Reach for the Sky (Wolffe Peak Book 1) Read online

  “I don’t give two shits what you take kindly to! Your granddaughter is out there, in the hands of some fucking psychopath, all because your people don’t have a lick of sense about security! For fuck’s sake, your grandson is dying in the next room! You might be dominant, but you are not an alpha.”

  Gavin blinked and stepped back, his hands stained with Wyatt’s blood.

  Wyatt turned with a feral snarl and locked his stare on Amberly. “Get these fucking bullets out of me!”

  “You think that’s going to be enough?” Gavin grunted. “The silver is poisoning you!”

  “I’m done wasting time here. Patch me up so I can get the fuck out of here and find Sky.”

  Amberly flicked a startled glance to Gavin and waited for his nod. Once she had it, she got to work. He knew the risks, knew what the damned silver bullets were capable of. But none of that mattered.

  The moment Sky’s sister-in-law finished plucking out the last bullet, he shot off the table. Pain lanced through his chest and he staggered forward, his hand barely catching him against the wall.

  “You aren’t strong enough to get her back,” Gavin said behind him.

  Wyatt’s response was a low snarl. “Thank you, Captain Obvious. But you’re fucked in the head if you think I’m going to sit back and hope this resolves itself.”

  A strong hand came down on his shoulder. “Let me help you. I know the land. We can track Sky’s scent together.”

  With a heavy breath, Wyatt glanced up at Gavin. The silver had already begun to spread through his system. He felt the toxin in his blood, slowing his reflexes. Even his wolf was silent, hidden in the darkest recess of his mind. He needed time to heal, not that he had any. It rankled him to accept the offer, but he had no choice. Sky was in danger, and he’d be damned if his pride cost him her life.

  ***

  Sky’s eyes opened to darkness.

  Within ten seconds, she went from dead asleep to alert and panicked. The last things she remembered were Noah, practically gutted by a gleaming knife, and then a sharp prick against the side of her neck. She sucked in a deep breath—

  A clammy hand clapped over her mouth. Next to her, a monster rose, a pair of amber eyes burning in the darkness. “Don’t scream, Skylar.”

  She shivered at the sound of his voice, a whimpered protest slipping through his fingers as she struggled against the bonds that held her to the bed.

  “It’s just me,” he whispered, as though that would alleviate her fears.

  It’s just me…a statement reserved for a friend. James Griffon was not her friend. The few times they’d spoken, he’d peppered her with insensitive questions about her mother and her job. He’d never alluded to any sort of attraction to her. Not that it would have mattered.

  Her wide eyes flicked to his, and she mumbled a question against his palm.

  He shook his head. “I can’t understand you, sweetheart. If I remove my hand, do you promise not to scream?”

  No! But she nodded emphatically, desperate to be rid of his touch.

  His hand loosened, fingertips tracing the curve of her bottom lip. Rapture smoothed his face, his eyes dimming to the dark brown she was accustomed to. He’d fooled them all into believing he was human, suppressed his wolf until even his scent had changed.

  She dampened her mouth. “Where am I?”

  “Home,” he whispered, his fingers trailing down the curve of her neck. She drew in a shuddered breath, the faded aroma of her mother’s possessions tickling her nose. The cabin. Horror quickened her pulse—he’d been the one maintaining it. “So beautiful. I’ve never had the chance to tell you that.” He gazed up at her, a perverse grin warping his mouth. “But now I can, every day for the rest of our lives.”

  Oh, God. The last person she wanted to spend forever with was him. The only one she wanted was Wyatt.

  Wyatt. She forced herself to swallow. Was he alive? Everything had happened so fast. The sharp crack of the gun and the sight of him crumpling to the ground… Oh, God, Wyatt! Werewolves could survive a great deal, but James wouldn’t bring a regular gun. A shot to the heart with a silver bullet was enough to kill any werewolf.

  James’ touch dragged her thoughts back to the grim present. His fingers trailed across her chest as he traced the curve of her naked body with singular purpose. She couldn’t restrain her shudder. He paused, a shadow darkening his face. Her stomach twisted when she gazed down her length. He’d taken her clothes, stripped her nude. With her eyes squeezed shut, she dropped her head back against the pillow and willed away the tears that threatened to spill.

  “I—I’m already mated,” she whispered. “To Wyatt.”

  James bit out a harsh curse as the hand near her head tightened into a fist. “That doesn’t matter,” he assured himself. “Wyatt’s dead.”

  No. She refused to believe that. She leaned as far away from him as possible and tugged on the restraints, gasping when silver bit into her flesh.

  He glanced her way, his furious countenance softening when he found her straining away from him. “Sweetheart, don’t. You’ll hurt yourself.”

  Her teeth set into her lip as she jerked harder. Screw the silver. She needed out. She needed to find Wyatt. She needed free of this asshole.

  Wyatt had to be alive. It was the only outcome she would accept. Alphas were tough bastards, and Wyatt was nothing if not an alpha. If anyone could brush off a silver bullet, it was him. And then he’d hunt down James, a thought that tugged the corner of her mouth.

  “Sky!” James leaned over her and gripped her arms, pushing them down into the bed. “Lie still!”

  Screw that. Instead, she opened her mouth and released a piercing scream. A sharp backhand lit up her cheek. Her head snapped into the pillow, tears pricking her eyes—eyes she desperately wanted to keep. She had to do whatever it took to keep him from snapping.

  James hadn’t taken her far. Her mother’s cabin was located on the edge of pack land, some eight miles from her grandfather’s estate.

  Wyatt would come, but she’d have to help him find her.

  Chapter 19

  In all his years as an alpha, Wyatt had never felt such terror. He’d never allowed himself to feel anything beyond friendship or lust for anyone. The females he took to his bed had inspired excitement, but nothing as emotionally crippling as love. He’d told her that she robbed him of his control, but it was deeper than that. He worried for her, feared that he’d lose her just as he’d found her.

  No. He shook his head. He couldn’t think like that. He needed to get his shit together. He was the fucking alpha, for crying out loud. That meant calm and clear-headed in a crisis.

  Together, Gavin and Wyatt stared down the multiple treads cut out of the land. Half an hour ago, they’d discovered that one of Gavin’s all-terrain vehicles was missing. With a growl, Wyatt relinquished his death grip on the handlebars of his quad and rubbed his temples. There were far too many tracks, the majority from Gavin’s people. Thankfully, they had their noses to follow.

  “How the hell did you not hear an ATV in the distance?”

  Gavin sighed and threw up his hands. “In case you hadn’t noticed, at the time there was a lot of chaos and shouting. It isn’t every day that my territory is breached by a psychopathic killer.”

  Revving the engine, Wyatt burst forward, his nose leading the way up over a steep hill. “What’s in this direction?”

  “About four miles south is the freeway,” Gavin shouted back. “If they’ve reached it—”

  “They could be anywhere,” Wyatt snarled.

  Ripping over the terrain, Wyatt reached deep into his psyche to rouse his wolf. He needed the mate connection, but the friggin’ silver was blocking it. Worse, the vibrations were jarring his body. Every bump in the path sent a scorching ribbon of pain through his torso. At this rate, he would bleed out before they found her.

  Don’t focus on the physical pain. It meant nothing in comparison to losing Sky, and that was a future he refused to cons
ider. It didn’t matter that his temperature had spiked, or that his strength was failing, or that his shirt dripped with blood. The silver would work its way out of his system, or it wouldn’t. He had no control over that.

  Fucking silver.

  At the freeway, he slammed on the breaks. “Her smell is fainter here.”

  Gavin pulled up next to him. “They could have gotten into a vehicle.”

  Or the amount of traffic had diluted her trail. Shit, James could have had a vehicle waiting on the side of the road. He sagged against the front of the quad, his breath labored. Thankfully, Gavin chose not to comment on his state of declining health.

  “What’s across the freeway?” he mumbled.

  Gavin shook his head. “The ocean is less than twenty miles away—” His breath hitched and he swung a wide glance toward Wyatt.

  “What?”

  “Ivy’s cabin.”

  “Who?”

  “My daughter!”

  The cabin. Wyatt peered across the road. He saw nothing over the rolling hills, not that he expected to. “How far?”

  “Maybe four miles?”

  “Go,” Wyatt growled. Easing on the gas, he zipped across the street. Half a mile later, Sky’s scent blossomed. The cabin it was.

  “Can you handle this?” Gavin demanded behind him.

  It only took one well-placed hit to kill someone; his years of underground fighting had taught him that. Wyatt leapt from the quad and shifted. Pain seared his chest and gut, and he staggered a step forward. He drew in a labored breath and then shook himself out.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Gavin muttered before gunning forward with Wyatt hot on his heels.

  Even if it killed him, he’d finish this tonight.

  ***

  “Don’t touch me!” Blind with panic, Sky scrambled on the bed as best she could with her limbs restrained. “Wyatt!”

  “Stop it!” A sharp crack sent her head reeling once more. “I don’t understand! What is happening?” His muttered words echoed in her ears. “It isn’t supposed to be this way. You’re supposed to love me!”

  With a deep breath, Sky wrenched on the bonds with all her strength, manic laughter spilling from her lips when they gave the slightest bit. A little bit more and maybe she could free her one wrist.

  “I love you!” James shouted before he stooped over her.

  His throaty growl skated across her cheek, and before she could wrench away, his dry mouth crashed against hers, his slimy tongue penetrating the seam of her lips. Sky squeezed her eyes shut and gave a muffled protest as she tugged on the loosened bond. Fingers groped at her, grabbing and twisting her into submission. No! She refused to let this happen.

  She gave a desperate cry and jerked her head to the side, chest heaving. “I don’t love you.”

  He jolted back from her, eyes blazing. The moment James staggered away from her, she knew. She’d pushed him beyond his limits. He grasped the sides of his head and swung around, his mumbled words echoing his delusional endearment over and over.

  His shadow loomed over her, rage alight in his eyes. Sky fell still, the cold hand of fear gripping her heart. “You’re just like the rest of them,” he spat, hate twisting his face into a grotesque mask. “An eager slut ready to please the first man that will have you. You tease and taunt, bat your beautiful eyes at any man that glances your way, and then drop him where he stands. But I can fix that.” His chest heaved. “You think any man will want you after I ruin you?”

  Her breath quickened.

  “No man wants damaged goods.” Clawed fingers started for her eyes.

  Sky released a bloodcurdling shriek, tears dampening her face as she squirmed against him. She had to delay him, had to break through the insanity that held him captive. “James, James…wait. Wait, please wait.”

  “I’ve waited long enough! For three years I’ve waited! But did you ever give me the time of day? And now—now you’re going to suffer like I did. You don’t want me? Fine.”

  Pressure pushed into her cheeks, his claws slipping beneath her flesh as he started for her eyes. Sky cried out and writhed against the bed, her hips bucking. Pain scalded her skin, ripping another whimper from her cracked lips. This can’t be happening!

  A sudden crash shook the cabin walls. Cursing, James’ hands vanished from her face. Sky moaned and sank into the mattress, her cheeks soaked with tears and blood.

  “Skylar!”

  She knew that voice! “Grandpa!” she wailed, once again pulling with all her strength. Her teeth latched onto her bottom lip as she struggled, determined to get free. “Get me out of here!”

  A savage howl tore through the cabin. Sky gasped, her struggle forgotten in the wake of that beautiful sound. Wyatt! He wasn’t dead! Her heart soared with hope.

  “Not possible!” James whirled around, his gaze wide and unblinking as he stared down at Skylar. “You can’t have her! She’s mine!”

  With a snarl, he lunged for her, claws extended. Skylar closed her eyes and screamed. She never felt the graze of James’ claws. Air ruffled by her head as Wyatt slammed into James, their force carrying them right through the wall. A chorus of brutal shouts and snarls echoed through the cabin.

  “Skylar…”

  “Grandpa!” She twisted against the bed, fresh tears washing down her face. “Get me out of these!”

  Gavin rushed to her side and grasped the thick chains. “I got you, baby girl.” Grunting, he strained his muscles and pulled with all his strength until finally the first one snapped. Together, they wrenched on the remaining bonds. Once freed, she slid off the bed and coerced her wolf forward. Wyatt was injured; she’d scented his blood the moment he’d burst into the room. There was no way in hell she would abandon him.

  Once in wolf form, she bolted toward the gaping hole in the wall.

  Her grandfather’s large frame dove in front of her. “What are you doing? Get out of here!”

  She gnashed her teeth next to his leg before ducking around him and racing toward Wyatt. Her breath caught at the astounding sight that greeted her. James’ meaty arm was locked around Wyatt’s throat, fingers digging into his wounds. Scrambling against the floor, Wyatt couldn’t find purchase, and the sound of his strangled breath terrified her.

  Gathering her strength, Sky rushed forward, intent on pouncing, when her grandfather swept her out of the way. She careened across the floor on her side, her head crashing into the wall, but through her blurred vision, she watched as Gavin drove his fist into James’ mouth. Freed from his hold, Wyatt danced backward and shook his head. His racking cough encouraged her, but the small puddles of blood dotting the floor didn’t.

  A desperate tone entered the fight. James swung wildly, his golden eyes burning with conviction. He had to know he wouldn’t survive this fight, but he seemed dedicated to taking them down with him.

  Sky picked herself up. It was now or never. Wyatt was stumbling on his feet, and her grandfather was no match for James. About to leap into the fray, a panicked bark fell from her mouth when James’ claws slashed through her grandfather’s chest and belly.

  No!

  She leapt, claws and teeth extended. She poured every ounce of hate into her attack, every bit of fear he’d bred into her for the past year.

  Eyes narrowed, she slammed into his chest and spilled them to the ground.

  Don’t hesitate.

  She lunged with a dark snarl, her teeth sealing around his throat. His fists hammered at her, but Skylar held on. Allowing her wolf to take control, she clamped her jaws and tore out James’ throat.

  Silence befell the cabin.

  Panting for air, Sky stumbled away from his lifeless body and staggered to the nearest corner, where she emptied her stomach. Her body and soul ached, but she couldn’t think about that now. She pushed to her feet and limped toward her grandfather’s mangled body, head hung low. With a sharp whine, she lowered onto her belly and inched closer, but the wretched scent of lacerated bowels confirmed his death.
/>
  She tipped her head back and released a mournful howl. The harrowing sound poured from her lips, until all that remained was grief. Soon, Wyatt joined in, his resonate howl tuned to hers. To her wolf ears, it was a beautiful sound, one worthy of her grandfather.

  Emotionally spent, Sky took her next cue from Wyatt, and together they shifted back. The second she stood on two legs, he swept her into his arms and crushed her against him.

  “You’re hurt,” she whispered.

  “I don’t care.” His injured chest rumbled against her. “Give me this.”

  “Wyatt—”

  “Sky. Don’t argue with me right now. I need this.”

  She sank into his embrace, her eyes slipping closed. She needed it as much as he did, but the fear of him bleeding out made her anxious.

  “Don’t do this to me again, all right?”

  “What, get kidnapped by a bloody psychopath?”

  “Yes, that.”

  She nodded. It definitely wasn’t on her top ten list. “Grandpa…”

  His arms tightened for a brief second before he finally released her. “I know. We’ll get someone out here immediately to tend to him.”

  “Why did he dive in like that? He could have hung back, could have let us fight James.”

  “No, he couldn’t,” Wyatt murmured. “He loved you, Sky. A great deal. And alphas protect those they love.”

  She jerked her chin up. “What?”

  “I was in his office. There are pictures of you everywhere. He might not have liked how rebellious you were, but he loved you.”

  Sky’s bottom lip trembled. “He never told me. He was always so angry around me.”

  Sighing, Wyatt pulled her into his chest once more. Tears slipped down her cheeks, her control fractured. She wanted nothing more than to sob away the grief, but she had to take care of her grandfather. She owed him that. Wiping her eyes with her palms, she gasped when she touched the gashes in her cheeks, a hair’s breadth from her eyes. Still, she was lucky. Barbara, Erica, Jody Anne…even Trinity.

  “Wyatt?”

  He dropped his chin and met her gaze, his irises rimmed in gold.