“Hey!” Eva laughed, fake outrage on her face. “I was the one who cooked.”
Zackary pushed open the door to the pack kitchen with his back, mischief in his gaze. “Yeah, and not all that great either.”
“Oh! I’m going to hit you for that,” Eva grumbled, chasing after him as he ducked inside.
Their father followed, laughter on his lips. Looking back, Eva saw happiness in his eyes, and as her stupid brother danced around a table, his tongue out, she realized no one was paying them any attention.
You’re one of us now. John’s words whispered through her mind, and for the first time, she actually believed them. Dark Shadow was becoming home.
***
“Hi, Eva, do you have plans today?”
Looking up from her coffee mug, Eva answered Oliver, “No, why?”
“I just wondered if you were interested in helping me. I could show you a few things while it’s quiet.”
“Oh, sure. That sounds great.”
“Okay, well, come by the infirmary when you’re free.”
Smiling as Oliver left, Eva gulped the rest of her coffee and then picked up the half of her toast she hadn’t eaten. Her days had started to blur together, repeated day after day, and the prospect of helping and learning something excited Eva more than she would have expected. Clearly, she was more bored than she’d first thought.
“You enjoyed yourself yesterday then?” her father asked, studying her.
“As much as one can enjoy bullet wounds and blood, yes,” Eva replied. “It’s not exactly veterinary care, but close enough. Plus, it will keep me busy, and I think Oliver needs the help.”
“I think it’s great, Ev,” Zackary said, bumping her shoulder. “I’m outta here. I’ve got class. Catch you later.”
“Bye, Zac.”
“See you later, Zac. Bass has asked me to build a couple more small cabins, so I’ll be out all day,” their father replied.
Eva watched her brother leave. While he seemed settled enough, she couldn’t help worrying about him. To her, he seemed to have done a complete one-eighty, and gone from out of control, to totally fine.
“How is he getting on?” she asked her dad.
He glanced at her, seeming to debate his answer. “I heard him crying in the night the other day. I went in, but he told me to leave him alone. He’s all right. Far more all right than he was, but he’s still struggling.”
“How’s the homeschooling going?” Zackary had begun taking classes with the others his age in the pack. He’d wanted to enroll at the local school, but Bass didn’t think Zackary had enough control yet.
Her father shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not really homeschooling, is it? He’s got a teacher. She hasn’t complained, so that’s a start.”
“Maybe you should go talk to this teacher and see what she thinks, Dad. Just because he’s not causing trouble anymore doesn’t mean he’s doing well.”
Sighing, her father ran a hand through his graying hair. “I guess you’re right. I’ll find time this week.”
“When were you thinking of going back to the house?”
“Early next week. I need to run it by Bass.” Putting down his mug, he leaned back and tipped his head toward the ceiling. “It’s strange asking a kid if we can leave.”
Eva laughed. “I don’t think Bass has ever been a kid, but yeah, it’s weird. It’s like we’ve got one foot in this world and one in the other, and we’re not sure where we stand.”
“Both of Zac’s feet are here, Eva. Which means I need to catch up,” he said, his face sad, his eyes weary.
Eva reached for her father’s hand and clutched it tightly. “Don’t leave me behind, Dad.” It was her greatest fear, not belonging. Having her brother and father cross a line she would never fully be able to cross herself.
“Evaline, you’ll always be my little girl, even when you’re married and have children.”
A smile tugged up her lips. “Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. College and vet school, those are the things I need to figure out how to do.”
“That’s easy, Eva. Pack a bag and move back into the dorms. We’ll be here for the holidays. It will be no different from when you were there, and we lived at the house.”
Sucking in a breath, Eva wished it really was as simple as he made out. She wished her chest didn’t hurt at just the thought of going back. “Everything is different, Dad. Mom’s not here. I can’t return to that life—drinks every night of the week, junk food, laughter. That was the life of a young girl who’d never known suffering and heartache. I can’t just pick up where I left off.”
“I know, but you need to work out something because not finishing your degree and making a home with John here is not an option.”
Eyes narrowing, Eva gritted her teeth in an attempt to control her anger. “That’s a little unfair, don’t you think?”
“Is it? I’m just not sure I want this for you, Eva. There’s a big, wide world out there, and being tied here more than you already are is going to guarantee your world stays very small.”
“I’m a big girl, Dad.” Eva stood up. “And I think you’re jumping way ahead of yourself.”
“You’re angry with me,” he noted, his gaze becoming heavy. “I just worry.”
“Not angry, just… hurt, Dad. I’m hurt. You’ve got to trust I can make my own choices and that they’ll be the right ones. I’m off to go see Oliver, okay? I’ll see you later.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Bye.”
Winding through the tables, Eva left the building, her father’s words haunting her. Because as much as she didn’t want to admit it, he was right. The shifter world was small, but it was also big in love and loyalty, and maybe it would be enough. John made her happy when happiness was hard to find. And after so long waking up with nothing but sorrow and pain, a little happiness was a welcomed change.
Chapter 28
John
Unable to detach Mathew from his neck, John had no choice but to relinquish the driving to Tyler. Fitting everyone and their belongings into the cars took a little juggling, but soon they were ready for the road, with Theo from Indiana traveling on foot with them. Mathew didn’t seem to care when John told him they’d be running home. He’d simply maneuvered himself around John’s neck until he was attached to his back instead of his front.
The cars stuck below the speed limit to keep those on foot at an easy speed, and as John veered away from the road and into the trees leading to home, the sun was high in the sky glistening over the snow. Bass and Jackson were aware of their impending arrival, and the plan was to meet at the pavilion where they’d decide on the next course of action.
Saluting Logan as John jogged over the shared border, he readjusted Mathew, who’d nodded off about halfway into their journey and slowed to a walk as the trees gave way to their homes. Cutting across the clearing, John had every intention of going straight to the pavilion when he caught a scent on the breeze, which had him changing direction.
“John?” Noah called, pausing as he noticed him turn left.
“I won’t be long. I just need something.”
Noah tilted his head, breathed deeply, and a grin spread over his face. “Since when is a woman a something?”
“Zip it, Noah. I’ll be five minutes, max.”
Laughing, Noah ran off to join the group up ahead, and John carried on following the trail, which would lead him to Eva. He wasn’t surprised when it brought him to the infirmary. There was a battle coming, and Oliver would need all the help he could get. John also hoped Eva working with Oliver would help her feel like she belonged here and give her a place within his pack.
Mathew’s head lifted off his shoulder as John walked through the infirmary doors. Eva was in the corner, appearing to be counting medical supplies in the cupboards.
Tilting his head, John caught Mathew’s eye. “See the pretty girl over there?” he whispered to the sleepy boy.
A small nod w
as his reply.
“That’s my girl,” John murmured, his smile reaching more than his face as he crossed the room.
She looked back just before he wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled his face into the curve of her neck, breathing her deeply into his lungs. Everything inside of him seemed to relax as if he hadn’t quite been able to breathe fully since leaving her in his bed.
“Hey, sweetheart, you look busy.” John kissed her cheek.
Twisting in his arms, Eva stepped back as far as she could, her hands finding the counter behind her. The smile on her face morphed into a frown. “John, you seem to have a little someone attached to you,” she noted, taking Mathew in.
“Eva, meet Mathew, aka Matty the barnacle. Matty, this is my girl, Eva.”
“Hi, Matty,” Eva answered, peering over John’s shoulder as Mathew shifted back to hide.
“Where’s his parents?” she mouthed.
“Dead,” John mouthed back. Eva’s face fell. “Matty’s new here. He’s just arrived from the Indiana pack. He’s not a big talker, but you’ve got a good grip, hey, pal?”
Mathew clung on impossibly tighter.
“Well, it was nice to meet you, Matty.” Eva stepped closer, gripping his shoulders she pushed up onto her toes and peeked over his shoulder. “Boo!” she mock shouted.
John felt the little boy’s body shake with silent laughter, and a moment later, he was lifting himself higher and half over John’s shoulder, his big blue eyes studying Eva.
“He kinda attached himself to me and wouldn’t let go,” John explained.
Eva met his gaze, an unreadable emotion warming her eyes. “I don’t blame him. Must be pretty cool riding up there, huh?”
Mathew nodded.
“I’ve gotta go,” John said. “I caught your scent in the air and got distracted.”
Eva shook her head. “You’ve no idea how weird that sounded to me.”
Cupping her jaw, John tilted her face upward, toward him. “I’ll see you soon.” Leaning forward, he kissed her gently, causing Mathew to giggle. “He’s just jealous I get the pretty girl.” John grinned.
“Bye, John. Bye, Matty.”
Leaving Eva, John exited the building. “Hold on, kiddo. We best hurry.”
Setting off at a run, John crossed the clearing and headed down the track, which wove through the trees and then crossed the stream by Tyler and Regan’s house, to then open up to the shared pack area where Katalina had had the pavilion built.
“Glad you could join us,” Bass teased as he joined them. “And who’s this?”
“Mathew.” Reaching around, John pulled Mathew into his arms. He went willingly but soon reattached his arms around his neck once he was positioned on John’s front. “He’s got a surprisingly strong grip. Ran all the way here on my back.”
“Hey there, Mathew.” Bass reached out and gently touched the boy’s face. “I’m your new alpha, Bass.” His eyes shifted to the midnight eyes of his wolf. “I think you’re going to like it here. Look, we even have a playground over there.”
Mathew gazed at Bass a moment, his wide blue eyes fracturing with silver and gray before he blinked and peered again with a human gaze, turning his head to take in the new playground.
“Wanna go play?” John asked.
He seemed to think it over before shaking his head.
“Looks like you’ve got a new roommate.” Bass grinned.
“Hmm.” John sighed. I wonder what Eva will think of that.
Jackson walked over, Katalina by his side. Ruffling Mathew’s hair, Jackson took a stance beside John, and the other alpha studied the new group—currently either using the playground or supervising those on it.
“Splitting them in half isn’t going to work,” Jackson said. “Unless you want to take on five kids?” Jackson glanced at Bass. “I don’t mind.”
Katalina elbowed her father. “Don’t wind him up. How many actually have parents with Castor?”
John shrugged. “I’m not sure. I got the feeling Theo was in charge.”
“How old is he?” Bass asked.
“Fifteen,” John answered.
“Too young to take on all that responsibility,” Katalina murmured.
“He’s dominant. Got the makings of a future alpha,” Jackson added.
“I’ve got enough strong-headed teen boys. He’s yours,” Bass muttered.
Jackson laughed. “Fair enough.”
“Before you too start weighing up their pros and cons, I think you should speak to them and give them a choice,” Katalina said. “This isn’t a cattle auction.”
“And if they all want to join Dark Shadow?” Bass raised an eyebrow, eyeing Katalina.
She smiled the smile John had seen her use and win Bass over with a hundred times. I wonder if Eva will use her smile against me….
“Then it’s a good job our new builder has decided to stay,” she responded.
“Are we doing this together?” Jackson asked Bass.
Katalina stepped forward. “How about I do it? I’m far less intimidating than the pair of you, and how about you crack a smile?” She eyed both alphas. “The pair of you.”
John stepped to the side and took a seat on a picnic bench, spinning Mathew around onto his knee. “Let’s watch Kat work her magic,” he murmured into the little boy’s ear.
With Bass and Jackson on either side of her, Katalina called everyone over and smiled at the nine newcomers.
“Hi, I’m Katalina, and this is Bass, my mate.” She slipped her hand into Bass’s. “And my father, Jackson. Right at this moment, you’re on land, which is shared territory of Dark Shadow’s and River Run’s, and you’re all welcome to come play here, but we need to decide where you’re to live. While we had planned to divide you in half, that might not work with so many little ones, so hopefully, we can work together and figure out where everyone is going to be happiest.”
Josie stepped forward, Theo by her side. “I didn’t realize you would be splitting us up,” Josie said quietly. “We are all we have left.”
“I know,” Katalina said gently. “Our packs are connected. We have mating bonds linking us together. Even if you follow different alphas, you’ll not be apart.”
Theo placed a hand on his grandmother’s shoulder and whispered something in her ear before Josie turned back to the group, saying, “Go play. We’ll sort this.”
Theo and Josie met Jackson and Bass. “I’m grateful for both of your help,” Theo began. “Alpha at fifteen was never on my to-do list,” he continued with a smile.
“But he did a fine job holding us together,” Josie added, smiling at her grandson. “Willa, Kit, and Mathew are orphans, and while I’ve done my best with Matty, the poor mite hasn’t muttered a word since he witnessed his parents killed. In fact,”—she glanced over smiling at John with Mathew on his knee—“that’s the most interaction I’ve seen out of him in a long time. He seems to have taking a liking to John, so I think he should stay in Dark Shadow.”
“I’ll find him a family,” Bass murmured.
She nodded sadly. “Willa’s seventeen and has been looking after Kit since their parents passed. I don’t think she’ll accept help, though I’ve given it where I can.”
“Willa stays with me,” Theo instructed. “I don’t care where, but Willa’s mine.”
John smiled. Fifteen and already knowing what he wanted… John couldn’t blame him. He wished he hadn’t had to wait so long to find Eva.
“Then there’s Gemma and her two grandchildren, Neo and Kiah. Their father’s with Castor. Mom died giving birth to Kiah.”
“Well, if I take Theo, Josie, Willa, and Kit,” Jackson explained, “and you take Matty, Gemma, Kiah, and Neo that just leaves the two kids.”
“I’m happy with that. Are you, Theo?” Bass asked.
“Fine with me,” he answered.
“Do the other two have parents with Castor?” Katalina asked.
Josie nodded. “Tilly’s mom and both of Orian
a’s parents.”
“What’s the likelihood of them standing down if we get the word out their children are safe,” Bass asked.
“Depends if they can get away from Castor,” Theo answered. “But maybe now Castor can’t use us as a threat, they’ll have more of a chance.”
“I’m curious,” Jackson began, studying Theo, “why wouldn’t Castor use you in his army?”
Theo met Jackson’s gaze head-on, holding it for far longer than he should have, the potential of who he would be shining forward. “Because he was afraid of me. I’m Kyle’s nephew, and people tended to follow me instead of him.”
John climbed to his feet as Bass and Jackson stood a little taller, but Katalina beat him to it. Shifting herself forward slightly, she touched Theo’s arm. “Were you fond of your uncle?” she asked.
Theo took her in, and John covered the distance between himself and the alpha pair, shifting Mathew back around to his back. “Hold tight, buddy,” he whispered, patting his linked hands.
“Why?” Theo asked.
“Because the piece of scum tried to kill my mate,” Bass ground out.
Tension filled the air, John’s skin prickling with awareness, his wolf sitting up, ready for chaos to erupt.
“Whatever Kyle did, we were not involved. Castor turned his head at the end, had him walking down a road he shouldn’t have been on,” Josie explained gently.
“He led us to our destruction,” Theo muttered. “I won’t make the same mistake. We’ve not come here to cause trouble.”
“Great,” Katalina replied, overly bright, briefly giving Jackson and Bass a hard look. “Well, that just leaves Oriana and Tilly.”
Bass relaxed a fraction. “We’ve got to take into account they might end up orphans too.”
“I’ll take them to mine. Karen will watch them for now. And then maybe we should both see if any of our families are willing to foster them until the future’s certain?” Jackson suggested.
Bass nodded his agreement. “Well, that wasn’t too hard. Theo, Josie, we’ll leave you to tell them, and then we can get everyone settled in and fed.”
“Thank you, again,” Josie replied, following Theo as he walked toward the playground.
Wolf Queen (A New Dawn Novel Book 6) Page 16
