Page 34 of Save Me Enemy

I pull into the clearing slowly, seeing Ryder and Cole leaning against the front of the truck and talking while Chase crouches under the broken side of a tree and plays with a family of foxes. Jumping out of the truck I hear the tail end of a conversation about how Ryder thinks the tree represents the two packs. His words are symbolic and moving, and I can see in Cole’s eyes that it’s touching his soul.

“What I’m saying is this; although one half of the tree has fallen and petrified, the tree is still whole and growing. That is what I hope this unity will be, strong and held together by determination and the powers that bind us,” Ryder says, and he and Cole exchange serious glances.

Chase runs up to us, carrying a young fox. “I’m thinking we unload the trailer in the cave just beyond those trees. If we hide the ammunition and weapons we can return the truck for evidence. Only we know what he was hauling. Well, us and whoever he stole it from.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Cole says, and Ryder nods.

Without another word, we begin to unload the truck and pack everything into the cave. The truck’s been loaded in such a way that it appears to be empty to anyone it passed. Everything is stacked against the walls, floor and roof, leaving a path through the center. Unloading it takes hours, and we’re silent throughout.

As we near the end, the foxes appear with two hunted rabbits and leave them at Ryder’s feet. I watch in surprise as Ryder kneels and thanks them, then tosses them to Chase.

“The vixen caught us some lunch!” Ryder laughs, and turns to face us. “In nature everything works together, and when you befriend nature, you become a part of it.”

By mid-afternoon we’re sitting around a small fire and sharing roasted rabbit, the pull to return to Cricket only growing. It occurs to me that this is what pack life must have been like in Raina’s time. Wolves gathered around a fire to eat, comradery and shared stories. Except it wouldn’t have been the two packs together. Over the past centuries so much has changed, so much for the better.

“So, do you guys have any idea who your mates might be?” Chase asks. “Jax and I found ours and they were basically under our noses. Do you feel a pull towards anyone?”

The Alphas go deathly still. The muscles in Cole’s arm twitch like braided wire pulled too tight as he grinds his teeth, and Ryder smiles as he combs his long hair out of his face.

“If I ever do feel a pull to one of these women it won't be something anyone will miss…” he says. “I’ll be very loud about it, y’all will hate me!” He winks, and we all know just what he’d be doing to be so loud.

“I don’t even know if mine exists,” Cole says, a bitterness in his voice that I’ve never heard before. “My mother thinks she doesn’t, she’s requested I start making sperm donations to ‘seed the pack with strong wolves again.’” Cole winces, resting his arms on his knees, turning his half of the rabbit on the spit and scowling.

“Artificial insemination?” Ryder asks, leaning back on an elbow. “She doesn’t want to give you a chance to find her?”

“I feel nothing for any of them, I can’t even… I haven’t even made a donation yet. I just… I can’t, okay? It doesn’t feel right. I should be a father, not a donor. How would I face all those potential women? Looking at me and wishing she’d been chosen? The children all wanting a dad but having to share an Alpha who didn’t raise them…”

“What will you do?” Chase asks.

Cole shoots him a warning glance. “I haven’t figured that out yet. I guess, in the end I’ll have to.”

“You realize you’re the Alpha, right?” Ryder asks Cole, who bares his teeth and growls. “Your mother is the Luna, a respected elder, but she doesn’t lead the pack. You do.”

“And what would you do, Ryder? Have her taken out? Riddle her with drugs until she goes on her own?”

Anger so wild and thick pours out of Ryder as he stands, looming over the fire and looming over Cole. “You are a child, Cole Richardson. Your father never taught you how to run a pack so you let your ‘mommy’ do it. I learned the hard way, thrown in a frying pan of wolves so wild from years of a mad Alpha. Yet, here I am, leading a pack that under my rule has become more powerful than the rich pampered pricks on the hill!”

Cole jumps to his feet, both men face to face and ready to throw blows. “Which is what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it? To make Dark Moon great.” He pushes his face closer. “To prove you’re better than Silver Dawn.”

Ryder lunges, hand wrapping around Cole’s neck as he slams him against a tree with so much force the tree cracks. “Don’t give me a reason to end your reign of power…” The threat comes so quietly and with such genuine promise of destruction that the hot day seems to turn cold in an instant.

Chase and I watch the exchange nervously, unsure of what to do, and we exchange a glance. Both of us have ties to both packs now and neither of us want to do anything to risk our connection with either. Thankfully, Ryder steps away on his own and scrubs his hands on his jeans in disgust.

“I’m sorry,” Chase says, looking abashed. “I never meant to start an argument. I know you two will find your mates, it’s destined to happen.”

“Not if she’s dead, Beta.” Cole snaps and turns to leave, throwing what remains of his rabbit into the fire with a scowl.

Chapter13

Cricket

Istep out of the shower and dry myself off with the fluffiest, softest, white towel I’ve ever felt in my life. I never imagined anyone had so much stuff, so much nice stuff at that, but I’m surrounded by it. The shampoo and conditioner in the shower are scented with rose oil that was made by hand and mixed with some of the most expensive ingredients I’ve ever heard of.

Courtesy of Ruby, I’m sure, there are new clothes laid on the bathroom sink for me. Clothes that no doubt cost more than anything I’ve ever touched in my life. A white silk button up blouse and a pair of jeans so soft they hardly feel like jeans at all, and a matching bra and underwear set that looks like lingerie from Victoria's Secret. I dress guilty, feeling like I don’t deserve such fancy stuff, but when it’s on my skin and my small boobs are pushed so high they look two sizes larger, I can’t help but smile.

I look like a different person, a rich person, someone who’s never been sick a day in her life. My eyes seem to sparkle as I braid my long hair in the mirror, my smile looking so easy and effortless, and I barely recognize myself. If I live long enough, will this be where I live? Will this be my life? Finery and silk clothes?

There’s a pair of simple black flats next to the bathroom door and I breathe a sigh of relief. At least something looks normal, like something anyone would wear. I slip them on and walk timidly towards the door to the bedroom. My hand is on the doorknob when a white note slips from under it and I hear someone scurry away.

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