Page 75 of The Wolf's Mate
Rough bark digs into my back, and I realize I’m tied to a damn tree. A soft whimper off to my left has me snapping my head so fast, my vision blurs. When it finally rights itself, I see my dog tied up about ten feet away. Judging from the markings in the snow, Grass put up quite a fight until he tired himself out.
He doesn’t look hurt otherwise. A small miracle.
“Ah, she’s awake,” a familiar voice says, and ice-cold fear fills my body.
A man appears from behind the fire as if born from the ash itself. Soulless black eyes stare back at me. The jagged cut across his face is more pronounced today, reminding me of the dangers this man is capable of.
Michael’s smile is all predator and does little to quell the growing panic inside me. Light catches on something attached to his hip. The unmistakable metal of an ax protrudes from the small gap in his jacket. My eyes dart to my hip, and I curse.
My ax, my only defense against threats, is gone. Now on the hip of my enemy.
“I knew you’d see reason, Red.” Michael smiles. “I’ll admit, there was some doubt on whether you’d show up for me, but I knew in the end you’d do what was right.”
“Fuck you, Michael.” My words are slurred. I feel dizzy and disoriented. Clearly, the hit to my head was harder than I realized. It’s like I’m stuck in sludge, trying to navigate my way through it.
“Such a way with words, Red.” Michael chuckles and crouches down before me. This is the first time I’ve seen him in clothes. He dresses exactly as I thought he would. Cargo pants and a tight black shirt. His brown duster coat is open, allowing me to see he’s weaponless except for my ax. The ax is nothing compared to him, though. His wolf is his weapon.
“So, here’s how this is going to work.” Michael grabs my chin, forcing me to look up. I try to fight his hold, but it’s useless. “The Nephilim think I’m going to hand you over to them like a good wolf. They want you dead. But don’t worry, Red. I won’t let them kill you.”
Michael pauses like he expects me to thank him. I knew I probably wouldn’t be getting out of this alive, but it doesn’t make the fear any less real. “Why do they want me dead?”
“To take your magic for themselves, of course.”
“I have no magic.”
“All humans possess magic. Why else do you think you’re here? You didn’t actually believe Rip loves you, did you?” Michael’s smile turns cruel.
My face heats; whether from embarrassment or regret, I’m not sure. Rip did love me…didn’t he? He never said it, but it was in the way he acted and the adoration he sent me in our bond. The smiles and touches. I was the one who broke his heart, not the other way around. I lied and went behind his back.
“You did. How pathetic.” Michael rolls his eyes. “Unfortunately, Rip is going to have to die.”
“No!” I scream, throwing myself against my restraints. They don’t budge at all.
Grass picks himself off the ground and starts to bark. He’s desperate to get over to me, but Michael stares Grass down. Something in his stare has Grass backing down and whimpering.
Michael’s dark eyes find mine again. I see nothing but evil within them. “But, yes, how else will I stake my claim as their new King Alpha? If the pack is lucky, only Rip will need to die. Anyone else who challenges my rule will join him. I don’t particularly want to kill any more wolves, but I will.”
“Why are you doing this? Why are you working with the Nephilim just so you can take over as king?” It doesn’t make sense. Why would he go through all the trouble with the Nephilim only to betray them in the end? According to Rip and Thorne, they aren’t an easy enemy.
“The Nephilim were coming whether or not I agreed to work with them. I saw my opportunity to use them to gain access to Lycan Forest. I cut off their access to wolfsbane, knowing it would make them desperate. And it has. Some of Rip’s pack have joined mine, and now many of his alphas are in Dragon’s Keep, leaving Lycan Forest vulnerable to attack. It’s the perfect opportunity to strike.
“You are my ticket to defeating the Nephilim, Red. That’s why you are so important.” Michael finally lets go of my face, and I jerk away. “You claim you don’t have magic, but I can feel it inside of you, just begging to be used. You make wolves stronger, Red. Imagine the power I can have if you agree to be mine.”
Michael’s delusional, but that much was evident the first time I ran into him. I can’t make anyone stronger. I was brought here for Rip and Rip alone, and that’s who I make stronger. Or, rather, I did, but I’ve managed to fuck that up.
True fear takes over as I scream, “You said you would leave the pack alone if I came to you. You lied!”
“Hardly,” Michael scoffs. “I’ll leave them alone in the sense that I won’t attack them or expose them to the curse. I’ll cure them all. Those who wish to follow me, that is.”
“You can’t harm any of them.” I have nothing to bargain with, but I will not let him hurt my pack. I will protect them with everything I am. “I won’t agree if you kill any of them. You need me, don’t you? To defeat the Nephilim?”
“It would be a lot easier, yes.” Michael narrows his eyes. “But not entirely impossible to do without you. As long as the Nephilim don’t have you. I would hate to kill you, Red. You’re growing on me. I think we could become…well, not friends, but partners.
“But let me sweeten the deal, Red.” Michael smirks, getting in my face. He’s so close, I can see the stubble on his face and the fine lines around his eyes. “I heard a friend of yours got sick. She got bitten by one of my wolves, did she not?”
I don’t answer. I don’t have to because he clearly knows.
“She will not get better. At least not without a lot of wolfsbane. More than you could find. See, working with the Nephilim comes with many great perks. Like a lethal bite.” His lips turn up into a sinister smile.