Page 13 of Witches Be Damned

My wolf rumbled back at him.

“Get out of here before I cry.” I waved at them.

They cleared out, hauling vampires to their feet, dragging them through a portal for arrest and arraignment. Shaken from the turn of events, I broke into sobs, Raze nuzzling me, purring at me, stroking me.

I prayed to the deity that saved my and Raze’s ass from certain death that I’d see them again shortly, and that the warden honored the Styx contract and released us from the Guardians the instant we collected the last of the escaped prisoners. Because I couldn’t take another day in that place hunting all the fugitives.

CHAPTER 5 - RAZE

Itransported Little Wolf back to the commune’s boundaries, using mothman spit taken from a dead vampire soldier. Protection spells warding the sanctuary’s boundaries flickered with pale light. Naked as the day I emerged into this world, I stepped through it with no resistance.

Every time a new shifter came to stay, Gable, the warlock who set the enchantments up, added their hair to the spell, permitting them egress and ingress to the sanctuary. In preparation for a weekend visit from my mate, I searched all my shirts and located samples of her hair, and had Gable add her to the spell.

Magical wards meant the Guardians couldn’t step foot in here if they came searching for us, but they could blockade us and prevent outside supplies of medical items and some food.

Limping steps carried us along a crushed rock path, closer to my cabin. Everything ached from being electrocuted and raising hell when the vampires injured my mate. Blood dripped from open wounds, but I didn’t care. Only getting her inside and safe mattered to me. I could fall dead for all I cared, as long as she lived.

Residents of the sanctuary eyed my torn body and contusions with alarm, though not as much as my mate, the stranger in their midst. After being exiled from their lands or packs, abused, starved, and beaten, they were wary of anyone unfamiliar stepping foot into the commune, least of all a human.

“Where are we?” Little Wolf clung to my shoulder, her agitated scent spurring my beast’s militance. “Because we’re not getting a warm welcome.”

“You’re safe here.” I cradled her harder, brushing her hair, failing to lower my wolf’s edgy response to her anxiety and my throbbing body. “This is the shifters commune I told you about, run by Pack Hester.”

“Okay, good.” She buried her face in my neck, and I clutched her tighter.

“Luna introduced me to the leader, Liv.” I kissed the top of Astra’s head. “She gave me sanctuary to stay here as long as I need.”

“I’m glad Luna looked after you,” she murmured, clinging to me, her arms trembling around my neck from a combination of shock, adrenaline, and expending excess magick to defend her harem.

Forest sheltered the sanctuary for miles in every direction, giving it privacy, protection, and ample sources of wild food should we get low on stock. Wooden cabins with chimneys lined the track, some with gardens, others without. Roofed shelving stocked cut wood for fireplaces when winter hit. Communal gardens supplied the sanctuary’s members with vegetables and fruits. Livestock in paddocks provided our beasts’ protein supply. Kids played in the central playground, winding down slides, rocking on swings, or climbing on rope structures that Pack Hester set up for the families residing here.

Some shifters were gifted permanent settlement here, depending on their circumstances or refugee status. I was lucky to win a spot, thanks to my affiliation with Luna, who traded a valuable rubied knife with Liv in exchange for my accommodation. Liv wanted more—my promise to protect the commune and Pack Hester from enemies should the need arise, and I gave it. I thanked the Munyara daily for his protection and Liv taking a chance on me.

My wolf and I were content having Astra back after two months apart. We didn’t want to release her back to the Guardians, but knew they’d come fortheir assetand cause problems if we didn’t. For now, she’d stay with me, just until I got her tended to by a healer. Then we’d discuss her return.

I killed the vampires who dared harm what was mine. They only lived as long as they did because they drugged me to the hilt, my senses unable to pull together two words, let alone move in coordination to protect her. The instant her magick hit me, I came alive. The drug evaporated from my veins, my strength surged, and new senses emerged.

My thoughts fell away as two shifters rounded on me from either side of my path, preventing me from taking another step. Liv, the sanctuary leader and owner, and her mate, Dash. I far outweighed either of them, and my beast thundered, willing to take them down if they got in my way. Amnesty and kindness granted me by Liv prevented me from raising a claw to either of them. I just had to convince my wolf of that when he was the dominant personality in my mind right now.

“Raze, you know the protocol,” Liv warned, low and severe. “You put the sanctuary in danger by bringing an unauthorized stranger here.”

Instinct prompted a growl from my wolf, warning her to stay away from my wounded and shaken mate. “Don’t come near my mate, Alpha. She’s wounded and needs a healer.”

“Easy there, Raze,” Dash warned, low and deep, teeth on display, a gun aimed at my skull if I made one wrong move. If my wolf went rogue, the smaller werewolf would need a weapon to put me down.

The male had nothing to fear so long as I kept my feral beast in check. I didn’t want another fight when I was weak from the confinement and wounded in battle. My wolf desired my mate’s safety and calm, and I wrangled him into line for the moment, lowering my aggression. Further aggression put my mate in danger.

Little Wolf locked her arms around me as if fearing our imminent separation. “Okay, put the gun down and bring it down, both of you.”

Dash’s throat sounded like a chainsaw, telling her not to give him orders.

The human element of me flushed with pride at her bravery. My wolf side rumbled at her. This was the way of wolves, communicating with growls, barks, howls, and teeth to others. She might have read a thousand paranormal werewolf romances, but she still didn’t understand our culture.

“Raze just tore the heads off four vampires who tried to kill me.” Astra added context, giving Dash the once-over. “And I don’t want you to be next.”

Liv’s shewolf lowered into a defensive stance that prompted her mate to go with her. “What did the vampires want with you?”

Little Wolf raised two palms. “Stay back and don’t do anything aggressive. Raze has been tortured and he’s in pure Lycan mode.”

---