N. Walters: Howl of the Wolf

As the last of Hades’ power faded from this realm, the last remaining demon body turned to ash and was swept up by the wind. The demon remains formed a cloud and followed the last of the Greeks through the portal. It closed behind them, leaving her alone in the clearing with her warriors, their women and friends.

“Help me.” The woman’s sorrowful cry reminded the Lady there was yet another chore to take care of. Sabrina’s friend was kneeling beside Arand and his woman, tears rolling down her face.

The Lady hurried to the side of her downed warrior. Arand was draped across Sabrina and she had her arms wrapped around him. Even in death their connection was deep.

“Save them. Please save them.” The plea came not from the woman’s friend, but from Mordecai. Her serpent went down on his knees before her. “Take me if you must, but save Arand.”

She placed her hands on Mordecai’s head, letting her fingers sift through his long, black hair. “Do you still doubt me so much, my warrior?”

His entire body shuddered and he lowered his head, speaking no more.

Sighing, she released him and turned to face all her warriors. The three women who had freed her tiger, bear and wolf from the curse stood beside their mates. “Do the rest of you doubt me?”

Silence greeted her. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but there was no blame either, only a sense of anticipation. They were all loyal, her warriors, and she wanted only the best for them.

The Lady moved until she was standing over Arand and Sabrina. She held out her hands and felt immense power shift through her. After so many centuries of being weak, it was an odd but joyous sensation to feel like herself again.

Life-giving energy shifted through her. She was a goddess of creation, able to give life to the animals and the plants. But this was different. She had no dominion in the realm of humans. They had free will. The Lady only prayed that Sabrina would want to come back to be with Arand.

Her wolf stirred. His large body shuddered as the Lady’s life force healed him. He raised his head and stared up at her with tears in his dark eyes. “Save her.”

Although it broke her heart, she shook her head. “I cannot. Only you can save her. Share your life force with her and make her immortal as your brethren have done with their ladies.”

The Lady’s words beat in his brain and fired his heart. “Come back to me, Sabrina,” he whispered. He ruthlessly drove his healing power into her lifeless body. How much could a human body take? He didn’t know and prayed he wasn’t too late. He’d gotten one miracle when she’d revived the first time. Was it too much to expect a second one?

Sabrina had rescued him from his prison, saved him and brought him to life. She’d given freely of her body and her love, standing beside him, protecting him from a vengeful Hades.

She couldn’t be gone. She couldn’t.

Arand howled his sorrow when her body remained unresponsive. It wasn’t working. He was failing her once again.

“Give her a reason to come back,” the Lady instructed.

Arand could sense his fellow warriors around him, encouraging him. He was still shocked by the appearance of Stavros and Phoenix as well as the others. They were a miracle. And Arand needed another.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against Sabrina’s, ignoring how cool they were. He would warm her for the rest of their days if she came back to him. “I love you,” he whispered. Nothing. “I love you.” Louder this time. Still nothing.

Arand grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “I love you,” he yelled. “Come back to me. You must live. I don’t want to live without you.” He choked back the tears that threatened to unman him. “I can’t live without you.”

He heard several women sobbing and felt their despair crushing him. “No. It can’t end like this.” He shook Sabrina again. “I love you.”

Tilly sat across from him, tears streaming down her cheeks. He felt Jessica slide in beside him and gently touch his arm. “It’s too late, Arand. You must let her go.”

He turned on her, bared his teeth and snarled. “Never.”

He lifted Sabrina and held her to his chest, rocking her back and forth. “I need you. You must save me. I am in danger.” He leaned back and her head lolled against his left arm. “Do you hear me,” he yelled. “I am in danger. I need you.” He poured more of his essence into her and felt himself weakening. He didn’t care if it took every last drop of his power to save her.

He threw back his head and howled again, the mournful sound echoed by his fellow warriors as they shared in his grief.

He stilled. Had she moved? He watched her face, willing her to open her eyes and look at him. “You must save me. Wake,” he commanded.

Sabrina stirred in his arms. Excitement coursed through his veins as her eyelids fluttered open.

“What’s all the racket about? I have a splitting headache.”

Arand felt the steady thump of her heart and reined in his power. Her eyelids fluttered open and she glared up at him. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. He started to laugh, the joy coming from the bottom of his very soul.

She slowly lifted her hand, but it started to falter as though it were too heavy for her. Arand clasped her hand in his and drew it up until it touched his face. She gently patted his cheek, the concern in her eyes threatening to undo him.

“Are you okay?” She frowned and her brow creased. “I thought I heard you calling me.”

Her concern for him touched him deeply. There was nothing more important to him than Sabrina’s happiness and well-being. “I did call you, but I’m fine now. How do you feel?”

Sabrina yawned. “Tired.”

“Rest.” He rocked her lightly. “I’ll take care of you.”

“Okay,” she readily agreed and closed her eyes.

He took a moment to make certain she was only sleeping, and then he stood and faced his goddess. “Thank you.” The two words were totally inadequate to express what he was feeling, but absolutely sincere. This was the greatest gift he’d ever been given.

“It was you who did it,” the Lady told him. “She is worthy of you and you of her.”

Arand looked around at his friends and several women he did not recognize. “My thanks to all of you. There is so much I have to tell you, so much I want to know.” He stared down at Sabrina. “But I must take care of my lady first.”

He realized what he’d called Sabrina and looked to the Lady of the Beasts to see how she reacted. Her gentle smile was filled with understanding. “Go and look to her comfort. We will talk later. There is all the time in the world now.”

All the time in the world. He liked the sound of that.

Leaving the rest of them in the yard, Arand carried his precious cargo up the steps and into the house. He took her into the bedroom, laid her carefully on the mattress and stretched out beside her, pulling her into his embrace. “Sleep,” he whispered in her ear. He rubbed his hand over her hair, filled with the simple wonder of having her in his arms. “I will watch over you.” It was a promise he planned to keep for all time.

Sabrina peered around the living room of her granny’s house and shook her head in wonder. The small room was currently jammed with immortal shapeshifting warriors, their mates and her two friends. They were all waiting for the Lady—an actual goddess—to arrive.

The warriors were talking, catching up on what had happened to all of them. Well, all but Mordecai. He was standing in the corner of the room, his back to the wall while the other warriors pointedly ignored him. She understood why they didn’t trust him, but she still felt a twinge of sadness for Mordecai. She wasn’t quite sure why he hadn’t been sent back to Hell with Hades, why he was still here.