The Keeping

by Nicky Charles

  “Er… out.” Bryan folded his cards and threw them down on the table.

  Marco reached out and flipped them over. It was a full house. “Is this is how you play poker in Canada… ?”

  “Sorry.” Bryan ran his hands through his hair, then roughly pushed his chair back. “I can’t concentrate. I keep waiting for the damned phone to ring.”

  “As do we all.” Slowly Marco gathered the cards and began stacking the chips. “Have patience. He will call.”

  “But what if he doesn’t?” Daniel looked up from the computer game he was playing. His face reflected his worry.

  Bryan studied his friend, noting the anxiety in his voice, how his muscles were tensed. Daniel was as worried as he was but… Damn! He was Beta, and while Ryne was gone, he needed to take responsibility for the safety and well-being of the pack. That included putting on a brave face, even when he didn’t really feel it. Lifting his chin, he straightened and spoke in a firm, confident voice. “Marco is right. I’m was just being a nervous old woman. Of course, Ryne is fine. He’s gotten through worse scrapes than this. By now he’s talked to Mel, found out there was nothing to worry about after all and they’re reconnecting, if you know what I mean.” He ended the comment by wiggling his eyebrows and giving a knowing look.

  “Reconnecting?” Marco frowned over the word, then grinned. “Ah! Ryne y Mel estan haciendo el amor.”

  Daniel visibly relaxed and gave a brief chuckle. “If that means they’re having sex then, yeah.”

  “Our Alpha is—how you say—a ladies’ man?”

  “Something like that.” Bryan smiled realizing that Marco was trying to lighten the mood as well. He sat down again and tried to keep the conversation going. “So, what was your old Alpha like?”

  Marco snorted. “He is a bastard and not fit to rule.”

  Bryan leaned back, propping his feet on the table and folding his arms behind his head. “A real nice guy, then.”

  For a moment Marco looked confused but then seemed to grasp the sarcasm of the statement. “Yes. A real nice guy. He allows no discussion or debate; pack meetings are never held unless he is issuing orders and anyone who disagrees, ‘disappears’ without a trace.”

  “He kills them?” Daniel set down his computer game and leaned forward, obviously intrigued by the tale.

  “There are no bodies, but everyone knows.” Marco narrowed his eyes, his voice sounding bitter.

  “And no one tries to stop him?” Bryan found it hard to believe that in this day and age, a pack would put up with such treatment.

  “Many have tried and have died in the attempt. Most of my pack have learned through experience to endure the misery and live in hope for the day he finally grows old and weak. A few, such as myself, have dared to leave, but it is dangerous.”

  Daniel frowned and seemed to study Marco intently. “You left for Tessa, right?”

  “Yes. For her and for my son. It is no way to live. I wanted better for them.”

  Bryan frowned. “I’m surprised he’s that powerful, at such a young age.”

  “Who said he is young?” Marco queried. “Pablo turned forty-five this year. He’s been Alpha for almost eighteen years now.”

  “Forty-five? And he was after Tessa? No wonder you wanted to leave.” Daniel shook his head looking disgusted. “Why doesn’t he have a mate already?”

  “He’s had three, but they were all ‘accident prone.’ I was not willing to risk Tessa having a similar ‘accident’.” Marco clenched his fist and a muscle in his jaw throbbed.

  Bryan got up and clapped a hand on Marco’s shoulder in a gesture of support. “I’d have left too, man.” He wandered to the window and stared outside. “You’ll find things are really different here. Ryne is a great Alpha and he’s real easy to get along with.”

  “And even if you mess up, he doesn’t stay angry for long.” Daniel chimed in.

  Marco nodded. “I look forward to getting to know him better when he gets back.”

  Right, Bryan thought as he surreptitiously checked the time and then looked at the phone, willing it to ring. When he gets back…

  ****

  Cassie ran as fast as she could towards her uncle’s house. Her heart was pounding so loudly that she couldn’t hear anything but its thump. Frantically, she kept looking behind her while trying not to stumble over the exposed tree roots that criss-crossed the ground.

  She’d been hiding behind the trees, eavesdropping on the confrontation that seemed to be taking place between her uncle, Mr. Aldrich and a young woman named Ms. Greene. The conversation hadn’t made much sense, but she’d listened intently when her uncle began claiming she was like the woman, the one they said was a werewolf. It had seemed ridiculous and she even questioned her own hearing until she saw a man crawl out of the culvert and turn into a wolf! The wolf had attacked Mr. Aldrich and as the lawyer fell to the ground, his gun went off.

  It had seemed like a scene from a horror movie. The wolf snarling; its teeth gleaming. A surprised cry coming from her uncle and then… Oh God! The flash of light and noise as the gun discharged. Her uncle falling… The image of a bullet hole, like a third eye in his forehead, bits of blood spattered on his face as he dropped to the ground. Her knees grew weak at the memory and she paused for a moment, clutching a tree for support while trying to gather her strength and force her panicked mind into some form of order.

  She hadn’t known what to do. Naturally, she’d screamed. Who wouldn’t? And then, as she’d stood transfixed by the unfolding events, the wolf had actually looked up at her! Its eyes seemed strangely intelligent as if it were noting what she looked like and planning her fate. That one fact had leaped out at her, even though the look had been momentary. In that instant she recalled her uncle saying werewolves killed those who discovered their secrets. Mr. Aldrich had found out, and the wolf was attacking him. And she’d just watched the man change into a wolf, so now she knew the secret, too. Of course, she’d be next in line!

  Pushing off from the tree, she ran to the house as fast as possible. She entered through the front door; all thoughts of stealth forgotten. Time was of the essence now. She had to get away. Quickly she entered her uncle’s office and yanked open the drawer where she knew he always kept some spare money. She grabbed a handful of bills before rushing upstairs. In her room she threw open drawers and closets, grabbed a gym bag and began randomly throwing clothing into it. In the bathroom, she swept the contents of the vanity in on top of her clothes, grabbed her purse, and thundered down the stairs.

  Franklin must have heard her for he appeared in the front foyer, looking concerned. “Miss Cassie! What’s wrong?”

  “Franklin, Uncle is—” Her voice caught on a sob and she was unable to get the word out. Even as Franklin stepped towards her, she was reaching for a set of keys from the hall table. “I’m sorry. I can’t stay. He saw me.”

  “Who miss? Who saw you? And where is Mr. Greyson?” Franklin peered behind her as if trying to find his employer. When the man in question didn’t appear, he walked towards Cassandra, his arms held out in front of him. “Why don’t you just calm down and let me help you?”

  Cassie shook her head and backed away, tears streaming down her face. The man had been her confidant for years, but this was too dangerous. She couldn’t tell him, couldn’t endanger him. “Franklin, I’m sorry!” She spun around and ran out the front door to the converted carriage house where the cars were kept.

  Behind her, she could hear Franklin calling her name, but she didn’t stop to answer. Yanking open the door to the garage, she pressed the remote control that opened the large external doors, then hurried to her car. Throwing her bag in first, she slid into the seat and started the engine. Impatiently, she waited for the garage doors to open, her fingers flexing nervously on the steering wheel. Come on, come on, she muttered under her breath. Her peripheral vision caught sight of Franklin hurrying towards her. Damn! Silently she asked for forgiveness, then slammed her foot onto the accelerator, the r
oof of her car scraping against the partially opened doorway as it shot forward. Without a backward glance, she sped away.

  *****

  Ryne saw the young girl and quickly took note of her appearance before swinging his attention back to the man beneath him. Aldrich was struggling for breath, his throat partially ripped open, blood spilling onto the ground. Ready to finish the deed, a cry from Melody had Ryne once again looking away from his victim.

  Melody was curled into a fetal position, her body shaking uncontrollably, her face contorted in pain. Swiftly Ryne changed forms and rushed to her side, gasping slightly from the effort of changing forms in such quick succession. Pulling her into his arms, he murmured words of encouragement.

  “Fight it Melody. Don’t give in. Think about being human. About driving your car, using your computer, drinking that damned coffee you love so much.” He rocked her back and forth praying she could maintain her form. Looking around, he realized sunset was just minutes away. The time of the full moon was almost upon them! Nadia’s words rang through his mind. ‘In the end she’ll either live or die, depending on how much her body can handle.’

  How much could she handle? Ryne knew the pull of the moon only too well. The need clawing inside you, fighting to get out; wild thoughts invading your mind as the wolf became dominant, fighting to take over the human side. It was an irresistible feeling that had the person reaching and striving for release. It took inner strength and discipline to resist the ancient instincts.

  Yet Melody wasn’t ready; only part of her body had undergone the genetic changes needed. Could anyone live when their bone structure shifted to that of a wolf, while all their internal organs were still human? Brain signals would be speeding up her human heart to that of an animal, but how would it react to the strain? Ryne clutched her closer, knowing he wouldn’t be able to bear it if she died. Melody was exasperating and smart mouthed, quirky and headstrong, but he loved every inch of her. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, squeezing tightly. She had to make it!

  Knowing he had to get her someplace dark, away from the moon’s effects, he picked her up and eyed the pipe they’d crawled through, but quickly dismissed the idea. It was too small for him to carry Melody and she was in no fit state to crawl. He glanced around for a solution, then saw Aldrich’s key chain on the ground; the little flashlight was cutting a small beam across the ground.

  At least the man had proven useful for something. Snatching up the keys, Ryne gave the lawyer one last glance, before turning away. Melody needed him. He’d come back to deal with the bastard once she was safe.

  Even in human form he was able to move more swiftly than a normal person might, cutting through the trees and attempting to avoid the low hanging branches that clutched at his hair and ripped his skin like the talons of some evil creature. Ignoring the pain, he was acutely aware of Melody’s laboured breathing and the rapidly setting sun. A wash of blood red was beginning to flood the sky by the time he arrived at the safe house where Aldrich had left his car. Setting Melody gently inside the vehicle, he buckled her in, jumped into the driver’s seat, and sped away. Glancing in the rear-view mirror, he noted the large house in the background was ablaze with lights and there were at least two figures running in front of it. His jaw clenched and he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Where had that young girl gone? Who had she told? Beside him, Melody gave another pained cry and he refocused on driving. She needed him right now; the rest he’d figure out later.

  If he remembered correctly from the taxi ride to the estate earlier, there was a shopping mall with an underground parking garage just a few miles away. The lowest level should provide a sufficient shield.

  As he drove, he glanced at the speedometer. The needle crept ever higher, trees and sign posts flashing by as he ignored the posted speed limits. His heart pounded heavily, while Nadia’s dreaded words played over and over in his head; ‘lives or dies,’ ‘too risky,’ ‘how much can her body handle.’ The phrases swirled in his mind.

  Negotiating a sharp turn, something thumped against his hip. Glancing down he spied the cell phone that Aldrich had taken from him earlier. A quick look at the clock on the dashboard had him swearing. Shit, his agreed upon check-in time was past! He prayed Kane had held off, that he hadn’t made any rash decisions!

  Ryne fumbled with the phone, speed dialling his brother’s number.

  “Damn you Ryne! Where the hell have you been?” Kane’s voice roared in Ryne’s ear.

  A wave of relief washed over him. If Kane was still alive and angry, then the rest of them were safe too! “I don’t have time to explain. Just hold off. Don’t do anything, hold off!” Melody whimpered beside him and he looked at her, causing the car to swerve. “I’ll call you later!” He shouted the words over his brother’s swearing and threw the phone down, concentrating on driving.

  Shooting glances sideways, he noticed the air around Melody kept shimmering. Hell! Her change was getting closer. Could she fight it off? “Hang on Melody, we’re almost there. Just a few more minutes, babe. Focus on me, on the sound of my voice.”

  Ryne babbled away. Teasing her, apologizing for the mess she was in, for how he’d treated her. He told her he loved her, that everything would be all right. Bribes spilled from his lips; offerings of coffee and chocolate, giving her free rein in decorating the house in Stump River…

  She was quieter now, her breathing seemed shallow, and her face was pale. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. God, how could such a string of unlikely circumstances ever have happened? He never had unprotected sex, yet around Melody, he just didn’t think. And then the fight, his broken nose, her cut arm… The chances of those events occurring in the correct order and time frame were a million to one, and yet they had.

  What had Nadia said? “If anyone were to ask before attempting this type of thing, medical advice would strongly discourage any genetic changes during a full moon. It’s way too risky.”

  Yeah. Easy for her to say. He hadn’t planned this, though. It was as if the fates had conspired against him. His eyes stung and he dashed his hand across them, trying to clear his vision.

  ‘Lives or dies… dies… dies.’ He shook his head, trying to dislodge the heart-stopping thought as a wave of icy fear encased him.

  Chapter 40

  Kane threw the phone onto his desk in disgust.

  “What’s wrong? That was Ryne, wasn’t it?” Helen’s face was pale and there was a noticeable tremor in her hands as she pushed her hair back from her face. Like all the remaining pack members, her nerves were strung as taut as a fiddle string. She sat in a wing-back chair near the window, having chosen to spend her final hours with her Alpha.

  “Yeah, that was Ryne.”

  “He didn’t say—” She obviously couldn’t finish the question, but Kane knew exactly what she meant. It was the question on everyone’s mind. Was today the day they died?

  “No. He said to hold off.”

  “Thank goodness.” Her shoulders slumped and she leaned her head back, closing her eyes.

  “He didn’t say it was over, Helen. He just said to hold off.”

  “No explanation why?” Helen straightened, her expression curious.

  “No. And then he hung up on me!” Kane stood up and began to prowl around the room. “I don’t know what it means. Is the crisis over? Has he eliminated the threat or is there still a chance—?” He compressed his lips and ran his hands through his hair. “Dammit. I’m tired of sitting here on edge waiting for news. I have men and women all over our territory waiting for my orders. I can feel their fear, their mental pain… and I don’t know what to say.”

  “But at least it wasn’t bad news… ” Helen clasped her hands tightly. “If he said to hold off then there’s still a chance that everything will work out. It’s a positive thing.”

  Kane growled, but conceded the point. “You’re right. Sorry. My nerves are shot.”

  “And I’m sure Ryne’s are too. This hasn’t been easy for him,
Kane, knowing that it was his picture that caused all this. He must feel horribly guilty. And if that girl—Melody—is possibly his mate, then he’s been fighting every instinct he has—”

  “Yeah. I know.” Kane sighed heavily and sat down again. “Patience isn’t always my strong suit.”

  “Consider this training for when you’re a father. Then you’ll need all the patience in the world.”

  Kane gave the briefest of chuckles, before picking up a picture of Elise that he had taken just days ago. She was wearing a loose white dress and her arms cradled the slight swell of her belly. He gently ran his finger over the picture, then set it aside. Picking up the vial of deadly poison that all the remaining pack had been issued, he twirled the blood coloured liquid within, watching as it flowed and shifted. “Yeah. Someday when I’m a father… ”

  *****

  The shopping mall loomed ahead and Ryne forced himself to slow down, entering the driveway at a reasonable pace. His fingers drummed on the steering wheel as he waited in a long line of cars. Finally it was his turn at the gate. He collected his ticket from the attendant, and headed for the basement level. As the cool darkness of the cement structure closed around them, he listened intently for any change in Melody’s breathing. Was it deeper? More natural? He hoped so.

  It was a multi-storey garage with a steep, winding ramp leading from level to level. Ryne concentrated on manoeuvring the twisting incline with as much speed as possible. The air grew progressively cooler as they descended and artificial lighting glowed overhead.

  Finally reaching the lowest level, he drove to a poorly lit corner and parked behind a pillar, thankful that Aldrich’s black car would be relatively unnoticed in the gloom. He didn’t want anyone coming by to see what was going on.

  Turning off the engine, he twisted in his seat and checked Melody. Her eyes were shut, her dark lashes fanned out over the pale shadowed skin below. She seemed more stable and when he touched her hand there was certain solidity or constancy of form; no shimmers distorted the air around her. Her muscles weren’t spasming. Slowly he unclenched his jaw. His plan seemed to be working.