Authors: M. R. Merrick
Rayna sniffled and lifted her head. “If your idea of cheering me up is telling me what a jerk your dad was, then you’re horrible at this.”
“At least now you know where I get it from.” I smirked. Rayna let out a laugh between sniffles. “There’s that smile.”
Rayna wiped the tears off her face and rested her cheek on her knees, watching me behind a gloss of tears. “You probably think I'm such a girl. Always crying about my mom, now my dad…”
“You
are
a girl.” I smiled.
“I can’t believe he’s alive. I’ve been here, alone, and he’s been around the whole time?”
I nodded, but I didn’t know what to say. Rayna was right; I was horrible at this. “Maybe he was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Scared you’d hate him. Scared you wouldn’t want to be part of his life. It could be anything. We men are fickle creatures.”
“You guys are something.”
We both laughed, but as it faded, the silence started to move back over us, so I asked the obvious. “Are you going to be okay?”
Rayna shrugged. “I don’t want to go to the retreat now.”
“You have to go. I’m going to be there with you, so you don’t have to worry about it, okay?”
“It just makes things more complicated.”
“More complicated? Since when are things ever uncomplicated?”
Rayna smiled and drew back another sniffle. She wiped the last tear that clung to her jawbone and shook her head. “I don’t know…”
“I could try and get in touch with Willy if you want. Maybe he could help? He’s only been with the shifters for a week, but it’s a week more than either of us has.”
Rayna nodded.
“I’ll see if I can get a hold of him tomorrow. Can I get you anything else?”
“I’m just going to sleep. The shift back at the club…you know, it takes a lot out of me.”
“I know.” I stood up and made my way to the door.
“Thanks, Chase.”
“Of course, that’s what I’m here for.”
“No…I mean it. For everything.”
I smiled. “I know.”
I pulled the door shut behind me and made my way back downstairs. Marcus sat on the leather couch, and although Tiki had tried to put all the white stuffing back, some still hung out of the gashes in the cushions.
Marcus stood up as soon as I came down the stairs. “How is she?”
“She’s okay, or she will be. She’s going to try and get some sleep.”
Marcus nodded. “Thank you…”
“You okay?” I asked.
Marcus looked behind me at the empty stairwell and sighed. “Lately she hasn’t been responding to me the way she used to…the two of you have developed a real bond though.”
“We still fight, but sometimes things just click and we get each other.”
“Well, I appreciate it.” Marcus tried for a smile.
“She’ll come around. It’s just a tough time for her right now.”
Marcus nodded. “I’m going to try and get some sleep too. It’s…been a long night. Have a good sleep, son.” Marcus squeezed my shoulder as he walked past.
I wanted to correct him, but I stopped myself. I wasn’t his son, but I knew he didn’t mean it like that and I didn't think he needed to hear that right now. Not after everything that had happened. I’d only known Marcus a few months, but in the last few days, I’d seen more emotions from him than ever before. Something was wrong. I just didn’t know what.
“You sure this is the right place?” Rayna asked.
“I have no idea. You know how Willy is with directions.”
“What did he sound like when you called?”
“Okay, I guess. There was so much noise I could hardly hear what he was saying.”
“There he is.” Rayna pointed out my window. “Who’s with him?”
Willy pushed through the bushes and a group of four guys walked around him. They took turns pushing him and giving him shots in the arm and back, but when they started throwing rocks, I’d seen enough.
I jumped out of the driver’s seat and down into the ditch on the edge of the road. Tall grass rose up past my knees that led to the thick trees of the forest.
“Enough, you g–, guys. Come on, st–, stop it,” Willy said.
“What the hell’s your problem?” I asked, staring at one of the boys.
Willy lowered his eyes and shook his head. “It’s fine, Chase.”
“Who’s this? Your guard dog?” One boy laughed and shoved Willy.
Willy tried to balance himself, but another boy stuck out his foot, sending Willy in a nosedive for the ground. I reached forward with a hunter’s grace and caught the back of Willy’s shirt.
“Ooh,” one of them said.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but lay off,” I snapped. I pulled Willy to his feet and guided him behind me. The boys’ laughter seized and seriousness fell over each of them.
“Chase, don’t,” Willy whispered.
“You got a problem?” The largest boy stepped forward.
“Yeah, I don’t like seeing my friends get pushed around.”
The boy was inches taller than me, but I didn’t let his size intimidate me. I could feel his beast beneath the surface and I followed suit, pulling my magic up.
The boy’s eyes lit up and he clenched his jaw. “I recognize you. You were with the hunters that killed our pack!” His eyes shifted into bright red wolf eyes and a growl rumbled in his throat. His hand shifted and a clawed paw swiped towards my face. I batted it away and shoved both hands into his chest. Power surged and a blast of blue flame burst between us, throwing him across the field.
The other boys reacted and growls filled the area, quickly silenced by a commanding voice.
“Jason, get back to camp.”
I didn’t know where it came from and I didn’t care; I had only one focus in that moment.
“Now!” The voice boomed and it made me shudder.
“You’re lucky.” The boy huffed, crawling to his feet, two handprints burned into his shirt.
Jax stood at the edge of the forest, eyeing the boys as they passed him. He crossed his arms and a calm expression covered his face. He was a few steps behind a man I didn’t recognize, whose light blue eyes caught my attention.
His thick build was barely clothed by a dark green muscle shirt. He reeked of power and commanded attention with each step. Dark stubble covered his scalp, but his face was as smooth as any blade could get it.
“You got a problem with my boys?” His voice was gruff and he enunciated each word perfectly.
“Not yet.”
I could feel his beast and I should’ve been nervous, but as Willy hung his head and stared at the ground, my own anger rose.
“Well, it seems they have a problem with you. Were some of our pack’s lives taken by your hand?” He spat the words at me through gritted teeth.
“We were caught in the middle of a fight we didn’t belong in. Your wolves attacked us, not the other way around.
I don’t discriminate; I’ll kill whatever I have to, to keep my people safe.”
“
Your
people?
“That’s right.”
“So what about
my
people? What should I do about the ones I lost?”
“Did they attack on your order?”
“Not that it matters, but no.”
“Then it seems to me
they’re
your problem. Not me.”
The man’s gaze locked with mine and his eyes searched my face. Jax stood at attention behind him, both eyebrows raised as I spoke back to the man.
“So you’re saying it’s
my
fault?”
“I’m saying, had
my
people attacked and
your
wolves were trapped in the middle, you’d expect your men to protect themselves.”
The man’s intense gaze flickered over my features before a smile crossed his lips and he laughed a deep, rough laugh.
“I like your attitude, boy.” He slapped me on the shoulder and I stumbled, nearly knocked to the ground by his strength. “You want me to bite you? You’d fit right in around here. Wouldn’t he, Jax?”
“Yes sir, I believe he would.”
“I’d rather you didn’t,” I said awkwardly.
“I’m Radek Lawson, Alpha to the Shadowpack.” He extended a large, scarred hand.
Radek’s handshake was solid, his muscles flexing as he gripped my hand. His skin was rough and calloused, cracks and scars blemishing it completely.
Jax stood strong behind him, but after taking in a few deep breaths through his nose, I felt his beast come to life. Radek reacted and stepped back. Both their faces changed in an instant and were ready to fight.
“What is it?”
Radek put his hand up to shush me and sniffed the air. “Werecats.” His human eyes morphed into wolf eyes. He sniffed towards me and made a disgusted face. “You!” He growled.
Rayna had stepped out of the Jeep and stood above us at the side of the road. Jax and Radek growled at the sight of her.
“Rayna, back inside!” I ordered, and I was surprised when she listened.
“That’s your cat?”
“It is.”
“The werecats are sworn enemies of the Shadowpack. How dare you bring one of them here! My pup isn’t going anywhere with that filth.”
Radek reached around me for Willy and I caught his arm in my hand. His wolf eyes exploded with anger and looked down at my hand. “You have one second to release me.”
I released my grip as Willy tried to step around me and I pushed him back behind me. “Get in the car.”
“Chase, I can’t. If he–”
“Get. In. The. Car.”
Willy’s skin paled and he backed up, confusion painting his face. “Now!”
Willy turned and ran up the hill behind me. He pulled himself up into the Jeep and shut the door.
“Don’t you dare challenge my authority, boy. I won’t have my pack associate with such disgusting creatures. That pup is learning to control his beast. It’s not safe for him to be with other shifters, especially
that
.”
“Willy’s free to make his own decisions,” I said.
“We’ve been at war with the werecats for a decade. You think you can waltz in here, upset my pack, and take one of my pups to go hang with them?”
“Your wars are your own, but those two have been friends since before he was one of you. That’s not going to change.”
“He’s one of us now so he falls under my command. That’s all that matters. Trust me when I say you don’t want us as an enemy.”
“Do you know how often I hear that threat? It means nothing to me,” I snapped, my eyes locked with his. “I have no problem with you, or your pack, but Willy comes first to me. I won’t let him be treated like this. Not by you or your mutts.”
Radek growled and his beast spilled out, long fangs dropping flawlessly from his gums.
“Around here, respect is earned. That pathetic excuse for a wolf hasn’t earned shit since he’s been here. He’ll be an Omega before he knows it.”
“He has my respect. That’s enough to ensure that nobody touches him.”
“Careful, son, talk like that will get you in a lot of trouble around here.”
“I’m not your son. And this isn’t a discussion.”
Jax shifted his weight from one foot to the other, eyes flicking between Radek and me. Even trying to hold his neutral expression, I could see he was nervous.
I locked eyes with the half-wolf before me and the intensity rose. His beast roared beneath the surface and pushed against me, but I brought my power up and pressed back.
“You’re a hunter?” Radek’s eyes lit up. “What are you doing with Underworlders? We’re your enemy.”
“I decide who my enemies are. And those two aren’t.”
The intensity rose and I expected a fight, but Radek pulled back his beast and the power faded.
“Fine, but he’ll be back and when he comes, I’ll be waiting.”
“And it better be to welcome him, because if anything happens to him,
I’ll
be back.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“It’s a promise.”
“You would risk your life for that pup? What is he to you?”
“He’s family.”
Radek stared at me and his wolf eyes faded, leaving the crystal blue orbs to replace them. “Don’t be fooled, hunter; the rules are the rules. When he gets back to camp, things will be the same and he will earn his place.”
“As long as nobody hurts him, then we don’t have a problem.”
“Associating with a werecat won’t make things easier on him; I can tell you that much.” Radek smirked and moved back towards the forest.
Jax looked surprised as Radek turned away. He nodded to me before following behind him and pushing back through the trees.
Releasing the breath I held, a nervous chill ran through me. There were dozens of wolf eyes peering out from the forest as I climbed the ditch. The image made me shudder and I pulled myself up into the Jeep.