“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!”
Through it all, Quade let him cry. When it seemed that it had finally run its course, he knelt down and stared into Ten’s eyes.
“Wanna let me in on what’s going on up here?” he asked, tapping the side of Ten’s head. “What do you mean, he’s going to die?”
“You know.” Now the voice broke when Ten answered. “I can see you know what’s going to happen to him.”
“See, I don’t believe that. You told me that nothing is ever set in stone. I was a feral wolf, but you brought me back. I have to believe we can do the same for Caden. But you’ve got to tell me how we can help him.”
“It’s too late. He’s going to die.”
Ten pulled away from Quade and threw himself onto the bed. Quade rose, strode over to the bed, sat down, and rubbed small circles on Ten’s back, just as he’d done for Quade many times.
“Tell me what’s going to happen.”
The tears started again, but Quade wouldn’t comfort Ten. He had to know what was going on.
“The bad man is going to get Caden and force him into becoming the Tree of Life. You and I are going to be there, and we won’t be able to stop it. Caden’s going to die once he becomes the Tree.”
“Then we won’t let that happen, buddy. I swear to you, Caden will be okay.”
Ten shook his head. “No, he won’t. I’ve already seen it and know exactly what’s going to happen. If you had only listened to me.”
“I always listen to you.”
Ten snuffled and rolled onto his back, then sat up. “No, you don’t. I’ve been telling you for years that you need to embrace your wolf. I’ve told you you’re stronger with him, but you keep rejecting him. You even call the wolf ‘it’ instead of ‘him.’ It’s like you want to be rid of him.”
God, wouldn’t that be amazing? If he could be rid of the wolf? Live a normal life? But…. Running as his wolf brought such an incredible high. There were moments in there that Quade thought he could fly as he zipped through the forest, wishing he could laugh.
“You were supposed to go with Caden, and you were going to fall in love and your two halves would finally combine into a whole being. There wouldn’t be a war between the two of you for dominance.”
“How would that work if I fell in love?”
“Because your wolf already recognizes Caden as his. He’s been waiting for you to see the same thing. Why do you think he doesn’t react badly when Caden is around?”
The news came as a shock. He did wonder why it—he—had been so docile around Caden. Why he’d became so playful and why he’d had no problems protecting Caden, even if it meant dying in the process.
“My people don’t mate the way humans do. I would hurt Caden.”
Ten narrowed his gaze. “You don’t listen! You never listen to me. Your people are assholes because they’re assholes. You’re not like them. You have a heart and conscience.”
“I almost killed that little girl, or have you forgotten that?”
“No, the wolf almost killed her because he no longer had a tether in you. You gave up and let the wolf go free. Without a pack, he had no guidance, so he did what any wolf would do. Your wolf is an extension of you. How many times have I said that?”
“Look, buddy, I know you want to believe that, but the truth is, my wolf is a wild animal.”
“Oh my God!” Ten launched himself off the bed and slammed his hands on the sides of Quade’s head. Images began to flood Quade’s mind faster and faster. He could barely process what he was seeing. “Look! Maybe now you’ll see what I’ve been telling you for years.”
More images. Sights. Sounds. Voices of a thousand lifetimes. So much. Too much. Too fast.
Stop. Make it stop.
Quade’s eyes flew open and he screamed.
Chapter 13
“Josiah, where are you going?”
“Out.”
“But you’re supposed to be watching me.” There was a hint of whine to the voice. “Mom said you couldn’t leave.”
The scene was old, Quade could tell by the way they were dressed in skins and leather, but the words were current. He stood as an observer, watching the interaction between two boys, obviously brothers, with their dark hair and gray eyes. The visions stirred discomfort in Quade, as though he was seeing a long-forgotten memory that he knew would end badly.
“Look, bro. I’m totally going to get her tonight. We’re going running under the moon, and as soon as we shift back, I’m gonna nail her.”
The boy winced at his brother’s vulgarness. The boy liked Marissa a lot. She was the daughter of their shaman. A pretty girl, with dark hair and almond-colored eyes. True, she had a rough streak, and her language would probably make any sailor who came to their harbor town blush, but she also could be gentle. She used to sit with him and tell him a story she’d heard. She’d do the funniest of voices when she got to the part of the giant and the boy from the beanstalk.
His brother ran a hand over his hair. “She’s gonna be sweet, let me tell you. She’s cherry, you know.”
No, he didn’t know. He had no idea what that even meant.
“There’s nothing like that first time. They scream and cry and fight you. It’s incredible.”
His brother stood, an enormous tent in his pants. The boy looked away, embarrassed.
“You should come with us. Get your first fuck, finally be a man.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, once I’m done with her, you can have a shot.” He cuffed his brother on the shoulder. “Do you good to get a little pussy for a change. You have to be tired of your hand by now.”
His brother was talking about rape? He was going to hurt Marissa, and he was laughing about it and telling the boy he could take part. The kid was horrified.
“No!” He turned and started to run toward the door, needing to get away. “I’m going to tell Mom.”
His big brother snarled, grabbed the boy by the shirt, and lifted him off the floor, then slammed him against the wall. He got close, and the boy could smell the alcohol. His brother’s eyes glinted with what the boy could only describe as evil. “Listen to me, you little bastard. You breathe a word of this to anyone, and you’re going to be next. I don’t give a damn if you are a boy—you’re probably just as tight as she is.”
His brother had always been mean, sometimes violent. But now? The boy was afraid of him and promised he’d stay quiet.
That night when his brother left the house, the boy followed. His smaller legs had trouble keeping up with the older wolves as they ran, but he did his best. Still, he fell behind. By the time he caught up with them, his brother was already rutting with Marissa, and she was screaming and crying, begging him to stop.
The boy made a split-second decision and charged his brother, throwing himself at him and knocking him off Marissa. She scrabbled back, tears in her eyes. He was hoping she’d run and get help, but she sat there sobbing and covering herself as best she could with the scraps of clothing she had on.