The Girl Who Cried War

by Heather Hildenbrand

  I grab his collar, determined to erase all the space between us. He responds with a growl that rumbles from deep in his chest and into my mouth.

  My hand tangles in his hair, and he hooks his hand underneath my leg, pulling it up around his waist and driving me back, trapping me between the fiery heat of his body and the cold, rough brick of the building.

  “Kash,” I say, breaking the kiss. “We can’t. Anyone could see.”

  His lips curve. “Exactly. And they’ll all know you’re mine.”

  “Does that mean you’re not mad at James for giving me your info?” I ask because it can’t hurt to use the situation to my full advantage.

  “Very mad,” Kash says between kisses. “Furious. You’ll have to . . . make it up to me . . . right now.” He presses kisses to my throat between his words, and I laugh, shoving him away.

  “Later,” I promise him, but he only growls. “Trust me. We need to get back in there before Talia starts charging people for the show they’re about to get out here.”

  Back at Kash’s, we all gather in the sunroom, and I’m surprised when Lina, Kash’s mother, chooses to join us. She looks better today, more alert and present than before. And the spark I saw yesterday is brighter, this time paired with a glint that makes it clear she’s here to discuss avenging her husband right along with the rest of us.

  She smiles at me, and I offer a little wave before we get down to business.

  “Okay, listen up,” Kash says. Lynch, Justice, Levi, Doyle, and the other handful of pack members present sit up straighter. “Romy has an address for the witch Regina, but we need to talk strategy first.”

  Lynch raises his hand. “I vote we do a balls-to-the-wall smash and dash.” He winks at Talia. “It’s my specialty.”

  “Jesus take the wheel,” Talia mutters, using one of Anna’s favorite phrases as she rolls her eyes.

  Justice’s eyes meet mine, and I have to duck behind Kash to stop both of us from losing it.

  “Let’s get serious. This witch has been behind every move Brody’s made,” Kash says, his expression deadly.

  Ever since our make-out session earlier, he’s been tense. I don’t know if it’s because he’s fighting the desire to kill the witch or the desire to take me upstairs.

  Probably both. I feel it too.

  “We need to be smart,” I say, and the others murmur their agreement.

  “Exactly. That’s why I’ve called–”

  There’s a knock on the sunroom door. The one leading into the backyard. Lynch jumps up first and pulls open the sliding door to reveal a trio of visitors. Two men and one woman, all in suits and expensive shoes. They offer Lynch a dubious look that immediately makes me dislike them before filing inside.

  “Who the hell are they?” Talia whispers, rising to stand beside me in a way that’s both protective and united.

  She’s going to make a great beta. I make a mental note to ask her sooner rather than later. At the rate our lives are moving, I need to solidify this whole chain of command thing, stat.

  “Romy, Talia,” Kash gestures to the visitors. “This is Charles, William, and Rose. They are members of the council that governs our kind.”

  I blink. These are members of the ruling werewolf council? They remind me more of corporate execs than badass werewolves.

  “Distinguished members of the council, I’d like to introduce you to Romy Cartelli. My mate.”

  My insides give a little jolt like they do every time Kash says the words, but I step forward, plastering a smile on my face. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  They shake my hand, albeit awkwardly. Both men dismiss me the moment they step back. The woman’s hand is limp in mine. She manages to peer down her nose at me even though we’re the same height.

  “Hello,” I say.

  “Mmm,” she murmurs, then steps back.

  “And of course, you know Lynch, my second,” Kash says.

  Their greeting to Lynch is slightly more friendly, but not by much.

  “And my mother.”

  Finally, they all notice Lina sitting on the chaise in the corner.

  “Lina.” Rose, the female council member, rushes over, instantly more animated. She leans down to take my mother’s hand. “It’s so good to see you. How are you?”

  “I’m well.” Kash’s mom stands, waving off Rose’s attempts to hover. “I must admit rejoining my son’s affairs has left me dismayed, however.” She pins the men with a look that could cut stone. “It seems he’s brought a matter to your attention that you have outright ignored–to the detriment of not only my pack but many others.”

  “Lina, please understand, we take Kash’s allegations very seriously,” Rose says.

  “Yes, how odd that it’s the three of you who do.” Lina’s words bring on an uncomfortable silence.

  “What’s so important about three?” I whisper to Kash, but it’s Lynch who answers.

  “To rule on a matter, you’d need all five members present.”

  So, they were still blowing us off then.

  “And Logan and Betty? Lina crosses her arms. “Is there another matter more pressing than catching the man who murdered my husband?”

  “They are both regrettably unavailable,” William says tightly.

  Rose looks away, and Lina snorts.

  “Lina,” Rose begins, but Kash cuts her off.

  “I’ve called you all here because I have new information in the matter I brought to your attention during our last meeting,” Kash says.

  “What information is that?” Charles says, and I peg him for the spokesman of the group.

  Kash and I exchange a look.

  “I think it’s easier to show you,” Kash says.

  Charles frowns. “I’m not sure I–”

  “Please, follow me.”

  He leads them into the living room, and I follow behind. They stop just inside the door and stare at the girls scattered around the space. One by one, I watch as the pregnancies register on their faces. Rose’s eyes widen, and her lips part in surprise and then confusion. Charles wrinkles a brow, and William’s eyes narrow, though it’s impossible to tell if he’s angry with us or the events that led to this many pregnant girls in one room.

  Most of the girls cast nervous glances our way, but none of them speak. Somewhere along the way, Kash has earned their trust. Reagan’s there with the remote beside her, and they’re all watching an episode of The Vampire Diaries. She looks up and nods at me when she spots us, a curious look in her eyes. She nudges Kaitlyn who sits beside her, cuddling a sleeping Hunter as she devours the book I gave her. An epic love story called Soul In Darkness that I lent her after the baby shower. Between them, Girlfriend snores softly. Kaitlyn smiles over at us, but I can see the questions in her eyes.

  Before she can ask who the visitors are, Kash ushers everyone back to the sunroom. I note that Lina, Lynch, and Talia haven’t moved from their spots when we file back inside the space. They all three wear matching expressions of irritation and fall silent at the sight of us.

  “I don’t understand,” Charles says, frowning. “You’ve started a b–”

  “Do not say brothel,” Talia warns.

  “I was going to say bed and breakfast.”

  “You bet your ass you were,” Talia says, and Lynch pulls her back a step.

  “These women were rescued from an underground bunker inside an abandoned clinic,” Kash tells them. “Their captor, Brody Harrison, turned them against their will and then forced them to mate with his pack members.”

  “Dear God.” Rose gasps. “He forced them all to– That’s barbaric.”

  “Why on Earth . . .” William says.

  Kash’s eyes narrow. “I tried to tell you before. He’s obsessed with breeding a pack that’s born rather than bitten so he can claim my lands.”

  “We have discussed the allegations you brought to us the last time we spoke,” Charles says. “It seems as though they are not unfounded after all, though we will need time
to interview the women, corroborate their stories, and–”

  “Are you kidding me?” I can’t help the words as they spill out.

  When Kash tries to quiet me, I push forward and plant my feet in front of the three council members. “Brody is a nightmare on legs. He didn’t wait around to interview these girls before he kidnapped them and upended their lives, turning them into werewolves and then raping them repeatedly until they became pregnant. They’ve been through hell. You’re the governing body that is supposed to protect them from that kind of harm, and not only do you refuse to do anything about it, but you want to interview them and force them to relive it? Hell to the no.”

  All three of the members blink at me, clearly shocked at my outburst.

  I shake my head and glance at Kash and the others.

  “This is bullshit,” I say. “Brody has declared war on the Somerville pack. If you aren’t going to do anything to stop him, we’ll do it ourselves.”

  William huffs, scowling at me and looking ready to put me in my place.

  “You dare speak to us in such a disrespectful manner?” he seethes.

  “I am simply pointing out the reality of the situation,” I say evenly. “We don’t have any more time to waste if we want to stop him from hurting more innocent people.”

  Beside him, Rose sniffs, but she looks slightly contrite at least.

  Charles has the audacity to roll his eyes, and I have a feeling that’s what pushes Kash over the edge.

  He steps up beside me, a low growl sounding in his throat as he glares at them all.

  “Romy is right. And she’s the perfect person to try to explain just how evil Brody is and how little time is left, considering Brody held her captive for days, beating her when she didn’t give up information about me or my pack.”

  Rose’s hand flutters to her chest, and I eye her, wondering if she’s going to actually swoon or just hyperventilate. How in the hell did a woman so sensitive become a werewolf leader?

  “You can no longer pretend this is just him trying to take my mate,” Kash tells them. “A war is coming. And sooner or later, you’ll have to pick a side.”

  Chapter 5

  “Those are your all-powerful leaders?” Talia fumes. “They wouldn’t know their asses from their elbows!”

  “Preach,” Justice encourages her from where he’s leaning against the wall next to Levi.

  The mood in the sunroom has taken a somber turn with the departure of the elders. Their trip to Somerville was nothing more than pomp and circumstance. A lame attempt to appease Kash and pretend they’re actually doing their jobs.

  My gaze darts to where Lynch is quietly trying to calm Talia, and my resolve hardens.

  “Talia’s right,” I say, rising from Kash’s lap and standing on my own to address the room. “The council blew us off. Again, and that sucks. But we can’t wait around for them to finally realize how serious this threat really is.”

  “Tell ’em, Rom,” Justice says, doing his best hype-man impersonation.

  I smile my thanks at him as murmurs of agreement go up around the room. I bite my lip as I glance at Kash. This is his pack, and I don’t want to step on his toes. His gaze is trained on me just like everyone else’s, and he gives me a tiny nod of encouragement.

  I blow out a nervous breath and continue. “It’s clear that it’s going to be up to us to stop Brody. If the council refuses to step in, that’s on their consciences. They’re not the only people we can turn to for help.”

  Kash nods before rising and coming to my side.

  “Romy’s right,” he says, placing a hand on the small of my back. “Our pack is strong. With or without the help of the elders, we will do what is necessary to stop Brody. The council may be unwilling to act, but we are not without allies. I think it’s time we call on the huntsmen and the witches. We already have two close allies in their ranks. This threat affects us all. Maybe more of their kind are willing to help.”

  “I think we should just go with Lynch’s smash-and-dash idea,” Talia grumbles.

  Lynch winks at her. “You’re a fan of fast and hard, huh, Trouble?”

  “That’s what she said.” Justice coughs, and I grin despite my anger at being refused by those wolves in suits.

  Lina smacks Lynch in the back of the head. “All right, enough of that,” she says. “Don’t make me get your mother out here.”

  Lynch ducks his head, and Talia smirks at his expense.

  “I find it curious that Logan and Betty were not with the other council members today,” Lina says, returning to the issue at hand. “Especially considering how friendly they’ve been with our pack in the past.”

  Her gaze darts to Kash, and sadness wells in her kind blue depths. “I know that I haven’t been a great matriarch in the wake of the loss of my Otto.”

  Kash opens his mouth to object, but she silences him with a wave of her hand.

  “I needed that time to mourn. I’m not going to apologize for it, but it’s time that I come back to the world of the living.” She turns to the rest of us. “My son has done a remarkable job of bearing the weight and responsibility of this pack alone, and while he’s found a mate that is more than capable of helping him lead this pack, I’m not going to miss out on any more than I already have. Our pack is on the precipice of so much happiness. Marriages and babies. I refuse to let that happiness be derailed by a werebro with an ax to grind. ”

  She turns to Kash, fire simmering in her blue depths, and I bite back a smile at her use of my pet name for Brody and his pack.

  “You reach out to Xan and Birdie,” she says. “The huntsmen and witches are strong allies, and having two of their strongest in our midst isn’t something we should take for granted. Leave the council to me. I think it’s time I call and have a chat with my dear friend Betty and find out why she and Logan were unable to make the trip.”

  Talia gives a little hoot of excitement, and Lina flashes a quick grin that’s more lethal than anything I’ve seen from her yet.

  Kash rises, dishing out orders to the remaining pack members.

  Justice catches my eye, waving before he follows Levi and Finn out of the room to check the borders.

  Anticipation curls in my stomach as the group disperses to head to their respective assignments. I can feel the fight that’s coming igniting my bones, and the fear is nothing compared to my need to face down Brody Harrison once and for all.

  “Do you really think Xan and Birdie will be able to help?” I ask Kash as we walk to his office.

  Once the meeting split up, we all went our own ways, promising to gather everyone once we were ready for our next step. Now, Kash and I are going to his office to call our allies.

  “I’m not sure,” he admits. “Xan has been tracking Brody for a while, and Birdie’s magic is the most powerful I’ve seen. But Brody is proving harder to pin down than I care to admit.”

  He blows out a rough breath like admitting it has cost him something.

  He stops outside his office door and turns to face me, fire glittering in his eyes. “Brody’s determination has made him a formidable opponent, but he won’t win this. We’re stronger because we’ve got more to fight for than he does.”

  Heat surges through me as he steps closer and brings his mouth to my own. His warm, spicy scent invades my senses as my tongue tangles with his. Too soon, he pulls away, breathing heavily.

  “You’re damn right we do,” I pant.

  Kash grins, tucking my hair behind my ear before leaning down to kiss the bridge of my nose.

  “How about this time, you let me do the persuading though?”

  I roll my eyes, following him into the office, and turn to shut the door. I frown as a foot slides in to stop it from closing. Peeking around the door, I smirk at the sight of Talia and Lynch.

  “Our betas are here,” I tell Kash over my shoulder before moving aside to let them in.

  Lynch’s face looks amused as he steps into the room.

  “You do k
now that only alphas have a beta, right?” he asks with a chuckle.

  “I am an alpha,” I say as Talia nearly tackles me in a hug.

  Lynch laughs. “Yeah, but you’re not the alpha. Only Kash can claim that title. Besides, you’re technically not even a wolf yet. Isn’t it a little early to be planning your chain of command?”

  “That’s some speciesist bullshit,” Talia growls, hands on her hips, but I put a hand up to stop her.

  “Firstly, I’m only a human because that stubborn ass,” I say, motioning to Kash, “won’t bite me.”

  Kash opens his mouth to protest, but he quickly decides against it when I shoot him a withering glare.

  “Second, fuck your rules. Birdie declared Justice my pack already. Which means I don’t have to be a wolf to have a beta. Talia is my beta, and Anna is my...whatever comes after beta,” I growl.

  “Gamma?” Talia muses.

  “Sure, whatever she wants.” I pin Lynch with a look. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  Lynch shoots a look to Kash that says help me out here, but Kash just holds his hands up and shrugs.

  “Don’t look at me, man. If Pepper wants a beta, Pepper gets a beta.”

  “Damn right!” Talia agrees. “Nobody puts Romy in the corner.”

  “And lastly,” I say, stepping forward to look both men in the eyes, “in case you hadn’t noticed, Talia has been my beta since the moment I first met her. That’s not gonna change when I have four legs. Got it, Scruffs?”

  Lynch opens his mouth to speak, and Talia rushes forward, poking him in the chest.

  “Unless the next words out of your mouth are ‘you’re damn right,’ you better just zip it, buddy.”

  Lynch leans down, nipping at her finger and winks.

  “You’re damn right,” he murmurs, and Talia’s eyes widen. A flush rising up her chest.

  Kash grins. “You chose well, Pepper.” He pulls me around the desk with him, leaving Talia and Lynch to their weird sexual showdown.

  “Now that we’ve got that settled, we should call Xan,” Kash says, sitting in his leather desk chair and pulling me onto his lap before reaching for the landline.