Authors: Aliyah Burke
Her tongue snuck out to dampen her lips. “Thank you.”
They stepped back from each other and he shifted back to wolf as she gathered the rest of her arrows. He tossed her a look over his shoulder and she nodded, gesturing him on. He set off, not going as fast as he’d like, but she had a good speed.
This ending location had men with guns surrounding it, he could smell the oil before they reached it and stopped, shifting back. Her body had a beautiful sheen to it but determination sat stamped all over her features.
“What’s wrong?”
“They have guns.”
“Okay.” She narrowed her eyes and reached for an arrow. It was notched and loosed in a heartbeat. He turned and saw it in the chest of the man he’d smelled approaching. “I think I’m getting the hang of this shifter thing.”
“Never doubted it.” He knelt to the wild wolves who’d accompanied them. Relaying his desires to the top one with them—the alpha had remained with his mate—Casimir watched them melt away into the forest. “Come on.”
At the edge before the clearing leading to the old building, she paused. He stopped. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll cover you.”
“Keep yourself safe, mate.” One fierce kiss and he stepped to the tree line.
“Hoss?” He glanced at her over his shoulder, eyebrow raised. “I’m going to be pissed if you get hurt, too.”
“Understood, mate.”
“Good. Get out of here.”
He looked her over once more then did as she’d ordered.
I’m never letting her go.
αβ
Dyana could barely control the nausea swirling in her gut as she waited to see how this played out. Her chest burned and her fingertips itched. That tingling in her jaw—what she usually got before she puked—hit her and she blinked away some tears.
Whatever the hell is wrong with me needs to wait until we’re done here.
She peeked down to the wolf beside her, he stood statue still. Dyana scanned the area, looking for places snipers could be at. She couldn’t hit everything but she could get a few of them and they would die for trying to kill her husband.
Guess that settles it then. Decision has been made. Casimir Lars, you’re mine.
The intricacies of how their relationship would work out may be up in the air, but she wasn’t giving him up. Now wasn’t the time to think on it, however, she understood what her heart had been trying to tell her. She needed him in her life, for whatever reason, she couldn’t do without him.
“Devlin,” he hollered out, as she moved into position to take out a sniper.
The shack door opened and his nephew stepped out from the darkness, Paps before him with a gun to his head. She growled low and the wolf beside her gave one she took to mean he agreed. Didn’t look as if the gun was needed, for Paps was in a bad way.
“Step down or I kill the old bastard,” Devlin threatened.
“You want my Pack, you have to defeat me. You, not your idiot followers.”
“I’ll kill him.”
Casimir approached. “I’ll still be Alpha and you’ll be dead.”
“He’s your grandfather.”
“He was Alpha before me, he knows how this works.” Casimir’s voice was cold, emotionless.
“Kill him, boy, and get it over with.”
Paps’ tone wasn’t as strong as she recalled it being. He spoke through busted lips. A howl pierced the air and everything stopped. The wolf beside her lifted his head and bristled.
What the fuck is going on?
Eyes scanning for any sign of what was coming, Dyana was shocked at how one second nothing was there, the next, wolves poured into the clearing. Wolves and one leopard. They pushed those with guns in closer. Martha and Jetje were also brought in. He also saw his older brother, Jansen, who’d been spared in the past. That wouldn’t happen again. Some shifted to human and some remained wolf. Their loyalty was unquestioned as to who it belonged to.
More wolves came, this time belonging to Devlin, and she was impressed by how many he’d gotten on his side. The battle was short, however, for his men weren’t any challenge for the Tatra Pack or the wild wolves who fought at their side.
Paps lay unconscious on the ground, his wife Martha had been killed and Jetje lay dying. She glanced around, seeing Devlin up against the side of the wall with her mate at his throat, ending his life. Casimir was unforgiving, showed no mercy.
She couldn’t figure it out though, something else was there. Something was wrong. But what?
Her quiver empty, she walked out into the meadow unsure of where to or how to pinpoint her unease. She watched Casimir as he walked away from his nephew. As she stood there, she observed how gentle he was with his grandfather, carrying him off to the side. Still, the air vibrated with an odd feeling.
If I could just put my finger on what it is.
She stepped from the wooded area and flexed her fingers around her bow. She couldn’t shake this feeling. Moving down toward the group, she slowed up as Kraven headed across to his Alpha.
They were almost there, she’d made her way as well, when another stepped from the trees, his automatic weapon aimed at Casimir.
“Death to the Tatra Pack!” he cried.
Kraven launched himself in front of his Alpha and the second before the trigger was pulled, an eagle swooped down from the sky talons raking the man across the face, weapon falling useless to the earth.
All the wolves stared as she smiled. The eagle hit the ground and shifted.
“The fuck?” Casimir’s question was echoed by Kraven.
She put her hand on Casimir’s arm and he slid it down until their fingers were linked.
“You could have told me,” he said as Shira walked nearer.
“It wasn’t my secret to tell.”
“How the hell didn’t I know?”
“Also not my secret to tell.” She rested her head against his arm, the restlessness inside her calm.
“You and I have some things to discuss.”
She walked from his side to embrace Shira. “Thank you.”
“You said you liked him, so I couldn’t let him die.” Her friend smiled. Her sharp gaze moved around. “Everything okay?”
“It will be. Once we’re back home.”
“You,” Kraven said, striding up.
Shira faced him, expression cooling. Kraven didn’t slow, just grasped her and kissed her. Her brows jacked up in shock and she angled her head to find Ranger watching with the same confused look.
“Well, that’s interesting,” she muttered seconds before he blocked a knee to the groin.
Casimir turned his attention to his Paps and the kids. She joined him, they needed the assistance now. Time to get everyone home.
Three months later
Dyana stood at the window and stared out over the front yard. She’d stayed in Washington. Not in the same house as Casimir, although more often than not he ended up in her bed.
She loved the way the moonlight filtered through the wispy clouds and danced along the grass. This place had begun to feel like home to her.
“Come eat.”
She turned to find Casimir leaning against the table. Beside him sat their dinner. Candles burned in silver holders, the platinum tapers adding elegance to the scene. She moved to his side, staring up at him.
“I have a competition coming up in Maine. I have to leave soon.”
His eyes darkened as he ran his hands up and down her arms. “I don’t like you leaving.”
“I still have a job to do, hoss.”
He gripped her chin and dropped a brief kiss on her lips. “You don’t have to. You know this.”
“Yes. But it’s my love.”
He inhaled sharply. “That’s your only love?”
She reached up and brushed his hair back from his face. “Not the only one.”
“Am I going to have to come after you?”
“I like it when you come after me.” Her smile came much easier now than it had when they’d first met. “So, yes, you’re going to have to come after me.”
His lips rose slightly and his gaze burned her. “I’ll always come after you. You’re mine.”
She gripped his shirt, yanking him to her. “And you are mine.” The possessiveness in her tone shocked her.
“Thought you weren’t ever going to say it.”
“I wasn’t sure I—” She doubled over in pain as it racked her. “Shit!” she cried out.
Casimir caught her as her legs gave out. The clawing from the inside made her wonder if there wasn’t something cutting its way out.
“Dyana,” he begged. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake this hurts!” She hunched up again, eyes blurring in pain.
He brushed her hair back from her face, his words becoming a stream of gibberish. Then she couldn’t focus on him. Succumbing to the pain, she lost track of time until she opened her eyes once again.
He knelt beside her, hands on her face. Her throat, dry, needed moisture and as she attempted to ask for water but it didn’t work. She tried again and heard a whine.
“Gods, you’re beautiful.”
That didn’t make any sense.
Her entire world was a bit sharper, sights, sounds, smells.
“Black and gray countershaded. Just beautiful.” His smile calmed her rising fear. “Baby, you’ve shifted to a wolf.”
That really didn’t make any sense. She wasn’t a shifter, well, she was but she couldn’t shift. Or could she?
She struggled to rise. Instantly she found him before her, shifted as well. His muzzle nudging her, he encouraged her to rise. Trusting the wolf to know what to do, she struggled to her feet.
Unsure on her paws—four of them now instead of two feet—she followed him outside. He nipped her neck and circled around her twice.
She went with him out into the moonlight as he nudged her, excited and scared by this new chapter in her life. Being able to shift. Being a true shifter. Things still had to be worked out but this would find its way to be. He was hers and she was his. Had she a hand she would have covered her womb. She would tell him about being pregnant when they got back.
Aliyah Burke
is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be found on Facebook or Twitter at @AliyahBurke96.
She is married to a career military man. They are owned by four Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
For more information on other books by Aliyah, visit her website:
www.aliyah-burke.com
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