Finding Our Way (Werewolf Wars) (28 page)

Daniel agreed. He lifted his shirt and tore it off his head, depositing it on the ground.

Nora fired another shot. The bullet zinged off a tree, missing its target.

Daniel turned to his sister. “Emily, get the vests for us to put on.”

Emily scurried off to their car. “I’ll be right here,” he assured Nora.

“Be careful, Daniel. I love you,” she whispered, her amber eyes meeting his for a fraction of a second before she turned back to the attacking wolves.

“I love you too,” he said as he unbuttoned his pants and slipped them down. Once down to his boxers, he lunged, triggering his change.

He landed on four paws and took a moment to scan the area. As he followed their enemies’ movements, he stretched, preparing for the fight. His muscles were still a little tight in his abdomen, but he felt good. Howling loudly, he sprinted towards Emily. His sister slipped the vest around him and tightened it down. He went to step back, but Emily stopped him, her warm arms snaking around him and pulling him close.

“Be safe. I don’t want to lose another brother,” she whispered, sniffling.

Daniel nuzzled his face against hers and a single tear rolled down her cheek. He backed up and ducked his head down before darting away. Marcus was still on his hands and knees midway through his shift. Marcus’ hands and feet shook as the bones snapped and slowly elongated. He felt for his brother-in-law. Marcus had almost lost his life. The only thing that had kept him alive was forcing a transition. Unfortunately, the action had permanently altered his body.

Daniel peered over at the two alpha females. Natalia and Amelia had just finished their shift, they shook out their coats, and then quickly sprinted off into the woods. Daniel trotted over to his end of the brush, his eyes scanning the terrain. He caught a glimpse of grey a few hundred feet away. Marcus wasn’t ready yet, but Daniel wasn’t going to let the wolf get close to Nora, Emily, or Lark.

He darted into the woods, sending a flock of birds scurrying into the air. The ground was dry and he kicked up dirt and dead leaves as he flew through the landscape. His eyes narrowed, taking in everything around him. A twig cracked to his left and he sprang toward the noise.

Two wolves sprang forward and he jumped to the side just in time. He spun and bared his canines. As they came at him again, he reared up on his back legs and caught one about the waist. He gnashed his teeth, trying to get a good grip on his enemy. The second wolf bent down, enclosing its mouth around his hind leg. Something whistled past his ear and the wolf in front of him stumbled and then fell to the ground.

Daniel looked back, catching the wolf behind him off guard. His attacker released his leg and Daniel sprung on him, tackling him to the ground. He jammed his claws into the wolf, and then bit down into its throat, shaking his head. The wolf gurgled and stilled. Daniel backed off and circled around making sure no other wolves, or humans were there.

***

N
ora hurried back over to Lark. She pressed the butt of the rifle into her shoulder and took aim. Between her and the wolves, they had quickly dealt with the intruders. Now, it was time to help take out the men at the main camp.

As she scanned the area, she noted there were more wolves in neon vests than there were without. That was a good sign.
We are winning!

“Lark, Nora,” Emily gasped, her finger jutted out, pointing to a section of the hotel. “Look! It’s Juarez and Malakai.”

Nora followed Emily’s gaze with the scope of her rifle. There was a group of seven men together. They were tucked under the awning and barely visible. She wrapped her finger around the trigger but hesitated. They would only get one chance to take him out. She didn’t want to miss and ruin their chances. Not to mention, she wasn’t entirely sure which one was the almighty Juarez.

“I got him,” Lark said, gripping her gun tightly. She squeezed one eye shut and looked through the scope with the other. The blonde let out a long breath and then bit her lip. Nora’s gaze travelled between Lark and the men. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest and she held her breath.

The gun popped and Nora pulled her gun back up to her eye, using the scope as binoculars. One of the men—an older one—clasped his chest. His dark eyes widened as he stumbled forward into one of his men. Lark fired again and another man fell to the ground.

“You hit him,” Emily breathed.

***

M
alakai watched in horror as his papa fell forward. He reached out, catching the older man as he slumped down. “Papa, Papa,” he cried out. Another man lurched and collapsed onto the ground. “Fall back,” he ordered; clutching his grandpa to him, he pulled him out of danger and behind the building.

Blood seeped out of Fernando’s white shirt and some dribbled from his mouth. His breaths came in shallow hoarse puffs. “Malakai,” he whispered.

“I’m here, Papa. It’s going to be okay,” he assured.

“The pack is yours, Son, take care of it,” he said, struggling to get the words out.

Fernando coughed, inhaling a deep breath before his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

“Papa,” Malakai yelled. His gaze darted to his chest. It remained motionless. “No, Papa.” He shook the older man.

“Sir,” one of his father’s advisors said. “We are overrun. What are your orders?” the man asked.

Malakai looked down at his grandfather. He sucked in a deep breath as red clouded his vision, he wanted revenge—to make the Harris’ pay. First, they took his father now his papa. He closed his eyes. Now wasn’t the time. He needed to fallback—regroup.

“Have the men fallback. We’ll gather more forces and then come back and kill every last one of them,” he vowed. Malakai lifted his hand, and gently grazed it over Fernando’s eyes, closing the vacant orbs. This wasn’t over—not even close.

***

N
ora lowered her gun as the last of Juarez’s wolves fled. She turned to Lark who still had her gun at the ready. The blonde let out a long sigh before disarming.

“I should have hit Malakai too,” she said quietly.

“You took out Juarez and they’re running. I say it was a win for us,” Nora reminded her.

“I understand. I just want this to be over. We’ve lost so much already and I can’t believe Malakai is going to just let this go. He’ll be back,” she replied. She took a step back and then turned and walked to the car.

“Things will be better now,” Emily spoke up, trailing behind Lark. “The other alphas will fight for control of the pack. The Gulf pack will be in disarray just as Talia said when she went after Juarez last month.”

Nora took one last look out at the devastated hotel before following after them.

“Yeah, but that still doesn’t change how they operate—what they are doing to women,” Lark said quietly.

“Things will work themselves out,” Emily said. “Right now, we should focus on you and Devon’s mating ceremony, and having a burial ceremony for Vincent and Sarah, and everyone else that we’ve lost,” her voice broke and she cleared her throat. “Then we can worry about everything else.”

Lark disassembled her rifle and laid it in the bag. “I love Devon, and I know Sarah would want me to do the ceremony, but it just doesn’t feel right without her here.” She stood up and leaned her back against the Jeep. The blonde turned her gaze to Nora. “You and Daniel are getting close.”

“Yeah. I love him,” Nora said unable to keep the heat from creeping over her cheeks.

Emily grinned and bounced up on her feet. “I am so glad to hear that. Daniel deserves happiness. He’s always been so broody.”

“I’m glad you’ll be staying. I think you make a great addition to this pack,” Lark said, smiling up at Nora.

“Thanks.” Nora hesitated a moment and tucked a loose strand behind her ear. She chanced a glance at Emily but didn’t think the girl would be offended. “Do you ever get used to it? Them being werewolves? The war?”

Lark shrugged. “I was a teen when I found out about Gene’s family. We grew up together, and my parents and Gene’s parents were best friends. It was a little hard to swallow at first, but Rick, Beatrice, Gene, and Preston were still the same people I knew and loved. This war, though, it takes a toll on you. I want to go back to living a normal life, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, not yet. But until then I have Devon and his family and Gene is my brother, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them. So, I guess you don’t really get used to it, but there isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be. This is my home, my family.”

Nora nodded. She could see where Lark was coming from. It made sense. April might not be her sister by blood, but they were sisters in every way that mattered. Everything was crazy and dangerous, but at the end of the day, she loved Daniel and April. That was all that mattered. They were her home and family and she didn’t want to be anywhere else.

“I know it’s rough,” Lark added. “I’m here if you want to talk.”

“We all are,” Emily added. Her eyes drifted to the trees and she narrowed her eyes, cocking her head to the side.

Nora struggled to hear what the wolf did. Crickets chirped and the leaves rustled in the light breeze, but that was it.

Emily sighed as a smile slipped over her features. “They are back,” she said cheerfully as she zipped off into the trees.

“The one thing I don’t like,” Lark said, shoving her hands into her sweater pockets. “Is that they have superior hearing and vision. They sometimes forget that too.”

Nora giggled with Lark.

Several moments later, Emily and Marcus emerged from the woods fully clothed, their hands clasped together. Amelia and Natalia exited next followed by Daniel. The moonlight accented his movements. He moved fluidly, his muscles flexing deliciously with each step. Their eyes met and Nora quickly closed the gap between them. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she breathed, enveloping him in a hug.

Daniel pulled back and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “I’ll always come back for you, Nora. No matter what.”

Daniel leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. Nora melted into his embrace as their mouths moved together in perfect sync. This was exactly where she wanted to be.

***

D
aniel closed his eyes and bowed his head as Gene began reading off the names of everyone that had perished in the attack tonight and in New Mexico. The packs had decided that tonight, regardless of the late hour, they would honor their dead, and tomorrow, they would move forward and celebrate Lark and Devon’s mating.

Nora’s hand squeezed his tightly as Gene read off Vincent’s name. Daniel inhaled sharply and closed his eyes. It still didn’t seem real. His carefree, jokester of a brother was gone. Regret filled him, causing his heart to clench painfully in his chest. If he could go back, he would change so many things.

His eyes drifted to Devon. The alpha’s arm was draped protectively around Lark. The blonde buried her face into Devon’s shoulder, her quiet sobs visible by the rise and fall of her back. To think Vincent hadn’t thought he was fit for protecting Sarah, and yet, he’d given his life to try to save hers. Vincent had more courage and strength than he had realized—than their father had realized. It was a shame that Vincent himself had never seen it.

Gene cleared his throat as he read the last name off the list. “We have lost many wonderful people. Our friends, brothers, sisters, our family, we honor their sacrifice by continuing to fight for our cause. As long as we live honorably and stand for what is right and just, then their deaths are not in vain. May peace be with them always.”

Gene reached out, grabbed a handful of dirt, and dropped it into one of the open graves.

Daniel took Nora’s hand and led her to the shallow, empty grave that had been dug out for Vincent. He stared into the earth as tears of anger pricked his eyes. They didn’t even have a body to bury. God only knew what the Luna’s had done to Sarah and Vincent’s remains. The Luna’s had even gone so far as to showcase their disrespect by texting photos of their captives mutilated bodies. He could only hope that wherever they were, they were at peace.

A sob tore through the air and Daniel looked up to see his mother. Tears streamed down her face as she dropped to her knees and ran her fingers through the dirt mound. Emily crouched down next to her, trying to soothe her through her own tears.

“No parent should ever outlive their children,” Claire whispered, bowing her head down. Violent sobs racked through her body as she rocked back and forth.

Daniel was about to go to her when Emily and Marcus stooped down and helped her up. Emily whispered something and Claire nodded, allowing the couple to escort her back to the house. Devon looked after their mother as she left, but stayed by Lark’s side at Sarah’s gravesite.

“Did you want to say something?” Nora asked quietly. “Or do you need a minute alone?”

Daniel shook his head and gripped her hand tighter. “Stay.” He didn’t know what to say—or do, he just hoped that wherever his brother was he could see how much he really did care.

Nora rested her head on his shoulder. “Of course.”

N
ora smiled as she watched the ceremony. Lark and Devon spoke in Latin, or so she’d been told that was the language. It didn’t matter that she had no idea what they were saying, she could see the love they had for each other. Their smiles were bright and Lark’s eyes shone with unshed tears.

Lark’s white, one-shoulder gown had intricate beadwork throughout the dress. Her hair was down and fell in soft ringlets around her face. She looked beautiful.

Her eyebrow rose up in interest as Gene gently pricked both of their hands and then entwined them over a bowl.

“What are they doing?” Nora asked curiously. She’d never seen anything like that before. Of course, she’d never been to a werewolf wedding before either.

“It’s a blood bond. By holding the hands that are cut together, their blood mixes into each other’s bodies. It leaves a residual scent on each other, marking them as each other’s mate,” Daniel explained in a hushed voice.

“Scent?”

Daniel nodded. “Everyone has a personal scent. For us, it’s much more noticeable. By sharing the blood they are marking each other with that scent and it lingers on the other in their blood stream.”