Page 46

Chapter

Forty-Five

K NOX

We parked a couple of streets over, shifted into our animal forms, and made our way on foot to the address Morag had given us. The sun was starting to go down, providing plenty of shadows for us to cling to as we crept up on the enemy.

Aaron was in front. Despite the fact this was a kidnapping, he was taking the lead because it was a shifter matter. His enforcers and the search and rescue team were providing backup for the local police rather than calling in more cops from out of town. We could hardly explain to human officers why they would be facing down a pack of wolves rather than a group of men.

A cold breeze ruffled my fur. I raised my nose and sniffed, instinctively seeking Danny’s scent, but of course it was absent, as was the faint thread that used to connect us. The warlock’s protective measures must still be in place.

My sharp eyes read the number forty-seven on a mailbox ahead of us. The house it belonged to was a squat building, with off-white plaster-cast walls—most likely with concrete beneath—perched on a patch of dirt with absolutely nothing growing on it, as if the ground itself was tainted.

I bit back a whine as Aaron and Zander’s silhouettes morphed from bears to men. I wanted to be with them as they approached the door, but as the Clan Alpha and the sheriff, they were better placed to open negotiations.

I just didn’t like it. What if Danny was inside and needed me?

Aaron rapped sharply on the door. We remained farther back, hopefully out of sight, although they’d be able to smell us if they tried. Hopefully, by the time they realized we were here it would be too late.

Zander wanted to do this peacefully, but if any of these wolves had harmed Danny, they wouldn’t leave here alive.

The door opened to reveal a guy with long, ratty hair and a build similar to mine. I sniffed. His scent was familiar. He’d been at Danny’s house. This was one of the men who’d taken him.

Aaron offered the wolf his hand, but the wolf didn’t accept it.

“I’m Clan Alpha Aaron Blackwood of the Grizzly Ridge Clan.” Aaron spoke loudly and clearly, his hand still extended. “I’m here to negotiate the peaceful return of our omegas.”

The wolf laughed in his face. “We won’t be returning anyone, and a backwoods clan like you can’t make us.”

Zander stepped forward. “I’m Sheriff Blackwood. The kidnapping of seven Grizzly Ridge omegas has been reported to law enforcement and legal action will follow unless you give them up.”

The wolf rolled his eyes. “I’m Trent, the Pack Alpha, and on behalf of the Red Moon Pack, fuck you.”

He started to slam the door, but Aaron slammed his palm into it and held it open. Zander stepped aside, fur already sprouting over his body, and signaled for us to move.

We raced forward, claws out, snarling and growling, ready to tear flesh from bone to rescue our omegas.

Garrick led the charge, as previously agreed, but I kept pace with him, staying at his shoulder as Trent’s eyes widened and he pushed harder, desperate now to shut the door.

“Reid!” Trent shouted, glancing over his shoulder. “Where are the fucking wards?”

His split-second distraction was all it took for Garrick to hit the door and smash it inward, ripping it from the hinges and bowling both the door and Trent to the floor. I rushed past them, scanning the interior of the house for any sign of Danny.

I sniffed and caught a hint of his scent. The warlock must not have bothered to maintain the masking spell within their home.

I also smelled blood.

Fury scorched through my bloodstream. If anyone here had hurt my precious omega, I’d burn them all to the fucking ground.

The rest of the pack had realized they’d been invaded and were spilling through the doorways, either already shifted or in the midst of the change. I couldn’t see any omegas—not ours or theirs.

Behind me there was a crash, and Garrick grunted as Trent threw the door off himself and bolted behind his wolves for cover while he shifted.

A wolf leaped at me. I tossed them off. They came back around and swiped at my side. I felt a burn as they broke the skin, and my fury grew. I tussled with them, ignoring the wound on my side until they were pinned beneath me. Then, without hesitation, I tore out their throat.

I looked up, expecting the rest of the pack to have taken this as a warning, but instead, all hell had broken loose. Bears, mountain lions, and other predatory shifters from the Grizzly Ridge Clan were engaged in a bloodthirsty battle with the wolves of the Red Moon Pack.

Blood splattered the floor and walls. At least two wolves lay dead. A mountain lion cried out and a bear swatted the wolf that was attacking them and sheltered them until they picked themself back up.

I scanned the carnage, searching for Trent. Perhaps if we killed him the others would stop resisting. I found him slinking along the back wall, nudging the only person in the room who was still in a two-legged form.

The warlock.

At least, I assumed he must be the warlock given the fact that small blue sparks danced around his hands. He was smaller than I’d expected. An omega, with loose blond curls, cherubic cheeks, and bright blue eyes that were wide with terror.

Trent growled and shoved the warlock with his nose. The warlock raised his hands and sent a shower of blue sparks at the bear I recognized as Aaron. Aaron roared in pain and shied away from them.

The warlock glanced at one of the doors, as if he wanted to make a run for it. Even from here, I could smell his fear. There was nothing as repugnant to an alpha as a scared omega.

Or at least, not to a decent alpha. I doubted any of the Red Moon alphas cared about his distress.

I howled and sprang toward Trent. He was a large wolf with shaggy gray fur and myriad scars, but I wasn’t much smaller, and I was a hell of a lot angrier.

He spotted me at the last minute and we collided in a flurry of claws, teeth, and fur. I snapped at him, trying to sink my teeth into his throat, but he hadn’t gotten to his position by being a bad fighter and he slashed at me viciously.

Light appeared on the edge of my vision and the smell of singed fur filled my nostrils.

Fuck. The warlock was attacking me.

He sent another shower of sparks at me, and I dodged them and dug my claws into Trent’s shoulder. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Clay bowl the little warlock over and I took advantage of the reprieve to go after Trent with renewed zeal, backing him into a corner.

His gaze darted around, looking for an escape route. Seeing none, he flew at me. I moved to the side just enough to avoid the brunt of the attack, then sideswiped him and, without any finesse, rolled him to the floor and tore at his throat until it was shredded and beyond healing.

Trent returned to human form as he died.

I howled, alerting my clan to the fact I’d taken out the Pack Alpha. Around me, the action stilled.

Then a scream pierced the air. A haunting, terrible, grief-stricken scream. The warlock blasted Clay off him and threw himself on Trent’s body, wailing and sobbing, clutching the man’s shoulders and trying desperately to revive him.

It was only then that I noticed the bite mark at the base of his neck.

Fuck. The warlock was Trent’s mate.

He reared back and another scream tore through him. Light blazed around him, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Oh, shit.

Magic pulsed in the air. It spread from the young man, glowing a brilliant orange. I had a sinking feeling that I’d chosen to go after the wrong person. Trent hadn’t been the most dangerous creature in this house.

His mate was.

It wasn’t too late though.

I pounced on the warlock, knocking him off his feet. The orange glow subsided and he met my eyes—his hollow and empty—as I lowered my blood-covered muzzle to his throat.

“Stop!”

Stiffening, I kept my focus on the prone warlock rather than turning toward Zander. I wasn’t foolish enough to take my eyes off the enemy.

Zander dropped down beside us on his knees, naked, human, and bleeding from a wound on his shoulder. He stared down at the warlock, his lips parted. “He’s my mate. I couldn’t smell it before. The bond with Trent must have altered his scent, but now it’s clear. Don’t hurt him. Please.”

I dropped my head and growled.

Well, shit.

I allowed the shift to come over me. “Keep him secured. He’s dangerous.”

Zander nodded, his gaze never wavering from the warlock. “Clay, get the cuffs that are spelled to bind magic.”

There was movement behind me. I waited until Zander took my place holding the warlock down, ignoring the hatred that burned in his blue eyes, and then I stood.

“Your Pack Alpha is dead,” I said loudly. “Your warlock is defeated. Unless more of you want to die, someone needs to tell us where our omegas are.”

A smaller wolf pinned beneath Garrick shifted, squeaking when Garrick’s claws sank into his now-exposed skin.

“They’re in the basement,” he said, baring his throat in submission. “The door over there. ”

Thank fuck.

I shoved my way to the door. It was locked and warded, but the ward was failing—perhaps in the wake of the warlock’s grief. I shoulder-barged it and the door burst open. I caught myself before I fell down the stairs.

“Hello?” a female voice called from below.

“Danny?” I called, taking the stairs two at a time to the bottom. “Are you here?”

Unfortunately, there was no reply, and I could already see that he wasn’t.

A dark-skinned woman approached me warily. “I’m Jessie. Danny was here, but they took him away maybe an hour ago.”

“No.” I slumped. He couldn’t be gone. I wouldn’t accept it.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know where he is.”