Chapter 23

(Two Weeks Later)

“You were all I could think about today,” Wren offered shamelessly.

Ryka blushed and dipped her head. She and the girls had been holed up in the house for two straight weeks and today, the guys had packed a picnic and taken them to the river. Seven and Ash had been worried that the location would bother Ryka, but she’d assured them that Marill and their old pack hadn’t ruined rivers for her. Her father’s people had a saying, Mni Wiconi, which was Lakota for water is life. She’d grown up revering water, and she refused to let Marill change that for her.

Now, the sun was starting to dip low behind the trees, casting mottled light over the blankets and coolers they were packing up.

“How could I be all you thought about?” Ryka challenged, jerking her head by way of salutation as Liddick and Ash waved and carried a cooler between them back to the house. “We were together all day.”

Wren was grinning like a goon. “I know. Still thought about you all day though.”

“Want us to wait?” Seven shouted from where she, Lux, Jesup, Cason, and Kenna were waiting by the tree line with arms loaded down with blankets, baskets, and empty wine bottles.

“Go on,” Wren barked. “We’ll catch up.”

Something warm unfurled in Ryka’s belly once they were alone. The last time they’d been together at the river she’d offered to mate with him. An offer he’d shot down. When he took the chair she’d been folding up from her hands and dropped in on the ground, she tensed. Dipping her head she offered, “I… I don’t think I can put myself out there again, Wren. Not after last time. It was humiliating.”

“I respect you, I’ll protect you, and when it’s needed, I’ll forgive you.” He grasped her hand in his. “Because what you don’t understand, Ryka is that you’re not the only one putting yourself out here. I need you! And that’s a damn hard thing for an Apex to admit to anyone. I’m the strongest here because I’ve had to be, and in the space of one day in your presence I’ve been brought to my fucking knees. You own me! Do you get that? You. Own. Me! No one’s ever owned me. I’ve always been my own man, built myself up into this alpha predator, the leader of this pack, apex of this pride, and,” he snapped his fingers, “that easily and that quickly I’m willing to relinquish it all to you.”

Ryka smiled sadly. “And I fear one day you’ll hate me for it. I don’t want to take anything from you, Wren.”

“You’re not taking, woman! I’m giving.” He stepped closer. “I’m giving you every fucking ounce of me. and I’m doing it voluntarily with the hopes that it’ll be enough…that I’ll be enough, to entice you to stay. I want to be enough for you to choose me in return.”

His words had her blushing hard. No one had ever been concerned with being enough for her. Hell, she was positive she didn’t even deserve a mate like Wren Prime, that if anything, she wasn’t enough for him. “I’m sorry it happened this way,” she offered quietly. “So sudden, I mean. I wish I could have given you a say…a choice.”

“I’m not sorry, Ryka. I’m not sorry about any of it, aside from the reasons you all ended up on our doorstep. I wish I could erase that for you and the girls, but I can’t. What I can do is promise you a place where you’ll be revered and treated with respect. A place where you’re needed, and more than that, where you’re wanted. I can offer you all a home.” He dipped his head. “Say yes. Let’s do this…together.”

Silence hung between them long minutes before she peeked up with a grin. “Maybe you should go grab one of those blankets.”

Wren’s eyes rounded, and his mouth fell open. He stilled for only a moment before he backed up. “I’ll be right back! Don’t go anywhere!”

She laughed as he turned and ran after the others. Smiling, she turned to face the creek as it burbled merrily through the woods. She bit her lip, remembering how she’d been naked in the water with Wren when she’d offered herself up. Feeling the need for redemption, she let her head drop back as a partial shift slipped through her. Just enough to take her clothing, but still leaving her in human skin. Slowly, she padded into the water, her breath hitching at the frigid temperature. She wasn’t worried about getting sick though. Shifters didn’t.

Hip deep, she moved out a little further until she was in the middle of the creek. Bending her legs, she dunked her upper half before looking over her shoulder to see if Wren was back. When she saw she was still alone, she arched her back and pulled her wet hair over her shoulder, trying to decide what pose would look the sexiest when Wren finally came back. Giddy butterflies flitted in her belly at the idea of surprising him, and of claiming him. Finally!

She opted for a demure smile over her shoulder, the water lapping her hips, as she posed and waited. She smiled, but then her hackles rose.

“And here we are again.”

She jerked around and sucked in a breath, regenerating clothes in a record breaking partial shift, even though she was still hip deep in water.

Marill, her torturous Alpha, was stepping from the tree line on the other side of the creek. He was flanked by Larsen, Trent, Michael, and Kenneth.

“What are you doing here?” she snapped, her gaze jerking quickly to where Wren had disappeared, and then back. “He told you not to come back! You’re all dead if they find you here!”

Marill shrugged. “Alpha Prime wasn’t hospitable to me; therefore, I feel no need to abide by his dictates. He is, after all, no Alpha of mine!” He grinned sadistically, and looked at the shifters flanking him before sweeping his eyes back to Ryka. He canted his head to study her. “What is it with you and water? Perhaps you should have been a fish instead of a wolf. Might have worked in your favor.”

Ryka felt dread flood her belly.

“Perhaps you are a fish shifter.” His smile slowly slipped. “Let’s find out, shall we?”

“The council,” she barked, stalling for time. “If you contacted them, they’ll show no mercy on you for killing a shifter this way.”

“Didn’t contact the council,” Marill grinned devilishly. “Thought I’d handle it myself.”

Larsen, Trent, Michael, and Kenneth were already moving, and Ryka panicked as she turned to cross back to her side of the creek. She tried to lift her knees high to hurry from the hip deep water, but she was too slow, her water logged clothes making her movements sluggish.

Horror stole through her as she heard splashing behind her. She knew she wasn’t going to make it out of the water. She couldn’t win in a fight with them either. She’d tried to fight the last time they’d attempted to drown her. Ash and Seven coming to her aid was the only reason she was still alive, but Ash and Seven couldn’t help her now, and there was only one thing she could do.

Plodding toward the opposite bank, Ryka sucked in the deepest breath she could and pushed it out on a scream. “WREEEEEEEN!”

Her scream was cut off as arms hauled her backward, and without hesitation shoved her under the water. Her back hit the rocks below and pain shot through her, but she couldn’t afford to expel any of the precious air she’d managed to suck in before going under. Her feet found the floor of the creek and she shoved with all her might. Her head only broke the surface long enough for her to gasp in an agonized breath, before hands gripped her shoulders and forearms, and planted on her chest, forcing her back under. Ryka kicked and writhed, clawing and biting. She even attempted to shift, but couldn’t make it happen.

One of the men grabbed hold of her legs and clamped them to the side of his body with one arm. Now, she had no leverage to push up off the bottom, so she simply continued to thrash and struggle, digging her nails deep into the hands on her chest.

Above her, the water continued to flow, uncaring that it was about to claim her, and it was devastating. Ryka didn’t want it to end this way. She needed a final goodbye with her girls. She needed Wren to know she hadn’t asked him to take her out of necessity or pity, but out of genuine desire. She should have told him.

Eyes wide, Ryka could make out the rippling images of Larsen, Michael, and Kenneth as they laughed and spoke above her, watching and waiting for her to die as they held her under the water. She stopped struggling, praying Wren had heard her, praying he was coming, praying she had enough oxygen to last.

A few minutes in though, and her lungs ignited with the need for air. It was too late. Wren wasn’t coming.

With her last burst of strength, Ryka made one last ditch effort to free herself. She fought like a wild thing. Turning her head and biting until she hit bone, she jerked one leg free and kicked Larsen in his chest. He stumbled, but grabbed her leg and held them both even tighter. Above her, Michael’s face twisted in anguish and she saw his fist hurtling toward her face. She didn’t even flinch when it connected with her cheekbone just below her eye. Her teeth were ripped away from his skin, and as crimson floated upward and distorted the water above her she couldn’t stop her mouth from opening. She couldn’t stop her body from sucking in what it hoped was air, but what she knew was water. She choked on the liquid filling her lungs, and made a gurgling sound as her body convulsed. She coughed, and instinctually attempted to draw in a breath to clear her lungs, but more water flowed in. Her body jerked a few more times. The last sound she heard was the muted laughter above her as the last few bubbles lifted and carried to the surface from her lips, and her world went black.

***

Wren had just reached the back porch of the house, a grin splitting his features as he reached for the screen door. His body slammed to a halt when he heard Ryka scream. It wasn’t just any scream. No, this scream was filled with terror, and Wren’s whole soul seemed to fly from his body towards her voice. He spun and bellowed, “BOYS!” Vaulting off the stairs, he shifted mid-leap, landing in his mountain lion form. Long, sharp claws dug into the earth and he used every ounce of his strength to push with his back legs and pull with his front paws to propel himself forward at a breakneck pace. As he ran, he strained for any other sounds from where he’d left Ryka at the creek, but the only thing he heard were his brothers pouring from the house onto the back deck. He knew they’d scent his dread and adrenaline, he knew they’d follow. His concern was solely on Ryka.

Racing closer, he picked up the scent of wolf shifters. FUCK! Why had he left her alone? His jaws clenched as he prayed she was okay. Fear was a new emotion for him, and he hated it with a passion.

Wren crashed through the trees, not slowing. Hurtling himself through the air, his eyes took in Ryka being held under the water by three men, with two standing on the bank awaiting him. He leapt into the air, and when he landed, his lion was in a killing rage. It took literally seconds for his lion to rip the throat out of the man standing beside Ryka’s old Alpha. Fucker didn’t even get the chance to shift. The prick, Marill, shifted into his wolf form and bit into Wren’s back, but it wasn’t enough to even slow him down.

He lunged toward the water, needing to get to Ryka and not caring that an Alpha wolf was tearing into him. One paw hit the waterline just as one of the men broke off and shifted. Beads of water dripped from the wolf’s fur as he leapt toward Wren. In his periphery his saw two more wolves bound from the trees on the opposite side of the bank, and they weren’t any of Ryka’s females.

With two wolves on him, Wren only made it ankle deep into the water. His lion’s burning gaze landed on where Ryka lay lifeless beneath the water, and when the two men holding her let her go and paced toward him, he noted that she wasn’t moving. There was no struggling for the surface or swimming up for air.

Wren lost it. Bloodlust seized him like nothing he’d ever experienced, and then he was battling. Claws ripping, teeth tearing, muscles bunching and flexing. He used every ounce of himself to cut through these fucks as fast as he could to get to his mate.

Finally, his brothers arrived. He instantly recognized the growls and snarls that filled the forest as several of the wolves were ripped from him. With his brothers there, it’d still be seven wolves to four lions, but right now, Wren was so enraged that he’d fight like three lions….and he did. No pity was shown. No, every strike, blow, bite and claw was given with deadly intent, and soon blood stained the ground as Marill’s numbers dwindled.

Distantly, Wren was aware of Seven’s sudden gasp as the females came rushing into the clearing. He heard Seven and Ash call out as they rushed to Ryka. Thank the Gods!

“Phena!” He heard Kenna cry out, and then more loudly she screamed, “RYKA! DO SOMETHING, SEVEN!”

The girl’s screaming was a testament to the panic riding her. Shifters didn’t scream at each other, ever, they didn’t need to. They had excellent hearing. Besides, everyone was standing right there. The girl’s screams were pure terror, and it was mirrored in the face of each member of his pack.

He took a hit, but it was worth it, because as he rolled, he was able to catch a glimpse of Seven and Ash rolling Ryka onto her back. Ash started mouth-to-mouth while Seven raised up on her knees and began chest compressions. Wren felt like he needed chest compressions. His eyes were glued to Ryka’s pale face, watching for even the slightest hint of life, but then teeth were locking into his shoulder, and dragging him back into the fight.

Motherfucker! ENOUGH! Jerking his head to the side, he caught the wolf’s throat in his mouth and with one fierce rip, the wolf’s body went limp.

His lion needed more. Wren’s glowing yellow eyes locked on Marill. It was just Marill and Liddick fighting now, and in a move that Wren may have questioned if he’d been in his right mind, he shifted to human form. The tight, white thermal shirt he’d regenerated instantly began to seep crimson from the various wounds he’d sustained. His jeans too turned wet and sticky with his blood, but he didn’t care.

His brothers were circling Marill now, careful to not trip on the bodies of the dead wolves that littered the ground.

Flicking his gaze over Marill’s shoulder, Liddick’s eyes landed on Wren, and he pulled back from his attack. When Marill swung his head around to see Wren approaching, the look on his face was as close to confusion as Wren assumed an animal could make. It didn’t last, though. Lips peeled back from sharp teeth, ears flattened, and the stupid fucking Alpha wolf lunged at Wren.

Determination and raw fury lent strength and speed as Wren caught the large body of Marill’s wolf mid-jump and held him close, jerking his head back to avoid the wolf’s teeth as they snapped for purchase.

Wren’s muscles bunched and whined at the effort of holding the wolf pinned tightly enough to him to prevent the beast from using his paws to find escape. Turning, he eyed the river and, with a determination born of rage at the attack on his mate, and sheer terror at the thought of losing her, Wren stalked slowly toward the water while Marill continued to snap and struggle for release. With each step, Marill felt his fear spike as realization slowly settled in. Wren ripped his gaze from the water to stare at where Ash and Seven were still working to save his mate, and his arms tightened further, evoking a high pitched whine from Marill.

“COME ON, RYKA!” Kenna screamed, and when she lifted horrified eyes to Wren’s he knew what the girl was thinking. It was there, in her stark expression. She didn’t think Ryka was going to make it.

As if on autopilot, Wren kept stalking toward the water, all but one of his brothers flanking him. Lux had shifted and raced to Ryka, sliding in the dirt as he gently shoved Ash aside and began giving Ryka mouth-to-mouth. The part of Wren that was so fiercely possessive of his mate stayed quiet. Ash was sobbing too hard, and she wouldn’t have been able to continue breathing for his mate. Lux though, forced great lungs full of air into Ryka’s chest with a focused determination that Wren prayed worked.

Snarls and low growls rattled the air around him. He knew his brothers wanted him to drop Marill so they could all enjoy tearing him limb-from-limb, but that wasn’t happening. No, this fucker was going out the same way he’d taken out Ryka. The thought made him trip, and he stopped a moment to bring himself back under control. NO, goddamnit! She’s not gone yet! His eyes narrowed on Ryka’s still-pale features, her still-lifeless body, and he summoned every fucking ounce of Apex authority he had as he yelled across the clearing. “RYKA! COME BACK! NOW!” It was an Alpha command, and the girls and his brother’s hunched in on themselves with the weight of the power his words carried.

Seven cowed, but kept performing chest compressions, and Lux’s mouth was hovering over Ryka’s when a cough jerked through her body and an eruption of water shot up from her mouth. Hurriedly, Seven and Lux worked to roll Ryka onto her side and, thank the Gods for small miracles, she was facing Wren. He stood motionless, holding Marill’s still-struggling body clamped to him. He watched with the greatest of relief as Ryka heaved up an impossible amount of water from her lungs and wretched. His relief was so strong it was nearly staggering, but he needed more. Her eyes! He needed to see his mate’s eyes. His lion needed to know that she had come back to them.

Sluggishly, Ryka stopped coughing and pressed the back of one hand to her lips before her light brown eyes blinked open. She looked pained as she dropped her hand to clutch at her chest. Her sisters were offering her soothing words, but she was scanning the area with a look of confusion, as if she was trying to make sense of what she saw. Finally, her eyes lifted and locked on Wren’s and a sharp breath slammed air into his chest. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding his breath, waiting for her to look at him, until air finally hit his starved lungs.

Ryka held his gaze a moment, then her eyes dipped to Marill. When she lifted her eyes once more to Wren’s, they were suddenly full of tears. He could see when it all registered, when she remembered what happened. Her lower lip trembled, but she nodded at Wren, and that was all he needed.

His feet started moving again, and Marill had to know what was coming, because now he was fighting like a crazed animal. It wasn’t enough. His pathetic strength would never be a match for the power thrumming through Wren, demanding he vindicate his mate. With Ryka watching, he stalked into the water, dragging Marill with him. Releasing the wolf and holding him under was no hardship, and even when Marill shifted to human form and punched up at him, Wren merely caught the blow on his shoulder and kept right on holding the fucker under. Marill’s struggle was fierce, and it cost him. His eyes locked on Wren’s from beneath the water as he sucked in water. Still, Wren held firm. Not until every last twitch left Marill’s body, and his eyes were staring sightlessly up at the sky, did Wren release his hold and let the body drift downstream. Wren’s eyes locked on Liddick’s and then Cason’s, and he jerked his head toward the rapidly disappearing body. He’d take no chances. His brother’s would drag the body from the river and ensure the Alpha was stone dead before disposing of his remains.

Five large steps and he was out of the water and rushing to Ryka. She lifted her arms to him just as he knelt and lifted her onto his lap. He held her body close as she clung to him, and it was the best damn feeling in the world. Her shoulders shook and her sobs broke his heart. “Shhh,” he crooned. “I’ve got you, my queen. I’ve always got you.” Her body was ice-cold, and he stood swiftly looking over Ryka’s head to Jesup. “Get to the house, stoke the fire, start a kettle to boil, find blankets.”

“I’ll help!” Seven offered, and she and Cason shifted and raced for the house.

Kenna was holding onto Ryka’s shirt like she was afraid to let go, and Ash kept pace beside them, her eyes scanning the forest as if she were anticipating another attack.

“We’re fine, Ash. They’re all dead.”

She jerked her chin down in a nod, but her eyes never stopped their watching. He didn’t blame her. She was Ryka’s second, and right now her need to protect was pouring from Ash in a flood that nearly rivaled his own.

“Hang on, my queen, we’re almost home.”