Page 16 of Alpha’s Vow (Copper Canyon Shifters #3)
CHAPTER 16
SABLE
T he man with the scarred face grinned at her, his blade catching the dim light as he circled like a predator sizing up its prey. The other patrons in the room either ran from the room or backed away.
“Out now,” snarled Bryce, ensuring the tavern was empty save everyone but the hunters and themselves.
“You’ve got fire,” he sneered, his voice a mocking growl. “But you’re still just one little wolf.”
Sable’s breath hitched, her rage bubbling to the surface. Her wolf surged, her skin prickling with the heat of the transformation that hovered just out of reach. She clenched her fists, trying to hold it back, but the edges of her vision blurred, and the bond between her and Bryce beat like a drum in her ears.
“Not just a wolf,” Sable growled, her voice low and feral.
The scarred man lunged, his blade slashing through the air. Sable dodged, her instincts sharper than ever as she twisted out of his reach. But the chaos around her was too much—too many movements, too many threats. Her wolf clawed at her control, desperate to take over.
And then, with a deep breath, Sable let go.
The shift came with a rush of heat and energy, a crackling force that rippled through the tavern like a thunderclap. Sable’s body exploded into a swirling mist of light and shadows, her human form dissolving as her wolf surged forward. The transformation was both beautiful and terrifying, shards of light scattering across the room like broken glass, the air filled with the faint purr of raw power.
Gasps and shouts erupted around her as the hunters stumbled back, their eyes wide with terror. One man dropped his weapon, his face pale as he scrambled to escape the maelstrom that Sable had become.
When the light cleared, she stood in her wolf form, her tawny fur glistening under the flickering tavern lights. Her eyes burned with an otherworldly glow, her lips pulled back to reveal sharp teeth that gleamed like daggers.
The scarred man froze, his sneer replaced by one of horror. “Shit.”
Sable didn’t give him time to finish the thought. With a snarl, she lunged, her powerful body moving with deadly precision. She knocked him to the ground, her claws raking across his arm as he tried to defend himself. His knife clattered to the floor, forgotten in his desperate attempt to fend her off.
You shouldn’t have come here, she thought, but of course, he couldn’t hear her, as she was a wolf and had no words. Instead, she growled, a low, guttural rumble that sent shivers through the room.
The scarred man scrambled backward, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he stared at her with wide, panicked eyes. But before Sable could strike again, another hunter charged her from the side, swinging a wooden chair in a desperate attempt to drive her back.
She turned just in time, the chair splintering against her side as she growled in pain and fury. Bryce was there in an instant, his fist slamming into the attacker’s jaw with enough force to send him crashing into a nearby table.
“We need to finish this,” Bryce shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Now!”
Sable’s wolf snarled in agreement, her gaze locking onto the remaining hunters. They hesitated, their confidence crumbling as they took in the scene—the shattered furniture, the unconscious bodies, and the massive tawny wolf standing between them and escape.
But fear made them unpredictable.
One of the hunters grabbed a bottle from the bar, hurling it toward Sable with a wild yell. She dodged easily, the glass shattering against the wall behind her. Another man bolted for the door, his boots skidding across the blood-slicked floor as he shoved past anyone in his way.
“Cowards!” the scarred man shouted, his voice cracking with desperation as he clutched his injured arm. “Stay and fight!”
They didn’t listen. The remaining hunters scattered, their retreat chaotic as they stumbled into the night, leaving only she and Bryce in the tavern. Sable’s wolf wanted to chase them, to hunt them down and finish what they’d started, but Bryce’s voice cut through the haze of her rage.
“Let them go,” he said, stepping to her side. His eyes met hers, steady and commanding. “We’ve got what we came for.”
She growled low, her wolf reluctant to stand down. But the bond between them pulsed, grounding her in the present. Slowly, she shifted back, the mist and light swirling around her as her human form reappeared.
Sable stood naked and barefoot in the wreckage of the tavern, her breath coming in sharp gasps as the adrenaline ebbed. Bryce opened the saddle bags he’d had slung over his shoulder earlier and tossed her some clothes, which she put on. Her skin was slick with sweat, her muscles aching from the transformation, but her eyes burned with the fire of unfinished business.
The scarred man was still on the floor, clutching his arm as he glared up at her with a mix of fear and hatred. Bryce loomed over him, his jaw clenched and his fists still ready for a fight.
“You’re going to tell us everything,” Bryce said, his voice a quiet threat. “Every name, every safe house, every plan.”
The scarred man spat blood onto the floor, his defiance flickering even in his weakened state. “Go to hell.”
Bryce’s lips curved into a cold smile. “After you.”
Sable crouched beside the man, her eyes locking onto his. “You don’t understand who you’re dealing with,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “But you will.”
The man’s breath hitched, his gaze darting between her and Bryce as he seemed to grasp the gravity of his situation—he was alone with two wolf-shifters, either of whom was capable of tearing his throat out. The room was silent except for the faint creak of the wind through the broken windows, the gravity of the moment settling like a heavy fog.
“Fine,” he muttered, his voice shaking. “I’ll talk.”
Sable leaned closer, her voice a growl. “You’d better. Because if you don’t, I’ll let my wolf come back out to play and let her finish what she started.”
The scarred man nodded quickly, his bravado crumbling. Sable stood, her body still coiled as she turned to Bryce. His eyes met hers, the bond between them a steady pulse of strength and reassurance.
“It’s not over yet,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.
Bryce nodded, his expression grim. “No. But we’re one step closer.”
As the scarred man began to spill his secrets, Sable’s heart pounded with a mix of triumph and anticipation. The fight wasn’t over, but the hunters’ days were numbered, and she wouldn’t stop until every single one of them had paid.
Just as he finished speaking, Gideon Bonham, one of Rush’s men entered the tavern.
“You’re late,” said Bryce.
“Nah, just didn’t want to horn in on your fun,” drawled Gideon as he handcuffed the scarred man and hauled him outside. “I’m sorry to say, we were able to nab a couple of the others, but not all.”
Bryce shook his head and chuckled. “Rangers,” he muttered.
The tavern was quiet now, save for the faint creak of a broken chair swinging on one uneven leg. Dust hung heavy in the air, illuminated by the flickering overhead lights. Sable stood in the center of the wreckage, her breath still heaving as she struggled to steady the maelstrom raging inside her. Her wolf snarled just beneath the surface, the thrill of the fight still coursing through her veins.
Across the room, Bryce leaned heavily against the bar, blood seeping from a gash along his arm. His eyes burned with purpose, despite the pain that etched lines into his face. He tore off a piece of his shirt and tied it tightly around the wound, his movements steady and deliberate.
“You’re hurt,” Sable said, her voice raw as she stepped toward him.
“I’m fine,” Bryce replied, his tone firm. He met her gaze, the fire in his eyes unyielding. “We don’t have time to worry about me. They’re still out there.”
Sable’s wolf snarled at the thought of the hunters who had escaped. Her instincts urged her to chase them, to track them through the night and finish what they’d started. But the importance of what had just happened hung around her like a heavy shroud, her humanity struggling to reassert itself after the bloodshed.
“We can’t just let them go,” Bryce continued, his voice pulling her from her thoughts. “If we give them time to regroup, they’ll disappear again. This is our chance.”
Sable nodded slowly, her gaze flicking to the door the hunters had fled through. “I know.”
Bryce pushed off the bar, his movements slightly stiff as he stepped closer. “Are you with me?”
The question cut deeper than it should have, the bond between them filled with unspoken emotion. Sable looked away, her hands trembling as the events of the fight replayed in her mind. She’d shifted in the middle of the chaos, her wolf taking over with a ferocity that left her breathless. She’d been ruthless, savage, unstoppable—and it scared her.
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if I can.”
Bryce’s brows furrowed, his eyes softening as he reached for her. His hand brushed her arm, grounding her with the quiet strength of his touch. “Talk to me.”
Sable pulled away, pacing a few steps before turning to face him, her eyes wild. “I lost control, Bryce. I let her take over.”
“You mean your wolf?” Bryce asked, his tone calm.
“Yes,” she snapped, the word sharp and bitter. “I didn’t think. I didn’t care. I just wanted to...” She cut herself off, her breath hitching as she forced herself to stop. “I didn’t feel human.”
Bryce closed the distance between them, his presence a steady force that wrapped around her like a shield. “You think that makes you a monster?”
Her eyes flicked to his, her chest tightening. “Doesn’t it?”
“No,” Bryce said, his voice firm but filled with warmth. “It makes you a fighter. A survivor. You did what you had to do, Sable. Nothing more, nothing less.”
She shook her head, her fists clenching at her sides. “I’m not sure I can come back from this. From any of it.”
“You will,” Bryce said, stepping closer until they were inches apart. He reached for her hand, his grip strong and unyielding. “Because you’re stronger than you think. And because you’re no longer a lone wolf—you have a pack, a family, me.”
The bond between them flared, their connection tangible, filling the space between them. Sable’s heart pounded, her emotions a tangled mess of anger, guilt, and a fledgling feeling of something softer, something warmer, something more enduring. She wanted to believe him, to trust in his certainty, but the darkness inside her felt too vast, too consuming.
The intensity in his voice was a lifeline, pulling her back from the edge. She nodded, the knot in her chest easing just enough for her to take a deep breath. “Okay.”
Bryce smiled, the faint curve of his lips a balm to her frayed nerves. “Good. Now let’s move.”
They left the tavern minutes later, stepping into the cool night air. The town was eerily quiet, the chaos of the fight already a distant memory as they walked toward the truck. Bryce moved with his usual strength, but Sable could see the stiffness in his stride, the pain he was working so hard to hide.
“You’re not fine,” she said, breaking the silence.
Bryce glanced at her, his lips twitching into a faint grin. “I’ve had worse.”
“That’s not the point,” Sable said, her voice sharper than she intended. “You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”
He stopped, turning to face her fully. The moonlight caught the hard lines of his face, his eyes glinting with quiet resolve. “Pot?” he said, pointing at her. “Meet kettle. I’m not stopping, Sable. Not until this is over.”
Her wolf growled in agreement, but her human side ached at his determination. “You can’t do everything on your own.”
“I’m not on my own,” Bryce said, his voice softening. “I’ve got you.”
The words hit her like a blow, the bond between them surging with a quiet power that left her breathless. She wanted to argue, to tell him that she wasn’t strong enough, but the look in his eyes stopped her. He believed in her, even when she couldn’t believe in herself.
“We’ll finish this,” Sable said, her voice steadying as she met his gaze. “But we’ll do it together.”
Bryce nodded, his grin returning. “That’s what I keep telling you.”
They climbed into the truck and disappeared into the night, the road ahead a shadowed promise of battles yet to come. The fight wasn’t over, and the darkness still pressed in from all sides, but with Bryce beside her, she felt the spark of something unstoppable. This wasn’t just survival—it was the beginning of their reckoning. And she’d be damned if she let it slip through her fingers.