by May Sage
Shit.
Here goes nothing.
Chapter 8
Ava’s Tale
A little under two thousand years ago, there was a mad, selfish man at the head of the most powerful empire in the world. Nero, he was called. He did many things, but one, the citizens of Rome never forgave. He took a humongous territory that belonged to the people, and made it his. His palace, his playground, his gardens.
“Finally, though, he died. Those left to pick up the pieces had a pretty hard road ahead. The government had lost the faith of the people, and regaining it was going to take a lot of work.
“Then Flavian rose to power and decided to give that land back to the people. You’ve seen the results in postcards, I’m sure. They call it the Colosseum nowadays.
“This is common knowledge. What most don’t know is that Vespasian Flavia, and the rest of his family, were shifters.
“Financing the amphitheater wasn’t easy. Giving it to the people meant that they Couldn’t raise the funds from taxes, for one. So they went to war, heading east, to Jerusalem.
“They won, bringing back gold, of course, but they also brought back slaves. A lot of them. Only three were of consequence, though.
“We don’t know if they’re related. We don’t know their actual names. They never spoke to their captors, according to the records we have of those days. What we know is that they were seen as rulers by the rest of the slaves. What we know is that they also were shifters. Wolves.
“Titus Flavia was so proud at having caught such a powerful, distinguished enemy. Wolf shifters had founded Rome - think back to the story of Romulus and Remus, and connect the dots - and now here they were, at his mercy.
“The Flavian amphitheater wasn’t ready yet, but there were others where gladiators fought. He took them there and pitted them against each other, first. When they wouldn’t fight, he threw animals at them. They massacred them without effort. But, relentlessly, every fortnight, he threw them in the pit and watched them fight. In between, instead of training them and polishing them, like other gladiators, he starved them to ensure they would ultimately die.
“It took years, I’m told. Finally, though, one of them fell. And the moment he stopped breathing, hundreds, if not thousands, of slaves died, too.
“They weren’t sure about what happened, at first. Had they all committed suicide to commiserate with their master? It seemed unlikely. Titus needed to understand, so he had another one executed - a female, I think.
“As she died, other hundreds of slaves were lost. This was quite a blow for all of Rome, and it terrified Titus. As a shifter himself, he wanted to understand what caused it. He went to the last wolf and made him an offer. Tell me, he said, and I’ll grant you your freedom. He didn’t believe it, but at long length, and probably after a fair bit of torture, Fenrir finally spoke.
“He told Titus the legend of the first wolves, one red, one white, one gray. They’d been turned together, and every single werewolf in the world had either been bred, or turned by them.
“Fenrir said he was the direct descendant of the First Gray wolf. The last descendant. His companions had been the last of the First Red and Arctic wolves. Without that original bloodline, without anyone in the world with First blood running through their veins, they were all doomed.
“Titus laughed, relieved and victorious. He knew he came from First blood, too. As they’d never turned anyone, every Eagle shifter alive shared his blood. He wasn’t likely to ever be afflicted. But it gave him ideas. Realizing there could be power in having thousands of followers who would die if something happened to him, he started to turn more humans into shifters.
“He lost interest in Rome, and faked his death just as the Amphitheater was built. Humans were of no consequence now. Finding the best witches, he took an island and made it his. The money stolen in Jerusalem hadn’t run out yet, so he used that to make his Dale.
“He died eventually, of course, but his descendants were a little less egocentric, or so I like to think. Still, they saw that he hadn’t had the worst idea, especially after the new religion came. Humans destroyed every reminder of their old faith as best they could over the following centuries, in the name of their new savior.
“Not in Dale, though. Our wards have stood for two thousand years, and we still have marble halls and columns so tall they seem to touch the sky.
“I’m Ava Flavia Dale. Six months ago, our people started to question the old stories. I frankly understand why, because it sounds like old mumbo jumbo to me, too. But they massacred most of my family. I ran east, as my brother went north to get them off my trail.
“Before we went our separate ways, he asked me to try to find the only person who can give us a true account of what happened all those years ago. He told me to find Fenrir. There’s a good chance the Enforcers who betrayed us are right, of course. But, if they aren’t, if killing us means the end of our kind, we need to know. So, the idea is to find him, and ask him if it’s true. Then, in case it is, I guess I need to convince him to testify under a truth spell, so that this madness can end.”
Chapter 9
Witchcraft
There was a long silence after that speech. Everyone was staring at Ava, who seemed fixated on her nails like they were the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen.
Coveney didn’t doubt her story. Not because it wasn’t insane - it most definitely was. He just didn’t think she was lying. Some shifters were trained to, of course, but it wasn’t easy. Their kind weren’t as astute as wolves, but they could still smell if someone started sweating, or see the slightest change in expression.
“But if it all happened thousands of years ago…” Ace started.
“Fenrir is still alive,” Ava replied, anticipating her question. “Everything else may be a children’s tale, who knows? But that part is definitely true. There’s a wolf who’s lived since then, he doesn’t even make his trail hard to find. He’s a known benefactor to his kind. These past few centuries, he’s even helped other shifters.” She bit her lip, before confessing, “I applied to this pride when I heard that he’d been in touch to help you a while back. I just need a way to contact him that won’t end with my head on a spike because of my surname.”
So, she’d wanted to use them. Coveney turned to Rye, searching his expression. There was a chance the Alpha might have taken that admission as an offense. But the poor guy just looked like he was developing a headache, like the rest of them.
Catching everyone’s expressions, he realized something. Shit. If she was telling the truth, and if the tales she grew up hearing hadn’t just been some stupid myth invented by a power-hungry family, their lifelines were linked to someone out there. They needed to find out, pronto.
“Helped us?” Daunte asked, confused.
Ava bobbed her head.
“Yeah. He doesn’t go by Fenrir, of course. Not really inconspicuous nowadays, I guess. Although Knox is hardly any better, really.”
Knox.
All the Wyverns turned to Ace, staring at her expectantly. Her mouth hung open for a beat, then she just laughed, so hard she had to hold her sides.
“Wait, you’re telling me Knox is that old super werewolf? As in, Knox, the obnoxious loner?”
Ava shrugged. “I think so. I might be wrong, but…”
“Oh, no,” Ace replied, vehemently shaking her head. “If you’re not insane, you’re definitely not wrong. It’s just so fucking typical. Basically, you’re right. He really doesn’t hide it.”
On that confusing note, she pulled her phone out, and started playing with it.
“Wait, what are you doing? We have to discuss this…”
“Yada, yada, yada,” she rolled her eyes at her mate. “Conclusion of the pointless discussion: we need to call him and get his ass down here. We had this whole episode with Tria just a few weeks back. I’m just fast-forwarding the process.”
Ava was seriously chewing at her lip. Coveney moved without thinking, cupping he
r face, and running his thumb over the red lower lip.
“Don’t do that,” he growled at her. If anyone was going to bite those lips, it was him. “It’ll be just fine.”
He didn’t have to look at them to feel his pridemates staring.
“Did I miss something?” Daunte whispered, before groaning when someone - probably his mate, or Ace - elbowed his stomach.
“Okay, we need to speak to the rest of the pride,” the Alpha female said. “And my parents. And everyone I fucking know. If there’s a First Shifter family in the feline world, we need to learn what we can. You get better,” she added, addressing Ava, no doubt.
Although Coveney didn’t see her, because he was still looking right into the eagle’s eyes.
They were so strange. Purple, almost.
“And, Coveney, you’re in charge of her, so your usual duties…”
“I’m taking some of my time off,” he retorted.
A short silence ensued.
“Right. That makes sense. Alien abduction.”
“Shut it, Daunte,” Ace retorted. “And let’s get out of here.”
He’d thank the woman later for that. He’d wanted and needed them all gone.
Fuck, what was she doing to him? The girl was a small thing; five foot two at most, but packing one hell of a punch.
He wanted her, that much had been clear at first glance. That part, he understood. He was a goddamn shifter; it might have started late for him, but he still wanted sex just like the rest of them.
He didn’t get the rest, though. He didn’t get why he felt the need to touch her, touch her lips, even in front of other people. Public displays of affection weren’t part of his M.O. Affection wasn’t part of his M.O. He didn’t understand why he needed her to stop worrying about Knox. Why he needed her to believe there was nothing to worry about, because he’d be right there, next to her, and ready to lunge at the wolf - immortal or not - if he made a wrong move towards her.
So, he was back to pondering about witchcraft.
“How’s the wound?” he asked.
Her cheeks heated up as she lowered the bedding to let him see her torso. He took in the angry red patch of skin, which had done a complete 180 in a few hours, then went a little higher, to look at her breasts. They weren’t huge, just a handful, but standing proudly, firm as fuck. The dark nipples were practically begging to play.
But she was self-conscious, more so than shifters usually were. He found it both endearing and strange, because the woman was gorgeous. The dark blond, highlighted waves, the fucking purple eyes, and the curves she’d managed to pack on her slim frame must have turned heads wherever she went.
“Better. Good. I guess I should think about getting you clothes now,” he commented out loud, which surprised him.
As he’d told her, he really wasn’t a talker.
But she wanted him to talk, she’d said as much. So, he did. Although it seemed irrelevant.
Witchcraft…
“Yeah. Clothes would be nice.”
He tilted his head. “Still thinking about it.”
Ava laughed, shaking her head as she pulled the covers back. “You’re definitely a guy.”
He was. An interested guy. But she was wounded, and frightened, so, however much he wanted to say he was going to make her scream his name and claw at his back, he didn’t.
“You think you’re up to getting out of there yet? I can bring some food up…”
“But if you do, the rest of the pride will think I’m hiding.” She grimaced, making it clear that she didn’t like that. “I can get up.”
Coveney tilted his head, curious.
“You’re hard to place. You’re pretty shy, and could use a confidence boost, but I don’t read a clear submissive vibe from you. Plus, you’ve applied as a fighter, or you wouldn’t have been called a few weeks back.”
Rye had asked a bunch of candidates to join him; people with fighting skills. Expecting the battle that had taken place the previous day, he hadn’t wanted to involve more members who needed protection.
“I’m dominant,” she nodded. “Just not very dominant. My animal makes up for it, though.”
“You let her do the fighting?” he asked, without judging her. A lot of shifters relied on their animal.
To his surprise, Ava shook her pretty head. “No, not often. She’s kick-ass, but in a one-on-one, I fight. I’m not that good. Never won against one of my siblings, not even once. But still, I was trained. Not too badly either, or I wouldn’t have made it out of Dale alive.”
Dale. One of the million bombs she’d launched at them over the last hour.
“There’s really a whole place that looks like ancient Rome, then?”
She shrugged. “Not completely. It is the twenty-first century, you know. We even have Wi-Fi. But, yeah, the architecture is still intact, and we have plenty of relics. Except, they aren’t all dusty and ruined like those they keep in the museums.”
Mind blowing.
“I’d like to see that someday.”
She sighed. “I think some part of me would like to see it again. But even if they all stop actively trying to murder me, I’m never returning to the flock. Most of the members of my family died before my eyes. I’m done with Dale.”
Chapter 10
Breakfast
The house was lovely. Very modern, the polar opposite to the place where she’d grown up, but over the last few months she’d seen plenty of modern edifices, and she could recognize that this one was far superior to the norm. The curved staircases, carved ceilings, and the materials - metals and polished stone - made it obvious it had been designed to stand out. It was also large; she’d seen it from outside, but it was even more evident when seeing the indoors. Twisting her neck to see up the staircase, and looking down again, she commented, “this is a pretty big place.”
“We fit in nicely, and there’s fifteen of us. Eight adults, nine kids. The kids share - there are two of them per room, and Niamh, the oldest, stays by herself. We’ve added three newbies recently, so that leaves two guest rooms.” He frowned. “Rye said he plans to see more potential recruits soon, so we’re going to have to either expand, or see if any of us want to leave the main house.”
Ava bit her lip. It didn’t sound like they had the capacity for too many new members. Would they let her stay? Doubtful, especially if Fenrir contradicted the old text. She’d still be wanted by her flock, who controlled every eagle out there. And it wasn’t like she was bringing a lot to the table. Richard, Aria, or Rupert would have been another story. Aria had been strong - so strong she could punch through walls. Rupert’s thing had been speed. Richard was the best of them, at everything. She was the lesser Dale, the softer one, too.
She hadn’t lied to Coveney: she could take care of herself, but that was about it.
They arrived at the first floor; she could hear the buzz in the next room stop before they walked in. A dozen pairs of eyes were pinned on her when Coveney led her to the living room.
She recognized most of them. There were a couple of unfamiliar females sitting next to Ace, but she’d seen the others plenty of times.
Ava wasn’t surprised to find that most of the glances ranged from suspicious to downright hostile.
She bit her lip. The second she did, an oh-so-familiar hand she shouldn’t already be used to circled her waist. “I sit over this way,” Coveney said. “It will be a squeeze. We need a bigger table.”
The shifters she hadn’t met yet all looked like their Head Enforcer had grown a tail and horns, staring at him in shock.
He pulled out a chair, and got her to sit at what was obviously his place, content to stand next to her.
“You’ve met Rye, Ace, Daunte, and Clari. This is Rain, the witch who made the salve that healed you.”
She waved in the direction of the mocha-skinned beauty at Ace’s right, who smiled and waved back. “And Vivicia. She helped me track you down.”
“The wolf,” Ava guessed, wondering
if every female he knew were that stunning.
But she wasn’t jealous. Because that would be point-blank idiotic. Right?
“Christine is our cook,” he pointed to a brunette who’d crossed her arms on her chest when they’d first walked in, but she was now too busy staring at Coveney. “Ariadna and Theo, two newcomers. Luke, Ian, and Jas are probably patrolling.”
“That’s right. Luke is taking an Enforcer crash-course and covering your shifts,” Daunte retorted.
“And those’re our kids. Lola,” he indicated a rosy cheeked toddler, “Niamh, Jasper, Clive, Will, Victoria, Daniel, Hsu, and the source of all the trouble from yesterday, Zack.”
“Hello little Zack,” she waved, as the adorable baby was intently staring at her.
He immediately moved his plump little arms towards her, kicking his feet to make his intentions known. The woman who carried him, Vivicia, glanced towards the Alpha before crossing the room, and handing him to Ava.
“Oh, just look at you,” she gushed.
“Careful with the neck,” Vivicia cautioned, but Ava took him with ease.
She was used to kids - kissing babies was the soft Dale’s job. Thankfully, she also happened to like them.
“I got this,” she said, and, of course, the child decided to prove her wrong.
Shocking the heck out of her, he shifted right there in her arms, turning into a spotted little cat in an instant. She adjusted her arms, and managed not to drop him.
“He bites,” the Beta female warned her, making a few people chuckle or roll their eyes.
Ava tilted her head.
“Clari was recently turned by Zack,” he explained.
Well, that explained so much. “That’s why the council went after you.”
“Yes. The issue should be resolved now, though. Coffee?”
“Hot water and lemon, if you have it?”
