Leader of the Pack (40 page)

As she watched, the women disappeared and were replaced by others. These people weren’t weres. They were at least allowed to remain in their clothes. One of them stood up, looked directly at her and reached for her. The people in her visions had never interacted with her before. Aislinn stared at the man with amazed uncertainty. He was tall and lean. He had icy blue eyes, a pale complexion, and brown hair. “Who are you,” she asked.

* * * *

Cullen couldn’t handle it any longer. When the tears began to pour from Aislinn’s blank eyes and roll in streams down her face, he reached out and touched her cheek. “Aislinn?” he said softly, but insistently. Her eyes swirled amber and the trembling grew worse.
Aislinn,
he insisted, into her mind.

Aislinn blinked. Tears forced from her eyes, and she reached for Cullen. She wrapped her arms around him and held on as if he was going to vanish, and her breath caught in her throat.

The lycans in the room watched in confused silence, as Cullen held her tightly. It was a rare show, seeing as Cullen usually took Aislinn into private to interact with her, aside from that afternoon in the library.

“It’s alright. I’ve got you,” he said gently, stroking her hair.

When Aislinn looked up her eyes focused on Gaven, and the tears came back. She shook her head, trying to decide if she should tell him. Finally, she pushed Cullen away and stood up, walking to Gaven. “I’m so sorry,” she whimpered. “When you get her back,” Aislinn couldn’t continue.

Gaven seemed to know what she was saying. He had been feeling it in the back of his mind for some time. “How do you know?”

“I just saw it,” she said softly. “But you’ll get her back. They’re all coming back,” she added, as she looked up at Hagan.

Cullen saw the relief on the men’s faces, even mixed with the pain. He stood up and went to Aislinn. “That’s enough. I think we need to get going.”

Chapter 17

Some people make things happen, some watch things happen, while others wonder what has happened.
-Gaelic Proverb

The group loaded silently into the large black SUV, and Cullen began driving back to Madadh-Allaidh Saobhaidh. Gaven and Hagan were afraid to speak. They didn’t know what to say to Cullen after everything that had happened. They looked at each other with hope, as they felt some of the muffled fear in the back of their minds ebb away. Something was happening with their mates that was making them less frightened. The men didn’t know what it could be. Their bonds weren’t strong enough to project thoughts over this kind of distance. But there was hope now. The two men sat impatiently in the back seat, as the SUV sped down the highway.

Sarah seethed palpably, and cast annoyed glares at Cullen that he could feel on the back of his head as he drove. She had about a million questions she wanted answered, however she wasn’t able to ask Cullen about his mating with Aislinn while Gaven and Hagan were present.

The only positive thing Cullen could get, from having all the upset and conflict before leaving, was that he didn’t feel harassed by his wolf to pull over and play with Aislinn on the way back to the den. Now that he knew Aislinn was alright he had gone back to dwelling on the things she had said to him. He still didn’t know what to do about the traitors.

“I think we have another problem,” Aislinn said, trying to ignore the upset radiating from him that she knew she had helped to cause.

“Just what I need,” Cullen growled. “What now?”

“When I was sleeping in your room, during your shower, I had a premonition, and then another one when I touched Gaven. There was more to that one than just the stuff it told me about the captured people.”

“Okay,” he said shortly. “Again I say what now?”

“You don’t have to be so snippy. I’m sorry,” she snapped back. “But I’m not taking back what I said. I’m just sorry you’re being so upset by it.”

Cullen growled and everyone felt the SUV speed up. “What did you see?” he said impatiently.

“I don’t know exactly yet. I’m you’ll be pissed though, if three days from now I figure it out and tell you, but have to admit that it started today.” Aislinn was staring out the window.

Sarah sat forward at that point and snapped at both of them. “The two of you need to stop blowing so hot and cold. Get over it. Aislinn if you have something to say just say it.”

Aislinn glared at Sarah over her shoulder but continued anyway. “I saw the Tairneach manor in both visions. The first time, I ended up looking at a book with Gaelic writing in it. The second time, I was in a kind of dungeon. First, it was full of your missing people, then they all disappeared, and a bunch of new people appeared. They weren’t weres though. I don’t know who they were. One of them tried to talk to me. That’s weird because my visions have never interacted with me before.”

Aislinn felt Cullen’s anger ease, as his brain began to work on what she said. “So what do you think it means,” he asked, in a relatively decent tone.

“Like I said, I don’t know. The fates must think that the book was important. Wasn’t Rafe stealing books and burning buildings? I don’t know what he was stealing the books for. As far as the people go...” Aislinn thought about it all. “I know that the first vision already happened, and I was too late. I don’t know what that means. The second vision hasn’t happened yet. The man seemed to be reaching for me, like he wanted me to help him.”

Sarah stared out the front window of the SUV. “Well, Rafe was stealing the books from druids. He was after the stone circle, and he was out to turn himself into the biggest baddest thing he could mix together. The books could be maps, could be recipe books, could be something he was planning to do next that we don’t know about, or could be nothing. Any way you look at it Rafe is dead, so he can’t be using the books. But if they’re at Tairneach manor, then Jenna or someone else there must have them.”

Cullen let his brain process everything Sarah said before responding. “So even if she has a bunch of books, and she turns the basement into a prison for some people who don’t deserve to be in prison, it’s not like that has anything to do with us. We’re going to get our own back, but I’m sorry Aislinn, I’m not going to start a war over books or some unknown prisoners. I can let the feds know that Jenna’s up to something, but that’s it.”

Aislinn sighed. “I understand what you’re saying. Except, I’ve yet to have a premonition that didn’t apply to me in some way. Even when I had the vision at the Taigh-O
è
sda, I knew that I needed to tell you, but it was still Rafe, and I was drawn into it. In the end, whatever these premonitions mean, it’s going to catch up to me. They always do.”

Cullen’s brow furrowed. “Well, we’ll deal with it when it happens. For now, we have enough going on.”

Aislinn knew she was being dismissed.
I can tell that this feeling sharing shit isn’t going to be all fun.

Cullen growled back angrily.

Leaning back in her seat, Aislinn watched out the window. Between the blurring scenery they were passing and the silence in the car, she fell asleep, trying to direct her dream back to the premonition from before, hoping to get another look at that book. As she slept, she felt more conscious in some ways than, she felt when she was awake. It was an odd sensation. She had never tried to direct her premonitions before. They had always just happened. When Aislinn was a child her grandmother always discouraged exploring the talent. Then there was college, and Aislinn believed she had more important things to learn, especially since the visions were never significant until Rafe came along. Then there was Rafe. He made her frightened of what she could do, and all her energy was spent trying to avoid it or unsuccessfully block him. It wasn’t until Cullen came along, and she felt safe, that Aislinn began to think about using it to her own advantage. She felt like he gave her strength somehow.

Aislinn found herself drifting. There was something odd pulling at her. She felt as though she wanted to go back to the reservation, but she wasn’t sure why. The harder she tried to bring back the book, the farther away it seemed to get. She was able to summon fleeting images and feelings of fear and acceptance that she knew didn’t belong to her. There was also a floating feeling of evil, angry, determination. While it reminded her of Rafe, there was something different in it. Rafe had been scary crazy. This feeling was more cold and lost. It wanted something and Aislinn knew that it would never find what it wanted.

No matter how hard she tried to bring the premonition, throughout all of the strange feelings and flashing indistinguishable pictures, she wasn’t quite able to summon up a vision like the ones that just happened. Aislinn felt like she was barely missing something, and if she just tried hard enough to focus she could make it all come clear.

* * * *

Cullen looked over at Aislinn several times. He was getting the strangest sensations from her. He knew that she was concentrating very hard on something. There was curiosity and sometimes a little fear. Every time he felt the fear start, he reached out and touched her hand or leg. She would stir in her sleep a bit and then settle, and the fear would fade away. He just felt like she needed him.

By the time they pulled into the private garage attached to the Madadh-Allaidh Saobhaidh, Cullen’s stomach was growling as was his wolf. The few times he touched her, combined with Aislinn’s scent in the enclosed space of the car was starting to get to his wolf, no matter how annoyed his human half might have been.

As the others got out of the car and started slamming doors, Aislinn was shaken awake. Gaven and Hagan were still holding their tongues, but they could feel their mates nearby, and they were doing their best to be patient.

Aislinn’s mind was exhausted. It took her a moment to come to herself. She saw Cullen slam his door as he got out of the car, and she sighed.
How long is he going to stay angry?
She turned to get out of the car and found her door already opening for her. Cullen was standing there waiting, with his hand out to her. The look on his face was a combination of still unhappy and getting over it.

She smiled at him wanly and took his hand, as she slid from the car. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair, taking in her scent.
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as being annoyed with the one person who always seems to make you feel better,
he thought at her.

She smiled and cuddled against him.
I am sorry. Maybe next time I won’t be quite as direct.

Then you wouldn’t be you
, he smiled back as they parted.
I’d rather have honesty.

When they started kissing, a concerned, “Ahem,” caught their attention.

The kiss ended reluctantly. Cullen let his head fall back onto his shoulders, and his neck cracked before he looked to see who had interrupted. The impression was obvious annoyance. Cullen knew that he was going to have to spend some time alone with Aislinn and he needed to get something to eat or he’d just kill everyone and be done with it.

“I am sorry to interrupt, General,” came the voice.

Cullen finally turned to see who it was and released Aislinn from his grip. Tad was watching with a mix of uncertain fear and determination. He was Liam’s middle son, and had been left behind with Liam to help with keeping a handle on things at the den. He was smaller than most men, but took after his father in his intelligence. He had brown hair and dark brown eyes, like the rest of the Arnauk. Like all the younger men, he tended to dress like a punk, in his baggy pants, oversized t-shirts and backward ball caps. He was a good kid though.

Tad lowered his eyes and bowed his head submissively, before looking up again. Cullen growled possessively, when Tad smiled as his eyes fell on Aislinn. She touched Cullen’s arm. She felt him force his wolf under control, as Tad’s eyes went wide. “What do you need Tad?” Cullen asked in a strained voice.

“Uh, Dad, sent me to tell you that everyone’s in the holding area in the basement, and you need to come down as soon as possible.” He was shifting uncomfortably. Tad was smart enough to see the danger he was in, even if he didn’t know why exactly.

Cullen cleared his voice and took a deep breath. “Tell Liam that there’s no way I can deal with that immediately. I’m going for dinner, some sleep, and then I’ll take care of the mess in the basement. If Liam is interested, I’d say the next hour I’ll be in the Taigh-O
è
sda. You can take Gaven and Hagan down to join the others. I don’t think they’ll give you any trouble.” Cullen indicated the two cowed men who were standing with Sarah and waiting.

Tad nodded, though he still looked confused. “There is one thing you should probably know. About an hour ago a caravan arrived from the Tairneach, and our missing people were returned.”

Gaven and Hagan suddenly looked relieved and excited. Cullen asked the question they were restraining themselves from shouting out. “Where are they all?”

Tad looked over at the two men sympathetically. He hadn’t taken account of all the women who had been returned, but he had seen the injuries on a number of them. “They’re all downstairs with the others. There really wasn’t any keeping them apart.”

Cullen nodded. “Then you better get going. Sarah are you coming with us? Dinner?”

Sarah walked over to Cullen and Aislinn, allowing Tad to take responsibility for Gaven and Hagan. “As long as you promise to keep the touchy feely stuff to a minimum.”