Impulse (Lycan Wars Book 2)

Impulse

by

A. M. Ellis

Published by A. M. Ellis

https://amellisauthor.wordpress.com/

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. The reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, without the express written consent of the author constitutes a copyright violation.

IMPULSE

Copyright © 2015

ISBN 978-0-9903757-8-4

Cover Art Designed by For the Muse Designs

Edited by Clio Editing Services

Chapter One

Kidnapped

What was that pounding?

Kira Warner touched the tender spot on her forehead — a lump she’d received from a lycanthrope who had slammed her into an alley wall just a few days ago. Or was it a few days? How long had she been unconscious? And now the pain was moving from the front of her head to the back. Had she been hit again? Ugh, I wish I had healing powers. Being a seer is lame if I can’t see things like this coming!

She blinked a few times, the luminosity of the sun searing her sensitive eyes. Her vision adjusted to the intensity of the retracting beams of light, and she sucked in a breath at her surroundings. Where am I?

It wasn’t the sun that glowed, but the light of a vision. Another one. Grunts and gnashing teeth were loud in her ear, as were intense howls she could only assume belonged to lycans. The air was heavy with the stench of wet fur, rot, and other pungent smells she’d remember for the rest of her life. The walls were a thick grey brick, much like a tunnel of some sort. Was she underground? The Bana clan used a series of tunnels beneath the city to move undetected to their many safe houses.

A few feet in front of her, she recognized Jace Bana’s uncle, Roman, in lycan form, standing tall with raised arms and bloody teeth over—

Jace!

Fully shifted, he lay still at his uncle’s feet. Blood flowed from wounds that were all over him. If dogs could laugh, then Roman was hysterical. His chest rapidly rose and fell with heavy breathing and his grunts were akin to laughter from deep within. He wasn’t helping his wounded nephew. He was relishing in his demise. When had they fought? Was Jace dead? If she tried to reach him, would Roman attack her? The elder Bana hadn’t noticed she was so near. Could he not smell her? Jace always claimed her scent was overwhelmingly intoxicating. Roman’s long snout moved from side to side in the air just over Jace’s body. The only scent he concerned himself with was that of his nephew’s blood. His clawed hands lowered toward Jace.

He’s going to tear him apart!

She couldn’t stand it. She wouldn’t stand it. He was going to be the father of her children. It couldn’t end this way. Could the future change? Were her visions nothing more than shimmers in a mirage?

Jace wouldn’t want her to make her presence known. His chief aim was her safety; as a lycan who was subject to the power of imprinting on her, there wasn’t a thing he obsessed with more than her protection. But couldn’t she do the same for him? It wasn’t fair that she remained safe in the shadows while her guardian suffered the ultimate fate because of a facet of biology he couldn’t control. Kira impulsively stretched out her hand. Jace!

She blinked and was back in the car, hand stretched out in front of her. Her head still throbbed, but she resisted touching the knot again. She didn’t want to be sucked back into a vision where Jace was so still at Roman’s feet — where she wasn’t actually in the shadows and able to help her protector.

Who are you reaching for? Jace? He ain’t here, girl. It’s just us. Remember?

Kira moved her gaze from the man beside her to the large, snarling figure in the front passenger seat. Yes, she did remember him. He had put his hand on her in the alley before Jace had fought him off and rescued her. He was the reason her head was aching — or was it the vision? I remember, she whispered. She fingered the lump and wished for the soothing heat Jace’s fingers could provide. His touch was so gentle, and at times…demanding. In such a short time she had come to enjoy the sensations of their contact. I know he’s coming after me.

The man laughed. Of course you do. Your boyfriend interrupted us. You can blame him for that knot on your head.

I won’t.

If he hadn’t tried to be all chivalrous, we would’ve been more gentle.

I doubt it. Where am I? Where are you taking me?

My, you’re a curious one.

"You kidnapped me. I want to know what’s going on."

He shook his head. Um, not exactly, sweetheart. We didn’t kidnap you at all. You were offered to our clan fair and square.

Offered? The idea took her aback. A Bana stronghold was supposed to be a safe haven for her. It was the only reason why Jace had relented and took her there. His and Kipper’s condo had been trashed, she assumed, by the same lycans in this very car. There wasn’t any other place in the city she could hide and be better protected than with the Bana clan.

Mmm-hmm. Roman Bana himself authorized your transfer from his clan to ours.

Roman! The last thing she remembered was her growling stomach and being guided to the kitchen by a young man she didn’t quite recognize. He was tall and lanky, but he spoke with an air of confidence and assurance. The trip to the kitchen was a long one, and now she remembered she’d never made it there. That’s what I get for trusting a lycan! He can’t do that!

A feigned look of shock registered on his face. Oh, no? You were under his protection and he removed it. As the alpha of the Bana clan, he most certainly can.

Kira fell silent. If she hadn’t met Jace and Kipper, she’d believe all lycans were just mangy beasts bent on causing her and her father harm. She lowered her gaze from the darkly tinted windows to the rough, straw-like carpet underneath her feet. Her left foot was bare. She only had on one shoe. Had it been lost in her struggle to free herself from her kidnappers?

She closed her eyes and the scene replayed in her mind. Her guide wasn’t a trustworthy man. Loger…that was his name. He’d led her to a group of shifters who had proceeded to haul her out of the compound to a waiting car. She’d kicked and clawed against the strength of the men, but only managed to tire herself when her efforts failed. Then something hard had hit her head, yet again, and the world had gone dark.

Now you’re under Kata’s protection.

Kata! Her head snapped up. Like my father? she hissed.

Dr. Malcolm Warner has been very well treated. Besides, it was you we wanted.

"So you kidnapped my father to get to me?"

A shadow descended over his eyes. "That’s not how it happened at all. We told him we needed you. All he had to do was agree to let us meet with you and all of this could’ve been avoided."

You told him?

That’s right. And wouldn’t you know he refused? This could’ve all been avoided had he been more cooperative. The man paused, his gaze slanting upward as if in thought. Actually, we wanted your mother, but when we couldn’t find her, you were the next obvious choice.

Frank! the driver called out in a disapproving tone.

Frank. Her attacker’s name was Frank. A nice, common name for a filthy lycan. Frank’s lips slammed together and he twisted back around in his seat.

When we couldn’t find your mother…

Her mother? Her mother was dead! Didn’t they know that? Did you try the cemetery? Kira sneered.

What? Frank looked over his shoulder.

For my mother. Did you try looking for her in the cemetery? She’s been dead for years. Or didn’t you know that? Kira suppressed the painful memory of screams waking her from her sleep. Darkness had made it difficult to see, but her mother’s cries were deafening. An animal had stalked into their camp near the dig site, clawed its way into the tent she shared with her parents and…and that was all she could remember. A torn tent, her mother’s screams, and nothing else. Kira remembered crawling out of the hole left by the animal. Pieces of shredded tent material were all over the ground. No blood. She had yelled for her mother but her cries had returned empty. How could they have disappeared into the forest so quickly? Why wasn’t her mother screaming for help? Her father had rushed forward from somewhere else, Kira didn’t know, and the look of anguish in his eyes, and the sound of defeat as he called out her mother’s name, was a memory burned into Kira’s mind forever. It was a night her father never spoke of and one Kira could only return to in the deepest of dreams.

A slow grin spread Frank’s thin cheeks. Did your daddy tell you that lie?

Kira’s mouth hung open. Her body went cold. Her mother was alive?

****

You don’t need my daughter, Malcolm Warner insisted. He continued to rub the thick rope against his raw wrists, the blood from his ragged flesh easing the tightness of his bonds.

On the contrary, Doctor, I do, Kata responded from his seat across the dimly lit room.

Malcolm shifted his weight to one side as his opposite leg and buttocks were numb again. The dirt from beneath him formed a small dust cloud with every movement. He sucked in a breath as the gritty