The abandoned house is on the outer edge of the Lost River State Forest. We parked a few miles away, and Tia worked her magic to conceal us even though Colin and Zayne can do it independently. I have the black carmine stone in my pocket to help me if something happens to her magic.
Once we’re safely away from the road and hidden by the trees, Zayne strips down and shifts into his wolf while Tia waits for us beside him.
Colin takes off his shirt and tosses it onto the ground with my bag of clothes and food. “Please keep your mind open. I have to be able to know you’re okay.”
“I promise,” I say in his mind.
Once the rest of his clothes are off, he shifts into a magnificent, large white wolf. His blue eyes stare back at me, and I smile. “Be careful.”
He bumps me with his head. “You too. Stay close.”
Colin and Zayne run off to get into position around the back side of the house. It takes Tia and me a little extra time to get close to the home since she can’t run as fast as us. When we arrive, the sun is completely gone, and the sound of thunder rumbles in the distance. I can smell the rain and feel the electricity in the air as the storm approaches. Behind the clouds, I can feel the full moon even though I can’t see it. It draws me toward Colin, pushing me to go to him, but I can’t.
Colin’s voice echoes in my head. “I feel it too. You’re mine the next full moon. Even if I have to chase you down.”
Hearing him in my mind makes me feel as if he’s right beside me. “That might be kind of fun.” I’ve never been one to make it easy on him. A chase through the woods might be just what we need.
“You’re killing me, Kamille.”
“Sorry. I blame it on the full moon. Its power is really strong tonight.”
“Yes, it is. I’ve never felt it like this before.”
I lean against the massive oak tree and peek around it to the house. Ripped curtains cover the windows, and inside I can see the flicker of candlelight. The thunder booms above us, and the rain begins to fall, bringing the cold air with it. Lightning strikes across the sky, giving the woods an ominous glow. Luckily, the trees give us some coverage from the rain.
“Do you hear anything?” Tia whispers.
Closing my eyes, I concentrate on the sounds and the smells around me. I pick up on Ivan’s voice first, and it crawls over my skin like spiders. I never thought I’d hear it again. My wolf stirs restlessly inside of me, desperate to kill. All four men are in a room together, laughing and drinking and talking about what city they want to head to next. By the end of the night, they’ll be in Hell or whatever purgatory awaits evil shifters like them. It’d be great to storm in and take them out, but the house isn’t big enough for that kind of fight. Trying to get to the women would be much more difficult with the men in there.
“They’re trying to figure out their next destination,” I whisper.
“What about the women? Can you hear them?”
I have to block out the men’s voices, which is problematic because they’re exceedingly loud. However, underneath it all, I can hear the women’s whimpers and soft cries. Fear has a very distinct smell, and the house is potent with it, along with excitement and lust. Wolves like Ivan get a rush when they smell fear; it turns them on and makes them ravenous. Add the full moon into the mix and you have it multiplied times four.
I look over at Tia. “They’re scared.”
Two hours pass, and the storm clears out, taking the rain with it. The clouds still cover the sky, but I can see the light of the moon shining through them. Now, all we can do is wait for the right time. I don’t know when it’ll be, but I can feel the magic of the moon grow stronger. Colin’s mind is restless, and I know part of that comes from me. I’m ready to get this over with. My patience is slowly running thin.
“How long do you want to wait, Kami?” Colin asks through our bond.
“I’m about to say screw it and let’s just go in.” The longer Ivan’s alive, the more impatient I get. The men have done nothing but drink and talk about the women they’ve fucked, including those in the house. They passed them around like they were nothing—disgusting pieces of shit.
My fangs grow, and all I can see is red as the rage builds inside of me. I’m so close to shifting, but I can’t. I want Ivan to see who I am. He might’ve escaped death before, but not this time. I’m here, and he’s going to pay the price for his crimes.
“I’m done waiting,” I say to Colin. “This ends now.”
Before I can make the first move, the women scream inside the house, and the sounds of their footsteps shuffle against the floor. Tia presses herself against the tree and looks over at me. “I think this is it.”
“It’s about damn time,” I growl low.
The door to the house opens, and three of the wolves walk out, each holding onto a woman. One of them, however, has his grip on two. Ivan is nowhere to be seen. The women are dirty and haggard with bloodstains on their ripped clothes, their eyes wild and terrified. Seeing them makes my decision for Tia to erase their memories a lot easier. They’ll never recover from this if she doesn’t.
One of the wolves has a knife in his hands, and he uses it to cut the restraints binding the women’s hands together. “All right, you’re free,” he says to them, his voice dark and full of malic. The women cry and stare at each other, not knowing what to do. He kicks one of them and laughs when she falls to the ground. “It’s no fun if you don’t run!”
All three women help the one on the ground to get up, and they start running, their cries echoing through the trees. The wolves double over laughing, which makes me sick.
“Run!” another one shouts. “We’re going to catch you!”
The women move like molasses through the trees. They wouldn’t have a chance in hell of escaping if we weren’t there. What I don’t like is not having a visual on Ivan. I can feel his presence inside the house, but I want to see him. When the men start to rip off their clothes, I know it’s time.
“I’m going after the women,” I say in Colin’s mind, my body ready to fight.
“Go. Zayne and I are ready. The fuckers won’t get anywhere near them.”
I glance over at Tia. “Let’s go.”
Her magic can mask our presence, but I know that our cover will be blown as soon as we reach the women. The men’s laughter sinks further into the distance as Tia and I run away from the house. Luckily, the women stick together instead of separating to fend for themselves in the dark forest. I can see them up ahead, tripping and falling over tree roots, the smell of blood growing stronger. A howl echoes through the trees, signaling the hunt has begun.
Colin’s voice comes through my mind. “It’s about to get ugly.”
“Good. Make them suffer.” I’m almost to the women.
“Happy to.”
I reach into my back pocket and pull out my flashlight to shine it on the women. “Stop!” They all grab onto each other and turn in my direction, lifting their hands to shield their eyes. I run over to them, and they quiver in fear, their faces pale. They all look different as far as hair color and build. However, they have one thing in common; they’re covered in bruises with the wolves’ scents all over their bodies. My insides tremble with the need to kill. I pass the flashlight to Tia and slowly approach the women. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. Tia and I are going to get you to safety. My name’s Kami, and I’m with the FBI.”
The one with strawberry-blond hair falls to her knees and cries. “Oh, my God. Thank you.”
Growls rumble all around us, and the thunderous sound of fighting makes the ground shake. The women scream and rush toward me. “We’re going to get eaten by bears,” one of them sobs, gripping onto my arm.
Taking her by the shoulders, I stare right into her terrified hazel-colored eyes. “No, you’re not. This will all be over soon. Right now, you have to find the strength to run.” I look at them all. “Come on.”
Tia takes the lead, shining the flashlight through the trees so the women can see while I bring up the rear. The fighting grows more intense with the sound of ripping flesh and blood gurgling yelps. The women begin to panic and lose energy, but we still have a long way to go.
“Keep going!” I shout. One of them falls, and I grab her arm, hauling her back up to her feet. Her legs give out again as if they’re made of noodles. Tia and the other stop, so I bend down and squeeze the frightened woman’s shoulders, hoping she can see the urgency in my eyes. “Listen to me. What’s your name?”
Her lips tremble. “M … Mandy.”
“Mandy, you have to get up. When we get to the car, there will be fresh clothes and food for you. I need you to move.” Tears fall down her cheeks, leaving lines on her dirt-streaked face. More growls echo through the trees, and the fighting grows closer. In Colin’s mind, all I see is blood and snapping jaws. He’s okay.
“They think we want the women,” Colin growls in my mind. “They’re trying to get to them first. Get them out of there! We’re too close.”
“Fuck,” I hiss, pulling the woman to her feet. Her eyes widen, and she shrieks from the force of my grip. “We have to run now! They’re coming after us.”
Tia grabs two of the women and pulls them with her while I take the others. They pick up the pace, and we start to gain distance. But then, that’s when I sense someone behind us, gaining closer and closer with each passing second. Ivan. His dark energy reeks with lust and danger. With Tia’s magic and the black carmine stone shielding me, he has no clue what waits for him. I think it’s time he finds out.
I stop running and push the women forward toward the others. “Go. I have to stay.”
The full moon breaks free from the clouds and shines its light on us. Tia’s eyes widen, and she waves for me to hurry. “Come on. What are you doing?”
We have about thirty seconds before Ivan closes in. Reaching into my pocket, I grab my stone and toss it to her. “Ivan’s about to be here. Drop your shield on me and go. Get the women safely away from here.”
“Kami, no!” Colin shouts in my mind.
Tia shakes her head. “No. He’s stronger than you, Kami, and you know it. Without Colin here, you need my magic.”
I’m not a fool. Ivan is stronger than me, but I’m smarter. “Get them to the car and hurry back. I’ll be fine. Now drop the shield.”
“I’m almost there,” Colin growls.
“Dammit,” Tia snaps, pulling the girls away from me. “I’ll be right back.” She disappears through the trees until I can’t see her anymore. A few seconds later, the feel of her magic dwindles around me. The moment it does, Ivan’s lust increases tenfold, and his footsteps slow as if it catches him off guard.
The wind brings the smell of blood and death, and I can hear Colin and the other wolves in the distance. Ivan is a lot closer. When I scan the forest, that’s when I see his glowing blue eyes. He stalks closer, his body cloaked in darkness until he steps into the moonlight. I stare right into his eyes, letting him know I won’t back down.
“I thought tonight was going to be just a hunting game, but it’s turned into something much better than that,” he says, raking his gaze over my body. He takes a step toward me and another. “So, we meet again.”
My body trembles with rage. “You remember me?”
Ivan chuckles. “How could I forget?” He bites his bottom lip and lets out a moan. “Kami Grayson. You have the sweetest blood I’ve ever tasted. Biting you was euphoric.”
“Fuck you,” I hiss.
His wolfish grin widens. “Oh, you’re more than welcome to fuck me. You took away my playthings for the night. I could use a little bit of fun.” He steps to the side, and I counter him, making sure to keep my eyes on him the entire time.
“So that’s what you do, huh? You kidnap helpless women and hunt them?” I glare at him with disgust. “You’re pathetic.”
Ivan smirks. “Before the Tetons and your brother’s pack came for the Yukons, I was going to take you with me when I left. I knew we wouldn’t win the fight. I regret not finishing what I started.”
It’s my turn to smile. “Don’t worry. I’m going to finish it now. I’m not tied up and helpless like before.” I crack my neck to the side. “You’re going to suffer for what you did to my friends. I found them in the woods.”
His gaze narrows. “The two FBI agents?” When I don’t answer, he bursts out laughing. “Humans are worthless. Please tell me you’re not an agent too.” Again, I don’t respond, and his smile fades. “They’re not the first FBI agents I’ve killed, and they sure won’t be the last. Guess I’ll have to add you to that list.”
I beckon him closer, and Colin shouts in my mind again. I promised him I wouldn’t block him out, and I have to keep that promise. “I can handle him, Colin. Just get here fast.”
Ivan steps forward just as a sliver of the moonlight lands across his face. He looks up at it and smiles. “Or better yet, instead of killing you, I’ll take you as my mate.” His eyes glow when he stares at me. “Not unless your mate is one of the friends you brought. They aren’t going to beat my wolves. Their power presence is minuscule. I bet they’re already dead.”
He continues to circle closer to me, and I match his steps. “Looks like I’ll have to kill them after you then,” I state, opening my arms wide. “Because there’s no way in hell I’d ever be your mate.”
With a heavy sigh, he shakes his head. “What a shame. You might actually like it. We’ll see if you change your mind after I’m done.”
I’ve been taught to be fast, to go on the attack, and not wait to be defensive. The harder you strike, the harder your opponent falls. Ivan starts to charge, but I’m ahead of him. My claws break free, and I swipe them across his stomach as deep as I can go before rolling onto the ground to avoid his swingarm. He doubles over in pain and snarls at me as blood oozes from his midsection.
“You like it rough, huh? Good. It’s how I like to play.”
Depending on how old and strong a wolf is, their wounds heal accordingly. Ivan is a quick healer, so I have to move fast to put him down. He runs at me, and I do the same with him. When he gets close, I slide across the ground, swipe my claws across his back, and jump to my feet. I have to keep him from shifting into his wolf. If he does, he’ll be more powerful than me. He growls, and I can see the magic start to swirl around his body. I run to his side and kick his knee, shattering it in one swift move.
He falls, and his voice drips with fury. “Broken bones won’t hold me long. I’ll be sure to make it painful for you.”
My claws lengthen, and I stalk toward him. “I’m not scared of you.”
“You should be.”
I want to rip out his cold, black heart and make him watch as I do it. Still on his knees, he looks up at me just as I’m about to strike. Before I can pierce him with my claws, he takes my legs out from under me and slams me to the ground. The breath whooshes out of my lungs, and I gasp for air, but it gets cut off when his hands grab my neck. His body presses me into the cold earth, and I can’t move.
“Are you ready for the pain?” he asks, trailing his tongue down my neck. “I used to love the sound of your screams. It’ll be music to my ears when I’m fucking you tonight.” Colin’s rage explodes within me, fueling my own. I feel stronger than ever before. Ivan rears back, baring his fangs, and about to sink them into my neck when I elbow him in the cheek. I hit him again and again, screaming out my anger until his hands loosen around my neck.
The second I break free, I knee him in the groin, and he snarls in pain when I push him off. Unfortunately, he gets right back to his feet, his face covered in blood and eyes glowing menacingly. Breathing hard, he wipes the blood out from under his nose with his arm. “You know, I’d hoped things would go a little differently. It looks like I have no choice.”
I grab my gun and point it right at his head. “Neither do I.”
“I’m almost there!” Colin shouts in my head.
Ivan looks at the gun and laughs. “Kind of sad you have to use a gun on your own kind.”
“I’m not the one covered in blood. I think I can handle myself just fine.”
His grin turns sinister. “We’ll see about that.”
With my finger on the trigger, I’m about to pull it when everything moves in slow motion. Ivan's clothes rip off of him, and he shifts so fast he’s a blur in my vision. The next thing I know, my gun flies out of my hands as I’m knocked to the ground, the impact knocking the air out of my lungs. My head hits a rock, and I can feel the warm blood seeping out of the wound.
Ivan towers over me, baring his fangs as if he’s smiling. I stare right into his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you.”
He shifts back to his human form, his naked body on top of mine. I can smell the lust burning through him. “No, but you will be. I was able to draw blood from you after all.”
Visions of Chris and Anthony’s smiling faces during our training days replay through my mind. I’ll never see them again or hear their laughs. All the rage and anger I’ve kept inside me spreads like fire through my veins, ready to be unleashed. My wolf wants to break free, but I don’t want to shift. Ivan needs to see me when he dies.
Keeping my body limp, I’m hoping Ivan will think I’m too injured to fight. All he’s ever known me to be is weak and scared. That girl died a long time ago.
Licking his lips, Ivan stares down at my body. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
“So am I.” My claws extend from my fingers, and I sink them into his chest. His mouth gapes in shock, and a grunt of pain escapes his lips. I can feel his heartbeat against my fingers, the pounding growing faster and faster. He knows that if he moves, I’ll crush his heart. For the first time, there’s a look of fear in his eyes, and I smile. “It’s over.”
The sound of thunder rumbles against the ground, and I know it’s Colin. I can see through his eyes as he races toward us.
“He’s all yours,” I say in his mind. “I got what I wanted. It’s time for you to get rid of the Yukons, once and for all.”
Colin’s growl booms through the trees, and I retract my claws just as he jumps across my body, taking Ivan with him. They roll across the ground, and Colin pins Ivan beneath him, ripping off one of his arms with his teeth. Ivan screams in agony, blood pouring from his missing limb. He reeks with fear as Colin tears off his other arm and tosses it out into the woods. Out of the corner of my eye, another wolf comes into view, and I look over to see Zayne, a huge royal arctic with streaks of blood in his white fur. Both he and Colin are magnificent creatures.
Colin moves away from Ivan and circles around him like a hunter toying with his prey as Ivan writhes across the ground with no arms. He wants him to suffer just as much as I do. It feels good to hear his screams and to know that justice is being served.
Colin’s wolf eyes stare over at me. “I thought you wanted to kill him yourself.”
I shake my head. “I could have, and he knows it. You’ve waited a lot longer than me for your revenge. I wanted you to get it.”
He continues to stalk around Ivan, and I make my way over there to him. Covered in sweat and gasping for air, Ivan peers up at me. The ground underneath him is soaked with his blood. “Just fucking kill me,” he begs.
“Oh no,” I reply with a smile on my face. “I want this to last as long we can.”
Stepping back, I watch as Colin slices Ivan’s skin, over and over with his claws. He rips off one of his legs, and then a few minutes later, does the other one. Ivan’s screams slowly reduce to whimpers as the life begins to leave his body. I stand over him so I can see my reflection in his eyes as he dies. When his final breath escapes his lips, I move back so Colin can finish the job. He bites Ivan’s neck and rips his head off so viciously it flies into the forest.
My nightmare is finally over.
I’ve lived with the dark thoughts of my past for a long time, but now, I feel free. Still in wolf form, Colin walks over to me, looking strong and dangerous with his glowing crystal blue eyes. When he gets closer, he shifts and pulls me into his arms. I wrap my arms around his waist and lay my head on his bare chest.
“I thought I was going to be too late.”
I shake my head. “I knew you wouldn’t be.”
Taking my shoulders, he pushes me back so he can look at my face. His hand gently grazes over the back of my head where the gash has already healed. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” I assure him. Bringing my hands to his face, I kiss him and smile. “It’s over. I think now we need a little vacation. We deserve it after this.”
Colin chuckles and holds me in his arms. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
Breathing him in, I close my eyes, and a tear escapes the corner of my eye. I don’t know where I’d want to go, but I want it to be far away from here.