Savage Sanctuary: A Dire Wolves Mission (The Devil's Dires Book 2) (4 page)

Without waiting for the dude to make the first move, Levi slashed his arm with a gruesome downward pull. One cut, and the blood started flowing. Two, and the gun dropped to the concrete. That left Levi’s target open for some hand-to-hand ass kicking, though the guy didn’t go down easy. He swung hard with his right, only missing because Levi was faster. A good thing, too. Those fists were big for a human.

Levi thrust and dodged, twisting to avoid the punches the guy threw. Big dude followed, off-balance but attempting to hold his own. Both men scrambling over broken footing and seeking the upper hand. Levi doing a better job of it all.

The fight wouldn’t have lasted as long as it did if Levi wouldn’t have had to keep the gun in his peripheral vision. He had no idea where Ashley had gone, and the last thing he needed was some pissed off pro shooting him in the back. He’d heal—of course—but that would be a bit hard to explain. So he kept slashing, kept cutting, kept landing shallow stabs to the other guy’s chest and arms. He wouldn’t kill the guy—not yet, at least—but he was definitely going to teach him a lesson.

It was on a particularly deep thrust—right into his enemy’s bicep—that Levi heard the sound of another person coming up behind him.

“I thought I told you to watch yourself.”

The man from the counter grabbed big, dumb, and ugly and twisted his arm behind his back. Levi took the opportunity to slam the man in the nose with the butt end of his knife, sending him to his knees. A second hit, and the man sagged toward the concrete. Unconscious at last.

“Jackpot,” Levi said, growling hard under the word. His shifter friend tossed the guy into the space between two cars, then dropped down to grab the gun. Levi had a moment of pause, a single second where he gripped his knife a little tighter and prepared himself for a second fight, but the guy didn’t aim it. In fact, he unloaded the bullets and pocketed them before tucking the gun in his waistband. Smart man.

“Well, that was fun,” the guy said, not even breathing hard. “Where’d you learn to fight with a knife like that?”

Levi wiped his SOG on his pants and slid it back into the holster before giving him the simplest and most truthful answer. “War.”

That definitely got the guy’s attention. “Pack or military?”

“Military. What about you?”

“Pack wars.” The guy shrugged, as if that wasn’t a big deal. Levi had seen a lot of pack wars over the years, had even been sent in to stop a few. They were brutal, deadly, and downright horrific. If this guy had survived a pack war, he was a fellow brother-in-arms. Period.

Levi held out his arm. “Name’s Levi. And I’m glad as fuck that I ran into you tonight.”

The guy glanced at his offered arm, then nodded once. He grabbed hold near the elbow, and Levi did the same back, the two holding on for a moment of mutual respect and traditional shifter greeting.

“I’m Zeke. It’s nice to meet you, Levi.”

The two held arms for a solid few seconds, and then the moment was over. Levi surveyed the parking lot for any sign of their fight that could lead someone back to him. Ashley was gone, not surprisingly, and the big dude was still facedown on the concrete. Otherwise, there was no sign of a struggle. His work here was done.

“So, the diner, eh?” Levi headed for his truck, Zeke following along beside him.

“Yeah. Definitely,” Zeke said with a nod. “Hope Springs has got great food and good company. It can’t be beat.”

“Hope springs eternal in Hope Ridge, apparently. Might have to try it tomorrow.” Levi stopped at his truck, ready to go but growing more curious about this particular nomad. “So, you hoping to join the local pack or something?”

Zeke’s low growl said just as much as his words. “I’m not a pack dog.”

Levi wasn’t surprised by the answer—most nomads saw themselves as completely free and weren’t willing to go back under someone else’s rule—but the fact that Zeke had apparently been in this place long enough to know as much as he did when there was a local pack nearby didn’t make sense. A single nomad wouldn’t—couldn’t—take on a pack. Those odds would never work.

Levi unlocked the truck but didn’t get in, leaning on the door instead. “So you’re not interested in joining up, but you’ve been in town long enough to know a few things about the place. Why’re you hanging around?”

Zeke shrugged and looked away. “I think my mate’s out this way.”

Well damn, that wasn’t an answer he’d expected. “Ah, then you stay.”

“Exactly.” Zeke turned back, his eyes filled with a determination Levi rarely saw. “I stay…for her.”

That level of desire, of commitment, was something Levi was almost jealous of. He’d never really thought about mates or being mated. His Dire Wolf brothers had all lived as single wolves for the millennia they’d been alive, none of them finding his fated soulmate. Until Dire Bez went on a mission to save a kidnapped Omega shewolf, and the whole world went sideways with a single connection.

Since Bez had brought his fated mate Sariel home with him, Levi had begun wondering what that connection would be like. Not really craving it, but sort of…curious about it. Maybe more than curious. But it had taken a thousand years for one Dire Wolf to find his fated mate. Levi doubted he had any shot of lightning hitting twice. Besides, a mate meant staying put. He definitely wasn’t ready to put down any sort of roots.

“Well, good luck, man.” Levi pushed off the truck and opened the door, an uncomfortable feeling close to sadness settling into his gut. “I really hope you find her.”

Zeke cocked his head, looking Levi over with an odd sort of expression on his face. As if he sensed something different about him. Levi was used to that because there
was
something different. Not that Zeke had any way of knowing he was staring at a legend of the breed.

Finally, Zeke offered Levi a head nod. “Yeah, thanks. It’s been a long time coming.

“I bet.” Levi hopped into the truck. “Maybe I’ll see you around while I’m in town.”

“So long as you’re not picking fights in parking lots again.” Zeke chuckled and backed away from the truck. “And try the diner before you go. I’m telling you, it’s amazing.”

“Sure thing.”

And then Zeke was gone, disappearing into the darkness behind the bar. Probably running off to chase down dreams in his wolf form. Something Levi suddenly itched to do as well.

Instead, he started the truck and threw it into gear. No way, no how. He wouldn’t hope for something that would never happen, even if he was in
Hope Ridge
. The sort of disappointment that came from hanging on to and finally losing hope could be soul crushing.

Not on Levi’s agenda.

With little more than an inkling and a sense of direction, he pulled out of the spot, turning away from town, even though the pull to go back was strong. Fuck this hope place. He’d head for brighter lights and bigger cities for the night. He could drive back tomorrow for his meeting with the Alpha. No diner was worth falling into the trap of craving what you’d never get to have.

“
D
on’t let
them get to you. Don’t give in.” Amy repeated the mantra to herself as she drove up the private road that led to her family’s land. One hand gripped the wheel of her Jeep as she whipped through the narrow stretch of path through the trees. Most people wouldn’t even think of driving down this rutted, dangerous terrain, but Amy did it often enough to know every twist and hole. Too often, in her opinion.

She practically flew over the dirt tracks through the woods, riding out every bump, wanting to get this meeting over with. Why her family needed to call her out for help every few days was beyond her. She had a business to run in town, had a life away from the pack that she enjoyed. She also had twelve strapping older brothers who could handle just about anything. And while they tended to claim they
had
to have her at the pack property because she was
the only one
who could do whatever it was they wanted her to do, she knew they were bluffing. They wanted her to move back in with their parents so they could keep her under their thumbs.

Stupid, arrogant, needy Neanderthals.

When Amy hit the snow-covered field that bordered the pack lands, she couldn’t hold back her smile. The mountains were so beautiful up here, even in the grip of a harsh, cold winter. The views were something she missed now that she lived in town. But while the scenery was breathtaking, the pack itself could be suffocating to Amy. Being the youngest child of the pack Alpha and the only daughter of thirteen didn’t exactly lend itself to her being seen as an adult. Like, ever.

“Armaita.” The voices of the children of the pack reached her just as she parked alongside the pack truck. She grinned as she got out of her Jeep, her boots crunching through the half-frozen snow layer. She didn’t even mind them using her full name instead of the more socially acceptable nickname she’d given herself. They were too cute to reprimand for something so silly.

“What are you kids doing out here? It’s freezing.”

The oldest boy of the group, a dark-haired tween belonging to her cousin, scoffed. “It’s not that cold. Besides, the snow is frozen. We’re playing don’t break the ice.”

Ah, the balancing act she’d played against her brothers for years. Played and usually won due in part to her smaller stature. She really loved seeing the disappointment on their faces when the snow cracked under their feet. It was like payback for them being so big and athletic all the time.

“Well, don’t go too far, just in case. And come inside if you get cold.”

“We will.” The kids raced off across the snowy field, laughing and howling at one another. Amy watched them go, a twinge hitting her heart. They were getting big. Even with as often as she was asked to drive out to the pack, she didn’t get to see them enough.

But then Abel—her oldest brother and assumed leader of the make-Armaita-come-home party—stepped outside the pack hall building, and that nostalgic, lonely feeling disappeared faster than snow on a warm day.

“About time you got here,” he said, crossing his arms and staring down at her with something like ha-ha-told-you-so in his eyes.

Okay, maybe more like snow in hell. “I had a couple of lingerers at the restaurant, plus the road’s a mess. I actually had to slow down at one point.”

“Chicken.” Abel turned and walked inside without another word, something that made Amy grit her teeth. She loved her brothers—all twelve of them—but there were times when they drove her crazy. A lot of time. Like…ninety percent of every day. It was no wonder none of the twelve had ever found a mate. What sort of fate would tie any woman to a man who couldn’t—or wouldn’t—see past their lack of a Y chromosome to acknowledge their worth?

Don’t let them get to you. Don’t give in.
Amy followed Abel inside, her inner voice whispering her mantra through her mind. She had a tendency to lose herself under the unrelenting power and attitude of her many brothers, especially when her Alpha father got involved. But there was someone even more troubling at these pack meetings, something far worse than her brothers when it came to judgment. Or someone, really.

“The prodigal daughter returns.”

Amy ignored the pack Beta, a cousin by the name of Roman, of all things. Unfortunately, the Beta wasn’t one to be ignored.

“I suggest you greet me, Armaita. Don’t make me tell your father all the indiscretions happening in that restaurant of yours.”

Amy closed her eyes and took a deep breath before pasting on her best smile. “I prefer Amy, and it’s good to see you, Beta Roman. How’s the search for a mate going?”

Roman’s phony smile turned vicious, his eyes darkening. “You know damn well that’s been put on hold by your father.”

“Huh.” She tapped her finger against her lips and frowned. “I thought it was your Alpha who put that on hold.”

“Same thing.”

Abel brushed past Amy, addressing their cousin in her place. “Calling him
your father
instead of
our Alpha
is not the same in terms of respect, Roman.”

Roman scowled but gave a nod of his head to show his acquiescence. “You’re correct. My apologies to Alpha Bell.”

Amy bumped Abel in the shoulder as their cousin stormed off. “I could have handled it.”

Abel shrugged, directing her toward their family. “Could have, but why? I’ve got your back.”

“I don’t need anyone to have my back. My back is just fine, thank you.”

“Did you hurt your back?” Their mother stood, hurrying over to poke and prod her only daughter. “All that standing. You should really get off your feet more.”

“I’m fine, Mom.” Amy glared at her brother, who chuckled and waved as he disappeared across the room once more. A crowd had gathered in the community house, what looked like their entire pack filling the normally empty space. “What’s going on? Why did Dad call for everyone?”

Before her mother could answer, her father stepped onto the dais along the back wall. Tall and strong, he stood ramrod straight, his wild, light hair curling all over the place. Looking so much like a young Robert Redford, he still had women swoon when he walked by. Not that he ever noticed them. He was devoted to her mother, a truly good man who’d led their pack for decades. They may not have been huge or powerful in the world of shifters, but they were a tight-knit group. And they had everything they needed in their little mountain village. Except Amy—she’d always wanted more than her pack could offer her, so she’d moved to the small town a few miles away and opened a business. Bought a house. Started a life outside of her pack.

Much to her family’s dismay.

“As most of you know”—her dad’s eyes darted to Amy for a fleeting moment before returning to peruse the crowd—“Abel and Roman came across a human scent trail last week. After much investigation, we’ve determined the scent is not any of the known humans on the mountain. It is a repetitive trail left behind over multiple days, and it is surrounding us.”

The crowd grew completely silent, the pressure in the room soaring.

“In order to protect the pack”—again, his eyes flitted to Amy—“we have chosen to call in assistance from NALB president Blasius Zenne.”

This time, the room exploded in noise. Never before had they needed to call for protection from the leader of the wolf shifters. The National Association of the Lycan Brotherhood was no simple group, nor were their guards figureheads. They were soldiers, warriors, and they destroyed any enemies who got in their way. Or at least, that’s what Amy had always been told. If her father had called on them to help, the danger must be grave.

“What does this mean?” someone in the crowd yelled over the chaotic discussions happening. Her father raised his hands, waiting for everyone to quiet down before he spoke.

“This means we continue as we always do—but with more vigilance. We will have a small patrol guarding the borders until the threat has been contained. Children should remain with an adult at all times, no exceptions.” His eyes met Amy’s for a third time, though he held her gaze. A sure sign she wasn’t going to like what was coming. “And our Omega needs to come home where we can keep an eye on her.”

Amy’s stomach dropped and her face burned as her entire pack turned her way. This was bullshit. There was no way some human could be a serious threat to them, plus she had a business to run. A business almost an hour away from her pack by the long and winding mountain roads. This threat had nothing to do with her.

She waited for the group to disperse before cutting through the stragglers toward her father. He spotted her long before she made it to him, though he didn’t acknowledge her. He was too busy talking closely to Roman, too interested in what his Beta had to say to approach his only daughter.

Too bad she wasn’t in the mood to be ignored.

“I’m not coming back.” She crossed her arms over her chest when she reached him. “This threat isn’t on my doorstep, it’s on yours. I’m staying in town.”

Roman growled. “Your father has laid down a law—”

Amy snarled a warning. “This is between my Alpha and me, Roman. I’d appreciate it if you minded your own business.”

But Roman tended to think with his…well, nothing. He didn’t think. Instead, he stepped closer, his hands curling into fists. Threatening her. A quick snap from her father set him right back on his heels, though. Such an idiot.

“That’ll do, Roman.” Her dad held her gaze as he motioned for his Beta to leave them alone. Amy returned the stare, Roman forgotten, not afraid of the big, bad wolf before her. Not even when he leaned in and growled in her ear. “You want to challenge me in front of my pack?”

“No, I want to live my life without your interference.”

Her dad sighed. “Child, I’m not interfering.”

“And I’m not a child.”

“Prove it.” Abel joined their father, the two men trying their damnedest to get her to break. “Be a mature, responsible woman and retreat to safety until the danger passes.”

“And, what? Give up my business? There’s no one to run it if I’m not there.”

Abel scoffed. “Your business is a pipe dream. You think you’re going to be able to keep it up once your mate finds you? Once you’ve got a pup or two to take care of?”

Amy’s back grew straighter, her face hotter. Her words more fierce. “Any mate of mine will accept my independence as well as my need to stay connected to the community. If not, he can truck his happy ass right back to where he came from.”

“Children, please.” Her father sighed and rubbed a hand over his scruffy beard. “Armaita, I would prefer if you’d come back to the pack for the time being. I don’t have the resources to stretch our guards all the way to your house.”

“I’m not asking for guards.” She put up her hand as both men growled. “The scent trail is around the pack, which means I’m safer in town than here. If I smell or see a single thing that worries me, I’ll come back.”

“Not good—” Abel started, but a hand on his chest from his father cut him off.

“We can’t protect you there, my sweet. Even if we ran as wolves, it would take us a good half hour to get to you if you needed us.”

“I know, but there’s the sheriff in town if I need something faster.”

Abel snorted. “A human sheriff.”

If her father wouldn’t have reprimanded her for it, she would have rolled her eyes. “Yes, a human sheriff to take on a human problem. What’s so wrong with that?”

Abel shook his head and deferred to their father. “She’s your kid.”

“Yes. She is.” Her father gave her a sad smile and ran a finger along her cheek. “She is my child, my youngest, and the most like me of the thirteen of you.” He leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “And perhaps my favorite.”

Amy grinned. She always had been daddy’s little girl, but she’d grown up. She needed her space so she wasn’t
only
his baby. “I promise to check in every day and to be vigilant. But I really don’t want to leave my business behind to hide out. I can’t.”

Her father sighed but nodded once. “Fine. But if you don’t call, I’m coming down there myself to carry you back home.”

“Fine.” Amy hopped up and kissed his cheek. “And if I don’t hear from
you
, I’m coming up here. Guns blazing.”

“Now that’s a sight I’d pay to see.” He patted her head and headed for her mother, leaving his daughter behind. Sadly, with her irritated brother still by her side.

“This is stupid.”

Amy snorted. “I know you are, but what am I?”

Abel wrapped an arm around her shoulders, putting her in a modified headlock. “One of these days, you’ll be back on the mountain with us.”

Amy escaped his hold and straightened her hair. “Doubtful.”

After she’d said goodbye to her friends and family one last time, Abel walked her to her Jeep. “You good to make it down the hill?”

“Yeah, of course.” Amy pulled opened the door, but Abel placed his hand against it. Keeping her from being able to climb inside.

“You know this is a bad move.”

Amy saw through that tough-guy attitude, though. Always had. He was worried about her, which she understood. But she couldn’t let
his
worry rule
her
life.

“You know I need this,” she said, keeping her chin up. “I need my independence from the pack or else I’ll go crazy.”

Abel stared at her for a long moment before pulling the door open the rest of the way. “I know, which is why I’m letting you go instead of tying you up and tossing you in a closet somewhere. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“I know.” Amy couldn’t resist his sweeter side—even when it was tinged with the threat of kidnapping. She pounced on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tight. “I’ll see you soon.”

His hand landed on her back, and he sighed a sound of defeat. “You’d better.”