Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (38 page)

Kane knew the words were supposed to be reassuring, but they seemed to have the opposite effect on Lia. She crumpled, head in hands as sobs ripped through her.

“He gave me wine and made me beg for him. And he had me kill you, Ronan. I didn’t really, but it felt so real, you were dying and I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean any of it, but I can’t stop seeing that look in your eyes.”

Ronan looked like a startled deer. Kane felt much the same. He had never seen Lia like this, and had no idea what to do.

“We’re here,” Ronan said, crouching to rub her shoulders. “Both of us. We’re fine. It doesn’t matter what happened before. You’re here now, and safe. I don’t know about Kane, but I don’t plan on dying any time soon.”

“But I killed you, Ronan!” Lia said through her hands. “You were dead!”

Ronan glanced up at Kane, his eyes pleading for help. Kane could only shrug. The only idea coming to his mind was to knock Lia out and hope she felt better upon waking. It didn’t seem like a great plan.

“There you are, chickpea.” Della swooped in, hauling Lia to her feet. “Back at last.” She stroked Lia’s back until her sobs subsided into hiccups. “Come with me and sit by the fire. I’ll make you some tea.”

“Will she be all right?” Ronan asked as Lia was led away.

Della nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Kane breathed a sigh of relief. There wasn’t time to give Lia the attention she deserved and prepare for battle. He didn’t know what they’d do without Della.

“Shade’ll be here soon,” he said. “Any plans?”

Ronan’s gaze was like steel. “We fight.”

A change seemed to have come over his brother. Already, Ronan’s eyes burned with battle lust. Shade would rue the day he had tried to take their mate.

Lark ran up to them. “Lia’s frantic. She said she forgot to tell you that the mage boy made a map of our den, during the feast.”

“Let her know we got the message,” Ronan said. “I want her as calm as she can be.”

Lark raced away.

Kane swore. “Great. Just what we need.”

“Maybe it is.” Ronan seemed lost in thought. “Shade thinks we’ll defend our den, and he wants to use it against us. If we fight in the open, we could ruin any plan he has.”

“Then it would be down to his strength versus ours.”

“Exactly.”

The Alphas exchanged a look of grim determination. They were stronger than Shade. Even with his pack, he was no match for them.

Kane slapped Ronan on the back. “Let’s gather the troops.”

***

“I told them,” Lark said, pressing another cool cloth to Lia’s forehead. “They know everything.”

“But Shade still has a mage.” Lia struggled to stand, making the cloth fall. “How are they supposed to fight a mage?”

Lark pressed Lia back to the furs on Ronan’s bed, making soothing noises. “Are you sure she needs a cold cloth, Della? Her skin is freezing.”

“That’s what the tea is for.” Della handed a cup to Lark. “Try to get her to drink. Even a few sips would do wonders.”

Lia’s stomach threatened to rebel as the tea slid over her tongue. It tasted too much like the herb clusters Shade had forced her to swallow. Her hands trembled, almost knocking the cup from Lark’s hands. He couldn’t take her. She couldn’t go into the dark again.

“One more sip,” Lark wheedled until Lia drank. “Della, they’ll be here soon.”

“I know,” Della said. “And we’ll meet them when they do.”

The tea made Lia warmer, if only for a moment. She wished Shade would go back to the shadows.

Ronan popped his head in to the room. “Lark. Will you be in charge of our defenses?”

“I most certainly won’t. Put Ivy and Briar in charge. I’m going to fight.”

“Fine.” Ronan sighed. “I’ve already heard it from Cage and Blossom, I don’t need to hear it from you. But get outside, we’re going over the plan.” He glanced at Della. “You’ll help with defense, won’t you?”

Her look of scorn was his answer.

Ronan rubbed his face, looking worn. “We can’t all fight, you know.”

“What about me?” Lia asked.

“No.” His voice was sharp. “I forbid you. You’re in no condition, and I don’t want to give Shade any opportunities. That’s final.”

Lia frowned, but seeing as she could barely get out of bed, he was probably right. And she wasn’t ready to face Shade again.

“Don’t leave the den,” Ronan said. “If Shade can’t get in, it won’t matter that he’s mapped it out.”

He left, and Lark followed.

“Stay here, Lia,” Della said. “I’d have Ivy or Blossom look after you, but everyone’s needed. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon enough.”

Lia wanted to argue, but Della was already gone. She lay back. She didn’t have the energy to chase after them even if she wanted to.

Then her wolf awoke.

She shifted instantly, rage in her heart as she slunk out of the room and down the darkened stairs. The tread of her paws was silent on the stone. She knew she didn’t have the energy to fight, but no one would keep her from watching.

Near the entryway, Briar and Ivy sat at the long table.

“Sequoia and I will go to the heights,” Briar said. “Clove, Cage, Grey, you’re with Ivy at the entrance. No one gets in. Rain, you stay on the stairs in case there’s trouble on either end.”

Lia slipped by, her dark fur hiding her well. The rest of the pack had gone outside. She could hear Ronan going over the fighters’ positions. Sticking to the shadows and keeping downwind, she crept closer to the group.

“I want everyone in the woods,” Ronan said. “They’ll expect us to be guarding the den, so they’ll come across open ground. Once they’re close enough, we’ll come out on their left flank. Hopefully we can give them a surprise.”

Briar howled on the heights.

“Places,” Kane said. “They’ll be into the meadow soon.”

The pack ran to the woods and melted into the trees. Lia followed, crouching behind a fallen log. She hoped no one had seen her.

Her wolf ears could still pick up Ronan’s whisper. “There they are.”

Heart thumping, Lia gazed toward the far side of the meadow. She could make out Raid and Cougar in the lead, the hulking form of Canker and the equally formidable Crossbones. The rest of their pack followed. But where was Shade?

“Coward,” Kane spat. “Will he not face us?”

Lia flattened her ears. It stunk of one of Shade’s tricks.

The Shadow pack trotted across the meadow, tails held high like they owned it. They passed the fighters in the woods, stopping a good distance from the den.

Raid shifted. “Cast out your Alphas,” he called. “And give us their mate. If you cooperate, Shade will spare you.”

An arrow sprouted at his feet. On the heights, Sequoia held a bow with one hand and made a rude gesture with the other.

“So be it,” Raid said, “but we will be forced to—”

At some signal Lia didn’t catch, the Twin River wolves erupted from the trees. She was pleased to see one of the Shadow pack cower and yelp.

“Remember your orders!” Raid yelled. “Kill their Alphas!”

Kane shifted midstride. “Good luck with that.” He shifted again as Raid did, crashing into him and sinking his teeth into Raid’s damaged leg. Raid howled with fury.

Cougar leapt at Kane but Ronan cut him off, fangs bared in challenge. The two began to circle each other.

Lia didn’t know where to look. Everything was happening all at once. Howls and snarls laid thick on the morning air. Fangs sank into flesh, too fast for her to tell if friend or foe had been wounded.

Dove and Cricket advanced on a rangy brown wolf that might be Stoat. Orion, Huck, and Flint faced down two enormous wolves who could only be Canker and Crossbones. Wasp tried to attack Violet, but she whirled and slashed at him before he could touch her.

Lia’s heart thudded in her ears. She hoped no one got killed on her account. She would do anything to be able to help her Alphas, her pack.

Cougar retreated, probably to search for a less terrifying opponent. Ronan was being harried by two wolves who seemed small but vicious. Kane snapped at Raid, perilously close to his throat, though Viper was running to his aid.

A large gray wolf lunged at Cage, about to land a blow when Blossom bit his rear. He turned on her with a roar, knocking her off her feet. She went down and stayed down. Cage howled, leaping on the gray wolf’s back and tearing at him with his claws.

Lia bit back a cry. She was about to run to Blossom when she smelled ash on the wind. The blood almost froze in her veins.

Shade was here.

She had to warn Ronan and Kane. Where was he? On the edge of the battle? In the woods? She shuddered. He could be right next to her.

Lia looked back at the battle. Lark had fallen. Fox and Dash circled her, showing their teeth to anyone who got too close. Lark wasn’t moving. From here, Lia couldn’t tell if she was breathing.

Della screamed. Gaunt was on the ground, his neck at an angle that made Lia feel faint. Della was on her knees, hands covered in blood. She was in human form, no longer caring about the battle around her. She was going to get herself killed.

Lia ran forward, straight into something she couldn’t see. She shifted in surprise. It had almost knocked the wind out of her.

At her feet, Finn flickered into view. So did Shade, sneaking up behind Kane on the field of battle. His eyes were fixed on the back of his rival’s neck.

“Kane!” Lia cried.

Her Alpha didn’t turn. He couldn’t afford to, as Raid and Viper were staring him down, ready to attack.

Ronan heard her, though. Baring his fangs, he barreled toward Shade.

The rival Alpha took his eyes off Kane for a moment to look at Lia. Seeing that she looked back at him, he sneered. It didn’t matter that she’d discovered him; she was too late. He sprang, aiming for the back of Kane’s skull.

Ronan leapt, in time to defend Kane but not himself. Shade’s teeth slashed across his throat. Blood spurted from the wound, soaking his white fur. He fell, gasping.

All movement ceased.

“Ronan?” Kane leaned over him, as if he couldn’t believe what he saw. Blood pooled around his feet.

Somehow, Ronan shifted. He coughed, blood spraying his lips. Lying back, he stared at the lightening sky. He made a feeble attempt to press the wound at his neck closed.

“No. No!” Lia ran to his side.

“Let’s go, boys.” Shade waved his pack away. “Let them mourn. Tomorrow, we take what’s ours.”

The Shadow pack melted into the trees. The Twin River pack stared at their fallen Alpha.

“Please,” Lia said. “Please don’t go.” She crouched beside Ronan, gripping his hand. It was turning cold. “Don’t leave us.”

His lips moved like he was trying to say something, but he just made a horrible burbling noise.

“Hang on,” Lia said. “I can fix this. I promise. Just stay with me.” She reached deep inside herself, for the place where her magic lived, but it felt hollow there. The new moon hung in the sky, dark and lifeless. She begged and pleaded, but her magic wouldn’t come. He was dying… dying… dead.

Part Six

Chapter One

The Twin River pack stood still, too stunned to mark the passing of their Alpha. Kane knelt beside his brother, a raw howl tearing from his throat. Clutching Ronan’s body, he wept.

Someone touched his arm. Kane didn’t know how long it had been, but his body felt battered and Ronan’s skin was growing cold. He looked up to find Huck and Orion.

“Let us move him to the den,” Huck said. “At least until we can build a pyre—”

“Stay away from him!” Kane lashed out, his fingers turning to claws. “You’re not burning my brother!”

Huck and Orion exchanged a look, then retreated.

Lia sat a short distance away. Her eyes were unfocused. Kane didn’t know when she had gotten here, but she looked too sickly to be outside. Still, he had no energy to spare her when Ronan was dead. What did anything matter now?

He shook Ronan. “Please wake up. Please.” But Ronan just kept staring at the sky with his sightless eyes. “No.” He touched Ronan’s face, willing it to be warm. “Don’t you leave me, too. Don’t go. You can’t.”

This couldn’t be happening. Kane ran his sharp nails up the length of his arm. It hurt. Blood oozed from the wounds. It was real. He wouldn’t wake from this nightmare.

“Ronan?” He tapped his brother lightly on the nose, like they used to do as pups to annoy each other. Ronan could never resist getting him back.

“You have to wake up. One cut wouldn’t kill you, right?” Kane looked down. His hands were caked with his brother’s blood. Still, they could fix it somehow, couldn’t they? Lia could fix it. She knew magic. He had seen her do it before.

“Lia.” He grabbed her by the shoulders. “You can heal him, can’t you? Like that buck I almost brought down. I broke its spine, Lia, and you did… something, and it ran away whole. You can fix Ronan, just the same.”

“I can’t,” she whispered. “My magic depends on the moon, Kane. It hasn’t come back yet. Maybe if the moon were full, but…”

He snarled. “You just want to keep your magic all to yourself.”

“Don’t you think I’d save him, if I could?” Lia’s eyes were so full of pain that Kane had to look away. When she rose to leave on unsteady feet, he didn’t try to stop her.

Kane shifted, and curled up beside Ronan. Maybe his fur would keep him warm just a little longer.

He pressed up against Ronan’s broken body, as close as he could get. He had never been more grateful for his wolf form. Wolves didn’t cry. In this form, he couldn’t show as much weakness.

He let his thoughts drift, trying to ignore the way his insides felt like they had been carved out and set alight. Ronan never should have died. It should have been him. It wouldn’t have mattered if Kane died. Ronan would know how to rally the pack and go on.

Kane had always thought himself stronger than his brother, but he wasn’t strong enough for this.

He closed his eyes. Maybe Ronan would be fine when he woke.

***

Lia walked over the meadow. Flowers had been crushed, and grasses strewn with blood. If any of Shade’s pack had been killed or wounded, he hadn’t left them behind. She couldn’t help Ronan. She probably couldn’t even help Kane right now. But she wanted to help someone, if she could.