Alpha's Heat (Shifters of Wolfsbane Book 3) Page 2

  “Get away from me! Get away!” It was a woman’s voice.

  Seraphina shot out a hand, calling Felix back to her. He let out a muffled meow of protest as he lost his form, becoming a small fireball in her hand.

  She hid it behind her back. No one could know about her magic. That was what had gotten her into this mess in the first place.

  But should she hide? Or run?

  It was too late. A woman lurched through the trees ahead.

  She was bedraggled, her hair tangled and her face smeared with mud. The hems of her pants were tattered, almost like they’d been clawed. Porcupine quills sprouted from her left leg.

  Seraphina could only gape. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Far from it.” The woman hobbled up to her, glancing around furtively. “Damned animals. I think I’ve finally lost them, though.”

  “Your leg…” Seraphina covered her mouth. There were a lot of quills. “Do you need any help?”

  The woman waved her away. “It’s nothing. Nothing I can’t handle. I’m doing fine. They’re gone now, anyway.” She looked over her shoulder.

  “Do you need something to eat?” Seraphina asked. “There are some mushrooms through the woods a ways. If you want, I can show you.”

  “No, no.” The woman looked past her, as if evaluating the area for more threats. “I’m fine.”

  “All right, then.” Seraphina wasn’t sure she should leave the woman in her disheveled state, but she didn’t know what else she could do. “Are you sure you don’t need any help?”

  “All I need is to be free of them,” the woman muttered darkly. “Weeks and weeks it’s been. When will they let me be?”

  Seraphina edged away. She wondered if she should call Felix back.

  “No!” The woman grabbed her by the shoulders. “Don’t go that way!”

  “Why not?” Seraphina backed out of the woman’s grip. She didn’t want to be rude, but the stranger smelled like she hadn’t bathed in days.

  “Wolfsbane is in that direction. That town’s full of wolves, witches, and other wretched things. It’s a cursed, terrible place, and—” It sounded like the woman had more complaints about Wolfsbane, but she was cut short by her own scream. A skunk had appeared from the trees, its tail held high.

  The woman shrieked at it. “When will you leave me alone?” Without another glance at Seraphina, she dove deeper into the woods.

  Undeterred by the yelling, the skunk carried on. Seraphina backed away, but it didn’t seem to notice her. It trundled through the forest, following the same path the strange woman had taken.

  Seraphina’s skin prickled. It was almost like the skunk was following her.

  Farther on, the woman’s crashing through the forest dimmed. Seraphina was alone again.

  Opening her palm, she let Felix out. The cat faced away from her, licking himself.

  “Don’t pout,” she said. “I didn’t know if it was safe.”

  Turning, she walked in the direction the woman had come from. Wolfsbane seemed like the perfect place to go. A town full of witches was exactly what she was looking for. Someone might be able to help her find Arabella.

  And maybe she would even fit in.

  Squaring her shoulders, but keeping an eye out for more skunks, Seraphina soldiered on.

  ***

  “ARE YOU GOING to laze around all day?”

  Easton opened his eyes. He should have known better than to nap this close to the den. Auric hated any hint of idleness.

  “I was just resting for a bit.” Easton stood, stretching his arms. “We did have a long hunt this morning.” He didn’t mention that he’d also brought down two bucks—his father would just warn him not to get too big for his britches. Which was ridiculous, as he never even wore clothes anyway.

  “I thought you would have gotten plenty of rest during that storm.” Auric scowled down at him. “We have much to do. Or do you think you’re too important for such menial tasks, being the Alpha’s son?”

  “I don’t.” Easton tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice, but he wasn’t completely successful. His father was so adamant on never favoring him or his brothers that he tended to treat them worse than the rest of the pack. It got old.

  “Good. Then go patrol our western border. All the way, north to south. Don’t take any shortcuts this time.”

  Easton bristled. When had he ever taken a shortcut?

  “You need a purpose, Easton. Something more than hunting and sleeping the day away.”

  That was too much. “Someone has to hunt. We’ll eat well tonight thanks to me.”

  “Should I congratulate you for doing the bare minimum to contribute to the pack?” Auric gave him a withering look, his eyes turning flat and cold. At least it was a familiar look.

  Not for the first time, Easton wondered if his father was actually made of ice.

  Auric sighed. “You know why you will never be an Alpha? You’re too selfish. You’d never sacrifice yourself or your comfort for anyone else, and that is why you cannot lead a pack.”

  “Maybe I don’t care if I’m an Alpha.”

  Auric’s eyes, if possible, grew colder. “That is quite clear.”

  Easton stepped back. Why did the words sting so much? And why did his father always have to look at him as though he were a vexing blob of pine sap stuck to his fur?

  “I’ll start patrolling, then,” Easton said. “With your permission, Alpha.”

  Auric’s mouth twisted, but he merely nodded. “Go.”

  Easton shifted, letting his wolf loose. White fur spread over his skin as the creature took over. As soon as his paws formed, he sprinted away from the den, away from his father and the suffocating Frost pack.

  He stretched his legs, racing no one but himself as he tore through the trees. His wolf wanted to revel in the wind and the birdsong and the sunshine, but Easton had other things on his mind.

  An Alpha. Why did Auric care so much about whether he became an Alpha?

  Lately, his father had been unbearable. Auric never complained if Nova or Hudson rested after a hunt. He never sent Ram to run patrols when it wasn’t his turn. Easton held back a growl. If it wasn’t this, it would be something else. His father loved telling Easton how disappointed he was, how much better his brothers were than him at everything.

  If Easton didn’t know any better, it would seem like his father was trying to push him out of the pack.

  Something flickered through the trees up ahead. Easton halted. It was definitely a glint of flame. The storm had knocked down branches and leaves, leaving the forest strewn with detritus. A blaze could turn nasty very quickly.

  He ran forward, not caring that he was crashing through the trees. Speed was of the essence, not silence. But where had the fire gone? If it had started spreading under the leaves, they’d be in real trouble—

  He burst into the clearing where he’d seen the fire, but there were no more flames. Just a beautiful woman, with dark blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. The sight made his heart stop. She looked at him, and her green eyes seemed to pierce his wolf itself.

  She stumbled backward, her eyes widening.

  Oh, right. To her, he was a giant wolf. Easton shifted.

  “Sorry,” he said. “Did I scare you?”

  “You’re a shifter?” She kept one hand behind her back. “That’s not scary.”

  Was she insulting his wolf? He tried to keep his composure. This was a woman alone in the wilds, after all. Her clothes looked travel worn, and she seemed like she could use a good meal. Still, he could tell she wasn’t lying. His wolf might have startled her, but it certainly hadn’t scared her. That only made her more intriguing.

  She looked at him like she expected him to say something, but it felt like his tongue was tied in a knot.

  “Are you going to let me pass?” she said at last.

  “Well, technically you’re in my father’s territory.”

  “Oh?” She arched an eyebrow. “Then where does i
t end?”

  He wanted to smack himself on the forehead. “That’s not what I—”

  “No, I don’t want to intrude. How far do I need to go to not be trespassing?”

  From the stubborn set of her mouth, he could tell she wasn’t about to budge. “Just across that stream.” He pointed. “Then you’re out of our territory.”

  “Thank you.” She gave him a mocking curtsy. “I won’t trouble you further.”

  Crunching through the forest, she vaulted over the stream. Even swollen with the recent rains, it wasn’t very wide. Without looking at him, she continued south.

  Easton kept pace with her, staying on the Frost pack’s side of the stream.

  “You don’t have to follow me,” she said. “I promise I won’t come back on your land.”

  “I’m going this way anyway. I’m supposed to patrol our border. But I can also make sure nothing happens to you.”

  “Lucky me.”

  He snorted. “You really aren’t afraid of anything in this forest, are you?”

  “Is that so surprising?”

  “It is when you’re human.”

  She shrugged. “Everything scary is behind me.”

  Easton wished he were that confident. “Where are you going?”

  “To Wolfsbane.”

  “Wolfsbane? I have half a mind to go there myself. Both of my brothers went there and haven’t returned.”

  “Well, you can go there yourself. I don’t need an escort.”

  He grinned. “I can’t imagine you do. I’m Easton Frost, by the way. What’s your name?”

  The woman hesitated. “Sera.”

  For a moment, he wondered if that was her real name, but then decided that it didn’t matter. “It’s going to take you forever to get to Wolfsbane this way. It’s to our southeast.”

  “I’m not allowed to walk on the other side of this stream, remember?”

  “Look, I’m sorry I said anything. I’m supposed to be patrolling for threats, and you’re not one.”

  She stopped, narrowing her eyes. “What makes you so sure I’m not?”

  Easton laughed. “Come on, cross back over the stream. I should have kept my mouth shut. Story of my life. Let me take you to our den, and you can get rest and a meal before heading to Wolfsbane.”

  Sera seemed tempted. “No,” she said at last, beginning to walk again. “I wouldn’t want to upset any shifters.”

  Easton strode beside her, only the stream between them. Something told him that if he let her go, he’d regret it forever.

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “Let me know if you change your mind. We have fresh venison, as well as trout and turkey. And we just traded with Wolfsbane, so Fern—she’s the best baker we have—made a batch of orange cakes.”

  That got her attention. “What are orange cakes?”

  “You’ll have to taste them to really experience them. But they were cooling when I left, so they’d probably be ready to eat by the time we got back to the den.”

  Even over the burbling stream, he could hear her stomach grumble.

  “All right,” she said. “I guess stopping for a quick bite wouldn’t hurt. But then I have to get to Wolfsbane.”

  “Okay.” He wondered why she wanted to get there so badly, but she didn’t seem in the mood to answer questions. “The den is this way.”

  She wouldn’t take his outstretched hand, choosing to hop back over the stream herself. Easton noticed that she held one hand clenched into a fist. He decided not to ask her about that, either.

  “By the way, you didn’t see any fire back there, did you?”

  She stared at him, green eyes wide. “Fire?”

  “Yeah, I thought I saw flames just before we met. But I didn’t smell anything burning. It was strange.” Easton glanced toward the northern sky. There was no smoke, no sign of anything wrong. He probably should have spent more time checking, but Sera had thoroughly distracted him.

  “I didn’t notice any wildfire.” Sera put her hands behind her back. “Maybe it was a trick of the light?”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Easton sighed. He could take another lecture from his father, but he’d never forgive himself if their forest burned down because of him.

  He slowed. “I should go back and check.”

  “Do you really think—”

  “It’ll only take a minute.” Shifting, he bounded back to the place where they’d met. Scanning the leaf litter for any sign of sparks or smoke, he trotted deeper into the woods.

  Easton put his nose to the ground. He could smell Seraphina’s scent now, an odd mix of limestone as well as foxglove so strong that she must have walked through a field of it. And there was another scent, an odd one. A faint hint of ash?

  He sneezed, shaking his head. There might have been a fire here once, but there was no danger now. He leapt back toward Sera, not noticing the charred pawprints that something had left among the clovers.

  “All clear,” he said, shifting as he ran out of the trees.

  “So nothing’s on fire?” Sera asked. “Nothing’s… strange?”

  “Nope, everything’s great.” He grinned at her. “Now let’s get some orange cakes.”

  Chapter Three

  SERAPHINA TRAILED A pace behind Easton, her heart pounding madly. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a normal conversation, or spoken to anyone who wasn’t one of her captors.

  Maybe she shouldn’t do this. Maybe she should bolt. What if this was a trap? What if the shifters weren’t as nice as Easton claimed? She’d heard stories, mostly from the guards, about people being torn apart. Perhaps there wasn’t any venison, and he was bringing her home for dinner.

  But something about him caught her off guard. His easy laugh, his winning smile. It seemed that shifters didn’t wear clothes, and she couldn’t bring herself to mind. Especially when he was walking in front of her, all of his hard muscles on display, his stride long and unhurried.

  Seraphina made herself look up into the trees. She’d been staring at his ass for five minutes now. What was wrong with her?

  She needed to rest so badly. Over the past few days, she’d run, walked, and jogged until her feet felt numb. Easton’s pack could begin to gnaw on her while she was asleep and that might not rouse her. She blinked, her eyelids growing heavy. She should sit down, maybe just for a moment…

  “Hey!”

  She found herself in Easton’s arms. His face was very close, his eyes a deep gold.

  “You fell down,” he said. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m just tired.” She didn’t even know him. How did she feel so safe with his arms around her?

  “Our den is still a ways away from here. I can carry you there if you want…”

  His voice faded as she drifted off.

  “Sera?”

  Her eyes snapped open. She stared around, terrified that she’d see stone walls. But it was just Easton. She let herself relax.

  “We’re here,” he said, setting her down.

  Seraphina rubbed her eyes. For some reason, she was a bit sad that he wasn’t holding her anymore. Which was ridiculous—she’d only just met the man.

  They stood in front of a longhouse, its roof made of sod. Smoke curled from the chimney, making the building look extremely inviting. She even thought she could smell a hint of oranges.

  In her clenched hand, she felt Felix twist, displeased with his prolonged confinement. She only held him tighter—Easton couldn’t know about her abilities.

  “Come in,” Easton said. “Kick your feet up.” He swung open a heavy oak door, holding it for her.

  The room was dominated by one long table. Benches ran its length, and judging by the grooves carved into the floor, they’d been used by generations of shifters.

  Seraphina marveled. She never would have guessed that something like this could exist out here in the wilds.

  “Not too bad, huh?” Easton’s voice echoed in the empty room. “Sit here,” he said, pulling out a bench for her. �
��I’ll see if anyone’s in the kitchen.”

  He disappeared through a doorway at the far end, leaving Seraphina alone. She turned uneasily toward the entrance, wondering again if she should run. Were shifters any nicer than Mr. Dark? Would they want to use her powers too, once they learned what they could do?

  In her hand, Felix growled.

  “Not yet,” she whispered. “It’s not safe.”

  Just then, Easton returned, followed by a woman wearing nothing but an apron.

  “The cakes are for after dinner,” the woman was saying. “I don’t care what story you’ve dreamed up—” She broke off, staring at Seraphina.

  “I told you I wasn’t lying,” Easton said. “I really did find a weary traveler. Sera, this is Fern. Fern, this is Sera.”

  “Hello, Sera.” Fern wiped floury hands on her apron front. “I thought Easton was spinning a tale to try and get more than his fair share of cakes.”

  Easton rolled his eyes. “I haven’t done that since I was a pup.”

  “Yes, but you have done it.” She smiled at Sera. “You do look hungry. I’ll bring some food out for you.”

  Sera barely had time to stammer her thanks before Fern disappeared.

  “Just wait,” Easton said. “Fern will bring enough food to smother a deer.”

  He wasn’t wrong. Fern started them off with a salad of dandelions, followed by fresh trout on a bed of wild onions. Then there were rolls, which, though only a day old, Fern apologized profusely over, and three types of jam. Fern also brought out a slab of venison, which was more juicy and tender than anything Seraphina had ever eaten in her life.

  She sat back, completely stuffed. “Thank you so much, Fern. That was incredible. I don’t think I could eat another bite.”

  “You’ll have to,” Easton said, taking another bite of venison. “You haven’t tried the orange cakes yet.”

  Fern brought out four on a tray. Still steaming slightly, they filled the room with a divine scent. Seraphina’s mouth watered as the cakes were set in front of her, white icing gleaming. Easton was right—there was no way she could pass up these cakes.

  The first bite was even more delicious than she’d imagined, the flavors dancing on her tongue. Icing dripped down her chin, but she didn’t care. At this moment, nothing mattered besides these cakes.