Ties (Running With Alphas Book 6) (5 page)

“No.”

“Yup.”

Both alphas looked at her with surprise. Taylor gave a triumphant smile. Whether she realized it or not, Lark had given them something remarkably useful.

“I don’t like this at all,” Alder grunted.

Smiling to herself, Taylor pulled the furs from his shoulders, revealing his broad, toned back. The overcast days of early winter had stolen the golden sheen from his skin, but his body was no less remarkable. She put her hands on the back of his neck and began a gentle massage.

“Trust me, this is a very good thing,” she said, keeping her voice soft and soothing. Her hands moved out to his shoulders. The muscles were rigid with tension and required much more pressure.

“She’s right,” said Hale.

Alder’s twin lay sprawled out on the bed, furs beside them, stark naked. Taylor kept her eyes focused on Alder’s back, not needing the distraction.

Hale continued, “If Silas cares about Snow, he’s not going to hurt her. If we wanted to go in there and take her, we probably could. I doubt he’d kill her just to spite us.”

During her talk with Lark, it had become apparent that Snow and Silas were forming some sort of relationship. When she’d conveyed this to Alder, he had gone from denial, to anger, to begrudged acceptance over the course of an hour.

“You
doubt
?” Alder repeated.

Taylor could feel his muscles tense beneath her fingertips again and worked quickly to ease his distress.

“I’m with Alder on this,” she said. “I still think it would be a bad idea to go storming the castle. But I do believe that if Silas really cares about Snow, he’ll want to do what’s best for her.”

“He doesn’t care about her,” Alder corrected. “He’s just using her.”

“Maybe, but maybe not.” Taylor hesitated a moment before saying, “You should let me talk to Silas.”

There was that tension again. “Absolutely not.”

“Why not?” she asked, still working to unknot his back. “I could go with you when you go to pick up Lark next week.”

“Because it’s not safe.”

Taylor jabbed her thumb under his shoulder blade, causing his muscles to spasm. “I always worry about you when you go to the border and you always tell me that it’s perfectly safe. Are you saying you’re lying to me?”

“I think we should bring her,” Hale said, coming to her defense yet again. This time, Taylor did look his way, favoring him with a warm smile. “You helped us to get Lark into their den and now you’ve figured out one of Silas’s vulnerabilities. I’m all for seeing what else you can come up with.”

Addressing Alder again, he added, “We can bring extra wolves. She’ll be safe.”

To Taylor’s relief, Alder released a long sigh and nodded. After stretching out his arms, he turned to face her. There were dark circles under his eyes and his face possessed none of its former vibrancy. She said a silent prayer that somehow, she’d be able to resolve this and bring Snow home safely. Maybe then, she’d have her Alder back.

“I’m sorry,” Alder said, reaching out to stroke the curve of her neck. “I should have more faith in you. I’ve been a terrible mate these past few weeks.”

Taylor blinked back tears. “It’s okay. I can imagine what you’re going through. I don’t know what it’s like to be a parent, not yet, but I do think about them a lot.”

She placed a hand over her belly. “I think about what they’ll look like, what sorts of things they’ll say, what kinds of things they’ll like to do… They’re not even really here, but somehow they’re already the biggest part of my future. And if anyone were to take that away from me, I don’t know what I’d do.”

Alder pulled her into his arms and laid her back on the furs. Placing his hand over hers, he leaned in to kiss her.

“I will never let anyone take them from us,” he said.

She knew that in the world they lived in, it was impossible to make such a promise, but it was comforting just to know that he cared. She snuggled up against his chest, reveling in his warmth.

Just as Taylor was getting comfortable, she heard the furs rustle. She looked up to see Hale standing, his expression neutral.

“I’m gonna go get something to eat. You two want anything?”

She wanted him to lie back down, to spend some more time together with the both of them, just like they used to. But maybe that was too much to ask. For now, she finally had Alder and she’d take what she could get.

“I’m fine.”

The frosted grass crunched beneath Taylor’s feet as she climbed down from Alder’s back. She kept her hand clenched in his fur as the Halcyon wolves stalked ahead, laying the deer carcasses on the ground in front of them. Three fresh kills with thick puncture wounds in each of their necks. According to Laurel, they would be enough to feed the whole of Whiteriver for nearly a week.

Taylor stared down at them, her nose wrinkling at the sight of blood oozing out onto the ground. She had been blissfully eating meat for a full week now, but she still couldn’t stomach seeing what her dinner came from.

Her stomach turned against her and she clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling a gag. Normally, she didn’t resist the urge to vomit, but given her present company, she put forth an effort.

On the far side of the field, Whiteriver wolves stood, watching them. In the early morning light, she could make out at least five wolves, but was sure there were more hiding amongst the trees.

It was easy to tell which one was Silas. Tall and muscular, he stood out in front of the others in his human form. He wore heavy black furs and had his chestnut hair tied back.

His amber gaze and the gazes of all the Whiteriver wolves, were focused squarely on Taylor. She had expected that. They were probably wondering what the heck she was doing at the border. She was wondering the same thing.

Their attention made her nervous. Not just because the stakes were so high or even because she still wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to say, but because she had suddenly remembered how terrible she was at public speaking.

Part of her wanted to shrink back, let Alder pick Lark up per usual, and go back to the den in shame. Her pride wouldn’t let her. Nearly every member of Halcyon had been dragged out this morning to act as her bodyguards. Like the Whiteriver wolves, most of them hung back in the trees, but Taylor could feel their stares boring a hole into her back. 

Taylor swallowed and cleared her throat a few times. Laurel put a hand on her shoulder.

“Remember, you don’t have to yell. He’ll be able to hear you if you speak normally.”

Taylor nodded in understanding, but when she finally worked up the nerve to speak, she still found herself awkwardly raising her voice.

“I brought you some food,” she said, waving her hand at the deer. “Well, actually, my pack brought it. And hunted it. I just came up with the idea.”

She gave Silas a weak smile as she scratched the back of her head. Bringing them food had seemed like a pretty good idea, but he didn’t look happy.

Taylor motioned back towards the forest. “There’s plenty more where they come from, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

She waited to see if he would respond, but was relieved when he didn’t. For what little of her speech she had prepared, she hadn’t considered that he might actually say things.

“I think this has gone on long enough. Alder and I don’t want war,” she told him. “And believe it or not, neither does Hale. We just want to bring Snow home, before her own pack shows up and things start to get out of hand.

“I know it’s hard over there. There’s not enough game in the mountain to feed your pack. Give Snow back to us and you have my word that your pack can hunt in our forest this winter. If everything goes well, Alder and Hale have agreed to extend the arrangement into next year.”

She didn’t have to wait long for Silas’s response. She saw his mouth move, but without the benefit of preternatural hearing, she couldn’t pick up what he was saying across the divide.

Laurel leaned in. “He asks why he should trust you.”

Taylor had been prepared for that question—if prepared meant that she was aware he was going to ask it. She didn’t have a reassuring answer for him, so she hoped he could appreciate an honest one.

“I have no idea why you should trust me,” she said bluntly. “You don’t know me and your recent dealings with my mates have been, well, pretty bad. But really, why does anyone trust anyone? I guess in this case, you’re just going to have to go with your gut.”

Letting go of Alder, she put a hand to her chest. “But please, while you’re thinking it over, consider what’s best for Snow.”

There was so much more she wanted to say to him. That Snow was far too young for any serious relationship and needed to be with her family. That Silas was in no position to care for her when he could barely provide for his own pack. That imprisonment couldn’t possibly be the basis of a healthy relationship. But all of these were things best said and extrapolated upon in private. She couldn’t afford to put him on the defensive in front of two packs. She just had to hope that he truly did care about Snow and was mature enough to recognize these things himself.

Alder, who had shifted into his human form, addressed Silas next. He motioned to the deer carcasses. “We’re going to leave these here. You can come and get them once we’re back in the trees.”

Silas was still looking at Taylor. He was too far away for her to gauge his expression She waited to see if any more words would be exchanged, but instead Silas waved his hand, sending a signal to the wolves in the trees.

A moment later, Lark emerged from the woods, looking frazzled. Both sides stood in silence as she made her way across the field, shoulders hunched and arms wrapped around herself.

Taylor barely had time to greet Lark before Alder had shifted and Laurel was urging her to climb onto his back. She complied, knowing that it probably wasn’t the best place to hold a conversation.

As her pack headed for the trees, Taylor looked back over her shoulder. Silas was still watching her. He didn’t seem like a bad guy, just a kid who was in over his head, doing his best to be strong for his pack. She couldn’t have handled that sort of pressure now, let alone when she had been a teenager.

Back in the sanctuary of the forest, Hale came to walk alongside of them. By Taylor’s request, he’d been made to wait in the woods, seeing as how his presence would likely only cause friction.

“You did well out there,” he said, patting her calf. “He might actually be considering it.”

“I agree,” said Laurel. “This conflict has gone on too long and I’m sure his pack is just as tired of it as we are. He’s probably relieved that Taylor gave him an out, provided he trusts us this time.”

While Alder was unable to state his opinion in his wolf form, Taylor could sense the shift in his mood. His steps were lighter and there was a renewed spark of optimism in his blue eyes that was balm on her tired soul.

There was a hum of excitement throughout the pack as they marched back to the den. Taylor chatted happily with Quinn and Glenn, her mood too bright to be dampened by the cold, misty forest. For the first time in a long time, things were looking up.

When they arrived at the den, Hale helped Taylor down from Alder’s back. With her feet on the ground, he moved to release her, but her knees buckled. Eyes widening in alarm, Hale tightened his hold on her hips to steady her.

“Sorry,” she said, taking hold of his arm. “I was too nervous to eat before we left. Now I’m totally wiped out.”

He lifted a brow. “I saw you eat at dinner.”

“That was five hours ago,” Alder said, having shifted behind her. He placed his hands around her waist. “I told you before, she needs to eat every two hours.”

While the two alphas debated her dietary needs, Taylor spotted Lark amongst the others. Usually, she was chaperoned back to the room where she would be interrogated, but in all the excitement, she seemed to have been overlooked.

Lark still stood with her arms around her chest, looking intensely uncomfortable. When she noticed Taylor looking her way, Lark gave her a beseeching look.

Carefully slipping away from Alder, Taylor made her way across the room on shaky legs. Having also skipped her nightly nap, all she wanted to do at this point was eat and pass out, but she couldn’t ignore Lark’s silent plea.

She suspected that the Lark was worried about her position in the pack. If Taylor really had managed to resolve things with Silas and Snow was safely returned, Lark would return to Halcyon full time. Regardless of her intentions, most of the pack still viewed her as a traitor, and Taylor could see how the current situation would make Lark nervous.

“Hey,” Taylor greeted. “Are you cold, can I get you a fur?”

In a hushed voice, Lark said, “Not right now. Can I talk to you in private?”

Taylor hesitated. In spite of what happened, Lark was her friend, but she still didn’t think it was wise to sneak away with her. Taylor glanced around, spotting Holly nearby. The fox shifter was already eyeing them with suspicion, so Taylor motioned for her to join them.

“Can we go talk, just the three of us?”

Holly scowled, and it was then that Taylor remembered how much Holly hated Lark. Probably not the best person to call over.

“Over there,” Holly said, tilting her head towards the tunnel that led to the upper chambers.

Taylor assumed they’d be going into a room to talk, but Holly stopped them a few yards in.

“All right, what is it?”

“Keep your voice down,” Lark urged.

“I don’t take orders from you, rat,” Holly hissed.

Taylor intervened. “Just tell us what’s going on, Lark.”

“I thought what you did today was really brave. I’m sure Silas will return Snow.”

Taylor’s face warmed with pride. “That’s great to hear, but you didn’t have to tell me that in private.”

Lark looked from side to side and then leaned forward, lowering her voice even further. “It’s not about that. You see, the thing is, everything’s going really well and I don’t want everyone to freak out, but there’s something you should know.”

“What is it?” asked Taylor.

“You see, Alder doesn’t know and Snow was going to tell him, but—”

Holly let out a harsh breath. “Oh my God, will you just spit it out?”

“Snow thinks she might be, um, going into heat soon.”

“What?” Taylor and Holly asked in unison.

Holly added, “That’s impossible. She’s a wolf shifter.”

Lark looked to Taylor. “She says it’s happened once before, early last winter. That her parents think it might have something to do with how she can’t shift. She doesn’t know if it’s going to happen again or not.”

“Did she ask you to tell us this?” Holly questioned.

“No, not exactly, but it doesn’t matter. We have to get her out of there as soon as possible.”

Trying to keep her wits about her, Taylor held up a hand. “Okay, you’re right. We’re going back to the border tonight. We should wait to see what Silas says and
if
he doesn’t give Snow back,
then
we tell Alder.”

“Tell Alder what?”

Taylor whipped around so quickly she nearly lost her balance. In her momentary panic, she had pictured Alder standing behind them, but to her relief, it was Fenix. She scrambled for something to say, but Holly came to her rescue.

“None of your business, asshole.”

Fenix gave her a withering look, but amazingly, didn’t press the issue. “Whatever you three are scheming, it’s going to have to wait. Snow’s other dad just showed up, and this guy is pissed.”