Wolf Dancer (A New Dawn Novel Book 2) Read online

  Other Titles

  THE DEADWOOD HUNTER SERIES

  Lexia

  Whispers of Darkness

  Holocaust

  Betrayal (Novelette 3.5)

  THE NEW DAWN NOVELS

  Winter Wolf

  Wolf Dancer

  Wolf Sight (late 2016)

  WOODLAND CREEK SERIES

  The Beast Within

  Rachel M. Raithby

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Wolf Dancer

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright 2016 © Rachel M. Raithby

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

  For Emma.

  I’ve always wanted a sister, now that dream has come true.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Nico

  “Nico?” Katalina hissed.

  Nico looked around, spotting Katalina in a group of trees. What are you doing?

  “What?” he asked, joining her. She glared at his grin. Allowing his smile to fade, he asked her seriously, “What’s up?”

  “I need you to teach me how to use a knife.”

  He had no chance of keeping the smile from his face after that comment.

  “I’m serious,” she demanded, stomping her foot.

  “Oh, I can see, and I’m guessing Bass doesn’t agree and that’s why we are hiding.”

  “He says there’s no need.”

  “Maybe he’s right, Kat. You’re not a bad fighter in wolf form, and you’re dominant. Why do you need more?”

  “Because I can’t stay on pack land forever, Nic…please,” she begged.

  “Convince Bass and sure.”

  “Nico! He’s being all alpha, and I need this.” She took hold of his arm, stopping him from leaving.

  “What’s this really about, Kat?”

  “I’m his weakness.” She sighed, letting him go, and looking defeated. “I need to be able to protect myself. He can’t always be there.”

  “You’re the alpha’s mate. Someone will always protect you.”

  “Nico, I want to go to college someday. I need a life beyond this pack. I won’t live with a constant body guard. I’m more than just a shifter, Nico. I’d have thought, out of everybody, you’d have understood that.”

  “Aww, Kat.” Nico pressed the heel of his palms against his eyes. Why’d she have to use the real world against me? “All right.”

  Squealing, Katalina jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you, thank you.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Nico sighed, untangling himself from her grip. “If Bass finds out, you lied to me, and told me he’d approved.”

  “Oh, Nico, lying to your alpha. How very badass of you.” She laughed.

  “Pushing your luck, Kat.” Nico smiled. “Right, well, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to get out of this hiding spot before anyone finds us and gets the wrong idea.”

  “Going to go find, Olivia?”

  “Not a word, Kat… Not a word.”

  Katalina disappeared, her laughter taken by the wind. Nico shook his head, still unsure how someone so…human had managed to plant themselves so permanently into his friend’s heart.

  Chapter 1

  Nico

  “Damn it!” Nico muttered. Stopping in his tracks, he looked around, not recognizing his surroundings. How did I end up here? His feet had guided him on instinct, but after a quick glance at his watch, he regretted not paying more attention to the direction he’d walked. He was late, so late that Bass would strip the skin from his body.

  “Way to go, Alpha Adviser!” he grumbled to himself. Setting off again, his feet guided him to places unknown.

  Nico had already been late when he’d left school. He since regretted the smartass words he’d snapped in class. The words which had earned him detention. He may have made it back, even after detention but he just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He clenched his fists at the memory. Why did I muttered those words?

  Pausing again, his eyes scanning the empty streets lined with industrial buildings, broken down warehouses, and an office building here and there, Nico couldn’t understand what had drawn him here.

  A breeze whipped across his face, the cold biting into his skin. Nico gazed at the sky and brushed his hair from his face. Dark, angry clouds sat heavy in the distance and the air felt charged, promising a storm. His wolf shifted uneasily beneath his skin. He’d been irritable all day, and was probably the reason he’d lost control of his smart mouth.

  The irrational urge to hit something surged up inside of him. You are such an idiot, Nic! Bass gave you this chance and you’ve screwed it up.

  Alpha’s Adviser, the official title Bass — his best friend and alpha — had bestowed him. A title many thought he’d not earned. Most members of the pack were aware of their friendship, but Nico knew Bass hadn’t just given him the title because of their relationship. Bass wasn’t wired that way. He gave him the honor because he thought he could excel at the job — the job Bass made up.

  Nico had declined when he’d first been asked, telling Bass he’d gone crazy. It had been Katalina, Bass’s mate, who’d chased after him. He smiled, remembering the determined look in her eyes. It was the look she always wore when she planned to never let a subject go. She’d explained that it had been both of their idea’s, which really hadn’t made him feel more inclined to accept, but her next words had made him see that maybe they were right.

  There’s going to be a lot of change, Nico. We need someone who the pack trusts, to watch for unease, to hear their worries, to make them feel safe.

  He’d snapped at her, telling her that none of the enforcers truste
d him, but as always, Katalina had a comeback.

  You’re right, they don’t, but that is exactly why we need you. You’re our eyes and ears, Nico. You can walk unseen among the people of this pack, the members, which in the past have been seen as less. We need you. The pack needs you.

  He accepted the title, ignored the sneers and jibes from the enforcers, and the pure bloods, because Katalina was right; she’d been the catalyst to change. A new dawn had begun within the wolves’ world, and not everyone felt easy about it. The ordinary members of the pack were scared, uncertain. They needed him to reassure them they were safe, that their concerns and wishes would be listened too.

  Another gust of wind circled around him. His body froze and the wolf within him stood to attention.

  Liv?

  But the scent made no sense. Why would Olivia be out there?

  His feet carried him, quick, light, and silent. He scented the air, following the pull he felt for her.

  As Nico rounded the corner, he saw her. His heart sped up, his breath catching as he looked at the girl he’d loved for as long as he could remember. He couldn’t help the swell of disappointment as a human male ran across the street to greet her. They embraced, the smile on his face, wide and genuine. Nico couldn’t see Olivia’s face, but her stance told Nico she was happy to meet him.

  Who is this man?

  Just as Nico turned to leave, deciding his heart couldn’t stand watching her with another man for much longer, he caught scent of another. That scent he recognized…it meant trouble.

  He was running toward Olivia when Bowen stepped from the shadows. Olivia didn’t sense him, her attention solely on the human male. As Bowen’s hand rose up above the human, Olivia saw him, yet there was no time to react. Even her shifter speed couldn’t have saved the human.

  The human male dropped like a sack after Bowen’s gun connected with the back of his head. Olivia’s scream carried with the wind, aggravating Nico further.

  Before Olivia could escape, Bowen took hold of her, and threw her to the ground with a satisfied smile. Bowen, too busy laughing at Olivia as he kicked her curled-up form, never sensed Nico leaping for him. Nico’s impact echoed around them like thunder. Taking aim, he slammed his fist into Bowen’s face, and then took satisfaction from his grunt of pain.

  Bowen snarled at Nico, struggling against his hold. Hitting his face again, driven by his need to protect Olivia, Nico broke Bowen’s nose, but this only enraged Bowen further. Bowen was a large man, his height and width much larger than Nico’s. His savage nature and joy of fighting made him a hard man to beat. Bowen seemed to become stronger with every hit Nico made and as the wolf flashed into Bowen’s eyes, Nico realized he’d dived into a fight he wasn’t equipped to win.

  The sound of a gunshot rang in his ears as fire ripped through his shoulder. The pain stole any strength he had left, and as his vision began to fade, Olivia cried his name. He wanted to tell her he’d save her, that everything would be all right, but as a heavy numbness pressed against him, dragging him into unconsciousness, Nico realized his words wouldn’t have been true.

  Chapter 2

  Olivia

  Olivia curled up and sobbed. She wrapped her arms so tightly around her knees that she’d cut her circulation off. Tingles spread from her fingers up her arms, but she didn’t seem to notice. She stared at Nico’s pale face. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, collecting in the long lock of hair that had fallen forwards.

  Blood from the bullet wound in his shoulder, soaked his t-shirt, growing larger by the minute. Olivia trembled, her tears falling down her face and splashing onto her hands. She bit her lip, tasting the salt, wishing the broken, distraught sounds coming from her would stop.

  She’d never been dominant, and after a lifetime of having her father dictate every aspect of her life, she’d accepted she was never going to be a strong independent woman.

  Nico, why are you not healing?

  She whispered his name in her mind, not daring to speak. He was dying and it was her fault. No one knew where she was; her father thought she was at a study group. She’d been lying to him for months. Every time she did, she’d feel worse, but this one pleasure she couldn’t, wouldn’t, give up. Her father told her what to wear and what to study. She controlled nothing but this — a few afternoons in her life where she could truly be herself, be happy. And Nico would die because of it.

  The sound of glass smashing made Olivia’s eyes dart up and focus on the man who’d taken away her one piece of happiness. Bowen paced the far end of the warehouse he’d dragged her and Nico into. She hoped Mark was still alive. Bowen had left him where he’d ambushed them, as if a human wasn’t even worth kidnapping. Bowen’s anger was evident in every muscle of his body, his words harsh and full of the savage edge of his wolf.

  “Finally!” he snapped, pausing in his relentless pacing, “Your alpha, now!” he growled into the phone. “What do you mean he’s not there?”

  His snarl echoed off the walls making Olivia shrink back. Her stomach did a frightened flip as realization sunk in: help wasn’t coming.

  Nico coughed. Olivia scrambled toward him and gently touched his face, brushing the stray lock of blond hair from his forehead.

  “Nico?” she whispered, quickly glancing up to make sure Bowen was still busy shouting into the phone. “Nico? Are you all right? Can you hear me?” His eyes opened. “Nico?” she murmured, moving her face above his.

  His green eyes focused on her. The smallest of smiles crossed his lips before he grimaced, his hand gingerly touching his wound.

  “Ouch,” he moaned. “So much for my heroic rescue,” he mumbled, his eyes briefly closing.

  “You put up a pretty good fight. He’s twice the size of you.”

  Nico didn’t answer her, but mustered up a smile. He leaned up on one elbow, groaning as he moved. “Is there an exit wound?” he asked.

  Olivia moved behind him. The back of his t-shirt was dirty but free of blood. “No.”

  “Damn it. No wonder it’s not healing. Liv, I need you to get the bullet out.”

  “What? No I can’t!” She gasped.

  “Livy, please, I’ll bleed out before anyone comes for us. If it’s out, I’ll start healing.”

  Livy… Olivia hated when people shortened her name, yet from Nico’s lips, it sounded…right.

  “Okay,” she whispered, glancing up to check Bowen was still on the phone, pacing.

  Olivia ripped his shirt so the bullet hole was visible. Sucking in a breath, forcing herself to stay calm, she stared at the small wound she’d have to pull a bullet from. She was useless in stressful situations; her father always told her. She was a weak lamb, who could only take directions. Even her friend Tory had more backbone, and she was human. Olivia smiled, imagining Tory beside her, riled up, and ready to tackle the problem head on.

  “What’s so funny?” Nico asked her, his green emerald eyes boring into hers.

  “I was just thinking how my friend Tory would find the prospect of digging a bullet out of your shoulder thrilling.”

  “Tory…the human?”

  Olivia could guess what he was thinking, Why was precious, pure blooded Olivia friends with a filthy human? The thought sent a flash of anger through her veins; she dug her nails into his flesh.

  “Wh…arrh…” His words trailed off into a garbled moan. His skin visibly paled.

  Olivia’s fingers brushed metal as Bowen’s voice vibrated through her bones. She felt each tremor of his heavy steps as he thundered toward them, screaming for her to stop. For once, Olivia didn’t obey an instruction. Her finger curled under the bullet, pulling it free as Bowen threw her away.

  “Bitch,” he snarled, advancing on her.

  Olivia couldn’t speak for the fear closing off her airways. She scrambled back, her heart finding its way to her throat. The wolf flashed into Bowen’s eyes — savage, blood thirsty, and so desperate to rip her apart.

  She found air, yet the only sound from her lip
s was a terrified cry.

  “I’m going to enjoy killing you,” Bowen said with a twisted smile.

  Nico appeared. Barreling into Bowen, they sprawled to the floor.

  “Nico!” Olivia gasped, finding her way to her feet. “Stop it!” she screamed as Bowen hit Nico in the face, his blood splattering the dusty concrete floor. “You’ll kill him. Stop!” Yet he didn’t seem to hear her. Olivia’s mind raced, desperate for a solution. “He’s Sebastian’s best friend. Kill him and you’ll never get what you want.”

  Bowen paused. His face turned slowly toward Olivia, the smile on his face sickening. “Really? I knew they were close, but best friend?”

  “Yes, yes, the alpha, he —”

  “Liv…don’t,” Nico interrupted.

  Bowen turned back to Nico with a snarl.

  “Alpha’s adviser. He made him the Alpha’s adviser,” Olivia said in a rush.

  Bowen stood up, laughing, “Alpha’s adviser, that’s not even a thing.”

  “Sebastian made the position for him. That’s how much he cares for him. It would be a mistake to kill him,” Olivia said calmly, her eyes never leaving Bowen, despite her instinct screaming for her to look away.

  “I’m sure he doesn’t care,” Bowen mumbled, the look on his face saying he just wanted to spill blood.

  Desperate for Bowen to leave Nico, Olivia said things she didn’t mean. “Think about it, Bowen, he’s just a half blood. His father is nothing special. Why would Sebastian make up some silly position for him if he didn’t matter?”

  Bowen turned his attention from Nico to Olivia. A smug smile formed on his lips. “Well then, little miss, I have no use for you then, do I? I’ve been watching Dark Shadow for a while, looking for some way to reach Sebastian. You’re pureblood but not really significant, so I held off taking you in hopes I’d find someone of more worth, but it turns out you’re the only one stupid enough to be off pack land without protection. Well, apart from him.”

  Olivia backed away until she hit the wall. Bowen’s words taunting her. Not significant…Unworthy… Stupid… Her breathing grew heavy as he neared, and although she wished not to show Bowen how much he frightened her, it was an impossible task. “Please,” she whispered. Her eyes darted to Nico as he climbed to his feet, staggering toward them. His hand pressed against his side as he half bent over. Blood poured from the cut above his eye, but the look he held as he stumbled toward her was one of determination, of a need to save her.