by Bianca D'Arc
“My wife will be relieved to hear it. She’s been feeling a little outnumbered by all the shifters up north where we live. Once things settle down, you’ll have to come up for a visit.”
“So your wife isn’t were?” Maria was intrigued.
Rocky shook his head but smiled. “No, she’s human. But our two boys started shifting almost from the get go. It was hard for her to get used to at first. Especially with two of them running around. Twins aren’t easy to deal with. We had to fence in the backyard right away or we’d have lost them in the woods a few hundred times. That won’t last long though. As soon as they learn how to climb, we’re going to be in big trouble.” He laughed and the other men joined in.
“I can’t even imagine.” Maria let the magical family tree dissipate.
“It’s a shame your line doesn’t seem able to shift. There are so few of us grizzlies,” Rocky said thoughtfully a moment later.
“Sorry. I never really even believed in my own magic until a couple of days ago.” Maria gave him a rueful smile.
“Not your fault, just an observation. You don’t suppose your auntie can shift and just never mentioned it, do you?” Rocky looked hopeful.
“I’m not sure.” Maria thought back to all the times her aunt had wanted to tell her more about magic and Maria had tuned her out. “Frankly, I’m going to have to apologize to her and to Nona. I’ve been a little rude to them about magic all these years.”
Jesse smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. “They’ll forgive you. I think, judging by what you’ve told me about them, they’re going to enjoy being part of our extended Pack, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I think they’ll really like being able to be open about their abilities in a place where people really do believe in magic.” Maria didn’t even have to think about that answer. For a long time, her female relatives had been reclusive from human society, preferring to keep to themselves or spend long summers up at the cabin where they could be who they were without having to hide their differences.
The group talked about families and adjusting to Pack life for a while before Jesse’s phone rang, drawing him away from the group. He returned a moment later with a grin.
“You were right about your aunt and granny not waiting for an invitation. They just showed up in town, asking where to find me.”
“Oh, no. Who did they ask?” Maria dreaded the idea that her relatives were being indiscrete.
“It’s okay. They apparently followed the magic to a restaurant owned and frequented by weres. The owner just called me. I’m sending someone down to bring them up the mountain.” Jesse seemed very casual about the whole thing, but she guessed it wasn’t everyday strangers were invited into the heart of Pack territory.
“I’m so sorry.” She was mortified on one level and excited to see her relatives on another.
“Don’t be,” Jason reinforced his brother’s casual attitude. “Sally wants to meet them and they’d have been invited anyway. Besides, it’s kind of cool to have an eccentric auntie in the family.” Jason laughed and Sally swatted his arm.
“It’s really okay, Maria. Don’t pay any attention to him.” Sally shot her husband a mocking, dirty look. “Were Packs have their share of eccentrics. It’s all that magic and howling at the moon.”
“I hope you’ll understand, but for security reasons I’m arranging this first meeting at our house, Jay,” Jesse declared in a firm voice. “I don’t want to expose the Pack yet, just in case her relatives take exception to our mating.”
“They wouldn’t,” Maria objected, but in her heart she wasn’t one hundred percent certain. The safety of the Pack had to come first. Maria understood that. “Still,” she went on, “it’s probably for the best that I talk to them first before you guys meet them. A lot has changed in a couple of days.”
The group dispersed with good wishes for Maria’s family reunion. Jesse escorted Maria out to a Jeep and seated her with a kiss before moving around to the driver’s side. He drove them quickly and expertly over back-country roads through some of the most beautiful woodland Maria had ever seen. Where she lived in Iowa, things were kind of flat, but out here there were ridges, foothills and mountains. Lots of interesting terrain and lovely, giant trees in an ancient forest. The magic of the place seeped into her newly awakened senses and she felt welcomed once again, by the saplings and trees. It was really an amazing feeling of coming home to a place she’d never been before.
When he pulled the Jeep around a curve near the top of a mountain they’d been climbing steadily, Maria was stunned by the natural beauty of the house set back in the woods as if it belonged there. It was made of wood, of course, with a sloping roof whose curve echoed the sighing limbs above her head. It fit. It was part of the forest in which it lived.
“This is my place. Our place now, if you want to live here.” Jesse looked nervous when she tore her gaze from the house to look at his face.
She leaned across the center console to cup his stubbly face in one palm. “It’s gorgeous, Jesse. And I’m content anywhere, as long as we’re together.”
Relief seemed to flood his expression. He leaned over to kiss her long and deep before getting out of the Jeep and jogging around to help her down from the high vehicle. He held her hand as they walked slowly toward the structure.
“I designed this place and a couple of the guys helped me build it a few years back. It has all kinds of security features that you can’t really see, but you’ll be safe here, Maria. Nobody will get past my guys and me.”
“I believe that,” she said softly, knowing he was doing his best to make her feel secure. She really appreciated that after what she’d been through the past few days.
“My men live all around slightly below this point. It just worked out that way. I was the only one willing to brave the winds up here on the peak, but I compromised and built just below the crest. The actual top of the mountain is still a few yards above us, behind the house. This way, we only get the wind from the front and sides, but the trees have really filled in to help out as a windbreak.” He seemed to think about that for a moment. “Maybe they knew you were coming? Or maybe Leonora did me a favor I wasn’t aware of until this moment. The woods weren’t this dense when I started building up here.”
Maria extended her senses and felt a little glow of residual magic. “Someone’s done something here. The trees were encouraged and still carry a little bit of the magic they used. It was done with love. That, I can tell. There’s a great feeling of love and protection in every tree and sapling.”
“Amazing. I think maybe Leonora knew more about the future than she was letting on. Is there any foresight in your family?”
“My aunt sees things sometimes,” Maria answered at once. That’s probably how she knew where to come. I never told her specifically where we were going.”
“It could be the grizzly influence. A lot of them are shamans. But I’m going to bet on the dryad side this time.” He grinned as they mounted the steps to the front door.
He opened the door and then surprised her by scooping her up into his arms. He carried her across the threshold, then paused to kiss her breathless just inside the house. When he finally let her up for air, her head was spinning. He always seemed to have that sort of effect on her.
“Welcome home, Maria. My mate. My love.” His voice was deep and heartfelt, zinging through her with emotion so strong, it brought a tear to her eye.
“Isn’t he handsome?” a familiar voice sounded from outside at the bottom of the steps.
Jesse set Maria on her feet and sprung into a ready state while she took in the fact that her aunt was already here, standing beside her grandmother, backed by a very amused-looking man in fatigue pants and a black T-shirt. She thought she remembered him from her kitchen and thought his name was Arlo. He tipped his imaginary cap in her direction as he smiled.
“I brought your visitors, Alpha,” Arlo said unnecessarily. I honked the horn, but I think you and your lady w
ere otherwise engaged. He seemed to chuckle, but wisely didn’t allow his mirth to be heard aloud.
Jesse shook his head and stepped back while Maria rushed down the stairs to welcome her family. They enveloped her in herb-scented hugs that were so familiar and so cherished that the tear that had threatened really did fall this time. All three women were smiling and crying after a round of fierce hugs.
When Maria looked around after the crying and hugging had come to a natural end, Jesse and the man were both gone. The front door remained open, so Maria mounted the steps, helping Nona to a seat on the wide front porch. There were wicker chairs and a small, glass-topped mosaic table that looked inviting. Maria answered her family’s questions for a good twenty minutes before Jesse reappeared with a giant tea tray filled with sandwiches and beverages.
Introductions were made as Jesse joined them. He took her aunt’s teasing well, but her nona seemed harder to impress. Finally, she spoke, surprising Maria with her words.
“I’m a human mage, young man. I have no shifter blood. No dryad blood,” Nona said with great dignity. Maria had explained about the family tree in as much detail as she could to her very interested audience. “I was drawn to my husband by his magic, and it’s good to know it was a pure magic, though he never really acknowledged it. He worked hard all his life and was killed in a freak accident that I have long considered suspicious.” Maria hadn’t known that, but questions had to wait until Nona was finished with whatever it was she wanted to say. “I taught my children and grandchildren what I knew, but I always sensed it wasn’t quite enough for them. Their magic is quite different from mine, though we serve the same Mistress. I want you to know that I serve Mother Earth and will not tolerate anything different for my granddaughter. I want to know where you stand on the matter, young wolf, and what your intentions are.”
Jesse nodded gravely, treating her eccentric granny with all the respect of an elder statesman. His gesture touched Maria more than she could say.
“Ma’am. I stand on the side of the Light. I serve the Lady in all Her forms, as do all here in my territory, in my Pack. Unlike most, I am sworn to fight Her enemies wherever I find them. I will not lie. It is dangerous work, but it is my calling and I have trained all my life to be the best I can at it. I do not go unprepared into this fight and I can protect my mate, myself, my men and my Pack. It is my sacred duty, bound by the goddess Herself.”
Wow. Maria noticed the way he put her first. So did her grandmother, judging by the smile just starting to lift the corners of her mouth.
“We have an accord then. I give her into your care with a happy heart, though I could wish you were an accountant rather than a soldier. Still, Mother Earth knows what She is doing. Our Maria was always more adventurous than the rest of her generation. She will make you a good partner on your journey through life.”
Maria felt the magic of her nona’s benediction, and judging by the sparkle in his eyes when he met her gaze, Jesse felt it too. This was it then. They had the blessings of both families, the woods, the Pack Alphas and a whole lot of other shifters she’d met over the course of the past few days. Life wouldn’t always be perfect—there was the Venifucus to consider, of course—but her new life with Jesse was well underway, and she couldn’t wait to see where their journey together might lead.
Epilogue
That night, after introducing her relatives to Jason, Sally and Rocky, and spending a very interesting meal discussing family histories and blood lines, Jesse and Maria spent their first night together in their new home. It was everything Maria had ever hoped for and more. There was something special about being in the place they would spend a good portion of their lives. A house they would make a home. Together.
The next day, Sally came to get Maria early. She already had Nona and her aunt in the vehicle and the four women went together to a place called Yellowtail Ridge on foot. Sally interpreted what the trees told her in their song that only she could hear. Maria felt the welcome that came up to her from the very earth and the roots of the great trees and saplings all around.
Her aunt stayed silent about what she might be feeling, probably in deference to Nona, who was her mother, after all. Nona hung back when they approached a willow tree that was glowing to Maria’s vision, though none of the others said they saw anything different about it.
“This is where Leonora is resting from her injuries,” Sally told them. The night before she’d described the battle that had ended in the dryad being poisoned and near death in detail. Sally had used the power of the forest to encase Leonora in the trunk of this willow tree and it had promised to keep her safe until they could gather enough of the dryad’s descendants to work a great undertaking of magic to free her and heal her of her grievous wounds.
Maria felt the tug on her heart when she thought about the dryad imprisoned in the tree. If she looked very hard, she could almost see the outline of a female body held within the bosom of the willow.
“Leonora feels your presence but says you are unable to hear her,” Sally reported, seeming to be listening to something only she could hear.
“You can speak to her?” Nona asked sharply.
“A little. It’s hard for her with her energy so low, but from time to time she does speak to me still,” Sally answered. “She’s glad you’re here. You too, Margarita.”
Nona gasped. “How does she know my name?”
“Leonora is far older than the oldest tree in this forest,” Sally replied with a gentle smile. “She was able to track some of her progeny and watch who they married. She says she was happy when Antonio joined her line to yours. Your blood is of proud lineage and your ancestors fought alongside those who opposed the great evil in days of old.”
“So my grandfather always claimed,” Nona answered with a tear in her eye. “Much of my family history was lost when he passed. I’ve done the best I could with what little he was able to teach me before he left for the next realm.”
“And Leonora says you’ve done very well. You’ve made Guiseppe proud.”
Nona’s tear fell then, running down her face in a happy little river at the message from beyond.
“We must gather all the women of our line that we can reach.” Sally grew serious once more. “It will take a great deal of magic of all different flavors to free Leonora safely. And she says it’s time to reunite the daughters of the dryad. Our forest magic will be needed in the times to come, as will yours, Margarita. All magic that is used for good will be welcomed into the circle.”
Nona smiled like a young girl and Maria was touched by Leonora’s words spoken through Sally’s lips.
“Thank her for me, Sally, please. It would be my honor to help in whatever small way I can.”
“Good.” Sally beamed. “You can start by calling all your grandchildren and inviting them to a family reunion.”
“Done.” Nona laughed and the rest of the women followed suit.
“One thing’s for sure,” Maria said with a giggle. “This is going to be one hell of a party.”
“Magical boot camp is more like it,” Sally added, sobering a bit. “If Leonora has her way. She wants us to train up our magic so the forest won’t suffer while she’s indisposed. And so we’ll be ready when and if the time comes to fight the Venifucus.”
“I’ve already seen some of what they can do. I think it’s a really good idea to prepare. I got lucky this time,” Maria replied. “Next time I want to be prepared as well as lucky.”
Later that night, after making love to her mate, Maria told Jesse all about the hen party in the woods. He agreed with her desire to train her magic and added another facet to her plans.
“I haven’t been able to give you the full tour yet, but there’s a fully operational dojo a short walk from here where all my men train. I think the women should make use of it as well. You know as well as I do that when and if the Venifucus come, they won’t care if you’re male, female or even a child. We can add some aikido classes for fun and hope
fully train up a lot of the wives and kids while we prepare them for the worst-case scenario.”
“I’d love to be part of that,” Maria enthused. “But at some point we have to go back to Iowa so I can clean up, pack the rest of my stuff and turn over the sanctuary to someone else.”
“You could also set up a vet practice here. Even a sanctuary of sorts, if you really want it. We often try to help some of the wild ones who live in our territory if they get into trouble. You could be a big help with that.”
She sat up and leaned on his bare chest, feeling excited for the possibilities of her new life. She’d thought she wouldn’t be able to continue her veterinary practice, but she should have realized that Jesse would find a way for her to fulfill all her potentials.
“Can I? Really?” She stroked his chest, eager to hear his answer. “It wouldn’t be as big as what I had in Iowa, but a small practice would be really wonderful.”
“While I’m at it, is there anything else I can do to repair the damage I did to your peaceful life?” He laughed. “I’ve got the dojo so you can continue with your aikido. I’ll build you an animal hospital with my own hands if I have to. I’ve given you my house, my forest, my Pack, and most of all…my heart.”
“If I have your heart—” she leaned in to kiss him, “—I really don’t need anything else at all.”
About the Author
Bianca D’Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Facebook, her Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BiancaDArc/join, or through the various links on her website, www.biancadarc.com.
