He'd probably use magic at the gate for entrance and to find the location of Jonas's house, so the gate guards hadn't been warned. Jonas felt a little bad about that, but they couldn't accidentally betray a plan they knew nothing of.
Now it was simply a matter of waiting, and he was nothing if not a patient wolf. If he'd been in lupine form, his lips would have been pulled back in a snarl.
This was one kill he was looking forward to.
The plan was put into action.
Hours later, he could see Gabby through the window where she pretended to be Harper, puttering around the kitchen. He could smell the others in the woods—his backup should things go wrong. He wouldn't need it. He had determination and cold, cutting fury on his side. He lifted his snout to check the angle of the moon.
Almost time.
But the minutes stretched on and on until the wolf that was sometimes Jonas thought Dane's vision must have been wrong. The wolf grew restless, then agitated when suddenly the forest around it felt wrong. Too quiet. Too still. There was a yelp—Ethan's—that was cut off too quickly to indicate anything other than unconsciousness or death.
Teeth bared, he crept forward from his place hidden in the trees, sharp wolf's eyes quartering the open space. Watching and waiting for the wizard to reveal himself. The only movement was from Zach, who crouched in bushes close to the house.
Sensing something approach from his left, he froze. His muscles coiled tight, ready to spring at any attack or threat. Careful to keep the movement small and natural, unnoticed, he swung his head in that direction, keeping his eyelids narrowed to tiny slits to avoid giving his location away. The glow of a werewolf's eyes couldn't be mistaken for anything else.
He saw nothing but a blackness where there should have been trees, and barely restrained his triumphant howl. The wizard was cloaking himself, or trying to, but he couldn't hide from Jonas. Couldn't hide from justice.
The wolf edged closer, still careful, but moving faster now. The wizard was too far away to spring at. Yet. The blackness moved forward, no longer cautious as it approached the house. It didn't notice the wolf pursuing at its back. But the other wolf had been spotted. The blackness solidified into form for a moment and Zach rolled out of the way just in time to miss a blast of energy erupting from the wizard's hands. Then Alexander was that almost invisible again.
Jonas leaped for his back, worried only fleetingly as his teeth sank into the blackness. The illusion dropped so fast Jonas almost lost his hold, disoriented. The hesitation nearly cost him everything. He was amazed at the strength of the wizard, who dropped desperately to knock him off his back. Then there was nothing but a human cry of pain as Jonas's teeth closed over his jugular. Nothing but the sound of gurgling death when he ripped it out.
He shifted as he dropped the wizard. Spit blood out of his mouth, then wiped it away with the back of his hand. Zach joined him as Gabby ran out of the house, shaking and panicked.
“Ethan?”
He didn't smell Ethan's death in the air, but that didn't mean he wasn't in trouble. “We'll find him. Go get Mick.”
She took off up the trail. Zach jerked his head to where the trees were thickest.
“This way.”
It only took a few minutes to find Ethan. He was unconscious, pale but breathing. Jonas slung him over one shoulder and followed Zach back to his house, where a crowd had gathered inside. He wasn't surprised Gabby and the others had beat him back to the house. Jonas carried him to the living room and laid him out on the couch, where Elspeth approached and looked him over.
“Knocked out by a blast of magic. He'll be fine in a few days,” she gently told Gabby, who'd knelt by his side and taken his hand, refusing to be moved. “He'll be more comfortable at home in bed.”
Jonas stepped forward to lift him again, but Zach and Caleb stopped it. “We'll handle it. And get all our women out of your hair,” Caleb joked, his critical eye sweeping over Dane also. “And the boy. Grab your things.” Harper, looking pinched and worn, jerked forward. “Why?”
“Don't worry, little one,” Zach said. “He'll be safe at our house.” Mick stood behind her, his hands massaging her shoulders, and she nodded, relaxed at the comfort given by her mate. Jonas felt something tighten, then snap in his chest. Emotion overwhelmed him. He couldn't speak as everyone left. Didn't know what to say when it was just the three of them alone. It was Harper who broke the spell. With a cry, she pulled free of Mick and rushed to him, clinging around his waist.
“What is it, darlin'? What's wrong?”
Chapter Eleven
She shook, but it wasn't until she looked up at him that Jonas realized it was with fury. “If you ever scare me like that again, I swear I'll rip your heart out.” That seemed a little extreme under the circumstances, especially coming from his gentle-souled mate. He looked over her head at Mick and cocked an inquiring eyebrow.
“Gabby was pretty freaked-out when she came to get us.” He shrugged one shoulder, but Jonas knew he wasn't as unaffected as he appeared. He seemed to vibrate with pent-up energy. “We didn't know until you walked out of the woods with Ethan that you were safe.”
Harper's hands fisted in his shirt at the base of his back. “I mean it, Jonas,” she said fiercely. “Never again.”
He held her tighter, sliding his hands up and down her back in an effort to comfort her. He kissed the top of her head and looked up to meet Mick's gaze.
“Let me make it up to you,” he whispered, letting the desire, the love he felt for them color his voice.
Mick didn't budge, and his arms were crossed over his chest. “Is this a breakthrough, then? Something has changed?”
He laughed. “You mean other than I've been an idiot?” That startled Harper enough that her scent changed with it, the anger finally leaking away. She leaned back in his arms. “You'll have to explain that. Now would be a good time,” she said tartly.
She amazed him. So vibrant. Full of life. His. “Why did I ever think you were submissive?”
Mick finally moved, hands dropping to his sides as he strolled closer. “Oh, she has her moments, don't you, sugar?”
“Um.” The scent of arousal spiked, lush and tangy in the air, on his tongue.
“We're talking about Jonas right now.”
“Later,” Mick murmured against her nape. “He's not going anywhere.”
“No, I'm not.” Not now. Not ever.
Harper escaped from their arms and retreated a few feet, switching her gaze back and forth between him and Mick. He groaned when he got a good look at the mutinous, stubborn look on her face. She pointed a shaky finger in his direction.
“I have questions you two need to answer. I'm new here. Not a werewolf. I'm flying blind, and sometimes I get the feeling you prefer it that way.” Well, hell. “That's not true. I just forget that you don't know our world like…” He almost said like Liza, but something told him that would be a mistake.
“We can answer questions just as well naked, sugar,” Mick drawled, his voice deep and sexy and coaxing, rushing to Jonas's rescue.
Harper wasn't being deflected, however. One eyebrow cocked, she switched her attention to Mick. “Maybe the more answers I get, the more skin you'll see.” He jerked at the tone of her voice, felt the subtle flare of magic she used to infuse it with a sultry invitation to sin. “Not fair,” he croaked.
She shrugged. “Neither is you keeping me in the dark. I'm here for more than sex, aren't I?”
Finally, he could retreat into irritation. This emotion shit sucked. “Of course you are,” Jonas snapped.
Mick sighed and gave him the baleful look that seemed to scream you damned idjit. This was his worst nightmare. Outnumbered. Hell, he'd said he wasn't going anywhere. They knew how he felt. Why did he have to put everything into words?