Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (62 page)

Dove clapped her on the back. “You really did sound terrifying. Keep up the good work.”

“Thanks.” Lia realized her bowstring was still taut, and let it slacken. “It’ll take more than that to bring Shade down, though.”

Huck looked at Lilah, frowning. “Who’s this?”

“A friend,” Lia said.

Lilah waved.

Now Cricket was frowning too. “Is she a long-lost sister or something? You two look so similar.”

“We’ll be introduced later,” Lilah said. “It would take too long to explain everything right now. Let’s just say that I know Lia very well.”

Huck glanced at Lia, his question clear on his face.

“We can trust her,” Lia said. “Like she said, it’s a long explanation. You’ll hear it someday, if we survive. But right now, we need to find more of our pack, make a plan… something.”

Huck nodded. He, his mates, and Lilah were all looking at her. Lia blinked, beginning to feel uncomfortable.

“Well, Alpha?” Huck asked. “What’s it going to be?”

She gulped. Her mouth felt extremely dry. Ronan wasn’t here, and neither was Kane. These four looked to her to lead them. She needed to make a battle plan, and her choices would decide whether they lived or died. How in the Hells did Ronan do this?

“Shade’s at the den,” Lia said, her voice faltering. “He probably brought his entire pack with him. How many wolves does he have?”

“Canker, Pike, and Weevil were on our pyre,” Huck said. “Shade has eight other wolves.”

“Eight,” Lia muttered. “Nine, counting Shade.”

“What about the boy?” Cricket asked. “The one who casts illusions?”

Lia shook her head. “He just protected me from Raid. I don’t think he’s going to be much help to Shade.”

“He’s still dangerous,” Huck said. “Do you not remember when he conjured Della and tried to lure you to your doom? We need to kill him, just in case.”

Lilah glowered, white-hot rage in her eyes. Before she could say anything, Lia stepped on her foot.

“Don’t kill him,” she said. “He’s just a boy. Besides, he’s going to be important.”

Huck shrugged. “If you say so.”

“I do.” Lia put an Alpha’s force behind her words. “So. As it stands, there are nine of them and five of us. They’d slaughter us if we rushed in. For now, let’s get closer. We’ll head west, keeping to the woods. Once we have a clearer view of the den, maybe we’ll see something we can use.”

“Should we shift?” Huck asked.

“I won’t, but you probably should. Keep an ear out for us.”

He nodded, shifting as he did. Lia couldn’t help but feel some relief when he stood by her as a towering wolf. She ruffled his slate-blue fur. She was more at ease with him as their guard.

Cricket shifted too. Dove leaned against her, fingers clutching sleek brown fur. Lia looked at all of them in turn. They were ready.

The five of them set off through the forest, feet and paws barely making a sound. Lia let Huck lead, trying not to fret that he could get killed in that position. Worrying wouldn’t help, and besides, Huck could handle himself. He’d been a shifter for far longer than she had, and most likely fought in more battles than she could fathom. He should be the leader of their merry band, though she knew he’d never accept the role.

Huck stiffened, pointing with his muzzle. They all halted. Cricket’s ears pricked forward, her lips drawing back over sharp canines. Someone was crashing through the underbrush.

With a low growl, Huck looked at Lia. She knew he was asking permission to ambush the intruders.

They didn’t have time for niceties. Lia nodded.

Huck sprinted forward, leaping through the trees. If she weren’t so afraid he was running to his death, Lia would be enthralled at his grace, speed, and absolute silence. He was a masterful hunter.

Someone yelped.

“Curse it, Huck!” hissed Ivy. “Do we look like deer to you?”

Lia motioned everyone forward. They stepped into a clearing, where Huck had pinned Ivy and knocked down Clove.

“Do you see this, Lia?” Ivy asked. “Call him off, will you?”

Clove sat up, hand on her forehead.

Ivy was instantly by her side. “Are you all right? I swear, Huck, if you’ve hurt her just after she’s healed, I’m going to arrange a visit for you with the dark god.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “And keep your voices down. Did you not hear? Shade’s claimed the den.”

Ivy pulled Clove to her feet. “We’ll see about that.” There was a murderous glint in her eye.

Huck looked at Lia. “Now we have seven to the Shadow pack’s nine.”

Lia bit her lip. Even if they could somehow get Finn to fight for them, she still didn’t like those odds.

“What do you mean you have seven?” Ivy asked. “I can fight, but Clove can’t.”

Clove glared. “Don’t baby me, Ivy. I’ve healed enough. If I get hurt again, so be it.”

“You’re barely healed—”

“This is my pack, too. I won’t let Shade and his dogs take our den without a fight. Besides, I have a score to settle with Razor.”

Ivy scowled, but didn’t argue.

“Lia?” Huck asked, looking to her for orders.

She took a deep breath. “Same as before. Through the forest until we get eyes on the den. We’ll go from there.”

They set off again, Huck loping ahead. Lia shifted only her ears, straining to hear some signs of life. How far had the hunters gone? Surely they’d heard Shade howl, and would be rushing back. She wouldn’t have to fight Shade and his entire pack with seven wolves, two of whom had just recovered from horrific injuries. Right?

Their party neared a wooded hill. Lia motioned for them to halt. From here, they’d have a good view of the den across the meadow.

Peering between a gap in the trees, Lia clenched a fist. Wasp, Crossbones, and Razor patrolled the perimeter of the den like they owned it. Shade paced back and forth through the meadow. Pausing, he sniffed the air. Raising his head with a grin, he looked right at their hiding place.

Lia blanched. He was downwind of them. How had she made such a stupid mistake?

“Come out, my pet,” he called. “I smell you, hiding in the forest.”

She gritted her teeth. She would never go to him.

Shade waited a moment, tapping his foot. “I thought I might have to encourage you. This might do the trick.”

He snapped his fingers, and Viper and Stoat emerged from the den. They carried Briar between them, though his feet dragged in the grass. From here, Lia could see that he had a split lip and a gash on his head. His nose was a broken mess. He stirred feebly, trying to twist from the grip of his captors.

But Briar was too slow, and too weak. All he got for his efforts was a punch to the stomach. Lia held back tears as he doubled over. If he died, it would be her fault.

Briar stopped struggling when Shade’s knife pressed to his throat.

“No,” Lia whispered.

“It’s very simple,” Shade called. “You surrender, or he dies.”

She looked at her pack, who stared back at her. “We have to help him,” she said.

“Lia.” Huck’s face was ashen. “We’ll be killed.”

“I’ll give you one minute to decide,” came the silky voice. “You already know how generous I am, Lia.”

She struggled to breathe as she remembered the knife in Sequoia’s back, her dying scream, her blood pooling on the stone floor. Lia wiped the edge of her thigh, and found that she was still tacky with it.

It was the same knife at Briar’s throat, she realized, the same one that had killed Sequoia. She wouldn’t let him kill any more of her pack with it.

“Why do you have that look on your face?” Huck asked. “We can’t risk you or your unborn pup. Briar wouldn’t want you to throw your lives away for him. He would rather die than see you come to harm.”

Lia whirled on him. “So we’re just going to leave him to his fate? What if that were you out there?”

His gaze was clear and steady. “I’d have you leave me there, just as Briar would. The pack protects its Alphas, and its pups. Like it or not, we’d all die for you.”

She looked at Ivy, Clove, Cricket, Dove. None of them flinched at a word he’d said.

Tears streamed down her face. “I don’t want any of you to die for me.”

“Thirty seconds!” Shade called.

Angrily, she wiped her eyes. If Shade would just give her time to
think
.

She wanted to make him pay for threatening Briar. She’d love to call upon all the locusts of the world and have them chew away his flesh until nothing but bone remained. But there was nothing she could do without magic.

“We need someone like Magnus.” Lia slumped to the ground. “Someone whose magic doesn’t wane.”

“Like mine?” said a voice at her elbow.

They all jumped. Finn appeared beside her, and found seven weapons trained on him.

He held up his hands. “I gave Raid the slip. Then I followed you. Kill me if you want, but I can’t take it anymore.”

Huck snarled. “How do we know this isn’t a trap?”

“It’s our only chance.” Lia looked at Finn. “Briar only has seconds left.”

“I’ll help you,” Finn said. “Only please, don’t let him take me again.”

“We won’t.” Lia clasped his hand. “I promise.”

Finn let out a shuddering breath. It seemed like the weight of the world had slipped off his shoulders. “Tell me what to do.”

The wind had died down. Hoping it would be enough, Lia laid out her plan.

Chapter Five

“Stop! Don’t hurt him!” Lia ran from the trees with her hands in the air.

Shade smiled, showing all his teeth. “I knew I’d make you see reason.”

Lia approached cautiously. “Drop the knife, Shade. You have what you wanted.”

“Not yet. Come closer, pet.”

“Don’t,” Briar croaked. “Not worth it.”

“That’s enough from you.” Shade pressed the blade until it nicked Briar’s skin. “Let the Alphas talk.”

“I’ll go with you, Shade,” Lia said. “Just please, leave my pack alone, I beg you.”

He beckoned her forward. “Seal our deal with a kiss. Then we’ll see what I can do for you.”

Lia looked toward the woods. “Kane and Ronan will be here soon. If we leave now, we can avoid more bloodshed.”

He gave her a wicked grin. “Who says I want to avoid it?”

Briar slipped to the ground, out of Shade’s grasp. Shade swore, casting about for his prisoner who had suddenly vanished. He kicked the ground where Briar had fallen, but his foot met air.

“Alpha!” Raid emerged from the forest at a sprint. “He’s gone! That cursed mage boy has run off!”

Shade turned to Lia, rage in his eyes. He lunged for her.

Lia leapt to meet him, changing in midair to a slate-blue wolf. Huck slammed into a very surprised Shade, teeth snapping at his throat.

Cricket, Ivy, and Lilah appeared, launching themselves at Stoat and Viper. The Shadow wolves shifted and ran, one of them squealing.

Raid howled, and reinforcements poured from the den. Sweat beaded on Lia’s brow as she tried to count them all. Dove and Clove had their orders to get Briar to safety. As all three were invisible, Lia didn’t know when they would return. Even when they did, Lia’s pack would still be sorely outnumbered.

She put an arrow to her bowstring, searching for a target. It felt hard to breathe. She didn’t want to shoot anyone she loved. Her enemies were moving so fast, and her brain was too sluggish to compensate. A whimper escaped her as two wolves closed on Lilah. Had she led them to a slaughter?

Howls from the woods made her heart leap. Five wolves raced into the meadow. Lark, Fox, Dash, Blossom, and Rain had come to join the fight. Maybe now they stood a chance.

From the other side of the meadow were more howls. Dove and Clove had seen Briar to safety, and were throwing themselves into battle. Razor screamed as the two of them tore at his face.

Driving Huck back, Shade barked orders to his pack. Wasp, Crossbones, and Viper ran from the wolves who were fighting them, and straight toward Lia.

She loosed an arrow, far too soon. It sank harmlessly into the dirt. Lilah and Cricket harried her pursuers, trying to draw them back, but they would not be distracted. Crossbones kicked Cricket in the head with his back feet, only looking back long enough to make sure she’d gone down. Lilah fell back, kneeling beside Cricket.

Three hungry pairs of eyes were on her. Lia fumbled for another arrow, but dropped it before she could nock it. She backed away, trying not to trip over her own leaden feet. Huck was still locked with Shade, and Lark and her friends were blocked by Raid and Cougar. Lia was alone. The Shadow pack might be outnumbered, but they could still kill her.

Crossbones closed in, leering, his missing eye fixed on Lia.

The ground trembled. Wasp and Viper looked up, alarmed. The Twin River Alphas had returned. They charged through the meadow, leading the boar hunting party. Lia’s heart sang. The entire pack was here. Shade didn’t stand a chance.

Kane and Ronan fell on Lia’s attackers, driving them back. Crossbones shrieked as Kane’s teeth closed within inches of his remaining good eye. Flint and Duke barreled into Cougar, knocking him to the ground.

Lia scanned the battle. She couldn’t see Cricket, or Lilah. Where had they gone? Her heart drummed as she ran through the meadow, one hand over her belly. She needed to find Lilah and send her on her way. Her daughter had barely escaped death in the last battle, and there was no way Lia would let her die in this one.

Raid, Crossbones, and Wasp circled her Alphas, keeping them away from Shade. Lia didn’t envy them their task. Kane and Ronan clawed and bit furiously, giving no quarter. She could see the fear in Raid’s eyes. At least he wasn’t stupid.

Cage and Grey had broken through, growling a challenge to Shade. He slashed at Grey, who crumpled to the meadow. Cage howled as Grey stained the grasses red.

Shade’s head turned, locking onto Lia. He had the look of a cornered animal, but his eyes held a dark promise for her. Crouching, he prepared to spring.

Yelping, Shade jumped sideways, not forward like she was expecting. He yelped again, snapping at the air. No one was there. It looked like he’d been stung by a bee.

He shifted, reaching out to snatch something. Finn materialized, paling as he realized he’d been caught.