Last Wolf Standing (#7, The Mystic Wolves) Read online

  It was on the tip of my tongue to accuse him of being crazy. But that was before I saw understanding hit Devlin, a few seconds later. A fuzzy image filtered into my mind, courtesy of Mason and our mental link.

  Morgan.

  “I think it’s time we go talk to the witch.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Mason

  “I want answers,” I thundered, banging against the steel bars that separated Morgan and me. The petite witch lay staring up at the stone ceiling, her hands tucked behind her head. When she smirked, the anger I was already trying to control slipped.

  If she thought her smart-ass attitude was going to protect her from my wrath, she had another thing coming. I was already straddling the line between maintaining any sense of fairness and my thirst for vengeance.

  Right now, Morgan had only two choices—she either became the solution to my problem or she remained a part of it.

  Only one guaranteed she’d live to see another day.

  “What? I don’t even warrant a ‘please’? I thought you were the polite one of the two?” Her gaze dropped briefly, enough to see that I wasn’t by myself. I’d wanted to come and interrogate her alone, but had caved when Devlin insisted he join me.

  Whether it was to simply act as witness, or to ensure the witch didn’t try and manipulate her way out of the dungeon room she was imprisoned in, he now watched quietly.

  It had been my only condition—that he not interfere. Yes, he had more experience dealing with her, but with her linked to the Master, she had become an enemy to the Pack. As Alpha, I was well within my right to demand justice.

  Or get my pound in flesh should she refuse.

  Part of me hoped she’d resist, the darker side of me screaming for retribution. Someone needed to pay for the crimes committed against me and mine.

  “What did the Master talk to you about?” I pressed, refusing to play her games.

  “You mean Daniel?” she answered coyly. “That was your Daniel I met with, wasn’t it. Sexy man. What I wouldn’t give for an hour with him in bed. I can see why women talk so highly of him.”

  Inwardly I counted to five as I reminded myself this was simply a ploy to rattle me. What she didn’t know was each time she poked me, she enraged my wolf even more. The cell had been warded to suppress her magic, the bars reinforced to keep her inside. Right now, it was the only thing keeping her safe.

  “My second-in-command lies upstairs on the brink of death. You might think you’re being cute right now, but unless you quit the bullshit, I’m going to hold you personally responsible for his condition.”

  There was a flicker of something that crossed her face, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. “That had nothing to do with me.”

  “I beg to differ. You met with the Master. Don’t bother denying it,” I added when her mouth opened to speak. “That makes you an accessory. You now answer to me.”

  “So, what? You’re going to keep me locked up in this dingy cell until I blab all my secrets?” Sitting up, Morgan glared at me scornfully, her legs swinging from the makeshift cot to rest on the ground. “You don’t scare me, Mason O’Connor.”

  With each word, she dug herself deeper. “Want some advice? You should be. I am not someone you want to piss off.”

  “Yet, I still don’t seem to care.” She shrugged. “There’s nothing you can threaten me with that would ever convince me to betray the one you call the Master. You’re a puppy dog compared to him.”

  “Don’t test my patience, Morgan, or confuse my restraint for fairness. When you willingly conspired against my Pack, you became my enemy. You live because you serve a purpose. Your life is in my hands.” I growled, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

  “Do you really think you would kill me? I know all about you, Mr. I’m-The-Alpha-With-A-Bleeding-Heart. That pretty scar on your face . . . did you kill the one who gave it to you?” Sauntering over to the bars, yet staying just out of arm’s reach, Morgan totally believed she had nothing to fear. “Oh, that’s right, you didn’t. You forgave him!” And with that she laughed, the mocking sound grating across the last of my nerves.

  “He was worthy of mercy, Morgan. He held remorse. Even a blind man could see you are well beyond that. So, again, I repeat, what did you talk to the Master about?”

  “Oh, no, I’m not going to tell you anything unless you’re willing to trade with me.” Glancing about, she waved her hand through the air. “For starters, while I appreciate the intimidation factor, don’t you think I’d be more comfortable in something more lavish than this?”

  Her cell consisted of four stone walls, a metal cot with a threadbare blanket, and a toilet in the corner. I knew Zane had other more humane accommodations for those he held as prisoners, but this room was simply for show. The last time it had been used had been decades ago.

  Morgan didn’t need to know that, though.

  “I’m not interested in making you comfortable. I don’t reward traitors. You’ll remain here until you tell me what I want to know.”

  “And if I don’t?” Her eyebrow cocked as if she still held any kind of power.

  “Then get used to your confinement. I heard the winters down here are brutally cold.”

  “You’re not a monster, Mason.”

  The muscle in my jaw tightened as I stepped closer to the bars. “You have no clue who I am.”

  “And yet, here we are, at an impasse. You refuse to give me what I want and I won’t confess my grievous sins until you do.” Sighing dramatically, she feigned remorse before laughing. “Go away. I’m tired.”

  Something inside me snapped—that last thread that held my civility. “Do you want me to hurt you, Morgan? Is that the only way you’ll obey? Because if that’s what you want, I’m more than willing to oblige. In fact, I recently learned a whole new skill set when it comes to inflicting pain.”

  Uncertainty clouded her eyes. Finally. “You wouldn’t,” she whispered. “For starters, he wouldn’t let you.” She jutted her chin toward Devlin. “You might be fine with compromising your integrity, but he isn’t.”

  “I’m here to support the Mystic Wolves’ Alpha, not protect you. If you think I will step in and stop him, you’ve clearly misjudged my intentions,” Devlin responded, calmly.

  “Don’t ever doubt who I am.” My voice held all the chill of an Artic night. “I might look human, but I am every inch a deadly predator. I will destroy you if you come between me and those who threaten my Pack.”

  “Then kill me. Do it. Better you than him.” Morgan shook her head and stepped away, returning to the bed. “Nothing you can do compares to what I know he will do if I talk.”

  “I will compel you to confess,” Devlin answered.

  Morgan shrugged. “Again, that doesn’t scare me. I would kill myself before you even had a chance to. Don’t you get it? Regardless of whatever techniques you use to break me, I welcome those to the alternative. You have no power over me. All you’ve done is given me a safe place to stay, despite the shitty conditions.”

  Even though her eyes were closed, I knew she was listening. “Then you leave me no other choice. I hope your death comes swiftly.” As I turned to Devlin, she snorted, that annoying tone back in her voice.

  “No wonder you have nothing on him. He’s running circles around you while you sit around and pout. You are weak, Mason O’Connor, and the laughing stock of the supernatural community.”

  Ignoring her mockery, I kept my back to the cell. “Tell Vivien to prepare a binding spell. Once we’ve stripped Morgan of her powers, kick her ass out.” Devlin’s eyes widened with surprise. He knew exactly what that would mean for her.

  Morgan did, as well. “You wouldn’t dare!”

  “I told you not to push me. Did you think you could sit in there and dictate how this went? You flat out said you wouldn’t betray the Master, and I believe you. Well done. But he won’t. What do you think he’ll say when he finds you’ve been released?” I paused long enough for her to say som
ething; and when she didn’t, I continued. “He’s going to see you as a liability—a mess that needs to be cleaned up because he won’t know for sure whether you revealed all his secrets or not.”

  “He’ll kill me.”

  “Isn’t that what you want? Didn’t you just dare me to?” I retorted, a deadly calm coming over me.

  “You don’t know him. If you did, you would protect me, not condemn me.”

  “And whose fault is that, Morgan?” I asked. “You declined. I’m done wasting my time. My best friend needs me; and why get my hands dirty when the Master will take care of you for me.”

  “Then at least let me keep my magic.”

  I barked out a laugh, amazed that she had the balls to bargain with me. “No. You still conspired against the Pack. I require justice and that’s the punishment I’ve decided.”

  “But, that’ll make me . . . human,” she whispered, no longer hiding her fear as her hands shook. There was no sign of the sarcastic, self-assured witch from earlier. This was the appearance of someone who knew that the next few minutes were crucial.

  “Not my problem.” While I’d never delivered such a harsh punishment before, it felt incredibly satisfying. “Good-bye, Morgan. Good luck.” Turning to leave, I nodded at Devlin, signaling we were done.

  “Wait!” she screamed, rushing toward the bars. Her fingers wrapped around the steel. “You can’t do this!”

  I was half way up the stairs when she screeched for me to stop, that she’d tell us anything we wanted. As tempting as it was to keep going, to let her suffer the consequence for her defiance, there was a larger issue to consider.

  My true enemy was the Master, not a black magic dabbling witch.

  “What do you want to do?” Devlin asked.

  “How can we trust her?” Glancing back at the cell, Morgan still stood there, her head resting against the bars in defeat. “I’m not willing to play games with her, Devlin. If she’s looking to delay her punishment, she should’ve thought of that before she toyed with me. My judgment is final.”

  “I met with the Master because he needed my help. He said that the witch he was using had failed him and that my expertise in the darker side of magic could help him find something,” she blurted out, capturing my attention.

  I didn’t bother returning to where I was. “Help him find what?”

  “He didn’t say, only that the truth lay in Daniel’s mind and that’s why he had possessed him.” Now that she’d started, Morgan couldn’t stop, as more and more information spilled from her lips. “Something about trying every spell he and Helena knew, but they couldn’t break the compulsion that blocked him. That if I helped him remove it, he would reward me greatly with power and money once he took control of the Council.”

  “And did you help him?” How she answered would determine whether I showed her any leniency.

  Her soft sigh revealed the truth. “You don’t refuse him. You need to believe me.”

  “No, what I believe is, once again, you saw an opportunity to make a profit, without thinking about how it would affect others.”

  “No!” Morgan exclaimed, breaking down further, the fear filling her voice real. “How can I make you understand? Yes, the money was a great incentive, and the spell he required a challenge, but it was him. He put the fear of God in me.”

  “Did you even care about what it would do to Daniel?”

  “Sooner or later, the Master would’ve broken him. The mind can only withstand so much abuse. So, it was a choice between him and me. I chose me. You would’ve done the same in my position.”

  “Like hell,” I fired back, angrily. “I don’t cower before bullies.”

  “Who is he, Morgan?” Devlin asked, changing the subject.

  His question surprised her. “You don’t know?” she replied.

  There was no way I was going to let her think she could regain control. “Answer him.”

  “I thought you of all people would know, Devlin.”

  Whatever patience I’d managed to muster evaporated. “And we’re done here.”

  “Julian! The Master is Julian!” she cried out.

  Disbelief rocked through my body. What she was suggesting was impossible. I’d watched Julian die before my eyes. He’d been the reason why Darcy had almost died. When he was destroyed, the magic fallout had burned her witch nature completely from her body. Thankfully we’d figured out how to save her and Devlin had turned her so she became part werewolf, part vampire.

  A small voice whispered, however, that maybe it wasn’t such a long shot. Amber had somehow possessed Darcy after she’d been killed. Another thought floated to the surface, a memory. She’d bragged about working for someone, of serving the Master. Slowly it all began falling into place.

  The threats we’d all assumed were separate attacks looked to be part of a larger plan. Amber had worked with Helena, performing blood sacrifices and rituals to unlock the Vortex.

  “Shit,” I cursed, realizing just how big this had become. “I know why he possessed Daniel and what he’s looking for. We need to talk to Zane, now.”

  “What about me?” Morgan interrupted. She’d returned to sounding afraid. “You’re not going to release me, are you? Please, I told you everything I know.”

  “I haven’t decided your fate yet, but you’re safe enough where you are.”

  “I can’t believe it’s been him this whole time. I should’ve killed the bastard when I had a chance.” Devlin was clearly disturbed by finding out it was the man who’d caused so much heartache for Darcy and his sister, Elynor.

  “We don’t have time for blame. He’s going after the artifact.” Grabbing Devlin’s arm, I started racing up the stairs toward Zane’s office, taking the stairs two at a time.

  The artifact was the second most powerful treasure within our community, the first being the Vortex that the artifact unlocked. Many had attempted to harness the magic it contained, but failed miserably. It was why Zane went to great lengths in concealing its location.

  Daniel had been one of the few to deliver it to its new protector and on his return, had been compelled to forget. Somehow Julian had learned about Daniel’s involvement and possessed him. How he managed to do that was still a mystery, but I couldn’t focus on that now.

  This was our biggest break; and if we could beat Julian to the artifact, the tables would turn in our favor. We would have the advantage.

  For the first time in what seemed like forever, a new feeling surfaced.

  Hope.

  ****

  I felt her before I heard her enter the room.

  After discussing with Zane everything we’d learned from Morgan and coming up with a plan of action, I’d fully intended on seeking her out. We had a lot to discuss, especially with me leaving within the hour to retrieve the artifact.

  But, instead, I found myself in Daniel’s room; staring down at the brother I’d loved my whole life. It killed me to see him so unresponsive. He was the person who always filled those quiet moments with a joke or some random comment. The silence in the room felt oppressive, unnatural.

  I rarely begged for anything, but I would have sold my soul to have him sit up and cuss me out.

  To smile.

  To laugh.

  Anything, but simply lying there, out of my reach.

  “How’s he doing?” she whispered, like he was asleep and she didn’t want to wake him.

  “He’s the same, sweetheart. Vivien’s made him comfortable and is looking for ways to retrieve his mind. It’s just going to take time.” I didn’t add that she was also going to question Morgan to get the specifics of the spell she’d sold Julian.

  “I heard you’re leaving.” Darcy’s voice was level, the total opposite of the emotions pulsing through our connection. “Am I packing for one or two?”

  I’d expected her to ask. She’d want to come—if not to help, then to support me. I just couldn’t put her at risk, even if it meant placing more strain between us. “I’ll be headin
g out alone with Devlin, Moses, and Wade. The artifact is in Louisiana with Thorne. He’ll need our help if Julian goes there personally to retrieve it.”

  “You’ll need to take more than just you four.”

  “I’m sure we can have Zane assign some Enforcers to join us,” I answered, dreading the tension between us.

  “Am I that weak you’d rather some stranger by your side than your own mate?” There it was. The accusation.

  Finally looking up at her, I winced at the hurt that darkened her eyes. She’d assumed that was the reason, that somehow I now found her lacking. What she didn’t realize was that it wasn’t her I found weak.

  It was me.

  She was my most precious treasure and I couldn’t shake the paralyzing fear that I wouldn’t be able to protect her. All I had to do was look at Daniel, remember Ross, imagine the multiple deaths that had occurred, and that belief cemented itself even deeper in my heart.

  They’d all looked to me—trusted me—and I’d let them down. While I didn’t doubt my ability in finding Julian and killing him once and for all, my confidence had taken a heavy blow.

  “What do you want from me, Darcy?” I asked, my heart in my throat.

  “I want you to tell me why you suddenly don’t trust me. Yes, I made a mistake. Yes, I still struggle with my vampiric transition, but I’m not fragile. I’m not going to break!”

  “Does it worry me that every time you’re exposed to blood it might push you over the edge into bloodlust? Yes. Of course it does. When I don’t know the situation we’re going into at Thorne’s, I’d be foolish not to consider it.”

  “You told me you’d be okay with me becoming part vampire. You said that you would help me, that we’re in this together.” Tears began to fall and she swiped them away, angrily. “This feels like you’re punishing me and it’s not fair.”

  “Sweetheart, look at the bed.” Pointing at Daniel’s still body, I struggled to keep my voice down. “Nothing about this is fair. Don’t you think I’d rather be back home, in our own house, where everything was peaceful and normal? As much as I hate it and wish it were different, this is reality. I’m sorry if it hurts your feelings, but that’s the truth.”