Makenna shivered. Then her mouth fell open for the second time today.
Every person around them dropped to their knee and bowed their head.
Except for Trystan.
She spun slowly, not believing what she saw. They bowed to her. They accepted her as their Alpha. Her chest swelled with unfamiliar sensations and tears flooded her eyes.
She whispered to Rhys. “They don’t have to do this.”
“Actually, they do. It’s how our society works. They pledge an oath to follow us, or they leave the pack.” He turned to Trystan, eyes hard. “What will it be, Trystan?”
Only they could hear Trystan’s low words as he met Rhys’ stare. “What I do, I do as Beta, for the good of our people. Out of respect for you.” He glared at Makenna then. “But make no mistake. She only has my fealty because of you. Give me one reason and I will revoke it.” He gave Rhys a sharp nod before hitting his knee.
Makenna took the two steps to Trystan and grabbed his arm. He stared at her hand until she pulled it back, then raised his head.
Makenna’s heart pounded. “I don’t want it like this. You either respect me for me or not at all.” She took a deep breath, pulling courage from the depths of her soul. She would work hard and prove she was worthy of being Alpha. “I will earn it. When I do, then you can bow.”
Rhys stiffened as Trystan stared. There was more curiosity in Trystan’s eyes than anger.
Finally, Trystan stood. “So be it.”
Rhys released a breath. “On your feet.” The crowd rose, waiting for word from their Alpha. “We have to leave this place.” Whispers spread, and Rhys held up a hand. “Our location has been compromised. I have a place for us. We will leave this afternoon.” He sighed, sadness lining his face. Makenna tightened her hold on his hand, willing him strength. “I know this has been our home for over a decade. But we always knew this was a possibility. Kylian is massing his forces. He will strike soon. We won’t make an easy target.”
Agreement swept through the crowd. Some nodded. Some shouted “death to Kylian”. Others simply clung to their mates.
Bowen gave a quick bow. “I’ll see that preparations are made quickly.” He turned, corralling the pack to move.
Mr. Labeaux nodded. “I’ll get to helpin’. See you in a bit, cha.” He scurried after Bowen.
Amanda tackled Makenna in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Her voice had tears in it.
Makenna pulled back after a minute, not used to so many emotional displays. Hugs had been few and far between in her life. But she could learn to like it. Rhys had warned her shifters were highly tactile, thriving on touch. She wiped tears from her own eyes.
Family. She finally had a real family.
She laughed when Talon lifted her in a monster bear hug. When he set her down, Rhys pulled her to him again, as if he was tired of others hogging her.
Talon grinned, but it was cautious. “You’re here for good, right?”
Makenna nodded, smiling up at Rhys. “I’m here to stay.”
Amanda took both Makenna’s hands. “We have so much to catch up on. I want to know all about your life. What it was like to be human, everything.”
Makenna stiffened. Her sister seemed so sweet and almost naive, even though Makenna knew she was as vicious a warrior as the rest of them. She didn’t want to darken their reunion with tales of her shitty life. She had a sudden urge to protect Amanda. Since Rhys had told her she was the oldest sister, only Talon being older than her, it made sense.
She couldn’t let Kylian get to this precious woman. She wanted time to get to know Amanda and Talon. Time to be a real family.
Her brain churned, mulling over ways to make that happen.
She forced a smile and nodded at Amanda.
Rhys came to her rescue. “There’ll be time for that after we move. We need to work quickly. There was a lot of activity at the compound last night.” His voice got that hard, Alpha edge to it. “Kylian could strike at any time.”
Trystan spoke up, his arms folded across his chest. “After seeing the shit storm Kylian’s about to unleash, what’s your plan? Surely you’re not expecting us to go up against him with just our pack.” He planted his hands on his hips and faced off with Rhys. “We’ll have to call in the rest of the clans. What’s left of them.”
Makenna held back a growl. She didn’t care for the way Trystan spoke to Rhys. He may be Beta, but he needed to show some respect.
Surprise rippled through her as the men kept talking. Already, she was thinking like an Alpha. She wasn’t trying, it just happened. Because that’s exactly what she was. She was Alpha and queen of the clan. They were her responsibility. She had a duty to protect them, to earn the faith they’d placed in her when they’d given her their allegiance.
The solution hit her with the force of a hurricane.
Stepping between the men, she placed a hand on Rhys’ chest.
It was time to step up. Time to be the Morrigan, whatever the hell that meant. Which right then, meant doing what she had to in order to save her people.
She was the only one who could.
Gathering her courage yet again and taking a deep breath, she looked up at Rhys who had raised an eyebrow at her interruption.
“I have an idea.” Her growing confidence bled into her voice, solid and sure.
“What is it, love?” Rhys covered her hand on his chest with his own. He looked at her like he truly wanted to hear what she had to say. Only the kids in her class had ever looked at her that way.
“If we take Kylian and Brianna down, their magic will break, right? Then everyone under their power will be free?” Killing her father and her sister wasn’t what she would’ve wanted, but they’d made their choices.
His eyes darkened, worry flashing. “Yes.” It sounded like a question.
She took a deep breath. “Then I go back in and wipe them out.”
Amanda gasped. Talon growled. Trystan frowned.
Storm clouds billowed in Rhys’ eyes. His hand tightened on hers as every muscle in his body tensed.
Makenna held her breath, feeling the turmoil rise in her mate. The storm was about to burst free.
It wouldn’t be pretty.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Heroes
Makenna parked her truck beside Rhys’ bike. Trystan pulled up on his bike with Amanda on the back, and Talon brought up the rear in his souped-up Ram.
These people sure did like their vehicles.
Modes of transportation weren’t what she was thinking about, though.
“We’ll discuss this later.”
That’s all Rhys had said after her declaration she’d infiltrate the compound and kill Brianna and Kylian. Then he’d prodded them into action packing up the camp. He hadn’t spoken a word as they’d boxed his things, then moved from house to house, checking that everyone was prepared.
She’d caught him watching her as they worked. He’d randomly walk up and kiss her temple, or massage her neck, like he couldn’t keep from touching her. As if he were making sure she was real and there with him. Assuring himself she was whole.
Makenna knew why.
Fear drove his actions and his silence. He couldn’t stand the thought of possibly sending her to her death.
She didn’t want to die. That was the whole point. But pressing the issue right then wouldn’t have done any good.
Two large, rented box trucks beeped as they backed in, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She climbed out and surveyed the old plantation, two parishes away from New Orleans. It was in the middle of nowhere. To the left, abandoned sugar cane fields stretched as far as the eye could see. The house was tucked into the edge of the forest. It was ancient, but huge and in decent repair. Several outbuildings and small houses were spread around the grounds. A few things needed fixing, and it needed a new coat of paint, but it was beautiful. She stared until Rhys came to her side.
He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck
. “Our pack lived here when I was young, after the war began.” He massaged her tense muscles, but his own tension prevented her from relaxing. “We moved a lot then. My father didn’t want Kylian to find us. He did anyway.” His pain wrenched her heart and she slid her arms around him. “But he never found this place.”
“It’s beautiful.”
The pack moved around them, carrying their things to the outlying cabins. Talon, Trystan, and Amanda unloaded her and Talon’s trucks, lugging their cargo into the main house.
Yet Rhys stood still, staring at the house and grounds, his thoughts in the past. Shadows lurked in his eyes as he watched the pack.
Their spirits were high despite the dark cloud hanging over them. Jokes and light-hearted insults flew as they made themselves a new home. Laughter echoed. They were resilient. Warriors of the highest caliber. They didn’t fear the coming battle.
They enjoyed the time outside of the fight to the fullest. They didn’t just survive the years of war, they thrived. It may not have been the life others would choose, but it was all they knew, and they made the best of it.
She would do the same. She’d learn their way of life, she’d lead them the best she could by Rhys’ side. These people were hers. She belonged here. They were her family.
And she would die for them if necessary.
Makenna squeezed Rhys, then released him and reached into the cab for the suitcases. “We should get settled.”
Somehow, she’d lighten that load he bore. She could take part of the world off his shoulders now. Or at least, try her best. She had a purpose. A reason.
She’d give it her all.
Rhys snapped out of his trance. “Yes.” He ran his hands through his long hair, then pulled a band from his pocket and tied it back. He reached in the bed of her truck and grabbed a box, following her to the house. “As soon as we’re finished, we need to call a meeting to plan our next move.”
We. It was odd being a we when she’d always just been her. He was including her in his plans like it was completely normal. She smiled. She could get used to being a we.
Makenna climbed the peeling steps and walked through the open front door. She set the suitcases down on the shiny wood floor in the large foyer. Her mouth fell open. It was gorgeous. To her right, Amanda and Trystan removed dust covers from antique furniture in a huge living room. To her left, Talon uncovered a dining room table big enough to seat twenty. Straight ahead was a winding staircase like she’d only seen in movies.
“I sent a few of the pack ahead to stock the pantry and put out fresh linens.” Rhys headed for the stairs. “Come on, I’ll show you our room.”
Our room. So much uncharted territory.
Makenna picked the luggage back up and followed him up the staircase, down a hall, then up another smaller set of stairs. At the top was an archway. She walked through it into another spacious living room. An open door to the right held an office, its furniture dark and heavy. She followed Rhys through a door on the left.
She caught her breath at the rich, luscious room. Dropping the suitcases, she took in the space that would be theirs. Burgundy and black dominated the room, with touches of cream. The humongous, four-poster bed was covered in thick, plush linens and pillows she couldn’t wait to roll around in.
Preferably with Rhys. Naked.
Her face got hot, and she blew out a breath. She walked to the French doors and opened them wide. She stepped out on the balcony. A balcony. In her room.
“Do you like it?” Rhys’s chest warmed her back and his arms came around her belly. He rested his jaw against her temple.
“I love it. I’ve never lived anywhere like this before.” The words were whispered as she looked out over their home. Peace settled in her heart. She dared not speak too loudly or she’d break the spell.
“I’m glad. I wish I could spoil you more, but funds aren’t what they used to be before the war.” Sadness touched his voice, and she longed to erase it.
She turned in his arms, butterflies taking flight in her stomach. Suddenly, she didn’t know what to do with herself. It was all so new. The shifter world. The house. The man who held her. All at once, she realized they didn’t really know each other. They didn’t have a routine together.
She didn’t know how he took his coffee or if he even drank coffee. Or his favorite dinner. Or what he liked to do for fun. Just what kind of money did he have, and would she be able to fit in his world when she’d never had any? Was he a bed hog? A cuddler? Did he snore? Watch TV until he fell asleep? What kind of music did he like? They didn’t even have a song.
Yet here they were, moving their pack into a new home, planning a war, trying to figure out how to kill her father and keep their people alive.
Oh, and their souls were bound together for all eternity.
Tension filled the air. Her chest grew heavy. The darkness they lived under, the reality of their situation, hit her full force.
Makenna patted Rhys on the chest and squirmed away from him, heading back inside. She lugged a suitcase to the walk-in closet, then went back for the other.
Rhys took her hand as she reached for it. “Hey.” He grabbed her hips. “Is everything okay? Do you need to rest? It’s been a long couple days.”
“No, I’m fine. There’s a lot to do. We should get busy or everyone will have a shit fit that they’re doing all the work.” She tried to wriggle away, and he wouldn’t let her.
“Kenna, we’ll figure it out.” He lifted her chin. “And we’ll learn everything about each other along the way.” He kissed her forehead, then her cheeks, then the corners of her mouth. “Don’t hide from me. The only way this works is if we’re open with each other. If we trust each other.” He planted a kiss on her mouth. “Trust me. I’ll get us through this. I’ll give you the life you always dreamed of.”
That was part of the problem. She’d never dreamed of the future. Now, if they moved forward with her plan, she may not have one. But she couldn’t tell him that. He was already against it. If she told him how scared she was, she’d never be able to convince him.
She smiled and pulled his lips back to hers. She planted soft kisses on him until he nipped her lip sharply, telling her to open for him. She did, and he took charge, diving deep and kissing her like his life depended on it.
As he pulled her close, his hands running over her body leaving a trail of fire, he told her with his touch and his kiss how much she meant to him. How he cared. He spoke without words, telling her she held his heart. That he was determined to protect her. That he wanted to be everything to her, as she was to him.
She melded her body to his. The heat from his touch warmed her heart as he opened himself completely to her. He trusted her with his life and begged her to trust him with hers.
Makenna couldn’t let him bear that burden. All her life, she’d done nothing but hurt those around her. Now was her chance to rectify that. She could save their people. Save him.
She couldn’t give him all of herself, just in case. She would do everything in her power to keep him from any more pain.
Makenna pulled away, breathless and shaken. Rhys searched her eyes as she smiled. She did her best to keep him from seeing her fear. To keep that worry from him.
It must’ve worked because he grinned. Then he turned her around and pointed her at the door, smacking her on the ass.
“Let’s get to work then, love. I want to get done as soon as possible because I need to get you back here and christen that bed.”
She tossed a smile over her shoulder, then headed down the stairs.
She’d never wanted to be a hero. Still didn’t. All she wanted was to save her people, save her mate, and take that haunted look from his eyes.
And she would or die trying.
“No way in fucking Ifrin are you going in there alone.”
Makenna stiffened as Rhys’ hand came down hard on the table.
After they’d lugged in all their stuff and gotten a few things put away, Amanda had
hollered up the stairs that she had supper ready. Turned out, her sister was a killer cook. The po boys she’d whipped together had been awesome.
Once they’d eaten their fill along with half the pack, the others left, and Rhys, Makenna, Trystan, Bowen, Talon, and Amanda had gathered around the table for a powwow over how to best take down Kylian and end the war. Mr. Labeaux had kissed her cheek and gone back to the shop, promising to see her soon.
Now she stared down her mate, marveling at his transformation. Gone was the sweet, accommodating lover.
In his place was the Alpha, the king, laying down the law with an iron fist. Though she preferred the former, she had to admit, this Rhys was sexy as hell. And she had no qualms about going head to head with him. She’d done it a few times already.
She’d known her plan would be a hard sell, but she didn’t think he’d be that over the top about it. She sensed the root of his fury and refusal was fear of losing her, but that still didn’t give him the right to shoot her down out of hand. They were supposed to lead together.
She stood and rested her hands on the table. “Will you please just hear me out?”
He looked at her like she’d said she’d decided to fly around on a broom from now on. “When you stop saying crazy shit, absolutely. I’ll listen to whatever sane, logical plan you have.”
Makenna growled. Great. Their second fight. Or was it their third? Either way, it had the potential to be bigger than the last one when she threw him through a wall. She eyed the window.
Rhys smirked. “Don’t even think about it, woman.”
“Then stop being an asshole.”
“Now you’re just giving me ideas.”
“You wish. Not in this lifetime, buddy.”
“I bet I could have you singing a different tune.”
Sleeper (Rise of the Fianna Book 1) Page 29
