Filed to story: The Wolf Prince’s Fated Love
“John, see his bones are set. Julius, load him onto the pack jet as soon as he’s done, and take your enforcers to drop him with his pack in Vancouver. Reed, walk with me.” With that, I turned on my heel and left, his screams echoing against the airy rafters of the barn as John Henry rebroke his bones to set them.
“That was something else,” Reed said, nonplussed as we walked side by side away from the carnage.
“He’s despicable, but not a murderer.”
“This time,” Reed amended.
“This time,” I agreed. “What do you have for me?”
“Inuksuk is ready to meet you and Brielle. I mentioned that we would be having a bonding ceremony come the full moon, and he wishes to extend hospitality the week after. I assume you’re amenable to that, and I can confirm?”
Relief washed through me. The shaman was our best bet of finding out what was going on with Brielle’s magic, and I’d move heaven and earth to get her there. Find out the truth about her omega status.
“Yes, do it.”
“Consider it done.” He clapped me on the shoulder and headed off toward the lodge. My mind had already moved on, though, as I paced toward the woods for a run to think.
Alpha Varga of the Hungarian pack.
I had some digging to do.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Brielle
Ilay in my shared bed, Leigh’s even breaths beside me lulling me toward sleep myself. My muscles were sore, my body exhausted, but I still couldn’t sleep. It was evasive, slipping repeatedly through my fingers. Tomorrow was the challenge, and I kept replaying the dozens of strategies I’d practiced in the past six days. I was by no means an alpha, in strength or dominance, but I still felt like I had a shot.
When my wolf pressed forward, she helped me hit like a freight train, and I knew Jasline wouldn’t be expecting that.
Which was why Gael’s suggestion was that I strike fast and strike first. And when I had her pinned, to shift and go for her throat. The idea of ripping out another wolf’s throat left me numb, but I didn’t have another choice. She would be going for mine.
If I made the mistake of shifting before the crucial moment, I’d be the one dead. Or worse, alive, and when I woke up, my mate would be gone, and I’d be left alone to watch him live out his life at another’s side.
A lump rose in my throat at the awful thought of never feeling his arms around me again, and for the hundredth time, I second-guessed my decision not to spend the night in his bed. But I shook the thought away. I wanted all the nights with him, damn it, not one last one before he was torn away.
I would win the challenge in the morning, or I’d die trying. There was no third option.
Pounding on my door had me jackknifing upright and off the bed in surprise, Leigh and Shay right behind me.
“Brielle! It’s Reed. We need you. Gracelyn’s baby is coming, and she’s not doing well. John Henry asked that you come and assist.”
Oh, Goddess. Not Gracelyn. Not the baby.
I bolted for my medical supply bag without bothering to turn on the lights, fear crawling through my veins like ants. I jammed my feet into tennis shoes, cursing myself the whole time for not bringing a more extensive medical kit.
In a minute flat, I was yanking the door open on a worried Reed, Gael right behind with his arms crossed. Any other time, I’d have been embarrassed by my bedhead and pajamas, but in an emergency, I didn’t give a flying flip how I looked. I had a mother and baby to help.
“Where is she?”
“Their cottage, the same one we took you to last time. I know it’s awful timing, but-“
“Don’t say another word. There is no way I’m not helping. Let’s go.” I stepped out of the room, and Reed nodded and held out an arm to lead the way.
“Us too,” Leigh said, standing next to Shay in the doorway.
Gael held up a hand to stop them. “No. You two are still on lockdown, and we don’t need to draw more attention to the fact that Brielle isn’t here. The last thing we need is an attack on their cabin while Gracelyn’s in distress.”
Shay worried her bottom lip between her teeth, looking pleadingly at me to step in. Before I could, Leigh got into Gael’s personal space, both hands on his chest as she shoved him back.
He barely rocked on his feet, despite how strong she was. “You listen here-we can help. We might not be doctors, but we always go with her to attend rough births. Do you know how exhausting it is? How much can go wrong? She needs help she’s comfortable with, and we won’t get in the way. You can try to stop me, but I swear to the Goddess, I will not be locked in this room another second.”
He growled, the sound reverberating in the empty hallway, the alpha dominance making me shift back on my heels.
“What’s going on here?” Kane’s words were like ice, cutting through the tension and making every head snap his direction.
“Leigh is trying to defy your orders to stay in the room.”
“Shay and I assist
Brielle with births back in Texas. She needs us, if this is a bad one. Don’t deny Gracelyn help right now for a threat that’s not even aimed at us.”
“Let them come. Whatever will save Gracelyn and the baby.”
Gael stepped back, but he didn’t take his eyes off Leigh, not for a second, and I would swear I saw flames in his eyes.
Those two are going to burn the place down if they don’t work out their differences soon.
I ran down the hall, leaving Reed behind as I caught up with Kane. He kissed me briefly on the temple, but we didn’t stop for a lengthy reunion. He took my bag, and then we jogged down the stairs, everyone else hot on our heels.
Gracelyn’s wail of pain cracked through the night before we even saw the cabin through the trees, and I bolted toward the sound. Something was very wrong if she sounded like that.
I didn’t stop to knock or wait to be invited in, I just flew through the door, where I spotted John Henry, pacing with a devastated look on his face.