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He didn’t recognize either of the other two people. The male was a wolf. The female stank of magic. He clamped his lips together instead of releasing the snarl trapped in his throat.
“The white wolf,” the woman whispered.
The older male frowned. “What happened to my men?”
“I killed them.” Including the ones that had kidnapped Zoe. His one regret was the bastard who’d hurt her had died too fast. That’s what had taken him so damn long. The building had been surrounded, and he couldn’t afford to leave anyone alive to call for backup. This needed to end here and now.
“Impossible. There were a dozen stationed outside. Another six inside.”
He couldn’t wait to rip the heart out of this guy. “Haven’t you heard?” He smirked, actively provoking him. Angry men made mistakes. “I’m the white wolf.” He and his wolf had always worked seamlessly, but tonight had taken it to an entirely new level. He was stronger and faster than ever before. Maybe because the stakes had never been higher. Silently and stealthily, he’d prowled among those who sought to keep him from Zoe, eliminating them one by one.
He wanted to go to her, but it was safer if their enemies’ attention was on him. If he could keep them distracted, she might get away. With her here, he had to tread carefully. He’d never hesitated during a hunt, but this time he had to proceed with extreme caution. He had too much to lose.
“Impressive.” The woman licked her lips, her eyes filled with lust. It wasn’t his body she wanted. It was his power, his immortality, what made him the white wolf.
He’d always thought of it as a curse…until now. It was an integral part of him, made him who he was.
“You’re nothing special. I killed the previous white wolf.” The male’s eyes began to glow. “My brother, my twin.”
Talk about a revelation. “That was Benjamin Roberts.” He’d always felt a kinship with the unknown male. His death had facilitated the change in Devlin.
“It should have been me.” He thumped his chest. “I was older, stronger, but it went to him. He cheated me out of my destiny.”
“That’s not how it works.” Some outside power, maybe the spirit of the wolf itself, always chose. No one had ever figured out the criteria.
“He was weak,” he snarled. “When I reached out to him, asked to meet, he came. After decades alone, he was pathetically glad to hear from me. Something went wrong when I beheaded him.”
Fuck, talk about a lack of brotherly love. “Guess the white wolf didn’t want you.”
He continued talking as if Devlin hadn’t spoken. “The spell didn’t work properly. His power was supposed to go from him to me. We were a genetic match. It should have worked.” He glowered at the mage.
“Now, Charles, that’s water under the bridge. We were working blind. We’ve learned so much since then, and everything has been working perfectly so far.”
“Perfectly? He killed my men, Solange.”
She waved away his protest. “You have more. And the white wolf is right where we want him.”
These two were certifiably batshit, but he couldn’t underestimate them. They’d managed to lure the previous white wolf into a trap. And if his math was right, Charles had to be around one hundred and thirty or so. Not ancient, since wolves had twice the lifespan of humans, but past his prime. It was the mage who worried him more. There was no telling the extent of her power. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Zoe tugging on the cuffs, her gaze darting from him to her captors.
“Now where were we before we got sidetracked?” Solange tapped her bottom lip. “How do I control your little human friend?” She lifted the pendant around her throat. “This is no ordinary ruby. It contains a drop of her blood and my magic.” Slowly closing her fingers around it, she squeezed.
Zoe gasped and coughed before grabbing her throat. Her eyes bulged, filled with terror.
“Let her go,” he demanded, unable to maintain his air of cool disinterest in the face of her distress.
Solange gave a delighted laugh and opened her hand. Zoe dropped to her side, sucking air into her lungs. His wolf howled inside him. Outwardly, he appeared calm. Inwardly, he seethed, struggling to contain his emotions. The last thing these two needed was more ammunition to use against them. If they had any inkling how much he loved Zoe, they’d use the knowledge to torture them both.
And he did love her. Losing her had been like having his heart ripped out of his chest.
“I knew you’d form a connection to her. I made her especially for you.” She pointed at Devlin. “After your transition, I followed and watched you. Poor boy. All alone.” Her laugh was cold. “I obtained a sample of your blood after you cut yourself on a scythe when you were living with that human family.” She scrunched up her nose when she said the wordhuman. “You healed fast but there was enough for me to collect what I needed. Werewolf blood disintegrates outside the host, but I used my magic to preserve it.
“When the time was right, and all the signs were in alignment, I found a suitable human couple and cast a spell.” She clapped her hands together like a child, pleased with her accomplishment. “It’s so perfect. She carries a drop of your blood, giving her the same coloring. Like the lone wolf, she’s always felt apart, cast out by those around her. Ripe for the picking when you came along.”
If that was true, it begged another question. “You’re the reason there are three lone wolves, aren’t you?” He had to keep the mage talking. If he attacked her or Charles, Zoe was dead.
“Something went wrong. I was so sure.” She shook her head. “I salvaged the situation as best I could, splitting the energy of the lone wolf and sending its essence in three different directions. Sharing it between the three of you should’ve diluted the power, made you easier to subdue. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“It belongs to me,” Charles roared and thumped his chest. “I’ve waited decades, built an empire in service to this moment. All this is because of me.”
