Once Bitten (An Anya Maynard Novel)

Chapter Twenty Four

“Release them wolf,” the man in front ordered, “you are not just in your actions!”

“Kai,” Brad growled, “this is my land now! You have no jurisdiction here-”

“No,” Kai shouted and again the earth trembled, “you have breeched our treaty and as such have lost your rights to these mountains.”

I wondered which part it was that broke the deal, the patricide maybe?

“I have done no such thing,” Brad said as stood from the ground, pulling me up along with him. “I am Alpha now, and as Alpha I can punish those of my pack as I see fit.”

This time when the earth shook no one spoke, but Kai disappeared, reappearing just inches from us before I could fully knit my brows together. The rest of the army followed suit, vanishing and rematerializing just behind him, with just a step…

He was their Alpha, the…tree people’s leader, the Dryad’s.

And it wasn’t hard to understand why.

There was nothing extraordinary to his features, just an ordinary man with ordinary brown hair and ordinary brown eyes. The body beneath the layers of skins and furs he wore didn’t look as if it would pose much of a threat to anyone. But it was his sprit that was daunting, the sheer power that radiated from him made my wolf want to bow before him. Not because she was afraid or because she thought she needed to, but because she wanted too, out of respect.

And looking around to the various other creatures on their knees or with their heads bowed, I wasn’t the only one.

“And what were their crimes?” Kai asked in a deathly low voice that had my own ribs vibrating with its depth.

“Nothing,” I shouted quickly and Kai dropped his gaze to mine, “he att-”

I wasn’t surprised when Brad wrapped his hand over my mouth to quiet me, because I had expected him to do it the moment Kai and the rest of the Dryads had appeared. But Kai on the other hand didn’t seem to be taking it well.

“Let her speak,” Kai said quietly, but firmly.

“No,” Brad sneered back to him with narrowed eyes, “she doesn’t have the right.”

“Remember who you are speaking to wolf,” Kai said as he leaned in, his body growing just enough so he could look down upon Brad. “We do not treat our sisters, daughters, and mothers with the disrespect you treat your women. Our women are our greatest treasure and as men we are honored to be graced by the words they speak. They are free to speak their minds whenever they wish, and I expect you to allow the same of your females in my presence.”

I couldn’t see his face, but I knew Brad wasn’t intimidated. Being pressed against him I could feel his steady heartbeat, “You think you know all Kai, but it is not because she is female that she has no right, but because she is a half breed. An unlawful creature.”

“And my mate,” Connor spoke to Kai as he came to stand behind his brother…I could almost reach him…

Kai raised an eyebrow to Brad, “this again?”

“Again,” Brad laughed, “no. No this time she dies because of what she is, not because of what my brother has done. As I said before, this,” Brad jerked my head, “this is justice, not punishment.”

“I have many children who are not wholly of my kind’s blood,” Kai said in contempt, “would you see them all dead as well?”

As if to challenge the statement Steve came to stand beside Kai…beside his father…