Page 19

–Callum–

I HAD NEVER felt more invincible than I did at Tadc’s side as he rallied his warriors when a scout reported movement in our direction.

“’Tis the enemy and many of them,”

his man reported. “A sizeable army.”

“Without a doubt ‘tis but not nearly as sizeable as ours.”

Tadc clasped my shoulder and grinned. “And we will not let them corner us in this castle like cowards but on our surrounding territory.”

I met his grin, approving when he revealed his grand plan because it was a good one, and I knew Tréan was as unaware of it as he was of the exponential growth of Tadc’s army. Moreover, he would never see the numerous traps Tadc’s warriors had laid in the woodlands.

“And I see our enemy brings his storm with him.”

Tadc eyed the dark clouds rolling in. The sun had nearly set, so it would again be a battle by rain, thunder, and lightning. Only this time, Tadc was prepared for it.

Better still, planned for it.

I wondered how I had never seen his brilliance. His sheer superiority and strength over all those around him. I longed for the moment I became his favorite and we shared Storm because she was a prize, and I said as much as I was provided several blades to prepare for battle.

“You will be greatly pleased with her,”

I assured Tadc. “She will breed us many strong dragon pups, and your army will become the most powerful in the world, ruling all.”

“And if I wish her to breed with me and me alone ?”

he wondered, testing me.

“Then I wish you much happy rutting,”

I said without hesitation, biting back any envy I might feel because Tadc didn’t deserve it. He only ever did what was best for us.

Tadc nodded with approval at my answer, then focused on ordering men into positions as we headed into the forest. I wondered how I had ever seen his territory as tainted. If anything, the trees grew sturdier here, understanding they had been marked by a king above all kings—the mightiest of alphas.

“Remember, do not step foot off my territory,”

he barked at his warriors, ordering I remain by his side instead of his top commander. “They come to us and fight the fight we have designed for them.”

There was no mistaking the grave warning in his voice. “We will face many powerful wolves and a dragon, but do not let it sway you. Focus on my plan, and we will defeat them all, then own a dragon, giving us tremendous strength.”

Where most wolves would shy away from such a thing because dragons are our predators, Tadc disallowed cowardice with the promise of castration and exile if any disobeyed him. All must abide by his rule if we had any hope of defeating our enemy.

“’Tis good to hear those thoughts in your mind,”

Tadc praised, eyeing me with approval, and my inner beast very much appreciated it. “You have come far in little time and will rise to the top quickly, and as a reward, you will be given our best females to enjoy.”

“Ta, he will,”

came a husky feminine voice before Tréan’s exiled mate, Blaithin, sauntered up to me, grabbed my cock, and gave it a good squeeze, her sultry gaze never leaving my face. “I will personally see to it.”

“And I will ride you well,”

I promised, growling with frustration when my cock didn’t respond as it should despite the looming battle. I had always thought her attractive enough with her pleasing features and numerous blonde braids.

“Do not worry, Callum,”

she said huskily, looking me over with approval. “Once we get your bitch in hand and Tadc slakes his lust until she loses herself to him, I don’t doubt you will fill me with seed often and well, if not better than your brother ever did.”

“You can count on it,”

I swore, yet somehow, the words felt empty despite how much I meant them. Empty because my inner beast, despite my devotion to Tadc, didn’t feel the arousal it should at her scent. Did not feel the need to bend her over and thrust deep inside her. I was about to go on, assuring her she would be mine by morning, but Tadc’s wolven eyes flared with anticipation, and he ground out that it was time.

Eager to lay eyes on my brothers again and cut them down myself for daring to fight Tadc, I unsheathed my sword and crept into the woodland as wind gusted and rain fell in icy drops that sizzled against my skin. Grinning at the feel of Storm’s power bubbling up inside me, I longed to down Tréan and Bain, take the dragon, capture Storm, and hand her over to Tadc.

“Truly?”

she whispered into my mind as thunder cracked overhead. “Is that really what you long to do, mate?”

“Ta.”

Ignoring how good she sounded because I knew it was her magic, I raced after Tadc with a mighty roar as the Wolves of Ossary flooded his territory. “I will give you to him and watch as he makes you his.”

I grinned with relish as my blade crashed against another’s, and I was thrust into the thick of battle. “He will wipe away the taint of the dragon you let betwixt your thighs and show you pleasure unlike anyone before him.”

“Then that would be you, Callum, and nobody else ever,”

she swore. “And I promise he’ll never be better than you were. Never feel better no matter how hard he might try because nobody can satisfy me like you, fated mated.”

“Because you have not felt my alpha inside you,”

I swore dutifully, driving my blade through the heart of my opponent. I laughed when several more rushing at me crashed through the brush into a hole full of spikes, meeting a swift death.

Rain fell harder, wind gusted, and thunder shook the ground as more and more traps were sprung, and Tréan’s wolves plummeted to their demise.

“Not just Tréan’s,”

Storm said, her gentle, pained voice at odds with my sense of triumph. “But yours too, Callum. Ours. Wolves you love.”

“I love Tadc’s wolves,”

I bit back, peering through the stormy dark woodland with my wolven sight. I tried sounding like she might be swaying me back to my former loyalties because I knew she attempted to do that. “Where are you, Storm? Why won’t you come to me so we can talk this out? So I can make you understand ‘tis not bad on my side? That you should join us so I might cherish you always?”

Silence fell as I continued battling, but I swore I felt her softening. Even better, I felt her need to come because I was her mate, so I should be trusted to know what was best for her. Sensing her close, I scanned the forest, trying to lock eyes on her, but saw nothing as I whipped a dagger into the forehead of an incoming warrior and then kicked him backward into one of the spiked holes.

“You would, too, wouldn’t you?”

Storm finally replied, awe and affection in her internal voice. “You would cherish me even though I fight alongside your enemy right now? You would defend me against Tadc because I’m sure he would be upset with me and try to hurt me.”

“I would,”

I lied, slicing the throat of an enemy wolf that leapt at me before punching another in the face, relishing the sound of misery all around me as more and more Wolves of Ossary fell to their death. “You have my word. I would ensure you an esteemed position in Tadc’s pack because he cares a great deal for you, Storm. Craves to make you his queen, and I well understand why.”

When she went silent again, I knew she mulled it over. She must be close to giving in because my strength grew as I cut down one after another, smiling when my blade grew fiery. Harnessing Storm’s power, I slayed more and more, even faster.

“’Twill not be long now,”

I assured my alpha, feeling Tadc’s pride in me as he fought his own battles elsewhere in the woodland. “She comes to me, so she comes to you.”

“As does her dragon,”

Tadc praised, urging me to continue reeling her in. “’Twill not be long before we own him.”

I was about to reply when not one prize but two appeared ahead, and lightning flashed, illuminating Tréan and Bain as they approached with swords drawn.

“Throw down your blade, brother,”

Bain warned. “You will not win this battle.”

He shook his head. “You are not strong enough.”

“Nor have you ever been,”

Tréan went on, his wolven eyes flaring at me in challenge. “You cannot fell both of us, Callum, so throw down your blade.”

“And why should I listen to you?”

I growled. “You’re not my alpha anymore, nor should you have ever been, and we both know it.”

Hating the years he took me from Tadc’s side, I narrowed my eyes. “So come.”

I made a come-hither motion to both. “Come fight me so I can slay you both once and for all.”

I didn’t care how powerful Tréan might be. Right now, with Storm’s magic fueling me and on the right side of the war, I was invincible. So, I readied myself with a weapon in each hand as my brothers looked at each other, clearly debating if they should fight, before racing at me, blades drawn.

Having been trained by Tréan and even Tadc when he was still part of the Wolves of Ossary and now fueled by Storm’s power, I knew as my swords crashed into their blades on either side and they fell back, they didn't stand a chance. Now that I was with the right wolves, fighting for the right cause, nothing could stand in my way.

“Listen to us, brother,”

Bain pleaded, even as I spun, narrowed my eyes, and came at them harder this time. “Tadc will not stand by his word. He will not elevate you in rank. He’ll kill you.”

“Ta,”

Tréan agreed, obviously surprised by how strong I had grown as Bain and I fought more fiercely than ever, but I was unquestionably the more powerful warrior and wolf. “A monster like Tadc will never fulfill his promises.”

“But he will,”

I swore, whipping a dagger at Tréan, only for him to evade it. “You don’t know him as I do because you have not sworn your fealty and see things as they truly are. You don't see how mighty he is. How merciful if need be.”

And to sweeten the pot as my alpha would wish. “He will show you mercy, too, brothers. Come to our side and see how strong he is. See how he will lead all wolves to greatness.”

“Never,”

Bain seethed, coming at me with a ferociousness I appreciated because he was battling with his emotions rather than good sense, and I took advantage, whipping a dagger into his sword arm, slowing him, then another into his thigh, dropping him.

“No,”

Tréan roared in anguish, but it was too late. I had a blade through Bain’s heart before my former alpha could reach me.

Feeling Tadc’s pleasure radiate through me at what I had done, I spun and raced after Tréan, crashing into him with a fierceness to match his. Dropping to the ground, we rolled, kicking and punching one another until fueled by my alpha’s pride in me and furious at Tréan for rejecting me, I got the upper hand.

“Do not do it, brother,”

Tréan growled, gasping as I straddled him and wrapped my hands around his throat so tightly he struggled to fight back, but his lack of oxygen made it too hard.

He tried to say more and use magic, but I could tell as his face grew redder by the moment and he gazed into my eyes that he didn’t have the heart to fight back. It hurt too much to realize I had figured out how terrible he was. How evil he’d been when he stole me from Tadc the day I was bitten as a child. How deceptive he had been, keeping me from my rightful ruler all these years.

Shaking with the adrenaline of watching the light fade from his eyes because he knew he was bested, I squeezed even tighter until he was gone and went limp beneath me.

“Well done!”

Tadc exclaimed into my mind, so proud of me I nearly howled with delight. I had seen past all Tréan’s lies and come home to my true leader and my greatest strength.

“He truly is, isn’t he?”

came Storm’s soft voice from nearby.

Still trembling from the thrill of the battle and all I had accomplished, I blinked through the rain until I spied her leaning back against a tree, her soaked dress plastered against her body, reminding me how luscious she was.

“He is,”

I managed, coming to my feet. “You will be greatly humbled by being in Tadc’s presence.”

Shaking my head, the roars of battle nearby faded, and I drifted closer because she appeared so vulnerable standing there alone.

Vulnerable and far too tempting.

“Tell me about him, Callum,”

she said a little breathlessly the closer I drew, making clear she was as drawn to me as I was to her despite how dangerous. “Tell me about Tadc.”

“He is more powerful than any wolf you have encountered,”

I said dutifully. I tried to keep my eyes on her face when she breathed heavily and her full breasts strained against her dress, but they drew my gaze like every other part of her. “He will satisfy you as no other can.”

Yet as I drifted even closer, so close I could easily catch her scent of arousal, undoubtedly fueled by the idea of rutting with my alpha, I blasphemously dared to imagine it might be for me.

“What if it is?”

she whispered, her voice choppy with carnal need. Her brilliant green eyes filled with desire, and her eyelids drifted as she took me in and swallowed hard. “What would happen to us?”

“’Twould mean certain death without our alpha’s approval,”

I managed, cursing the blood rushing to my cock, but there was no stopping it. She was far too tempting as her lush, pink lips fell open, and her bosom heaved.

“Then we should not,”

she murmured, trailing her fingers languidly down my chest when I drifted far too close. “Once I join his pack, Tadc deserves to have me first.”

She licked her lips and trailed her fingers lower until they dusted over my now rock-hard cock. Her eyes dropped to where her fingers lingered, and she licked her lips again as if imagining how it would taste. “Yet I wonder...”

“Wonder what?”

I asked huskily when I meant to assure her Tadc would have her first.

“Wonder if perhaps you might sample me one last time without him knowing?”

She slowly pulled up a portion of her dress, bit by bit, exposing the soft, tempting skin of her thigh. “He would never know, right? He’s battling, and it would be quick because I won’t last long. I won’t—”

Before she could utter another word, I was powerless to do anything but yank her against me and crush her lips beneath mine. My inner beast gave me no choice. It would have her one last time in case Tadc took that right away forever. I would sample her sweet lips and lose myself in her tight sheath.

“And you should,”

she murmured against my lips as I hoisted her against the tree, bedamned the ongoing battle and driving storm.

Nothing but the storm in my arms mattered.

Nothing but the feel of filling her and owning her one last time. Our kisses grew more frantic, our tongues tangling as she wrapped her legs around me and kissed me as deeply as I did her.

Yet still, as I thrust against her without entering her just yet, and despite the rabid passion building inside me, our kisses grew more heartfelt. More passionate and desperate, as if we were trying to find our way back to each other.

As if we had been separated for too long.

“Because we have been,”

she whispered hoarsely before she cupped my cheeks and met my eyes. “And I want you back, my love, my fated mate, my only king and alpha.”

Only then, as I stared into her eyes, did I feel her fire pour over me, igniting me from the inside out in a warmth I had forgotten to recognize. Only then did I feel the swell of her heart inside mine as she gazed at me through the fiery waters of a nightmare. This time, I looked up, and she looked down.

This time, I was the one sinking.

I was the one lost.

“Take my hand, Callum,”

she whispered into my mind, gazing deeper into my eyes. “Take my hand and come back to me. Come back to us all.”

“Don’t,”

Tadc roared down at me, his wolven eyes narrowed on me behind all too familiar leathery wings. “Take my hand and rule the world, brother. Take my hand, and let me show you how good we will be together.”

While torn at first because Tadc was my alpha and the fiercest wolf ever born, my gaze inevitably drifted back to Storm’s brilliant emerald eyes, just as they always had and always would, and I slipped my hand into hers.

When I did, I was catapulted straight back into hell.

How else could it be when I realized all the harm I had done, and it brought me to my knees in unimaginable grief. After all, I had slain the two men who meant the most to me.

I had not only killed my true alpha but my brothers.