Page 149 of Untamed

Orion snickers meanly as he slowly straightens up to his full height. "I figured that would be your answer." The laughter fades from his expression. "Don't you ever betray her."

"Never."

He nods, looking me over. Something like sadness crosses his face. "You're lucky, you know. I meant what I said the other day. Alphas have been betraying their mates up here for years. It's like the world is falling apart, and no one sees it until it's too late." His face becomes pensive, a little sad.

"I see it."

"Now you do," he mutters. "Alright,Alpha,"he says my title with only the barest hint of respect."When do we leave for the BlueSnout?"

"Now," muses a soft voice.

We both turn to see my mate, a far-away look glossing over her golden eyes. "All of their wolves are marching, marching, marching," she tells us. Her eyes drift closed as I hurry to her side in ground-eating strides.

"Qitsuk?" I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her close.

"The Blood Moon is over," she turns her face into my chest. "We can go, my Mactiir. Now."

I look at Orion. "Get your wolves, Beta. We're moving out in five."

His eyes meet mine in grim anticipation. "On it, Alpha."

I look at my pack, loading supplies into the trucks that will follow behind the body of my army. The energy from my pack coats the air, ready to explode into action.

"Let's move out!" I order. The cracking of bone fills the air. The best trackers will be on paws to run perimeter around the rest. Some of us will march ahead, moving as silently as possible toward BlueSnout. The others will stay behind with the trucks. Devel Grim will protect the pack that remains in RustClaw.

I kiss my femle gently. “Stay behind the lines, Bliss. Promise me,” I demand.

Willa disengages herself from my side and drifts towards the trees with a faint smile on her face. I watch her go, my wolf's eyes sharp. The words of Cullen Grim echo like a fucking merry-go-round in my head, around and around.A witch.I watch her closely as she presses her hands to a tree trunk and sways, almost dancing.

Her ass in that dress Tabitha and Bea put her in...

I shake myself back to reality as the first of the truck engines turn over.

Hell if I care that she's a witch.

I turn towards Elna. "Gaurd your luna," I order her abruptly.

Pride lights her face. "Yes, Alpha."

She and my mate flit through the trees along the edges of my army. Reluctantly, I turn my attention back to my pack.

We head east, covering ground faster and faster approaching the BlueSnout. The trees begin to thin out as we move into the grasslands. Anticipation makes my blood hum. The monster is purring. Soon.

---

Willa

Feet crossing over the earth below. A line of wolves stretch out over miles. An army on a march of war. At their sides, wolf paws walk more lightly over dead foliage and damp earth but with the same steady determination.

I touch the closest trees, skimming my fingers over the rough bark as I rush along with the rest of Mactiir's pack. Every time my fingers leave the bark, the images stop, only to pick back up at the next touch, the next tree.

Quivering black nose. Dark red fur bristling as dark eyes peer out from deep in the den. The wolves are the only predators out on this night.

I look at Mactiir, his strides loping over the ground, setting the pace for the others.

An ancient creature, even older than the world of wolves. A monster to bring the world into balance with blood and death.

I withdraw my fingers abruptly, sighing to myself when I realize I touched an elder aspen tree. They are always so...macabre; gruesome, morbid, ghoulish.Pay attention, Willa.I look around, hoping for an oak or at least some maple trees, but we are heading towards the open grasslands, and trees are becoming more sparse with each step. Reluctantly, I touch the next trunk, common spruce.

---