Queen of Wolves Read online

  Queen of Wolves

  Melissa Morgan

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Melissa Morgan

  Copyright © 2013

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

  ____________________________________________

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter One

  The Black Panther blended in with the inky black of night as she moved with fluid grace through the thick forest of cedar trees, the pads of her feet completely silent as they sank into the rich carpet of decomposed leaves and dirt. She moved swiftly, creeping around stumps and logs of fallen trees from the most recent storm.

  Weaving through the trees, she sniffed the air constantly on the lookout for the scent of pack on the cool night air. She didn’t have much time before the guards picked up the scent of cat on their lands. All she could smell was damp earth and small woodland creatures, and she picked up speed. Trees and ferns blurred as she sped through the forest toward the heart of the territory.

  Suddenly, the wind shifted direction, and she knew with a sinking heart, the wolves on sentry duty picked up her scent. A wolf howled in alarm. Others howled a wolf song in return, and joined the hunt. She was already tired, but she continued to run, adrenaline making her feet swift.

  They were fast approaching her, when she picked up the pungent odor of wolf a minute later. They hadn’t been as far away as she had hoped. Desperate, she picked up as much speed as she could. The break the in the tree line was up ahead. She had to reach the clearing before they caught her.

  She was tiring quickly, her short burst of speed nearly gone when she slid on some wet leaves and fell. Zara tumbled forward several times, cracking her side and then her head on an exposed rock. She laid flat on her back, stunned, breathing hard. Her ribs and her ankle ached. She could hear the heavy galloping of wolves bearing down on her position, growling and yipping.

  Zara rolled over and scrambled to her feet. In a flash, she was running again, slower. The wolves were quickly catching up. They could run just as fast, but for longer. The clearing was just ahead, and with a desperate leap over a fallen log, she soared through the air. When she landed, she was in the clearing. Wolves growled from behind her and she ran toward the center circle of large stones.

  She barely made it up the three steps before large jaws clamped down on her shoulder, and she yelped in pain as she was forced to the ground, skidding the rest of the way into the center of the dais. The large wolf who stood on her back growled menacingly when she tried to push him off. He shook his head, teeth tearing at the bite mark on her shoulder. She screamed as the teeth bit deeper into the muscle.

  “That’s enough Matteo.” A voice boomed out above the sounds of the rest of the wolves, gathering around in the circle. “Release her and step back.” Zara held her breath, and closed her eyes against the searing pain in her shoulder as the wolf released her and withdrew his teeth from the muscle of her shoulder.

  Zara groaned and rolled so that she could face her savior. Flat on her back, she stared up at the large wolf that stood over her. He growled, narrowing his eyes at her as she shifted back to human form.

  “You heard your Master, dog. Back the hell off.” She grumbled, pressing her hand against her shoulder to stop the bleeding. He growled and stepped forward, snapping his teeth at her.

  “Matteo!”

  He immediately stepped back several feet, but his eyes never left her. She sat up carefully, wincing at her bruised ribs. She had broken enough bones to know one of them was at least cracked. Blood poured out of her shoulder despite the pressure she put on it. The wolf had torn an artery.

  “By what right do you trespass on our lands?” The man walked up to her calmly and motioned for his second, Cassius to stand behind her. “Be aware, cat, your next words could be your last.”

  “I am Zara Tuari, of the ancient bloodline, by which I swear my allegiance. I seek sanctuary from the Alpha of the Black Moon Clan.” She said loudly, she knelt on her knees at his feet, bowing as best she could while holding her shoulder together. She didn’t dare look up at him, nor could she. Her head was swimming from the blood loss. “Please, Alpha. I have no other hope.” She whispered.

  Cole Sheridan stared down at the woman bleeding to death on his boots. She was visibly paler, and trembling, either in fear or cold, he could not be certain. He glanced around at his hunting party. They were all standing around him in a semi circle, ready to do his bidding. She was putting her life in his hands. Why would she do that? Against his better judgment, he had to know more about this woman.

  He raised his right hand, and placed it on her head, his thumb up. “Sanctuary is granted, Zara Tuari. No harm will come to you while you are on my lands, by my people or any other. This I vow.” He said formally.

  He felt her shudder once, and then she passed out, slumped over his lower legs and feet.

  “Bring the doctor!” He ordered. He removed his shirt and pressed down hard on the wound. The shirt was soaked in seconds.

  Chapter Two

  Cole was in the den’s gym, sparing when the doctor came to him three hours later. The doctor nodded at him, grimly and waited patiently for the Alpha to drink a bottle of water and towel off.

  Cole jumped off of the platform and walked smoothly over to the doctor. “Well?”

  Marissa Blaysen nodded. “She lives. She’s lost a lot of blood, and well…there isn’t much more I can do to help her heal until she is conscious enough to shift on her own.” The doctor was a slender, petite woman with cinnamon colored hair and soft green eyes.

  She radiated a soft and tender aura, but Cole knew she had a backbone of steel and strength to be reckoned with. Of all the pack, she was one of the only women he respected enough to allow her to disagree with him publicly, though she rarely abused the privilege unless it was of dire importance.

  “Was she telling the truth?” Cole asked. “Is she really of the ancient bloodline?”

  “I tested her blood. There are some definite abnormalities…she is incredibly strong.” Marissa said. “But I can’t actually tell what bloodline she originates from.” A few others eyes widened in surprise and Cole frowned. This was not a conversation for public gossip.

  “Explain yourself, doctor.” Cole said, motioning for her to follow him. He wandered down the hallway into his private office. He pulled out his office chair and she sat with a smile. He was always courteous in that way and she rather appreciated it.

  “I’m still running some tests to be certain.” Marissa said. “But it appears, this girl has the ability to transform herself into any of the were species at will. She is cat, and wolf and every other species we know of. Perhaps even a few that has been lost to us since the times of old.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Cole’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. “How is that even possible?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know, sir.” Marissa admitted. “I’ve put in some calls to other pack doctors I’m on friendly terms with, to find out if they had ever heard of a theory on the subject of a multi-species were.”

  “And?” He asked, surprised. He was too shocked to even reprimand her for speaking to others before talking to him.

  “They have never heard of such a were.” Marissa sighed. “I’m afraid we have to wait f
or her to wake, before we can get some answers. Even then, we may not.”

  “Why do you say that?” Cole frowned.

  “She may not be aware herself. If she was raised cat, she may not even know it’s possible for her to become anything else. Marissa said.”Telling her that, if she doesn’t know, would be incredibly shocking. With the blood loss she has already suffered, I’m not sure it would be healthy for her to get that upset.”

  Cole nodded. “So, when do you expect her to wake up?” He asked.

  “Hopefully, within the next twelve hours or so. She needs to rest. I’ve given her several cocktails of vitamin and mineral injections to help aid healing, as well as a blood transfusion and repaired the damage to her shoulder. Her ribs are broken and her ankle is badly sprained.

  She has a nasty bump on her head, but unless it swells more, her brain scans are clear. There should be no lasting damage, so long as she can shift within the next twenty four hours.”

  Cole nodded. Shifting after bone injuries was incredibly painful, but it was the only way to ensure the beast was not permanently lame from injury. The sooner a person could shift, the less likely an injury would last. “Is she chained?”

  “Of course.” Marissa said.

  “Double the chains.” He ordered. “We don’t know what she will shift into if she flips out on us. I don’t want my people hurt.” He said, sighing. “Please, come find me, when she wakes up.”

  “Of course Alpha.” Marissa stood, and turned to leave. “Did she ever tell you why she asked for sanctuary?” She asked, curious.

  “No, and it doesn’t matter why until she wakes up. She has my word.” He sighed.

  “Please keep me informed, and tell no one else about her abnormalities unless you absolutely have to. Swear your nurses and staff to secrecy.”

  “Already done, Alpha Sheridan.” She smiled brightly, and was gone.

  He sat back in his chair and rubbed the spot between his eyes. Prone to migraines, he closed his eyes briefly and groaned. “I don’t have time for this crap.” He grumbled, standing. He walked over to the cabinet under the window, and pulled out a bottle of Scotch.

  He poured himself a shot and downed it, the burning fire rolling down his throat and settling in his stomach. Sighing he went to his desk and pressed the intercom. His voiced boomed throughout every room of the den and out into the courtyard.

  “Attention Black Moon Clan. I’m sure word has spread by now, but I’m making it formal. Alpha has granted sanctuary to the stranger, Zara Tuari, currently in the infirmary. Should someone come to harm her while on our lands, you are to protect her as you would your own until further notice.

  Furthermore, the doctor is entrusted to her care, and her orders are to be followed, without question or protest. Do NOT flood the infirmary hoping to get a glance at the woman. You all have jobs to do, so go about your business as usual. All members of my hunting party to the library now, please.”

  He walked across the hall to the library and shooed the remaining Omegas out. While it was a communal area for reading, study and computer work, the war room was in the back. He walked straight to it and entered the palm print and voice code. The heavy door slid open and he keyed the panel on the inside wall to hold the door open until the rest got there.

  He walked to the head of the table and sat in the large leather chair. One by one, the rest of his hunting party filed in and took their assigned seats. His second, Cassius sat at the opposite end of the table from him. The others along the sides. Jeremiah, Teague, Dalton, Brent, Matteo, Owen, Logan, Spence, Zacharias, Riley, Ukiah, and Grayson. He stood and greeted each one of them in turn.

  “Well, does anyone have anything they would like to say for themselves?” He asked. They all stared at him. “How in the hell did she get that far onto our land before she was scented out?”

  They all glanced at each other uncomfortably. A few shifted in their seats. Cassius spoke first. “We were all doing our jobs, Alpha. No one knows how she got passed us.”

  “If you were doing your jobs, she would not have gotten passed you.” He returned simply. “So…who scented her first?”

  “I did, Alpha.” Matteo spoke up. “I was on the west side, circling the inner perimeter. I saw her tracks headed inland and alerted the others.”

  “She had already gotten across the river before she was known?” Alpha asked, surprised.

  “Apparently.” Matteo shrugged. “We caught her anyway.”

  “Barely.” Cassius pointed out.

  “She should not have gotten far enough onto our lands to be able to declare sanctuary in the first place.” Alpha Sheridan growled. “I have no idea what this girl is running from, but you know the packs are on the verge of war. Now, we may be forced to it, because of her.”

  “Alpha, why did you grant her sanctuary then?” Teague asked. Third in command, he was the only one who dared ask what they had all wondered on the way back to the den.

  “You know I keep my word. Any who make it to the dais can request sanctuary. I never expected anyone to be able to, when I made that pack law. I only did so to keep peace between the packs, and remain neutral in the pack battles.” He sighed. “I gave my word. I couldn’t very well go back on it, the first time someone requested sanctuary. Even if it was a cat.”

  “Does sanctuary even apply to her, as a cat?” Ukiah asked. “Wasn’t it only meant for wolves?”

  The others looked at the Alpha. He sighed. He couldn’t very well admit to them that he hadn’t thought of that, at the time. Now word would get out that sanctuary was to all the species. Son of a bitch!

  “Sanctuary was given. I will not go back on my word.” He growled. “I want each of you to choose one of the best Omegas, and take them on patrol with you. Two man teams, around the clock until further notice.

  Cassius, create a schedule that allows for each team to eat, shower and sleep semi-regularly. We may have others to worry about once I notify the council sanctuary has been invoked.”

  Chapter Three

  Zara woke to the sounds of beeping and hushed voices. The room was dimly lit, and she was surrounded by a light blue cloth curtain. She struggled to sit up and found that she couldn’t. Her ribs still broken, it hurt to breathe. A monitor beeped hysterically until footsteps came running.

  “You’re awake!” A young woman chirped, smiling widely.

  “Where am I?” She croaked. Her throat was dry. Her skin itched and her whole body ached.

  “Don’t you remember?” The blond literally skipped over to the monitor and punched buttons until the annoying noise stopped. “You are on Black Moon lands. I better go wake the doctor, and the Alpha.”

  “Who are you?” The girl made a move to touch her. Zara grabbed her hand instinctively, stopping the woman. Suddenly she was flooded with information on the woman. Her most important and painful memories swarmed in her head, like a movie on fast forward. She gasped and shoved the woman backward, breaking contact. The blonde girl crashed through the curtain and fell backward into the patient on the bed next to hers.

  “Well, that wasn’t necessary, was it?” A lady walked in carrying a clipboard. “Good to see you are awake.” The woman slid the board into a slot on the end of her bed. “Are you ok, Sasha?”

  “Oh, yes, Ma’am.” Sasha said, setting herself right again. She smoothed her hand over her hair and straightened up. “I apologize miss. I didn’t mean to startle you.” She smiled at Zara warmly.

  Zara groaned inwardly. “I’m sorry. You surprised me. I don’t like to be touched.” She said, by way of explanation. She turned her head back to look at the doctor. “Why am I chained?” She asked. “Am I a prisoner?”

  “No, Zara. It’s protocol, with strangers, to chain them until we can be sure they aren’t a threat to anyone while they are injured. It is for your safety and others as well.” The woman smiled, calmly. “I’m sure the Alpha will allow you to be released as soon as the two of you chat.”

  “Yes, please. I’d like t
o talk to him now.”

  “It’s the middle of the night, Zara.” The doctor reminded her. “It can wait until morning.”

  Zara groaned, out loud this time. “No, you don’t understand, there is no time for that. Please, I need to talk to him now.”

  The doctor stared at her for a second and calmly walked over to the intercom on the wall.

  “Joseph, please go alert the Alpha’s personal staff that his presence is requested by our new guest.”

  Cole was woken from a dead sleep by the presence of someone hovering over his bed. His eyes snapped open the same instant he pulled the knife from under his pillow and rolled over, smoothly leaping to his feet, the sharp blade of his knife at the throat of one of his Guardians.

  “I’m sorry sir.” The man said carefully. “The cat is awake and asks to speak with you.” Thomas said. Instantly, Cole removed the knife and dropped it onto the bed.

  “My apologies Thomas.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s highly unusual for anyone to come into my room.”

  “I understand, Alpha.” Thomas shrugged. “I tried to knock…”

  “It’s ok; you were just doing as you were told.” Cole sighed. He rarely slept through a night, and it looked like, despite his exhaustion, this would be one of those nights. “Please inform the doctor I will be down in ten minutes.”

  “Of course sir.” Thomas said, stepping back and bowing slightly, turned on his heel and left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

  His maid had cleaned up the pile of his clothes from the night before. He went to his closet and pulled open a drawer. He pulled on a pair of loose khaki pants and a black t-shirt. It had the Black Moon Crest printed over the heart, signifying his royal bloodline and Alpha status.