by JK Cooper
“Wait,” Grant said. “You’re telling me that our government knows about this so-called Advent?”
“Yes. They—or Bryanne, at least—have also been tracking the Advent pack’s movements.”
Grant blinked. “That means, they know of Lycans.”
Gennesaret nodded. “Of course, Grant. The Hunters are not the only faction that know of our existence. Many governments have known about magical races and,” she glanced at Bubba, “the outliers in humanity for some time.”
A wave of shock rippled through the air.
“But . . . why hasn’t the government attacked us?” Ackerman asked. “Is this Agent Desmond one of us?” Shelby could feel the Copeland Manor’s head of security’s agitation at this revelation.
“The U.S. government, and other governments, have indeed attempted to attack our kind before,” Elias said. “It did not end well, for either side. They then tried to study us, use us. That did not end well either. For more than 150 years, we have not had a confrontation with any major world power.”
“We were there,” Dakota said. He turned his head toward Chenoa. “We . . . do not visit those memories often.”
“It is doubtful that many in power now even know of the Lycan race, beyond what they see in movies,” Gennesaret added. “We have worked hard to stay in the shadows since the days of confrontation.”
Maybe we shouldn’t be!
Shelby froze. That was a new voice in her mind. She glanced at Rachel Bingham and felt her anguish. Instinctively, Shelby tried to soothe it, but Rachel’s pain was deep. More than anguish, Shelby felt rage burning deep within it. She pushed more soothing, compassion, love, and empathy her way. Rachel’s face softened just a little.
But I heard her thoughts, Shelby realized. It was more than just a feeling. She looked to Gennesaret, then Elias, then Kale. No one else seemed to have heard it. We’re in human form, so it wasn’t through the pack link.
“You didn’t answer Ackerman’s question.” Kale didn’t sound angry or confrontational, just curious. “Is Agent Desmond one of us?”
“No. She is a Bandruí,” Gennesaret said.
Well that clears that right up, Shelby thought.
“That clears that right up,” Bubba said. “Clear as bayou water.”
Did Bubba just read my thoughts? Or did I project thoughts to him? She shook her head. Come on, Shelby. Not everything is about or because of you.
“A female Druid,” Gennesaret said.
Images of shadowy figures shrouded in long hooded robes entered Shelby’s mind. From beneath the hoods, she saw red-glowing eyes, and each Druid had a scythe in one hand and a wheat stalk in the other. It looked like something straight out of a horror film. Wow, the stereotypes really do bury themselves deep, don’t they?
Grant was rubbing his chin, something he does when getting bad news. “Why would the government let you know about another pack? And how can we trust her, lady Druid or not?”
“Agent Desmond owes me a debt, so she called with the news. She’s as concerned as we are.”
“What kind of debt?” Shelby couldn’t help but ask.
Gennesaret glanced at Shelby with a mild smile. “Her life,” she said, then turned her gaze back to Grant. “As a former Hunter, you must have known that magic has taken many forms on Earth. The Druids are Earth’s original mages, drawing upon the threads of nature and weaving those threads for the betterment of our world. Even Hunters have called upon the Druids’ help in the past.”
“Wait, werewolves aren’t the only magical race?” Shelby felt her world being shaken yet again by things of supposed mythology. “Who else besides Lycans and Druids?”
“Zombies,” Sadie said. “I mean, duh. Cotard’s syndrome, remember?”
“I’m serious,” Shelby said. She glanced at her dad briefly, but his cold blue eyes were on Gennesaret. So, if he knew about Druids and the Summer Omega prophecies, what else did he know? And not tell me?
“Okay, fine,” Sadie said. “Smurfs are real. And tasty.” She licked her lips and amber flashed in her eyes. “Like blueberries and marshmallows had a lovechild.”
Gennesaret sounded eternally patient, not commenting on Sadie’s tangent. “We know of several, and there are rumors of more that may or may not be true. Psychokinetics, like our friend here,” she waved at Bubba, “transform stored potential energy into kinetic energy at will. Then there are Wiccans and Druids.”
“Witches?” Tommy asked.
Genn nodded. “They are the source of those myths. Wiccans and Druids both wield Earth’s spirit, though differently. Neither’s magic can affect us directly, but that does not mean their magic cannot be used against us. They can influence others or affect the environment around us.”
“Earth’s spirit?” Shelby blinked, confused.
“Nature, dear,” Gennesaret explained. “That thread of life through all things I mentioned. Even us. I’ve been studying it for years.”
She’s wrong though. Werewolves aren’t native to Earth, not if what you showed me is true, Eira.
It is true, Eira answered. You are correct. Earth has become a gathering place for magical races. Five came from my world, including Lycans. Many Druids made the pilgrimage from Alsvoira long before our kind. Several came into being here, like your friend, DeShawn, and Wiccans, though they may have been influenced by our Druids. A few came from places stranger than both our worlds.
“A gathering place?” Shelby whispered.
“What?” Kale asked.
“Eira says Earth is a gathering place for magical races,” Shelby said. “I don’t understand what that means.”
“Who’s Eira?” Sadie asked.
“My wolf,” Shelby answered.
“You sure you don’t mean eerie?” Bubba quipped, laughing at his own wit.
“You named her?” Sadie’s lip curled up at the humor in it. “Maybe I should name mine.”
“That’s her name, not one Shelby gave her,” Kale explained. “My wolf is Skotha.”
And our son, Shelby thought, remembering the vision, Mareus—his wolf is Viersin.
For a reason she couldn’t explain, she felt cold suddenly.
“I didn’t know we were naming our wolves,” Rachel Bingham joined in. “I think I’ll name mine Jezebel. Fits her nature.”
“And I’m naming mine Sexy Lexi,” Sadie snapped her fingers as she said the name. “She’s copulating sassy.”
“No,” Kale said. “Ours have names. They told us.”
“There are drugs for that,” Sadie said. “Anti-Psychotics. Hey, maybe that can help you, too, Bubba.”
“They don’t make a pill for what you got, girl,” Bubba said. “You got angry love. But I’m your cure, don’t worry.”
So, yes, Shelby had just had her world blown up—again—by learning there are other magical races, and, not surprisingly, Bubba and Sadie used it as an opportunity to dig at each other. Awesome. Genn tried to regain control of the conversation. “We need to get back to the topic at hand. The Advent is . . .” She trailed off as her husband put a hand on her arm.
Elias took a step forward, his presence commanding silence. All tangents were dropped, and all eyes turned to him. “How did they tell you?” It was a command more than a question, his voice resonating with authority.
“They speak to us,” Shelby answered, her mouth working almost on its own. “Or they have ever since they awoke last week.”
“I don’t understand,” Elias glowered. He did not like feeling confused or admitting it to his pack. “Awoke? You had trouble shifting, but Kale never has.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Shelby said. “I . . . we,” she took Kale’s hand, “have seen things, memories of another life. Of our wolves.”
“And this might have been good information to share with your Alpha.” Elias looked at Kale. “Or your father.”
Grant gave Shelby the same look.
Kale went white. “We weren’t sure if it was real at first, and then we
thought you might think we were crazy, and then it got awkward. When do you bring up the voices in your head? At the dinner table? At a pack meeting in front of everyone?”
Elias nodded. “Fine. We’ll talk after this meeting about all the things you’ve been keeping from us.”
“Yeah, I heard about y’all being naked together and all,” Bubba said. “Good thing your dad was there.”
“I don’t think we’ve met yet,” Grant stepped next to him.
“Ain’t gotta worry about it, Mr. B.” Bubba said. “I’m not one a’y’all. Just a playa killa.”
“Psychokinetic,” Gennesaret corrected. “He keeps insisting ‘PK’ stands for something from his video games. He saved my life with his abilities. That’s why he’s here. Why you are too. We’ll need all the help we can get.”
Bubba raised his chin toward Sadie. “Saved her life too.”
“Shut your trap, Flubba,” Sadie snapped. “Or I might see if PKs taste like smurfs.”
What looked like a ball bearing hovered out of one of his pockets to float between him and Sadie. His lip curled. “I came prepared this time, feel? Silver. Go ahead. Come at me.” He smiled playfully, letting the ball bob in the air.
Several people gasped. He’d brought the one thing that could kill a Lycan into a pack meeting. Ackerman’s hand went to his side arm at his hip. Grant did the same. Jonas’s eyes flared with gold.
Elias took another commanding step forward just as Grant took a step away from the boy, hand still on his gun. Elias’s Alpha voice rocked the room, booming with authority, even if someone wasn’t a Lycan. “You dare bring silver into this house? You’re our guest.”
Bubba started sweating but acted brave. “Pshh, y’all be carrying weapons all up inside you all the time. I ain’t tryna come over here to your den of fang-bearers unprepared. That ain’t safe, guest or no. You crazy?”
Elias took a deep breath. “That’s actually fair. Trust takes time, and we are always armed. You deserve to be too, especially with what’s coming. Put it away for now though.”
The silver ball floated hesitantly for a second.
“DeShawn, please,” Gennesaret said.
“Yes, Mrs. C.” The silver ball fell into his hand. He put it away, the clanking against metal in his pocket evidence that he’d brought more than one. He then took out a granola bar and tore open one side. “Workin’ up an appetite anyway.”
Shelby sent calm through the room and felt the tension ease. That was almost bad.
“How did he do that?” Grant asked, staring at Bubba.
So, he doesn’t know everything. Shelby wasn’t sure if that thought upset her more or less.
“DeShawn has a form of telekinesis,” Gennesaret answered.
“That sounds way better than psycho-whatever,” Bubba said around a mouthful of his bar.
“No way, bloody psycho stays a part of what we call you,” Sadie said.
“Remember when you called me freaking hot? Good times.”
“Even I remember that,” Elias said with a small chuckle, piling extra embarrassment on the redhead.
Shelby sensed his enjoyment in it. Why does he dislike her so?
“Mmm hmm,” Bubba said.
“Yeah, but sudden six-packs make a girl say crazy things,” Sadie said. “I was startled.”
“Oh, they’re still there.” He patted his stomach. “Just in the cooler.”
“I feel like I’m missing something,” Grant said.
“DeShawn’s abilities tap into energy stores,” Gennesaret filled in. “Fat. He trimmed down in moments during the attack, deflecting bullets.”
“That’s right.” Bubba smiled. “Isaiah Mustafa got nothing on me.”
“Who?” Sadie asked, folding her arms as though unconvinced.
“The Old Spice commercial guy,” Shelby cut in.
Kale gave her a look. That look. “How do you know that?”
Shelby shrugged and looked away. “I googled him.”
“He is hot,” Karina said.
“Totally googleable,” Emily Kaplan added.
“But is he hotter than your dad?” Sadie asked.
All eyes turned to Sadie, faces filled with confusion, disgust, amusement, and an assortment of other feelings.
Shelby stole a glance at her dad, who stood stoic as ever. Unreadable, to everyone but her. I know you did what you thought was best, but it hurt me. I’m not ready to forgive you yet.
“Copulating what?” Sadie asked the room as she gestured toward Grant. “Look at him. Talk about googleable.”
“I apologize, Mr. Brooks,” Paul Chandler said with his rich British accent. “Our daughter has no filter. Or shame.” Paul peered at his daughter, who shrunk slightly under his gaze.
“I believe we’ve gone off topic again.” Gennesaret took control of the room once more. “I know some nervous energy must be expelled, but it is time to focus. The news is urgent and important. Ready to proceed?”
Everyone nodded silently.
“Good. My friend is investigating how far the Advent has pushed into the U.S. at the moment. She was concerned we might have joined them.”
Shelby felt a pulse of both a desire to join the Advent and revulsion at the idea. It was too fast and too muddied to know exactly who felt which, but Shelby thought she knew who might be tempted to join a revolution to overthrow humanity.
“And your Agent Desmond,” Grant asked, “what’s her role in all this?”
“Her channels show her that a large influx of werewolves has occurred along the northern borders through Canada,” Gennesaret said. “Also, she asked for help.”
“What kind of help?” Grant asked.
“She believes the Advent will threaten mankind,” Elias said. “She is asking for our help in resisting the Alpha Prime, and in recruiting other packs to do the same.”
“Well, isn't that rich?” Jonas Abbot said.
“Very,” Rachel agreed.
Shelby felt something in the air change, a different mood descending upon the pack. Anger and vengeance.
“She's asking us to defend humans?” Rachel demanded. “Against other Lycans? Is she insane?”
It did sound incredulous. But I’m human, aren’t I? Aren’t we all? For those who had been a werewolf for a long time, Shelby understood how they might not identify as human, or identify more fully as a Lycan.
The room went quiet. Finally, Elias spoke. “Dakota, I would hear your words on the matter as pack elder.”
The ancient Native American—who looked no more than thirty—nodded solemnly. “In the past, when threats against the Lycan race rose, many packs joined together to resist it. We fought together against the annihilation of our people, our race. Now we are asked to join against a Lycan aggression, one that will challenge the human race.
“In previous conflicts, did Lycans fight against humans, or against genocide? The answer is important.”
“We fought to survive,” Chenoa said. “This is no different.”
“If the Alpha Prime achieves his goals, will humans not be fighting to survive? Will not they be faced with genocide?” Dakota’s eyes burned brighter.
“Might be nice for a change,” Rachel mumbled. “Let them know how it feels.”
Ben Bingham, Rachel’s father, came to her side and put an arm around her. “I know you’re in pain, Rach. We both are, but we’re not those kinds of werewolves.”
She shrugged her father’s arm away. “Maybe we should be. Look what they did to us. They killed mom. Killed John. Burned the Southebys alive in their car. With. A. Freaking. Rocket. Probably laced with silver.” She swallowed hard, emotion on her face. “Tyler was just thirteen.”
“We saw him,” Tommy said. “Saw him dash from the car in flames, charging the Hunters with his parents. I think . . . I think they did it so we could escape. I think they knew they were dead.”
“I saw it, too.” Sadie said. “Your car was right in front of theirs. They drew the Hunters’ attention while yo
u ran for the house.”
“And the people who did that want us to join them, against our own kind?” Jonas asked.
“The CIA did not attack us, humanity did not attack us,” Elias said with a sigh. “Hunters did. Don’t generalize all of the human race with one despicable section.”
“I guess it’s kinda like letting a Hunter and his daughter join the pack,” Jonas said, shrugging. “No big deal, right?” he said, turning to Grant. “Bygones and all that.”
“I’m not a Hunter,” Grant said.
“You were!” Jonas retorted. He whirled to face Elias. “And you’ve let him be here? As part of security?”
Elias seemed to grow by several inches as he fully faced Jonas, his jaw going tight and stern. Jonas, the largest of the pack, stood his ground.
“Are you challenging me?” Elias growled. The rumble from his chest infused his words, and Shelby thought she could feel her bones rattle, just slightly. She blinked and turned away, noticing several others of the pack doing the same.
The Call. That voice that Alphas could use to command obedience. Shelby did not fear Elias, for he had proven to be kind and concerned for his pack, but she knew him to be fierce when needed.
“What if I were?” Jonas asked, still staring into Elias’s eyes.
He’s struggling, Shelby discerned, as if he were holding his hand over an open flame to prove how tough he was.
“Jonas,” Elias whispered, but it was still a growl. “I want you to think very carefully before you speak your next words. They may prove fatal. I allow disagreement, but not dissension and disrespect. Choose carefully.”
For the first time since joining the pack, Shelby felt fear from within it, rather than from without. She loved each of them in the way that only an Omega could. Contention wounded her soul.
But you contend within your own family? she rebuked herself.
The two men stared at each other, Elias calm but stern, Jonas irritated and fidgety. His eyes streaked with amber.
Fear, she thought, projecting what she hoped was that emotion only to Jonas. She stoked his fear of losing, of being maimed for life. Of death, she thought as she continued to project. Or worse, of living after defeat, a broken embarrassment to the pack.
