I couldn’t stop the tears that sprang into my eyes when I saw her. I’d known she was old, of course, but she had always been so lively: she was one of those people who could never really sit still. But to see her in the bed, unmoving and pale, I realized how fragile she really was. I crossed the room, sat down lightly on the bed, and took her hand in mine. “Gram,” I whispered, willing her to open her eyes. “It’s Allie. I’m home.” But she didn’t stir.
Ruby had entered silently behind me, and she placed a hand gently on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “All she’s been talking about is you coming home, and now…”
“What happened?” I said, my eyes still searching her unmoving face.
“Yesterday morning, she had a vision that you were on the way and close by. I invited her to dinner at my place to celebrate, and we talked about how excited we were for you to come home,” Ruby said, smiling slightly. “She seemed fine at first, but as we were eating she said she wasn’t feeling well so I helped her back to her cabin.”
“What did she say was wrong?”
Ruby frowned, thinking. “She said she had probably gotten too worked up over you coming home and said she needed some rest. I left her at the door and went home. The next morning I went to go check on her, but when I knocked, nobody answered. I got a little worried, so I tried the door. It was unlocked, and when I opened it I saw her on the floor.”
The lump grew in my throat again, burning me with every breath. I should have come back sooner.
“I screamed for help, and the Pack came running,” Ruby continued, sounding pained. “We got her into her bed. She’s breathing but she won’t wake up. I sat up with her all last night, but she hasn’t changed.” She looked up at me. “I’m so sorry, Allie. I know this is the worst thing for you.”
“I’m just glad you were with her,” I answered, fighting back a sob. To be honest, it surprised me: I’d never thought of Ruby as the type to nurse sick people. But I was so grateful she had. Maybe I’d misjudged her when we were kids. Maybe she was a real friend and I just hadn’t been able to see it. “What do you think is wrong with her?”
She frowned slightly, then shook her head. “I don’t know. Sage doesn’t either. She just seems to be getting weaker and weaker.”
“Sage?”
“Oh, he’s another newer Pack member. The Priestess had been working with him and I to teach us some healing skills, but nothing for this.” She gestured to Gram sadly. “I looked through some of her books, but I can’t find anything like it. I thought about trying to ask a healer from one of the other Packs for help, but relationships with them haven’t been very good in the last few years. I’m not sure anyone would come even if I asked.”
I knew Silver Grove tended to be solitary because of our unique matriarchal way of doing things, but I didn’t realize we had outright enemies. “They wouldn’t come? Why not?”
She shrugged. “Edie didn’t believe in being diplomatic. It was her way or the high way. Over the last few years, she ruined our friendships with all the other local packs in one way or another.”
Anger surged in me. We might lose Gram because of Edie’s selfishness. I’d never been a fan of hers, but now I was glad she was gone. “Maybe they’ll listen to me as the future Queen,” I said.
Ruby glanced up sharply, but then smiled at me. “Only as long as they think you’re going to be Queen,” she said. “Which, knowing you, will only be until the full moon. Isn’t that right?”
I didn’t know how to answer that, so I just shrugged. “Whatever I have to do to save her.”
“Allie,” she said, laying a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I’m no expert healer. I feel like I have to tell you now so it doesn’t come as a shock, but it doesn’t look good for her.”
I refused to give up that easily. I had come this far. I watched the shallow rise and fall of her chest under the blanket. “Has she moved since you found her? Or done anything at all?”
“She’ll stir on occasion, and she’ll take a sip if you hold a glass up to her lips. I mixed up a little homemade tea, some herbs and honey in water, just to try to keep her hydrated and try to keep her strength up.” She gestured to a glass on the table filled with a cloudy liquid.
I didn’t know the first thing about the healing arts, especially for werewolves, so I trusted that she knew what she was doing. I made a mental note to find Sage later and see what he had to say.
My eyes roamed over Gram’s face, the face I had missed so dearly. I couldn’t seem to focus. I knew I had a decision to make, and it had to be before tomorrow night when the full moon rose. A decision that would change my life, the lives of the men I had come to love, and the lives of all the wolves in the pack. I had to go talk to the Pack members, to get to know them again, to see if they could accept me as Queen.
But how could I leave Gram like this?
As if Ruby had read my mind, she crouched down next to me. “Look. I know you have a lot to do, and only a little bit of time here. If you’ll let me go run and grab a shower and some food, I’ll come back and sit with her. And I’ll come find you if there’s the slightest change, good or bad. Ok?”
I felt a surge of warm gratitude toward Ruby. Yes, I had been wrong about her. She was a good friend. “I’ll take you up on that,” I said, reaching out to take her hand. “Thank you, Ruby.”
She smiled at me. “No need to keep thanking me, Allie. What are friends for?”
* * *
After she left, silence fell on the little cabin, broken only by the occasional pop of a log in the stove. I kept ahold of Gram’s hand and watched her face, hoping for a change, for the slightest flicker of waking, but she didn’t stir. Her face bore a slight frown as if she were thinking about something unpleasant. I hated feeling so helpless, but I didn’t know the first thing about healing a sick elderly werewolf.
“Oh, Gram, please come back,” I murmured, my soft voice sounding loud in the quiet. I hated to see her like this. It felt like a cosmic joke from the universe, to finally return to her and find her so far away. I would have given anything to have her open her eyes, to hear her voice, to feel her arms around me.
Maybe she could still hear me. Maybe she would send me a sign in one of my dreams. “I need your help, Gram. I don’t know what I should do. I’ve…” I trailed off, feeling a slight blush. “I’ve fallen in love with my guards. And I think they love me too. They believe I could be Queen, and I do want to help people. But I don’t know if it’s the right path for me. The full moon is tomorrow night, and I’m scared I won’t make the right choice. Please, if you can, give me a sign.”
I bowed my head, pressing my forehead to her hand. A soft noise behind me made me sit up.
Ruby was leaning against the doorway, and she smiled at me, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m ready to take over whenever you’re done,” she said.
I didn’t want to leave her, but I didn’t have time to sit here. And besides, it would be better to have Ruby close by if anything went wrong. I leaned over Gram and kissed her forehead, then got to my feet.
Ruby gave me a quick hug. “Go. I’ll be here.”
With one last look over my shoulder, I left the cozy room.
* * *
When I emerged outside, I was surprised to find Emily standing at the cottage door. When she saw me, she nodded. “Good morning, my lady.”
“Hi, Emily. What are you doing here?”
“Jasper sent me to keep an eye on the house,” she said.
I frowned. “How come?”
“He knew the Priestess was ill and wanted to be sure she was watched.”
“Is he expecting something to happen?” I asked, feeling a little stab of fear.
She shook her head. “Not necessarily. He just believes in being thorough.”
Of course he did. That was Jasper. I found myself smiling slightly, even though my heart felt like it had turned to lead inside me. “Thank you, Emily. I’m going out for a bit, but Ruby is her
e.”
“I saw,” Emily said. Her tone was surprisingly curt, and there was no mistaking the expression of distaste on her face.
She must have seen my surprise because she glanced over my shoulder before leaning close to whisper in my ear. “Be careful with Ruby, my lady.”
“What do you mean? Why?”
She frowned. “I know she was… a friend of yours. But she’s very ambitious.”
“Ambition isn’t always a bad thing,” I said, trying to hide my annoyance. “Ruby has a strong personality, that’s all.”
She shrugged, then leaned away from me. “Maybe you’re right. I won’t keep you.” Her face had slid back into a polite mask, and it told me she wouldn’t be answering any more questions.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going on around here. And I was determined to find out what.
I just hoped I could do it before the moon was full.
20
Allie
I was a little off-balance after my strange talk with Emily. What if Ruby wasn’t well-liked in the Pack because she had once been kind to me? The thought pissed me off. How much did these wolves hate me, anyway? Was the thought that I could ever be Queen just a big joke to them all?
I forced myself to take a deep breath, to try to calm down. I had to keep an open mind about all this and not overreact. Maybe Emily just didn’t like Ruby. Sometimes people didn’t like each other. I was here for a reason, and I couldn’t get distracted by other people’s drama.
I wished for my guards, suddenly, with a longing so strong it felt like a physical ache. I wanted their smiles, their comforting words, their strong embraces. The way they seemed to know just what to say. I had gotten spoiled, having them around me 24/7 these last few days. But if I was going to be Queen, I would have to learn to handle stuff without them too. Plus, I knew they had their own lives beyond me.
My tummy growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten in too long. Luckily, I knew members of the Pack would be gathering at this time of day in the Common for breakfast, so I decided to head that way.
The creatively-named Common was a cluster of picnic tables under a corrugated tin roof. Nothing glamorous, but it was where the Pack would gather for meals or meetings. Of course, Pack members could eat in their own homes or in smaller groups, and some did more or less than others. But usually, in my experience, the general view was the more togetherness the better.
The smell of bacon made my tummy growl again. As I approached the Common, I could see a familiar face. Amos, grey-haired and pot-bellied, was manning the outdoor kitchen, turning the sizzling bacon strips on the hot grill. When he glanced up and saw me, his eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Well, well,” he said, surveying me through the steam of the grill. “She’s home.” He didn’t look displeased, but he didn’t look excited, either. Then again, Amos never was the type to get excited about much except food.
“She is,” I answered. “And starving.”
“Well, I can fix that. Get in line and grab you a plate, girl.”
Much like a high school cafeteria, the Pack had figured out the most efficient way to serve twenty people was buffet-style. Huge platters were piled high with bacon, eggs, and pancakes, along with wild game in various stages of rawness for those who were more… traditional in their tastes.
I had enjoyed the last few days of wild game, but maybe I was a little bit of a city girl too, because I was embarrassed how excited I was about those pancakes. I fell in line behind two females about my age who were so engrossed in their gossip they didn’t turn around.
“No way,” the first one was saying. Clover was her name, I remembered suddenly. “I don’t believe it.”
“It’s true,” the second insisted. “I think Mal’s been replaced by a clone.”
At the sound of his name, they had my full attention.
“Why do you say that?” Clover asked.
“Well, I saw he was back in town, so I thought I would ask him if he wanted some company tonight,” the second female said, with a little giggle.
I fought the sudden urge to shank her with my fork, and the strength of my jealousy startled me. Down, girl.
“Well, that’s nothing new,” Clover said, smirking.
“Yeah, but he said no!”
“What?! Did he say why? Maybe he’s sick or something.”
The second female shook her head, looking puzzled. “He said he was a changed wolf, and he had finally found what he was looking for. Whatever the hell that means.”
A slow warmth was spreading through me, and I had to fight hard to keep from grinning like an idiot.
Clover glanced over her shoulder, and her eyes widened. “Alyssa! We heard you got back!”
The other female turned and gave me an appraising look before nodding. “I’m Dakota,” she said. “I think I got here after you… left.”
Well, that was a polite way of putting it. “Nice to meet you, Dakota,” I said, with a polite nod back. “And nice to see you again, Clover.”
“We were so sorry to hear about the Priestess,” Clover said, her smile fading. “How is she doing?”
Any lightness I had felt faded, and I shrugged. “Ruby’s with her, watching over her. I figure that’s the best thing for her.”
It happened in a split second, so maybe I imagined it. But a look passed between the two that I wasn’t sure how to interpret. Caution, that was the vibe I got. But maybe I was overanalyzing.
“Ruby was spending a lot of time with the Priestess lately,” Clover said slowly. “She and Sage.”
“Yes, she told me Gram was teaching them about healing. Luckily.”
Dakota laughed, but there was an edge of bitterness to it that I didn’t like. “Well, after Edie chased off any friends we might have had in other Packs, we’ve had to do everything ourselves.”
Clover made a face at her, but Dakota looked steadily back. “You know it’s true, Clove.”
I wanted to hear more about what they thought. “Ruby mentioned that too.”
“Sounds like the two of you are close as ever,” Dakota said, arching an eyebrow at me. “Did you two stay in contact while you were gone?”
“No,” I answered. “She just filled me in today on how Gram’s been doing.”
There was a moment of quiet, and Dakota stared at me like she was trying to decide something. After a long pause, she cocked her head. “Are you going to stay?”
“I’m trying to decide,” I said. My own honesty surprised me, but some instinct told me that if I wanted to know the wolves of my Pack, I would have to open up to them too.
“What’s to decide?” Clover asked, but her tone wasn’t mean. She sounded genuinely curious.
“If I stay, I want to do a good job. I want to do what’s right for everyone, and today I’m trying to see if people even want me.”
Clover and Dakota both looked surprised. “Do you mean it?” Dakota whispered.
I nodded.
“That’s… good to hear,” Clover finally said.
“Can’t you ladies gossip later?” a familiar voice from behind me drawled. “Some of us are hungry.”
I turned to see Mal, and he winked at me before flashing Clover and Dakota a grin. I had to fight the urge to throw my arms around him and bury my face in his chest. As if he sensed my need for touch, the Alpha slung an arm around my shoulder, casually, like we did this all the time. After all the stress of the morning, it was so good to feel him beside me, solid and reassuring.
I didn’t miss the raised eyebrows that passed between Clover and Dakota. Well, this would be all over the Pack by lunchtime. Like any close group of people, gossip spread among us like wildfire. But when Clover glanced back at me, her smile was surprisingly warm. “Well, it’s good to have you back, Alyssa,” she said.
“Just call me Allie, please.”
She nodded. “Allie, then. We’ll be praying for the Priestess.”
I murmured a thank you as they turned and began to pile plates
full of food. My tummy growled, my forgotten hunger returning with a vengeance.
“What was that about?” Mal murmured in my ear, his lips raising goosebumps on my skin.
“Well, if I’m going to be Queen, I need to get to know my Pack again, so I’m talking to as many people as I can,” I said, reaching for a plate. As I handed one to Mal, I caught him grinning. “What?”
“Your Pack. I like the sound of that.” When I gave him a look, he chuckled. “No pressure, Allie. You know that.” His smile faded, and he looked more closely at my face. “How’s your grandmother?”
The worry I had been barely holding at bay closed in on me again. “She’s weak,” I said, fighting to keep the tremor out of my voice. “And she’s unresponsive.” I reached for a serving spoon, hoping to hide the sudden tears that stung my eyes. I couldn’t cry here.
“Who’s with her now?”
“Ruby.”
His face darkened.
“Ok, what’s going on?” I demanded. “Everyone I mention Ruby to makes a weird face. Is it because she used to be friends with me?”
Mal shook his head. “No, it’s nothing like that. Come on.” He guided me over to one of the little tables. I could feel eyes on us, and I forced myself to nod and smile at people when our eyes met. The reaction was strange. I had been expecting scowls and suspicion, but the expression on most people’s faces was surprise. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but it was better than hostility.
Mal sighed as we sat down. “Jasper’s gonna yell at me for telling you this, but since he yells at me for a lot of things, I figure it won’t make much of a difference.”
“Why would he yell?”
Mal looked up at me across the table, and I was struck once again by how beautiful his eyes were. “He made us promise not to try to influence you to stay.”
I shook my head. “If there’s something going on, I want to know about it. Please, Mal.”
Princess of Wolves: A Reverse Harem Romance Page 11
