Page 34

Yelena

My bond with Austin is flowing with power and adrenaline.

He is fighting fiercely for our daughter and our pack.

It fills my heart with pride. He’s a strong Alpha, and I know he will win this fight.

After several minutes of fighting my way through the fray, I see my chance to slip away and run toward it.

The darkness of the woods on the Highland side of the border welcomes me.

Malakai trails closely behind me. My hope is that the rest of the men will be distracted by the fight at the gate and give us enough time to find Cleo.

I won’t leave here without her.

She is part of me, a part of my very soul, and I can’t lose her.

“Quick, duck into those shadows and shift,” Malakai orders, gesturing toward a dense cropping of trees. “I suspect they are keeping her in the village, or possibly just outside. Trust in the Moon Goddess to lead us.”

I nod and move swiftly, doing as he said. It’s a relief to be in my wolf form while out in this strange environment.

I feel safer this way, more alert.

I look up at the moon shining high above us, praying that the Goddess herself is watching over all of us, but especially Cleo.

Malakai and I run through the Highland woods, our noses to the ground as we make our way in the general direction of the village. The woods are quiet, almost too quiet. There’s not even a hoot of an owl or the chirp of a cricket here.

It’s odd.

If I strain my ears, I can still hear the fight, but otherwise, the air feels heavy here. I don’t like it.

Finally, the first structures come into view.

Unlike our modern houses and cottages, the Highland Pack appear to be living in ramshackle huts, decrepit old cabins, and broken-down trailers.

I pause to sniff the air, sorting through the myriad of unfamiliar scents to find any trace of Cleo.

Malakai does the same beside me, his hackles raised in anticipation.

Suddenly, I catch it—the faintest whiff of Cleo's sweet honeysuckle scent. It's coming from around here. Somewhere.

I exchange a glance with Malakai, and we creep toward it, senses on high alert.

A rustling in the woods beside us makes us whirl around just in time to see two large wolves leap out at us. Malakai jumps in front of me, his teeth bared. Without waiting for the attack, he leaps out at them on the offense, his sharp teeth closing around the leg of one of the Highland wolves.

The wolf yelps and staggers back, blood dripping from the wound.

Together, the two Highland wolves advance on us. I growl as well, widening my stance. Malakai moves fast, his years of experience and training kicking in as he takes them on, two at once.

I watch, too caught up in the fight to move. After he pins one of the wolves down, forcing him to submit, Malakai catches my eye and nods toward the village.

His intent is clear. Go see if Cleo is there.

I turn and run toward it, shifting only when I step onto the main village road.

Everything looks abandoned. It’s eerie. Every few feet, I sniff, trying to pinpoint where Cleo could be. My heart aches to hold her again, to see with my own two eyes that she’s safe and well.

I pass a broken-down car, already rusted over.

The scent of wolves is stronger here, and I’m on high alert.

Just as I pass the car, a little head pops up, and I startle.

A flash of red and then a scrawny, familiar-looking boy is crawling out onto the road.

He has a long scrape on his arm, and his clothes are filthy.

“Gage?” I ask uncertainly.

He looks at me and nods shortly.

“They have your girl, the pretty one who likes butterflies,” he says gruffly.

My pulse starts to pound.

“Do you know where she is? Is she okay?” I rush out, worry coloring my tone.

Gage looks around cautiously. Seeing no one, he takes another step forward.

“She’s in the cabin. But…” He shifts his gaze to the buildings and then toes his foot in the dirt. I look down and see that his shoes have holes in them.

This poor kid.

“Gage, I have to find her. Please, tell me where she is. I’m begging you.”

“It’s over there,” he says, pointing up the hill. His face is pinched with fear, but he takes a deep breath and throws his shoulders back with courage and determination. “Here, I’ll walk with you.”

“Thank you,” I breathe, hurrying in the direction he pointed.

I’m so close. I can feel it.

We don’t see anyone on our way up to the cabin. I climb up the hill, panting once I get to the top. The cabin looks abandoned, with boarded-up windows and peeling paint. But Cleo’s scent is strong here.

Hope blooms in my chest.

I try the door handle, but it’s locked. There’s an old piece of firewood lying on the porch.

I pick it up and hurl it at the window with all my might.

It takes three tries to fully break the window on the front door, but I manage it.

Carefully, I reach through the empty pane and turn the lock on the door, stepping inside.

The cabin is dark and smells of rotting food and waste.

“Cleo?” I call out softly.

A scuffling noise comes from the corner, and I hurry toward it.

“Mama! You came!”

My heart leaps as I rush over to find Cleo, dirty and disheveled but alive. She’s huddled on a pile of dirty blankets. I gather her in my arms, relief washing over me.

My girl is safe. For one beautiful moment, my world feels right again.

A loud slap cracks through the air, followed by a whimper of pain. I whirl around, shoving Cleo behind me.

Sylvie is standing in the doorway, her face streaked with dirt. She has Gage cowering in the doorway.

“You are everywhere,” she snarls, “Like a goddamn cockroach. I think it’s time someone exterminated you like the vermin you are.”

“Mama!” Cleo cries out, her hands clutching my leg.

I rise slowly, careful to keep Cleo behind me.

“Only the weak and cowardly prey on children. Let the boy go and get out. This ends now,” I say firmly.

She shakes Gage’s arm and then drops him, making him whimper again.

“Go, run!” I urge him as he scrambles away from Sylvie. He doesn’t leave the room, however. He just hovers along the edge.

“Go,” I yell again, but he shakes his head.

She stalks toward him, her hand raised, but I step forward.

“Your fight is with me, not the boy.” My voice is low and furious. “Gage, get behind me.”

Sylvie looks at me with fury, her claws extending from her fingertips.

“I’m going to enjoy destroying you,” she spits, swinging for my face.

I duck under Sylvie's claws, feeling them barely graze the top of my head. Cleo whimpers again behind me. I have to end this quickly before she gets hurt.

"Stay down, baby," I murmur to Cleo before launching myself at Sylvie.

“Here, I’ll protect you,” I hear Gage say right before Sylvie and I crash together, all teeth and claws.

I rake my nails down her arm, drawing blood. She screams in fury and backhands me across the face. I taste blood but keep fighting.

We wrestle across the filthy floor of the cabin, kicking up dust and dirt. Sylvie is strong and fueled by rage, but I'm faster. I manage to get on top of her and pin her down. She thrashes underneath me.

"It's over," I growl in her face. "You've lost."

Her lip curls in a snarl. "Never."

With a burst of strength, she flips us and now has me pinned down. Her claws dig into my shoulders, and I cry out. Cleo is screaming.

Moon Goddess, give me strength. As the Luna. As Cleo’s mom. As Austin’s mate.

A tingle starts in my fingertips and extends up my arms, racing through my veins. I push up against Sylvie, shoving my way out of her hold with a grunt. With a cry, I burst forward into my shift, exploding out against her.

Sylvie screams and jumps back, giving me enough room to leap out of her grasp as I circle her, my wolf hackles raised and teeth bared. She shifts as well and darts toward me, her teeth snapping at my legs.

“Mama! Watch out!”

I duck and lunge to the right, narrowly missing Sylvie’s sneaky lunge toward my haunch.

Gage lets out a shrill howl, drawing Sylvie’s attention. It’s the distraction I needed. As she lunges toward the boy, I crash into her, my teeth sinking into the soft fur of her neck until I taste blood.

We fall to the floor, and Sylvie whimpers. I shift back and stand, spitting her foul-tasting blood on the ground before aiming a kick at her side. My teeth marks are still on her neck, and there’s a steady trickle of blood.

I did some damage but, as I assess her critically, I know that she’ll live.

I loom over her, stepping on her wrist so she is forced to stay down.

“I said, this is over.” I’m breathing hard as I look down at Sylvie.

She stares back at me with wide, frightened eyes. Her body is rigid.

“Fine,” she whispers, showing me her neck in submission.

I lift my foot and back up, glancing over my shoulder to check on Cleo. Her little face is streaked with tears, but she is unharmed.

The warm feeling of relief crashes over me.

Sylvie struggles to her feet, swaying unsteadily. There’s a real fear in her eyes now as she looks at me.

I straighten up.

“You will never threaten my pack or my family again." My voice rings with authority. For the first time, I really understand the power of the position of I’m in. I can’t command a room like the Alpha can, but as the Luna, I have my own strength.

“Leave,” I order, dismissing her.

She takes another step back. For a moment, it seems she might keep fighting, her pride clearly warring with her fear. But finally, she lowers her head again and then turns, running out the door.

I let out a breath. It’s over. At least this part is.

All around us, a mournful howl sings through the trees, causing Cleo, Gage, and I to huddle together. My ears prick as I try to make sense of it. But soon, another more familiar howl joins them. One of power and victory.

Austin.

A massive gray wolf bursts through the bushes, causing Cleo to cling to me in alarm. I just release a sigh of relief.

Malakai shifts back to his human form and greets us both with a smile.

“Little princess! It’s so good to see you again,” he says, giving Cleo a warm smile.

She smiles back, and I walk over to give Malakai a half hug.

“We’re done here. Let’s go find your Daddy, kiddo,” he continues. “And go home.”

“Daddy is waiting for us,” Cleo says happily.