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Lena was hesitant to let Lizzie hold our little boy, but I’m glad she allowed it. I want to see Lena’s wolf. My own is dying to get out and run with her. Grace and Lizzie sit next to each other in the grass cooing at the little boy.
I squat in front of Addy to get down to her level. “Does your wolf want to come out?”
“Woof! Woof!” Addy and Reece start barking and chasing each other. I’m not sure if they understood, but they’ll get the picture when I shift. I smile at my mate. “Let’s go for a run.” She nods reluctantly and looks back at Lizzie and Grace.
“We’ll stay with the kids,” Grace says, and I swear Lizzie must say something too because she shares a look with Lena. It’s a moment that lasts a bit too long with a flash of emotion from Lena that’s quickly eased. I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy that Lizzie’s bonded with her, Lena can hear her, and I can’t. Swallowing thickly, I focus on the gratitude that she has someone to ease her worries. Finally, as I calm the growing tide of emotion, Lena stands, heads to the edge of the woods for privacy with me and slips off her dress.
I’m mesmerized as she stretches catlike and smoothly transitions into her wolf. Shades of tan and white meld together in her fur and call to me to rub against it. Before I’m even aware, my wolf takes over. His desperation outweighs my consciousness. Perhaps aided by the pull of the moon coming. I shift and run to be by her side. Feeling the sweet stretch of release. My wolf rubs his side against hers and playfully nuzzles into her neck. Her wolf responds with caution. Lowering herself to the ground. I pace around her, waiting for her to rise. She doesn’t and my wolf doesn’t understand; he whimpers, nudging her.
At the sound of a small gasp, I look up to see Reece and Addy staring wide-eyed and stiff as boards watching us. I don’t understand their reaction, but my wolf smells their fear. For a moment, I question allowing my wolf to stay seen. I know I’m a rather large wolf and that could be intimidating, but still their fear is unwarranted. My wolf lays panting on the ground with his tongue out. Looking between our mate and the younglings. He barks once wanting someone to interact with him without fear. But all the bark does is jolt the children. Our mate responds by rolling to her side and exposing her belly.
At the sight my blood runs cold. She’s afraid. Her wolf is terrified and so are the children. And I have no idea why. I urge my wolf to crawl to her, so he doesn’t upset her, and lick her neck. She stills at the contact before relaxing. He nuzzles into her again and then rises and jumps playfully over her and nudges her to play. He wants to run with his mate. The pain that radiates through me, from him, is chilling. As much as Lena is my mate, her wolf is his and something’s happened. He doesn’t understand and he whimpers again. I don’t blame him. I want to see her run as well. She’s strong and healthy. She’s stunning, but her fear detracts from the beauty.
She slowly rises, keeping her head lowered and my wolf nudges under her chin and pounces playfully at her. She finally barks back. From the corner of my eye I see the children quietly approaching. This morning I gently prodded for Lena to tell me little bits and pieces, but I never asked about her wolf. I never asked about the children’s wolves either. My heart beats slowly, realizing perhaps I should have. I can smell their fear, but I’m happy they have the courage to approach. Is it possible they’ve never seen someone shift? I can’t imagine that’s the case. I turn to them and little Reece steps back and trips over his own feet, landing on his butt. My wolf chortles and slowly paces to him before lying beside him so he can pet me.
At first, the children still with fear. But my wolf is patient. Content to be around children. Around family. The thought makes my heart clench. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my brothers. And now that I know they have a mate, I long to see them even more. After a moment Reece and Addy pet my wolf and my mate lays beside me. My wolf wants to run, but he’s content just lying lazily so long as our mate and the children are happy. Addy squeals with a mix of delight and disgust as my wolf licks her face, leaving a trail of slobber behind. Reece claps his little hands and yells, “Mo! Mo!” More. His happiness fuels my wolf to scoot forward and give him a slobbery kiss. He shrieks with joy as he pushes me away.
It’s an odd feeling, allowing my wolf to take over and not having complete control, not being able to communicate with Lena and only watching. I wish nothing more than for her to hear me. Baby? I attempt but she doesn’t respond, and her wolf doesn’t seem to notice either.
A noise to my left distracts me. In the distance, Vince and Devin talk on the steps of the house. As I catch Devin’s eyes, he motions for me to join them. My wolf is reluctant, but I push him to move, and I give my mate one more nuzzle before rising and galloping toward the steps. Without breaking my stride, I shift. I’m left feeling uncertain and have far too many questions as I obey my Alpha and leave Lena and the children in the field.
“Alpha?” Devin looks pissed. He’s usually fairly intense and has a look about him that warns people to stay away, but over the years I’ve learned the subtle hints of his emotions. And right now, he’s truly pissed. I can’t help but to worry that it has something to do with Lena until he speaks.
“Fucking vampires.” I look to Vince expecting him to flinch from Devin’s response. I’m shocked that he doesn’t, considering his mate is a vampire.
“What happened?” I ask.
Vince only huffs, sitting with his legs wider on the steps of the porch. Both of them wear blue jeans, with Devin wearing a collared shirt and Vince wearing a white tee that stretches across his broad shoulders. “Veronica’s queen is getting pushback from other covens. A faction is growing and they want her support.”
“Support for what?” I join them, sitting on the steps and watching my mate prance around while the children chase her. Even with the pleasing sight, nerves rattle their way through me.
“They’re revolting against the Authority. More than just the vampires.”
“Everyone’s fed up with the corruption,” Vince speaks with distaste. “The threats and laws about blood and feeding…” Vince cracks his neck and looks back at the house. No doubt thinking of his mate.
Devin gets to the point. “An internal war has started among the vampires. Veronica’s coven wants protection.”
“It should be easy enough since they’re close.” I answer knowing I’ll need more information but fairly certain it won’t be much of a challenge. Vince doesn’t look convinced, and a chill runs down my spine. “What kind of war are we talking about?”
“A cold one currently. Only spoken threats. Each is counting their numbers and gathering alliances. The division is growing.” Vince gives Devin a hard look that gets my attention.
“Jude, there’s something you should know.” My body stills at Devin’s tone. I don’t fucking like it.
“Your father’s pack is going against the Authority. They’ve made their loyalty to the vampires known.”
My blood turns to ice. That’s a stupid decision to make. My father’s a fool. Even knowing he’d planned to have my brothers and me killed, I hurt for him and his pack. His decision to rise against the Authority will cost them. The words from the woman in Alec’s office ring in my head. That I should go see my brothers. My hand runs along my jaw as I let my emotions settle.
“If there’s anyone at all in your old pack that you want spared, now is the time to reach out to them. We will offer them protection.” I nod, acknowledging my Alpha. I remember nearly all of my old pack. The only one I hold ill will toward is my father. My jaw clenches as my wolf growls with anger. My mate’s eyes fly to mine as she stills in shock and lowers herself. I silently scold my wolf for startling her and rise to go to her.
“Any news of my brothers?” I have to ask before I go to her, hating that we aren’t bonded so she can’t hear me. It would kill me to know that they’re siding against the Authority.
“Not that we’ve heard.” Vince answers as Veronica walks to him. Her long black dress blows easily in the afternoon wind. I nod to her as she approaches, and she does the same to me.
I tell them both, “I’ll reach out to my brothers and decide what to do.”
The moment Devin nods with approval, I make my way back to my mate. In my heart, I already know I’ll have to go to them. I have to offer my old pack protection against my father’s unwise decision. But the thought of facing him chills me to the core.
It’s unsettling. So much of the day is unsettling, although there’s so much to be thankful for.
