Chapter 6

Amara sat up back in the Council building, and inhaled the fumes from the potion. She was shaking hard. With a trembling hand, she wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at Nova. He was slowly coming to. When he opened his eyes, his gaze immediately sought hers.

After the fear and adrenaline that had been coursing through her veins in the vision, seeing Nova was like sinking into a hot, calming bath. Which they should probably do, come to think of it.

“Congratulations,” Nemoy told them from where he sat next to the shaman. “Nova, you and Amara have passed the first Trial.”

Amara’s eyes widened. “Wait a minute, that’s it? Just a little vision quest and we’re done?”

Nemoy’s face warmed in a way that reminded her of someone who was hiding a secret. “There is more to it, yes. You will need to return two additional nights at sunset to continue and complete the Trials. For tonight, however, yes that’s it. We will see you in two days.”

***

They didn’t talk on their way back to Amara’s house that night. Neither of them wanted to stay in Nova’s cottage. If he was anywhere near Kal, even though he was locked up, he would probably kill him. And Amara was seriously shaken, Nova thought. The only thing he wanted to do right then was get her as far away from the Compound as possible.

He understood the need for that Trial. Really, he did. Being part of the Pack was dangerous. Sometimes things happened, and as Beta of the Pack, Nova would need a clear head to do what needed to be done. He would need to be able to set aside any feelings he had for whoever it was and think logically about the best way to get them out. And Amara was human, which put her in even more danger. He needed to stay level headed to make sure he could protect her.

Pulling the truck into her driveway, he cut the engine and wrenched up on the emergency break. He reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Hey. You okay?”

Closing her eyes, Amara shook her head.

“No,” he agreed. “I didn’t think you would be. Come here.” Unbuckling her seatbelt, Amara scooted closer to him, letting his arms come around her, and she leaned back against his chest. He breathed deeply for a moment or two, letting their heartbeats align. “That’s never going to happen,” he assured her. “Kal is locked up. He’s under twenty-four-hour guard. We aren’t going to let him get away.”

“You don’t know that.” Amara fidgeted with her hands. “And last time he was out and running around, he kidnapped my sister and almost killed you. You know, along with like half my town.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Nova chuckled. “Don’t worry, love. He isn’t going anywhere. And I promise you, I am not going to let him hurt you—or your town—in any way, shape, or form. Nemoy is negotiating peace with the Valley Clan as we speak. You are completely safe.”

Still, she didn’t look convinced. “It just doesn’t feel right trying to start a life together, start a family together, when danger follows us everywhere.” Amara sighed. “Nova, I haven’t really felt safe since I was twelve years old. When my dad was killed by wolves…and then Sadie with Kal last month. I just, I can’t lose you, too. I’m not sure I would survive it.”

Nova pressed a kiss into her hair, holding her tighter. If he could, he would take all her worries away. “You won’t lose me.”

“You don’t know that.”

This time, it was Nova who sighed. She was right, and he knew it, but her answer didn’t have to be the only answer. “Look, love, there are always going to be dangers. Always. That’s part of being a wolf. But that doesn’t mean that danger is all there is. We’re getting married. We’re starting a life together. I want to build a home with you. I want to start a family with you. Are you really telling me that you’re willing to give up a family, a future, because of fear? Because that isn’t the Amara Townsend I know. That isn’t the woman I love.”

For a moment or two, she was silent. “I’m scared,” she admitted. Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Lifting her hand to his lips, he pressed a kiss to the tip of each finger. “I know,” he told her. “And honestly, I would think you were crazy if you weren’t. But we can get through this, Amara. We’re stronger together. We’ve proven that repeatedly, haven’t we? No matter what the Valley Clan tries, no matter what the Trials put us through, they won’t break us.” He placed a gentle kiss on the center of her palm, then gave her hand a squeeze. “I promise.” Though he could tell she didn’t quite agree with him, Amara nodded. “It’s just you and me, baby,” he told her with a wink of his eye. “Just you and me.”

Getting out of the truck, Nova went around to the passenger side and opened her door for her. There were clouds in her eyes, and he promised himself that before the night was over, he would make those clouds disappear. In fact, he was looking forward to it. He always was one who was up for a challenge. Offering his arm, he helped her climb down and held her hand as he walked her to the door.

“I’m sorry,” Amara told him, and he could hear the nerves coating her voice. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Kal is…well, I know he’s locked up. I do. And I know he’s being watched around the clock.”

“Both Nate and Ian insisted on being in the rotation.”

Amara smiled. “Good. That’s good. And I know that should comfort me. In a way, I guess it does. But still, I can’t help but feel anxious. You weren’t there, Nova. You didn’t see the look in his eyes when he cut me. He didn’t just want to kill me, Nova. He wanted to torture me first. He wanted to make me suffer.” Frowning, she rubbed her fingers over the mound of scar tissue at her collar bone—a remnant of the first time Kal Vann had sunk his teeth into her. Literally. Amara’s voice shook when she spoke, and her eyes were haunted. “I can still feel the steel of the blade biting into my skin.”

Nova resisted the urge to let go of her hand. Fury ripped through him, stirring his inner wolf, and his hatred for Kal burned like an inferno in his soul. He and Kal had never gotten along. Even as kids, they had been enemies, though Nova had never truly understood why. He had always assumed Kal’s dislike for him and his brother, Nemoy, had stemmed from jealousy or some other useless emotion. Nova and Nemoy were the sons of the Mountain Clan’s Alpha, destined to inherit the throne and become the next Alpha and Beta of the Pack—if they could prove themselves worthy. They were legacies. The Lowery line had been in existence for generations, and each generation, one of them ascended those steps to the throne, and participated in the ancient ritual that would grant them leadership and a direct line to the spirit of the First Wolf. From the moment they were born, every wolf clan in the area knew who they were.

Nobody knew Kal Vann.

When Nova had first met him, Kal had merely been the son of one of the Valley Clan’s guards. Callahan Vann hadn’t even fought his way up to his pack’s Beta yet. No one ever believed he would have the balls to make it all the way to Alpha. And yet, somehow, he had. But Kal had never forgotten that feeling of inferiority he had when he was around Nova and Nemoy. Nor, it appeared, had he forgiven them for it. Whenever they were forced to spend time in each other’s company at Clan summits, Kal would seek them out to prove his dominance. And every year when he and Nova would fight, Kal would lose. Although, Nova had to admit, each time, Kal got just that much more lethal. And he hated Nova just that much more. Over the years, Nova had gotten used to the animosity.

But this thing with Amara was different. It was like he was obsessed.

Before she was attacked, Amara was just another human. She didn’t stand out to Nova or Kal, as far as he knew. Not as much as she did now, at least. Nova could admit (even if it was only to himself) that he had been watching her for weeks before he finally made himself known. There had just been something about her that called to him. Something about the way her dark hair flowed around her shoulders in shiny waves, or the way her gray eyes seemed to look right through him even though he had been certain she had never even known he was there. And the wicked look that filled her face when she laughed, or when she smiled that wild smile of hers, had drawn him to her like a moth to a flame.

And apparently, he hadn’t been the only one.

Before Kal had set his sights on her, Amara Townsend had only been a pipedream for Nova. He hadn’t even considered breaking Pack Law for a human. Even that human. She was forbidden, and therefore, untouchable. He hadn’t even known her name, for crying out loud. But all of that had changed when Kal and his friends attacked.

Nova remembered it like it was yesterday. He and Nemoy had been on patrol that night. Nova had heard the enemy before his brother had. He had already been running when the wolves attacked the three girls. He had seen Amara get separated from her friends as she had run for her life. And he knew—beyond reason or explanation—that Kal would go after her. It was like a rule of the Universe or something. Because she appealed to Nova, she would call to Kal’s senses as well. It was almost as if the two of them were connected. Maybe even the three of them.

He had been terrified he wouldn’t reach her in time. Just as he had been terrified when Kal attacked her again ten years later. But after he had defeated Kal and sent him loping off with his tail between his legs, Nova had stood over Amara’s still body, and he had never been more mesmerized. In that moment, he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.

Just as Kal knew he would do whatever it took to destroy her.

It wasn’t something he could explain, Nova knew. Kal was connected to Amara just as much as he was, even if he hated to admit it. But while it had awakened something protective in Nova, it was like it had broken something in Vann. He became obsessed with hurting her in any way he could, almost as if he were punishing her for getting away that night. As if he were punishing Nova through her for being the one who had rescued her in the first place. And, once the treaty between their clans had broken for good, Kal had resumed his mission with a vengeance.

In truth, he couldn’t blame Amara for being scared. Hell, he was terrified himself—not that she needed to know that. But, just as he had sworn he would when he was seventeen years old, Nova knew he would do anything in his power to protect her. Even if that meant that one day, he would kill Kal Vann.