that only he could hear, ¡°No matter how reckless I am.¡±


    ¡°But, but. What did I see then?¡± Lazar asked in a heartbroken whisper. His one true love had been stolen from right underneath him.


    John sighed at the sight of the heartbroken lad. He once again put his giant arm gently around the lad¡¯s shoulder and patted him softly.


    ¡°Same as Owen, probably. One of the Fae probably glamoured themselves into a form that would attract human men. The Fae are a lecherous bunch and won¡¯t stop at mere tricks to bed humans. Seelie may not feed on the pain and suffering of other beings like the Unseelie, but they are far from a harmless race.¡±


    Eyes downcast, Lazar accepted this news with a self-deprecating smile. His head abruptly shot up with wide eyes, and he jumped back away from John while unsheathing his iron sword. The soldiers in the caravan took battle positions, unsheathing their swords as well, and scanned the grasslands for a threat. Lin had her crossbow sweeping back and forth as steady as could be, daring an enemy to enter her sight. Noah didn¡¯t move other than to grip his cane tighter and place a hand in his trench coat around a leather pouch.


    ¡°What is it? Does anyone have eyes on it?¡± Smith yelled from beside Owen in the box seat, who was also whipping his head from side to side to detect any attackers.


    John crouched with his sword drawn, scanning the tall grass. His hand reached into the pocket of his leather coat. ¡°Where is it, lad? What do you see?¡±


    Lazar stood rigid with his back to the grasslands as if the threat was coming from inside the caravan. ¡°If the Fae can use such illusions on humans, how do we know that we are all humans here? The real John may be dead or imprisoned back in the fae territory, for all we know.¡± The men started cussing and spat onto the dirt path while sheathing their swords.


    John sighed as the tension bled out of him. ¡°Lad, the Fae and their magic are the most dangerous of the four races. They are nigh invincible, but we have nothing to fear from them if we stay out of their territory. Their power and very life itself are tied to the portals they originally came through during The Revolution. Stray too far from the portal, and they lose their magic. Stray further still, and they lose their life.¡± John patted Lazar on the back with a sad smile. ¡°Any illusion would have long since broken.¡±


    The coachmen grumbled their displeasure at the false alarm and returned to their wagons to get a few hours of rest before they arrived in Greenwood. The soldiers held their vigilant guard walking beside the wagons and would until they crossed into the human territory.

 Chapter 5

    Noah sat in the box seat of his wagon with his feet propped up and the reins held loosely in one hand. His cowboy hat was unnecessary as the sun was just beginning to set at their backs, but his image, so carefully crafted, would be destroyed without his hat.


    He squinted his eyes at the horizon and was just able to make out a structure far off in the distance. Greenwood. A seasoned caravanner wouldn¡¯t call the caravan a success until they had crossed the walls, but they were essentially in the clear now. He had been on some caravans like this one where they never faced a threat, and he had been on others where all the wagons and goods were lost and only a handful of survivors made it back to town. This had been one of the luckier trips.


    The tall grasslands that the dirt road had cut through the past few hours slowly turned to the terrain of the coast. Patches of white sand were peppered throughout the clumps of grass now. The breeze picked up from the ocean and blew the air clean of the lingering dust.


    The human territory grew in his sight as they traveled on, and Noah began to make out some details of the settlement. A twenty-foot-high stone wall enclosed the entire settlement. Soldiers patrolled the ramparts of the wall, constantly vigilant against any other race looking to expand their territory or make a meal of the humans living within. Rows upon rows containing tens of thousands of spikes stood from the base of the wall to twenty feet out into the Wilds.


    Some of the spikes were bone, others wood, and still others iron. Some spikes even had silver arrow tips attached to them. Each spike had a pointed tip but also had other spikes sticking laterally out with sharp tips as well. Any race that decided to invade the settlement had to navigate the stake field carefully or they would destroy themselves before they even reached the wall.


    The only entrance into the settlement was over a drawbridge that hung over even more spikes. At the first sign of trouble, the settlers had the ability to pull up the bridge, completely isolating the settlement from any attackers. There was just no way to bypass the spikes unless the attacker slowly made its way through the spike field. Noah glanced up to the walls and could make out the countless ballistas that would make quick work of any such foe idling in the spike fields.


    Fields upon fields of farmlands that supported the population inside the walls lined the dirt road. Farmers tended the fields in the last light of day as the caravan passed by. In the sweltering summer heat, they wore broad-rimmed sun hats, but the human settlement compensated them well for feeding the citizens. Men and women paced the edges of the fields armed with swords and crossbows ready to protect the farmers, and more importantly, the farms themselves from any would-be attackers.


    Hunters were emerging from the grasslands and forests from all around Greenwood. Some hunters carried small game such as rabbits and squirrels to feed their families. Other hunters pulled sleds with deer or other large game to sell in the market. And still, others were relic hunters who would search for the ruins of the old world and salvage whatever iron or silver they could find.


    The farmers, hunters, and caravanners all had one thing in common. They were all returning to the city as dusk fell. There were no guard towers or houses outside of the walls. If the human governor himself returned to the city after dusk, the guards would not open the gate. They enforced the curfew with ruthless efficiency, and the drawbridge waited for none.


    Humans had learned hard lessons over the centuries. They couldn¡¯t defend the farmlands. They couldn¡¯t build outside of the walls and expect to hold it. Early in the settlement''s founding, the settlers committed near-extinction-level mistakes and established rules with no exceptions. They just weren¡¯t strong or fast enough to battle the Vampires and Shifters directly. They just didn¡¯t have the magic to counter the Fae.


    What they had was ingenuity, production, and technology. That, along with their vastly superior numbers, allowed them to carve out sections of this world for themselves. Noah glanced over the side of the drawbridge and saw the thousands and thousands of spikes that had taken decades to install. Rivers of human blood had been spilled for this field of spikes to be built. The humans of Greenwood enjoyed safety on the backs of the sacrifices of their ancestors. His horse¡¯s iron shoes clanged against the wooden drawbridge and created a symphony of safety, along with all the other horses returning to Greenwood.


    He gazed up at a stone archway that curved across the top of the gate which led into the city. A giant hammer and spectacles were carved directly into the stone. The territory symbol warned any conquerors what they would face if they dared test their might against the humans. The wisdom to invent ingenious weapons and the crafting to produce them in large quantities. Humans didn¡¯t have magic, they didn¡¯t have physical power, but necessity pushed their creations forward at a rapid pace.


    The caravan was inspected thoroughly by the soldiers at the gate before being allowed entry into the city. Each wagon¡¯s canvas tarp was thrown open and all of the goods were rifled through to inspect for outlawed items. Noah sat on his ¡°solid¡± wooden box seat and tipped his hat to the guards after they had finished their inspection. He sat upon dozens of bottles of fae wine, hidden in the hollowed-out box seat. Greenwood had banned fae wine for decades after nearly a third of the city had become addicted to the sweet wine. Which was why he was about to be paid top silver for the concoction.


    He joined the rest of the caravan, who had already obtained access to the city, and together they went to the Stenneck Trading Company. There, they unloaded the wagons and organized the goods for sale at the markets.


    Some wagons carried fae globes that were always in high demand. Some carried medicinal herbs that could only be found in the fae territories. The magic seeping from the portal to their homeland transformed the very fauna itself and created otherworldly forests. The herbs found in these enchanted forests were so potent that only a master vampire¡¯s blood was more effective at healing injuries.


    Other wagons carried tools that the humans had brought to the fae territory to be enchanted. Farming tools, blacksmith tools, leatherworker tools, and even weapons. The enchantments ranged from sharpening the blade, strengthening the material, or as simple as keeping them from rusting.


    In exchange for these materials, the Fae accepted furniture, silver weapons, and other oddities of comfort that entranced them. Some of the fae would request special orders that they paid a fortune for such as human hair, nails, or saliva. What they did with them, no one knew and no one wanted to know. After they had unloaded the wagons, they lined up to receive their stipend of a few silver pieces. Most professions were only paid by the bone or iron, but the caravanners were well compensated for the dangerous trips they made.


    Noah turned around once the few pieces of silver were clinking in the hidden pouch of his trench coat. He saw John run over to his daughter and grandson. The family hugged and John picked up the grandson with a laugh, twirling him in the air and causing a shriek of giggles.


    He glanced over to see Lazar rush up to a younger girl around eight years old, who promptly threw herself into his arms crying. Lazar patted her back and then flexed his arm as if to show her how invincible he was.


    He looked over to see Smith kissing a middle-aged woman who held the hand of a young toddler. He spied Owen looking back and forth, making sure the coast was clear and slipping into an alleyway. A few minutes later, Noah raised his eyebrows in surprise as Lin nervously glanced around before following Owen. He could see them kissing passionately in the shadows before Owen grabbed her hand and led her into a cabin. Noah shook his head with a laugh and wondered how much trouble Owen was in for spilling Lin¡¯s secrets.


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    The caravanners left the unloading area one by one with their loved ones until only Noah remained. He looked up at the darkening sky and could spy the outline of a crescent moon in the sky. Countless living beings stared up at its majesty, but it hung in the sky, isolated and alone for all of eternity. He stared sadly at the sight of the moon that had once befuddled his mind and bewitched his senses with its magnificence. Now, he felt nothing.


    Noah followed the cobbled streets in a twisting maze until he left the city center and reached the residential areas of the city. The stones of the cobbled street were smooth but uneven and threatened a rolled ankle if he didn¡¯t pay proper attention to his footing. He looked up into the night sky as he heard fluttering and cooing over his head. Pigeons, unseen in the darkened sky, were flying home to their coop. They were highly prized in Greenwood, as they were the only means of communication between human territories close enough for the carrier pigeons to reach.


    Homes that were also used as businesses were closest to the city center. Then came mansions of wood and stone that the wealthier residents favored. They were far enough from the city center to avoid the noises, smells, and urchins, but close enough to gain protection from any attackers that breached the walls. The acrid smell of smoke carried through the air as the citizens lit their hearths to cook dinner. He spied families through the open windows, illuminated by fire or fae globes, gathering around to prepare for dinner.


    He kept walking and walking until his one-room cottage broke into his vision. This deep into the city, he could hear the roaring waves of the ocean that provided an ironclad protection for the back of the city. No fae territories had been found in the ocean close to Greenwood, and the Shifters would never brave the deep sea. They would lose all the advantages that their strength and speed afforded them if they had to swim for an invasion. The Vampires weren¡¯t a threat from the sea as they physically weren¡¯t capable of crossing large bodies of water. The purifying waters seemed to reject their very essence, just like the sun. It was as safe as a natural barrier could be for the humans.


    He tapped his cane against the stone walkway as he followed the path to his cottage. He opened his cottage door and glanced briefly at the small bed and wood table with two chairs. One chair was well-worn while the other was covered in a layer of dust. Besides the bed and table, he possessed a trunk filled with his extensive collection of books, which he had spent a fortune on throughout the years. He pulled an iron key out of his trench coat that he carried on his person at all times and opened the trunk.


    Books of all kinds greeted his sight and he smiled. Some were maps of the known surrounding territories. Others were apothecary books. A few were books that identified herbs and their uses. Some were survival books that taught him how to survive not only in the woods but the Wilds themselves. Still others were books that described the known lore of the other races. Their strengths, weaknesses, and societal structures had all been dissected and memorized.


    His favorite books were from before the Revolution. Few books had survived the supernatural races¡¯ attack on the humans that had crumbled society, but the ones that had cost Noah a fortune. His favorite books were about cowboys. Free to roam the West as they pleased, answering to no authority. He also had a few English gentleman books that contributed to his speech patterns and cane. He had molded himself into a free-riding cowboy who also dazzled with the charms of an English gentleman. The lasses seemed to like it at the very least.


    He sighed, walked over to the wardrobe, and hung his specialty cane next to the rows upon rows of different blades that he could use. He even had a few crude swords of iron and silver and wooden and bone stakes, just in case. Hanging next to the cane was a one-handed crossbow that could fire iron, wood, or silver-tipped bolts. A mirror hung on the door of the wardrobe, and he traced the faded scar on his cheek with his finger.


    Such a monumental moment in his life had almost faded away from sight, but unseen scars had never healed. His slightly curled black hair hung down to the nape of his neck. He pulled the hair out of the way to reveal the tattoos that covered his neck. Symbols and intricate lines of ink hid what his hair couldn¡¯t. The designs blended seamlessly into his scars and brand, keeping them hidden from curious eyes. He let his hair fall back with a sigh.


    He examined his sparse furniture with a saddened gaze. After risking his life for twelve years, this was all he had to show for his efforts. He sat in his wooden chair and unlaced his boots. With a yank, he pulled them off and began massaging his toes. When he first started as a caravanner, blisters would have covered his feet, but now rough callouses protected his vulnerable skin.


    He undressed down to his undergarments and tried his best to drift off to sleep. He twisted and turned for almost an hour until he finally drifted off into the world of dreams that he had come to despise.


    Noah was in a forest that he didn¡¯t recognize. He examined the dark trees standing menacingly all around him. The wind blew through the bare branches of the dead trees, creating a haunting whistling noise. He spied nothing colored or moving in the forests, like everything that had once dared to live had been destroyed. A twig snapped and he whirled around with the flaps of his trench coat fluttering. He raised his cane, ready to fight whatever evil called these trees home. His eyes found the source of the noise, and he slowly lowered his cane.


    ¡°125?¡± he gasped. He dropped his cane and rushed forward, throwing his arms around his friend, but his arms found no purchase, slipping through 125¡¯s incorporeal form.


    ¡°Trying to hug a ghost, are you Negative 2?¡± The phantom that was 125 laughed. Noah stared sadly at the ghost of his dead friend that haunted him every time he closed his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you didn¡¯t make it 125.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t make it? That¡¯s a pleasant way to say that I died so you could escape. I would have escaped if I had let that vampire gorge on your rare blood type. But no, I had to play the hero and sacrifice myself for my friend.¡± 125 sneered, his charmingly crooked teeth had sharpened into fangs. Wounds appeared on 125¡¯s neck and blood gushed down his torso.


    ¡°And how have you repaid that sacrifice? You have no one, Negative 2. No one that cares for you or loves you. The world remains unaffected by your actions and there is no notable evidence to prove your existence to future generations. You haven¡¯t killed a single vampire and hide from their territories like a coward. Your life spits on my corpse that you left rotting in the forest while you saved yourself.¡± 125¡¯s body suddenly contorted into twisted angles with the snapping of bones. Noah dropped his cane and grabbed his ears in despair as he tried to block out the agonizing noises.


    ¡°No, I have kept my freedom at all costs. No family to shackle me down and no friends that could be used against me. I have done what you would have wanted with your freedom,¡± he yelled out.


    125 cackled at his denials. ¡°Why has the luck of the gods been granted to such an unworthy being?¡±


    Noah bolted upright in his bed, covered in sweat. The familiar dream had haunted his sleep for over twelve years. He struggled to throw his legs out of bed, testing that his wobbly legs would hold him, and walked over to his wardrobe.


    He tapped a panel of wood behind his swords and a compartment hidden in the wood popped out with a soft click. A small bundle of silk was tied with a piece of twine, concealing a small object. He unwrapped the twine and pulled out a small, pointed bone. He held the bone up to his face and noticed the off-colored red of the bone dyed from blood.


    He slowly closed his eyes and held the bone against his cheek. ¡°Freedom or death 125, but where is the freedom? I left a prison filled with people who loved me, only to find freedom where no one cares if I live or die.¡±


    He stared sadly at the bone and demanded answers from it. ¡°Was it worth it 125? Some days I just don¡¯t know anymore. I haven¡¯t felt fear since that night. I am numb inside and no matter what I try, that hollowness is never filled.¡±


    His stomach rumbled, and he rewrapped the bone shard, placing it back into the hidden compartment. He had no food in his cottage, as his job often took him away from home for weeks at a time. He pulled on his leather boots and grabbed his cowboy hat that would keep the sun out of his eyes and the rain off of his face, but really served no purpose at night. On his way to the door, he grabbed his cane from the table.


    He opened his wooden door to a still-sleeping settlement. The roads were empty, and the sun hadn¡¯t risen atop the walls just yet. He whistled as he played with his cane and headed towards the central market to see if he could find anything that could fill the unending void within him.

 Chapter 6

    He reached the city center with a few hours to spare until daybreak. Eager vendors were already setting up their stands as he strolled down the street inspecting their wares. Smoked meats, fae globes, medicinal herbs, and enchanted tools were on display, attempting to lure in customers. The blacksmith¡¯s chimneys billowed black smoke into the night sky as they forged the next marvel of humanity. The repulsive smell of the tanners wafted into his nose, making his eyes water. He plugged his nose tightly, picking up his pace in an attempt to reach where the stench could not assault his senses any longer.


    He continued down the stalls until he got to the seafood, which had an entire block reserved. Being close to the sea, and it being the safest option to gather food by far, made the seafood plentiful and cheap. He was an awful cook, so he passed up the raw seafood and headed to the restaurants and pub section of the city. He watched with a pang of longing as entire generations of families laughed and argued with each other while they set up their stalls together. Every citizen had their purpose, but he floated like a phantom through the crowds unseen.


    He stopped at a hole-in-the-wall stone building that offered no sign on the outside to inform customers about the products or services offered. The absence of a door on the stone building suggested that the entrance might be located on the next block, away from the main street. It was a small one or two-room building that had somehow been lucky enough to have an abandoned shack on one side and a horse stable on the other as its neighbors.


    Noah smiled and walked toward the horse stable, his mind fogging. He halted just before he could reach out and touch the barn. His motions began to slow like he had waded upstream into a river. His arms and legs shook with the effort to take that last step toward the barn, but he made no headway. All thoughts were erased from his mind and he returned to the main cobbled street, illuminated by the fae globes. He surveyed his surroundings in confusion, wondering what had happened for the past few minutes.


    He whistled and let loose a chuckle as realization washed over him. The glamour never ceased to amaze him. He walked up the pathway to the stone building in the middle of the two decoys and knocked thrice on the stone wall. A peephole appeared from nothingness in the solid stone.


    ¡°Password?¡± a voice belonging to an unseen man pressed him.


    Noah put on a wide smile and spread his hands out in welcome. ¡°Good day to you Gerald, my good sir! Tell me. Has the rash cleared since we last talked?¡±


    ¡°Password?¡± the voice rose in anger.


    ¡°I have brought some extra potent fae medicine home with me from my recent travels. I told the Fae themselves I needed something for my dear friend Gerald to stop the spread of the heinous rash on his¡­¡±


    ¡°Tell me the damn password Noah, you bastard of a man.¡± The man behind the door slammed a fist against the stone wall, causing it to rattle as if he had struck wood.


    Noah smiled to himself and sighed. ¡°Humans will conquer once more,¡± he responded, with his fist pressed up against his brow.


    The stone wall shimmered, and a heavy wooden door appeared, creaking open. As the door fully opened, a fist flew out of the darkness, hurdling straight toward his nose. He sidestepped the fist as it blurred past his eyes and brushed the very tip of his nose.


    ¡°Now, now Gerald. That was uncalled for. Is this what I get for making a dangerous trip to the land of the Fae to find you medicine?¡± He clasped his chest in faux outrage.


    The owner of the fist stepped into the dull gloom cast by the fae globes of the street. A large man with dark skin and a shaved head stepped across the doorway with a scowl on his face. His body was covered in tattoos, but he was a sweetheart once you got to know him.


    ¡°How is it that you aren¡¯t dead yet, Noah? The risks you take with the other races are such that even a man blessed by the gods wouldn¡¯t survive, but it¡¯s even more impressive that your mouth hasn¡¯t gotten you shanked by a human yet.¡±


    Okay, maybe they weren¡¯t exactly best friends, and maybe Gerald didn¡¯t qualify as the traditional ¡°sweetheart¡±.


    ¡°Come now, Gerald. Everyone in Greenwood loves me as well as every being in the surrounding territories of our enemies.¡± Noah tipped his hat to Gerald with a wink. ¡°Besides, I warned you not to sleep with that prostitute.¡±


    Gerald¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°You paid the prostitute for the night and sent her to my room. I was already asleep in bed!¡±


    Noah rubbed his chin in thought, pouring through his hazy memories. ¡°You know, you may have a point on that one.¡±


    Another fist flew at his face, and he leaned back while holding onto his cowboy hat. The fist flew over his chest and he swore he could feel the percussion of the blow. He stood back upright after the danger had passed and gave Gerald a small smile. ¡°Okay. Okay. I¡¯m sorry Gerald. I¡¯ll make sure the prostitutes are clean before I send them to your room from now on.¡±


    Gerald scoffed and spat on the street. He glanced back up at Noah and hesitated. ¡°Did you really bring some fae medicine?¡±


    Noah entered the oppressive darkness of the glamoured building and felt more at home in the gloom than he ever had at his cottage. Fae globes finally offered him visibility, and he scanned the lecherous scene in front of him. The building served as a gambling den, bar, restaurant, brothel for any gender that took your fancy, and all manner of black-market trading. Alcohol and the promise of banned goods attracted a rough crowd. Both men and women patrons carried a multitude of weapons and partook in whatever vices had overwhelmed their willpower. The den reverberated with the sounds of clinking glasses, cheers from the gambling tables, and rambunctious conversations.


    Noah straightened his trench coat and adjusted his cowboy hat, making sure it was perfectly positioned on his head. He twirled his cane in one hand and put on his most charming smile. He walked into the den and clapped his hands loudly while also giving a high-pitched whistle. The chatter died down as some of the most dangerous men and women in the human territory glared in his direction, eager to see who dared to disturb their good times. Some looked up hopefully at the possibility of a fight to the death to give them the excitement that other pleasures couldn¡¯t provide.


    ¡°Good day, my dear gentleman¡­¡± he paused as a glass slammed down and he heard a dagger being unsheathed. ¡°and ladies,¡± he amended as a ferocious-looking woman with scars covering her face sheathed the dagger.


    ¡°It is I, your good friend, business partner, and, in some cases, lover.¡± He winked over at one woman, who scowled at him in return.


    ¡°Now, I know you have all lost sleep during the past few weeks, wondering if I would return alive from our enemies¡¯ territories. And I just want to assure you all that your prayers have been answered. I, Noah, have returned!¡±


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    He finished with a bow and a wave of his hat. Then, immediately sidestepped the first bottle thrown at him. Curses rained upon his ears as more food and bottles were thrown his way. He dodged a¡­ holy shit was that a dagger? The dagger slammed into the stone wall with extreme force, chipping the stone. His eyes followed the trajectory from whence the dagger came to see the woman he had winked at, smiling menacingly in his direction. He didn¡¯t know why she held a grudge against him. How was he supposed to know that the Fae would find it funny to mix an herb that removed any hair it touched into their highly popular shampoo? Plus, her hair was coming along nicely now. She wouldn¡¯t be mistaken for bald any longer, at least.


    The patrons finally grew bored with their attempts at maiming him, and he headed to the bar. The bartender slid an ale to him from across the counter and walked up to him while wiping his fingers on the towel attached to his waist.


    ¡°Why do you have to rile them up like that? Those damages will come out of my pocket, you know.¡±


    Noah rested his cane over his knees and swiveled back and forth on the bar stool like a child. He glanced up at the bartender from beneath the rim of his hat. Jericho was a short man with quite an impressive potbelly. He had combed over the few wisps of hairs he had left, hoping they would be mistaken for full in the low visibility of the den. He tossed a small pouch to Noah, who pocketed the silver with clever hands. Almost double his stipend from the trading company, all for sitting his ass on top of cases of fae wine.


    ¡°It¡¯s the best way to get business, Jericho. When they need a smuggler now, they will instantly think of me. Speaking of which, have you heard any whispers in the wind?¡±


    Jericho might have been just a bartender in an illegal den, but he also owned the place. He had his hands in every illegal enterprise in Greenwood, and by some accounts, had the power to make the governor move at his will. The glamour he used to hide his den from the authorities cost more a month than most successful businesses made in a year.


    Jericho leaned in close, but he needn¡¯t have bothered as the roar from patrons required him to almost shout for Noah to hear him. ¡°There has been an inquiry for silver. Arrows, daggers, spikes, anything but raw silver.¡±


    Noah raised his brow at the strange request. Normally, he was tasked with smuggling back some less-than-legal goods that couldn¡¯t be found in the human territories. Illegal spells, enchantments, and fae wine accounted for the bulk of these goods. Many people often sought after the extremely rare claws and fangs from the Shifters, which, when ground and ingested as a powder, provided the user with a temporary increase in strength.


    The only problem was that you had to either kill a shifter and pluck the fangs and claws from its body, or convince a shifter to sell you their baby teeth. Both were near-impossible tasks. The most valuable of all illegal goods, of course, was a master vampire¡¯s blood. The blood could cure almost any illness and heal any injury. Someone who needed such a thing would not balk at the monstrous price that it required. Demand drove the market, but desperation set the price.


    Noah had never gone on a caravan to trade with the vampires and never would, but he had traded in the other illegal goods over the years. It made up the bulk of his income. His paltry salary from working as a caravan coachman was insignificant compared to the large amount of wealth he had accumulated over the years smuggling for Jericho.


    A shadow grew larger on the wall behind Jericho, and Noah leaned on the barstool as a bottle flew past him, striking a mirror and shattering the glass. Jericho¡¯s eyes followed the trail until he found the culprit with an ominous smile. Noah shivered. That patron didn¡¯t know it yet, but he had been marked to pay recompense. And he would pay. There was no doubt about that. He cleared his throat and returned to his own business that required his nose to be placed in.


    ¡°Who is requesting silver? The Vampires?¡± Noah asked, perplexed. The vampires had hoarded metals for centuries and weren¡¯t in dire need of silver to defend against the Shifters. Maybe the Unseelie or another human settlement close to a shifter pack? It wouldn¡¯t be the Seelie. They sold silver to them all the time.


    Jericho leaned in close and looked around to make sure none of the patrons were eavesdropping. ¡°Get this. The requestor is from a shifter pack.¡±


    Noah raised his brow in surprise. ¡°A shifter wanting weapons that can kill itself or its pack? Who would request such a package? Maybe two packs are about to go to war over territory? But even so, a shifter would never fight in human form to make use of the silver.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you who my client is, Noah. You know that. This request came by pigeon a few days ago from my proxy stationed in a human territory months away from here by wagon. Do you want to deliver the package during your next caravan run or not?¡± Something flashed across Jericho¡¯s face that he had never seen before on the man. Fear.


    Noah considered the strange request, but couldn¡¯t find a reason that this would be more dangerous or carry more risk than any other caravan run he had made. The sound of iron swords clashing against one another behind him ruined his focus. He relented with a shrug.


    ¡°They haven¡¯t announced where our next caravan will travel. I think we are scheduled to travel to the black bear pack in a couple of weeks.¡±


    Jericho smiled at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about that. I have it on good authority that the caravan will travel to a new pack next. A pack that just happens to be where our client is.¡±


    Noah examined the savage smile on Jericho¡¯s face. He had definitely thrown his power around or possibly even tortured someone into taking this alternative route.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the job. Deliver the package to my cottage before we leave for the new shifter territory in a few weeks. If it is further than the black bear territory, it will be the furthest we have ever traveled, and we will pass by multiple enemy territories to get there. That will demand a high price for transport.¡±


    Jericho shook his head. ¡°There will be no pickup, Noah. The package will be in the caravan by the time you board it. Just protect the wagon with your life and the customer will ensure it¡¯s offloaded when you arrive in the territory. You will be paid handsomely for this job, Noah. Don¡¯t screw it up.¡±


    Noah nodded his head, a little curious at the uniqueness of this smuggling job, but fear wasn¡¯t a companion to him anymore and hadn¡¯t been in years. Maybe he would push too far and his luck would finally run out on this trip, but death would find him as a free man and that¡¯s all he cared about.


    After a few ales and a bowl of some kind of seafood stew, he left the den to head back to his cabin and hopefully get some undisturbed sleep. The sun was up now, and citizens walked in every direction, going about their business for the day. He waded through the crowds, wondering how he could be surrounded by so many people, but still feel so disconnected from them. He passed through the marketplace like a ghost and arrived at the schools and orphanages.


    The kids were out in the yards sparring with wooden sabers and target practicing with crossbows. A line of kids was staring intently at a wooden crown, but Noah knew that wasn¡¯t what they were seeing. They were staring at whatever the enchanted crown had been glamoured to appear as. It was the only way to build the children¡¯s tolerance to fae magic safely.


    When he first arrived in the city, he had stared at the glamoured objects for hours every day. His mind being influenced was the worst type of violation for him. The practice wouldn¡¯t give them enough protection against the Fae, but it was the best that the humans could do in the city.


    Glancing around to make sure he wasn¡¯t being observed, he walked over to the drop box where donations could be made. He dumped all the silver that the trading company had paid him for his most recent trip. This orphanage had taken good care of him when he first reached Greenwood, and he repaid that kindness when he was able.


    There was never a shortage of orphans in the city. Every week, a human or two would never return from their daily work beyond the walls. How they fell, no one could know. The best weapon humanity had against the other races was their superior breeding capabilities, and city leaders encouraged this to keep their numbers up.


    Adults weren¡¯t required by law to have children, but they were required to raise orphans if the city called upon them to do so. Some even opened entire orphanages to do their part in raising the next generation of humans that would stand in fierce opposition to extinction.


    In Greenwood, the unbreakable rule was that everyone had to contribute or face exile in the Wilds. Flashes of his journey to Greenwood as a child bombarded his mind. Exile in the Wilds really meant execution by the Wilds. He gave one last look at the orphaned children, wondering how long their luck would last before death claimed them. It was a shame he couldn¡¯t share his own. He no longer wanted it.

 Chapter 7

    A few weeks later, Noah packed his travel sack and stepped out onto his stoop, ready to meet up with the caravan to travel to the new shifter territory. The sun was just beginning to rise above the city wall; its rays hitting the stones and drying the dew that had accumulated overnight. His cane tapped the cobbled stones as he nonchalantly strolled up to the front of the trading company.


    He was one of the first ones to arrive and was forced to wait for the rest of the coachman and soldiers to arrive. Young lads ran chaotically around the wagons, tending to their duties with diligence. They fed and watered the horses, loaded the cargo beneath the canvas tarps, and inspected the wagons for any rotting wood that could hinder the journey. It was quite the beautiful dance of motions that Noah enjoyed watching from afar.


    Everything had its proper place, and everyone had their specific purpose. A short distance separated him from the bustling crowd attending to the wagons, and yet, it felt as if an unseen barrier divided the air between them. He could see them, he could hear them, but something impeded him from making a meaningful connection with them.


    Above the cacophony of noise, a deep voice called out, interrupting his musings, ¡°Noah! Decided to explore the unknown, eh?¡±


    He looked up to find John heading toward him. That was no surprise. John was a veteran who never missed a transport. The surprise to Noah was that Lazar was walking shoulder to shoulder with him.


    He tipped his hat at the pair. ¡°You know me, never one to shy away from adventure. Though I¡¯m surprised to see you here, Lazar.¡± He stared John down with accusing eyes. ¡°Unknown territories aren¡¯t the place to gain experience.¡±


    John nodded his head morosely, acknowledging the truth behind Noah¡¯s words. Lazar flushed in anger at their subtle exchange and threw his travel sack onto the cobbled streets. A large dust cloud plumed and caused the young lad to cough, trying his best to clear his lungs. Noah watched on with a smile as Lazar finished his coughing attack and wiped his watery eyes.


    ¡°I ain¡¯t a newbie anymore, Noah. I have just as much right to this caravan as any of the other men,¡± Lazar said. ¡°Plus, I need the money for my sister. An illness has found her and she has been unable to shake off its tendrils,¡± he trailed off, looking at the ground.


    John wrapped an arm around his shoulder but addressed Noah, ¡°Don¡¯t worry Noah, I¡¯ll look after the lad and make sure he keeps his head down.¡±


    Noah shook his head in resignation. If Lazar wanted to take the risk, then he wouldn¡¯t interfere. He had done the same and when he was even younger than Lazar was now.


    He turned back to the wagon he had been assigned to and meticulously inspected the reins, horses, and everything else that needed to be correct to ensure he would face no unforeseen problems. The lads were rigorous in their duties, but he trusted none more than himself. He helped load the wagons with the usual goods-clothes, furniture, wooden stakes, and iron. The Shifters needed little from the other races, but the humans offered anything that might pique their interest. Anything to retain friendly relations with one of the few races that didn¡¯t want to exterminate them.


    The magic that coursed through shifter¡¯s bodies could rip apart vampires and fae alike without the need for bone, wood, or iron. They mostly needed some of the comforts that human technologies could bring. He saw no sign of the silver contraband that he would be smuggling, but couldn¡¯t slink away to ask Jericho. It was either loaded in his box seat like Jericho had promised, or it wasn¡¯t.


    As Noah took his seat behind his horse, he felt the familiar shuddering of the apparent solid wooden seat. He glanced around, making sure no unwelcome eyes were upon him. He shifted the top of the seat and was able to pry the top panel of wood off. The hollowed-out compartment that normally carried illegal goods was empty.


    Wherever Jericho had hidden the contraband of silver weapons, he didn¡¯t even want his inside man to know its location. He returned the pane and sat on his box seat with his cane resting across his outstretched legs. He attempted to shake off his uneasiness at the uniqueness of this job. Danger was so much easier to face when it was visible. Jericho had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep this smuggling operation quiet from even his own men. Who or what could inspire such caution from the criminal overlord?


    Noah waited for fear to course through him at the unknown danger that could take his life if all didn¡¯t go according to plan. He couldn¡¯t feel it. Within him, he could only sense the slight excitement at risking his life. One of the few things that still made him feel alive, and he would cling to it vigorously, or suffer a living death.


    By midmorning, the caravan set off, eager to cover some distance before being compelled to stop by the darkness. Noah¡¯s wagon was once again located at the rear of the caravan and the usual caravanners kept him company. The sun sweltered down on them mercilessly, creating a shimmering mirage in the air. He kept his hat pulled low and the collar of his trench coat popped high to protect his pale skin from the sun¡¯s fury.


    The trading company had announced their destination for this caravan just this morning. The Baleful Fiend Pack. Not the most welcoming or peaceful name for a shifter pack they were voluntarily heading straight toward. The word around the caravan was that the pack was hundreds of wolves strong and was one of the most domineeringly powerful forces in the entire region.


    The journey would take their slow-moving wagons three weeks each way, maybe a little less if they pushed the horses. At some point, the danger of traveling long distances in the Wilds outweighed the benefits of new trading partners, but it seemed like that point had not yet arrived.


    There was a closer shifter pack he had traded with over the years, but that pack was dying out. Their numbers were barely sufficient to hold a territory effectively and dwindled each year. The bears would eventually have to leave their territory and merge with a larger bear pack; if they could find one. Otherwise, they risked becoming a roaming band of unaligned bears, braving the Wilds with no territory to mate in safety.


    If Greenwood wanted to continue its quest for allies, they would have to take the chance on this flourishing wolf pack. Of course, not even the safety of allies spurred action more than the opportunity for wealth. Shifter territories were famous for the rare tea herbs that were the beverage of choice for many humans. Only with the Shifter¡¯s innate magic cultivating the land would the precious herbs grow. It was a big industry, and where money flowed, dangers would be ignored.


    The wagons creaked along the rutted dirt road at a slow, but ever-steady pace. An unnatural silence had descended upon the caravan, and it was deafening. The usually boisterous soldiers and coachmen were subdued; their heads constantly scanning the terrain for potential threats. The caravan had never traveled this far into the Wilds before from Greenland, and most weapons had not rested in their sheathes since they departed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry lad, shifter territories are the safest to visit for humans. They don¡¯t want our blood like the Vampires or our bodies and souls like the Fae. They stick to themselves and won¡¯t attack us for no reason.¡± Noah lifted his head to watch John reassure Lazar, who looked a bit nervous as they started their long journey.


    ¡°I¡¯m not scared of the Shifters, John!¡± Lazar argued, but his shaking hands betrayed him.


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    John stopped Lazar¡¯s march with an outstretched arm that was almost as big as Lazar¡¯s thighs. He looked over at the lad with a serious expression on his face. ¡°You should be, lad. Bravery is all well and good until it is achieved through ignorance. Don¡¯t let your pride cloud your vision of reality.¡±


    John lowered his arm, which allowed Lazar to resume his march. The other caravanners kept silent with stoic faces at the rebuke. John walked closer to Lazar as if he was guarding the lad instead of the wagons he was paid handsomely to protect.


    ¡°The Shifters are an indomitable foe when attacking as a pack. You would be wise to acknowledge their power instead of blustering your way around it,¡± Smith chimed in from atop his wagon. Lazar nodded with a flushed face at the public admonishment from all sides, but embarrassment now could save his life later.


    At dusk, the caravan finally stopped to rest the horses for the night after traveling a respectful distance during the day. They pulled the wagons into small circles along the dirt road, with each circle having soldiers standing watch from atop the box seats. A second wouldn¡¯t go by during the night without a soldier stationed atop the wagons with their crossbows at the ready. A regular rotation would keep them fresh and alert during their brief shifts.


    Noah inspected the guard¡¯s crossbows and nodded when he saw that every single loaded bolt was made of bone or wood. A fae or shifter ambush would be devastating to the caravan, but a vampire coven passing through? Complete annihilation.


    The tradesman and coachmen were protected inside the circles of wagons and fires were lit to keep the eerie dark at bay. They sat around the fire, drinking ale and munching on smoked meats and fish. All of them did their best to ignore the pitch blackness surrounding them, just beyond the flickering light of the fire.


    Lazar had been trying and failing to keep pace with the older caravanners. The half-drunk cup of ale in his hands sloshed as he swayed and tried to remain upright. His constant hiccups brought much-needed chuckles amongst the tense travelers.


    Lazar leaned forward and attempted to clink his cup against Owen¡¯s full one, causing the ale to slosh over the rim.


    ¡°Cheers my good man!¡± he drunkenly slurred.


    Owen scowled at the inebriated lad. ¡°You won¡¯t have to worry about the shifters if you keep up with your annoyances.¡±


    Lazar either didn¡¯t understand his words or ignored them. His arms flew up into the air, spilling the rest of the ale in his cup. His obnoxious voice rang out, much too grand for the conversation. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why do we have to go so far away to trade with these wolves? Was the closer bear pack destroyed?¡±


    ¡°Blah. No one attacks a territory. The territories have been entrenched for too long now for a foreign force to dislodge them. It would be mutual destruction if someone waged an all-out war against a pack. Another power would swallow the victor up within a month after a conflict of such magnitude.¡± John spit into the fire, causing it to hiss.


    He appeared to be sulking as he watched the coachmen drinking their ales. His throat swallowed dramatically every time a caravanner sipped their alcohol. Shaking hands and darting eyes revealed the hold alcohol had taken on his mind and body over the years. But no matter how much he needed alcohol, he would have to remain sober for his watch atop the wagons later in the night. Lives depended on his clear mind, and he wasn¡¯t so far gone as to abandon his duty.


    ¡°Then why are their numbers so low that we have to brave the Wilds to find a new pack?¡± Lazar insistently slurred.


    Noah raised his hat off of his face where it had been resting. He propped his boots up closer to the fire until he could feel the heat through the leather soles. ¡°Because of their magic,¡± he answered vaguely towards the lad.


    ¡°Magic? What magic does a shifter have? All they do is rip their foes apart with their teeth and claws. I¡¯ve never heard of them using magic,¡± Lazar asked with wide eyes. He tipped his cup into his mouth and frowned when no liquid wetted his parched tongue. He examined his empty cup, then looked around the circle like he was looking for the fae trickster that had stolen his ale. Noah smiled at the lad¡¯s antics, recalling his first experience with alcohol.


    ¡°No, no. You are thinking of fae magic, but each of the other two races are magical in their own ways. The Vampires are immortal and can heal from any wound not caused by something that was once living. In return for their powers, they have been scorned by the sun, unable to bear its majesty. Deep water does not suffer their presence and prevents them from crossing,¡± Noah said with his best storyteller¡¯s voice as Lazar¡¯s eyes went wide.


    ¡°Shifters can shapeshift in an instant. They are monstrous beasts that are almost as fast and strong as vampires. But nature does not give without taking. Shifters must find a mate that resonates with their magic on a mystical level. If they don¡¯t find that mate, they can¡¯t procreate.¡± Noah leaned back, whistling in amazement at his own story.


    Lin had removed her comically large straw hat and her silk black hair hung down to her waist. No ale would dare find its way into her hand, and she nursed a cup of warm tea. The sorrow etched upon her face was both personal and painful. ¡°Imagine that. No matter how much you love someone and no matter how many times you have sex, if they aren¡¯t your mate, you can¡¯t get pregnant.¡±


    Smith hooted while he sharpened his silver dagger. ¡°Sounds like a blessing to me!¡±


    All the men laughed in agreement, clanging cups and spilling their ales. Lin¡¯s head didn¡¯t raise, her eyes downcast. Her fingers clenched around her mug, knuckles whitening.


    ¡°Not if your race is dying out,¡± Noah said in a somber whisper, breaking the merriment of the men. The laughter died down as they considered the implications of his words. An extinction that you could see coming for hundreds of years, but all you could do was wait patiently for it to claim you.


    ¡°Then why is this pack so special? Why are they thriving so much when most packs are on the decline?¡± Lazar asked, his voice nearly inaudible due to his slurring.


    Noah had heard almost nothing about this pack and couldn¡¯t answer the lad, but apparently, word had reached John¡¯s veteran ears. Leaning forward, the large man commanded their attention. The flickering shadows from the flames cast a hue of mystery upon his face. The caravanners focused on his only visible eye that held stories only experience could weave.


    ¡°There are rumors of a mighty alpha so powerful that he has been able to combine packs for decades. The Baleful Fiend Pack just laid down its roots in a territory only a few decades ago. Before that, they were a wandering pack that conquered other shifter territories with impunity.¡±


    The caravanners were silent as they leaned in to capture every one of John¡¯s words. The crackling of the fire accompanied his tale, creating a perfect setting for mysterious tales.


    ¡°No human knows how it works, but the magic of the shifter identifies a mate more often than you might believe. Otherwise, the odds of them finding their one and only mate would be near zero. Many believe the shifter¡¯s magic searches for a mate that nature deems as the perfect companion to help them achieve their goals in life. More wolves means more options for nature to choose their perfect partner. The more wolves that resonate, the more offspring that will be added to the pack.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t they just attack a human settlement, then? There are thousands and thousands of humans for them to check if their magic resonates,¡± Lazar asked.


    Noah smiled as he pulled his feet further away from the fire, his boots beginning to smoke. ¡°And what would their magic resonate with? Humans don¡¯t have magic. Maybe it is possible with a fae, but humans aren¡¯t prospective mates for shifters.¡±


    Owen interjected, ¡°The Shifters should just combine their packs and territories. That would solve their low birth rates.¡±


    Some men sitting around the fire nodded their heads at the logic. Noah shook his head and made to correct Owen, but John beat him to it. ¡°You are thinking like a human. Humans gather in numbers for safety. Shifters will only gather if there is an alpha strong enough to rule them and no alpha has been strong enough to unite that many packs and territories.¡±


    Lin, who had recovered from her earlier melancholy, had been moving closer and closer to Owen as the night went on. They were brushing legs at this point, and Noah waited for the other caravanners to catch on to their little tryst. She pulled back her lips into a sneer and spoke with a voice as hard as iron, ¡°Let them die out then. One less enemy for humanity in the future.¡±


    Lazar cheered with a fist in the air. Noah frowned at the common sentiment amongst the humans.


    ¡°Shifters are the least likely to attack humans, and they remain our biggest allies against the Vampires. If there was one race to die out, I wouldn¡¯t hope that it was them.¡± He leaned back and placed his hat over his eyes, done with the conversation.


    Most humans were black and white in their thinking. Are they human? If not, kill them all. They were forgetting simple facts, though. Most of the Shifters and some of the Fae were quite peaceful and brought many benefits to the humans. Not to mention the fact that during the Revolution when humanity was at the height of its power, the alliance of the supernatural races utterly destroyed the humans. What made them think they could defeat them now?

 Chapter 8

    After a hard couple of weeks on the road, the caravan was on the last leg of its journey; only a few hours from the pack symbol that would mark the boundary of the wolves¡¯ territory. The sands of the coast had changed to tall grasslands and finally to the thin forests that they found themselves in. The trees were spaced far apart from one another, creating clearings on either side of the road every so often.


    A drizzling rain soaked the caravanners from head to toe, making the last week of their travels absolutely miserable. Even in the late summer heat, the rain sapped the warmth from their bodies no matter how hard they tried to keep dry. The sky was an overcast grey and droplets clung to the vegetation of the forest, making them appear more vibrant with their lively green coloring.


    The dirt road had become a slush of mud that slowed their wagons to a crawl, but at least kept the dust from rising. Noah looked toward the front of the caravan and saw that another wagon had gotten stuck in the deep ruts of the mud. Soldiers and coachmen were attempting to push the wagon free, but progress was slow.


    ¡°Fuck this godforsaken weather. It has rained for a week straight! Have any of you heathens pissed off the gods recently? This is more reminiscent of a curse than natural weather.¡± Owen kicked the side of the wagon in frustration, a loud thump ringing out to break the morose silence of the caravanners. Smith, who sat atop the wagon, juggled the flask he was attempting to hide inside his jacket.


    ¡°You bastard. This is the last of the fae wine I packed for the trip. And trust me, I will defend this wine over your life, no questions asked.¡±


    Owen scoffed and spat in the mud. Lin walked on the opposite side of the wagon that Smith drove. Her crossbow, as always, was at the ready. The rain rendered her eyeglass useless, covering it in smearing moisture.


    Noah sat atop his wagon with his hat over his eyes, attempting to take a nap. Rain pelted his cowboy hat and dripped off of the rim onto his lap, startling him each time the cold liquid hit his trousers. Nightmares had not been kind to him on this journey, and he needed to grab bits of sleep whenever he could.


    John and Lazar walked shoulder to shoulder in between the wagons. Neither was in the mood for any conversation and remained silent.


    Noah¡¯s ears flickered as he heard a whooshing sound cutting through the air. He jumped up from his seat in an instant, lifting his hand crossbow toward the noise. He was just in time to witness a crude-looking stone arrow penetrate directly into John¡¯s neck. John¡¯s eyes went wide as blood gurgled out of the hideous wound in his throat. His hands fumbled at his neck, attempting to stop the blood flowing in rivers down his chest.


    Noah watched in horror as the light in John¡¯s eyes slowly dimmed. The twenty-year veteran of more caravan runs than all of them combined fell to the mud with his sword still sheathed. His dignity couldn¡¯t be salvaged as his face slammed into the mud with a sickening squish. The wizened old man, a mentor to them all, was finally captured by death and fell still.


    Noah jumped down from his box seat and took cover behind the wagon from the direction the arrow had come from. More arrows rained down upon them as the humans took shelter. He grabbed Lazar, who hunched over John¡¯s corpse in a daze. His shaking hands pressed against his mentor¡¯s chest and throat, trying to staunch the blood flow of the corpse.


    He pulled Lazar off of his feet and dragged him through the mud to cover. The pounding of dozens of arrows thudding into the sides of the wooden wagons informed him how big the force of this ambush actually was. This wasn¡¯t one or two attackers. It must have been dozens, if not hundreds, of enemy combatants. Chaos erupted among the caravan soldiers, who scrambled to take cover.


    As he waited for the volley to finally end, he rubbed the little leather pouch in his trench coat pocket. Screams of agony and panic rang out up and down the caravan line, competing with the thudding of arrows for the attention of their ears.


    The horses attached to his wagon fell in an earthshaking shudder, and he could see the dozens of arrows sticking out of their corpses. The enemy was numerous enough to hit the entire caravan line, dozens of wagons long, all at once. For an enemy force of this size who attacked without warning, there would be no escape. They had to fight, and they had to win if they wanted to survive. He peaked around the wheels of his wagon as the arrows thudding into the side of the wagon slowed. He cursed.


    Through the mist and gloom, all kinds of ghastly creatures appeared out of the woods. Goblins threw their bows to the ground and hoisted their stone hatchets high above their head. Red hats licked the blades of their scythes, anticipation gleaming in their eyes. The banshee shrieked her potent wails that had the humans closest to her bleeding from their ears. Even a few massive trolls emerged from the forest, awaiting the command for the carnage to ensue.


    ¡°Iron! Iron! Iron!¡± he yelled at the top of his lungs. The call to arms was repeated down the caravan line, and soldiers hurried to exchange their silver weapons for iron. They had been caught unprepared, armed for shifters, not fae.


    A quick glance revealed the absence of any magic using creatures such as hags, elementals, or a Prince. The Unseelie Fae shouted a battle cry and charged toward the humans hiding behind their wagons. Noah raised his brows in confusion. They were slow. Much slower than they should have been. The portal of their territory must be quite a distance from the battlefield.


    The goblins stood lower than his waist and were a dark leathery green with open sores covering their bodies. They charged with their stone hatchets raised above their heads, sprinting as fast as their short legs allowed. They were sentient, but just barely.


    He stood up from behind the wagon and began firing iron cross bolt after iron cross bolt at the charging creatures. The bolts easily felled the goblins, but the trolls seemed to shrug off the bolts, no worse for the wear. He dove behind his wagon as a few arrows slammed into the wood right where his head had just been.


    Gasping for breath, he glanced at his comrades. Lin was a wondrous sniper of death. Her crossbow never missed, and her bolts penetrated the goblins one after the other. Her talent was so immense that she was single-handedly giving the humans a chance in this battle.


    Unfortunately, the banshee commanding the enemy forces thought so, too. A haunting wail pierced above the noise of the battle. A troll answered her call with a roar, picking up speed and charging the wagon providing Lin cover. It smashed straight through the wood with its massive wooden club and flung Lin in a crunch of bones into the trees behind them.


    Owen stared frozen at the copse of trees that Lin had disappeared into and lost himself in bloodlust. With an inhuman shriek, he charged the troll with his iron sword. While ducking and diving around the troll, he kept stabbing and stabbing, always staying just out of its club¡¯s path. He just wasn¡¯t able to cause enough damage to bring the troll down. He would tire and lose the ability to outmaneuver the troll before he could kill it.


    The sky blue troll stood many heads taller than the humans, even with the hunch in its back. Long ears twitched atop its head, and a feline-like tail swung behind it. The air vibrated as the troll¡¯s swing passed by, promising to splatter anyone unlucky enough to be struck.


    Noah pulled out his leather pouch from his trench coat and shook the contents onto the back of his hand. He shaped a line of powder containing the crushed remnants of fangs onto his hand. The same baby fangs that the bear cub had lost to him in their gamble.


    It wouldn¡¯t give him the power of an adult shifter¡¯s powder, but it would give him the strength of a bear. He covered one nostril and snorted the entire mixture in one deep inhale. His nose burned and blood started to drip from his nostril.


    As the substance entered his bloodstream, his body instantly went rigid. His veins pulsed and his muscles attempted to tear through his skin. His pupils grew to cover his irises, removing any hit of their bright green coloring. He couldn¡¯t contain the power coursing through his veins and roared, drowning out the sounds of the battlefield.


    He picked up his cane and tapped a symbol halfway down the shaft. An enchantment glowed, and the cane became sturdier and lighter as the fae magic coursed through it. With the iron blade screwed in, he launched himself in a blur at the troll. The troll suffered from many superficial wounds from Owen¡¯s sword, but vitality still flowed strongly through it. Not for long, though.


    Noah appeared behind the troll and leaped higher than any human normally would be able to. He rose until he was even with the troll¡¯s neck and skewered his cane through its throat, its rough and protective hide barely even slowing the iron spear. The monster grabbed at its throat and fell to its knees. Noah grabbed Owens¡¯s sword from his hands in a blur and swung with all his might, decapitating the troll. A fountain of blood geysered up into the air, but Noah¡¯s felt cowboy hat redirected the spray away from his face.


    He turned from the fallen troll to survey the battlefield. He didn¡¯t have much longer, and when the drug wore off, he would essentially be powerless for the rest of the battle. In the next minute or so, he had to make a difference that would turn the tide of the battle. His eyes surveyed the goblins, who, although dangerous with large numbers, weren¡¯t an existential threat to the humans.


    He turned to a battalion of red caps that stood only to his waist, not much taller than the goblins. They looked like wizened gnomes but gleaming scythes in their hands ruined that comparison. Their hats weren¡¯t naturally red, but the blood of past enemies had soaked and stained the fabric. The goblins enjoyed war, but the red caps needed it. A red cap only became fertile for a few hours after their bloodthirst was sated in battle. Their very existence as a species demanded that they fight and kill for eternity.


    He shook his head, dismissing the red caps. They were powerful, but he needed a target that he could dispose of in a matter of moments. He turned to the lone Fachan that was dispatching guards one after the other. The hideous monstrosity was both large and powerful, and he marked it as his prey.


    He blurred to the Fachan, ignoring the goblins and red caps that attempted to block his way. He approached the Fachan at breathtaking speed and it enlarged in his enhanced vision. His feet kicked up mats of mud, and he gripped his cane as tight as he could with his enhanced strength. Rain and blood had slicked his cane, and it threatened to slip through his fingers.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    A creature straight from the nightmare realm stood before him. It had an enormous gaping mouth on its forehead, with teeth similar to a shark. A long tongue lolled limply out of its mouth, slithering over its singular eye. The tongue kept the oversized eyeball that made up the majority of its torso, moisturized as it had no eyelid.


    Just below the eye was one incredibly muscular arm, jutting out from where its stomach would have been on a normal creature. The entire amalgamation stood atop one leg that hopped vast distances at incredible speeds. His cane flashed out in a jab and compressed the air with its speed. He directly pierced the bulbous eye of the Fachan with a sickening squelch. Fluid that he didn¡¯t have a name for splashed onto him, covering his prized trench coat and ruffled shirt.


    The monster covered the eyeball with its one arm and shrieked with pain so loudly that the wooden wagons rattled. Noah reared back with Owen¡¯s sword and swung in a wide arc, hoping to bisect the creature, but the Fachan wasn¡¯t feared for no reason. It hopped back on its one leg quicker than his sword moved through the air. The creature bent down to pick up a large club and swung it at Noah in a shocking display of power.


    Noah dodged as the club completely exploded the wagon behind him. Wood splintered through the air as Noah slid into a duck under the Fachan¡¯s follow-up swing. His slide on the muddy ground carried him behind the Fachan, and he sliced with his sword, amputating the foot at the knee. The Fachan toppled to the ground, and Noah wasted no time, plunging his cane into the eye and torso of the creature again and again until it became an unrecognizable unmoving mass of flesh.


    As the humans cheered at his victory, he turned to survey the battlefield for his next target. The goblins and redcaps would have to be dealt with by the soldiers, and the banshee was too far back behind enemy lines for him to target. Regardless, the only real threat she posed was causing disorientation with her shrieks


    During his survey, his knees wobbled, and he used his cane to prop his body up. Streams of blood from his eyes blocked his vision. His time was up. He fell to the mud on his stomach with his chin propping up his head so that he could still see the battlefield. He wouldn¡¯t be able to move for at least ten minutes and would be weak for hours afterward. His role in this battle was over and some other hero would have to emerge to save them.


    Then he heard a sound that made him shiver; his body¡¯s natural warning to the presence of a predator. The roar of the battlefield died down and even the banshee became silent. The goblins and red caps retreated, shaking in fear. Through the trees, a silhouette appeared. It was a little larger than a man, but not by much, and it was humanoid.


    If this was an Unseelie Prince, then they were already dead. Even this far from the portal, a prince would be an unstoppable force that would slaughter each and every one of them. They were a tier above even the strongest alpha and oldest master vampire while in their own territories and next to their portals. The silhouette slowly came into focus as the unknown horror crept closer to the battlefield.


    Noah felt torn between a sigh of relief that it wasn¡¯t an unseelie prince and a sigh of resignation because it mattered little. The new creature would squash the human¡¯s pathetic resistance by itself. A fast-paced clicking noise skittered across the silent battlefield and shouts of despair from the humans rang out as they discovered what fresh nightmare they faced.


    Noah¡¯s eyes inspected the creature, and he saw the leathery grey skin pulled so tight across its bones that it pulled back its nose and eyes into reptilian slits. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of hair on the abomination which allowed for all of its sharp-angled bones to protrude its skin at weird angles.


    The monster clicked through a lipless circular mouth that had rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. All of this was terrifying enough, but that¡¯s when Noah and the other humans confirmed their worst fears. A second face seemed to be trying to emerge from its chest before disappearing back into the skin again. An outline of a fist emerged from the creature¡¯s stomach, as if trying to punch its way out, before vanishing once more.


    It was a Sluagh. A nightmarish creature that would absorb evil spirits and sometimes even other Sluagh. A new Sluagh that could only draw power from itself was as dangerous as a Fachan, but a Sluagh that had absorbed multiple entities already?


    The other unseelie waited behind their horrifying champion near the tree line, unwilling to risk that the Sluagh would be able to tell friend from foe.


    It sauntered toward the caravan in no rush and enjoying its hunt. The remaining humans stood with wooden shields and iron swords raised, but their trembling betrayed the strong front they were showing.


    ¡°Archer¡¯s load!¡± the captain of the soldiers yelled. The humans shakily loaded their crossbows and raised to aim at the creature.


    The Captain raised his arm. ¡°Aim!¡±


    They trained their sights on the stumbling creature only forty yards away. It looked upon the soldiers with constant chitters, clicking in amusement at the human¡¯s defiance.


    ¡°Fire!¡± the Captain yelled and threw down his arm. Bolts rained down upon the creature, with most slamming into their target. The bolts struck the creature and bounced off, not leaving even a cut on the Sluagh.


    ¡°No!¡± one archer yelled out, falling to his knees in despair.


    The Captain chuckled and raised his iron-tipped spear toward the Sluagh. ¡°Looks like we will have to get up close and personal with this demon, lads. You carry the force of humanity behind each of your blows. Show this vile beast what humans are capable of when our backs are against the wall!¡±


    The remaining guardsman, and even the coachmen and tradesman, threw down their crossbows and gripped whatever sword, dagger, or spear they could get their hands on. Glowing symbols covered the weapons, as the fae magic did all it could to turn the tide of the battle.


    Noah sighed. The men were trembling and they didn¡¯t have the strength to pierce the skin of the Sluagh. Only a ballista bolt would have a chance and only if it was much further from its portal than it currently was. They were heading straight into the face of a slaughter, and the men knew it. But what else could they do if escape was not an option?


    He widened his eyes as a blur flew across his vision to stand between the demonic creature and the remaining humans. It was a lone, gangly human. He turned his head to look back at the caravan and Noah gasped as he recognized Lazar. When he had seen him last, the young lad was crying over John¡¯s body, trying to staunch the blood of the wounds with his hands. Or so Noah thought. He must have been digging in John¡¯s pocket for shifter powder because when Lazar looked toward the caravan, Noah could see his rippling veins and pupil-covered black eyes.


    Noah called on his remaining strength to lift himself onto his elbows. He yelled out, ¡°Lad, run away as far as you can from here while you still have the high. There¡¯s nothing you can do to save us.¡±


    Lazar zeroed in on Noah and shook his head sadly. ¡°John told me. The day the powerful leave the weak to suffer their fate is the day humanity will fall. I won¡¯t disgrace myself or my mentor by fleeing from the battlefield like a coward.¡±


    Noah¡¯s heart sped up. ¡°Lad, you can¡¯t win this fight. No one would think you a coward for preserving your own life.¡±


    Lazar ignored his warnings and returned his attention to the Sluagh, still stumbling slowly toward them. His soft voice somehow carried across the battlefield in a whisper, ¡°I am tired of merely surviving, Noah. It is time for humans to start truly living once more.¡±


    His declaration pierced the ears of each human present, causing them to squeeze their eyes shut in a hopelessness that spanned generations. Lazar raised John¡¯s sword in front of his face and then, in a blur, sped towards the monster. Mud flew into the air from the force of his charge, and his yell of defiance carried the hopes of humanity.


    ¡°No!¡± Noah yelled out, trying to rise to his feet and falling back into the mud impotently.


    He watched as Lazar reached the monster and swung with all of his enhanced strength. The sword bent with the force and struck the Sluagh in its side. After penetrating an inch into the creature¡¯s magically enforced skin, the blade abruptly halted. The force of the blow threw the Sluagh backwards, causing its feet to skid across the muddy ground. It ground to a halt around ten yards from where it began, looking no worse for the wear.


    Noah squinted his eyes and could see a slight wound on its side, bleeding black blood freely down its torso. The Sluagh used its clawed hand to wipe at the wound and cocked its head in confusion. It raised its elongated arm to its face and looked at the black blood dripping off its long claws.


    It threw its head back and the rows of razor-sharp teeth moved in a circular rotation. A horrendous clicking noise echoed out across the battlefield. Its head snapped down to stare at Lazar, who stood strong, waiting for another clash. The slow stumbling of the creature disappeared, and it blurred forward with a speed that Noah had only witnessed one time in his life. Master Vampire Augustus.


    Lazar barely had time to raise his sword before the Sluagh was on him, punching out its arm toward his chest. The loud snap of the iron sword made the humans wince, and Lazar¡¯s body hurled towards the wagons like a bolt of lightning. He slammed into one of the few wooden wagons still standing and cratered into the hard wood. With bated breaths, the humans waited for their young hero to rise and renter the fray. He didn¡¯t.


    ¡°How can humans stand against such power?¡± Noah whispered to himself. Hopelessness washed over him just like it did during his encounter with Master Augustus. Humans just weren¡¯t meant to compete with the other races. All they could do was throw wave after wave of new generations at the problem and hope to divert the enemy¡¯s attention long enough to stave off complete annihilation.


    ¡°We can¡¯t defeat such evil,¡± one soldier yelled out with madness in his eyes. ¡°We must surrender and beg for mercy.¡± He threw his sword down and crawled on his hands and knees toward the demonic creature. The other soldiers lowered their weapons with shaking arms and despair on their faces.


    The Captain remained clear-headed and showed why he had earned his rank. ¡°You fool! You crawl on your knees seeking mercy, but it shall grant you none. Return at once. That is an order!¡±


    The soldier ignored the Captain and continued crawling. ¡°It is our only hope. I will try to survive in the manner I see fit.¡±


    The soldier crawled through the mud up to the Sluagh and bowed his head. ¡°Mighty creature of the Fae. I surrender my arms and offer myself as a prisoner in hope of proving my worthiness for life.¡±


    The Sluagh cocked its head at the human begging in the mud in front of it. Clicking noises reverberated around the battlefield. Noah held his breath, hoping against common sense that the soldier would find success. He didn¡¯t. In a blur, the Sluagh swiped its claws, severing the soldier¡¯s head and flinging it into the air.


    The Captain shouted with a deep sadness lacing his voice, ¡°Men! Your only hope of survival is to defeat this monster. You cannot reason with it. You cannot run from it. If this is our last stand, then we shall go down in such a blaze of glory that we will be able to meet our ancestors in the afterlife with our heads held high!¡±


    The soldiers yelled in answer and started to bang their swords and spears against their shields, creating a thunderous roar. Noah finally was able to pull himself up onto his knees and then his feet. Preparing for his last stand, he grabbed a nearby crossbow and a sliver of bolts. He searched within himself and found no fear at his impending death. He would meet death as a free man with his head held high. 125 would applaud his final moments.


    The Sluagh clicked once again, and the goblins, trolls, red hats, and banshee slinked forward. They still kept a healthy distance between themselves and the monster, but they were once again ready to charge and annihilate the humans. The battlefield grew quiet, apart from the moans of the injured, as each side glared at each other with such hatred and violence you could practically feel it vibrating in the air. There could be no peace in a world filled with such rage.


    Toward the front of the caravan, a haunting sound broke the silence. A lone howl rang through the woods. Noah took his eyes off the enemy for a quick glance toward the commotion. A monstrous wolf appeared from the cover of the forest. It was entirely black and had glowing silver eyes.


    His eyes widened. The Alpha! And where the Alpha went¡­ Answering howls rang in the forest, as wolf after wolf with glowing yellow eyes appeared behind the Alpha. Hundreds of howls boomed through the trees, and Noah¡¯s ears began to bleed from the volume.


    He dropped his weapons and clasped his ears as tight as he could, but still couldn¡¯t escape the unending howls. The wolves came in all colors and stood higher on four legs than most humans on two. Their fangs were the length of his forearms and drool dripped from their maws onto the ground. After the wolves had all gathered, the howls transformed into fearsome growls. Staring wide eyed at the wolves, he wondered if this was a positive development or if their lives were still forfeit. The Alpha, with its glowing silver eyes, howled once more and then charged with ferocious fury.

 Chapter 9

    Hundreds of wolves streaked across the battlefield, the ground rumbling beneath their paws. Unless the entire pack had come, just a fraction of this pack¡¯s strength was already more powerful than any other shifter territory Noah had ever heard of. Judging by the fury in the wolves¡¯ yellow eyes, they didn¡¯t take too kindly to unseelie encroaching upon their territory.


    The Alpha collided with the Sluagh, ramming the monster with its shoulder. The creature shot back, flying through the air and digging a long ditch into the muddy ground. In a merciless display of fangs and claws, the other wolves descended upon the remaining unseelie, beginning a vicious slaughter that churned his stomach to witness. Blood mixed with the muddy soil to create a slush of suffering and death. He sighed in resignation as he watched the wolves demonstrate their speed and power. Humans could not contend with the Shifters either.


    He returned his focus to the fight between the Alpha and the Sluagh, for that was the conflict that would determine the fate of this battle. The Alpha snapped and danced around the Sluagh, occasionally throwing a few halfhearted claws at it, but mainly, keeping its distance. The Alpha wasn¡¯t as strong as a Sluagh; it wasn¡¯t as fast as a master vampire, and it wasn¡¯t as deadly as a fae prince or princess. But it had something the other races didn¡¯t. A pack.


    Two hulking behemoths, bigger than even the Alpha, surrounded the Sluagh. One wolf would snap and nip at the monster to gain its attention, and then the other wolves would take turns launching attacks. With devastating bites powerful enough to crush logs, the wolves tore the Sluagh apart piece by piece.


    With a toss of their head, they flung pieces of flesh high into the air. It was absolutely brutal to watch a living being, no matter how evil, being ripped apart like this. Eventually, one wolf feinted a lunge, and the Sluagh whipped around to throw an arm out at outrageous speed. The arm found no target and whooshed through the air harmlessly.


    As soon as the creature turned its back, the Alpha went for the kill. The massive wolf clamped its jaws around the Sluagh¡¯s neck and violently shook its head, attempting to bite through its neck. The monster clicked its nightmarish screams and tried to dislodge the wolf that was seeking to end its existence. It spun around in a blur, lifting the Alpha off of its feet.


    Swinging freely through the air, the Alpha maintained its tight grip on the creature¡¯s neck. The Sluagh slowed and the other wolves, sensing weakness, pounced on the monster in a vicious frenzy. They ripped and tore its flesh until the unseelie nightmare finally stopped its movements. The mighty champion of the Unseelie, invincible a few moments ago, was reduced to scraps of flesh.


    The rest of the wolves had absolutely routed the Unseelie. Corpses of goblins and red hats littered the battlefield and none had met a quick or painless death. The rest of the Unseelie had retreated into the woods, but the wolves made no move to press the attack. They formed a perimeter around their alpha, preparing to attack or retreat on its command.


    The wolves growled at the humans, who huddled around each other, not knowing if they should celebrate after the slaughter they had just witnessed. They had no wares to trade the wolves now and no way to protect themselves. They were completely at the mercy of the Alpha of this pack- an all too familiar occurrence for humans in this cruel world.


    Noah kept his eyes glued on the wolves as he leaned against a broken wagon. The shards of wood, along with his cane, held the majority of his weight. His cane dug sharply into the mud with the hidden blade once again sheathed inside the shaft. His wet black hair clung to his neck and blood-tinged water dripped from the bill of his hat. Underneath his trench coat, blood and fluids soaked the ruffled shirt he prized so much. Disgust whispered in his mind at the sight of his pure white shirt defiled by the Unseelie.


    A slight shimmer in the air enveloped a few of the wolves, and immediately, humans appeared in their place. Well, not humans. These were the human forms of the shifters. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the human forms of the wolves. Humans of every race stood before him where the wolves had once been.


    His eyes scanned the humans in front of him as he tried to locate the Alpha of this pack. He was legendary and probably the strongest alpha in this entire region of the continent. Any wolf packs he encountered had two choices: merge with the Baleful Fiend Pack or face complete destruction. With that type of brutal reputation, the humans weren¡¯t out of danger just yet.


    The shifters stood before him, all wearing the same style of clothes. It didn¡¯t seem like they took much pleasure in human fashion, as their clothing was simple and practical. Leather or wool shirts and pants seemed to be the style of choice amongst the pack. Glancing down at their feet, he noted that not one shifter wore shoes. Their toes sunk and squished into the blood-infused mud, but they didn¡¯t seem bothered by the sensation. Blood covered their mouths, giving them a feral appearance and reminding him that what stood before him was not human.


    He examined the older males with grey in their hair, hoping to find the Alpha. A few shifters, larger than any human could ever be, appeared from the rear of the pack. They were enormous and stood head and shoulders above even the tallest human in the caravan.


    Noah¡¯s eyes found the largest male in the pack. He had dark brown skin and dreadlocks that hung down to his shoulders. Some grey mixed in his hair and beard, betraying his age, or Noah would have thought he was thirty at most. The shifter crossed his tree trunk-sized arms and stared the humans down. He frowned and shook his head as if he considered dealing with the caravanners a nuisance not worth the effort.


    Noah¡¯s mind raced with schemes on how to talk his way out of this. He had nothing to trade or offer for his life. He could barely stand, let alone run. Even if he could, he wouldn¡¯t make it ten feet before the wolves caught him. His thoughts slowed as he came to the inevitable conclusion that he was at the mercy of these wolves and would only survive if they allowed him to. Moans of pain from the injured caravanners behind him reinforced the lack of a fighting force they could conjure at the moment.


    It was strangely relieving to know you had absolutely no control over a situation. No racing thoughts, trying to capture a slippery solution from the depths of your ingenuity. No paralyzing anxieties at making an incorrect decision. You simply had to exist and let the events unfold around you.


    The giant shifter that Noah had pegged as the Alpha stepped aside with no warning and a smaller shifter stepped forward. She was a young female, maybe in her late twenties. She stalked up to Noah, more reminiscent of a feline than a wolf. Despite being extremely tall for a human female, she appeared relatively short amongst the shifters.


    She was around 6¡¯3" in height and wore a simple wool shirt to cover her chest. Tight leather pants clung to her legs, drawing the eyes of the still-living human men. With corded muscles bunching and contracting with each step, she appeared ready to spring forward with explosive power. She had raven hair that hung down to her lower back and her bronze skin contrasted with her silver eyes. The eyes of an alpha. A female alpha?


    There¡¯s no way this was the legendary alpha that had conquered packs for decades, leaving a trail of blood and death in its wake. When had that mighty alpha fallen to this young woman? Noah waited for someone to address the Alpha, but no human came forward.


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    It was the caravan leader¡¯s job to negotiate with the other races, but apparently, he had been half-eaten by a troll. Next in the pecking order would be the Captain or the most experienced caravanner. Noah looked over at the Captain, who was busy tending to the wounded bodies and minds of his soldiers. He showed no interest in conversing with the shifters, not even lifting his head. John would have been next as the most veteran caravanner, but now that role had fallen to Noah.


    With a deep breath, he stepped forward to parley for their lives. His leather boots slipped and slid on the slick mud, and only his cane saved him from an embarrassing tumble. He gave a small bow with a tip of his hat, avoiding eye contact with the female alpha. His cane remained pointed at the ground so as not to appear threatening. ¡°Greetings, honored Alpha. Thank you for saving our lives. Your pack¡¯s legendary ferocity is well deserved.¡±


    He stood up from his bow and straightened his hat. He gestured behind himself toward the broken wagons and winced before saying, ¡°We offer all the wares we carry free of charge and simply request permission to return to our territory.¡±


    The Alpha surveyed the ragtag group of humans that had survived the battle with a snort. ¡°Humans. You continue to be the world¡¯s greatest marvel by simply surviving. You don¡¯t have the strength or speed to even protect yourselves,¡± she mocked.


    The shifters surrounding her snickered. The humans clenched their fists in impotent anger at the mockery but could do nothing but wait for the Alpha to pass judgment.


    ¡°We are a peaceful trading caravan, not true warriors of the human race. I believe we handled ourselves quite well, given the circumstances,¡± Noah said.


    ¡°There is no need to mock the brave lives that were granted an honorable death today.¡± He couldn¡¯t allow the insult at the loss of life to go unchallenged.


    The Alpha¡¯s head shot in his direction with narrowed eyes. ¡°Oh? Maybe we misread the situation. I¡¯m afraid we committed a grave mistake interfering with the one-sided slaughter. The humans were just about to dazzle us with their crafted weapons they bluster over so much.¡±


    The shifters busted out laughing at their alpha¡¯s sarcasm. Hundreds of wolves laughing together shook the ground and rattled the wagons.


    Unlike the Alpha, who had her pack behind her, Noah stood alone with only a few injured humans moaning in pain behind him. Standing amongst a sea of dead bodies, he didn¡¯t cower in front of her might. Instead, he donned his most mocking smile.


    ¡°We undertook a long journey to trade with your pack in good faith, and I hope your pack reciprocates that sentiment. As you witnessed, the journey through the Wilds was long and resulted in the loss of many lives today. We humans have the numbers to take such risks, you see.¡±


    That shut the shifters up quickly. Growls filled the air, and the humans shrank further back against the broken wagons. Noah stood without fear out in front of the caravanners. If you allowed someone to steal your dignity, then you were already halfway dead.


    ¡°We are from the human territory of Greenwood, which you invited to trade with your pack. We demand parley for an armistice,¡± he said, raising his voice to carry across the battlefield.


    He slammed his cane into the ground in finality. He stood straight and proud, but he still kept his eyes from meeting the Alpha¡¯s. He had to tightrope between not acting like prey and challenging her authority.


    There was no discussion amongst the shifters. The Alpha¡¯s word was final, and they would follow whatever commands she gave. Dozens of human lives depended on the word of a young woman who held less life experience than most of the parties present. She considered him with a cocked head. What she was searching for upon his face, he didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°We will take your wares and allow you to test your luck on the journey back to your territory,¡± the Alpha handed out her judgment.


    Noah sighed in relief, not for his own survival, but for the other humans he was representing. There were plenty of loved ones in Greenwood who needed the remaining caravanners to return home safely.


    ¡°Thank you, Alpha. We will bury our dead and leave the outskirts of your territory by tomorrow morning.¡± Noah turned away to ready the caravan for travel when she interrupted him.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t let me finish, human.¡± The soft voice of the Alpha caressed his ears, causing him to shiver.


    Noah froze. Rage coursed through him, and he whipped around to face the pack. ¡°Do you betray your word at the cost of your honor, Alpha?¡±


    Alpha¡¯s lived and died by their ability to command the unquestioned respect and loyalty of their pack. An alpha whose word lost its value would not remain alpha long.


    She laughed lazily, threatening to steal his senses from him with a seductive charm. ¡°You are a mischievous one, aren¡¯t you, human? Your gilded tongue won¡¯t poison the ears of this pack, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t looking good for Noah. He didn¡¯t have many cards left to play. He spied the Alpha in his peripheral vision smiling broadly with her hands on her hips.


    ¡°I can practically see the schemes racing through your mind. How tiring the constant need to outwit stronger opponents must be. Don¡¯t worry, human, I will honor my word and let the surviving humans attempt the journey back to your settlement.¡± Noah held his breath and waited for the hammer to drop.


    ¡°But,¡± she sneered. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but a shake of her raven hair tossed a mist of water into the air.


    Here it was. He had to find a way to get them back to the settlement. The loss of life was too great already, and he couldn¡¯t stop picturing the families of the caravanners waiting for their loved ones to return. Night after night, they would pray. And they would wait. And they would strain their ears and eyes for any signs of those they loved most in this world to return.


    ¡°Not you, my dear human.¡±


    Noah¡¯s head snapped up and he couldn¡¯t stop his glare from meeting the Alpha¡¯s eyes. The glowing silver distracted him from his anger momentarily before he could shake free from his bewitchment.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this, Alpha? I will not be taken prisoner by any foe. Kill me if you must.¡± Noah pointed his cane at her in challenge. Brief moments of his time in the caves flittered through his mind. Never again.


    She tensed at his obvious challenge to her authority. Growls broke out amongst the shifters and some even shifted back into wolf form. Noah held steady, staring her and the wolf pack down with unwavering resoluteness.


    The Alpha¡¯s stiffened posture relaxed, her anger leaving her in an instant. She smiled down at him like she was humoring a small child.


    ¡°Is my little human upset he will have to stay behind with the villainous wolf pack?¡± she mocked him with a laugh, easing the tension of the other shifters.


    ¡°If you want the other humans to go back to their families, you will stay here as my prisoner. That is my command, and it is final.¡±


    Noah¡¯s cane lowered one inch at a time until it pointed straight down toward the ground. He turned around to gaze upon the surviving humans. Smith was tending to Lazar¡¯s broken body, which was covered with injuries that only fae medicine could heal.


    His eyes shifted to Owen. He was kneeling beside Lin, attempting to rouse her with soft strokes of her hair. His attentions did nothing to wake his lover, who was lost in slumber. Fae medicine may help stabilize her, but she would need a master vampire¡¯s blood to heal her broken body enough to have a chance at awakening.


    His eyes passed over the dead caravanners strewn about the battlefield until he reached the two dozen or so surviving humans. Hope and shame filled their eyes as they stared back at him. They didn¡¯t demand that he become a prisoner, but their silence was deafening.


    His mind flashed to the soft snores in the caverns he had walked right past during his escape. He had left them to suffer their fate while he had gained his freedom. Could he do so once again? Staring up at the grey sky, he searched for an answer that he could live with.


    He shook his head in resignation. No, he couldn¡¯t allow all of them to be executed for his own selfish desires. He just couldn¡¯t do it. Knowing that others had paid the price for his past actions tortured his mind and haunted his nightmares. He would not fuel his madness further.


    He would give the caravanners a head start back to Greenwood, and then he would escape the wolves¡¯ territory, following on their heels. Half of his life had been spent in captivity; he could survive a few weeks. He firmed himself and met the Alpha¡¯s silver eyes, who was patiently awaiting his decision.


    ¡°I will surrender myself to you, Alpha,¡± he said through gritted teeth.


    She took on a predatory grin, baring her pearly white teeth. ¡°Yes¡­ you will.¡±

 Chapter 10

    The shifters stacked the Unseelie bodies and set the corpses ablaze with ruthless efficiency. Their strength was overwhelming and their endurance infinite. Their very existence mocked the humans who struggled to dig shallow graves to bury their fallen brethren. Most of the dead had not even been able to conjure the least bit of resistance as their life was stolen from them. The surviving humans were like worms who only remained alive because the bird had chosen to feast on the other worms around it. Pure luck separated life and death, it seemed.


    Having no way to transport the bodies back to their loved ones, the humans dug shallow graves in the unfamiliar land. This would be the final resting place for these brave explorers who dared travel into the unknown. They didn¡¯t say any prayers, perform any ceremonies, or bid any farewells to the departed spirits. Respect was a pleasantry that required time, and they had none to spare.


    Instead, the exhausted humans focused their remaining energy on those who could benefit from their efforts- the living. Despite performing the most advanced medical aid the caravan was capable of, it didn¡¯t seem to make much of a difference for the injured. The disfigured would remain hideous, the dismembered would remain crippled, and the broken minds would be forced to wander through the fogs of insanity ever after.


    Luck was on their side as they were able to find a few horses that had run off during the battle. Despite their screams of pain, the rescuers loaded the injured into the saddles as gently as they could manage. A slow pace would be required to avoid jostling the patient and worsening their injuries. The rest of the caravanners would have to walk alongside the horses, increasing the time of their return journey to well over a month.


    Most of the wolves had shifted a few hours after the battle and returned to their territory. No matter how powerful a pack may be, they couldn¡¯t leave it so lightly guarded for prolonged periods. The Alpha and a few of her strongest warriors remained to protect the frantic humans that rushed back and forth, attempting to leave the wolves¡¯ territory as soon as possible.


    Noah was not permitted to assist the caravanners in their never-ending work. The shifter warriors, whose constant vigilance filled him with unease, encircled him and the Alpha. With nothing to occupy his racing mind, he decided to begin the intelligence-gathering phase of his escape early.


    As the shifters watched the scrambling humans with curious eyes, Noah approached the giant shifter that he had mistaken for the Alpha. The shifter¡¯s dark brown eyes tracked his every move, but he allowed Noah to approach him.


    Noah tipped his hat and gave a slight bow while twirling his cane. ¡°Good day, good sir! My name is Noah of Greenwood, and it¡¯s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Who might I have the honor of addressing?¡±


    He ended his bow and pushed his hat back into place. The massive shifter just stared at him as if he were a rabbit that had learned to juggle. As the silence grew awkward, Noah gracefully turned his focus to the shifter seated beside the giant.


    The family resemblance was uncanny. Dark brown skin and dark brown eyes framed his handsome face. Only the lack of grey in his close-cut hair marked him as a member of the younger generation. He was around the Alpha¡¯s age, somewhere in his mid-twenties. He wasn¡¯t quite as tall as the shifter, who Noah assumed was his father, but still towered over Noah.


    ¡°Good day, good sir! My name is Noah of Greenwood, and it¡¯s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Who might I have the honor of addressing?¡±


    The younger shifter could not control his emotions or hold his tongue like his father. He jumped to his feet in a rage, deep growls booming from his chest.


    ¡°Alder!¡± his father warned him, but he paid no heed.


    ¡°Silence human! You are not to address your betters while in our custody. You are only alive due to the mercy of the Alpha. If it were up to me, I would have killed the lot of you and freed my hands of this whole mess.¡±


    Noah cocked his head at the enraged shifter. ¡°And why, good sir, is it not up to you? Or at least your father there. You two clearly are the biggest and strongest shifters in the pack. It is my understanding that the Alpha must dominate the entire pack to hold their position.¡±


    The older shifter snapped his head toward his son and growled while baring his teeth. Alder averted his eyes and bared his neck to his father in a sign of submission. Both of their heads snapped up and their eyes followed something behind Noah. He was just about to turn around to see what had stolen their attention when he felt a warm breath on his neck, causing him to shiver.


    ¡°They are not the Alpha because I am the Alpha. There is more to domination than mere strength and size, my weak human.¡±


    Noah pasted on his most dazzling smile and turned around to face the Alpha. The glowing silver in her eyes meshed with her bronze skin to create a stunning scene of contrasting beauty. Her raven hair fluttered in the slight breeze, small wisps blowing in front of her eyes. He stopped himself from reaching out to tuck the stray hairs behind her ear. His quick thinking had probably saved him from pulling back a nub where his hand had once been. ¡°Of course, honored Alpha, forgive my ignorance in pack politics.¡±


    She eyed him and whispered so softly that he could barely hear her words, ¡°You are so proud of that false bravado of yours, but it outs you just like everything else about you does. You are an imposter, Noah, and only the naive would fall for your act easily.¡±


    Noah¡¯s smile froze on his face, and he narrowed his eyes in anger at the Alpha. Rage from somewhere deep inside of him, untouched for years, coursed through him.


    She smiled at him in amusement. ¡°Oh, the human lowers his mask. It¡¯s nice to finally meet your acquaintance, Noah. I am Sylvie, Alpha of the Baleful Fiend pack.¡±


    And with that, she stalked away from the small circle of guards to discuss logistics with the Captain who now led the caravan. The massive shifter waited until Sylvie had withdrawn, following his alpha with narrowed eyes.


    His deep baritone voice vibrated the air, ¡°We are wolves, human. ¡®Shifters¡¯ can include any that shift, but we will not demean ourselves by being categorized with the other breeds. You will not survive the night in our territory if you slur any of us with the name shifter.¡±


    Noah dipped his head in acknowledgment. ¡°Of course, sir wolf. Please do not mistake ignorance for offense.¡±


    The father didn¡¯t respond and returned to ignoring him, displaying an impressive level of indifference. The bear pack didn¡¯t care when the humans called them shifters, but apparently, the oh-so-special and unique wolves did. He¡¯d have to watch his tongue or risk hurting their delicate sensibilities.


    It turns out there were almost no wares for the shifters to salvage. Everything had been destroyed or ruined during the battle. Noah kept a keen eye out for any hints of the silver weapons but didn¡¯t find any traces. Either the wagons were never loaded with the contraband before departing Greenwood, or it had disappeared sometime during or after the battle. Truthfully, it wasn¡¯t his problem. He would leave the shifter¡¯s territory in a matter of weeks, and after that, they could use the silver weapons for whatever nefarious purpose the buyer desired.


    After finally finishing their preparations for the return journey, the remaining humans set out before the sun disappeared below the horizon. Noah stood with the wolves as the small caravan, if it even qualified as such any longer, slowly shrank in his vision.


    His eyes found Owen, who was leading a horse that carried an immobile Lin strapped on its back. Owen was holding her hand and making sweet promises of their future to the sharpshooter. Lin had not awoken once since the battle, and Noah doubted she could hear his loving whispers. She was engaged in a battle to escape whatever dream world currently ensnared her mind.


    His gaze found Smith, who was bracing Lazar with his hand as the lad tried to sit up in the saddle. Smith had not left Lazar¡¯s side since the battle had concluded. The coachmen honored his late friend by taking up the mantle of mentorship.


    The caravan grew smaller in the distance until Noah had to squint his eyes just to see it. The daylight was dimming as the sun sunk below the horizon, and the caravan was just about lost to the gloom of dusk. Over one hundred had begun the journey, but only a few dozen remained to attempt the return trek home.


    ¡°Not even one looked back,¡± Sylvie whispered at his side.


    Noah continued to stare in the caravan''s direction even after it had long since disappeared from view. Suddenly, Sylvie grabbed his shoulder and spun him around in a blur, nearly throwing his hat from his head. A crack sounded out as his wet trench coat flaps whipped the air from the abrupt motion. Staring daggers at the beautiful vixen, he straightened his hat with a snort.


    Sylvie bellowed out her commands to the remaining wolves, ¡°Return to the territory. I will keep my human form, but the rest of you shift. It will be slow going with the human, but unless any of you volunteer to let him ride you, we will have to keep his pace.¡±


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    The shif¡­wolves snorted and shifted in an instant. He had to get used to referring to them as wolves or an inadvertent slip-up would lead him to his death. The wolves bounded off to run large protective circles around the pair as Sylvie pushed Noah along at an unsustainable pace. An hour into their journey, the massive wolf, whose name he still didn¡¯t know, prowled up alongside them. He shifted to his human form, walking just behind Sylvie.


    ¡°Alpha, why do we keep this human prisoner? We should have either let them all go or killed every last one of them. Now the humans will know we captured one of their own. If he is important enough, they might retaliate.¡± The wolves running in guard formation perked their ears toward the wolf, who brazenly questioned their alpha¡¯s commands in front of the pack.


    Sylvie growled and stared down the much larger wolf, her eyes glowing silver. She slapped his face in a blur, snapping the wolf¡¯s head to the side. The sound of the slap broke the silence of the night, bouncing between the trees in an echo. The massive wolf did not seem to mind her attempts at dominance, returning his calm gaze to hers. He maintained eye contact for a few moments before voluntarily averting his eyes.


    The other wolves, including Alder, slowed their circling, ready to pounce if given the command by their alpha. Sylvie placed a hand on Noah¡¯s shoulder and sniffed his hair. She took great inhales that rustled his hair when she snorted the air back out. Finally, she stepped out of his personal space but kept a hand firmly on his shoulder. The warmth of her hand somehow seeped through his leather trench coat, flushing his skin where her fingers made contact.


    ¡°Return to the territory. I don¡¯t like being exposed like this. The Unseelie might have targeted the humans, but they were much too close to our territory for us not to have been alerted to their presence. We will discuss the human once we are safe, and I can call a pack meeting at the lodge.¡±


    The giant wolf made to argue, but Sylvie¡¯s eyes glowed silver, even more illuminated than before. A strange humming vibration entered her voice and she commanded in a guttural growl, ¡°Now!¡±


    Whimpering, all the wolves lowered their eyes to the ground. The giant went rigid and shouted, ¡°Yes, Alpha¡±.


    He instantly shifted back into his wolf form and rejoined the protective circle. Noah did his best to maintain the wolves¡¯ grueling pace. Sylvie constantly pushed him forward or growled menacingly from behind him in ¡°encouragement¡±.


    He was exhausted and hadn¡¯t recovered from the battle or the shifter powder he had used earlier. He was stumbling on the road like a drunk and even fell to his knees a few times. Instead of allowing him to rest, Sylvie just picked him up by the arms as if he weighed nothing and set him on his feet again.


    They walked for a few hours until they reached the boundary of the wolves¡¯ territory. Only a few hours away from the safety of a powerful pack, but the humans had never made it. Unlike vampires, who used a universal ankh as their symbol to mark their territory. Shifters personalized their symbol to represent the animal they shifted into, as well as the unique oddities of their pack. The bear pack he had traded with over the years had a simple bear claw carved into a boulder serving as their territory symbol.


    The wolves had made even less of an effort than the bears, but it screamed the message loud and clear to all who came upon it. Two giant trees marked the territory. On each tree, the wolves had carved out one menacing wolf eye. Each eye had a large fae globe embedded in the wood, giving off a yellow glow that was impossible to miss in the dark.


    The eyes did not give Noah the reassuring warmth of safety that it provided the wolves. From such a distance in the dark, the twenty-foot eyes seemed to be connected to a face instead of separated on each tree. They had a mystical feel to them, as if a guardian spirit of the wolves was watching all those who dared to encroach upon its territory; it would never tire in its eternal vigilance and nothing could slip past its gaze.


    It wasn¡¯t as complex as the Vampire¡¯s ankh; it wasn¡¯t as beautiful as the Fae¡¯s symbol and didn¡¯t carry the hope of the race as the human symbol did, but there was a menace in its simplicity.


    As they crossed the boundary, the wolves visibly relaxed upon entering their own territory. Guard wolves appeared from behind the trees to greet the procession. They sniffed in Noah¡¯s direction before cocking their heads in confusion.


    As they continued into the wolves¡¯ territory, the trees became bigger and bigger until Noah could scarcely believe their unnatural size. The wolves had either found an enchanted forest or somehow their magic had warped the local fauna because he had never seen trees this big before. They towered above him and the leaves nearly blocked out the sky from view. The branches of the trees did not grow near the ground, keeping the majority of the massive trunks bare. The trees were spaced dozens of feet apart from one another, creating an open and airy sensation deep within the forest.


    Streams lazily curved around the trees in nonsensical paths. Upon seeing the rushing water, he refused to walk another step further until he was permitted to clean his ruffled shirt. Lost in obsession, he scrubbed and scrubbed until he revealed the pure white of his shirt once more. He tossed the sopping wet shirt over his shoulder and buttoned his trench coat to hide his bare chest. Sylvie hadn¡¯t taken her eyes off his chest since he had first stripped and rolled her eyes at his attempts at modesty.


    The gurgling of the languid brooks provided a scene of pure serenity. At some point, Noah stopped in his tracks, mesmerized by the beauty of the peaceful forest. He could stay here forever and just admire the¡­A kick almost pushed him to the ground. Cursing, he spun around to find Sylvie tapping her foot with narrowed eyes. Apparently, she did not have the patience to admire the natural beauty of the forest.


    The further they walked into the oversized forest, the more signs of the pack he began to see. Some of the larger trees held treehouses well above the forest floor. There were wooden platforms built into the trees, scaffolding their way up the trunks.


    Two rows of platforms reached up to the treehouses. One row had roped ladders that hung down, connecting each of the wooden platforms. The other row had fewer platforms, giving the wolves the space to jump side to side between the two rows in their animal form. He suspected he would only take one of the paths that led up to the treehouses embedded in the canopy.


    Wooden walkways connected the trees, allowing the wolves to travel in a separate world from the one that existed on the forest floor. An entire world, teaming with life, hung above him, but not all the homes were built in the branches of the trees.


    Even more were built directly onto the forest floor, sometimes even using a hollowed-out trunk as a base for their den. The wolves seemed to build in harmony with the trees and only lived where the forest permitted. Fae globes illuminated some homes while others remained dark. He couldn¡¯t imagine the wolves had much trouble seeing in the dark of the night.


    It was all quite breathtaking for Noah, in a sort of primitive way. Humans would have created technological wonders with the giant trees, but perhaps the beauty of the forest would have suffered. No wonder they had such trouble finding trading wares that would interest the Shifters. They lived a simple life and didn¡¯t need any of the comforts that human production could provide.


    They continued to walk for another hour, with Noah tipping his hat to every random wolf they passed. He was met with a slamming of the door most times, but occasionally, the wolves would sniff at him and tilt their head in confusion.


    They eventually came upon a giant clearing that Noah assumed was the center of their territory. In the large clearing, a massive wooden lodge dwarfed any of the buildings he had seen so far. Purple flowers that rose to his knees covered the clearing, and without the towering trees blocking the sky, the moonlight bathed the meadow in a subtle purple glow.


    The lodge was almost the length of the human caravan that he had ridden in for over a decade. Smoke rose from the roof in multiple locations with fae globes spaced evenly apart to spotlight the lodge in the darkness. Turning his head sideways, he examined the length of the lodge. It was a fallen tree! The biggest he had seen yet.


    The wolves had somehow hollowed out and treated the wood, creating a lodge that could hold the entire pack comfortably. His eyes bulged as his eyes followed the trunk and found massive branches covered in leaves rising from the ground into the sky. What he had mistaken for the resumption of the forest was actually the branches and leaves of the fallen tree. It was still alive!


    Was the rest of the tree growing beneath the soil? If you turned your head sideways, you could easily see the lodge as a trunk sliced vertically down the middle. The only question was if it was half a tree, or if the other half of the tree was buried beneath the earth. Either way, Noah couldn¡¯t wrap his mind around the wonder. He stopped walking in shock, gazing upon the lodge¡¯s majesty.


    ¡°How is this possible? he asked, his voice shaking in amazement. Sylvie, who hadn¡¯t let go of his shoulder, chuckled, the sensual sound reverberating through him.


    ¡°Impressive, is it not Noah? Humans can build structures in the blink of an eye, but none of them will take your breath away like this. None of it will inspire wonder and awe for generations with their beauty.¡±


    ¡°Ah, my dear Sylvie. You overlook the beauty of human creations. Humans contain no magic. They don¡¯t possess immortality or supernatural strength and speed. And yet, they still create wonders; they still build to the heavens, and they still thrive in inhospitable conditions. The beauty isn¡¯t in our structures, but our ingenuity and perseverance.¡±


    He balled his fists as some wolves let out a strange wheezing sound that he suspected was laughter. A soreness that every human carried deep inside of them ached inside of his chest. If they couldn¡¯t take pride in their creations, then nothing could lift their heads in the presence of the other races. Sylvie squeezed his shoulder lightly and he leaned into her comforting grasp.


    ¡°Hmm. Perhaps there is truth in what you say, Noah. I will search for this beauty you speak of the next time I visit a human settlement.¡±


    Noah nodded his head and opened his fists, his anger leaking out of him at her promise. Suddenly, someone pushed him hard, causing him to stumble forward.


    ¡°Now stop dawdling and move. I am eager to be done with this expedition,¡± said Sylvie without an ounce of compassion in her voice.


    Noah bit his lip. And there went the moment. As they walked through the meadow, the purple flowers gently bowed out of their paths as if they were sentient. Underestimating the size of the lodge, it took much longer than Noah expected for them to reach the wondrous tree. Sylvie walked up beside him as they stopped in front of the grandest structure he had ever seen.


    ¡°This is the communal lodge. Anyone is welcome to sleep or eat here and if there is any pack business, this is where the meetings are held. It is also a place of shelter for pups, the injured, and the elderly, should a war break out.¡±


    The giant wolf shifted back into his human form and interrupted Sylvie. ¡°Alpha, you can¡¯t mean to take the human prisoner into the pack lodge?¡±


    ¡°Ah, but Rowan. He is not a prisoner.¡± Sylvie smiled at Rowan with a scheming look in her eyes.


    Rowan visibly grew frustrated and asked, ¡°Is he to be food then? A large majority of the pack does not like to eat sentient beings. You know that.¡±


    Noah tried to make a break for it when he heard that, but Sylvie held his shoulder in an iron-like grip.


    Her smile grew wider. ¡°No, he is not food either.¡±


    The enormous wolf growled deep in his throat at the lack of clarity by his alpha. ¡°Then what is he!¡± he yelled.


    Sylvie bared her canines in a wide smile, looking at Noah with excitement in her eyes. ¡°He is my mate!¡±

 Chapter 11

    The wolves flew into an uproar that bordered on frenzy. Howls, growls, and snarls disturbed the peaceful meadow, and Noah even saw a few shadows appear in the windows of the lodge, investigating the commotion. Sylvie just smiled down at him and ignored the chaos her words had brought.


    Rowan and Alder were the only wolves who did not partake in the pandemonium. In a daze, Alder gawked at his alpha. ¡°Your mate? There¡¯s no such thing as a mate from a different species. Our inherent magic would never deem another race worthy of resonating with. Plus, with the malicious curse that has been inflicted upon you, it isn¡¯t possible for you to mate with anyone.¡±


    Sylvie shifted in an instant, and Alder shifted a split second behind her. He was too late, however, as Sylvie clamped her jaws around his front paw. He whined and whimpered as her fangs dug deep into his flesh and bone. In a blur of speed, he shook his paw, trying to dislodge Sylvie¡¯s jaws. His futile attempts did nothing to displace the enraged alpha, who had a death grip on his foreleg. Instead, his attempts scattered out large splotches of blood across the purple flowers in the meadow. Why did the world insist on defiling the beauty it contained?


    Rowan stood by with his arms crossed and watched the attack on his son, but other than a brief shimmer, he held his position. Finally, Sylvie released Alder from her jaws of death and shifted back into her human form. Blood smeared her mouth, and her disheveled hair gave her a savage look. She returned to stand next to Rowan as if nothing had happened. Alder shifted back and held his bloody arm to his chest with narrowed eyes. Soft whimpers and growls escaped the warrior¡¯s mouth. The rest of the wolves were practically bowing at the dominance displayed by their alpha.


    Sylvie smiled at Alder, displaying his own blood that stained her teeth. ¡°My curse won¡¯t allow me to mate with a wolf; that is true. But it seems the vile Unseelie Prince who cursed me never considered that a human might be my fated mate.¡± Sylvie roared a laugh that blanketed the entire meadow. ¡°One tiny insignificant detail overlooked, and the Prince who spent so much time and magic on my curse has been thwarted by a lowly human!¡±


    Noah cleared his throat above the murmuring wolves, who were reacting to the shocking declaration. ¡°This is no accident, honored wolf pack. My family has been immune to magic for generations upon generations. No mere Unseelie Prince¡¯s curse could hold sway over me.¡±


    The pack of wolves exchanged uneasy looks and their murmuring grew louder. ¡°Yes, now you realize the grave error you have committed upon the human race. You have stolen one of their blessed sons, and they will not suffer this insult idly. You have brought fire and ash upon your wondrous forest, the likes of which will be calamitous.¡± Noah paused to let his words sink in. ¡°That is, unless¡­¡±


    Some of the younger wolves snorted with derision at him, but their voice, tinged with fear, betrayed their nervousness as they called out, ¡°Unless what, human?¡±


    Noah breathed out a long sigh and spread his arms in helplessness. He was just as powerless as the wolves in staying humanity¡¯s hand of vengeance. ¡°You must release me and grant me safe passage back to my territory. It is the only way to forestall the retribution of humanity.¡±


    Rowan stared at Noah in serene apathy, not bothered one bit by his words. Most of the other older wolves scoffed or narrowed their eyes, but the younger ones broke out in hushed whispers. The whispers ranged from personally escorting him home to killing him and eating the body.


    Noah was enjoying the sight of his machinations causing discord within the pack when something cuffed him upside the head. He stumbled forward and grabbed at his ear which was now incessantly ringing. A headache was already beginning to form as he whirled around to face his attacker with his cane raised.


    There Sylvie stood with her hands on her hips. Her body betrayed no signs of her sneak attack on him. She beamed at him with a bloody smile, but Noah could spot no amusement or joy in her glowing silver eyes. His anger at the attack fizzled out and now, he was back peddling toward the wolf who had suggested to kill and eat him. He had to seek sanctuary from more imminent dangers.


    Sylvie stalked him as he backpedaled and her eyes lit up when he stumbled over a hidden rock buried amongst the flowers. She halted her pursuit of him when she arrived in the center of the circle that the wolves had formed.


    ¡°His fellow humans in the caravan abandoned this one with no hesitation. He is not important to them, and they will not risk one human life for his liberation.¡± She returned her attention to Noah. ¡°In fact, I doubt that there is a single human in his entire settlement that awaits his return.¡±


    Noah averted his eyes, not out of submission, but shame. He gripped his cane in unwillingness. But how could he argue with her?


    ¡°No human is immune to fae magic. None even have close to the resistances that wolves are born with. If the curse was strong enough to affect me for so many years, it is an oversight by the Prince that has finally allowed me to find my mate, not any mystical powers the human claims to possess.¡±


    The reassurance from their alpha eradicated the wolves¡¯ nervousness. Turning to Noah, they growled with narrowed eyes. A few even shimmered, the precursor to a shift, before they were able to get their emotions back under control.


    Rowan returned to Sylvie¡¯s side, dwarfing her with his height, and said, ¡°Alpha, we must call the pack together to discuss this. Our hearts and minds must be in accordance if we are to accept this human into our ranks.¡±


    Sylvie nodded and shifted without warning into a giant pitch-black wolf. The size of their wolf and human form did not seem to be related as far as Noah could tell. Sylvie was the second or third biggest wolf he had seen, but she was much shorter than most of the human forms he had come across. The black wolf let out a bounding howl that left Noah scrambling to cover his ears.


    Answering howls could be heard close and far, and the monstrous wolf snorted. Sylvie shifted back into her human form, looking quite pleased with the response to her calls. ¡°The meeting has been called. I will lock Noah up in his pris¡­I mean, show Noah to his accommodations.¡±


    Rowan examined Sylvie for a long moment before giving her a curt nod. He shifted instantly, and the other wolves followed his lead. The warrior wolves sprinted off toward the lodge in a blur to prepare for the pack meeting.


    For the first time, Noah and Sylvie only had themselves for company. He tried to start a conversation, but Sylvie cut him off with a glare. ¡°Do not speak human. I have tired of your lies and the discord you seek to spread within my ranks. You may be my mate, but the pack comes first, and I will rip out your throat in an instant if I deem you are a danger to the pack.¡±


    Noah snapped his mouth shut at that. It seemed he had reached the limit of how far he could push Sylvie for now. She waited a moment to see how foolish he actually was, and when he remained silent, grabbed his arm and guided him away from the lodge. She pulled him a short distance, leading him from the lodge to a giant tree that had a cabin attached to the trunk.


    The rear of the cabin disappeared within the trunk, and Noah guessed the cabin was bigger than it appeared from the front. Their footsteps were silent as they glided atop spongy mosses and soft grasses. As they approached the mahogany-colored cottage, softly illuminated by a fae globe inserted above the door, he wondered what type of horrors such an innocuous-looking prison would hold.


    Sylvie flung open the door with such force that it slammed into the inside wall of the cottage, causing him to jump. He peered into the cottage, not making any moves to enter when a powerful force threw him to his hands and knees upon the wooden floor slats.


    He picked up his fallen cowboy hat and placed it on his head as he regained his feet, using his cane for support. Once again, he threw his still-damp shirt over his shoulder. The cabin was just as simple as his home in Greenwood. It had a fireplace, a table and chairs, a wardrobe, and a few trunks for personal belongings. Near the hearth stood a cupboard with a few wooden cups and dishes which were covered in dust from disuse.


    The only actual difference from his home was the enormous bed that took up most of the space. It must have been designed to fit either of her forms and would have no trouble accommodating both him and Sylvie.


    After he surveyed the cabin, and after he noted the two windows that didn¡¯t have locks, he turned back around to face Sylvie. He raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what he was supposed to do now.


    ¡°This is my personal cabin. For the foreseeable future, you will stay here. You are not allowed to roam outside of this cabin without a guard. You are not allowed to touch anything. You are not allowed to speak to any of the wolves. I will be back in a few hours after the pack meeting,¡± said Sylvie as she turned, already halfway out the door.


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    ¡°But I¡­¡± Noah tried to argue.


    Sylvie let out a growl as her head whipped around to pin him with her glowing silver eyes. Her raven hair draped over her right shoulder from the momentum of her spin. ¡°I am the Alpha! You will obey my commands, human.¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyes hardened and he smirked at the woman. This time, she had pushed him too far.


    ¡°I am not a wolf. You are not my alpha. And, most importantly, ¡­¡± His voice rose and rose until he was shouting. ¡°I am a free man. I will bow my head to no human, no vampire, no fae, and certainly no shifter!¡±


    Sylvie narrowed her eyes at his outburst. ¡°We will see, my mate. We will see,¡± she whispered before slamming the door shut and locking him inside.


    As soon as Sylvie left, Noah explored the small cottage that would serve as his prison. He first checked the windows and was relieved when they creaked open with a small amount of effort. He scoffed at the lack of security the wolves deployed. Sylvie didn¡¯t seem to understand the concept of disobeying orders.


    Still, this place didn¡¯t completely confine him, and his rising claustrophobia subsided. He walked to the bed, his boots and cane thumping on the wooden floor, and sat on the soft hay mattress covered in woolen blankets.


    And¡­that was it. That was all that warranted exploration in this cabin. He avoided the wardrobe and trunks for now, uneasy at the thought of Sylvie discovering his snooping. The walls and tables held no personal effects of any kind. There was no displayed memorabilia, no indications of a hobby, and nothing to give him any clue of what type of person Sylvie was. If he didn¡¯t know otherwise, this could have been the home of any of the dozens of random wolves he had passed in the forest.


    He donned his damp shirt and collapsed fully onto the bed, snuggling into the soft blanket. In a valiant effort, he fought his exhaustion but ultimately succumbed to the sweet temptation of slumber.


    He awoke sometime later with the sun not yet having risen. He did a cursory examination of the cabin and concluded Sylvie had not returned from the lodge while he was asleep. After rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he decided it was time to test the security of this territory. He needed to gather as much information as he could.


    He pulled himself off the bed with the help of his cane like he was some elderly invalid. Once his legs steadied, he strode over to the windows with a confident gait. Pushing the glass open with a soft creak, he was about to climb through when he paused and cocked his head. He headed back to the only door in the cabin, inspecting the handle. ¡°Not even she could be this dumb, right?¡±


    Holding his breath, he pulled the handle down inch by inch. The door swung open without resistance, and he chuckled while rubbing his hands together. He¡¯d be out of their territory by the time the pack meeting ended.


    He strolled through the front door with his hat perfectly straightened and twirling his cane. Being cautious not to alert any sensitive wolf ears to his movements, he closed the door with a soft click. He crouched down, straining his ears for any guards, but heard nothing. Keeping his crouch, he waddled his way from the cabin back toward the entrance of the territory. It would take him a few hours, but he should be able to leave by the time the sun rose.


    He had not made it twenty feet before he heard a growl that instantly caused him to freeze. Out of the blackness of the forest, two wolves appeared. With pinned-back ears, they bared their fangs at him with drool dripping down onto the ground. Their fur bristled and stood up straight; all signs of an impending attack. Noah froze and put up his hands, hoping to placate the wolves.


    ¡°Um, I was searching for the outhouse?¡± he questioned his own lie and the wolves¡¯ growling grew even deeper. He examined the wolves, who couldn¡¯t even respond to him in a language he could understand.


    These wolves weren¡¯t as big as the warriors that had entered the battle against the Unseelie. One of them was barely larger than a normal wolf and was a pale blonde, almost white. The other wolf was much bigger but had the gangly build and awkwardness that only a teenager not yet comfortable in their body could possess. Its fur was also a darker blonde than the smaller wolf and appeared to be almost golden. Noah changed his tactics immediately.


    ¡°Listen, kids. I understand the Alpha trusted you with guarding me, but she wouldn¡¯t take kindly to you hurting her mate,¡± he said in his most stern voice. The wolves whimpered and their ears stood back up like normal.


    ¡°There, there, that¡¯s better. I promise I mean you no harm. The Alpha assigned me the task of searching for clues as to why the Unseelie were so close to pack territory. It is our duty to inspect the remnants of the battlefield from yesterday.¡±


    He made a show of rubbing his chin, deep in thought. Then, he lowered his voice and leaned in as if he was sharing a secret with them. ¡°She thought long and hard about who would be best at keeping me safe and escorting me to the battlefield. And she picked you two! Above all others. I was shocked, but she insisted that no other wolves held her trust as deeply as you two.¡±


    The smaller of the two wolves began wagging its tail and prancing around with small hops. The larger of the two wolves snorted and, after a brief shimmer, a teenage boy and a young girl were standing in front of him.


    ¡°Dammit Luna, we are supposed to be guarding the human. You can¡¯t lose your focus just because he gives you a bit of praise.¡± The teenage boy had shaggy, dirty blonde hair that fell over his ice-blue eyes. He must have been around sixteen or seventeen, just like Noah had suspected.


    Noah turned to the younger of the two wolves to see a ten-year-old girl looking up at him with big, green eyes and pale blonde hair that flirted with white. Her hair was styled into pigtails and held back by ribbons of twine. Did hair color determine the color of the wolf¡¯s fur?


    Clasping her little hands in front of her, the young girl asked, ¡°Did the Alpha really pick the two of us over everyone else in the pack?¡± Her lip trembled, and she asked Noah with such hope and optimism that the last of his conscience prickled him.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. She needed her two best warriors to guard her mate, but also needed scouts who knew the woods well enough to escort me to the battlefield.¡±


    With stars in her eyes, the young girl nodded her head vigorously. ¡°Yep, we know where it is. Come on, follow me.¡± She shifted again into her wolf form and beckoned with her paw for him to follow.


    With a roll of his eyes, the teenage wolf popped his sister on her snout. ¡°Luna, he is obviously lying. The Alpha tasked us with guarding him because all the warrior wolves are at the lodge for the pack meeting.¡±


    Luna¡¯s eyes widened and she shifted back into her human form. Her bottom lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. ¡°Were you lying to us, Mr. Human?¡±


    She choked back sobs, and tears wet her cheeks. Noah felt a strange pain in his chest and grabbed at his heart, his eyes filling with tears.


    ¡°Oh no, please stop crying, little one. The Alpha asked me to test your discipline and you passed. I told her you wouldn¡¯t fall for any tricks. Let¡¯s go back to the cabin so you can guard me properly.¡± He couldn¡¯t do it. Luna reminded him of Negative 3, and she was breaking his heart.


    Together, they returned to the cabin, and upon opening the door, he hesitated at the threshold. He looked back at the two wolves, who remained in their human forms. ¡°Why don¡¯t you two come in the cabin so that we can acquaint ourselves? It will be much more interesting than prowling those boring woods all night long.¡±


    Firming his stance, the teenage boy put his hands behind his back in some kind of military stance. ¡°The Alpha tasked us with guarding you from outside the home. We will not stray from the Alpha¡¯s ord¡ª"


    ¡°Yay! Come on Silas,¡± Luna cut him off, throwing her hands in the air. She pranced through the door in the blink of an eye, and Noah promised himself that he would stand between the girl and a master vampire if need be.


    Silas¡¯s eyes widened and he threw his hands up in the air in disgust at his sister¡¯s lack of discipline. ¡°Or not. Or we could do the exact opposite and intrude on the Alpha¡¯s cabin. What could go wrong?¡±


    Silas moved even faster than Luna and followed her into the cabin. Stopping just inside the door, he waited for Noah to follow them inside. Noah followed them through the door, and Silas took a seat at the wooden table while Luna was jumping up and down on Sylvie¡¯s bed.


    The little girl shifted into her wolf form and scratched at the bundle of blankets on the bed. She pushed the blankets with her nose until she had carved out a small nest for herself to lay in. Noah took in the bizarre sight from his position by the door and wondered how many humans had seen a shifter make a nest for themselves. He cleared his thoughts and got down to business. It was his best chance for intelligence gathering, after all.


    ¡°So, the pack is inside the lodge? What are they discussing?¡± he casually asked, while joining Silas at the table.


    Silas jumped up from his chair in a blur, sending it flying across the floor. ¡°We do not discuss pack business with outsiders, especially-¡±


    ¡°They are debating on whether you can stay. There¡¯s never been a non-wolf mate before,¡± Luna interrupted helpfully while resting her head on her hands and kicking her feet in the air. When did she even shift?


    ¡°Dammit Luna. You couldn¡¯t keep a secret to save your life.¡± Silas started rubbing his temples in a calming circular pattern.


    Luna stuck her tongue out at her brother. ¡°Come on, Silas. Mr. Human isn¡¯t a bad guy. He¡¯s the Alpha¡¯s mate.¡±


    Noah took that chance to chime in. ¡°I¡¯m not a bad guy at all. In fact, I came from far away to trade with your pack. We were under the impression that a middle-aged male was alpha. What happened to him?¡± He picked at his felt hat, appearing disinterested.


    ¡°That was the Alpha¡¯s father. He passed away around a year ago,¡± Luna disclosed with no hesitation.


    ¡°Does the alpha position normally pass down to next of kin in a wolf pack?¡± Noah followed up.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Luna began before Silas slammed his fist down on the table, putting a large crack into it. Luna¡¯s eyes went wide and she finally learned to hold her tongue.


    ¡°That is pack business outsider. If the pack determines you can stay and become a member, you will become privy to such information,¡± Silas said as he moved toward the window. ¡°Luna let¡¯s go. We need to get back on guard duty before the Alpha discovers we left our post.¡± He paused and glanced back at Noah. ¡°Although, she might find out anyway if her ¡®mate¡¯ squeals on us.¡±


    Luna whipped around to look at Noah. She held her hands clasped in front of her and her lips trembled. ¡°You won¡¯t tattle on us, will you, Mr. Human?¡± Her eyes had some kind of magic in them because it hurt his heart to stare directly at them.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be our little secret.¡± He mimed zipping his lips shut. ¡°Also, you can just leave through the door-¡±


    She threw up her hands in a cheer. ¡°Yay! Thanks, Mr. Human. Don¡¯t try to escape again tonight or we will have to eat you.¡± She hopped out the window in a blur. Noah was getting whiplash from the girl¡¯s mood swings and struggled to keep up with the conversation. Silas followed her out and pushed the window closed, effectively trapping him in a lockless prison.

 Chapter 12

    The banshee slinked through the thick fog to answer for her sins. Her bones were too long to be proportional and her knees popped in and out of socket as she clambered her way to the Unseelie territory. Her bulbous eyes were solid black and forever leaked blood down her white-as-chalk cheeks. Strands of her long wispy black hair fell from her head and turned to ash before they hit the ground.


    She arrived at the heart of her master¡¯s territory and shivered. A twenty-foot-high pentagram made of pearly white bones marked the entrance. The symbol of the Unseelie. A thicket of vines created a massive tunnel, reaching many feet above her head. Once on the path to her master, there was no return for her unless he granted her his everlasting mercy.


    She shrieked an ear-piercing wail that sent a flock of crows flapping away with constant caws. A few of the crows stilled in midair and plummeted dead before they even reached the ground. Her wails, normally so powerful, wouldn¡¯t help her in front of the Prince. Nothing would.


    Her feet crushed the dead foliage covering the pathway as she began her journey to face her reckoning. The vines grew thicker as she continued into the maze, and sharp thorns, exuding some type of poisonous sap, dripped threateningly onto her from above. The stray rays of sunlight became less and less frequent as she approached the heart of her master¡¯s territory. Darkness smothered her spirit, and shadows invaded her mind.


    Her creaking bones stilled as she hesitated, just as the vine tunnel was about to dump her out into a clearing. There were many tunnel entrances into the territory, but they all twisted like snakes until they deposited their quarry in one place. The master¡¯s throne room. Only if the Prince allowed them to could the Unseelie races return to the small sections of the maze they called home.


    She pressed forward until the vines disappeared and revealed a clearing as large as a human settlement, stretching out before her. As softly as she could, she wailed to give herself strength and comfort.


    She canvassed the scene of the massive clearing and started to convulse in fear. In the pitch blackness, only a few specks of light illuminated the ghastly scene before her. Hundreds of goblins and red hats lay slaughtered across a meadow of death. Left to rot and decay, their bodies served as an example to those who dared to fail their Prince. She whipped around to run for her life, but the vine tunnel closed to form a wall of poisonous thorns.


    ¡°Come here, Helgath.¡± A soft, almost feminine voice somehow reached the banshee across the clearing. She forced her legs to move one step at a time. Only her joints popping in and out of socket betrayed her silent approach. As she moved closer to the throne, she wailed at some of the other living creatures in the clearing who hissed, growled, or clicked at her.


    It was pitch black other than the dull purple glow of fae balls, sporadically placed in the clearing. Unlike the Seelie fae globes, these weren¡¯t enchanted balls of glass. No, these were glass balls, but the source of the lights was tiny sprites entrapped within. Sprites only glowed when they experienced stress, danger, or pain. In the Unseelie territory, the sprites remained in all three states until they eventually died. The master would then send out his abominations to find replacements.


    The pitiful sprites, pounding the glass of their globed prison, cast the clearing in a hopeless glow of purple and black. At the far end of the clearing, a subtle red glow added to the ambiance, produced by slumbering elementals made of pure molten rock. The only thing clearly illuminated was a massive throne of bones which came from all manner of creatures. Bones from humans, shifters, fae, and even a fair number of master vampires contributed to the throne. None could stand before the might of the Prince.


    A few minutes later, she reached the destination of her terror. Kneeling on the dead foliage with her head bowed, she waited for acknowledgment. She wailed, but the sound seemed to be swallowed up within the shadows.


    ¡°My dear Helgath. You have failed me, I¡¯m afraid,¡± the feminine voice whispered out. The voice carried through to the core of the banshee, and she gripped her chest in pain.


    ¡°Please grant me your mercy, Master,¡± she choked out, gasping for breath.


    ¡°Why must my children put me in a position such as this? I love them, I care for them, and yet, they always disappoint me.¡± The voice carried a tone of sadness that increased her fear.


    ¡°Master, please give me another chance. I will see that your will comes to be,¡± the banshee rushed out. She lifted her head to plead with her master, but an unseen force slammed into her head and crushed her face into the rotting foliage.


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    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I gave you permission to raise your head in my presence, Helgath.¡± The voice remained calm and took its time to get each word out.


    ¡°I apologize, Master. I only wish to be a faithful servant to thee.¡± A force she couldn¡¯t comprehend pinned the banshee¡¯s face against the ground, muffling her voice. She heard a deep sigh tinged with sadness.


    ¡°Look upon me, Helgath.¡± The force disappeared, and she raised her head one inch at a time.


    Beginning at the bottom of the throne made of bones, she continued to raise her head until she gazed upon the haunting splendor of her master. With dark purple skin, he only stood five and a half feet tall. His veins slithered around his body like parasitic worms, trying to break free from their prison.


    A shadowy material from their homeland covered his lower body but left his feet bare. The only other clothing that dared to hide his beauty was a short black vest that hung on one side of his chest, barely reaching the bottom of his pectoral. After thousands of years of preferring to remain bare-chested, he had only recently started to wear the vest a few years ago.


    Her eyes continued to rise until they finally reached the Prince¡¯s face. He had serpent-like eyes that glowed a bright amethyst, illuminating the delicate features of his face. Short black hair that never grew, no matter how many millennia passed, adorned his head.


    Atop his head, onyx-colored horns curled until they came to sharp points. The horns glistened from the purple glow of his eyes, and she risked being hypnotized by their magnificence. As unforgiving and brutal as her master may be, he was still the most beautiful creature that the banshee had ever laid eyes upon. No other being in the fae home world, or this new world they had become trapped in, had twisted her senses just by gazing upon their beauty.


    Standing just behind his throne were a half dozen Sluagh, patiently awaiting their master¡¯s orders. The noisy creatures remained silent, not making any of their nightmarish clicks. They would not dare in his presence.


    Behind the Sluagh were the thousands of creatures that made up his army. Goblins, redcaps, trolls, Fachan, and other banshees like herself scattered around the clearing, remaining completely silent and unmoving. She followed the dull oranges and reds in the distance to see a hulking behemoth of molten rock. Deep in slumber, the elemental patiently awaited its master¡¯s call. Hags stood in the shadows with dark cloaks covering their faces. Twitching with withdrawals, they struggled to avoid muttering their spells against whatever had enraged them that day.


    If the Fae¡¯s power wasn¡¯t so reliant on their territories, they would have conquered this world centuries ago. But while in their territory? They were practically invincible.


    ¡°Helgath, what were my orders to you when you embarked from my home?¡± the Prince flashed his fanged teeth as he spoke.


    ¡°Master, you commanded me to act as a forward scout of the Baleful Fiend Pack¡¯s territory. I was to assess any weakness in the perimeter and identify locations for the army to gather unmolested.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, my child.¡± The Prince¡¯s eyes glowed brighter. ¡°And tell me, my child. How did attacking a human caravan, so irrelevant to our plans, serve my orders? The wolves are now aware of our presence and will muster their defenses.¡±


    ¡°Master, we were scouting the perimeter of the territory when the human caravan appeared. I thought that if an alliance was being negotiated, it would hinder our plans. That is why I took the initiative to annihilate the human force. We even returned with crates of silver weapons to arm your servants with.¡± The banshee bowed her head once again and waited for judgment.


    ¡°Hmm. You thought?¡± The Prince stood up from his throne, his full majesty on display as black wings of shadow flared out behind him. ¡°You do not think!¡± he yelled, raising his voice for the first time. ¡°You have a singular purpose of existence: to serve my will!¡±


    The banshee closed her eyes that were leaking blood onto the ground and gave a soft broken wail. A force slammed into the back of her head, and her life was snuffed out as easily as a child picking a flower.


    ***


    ¡°Eaganath!¡± the Prince called out. From behind his throne, the monsters shifted to create a path as a banshee clicked and clacked her way as fast as she could to stand before the throne. She avoided her now headless sister and knelt before her Prince. Blood from her sister¡¯s corpse leaked onto her black dress, but she ignored it.


    ¡°You will lead my forces, and you will accomplish my will. Do not fail me!¡± The Prince sat back down on his throne, his wings of shadow folding onto his body once more.


    ¡°Yes, Master. I shall see it done.¡± The banshee stood, preparing to gather her forces.


    ¡°Oh, and Eaganath, do not kill any wolves until we are ready. We wouldn¡¯t want my partner to die in the chaos.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Master. I will position the scouting force and wait for your commands.¡± She screeched out a wail that had some creatures passing out and others grabbing their heads in madness. Her wail fizzled out, and she started her crablike walk toward the main tunnel that had reappeared in the vines.


    Behind her, the thunderous marching of thousands of creatures followed in her wake. This was but a small taste of the master¡¯s forces and could only serve as a vanguard. Yet, it was a force large enough to decimate entire territories. This was the power of her Prince, and soon, they would attack the wolves with unbridled savagery.

 Chapter 13

    Noah paced the small cabin with his thoughts rapidly swirling around in his mind. He didn¡¯t seem to be in immediate danger, and he didn¡¯t really have anyone or anything back in Greenwood. At least, nothing that would require him to risk his life attempting to escape the wolves¡¯ territory. He taunted and dared death to catch him constantly, but in this instance, it seemed more prudent to play the role of a palatable prisoner.


    Could he stomach once again being imprisoned, no matter how hospitable his treatment? Images of his time in the vampire caverns intruded on his logical thinking, refusing to make way for more rational thoughts. He rubbed at his temples with a grimace. No matter how much he tried to forget the past, the haunting images persisted, never once vacating his mind to make room for peace. In direct opposition to his hopes and dreams, his trauma seemed to be his one constant companion in this lifetime.


    ¡°Just be happy you have your freedom. How dare you lust for more?¡± he whispered to himself while shuffling over to Sylvie¡¯s bed.


    Stretching out on the enormous bed, he untied his leather boots and yanked them off of his aching feet. He threw them across the cabin, where they hit the wooden wall with a thud and fell to the floor. Placing his cowboy hat over his eyes, he attempted to secure some rest while he could.


    Just as he dozed off, the door slammed open, jolting him awake. In one frantic motion, he jumped to his feet with his cane pointed threateningly at the intruder. There stood Sylvie, and she looked pissed. Her raven hair spilled to her lower back, and her lithe body, which stood a few inches taller than his, was tensed with powerful lean muscles. She was beautiful, but she was the type of beauty that you admired from afar if you wanted to keep all of your body parts and ultimately your life.


    He lowered his cane and peered at her from beneath the rim of his hat. ¡°Well hello, my mate. How was your slumber party with the pack?¡±


    She ignored his greeting and inspected the cottage, sniffing the air with quick bursts of audible breaths. Catching something in the air, her head snapped toward him with a growl. ¡°Why do I smell the siblings in my cottage? I forbid you to talk to the other wolves.¡±


    ¡°That you did, Sylvie, and I wouldn¡¯t dare defy you. The siblings remained in their animal form no matter how I tried to coax them into conversation,¡± he said with a shrug.


    She narrowed her eyes at his story but seemed to let the incident go. Her eyes traveled across the cottage until she spotted the ball of blankets Luna had constructed. ¡°Why were you on my bed? I didn¡¯t give you permission to sleep there.¡±


    With a roll of his eyes, he sat back down on the bed and stretched his arms above his head. ¡°Permission? Oh, my mate, I don¡¯t wait for permission to do things. I¡¯m more of a do the first thing that pops into your mind kind of lad.¡±


    Sylvie¡¯s tense body became even more stiff. ¡°I am your mate. But! First and foremost, I am the Alpha of your pack and you will follow my orders,¡± she growled, slowly stalking toward him.


    ¡°Or what? You¡¯ll kick me out of the pack? You¡¯ll kill your own mate?¡± he asked, not able to keep a chuckle from his voice. She froze, her eyes widening at his audacity.


    She let loose a menacing smile that he didn¡¯t like one bit. ¡°The pack hasn¡¯t made you a permanent member yet. They have officially designated you as a Guest of the Pack, with the safety or lack thereof that title provides.¡±


    She walked over to the bed and slowly trailed the back of her hand down his cheek, causing him to shiver. Her smile widened. ¡°However, you have the option to stay in the cabin and enjoy relative freedom, or you can spend your time in the pack prison where no light will ever touch your face.¡±


    Whispering into his ear, she continued, ¡°It is buried deep within the earth, and even the trees will forget your existence in a short while. Is that what you¡¯d prefer, my mate?¡±


    Noah froze and considered his options before jumping up from the bed. ¡°Wait a second! Is this your bed, my mate? Since you escorted me here, I thought it was to be my personal cabin. Of course, I¡¯d never take a lady¡¯s bed and make her sleep on the floor. What kind of ruffian would that make me?¡±


    He somehow left the bed with dignity, his chin held high. Amusement danced in Sylvie¡¯s eyes as she watched his performance.


    ¡°So, I assume this is the part where you force your lecherous desires upon me? I must warn you that I am in training to be a monk. I have sworn off the pleasures of the flesh and take that vow more seriously than life itself.¡± Crossing his arms over his chest, he threw her the most pitiful look that he could manage.


    Sylvie smirked at this declaration but didn¡¯t seem too bothered by it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my mate. I won¡¯t ravish you the first night we are together. We must get the pack¡¯s full approval before they will stand for me laying with a human.¡±


    She circled around him, trailing her finger across his chest. ¡°We also don¡¯t want to get pregnant with pups until we figure out where this unseelie force appeared from.¡±


    Noah blew out a sigh of relief or disappointment; he wasn¡¯t sure which. Sylvie was gorgeous, but he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be the one in control in the bedroom, and that was a road he didn¡¯t want to go down again if he could help it. The sprite fiasco that had ended with him tied spread eagle and on the verge of being sacrificed had taught him a very powerful lesson. His sigh of relief wasn¡¯t missed by Sylvie, who followed him with the eyes of a predator as she sat on the bed.


    ¡°So, tell me Sylvie. Why is it that I¡¯ve never heard of a shifter mating with a human before now? What in the world is the magic of your wolf resonating with? Because I assure you that I¡¯m not part fae or part shifter and have no magic of my own.¡±


    She stared at him intensely but remained silent. He waited and waited for her answer, until finally, he was forced to accept she had no intention of sharing any knowledge with him.


    ¡°Tell me, Sylvie! You take me prisoner and hold me in a territory of a race that is not my own. You owe me the truth for that transgression,¡± he said, blowing out a frustrated breath.


    In an instant, she rose to her feet and launched him through the air. His back slammed into the wall of the cabin with a thud. The impact forced the air from of his lungs with the wood creaking and groaning behind him.


    Her elbow was across his neck in an instant, pinning him against the wall. He grappled at her arm, but it felt more like an iron bar than soft flesh. Forcefully removing the forearm at his throat was an impossibility that he didn¡¯t intend to waste time on. He activated the spring in his cane, and the iron blade shot out. The iron would be less effective than silver, but he hadn¡¯t exchanged the blade after the battle yesterday. Behind her back, he raised his cane, poised for an unseen strike.


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    ¡°Tell me? Tell me?¡± she snarled, her silver eyes glowing in the darkness and illuminating her savage features.


    ¡°You do not give me commands. I am the Alpha!¡± she screamed at him with wildness in her eyes.


    Noah held still against the wall, and face to face with an angry wolf who could kill him in a second¡­ he felt nothing. Where was his fear? He felt nothing but the small twinge of excitement that betrayed the madness lurking beneath his conscious mind.


    Disappointment turned to devastation before morphing into hopelessness. He tried to bury the emotions deep inside rather than acknowledge how little he cared for his life. If he couldn¡¯t feel anything with a wolf at his throat, maybe he truly was broken inside. He lowered his cane to his side, no longer caring.


    ¡°Can you please tell me, Sylvie?¡± he asked, his voice just barely rising to a whisper. Her glowing eyes dulled until they returned to their normal silver. She slowly allowed his feet to touch the ground and stepped away from him as if his skin had scalded her arm. Her eyes were downcast, regret marring her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Noah. I am still getting acclimated to the alpha¡¯s instincts. They can override my rational mind if I don¡¯t control them properly. It is unacceptable that I turned those instincts on my mate.¡± Sylvie walked over to her bed, collapsing onto the hay mattress with a groan. At that moment, he saw Sylvie for what she truly was; a young woman who was in way over her head.


    Pressing the hidden button on his cane handle, he pushed the blade back into its hiding place with the help of the floor. He took a few steps toward her when she popped up with a determined look on her face. He didn¡¯t know what she was searching for in his eyes, but she seemed to have found it, giving a slight nod in his direction.


    ¡°My father was the Alpha of this pack for almost thirty years. He ruled with absolute brutality and put down any who questioned his reign. He conquered pack after pack until he finally reached the limit of his control and was forced to set down roots in this forest,¡± she said, her eyes glazing over, lost in memory.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just wolf packs that fell to his insatiable lust for domination. He annihilated vampire covens, human settlements, and even decimated unseelie forces that had strayed too far from their portal. He created powerful enemies who forced him to pay the ultimate price for his greed, but he wasn¡¯t the only one to be punished for his transgressions.¡± She shivered, rubbing the goosebumps that had formed along her arms.


    ¡°One of his enemies was an unseelie prince. The prince placed a curse on me that severed my magic¡¯s ability to resonate with a mate, or so I thought.¡± Sylvie rubbed at her eyes, and Noah couldn¡¯t overlook the bone-deep tiredness on her face any longer.


    ¡°It seems that the prince wasn¡¯t specific enough in his curse because it only broke my ability to mate with a wolf. When I saw you on the battlefield, my wolf howled to me, claiming you as my mate.¡± A spark of hope lit behind her eyes, and a smile, reminiscent of a parched man being handed a glass of water, bloomed on her face.


    He remained unconvinced, however. ¡°But what is it resonating with? Has there ever been a human mate before?¡±


    She blew out a powerful breath that sent her hair fluttering. ¡°The truth is, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never heard of a shifter mating with a human. Theoretically, it shouldn¡¯t be possible, but the curse that has warped my own magic must have allowed it to be so,¡± she said, with her head lowered, barely allowing him to decipher her muffled words.


    He joined her on the bed, but she kept her head down, eyes never leaving the floor. ¡°Sylvie, I understand what a mate means to a pack. I won¡¯t make light of this situation. What I want to know is where do we go from here?¡± he asked, hoping against hope that she wouldn¡¯t set them on a tragic course.


    She finally raised her head to look into his eyes, their faces hovering inches apart from one another. Biting his lip to retain his focus, he held her gaze. He was incapable of being subservient due to his past; even if it was with a woman nature had chosen as his perfect mate for this lifetime.


    ¡°Next, you will attempt to integrate with the pack, and hopefully, gain their approval. Once you do, you will be the mate to the Alpha of the most powerful wolf pack in a thousand miles,¡± she said in enticement.


    He rolled his cane between his hands, averting his gaze to the floor. ¡°And if I don¡¯t want to be your mate or stay with the pack?¡±


    ¡°You are my mate and you will stay by my side where you belong!¡± she bellowed, growling and baring her teeth at him.


    ¡°You would imprison your mate against his will?¡± he whispered as he returned his eyes to her face, searching for her true intentions.


    True vulnerability spread across her face for the first time. The alpha mask she clung to so fervently dropped for a split second. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Noah. I don¡¯t have a choice.¡±


    He went silent at her decision. Denying someone their freedom took only a split second and few words, but the scars it induced on the psyche endured forever. Staring into her eyes, he realized that these wolves would never allow him to leave this territory. A mate was too important for the pack¡¯s survival and was doubly so for the Alpha.


    He¡¯d have to escape alone and without 125¡¯s planning to guide him this time. He would do it, though, no matter what it took. 125 didn¡¯t sacrifice his life for Noah to end up in another prison. Freedom or death.


    Stepping away from Sylvie, he lay on the hardwood floor, using his hat as a pillow. Cold air seeped through the floor, chilling him and causing him to shiver. An approaching shadow darkened his vision, and a thick blanket fell over his face before he could dodge. Claustrophobia induced him into a panic as he scrambled to remove the blanket and clear his vision. He glanced over at Sylvie, who raised an eyebrow at his display of trauma that he normally kept locked away and hidden deep inside.


    ¡°I¡¯m a wolf. I don¡¯t need it,¡± she said, and he sighed in relief when she didn¡¯t question his frantic response to a simple blanket.


    Shrugging at her kindness, he placed the thick blanket over himself to keep the chill of the forest off of him. He heard shuffling coming from the direction of the bed, and upon peaking one eye open, saw Sylvie bare-chested and in the process of pulling her leather pants down.


    He bolted upright; the blanket flying across the room. ¡°Holy shit!¡±


    Sylvie tensed at his outburst and shifted into her wolf form instantly. She stood in front of him, facing the door, while growling and snapping at the air. She sniffed the scents in the air and cocked her head toward the door, ears flickering as she tried to perceive the threat against her mate.


    Picking his jaw up from the floor, he blushed and cleared his throat. ¡°Ah, there¡¯s no danger, Sylvie.¡±


    The wolf¡¯s head snapped around to glare at him. After a brief glimmer, she was in her human form once more, but this time naked save for her leather pants. When the wolves shifted, it seemed that they preserved whatever they were carrying or wearing upon returning to their human form.


    Her eyes glowed silver and she clenched her fist as she ground out, ¡°If there is no danger, what startled you, my mate?¡±


    He smiled at her attempt to rein in her anger. He discreetly, or not, roamed his eyes up and down her naked chest. ¡°Oh, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to lock my home in Greenwood. My priceless artifacts will be vulnerable to thieves now. However, it is a worry for another day. I am sorry to have startled you, my mate.¡±


    Her eyes bulged open even wider, and he could practically see the impending blow-up, but she paused. He looked up to see her glowing silver eyes and the smirk on her face.


    ¡°Thieves, you say? I have not seen you show fear yet, my mate. You showed no fear while on a battlefield of certain death. You showed no fear as you were taken prisoner deep into an enemy¡¯s territory. And yet, the thought of thieves makes you cower?¡±


    He could feel the blush spreading across his cheeks and heading towards his neck. Nodding his head and clearing his throat, he attempted to preserve whatever dignity he had remaining. ¡°Thieves are the worst sort of criminal. They would instill fear into the King of the Unseelie himself.¡±


    Her smirk widened at his nonsense. She pulled down her leather pants and sashayed toward the bed, giving him a view of her ass.


    ¡°Goodnight, my mate,¡± she whispered, the amusement in her voice informing him that he had lost the first of many battles he would wage against his mate.

 Chapter 14

    Noah awoke sometime after dawn to the chirping melodies of the birds who called the enchanted forest home. He twisted his torso from side to side in an attempt to relieve the pain in his back from sleeping on the cold wooden floor. His drooped eyes, heavy with sleep, glanced over to Sylvie¡¯s bed, finding it empty.


    His stomach growled in angry protest, an audible reminder that he had not eaten since the battle yesterday morning. He shook his hat to smooth the abuse it had endured serving as his pillow, and hefted his cane in his hand, testing its weight. The amalgamation of metals and wood was too heavy to be of use in battle unless he activated the enchantment on its side, but his style would take a drastic hit without it.


    Reaching into his trench coat pocket, he revealed a small metal box that housed his other cane blades. He had discarded his original silver blade for iron after the battle broke out, but he always carried a spare for each material. He screwed the silver blade on tightly and felt much more at ease with an effective weapon to protect himself with.


    Lightly testing the cabin door handle, he found it, once again, unlocked. He gently pushed at the door, making sure that no creaks or sudden movement would alert any potential wolves to his presence. Poking his head through the threshold, he looked back and forth to check for any obvious dangers. He examined the giant trees of the forest, but couldn¡¯t pinpoint any movement or oddities amongst them. Only the birds fluttering from branch to branch in the canopy broke the stillness of the morning. Checkered rays of sunlight filtered between the leaves, warming his chilled skin.


    With a moan of pleasure, he basked in the warmth until his stomach, gurgling in displeasure at his slow pace, forced him forward. Sylvie had forbidden him from wandering about the territory and speaking to the wolves, but honestly, he couldn¡¯t care less. She should have brought him food if she wanted him to remain in the cottage; even prisoners needed to eat.


    He tried to recall the path Sylvie guided him along last night and set off into the forest according to his memories. As he trekked over the soft soils of the forest, he found himself constantly distracted by the steady hum of the swaying trees in the brisk wind. After walking for a few minutes, he emerged into the giant meadow containing the fallen tree that the wolves used as a communal lodge. Smoke rose from multiple points along its length, which he hoped signified breakfast was being served. He took a step toward the lodge before stumbling to an abrupt stop.


    ¡°They cook their meat, right?¡± he whispered to himself. Suddenly not sure of the horrors he was going to be subjected to in the lodge, he hesitated. However, his stomach pains had worsened, and he could no longer deny them. If he needed to eat a live rabbit to ease his hunger, then that was a horror he might just be seduced by.


    He crossed the meadow at a steady pace, softly brushing through the purple flowers that reached his waist. Bees, birds, and butterflies darted from flower to flower, getting their fill of the sweet nectar offered in exchange for spreading the flowers¡¯ pollen.


    The closer he got to the lodge, the more entranced by its majesty he became. It truly was a titan of the forest. Five of him stacked on top of one another would still not hit the roof of the massive trunk, and that was only the half that rested above ground. Large wooden panels with hinges had been carved out of the trunk every hundred feet or so. He assumed it served the purpose of allowing the wolves to push open the door with their shoulders as opposed to having to shift to open a handle.


    He came to a swinging wooden door and took a deep breath while gripping his cane for comfort. Steadying himself, he pushed open the door and encountered a severe blow to his pride. It barely budged, only moving a few inches before slamming shut once again. He stared at the wooden door in shock, a bright red flush growing from his neck to his ears. Placing his cane on the ground, he furiously rubbed his hands together. This time, he wouldn¡¯t play around. The pride of humanity rested on his shoulders.


    He placed his hand on the wood once again and put every ounce of strength he had into pushing it open. His legs strained, his arms shook, and his cheeks puffed up. A bead of sweat even rolled down his cheek. The swinging door opened foot by excruciating foot, rewarding him for his efforts. He finally was able to open the door wide enough for him to slip in and prop it open with his shoulder so that he could pick up his cane. His overextended arm strained toward the cane with his fingertips tantalizingly close to the metal rod. He gave one last lunge and his finger curled around it. Slipping into the lodge, he let the heavy wooden door slam shut before it could crush him.


    Gasping for breath, he laid his forehead against the wood, trying to calm his heart rate. How much stronger were these shifters than humans? He could barely open their doors.


    He caught his breath after a few moments and turned around to get his first good look at the heart of the Baleful Fiend Pack. He froze as long tables, full of pack members, were all staring in his direction. Some were curious, some were considering him, and some were full-on growling and snapping at him. He rearranged his hat, ensuring it was perfectly placed, and twirled his cane around.


    ¡°Good day, gentle¡­wolfs and lady wolfs.¡± He bent into a deep bow and tipped his hat at the angry wolves. ¡°I know that most of you fought for me yesterday. Risked your very lives to defend me, in fact.¡± Most of the wolves scoffed, turning their noses at him.


    ¡°He is a member of our pack just as much as any of us, a few of you passionately declared.¡± The growls grew louder. ¡°Although the battle is only half won, as I am only a Guest of the Pack, don¡¯t fret, my friends. There will come a day that I, Noah, will repay your kindness as soon as I get access to the coffers through my mate.¡±


    He stood up from his bow and returned his hat to his head. He examined the massive space that served as the gathering place for the pack. Every surface was a smooth wood, treated with either chemicals or magic. Giant hearths remained barren and dark, with no usefulness in the summer heat. Long wooden tables covered a quarter of the gigantic trunk, each filled with dozens of wolves. Woolen blankets were piled towards the roots of the tree, providing the wolves with a place to curl up and sleep with the comfort of their pack mates.


    Looking behind him, he discovered the entire reason for his journey - a long table loaded with more meats than he had ever seen. Even a few vegetables and fruit, mostly untouched by the wolves, added to the delectable spread. Multiple fires raged in the area of the trunk that served as the kitchen. The cooks rattled pans and pots atop metal grates heated by roaring flames.


    Holes carved into the side wall of the trunk impossibly sucked up the billowing smoke and displaced it outside into the forest. Narrowing his eyes, he discovered glowing fae enchantments beneath the holes. His eyes widened in shock that the pack would allow a fae so deep within their territory to enchant the wood.


    The last quarter of the trunk, toward the branches and leaves, remained bare: no tables, no chairs, and no blankets. He could just make out a small raised platform that might have been used as a makeshift stage. The infamous pack meetings he had heard so much about must have been held there. Eyeing the area that would decide his fate as a prisoner, he noticed the wooden floor of the trunk had claw marks gouged into it, resembling deep scars.


    When and where the pack decided to use their human forms was a complete mystery to him. They were shifters in the truest sense of the word, not humans and not animals, but a strange combination of both that permeated every aspect of their culture.


    He approached the buffet-style table and grabbed a wooden plate along with a few crudely carved wooden forks. His eyes lit up, and he had to wipe away drool as he gazed longingly at the food that would satiate his rumbling stomach.


    An ancient wolf with bushy grey hair and a deeply wrinkled face ordered the kitchen hands about with dictatorial control. She had a hideous scar that appeared to be from a single slash of a sword or claw. It began just below her hairline, ran down over her eye, and ended at her cheek. The eye was closed and Noah assumed it would never open again. Half blind, she snapped her gaze to him as he started piling the juicy meats, dripping with rendered fat, onto his plate. His hand hovered above the food as her hardened gaze made him question his welcome.


    He turned his most charming smile on the old wolf. ¡°Hello, honored elder. In my brief stay in your territory, I have felt the touch of your wisdom percolating throughout the pack.¡±


    The wizened old wolf snorted and smacked her cane against the floor. The crack reverberated off of the walls, causing the wolves at the tables to pause their meals. His eyes lit up, food forgotten, as he inspected her cane. Another cane enthusiast? He was the only person he knew who used a cane as their primary weapon. His excitement waned as he noticed it was an ordinary walking cane, used out of necessity, not as a weapon of violence.


    ¡°I am too old to rouse the necessary energy to spread prejudice and hate against your kind, human. I will judge you upon the strength of your spirit, not upon your lack of ability to shift. However, I will commit vile atrocities in the name of safeguarding my pack. Do not test my willingness to bring horror down upon you.¡±


    She then nodded at the food and turned her back on him, already shouting commands at the poor kitchen aids under her employ. After a brief hesitation, he loaded up his plate with succulent meat and fresh vegetables. Next to the food, a small wooden basin attached to the floor of the lodge glowed with fae enchantment symbols. Whistling at the amount of magic that must have coursed through this inconspicuous basin, he inspected the symbols which were carved in meticulous precision.


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    Peering over the rim, he saw crystal clear water filled to the brim, only a drop or two from overflowing. He dipped a wooden cup into the water, noticeably dropping the water level, and watched in amazement as the basin filled to the brim with water once more. It must have tapped into a well or underground spring, with the enchantments suctioning the never-ending water into the basin.


    All the while, he could feel the searing gazes of dozens of wolves upon his back. His shoulders sagged under the weight of their stares. He turned around with his wooden tray and scanned the audience, hoping to spot Sylvie. His scan turned up empty, as he couldn¡¯t locate her. His mate had literally thrown him to the wolves with no support.


    ¡°Mr. Human! Mr. Human! Over here!¡± Noah zeroed in on the source of the noise, only to see Luna with her arm stretched up into the air as high as it would go. Silas was trying to lower her arm while nervously looking around at the other pack members.


    Adorned with his most dazzling smile, he headed toward the siblings. He sat down with his tray, loudly announcing to the other wolves at the tables, ¡°Thank you, Luna. You get first pick from the coffers.¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡± Luna clapped her hands and bounced in her seat. ¡°Did you hear that, Silas? We get first pick of the coffee that the humans grow.¡±


    Silas facepalmed, his hand not quite blocking his flushed face. He intently stared down at his own tray, mumbling to himself about his parents having no self-restraint in the bedroom.


    Noah began to eat with wild abandon. The juices from the meat dribbled down his chin, but he didn¡¯t even pause his feast to wipe them away. He didn¡¯t know what kind of animal he was eating and he didn¡¯t care. It was delicious.


    He examined the wolves at the other tables as he choked down his food. He couldn¡¯t help but look at a table that included the monstrously sized Rowan. On Rowan¡¯s right sat Alder, and Noah scoffed in jealousy at how handsome the young man was. He had blemish-free, dark brown skin and soothing dark brown eyes.


    Noah firmly believed that he must have stolen his lashes off of a female due to their length. His eyes roamed over Alder¡¯s firm jaw, with a few days of stubble darkening his cheeks and chin. The top of his head only reached Rowan¡¯s neck, so he must have been around 6¡¯6¡± or taller, and he filled out that frame with powerful, rippled muscles.


    ¡°Stupid magical races,¡± Noah whispered to himself. He took solace in the fact that if every member of the pack was that beautiful, then Alder wasn¡¯t unique like Noah and his average features. Rubbing the day-old stubble on his face, he promised himself he would shave as soon as he could. According to his books, a gentleman did not let his beard grow wild.


    Noah averted his eyes from Alder and tapped into the fountain of knowledge of the pack, whispering to the young girl beside him, ¡°Hey Luna, what is the deal with Rowan? He doesn¡¯t seem thrilled with Sylvie¡¯s decisions lately.¡±


    Luna¡¯s eyes grew wide and she leaned in to whisper back, cupping her hands around his ear and her mouth, ¡°He¡¯s the First Beta. Second only to the Alpha. He was the First Beta for her father, Ajax, too.¡±


    Luna removed her hands from his ear, leaning in with her own ear inches from his ribs. Smiling down at the young girl, he cupped his hands around her ear and whispered, ¡°If he was the First Beta for Sylvie¡¯s father, why didn¡¯t he take over as alpha when her father died?¡±


    Luna just stared at him as he awaited her response. She beckoned with her hand, and he leaned down so that she could whisper into his ear once more. ¡°Her father bypassed pack law and bequeathed his alpha powers directly to his daughter. Only a powerful alpha can willingly pass their alpha powers onto someone of their choosing. It is not the normal chain of succession in most packs. Many in the pack believe Rowan should be alpha and that Sylvie has cheated her way into power. Although, that may change, now that she found her mate.¡±


    He raised his brow in surprise as he somehow entered the arena of pack politics. ¡°What does finding her mate have to do with being qualified as an alpha?¡±


    Silas broke in, glancing nervously around to make sure they weren¡¯t being overheard by the other tables, ¡°You need to show that you can grow the pack as the Alpha. It¡¯s the number one thing that the pack must have faith in. Before you, Sylvie had a curse that prevented her from having a mate and an heir. There was a lot of tension and discontent about her remaining as alpha in recent months.¡±


    Luna shifted impatiently in her seat as she waited for Silas to finish. Her pigtails swung back and forth as she vibrated with nervous energy. ¡°That¡¯s not even the main issue, Silas. You always leave the juiciest gossip out.¡±


    Silas widened his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare. He is not a pack member yet, Luna.¡±


    Noah glanced at Luna, who was clenching her little fists into a ball.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t know Luna,¡± he said, patting her shoulder to console her lack of knowledge. She turned red and looked to be in physical pain.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just have to find another young pup who actually knows about pack business. It¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of.¡±


    Silas attempted to ruin his bait, saying, ¡°Luna, don¡¯t listen to his schemes. He is not pack and does not need to know our embarrassments.¡±


    Luna burst out of her seat with a scary look on her face. She was practically drooling as she partook in her chosen vice. Gossip.


    ¡°Some wolves believed the curse transformed Sylvie. They figured that if she couldn¡¯t mate like a wolf, the Unseelie Prince¡¯s magic must have twisted her into more fae than wolf.¡± Luna sat back down, out of breath and panting. She had the satisfied look of an alcoholic who had taken their first sip of fae wine for the night.


    Silas stood up, sliding his chair back. He pointed a shaky finger at his sister with a flushed face. ¡°You¡­You need help, Luna.¡± Luna didn¡¯t even hear his words, and Noah ignored them.


    Noah clicked his tongue. Sylvie was facing more challenges in the pack than he knew. The excitement in her eyes when she looked at him made perfect sense now. He would have to watch this veteran warrior, Rowan. The easiest way for him to take over the pack and become alpha would be to kill Noah. He risked his life for the silliest things, but he wasn¡¯t about to die as a pawn in shifter politics. He glanced back over to the table where the First Beta sat.


    ¡°Then what about Alder? Is he third in command?¡± he asked.


    Luna glanced up from her tray, her mouth covered in food. She spoke through her full mouth, ¡°Um, no. There isn¡¯t a set position for third in the pack. He represents the younger generation of warriors and carries much sway in the pack. Before the curse, he and Sylvie were inseparable. The pack used to believe that Alder and Sylvie would become mates, with Alder assuming the role of alpha.¡±


    Noah narrowed his eyes at this Alder. Another wolf who had plenty of reasons to want him dead. Danger was on all sides of him, it seemed.


    As he returned his attention to his own table, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that the siblings were isolated from the other wolves at the table.


    ¡°Where are your parents? Do they make you eat breakfast by yourselves?¡± he asked with a frown. Their heads dropped and their shoulders sagged at his words.


    ¡°A vampire killed our mommy and daddy five years ago. We are orphans now, but it¡¯s okay, we have each other and that¡¯s all we need,¡± Luna said with a determined look on her face and biting her lip. Cursing the unfairness of the world, he placed a hand on Luna¡¯s shoulder. Every time he looked up, another life was destroyed by the Vampires. How much longer could he suffer their existence?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that Luna, but you¡¯re correct. You and Silas will be just fine. I mean, I was an orphan just like you, and look how I turned out,¡± he said while puffing his chest out. Luna glanced over at him with a mouth full of food and conducted a head-to-toe inspection. Her eyes focused on his trousers before moving up to his ruffled shirt and trench coat. They flickered to his cane before moving up to the tattoos that covered his neck. Finally, she inspected his cowboy hat, and he dazzled her with a smile full of irresistible charm, tipping his hat to her.


    Her lip began to tremble, and her eyes filled up with tears. Heart sinking, Noah dropped his smile in an instant. Her lip trembled even more violently, and finally, she broke out in choking sobs. Tears ran freely down her face and great heaves shook her shoulders. In a daze, he stared at the young girl whose hopes and dreams had been crushed by his mere existence.


    Silas rushed to hug his sister, comforting her with soft strokes of her hair. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Luna. We will figure this cruel world out together.¡±


    ¡°Now hold on a minute. I¡¯ve done alright for myself-¡± Noah began, intent on defending his life to the young siblings.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to be so mean, Noah. She¡¯s only a pup,¡± Silas chastised, his own eyes filling with tears as he conducted his own inspection of Noah. Grabbing his chest in pain, Noah spent the next five minutes forced to listen to the siblings comfort themselves about their apparent hopeless and nightmarish futures.


    After finishing his meal and a depressing bout of introspection, he decided to explore the forest for a time. With no knowledge of Sylvie¡¯s whereabouts, he had to entertain himself. Since she hadn¡¯t explicitly stated any rules or warnings on where he could go, he treated it as if he had complete freedom.


    Twirling his cane and whistling a complex tune, he merrily walked through the trees. He was quite ecstatic that the wolves hadn¡¯t considered the cane a threat and confiscated it.


    He frowned. Now that he thought about it, maybe he should feel insulted by the slight. After losing his direction and meandering through the trees, he turned around, surprised to find two pack members not far behind him. He had heard nothing to indicate their presence.


    The wolves kept a satisfactory distance from Noah, and he assumed these were guards rather than would-be assassins. He scowled at them. He didn¡¯t do well when his freedom was infringed upon. A flash of the caverns appeared in his mind, and he was unable to advance past the thought. He gripped his cane, grimacing as the obsessive thoughts refused to release him from the prison of his past. After a few moments, he took a deep breath and finally was able to release his tension.


    Continuing his trek through the forest, he passed cabins similar to the one he had slept in last night and others that were high in the trees. Each time he came across a pack member, the door was summarily slammed shut with a growl. He went from an invisible unknown that no one cared about in Greenwood to the most well-known person in the territory, whom everyone wanted to kill. Uncertain which was worse, he shook his head, sighing at his twisted fate. He backtracked directly toward his guards, who stiffened at his approach.


    ¡°Hi, gentleman. I think I¡¯ll be okay on my own if you want to tend to something of more importance.¡±


    One guard shook his head. ¡°The Alpha ordered us to guard you. We will stay with you until told otherwise.¡±


    Noah exclaimed, with a hand over his chest in exasperation, ¡°But I¡¯m giving you permission. I discussed this with the Alpha last night, and she agreed I could handle myself. You are relieved from duty, my good men. Consider that an order from the mate of the Alpha.¡±


    The second guard narrowed his eyes and spat to the side. ¡°You are not the Alpha. You are not a wolf. You are no one. Any of our young pups could take your life in an instant, and I won¡¯t acknowledge orders from such a weak being.¡±


    Noah shook his head with a sigh. It seemed his usual charm, resistible by none, had finally met its match in the Baleful Fiend Pack. With nowhere else to go, he returned to Sylvie¡¯s cabin, waiting for his mate to deem him important enough to check in on him.

 Chapter 15

    Noah leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs with his leather boots propped up on the table in Sylvie¡¯s cottage. His hat covered his face as he waited for his mate to grace him with her presence. He attempted to entertain himself by balancing his cane upright on its handle. It slowly tipped over to one side, then to the other, never quite gaining the necessary equilibrium to stand up straight. He was bored. Bored out of his mind.


    While watching his cane fall over once more, he whispered to himself, ¡°How has it come to this? Reduced to seeking cheap thrills from balancing a cane.¡±


    Right when he was about to track down Rowan and challenge him to a duel to relieve his boredom, he heard voices coming from outside. He jumped up from his chair, fussing with his hat and trench coat to make sure his outfit met his usual standards. He needed to make a good impression on any guests that honored him with their visit. After all, he couldn¡¯t embarrass his mate by looking shoddy. He flung open the door, uncaring of what potential dangers lay on the other side, to reveal Sylvie and another woman in a heated discussion.


    The unknown wolf was almost as tall as Sylvie but had luscious auburn hair and hazel eyes. Freckles peppered her pasty white skin, and as opposed to the leather shirts all the warrior wolves seemed to love, she wore a stylish tasseled jacket that covered her arms. With great difficulty, a blue bandana held her bushy hair away from her face.


    Finally! Someone who appreciated the intricate beauties of fashion. This stylish wolf understood that heat stroke was sometimes necessary to pull off the proper image. He fingered his trench coat while gazing up through the leaves at the late summer sun beaming down on him. He nodded to himself; some sacrifices were an absolute necessity. Refocusing his thoughts, he returned his gaze to the two wolves who had paused their conversation at his entrance.


    ¡°Good afternoon to you both, my dear ladies. Shame on you Sylvie, you didn¡¯t tell me to expect guests today!¡±


    Sylvie watched him with pursed lips as he walked up to the other woman. He was able to grab her hand, shock slowing her reactions, and placed a delicate kiss on the back of her hand.


    ¡°And who might this ravishing lady be?¡± he questioned with a wink.


    The female wolf froze, widened eyes glancing from him to Sylvie in a constant swivel. The earth seemed to stand still, frozen in shock, as everyone waited for someone else to make the next move. Behind him, he heard a roar and suddenly felt himself being flung back through the air; the force causing his trench coat flaps to flutter in the wind.


    He skidded to a stop on his back, staring up at the sunlight fighting with all of its might to penetrate the canopy. A family of birds preened their feathers on the branches high above, and he couldn¡¯t believe he had yet to notice them before now.


    Wow! A different vantage point could really change your perspective on the world ¡ª a roar shook the forest, sending the frightened birds flapping to safety and him back to reality. He raised his head to see Sylvie, now in her wolf form, growling and snapping at the other woman, who had her hands raised in surrender.


    ¡°Sylvie, I didn¡¯t touch him. He¡¯s your mate, and I¡¯m not challenging you for him,¡± the woman pleaded with the enraged Alpha.


    Noah jumped back onto his feet and rushed toward Sylvie in a burst of speed. Examining the situation that he had caused, he secured a firm grip on her tail and yanked it as hard as he could. She yelped and spun around to face him, snapping at his hands. With a loud whack, he popped her on the snout with his cane.


    ¡°No! Bad Sylvie,¡± he yelled, pointing his finger in the wolf¡¯s face. He heard the other woman gasp, and Sylvie shifted back into her human form.


    She stared at him with a dazed look on her face. ¡°Did you just pop me on the nose like some pup?¡±


    The other woman covered her mouth with her hand, shoulders shaking. He needed this strange woman to stop laughing immediately. He had just saved her life, and she was digging him a hole that he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape.


    ¡°Did you just say ¡®bad Sylvie¡¯ like I was some common street dog?¡± Sylvie asked in a monotone voice, her clouded eyes staring off into nothingness.


    He heard a snort from the traitorous woman, who couldn¡¯t keep her laughter contained. His hair was standing up on the back of his neck, a sixth sense that warned him of impending peril. It had never steered him wrong, and he would not ignore its sage advice.


    ¡°It was nice to meet you, my dear Lady¡­¡± he paused for the woman to grace him with her name.


    ¡°Wren,¡± the woman provided with a small wave and a bright, beaming smile.


    ¡°It was nice to meet you, my dear Lady Wren. If you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯m afraid all the excitement of the afternoon has drained me. I must retire for the evening.¡± He gave her a quick bow, studiously ignoring the dazed-out Sylvie.


    He made it to the cabin just in time to close the door and bar it with his body before a loud growl shook the surroundings. The scratching of claws and loud snorting informed him that Sylvie had returned to wolf form. The door almost caved in on itself as she threw her massive body against it. Noah held on with all of his strength as he tried to keep the door between himself and the enraged wolf.


    ¡°Please, my mate. We shouldn¡¯t go to bed angry like this. Why don¡¯t you go cool off for a bit before we discuss what each of us could have done better?¡± The pounding at the door paused for a second before an even more viscous bang cracked the wood.


    ¡°Be strong, my friend,¡± he told the pitiful door, who was taking the brunt of his mate¡¯s fury. With a final bang, the door exploded in a splintering of wood, sending him flying back onto the bed. A giant wolf, the color of the moonless night, stalked through the door. Its silver eyes glowed, scrutinizing his every movement. The wolf growled at him, with clouds of steam coming out of its snout as it panted heavily in what he hoped was exhaustion and not rage.


    He retreated toward the headboard of the bed with his hands and cane outstretched to provide some barrier to her if she charged. ¡°Now listen, my mate. There¡¯s no need to blow things out of proportion. We can talk this out.¡±


    The wolf lunged straight at him and he closed his eyes in despair, accepting that his mate would rip him apart. Who would have guessed this would be his last stand? Killed by the woman nature deemed to be his perfect match. His suspicion that nature hated him felt more justified as he was about to meet his downfall at its hands.


    A heavy weight, but lighter than he was expecting, landed on him, pinning his hands over his head against the wooden headboard. He cracked an eye open to see Sylvie, in her human form, straddling him. Her glowing eyes were as bright as ever, and he averted his gaze while baring his neck. It was the only thing he could think of doing that would give him a chance at survival.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    He waited for her judgment and felt her lean in toward his neck. His pulse quivered violently in the vein on his neck, but it wasn¡¯t from fear at the certain death inching towards him. She stayed in human form, which he took as a good sign, and sniffed the side of his neck. Goose bumps broke out across his skin as her breath and long raven hair tickled him.


    He gasped as she slowly licked his neck and lightly nibbled at his skin. She broke the skin with her teeth and a bit of pain flashed before she licked the area again, soothing the puncture site. He shivered at the surprising pleasure that coursed through his body.


    ¡°Oh, my dear mate. Why do you anger me with your blustering defiance? Just submit to me, and our time together will be so much more enjoyable,¡± she whispered into his ear.


    Noah shuddered at the sultry temptation in her voice. ¡°Submit? I will never submit to you or anyone, Sylvie.¡±


    She sighed into his neck and moved off of him, releasing his arms. His hand flew to his neck, patting his skin to examine the wound with his fingertips. His fingers came away sticky with blood, but he couldn¡¯t feel an open wound that would explain the bleeding. He sat up and watched Sylvie warily as she stretched her arms above her head, showing no indication of their spat a few seconds ago.


    ¡°Wren, come in,¡± she yelled out the door.


    The woman from earlier appeared in the doorway with a big smile on her face. ¡°Oh? Is that it? I thought I was going to have to wait for a while before you two would be presentable.¡±


    Noah found his cowboy hat on the floor and tipped it to Wren. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the delay, my dear lady. My mate disagreed with my greeting method from earlier, but in the end, she saw reason and acknowledged her overreaction.¡±


    Sylvie snorted at that with a roll of her eyes. Wren¡¯s eyes locked onto the blood on the side of his neck and she chortled. ¡°Oh yes, it seems like you made her submit extremely quickly. But then again, what else could she do when faced with the insurmountable strength of a human male?¡±


    Noah returned his hat to its rightful place on his head, frowning at her words. ¡°There was an insult in there somewhere. I¡¯m sure of it.¡±


    Wren giggled with her hand covering her mouth. He almost teared up at the sound of her laugh, the soft melodies warming his spirit. Finally, someone in this deranged pack understood his humor.


    ¡°Enough,¡± commanded Sylvie, annoyed at their banter.


    ¡°Noah, this is my best friend Wren. Wren, this is the famous mate you¡¯ve heard so much about, Noah,¡± she introduced them with a flippant wave of her hand.


    ¡°And what do we owe the pleasure of your company in our humble abode, my dear Wren?¡± he asked.


    Sylvie interjected as Wren prepared to answer, gritting out through clenched teeth, ¡°Wren¡¯s father was the Alpha of a pack that merged with the Baleful Fiend Pack. She has a deep understanding of the politics and cultures of the different races. I called upon her counsel to discuss the Unseelie attack perpetrated against your caravan.¡±


    Noah¡¯s playful smile dropped from his face as he pictured John lying in a pool of his own blood with an arrow jutting out of his neck.


    ¡°They were strong, but not as strong as they should have been. No magic users either. A portal might be within reach for a possible invasion against the pack, but would they be brazened enough to risk mutual annihilation?¡± he questioned.


    ¡°Exactly our thoughts. The target was most likely the human caravan and not a probing attack against the pack.¡± Wren agreed with a nod of her head.


    ¡°The question is, why would they launch such a costly attack? No offense, but the human goods aren¡¯t worth losing hundreds of your forces to steal. Does Greenwood have any war-worthy grudges that may have prompted the attack?¡± Sylvie asked.


    Noah thought back to his memories of Greenwood. ¡°Nothing that would prompt a war. We avoid their territory and they avoid ours. If we find an unseelie in the Wilds, we kill it without hesitation. They do the same. Nothing has rocked the political status quo as far as I know.¡±


    The room fell silent as Wren and Sylvie pondered his words. This was a mystery that held survival implications for the pack and would not be taken lightly. A full-force Unseelie attack was not something that any of the races were confident in dealing with.


    ¡°Regardless of the reason, Wren, I want you and the scouts to run extra patrols around the outskirts of the territory. See if you can find any other signs of the Unseelie near pack lands,¡± Sylvie said, not able to hide the worry on her face.


    Wren nodded her head in consent. ¡°What about Rowan? Will he listen to your commands on this?¡±


    ¡°I will have to make him listen,¡± Sylvie grimaced at the mention of her First Beta. ¡°We can¡¯t deal with an Unseelie invasion if the pack is divided.¡±


    Wren nodded solemnly before giving a little wave to Noah. ¡°It was nice to meet you, Noah. Make sure you don¡¯t hurt Sylvie with that immense human strength of yours.¡±


    He nodded seriously at her warning. ¡°You have my word, dear Wren. I will control my strength to the best of my abilities.¡±


    Sylvie exploded at the pair of troublemakers, ¡°Wren, leave now! Noah, don¡¯t say another word!¡±


    Wren giggled and shifted into a massive auburn wolf, taking off into the woods. He wiped the smirk from his face, preparing for more serious matters. He looked over at Sylvie, who was intently gazing at him as if she was deciding on whether he was worth the trouble as a mate.


    ¡°I would like to talk to you,¡± he said, his voice soft and serious. She didn¡¯t respond and waited for him to elaborate. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for unwelcome news.


    ¡°I want to leave the pack territory and return to my home. Will you let me leave or will you keep me prisoner?¡± He firmed his shoulders and waited for her answer.


    ¡°Noah, I know you have been pulled away from your own kind,¡± Sylvie said, staring him down before letting out a long sigh.


    ¡°I know the pack hasn¡¯t been that welcoming toward you, but will you please give it a few months? Give life here a real chance?¡± Sylvie pleaded with him. Actually, pleaded with him, instead of commanding him. A vulnerable look appeared on her face as the exhaustion she hid from the rest of the pack was on full display for him.


    ¡°Sylvie, it¡¯s not a matter of me being shunned here or that I miss Greenwood,¡± he paused and she looked up hopefully at him. ¡°I¡¯m not safe here. Plenty of these wolves will kill me the second an opportunity presents itself.¡± She growled at that and slammed her fist against the table, elongating the crack made by Silas.


    ¡°No one would dare touch you or I would rip them to shreds,¡± she promised.


    ¡°I trust you would Sylvie, and if fear was all that was driving me to depart, I would place my life in my mate¡¯s hands. No, the main reason I can¡¯t stay here is that you have taken that choice away from me. I will not compromise on my freedom,¡± his voice rose in certainty, and Sylvie acknowledged his conviction with sad eyes.


    ¡°Will you not sacrifice that freedom for a few months? Just a few months and if you still want to leave, then I will escort you to whatever human settlement you wish to go.¡±


    As he stared into her pleading eyes, he considered her words. A few months was nothing in the grand scheme of things. He could keep a low profile by staying in the cabin away from all the murderous wolves. Two months would pass by in the blink of an eye and would make things so much more pleasant in the meantime.


    125¡¯s lifeless eyes, staring up at the moon, flashed across his mind. Would his savior still carry that delicate smile he had died with if he could see Noah now? He tried to move past the intrusive thought but couldn¡¯t, his obsessive focus not releasing him from its snares.


    125 didn¡¯t sacrifice his life so that a wolf pack could hold Noah prisoner. He clenched his fists and focused a steely gaze on her silver eyes. Claustrophobia clawed at his throat and threatened to choke his words. The smell of damp cavern walls and images of flowing blood overrode his senses, destroying his logical reasoning.


    ¡°I will not compromise on this Sylvie. I wish I could,¡± he finally muttered.


    She gazed into his eyes and then blew out a long sigh, shaking her head in regret. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Noah. I¡¯m sorry you were picked to be my mate, but nothing can change that now. You will stay in the pack where you belong by my side. We can revisit this in a few months.¡± She stood up, ending the conversation.


    ¡°You would make us enemies, then?¡± he whispered, biting his lip until he tasted the copper tang of blood from his memories. Something deep inside of him revolted at the thought of disappointing her.


    She walked up slowly to him, petted his cheek, and whispered into his ear, ¡°Oh, my mate. Everyone is my enemy to some extent.¡±


    There was no door to slam, but the instant shift into her black wolf, bounding into the forest, was answer enough.

 Chapter 16

    Noah stayed awake late into the night awaiting Sylvie¡¯s return, but she never appeared. With all the practice he was getting, his cane balancing skills had improved from apprentice to master level. He was excited for a few moments until he realized balancing a cane was not a talent that could earn him trunks of silver.


    Sitting on one of the chairs at the cracked table, he traced the gouges in the wood with his fingertip. The pitiful wood bared its scars with pride for the world to see. It had been hurt, but it had survived. Now all who looked upon it would understand the struggles it had persisted through to remain whole. All the trees in the forest would tell their young saplings the legends of its perseverance for eons. Noah jumped back from the table in horror, his chair toppling over at his sudden movements.


    ¡°Holy shit! Has my sanity finally forsaken me?¡± he questioned with wide eyes, staring at the table that had somehow become sentient in his mind. His horror slowly turned to a deep sadness as he stared at the scars on the table. Each crack weakened the integrity of the wood, bringing it ever closer to ruin. How many cracks could it withstand before crumbling?


    He pushed the table out of his mind with an unhinged chuckle, before laying on the floor and using his cowboy hat as a pillow. Sleep had eluded him more than usual lately, and he feared ill effects would find him in the waking world. The unwanted thoughts of his past commanded his mind once his eyes closed, no matter how hard he tried to fight them. Tossing and turning on the wood floor, he rubbed his temples, begging and pleading with the traumatizing memories to ease their hauntings for just one night.


    ¡°Please, just one night. One night, that¡¯s all I ask for,¡± he whispered, a tear gently sliding down his cheek.


    The dawn light streaming through the windows and open doorway gently woke him. Dark shadows underneath his eyes proved that whatever entity he prayed to last night had refused his request. With a sigh, he grabbed his things and headed to the lodge for breakfast. He didn¡¯t notice the sunlight flickering through the leaves in alluring beauty. He didn¡¯t notice the family of birds chirping a melodious good morning to him. He didn¡¯t notice his privilege of sharing this forest with the majestic trees and breathtaking flowers. Blind to all but the misery of the world, he continued his sullen trek toward the lodge.


    The idea of having to face the angry wolves again didn¡¯t thrill him, but he had no other choice if he didn¡¯t want to starve. He struggled to open the swinging door panel and once again encountered dozens of stares that ranged from curiosity to hatred. Addressing no one, he kept his head lowered and served himself some food from the buffet table. The elder wolf, who had never provided her name, assessed him from the kitchen but didn¡¯t comment on his change in mood. After loading his tray with meats and fruits, he walked directly to the sibling¡¯s table, not even bothering to look for Sylvie.


    ¡°Hey Luna, do you think you can give me a tour of the territory today?¡± he asked as he plopped his tray down on the table.


    ¡°Sure, Mr. Human. We can show you the trade market and the swimming hole,¡± Luna said, nodding her head up and down in overdramatic agreement.


    ¡°His name is Noah,¡± Silas snapped at his sister.


    Noah honestly wasn¡¯t sure if Luna couldn¡¯t hear Silas¡¯s words or if she was the world¡¯s foremost authority on ignoring them. She never even glanced in his direction, and if Noah hadn¡¯t seen Luna interact with Silas before, he would have feared Silas was a specter conjured from his warped mind.


    ¡°Thanks, Luna. And don¡¯t worry, you can call me Mr. Human if you want to. I never liked the name Noah,¡± he said with a smile.


    After a silent breakfast filled with glares and hushed whispers toward them, the trio left the lodge and began the tour of the Baleful Fiend Pack. Unlike Greenwood, which consisted basically of one city, the wolves had the ability to defend a larger area from the other races. Their homes were more spread out, and they had large empty stretches of forest that the humans never would have been able to guard.


    The siblings paraded him around and showed him the different cabins that the wolves called home: a few of them were at ground level, some were tree houses, some had multiple rooms, and some had multiple stories. All were built simply out of wood, but the pride the wolves had in their homes permeated throughout.


    Because of their limited population sizes, Shifters and Vampires could not have someone specialized in each type of labor. Without metal workers, they had to buy iron goods from the human trade caravans. Without candle makers, they had to trade with the Seelie for fae globes. He hadn¡¯t even seen one restaurant, gambling den, or whorehouse. What the wolves did for fun, he did not know.


    Despite the spread-out cabins they passed in the woods, the wolves exhibited a strong sense of community. They ate together, hunted together, and much of the time, slept together in the lodge. With a diet that mainly consisted of meat that the pack hunted together, Noah spied many mushrooms, herbs, and medicines that lay untouched in the woods. Most of the unbothered fauna was considered precious to the humans and would fetch a high price.


    He didn¡¯t blame the wolves for their lack of entrepreneurial skills. There just wasn¡¯t a great need for medicine as the wolves¡¯ natural immune system and regenerative abilities were better than any medicine, other than a master vampire¡¯s blood, which was toxic to the wolves anyhow.


    The siblings brought Noah to a large clearing, though much smaller than the meadow that held the lodge. There were no stands, carts, or advertisements, but pack members had laid blankets down and placed their wares in front of them, hoping to entice customers. The goods ranged from smoked meat to wooden furniture to leather clothes. Towering trees at the edges of the clearing provided the necessary shade in the summer heat for the sellers.


    Noah leaned in to whisper to Luna, who was skipping and humming her way through the makeshift stalls, ¡°Luna, what is the currency that your pack uses?¡±


    ¡°Currency? What¡¯s that?¡± Luna pursed her lips in thought at the unfamiliar word.


    ¡°There is no currency, at least not in the way humans use it. The pack works on an exchange system. I want meat so I trade an equal value of clothing. Every good is bartered for and exchanged on the spot,¡± Silas chimed in for his younger sister. ¡°The only exception being those who work for the pack, such as guards, cooks, and warriors. They receive a stipend from the Alpha that can be used to exchange for goods.¡±


    ¡°But what is the stipend and how can you tell how many goods it¡¯s worth?¡± Noah asked, schemes already running rampant through his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wooden token with a claw gouge on it. The amount of the Alpha¡¯s magic that is injected into it determines its value,¡± Silas answered, giving him a repulsed glance as if he could sense Noah¡¯s less-than-scrupulous morals.


    Noah nodded his head as his dreams of becoming rich were dashed in an instant. With nothing of value to trade with, he could only look upon the wares being offered in the marketplace. One particular stall caught his interest as they passed by, and he walked over to examine the few pieces of hand-carved furniture laid out for sale.


    Not knowing that he was in the presence of a legend every day in Sylvie¡¯s cottage, the hand-carved table vainly tried to impress him. He scoffed at the young upstart and shifted his gaze to examine the stools, tables, and ornaments. On a blanket next to the furniture were glass jars of inks and needles.


    ¡°Anything catch your eye, human?¡±


    Startled out of his browsing, he looked up to see the two female wolves who shared this little spot in the market. Behind the hand-carved furniture stood a woman taller than even Sylvie. She had short blonde hair that was just long enough to tie back with twine. Next to her, another woman stood behind the tattoo supplies, standing only a few inches taller than Luna. Her silk-like black hair fell down to her waist and her brown eyes carried a hint of mischief that he instantly gravitated toward. Intricate symbols and lines of ink covered her arms, drawing his attention to her hands. The two women held hands, their fingers clasping tightly as if they had been fused together.


    Noah raised his brow at the public display of affection, glancing around to see if anyone else had taken notice. Humans certainly had no qualms about taking pleasure in whatever desires of the flesh that called to them. However, because of the population shortages, humans considered same-sex partners as more of a side pleasure. Birthing the next generation was every adult¡¯s duty in the settlements, and an open and permanent coupling like this would be scorned. Even someone with power such as Jericho hid his proclivities behind closed doors. Noah had assumed the Shifters, who faced an even more dire population crisis, would be even harsher against same-sex matings.


    ¡°Do they not have all female or all male mates where you come from?¡± the short, ink-covered woman asked, noticing his questioning gaze on their hands. She did not seem to be angry at his curiosity, but curious herself at human customs.


    ¡°We have them,¡± he said with a nod of his head. ¡°People consider them more a vice of pleasure than a true coupling, but we have them.¡±


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    He glanced up to see the two women furrow their brows at his bluntness. ¡°Forgive my rudeness. I mean no disrespect, but I assumed with the wolves¡¯ focus on birthing pups to grow the pack, your union would have been frowned upon.¡±


    The taller of the women lowered her woolen shirt, exposing a bright red bite mark on her clavicle. ¡°In a wolf pack, we revere the mating mark above all,¡± she explained, releasing her shirt to cover the mark once more. ¡°Who would dare question a perfect mate handpicked by nature herself?¡±


    ¡°Birthing pups is not the only value that one can bring to the pack,¡± the smaller wolf said, nodding her head at her mate with adoration in her gaze. ¡°Everyone has value if you open up your eyes and mind to see it.¡±


    Noah nodded thoughtfully at her words. ¡°I will keep my eyes open for the unique value every wolf brings to the pack. You have my word.¡± He took off his hat and gave a quick bow to the couple.


    ¡°My name is Noah of Greenwood. Who might I have the pleasure of speaking with?¡± he asked while he returned his hat to his head with careful precision.


    ¡°My name is Isla,¡± said the tattoo-covered woman. ¡°And my giant partner here is Keziah,¡± Isla finished with a slight smirk on her face as Keziah flushed in anger. Oh yes, this Isla and he could become best friends.


    ¡°I am not giant. Forgive me if some of us actually grew past childhood,¡± Keziah said in anger, but their hands never separated.


    ¡°Size is nothing to be ashamed of, dear Keziah. I bet your wolf must be quite the asset on the battlefield,¡± Noah chimed in, trying to diffuse the situation.


    ¡°My wolf is no bigger than a normal animal,¡± Keziah said with a sad shake of her head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. If the size of your human form doesn¡¯t equate to your wolf¡¯s size, what does?¡± Noah asked, cocking his head in confusion. This question had been plaguing him ever since he first saw the wolves shift.


    ¡°The size of your wolf correlates to one thing and one thing only: the amount of magic running through your veins,¡± Isla chimed in when Keziah remained silent, looking off into the distance with sadness in her eyes. ¡°Your magic will grow during adolescence, but once you hit puberty, that¡¯s as big as your wolf will ever get.¡±


    ¡°The pack would never admit this, but there are many wolves who do not have animal forms big enough for combat,¡± Keziah said, shaking her head in disappointment. ¡°For those of us who dreamed of being warriors as young pups, reality crushed our dreams as soon as we hit puberty.¡±


    Isla patted her mate¡¯s back as old scars surfaced on Keziah¡¯s face. Noah clenched his fists in anger at the pain behind Keziah¡¯s eyes. Even as a blood slave, he still held onto hope, refusing to let it slip through his fingers. But for Keziah, her hopes and dreams were crushed as a young child. No matter how hard she desperately clung to her dreams of being a warrior wolf and no matter how much she trained, she could never reach her goal. Which god decided their fates at birth like this? It seemed happiness would forever elude them if they refused to change their dreams to match their talents.


    ¡°I do have one last question, though,¡± he said as he unclenched his fists, releasing his built-up tension. ¡°Why is it you are ink-free? I would have assumed that you would let your mate advertise her business on your skin.¡±


    Keziah scoffed. ¡°I would never defile my body with ink laced with silver. My skin will remain pure as nature intended.¡±


    His eyes widened in shock at her answer, darting between the mates rapidly. The fused hands unclasped instantly, and Isla whipped around in righteous fury at her mate. ¡°It is not defilement! It is how I express myself.¡±


    Noah backed away as slowly and quietly as he could from the bickering couple. It seemed he had roused an old argument between the mates, and he knew when a quick getaway was required. Speed walking as fast as he could, he found the siblings and pushed them along toward the exit of the clearing. Sweat ran down his forehead as he heard loud shouting coming from the scene of the crime.


    They left the open-air market, meandering through the swaying trees until they reached a large lake. Wolves were everywhere, enjoying the sun and water. Some were in human form and others were in animal form as they paddled around the cool water. The mist, splashed into the air by the wolves, reflected the sunlight to create small rainbows dotted across the surface of the lake. Leaving the cover of the forest, they walked a short distance through tall grasses to reach the embankment of the lake.


    In unison, the wolves paused their enjoyment of the day to stare at the trio who had just arrived. It wasn¡¯t a very warm welcome, and Noah wondered if they had made a mistake by disturbing a site of leisure for the pack.


    ¡°Hey Luna, are you sure you were allowed to bring me here?¡± Noah turned to the young girl, seeking reassurance. Except the young girl was gone and a blonde wolf was darting past him in a blur. She leapt high into the air before belly-flopping in the water with a yelp.


    ¡°I think she just wanted to come swimming, to be honest with you,¡± Silas said, shaking his head at his sister¡¯s clumsy jump into the water. Noah nodded his head in full agreement. Luna was a little trickster, but that was why he loved her.


    A giant black wolf emerged from the lake, shaking violently and flinging a spray of water into the air. Two smaller wolves joined it at the bank, and they sauntered up to Noah and Silas. He took quick note of the two smaller wolves trailing the larger one by a few feet. It seemed whoever this wolf was; it had a position of authority in the pack.


    He gripped his cane tightly as the giant wolf stopped a few feet away from them, growling so loudly that he could feel the vibration in his chest. Silas immediately averted his eyes before flashing an apologetic look at Noah. He shifted into his wolf form and ran off to join his sister in the water, leaving Noah to face the wolves alone. He took a steadying breath and felt his charming smile grow on his face. Once fully in place, he tipped his hat and twirled his cane in greeting.


    ¡°Good day, fine gentlewolf. It seems you¡¯ve caught me at a disadvantage, as I don¡¯t know who I am addressing.¡±


    The air shimmered and in an instant, three human forms replaced the wolves standing in front of him. The size of the packmates required him to raise his head until he could make eye contact with Alder¡¯s dark brown eyes.


    ¡°Ah, Adler, my good man. Thank you for taking the initiative to introduce yourself. I believed it was well overdue for us to get more acquainted, and I¡¯m glad you shared the sentiment.¡± Noah held out his hand, but it was left untouched in the air. The noises of play and merriment vanished from around the lake as the wolves watched the standoff with great interest.


    Alder narrowed his eyes at the hand Noah had extended toward him. ¡°Noah is it? I¡¯m going to tell you what every wolf in this pack thinks. We think the Alpha is making a mistake. We think that bringing another race into the pack will spell our doom. You are neither trusted nor welcomed here. Period!¡±


    Noah didn¡¯t recognize the two young warrior wolves that stood beside Alder, but he watched them as they sneered at him. He didn¡¯t blame the wolves for their prejudices. The humans would treat shifters in the same manner, if not worse. How could anyone overcome hundreds of years of rage and hate?


    Returning his gaze to Alder, he asked, ¡°And let me guess. If it wasn¡¯t for the curse, you would have been Sylvie¡¯s mate instead?¡±


    Alder growled, and his body briefly shimmered, but he kept to his human form. ¡°Sylvie was always going to be my mate when we grew up. I felt brief sparks of my magic resonating with her just as we reached puberty. A curse doesn¡¯t change that. She will understand one day that a pupless coupling is better than mating with a human and producing monstrous hybrids.¡±


    Alder appeared to be done with the conversation, spitting at Noah¡¯s feet while walking past him. As Alder passed, he forcefully shouldered Noah, causing him to be thrown to the ground and slide on the muddy embankment of the lake. The trio of young warrior wolves shifted and bounded off into the depths of the forest, not once looking back.


    Laying in the mud, he ignored his dirty trench coat and hat, hyper-focusing on the muddy stains on his ruffled shirt. With frantic energy almost reaching the level of manic, he crawled to the water and began scrubbing the stains from his shirt with wild eyes. He had to get it clean. He had to. He had to. As the pure white began to peek its way through the mud, the wildness left his eyes. Panting heavily, he looked up to see the wolves staring at him with concerned looks. He plastered on a charming smile and tipped his hat to them with a shaking hand.


    After the highly entertaining scene was over, the wolves returned to their festivities; his panic forgotten. He sat on the bank of the lake, watching the siblings paddle around the water and splash each other. He wasn¡¯t brave enough to leave his cane on the bank while he went for a dip. That and his hat. He¡¯d never risk his hat by leaving it where a thief could run off with it. And if a thief were to grab it, how in the world was he supposed to run down a wolf to retrieve it? He was reckless, but he wasn¡¯t that reckless.


    Movement at his side caused him to glance up in alertness, ready to react to any threat. He relaxed as Wren sat down beside him, wearing her tasseled jacket.


    ¡°Hello, Wren. A fine day to enjoy the water, don¡¯t you agree?¡± he said, tipping his hat to her in greeting.


    Wren laughed, a beautiful melody carrying across the lake and through the trees. ¡°A fine day, is it? Is that why I had to let an angry she-wolf sleep in my cabin last night?¡±


    ¡°Sylvie and I had a minor disagreement. I¡¯m sure she will see my point soon enough and return to our cabin,¡± he said with a wince.


    Wren blew a strand of hair that had escaped her blue bandana away from her eyes. ¡°You two are too stubborn to be mates. There is no give in either of you. She at least has to contend with the instincts of an alpha. What¡¯s your excuse?¡±


    Noah played with his cane, digging it into the muddy bank. ¡°So, I am stubborn because I refuse to remain a prisoner in an enemy territory?¡±


    Wren shook her head and sighed in disappointment. ¡°Prisoner? Enemy territory? Tell me Noah, what ill-treatment have you suffered from our pack? When I was younger, I lost myself in wanderlust, just like you. I traveled all over the region and visited many territories of each race¡­ minus the Unseelie and Vampires, of course.¡±


    Noah snorted as she eliminated half of the races and wondered what point she was ineffectually trying to make.


    She narrowed her eyes at him; her pale skin flushing. ¡°My point is that I survived and returned to my pack, where I belonged. The animosity and hatred between the races are real, that I concede, but it is not as all-encompassing as you believe. We are not automatically enemies to the death with every other living thing we share this continent with. There is room for compromises and peace if we strive for them.¡±


    Noah tipped his head in acknowledgment of her point. He wished he could be so idealistic, but reality cared none for such benevolent thinking.


    ¡°Are you not going to swim as well? I promise I won¡¯t tell Sylvie I spied on you shifting by the lake.¡±


    ¡°Nope, no swimming for me. I just came out here to enjoy the sun for a few hours,¡± she said, her lips curling into a delicate smile. They fell into a comfortable silence, with Wren seeming to be lost in her thoughts as she stared out over the lake. Toying with his damp, ruffled shirt, Noah wondered how much longer he had before madness took him for good.

 Chapter 17

    After spending a few hours watching Luna and Silas enjoy the water, the siblings attempted to return him to Sylvie¡¯s cabin, but sitting alone in Sylvie¡¯s cottage with only his thoughts to keep him company didn¡¯t hold great appeal to Noah. He begged and pleaded with them until they agreed to guide him to the territory¡¯s boundary.


    Massive trees towered above them, looking the same as any other part of the forest and forcing him to accept that he wouldn¡¯t be able to memorize their routes. A few dozen guard wolves ran circuits around the perimeter of the territory in miles-long arcs, blurring through the trees almost too fast for his eyes to follow. A frown appeared on his face, and his narrowed eyes revealed the shuffling of countless thoughts and plots.


    His scheming was interrupted by the treehouses and swaying bridges that connected the massive trees, creating a secondary layer of life high above the forest floor. Unless you raised your head toward the heavens, you¡¯d be completely ignorant of the structures in the canopy. An opportunity was being ignored by the wolves, but he shook his head, clearing his concerns from his already overcrowded mind. It wasn¡¯t his problem, after all.


    ¡°If there are so many guard wolves in the pack, why were you two tasked with guarding the Alpha¡¯s mate?¡± he asked the siblings, hoping Silas wouldn¡¯t muzzle his source of information.


    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t normally, but a pack meeting was called that night,¡± Luna said with no hesitation, skipping merrily with her pigtails bouncing. Noah glanced at Silas to check if the teenager would ruin his information gathering, but Silas¡¯s face displayed such hopeless defeat that he felt sorry for the young lad. Luna had broken his spirit, and he no longer had the energy to fight back against such a powerful force.


    ¡°Why would a pack meeting require the services of two underage pups?¡± he asked, turning his attention back to Luna.


    ¡°A pack meeting is only called if an issue that affects the survival of the pack is raised. In those cases, every wolf possible is required to attend and give their counsel,¡± Silas chimed in with a tear rolling down his cheek, shocking Noah. Luna must have really broken the poor lad for him to volunteer secrets of the pack.


    ¡°Who guards the territory, then? Even a human could slip past the perimeter if only a few wolves are guarding it,¡± Noah asked, frowning at the lack of security by the wolves. They ignored potential flaws in logic, relying solely on their physical prowess.


    Luna burst out laughing while pointing her finger at him in mockery. He squashed his rising anger and humiliation, not allowing a ten-year-old to get under his skin.


    ¡°A wolf could hear and smell an intruder from miles away. Trust me, no one is slipping past our elite guards,¡± Silas said with a small chuckle that seemed even more insulting than Luna¡¯s abject mockery.


    ¡°Plus, the guards wouldn¡¯t engage an enemy alone. With one piercing howl echoing throughout the territory, and with every warrior wolf already gathered at the lodge, back up containing the entire might of the pack would arrive in moments,¡± Silas said, raising his voice to be heard above Luna¡¯s grating laughter.


    ¡°So, pack meetings are the only time they reduce the guard?¡± he asked through gritted teeth, struggling to contain his anger.


    ¡°Pack meetings or full-scale battles like with the Unseelie the other day. The best defense is a strong offense, after all. No need for guards if you annihilate the enemy before they even reach pack lands,¡± Silas said as Luna¡¯s laughter cut off, the abruptness of the silence grabbing his attention.


    Noah¡¯s eyes followed her as she skipped and hopped her way over to him. She stared up at him with tear-filled eyes, and his anger deflated. Kneeling down to eye level with her, he patted her head, a deep sadness filling him. What kind of child needed to know the tactical strategies of the pack? This cruel world had forced her to grow up much too soon.


    Her arms flung around his neck, grasping him into a tight hug. He could feel her tiny hands patting his back in comfort. Wait, why was she comforting him?


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Mr. Human. I can¡¯t imagine how it must feel to be so much weaker than everyone else,¡± she said, continuing to pat his back. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what trauma your past holds, but to even think a human could slip past guard wolves? You¡¯ve had a rough life, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Luna. It¡¯s like our parents always told us: protect those who can¡¯t protect themselves and pity the insane, for they don¡¯t deserve your scorn,¡± Silas chimed in, pride at his sister¡¯s tolerance filling his voice. Noah jumped out of the little girl¡¯s arms, his wide eyes darting rapidly between the two siblings. His fists clenched around his cane, arms shaking from the force.


    ¡°Can we help him, Silas?¡± Luna asked, hope drying her tears for the moment.


    ¡°All we can do is try, Luna,¡± Silas responded, voice burdened with the weight of reality.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! To hell with both of you.¡±


    As they approached the boundary of the territory, Noah spied no walls or guard shacks. Then again, why would they need them if the guards were constantly in wolf form? The wolves that guarded the main territory entrance trotted up to them, sniffing in their direction as the trio emerged from the forest. A simple dirt road commanded his attention like a siren¡¯s song, tempting his deepest desires. There it was. The path that would lead him to what he lusted after above all: freedom.


    One of the guard wolves shifted to address them while the other stayed alert in wolf form. The giant human form of the guard blocked his obsessive gaze, forcing his eyes to focus on the present. Roaming his eyes over the guard, he couldn¡¯t help but notice the wildness of his beard. Like an ever-growing parasite, it attacked his face in arbitrary patterns. His shirt was cut off at the shoulders, baring his tanned arms and giving a certain wildness to the guard. This was no gentleman, and Noah struggled not to judge the guard based on his first perceptions.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be this far from the safety of the pack, young pups. Who authorized you to approach the border?¡± the guard asked the siblings, ignoring Noah completely.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Clay, we can handle ourselves. Mr. Human just wanted to get a tour of the territory,¡± Luna said with a roll of her eyes.


    Clay turned his head to examine Noah, frowning at the results of his inspection. Noah tipped his hat to Clay in as friendly a greeting as he could manage. ¡°Good day, fine gentleman. I was curious how so few guards patrolled the territory outskirts, but I must say I am impressed with the pack¡¯s efficiency.¡±


    ¡°Not all the races are weak and helpless like the humans. We have no need to hide like rats behind stone walls, too scared to even poke our heads out to see the world,¡± Clay said, derision lacing his voice. Noah¡¯s smile vanished from his face. It seemed this was another wolf who would not give him fair judgment.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Yes, I can see your invincibility from here, Sir Clay. Tell me, what do you and your fellow guardsman eat and drink while you run long hours of patrol?¡±


    Clay eyed him warily, but couldn¡¯t find a logical reason to avoid answering. ¡°We bring smoked meat out to the perimeter with us and will stop to eat every so often. As for water, there are plenty of streams that can quench our thirst in the forest.¡±


    ¡°I see. Well, come along, children. We don¡¯t want to disrupt the guards from performing their sworn duty any longer,¡± he said, already backing away deep in thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child,¡± Silas scoffed.


    ¡°Yeah, me neither,¡± Luna said, her little fists clenched and her cheeks puffed with anger.


    ¡°Of course, you aren¡¯t,¡± he said sarcastically while reaching down to ruffle her hair. He took great pleasure in the anger that surfaced in her eyes. Nothing could compare to the sweet taste of revenge.


    After an eventful day, the trio headed through the woods back to Sylvie¡¯s cabin. Noah stopped every so often to pick herbs he recognized from his books, making sure to harvest them with the correct techniques.


    Luna sniffed at the herbs he was collecting, scrunching her nose and making the cutest face Noah had ever seen. How dare he taint that face with anger? Eh, whatever. She had deserved it.


    ¡°What are these for, Mr. Human? They smell awful.¡±


    He held out the herbs for her to examine. ¡°This is a delicacy in human territories. Once dried, these herbs will make the best brewed tea you¡¯ve ever tasted.¡±


    ¡°You see? These with the pink tip are ready to be dried and brewed. Those that are missing the pink tip are not yet ripe enough,¡± he said, separating the herbs into two different bundles.


    ¡°Then why pick them now? Shouldn¡¯t you wait until they are ripe?¡± Silas asked, sniffing at the herbs from a few feet away.


    Noah examined the bundle of herbs in his arms. ¡°Oh no, that won¡¯t do. These herbs will ripen within a day, and you only have a few hours window to pick them before they spoil. I will bring them to the cabin and let them ripen before placing them out to dry in the sun.¡±


    Luna attempted to whistle, impressed by his knowledge, but it came out as more of a spitting with sound than a whistle.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you two know these herbs? Don¡¯t you trade with other human territories?¡± he asked, perplexed by the wolves¡¯ lack of knowledge.


    ¡°We just opened the territory to traders a few months ago. Ajax closed the borders once he became sick and completely isolated us,¡± Silas muttered, a frown marring his face. Noah had heard many things about Sylvie¡¯s father since he had arrived here, and none of it had been good. Did Sylvie take after her father, or was she still redeemable?


    They returned to the cabin, and Noah got to work laying the ripened herbs where they could get the most sun. It would take a few days for the moisture to evaporate before they would be ready for grinding and brewing, but patience produced the best results in many things.


    With the siblings returning to their own cabin, he waited for Sylvie to return home from wherever her duties as alpha had taken her today. It was near dusk by the time Sylvie returned to the cabin, and his nervous energy had reached a level he hadn¡¯t thought possible.


    She wore a hard look on her face, and he didn¡¯t think she was in the mood for any of his ¡°charm¡±. She entered the cabin without a word, not even glancing at him as she sat at the wooden table. The majestic table of¡­ Stop it!


    She pulled out some kind of ledger and began reviewing the notes scribbled across the pages in an unreadable handwriting. Apparently, she didn¡¯t like what she was seeing as a deep-chested growl rang out in the cabin. Tiptoeing up behind her, he attempted to peek at the notebook, but in a flash, Sylvie held the book to her chest, baring her teeth at him.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I won¡¯t peek at your naughty drawings, my mate,¡± he said, holding his hands up to placate her. Her silver eyes narrowed. She didn¡¯t seem amused. Not one bit.


    ¡°Did you have a good day, my mate? Or has the heinous prison that is my home broken your spirit already? Or perhaps the evil pack mates that are my family have broken your mind?¡±


    Yep, she wasn¡¯t happy. Whistling in amazement at his perceptive abilities, he wondered if it was a power that reached the level of her shifting. ¡°Oh yes, the siblings took me on a grand tour of the territory. It doesn¡¯t seem like your torturers, I mean pack mates, are opening up to me just yet.¡±


    Sylvie growled, her eyes beginning to glow the bewitching silver he found himself seeking out more and more lately. ¡°They will accept you given time. You are my mate, and I am their alpha.¡±


    ¡°Ah. You are in charge, so they must bow to your wishes? I tell you, my mate, many a man has fallen to such thinking.¡±


    ¡°I am unconcerned with how humans rule themselves. This is the way of the pack and will always be the way for us wolves.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, my mate. Why does being a wolf require you to rule through violence and fear? Half of the wolves fear your very presence, and the other half are waiting for the instant you display an ounce of weakness to attempt a coup,¡± he whispered, frowning when his heart clenched at the thought.


    ¡°Because I am the Alpha. I need to be powerful enough to make the pack submit,¡± Sylvie said, gritting her teeth with such force that he could hear the crunching.


    ¡°Is ruthlessness and intimidation the only way to get someone to submit? I think not,¡± he said, clicking his tongue.


    Rubbing her eyes, Sylvie dropped the alpha mask she cherished so dearly, allowing him to see her exhaustion. How could he ignore the stress and pain that her constant struggle to retain power brought her daily? She looked at odds with the Sylvie that she projected to the pack at all times, making him question how deep her deception went. He stepped forward instinctively to comfort her but stopped himself when she looked up at him with questioning eyes.


    ¡°This is the way my father ruled as alpha. The pack hated him, but they never challenged him and we flourished.¡±


    ¡°Who is the imposter now?¡± he whispered.


    She sprung to her feet in a whirlwind of anger. He didn¡¯t make any movements and projected as much calm into the air as he could. Her anger dimmed when she saw he wasn¡¯t mocking her.


    She hesitated before coming to some kind of decision, her stance firming with confidence. ¡°My rule is not as ironclad as it needs to be. Many in the pack believe Rowan should be alpha. If I show any weakness, they will oust me.¡±


    The confidence she was projecting faded, her voice a terrified whisper. ¡°I would be exiled from the pack, never allowed to step foot in my home again. I would never see my pack mates again, everyone I¡¯ve ever known becoming a stranger to me. I would lose everything, Noah. Everything.¡±


    He nodded his head, proud of his mate for trusting him with such vulnerability. ¡°Rowan is the one who fought alongside your father for thirty years?¡±


    She nodded her head in affirmation. ¡°He is an accomplished warrior and was just as brutal as my father during his reign. He commands a lot of respect in the pack.¡±


    ¡°Rowan is the one who is bigger than you and the strongest fighter in the pack, correct?¡±


    She again nodded her head, a scowl beginning to form on her face.


    ¡°Rowan is the one who has the experience in conquering other packs through brutality and violence, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Noah! Would you like to defect and become his mate instead?¡±


    ¡°Then why, my mate, are you fighting a battle on terrain that you can¡¯t possibly win? Physicality, brutality, fear. These are not arenas you can defeat him in Sylvie.¡±


    Her head snapped up, her eyes glowing so brightly that he wasn¡¯t able to look directly at them. ¡°Those are the arenas where an alpha is crowned. There is no other way,¡± she said, a pleading in her voice begging him to tell her otherwise.


    ¡°Sometimes when the common fails, you must turn to the insane. The pack respected and feared your father, but they did not love him.¡±


    She made to protest but he stopped her with a hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know how pack politics work, but you need to pick a path that will play to your strengths. Do not meet Rowan where you will inevitably lose.¡±


    ¡°With what other means can I convince the pack that I am worthy to be alpha?¡± she asked deep in thought.


    He shook his head with his hands spread out in helplessness. ¡°I don¡¯t know Sylvie. I¡¯m not a wolf. All I¡¯m saying is that when a war occurs, soldiers abandon the feared leader at the first sign of trouble, but they will die to the last man for a leader they love.¡±

 Chapter 18

    A few days passed in the blink of an eye for Noah, with no significant changes to his routine. Every morning, he would wake from a sinister nightmare, then head to the lodge for breakfast, where the wolves continued to make it abundantly clear that he was not welcome. The siblings were the only welcoming wave in the sea of hate, and really, Silas only humored his presence because of Luna. Luna was his little light in a cave of darkness. After breakfast, the siblings would either take him on tours of the territory or he would explore on his own. And when he said on his own, he meant with two giant wolves following his every move.


    After breakfast one day, he returned to his cabin to inspect the herbs which had taught him the meaning of patience. They had been drying in the sun over the past few days, and luckily, the weather had held. Now, the herbs had lost all their moisture and were ready to grind and brew.


    With wide eyes, he rushed inside the cabin, throwing open the cupboard doors with unnecessary force. He tossed the wooden cups and plates aside haphazardly, not pausing his search when a few cups fell onto the ground with a loud thump. A deep sigh escaped his lips when he could not find an iron pot to brew his tea.


    Forced into returning to the lodge, he braced himself for the constant hate that he was forced to carry on his burdened shoulders. After his daily struggle of pushing the wooden door open, and upon entering the lodge, he encountered a suspicious scene. He had become accustomed to eating breakfast with the large gathering of wolves, and the near emptiness of the lodge felt disconcerting.


    Looking toward the roots of the lodge, the blankets normally piled up there had been folded and placed to the side. A woman stood in front of a few dozen pups, some in animal form and some in human form, trying to maintain order. From so far away, he couldn¡¯t hear the lecture, but it seemed to be some type of schooling taking place. Half of the pups paid no mind to the teacher, constantly nipping and growling at one another.


    Human children were challenging enough, but throw in a few wolves play fighting, and the entire class became chaotic. The poor teacher looked like she was one howl away from having a nervous breakdown. One pup took the play fighting too far, biting another student who let out a high-pitched yelp. The unhinged teacher slammed her leather book shut and threw it against the wall with such force that it exploded. A gentle snowfall of paper scraps floated down to the floor, creating a fun game for the pups, who attempted to catch the scraps in their mouths before they could touch the ground.


    Their fun ended as the teacher shifted into a giant gray wolf, pouncing on each of them until she pinned them beneath her weight. She snarled and snapped at them until they whimpered and attempted to lick her face in remorse. His chuckle at the mischievous pups died in his throat as the grey wolf¡¯s head snapped around to stare at him with glowing yellow eyes.


    He averted his gaze and hurried to attend his own business. Horrible memories of his own teachers at the orphanage flashed through his mind. One time, he had been so sure that one of his teachers was an unseelie hag that he had whacked her hand with an iron ruler, but the sizzling of her skin upon the iron¡¯s touch never came. Shuddering at the punishments he had received, he hurried toward the kitchen, abandoning the young pups to their fate. One day, they would understand that he was powerless to come to their aid.


    He tapped his cane on the ground as he approached the teenagers who served the lodge as kitchen aids. They scampered around in controlled chaos, never once looking up at his arrival. He could tell they took pride in their work as no adult wolf was there to supervise, and yet none were slacking off. They chopped, they butchered, they cleaned, and they stoked the roaring fires, all with meticulous precision. A thundering of pots and pans drowned out his approach and, for once, the wolves¡¯ superior hearing did not prematurely announce his presence.


    He cleared his throat as loud as he could, hoping to break their all-consuming focus. In a synchronicity that had Noah questioning if a puppeteer controlled these marionette workers, the chaos of the kitchen ground to a halt. A dozen teenaged wolves gawked at him, their kitchen duties abandoned at the arrival of the infamous human.


    ¡°I bid good day to the finest culinary artists the pack has ever seen,¡± he said, tipping his hat to them with a wink. A few of the wolves giggled and others puffed their chests out in pride at his compliments. He pondered the reaction of these younger wolves to his presence, which was so much more welcoming compared to their parents. It seemed that any hope of change between the races belonged to the younger generation.


    One of the older teenage wolves stepped forward to address Noah while wiping his hands with a dish towel. ¡°What can we do for you, human?¡±


    Noah gave him a bright smile before looking behind the lad at the assortment of unused pots. ¡°May I request a favor from the kitchen? I have been drying herbs recently that will be brewed into a tea of such quality that it may change the world as we know it.¡±


    The tear he was trying to force wouldn¡¯t come, so he settled on quivering his voice in heartbreak. ¡°I seem to be at a loss though, as I can¡¯t find a pot to boil water. Per¡­perhaps the kitchen has a spare that they wouldn¡¯t miss?¡±


    As the kitchen workers huddled around in hushed whispers, arguing over his request, the lack of an alpha among them became evident. What an inefficient way of making decisions.


    ¡°The Alpha has been eager to taste the tea of her mate¡¯s homeland. Please, I can¡¯t disappoint my mate again,¡± he added, covering his eyes with his hands to conceal his lack of tears. He didn¡¯t know if it was his reference to the Alpha or a mate, but his pleas worked.


    ¡°We can spare a pot for the Alpha,¡± one worker said, raising no disagreement from his peers. Noah smiled as the young pup sorted through the mountain of pots, banging the metal together and avoiding the newer-looking pots with great care.


    A thunderous crash sounded out as one of the panels to the lodge slammed open, gouging into the wall of the lodge and briefly sticking into the trunk. The kitchen hand jumped in shock at the noise, wide eyes darting to his coworkers who were already at their stations as if they had never left. Noah hadn¡¯t noticed the deep gouge in the wall before now, but the scar was impossible to miss now that he had seen it. What wolf had the strength to throw open the swinging door with such force?


    ¡°What is all of that racket? You brats should be butchering the meat, not cooking,¡± the grey-haired wolf said, walking through the doorway with her cane tapping against the floor.


    In some kind of bizarre kitchen salute, the teenagers jumped to attention with one arm over their chest. ¡°Yes, Elder! The human asked for a spare pot to brew his tea in. We were just fulfilling the Alpha¡¯s request!¡±


    The wizened woman snapped her head toward Noah, narrowing her eyes at his surprise appearance in her kitchen. She leaned heavily on her cane, and it appeared to be the only thing that kept her standing.


    ¡°Oh, was he now? How curious? I¡¯ve never known the Alpha to be a connoisseur of tea.¡±


    Noah beamed at the old woman, but he could already feel sweat collecting on his lower back. How could an old woman who needed her cane to assist her movements throw open the monstrous weight of the door with such ease?


    ¡°That she isn¡¯t, Elder. I was just telling the kitchen pups that Sylvie was eager to taste a bit of her mate¡¯s homeland.¡±


    The grey-haired wolf stared him down for a few uncomfortable moments, her one functioning grey eye searching his green ones. Under her scrutinizing gaze, he felt vulnerable as if she could decipher his thoughts and intentions with a single glance.


    ¡°Retrieve your herbs and bring them back to the lodge. We will brew your homeland¡¯s tea and see if it is worthy to serve to the Alpha.¡±


    With a nod, he rushed out of the lodge and returned to his cabin in a sprint, retrieving the dried stalks of herbs in record time. Upon his return to the lodge, he struggled to open the wooden door once again and cursed the ancient wolf who could throw it open with such force. The woman hadn¡¯t moved since he left, and he rushed up to her with the utmost speed, presenting the herbs for her inspection. He waited a few moments for her to examine the herbs, but she never even glanced down at them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, you nitwit. Grind them up and brew a pot,¡± she barked at him like he was daft. Opposite his normal defiant attitude, his body rushed to obey her commands, and looking at the tense kitchen aids who kept their heads down, he wasn¡¯t the only one who experienced the phenomenon.


    Once he reached the kitchen, he used the bottom of two pots to grind the herbs into a coarse powder. Next, he filled one pot with water and set it on the metal grates over the fire. As he waited for the water to boil, he dared a glance at the ancient wolf. She scrutinized his every move, nothing escaping her eye.


    After a few minutes, he took the boiling water off of the grate and added a serving of the herbs to the hot water, letting them stew. A short while later, he strained the herbs with a fine mesh cloth and poured two cups of the liquid into wooden mugs. He approached the ancient wolf, who had never taken her one eye off of Noah the entire time and placed a cup in front of her. Steam rose from the hot tea in a rolling fog, bringing with it an intoxicating fragrance.


    ¡°Please tell me what you think, honored Elder,¡± he said, gesturing toward the cup.


    The old wolf sniffed at the tea for a few moments before tilting her head back and opening her mouth wide.


    Eyes widening, Noah rushed to stop her with an outstretched hand. ¡°Wait Elder, it¡¯s hot¡­¡±


    The Elder paid no heed to his warning, gulping the tea down in one go. He was dumbfounded as she smacked her lips with steam escaping her mouth in between each smack.


    ¡°Hmm. Not bad human. Not bad at all.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad it passed your inspection, Elder. Forgive me, but I don¡¯t think I ever caught your name?¡±


    Her eye snapped up from her cup to meet his, narrowing in suspicion. ¡°That¡¯s because I didn¡¯t give it, young human.¡±


    ¡°But we have bonded over a cup of tea, and that¡¯s the oldest symbol of friendship in the world.¡±


    Steam blew out of her nostrils as she snorted. ¡°Ensuring that the Alpha¡¯s tea remains free of poison is a symbol of friendship among humans?¡±


    Noah¡¯s hand flew to his chest in scandalous affront. ¡°Poison? You think me capable of harming my own mate?¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The wise wolf searched his eyes, inspecting his mind and soul for hidden intentions. ¡°I do not know, human. As I said, the safety of the pack comes before tolerance and acceptance. However, I will afford you what little benefit of the doubt I can spare.¡±


    She leaned in closer to him, sniffing in his direction for a few moments, before cocking her head in confusion. ¡°Something is off with you, human¡­,¡± she said, trailing off as if searching her memories for anything that could confirm the warning her nose impressed upon her.


    ¡°I¡¯d wash, but the musk drives Sylvie crazy. You can¡¯t expect me to relinquish the one weapon I have that can control my mate?¡± he said, raising his hands in helplessness.


    A giggle from the kitchen snapped the Elder out of her introspection. Leaning heavily on her cane, she stood up and threw her mug at the perpetrator. The cup flew toward the kitchen aids faster than a cross bolt, whooshing through the air in a blur of speed. One worker reached their hand up to catch the mug, snagging it from midair without looking up from their tasks.


    ¡°What are you lot eavesdropping on? We have dinner to prepare for an entire pack of hungry wolves. Get back to work!¡± The Elder stood up from the table, shooing her hands at Noah in dismal. She limped behind him toward the kitchen but paused after a few steps and whacked her cane against the floor, adding to the numerous scars already carved into the trunk.


    ¡°My name is Calla, young human,¡± she said like she was granting him a great boon by bestowing her name.


    Noah held his hands tightly over his mouth, trying his best to control himself, but a snort squeaked its way through. In a flash, Calla whirled to glare at him, her chest emitting a deep growl.


    ¡°What is so humorous, human?¡± she demanded, her cane digging into the wood of the floor.


    Perhaps the wood splintering beneath her cane aided him, but he regained control over his emotions with tremendous effort. ¡°It is nothing, Elder. The name Calla must have a different meaning in human culture.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. It might be a derogatory name in the human lands, but in pack culture, it means beautiful,¡± Calla said, baffling pride filled her voice and undeserved vanity puffed her chest.


    He had been nodding along to her explanation until she came to the word beautiful. His eyes nearly popped out of his head as he gazed up and down her form. He knew he wasn¡¯t being fair. She very well could have been beautiful when she was younger, but Calla was just one of those names you expected a world-shaking beauty to possess.


    ¡°It¡¯s the same,¡± he whispered without thinking.


    Calla¡¯s body shimmered, and he swore he could see her nails elongate. ¡°Does my name not suit me, boy? Do you think my beauty taints the name?¡±


    A shiver ran through him that left him scrambling for an escape route. He nonchalantly rose to his feet, walking past Calla to retrieve the iron pot from the kitchen. A loud crack rang out as she gripped her cane with so much force that it shattered, sending shards of wood flying through the air.


    With his back to the angry wolf, he met the eyes of the kitchen aids. Their gazes pleaded with him, begging him to save them from their employer¡¯s wrath. An unspoken bond that would persist through the ages formed in an instant. His heroism moistened the teenagers¡¯ eyes with tears as he took a deep breath before turning around to meet his reckoning. A shimmering Calla filled his gaze, flickering between wolf and human.


    ¡°Honored Elder, I think your name is a personification of everything you are. I was not laughing, but gasping in shock because your kitchen aids told me that your name didn¡¯t suit you.¡±


    Calla¡¯s form solidified and she snapped toward the shocked kitchen aids in fury. He hardened his heart to the looks of betrayal they shot his way, dashing out of the lodge and securing his escape. As screams of reprimand shook the lodge, a solitary tear fell from his eye in recognition of the young pups¡¯ sacrifice. Sprinting full speed away from the lodge, he promised himself that he would never forget their selflessness.


    Over the next two weeks, Noah kept to his routine with obsessive fervor. Breakfast at the lodge, followed by bringing steaming mugs of tea to the traders in the open-air market. He would then head to the territory entrance to give the two guards a warm cup of tea as well.


    Although the wolves weren¡¯t susceptible to the autumn chill like he was, they still enjoyed a hot beverage that contained a more exotic taste than their usual tea. However, his beverage delivery system didn¡¯t have the intended effect of buying the wolves¡¯ affection. Most of the pack still distrusted him at best and hated him at worst. The only exceptions seemed to be the siblings who followed him around religiously and Wren. Although, Wren was more of a ¡°friendly when they happened to meet¡± kind of person, never seeking his company out on her own.


    On one monotonous day, he and the siblings approached the border entrance to deliver the guard¡¯s daily cup of tea. Luna kept glancing at the steaming mugs out of the corner of her eyes, forcing him to turn his body to hide them from her sight. He had been forced to limit Luna to one cup per day, as she seemed to enjoy the tea even more than he did. A caffeine-fueled Luna was a force that not even the gods could control, and her intervention had caused a tantrum that would scar his psyche for the rest of his life.


    As they neared the border, voices drifted through the trees, just loud enough for him to hear. Raising his fist, he stopped the siblings and strained his ears to spy on the unsuspecting speakers.


    ¡°Alpha, we have been routinely sending out scouting patrols to search for the Unseelie, but we have found no sign of them.¡± A surprising pang of jealousy rushed through him at the sound of Alder¡¯s voice.


    ¡°How is that possible, Alder? Unless we find their portal, the pack will never be safe from this threat. We must find them!¡± Sylvie¡¯s harsh command rang out, startling a few sleeping birds into flight.


    ¡°Alpha¡­,¡± Alder responded, his unease with her commands hard to mistake. ¡°The scouts are running on fumes. How much longer will we overextend ourselves like this? If an attack occurs, we will not have the strength to defend against an invasion.¡±


    Images of Sylvie punching and biting subordinate wolves who had disobeyed her commands flittered through his mind. ¡°Come on, Sylvie,¡± he whispered, twirling his cane with nervous energy as a long pause halted the conversation.


    ¡°Alder, I recognize the strain this is putting on the scouting wolves. I do not order them into enemy territory lightly, but we need intelligence on what we are up against. Our survival depends on it.¡± Sylvie¡¯s calm and measured voice allowed Noah to release a breath he wasn¡¯t aware he had been holding.


    ¡°Rowan, you were in charge of intelligence gathering for decades under my father. What suggestions do you have for our struggles?¡±


    Surprise laced Rowan¡¯s answer. ¡°Alpha, I suggest we alternate our scouts with warriors or even guards to ease the burden. We can place them on a strict see-and-report basis. No special training is required if they don¡¯t need to investigate enemy territories.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Rowan. Hmm. Alder, use the off-duty warrior wolves to supplement our scouts. I don¡¯t want our guard¡¯s numbers and efficiency to be affected.¡±


    ¡°Right away, Alpha.¡± Noah could hear the excitement in Alder¡¯s voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s my mate,¡± he whispered with a smile.


    The next couple of days were the same as before, and he was getting more antsy as time went on. Not only was his claustrophobia steadily rising to unbearable levels, but he hadn¡¯t been in danger since he arrived at the Baleful Fiend Pack. If he wasn¡¯t excited at the thrill of risking his life, then he felt nothing. The emptiness inside of him grew so loud that nothing he did could drown out its mocking cackles. It was unsustainable.


    He lay on the wooden floor, using his cowboy hat as a pillow. Sleep eluded him more often lately, and it was beginning to take a toll on him. A few more months stuck in the pack¡¯s territory was nothing, but his dreams had become increasingly more disturbing. Could he even make it two months without the dam bursting? Pondering that question and not liking the answer he found, he tossed and turned until sleep finally claimed its unwilling participant.


    Noah tried to peer through the thick fog rolling between the trees. It was dead silent as if the supernatural fog forcefully dissipated the noises of the forest. A small, child-sized silhouette glided amongst the trees, never quite coming into focus.


    ¡°Hey!¡± he called out to it in desperation. ¡°Please talk to me!¡± The silhouette disappeared from view, once again lost to the fog.


    ¡°He can¡¯t hear you, Negative 2.¡± Noah whipped around as the voice had come from disturbingly close behind him. A few feet away stood 125. His hands were in the waistband of his burlap trousers as if to keep the chill off of them. His dark brown skin was ashen, but from the caves or death, Noah didn¡¯t know.


    Noah closed his eyes and clasped his hands over his ears. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just leave me alone? I¡¯ve done everything you¡¯ve asked of me. Please, let me find my own peace now!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that, Negative 2,¡± 125 whispered. Noah dropped his hands as they provided no protection from the sound. He creaked his eyelids open to see 125 staring at him sadly. Tears of blood rolled down his face and his eyes glowed a subtle red.


    ¡°Why?¡± Noah whispered so softly that he wasn¡¯t sure 125 would hear his question, but his friend answered right away.


    ¡°Because Negative 2, I wasn¡¯t fated to die that day. You stole my destiny from me. And what have you done with it? I was meant to lead humanity in the eradication of the supernatural races.¡± 125¡¯s tears of blood disappeared as if his crying had been an illusion all along. His red eyes glowed brighter in the smothering darkness of the forest, causing Noah to take a step backward.


    ¡°But you, Negative 2! You lead no one because you have no one! You can¡¯t become a conqueror for humanity because you¡¯ve taken to bed with the enemy! You have betrayed everything that we once stood for!¡± 125¡¯s yells shook the trees and even blew the fog out of the forest. Spittle flew from his mouth, hitting Noah in the face. Fangs replaced his crooked teeth, his canines glinting sharply in the red glow of his eyes.


    ¡°Please, I¡ª¡± Noah attempted to respond, tears rolling freely down his face.


    125 cut him off with a yell that burst his ear drums. ¡°What did I die for, Negative 2! What did I die for? What did I die for? Who did I die for?¡±


    125¡¯s body began to rot at a visible rate, experiencing decades of decomposition at an unnatural pace. He continued to ask his damming questions until his body was gone and only his haunting voice remained, reverberating in Noah¡¯s head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    After being ejected from the world of dreams, Noah awoke amid a bloodcurdling scream. Sylvie had joined him on the floor and was in the process of frantically shaking his shoulders. She had a crazed look in her eyes and was as pale as he had ever seen her.


    ¡°Noah, please wake up. Please. Please,¡± Sylvie repeated again and again.


    He cut off his yelling, leaving a raw throat behind and tears staining his cheeks. With sweat dampening his body, he brushed aside the bangs sticking to his forehead and obstructing his vision. He reached out to Sylvie with a shaking hand and pushed her raven hair behind her ear, revealing a clear view of her glowing silver eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sylvie. I¡¯m awake now, and I¡¯m fine,¡± he said, allowing the silver of her eyes to guide him back to sanity.


    Sylvie¡¯s head snapped up, and once she saw clarity in his eyes instead of madness, she threw herself into his arms. He patted her back in a soothing cadence as he let her enjoy the relief she found in his arms. Eventually, she pulled away from him and jumped to her feet more graciously than any human ever could.


    ¡°You¡¯re fine? You¡¯re fine?¡± she yelled.


    Noah winced at her tone and stood up to join her. Shame filled him. How could he allow his mate to see his deficiencies like this?


    ¡°You were screaming as if your soul was being eaten one bite at a time. I thought an unknown unseelie had attacked you in the dream world.¡± She slammed her fist onto the wooden table and another large crack splintered across its surface.


    ¡°It was just a nightmare, Sylvie. I was in no danger, and there¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± he said, trying to calm her down.


    ¡°A nightmare about what?¡± she questioned as her bottom lip trembled.


    ¡°I sometimes have intense nightmares, but I can never remember them,¡± he said, lying to his mate without hesitation.


    She wasn¡¯t buying it. Her arms were crossed and she was tapping her foot in a sporadic rhythm. ¡°You don¡¯t remember nightmares that torture you to the brink of insanity?¡±


    ¡°Sylvie, there are no ill effects from them other than disrupted sleep. This isn¡¯t something you have to worry about.¡±


    The rhythmic taps of her foot slowed and she narrowed her eyes. ¡°Nightmares are conjured by the mind, Noah, and the mind is always awake. You have a poison in your head that is slowly decaying your sanity, one nightmare at a time. Do not take the unseen wounds of the mind lightly; they are the hardest to treat.¡±


    Closing the distance between them at a slow pace, he grabbed her shoulders and stared straight into her silver eyes. ¡°I do not take it lightly, Sylvie. I promise I will do what is necessary to cure them.¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡± She searched his eyes for the truth.


    ¡°I promise. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, I will fix this.¡± He pulled her into a light hug with his chin resting on her shoulder. Unseen by Sylvie, his eyes narrowed with determination.

 Chapter 19

    A week had passed since he had awoken Sylvie with his nightmare. Since then, his demeanor had changed: a complete shift in personality that hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed. His heart clenched as the siblings became hesitant in his presence, sensing the shift but unable to pinpoint the differences. An unseen chasm had grown between him and Sylvie and with every questioning glance she threw his way, his soul rebelled at his continued silence. Gone was his wit and charm, leaving only a frightening obsession behind.


    ¡°I am headed to the pack meeting. It will take us a few hours to get through the agenda, so I won¡¯t be back until the late hours of the night,¡± Sylvie said, putting on her leather boots while Noah sat with his feet on the table and his hat covering his face.


    She paused for a moment, and he could feel her gaze burning into the back of his head, waiting and hoping for him to respond. Silence answered her hope.


    ¡°Hopefully, they will grant you full pack membership tonight. We have waited long enough for them to accept you,¡± Sylvie said, trying again to engage him.


    Why was this so painful for him? He had expected it to end this way since she first claimed him on that battlefield. In fact, he had planned on it. But now that the time had come to harden his heart, he balked.


    ¡°How will I pass the hours waiting for such an important decision to be made?¡± Noah fanned himself as if the very thought of such distressing news would cause him to faint.


    ¡°You may not care about your status in the pack, but I do. I need you to be a full member,¡± Sylvie snapped.


    Surprised at the harshness of her tone, he removed his hat from his face and glanced over at her. ¡°And why, my mate, do you need me to gain the status of a pack member?¡±


    Sylvie exploded, her form shimmering as a growl reverberated through the air. ¡°Because it¡¯s shameful! I have a mate that isn¡¯t accepted by the pack? I am the Alpha! How dare they question my mate?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, let¡¯s forget about your mate¡¯s safety and happiness within the pack. No, we should worry about how it affects your image, Sylvie,¡± he said, snorting in disbelief at his selfish mate.


    Her anger dissipated at his rebuke, and her shoulders sagged, resembling a chastised pup. In an eerie silence, she glided across the room and placed a tentative hand on his shoulder. ¡°I do care about you Noah, but that only does so much if the pack won¡¯t accept you as a member. Even an alpha is beholden to others.¡±


    Against his will, he leaned into the warmth and comfort of her hand but remained silent with his arms crossed in childish defiance. The soothing warmth abandoned his shoulder as Sylvie threw up her hands in exasperation at having to deal with such a stubborn mate.


    ¡°Fine! Continue to sulk here while I go to the pack meeting. I will return later,¡± she said, storming out of the cabin with the dull glow of the sunset swallowing her darkening figure.


    His eyes followed her retreating form until well after she had disappeared into the towering trees. A subtle heat on his shoulder was all that remained of her presence, and he gently touched the spot, attempting to memorize the way her fingers warmed his body and mind. As the sensation of a soul-deep cold replaced her heat, he vigorously rubbed at his shoulder, hoping friction would keep her alive for a few minutes more. Finally, his skin returned to its normal temperature and unhinged desperation transformed his features. The time had come.


    Eyes closed in a peace that only resignation could bring, he waited in his chair for thirty minutes before rising and opening the window. ¡°Come on in, you two. No reason to be bored outside in the woods alone.¡±


    Without waiting for a response, he moved toward the hearth, beginning to build a roaring fire. Not even a few moments had passed before Luna jumped through the open window with an acrobatic flip.


    ¡°Mr. Human. Mr. Human. Guess what?¡± she said, hopping around the cabin in glee with her pigtails bouncing violently around her face.


    ¡°His name isn¡¯t Mr. Human! It¡¯s Noah. Noooaaahhh,¡± Silas said as he climbed in after her.


    ¡°Mr. Human, what should we play tonight?¡± Luna ignored her brother and jumped onto Sylvie¡¯s bed, forgetting whatever earth-shattering news she had wanted to tell Noah only a second earlier.


    At the hearth, he placed an iron pot filled with water on the metal grate. The crackling of the wood, and the flickering of the flames, transfixed him, rendering him speechless for a few moments. Smoke billowed out of the hearth, burning his eyes and obscuring his face from view. He refused to blink, accepting the deserved pain with open arms.


    ¡°Well, I thought I could make some fresh tea to warm us up and then, maybe, we could see how your howling is coming along Luna,¡± he said, dusting his hands off with a few claps and leaving the cover of the smoke.


    ¡°Yay!¡± She threw her arms up in the air, continuing to jump on Sylvie¡¯s bed with unending energy. ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing real hard. You might even get scared when you hear it,¡± she warned him.


    ¡°We will see about that, won¡¯t we?¡± he said with a sad smile.


    After waiting a few minutes for the water to boil, he grabbed the iron pot with tongs and removed it from the metal grate. He retrieved a glass jar from the cupboard that held his ground herbs. As he was about to dump the herbs into the pot, his hand froze, leaving the herbs teetering on the lip of the jar. Sweat beaded at his brow, and his hand began to shake. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tipped the jar a fraction of an inch further and allowed gravity to complete the heinous task for him.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Dissociated from the world, he stared at the brewing tea; the siblings fading from his senses. Once the tea was ready, he filled three cups with the fragrant beverage. Sights and sounds returned to him in a thundering rush as he handed two cups to Luna and Silas. As expected, Luna grabbed the cup in an instant, wasting no time gulping down her one cup for the day. When Silas grabbed his cup and sipped his tea with no hesitation, something broke inside of Noah. Silas¡¯ trust in Noah was so great that he hadn¡¯t even sniffed the liquid.


    Blowing the steam away from his own cup, he sipped the tea before letting the liquid dribble between his lips and back into the cup. Luna and Silas filled the cabin with constant bickering, never allowing silence to get a word in. They became quieter as time went on.


    As the siblings became more lethargic, he gazed at the herbs floating languidly in the water. Absent from the solid green grounds were the bits of pink that signified their ripeness. The ¡°unripe¡± herbs had finally made their first appearance tonight. They were so similar to the herbs that brewed amazing tea, and yet, the effects couldn¡¯t be more different.


    After a few more minutes, the siblings blinked their eyes as if they were having trouble keeping them open. Luna lost consciousness first, her cup hitting the ground and spilling tea across the floor. Luckily, the soft bed cradled her fall instead of the hard floor.


    Silas stared wide-eyed at his slumbering sister as he tried to fight the sedation of the herbs. As if hit by a battering ram, his gaze whipped to Noah in realization, betrayal etched across his face. Silas bolted out of his chair, sending the chair flying across the cabin and slamming into the wall. Like a drunk, he wobbled on his feet, swaying back and forth.


    Every second that Silas struggled against the sedative added new stains to Noah¡¯s soul. He walked toward the stumbling teenager and grasped his shoulders, steadying him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, brother. You and Luna will suffer no ill-effects and wake up in a few hours¡­¡±


    His voice trailed off and his eyes clouded. ¡°You must risk everything if you want to gain your freedom. Friendship? Family? Morals? These will only shackle you. I wish another path had presented itself, but this was the only way forward.¡±


    Tears leaked down Silas¡¯s cheeks before he too lost consciousness, collapsing into Noah¡¯s arms. Noah picked up the lad and placed him on the bed beside Luna. When no one else would, these siblings had welcomed him with open arms. He couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away from their slumbering faces, hesitation paralyzing his body. Was he creating new nightmares to cure his old ones?


    An image of 125, his neck ripped apart and his body contorted in horrifying angles, exploded into his mind. Refusing to be banished, the haunting images cackled in glee at his attempts to move on to happier thoughts. An eternity later, he finally regained his rationale, but the struggle left him drained.


    If the choice had ever belonged to him, now it no longer did. He had to leave or his past would leave him lost in madness for the rest of his life. He hesitated no longer, turning away from Luna and Silas with grim determination.


    Making his way to the table, he carefully emptied the rest of the tea into a small cup. A paper lid secured the tea, ensuring that he wouldn¡¯t arrive at the entrance of the territory with an empty cup.


    Without looking back, he grabbed his cane that was leaning against the wall and strolled through the open doorway. Time was of the essence, and he took off in a brisk but steady jog. He needed to leave the territory before Sylvie returned home, but he couldn¡¯t sacrifice endurance for speed. This was his one chance at escape, and there were no betrayals that he would not commit to ensure his success.


    The sun sunk below the giant trees and darkness engulfed him. However, he had memorized the route over the past three weeks and continued his jog with confident steps. Moonlight fell in scattered patterns across the forest floor, granting him just enough light to secure his footing against any wayward roots or bushes. Owls hooted their alarm at his presence, a constant ¡®who¡¯ filling the silence of the woods. Encountering no one during his couple-hour jog, he finally approached the border of the territory. A wolf materialized from the shadows and shifted into his human form.


    ¡°Human? What are you doing all the way out here without an escort?¡± Clay questioned him, more in confusion than alarm.


    Gasping for breath, Noah held out the cup of tea he had prepared. ¡°Greetings, Sir Clay! The siblings and I brewed some hot tea tonight, and we figured if anyone deserves its warmth, it¡¯s the guard wolves on duty in this chill.¡±


    He handed the mug to Clay, who took it without thinking twice. And why would he? Noah had spent weeks creating a routine for this guard. For the first few days, Clay had sniffed the liquid in suspicion, but after a few weeks? Alertness had no defenses against the monotonous and mundane.


    ¡°But where are the pups?¡± asked Clay, taking deep swallows of tea and narrowing his eyes toward the path Noah had emerged from.


    Noah draped an arm around the wolf¡¯s shoulder like they were old drinking mates, letting out a boisterous laugh. ¡°The kids? They will be so embarrassed by the time they get here.¡±


    He gestured toward the forest, diverting Clay¡¯s attention and biding the necessary time for the tea to take effect. ¡°We made a bet that if they gave me an hour head start, they could still beat me here. They are sure to be coming any minute now, mad as hell.¡±


    ¡°Luna will be spitting mad alright,¡± Clay said, chuckling in perhaps his first sign of friendliness toward Noah.


    The wait for the tea to take effect was excruciating. He needed to create distance between himself and the pack territory, not have a tea party. But he had to follow his plan or his freedom would slip through his grasp.


    Finally, Clay began to slur his words, swaying on his feet just as Silas had. A smile lit Clay¡¯s face as if he was enjoying the powerful sedative, and with no other warning, he collapsed face-first onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Noah sprinted off into the darkness before the dust had even settled.


    For the first time since he had been taken prisoner, he finally came upon the wolf eyes carved into the two trees. The mighty symbol of the Baleful Fiend Pack: a pair of wondrous lights braving the dark to guide friends or warn enemies. The eyes¡¯ ever-watchful gaze followed his movements through the trees, casting an eerie glow and covering him in sinister shadows.


    As he emerged onto the dirt road, he pumped his cane above his head in celebration. They wouldn¡¯t dare chase him too far into the Wilds, not for a human they didn¡¯t want in their territory to begin with. A weight lifted from his spirit as his freedom became imminent. Instead of rushing away from the territory, he glanced back at the territory symbol. The yellow eyes, so sinister when he first arrived, seemed to follow him with a sad gaze as he backpedaled away.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t a wolf, Noah. Don¡¯t search for a home where none can be found.¡±


    Filled with confidence from his na?ve wisdom, he sprinted away from the freedom that had eluded him his entire life.

 Chapter 20

    His leather boots thudded against the dirt road, a trail of dust marking his passage. Sweat drenched his hair and his lungs burned as they attempted to provide him with the necessary oxygen to support his flight. Moonlight guided his way, assisted by the subtle glow of his cane¡¯s enchantment. Without activating the enchantment, the weight of his cane would have slowed his speed and crippled his endurance. Every rustle in the bushes and every shadow in the trees represented the imminent danger he had voluntarily placed himself in.


    Under no delusions about his chances of survival in the Wilds, he reacted to every potential threat as if an Unseelie Prince lurked in the darkness. A fae or shifter might catch his scent and appear in front of him without warning. No politics or moral considerations would stay their hands. In the Wilds, there was no negotiating, no hesitation, and no mercy. Only a fight to the death awaited him, with failure ensuring that his corpse would be left to rot in an unmarked grave.


    An hour into his run, howl upon howl, shook the silence of the night far off into the distance. In his shock, his feet clipped one another, sending him sprawling onto the road in a cloud of dust. Coughing the dust out of his lungs, he whipped around to listen in the direction of the wolves¡¯ territory. Not hearing any more howls, he took advantage of his tumble, gasping deep breaths of oxygen to satiate his lungs. His parched throat did its best to gulp as he realized those howls hadn¡¯t come from one or two wolves. He had expected Sylvie and maybe one or two warrior wolves to hunt him down. He hadn¡¯t expected half the pack.


    ¡°Oh shit. Sylvie must be furious,¡± he whispered, a shiver coursing its way through his body at the thought of his mate¡¯s rage. Why was she risking the safety of her pack mates to hunt him down? This was beyond his understanding, and he cocked his head in confusion at the perplexing actions of his mate.


    Shaking off his confusion, he took off in a sprint, pushing even harder to retain his lead on his pursuers. Not even a few minutes later, black spots twinkled in his vision, and the weakness in his legs threatened a collapse. Sometimes circumstances eliminated choice; he had to stop and rest.


    Decision made, he turned off of the main road while biting his finger to stave off the encroaching blackness that threatened to consume his vision. Desperate to find a suitable resting place, he stumbled a couple hundred yards into the forest. While staggering through the thick undergrowth, he tripped over something solid, causing him to plummet to the ground. Black spots continued to dance in his vision as he gripped his shin, doing his best to rub the pain away.


    Unable to conjure any strength, he lay immobile on the forest floor. Insects crawled over his limbs, grass tickled his skin, and sticks jammed into his back, but still, he couldn¡¯t find the strength to move.


    Forced to recuperate for now, he lifted a shaking finger and tapped the enchantment symbol on the side of his cane. The true weight of the metal cane returned, pinning his arm to the forest floor. Relief flooded through him as the illuminating glow of the symbol dulled; he needed stealth now, not speed.


    Critical minutes passed as he waited for his strength to return, his body refusing to acknowledge the urgency of the situation. Eventually, he caught his breath and regained movement in his limbs. Light-headed, he sat up with a curse and began to pull away the vines and plants concealing whatever object had tripped him. At last, his fingers jammed into something hard, and he carefully removed the last bit of obscuring vegetation.


    He ran his fingers along the object, trying to feel what his eyes could not identify in the darkness. With a rap of his knuckles, the object released a metallic gong that echoed through the trees. He scrambled to his feet, his earlier exhaustion forgotten, and peered into the gloom of the forest. With the moonlight guiding his eyes, he discovered the silhouettes of large structures extending deep into the forest.


    ¡°A ruin,¡± Noah whispered as he carefully scampered his way to the larger pieces of rubble. Although he could only see the outlines of the buildings, he lost his breath at their scale. None of the structures were whole, and yet most dwarfed any of the buildings in Greenwood. The undergrowth had covered most of the corroded steel, and trees had grown in between and within the structures. He gazed upon the sprawling vines that climbed up the sides of the ancient buildings, attempting to pull them back to the ground where nature intended.


    He shook his head, a deep sadness permeating his soul. Three hundred years. Three hundred years and humanity¡¯s greatest triumphs had already been reclaimed by nature. Every marvel they had built was reduced to rubble, not able to stand the passage of time. It had taken humans thousands of years to reach the height of their power in the Golden Era. They conquered the Earth with no rivals to challenge their rule and no locations remained beyond their grasp.


    He had read that humans, not content with their conquering of Earth, had even traveled to the stars. How mighty were his ancestors to look up at the night sky without being overwhelmed by the vastness of space? How lofty were their dreams that a mere planet couldn¡¯t contain them?


    And yet, even his mighty ancestors, with their technological superiority and billions of soldiers, found themselves on the verge of extinction a few short years after the Revolution began. He laid his hand on some type of metal that he wasn¡¯t familiar with and tried to extract whatever boldness he could from his ancestor¡¯s creations. If they could see what humans had become in their absence, how ashamed would they be? Rats in constant hiding, surviving on the leftover scraps of the other races. The days of dreams had long since ended.


    He shook his head and turned his back on the ruin, walking toward the road. The ruin represented the past, and he needed to look only forward. Closer to the road, he found a spot free of roots and thorns and nestled down in the soft grasses to get whatever rest he could. Awoken by the muttering of excited voices, he jumped to his feet, preparing to fight for his life or run for his freedom.


    ¡°I smell him, Silas! The scent ends here and heads off into the woods.¡± His body froze in shock as the familiar voice reached his ears.


    ¡°Luna?¡± he whispered from the cover of the forest. How could Sylvie allow them to take part in the hunt? By now, they were closer to other territories than their own. He was about to rush out of his hiding place when he heard a malicious chuckle that froze him mid-step.


    ¡°Oh, my! What do we have here? Two young pups who have strayed too far from the safety of their pack?¡±


    His suspended foot slowly lowered back to the ground, and his grip tightened around his cane. Very few creatures were confident enough in their power to taunt shifters in this manner.


    Silas confirmed his suspicions a second later. ¡°Stay back, vampire, or we will rip you to shreds.¡±


    ¡°Oh, are you going to rip me to shreds with your little claws, pup? If I stayed still and didn¡¯t fight back, maybe the little girl could even bite me hard enough to bruise me,¡± the vampire taunted them, chuckling a sound that resembled laughter, but which held no joy or humor.


    Tired of relying on his hearing, Noah crept through the forest in a silent prowl. Still inside the cover of the trees, he peered through a bush to see a scene straight from his nightmares. The vampire stood forty feet away from the siblings, who had now shifted into their wolf forms, prepared for a battle to the death. Luna and Silas faced off against the vampire with their heads held high, showing no signs of retreat. No wolf would ever cower before a vampire.


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    Just like any other battle, adrenaline flooded his body as he prepared for a thrilling fight to the death. His pulse quickened until it reached the normal pace for battle¡­ and then it continued to quicken. He grabbed his chest as his heart started to beat at a dangerous speed and a roaring sound drowned out his hearing. Face flushed, he began to gasp for breath, his normal breathing not able to provide him with adequate oxygen. A tingling sensation in his stomach transformed into nausea, churning his stomach and threatening to make him sick.


    An inch from his face, he held up his hand. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he watched his hand shake uncontrollably. Looking down at his knees, he could see them wobbling, barely able to hold his weight. Yes, he remembered this feeling. At one time, it was all he knew. It had consumed him every second of every day, allowing him to defend against existential threats and sheltering him from unimaginable horrors. A constant companion that had abandoned him like trash, forcing him to go through life numb and broken.


    At long last, Fear had returned to him!


    Wiping tears from his eyes, he attempted to wipe the smile off of his face but failed. He had finally found something that he was afraid to lose. Those were the only things in life that held any value, after all.


    Refocusing on the object of his newfound fear, he narrowed his eyes at the two pups who stood ready to fight a master vampire to the death. This was all his fault, and he wouldn¡¯t let them pay the price for his folly. The vampire sought to kill his two favorite wolves, but it hadn¡¯t asked Noah¡¯s permission to do so. He swallowed hard, forcing the saliva down his dry throat. He could not fail. If he failed, Luna and Silas would die¡­and that terrified him.


    With white knuckles, he gripped his cane as hard as he could, attempting to control the violent shaking of his hands. Taking deep breaths, he reached into his trench coat and pulled out the metal case that never left his person. In practiced precision, he swiftly switched his silver blade for bone. He compressed the spring by pushing the blade into the ground, concealing his hidden weapon once more. He strolled toward the road, abandoning his hiding place, and whistled a merry tune to announce his arrival. As he emerged from the forest, he twirled his cane, instantly capturing the attention of the vampire and two wolves.


    Out of the corner of his eyes, he glanced at the two blonde wolves with glowing yellow eyes before moving on to examine the vampire. The monster looked familiar, but Noah couldn¡¯t place it in his childhood caves with any certainty.


    It was wearing a black top hat with white trim and its black hair draped elegantly over its shoulders. A black ruffled shirt, with only the bottom two buttons fastened, proudly displayed its chiseled chest. Completing its camouflage of the night was black trousers and black leather shoes.


    A wicked-looking saber composed of iron and silver glinted menacingly at its waist. One thing that it couldn¡¯t conceal was its glowing red eyes that had Noah gripping his cane even tighter. A vampire¡¯s eyes only glowed red in the presence of bloodlust. This vampire was on the hunt, but it had found prey intent on claiming its life.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a fine night? I find two shifters and a vampire alone and without backup. This may be the easiest kill we humans have ever had.¡±


    The wolves cocked their heads at him in confusion while the vampire examined the woods like the coward it was. Finding nothing, it turned back towards Noah, sneering in contempt at the human who dared to challenge its strength.


    ¡°Are you alone, human? In the Wilds?¡± the vampire asked, laughing in disbelief.


    ¡°Alone in the Wilds? I¡¯d have to have a death wish, right?¡± Noah said, laughing in return and wiping the vampire¡¯s smile from its face.


    ¡°Imagine confronting two of the four races alone as a human. No one would be that stupid, right? I¡¯ll answer that one for you. I¡¯m not alone and with our numbers, none of you monsters will survive the night.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, the vampire jumped back twenty feet, creating a distance that would be impossible for Noah to close. Its head whipped from side to side, attempting to discover the human army marching toward it. The vampire tilted its head and sniffed the air, trying to pick up any stray scents or sounds that could cause it harm. Finding nothing concerning, it turned toward Noah in fury.


    ¡°Charlatan! I would have heard such a force. They would have left signs that could not have escaped my senses.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Tell me, how long were you aware of my presence before I revealed myself?¡± Noah questioned with a patronizing smile.


    The vampire stilled at that but soon relaxed. ¡°No matter. You may have comrades out in the woods, but they are not close. I would sense them if they were. There¡¯s still plenty of time to kill you and those mongrels before they arrive.¡±


    Noah ¡®accidentally¡¯ let his trench coat open in the breeze, proving that he was unarmed around his waist. Tapping his cane on the dirt road, he showcased the weight of the iron it was made of. The vampire smiled at his unarmed appearance and smiled wider at the harmless iron.


    It looked behind itself into the darkness, searching for something. The vampire found what it was seeking, nodding its head in affirmation. Before the vampire even turned back around, its body blurred, hurdling toward them at a speed that stole Noah¡¯s breath.


    Blonde wolves bounded ahead with a snarl to meet the vampire in combat, reacting far quicker than Noah could. They didn¡¯t even slow the monster down as it tossed them aside with minimal effort. A trail of dust rose as the siblings skidded across the road with a high-pitched yelp.


    While having the fewest numbers by far, the Vampires still controlled a quarter of this world for themselves. On full display was how they did so. Their strength and speed were undeniable, their durability everlasting, and their lives immortal.


    Even if he had drugged himself with shifter powder, he couldn¡¯t fight a vampire. No amount of skill or brains could stand against such overwhelming power. But there was one way for a human to kill a vampire, and 125 had taught him how long ago. Tapping the symbol on his cane, the metal lightened and hardened as the fae magic coursed through it.


    In a blur of speed that he couldn¡¯t track with his eyes, the vampire launched toward him, practically flying through the air. Noah didn¡¯t even flinch at his approaching doom. With the momentum of its charge, the vampire¡¯s impact crushed Noah, snapping his ribs and flinging them both down the road. Blinding pain laced through him, causing his vision to swim and forcing an agonizing shriek from his mouth. For the first time in twelve years, he felt the sharpened fangs of a vampire plunge into his neck. Greedily slurping his blood, the vampire didn¡¯t even pause as they skidded down the dirt road.


    The vampire¡¯s bright red eyes widened in surprise as it pulled its fangs from Noah¡¯s neck. ¡°Ab Negative? Hmm, how long has it been since such sweet succulence has touched my lips...¡± the vampire trailed off, struggling to retain its senses in the intoxication of bloodlust.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I cannot grant you the mercy of death today, livestock. I cannot allow such a rare vintage to go to waste.¡±


    In response, Noah slumped as if he had lost consciousness from the blood loss. As soon as he went limp, the vampire disregarded any threat he may have once posed. Dazed from the high Noah¡¯s blood brought it, the vampire¡¯s glowing red eyes stared off into the distance at things unseen.


    With his arms lying at his sides, Noah activated the hidden mechanism on his cane, causing the bone blade to burst out in silence. Raising his arms behind the monster, he plunged the blade into its back with all of his strength. The blade penetrated the vampire¡¯s flesh with ease, spearing through its back until it finally reached the monster¡¯s heart. The force pinned the vampire to Noah¡¯s chest, but he didn¡¯t falter, straining with all his might until the bone blade emerged from the vampire¡¯s chest in a splatter of blood. Before Noah could stop his thrust, the blade pierced his own chest, digging into his flesh. A yell of pure agony tore out of his throat, engulfing the forest in hellish screams.


    With its glowing red eyes widened in shock, the vampire mummified around his cane, undergoing centuries of decomposition in a matter of moments. The unused saber fell to the ground, never once serving its purpose. Blood gushed from the wound in Noah¡¯s chest as he yanked his cane out of the vampire¡¯s remains and his own chest, flinging blood across the road. The hole in his chest gurgled as he tried to breathe, his lungs unable to inflate with a puncture.


    Despite his darkening vision, he shoved the monster¡¯s corpse off of himself and frantically brought the bone blade to his mouth. He felt his heart slow as he desperately licked up and down the cane ingesting his own blood, but also that of the master vampire. With a thud, the heavy cane slipped from his weakening fingers, imprinting into the dust only inches from his face. A heartbreaking whine broke through his fogging mind, and he shifted his eyes slightly to see a small blonde wolf nuzzling his hand.


    He raised a shaky, pale hand toward the wolf and patted her on the head. With the last of his strength, he choked out, ¡°Forgive me¡­Luna.¡±


    Luna let out an ear-piercing howl, and bellowing howls answered her plea from somewhere close by. His consciousness slipped just as he saw a massive wolf, the color of the moonless night, barreling down the road with blazing silver eyes.

 Chapter 21

    Noah awoke to the feeling of a soft bed beneath him for the first time in over a month. Pain radiated from his chest, each breath bringing a fresh wave of agony. If he remained completely motionless, the sharp knives stabbing him in his ribs, dulled to blunt sticks. With a moan, he snuggled deeper into the soft, feathered mattress, enjoying the forgotten pleasure that comfort could bring.


    He attempted to return to sleep, but he was burning up, sweat causing the blankets to stick to his skin. Panic filled him as the feeling of being cooked alive activated his body¡¯s survival instincts. Desperate to avoid being smothered, he kicked the woolen blankets off the bed, allowing the cool autumn air to reach his skin.


    With his eyes still closed, his foot connected with something much heavier than a blanket, sending jolting shockwaves of pain through his chest. A startled yelp shocked him back to reality, bringing with it the memories of his escape and his battle with the vampire.


    Bolting upright, he opened his eyes to see his outstretched foot dangerously close to a wolf¡¯s snout. The wolf was curled up beside his legs, gifting him whatever comfort her warmth and touch could bring. Silver eyes blazing, the wolf stared deeply into his soul, portraying emotions that he couldn¡¯t decipher.


    ¡°My mate! Please watch where you swing your snout. Your clumsiness could have injured my foot¡­ but don¡¯t fret, I will forgive you.¡± He puffed his chest out proudly at his display of mercy.


    All the emotions in her gaze vanished, and she growled deep in her throat before shifting back into her human form. Arms crossed and lips pressed into a firm line, his mate stared down at him, not saying a word.


    Noah fidgeted at the attention. Lies came to his lips like moths to a flame, and humor, his stalwart defender, stood ready to protect him from honest emotions and true vulnerability. As he gazed into her eyes, something shifted within him, and he abandoned his two companions that had ensured his survival for over a decade.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sylvie. I didn¡¯t mean to put the pups in danger,¡± he said, wiping the smirk from his lips and removing the mask from his face.


    Silence greeted his apology. Disappointment radiated from her eyes, and the guilt gnawing at his heart threatened to overwhelm him. He never thought a look could hurt him so much, but his mate¡¯s dismay rivaled a cane through the chest.


    ¡°Sylvie, I promise you I won¡¯t try to escape ever again. I made the biggest mistake of my life when I left.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m mad because you tried to escape? Hell, I¡¯ve expected that for weeks, Noah. Honestly, I was proud when I returned from the pack meeting to see that my mate had bested an entire wolf pack using only his cunning and guile,¡± she said with a smile before erasing any humor from her face.


    The popping of knuckles disturbed the silence of the cabin as she clenched her fists and turned her back on him. Anguished sobs escaped her mouth and her shoulders trembled as emotion overcame her. His heart clenched as he gazed upon his mate¡¯s shoulders, struggling to hold the weight that he had burdened her with.


    A growl sounded out, and she snapped and snarled at the air, causing him to flinch. No tears stained her cheeks when she whipped her head around, her silver eyes burning like lava. Okay, maybe she had been trembling from anger, not sorrow.


    ¡°Tell me, my mate. When you made your mad dash to freedom, did you perhaps forget your common sense in the cabin? Please enlighten me, because no matter which ancient scrolls I read or what wise elders I speak to, I cannot understand. How did you arrive at the decision to fight a master vampire?¡± Sylvie asked, her soft voice many times scarier than her yells.


    He took a deep breath, calling upon his courage and preparing an ingenious argument. With a growl, she cut off his defense in an instant.


    ¡°Tell me, how did my clever mate transform into such a bumbling ignorant moron? A warrior wolf wouldn¡¯t fight a vampire alone, let alone a weak human like yourself!¡± Her voice rose with each word, creating a high-pitched ringing sound in his ears that at least drowned out the brunt of her fury.


    Yep, she was not happy. Not one bit. How could he be so foolish? Of course, her calm voice wasn¡¯t scarier than her howls of anger. Compared to the paralyzing terror he felt now, poised Sylvie was beyond soothing.


    ¡°You can¡¯t have expected me to let that vampire slaughter the pups while I hid in the woods? The only reason they were out there was to find me,¡± he said, scoffing in disbelief. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me my mate thinks so little of me. I am not a coward, Sylvie, no matter how weak I may be.¡±


    ¡°We were right behind the pups, Noah. You see them as human children, helpless and defenseless, but they would have lasted until we arrived,¡± she roared at him, the look in her eyes transforming from anger to fear.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been unconscious for days, Noah. Even after you ingested as much vampire blood as you could, it was only able to stabilize you. If my pack mate did not collect fae medicine as a hobby, you would still be in a coma.¡±


    ¡°Sylvie, I know I took significant damage, but in the end, I prevailed! The pups returned home safe and sound, and I surv¡ª¡±


    ¡°You pierced your own lung! I nearly lost my mate!¡± she yelled in hysterics, slamming a fist down onto the table. A thunderous crack shook the cabin as the table exploded beneath her strength, launching shards of wood through the air.


    Wincing as blinding pain shot through his chest, he gingerly got out of bed and shuffled his way toward her. With her back to him, she stared into the ash-filled hearth, her muscles flexed and filled with tension. He wrapped his left arm around her in a gentle hug while his right hand fell to her waist. Her raven hair tickled his nose and he breathed in her intoxicating scent. Releasing the tension in her muscles, she leaned into him with a contented sigh, taking comfort in his arms.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sylvie. I should not have put you through something like that.¡±


    Sylvie cradled the forearm that wrapped around her chest and caressed the hand on her hip, running her fingers along his knuckles in loving strokes.


    ¡°I can¡¯t lose you, Noah. You are too important to me,¡± she whispered.


    Noah chuckled as he held her even tighter against his body. ¡°You won¡¯t, Sylvie. Believe me, I am either blessed by a god or cursed by a demon. Nothing seems to be able to kill me.¡±


    She whipped around with such speed that it left him hugging the air. ¡°Use to taking such foolish risks, are you?¡±


    ¡°Well yeah, this isn¡¯t even in my top five closest brushes with death. This one time I ¡­¡± he trailed off as he caught the look on her face, wisely keeping the past where it belonged.


    Clearing his throat with a few well-timed coughs, his eyes fell to the floor. ¡°Of course, that was the only dangerous thing I¡¯ve ever done. Too much excitement for this lad, to be sure. Better to stay in the safety of the cabin and leave the fighting to my powerful mate.¡±


    He nodded to himself as if he had reached enlightenment. He dared a glance, peeking at her to see if she was buying it. She wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Noah,¡± she said through gritted teeth, her foot thudding against the wooden floor in exasperated taps.


    ¡°I promise Sylvie, I won¡¯t take risks like that again,¡± he said, giving the situation the seriousness it deserved. He reached for his cowboy hat, preparing to tip it to seal the accord, but felt only his hair beneath his fingers. His eyes clouded and his mind wandered miles away as he ran his fingers through his black locks.


    ¡°I felt it, Sylvie. For the first time in years, I actually felt it,¡± he whispered.


    Sylvie cocked her head in confusion. ¡°Felt what?¡±


    His gaze cleared, snapping to meet her eyes with smoldering intensity. ¡°Fear! I was afraid, Sylvie. I was afraid to fail. I was afraid the pups would get hurt or worse. I was afraid I¡¯d never see you again.¡± His head dropped as he choked on his emotions. ¡°Sylvie¡­ I finally found things I fear losing.¡±


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    Sylvie placed her hand below his chin and gently lifted his head, forcing him to meet her eyes. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re afraid, Noah. Everyone is afraid of losing their home and family.¡±


    His breath caught in his throat at her simple explanation, and tears formed in his eyes. A home? Family? Are those the things that he had been searching for in vain his entire life? If that was what Sylvie and her pack had gifted him, then he would do anything to hold onto it.


    She searched his eyes, nodding at whatever look she saw on his face. ¡°Good. Now return to bed, and I will bring you some food. You are still too injured to be moving about like this.¡±


    She left without another word, slamming a new door that she must have installed while he was in a coma. Alone in the cabin, his throat tightened as he gazed upon the shards of wood that had once formed the greatest table of its generation. He gathered all the splinters of its broken body and threw them into the hearth. After igniting its remains, roaring flames engulfed all that was left of the young sapling who dared to be great. He stood at attention, performing the kitchen salute he had learned from the workers.


    He did not insult its memory by shying away from its final moments. The burning wood hissed in defiance, not yet ready for its story to end; none ever were. Another hero had been captured by death, reduced to ashes just like so many before it. He gazed at the glowing embers of the fallen champion in deep contemplation. Like 125, he wanted to meet death with a smile upon his face, satisfied with the tale his life had woven. He feared that until his final moment came, he could never know what end would grant his wish.


    ***


    One week. For one entire week, Sylvie confined him to the cabin, no matter how much he pleaded his case. During his recovery, he saw no one aside from Sylvie, which left him hoping that Sylvie had commanded the pack mates to stay away from the cabin. Otherwise, he¡¯d be forced to accept a lonely existence.


    Every night he called out into the darkness, begging the shadows for forgiveness, but the siblings never appeared to jump through his window. As soon as his injuries healed enough to climb a ladder, he was barging into their home, whether they welcomed him or not.


    In his spare time, which was almost every minute of every day, he practiced balancing his cane on its handle over and over again. So great was his talent that he had been forced to move from the level surface of the floor to the uneven hay mattress of the bed. He balanced the cane for hours until he became depressed that his greatest talent lay with such a useless skill. He¡¯d trade it for super speed in a heartbeat, no questions asked.


    Unbeknownst to Noah, he had become a stay-at-home mate, eagerly awaiting Sylvie¡¯s return and basking in the excitement of her day. From the stories Sylvie shared with him, the wolves were beginning to respond to her new style of leadership. She was the Alpha and her decision remained final, but she kept more counsel these days. Gone were the days when she doled out physical punishments for questioning her commands. How often she took the wolves¡¯ advice, he didn¡¯t know, but at least she let them give it.


    Leaving him bored in the cabin for long stretches of time, she joined the scouting patrols, adding the Alpha¡¯s strength to the exhausted unit. With the scout¡¯s spirits bolstered by the presence of their Alpha, they renewed their desperate search for the Unseelie. To the bafflement of all, they found no signs of their existence.


    Perhaps a more imminent threat was the Vampires, but no coven had called upon the wolves for an explanation yet. Enemies were closing in on all sides of the pack, and the stress took its toll on Sylvie, keeping her awake late into the night.


    After a full week of recovery, blinding pain no longer shot across his ribs with every jostle or breath. This marked the end of his confinement, and if Sylvie disagreed, he would challenge her to a duel. A foreboding sense of unease ran through him at the thought, causing him to shiver. No! He needed to believe in himself. He could take her.


    He wrung his hands in excitement, not nervousness, as he glanced toward his mate, suddenly terrified that she could read minds. Sylvie was biting her lip, seemingly deep in thought while she sat at their new table. This young upstart had to fill the shoes of a titan, and Noah didn¡¯t think it was up to the task. No one wanted to follow on the heels of a legend.


    ¡°Sylvie, your brow is so wrinkled that I almost mistook you for Calla. What troubles you, my mate?¡± he asked, smiling at his own humor before darting a glance toward the lodge. Wait, how sensitive was a wolf¡¯s hearing? Ice ran down his spine, and sweat beaded on his brow at the thought of Calla hearing his joke. He had promised Sylvie not to take such risks anymore.


    She turned to look at him, her silver eyes glowing so brightly that they reminded him of twinkling stars in the night sky.


    ¡°I am debating on how much protection you actually need, Noah. Guards don¡¯t seem to be enough for my mischievous mate,¡± she said, the twinkling in her eyes now seeming sinister instead of beautiful.


    ¡°Now hold on, Sylvie. If I don¡¯t drug them, the guards do a magnificent job of protecting me. Let¡¯s not do something rash that we can¡¯t take back,¡± he said, scooting back toward the head of the bed as she slowly stalked toward him.


    ¡°I thought a temporary one would be enough for our purposes, but it seems like I will have to enact a more permanent solution.¡±


    She had a wicked gleam in her eye, ignoring his pleas and never once pausing her pursuit. He scrambled as far back onto the bed as he could and propped a pillow in between them, shielding himself from his mate¡¯s lecherous machinations.


    ¡°Sylvie, don¡¯t come any closer! I don¡¯t need additional protection.¡±


    Her eyes, burning with hunger, feasted on his bare chest. Battling her instincts, she tore her gaze away from him and turned toward the wardrobe where his usual ruffled shirt and trench coat awaited their return to glory.


    ¡°Hmm. That coat you like so much will narrow our options quite a bit.¡±


    She resumed her seductive stalk, crawling on the soft mattress inch by inch. When she reached his impenetrable shield, she used only the weight of her arm to push down on the pillow, his traitorous arms surrendering without a fight. A sultry smirk spread across her face as she felt his defiance crumble, her victory all but assured.


    Her long raven hair fell in front of her face like a veil as she leaned toward his neck. She sniffed his skin and nuzzled his neck, causing him to shiver in pleasure. Bewitched by a salacious spell, he raised no resistance to her alluring attentions.


    Her teeth scraped gently across his clavicle, and this time, she didn¡¯t puncture the skin. In a swift motion that had him gasping in shock, she grabbed his chin, forcing his face to within inches of hers. Not breaking eye contact, she lowered her head until their lips gently met.


    At the first tingling touch of their lips, the alpha instincts could no longer be denied. A growl reverberated in their mouths as she forcefully claimed possession of his lips. She was not gentle as her tongue penetrated his mouth, entwining with his in a battle he was destined to lose. The erotic attack stole his senses, leaving him dazed and vulnerable. With her knees, she pinned his hands to his sides, leaving him at her mercy. His obsession with control and freedom abandoned him, allowing the trust he had in his mate to shine through.


    She finally broke the kiss, pulling back to stare at him with blazing silver eyes. ¡°Hmm. What¡¯s this? My rebellious mate, who bows his head for no one, has surrendered his freedom to me?¡±


    Shuddering at her words, he attempted to regain control of his faculties, swearing to the male species that he would not fall so easily. She chuckled at his feeble attempts, taking pleasure in his futile defiance. Shifting her weight slightly, she freed one of his arms, bringing his hand up to her mouth. She placed delicate kisses on his shaking palm before sucking on his index finger. He held his breath at the seductive scene, powerless to deny her.


    Her silver eyes found his and she cocked her head, searching his eyes in deep consideration. His brain had just registered the shimmer before she shifted into her wolf form, crushing him beneath her weight. She opened her maw wide, displaying her razor-sharp teeth, and chomped down on his hand, piercing his flesh and breaking his bones.


    A scream of pure agony was torn from his throat. He punched at her snout, gouged at her eyes, and head-butted her forehead; anything to make the pain stop. And still, her jaws clamped onto his hand, spurting blood all over the bed. After what felt like hours, she finally released her grip, and he scrambled off the bed, pressing his back against the wall and holding his bloody hand to his chest. With wide eyes, he gasped for air, a needle-like pain spreading up his arm.


    With a slight shimmer, Sylvie returned to her human form, blood staining her mouth. As she licked his blood from her lips, she reached underneath the bed, retrieving a glass jar. A fluorescent blue poultice glowed in the jar, merging with the illuminating silver of her eyes.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t look at me like that, my mate. This had to be done,¡± she said, sighing as he backed away from her.


    ¡°Look at you like what? Like my mate just tried to bite my hand off?¡± he snapped at her, refusing to look at his ruined hand.


    ¡°If I wanted to bite your hand off, I would have with no struggle¡­¡± she said, gasping and eyes widening as she stared at his hand.


    ¡°Then why have you disfigured me, you devilish she-wolf!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it worked,¡± she whispered, ignoring his words as she continued to be enraptured by his mutilated hand.


    Already feeling light-headed, he raised his shaking hand and wiped the blood away. Against his expectations, there were no gushing wounds or broken bones marring his hand. All that remained was a bright red scar in the shape of Sylvie¡¯s bite, running from the back of his hand to his palm.


    ¡°What is this?¡± he whispered as he stared at a magic that he didn¡¯t know the wolves possessed.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain it would work. Because you are human, I even prepared fae medicine in case the mark didn¡¯t heal as it should,¡± she said, holding up the glowing poultice.


    ¡°What is it, Sylvie!¡± he yelled, shocked that she had attacked him when she wasn¡¯t certain of the outcome.


    ¡°It is my mating mark!¡± she cried, scrambling toward him in excitement.


    ¡°Now every shifter, every vampire, every fae, and every human will see your hand and know that you are a wolf¡¯s mate. Everyone will know that you belong to me and they will fear the consequences of touching what¡¯s mine.¡± She grabbed his hand, proudly examining her mark on his skin.


    ¡°Sylvie, did you ever once consider that I didn¡¯t want a mating mark?¡± he whispered.


    She froze, a hurt look appearing on her face. ¡°But you are my mate, Noah. Why wouldn¡¯t you want to display our coupling to the world?¡±


    He walked to the wardrobe, donning his ruffled shirt and trench coat. Heading toward the cabin door, he sniped his hat and cane off the novice table.


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want another brand that labels me as someone else¡¯s property!¡± He slammed the door in her face and stormed off.

 Chapter 22

    Rage burned in Noah, the flickering flames consuming his body and soul. His fury clouded his thoughts, blinded his eyes to logic, and deafened his ears to truth. Distracted by his anger, he stomped to the lodge, trampling innocent flowers who dared to cross his path and whacking the enchanted trees with his cane.


    How dare she mark him as a possession? The tattoos on his neck hissed and throbbed at the injustice, livid that they could not hide his childhood trauma any longer. Who was this strange woman to rob them of their purpose in life?


    He inspected the bright red mark on his hand, a beacon to all that he was no longer a free man. The hideous mark contorted as he clenched his fists until the bite was unrecognizable, morphing into a misshapen mass of scars.


    He remembered Keziah¡¯s mating mark, but she hadn¡¯t mentioned it was magical in nature. She didn¡¯t think to warn him that the bite would heal in a matter of seconds? After everything he had sacrificed to earn his freedom, Sylvie had marred his skin, wrapping a chain around his hands once more.


    Upon reaching the meadow, the purple flowers scrambled out of his way, terrified of his wrath. He slammed the swinging door open, adrenaline fueling his strength and granting him a power that had eluded his previous attempts.


    Again, silence greeted him as all the pack mates stared at his entrance. He was in no mood for their games and prepared to return their hateful glares in kind, refusing to keep the status quo any longer. Instead, for the first time, he found no hostility in their eyes, only begrudging respect. A few even gave him a slight nod with excitement gleaming in their eyes. Baffled by the unfamiliar greeting, he returned their nods, pretending that he was privy to whatever force had improved their impression of him.


    After loading his tray with succulent meats, sweet fruits, and fresh vegetables, he scanned the long tables, eagerly searching for Luna and Silas. It had only been a week, but their continued absence ate at him. He hadn¡¯t realized how much their shenanigans brightened his day until it was taken away from him, leaving him to stumble about in the darkness. Disappointment filled him as he failed to locate them. Who else would extend a friendly hand for him to latch onto?


    ¡°Vampire slayer, join our table and share a meal with us.¡±


    Startled out of his moping, he was shocked to see Rowan beckoning him toward the warriors¡¯ table. The First Beta even had a beaming smile on his face, but instead of comforting Noah, it caused him to shiver in unease. The foreign smile on Rowan¡¯s face seemed more out of place than a tap-dancing Sluagh.


    Invisible walls sprang up around Noah, attempting to isolate him from non-existent danger. At risk of falling into old habits, he hesitated at the invitation. How many hands had he refused to grasp, leaving them dangling in the air until the offer was revoked? If he wanted to shake a friendly or loving hand, perhaps he needed to accept it also had the potential to strangle and bind him. Could he take such a risk?


    The muscles in his legs bulged as he strained with all of his might to take that first step, but his past immobilized him, refusing to let him move forward. A firm hand pushed him toward Rowan¡¯s table, breaking the spell that had ensnared him for over a decade. Stumbling forward, he glanced back to see Calla¡¯s outstretched arm slowly lowering to her side.


    ¡°You have been blocking the buffet table for long enough. Move along now,¡± she said, a wisdom that only came with age radiated out of her one functioning eye.


    He nodded at her, and after taking a deep breath, proceeded toward the unfamiliar. Once he reached the table, he plopped his tray down, unsure if he possessed the social skills to achieve his newfound goals.


    As the tray hit the table with a bang, the bubble surrounding him popped, allowing cheerful conversations to reach his ears. Shocked at the sounds he was just beginning to hear, he glanced at the long tables full of pack mates. None were looking at him. They minded their own affairs, causing Noah to wonder if the constant glares and stares he had experienced were creations of his own mind.


    He turned his attention to the warrior wolves at his table, and although he found little friendliness, he couldn¡¯t find outright hostility either. ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Rowan. I must say, I¡¯m surprised the warriors at this table would allow me to join them.¡±


    Rowan barked out a deep booming laugh that rattled the cutlery on the table. ¡°Allow you to join the table? I did not realize that we had barred you from sitting with us; that seems to have been your own doing.¡±


    Rowan¡¯s eyes lit up and his voice rose in excitement. ¡°But now that you have killed a master vampire in one-on-one combat, we must celebrate your achievement.¡±


    The wolves sitting around the table leaned their heads back and howled, announcing the glory of his kill to the lodge. All except for Alder, whose narrowed eyes stared intently at the bite mark on Noah¡¯s hand. Eyes widening in realization, Alder pointed a shaking finger at Noah, his face flushing in anger. ¡°How dare you accept her mark, human?¡±


    His bellowing shouts captured the table¡¯s attention, directing their gazes to the bite mark on Noah¡¯s hand. In a blur that he couldn¡¯t dodge, Rowan grabbed his hand, examining the bright red scars with a trace of his finger.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite the mating mark you have, lad. We all assumed that you were hiding it underneath that trench coat of yours.¡± He allowed Noah¡¯s hand to drop to the table and chuckled with a sly look in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve never known a female wolf to wait this long to mark their mate. What courage you must have to play hard-to-get with the Alpha?¡±


    ¡°The ultimate prize requires the ultimate struggle,¡± Noah said, raising his arms in helplessness.


    Thundering laughs rang out along the table with some wolves even wiping tears from their eyes. The hysterical laughs were on the verge of becoming insulting when Alder slammed his fist onto the table, dousing the festive atmosphere.


    ¡°He¡¯s not her true mate!¡± His eyes promised death should Noah ever present him with the opportunity.


    Rowan¡¯s arm blurred toward his son, slapping him on the cheek with such power that the shockwave blew Noah¡¯s bangs from his forehead. Alder¡¯s head snapped to the side, a loud crack ringing throughout the lodge.


    ¡°How dare you question a mating mark in my presence? Has my son truly fallen to such depravity?¡± Rowan asked, gingerly rubbing a spot on his thigh. Devastating pain appeared on his face, his clouded eyes seeing sorrowful memories.


    The heartbreak on Rowan¡¯s face prompted Noah to examine the mark on his hand. With his fingertip, he traced Sylvie¡¯s imprint, a part of her that would remain with him for eternity. Keziah had told him ¡®the mating mark is revered above all¡¯ and judging by the shared disgust at Alder¡¯s words, she was not the only one who felt so.


    Alder growled at his father, rubbing at the redness already forming on his cheek. ¡°Fine! I admit, it was impressive how you killed that master vampire. However¡­¡± Wildness grew in Alder¡¯s eyes as he gazed straight through Noah. ¡°I will never recognize your status as First Mate. Your coupling is the byproduct of an unholy curse. Nothing more.¡±


    Rowan sighed, placing a massive hand on Alder¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Son, I think it¡¯s time you sought happiness elsewhere.¡±


    Alder threw his father¡¯s hand off his shoulder, causing the giant man to flinch at his son¡¯s deranged fury. Flinging his chair across the floor, Alder bolted up from the table, his form flickering as his emotions ran beyond his control. ¡°I will seek happiness from where nature intended.¡±


    Concern etched upon his face, Rowan watched as his son slammed open the swinging door and departed from the lodge.


    A somber silence seized the table. After a few moments, some of the younger wolves nodded to one another before following Alder¡¯s example, storming out of the lodge. Uncomfortable with the solemn atmosphere, Noah took it upon himself to steer the conversation toward more pleasant topics.


    ¡°So, which of you were rooting for the vampire? With the reception I¡¯ve received so far from the pack, I can¡¯t imagine it was only a few of you.¡±


    Rowan spat to the side of the table, freezing when a throat cleared from the kitchen. Noah glanced over his shoulder to see Calla staring down the First Beta and causing the massive wolf to avert his eyes in submission. Bulging muscles and all, the second-in-command wolf bent down to wipe the floor.


    He cleared his throat in embarrassment at Noah¡¯s questioning look. ¡°You have to understand, lad. First Mate is an extremely important position in a wolf pack. It directly contributes to the Alpha¡¯s power, which directly contributes to the power of the pack.¡±


    Noah nodded his head at the logic. No one wanted a weak link at the top of their power structure.


    ¡°The Alpha mating with a human directly weakened the pack¡­or so we thought. You have proved yourself to be a boon instead of a hindrance.¡±


    Rowan¡¯s eyes narrowed and his body shimmered with an impending shift before he could regain control of his emotions. ¡°Don¡¯t for one second think that we would ever cheer for a vampire. They are our oldest enemies, and countless wolves have lost their lives in the eternal war.¡±


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    The rest of the wolves growled, building themselves into a frenzy just at the mention of the vampires. Caught up in their bloodlust, the madness of revenge clawed its way into Noah¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Before my time has ended, the vampires will feel the wrath of humanity. I will make their kind experience the fear and hopelessness they so lovingly bask in.¡±


    The wolves pounded their cups on the table and let out piercing howls, creating a thundering roar that shook the lodge.


    ¡°Rowan, don¡¯t make me come over there! You might be all big and strong now, but you are nowhere near ready to test me, young pup,¡± Calla threatened while waving a ladle in their direction.


    Silence washed over the table as the top warriors of the Baleful Fiend Pack cut off their howls in choking coughs.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d see the day that you would be chastised like this, Rowan. You don¡¯t even cower before Sylvie,¡± Noah said, chuckling at the wolves who refused to raise their downcast eyes from their plates.


    Rowan put a finger over his lips, shushing Noah while glancing nervously in Calla¡¯s direction. He beckoned Noah closer, their noses almost touching before he felt comfortable enough to speak.


    ¡°Calla isn¡¯t some normal elder. She is the former First Mate and the current Guardian!¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s Sylvie¡¯s mother?¡±


    Oh shit. He had called his mate¡¯s mother ugly. To her face! If Sylvie found out, he was a dead man. Rowan shook his head frantically and shushed him once more.


    ¡°No, no. She wasn¡¯t Ajax¡¯s mate. She was the mate of the previous Alpha,¡± he whispered so softly that Noah could barely hear him.


    ¡°Ajax challenged Calla¡¯s mate for the right to rule and ended up killing him. There was a lot of discussion about whether Calla should be exiled, but in the end, the pack pressured Ajax into letting her stay. In those early days of his rule, he had not yet solidified his power and couldn¡¯t ignore the combined pressure of the entire pack.¡±


    ¡°But why would Calla want to stay in the same pack as the wolf who killed her mate?¡± Noah asked.


    ¡°Tough old bird that one. The rumor is that she was fiercer than even her mate, but she preferred to be a guardian of last resort. She loves the pack and will do anything to protect it; even look her mate¡¯s murderer in the eyes day after day.¡±


    Noah glanced at Calla, tipping his hat to her in respect. She scowled at him, her arm whipping in his direction. Trailing through the air in a blur, the bread roll hit him square in the face, snapping his head back. Nose bleeding and eyes tearing, he glared at Calla full of grievance.


    ¡°And what are you looking at, human? Do you wish to challenge me, too?¡±


    He hastily averted his eyes and noticed Rowan staring down at his plate, whistling in mock naivety. If Rowan feared the Guardian Calla, then he would avoid her at all costs.


    After breakfast, he returned to the cabin, unsure if he hoped or dreaded that Sylvie would be there. Not knowing what he was going to say, he threw open the door, only to be met by an empty cabin.


    With a deep sigh of relief, he walked to the wardrobe and gathered supplies for his upcoming groveling. Prepared for the battle ahead, he headed toward the door, his trench coat bulging from the additional weight of his apology gifts. Just before he flung open the door, he froze, a metallic gleam catching his attention. He stared deeply at the object before grabbing it and placing it beneath his arm.


    ***


    Only a few customers browsed the open-air market, inspecting the wares painstakingly displayed on the woolen blankets. With tunnel vision, he ignored the oddities and marvels for sale and headed straight for Isla and Keziah¡¯s stall.


    As he approached their blankets, he noticed they were once again holding hands, and once again, they seemed to be in the middle of an argument. Not sure how wise it was to intrude on the argument between mates, he hesitated until Isla¡¯s head snapped toward him, as if she had caught his scent.


    ¡°Noah, you have arrived at an opportune moment,¡± Isla said, her eyes lighting up as if her savior had finally arrived. ¡°We need an impartial bystander to settle a debate.¡±


    He ignored her arm, beckoning him forward, and wondered if there was a less dangerous task he could be accomplishing. Fighting a vampire, perhaps?


    Keziah scowled at him from beside her mate, and with a shaky grin and stiff limbs, he closed the distance to what well might be his doom. With hesitant steps, he approached the mates, freezing in his tracks when he spied a freshly inked tattoo on Keziah¡¯s neck.


    Keziah¡¯s scowl deepened into a snarl when she noticed him staring at her neck. An island with palm trees dotting the land made up the bulk of the tattoo and little lines representing the waves of the sea crashed into its shore.


    An Island? Isla? His wide eyes turned to Isla, who gazed at her handiwork with a smug smile on her face. He whistled in amazement. Keziah had been soundly defeated by a challenger half her size.


    ¡°I bid good morning to my two favorite traders, whose wares have shaken the world with their innovative and impeccable craftsmanship,¡± he said, tipping his hat to the mates. A shimmer caught his eye, and he sidestepped toward Isla, not knowing how much more Keziah could bear before she shifted.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to thank you, Noah. Your words allowed us to rectify an oversight that we have since corrected,¡± Isla said with a smile, brushing her fingertips across the tattoo on Keziah¡¯s neck.


    Please stop, Isla. This crazy woman was going to get him killed. He dared a glance at Keziah, whose incorporeal image flickered between wolf and human.


    ¡°Did I say something the last time we met? I fear you have mistaken me for someone else,¡± he said, wiping sweat from his brow that should not have existed in the brisk autumn morning.


    ¡°Yes, it is difficult to remember which unfortunate soul pointed out our mistake. I would hate to eviscerate the wrong human, but you can never have complete confidence in things of this nature,¡± Keziah said, the look in her eyes promising such pain and torture that he almost bolted from the marketplace.


    ¡°I guess we may never know who inspired such beautiful art,¡± he said with a nod, regaining his composure and relying on his number one rule when caught in the act. Deny. Deny anything and everything.


    ¡°Regardless, I am not here for pleasantries,¡± he said, solemnness filling his voice. As he stared at the mates¡¯ clasped hands, he wondered if he was making a monumental mistake that he would come to regret.


    Keziah¡¯s anger disappeared and Isla wiped the smug smirk from her face, the tone of his voice forcing them to disregard flippant matters. He studied the pair for a few moments, and with a nod, allowed them to decide their own futures. He met Isla¡¯s eyes, her chest rising and falling rapidly in anticipation of his news.


    ¡°My business today is with Keziah,¡± he said in a firm voice, dropping an obvious hint for Isla.


    Isla¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he could see the anger rising in her, just waiting to explode. Keziah squeezed her hand, her eyes never leaving Noah¡¯s. ¡°Isla, please give Noah and me a few moments alone.¡±


    Isla whirled around to face her mate, whipping her long, black hair through the air. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, Keziah.¡± She returned her glare to Noah, making him squirm beneath her fury. ¡°Keziah is my business. Whatever you need to tell her, you can say in front of us both.¡±


    Noah remained silent, holding Keziah¡¯s gaze, imploring her to understand. Discerning something from his gaze, Keziah nodded.


    ¡°Isla, there are some things that we must face on our own,¡± she said, flashing a loving smile toward Isla and placing a gentle palm on her cheek. ¡°Please trust me, my love.¡±


    Tears formed in Isla¡¯s eyes, but she nodded to Keziah with a shaky smile. ¡°I trust you with everything,¡± Isla said, unclasping their hands in a grimace, as if the separation caused her physical pain.


    Her gaze snapped toward Noah, all signs of a smile erased from her face. ¡°It¡¯s him I don¡¯t trust. His honeyed words could convince a Fachan to wear a dress.¡±


    Noah¡¯s hand flew to his chest. ¡°That is insulting, madam. How would the Fachan see if we covered its eye with a dress? Not even I would purposefully blind someone.¡±


    Isla scoffed, his words not reassuring her one bit; in fact, they seemed to have confirmed her fears.


    ¡°Fine, I will give you two privacy,¡± she stormed off, cursing under her breath. She paused just as she passed Noah. ¡°Have you discovered the value you promised to search for?¡± she asked with a knowing smile.


    ¡°I am about to,¡± he replied.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, shaking her head. Reaching into a bag strapped to her belt, she pulled out a jar¡ªa jar glowing fluorescent blue.


    ¡°You already have, but you remain too blind to see it. Always taking things for granted, it¡¯s amazing how much we overlook. After all, why should we question the things that benefits us?¡±


    His hand flew to the scar on his chest, rubbing the healed wound which had begun to ache at the appearance of the poultice that had defeated it.


    Dissecting his reaction, Isla nodded. ¡°The infamous human would have met his end if the glowing medicine of the Fae had not enraptured me. The simple and fleeting desire to create glowing tattoos saved your life, Noah.¡±


    How many coincidences had needed to occur for him to survive that night? It seemed every part of his past affected his future, whether or not he could see the threads entwining them.


    ¡°Thank you for saving my life, Isla,¡± he said, removing his hat and performing a deep bow.


    ¡°Thank the marvelous furniture I stole from Keziah. She wouldn¡¯t talk to me for a week after I traded her creations to the Fae for a few jars of useless medicine,¡± Isla said, backing away with a smug smile. A short salute later, and she was gone.


    He rubbed his chest with a smile until a cough snapped him back to the present. Dropping the smile from his face, he inspected the purpose of his visit. Keziah stood with her arms crossed and her foot tapping impatiently. A few inches taller than Noah, she stared down at him, impressive muscles flexing in her arms.


    ¡°Tell me, Keziah, what would you risk in order to achieve your dream?¡± He studied her, searching for any indecision on her face. If he found any, he would leave the market without a word, never divulging the purpose of his visit.


    The yearning in her eyes reflected a lifetime of failure; always chasing, but never obtaining. ¡°Everything!¡±


    Smiling, he nodded his head at her determination. ¡°The only dreams worth having are those we would risk everything for.¡±


    He reached inside his trench coat, pulling out a few loose papers bound together with twine.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have the skill to build these, but I believe you do, Keziah,¡± he said, handing the drawings over to Keziah, whose eyes poured over the paper. Once she realized what she was reading, she gasped, eyes snapping up to Noah.


    When he saw the excitement in her gaze, he pulled out the iron pot from beneath his arm. A pot he had once filled with poison, betraying those who trusted him most. He rapped his knuckles against it, causing a metallic gong to ring out.


    ¡°This will get you started,¡± he said, presenting the pot to Keziah, who received it with great care, eyes darting from the drawings to the pot in rapid motions.


    Without another word, he turned around, strolling away from the mates¡¯ stall.


    ¡°I will not fail, Noah!¡± Keziah yelled from behind him. He didn¡¯t turn but waved his cane in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Oh, and Keziah¡­,¡± he called out over his shoulder, pausing his steps. She pulled her nose out of the papers, giving him her full attention.


    ¡°I love your tattoo!¡±


    He took off in a sprint as a roar rang across the marketplace, and the ground shook from a massive weight hitting the ground.

 Chapter 23

    Noah¡¯s hand, slick with sweat, slipped off of the smooth wooden rung of the ladder, leaving him dangling hundreds of feet above the forest floor. Encumbered by the extra weight of his trench coat, the swaying ladder swung him violently in a twisting mash of rope and limbs. As the momentum of his swing slowed, he opened his clenched eyes, staring at his beloved cane on the forest floor that had become the size of a match.


    Vertigo washed over him, the dizziness threatening to steal his one-handed grip. In a desperate lunge, he grabbed the wooden rung of the ladder, once again securing himself to the tree. Gasping and dripping with sweat, he laid his forehead against the massive tree, wondering if he was receiving divine punishment for his betrayals.


    He glanced up at the destination of his death-defying climb; a small home nestled within the limbs of the trees. He had expected to risk his emotions while visiting the siblings, not his life. Gravity waited with bated breath for his inevitable mistake, anticipating his fall that would end with an explosion of flesh and bones.


    Rung by rung, he climbed the roped ladder until he reached the next platform. No railings protected his fall, as they would prevent the wolves from jumping between the platforms. He sat down on the scaffold, kicking his legs in a childlike manner over the edge. Fog clouded around his face as his gasping breaths reacted with the chill of the autumn air.


    ¡°Are they a pack of wolves or a flock of birds?¡± he grumbled, pounding a fist on the wooden platform, which creaked and groaned at the impact. His stomach fell, perhaps serving as a precursor to the end of his climb, and he gripped the edges of the platform with white knuckles. Cursing under his breath, he rose to his feet, determined to finish his climb toward forgiveness.


    His hand slapped onto the final platform, which served as a front porch for the siblings¡¯ home, his nails digging into the wood for extra purchase. Finally reaching his destination, he pulled himself up with a triumphant shout at his victory. He lay spread eagle on the wooden summit, gasping for breath and shaking his aching arms. Black spots darkened his vision, but upon closing his eyes, they transformed into a shower of lightning bolts, scattering across his eyes in violent patterns.


    After recovering his stamina, regaining his composure, and reclaiming his dignity, he approached the wooden door that served as the entrance to the sibling¡¯s home. He took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and rapped his knuckles against the solid wood. His ears picked up scampering shuffles inside the home, but none approached the door where he awaited entry. Abandoning his knuckles, he pounded at the door with his fist, determined to become such a bother that they would have no choice but to acknowledge his presence.


    This time he heard muttering, but the muffled voices never became clear enough for his ears to decipher them. Just as he was about to resume his pounding on the door, it swung open in a blur, slamming into the side of the trunk. A tiny fist shot out of the doorway at shocking speed, smashing into his unprotected stomach with stunning force. He fell to his knees, gagging at the incredible power behind the tiny fist. Stomach churning, he swallowed the excess saliva in his mouth, attempting to keep his breakfast where it belonged.


    ¡°Go away, Mr. Human. You tricked Luna.¡± The door slammed shut, causing a startled bird in the limbs above the home to screech at him in annoyance.


    ¡°Come on, Luna. I¡¯m sorry. Please open the door so that we can talk this out,¡± he choked out between gags. With his eyes closed in concentration, his hat was nearly blown off his head as the door flung open once more.


    ¡°Friends don¡¯t trick each other.¡± He glanced up at the sound of her voice, but the door had once again been slammed shut before he could lay eyes on her.


    ¡°I brought apology gifts,¡± he yelled out, digging around in his trench coat pocket. Bribes were never beneath him, and he felt no qualms in buying the forgiveness of a child.


    A pair of big green eyes appeared in the doorway, accompanied by pale blonde pigtails, the color of snow bathed in the subtle glow of candlelight. ¡°Gifts?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I brought gifts to apologize for tricking you. Can I please come inside?¡± he asked from his knees, the perfect height to plead with her at eye level.


    The door creaked open until Luna fully appeared, warily eyeing him up and down. After taking a dramatic step away from the doorway, she beckoned him inside. Before she could change her mind, he scrambled to his feet, diving into the home before the door could slam shut once more. At the end of his roll across the floor, he popped up like an acrobat but received no applause for his daring feats of athleticism.


    His thirsty eyes drank up the contents of the cabin, inspecting every inch of the home. Just like every pack member¡¯s home, the treehouse had simple furnishings, with only the necessities filling the cabin. For obvious reasons, no hearth stood ready to protect the children from the biting cold of winter.


    Nestled in the back-right corner of the home, Silas lay on a child-sized bed that was nowhere near long enough to contain his impressive height. His feet dangled off the end of the mattress, practically touching the head of another bed closer to the door. Tangled blankets covered this bed, and upon seeing bundles of twigs crafted in the shape of a doll, he knew it was where Luna slept. The dolls were adorned with hair of hay and grasses, and small slips of colorful fabric fit snugly around them, creating the best-dressed dolls in all the land.


    His heart clenched as he gazed at the large bed in the center of the room. Impeccably folded blankets covered the bed, but a thick coating of dust covered the untouched mattress. Tears formed in his eyes when he returned his gaze to Silas, who had outgrown his bed many years ago but still refused to disturb the remnants of his parent¡¯s resting place.


    ¡°What did you bring me?¡± Luna asked, returning his melancholic thoughts to the present. Despite having her arms crossed and her lip jutted out, the tapping of her foot and the darting of her wide eyes betrayed Luna¡¯s excitement at her gift.


    In between sessions of cane balancing, he had not been idle, preparing for this moment with meticulous planning. From his trench coat pocket, he pulled out a leather-bound book with a drawing of a cowboy hat adorning the cover. Holding the sacred text high above his head with outstretched arms, he hummed an awe-inspiring tune. Sunlight streaming in through the open door illuminated the book in a holy glow. Luna gasped, her hand flying to her forehead to shield her eyes from its divine splendor.


    ¡°Can you read, Luna?¡± he asked, lowering the book out of the sunlight and allowing her mortal eyes to see it once more.


    Drool dripped from the corner of her mouth as she jumped up and down so high that her head nearly hit the ceiling. ¡°Yes, I can read real good. Silas taught me!¡±


    Watching the young girl jump above his head, he presented the book to her, fearing what might happen to her skin if she grabbed the book with her earthly fingers. She snarled in mid-air, furious that gravity was taking so long to return her to the ground. The moment her feet touched the ground, she raced to Noah with her eyes glued to the book. Her tiny hand reached out to accept the book but pulled back at the last minute. She looked up at him, her wide green eyes asking if she was worthy of accepting such a gift.


    ¡°I have traveled across the stars, accumulating knowledge that would leave the gods breathless. Demon lords tremble in my presence and nature herself bends to my will. I have discovered and conquered all this world has to offer, Luna,¡± he whispered, almost breaking character when he saw how fast she was breathing. Okay, maybe he was laying it on a little thick. He wanted to impress her, not make her hyperventilate.


    ¡°Despite conversing with the divine and rubbing shoulders with legends, a hollowness that I could not fill persisted inside of me. What use is all of this power and knowledge if I have no one to pass it on to?¡± he choked out, covering his eyes with his free hand.


    Wiping imaginary snot and tears from his face, he thrust the book into Luna¡¯s arms. ¡°I need an apprentice to carry on my legacy, Luna, and I have chosen you as my worthy successor.¡±


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    In a stupor, Luna cradled the book like it was sentient, rocking it back and forth while he hummed the awe-inspiring tune out of the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°This book contains all of my knowledge of herbs: their locations, gathering methods, and applications. I even drew detailed pictures so that you can identify them with confidence.¡±


    ¡°Herbs? What can they be used for, Mr. Human?¡± Luna asked as she slowly returned to the land of the living.


    ¡°Herbs possess the ability to cure your loved ones from certain death, but they can also serve as a weapon to defeat insurmountable enemies.¡±


    He placed a loving hand on her shoulder, transferring his vast knowledge of alchemy to his new apprentice. ¡°Luna, I have left blank pages toward the end of the book. Your quest will be to seek your own adventures, and one day, bestow this inheritance to an apprentice that you find worthy.¡±


    She held the book to her chest, kneeling on one leg with tears dripping onto the wooden floor with loud plops. ¡°Yes, Master. I will not shame your name, and one day, after I have added my knowledge to the sacred text, I will pass on your legacy to the future generations.¡±


    Whoa! He didn¡¯t think she would take her duties so seriously. As Luna regained her feet and he saw the tears and snot covering her face, he rubbed his chin, pondering if there was something wrong with this. It felt wrong, but he couldn¡¯t place his finger on what was so bad about it.


    Luna wiped her nose, accomplishing nothing more than smearing the mucus across her face, and rushed toward him, wrapping him in a tight hug with her little arms. She sobbed into his stomach while he patted her back gently. An unfamiliar warmth filled him as he thought back to Sylvie¡¯s words. Family.


    He knelt in front of Luna and patted her head. ¡°Luna, why don¡¯t you begin your training immediately? The forest awaits its newest student.¡±


    Her lip wobbled and she used her shirt to wipe her eyes. ¡°Yes, Master! I will see your quest completed.¡± And with that, she placed the book in the waistband of her trousers and shifted into her wolf form, blowing past him out the door.


    ¡°Luna, be careful!¡± he shouted as he rushed onto the porch. His fearful shouts caught in his throat when he saw her small wolf darting down the platforms in a blur.


    ¡°Stupid supernatural races,¡± he muttered, as he reentered the home, his gaze focusing on the surly teenager.


    ¡°Silas, please look at me. I want to talk to you,¡± he said, sighing when Silas continued his glare at the wall.


    ¡°Silas, I want to tell you why I betrayed your trust the night I tried to escape.¡±


    Distant memories of the past flashed through his mind as he sat on the edge of the bed. He shook his head, clearing the fog in his mind. ¡°I was imprisoned for half of my life, Silas. I escaped my captivity as a young lad, but invisible wounds continue to haunt my mind.¡±


    Silas turned over on his side, gazing at Noah with unsurprised eyes. Was he so transparent that a teenager had seen through all of his defenses?


    ¡°When your pack labeled me as a prisoner, I could not stomach the thought,¡± Noah said, his gaze lowering to the bright red mating mark on his hand. ¡°I know it doesn¡¯t make up for my betrayal, but I wanted you to understand why I did it.¡±


    ¡°Does the Alpha know of your past?¡± Silas asked, his eyes studying the fresh scar on Noah¡¯s hand.


    Noah frowned, nausea threatening to make him sick at just the thought. ¡°No! She wouldn¡¯t understand what it means to feel weak and helpless.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Silas asked. ¡°We may have a human form, but we are not humans, Noah. We are born with violence and dominance flowing through our veins. The Alpha will not understand her errors if you do not tell her.¡±


    ¡°And if Sylvie refuses to listen to my concerns? What if she is ashamed of my past¡­ ashamed of her mate?¡± Noah asked in a whisper, wringing his hands in worry.


    ¡°She is your mate, Noah. If you can¡¯t be honest with your mate, you are cursed to walk alone in this lifetime.¡±


    Noah¡¯s hands stilled at his words. Clever words were his greatest defense, an impenetrable shield, guarding his heart from the pain of the world. But how many of these wily words carried any truth or vulnerability? So many wasted breaths, serving no purpose other than to ensure his isolation and loneliness.


    ¡°When did you become such a wizened wolf, Silas?¡± he asked, sighing in regret at squandered time.


    ¡°Wisdom was forced upon me when a vampire killed my parents five years ago; whether I wanted it or not,¡± he whispered, eyes lowering to the floor.


    ¡°In one night, we became orphans, all but forgotten to the world. I was twelve, but Luna was only five.¡±


    Silas pulled his long legs to his chest, hugging his knees and rocking back and forth. ¡°I had to become both a mother and a father to Luna. She needed protection, she needed food, and she needed love. I had no other choice but to serve those needs.¡±


    He snapped his head up, staring at Noah with a frightening gaze. ¡°Luna is all I have left in this world. I will not lose her like I lost my parents.¡±


    Replacing his intense gaze, tears filled his eyes, and he couldn¡¯t stop them from dribbling down his cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m not mad that you tricked us, Noah. I can¡¯t forgive myself for letting that vampire best me so easily. I could not counter its strength. I could not follow its speed. He could have killed Luna as I watched impotently from the side.¡±


    He laid his forehead on Noah¡¯s shoulder, heaving sobs shaking his body. ¡°I can¡¯t lose her, Noah.¡±


    With his own tears flowing down his face, Noah wrapped Silas in a fierce hug and patted the boy¡¯s back. Silas gripped his shirt, twisting the fabric in clenched fists.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lose her, Noah. I will become a guardian that can protect her from any creature lurking in the shadows. I will do what I must, no matter what path I must travel,¡± he whispered into Noah¡¯s shirt.


    As Silas pulled away from Noah¡¯s love and support, hints of madness peppered his red-rimmed eyes. Fear so great that it threatened to steal his breath coursed through Noah. He grabbed Silas¡¯ shoulders in a painful grip, shaking the boy until his clouded eyes returned to focus.


    ¡°Silas, I want you to listen to my words and listen closely. More atrocities have been committed in the name of fear than hatred. Do not let it consume you, Silas, or fear will twist you into a monster that you will not recognize.¡±


    ¡°I will not lose her, Noah!¡± Silas yelled, throwing Noah¡¯s arms off of his shoulders.


    ¡°You will not lose her, Silas,¡± Noah said, slowly lowering his arms to his lap. ¡°You are not the only guardian she has now. Please, share this burden with me.¡±


    The wildness in his eyes slowly receded until the clumsy teenager he loved reemerged from the depths of the shadows. ¡°I¡­I will trust you, Noah. Please help me.¡±


    ¡°I will give my life to protect her, Silas. You have my word,¡± he said, ruffling the boy¡¯s hair and earning him a glare.


    A weight in his trench coat pocket reminded him of the gift he had prepared for Silas. Suddenly unsure if it was wise to give it to the teenager, he hesitated while the weight burdened his conscious. How could he save Silas from himself? Which actions would cure him and which actions would lead him to his death? There was no way of knowing; such was a parent¡¯s burden.


    Hoping that he wasn¡¯t making a mistake, he reached into his trench coat and pulled out another handwritten book. Silas focused on the book immediately, anticipation causing him to bolt off the bed.


    Staring at the book with a deep gaze, Noah held it just out of Silas¡¯ reach, not gifting it to the teenager just yet. Would power cure Silas of his fear, or would it create a lust that could never be quenched? The world lost sound and color, shrinking until only the two of them remained. As he placed the book in Silas¡¯ eager hands, a pop rang out, and sound and color burst back into the world.


    ¡°Silas, this book contains the secrets to humanity¡¯s continued survival. The wolves might not use weapons to fight, but there are defenses we can implement to protect the forest. Defense and protection, Silas,¡± he said, emphasizing the words.


    ¡°My task for you is simple. Fortify the forest to the point that any enemy invader will flee in terror from our lands.¡±


    Silas began flipping through the pages, his eyes pouring over countless creations that could protect his sister. With his nose buried in the book, he headed out of the cabin without a word. Noah followed him with worried eyes until Silas stopped just as he reached the first ladder.


    ¡°Thank you for this gift, Noah. I understand your hesitation in giving this to me, but your trust means everything to me,¡± he said, not turning around to face Noah, but trembling shoulders and stuttering words destroyed the warrior image he was trying to project.


    Noah¡¯s worries eased as he watched Silas sliding down the ladders with only the strength of one arm. A smile spread across his face as he realized he had completed his purpose in coming here today.


    His smile froze on his face and he scrambled to the ladder, calling down to Silas in a terrified voice, ¡°Ask permission from Sylvie or Rowan before building anything, Silas!¡±


    Silas reached the ground, a tiny speck on the forest floor, and gave a halfhearted wave, not even looking up from his book.


    ¡°Uh oh, I might get in trouble for this one.¡± He wrung his hands nervously, picturing Sylvie falling victim to a trap.


    ¡°Bah, the kids have forgiven me, and that¡¯s the only thing that matters.¡±


    He released a contented sigh as he gazed toward the sky, never in his life having stood so close to the heavens. A crack, similar to that of a tree being felled, sounded out from the forest below. He scrambled to the ladder, climbing down the rungs as fast as he dared.


    ¡°Silas! I¡¯m serious, Silas. You must tell the warrior wolves what traps you build and where! Silas!¡± he yelled down to the forest below, receiving no response to his desperate pleas.

 Chapter 24

    The banshee Eaganath, commander of the Unseelie Prince¡¯s scouting force, knelt before her master, awaiting his orders with overwhelming anticipation. The messenger crow that had delivered her master¡¯s commands sat on her shoulder, pecking into her white skin until a stream of blood flowed down her warped limbs. She shivered in pleasure at the memory of the crow¡¯s arrival. A blob of shadow had clung to its back, and upon crushing the shadow with her fist, her master¡¯s distorted words filled the air of the encampment. Her master had ordered her home, and he had even addressed her by name!


    As if fleeing from a powerful enemy, she gambled her life, pushing her body beyond its limits: never resting, never sleeping, and never feeding. In her malnourished state, her elongated limbs protruded in contorted angles, but she had returned to the territory within the month. She had abandoned the scouting force to the Wilds, leaving them to fend for themselves until a leader emerged once more.


    Confident that she had adequately accomplished her master¡¯s orders, she did not wail in comfort or shake in fear at the Prince¡¯s presence. With the help of her master¡¯s partner, she scouted every square inch of the pack¡¯s border, ensuring that every gap in their defenses was ready to be exploited by the Unseelie army. Now, she would remain on standby, patiently awaiting her master to signal the attack.


    The Prince stood in front of a wall of shimmering air with his wings of pure shadow folded onto his back. Twinkling fog seeped out of the incorporeal wall at a slow but constant pace, infusing the air with its foreign power. Sparkling wisps of smoke allowed their survival in this strange world, imbuing the air with a palatable atmosphere of magic. Should the portal ever deny them these scraps, the Fae would go extinct within a matter of weeks.


    The Prince basked in the magic of their homeland, breathing in the sparkling fog with intoxicating pleasure. He gazed at the portal with such hopeless longing that she wept rivers of blood down her white cheeks, sharing in his despair. For months or even years at a time, the Prince would gaze upon the shimmering portal; his mind completely consumed by the gate that refused him entry to his homeland.


    On one infamous day, the portals that the Fae had used for thousands of years closed their gates, denying its na?ve travelers the joys of their world forever. The provocative portal seduced countless Fae with promises of a never-ending supply of prey. Human souls sang their siren¡¯s call, enticing the Fae to travel between dimensions. Back and forth, to and from, the Fae traveled for a millennium, never once considering that their guaranteed homecoming would transform into a longing obsession, dangling just out of their reach.


    ¡°The portal refuses to name its price for our passage, preferring to revel in our misery. If it means our race¡¯s survival, we must be willing to sacrifice anything¡­even the lives of myself and the King,¡± the Prince said, raising his hand to caress the portal.


    His sleek muscles flexed as he pushed with his monstrous strength, and yet, his arm remained frozen, not moving a centimeter forward. A single centimeter tormented the Unseelie, but no matter what earthshaking strength or apocalyptic magic they threw at it, they could not cross the invisible barrier.


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Eaganath said, gazing upon the thin barrier that forever made her an invasive species. Lost in his daydreams, her words failed to penetrate her master¡¯s dazed thoughts.


    ¡°Our ways are too alien for this world. What we considered as the natural order of things in our homeland, the denizens of this world deem evil.¡±


    The prince scratched at the shimmering air with his onyx claws, creating a shower of sparks that illuminated his face in the shadows. ¡°The day is fast approaching when the alliance we so eagerly joined centuries ago will turn their sights on our eradication. Not even the Vampires will suffer our existence much longer.¡±


    Muscles straining with effort, the Prince struggled to turn his back on the portal until he finally faced Eaganath, showering her with his magnificent gaze. ¡°What would they ask of us? Everything we do is for survival.¡±


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    Shadows swirled around him, obscuring his features and leaving two purple globes floating in the darkness. ¡°Should the Red Caps become pacifists, refusing battle and ensuring the extinction of their species? Should the Banshees and Sluagh not hunt, starving themselves until they waste away in agony? Should the Hags abandon their spells, forever fated to suffer the withdrawals of the magic running through their veins?¡±


    The shadows began to spin, whirling into a tornado of darkness. ¡°Why must they label our survival as villainy? The Vampires prey on the weak, gorging themselves on intoxicating blood. Shifters are like carnivorous locusts, ripping apart any animals unfortunate enough to exist in their forests. Humans are responsible for countless atrocities that cause even me to shiver in fear.¡±


    The tornado of shadows froze in mid-air before pooling to the ground at his feet, revealing the Prince¡¯s face once more. ¡°And yet, we are considered the anomaly in this alien world. Shunned by our neighbors, hated by our allies, and feared by all.¡±


    ¡°Is it so wrong to seek happiness and prosperity for our offspring?¡± the Prince asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.


    Surprise showed on his face as his glowing purple eyes focused on Eaganath for the first time. Those hypnotizing eyes represented the best chance she had to provide her daughters with a suitable home. A home whose very air would not poison their lungs, whose grasses would not cause painful rashes to break out upon their skin, and whose residents did not hate them for the sole reason of existing. Those eyes represented all of her hopes in this lifetime, and she would do anything they asked of her.


    ¡°You have exceeded your predecessor, Eaganath. I am most pleased with the intelligence you have brought back to me,¡± the Prince said, lingering confusion still lacing his voice.


    Pleasure coursed through Eaganath, so potent that she couldn¡¯t control her shiver. He only praised her if she brought them closer to opening the portal; her entire life was devoted to such occurrences. ¡°Thank you, Master! I, your humble servant, exist only to serve.¡±


    The Prince ignored her groveling, likely too concerned with more important matters. ¡°I have received word from my partner within the pack. The young alpha, so close to ruin a short few months ago, has begun to solidify her power. An ignorant human has thwarted my partner¡¯s meticulous efforts to create rampant turmoil in the pack.¡±


    Eaganath kept her head bowed, clenching her pointed teeth at the thought of an insignificant human stealing her daughters¡¯ futures. Her role was not to offer advice or counsel, so she smothered her fury into silence.


    ¡°Then there is the matter of the slain vampire. My partner is concerned that a coven will attack the pack in retribution. Before the vampires attack, my partner must have time to fill the vacuum of power that the current alpha¡¯s death will leave.¡±


    Vampire? The pack must have committed such a foolish mistake after she left the scouting forces. What would possess them to challenge the might of a coven?


    ¡°I wonder if they will celebrate when we justify their prejudices. Will their beaming smiles shine through their ash and blood-covered faces? Will the fruition of their self-fulfilling prophecy shower them in joy as they wallow in suffering and death?¡±


    The Prince¡¯s billowing wings unfurled, causing Eaganath to gasp at their beauty. ¡°We cannot tarry any longer. It is time for that serene forest to face the full might of my army.¡±


    Eaganath shook with excitement. After decades of patiently waiting in the shadows, the time for action had finally arrived. ¡°Will you personally lead the army, Master?¡±


    The Prince graced her with a divine smile, fangs gleaming in the amethyst glow of his eyes. ¡°I think it¡¯s time I spread my wings once more. Eaganath, you have forty-five days to lead the army to the attack site. Do not fail me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡± she said, bowing until her forehead slammed into the rotted ground.


    ¡°After all¡­¡± the Prince said with a smug smile spreading across his celestial face. ¡°¡­my partner grows tired of my continued absence. If I don¡¯t play my role in this performance, they may take offense.¡±


    Whirling shadows covered the Prince and Eaganath, distorting reality and depositing them at the base of his throne. Eaganath retched on the ground, her stomach churning from the disorienting travel.


    The Prince turned to gaze at the thousands of creatures lying in wait behind his throne. ¡°Soldiers! We march to the annihilation of those who deny our right to exist! Show them what horrors the Unseelie are capable of when threatened with extinction!¡±


    The cacophony of weapons slamming into the ground shook the earth, throwing Eaganath to her knees. Clicks, hisses, and roars rang out from every direction, reaching a volume that forced even Eaganath to cover her ears in pain. The Prince smiled at his army¡­his power. He had hidden too long beside his portal. The time had come for the world to remember his name.

 Chapter 25

    Noah shuffled his way across the spongy mosses and soft grasses that lined the path to his cabin. A slight limp hindered his left leg, and mud and scuff marks stained his ruffled shirt. Four hours! Four hours he had searched for his newest ¡®apprentices¡¯, following clues and markings left behind by their passage.


    He had only been a master for one day, and already his apprentices had surpassed him. He had gotten close to Luna, but she had slipped away with relative ease, leaving him to return home in defeat. At this point, he had done his best to rectify the situation, and all he could do now was deal with consequences as they cropped up.


    For once, he didn¡¯t twirl his cane as he approached the cabin. Instead, he leaned heavily on it, lessening the pressure on his pulled muscle. Damn, these wolves and their ladders. The younger generation had already turned him into a spiteful old man, and like so many before him, he resented them for it. As his hand landed on the door handle, he took a deep breath, leaning his forehead against the rough wood. Not knowing what he was going to say, he took a moment to compose himself before creaking the door open an inch at a time.


    A fire burned in the hearth, its flickering flames illuminating the cabin and causing his nose to twitch as he inhaled the acrid smoke. Sylvie sat at the upstart table, arms crossed with the fluttering light of the fire dancing across her face. A frown marred her face, and her eyes squinted in disapproval. Or was that disappointment? He could never tell the difference.


    ¡°Are you done sulking yet? I think I¡¯ve humored your bad mood for long enough,¡± Sylvie said, uncrossing her arms and standing up from the table.


    Her dismissive attitude toward his feelings infuriated him, and he lashed out with his weapon of choice¡ªsarcasm. ¡°Well, well, it¡¯s nice to see you too, my mate. I didn¡¯t realize my bad mood had inconvenienced you so much. Can you ever forgive me?¡±


    Her eyes somehow narrowed even further, and a low growl rumbled out of her throat. ¡°Is my mark really that shameful for you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he answered without hesitation.


    Sylvie gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. His heart clenched as raw pain flashed across her face. Tears filled her eyes, but she didn¡¯t try to hide her weakness from him. From her perspective, she had given him the greatest gift she was capable of, and his anger and shame toward her mark was the ultimate rejection. Silas¡¯ words flashed through his mind. Tell her or she will not understand.


    But what if he told her, and she still did not understand? Fears and insecurities ran rampant through his mind as he sat on the bed patting the spot next to him. ¡°Sylvie, come sit by me.¡±


    She bristled at his command, her alpha instincts demanding that she dominate him, but with visible effort, she gave in and sat beside him. They were from two different worlds, two different cultures, and lived by different moral codes. If they didn¡¯t communicate, how could they bridge this gap of unnecessary misunderstandings and complicit ignorance? If he refused to risk his heart, their mating would inevitably fail.


    ¡°It is not your mark that I am ashamed of, Sylvie. It¡¯s any mark,¡± he whispered, locking his fingers around hers and stroking her hand with his thumb.


    It wasn¡¯t until he saw the overwhelming relief on her face that he understood how revered a mating mark was to shifters. That one mark symbolized everything they could share with their mate, and a rejection of that mark was a complete rejection of who they were.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Noah,¡± Sylvie said, much calmer now that she knew he wasn¡¯t rejecting her as a mate.


    ¡°Words fly from my mouth like moths to a fae globe, but if you stopped and thought for a moment, you would realize that you know nothing about me, Sylvie.¡± He tried to remove his sweaty hand from hers, but she tightened her grip, refusing to let him pull away.


    ¡°My shameful past has denied my relationships any truth or sincerity,¡± he whispered, self-hatred forcing his eyes to the ground.


    ¡°Noah, please tell me. I¡­I don¡¯t wish to hurt you anymore because of my ignorance,¡± she said, encouraging him to take this first step forward.


    He squeezed her hand even tighter, attempting to draw strength from his powerful mate, but the words died in his throat. A foreign power rebelled at his attempts to heal his psyche, stealing the air from his lungs and inducing a paralyzing fear within him. As he remained silent, consumed by such an undeniable entity, his hands began to shake and sweat pooled on his back. Gentle fingers gripped his chin, raising his eyes from the floor where they belonged until they met glowing silver.


    ¡°I am your mate, Noah. Nature deemed us flawed as individuals, but together, we are perfection. Voice your worries so that I can soothe them. Share your burdens so that I can help you carry their weight. Place your trust in me so that you may never face despair without my strength,¡± she whispered, imploring him to lower his walls.


    Staring into her eyes, he searched for any signs that she doubted her words, nodding when he found nothing but complete confidence. ¡°As you know, I was a coachman for the Greenwood Settlement, but I didn¡¯t live there until I was twelve years old.¡±


    Her head tilted in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Were you born in a different territory? Why would your parents travel through the Wilds with a child?¡±


    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t from another human territory,¡± he said with a rueful smile.


    He had told no one of his past, burying his shame deep inside where it could never tarnish the world. Now that the time had come for him to release his stranglehold on this burden, he balked. The world denied vampire slaves their humanity, writing them off as soulless livestock. For any slaves that emerged into the wider world, discrimination was rampant and execution was not uncommon. After all, why would any settlement allow a possible Thrall into their midst? He couldn¡¯t bear to see such distrust on his mate¡¯s face.


    ¡°Noah,¡± Sylvie whispered. ¡°Please tell me.¡±


    ¡°Noah? Who is this Noah you speak of?¡± he yelled, bolting off the bed and ripping his hand from hers. He walked to the fire, eyes fogging as he watched the flickering flames dance in glee at his cowardice.


    ¡°Do you refer to the child whose name I stole? Noah¡ªthe first human name I ever heard. His father called his name with such love that I decided to adopt it as my own. What a foolish mistake I made back then. All these years later, and still, I have heard no one call me as reverently as that father called his son. An impossible yearning, born from theft, has cursed me to lust after blessings that I am unworthy to receive. That day, a new Noah was born from the ashes, but I¡¯m still not sure who he is.¡±


    He removed his beloved cowboy hat, crushing it into the soot that had escaped the hearth. ¡°Is he a caravanner or a swashbuckling rogue? Is he a charmer or a schemer? Is he loyal or does he lack a conscience? Maybe he is the bravest man in the world, or perhaps he is a man who seeks absolution, begging death to capture him so that he can atone for his sins. Tell me who crawled out from that pile of ashes because I do not know!¡±


    He stared into the fire; the wood hissed its mocking cackles as his humiliating words reverberated through the cabin. ¡°Or maybe¡­I never found my freedom and remain a vampire¡¯s slave.¡±


    A gasp of disgust sounded out from behind him, and he closed his eyes, refusing to see it upon her face. With his eyes closed, he backpedaled toward the bed until the back of his knees hit the mattress. He removed his beloved trench coat, throwing it at the wall where it fell to the floor in a tangled ball. Its high collar no longer covered his past, leaving his neck bared to Sylvie¡¯s gaze. Dense tattoos ran in intricate lines from the back of his neck down to his shoulders, serving as his last lines of defense.


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    ¡°Close your eyes, Sylvie. You will see more if your eyes don¡¯t deceive you,¡± he whispered, grabbing her fingers and leading them to the back of his neck.


    Refusing to see the disappointment on her face, he trusted she had closed her eyes and placed her trembling fingers on his skin. She gasped as her fingers felt the raised scars of his brand, always concealed by clever lines of ink. She jerked away, but he recaptured her hand, placing her index finger on the left side of his neck.


    ¡°Run your fingertips from left to right and tell me what you feel,¡± he whispered, shivering as another person touched his brand for the first time in his life.


    ¡°It¡¯s some kind of lettering, but I can¡¯t decipher the words,¡± she said between quivering breaths.


    ¡°Tell me what it says, Sylvie,¡± he insisted, keeping her finger on his skin.


    ¡°It reads Master¡­something¡­and then numbers. It ends with a two, but I can¡¯t read the rest,¡± she whispered, her warm breath tickling the back of his neck. He released her hand, but she returned her finger to the beginning, tracing the characters of his brand once more.


    ¡°Master Augustus 2320 AB Negative 2. My torturers assigned me that name at birth, but my friends called me Negative 2.¡± He stood up from the bed and walked to the window, gazing at the hint of moonlight that filtered through the towering trees.


    ¡°I was born in a place where entire family lines are enslaved. The moonlight will never motivate them to reach for more. The stars will never inspire them to attempt the impossible. In their entire lives, they will never hear the whispers of dreams or feel the caresses of hope.¡±


    Straining his eyes, he searched the night sky but found no stars to greet him with their twinkling beauty. ¡°Less than one percent of humans have a blood type of ab negative. In the caverns, I was one of the three to be cursed with such luck. Unable to resist the sweetness of our blood, the vampires drained Negative 1 dry, mutilating his neck and discarding his body like trash. Negative 3 was too young to feed on, so I became the sole provider of such a rare vintage.¡±


    His fingers ran along the side of his neck, feeling the dense scar tissue left behind by the countless feedings. ¡°125 became an older brother to me, protecting and caring for me at substantial risk to his own safety. One day, he overheard a trader speaking of a settlement where humans controlled their own fate. We became obsessed with the tale and started to plan our escape that night.¡±


    He heard Sylvie rise from the bed and walk toward him with hesitant steps. Even if she threw him out of the cabin, he had to finish his story. Now that he had broken the seal, he couldn¡¯t stop the words from flowing out. ¡°The normalcy of slavery was shattered, and we couldn¡¯t regain our blissful ignorance. No one would believe our wild tales of freedom, leaving us isolated and mocked for trying to be their saviors.¡±


    ¡°On the night of our escape, I walked past countless humans, ensuring their deaths. Negative 3 shined just as brightly as Luna, and yet, I left her sleeping in her cell confined to a life of pain, misery, and death!¡± he yelled in rage, slamming his fist through the glass of the window.


    Blood dripped from his hand and he brought it to his mouth, tasting the rare blood that had ruined his life. So much pain and suffering, all for a repulsive metallic tang. His hand fell to his side, droplets of blood plopping onto his balled-up trench coat. ¡°During our escape, the Coven Master intercepted us, forcing 125 to sacrifice his life for my freedom. Every second of every day, I wonder if he regrets his choice.¡±


    Sylvie¡¯s arms wrapped around his waist, and she buried her face into his back. He grabbed her finger and traced it over the barely visible scar on his cheek. ¡°Feel how close I came to death that night? Life is so fragile: an inch separates instant death from years of living. Why was I lucky enough to escape death when so many others aren¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°What good is freedom if you abandon everyone you¡¯ve ever known to suffering and death?¡± he whispered, turning around in her arms to face her. The tears streaming down her cheeks stunned him, and he wiped them away with gentle strokes of his thumbs.


    She leaned toward him, gently resting her forehead against his. Renewed tears dripped onto his chest as she wrapped him into a hug, pulling him closer until no space separated them. ¡°I am truly blessed to have found such an amazing mate.¡±


    He attempted to pull away from her, his mouth already opening to refute her lies, but she cut him off with a growl, refusing to let him go. After holding him for a few minutes, she leaned back just far enough to meet his eyes.


    ¡°Does my mating mark remind you of the brand? Of slavery?¡± she asked, fear causing her voice to shake.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered with a slight nod.


    She jerked away from him, her incorporeal body flickering between wolf and human. At last, she failed in her struggles, giving in to her animal instincts and shifting into a giant black wolf. In a blur, she lunged toward the cabin¡¯s entrance, slamming into the door and shattering the wood. Shards of wood rained down onto the forest floor, but she didn¡¯t pause at the destruction she had caused. Sitting on her haunches, she bellowed out a sorrowful howl that echoed throughout the territory.


    Answering howls sounded from the darkness as the other wolves in the pack shared in their alpha¡¯s grief. A few wolves emerged from the tree line, but he couldn¡¯t identify who had answered her calls. After seeing the Alpha¡¯s mournful howling, the wolves echoed one last howl before retreating into the woods.


    Standing in the shattered remains of the door, he watched the scene with clenched fists. Sylvie seemed to be okay with his past, but he needed to be sure. One question burned within his veins and haunted his nightmares. Was he worthless, or was there still something inside of him that was worth loving?


    ¡°Sylvie, I need you,¡± he choked out as his eyes filled with tears.


    Her howls cut off at the sound of his voice, and her head whipped around to stare at him with glowing eyes. In an instant, she raced toward him, nuzzling her snout against his chest. He reached up to wrap his arms around her neck, grasping fistfuls of her soft black fur. Burying his face into her chest, something snapped within him, allowing his bottled-up pain to finally find an outlet. Hidden from the world by her black coat, he truly cried for the first time since he escaped the caverns. Choking sobs shook his body, his tears soaking the fur on her chest. She whined as she licked the tears from his cheeks, comforting him in the only way she knew how: like a wolf.


    After a few moments, she regained control of her emotions and shifted back into her human form. She pulled his head onto her shoulder, and he continued bawling as she rubbed his back and whispered assurances into his ears. Finally, after he had cried a decade¡¯s worth of tears, his sobs turned to sniffles. Embarrassed by his display of emotions, he wiped his ruined face with his sleeve, not daring to look her in the eye.


    ¡°Noah?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve embarrassed myself enough tonight,¡± he said, face flushing and still refusing to look at her.


    A hand gripped his chin, raising his head until he saw the glowing silver of her eyes. ¡°Never be afraid to show yourself to me, my mate.¡±


    Her eyes fell to the ground, and she bit her lip until he spied a drop of blood. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I did this to you, Noah. I truly am and if I could take it back, I would.¡±


    ¡°Did what?¡± he murmured, distracted by his attempts to reign in his mortification.


    She hesitated before grabbing his hand and tracing the scar with her finger. ¡°Engraving my mating mark upon your skin.¡±


    ¡°Noah, a vampire brand represents slavery. It strips away all individualism, reducing the person to nothing more than a possession. It is nothing more than a manifestation of a vampire¡¯s sadism,¡± she said, her form flickering, and he could see her rage building into a fury.


    Squeezing her eyes shut, she took deep, calming breaths until her form solidified once more. ¡°A mating mark is the opposite. It does not strip away who you are but adds two halves together to create a whole. Mates share each other¡¯s triumphs and failures, sorrows and joys.¡±


    ¡°Only now do I realize how much harm I have caused my mate. I have treated you like a wolf, Noah, and for that, I will never forgive myself. It will take time to find a middle ground between wolf and human that works for us. Until we learn such compromises, I will continue to make mistakes, but I swear to you I will learn.¡±


    She kissed the mark on his hand before bringing his palm to her cheek. Leaning into him, she breathed a contented sigh. ¡°Thank you for trusting me with your past, my mate. You have suffered so much in your short life, and it breaks my heart that I cannot take that pain away from you. You are my partner in this lifetime, Noah and nothing that has happened or will happen can ever change that.¡±


    Without another word, she pulled out of his arms and strode away, leaving him to clutch at the air. Was she just going to run out on this emotional moment?


    ¡°Uh, Sylvie? Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I need to kill something,¡± she growled, not turning around to face him.


    He laughed, enjoying the much-needed humor after such a heavy night. Her head whipped around to stare at him, a crazed look blemishing her face. Her features were scrunched and twisted into a snarl, and her eyes had a wildness within them that wiped the smile from his face.


    ¡°O-o-okay, sure thing. What are you going to kill?¡±


    ¡°Whatever I can find that¡¯s breathing,¡± she responded before shifting into a wolf that blurred into the woods.


    In a daze, he watched his mate dash into the woods to find something to kill. Overwhelming relief rushed through him. ¡°I knew it! I¡¯m not the crazy mate in our relationship.¡±


    Quite pleased with himself, he strolled back to their home, whistling a merry tune as he stepped through the mound of splinters littering the floor.

 Chapter 26

    ¡°I have been in closed-door training, Master,¡± Luna said, her pale blonde pigtails ruining the image of the mystical warrior she tried to project.


    ¡°Dammit, Luna!¡± he shouted, slamming the crowded table they sat at with his fists. ¡°Have you consumed toxic herbs? Have the Fae stolen the words from your mouth? You and your brother have said the same thing for over a week!¡±


    His outburst drew the attention of the other wolves sharing their table, causing their forks to pause in midair. Luna remained silent, shoveling food into her mouth like she needed the extra calories for her ¡®training¡¯.


    ¡°Loose lips are the spark that will burn down the forest,¡± Luna said, chewing on each word with her tongue as they left her mouth.


    ¡°What foolish nonsense! Who has been filling your head with such filth?¡± he snapped.


    Luna held up a familiar book with a cowboy hat mocking him on the cover. ¡°Page twenty-three.¡±


    How dare she use his wisdom against him! This was the precise reason you shouldn¡¯t write books of power while high on fae medicine.


    ¡°Fine!¡± he said, throwing his hands up in the air and turning toward what he hoped would be an easier target. Silas stiffened under his gaze, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.


    ¡°I can help, Silas. My books contain all of your knowledge, but not all of mine. Imagine the terror we might cause if I trained with you,¡± he said, his voice lowering in beckoning temptation.


    Silas stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him as if Noah¡¯s eyes held a mystical power to ensnare his mind. Curious what had captured the teenager¡¯s attention, Noah followed his gaze, slamming his fist on the table when he spied a mop leaning against the wall.


    ¡°You two have lost your minds!¡± he said through clenched teeth.


    ¡°I have been in closed-door training, Noah,¡± Silas said, sweat running down his forehead as he continued to gaze at the ancient mop that apparently was powerful enough for him to travel the world uncontested.


    No! He hadn¡¯t survived his past, only to end up having a nervous breakdown now. He rubbed his temples, doing his best to stave off the impending headache. Cheerful chatter buzzed around the table, but his precious Luna refused to look at him. What had become of the innocent girl who spilled secrets before they even formed?


    Every day he searched for the siblings¡¯ secret training ground and every day he returned home in failure. He had tried pleading with them, threatening them, and bribing them, but still, they remained silent as to their whereabouts. What horrors were they concocting in the woods unsupervised?


    Sylvie could order them to reveal their secrets, but that would require him to confess that he had gifted manuals of war to children. A shiver coursed through him at the thought. No, this was the path they were on now, and not even the gods could change its inevitable course. Relief filled him as he realized he was not to blame for this situation, and he shifted the responsibility to anyone else with glee.


    Over the past week, he had rotated which table he sat at every day, attempting to meet and mingle with as many wolves as he could. Not all the wolves welcomed his presence, but it appeared that killing a vampire trumped his human deficiencies in the eyes of most wolves. Despite wanting to throttle them, he dragged the siblings to a new table each morning, breaking the isolation they had clung to since their parents¡¯ deaths.


    They were tense around the unfamiliar faces and silent at the extra attention, but Luna secured loyal followers with her cuteness alone. If she used her powers of persuasion for evil, her armies would cover the lands, conquering the world without meeting a worthy resistance.


    Noah was deep in thought as he pondered how he could utilize her power for his own purposes, when a swinging door slammed open, silencing the bustling conversations that filled the air. Water sprayed onto the wolf sitting across from him, as he choked and coughed at the appearance of his mate. Sylvie hadn¡¯t eaten breakfast in the lodge since he had arrived, and she had chosen a most unfortunate day to do so. He nudged Luna¡¯s book with his elbow, pushing it onto her lap and out of sight.


    According to Wren, Ajax had never demeaned himself by eating with the peasants, so why should she? Every time Sylvie¡¯s rule differed from her father¡¯s, hostile rumors swirled around the pack and malicious whispers questioned her competency. Ajax¡¯s god-like image within the pack cornered Sylvie into perpetuating his brutal legacy. Ignoring the stares of her subordinates, Sylvie sniffed the air, snapping her head in his direction once she caught his scent.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say a word, and I will allow you to complete your training in peace,¡± he whispered out of the corner of his mouth to the siblings. A smug smile spread across Silas¡¯ face, and Luna threw a fist into the air, whooping in celebration of their victory.


    ¡°Hello, my mate! Have you come to dine with the pack this morning?¡± he asked, scrambling out of his chair to intercept Sylvie before she reached the table.


    She remained silent, gazing at the dozens of pack mates who bonded over a shared meal and enjoyed each other¡¯s company. A flash of longing appeared on her face before she could wipe it from her face.


    ¡°Noah, I need you to come with me to the territory boundary,¡± she said, focusing her attention on him.


    She had never requested his presence for any pack duties, preferring to shelter him from such burdens. Something serious was going on, and he wiped any hit of playfulness or teasing from his face. Leaving his tray on the table, he grabbed his cane and followed her outside with as much haste as he could manage.


    ¡°Sylvie, what has happened?¡± he asked, practically running to keep up with her long strides.


    Silence answered him, and her strides never slowed as she barreled through the violet flowers of the meadow. Her raven hair swirled in the wind, and her bronze skin, which would cause a goddess to weep in envy, soaked up the radiating sunlight. And yet, her shoulders sagged with a burden of responsibility that she never asked for, crushing her proud back beneath its weight.


    ¡°Sylvie!¡± he yelled, digging his heels into the dirt. Sensing danger, the purple flowers strained with all their might to vacate the stretch of meadow separating the two mates.


    ¡°Stubborn ass of a mate. Can¡¯t you just do anything you¡¯re told?¡± she shouted, whipping around to face him.


    ¡°Never! It¡¯s one of my many charms, and you love me for it.¡±


    Progress had been slow over the past week, but Sylvie had honored her promise. He watched as her alpha instincts bristled at his disobedience, causing her form to shimmer with an impending shift. Locked into a battle of wills, she squeezed her eyes shut in defiance, clenching her fists until her nails drew blood. Constant whispers of violence and domination consumed her mind and poisoned her thoughts, cursing her to wage a war that she could never win. A loving warmth filled his chest as he watched her battle her demons, struggling with every inch of her considerable power¡ªall for him.


    Not interrupting, he watched as she took deep, shuddering breaths until her form stabilized. He winced as she unclenched her fists, leaving smears of blood on her palms. ¡°A human caravan has arrived at our border.¡±


    ¡°Is it from Greenwood?¡± he asked, excitement filling him at the prospect of seeing his old friends.


    She shook her head with apologetic eyes. ¡°They are not from Greenwood. They claim to hail from a territory located two months away by wagon.¡±


    Shaking off his disappointment, he whistled and rubbed his chin in thought. ¡°That is quite the distance to brave the Wilds. They are either idiotic or have the strength to protect their cargo through such dangerous lands.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what worries me. With the threat of the Unseelie and the Vampires, we can¡¯t afford to create another powerful enemy. I need you to greet the caravan by my side so that we can prove our pack is an ally to humanity.¡±


    ¡°Sylvie, I am not a subordinate wolf. I am your mate. If you ask me, I will move mountains for you. If you ask me, I will still the wind and gift you the sun. If you ask me, I will conquer death, monopolize love, and abolish despair¡­¡± he paused his passionate speech, ensuring that he had her complete attention. ¡°¡­But you must ask me, my mate.¡±


    Her eyes found the mating mark on his hand, and the tension bled from her body. ¡°As you¡¯ve discovered, Noah, humans do not respond well to the aggression of shifters. I represent the Baleful Fiend Pack in this negotiation, yet I have no experience in politics. Can you lend me your strength, my mate?¡±


    He smiled as he watched his mate flush in embarrassment¡­a snarl ripped from her throat and she snapped at the air¡­ he watched as his mate flushed in anger with no smile on his face.


    ¡°Of course, Sylvie. Even if the world turns against us, I will always stand by your side. You are my mate, and I will always give you whatever help I can.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Noah,¡± she said, a dazzling smile spreading across her face.


    ¡°Now, we must hurry to the territory entrance.¡±


    She turned away in a flash, striding through the purple flowers and beckoning him to follow with a wave of her hand. Warmth filled him as her raven hair fluttered in the wind, but he frowned when he saw her flawless bronze skin. Was this the perfect time? It had to be.


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    ¡°Not so fast, Sylvie,¡± he said, his feet not moving an inch.


    Her body stiffened before her form shimmered, and she shifted into a massive black wolf. He retreated a few steps as he watched her rip apart the purple flowers with her fangs, flinging them into the air with a shake of her head. Now that he thought about it, maybe it wasn¡¯t the perfect time. After the valiant flowers sacrificed their lives to calm her anger, she shifted back into her human form.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push me, Noah!¡± she shouted, prowling toward him one slow step at a time.


    ¡°Please, my mate. I just wanted to reward you for the tremendous effort you have been making for me.¡±


    Her steps slowed until she stood still, cocking her head with interest. ¡°Reward?¡±


    He studied every inch of her bronze skin, shaking his head as he found no blemishes. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame that you have no markings upon your skin, Sylvie. Perhaps you would allow me to place my own?¡±


    She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. ¡°You want to mark me as your mate?¡± she whispered, tears filling her eyes.


    ¡°Of course! How else will the world know that Sylvie, Alpha of the Baleful Fiend Pack, belongs to Noah of Greenwood?¡±


    A searing lust filled her gaze, and she stalked toward him like a predator closing in on a prey. He retreated, taking slow steps backward and not making any sudden movements that would set off her wolfish instincts. A seductive smirk spread across her face as his back hit the lodge wall, cutting off any escape routes.


    He held his breath as she closed the distance between them one step at a time, shuddering when she raked her nails down his chest. His eyes squeezed shut as she leaned down to nibble on his ear in full view of anyone gazing out of the lodge¡¯s windows. His apprentices might be watching, and he couldn¡¯t allow them to see such a pathetic performance. He was a man, dammit!


    ¡°Do you want to claim me, Noah? Do you want to see yourself engraved on my skin? Do you want the entire world to know that I can never be theirs because I belong only to you?¡± she asked, her tantalizing whispers bewitching his senses.


    Wobbling on weak knees, he nodded his head, not trusting his voice to speak. She claimed his mouth with a ferocious kiss, provoking a moan that he didn¡¯t know he was capable of making. It was not gentle and it was not playful. It was a possessive kiss that marked him more than the tattoo he planned on giving her.


    Eventually, she ended the kiss, pulling away and allowing him to slump against the wall. ¡°Deal! Now, let¡¯s go meet the humans.¡±


    Attempting to regain his faculties, he allowed her to grab his hand and lead him through the forest. How could a single kiss leave him unaware of the world around him?


    A few hours later, they reached the territory entrance, and Noah forced Sylvie to wait while he fussed with his cowboy hat and trench coat. Appearances were everything, and his mate was relying on his gift of wit and his affinity for banter. As they emerged from the woods beneath the ever-watchful eyes of the territory symbol, his jaw dropped at the incredulous sight before him.


    Hundreds of caravan wagons lined the road, stretching into the distance until they disappeared beyond the horizon. This was not a caravan intent on brokering a trade agreement. This was a show of force; whose only purpose was to intimidate the pack with their numbers. A snicker snuck its way from his throat as he pictured an intimidated Sylvie bowing to the powerful humans. He wished them luck!


    Over fifty warrior wolves guarded the territory entrance, their yellow eyes inspecting every movement that the humans made. They needn¡¯t have bothered with their constant vigilance. Ignoring the massive wolves as if they posed no threat, the humans gathered around their wagons, cooking and drinking while enjoying the heat of their campfires.


    Shifting into her animal form, Sylvie bellowed out an ear-piercing howl, causing most of the humans to draw their silver weapons and scramble for cover. One group did not react to the howl and continued to sip their drinks by the fire, misplaced confidence allowing them to ignore the calls of a powerful alpha.


    A man with streaks of grey running through his black hair glanced at Sylvie before dumping the rest of his beverage into the fire, causing the flames to flare into the sky. Accompanied by two men, the human leader approached the warrior wolves with confident steps. Sylvie shifted and walked a few steps forward to stand in front of the pack, but Noah remained behind the wolves. A human should not be this confident when confronting a shifter, and he needed to know why this leader wasn¡¯t afraid before he made his appearance.


    ¡°Are you the Alpha of this pack?¡± the leader asked, twirling the ends of his mustache as he examined Sylvie. Noah clenched his cane as the man shook his head with a sigh, as if Sylvie didn¡¯t measure up to his expectations.


    Sylvie nodded her head, confirming the man¡¯s suspicions. ¡°I am the Alpha of the Baleful Fiend Pack. Do you speak for the caravan, human?¡±


    ¡°My name is Rhys and I represent the alliance of the DaVinci, Lafitte, and Masamune territories,¡± Rhys said with a smug smile, as if the names were supposed to impress them.


    Noah frowned, searching his memories until he was forced to accept that he had never heard of these territories. How were independent settlements able to form a meaningful alliance? It was one thing to establish trade routes, but an alliance required military support that a settlement like Greenwood could never provide.


    ¡°And what is your business with our pack, Rhys?¡± Sylvie asked, not cowering before the supposed might this Rhys represented.


    Rhys smiled before turning around to gesture at the caravan. ¡°For now, we simply wish to establish trade with your pack. Our wagons are loaded with iron and manufactured goods. If you wish to exchange any of the precious herbs that grow in your territory, I¡¯m sure that we can reach a prosperous accord.¡±


    ¡°We would be willing to trade some of our her¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, and any spare claws and fangs you¡¯d be willing to part with,¡± Rhys said, cutting Sylvie off mid-sentence.


    A thundering of roars filled the air as the warrior wolves snapped at the air, drool dripping from their maws onto the ground. Rhys looked on with amusement, much too at ease for Noah to feel comfortable. ¡°Or perhaps not. It seems your pack still follows the ancient traditions.¡±


    Sylvie growled, silencing the roars in an instant. ¡°My pack would never trade the remains of our loved ones.¡± Her eyes promised violence if this human dared to push her any further. ¡°You said you are seeking trading partners for now, but what might your alliance be seeking in the future?¡±


    ¡°Has the wind carried the whispers of change to your ears, Alpha? Three centuries of stagnation are about to be blown apart, allowing the rivers of progress to flow once more. Those who do not fear the evils in the night have emerged, and they will not stand for the status quo any longer. We seek allies who will wage war against those who stole the night from us.¡±


    ¡°You will declare war on the Vampires?¡± Sylvie asked, eyes widening in disbelief.


    ¡°The Vampires¡­and the Unseelie,¡± Rhys said with a delusional smile.


    ¡°And the Unseelie?¡± Sylvie asked, running her hands through her hair. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the Baleful Fiend Pack has no interest in such a war.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so hasty to slap away a friendly hand, Alpha,¡± Rhys said, all signs of amusement fleeing from his face.


    The caravan leader glared at the wolves, attempting to emphasize the gravity of the mistake they were making. How could such an inexperienced moron be the leader of a delegation? Instead of shrinking back from his gaze, the wolves snapped at him, furious that this weak human challenged them with his eye contact.


    Oblivious to the danger, Rhys continued to glare at the pack until his eyes fell on Noah. ¡°And what do we have here? A human prisoner? I must say, Alpha, this is not what we had hoped for when we came to your territory.¡±


    The sea of wolves parted, allowing Noah to approach the arrogant man. The whooshing of a twirling cane filled the air as he reached Sylvie¡¯s side and tipped his hat to Rhys in greeting. ¡°Good day, my fine gentleman. I¡¯m afraid you are mistaken, as I am no prisoner. Regardless, it does warm my heart to see humans flourishing once more.¡±


    ¡°If you are not a prisoner, why would a human live amongst a wolf pack? Perhaps you are a traitor?¡± Rhys asked with a sneer.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid my irresistible charms were too powerful for me to control. What else can a man do but follow his heart?¡± Noah said, holding up his hand for the world to see.


    Rhys¡¯ eyes widened while the two men at his sides gasped. ¡°A mating mark? How is that possible? I¡¯ve never heard of a human mating with a shifter.¡±


    Noah chuckled, approaching Rhys and wrapping an arm around the man¡¯s shoulder. He leaned in as if to whisper, but, if anything, the volume of his voice rose. ¡°It is rare I grant you that, but you have to understand, good sir, I once charmed a goddess into giving up her immortality. I once convinced a Seelie Princess to abdicate her throne. I once cured a common cold by persuading a coven leader to allow me to drink directly from her neck.¡±


    Noah¡¯s face turned more serious the longer his ramblings went on until he became lost in thought. ¡°Perhaps I am too charming for my own good?¡±


    The color drained from his face as a growl sounded out behind him. ¡°Is that so, my mate? I did not realize that I had snagged a legend sought after by every maiden amongst the four races. I look forward to hearing about your romantic conquests later.¡±


    Shit! Why must his words always betray him? Stretching his lips into a beaming smile, he turned around to face Sylvie, holding his arms out in apology. ¡°My mate, it was all bluster, nothing more. Simple fairytales without a shred of truth to them.¡±


    ¡°Mated to the Alpha? Our leaders will be thrilled to ally with a shifter pack that has a human as its First Mate¡ª¡± Rhys said, falling silent as something stole his attention.


    Invasive fingers grabbed Noah¡¯s trench coat, yanking the collar down and exposing his hidden scars to the world. Bile rose in his throat as violating fingers swiped across the back of his neck, picking and prodding at his humiliation. Rhys shoved him forward, spitting at his feet as he stumbled to his knees.


    ¡°You attempt to hide your shame with ink, but I see through your deception. You have mated with a traitor to the human race, Alpha. A blood slave to the vampires!¡± Rhys shouted for all to hear, invoking confused looks amongst the wolves.


    ¡°Tell me livestock, did you become a thrall willingly, or did you just accept your fate like a coward?¡±


    A roar shook the forest and he barely had time to block the charging Sylvie, placing his hand on her snout to hold her at bay. ¡°Neither, I¡¯m afraid, good sir. I was born and raised in the vampire caverns. Unfortunately, my mind frightened them, and they cast me out for the rest of humanity to deal with.¡±


    ¡°We will not ally with a current or former blood slave. There is no way to know if you are a thrall or if you have a sickening allegiance to the monsters,¡± Rhys said, shaking his head in disgust.


    As the wolves crowded around Noah, placing him in a protective circle and snarling at Rhys, he reached up to feel his lips. Beaming beneath his trembling fingers, his lips formed a smile that he had waited his entire life to grace his face. After hearing his greatest shame, the wolves of the pack leaned against him, providing protection and comfort from his fears. As he patted the closest wolf to him, a wolf whose name he didn¡¯t know, a single word flashed through his mind. Family.


    He heard Sylvie¡¯s voice, snarling in a barely contained rage, but couldn¡¯t see her over his massive pack mates. ¡°I believe our negotiations are at an end, Rhys. I will give you one hour to leave my territory or the rivers of progress will turn into rivers of blood. Not a single one of you will survive the day, and I promise, your deaths will be filled with excruciating agony.¡±


    ¡°So short-sighted. Mates have always been the wolves¡¯ weakness, so I can¡¯t say that I¡¯m surprised,¡± Rhys said, shaking his head in disappointment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Alpha. We will not tarry in such a worthless territory.¡±


    Noah pushed his way through the warrior wolves until he stood beside Sylvie, grasping her hand and interlocking their fingers together. He rubbed his thumb across her hand as her form flickered between wolf and human, attempting to calm her emotions with his touch.


    Orders rang out within the caravan and the members efficiently doused the fires, packed up the supplies, and boarded the wagons. Rhys jumped on his horse, preparing to take his rightful place at the head of the procession.


    ¡°Alpha,¡± he called out above the thundering of hooves and wagon wheels. ¡°We will not allow a hostile territory to remain on our flank. If you desire survival, ensure that your pack remains neutral.¡± He galloped away without another word, disappearing beyond the horizon.

 Chapter 27

    A few days after the disastrous meeting with Rhys¡¯ caravan, Noah sat on the bank of the lake, hugging his knees to his chest and watching the siblings doggy paddle through the frigid water. Frost covered the grasses, and steam rose from the lake, but the wolves didn¡¯t seem to mind the freezing temperatures. His leather trench coat wrapped around him snugly, doing its best to trap his body heat, but still, he shivered with his teeth chattering uncontrollably.


    ¡°Master, join us!¡± Luna called out while backstroking across the water with envious speed, waves trailing in her wake.


    ¡°Your Master does not have the strength to brave the icy waters, Luna. Humans are delicate creatures, and we mustn¡¯t bully the weak,¡± Silas said, sending a teasing glance toward Noah.


    Noah straightened his legs and unwrapped his arms from around his chest. With his tremendous willpower, he overcame his biology, ceasing his shivering with a snort. ¡°I conquered the cold long ago, Silas. It has been years since my skin could feel winter¡¯s bite.¡±


    Silas¡¯ jaw fell open at his shamelessness, but Luna gazed at him with stars in her eyes. His apprentice looked at him like he was invulnerable, and he refused to shatter her illusions.


    ¡°If you must question my durability, then you might be stunned to learn that I am undergoing intense mental training. My intelligence is so great and my knowledge is so vast that my brain overheats, causing steam to release from my mouth. Enduring such tremendous pressures, my body shakes under the strain of barely controlled power.¡±


    Luna gasped, and he stuck out his chin, basking in the praise of his apprentice. ¡°Unable to bear its own might, my body is at constant risk of ripping itself apart.¡±


    ¡°Master, forgive me for interrupting your training,¡± Luna said, bowing with her arms as she bobbed in the water.


    ¡°There must be a name for the sickness you have,¡± Silas said with an incredulous look on his face.


    Noah turned his nose at the nonbeliever, ignoring his doubting words. Movement caught his eyes, but instead of becoming alert to potential dangers like he once would have, excitement filled him as he eagerly awaited a chance to socialize with a member of his pack.


    ¡°Good day, Lady Wren. What has caused you to seek the pleasure of my company?¡± he asked, tipping his hat in greeting to his favorite scouting wolf.


    Wren rolled her eyes, displaying an immunity to his charms that shouldn¡¯t have been possible. The tassels on her jacket dangled and twisted around one another as she patted the frosted ground. After clearing a seat for herself, she sat so to Noah that their knees touched one another. A wool hat hid her auburn hair and covered her ears, leaving the rest of her face to turn rosy in the cold.


    ¡°I needed a break from my constant failures. No matter what we do, the scouts can¡¯t find any traces of the Unseelie. The longer we go without discovering their presence, the quicker fear and anticipation turn into boredom,¡± she said, removing her wool hat and shaking out her bushy hair.


    Noah held his breath as the siblings swam to a group of pups around their age. He smiled when laughter carried across the lake as the children began to splash and dunk each other in the water.


    After so many weeks of the Unseelie failing to attack, he was beginning to believe that the force who attacked his caravan was merely passing through the area. If a fae portal existed close enough for the pack to face a genuine threat, they would have found it by now.


    Shifting his gaze toward Wren, he inspected the dark bags beneath her eyes that darkened her skin until her beautiful freckles were almost invisible to the world. Every wolf felt the strain of anticipation, but the scouts could report nothing but failures, time and time again.


    Examining Sylvie¡¯s best friend, he decided that he couldn¡¯t allow certain secrets to remain hidden. If anyone knew Sylvie¡¯s past and was willing to share it with him, it was Wren. Now that all of his thoughts and energy weren¡¯t focused on escaping the territory, he had to know what afflicted his mate.


    ¡°Wren, I need to ask you something that might make you feel uncomfortable, but I need to know.¡±


    Hearing the usual teasing absent from his voice, Wren turned her full attention to Noah, inspecting him with exhausted eyes. ¡°Out with it, Noah. I¡¯m too exhausted to wait for you to finish acting coy.¡±


    ¡°Can you tell me about Sylvie¡¯s curse?¡±


    Wren¡¯s eyes widened, and her head swiveled side to side, checking their surroundings to make sure no uninvited ears were listening. ¡°Why not ask Sylvie?¡±


    ¡°Sylvie and I have made great strides in our mating recently, but I fear she will not tell me the entire story. The respect she has for her father banishes truth from her memories.¡±


    Wren held his gaze for a few moments before releasing a loud sigh, fog clouding her face from the warmth of her breath. ¡°Sylvie is blind when it comes to her father. While most wolves remember Ajax¡¯s rule as a time of unprecedented growth in the pack, they often forget how he achieved that growth.¡±


    A haunted look appeared on her face as she filtered through the memories from her childhood. ¡°Ajax¡¯s lust for power knew no bounds. Fearing his wrath, the pack obeyed every one of his deranged commands. Seduced by a fable, a single desire corrupted his mind¡ªunite the shifters and become Alpha to all.¡±


    Wren wheezed out a humorless chuckle. ¡°He dreamed of sitting on a throne of unprecedented power. Of course, he never understood that by the time the world bowed to his might, only an ashen wasteland would await his rule.¡±


    Noah¡¯s heart clenched at such a poisonous influence whispering into Sylvie¡¯s ears. How had she retained her individuality under such an oppressive figure? She bore no resemblance to the tyrant who sought absolute power. Remove the threat of exile, and Sylvie would relinquish her alpha status without a second thought.


    ¡°I take it that Ajax¡¯s arrogance led to his downfall?¡±


    Wren nodded her head and pursed her lips. ¡°Funny how you can predict the outcome of such greed, and yet, the powerful continue to be surprised by their endings.¡±


    ¡°Eventually, Ajax¡¯s desire for power reached a point where conquering other wolf packs could no longer satisfy his lust for violence. Why should he stop at Shifters? He was the rightful king of this world, and the freedom of the other races mocked his strength. In his infinite arrogance, he commanded his forces to invade an Unseelie territory.¡±


    Noah¡¯s eyes widened, and his jaw fell open in disbelief. ¡°He dared to challenge a Prince empowered by his portal?¡±


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    Tears flowed down Wren¡¯s cheeks, her tears falling to the ground and melting the frost one drop at a time. ¡°Including my father, his madness led to the deaths of hundreds of wolves. They died in a foreign land for a senseless war. We could not even retrieve our loved one¡¯s claws and fangs to remember them by.¡±


    Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Wren. Instead of dabbing daintily at her tears, Wren blew an inconceivable amount of snot into the once proud cloth.


    ¡°Returning someone¡¯s gift is the epitome of rudeness,¡± he said as Wren tried to hand him back the snot-filled rag.


    She shrugged at his refusal, placing the ruined handkerchief in her pocket. ¡°We label Ajax as a mad tyrant, but he possessed the power to justify his lofty goals. He accomplished a task that the world had deemed impossible. The Unseelie fell before his army, and an invincible Prince couldn¡¯t withstand his might. That is, until¡­¡± she paused, waiting for Noah to guess the ending.


    ¡°The curse?¡± Noah whispered.


    Wren shook her head, releasing a strangled laugh. ¡°Not curse, but curses. In a last-ditch effort to defend his subjects, the Prince cast two curses upon Ajax. The first slowly decayed Ajax¡¯s life force. Imagine a bucket filled with water, and you extract one droplet every day. No matter how large of a bucket Ajax¡¯s power gifted him, eventually, even his bucket would become barren.¡±


    ¡°How long was he able to fight the curse?¡± Noah asked.


    ¡°A few months after he was cursed, our pack of drifters finally placed its roots in this forest,¡± Wren replied, gesturing to the towering trees that would seem out of place without wolves running between their trunks and traversing their limbs.


    ¡°The curse shattered his delusional dreams of power, leaving him too weak to continue his quest for domination. He hid from death¡¯s grasp for sixteen years, but no one can truly escape death. The Fae mock him, and the Vampires taunt him, but he is inevitable for us all. And one day, even the supposed immortals will be held accountable for their transgressions.¡±


    Noah considered Wren¡¯s words, thinking back on how many times death had failed to capture him. One day, his legendary luck would fail him, and he, too, would face the one he had taunted and mocked his entire life.


    ¡°If the Prince targeted Ajax with both curses, why did Sylvie get struck instead?¡± he asked, clearing the melancholic thoughts from his mind.


    ¡°As soon as the curses struck him, Ajax¡¯s death became inevitable, but it would take decades for the Prince¡¯s vengeance to come to fruition. Unsatisfied by such a long wait, the Prince sought a more immediate revenge.¡±


    Leaning his head closer to Wren, he could just barely hear her whispers. ¡°The second curse targeted the mate of the Alpha he despised so much, but unknown to the Prince, Sylvie¡¯s mother had already died during childbirth. With nothing to latch onto, the curse searched for an alternative target that carried the mate¡¯s blood in her veins¡ªSylvie was only eleven years old.¡±


    Wren hugged her arms to her chest, shivering as if to fend off the chill that the wolves couldn¡¯t feel. ¡°I was with her when it happened. We were at this very lake, swimming in the water without a worry in the world. The moment the curse struck her, she slumped face down and nearly drowned before I could get to her.¡±


    Gazing at the lake, Wren¡¯s voice turned monotone. ¡°I pulled her to the bank and tried to wake her, but nothing I did caused her to stir. With a scream that still haunts me, her body went so rigid that all of her joints popped at once. When she opened her eyes, her natural brown color, always warm and tender, was replaced by complete blackness.


    I don¡¯t have the words to describe her screams but imagine a person suffering the worst imaginable pain this world has to offer, and you might come close to what Sylvie experienced that day. It was so awful that I feared something had split her soul in two.¡±


    Noah clenched his cane as he pictured his mate in such pain. So occupied with his own agonizing past, his selfishness had blinded him to the suffering of those closest to him. Poor, pitiful Noah. Must the entire world prioritize his torment over their own?


    ¡°Even distance couldn¡¯t deny the Prince¡¯s fury. How can we defeat a monster who refuses to be bound by the laws of space? What chance does the pack have against such power?¡± he asked, hopelessness filling his voice.


    Wren lightly placed her fingers on his hand, brushing the lines of his mating mark. ¡°A curse of such magnitude requires the sacrifice of pure life essence. Despite his near-immortal life span, the curse severely weakened the Prince, leaving him at death¡¯s door for at least a decade. Not even a mighty being like the Prince can cast such a powerful curse again.¡±


    Wren bit her lip in hesitation, leaning so close to his ear that her hair tickled his neck. ¡°There are even rumors that a curse of that magnitude requires the castor to use the target¡¯s blood. The only way the Prince could have gotten Ajax¡¯s blood would have been treachery from inside the pack.¡±


    The crushing pressure preventing Noah from breathing naturally eased as hope replaced a small portion of the oppressive fear. An Unseelie Prince wasn¡¯t some all-powerful entity that the pack couldn¡¯t defend against. They had a chance, and he wouldn¡¯t let the opportunity slip by once it presented itself. His mating mark tingled as Wren continued to stroke his hand, causing his lips to dip into a frown. Her tentative fingers danced across his skin, but they lacked the searing heat Sylvie¡¯s touch carried.


    He cleared his throat, and Wren gasped, jerking her hand back as if his skin had burned her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Noah! It seems I can¡¯t dwell on memories and not make a fool of myself at the same time.¡±


    As he stared at her blushing face, he scooted a few feet away from Wren before rumors could spread and get him killed by maticide.


    ¡°Is there no way to break such a curse? If there were, I assume Ajax would have discovered a cure,¡± he asked, brushing over her embarrassment.


    Wren, staring in a daze at the space he had created between their legs, glanced up to meet his eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? There¡¯s a very simple way to break an Unseelie curse.¡±


    ¡°A simple cure, but nearly impossible; you must kill the Unseelie Prince who cast it. The calls of their homeland have long since driven the Unseelie mad, and like an addict, they can¡¯t bear to leave their portal¡¯s intoxicating presence for long.¡±


    Noah nodded, deep in thought. Killing an Unseelie Prince while they were empowered by their portal was an impossible task for almost any being on the planet. Luckily, they did not need to break Sylvie¡¯s curse. A curse filled with such hate and evil had taken a life, but it had also gifted a life. Without it, he never would have found a home, family, or love. Nature must always keep a balance, it seemed.


    A hair-raising howl bellowed in the distance, leaving him scrambling to plug his ears with his fingers. Grimacing in pain, he jumped to his feet with his cane at the ready to defend against enemies threatening his home. The pack mates enjoying the lake shifted instantly, howling their answers to the unseen caller. In a blur that his eyes could barely discern, the wolves bolted into the woods, heading in the direction of the lodge.


    Wren stood next to Noah, staring into the distance with a frown but not rushing to shift like the other wolves had. Luna and Silas left the lake, sprinting toward him with wide eyes.


    Out of breath, Luna urged, ¡°Master, you must answer her call. Silas and I are not permitted to attend, but you are First Mate.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, peering through the trees for anything suspicious.


    ¡°Sylvie has called an emergency pack meeting. Every senior-level wolf must gather at the lodge immediately,¡± Wren whispered.


    Tearing her eyes from the potential dangers in the trees, she glanced at Noah with a coy smile. ¡°Unfortunately, we can¡¯t allow your lack of speed to slow us down. Jump on my back, and I will carry you.¡±


    After a brief shimmer, a massive auburn wolf stood before Noah, pointing toward her back with her paw. Countless scenes from his favorite books flashed across his mind, and he wasted no time leaping onto the wolf¡¯s back. Gripping his pommel, his fingers twisted into the scruff of her neck with one hand, and he raised his cowboy hat into the air with the other.


    ¡°Yeehaw!¡± he whooped out. ¡°Giddy up, girl!¡± he yelled, kicking his heels and imaginary spurs into Wren¡¯s ribs. A yelp sounded out, and razor-sharp fangs snapped at his leg, ripping his trousers and coming within inches of removing his leg. Staring at his bare calf that had somehow escaped Wren¡¯s bite, he slowly lowered his hat onto his head.


    ¡°Has your master finally gone insane, Luna?¡± Silas whispered to his sister.


    ¡°He toes the line between genius and madness like only the true masters can,¡± Luna whispered back.


    Flushing with embarrassment, he smoothed out Wren¡¯s scruff, refusing to look at his apprentices. ¡°You raise a compelling argument, dear Wren. Please proceed at your convenience.¡±

 Chapter 28

    Along with dozens of the highest-ranking wolves in the pack, Noah paced the lodge floor with nervous energy. Annoyed glances shot his way as he tapped out a haunting tune with his cane against the wooden floor. He didn¡¯t pause the incessant tapping but tipped his hat to the aggravated wolves in apology. Fearful whispers and outlandish rumors ran rampant through the pack mates as they waited for their alpha to appear and ease their worries.


    Finally, one of the lodge¡¯s swinging doors slammed open, and Sylvie, along with Rowan and Alder, strode toward the podium at the front of the crowd. His eyes inspected every inch of his mate, sighing in relief when he didn¡¯t spy any wounds or lingering injuries. Pride infused him as he watched his mate take her rightful place at the podium, commanding the attention of dozens of powerful shifters with a glance.


    Her eyes swept over the wolves until they met his, and a small smile curved her lips. ¡°Before we go any further, I will clear up any false rumors or misunderstandings. We are not under attack, and the pack remains safe under the protection of our guard wolves.¡±


    The tension in the room popped, and the wolves cheered out, hugging their closest neighbor in relief. With his own cheer, he held his arms out to the closet pack mates, but with a flush on his face, he lowered them back to his sides when no one leaped into his arms.


    Is it possible that the power of his charm was so great that it had become feared within the pack instead of worshipped? Promising himself that he wouldn¡¯t use such a bewitching ability without extreme caution, he turned toward the podium, hoping to celebrate with his mate, who had already fallen under his irresistible spell.


    However, the three wolves standing at the head of the pack didn¡¯t share in their merriment or relief. If anything, their bodies tensed, and their stoic faces flashed signs of fear that looked out of place on the greatest warriors in the pack. After the buzz died down, Sylvie growled, silencing the rest of the murmurs and commanding the wolves¡¯ attention.


    ¡°We are safe¡­for now. We have discovered the smoking remnants of the human caravan that visited our pack a few days ago. Every wagon lay in a charred wreckage, and the only survivors are the crows pecking at the human¡¯s rotting flesh.¡±


    Gasps rang out, and fierce arguments filled the air. Ice flowed down Noah¡¯s spine as he pictured the hundreds of wagons and thousands of soldiers. Which force had the power to destroy a caravan of that size and leave no survivors?


    A strange humming sound vibrated the air, cutting off the wolves¡¯ arguments in a squeak. Sylvie¡¯s eyes blazed silver, the iridescent glow casting her face in eerie but beautiful shadows. All eyes averted from her gaze, and every neck bared to her in submission.


    ¡°Only a day¡¯s run from our border, the scouts discovered a few mortally injured Unseelie crawling through the forest. Before they could gather any intelligence, the creatures committed suicide with capsules filled with iron powder. After getting no intel, our scouts tracked the scent of the Unseelie forces and came upon a one-sided slaughter.¡±


    A massive wolf step forward from the crowd, his eyes widened with fear. ¡°How is that possible? The Unseelie would need five times the humans¡¯ numbers to not allow a single survivor. There hasn¡¯t been a force like that in decades for any of the supernatural races.¡±


    Sylvie glanced at Rowan and nodded, stepping off of the podium and allowing the First Beta to address the crowd. A few months ago, Sylvie wouldn¡¯t have allowed Rowan to stand beside the podium, let alone address the pack from its raised platform. He and his mate had grown during their time together, but he refused to give nature credit for their mating. Magical resonant couldn¡¯t replace hard work and the ability to compromise.


    The wooden podium bent and buckled under Rowan¡¯s massive weight, but with a groan, it fulfilled its purpose. Rowan¡¯s eyes scanned the crowd, his stoic demeanor failing to comfort the frightened wolves. ¡°Do not rely on history for knowledge, or we will be blind to the dangers of the future. The humans are creating powerful alliances, threatening to return us to the old-world order. No longer fearing the magicless atmosphere, the Unseelie roam far from their portals with impunity. Imagine what the Vampires and Seelie are plotting beyond our sight.¡±


    Another wolf emerged from the crowd, flashing an apologetic glance toward Noah. ¡°The human caravan was heavily armed and contained thousands of soldiers. It is a tragedy for humanity, but it is a great blessing for our pack. The Unseelie would not dare invade our territory after such losses.¡±


    Excited whispers broke out amongst the crowd, reveling in the perceived safety that thousands of dead humans had granted them. Noah clenched his cane and gritted his teeth in anger, but not at his excited pack mates. Rhys had equated numbers with power, and the arrogant delusions of one leader brought about the doom of thousands of innocents. Rhys deserved his fate, but many of his subordinates were good men who were only following his orders to provide for their families. Why did one man control the fate of so many?


    Stepping in front of the crowd, he whistled to gain the attention of the wolves, but they ignored him, continuing to gush over the human sacrifices in cheerful chatter. A growl sounded out, silencing the crowd and demanding their attention. Noah glanced at Sylvie, who beckoned him forward to address the senior-level wolves.


    ¡°Excuse me, good wolves. Although we can all agree that the humans likely thinned the Unseelie forces, we are overlooking the most significant consequences,¡± he whispered as a deep sadness spread within him. The insults of one human leader couldn¡¯t overcome a primal instinct of allying with those similar to oneself.


    He paused for a few moments, waiting for any of the wolves to discover their oversights, but none stepped forward. ¡°The caravan didn¡¯t make it a week from our border before meeting their doom. The pack is well within the range of this Unseelie force.¡±


    Nervous glances filled the room, but Noah pressed on before pandemonium could interrupt him. ¡°As some of you correctly pointed out, the Unseelie must have sacrificed a sizeable chunk of their forces to annihilate the caravan. We must ask ourselves why they would be willing to diminish their army¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    Blank faces stared at him from the crowd, but Rowan, Sylvie, and Alder nodded to him with grim looks marring their faces. ¡°The caravan sought to gain potential allies through trade. Their wagons would have been loaded with the appropriate wares to trade with any of the races.¡±


    ¡°Silver,¡± a wolf in the crowd whispered. The other pack members¡¯ eyes widened, and gasps rang out. As they realized that an enemy with the strength to destroy the pack was now armed with their greatest weakness, the color drained from their faces.


    He didn¡¯t seek to cause panic within the pack, but feelings couldn¡¯t overcome facts. ¡°The humans would have been carrying wagons worth of silver weapons. I don¡¯t know if it was enough to arm the entire Unseelie army, but they certainly are better prepared to invade our territory now.¡±


    A frantic wolf, his eyes wild with fear, stepped out from the crowd with jerking movements. ¡°This isn¡¯t possible! An army is mobile, but their portals are not. Our scouts should have discovered their territory if it was within striking distance of our pack.¡±


    Sensing panic was about to replace logic and rationale, Sylvie growled once more with her silver eyes blazing. Rowan stepped down from the podium, gesturing for his alpha to address her pack. Her raven hair fluttered when she stepped onto the podium, ensuring a power struggle between his charms and her beauty. Just because he lost his senses for an unknown amount of time didn¡¯t mean that her beauty had overpowered him.


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    Not knowing what had occurred since his defeat, Noah refocused on Sylvie just in time to hear her next words. ¡°You are correct. The logic that we have always used to counter the Fae has failed us. Until we discover how the Unseelie have bypassed the limitations of their portal, we must be vigilant now more than ever.¡±


    Wood tapping on wood broke the silence, and the sea of wolves parted, allowing Calla to approach the raised podium. A tight bun held her wispy gray hair in place while a gnarled scar imprisoned one of her eyes. She didn¡¯t bow in submission to Sylvie and held her alpha¡¯s gaze with arrogant eyes. ¡°I believe I have an answer to this perplexing puzzle¡­Sylvie.¡±


    Noah frowned at the Guardian¡¯s obvious display of disrespect. This was a blatant challenge to Sylvie, and he didn¡¯t know what her taunting was supposed to achieve.


    ¡°Although it still should be impossible, we have only one explanation for the Unseelie movements,¡± Calla said, whacking her cane against the ground.


    ¡°Long ago, our pack encountered an Unseelie force that had strayed far from its portal. At such a distance, my mate and his warriors should have destroyed them without issue. Instead, we found ourselves in a bitter battle and on the brink of defeat.¡±


    Calla stared down Sylvie as she told stories of the mate Ajax had murdered. ¡°Just as all hope had been lost, a delusional pup snuck his way onto the battlefield, seeking to become a hero for the pack. A Sluagh overpowered him in an instant and threw him across the battlefield with such speed that I remember the whistling his body produced as it pierced the air.


    ¡°As he crashed into a copse of bushes with a crunch, the young pup believed his body to be broken. However, it was not the crunch of his bones breaking but the destruction of an artifact infused with fae magic. Upon its destruction, the artifact exploded, releasing the diluted fae magic into the atmosphere. As soon as the magic dissipated, some of the Unseelie lost their ability to use magic. Others became weakened to the point that a human could have overpowered them. And others didn¡¯t even have a chance to retreat, dropping dead to the ground with no warning. With their power crippled, our pack routed them easily afterward.¡±


    Sylvie stepped forward, not intimidated by Calla either, and their wills met mid-air, creating an almost visible tension of violence. ¡°Where is this pup now? We must question him about the artifact¡¯s appearance.¡±


    Calla raised unsympathetic brows and released a sinister chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be able to answer your questions, Sylvie. You see, death granted my dreams of retribution just last year. Who would have guessed that the savior of the pack would grow up to be the tyrant who nearly destroyed it?¡±


    Ignoring Calla¡¯s provocations, Sylvie asked, ¡°How can an artifact allow them to travel beyond their portal¡¯s influence, and why do you claim it is impossible?¡±


    Perhaps realizing that Sylvie was not the object of her hatred, Calla shook her head, releasing her negative emotions with a deep sigh. ¡°The artifact served as a conduit, tethering their portal¡¯s magic to a secondary location. However, it would take years for the conduit to secrete enough magic to transform a foreign land into an inhabitable location for the Unseelie. The artifact your father crushed was a ten-foot-high pentagram constructed entirely out of bones. Do you think such an artifact could go unnoticed for years so close to our border?¡±


    ¡°No, our scouts would have discovered such an evil blight on our lands within a week,¡± Sylvie whispered in an unsure voice. Anyone could lead when the correct paths were visible, but very few could lead others into the unknown.


    ¡°How will you respond to such a threat, Sylvie? Will you follow your father¡¯s example, or will you forge your own path?¡± Calla asked, a glimmer of hope appearing in her eyes.


    A deathly silence descended upon the wolves as they held their breath at Calla¡¯s challenge. Unable to ignore the continued disrespect, Sylvie¡¯s form flickered between wolf and human, a deranged growl rumbling from her chest. Whines rang out within the pack as the wolves flinched back from their alpha¡¯s rage. Even Rowan and Alder backed away from the unstable alpha, holding their breaths and preparing to protect the pack from a berserk Sylvie.


    With no fear, Noah strolled toward his mate, placing a hand on her shoulder. Skin turned to fur and then returned to skin beneath his hand, but he held on. ¡°My mate, I believe this is your opportunity to take control of your fate. Do not waste it.¡±


    Sylvie¡¯s form flickered a few more times before it solidified into a human. Flushed and damp with sweat, she panted heavily. Wild eyes locked onto him, threatening indiscriminate violence, but he just smiled at his cranky mate.


    ¡°This is such a shame,¡± he said, shaking his head in disappointment. ¡°I thought my mate was more powerful than this. Perhaps Wren might be a better partner for me.¡± He stroked his chin, deep in thought.


    Sylvie¡¯s wild eyes regained their focus in an instant, narrowing at him with a look that would have left him scrambling a few months ago, but now, he anticipated the lust his teasing induced in his mate. Her eyes snapped to his hand as he held up his mating mark for her to inspect. ¡°Or perhaps not. It seems someone has already claimed me in this lifetime.¡±


    Sylvie traced the mark on his hand with her fingertips, attempting to slow her breathing. At last, she took one last deep breath and dazzled him with a smile that he would never forget. She interlocked their fingers and pulled him onto the podium with her.


    Her gaze passed over each of the wolves present, creating the illusion that she was speaking to each of them individually. ¡°Although I respected my father¡¯s power, I am not blind to the pain his cruelty caused. I do not seek to subjugate through fear and violence or lust after conquerable lands. I do not see our pack mates as mindless soldiers but as a loving family that I will protect until my dying breath. All I desire through my rule is the safety and happiness of every wolf in the Baleful Fiend Pack.¡±


    Sylvie paused as Noah choked out an accidental sob, drawing uncomfortable looks from the warrior wolves in the pack. He wiped the tears from his cheeks before they could destroy his carefully constructed roguish image. Thankfully, his apprentices weren¡¯t present to be embarrassed on his behalf.


    Releasing his hand, Sylvie stepped forward to face Calla alone, creating such tension in the air that you could practically see the sparks spitting out of their eyes.


    ¡°I am the Alpha!¡± she shouted, shaking the tables at the far end of the lodge. ¡°Will you challenge me for the position, Calla?¡±


    No matter how much he respected Calla, his mate would not face this threat alone. A silver blade shot out of his cane as he prepared to fight beside Sylvie. Noticing the silver blade, Calla smirked at him before staring at Sylvie for a few moments. Slowly, a smile spread across her face, and she averted her eyes while baring her neck.


    Cheers rang out amongst the wolves, celebrating that they wouldn¡¯t witness the murder of their Alpha or Guardian today. Noah pumped his cane into the air in jubilation as his traitorous tears leaked down his cheeks. Sylvie stared Calla down for a few moments before nodding and returning to the podium.


    ¡°If you find an artifact or anything that seems out of place, bring it to the warriors¡¯ attention at once. We must sever their source of magic and remove this blade hanging above our necks!¡±


    Stepping forward, Rowan announced, ¡°We will increase patrols to the maximum, but please do not rely on this and keep your wits about you. At the request of a wolf, we salvaged any iron we could find in the caravan¡¯s wreckage. They are not the only ones who can use their enemies¡¯ weakness against them!¡±


    He slammed a fist into the wall of the lodge, cratering a large dent in the wood. A growl sounded out, and Rowan gulped, fussing with the wall and allowing his dreadlocks to hide him from Calla¡¯s infuriated glare.


    A sinking feeling filled Noah¡¯s stomach, and his instincts screamed at him, warning of unseen danger. ¡°Um, excuse me, Rowan. Which wolf did you say requested the iron?¡±


    Resolutely avoiding Calla¡¯s gaze, Rowan raised a brow at his question. ¡°The young warrior, Silas,¡± he said with a shrug.


    Noah¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of his head, and his ruffled shirt became soaked in sweat. ¡°Oh shit,¡± he whispered, panic already beginning to set in.


    Hearing his curse, Sylvie snapped her gaze toward him, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. He beamed a dazzling smile at her to fool her speculative gaze and tipped his hat in reassurance. Against all expectations, his efforts didn¡¯t alleviate her concerns, and her eyes narrowed even further. Avoiding her eyes, he studied the fascinating podium beneath her feet, whistling out of the corner of his mouth in ignorant innocence.


    Shaking her head and releasing a deep sigh at her troublesome mate, she faced the crowd again. ¡°That is all! Dismissed!¡±


    Her massive black wolf appeared on the podium, shaking the lodge with a howl. The pack mates shifted and returned her howl before darting off to their homes.


    Silent throughout and unnoticed by all, Alder¡¯s demented eyes darted between Noah¡¯s mating mark and the unblemished skin on his own hand.

 Chapter 29

    The moon had long since achieved victory in its daily battle with the sun, but unlike the birds, squirrels, and wolves, sleep eluded Noah. Since his escape attempt, nightmares no longer plagued his dreams, but insomnia always found new insecurities and worries to latch onto.


    A week had passed since the emergency pack meeting, and a disease had been inflicted upon the pack. Stress from the anticipation of an Unseelie attack had stolen tranquility, sleep, and revelry from the wolves. They stayed close to their homes, and any fun or joy was silenced with disapproving glares. Unknowingly, an expectation that every wolf must be on guard every second of every day set in, and as a result, the pack¡¯s health diminished. If the Unseelie didn¡¯t attack soon, fear would win this battle for them.


    And yet, on this particular night, threats of the Unseelie didn¡¯t cause Noah to toss and turn in restlessness. Snuggled into the warm woolen blankets of Sylvie¡¯s bed, he studied her naked back only a few feet from him. Gone were the days of sleeping on the hard floor, but the invitation to his mate¡¯s bed didn¡¯t bring the expected intimacy that should have been guaranteed between mates.


    At the beginning of their relationship, he didn¡¯t question her lack of physicality, as he was more concerned with his impending escape. Since then, nagging doubts ruined their scorching kisses and doused their lustful touches. Despite her eyes blazing with desire, Sylvie ended their trysts before they could go further than teenage fondling, always citing the same excuse: she didn¡¯t want to risk pregnancy until they extinguished the Unseelie threat.


    As he gazed at her back, he reached a hesitant finger toward her bronze skin, hesitating just inches from her flawless body before pulling away. How long could the pack afford to remain in this half-dead state they found themselves in? They still breathed, but the Unseelie had already destroyed what made their lives worth living.


    A smile spread across his face as he watched her ears twitch in her sleep. Without warning, she bolted upright, shocking his body into an instinctive retreat, a retreat that threw him off of the bed and onto the floor in a heap. As Sylvie glared at the cabin door, he panted heavily from the floor, grabbing his chest and attempting to slow his heart rate. His fear turned to outrage, and he vowed to himself that this injustice would not be forgotten.


    A second later, a soft knock tapped against the door, drawing Noah¡¯s thoughts and eyes toward the unusual occurrence. Other than Wren and the siblings, not a single pack member had visited their little oasis of a cabin. In a daze, he watched Sylvie throw on her leather pants and woolen shirt before his senses returned to him, and he rushed to cover his bare chest with his ruffled shirt. Just as he preserved his modesty by securing the last button, Sylvie flung the door open to reveal a solemn Alder.


    ¡°What is it, Alder? This better not be a social call this late at night.¡± Sylvie asked, crossing her arms in annoyance at the disturbance.


    Ignoring Sylvie¡¯s question, Alder studied the rumpled blankets covering the bed. Pain and heartache became visible on his face, spoiling his handsome features. As if doing so would threaten his life, he briefly sniffed the air, profound relief filling him as whatever he smelled or didn¡¯t smell eased his greatest fear. His head cocked toward Sylvie as his relief and excitement transformed into confusion, and he gazed into her eyes, searching for something within his alpha.


    With a shake of his head, Alder refocused on the purpose of his midnight disturbance. ¡°Alpha, you need to come to the territory entrance immediately. My father and other warriors are already there waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Unseelie?¡± she asked with a growl, emitting a vibration in the air that tingled Noah¡¯s skin.


    Alder shook his head with a grimace, prompting a shiver to course through Noah. What could be worse than the Unseelie that had been plaguing the pack?


    ¡°Vampires,¡± Alder whispered with nervousness quivering his voice.


    Yep, that was worse. With the Unseelie dominating their thoughts and fears, the even greater threat of the vampires had slipped his mind completely. With their numbers so low, every vampire was precious to a coven, and the coven master would not let the murder of one of their children go without retribution.


    Sylvie glanced toward him with a worried but determined look on her face. ¡°How many are there, and why are they not dead already? Our pack doesn¡¯t allow safe passage to Vampires.¡±


    ¡°Only one master vampire has come, but a dozen thralls accompany her. We didn¡¯t know if you would want to slaughter the former humans as well,¡± Alder said with a pitying glance at Noah.


    A mixture of rage and hopelessness threatened to overwhelm Noah. Saving the thralls was possible, but it was easier and more realistic to consider them as dead. What were the odds of finding the specific vampire who created them and then killing the near-invincible monster to grant them their freedom?


    ¡°Have they attacked or threatened violence on our pack?¡± Sylvie asked.


    Alder shook his head. ¡°They are carrying the white flag of parlay and claim they are not here for battle.¡± A silence filled the room as Alder turned toward Noah, looking him up and down in consideration. ¡°They only wish to discuss the murder of a vampire belonging to their coven.¡±


    ¡°Return to the territory entrance and do not let them leave the border under any circumstances,¡± Sylvie snapped, her form already beginning to shimmer with turbulent emotions.


    ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡± Alder shifted and took off in a blur, escaping Sylvie¡¯s impending blow-up as fast as his four paws could carry him.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let them take you, Noah. If it is a war they want, then the Baleful Fiend Pack will grant their request for bloodshed!¡± Sylvie shouted with wild eyes, a hair¡¯s breadth away from losing control.


    His bare feet thudded against the cold floor as he approached her, wrapping his mate in a soothing hug. ¡°I have no doubt you will protect me, Sylvie. Instead of jumping into an avoidable war, perhaps we should try diplomacy first.¡±


    He felt the anger drain from her body, and she buried her face into his chest. ¡°Noah, they will not allow the murder of one of their own to go unchallenged. Diplomacy is the goal, but we must plan for more inevitable outcomes.¡±


    She pulled away from his arms with concern marring her face. ¡°If negotiations break down, we will have to slaughter the thralls. Prepare yourself for that tragedy, Noah.¡±


    He clenched his fists, a rage deep inside of him fighting to claw its way free. ¡°If you can kill the master vampire who made them, they will return to normal humans. Our problem is that the thralls would never be allowed so close to our border if their maker was among them. The coven master wouldn¡¯t risk losing that many slaves and allow an enemy to scoop up soldiers with a vendetta against their coven.¡±


    Sylvie nodded with profound sadness. ¡°Don¡¯t place their blood on your hands, my mate. Coincidences are beyond your culpability.¡±


    Her words failed to pierce the shroud of guilt wrapped around him. It was a coincidence that he met a vampire during his escape attempt, but the escape attempt itself rested squarely on his shoulders. And now, because of his foolishness, a dozen humans were at risk, and the pack teetered on the brink of another war. Despite so many consequences, he avoided direct punishment for his own actions. Where was the justice in that?


    Stepping through the doorway, Sylvie glanced at him with a sigh. ¡°Just to be safe, please seek shelter in the lodge for the night. Whether they fail or succeed, I will return with news of the negotiations.¡±


    ¡°Yes, when we finish, we should drop by the lodge. Our presence will provide the other wolves with moral support,¡± he responded, already getting dressed in his trench coat and heading towards his cowboy hat and cane.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t coming, Noah.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am coming, Sylvie.¡±


    An arm as strong as iron stretched across the doorway, blocking his path. ¡°You are not going, and that is an order! I will not risk you for no reason, or have you forgotten that you are the killer that they seek?¡±


    He tugged at the obstacle blocking his path but frowned when he noticed the slight trembling of her arm. Despite her harsh words, he could find no anger on Sylvie¡¯s face, only fear. He would do almost anything to soothe her fears, but he could not yield to her on this.


    ¡°It is my responsibility, Sylvie. I will not allow others to suffer for my actions,¡± he whispered, imploring her to understand how important this was to him.


    Suddenly, the arm blocking his path disappeared, and thrown off balance, he stumbled out of the cabin and into the forest. A massive black wolf growled menacingly at him, snapping at him and forcing him to retreat toward the door. She rammed his legs with her forehead, nearly causing his leg to buckle and pushing him back step by step.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    As he was shoved back inside the cabin, he slammed a fist into the wall. ¡°Sylvie! If you force me to run from the Vampires, you will cripple me for life.¡±


    The pressure forcing him backward vanished, allowing him to reach forward and stroke her soft fur. Sylvie whined and nuzzled his chest with the side of her face.


    ¡°Mates, stand beside one another. You must allow me to face danger just as I allow you to. Otherwise, I am just a mate in a gilded cage,¡± he whispered, ruffling her fur with his breath.


    Her blazing silver eyes studied him for a few moments before she nodded her head. Decision made, she turned around and beckoned towards her back with her paw. As Noah leaped onto his mate, his mind attempted to defend itself against the evil whisperings of a demon.


    It wasn¡¯t the time, and she wasn¡¯t in the mood. Do it! No, no, he couldn¡¯t. The alluring voices slithered past his defenses, poisoning his mind with irresistible temptations. Finally, the voices in his head calmed as the war of his generation ended with a victory.


    ¡°Yeehaw! Giddy up, girl!¡± he shouted out, throwing the hand holding his cowboy hat into the air.


    ***


    A journey that would have taken Noah hours to jog was whittled down to less than half an hour. As they blurred between the towering trees, he noticed a layer of dead leaves covering the forest floor. Winter had arrived, and none of the green in the woods could withstand its fury. With the absence of the thick canopy of leaves, the moonlight shined down on the forest floor, bathing their territory in a soothing light. A smile that spread from the recesses of his soul brightened his face when he spotted specific shadows on the wooden walkways between the trees. He couldn¡¯t make them out clearly, but he knew what they were.


    A few minutes later, the glowing eyes of the territory symbol spotlighted the dangerous situation ahead of them. Over forty wolves had gathered, and unlike the confrontation with the human caravan, tensions were already bordering on violence by the time he and Sylvie arrived. The wolves¡¯ fur bristled on their backs, and growls rumbled overt threats to the emotionless enemies standing before them.


    Even at this distance, Noah could see the thralls dressed in black cloaks, with hoods covering their faces. Standing in an encapsulating circle, they protected the master vampire that controlled their every thought and action.


    Before the warrior wolves sensed their alpha¡¯s approach, the vampire and thralls shifted their stances to face the new arrivals. Once they reached the standoff, Noah leaped off of Sylvie¡¯s back, allowing her to shapeshift and greet the camouflaged monster.


    The circle of thralls parted, allowing him to study the appearance of the creature from his nightmares. It took on the appearance of a young human woman, save for the radiating red eyes. A black bonnet adorned with a red rose covered its brown ringlets, which bounced down to its neck. Rouge allowed its cheeks to blush, giving its skin a healthy appearance that wasn¡¯t possible for the living dead. A black Victorian cocktail dress with red lace gave it the distinct appearance of a sweet and innocent lady who had accidentally wandered into a den of wolves. Protecting her from the harsh rays of the non-existent sun, she twirled a parasol umbrella above her head, ensuring her alabaster skin wouldn¡¯t darken.


    ¡°Aw, the young alpha makes her appearance. The pressure to dominate a pack into submission must be absolutely dreadful at such a young age. How is that going, by the way?¡± the vampire drawled with a mocking giggle and a twirl of its umbrella.


    ¡°Name your business, vampire, or this will end in bloodshed,¡± Sylvie said, snorting at the attempted provocation.


    The vampire doubled over with laughter, causing its ringlets to bounce against its shoulders. ¡°Oh, will it now? I may not be able to fight this many wolves, but I am faster. You would never stop me from escaping, and I doubt you wish to declare war by slaughtering easily replaceable thralls.¡±


    ¡°State your business, vampire!¡± Sylvie shouted, falling victim to the vampire¡¯s goading.


    The vampire¡¯s eyes twinkled, immense pleasure brightening its face as the creature basked in such an amusing situation. ¡°Well, I am here to inquire about my dear brother, of course. Alas, someone stole his life not far from your territory.¡±


    Sylvie didn¡¯t flinch, not displaying an ounce of emotion on her face. ¡°Many have lost their lives in the surrounding areas recently. Who was this fallen brother?¡±


    The vampire smiled as if it knew Sylvie was playing dumb. ¡°My brother, Master Vampire Julius. If you don¡¯t recognize his name, perhaps you will recognize mine. When my father granted me a second life, he named me Laelia.¡±


    Sylvie pursed her lips but gave no sign she recognized the name. ¡°And which coven did this Master Julius belong to? I haven¡¯t heard of a Julius territory.¡±


    Laelia cackled, its haunting laughter reverberating through the wolves. ¡°Julius, a coven master?¡± it asked, wiping tears of blood from its red eyes. ¡°Julius was the youngest of us, barely older than a fledgling. He was quite weak, truth be told.¡±


    ¡°What coven are you from, vampire?¡± Sylvie demanded, a growl rumbling from her throat as her anger rose at the flippant creature.


    ¡°Why, I am from the territory ruled by my progenitor, Master Augustus, of course.¡±


    As Noah froze under the onslaught of tormenting memories, he couldn¡¯t silence the gasp that escaped from his lips. It was barely audible to himself, but the vampire¡¯s delicate ears had no trouble picking up the noise from forty feet away.


    Laelia¡¯s head snapped toward him, pinning him with predatory eyes. ¡°Goodness gracious, who do we have here? How curious it is to find a human amongst a pack of wolves?¡±


    Laelia sniffed in his direction, examining him with a nose no less sensitive than a shifter. ¡°Tell me, human, have you heard of the great Master Augustus?¡±


    A roaring filled his ears, and his vision swam. If this vampire was from the caverns, then it was one of the monsters who had hidden within the darkness and feasted upon his blood. A vengeance that he imprisoned deep inside broke free from its shackles, demanding that he kill the creature before him.


    In a daze, he took a small step forward, raising his cane with trembling arms. Fire burned within his veins as adrenaline flooded his blood, granting him access to overpowering strength. The vampire¡¯s death beckoned him, enticing his rage with an indulgent target.


    Firm fingers grasped his arm, breaking the spell of hatred that had ensnared him. He glanced at his mate and felt the wrath drain from his mind. Sylvie¡¯s fear-filled silver eyes pleaded with him, entreating him not to take this path.


    His logic returned to him as he took a deep, shuddering breath. With the Unseelie threat hanging above their necks, the pack¡¯s survival depended on avoiding a war with this coven. He had things to lose now, and he wouldn¡¯t sacrifice them for personal gratification. As the adrenaline left him, his weakened arms quivered, and he slowly lowered his cane to the ground.


    He stepped forward and tipped his hat with a beaming smile. ¡°Good day, my fair lady Laelia. I am afraid I am not acquainted with the honorable Master Augustus.¡±


    Laelia tilted its head in confusion, taking long, deep sniffs in his direction before shuddering in pleasure. ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s nearly imperceptible, but my nose refuses to dismiss such a pungent aroma. Its bouquet of alluring seduction entices me with its bewitching fragrance.¡±


    The vampire¡¯s red eyes shot open, and its gaze snapped to the bottom of his trench coat. Following its gaze, he cursed when he saw a speck of dried blood that had dripped onto his coat when he punched the window. He had cleaned his coat for hours after that night and could have sworn he had removed every ounce of blood. Apparently, he had missed a drop.


    ¡°Ab Negative! What a rare and delicious vintage you are, human,¡± Laelia said, clapping in excitement at finding such an uncommon treat.


    Sylvie shifted on the spot and blocked Noah from the vampire¡¯s sight. As soon as their Alpha shifted, the warrior wolves coiled their muscles, preparing to lunge forward in a devastating attack. The situation was about to turn sour, but he could still salvage this.


    With a booming laugh, he stepped around Sylvie, scratching her ear as he passed. ¡°That I am, my lady, that I am. However, I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t taste my sweet blood. You see¡­¡± He raised his hand, his mating mark gleaming in the light of the fae globes. ¡°You are too late, as someone has already claimed me.¡±


    Laelia hissed at the mark from Sylvie¡¯s bite with its fangs on full display. ¡°Spoiled by the dogs!¡±


    The vampire¡¯s glowing red eyes narrowed at the wolves, who snarled and snapped in its direction. ¡°You ruined a livestock that would have been delicious for decades, you mongrels.¡±


    A hand grabbed Noah¡¯s shoulder, pulling him back and allowing a recently shifted Sylvie to step in front of him. ¡°I suggest you leave, vampire, while we still allow you to. Tell your progenitor, Master Augustus, that we have not seen or heard from this Julius and bid him good luck in his search for the killer.¡±


    With its fangs jutting over its bottom lip and its predatory red eyes blazing, the human camouflage fell from the monster¡¯s face. ¡°Are you certain, Alpha? One culprit to save your pack? That seems like a worthy sacrifice to me.¡±


    ¡°There is no culprit here. Return to your caves and hide from the splendor of the sun like the leech you are,¡± Sylvie said, a mocking chuckle following her words. A wheezing laughter from the surrounding wolves added to the vampire¡¯s humiliation.


    Laelia nodded morosely. ¡°As you wish, Alpha. I will bring Master Augustus your answer, and he will be the one to decide your pack¡¯s fate.¡±


    With a snap of its fingers, the group of thralls turned as one, surrounding the master vampire in a protective circle. Just as the wolves began to relax, Laelia paused its retreat and looked back at Noah with a taunting glee in its eyes.


    ¡°Damn you, human. You have tempted my appetite, and now I will have to derive my pleasure from another source. Master Augustus will not be pleased with me.¡±


    In an instant, it blurred to one of the thralls, throwing back the hood and sinking its fangs into the thrall¡¯s neck. Sickening suction sounds filled the air, churning Noah¡¯s stomach. Like a coward, he averted his eyes so he wouldn¡¯t have to witness the feeding. But after a few moments, his eyes flickered over for just a peek, not able to ignore the atrocity being committed.


    The thrall turned out to be a young woman, and Noah felt a pang of sadness as he stared at her back. Like all vampire slaves, her hay-colored hair was shaved down to a stubble, and scars covered her neck. Laelia finally pulled its fangs free, and the young woman swayed on her feet, but it appeared her life had been spared.


    ¡°Ahhh, so delicious! AB Negative truly is the nectar of the gods,¡± Laelia declared, patting the corners of her mouth with a dainty black handkerchief.


    Time froze, and the rest of the world disappeared from his sight as his squinted eyes honed in on the young woman. Pouring over her neck, his eyes widened, and he gripped his chest as if a sword had pierced his heart. Displayed on the young woman¡¯s neck for all to see was a name from his memories ¡ª Master Augustus 2324 AB Negative 3. Strength abandoned his legs, and he fell to his knees. Hyperventilating, black spots filled his vision as he attempted to peer through the darkness at the young girl he had abandoned.


    Years of feeding had heavily scarred her neck, etching her torment into her skin. She was, for all intents and purposes, dead unless he killed the vampire who made her. And he would find it. And he would kill. No matter what it took.


    Tears filled his eyes, and he reached out a shaky hand toward Negative 3¡¯s retreating back. Freedom or death, and now, he was looking at what his freedom had cost. He hadn¡¯t paid the price, though. The young girl he thought of as a younger sister had been forced to pay it in his stead. A numbness filled him as he watched the vampire and thralls disappear into the darkness, burning an image into his psyche that would haunt his nightmares.

 Chapter 30

    Noah¡¯s boots crunched across the forest floor with the crackling of the brittle leaves filling the otherwise silent forest. After the vampire and its entourage vacated the territory, the warrior wolves trickled off one by one, returning to their homes for a well-deserved sleep. Sylvie had offered to let him ride her back to the cabin, but he declined and, instead, decided to walk the few hours home in solitude.


    The silence of the pre-dawn darkness didn¡¯t help him sort through his chaotic thoughts as much as he had hoped. Rampant thoughts flittered through his mind, too quick for him to grasp substantial ideas or true feelings before another thought took its place. The past that he had run from his entire life had finally found him tonight, and it refused to release him from its grasp without a fight.


    His steps slowed until he came to a stop between two towering trees. Gazing up at the brightening sky, the day¡¯s first rays of gentle sunlight bathed his face in warmth, erasing winter¡¯s chill from the night before.


    Decisions, decisions. Last night¡¯s events had presented him with an unsolvable conundrum. Did he move on from his past and let Negative 3 suffer her fate? Or did he abandon his new home and leave his new family to face the Unseelie threat alone? Either way, it seemed he couldn¡¯t achieve peace without obtaining closure.


    Increasing his speed, his stroll through the woods became a full-on jog as he raced home to seek Sylvie¡¯s advice. There was no reason to torture himself with these questions when he had a mate waiting to share this burden with him in their cabin. Chirping birds cheered him on as he crushed the dead leaves beneath his boots, and his fogging breath disappeared as the sun warmed the surrounding air.


    With a painful cramp in his ribs, he finally emerged from the trees, panting heavily and soaked with sweat. A loving warmth filled his heart as he gazed at the picturesque scene of their isolated cabin. Smoke billowed from the chimney, promising a roaring fire to warm his frozen fingers. His mate stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips and pursing her lips in artificial aggravation. All that was missing was a steaming pie on the windowsill and Sylvie naked save for an apron. The pie was possible, but he didn¡¯t think Sylvie would wear an apron willingly. Perhaps he could convince her it was some type of human armor?


    Crossing the distance that separated him from his mate, he slowed as the mock annoyance didn¡¯t fade from her face. He adorned his face with his most charming smile and raised his arms, inviting his mate to jump into his loving embrace. She didn¡¯t. Okay, maybe it was genuine annoyance at him.


    Glancing at her tapping foot and pursed lips, he slowly lowered his arms to his sides. ¡°Have you been waiting long, my mate?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no. In fact, I returned home only a few minutes ago,¡± Sylvie said while inspecting him up and down as if she were searching for injuries.


    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s strange. With your speed, you should have returned hours ago,¡± he said, studying every variable that could have slowed her down and how she could possibly blame him for it.


    She nodded her head, agreeing with him much too quickly for him to feel comfortable. ¡°You would think so, but my mate wished to be alone with his thoughts.¡± Her features softened, and concern for him overpowered her aggravation at whatever he had done. ¡°Which I understand, and I will grant you anything you desire if it will help you, Noah.¡±


    Filled with warmth, he nodded his head and wrapped her in a loving hug. ¡°Thank you¡ª¡±


    ¡°The problem is that I needed to stalk my mate through the woods for hours, all while keeping out of sight so I wouldn¡¯t intrude on his solitude,¡± she interrupted him, and her annoyance flooded back.


    ¡°You see, my mate, the warrior wolves caught Silas constructing lethal traps throughout the woods, any of which would have ended your life in an instant. Amazingly, you wandered within feet of your death multiple times on your perusing journey.¡±


    After becoming rigid with the electric shock that coursed through him, he attempted to pull away, but her arms only tightened around him.


    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯d like to explain why Luna almost burned down the crafter¡¯s cabin attempting to concoct a poison that would introduce iron directly into an Unseelie¡¯s bloodstream?¡± she whispered into his ear, causing him to shiver in fear¡­or possibly desire.


    ¡°We¡­they¡­the pack doesn¡¯t have a designated crafter,¡± he answered, floundering through his lies like some novice trickster.


    ¡°Apparently, we do now! And to think, none of them asked the Alpha of their pack for permission!¡± she exclaimed in mock surprise.


    ¡°Luna and Silas did what? And without our knowledge? This cannot stand Sylvie. We must remind them that they answer to the Alpha. In fact, I will go to their treehouse right now to reprimand them.¡± He again tried to break free of her grasp, but he had a better chance of breaking through steel.


    ¡°When I questioned where they had come across such maniacal ideas, they shared with me manuals of an unknown origin. The books were some type of manifesto authored by a madman. Insanity leaked across the pages of and pages of demented ramblings, and it illustrated some of the most devilish designs the world has ever seen.¡±


    ¡°We must not let this lunatic¡¯s theories spread amongst the pack. Did we discover any clues of the heretical book¡¯s origin?¡± he asked in a nervous voice, holding his breath as he awaited his fate.


    Sylvie snorted and shook her head, causing their cheeks to rub together in less of a romantic way and more of a psychotic way. ¡°Unfortunately, the books lacked a signature from the author who penned them.¡±


    ¡°Most unfortunate indeed. Evil villains cower behind anonymity when conducting heinous acts,¡± he said, sighing in relief as his confidence stormed back.


    Sylvie nodded and nipped at his ear, battering down his defenses one by one. Who needed torture when you had such methods at your disposal? By the time her tongue flicked his earlobe, he was willing to cough up any information she wanted to know.


    Lightly grabbing his cheeks with two hands, she pulled away and stared into his eyes. The glowing silver muddled his mind and stole his senses as she whispered, ¡°But then, I remembered my mate asking me to trade for blank books in the marketplace. For the entire week you were injured, you barely lifted your quill, and I remember becoming enraptured as each stroke of your pen danced across the pages with spectacular passion.¡±


    ¡°Imagine my surprise when, upon inspection of the dangerous text, an imprint of an extremely rare cowboy hat greeted me on the cover,¡± she said with a smile, finally releasing him and allowing him to retreat a few steps.


    ¡°You think someone is forging my name? Have I fallen victim to identity theft?¡± he asked with a gasp, covering his mouth in scandalous affront. She had nothing on him, so he could still save this. Deny, deny, deny.


    ¡°Of course, the real insight into the mystery came when Luna tried to defend her new ¡®master¡¯ and named you directly,¡± Sylvie said with a smug smile on her face as she watched him squirm.


    ¡°Dammit, Luna,¡± he said, throwing his hands up in exasperation. What happened to page twenty-three?


    The jig was up, and he released an accepting sigh. ¡°I can explain, Sylvie. I needed to apologize to the siblings for my escape attempt. It was unexpected how seriously they would take the books, but incorporating some of the ideas in there could enhance the security of the forest.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my mate. We acknowledged the potential of their experiments and allowed them to continue as long as they adequately marked the traps in the woods. Only a wolf¡¯s nose will distinguish the markings, so no more meandering through the trees without an escort.¡±


    Confused by the lack of anger in her voice, he glanced at her and spied a mischievous smile on her face. ¡°If you aren¡¯t mad, why was I just interrogated?¡±


    ¡°I thought your mind could use a distraction after last night. Did I make a mistake?¡± she asked, insecurity causing her voice to become hesitant.


    ¡°No, it was perfect. Thank you, Sylvie,¡± he whispered, pulling her back into their hug. Perhaps only his mate was devious enough to concoct such a scheme to comfort him, and perhaps only he could find comfort in such a devious scheme.


    After embracing for a few moments, Sylvie pulled back, grabbing his hand and interlocking their fingers. ¡°Now, come inside, Noah. We need to discuss last night.¡±


    He stood in front of the roaring fire, flexing his frozen fingers and removing his trench coat and boots. Sylvie sat at the table, waiting patiently for him to share his thoughts with her. Once the scorching flames began to make him sweat and burn his skin, he joined her at the table, not knowing how to begin.


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    ¡°Did you know that, vampire? Did she bring back painful memories for you?¡± Sylvie asked in a whisper, stroking her thumb across the mating mark on his hand.


    ¡°I did not know her.¡±


    ¡°Then what has burdened my mate with so much pain?¡± she asked, cocking her head in confusion.


    ¡°I did not know the vampire, but I knew the thrall it feasted upon,¡± he said in a strained voice, eyes fogging as the past threatened to steal his present. ¡°That was the little sister I told you about, Negative 3. I abandoned her to save myself, and she has paid the price for my selfishness.¡±


    A gasp drew his attention to Sylvie, whose hand covered her mouth and whose form flickered with intense emotion. With a deep breath, she controlled herself and nodded to him, inviting him to continue.


    Throwing his cowboy hat on the table, he ran his hands through his black hair with a long sigh. ¡°I have tried hiding from it, running from it, and forgetting it, but nothing has worked. I will not achieve the freedom I sought so many years ago unless I defeat the demons from my past.¡±


    ¡°We will face them together, my mate,¡± she said, gripping his hand tighter in reassurance.


    ¡°How can we face them together, Sylvie? You are an alpha. You can¡¯t abandon your pack for months or even years at a time for personal reasons.¡±


    ¡°We will figure out a way as soon as we deal with the Unseelie,¡± she whispered, ignoring the logical points he had raised.


    He slammed his fist against the table, but with his human strength, he could not cause the destruction he wished for. ¡°And how long must Negative 3 suffer while we wait for those bastard creatures to attack? How long would you ask me to bask in the joy this new life has brought me while she is tortured in the darkness of the caverns? At some point, valid reasoning turns into unjustifiable excuses.¡±


    ¡°The pack cannot face the fury of two territories. We can¡¯t gallivant off into the Wilds and attack a vampire coven while leaving our territory vulnerable, Noah,¡± she answered calmly in the face of his anger.


    ¡°So you suggest I bide my time and wait for the opportune moment?¡± he asked, standing up from his chair and walking to the fire. He stared at the flickering flames as the heat burned his skin and singed the tips of his hair. A shuffling noise sounded behind him as Sylvie followed him to the hearth until she stood so close to him that he could feel her breath on his neck.


    ¡°Throwing your life away won¡¯t save her, my mate,¡± Sylvie whispered, hugging him from behind and resting her chin on the top of his shoulder. ¡°To help her, we will have to plan our actions instead of acting on impulse. Once we survive the upcoming turmoil, we can figure out how to help them together.¡±


    She nuzzled his ear from behind, and he caressed her forearm for comfort. He took a deep breath before nodding his head in acquiescence. Every time he rushed into something without thinking, things only became worse. Case in point: his escape attempt that had created this entire mess. This time, he would be patient, and instead of running off alone, he would wait for his mate and pack to support him.


    ¡°After we defeat the Unseelie, I won¡¯t wait any longer, Sylvie. I will find a way to save not only Negative 3 but all the humans wasting away in the blackness of the caverns,¡± he vowed to Sylvie, himself, and any gods who may have been listening.


    Sylvie sighed, shaking her head and draping her raven hair over his shoulder and down his chest. ¡°You might have escaped the caverns and gained your bodily freedom twelve years ago, my mate, but you have entrapped your mind in a prison of your own making ever since. The cell has been unlocked, but you have refused to walk through the doorway to truly claim your freedom.¡±


    ¡°How can I? Those I left behind shackle me. The weight of their sacrifice and pain won¡¯t allow me to take that final step, no matter how much strength I use,¡± he whispered as his eyes filled with tears.


    ¡°I will lend my strength to you so that you can carry that weight, my mate. You need only to accept it,¡± Sylvie whispered into his hair. As the wood crackled and hissed in the hearth, he nodded in acceptance of her offer. Accepting help was easier said than done, but only a fool would slap away a helping hand.


    ***


    Over the next few days, stunning signs of change became apparent. At night, Noah tossed and turned with insomnia, fretting over Negative 3 and her fate, but he didn¡¯t suffer debilitating nightmares. Disturbing images didn¡¯t appear in his mind with obsessive regularity, and refuse to allow hope and positivity to take their place.


    Whenever his emotions overwhelmed him, the words that so often had died in his throat over the years flowed like a river to his mate, who stood ready to share his burdens and worries. Instead of erecting invisible barriers and isolating himself from the world, he took comfort in socializing with his pack.


    He didn¡¯t know when, but some kind of seal had broken inside of him, allowing him to deal with his guilt and anxiety in a healthier manner. Whatever foreign power had controlled him like a puppet the past decade had lost its tendrils of influence on his mind, allowing the sun to brighten his shadowed soul.


    One afternoon, he lay on Sylvie¡¯s bed with his hat covering his eyes while he attempted to balance his cane on its handle. He was making progress in the useless skill, but for the eighth time in a row, his hand grasped only air as the cane swayed and fell onto its side. It rattled against the wood floor just beyond his reach, forcing him to sit upright on the bed.


    As his fingers curled around the handle, the door to the cabin slammed open, leaving him to wonder if doors, not vampires, were the wolves¡¯ mortal enemy. Standing up from the bed, he examined his mate, who practically vibrated with excitement in the doorway. She hid her hands behind her back and fidgeted with unbridled anticipation.


    ¡°Well, hello, my mate. You seem awfully excited this afternoon. Did you finally realize that I should become the alpha of the pack?¡±


    Her excitement dissipated, and she glared at him with blazing silver eyes. ¡°If you want to be alpha, Noah, you must challenge me for the crown.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you should. After I defeat you, imagine the pleasure I could demand as my reward,¡± she said in a sultry whisper, with her eyes drooping with lustful intoxication.


    Was he unhinged for being attracted to an unhinged mate? He couldn¡¯t tell, but he certainly didn¡¯t care.


    With her arms still behind her back, Sylvie shook off whatever erotic daydreams had ensnared her mind and started to vibrate with excitement once more. ¡°I have a present for you, Noah. I¡¯m sorry it has taken me so long, but I had to request a certain merchant to hunt the materials down.¡±


    She flung her arms in front of her to reveal a bundle of cloth enclosed with twine. Taking the bundle in his hands, he felt the multiple objects clack against one another underneath the concealing cloth. Sylvie¡¯s eyes followed his fingers as he carefully untied the twine and released his gift from its prison. As the cloth floated gently to the floor, he gasped when a glass jar of bright blue ink and a tattoo needle appeared.


    ¡°I believe...,¡± Sylvie said, removing her shirt until she was topless and baring her left shoulder to him. ¡°¡­that you have a mate to mark.¡±


    With a wicked smirk, she glanced over her shoulder at him and explained, ¡°This ink is made from fae dyes, and although it won¡¯t glow in the dark, it carries the infused magic of their homeland. Your mating mark will contain just as much magic as mine does, Noah.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sylvie. This is the greatest gift I have ever received, and for all time I will cherish this ¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hurry up, Noah! I have waited long enough!¡± she snapped, causing him to jump and juggle the bottle of ink before securing it with a glare.


    ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s just remove all traces of romance and charm, shall we? Lay down on the bed,¡± he demanded, satisfaction flowing through him as her eyes flared at his challenge, but she followed his commands.


    Not fearing a potential infection with Sylvie¡¯s immune system, he wiped her shoulder with a damp cloth before patting it dry. He had already decided on his design weeks ago and began to tattoo her with the greatest artistic touch he could manage.


    Smoke rose from her skin as he injected the ink containing trace amounts of silver, but Sylvie didn¡¯t so much as flinch from the pain as he punctured her skin with the needle repeatedly. With her sizzling skin hissing hideous screams, his stomach churned at having to stab his mate with a needle covered in poison, but it was the only way to ensure the ink would set permanently.


    After a few hours, during which Sylvie never made a sound, he wiped the tattoo and led Sylvie to the window. She gazed over her shoulder at her reflection in the glass and traced the newly tattooed image with a gentle finger. It was a simple design, but nothing represented him more than a cowboy hat with a cane lying across the bill.


    ¡°Now, everyone will know that you are mine, my mate,¡± he declared with a nod of his head. ¡°You will see my mark every day on your skin and will know it signifies loyalty, honesty, and love. You will never be alone with any burden, for my strength has become yours, and the weight of your burdens will be shared upon my shoulders.¡±


    She didn¡¯t respond, still transfixed by her reflection in the mirror, and continued to trace his mark. Giving her some time to inspect the tattoo, he stared at the empty bottle of ink that had allowed him to express his love in a visible way to the world. Perhaps his blind eyes had opened just a sliver¡ªvalue indeed, Isla.


    He placed the empty jar on the table and returned to Sylvie, gripping her shoulders and spinning her around so that he could examine his handiwork. After tracing the irritated skin, he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his mark, shocking Sylvie into a shiver. Fearing he had hurt her, he glanced at her reflection in the window, but instead of wincing in pain, her silver eyes glowed with desire, brighter than he had ever seen them. As she spun around to face him, something in her eyes caused him to gulp.


    ¡°What happened to not risking pregnancy during times of war, my mate?¡± he asked with a trembling voice, retreating slowly toward the bed. She stalked him with slow, predatory steps until the back of his knees hit the mattress. With a gentle shove, she pushed him onto the bed with a growl. As she unbuttoned his ruffled shirt, her lust-filled eyes cleared for a moment as if just remembering the iron-clad rule she had enforced since their mating.


    ¡°Oh, my mate, there are many things we can do that won¡¯t risk pups,¡± she said, petting his cheeks with the back of her fingers.


    ¡°Lay on the bed, Noah,¡± she demanded with a growl.


    Noah firmed in futile defiance, reluctant to relinquish complete control over himself to another person. ¡°Now, hold on. I don¡¯t think you should order me aro¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lay on the bed now!¡±


    His traitorous body nodded and lay on the bed before his brain could bargain with it. She crawled on all fours until she straddled him and pinned his arms over his head, leaving him at her mercy.


    She kissed him tenderly on the mouth and whispered, ¡°You are going to do exactly what I say, my mate¡­¡± she kissed him again before nipping at his neck. ¡°¡­ when I say it¡­¡± she kissed his collarbone. ¡°¡­ and precisely how I say it.¡±


    She paused her teasing temptations and sought his consent one last time. ¡°Tell me, my mate. Will you succumb to me?¡±


    He stared into her glowing silver eyes and voluntarily surrendered his precious freedom to the one who had earned his trust. ¡°Yes, my mate.¡±

 Chapter 31

    In the middle of the night, dying embers glowed and crackled in the hearth, struggling in vain to produce their last bit of heat and light before they fizzled out. Sylvie¡¯s soft snores created a rhythmic melody that brought peace and comfort to the snuggled-up Noah. Wide awake and with his head still spinning from Sylvie¡¯s earlier amorous attentions, he sighed as the arm wrapped around his stomach pulled him tighter against his mate. After their intimacy, he had attempted to pull Sylvie close to his body for a cuddle, but he immediately lost that battle, and now, his back pressed against her chest, and her arm wrapped possessively around him.


    The soldiers from the caravan would surely laugh at the scene of Noah accepting the woman¡¯s position in bed, but he had never felt so safe while in his mate¡¯s powerful arms. The end goal of every romantic relationship is to be happy with a chosen partner, so why did the means by which he obtained that happiness matter to so many? He had achieved the happiness all couples sought, and no matter how unconventional the process to obtain that joy was, he was content with the life he had found.


    A howl rang out from deep within the forest, startling him into a jerk and waking Sylvie from her deep sleep. Her eyes shot open, and the possessive arm around his stomach disappeared as she jumped to her feet and began dressing at a lightning-fast pace. Sensing the urgency in her movements, Noah popped out of bed as well, pulling his clothes on as fast as he could.


    ¡°What is it, Sylvie? Another intruder at the territory entrance?¡± he asked, hopping around and attempting to pull on his boots while keeping his balance.


    Sylvie rushed to her wardrobe without answering his question, digging around in a trunk on the floor hidden away by a cover of stray clothing. Her frantic searching slowed until it ceased entirely, and with a deep breath, she turned around to face him with her silver eyes blazing. Dancing shadows from the glow of the embers concealed most of her face and obscured her expression, but her words reached his ears loud and clear. ¡°The howl is alerting the pack to an attack. It seems the Unseelie have finally made their move.¡±


    Noah narrowed his eyes as he grabbed his cowboy hat and cane. Finally, the time of anticipation and waiting had passed, and the battle was all that remained. Walking over to the wardrobe, he grabbed his hand crossbow that he had left untouched since the caravan battle. It was all but useless against most creatures but could cut down cannon fodder in droves or serve as a distraction for the truly powerful.


    Rubbing his finger along the drawstring, he checked for any fraying, and after finding none, he patted his trench coat to double-check he had his extra cane blades and bolts. With nothing to fear from his pack, he had long ago exchanged his cane¡¯s silver blade for iron. As prepared as a weak human could be for a battle between powerful supernaturals, he glanced at Sylvie, who remained on the floor, throwing objects out of the trunk in a furious frenzy.


    ¡°Sylvie! We cannot waste any more time on preparation. The howls of our pack mates call for aid, and we should give them our answer,¡± he shouted, grabbing her shoulders and attempting to pull her to her feet.


    Dozens of howls echoed throughout the forest as the wolves communicated the approaching danger across long distances. As if she couldn¡¯t hear the howls, Sylvie continued to sort through the trunk¡¯s contents in haphazard chaos. With a cry of joy, she located the object of her search and jumped to her feet. In her hands sat a small leather pouch covered in dust and crumpled into a lump of neglect.


    With her tearful eyes glued to the once-discarded object, she raised her hands and presented the pouch to him with reverence. ¡°My mate, when you were chosen as my partner a few short months ago, I never could have imagined the enormity of the gift I had received. You are everything I hoped and dreamed you would be, and I refuse to return to a life without you.¡±


    He reached out tentative fingers toward the pouch, but her hands clasped around them, shielding it from his greedy grasp. ¡°Noah, you must promise me you will stay in the lodge unless the warrior wolves fall. Promise me you will remain there until the enemy breaches the heart of the pack.¡±


    He snorted in disbelief at her orders and whacked his cane against the ground with a loud smack. ¡°You must be joking, Sylvie. I will fight beside my mate on the front lines where I belong.¡±


    Sylvie placed a finger over his lips, cutting off his continued arguments. ¡°I don¡¯t doubt your bravery, my mate. I don¡¯t doubt your ability in battle, and I don¡¯t doubt that you will sacrifice your life for the pack.¡±


    She slowly removed her finger, leaving a tingling warmth on his lips. ¡°That is why I trust you to defend the lodge. The lifeblood of our pack will be sheltered there: the elders, whose wisdom we can ill afford to lose, the young pups who promise a better future for our pack, and our crafters, without whom we¡¯d still be wanderers, sleeping on the cold, barren land with no home to call our own. The pack is dead without these wolves, and I need the one I trust above all to protect them, my mate.¡±


    The praise from his mate coursed through him, inflating his chest with pride and lifting his chin with ego. ¡°If the lodge contains the most precious wolves of the pack, then, of course, we should place its most powerful warrior there to guard them.¡±


    Sylvie had tears in her eyes, distorting the radiating silver, but he could still see her fear and concern shining through. ¡°I know what I ask of you, Noah. I ask my mate to stand before a powerful enemy and lay down his life if need be to save my pack. I do not ask this of you lightly, but I have faith you will overcome anything the Unseelie can throw at you.¡±


    Her eyes fell to the ground in shame at her selfish request, but he gently gripped her chin and raised her head until their eyes met. ¡°I will await news of your triumph at the lodge, and if a few enemies sneak past our warriors, I will fight until my last breath to protect our pack. You have my word that I will not leave the lodge until then, so please fight unburdened with concerns for my safety.¡±


    A sad smile titled Sylvie¡¯s lips, and she wiped the tears from her cheeks. ¡°Our pack, is it?¡±


    Noah nodded with a satisfied smile. ¡°Our pack, our home, and our family.¡±


    Narrowing her eyes at the pouch resting in her palms, Sylvie presented it to him once again, and he wasted no time plucking it from her with nimble fingers. After untying the twine and dumping the contents onto his hand, he gasped as enormous fangs and claws tumbled out onto his palm. These were the largest he had ever seen, and not even in the boastful stories of drunks had he even heard of shifters growing this big. Which mythical wolf had such weapons been plucked from?


    ¡°The remnants of my father,¡± Sylvie whispered, complex emotions spreading across her face as she stared at her father¡¯s remains. ¡°It is tradition to display them in a place of honor within your home, but I feared upsetting the rest of the pack with such a memorial. I hid them away in shame and allowed them to gather dust.¡±


    Her finger pushed the last remaining proof of her father¡¯s might around his palm, creating a rattling of bones in the silent cabin. ¡°He was a monster, but he was still my father, and I loved him,¡± Sylvie choked out, tears once again filling her eyes. ¡°Before he disappears from this world, my father¡¯s power will protect this pack.¡±


    ¡°Sylvie, I can¡¯t desecrate your father¡¯s remains like this,¡± he whispered, grabbing her hand and attempting to dump the fangs and claws into her fingers.


    She broke free from his grasp in a flash and closed his fingers into a tight fist around the family heirloom. ¡°I offer this to you freely, my mate. They will infuse you with the power of an Alpha, and my father¡¯s roar will ring out one last time on the battlefield.¡±


    Sylvie kissed him gently on the lips before pulling him into a desperate hug. Her chin rested on the top of his head, pushing the tip of his cowboy hat over his eyes. More and more distressed howls rang out from deep within the forest, prompting them to pull apart with determined gazes.


    ¡°The pack needs their alpha, Sylvie. You must go now, but don¡¯t you dare return to me with injuries, or you will witness a wrath that only humans are capable of.¡±


    She flung open the door, revealing a cloud-filled sky with only the illumination from the fae globes, allowing his eyes to see the surroundings of their cabin. Pausing in the doorway, she glanced back at him one last time with a smile, and he hurried to capture the image in his memories.


    Long, raven hair draped down to her lower back, and her pearly white teeth reflected the light of the fae globes with a dazzling smile. Flawless bronze skin glistened in the subtle glow, with only his mating mark blemishing her shoulder. And, most striking of all, an image that would be burned into his mind and memories for all time¡ªblazing silver eyes valiantly keeping the encroaching darkness at bay.


    ¡°And I expect my mate to welcome me home while whole and healthy. If not, he will answer to the rage of an alpha wolf,¡± she teased before shifting instantly and bounding off into the forest in a blur.


    Wiping the dopey smile off of his face, he darted into the blackness of the woods with only his pathetic human night vision to guide his way. Stumbling over stray bushes and entangling roots, he finally came upon the meadow, and the stunning sight stole his breath.


    Fae globes illuminated the lodge like a lighthouse serving as a beacon to the pack, and the purple flowers swayed in the slight breeze, undeterred by the freezing temperatures of winter. Wolves streamed into the multiple swinging doors, seeking shelter and safety, and he smiled when he realized the extraordinary sight justified the endangerment of his life. He was no longer daring death for whimsical reasons but risking his life for things he could ill afford to live without.


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    He hurried to join the procession of civilian wolves, ignoring the chaos brought by fear and rushing straight to the kitchen. Fumbling metal pans and pots with loud clinks, he finally found what he was looking for and grabbed a mortar and pestle. He dumped the contents of the leather pouch in the mortar and began grinding Ajax¡¯s claws and fangs into as fine a powder as he could manage. Even after grinding the bones into the finest powder he could, a mountain of dust filled the bowl, and he wondered how many snorts it would take to ingest all the former alpha¡¯s power.


    ¡°Attention! Whether you decide to pass the battle in wolf or human form, you will gather toward the roots of the lodge, and you will avoid any doors or windows. Any wolves who are willing and able to fight, join me at the front of the lodge.¡±


    Noah glanced at the speaker as he scooped the last of the powder back into the leather pouch. Calla, the Guardian of the pack, had become the commander of the lodge¡¯s defenses and symbolized a powerful hope for the terrified wolves under her care.


    As prepared for the upcoming battle as he could be, he joined the handful of pack mates gathered around Calla and stood ready for her commands. A hard shove almost threw him to the ground as a pack mate bumped into his shoulder. With a snarl and a curse, he rounded on the clumsy wolf, prepared to unleash his fears on the undeserving target, but fell into stunned silence as Silas greeted him with a nod. After his brief nod, Silas returned his focus to Calla, gazing at her with a determined expression. An iron dueling sword stuck out from his waist, mocking Noah by poking him in the thigh.


    ¡°Silas? What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing? Go gather with the other non-combative wolves,¡± Noah yelled at him as a chill of fear shivered through the depths of his soul.


    ¡°This is my home, Noah, and these wolves are my family. It is my duty to protect them, and I will not disgrace myself by abandoning my post,¡± the young teenager said, not even turning to face Noah.


    Noah frantically shook his head, and his unbridled fear climbed with each passing second. He refused to allow this young wolf, all of seventeen years old, to fight the Unseelie monstrosities. ¡°Silas, it is not the duty of pups to fight for the safety of the pack. It is the duty of the adults to protect the next generation and secure a better future for the pack. Your day to fight will come, but it is not today.¡±


    ¡°Noah, you cannot ask me to cower in safety while you and my sister risk your lives in battle,¡± Silas said, shaking his head in disgust.


    ¡°Your sister? What are you talking about¡­¡± he asked, trailing off in dread when a throat cleared from his other side.


    With incredulous, widened eyes, he whipped around only to be met with Luna, whose head didn¡¯t even reach his chest. A woolen hat rested snugly over her ears, and two crudely cut holes allowed her pigtails to bounce down to her shoulders. She had mud or some kind of dye smeared down her cheeks for camouflage, and small leather pouches hung from a belt wrapped around her tiny waist.


    ¡°Oh, what the fuck, Luna! Are you kidding me?¡± he yelled out, throwing his hands in the air and whipping his head back and forth between the siblings.


    Posing in a psychotic military stance, Luna jutted her bottom lip out, and he could practically see the aura of stubbornness encasing her. ¡°I will fight for my home, Master. Your apprentice stands ready to unleash her terror upon the Unseelie nightmares.¡±


    Noah closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, trying to stave off the impending headache. ¡°Luna, you are ten years old. You will not be fighting in this battle. That is your Master¡¯s orders, and they are final,¡± he said through clenched teeth, glancing toward his young apprentice. ¡°And what happened to your eyebrows?¡±


    A blush crept up the side of her neck, and she ran her finger over the bare skin where her eyebrows had once been. ¡°The perils of training, Master.¡±


    A swooshing sound behind him grabbed his attention, and he turned to see Silas swinging his iron sword through the air.


    ¡°Would you stop that! You aren¡¯t fighting,¡± Noah snapped at him.


    ¡°We can help, Master. We have studied your fighting manuals and have trained nonstop in your ways of war,¡± Luna chimed in from his side, giving him whiplash as he tried to focus on one absurd comment after the next.


    Silence descended upon the lodge as inhuman screams of terror sounded out from deep within the forest. Clicks, wails, and screeches echoed in the distance, containing such pain and suffering that just hearing the screams hurt Noah¡¯s soul.


    ¡°What nightmares have our warriors unleashed upon our enemies?¡± he muttered while stroking his chin deep in thought. His hand froze, and his eyes bulged as he noticed the frightening smiles on the siblings¡¯ faces.


    ¡°Um, what have you two been up to recently?¡± he asked, terrified to hear their answer.


    ¡°I have littered the forest with traps to greet our enemy. By now, iron will surely be piercing their bodies from every direction. They will enter the afterlife without ever knowing what caused their deaths,¡± Silas said, cackling with manic glee.


    Luna copied her brother¡¯s deranged laugh, causing goosebumps to form on Noah¡¯s arms. ¡°And I coated the iron with a poison that will catch fire upon coming in contact with fae blood.¡±


    Holy shit, what kind of monsters had he created? With a shake of his head, he purged the knowledge from his mind. He didn¡¯t have time to handle this, and more importantly, no one could place the blame on him. Without having seen a single Unseelie, he was already on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He needed to convince the siblings to seek safety so that he could focus on his own battles.


    A lightbulb went off in his head, and he kneeled in front of the insane brother and sister. ¡°In case the Guardian and the rest of the adults fall, it will be up to you two to save the lifeblood of the pack. We must keep capable warriors in reserve to defend the helpless.¡±


    Luna puffed her chest out with pride and beat her fist upon her shoulder. ¡°Master, I will guard the helpless wolves with my life. If the Prince himself walks through that door, I will run out to meet him in glorious battle.¡±


    Noah almost had a panic attack as he pictured the young girl running headfirst toward an Unseelie Prince. Were the siblings always this nuts, or did his influence somehow transform the children into little demons?


    ¡°I expect nothing less of my apprentice. Now heed my orders and join the other wolves gathering for safety. They may require your might before the night is through.¡±


    Luna cheered out like the little pup she was and pranced over to the other wolves, humming a joyful tune. One down and one to go, Noah thought, returning his focus to Silas, who stood firmly with no signs of following his orders.


    ¡°Silas, please do this for me. I do not doubt your prowess, only the necessity of deploying children to war.¡±


    Noah spied no fear on the teenager¡¯s face as Silas shook his head stubbornly. ¡°I am not a human child. We are born with violence and war flowing through our veins, and I will stand with the other wolves to eradicate our enemies.¡±


    ¡°You are not a human child, but you are my family!¡± Noah snapped at the stubborn teenager.


    Silas¡¯ eyes fell to the floor at the rebuke, but still, the boy refused to back down. Noah felt guilty, but he had to keep this teenager far from the battle, even if it meant poking at deep insecurities. ¡°You would allow Luna to be unguarded?¡±


    Silas stiffened at his words, and his narrowed eyes shot up to glare at Noah. It was a low blow, but Noah would do whatever it took to keep the siblings safe.


    ¡°You once told me that Luna¡¯s protection came above all else for you. Calla and I will protect the pack, and you will guard your sister. Do we have a deal, Silas?¡±


    Silas gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, but he nodded slightly. With a sigh, Noah put a hand on the teenager¡¯s shoulder, frowning at how rigid Silas¡¯ tension-filled body was. What kind of world forced children to carry such heavy burdens on their shoulders?


    ¡°Silas, I have noticed and will remember your bravery. You are not hiding from danger but serving as the pack¡¯s last line of defense,¡± he whispered, patting his brother¡¯s shoulder and smiling when he felt Silas¡¯ body release the taunt tension.


    Without a word, Silas headed toward the roots of the lodge but paused after a few steps. ¡°Take care, Noah. I don¡¯t wish to see the day you are bested in battle. Otherwise, Luna¡¯s illusion of her master¡¯s immortality would crumble. She¡¯d be a heartbroken menace if she learned she had followed the teachings of an ordinary human.¡±


    Noah released an arrogant chuckle and pounded his chest with his fist. ¡°Before the night is through, you will see why the gods fear me and the devils worship me.¡±


    With a loving smile on his face, he watched Silas join Luna and the other civilian wolves in the back of the lodge. An electric shock coursed through his body, freezing him and causing his eyes to bulge.


    ¡°Wait! Wasn¡¯t that the same speech Sylvie used to convince me? Was I duped by my mate?¡± he whispered, thinking back on his and Sylvie¡¯s emotional goodbye before gritting his teeth as realization washed over him. He felt a flush of embarrassment crawl across his neck and face as he was forced to acknowledge that he had fallen for his mate¡¯s scheme so easily. She actually convinced him that he was performing some great and honorable duty, but in reality, he was safe in the lodge with the other weak wolves.


    Damn, that crafty mate of his! He whacked his cane against the ground in annoyance, but it was too late to change his role in this battle. With a snort, he returned his attention to Calla and the six wolves standing before her, who, despite lacking the strength to become warriors, volunteered their lives to protect their loved ones.


    ¡°The Alpha has left as many warrior wolves as she could spare to patrol around the lodge. We will stay inside so they don¡¯t have to worry about our safety. If they fall, it will be up to us to engage the enemy. Make peace with your lives, and prepare for battle in whatever way you see fit,¡± Calla said, staring each of the volunteers in the eyes before whacking her wooden cane against the floor in dismissal.


    With a determined nod, the volunteer warriors walked off to prepare themselves, splitting up and conducting their pre-battle rituals. Some shifted into wolf form, inspecting their gleaming claws for chips and examining the sharpness of their fangs with a swipe of their tongue. Others meditated in human form, preparing their minds for the impending battle.


    ¡°Guardian,¡± Noah greeted, tipping his hat and walking up beside Calla.


    ¡°Are you ready, human?¡± Calla whispered, glancing at him out of the corner of her functioning eye.


    He nodded and released a demented chuckle. ¡°Let them come. They will not find the easy prey they are expecting here.¡±


    Calla threw her head back with a laugh, her wispy grey hair twirling through the air. ¡°Spoken like a true wolf. I look forward to sharing the battlefield with a human for the first time. Show me how your race has survived all of this time!¡±


    ¡°It will be my honor, Guardian. Even in your old age, you may still learn a thing or two from this human,¡± he said with a wink.


    Howls broke out in the distance from different directions, and Calla cocked her head to listen. ¡°The enemy has encircled us and is slowly tightening the noose. We do not have the numbers to defend such a large perimeter.¡±


    She turned toward him with a frightening grin and a glare filled with promised violence. ¡°Our warriors cannot intercept all of them. They will come.¡±


    ¡°And we will greet them,¡± he said with his own unhinged smile.

 Chapter 32

    Eaganath, the banshee commander of the Unseelie forces, clicked and clacked across the forest floor with her hyper-extended limbs popping in and out of socket with each step. Unseelie corpses littered the ground with only a few wolves, adding to the meadow of death and suffering. A towering inferno blazed from a pit of hell to her right, its flames feasting on the dead bodies of unsuspecting victims. She could barely make out the iron spikes peppering the bottom of the hole through the haze of the fire.


    Despite glowing red and warping under the extreme temperatures, the spikes remained pointed and upright, seeking their next victim with gleeful anticipation. As more of her forces fell into the countless pits, the spraying blood from the first wave of victims combusted, burning the unfortunate souls who believed themselves safe after falling on top of their dead brethren.


    Continuing through the woods, she clambered over a massive trunk filled with iron spikes. The crushed and flattened bodies of Unseelie surrounded the trunk, leaving a trail of death of those who had been caught unaware by the tumbling trunk. Relying on pure numbers, the Unseelie had forced the wolves to retreat, barraging them with unrelenting attacks. Excited by the retreating wolves and lost in bloodlust, the soldiers of her army never saw the giant trunk drop from the canopy of the trees. A silent killer, the weapon swung from the limbs of the trees with massive force, annihilating hundreds of her frontline soldiers.


    Of course, the Prince¡¯s partner warned them of the traps, but knowing about them and avoiding them proved to be two vastly different things. The red caps and goblins did not have the intelligence to distinguish between a wolf dodging an attack and a wolf dodging a particular spot on the ground. They fell to the cruel traps in droves, allowing the wolves to funnel her spread-out forces into a half dozen choke points.


    She crested a small hill and inspected the horrors of war that their invasion had unleashed upon the world. Perhaps out of traps, almost a hundred wolves ceased their hit-and-run tactics and launched an impressive counterattack. Red caps and goblins swung their recently acquired silver weapons at the wolves, and upon each successful strike, the blades gashed open gaping wounds. Steam hissed from the wounds as the silver came in contact with the wolves¡¯ blood, drawing howls of suffering from even the veteran warriors amongst them.


    Although the enemy had superior strength, speed, and durability, the Unseelie held the inevitable advantage of numbers. Eaganath¡¯s soldiers swarmed the wolves like ants, crawling over the shifters and stabbing into their blood-soaked fur. Dozens died before they could cut down a single wolf, but the Unseelie could afford such sacrifices.


    Hags shivered on the back lines of the battle, stumbling around like drunks and filling the air with moans of pleasure as they released the magic in their veins. Eaganath watched as a massive wolf bit the head off of a goblin before swirling around to swipe its claws at a red cap, bisecting the Unseelie gnome at the waist in a torrent of blood. Steam hissed from the wolf¡¯s dozens of wounds, hiding it within a haze of poisonous fog.


    A hag turned toward the gladiator, muttering a spell and moaning as she released the magic. Fog clouded the wolf¡¯s yellow eyes, and it stumbled about like its balance had been stolen from it. With a shout of glee, the red caps and goblins swarmed the disoriented wolf, burying its howls of despair beneath a mound of Unseelie.


    Wails rang out in the forest, and Eaganath cocked her head to decipher her sisters¡¯ messages. These choke points had stalled the entire Unseelie army, and they were struggling to break through the enemy¡¯s defensive lines. Clicks and hisses, along with howls of pain from the wolves, continuously sounded out in the distance and created a symphony of pain, suffering, and death. Eaganath had no Sluagh or Fachan under her command for this invasion, but she held a secret weapon she hesitated to deploy.


    The Prince had given her forty-five days to bring the main army to the wolves¡¯ territory, but overeager to please her master and impatient to begin the attack, she had pushed the army to the point of exhaustion. Thankfully, she had because the vampire coven had already confronted the wolves, forcing the Unseelie to commence the attack ahead of schedule. If the Prince¡¯s partner wanted to assume command of the pack, they had to remove the current alpha before the vampires reduced the territory to ruins.


    And there lay Eaganath¡¯s hesitation. Her goal was not to conquer or destroy the Baleful Fiend Pack but to distract and stall the warrior wolves. Every shifter¡¯s death reduced the fighting strength of their new ally, but she also refused to allow members of her own race to be slaughtered before her eyes. In a flurry of fangs and claws, the wolves tore apart the Unseelie, creating a lake of blood beneath the corpses of her fallen brethren.


    Deep in contemplation, her fangs bit into her chin and released trickles of blood. The trickles merged with the bloody streams from her eyes and created a torrent of blood flowing down to her chest. If the Unseelie forces were routed, there could be no alliance, which left her no choice but to call upon an ancient terror. Shrieking a wail that caused the battlefield to freeze, she hailed the Prince¡¯s most prized subordinate.


    Common wisdom said silver was a shifter¡¯s greatest weakness, but after extensive scouting, Eaganath had identified an even greater weakness for the Shifters. Believing other forms of fighting were reserved for the weak, the wolves relied on their physical prowess at the expense of strategy. After the battle, perhaps she could enlighten her new allies to their foolish errors.


    After nodding in satisfaction at her logical decision, Eaganath fell to her hyper-extended knees as the ground shifted and rumbled beneath her. Converging with the radiating embers from the pits of hell, a dull orange glow brightened the horizon. As fast as their stumpy legs could carry them, the red caps and goblins retreated while the hags stumbled and crawled further away from the battlefield.


    The dull orange glow brightened with each passing second until it transformed into a blinding orange light, forcing the combatants on the battlefield to shield their eyes or risk blindness. The shifting landscape buckled and rolled violently, throwing the Unseelie and wolves to the ground.


    Eaganath took no pleasure in the countless deaths and destruction she was about to unleash, but an image of her daughters living in a hopeless world flashed through her mind, causing her lingering doubts to vanish. The Unseelie had spent three hundred years in this prison of a world, and she refused to spend another day without striding toward freedom.


    With one last wail, she retreated from the battlefield as a towering mass of molten rock crested the small hill. The Elemental left a trail of smoldering char and powdery ash in its wake as it lumbered toward the battlefield in a plodding charge. Eaganath shook her head as brave but na?ve warrior wolves charged the embodiment of fire, seeking to destroy its core, hidden away deep within its body of molten rock.


    ¡°Foolish,¡± she whispered as she watched the wolves catch fire without ever coming within striking distance. The smell of singed fur burned her nostrils, and agonizing howls shook the forest as the wolves attempted to roll across the ground and extinguish the flames.


    Silver might slice through shifter hides like butter. Silver might poison their magic, inhibiting their ability to heal and regenerate. But the Shifter¡¯s greatest weakness was that they could not fight from a distance. They were so proud of their physical prowess, and with one Unseelie, all of that arrogance had melted beneath molten rock. Who needed silver when you had an invincible champion on your side?


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    The Elemental grabbed at its body, plucking off and molding the molten rock into a concentrated ball of magic-infused lava. With a roar, the Elemental hurled the devastating projectile toward a group of wolves, who jumped dozens of feet in an attempt to dodge. Upon impact, the blazing ball detonated with an explosion that shook the earth, spraying soil high into the air. The impact flung shrapnel of lava across the forest floor and blanketed the towering trees, instantly engulfing the enchanted woods in a hellish inferno. Great billows of smoke plumed into the sky as the wolves retreated with impotent whines, unable to stop the destruction of their home.


    With a gentle wail, Eaganath commanded the Elemental and the rest of her master¡¯s forces to press the attack, and with each step, they came closer and closer to the heart of the Baleful Fiend Pack. Acrid smoke burned her eyes and stung her nostrils as the once majestic trees smoldered around her. At this rate, the enchanted forest the wolves called home would be reduced to a wasteland of ash.


    The Elemental lumbered through the forest uncontested, disregarding all attackers and setting the forest ablaze with thundering bombs of lava. Far from the ancient titan of fire, the wolves and Unseelie re-engaged in a pointless skirmish of physical warfare.


    Just as Eaganath was about to order the retreat of the Elemental, a whooshing sound cut through the air and struck the fire god, ripping off a chunk of its body. Fortunately, the Elemental¡¯s core remained unharmed, and flames quickly formed around the hole and restored its body to its original condition. Another whooshing sound sliced through the air, blasting another chunk of the behemoth¡¯s body and forcing the roaring titan to its knees.


    Eaganath nervously wiped the tears of blood from her eyes and searched the forest floor for the hidden assassin. Another whoosh sounded, but this time, she spotted a blur flying through the air at incredible speed. As the blur struck the Elemental, Eaganath followed its trajectory. Instead of finding the attacker hiding behind a tree, she followed the blur¡¯s path to the canopy high above their heads.


    Unbeknownst to Eaganath, the wolves had built an airborne city hidden from the prying eyes of her scouts on the ground. Treehouses, platforms, and bridges entangled within the limbs of the massive trees, and in the distance, she located a silhouette standing on a platform. Just as the movement of the shadow caught Eaganath¡¯s eye, another blur sliced through the air toward the Elemental, blowing off another chunk of its body.


    With a wail, she pointed out the attacker to the Elemental, who plucked off another bomb from its body and hurled the projectile toward the platform. As the blazing ball of lava closed in on the platform, Eaganath spotted a woman with a short, blonde ponytail. The radiating glow of the molten rock illuminated the platform just as the woman loaded another bolt into the ballista. A beaming smile brightened her face, and tears of joy wetted her cheeks.


    ¡°A wolf?¡± Eaganath shouted as instead of the bomb disintegrating the woman, she shifted into a wolf, smaller than a normal fox, and darted across the bridge to another platform. Her previous location exploded in a tornado of flame, but the shifter was already loading a second ballista far out of reach from the blazing inferno.


    ¡°You fight like a cowardly human! Has your pride abandoned you?¡± Eaganath wailed out, furious that a supernatural race had adopted human weapons.


    Laughter echoed through the trees as iron-tipped bolts repeatedly struck the Elemental, tearing the monster down chunk by chunk. ¡°Cowardly? This is the first time in my life that a coward¡¯s shame has not stained my soul.¡±


    From its knees, the Elemental hurled another ball of lava toward the shifter, but the fox-sized wolf abandoned its ballista, darting across the swaying bridges to another platform. With no wasted movements, the woman shifted and began to arm another ballista. How many of the heinous contraptions littered the trees, and why hadn¡¯t the Prince¡¯s partner warned them of such artillery?


    A game of cat and mouse began as the Unseelie chased the retreating wolves, and the Elemental hurled bomb after bomb at the would-be warrior in the trees. Ballista bolts rained down on her master¡¯s army, cutting down the soldiers in droves and halting their advance. Emboldened by the long-rage support, the wolves on the ground attacked the Unseelie with renewed fury. As the ground forces fought to a stalemate, the decisive battle thundered above their heads.


    Although small enough for a human teenager to kill, the assassin in the trees dodged each blazing projectile with a speed and quickness that defied logic. Haunting laughter boomed from the canopy as the deranged woman derived pure joy from the thrills of battle.


    ¡°You cannot run forever, coward! Your precious forest burns around you, and eventually, the inescapable inferno will trap you in a fiery prison,¡± Eaganath shrieked, raising her voice to be heard above the booming cacophony of the battle.


    Her threats only produced cackling laughter from deep within the canopy. ¡°You think I would disgrace my dream by allowing fear to stop me? I prepared myself to risk everything when I stepped onto this battlefield, and the threat of death will not cause me to falter.¡±


    ¡°Searing flames will lick at your skin, and your agonizing screams will haunt the forest. What good is a dream if it transforms into a nightmare?¡± Eaganath asked with a wail.


    ¡°Perhaps I will fall today, but others will take my place. After all, dreams are invulnerable, and even in this oppressive world, those who hope for more are never-ending,¡± the woman shouted between cackles of joyous laughter.


    The Elemental, reduced to a small, misshapen mass, hurled one last fireball toward the shifter at the same time the woman released an iron bolt. In a near miss, the bolt and fireball avoided colliding in mid-air by inches, and both proceeded unhindered on their respective trajectories.


    The bolt reached the Elemental first, and a shattering crack reverberated over the behemoth¡¯s roar of despair. With its core shattered, a suction force pulled the surrounding air and smoke into a concentrated ball before exploding out in a massive explosion. The blast instantly disintegrated the unlucky Unseelie within the blast zone, while the percussive force of the explosion threw the rest of the fae and wolves dozens of feet through the air.


    Eaganath carved a trail through the soil as her bones shattered upon impact. As she came to a skidding halt, she lifted her head just in time to see the assassin shift to her pathetic wolf form, preparing to once again dodge across a bridge and avoid the fireball.


    With blood clogging her throat, a wet cackle sounded from Eaganath as a hag¡¯s spell hit the shifter, disorientating her and impeding her escape. The concentrated ball of molten rock struck near the runt, and the force of the blast threw the wolf into the air with a yelp of pain. Relief flooded through Eaganath as she watched the tiny silhouette fall hundreds of feet and slam into the earth in a cloud of dust.


    From her prone position on the ground, she wailed the command to charge, eager to push through the pitiful defenses of the remaining wolves and merge with her sisters¡¯ armies. As the remaining red caps and goblins charged the wolves with their silver weapons flashing, a deep growl vibrated the air, causing both sides to disengage. One side shivered in fear while the other howled in joy.


    Eaganath peered into the dark forest while the dancing lights from the flickering inferno behind her illuminated the shadows. She squinted her eyes as something deep within the forest caught her attention. Two silver lights appeared in the darkness, seeming to float in mid-air. The mesmerizing silver came closer and closer until Eaganath could see that they were eyes attached to a massive black wolf. Blood matted the wolf¡¯s fur, and gore hung from its snarling maw. With a wail of despair, Eaganath acknowledged what type of monster had joined the battlefield. The Alpha had come.


    An involuntary shiver shook her body as she spotted the other massive wolves flanked at the Alpha¡¯s side. Those demonic silver eyes passed over the corpses of her pack mates before gazing at the ashen wasteland of her territory, still engulfed in uncontrollable flames. The silver eyes snapped toward Eaganath, who attempted to crawl with her broken body and retreat from the Alpha¡¯s fury. With a howl that put her wails to shame, the Alpha charged with her razor-sharp fangs and claw, glinting in the flickering lights of the flames. As her head sailed through the air, Eaganath¡¯s last conscious thought before death claimed her was that of a mother who had failed to secure a hopeful future for her young daughters.

 Chapter 33

    Noah stood at the lodge windows, straining his human eyes to see beyond the dull glow of the fae globes. Next to him, Calla waited patiently, leaning heavily on her wooden cane. His cane tapped on the ground in a nervous rhythm, and with each tap, Calla flinched at the grating noise. Howls and screams sounded off in the distance, and the horizon burned a dull orange from raging fires beyond their sight. Although they couldn¡¯t see the flames, they could smell the smoke, and the acrid scent burned his nose and watered his eyes.


    With such massive forest fires engulfing the territory, they may have no choice but to abandon the lodge and escape into the wilderness. His nervous cane tapping continued as his anxieties shifted toward his mate fighting in the forest. He would rather fight within a tornado of flames than be safe and sound and wondering who from his family was still alive. Tap. Tap. Tap.


    ¡°Would you stop with that incessant tapping?¡± Calla snapped, her one functioning eye glaring at him.


    ¡°Calm yourself, Guardian. Showing your nerves in this way will only scare the other wolves,¡± he said, keeping his eyes on the patrolling warrior wolves outside. Every few minutes, they would leave his vision to circle the back of the lodge before reentering the light of the fae globes.


    The creaking of wood sounded from his side as Calla gripped her cane with crushing force. ¡°It is not nerves I am feeling. It is a burning desire to snap that stick you call a weapon over your head!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ashamed, Guardian. I am feeling the tinges of fear as well. It is only natural in the moments before battle,¡± he said with a nod of understanding.


    Hushed whispers broke out from his side, causing him to glance over at the Guardian wolf. Her wispy grey hair whipped back and forth as she engaged in a heated argument with herself. ¡°No, no, no, you can¡¯t kill him, Calla. He is the First Mate! Yes, but what about¡­ No, the Alpha will be able to tell by the wounds. We¡¯d never get away with it.¡±


    As he watched the Guardian argue with herself, goosebumps broke out along his arms, and he casually sidestepped to his left to peer out of another window. Steadfastly ignoring the discussions of his murder, he waited for the warrior wolves to make their next round of patrols in front of the fae globes. His cane tapping slowed as the expected warrior remained absent.


    Was it even possible to kill a warrior wolf before they had a chance to howl in warning? More likely, the guard must have paused his patrol to investigate something in the woods. As he waited a few minutes for the next wolf in the patrol to reappear in the light of the fae globes, his cane tapping ceased entirely. The wolf never showed, and the meadow of purple flowers remained silent and abandoned.


    ¡°Calla!¡± Noah croaked, turning to the Guardian as suffocating fear clamped down on his throat.


    Calla stared out of the window with intense concentration, sniffing the air and listening intently with a cocked head. She must have sensed something because her head snapped to a certain spot in the tree line, and she growled with narrowed eyes at something hidden in the shadows.


    ¡°Wolves! The enemy has called, and it is time we answered,¡± she yelled out, already heading toward one of the swinging door panels.


    The six volunteer wolves gathered around Calla, each one glancing toward the hundreds of wolves cuddled up for safety in the back of the lodge. Noah didn¡¯t know which pups, family members, or loved ones their eyes were searching for, but they found them. Tears formed in their eyes, and wobbly smiles spread across their faces. After a moment, the volunteers wiped the tears from their eyes and replaced their loving gazes with glares of desperate determination. After a brief shimmer, the volunteers shifted and surrounded Calla, already snarling and snapping into the air.


    Noah joined the undersized wolves and pulled out the pouch containing Ajax¡¯s powder. Just as he untied the pouch, Calla placed a wrinkled hand on his arm, preventing him from emptying the contents onto the back of his hand.


    ¡°It is not yet your time, young human. I will do everything I can to injure him. Once he is weakened, it will be your job to finish him off.¡±


    ¡°Him?¡± Noah asked in confusion. With one arm, Calla flung open the heavy door panel, and the volunteer wolves bolted into the meadow. While holding the door open, she glanced at Noah with sad eyes.


    ¡°The Prince,¡± she whispered, sending a shiver down Noah¡¯s spine.


    As Calla released the heavy panel, Noah rushed to the window and pressed his face against the glass. He spotted Calla limping with her wooden cane until she approached the middle of the meadow. With a glance at her cane, she snapped the wood in half and, after a brief shimmer, shifted into a grey wolf of mythical proportions.


    Noah gasped at the size of the Guardian, covering his mouth in shock. Now he knew Sylvie had become alpha because Calla allowed her to, and she remained alpha because Calla allowed her to. The Guardian dwarfed Sylvie and Rowan, and power radiated off her in waves. How had Calla resisted the temptation of power for so many years when none could have opposed her might?


    With Calla at the head, the seven wolves waited in the middle of the meadow, snarling at the tree lines at something still hidden from his human eyes. Straining his eyes, he attempted to use every bit of the light from the fae globes to reveal the tree line. A subtle shift of movement caught his attention, and he zeroed in on it.


    A dark purple figure emerged from the darkness, gliding out from behind the trees in silence. Onyx horns curled around his head, ending in razor-sharp spikes and pointing toward the wolves. Veins wriggled underneath his skin like they had imprisoned worms and snakes beneath his flesh. Pure shadows molded around his lower body, weaving trousers out of the alien blackness. A one-sided vest draped over his shoulder and covered his pectoral muscle, leaving the rest of his torso bare and displaying the inhuman muscles bunched and coiled beneath his skin. Wings of pure shadow folded into his back, shifting and dancing as if they were alive.


    Noah¡¯s pulse skyrocketed, and his heart thundered in his chest like the beats of a war drum. It was the first Prince that he had ever seen in person, and their reputation was well deserved. Calla towered above the relatively short Unseelie, but visible power radiated off of the Prince in forceful waves. A pressure pushed against Noah¡¯s chest, and he struggled to breathe against the additional weight on his lungs.


    High-pitched whines sounded out as the pressure reached the civilian wolves in the back of the lodge. With shaking hands, he clenched his cane and forced himself to glare at the Prince. He remembered this fear. It was the same hopeless fear that had enveloped him when facing Master Augustus. The fear of a prey being in the presence of a true predator.


    He inhaled deeply, holding his breath for a moment before releasing it slowly. After repeating the process a few times, his rationale returned to him, and the violent shaking subsided. He was not a young slave any longer, and this time, he would fight to control his own destiny.


    ¡°Guardian, I have long heard of your legendary prowess. A she-wolf that had no equal but shied away from the alluring temptation of power. I look forward to judging if you are worthy of such myths,¡± the Prince said in a whisper, but somehow, his voice defied the natural order and carried across the meadow and entered the lodge.


    ¡°I will give you the honor of knowing my name before I end your journey on this plane¡ªPrince Molochith greets the Guardian,¡± the Prince said, his blazing purple eyes staring down the much larger wolf.


    Calla shifted into her human form and clasped her hands behind her back before addressing the Prince, ¡°My name is Calla, Guardian of the Baleful Fiend Pack. I suggest you return to your portal, Prince. The other races and even the other princes will pounce on your weakened forces if you continue with such folly.¡±


    The Prince chuckled, flashing his razor-sharp teeth. ¡°I¡¯m afraid my partner will not appreciate it if I abandoned the battlefield. Do not concern yourself with future events that you will not be around to influence.¡±


    The Prince glanced at the six volunteer wolves behind Calla and frowned. ¡°Hmm, I did not expect other wolves to brave my power.¡±


    At the focus of the Unseelie leader, the six wolves flattened their ears and snarled, dripping saliva onto the ground. Roughly the size of a normal wolf, they appeared out of place on a battlefield of legends, but their courage, derived from loved ones in the lodge, allowed them to partake in this monumental battle.


    Movement within the trees caught Noah¡¯s attention as the Prince raised a clawed hand. A Sluagh and Fachan emerged from the woods, hopping and slinking until they stood just behind the Prince. The bulbous eye of the Fachan rapidly flickered to each wolf, and its long tongue, dangling from its mouth, swiped against the singular eye in a stomach-churning lick. Multiple faces and fists protrude from the Sluagh¡¯s skin before being absorbed into its body once more. It raised its circular mouth and released fast-paced clicks across the meadow.


    ¡°Are you not powerful enough to face us alone, Prince?¡± Calla asked, not showing any signs of concern toward the new arrivals.


    With his fangs gleaming from the purple glow of his eyes, the Prince smiled derisively at her. ¡°I have been looking forward to this fight for many years, Guardian. I won¡¯t allow weak strays to ruin the glory of this battle.¡±


    With a snort, Calla shifted back into her massive grey wolf. Time seemed to freeze as the two sides glared at one another without moving. Something broke the spell as Calla and the Prince blurred toward each other, colliding in the middle of the clearing with a thundering boom. The shockwave from their blow flattened the purple flowers surrounding them and pushed the Prince back, his feet creating long groves in the soil. As the dust settled and the warriors came to a stop, Noah could see the Prince¡¯s clawed hand holding Calla¡¯s snout. Disengaging in a blur, the pair collided continuously across the meadow, creating small booms of thunder every few seconds.


    The explosions prompted the other combatants to charge as well. At a speed much slower than the Prince and Calla, three wolves darted toward each of the Unseelie monstrosities. Both sides traded blows, with the wolves getting a few bites in and the enemy connecting with a few devastating punches.


    It was clear to Noah that the civilian wolves didn¡¯t have the experience or training to coordinate effective attacks. The Sluagh dodged their haphazard attacks with blinding speed and counterattacked with slices of its hand. The Fachan¡¯s muscular arm swung out with punishing blows, and its foot somehow allowed it to dance circles around the blundering wolves.


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    The Prince and Guardian blurred across the battlefield, throwing each other with such force that upon impacting the massive trees, loud cracks sounded out before the trees toppled to the ground in a ground-shaking explosion. These living legends created a battlefield that Noah had no business entering. Power, like the two of them were throwing around with ease, is the reason his ancestors were hunted down to near extinction. What good were mortal weapons against overwhelming might?


    His knees wobbled, and his strength left his body. Against such foes, his presence wouldn¡¯t have an impact on the battle. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his pulse raced out of control as the fear he had long wished to feel overwhelmingly returned to him.


    His wild eyes darted around the lodge, searching for anything that would grant him the courage to fight these god-like beings. Toward the roots of the lodge, he searched the hundreds of civilian wolves, who quivered and whimpered upon each successive boom in the meadow. He spotted Luna and Silas huddled together, whispering comforting assurances to crying pups. A smile tilted his lips as he gazed at the scene. This is what 125 hoped Noah could find one day when he sacrificed his life, and Noah refused to disgrace that sacrifice. He would not fail!


    Returning to the window, he took deep, calming breaths until his heart rate stabilized and strength returned to his limbs. A roar drew his attention, and he spotted the three wolves fighting the Fachan. One wolf limped with whines of pain, and Noah gasped when he saw the crushed and disfigured forepaw. The Fachan bled heavily from multiple claw and bite wounds, and its speed began to slow as it weakened.


    Turning toward the Sluagh, Noah searched and searched but could only see two wolves fighting the creature. Overwhelming sadness filled him when he finally spotted a dark shape lying on the ground, unmoving. Black blood leaked from the Sluagh¡¯s superficial wounds, but it was clearly dominating the fight so far.


    Far off into the woods, loud booms sounded out, and massive trees slowly toppled to the ground. As far as Noah could tell, the Prince and Calla continued their fight on equal footing. He closed his eyes and toyed with the leather pouch in his hands. Should he save the wolves fighting the Sluagh and Fachan or wait to finish off the Prince like Calla had asked him to?


    Indecision paralyzed him as rapid thoughts flashed through his mind. The high from the shifter powder would only last a few minutes, and if Calla couldn¡¯t defeat or severely injure the Prince, he would slaughter every wolf in the lodge. His thoughts were disrupted as the Fachan crushed a clenched fist against one of the wolves¡¯ skulls. The destructive force flattened the wolf into the ground, cratering the body into the soil. Noah bit his lip as he watched a wolf he didn¡¯t even know the name of die before his eyes.


    If he did nothing, the courageous volunteer wolves would die one by one, and that was an outcome he refused to sit by and watch. Summoning his own courage, he eyed the pouch one last time before placing it in his trench coat pocket. Countless humans fought the supernatural races with no shifter powder, and although they rarely lived to tell the tale, a few lucky survivors defeated the odds. Tonight, he would join the ranks of those few victorious humans.


    With adrenaline coursing through his blood, he flung open the wooden panel and finally stepped out onto the battlefield. In slow motion compared to the rest of the combatants, he rushed toward the Fachan with human speed.


    The two remaining wolves snapped at the monster and attempted to sink their fangs into its flesh, but it kept jumping out of range on its one leg. As he came within range, Noah fired his crossbow at the bulbous eye, striking the Fachan with an iron bolt. The poisonous iron allowed the bolt to sink an inch into the eyeball, but the lack of force ensured the wound wouldn¡¯t be lethal. The giant eyeball rolled in its socket until the bolt dislodged and fell harmlessly to the ground. Free from the foreign splinter, the swiveling eye snapped to Noah, glaring at him in a furious rage.


    With practiced ease, Noah reloaded his crossbow and tapped the enchantment on his cane. As the fae magic coursed through the metal, he pressed the hidden button on its handle, releasing the spring-loaded blade. He pointed the lightened cane at the monster, challenging the Fachan to a duel. With a roar, it hopped on its one leg, covering tremendous ground with its leaps, but unlike the Prince and Calla, his eyes could follow its movements.


    He bent his knees and lowered into a crouch, toying with the handle of his cane. He had to time this right, or he would be crushed. The Fachan covered the distance in a few hops and jumped high into the air with a raised fist. It leaned forward until its eye was directly above Noah and fell toward him with its muscular arm hissing through the air.


    Noah jammed the handle of his cane into the ground with months of practice allowing him to balance the cane upright. As soon as he felt the cane stop swaying, he dove as far as he could to the side, tumbling across the flowers and rocks. A thundering impact exploded from behind him, and he jumped to his feet before his tumbling body had even stopped its roll.


    Courtesy of a sharp stray rock, blood dripped from a cut over his eye, but he ignored the stinging pain and gazed at the dust cloud where the Fachan had landed. The curtain of dust blocked his vision, and he held his breath as he waited to see the outcome of his daring trick.


    ¡°No,¡± he whispered as he pointed his crossbow at the still-standing Fachan.


    Foolish ideas and desperate schemes flittered through his mind as he waited for the monster to attack, but it remained unmoving in the crater. Praying to whatever gods were listening, he cautiously crept toward the creature, searching for any signs of movement. The monster remained still as Noah circled it, and upon seeing the results of his attack, he let out a booming laugh.


    Just as he had planned, the Fachan had landed eye-first on the iron blade of his cane. With the assistance of the Fachan¡¯s weight, the iron blade had penetrated through the bulbous eye, and Noah could see the tip protruding out the back of the creature.


    Snarls shook him out of his revelry as the two remaining wolves limped up to the Fachan and began biting bits of flesh off the monster. Lost in the fervor of battle, they didn¡¯t even realize that the Fachan was already dead.


    After whistling to get their attention, Noah shouted, ¡°The monster is dead! Hurry, we must join the fight against the Sluagh!¡±


    The wolves howled and rushed forward to assist the two remaining wolves, struggling in their battle with the Sluagh. Noah pushed at the Fachan with all of his might and toppled the creature onto its side, dislodging his makeshift cane spear. Grabbing the slime-covered cane, he rushed toward the chaos of battle. As he approached the skirmish, he winced when he saw the inexperienced wolves fumbling over one another in their attempts to snap at the Sluagh.


    ¡°You must work together to have a chance of bringing it down. One of you get its attention and focus on dodging while the others bite at it from behind. If it switches targets, switch roles accordingly,¡± he shouted, repeating the same strategy he had seen Sylvie, Rowan, and Alder use during the caravan battle.


    With a growl of acknowledgment, the wolves clumsily carried out his commands. Using the new strategy, they bite chunk after chunk out of the Sluagh¡¯s flesh. Black blood gushed from the creature¡¯s wounds until it slowed enough that one wolf was able to clamp its jaws around the Sluagh¡¯s neck. The wolf dragged the creature to the ground, and the other wolves swarmed it, tearing into the Sluagh with ferocious fury until only unrecognizable bits of bone and flesh remained. It was brutal, but brutality was a welcomed friend amongst their pack.


    After felling the Unseelie monstrosity, the wolves snapped their heads from side to side, searching for their next enemy. Upon finding none, they shifted into their human forms, gazing around the destroyed meadow in a daze.


    ¡°You have defeated your enemies and protected your loved ones. Retreat to the lodge before the Prince returns,¡± he said, ushering the surviving wolves toward safety.


    Gazing at the destroyed meadow, Noah frowned when he saw the dead bodies of the wolves. ¡°Before you leave the battlefield, retrieve your brethren and cover their bodies. Don¡¯t allow these empty husks to stain their loved one¡¯s memories of them. They deserve to be remembered as the heroic warriors they lived and died as.¡±


    Still, in a daze, the surviving wolves stumbled toward the broken bodies of their pack mates and began to drag them behind the lodge. Unused to adrenaline fleeing their body, they swayed on their feet. Spying the haunted looks in their eyes, Noah shook his head as war claimed the psyche of more unsuspecting victims.


    After covering the bodies, Noah and the wolves entered the lodge to the cheers of some and the sobs of others. Nodding toward Luna and Silas, he hurried to the kitchen, grabbing a towel and wiping off goo and other foreign fluids from his cane.


    Blood dripped onto the counter, and he wiped at the forgotten wound above his eye. As his adrenaline abandoned him, the cut burned, and his limbs shook with weakness, but he hurried back to the window to maintain vigilance. He couldn¡¯t see the Prince or Calla, but he could still hear their booming collisions deep within the woods. A few minutes of calm descended upon the clearing, but it was not fated to last.


    From the forest, a blur flew into the clearing, digging a trench in the soil with its body. A massive grey wolf struggled to her feet, panting so hard and fast that each puff blew away the purple flowers. Blood stained her coat from countless wounds, and she swayed back and forth, wobbling on weak legs.


    Calla glared toward the tree line, growling and snarling as the Prince casually emerged. He had not remained unscathed in his fight with Calla. Multiple bite and claw marks leaked purple blood down his body, but¡­he wasn¡¯t panting, and he wasn¡¯t wobbling on weakened legs. He was smiling.


    ¡°I commend you, Guardian! My blood sings with a lust for battle that has been dormant for decades. You have proved yourself worthy of the legends that surround you. Do not despair; I will allow you to die with your dignity and pride intact.¡±


    The Prince continued to stalk toward Calla with his arms outstretched. Purple blood dripped off of his torso and fell onto the purple flowers with a smoking hiss. Calla growled in defiance at the Prince, but her head dropped abruptly like she was losing consciousness. As if she had reached a decision, Calla glanced toward the window Noah stood at and slowly nodded her head.


    With a lump in his throat and his vision blurred with tears, he tipped his hat toward the Guardian of the Baleful Fiend Pack. Without wasting another second, he took out the leather pouch from his trench coat and poured the massive mound of powder onto the windowsill. It was by far the most shifter powder he had ever snorted, and he hoped his body could withstand the strain.


    Instead of settling for a safe dose, he lined up every grain of powder. Just as he covered one nostril and leaned toward the windowsill, Calla charged the Prince with a defiant howl. She feigned a bite at his neck and flipped over him, spinning in mid-air so that she landed with her fangs facing the Prince¡¯s back.


    With a shout of encouragement, Noah slammed his face against the window with wide eyes. Calla had set up this feint from the beginning of the battle, and she had taken the Prince by surprise. She lunged toward the unprotected back of the Prince with her maw wide. Her fangs glistened with saliva as she closed in on the soft flesh of his neck. As the tips of her fangs bit into the Prince¡¯s flesh, his body disappeared, and Calla¡¯s jaws slammed shut over thin air.


    Noah¡¯s eyes rapidly darted over every inch of the clearing, desperately searching for the Prince. He couldn¡¯t find any sign of the Unseelie, and even Calla was sniffing the air and looking side to side. Had he teleported back to his portal?


    Clapping rang out from the woods, and the Prince emerged from the shadow of a tree. ¡°Wow! The last stand by a legendary Guardian is lethal. You took quite a few wounds to set up that feint, and it almost paid off.¡±


    The clapping slowed until silence engulfed the meadow. ¡°You forgot one thing, honored Guardian. Although I am not surrounded by the magic of my homeland like I would be in my territory, the shadows have not completely abandoned me¡ªI am their master, after all.¡±


    ¡°Let me give you an example,¡± said the Prince, suddenly disappearing before materializing behind Calla in the shadows given off by the fae globes. Noah shouted as a clawed hand shot toward the grey wolf before she could even locate her attacker. The claws punctured deep into her side, ripping and slicing down her length as she attempted to jump away. In the middle of the meadow, Calla swayed back and forth with only her own shadow darkening the ground. No longer having the strength to stand, she collapsed onto the ground, and the Prince stalked toward her with unhurried steps.


    Wiping the tears from his eyes, Noah looked away from the horrid scene and leaned down toward the windowsill. He plugged one side of his nose and snorted the entire mound of powder with deep inhales. Overwhelming power coursed through his veins, stiffening his body until he went completely rigid. His muscles bulged and strained against the confines of his skin, seeking to rip apart their fleshly prison. Streams of blood flowed from his ears and nostrils, and his pupils grew until his eyes were solid black. With a roar that shook the lodge and caused the civilian wolves to whimper in fear, he kicked at the door panel, ripping it off its hinges and flinging it into the clearing. The heavy door flew in a blur past the Prince, who glanced up from the prone Calla curiously.


    ¡°I believe you require a new foe, Prince. I, Noah of the Baleful Fiend Pack, will be happy to oblige,¡± Noah said with a tip of his hat. His duty had called, and the Prince would hear his answer.

 Chapter 34

    Overhead, thick grey clouds blanketed the night sky and blocked the illuminating splendor of the moon and stars. From the concealing clouds, snow flurries floated down lazily, covering the meadow in a thin layer of icy powder. The Prince stood over the fallen Guardian with his clawed hand raised, preparing to end Calla¡¯s life with a vicious slash. Noah whistled a joyous tune and twirled his cane in a dazzling swirl as he took confident steps toward the Prince.


    ¡°How about you allow the Guardian to find the peace she has earned?¡± Noah said, his voice vibrating the air with uncontrolled power.


    ¡°The infamous human? For a second, I thought a master vampire had beaten me to my quarry,¡± the Prince said, slowly lowering his poised claw and cocking his head in confusion. ¡°With blood staining your face and your odd choice of weapon and clothing, can you even call yourself human anymore?¡±


    Noah paused his steps, fury raging through him at the comparison to his mortal enemies. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you made your last mistake by invading my pack, Prince.¡±


    ¡°An addict punching above his weight with stolen power,¡± the Prince said with a snort.


    Noah tensed as the Prince raised his claws above Calla once more. A blackened, forked tongue slithered out of the Prince¡¯s mouth, hissing and flickering at the air. Tasting something in the breeze, the Prince roared in anger. With Calla all but forgotten, the Prince snapped to Noah and glared at him with pure wrath in his glowing purple eyes.


    ¡°I know the taste of this arrogant magic. It stinks of the foolish pup who dared challenge me in my territory. I thought my curse had wiped his existence from this plane forever, but it seems I still have work to do,¡± the Prince whispered with barely controlled fury. All signs of enjoyment from the prior battle disappeared from his face, and cold, calculating revenge hardened his features.


    At the Prince¡¯s declaration, Noah¡¯s eyes widened, and he slowly lowered his cane. This was the Prince who had cursed Ajax and Sylvie? That Prince¡¯s territory should have been months away from here. How could he travel so far from his portal and retain such power? He gazed at Calla with saddened eyes, helplessly watching her struggle to breathe, and remembered her theory about a conduit.


    The only explanation for the Unseelies¡¯ power was an artifact hidden near the wolves¡¯ territory, but how could their scouts have overlooked such an evil token for so many years? Shaking his head, he cleared his head of useless thoughts. Regardless of the how or why, nothing changed the current situation; he had to kill a full-powered Unseelie Prince or the pack would fall.


    ¡°Rest, Guardian of the Pack, and seek your eternal peace in the arms of your ancestors. The next generation will carry on your spirit and see your will fulfilled,¡± he whispered, removing his cowboy hat and bowing deeply to the wizened woman who had pushed him past the final hurdle of his trauma.


    Calla stared at him with one eye as her chest struggled to rise and fall. With the last of her strength, the Guardian of the Baleful Fiend Pack bellowed a domineering howl that carried through the air for dozens of miles. She gave the slightest of nods to Noah before her chest stilled and her eye closed for eternity. As death captured the legendary guardian, she bared her lethal fangs in a gentle smile.


    Wiping the tears from his eyes, Noah placed his hat back on his head, and with a mournful yell, he blurred toward the Prince. The power of an alpha roared through his veins, and his tyrannical steps dug craters into the soil, tearing a path through the purple flowers. Engulfed in a tornado of snow flurries and shredded petals, he struck out with his cane, the iron blade whizzing through the air toward the Prince¡¯s heart. The Unseelie sidestepped the jab, but Noah pivoted with a follow-up kick that crushed into the Prince¡¯s chest and sent him flying across the clearing.


    In a purple blur, the Prince flew across the meadow until he slammed into one of the giant trees with a thunderous explosion. A booming crack sounded out, and the towering tree swayed side to side until it toppled to the ground, shaking the land in a cloud of dust. Conscious of his time limit, Noah didn¡¯t allow the dust to settle before he blurred toward the Prince, who hadn¡¯t even regained his footing yet. He arrived in front of the Prince and thrust his cane, aiming for the soft flesh of the Unseelie¡¯s neck. The iron blade glinted menacingly, whizzing through the air as it approached the Prince¡¯s unguarded throat.


    His enhanced senses watched the Prince dematerialize and disappear into the shadows, hiding like the coward he was. Noah immediately turned toward the shadow of a tree behind him and thrust his cane at nothing. The iron blade skewered the freshly materialized Prince through the shoulder, sizzling as the iron touched his skin. The Prince released an agonizing shriek of pain and snarled at Noah with a wrathful glare.


    ¡°Predicable Prince,¡± Noah said, withdrawing the cane and showering the freshly fallen snow with purple blood. The Prince snarled at him and teleported further away to another shadow.


    The Unseelie glanced at his shoulder, gushing purple blood, and roared with rage. His massive wings of shadow unfurled in all of their glory, and even the snowflakes refused to fall on and cover such splendor. Snippets of shadow detached from his wings and slithered across his skin as if they had a life of their own. Most of the blobs of shadow coalesced around the wound on his shoulder, but others crawled over the lingering injuries from his battle with Calla. The shadow fused into the wounds, creating an airtight bandage that staunched the blood flow and provided the Unseelie with a near-instant healing ability.


    The Prince screamed as the shadows dug into his wounds like parasites until the wriggling finally stopped, and the torturous screams cut off with a choke, leaving him panting. ¡°You human abominations, always cheating and tricking with power that isn¡¯t your own. You will find no glory in this battle, human. As the light leaves your eyes, I will capture your spirit before it leaves this plane, and you will spend an eternity of suffering by my side.¡±


    With a flap of his majestic wings, the Prince charged at Noah, teleporting between shadows in a dizzying increase of speed. Even with his alpha-enhanced senses, Noah barely had time to swing his cane before the Prince materialized before him. When the iron blade and the onyx claws struck one another, a metallic ringing echoed out, and a shower of sparks mixed with the snow flurries to create a snowfall of burning embers. The blazing sparks illuminated the pitch-black forest, spotlighting the two warriors who traded lightning-fast blows with blades, claws, and fists.


    Darting between the trees, Noah landed a few sizzling cuts but received a few crushing punches and lacerating claw swipes in return. Their electrifying battle brought them to the middle of the clearing once more, with Noah slicing a deep wound across the Prince¡¯s chest at the cost of an explosive punch that sent him soaring across the clearing.


    His body bounced and skidded across the ground with tremendous force until his momentum finally slowed. He jumped to his feet and stared at the Prince across the clearing as he tried to catch his breath. Shadow bandages covered the Prince, twisting and slithering in his many wounds. Each time the Prince teleported or bound a wound with shadow, his wings became smaller, but the domineering wings remained whole and flared in a breathtaking wingspan.


    Noah glanced at his body, examining himself for injuries. Blood leaked from three cuts across his ribs thanks to a claw swipe he couldn¡¯t dodge. One eye was almost swollen shut from a devastating punch, and he struggled to maintain a clear vision. He was winning the clashes with the Prince, but he just wasn¡¯t causing enough damage. He needed to either deal an instant lethal blow or score enough strikes to exhaust the Prince¡¯s shadows. Unfortunately, he had little time to do either, as his power was fleeting while the Prince¡¯s was everlasting.


    Movement in the lodge windows caught his attention, and he spotted Silas and Luna maintaining vigilance at his old post. Luna¡¯s head barely cleared the windowsill as the siblings watched his battle with wide eyes. He couldn¡¯t gamble everything on his ability to defeat the Prince before his time ran out; the risks of failure were too great. Even if he couldn¡¯t defeat the Prince before his high wore off, he needed to bide enough time for Sylvie and the other warriors to return to the lodge.


    With grim determination, he made his decision and released a mocking chuckle that carried across the clearing. ¡°Well, I must say that the power of an Unseelie Prince has been a monumental disappointment. No wonder Ajax forced you to burn your life essence for a cowardly curse.¡±


    ¡°Before this night is over, human, you will know genuine despair,¡± the Prince said in a growl, his purple eyes blazing at the mere mention of Ajax.


    Noah laughed uncontrollably and mimed wiping tears from his eyes. ¡°How will that come to be, Prince? You can¡¯t even defeat a human. I picture you hiding behind your throne for a decade, weakened and avoiding conflict like a coward, and I can¡¯t contain my laughter.¡±


    The Prince roared at him, flapping his wings of shadow and creating a tornado of dust that veiled his body. Suddenly, the flapping froze, and a knowing smile spread across the Prince¡¯s face. ¡°If you live long enough, you will see na?ve human. Bodily harm is not the only pain you will experience tonight.¡±


    With a snort, Noah beckoned him with a wave of his cane. ¡°Come, little Prince. Nature will stand witness to the end of our battle.¡±


    Noah and the Prince sped toward each other and collided in the middle of the meadow in a shower of sparks. Striking one another at incredible speeds, the sparks blanketed the purple flowers until one ember finally ignited the dry pollen powdering the petals. Flames engulfed the meadow, but Noah had no time to douse them as his relentless pressure forced the Prince into the woods. Patiently waiting for Noah¡¯s power to run out, the Prince fought defensively, allowing Noah to push him deeper and deeper into the trees.


    Onyx claws blocked each strike of his iron blade, denying Noah the opportunity to inflict severe damage upon the Unseelie. Noah strained his enhanced sense to the max as the Prince teleported between shadows at a furious rate. His luck finally ran out as he whipped around to a shadow behind him, but the Prince materialized from another shadow at his side.


    A sickening crack reverberated through the trees as the Prince¡¯s punch landed on his shoulder. With a cry of pain, Noah flew through the air until he landed in a small clearing, sliding through the thin layer of ice and snow that covered the ground. Panting heavily and with blinding pain immobilizing his now useless left arm, he struggled to his knees before standing up on wobbling legs. He glanced at his new surroundings and smiled when he recognized the open-air market.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Just last a few more minutes and lure him as far away from the lodge as you can,¡± he whispered, as all thoughts of emerging victorious in this battle disappeared from his mind.


    The Prince floated gracefully into the small clearing, smirking down at him as his wings flapped gently to cushion his landing. ¡°You seem to be running out of time, human.¡±


    Blood streamed from Noah¡¯s ears and nostrils down onto his ruffled white shirt, and he wiped at it with the back of his hand, accomplishing nothing more than smearing the blood across his face. His straining muscles felt as if they were snapping fiber by fiber, and an unnatural ache had settled deep within his bones.


    Noah laughed at the Prince while struggling to point his shaking cane at the Unseelie. ¡°I see it differently, Prince. Your wings have grown so small they can barely keep you aloft now.¡±


    The Prince wiped the smirk from his face with a snarl. ¡°I have plenty of power left to finish you, human.¡±


    They wasted no more time on insults and began their lightning-fast clashes once again. All the while, Noah retreated further into the forest under the guise of weakness. Relying on his vampire-slaying strategy, Noah allowed the Prince to claw past his guard. The razor-sharp claws raked down his chest, splitting his skin open with a spray of blood.


    Before the Prince could teleport away, Noah swung his cane so fast that the magic-enhanced metal bent into an arc. Time seemed to slow as the iron blade approached the Prince¡¯s neck, seeking to decapitate the Unseelie. The Prince¡¯s head leaned slightly, and instead of cutting off his head, the iron blade sliced through one of his onyx horns.


    Purple blood showered into the air before splashing down and covering the forest floor. As the Prince screamed in agony, his wings diminished at a visible rate as the shadows sought to bandage the wound.


    ¡°I think this trophy will look amazing on the mantle in my mate¡¯s cabin. What do you think, deformed Prince?¡± Noah said with a chuckle, ignoring the burning pain from his own wounds and pointing at the severed horn.


    With a bellow of rage, the Prince attacked him wildly, his clumsy but powerful attacks pushing Noah further into the forest. After a few seconds of the brutal onslaught, Noah emerged from the tree line, rolling across a familiar embankment. Tall grasses stuck up defiantly through the thin layer of icy slush, and the black water of the lake lazily lapped against the shoreline with gentle waves. The Prince broke free from the woods, glaring and snarling at Noah before surveying the lake.


    ¡°You do realize, human, that I am no vampire? Deep water has no power over me,¡± the Prince said with jeering chuckles.


    Noah smiled as he fell to his knees, his cane falling from his weak fingers and plunging into the slush. ¡°I have fulfilled my duty, Prince. Your forces are being routed as we speak, and the Alpha and her warriors will return to the lodge to find the lifeblood of their pack safe and sound. You do not still have the strength to conquer this territory, Prince. Return to your portal in defeat!¡±


    The Prince cocked his head in confusion. ¡°You think I have come to destroy the pack? Those weak wolves you were sheltering in the lodge were never in any danger from me.¡±


    ¡°You lie,¡± Noah whispered as he struggled to keep his face from plunging into the snow.


    The Prince chuckled, and his diminished wings fluttered in delight. ¡°You have made assumptions about your enemy, human, and have guessed incorrectly. You risked your life on a false conclusion, and it has cost you dearly.¡±


    No, he had to be lying. If the goal wasn¡¯t to conquer the pack, what other reason could the Unseelie have to invade their territory? No matter what horrors were threatened against a pack, Shifters would never serve an Unseelie master. In order to lure the Prince away from the lodge, Noah had pushed his body to ruin. If the wolves in the lodge weren¡¯t a target, then he had risked everything for nothing.


    ¡°Ah, yes. I can practically taste your doubt, your fear, and your unwillingness. It is a glorious sight that I will cherish forever. You will die knowing that your sacrifice has saved no one and has served no purpose. You will not be remembered as the hero you aspire to be but as a foolish unknown whose memory shall fade from hearts and minds within weeks.¡±


    Taking his time to savor his victory, the Prince slowly stalked toward Noah¡¯s broken body. Noah couldn¡¯t even stand and knelt in acceptance before the death that loomed over him. With the last of his strength, he forced himself to glare into the Prince¡¯s purple eyes. He would not look away from his doom but stare it down in defiance.


    In the forest behind the Prince, a flashing light drew his attention. No, not light, but lights. Ignoring the Prince, he peered into the forest with his pathetic human night vision. Upon identifying the silver lights, blood leaked from his mouth as he released a choking chuckle. His silver in the dark, illuminating the blackness of this world and bathing him in radiating warmth.


    Two pairs of yellow eyes appeared beside the silver, shining menacingly and cutting through the shadows. As the lights emerged from the trees, three massive pitch-black wolves materialized behind the blazing eyes. Noah laughed uproariously as the strength of his pack arrived.


    Confused by the defeated prey¡¯s joy, the Prince whipped around to see what had drawn Noah¡¯s gaze over the death that inched toward him. The wolves stalked toward the Prince one slow step at a time with violent growls that caused even Noah to shiver in fear. Their fur stood up straight on their backs, and their ears pinned flat against their heads. As the Prince saw their snarling maws, covered in gore from battles fought elsewhere, he retreated a hesitant step.


    A step that signified the first flash of fear that the Unseelie had shown. Pathetic wings of shadow, no bigger than a sprite¡¯s wings, flapped comically on his back. Weakened and almost empty of his particular brand of devastating magic, he now faced the best the Baleful Fiend Pack had to offer.


    ¡°Sylvie!¡± Noah called out while struggling to prop himself up on his elbow.


    After whining at the broken state of her mate, she gazed at him with her silver eyes blazing.


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    Sylvie¡¯s head snapped toward the Prince, and she bellowed an earth-shaking howl. After signaling the attack, the three wolves charged at the Prince with bloody snarls. To create distance between himself and the wolves, the Prince retreated away from Noah with breathtaking speed. Without his enhanced vision and struggling to see through the night¡¯s gloom, Noah¡¯s eyes could barely follow the blurring forms of the combatants.


    As the wolves charged in a coordinated attack, none of the clumsiness or inexperience the volunteer wolves had shown hindered their practiced movements. Wolves were pack hunters and relied on each other to bring bigger quarries down. He sighed as he realized the massive disadvantage Calla faced when fighting the Prince alone.


    The wolves bit and clawed at the Prince, who dodged some strikes but couldn¡¯t avoid others. All of his focus concentrated on avoiding lethal bites, leaving him no chance to counterattack. As the battle reached the trees, the Prince began teleporting between the shadows, but the wolves were undeterred.


    No matter where he teleported, one wolf cut off his path of retreat and corralled him back toward the others. The wings of shadow rapidly depleted until, at last, the demonic power dissipated completely. Without his shadows, the Prince had no means of escape and desperately tried to keep the three wolves in front of him. Step by step, he retreated until his back almost reached the woods he had relied on until now.


    Movement between the trees drew Noah¡¯s gaze, and he spotted an auburn wolf slowly creeping out of the forest. Wren! Noah¡¯s eyes widened in excitement, and he struggled to remain silent and keep a smirk off of his face. This was their chance. She had a clear opening to attack his neck and could end this war with a single bite. The auburn wolf stalked a few more feet before taking off in a mad dash to her target. She lunged through the air with her jaws wide and fangs glistening, flying closer and closer to her prey. Noah pulled himself onto his knees in excitement, anticipating the final blow.


    Like he had eyes in the back of his head, the Prince sidestepped just as Wren¡¯s fangs snapped shut on the empty air where the Prince¡¯s neck had just been. After her missed strike, she slid through the icy slush toward the other wolves, struggling to regain her footing on the slippery snow. Instead of turning around and following up with another attack, she let the momentum carry her toward the biggest yellow-eyed wolf.


    Paying no attention to the auburn wolf sliding toward him, Rowan kept his gaze fixed on the Prince. When Wren reached the First Beta, she snapped her jaws around his foreleg with a sickening crunch. Rowan howled in pain as Wren thrashed her head from side to side until the detached limb flew into the air. While Sylvie and Alder froze in shock at the stunning scene, the fresh blood of her pack mate stained Wren¡¯s mouth and dripped onto the ground.


    Enraged at the crippling of his father, Alder lunged toward Wren¡¯s neck, attempting to sink his fangs into her tender flesh. Blinded by rage, he forgot Wren wasn¡¯t the only enemy in the clearing. The Prince flashed to Alder¡¯s side, striking the unguarded warrior in the chest. Onyx claws impaled the wolf, and the force of the blow rocketed him across the clearing until he struck the trunk of a majestic tree with a loud crack.


    Alder¡¯s body plummeted to the ground with a loud thump, and Noah couldn¡¯t tell if the unmoving mass was unconscious or dead. With agonized howls, Rowan thrashed on the ground, spraying blood from the stump where his arm used to be. Eventually, his regenerative powers would heal the wound, but it couldn¡¯t regrow the limb. Rowan would carry the burden of being crippled and disfigured for the rest of his life, and not even vampire blood could save him from that fate.


    Within inches of victory, the battle had flipped in an instant. Sylvie was now outnumbered by enemies and surrounded by powerless allies. Without cowering before her best friend and an Unseelie Prince, she charged the pair with dazzling speed. While Wren was also a combat wolf, she couldn¡¯t match Sylvie¡¯s level of power, and the Prince had become weakened, losing his ability to use magic.


    Sylvie darted around them, attacking any openings they gave her and then retreating while dodging both of their counterattacks. Wounds opened across the Prince¡¯s skin, and no shadows answered his call to bandage them. Wren¡¯s auburn fur darkened with blood as the scout futilely tried to match the strength of an Alpha.


    After a few minutes of domination, Sylvie''s speed slowed, and her strength weakened. She needed to burn more energy than her enemies, and the grueling pace began to catch up with her. She landed fewer and fewer attacks on Wren and the Prince, and some of their counterattacks began to connect. Red blood mixed unseen into her black fur, but Noah could see the glistening of wetness on her coat. Both sides seemed to be one hit away from losing the battle, and Noah struggled to stand before collapsing back onto the ground. His heart was willing, but his body was broken.


    Finally, his worst fears came true as the Prince dodged an exhausted lunge from Sylvie and countered with a thundering punch to her side. Noah heard her ribs shatter from across the clearing, and Sylvie shot through the air, sliding in the frozen slush until she came to a stop ten feet away from him. The Prince¡¯s blow must have caused internal damage to her organs because when Sylvie tried to rise, blood splattered from her mouth, and she collapsed to the snow in a heap. They had thrown everything they had at the Prince, and every one of them had failed.


    Wren shifted into her human form, covered in blood from her wounds and limping on a shredded leg. A blue bandana kept her bushy hair out of her eyes, and the tassels on her jacket dangled derisively.


    Beside Noah, Sylvie shifted into her human form, and the pain on her face was unbearable for him to see. She couldn¡¯t catch her breath because of her broken ribs, and each inhale caused her torturous agony.


    ¡°Wren?¡± she gasped out, heartbroken at her friend¡¯s betrayal.


    ¡°Hold, Molochith,¡± Wren commanded, blocking the prowling Prince from approaching them and finishing the job.


    The Prince froze and nodded to her with adoration in his eyes. ¡°Yes, Partner.¡±


    Wren sighed and shook her head in disappointment. ¡°I told you, Molochith, wolves don¡¯t use the word partner. We are mates!¡±

 Chapter 35

    Thick snow flurries covered the ground and blanketed the trees, transforming the greens and browns of the forest into a winter wonderland of white. A thick fog of breath surrounded Noah¡¯s head as he panted heavily, desperately trying to stand and offer at least some resistance to his and his mate¡¯s impending deaths. Propping himself up with his cane, he wobbled and swayed until he crashed into the thick layer of snow once more. Even the strongest of wills couldn¡¯t overcome a broken body.


    Keeping his eyes trained on his enemies, he watched as Wren circled her mate, removing her jacket one tasseled sleeve at a time. Noah gasped as she threw the leather jacket into the snow in a crumpled heap. A glowing purple pentagram snaked around her bicep and pulsed with alien magic, a twisted abomination of a mating mark.


    ¡°The conduit!¡± Noah gasped as he pointed a shaky finger at the pentagram in accusation.


    Wren swung around and stared at him with narrowed eyes. ¡°Clever, human. Yes, it is our mating bond that has allowed the Unseelie to draw their portal¡¯s power this far away from their territory. It took years for the magic to saturate the pack¡¯s lands, but we were patient. Oh, so patient.¡±


    ¡°Wren, what have you done? This forest is your home, and the wolves are your family. You¡¯ve destroyed every ounce of goodness in your life!¡± Sylvie shouted, wincing in pain as her rising chest shifted her broken ribs.


    Wren glared at her best friend¡¯s broken body without a shred of sympathy. ¡°What have I done? I have made things right. My father was the beloved alpha of our pack, and we all prospered under his power,¡± she said in a monotone voice, her eyes glazing over as she became lost in the past.


    ¡°Our packs merged? You say that as if we negotiated an alliance. Your father slaughtered half of my pack and dethroned my father before my eyes. Thrown aside like trash and forced to do your father¡¯s bidding, the silver leaked from his eyes little by little until none of his proud glory remained,¡± she yelled, her shouts reverberating through the trees and causing Sylvie to flinch at her stinging reprimands.


    ¡°I had to watch the once proud alpha waste away one belittling command at a time until he became a cowardly shell of himself. My father¡¯s last attempt at vengeance failed with his death, but I carried on his will. After I kill you three, no wolf will be strong enough to challenge my rule. I will become the new alpha and return my family to its former glory!¡±


    ¡°The wolves will never bless your unholy union with an Unseelie. You have taken the crown, but you will have no subjects to rule,¡± Sylvie said in derision, spitting on the ground in contempt.


    With a snort, Wren gestured to the silent and empty trees surrounding them. ¡°Ah, but they won¡¯t know of my mating, will they? All they will know is that the strongest wolves in the pack sacrificed their lives, and I bravely risked my life to fight off the Prince until he retreated.¡±


    ¡°How could you have even mated with the Prince when he hasn¡¯t left his territory in decades?¡± Noah asked, hoping to satiate his curiosity but also hoping to bide time for a miracle to appear before them.


    ¡°After my father¡¯s death, I wandered between territories, searching for something or someone that could help me quench my thirst for revenge. I traveled to human and Seelie territories and even traveled to a few vampire covens to find allies. Who would have guessed that my travels would take me into an Unseelie territory where I would find my mate? Nature really does know when a mate is perfect for you. The Prince was exactly what I needed to accomplish my vengeance.¡±


    Circling behind the Prince, Wren rubbed his chiseled chest until she came to his vest. She ripped the one-sided vest off, revealing an angry red bite mark. With the tip of her finger, she traced the outline of her mating mark, causing the Prince to shiver with pleasure. He gazed into Wren¡¯s eyes with such adoration that Noah knew he truly loved his mate.


    ¡°It is quite fitting that this journey should end from where it began,¡± she said, continuing to trace her mating mark on the Prince¡¯s chest. ¡°Tell me, Molochith. Did I ever tell you how my father died?¡±


    The Prince cocked his head in confusion. ¡°No, Partn¡ª¡±


    His answer was cut off in a choke as an iron blade pierced into his back, penetrating his chest and skewering his heart. Gurgling the rising blood in his throat, the Prince looked back at his mate with betrayed eyes. Wren withdrew the dagger, pushing her mate forward and throwing him down into the blood-stained purple slush. The Prince crawled away from his mate as she stalked him slowly, smiling at his desperate escape attempt. His wingless back provided no shadows to bind the wound, and a trail of purple blood stained the snow.


    Wren gazed at the blood-stained dagger in her hand before snapping her eyes back to her dying mate. ¡°My father provided an Unseelie Prince with Ajax¡¯s blood, hoping his newfound ally would overthrow his conqueror for him. Just as they had agreed, the Prince cursed the invincible alpha, but during the wolves¡¯ attack on the Unseelie territory, that very same Prince struck my father down in a fit of rage.¡±


    Sylvie gasped, staring at the Prince in horror. Wren laughed at her friend¡¯s shock and twirled the dagger in her hand, flinging droplets of purple blood onto the snow. ¡°I know, right? Who would have guessed that my mate would have been the same fae who murdered my father? I wanted revenge and to become alpha, and nature decided that this Prince was the perfect being to help me accomplish that. After all, a shifter¡¯s magic resonates with the person who can grant you what you seek most in life.¡±


    ¡°This is the Prince who killed your father and tormented you with an unbearable curse, Sylvie. Does it fill you with pleasure to watch him crawl in agony before his death?¡± Wren asked, cocking her head curiously.


    Sylvie tore her gaze away from the Prince to stare at Wren, but she didn¡¯t speak. Silent communication passed between the two until Wren smiled at the despair on Sylvie¡¯s face. ¡°Oh yes, Sylvie.¡±


    At her words, Sylvie struggled frantically to rise to her feet but collapsed onto the ground once again. ¡°No! Don¡¯t kill him!¡± Sylvie begged, the desperation in her voice leaving Noah confused at their exchange.


    Ignoring Sylvie¡¯s pleas, Wren loomed over the Prince, who crawled on his hands and knees through the icy slush. She stabbed the iron dagger into his back repeatedly, stabbing again and again¡­and again. The Prince had stopped moving long ago, and yet, she continued to stab into his butchered back with a look of pure madness in her eyes. Tears poured down her face as her dagger completed her long-awaited vengeance.


    With saddened eyes, Noah gazed at the Unseelie Prince with whom he had locked wits and strength. The ancient being who had survived the traversal to an alien world, securing a territory for himself and his followers with overwhelming power, met his end by the betraying dagger of his mate.


    Wren finally vented her rage on her father¡¯s murderer and threw the dagger to the side of his corpse, the tip sticking into the snow and wobbling back and forth. The insanity in her eyes faded until the warm and welcoming wolf that Noah believed her to be returned once more.


    Wren smiled mockingly at Noah before turning to the stunned Sylvie. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sylvie? Worried that your deceit will finally be exposed? I was shocked that the rest of the pack believed your lies so easily, but you couldn¡¯t fool me. Remember, I was with you that day at the lake. I witnessed the curse shear your ability to mate from your magic. That type of curse leaves no room for loopholes and is absolute in its purpose.¡±


    In a daze, time seemed to freeze as Noah floated above the ground, inspecting his questioning gaze and the stricken look on Sylvie¡¯s face. His chest constricted painfully until, with an explosion of sounds and sights, he returned to his body, and time resumed. Tears streamed down Sylvie¡¯s cheeks, but she refused to meet his eyes, preferring to stare at the ground. His stomach churned violently, and he fought to keep himself from being sick.


    Emotion clogged his throat, and his words came out in a croak, ¡°Sylvie, was I ever your mate?¡±


    Please, please, deny this lie, Sylvie. He hoped with all of his heart that she would erase his doubts and fears, but Sylvie remained silent, continuing to stare at the ground with a haunted look in her eyes.


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    ¡°Oh god,¡± he whispered as tears dripped from his face onto the snow. Refusing to listen to his logic, he had overlooked so many oddities and peculiarities in their relationship. After all, why would he question something that he wished to be true?


    Through her sobs, Sylvie finally managed to choke out, ¡°I had no choice, Noah. When the Unseelie appeared so close to our territory, I knew rampant rumors would overthrow me within days. The only way to avoid exile from my home and family was to prove that the Unseelie magic hadn¡¯t tainted me¡ªI needed a mate.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t bear to look at her and stared at the black waters of the lake, gently lapping against the shore. ¡°You were drowning, so you latched onto a convenient life raft chosen at random?¡±


    The pain of her betrayal spread to every corner of his body, burning him alive from the inside out. His choked sobs marred the serenity of the silent night as he clutched at his throbbing heart.


    ¡°You are still my mate, Noah. My magic may not have resonated with you, but my heart did. This doesn¡¯t change the time we spent together or the love we share,¡± Sylvie said, pleading with him to understand.


    She struggled to pull her broken body through the snow to reach him, but he ignored her efforts and continued to gaze at the lake. ¡°My mate, please look at me. This changes nothing.¡±


    A chuckle sounded out from the forgotten enemy. ¡°What a heartbreaking scene for the young alpha. I¡¯m afraid the goal of your scheme eludes me, Sylvie. How long could you have avoided suspicions when you failed to get pregnant?¡±


    Shaking her head, Wren clapped her hands and dusted off her trousers. ¡°I guess I will never know the full extent of your devious scheme because, unfortunately, you are correct. This changes nothing. In the exact spot I was in when my father was killed, I will fulfill his will and become the Alpha of this pack.¡±


    Glancing at the prone forms of Alder and Rowan, Wren sneered. ¡°Ah, your stalwart protectors, Sylvie. Every time I tried to whisper poison into the pack¡¯s ears, these two never ceased to defend your rule. If not for their loyalty, I would have ousted you long before Noah came along.¡±


    After a brief shimmer, she shifted into an auburn wolf and limped toward Noah and Sylvie. Still stained with Rowan¡¯s blood, her snarling fangs snapped at the immobile mates. Step by step, she approached in a limping prowl until her hot breath blew Noah¡¯s bangs from his eyes.


    Refusing to look away, he glared at her yellow eyes of evil in defiance. Just as she opened her maw wide, a howl bellowed from within the trees. Wren snapped her jaws shut, spinning around in a blur to face the new threat. From the forest, a pale blond wolf, barely the size of a normal wolf, emerged from the tree line, her whitish coat blending in with the freshly fallen snow. To her side, a gangly, dirty blonde wolf, almost as big as Wren, protected her flank.


    ¡°What are you two doing here? Return to the safety of the lodge!¡± Noah shouted in hysterics, frantically trying to rise with the assistance of his cane.


    ¡°We can¡¯t do that, Noah,¡± Silas said as he shifted into his human form. An iron sword hung at his waist, and he removed it from its sheath, swinging it through the air and testing its balance. ¡°Unfortunately, I prepared my weapons for the Unseelie, so I didn¡¯t bring any silver.¡±


    Beside him, Luna toyed with the leather pouches hanging from her waist, untying the bags and fingering the dust contained within. Her pigtails bounced through the holes in her hat, and she glared at Wren with merciless eyes.


    ¡°Luna, stop this madness! Run as fast as you can and rally the other wolves!¡± Noah yelled at her, his desperation echoing across the battlefield.


    Her green eyes glanced at Noah, and she shook her head with a sad smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master. Just this once, I must disobey your orders. You told us that if all the adults should fall, it would become our duty to protect the pack. The defenses have fallen, and we will answer the call to defend our home.¡±


    Crippling fear ran through Noah as he watched the siblings face off against a grown warrior wolf. An injured one, but still far beyond their capabilities to defeat.


    ¡°Witness the results of your training, Master,¡± Luna said, glancing at Noah one last time with a proud smile.


    Shifting into their wolves, the siblings bellowed a howl and sped toward Wren with vicious snarls. Even with her shredded leg, the auburn wolf blurred toward the siblings in a shocking display of speed. The siblings split from each other and lunged at Wren from different angles.


    In mid-air, Luna shifted into her human form, digging her little hands into the leather pouches dangling from her waist. Grasping a handful of the mysterious powder, she tossed a handful of dust at Wren¡¯s eyes and shifted back before she even touched the ground. With impressive agility, Luna dodged Wren¡¯s bite and darted out of reach of the stronger wolf.


    A howl of pain ripped from Wren¡¯s throat as the dust blanketed her eyes. A sizzling hiss sounded from Wren¡¯s face, and steam rose from her burned eyeballs. Not wasting the opening from the temporary blindness, Silas sank his fangs deep into Wren¡¯s shoulder, thrashing side to side to inflict maximum damage. With a roar, Wren snapped at the teenager, forcing him to release his clamped jaws and dodge her counterattack.


    Blood leaked from Wren¡¯s closed eyes as she jumped away from the siblings, losing her footing on the edge of the embankment and almost tumbling into the lake. Blinking rapidly, Wren tried to clear the poisonous dust from her eyes and restore her blinded vision.


    Sylvie shifted into her massive black wolf and attempted to join the fight but only made it a few feet before she collapsed into the snow with a whimper. As the battle continued, the siblings became hellish demons. They flipped through the air, constantly shifting back and forth from human to wolf. Luna threw powder after powder in Wren¡¯s direction before shifting back into her wolf form to dodge any attacks. Silas primarily attacked with his razor-sharp fangs but also shifted and swung his iron sword in devastating slashes.


    In a daze, Wren¡¯s bloodied eyes glazed over, and she swayed on her feet as the multitude of poisonous powders took their toll. Attempting to kill the stronger wolf as fast as possible, the siblings dished out continuous attacks, keeping the pressure up and hoping the veteran warrior would make a mistake.


    However, Wren had decades more experience than the siblings and wouldn¡¯t succumb to the barrage so easily. As Luna shifted in mid-air, Wren slammed her head into the little girl¡¯s chest, flinging her across the snow. Luna¡¯s human body bounced and rolled across the ground until she struck a tree with a horrendous thump.


    With a howl of rage, Silas charged the auburn wolf with uncontrolled fury. Noah stumbled toward the battle, falling to his knees every few steps but using his cane to climb back to his feet and continue his impotent charge. As he watched Wren toy with the teenager, he realized he wouldn¡¯t make it to them in time.


    He didn¡¯t have the strength to kill Wren, but she didn¡¯t know that. Rocking back on his heels, he reared back and threw his cane in a lazy arc at her back. Enhanced senses, usually a powerful ally, became a fatal flaw. Wren heard the cane whooshing through the air and dodged the feeble attack before facing the non-existent threat of Noah¡¯s iron-bladed cane.


    Silas didn¡¯t miss the opening and clamped his jaws around Wren¡¯s neck, sinking his fangs deep into her flesh. Wren twisted, howled, and snapped in an attempt to gain her freedom, but Silas refused to release the dying wolf. As the final death thrashes of the auburn wolf slowed, Silas still didn¡¯t release his hold, crushing his fangs even deeper into the dead wolf¡¯s neck.


    ¡°She is dead, Silas. Release her,¡± Noah said tiredly, watching as the pentagram on her bicep faded until the magic dissipated into the air in a fog of purple smoke. Excited howls sounded in the distance as the warrior wolves began to route the crippled Unseelie forces.


    Silas ignored his words, thrashing his head side to side and almost decapitating the body. A shiver traveled down Noah¡¯s spine as he spied a crazed look in Silas¡¯ eyes that reminded him of Wren when she was stabbing the Prince. ¡°Silas! Luna is injured!¡±


    At the mention of his sister, the crazed look faded from Silas¡¯ eyes, and he dropped the dead Wren onto the ground. Shifting into his human form, he studied Wren¡¯s corpse with blood and gore smeared across his mouth. Slowly, a small, delicate smile tilted his lips as he gazed at the mutilated body. After erasing the smirk so quickly that Noah wondered if he had imagined it, the teenager raced toward his sister, who sat gingerly against a tree.


    ¡°Luna! Are you injured? Don¡¯t move until I can find you some medicine,¡± Silas said, frantically examining every inch of Luna, who puffed her cheeks in annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Silas. We need to call the warrior wolves,¡± Luna said, shifting into her wolf form and howling into the night sky.


    ¡°Noah?¡± Sylvie whispered, wincing in pain as she continued to crawl towards him.


    Noah slumped back to the ground, ignoring Sylvie¡¯s calls and her attempts to crawl toward him. A few minutes later, warrior wolves emerged from the trees, staring in shock at the scene before them. With years of experience, their hesitation only lasted a second before they rushed toward Sylvie, Rowan, and Alder to render aid.


    Rowan remained unconscious as the warriors tied a tourniquet around his stumped arm. After securing the First Beta, they rushed to their alpha, bandaging Sylvie¡¯s ribs and feeding her small sips of a fluorescent blue poultice. With the Alpha treated for the time being, they bandaged Alder¡¯s bleeding claw wounds and attempted to rouse him with powerful slaps against his cheeks. Noah watched as Alder slowly regained consciousness, blinking in confusion at his surroundings.


    ¡°Dad! Where is my dad?¡± His eyes darted around the battlefield until he located Rowan and rushed over to him. Some of the older wolves patted him on the back in comfort as he sobbed over his father¡¯s unconscious body.


    ¡°He will be okay, Alder. He has lost an arm but kept his life,¡± one veteran said, rubbing Alder¡¯s back in a soothing cadence.


    Alder nodded with tears in his eyes and wiped at the snot dripping from his nose. Suddenly, a shimmering glow surrounded Alder as if he was about to shift. His head snapped toward Noah¡­no, not at Noah. Behind Noah, a shimmering glow engulfed the despairing Sylvie.


    ¡°I knew it,¡± Alder whispered. ¡°You are my mate!¡±

 Chapter 36/End of Book 1

    One Week Later


    Noah looked around the sibling¡¯s treehouse, where he had hidden from Sylvie for the past week. Through a heavy diet of fae medicine, his broken body had finally healed enough to handle the strains of travel. In the silence of night, he threw his travel sack over his shoulder and gazed at the siblings slumbering away in their beds.


    He walked over to Silas¡¯ bed and gazed at the snoring teenager. Brushing his dirty blonde hair away from his forehead, he leaned down to kiss his brow. After studying his brother for a few moments, he moved on to his apprentice. She slept in her wolf form, and he smiled as she whined and kicked her legs into the air as if she were prancing around in her dream. He scratched her gently behind her ear, causing her leg to kick uncontrollably.


    ¡°Goodbye, my apprentice,¡± he whispered as his tears dampened her fur. ¡°If I ever have a daughter, I hope and pray that she turns out like you.¡±


    He pulled away from the daughter he never had and walked over to the table where his lonely cane and cowboy hat waited in isolation. After placing the hat on his head and gripping his cane tightly, he glanced at the siblings one last time before heading out the door. He scrambled down the swaying ladders of death until he reached the forest floor.


    With the full moon shining down and illuminating his path, he stumbled his way over entangling roots and barricading bushes until he came to the meadow. No longer could he enjoy the beauty of the purple flowers basking in the moonlight, as only a desert of ash greeted his sight. Fae globes spotlighted the lodge like a beacon, but the illuminating lights didn¡¯t beckon him to safety anymore; in fact, they never had. In front of the lodge, a wooden statue of Calla and the two volunteer wolves stood vigilantly, ready to guard the pack for eternity.


    With a sigh, he turned away from his oasis of peace and revelry and jogged through the forest to a cabin he had never visited before. The cozy cabin sat between two trees, and its chimney billowed thick smoke into the air, blanketing the night sky and veiling the stars. Tapping his cane on the ground to announce his presence, he approached the cabin door and knocked against the sturdy wood a few times with his knuckles. Before he could knock for a third time, the door swung open to reveal a furious Isla.


    Barely reaching his chest, the tattoo-covered packmate crossed her arms and tapped her foot against the wooden floor. When he saw the pure rage behind her eyes, he slowly retreated a few steps.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Isla asked, noticing the travel sack slung over his shoulder.


    He nodded with a grimace, shame forcing his eyes to the ground. ¡°I wanted to check on Keziah before I left.¡±


    ¡°You are making a mistake, Noah,¡± Isla said, her anger transforming into sadness.


    ¡°How is she?¡± he asked, ignoring her warning.


    ¡°See for yourself, wish granter,¡± Isla said, flinging open the door and standing aside.


    Noah entered the cabin, removing his hat and glancing toward the bed in the middle of the room. Shadows danced across the cabin as the flickering flames in the hearth brightened the dark space and illuminated an unmoving bulge hidden beneath the covers on the mattress. After glancing at Isla, who nodded encouragingly, he approached the bed, his throat tightening as he saw the results of his tinkering.


    Bandages covered Keziah¡¯s body, and hideous scars disfigured her skin where the blond ponytail should have been. Scar tissue covered one side of her face, and the angry red skin hissed at the culprit behind its pain. Tears fell down his face as he lightly touched her shoulder, unsure where he could grab her without causing her pain.


    Unlike Rowan, her regenerative powers would heal the wounds, but she would be in excruciating pain for months, and it would take years to replace the deforming scars with healthy skin. Just as he was about to be sick from the sight, Keziah¡¯s eyes opened, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.


    ¡°She can hear you, but her throat is still too damaged from the smoke to speak,¡± Isla whispered from behind him.


    With a gentle smile, he said, ¡°The wolves you saved have been singing the glory of your battle across the territory, Keziah. With your courage and skill, you have birthed a new breed of warrior amongst the pack.¡±


    Keziah didn¡¯t answer and just stared at him out of the corner of her eye. His smile slowly fell from his face, and he decided to ask the question that dominated his thoughts and haunted his dreams. Her answer could break him, but he needed to know.


    ¡°Was it worth it, Keziah?¡± he asked in a whisper, staring her in the eye.


    She gazed at him for a long moment before her lips twitched into a delicate smile, and her head nodded ever so slightly. He choked out a tear-filled chuckle and wiped the snot dripping from his nose.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! True dreams are worth any price,¡± he said, gently patting her shoulder.


    ¡°Is that why you are running from yours? You risk nothing for your dream, not even your heart,¡± Isla said from behind him.


    A frown dipped his lips, and the constant pain in his chest ached at her words. Walking to the door, he removed his hat, bowing deeply to the mates. ¡°We will meet again one day, my friends. This is not a goodbye but a see you later. I expect the entire pack to be tattooed upon my return, Isla. And Keziah, I expect you to fortify the forest to such a degree that even the gods and devils couldn¡¯t invade our territory.¡±


    He returned the hat to his head and left through the door before additional words could make him hesitate any further. As he walked toward the territory entrance, the giant trees filtered the moonlight through their barren limbs, creating a checkered pattern of shadows across the ground.


    Continuing his stroll, the forest transformed from its browns and greens to the charred blackness of death. His feet kicked through the soft ash that still littered the ground and clogged the streams. He knew that if he turned left or right, he would eventually reach the sites of the major battles. By now, the pack had removed the fallen wolves from the forest floor, but the Unseelie corpses rotted in a tomb of ash. Even with the innate magic of the wolves speeding the recovery process, the scars from the battles would take the forest generations to heal.


    The pack¡¯s losses surpassed those of the forest, as over one hundred warrior wolves were slain in the battle, and dozens more were permanently crippled. The battle erased half of the pack¡¯s power, leaving it vulnerable to the greed of other territories. He continued through the forest of death for a few hours until he finally reached the territory entrance.


    The massive fae globes in the carved eyes of the trees flickered as if the enchantment was finally running out of magic. No guards blocked his way, and nothing but the open road called out to him. Adjusting his travel sack over his shoulder, he took a deep breath and approached the last of the trees.


    ¡°You would leave without a word, my mate?¡± Sylvie asked as she stepped out from behind the last tree.


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    They stared at each other without speaking for a few moments. Her long raven hair fluttered in the soft breeze, and her glowing silver eyes threatened to rob him of his convictions. Her bronze skin was bathed in moonlight, creating a painting of mythical beauty.


    ¡°Who do you refer to, Sylvie? Me? Or Alder?¡± he asked with a twirl of his cane.


    His words made her wince, but she held his gaze with imploring eyes. ¡°In every way that matters, you are my mate, Noah.¡±


    She pulled down her shirt until she revealed her bare shoulder. A tattoo of a cowboy hat with a cane lying across the bill shimmered in the moonlight. ¡°Noah, we revere the mating mark above all else. Nature may not have chosen you to be my mate, but I did!¡±


    She released her shirt, and it sprung up to cover her shoulder once more. ¡°Why must nature choose our mates? Look at the evil and twisted pairing it chose for Wren and the Prince. We found love in the same way humans find their soul mates. Why must we consider our mating to be less than?¡±


    ¡°My mate¡ª¡±


    He slammed his cane into a tree with a loud whack. ¡°Stop calling me that! I am not your mate. I have never been your mate. From the second we met, you have deceived me with a lie,¡± he shouted as tears blurred his vision.


    Sylvie fell silent as he vented his anger, continuing to gaze at him with heartbroken eyes. ¡°You are correct, Noah. We met because of a lie, but we also fell in love because of that lie. You are right to be angry with me, and I am sorry for hurting you. But this is your home, and no matter what happens between us, you belong here.¡±


    ¡°And the worst part is that I want to jump at those soothing words. They lure my heart like a siren¡¯s song, and I can¡¯t resist their alluring calls,¡± he chuckled self-deprecatingly before his voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I can¡¯t give you children, Sylvie.¡±


    His heart clenched as he said the words that he had refused to voice aloud for the past week. ¡°You are the Alpha, Sylvie. If you stay with me, you will never have an heir.¡±


    ¡°So, what? An heir didn¡¯t allow me to enjoy my life for the first time in decades¡ªyou did that,¡± Sylvie said with a growl.


    He walked up to her, and her eyes widened with hopeful excitement, but he walked past her, pausing after a few steps. With their backs to one another, he whispered, ¡°You need space to make this decision, Sylvie, and I must rescue the forgotten souls of my past. Once the pack is settled, truly consider your options, and if you decide I am your true mate, come and find me. I will always be waiting for you.¡±


    Reaching behind herself to grab at the sleeve of his trench coat, she whispered, ¡°Stay, Noah. That¡¯s all I ask of you.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he said, walking away from everything he had ever dreamed of without a backward glance. The fae globes in the wolf symbol flickered once more before turning dark and casting the forest into a desolate blackness.


    He continued walking down the road as the rising sun brightened the horizon. A rustling bush caught his attention, and he jumped backward, raising his cane at the threat. As the bush continued to rattle, he pressed the hidden button on the handle and released the iron blade from the tip. His heart pounded with fear, and his eyes widened as a figure emerged from the bush.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± he said, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation. Silas stood in front of him with a travel sack swung over his shoulder.


    Noah sighed in relief and compressed the blade back into his cane. ¡°What are you doing here, Silas?¡±


    ¡°I am coming with you, Noah,¡± Silas said with complete confidence.


    ¡°No, you aren¡¯t coming with me, Silas. Where I go, you cannot follow.¡±


    Silas dropped his sack onto the ground in a cloud of dust and crossed his arms in teenage stubbornness. ¡°I am coming, Noah, whether or not you allow me to.¡±


    Noah couldn¡¯t stop a wolf from following him, and Silas knew it. ¡°What are you doing, Silas? Who will protect Luna if you come with me? You are all she has in this world.¡±


    Silas shook his head sadly and gazed at him with accusing eyes. ¡°She had you too, Noah.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here, Silas?¡± Noah shouted as the teenager¡¯s words sent a throb of pain through his chest.


    ¡°After training nonstop for months in a new form of fighting, I still couldn¡¯t defeat Wren on my own. If I want to protect Luna, I must become much stronger. I can only do that if I leave the pack and gain experience.¡±


    Images of Silas¡¯ bloodlust during the battle flashed through Noah¡¯s mind, and he looked at the young teenager sadly. ¡°You walk a dangerous path, Silas. One day, you will come to a fork in that path. In one direction, you will become a hero amongst the wolves whose name will be spoken of in legends. Take a slight detour, and you will become a tyrant that the entire world will curse the name of for centuries.¡±


    Silas narrowed his eyes as Noah predicted his grim future. ¡°That is why I need to come with you, Noah. I need your guidance to make sure I don¡¯t stray.¡±


    Left alone, Silas would become another Ajax, but if he remained by Noah¡¯s side, they might be able to avoid such a dark fate. ¡°Very well, Silas. You can accompany me on my journey. Our first stop will be the dark caverns of my homeland. My reunion with Master Augustus is well overdue.¡±


    Silas smiled and picked up his dust-covered travel sack, throwing it over his shoulder. Their boots pounded against the dirt road, taking their first steps into the unknown.


    I am coming, Negative 3. Await the wrath I will bring upon your tormenters.


    Augustus Coven


    Augustus, Coven Master, and Progenitor, sat upon his throne in the dark caverns. His glowing red eyes cast his face in a menacing light, and his wide smile displayed his long canines that looked to be soaked in blood.


    ¡°I told you, my pitiful slave. You weren¡¯t free, just prolonging your escape attempt,¡± he whispered in delight, his voice reverberating off the cavern walls.


    As if a foolish child could wander through the Wilds for months unscathed. He had found his fleeing slave within a day after his ¡°escape.¡± For months, he had followed the boy, protecting him from the shadows against unseen threats: rogue shifters seeking to feast upon his flesh, murderous bands of humans seeking to satisfy their lust, and starving fae seeking to consume the boy¡¯s very soul.


    Each night, he had gazed upon his slumbering slave, brushing his claws against the stubble of his hair and scraping his fangs against the veins in his neck. But each night, his healing eyes had throbbed in pain, and rage would course through him. How long had it been since he felt anything in his monotonous existence? He couldn¡¯t kill the first bit of excitement he had experienced in centuries. Instead, he had decided to feed the boy his blood, just a few drops each night.


    As he pricked his skin, preparing to drip the last bit of blood into the slave¡¯s mouth, he had hesitated. One more drop and the boy truly would have become his slave, transforming him into a thrall. As he had watched the cut on his finger close, he decided he couldn¡¯t bear to transform something that made him feel alive into a mindless slave. Where was the fun in that?


    Instead, he had leaned down and kissed the boy on the brow, promising him that one day, he would return home on his own. Although the transformation to thrall was disrupted, he still had formed a blood connection with the boy.


    He couldn¡¯t influence the boy¡¯s mind as he pleased, but he could meddle here and there. A flitting stray thought? He could freeze it and force the boy to obsess over its existence. He could not make the boy dream, but he could add certain embellishments to those he had already conjured. He could not warp the boy¡¯s personality, but he could impress upon him an affinity for canes and white ruffled shirts.


    His pathetic slave had tortured himself with his shame and guilt, and for a decade-plus, Master Augustus had never tired, never ceased, and never bored as he attempted to assist the boy on his path to madness. All of that work and dedication had been on the brink of ruin because of that loathsome wolf pack. He had slowly felt the link to his slave severing, and in a desperate attempt to free the boy, he twisted his nightmares constantly until his slave finally escaped their evil grasp.


    Just as he and his fledgling Julius were about to capture the boy, two pups interrupted their long-awaited reunion. With the howls of the entire pack on their heels, Master Augustus, in a fit of rage, had granted Julius permission to kill his disloyal slave.


    And once again, the boy had proven that he had made the correct decision in letting him live. A weak human killed Julius with nothing more than a cane! With his determination renewed, he returned to the darkness of the caverns, pondering how he could use his blood connection to save his son from the wolves. But then, the link was severed when that evil alpha placed her mating mark upon his son¡¯s skin!


    Out of options and with no way to influence his slave, he sent Laelia with the female thrall to tempt the boy to leave those enchanted woods. All to no avail. And then, that glorious female alpha had done more harm with her betrayal than he had in ten years of nonstop meddling. And now, his slave believed himself to be on a journey of liberation, but in reality, he was willingly returning to his master¡¯s side. His prodigal slave was returning home!