by Bryce Evans
“I didn’t see anyone. In fact, it’s too quiet in general, with no traffic on the road. I guess everyone is spooked and staying indoors,” Penn told him as he put on his shirt.
“I don’t like it. The town needs to continue on as if everything is normal.” Judd shook his head.
“Until the dragon has been killed, I doubt anything will be normal again,” Penn said.
“I know, and that’s when you get people who do stupid things because they’re scared,” Judd told his Beta. “Let’s go meet the others.”
They walked through the tunnels until they came to an open room that had been roped off. A basketball hoop had been set up on one side, and the other side had a few tables scattered around where kids were coloring. Judd watched as the ball hit the backboard and bounced toward Maggie.
“Come on Maggie, come play today!” the young kid shouted.
She smiled as she threw the ball back at the older kids. “Maybe in a few.”
“She’s pretty. You can actually see her face today, and she’s built like a…” Penn was smiling, but Judd cut him off.
“Leave it alone, Penn, and don’t ever look at her that way.” Judd sighed as he leaned over the side of the brick wall and watched as the kids got Maggie to play basketball with them. He’d never seen her this unguarded. She scored, and then gave all the kids high-fives.
“She’s great with the cubs,” Penn commented.
Nodding, Judd continued to watch her as she hugged the boys one by one, then went over to where Carina sat alone at a table, drawing. She sat down beside the girl, but didn’t speak, just started drawing. She was sitting close enough that Carina could peek through her hair and observe Maggie’s work. Maggie was beautiful as she colored. Her hair looked different. She usually wore it straight around her face, but today it was pulled back in a ponytail. She actually looked relaxed, contrary to the way he was feeling.
“I was wondering where you were at.” Ryder stood beside him; Judd hadn’t sensed him walk up. He acted like he was watching the boys play basketball, but his eyes continued to stray back to Maggie.
“She’s great with the pups.” Ryder offered the same observation as Penn.
“Who?”
Ryder laughed. “Who, who? You sound like an owl. Maggie, that’s who. Like you don’t know who I’m talking about. You can’t keep your eyes off her. When are you going to…”
“Ryder, I love you, brother, but stay out of my personal life. I didn’t meddle in yours, and I don’t need this right now. We have a lot to do. That witch has already got us at a disadvantage—that’s all I can afford to think about right now.”
“I’m just worried about both of you. You’re mates, Judd. I‘ve never seen anyone light up like that at first touch.”
“You’re wrong. She’s a vampire, Ryder, a damn vampire, and I can’t just ignore that. You know what happened to my mom. What if—”
“I know, but she’s nothing like Locke. Look, Judd…” Ryder ran his fingers through his hair. “Dammit man, you can’t compare her to him. Maggie is so sweet, and she’s already been a great help to the pack.” Ryder turned and pointed at Maggie and Carina. “Look at her—she loves the kids, and she’s already helped Carina break out of her shell. What are you going to do, let someone else claim her?”
Judd couldn’t control his anger at the thought of anyone else touching her. “If anyone touches her, I’ll kill them.”
“Hey man, you can’t have it both ways.” Ryder shook his head. “You can’t make others stay away from her just because you’re afraid to take a chance.”
Judd grabbed Ryder and slammed him up against the lockers that had been brought in. “I will kill anyone who touches her,” he spit out. All the kids, and Maggie, turned around and stared at the two Alphas.
“What’s wrong?” Maggie asked. Using her lightning speed, she was already standing beside them. He couldn’t think clearly as he inhaled her scent. “Judd, let him go.”
He lifted his hands off his friend and held them up. What was he doing? Judd stared at his hands as he backed away. He couldn’t believe he’d pushed Ryder. He looked up at his friend. “I’m sorry, Ryder.”
“Everything is okay, Maggie,” Ryder assured her.
“You sure?”
“Just a misunderstanding.”
“Okay.” Maggie looked back over her shoulder before walking back across the room to the kids.
“It’s the mating pull, and it’s only going to get worse for you and for her. Judd, don’t let the past rule your future. Your mom wouldn’t have wanted that.” Ryder patted his shoulder and walked off.
Every time Judd looked at her, all he saw was a vampire. A beautiful vampire, but someone whose very existence made him sick to his stomach. He glanced over at Maggie to find her watching him, her green eyes flickering against the light. He ached for her as their eyes met and lingered for a few minutes, before he turned his head and walked away.
Chapter Three
Maggie could feel what he was thinking. He was torn for some reason; mostly because she was a vampire, she figured. She could feel the turmoil raging inside of him. His emotions were deafening, his desire overcome by anger. Maggie cringed. She had to stop believing that he would come around, hoping that one day he’d change his mind and feel what she felt. Was she wrong in believing that he would? Everyone said they were mates, but Judd refused to claim her.
Her cousin Judith, the Healer for the Malone pack, had explained what it meant to be mates. All her life she had been made to feel unwanted. Even her Maker didn’t want her anymore. He’d found another Healer and asked Maggie if she wanted to go off and travel. He never told her to leave, but she could read between the lines, so she chose to leave the only family she’d known for fifteen years. She thought that moving here to Alpha City would change things for her. Knowing she was good at healing, she’d been told by Judith that she would be wanted, and most of all, needed. That was mostly true, but meeting Judd for the first time set her body on fire, leaving her aching for something she could never have: her own family.
Never before had anyone affected her this way. The moment her hand touched his, she could feel his soul as if it had blown across hers. A small taste of more to come… But the moment he jerked away from her, Maggie knew she’d been dismissed again. She felt unwanted, but she couldn’t let anyone see it. She wanted a family of her own, but now she knew that it wasn’t going to happen.
It was time now to find a place where she would be welcomed. She need a place to settle down and make a life for herself. She only hoped that Judd would allow her to do that. The looks he was giving her ran hot and then ice cold. He never spoke to her, but she would catch him watching her. He was in a constant internal struggle with himself, and she never wanted to cause him any type of pain. She only wanted to love him and have him love her back.
Her cousin had told her to just be patient and hold on, but Maggie wasn’t so sure. It didn’t take a genius to see that he didn’t feel the same way about her. It was almost as if she disgusted him in some way. Everyone here seemed to like her, except the one she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with.
“His heart is damaged from the vampire who came before you. Locke destroyed everything that was dear to him. Show him the way back.”
Maggie looked down at the little girl just as Carina’s eyes rolled back in her head and she fell backward. Maggie’s quick reflexes caught her before she could hit the floor. She’d been told that Carina was a Seer and had wisdom beyond her years, but what she’d said didn’t seem right.
Carina’s eyes fluttered open and stared up into Maggie’s face. Maggie smiled, letting the child know she was okay. “Hello,” she stuttered, worried now about what the little girl had said.
Carina didn’t say anything else, just continued to look up at her, and then reached up and touched her face. It startled Maggie at first as Carina’s hand inched toward her mouth, until she pushed her lip up and put her finger on one of her
fangs.
“Can you eat real food?” Carina asked.
Maggie smiled. “Yes I can, and I do. I drink blood too, but Judith gets that for me through a blood bank. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”
“I know,” Carina answered.
Maggie set the girl upright in her lap. “Do you remember what you said a few minutes ago?”
Carina nodded. “Yes.”
“How do you know that?” Maggie asked her.
Carina shrugged. “I just know. I like him, he gives me candy when no one is looking.” Carina pulled a piece out of her pocket and showed it to her.
“You have a sweet tooth, like him.”
Carina nodded.
Maggie laughed. “I can smell the sugar on him whenever I can get close enough.” Maggie sighed. “He smells like strawberry candy.” Unfortunately every time she got near Judd, he’d find an excuse to leave. She’d catch him looking at her from afar, but he never got close enough to speak.
“To be honest… ” Maggie had to look away from the child’s transparent gaze. “I…just don’t think it will work between me and Judd. He doesn’t seem to like me much. I know everyone says it will work out, but I think maybe I need to find somewhere else to live. Maybe then he will relax and be around his friends more. I never wanted there to be trouble. It just seems to always find me.” Maggie blew out a long breath.
“I thought you liked it here,” Carina whispered.
Looking back down at the child, Maggie knew she couldn’t lie. “Oh, I do, Carina. I really do, but I just haven’t found my home yet. I don’t want Judd to stop coming around his friends because I’m there. It would kill me if I caused problems between Judith and everyone else. She wants me to stay, and I do too, but I just don’t think it’s working out. This place is special, and everyone gets along so well here; I don’t want to mess that up. Besides, I could never forgive myself if somehow Judith got treated different simply because she’s kin to a vampire.”
Maggie couldn’t believe she’d just said that. Judd seemed to be the only one who had that problem, but it was starting to become a huge problem between Judd and Ryder. She’d just witnessed Judd slamming her Alpha against the wall. All those thoughts he tried to keep to himself projected out toward her, and she could read them.
“No, he will come after you if you leave,” Carina said without expression.
“You’re so young, Carina, and I know you don’t understand, but this time I think you’re wrong.” She turned, placing Carina on the bench. “I will miss you though. I’ll write when I get settled. Maybe we can be pen pals. You know what that is?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I was hoping we could still be friends,” Maggie answered sadly.
Hearing a door open, Maggie looked up and saw Rose walk in. She waved at Carina’s sister. “I think my replacement is here.”
Without another word, Maggie got up and smiled at Rose. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. How are you doing?” Rose asked.
“Good.” Maggie’s voice was convincing. She could tell Rose didn’t believe her, but the woman didn’t say anything and she was glad. All she could think about was getting as far away from Judd as she could. Maybe then the ache she was feeling in her heart would subside.
She waved before quietly walking out. She waited for the guard to get permission to let her out the door. She wanted to cry, but what was the use? Alpha City was just another place that didn’t accept her. She couldn’t go back to the clan, and she couldn’t stay here. She had enough money saved up; maybe she could just keep going until she found someplace safe for her.
Was there such a place?
“I understand that, but we have to do more. The witch is already two steps ahead of us. We have to find out who’s feeding her information,” Judd cautioned. He moved around in his seat, trying to get comfortable. Something was off. “It’s got to be someone close to all of us, someone who would be able to get that kind of information. I think it’s time to flush these traitors out.”
“I agree,” Nolan echoed. All the known members of the Order were present except Bast and Carina, who were playing in the next room with Maggie. They had to do something. He could feel it—something bad was going to happen. He didn’t know what, but they had to come up with some sort of plan to shut this woman down.
“I think we all agree with you, Judd, but we have to figure out how to do that in a way that ensures only those who are in this room will know. Until we figure out who these traitors are, we can’t trust anyone, even our own pack members,” Ryder added sadly.
“I never thought the Keepers would betray us, but they did. I’m afraid that before this is over we will find out just how far this treachery has gone. Claudia has had a long time to weasel her way into our society, breaking down our bonds and creating jealousy and distrust.” Brody shook his head in disgust.
“That goes to show us that any member can be bewitched or bribed. This woman will stop at nothing to get into Valceria, and if that happens it’s over for all of us. I for one don’t plan on letting that happen,” Kayden said.
“Let’s decide now what course of action we need to take. I want to find out who else is betraying us. There has to be a way to put a shield on those who’ve been checked out. You know, a way to protect the ones who’ve been cleared so we know who we can trust and who we can’t. Is that even possible?” Judd asked.
He was trying to focus on the meeting, but he couldn’t stop thinking of Maggie. Guilt flooded his thoughts, making it hard for him to concentrate. The day she ran from the rooftop thinking that they had set her up broke his heart, but she had to be cleared like everyone else. She’d come into their lives the same day that Zoey had been stabbed by Claudia. It had seemed too coincidental. She’d been cleared, but the fact still remained that she was a vampire.
These thoughts plagued him every day. Did it really matter? She wasn’t like Roman Locke, the bastard who killed his mother. Could he be with a vampire? Could he actually mate with a vampire? A race of people that he’d hated since he was young? He had it in his head that they were all alike, but Maggie was different. Judd watched her without her knowing, and he could see she was a kind person. She was great with the kids; even Carina seemed to like her. But every time he looked at her, his emotions were divided. He could still bring to mind her scent, like blackberries growing in the wild, and it made him smile.
“Judd, are you okay?” London asked. His beast was close to the surface as thoughts of her consumed him. His throat tightened at not being able to claim her, but it was something else that had his beast stirred up.
“Judd.” Brody shook him until he looked up.
“What’s wrong?” Judd asked, his eyes wild with despair. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was deeply wrong.
“That’s what we want to know.” Brody frowned.
“Something’s wrong. I don’t know what it is,” Judd claimed, looking at his friends.
The Alphas all rose from their seats. “I don’t feel anything,” London said, holding the Tree of Life in her hand. If London said she wasn’t feeling anything he believed her; the Tree of Life was the most powerful stone known to their kind. When London graduated from college her grandmother Me-Len passed down the Tree of Life to her, giving her great power. The stone had a tree inside of it. Nobody actually knows how much power can come from the stone or strengthen the witch. Me-Len said that the stone would grant you certain powers at different times. London had even asked the stone to take Metilda Blackwood’s magic away from her, and it did and passed it on to London.
“Maggie… ” Judd’s words trailed off as he opened the door leading out to where Maggie was watching the kids. He searched the area for her and came up empty.
Rose and Carina were sitting at the table, drawing. Both of them stopped to look up at him in concern. “Where’s Maggie?”
“I relieved her and she went home,” Rose answered.
“Shit. Something is
wrong,” Judd muttered to himself.
“She said she was leaving town because she could tell that you didn’t want her around. She didn’t want to make any trouble for you and her cousin,” Carina told him before her eyes rolled back in her head. “Love and hate are the same. One is more powerful than the other. She lies in a pool of blood.” Rose caught her before she fell to the floor.
“’Pool of blood?’ Is she talking about Maggie?” London and Zoey asked, both grabbing hold of their mates.
Judd was already running for the garage. He didn’t even know where she was, but he had to find her before it was too late. She said she was leaving, and that I didn’t want her. What the hell was she thinking?
What do you expect, you run away from her when she walks into a room. She’s your mate, and you haven’t even said a word to her about it. “I’m such an idiot!”
“Wait, Judd!” Ryder and the other Alphas were running after him. Before Judd could get in his truck, Ryder slammed the door. “Listen, we’re going to help you, but you have to calm down. Remember who we’re dealing with here. If Claudia has done something with Maggie, then you could be running into a trap. Let me call Judith and find out where Maggie’s gone.”
Judd’s chest was heaving as he bent over, gasping for air. He had to find her. He could hear the desperation in his own voice as he tried to calm down. “What if she’s hurt, lying in a puddle of blood, like Carina said? What if she’s talking about Maggie?” Judd’s breath shook.
Ryder had walked off and began talking to someone. They watched as Ryder yelled for them to get in the truck. “It’s Judith. Maggie found her outside the house lying in a pool of blood. She knows someone is still in the house. She said she’s trying to get to her, but she feels like it’s a trap. She’s searching the grounds for a look-out.”
