He’s coming Alek, and he’s so angry. Wolf tried to warn him a second too late.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
Alek grunted as he clutched his chest and dropped to one knee. “I have it under control. Stay back, please.”
YOU ARE BOTH PATHETIC. WE WILL LOSE OUR MATE AND IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT!
“No!” Alek yelled. This was why he’d had to build his home so far away from the main pack lands, for times like this. “He already feels deeply for me, can’t you sense it?”
YOU WILL BE THE END OF US.
“Just go,” Alek pleaded. He crouched on his hands and knees, shaking, his fingers digging into the freezing ground, the heat so intense he felt he would suffocate, until he felt his skin would sizzle and melt off his bones. Alek was no longer strong enough to allow the monster forward, not in his human form. But Wolf could receive him. Alek’s voice was strained when he gathered enough wind to call out, “Wolf.”
For many years he hadn’t been able to shift without thought—like all other shifters. His disability had manifested itself at the worst possible time. A fear washed over him like no other. He hadn’t felt this kind of terror since he was an adolescent. Alek’s vision darkened and the snow around him melted rapidly from the inferno the beast brought with him. He didn’t want to see this creature… not again. He’d somehow blocked the last encounter from his mind and had no recollection of that day… just the destruction and carnage that’d remained after he’d woken. Alek gritted his teeth and again called on his only chance. “Wolf, please.”
He’s getting stronger Alek. Hang on, Wolf finally answered. It appeared they were all in a three-way standoff. All trying to take control of the surface. Fire burned in Alek’s gut as the beast got closer. Goddamnit! “WOLF!” Alek tried to force his shift but nothing happened.
LET ME OUT!
Alek hoped he wouldn’t have to do anything drastic, but he’d never let that thing out around his mate, his family or his pack. It was just too dangerous, and Alek wasn’t crazy enough to think he or Wolf could control it if it did take the surface. Just as he was about to make a run for it, Wolf released a startling burst of energy that made Alek yell out, the sound lost in a ferocious growl as Wolf exploded to the forefront, yanking Alek right along with him. The shift was fast, forced, and quite painful but Alek understood what his animal had had to do to pull their tormentor back and take hold.
Wolf stood on four strong legs and shook out his fur, snarling and growling as the beast jerked Wolf around, slamming his hindquarters into the tree Alek had just been loving his mate against.
He’s so angry. Hang on, Alek.
It wasn’t often that he and Wolf had to work together but when they did, both of them could hold off the devil long enough to make him retreat. Alek dug in and held on, just as Wolf had warned. Being trapped within his animal and not having the same connection with it that all other shifters did with theirs, tore a bit more of him apart each time. It took a while, but Wolf finally stopped fighting with their other half. When Wolf only felt Alek’s presence he dropped his guard and slumped down to the ground, exhausted—as they all were.
Alek assumed not much time had passed before Wolf retreated—never one to be overly-demanding of the surface—since his brother hadn’t sent another messenger. Alek lay on the now warm earth, naked and in pain. Breathing hard, his skin red and stinging from the way-too-fuckin-close encounter. He slowly began to get to his feet, his body feeling like it’d been charged by a herd of bulls. He tried to clear his vision enough to take in his surroundings. The brisk chill in the air was gone and tree branches that’d just been weighted down with thick layers of snow now stood erect and dripping large droplets of water. The little critters he’d been pointing out to Bell were long gone and would probably never return. Not after that display. Alek stared down in dismay at the charred earth beneath his feet.
That was close, Wolf confessed solemnly. And rough.
Alek groaned as he massaged a rapidly healing bruise covering the entire right side of his hip. Fuck. Yeah, that was.
Are you okay, Alek?
I’m all right, Wolf. T-thanks for fighting so hard.
We fought hard… together.
I know
Did you feel the strength we had when we were one?
Alek paused. He didn’t want to admit it, but when he’d really synced his mind with Wolf’s, for the same purpose, they’d been unbeatable. And it’d felt amazing.
Why do you think he’s resurfaced now?
I don’t know, Alek responded. But, I’m not going to take many more risks trying to find out. Alek limped towards his cabin to put on more clothes so he could get his ass to the meeting. Whatever was going on, he’d quickly do his job as Justice’s first beta, and then he’d do his most important job and fully bond with his mate.