The Siege of Kadenburg (22 page)

Yeah…he kept her safe all right. He was so disappointed in himself for allowing any of this to happen. The signs had been there, yet he was blinder than Arnold Goult. The wolves in the woods the night before; the bleeding man the EMTs brought in to see him; and three people missing-his cousin included. Urseth, how could he be so dense?

I will find you, Louisa.
He promised as he continued trekking through the deep snow on the mountain side. Dimitri and Rutley darted off to trail another scent, he assumed, but he couldn’t follow after them. They needed to split up anyway to cover more ground.

He’d lost her scent some time ago, which meant she had to be close. A scent didn’t just disappear into thin air like that-and he could recall Lorcan saying that Breslin had masked their smells with ammonia. Perhaps that’s what he needed to be sniffing for.

Crouching down in the shin-high snow, Beau closed his eyes and concentrated. He cleared his mind of every thought and simply breathed.

A small giggle echoed in his mind; a memory that swirled around in the foggiest part of his brain. It was Louisa’s laughter. He tried to push the memory away. He couldn’t think about that right now. He needed to focus!

“Play with me, Bo!” Louisa squealed as she ran around him in circles. “Bo!”

“Stop it, Liu. I’m trying to study.” He replied in annoyance as he gripped the book in his hands.

“You are always so serious!” His little cousin pouted. “Take a break and come play with me! We can play hide and seek.”

Beau’s eyes snapped open as her youthful face came into view. She hadn’t been over seven at the time. She had always been so full of life; always wanting to have fun.

Had he failed her, too?

What the hell was I thinking?
He pondered in silence as he traced his fingers through the snow.
I asked her to take care of another when she could not even take care of herself. Some cousin I am.

This wasn’t an ideal time to feel self-pity. He could still fix it. Louisa was still alive and he could save her. He had taught her how to defend herself. He taught her how to wield a bow and arrow. He knew she wasn’t completely helpless, but he still feared for her safety.

She has to be alive,
he affirmed as the corners of his mouth anchored into a grave frown.
I would feel if she was not…..

It was then that he finally caught a whiff of chemicals in the air, and he was grateful his body was finally complying. The ammonia was faint, but it would grow stronger so long as he followed it. He pushed himself up once more, taking a step forward as the sound of snow crunched beneath his boot.

“I am coming, Louisa,” he whispered. “I will find you.”

——————————-

L
ouisa was completely silent as she stared at the lifeless body of Colin Grimes. Greg wasn’t kidding when he said he was going to kill him; it happened quickly and it was terrifying.

“What the hell is going on in here?!” Colin roared as he shoved the door open and stepped inside. “Shut your mouth, you stupid little bi-”

Louisa and Sammy scrambled away from him as his wild eyes stared at them with murderous intent. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as she gripped the other female’s wrist, releasing a cry of fright as a sickening ‘crack’ rang through the air.

Greg had returned the favor, if they wanted to look at it that way at least. Colin was motionless on the floor with his head lying at an odd angle. He was definitely dead.

Allowing her mind to return to the present, Louisa’s eyes lifted to gaze at Greg. His eyes were glowing and she could see the very tips of his sharp teeth sticking out from between his parted lips. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as he met her gaze, frowning.

“Are you okay?” He asked breathlessly, his eyes darting back and forth between Louisa and Sammy.

“What. The. Hell?” Sammy asked as her eyebrows knitted together. Her face was pale and if Louisa didn’t know any better, it looked like the woman was about to throw up. “What the fucking fuck just happened here?”

Louisa turned to face her then, biting at her lower lip as she lifted a trembling hand to touch her arm.

“There’s so much you don’t know about, Sammy,” she said in an apologetic tone. “Colin was a…he…”

“He was a werewolf,” Greg stated blatantly as he wiped his palm down the length of his face. “Now he’s just a dead one.”

“What?” Sammy stared at him in disbelief. “Are you yankin’ my chain right now?” Her lips quivered as she took a step towards Colin’s body, but then she stopped. “It can’t be true.”

“Do you need more proof?” Greg asked angrily as the left corner of his mouth twitched. “He was going to kill you-both of you. He was a killer. He had to be stopped.”

“I just need a second,” Sammy muttered as she turned away from them, raking her fingers through her hair. “I just need a minute to process this.”

“Greg,” Louisa whispered, running into his arms. “I was so frightened.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Greg murmured as he kissed the top of her hair. “He’s never going to bother any of us again.”

As relieved as she was to hear that, she was still worried. If Breslin Connor could so easily turn one of their own against them….if he could make his own hybrids at will….what did that mean for Kadenburg? What did it mean for Greg? She slowly pulled back to gaze at him, questions obvious in her gaze as she frowned.

“What is it?” Greg asked, cupping her face between his large, warm hands. “What’s wrong?”

“Greg.” She swallowed hard, contemplating how to ask her question.

“What?” He searched her eyes, mirroring the frown taking prominence on her lips.

“Did Breslin try to turn you against us too?”

She watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down quickly. His hesitance answered the question for her.

“Lou,” he pleaded, moving his hand to take hers. “I would
never
betray our kind like that,” he said quietly so Sammy wouldn’t hear. “He gave me a choice. Either join him or die….which one do you think I chose?”

Oh, she hated the thought of him dying. It was still hard to understand how he’d survived having his neck snapped, let alone thinking about what Breslin Connor had done to him in that abandoned hospital.

“Is that…what happened to you on the night I found you?” Her voice was barely above a whisper as she held his gaze, feeling as his thumb caressed her knuckles. “It wasn’t Rutley’s father, was it?”

Greg slowly shook his head. “No, it wasn’t the sheriff, Lou. Breslin had his men shoot me. I guess they thought that’s all it’d take. I don’t remember much after that, honestly. I can only remember waking up and making my way out of there after they were long gone. I found my way back home….and I found you.”

Her stomach twisted into knots as her breath became lodged in her throat. She remembered that night all too well. She could still see the images so vividly in her mind…..

“I would never betray our kind,” he whispered into her ear as he pulled her closer against himself. “Everyone keeps questioning my intentions now that I’m part wolf. Am I going to try to kill people? Will I turn on my family? Is something going to change inside of me that causes me to become another person?” He sighed. “Louisa, I promise you none of those questions terrify me as much as wondering where I stand with you.”

Her heart stopped altogether. What was he trying to say?

The sound of heavy footsteps distracted both of them, and Greg’s arms tightened around her protectively. Were there more wolves coming? Did Colin call for backup? Oh, Urseth…..

“I wish I had my gun right now,” Sammy said quietly as she stepped closer to them. “If whoever’s coming doesn’t kill us, you two have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.”

“They won’t kill us,” Greg promised as he turned towards the door. “Just stay behind me.”

Louisa held her breath, pressing a hand against Greg’s muscular back as she strained to see around him. She waited for the wolves to make their appearance.

“Could really go for having my damn gun right now,” Sammy repeated. “Nothing guarantees a death faster than a bullet between the eyes.”

“Only if you’ve got some silver bullets.” Greg mumbled quietly.

“Oh. Werewolves. Right.” Sammy sighed.

“Be quiet.” Greg instructed as the footsteps grew louder and louder.

This was it. Louisa knew that there was a chance she’d shift if the wolves attacked Greg. She wouldn’t let him get hurt again. Her heart couldn’t handle that. Her skin began to tingle and burn as her head threatened to swell. She would protect Greg if she had to. She would do anything to keep him safe….she would do anything to keep
him
.

A silhouette appeared in the doorway then, and Louisa readied herself for launch at the first sign of aggression. She wouldn’t let anybody hurt Greg. She would protect Sammy as her cousin had asked. She would kill if that’s what it took. She would…..

“Louisa? Is that you?”

Louisa maneuvered herself around Greg’s protective frame then, her heart soaring into her throat as the man in the doorway stepped into the room.

“Beau!” She cried, running into her cousin’s arms and nearly tackling him to the floor. “What are you doing here?!”

Beau stumbled backwards, locking his arms tightly around her as he buried his face against her hair.

“You silly girl,” he said through clenched teeth. She could feel him trembling as tears slid down her cheeks. “I was coming to save you…..but I can see that is not needed at all.”

“You’re here,” she sobbed, refusing to let him go. “You came to find me.”

“Of course I did,” Beau replied as he pulled back a little to examine her face. His eyes were watery as well. He smiled. “You’re my family. Why wouldn’t I come to find you?”

“Oh!” Louisa felt like her heart was going to burst as she hugged him again. “Beau, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m-”

“Safe,” he stared at her. “And that is all that matters, Louisa. You’re safe,” he glanced over her head, seemingly looking for someone else. “Are you all right, Samantha?”

Oh, Urseth. Louisa was so caught up in the moment that she forgot about Greg and Sammy. She untangled herself from her cousin’s arms, turning to face the others.

Sammy blinked once. Twice. She hugged her arms around herself and then shook her head slowly.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on here, but…..” Her voice drifted off. Louisa frowned as she took a step towards her.

“Sammy?”

The taller female winced, groaning as she lifted her hand to touch the side of her head.

“Samantha?” Beau was at her side in an instant, reaching his hand out to touch her shoulder before quickly retracting. “You’re burning up! Are you all right?”

“No,” Sammy replied through clenched teeth as she fell to her knees. “I am not fucking okay. What’s wrong with me?”

“What’s wrong with her?” Louisa echoed as she gripped Greg’s wrist. “What’s happening?”

Beau stared at them, dumbfounded. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out as he shook his head. For the first time in her entire life, Louisa realized that Beau didn’t have an answer.

That couldn’t be good.

“A
nything yet?” Sheriff Holter asked over his radio as he kept his fingers close to the pistol against his hip.

“The state police are en route to assist with the search, Sir, but they may be delayed by more snow moving into the area,” The dispatcher’s voice replied a few seconds later. “The electric company should have power restored to the town within a few minutes.”

“Okay. Thanks.” He sighed, releasing the talk button as his dark blue eyes scanned the darkness. They’d been searching for a missing woman for the better part of the day and they hadn’t had any luck thus far. It was nice to hear
some
good news, at least.

As determined as he was to find the missing woman, he got the feeling their search wouldn’t end on a happy note.

If the wolves got her, she’s already a goner,
he thought with a frown.
Just like Rutley.

No, he couldn’t think like that. Rutley was okay; he
had
to be okay. Just because he’d been hanging out with the likes of one didn’t mean he’d….he couldn’t even bring himself to think about it. Rutley was still alive, and human; he had to be.

“Sheriff, we’ve got some movement over here near the creek,” another deputy stated over the radio. “I don’t know what’s going on but they’re moving fast.”

“I’ll be there in a minute,” The sheriff muttered, releasing the talk button again before he grabbed his pistol and pulled it free from the holster. The darkness of the night wouldn’t prevent him from hunting down the ones he knew were responsible for the power outage. His deputies weren’t aware of his agenda, and he preferred to keep it that way. The less they knew, the less he had to worry about.

Sliding down the steep bankside that led to the small body of water, Sheriff Holter’s fingers flexed around the handle of his gun as he listened for movement; they were still here and by God, he was going to kill one of them.

“Sir, I think I’ve found something,” one of his deputies said excitedly over the radio. “You might want to…holy…what the…backup needed immediately! Hurry! Shit!”

Sheriff Holter quickly pressed his finger down against the talk button, brows furrowing as he listened to the fear in his deputy’s voice. “Rogers, what is it?” He asked anxiously. His pace quickened as his boots sank into the snow. At this time of night, and given that the sun hadn’t had the chance to touch this side of the mountain yet, the snow was deeper than in other parts of town. At one point, he was certain his knees disappeared beneath the layers of white but who could really say? He had to make it to his deputy—and fast.

The sound of a male’s scream echoing through the trees caused the blood in his veins to turn colder than the snow around him. That wasn’t a scream of terror, but one of pain. Goddamn werewolves!