Page 11 of Aching for His Mate (The Wolves of Luven #5)

Phi may have smelled fifty wild wolves, but after six hours, Iota only counted twelve.

It wasn’t a small number, but more likely a small band moving through the lands surrounding Luven.

Iota kept moving, running the length of the land they considered “theirs.” If those wolves smelled a lone wolf near Luven, they might realize they were getting too close to the border and back off.

Or go on their way to the wall or the human border, or wherever the wild wolves wanted to go.

Iota had never been a wild wolf. He was born in Luven, to two wolves who had lived in a small settlement before that. There wasn’t much wild in him. He liked city living. He didn’t mind working security. It was an easy job to fall into. He wasn’t a baker or particularly smart. He didn’t have a trade or a calling. But he liked to run. And he liked the idea of doing a job that kept his city safe. When he turned eighteen, security was the obvious path.

A path that now sent him running through the woods when he could be home with his mate. In a home that this job afforded him.

Iota huffed.

Suddenly, he stopped. Pricked his ears. Lifted his nose to the wind.

There were six wolves under a half mile away.

And they were between Luven and him.

He loped in their direction, his mind racing. How did they get behind him? Had he been so distracted by dreams of Domitia that the scent of unknown wolves had wafted past him without any notice?

Iota tried to straighten his thoughts. Six wild wolves far past the known border of Luven’s lands. There was a chance they were from the south or the far west and didn’t know the city existed, but considering where they currently stood, that was nearly impossible.

They knew Luven was there. And they were encroaching on his city.

Iota squeezed his fists a few times as he pumped them. There might be a fight coming, and he needed to be ready. Given their position, there was a chance Gamma had caught their scent too, maybe even Xi depending on how the wind blew. He’d get there first, though.

Shit. He’d get there first.

Iota conjured up an image of Domitia. He couldn’t let those wild wolves get to Luven. No matter what. His mate, his human mate, was there, unprotected and without warning. No part of Iota was going to allow those wolves anywhere near her.

Just as their scent became unbelievably overbearing, the wolves came into view.

They were on the young side. Mostly younger than Iota. Older teens, young twenties, wolves just coming into their adulthood. They wore low slung pants, which Iota noted as interesting, especially in the summer. A lot of wild packs went without clothes in the hotter months, some even year round.

Their heads snapped in Iota’s direction, and he raised his hand in greeting. No use running into this confrontation without first trying to be cordial. Especially when it was six against one.

He slowed to a jog and took a moment to search the air for Gamma or Xi, but came up empty.

“Hello, there,” Iota called. He stopped about twenty yards away. “Looking for something?”

One of the wolves, with ashy blonde hair and a full beard, stepped to the front of the group.

“Hello. You looking for a pack?”

“No,” Iota answered quickly. “Do you know where you are?”

The leader huffed a laugh and smirked. “Wolf Territory as far as I know. And judging that you’re a wolf too, I’d guess I’m right.”

“You’re encroaching on Luven.”

“What’s Luven?” The wolf smiled slyly, making Iota think this wolf knew exactly what Luven was.

“A city. With rules for entry.”

“Rules? Hell, we don’t care for rules, do we boys?” The other wolves laughed a little.

Iota scanned the horizon. Still no sign of Gamma or Xi and he had a sinking feeling these wolves weren’t going to be on their way soon.

“You heard the rumors?” the leader asked.

“What rumors?”

“Human women, coming here. Looking for salvation.” He licked his lips. “We could use a few women in our ranks. Ones who’d be really grateful we found them.”

Iota simply shook his head. “If you’re looking for human women, why not go to human territory? There’s no wall.”

“Meh. I’m not one for stealing a woman. They have too much fight in ‘em. Need to find some who are properly desperate. Dying to be found. Willing to do anything.”

Iota tried to keep his wolf at bay but every fiber of his being was screaming to tear this wolf apart. He didn’t want him anywhere near Luven.

There were good wolves in the world, but there were bad ones too. And this was definitely a bad wolf.

“I’ve heard the women in Balaur are looking for ways out,” Iota mentioned offhandedly. “Have to cross the wall, though. Or go around the long way.”

“Balaur? Isn’t that dragon territory?”

“It is.”

“Hell, I have no interest in fighting a dragon for a woman. Rather just find one needing a loving hand of support, you know?”

Iota didn’t answer.

“Maybe we’ll go check out Luven. See what the city has to offer,” he dared.

“You’ll have to check in at one of the posts. Go over the rules.”

“Can’t pop in for the day? See if there’s anyone interested in joining us?” the leader goaded. “What about you? What’s your name?”

“Iota.”

“Iota, I’m Beren. We’re a small pack, but growing. No rules here.”

“Not interested. And to answer your other question, you cannot enter the city without agreeing to the rules. If you want to visit a city with looser regulations, try Muchan. A lot of traders go through there.”

“But Muchan is so far away. And a lot of wolves are talking about a hospital full of unmated, worn down, half-starved human women. What if my mate is there?”

At that moment, Iota knew he would have to fight them and that he would probably lose. They weren’t a big enough pack to take Luven, but they’d make it through him, maybe Gamma and Xi depending on how many Iota could take down.

There would be bloodshed and losses. He’d be the first.

Fuck. What a time to have met his mate.

Iota looked over them, and sized up each. He’d start with the two youngest. It wasn’t fair, he was definitely stronger than both of them, but he had to think of his pack. If he could take out those two, Gamma would only have to face four. If he could take out three, hell…If Gamma and Xi got here soon, these wolves might never make it to Luven at all.

“If your mate is there, swear your allegiance to our Alpha and give her a good life in an established city. A chance to heal after a hellish life. Humans aren’t designed to live these wild lives.”

“Doesn’t sound like something I care about.” Beren smirked. “We’ll be heading to Luven now. Unless of course, you want to stop us?”

Iota took a breath. Watch over Domitia he begged the Moon Goddess.

“I can’t let you. You can leave, or we can fight.”

“You want to fight all six of us?”

“I will.”

“Hell, you sure your Alpha appreciates you? I’d love to have you.”

“As I said before, not interested.” Iota’s eyes flicked across the pack. Two of the midsized wolves stepped forward to block Beren.

Shit. So much for fighting the young ones first.

Iota turned towards Luven, howled loudly to Gamma, then gave into his wolf and shifted to his monstrous form. He stretched his claws, gnashed his teeth, and sprinted towards them.

When in wolf form, his thoughts were sharper, more animalistic. He saw the two young wolves step back a little. Afraid. Good. They might run. Maybe they’ve never had a true fight. If there were only four willing to fight…hell, maybe Iota could kill them all.

He hit the first wolf like a boulder crashing down the side of a mountain. The other wolf shifted the moment Iota grabbed him, but it was too late. With a closed fist, Iota pummeled his forehead and temples as many times as he could before the other wolf pulled him off and tossed him to the side. He took a minute to catch his bearings—the wolf he had beaten looked shaken up and dizzy, but the other wolf ran in his direction.

Iota jumped to his feet and crouched, then sprang to meet the wolf midway before he could pounce on Iota. They grappled, growling at each other as they did. Claws were out now, both of them swiping at the other. Iota felt the other wolf draw blood a few times, but he also drew some of his. They tumbled around, smashing each other against the earth, getting in punches when they could. Iota protected his neck at all costs. A wolf claw to the throat was nearly impossible to survive.

Iota got a good, deep slash in and the other wolf jumped off him for a moment. Iota took stock.

The first wolf had crawled away and held his head between his hands. If needed Iota could give him one more punch to the skull to finish him. For now, he’d leave him there. He didn’t pose any immediate threat.

Beren still stood, arms crossed, beside the other midsized wolf. The young ones seemed less scared now. Their stature was stronger, and they didn’t cower back. The wolf beside Beren took a step forward.

Fuck. Iota needed to incapacitate the wolf he was currently fighting so he could focus on the rest of them. He risked a sniff on the wind and while the scent of wolf blood, both his own and theirs, was hard to smell beyond, he thought he could smell Gamma coming closer.

Before he could howl again, he was knocked to the ground. His head hit the earth with a thud.

Fuck. His brain felt all shaken. He couldn’t lose consciousness. Iota focused on the wolf atop him. He clawed at his sides, scratching through his fur but failing to make any deep wounds. The wolf growled and chomped towards Iota’s neck, but he blocked him with his forearm, earning him a nasty bite.

Iota grumbled in pain. He bore through the pain and used the leverage of the wolf’s teeth impaled in his arm to flip the wolf onto his back. With his other hand, Iota drove his claws deep into his belly, so deep the other wolf released his arm and howled in despair.

Iota quickly scrambled away and put some distance between the wolves and him.

Beren was gone. So were the two young wolves. Shit! Only Iota, the concussed wolf, the bleeding wolf, and a perfectly healthy wolf remained.

Iota howled as loudly as he could, to both Gamma and Xi, and maybe even someone on the border of Luven would hear him. Epsilon didn’t live too far away from the boundaries. If he was home, he might be able to come help.

The last, uninjured wolf slowly shifted. Iota glanced at the wolf he’d clawed in the stomach. He looked more than half-dead. The wolf whose head he’d battered was unconscious. All that was left was for Iota to survive this wolf.

And then chase down the other three.

He put his claw up to his side. Blood flowed freely there. The bite of his left arm throbbed terribly. His bone was definitely broken and he was certain a big chunk of muscle and skin was sitting in the mostly dead wolf’s mouth or stomach.

Iota took a breath. If he didn’t survive this, he could know that Domitia would be well taken care of. And she would have Vallie and all the other women of Balaur to keep her company and keep her loved.

Domitia, he growled towards Luven, my love. Then Iota turned toward the wolf who ran at him.

They hit the ground with a thud and Iota managed to throw his bitten arm up to block his neck. The wolf responded with a jab to the gut.

Fuck. He couldn’t withstand much more blood loss. Iota’s vision started to blur. He used all the energy he had left to headbutt the wolf on top of him, then slumped to the ground. The wolf reared back, but returned and raised his claw above his head.

Goodbye, Domitia. I wish I could have given you so much more. Find happiness in Luven. Hell, I wanted to watch you fall in love with me.

The wolf found purchase in Iota’s shoulder. He howled in pain and turned his head to the side. His vision clouded with fat black splotches. But as his sight failed, he saw a figure running toward him.

Darkness took over.