Page 13 of Curvy Alpha Bride (Wolfshade Brides-for-Hire #4)

Even though I was restless when I first went to bed, sleep crept up on me like a dark, slow-moving tide. My thoughts were mired in it, and I went deep into an almost dreamless slumber.

The perfect blackness was occasionally disturbed by lights and sounds, like memories flickering just out of reach. It disturbed me so much that I tried to wake up, but no amount of struggling brought me out of the clinging shadows.

Even when I dreamed of screams that ripped through the darkness, I couldn’t move, and my eyes wouldn’t open. It wasn’t until dawn began to break outside and light crept into the sky that I was finally able to wake.

When I get up, I expect to feel groggy and dull, but instead, I’m completely refreshed. Practically bouncing out of bed, I hurry to the kitchen, expecting to find Xavier there.

Maybe we can work on some of the town projects. Today feels like a day when great things could be accomplished.

The kitchen is empty, but I don’t worry too much. The car is still parked in the driveway, so I figure he can’t have gone far.

As I go to the counter to put on coffee, I look up towards the woods, and that’s when I feel it.

The woods seem menacing, ugly, and dark. I can’t explain the feeling of dread that suddenly attacks me as I stare towards the trees. Everything looks completely normal, even beautiful, but my instincts are telling me that something is terribly wrong.

I have to find Xavier.

As the sun gets higher, filling the valley with warm light, the sense of danger retreats with it, rushing back towards the woods in the company of shrinking shadows. I turn my back on the wilderness and hurry out the front door, racing up the dirt track.

Within two strides, I shift into my wolf, and the scents of Xavier and a few of the council members flood my nostrils. Following the scatter of paw prints, I chase the smells towards town. I haven’t gone far when I hear the shouting.

As I head towards the clamor, the scent markers get stronger. A lot of people are gathered together, and they are angry and afraid.

What the fuck is going on?

When I see the group, I slow down a little, shifting back to my human shape as I walk towards them. Xavier looks over his shoulder at me, his eyes full of rage and fear.

I’m so shocked, I stop in the middle of the track. I’ve never seen Xavier this upset, and the situation has to be extremely bad to affect him like this.

The sounds of the rabble begin to separate, and I hear the wailing of the woman in front of Xavier, her voice clear against all the others.

“Dove!” she moans. “My sweet Dove!”

What happened to Dove?

I hurry towards the crowd now, my mind full of the young girl’s sweet voice and soft brown eyes. For an older teen, she had an innocence that was completely childlike, and the idea of her being harmed sickens me.

“You all knew this would happen,” Xavier accuses the crowd, his voice soft and threatening. “None of you are surprised by this.”

I stand quietly beside him, looking around the circle. Every single face wears a mask of shame—except Dove’s mother. Tears pour down her cheeks as she whimpers softly, staring at the ground as if she’s trapped in her own private hell.

“Xavier,” Serra says, her voice firm. “There are things we must discuss, but this isn’t the place to do it. If you could just—”

“Just what?” Xavier hisses, stepping towards her. His voice is still low and dripping with threat. His arms hang by his sides, and he keeps slowly clenching his fists.

I’ve never seen him so angry.

Xavier has always been known for his jokes and carefree manner. I’ve never seen him truly upset, and my fear rises sharply as I try to think of what got him into this state.

“Just calm down,” Serra says. “If you—”

“No,” he cuts her off, his voice still soft. “I’m not going to ‘just’ anything. You knew, all of you knew, and no one told me. I’ve lost a pack member, an innocent young girl, and I could have prevented it.”

Lost? How?

“No, you couldn’t have,” Ivan mutters, and Xavier’s eyes swivel over to him.

“I’m going to need you to explain this to me, very thoroughly,” Xavier says menacingly. His fingers twitch as he looks around at the elders, as if he wants to tear them all apart.

“What about Dove?” I ask, my fear finally overcoming me. “What happened to her? Shouldn’t we try to find her?”

The entire group turns to look at me, and on the faces of the elders is absolute shock.

“What are you doing here?” Rhiannon screams. “You shouldn’t be out here!”

“For fuck’s sake!” Ivan yells. “You can’t run around without protection!”

The elders surround us and start pushing me down the track. Xavier wraps an arm around me, and they shove him as well.

The rest of the townsfolk watch us go, some of them with shock or fear, others with resignation. Dove’s mother continues to wail with loss, and her voice is like a lament that spreads through the valley to be heard all the way to Kootenai Peak.

“What are you doing?” I demand, trying to plant my feet. “Stop this crap right now, and talk to me.”

“Can’t,” Ninette says, grabbing my arm and sidling up against me to keep me moving. “We have to get you back to the cabin—now.”

“This is bullshit!” Xavier yells. “Stop!”

They don’t stop. Rhiannon grabs my other arm, and Eileen steps up behind me and puts her hand against my lower back. I try to plant my feet, but they keep pulling and shoving me, and I can’t resist them.

Xavier growls as Ivan shoves him forward. Before he can strike back, Hector pushes him from the other side, almost knocking him off his feet. Xavier sees that the other women have marched me further up the track and runs to keep up. Ivan, Hector, Finnah, and Serra all follow him closely.

“Let go of her!” he yells, trying to get between the women.

“Can’t do that, son,” Rhiannon mutters, gripping my arm even tighter. “Just keep moving.”

“Why?” Xavier almost screams. He stops and turns around, only to be faced with the other elders again as they close ranks and advance. “What the fuck,” he growls.

“We need to get you back to the cabin,” Serra says. “Just do as you’re told.”

“I will not!” he roars. “I’m not taking another step until you fucking talk to me! I should be out there in the woods right now, looking for Dove. All of us should be!”

“Dove is dead,” Finnah says, her voice dull. “And if you want to protect the rest of the pack, then you’ll listen to us.”

“Dead?” The wail breaks out of my throat, and I struggle against the women. “What happened to her?”

The elders look at me, but none of them speaks.

“I heard screaming,” Xavier says, jogging to catch up with me. “I went out to find out what it was, and found the townsfolk going crazy.”

“This is beyond fucking crazy!” I cry, struggling against the women. Rhiannon and Ninette grip my arms even tighter, dragging me as Eileen pushes against my back.

“That’s it!” Xavier yells, shoving at the women. “Let her go, right fucking now!”

Ivan shifts into his wolf shape and leaps at Xavier, knocking him off his feet. Hector shifts as well and flanks Ivan, stalking around Xavier, where he sits on the ground. Neither of them has their teeth bared, but the hard look in their eyes plainly says they’ll hurt him if they have to.

Xavier looks ready to shift and fight as Serra and Finnah step up behind the others, holding hands and staring down at Xavier. Finnah’s face is full of sorrow, while Serra looks cold and determined.

“We don’t want to hurt you,” Serra says to her nephew. “But we will. We are putting Mabel back in that cabin, and you can’t stop us. Be smart, and just go with her.”

Xavier glares at her for a moment, then switches his gaze to Finnah. I see her lip tremble and her eyes fill with tears, but she grips her sister’s hand even tighter.

“Mom?” he whispers.

The way he utters the word almost breaks my heart. There is so much pain and confusion in his voice, and it isn’t just about today’s events.

He still has no idea who he really is. He never met his mother or father. I can’t imagine what he’s going through.

“Get up and follow your mate to the cabin,” Finnah says to Xavier, her voice hard. “We will hurt you if we have to.”

Xavier’s face pales, and his jaw goes slack. I can tell she’s never spoken to him like that before. Growling, he gathers himself as if he’s about to shift and fight.

The twin sisters break apart and give themselves room to shift as Hector and Ivan crouch down, teeth bared and hackles raised. There’s absolutely no doubt that they are serious, and between them, they could easily rip Xavier apart.

“Try not to injure him too badly,” Serra says. “A broken arm or leg will immobilize him. Go for a clean break rather than tearing up his hide.”

“Xavier!” I yell, twisting against the hands of the women. “Don’t! Please don’t fight them!”

“I have to!” he yells, getting up from the ground. “This is insane! They can’t just take us prisoner!”

“We already have,” Serra says harshly. “We’ve done it for your own protection, you arrogant little pup, so why don’t you shut the fuck up and get your ass back to the cabin before this situation gets really ugly.”

I see the tension race through him as he stares her down. His fists clench by his sides as he glares at her. Serra barely moves, looking down her nose at him with cold, empty eyes.

“Do as she says,” Finnah warns, stepping forward, drawing Xavier’s gaze. “I won’t tell you again.”

Hector and Ivan growl louder, and Eileen, Rhiannon, and Ninette shove me up the path. I struggle against them, not wanting to leave Xavier.

“Don’t hurt him!” I scream, fighting them. “Please don’t hurt him! Xavier!”

“I’m here,” he answers, appearing beside us. The elders flank him, keeping him level with us. I stop fighting the women and walk calmly between them as we’re escorted back to the cabin.

“What now?” Xavier asks as we stand before the open door. “Are you going to lock us in?”

“Yes,” Serra says. “Until further notice.”

“What the fuck—” he starts to yell, but Serra gives him a hard shove in the chest. He falls against me, and both of us tumble through the open door, crashing to the floor. The door slams shut with a loud bang, and I hear sliding and knocking sounds.

“What the fuck is that?” I mutter, getting up.

“It’s a barricade,” he says. “They’ve put something across the door.”

A couple of seconds later, I hear sharp knocking that confirms they are nailing planks across the outer frame to make sure we can’t get out, even if Xavier somehow manages to get the door open.

My fear is so intense, it’s like a living thing, coiling in my guts, rushing through my blood, and emanating through my skin. I start shivering, and moans rise in my throat as I listen to the sounds of the elders securing the perimeter as well.

“Hey, are you okay?” Xavier asks, hurrying over to me.

“No!” I wail. “I’m not fucking okay—none of this is okay!”

Xavier puts his arms around me, and I snuggle against his chest, gasping as I try to control the sobs tearing through my ribs.

If I let them out, I might start to scream, and then I’d never stop.