by Liza Street
A woman came up and shook Hudson’s hand. “I’m Dr. Powers,” she said, smiling brightly. “We’ll take good care of her. She’s in good hands.”
Hudson tried to smile back at the doctor, but he was sure it came out as more of a grimace. “Thanks.”
He watched as Dr. Powers led his mom through the double doors and down a hall.
So this was it. Two months of babysitting his mom, and now he was on his own. He walked back out to his car and sat in the driver’s seat, contemplating his options. He had a place with the Evergreen Pack for as long as he wanted it. Gregory had said the little house would always be Hudson’s home, no matter what. But Hudson needed a job. He needed work—something to do. The busier he kept himself, the less time he’d have to think. And work would bring money—money he’d use to ensure his mom got all the care she needed at Heritage Pines.
He dialed Gregory.
“Hudson, what’s up?” Gregory said.
“Just dropped her off.”
“Good. She do okay?”
Hudson held in a sigh of exasperation. “Still not talking. Not even goodbye.”
“Everyone reacts differently. She’ll come around. And Dr. Powers, she knows shifters and the mate bond. She’ll be sympathetic to your mom’s plight.”
“If you say so,” Hudson grumbled. Dr. Powers was the reason they’d brought his mom all the way down here to Belnedge. “In the meantime, I need some work. You got any ideas?”
Gregory made a hmm sound. “I’ll look around. Private security?”
“It’s preferable, but I’ll take anything at this point.”
“Should be something, someone who needs protection. There’s usually a posting or two in the shifter forum, so I can check that.”
“Thanks.” Hudson didn’t have anything left to say. His mom was in good hands, he had to trust in that.
Three
The next morning, Viviana’s shoulder hurt even more than it had the night before. It was agony getting out of bed, and when she shuffled into her bathroom, she looked in the mirror and gasped. She could barely stand up straight.
How was she going to hide this from her mom?
She took a shower. The warm water loosened her muscles. Maybe she’d be able to get through the day without Marlana figuring anything out. If she laid low, she’d heal faster. She shuffled back into her room and dressed.
A text waited on her phone, from “Mr. Fun.”
Mendy’s code name. Viviana smiled. She hadn’t heard from her sister in a couple of months.
She picked up her phone and read the text. All’s boring here. More chores. Maybe a baby soon.
Viviana frowned. Did Mendy want to be a mom? Had they talked about this already? When Mendy had gone off to be an Exchange, she’d been practically kicking and screaming. But now she was talking about having babies.
For some reason, it made Viviana feel lonelier than ever before. Wow, that’s exciting. I’ve got a massive bruise on my shoulder I’m trying to hide.
Make-up and grit, Mendy texted back. Cover it with make-up and stand straight no matter how much it hurts. Or just stay in bed and fake a fever.
Viviana shook her head so fast it hurt her shoulder. That’ll just make her hover.
Since when did she hover?
Since you left, Viviana thought, but she didn’t write it. Mendy had gotten out, that was the important part. Mendy hadn’t wanted to leave, but in rebelling, she’d effectively taken herself out of the running for alpha. Viviana was happy for her…except that meant Viviana had to fill the alpha void, something she probably wouldn’t have chosen for herself, although she’d found she wouldn’t mind leading. She just hated the way her position had cut her off from her friends.
The princess of the Corona Pride. That whisper echoed in her head. Had she imagined the whole thing, or had there really been a vampire out there in the woods?
Her stomach growled. She tapped out another message on her phone. Keep me posted on baby news, okay? Let me know when I should start knitting.
Better start now, came Mendy’s quick reply, otherwise the booties won’t be done until the kid’s in high school. I remember how you were with crafts.
Ha, you’re so funny, Viviana wrote back.
How’s our brother and his bitch of a wife? Mendy wrote.
Fighting, like always. Agatha and Michael had what Viviana called, in her mind, a hate-hate relationship. But Marlana had orchestrated the match, and Agatha and Michael, good little soldiers that they were, had gone along with it. The thought made Viviana feel ill. If she weren’t careful, that could be her fate someday. Look, I should go. Love you.
Love you too. Miss you.
Viviana allowed her fingers to hover over the screen for a few more minutes, then she quickly deleted the entire conversation. Texting with Mendy would only lead to trouble. Her mom had wanted to cut Mendy’s “bad influence” out of Viviana’s life for good. It had been a strong, lasting message. Viviana would obey just about anything Marlana said, but she couldn’t, couldn’t lose her sister. Her only friend, really.
Her stomach grumbled again, so she tossed her phone on the bed and went downstairs. Her baggy sweatshirt covered her shoulder, and if she stepped carefully, only small jolts of pain went through her shoulder and arm. Had she broken it? If it didn’t set right, she was screwed. She rolled it, experimentally, and bit back a shriek. Not broken, but it had probably fractured. She just had to take it easy.
The kitchen was bright and sunny already—today would be hot by Montana mountain standards. Viviana peeked around—all clear. Maybe her mom was upstairs in the office, plotting how else she could take over the world.
Viviana opened the refrigerator with her uninjured arm, grabbed the milk, and took it to the counter. Then she went to the cupboards and found her box of Lucky Charms.
“You’re favoring your left shoulder,” her mom said from behind her.
Viviana jumped, and the cereal came cascading out of the box too fast, spilling over the edges of her bowl. “You startled me.”
“Why are you favoring your shoulder?” Marlana asked.
“It’s a little sore. No big deal,” Viviana said.
Marlana came the rest of the way into the kitchen. Viviana cleaned up the spilled cereal and tried to keep her face blank. No secrets here, see Mom?
Marlana paced around the kitchen island. “I’m just not sure when you could have gotten hurt, that’s all. Was it when you were going up to your room last night to ‘go to bed early?’”
Viviana didn’t say anything. It felt like Marlana was trying to pick a fight, and Viviana never won those.
“Or could it have been when you sneaked out?”
Viviana gasped and met her mom’s fiery gaze. “I—”
“Ben Channing told me. Not voluntarily. He’s got a guilty face I can spot a mile away. So, what happened?”
“We fought, that’s all.” Viviana poured milk into her cereal bowl, trying not to let her hands shake.
Marlana sniffed. “I’m worried about you, Viviana. I don’t want you to turn out like…like a bad seed.”
Like Mendy, was what she wasn’t saying. Marlana didn’t want Viviana to be like Mendy.
What Marlana didn’t know was that Viviana was the complete opposite of Mendy. Viviana was shy and chicken whereas Mendy was bold and brassy. Viviana behaved. Viviana didn’t rock the boat.
But inside, Viviana was harboring a lion full of rage, full of longing. Nobody could know that. Viviana didn’t even like admitting it to herself. So she gave her mom the simple, easy answer. “I can’t sleep sometimes. Running helps get me tired.”
“Take a Guardian with you next time.”
“I don’t want to run with someone—”
“Take a Guardian,” Marlana interrupted.
Viviana’s shoulders fell. “Fine. I’ll take a Guardian.”
“We need to get you a bodyguard.”
“What?” Viviana asked.
“Someone
who can watch you, run with you.”
“I don’t want to be babysat by someone,” Viviana said. “I’m almost twenty-two.”
“I’m not opening this up for discussion,” Marlana said. “Ben said you heard something out there.”
It wasn’t a question. Viviana wasn’t sure if she was supposed to answer it.
“Was it a vampire?” Marlana asked.
“I think so. I don’t know. It couldn’t have been, though—the treaty—”
“The treaty is only in effect until it isn’t.” Marlana took a deep breath and went to the espresso maker. “I’m going to hire someone to watch you.”
“I don’t need babysitting.”
Marlana gave her a pointed look. “Obviously you do if you’re sneaking out like an errant teenager.”
Viviana felt her cheeks flush with shame. It hadn’t been like that. “Why don’t you just use your alpha power to keep me in?” she asked.
“Because I shouldn’t have to do that with my own daughter,” Marlana said. “I should have earned your respect from the beginning. Part of earning that respect is not forcing it. When you’re an alpha, you’ll understand. The power shouldn’t be used in interpersonal arguments—only when the safety of the pride is at stake.”
It explained why Marlana had sent Mendy away rather than continue to use her power to keep Mendy in place. With a shudder, Viviana remembered when Marlana had tried to keep Laura from going into the vampires’ cave to save Dristan. It had felt unfair, wrong. Marlana had later apologized for it.
Viviana didn’t want to be an alpha like that, and she didn’t believe her mother did, either.
Marlana spoke again. “I’m going to put an ad out that we’re looking for someone.”
Viviana knew it was pointless to argue further. She dipped her spoon into her now-soggy bowl of Lucky Charms.
“Do you know what you’re wearing tomorrow night?” Marlana asked.
The dread in Viviana’s stomach grew. “It’s tomorrow night?”
“You’re going to have fun. Don’t look so scared.”
Viviana focused on her cereal.
“Oh, for god’s sake,” Marlana said. “These are your pride mates. They’re going to show you respect by celebrating your birthday with you, and you’re going to enjoy yourself.”
With a sound of frustration, Marlana turned and left Viviana alone in the kitchen.
Pride mates, she’d said. Respect.
When what Viviana really wanted was friendship, and fun.
Four
Hudson wrapped his hands around his warm coffee cup and stretched his legs beneath the tiny table where he sat. This deli was about a five-minute drive from Heritage Pines. Visiting hours would start soon, and then he’d go see his mom.
He looked around the delicatessen. Not a bad place. Small, just three tables, with a few more outside along the sidewalk. The display case held pastries, donuts, and pre-made sandwiches. Behind the counter, a man ran a rag over the display glass, making it shine.
Hudson took a sip of the coffee. Good stuff. He’d probably become a regular here while he waited for visiting hours.
He needed a damn job, not to be stuck in delis, spending dollars that could be better put toward his mom’s care.
His phone buzzed on the table next to him, and he glanced at the caller ID. Gregory. He picked up and turned slightly away from the man behind the counter. “Hey, Gregory.”
“I have some leads,” the gravelly voice on the other end said. “There’s a chauffeuring thing for a clan over in Michigan. And an occasional repeat job with a pack in North Dakota for special events. It’s not regular, though, just when they have a party.”
Hudson sighed. It wouldn’t be enough money, no way. He needed something full-time. Besides, he’d like something closer so he could visit his mom more often.
“There’s one more.” Gregory’s voice sounded reluctant.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s in Belnedge.”
“Well, that’s perfect. I’m here already.”
“Yeah, I know. But you haven’t met the alpha there, Marlana.”
Over by the display case, the big guy with the rag froze. Definitely eavesdropping. Hudson got up and took his coffee outside. “What about her?”
“She’s a real piece of work, Hudson.”
“What’s the job?” Hudson didn’t have enough in his bank account to be picky about a real piece of work. “Is it full-time?”
“Yeah, it’s full-time. Maybe extra. She needs a guard for her daughter.”
Hudson gave a cynical laugh. “Keeping her out or keeping her in?”
“There’s been some trouble in the Corona Mountains. A court of vampires moved in, and the treaty sounds iffy at best. Marlana wants her daughter protected—she’s grooming her to be the next alpha.”
Hudson nodded, even though Gregory couldn’t see. “Okay,” he said.
“Look, Marlana’s a piece of work.”
“You said that.”
“I know. And you—you’re a piece of work, Hudson, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
Hudson didn’t roll his eyes, but he felt like it. Exasperated. “Yeah, so?”
“So, if you try to work for a bossy, domineering alpha, and you have a bossy, domineering attitude, how do you think it’s going to play out?”
“It’s going to play out that I keep my mouth shut so I can get paid. My mom’s more important than my pride right now.”
Gregory sighed. “Good attitude. I hope it lasts.”
Gregory gave Hudson the alpha’s phone number. Hudson memorized it and dialed, then stepped back inside the coffee shop. The guy behind the counter had gone to the back room.
“Yes, hello,” Hudson said. “Gregory Park, with the Evergreen Pack, gave me this number. I’m calling about the bodyguard job.”
The voice on the other end was brisk. “Be here tomorrow morning. Seven o’clock.”
Then she hung up. Hudson set his phone down. He’d never had such a big brush off. What was her deal?
The guy working the deli came back out to the counter. “I hear you talking to Marlana?” he said.
Hudson gave him a suspicious stare. “Yeah.”
“What’s your name?”
“Hudson.”
The guy came around and shook his hand. “I’m Dristan. It was nice knowing you.”
Then the guy walked back to the room behind the counter, laughing.
Five
Viviana stood at her window, watching the Guardians train on the lawn behind her house. They were out here every day at seven a.m. They looked so fluid doing their moves. Some kind of aikido warm-up, or something. She wouldn’t know what it was called, because Marlana had never let her go down to train with them.
She didn’t need to be down there to follow their movements, though. She stepped back from the window and followed along, listening to Agatha’s spoken instructions. Viviana knew the routine by heart—she’d been secretly following along with the Guardians’ exercises since she was a teenager. She peeked out occasionally to watch their synchronized movements. She envied them. She envied Laura, especially. Laura was a Guardian and she had a mate. And Laura had stood up to Marlana that one time, a few months ago.
Viviana would give anything for the nerve to stand up to Marlana.
As she ran through the stretches and then some of the yoga moves, she heard voices from down the hall. Marlana’s voice was one of them, but the male voice wasn’t Viviana’s dad. The male voice didn’t sound familiar at all. She listened harder, and she heard the man say, “Yes, that’s why private security has been a good career choice for me. I guess you could say I’ve always had something to prove. This work is physically demanding. Long hours. My alpha’s the one who got me into it.”
Viviana froze in downward dog pose. They were interviewing for the bodyguard position.
Her mother said, “Can you start tonight?”
Abandoning her poses, Viviana opened h
er door wider and peeked down the hall. Light was coming from the open door of Marlana’s office. On soft feet, Viviana stepped out of her room.
“What would your ideal job be?” Marlana asked.
His voice was smooth. “Working security for short-term events,” he said. “Or maybe when I have more experience, running security for a high-end estate, like this one.”
“We already have Guardians for the territory,” Marlana said. “This is more like a short-term event. A specialized case.”
Viviana didn’t really intend to go into the office, but eventually her curiosity got the best of her. The voice of the guy sounded so soothing. She wondered what he looked like. Finally screwing up her courage, she knocked.
“Enter.”
Viviana stepped into the room. First, she saw her mom, who squinted up at Viviana. Marlana wasn’t wearing her reading glasses, which cracked Viviana up. Vain. She smiled. “Mother.”
“Viviana. Happy birthday. Meet your new bodyguard.”
Viviana turned to the man. He sat on one of the chairs in front of the desk. Happy birthday, indeed. He was gorgeous—light brown hair cropped short, light brown eyes with long lashes. His jaw made him look stubborn, like he was used to being in charge. She subtly inhaled, trying to figure out if he was a cat shifter, or a wolf. Bear? He was big enough. She couldn’t get a sense of his animal, though. Did that mean…?
She sniffed again. She wasn’t wrong. He was human.
“What’s…what’s…? This doesn’t make sense,” she said to Marlana, waving her hands in the air.
“This is your new bodyguard,” Marlana said.
“Right,” Viviana said. She wasn’t sure how to continue. Humans weren’t even allowed in the house. He’d mentioned an alpha, though, hadn’t he? “But he’s—”
“Human,” the man said. “Yes, we all know I’m not a shifter.”
Viviana shook her head. “Mother, humans are weak. I could protect myself better than he could.”
“It’s time for you to leave the room,” Marlana said, communicating with her eyes that Viviana better obey. “Go pick out a dress for your party tonight.”
