Chapter 15
Eva
After finally convincing her father she didn’t need locking up for her own protection and that John had been nothing but a gentleman, Eva set out for a steady jog. Her muscles were finally healed from the strain of the attack.
Entering the trees, she kept to a well-worn track, careful with her footing so as not to trip over the rough terrain. When the track seemed to disappear and become nothing other than wilderness, she veered right, not wanting to stray too far from the main housing and get lost again. After a few minutes of infuriating half walking, half running over tangled bush and patches of snow, Eva heard a commotion up ahead and veered off to follow the sound. It didn’t seem threatening; instead, excited cheers could be heard, the occasional growl too, but nothing too aggressive. She was slowly beginning to understand that not all growls and barks meant a wolf wanted to eat you. It was simply how they communicated.
Slowing to a walk, Eva stepped just out of the trees into a clearing covered with inches of snow. A large crowd stood at its center, the group’s shouts of excitement vibrating through her chest. Keeping to the edge of the trees, she studied the mixed group, her breath catching as she found John.
He and Bass fought in the center of the crowd, the grins on their faces telling her this was for fun and not aggression, yet the speed they moved had her heart leaping into her throat. They collided, fists and kicks, seemingly holding nothing back. John was taller by a couple of inches and much wider than Bass, though it didn’t seem to give him an advantage. Bass moved faster than her human eyes could track, his body a graceful weapon as he cut through the air.
John’s punches echoed around them as they hit home, Bass’s only reaction a slight grimace. Snarling, John twisted away, kicking as he did and getting Bass square in the chest. The air whooshed out of Bass as he staggered back, to then recover and leap for John.
“That one hurt,” Bass jeered.
“It was meant to.” John laughed.
Eva watched with equal amounts of horror and admiration. Every time she’d convinced herself she could belong here, she’d find yet another reason why she would never fit. A primal kind of hunger lingered in the air, an excitement she could never truly understand. This was a scene out of fantasy, not real life, yet it was. Shifters existed; her brother was one, and he would always bind her to this world, but she wasn’t sure she could be connected in another way. She wasn’t sure she was brave enough to watch John in all his dangerous glory and then allow that lethal predator into her bed later that day.
“Men and their testosterone.” Eva jumped, unaware Katalina had approached. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”
She shook her head. “It’s all right. I was distracted.”
“Quite a sight, aren’t they?”
Eva glanced at Katalina, watching her study Bass proudly. It was easy to forget Katalina was one of them when she so often seemed the most human of the lot. “Something like that.”
“Are you ready to run yet?” Laughter danced in Katalina’s gaze.
“I was contemplating it.”
“He’ll only hunt you down. Besides, you’ve more spine than that, Eva.”
Why the idea of John hunting her down excited Eva she wasn’t sure; she was clearly losing her mind. “Have I?”
“You did this morning.”
“Oh God.” She groaned. “Why did I do that? Were you there?”
“No, but the pack likes to gossip. It’s keeping their minds off other, not so nice things.”
“I was annoyed at my dad for treating me like a kid, and then they all stared at me…. I just snapped.”
“We appreciate a woman who can stand her ground,” Katalina replied. “It’s a must when we are surrounded by this.” She waved at the fighting.
Eva laughed softly. “I guess, but all this… I’m not sure I’m cut out for this life.”
“We aren’t all fighters, Eva. A pack needs balance and the strong need people to protect. May I suggest hanging out with Olivia for a day. She’ll show you the more refined—”
A howl cut through the air, phones vibrating, and pinging a second later. The fighting stopped, everyone in the area seemingly holding their breaths as even the world seemed to take pause. Fear sliced through Eva’s mind. She didn’t understand the wolf’s call, but her instincts picked up on the sudden shift in emotions.
All at once, everyone hit fast-forward, the crowd dispersed within seconds, orders were yelled across the clearing, the laughter, and excitement that had once filled every pack member replaced with vengeance.
“What’s happened?” Eva gasped as Katalina took her hand and began to run, pulling her along.
“We’re under attack.”
Air ceased filling her lungs, her feet stumbling under her. “Wait, what?” For weeks, they’d been telling her a war was coming. She’d witnessed the aftermath of an attack involving her brother, been nearly kidnapped herself, yet as the words left Katalina’s throat, Eva couldn’t comprehend them.
Wars didn’t happen without the army or government being involved. Wars where for foreign countries in far-flung places she would never visit.
“I’ve got her,” John said, taking her hand as Katalina let go.
“How many?” Katalina asked as Bass fell into step beside her.
“Five on the border nearest us. No report yet from Jackson,” he answered.
“I won’t stand back while our pack fights,” Katalina replied.
Bass smiled sadly. “I know. Second line of defense. Never leave John’s side.”
“I’ll protect her with my life,” John answered solemnly.
Eva’s mind spun.
