"Wolf Warrior - 01 - The Lost Wolf Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Monet Rae)

Leena met her husband's gaze. Her hands trembled and reached to soothe his face at the reaction she knew was yet to come.

* * * *

Jarod watched with guarded fear as tears streamed down his wife's face, cleaving a clean line in the soot and dirt covering her skin. He sensed her response and his entire body tensed. Misery and shock shadowed his mate's eyes.

"I cannot sense our son. I cannot find him. I am afraid he has fallen. I have searched for hours. I fear it is hopeless.Ф Her voice sounded small amongst the roar of nearby battle cries.

The panic Jarod felt matched what he saw on his wife's face, and when his forehead fell forward against hers, he dared to pray. He craved his own death over the likelihood of losing his only son to the slaughter King Edward I had wrought upon them. But lose him they most assuredly had, if she was unable to sense the boy.

Raising his head toward the heavens, Jarod let out one long cry of anguish for his son. He knew his yell would be the only sign of grieving he could afford this day, for he had another child to save. Attempting to regain his calm and not succumb to his terror, Jarod lowered his head, then squared his shoulders with resolve. He gently placed his hand on his wife's stomach, on the growing life within her womb. He knew what had to be done.

"We must depart, or much more will be lost. I will leave Karma to search. I'll return when you are to safety."

Jarod could hear the fighting drawing closer to them. His head swung around to scan, causing his black hair to fall into his eyes. He batted it away in frustration.

"Leena, we must leave!Ф The finality in Jarod's voice made his wife cry out in anguish. She nodded and attempted to rise, only to sink back down with obvious fatigue.

Seeing her difficulty, he stood, and stooping down, swept his beautiful, exhausted wife into his arms. He had lost one son to the battle this day. He was determined he would not lose his wife and unborn child. Turning his head, he surveyed the massacre of his people and their wolf protectors. Karma, his own wolf, waited faithfully by his side. Jarod, with a quick jerk of his head and a silent command, alerted the huge gray silver-eyed wolf.

Stay, Karma. Search for my boy.

The wolf backed up, acknowledging his master's order with a single bark before he turned and raced off through the still-raging battle. Jarod realized Karma would search for what he might never find and in doing so perhaps lose his life in the course. His heart ached with the possibility that he was might be sending his devoted protector to his death.

This needless battle had raged beyond the skills of the Solarian Wolf Warriors, there were over a hundred healthy English soldiers to each warriorЧwarriors that were strong, yet small in number. John de Reincolt, their clan leader, had called a retreat to save the families, specifically the children. The last of the mightiest Warriors were holding the line, albeit, not for long.

Jarod moved easily forward, the weight of his wife slight. He took the first steps out of the chaos, but toward what? Toward a new life with future peace? He prayed for it to be so.

As he and his wife escaped, he vowed to return. He would never stop searching for his son.

а

Chapter One

30 years later Scotland 1311 AD

Roan stared at the blood oozing from the wound where an English sword had cut his arm. As he and his friend, Ian, backed toward the bottom of the rocky cliffs, Roan knew they were trapped like a couple of wolves caught in a snare. In front of them stood an array of furious English soldiers.

Well fed, well rested, well armedЧthey advanced.

Both Roan and Ian were ill-equipped and barely had time to draw their weapons before they were attacked. Roan chastised himself for leaving his armor at the castle, not wanting to be weighed down with the heavy gear during this mission. That problem seemed smallЧcompared to what they were now facing.

As the sweat from his brow dripped into his eyes, Roan swiped at his forehead in aggravation. He growled at the situation he and Ian had gotten themselves into. Both he and Ian were seasoned warriors. They had fought this battle savagely. But now they were outnumbered, and in this situation even the most skilled fighter would be cut down.

"Throw down your weapons, you Scottish dogs, or we will kill you where you stand."

The troop backed them against the solid wall of rock. Roan did a quick assessment of their situation. Both he and Ian were panting, their chests rising and falling rapidly in their visible fatigue. Blood trickled from various cuts on both their bodies as a result of the battle that had already ended the lives of five of the English soldiers. Unfortunately, an additional ten healthy soldiers remained. This was bad.

"Ahh, Roan, I have a hard time believinТ that we'd be cut down like this after all the fightinТ we've done and survived.Ф Ian's Irish brogue was filled with irritation.