Page 29 of Guardians of the Assassins
She glanced at the werewolf pack she considered hers. Each one met her gaze directly, their spines straightening under the attention. Eagerness made their eyes shimmer and glow, a reminder that while they might look human, it was a lie.
“Very well, but we will go out together.” A cheer went up through theloup garou, not only for the chance to hunt, but that she believed in them, pride making their chests puff out. Whilesome looked a little nervous to leave their safe haven, the majority were excited to prove themselves.
Morgan turned back toward the wolves, then tipped her head to the side. “While retrieving the ferals alive is our main goal, we need to catch the people responsible and stop them. Who would want to turn wolves feral? And why? Do wolves have a natural enemy? Are only wolves being affected or all shifters?”
She was determined to find out who was turning shifters and stop them before the Alpha Assembly tried to come after her and her men again.
“As far as we know, only wolves are being targeted,” Louis said, tension leaving his shoulders at her willingness to help. “And while vampires are not our biggest fans, it’s never gone beyond a few skirmishes over territory. They’ve retreated over the centuries, preferring to live secluded from the rest of the supernatural world. We don’t have any natural enemies.”
Morgan gulped at the mention of vampires. Though she’d hunted all sorts of species over the years, she’d never dealt with vampires directly. They were said to be a brutal, vicious people. Thankfully, they policed their own species so ruthlessly, she’d never been forced to deal with them.
“I haven’t heard reports of feral attacks.” She glanced at her men, and they shook their heads. “So that either means they’re smarter than we give them credit, or something is controlling them.”
A furrow appeared between Ryder’s brows. “Ferals are not like wolves or shifters. They’re killing beasts. Their only goal is food and fucking, sometimes both at the same time. They don’t normally run in packs either. They show no fear or hesitation. Anything that they run across that has a heartbeat falls into one of those categories.”
She swallowed hard when his beautiful amber eyes darkened with horror as memories of being attacked and turned by his own father rose to the surface. Morgan clenched her hands into fists, thankful Ryder had managed to survive.
“So someone has the means to control them.” Her attentionsnapped toward the wolves when one of the shifters stumbled to remain upright, and she grimaced at their state. “Most of you don’t have to be here for this discussion.”
She scanned the group around the house, her eyes landing on MacGregor. She tipped her head at him in silent communication, and he gave a nod of agreement before she turned back toward Louis. “Anyone who needs medical attention, food, or rest, please go with MacGregor. He’ll get you settled. Caedmon, Louis, and the rest of us will head inside to discuss our next step.
When the wolves hesitated, Louis waved for them to go. While the majority seemed relieved at the offer of help, a few appeared apprehensive.
Not that she could blame them.
Their alphas were supposed to protect them, and they’d failed, going so far as to sacrifice them to save themselves.
She had a feeling the Assembly wouldn’t be very forgiving that she offered the wolves sanctuary. With that thought, she reached out and touched one of the metal wolves. Sunlight gleamed off their hides, resembling liquid mercury in motion, and she was awed at how they were able to retain their shape. She almost expected her fingers to pass through them, but cool metal warmed by the sun met her fingertips. They turned toward her, reacting like they were one creature, their blank eyes a little eerie. “Protect.”
They sprang into action without hesitation. Ten of them headed to stand guard at the perimeter, only the slight sound of metal on metal heard as they vanished into the tree line. There was no heartbeat, no breathing, no sound of leaves rustling or twigs snapping.
They were like ghosts.
Two wolves loped up the steps, slipping around her men. They took up positions on either side of the porch before stilling. They looked so much like statues once more that she would swear they turned back if it weren’t for the slight splash of power that rested at their core.
Loki and the last wolf approached MacGregor, then seemedto take up residence on either side. MacGregor looked fascinated by the creature, his faded blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. Then he cleared his throat and waved to the wolves with an impatient gesture and harrumphed. “Well, come along if you’re going to come. We only have a few cabins out back, so you’re going to have to share until we can have more built.”
A couple of the wolves looked toward Louis for reassurance, and the alpha nodded. She expected the wolves to be freaked out by the display with the metal beasts, but almost all of them either nodded to the statue or reached out to touch it reverently.
She hadn’t been aware of Louis approaching until he spoke.
“The statues are considered guardians, some of our greatest warriors cast in metal to watch over the packs. They’re revered among the packs. Some say that they would come alive and protect the Assembly if they were ever threatened. Besides kid stories, I don’t think anyone ever truly believed the myths.” Louis came to a stop next to her, staring at her instead of the statues. “It was like they sensed your need and were just waiting for you to wake them.”
“Don’t do that.” The reverence and awe in the way he watched her gave her the willies, and she stepped away from him. “Don’t look at me like I’m something special. I’m good with metallurgy, not wolves.”
Her words only seemed to reaffirm his belief. The corner of his eyes crinkled, not quite a smile, as if amused by her denial. “Yet they are wolves and came at your call. That means something.”
He didn’t wait for her to respond before walking up to one of the wolves and resting his hand on the creature and bowing his head.
Atlas bit back a growl at the panicked look that flashed across Morgan’s face, wanting to skin the fucker forupsetting her. He knew he should pull back his emotions, not let the darkness in him take control, but he was beginning not to care about the rules by which he had been raised, not when Morgan relished his darkness.
Instead of looking at him like he was a disappointment or a dangerous freak that should be chained up, love brightened her gorgeous violet eyes in a way that made him want to kiss her senseless and lay claim to her again and again.
Before Morgan could freak out, he stepped toward her and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her toward his chest. He cursed that the move was clumsy and rough, the show of affection in front of others making him feel awkward. He held still, waiting for her to pull away with a displeased scowl. It was only when she curled against him that the tightness in his spine eased a fraction.
He glared at the fucker over her head, thinking of the ways they could dismember the wolf. If he didn’t think it would upset Morgan, he would present her with the wolf’s pelt as a rug. Only when she sighed and brushed her cheek against his chest did he let go of his murderous thoughts and brushed his chin on the top of her head.
And caught Draven smirking at him.
