Page 41 of Cursed Wolf

“What’s the plan?” Nikos asks.

“This pack has been demolished. Those left behind will be easy pickings with no Alpha to rule over them.” I lick my dry lips, the morning air frigid on my skin. “I will claim the Bane Wolves’ pack as mine, and we’ll get everyone back into their homes. Then we’ll pay a visit to the nearest pack and get them to send warriors to guard them until I return.”

“They’ll ask for a big price,” Nikos states.

“And they’ll have my undivided loyalty when I take over the Savage Sector, giving them first pick of a new land in the territory.” Their Alpha had spoken about needing more space for his growing pack, so I prayed my offer worked.

“Fine, but we do this fast. It’s killing me to be away from Narah. I don’t want to miss her having our baby,” Nikos says, his voice dark, and I hear the frustration in his voice.

My gut hardens that I’m delaying joining Narah and protecting her, but I can’t leave this pack to be picked off by other wolf clans, rogues, or the undead.

I keep telling myself, a bit longer, but I’m wound up so tightly, wanting to say fuck it all and go to Narah, I’m ready to explode.

Nikos watches me, waiting for direction, and looks fucking annoyed. His face is tight, hands clenched. He’s dying to get back to Narah as much as I am.

“Tonight, we depart for Shadowlands Sector,” I snarl. “I have no idea how Dušan will react to having two of my men and three Omegas just turn up on his pack doorstep without me there.”

“Then let’s get this pack fucking sorted.” Nikos’ mouth thins. “The quicker I get to Narah, the better I’ll feel.”

14

NARAH

The carriage bounces beneath us, and I’m doing my best to sit comfortably, which feels impossible with a huge belly. We rush past the darkening woods, trickles of rain running down the windows as the last streaks of sunlight brush the treetops like streaks of blood left over from a great battle.

Crius and Stone shifted into their wolves, vanishing into the woods, and had been gone for too long. My heart’s drumming louder in my ears, and panic sits under my breastbone like a time bomb. What could be taking them so long? I peer out the carriage window as the landscape flashes past.

“It’ll be okay,” Jae reminds me for the tenth time. “Those guys are beasts. Nothing will happen to them.”

Turning back, I lean into my cushioned seat, my hands resting across the top of my stomach. “I really hope you’re right.”

Jae nods, smiling with confidence I wished I possessed right now. Kaira’s sitting with her legs bent beneath her, watching us and looking spooked.

“You should have seen them when we traveled back from Shadowlands Sector,” Jae says, bouncing in her seat when we hit a pothole. “They were machines and worked well as a team, eliminating everything in our path without hesitation. Ultra-competitive Crius made killing the undead and rogue wolves into a game. To be honest, they were seriously scary to watch, but I knew they were on my side. So, I have faith they’ll come through. You’ll see, Sis.”

I smile softly, knowing she’s correct. I’ve seen them fight firsthand, and it’s impressive.

“I guess I’m just worried for them, for us, for my little jellybean.” I glance down, then back up at my sisters, who are smiling and staring at me as I rub my belly.

“It feels as though I’ve been asleep for ages and completely missed out on so much of your lives,” Kaira adds. “Listening to you makes me feel as though I’ve been left behind. I don’t even know what you both went through.”

“Oh, Kaira.” Jae throws her arm around our sister’s shoulders and drags her against her side. “I’ll catch you up on everything, but you were never left behind.”

Kaira’s sitting with Jae in the seat in front of me, facing me, and I take her hand.

“We love you, and you have the rest of your life to be part of everything we do. Trust me, I would do anything to forget the craziness of the past few months.”

Kaira’s lopsided grin makes me giggle. She’s always so adorable and grew up competing for attention from our parents or from me over Jae. If Jae and I disagreed on anything, Kaira made herself the peacekeeper. Now, when I look at her, she seems timid and scared. I have to help her find herself once more, but it will take time for her.

Thinking back to those times when we lived with the Storm Wolves, when we had no clue what lived outside the pack, we assumed we would be forever safe there. Those naive days were simpler, but ignorance also gets you killed faster.

“I don’t remember much of what took place once Lyra possessed me, but back in her coven, she revealed why she hated us so much,” Kaira suddenly confesses, gaining my full attention.

“And? What did she say?” I ask impatiently.

“You’ve been holding out on us all this time.” Jae fake hits her in the arm.

Kaira’s smile warms my heart, and I love seeing her opening up more.

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