Suddenly Fated (Wolves of Riverton #1)

19. Ari

19. Ari

Two warriors carried a third into the training barracks. He was naked and covered in blood from four deep slash marks down the left side of his back and a vicious looking bite on his calf.

“Blackwell’s wolves at the perimeter again,” one of the fighters informed us. “We caught them trying to cross. We got them, but not before Jason here caught claws and fangs from the leader. That one ran off before we could subdue him.”

“Son of a bitch.” Jamie shook his head. “These attacks are getting more and more frequent. Should we assume that he’s nearly finished gathering his wolves from all over the fucking world?”

It seemed like Jamie was correct. We had warriors guarding the borders twenty-four hours a day now. These skirmishes started up not long ago, but they seemed to be increasing in both frequency and number of enemies attacking. It was like Blackwell sized us up. We didn’t yet have any casualties; so far those had all been on the other side. We had enough injuries like Jason’s, though, that we had to bring in full time medical support for the first time ever. The hospital wasn’t set up to handle the pack’s needs and war injuries at the same time.

“All signs point to yes. It’s time to ramp up security even more. Double the border guard, then call Alpha Engeron and tell him it’s time to send us his warriors. I’ll get Alpha Logan on standby. One more attack like this and we go get him before he can get us.” I sighed, closing my eyes. A headache formed between them, a frequent issue for me since the trouble started.

“Stupid motherfucker,” I complained to Jamie as we walked toward the community building. “He never gave a shit about whether Av and I stayed married. He wanted war the whole time. He was just looking for an excuse.”

“Yep. True the last time you said it, and the time before that.”

“Sorry, I’m pissed. This is all so fucking pointless. He can have all the land he wants, but he wants ours, too. I wonder more and more if he didn’t have something to do with poisoning my father.”

“How would that be possible? Richard said he wasn’t even in the country when Alpha William died. I almost wish it was him; that way it couldn’t have been someone in our pack. That it could be one of our own seems so much worse.”

“Agreed. I’m just glad that the attempts on Esyn’s life seem to have stopped. Though I still want to find the shifter or shifters responsible and tear their hearts out.” The thought of losing not only Esyn but our unborn cub sent terror through my entire body. I thought our bond was strong before, but since she marked me, it felt like we shared one soul. I could feel her emotions and she could feel mine. Right now, for instance, I reached out and felt her contentment. She was likely either resting or editing photos. The thought made me smile.

“I haven’t wanted to bring it up, but is it a coincidence that the attempts stopped after your mother disappeared?” Jamie asked.

“I’ve thought the same. Once this is over, I’m going to find her, and she will not enjoy the questioning process.”

We went to our separate offices to make the calls, setting things in motion. Engeron’s warriors would be here within two days. Alpha Logan had 100 more that would step in if necessary, but he didn’t have as many to stay and protect his own pack as Engeron. We hoped it wouldn’t be necessary to use them. Later that night, I held Esyn on my lap as we sat in one of the chairs by the fire in our room.

“I wish that you and Jamie didn’t have to go too,” she said sadly. “I can’t stand the thought of being here without you.”

“I don’t want to leave you either, believe me. But how would it look if we sent our warriors off to potentially die for us and not be there beside them?

“Don’t talk about death! There will be no death. You will come back alive and in one piece, and so will Jamie. Promise me.”

“I promise. We’ll go in there and obliterate Blackwell and his men, and we’ll be back here before you even have time to miss me.”

“I already miss you, and you haven’t gone anywhere yet.”

Later that night someone pounded on our door, ruining our sound sleep.

“Ari! Ari, get up right now!”

We startled awake, instantly on high alert. Jamie stood in the hall half dressed, pulling his shirt on. “Big attack is happening at the northern border. This is the biggest yet. This could be it.”

Esyn’s eyes were round as saucers as she sat in the bed, blankets up to her chin. I turned to the bed and grabbed a pair of sweatpants from where I’d left them earlier, not even bothering with a shirt. “Don’t you dare go out there without kissing me goodbye first,” she commanded.

I grabbed her and pulled her against me, kissing her with all of the love in me. “Stay right here and take care of our cub,” I told her. “We will be back soon.”

Jamie and I joined a group of warriors outside. Before we even hit the trees, we shifted into our wolves, heading for the border as fast as we could run. When we got close, I could already hear the sounds of the fight–snarling, growling, howling, and flesh tearing as wolf fought against wolf. Immediately after we broke into the scene, the enemy attacked me on two sides. Jamie threw his weight into the wolf on my right, sending him spinning head over tail into the dirt. I turned my attention to the wolf on the left. We lunged toward one another, his jaws snapping at air as he struggled to reach my throat. I pushed him off of me with my front paws and managed to rip into his flank with my teeth. He yelped and paused just long enough for me to reach his neck. I took him out just as another wolf leaped into the fray.

The battle raged until the sun began to show over the horizon. Finally, we stood panting, bloody, and dirty in the aftermath, the bodies of Blackwell’s warriors all around us. I began surveying the area when suddenly my stomach sank. Feelings of panic and dread flooded me. Esyn! She didn’t answer.

I turned and found Jamie, then nodded my head toward the forest and took off at a dead run, hoping that he’d take the hint and follow. We ran as if demons were on our heels, making it back to the grounds in record time. I hastily shifted back into my human form and flew through the door to the manor, which stood wide open.

Warriors flooded the hall. Tim lay on the entry floor, dead. I felt all-encompassing fear as I raced up the stairs two at a time.

Our bed sat empty. Blood stained Esyn’s pillow.

“ NO!” I roared, gripping the pillow and racing back down the stairs.

“What the fuck happened here? Where is she? Someone better start talking right now!”

“Ari. It’s Avelin and Esyn. They’re both gone!” Jamie turned to me in a panic.

“They tied up the servants,” Andrew said. “The whole battle was a diversion to get you out of the manor and off the property. By the time the warriors got here, it was too late. I almost had Miss Avelin out, but they found us and grabbed her. There were just so many of them, Alpha. I’m so sorry. Tim died trying to protect Luna Esyn. They snapped his neck. Harris says he saw them carry her out. He thinks they hit Luna Esyn over the head.”

“Blackwell’s men, then?”

“Yes.”

Jamie’s face mirrored my own as grim rage settled into my body.

“He’s a dead man.”