Howls of the Lost | Now Published!

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Raven sat in the cave, muttering to herself. She just couldn't understand how Xander lived there. The place was dingy, not to mention nasty. She never would have thought a vampire of Xander's standing would sink this low. He was so powerful, why didn't he just go live somewhere else? What was so fascinating to him about this little town? No matter how much she tried, she couldn't make herself comprehend his train of thought at all. Even though the piece of land he so coveted had once been the vampires, it belonged to the shifters now. They had won it fair and square in the previous war.

She shook her head. It was pointless.

"It's my home, Raven," his irritated voice called. She jumped, not expecting Xander to show up so soon, let alone be listening to her thoughts while he was at it. Placing a hand over her non-beating heart, she took a deep breath that wasn't necessary to calm herself.

"Don't sneak up on me like that," she snapped, glaring at him.

He smirked, casually leaning against the wall of the cave as he studied her. "I beg to differ," he said, cocking his head to the side. "How can I sneak up on you if you're the one that's here uninvited?" Raven just continued to glare at him. She would never understand why she had fallen in love with such a creep.

"I can see when I'm not welcome somewhere. I guess I'll just take my information and leave," she said icily as she jumped off the cot.

When she made to move past him, Xander grabbed her arm to stop her. "What information?" he asked, silver eyes boring into her own.

"Oh. So I'm wanted now?" she taunted, battering her eyelashes in faux innocence.

"What information, Raven?" he seethed, his grip on her arm tightening.

He was beginning to hurt her and she winced, jerking her arm from his grasp. "Ow! Alright, no need to get snappy," she muttered, massaging the sore spot on her arm. His foot began to tap against the floor impatiently as he waited. "Your little she-wolf isn't so much of a loner," she told him.

His eyes sparked in interest and he stood up a little straighter. "What about Tori?"

"She's a Pierce," Raven spat. His eyes widened considerably. "The runaway Pierce to be precise. And guess what? Because of your shortsighted attack on the young wolves in Logan's pack, they're all here."

"What do you mean?" Xander questioned, eyebrows furrowing together. If she meant what he thought she did . . .

"I mean we're dead in the water!" Raven exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "The entire Pierce pack is here, I watched them come in last night. Your little puppy called home and the whole damn family came running."

Xander whirled around and punched the wall, causing a small fissure to run along the length of it. "Damnit!" he yelled, his temper getting the best of him. "We have to start training the newborns immediately. The longer they have to train, the harder the fight is going to be for us," he said, beginning to pace back and forth.

"You're not listening to me," she grumbled, slumping back down against the cot. "It's hopeless. You know as well as I do that the Pierce pack is one of the strongest around. You've seen the way Tori fights. She's skilled and she hasn't even been with them! Once their training starts she's only going to grow in strength, as will the rest of them. It's over. Let's just dispose of the newborns and get out of here."

"There's no way I'm giving up after already coming this far," he snarled. "I will reclaim this territory. And I'll do it with or without you."

"And the little dog that comes with it," Raven muttered under her breath.