The Alpha's Quest Collection (16 page)

As he began to walk away, Ciara grabbed Hawk's arm, spinning him around.

"You killed someone last night?" she asked, her face full of worry.

"Yes," he answered. "I'm not proud of it, not proud of it at all. They were going to kill me and come after you, Ciara. It was all I could do to protect you. I did it for you."

"This is a new world I don't understand," Ciara said. "But I don't want anyone to die for me. Please, can you promise me you won't kill for me again?"

Hawk stared at her for a minute, knowing he had to lie to her, but he just couldn't do it. He had to be honest with his mate.

"I cannot do that," he said, looking at the ground. "I must kill one more time for you, Ciara. But after that? I'm removing us from all of this. You know that. After we're done here, we won't have to worry about any of this. We're gone."

"Okay," Ciara said, looking up with a new determination on her face. "I think I understand. You're sure you're okay with leaving all of this behind?"

"Of course I am," Hawk said. "I'm doing it for you, for us. I don't want to be a wolf anymore."

"What do you want to be?"

"Yours."

Ciara opened the door to the bear's cabin, expecting to be hit by a pungent odor and a cloud of dust. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised to find a normal, clean home on the inside. The cabin was small, with only a bedroom off to the side. The rest was an open floor plan with a wood-burning stove, a comically large dining room table, a refrigerator and a small living area with more comically large furniture. One wall of the living area was completely dominated by a bookcase filled with many dusty old tomes.

"You like to read?" Ciara asked absent-mindedly, walking up to the bookcase.

"Of course I like to read," Beorn said, offense high in his voice. "You think the big stupid bear can't read?"

"I didn't mean anything by it," she said, shaking her head. "I'm sorry."

"Ease up, Beorn," Hawk said, all the kindness that usually filled his voice now gone. "Not everyone is trying to insult your honor or belittle you."

"Very well," Beorn said, shaking his head. "Why don't you both have a seat at the table?"

Ciara quickly scuttled over to Hawk and sat down next to him, trying to ease close. She looked her man over, noticing that he was now glistening with sweat. His skin had begun to grow pale and it looked like every breath was a problem.

"Are you in pain?" she asked. This was getting even more confusing. Earlier she had been able to feel Hawk's pain, but now she felt nothing—not even a hint of discomfort.

"I am," he managed. "My wolf was fighting to get loose while Beorn was talking to me and it took everything I had to keep him at bay."

"You look drained," she said.

"I am," he said, his eyes closing momentarily before opening again. "It takes a lot to control my wolf when he gets like that. I couldn't manage the pain anymore."

Beorn spun around from the stove, dropping a large platter of biscuits on the table followed by a heaping mound of bacon.

"Dig in," he said, heading for the refrigerator. He returned with a pitcher of ice water and three tin cups.

Ciara felt like a prospector out on the range as she sipped from the cup. Everything in Beorn's cabin was so quaint, so old-timey. She could get used to it.

Hawk didn't even seem to notice the food, but Ciara couldn't help herself. She immediately gobbled one of the homemade biscuits up, finishing it in two bites before shoveling bacon into her mouth.

"This human eats like a bear," Beorn said, chuckling. "Are you sure she's human, Hawk?"

"Sure," he answered, swaying in his seat.

"Oh, your shoulder," Beorn said, an evil smile crossing his face.

Ciara couldn't imagine the bear had intentionally left Hawk in pain, but then again he did appear to be kind of an asshole with a thing against wolves.

Beorn produced a large stick from beside the stove. "Bite down on this."

Hawk complied, taking the stick in his mouth and bearing down on it like a fresh kill. Her mate was a tall man, but Ciara couldn't help but marvel at how much the bear dwarfed him when he walked over. He took Hawk's arm in his hands and shoved, popping the shoulder right back into place. Hawk grunted and screamed, biting so hard on the stick that splinters began to fly, but he never passed out.

"Thank you," Hawk gasped, dropping the stick.

Beorn didn't respond. Instead, he disappeared into the bedroom, returning with an old white t-shirt. He began to tear it, creating a makeshift sling for Hawk.

"You should heal up just fine," Beorn said.

Ciara remembered going to a college football game where a player had dislocated his shoulder. She was told he would be out several weeks while it healed, but here were Hawk and Beorn acting like everything would be fine in no time. It was at that time she realized shifters must heal a lot faster than normal humans.

Makes sense,
she thought.
They're better than humans at everything else, why not that, too?

There wasn't much chatter at breakfast as Hawk began to gobble up food like it was going out of style. They both hadn't eaten in days and it definitely showed. Beorn just sat back and watched them, a look of amusement on his face.

"I can't believe you got lost looking for my cabin," he said, laughing.

"I explained why that was," Hawk said, his mouth full of biscuit.

"I know," the bear said, shaking his head. "It's still kind of unbelievable to me, though."

Hawk didn't respond; he just continued to eat and guzzle water. Finally, after what seemed like the best meal of Ciara's life, they were finished eating. Ciara patted her chubby stomach, enjoying the full feeling she hadn't experienced in so long. Beorn really knew how to make homemade biscuits—she could eat them every day.

She glanced over at Hawk, who looked to be feeling much better than he had before his shoulder had been put back in place. He smiled at her before turning back to Beorn, speaking much more amicably than he had before. To the bear's credit he appeared to have warmed up to the mated duo that sat at his table.

"I have another favor to ask of you, Beorn," Hawk said.

"Of course you do," Beorn said, shaking his head. "You wolves always want more."

"Now, listen," Hawk said, putting his good hand up to stop the bear. "I'm doing you a favor by ridding your territory of this evil. I just have one small request."

"What is it?"

"Will you take my mate back to Bucklin?"

The bear studied Ciara up and down. The look on his face was not one of joy; he almost looked like a man who had been asked to babysit against his will. Ciara realized she probably was a baby to Beorn; he didn't seem particularly concerned with the affairs of humans or wolves.

"She seems small enough to ferry back to town quickly," Beorn said. "I am low on supplies as well. I will do this for you."

"Splendid," Hawk said, smiling. "When you get to town, please take her to Rowan and explain what has happened here."

"Rowan?" the bear asked, cocking an eyebrow. "You do not want me to go to your head alpha? Isn't he the supreme ruler of your fucked-up little pack system in Bucklin? Or am I missing out on some more wolf politics?"

"Aster can't be trusted with any of this information," Hawk said. "Not until I return."

Beorn cocked his head to the side as if Hawk had told him something absurd. "I thought you said Forrest was the one who betrayed the pack."

"He is, but who knows what love will do to you? Ciara needs to stay with Rowan until I return. He's one of the good guys."

"Very well," Beorn said, forcing a smile. "I will get your mate to Rowan's house."

"Good," Hawk said, standing up suddenly from the table. "I must be on my way."

"Hawk," Ciara said. She could feel her heart jumping into her throat as he stood. He wasn't in any shape to face down a demon or any guards that might be watching the cabin. "Please take us with you."

"No," he said, pulling her close. "You cannot come. Go back to town. Rowan will take care of you."

Ciara couldn't help it; the tears wouldn't be denied. She could feel the warmness of her tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked up at him. Gently he wiped the tears off her cheeks and smiled.

"There's no need for those," he whispered.

"There is," she protested. "I feel like I'm never going to see you again."

"You will. I promise."

Before she could say anything else he pulled her into a loving embrace, his lips meeting hers. She could feel the pressure as his lips hungrily searched over her own, saying more than any words could. She wrapped her arms around the back of his head and returned the kiss, their lips dancing back and forth over one another as the electricity of their love filled the air.

Finally Hawk pulled away, looking her in the eyes one last time and whispering, "I promise."

Ciara looked at the ground as Hawk exited the cabin, leaving her alone with Beorn. She looked up at the bear who was staring at her. He quickly looked away, trying to hide his eyes from Ciara. She couldn't help but crack a smile; he wasn't as bad as everyone said he was. She could swear she saw the faintest glimmer of a tear in the corner of his eye.

Hawk stood still as the cabin door slammed shut behind him. This was it—he was either going to complete his mission or he was going to die. It was hard not to tell Ciara he might not return, but he couldn't bear to see the pain in her eyes.

"I'm a horrible mate and a horrible person," he muttered to himself as he walked around behind the cabin. "If this doesn't work I'm abandoning my mate and dooming the town, and if it does work then I'm just dooming the town."

Hawk had loved Bucklin with all his heart for so long, he hated to see anything bad befall it. But now he had a new purpose in life, something new to throw all of his heart into: Ciara. It was a strange feeling to not care about anyone but his mate now, but it was there. She was the light of his day and the only thing that mattered. Leena would not take her soul or her body.

He stopped in the shed behind Beorn's cabin, digging around for something important, something he had smelled when he walked up to the property. Finally his eyes settled on a large red gas can sitting in the corner. On a shelf he found a box full of matchbooks, guessing that Beorn must have stocked extra to light his stove. He slipped a book of matches into his pocket and picked up the gas can, his hand shaking as he did so.

Alright, Leena,
he thought, closing his eyes and concentrating on the evil that still hung in the air.
Lead me to you.

A strange sensation swept over his body, nearly bringing him to his knees. Leena didn't answer him with words, but in his head he could see the cabin and he could feel the location. There were no guards; she was completely alone in the dilapidated structure.

It was odd that Forrest had chosen not to guard her, but maybe he had moved on to other things. Hawk didn't waste any time worrying about it; she wasn't far from Beorn's cabin. In his mind he could see the location of the cabin, like he was looking at a map. It was a two mile walk northeast of Beorn.

The river would have blocked his path, but luckily the old bear had built a rope bridge that led across. As he walked across it Hawk couldn't help but smile as he felt the bridge sway back and forth underneath him. Ciara would have been frightened by the motion of the bridge, probably screaming and grabbing on to him as the whole thing shook. As it was, it was hard enough for Hawk to cross with one hand holding the gas can and the other done up in a sling.

He stopped halfway across the bridge and pushed back tears, realizing he might never hear Ciara's beautiful and perfect laughter ever again.

As he thought about Ciara he realized he was making the right decision. She was everything to him and nothing else mattered. His life had been one long play of regret. He had struggled constantly with the fact that he was the reason Leena was even missing in the first place and why so many of the elders had died at Abaddon's hands. He had thought his purpose was to protect Bucklin and never experience any joy or pleasure in his own life. But here he was, doing everything he could to
not
protect Bucklin.

Aster was a strong leader, plus Thorn was smart. Together they would figure things out and keep Abaddon at bay. In the end they did outnumber the gang. Sure, they would take some casualties due to the gang's strength, but maybe they shouldn't be so fearful. Besides, if they could convince Beorn to help or even pay to have a demon hunter visit the town, they'd be all set.

But if he let Leena out, there was no guarantee Abaddon wouldn't turn on them anyway. In fact, Hawk was banking on the fact that Abaddon would get her back and then attack the town as revenge. He didn't care that Forrest had betrayed them; he was a psychotic demon powered by hell-fire and evil. But in that scenario Hawk would also lose Ciara. The demon would hop from Leena to Ciara and then his mate would be in Abaddon's grip.

His wolf growled and gnashed, demanding vengeance for Hawk's even imagining such a scenario. The beast within him could not be denied any longer. It would not tolerate any male trying to take its mate and it would not tolerate losing its mate in any way, shape or form. This was it, this was the end for Leena and the demon.

If Hawk didn't give in to his wolf and quench its undying thirst for blood, then he would eventually lose control and shift without any control. When that happened people died. He had heard of it before, but he had never seen it. Now he felt it within himself. He was very close to the edge and had to appease the animal that lay just under the surface. If not he would never be able to have a normal life with his love.

As Hawk thought he walked with a purpose, finally stopping and looking up when the trees ended. He was in a small clearing where the grass was completely overgrown and not kept. In the middle of the clearing stood a small, one-room cabin. It was a white wooden building with a roof that looked to be collapsing. The windows were dusty and dirty, making visibility nearly impossible.

As Hawk stepped into the clearing he found he had trouble breathing. The evil hung thick in the air, nearly choking him. With each step his boots got heavier, like lead was slowly filling them to the brim.

"Leena!" he shouted. "I know you're in there! Stop this nonsense now!"

A loud whooshing sound filled the air and suddenly he was able to move without any impediment. Hawk grumbled, shook his head and threw open the door of the cabin to a sight he wasn't expecting.

A beautiful young female with flowing blonde hair and beautiful gray eyes sat in the middle of the room. Unfortunately there was a sadness in her eyes, one that betrayed the evil that resided inside her soul. She was sitting in a wooden chair, unable to move due to the chains that circled her entire body.

"Cold iron," Hawk whispered. "A demon can't fight against cold iron."

Her influence could spread beyond the walls, but the demon itself couldn't leave the vessel it was trapped in. This was why it couldn't take control of Hawk or Ciara—it was weakened by the cold iron.

"Hawk," Leena said, looking up at him with tears welling up in her eyes. "Please rescue me. Forrest thinks I'm some kind of monster. He's taken me hostage."

"You
are
a monster, Leena," Hawk said, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry, but I must do this. You cannot have my mate."

Hawk began to dump the gasoline on the ground, spreading it all over the wooden floor of the cabin. Each step he took was harder than the last, only it wasn't the evil weighing him down this time, it was his heart. A great pain stabbed him in the chest, nearly bringing him to his knees.

"What are you doing, Hawk?" Leena whined. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"You're not Leena," he said aloud, more for his own benefit than hers. "You're an evil creature straight from hell. I cannot allow you to take my mate. I will never allow it."

"Hawk, I'm not possessed anymore," she said.

"I can't hear you," he said stoically. He had to shut his heart off completely. He had to become stone inside. "I'm not going to listen to you."

"Please listen, Hawk!" Leena screamed, tears streaming down her face. "I'm not possessed anymore! The demon abandoned me a long time ago! It's possessed Forrest now! It's possessed him for a long time now!"

Hawk looked up. There was conviction in her words. For a minute his face softened, inviting her to go on speaking.

"I gained dominion over the monster inside of me, Hawk," she said, her voice a high-pitched cacophony of pain. "I tried to come back to Bucklin. It took me ten goddamn years, but I beat the fucker inside of me and I came home. I didn't make it to Bucklin, though. Forrest found me. He saw an opportunity to eliminate the other alphas and take control of Bucklin for himself. He hates Bucklin, Hawk, he hates it more than anything else. The demon inside of me felt the hate and it left me, Hawk. It left me for Forrest."

"Then why hasn't it found Abaddon yet?" Hawk asked. "Why hasn't the demon returned to its mate?"

"I don't know," she cried. "After it left me, the demon brought me here. The evil you feel in the forest? It's not me, Hawk, it's Forrest. He's out there, taunting all of us."

Hawk had dropped the gas can, and the entire cabin smelled of the foul substance. The overtly industrial smell of gasoline stung Hawk's nose and made his wolf recoil in disgust. Yet he still stood there, staring at the fist he had just made. Was any of this true? Was Leena really free? Or was the demon trying to trick him into being let go?

Hawk pulled the book of matches out of his pocket and stared at them, trying to block out the haze in his mind created by the fumes and Leena's constant sobbing. He had to be strong. Someone had to win the internal struggle: Hawk the person or Hawk the wolf.