Seven

 

Gauge left Aniyah’s home early the next morning and rode his motorcycle up to the town of Greyson Creek, which was ten minutes north of Cedarstone Heights. In three years, Gauge hadn’t stepped foot in the place he’d once called home. Since Axle’s deadly ultimatum that forced Gauge to leave, life had changed for Gauge. He’d gained a mate along with the courage to face his fear and defend his honor. He was ready for what came next.

Gauge parked his motorcycle at the edge of the woods, where a faint dirt path led deeper into the trees to his former home. Entering the woods, Gauge immediately picked up the scents of numerous wolves. He clenched his jaw. Was he too late? Had the wolves’ takeover already begun? It was only a matter of time before his clan was obliterated, if it wasn’t already.

Gauge hustled down the path he’d always taken during his patrol shifts. The scent of wolves overpowered the other tigers’. The closer he got home, the stronger it got. He reached a clearing, where a large log cabin sat. In the distance, beyond the trees, Lake Greyson sparkled in the morning light. The sight triggered memories of his childhood, when he and his brothers used to play in the lake. Life had been carefree back then.

Those days will never come again, Gauge thought, approaching the cabin. Everything seemed quiet. A little too quiet. He glanced toward the curtained windows but saw no movement. He looked around, concentrating his senses on the area, his tiger becoming fully aware.

The hairs on his arm stood on end as he felt something approaching from above. His muted tiger senses caught wind of something big descending. He instinctively dodged the incoming attack, his startled tiger rousing quickly in anger.

A large white tiger arose and locked its gaze on Gauge. Very few white tigers were part of the Whitetide. The last one Gauge had met was killed in a wolf raid. The tiger didn’t smell familiar. Had another joined the family since his short absence?

The tiger’s eyes emanated an icy-blue glow as the tiger slowly crept closer. Gauge fell to all fours and shifted. His powerful body ripped through his clothes.

The white tiger stopped. Its eyes narrowed. It projected a telepathic message to Gauge. “You have five seconds to state your business here, trespasser.”

Gauge lowered his body in a non-threatening stance. His battle was not with the white tiger. “I am Gauge Reed. I’ve come back to challenge your ‘leader,’ Axle.”

“‘Come back’? “The tiger bared its fangs. “So you are the one he spoke of. You will have to go through me to get to him.”

Gauge growled. “My fight is with my brother, not you. I have come to make things right and prepare the clan for what is coming.”

The muscles in the tiger’s body flexed. “You will never see Axle.” In a flash, he pounced on Gauge.

Pinned by the tiger’s great weight, Gauge struggled to move the beast, but the tiger was solid muscle. The tiger swiped at Gauge’s face with its claws extended. Gauge watched the claws come dangerously close to his face. Not again, he thought.

With all his strength, Gauge used his body to heave the other tiger off. He rolled to his feet and tackled the white tiger. He sank his teeth into the other tiger’s neck and tightened his jaws. Gauge felt the other tiger struggle beneath him, but he remained strong. “I’m not here to fight you,” Gauge projected to his opponent.

The tiger made another fruitless attempt to throw him off, but he was losing breath fast. Gauge’s ears flicked to the faint sounds of the cabin’s door opening.

“I’m here, Gauge. Let him go.”

Gauge froze at the sound of Axle’s voice. He looked up briefly to Axle’s human form, a tall but husky man with short dark-brown hair. His matching brown eyes looked daggers at Gauge as he stood before them with his thick arms crossed over his broad chest.

Gauge unclasped his jaws from the white tiger’s neck. The tiger flopped to the ground, barely breathing. Gauge stared at his brother, eyes narrowed, and crouched into a low stance, ready to pounce.

Axle lowered to the ground and assumed his tiger form. His body was slightly bigger than Gauge’s, his muscles more defined. Gauge’s heart pounded furiously. This is really happening.

“I warned you what would happen if you returned,” Axle projected into Gauge’s mind, slowly walking in a circle around him.

Gauge followed him, his tail lashing in anticipation. “I know. That’s why I’m here.”

“To die?”

Gauge narrowed his eyes and snarled. “To take back what’s rightfully mine.”

“You couldn’t defeat me before, and you won’t do it now.”

“I know what’s happening here, brother. With all the trouble with the Dessar and the other wolves. You’ve dishonored our family’s name for the last time.”

Axle let out a low growl in response. “Unlike you and Diesel, I did not run like a scared, weak cub.”

“I left to find someone worthy to defeat you. But it seemed I left for nothing. The only person who can defeat you is me. The wolves are closing in on this place. They have attacked my mate. That means war.”

Axle snorted. “You are not worthy of a mate, coward.”

“I already have one. Are you still struggling to keep your mates? Are they still getting kidnapped or killed by enemy clans?”

“You know nothing! “Axle’s muscles tensed.

Gauge held his head up high. “I know you’re lying. Stand down, Axle. I will not ask again.”

Axle’s eyes flashed a deep orange. “To hell with you, brother. Now you die!” He lunged at Gauge.

Gauge’s inner beast snapped, and in that moment, he saw only red. Axle pounced on him and knocked him to the ground. He snapped his jaws at Gauge and swiped at him with long, razor-sharp claws. Memories of the fight with Diesel flooded Gauge’s mind, and he dodged his brother’s incoming paws. I can’t go down like this…

Gauge fought back. His claws were not as fearsome as Axle’s, but his attacks were faster. He swiped at Axle’s face and chest with expert precision. Blood trickled from the wounds, and Axle howled in pain. With all his strength, Gauge pushed Axle off him. Axle landed against the trunk of a tree, shaking it violently. He yelped and let out a breath. Gauge and Axle struggled back to their feet then ran at each other. They clashed again, attacking with powerful bites. Gauge’s streamlined body moved with ease, and he dodged most of Axle’s attacks.

They tumbled and tussled on the ground, violently ripping up grass, weeds, and dirt amid their snarls and growls. Finally, Gauge managed to grab hold of Axle’s throat, just as his brother’s claw came dangerously close to his right eye. Gauge closed his eyes and clamped down on his brother’s throat. Sweat beaded beneath his fur, and his body was exhausted. But he didn’t let go.

Axle’s body shuddered, his movements becoming slower as he was losing consciousness fast. Gauge squeezed harder, puncturing skin, and eventually tasted blood. Finally, Gauge would have his rightful revenge.

“I… yield…”

Gauge froze, hearing his brother’s weak voice projected in his mind. In all his years, he’d never thought he would ever hear Axle say those two words.

Axle’s breath hitched.

“Are you serious?” Gauge asked.

Axle gagged, his tongue rolling in the back of his throat. Then his body went limp.

Gauge released his brother’s neck. “Fuck… Did I kill him?”

That’s what I wanted, wasn’t it? Part of him felt no remorse. And yet a small part of him sought a different kind of closure.

There were several gasps and whispers around him. Gauge looked up, ready to attack whoever was next but hoping his potential attackers were wise not to interfere. Seven young men had gathered around, observing the fighting in awe. Only one of them smelled familiar to Gauge. Weston… Gauge recognized the man’s long dreadlocked hair and slim build. They had been friends once, before Weston fell to Axle’s tyranny.

The white tiger began to stir as well. Gauge let out a warning growl at all of them. He wouldn’t hesitate to take them all on if they decided to attack.

“Gauge? That you, man?” Weston asked, holding his hands up in surrender.

Gauge let out a deeper growl and whipped his tail back and forth. Seeing as the humans were keeping their distance, Gauge concentrated and assumed his own human form. He sat beside Axle, whose tiger form still lay deathly still.

“Gauge!” Weston exclaimed. “Damn, I can’t believe you came back!”

Gauge glared at his ex-best friend then concentrated on Axle. Gauge lifted his brother’s head and felt for a pulse. His hands went clammy when he didn’t feel one at first, then moments later, he detected a very faint vibration. Gauge exhaled in relief. Axle was alive. Why am I happy about that?

“Is he…” one of the other men asked.

Weston held up his hand and motioned to the white tiger. “Go tend to Emery. Bring him inside.”

Gauge watched the other six men sidle around his space. It took a team effort to heft up the white tiger and bring him inside the cabin. Finally, Gauge was alone with his brother and former friend.

“You have every right to be upset, Gauge,” Weston began, slowly approaching. “But what could I have done? Only Whitetide blood could be a true leader of this clan, and none of us had completed our running in order to be officially inducted as blood brothers.”

Gauge raised an eyebrow. “You mean you are still on probationary status after all this time?”

Weston frowned. “Your brother’s a real power monger. He wanted no one even close to making his defeat official. There were too many of us from different former clans. Even if one of us did defeat him, we would all be nameless, the clan dissolved. And we knew about the wolves threatening the area. They were just waiting for that, among other things.”

Gauge frowned and looked at his brother. The situation was worse than he’d thought. He could kill Axle now and carry on the Whitetide name. That’s what he wants. But perhaps it was time that Axle lived with his own shame for a change. “Axle, wake up.”

The tiger stirred again and let out a weak rumbling growl in his throat. His eyelids fluttered and opened slightly, revealing their deep-ochre color.

Gauge stood and walked past Weston. “Bring him inside.” As he walked toward the front door, reality suddenly hit him. He had defeated Axle. He’d done the impossible—all because he believed in himself. The clan was his now. He’d taken what was rightfully his. He would let Axle live, only to rub his defeat in his face, just as Axle had done to him. But just for a little while.

Inside, he found the other clan members in the main living area, gathered around the couch, where a man with short white hair lay under a blanket. The other men regarded Gauge warily.

Gauge observed the scene and frowned. “Has this clan only just been you guys?”

One of the men nodded.

“No females?” Gauge blinked.

The men exchanged looks. “Axle could never keep a female. And he’d threaten to kill us if we ever sought mates in order to challenge him.”

Gauge sneered. “Well, as the new Alpha, I’m redacting his stupid, insecure rule. Help rebuild the Whitetide legacy and strength. I want only the strongest females in this family. Ones who can fight and defend, just as effectively as all of you, if not better. We are at war with several wolf clans, most notably the Dessar. We need to make an example of them so the others will remain at bay.”

The others nodded then exchanged looks of surprise and excitement.

Gauge continued trekking through the house. The sights and smells were still familiar to him, despite how long he’d been away. He headed upstairs to the master bedroom—Axle’s former room. He rummaged through the drawers for an extra set of clothes. The T-shirt and cargo shorts were a little big, but they would have to do for now.

Returning downstairs, Gauge discovered Weston had returned with Axle, who had managed to shift back to his human form. He sat naked in a chair, breathing a little slowly. His face was badly bruised, and his body was scarred and bleeding. Gauge frowned at his brother and tossed an extra blanket at him. It landed haphazardly on Axle’s lap. Weston smoothed it out and covered him.

“All right,” Gauge said, addressing everyone in the room. “Now that I seem to have gotten everyone in this clan gathered, here’s the deal. We’re going to work our asses off to secure what little land we have left to protect from the Dessar Pack. No excuses.”

“So you’re saying the ten of us are going to go up against a pack of thirty or so wolves?” one of the men asked.

Gauge scowled at the shorter thin man and crossed his arms.

“Dayton,” Weston said, “shut the fuck up and listen to your new Alpha.”

The man pursed his lips and averted his gaze.

Gauge wanted to smile, wanted to believe that Weston was for real, but he wasn’t entirely sure of the man’s loyalties yet. “I got this, Weston.”

Weston nodded and stepped back, lowering his head.

Gauge addressed everyone again. “Our territory reeks of wolf. They are closing in on us faster than we can blink. I want double patrol around the perimeter. Everyone be prepared for a fight in the coming days. I know some of you are worried about how in the hell we would ever stand a chance. Well, unlike Axle, I have allies. We will not be alone on the battlefield. If all of you wish to become Whitetide blood, then prove your loyalty. Fight for your name. Your family. The future of this clan depends on you.”

The looks of doubt and fear on most of their faces soon vanished once Gauge finished. But the Dessar could strike at a moment’s notice, and there wasn’t much time to prepare. Gauge had to work fast.