Opening the Cage (9 page)

I need to hear her, not you. Do you understand? You need to be calm.

He nodded, panting, his world shrieking around him. Canyon was hurt. Riana was gone. It was cold.

So cold.

Canyon’s head tilted like he was listening, then Canyon licked Wend’s muzzle.
This way.

Wend stood still, caught between the need to get Riana and the knowledge that It had fed and would be strong. Stronger than Canyon.

Turning, Canyon looked at him, eyes so dark against the snow.
Wend. I need you.

You. It has her. It will kill you.
Riana It would just hurt; Canyon, It would kill.

Canyon padded back to him, the leg almost healed now. Thank goodness. That was fast.

He reached up, nuzzled into Canyon’s ruff.
It will kill you.

No, it won’t.
Chuffing, Canyon nibbled his whiskers.

Her scream made him stiffen, press closer.

We need to find her, Wend.
The screams made Canyon growl. That was his job, right?

He turned, nose working, searching for her, but there was nothing but snow. Nothing.

Canyon barked, heading west again, unerringly following something Wend couldn’t smell or hear. Canyon seemed to know, though.

He followed, nose down, trying to do something to help. All he seemed to be able to do was worry. Fret. Whine a little.

Call for her.

Riana. Riana. Lady. Please.

Wend! WEND! WENDWENDWENDWENDWEND!

His muzzle snapped closed, and he tasted blood.

She was hurt. Scared. Somewhere dark.

Teeth flashed somewhere in his mind, and her world went black and so did Wend’s.

Chapter Nine

Canyon barked at Wend, trying to get the damned fool up on his feet. He needed Wend awake and helping. The truck was dead, and he couldn’t carry Wend and find Riana at the same time.

Wend started to shake, to convulse on the ground, foam bubbling up on his muzzle.

Shit. Shit, that was bad. Canyon changed back to human, the pain in his not quite healed leg making him cry out. God, this was fucked up.

He gathered his boy up, held him close, the snow dripping around him, melting on his skin. He stroked those velvety ears, humming a little, the sound instinctive. God, he wished Mesa and Junie were here.

“Please, honey.” He petted, patted. “Please come back.”

He heard a sharp, bright bark.
Brother
.

Oh, Lady Moon. Mesa.

Mesa.

Oh, yes. He needed help. He called out, telling Mesa where he was. “Mesa!”

There were two of them—Mesa and Sammy coming right out of the trees, running toward him.

Despite everything, he smiled hugely, feeling like he could do this now. They would help him find his girl.

Mesa changed while Sammy came to him, her fur warm against his bare back. “Kody’s coming with the four-wheeler.”

“The truck is dead, man. That thing…it’s not human or wolf, bro.”

“We’ve got to get you out of here, back to safety.” Mesa frowned, eyebrows lowering. “Where’s the other one?”

“She’s gone.” His voice broke, and Wend whimpered. “He took her. It’s killing both of them, man.”

“Gone?” Mesa’s voice turned to a low, rough growl. “Okay. Okay, we’re taking you home. We’ll regroup and get you warm.”

“No. No, he’ll find us there, Mesa. He’s strong enough to take down a fucking truck like it’s a deer.” He grabbed Mesa’s arm. “Alicia’s with them, man. They’re coming for us and that thing…It’s nothing good.”

“Fuck. Fuck.” Mesa snarled, eyes flashing in the night as a four-wheeler came through the trees, Kody driving. “He’s got blankets and clothes.”

“Thanks—I—thanks.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. At least Wend wasn’t foaming anymore.

A blanket draped over his shoulders.

“Come on. Sit down. Bring him. There’s food.” Kody got him moving, Mesa’s Beta so strong now, so solid.

Canyon smiled, stood, holding Wend. His legs wobbled under him like Jell-O. Wend looked at him, eyes wild.

Riana
.

Soon, love. We’ll find her soon.

A warm tongue flicked his wrist, Wend relaxing in his arms.

Yes. Thank goodness. He needed Wend to relax. He needed to find their girl. At least with Mesa, Sammy and Kody by his side he felt like he had a chance. They just needed to get a move on.

Kody got him settled, wrapped together in the four wheeler with Wend. “Mesa? What do we do?”

Mesa stared at the sky for a moment. “We find a place to hole up and make a plan. Canyon says Alicia is here. She knows our weaknesses. We can’t go back to the pack and lead him there, so we need a bolt hole.”

“We need to get out of the snow, too.” Kody frowned, chewed his bottom lip, then smiled as Sammy barked sharply. “Right. We found an old cabin when Sammy and I were…exploring on our own. It’s only twenty minutes from here.”

“Exploring, huh?” Mesa grinned, and it looked so normal that Canyon got a little choked up. Man, when had it all gotten so weird?

Kody turned bright red and Sammy chuffed softly, tail wagging.

Canyon hooted. Soon. Soon he would be able to play with his mates.

Mesa raised a brow, and Canyon had to grin. “What?”

“Nothin’, bro. Just laughing at Mr. Single-I-would–never-want-two-mates.” Mesa tilted his head. “We’ll need to chat about that.”

“Shut up and drive.”

Kody chuckled, and Mesa just snorted, shifting to his wolf form so he could run with his lady. Kody was a much better driver anyway. Canyon looked at the trees and tried not to think of Riana, lost and scared. They would find her.

He knew it in his bones.

* * * *

Riana crouched in the cave, the bite on her leg seeping, bleeding, hurting. She whimpered softly, lapping at it, worrying the wound.

The Alpha’s bitch was whining, twisting on the ground, her mouth covered in Riana’s blood, her belly growing with a demon wolf. Riana could see it, clawing at her insides. The old witch was moaning, knife in hand, trying to whelp the thing. Screams filled the air, like the scent of blood, of pain. The moon would not let that thing be born. She knew it, like she knew her own name.

Riana had been horrified at first, but now she was numb. Her Wend was gone. Her Canyon was gone. The sun was gone.

She usually healed quickly when It bit her, even if it hurt like fire. This time, though, she was afraid she was going to die, alone and cold and scared, surrounded by screams and death.

Still, her Wend was safe. She knew it. Canyon had him. Maybe this was how it was supposed to be. She could remember them, loving her, touching her and…

Stop it.

Wend?

You stop it right now.

She looked around, trying to see, but he wasn’t there.

Wend? She needed to know he was there. Somewhere.

You stop it.

Are you here? She stiffened. You stay away. You stay away from here.

She didn’t even know where here was.

Just wait for us. Don’t you do anything without me.

Wend. She rested her muzzle on her paws, ears twitching as the sounds of something crashing around outside hit her.

Oh, no. No. Please.

Stay with me, love. Canyon’s voice came to her, loud and clear.

Shh. She scrambled back into the shadows, dragging her wounded paw. Stay away. Be safe. Be together and safe.

Not without you.

That came from both Canyon and Wend. They were so good to her.

It was too bad that she wasn’t sure it was possible.

Her cage opened, and the witch dragged her out of the bars, toward the writhing half-wolf bitch with teeth like needles. No. No.

She could cope with death, but that thing would eat her. Chew on her.

Tear her to pieces. For her blood.

Riana fought, her two good legs scrabbling furiously. The witch pulled and claws scraped along the floor, toward her, Riana growling low.

No more. No more hurting.

Teeth sank into Riana’s flank and she screamed.

* * * *

Wend stood, barking, scrabbling out of the pile of blankets they’d been wrapped in. They'd found a place to rest, to get warm. To eat. He'd been sound asleep, nose on Canyon's flank when her voice woke him, ringing in his head.

RIANA!

Hurting her.

Hurting her.

HURTING HER.

The female found him as soon as he crawled out of the overhang of trees they'd buried themselves under, and he growled, showed his teeth, still too caught in Riana's voice to know the new female’s scent. Her head tilted, and she barked sharply, then Canyon appeared, bounding out to rub noses with him. Warm. Mate.

Hurting her.
He whined, danced, pushed closer, needing comfort. Canyon gave it, stropping against him more like a cat than a wolf, vocalizing low. He knew Canyon and Mesa had been talking about how to find Riana. He’d heard them.

Hurting her. Mate. Mate, please.

I know, love. I know.
Canyon nipped his neck, just to stop his movements. It made him pause long enough to think. He stomped, nudged Canyon with his nose, and Canyon chuffed.
We need to concentrate. We can find her.

Where?
She didn’t want them to come. It would hurt them. He growled deep in his chest. He was tired of being scared, tired of this constant game.

Yes. No more. We go after him.
Canyon was ready. Determined.

The Alpha that smelled like home, but not, came out, teeth bared, and he backed up. Canyon turned, tail curled up over his back, head bobbing. Oh, they looked so much alike, those two. They chest bumped each other, vocalizing. Canyon was always between them, always protecting him.

The big male gnawed at Canyon’s ear for a moment, but it looked friendly, so Wend let it go.

Everyone started moving toward the shelter again, inside, but he hesitated. Riana was out there.

Canyon turned, calling to him, the little howl enough to make Wend’s ears twitch. He followed; he had to. That call was huge. Wend stumbled forward, close enough that Canyon’s scent flooded him. It made things better for a moment, made him easier, quieter.

I promise you, Mate. We will find her.
Canyon sounded so sure.

I know.
He was lying, but Canyon needed to hear it.

In. Canyon herded him in, nipping at his heels, driving him past the others, who were in a pile, grooming and vocalizing. Resting.

There was no rest for Riana. He could feel her pain, gnawing at him.

Canyon’s teeth landed on his ruff, shaking him, bringing his focus back.
We need to focus, love.

Canyon pulled him down, curling around him.

I miss her.
He hadn’t spent a day without her in years.

Oh, love.
Canyon licked his muzzle.
Think hard. Can you see anything? Hear anything where she is?

In a cave. She’s cold. Hurt. Dying.
He reached out to her, but she was too hurt, too tired, too far away.
She’s in a cage. She can’t see outside.

That’s good, love. That’s good.
Canyon’s nose touched his, and he felt stronger.
Look deeper.

He pushed harder, but it was like she was hiding from everything, slipping away. He growled softly. His girl.

Riana.
Canyon growled, too.
Show us.

Go away. Go away. Go away.
Her voice was everywhere, like a whispered song.

His head hurt from it, constant whines coming from his throat. Canyon, though, he seemed focused. Alert. Strong.

Wend didn’t understand.

He didn’t understand any of it.

Pack. I guard the Pack.

He looked at Canyon, whose sight was somewhere else, in the trees.
We’re not your Pack. The Alpha said. I…
It was all so wrong.

Y
ou are. You’re my pack. I protect what’s mine.
Canyon turned back to him, tongue lolling. Then he barked sharply, and the other three took notice. They came closer, the little male bowing to them both.

Canyon just circled them, like he was gathering them to run on a full moon, and then started to lead the way.

Canyon? It’s snowing.

So it is. I know which way they went.