chapter twenty
Darkness surrounded her when she came to. No, not darkness—night. Firelight danced from the pit outside the caves. She lay beside it, wrapped in a blanket.
She heard Wolfrik’s voice first. “More will come. But at least no one got shot today.”
Aden grunted in reply.
She didn’t hear anyone else. It was as though the other wolves had never been there.
Sparrow groaned as she sat up.
“Look who’s still alive,” Wolfrik said sardonically.
If her body hadn’t ached so much, she would have flashed him a nasty gesture. He couldn’t care less whether she lived or died or got torn to bits.
The blanket slid down her chest. That’s when she realized she only had on her undergarments. Sparrow clutched the blanket against her.
“Where’s my dress?”
“Your dress?” Wolfrik raised a brow. When she didn’t respond, he continued in a gruff voice. “Aden used it to clean your wounds. Thing was tattered to bits already. Only good for a rag after the number you did on it.”
Her attention snapped to Aden. He’d tended to her?
The silent shifter didn’t look her way. His eyes were focused on the fire. He grabbed a log at his side and tossed it on top, sending sparks shooting like stars across the campsite.
She swallowed and nearly gagged; she was so parched.
“What happened?”
Wolfrik snorted. “I’ll tell you what happened. One of your brother’s watchdogs got away after you interfered in Aden’s fight. While he was saving your sorry ass, one of them got away. He’s probably halfway across the wasteland by now.” Firelight danced in Wolfrik’s malevolent eyes as he looked at her, his lip curling in disgust.
“I was trying to help.”
“By serving yourself up as dog meat? Good thinking, Sparrow.”
She growled, as though she too were half shifter. At least Wolfrik had used her name, and not “girlie.” Where had that older brutish shifter run off to? As long as he wasn’t anywhere near her cave, she was happy.
Her cave. Right. When had she become territorial about her prison?
“That damn dog is running straight back to his master, and soon your brother will know exactly where we are.”
It was hard not to gag given how dry her throat had become.
“Then leave. Find a new home.”
Wolfrik’s eyes sparked. He leaped to his feet and balled his fingers into fists. “Do you think I’d run like a coward?”
She shook her head.
“This is Wolf Hollow territory. No one is going to take it from us or make us leave, especially not your devil of a brother.”
Sparrow nodded her understanding. Anything she said would only make Wolfrik’s temper flare up worse. Besides, her throat was too damn dry for talking.
“You good here, Aden?” Wolfrik asked.
“Yeah,” came his deep reply.
Wolfrik’s gaze snapped back at Sparrow. “Next time, stay out of the way or I’ll kill you myself.”
She rolled her eyes. “Another death threat; how original.” It was worth the last of her spit to see the aggravation on his face and the irritated way he stormed off.
But Wolfrik’s absence didn’t improve matters much. The silence he left behind was stifling. Aden kept his attention on the fire, his lips set in a grim line.
Sparrow gathered the blanket around her, preparing to stand, then caught Aden’s eyes on her. Heat blossomed beneath her cheeks.
“What do you need?” he asked, his voice betraying neither concern nor irritation. He always sounded so damn neutral; it was impossible to guess his mood.
“Water,” Sparrow croaked. Saying the word seemed to remind her mouth how little moisture she had left. The inside of her lips stuck to her teeth.
Aden got to his feet wordlessly, bending for an empty jar then striding toward the river. His receding figure turned into a dark shadow in the night.
Sparrow didn’t have much time to open the blanket and inspect her body in the firelight. Claw marks had been gouged across her legs, but they weren’t as bad as she’d imagined. With time, they’d fade into faint scars. Her arm throbbed where the black wolf had bit her. Strips of blue and orange fabric were tied securely around the wound. It looked like the dress had been used as more than a rag to clean up her blood. She left the makeshift bandages in place, not wanting to disturb the injury. It, too, needed time to heal.
Twigs snapped beneath Aden’s heavy tread. Sparrow tightened the blanket around her chest as Aden came around and handed her the jar filled with fresh, cool water.
“Thank you,” she said, right before guzzling it down. She slowed about halfway through.
She hadn’t seen Aden return to his earlier spot, but when she lowered the jar, there he was, as calm and unaffected as ever.
“I really was trying to help,” she said. “That wolf looked like he was going to kill you.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Aden said. “I’ve been in far worse situations. I had it under control.” He left the words “until you interfered” hanging in the trees.
Great, more tough-guy talk. They all acted like they didn’t need anyone’s help—especially not a human’s—a girlie’s. She’d had about enough of it. Where would Wolfrik be if she hadn’t freed him? Still in that damn cell, but he acted like she was responsible for everything that had gone wrong in his life. If he loved his hollow so much, why had he left in the first place? Ungrateful animal.
Sparrow set the jar down and got to her feet carefully. Her body ached too much to stomp off dramatically like Wolfrik, but she was done for the night. Time to crawl back into her cave.
“Sorry for caring,” she snapped. “I risked my life to save Wolfrik from a life of pain and imprisonment. It doesn’t matter why I did it. And I risked my life to help you when I saw that other wolf at your neck. I tried to—” A sob broke through her lips. She sucked in a breath and glared at Aden, angry that he was witnessing her breakdown.
She wouldn’t. Not in front of him or any of these cold-hearted beasts. She truly was alone.
Sparrow hurried into the cave. As soon as her toes touched sandy ground, she dropped the blanket. It slid down her body like a second skin. She wished it was that easy to shed her own skin, to be able to transform like a shifter.
She sank to her knees and allowed the tears to flow down her face. They streaked over her cheeks and dripped from her chin.
Heavy footfalls approached from outside. They entered the cave and came toward her. Her body stiffened. She kept her back to him.
“How is your arm?” Somehow he managed to speak without making his voice echo all over the place.
“Fine.” Sparrow shrugged, the flow of tears pooling in her eyes.
She waited for him to go away or say something more, but his presence loomed at her exposed back like a shadow spreading toward her. Darkness had already swallowed her.
The seconds passed. Breathing filled the cave—his and hers.
“I’m not used to a female trying to come to my rescue—especially not a human.”
“My mistake,” she said, angry that the words came out so breathlessly. She gritted her teeth and schooled her voice. “You messed up, too. You should have let the wolf finish me off. You could have killed the other one while his partner was distracted then finished the second one off when he was done with me.”
He crouched behind her, warm breath on her neck. “I couldn’t let that happen,” came his steady reply.
Goose bumps rose over Sparrow’s arms. She shivered.
Aden tucked the blanket over her shoulders. She turned slowly to face him, her heart galloping out of control. Even hunched, he looked powerful with his broad shoulders, muscled chest, and bright, searching eyes. His thick crop of rich, brown hair matched his wolf’s fur. She didn’t know whether she wanted to pet him or run her fingers through his silky locks.
God, he was gorgeous—the most beautiful male she’d ever seen.
The blanket slid off her back. When Aden reached for it, Sparrow’s hands shot out. She’d meant to stop him, but her fingers had taken on minds of their own. They brushed over his firm pecs and slid down his torso. She breathed deeply, excitement coursing through her as though she was the one being touched.
She’d always been headstrong. There was no turning back. She let her hands slide into his lap then closed one fist around his engorged shaft and stroked. No man was unreadable—not between his legs. Aden was huge and as hard as petrified wood.
His breath quickened. Her fist pulled and tightened around him. She held onto him as though she’d finally found her lifeline. She wouldn’t lose this one. She couldn’t. He was all she had. Her last hope.
Aden groaned and tried to remove her hands, but Sparrow refused to let go.
He lowered her onto the blanket—onto her back. He didn’t grope at her or try to kiss her. He pulled at her underwear and eased free of her grasp to slide the panties down her legs, her calves, and past her ankles.
She reached between his legs, but he caught her wrists and pinned them over her head with one hand while nudging her thighs apart.
She threw her head back and moaned as he entered her. It was instant ecstasy. The biggest, sexiest shifter male she’d ever laid eyes on was inside her. His dick was large, like the rest of him, but she was ready. She’d been ready for weeks—all her pent-up boredom and frustration finally on the edge of release.
She thrust her hips at him, demanding more. If he didn’t give it to her soon, she’d take it for herself.
Aden moved in and out of her carefully, as though afraid to reopen her wounds. It was on the tip of her tongue to command him to take her harder, faster, but she felt too shy to make such vulgar demands out loud. They’d barely spoken. Somehow it felt gauche to start talking with him between her legs.
She pulled her arms free from his grasp and grabbed him by the ass. His backside felt firm and muscular like the rest of him. She moaned in approval and pulled him into her.
The smallest groan escaped Aden’s lips. His hips moved faster. He shoved himself at her, burying every glorious inch of his manhood inside her.
Sparrow gasped and arched her back. Her nails dug into his warm skin. She relaxed her fingers and slid her hands up his back to make room for her legs around his hips. She hooked her ankles and clung to him, wanting to cry all over again because he felt so damn good.
It’s just sex, Sparrow.
Except it was so much more. All her life she’d floundered—never belonged. She’d never known where she was meant to be, only that it wasn’t in the city, at the compound, or anywhere near her brother. She’d thought Eric would be her out, and that together they’d find a place to start over.
But she’d found home in this man—this neanderthal. She knew it the moment they joined.
Mouthwatering aromas filled the glade at nightfall, but their packmates weren’t around to eat the dinner stew that Maureen kept stirring to keep from burning. Kallie sat on the edge of a log, pulling at her fingers while Jager paced the southern edge of the glade. They didn’t ring the gong or speak while they waited. They didn’t so much as share looks, each of them deep in their own thoughts, beseeching the mother moon for a favorable outcome.
For once, Kallie didn’t mind missing out on her old duties. She had new life growing inside her—life she would protect above all others. But she worried about Wolfrik and the mood he was in. She worried that his erratic, headstrong behavior would get him hurt or worse . . . She couldn’t even think it.
When the howls of triumph and return went up, Kallie hugged her chest in relief, tears of happiness springing to her eyes.
She waited patiently while packmates returned to the glade, giving whoops of victory as they shifted into human form before rummaging around the surrounding logs and rocks for their clothes. Jager paced the southern edge of the glade and bombarded packmates for news as soon as they were able to speak.
“We did it! We killed them all!” Wiley announced, fist pumping the air.
Emerson entered the glade, dressed, with an arm slung over Gina. “We didn’t even have to use any weapons. The first group took them out with their teeth.” She bit down for emphasis then laughed.
“You all must be hungry,” Maureen said.
“Ravenous,” Emerson answered with a smile. She removed her arm from Gina’s shoulder and took her hand. The pair went to the cauldron, and others lined up behind them.
Energy filled the clearing and grew as it crowded with more returning packmates.
Kallie calmed her mind. She didn’t expect to see Wolfrik until later. She wouldn’t worry or wait to eat. When her friends returned, she stood and met up with them in the line.
“It’s good to see you all back safe,” Kallie said.
Camilla shrugged. “All we did was wait around near the Manama in case the humans made it into the hollow.”
Rosalie smiled and nodded. “They never did.”
“That’s a relief,” Kallie said. “Did you see the humans?”
“After they were dead, yeah,” Rosalie said. “Wolfrik organized a group to hang some of the bodies from trees as a warning to other humans.” She scrunched up her nose. “We took that as our cue to leave.”
Kallie’s stomach turned. She was glad only to imagine the scene and not have actually seen it with her own eyes. She cleared her throat. “So, it’s over? The den mates can return?”
“Hardly.” Camilla scoffed. “The humans had a couple of trained wolf shifters with them, and one got away. Wolfrik says they’ll be back with more men and more guns.”
A shudder rocked Kallie on her feet. “What will we do?” she whispered.
Rosalie rubbed her back. “The lookouts are back in place. They’ll warn us when more come. Garrick said that next time we’ll let them cross the river into Wolf Hollow and make sure they are deep into the woods before springing out and taking them down. We might all have to join the fight during the next round . . . Well, not you, of course.” She glanced down at Kallie’s foot.
After dishing up stew, Rosalie led them to a log beside Chase and Hudson. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glanced from them to her friends. “I’d rather fight the humans in wolf form than with weapons,” she said. “I mean, they have guns—we have axes and knives.” Rosalie looked at the two males, but they didn’t take the bait and join the conversation.
Emerson strolled over and stopped in front of her sister, Camilla. “The axes and knives are hidden for backup in case any of our wolf forms are injured and we need to shift.”
Rosalie shuddered dramatically. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“I’m sure it won’t,” Emerson said. “We know these woods better than anyone. Guns are only good for non-moving targets or out in the open. And if it really came down to it, we can always outrun them.” Emerson glanced at Kallie with a look that seemed to say, “even you.”
Wolfrik still hadn’t returned after the dark sky brought the stars out and the moon hung heavy in the night.
The fire beneath the cauldron burned low with an occasional snap and pop. Maureen had long since rinsed the bowls and spoons at the river and left them out to dry. The den group had gone, but Kallie stayed, planning to sleep in the glade alongside her other packmates. She didn’t expect Wolfrik to show up that night. He’d probably remain at the caves after the battle—and hanging of bodies. But she wanted to stay in the glade in case he did return.
She’d draped her dress over a log before shifting and lay on her belly, facing south.
The sound of a large animal caught her raised ears. Wolfrik trotted into view, and she stood up with her tail wagging. He wagged back then loped up to her and licked her face. Kallie grinned and nuzzled him.
They left the glade pressed side by side, as though their wolves were trying to mold together into one. Halfway to the den, Wolfrik veered off the path. He stopped and looked over his back to make sure Kallie followed. Once she did, he led her to a sloping area free of brush and grass. He dug into the earth, throwing dirt beneath his legs and behind him with his paws. Wolfrik scooted around and did this some more before lifting his head with a satisfied smile.
Kallie walked over to the bed he’d made for them and curled up on the ground. Wolfrik did the same, his warm fur pressed against hers. She drifted off almost immediately, feeling content, safe, and tired. Most of all, she felt happy. Her male had returned to her. She could almost believe everything would be okay.
But when she woke in the morning, he was gone.