Pricolici (9 page)

Phell rubbed his engorged cock against Tucker’s ass. “I’m going to make you beg for mercy.” His harsh whisper in Tucker’s ear made him shiver, which sent more pain shooting from his shoulder. “But you won’t get it.”

Chapter Eight

Overhead thunder rumbled as the rain began to fall harder.

Tucker clenched his jaw shut against the pain. He wouldn't give Phell what he wanted. He would fight, and he would keep fighting, no matter what. Stelian would come for him. He knew it. He just had to keep the psychotic lupe from mating him. He dug his chin into the soft ground, trying to arch his back to get room to roll or push Phell off him. His good arm tore at the grass.

Suddenly, his body was crushed even harder into the ground, his breath whooshing out of him. The next moment all the weight on him was gone. Snarls filled the clearing. Tucker yanked up his sweats with his uninjured arm as he rolled over, frantic to find out what was going on. When he finally found the source of the snarls, he gasped. Adrenaline kept him from passing out as he cradled his arm to his chest.

A large male was in the clearing and had attacked Phell. Even with his face pushed forward into a muzzle full of sharp teeth and black fur stippling his cheeks, Tucker could tell it was Stelian. The lupe was massive in his hybrid form, his eyes burning yellow. Snarling viciously, he lunged at Phell, swiping at him with his claws, snapping his sharp fangs as he drove him away from Tucker.

An arm wrapped around Tucker’s waist from behind and lifted him from his frozen position on his knees at the edge of the clearing. Tucker cried out and twisted, trying to get away. His arm and shoulder were jostled, and he screamed in agony. He held on to the arm around his waist, trying to stay conscious.

He had no idea who held him, but so far they weren’t hurting him. His cries distracted Stelian long enough for Phell to slice at his chest. Stelian moved in time to protect the center of his body, but Phell’s claws raked down his arm; in one place, the white of bone was exposed before blood began welling from the ragged wounds. Phell snarled and pressed his attack, howling when Stelian twisted out of his reach and raked the claws of his uninjured hand down Phell’s exposed back.

The crazed lupe dropped to the ground, spun around, and then went for Stelian’s legs.

Small whimpers escaped Tucker’s throat despite his determination not to distract Stelian. It was his fault Stelian got hurt the first time. He couldn’t let it happen again. His stomach heaved from the pain of being moved, and he gagged repeatedly. His captor stumbled over a tree root, and his chin slammed straight down onto the dislocated joint in Tucker’s shoulder. There was no way Tucker could remain silent, screaming long and loud. His vision narrowed, like a black tunnel; the only thing he could see was the fighting pair of lupes.

Stelian looked over when he screamed, and Phell took advantage of his distraction. Stelian barely avoided being gutted; several gaping wounds opened up on the skin of his stomach, and blood streamed down his body.

“Be quiet,” a voice hissed. Tucker recognized it; it was the drummer from the band at the bar he’d seen the first night they met. “He wants me to get you away. Stop fighting.” There was a jagged flash of lightning, and barely a second later, a loud rumble of thunder rolled over the area.

“No!” Tucker kicked with his legs and wrenched on the drummer's arms around his waist with his working arm. Rain pounded them as he fought to get away. The lupe holding him growled in anger, but Tucker wouldn’t stop struggling as he refused to go. “I won't leave him.”

Stelian stood still now, blood from his wounds running through the wet fur on his body to drip onto the ground. In the moonlight, the red fluid looked black, but Tucker could smell its bitter tang, meaning Stelian was losing way too much. Phell's bullet wound and several cuts inflicted by Stelian were bleeding, but his wounds were not as great as Stelian's.

Phell circled Stelian, snarling as his hands flexed, the dark claws on the ends of his fingers dripping blood. His yellow eyes were bright as he taunted the enraged alpha.

“I'm going to take him, Stelian. I'll take him dry as I sink my teeth into his neck and put my mark on him, listening to him echo his sweet scream over and over. I’ll put a collar and a leash on your little pet, marking him as my bitch. Your little hultan will use his powers to create a new era for all lupes. For me.”

Stelian snarled. “Over my dead body!”

“Gladly!” Phell lunged at him, trying to knock Stelian to the ground and pin him under his body. Stelian went down, but he completed a full shift to wolf faster than anyone Tucker had ever seen. His body contorted and rippled as he turned into a gray and black brindled werewolf nearly twice as large as a natural wolf.

Tucker gaped. He’d never seen anyone become as large as Stelian’s wolf. His head came around, and he snapped giant fangs at Phell, making him jump back. The wolf charged, barely favoring one leg as he leapt at Phell, still in hybrid form, going for his vulnerable legs. Sharp claws came down and raked at Stelian’s back, but his thick fur protected him. They went down in a mass of fur and flesh, yelps and snarls filling the air.

There was a rustling on the far side of the clearing, and a man stumbled through the bushes. He was waving a gun. A shot went off, bark flying when the bullet struck a tree. His appearance distracted Stelian long enough for Phell to get a grip and slam Stelian's head onto a rock partially buried in the ground. The lupe’s straining body went limp. Phell stood, panting as he drew back one leg and kicked Stelian’s unconscious body. Tucker cried out when Stelian didn't move.

“Phell, they're coming! They got the rest of the men. Not even the silver stopped them.” The man brandished his gun. Phell stopped kicking Stelian as he turned to the lupe shouting at him. Tucker could only watch in horror. If Phell got that gun….

“We'll get their precious hultan, and then we'll be safe.” Phell held out his hand. “Give me the gun.”

“Didn't you hear me? The silver bullets didn't work on the wolves. They just kept coming. I’ve never seen a lupe able to withstand silver before. They’re coming, at least six of them.” The ranting lupe's eyes were huge, the yellow beginning to bleed in as he lost control to his wolf.

“Do as I say!” Phell lashed out, slapping him upside the head and snatching the gun from him. “The bullets may not work on their hybrid forms, but they'll work on Stelian if I shoot him right between the eyes. And they’ll work on the hultan. His body isn't like ours, not really. He won’t be able to heal the wounds. Without their alpha, or his pet, they’ll stand down—they’ll have to.”

Tucker wasn't looking at Phell, who was now pointing a gun at him. He barely heard the conversation, but he tucked the information away to think about later. Gone was the frantic energy as Tucker tried to get away from the lupe holding him. In its place was a startling clarity that allowed his mind to think furiously.

Tucker was staring at the wolf on the ground slowly turning back into Stelian’s human form. He felt power ripple through his body, and the drummer—Grecia’s husband—wisely let go of his arms and backed away.

Lupes, their arms filled with prisoners, began to filter into the edges of the clearing. A few were still in wolf shape and snarled, but they didn’t move when they saw their alpha on the ground and Phell pointing his gun at Tucker.

A moan escaped Tucker and tears filled his eyes. Stelian would have been safe if it wasn’t for him.
Phell wanted his power. He wanted to hurt people.

Tucker lifted his gaze slowly to meet Phell's.

Phell gestured with the gun. “Get over here, little bitch, unless you want to die right now.”

Tucker knew what Phell planned for him, but he wouldn’t allow his power to be used to harm innocents. Stelian was unconscious and vulnerable. Tucker’s wolf wasn’t nearly big enough to go after Phell, but he had to do something. He snarled. He would not allow that maniac to hurt anyone else. A dark purpose filled him as Tucker let go of all the fear he’d locked inside since his first shift, and let it transform into a sense of purpose, of rage. He was tired of being afraid.

No more.

His skin felt like it would split as he hung on the edge of his control, not sure what would happen if he let go. His gaze moved from the gun back to Stelian's still form, then to the circle of watching lupes. Stelian’s naked human body was strong and muscular, but in that moment he seemed fragile.

Phell took a step next to Stelian and pointed the gun at his forehead.

“He still breathes, but not for long. I’m going to kill him, but how painful and slow his death is depends on you.”

Tucker’s control wavered. Rain lashed at the trees.

“Now!” Phell screamed, froth spitting from his mouth.

The air seemed to thicken as Tucker's head fell back. His arms stretched out at his sides, his hands lifting up; the wind shifted, swirling about him. Both arms rose, the dislocated shoulder popping as it lifted, but Tucker didn't even register the pain as they pointed to the black clouds filling the sky. He was beyond feeling, consumed and lost to the power as he threw himself off the edge and gave in to his instincts. The grass and the leaves rustled in the trees around them as the wind rose and whipped around the clearing.

“What are you doing?” Phell’s voice rose, becoming strident. “Stop it, or I'll shoot!”

Tucker lifted his head to stare at Phell.

The lupe was battered, blood matting his fur. His voice dropped to a horrified whisper. “Oh my God, your eyes.”

Phell backed up a step, the gun shaking in his hand.

Tucker stared hard at him and began to pull. He had no idea how he was doing it, but the partially-shifted lupe cried out as Phell transformed to his human form. Tucker sucked in the pain of the shift he’d forced on Phell along with the power of the earth and the flickering life that ran through the plants and animals in the forest. He cast his call farther and farther, reaching to the heavens.

Every inch of his body was saturated with power. His eyes slid shut, yet he could still see everything. The power took over and pushed him away from his body. Tucker hovered over the tense scene in his astral form, able to view everything in minute detail. He could even see the swirling vortex of power that surrounded his aura. Right before he snapped back into his body, Tucker saw his eyes flick open, and caught a glimpse of the shining black orbs, completely black with no white at all.

Silence reigned for a split second, seeming to stretch into eternity.

His shout rang out, as loud as thunder and went on and on. There was a blinding flash in the clearing. Crackling sounds filled the air as erratic white beams of light shot from the ground to meet the black clouds above.

The raindrops now struck with the force of a blow, ripping leaves off trees. It was a thunderstorm like Tucker had never seen before. He was lost inside himself, watching what was happening, but unable to do anything to stop it. He didn’t want to. He chanted to the power with a wordless call, begging it to perform his will.

He would kill the interloper that threatened his mate. Death was the only punishment fitting for such crimes as Phell had committed.

If Phell wanted power, he would
get
power.

There was a sharp clap and then thunder boomed, so close the sound vibrated against his skin. He felt a channel open from the clouds above that burrowed through his body and down to the ground. Lightning formed a beam that streaked up into Tucker’s body. His whole body was outlined with a yellow white brilliance that flowed from his feet to the top of his head.

One massive beam of crackling yellow energy shot from his body. It hit Phell straight through his heart, then branched out of his body and into the forms of every bound lupe that stood at the Hunters’ feet. Tucker struggled to control the jagged lightning strikes and protect the Hunters. His will alone had to be strong enough to punish those who sought to harm Stelian. Rage blazed through him and provided him with all the strength he needed.

His howl rose high above the sound of the constant thunder and pounding rain. Tucker thrust his hands forward as the power shot from his palms, the light almost blinding him. The bitter ozone scent from the electricity covered the stench of charring flesh as the power burned out the hearts and minds of Phell’s haitas. Every ounce of Tucker’s focus was on those pulsing organs as they blackened.
Evil had to be destroyed
.

Their screams of pain didn’t come close to the agony he felt; it wasn’t enough to just punish them. They had to die. Tucker closed his eyes, and let his head fall back, a tormented shriek tearing from his throat. The cords of his neck distended as Tucker fought to control the heat of the lightning coursing through his body until he felt their lives end—felt their brains boiling in their skulls and their hearts stuttering to a silent stop. Their screams were long over by the time he finally fell silent.

When the thunder rumbled again, it no longer sounded angry. It seemed more of a caress on his body, the thunder a deep growl of satisfaction. Silence fell, and the wind died. The clouds began to recede and the moon peeked out. It was only moments until the entire clearing was bathed in the silvery light of the full moon, the night gone still, the entire world paused in a moment of motionlessness. The members of Stelian's Hunters were there, standing barely inside the tree line.

Tucker blinked and broke the spell. He wobbled on his feet. His harsh gasp as he drew in a breath sounded loud in the stillness. He didn’t have eyes for the stunned lupes. They stared not at their injured alpha, but at Tucker as he rushed over to Stelian. He had to step over Phell’s body.