Page 23 of A Cursed Noel
I don’t mention herhouse or what’s there. Every time she thinks of her family or herhome, she goes somewhere she shouldn’t.
“Don’t worry,” Isay. I can’t keep the fury from my tone even as I tuck her againstme. “I’m going to fix it. I promise.”
I jerk my attentionforward, having second thoughts about making a run for it. If evilindeed shrouds Celia’s home, the pack here, provided they honor thepledge we make to guard the earth, are obliged to help us expunge thedarkness. But if they’re somehow involved or ill-fit to fight it….
I mutter a curse. Thispack is new according to Celia. For all I know they’ve gone rogue.I can’t trust them. Not yet.
The snowfall lessens inseverity. It’s our only saving grace. It’s not much. It’s justenough to permit me to see farther ahead.
As much as my wolffights it, I release Celia so she can walk beside me instead ofkeeping her pressed to my side. It’s hard to do. I want to shieldher and take the brunt of what follows. Except if we’re jumped,both of my hands need to come out swinging.
We pass by a café withall its lights out. I nudge Celia subtly and cut my gaze toward theglass front door. The dark outline of a female slinks back and out ofsight. This for sure is a new pack. TheweresI was raisedwith hide much better than this. We can rush and kill an opponentbefore he realizes we’re even there. This female all but blasted ahorn to announce her presence.
The next set ofweresdon’t care about hiding. They should if they’re looking toovertake us. Two males, wolves from what I can tell, and a femalelynx step out from the shadows in human form and trail us.
The lynx makes ahissing sound. Celia glances over her shoulder to meet her square inthe eye. I smirk at the way the wolves frown, clearly put off byCelia’s lack of fear.
That’s right,boys. My pussy can beat yours in a fight.
Celia gasps, thencovers her face, giggling. “Aric.”
I lose my game face andlaugh right along with her. “Sorry. Did I say that out loud?”
Even through this damnsnow I catch her blush.
I also catch what thewolves behind me have to say.
“She called himAric,” one wolf says.
“So what?” the lynxasks.
The wolves ignore her,speaking amongst themselves. “It can’t be him. Not here, not withher.”
My hands ball intofists. They better not mean it like I think they did.
I’m known worldwidefor my unique ability tochangeinto my beast at a freakishlyand unheard of age. I’m also known for my skill and strength. Ishould be used to it. Yet somehow, it doesn’t seem right for thesefools to know me.
“Oh, him,” the lynxsays, her tone enticed. “That hot piece ofwerewouldn’tbe here. And like Max says, definitely not with her when I’maround.”
This time, when Celiaglances over her shoulder, her tigress eyes meet the lynx’s and herclaws protrude from her fingertips.
I smooth an arm aroundCelia’s shoulder for two reasons: One, she has nothing to worryabout. Two, these clowns need to respect that yes, she’s with meand no one will ever be what Celia is to me.
We’re almost to theend of the street when the aroma of splitting pines and rushing riverwater poke through the dimness.
Odin materializesthrough the thick veil of snow. The bear we spotted at the windowstands on his right. A shorter, stockier male waits at his left, hishands clasped in front of them. Like bothwereson either sideof him, Odin is beefy in build.
A tight, slightly wetshirt stretches across his torso and gray sweatpants cover his legs.Every member of his pack is dressed in clothing that’s easy to tearthrough when theychangeinto their beasts.
My jeans arepractically frozen to my legs and my shirt is worse off. If I handlethis diplomatically, the way my father would, I may not have tochangeat all. There might not even be a fight. Except I don’tlike the contempt being thrown Celia’s way. They know she’s notwereand view her as far beneath them. This is no way toappeal to my diplomatic side.
Odin crosses his arms,assuming a position of authority. I do the same, keeping my armsloose and slightly lower, ready to strike if necessary.
“I told you not tocome here,” Odin says as a way of an introduction. “Not only didyou disobey me, you brought a friend.” He jerks his head in mydirection. “Didja think I’ll let it slide cuz he’s a wolf?”
“No,” Celiareplies. Her tone is stiff, making it clear she’s not afraid andowes him nothing. “I’m not a child to reprimand, or yoursubordinate to order as you see fit.”
“This ismyterritory,” Odin bites back all but roaring at her. He findsCelia’s defiance insulting and is asserting his dominance. In hisbeast form, he’d already be snapping his jowls.