Page 9

CHAPTER NINE

D o you sense something? Ryker linked as he turned toward me. His fingers brushed mine as we moved, low and silent, through the thick oak trees.

Our connection sprang to life, and the connection in my chest shrank and coiled, affected by tension from both of us.

Yes, both the vampires and the strange man. I honestly hadn’t wanted to tell him that last part, but I refused to keep things from him anymore. We were partners… one soul, completed now, and I wouldn’t take our relationship for granted.

My fingers clenched tighter around the gun I held. The coldness of the metal might as well have been an icicle.

Are you fucking serious? Uncomfortable heat seeped into the already-strained bond. The psycho who was watching you sleep and covering your mouth is around too? How do you know?

That answer wasn’t going to go over well, but what could I do? That strange magic feels a tug toward him.

A snarl ripped from Ryker’s chest despite us needing to be quiet. Granted, if we smelled them, they’d probably already caught our scent, or would soon.

I’m going to kill the motherfucker. Ryker’s back muscles quivered in front of me as he continued, You’re mine. No one will ever take you from me.

I wanted to reassure him it wasn’t anything like that, but I already had, and clearly, it hadn’t helped. Even though I wished he would listen to and believe me, a part of me—my wolf—was thrilled with his possessiveness. Fated mates were meant to make you feel special and worthy.

Every step we took made the hair on my arms rise. The familiar pulse of Ryker’s presence next to me grounded me—but barely.

Something else stirred beneath my skin, and it wasn’t my wolf.

Everyone, stay on high alert. Ryker slowed his pace, scanning the area even more thoroughly. We’ve got both vampires and the weird man on our trail. Neither of them can be seen.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Kendric and Briar scanning the flanks while Xander and Gage guarded the rear, silent and sharp-eyed.

But I couldn’t stop my head from turning toward the trees. Toward the feeling that we were being followed.

Unlike last time, the cold, disturbing magic wasn’t advancing on us. It was more like they were watching us, as if they were trying to get answers themselves.

The warm pulse of the strange man’s magic brushed mine again—soft and too pointed to be anything but deliberate.

Ryker stopped short and extended an arm to block my path, and I almost slammed into him. My shoulder bumped into his, but I planted my feet into the mulch to prevent myself from moving further.

The coldness increased as did the warmth, as if they were coming from the same direction.

Strange.

Were the man and the vampires working together? Maybe Ryker had been correct that the strange man was using something to influence my mind.

What’s wrong? Kendric inched forward so he could see both Ryker and me.

I don’t want to get too far from the neighborhood in case we need backup. Ryker’s eyes glowed as his wolf surged forward.

His frustration built, bubbling over.

He was trying to hide that he was upset, but why? Do you see something?

You’re joking, right? He looked at me, his face lined with what had to be concern. You’re the only one who can see them… unless your morning visitor somehow took the vision from you.

Before I could stop myself, I flinched. I hadn’t expected him to take out his frustration on me. It was unacceptable, but we would address that later. We didn’t need to lose focus on the actual threat. You feel frustrated.

He exhaled. This whole bond thing is going to take some getting used to. I can feel your emotions too, and I let you down.

What do you mean? Out of every response possible, I hadn’t expected that one.

Because I was so desperate to find this man you keep talking about that I rushed out here without thinking to alert the Blackwood pack.

We’re close to them, and if we don’t leave the perimeter Cassi created, we should be fine. I tilted my head in the direction of the houses where I could hear a couple sets of paws running not too far away from us. If we scream, they’ll know.

I don’t understand why the perimeter wasn’t broken. Briar’s voice interjected into our private conversation, pulling us back with the others. If Ember can feel them, shouldn’t they be right here?

That was when it hit me. They weren’t sure how I knew either, beyond seeing the vampires in cloaked form. The vampires must be trying to figure out both my abilities as well as the barrier that sometimes came to our aid.

No, I can feel them a ways off, but I think that’s what they’re testing as well. If that was the actual case, I couldn’t react until they revealed themselves. They’re somewhere near the perimeter to the left of us, but they haven’t crossed it yet. That’s why Cassi and the Blackwoods haven’t been alerted.

Ryker swallowed. I bet you’re right. Is your sense of the strange man coming from the same direction?

Irritation flashed through me, but I yanked it back to indifference. Ryker already wanted to kill the man, but I believed he was an ally, even though I was beginning to see Ryker’s point. Yes, he is. I wanted to say more. If he was on our side, he could be watching them for us, but Ryker might see it another way. In the end, we didn’t know anything about the man, so it was best to not rush to any sort of decision—including killing.

I blanked my expression and kept surveying everything, trying to glance in their direction the same length of time as all others.

We continued to move. About twenty yards from the perimeter’s end, the cold pressed on me like a wave slamming into me and trying to drag me under.

Ryker stumbled, clearly feeling the same sensations. The mate bond was even more connected and intense than the pack members’ bond, which took me by surprise.

Keep moving. They’ve got to be close to the perimeter. It feels as if I’ve been hit by a tsunami. My lungs screamed as if tons of pressure had settled over me, but the warmth that had to be coming from the strange man pulsed into me and warded off some of the discomfort.

No, we’re just gonna stop— Ryker started, but I noticed the wisps of shadows edging from spots behind the perimeter line’s trees.

They’re here, I linked with everyone, but don’t react. Not yet.

Dark, smoky outlines crawled behind the perimeter like ink bleeding through air. The shadows danced just far enough away to not set off the alarm, making it clear they knew exactly where Reid’s territory lines were.

I clenched my jaw, every instinct screaming to raise my weapon. Everyone, keep watching. They aren’t coming over yet to attack. I didn’t need to react. Not yet. Not until I had to.

What if they have weapons this time since we know who they are? Gage asked, and I could hear his steps becoming a little less steady behind us.

With the rising sun and the lightening sky, the darkness of the shadows thickened as more vampires arrived. None of them came any closer, but the magic pressed harder on me as more and more came.

A shimmer caught my eye, going back and then propelling forward, like someone flicked their wrist.

My heart seized.

Knife, I linked as it soared toward me. I dove sideways as the blade ripped through the air, and it whistled past the place my throat had just been and embedded in the trunk behind me with a sickening thunk .

I hit the ground hard, shoulder skidding through mulch and wet leaves. Pain flared, but adrenaline kept it distant as I rolled to my feet, gun already raised.

I aimed and pulled the trigger, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to make out which one had tried to kill me. I merely had to make a stand.

A dark blob dropped while the rest of the shadows floated backward.

I hated that they now knew I could see them.

Ryker squatted at my side, his snarl slicing through the trees as he and the others fired in the same direction. Gunfire cracked through the woods like thunder—sharp, raw, relentless.

Xander and Gage kept firing toward the retreating shadows while Briar dropped to my other side, scanning me for injuries.

Calm down, I linked, needing them to stop. The Blackwoods had to be panicking at hearing all the commotion out here, and we had no way of contacting them to let them know they weren’t at risk. They’ve retreated. All you’re doing is wasting ammo at this point. Ammo we probably didn’t have a ton of, as wolf shifters in general preferred fighting in wolf form over using weapons. This was an exception because we couldn’t see them.

Smoke curled from the ends of gun barrels, scenting the air with metal and gunpowder even as my pack stopped shooting.

The warmth I’d felt from the strange man vanished with the vampires, like it’d never been there at all.

Ryker grabbed my arm, spinning me toward him. Are you hit? Did they injure you?

No, I dodged it. I shivered, trying not to focus on what could’ve happened if I’d missed seeing the glint of the blade. I’m fine.

He cupped my jaw with one hand, gaze darting across my face like he didn’t believe me.

We need to get the fuck out of here. Xander kept his gun aimed as if he expected them to come back at any second. We’re low on ammo now.

A warning howl pierced the air, and paws pounded on the ground toward us, not bothering to be quiet.

We need to meet up with them, I linked. The sooner we headed them off, the better. I could only imagine the panic that had to be pounding through all the survivors right now, wanting to protect their home and their dead while losing no others.

Ryker helped me up and placed a hand around my waist as if I couldn’t handle my weight on my own. Even though I was fine, the whole situation had terrified me, and his embrace was like a safe haven.

As we went to meet the Blackwood pack, I looked over my shoulder, ensuring the vampires weren’t sneaking up on us. The cold magic they emanated wasn’t strangling me, but I didn’t want to be careless in case something changed.

Knowing we needed to hurry, I did the one thing I didn’t want to do. I pulled away from Ryker and linked, We need to move faster to meet up with them.

I don’t give a damn if they’re pissed, lil rebel. His gaze settled on me. You were just attacked, so if you need a minute to collect yourself or be rattled, that’s what we’re fucking going to do. The Blackwoods may be our allies, but you trump them in every way.

In less than a few hours, he’d made this declaration twice. The cold man I’d first met had completely vanished… at least, for me, and I liked that he wasn’t like this with everyone else.

Still… the idea of leaving families to panic didn’t sit well with me. I know, but I know how I’d feel if I thought the vampires were coming and I needed to protect my family. I promise, I’m fine. I dodged it, remember?

The fact that they aimed for you is bad enough. He growled faintly, taking my hand, and we all picked up our pace.

A hundred yards away, the Blackwood wolves burst through the trees, snarling and sniffing the air. Dozens of them in wolf form circled out wide, noses in the air, hackles raised. They looked at me and stalked toward us, eyes wild and teeth bared. They were ready to fight.

“It’s okay! They’re gone.” I lifted both hands, but it probably wasn’t as comforting as I wanted it to be with a gun in one hand.

The wolves slowed, their eyes locked on Ryker and me. I hated that we couldn’t communicate both ways, but we no longer had a royal pack to intercede, so two-way communication was impossible when one pack was entirely in wolf form.

Two larger wolves who had to be some of Reid’s top in command circled us in tight formation, eyes glowing and breath heaving from the run. Their teeth weren’t bared, but their stance screamed accusation.

Ryker inched closer to me, and I could feel the tension coiled through him like a live wire. We had to be careful how we handled this. We’d gone on a search for a potential threat without alerting them. Granted, I hadn’t considered it because I didn’t believe the strange man was a threat, but I should’ve considered that the vampires would be searching for answers.

“We need to go back to the neighborhood,” I said quietly, lowering the gun. “We need to talk to Reid and Sun about what just happened.”

The largest dark blonde wolf shook his head in what seemed to be frustration but then nodded, indicating we should walk ahead.

Ryker exhaled, shoulders tight. “Let’s go then.”

The other wolves broke formation, two of them darting ahead to signal the pack, the rest falling in behind us like a silent escort.

We walked in tense silence, the forest thinning as the Blackwood neighborhood came into view.

What remained of the previous night’s horror was everywhere—makeshift bandages, fresh graves, the scent of blood and grief still thick in the air. Shifters stood on porches, some in human form, others not, all watching as we approached.

Their eyes narrowed. Not just at us.

At me .

A dozen conversations cut off the second our boots hit the main path. Faces turned. Chests rose with tight, shallow breaths. They didn’t speak either. The silence was worse than a snarl.

And then he appeared.

Reid stepped out of his house at the end of the row, a cane tucked under one arm, shoulders hunched but steady. The flannel hanging off his frame couldn’t hide the bruises or the pain etched into his every step, but his eyes burned with something stronger than hurt.

Sun stood beside him with one hand clenched in a fist at her side.

Ryker’s grip on my hand didn’t tighten. It didn’t have to. His pulse through the bond was steady. Fierce. Unapologetic.

But Reid’s gaze locked on mine, and the storm that gathered there promised that we had to answer. “What the hell happened, Ember? And why weren’t we informed that a threat was nearby before you ran straight into danger, risking us all?”