Chapter Eleven
Grant flew beside Natalie but remained silent. Natalie as well.
Making plans was one thing. Executing them another.
His wolves were in front of him as they flew in the direction of the Meldorin Compound.
His heart pounded in his chest.
Approaching the pine forest, he withdrew his phone from his pocket. He tapped Kryder’s number and held his phone to his ear.
The ringing sounded louder than usual, probably because he could hear his heart beating in dull, anxious thuds.
“What the fuck do you want?” Kryder’s voice was deep, scornful.
Something about his tone, that he didn’t care he’d just tortured and murdered two beautiful young female wolves, emptied Grant of his fear. “Simple. You’re finished as of now. I’m challenging you to a dominance battle.”
Kryder laughed. “You can’t win or did your IQ just drop by fifty points?”
“Be at the Meldorin pit in twenty minutes or forfeit the pack by default.”
He didn’t wait for Kryder to accept or decline. He hung up and returned the phone to his pocket.
He contacted Ryan. I’ve sent the challenge. Either he arrives in twenty minutes, or I take over the pack.
Is it wrong of me to hope the bastard doesn’t show?
Grant smiled as he ended the mind-to-mind communication.
Kryder would show. Grant had known him a long time. He lived for dominance challenges, mostly because he’d have a chance to kill another wolf.
Hatred was what Grant felt for Kryder, an emotion he’d held close to the vest for too long. What he was about to do, he did for all the wolves that had been brutalized and killed at Kryder’s hand.
Natalie was right to warn them not to underestimate him. But Grant trusted that the alpha’s arrogant nature would stay with him long enough that he would fail to contemplate the kind of coup Grant had planned.
Only five of Ryan’s most trusted wolves knew what was about to happen. They’d secured the crowd-control net and were ready. Natalie would arrive in an invisible state and draw the team inside her spell.
Grant and Ryan’s team would wait in the pit for Kryder to arrive.
The pack had already been summoned and would be moving quickly down to the arena at the lowest level of the compound.
As he began his descent, he reached out to Natalie. Time to go invisible.
He heard her murmur softly, “Begin.”
She disappeared but kept a hand on his arm as he touched down outside the compound.
His pack’s primary residence needed the money Kryder siphoned off for The Sapphire Club. The exterior was the former lobby of an old but quite large apartment complex. Pack members occupied most of the aboveground apartments, though more recent lower-level additions had increased the number of available living spaces considerably.
However, plumbing issues occurred all the time along with electrical problems because Kryder wouldn’t authorize the necessary repairs. Cursing could be heard up and down the halls all hours of the day and night. Occasionally, there’d be a flood.
He walked through the door giving Natalie enough time to pass through. I’m here. Her voice was sweet inside his mind.
Good. Stay close and stay on my right.
Got it.
On both sides of the entrance, pack wolves dipped their foreheads to him.
Did they come to greet you?
Yes. By now, the entire pack will be assembling and lining the halls or waiting in the arena. See the stairs up ahead?
I do, she said.
We’ll be descending through there. You’d better walk behind me but stick close. Good, here’s Ryan. You’ll want to go with him.
Grant shifted gears and spoke telepathically to his beta. Natalie is with me but invisible. She’ll follow directly behind you. Is the net in place?
Yes, Boss.
Switching back, he spoke to Natalie. Go with Ryan but stay behind him. He’ll offer guidance as needed. I have to change. And Natalie?
Yes?
Stay alive.
I’ll do my best. You do the same.
With that, he greeted several of the wolves who had helped guard Natalie’s house and headed with them to the locker room.
~ ~ ~
Natalie fell in behind Ryan and spoke to him telepathically letting him know where she was. They headed the opposite direction as Grant.
It’s strange to be talking to you while you’re invisible.
Your telepathy is perfect. Do your wolves have the net?
Yes, it’s ready to go. Kryder will be an angry bear in a cage when he realizes what we’ve done. I sure as hell hope this works.
It will. Natalie spoke with a confidence she didn’t feel. There were a ton of holes in this plan, like whether or not the pack would even allow Grant to take over in this way. She’d heard tales of the extent packs were bound to their alphas, the level of loyalty each wolf felt compelled to show no matter what.
Right now, what worked for them was the torturous deaths of the two young female wolves. Everyone had a breaking point. Maybe this would be enough to carry the entire pack out from under Kryder’s heinous control.
When they reached the third belowground hallway, it curved leading her to believe they were walking along the outside of the sandpit seats.
Ryan headed toward a door at the far end. When he reached it, he opened it wide and held it until she’d told him she was inside.
He gestured to the metal stairs. These lead to the maintenance entrance of the sandpit. He headed swiftly down the stairs. She followed on his heels as he continued, The team is waiting for us. I want us on the sand before Kryder gets here so that we can be motionless. We’ll levitate once Grant gives us the signal to bring in the net.
What’s the signal? Natalie asked.
He’s going to shout, ‘Bring it’. We figure Kryder will think those words were meant for him.
She had to admit it was a clever choice.
There was another door at the bottom of the stairs. She was greeted with the sight of five wolves, each looking somber and strained. She didn’t blame them. No matter the outcome, their conduct tonight was akin to an act of war. The pack would never be the same regardless of the winner.
The men were grouped around a metal net.
Ryan explained, We can add electricity if we need to. But the sheer weight of it should give Grant the advantage he’ll need to end Kryder’s reign.
A long cord with a switch near an outlet spoke its painful potential.
Ryan addressed the group quietly. “Natalie is with us. She’s going to take us inside her invisibility spell, the net included.”
Natalie spoke the word, ‘End’, and she became visible to the men. They remained silent, however, though a few pairs of eyes went wide. “I’ll levitate around the perimeter of the entire team, including the net, invoking the spell as I move. You’ll know you’re invisible when the outer world looks covered in a soft glow. Ready?”
All heads bobbed.
Before she began, she reached out to Grant. I’m invoking the spell now. Your team is in place. I understand the signal is ‘Bring it’.
It is.
All for now.
She broke the connection and rose into the air. Aloud she said, “Begin and include.” She moved quickly around the perimeter and by the time she returned to her point of origin, the circle closed. All six wolves, Ryan included, glanced around and started talking about the glow.
“You can still be heard,” she offered quickly.
The wolves fell silent.
They were an extraordinary group of men, all built as hell like Grant. If she allowed herself, she could easily be overwhelmed by their presence.
Instead, she invoked her wolf which came alive with almost the blink of an eye. She settled herself beside Natalie. She appeared tense and alert like the rest of the wolves, each waiting for the battle to begin.
She reached out to Ryan. Can we get closer to the sand?
You’re sure we can’t be seen?
Check with each of your wolves, but they all appear to me as though they’re inside the spell.
Will do.
She waited as Ryan contacted each wolf telepathically, made eye-contact and got an affirmative to no doubt a query about what the wolf saw.
When all the wolves had agreed they believed themselves inside the spell, Ryan offered a hand single. He raised his arm, turned it in a circle and point the direction to move. He made a second motion, pumping up and down once, probably indicating levitation.
They had to fly above the sand or their footprints would draw attention.
The wolves each took up a side of the net. Ryan led the way. Natalie followed behind with her iridescent wolf. More than one of the wolves eyed the specter as though stunned. Maybe she should have warned them she was part wolf, but it was too late now.
As Ryan turned the corner, he disappeared from view until the entire group made its way to the edge of the sand. She understood the design and layout of the pit now.
But as she came into full view, there was Grant in the very center of the sandpit, standing with his side to their part of the small arena. His gaze moved over the crowd in the seats which began twenty feet above the pit.
Her cheeks became instantly flushed because all he wore was a dark leather loin cloth. His bare hips and thighs showed every sinewy muscle. His thick braid hung to his waist. He stood upright, shoulders well back, and looked more like a warrior than ever before.
As Ryan drew the team to a halt, she understood what Grant was doing. He made it a point to meet the gaze of every wolf now seated in the arena. Slowly, he lifted his arms.
When they were upright, he threw his head back and howled. Fur appeared on different parts of his body.
The pack returned his greeting.
When he ceased, the pack ceased. He dropped his arms only to begin slowly lifting them again. Once more, with his fingers pointing toward the ceiling, he howled.
The wolves responded, louder than before.
Again, he dropped his arms to his sides. He repeated the sequence and howled once more. The wolves joined him. Only this time, he didn’t stop. The wolves got louder and louder.
She was in awe and completely overcome. She wished the wolves of her team couldn’t see her. She felt exposed by how much she was feeling. She realized each was trembling, including Ryan, at having to restrain themselves when their pack was howling as one.
Her iridescent wolf leaped up and down and also trembled for holding back her howls.
The din shook the rafters and her wolf within, now part of her spirit, loved every second of it.
Slowly, Grant stopped and pivoted so that his back was to her. His gaze became fixed to the entrance above, at the north side of the spectator gallery. All the wolves fell silent and turned as one to stare at the same location.
Shifting her focus as well, Natalie understood instantly what was happening.
The monster of the hour drew near.
Though Kryder hadn’t yet appeared in the doorway, he wasn’t far away, maybe a few dozen yards.
She forced her heart to settle down. She sought out the most resilient part of herself knowing she would need to remain as calm as possible during the next few minutes. She couldn’t panic or let fear overtake her.
Because of her connection to Grant, as well as her own growing wolfness, she could feel how the pack had become almost a single organism.
Silence fell on the sandpit arena. She felt as though time stopped as together, they awaited the arrival of their alpha.
Her wolf sat in front of her, on her haunches, ears perked up and listening. Natalie could hear the measured thump of booted feet, like several men marching in formation. They probably were. Kryder wouldn’t have arrived alone.
As the alpha appeared, several wolves near the entrance gasped. Natalie soon saw the cause. Kryder wore a bizarre costume including a tall feathered headdress and a massive embroidered cape. The feathers were light blue, silver and red which matched the intricate patterns on the navy velvet cloak.
Natalie shifted her gaze to the gallery. Each pack member bowed his or her head as Kryder passed by. The submission was complete and thorough from one wolf to the next.
Her iridescent wolf whimpered quietly.
New awareness arrived, and she contacted Grant. He’s using a charisma spell to enhance the pack bond, isn’t he?
You’re right. Thank you. I was feeling it as well, the need to bow to him.
Do pack wolves always bow to their alphas?
No. A nod of deference, yes. But this kind of response, no.
Natalie worked not to panic. Can you resist him, resist the spell?
I don’t know.
We can always drop the net first thing.
She watched a smile touch his lips. We may have to, but I’m not ready to give in yet.
By now Kryder had reached the midpoint. He paused for effect then continued his progression. Maybe he’d seen or at least understood that Grant had the support of the entire pack and he intended to break it apart with his current parade.
Worse, it was working. Even her wolf was in agony as she watched Kryder.
With some effort, she shifted her gaze away from the demon who served as alpha to the Meldorin Pack. She focused instead on the worthy wolf still watching Kryder’s progress.
How do you defeat a man who uses a wizard’s spell to enthrall an entire arena of wolves?
She turned to Ryan. His trembling had ended but he was sweating, his eyes glazed. She reached out to him telepathically. Ryan, the bastard is using a spell.
Slowly, Ryan shifted his gaze to her. He squinted for a moment, then asked, What?
Kryder is using a spell to enthrall the pack. They’ll never break the bond in this condition.
He looked around and blinked several times. The wolves on the team were also slightly dazed. He lifted a finger to Natalie, a hold signal.
She waited and observed as he went from one to the next and broke each from what had been a serious trance-like state. When he was done, he stared up at the crowd.
To Natalie, he said, What if this continues? He’ll have control of the pack and you’re right, they’ll never break the bond in this condition.
She swept her gaze over the gallery once more. It ran in a half-circle above the sandpit. Can you take care of this?
You mean wolf-by-wolf?
She turned back to him and smiled. That’s your gift, isn’t it? You know every wolf by name, who they are, what they dream about when Kryder isn’t terrorizing them.
He seemed surprised then returned her smile. Yes, one-by-one, but I’ll need to stay hidden. Once Kryder’s men catch sight of me, I’m dead.
I understand. I can hold the spell over you at a distance. We’ll make it work and I’ll let Grant know what we have to do. When he seemed to hesitate, she deepened her telepathic voice just a little and added, Go. Now.
Again, he seemed surprised, but he took off at a run. She could feel the invisibility spell expand with him. He must have as well because he winked at her as headed through the door and back up the stairs.
Kryder had completed his tour of the gallery and slowly turned toward the sandpit. “So, you would challenge me tonight.”
Before Grant could answer him, she said, Ryan is going through the crowd to break the spell one wolf at a time. Stall Kryder as much as you can before engaging him in battle.
She watched Grant take a deep breath. Aloud, he finally addressed Kryder, “What I would prefer is if you simply broke the pack bond right now. We don’t need to do battle. You have your own interests anyway. Why not let the pack go?”
Kryder lifted his arms which spread the cape as he gestured to encompass the pack. “They are loyal to me. Why would I ever leave my people when they love me so?” He laughed, then continued, “But I’m not heartless, though I intend to see you buried before the hour is gone, so I’ll make you an offer. Leave Savage forever, and I’ll let you live.”
“Never.”
“That’s too bad. Not even if I add that I will cease my pursuit of your woman as well?”
She watched a flush of heat cross Grant’s face. Once more, she interjected, Don’t let him get to you. Ryan has barely started breaking the spell. Keep him talking.
Grant turned away from Kryder and levitated in a slow circle. Thank you for that. I almost fell into his trap. He knows my temper.
“I see Natalie has had a good influence on you. Is she here by the way? Where are you hiding her?”
“I didn’t want her to see the battle. So, no, she’s not with me.”
Kryder looks like a peacock. No, a turkey. He looks ridiculous. Ask him about his garb.
“Why did you dress like this? Not exactly wolf-like.”
Kryder levitated and rose above the metal railing that surrounded the top of the pit. He paused to plant his feet on the metal. “I had it made especially for this moment. I’ve also been told it will calm my people.”
“It looks like it did. But there’s something I’ve always wanted to know, Kryder. What happened to you? Why terrorize your people? I’ve never understood.”
Slowly, he moved off the railing and began his descent.
Natalie glanced up at Ryan who had begun with the wolves nearest his arrival point. He was working fast and going from one person to the next as quickly as he could. Fortunately, Kryder’s men were all watching their leader to notice the disruption in the gallery. She estimated at least a fourth of the people were now free of the spell.
When Ryan addressed each one, no doubt telepathically, he also touched their shoulders. She watched the sudden surprise then a return to a feigned spelled state. More than one wolf leaned close to another one and whispered to act as though enthralled.
As a whole, the wolves did a good job appearing bespelled with heads almost bowed and eyes cast down.
By the time, Kryder was halfway to the sand, she once more contacted Grant. Don’t look, but Ryan has a quarter now free. He’s moving fast. You’ve got a good man there.
Don’t I know it. And a freakshow almost in my face. What do you make of the cape?
Natalie turned her focus on Kryder once more. I’m guessing it was part of the initial enthrallment. A way to make sure every wolf was focused on him as he cast the spell.
Did it affect you?
My wolf has been whimpering, but that’s all. Helps to be fae right now, I think.
Kryder landed on the sand a good twelve feet away from Grant. He moved back several feet, increasing the distance.
Kryder snickered. “Sure you’re ready for this?”
Natalie knew Grant had moved to make certain the battle took place away from the wall. Once he called for the net, Kryder would need to be out in the open.
The gallery was completely silent. Kryder turned his back to Grant and opened his arms to his pack. “Look at these worthless sheep. My question to you is why would you ever want to be their alpha?” He didn’t seem to notice the occasional, if slight flurry of moment that Ryan created.
“I see so much more than you ever could,” Grant replied. “I see wolves torn from their families because of the alter serum. Not one of us made a choice to be here, to be consigned to a pack with you as alpha. I see people who want to be free to live the lives they would choose. They will have that when I’m alpha.”
At that, Kryder turned back to him. “You will never be alpha of the Meldorin Pack, not while I live.” Kryder’s men set up a cheer mixed with howls, but the gallery remained silent and still appeared as if bespelled. By now, Ryan was over halfway through the pack.
Grant’s nostrils flared. “Before the night is out, you will break the bond with this pack.”
“Like hell.” Kryder reached up to unhook his cape and tossed it near the back wall. He stripped off his headdress and threw it to join the cape.
Like Grant, he wore only a leather cloth, though his had been died a deep blue. He was three hundred pounds of powerful muscles that rippled as he began to flex and move.
Kryder walked toward him slowly then at the last second dipped down and levitated like a missile toward Grant’s waist.
Grant was faster though and slid out of the way to then levitate and land on Kryder’s back.
Natalie expected Kryder to stay face down in the sand. Instead, he bolted upright and threw Grant off him.
Grant flew backward onto the sand, landing on his ass. Kryder whirled and shot forward, throwing himself on Grant. But again, Grant slipped sideways.
This time, Kryder landed face first and came up spitting sand from his mouth.
He slowed his movements as he dusted himself off. He said nothing. As he began to walk sideways, Grant matched him so that they turned in a circle, always opposite each other.
Natalie glanced at the stands. Ryan was well over halfway, but she wished he was almost done.
“You’ll have to engage me,” Kryder said with a smile. “You can’t keep darting away. Or is that what you think this will be: Dominance by running away?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Grant’s voice was low, even heavy.
Natalie found herself mesmerized by how Grant looked, not just by his warrior presence but by the intensity of his concentration. He saw only Kryder.
This time, Kryder walked toward him, head lowered, jaw tight. His stride was slow, deliberate. A challenge.
Grant stood his ground and raised his fists, but he also levitated an inch above the sand.
When Kryder drew close, he lifted his fists as well. A sneer curled his lips. He whipped his right fist toward Grant.
Grant moved, but not fast enough. The blow slid off his chin and would have toppled him sideways, but he caught his balance.
He ducked at the next swing and with a slight arch of his back, swung up with his right fist hard and caught Kryder underneath his chin.
Kryder’s body jerked upward since he, too, had started levitating. He was airborne and falling backward onto the sand.
Natalie glanced at her team. This would be the perfect time to trap Kryder with the net. But two of the men were looking up into the gallery. She followed their line of sight and saw that Ryan had only finished waking up two-thirds of the pack.
With that many still in a trance-like state, Kryder would be able to control the situation. There was nothing the team could do.
She shot a message to Grant. Ryan has one-third of the pack to go. Stall Kryder if you can.
Will do.
By now, Kryder was on his feet, but blood poured from his mouth. He wiped it off with the back of his hand his expression mulish. His men cheered him on, though the wolf-pack was still silent.
Natalie was amazed by the self-control the wolves were showing. But from what she understood, Grant had set the example himself the many times Kryder had beat him while trying to force Grant to bid for a dominance battle.
Kryder once more came at Grant, walking on the sand slowly, lifting his fists when he got within three feet of Grant.
But Grant didn’t hold back. He shot toward Kryder, head-butted him then levitated swiftly to come down hard on Kryder’s forehead with two fists.
Before Kryder could react, Grant shot away from Kryder to float in the air twenty feet distant. He was breathing hard, his gaze fixed on Kryder.
Kryder flew slowly, low near the sand in the direction of Natalie and the net-team. Each wolf stood his ground, but it was like watching a wall of muscle the size of small car approaching. Kryder kept wiping blood off his mouth.
The team started levitating backward to get out of his way, but Kryder finally stopped. He then turned back to face Grant. He reached behind him, and Natalie watched in horror as he removed a small, needle-like blade from the waistband of his leather loin cloth.
She’d heard of this before. Alpha Fergus had almost died from a similar attack in a dominance fight.
Grant, watch out. Kryder has a blade in his possession, very small and needlelike.
I’m not surprised.
She glanced up at the gallery. Ryan is almost done with the wolves. Your pack has incredible discipline.
Yes, they do. One more reason to finish this…now.
She smiled as she said, Do it.
She waved to the wolves around her and spoke quietly. “This is it.”
Each nodded, then secured the net more firmly. Discipline was exactly the right word. She knew Grant ran drills with his wolves over and over and not just those who had warrior abilities or inclinations. All the pack wolves drilled with Grant.
Her heart set up a terrible racket. She knew a thousand things could go wrong and if Grant wasn’t careful, that blade could end his life.
~ ~ ~
Grant descended slowly. He noted Kryder’s left hand curled around what was no doubt the blade Natalie had mentioned.
Her voice entered his mind. The team is ready with the net.
If Ryan isn’t back in time, use your judgment, Natalie. I trust you.
We’ll act as soon as you knock him down again.
That was all he needed to hear as he levitated to once more hover just a few inches above the sand.
Kryder no longer walked but flew toward him. He picked up speed, his left hand now a fist and ready for action.
Ryan’s back, Natalie said.
Good deal. He switched telepathy and threw a final command at Ryan. Kryder has a blade. Let’s take this bastard now.
We’re headed your direction, Ryan said. Try to get him on his back.
Grant bent his knees and kept his eye on Kryder’s abdomen. The direction the muscles shifted would tell Grant which way he meant to move.
Grant saw the lateral shift then swept in and caught Kryder’s left wrist pushing his arm up. The man was strong and began to force Grant’s hand back.
There had never been a question in Grant’s mind that Kryder outmatched him muscle for muscle. He felt it now, the sheer brawn in the man’s arm.
“You thought you’d take me,” Kryder whispered close to Grant’s ear. “You don’t stand a fucking chance. I know you saw the blade, so guess where it’s going?”
Grant strove with all his might to put return pressure on Kryder’s arm. All he felt was a cement-wall of power pushing against his hand. From the corner of his eye, he saw the sharp blade and felt Kryder switch trajectory. He was aiming for his neck.
But Grant hadn’t battled for years or drilled or trained without knowing a couple of tricks. Levitating away from Kryder, he fell backward onto the sand. With his momentum having disrupted the alpha, he kept going until he’d rolled Kryder backward as well.
He felt a sharp pain on his arm as he flew up and away from Kryder.
He turned in time to find the alpha on his tail, a malevolent gleam in his eye. Grant rolled, stretched out parallel and caught Kryder sideways across his abdomen.
He heard Kryder grunt then curse.
Grant rolled into a ball then flew toward the ceiling. This was the first time he realized the pack wolves were now cheering and shouting his name, only they’d added ‘Alpha’.
“Alpha Grant!”
Their support sent a bolt of adrenaline straight through him. When he reached the ceiling, he bent his knees and used the wood beams for support. He pushed off and dove headlong straight at Kryder.
The alpha aimed straight for him again, a grimace tightening his lips.
Grant responded with a shout as he flew like a bullet toward the man. Kryder held the blade in front of him, but at the last second, Grant flipped to the left, caught his other arm and with a flying twist and dislocated the alpha’s shoulder.
Kryder went down screaming. He landed face down in the sand.
Grant summoned the team by saying aloud, “Bring it.” He further sent a telepathic message to the group. Bring in the net. Do it now. Tell me when he’s secure.
A moment later, Ryan’s voice pierced his mind. We’ve got him.
The net couldn’t be seen, or the wolves holding it down, but Kryder remained visible.
Grant slowly descended. He watched Kryder try to get up. “What the hell is this?”
The wolves in the gallery went wild. Yips and howls sounded up to the rafters and back down.
“Had the wind knocked out of you, is that it?” Grant asked. He gestured with his arm to encompass the pack wolves. “And it looks like your enthrallment spell has fallen apart. By the way, how’s that shoulder?”
Grant knew he had Kryder. The thing he’d been trying to do for six long years was here at last.
“You have me pinned with some kind of net.” The sand kept his voice from reaching very far. “That’s illegal.”
Grant landed beside Kryder and pressed a foot on his neck. Very quietly, he said, “So is using a blade in a dominance fight. Now let me explain how this is going to go. You’re going to break the bond with the pack. If you do, I’ll let you live. If not, I will shatter your neck with my foot and damn the consequences. Do you understand me, Kryder? Your reign is over.”
“Fuck you.”
Grant turned toward the gallery. The sound of the Meldorin wolves shouting cheers for his victory was the sweetest noise he’d ever heard. He called out, “Kryder will break the bond now. Is that what you want as the wolves of the Meldorin pack?”
The wolves shouted, even screamed their cries of blessing. Howls erupted with more shouting. ‘Alpha Grant’ filled the arena over and over.
After several minutes, Grant patted the air and the wolves’ cries and howls lessened little by little.
When they were quiet once more, he repeated, “Kryder will break the bond and he’ll do it now.”
A hush fell over the arena.
Grant heard the thud of his heart pounding in his ears. He recalled every beating he’d taken, at least two of which had put him at death’s door.
Kryder struggled against the containment net, but the field held him immobile. How many times had Kryder used this net against his own people? How many betas had he killed in dominance matches? How many young female or male Meldorin wolves had he tortured and raped?
Tonight, it ended for good.
When Kryder made no move to break the bond, Grant spoke with Ryan. Move the net away from Kryder’s upper shoulders.
It’s done. You can walk a path around the top of his head if you want. We pulled the net away from his dislocated shoulder as well. He won’t be able to move that side of his body.
Grant walked slowly around the top of Kryder’s head. When he knew he was well away from the net, he positioned his foot once again on Kryder’s neck only this time so that he could feel several vertebrae.
“Fuck you,” Kryder said again. By now, he had to be breathing sand.
Grant had no problem at all putting more pressure on the delicate bones that connected the spine to the skull. For a difficult moment, all he wanted to do was finish the job he’d begun, to keep adding pressure until Kryder’s eyes bulged, his body flailed, and he screamed. He wanted to feel Kryder go slack because of a crushed spine and neck.
He wanted Kryder dead.
But as he added pressure, he felt the pack bond begin to dissolve. It felt like a water valve had been turned on within his chest. As the bond leaked out of him, his wolf-connection to Kryder began to diminish. On and on the sensation continued until all the water had poured out and the valve closed against Kryder permanently.
So it would be with the entire pack.
He removed his foot.
Kryder lifted his head and took a deep struggling breath.
Grant levitated until he faced the wolves of the Meldorin Pack. He shouted, “Are you free?” Tears burned his eyes.
“Yes!” The word came back to him in a roar.
A howling began, long and loud.
Grant threw back his head and let his own howl join the sound of his brothers and sisters. He howled and howled. There was nothing to stop him because Kryder was pinned safely beneath the net.
He heard Natalie’s wolf howl as well. He saw her iridescent colors flying in a circle around his feet.
On and on the pack howled.
He was sure the universe had stopped its motion, pausing to rejoice that a great evil had been undone.
He howled until he was hoarse. The pack responded in kind, howling louder still.
Kryder’s men started to breach the railing intent on taking Kryder out of the sandpit, but Grant called to several of the pack’s most powerful betas.
Before Kryder’s men could get more than a few feet past the railing, they were being hauled back. Two and three men took each of Kryder’s soldiers and carried them swiftly out of the building.
When the last was gone, the howling of the pack dissipated as well.
The betas returned, and Grant instructed them to take Kryder out as well.
To Ryan, he said, Keep Kryder in hand until the last moment, but don’t let our wolves get hurt by the net.
Got it, but we never used the electricity. We just kept him pinned. I’m not too worried about Kryder causing trouble either. He’s pale and sweating from the pain. Good job, by the way.
Right back atcha.
~ ~ ~
Natalie had never experienced anything like this in her life, the howling, the severing of the bond which had been a tangible wind within the arena, or the euphoria that Kryder had finally been removed from the Meldorin Pack.
Ryan used hand signals to the team to instruct them in their timing. But even she could see Kryder was incapacitated. She couldn’t imagine the pain he experienced while lying in the sand, face down, with a dislocated shoulder. She had a hard time caring for all the misery he’d caused his pack.
Grant had been magnificent. He had a cut on his arm from Kryder’s use of an illegal weapon, but the wound was healing swiftly.
She left the arena with Ryan and the team and ended the invisibility spell. She climbed to the gallery, but she didn’t stay with them. Instead, she moved to the far, left side. What needed to happen next had nothing to do with her and she wanted to be out of the way. This was Grant’s moment with the pack he’d devoted his life to since his arrival in Five Bridges, and especially since the death of his wife.
Ryan and his wolves returned to the sandpit with a stretcher for Kryder. With little regard for his suffering, they picked him up and dumped him on the canvas. They then flew him out the way he’d come in but left his cape and headdress in the arena.
When they returned, they remained in the gallery.
Grant rose to center himself on the cement walkway inside the railing. His gaze swept the Meldorin Pack back and forth. He appeared radiant, his eyes shining with victory and with love.
She realized she valued his ability to truly love his pack and to put them consistently above his own well-being.
“We’re free!” He shouted, grinning. “At long last!”
The wolves howled once more. Her own wolf had remained with Grant and kept racing around him over and over. She felt her wolf’s joy and, in that way, could experience what the rest of the pack was feeling.
Freedom was an extraordinary thing, a remarkable experience, a reason for so much joy. If she could have howled, she would have done so. As it was, her neck kept arching as though ready to throw her head back and let loose, which only made her smile.
She would never be a true wolf, but she could value what had been accomplished here tonight.
More was to come as Ryan came forward and gestured with outstretched hands for the wolves to dial it down. It took a moment and a lot of laughter, but eventually the crowd grew silent once more. A good majority of the wolves had tears streaming down their faces.
Ryan drew close to Grant and spoke in a strong voice. “We have a new, undisputed pack leader and it’s time for the bonding to begin.”
Yet another group-howl shook the rafters once more.
When the howl diminished, Grant stepped forward, lifted his arms and spoke one simple word, “Come.”
The wolves moved toward the railing and one by one he touched them, sometimes on top of the head, sometimes the shoulder and at times he simple shook hands, though a hug usually followed.
Natalie could feel the bond flowing all through the gallery seats and what became a long line of wolves waiting to be greeted and welcomed. Grant’s focus was all for the pack just as it should be.
Not surprising, Renee appeared next to Natalie and stood with her near the top row of seats. Her ghost’s voice entered Natalie’s mind as though each word was carried on a wind. He’s such a good man. From the time I first met him, I knew his character, I knew who he was. I knew I could always trust him to do what was right. Now here he is, at long last, alpha to our pack.
Renee’s chest rose and fell as though she actually sighed. Her mist rippled with the movement. Perhaps a spirit could sigh. Certainly, the woman felt a degree of strong emotion as she watched her husband.
Renee continued, To the pack, Kryder was evil personified. At some point or other, he hurt every Meldorin member. She turned to Natalie and the slight movement sent the mist of her form sliding sideways for a moment then reforming. So, why didn’t he kill the bastard?
At that Natalie laughed. Why do you think?
I know. He wouldn’t unless forced to. But he should have. Kryder will return, probably with an army.
The words sent a chill down Natalie’s spine. She would have asked Renee what she meant or more importantly, what she knew, but the woman vanished.
Natalie’s first thought was to look into the future, but she refused, at least for now. Renee’s prophesy had diminished her joy, but it didn’t mean she had to disrupt what was a powerful moment between Grant and his pack.
Besides, seeing Kryder up to no good in the future was more than Natalie wanted to endure right now. There would be time enough for that moving forward.
For now, she chose to celebrate that a significant event had occurred, one that Kryder couldn’t disrupt, not unless he wanted an entire pack of wolves to attack him and tear him to shreds. Nothing less would happen if the former alpha returned anytime soon to take revenge.
As Natalie surveyed the wolves and felt the bond strengthening with each passing minute, she knew in her heart these wolves would do everything they could to protect their new alpha and the safety of the Meldorin Pack.