Parker was born of three Packs, the son of a traitor on one side and a fighter on the other. His wolf was far more dominant than many of the Alphas he’d met, and yet, he knew he would never be Alpha. He didn’t want to. He was born to be a mediator thanks to the blood in his veins, and that was what he did now as the Voice of the Wolves.
With a sigh, he rolled his head over his shoulders and thought of what it felt like to be home. After leaving for each meeting with the elders and Alphas of other Packs, he knew he’d return to his families different than how he’d left them.
From what his family had told him, the Redwoods and the Talons were slowly becoming one Pack through their treaties and matings. Perhaps that’s best, Parker thought. With the war reaching a tipping point with the humans, perhaps having two Alphas with the strength of two Packs behind them would give the wolves a chance. It wasn’t about sheer strength anymore, and most of the wolves he’d met with had understood that. They needed diplomacy, as well as backdoor deals with higher officials—something they’d slowly been working into place over time. Humans didn’t know that the wolves had infiltrated their inner workings, wearing sheep’s clothing of politicians and lobbyists in Washington. Between using real wolves who blended in so well that unless you scented them you couldn’t tell they had a predator prowling beneath their skin, and human mates of wolves with connections, their kind had people in the right places within the government to ensure that they wouldn’t be outright slaughtered.
They’d seen the writing on the wall years ago and had done what they could to ensure that their people wouldn’t die at the hands of those who didn’t understand them. Yet, Parker wasn’t sure it would be enough.
He wasn’t sure he would be enough.
And that was enough of that. He didn’t have time to wallow, not anymore. He stood up and stretched before downing the rest of his scotch and deciding he needed a walk outside to clear his mind. It wasn’t as if the alcohol would do much for him thanks to his wolf metabolism. He just liked the taste. He’d spent a few days at his parents’ home, but he knew it was time to leave. It wasn’t safe for them if he stayed, and he’d tempted fate long enough.
It wasn’t safe for anyone.
Parker coughed, annoyed that he’d let that weakness slip, but he couldn’t help it. His body was failing him, and there would only be so much time before he’d have to tell his family the truth about what had happened when he was away. Thankfully, he stood on a path near his parents’ home in the Redwood den and not somewhere more populous, but wolves had too keen ears most days.
His parents’ the keenest.
“Are you done moping?” his younger brother, Blake, asked as he strolled toward him. “You’ve been here a few days now, and yet I’ve only seen you growl and brood like some teenage heartthrob trying to get a girl.”
“I don’t brood,” he said calmly, holding back a smile at Blake’s words. Parker had been sixteen when his sister Isabelle was born, and eighteen when Blake came along. Though they were technically half-siblings, it hadn’t much mattered in how they treated each other. He’d been calling North his father since the man mated his mother, and no blood ties could change that.
“You brood. Often.” Blake stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “You’re really going to live with the Talons? You just got here, Park, and now you’re jet-setting off again.”
Parker resisted the urge to rub a hand over his heart at the hurt in Blake’s tone. “It’s for the best, Blake.”
Blake’s brows furrowed. “You keep saying that, but you never tell us why. You just say you should be another liaison since you’re part of the council with the Talons, but hell, you can do that kind of thing in our den, can’t you?”
Parker had been part of the original council formed over fifteen years ago that had brokered the first settlings of true partnership between the Redwoods and Talons. Though other members had come and gone, he’d always been a part of it—even if he hadn’t been in the den for long periods of time.
“I have to go, Blake.” His words were low, not a growl but close. He couldn’t tell them why he couldn’t stay, but they had to know it was for a good reason. He wouldn’t leave them otherwise.
Isabelle bounced over, her long, brown hair flowing behind her. While Parker might look somewhat like the two younger wolves, Isabelle and Blake looked like twins—even if they were two years apart. He still couldn’t believe his baby brother and sister were adults in their early twenties now, with positions in the Pack and everything.
Time flew when you had the potential to live centuries.
“Mom and Dad said you’d packed the car already,” Isabelle said as she went to his side. Parker immediately backed away, hating himself for the hurt he’d put on her face. “Crap. Sorry, I forgot.” She gave him a searching look and then leaned into Blake as he put his arm around her shoulders.
“That’s why I need to go,” Parker said suddenly, aware he would say too much if he weren’t careful. He hadn’t hugged his family or gone wolf with them in the two days he’d been back. While he might be standing right then and able to breathe, whatever had been in or on that box back at the European den had shaken him. And if it was because of the blood in his veins, there was no way he’d spread it to the other members of his family.
“I know you’re not going far, but you’ll call, right?” Isabelle asked, her eyes filling. She was a submissive wolf, one that needed to be protected above all others, though he knew she had a spine of steel, as well. Blake, on the other hand, was a dominant like Parker.
Hence the fire in the younger man’s eyes.
“Every day,” Parker promised. “Every damn day.”
Isabelle raised her chin. “Good. Because I’ll kick your butt if you don’t.” A pause. “Or I’ll get Blake to do it and distract you so it actually works.”
“Hey,” Blake put in, clearly offended. “I don’t need a distraction to take Parker down.”
Parker held back a smile as the two play-fought, knowing he needed to find a cure for whatever ailed him, and soon. There was no way he’d be able to live with himself if he lost his siblings because of what had happened to him.
Knowing he couldn’t hug them goodbye, he said his farewells softly, having already done so with his parents earlier. Neither of them had probed too much into the reasons Parker needed to be away, which had surprised him. At least until later when North had cornered him.
“We know enough about secrets, Park,” North had said softly. “Goddess knows our family has had enough of them. Just know that we’re here for you. Always.”
It had taken everything inside him for Parker to leave after that.
But he had no choice.
Not then, and surely not now.
After leaving the others staring at his retreat, Parker drove the distance to the Talon den. Over time, the distance had shortened as the dens grew and the neutral area between them became smaller. There were other ways to get into the dens that were hidden from humans, but the stretch of road he was on now was constantly patrolled and relatively safe. Still, his wolf was on alert just in case.
Thankfully, the trip was uneventful and left Parker to his thoughts. Though, really, he probably shouldn’t be left alone with those as often as he was. As he was waved through the sentries and wards that kept the den safe, he noticed how much had been cleaned up since the battle that had cost everyone so much. He’d literally stepped off the plane and into the chaos of his best friend’s and cousin’s mating, kidnapping, and the battle that had included a freaking tank.
He’d fought alongside the Talon wolves, and a certain wolf in particular, who apparently couldn’t stand the sight of him. That would make living in the den near him interesting.
Gideon, the Talon Alpha, waited for him as Parker turned off his vehicle. He slid out of the car and closed the door behind him. While Parker knew his wolf was dominant, he had nothing on Gideon. The wolf bled power and strength, and yet he’d
mated Parker’s very submissive cousin.
It never failed to surprise Parker how the moon goddess and fate liked to test the waters of the impossible.
“Good to see you, Parker,” the Alpha said, holding out his hand.
Parker shook it, his wolf bowing his head. There was a clear line of dominance here, and he wasn’t about to mess with anything as he was just a guest.
“Thanks for letting me stay.” And for not asking questions.
Gideon shrugged. “Over the past couple of years, a few of my wolves have ended up either in matings or close enough friendships that they now live in the Redwood den and vice versa. It’s not a hardship to have a strong wolf living with us.” Gideon met Parker’s eyes, and Parker did his best not to flinch. Hell, this guy was an Alpha, much like Parker’s uncle, Kade. “And you know how to behave and not get into dominance fights in the middle of another den with your position as Voice of the Wolves. So we’re not going to have any trouble.”
If that wasn’t a warning, Parker didn’t know what was.
“Either way, thank you.”
Gideon nodded. “With so many of our people back in the den since the Unveiling, we’re short on extra single bunks. I’m putting you with another wolf who could use a roommate.”
There wasn’t a question anywhere in that statement, so Parker didn’t nod in agreement, but he couldn’t help but ask the question, “And they’re fine with me staying with them?”
Gideon snorted, a smile playing on his face that didn’t make him look any less deadly. Seriously, how did Brie deal with the man on a daily basis? And with her pregnant, Parker assumed he just got worse as the months progressed.
“He will be.”
Hairs on the back of his neck stood up. “Who exactly am I staying with?”
“Brandon, my younger brother. The Omega of our Pack.”
Parker froze. Brandon. The wolf he’d saved on the battlefield…and the one wolf he knew couldn’t stand the sight of him.
Yes, this was definitely going to be interesting.
Chapter Two
“I can’t believe he went behind my back and did this,” Brandon Brentwood growled.
His cousin Mitchell snorted. “He’s Alpha and in a growly mood since Brie is gonna pop soon. Of course, he did this.”
Brandon stuffed another set of clothes he needed to wash in the hamper and held back a growl of his own. “Why couldn’t he stay with you? You have the extra space.”
Something flickered over Mitchell’s gaze, and Brandon held back a shocked moan. As the Omega, Brandon could sense the emotions of those in his Pack without even thinking about it. It had taken him a few years after coming into his powers to learn to block the daily emotions of others so he could actually breathe. It was only during times of truly strong emotions that Brandon sometimes felt overwhelmed. Mitchell was always so locked-up and cold that Brandon usually had difficulty figuring out if his cousin, his Beta, felt anything at all.
Except, in that moment, Brandon had gotten a mere glimpse of what lay beneath the surface of the man.
And he wasn’t sure he could handle finding out more.
Mitchell raised his chin, seemingly aware that he’d let something slip before moving on. “Gideon seems to think you shouldn’t be alone anymore. And from the way your jeans are falling off your hips, and the look of the bags under your eyes, I’m inclined to agree with him.”
Brandon flipped him off. “I’m fine.”
“That’s what someone who is clearly not fine would say,” Mitchell drawled. “There is something going on with you, and you’re not talking about it with us. Maybe we’re too close to you, or maybe you just need someone else near you that’s not connected to you through Pack bonds.” Mitchell met Brandon’s gaze, his eyes rimmed with gold, letting everyone know that his wolf was close to the surface. “We all know what happens to Omegas who go too long without a mate. We didn’t have an Omega in the Pack before Gideon became Alpha and our Pack started to heal again, but the Redwoods told us what happened to Maddox before he found Ellie. Even though Maddox isn’t the true Omega anymore since the next generation took their places, he’s still someone you can talk to.”
Brandon turned away and finished cleaning up the guest room where Parker would be sleeping from now on. “Just drop it, okay? I’m not going to die because I don’t have a mate. That’s not how these things work.”
“No, you’ll just become insane because you don’t have the ability to handle all the crushing emotions. Maybe it should have taken longer to hit you, but hell, we’re in the middle of a damn war the likes of which we never could have imagined. So, yeah, emotions are running high, and it’s taking you apart, bit by bit.”
Brandon turned on his heel, facing his cousin. “Like it’s not affecting you? Come on. You’re barely getting any sleep these days, making sure Gideon doesn’t carry too much of a burden. His mate is about to give birth, and our Heir, Ryder, is newly mated and dealing with his own problems. We’re all handling far too much, and yet I’m the only one getting a babysitter.”
“I’m not planning to spy on you for your brother, if that helps at all.”
Brandon twisted at the sound of Parker’s voice, his claws poking out from his fingertips and his fangs ready to descend from his gums. He inhaled the clean scent of Parker that always seemed to get under his skin and forced himself to relax. He’d been so focused on Mitchell and getting the mess of his house ready, that he hadn’t noticed Parker come in. Inattentiveness like that could get a wolf killed, and he knew he’d have to get his head on straight. No wonder Gideon wanted Parker there. It seemed that Brandon couldn’t even act like a normal wolf and know who was on his territory at any given moment.
“Good to know,” Brandon bit out, still annoyed with himself. His wolf pressed at him before pulling back, not interested in what was going on any longer.
Parker pointed back the way he’d come. “I knocked, but nobody answered, and I heard you guys back here.”
His hand gripped the hamper tighter as he studied the man in front of him; aware that Mitchell was still in the room, looking at them both. Parker was not only taller than Brandon, but wider, too—packed full of muscle. Though Brandon could have sworn Parker had been even larger than he was now. Was the other man losing weight? Parker had once again neglected to cut his shaggy, brown hair, but the style suited his features and only emphasized his hazel eyes. The man was seriously attractive, and if his wolf had given him any indication that it was intrigued, Brandon figured Parker would be interesting in bed.
But his wolf remained silent, and Brandon didn’t have time to sleep with wolves who weren’t potential mates. It didn’t matter that he found the man far too sexy for his own good. He needed to find a mate and create a bond soon, or Mitchell’s premonition would come true, and Brandon would find himself insane under the weight of his duty and his responsibility as Omega.
“I’ll leave you both to it, then,” Mitchell said after a moment before turning to Parker. “And remember, wolf, you’re a guest here on our land. Don’t fuck with my cousin, and I won’t have to fuck with you.”
Parker tilted his head as he studied Mitchell, a move so wolf-like that Brandon knew Parker’s beast was close to the surface. “Is that how you treat all of your guests, Beta?”
“Only the ones that I might like. The others don’t get a chance.” And with that, Mitchell strolled away, leaving Brandon alone in the room with Parker.
“Your cousin seems like a real nice guy,” Parker said dryly after a moment.
“There’s a reason he’s not usually on the welcoming committee.” Brandon loosened his grip on the hamper and tried to keep the awkward feeling in the room from getting to him. He hadn’t had a roommate since he’d moved out at the age of eighteen, and he wasn’t sure he knew what to do with one now. Up until he’d left, he’d shared a small room that held a tiny twin bed and twin bunk beds with his fellow triplets, Walker and Kameron. While some families might have let
their adult kids live with them until they were ready to move out, Brandon’s family wasn’t anywhere near normal.
He and Parker stared at each other for a few moments before Parker cleared his throat. “I know you don’t want me here, and when Gideon agreed that I could stay here for a bit, I didn’t know he meant here. I thought there would be room in the soldier’s barracks or he’d pitch me a tent in the woods or something.”
Brandon let out a breath. It wasn’t Parker’s fault that he’d been forced to stay with Brandon thanks to the meddling Alpha, and he shouldn’t take it out on the man. Oh, there might be some lingering resentment about what had happened on the battlefield, but that didn’t have to do with what was going on in the room now. Or at least, it shouldn’t. It wasn’t his fault the other man had tried to save him. It was his fault he hadn’t been fast enough to begin with.
“You’re fine to stay here. A lot of the single males are bunking in the barracks, and the single females are all doubled or tripled up. We’re in the process of making new homes—or at least we were until General Montag kept attacking our den—but until that happens, we’re all a little cramped.” Brandon set down the hamper and ran a hand over his face, aware he was starting to sweat. There was something coming that he couldn’t quite get a handle on yet and his wolf was on edge. If he didn’t sit down soon—away from Parker’s prying eyes—he might reveal too much.
“You should still have your space, Brandon. You’re the Omega.”
“Yeah, and I usually need the space to clear out the emotions that get clogged up after a long day in the den. But we’re not Packmates, so I can’t actually feel your emotions. It’ll be like you’re not even here.”
Fractured Silence (Talon Pack Book 5) Page 2
