by Lia Davis
When Blaine pulled his hand back, he stared at her for a short, uncomfortable moment before saying, “You risked your life for Addyson and our father. As I understand it, that is the second time you helped our father out.”
Our father. She knew he’d said the words twice deliberately. She peered over at Keegan, who still had his eyes shut, but she knew he wasn’t asleep. He was listening to every word.
He looked so at ease, as though he had finally found that inner peace.
Studying his strong jaw line and straight black hair, she saw similarities to herself. She had his hair, but her eyes looked more like Blaine’s.
“You and Blaine got your eyes from your mother,” Keegan said without lifting his lashes.
Surprised, she cast a quick glance to Blaine. He smiled and said, “The Elder is telepathic.”
She frowned and looked at her hands in her lap. “A mindbender?”
It was Alec who answered. “No. He can hear your thoughts. Many times it’s not on purpose. He can tune them out but can’t shut off the ability.”
Keegan sat up in his chair, drawing her attention back to him. “I do have the ability to alter memories, but not control people’s minds like Felix can do.”
Relief floored her. She could deal with someone hearing her thoughts, but she couldn’t live another day with someone who could control her every action. She speared a glance through the open doorway and caught Kieran walking toward her.
Keegan stood, stretched, and then said, “Blaine, Alec, and I have to go meet with the wolves. I’ll be back to visit soon.”
She nodded and watched the three males walk out of the room and Kieran enter. She smiled at him then frowned at his worried expression. “What is it?”
He came to her and brushed his knuckles down her cheek. “I can only stay for a moment. I should be at the same meeting.”
Her heart shuddered. “Why? What’s going on?”
He sighed and met her gaze. “If I know Keegan, he’s planning on raiding the Onyx den.”
“And you’re just going to tell him where it is? What about Sable and Nigel?”
He leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers. “I warned Sable this would happen. Besides, she placed Nigel in a boarding school two weeks ago and told Felix it was to challenge the boy’s intelligence.”
He fell silent, and she wondered if this was the right thing to do. Yes, she hated Felix and everything he stood for. “Just promise me you won’t tell me how many innocent lives were lost.”
He pressed his lips to her temple and pulled pack. “I promise.”
“Go meet with your Alphas.”
“Ana? This isn’t your fight. You’re where you belong now, with family and a Pack that loves you.”
She nodded, knowing he was right. Yet, she was confused and felt out of place. What if she’d escaped one hell just to enter into another?
Chapter Fifteen
They met in the conference room of the office building where the Alphas conducted official Pack business. Blaine sat at the head of the table. The spot Keegan had sat for as long as he was Alpha. It felt strange to not sit there.
“We can’t just go charging into the den.”
Keegan snapped his gaze to Blaine. “Yes, I can.”
Blaine growled and ran a hand over his short black hair. “Okay stubborn-ass. You’ll need backup. Alec, call in the strongest sentries and enforcers to go in.”
Alec narrowed his eyes at Keegan and answered his brother. “Done. I’m going in, too.”
Travis, Keegan’s son-in-law, and Hayden, the wolf Marshal, threw in their bids to go with Keegan. Apparently he wasn’t the only one who wanted the Onyx Pack to go down.
And they would go down.
Keegan meet Luna’s stare and raised a brow. If anyone beside himself had a personal vendetta against the Onyx Alpha, it was Luna. So, yeah, he wasn’t at all surprised to see the longing in her eyes to go and give Felix what he deserved and then some.
However, old laws prevented one Alpha from attacking another or declaring war on another’s Pack. It was kind of ironic that they sat here looking for loopholes in the laws while Felix disregarded them like last month’s trash.
Jared appeared in the doorway with a book in hand and a smirk on his face. When he walked farther into the room, he set the large law book on the table for everyone to see. Pointing at a section, he read the last sentence, “In event that one Alpha outright attacks another, whether it be directly or indirectly, the Council of Elders must lay judgment upon said Alpha and his followers.”
Jared raised his blue gaze to Keegan, satisfaction written all over the jaguar’s face.
“What’s the catch? Surely I alone can’t make that call.”
Jared straightened and nodded. “You’re right. There needs to be a vote among the Elders, meaning there needs to be at least three.”
Keegan sat back in his leather chair and studied the room around him just as Kieran walked in the room with Addyson close behind. Addyson held back, standing just inside the door. Keegan offered her a smile before meeting Kieran’s gaze.
“Jared, refresh my memory on how to appoint a new Elder into the Council.” Keegan felt his lips twitch at the suspicious look in Kieran’s eyes.
Jared peered from Keegan to Kieran and laughed. “All he has to do is except your offer in front of witnesses. Kieran is eligible by default because he was a Marshal.”
That was all Keegan needed to hear. “Kieran Michaels, I hereby appoint you as an Elder of Ashwood Falls. Do you accept?”
Kieran smiled. “I accept.”
Jared nodded. “Great. I’ll do the paperwork later and have both Blaine and Luna sign them. We still need a third. I suggest trying to find one outside the den.”
Keegan nodded in agreement. He itched to get his hands on Felix and tear down his organization for good. “Kieran, what about the rebels you said lived inside the den? Will they be a problem?”
Kieran shook his head. “I informed the leader of the possibilities. She won’t stand in our way. In fact, I believe they’ll take the attack as an opportunity to make a clean break from the Pack.”
Luna peered at Kieran and asked, “What do you know about the rebels? How many are there?”
Kieran shrugged. “There are a number of cells scattered over the U.S., both human groups and shifter groups. The shifters are a mix of breeds with the same goal, bring back order to the races and secure the secrecy of all shifters. The human rebels have only one goal: rid the world of all shifters.”
Hayden growled low. “Fan-fucking-tastic. It isn’t enough that Onyx wants to be top of the shifter food chain, but now we have to deal with human hate groups.”
Luna clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and said, “I don’t like, or trust, any group that tries to take the law into their own hands. Lord knows we’ve dealt with enough of that shit for the last two hundred years.” She looked at Keegan and added, “We still need at least one more Elder.”
Travis pushed off the wall where he was leaning. “You still have to make your status change to the Pack Network.”
Keegan felt a grin forming on his lips. The Pack Network was an encrypted online community for shifter Packs across the world. He pulled out his phone and clicked on the app Dane had developed for easier access to the Network. Once logged into his profile, he sent his announcement.
I, Keegan Andrews, have retired my Alpha status. My eldest son, Blaine Andrews, has graciously accepted his new title of leopard Alpha of Ashwood Falls. I have also decided to recreate the Council of Elders as Elder of Ashwood and appointed Kieran Michaels as my second. I would like to put a call out to all other Elders to come forward and join the council because my first proposal is to lay judgment on Felix Darwin and the Onyx Pack for their blatant disregard of ou
r laws.
It wasn’t the most professional of addresses, but he’d never agreed to be professional. His closest friends and family could contest to that.
Putting his phone in his pocket, he said, “Now we wait. I just hope there are Elders out there.”
Blaine stood up. “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to enjoy my mates before we storm the enemy.”
Mutters and teasing gestures filled the room as Blaine walked out. Travis was next to leave, and Keegan figured it was to get back to his pregnant mate, and Keegan’s adopted daughter, Shay.
Soon everyone filed out leaving him, Jared, and Addyson. He looked from Addyson to Jared and asked, “What is this?”
Jared nodded toward Addyson. “She asked me to stay. Well, texted me and told me to stay after the meeting.”
Addyson glanced at Keegan then averted her gaze to study the floor.
“Addy?”
She met his gaze and took a deep breath. “I want to see if Jared can unlock my memories.”
Keegan looked at Jared. “You can do that, right?”
Jared drew his brows together in thought. “I’ve never tried. I mean I suppose I could, in theory.” He turned to Addyson and asked, “Where do you want to do this?”
Hope lit up in her eyes, but quickly faded as fear crept in. “Um, I’d like to go to my home. It’s familiar.”
Keegan took her hand, trying to soothe the worry he could feel stirring inside her. He noticed how Jared’s gaze lingered on his and Addyson’s linked hands, but the jaguar didn’t respond, just gave a short nod and said, “I can meet you two there in about twenty minutes.”
After Jared left the conference room, Keegan drew her into him and kissed her forehead. “I’m proud of you for taking this step.”
She sighed and pressed her cheek against his chest. “I need to know who my parents were, where I came from. Plus I’m stronger now thanks to you.”
“I can’t take credit. You are the one with the will and desire to heal, to live. I’m just enjoying watching you bloom and become the woman I know you are.”
She lifted her head, met his eyes, and smiled. “Are you getting soft on me, my Alpha?”
He felt his lips twitch while his heart danced with a delight he hadn’t felt since Cate. “Only for you, Addy. We must never speak of it in public.”
She laughed then let out a squeal as he pulled her closer and captured her mouth with his.
****
Addyson had a million butterflies trapped inside her stomach. At least that was what it felt like as she paced her sunroom while waiting for Jared.
She felt Keegan watching in silence for several moments until he asked, “Are you sure about this?”
Addyson stopped pacing and faced him. “No. Maybe.” She dropped her shoulders and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I want to remember my parents. I want to know if I had any siblings.”
“Even if it causes you grief?”
She nodded. “Yes. Then at least I have a reason to grieve. Right now I have only you and Will. I have no past.”
A rustle of clothing followed by Keegan’s large arms wrapping around her from behind made her sigh. This male always knew exactly what she needed.
And why not? He was her mate and she, his.
Leaning back into his embrace, she took in the peaceful landscape of her backyard. Man, she was glad to be home. “It was nice of Shay to perform a cleansing ritual in the house.”
Keegan kissed her temple. “Yes, and without being asked. I’d have to punish her when she was little to get her to clean her own room.”
Addyson laughed, but it didn’t ease her nervousness. She was almost afraid of returning to her home. There had been so many people inside her house the night Will stumbled through the wards and into her backyard, bringing rogues and mutants with him.
“Keegan?”
“Hmm?”
“Where is Will?”
“Alec took him to meet Rhea and then Sammie and Max.” Keegan’s tone was soft as though he was enjoying the quiet he had told her she’d given him.
Suddenly, Keegan stiffened, the calm leaving his body, but not in alarm. She knew he sensed someone coming to disturb their peace. Yet, he didn’t draw away from her. He stayed right where he was with his arms around her, holding her close. A few moments later Jared entered the backyard. The butterflies stirred again. This time it felt as though they were trying to create a cyclone inside her belly.
Oh, God, she was going to be sick.
As Jared got closer, and she pushed down the crippling fear, she noticed he had on a pair of loose-fit blue jeans and a black T-shirt. His hair was damp and looked towel dried, nothing like the usual hairstyle she was used to seeing. Was this what he looked like when he wasn’t working?
He opened the screen door and stepped inside, curiosity swirling in his expression as he met Keegan’s gaze. Unease seeped through her, and she started to move out of Keegan’s embrace, but he tightened his hold, keeping her in place.
She relaxed into his hold. They were mated now and she loved the male holding her and would do anything to keep him. That was why she needed to take this final step in healing. Nevin had urged her to ask Jared to unlock the memories her mind was protecting. Then Keegan insisted on it, but her leopard had given the final nudge. She had to do this no matter what memories were locked deep in her subconscious mind.
“Do you want to do this in here or outside?”
Jared’s soft, yet deep, voice broke through her thoughts. She studied him for a brief moment then looked out into her backyard. “Outside. I can ground myself if needed.”
Jared nodded and walked out the door, holding it open for her. Keegan kissed her neck, and she jumped. Damn she was nervous.
When Keegan released her, she stepped forward and carefully walked by Jared to avoid skin contact with him. She knew she’d have to touch him to unlock her buried memories, but right now she couldn’t handle it.
Once on the grass, she slipped her shoes off and walked barefooted to the middle of the yard and sat with her legs folded under her. The males followed suit, Jared taking the spot in front of her and Keegan to her left.
She met Jared’s cool blue eyes and smiled, but she knew it was a weak attempt. Jared smiled back, warm and inviting. It soothed her a little.
Jared cut a quick glance to Keegan then back to her before he asked, “Have you learned to build your shields?”
Addyson blinked and nodded. “How did you know?”
Keegan made a noise that sounded more like a muffled growl, catching Jared’s attention. Jared studied the two of them for a long moment. Finally Keegan said, “Speak your mind, Jared.”
Jared narrowed his eyes at the other male then focused on Addyson. “You can’t read him.”
She shook her head. “Not at all. Never have,” she admitted, lifting her chin just a little.
Jared gave a short nod and held out his hands, palms up. “You can’t use your shields. I have to be able to enter your mind to unlock your memories.” When she nodded her understanding, he added, “My gift doesn’t work without skin-to-skin contact.”
She took a deep breath. “Yes, I know.” She lifted her hands and held them just inches above his. “Any dark secrets you want to share before I touch you?”
He chuckled softly. “Sable Darwin is…was my mate and is hiding my son from me.”
She stared at him. Was he joking? When his expression or his scent didn’t change, she knew he wasn’t kidding. They really were mates. “Were you bound? If so, who broke it?”
Jared let out a breath and closed his eyes. He had to know she’d see it, feel it, once their hands touched. His eyes opened, the blue a little darker than before, but it wasn’t out of anger. No there was a stronger emotion in those blu
e depths.
“I can’t do this. I can’t subject you to the pain, to the darkness I’ve tried to bury. Yes, we were bonded and lived together in secret for about six months before I found out who she was.”
Jared went to stand up, and without thinking about what she was doing, she grabbed his forearm to stop him. Flashes of images scrolled through her mind, bringing in a wave of emotions. First there was happiness then a feeling of betrayal and finally the agonizing pain of having his soul split in two when he broke the mating bond.
Just as fast as the images appeared, they vanished. She found herself sitting in Keegan’s lap while he held her close to his chest. “What?” she tried to ask around the huge lump in her throat.
Keegan brushed his fingers through her hair. “You started crying uncontrollably.”
She took in a shaky breath and looked around for Jared. She found him standing a few feet away, staring off into the forest surrounding her home. She wiggled out of Keegan’s lap and was glad when he didn’t protest.
She walked over and stood next to Jared, leaving about a foot between them. Even though the worst was over for her, she didn’t think Jared knew that. So she put some space between them.
After what felt like hours of silence, she said, “Sable isn’t like her father.”
Jared snorted. “She’s everything like him.”
Addyson clicked her tongue in irritation and turned to face his profile. “She’s the leader of a rebel shifter group that is plotting against Felix.”
Jared jerked around and stared at her. “What?”
Addyson rolled her eyes. “You heard me. If you don’t believe me, then ask Kieran.”
Jared cast a glance to Keegan. “You knew about this?”
Keegan shrugged. “I was going to tell you when the time was right. I wasn’t sure how you’d take it. She’s still an outlaw going against the Council of Elders and taking the law into her own hands.”
Addyson placed her hand on Jared T-shirt over his heart, drawing his gaze back to her. “I still need your help to unlock my memories. It’s the only way I can have closure.”
