Reese Page 17

  “Let’s get back on track.” Reese growled. “Come up with another plan because I won’t risk you.”

  “What about me?” Rachel asked. She’d been quiet but now everyone turned to look at her.

  “What about you?” Stan growled. This was getting interesting.

  “I can go with them. This wolf won’t know I’m not Megan until it’s too late to run. What’s even better, is I can turn him into a frog.” Rachel observed.

  Ann screeched, “Oh goddess they’re all witches!” Her eyes rolled back into her head and she slumped to the ground.

  “Okay.” Reese agreed.

  “Okay?” Stan questioned.

  “She’ll be fine. She’s a strong witch and Delane won’t have a chance.” He explained.

  Stan wasn’t happy, he worried about Rachel but I couldn’t see anyway Delane would get the upper hand. Not only was Rachel tough for a human, she had strong magic that Delane had no way to offset. I knew if we didn’t hurry, he’d chicken out and fly the coop. Once he was gone, we wouldn’t see him again until he was ready to attack under his terms. It was just too nerve wracking to sit around and wait for two enemies to hit us.

  Reese realized it too. “You two.” He pointed at Ann and Nancy. “You’re going to do this or you’ll both be very sorry.” They bowed their heads recognizing his alpha power. The plan was quickly worked out. While they approached Delane from the front with Rachel, Reese and his team would sneak up from behind. We would catch him this time and this part of our troubles would be over. Yes, I’m an optimist at heart.

  They had Rachel walk between them as if they were forcing her along. It looked convincing and I was sure he’d be fooled. Reese wouldn’t allow me to come along and he left me to guard a restrained Denees. I guess he thought that would make me feel useful without endangering myself. It was sweet that he made the effort but I still felt left out and I wanted to be there and see Delane brought down.

  I waited and worried but it was only about an hour when they came back and Stan and Jam carried Delane’s body. I was sure they’d killed him which made me feel bad even though he deserved it. “He’s alive, just out cold.” Reese assured me.

  “I want to hear details!” I demanded. I saw Ann and Nancy weren’t with them and that made me curious too.

  “We got almost to him before Delane realized I wasn’t you. He started chewing Ann and Nancy out and they just acted stupid and insisted I was the only female at the overseer’s house.” Rachel explained with a laugh.

  “Meanwhile, we were almost on top of the worthless cur before he even noticed something was wrong.” Stan added.

  “I got the privilege of knocking him out with a hard punch to his face. His eyes crossed as he went out and he fell to the ground.” Reese concluded. “It was almost too easy. Since they helped us, I let the two females go back to their pack.”

  Jam came into the kitchen where we sat while everyone caught me up on what had happened. “Reese, Delane demands to speak to you. He won’t say why but he claims to have the right to be heard.” Jam explained.

  “He would if this was a pack war and he’d acted honorably under the old rules at least. He’s nothing but a rogue now and he has no rights.”

  “So tell him what?” Jam asked.

  “Go ahead and bring him here and I’ll listen to what he has to say.” Reese said.

  We all watched Jam go to the living room to bring in an angry Delane. “I have the right of challenge Overseer.” Delane demanded. “She was mine and you stole her from me. The council will see things my way.”

  “The old council might have or maybe not, but this council isn’t like that anymore.” Reese insisted.

  “How sure are you?” Delane sneered. “Will you risk losing her because you’re afraid to fight me?”

  “I see through you, Delane. You want me to kill you to avoid the council’s prison. I won’t give you the easy way out. You’ll serve your time and you’ll serve every bit of it.”

  “Coward!” Delane screamed as he cussed and hurled insults at Reese as Jam dragged him away.

  “That went well.” I joked trying to get us past the nastiness that surrounded that wolf.

  Everyone laughed but there was an uncomfortable feeling that Delane brought out in all of us. A warden was due to pick him up in a few hours so hopefully that would go well. We tried to relax, not an easy thing with the evil creature that was Delane in the next room. I had food cooking and it was almost time to eat. We could hear Delane every once in a while hurling insults or making disgusting observations to the guards. We would all be glad to have him gone, once he was in the hands of the council I was sure he would never be allowed to leave.

  I wasn’t sure why I didn’t feel more relieved that we’d caught him. It was like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and not sure where it would land. It seemed silly considering that he was restrained and guarded by two trusted wolves.

  I gave a thought to where my concern was coming from as I played with the wand Rachel had let me keep. She was constantly telling me that it wasn’t a toy or a stress ball and that I shouldn’t have it out except when I was ready to use it. She said it almost off handedly so I thought maybe she understood that I drew comfort from having it readily at hand.

  I slid it into my pocket and I started to serve everyone their food. We sat to eat and I got more nervous as time passed. Rachel was fidgeting too but I didn’t know what it meant. It wasn’t anything in particular that bothered me, just a general feeling of impending doom. Maybe a better way to explain it would be to say you had a job interview in the morning but no one told you what the job was. You had to be prepared for anything even the unlikely. Reese kept looking at me and I was sure he picked up on my extreme nervousness. It wasn’t surprising since our connection got stronger every day.

  I got up to do the dishes and Rachel came over to help me. Even the males helped sometimes because they loved my food and didn’t want me to stop cooking.

  “Any idea what’s making us so damn uptight?” Rachel asked.

  “No, but the last time I felt like this was just before Delane’s attempt to get me.” I replied.

  “What are you two whispering about?” Reese asked.

  “We feel concerned that something is about to happen.” I admitted and I expected Reese just to shrug it off.

  “We’ll be careful and watch for anything.” He assured us. Maybe he felt it too.

  We continued to clean up until we heard an odd sound from the living room. We were already in a state of high tension and we didn’t even think before we ran into the room. I was stunned by what I saw. Both guards were down and Abs, the wicked witch rogue had freed Delane who had changed to his wolf form. It never occurred to me that they might join forces or that they even knew each other. How had that happened in this world where each supernatural type was so distrustful and suspicious of each other’s kind? Why did it seem like the bad guys worked together more easily than the good ones?

  Abs was looking at Rachel and me in a possessive manner. Delane’s wolf looked at Reese as if he was about to attack at him. The moment I thought it, he did. Reese managed to catch him with his hands around the wolf’s throat. Reese’s strength in his human form didn’t seem to be enough to take Delane’s wolf down, but he was able to hold him still. They were at an impasse with neither being able to score a victory. I caught movement from Abs and turned my eyes his way. He was moving his hands to send a magical surprise at Rachel. She ducked but Stan didn’t and he hit the floor unconscious and wrapped in some type of glowing chains. I’d heard of magical restraints but never seen them before. Stan was out of the fight and Reese was tied up with Delane. I saw that he’d changed to his wolf and the two were aggressively attacking each other. I saw it took no time for Delane to turn tale and run with Reese hot on his trail.

  Rachel had sent magical shots at Abs which he blocked easily but he had one eye on me. He seemed to believe I would be the true test of his magic because of wh
at had happened last time. I looked at my hand and saw I gripped the wand tightly in my grip. I couldn’t even remember pulling it from my pocket, yet there it was. I concentrated all my anger at the attack and my fear for Reese into the wand and an arc of pure energy headed toward Abs. A similar arc of energy came from his hands and rose to hit mine head on effectively blocking my magic from hitting him.

  It hadn’t met it halfway and it was only a couple feet in front of him. I knew keeping up this magical display was hurting him. It was draining him just like it would me but I wasn’t feeling weak yet. Even if I couldn’t outlast him, if I drained him I hoped Rachel would finish him. It did occur to me that I might pull strength from Reese and leave him vulnerable, but right now all I could do was try not to and hope for the best. I saw that Abs energy was wavering and it made me hopeful. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how good it would feel if we managed to take out both of our enemies in one fell swoop.

  I renewed my fury and my magic surged forth unexpectedly catching Abs off guard and snapping at him. He flew back hitting the wall behind him. He shook off the zap but blood ran down his forehead. I had scored a hard hit. I tried again and he blocked me. Rachel and I threw magic at him together. He blocked me but she made it through hitting his shoulder and sending him backwards again. He sent us a look that promised retribution and before I could react, he opened a doorway and he was gone. I ran forward stunned and miserable that my prey had escaped just as I had him in my grasp. My next thought was of Reese who hadn’t returned and I moved to rush out the door only to have Jam catch my arm and pull me back inside.

  “He said you weren’t to go after him. Win or lose, he plans to do this on his own.” Jam explained.

  Lose? What the hell was this talk of him losing? “No, he’s not going to lose and I’m not staying in here Jam.” I said looking down where Jam held my arm. He dropped it even though he probably knew I wouldn’t hurt him.

  I moved out the door with Jam and Rachel right behind me. I hurried down the path where I caught sight of Reese’s gorgeous black wolf fighting Delane’s mangy looking one and I knew the only reason the fight had continued so long was because I had drained power from him during my fight. Guilt assailed me but at least he had all of his power and some of mine at his paw tips. I know I was just too funny, not, but I was crazy with worry.

  Delane jumped, trying to surprise Reese but Reese rolled to his back and when Delane landed on top of his paws, he hefted him backwards and he hit the ground hard. Reese was on him before he could shake off the stunned look he had. Reese caught him by the throat and shook him like a rag doll. This fight was all but over and the only thing left to decide was if Delane would live to be punished by the council or die at Reese’s jaws.

  My breath caught in my throat as I watched, worried and waited to see what Reese and his wolf would decide. His jaws froze not digging in any deeper as he just held Delane who hung defeated from his mouth. Reese dropped the wolf he had just beaten to the ground and changed back to his human form. Delane howled as if in agony as he changed back too.

  Reese turned to look at Rachel, “What, I thought you wanted him in this form?”

  “You can unmorph a wolf?”

  “What part of I can change a wolf to a frog didn’t you get? Changing a supernatural to one of their natural forms is even easier.”

  “Jam, restrain this fucked up wolf.” Reese ordered. “Where is Stan?”

  “I helped him to the couch. Abs caught him with a magic shot. He’ll be okay but he needs to rest.” Rachel explained.

  I felt guilty that I’d not worried about Stan like I should have, but worry over Reese had overwhelmed me. “He got away.” I admit, ashamed that I hadn’t stopped him.

  “You think I’m disappointed? I’m just glad everyone’s alright and this one,” he gestured toward Delane, “will be picked up soon.”

  Almost as if on cue a voice asked, “What did I miss?” A wolf, tall and lean as most are, steps up closer. He had red hair, the bright fiery kind and brown eyes.

  “Terrill.” Reese said, clearly happy to see this male. “You have no idea how glad we are you finally got here.”

  “Dude, I’m covering half the state right now so be glad I got here at all.” Terrill replied.

  “Yeah, I heard you were stretched pretty thin.” Reese admitted sympathetically. “This is my mate, her sister and this piece of shit is Delane. Ladies, this wacky wolf is the warden, Terrill.”

  “Nice to meet you ladies. Him, I’ve met before but it was no pleasure.” Terrill observed. “I’d like to stay around for the pleasantries, but I have to get him handed off and get to my next assignment.”

  Jam helped him load Delane up and after a quick goodbye, Terrill took off in a cloud of dust. The relief I felt overwhelmed me as I finally saw the last of that nasty wolf. We went back to the kitchen where we compared notes on everything that had happened today. The biggest mystery, how Deane and Abs came together was solved by Jam. Apparently Abs had been watching and saw us capture Delane. He decided enemy of my enemy and all that so he cut him loose hoping Delane would distract the males while he took out the weak females. We taught him a lesson about taking on two weak females. The last thing to deal with was Denees. Reese didn’t feel comfortable punishing a female so she was banished but he did find another pack willing to take her. he would be watched closely.

  All things considered, we may not have conquered both enemies, but Delane was dealt with and Abs had a serious setback. If things could have been better, it also could have turned out so much worse. I would just be happy with things as they are for now and hope the future will just continue to get better.

  Epilogue

  It was a beautiful day and except for threat of Absinths always on the edge of their lives, everything else seemed to be going well. The James Pack had been silent which was expected since Delane had been banished and disowned before his defeat and Reese had made the effort to keep him alive although I personally didn’t think it was appreciated by anyone least of all Delane who seemed to want to die and Alpha James who seemed to want the source of his embarrassment gone. I hoped I was wrong but I saw nothing but trouble from that quarter.

  The mating ceremony had been beautiful and we had kept it short and sweet. Only Reese’s males, my family and closest friends had attended. He had decided we would get married in the human way as well. It was more to protect me should anything happen to him so I could claim his assets. Only Stan and Rachel went with us to the city for the ceremony in a judge’s chambers. As we took our vows we looked in each other’s eyes and I sensed he had needed this further claiming. It was more than the legal reasons he had given, it was another way to be sure we belonged to each other.

  Every morning I woke up next to him I felt like I was where I should be and love continued to grow. I wanted this for Rachel and Stan too but they have so much to overcome. What we struggled against seems like child’s play compared to their issues. Reese comes up behind me and pulls me against him and I lean back.

  “How’s your day going, Beautiful?” He whispers in my ear.

  “Better now that you’re here.” I answer softly.

  Rachel rolls her eyes and gags while the males all laugh at her silliness. I can see longing there, not just in Stan’s eyes but also in Rachel’s. Those two are their own worst enemy. I’ve carved out my spot here in the pack, in this house and most of all in Reese’s life. We’re happy and we’re a family. The rest will just have to work itself out.

  The Red Wolf Series 2

  Stanley

  Things had changed a great deal for all of them. Stanley was considering a big step that could cost him his life or elevate his position but either way, he would no longer be Reese’s right hand wolf. Rachel wasn’t worried, she knew Stan would win the day if he decided to take on the fight. What worried her was that he’d asked her to go with him and she wasn’t sure she could stay around wolves for the rest of her life.

  He felt something for
her no matter how much he tried to deny it. Her magic upset his wolf but even that wasn’t enough to stop him from wanting to keep her. He’d made some hard decisions and now it was time for her to make one. She would continue her life in one of two ways, with him or without him and that decision would be final.

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  If you want to read more books by Crystal Dawn, check out:

  Blue Moon Pack Series

  Planet Amazon Series I, II, III, and IV

  Cousins of the Moon Series 1 and 2

  Legends of the White Werewolf Series 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

  Keepers of the Land Series 1, 2, 3 4, and 5

  Frozen Origin Series 1, 2, and 3

  Frozen Origin Quickies 1

  Frozen Holidays 2 PK Eudoras & Zelus

  Frozen Origins Love 2PK Adonis & Aphroditus

  The Southwest Illinois Pack Series

  The Wilde Pack series

  The Strong Pack 1 & 2

  The Warriors of the Vinii by Corre Deepe

  Xanterie

  Can a bad day turn your life around?

  Crash landing on Earth seemed the worst thing that could happen to Xan, his crew and their battered ship. It was only the beginning. After nearly freezing to death, Xan’s savior, in the form of a little Earth female, is driving him crazy. He doesn’t want to want her, but he can’t seem to help it. Edie wonders if she’s gone crazy when she wakes up looking into the glowing red eyes of a naked, not quite human male. He seems determined to keep her with him, but she’s just as determined to go.