Page 1 of Upon Shattered Bonds

Chapter One

Several Days Earlier

Hungry eyes followed her in the darkness. Though her vision was keen despite the low light, reflective lenses flashed in the waning moonlight. Four—no, five—rabid wolves tracked her as though she were their prey.

Nina was no one’s prey.

Paws pattered softly against the frozen ground, their claws scrapping against ice. She held still, letting them scent her on the wind, while keeping tabs on each one. By entering her territory, they’d signed their death warrants. Not that they’d know—rabid werewolves held no trace of higher reasoning once they became afflicted. They had to be destroyed at all costs.

Since the moment the pack had crossed her border, Nina had stayed close, waiting for the opportune time to eliminate them. Here, in the depths of the Missouri countryside, she’d strike.

Nina tightened her grip around her clip-point dagger, it’s hilt familiar and designed for her hand. Faint traces of adrenaline began to filter into her bloodstream, but her hands didn’t shake. Every movement was purposeful, efficient, and regimented: products of lifelong study and consistent practice.

Her katana nestled between her shoulder blades but today she coveted the outlet of close combat. The unseasonable chill mirrored her icy mood.

Panting breaths drew nearer, surrounding her in the silence of the nighttime forest. With predators around, no prey animal would give away their position.

The lead wolf, a shaggy-haired dark female that looked nearly black, took the lead. Boldly, the animal’s approach brought her within direct sightline to where Nina stood, ready and waiting for the attack. Paws skittered soundlessly over the icy terrain; deadly teeth were borne and poised to rip into flesh.

When the wolf coiled in preparation to strike, Nina tensed.

And then, the Raeth sovereign moved.

Airbourne for a split second, a yelp of surprise echoed into the night as Nina’s dagger plunged directly into the animal’s heart. Landing heavily beside her, the wolf collapsed, motionless. The dagger withdrew from flesh, gripped in steady hands as the second wolf skirted the edges of her vision.

The rules with hunting wolves were absolute: stand your ground. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t run. Giving them the advantage of the chase seldom paid off. With rabid werewolves, there was only one difference.

They never lost interest in prey.

A large grey wolf made the next move, lunging for her right leg, as two more lurched forward behind her. Her telekinesis shoved the pair back as Nina handily evaded the first. She twisted so that she ended up behind him and made a single, efficient move to slice through the tendons along his hock. With a yelp, he limped away, but his place was immediately taken by two more.

Working in tandem, the pair rushed at her exposed flank. Too quickly, they realized their mistake. Nina used their single-mindedness against them, offering one an opportunity to strike while simultaneously using her weapon to slash beneath his unprotected throat. The second leapt at her from behind moments later. She spun while he was in the air, bringing her elbow down on his spine with a bone-breaking crack.

Swift as they were, rabid wolves were no match for her speed.

Three dead—or dying—wolves lay at her feet. Two, one agile and one wounded, remained at large. Recentering herself, Nina locked eyes with the former. As the massive brown wolf stepped into the light, she dangled herself as bait and crouched.

It was all he needed to attack.

Sensing the position’s vulnerability, he sprinted toward her, intent on making the kill. Heartbeat thudding in her ears, she waited one breath, until he launched himself at her throat. Hurling herself to one side, she dragged the dagger across his unprotected belly.

She narrowly missed the resulting blood spray, shifting away just in time to clear the splatter. A pained grunt escaped the wolf, but it was the last sound he ever made. The injury was quickly lethal. In the heat of the moment, the iron scent had wayward hunger stabbing through her, but now wasn’t the time to lose focus.

The last remaining beast was skittish, snapping foaming jaws at her while nursing his wounded leg. Putting him out of his misery was one final act of compassion.

As the haze of battle receded, she took greater stock of her surroundings. Crimson splattered across white snow, near black in the depth of night. She dutifully examined each wolf to ensure they were deceased, then cast out her psychic senses to ensure none remained at large.

Only after confirming her territory was safe once more did she open up a telepathic channel between her and Kaien. Her twin brother appeared within moments, quickly surveying the area with a sigh.

“You could’ve asked for help.”

She smirked. “Where would the fun be in that?”

Wiping her blade on her fighting leathers, she slid it back into the holster on her thigh. She glanced at her second in command just in time to see a disapproving look on his features.

“I’m more than capable of defending my territory from a few wolves, Kaien. Besides, shouldn’t you be getting ready for your big day?”

Her brother’s blond hair was mused on one side, his coat unbuttoned. Nina didn’t want to think too long about what that meant—especially when he’d recently found his fated mate in her best friend, Blair.

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