by JK Cooper
Athena had used a wolf who had no interaction with Mareus to buy her new clothing. He had decent taste. He’d kept her new outfits in their bags and hid them in a rotting log for her return. She then burned what she was wearing, along with juniper boughs, sage, cedar, and fresh-cut pine. She stood in the coals, letting the smoke bathe her skin, before stepping naked into the woods.
Athena hated to admit it, even to herself, but she’d enjoyed her time away from her father’s constant planning and strategizing. His obsession with his long-dead parents and his hopes they could help unlock the secrets of the Isluxua had begun to wear on her. She wanted the Advent pack to achieve Ascension as much as anyone, to bring unity to all Lycans in their rightful place over humanity, but she also wanted to be the Omega of legend who would make that possible.
Mareus doubted her, despite her skills. I’ve kept the largest pack in history from tearing itself apart. A stab of bitterness ran through her soul. She channeled that into her work, chipping away at Shelby, her walls, and her bond. You aren’t the one. I am.
Rolling in dust, slogging through streams, crawling through rosemary had been a welcome vacation, even though she hadn’t been entirely off duty. They were at war on multiple fronts. Someone had to keep some control over the Advent, push those that needed their blood burning as they went into battle, calm those that had ideas of toppling Mareus. But she’d used the other Omegas in the pack to do most of the work, pouring emotions and direction into them. Multitasking and delegating. Look at me now, all grown up.
Neither she nor Mareus were sure if his scent would trigger latent memories in her grandparents reborn, but they did not want to take the risk just yet. Her scent was similar enough to his, so it was wise to limit the layers of familiarity.
Shelby had put up walls faster than Athena had anticipated, but walls could be overcome. You just have to find the cracks, dig under, or flood them until you flow over. Can you handle all three at once, Shelby?
She poured out more emotion but had to slow it while she focused briefly on the invading force that was turning a small town near the Canadian border. She eased their fear, upped their aggression, and increased their hunger. It took only seconds, and then she turned her full attention back to Shelby.
Athena found another crack of doubt. She widened it. Doubt and fear are the best ways to break bonds, and we need you broken, grandmother, if you’re going to do what we want. But you won’t take my place. I will kill you before you become the Omega Prime of my pack.
“So, you're halfway through day three,” Kale said as he slid his tray across the table with about as much enthusiasm as someone eating black licorice. He sat down opposite Shelby. “What do you think of small-town high so far?”
Shelby looked at her food. Some kind of saucy gray-brown meat —was it beef?— rested on top of a layer of long grain white rice. She hated non-sticky rice. The carrot cake smelled like that weird pad that gets put down beneath carpet.
“Well, I like the company better than the food,” Shelby said, plastering on a smile, even though her head pounded, and her stomach churned from more than the sloshing meal in front of her. Am I getting sick? I never get sick. “Looks like I'll be packing lunch from home from now on.”
Bubba swooped into the seat next to Shelby. She felt the bench bend under his weight. Bubba didn’t say a word before he started mowing through his food, carpet pad-smelling carrot cake and all, mixing savory and sweet in ways Shelby did not find appealing.
She put her fork completely down.
“You gonna eat that?” Bubba said around a mouthful, pointing to Shelby's tray of food.
She pushed on the tray, watched the meat slop jiggle, and slid her food over to Bubba. “All yours.”
“Thanks, girl.”
Tommy and Karina Kenzie walked over and sat down without saying a word of greeting either. Shelby felt their glum mood, the residual effects from the Hunter attack. She sent comfort to them through the pack link, pouring more than she felt herself their way.
Karina, a freshman and as new to Lansborough High as Shelby, met her eyes. The relief in them was plain to see at receiving Shelby’s soothing. Shelby sent more.
“I’m worried about Rachel,” Tommy finally said as he prodded at his food with his own fork almost as suspiciously as Shelby had. He turned that suspicious look on Bubba, as if wondering if he could speak openly in front of someone not of the pack.
“You mean genius Bingham?” Bubba asked. “And don’t be all looking at me with that untrusting stare. We’ve played football together for years, and you ain’t never told me y’all’s little secret.” Bubba turned to Kale and mimed a howl, raising puckered lips to the sky. “Y’all know mine now too.”
“Yeah, but now I also know you for sure let people pass you, bro,” Kale said. “No excuse with your own little hush-hush you’ve been hiding, is there?”
“Like I done told you. You could take it. And that was before I knew ’bout your turbo-healing thang.”
“It was kind of awesome seeing Anton pummel you the first day of tryouts,” Tommy said to Kale. “About time someone did.”
That had been the day of pom-pom push-ups, as Shelby understood the story. Tommy played wide receiver, and had a distinct advantage, calling on his wolf during games. Shelby wasn’t sure that was cheating, but it kind of felt like it. Still, it isn’t like steroids or anything. Or is it?
That had also been the same day Shelby slew the springboard, met Sadie, and fell on Chelsea’s bad side. It was also the day she and Kale had felt each other’s presence before meeting. Our wolves sensed each other. She smiled at the boy.
She fell into the encompassing emotion of being found, being home . . . finally. How long have Eira and Skotha been separated from each other? Centuries? Millennia since they were just themselves. That’s what Eira showed me.
Shelby didn’t completely understand the memories that Eira trickled into her head, little by little, but each was a puzzle piece snapping back into place in her soul.
“Um, so what about Rachel?” Karina asked. “Tommy and I are worried.”
“How so?” Shelby asked, coming back to the moment, feeling the needs of her pack as an itch that had to be scratched.
“She’s not here,” Tommy said. “She hasn’t been herself. I mean, none of us have been, but not coming to school is so not like her. She’s been so abrupt and indifferent the times I have seen her. And she said her dad hasn’t spoken since the attack.”
“She lost her mother and brother,” Kale said. “I think we just need to be there for her. Isn’t her birthday coming up? Maybe we can throw a surprise party or something.”
“Sounds riveting,” Karina said. “I’ll make a banner. Have it say ‘You’re going to Hell, but at least we’ll be together!’”
That was typical Karina, Shelby had learned after glimpsing into the souls of every member of the pack the night she’d joined it. Karina believed werewolves were cursed as some kind of punishment for acts done in a former life. After all, if a man was born blind, and it was a punishment, then he would have had to have sinned in a former life, right?
I mean, reincarnation seems to be real, if the dream of Kale and me on Alsvoira is real. If the glimpses of Thyra and Daeglan together on Earth were real. Madness is still an option.
Eira smiled and rolled amber eyes at her.
“Awesome, Karina,” Tommy said. “That’ll really help.”
“Can’t help the truth,” she mumbled.
“I don’t know if y’all are going to Hell or not,” Bubba said, “but maybe y’all just need to eat more. Never hungry, never grumpy. Truth right there.”
Then, something so unexpected happened that Shelby thought pigs might be flying right now over a frozen Hell. Trish Hollis, a card-carrying member of the Whorey Trinity, came up behind Bubba and ran her hand along his shoulders as she passed, softly scratching him with her perfectly manicured nails.
“Mmm, that's right. Right there,” Bubba
moaned.
And, of course, Sadie arrived right at that moment on the opposite side of the table, saw Bubba’s reaction to Trish’s action, and tripped. Her food went flying right into Bubba. His face dripped with the brown gravy, his shirt—obviously new for the school year—was splattered with rice and beef. Ice and soda ran across the table, and the soda poured over the edge into Bubba's lap.
“That’s cold,” he said, squeezing his legs together.
The entire cafeteria went silent and still. Trish feigned sympathy with a fat lower lip, staring at Sadie. “Poor Sadie.” She grabbed a napkin and dabbed at Bubba's face gently. “I'll never treat you like that.”
Then, Trish kissed Bubba's cheek, just a peck. What in the world is happening? As Trish walked away, she looked over her shoulder and gave a shy wave to Bubba.
“What in the actual underworld was that?” Sadie asked.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you, sweet thang?” Bubba said. “She and I are going to homecoming. That's right. Mmm hmm. Didn't even have to ask. She asked me. Seems like she knows what's up, unlike some people I know.” He stood. “Now, if you'll excuse me, Bumble Bee and I need to head home for a quick shower. Kale, take notes for me in History?”
“Yeah,” he said, as if he had just swallowed bile. “No problem.”
The janitor showed up with a yellow bucket on wheels and a mop. The man had a scowl on his face that Shelby swore was permanent. He shook his head as he pushed the lever on the mop-wringer, squeezing out the excess water.
“Sorry, Mr. Crowther,” Kale said.
The janitor, Mr. Crowther, just waved him off without looking at him.
“Seriously, what the copulation was that?” Sadie said. “I mean, was the evil wench not caressing his shoulders? And homecoming? Did you know about this?”
Kale shook his head.
“You?” Sadie asked, looking to Shelby.
“Nope,” she said. “But, you’re jealous.”
Sadie flushed for a second. “Am not.”
Karina’s eyebrows raised, and her eyes went wide as she looked away, stifling a laugh.
“Yeah, you are,” Shelby said. “Don’t even think about denying it.”
“I don’t think I like your Omeganess right now.”
Shelby’s eyes flickered to Mr. Crowther, still working his mop, then to Sadie, who shrugged, as if to say, “He’s over sixty so he can’t understand a word I say.”
Kale’s phone buzzed, and he took it out. He stared at the screen, brow furrowed. Shelby sensed his confusion.
“What?” she asked.
“We gotta go,” he said.
“Where?” Sadie asked. “What do you mean?”
“The house,” Kale said, his tone flat. “Something’s up. Dad has called a pack meeting. Sounds urgent.”
Shelby’s stomach fluttered. “Is that . . . common?” she asked.
Kale put his phone back in his pocket. “No. Never in the middle of school. Rarely in daylight. We should go now.”
Shelby held Kale back as the others put away their trays and grabbed their things. “Do you think it has to do with the new girl? Maybe we’re inviting her to join the pack?” Shelby wasn’t sure why, but she didn’t want Athena to become a part of her Lycan family just yet.
Kale rubbed his chin. “Doubt it.”
How is his jaw so perfectly squared? It’s inhuman. “Why?”
“I told him about her already. He isn’t comfortable inviting anyone after . . .” Kale trailed off.
“After what I brought to the pack when I joined?” Shelby eyed the others who were slipping out a side door. Is it all my fault?
“He’s just looking after us. He’ll meet her at a neutral location, if she ever approaches us about joining, which she hasn’t yet.”
Good.
Kale squinted at her. “I heard that. Is someone afraid of some competition?”
Never!
Kale’s pocket buzzed again. “Yeah, we should really get going.”
“Lead on.”
Shelby entered Copeland Manor hand-in-hand with Kale, the grand opulence of the home swept away as she remembered the pools of blood, ashes, and splintered wood that had covered the elegant marble floor just over a week before. No physical evidence of the bloodshed remained, but in her mind, she could still smell the smoke, taste the bitter soot, and see the red rivulets streaming down the narrow seams between tiles.
Karina and Tommy entered behind her, their moods sullen, but anxious.
If it’s this odd for Elias to call a pack meeting in the middle of the day, they would be anxious. That made Shelby’s stomach flutter. How anxious should I be?
Sadie huffed as she crossed the threshold. “Condemn it, where is everyone? It’s as quiet as a graveyard in here.” She put her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide.
“I don’t think you should repeat that,” Tommy said, his tone cold.
“Sh . . . feculence! Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
“Rarely do,” Kale added.
Sadie sneered at him.
“We do need to work on that filter.” Shelby cut in to ease the building tension. “And you almost swore.”
Sadie nodded, her face pale. “I slip when I’m upset, especially at myself.”
“They’re probably in the ballroom,” Kale said. “Come on.”
Shelby followed Kale down the hall that ran behind the spiral staircase.
“Oh, not the study?” Sadie quipped, almost back to herself, though with less sarcasm in her comments than usual. “Or the servant’s quarters? Or the theater, billiards room, or butler’s kitchen? The two-lane bowling alley? Where’s Colonel Mustard? Mrs. Peacock was last in the drawing room.”
“Shut up, Sadie,” Kale mumbled. Shelby could feel his rising anger. Apparently, the annoyance Sadie stirred in Elias was genetic.
“Kiss my gluteus.” Sadie pointed. “Right here.”
“And a fine gluteus it is. Mmmhmmm.”
Shelby felt Sadie freeze next to her as the new voice sounded from behind them. They turned to see Bubba in the doorway.
Sadie glared. “Holy SWAC, Tubba, what are you doing here?”
Bubba held up his phone with a shrug of his huge shoulders. “Mrs. C texted me. Told me to come. Done interrupted my shower, but it’s aight, especially with that sweet thang on the menu.” He gestured to where Sadie’s finger still rested against the back pocket of her jeans.
Sadie yanked the finger away and glowered. “Un-copulating-believable.”
Shelby sniffed and caught a faint whiff of the cafeteria food still lingering on Bubba. Sigh. Werewolf senses are not always awesome.
“Where’s the party?” Bubba asked, ignoring Sadie’s menacing looks.
“Come on,” Kale said. “This way.”
Kale was right. The rest of the pack was waiting in the ballroom, along with several members of the security team. A small bit of apprehension zinged through her as she scanned the room for her dad. His scent was all over the manor, so she couldn’t be sure.
Yep, there he is. She made brief eye contact before looking away.
Rachel Bingham, her eyes red, stood next to Gennesaret. Tommy and Karina moved next to their parents. Emily and Austin Kaplan huddled near Elias, looking incomplete with the absence of their triplet, Will. The McKinneys—Joe, Abigail, and their adult son, Anson—sat on one of the overstuffed couches along the wall. Dakota and Chenoa stood close to Jonas Abbot, who had his arms crossed and appeared disinterested.
But he’s nervous, just like everyone, Shelby thought, feeling the pack’s anxiety. Well, everyone felt anxious to one degree or another, except Dakota and Chenoa. Dakota was calm, the antithesis of Chenoa’s ever-present intensity. She could feel the depth there now that she knew what to look for, dual consciousnesses, a blending of emotion. Her Immortal Wolf hates me too. What did I do to them?
Eira answered. Past life. But she would share no more.
I know you mistrust me, Shelby thought in Chenoa’s direction,
but I’m not your enemy, not in this life, even if I was in some past life I don’t remember. But, if Chenoa had her way, she might kill Shelby to prevent the Summer Omega prophecies from coming to fruition—or the version of them she feared.
The others, Paul and Sofie Chandler, Jerod Ackerman, and Ben Bingham stood stoically, waiting for the meeting to begin. Confusion washed across many faces at seeing Bubba enter.
“What’s up, y’all?” He gave the room a chin thrust in greeting. “Glad to see everyone is fully clothed. I ain’t needin’ none of that freak show from last time.”
“Can I kill him?” Sadie asked. “Just a little? Mostly dead?”
Gennesaret walked past the confused faces to hug Bubba. “Welcome DeShawn. Thank you for coming.” She said it loud, making it clear he was invited.
“See that, evil puppy?” Bubba jabbed at Sadie. “That’s proper love right there.”
“You saved her life,” Sadie smirked. “Of course she’s grateful, genius.”
“Saved your life, too, sweet thang. Or did ya forget already?”
Shelby had heard about the magic marker incident after Bubba escaped the panic room. He had also shown everyone the single bullet hole, complaining about how ruined his Vince Wilfork jersey had become. Kale had said it was the only thing worthy to do with a Patriots’ jersey—target practice.
Ackerman’s radio squawked softly. Shelby heard the tinny voice through the earpiece over Ackerman’s ear, but couldn’t make out the words. She slightly shifted her ears to eavesdrop, catching something about Delta team in position before the transmissions ended.
“Everyone is present and accounted for, sir,” Ackerman said to Elias. “The perimeter teams are in place.”
Elias nodded. “Thank you all for coming. This morning, Genn received an unexpected phone call from an old contact in a government agency.” He raised an eyebrow at Genn. “Someone we trust.”
She nodded.
Elias continued. “While the call was unexpected, the news is something we’ve feared was coming. Genn, do you want to explain?”
“Of course, dear,” Gennesaret said, her voice always refined and calm. “Some years ago, I became acquainted with a CIA operative named Bryanne Desmond. She runs a small, top secret paranormal unit within the CIA. She called me today with news of the Advent reaching America.”
