Eclipsed Empire (The Wolves of Crescent Creek, #2)

by Tessa Hale

He lifted me from the hook, pain flooding my system so intensely that the world around me flickered in and out. “Hurts,” I moaned. “I know,” Brix gritted out. “Gonna fix you.” But it wasn’t the physical that hurt; it was Brix. The contact. The pain of his rejection just days ago. “No,” I whispered as I faded. “It’s you touching me. You hate me. It hurts.” And then I was gone.

I shivered at the thought. “Brix?” Locke went quiet. “He didn’t deal with you being taken well.” Tension swept through my muscles. “What does that mean?” “He’s hunting the Death Walkers. Said he wouldn’t come home until every single one of them are dead.”

“If you leave, we’re going with you.” There was a defiance and certainty to Locke’s voice I’d never heard before. “Locke—” “We’re with you,” he growled. Puck picked up his massage again. “He’s right, Birdie. You’re ours, and we’re yours. We go where you do.”

“Tell me what she feels like.” Puck’s words were a gentle order, and Locke’s eyes flashed again. “So smooth,” Locke whispered. His finger traced a scar on my thigh. “Her body is a map of her life, telling me everything she’s been through to get to me. To us.” Tears pricked my eyes. “Locke.”

Locke leaned into me, his arm pressing against mine in a show of comfort. “When Brix gets like this, the only thing that helps is making sure the threat has been neutralized. He needs to make sure the person he cares about is safe.” My heart broke for him. The only outlet Brix seemed to have was pain. It was how he made his way through the world. All he understood. “It’s his way of telling you he’s sorry,” Puck said softly. “Nothing like heads in a bonfire,” I muttered. Puck’s lips twitched. “Just be glad he didn’t dump them on your bed or something.”

Bastian Boudreaux had torn my world apart, but I didn’t have to live looking over my shoulder, worried he’d come for me again. That bastard had likely forgotten I even existed. The moves my brothers and I made against him were covert. He had no way of tracing them back to us. But Wren? She lived in fear every single day. It only made me admire her more. She’d fought through hell and made it out. She’d taught herself to fight, even though it wasn’t part of her submissive nature. She’d been so damn smart to evade his capture.

“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I will spend the rest of my life making sure you’re safe.” “Brix—” “My only purpose. That and making sure you’re happy.”

Wren’s chest heaved as she grabbed my shoulders to steady herself. “Brix.” “I’m yours,” I rasped. “Whatever you need. I’m yours.” Something shifted in her gaze. I wasn’t sure what Wren might do. She didn’t run. She didn’t grab my face for another kiss. She wrapped herself around me, her face burrowing into my neck as she breathed deeply. “I’m yours, too.” Those were the sweetest words I’d ever heard.

My hand slid up and down her back. “You’re okay. You’re safe.” She shuddered against me as if some invisible battle raged within her. I wasn’t sure how long it took before she spoke. But when she finally did, her words were the last thing I expected. “Kill me,” Wren whispered. “It’d be a mercy.”

My jaw worked back and forth. “I couldn’t. The goddamned sheriff was right there, and Wren—she needed me.” Brix’s eyes bled to silver. “What. Did. He. Do. To. Her?” “Threatened her.” I couldn’t force my mouth to form the details. It was too much. “She got triggered. She…she showed me. Everything he did to her. I—it was so much worse than we could’ve imagined.” A burn lit in my throat, and pressure built behind my eyes. I couldn’t take it. All she’d been through. Our fucking mate. And there was only one thing I knew to do right now. One action I could take to make things better. To atone. I met each of their gazes. “We can’t wait any longer. We have to kill Bastian Boudreaux. Now.”

“Wren. Little Warrior. Mate. I swear my devotion to you and only you. Where you lead, I will follow. What you need, I will provide. My life is yours to do with as you will.”

When I did, I took in the mark. It was to the side of his teeth marks. A totem that would present itself on Brix, too—a matching set that would only be ours. It looked like a tattoo but the dark, ink-like substance shimmered slightly in the dark. It was a heart with a knife through it. Pleasure and pain.

“I can get you the headache tonic,” Locke said, moving to head out of the room. But King stopped him. “Wait.” His gaze roamed over me. “Who knows?” I swallowed hard. “My mom did. But she’s gone. So, only the five of you.” Ender cursed. “You’ve been living with this alone?” “I had no choice. You know what would have happened to me if someone found out.” King gripped my shoulders as if I might disappear right in front of him. “The whole world would hunt you. Not just the wolves. Not only the supernaturals. Everyone.”

I see you, Little Warrior. Blue eyes that melt from one shade to the next. Eyes that take in everything around you. That see more than anyone else. Eyes that make everyone feel seen, too. This bracelet has an enchantment that should help with your headaches. I love you. – King

Princess meowed again, but this one had a distinctly pissed-off bent to it. I sent her a warning look. “Be nice.” She headbutted my chin in answer. “That’s better.” I scooped up some whipped cream with my finger and held it out to her. “Here you go.” “You spoil her,” Ender mumbled. “And you don’t?” I challenged. “You built her a pussy palace. And I caught you singing her a lullaby a couple of days ago.” Ender’s cheeks pinked. “She likes that song.” “Don’t say pussy,” Brix muttered. “It makes me hard, and I really want to enjoy this dessert.” Kingston choked on a bite of cake, and Locke leaned over to pat him on the back. “Who are you kidding? Wren breathes, and you get hard.” Brix shrugged. “Fair.”

“I’ll show you coddling,” Wren muttered. She struck out with her staff, connecting with mine in a surprising show of force. My lips twitched. My kitten was feisty.

“Tell. Me. Everything,” Kingston gritted out. “It, uh, went out on the black market. A call for people to bring her to Red River alive. I guess Boudreaux wants to make an example of her,” the fox said, his gaze jumping around the room. “How so?” Brix snarled, fur rippling over his arms. “H-he wants to breed her then kill her.” Brix let out a howl that was pain and rage all wrapped into one. Kingston’s expression had gone completely cold, his face nearly unrecognizable. “The price. Tell me the price.” “Ten million for her alive,” the fox whispered. I couldn’t wait any longer. I knew no additional information would be useful, so I stalked forward, bent down, and got in the bastard’s face. “Wren. Her name is Wren.” “O-okay.” “Say her name,” I snarled. “Wren,” he whispered. “Remember it and take it to hell with you.”

“You think going to an MMA fight when you have a bunch of heat on you is a good idea?” Ender snarled. “Oh, no, you don’t, Mr. Pussy Palace,” I snapped. Juan leaned over to Locke. “Did she just say pussy palace?” “I haven’t fought this hard to stay alive to not truly live. I am going to that fight. Whether you come with me is your choice.” Ender glared at me. “Oh, I’m going with you. And I’m going to tear out the eyes of anyone who even looks at you twice.” Juan winced. “Note to self, wear shades to the fight.”

When the buzzing cut off this time, it didn’t start back up. “Done,” Brix rasped. My eyelids fluttered, light shining through in quick bursts. Brix held out a hand, and I took it. He helped me sit up, and I viewed my thigh. The most beautiful artwork I’d ever seen now graced the tan and marred flesh. It only took me a second to recognize my wolf—her dark-brown fur with the patch of white. Wrapped around her was a jet-black wolf. Brix. It was a protective pose, but he didn’t stand in front of her. He was a show of force at her back. Throughout the artwork were tiny silvery starbursts. “They’re the shards of feeling coming back,” Brix explained, pointing to one.

Ender’s gaze zeroed in on me, his brow furrowing. “She’s smiling. Why is she smiling so big?” Puck chuckled. “Because she just gave Siena, Dara, and Cressida swirlies in the bathroom.”

We hooted and hollered, and I didn’t think I’d ever felt happier than in that moment. It was more than winning. It was knowing everything Franco had put into the bout. Being a part of that journey with the men I loved. And getting to do this life together.

“He has her.” Clyde’s voice was barely audible, but I made out every word. “Who?” I demanded. Terror and panic striking deep. “Weird…name…Ba-Bastian.” My brothers and I froze. “Traded…my…life…for…hers,” Clyde wheezed. Agony and rage ripped through me. Wren had given herself over to save this man. I’d failed her. Hadn’t protected her like I’d vowed I always would. And now, she was with the monster of her nightmares.