Page 5

I have to admit, probably my favorite part of these regular alpha meetings is the long walk back to my pack. I don’t care that it takes almost until sunrise. I know I could do it quicker in wolf form, but it’s not about speed. It’s about having time in the forest to think, away from the constant chatter from the pack, multiple opinions, and the nagging threat from the rogues.

It’s the only time I get some peace these days. The only peace I’ve had since Ralph dropped dead out of the blue; he’d been suffering from some mystery illness, but the stupid fool didn’t tell anyone. I’m not sure anyone mourned his actual passing beyond some of the old guard who appreciated his brand of tyranny. Certainly not me. But his sudden passing did throw the entire Island into chaos. And then I compounded that by going against my wolf and throwing Ava away.

I did what I had to do, and I wish she would just stop haunting my every damn step. Let me enjoy a moment of peace. It’s as though she’s dogging my every thought tonight.

I growl in frustration before stopping suddenly with the dawning realization that the entire trail is infused with Ava’s scent. She literally is all around me. I want to shrug it off as though it’s simply my imagination, but I know it isn’t. She’s been here . Recently. Her scent is so strong. And so is her fear.

I take a moment and allow my wolf to consider the different scents in the forest. These trails are well used, but several scents stand out as recent—other wolves. A hunt is on. Is Ava part of it, or the target? Is it really her?

I can sense the wolves’ direction, so I shift, taking off down the trail, barely even pausing at the crossroads and clearings as I focus relentlessly on my pursuit. I’m a blur of motion, my paws barely touching the ground as I race through the forest.

I round a corner on the well-worn path and approach a clearing, the moonlight glinting off the silver water of a small creek that runs along the edge. I duck to the side, slowing and creeping through the undergrowth until I find a better view.

And there she is. The ghost that has haunted me ever since I rejected her. Now, I see her, standing her ground against a man flanked by wolves who linger behind. My heart skips a beat when I hear a baby or small child crying from somewhere behind Ava. Who is she hiding, and are there others?

I spring to action, barreling into the man, sending him flying before summoning my lightning magic, which hums in my veins as I spin around to face the wolves. I need to distract them before the man who was threatening Ava recovers. I send a bolt of lightning straight at the closest wolf, but I don’t stop there. My lightning arcs through the air and takes out the other two before dissipating in a shower of sparks. The other wolves struggle to their feet and retreat to the furthest edge of the clearing, unsure of what to do. I turn my attention back to the man, who is back on his feet and advancing on Ava.

"You really shouldn't have done that," he warns, his voice dark and threatening. "You think you’re something special, getting in the middle of what doesn’t concern you? She’s ours." He raises his hand as if to grab her, and I see red.

My magic surges once more, as I send a bolt directly his way, first a warning shot to the ground that causes him to stumble. When that doesn’t work, a shot to his shoulder sends him flying backward again.

"You're going to have to go through me first." Turning to the cowering wolves, I growl, “Take him and leave, or fight, and I will put you all down right now.”

They’re not part of my pack, nor anyone I recognize, so I assume they are rogues or visitors. Either way, they’ve clearly realized who I am, as one approaches ears down and submissive as they guide the injured man away. I can feel Ava’s presence behind me, but I don’t turn until I’m satisfied that the other wolves have gone.

The forest falls silent around us; even the child who was crying now seems calm. I finally turn to look at her, and I’m shocked by what I see. Ava stands before me, cradling a small blonde child, her own fair hair—much longer than before—flowing around her. Her figure seems smaller and more fragile, yet curvier in some ways. Her clothes are disheveled and dirty. Seeing her like this pisses my wolf off. Why couldn’t she have made something of herself and gotten away from here?

“You can’t stay here, they’ll be back,” I snap. “Seem to think you belong to them.” I eye the child in her arms.

She lifts her chin slightly in response. “Well, we do not. Just wrong place, wrong time.”

She shifts slightly, and I can tell the child is too heavy for her to hold for much longer. I find myself staring at them for a moment before releasing a sigh. “What about her?” I ask, gesturing at the child.

She pulls the child closer, rubbing her back. “She is mine, " she confirms. I can’t see the child very well, but she looks very young and small. Something within me burns at the knowledge that she’s had a child with someone else since leaving. “We’re heading to the coast, so we’ll get going.”

I can't help but scoff at that. “Is her father there? Those wolves will just circle back around for you if you stay on this trail. Is he meeting you?”

She looks startled for a moment, and I know I’m snapping at her, but I can’t help it. I stare at the child, trying to get my head around the fact she’s been playing house with some new man while her disappearance has haunted me. She looks around the forest nervously, obviously trying to assess the risks for herself before responding.

“There’s no one, it’s just us,” she finally admits, and I know I’m a bastard, but it soothes my wolf somehow. “Thank you for your help, but we’ll be fine.”

I watch as she pulls a heavy-looking backpack onto her shoulder while trying to balance the child. The cute blonde toddler turns to look at me inquisitively, and the intense blue of her eyes briefly takes me aback as she stares back at me with something akin to wonder in her eyes, like she’s never seen anyone like me before. She almost seems to be assessing me; it’s as though she can see straight through me. It’s disconcerting, to say the least. There’s something unusual about the child.

I shake my head. “I won’t leave a child, or you, out here to be picked off by those wolves,” I say, watching the uncertainty flash across her face. “I’m alpha, and this is my land. You’ll come with me while we sort this out.”

I don’t miss the way she subtly rolls her eyes and begins to protest. It should piss me off, but it almost makes me smile. I’m mostly relieved she hasn’t completely lost her spirit; the rest of her demeanor seems to imply it. Except the way she faced up to those wolves—clearly a mother’s determination. That’s something I can respect. So why can’t she see the only way to protect her child is to come with me?

“No way,” she replies defiantly. “I’m never going back there. I’m never going anywhere with you.”

She moves to walk past me, and my wolf bristles at her attitude. Why does she have to be so damned difficult when I’m just trying to help her? I reach out and grab her arm, pulling her back roughly. She stumbles, trying to maintain her balance with her daughter in her arms.

“Don’t you dare,” she hisses, glaring at me angrily. “You’ve hurt me enough already.”

But her words fall flat as she looks down at the place where I’m holding her, a nervous tremor running through her body. The scent of fear is so strong it almost makes me hesitate, but I’m not going to let her walk into danger. “I can protect you both,” I insist, even as I feel my own fangs slowly lengthen in response to her distress. “Agree, for her sake if not your own.”

She shakes her head violently, eyes filling with tears. She’s about to say something, but I cut her off. “Goddammit, Ava,” I snarl, “this is not up for discussion. It’s been a long night, and I don’t fancy another fight with those wolves. Do you?”

Her eyes go wide, filled with tears now, but instead of fighting me on it again, she looks at the girl and simply nods. Without another word, we leave the clearing and begin walking down the trail that leads towards the town. At the crossroad, Ava looks toward the trail that leads to the port and pauses. I can tell she’s considering her original plan, but she says nothing and follows me. The trail she was on passes near our town, and it’s clear she was hoping to travel undetected through the night. The question is, why?

I notice the child watching us both warily over Ava’s shoulder, her little brow furrowed in confusion. Her weight is clearly bothering Ava, and I notice her readjusting her a few times. Ava was never the strongest wolf, but she appears to be even weaker now. I sigh, irritated at the thought that her wolf continues to be a disappointment. “Let me take her,” I say, stopping. “It’ll be quicker.”

She hesitates, but I can see her arms physically shaking, and I reach for the girl before she can argue. I almost expect the toddler to complain, but instead, she squeals in delight as I lift her higher. “What’s her name?” I ask Ava.

Eyeing me warily, obviously reticent, she pauses for a moment before replying. “Harper. Just be careful with her. She’s not used to other people.”

I nod but don’t say anything as we continue walking faster now. I must admit, the kid doesn’t seem nervous as she chatters and waves her arms around. I don’t have much experience with pups, but I find myself enjoying the way she seems to be excited about everything in the forest.

I smile as Harper bats away a butterfly that has taken a particular liking to her. I turn to see Ava watching us; there is an unreadable expression on her face. This is clearly the last thing either of us expected to happen today. I steal another glance, my wolf responding to her proximity. I can’t deny her beauty. That was never the problem. Her soft blonde hair, pale skin, and rosy pink lips call to me, but I also can’t miss her small, weak stature, and I doubt her wolf has improved at all. A question nags at the corner of my mind, and I find myself stopping and turning to her.

“Why didn’t you shift?” I ask. "You could never defend yourself or Harper against a man. Were you even going to try to fight?”

Red appears on her cheeks, and her head dips. “Of course I was. I would fight to the death for Harper,” she says quietly. Truthfully. “But my wolf is gone. I mean, not totally, but I can’t shift. Not right now, anyway.”

For fuck’s sake, I think to myself. A wolf that can’t even shift.

“Well, it’s a good thing I turned up if you can’t save yourself,” I mutter, and carry on walking, my stomach churning at the thought of what would have happened if I hadn’t stumbled upon them. Harper giggles at something unseen, and it pulls at my heart.

I’m not sure why I care so much about them, but I do. And it’s confusing as hell.