Opening the Cage (17 page)

Wend’s paw met his hand, his mate suddenly so loud and sharp.
You came. Canyon.

Of course I did.
His mates. He shook a little, adrenaline running high. He got that gate open, though.

Wend nudged him, then went to Riana, wrapped around her, keening softly.

Canyon followed, his body shivering so that he went to all fours, the wolf coming to the fore again.

He wrapped around them, trying not to force Wend to hurry, but they needed to, they needed to because that thing would come back. They had to go.

Riana whimpered softly, shivered, and he growled. That thing hurt his mates.

Canyon rumbled, licking her face, her muzzle, trying to help. He had no idea what to do, what Wend did, exactly.

Riana’s eyes opened, rolled.
He’s coming back. Go. Both of you. Go.

No.
He wasn’t leaving them, and someone had to kill this thing. Even if he died, he had to protect both packs staying at Mesa’s, and both members of his own pack.

Wend growled, nudged Riana toward him.
Bite her.

What?
Wasn’t that the problem?

Bite her. Bite her and fight him.

Riana whimpered softly, but his brave girl lifted her chin, even though he could feel her fear.

Canyon stared at her bloody skin. He wasn’t sure he could do this. What if he hurt her too much for Wend to fix it?

Now. Now, Mate. It’s coming. It’s COMING for us.
Wend bared his teeth, snapped that air.

What if it turned him into a thing like that thing?

Trust your mates, Canyon.
He heard Granny’s voice, felt her hand on his head.
Trust your heart.

Oh, Minnie. I miss you.
Canyon sent a little prayer to the universe that this was the right path. Then he bent to Riana’s skin and bit down hard.

* * * *

Wend’s ears went flat as Riana screamed, the sound huge, slicing through the air. Please, he begged the moon, please be right.

Everything in him swore this was it, though, their answer. Their truth.

Canyon stumbled forward, growling, his entire body beginning to shudder, the muscles jumping and popping under the fine fur.

Wend watched, waiting for the sickening smell, the horrifying misshapen animal to appear. Canyon seemed to vibrate, to glow, but there was nothing disgusting about it.

Canyon just grew. And grew. And grew. The dark pelt went silver and bright, and Canyon’s eyes were glowing, like the moon herself.

They all smelled it at the same time. Riana twitched weakly, but Canyon’s head lifted, the huge muzzle scenting the air. Canyon growled, the sound so Alpha it made Wend want to lower his head to the ground.

Riana sighed, though, and Wend felt her relax against him, her pelt heavy and wet.

Easy, love. Let yourself heal. I’m here.
She would heal. He wouldn’t let her have any other choice. He pulled her close, then backed into the cave, leaving the cages behind.

Canyon didn’t back away, though. The huge wolf filled the cave and waited, crouched, defending.

The other came, shuffling, the wet, wheezing sound of his respiration unmistakable. Canyon vibrated, that big body ready, prepared for the fight.

Canyon’s bark made the cave itself shake, little stones falling. Then he backed away, head down, huge teeth bared. Wend slid around, pulling Riana by the ruff. He hated to hurt her more, but he could see what Canyon was doing, luring the monster into the cave.

Wend kept to the wall, moved them so that they could leave. The monster came, the smell of the fetid breath making Riana whimper.

Shh. Let Canyon concentrate.
He felt so mean, making her be quiet. She’d suffered more than anyone at the teeth of this creature.

Canyon rumbled, the sound challenging and the monster howled, claws slapping against the wall.

Canyon circled, blocking off the monster’s retreat. Then he rose up, showing his size. The monster roared and snapped, teeth clacking together as Canyon’s huge paw came down on the thing’s misshapen muzzle.

There was another roar, the thing staggering. Then it rushed at Canyon, slamming their bodies together.

Wend heard something crack, and black blood flew from the monster’s mouth, his nose. Canyon bit again, and it stumbled back, head shaking. Canyon growled, leaping at the thing again, claws tearing into flesh. It fell, muzzle snapping toward them, and Wend stepped forward, barking furiously. No more. No more biting their Riana!

It spun under the force of Canyon’s jaws, Canyon biting at it, ripping its skin. Their Canyon was so strong.

Canyon’s fury lit the entire cave, and Wend had to turn away, flinching from the light to protect Riana’s eyes. She whimpered, curling into him, but he heard her pride, her fierce wish that Canyon make it fast.

Love.
He thought the word, as hard as he could.
Please. Stay with me.

Wend.
She sounded stronger than he’d thought she would.

He could hear howling, hear bones crunching, and he had to have faith that it wasn’t his mate who was hurt. They would feel it if Canyon was injured. All Wend felt was Canyon’s rage.

Wend lifted his head, blinking as Canyon’s teeth fastened against the monster’s throat, leaving a gaping hole, the huge body collapsing.

The stench was unreal, and before Wend could move, Canyon had pulled him and Riana out into the woods, leaving the cave behind. Canyon held Riana in his mouth, like a mother wolf carried a cub, maw so huge Canyon could hold her safely.

Wend nosed her, making sure she was still alive. Still warm. His girl.

Canyon’s mind stroked his.
Run, Wend. We run.

He’s dead. Right? He’s dead.

He’s dead. He’s rotten. The forest knows it.

Wend could feel the ground shudder beneath his paws, the ground shifting. Snow and rocks slid down the slope past them, and Canyon urged him faster, carrying Riana like she was a doll. His muscles screamed, but he didn’t slow. The earth was eating that monster, and he didn’t intend to be part of the meal.

Canyon turned, eyes glowing with magical light.
Faster, Wend. Take my strength and use it.

Faster.
He opened himself fully, finding Riana there, and he bounded faster, farther. It was like touching a live wire, touching Canyon’s mind when he was like this. It lit Wend up, and he had a feeling Riana would heal faster and faster.
Love.

Canyon’s howl answered him, filled him up.
Yes.

It was pure joy to run with his mates, to know they were finally free of the monster.

They stopped at the truck, Wend panting, Riana beginning to wriggle in Canyon’s jaws.

Canyon laid her down gently, his big body shaking.

Canyon?
Wend went to him, licking at Canyon’s muzzle, ears, trying to soothe.

I’m all right, love.
Canyon’s body was trying to go back to normal, trying to change to human.

Wend called to Canyon, nuzzling and licking, fighting to heal his mate.

Shh. It’s fine, love. I’ve just never been…this before

No one has been. Ever. We’ve never been…us before.

I know.
He could hear Canyon’s laughter. It took long moments, but the man finally stood there, fully human, sweat gleaming on his skin.

He jumped up, nuzzling Canyon’s belly, his chest. Sniffing.

“Tickles!” Canyon chuckled. “Let’s check on our girl, huh?”

Riana was awake, blinking slowly, but there. He danced over, nudging her and she leaned, sighed softly.

We did it!
He was so proud of them, finally fulfilling their prophecy.

Riana sighed, softly.
Can we go home now? Please?

“Yes, love.” Canyon pulled out a bag and got clothes on. “We can absolutely go home.”

She looked at the truck, and Wend nuzzled her shoulder, her throat, the bites.

“Our poor girl. I’m so sorry.” Canyon touched them both, then lifted Riana to put her in the truck.

She moaned softly.
I’m good. Home. Home, please.

Home.
Canyon made a pallet for Riana, then helped Wend drag his tired body up in the truck.
Let me get you food.

He rested his head in Canyon’s lap.
Food.

“Food.” Canyon dug in a bag. “I knew we’d need it.”

His belly growled, snarling and rumbling. Riana’s echoed his, so loud that Wend barked at it. Canyon laughed, the sound joyous.

She’s hungry!

She is. There’s soft food there.

Canyon pulled out bread, meatballs, cookies. Good food. It would warm their bellies, make it easier to get home.

Home.

He could hear Riana’s satisfaction.
Home. Home. Home.

Yes, love. Home. Wherever that is.
Canyon seemed a little sad about that, about leaving his brother.

Riana met his eyes, her worry right there, but Wend knew that Canyon was their Alpha. Theirs.

It was right.

Chapter Sixteen

Canyon studied the truck, making sure there was nothing else he could cram in there. He noticed that Mesa hadn’t offered the good truck this time. Strike out on your own as a new Alpha and get the crappy old Chevy. He saw how it was.

Most of his pack was already hunkered in; they’d spent the last three weeks fighting snow and wind to get everyone to their new home before it got so deep the roads between clans were impassable.

Now it was time for him to settle Riana and Wend in.

Riana had spent every minute with Junie in wolf form, wrapped around the inconsolable girl, protecting her.

Canyon wasn’t sure he was going to convince her to move at all. Riana was pretty sure Junie needed her now, and Junie seemed to be taking April’s place as Riana’s only friend.

Wend was spending more and more time as a man and had proven a quick study at fixing things. It was stunning, how he could watch someone repair a tool, a piece of pipe, anything, and then he got it.

“We have to make her come with us. I miss her.” Wend nudged his arm, lips in a pout. “We need to go home now, to our bed and our own house.”

“I know, love.” He smiled at Wend, bending to peck a kiss on that pouty mouth. “I’ll get her.”

“Okay.” Wend grinned. “Ginger says she’s making a pot of chili to leave for us at our house. And bread. With corn.”

“Cornbread,” Canyon corrected automatically. He’d gotten used to all the weird stuff Wend and Riana didn’t know. “You’ll like it.”

“I will.” Wend grinned at him. “Micah is teaching me how to fix the snowmobiles tomorrow, if we’re not busy.” His mate nudged him playfully. “I hope, with Riana home, that we can be very, very busy.”

Canyon laughed out loud. “I think we can be.” He hoped that as soon as they got her away from Junie, she would perk up. He made it to the new shaman’s cottage, the sorrow palpable.

Mesa was storming out the door as he walked up. “…sending you to Canyon to stay!”

Canyon stepped back, just in case Mesa didn’t see him. That was a steam roller in motion. “Sending me my mate, bro?”

“No, our sister! Our sister who is very busy losing her fucking mind!” Mesa was roaring. Impressive.

Riana appeared at the door, snarling and snapping, defending Junie like an avenging angel. Canyon let her bark and growl, knowing she would calm as soon as she knew it was him.

Her eyes landed on him and she eased up, still rumbling at Mesa.
Mate
.

Hello, love. We need to go home.

He reached for her, touched her nose. She was tired, worried over Junie, but that wasn’t her place. Her Pack needed her now, and her mates did, too.

Mesa was still ranting a bit, and Canyon turned to him. “She needs help, but I need my mate. Who can stay with her?”

“I can.” Granite limped up the walk. He’d healed up a lot, but Sammy had gnawed on him during the attack on the clan. They all teased Granite about getting between a pregnant alpha female and her mates.

Riana bristled, backing away from Granite, who knelt down, met her eyes. “Pretty girl, April and Jewel loved you, hmm? Why would you growl at me?”

“She thinks you’re a jerk.” Canyon chuckled at Granite’s surprised look. “I don’t think she believes you didn’t know about her.”

“I never saw you,” Granite told Riana. “Not once. When April was young, we all thought you were imaginary. Then…she never talked about you. It took my Jewel to convince me to turn on Markus.”