Ashes To Ashes (Wolf Guard Book 2) (3 page)

Chapter 3

My foot lifted from the frozen soil without much thought. A small smile tried to make its way over my lips. One step and I'd be on pack territory. One step and we'd see if all had fallen apart in the wake of one wolf's death. I saw the moment I passed that invisible line, felt the tug as my foot continued of its own volition and tried to pull the rest of my body along with it. I saw Ty out of the corner of my eye, eyebrows raised in amusement and arms crossed casually across his chest as our shopping lay at his feet. He watched as my foot halted an inch above the ground just beyond that line.

"Are you teasing me or yourself?"

The giggle I let loose was utterly childish. "It's excitement, I know as soon as I put my foot down the chase begins."

He shook his head and grinned back at me,"Well, anytime today, Sashy pants. Or I'll cross first and steal your thunder."

I scowled back at him, if he tried I might just seriously hurt him. His job was to stay with the bags, not to steal my fun. Not only do I enjoy the chase...and the inevitable win, Ty needed the moment to mask our scent. A rather useful ability he'd acquired that, not so much took the actual fragrance away but more blocked the wolf's capacity to smell it. Those wolves would feel the break in the boundary as soon as I stepped down, but I'd give them something to chase while Ty masked our eventual path, become the bunny to their vicious wolf. It was a working relationship we'd fed with several failures before the painless and perfect performance we now enjoyed.

He coughed as I once again hesitated and stamped his foot impatiently. "Seriously, Sash. Come on!"

I sighed and teased him a little more before grinning widely and hopping forward. I turned to look at him rolling his eyes and fighting the grin trying to stretch his face. "You know, one day you'll be just a bit too cocky."

I shrugged and gave him a little wave as I heard the first howl in the distance."Don't wait up for me."

He waved me on dismissively and I took in the light, crisp air that seemed to wrap the forest in life, air free from such heavy, tainted particles that made it seem so much harder to breathe in town. I stayed completely still, facing the opposite direction to the oncoming thuds of monster steps. Ty had moved to slide behind a thick oak tree, one that hid even his bulky frame, and settled in stillness awaiting the heavy vibrations to pass. I heard them gaining ground quickly, they'd be running full out to see what had passed their border, what had ignored their trespass warnings.

I breathed again, let that air fill my lungs to capacity, allowed the freshness to filter out the smog that clogged and stifled and slowed my speed in its pollution. I tied my hair back out of my face, ensured the long, black strands wouldn't whip around my eyesight in the resisting wind. I could shift and run but my human form was fast enough and I didn't need the wolf to outrun these pack animals. I felt the moment they saw my outline, obscured slightly by the thick branches of dense trees and wilted undergrowth. They roared an angry call my way, an affronted sound at my audacity. I only smiled as their steps brought them ever closer, past the tree that hid Ty and further on, so intent on my trail, an animals maddening addiction to chase the prey they'd locked on. I allowed them one step further, a wisp of touch as a claw scraped for purchase, drew them further into my trap only to push from the ground and sprint into the wind as their reaching fingers grabbed air instead of cloth.

I flew. A speed so intense I barely felt the rustle of dead leaves on the ground. A fusion of muscle and oxygen that flowed freely through aching limbs of lactic acid, a burst of power that expelled me forward in a rush of gale force wind. I was maddeningly free for this moment and it was unsurpassable, a fleeting gasp of the highest pleasure for a wolf that felt so often the tightest strap of restraining chains.

I heard their resulting angry roars, I heard their steps become one as they gave chase in pack form. Rage filled steps that were clumsy in their urgency. I laughed into the wind and it grabbed hold of that mocking sound and flung it back at the pack. They responded in a choir of roars that thundered at my fleeing figure. I could admit to poking a little too much at their ego - these were female wolves and I took full advantage of their vengeful natures, goading at their pride until they fell into thoughts of devious revenge. I knew well how distracting such thoughts could be and I would play my advantage in any way I could.

I easily stretched the distance between us to half a mile, no more than that in case I inadvertently lost them. I was far enough in front to still call to their animal instinct but not far enough to allow the  human intellect to override and begin to wonder at my game. I could very well end the chase, stand before them and challenge the females chasing me but these would be the largest females in the pack, one or two I could handle easily but more than that and I'd be in trouble, would have to resort to measures that wouldn't just incapacitate but kill. On the animals strength alone they had me out matched and I doubt they'd be particularly forgiving in their current state of mind. It's a good thing I'm more than just the animal.

I continued my sprint almost casually, it served to make a mockery of the wolves behind me all by itself. No one likes to be the loser to someone who's not even full wolf - it's caused me no end of battles from over eager females trying to prove their animal's worth. Ty and I were not pack, learning early the price of weakness, and so we’d nurtured the beast’s wrath, worked on that survival instinct until it thrived in glorious vitality. I could crush every wolf in that pack with only determination and the will to do so. I find as my failures mount, I am more determined with each awakening dawn.

I felt the connection to my brother light up, one we forced as infants before our animals even broke the surface. It's faint and it's weak because of our lack of blood relation and missing full sized pack to strengthen the link, but it's there. Through it I feel his amusement at my slow pace and the faint sense of safety he sends as clearly as possible. He'd arrived as predicted at the hill and now I needed to lose my trackers. The snarling wolves behind me claw deep into the ice packed soil as their feet pound harder to catch me. I dropped back for one moment, teasing them further, before I made a break for the boundary line. I got to it an even mile before them and ducked through the trees before pouncing over the border and back again, stretching my legs to their fullest and unleashing my true speed. I kept behind the tree line, hiding between barren bushes and leafless shrubs - the only time I was rather pleased about my short stature. It wasn’t the greatest plan I'd ever had but I hoped they'd assume they'd chased me straight over that line. I'd stay to see whether they decided a search was necessary but there was no way to hide my scent without Ty to block it.

I ran a loping circle back towards the point we’d separated. The hill was in the opposite direction and I'd have to get back to the start before following the path that he took. I reached the tree that he'd hidden behind quickly enough and had time to rub my heated body against it, covering his from being detectable to any searching wolves. I tilted my head in the direction of the wind, listening for thuds hitting the hard soil. When nothing close by hit my ears I started my run again, slow and quiet over the twigs that littered the floor. Every so often I stopped to listen, checking my surroundings for wolves lurking in the shadows of old oak trees. I doubted they'd managed to follow but I'd continue to be careful - there’s a lot to be said for the over cautious.

I made decent time and saw him peeking out of the tiny cave at the base of the hill. A curved and hollowed space that was just large enough for two people to comfortably lay down in and long enough to be several feet away from the entrance. Covered in foliage come summer, the entrance was more visible now in its stripped bare state, but still shrouded enough by branches for a passing glance. It was a decent enough hiding spot, with Ty's ability we didn't really need to be worried - pack wolves relied too heavily on just their sense of smell.

"Have fun?"

His question wasn't really needed as he could probably tell from the smile on my face. "I did," I grinned back at him.

"Made some food on the old camp heater we left, grab some quickly before we take a look."

I nodded at him and squeezed past to see what he'd made, only to be disappointed.
Mini sausages and
beans
. I sighed at him as he looked at me innocently - he was just one giant kid. I took the pan anyway and grabbed one of the spoons, there was a small stream nearby that we'd use to wash, it was damn cold in winter but better than nothing and comfort was something easily forgotten in time.

Ty grinned at me as I ate, I had no doubt he was waiting for me to admit that it wasn't half bad - he'd be waiting a long ass time for that. I ignored him while he passed me a bottle of water and I dropped the empty pan for the bottle.

"I had a quick look while you were playing with those wolves, they still haven't noticed the break in the outside wall and we can get to the same position as usual."

I smiled, happy with their ineptness. We'd been here before, several times actually. Usually because the Alpha had refused us help yet again and we’d needed answers we were adamant he had. We were here not too long ago, five years or so that had gone so quickly it seemed only months. Sneaking and crawling our way through the mud to get to the pack house, to that window for his office that looked out on the woods to the rear of the building. We'd asked for help but he'd refused as usual, another body had been added to the pile and this one had been on so called pack land - land that he should have been interested in.

Stella had been an utter bitch, without remorse and without any morals. One more issue with that certain empath and I'd have killed the woman myself, but as it turned out, I hadn't needed to. Still, the wounds on her body had looked awfully familiar, so close to claw marks I'd seen way too often before. In light of the Alpha's indifference we'd hid out in this cave for weeks, each day staking out the window to his office, hiding in the mud from the forest. We'd caught the moment that warrior had entered. Tall and built in a mountain's image, gruff and weather beaten from several centuries seasons. A wolf older than I'd seen for a long time, one more dangerous than I'd seen since childhood. A rough and slightly demented wolf, red hair and light brogue that spoke of Highland origins.

That wolf had been a burning memory for a while now, one I couldn't shake, one I knew had answers for me. It was also one that the Alpha had quite obviously feared and as much as I believe in my own ability, it was one I knew I'd need help to get near.

Chapter 4

"C'mere, who are yer?"

Shit.

I grabbed Ty's arm and we both stilled at the gruff voice that had broken our silent creeping. We'd moved swiftly and noiselessly through the break in the wall, avoiding brittle sticks and rustling leaves with a patience learned from years of sneaking, an art-form of avoiding detection. It seems we'd been so utterly focused on moving forward that somehow, we'd missed the wolf creeping up behind us and now, my heart thrummed in a panicked rhythm that matched the small beads of sweat that beat a fast pace along the skin at my neck. I shut my eyes to calm the furious pounding, stupidity burning brightly behind the lids. Perhaps we’d become lax in our execution, there was no way they’d smelt us - Ty was an expert at blocking that scent. We had however been walking against the wind and I took the full hit for not ensuring our back was covered properly.

The night was dark and clouded, the moon's pearlescent shade peeking out from huge billows of white and grey. It was barely eight o'clock and yet it had already been dark for nearly three hours. We'd sat for a while in that cave, watching the sun pass overhead and sink into the darkening distance like a burning stone in oily waters. It was cold in the shadows we walked through, a stinging cold that at once chilled yet heated the blood to rush to the surface. We still felt those icy prickles with our burning temperatures, they just took a lot longer to freeze the core of us.

A low growl proceeded a louder shout. "'Ere, are yer feckin' deaf? Who are yer?"

Ty let out a snort and a cough, a poor attempt at keeping his laugh in - he just about gave me palpitations with his lack of self preservation. I slapped a hand across his mouth and turned towards the voice that had an unmistakable Irish accent.

He was without doubt a wolf. Tall and well built with a broadness across his shoulders that advertised the strength his arms would hold. His light, burnished brown hair and emerald eyes were a combination not seen often and that sparkling gaze was full of mischievous query. His rough face was half covered in a matching, copper glinted, brown beard that was shorn an inch from his skin and small creases at his eyes showed a wolf that had reached full maturity before finding his immortality.

I winced a little as Ty grabbed my arm and tugged me behind him. He let out a threatening growl as his buried animal rushed to the surface, a tensing of muscles that rippled and surged, fine hairs that appeared in waves across his hands. I touched my palm to his back and whispered low words for him to calm. Soothing the beast that demanded in angry, rumbling tones.

The man in front of us faced Ty, a tiny twitch of amusement to his lips but a solid stance remained as if constantly ready to shift. We'd ended up in some weird stand off and I could only attempt to change the inevitable messy outcome by calming both males. My own wolf was relatively quiet, she'd taken a look and made a huffing sound as she turned her back on the scene before her. She'd certainly enjoy getting her claws out and showing these men how to act properly but she had no time for posturing.

I pointed to both of us,"I'm Sash, this is Ty." I rushed out the remainder - I was surprised enough that he hadn't already tried to take a bite out of one of us. "We're not here to hurt anyone, we just need some help."

The wolf turned bright, green eyes on me and I shifted uncomfortably beneath them. He had a decent amount of power emanating from him, it pulsed like vibrations in the air and pulled and pushed at me as if he couldn't quite decide whether or not to show it off. And those eyes, well, they were just plain creepy when he focused so intently.

He flicked that gaze to Ty and a tiny smile curved up one half of his mouth. "Dat's a purty name, lad."

Ty roared, an affronted sound that I knew full well was his way of pushing the man's wolf to respond. He got nothing in return but another tiny smile and I marveled at the stranger's control of the animal within.

"Yer want tae growl at me again? Let wolfie out tae play, see what yer made of."

"More than you, Irish." Ty's face had turned brittle and hard, shadows darkening his cheekbones as the animal shifted and clawed inside. I pulled at his arm and turned him around to face me. He was nowhere near calm enough to be cautious with this wolf. Something stirred inside him, something substantial and tenacious that hid behind paper thin walls, cracking under the pressure of challenge.

I held his stare for several minutes, urging him silently to leash that beast. He took great pulls of air and I patted his arm gently as his eyes turned from vibrant to human. He had great control normally - something about this man was seriously setting him off. I turned my eyes back to the pack wolf and nodded to him, both to continue and as a warning to not needle my brother again. I'd take a few hits and forgive but he was perilously close to forcing an instinct I couldn’t contain.

"Name’s Conall." His gaze swept over Ty and I again before settling once more on me. "If I tought yer were here tae hurt folks, your head wouldn't still be attached." His rather manic grin made a queasy feeling start in my stomach. "So, what are wolves dat aren't pack wolves, doin' on pack land?"

His question seeded that uncomfortable burn until I remained frozen in position, wary of each and every small movement. Options started to fly around my brain, preferably ones that didn't involve killing him out right - I'd rather not leave bodies scattered behind me like a trail of poor choices. Too much death had sunk in already. Bloody hand prints and faceless ghosts, the scenes that sink into your mind and refuse expulsion like progressive rust on worn metal. That was very much me right now - worn and run down and tired of blood. Even the beast within, a normally vicious animal, was almost lackluster when hunting. "We need to speak to the new Alpha."

His smile was nothing but sly as it grew beneath the short but thick beard hiding his jaw. "Yer look awful sneaky wit' your creepin' around. Perhaps next time, yer could use the front door?"

I sighed again. I pretty much had nothing to say that would make this look any better so either I took his head or I went with some truth. The more I felt his wavering, pulsing power, the more I thought taking this strange wolf's head wouldn't turn out to be all that easy. "The last Alpha wasn't particularly accommodating."

He snorted inelegantly, "Dat piss poor wolf was no Alpha."

I grinned at him, the evening was starting to improve. "We thought we'd take a look at the new guy before wasting our time, see if he turns out the same way.

Conall chuckled broadly,"Oh, wouldn't worry 'bout dat, tink a couple of misfits be quite happy wit' the new one. You're a bit early though, won't be here fer a few days yet."

I groaned, I'd have to stay in that tiny cave with only Ty to annoy the crap out of me. Michael and Sarah’s house was like the worst kind of crime scene and I refused to spend a night staring at the ceiling with images of the people they’d been staring back at me. Our funds were rather low considering our general vagrant status and the job we’d left to come back to this town. I looked at Ty and shrugged, there was nothing for it but to leave and try and find somewhere dry for the night. Conall might not be chasing us out of the territory but I doubt he'd allow us to knowingly stay hidden on this land.

"Yer can stay in the pack house, if yer want."

I turned startled eyes to his - that was an offer I thought I'd never hear from any wolf's lips. "I don't think the pack would like that."

Conall grinned and his eyes became more warm than unsettling."Tink the pack doan't have much choice now do they? Unless of course, they want tae disagree wit' me."

He unleashed some of that control that wavered around him. The resulting ebb of power very nearly forced my head to bow and I caught that awful movement just in time. I screwed my eyes up at him, he was a lot more than he flaunted. I could understand the need to hide, I'd lived a life of camouflage, wrapping misted fog around the empath and pushing the animal to the forefront. Draping my own ebbing wave with illusions of weakness, a clouded shroud of muted silk to hide the shining gold within. The wolves here though, were already well aware of what I was and not a single one was happy about it. We lived on the outside barely taking a peek through the iron bars every now and then, the very bottom of this rusted ladder. If only they knew what they so easily cast aside.

Conall was new though, we'd grown up in this town and I don’t remember this green eyed wolf, perhaps he didn't know yet. "It would cause problems, they know we're different."

He raised a thick eyebrow, "What? 'Cos you're a feeder? They can't handle dat they need tae feckin' grow a pair." The emerald green lightened for a moment, sparkling and heavy with mirth; the man remembering something funny he wasn't planning on sharing.

I had a moment of speechless staring, a little bit of awe taking over brain. I'd heard the stories of the Emerald Isle, more magic in that land than all the continents put together. Perhaps it's not the first time he's met someone like me, in fact I'm sure there's probably a lot worse in existence over there. "So the Alpha, he'll be okay with it?"

Conall roared with laughter, a booming sound that seemed to echo all the way to that hill and back. His eyes flashed brightly and he shook his head at me. "Feck no! But it'll be highly amusin' fer me."