by Mel Favreaux
“Not yet.” Then raising his voice so Sara could hear him from the porch, Braedyn continued. “Might I ask for a cup of coffee and some conversation with you Sara?”
He watched her cast a nervous look to her husband before nodding. Pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders, she led him into the house. With trembling hands, she made a fresh pot of coffee while he sat down at the table.
“This is a surprise,” she quipped, unsucessful in keeping the quiver from her voice. Sara came to the table with two cups.
“Yes, it is. I didn’t expect to have to come out here for this.” Braedyn set the cup she handed to him down on the table and fixed her with a firm stare. “I had hoped, considering the length of time you’d spent in the Run, you’d have come to me with information instead of sending it through the rumor mill.”
“Br-Braedyn...” Sara took a deep breath when his eyes flared gold then dropped her eyes to the table in submission. “I-I spoke recently to my sister. She’s in Harlan’s pack. She told me that the Silver Wolf had returned and was prophesied to come to Walker's Run. News of your possible mate had already reached there, I don't know how, I swear to you. My sister also mentioned that Harlan was planning to come out here to take her from you one way or another to make you both suffer for what happened to your father and your sister.” It all came out in one breath, leaving the old Were looking deflated. “Please Braedyn.” Tears filled her eyes. “Do not cast my husband out because of my mouth.”
“I've no plans to cast either of you out,” he ceded. “I need to know where you stand if my uncle's pack decides to form an attack. Will you fight with or against me?”
“With you, my Lord...” she whispered casting her eyes downward again.
“I am not your Lord, only your Alpha. Our Creator will one day punish you for your deeds here, that’s not my responsibility.” He sighed. “Did your sister happen to mention when this would take place? I need to make sure those who are capable of fighting are where they need to be, and those who aren't are protected.”
Sara shook her head. “My sister did not say. She only asked that Donovan take me away from here soon. She said she could only warn me, not protect me. I’ve not spoken to him of it.”
He shook his head. “So it is soon.” He took a sip from the coffee and set it back down. “Thank you, Sara. I only wish you had come to me sooner.”
“Please...” she began but stopped when his eyes flashed again. “My sister is pregnant—you know your uncle cares nothing of the sort—but she's my family and her husband is one of Harlan's top men—”
“I can’t guarantee you his life will be spared, Sara. Not when his intention is to take my mate from me.” He clenched his fist. “I’m sorry, Sara.” Rising from the table, his mind was a blur running through the necessary arrangements that needed to be made. “I can’t begin to describe the level of deception I feel right now. But I gave you my word, I’ve no intention of casting you or your husband out. Do not let this happen again. This is your final warning. You either sit on any new information, or you come directly to me.” He could feel his wolf at attention and bristling from the anger.
“Yes, Braedyn.” She lowered her eyes, and kept her head down.
Taking a deep breath to quell his rage, he walked away, down the stairs of the front porch, to Donovan. Worry was plain on Donovan’s face when he set down the axe he’d been using to split wood.
“I promised I wouldn’t cast you two out. This time. But the next time she receives information from Harlan's pack, she needs to either come to me or forget it.” His jaws clenched with barely controlled rage. “I can't continue to condone this kind of behavior. This is a sanctuary, Donovan. Many of you have come here and asked for my protection, and I have freely given it. Don't make me regret it.”
“I understand. I don’t know why you let us stay after this.” Donovan gave a resigned sigh.
“I intend to give you one final chance.”
“Thank you, I promise you my alliegance is with you and this pack.” Donovan bowed his head.
Braedyn bit back a growl, the Alpha wolf reveled in his dominance a moment. He stalked away and pulled out his cell phone before slipping behind the wheel of the SUV. His jaw muscles twitched when he dialed Elan’s number. It was time to rally the warriors.
Chapter Twenty
Casey watched Amber frown, pulling her cell from her pocket. “It’s Elan,” she said sounding shocked, yet wary.
Sliding the button, she answered the call, putting it on speaker. “Elan. What’s going on?”
“Braedyn has put out a call on all warriors. Everyone is to be on alert,” Elan said without preamble.
Casey could hear the determination in his voice.
“He knows where I am,” Amber replied, still looking wary.
“He wants you to stay put, he’s bringing Mother. He felt you would be our best shot in protecting her and Casey, no matter how much he needs you at his side. His fear for them is far stronger than himself.”
“I understand, Elan. Thank you—for understanding.”
Casey’s brows rose listening to Braedyn’s brother, wondering how difficult it was to be the one to relay this message and how hard a blow it was for him.
“My brother has strong faith in you, Amber. Maybe it’s time I should as well.” After a pause, he thanked her and hung up.
Amber looked stunned and slipped the phone back into her pocket. “It’s begun.”
Casey hugged her arms to her stomach, feeling the nervous tide of emotions about what was to come. “They must have been rallying their forces last night.” Casey turned toward the window and looked out. “That has to be what we felt.”
“I think so.” Amber moved over to peer out the window next to her.
“I’m not afraid,” Casey said after a moment of silence. “I should be, but my wolf is telling me not to.”
Amber’s brows furrowed. “You’re communicating that well already?”
Nodding, Casey rubbed her hands together. “I can understand her most of the time. We’re still working some things out. It’s not so much in words but in feelings and pictures. She seems...fascinated how things have changed since her death.” She hugged her arms to her stomach again and gave a soft groan. “I can feel my muscles burning.”
“She’s readying you for combat if necessary.”
Casey gaped at her new friend. “Should I let it happen? I’ve only shifted the three nights with the moon. I don’t know how to control her.”
“She knows what she’s doing. If you are able to communicate at this level already...” Amber shook her head. “I don’t know, Casey. The Silver Wolf is supposed to be the strongest, most powerful Were there is. If she comes to the front and takes over—I won’t be able to stop her.” She looked in her eyes. “I don’t think anyone will.”
* * * *
Braedyn felt Casey’s worry, thick like a blanket, when he stepped into the cabin carrying his mother. The frail woman had an immense dislike for the wheelchair and refused to be pulled up the stairs in it. Instead, he’d carried her.
Casey had pulled a rocking chair near the fireplace, a blanket was warmed and ready for her when he set her down.
“Thank you,” Aquene said with a warm smile when Casey laid the blanket over her legs.
“No problem.” Casey patted the backs of his mother’s hands. “Is there anything I can get you? Some coffee or hot tea?”
“No, I’m fine. Thank you. Just let me warm up again, and I’ll be perfect.”
He placed his hands on Casey’s shoulders, drawing her away. Taking her hand, he led her into the kitchen. Amber leaned against the counter that housed the coffee pot with another steaming mug in her hand.
“I’m hurrying everyone into position. I’ve trusted Elan to handle most of it. There are still some I need to make sure have protection. Much as I hate to, I have to break out the silver weapons.” He was resigned to the fact it was the only thing he could do.
“So that’s true?” Casey turned to him.
He nodded. “Silver doesn't cause instant death. It’s like a poison that infects the blood. Cuts won't heal, the clotting agent that works with our accelerated healing is destroyed. If the Were lives long enough and the injury isn’t fatal, infection will reach the brain. It causes horrible rage and literally drives the Were insane while it kills off the brain tissue. It's an awful way to die, but the humans here need something that can stop a Were.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “More often than not, once the smell of silver hits a Were they back off. The fear of the Madness is usually enough.”
Amber squared her shoulders, but he could see her hesitance. “Are you going to tell her?”
Braedyn sighed and turned to Casey. “It is said the Silver Wolf has immunity to silver. In her human form she wore lots of it as a sign of her power.” Glancing back at Amber he nodded. “Both of you, come with me.”
He led them down into the basement. In the far corner, concealed behind a tarp hap hazardly hung across that side of the basement, was a double door. He unlocked and opened it.
This was his private reserve. Silver-tipped swords, knives, and coated armor. He reached for a well worn but well cared for black box that was about six inches thick and twelve inches wide.
* * * *
The old man approached me and I ground my teeth through the pain. I couldn’t understand the horendous agony when all I had done was trade an old peddlar for some silver. I loved the way it shined like the steele of the sword hidden within my robes.
He reached up and unlatched the band of silver from around my throat and the horrible pain ended, but I could feel the scars the silver had burned into my skin. His eyes were sad when he looked at me. “I forgot to mention to you I had to create something to help the humans if they had to battle against any rogue Weres who managed to get out of your control,” he murmured.
I frowned, looking at him. Over the last few hundred years I had created many Weres, I was no longer alone, but it didn’t mean we all got along. My most trusted friend wasn’t even a wolf, but a white tiger. I’d learned the hard way the only way to kill a Were was to behead them, I didn’t realize something so simple as silver could incompacitate me so easily.
“But I can’t have you being able to be taken care of so easily now can I, Silver One?” he said with tenderness.
Through the years I’d come to care for the old wizard. He’d always managed to be there whenever I needed him most. Even though my nose was keen there was no way I’d been able to tell the old man’s age. He had been old when I’d met him centuries before.
The wizard took my hands and helped me to my feet. I watched his blue eyes grow a deeper hue while he whisper/chanted something I did not understand. My hands tingled where he touched me, and the energy seemed to flow throughout my entire body. He smiled and gave me a wink. “I’ve just given you a few more useful abilities to try and make sure you are still around long after I’m gone.”
He reached into a bag and pulled out a long black box and handed it to me.
My hands shook when I opened it and saw inside a bracelet, a necklace, and four battle claws. All were silver.
“But I was just dying because of—”
The wizard just grinned at me and lifted the necklace from the box. “Wear these as both a sign of your strength and your power. All of the other Weres will know you are their Goddess, their creator: the most powerful Were of all.” He placed the necklace around my throat and I felt the jolt of magic within it. “You will no longer have use for any armorment other than your sword, Silver One, these will take care of the rest.”
* * * *
Casey blinked while the glimpsed vision of the past faded. The old man in her dreams...from the memories of the Silver Wolf...was the same old man she’d seen at the airport when she’d arrived home. After all this time was it even possible he was still alive?
She looked at the box in Braedyn’s hands. Neither he nor Amber seemed to notice her mind had been anywhere but in the present.
“I never thought these would be used,” Braedyn said opening the box. Inside was a silver bracelet, necklace, and four silver fingertip claws. He held the box out to her. “This is the only way to know for sure if you are the Silver One. If you can pick them up and hold them in your hand without burns or pain, then you are the Silver Wolf.”
Licking her lips, she could feel both sets of eyes on her. “These were hers?”
“Yes. My father came across these from an old ruined castle in some mountain range in Scotland a very long time ago.”
Casey tried to repress a shiver of fear and excitement and reached toward the contents of the box. Picking up the bracelet, holding it in her hand for a moment, she waited for the pain to come. She felt only the coolness and the weight of it. Looking up at Braedyn, she slipped it onto her left wrist. There was still no pain.
“Nothing?” he asked watching her.
Shaking her head, Casey reached for the necklace. Opening the clasp, she hooked it behind her neck. Lifting her hair, it rested against the skin of her throat. It was a choker, about two inches wide. The jewelery just felt...right. She felt the wolf inside sigh with relief.
Amber grinned, stuffed her hands in her back pockets, and raised her chin. The expression on her face was like she’d known all along.
Braedyn let out a breath when Casey pulled the battle claws from the box and slipped them onto her right hand.
“Welcome Silver One,” Amber said turning to Braedyn. “I honestly don’t think she’s the one who will need protecting. Her wolf won’t allow anything to happen.”
Casey felt his eyes on her. She turned to him.
“I don’t think so either,” he replied. “But she doesn’t know the magic within those pieces either.”
“Magic?” Casey felt her heart race. Her hands trembled a little when she raised her hands to look at the bracelet and claws.
“It supposed to be when the Silver One went into battle mode, the very pieces of jewelry you’re wearing turned into a type of armor. The necklace turns to chain mail and surrounds the head, neck, and shoulders. The bracelet turns into a gauntlet, and the claws on your right hand turn into a clawed glove of some sort.” He shrugged his shoulders. “No one has ever been able to wear them since the Silver One's demise nearly two thousand years ago. I honestly don’t know if they work. It could be just another myth.”
Two thousand years. Those words rang through her. She felt the age of the jewelery. They were far older than two thousand years. The wolf in her was comfortable, something akin to the calming feeling of coming home swept through her.
“Relax and all will be well,” the wolf told her.
“I think I’ll be all right.”
Braedyn’s eyes narrowed when he looked at her. “She’s talking to you, isn’t she?”
With a small smile, Casey nodded. “She says I should relax and all will be well.”
Closing the box, he set it back inside the closet armory. He pulled out a broad sword and hefted the weight of it in his hands. She watched him frown a moment before he turned it and held the hilt out to her.
She tentatively touched the handle. The scars visible from its previous battles were deep. This was a weapon that had seen lots of violence. She swallowed, took it from him and stepped back, adjusting to the pull of its weight on her shoulder. Giving it a few test swings, Casey frowned. Having never swung a sword in her life, she wasn’t sure how apt she’d be if it was needed.
Braedyn gave her a grim nod.
“You handled Tala with a hunting knife. The weight is very different, but it’s the same premise. Aim for the throat. I don’t believe you’ll have too much trouble with this.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Amber step back. “I’m going to check on Aquene.” Since her presence was no longer required, Casey knew Amber would go to the old woman; the one who needed protection the most.
“The most important thing you nee
d to learn is how to call on your sword while in battle. Weres don’t have to carry them. We can call on them when needed.”
“Like magic?”
Braedyn smiled. “Exactly like magic and no less important than the jewelery you’re wearing.”
“So what do I do?”
He held out his hand and a long sword appeared in his right hand. “You just have to be intimate with it. Call to it, and it will never let you down.”
Amber gave a grim smile. “I’m going to leave the two of you to this little lesson and go up and keep Aquene company.”
Braedyn gave a short nod. “We’ll be up soon.”
* * * *
After a few minutes of Braedyn teaching her to swing, dodge, and dive, they decided to join his mother and Amber back upstairs. When they reached the living room, Casey felt Braedyn stiffen. His eyes flashed golden when he turned to Amber.
The brunette looked stricken for a moment when she rose from the floor in front of Aquene.
“What’s going on?” he growled, walking over to stand next to his mother, who sniffled and wiped her eyes. His eyes trained on Amber.
The brunette looked down from his eyes to Aquene. “It’s not my place to say.”
“Mom?”
Casey saw the veins stand out in his neck. He clenched his hands, fighting to control the wolf. He took a deep breath and tried another tactic.
“Mom, what’s the matter?” His voice was softer, gentler.
“I’ve had dreams here lately—and they’ve not been very good,” she said dabbing at her eyes. “I am scared for you and Elan.”
“Mom, everything will be fine.” His voice was reassuring, but Casey saw the twitch of his cheek which made the statement a hope.
Aquene shook her head and wiped her nose with a tissue that miraculously appeared from the cuff of her sweater. “No, it's not son. It will be soon, but not without some sorrow.”
