Mated in Mist (Talon Pack #3)(17)

Montag stormed through the building, glancing through the circle windows in each door. Screams echoed from the rooms as the experiments continued, but Montag only thought of that as progress. Without loss, without study, he couldn’t move on to the next phase. Wolves and witches cried and growled, but their bodies were part of the science that came with his strategy.

The coppery scent of blood in the air just proved that progress was being made.

He passed the chambers where the cages lay and entered the large gym where his men trained. They were his secret team, one that would lead to great things. They didn’t know it yet, but these human soldiers would be his greatest accomplishment in the supernatural world.

There were twenty men. The best of the best, hand-picked for this assignment. Only they didn’t know the extent of their duties—nor did they know what went on beneath their feet. Soon, Montag would enlighten them. But first, he needed them trained.

His best soldier was a man named Shane Bruins. The man was a machine—smart, agile, and strong as hell. If it weren’t for the fact that Bruins seemed to think more than he should, he’d be perfect. The damn man didn’t exactly question orders, but Montag could see the thoughts in his eyes.

Bruins would be the first to see the next step of his strategy.

Then Bruins would question no more.

He’d be Montag’s perfection.

His plan.

His immortality.





Chapter Five


If Leah were a wolf, she would howl at the moon until the pain within her soul didn’t feel so deep. The irony of her situation, her presence within the den, was not lost on her, but it didn’t help alleviate the agony.

They were burying her brother today.

Never again would she hear his laugh, see the water dance along his skin as he played a game. She’d never see him smile or see him spell. He would never find a woman to love, who would love him in return. He would never raise little babies and let her hold them. Those babies would never call her Aunt Leah. She would never be able to spoil them and show them water tricks to play on their dad.

All of it lost in a moment of terror and panic.

And yet, it didn’t seem quite real.

Because they weren’t part of a coven, Roland wouldn’t be put to ground like their ancestors. Of course, their mother hadn’t been either, as she’d died in a hovel, out of sight of those who would shame her and her children. As each year passed, Leah knew her fate would be the same.

She would die alone and be buried within land that was not hers.

However, the wolves buried her brother with the same care they would have their Pack. They bowed their heads and said their prayers to the goddess. Gideon and Brandon spoke words of solace while the neighboring Pack, the Redwoods, sent some of their own to honor Roland.

She didn’t understand the depth of their devotion to peace and the strength of the Pack, but she knew she would be forever grateful for these moments.

As she would be forever grateful to Ryder, who stood by her side the entire time. He never spoke a word, but held her hand and let her cry when she needed to. He didn’t bring her close or whisper platitudes. No words would help at the moment, and Ryder seemed to understand that.

When they let the final pieces of earth fall between their fingers over Roland’s grave, Leah shut off a part of herself. She couldn’t function while grieving, and she needed every ounce of her strength to survive. She was living among the wolves for the time being, but that could turn on a dime. She didn’t know who was after her in truth, but now she needed to figure it out because the world knew witches were real. Not only that, but she also had a feeling the Coven wasn’t too happy with her.

Of course, they had never been happy with her.

Hence why she’d lived the way she had for so long.

“Are you ready to go?” Ryder asked, his voice low.

The Brentwoods had each come to her to give their condolences, but the other Pack members had kept their distance. It made sense, as they didn’t know her but had still come to pay their respects. Either that or they had come to see the witch who had broken the news to the world.

She looked over her shoulder at the burial plot that would one day be covered in flowers and nodded. “Yes. I’m ready.”

“Leah?”

She turned at the soft voice behind her.

A strikingly beautiful woman with raven-black hair and light brown skin stood next to a tall, very muscular, and very sexy black man. He stood straight but almost hovered over her without actually hovering. It was as if he had to be near her but couldn’t be close at the same time.

She had no idea how she truly knew that, other than the fact that she was a water witch, and sometimes her empathy clung to those around her that her magic needed to touch. She’d never had the chance to practice, as she hadn’t stayed in one place long enough to form the connections needed. The magic had never worked with her mother or twin—probably because they were her blood and had similar gifts. The fact that she could feel it so quickly with some of the Talons—and now some of the Redwoods from the look of it—surprised her.

“Charlotte, Bram.” Ryder’s voice startled her, but she did her best not to show it. “Leah, these are my friends from the Redwood Pack. Charlotte is Maddox and Ellie’s daughter, who you met earlier. Bram is a soldier.”

If she remembered correctly, soldiers were wolves in the center of the dominant hierarchy that could move up to enforcers or lieutenants depending on the Pack. Their strength of wolf and dominance was ever-changing. Leah was pretty sure all wolves were able to move up and down the totem pole other than those who were in the royal line. Those titles were given to them by the goddess and only changed when the next generation grew into power.