by Petra Landon
“Why futile?” Sienna asked, joining in the game of attempting to have a conversation amidst a plane full of Shifters without giving any of the specifics away.
“Hmm, how do I put this delicately” Hawk scrunched up his face exaggeratedly to ponder the problem. “A little help, Tas?” he requested.
Tasia shot another glance at the couple. The Alpha leant back against his seat, seemingly at ease but not saying much while Elisabetta doggedly carried on a conversation. She couldn’t hear their words but since the rest of the Shifters could, she guessed that it was not a private conversation.
“Umm … the big one scares all the girls away?” she ventured uneasily with an eye on the broad-shouldered back topped with tawny hair. Was it her imagination or did the back stiffen up imperceptively at her comment.
“No” Hawk shook his head decisively. “Some girls can be very determined.”
“Believes in celibacy perhaps?” Sienna inquired naughtily, her blue eyes full of laughter.
“God, no!” Hawk shot back in exaggerated affront. “No, that’s never been his problem” he added with a glint in his dark eyes that couldn’t be more obvious.
“How do I say this” he pondered aloud as both wizards leaned in, curious to hear what he had to say. “Believes very strongly in the old adage of never playing where he works. Tends to f--k up the chain of command.”
Tasia noted that the Alpha had turned around to shoot a suspicious look at the three of them with their heads cozily together.
“Aah” Sienna remarked sagely. “Never mixes business with pleasure.”
“Yup” Hawk answered, more circumspect now for he too had taken note of that sharp gold-eyed glance at them.
“Ever?” Sienna pushed.
“Never” he reiterated firmly.
“Hmm” Sienna seemed lost in thoughts. “Do Shifters believe in marriage?” she asked curiously as they leaned back against their seats, done with their dangerous game.
“Some do” Hawk answered easily.
“But isn’t it a …” she searched around for the right words.
“Human institution” Hawk supplied helpfully.
“Yes, exactly.”
“We do have a human side to us. That part is fully capable of falling in love and believing in the institution of marriage.”
“What about the beast?”
“The beast is also capable of finding a mate it desires.”
His answer seemed to astonish, nay shock, the two ladies. To other Chosen, the ways of Shifters had always been mystical and shrouded in mystery. Only one aspect of their lives was clear and unambiguous. That two warring counterparts existed within a Shifter was common knowledge in the Chosen world; as was the fact that any Shifter whose human part was overrun by the beast was put to death, immediately and without exceptions. But if the two counterparts had such distinctive tastes and potentially differing desires, then how did they survive in one body? The two wizards stared mutely at Hawk, perplexed by the inherent contradictions of such a life.
“Is it possible for human and beast to want to be with different people?” Tasia inquired slowly, her curiosity and puzzlement clear.
“It’s been known to happen” Hawk acknowledged.
“What happens in such cases?” a rapt Sienna wanted to know.
“A compromise is reached between human and beast. The Shifter works it out. There’s no other way.”
Hawk flashed his attractive smile at the look on the faces of the two wizards flanking him.
“Remember, it’s rare enough for a Shifter to meet a mate of any kind. Mostly, a Shifter counts himself lucky if any part of him finds someone … anyone. Eternity can be a curse as much as a blessing” he added soberly.
“But every now and then, a Shifter gets very lucky when both his beast and human sides agree on their soulmate” Hawk said with a wry smile. “My folks were one of the lucky ones.”
“Why, Hawk! That’s beautiful” Sienna exclaimed. “How did your parents meet?”
“They were Pack mates. My father led a were-pack and she was a … “ he paused to search for the right words to describe the woman he’d never met and yet knew so much about.
“She was a Navajo princess” Luis interjected softly, looming over the three of them. “She was also a powerful Shifter in her own right and her father’s Second in his were-pack.”
“You knew her, Luis?”
“I knew them both. Hawk’s father, Stefano Manotti, was my Were-Alpha. He was a good man” he reiterated, his eyes meeting Hawk’s.
“The best” Hawk agreed quietly.
“She must’ve been a beautiful woman” Sienna commented, her eyes on Hawk’s luminous dark good looks.
“She was” Luis assented softly as Hawk’s handsome face seemed lost in thoughts of the past. “She had her pick of suitors but she chose Stefano.”
“My Dad was rather special himself” Hawk interjected lightly. “All this beauty and charm before you is not inherited from just from one parent. I have qualities from my Dad too” he flashed his charming grin a tad smugly.
“No doubt, Hawk” Sienna responded with a droll laugh. “Beauty can be a blessing as much as a curse” she added wickedly, much to Hawk’s amusement.
Luis’s eyes moved to meet Tasia’s. He contemplated her silently for a moment before he spoke again.
“I was not in command of my were-pack when Hawk and Sara petitioned to join the Pack” he explained, his words seemingly directed at Tasia though it had the effect of also drawing Sienna and Hawk’s attention. “Jerome Carter was my Were-Alpha then. Carter made his vehement opposition to the petition clear. The other Were-Alphas were silent and the Alpha Protector seemed disinterested in the matter. I had no power to change the outcome until the new Alpha Protector took command of the Pack. It was he who pushed the Council to accept them both in his Pack. A few months later, I was able to take command of my were-pack. Any child of Stefano Manotti would have been welcome in my were-pack” the last was directed at Hawk who was staring at him with a strange expression on his face.
There was a short silence. Attuned to the silent undercurrents in the conversation regarding Shifter politics beyond her ken, Sienna wisely stayed silent. Somewhat confused about why Luis had felt the need to explain himself to her, Tasia reminded herself that a chat with Hawk at the earliest opportunity had now gained priority.
“Sara and I know that we may call on the wolves when in need” Hawk declared in a curiously formal tone, his words directed at Luis Beltran.
So, Luis Beltran leads the wolf pack. And Hawk has inherited his wolf form from his father.
Duncan stood up leisurely to put his book aside before making his unhurried way to Hawk. Tasia could see the darting curious glances directed at them from the other Shifters.
Luis acknowledged Hawk’s words gracefully with a surprisingly regal nod. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again in his beautiful accent.
“I hope you know that you may also count on your grandfather.”
Hawk’s face went stony in response, the transformation so sudden and drastic that it was hard to disguise.
“He’s an old man, Hawk” Luis persisted gently. “And he regrets the mistake he made a long time ago.”
Hawk stayed stubbornly silent though he continued to meet Luis’s gaze. Just as Duncan strode up to join them, a silky voice called out provocatively
“Still having mommy issues, stripling! Aren’t you getting a little too old for it?” it was Elisabetta’s smooth tones that had dispatched the taunt.
The tall figure of Luis and the substantial one of Duncan blocked Tasia’s vision, so she couldn’t see the female Shifter but Luis looked mortified by the words. His attempt to talk to Hawk had been an impulsive one, borne of three days spent in the younger Shifter’s company and a fortuitous opportunity to add his two cents to the old saga. He had not anticipated that Elisabetta would highjack his attempt to clear the air, to jab at Hawk. Hawk went rigid, the mus
cles of his arms flexing almost uncontrollably while his expression hardened.
“Watch your mouth, Elisabetta” Hawk said softly, the menace in his voice clear.
This was the predator Tasia had glimpsed that first night when she’d found him waiting outside her apartment after the ambush by the rogue Shifters. That guy had been missing in action since then. Or perhaps, she realized perspicaciously, Hawk had simply gotten better at hiding it from her. He had guessed that it made Tasia uncomfortable to be reminded of the rawness of Shifter emotions especially now that she was forced to cohabit with them. Sienna’s blue eyes clashed with Tasia’s for a moment, the shock in them clear to Tasia.
Yeah, you’re getting an early taste of what it’s like to hang out with a Pack.
“You’re scaring the wizards, stripling” Elisabetta warned with her tinkling laugh. “Try and be a more gracious host, will you. Or they’ll call us savages like the rest of the Chosen do.”
This proved too much for Sienna. She opened her mouth to retort before shooting a quick glance at Jason who’d strolled over to station himself beside Duncan. Jason shook his head discreetly at her, clearly warning her to stay out of the brewing confrontation. Sienna subsided immediately although she couldn’t help but direct a troubled glance at Hawk. Tasia glanced at Duncan hopefully. She knew enough about Pack dynamics now to understand that he was probably the only person who could diffuse the situation given that the Alpha seemed content to let the two Shifters battle it out without his interference. Duncan remained silent but Tasia thought that she detected a watchful look in his eyes even though his general mien and body language remained unchanged. All the times when Hawk had consoled her, advised her, cajoled her, encouraged her, shored her up in times of anxiety and generally been a friend to her flashed through Tasia. Hawk had never given up on her since that night she’d come to his assistance. It was time to return the favor. And it wasn’t as if jumping into the fray on Hawk’s side risked any consequences for her. If Duncan was to be believed, her position in the Pack was a little different from the Shifters. He had encouraged her to state her opinion on any matter without worrying about Pack politics. Thanks to the Alpha, she seemed to enjoy some immunity from Shifter tradition and politicking. No better time to test the bounds of this privilege, Tasia decided.
“Hawk” she said clearly, with an urgency that drew his furious gaze to her. “All fathers have issues with men their daughters bring home to marry. No one is ever good enough for their little girls.”
“So I hear” she added virtuously as Hawk gawked at her for a moment before he burst out laughing.
“You would know, I guess, Tasia” he gasped out amidst his laughter. Owen O’Brien chuckled softly and one of the other Shifters she couldn’t see joined in with a low-voiced comment of his own.
Hawk’s light-hearted laughter seemed to ratchet down the tension in the room. Tasia noted the approval in the look that Sienna directed at her. Even Duncan’s eyes had a twinkle in them when he glanced at her. Luis too seemed to have recovered his composure.
Elisabetta strolled up to them in her designer outfit for a final jab at Hawk. “Over your little tantrum, stripling?” she inquired with a gleam in her eyes.
“Mind your own business, Elisabetta” Hawk responded mildly, his good humor restored. Tasia’s timely intervention had helped him to recover his equanimity. He could now deal with Elisabetta’s barbs with less temper and more equability.
“The witchling seems to be weaving her magic over you, stripling” Elisabetta was not done yet. But she had finally overplayed her hand with this comment.
Although more in control of himself than before, Hawk bristled noticeably while the other Shifters seemed to come to attention as if a newer and subtler battle had been commenced. Not quite sure who had been the intended target of Elisabetta’s last comment, Tasia stayed prudently silent. She sensed Sienna’s searching glance but chose not to meet it. She’d done her part, now it was up to Hawk to negotiate his way. He understood Pack dynamics far better than her and Tasia had no intention of inadvertently making things more difficult for him.
“Her name is Tasia Armstrong” a voice announced clearly, no trace of inflexion in the tone.
There was a sudden straightening of spines from the Shifters before they turned as one to look at the man who had spoken. The Alpha strolled over to join them, a path opening up magically for him. He came to a stand between Duncan and Elisabetta.
“You will use it” he directed coldly at Elisabetta. His voice held an unmistakable command; and the gold eyes, a hard gleam that Elisabetta could not misread.
Elisabetta allowed herself to meet the gold eyes for just an instant before her gaze fell before him in an unequivocal gesture of capitulation.
“Yes, Alpha” she murmured silkily, not significantly abashed by the rebuke.
Hawk’s body relaxed beside Tasia.
Now that we’ve established the pecking order in the room for the day, I guess we can move on to other matters.
Some Shifters seemed a tad surprised by their Alpha’s intervention while others took it in their stride. Perhaps the Alpha Protector did not usually involve himself in petty squabbles between various members of his Pack, Tasia realized. She also noted that Duncan had the most unusual of reactions. He seemed to be fighting a smile.
“You’re not alone, Hawk. My mother’s family had quite the reaction when she brought my Da home” Sienna remarked brightly, determined to move on now that the inexplicable crisis seemed to have passed.
“Bad?” Hawk inquired.
“Lord, yes!” Sienna rolled her eyes exaggeratedly in response, much to Hawk’s amusement.
“Hawk’s grandfather was more than happy to have Stefano as a son-in-law” Luis remarked quietly.
“It’s what came after that he disagreed with strongly” Hawk’s voice was sober as he shot a lightning glance at the other Shifter.
“That he was proven right in the end just added to his anguish” Duncan spoke up, his words cryptic for those who were not aware of the old history.
So Atsá had approved of Hawk’s Dad early on but changed his mind later.
“Chosen women with power and their mates have always had to make that choice, Hawk” Duncan’s wise words fell softly into the silence. “It doesn’t make it any easier on those that love them. Ask Raoul.”
Hawk’s surprised gaze cut to the Alpha who stood impassively beside Duncan.
“My mother did not survive my birth” he acknowledged briefly.
Neither did mine. I guess we have that in common with Hawk.
None of the Shifters in the room evinced much surprise at this revelation. They were Chosen and they knew that some things would never change. This came with the territory and they had learnt to live with it, for there was no other way.
“We have that in common, Alph” Hawk said soberly, his dark eyes brimming with understanding as they met his Alpha’s gaze.
“Yes, among other things” Raoul murmured. The gold eyes seared Tasia for just an instant before moving on to Hawk.
Tasia’s eyes grew wider in shock.
What! What the hell does that mean?
She watched the Alpha in bewildered incomprehension of that cryptic statement but he didn’t glance at her again. None of the others seemed to have caught that enigmatic glance. Everyone’s attention was focused on Duncan who spoke again, this time with more emphasis.
“Cut him some slack, Hawk” he advised the younger Shifter.
“I’ve an update from Faoladh. It’s a strange bit of news but his team working on this has verified it” the Alpha announced. “I didn’t want Sienna here because it might be better if this came from Jason or even Tasia.”
Tasia straightened in her seat. This sounded mysterious. She had not failed to note Sienna’s absence when she had made her way here at the Alpha’s summons. Sienna had been allocated a room at the Lair a few doors down from Tasia. It had been a day since Chicago and Sienna seemed to be set
tling in well. Tasia was glad at the prospect of congenial company. She anticipated long days locked in at the Lair. At least, until the threat of the Guardian the Alpha suspected of hunting her had been neutralized.
They were back in the familiar Pack Room in San Francisco. There was a sense of homecoming when she glanced around the vast room. It gave Tasia a vague sense of unease like being pulled deeper into an alien world. The sensation of slowly losing control over her own destiny was a feeling that sat like a dead weight on her chest.
“News about Lady Bethesda?” Jason inquired.
“Yes” the Alpha assented. “Faoladh’s team has been able to trace her whereabouts from New Delhi to a small village in northern India at the foothills of the Himalayas. Lady Bethesda went by the name of Matilda Redmayne there – that was the name on the passport she used to travel to India. There’s evidence of a marriage six months after she made her way to a village called Nagalok. As far as we can tell, the wedding was to a local tribal chieftain of some influence.”
“Marriage” Jason gasped aloud, flabbergasted by the news. Why the hell would Lady Bethesda give up one family to fly half way across the world to start another! There were easier ways to hide from the Chosen looking for her.
“Apparently so. Many foreign tourists in India head to Dharamshala where the Dalai Lama lives in exile. She joined a group to Dharamshala but once there, made separate arrangements to head to this remote village. They tell me that it is not an easy journey for anyone to make, least of all a stranger who has just landed in the country.”
“She knew what she was doing” Jason remarked perceptively. “This too had been planned like every step she took in Chicago.”
“Plausibly” Raoul did not disagree. “Six months after she made her way there, she caught the eye of the local chieftain. There are rumors of children though that has not yet been confirmed. It’s a remote part of India and hard for anyone to make discreet inquiries, if you catch my drift.”
Jason nodded. Very few people and everyone knew each other. Gossip and inquiries about any of the locals travelled fast. Just like any small town anywhere in the world. Some things remained the same, no matter which corner of the world you travelled to.
