Текст книги "Turn of the Moon"

Автор книги: L. P. Dover

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 15 страниц)

Ryker

“They’re around this area,” Sebastian noted, “but I never came up this far north. Do you remember where you lived?” We drove nonstop once we got past the border into Canada on up to the Yukon Territory. The rest of the packs stayed out of range except me, Sebastian, and Micah.

I shrugged. “I have ideas, but it was a long time ago. I remember Whitehorse though. This was our city.” For the past couple days, all we’d done was split up and comb the streets to see if we could find any of the Yukon wolves. So far we’d found nothing, not even a trace.

Micah turned the corner, shaking his head when he saw us. “Anything for you guys?”

“Not a fucking thing,” I grumbled.

“How is Faith?” Sebastian asked him.

“She’s fine. She just wants us to find her sister. The sooner we do, the sooner we can reunite them.”

“But for how long? What are your plans once this is over?” I asked.

Sebastian lifted his brows. “Good question.”

Smirking, Micah leaned against the building. “I guess we’ll just have to relocate. Besides, it’s not fun living with a female. It ruins my game.”

“So you’re moving to Wyoming?” Sebastian asked.

“Looks like it, unless you have any objections.”

“Nope, I look forward to pestering your ass. It’ll get me off of Ryker’s,” he said, pointing at me.

I snorted. “Thank fucking God for that.” We stood there for a few minutes shooting the shit, and my patience ran thin. Blowing out a frustrated breath, I peered up and down the street. I had to find Bailey. “We have one more day until the full moon and he’s already had her for five. Just the thought of Kade breathing around her makes me so goddamned furious.”

“I’m in the same boat,” Sebastian agreed, his jaw tensing. “We need to figure out where those fuckheads go during the day. Surely, they have jobs somewhere in this city.”

As soon as he said it, I had an idea. “When I was younger, there was a man in our pack who owned a bar right outside of town. His name was Abel. I could always smell the liquor on him from a mile away. It was years ago, but it might still be there.”

“And you think some of the wolves will be there?” he asked.

“It’s worth a shot. Right now, we have nothing.”

“All right, let’s go,” Micah announced. We jumped in my truck and started through town. We passed the ice cream shop my mother always took me to as a boy. Even Bailey went along a few times when she was staying with us. Everywhere I turned, there was a memory. Once off the main road, the bar wasn’t far. It was a Saturday night so it didn’t surprise me to see the parking lot packed with cars.

Shutting off the truck, I lowered the windows and breathed in. Nothing. “How the hell are there not any of them around? It doesn’t make sense.”

Sebastian sighed. “Maybe they are, but just cloaked like us. You know what that’s like. The Northern pack did the same thing, even though I knew you could sense Bailey. I’m almost positive the Yukons would be protected too. They have Maret alongside them.”

He was right. When I left Wyoming to check on Bailey, I knew their homes were surrounded by some kind of magic to keep them concealed. However, I could still feel Bailey’s magic through it, calling to me. “Do you think you’d be able to recognize anyone if you saw them?” I asked.

Sitting up in the seat, he focused on the door to the bar. “I’m sure I could.”

We all stared at the door, watching people go in and out, mainly humans. Each second that passed, the angrier I became. We had run out of options. After three hours of silence, I started the truck and put it in gear. “This is fucking useless.”

Sebastian held up a hand. “Wait.” He pointed to the door where two men staggered out and got into their vehicle. “I’ve seen them before. They’re part of your old pack.”

I studied them and my memory clicked. “They’re Abel’s sons, Calum and Devlin. They were my friends growing up. I can’t sense them at all.” They were cloaked.

Micah scoffed from the backseat. “And there we have our answer. There’s no telling how many have been around.” Once they got in their car, they drove right past us. Drunk as hell, they almost hit a tree.

“Fucking morons,” I mumbled. Putting distance between us, I followed them. Their brake lights came on and then the entire car disappeared behind an invisible wall. “I think we have our location.”

“Yeah, and they would get into some serious shit if Kade and his uncle knew they gave it away. When I was with the Northern pack, we had to make sure no one was around before we could enter. Luckily, the Yukons have the village idiots to help us out.”

We drove past the entrance and kept going. “How far do you think the wall goes?” I asked.

“Maybe a half mile in all directions. You’ll be able to feel it if you get too close,” Sebastian replied. I remembered it was like an electric current jolting through your body. I was zapped a few times when I tried to get close to Bailey. “I think we have what we need,” he said. “Let’s get back to your people so we can come up with a plan of attack.”

Turning the truck around, I squeezed the steering wheel so hard, my knuckles turned white. I already had a plan . . . kill them all.

“Have you called everyone?” Tyla asked, sitting beside me.

Keeping my gaze on the dwindling fire, I nodded my head. “They should all be here soon.”

The sun had already started to come up, which meant our time was running out. The full moon was upon us. Our camp was about fifteen miles south of the Yukon pack, just out of reach of their senses.

Seraphina joined us, along with Sebastian, Micah, and Cedric. “How are we going to get inside the wall?” Cedric asked.

Seraphina answered. “After their explanation of the shield, I’m pretty sure I can breach it long enough to send a few people through. It’s just a cloaking spell, but Maret is stronger than me. I can open it in intervals each time I regain my strength.”

I glanced up at her. “Or you can just let two of us in first.”

“And who would those two be?” Sebastian asked.

“Me and you.”

Tyla punched me in the arm. “What the hell are you thinking? That’s suicide and you know it.”

Shaking her head, Seraphina spoke up. “Actually, it might be brilliant. None of them will suspect that I’m here to lower the wall, and they certainly aren’t expecting Ryker to come in alone. If you can slip in there unnoticed, we might have a better chance. If we go in baring our teeth, Kade will take Bailey and run, or worse, kill her.”

“Why don’t I go in as well?” Micah suggested. “That way I can take someone in with me undetected. We need to find Maret and kill her. She’s the key to bringing down the Yukons.”

Everyone seemed to agree and turned to me. “I can’t argue with you there, but don’t you need to stay alive for Faith? You’re her protector. You risk your life going into this fight.”

Sebastian nodded. “That’s true, brother.”

Micah’s eyes blazed. “My duty is to the royals and to my family. What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t help you? I’m going in there and that’s final.” Sebastian glared at him, but ultimately gave in. They shook hands and the deal was made. Kade and I had never been like that. We had the same blood flowing through our veins, but he was always different. And now I planned on killing him.

“I want to go in with Micah,” Tyla insisted. All eyes turned her way, but I could see she wasn’t going to back down.

Cedric snorted. “Now who’s lost their mind? Don’t you remember what those fuckers did to Kami? That’s what’ll happen, or probably worse, if they catch you.”

She grabbed my arm and squeezed. “Please, let me go. You need Cedric here to lead the pack when you’re in there. I can do this.”

Sebastian cleared his throat. “I know I shouldn’t open my mouth, but you should let her go.” Huffing, I glared at him over my shoulder and he lifted his hands in defeat. “Hey, I’m just saying, it’s better than her sneaking off to try and help. I can see it in her eyes. She’s just like Bailey.”

Her eyes went wide and I knew he was telling the truth. She was going to find a way in no matter what. “Fine, you can go with Micah. Just don’t do anything stupid, like getting yourself killed.”

She smiled. “I won’t. Maimed, maybe. But not killed.”

I glared at her attempt at humor and she got serious. “All right, let’s get ready to go.” Everyone got up and loaded our stuff into the cars, except Cedric who hung back with me.

“Are you sure this is what you want? I can go in and fight,” he offered.

I squeezed his shoulder. “You will get your chance, but I need you on the outside first. The other packs respect you and will follow your lead. When you hear my call, that’s when I want you to attack. It’s time the Yukons pay for what they’ve done.”

Bailey

“Bailey, wake up,” a voice murmured in my ear. Fingers grazed along my skin and I trembled. It felt like an eternity since I’d heard that voice.

“Ryker?”

His warm breath tickled my neck. “Who else? Open your eyes for me, sweetheart.”

“I don’t want to. It’s such a good dream.” If I awoke I’d be in a nightmare. I didn’t want to leave his arms. “Hold me tighter,” I whispered.

He did as I said and I snuggled into him, making him groan as I rubbed my body against his. “I want you so fucking bad,” he growled, pushing his arousal into me.

“Then take me.”

“Not until you open your eyes. I want you to look at me when I fuck you.” I didn’t want to open them, but when I did, I gasped and jerked around. Ryker looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Are you okay?”

“How am I here?” I was back in our bedroom at the ranch. Everything was the same, as if I’d never been gone.

“What do you mean? You never left. You’ve been having vivid nightmares, but that’s understandable with everything that happened.”

I rubbed my eyes and focused on him. It was Ryker, staring at me with those emerald green eyes of his. What the hell was wrong with me? “What happened?” I asked. Everything was a blur.

He sighed. “When Darius came for you and you killed him. You took it really hard. Ever since then, you’ve been having nightmares and blacking out. It’s been horrible to watch you go through it. I’ve missed you.”

My eyes started to burn. I couldn’t believe it was all a nightmare and I’d been at home the entire time. Taking his face in my hands, I pulled him to me, kissing him. “Now what were you saying earlier? Something about fucking me, maybe? I think it’s time you showed me.”

His chest rumbled. “Gladly.” Ripping off my shirt and shorts, he spread me wide, raking his lustful gaze over my bare body. His cock twitched and I longed to feel him inside me.

“Please make love to me.”

Groaning, his eyes rolled back into his head. “I love hearing you beg. Say it again.”

I moaned. “Ryker, please . . .” For a split second he tensed, but then continued his hungry path of kisses up my stomach.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

Grasping my wrists, he held them above my head, tight. “Yep. Just ready to give you what you want.” He closed his lips over my breast and his teeth nipped my skin. A growl erupted from his chest and he tightened his grip, sinking his teeth in further. I hissed. The bite was more pain than pleasure. I tried to bite him in return, but my fangs wouldn’t extend. When he pulled back, he moaned and circled the tip of his cock at my opening. “You taste so fucking good. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.”

His eyes lifted to mine and I froze; they flashed from green to blue and then back again. Something wasn’t right. Before he could thrust inside, I pushed against his chest. “Not yet, baby. I want to taste you first.” Grinning wide, he licked his lips and laid down on his back. His eyes flashed back to blue, solidifying my suspicions, and my heart sank.

He stared at me, his body waving with impatience. “Well, what are you waiting on?”

Ryker would never talk to me like that and when he’d taken my blood, I didn’t have a vision. There was nothing but silence in my mind. It was as if something inside me clicked and all the magic seemed to fall away, except for the necklace now hanging around my neck. The room I was in disappeared, revealing Kade’s darkened bedroom. And when I looked at who I thought was Ryker, was now Kade himself, grinning from ear to ear.

Grabbing the lamp on the bedside table, I slammed it down on his head. It shattered on impact, but it did nothing to deter him. “You son of a bitch,” I shouted, jumping off the bed.

Laughing, he dusted off his shoulders and got up. “I have to admit, you’re better than I thought. It’s a shame I didn’t fuck you when I had the chance. I guess that’ll just have to wait for tonight. I think I like the screaming and clawing version of Bailey better anyway.”

“You do like that, don’t you? Why don’t you remove this necklace then? I didn’t realize you were such a pussy.”

His gaze darkened and he slapped me hard across the cheek. My head snapped to the side, tears welling in my eyes. Grabbing my arms, he pushed me into the wall, his body shaking with rage. “You stupid, fucking cunt. The only pussy around here is the one I’m going to fuck until it bleeds. You will obey me, even if I have to break you.” He slammed me against the wall again and then stormed out of the room. I was back in the nightmare.

I’d tried to escape, but I couldn’t get out the door without running into an invisible wall. I was trapped. Wrapped in a blanket and huddled in the corner is where Maret found me when she entered the room.

“It’s time,” she announced happily.

I scoffed. “Time to be raped? You’re one sick, twisted bitch.”

“Oh, don’t look at it like that. Think of it as the beginning of a new era. Kade may have a bit of a temper, but if you give him what he wants, I have no doubt he’ll be a suitable mate. Once you hold those sweet, adorable babies in your arms, you won’t even care what he’s like anymore.”

“Do you hear yourself?” I spat, getting to my feet. I marched up to her, my body trembling with the need to shift. “When I get out of here, you’re going to be at the top of my kill list.”

She giggled. “Many have tried and all have failed. Now stop being silly and let’s go. The moon will rise within the hour. It’s time to get you ready. The last thing I want to do is force you, since I know you’ll be dealing with your fair share of that tonight. You’re a lot stronger than I thought though.”

“Why, because I could see through the lies?”

She nodded. “No one has done that before.” Turning on her heel, she started down the stairs.

“Where are we going?” I didn’t want to follow her, but I would rather be anywhere than Kade’s bedroom.

The men standing guard at the front door opened it and she stepped out. “My special place. It’s where I practice my magic. Your mother is there now, drawing your bath.”

“She’s not my mother,” I snapped.

“No, but she did raise you for the past fifteen years. In my book, that counts as a mother. Now follow me.” I walked past the guards and followed Maret, lifting my gaze to the pink sky above. Night was upon us and I could feel the magic of the moon rising. Great Luna, help me. I was running out of time.

Ryker

“Get ready to go,” Seraphina whispered.

I got into place with Sebastian at my side, and Tyla alongside Micah. There was nothing but a wall of trees in front of us, but about a half mile through them was Bailey. I was so close. Cedric stood off to the side and I nodded him over. “As soon as we’re through the wall, make sure Seraphina is out of sight while you wait on the others. If we get caught inside, they’ll be out here searching. The only job I ask of you at that point is to make sure she gets out. Got it?”

He nodded. “I swear it.”

Holding her hands up in the air, the invisible wall shimmered when she touched it. “Maret is a strong one. Lots of dark magic involved here.”

“Can you get us through?” I asked.

She sighed, her gaze troubled. “I can, but I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to get everyone else in. If I can’t, you’ll be on your own.”

I nodded and turned to the others. “I would never ask anything of you. If you want to sit out, I understand.”

Sebastian stepped up to the wall. “Well, I sure as hell aren’t going to let you go in alone. Someone has to save Bailey.”

“And someone has to save you,” Micah teased, slapping him on the shoulder.

Smiling, Tyla shook her head and joined us. “And someone has to save you from each other. Might as well be me. I’m in.”

Sebastian gazed at her in awe. “Woman, you sure do have a set of balls on you.”

She winked. “What can I say? I like to fight.”

Taking a deep breath, Seraphina bowed her head, mumbling words under her breath. The wind began to blow and I could feel the magic swirling around us. Her hands shook and her face contorted in pain. “Go now, before it’s too late.”

An opening appeared beside her and we all rushed in. When we got inside, the opening closed and Seraphina fell to the ground, out of breath. Cedric approached the wall, his eyes wide. “Where did they go?” I stood right in front of him and he didn’t see me.

“They’re just on the other side,” Seraphina replied. She looked in my direction. “Go, my child.” Cedric helped her to her feet and she stood in front of me, even though she couldn’t see me. “I’m all right. Go.”

Now that we were inside the wall, I could feel the wolves. There weren’t any where we were, but there were dozens where we needed to go. “Our best chances are to split up. This isn’t where I lived when I was part of the pack, so I don’t know where exactly to go. Wherever Kade is, I’m sure Bailey will be close by.”

Micah nodded. “Tyla and I will circle around and come up from the south side. We’ll meet you in the middle.”

Sebastian shook his hand and pulled him in for a hug. “Be safe, brother.”

Micah slapped him on the back. “Always am. I can’t let you get rid of me that fast.” He smiled before darting off into the woods.

Tyla waved back at me. “I’ll be safe too, Whitemore. Don’t worry about me.”

They disappeared off into the woods, leaving Sebastian and me alone. “You ready?” I asked.

“Yep, let’s go fuck some bitches up.”

With it being the night of the full moon, the need to shift would run high. Soon, the Yukons would be heading into the woods to hunt. We needed to get Bailey out before this happened, so when they ventured into the woods, my people would be ready to attack.

Approaching their town square, there was a group of wolves congregated right out in the middle. I studied each and every one of them and recognized a few, but there was one who caught my undivided attention. All I could see was red.

“Whitemore, stop,” Sebastian hissed, slamming a hand on my shoulder. He pulled me behind the cover of a tree, his eyes blazing. “What the fuck are you doing? I know you want to go after your brother, but you can’t right now. Think of Bailey.”

“He needs to pay for what he’s done,” I growled low.

“He will. But this as an advantage. Bailey isn’t with him, which means she’s somewhere else.” We watched him disappear inside a building with a handful of other wolves. Bailey wasn’t in there. Her trail was faint, but the closer I got, I could finally sense her.

“Come on. She’s not in there.”

We circled around the building to a slew of other houses. Bailey’s scent grew stronger the closer we got to the main house, but so did Kade’s. My wolf bordered along the surface, desperate for blood. The rage inside me only made him hungrier for vengeance. Breathing hard, I closed my eyes and leaned against a tree to calm myself. Nothing was working. Their scents mingling together was enough to drive me in-fucking-sane.

“Just because you smell them together doesn’t mean anything,” Sebastian whispered. The look in his eyes said otherwise.

There were two men guarding the front of the house and two in the rear. “I’ll take the front, you get the back. We’ll meet inside.”

Sebastian nodded and took off around the house. The men at the front didn’t see me coming and before they could call for help, I snapped both of their necks. Judging by the sound coming from the back, Sebastian had done the same.

The door was unlocked and the second I walked inside, Bailey’s scent engulfed me; she was upstairs. Sebastian bolted through the back door and followed me up the stairs. She had to be in the house, but when her scent led me to the back bedroom, I slammed open the door to find nothing but a few drops of her blood on the bed.

Rage overcame my senses. I didn’t want to think of anyone hurting her, especially my brother. She had been in that room, prisoner to my brother’s sick whims. My own fucking brother.

Sebastian pushed me out of the room. “We need to go. She’s not here. Let’s keep looking.” We did a quick search of the rest of the house and it was clear. Once outside, her trail led us in a couple of different directions. We picked one and went with it. I prayed it was the right one.

There was no one out front guarding the door, but there were two inside. We slipped in unnoticed. Sebastian took the first one out, while I did the other, his unseeing eyes staring up at the ceiling when I dropped him to the floor.

A voice called out from the other room, sparking my hatred even more. “Roman, what the hell are you doing out there?” It was Rollin. I couldn’t even scent him out because I was so focused on Bailey. His footsteps drew near, but before he could reach the door, I kicked it open. It took him a minute to register who I was. And when he did, his eyes went wide in disbelief.

“Surprised to see me, uncle?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off when Sebastian pulled a knife and sent it flying. It hit home, in the center of his chest, and he fell backward onto his desk. Before he could call for help, I jammed the knife further into his chest, his face contorting in pain.

“That is for my family, you worthless coward. I’ve waited a long time for this.”

Sebastian circled around him and pulled something out of his pocket. “So have I.” I couldn’t see what he had in his hands, but I could smell it.

My uncle glared at me with disdain. “I didn’t want your mother dead. It was you and your father I wanted gone.”

Grabbing his neck, I slammed him down on the desk. “Why?” I shouted.

“He loved her,” Sebastian answered. “I can see it on his face.”

My uncle snarled. “If it wasn’t for Soren, she’d have been mine. He took her from me!”

“And you took her from me,” I growled. Ripping the knife out of his chest, I lifted it high.

“Stop,” Sebastian commanded.

Heart thumping, I lowered the knife and glared at him. “What are you doing?”

He stood across from me and showed me the vial he had in his hands. “You’re not the only one who’s been out for revenge. This fucker killed my family too. He needs to suffer the same way they did.”

“What the hell are you talking about? You were part of the Northern pack, Darius’ second in command,” my uncle sneered.

Sebastian opened the vial. “Wrong, you worthless son of a bitch. I’m Sebastian Lyall, sworn protector of Bailey Storm, and son of Waylon and Milena Lyall of the Royal pack. Your time is over.” Rollin tried to fight, but I held him down while Sebastian poured the liquid down his throat and covered his mouth. He tried to scream but he couldn’t open his mouth.

“Was that one of the vials Darius had on him?” I asked.

He nodded. “Let’s see how your uncle likes being burned from the inside out. It’s how he killed your father and my parents.” His body began to convulse, blood pouring out of his eyes, ears, and mouth. Pulling his hand away, Sebastian stepped back and we watched my uncle choke on his last breath. “Someone should’ve killed him a long time ago,” Sebastian grumbled.

I looked at my dead uncle one more time before leaving the room. “I agree, but my father loved him. They were brothers.” When we got to the door, I took a deep breath and opened it. “I’m not going to make the same mistake.”