by Sydney Addae
“Won’t you at least try it?” his Uncle asked Raven.
She shook her head and backed away.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” his Uncle said.
“Stop it. She already said no,” Lucian yelled and bulked to his two-footed beast.
Eyes from everywhere stared and pointed at him. “Beast,” they whispered. “Unnatural.” Lucian turned and ran with Raven calling out to him.
“I never asked for this. Never wanted this position. It’s not fair. Not fair,” he moaned beneath the stars.
“He’s not willing? Is this being forced on you?” The question rippled across his skin like a cool summer breeze.
He closed his eyes tighter. It was too much. Raven’s disappearance was another failure on his part. He was unprepared to protect them and lacked the knowledge necessary to win.
“Should I remove it?” The question was louder, more insistent.
“Remove what?” Lucian asked.
“Your Alpha status. You must be willing for this to work.” A wolf head appeared as a tattoo on his chest. It throbbed and then burned as if someone pressed a branding iron against his flesh.
He screamed from the pain. It hurt to breathe. “Stop. Please stop,” he cried out as his fists swung at the unseen tormentor.
The pain stopped. The smell of burning skin filled his nostrils. Gingerly, he touched his searing chest. Nothing. Surprised, he tried to get a better look and instead saw his Uncle lying broken, torn apart on the ground. Lucian closed his eyes and tried to wipe the image from his mind but couldn’t.
So much death and pain and heartache. How could he fix it?
He couldn’t. Not on his own. “Please help. Goddess, help me. Help us,” he cried out.
Incredible aromas filled the air. The sky lightened. The ground changed to beautiful flowers of all colors in a meadow, moving slightly in the wind. The sky brightened further, appearing bluer than normal. The fragrance of the blooms stole his attention and focus as he tried to recall his previous thoughts and concerns but couldn’t.
In the distance stood a castle, no, an old stone chapel with small holes dotting the sides of the building. Floating above the flowers, he inhaled their fragrance and relaxed.
The scenery changed. He was inside a small room with very little air movement. It was dark and quiet. Peering into the darkness, searching for clues of his location, he hovered above the floor for several seconds.
Breathing.
He isolated the sound and knew he’d been right. Someone was in this place, but where was he? Who was in the room?
The door opened. A sliver of light fell across the floor and lit a small section of the area. His heart dropped as his vision sharpened.
Raven lay asleep on a bed in the middle of the room and she wasn’t alone.
His eyes snapped open as he jerked upright. Chest heaving, he tried to recall the dream and cursed as it slipped away like smoke. “Raven?” he called in a hoarse voice.
Had that been her in the room? He couldn’t be sure. It had been dark. But there had been someone. A man. At least he thought it was a man. Was it the person who stole the crystals?
He sought help from his beast. “Tell me that was Raven,” he cried.
Nothing.
Where was that place? He dropped back onto the bed, prayed the dream would resume and fell into a deep, dreamless, sleep.
CHAPTER TEN
Zoe left the house after another heated discussion with her father. Whatever she was supposed to learn about Pack, she wasn’t learning. The Queen suggested she become more involved with daily Pack life, forgetting Zoe had never prepared a meal, washed clothes, or cleaned a bathroom while living in Lyrill.
Still, Zoe was willing to try. The one time she helped prepare dinner for her father and the others who dined in the Alpha house, had been disastrous. Not only did she not know the names of many of the ingredients, she also didn’t understand how to snap beans or peel potatoes with a knife. After cutting her fingers several times, she was asked to leave and hadn’t been invited back.
When she explained her lack of domestic abilities to her father, he gave her this amazed look and finally asked how she spent her days in Lyrill. That was the first time he ever showed any interest in the past 14 years she had been with the Queen. Wanting him to understand and be proud of her accomplishments, she explained her duties.
“If I’m not studying accounting or marketing, I’m working in my office organizing an event for the people. Usually, they call on me to solve managerial problems,” she said after sharing all the things she had done so far. Very few people back home matched her business skills.
His amazed expression clearly didn’t match her enthusiasm. “How will you run your den? Take care of your mate? Pups?” he asked.
Zoe hadn’t thought of mates or pups and it must have shown on her face.
“One day you’ll want to mate and have pups,” her father warned.
Life was much more than the world her father envisioned for her. She doubted they would ever find common ground. Disinterested in continuing that line of discussion she nodded. “Perhaps.”
“You’re a Hidalgo full-blood and my heir. One day you will mate and have pups.” He stormed off and left in his truck.
Zoe had left the house to avoid the confused looks sent her way from the Pack members who worked in the house. Listening to light jazz, she walked a great distance before stopping and leaned against a large tree while staring at the blue sky for several moments. It really was beautiful. Not like Lyrill, nothing could compare to the flowers and scents, but there was a rough, regal beauty to the land.
Her gaze landed on the chapel.
Curious or bored, she wasn’t sure which, she pushed away from the tree and headed toward the building. This was the place Pack was supposed to worship the Goddess. Zoe looked at the padlock on the door and looked up at the tall, stone building. There were a couple of windows higher up and a design of sorts on the outside. Rather than test the front door and trigger an alarm, she walked around the entire building looking for another way inside.
“Hmmm,” she murmured and looked around for something to climb up to the window on the second floor. It took several minutes but eventually she pulled enough large stones to act as a base to secure the shaky ladder she made from limbs and vines from a nearby tree. After several tries, she reached the window and pushed it open. Pulling up on the sill, she slid through the opening and hit the floor with an oof.
Her beast stirred, which surprised her. She inhaled deeply. There was something, maybe nothing. She took another breath and held it a moment longer.
Wiping her hands against her pants, she looked out the window. The ground looked far away. This probably wasn’t her best idea. The place smelled musty. Inhaling, she sneezed and froze.
Heartbeat.
Gaze narrowed, she listened closely. Someone was in the building even though she hadn’t scented them. That’s odd, she thought as she moved toward the spiral staircase and stared down. It was dim but there was definitely someone else in the building.
Interested, but not crazy enough to go see who it was, she reached out to her father. “How much longer before you come home?”
“An hour, why?”
Should she tell him where she was? “Just wondered.”
“Call Thiago to keep you company if you’re bored.”
Why would she do that? Thiago looked at her as if she were a weird specimen. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with him?” He sounded offended.
She bit back a sigh. The man seemed to get upset by everything she said or did. “Nothing. I don’t think he likes me, that’s all.” She leaned to the left for a better look and saw nothing.
“You’re wrong. He likes you. He just doesn’t know you.”
She didn’t care if Thiago liked her or not, or his judgmental ways. Just as she was about to respond she heard the key turn in the door on the first floor.
Inhaling, she recognized Silvia’s scent and wondered what the woman was doing there.
“Come down. I know you’re here,” Silvia said moving slowly.
Zoe didn’t say anything.
“Do you want me to tell him to contact you?” her father asked.
“No. I won’t spend time with him. If you don’t want him embarrassed or his feelings hurt, stop trying to push us together. I’m not interested.” She hoped she made her feelings clear on the matter to get him to back off.
“We’ll discuss it later,” he broke their connection before she could reply.
“Kira, come down from there.” There was an underlying command in her voice.
Zoe stepped carefully on the narrow staircase, glanced at a closed-door and reached the first floor.
“Do you believe in the Goddess?” Silvia asked while placing a basket on a table before turning to look at Zoe.
The question surprised her. “I think so.” In truth, she was just learning about the Goddess and everything so far fascinated her.
“She is good and wise.” Silvia stared at her for several more seconds. “I’m glad you have come.”
“Really?” The woman hadn’t spoken more than five words to her until now.
“Yes. There is much to do. Have a seat.” She waved her hand but there were no chairs.
“Where?” Zoe asked.
“Anywhere.”
“I’ll stand. What do you mean there is much to do?” Zoe hoped to learn who was in the room behind the door.
“Your mother, Marianna, was a wonderful woman. She faithfully served the Goddess and our pack with love and laughter. She died too young, before her time.”
“I wish I could remember her,” Zoe said sincerely. Everything she learned about the woman who birthed her was good.
“Her death. Alpha Ricardo’s Pack... they dragged her from her bed, took her into the woods and killed her and Suri because your father didn’t agree with using us for military experiments.”
“What?” Zoe stared at the older woman who seemed to grow smaller.
“Ricardo’s Pack are monsters.” She shook her head.
Zoe was still stuck on full-bloods being used for military experiments. The idea chilled her to the bone.
“You will see.” Silvia moved toward the hall and waved Zoe forward. She stopped at the closed door, pulled out a key and unlocked it.
“Why can’t I smell anything?” Zoe asked instead of moving to look inside.
Silvia tapped her forehead and smiled as she walked into the room.
Curious, Zoe stepped closer to the door and looked inside. Lying on a twin bed was a very pretty woman. She looked asleep. “Who is she?”
“Spawn of Alpha Ricardo,” Silvia said.
“Really?” Zoe’s beast stirred. “Can I smell her?” Her beast wanted to get closer for some reason.
“Take her arm,” Silvia said watching her intently.
Zoe placed her nose close to the woman’s arm and inhaled. Her beast went crazy. Horrified by her reaction, she dropped the hand and stared at Silvia. “Who is that?”
“One from Alpha Ricardo’s den.”
Zoe frowned. “From Honduras?”
Silvia nodded.
“Why is she here?” She looked around. “How are you feeding her?”
“I feed her late, very late while the world sleeps. I wake her to eat and bathe which is better than her Alpha did for my mistress,” Silvia said.
Zoe couldn’t take her eyes from the female. Dressed in jeans, a tee-shirt and sandals, the necklace filled with various crystals looked out of place. Leaning forward, Zoe recognized Kirlethanium, Huiblin, and Iritad. The last two crystals were unique to Lyrill. “Where did that necklace come from?” In the pit of her stomach, she knew the Queen had sent the crystals if not the whole necklace.
Silvia shrugged. “A gift.”
Their gazes met. “Why is she here?” Zoe calmed her beast to try and get answers. She was not attracted to women. Her beast’s reaction scared her.
“Waiting for you to return her home.”
Zoe jerked backward. “What?”
“Yes. You must take her home.” Silvia sounded sad as if it was the last thing she really wanted.
“Why do I have to take her anywhere? How long has she been here?” Surely the woman had to be out of her mind.
“You’re the only person who can return her without starting a war.” She held out her hand. “You cannot tell anyone she’s here.”
“I won’t keep this a secret from my father.” Zoe crossed her arms and glared at the woman.
“He will kill her.” Again, Silvia’s actions were at odds with her words. Zoe couldn’t shake the feeling Silvia disliked the young woman but would do everything to save her. It made no sense.
Her beast mourned at the idea of the young woman’s death. “He won’t.” Zoe wished she could refute Silvia’s claim with more certainty but wasn’t a hundred percent sure.
“Once he realizes the spawn of Alpha Ricardo is here, he will have his revenge and kill the female. If that happens, our Pack will be annihilated, including your father.”
The woman couldn’t be serious. “I can’t take her anywhere. I’ve agreed to remain here for six months. Leaving without telling him anything would be cruel.”
“Worse than watching him die knowing you could have prevented it?” Silvia leaned against the wall and stared at the woman on the bed.
Zoe opened her mouth and closed it. She looked at the stranger again. “Why are you so sure I’m the only one who can take her back to wherever she lives?”
“I’ve seen it.”
Zoe snorted and released a breath. Silvia had her believing this stuff for a moment. No way would she break a promise to her father and the Queen based on such weak information.
“You don’t believe me?” Silvia’s gaze narrowed as she straightened.
“I don’t know you well enough to believe you or not,” Zoe said diplomatically. No one wanted to be called a liar or crazy to their face.
“I’ll tell you what else I’ve seen. You organized Queen Miriam’s anniversary celebration. An elegant affair which you handled admirably. When Queen Miriam left with her lover, you spent time with a young gentleman. Tall, dark hair, gray eyes, and a sensual smile. He pressed you for sex. You said no. He continued pressing, touched you between your legs. You slapped him, stood and ran off.”
Horrified, Zoe stared at Silvia. She hadn’t told anyone, not even the Queen, about what happened between her and Marcus that night. She had been so humiliated and embarrassed by the names he called her when she refused to lay with him, that she remained in her room the next day. He apologized repeatedly, claiming he was drunk and begged for another chance. But his actions left a bad taste in her mouth and she refused to see him.
Zoe wrapped her arms around her waist and swallowed hard. “How?”
“Every now and then, the Goddess allows me to see things. It wasn’t your fault. He was drunk but not that drunk. If he persisted you would’ve shifted and killed him. No human, regardless of their enhancements, can rape a full-blood, especially a BlackWolf female.”
Zoe stared at the corner of the bed. No one knew what happened between her and Marcus. The Queen would’ve killed him if there had been any talk, which is why Zoe made sure to keep quiet.
How did Silvia, who lived on a different continent know? Had she told Zoe’s father? No. He would’ve said something.
“You must be the one to take her home and you must do it soon,” Silvia said with urgency.
Zoe cleared her throat. “I don’t have a way to get her home.” She frowned. “Wait, where does she live?”
“In Honduras.”
Zoe’s eyes widened. “In Central America? That Honduras?”
“Yes.”
“And how am I supposed to get there without my father or anyone finding out I’ve left?”
“You must think of something and it must be soon. He cannot find her her
e,” Silvia looked at the female on the bed again.
“Me? I’ve been here a week and couldn’t find my way back into town—”
“Yes, you could. Stop making excuses,” Silvia snapped. “No matter how fancy you dress or smell, you’re a smart full-blooded bitch. We make things happen. Find a way to return this woman to Honduras or prepare to bury your father and live a lifetime of misery.”
“Lifetime of misery?” Zoe shook her head. “I don’t know where you’re getting all this from –”
“I can see, remember?” Silvia said watching her.
Zoe would never forget. She looked at the female on the bed again. “I’m not trying to give you a hard time but I really don’t have the first idea how to get her out of here. The airport is four hours away. I don’t have a car or transportation. Plus, she’s unconscious. I can’t physically carry her to another country.”
“The airport is not four hours it’s two. Why do you say that?”
“It took that long to get here,” Zoe said.
Silvia shook her head. “No. Thiago drove around to be sure Alpha had returned from the airport gathering your luggage.”
Speechless, Zoe stared at her. She had been royally played. Suddenly, leaving the old man to spin in the wind didn’t sound like such a bad idea.
“I don’t know what to say. What to think. This is a lot to take in. My life is spiraling out of control and I don’t like it,” Zoe said.
“You must leave tomorrow night at the latest. Go, make plans and do not return here until I tell you it’s safe. Shower when you reach your rooms to remove her scent,” Silvia said as if Zoe hadn’t protested to the entire idea of taking a stranger somewhere.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
RESTED, THE NEXT DAY Thomas and the team return to Sterling to shut down the lab. Lizzie insisted on seeing the job through and Matteo accompanied her. Thomas hadn’t fully explained anything to Matteo and wouldn’t unless he was a part of their team. Lizzie understood and was understandably conflicted.
Rather than head to the house, they drove to the location of the lab. Max morphed to a smaller form when they were two blocks away from the building. When they stopped to let him out, he dropped to the sidewalk the size of a toad and ran toward a house. From there he moved with incredible speed up the side of the building and hopped over several rooftops until he reached the roof of the lab. Once there, he shrunk smaller to enter the roof vent.
