Walker's Run (25 page)

Amber nodded. “You know how most myths are, no one really knows what happened.”

“What is the myth surrounding her death? Do you know?”

“Well, there are a few. There's one that states she was in heat and since silver is poisonous to other Weres, she'd removed her jewelry to take a lover. While in the moment, someone forced his way in, beheading her.” Amber leaned against the counter again.

Casey frowned and shook her head. How awful would that be?

“Another is that she was killed while bathing. In the era she lived, there were public bath houses.” Amber shrugged. “I'm not too sure about the timing on it, but it doesn't ring true for me. Unfortunately, the first one I mentioned seems the most likely.”

“I just can’t even imagine.”

“Have you ever meditated before?” She rested her elbows on the counter top.

Casey furrowed her brows. “Why?”

“I have heard of Weres communicating with their spirit animals while meditating. Learning about previous life experiences.” Amber shrugged. “Maybe when this is all over, Aquene can show you how to meditate so you can communicate with her and find out the truth of what happened.”

“I’ve been having some dreams here and there. And when we were downstairs, when I saw the box, I saw when she was presented with the jewelry. I’m still trying to figure out everything she’s trying to tell me.” Casey looked at her coffee mug and contemplated another cup, but decided against it. She was jittery enough.

She watched Amber's nostrils flare at the catch of a new scent. Amber dropped low and peered out the kitchen window, looking out into the night beyond.

Her heart thundered in her chest. “I smell them.”

“So do I.” Amber reached for her phone and hit send just as the living room window imploded. She flung her phone across the floor, bringing her hands up to protect her eyes.

Casey crouched and pulled herself back from view of the window. Her heart was thundering. The wolf was taking control and she prayed she wouldn't shift but could rely on the strength of the wolf to get her through.

Amber motioned her to stay put and rushed into the livingroom at a crouch to investigate.

“We know they’re in there Tigress,” a man called from the porch. “Let us take them, and we will leave you in peace.”

The women locked gazes across the livingroom. Casey saw Amber raise a finger to her lips, urging her to remain quiet while she dove toward the hallway so there wasn’t as much distance between them and Aquene.

“Tigress! I warn you. We will show you no mercy if you do not release them to us,” another called from the rear of the house.

Casey felt her body tremble while she crouched near the dining room table. She felt the wolf rising and her vision sharpened in the darkened room. The shadows disappeared. Everything was clear.

A thump sounded at the back door, and they both jumped. Amber frantically motioned Casey toward her just as the back door burst open with a tremendous bang. Before she knew it, Casey found herself sliding down the hallway while Amber rose to her feet, shoving her to safety.

“Protect Aquene,” the tigress whispered, moving to hide in the shadows near the end of the hall.

The man who stepped through the splintered remains of the back door door was nearly seven feet tall, with long blond hair, and broad shoulders. His golden eyes swept the darkened house, the only light came from the fireplace.

“I can smell you Tigress,” he growled low in his throat. “I like the taste of pussy.”

Casey watched the muscles in Amber’s body tighten. She turned and motioned her back.

“I’ve got this. You stay with her.” Amber rose and stepped out of the shadows.

The gargantuan blond, eyed her and sniffed, unimpressed. “I can't believe Braedyn would leave his mate and his mother with a Tigress, of all Weres, for protection,” he scoffed. “He's probably only kept you around for a play toy. I bet your hot as hell in bed.” He took a few steps toward her.

“Too bad you'll never find out,” Amber growled, widening her stance.

Footsteps sounded on the front porch. Someone slipped through the broken window. “Now, now, brother. Mother always taught us to share.”

Casey cringed, wishing there were more she could do and backed into Aquene’s room and closed the door.

Braedyn’s mother was asleep. “Come on Aquene. We need to move into the closet. I don’t know how long Amber will be able to hold those guys off,” she whispered, reaching over and taking the old woman’s hand.

She was hot to the touch and unresponsive.

The loud thuds, curses, and growls rolled down the hallway. Casey’s stomach knotted at the helpless feeling that centered in her chest and prayed Amber could hold them off.

After a few more moments, things grew very quiet. Unable to help herself, she crept to the door and cracked it open. A single set of footfalls grew close. Casey breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Amber approaching.

Her friend looked worse for the wear. Her hair was a wild mess of curls, there was blood streaked from her nose to chin and her shirt was ripped down the middle.

“Are you all right?” Casey asked pushing the door open all the way.

Amber gave her a wry grin and nodded. “Aquene?”

“She’s fevered. I tried to wake her and get her to move into the closet, but she wouldn’t wake up.”

“All of my medicines are at the shop.” The brunette placed a hand to the older woman’s face and forehead. “Damnit Aquene, why didn’t you say something?” She sighed and shook her head. “We have to find my phone. I was dialing Braedyn when those bastards came in. I have no idea if the call went through or not.”

Taking a deep breath, Casey noticed a third scent. There was someone else. “Is it safe to leave her when there’s another?”

Amber scoffed and raised a brow. “I just took out twin ogres, I can handle this fucker. You look for the phone, and I’ll keep an eye out. Just watch out for the bodies in the living room. I think one of their heads rolled into the kitchen.”

Casey grimaced at the thought. “I’ll go find the phone.

At seeing the two large forms slumped on the floor, Casey shuddered. The smell of blood assaulted her nostrils making the wolf perk again.

She remembered they had been in the kitchen when the attack began and tried to figure where the phone would have landed from where Amber was crouched when the window burst. Casey looked underneath the edge of the cabinets in the kitchen and finally found it. Sitting down on the floor, she slid the key on the phone. It rang twice before it was answered.

“I'm almost there. Elan should just about be there,” Braedyn said sounding out of breath.

“Amber's already taken out two of them. There is still another outside.”

“Casey, just listen to what she tells you. I will be there soon. I’m turning down the road now that leads to the house. I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.”

“Okay, please hurry.”

“I love you.”

Her heart clenched. “I love you too, Braedyn.” Tears stung her eyes. She knew this night was far from over, could feel it in her bones.

“Amber?” she called out, rising to her feet. After a moment, there was still no answer. Casey crept back toward the hall way that led back to the guest room. All of the doors were still open. Calling upon the wolf, she used the wolf’s vision to peer into each of the rooms making sure each room was clear. Using her nose, she tried to determine if there was anyone else in the house. Her nose told her the Tigress was no longer inside.

Taking a moment, Casey tried to figure what to do next. Leaving Aquene was not an option. She couldn’t go out and attempt to help Amber locate the third assailant. Elan should be there, and Braedyn would be there soon. Chewing her lip, she made her way back to the guest room to check on the elderly woman.

Nearing the bed, the wolf could smell the sickness on Aquene and whined. Casey reached down and took one of Aquene's hands in hers.

“You have to hang in here, Aquene. I've not even gotten to know you, and yet I already dread the day you'll pass from us.” She held Aquene's hand to her lips, feeling the old woman’s hands were fevered too. Her lips tingled a little from the contact. Furrowing her brows, Casey unconsciously licked her lips.

A loud snarl rose from outside, making the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The wolf flared inside of her.

“Aquene needs me,” she whispered, the wolf urged her to leave the room. The Silver Wolf paused for only a second, and then pressed even stronger.

Casey laid Aquene's hand back on her stomach and got up from the bed. She felt the full strength of the Silver Wolf course through her. Flexing her hands against the tingle, she made her way, quietly, back down the hallway into the living room. She could hear Braedyn's old SUV rumbling down the driveway at break neck speed. Relief flooded through her, yet the wolf still urged her on.

She went to the front door and eased it open in time to see a large man swing his fist into Amber's face, knocking her onto the ground. Her friend rolled with the punch and came back up to her feet so fast, Casey nearly missed the movement. Amber sprung herself back at the man. He was waiting for her move and tossed her aside, heading for the stairs.

Casey's gaze connected with his. They were a pale grey, much like Braedyn's. His skin was bronze but lacked the deep reddish tint of her lover. The hair was sandy brown. His face said he was middle aged, but her wolf's nose sensed he was far, far older. Even older than Zander.

She heard him gasp. He froze on the stairs, staring in her eyes.

“It can't be,” he whispered.

Casey felt the wolf surge and fought to control her. In her mind all she could see was the wolf wanting to tear his throat out and feast on his blood. Death, murder, blind rage. She grit her teeth and clenched her hands into fists, fighting against the wolf’s emotions.

“I know him,”
the Silver Wolf whispered through Casey’s mind. “
He is the one.”

She furrowed her brows, trying to make sense of what the wolf was trying to tell her. In images so fast there was barely time to understand, the Silver Wolf began to show Casey the last time she had seen the man standing before her.

She gasped while the images rolled through her mind. Harlan Walker had been the Silver Wolf’s lover, life-mate, and her killer. Staggering back from him, Casey bumped into the edge of the open door. The wolf seethed inside her.

A ferocious growl sounded, and Harlan was struck and thrown to the ground. Braedyn rolled off him and rose to his feet.

“You insolent little prick,” Harlan spat, standing up and glaring at his nephew. “You have no idea what power you have in her. You're not powerful enough to reign her in.”

“And you are, Harlan?” Braedyn growled low in his throat.

From the corner of her eye, Casey saw Amber approaching Harlan from behind, her sword raised in her hand. Her fight with the other wolves and now their tyranical leader, had taken their toll on her. Her face was bruised and a fresh trail of blood ran from the side of her mouth.

“I've lived long enough to learn the consequences of my actions so very long ago.”

“But that's done nothing to prevent you from being the evil man you are now.” Braedyn clenched his fists, and he took a step toward his uncle. “I'll be damned if I let you destroy what my father worked so hard to build.”

“Your father was a fool.” Harlan growled.

Amber stalked up behind him, readying herself for the kill blow.

“Brother, I am here!” Elan shouted running from around the edge of the house. A sword materialized in his hand.

Braedyn turned and frowned when he locked gazes with his brother. “Elan...no...”

Elan nodded toward Harlan and leveled his sword on Braedyn. “It’s what must be done. You're just not strong enough to be the leader anymore.”

“
You think you're strong enough
? You're lucky to get the Avery boys to listen on a good day, and you think you can control an entire community?”

Elan shook his head. “Not a community brother, our uncle and I have bigger plans than that. We intend to rule all our kind. With you and mother out of the way, we can rule with the Silver Wolf at our side.”

“How long Elan? How long have you known about this? Was Tala in on it too?” Braedyn growled, his weapon appearing in his hands.

“A while now and no, Tala couldn't be trusted. She would have to have been dealt with eventually.” Elan raised his blade, looking his brother in the eyes. “Don't make this any more difficult than it needs to be, Braedyn.”

“
More difficult than it needs to be
? What do you expect me to do? Stand here without a fight? You are my brother, but I made a promise to the people of Walker's Run, Elan. If that means I have to kill you to uphold it, I will.”

Elan laughed, taking a step forward. “You can't. I watched you with Tala out in the woods that night. You couldn't kill her, and she almost killed Casey. It took a human
to do what you should have done years ago. You won't kill me.” Elan swung his sword, and Braedyn blocked it.

Casey watched helpless as Harlan rounded on Amber with his sword materializing in his hands. She felt frozen, watching what was happening in front of her. This wasn’t how things should be and she found she was rooted to the spot, unable to even open her mouth in warning.

Braedyn grunted, powering his brother's sword thrust aside and swung his own. Elan narrowly avoided the blow. He staggered back, but with determination, pressed forward again.