Page 46 of Wanted by the Wolves (The Last Shifters #2)

Chapter 45

Briggs

I ’m pretty fucking sure my brother is feral, possibly also possessed—maybe a god? I’m having trouble wrapping my head around it. But then, it’s not every day my brother turns into a full-on werewolf and breaks through wolfsbane chains.

Whatever Gage put in those tiny bombs is some crazy-ass shit because one went off, then magic just exploded. My mating rune appeared on my chest, matching the one glowing back at me on Gage. I can’t even process that because my brother is mowing down everything that breathes without mercy or thought, a trail of wolves in his wake as he charges the king.

I’m not saying it’s not badass, but my asshole is puckering. This is some fucked-up shit, even for me.

I keep the king’s wolves at bay, fighting them off while Gage blasts through the crowd toward our mate.Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nova gain control of her chains, whipping them around like a lasso before she strikes her captor.

That’s my badass omega.

My wolf howls, both in awe of my fierce mates and in frustration that these fuckers are making us fight when we should be bonding in her nest. When I get to her, I’m never letting her out of my sight again.

Green sparks shoot from Gage’s fingers, and the wolves closest to Nova fall to the ground.

Honestly, my mates are seriously impressive.

Nova turns and catches sight of us, her face sagging with relief. It’s a toss-up of who runs faster, but we meet in the middle as she throws herself into my arms.

“Alpha,” she sobs, her nails digging into my back.

“Where are you hurt, baby?” I frantically check her over, touching everywhere I can for signs of injuries. Her lip is bleeding, and she’s covered in blood runes, but she doesn’t appear seriously hurt. Not physically anyway.

“It—it’s not bad. Only a few bruises and weird magic. They didn’t—” Her words are strangled by a whine that sets every hair on my body on edge.

“All right, love, we’re here. I’m sorry it took so long, but we’ve got you.” I pull her closer, my purr kicking in to try to soothe her.

I hate that she thinks a few hits aren’t bad. Those sick fucks stole her peace, wrecked our bonding, captured her, and planned to take her by force. And they hit her? “Not bad” my ass. It makes me want to rage at the world and tear the king apart limb from limb.

But right now, she needs my comfort more than my anger. Besides, I think my littermate might have it covered. I hope he gets in a lick for me.

Nova smells wrong, and I rub my cheek into her hair, trying to smother the scent.

Gage shoots sparks, and another set of wolves falls as he sprints toward us. His gaze nervously scans the chaos, his hand raised as he keeps a protective barrier around us. “We need to move. I won’t be able to keep this shield up for long.”

“No!” Nova pushes away from me, turning toward the melee. “We’re not leaving Dex.”

I grab her wrist, tugging her back to me. She doubles over in pain, her scent swelling. “Shit, baby, I didn’t mean to be rough?—”

“It’s the moon. She can’t keep fighting it,” Gage grits out the words. “We have to get her somewhere safe.”

Another thundering snarl rings out from the center of the clearing, and I watch, frozen, as the king shifts into a wolf and leaps for my brother’s throat.

Time seems to stop, as does the fighting. All eyes are held captive by the sizzling magic between the king and my brother.

Dex doesn’t flinch away from the king’s attack. He doesn’t move to defend himself either. Yet the Alpha King crumples at his feet, his wolf yelping in pain until his cries turn quiet and he lies in a pool of crimson.

The king’s dark healer lets loose a disturbed shout, lifting his hands to cast as he steps toward Dex. The magic shoots from his fingertips and circles back, swallowing the healer in a magic plume. The healer jerks with the force of his own blast, his eyes rolling back as he collapses.

What. The actual. Fuck?

I eye Gage, but he shakes his head. He didn’t interfere. That was Dex.

Nova gasps in pain, holding her head.

A deep, raspy sound echoes through the clearing. It’s in my brain, in my head, ringing in my ears—inescapable, ancient.

My brother’s mouth opens, but it isn’t Dex speaking. Power seems to surge from him, his eyes glowing a freaky red. “You have forsaken your purpose, lost yourselves to the darkest urges of humanity. For this, you are marked outcast and stripped of your wolves until your beasts deem you worthy of return. The Northern Forest will be your wasteland. You are chained to its borders, trapped to a world of your own making.”

The force of the alpha command ripples through the circle. Wolves around us drop to their knees in silent screams, their faces distorted with agony and terror in their gazes. Black runes appear on their cheeks, the mark foreign but repulsive to my wolf. The king and his healer remain on the ground, unmoving and lifeless before Dex.

Gage and Nova look at me, eyes wide, but I don’t have answers. It’s as if my littermate bond is blocked. I can see Dex, but I can’t feel him.

The night air is pierced by a feral howl, a stark reminder that we're not alone in the forest. The ferals' glowing yellow eyes peek through the darkness as they creep closer. Their mouths foam, and their lips curl into snarls, broken chains dangling from their necks.

Every obstacle we overcome unleashes a new nightmare.

Gage curses.I pull Nova tighter to my chest, unsure whether to flee or fight. Gage huddles closer, sparks of magic shimmering around us as he tries to keep up his shield.

More yellow eyes appear, so many it looks like an army rising from darkness.

One lone wolf emerges from the pack, slinking over to Dex, then sitting calmly before him.

Dex bends and speaks to the feral, his voice still that same haunting echo. “Enforce Odin’s will, escort them to the border, and guard the cursed lands. When his will is done, I will welcome you home.”

The power of the command rings through the circle. Magic crescendos and bursts, the raging campfire’s flames turning a shimmering blue.The feral leader howls, and the others of his kind join him, sending an eerie chorus into the night air.

My mates and I huddle together, watching the feral wolves retreat, dragging the king’s wolves into the dark forest behind them.

Dex turns to us, the red of his eyes boring into me. He looks like the incarnation of death, and the power he wields is terrifying. I have the uncanny urge to kneel before my brother and bend my neck.

Nova springs from our hold, but I can’t move. Whatever power my brother wields holds me in place. I never thought I would have to question whether our omega was safe with Dex, but he isn’t himself right now. My insides tighten, fear traveling up my spine.

Nova doesn’t seem to have the same reservations. She walks toward Dex slowly, surely, bending her neck in submission. Inches from his monstrous form, she holds out her small hand until he kneels for her. She traces the glowing rune on his chest.

Her words are soft, barely audible in the night. “Take me home.”