by Emma Nichols
5
We loaded the vehicles and drove back in silence. As I parked in front of Phoenix House, I made the announcement the pack had been waiting on. “Let’s check on the pups, then we’ll assemble in the Great Room for a meeting.”
Their relief was evident. They quickly rushed into the mansion. I leaned heavily against the car door and focused on the future, pushing the sadness away. There was no room for it, no time for it. The pack needed me.
“Well, I think that went well,” Shelby joked as she pressed her back against the car beside me.
“You think?” My brows rose.
She shook her head and laid a hand on my shoulder. “You had to fight Dallas. You have to be the Alpha.”
I stared into her eyes, reluctant to simply trust her words. In them, I found no deception, no doubt. “You mean it.”
A hollow laugh escaped her lips. “Of course. You’re my sister. I’ve always known you’d be the next leader. Father wanted it that way. You’re stepping up, just as he expected you to.”
“This won’t be easy.” I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed.
“Nothing worthwhile ever is, dear.” Shelby rested her head on my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. “You know you channeled Mom there, right?”
She snickered. “I’m supposed to. You must’ve known I was groomed for a role, too.”
I glanced up at the window where I’d last seen her twin. “What about Lenoir?”
She shrugged. “Maybe this is why she feels so lost. She was the baby, the smaller twin. Nothing much was ever expected of her. Our parents weren’t even sure she’d live.”
Pushing my back off the vehicle, I slowly stood. “Okay. Let’s do this.” I took my first step, but Shelby reached out, grabbed my arm, and stopped me.
“There’s something you should do if you want the rest of the pack to see you as the Alpha.” She bit her lip.
I frowned. “I won. I beat an elder. I beat Tanner. What more can I do?”
“Pick a mate.” She winked and then raced past me and up the steps.
Pick a mate. From everything I knew about being a shifter, this wasn’t how it worked. We didn’t simply mate for convenience. While I’d seen differing levels of devotion among the pairs in our pack, the relationship I’d seen at home had shaped my ideas of the kind of mate I wanted, the way I’d imagined our life together. This would be far more challenging than Shelby could dream.
Shaking my head, I made my way to the Great Room and prepared to address my pack. Everyone was assembled inside, sitting on the couches, chairs, and even lounging on the floor. This was my chance to unify them, bring everyone together. As I scanned the room, taking visual attendance, I realized Tanner had finally returned in my absence. He sat in a far corner of the room in a chair while Lennie curled up on the floor near him. The sight made me feel prickly. Especially since his eyes met mine and he refused to look away, all while my little sister threw herself at him.
Taking a seat in the chair to the left of the fireplace, I began. “Twenty-five years ago, my parents moved from Arizona to Asheville, after a honeymoon in Savannah.” My cheeks grew warm. There were some chuckles in the room. Everyone knew the story. “They settled here because they had a big dream for the future and the pack they would create. Because they never wanted to forget their roots, they called themselves the Phoenix Pack.” I could hear murmurs in the room.
“Once, our name was solely about our past. Now, it takes on a double meaning.” Heads tilted. Some elders nodded. “You may be familiar with the legend of the phoenix. In case you aren’t, the phoenix is a bird who lives a long time and dies in a burst of flames. Out of the ashes, a new phoenix is born.” I clapped my hands together. “Today, my parents died, and the Phoenix Homestead was destroyed. This isn’t the end of our story. Like the bird of the legend, we shall rise up from the rubble and build a new homestead, a stronger pack.”
“That’s right,” one of the elders murmured. “Preach, Savvy!”
A smile played at the corners of my mouth. “Tonight, we shall mourn our loss. In the morning, the work begins. We’ll see what we can salvage. We’ll get rid of anything we can’t. Before you know it, we’ll be back in our homes. Together.” Finally, I allowed myself the luxury of a smile.
“And we’ll punish whoever murdered the Alpha and destroyed our homestead, right?” Tanner’s eyes narrowed and he rubbed his hands together.
My left eyebrow arched dangerously. “That should go without saying, but yes. The person or persons who are responsible for my parents’ deaths must pay.”
He smiled, eager to dole out some vengeance. Finally, he had a place to direct all his pent-up rage. “Good.”
“Any other questions?” I glanced around the room, but everyone seemed to be contemplating my speech, or their own situation. In human form, I had no idea what the rest of the pack thought. “Well, there’s food in the kitchen. I’ll order more pizza, if we need it. Then let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
The men and women slowly stood and wandered around. I knew none of them had cause to visit the Asheville Phoenix House previously. They were in awe of the property and exhausted from the day.
The room cleared of all but one woman, an elder who’d lost her mate many years ago. She’d powered through and chosen to live so she could raise their pups. Lula gnawed on her lip while she studied me.
I grinned as I moved to sit beside her. “How’d I do, Lula?”
She reached out and patted my hand. “Not bad, Alpha.” Her head tilted and I knew she had more on her mind.
“Go on, Lula. I can tell you’re dying to say something.” I playfully huffed while I waited.
Lula held my hand in both of hers. “I know you have a lot going on right now between rebuilding and ferreting out those who played a role in your parents’ deaths.”
“But?” I urged her to finish.
“Well, you need to add one more item to your agenda, Savvy.” Lula paused to lick her lips. “You need to find a mate.”
I sighed and yanked my hand from her grasp. “You don’t think the pack will truly accept me without a mate? Is that it?” I ran a hand through my long, wavy hair and instantly wished I had a ponytail holder available.
“It’s not that, dear.” She shook her head. “See, being the Alpha is a huge responsibility. It has always been a two-person job.”
“Two?” My brow furrowed. “There’s a second Alpha?” I rubbed my shoulder as I worried over who I’d have to fight next.
“The Alpha’s spouse is pretty much Alpha by proxy. The support, love, strength, and sounding board they provide is essential to the success of the pack.” Lula struggled to her feet. “Arthritis,” she grumbled. “Just please…think about it.”
I nodded sadly as I watched her limp away. This was the second time tonight I’d been told I needed to find a spouse. Closing my eyes, I leaned back and considered the only prospects I’d met. Tanner. I scrunched up my face. Anyone else in the pack was too young, too old, or already mated. My head tilted. There was that fireman. We’d spoken to each other. He’d touched me. I’d felt nothing. Still, he seemed nice. I sighed. With my luck, he was already mated. This whole finding a mate thing wouldn’t be easy.
Though I was utterly exhausted, I knew I had to prepare for the coming day. I checked my phone. Already it was after eight in the evening. There was little chance anyone would answer my call, but if I left messages, I might hear something first thing in the morning. Opening the browser on my phone, I searched for architects near me. We’d need to redesign and rebuild the main house.
I scrolled through the firms in the results. None of them spoke to me. For some reason, I rather thought one would stand out. Then, I saw it: Rogue Designs. I clicked on the website. The portfolio was impressive. The pricing was a little higher than I anticipated, but I could afford it. After taking a deep breath, I hit the phone number and listened to it ring. On the third ring, while I was preparing for t
he voice message I would leave, a man answered.
“Rogue Designs, how can I help you?” He had a deep voice that resonated within me and had me imagining what he looked like. In my mind, he was a cross between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson. “Hello?”
His second greeting jolted me to action. “Oh, yes, uh…hi?”
He chuckled. Clearly, this man was used to rendering women speechless. “How can I help?”
“I need an architect.” Suddenly, I started blurting out everything. “My family home burned down and my parents are dead and I need to rebuild as quickly as possible because I have two younger sisters to care for and so many people relying on me…”
“Slow down,” he urged. His voice had grown serious. “Now give me an address and I’ll meet you at nine in the morning to look over the site. Will that work?”
I liked how he cut through the crap and went straight to the point. I exhaled, feeling immensely better. “Yeah. That will work.” I rattled off the address.
“And who will I be meeting there?” His voice seriously caressed me through the phone.
“Savvy. Ugh. I’m Savannah Silver. See you then.” I felt so unnerved, I ended the call without even asking his name. “Dammit,” I grumbled. Rarely did anyone leave me so off balance that I made these kinds of mistakes. Tomorrow, I’d have to be back on my game.
6
In the morning, I made sure everyone knew what they had to do and how they were going to accomplish it before I left the security of the gated estate. “Wait!” Dallas stopped me before I could climb into my car.
“What is it?” I was distracted as I tried to mentally prepare for the day.
“We don’t have the gate code.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
I sighed. “Nor will you. This wasn’t an oversight. I’m following father’s instructions. Only the Alpha is to ever have access to this information.”
“Then how do we get back in?” He spoke carefully, but I could sense his rage beneath the surface.
“Simple. Either one person remains here at all times to push the button, or you wait for me to return and we enter together.” I glanced at the time on my phone. “I have to meet the architect at the homestead and I have several stops on the way. We’ll talk later.” I watched as his hands dropped to his side with clenched fists. “When will you be up there to work on sifting through the rubble?”
Dallas frowned. “As soon as possible, Alpha.”
There was more than a hint of disgust in the way he spoke my title, but I refused to address it at the moment. I had more important concerns. “See you at the homestead, Dallas. Soon.”
Though it was barely after seven in the morning, there were reasons I wanted to leave already. For one, I needed caffeine desperately. For another, I wanted to check on the safe before the rest of the pack arrived. This had always been the biggest Phoenix Pack secret. It must remain that way. The funds in my father’s account only told part of the story. The wealth hidden in the wall explained everything.
After stopping at the nearest gas station to buy several sodas, I drove the mountain roads while deep in thought. There were only so many reasons to murder a person: jealousy, revenge, to keep a secret, and probably most popular of all, money. My parents lived a quiet, peaceful existence. The pack stayed on our lands. We never ventured past our territory. By outward appearances, we lived a modest existence. Though rumors had circulated through the years, no one outside of the pack knew about the mines.
Slowly, I navigated the gravel driveway to the homestead. There were no other vehicles in the area, so I confidently exited my car and strode to the house. The fire had obviously started in the kitchen and then radiated through the wooden structure. Parts of the second story had collapsed, but luckily not in the study, my destination. Pushing open the front door, I froze. My parents had always left it unlocked, a sign of how safe they’d felt on the homestead. I wouldn’t make the same mistake.
I picked my way through the entry, past the stairs, and shoved living room furniture out of my path. Finally, I reached the French doors, which closed the study off from the rest of the house. Taking a deep, steadying breath, I pushed them open so I could assess the damage. I sniffed the still smoky air, hoping I might catch the scent of the killer or killers. Unfortunately, I smelled nothing other than the hint of an accelerant, and the stench from the charred wood.
Scanning the room, I discovered much of the furniture had been moved and the paintings had been removed from the walls. The area rug in the center of the room had been tossed in a corner. My fists clenched at my side. I’d discovered the motive. Obviously, this was about money and I was reasonably confident the safe was still secure. Cautiously, I moved to the built-in bookcase my father had so cleverly designed. Then I reached up and tipped the decorative finial until it was horizontal, so I could separate the two sections. With little effort, they slid into the walls on either side, revealing a huge wall safe. I punched in the code my father had taught me, then the green light appeared and a click echoed through the empty house. I pulled back the door and took a quick peek. Nothing seemed to be missing. My shoulders heaved in relief. Reaching inside, I grabbed the go bag my father kept at the ready, which was a cross body satchel filled with our most important documents, like birth certificates, social security cards, loan and insurance information. Then I added the ledger and the checkbook before throwing the strap over my head and adjusting it. Confident I had everything I needed for the moment, I quickly shut the safe, repositioned the bookcases, and locked the finial in place as I heard footsteps nearing the room. The doors swung open and Dallas appeared.
My eyes narrowed. “What are you doing in here?”
He panted and pointed. “Two men. At least one is a shifter. Arguing.”
With a sigh, I exited the study and ran to what remained of the front porch to survey the situation. The fireman had returned. He had an inspector with him, judging from the clipboard and business casual attire. A third man stood there all tall, dark, and brooding. My breath caught in my throat when he turned and caught me staring.
“Savannah Silver?” He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned.
Maybe I didn’t meet his expectations. Over the last twenty-four hours, this had become the norm. No one believed in me, despite my abilities. “Yes.” I huffed as I rushed over to the men.
The fireman spoke first. “I found him checking out the property.” He jerked his head angrily at the man who’d spoken to me.
I nodded. “Thank you.” Then I turned my attention to the man who hadn’t taken his eyes off me since he first noticed me. I struggled not to shrink under his scrutinizing gaze. Holding out my hand, I prepared for our introduction. “Please call me Savvy. Are you the architect?”
He grasped my hand in his to shake, but I was only aware of his touch. My wolf whined. My stomach fluttered. My heart raced. I stared at our hands a moment before yanking mine back. When I glanced up at his face, I saw a smile playing at the corner of his lips, but there was some indecipherable look in his eyes.
“Quinn Holderman.” Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. “Rogue Designs.”
“A man of few words, I see.” I pursed my lips, stuffed the card in my satchel, and then turned on my heel. “Follow me.” I started to walk toward the house when I heard him mumble under his breath.
“Gladly.”
I fought to hide my reaction. I was too far away. There was too much noise from pack members working around the homestead. I shouldn’t have heard him. Only…I did. A twitch began under my eye. When we reached what was left of my parents’ home, I paused and waited for him to catch up. “You don’t look like an architect,” I commented absently.
Quinn laughed, then sobered. He tugged at his chin while assessing my attire. “You don’t look like you can afford me.”
My brows peaked. “Oh, really? And why is that?”
He gestured while he spoke. “Flip-flops, jean shorts, and a t-shirt you
probably picked up at Goodwill.”
I tilted my head. “Looks can be deceiving. Trust me. I can afford you.” I motioned for him to follow me, but he remained rooted to the ground.
“Trust isn’t really my thing. Perhaps you could give me money instead?” Quinn stared down at me. He stood a good foot taller than me.
Since I was barely more than five feet tall, I was used to craning my neck at people, but this time it bothered me. I shrugged. “Okay, how much would you like?”
“You want me to design something to work on the existing foundation?” He raked a hand through his hair.
“That would be nice.” I nodded.
“Well, I’d advise against it.” He held out his hand, ready to tick off reasons on his fingers.
“Of course, you would.” I muttered under my breath.
Quinn paused and chuckled. Then he grew serious. “Really. It might not be safe. The foundation. The fire.”
“I see where you’re going with this.” My shoulders sank. “So where would you suggest I rebuild?” I wrapped my arms around my body and struggled to control my emotions.
“Miss Silver?” The inspector interrupted our discussion. “There’s a detective on the way. He wants to speak with you.”
I turned to face him. “That’s fine. I’ll be here.” Then I glanced back and forth between Quinn and the inspector. Losing my parents hurt more than I cared to admit. I didn’t want to think about it. As long as I could keep moving, keep busy, I wouldn’t have a moment to grieve. I was the Alpha now. I couldn’t afford to appear weak or emotional. I couldn’t give them any reason to doubt my ability to lead. Inhaling deeply, I shook my head. I could feel a sob rising in my throat, but I choked it back. “I need…a moment.” Then I sprinted to the back of the house before anyone could stop me, before the first tear fell. I needed to let my wolf run free, but there was no way this would happen for hours. I looked about wildly, but there was nowhere to go, nowhere to be, nowhere to hide. Sitting hard on an Adirondack chair, I covered my face as I rocked back and forth.
