Her quietness must have scared her mate because he asked, “Regrets?” while gently using his fingers to circle her belly button.
Dani truly thought about it for all of a second and said the only thing she could, “None.”
Chapter 21
It took several more days to get to Eclectic. They were still moving slowly for Others but faster than humans. He’d noticed Danica’s hesitation the closer they got to her home. He had asked her about it, but she either changed the subject or when he pushed harder said she didn’t want to talk about it right then. He thought maybe it had to do with the fact her wolf had yet to emerge fully. She likened it to her wolf hiding. He didn’t like that, it brought another worry onto his shoulders. Their wolves needed to accept each other as well, and until that happened, the mating bond would be stretched and not as tight as it should be. With the battle that was sure to come, they needed to be strong, invincible even.
The battle he fought every second now, Bane’s call, was getting louder. During the last day of travel, the only way Atticus resisted the pull was to keep his hands on Dani in some way. Sage wasn’t faring as well, he saw the strain her in face and body. For the last hour, she had allowed Matt to carry her, a true sign it was even worse than Atticus had suspected.
They had barely stepped one foot onto the dirt road that led to the both the Valentin Pack and the McClane coven when Lucas, Kaylee, and an older woman he assumed was Ruth McClane appeared on the road as if out of thin air. Atticus could sense the rest of the pack mulling around on the outskirts, but they weren’t showing themselves, allowing their Alpha and the witches to intercept them.
Lucas, as he had expected, held up his hand and stopped their forward movement, allowing several feet of space to separate the groups. Atticus watched as he examined first Dani, then his brother, making sure they were unharmed. Atticus didn’t resent it, he would have done the same in Lucas’ position. Danica might be his mate, but she had once been a valued member of the Valentin pack, and Matt was the Alpha’s blood brother. What he did resent were the words that came out of his mouth.
“Danica, come to me,” Lucas demanded in his Alpha voice.
Danica tensed, even leaned forward like she was going to obey him, but Atticus’ grip on her hand tightened, and she seemed to come back to herself. She looked up at him with her bright hazel eyes and smiled, going to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek softly, murmuring, “It’s okay, I’m yours now.”
She greeted the three but didn’t comment further. Lucas didn’t like the disobedience, but Kaylee murmured something in the other Alpha’s ear, and he turned his attention to Matt.
“Brother.” Atticus had expected Matt to fall into line and go to Lucas, but he too stayed on the opposite side, just slightly inclining his head in acknowledgment of his brother.
“Interesting,” the witch Atticus assumed was Ruth McClane said, looking at all four of them. “Matthias, bring your burden to my home, I have placed wards that will help her plight.”
Matt didn’t move at first, and Atticus wasn’t sure what he was waiting for. Sage was lethargic and limp in his arms, and Atticus was becoming more concerned by the second. Looking to Kaylee, he noticed she looked pained, and the dark purple circles under her eyes showed she hadn’t been sleeping well. She wasn’t the same woman he had noticed on the night of her Blue Moon Priestess Ritual. Even Lucas’s face showed strain, but they were putting up a united front. Their strength, however, was an illusion, just as his was.
He had no idea if it would work, but he wanted to try.
“Matt, please take Sage to the Priestess’ home. My wish is for her to be better as I am sure it is yours.” Matt hefted Sage up further on his chest and started to go toward the witch, but looked back to him.
“I will keep her safe, this I vow on my life.”
It wasn’t he who answered but Danica, “We know you will, Matt, watch over her until we can.”
“Always.”
Once Matt, Sage, and Ruth were gone, leaving the four of them standing on the road, Lucas and Atticus were surprisingly quiet.
“Dani,” Kaylee said, “the pack has been waiting for your return, they have prepared a feast and your old room. Why don’t we leave these two to talk while I get you settled? I’m sure after your travels, a full belly, warm shower, and soft bed sound really good about now.”
Atticus did the only thing he could think to do, turning to Danica.
“My little wolf, your family has waited a long time for your return. Why don’t you do as Kaylee has said, and I will meet up with you later.” He even offered a strained smile to encourage her. He had no desire for his mate to be out of his sight or touch, but this confrontation needed to happen, and he didn’t want Dani to witness it if it came to blows. He didn’t want her to have to choose between the family she had always known and him. The bond was growing, but a flicker of doubt was still in his head she would pick them over him, and it hurt more then he cared to admit even to himself.
She nodded and kissed him softly. It should have been enough, but Atticus couldn’t let her go with such a chaste kiss. He tangled his hand into her long hair, pulling her closer into the cradle of his body. Danica’s sigh at his bold action allowed him to delve his tongue into the depth of her mouth. There was no fight for dominance, his little wolf submitting beautifully to his demanding kiss. When her arms came around his neck and pulled him closer, asking silently for more, he was at peace and smiled. Ending the kiss, he looked at his dazed little wolf. She was a sight to behold—lips swollen from his kiss, cheeks flushed with arousal, eyes only slightly opened.
“Go now, my mate,” Atticus said quietly enough for only her to hear. She didn’t obey as he had expected, instead resting her hand on his chest and whispered a declaration of her own.
“I don’t want to, Atticus, I fear the outcome. I couldn’t bear to live another day or take another breath without you.” Atticus pulled her closer, turning his body away from Lucas and Kaylee.
“It will be okay.”
Instead of looking up, she just shook her head. Atticus pulled back a little, allowing a little space to form between them. Taking his finger, he pushed slightly on her chin, so she was looking at him.
“This needs to happen, Danica. I have done harm to your pack by stealing you away, I will make amends.” She started to protest, but Atticus just shook his head. “No, little wolf, you need to trust I am doing the right thing for both of us.”
“I trust you,” Danica pleaded, “it’s just that…”
“Tell me, Danica, do you not trust your former Alpha? Do you believe Lucas to be as cruel and unyielding as your previous Alpha?”
“No,” she protested, “it isn’t that, I just…”
“Trust me, it will be okay.” Not giving her the option, Atticus turned once again, releasing Danica and pushing her slightly, encouraging her to move toward Kaylee. She went quietly but kept looking back over her shoulder until they were finally out of sight. Lucas allowed the quiet to continue for several more moments.
“The two of you have bonded, mated?”
Atticus straighten his stance, mirroring Lucas’—feet planted shoulder-width apart, weight, resting at the balls of his feet, arms loose at his side—a fighting stance.
“My mating to Danica is off limits even to you, brother. That is unless you would like to share stories from your own mating,” Atticus sneered. He knew Lucas would never share such intimate details of his mate with him. What he wanted to get across to the other man was neither would he. What he and Dani had was private, sacred, and special—no one would intrude on that.
“Fair enough, we have other things of more importance to discuss anyway. Like how my wife has been expending all her energy to keep Bane from destroying your friend. Know now I will not allow it to happen further. If Ruth’s wards do not work, I will set the both of you aside to protect my mate and pack.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, but yet you have allowed us to co
me into your territory, knowing the coven is close on our heels. I must ask what your intentions are.”
“I don’t think you would like the answer to that question, Atticus Masters. But as with most things, my intentions have changed. Danica’s actions just now made that happen. As far as I’m concerned, you and the Vampire could leave these sacred grounds to fend for yourselves, but I am a loyal and fair man if anything. I will grant you sanctuary.”
“FUCK YOU! I don’t wish for sanctuary, I came here for an alliance, an ally to fight against a common enemy. I see I was wrong in believing you would be just as determined to fight Bane. You are just as arrogant as your brother, you feel you’re safe here, that he has no power. Or is it you think you are more powerful than I am? That you have somehow best our creator? I assure you, you're not.”
“Bane is not knocking on my door as he is yours.”
“Bane is your creator, Lucas. You’re delusional if you think he doesn’t still hold a tendril of your soul. The witches have helped, hell even the wards of these lands,” Atticus said, spreading out his arms. "But know this—if he defeats me, he will come after you, it is that simple. Our master has been planning this for a long time, preparing for you to come heel. He doesn’t like to lose control of his playthings.”
“I was never his plaything, I never agreed to the bond.”
“Damn,” Atticus said shaking his head, “you can’t be that naïve. You didn’t have to, he created your hybrid and Vampire sides. You took his blood into your veins, don’t tell me there aren’t times you feel him lurking around the edges of your mind because I would call you a liar.
“You are more of a prize to him than I ever was. If you can’t see the benefit in the two of us working together against him, I will take my mate and leave.”
“You are as naïve as you just called me if you think to take Dani from these lands again. She will have a choice, I won’t allow her to bind her life to a monster who would harm her without thought.”
Atticus stepped closer, the two Alphas now nose to nose.
“Danica has made her choice, and it’s me! You would have to be blind not to see that. Would you allow ANYONE to mess with your bond to Kaylee? Would you consider letting the McClanes take her away? I think not.”
“If it kept her safe, I would do ANYTHING because I love her, she is what is most important. Can you say the same about Dani, or is she merely a possession you wish to covet? A toy to play with and discard when the shine has worn off? Or possibly, a way to fix your mistakes?”
At his last statement, Atticus flinched. It had started that way with Danica, but things had changed. He did love her, would lay his life down for her, but he wasn’t going to justify his love to this man. Only Danica deserved those words.
“You are a selfish man, Atticus, power is all you crave.”
Atticus had enough, his beast coming to the surface faster than ever before. He felt the pain of his bones snapping and reshaping, tasted the blood in his mouth as the teeth did the same. The change usually took minutes, but it happened in seconds, the power of the area snapping around them like a bolt of lightning.
The fight was brutal and animalistic, just like their beasts demanded, but they were well matched, each recovering quickly and learning the other’s moves. Lucas had drawn first blood, but Atticus would draw the last. The beasts were in full bloodlust, the man and wolf gone from them, only red, raw rage coursing through them.
Chapter 22
“ENOUGH!” A loud booming voice froze them both where they stood, two Alpha’s bleeding from various wounds but still willing and wanting to finish the fight. Atticus tried to move to do just that but found his body frozen to the ground. The only thing he could move was his head. He looked around but saw nothing but Lucas. There was no person. What the fuck was going on?
“CHANGE!” Another demand and his body, as well as Lucas’, left them stripped of their beast. Lucas’s eyes were as wide as he assumed were his own. Who on earth had this type of power over them?
A beautiful woman walked onto the dirt road, clad in a flowing gown, her skin so milky white, it appeared translucent, dark hair trailing down her body, dragging against the road like a train on a dress, little flowers woven in between the strands. Her face held a serenity he had never seen before, but in her eyes, wisdom he couldn’t even begin to understand.
“To answer your question, my son, not who on earth but the very earth of which you speak. You may call me Mother or if you prefer, Gaia, the choice is yours.”
Atticus’ first thought was, Oh fuck. Really, what the hell else could it be? When Gaia waved her hand and a chair grew out of the ground, he just stared in disbelief. This had to be a trick—on a dirt road, after fighting with Lucas, talking to Mother Freaking Nature.
After she sat primly on the chair and fixed her gown, she regarded him with her head slightly to the side.
“Both of your minds are chaotic, trying to figure this out, and I’m sorry to say, I just don’t have time enough to let you do that on your own.” With another wave of her dainty hand, all of Atticus’ thoughts left his mind, his full attention now on the woman.
“We have little time to discuss matters. Even now, your mates have sensed your distress and my magic. I expect them to be here momentarily so I will be quick. This is the only time I will come to you. We will not meet again so heed my words and take them to heart. A great war is coming. I have chosen three Alphas and three Alpha mates to lead the charge. But the Alphas are not the ones who will win this war. You are merely the protectors of the real warriors.”
“What do you mean we are merely the protectors?” Lucas gritted through his teeth the question Atticus had been thinking. “Alpha’s by nature lead the charge.”
“Each of my three chosen Alphas has been given a mate with exceptional powers granted by myself. They are the warriors.”
“NO!” Atticus tried to yell, but it came out more like a whimper.
“Yes, my son, the women will fight this battle with you at their sides, lending them and giving them strength when they need it. I understand it will be hard for you and your brothers, but it is what needs to happen if Bane is to be defeated.”
Atticus struggled to talk, and Gaia granted him the ability with a simple nod of her head.
“I don’t understand. This fight is ours, he is our creator, the women have nothing to do with it.”
“That is where you are wrong. I am your creator. Have you not wondered why there are only two of you? Two hybrids?”
Atticus had wondered, but the transformation was deadly and painful, the aftermath just as excruciating. He had found nothing in Bane’s tomes to explain it.
“I have chosen you and Lucas, along with one other who will be changed by his own mate into a hybrid.”
Atticus’ first thought was Matt, and although Gaia didn’t acknowledge him out loud, she did slightly incline her head again, and he knew he was right, but before he could say anything out loud, she spoke again.
“The third pair’s journey has just begun and will happen much like both of yours when the fates decide. Neither of you will interfere with what is to come, this I will not allow, regardless of your good intentions,” she warned, looking first to him and then to Lucas, “on either side. What is destined will come to fruition.”
Gaia got up and walked over to Lucas—well, not walked exactly, more like floated two inches above the ground. She kissed his forehead, and he was released from his paralyzed state.
“You will go to your mate and Danica Masters. Tell them all is well, and I will be speaking to them soon. I have already made my daughter aware of my intentions.”
Lucas took a step away but stopped. “I don’t like this. I will always fight for my mate and my pack even against him. Anything that threatens them,” he said, pointing at Atticus.
“Atticus is not a threat to you, Lucas, he is your brother, I made it so, and in time, you will realize this. The war will only be won by the three forces uni
ting, and that is precisely why I chose the women to be the warriors and granted them the gifts to make it happen. I also gave them you. Can you deny the fact no one would fight harder for their mate? Now go. Atticus and I have things to discuss, and my time here is running short.”
Lucas walked away as instructed, but slowly, constantly looking over his shoulder. Gaia shook her head before once again going to her seat on the road.
“I have chosen well, for I have never encountered two more hardheaded and obstinate individuals.” Gaia let out a sigh as a mother disappointed in her wayward children.
“Atticus Masters, I am ashamed of you. I have given you the greatest gift of this earth, a mate worthy of you, and you still question my choice.”
“That is untrue, I do not question Danica’s worth, she is everything!” Atticus could feel his fury rising to the surface, temporarily breaking the spell Gaia had on him. He was able to move slightly before she shook her head.
“No, you silly boy, you misunderstand. I deem you worthy. Your mate deems you worthy. Yet you still question it. Why is that?”
“Because she deserves better!”
“And she always will, that is the way of love. I am also positive she feels the same way about you. I granted you two things, Atticus Master. One was the hybrid; do you know what the other was?”
Atticus didn’t answer, he didn’t have a clue what Gaia was talking about.
“I see you are still not putting things together. I expected more. I gave you a conscience and the ability to love Atticus, you and Sage both, something severely lacking in Bane’s army. Try as he might, he was never able to break either of you, hadn’t you ever wondered why?”
Dirt Road Redemption (Dirt Road Series Book 2) Page 15
