Hunger of the Heart (Wolves of Ravenwillow Book 1) (33 page)

Watching carefully as Rebecca took in his words, he was surprised when he saw that there was no confusion or surprise in her expression. Her brows lowered before a sad look filled her eyes. Shaking her head at him, she reached up stab her hands through her hair.

“I may have been at one point, Eric, but now…” she trailed off helplessly before turning to look out the window.

His entire being rebelled against her soft, defeated tone. Deep in his heart and soul, his wolf howled in pain at her slight rejection, but his mind quickly took front seat as he quickly went over her words. Rebecca hadn’t seemed surprised with this admission that she was his mate. Ignoring how she shrank from him, he moved further up the bed until they sat hip to hip.

“Why do you say that? Why do you seem unsurprised that you are my mate?” his question heavy with suspicion.

Leaning away from his crowding frame as much as her sore body would allow, Rebecca replied. “Damon told me.”

“What?” he asked astonished.

“Damon told me I was your true mate the day of the attack.” She repeated as she explained further. “He explained what it meant. Though I have to say; I wish I would have taken my chances and ran after all that’s happened since then.”

“Don’t say that.” he bit out, the muscle along his jaw tightening at her words. “I regret how I claimed you, Rebecca. I wanted it to be different but I feared that you wouldn’t accept me. That you’d run from me if I told you the truth.”

Sighing, she shook her head at him, her hand rising to cover her aching ribs once more. “I doubt the result would have been different.” She admitted.  “You know the truth now.”

“But I didn’t when I should have.” He argued. The thought that she’d turned to Damon of all people for help instead of him, irked him. “
Damon
knew the truth but not me. Why would you tell him and not the man you were sleeping with?” his tone sounded jealous even to his own ears, making Eric wince with disgust. He prayed that Rebecca hadn’t taken notice of that.

“I didn’t
tell
Damon a damn thing.” She bit out, her hand slapping at him in retaliation. Eric found he had to struggle to contain his amusement at her temper. “The night I went on a date with him, he told me that he knew. Instead of turning me over to your people for
justice
—” she said, spitting out the words like it was distasteful. “—He vowed to protect me. After the attack he urged me to tell you the truth.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“How could I have?” she asked, exasperated while giving him a look that clearly screamed;
are you stupid?
“Maybe I should have told you after we had sex that first night? ‘
Hey Eric, last night was great, by the way; have I mentioned that I know what you are because years ago my family was attacked by a werewolf. Don’t worry, I promise not to tell anyone.’
Would that have been better?” she asked sarcastically.

Sighing, he shook his head. “No. I just wish you could have come to me. I would have protected you regardless.”

“You can’t say that for sure.” She denied, with a shake of her head. “After what happened that night it’s clear that your pack wouldn’t have accepted me regardless.” She said with a look of deep disappointment. “It’s better if I just go, Eric.”

Growling low in his throat, Eric swung his legs over the bed, jumping to his feet; he paced away from her to avoid grabbing her and giving her a good shake. She thought she would run from him—again?!

“That won’t be happening.” He said firmly. Spinning around, he saw Rebecca carefully sliding to the edge of the bed before allowing her legs to dangle limply over the edge of the mattress. Fingers curling around the comforter beneath her, she swallowed before asking. “What do you mean? Am I still in danger?”

He scoffed with humor at her words. “Of course you are. You’re my mate. You will always be in danger. Others will come after you to get to me. It’s the way of the wolf shifters to dominate other packs by killing the competition.”

Scowling, she huffed out an angry breath. “Then I don’t want to be your mate.”

It would have hurt less if she’d stabbed him. She…didn’t want him. She didn’t love him. Reality was like a cold bucket of water over him. Of course she didn’t. Why would she after everything? But he had too much plaguing his mind to worry about the personal feelings between them.

Burying his instincts that demanded he go to her and show her that he loved her and that she was his, Eric pulled on his emotionless demeanor that he reserved for others. “It's not like you have a choice.” His words emerged flat and cold. “Not after I’ve bitten you.”

Reaching up to cup her bandage, she raised a confused brow at him. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“The Right of Revealment comes with two outcomes.” He stated, holding up two spread fingers. With each next word, he ticked off each extended finger. “Death or claiming.” When she just stared at him expecting him to explain further, he did. “I chose to be the bearer of Revealment and rather than kill you, I claimed you as my mate; my true mate.”

“I still don’t see what you’re trying to say, Eric. What does you claiming me have to do with me leaving for the best? I care for you; I do, but did you ever stop to think that maybe your home was attacked because others found out about me? I can’t have your death on my conscience.”

Expression softening, he strode back across the room to her. Cupping her face, even though she tensed, Eric bent to brush a tender kiss over her lips. She
did
care. She may not think she loved him anymore, but he was stubborn and ruthless enough to keep at her until she admitted it again to him.

Pulling back, he sighed before falling to his knees in front of her. When she lightly brushed her fingers though his tussled hair, he had to stiffen a groan of desire. Her touch was a drug and he was content on being addicted to her until the end of time.

“There is more to the claiming bite or as we call it; the claiming mark.” He admitted. Raising his eyes to see she was paying attention, he revealed the ugly truth that he was certain Damon hadn’t shared with her. “In a few days to a week of a shifter claiming a human for his true mate, during the next full moon, the bitten mate will change.”

Stiffening, Rebecca’s hand fell from his hair with dead weight. Her fear filled the room around him like a foul stench. “What do you mean,
change
?” her voice was firm, but the tremble of fear still echoed out, hidden deep.

Rising to his feet, he braced both arms on either side around her, caging her in as he towered over her. “Shifters live for nearly three times longer than the normal human lifespan. The claiming mark allows shifters to make their human mates like them, so they will be forever tied to each other.”

“As romantic as that sounds, I can still feel that you aren’t telling me something.” she observed with a frown. “There’s more than just a longer life involved, isn’t there?”

Looking away briefly, Eric nodded. “The bite allows us to change our human true mates into shifters. At the next full moon, you will take your second form for the first time.” He explained, proudly.

“What?!” she cried out, shoving away from him. Stumbling to her feet, she cried out when her ribs protested. When Eric moved towards her to help her when she staggered away from the bed, she slapped at his hand, angrily. “Let me get this straight; you’ve
infected
me?!” she questioned in outrage.

Eric's eyebrows lowering with confusion at her outburst. He nodded, dumbly. “Not the way I would put it, but yes.”

Face falling to one of panic, Rebecca turned away from him, pacing as fast as her weaken body would let her. Hand going to stomach, she moaned while shaking her head. “I think I’m going to be sick.” Fearing she was telling the truth, Eric lunged toward her to help her to the bathroom, only to have his assisting hands slapped away from her again. “Don’t touch me!” she bit out, her eyes blazing at him in anger.

“What can I do?” he asked, feeling out of his limit with Rebecca for the first time.

She seemed displeased with the news that she’d be turning in less than a week. He didn’t know what Doyle had encountered with his mate; Aria, but he knew from rumors that Robert Mackenzie’s mate had been ecstatic at the news. The small Latina had even had the event filmed so she could study it later on. Rebecca on the other hand appeared to be in the midst of a panic attack. Should he hold her? Kiss her and tell her it would be alright? Or should he call Dr. Terra?

“Take it back!” she demanded. Coming to a stop in front of him, she stabbed her puny finger in his chest, punctuating her words. “Right now!”

Aghast at her at her words, he shook his head slowly. “What? I can’t and even if I could I wouldn’t.” he answered with absolute confidence. “It’s a gift, Rebecca.” His hands settled on her shoulders before sliding down to tangle with her hands. “It’s a gift I can only give to you. It means you will become nearly as strong as me and beyond living longer, your senses, your ability to heal and resistance to injuries will increase.”

Jerking her hands from his, Rebecca shook her head at him. “
Gift?
Gifts can be returned!”

“Not this one.” He bit out firmly. His gaze turned hard at her refusal to accept what she was being offered.

At least she’d not scared of you anymore…
his wolf mused teasingly.

Shut. Up.
Eric fired back.

“This is part of being my true mate, Rebecca. I will be with you through all this. I know you are scared, but you can trust me.”

Jerking away from him, she yelled. “Damn it! I never wanted this, Eric! I want no part of being your mate!” she seemed surprised at her own words, but she made no move take them back.

His world shattered around him at her words. Anger filling his being at her thoughtless words, he strode past her, only stopping long enough to whisper his parting words. “You are my mate. I accepted you when you were just a human and I will do so when you change. Perhaps you should think about that.” he gritted out between clenched teeth.

Moving past her, he jerked the door to their bedroom open. Striding out, he slammed the door behind him as he left. Growling in anger and in confusion at her odd rejection, he rushed down the stairs to the lobby, leaving his mate alone for the first time in days.

Moving quickly through the forest, Jason dived over fallen logs and under heavy brush for what seem like hours until he came to an abrupt stop. His claws bit into the dirt beneath his feet as he stilled. Pointing his nose to the mid-day sun above, he searched for the scent that he’d been trailing for the past two and a half days. Through the night it had grown stronger and fouler the closer he got.

Within his wolf form, he sighed wearily. Though he knew that his mission to find who attacked his Alpha and his family was important, he couldn’t shake that he should have been with Eric at the Gathering two nights ago.  Deep down he worried what the elders had told the rest of the pack and if Rebecca; Eric’s human mate was safe still.

For a while now, he knew that the retrained violence and discontent within Eric’s pack was reaching a boiling point. It had nothing to do with his friend’s rule over the past few decades either. Eric was a fair leader and a harsh one when it came to humans. However many wolf shifters were unhappy with Eric’s need for peace.

Many shifters in the Black Claw pack wished for war, not just with other wolf packs for power but against the humans as well. It was only a matter of time before Eric would be forced to cull members from his pack for the safety of the humans, but Jason feared even that wouldn’t stop the rage that was brewing in others hearts.

The leaves above him rustled eerily though the sudden silence of the forest, drawing his attention as a strange sound drifted on the wind. Ears perking in the direction, he turned and moved with cautious steps. In the light of day, Jason’s black pelt stuck out like a sore thumb, meaning he had to be vigilant for danger. He could easily be killed by a hunter if he wasn’t careful.

Moving closer the strange sound grew louder; finally able to hear it more clearly, Jason shook his lupine head in confusion. It was a distant moaning on the wind, a ghostly choir of several eerie moans of despair. What was it?

Reaching the edge of the tree line, Jason moved onto his belly to peak through the outreaching branches of a large honeysuckle bush. In the mist of the unfamiliar forest stood a tall building; more of a warehouse or large barn. The haunting melody was coming from there. Remaining still, Jason lifted his snout to the air once more. The souring sweet scent was here. Who ever had attacked them at Eric’s home was here.

Sliding back onto his four powerful limbs, he glanced around his surroundings once more. It was then that he noticed that he was no longer in Eric’s territory. He didn’t know where he was, but it had to be miles from Ravenwillow.

Turning back to stare at the rotting and dark stained, wooden structure, Jason remembered Eric’s earlier orders; “
Observe but do not engage
.”Shaking his head, Jason found himself darting from the tree line toward the imposing building ahead. He would follow his Alpha’s orders, but he had to find out who had attacked them and why.

Coming to a stop by the door, he found a discarded pair of jeans. His nose curled at the stench of muck and rain water that clung to the fabric, but forced himself to pull them on before entering the dark interior. If he had to fight in this form, he could but he wasn’t about to do so in his human form with his favorite parts exposed.

Stepping inside, he felt air leave his lungs at what he encountered. Rusty cages were positioned along the length of the building lining the walls. Muck and fecal matter covered the ground, seeping into the base of the cages. Each cage contained a large padlock, preventing the cage from being open by just anyone. Looking up he saw more cages were positioned up on the second level. The choir of moans and cries grew louder as he stopped before a cage. Inside, he found a person! Not just a person; a shifter. The woman lay on her side, what once was a shirt and pants clung to her skin, torn and frayed. The woman looked at him with sightless eyes, as if he wasn’t there. Turning to the other side of the building he found a burly man. Chains encircled him as he lay in a heap at the bottom of his cage, his beaten face and body trapped in a partial shift of a jaguar. Moving stealthily along the rows of cages, Jason found men, women and even children, all shifters, caged and appearing nearly catatonic or drugged.

It all came together in that moment. The disappearance of shifters that Eric had been secretly looking into, it was them! They had been attacked not because of Eric’s choice to unite with other packs or even his choice to claim Rebecca. They had been attacked because of this!

He had to get back and tell Eric what he’d found. Before he could turn to rush out the building he heard a loud roar of anger. “You swore you could hold up your end of the deal!” a deep rumbling voice shouted in rage.

Stilling, Jason moved toward a side door halfway along the length of the cages. Moving inside, he found himself in a large room that must serve as a loading area. Stacks of large empty crates were positioned by the door, giving him something to hide behind as he took in the rest of the room. Along the far side was a large metal door, no doubt it was used to allow trucks in for loading purposes. In the middle of the room, Jason could see four figures.

As realization hit him at who was in front on him, Jason remained perfectly still. The loud rage filled voice was none other than Senan, the previous Alpha that Eric had defeated all those years ago. Senan had been an Alpha that few respected, but all feared. Like a malicious dictator, he’d ruled the Black Claw pack with an iron fist and with no sense of mercy. Senan and his son were just a few among many that were responsible for the gruesome murders of countless humans. When Eric had defeated him for the right to rule, most expected and hoped that Eric would kill him, but instead he’d banished the old Alpha.

Beside him, Jason saw the willow frame of Elder Peter. He scowled at Senan’s angry tone and replied. “How was I to know that Eric would dissolve the elder council? None other would stand up to challenge him as you assured me they would! I am not at fault here. Blame your whore of a daughter.” Peter spewed out with an offended tone as he pointed a bony finger at Myra that leaned uncaringly against another empty crate.

Crossing her arms over the bodice of her short, blue cocktail dress, she snarled at Elder Peter. “You should have allowed me to kill that human woman before Eric got there and then we wouldn’t have this problem!”

“And how do you think that would have come back on
me
?!” Peter asked bitterly.

A dark chuckle erupted from behind the arguing three as a towering man stepped forward. He stood at least six feet tall, enough to tower over the others with his massive frame. His hair was the color golden wheat, falling around his shoulders in long waves. When he stepped closer toward the others, Jason found it odd that they quickly stepped back, as though they feared him.

Looking closer at him, Jason found the man’s eyes glowed with a bright blue. The sight made his heart still in his chest. A shifter’s eyes always glowed golden when their beast was close, but it was nothing like this. This man radiated power like a radioactive missile.  Breathing deep, Jason found he was shocked to discover that he was the source of the foul, sweet scent that he’d been trailing. Worse than that; he was a shifter, but what kind was unclear.

“You failed me.” The man said in a voice do deep that it nearly sounded demonic. “The deal was that Eric Daniels was to stop looking for these shifters. I even tried to make it easy for you by sending my men to attack his home. But perhaps I should relay this information to my boss of your worthlessness to our cause.”

Senan squared his shoulders before stepping forward. “You promised us that your leader would guarantee us a way to destroy the humans. You cannot back out now. Eric will give up on these shifters eventually. Besides; we can always try again to kill him.”

“It won’t be that easy now.” Peter sneered. “According to my spies, Eric has formed alliances with not only the Grizzly shifter Alpha of Darkwood Springs but also the elusive cougar shifters.”

“The cougars will never come to the aid of a wolf. They do not matter.” Senan said with a bored expression, waving of his hand dismissingly.

Not appearing to care. The towering male released a lion-like roar of fury. Striding forward, he grabbed Peter by the front of his shirt to lift him off his feet. Peter squealed with shock at the quick movement as he found himself dangling in the air.

“You allowed him to form an alliance with
Doyle Mackenzie
?!” the man roared.

“What does one stupid bear shifter from Canada matter?” Myra asked with almost bored tone. Sighing heavily, she shook her head as if she found the thought of them fearing Doyle to be absurd. “He’s all strength and no brain. Just like all bear shifters, trust me.”

Tossing the quaking elder aside, causing him to land with a hard thud, the towering male rounded on Myra with a look of hate. With eyes still a glow, the man rumbled. “Doyle and his mate are the only ones that have the means to bring down our plans! If Eric discovers what is really happening with these shifters our plan would be for naught!”

Jason slowly moved back from the crates with a shocked look. Mark was right! This wasn’t just shifters just turning up missing. If this involved Doyle’s mate; Aria, it could only mean one thing. Malca was involved. He had to warn Eric. When he turned to move from the room, Jason found his way blocked by two tall shifters standing in the doorway. Like the man across the room, their eyes glowed with an eerie blue color.

Before he could fight his way out, one of the men lunged for him, shifting as he did so; Jason found a large lion inches from his face. Wasting no time, Jason shifted to his wolf form and darted out of the lion’s reach. With a loud crash, the lion collided with the empty crates, smashing them to bits.

At the commotion the others turned in time to see the remaining man shift into large black bear. Jumping from the smashed pile of wood, the lion snarled and stalked toward Jason. Jason’s eyes flicked back and forth between the two shifters that moved closer and closer to him with their eyes glowing bright blue.

Snarling, he fought to reach their minds as all shifters could while in their animal form.
“Listen to me! I do not want to fight you. You do not know who you are working for. Come with me and we can protect you.”
To his utter bewilderment, the snarling shifters never so much as blinked at his words. It was almost like he’d never spoken at all.

What was wrong with them? They were nearly mindless with only the need to attack him. Suddenly a popping sound echoed through the air a moment before pain exploded in Jason’s side. Slowly the shifters began backing away from him, quickly changing back into their human forms. Looking from him, Jason looked to his side to see that he’d been shot. Weakness filled his being as his blood dripped to the ground beneath him. Within seconds, his powerful legs shook with the effort to hold him up. Before Jason could prevent it, his legs crumbled beneath him, causing Jason to fall onto his side. Dizziness swarmed his vision, making his world spin. Footsteps approached him as Jason looked up to see Myra holding a long barrel gun. She’d shot him. A simple bullet wouldn’t have this effect on him. Something else had hit him. A sedative?

Attempting to shift back to his human form to combat the drug, Jason felt his heart still in his chest when his wolf was quiet. Again and again he tried to call upon his wolf to shift, but something was preventing him from doing so. He was trapped in his wolf form.

“I would know that wolf anywhere.” Elder Peter said aghast. “It’s Jason De’Van; he’s Eric’s beta.”

“We can’t let him live to tell Eric what he’s seen.”Senan said casting a worried look to the towering male beside him.

The immense male grunted in response. “But we cannot kill him.”

Whirling around, Myra scoffed in anger. “Why not? He could ruin everything!”

Briefly looking at her unconcerned, the male shrugged his shoulders before answering. “If he is found dead, Eric will send more to track us here. We have to move all the subjects to another location. As for the spy…” he said musingly as his glowing eyes shifted over Jason’s still form. “Leave him to me. I will make sure he disappears forever.”

Struggling to fight the drugs that coursed through him, Jason looked up to memorize the blonde male’s face. He had never met him before and but he spoke of Doyle Mackenzie with such hatred and that could work in their favor of discovering who he was. But why they were kidnapping shifters and what they were really doing with them? Unable to fight any longer, Jason allowed his body to relax as the drugs in his system took over and darkness descended.