Wild Hunts (14 page)

The first was last night, when he held Kasa in his arms. Slade didn’t want to take that moment away from Micah, knowing the pain and guilt he suffered daily.

As they approached Jordan, Slade inhaled the scent of the stranger. The mixture of woodsy spice and cotton sheets filled him, but he instantly recalled the man from the night before. This one had engaged Micah. Another sniff.
His
attacker was lingering in the shadowed room before them.

“Luke, meet Slade and Micah Castrove,” Jordan introduced. The feral snarl that added a dangerous husk to his tone merely brought a smile to Slade’s mouth. Damn, this man was as hard-willed as his brother.

“The two dogs that had your sister beneath them?” Luke smirked. Slade didn’t miss the flash of sharpened teeth behind Luke’s loosely closed lips. He ignored the insult, but Micah tensed. Luke glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, Nicco. We’ve got pups at our door.”

Slade barely had time to react before his brother lunged for Luke. He grabbed Micah by the shoulders and shoved him into the wall.

“Quit it, brother. Now isn’t the time,” Slade warned in a hushed tone. Micah’s eyes blazed with rage. His body trembled as he fought to restrain his wolf from coming forth.

“He wants to fight? Let him have at me,” Luke barked from the doorway. Slade shot the man a sharp glance. Jordan held the man in the room, his nails digging into the doorframe as his body absorbed the brunt of Luke’s fight to escape.

“You’ll end up fodder for the insects,” Micah growled.

“Fuck it, enough!” Jordan bellowed. Luke immediately stopped trying to rip through Jordan’s barricade and stepped back, but the fire in his eyes never died. Slade released Micah, who yanked down his jacket and nearly tore it off his shoulders. “Get in the room. All of you.”

“Bite your tongue, bro. Stay in the corner if you must, but don’t give them reason to want our blood. We’re on the same side. Kasa is our priority now. Nothing else matters except for her safety and our ability to do everything to ensure that safety,”
Slade reminded. Micah grunted and followed him into the cramped motel room before storming to the far corner. Slade perched himself on the edge of the dresser and arched a brow at Luke. “Bro, I’d think you smarter than a college frat boy looking to pick a fight.”

“I didn’t have an opportunity to show you just what you’ll deal with if you cross this pack,” Luke sneered. His eyes glowed a fierce blue. Slade chuckled, unfazed by his threatening tone. He nodded to a door across the room. From beyond, he could hear the quickened chatter of the women.

“That joins the rooms? Suggest leaving it ajar, especially not knowing whether your scents were detected by the pack last night. Safety first,” Slade said.

“They’re fine.”

“The man’s got a point. Open the door, Luke,” Jordan said. Luke’s shoulders stiffened, but he followed the orders of his leader. Micah slid closer to the door, ignoring the scowl Nicco shot him, and stood ground guarding the women beyond. After one final survey of the men in the room, Slade noted the slight relaxation of Jordan’s shoulders, and smiled inwardly. At last, the man learned to breathe out tension. “Before you go tearing into either Castrove, I’d wisely advise against it. They’re Kasa’s mates. I’d be left tearing into you if you laid a finger on them.”

“Well, that’s comforting to know,” Micah muttered. The ice in his eyes, Slade realized, hadn’t melted in the least. It kept Luke and Nicco on edge, despite their cool fronts.

“These two fools are mates to your sister?” Nicco asked. His dark gaze moved between Slade and his brother before his fist pounded down on the table. He barked out laughter. “You’re kidding, right? They couldn’t defend a squirrel if their lives depended on it!”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Jordan said. Nicco laughed even harder. Luke joined in the rumble. Slade merely smiled, leaving the two pups to draw conclusions from the short interlude last night. If they thought them fools, so be it. They’d learn the hard way if they ever crossed him or Micah on a bad note.

Micah’s eyes rolled up to the water-stained ceiling. He crossed his arms over his chest and angled himself to peer through the open door. Slade leaned to the right. He could barely see the women in the other room, but their conversation, soft as they were, rang through crystal clear. One benefit of being a Castrove. Their family’s blood had a specially enhanced sense of hearing that outdid even the most acute wolf.

“We’re not gonna waste time bantering over strength and skill,” Jordan continued. He shot Slade a sharp look. “We’ll see, in short time, whether they live up to the reputation we know little about. As it is, we’re closing in on the Dark Moon pack and the main artery of their operations. They’re somewhere nearby, most likely strategically hidden in the mountains.”

He tossed a short glance toward the door. Slade instantly felt the telepathic link between Jordan and the rest of them light up.
“I’ve warned Kasa she is not to accompany us on any more missions. After the close call last night, her presence is too tempting to these deranged wolves, and I will not sacrifice her safety. She doesn’t see how important her life is to us just being who she is. With that said, I would suggest either Micah or Slade remain with her when we hunt. The other can come along with us.”

Micah turned away from the door. His gaze landed on Slade. Slade recognized the flare of feral desire in his brother, felt the shiver of excitement in his wolf. Micah was the hunter of them both. A savage beast that could easily be colored to life in storybooks. He was the epitome of true wolf, barely tame enough to be considered human. Only one other wolf came close to Micah’s predatory ways, and Coal Demmering couldn’t bare a tooth next to him.

“Micah will go with you. I’ll stay with Kasa.”
The quick decision earned him the sole focus of three sets of eyes. Slade shrugged.
“I love the hunt, the kill, but I also know how to handle the humane side of a relationship better than my brother. He’d be an asset to your hunt.”

“We work best as a team, but I agree with Jordan. One of us must stay behind with Kasa, and Slade is the better man to do so,”
Micah added. He flashed Luke and Nicco a dangerous smile. “I’m sure you can learn a few things from me along the way.”

“All right, Micah. Tamp down the testosterone,” Jordan said. Slade propped his heel on the edge of the dresser and rested back against the mirror. Jordan tugged a hand through his hair before a sigh left his mouth. The man’s exhaustion was taking a toll. If they had any hopes of launching a hunt by nightfall, he’d need rest. “Time’s wasting away. Let’s get to work so I can get some shut-eye.”

* * * *

Kasa continued to bristle even an hour after she overheard Luke and Nicco questioning her mates’ capabilities. She wanted to jump into the room and defend her men, but she realized she didn’t know enough about them to build an argument. Maya was also in the process of passing along the information she learned from Luke about the upcoming hunt. A hunt, she duly noted, her brother had full intentions of leaving her out of.

That
she wouldn’t stand for. She would stay by his side, even if it ate at his undercoat and incensed him until he turned red in the eyes. And if either of her mates were heading out in league with her brother, the spirits could bet she’d be right there with them.

Micah guided the truck over the rough terrain of the overgrown road leading to the cabins. The first signs of the approaching snow storm began to show, small wet snowflakes that splattered against the windshield and quickly melted away. Kasa leaned close to her window and peered out into the gray forest. Rocks and trees held the smallest hint of moisture, but the ground held no blanket of white.

By nightfall, they’d be playing on a different ball field. Micah’s dark coat would be a stark contrast against virgin snow. Slade’s gray and white fur would be easy to spot.

Her gaze shifted to Jordan. He would stand out terribly.

The snow was a great advantage for her. Perfect camouflage.

“You okay?”

A warm spark slid down her spine. She tipped her head slightly, enough for Slade’s hot breath to caress her cheek. He looked out her window, the strength of his muscular body pulsating around her.

“Fine. Looking at the first snow.”

“Not much to see.” His dark gaze lowered to hers. The corner of his mouth lifted in a devilish half-grin. “Yet.”

“There’s a lot of snow coming. I can smell it in the air. The clouds are swollen with moisture,” Kasa said. She turned into him. He didn’t back away. “What were you boys discussing earlier?”

“A little of this, a little of that. Mostly butting heads with your brother’s pack.”

“If it’s any consolation, Maya butts heads with Luke often, and they’re mates.”

“I have higher hopes for us in that respect.”

Kasa lifted her fingers to Slade’s lips and traced the sinful curves. She barely noticed Micah had pulled the truck to a stop until Jordan twisted around in the passenger seat and gently knocked Slade away from her. She groaned.

“I’m heading to sleep for a bit. Try not to wake me.” Jordan cast Slade and Micah a dark look. “And try not to do anything to scare her, will you?”

“You’ve nothing to worry about,” Slade quickly interjected as Micah opened his mouth to respond. Kasa nodded. She patted her brother’s shoulder.

“We’ll be fine. I’m going to cook my hungry men some grub and probably pop in a movie,” she said with a smile. At Jordan’s hesitation, she added, “At some point, you’ll have to trust me to them.”

“I did last night only to hear you screaming for me shortly afterward.”

“Well, there are no more secrets to surface from the shadows.” She leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on Jordan’s cheek. “Go to sleep. You look haggard.”

“What a choice of words,” he muttered, climbing out of the truck. He grabbed two bags of groceries and elbowed the door shut. Micah didn’t wait to see her brother safely into the cabin before he slapped the truck into drive and cruised down the hill to her small abode.

“I’ll check the place,” Slade said. He hopped out of the truck before Micah came to a stop.

Kasa shook her head and stepped into the soft-falling snow a moment later. The velvety flakes touched her face before turning to drops of water that slowly streamed down her hot flesh. The air was crisp, fresh with the onset of the storm. Her wolf prowled along her spirit, eager to bask in the wilderness. Tempering her excited self, she rounded the back of the truck to start gathering groceries. Micah came up alongside her and opened the tailgate.

“You and Jordan still aren’t getting along,” Kasa said, grabbing the bag closest to her. To her surprise, Micah chuckled.

“I tend to keep my distance from most other men. I have an alpha complex that gets the best of me.” He glanced down at her with a hint of a grin. The blues of his eyes were so light against the aging day. Her heart fluttered most unusually. “Your brother and I are getting along just fine.”

“Wanting to skin his hide isn’t what I’d consider getting along.” Kasa slung another bag on her arm. Micah froze, fingers wrapped around a bag. She smiled up at him. “You two are so much alike I can’t believe you don’t see it. Fortified steel shells, soft cores.” She pressed her palm against his chest. The strong thud of his heart warmed her to a dangerous degree. “Especially when it comes to those you care deeply about.”

With bags hanging from both arms, Kasa slipped by Micah in his thoughtfulness. She made it three steps before he grabbed her biceps, bringing her to a sudden halt.

“Come here, Kasa.”

She slowly backed up. Without meeting her gaze, Micah slid the bags from her arms one at a time.

“You’re right. There’s more beneath this man than I allow to be seen. Especially when it comes to those I care about.” He placed the last bag on the tailgate and finally met her gaze. Her breath hitched at the base of her throat when his hand cupped the side of her face. “Don’t mistake my show of affection for blindness, little love. My sight is perfect in all affairs.”