Page 58 of Rogue Wolf

Moki didn’t waste any time as he rushed forward, snapping his jaws.

At the last minute, Kodiak sidestepped the attack to get his bearings. Adrenalin coursed through his body, dulling the pain of the wounds on his back. His mind sharpened with the excitement of the fight. Using his years of training, he sized Moki up in seconds.

He faked a stumble, then allowed the wolf to rush in. At the last moment, Kodiak swung. He swiped his claws across Moki’s face, blinding him. The attacking wolf whimpered.

That’s where Kodiak wanted to stop, but he couldn’t. Moki would always come after him unless he put a stop to it. If the wolf couldn’t join the pack in supporting Kodiak’s leadership, then he would be a liability when they faced the vampires.

Kodiak leapt forward to sink his teeth into the side of Moki’s neck. With a shake of his head, Moki’s neck cracked. The snap sent a wave of sickness through Kodiak.

But it had to be done.

He held onto Moki, disgusted by the taste of blood in his mouth as the life seeped out of his attacker, his packmate. After laying the body on the ground, Kodiak lifted his head and let out a solemn howl.

Almost instantly, the others joined him. His human side retook control of his mind and communicated to the rest of the pack through their mental connection.

Moki had his chance to challenge my leadership legally. He chose to approach me as a coward and attacked me by surprise and he broke the solemn and binding laws. He doesn’t deserve a burial. He doesn’t deserve to be mourned. He will rot here, his bones a reminder to those who would challenge me.

He sensed his pack’s shock. Normally, they would never deny mourning or a burial to one of their own, but the command would serve as a strong reminder to obey Kodiak.

This death could have been avoided. He made his choice, and this is his consequence to bear.

Ash padded up to Kodiak and nuzzled his neck. He sensed her concern over his wounds.

I’ll heal.

The scratches were bad, but not bad enough to hold Kodiak back as they’d heal quickly. They would only pain him for a few hours and remind him of what he had to do.

Shadow Pack, you have a few more hours. Rest before we return to plan our attack against the vampires.

He howled, and the others joined in agreement.

Kodiak left them, pushing through his pain to rush back to the hut. To Tamaska.

On reaching the hut, he returned to human form, unlocked the door, and went inside.

He breathed a sigh of relief. She was there, asleep on the bed.

After closing the door quietly behind him, he locked it again to give him the privacy he needed while wounded. That privacy would also let him deal with Tamaska’s wrath over being locked inside.

Kodiak’s body ached as he moved. He wanted to reach out and stroke the side of her face, but he didn’t want to wake her. She needed to rest, and he wasn’t ready to face her anger.

Plus, he surely looked dreadful with blood on his skin and claw marks rapidly scabbing over as he healed.

He went to the shower to clean up. The warm water felt soothing on his skin. His wounds stung, and the pain kept his mind sharp.

Is this what it was like for you, Olcan, when you began to lead the pack?

Kodiak slowly began to wash Moki’s blood off his skin, removing physical evidence of the kill. But the deed remained in his heart.

How many more of his own would he have to fight to unite the pack? Couldn’t there be a more peaceful way?

CHAPTER 15

Tamaska

The knowledge of my ancestors flows though me. In my new form, I know exactly what to do, where to run, and how.

My paws slam into the earth as I run, claws naturally extending into the soil for traction. My muscles adjust quickly, easily powering through the scrubland.

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