Series Firsts Box Set

by Laken Cane

  “Noah and Remy are entering the hollow now,” he said. And a half second later, Sadie and Elmer began braying and sprinted away, their long limbs flailing.

  “You must have some amazing hearing,” Abby noted.

  He grinned. “They’re my betas. I know when they’re close.” He tossed the shovel in his trunk, then went around to open the passenger side door for her.

  As he drove down One Hex Hollow road, he called Noah. “Stay put. We’re driving down.”

  She twisted her hands together. “If she put the talisman in silver, Sadie and Elmer mightn’t be able to catch its scent, either.”

  “The talisman itself has no scent,” he told her. “But they may follow her scent to where she hid it.”

  She didn’t hold out a lot of hope for that. She didn’t actually think Brooke had hidden the talisman in her hollow, but it was worth the search.

  “Son of a bitch,” Eli muttered, bringing Abby out of her thoughts.

  “What is it?”

  She looked through the windshield as Eli drove them closer to the parked car. Noah leaned against the hood, his arms crossed.

  Remy held a shovel and stared across the road and into the woods.

  And Mel peered into Abby’s mailbox.

  “You didn’t want Mel here?” she asked the alpha.

  He pulled the car to the side of the road and shut off the engine. “No, I did not.”

  “Why not?”

  But he climbed out of the car and didn’t answer her.

  Mel yanked open her door before the alpha had a chance to stride around the hood and do it himself. He held out a hand and she let him pull her from the car.

  Once she stood in front of him, she glanced at Eli, who stood with Noah and Remy, deep in conversation, tossing the occasional frown her way.

  Then she looked at Mel.

  His smile faded. “What the hell?” He gestured at her face. “What’s that thing for?” Then he narrowed his eyes and gave the alpha a long, thoughtful look before putting his displeased stare back on her.

  She could feel her face heating inside the mask, but ignored his words. “You came to help find the talisman?”

  He continued to frown and didn’t answer for a long moment. “No. I came to see you.”

  Eli strode toward them. “If you’re not going to search, then take the car back to Featherclaw. I don’t need you interfering with the search.” He pointed his chin at Abby. “Or distracting her.”

  Mel shrugged. “I do plan on helping, brother.”

  “Don’t call me that,” Eli ordered.

  And suddenly Abby understood.

  Just as Jewel was her constant reminder of the hell, horror, and shame Acadia had put her family through, Mel was Eli’s.

  “Then get your shovel.” Eli took Abby’s arm and led her to the back of the car. He let go of her, popped the trunk, and then grabbed his shovel. “Brooke’s things are in there.” He pointed to the bag in the trunk. “Take something and see if you can get the dogs to pick up her scent.”

  She pulled a shoe from the bag. “They’ll catch her scent, alpha, but she was in my yard and my house. She drove up this hollow. Most likely they’ll lead me right back to the house.”

  “It’s worth a shot.”

  “I guess.”

  “We can’t just walk around digging holes in the ground,” Mel told Eli. “I hope you have a better plan than that.”

  “I do,” Eli replied.

  “You do?” Mel asked, surprised. “What?”

  Eli ignored him and as Abby took the shoe to her dogs, he sent his betas and Mel to their areas. “You know what to look for. If you see anything, yell.”

  “What do we look for?” Mel asked.

  Eli glared. “How could you have lived for thirty years and know nothing?”

  Mel straightened his spine and sent the glare right back. “I am not a wolf, brother. I wasn’t taught to track or hunt down magical items or shit in the fucking woods.”

  Abby turned her head away, hiding a grin.

  Yeah, Mel was Eli’s brother. The resemblance was not only in the scowl and the voice, but it was in the temper.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” Eli growled.

  Mel spread his arms. “But here I am, brother. Tell me what to look for, and I will look for it. Teach me, oh great and wondrous alpha.”

  Eli looked heavenward. Finally, he sighed and when he looked once more at Mel, his frown was gone. “Look for freshly turned earth. Footprints. Disturbed foliage where she might have tossed something. Pieces of cloth clinging to barbs of plants. Shoe marks left on wood that she might have climbed over. Broken twigs. Crumbled leaves. Transferred material. Look for—”

  Mel held up a hand to stop him. “Okay, I’m sure we both know I’m not going to turn into a tracker in five minutes. I’ll search the ground and if I see anything that looks suspicious, I’ll dig.” He grinned.

  Eli shook his head, then walked to Abby. “Come with me.”

  She hurried to catch up. “Do you think you could maybe stop ordering me around?”

  “He’s the alpha,” Mel called, and if there were a trace of bitterness in his voice, he hid it well. “It’s what he does. All day long,” he continued, his voice loud as he walked down the road, shovel over his shoulder. “Shouting orders and glaring and growling…”

  Abby giggled.

  With a disgusted snort, the alpha strode on into the woods.

  “Brooke,” Abby whispered. “I hope you were here and I hope you were in a hurry.”

  And she and the dogs followed the alpha into the woods to search for the talisman.

  They were running out of time.

  Chapter Eleven

  But they didn’t find the talisman.

  Eli drove her home, silent and grim, as the burden of his pack’s safety surely weighed heavily on his mind.

  “Would you like to come in for coffee?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Get some rest.”

  Abby stood watching until the car disappeared.

  “We’ll find it, Eli,” she murmured. “I swear it.”

  Her mother’s beckoning call was bouncing off the walls when Abby went into her house.

  “Shit,” she muttered. Her chest tightened as she touched her wand to the mask then yanked it off and tossed it to the floor on her way to the spell room.

  She dashed to the hidden door, unable to get a deep enough breath. Her mother rarely called her.

  Very rarely.

  The last time she’d sent a call was when a much younger Jewel had locked her in the laundry room with a cross blue jay and a copperhead.

  Of the three of them, Basilia had freaked out the most. She had two phobias—blue jays, and snakes.

  Jewel knew of both of them.

  “I told you to keep your personal stuff from her,” Abby had reprimanded, when she let her mother out of the small room. “She’s bored and she’s malicious. She has to do something with all that nastiness or she’ll explode.”

  So when her mother’s voice ricocheted off her walls, calling her name, she was understandably worried.

  She nearly dropped the key wand in her hurry. She stabbed the wand into the keyhole and slammed her palm into the depression. “Mother!”

  And finally her mother’s whisper drifted through the door. “Go ahead.”

  “Mama, are you okay?”

  “There’s no need to shout, dear. I’m right here. Finish it.”

  “I will not. Let me in this instant, Mother. Open the door or I will use the wand you created and blast my way inside.” Fear made her angry. Very, very angry. “Open this door!”

  Basilia opened the door.

  Abby squeezed past the slowly opening door and grabbed her mother’s shoulders. “What has happened? Are you okay? Is it Jewel?”

  “No, no, there’s nothing at all wrong, darling. I just…did you bring candy?”

  Abby drew back. “You need it already?”
r />   Basilia nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

  Abby sighed and forced her racing heart to calm. Guilt descended. “I’m sorry I was so…”

  “Rude?”

  “Impatient. I was worried about you.” She frowned at Basilia. “You look well, Mother. Are you sure you called me because you need your med…candy?”

  “I should know my reasons for asking you to visit, sweetheart.”

  “I’m sorry. I heard your call and the last thing on my mind was stopping for chocolate.”

  “No matter, I’ll be fine. Come to the house, Abigail.”

  Abby hesitated.

  “Just for a few minutes,” Basilia said, her face crumbling into lines and folds of despair. “I ask so little…”

  Shit. “Of course, Mama. Of course I’ll visit.”

  “I just thought since you’re already here, you wouldn’t mind sitting a spell. Sometimes I…well, I just get so lonely.” Basilia sighed heavily and put her hand to her chest.

  Abby narrowed her eyes, guilt and suspicion vying for the upper hand. “Where’s Jewel?”

  “Who knows where that child gets to? Out beheading birds, most likely.”

  “I’ll pop out and get your candy. I’ll be back in five minutes.”

  “No need, dear. I just remembered I have extra in my nightstand. Silly me! My memory is going.”

  She chatted all the way back to her house, ignoring Abby’s looks of suspicion and attempts to interrupt.

  Abby knew the state her mother was in when she needed the candy, and that wasn’t it.

  Maybe she really was just lonely.

  Abby couldn’t blame her. She’d have gone stark raving a long time ago had she been trapped in the pocket.

  “You should let me bring you some company.” She’d promised Basilia she wouldn’t bring up the subject again, but damn it all to hell, her mother was lonely. “A kitten to raise, maybe?”

  “No, Abigail.”

  “A puppy? How about Jasmint? She loves it here when I bring her for visits.”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Mother, you’re being stubborn.”

  “I’m sure you mean well, dear, but having to guard animals from Jewel every day, all day would hardly make me feel better.”

  Abby rolled her eyes.

  “I saw that,” her mother said.

  “Sorry.”

  “Uh huh.”

  A few minutes later Basilia urged her into the kitchen. “Sit. Will you have coffee, tea, or water?”

  “I’m not thirsty.”

  “A little something,” Basilia pressed. “I like doing for you, Abby. I can’t be a normal mother, I know, but I do like to pretend.”

  “Some water, then.” Abby sat down and drummed her fingers on the table.

  Basilia tossed a look over her shoulder as she poured a glass of cold water. “Have you had the opportunity to try out your new wand?”

  “The wand is magnificent, but I haven’t actually used it yet. There’s not a whole lot of danger lurking in my life.” Abby smiled.

  “When trouble comes,” Basilia said, “it will serve you well.”

  “I know. I can feel it. It’s simply perfect.”

  Basilia hurried to the table with the glass, beaming. “I’m so glad. You needed something special.” She gave Abby the water. “You deserve a lot of special things, sweetheart.” Her fingers were cool and dry as she smoothed Abby’s hair away from her forehead. “Drink the water.”

  Abby downed the glass and then smacked her lips. “Water in this pocket seems especially tasty. Or maybe I was thirstier than I thought.”

  Basilia smiled. “I love you, Abby girl.”

  “I know, Mama.” She grabbed her mother’s fingers and rubbed them against her cheek. “I know.”

  “How are things coming along with your young man?”

  “I told you he’s not my anything.”

  “Things can change.”

  “I don’t want a man.” Liar. “Especially not that one. You know a relationship between us would not be acceptable to his pack or his council. It’s not going to happen.”

  Basilia tsk tsk’d. “You’re a stubborn girl. You don’t have to marry him. Just use him. A boy toy can be a joy.”

  “Mother!”

  Basilia grinned. “You know I’m right. You need a man, Abby. It’s not healthy to go so long without—”

  “Mother, please! I am not having this conversation.”

  It was Basilia’s turn to roll her eyes. “Did I raise you to be a prude, Abby?”

  Abby traced a pattern on the table. “You know who he is.”

  “Yes, and I’ve had time to think about it. I sense this boy is important in your life. And the past is the past. You can’t hold what his grandfather did against him.”

  “I don’t. But Mother, when he discovers what I did, he is going to…” She stopped and shook her head. “He’s going to blame me for it. He’s going to hate me.”

  A shadow passed through her mother’s eyes.

  “Let’s forget about it,” Abby said.

  “Sweetheart.” Basilia gave her a swift, one-armed hug. “I’m amazed how resilient you are. I also realize that your mistrust of men is not good for you.”

  “Mother—”

  “It’s time to allow yourself to move past it. That man has colored your life for too long.”

  Abby took her mother’s hands. “Mother, look at me.”

  Basilia’s eyes were clear and full of love. “I see only my Abby girl.”

  Abby smiled. “Everyone else sees a monster. It is truly a face only a mother can love.” She frowned. “Why do you want me to pursue the wolf, anyway?”

  Basilia sat down and took Abby’s hands. “I read the cards, Abby. He’s in your future.” She paused. “I believe he is your future.”

  Abby sighed.

  Basilia could not read the cards. She hadn’t been able to since Henry had pushed her into the pocket. That day, a lot of her natural talents and abilities had died.

  “Okay, Mama.”

  “Do what you have to do to get him interested, Abby. Cover his eyes and kiss him. Maybe he can’t see you, but he can feel you.” Basilia nodded wisely. “Kiss him. Cook for him. Make him laugh. You have to try, dear. And then, if none of that works, make him fall in love with you.”

  Abby stood. “Are you saying I should bespell him? That I should give him a potion and make him think he loves me?” She strode toward the door, angry. Disappointed. “I would rather remain alone for eternity than manipulate someone like that, Mother.”

  “You’re just afraid.”

  Abby didn’t reply.

  “One will do much for the ones they love,” Basilia called, as Abby marched through the doorway. “A mother would do much for her child.”

  Abby stared at the path as she walked home, her mind in turmoil. Yes, she was mistrustful. Yes, she was afraid.

  But nothing made her more fearful than her mother being dishonest and callous and doing something that was wrong.

  Basilia was the most honorable person Abby had ever known. She watched over her dead husband’s child by another woman, and she didn’t resent the child for things that were no fault of hers.

  She would never have suggested Abby use a love spell on a man.

  Never.

  Yet she had.

  And why did she call me into the pocket?

  Something was going on. And she had no doubt that eventually, she’d find out exactly what her mother had up her sleeve.

  “Tricky turkey,” Jewel said, stepping out into Abby’s path. “That tricky turkey.”

  Abby gave a little scream and put her hand to her chest. “You scared me.”

  Jewel said nothing, just studied her, curiosity in her strange eyes.

  Abby stepped around the girl. “I have to go. Take care of Mother.”

  She walked on, but felt Jewel’s stare drilling into her back. Worse, Jewel’s senseless whisper echoed all around her until finally, sh
e rushed through the hidden doorway and back into her own home.

  “Tricky turkey,” Jewel had repeated, over and over. “Tricky turkey.”

  And for some reason, those words scared the hell right out of her.

  Chapter Twelve

  It was noon the next day when Eli called her to inform her that he and Remy were driving up—and she went outside to greet him when he arrived.

  Sadie and Elmer brayed a warm hello, and she shook her head in exasperation. If the alpha ever did come into One Hex Hollow with the intention of doing her harm, the dogs were going to escort him to the front door and hand him a weapon.

  “Would either of you like some coffee?” she asked. “Or some breakfast?”

  He walked around his car. “Abby, it’s noon.”

  She shrugged. “Hey. You’re the one who likes this early morning stuff. I could have slept in.”

  He and Remy looked at each other.

  “She’s serious,” Eli told his beta.

  Remy grinned. “We already had breakfast, but thanks, Abby.”

  “Then we shall get started with the search.” Abby rubbed her hands together, quite unaware of her outward show of excitement until Eli dropped his gaze to her hands. She stopped immediately.

  “Girl,” Remy said, “you need to get out more.”

  Her face heated and she ducked her head, letting her hair slide over her face—purely habit, and she stopped when she remembered the mask she wore. “I’ll just be a moment.” She turned away and started to hurry back inside when the alpha’s voice stopped her.

  “Leave the mask inside, Abby.”

  When she turned to look at him, she caught Remy watching him with a puzzled gleam in her eyes. The beta quickly blanked her expression.

  “You’re not my alpha, Eli,” she said. “You’re not the boss of me.” She smiled to soften the words, but she was completely serious.

  He ambled to her and she stood her ground, though every part of her screamed for her to back away.

  He stood in front of her, his eyes clear and calm. “Please, Abby.”

  She did turn away then, and could feel his stare drilling into her back until she hurried inside and shut the door behind her. She gathered her wand and a thermos of hot coffee, then touched the pink mask she’d donned before the alpha’s arrival.