All eyes were on me.
“And if someone attempts to close the gates?” Cas asked.
The witch watched me with pity in her expression. “Then Mackenzie will die.”
12
“This stays between the six of us,” Briggs spoke softly for the first time ever. “I don’t want anyone finding out about Grey’s link to the gates. It’ll turn into a witch hunt, and we protect our own.”
“Witch hunt?” Amara inquired.
Briggs rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. If this gets out, we’ll have anarchy and I won’t stand for it.”
“The others already know she’s involved, it won’t be long before they begin to piece it together,” Finn said. He’d taken a seat next to me in Briggs office. We huddled in there once we returned to the squad room.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Michaels said. “For now, I suggest we put a detail on Grey that she can’t escape.”
“Hell no! That’s just going to make it more obvious,” I exclaimed.
“She’s right,” Briggs agreed. “We work in pairs and keep an eye on each other. Remember, do not put this discovery on any of the reports or mention it to anyone. I’ll have your head if you do.”
We were dismissed and shooed out of his office. He followed us out to make an announcement to the unit.
“As many are now aware,” Briggs started. “The gates to the Fae realm have been opened.” The gasps and mutterings grew in volume. “We all know what the Fae have done and what they’re capable of. They are public enemy number one! Shoot to kill, no hesitation. In the meantime, you’re all responsible for alerting your communities about this development. Stay vigilant, people!”
The squad room was abuzz with work and gossip. After the attempt on the Lycan, many supernaturals had turned their backs on the Fae. They’d made some enemies and it was now biting them in the ass. The Fae that were stuck in our realm when the gates were closed were reported and sent to Ironwood—a supernatural prison in California. Everyone slept easy knowing that the Fae were no longer around—until now.
“Ready?” Cas came up to my desk.
“For what?”
“To go tell the Packs,” he said. “We can start in Queens and then Brooklyn.”
Like a deer in head lights, I stared at Cas waiting for the punchline, but it never came. He couldn’t be serious…could he?
“You’re for real?”
He laughed. “Yes. Whether you like it or not, you’re Lycan and I’m not leaving you alone. So come on, get up.”
My stomach twisted in knots and I thought I was going to drop a brick right there in the squad room.
“Cas, really, I can’t go to Brooklyn…I-I…” I couldn’t think of a single excuse to tell him without giving him the whole sordid tale.
“Listen, Mackenzie. I’m not going to pry, but you’re going to have to face him sooner or later. The more you prolong this encounter, the harder it’s going to get.”
I hated when he made sense.
“Wait a minute, since when did we become friends?”
“Since I held your hair back while you threw up.”
My face reddened. “Ah. Right. I guess you can call me Kenz now.”
The visit to the Queens Pack was way too short. Cas showed me around his stomping grounds and introduced me to his Alpha. Everyone was kind and welcoming, the complete opposite to how the Brooklyn Pack treated me when they first found me. Although, I am royalty now, so that might have a lot to do with the niceties.
“I can’t do it,” I declared as we stood across the street, staring at the warehouse in Dumbo, Brooklyn.
“Yes, you can. I’m gonna go in with you,” Cas said.
“That doesn’t make it any better.”
“C’mon Kenz, let’s get this over with,” he grabbed my upper arm and dragged me across the street.
Cas pushed open the double doors and we were engulfed with the sound of loud conversation. The familiar scents threw me in for a loop and I thought I would start to hyperventilate. I griped Cas’s bicep to hold myself together, and he didn’t object.
No one noticed us until the one person I was trying to hide from did.
“Decided to finally grace us with your presence?” Sebastian’s voice echoed through the warehouse. He was on the second floor balcony overlooking his Pack, and looking down on me.
The Brooklyn Pack swiveled around to the entrance and saw us standing there, out of place. I took a deep breath, and relaxed. I didn’t want them to know what I was feeling.
“Hey Bash,” I started and took a step forward. A barrier of wolves formed and they took a step toward me as well—they were protecting him…from me. I couldn’t hide the confusion on my face. Did he think I’d be capable of hurting him? Maybe I already had.
“It’s been a year, Mackenzie. You wouldn’t be here unless you needed something. What do you want?”
My eyes bugged out and I couldn’t school my expression any longer. Remind me to never go into acting.
“I don’t need anything,” I murmured.
Cas cleared his throat. “We’re here on official business with the SIU.”
Bash’s sapphire eyes glowed with intensity before he jumped over the balcony and landed on the main floor in a crouch. His boots thudded against the concrete and the waves of dominance exuded from him with such fervor, I was stunned. He’d gotten stronger.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
“Cassidy Chang—Queens Pack,” Cas responded, not feeling an ounce of intimidation. “Is there somewhere private we can speak?”
Sebastian’s gaze trailed over me and I felt bare before him. He hadn’t changed much. His blue-black hair was a disheveled mess, but those piercing blue eyes were the same. They bore into my soul and I could feel the rage coming from him. His muscular frame hovered over me and I felt small in comparison.
“Get out!” Someone yelled from above. “Bash, I want her out!”
I looked up at the second floor balcony and my heart stopped.
Jackson.
He hauled ass down the stairs. His hair was messy, his beard overgrown, and those chocolate eyes that were identical to his twin brother, were vacant. I’d rather have an awkward reunion with Bash a million times over than one encounter with Jackson. I took away the love of his life.
“You don’t belong here!” He spat as he made his way toward us. “You’re poison, Mackenzie Grey! Poison!”
“Jackson, enough,” Bash ordered.
“Don’t tell me you’re still protecting her? After all she’s done?”
“I said enough!” Bash commanded and then turned to Cas. “Follow me.”
Sebastian led us down to the basement where his office was located. When I passed Jackson, he gripped my arm and pulled me to a stop. Alcohol fumed out of his pores and I flinched from the odor.
“Why don’t you do us a favor and disappear,” he growled.
“Jack…I’m—”
“Save it,” he pushed me away like I was trash. “Nothing you say matters.”
“Mackenzie,” Cas called out.
“Go on,” Jackson said. “Go to your new boy toy.”
My blood boiled and I wanted to tear him a new one. If it wasn’t because I was so weak I would have challenged him. Even though it seemed like he was drunk, so it could be a fair fight.
Without another word, I walked away and down to the basement. Bash and Cas were waiting on me and my hand trembled with rage from my talk with Jackson. He was mad. I understood, I’d accept the blame.
“What does the SIU want?” Bash asked once I closed the door. “They’ve been pretty good at staying out of our business.”
“We don’t need anything,” I said. Those sapphire eyes drilling holes in me. “We came to give you a heads up…the Fae realm has been opened.”
His face tightened and his hands fisted. “How the hell did that happen?”
“That’s classified,” Cas interjected.
&nbs
p; “I helped seal the gates. I deserve an answer!” Bash demanded.
“Doesn’t mean we have to tell you,” Cas said. “We are informing the local Packs so they’re aware and ready. Any other information is not pertinent to you or your Pack.”
“Mackenzie,” Bash growled. “What the hell is going on?”
I bit my lip. I knew he was frustrated and I wanted to tell him. A year ago I would have. He was my confidant, but now, we were like strangers.
“It’s need-to-know, Bash,” I said. “If we get any other news, we’ll call you.”
“That’s bullshit, Mackenzie.”
“I know,” I nodded, “but thats the way things have to be.”
We were at a standstill. Sebastian’s jaw ticked with every irritating second that passed. This was why I didn’t want to come here. I knew this would happen, and they had every right to be pissed at me. I would never deny that.
“How have you been?” The question came out before I could stop myself. I’d been itching to ask him the moment I saw him. The memories came flooding in and all I wanted was to go back in time.
He snorted. “You saw the Pack. What do you think.”
My head tilted in confusion and I waited for him to tell me. “I don’t understand.”
“I wasn’t aware you didn’t know,” Cas was the one who answered me. “The Brooklyn Pack doesn’t have any Lunas.”
The sinking in my gut grew deeper. They hadn’t been able to recover from the Luna massacre. I’d gotten their Lunas killed with my stupid vendetta, and now there was imbalance in the Pack.
“We don’t need your pity, Mackenzie,” Bash said.
“Fair enough,” I nodded.
“The real question is, how are you?” he surprised me. “You look sick.”
I didn’t think to dress up for this visit. I’d just been released from the wolfsbane this morning, so the effects were still wearing off.
“Nah, just a lot of late nights at the precinct with this whole Fae ordeal, that’s all.”
“Give me a moment alone with Mackenzie,” Bash demanded as he stared me down. Cas paused, his eyes meeting mine. He was waiting for me to give him the okay before stepping out of the Alpha’s office. I nodded and he left me alone with Bash. My skin prickled as the door shut behind him and I met the glare of Sebastian Steel. I was nervous.
“What’s up?” I said, making myself comfortable in one of the chairs by his desk. My flesh was still sensitive from the burned off tattoo and the brush of my jeans did not help.
“You’re not okay,” he started. “What is wrong?”
I blinked. We had been close, no doubt about that, but it’d been a year, how could he pick up on how I felt so quickly?
“Nothing,” I shrugged.
His blue eyes hardened. “A sheen of sweat is over your pale face, you have dark circles around your eyes, and you’re walking slowly—those are signs that things are not alright.”
Well damn. He made it sound like I was dying. I ran a hand through my greasy, mangled hair and adjusted my jacket like what he said didn’t bother me.
“Like I said, I’m overworked with little rest. I might be a wolf, but I’m not invincible.” I’d learned that lesson long ago.
“No. It’s something else, Mackenzie. I can feel it.”
“Okay, Miss. Cleo,” I rolled my eyes. “Your feeling is off because I’m perfectly fine. Nothing a shift and a good night’s rest can’t fix.”
He perked up at the mention of a shift and then he sniffed the air. My body tightened as I wracked my mind with possibilities. What was he searching for? Would he be able to tell I was moon-bound by smell? Ugh. That sounded stupid.
“My feeling isn’t wrong, Mackenzie. It’s not possible.”
“Don’t you think highly of yourself,” I laughed. “I’m glad your self-esteem is in tact, but you are susceptible to mistakes.”
He shook his head. “Not when it comes to you. We’re—”
Bash’s office door opened and Cas poked his head in. “Briggs wants us back at the station.”
I expelled a breath and my body relaxed. I needed to get out of here and Cas had just thrown me a bone.
“It was nice catching up,” I said to Bash. His face contorted into something resembling pain, but he said nothing.
He led us out of his office and back to the main floor of the warehouse. Being around him brought back a lot of feelings I wanted to keep buried for as long as possible. I knew eventually they would surface, but I needed more time. I didn’t understand what I felt for Sebastian. I never understood what it was, and I wasn’t ready to figure it out now.
Jackson was waiting by a table with Bernard. The lumberjack wolf gave me a small smile, but didn’t say a word.
“Oh, before I forget,” I turned to Bash. “Alexander is arriving tomorrow. I don’t know if you’ve spoken to Jonah but—”
“He hasn’t,” Jackson cut me off. “That’s another relationship you’ve ruined.”
“Jackson!” Bash barked.
“It’s okay, Bash. We’re leaving,” I waved him off.
Without looking at the wolves who were staring me down, I headed for the door before I realized Cas wasn’t with me.
“I don’t care about what’s happened between you all, at this point it’s irrelevant, but you will respect our future queen. Get control of your Pack, Sebastian Steel,” Cas said and met me at the door. He rushed me out of the warehouse so quickly, I was almost running.
We were about two blocks away when I pulled us to a stop.
“Are you crazy?”
“I’m as sane as they come.”
“Obviously not. I don’t need a savior, Cas. I appreciate it, but don’t make enemies out of them. I’m not worth it, trust me.”
13
John F. Kennedy International Airport was a cluttered mess. I had no idea where I was going or where to pick someone up who flew in on a private jet. This wasn’t a normal person issue. When I flew to Scotland I didn’t pay attention to where the driver had taken me—I regretted that now. Like anywhere in New York City, it was overpacked with people in a constant rush. It was useless to ask a random person and I couldn’t find a single attendant. Just my luck.
“Ollie, I don’t have time for this,” I said into the phone. “I’m at the airport and I need to concentrate.”
“It’s important, Kenz. It’s just dinner,” Ollie said.
He’d been calling me nonstop and I’d been avoiding him. My brother and I used to be so close until I found out I was adopted. It wasn’t his fault, and I wasn’t upset with my parents either. My world had just been tossed upside down and I didn’t know where they fit anymore. If I kept them close, I put them in danger. Pushing them away seemed safer.
“Work keeps me busy,” I said.
“It’s always work with you,” Ollie said, frustrated. “Mom and Dad haven’t seen you in months, Kenz. I’m going on leave in two weeks. Make time.”
Oliver was a soldier in the US Army stationed out of Fort Hood, Texas. We rarely saw each other too. With my disappearance, he’d made a point to visit home more often.
“I love you, Ollie, you know that, right?”
“Of course, Kenzie,” he sighed. “Your family misses you. I miss you.”
I missed him too.
“I’m working a really big case. As soon as it’s over, I’ll go home for a while. Don’t go on leave just yet. Wait for me,” I begged.
There was a pause in the conversation. I meant what I said. As soon as this shit with the Fae was done, I’d go home for a while. My parents deserved better, and so did my brother. He never abandoned me, even when he found out I wasn’t his biological sister.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
I ended the call and I spun around the airport. I was more lost now than I had been before. Great.
I hustled toward terminal C when the corners of my vision blurred. I swayed with each step I took and shook my head a few times to get a
hold of myself.
“What the hell?” I said and my words sounded sluggish.
Everyone in the airport moved in slow motion, fading with every breath I took until they were no longer there—or I wasn’t. The scenery changed and all color was lost. Everything was black and white. I started to run. Dark stains covered the walls and began to close in on me, growing narrower with each step I took. I made a sharp turn and nearly jumped out of my skin as I passed people. They didn’t move. They were like portraits, life sized pictures. They weren’t from our time—maybe the twenties? And then I came to a crashing halt. At the end of the hallway stood Andrew. He was the only thing here that was in color.
“Glad ye could finally make it,” he smiled as he walked toward me.
My brows furrowed and I looked on either side of me to see if anyone was around.
“It’s all in place. They don have a clue,” he said. “Did ye bring it?”
I was inching away from him when he walked right through me. I gasped as the air whooshed out of me. I spun around to see him hug someone, but my sight faded again. I couldn’t see who it was.
Before I knew it, I was being sucked out of wherever I was and I stumbled back bumping into something.
“Hey! Watch where the hell you’re going!” An angry traveler yelled at me. The loud noise of the airport startled me and I spun around in a daze. I was dizzy and confused. I floundered over to a bench to get my bearings together. With my head between my knees, I took in deep breaths.
“What was wrong with me?” I muttered. The recurring dream and now this. Something wasn’t right and now I knew for sure that I needed to talk to Ophelia.
I stood on the runway watching the MacCoinnich private jet land on the airstrip. The royal seal was a dead giveaway that it was Alexander who’d arrived. It didn’t take long for him to disembark and I think he was just as excited to see me as I was to see him. It’d been a year since we’d seen each other in the flesh.
He wore a light gray suit as he walked down the stairs of the plane and jogged toward me. His dark brown, almost black hair had a little bounce with each step and the single curl on his forehead still reminded me of Superman. The grays on the side of his head had multiplied and it was a sure sign of the stress he’d been enduring.
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