Page 34 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
9
Ten yearsago when Adrian had formed his own pack, he’d taught them all several skills to survive. Never did he want any member helpless and forced to do another’sbidding.
As he coached them in the skills they needed to fight and defend themselves, Adrian had told them,“Self-preservation means survival of yourselves at all costs. And if it means breaking Skin laws at times of extreme danger, then doit.”
Now he made good on a promise uttered ten years ago when he’d left Lars alone, bleeding and mostly dead in the mineshaft. The former pack leader would never again harm someone Adrianloved.
“You’re not getting her, you bastard,” he muttered, flexinghis fingers, watching his claws emerge. “You’ll have to get through mefirst.”
Ten years ago, he’d screwed up by not burning Lars’s body, ensuring he would never rise. Too much in a hurry, too worried about his terrified pack and the vulnerable elders and young, he’d dumped Lars down a deep shaft, reasoning that wouldsuffice.
Notanymore.
The crystal in Darcy’s hands glowedpure white with power, as if recognizing the evil creeping towardthem.
Power. Such power. It could savethem.
No. It was Peggy’s jewel, and without it, the elder would suffer. He would fight Lars with all he had. Go down fighting if hemust.
Darcy rushed forward, as Adrian groaned. He’d forgotten her propensity for engaging evil, her sheer courage. Her utter heroism whenfaced withdanger.
Adrian tried to grab her but missed. She dartedpast.
“Lars!” he roared. “It’s me you want—Adrian!”
Skidding to a halt a bare twenty feet before Lars, Darcy withdrew the knife hanging from her belt. She held it out and danced aroundhim.
“Come and get it,” shetaunted.
The thing staggering toward them scarcely resembled his former alpha. Wispsof gray-black hair covered the thin skull, and the eyes were pits of black. Rotting clothing hung on his spare frame. His clavicle jutted out. More bones thanflesh.
But somehow touching the jewel had triggered its power, and magick had sifted through the mine, serving to empowerLars.
Fear clogged his throat as Lars turned to Darcy. Darcy was a good fighter, but weakened by theshifting into a bat, she didn’t stand a chance against a powerful male who outweighed her by more than a hundred pounds. A male who’d descended into hell and then emerged, tainted with evil andpower.
Adrian shifted into a wolf as Lars pounced onDarcy.
A long howl echoed through the mineshaft. Then they shifted intowolves.
Darcy’s gray wolf snarled at a black wolf, but itwasn’t a wolf. Not Lars. This was the conjuring of some nightmare. Red eyes, fangs dripping with acid, it was misshapen and hunched over, patchy fur covering its body, as if someone had tried to make a wolf andfailed.
Adrian snarled as he ran forward. He sprang at the hideous creature, sinking sharp fangs into its hindquarters. Lars howled and turned toward Adrian, who released him andstepped back, ready to attackagain.
Lars raced forward and sank his fangs into Darcy’s shoulder. She howled inanguish.
Darcy shifted back to her human form and clothed herself. Her lips opened in a silent scream. A violent shiver wracked her as she watched him, tumultuous emotion reflected in her beautiful, mobilemouth.
The only answer was the crystal. He was pureblood.Alpha. It would empowerhim.
But giving it to Darcy would empower her more. She was far stronger with her Changelingpowers.
Seldom did he make snap decisions. He did so now. Adrian shifted back to Skin, clothed himself through magick. “Darcy,” he shouted, running to her. Adrian tossed her the crystal. “Use its powers to destroyhim!”
Darcy caught it one-handed. Anguish crossedher face as she stared at Lars, drool dripping from his fangs, his red eyes gleaming. With a howl, the wolf shifted back into his human form. Rags hung off his bonyframe.
Misery shadowed his features. “Darcy, please, don’t do this, honey.Please.”
Honey? Adrian blinked. Darcy merely stood there, staring at Lars. Notmoving
