Tattered Loyalties

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “Checking it out,” Kameron growled, and the Enforcer and Beta were gone, to ensure the wards were still working and to check for other threats.

  Brie understood why Gideon wasn’t moving, waiting to understand what was in front of him. The man would protect his Pack at all costs.

  Brie’s gaze moved from the man who looked much like her new mate to the crowd around them. This man wasn’t Pack anymore, at least that’s what she thought. That meant, unless the wards were down—and she didn’t think that was the case—someone had let him inside the den.

  Someone was in on it.

  The loyalties of the den should have been to the Pack…but what if they weren’t to the Alpha?

  That thought shook her, but she didn’t let her attention waver. The members either looked stunned or angry, but no one looked truly pleased to see him there. Iona looked as if someone had punched her while Shannon…well, the elder looked appropriately alarmed, but there was something off about it. It could have been Brie’s own prejudices where the other woman was concerned, but she wasn’t too sure. That was something she’d have to tell Gideon later.

  “Still not speaking, son? I’m not here to hurt you.”

  Brie squeezed Gideon’s hand as she turned back toward the man who’d spoken. Rage, confusion, and pain slid through the bond, and Brie sucked in another breath. She could feel him. That had never happened before. He’d been so closed off for their mating. Yet something had changed. She pushed that to the side knowing now was not the time to worry about her own feelings and their mating. She quickly pushed back her own sense of purpose and soothed along the bond as she had done in a different sense all her life. That was why she was a submissive. She could assuage even the smallest of hurts of a dominant if they’d only let her.

  Gideon squeezed her hand back then let out a low growl.

  The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and her body shook. Gideon let out the power of his Alpha, the immense strength of the bonds with this Pack pushing down on each and every member.

  The weakest of the Pack fell to their knees immediately while some were able to remain on their feet. She didn’t fall. No, Gideon kept her up. Sill, the face of his power was awe-inspiring. He had no choice but to release the show of his strength to this man who had no business there, but the gravity of it still surprised her.

  “Leo. You were supposed to be dead.”

  The other man grinned, his arms out from his body. “No, not dead. Just not…Pack.”

  “It’s been thirty years. Where have you been all this time?”

  “So many questions, boy, but don’t worry. There will be answers soon enough. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m your uncle. I’m family.” He grinned again, and she wanted to kill this Leo for the shudder rolling down her back. “I’m blood.”

  “You are not Pack. You are not welcome here. In fact you were supposed to die for your crimes against the Pack all those years ago.” Gideon’s voice held a sense of calm that scared her, but she knew through the bond that there was nothing calm about him. He would kill this man in an instant if he could. The fact that they had no idea what tricks the wolf had up his sleeves was the only thing that held him back.

  Leo tilted his head in much the same fashion that Gideon did. She didn’t have time to think of the parallels and family traits, however, because the man set his attention on her.

  “I see you’ve mated, nephew. Let me offer my felicitations.”

  It wasn’t lost on her that Leo kept saying the words boy and nephew. As if he was reminding Gideon and the rest of the circle that Leo was family and much older than Gideon. It sounded as if he was trying to be intimidating. However, all she felt was the urge to kill him where he stood. Something was wrong with this wolf, and she had a feeling, if he continued speaking, nothing good could come from what was said.

  “Look at my mate one more time, and I will gut you where you stand.”

  Oddly enough, that was one of the more romantic things he’d ever said about her.

  Leo narrowed his eyes but didn’t move his attention from her. “You’ve grown cynical in your position of…power.”

  “Your crimes against your Pack proved you were nothing to us. You should be dead, Leo.”

  “What about your crimes, dear nephew? Shall we see what happens to those who are not held accountable?”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kameron return, giving them a slight shake of his head. Gideon let out a growl, but before anyone could move forward, Leo gave a little wave then disappeared. A swirl of black smoke remained, stinking of dark magic and sacrifice.

  Everyone moved then, either away and to safety or to where Leo had stood. She was afraid Gideon would push her away, but instead, he held on to her hand, keeping her close.

  “You’re not leaving my sight,” he growled out then tucked her to his side as they moved forward.

  She growled, her claws sliding through her fingertips, ready to protect herself as well as the Pack she’d been mated into. Whatever Leo had done in the past, and whatever purpose he held now, scared her to the point that she knew she had to be strong enough for the both of them. Secrets slid through the den as if they were commonplace, and there was only so much she could take.

  Leo had been the signal of change…of something coming that she had a feeling none of them were ready for.

  She hoped that they could prepare.

  Because, if they couldn’t, she was afraid all would be lost.

  Chapter Eleven

  “How the hell did he get through the wards?” Gideon yelled once more, knowing he wouldn’t like the answer.

  Kameron cursed, continuing his pacing through Gideon’s living room. “I don’t know. Someone had to have helped him. He didn’t come through any of the sentry stations, meaning that a Pack member pulled him through willingly.”

  Gideon cursed then slammed his fist into the wall, breaking through the plaster.

  “Gideon,” Brie whispered then put her hand on his arm. He looked down at the small hand on his large muscles and sighed. His wolf was right at the edge, but with her single touch, he calmed. Not fully, but at least enough to be able to breathe for a moment.

  “You’re going to hurt yourself.” She smiled softly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “We already fixed one wall in this house this week, do you really want to make it a weekly thing?”

  He sighed then pulled Brie to his side. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he let out a breath, his wolf calming at the feel of her. She soothed him like no other. At any other time, he’d rage and growl and would probably need to fight to let off his aggression, with Brie near him, he didn’t need to.

  It was…pleasant.

  “Better?” she asked, patting his chest.

  He nuzzled the top of his head, aware that his family was staring at him as though he was a lunatic. They’d never seen him react like this, and while it was a personal moment, he liked the fact that they were there witnessing it as well. Brie was part of his life now, and he was trying to figure out where she fit. This was just one step of many.

  “For now,” he whispered then kissed her temple. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, what are we going to do about this Leo?”

  He let out a breath then tugged her toward the sofa. She didn’t complain when he pulled her into his lap. He needed her touch to settle down, but he wasn’t about to admit it. If she really wanted her space, she’d have pulled away. That much he knew.

  As soon as they figured out Leo had used witch magic to disappear, they’d searched for him before heading back to Gideon’s. He had the largest home of all his family, and it was their unofficial meeting place—even if now he wanted to be alone with Brie when he could find the time.

  “I’m going to kill him,” Mitchell vowed, his voice low. Dangerous. Considering Leo was the man’s father, he didn’t blame him.

  “I can’t believe he’s alive,” Max breathed. “I…I don’t know what to thin
k.” Max sounded so lost…yet the underlying thread of anger hit Gideon’s wolf hard.

  “Leo couldn’t have just gone poof and disappeared through the wards,” Brynn said once he and Brie were settled. “That’s the whole point of the wards. You can’t move through them without being Pack or without help from the Pack.

  “True, but he could have used dark magic to move to another place within the den.” Ryder ran a hand over his face. “Meaning our favorite uncle probably moved to a place near the wards and then moved through them to get out. Most times, it doesn’t take the help of a Pack member to leave the wards. Only to get through them.”

  Brie let out a curse, and Gideon raised his brows. Interesting.

  “I’d forgotten that,” she said. “It takes extra magic from the witches you have on hand to make that layer of protection available. When my Pack—” She cut herself off then shook her head. “My apologies. Force of habit. When my old Pack needed that layer, it took a couple of days, but the extra layer held.” She turned to meet Gideon’s eyes. “I will say though that my Aunt Hannah was pivotal in that. She’s a very strong witch, and the fact that she was also the Redwood Healer at the time helped. I don’t know the strength of the witches you have mated in the Pack.”

  “We don’t have many,” Gideon answered honestly. “We had a period of time when the Talons didn’t mate at all if you remember.”

  Brie nodded. “Yes, and it was my cousin Gina and one of our lieutenants, Quinn, who broke that streak.”

  “And then Quinn went on to be a Redwood anyway,” Brynn teased.

  “Well, Gina is the Enforcer of the Redwood Pack,” Brie teased back. “It only made sense.”

  “Anyway,” Gideon interrupted, though he liked the way Brie interacted with his family. “Like I was saying, we didn’t have any matings for awhile. And in the times of my father’s rule, those who mated with witches…didn’t stay.”

  Brie sighed. “Probably for the same reasons my Aunt Lexi and Uncle Logan left the Pack.”

  Gideon closed his eyes and nodded. That time within the Pack hadn’t been the easiest. Far from it. In fact, it was a time he wished he could forget. However, back then, he’d found the man he was today and became the Alpha in spite of it. Lexi and Logan were siblings within the Pack, their bloodlines pure, descendants of the original hunter. And when Lexi almost died, finding herself with child from a man who had been an enemy to not only the Talons but the Redwoods as well, she had been kicked out. Logan followed, and Gideon never forgave himself for not being able to help.

  Loyalties were mended now, and Lexi and Logan were mated into the Redwoods, but the scars remained.

  Brie ran her hand up and down his arm, and his wolf calmed yet again. She was good for him; he knew that much. Now he just had to figure out what the next step would be, not only with their mating, but also with her position in the Pack and his Uncle Leo. The other man showing up might have taken center stage, but the reaction to Brie’s presence at the Pack circle was not lost on him. There were others out there who needed to learn the true meaning of Gideon being the Alpha. He was not a vengeful man, but he was not a man at all.

  He was a wolf.

  The Alpha.

  This was not a democracy, and he had a feeling that many had forgotten that.

  He’d shaken things up when he’d brought Brie in, but he had to believe that one day it would be for the better. Fate had chosen her for him, so it couldn’t have been for the worse.

  At least that’s what he hoped.

  The others were speaking around him, trying to guess Leo’s intentions. He honestly didn’t know what the other man planned, but he had a feeling it had to do with Gideon’s position as Alpha. Leo had never been one of the blessed wolves. He’d been the Alpha’s younger brother—as well as Max and Mitchell’s father. The man had craved power yet had never been given any. He hadn’t done much to earn it either.

  Instead, he’d tortured and killed those lesser than him—what few there were—because he could.

  When the explosion had taken out part of the den, Leo was said to have died. They’d apparently been wrong about that.

  “Gideon?” Brie asked, her voice penetrating his senses.

  “Huh?” he asked, aware everyone was staring at him.

  “I was just asking if you were listening,” she said softly.

  “Apparently not,” he growled out then regretted his tone. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t lower her chin or look away. He liked when she stood up to him and his wolf. It made him feel as though she could handle all of him, not just the pieces he’d let her see.

  “How about we head out and meet again tomorrow?” Kameron put in. “I need to set up more patrols anyway.”

  Gideon pulled his gaze from Brie and looked at his brother, the Enforcer. “Good. Keep an eye out. I don’t want anyone in or out of the den right now.”

  Kameron’s eyes widened fractionally, but he nodded anyway. “Done.”

  “You sure that’s wise?” Ryder put in, ever the thinker. “Won’t people feel caged?”

  “They should,” Gideon snapped. “Our Pack isn’t safe, and it’s rotting from within. We need to find a way to fix it. We know the danger is coming from the outside as well. This is only one step.”

  Ryder’s gaze moved to Brie before coming back to Gideon. “And the other matter that occurred during the circle?”

  Hell, his usually quiet brother was sure talkative tonight.

  “We’ll keep my lieutenants on watch,” he ground out. His inner circle of wolves that not only protected him, but his mate, was made up of the most trusted of men and women. They were usually hidden outside so others couldn’t sense their presence, but Gideon always knew they were there.

  Brie did as well.

  The fact that someone would be there to protect her if he couldn’t aided his wolf. Yes, he could see now that she could fight for herself if needed, but she couldn’t fight everyone.

  No one could.

  “Good,” Brynn said softly then stood up. “Come on, boys, we need to give these two some privacy.” She looked at Brie then lowered her gaze. “I’m with you, Brie. No matter what the idiots of the Pack think.”

  With that, his little sister left the house. Then the rest of his family surprised him by lowering their heads before leaving behind her.

  Brie stiffened in his arms, and he felt the bond between them pulse. “Did they just do what I think they did?”

  He pulled her close and moved her hair so he could kiss her neck. He loved to taste her neck. It tasted of sweetness and wolf. “Yes. They wanted to show you that you matter, that you are their Alpha, just as I am.”

  She wiggled away, and he let her go so she could stand and face him. “They could just do that? I mean I know they vowed to protect me and even showed me that they honored my requests during the hunt, but this was different. They haven’t seen me do anything Alpha-like.” She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Mostly because I haven’t done anything.”

  He sighed then gripped her thighs, bringing her closer to him. She staggered and fell. He caught her as he’d planned, and made her straddle his lap. Not only did he get to feel the heat of her above his dick, but he also got to see her face clearly when he spoke to her.

  “That is my fault,” he said softly, and she licked her lips. Maybe putting her on his lap wasn’t the smartest thing to do since all he wanted to do now was pull off her jeans and sink into her cunt.

  First things first though.

  “I thought we were going to play a game,” he said, not changing the subject but focusing it.

  She blinked then sat back on his lap. “You confuse me so much.”

  “I know,” he said honestly. “That’s why we’re going to play the game. Now, where do you want to start?”

  She shook her head. “You start.”

  He nodded then cupped her face. “Okay. I can do that. What is it, Brie, that you want to do within the Pack?”

&n
bsp; Her eyes widened, and he heard her pulse pick up.

  “Tell me, little wolf.”

  “I…I want to stand by your side and ease your burden,” she said quickly.

  He smiled then and watched the way she relaxed when he did so. He needed to smile more often if it relaxed her. “I know, Brie. You said as such during our mating ceremony. But what is it you want to do?”

  She frowned then narrowed her eyes. “I want to come with you to meetings and talk with the wolves when you do. If I can help you make decisions or help the Pack members, maybe they can see me as a person, rather than a submissive wolf too weak to breathe on her own.”

  He growled at that, and she leaned forward to kiss his nose. It was such a playful movement that he froze.

  “I also want to speak with the other submissives and make sure they’re being treated okay.”

  “We don’t torture them like my father used to,” he blurted out and could have cut out his tongue. He hadn’t meant to let that last part slip out. What his father and his followers had done was barbaric. Brie didn’t need to know the pain his blood had caused. Yet, she needed to know everything eventually. She couldn’t fight an enemy without knowing the path they’d walked. It would be too dangerous for his mate.

  “He tortured them?” she asked, her face losing all color.

  He gripped her hips, forcing her to stay on his lap. If she left him then, he had a feeling she would never come back.

  “I…I can’t talk about what he did right now,” he said, his voice breaking. “Soon I will tell you everything that happened under my father’s rule and how I became Alpha, but I…I don’t think I can speak of it right now.” He didn’t want her to hate him for what he’d had to do. He’d pushed her away because he’d been afraid his Pack would reject her, yet now that he had her, he didn’t want to lose her.

  She cupped his face, tears filling her eyes. “That’s why it’s so important for me to speak to the submissives and even the maternals right now. If you’re afraid to speak of it, what must they be feeling? I don’t know what went on before my time, but I will need to know eventually, Gideon. Too many secrets only hurt those involved. I don’t like being kept in the dark. And now with Leo out there, I really need to know.”