Leaning out further on the branch, I craned my neck to get a better look. Sure enough, the moment they came into view, I recognized the tall, thick man that was Tyr. His eyes, always Alpha gold, nearly glowed in the darkness. He cradled his severed stump against his chest in a sling. But it was easy to tell what he was up to. Walking under the light of a full moon helped elevate the healing powers of our kind. But his wound was from a silver blade. While the moonlight might help marginally, it would still take weeks for him to heal fully.
The other man I didn’t recognize. Although as he moved closer, pieces of him looked familiar. Maybe I’d seen him walking around the village, or maybe he was one of the higher ups. Either way, I figured he had to be important. Not just anybody would be personally escorting Tyr along the border. Whoever he was, he must have been strong.
Ducking down further, I gripped the branch above me, leaning out over open space to watch them pass. At first, I wanted to leap down and attack Tyr in his weakened state. It was the opportunity I’d been waiting for since he’d killed my father.But the full moon would give him power. Even short of a hand, Tyr was nearly too much for Thor to handle. I stood no chance. And as for the other wolf, he would tip the scales too far in Tyr’s favor.
So, I waited, my blood boiling as the pair of them passed a few feet away and kept going. I did everything I could to steady my breathing, although the pounding of my heart was so loud, I thought it would give me away instead. But neither of them caught my scent or heard my furious heart. They just kept walking.
Just as they were about to disappear into the trees and out of sight, I heard a sharp crack above me. Suddenly, my hand, still grasped around the branch, came free and I fell into open space. I didn’t have enough time to react as I plummeted to the earth. My body struck three or four branches on the way down, the rough bark tearing at my clothes and scratching my skin. Then, with a dull thud, I hit the rocky groundhard, knocking the wind clean out of me and bruising what felt like every bone I had.
“What was that?!”
I looked up, trying to force air back into my lungs. I let go of the broken branch that had betrayed me and struggled to my feet. But before I could take more than a couple of steps back, the second werewolf rushed into the clearing, his eyes blazing with golden light.
He was anAlpha.
That was the moment I knew I was in deep shit.
“Who the fuck are you?” the man yelled, stopping a few feet short of me with his claws already extended from his fingertips. I watched as fangs formed in his mouth, his speech slurred as they took shape. “You aren’t one of the Skoll pack!”
“No, he’s not,” Tyr replied before I could think of a clever lie. He walked up behind the man, a cruel grin curling across his lips. “Hello there, Loki. You’re a long way from home.”
I just stared, my own fangs forming in my mouth as I snarled at the pair of them. I puffed myself up, trying to look bigger and more menacing than I actually was. Neither of them flinched.
“Is your brother with you?” Tyr asked, an eager glint in his eye as he scanned the clearing. “I wouldloveto talk with him.”
“No,” I snarled. “I left the Hati pack. Thor is back at the resort with his…human.”
“It’s too bad,” Tyr replied, shaking his head. “He would be worth my time. But you?” He just laughed to himself. “You’re nobody.”
“I won’t be nobody when I tear your fucking throat out!”
I took a step forward, but the other Alpha threw his body between me and Tyr. He roared and I instinctively took a step back.
“Have you met my son by the way?” Tyr said nonchalantly, clearly not threatened by me at all. “This is Heimdall.”
Looking up at the snarling, growling man, I realized why parts of him looked familiar. I hadn’t just seen him in the village. His face, his eyes, and even his nose… they were just like Tyr’s. But unlike Tyr’s harsh features worn by time and a life of anger, Heimdall’s were soft and handsome. Every inch of him was covered in muscle and he looked to be the kind of Alpha that would lead the Skoll pack without question or challenge from the others. I couldn’t lie. I was a bit terrified to be staring him down. In a match between us, I would’ve put my money on him.
“I’m not interested in your kin,” I spat, looking over Heimdall’s shoulder. “My business is with you.”
“Because I killed your pathetic, witch-loving father?”
“How dare you!” I screamed.
“I appreciate your lust for vengeance. If you weren’t the enemy, I might even ask you to join our ranks. Clearly, you don’t approve of the courtship between your brother and thathuman.” He gave me a once over before clicking his tongue. “But you’re a runt and your bloodline is weak. I have no use for such weakness.” He turned away, waving his hand dismissively. “Kill him.”
Before I could even take a step forward, Heimdall’s massive body connected with mine, tackling me to the ground in a flurry of claws and fangs. I felt a sudden jolt as his skin came into contact with mine. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I fought for my life, knowing that this Alpha wolf was going to tear me to pieces if I didn’t find some way to outsmart him.
I had only seconds to figure it out before my guts would be spread through the forest like confetti.
Chapter Four: Heimdall
Astrange sensation coursed through my body as I made contact with Loki. For half a second, I hesitated. Then, assuming it was just the feeling of our bodies striking hard stone, I went back to trying to kill him. That’s what my father wanted. What he’d ordered me to do. This man was an outsider and one of the Hati leaders as well. He was my sworn enemy.
And he needed to die.
Claws lashed out, tearing at my belly as Loki tried to get out from under me. But I pinned him down with my weight. I was much bulkier and heavier than he was. Straddling his waist made it easy to hold him down. No matter what he tried to do with his claws, I batted them away with my own, taking the seconds between to strike out at him.
He cried out as I raked my claws across his chest, tearing his shirt open and slicing through the soft skin. Deep red covered his pale skin quickly, the scent of blood filling the air. And yet, the moment I found flesh and should have beencelebrating, I felt a sudden pang of…guilt. What the hell was that all about?