Half-Breed

by Marcia Colette

  That fish had to be at least two feet in length. His tail was so big that it flopped over the rim of the net. Its gills inflated and deflated as he breathed his last breath. The kids across the way pointed and cheered us on, pointing at our catch.

  "Well,” Uncle said, sauntering to my side. “I guess that means we're having a cookout tonight. That sea serpent won't fit in any of my pans."

  "He certainly won't be enough to feed all of us, either,” Matt added.

  I laughed. “I guess that means you guys will have to get your own."

  Matt came to my side and turned me around. “What about them?"

  My face lit up for a second time. Stephan, Aiyana, and Evan stood by the porch, smiling and waving their hands.

  Evan broke rank first and sprinted down the small incline thundering straight for me. From the way he barreled toward me my mind screamed, “Take cover!” With that kind of excitement, he might break my other leg or finish off my injured one. I backed in to Matt, seeking his protection from the friendly neighborhood maniac.

  When Evan thumped onto the dock, my husband shoved me forward into his Herculean arms. The Neanderthal lifted me in a huge bear hug, whirled me around, and carried me off to a grassy area.

  Matt shrugged at my smiling uncle, both men grinning and not moving an inch to help. So much for loved ones. I got more use out of that worm at the end of my hook.

  Evan laid me on the grass and covered me with his body, being mindful of my ankle. “I missed you so much,” he said, planting a smacking kiss on my cheek. He didn't stop there. His head bobbed up and down as he kissed my entire face.

  "Get off me, you jerk!” I screamed. “There are kids around!"

  Of course, they seemed to forget about the fish as their wretched little minds salivated at seeing action of a different type. Claps and wolf whistles resounded throughout the trailer community. Brats. What was this world coming to?

  "It looks like they're enjoying the show just fine,” he said. As though nothing happened, he went back to smooching up my face, making sure he covered every inch.

  "You've hogged her long enough,” Aiyana said, plopping down beside me. Her face came in close and she picked up where Evan had left off, giving me small, tender kisses and not slobbering ones.

  Stephan loomed over us, blocking out the sun. “You deserve whatever punishment they dish out. Running away like that. Giving us grief. Not calling enough.” He slumped onto the ground next to Aiyana. His lips made immediate contact, delivering a soft tender kiss more luscious than those from when we had first mingled together.

  It was good to know that the trailer community allowed open displays of affection. These guys made sure the neighbors would never see my humiliated face again.

  One thing gnawed at the back of my mind. Graham hadn't warned me about them coming up the road, and Dane and Riley had chucked their everyday calls and visits. Something was up and I wanted to know what.

  Chapter 38

  We left Evan and Aiyana outside to catch a few more fish while the rest of us went inside and caught up on things. Taking one look at my ankle, Matt carried me up the hill and into the house, where he sat me on the couch and began removing the elastic bandages. Stephan and my uncle spoke in the kitchen over a pot of fresh coffee.

  According to Matt, he got an anonymous tip—imagine that—that I was staying with my uncle. Anonymous tip, my ass. I glared at Uncle Graham, who denied making the call. If he didn't do it, that left only one person. Dane. No one in my family knew where I was and I never told Genevieve because Matt would break her defenses. Dane made sense, because he had kept asking about Matt and wanted to know if we had we settled our differences. Though he wouldn't admit it, I knew my uncle was in on the plan and probably had discussed it last night while I was in the kitchen with Dane.

  The whole situation made me want to scream; they had no right making decisions for me. Nonetheless, Matt's and everyone else's presence squelched my thirst for taking out a can of whoop-ass.

  Matt readjusted my splint and asked how it had happened. For once, I told the truth. The lies and deceit had grown tiresome as I'm sure Matt would agree. Nobody interrupted. However, Stephan nearly choked on his coffee when he heard the part about me jumping out of a three-story window. Snorting, he turned his back and mumbled something about needing a refill on his coffee. Matt rolled his eyes upon hearing the news. After re-wrapping my foot in the splint, he applied the ice packs my uncle had given him.

  "Are you ready to go home?” Matt asked, rubbing my leg as it rested in his lap.

  "It depends on whether I have a place to call home,” I replied.

  "You have a home. It's the same one we planned to get rid of so that we could find something more permanent. A place where we can raise our children."

  Words refused to form. I wanted a home in Atlanta, but I also wanted friends. Yes, damn it! I wanted my cake and eat it too. After everything I've been through, I deserved that much. Well, maybe a swift kick in the pants, too, but that was beside the point. I wanted a family who loved me regardless of my slight imperfections and oversights. If I couldn't have that, then I would be just as alone as I was before meeting the Georgia Pack.

  "Hon?” Matt asked. “Did you hear me?"

  "Yes, but what does that mean for me? Severed relations or conjugal visits from the pack? Or am I not allowed to call Aiyana for a day of shoe shopping unless I go through you?"

  "Huh?"

  Taking my foot out of his lap, I stood. “Cut the crap, Matt. I love the Georgia Pack and I need them as much as you do. I don't want to be shut off from them and only allowed access through you. If that's the case, then I'll find a pack of my own."

  Matt remained seated. His arm coiled around my thigh, tugging me close. He closed his eyes, warm cheek rubbing against my thigh, gentle kisses pressed into the side of my jeans. He was in another world, either avoiding my question or contemplating a good response.

  "Seth hasn't banned you from the state,” he said. “But he has banned you from the pack. If you want Stephan, Aiyana, or anyone else as a friend, then that's fine. Werewolves have human friends, too, you know."

  "So friends are all I get. No family."

  "Give it time. You can't blame Seth for this. You said it yourself; he was only protecting the pack from outside threats. He—"

  "I'm not a threat. I wouldn't do anything to hurt—"

  "He sees you as one.” His other arm coiled around my thigh, hugging me. My hands rested on his shoulders as he gazed at me through pain-filled eyes. “What would you do if you were in his place? If you wanted to protect them, wouldn't you distance them from danger? He's our Alpha and we looked to him for protection."

  "But I've taken care of the danger. It won't come back."

  "How do you know? You said you took care of everything in North Carolina and the next thing we know, you're taking shots at some sniper hiding out in the bushes."

  "Those are two different things."

  "How do you know?” Matt repeated in an expectant tone.

  Uncle nudged Stephan's arm. “Young man, we should take the grill out if we plan to cook that fish. Would you mind helping me? It's right out back in the shed."

  Stephan nodded, taking the hint. Eventually Seth would want the details, too, but since I wasn't pack anymore, I didn't owe him any explanations. He and Matt could fill Seth in later. Stephan held the door open for Graham and the two of them left the trailer. I waited until they disappeared out of earshot—that was debatable—before continuing.

  I paused to calm my thudding heart. I had to revisit the phone call we'd had at the hospital and fill in the gaps. “Dane is the leader of the Hunting Club. A bounty hunting club."

  "Hunting Club?” He sat back on the sofa, sighing and running his hand through his black, silken hair.

  Matt knew that Dane and I had a history that stemmed all the way back to my father coming into his rambunctious teenage years. He had adopted our family as his own instead of the other
way around. I couldn't chuck Dane aside even if I tried. What Matt didn't know was that our friendship had turned to something more last night.

  My kill journal lay on the bookcase shelf. Walking passed him I reached for it and unsnapped the clasp before handing it to Matt. He met my eyes first, then flipped through the pages. I wasn't sure how he'd react, but watching him read through it in silence disturbed me. Still, I promised myself that I wouldn't hide any more secrets from my husband, so enduring this moment of scrutiny was a small price to pay.

  Matt snapped the journal shut, blowing a strand of hair in my eyes. A disconcerted look trampled his gorgeous face. “And here it was I thought I knew the woman I married. Tell me something. Was risking your life worth it?"

  "I'm not a maniac,” I seethed. “I didn't go out hunting rogues for sport. Maybe I kept the details to myself, but it had nothing to do with getting a trophy or a certificate at the end of the day."

  "Well, you must have got something that made it worthwhile lying to me all this time."

  I slumped on the couch and stared at him through slitted eyes. “Do you remember what you did to me when we first met? You wanted to tear my throat out. Did you think I'd ever come right out and tell you about being a bounty hunter? You—"

  "Lex—"

  "Let me finish!” I paused to re-gather myself. “No one ever forgets that I'm human, but I have to fight extra hard to prove that I'm wolf too. You know as well as I do that human hybrids are nothing more than modified humans. Heaven forbid one of us chooses a werewolf life and all the dangers that it encompasses."

  "What the hell does that have to do with you being a bounty hunter?"

  "Because I have friends here who accept me for who I am, and they've been in the picture a lot longer than you."

  Matt sat on the arm of the couch and folded his arms across his chest. “Doesn't being your husband mean anything? Doesn't that earn me special rights and privileges? Or do I have to fight my way to get them, just like you have to fight your way to acceptance? I thought marriage meant total acceptance, but you've obviously lost something in the translation."

  "This marriage means more to me than you'll ever know. Why the hell do you think I kept the Hunting Club a secret? The less you know the better off you are. We've racked up a mound of enemies over the years and you sit there and act like it's nothing. I bet when they blow a cap in your ass, you'll think twice about that."

  "So that gives you the right to run away and get all snugged up with them, doesn't it? Trouble knocks at your door and these are the first people you go running to."

  "Maybe it's because I know they won't give me any backlash or grief."

  "Well, I hope you're not looking for a pity party, because you won't get it here."

  Seething, I grabbed a couch pillow and whipped it at him. He batted it out of the way with as much contrition as he would have if swatting a mosquito. He was lucky. If I had gotten my fingers around a vase, there would have been blood on the upholstery.

  "Go to hell!” I slumped into the couch and crossed my arms. “Why did you come here? If you drove this far to be belligerent, then your ass could have stayed home."

  "I came because I want my wife back. We don't get the luxury of going to marriage counseling, so we have to work out our problems ourselves."

  "Well, if this is the way you want them worked out then take your furry ass back to Atlanta. I'm staying.” Rising off the couch, I limped to the front door.

  Matt swooped around, grabbed my arm, and yanked me around to face him. My eyes narrowed, focusing on his grip before drilling into his eyes.

  "Don't give me that look,” he said. “I'm not revisiting the bedroom scene. I promised I'd never bring violence to you and I meant it. Too bad that doesn't go both ways."

  Pissed, I tore my arm away from him.

  He smoldered. “If getting up in your face is the only way to get your attention, then so be it. I'm sick and tired of you walking away from me.” He paused, his glower still on me. “Let me tell you something, Lex. I'm pissed about the whole Hunting Club thing, but you want to know what sucks the most? You didn't trust me with the truth. Why? I may have my moments, but I'm nothing like the guy you met in Boston. I'd never hurt you, no matter what kind of garbage you harbor in your past. So what did I do to make you think otherwise?"

  Sighing, I took a seat at the breakfast counter. For the longest time I couldn't answer him because I didn't know how. He wanted to hear something, but I didn't know what that “something” was. What more could I possibly tell him that I hadn't already said?

  "Nothing,” I said.

  Matt took the seat next to mine. “Nothing what?"

  "You didn't do anything."

  "I did something that made you lie to me. And don't give me that crap about trying to protect me from the evils of your life. That damn story is ready for fossilization."

  A shovel dug deep into my gut and Matt held the handle. It took me several minutes to come up with an answer. Too bad I didn't buy it. “I thought you would divorce me."

  "Bullshit. You know enough about us to know that our relationships are lifelong commitments. I may want to take a vacation from you, but we'd never get a divorce. So tell me something I don't know."

  Sighing, I closed my eyes and threw my head back, trying to think. Voices screamed in the back of my brain, fighting for control. It never dawned on me that my husband would make me choose between himself and Dane. To make matters worse, Matt had no idea that he was doing it. Or did he? Nevertheless, I had expected Dane to be the one to force my hand. Because I stood by Matt, my decision was simple. That was a few days ago. If I had so much zeal in support of my husband, then it should have been an easy decision. Uh-huh. It wasn't, but I knew what I had to say.

  My lips trembled and I gulped. Then I cupped my hands together, fingers quivering. Because his keen senses would have picked up my bodily changes, I didn't bother trying to hide it. Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth.

  No words came out.

  The urge to bolt off the chair and run away from him became unbearable. Sighing, I clopped my elbows on the counter and held my head in my hands. I couldn't face him.

  "The Club...” I paused, but not too long or I'd lose my nerve. “There are ... humans involved. They've been hunting with us for decades.” I hesitated. “There's a ... a black market too. We strip—or rather they strip—the hides ... and sell them."

  I couldn't say any more. Dane's voice screamed in my mind, replaying the scenes from when I first found out about the Hunting Club. He told me to never tell a soul, not even my parents. And here I sat, breaking his decree. This was an ultimate act of betrayal. I spat on Dane's Alpha title and the entire Hunting Club for the sake of my marriage. Whatever they thought of me couldn't stack up to the disappointment that would be on Dane's face. Half-bred idiot; no wonder I always felt the need for having to measure up to everyone's standards. Those who saw me as human didn't understand my werewolf side, and those who saw me as a werewolf didn't understand my human side. For once, everyone's apprehensions about me made sense. The person who knew me best sat in judgment of me now.

  Matt sighed. “If the humans have kept the secret for this long, then I doubt they'd tell anyone anytime soon."

  My head shot up. “That's all you have to say?"

  "What else do you want me to say? That I'm okay with it? I'm not. At least Bryce provides a worthy service to the pack. What the heck do the human hunters do other than exterminate us? If it ever went to their heads, we would be forced to see who's higher on the food chain. You know that, Lex.” He leaned over the counter and folded his hands on top. “If anyone ever found out, they would take out you and the entire Club. Do you realize that?"

  "For heaven sake, Matt, why do you think I wanted to keep you in the dark? But if it makes you feel any better, it scared the hell out of me when a bunch of my friends died in an ambush eight months back. I walked out with the hopes that I'd never have to look back."

>   "And what about now? How do you feel about your precious Club?"

  Thanks for throwing acid on an open wound. “I couldn't ignore them even if I tried. Maybe we're not doing things by the book, but I can't ignore what the rogues are doing either. You're just like the rest of the wolf population, who seems to forget that all it takes is one rogue to fall into the wrong hands and our race is through. I protect everything I love the best way I know how. If breaking a few By-laws keeps maniacs like my grandfather from infecting people, then I'm more than happy to work with anyone who'll help with our cause."

  "Then what about this black market thing? How long is it going to take before they know werewolves exist? Do they know already?"

  "No, they don't. Besides, I didn't participate in that part of Club. I've never collected a dime from my kills. I left that part up to Graham."

  "Then how—"

  "Matt, I don't have all the answers. For once in your life would you just trust me? I know that's a stupid thing to say right now, but I need you to have faith in me. The Club has been going strong for more than fifty years because Dane controls everything. He's adamant when it comes down to putting a tight leash on everyone. I trust him with my life. I'm not asking you to trust him with yours."

  "What would you do if I asked you to leave then? Call Dane right now and tell him you're never coming back?"

  No thought went into reaching for the phone and dialing up Dane's number. If I had to do this, then I had to go all the way. My husband took precedence over the Club, the Georgia Pack ... everything. Three rings later, he picked up. The moment I called his name, Matt snatched the phone from my hands and hung up.

  He sighed. “I won't let you give them up because I said so. Just like you never asked me to leave the Boston Pack, it's not right for me to ask you to leave your Club."