by Bethany Shaw
“When will you go back out again?” She wouldn’t be going on any raids again for quite sometime. Alex and Cori would be leaving her behind. What if something happened to them? Her belly churned at the thought.
“We’ve got enough here to last us for a while. I doubt this stuff is going anywhere if its been sitting for eleven years,” he told her. “I don’t want to let the power of running the pack go to Darren’s head,” he grinned.
Darren was the acting alpha when Enid and Alex were gone on raids. Once the pack realized Alex and Enid were responsible for the raids that had been bringing them food, clothing, and other essential items, it hadn’t taken much for the shift of power to take place.
“You’re late,” Alex boomed as he marched toward the pair.
Enid suppressed the urge to laugh at the scene. Cori was growing up beautifully. Sure she was concerned about her daughter being in the presence of an older guy for fourteen days unsupervised, but she knew Cori—and Marc. They were good kids and they knew how important their job was for the survival of the pack. Cori was too young to have a true romantic relationship and Marc, who wasn’t an alpha, was too terrified of Alex to act on any feelings, if he had any to begin with.
“It took us longer to haul this back than we expected,” Cori apologized. “We got a bunch of stuff.” She waved her hand over the giant sled they’d been dragging behind them.
“You did well,” Alex agreed. “Did you run into any trouble?”
“No, none. You?” Cori answered.
“It’s been quite a trip. Let’s get home and pray our luck continues,” he said as he took the rope from Cori’s hand and he and Marc tugged the haul the rest of the way to the truck and trailer.
Enid beamed and spread her arms wide as Cori raced toward her and embraced her. She placed a kiss to the girl’s head and smiled into her hair.
“Dad wasn’t too worried was he, Mom?” Cori wondered.
“A little,” she admitted as she wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to the truck.
“Everything okay? You seem...” Cori trailed off as she frowned.
Enid licked her lips as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Everything is great,” she replied. Everything was going to be just fine. “Your father and I have something we want to tell you when we get back to the mountain.”
“A surprise?” Cori giggled as her voice rose.
“Yeah.” Enid let out a long breath. It was a surprise that was for sure. But it was good and she believed Alex when he told her everything was going to be okay. Somehow it would be.
***
“I’m going to be a big sister!” Cori squealed. She banged her fists on the table as a large, goofy grin spread across her face.
Alex chuckled at his daughter’s enthusiasm as he swallowed the bite of food in his mouth. “Yes,” he told her with a grin.
“Oh my gosh. I can’t wait,” she whooped. “When do you think you are due?”
Alex looked to Enid.
“It’s difficult to say without an ultrasound,” Enid began. Cori tilted her head and frowned. “You don’t know what that is, right. Um, I’d guess sometime at the end or beginning of the new year,” she said.
“Do you think we could find an ultrasound?” Cori wondered as she took a bite of her bread.
“We would need a doctor who knew how to read it and electricity. Even if we found one, we don’t have the means to use it,” Alex replied.
“Darn. I don’t suppose you’ll be leaving the mountain anytime soon either,” Cori guessed. “We could always look for one out on a raid and see if we could get some juice to it from a generator.”
“No. I’ll be here for the foreseeable future,” Enid admitted.
“Actually, I’ve asked Parker if he minds taking over runs for a while. I’d like to stay here with Enid,” Alex spoke up as he took Enid’s hand in his.
“Oh?”
“Parker plans to take his two girls out with him. Things have been calm in our region for a while. I’m not fond of the idea of you going without me, but I won’t stop you either,” Alex told Cori.
“I’ll think about it. The next run isn’t for another two months,” she replied as she took a bite of her deer roast. “So, I don’t suppose you’ve thought of any names yet have you?”
“Not yet,” Enid replied as she dabbed at her mouth with her napkin.
“We have plenty of time to think about it. Maybe you can help us come up with a few,” he offered.
“Really?” Cori asked as her eyes widened.
“I think it would be great,” Enid agreed.
Alex sighed as he stared at his family. Their world had been flipped upside down, but they’d made it. They’d survived, but it was more than that. This was their second chance and he was going to hold onto it and enjoy every moment of it for the rest of his life.
Thanks for reading Shimmers in the Dark. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review. You can look for Nik and Chloe’s story, When Darkness Falls at the end of 2016.
In the meantime, please consider checking out my Werewolf Wars Series. You can start it for free.
Chapter 1
Devon slipped out of the house and hoisted his bag higher on his shoulder. He wiped a clammy hand through his short, sandy blonde hair as his eyes scanned the perimeter. There were no guards in sight.
The large estate they lived on was its own community, situated in the woods far away from curious neighbors. To some it seemed unconventional but for them it was a way of life. The wolves inside them craved the large family and densely wooded setting.
He walked toward the large oak tree in the middle of the yard while his eyes darted around his surroundings.
Fear crept through him at the idea of being caught, not for himself, but for his siblings and his friend. His two siblings, Vincent and Emily, and friend, Marcus were the three most important people to him. Nothing is going to happen to them.
He let out a sigh of relief, seeing he was the last to arrive at their rendezvous point. Devon greeted his companions with a simple nod. They couldn’t risk being overheard. Emily’s wide, emerald-green eyes flicked wildly around, her brown hair stuck to her forehead and the nape of her neck with sweat. Vincent, Emily’s twin, seemed antsy. His feet shuffled; and he balled his fists at his side. Marcus’ hand held fast to Emily’s, his olive skin and jet-black hair concealing him slightly more in the darkness.
“Are we ready?” Devon asked his voice barely audible.
He looked at each of them as they nodded.
With a flick of his wrist, he motioned them on. Silently, Devon led them through the grassy front yard to the back of the property. Hearing footsteps approaching, he gritted his teeth and dashed behind a small building. Devon pressed his back to the wall as his hand gripped the strap to his bag tightly. A radio crackled in the distance as one of Emmett’s men drew closer to them.
Emily panted next to him, mimicking his movements. Her arms shook and her green eyes shone with tears. “Dev,” she mouthed.
Devon held a finger to his lips and placed a hand over her shaking hand. His eyes drifted to the others leaning on the hard metal beside them.
Vincent crouched down; pumping his hands as they slowly transitioned into claws. His golden eyes were alert, and he was ready to spring into action.
Marcus rested a hand on Emily’s arm. He rubbed small circles around her elbow in an effort to soothe her.
The shortwave radio cackled again. Emily flinched and buried her face in her hands. Devon gave her shoulder a small squeeze and dropped his hands to his sides. Eyes alert, fists clenched, he was prepared to attack if needed. The only cover they had was a small shed and the starless night.
The approaching man laughed a few feet from them and jabbered into his walkie-talkie. Devon closed his eyes and let out a long breath. The man’s boot squeaked as he turned on the dewy grass and clomped away.
“We should go back,” Emily whispered. Tears streamed d
own her face. “If they catch us, they’ll kill you.”
“Shhhh,” Marcus soothed, placing a kiss to her temple as his hands cupped her cheeks. “We know what we’re getting into, come on.” He slid his hand down her arm and grasped her fingers.
Emily nodded, wiping tears away with the back of her hand. Devon gave his friend a reassuring nod before peering around the outbuilding. Seeing the coast was clear, he led the way to the tree line.
He sucked in a gulp of air, letting it out as the thick brush of the trees enveloped them. Now, safely hidden in the dense bush line, he allowed the paralyzing terror to ebb a little.
Devon nodded at his family, and they quickly undressed. They could move quicker on four feet than two. Nudity was nothing new to them. It was a part of the transition process.
Devon picked up his discarded outfit and shoved it in his bag. The sack he carried was a messenger bag; the straps adjusted so he could easily step into it and carry it on his back in wolf form.
He closed his eyes and thought about the animal inside him. At first, transitioning was difficult. Over time, it became easier. He focused his mind until he felt the tug of his inner wolf.
He cringed as each bone snapped, sending tremors of blinding white heat through him as his body reformed into a wolf. Within seconds, they had all completed the transformation. Their yellowed eyes glowed in the moonlight. Marcus’ white and grey coat stood out in the darkness. Emily and Vincent’s reddish brown coats blended in more, and Devon’s jet-black fur made him nearly invisible.
The color of a wolf's coat was based on lineage, not their human characteristics. Even though Devon had the markings of an alpha, he doubted he would ever be one.
The wolves took a brief moment to stretch and acclimate to their new forms. They stepped into their messenger bags, settling them across their bodies, and charged off.
As werewolves, they moved effortlessly through the forest. After years of running together as a group, they ran flawlessly. Jumping over logs and swerving between the trees, the wolves had no trouble blending in with the forest.
Devon relished in the dank scent of mud and wet leaves squishing beneath his paws. The wind whipped against his face, allowing his senses to focus on their surroundings.
Within a matter of minutes, they cleared the vast distance separating them from the highway. In the safety of the trees, they stretched and started changing back into humans.
Devon wiggled his front paws. Slipping his pack off, he closed his eyes focusing on his human form. His body tingled, and he grimaced as the bones realigned; breaking and reforming. The hair on his body bristled and crept away until he crouched bare in the grass. He stood and picked up his pack from the ground.
They dressed in silence. Devon’s stomach twisted with unsettled nerves as he led them to the car. He swiped his hand across his forehead, wiping away the fine sheen of sweat that formed on his brow. Almost there.
“Were we followed?” Emily asked brown strands of hair blew across her face as she looked around nervously. The repugnant smell of fear and adrenaline radiated from her body.
“We’re going to be fine, Em,” Devon said.
Everyone had been asleep when they had snuck out, except for the night watch, and none of them had followed. Devon had been diligent in keeping a keen ear for noise. If someone had spotted them, especially Emily, the alarm would have sounded.
“We should keep moving.” Devon motioned for them to get into the vehicle he’d purchased three days ago.
The beat up black sedan left a lot to be desired, but it ran, and only cost a couple hundred dollars. It would get them from Guymon, Oklahoma to Abilene, Texas. The thought of bringing his own Civic had crossed his mind. Unfortunately, it would have raised questions when he didn’t bring it home from work. Not to mention, the police could easily trace his car anywhere they went. His stepfather, Emmett, though vile, knew how to make friends, or pay them off.
Emily, Vincent, and Marcus were the only reasons he’d stuck around that hellhole. Especially Emily, if it weren’t for her, he would have left long ago. His brother and friend could fend for themselves if they were attacked, but his baby sister was not a fighter.
He had made friends in neighboring packs over the years, and there were several places for them to go. There was only one person Devon wanted to see, the only man he ever trusted, his Uncle Rick.
“Come on, Em,” Marcus said, gently pulling her arm and guiding her into the backseat as he slid in next to her.
Devon climbed in the driver’s seat and Vincent slid in beside him. Starting the car, he eased them onto the freeway and away from Guymon.
“Father will come after us,” Emily said, a haunted look in her eyes. “I can’t stand the idea of anything happening to any of you.”
“He won’t hurt us, Em.” That was a promise he intended to keep, no matter what. Emily would have a good future. He would see to that.
Devon was the only child in the family who wasn’t Emmett McKinley’s flesh and blood. Anything and everything he did was a disappointment. Years of being told he didn’t live up to his real father’s name had taken its toll. After an eternity of insults, Devon couldn’t help but believe it. He shook away the thoughts, not wanting to dwell on the past; instead he focused on the open road.
The car hummed, its occupant’s silent as he merged onto the main highway. He hoped his words had soothed his baby sister. Emily was the youngest at twenty-one and being the only female in the family, she led a sheltered life. Her interactions outside the pack were rare—Emmett didn’t allow it. He even went so far as to home school her and limit her to online college courses.
The men of the pack were allowed to come and go at their leisure. Women were kept closer and always protected above all else. For some unknown reason, the female birth rate was on a rapid decline. The few doctors amongst the packs could find no reasons for it. As a paramedic, Devon had looked over the research, but hadn’t found anything new. The lack of females didn’t give Emmett the right to send Emily off to be a breeder for another pack.
Emily was a beautiful, kindhearted woman. Not a thing to be passed around. His baby sister had always been there for him. Now, it was his turn to return the favor.
Devon knew he made the right choice as he watched Emily and Marcus together. His stepfather had no grasp of boundaries and had pledged loyalty to the vulgar Gulf Packs. They still lived in the stone ages and what Emmett planned to do with Emily revolted him. Granted, packs operated differently than humans, but not enough to excuse these actions.
“Do you think your uncle will take us in?” Vincent asked quietly while playing with one of the vents on the dashboard.
Devon checked the back seat to make sure his sister was indeed asleep, before turning back to his younger brother. To be safe, he bumped the volume on the radio up, not wanting Emily to worry any more than she already did.
“It has been a few years since I last saw Rick, but he always treated me as one of his own, and he offered me a place in his home anytime.”
“Yeah, but this is different, Dev, and you know it,” Vincent said, looking back at their sister before facing him again. “It’s not just you; it’s all of us and we’re leaving without Emmett’s consent-”
“Rick is a good man, Vincent,” Devon interrupted. “When we tell him what Emmett has planned, he will help us. Things operate differently there.”
His uncle had been more of a father figure to him than the man his mother married. His own father died when he was three. While Devon didn’t remember him, people always told him he reminded them of his father.
“I hope you’re right, but that will involve his pack in our problems. This might start a war, Dev.”
Devon growled low in his throat; he’d already realized that. “I know, but I think the war is already brewing. Many things are changing. Emmett wouldn’t be aligning himself with so many packs for any other reason.”
Vincent sighed and looked out the window, his fingertip
s thrummed against the door handle. “We did the right thing. Father has changed since he started meeting with the Gulf Packs. He’s become more caveman like. I don’t agree with their ways, and I’m not going to let him trade our sister off to some other pack to form an alliance. This is the twenty-first century! And Marcus and Em, they deserve to be together.”
Vincent was right of course. They lived in too modern of a world to accept such inhumane orders. How the Gulf Packs hadn’t been overthrown was beyond him. It spoke volumes to how they were led that it was even possible for them to pull such antics. While Devon understood pack hierarchy, he would like to think the alphas should have some respect for the wolves they oversaw. Apparently not.
Regardless, he believed in his sister’s rights. The werewolf world had been rapidly deteriorating over the past few years. There was more brutality and unrest. Each alpha was doing more to prove they were superior. Devon suspected his pack was among the worst. Emmett had placed stricter sanctions on all the pack members, and tighter security details. Emmett had begun screening all phone calls, mail, and Internet activity on the homestead. Something big was happening.
“You know, Dev, there are wolves back home that would follow you,” Vincent said quietly. “Those who believe you to be our true alpha, especially with everything-”
“Don’t,” Devon said, cutting him off. While his brother was right—he did have alpha blood in him—he was no alpha. “The pack belongs to Emmett now, and he has been grooming Daniel since he could walk.” Daniel was his younger half-brother and Emmett’s oldest son.
“Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean he has the best interest of the pack at heart.”
“I said, don’t.” Devon ground his teeth and glared at his younger brother. “I don’t want to discuss this with you anymore.” Vincent shrank back into his seat and hung his head.
Devon’s hand went to his chest where the scars were hidden by his shirt. There was so much stuff his brother didn’t know. Things Devon didn’t even want to think about. Determined not to go there, he changed the subject.
