Alpha Wolf Defender (Alpha Wolves Book 0) Page 3

  Connor’s thoughts lingered on Tess. He hoped that she’d managed to find safety with her own pack. Why did the bears have to choose now to be so aggressive? All he wanted to do was relax with the woman that he loved. He could still feel her soft skin on his cheek, and imagine her perfect shape running beside him.

  He breathed a sigh of relief when he spied his home peeking from between the trees. He would have slowed his pace and changed but something was amiss. Smoke billowed from the small city-like assembly of ramshackle houses.

  His feet were sore from the run and caked in mud but he paid them no attention. He paced along the row of tiny houses and examined the damage. It was clear that a fire had roared its way through only to be finally brought under control.

  Connor’s father wandered the scene as an old gray wolf would. An expression of anger and disgust emanated from his squinted eyes and clenched teeth. Connor walked up to stand beside his father.

  They shared a moment of understanding as he was led back toward the largest house on the street. Upon arriving, the two of them shifted and dressed themselves.

  “The bears?” Connor asked.

  He took his father’s silence as a grim confirmation.

  “They attacked me too,” Connor added, “destroyed my truck and nearly got me.”

  He showed off his injury he’d proudly earned earlier in the day before tugging on his shirt. His father looked briefly only to have his gaze return to the battered houses.

  “What are we going to do?” Connor asked.

  His father again said nothing, but pulled on his shirt and entered the house. Connor let out a sigh and followed along.

  A choir of voices rang out with rage and disgust, all gathered around the dining room table. The oldest of the pack were already arguing about what to do about the recent attack.

  “I say we take the battle to them, destroy their homes and see what they do about it,” one shouted.

  “But, what about the wounded? We don’t have the strength to mount a proper fight until they’re healed,” shouted another.

  “We need to protect the young pups. We can’t just leave them to fend for themselves,” shouted a third.

  Connor listened to the arguing, he had an idea but knew that it might be anathema to their opinions even if it still needed to be said. He stepped up to the crowd, ready to speak his idea when the creaking of the floorboards and the passing of Connor’s father gave everyone pause.

  Connor’s father stood before them, towering over the other figures in the home. He looked at each of them in turn as they bowed their heads to listen to what he had to say. The pack leader was ready to make a decision.

  “I would have never thought this day would come,” he started.

  As he spoke, he planted his hands on the table.

  “The bears are a new threat,” he continued, “and if they think we’ll let this stand, they’re going to be sorely mistaken. For the past thirty years they’ve minded their own territory and let us handle our own disputes.”

  The old wolf stood tall.

  “But, if it’s a fight they want, it’s a fight they’ll get. We will not hold back.” he snarled.

  The collection of elders all nodded in agreement. They knew to stand with the alpha, even if they disagreed.

  “Gather up every wolf able to fight and tell them to prepare for war,” he bellowed.

  The elders again nodded and scampered out the door. Connor stood on the far side of the room, watching his father closely. When the front door was finally shut, and the house went silent, he opened his mouth to speak.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  His father returned to his chair with a grunt.

  “While you were off, our pack was attacked by bears,” he said, “and some weren’t lucky enough to escape with their lives. We lost a few, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure we don’t lose more.”

  “So you’re going to protect them by sending them to die?” Connor asked, with frustration.

  “The warriors and hunters of the pack exist to protect us from any threat. Each and every one of them would be proud to lay down their life for the good of us all,” he replied.

  “We don’t have the numbers or the size, father,” Connor urged, “We need help.”

  His father paused and leaned forward in his chair.

  “Help?” he said, “who would you have us call for help?”

  Connor knew what he had to say, and he knew his father was only waiting for him to say the words. Connor stood himself up straight and spoke confidently.

  “The Night Howlers, Dad,” he said, “maybe they can help us.”

  His father started laughing sarcastically.

  “You think I would ask a bunch of whelps to fight with men? They’re too busy hunting field mice to know what it means to hunt real sport. We don’t need their help, and we never will.”

  Connor could feel his rage building just beneath the surface. In a roundabout way his father was insulting Tess, and Connor wouldn’t take the insult lying down. He gritted his teeth as he spoke.

  “We are all wolves, father,” Connor said, “Surely you see that.”

  “I’m not asking those mongrels for help. I won’t hear any more of this. Go see a medic and have that wound checked. You’re one of the strongest I’ve got and I’m going to need you right there beside me when we fight.”

  Connor knew he should have obeyed, but in his frustration and anger he had no interest. If his father wouldn’t see reason then there was nothing that could be done.

  “No,” Connor said.

  “Don’t start with me boy, now is not the time.”

  “I thought for once you’d listen to me, especially with the situation we’re in,” Connor continued, “but I’m done taking orders from you. You might be the alpha for now, but when all the rest of the pack is dead who are you going to lead then?”

  Connor shoved his way out the door, his father following close behind.

  “Boy, you better get back here,” his father shouted from the doorway, “another step and I’m goin’ to get mad.”

  Connor paused and swiveled on his heel.

  “Then get mad,” he said.

  Connor shifted, gathered his clothes, and trotted toward the forest line. Without saying another word, his father watched his son leave him behind. He wanted to scream, he wanted to break something, but he knew it wouldn’t change anything.

  Meanwhile, Connor was already thinking of Tess. He needed to know that she was safe, and that was all that mattered to him.

  Chapter 6

  The day wore on and the rain finally stopped, leaving Connor cold and tired. With a shake he at least managed to dry off. But, every time he slowed his pace, it reminded him of Tess and would only serve to steel his resolve.

  Still, Connor was nothing if not cautious. The bears were upset about something and every odd rustle in the forest made him pause in his tracks. He would perk up his ears and try to sniff for any signs that it might be a bear.

  He stopped as he heard the sound of a deep growl, which definitely belonged to a bear. The growl was accompanied by the yelp of a wolf.

  The daylight was beginning to dim over the tops of the trees and a light fog was rolling in along the floor of the forest. Connor wanted to ignore the sound, but he wouldn’t have been able to forgive himself if another shifter was hurt.

  He prowled his way through the brush, until he could see what was causing the noise. A single wolf pursued by an advancing bear. The fight looked one sided and the shifter was already limping from pain. Connor knew that he would regret whichever decision he would make, but he could never leave someone in need.

  He dropped his clothes and leapt from the bushes in a full sprint, charging headlong at the bear, sinking his teeth into the bear’s shoulder. It reeled back from the attack and stood on its haunches taking swipes at Connor but hitting nothing but air. Again, Connor leapt and struck the bear clear in the stomach, knocking the beast t
o its backside.

  The bear roared from the pain as its fur became more blood stained with each bite from Connor’s jaws. The smell of fresh meat was a delicious scent. If Connor could win the fight then he could finally eat. His stomach growled from hunger and he was ready to give in to his instincts.

  The fight was lost and the bear knew that staying would probably mean death. It scrambled to its feet, and bolted off into the woods.

  Connor growled at the bear as it jetted off for the woods. Only when he was sure that the bear wasn’t coming back did he turn to join the other wolf. After approaching the other wolf he realized she needed help, and quick.

  Connor shifted and the wolf’s eyes grew large. She shifted and sat leaned against a tree, gasping for breath.

  “Who are you,” she asked.

  He wasn’t sure he should say, but it would have done little to lie right now.

  “Connor,” he said, “we need to get you home. Are you from the Night Howler den?”

  She nodded.

  “I’ll lead you but I don’t think I can walk,” she said.

  He looked at her leg, it wasn’t good. Bones protruded and fresh blood trickled from the wound.

  Connor ran to his bundle of clothing, taking his shirt and tearing it into a makeshift tourniquet. She gasped in pain, and he tried to distract the young wolf.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Cynthia,” she replied.

  “What are you doing so far out in the woods, Cynthia?” Connor wondered as he pulled the bandage tight.

  She growled from the sudden crack of her bone being pulled straight.

  “Searching for my boyfriend,” she said, “he ran away last night. I was supposed to go with him but chickened out.”

  Connor finished tying the cloth tight and tugged on his jeans.

  “Okay, that will hold for now, but we need to get you home. I’ll carry you, if you can point the way,” he said.

  She nodded as he lifted her with ease and cradled her in his arms. As they trudged along the thick brush he could feel every fallen twig and rough stone on the forest floor. The wincing pain didn’t bother him, though. Connor didn’t want to admit it but without the roads to guide him he had lost his way in the forest, and he was glad to have a guide that could show him the rest of the way.

  After a few minutes of following her direction, Connor paused in his tracks. The wind was bringing a scent with it that he recognized, and before he could react he was ambushed by two shifters, growling and circling him.

  “I’ve brought one of your own, she’s injured,” he said.

  The lead wolf shifted and came in close.

  “Cynthia?” he said.

  The man looked into Connor’s face then down at the wolf in his arms. Connor offered the woman to him to carry and he gladly accepted.

  “Take him back to the boss, I’m getting her to the medic,” he said, gesturing to the other wolf still waiting nearby.

  Connor watched as the woman was carried off through the forest. He was glad she’d be safe now but now he found himself dealing with another problem.

  The wolf behind him barked and Connor marched forward. He followed the trail left by the two that just passed through this way and, pressing through some low branches, he recognized the outline of the farmhouse. His broken truck tucked off to the side of the road. He’d finally arrived at his destination.

  Two more wolves sprinted up and joined him, eyeing him up and down, growling.

  Jerks.

  The trio led him down the walkway and into the den of houses, stopping in front of the largest house. He could see that he’d gathered more attention than he was expecting. Strangers stood in the road, watching the scene unfold.

  Through the light of the second floor window, he saw his reason for being here. Tess was safe and unharmed, watching everything happening. He wanted to climb up to her window and hold her but the wolves at his heels wouldn’t allow such an act.

  The clack of a walking stick against the wood porch pulled Connor from his distraction. Tess’s father sighed as he looked down at Connor. The porch light bathed him in an eerie halo, obscuring his face.

  “Bears attacking our hunting grounds, my daughter and son injured, and the only child of my greatest rival comes marching into my territory,” he said, “Well, isn’t today lovely.”

  Connor stood firm and stared the old dog down, neither of them giving so much as an inch.

  “Your pack isn’t the only one to be attacked. I’m here to broker a truce,” Connor said.

  “Truce?” the old dog scoffed, “Now why would I need a truce when I got the son of a rival clan as a prisoner?”

  He nodded and the three guards grabbed Connor.

  “Lock him up in the yard. I’ll figure out what to do with him in the morning,” he added before disappearing into the farm house.

  “The bears are a bigger problem for both of our pa-” He was interrupted by the sound of the door slamming. The guards chuckled and grabbed his arms tightly.

  He looked at Tess watching from the window above. She mouthed the words Wait for me.

  He nodded silently.

  The guards pulled him down the avenue of houses before stopping in front of a wrought iron cage. One of the guards tried pushing him in, though Connor would not be bullied. Connor didn’t budge, staring the guard straight in the face, making him avert his eyes in discomfort. It took all of his will to prevent the beast inside him from ripping the guard’s head off. After calming down, Connor accepted his fate and climbed into the tiny cell. Behind him, the guard pulled shut the door and clamped a lock around the bars.

  One of the guardsmen lingered as the others walked away trash talking Connor.

  Dicks.

  “For what it’s worth, I trust you,” he whispered, causing Connor to focus his attention on the remaining guard, “and if you care to know, that girl you brought back is goin’ to be alright.”

  Connor nodded to him in understanding and relief that someone agreed with him.

  Finally, the last guard left, leaving Connor alone.

  Not before long, the cold air began biting at him, causing him to shift. After gaining the comfort of his fur, the only thing that might keep him warm, he wheeled around in the cage so he could keep a close eye on the farm house, and Tess.

  Chapter 7

  “Tess?” Alex said.

  She stepped from the window when she heard her brother speak for the first time since the attack. He was covered in bruises and cuts but his fighting spirit pulled him through. She joined him in a chair beside his bed.

  “Thank god you’re okay,” she said, hugging him lightly.

  He winced in pain at the sudden jostling but was happy to have his sister there for comfort.

  “How did you get out?” he asked.

  “Connor came after you were knocked out. He saved us both,” she replied.

  Alex let out a laugh, followed by some heavy coughing.

  “Remind me to thank him when I see him next,” he said.

  “You won’t have to travel far,” Tess remarked.

  “What?”

  “Dad had him thrown in a cage when he came to make peace. But, it seems odd that he would come alone. He’s not an idiot,” Tess said.

  “What do you think dad’s goin’ to do to him?” Alex wondered.

  Tess knew her father wasn’t bloodthirsty. He was just a man concerned for everyone under his charge. Any opportunity to end the conflict between the Night Howlers and the Moon Runners was an opportunity he’d be willing to take. But, what did he expect to do? Hold Connor ransom until the other pack leader bowed down? If anything that would just incite more violence.

  “I wish I could say I had any idea,” Tess sighed.

  Alex reached out and took his sister’s hand.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, “about everything.”

  Tess had to take a second to understand what he was saying.

  “What do you mean by everything?”<
br />
  “I’m sorry I snuck into the truck. I had planned to run away and leave this life behind. I want to leave and see other places. The only thing that’s keeping me here is Cynthia, but she probably hates me now after I left her last night.”

  “I heard Cynthia was just brought back with a few broken bones of her own,” she said, “I guess she couldn’t stand being separated from you for too long. You’ll have to talk to her after you heal a bit. I’m a bit curious though, what did you say to the bears that made them start attacking you?”

  “I didn’t say anything,” Alex said defensively, “They saw me sleeping in the truck and charged at me. By the time you showed up they got real violent.”

  “They must have just been plain crazy. However, from what I overheard Connor say to dad, it seems we weren’t the only people attacked. It sounds like they’ve been hitting all the wolves in the area,” Tess replied.

  Alex sighed and sunk back into his pillow. He was silent for a time, and his expression of consternation was one he rarely ever wore. Tess hoped she hadn’t said the wrong thing by telling him about the recent attacks, but she knew he would have found out soon enough.

  “Why are you still here?” Alex asked, bluntly.

  “I’m here because my brother is injured, where else would I be?” Tess wondered.

  Alex tried to roll to his side, but his injuries wouldn’t let him. Instead he pulled himself up into a sitting position on his pillow.

  “The love of your life is down there in a cage and you’re telling me that at my bedside is where you belong? If Cynthia were in a cage you wouldn’t be able to pull me away from her,” Alex said, “Do you really want to wait for dad to decide what to do with Connor? You should get him out of here tonight, before anything happens.”

  Deep in her heart she knew that whatever the punishment her father would dole out, it would be the wrong one. She wanted to do something but she had no idea what.

  “Just grab him and get out of here. Dad won’t let you leave if he finds out that you’ve been seeing Connor, and any shifter worth his salt can smell him on you,” he urged.

  He was right. Tess was normally careful to wash his scent off the moment she got home, but she’d been so worried about her brother that she forgot. At the same time she was conflicted. She wanted to be here for her brother in his time of need.