Chapter 39
Whispers bounced through the car as Nate drove them back to Silvertail Ridge. Something big was coming. Ceridwen confirmed it with her suggestion to go home.
Nate drove down the road, completely oblivious to the buzz in the air.
The spirit whispered, “He needs your help.”
Savon closed her eyes, breathing deep. Whatever Nate needed, she’d provide. Didn’t matter what.
His phone chimed. She glanced down to see Bran’s name.
Nate pressed something and the music switched to low. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“You back in town yet?” her brother said over the speakers.
“Yeah, why?”
“Come to town hall. Hell’s about to break loose. Every damned wolf is here except Canagan.”
Nate punched the gas. “We’ll be there.”
“Shit, do you need to bring my sister?” Bran mumbled.
“Heard that, asshole,” Savon answered. “And yes, he needs to bring me. I can take care of myself.”
“Fine, call your mage friends at least,” he bit out.
Nate shook his head. “Bye.”
Savon dug her phone out of her purse and dialed Tremaine.
He answered in a single ring. “Calling about the congregation of wolves at the town hall?”
“Yeah. You there?”
“Preston is. He just called. We’re on the way.”
“Nate and I will be there soon. Do you have any idea what’s going on?”
“There’s a portal building. I believe your mother or someone is bringing Killian back.”
“Let’s hope we can end this then.”
“End what?” Nate asked.
“Your father, the rift in the pack.”
“That’s not going away until I deal with whoever is loyal to my bastard of a father.”
“Are there any?”
“Fuck, I don’t know, Sav. I want to say no, but I know plenty of the wolves don’t believe I have what it takes to be the Alpha, and that’s my fault. I should have challenged him in the beginning.”
“Trem, I’ll see you when I get there.” She hung up and turned to Nate. “No more past, remember? Only the future. You’ll prove you’re Alpha, and if I need to do something, I will.”
“Like what?”
“Canagan. She’s going to pull something. I can feel it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The beasts in the woods are drawing closer. They’re coming at her command. Don’t worry. I can deal with that.”
He nodded. “Mages will be there too. I’ve got a good feeling about this.”
She refused to give the doubts creeping in a voice, so she pulled on her hope and determination.
He parked outside the town hall. Seemed the wolves left a space for him. They climbed out, and she heard the roar of a bear somewhere nearby.
Nate turned to her. “A bear?”
She grinned. “I can handle a bear, and anything else she brings with her. You have the wolves to deal with, but if a single one of them steps out of line, I’ll put a stop to it.”
“Not if they challenge me.”
“No, if they challenge you, I expect you to end them. If they come at you without, I’ll stop them.”
“I forget you know more about wolves than most wolves seem to.”
Nate twined his fingers through hers and walked into the town hall with his mate. The floor was clear of chairs. The entire pack of two hundred wolves lined the edges of the room. In the center a black vortex spun, forming an orb big enough for people to come through.
Savon froze as her mother stepped through with a silver chain in her hand. A half-man werewolf crawled through at her feet.
So many nightmares starred Killian in that form. She couldn’t recall a time she ever saw him in reality. Only in dream. Though why had her imagination conjured such a beast?
Nate’s grip tightened when Killian started to growl, his bronze eyes glowing in her direction. She wanted to caution Nate to focus on winning, not his anger.
* * * *
Hatred flowed through Nate the second his father growled at his mate. Answers could wait. He wanted to end this bullshit.
Fawn lifted her hand and dropped it. The portal closed with a whoosh.
“Release him,” Nate snarled.
Her green eyes sparkled. “Are you ready to challenge him?”
His eyes narrowed. “I was ready the moment I stepped back into Silvertail Ridge. Jay got there first.”
Fawn turned, finding Jay to Nate’s right. “Do you forfeit your challenge of Killian Taggert?”
“I do, though make no mistake, if Nate fails, I’ll reissue my challenge.” Jay met Nate’s eyes. “I don’t expect you’ll fail.”
“Too much to fight for,” Nate assured.
Killian snarled, shooting forward.
Fawn dragged him back with more strength than he could have ever expected. “Shift,” she demanded.
“I need to make sure he’s well and fully ready to accept my challenge,” Nate roared.
A smile graced her lips as she grasped the choke collar and released the latch. She placed a hand on his head and whispered the words to heal. The silver burn evaporated under her touch.
Killian stood, towering over him. “I accept your challenge. How will you fight?”
“Half-man form.” He whipped the T-shirt over his head, kicked off his shoes, and shoved his jeans and boxer briefs down his legs before sliding them away.
He stepped forward, shifting. Nate was tall at six-four, but he shot up another foot and a half with the shift. He stepped closer. “Your rules?”
“To the death,” Killian answered. Desperation burned in his father’s eyes. He stalked forward. “No more excuses. Show me, show them, you can lead.”
Bastard wanted to die. Nate couldn’t wait to grant that wish.
Killian circled, but Nate pivoted. No limp, no hint of pain. He struck out, shooting forward, aiming his fist for Nate’s gut.
Nate stepped out of the way, caught Killian’s shoulder, and drove him face first into the hardwood floor. There was a crunch, probably his father’s nose, though he didn’t even grunt.
Killian’s hands hit the ground, and he pushed up, but Nate remembered that move and rolled back, coming to a crouch behind his father as he spun, his eyes narrowing.
“You’re weak, Nathan. Always were. And as soon as I kill you, I’ll rip your mate to shreds.”
Savon laughed. “You’ll never get that chance.”
Nate lunged forward, taking his father to the ground, planting the claws of his toes into his father’s thighs as he slammed his fist into his father’s face.
As much as he wanted to end his father’s life, he needed to prove it was a fair fight. Too fast, and they would assume the bastard was hurt. And maybe he had been over the last few months, but he didn’t sense anything wrong with his father now besides maybe his mental health. Nothing Nate could do about that besides end him.
Killian rolled, proving he still had his strength. Nate moved away, coming to his feet as Killian dove at him.
Again, Nate moved out of the way, grabbing his father by the hair. Shoving him forward, Nate kicked him in the lower back, sending him sprawling.
A roar of rage echoed through the hall as Killian spun and launched himself through the air, knocking Nate back. Killian raked his claws down Nate’s chest. Nate took his wrist, squeezing until the bones snapped, and flung him to the ground, dropping to his chest with one knee and grabbing his father’s throat.
“End me,” he mouthed.
Nate gripped his windpipe and tore it loose and tossed it away. Then he punched his claws through his father’s spine and ripped his head from his body.
Pack magic rolled through the room, kicking up a breeze that ruffled the hair of every wolf in the building. A collective roar of every werewolf went up as the breeze flowed toward him in vibrant shades of yellow and orange, with sparks of red.
The colors of hope, relief, and anger.
The energy infused him, magic filling his soul as a flicker of every wolf flared to life in his mind’s eye.
The jock-cocks, as Savon had once called them, shifted and charged at Nate.
* * * *
Savon stepped forward and pushed her hands at the three idiots. Unseen forces lifted them off their feet, keeping them in place as their clothes shredded with the shift to wolf. They couldn’t manage half-beast, yet they were ready to fight.
“They’re not in control of their actions,” Savon stated. “They’re glowing with Canagan’s magic.”
Robert spoke up, “I can put them in a cell until we’re sure Canagan is out of the way.”
He walked forward, and Savon motioned her hands together. The three wolves collided.
Robert put them to sleep with a touch and took them from the room in a blink.
A snarl rent the air as the doors were thrown open and Canagan stormed inside. “Where is Clay Weston?” she demanded.
“Safe and away from you,” Bran answered. “I know what you did to him. Did you take away the violet starlet because he didn’t take Savon down?”
“This harlot poisoned him.”
Bran laughed. “That’s not how the toxin works and you know it.”
Canagan hissed, her pale eyes burning orange as she walked to Savon. “I challenge you. Outside, where we may have an even playing field.”
There was nothing fair about what Savon was prepared to do. This creature held sway over too many of the wolves, and she aimed to end it.
Everyone followed, but kept their distance. Canagan stopped at the edge of the forest as a dozen natural wolves lined up along the grass, ready for her command.
Sylvan magic had always come easier to Savon. And she no longer needed to avoid sorcery.
Colors washed through the lot from the werewolves behind her. Mostly blues of concern.
Bran snarled. “You’re not a wolf, Savon. You don’t have to accept a challenge.”
“Don’t need to be a wolf to finish the other half of this pack’s problem. This is my town too.”
Bran muttered under his breath, and Savon spared a glance back to see Preston and Robert next to Nate and Bran. Tremaine tipped his head with a smirk, knowing full well she could handle this, and if not, he would step in.
He wasn’t going to need to save her. Neither did Nate, or Bran, or anyone else for that damned matter.
“Savon Roantree killed Clay Weston! I found the toxins growing on the edge of her property. What else are you hiding?” Canagan shouted. White-blond hair whipped around her as she lifted her hands and the bushes along the edge of the parking lot grew, reaching for Savon.
The collective gasps didn’t bother Savon. Didn’t matter who they were rooting for.
Savon snorted. “Clay is alive and well. He’s no longer addicted to your tea.”
There was a pop and Bran cursed again. Then Robert stood before her with a burly werewolf, on his knees, seemingly unharmed. And she remembered him from years ago.
Robert’s voice rose above the murmurs. “Mr. Weston was following Savon, plotting her demise. The toxin that was in his system was put there by Canagan and removed by Francine Taylor. And Savon hasn’t been here long enough to create the addiction in Clay.”
“Who the fuck are you?” a wolf shouted.
“The Magister of the Silver Council enforcers. And my purpose here is to show you the whole story while Nathan Taggert claims his pack, and Savon shows you what Canagan truly is.”
Canagan sputtered. “Heresy! Why would I poison my lover?”
Clay laughed harshly. “To keep me bound to you. To further your goals. And as soon as I failed, you stopped providing the tea you insisted I drink. That’s when the corruption spread.”
“Then why aren’t you dead?” she spat, stalking closer, but the spirits wailed, pushing back at her.
Savon lifted a hand, a cruel twist to her lips as she motioned forward. Canagan flew back, landing at the feet of her wolves, who snarled and directed their attention to Canagan.
Canagan screamed in rage, shifting. The white dress shredded as she grew, fur flowing down her body, her bones shifting. “I will not be denied my pack!”
“You already have been. And to take the pack you’d have to challenge Nate, but you issued a challenge to me.”
“A worthless sorceress, with a little Fae blood. You’re nothing, Savon Roantree. Just like your foolish parents.”
Fawn stepped forward, anger in her voice. “She’s better than any of us. So is Nate, no matter how far his father tried to beat him down.”
Savon ignored her mother, watching Canagan as the last of her dress fell from her half-beast body. Canagan hit the ground and charged.
Savon ducked, and Canagan soared over her shoulder. She spun, facing the she-beast. “You’ll never have the pendant, and you’ll never have the pack.” She sent a request to Canagan’s natural wolves. Tear her down.
“I will have the pack. No blood of Killian shall ever enforce their will on anyone. Nate will not enforce his will on you, either!”
Savon lunged forward, infusing magic into her fists as she hit Canagan in her throat and gut. Canagan slid back a couple feet.
She roared and lashed out with a swipe. Savon rolled to the side, careful to keep the wolf from scratching her. Going furry didn’t appeal to her.
Savon crouched low, calling magic to her fingertips. Heat roared around her as the molecules vibrated. She waited for Canagan to make a move.
Nate’s tension rose. Too many colors burst from him.
Canagan’s aura danced with reds and veins of black and shades of purple, hinting at madness. No surprise there.
Canagan ran at her, and Savon moved. The wolf crashed into a tree at the edge of the lot.
Savon threw her hands out, commanding the bushes to rise up, twisting branches reshaped into vines that wrapped around Canagan, pinning her to the tree. The vines hardened, growing thin, hard branches that drove into her body.
Canagan screamed but it was more of a gurgling sound.
Savon stepped forward, running her hands over the leaves. The plant burst into flames as the twigs tore into Canagan, growing and ripping her to pieces as the branches doubled in size, splitting and spreading wider.
Backing away, Savon said, “I’m sorry Killian wronged you. I’m sorry your revenge didn’t come the way you wanted, but you will not destroy my family, my mate, or anyone else.” She opened her hands, and the branches enlarged exponentially. Canagan burst apart, blood, chunks of flesh, and bones flying in all directions.
The roots of the tree and bushes sprang from the ground, wrapping around the remains of Canagan, drinking her in.
Hands closed over her shoulders, and Savon looked back to find Nate. “Scared me when you decided a physical attack was necessary,” he murmured. “But you proved you can handle anything any of them throw at you.”
“Told you.” She turned and licked her lips.
His mouth descended on hers. Before he stole her breath, she pushed him back and nodded to the werewolves.
Nate turned back to the pack and pulled her with him. “Anyone else want to challenge me or my mate?”
Savon held back a snort. His words were necessary and proved he had faith in her.
They all knelt, dropping their heads in submission.
Nate’s voice carried across the lot. “My second is Bran Roantree. And I’ll discuss the enforcer positions with those I want in the role before announcing them.”
Bran stepped forward, a nervous glint to his eyes, and glanced at Clay. “What about him?”
Nate walked to Clay, who knelt while Preston and Robert stood behind him. “Are you staying here as a loyal wolf? Or leaving?”
He looked up, confusion on his face. “You’re giving me the option after what I tried to do?”
Nate nodded. “You’re under probation. One wrong move and I will mete out punishment, but you weren’t fully in control of your actions, and we all deserve a second chance.”
“Stay, but I reserve the right to leave if I choose to later.”
Nate nodded. “I’m not my father. I won’t force anyone to stay if they want to leave. Things are going to change. I’m willing to give everyone a chance. You should give me one to prove things can be better.”
One corner of Clay’s mouth tipped up, but he shot a glare at Savon. “And you? What do you want?”
“To live my life and love the man who holds my heart. I don’t want anything from the werewolves. If pack business doesn’t involve me, I won’t be asking questions. I trust Nate to take care of you all.”
Clay frowned, leaning back on his heels. “Canagan said otherwise.”
“Lies. Why don’t you see for yourself? Just don’t plan an attack against me. You won’t live to correct that mistake a second time.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m only asking the same common courtesy I expect from the rest of you.” Savon walked away, finding her mother across the lot from the wolves.
Her mother beamed at her. “I’ve never been so proud of anyone in my life.”
“Thanks. Would have helped if you or Dad taught me something useful.” She glanced over at Ceridwen, who appeared beside them. “I don’t believe Ceridwen is very happy with you.”
“Don’t imagine she is. However, it was the best way to resolve all the issues before Jay could alter our course. Besides, he never wanted to stick around after he killed Killian.”
Savon shook her head. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Made my bed, I’ll lie in it. We can talk when you go home.”
Savon winced. “I’ve made the home my own. Didn’t think you were alive.”
She nodded. “The home is yours. I don’t imagine I’ll be staying in Silvertail Ridge. I’m certain my purpose here has ended.”
Ceridwen nodded. “We have a lot to discuss. Your solution was better than I’d envisioned.”
“Shall we?” Fawn asked.
“You can go to the house. I’ll be there once we’re done here. I’m not leaving Nate, though.”
Fawn smiled. “Don’t expect you to. It’s why I brought Killian back when I did.”
* * * *
Jay leaned against his motorcycle, watching everything unfold. He wanted a word with Nate before he made any final decisions. Sooner or later, he’d move on. This wasn’t his home, and there was a piece of him that still felt a connection to Savon.
There were two options. Stay and torture himself. Or leave to find his own mate. Maybe then the new emptiness would fill up.
Bran, Evangeline, and Nate were the only wolves left in the lot. Nate crossed the distance. “What’s your plan?”
“What’s yours?”
“Depends on your decision.”
“I have business to settle before I leave. If you need me for a few months, I’m willing to stay. After that, I need to roam. Find my own way.”
“Until I get the other enforcers in place, will you act as one?”
Jay smiled. “No hard feelings about before?”
“No. You’ve earned my respect and trust.”
“Then yes, I’ll stay. But remember, when you have the enforcers settled, I’m leaving town. I may be back, but I need to find someone to fill the gaps that opened when I realized I might find another mate.”
“I can’t be sorry she chose me.”
“You shouldn’t be. You both are happy, and I’m glad I met her. She pushed me to find my own direction.”
“Should tell her that.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s better left unsaid.” He climbed on his bike.