ChangingPaths

by Marilu Mann

  “All for the best.” Pete turned his attention back to Gareth, effectively dismissing the niece he hadn’t seen in almost two decades along with her child whom he hadn’t met until now. That discourtesy told her just how opposed he was to her return. “I’ve spoken to Micah to let him know I will be there late tonight. I’ll make sure the car gets towed to Bill’s shop.”

  With that, he tipped his head to them then turned back toward his patrol car. Feeling his attention, she glanced at Gareth. “I guess he’s still pretty angry with me for leaving the reservation.”

  “Families are complicated.” He shrugged. The truck jerked back to life as he pulled away from the patrol car. His voice sounded tight as he steered it into a right-hand turn. “I’m sure Willow will be happy to see you.”

  He didn’t say anything else, so neither did she. She just let her mind drift to the way things had been before she’d left the reservation with someone she thought was her Prince Charming. The fact that he’d turned out to be a total snake didn’t negate the one good thing he had done. He’d given her Rain.

  Turning her attention back to her daughter, she took in her familiar features. As much as she could see herself in Rain’s looks she could see Tom’s stamp as well. She thought the blend made Rain beautiful. She just hoped bringing Rain back to the reservation could mend some of the fences she’d so carelessly torn down sixteen years ago.

  They passed a clearing, then Willow’s house came into view. He stopped his truck a respectful distance away. He obviously visited a lot if he knew the Native ways. It was considered rude to just pull up to someone’s home and get out of the car without acknowledgement. Harmony filed that away for future thought. He definitely wasn’t of the People.

  When Willow appeared in the doorway he pulled the truck a little closer as she gave the come-ahead. He put it in park. Her skin warmed when he looked at her. Something about his gaze made her simmer. She could feel that familiar pull in her belly—the one she hadn’t felt in a long time. It was just that the man was sinfully sexy. She didn’t want to simmer or think about sex with this stranger, so she reached across Rain to open the door so they could slide out.

  “Thank you, Gareth.”

  “I’ll get your bags.”

  As they got out of the truck Willow stepped off the porch. Harmony smiled as her aunt came forward to greet them. For the first time since beginning this ill-fated journey Harmony felt that things might just work out for everyone involved.

  Being enfolded in her favorite aunt’s warm embrace brought tears to her eyes. Tears she had refused to let fall on the trip here filled her eyes as she breathed in her aunt’s scent. Leaving her family had been hard, though honestly she’d frequently felt driven to do it. Being one of the Moon-Denied, one of those who couldn’t shift despite a genetic predisposition to do so, wasn’t easy. Now she’d brought her daughter here to see if she’d passed on her own weakness or if Rain would be one of the lucky ones. One able to take another shape to run with the Pack. The one thing Fate had denied her.

  “I’m so glad you’re here, Harmony. I’ve missed you so.” Willow cupped her face, staring hard at her. “You’ve changed.”

  “Not that much. Aunt Willow, this is my daughter Rain. Rain, this is your great-aunt, Willow Johnson.” She leaned into her aunt’s hand for a brief moment, craving that touch. Even the Moon-Denied needed the comfort of physical reassurance. She’d missed that.

  “Welcome, Rain. You are the image of your mother. Come in, come inside. I’ve arranged for you to live in the old Fox cabin but for now you should come in and eat. Uncle Jake is at the lodge, he’ll be back by midnight.” With that, Willow looked at Gareth.

  “You should be on your way, young one, the Pack will be gathering. He’s back. You’re already late but he’ll understand.”

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll just drop these on the porch.” He indicated the suitcases he’d removed from his truck. She watched as he strode up to her aunt’s house. After setting their stuff down on the porch by the front door, he started back toward his truck, obviously not intending to say anything else. She felt compelled to stop him. Reaching out, she touched his shoulder.

  The way he jerked back made her wonder if he felt the same sizzling flash of awareness she did. But she discarded that foolishness. He just didn’t want one of her kind touching him. Her tone came out more formal than she’d meant it to.

  “Gareth, thank you for stopping to help us. I don’t know how long we’d have been out there if you hadn’t.”

  “No problem.” He nodded, once again letting his hair fall forward to cover his face. She felt a pang of sadness that this shifter felt it necessary to go to such lengths to hide his features. He was handsome, not in the traditional sense but there was just something about him that made her think of rubbing her body against his. Not that it mattered really.

  It wasn’t just the fact that he was a shifter. She hadn’t caught a mated scent. Yeah, he was probably happily mated. Even if he wasn’t, no way he’d be interested in a Moon-Denied female with a kid. Talk about too much baggage.

  “If you need me, Willow, just call. I know the Fox cabin could use some work, especially on the furnace. Enjoy your visit.” With that, he got back in his truck then left. She looked over her shoulder as she followed her daughter and aunt into the house but he never slowed or looked back. Feeling as though she’d missed something important, she sighed before she closed the door.

  Gareth mentally chewed his own ass out as he left the reservation. Why had he bothered to offer his help? There were plenty of people on the res who could do the same work he could on the cabin. No need for Willow to call him and definitely no need to set himself up for any more trouble by getting involved with a res shifter.

  Though they all belonged to the same Pack, the Native population kept some distance between themselves and outsiders. So not being one of their tribe was a strike. Coupled with the fact that he hadn’t even been born in Wisconsin and had moved here without knowing anyone was a second strike. When they’d found out he had no intention of being part of the Pack, they were more than a little reluctant to have him around.

  He’d grown up in a Pack, so he knew the ropes, the rules and ways of Packs. He’d been willing to accept being an outsider. Micah had changed that. Gareth hadn’t expected Micah to trust him as much as he did. Micah had given him a place, a job—even a chance. It had been that acceptance that had secured his position in the Lodge Pack. Still, he was of the Pack but he wasn’t of the People here.

  Shaking all of that off, he concentrated on the Gathering to come. Everyone would probably already be in the clearing. It would be to his advantage to cut through the woods from here. He was late, disrespect enough for one of Micah’s seconds. No point in compounding that.

  As soon as he cleared res land he pulled his truck off the road. Since Pete was on patrol he’d leave Gareth’s truck there until he could come back for it. Striding quickly into the woods, he moved just far enough into the cover of the trees so that he couldn’t see or been seen from the road then quickly stripped. He shivered a little with the cool evening air then bundled his clothes up to put them beside a big rock. They’d still be there when he got back.

  Removing his patch last, he tilted his head, shaking his hair back and letting his shift begin. He felt the burn as his body reshaped itself from human to animal, felt his senses sharpen as his mind captured more of his surroundings. Being wolf made him happy in a way that being human never could. It was why he’d spent so much time in wolf form running with real wolves.

  Tipping his head back, he gave that feeling voice, howling his joy out for all to hear. Answering howls reached him. He knew the Pack had indeed gathered. Spinning around to head deeper into the woods, he let the joy of simply running course through him. Here, in this form, in these woods, he was at peace with himself.

  He preferred the pine needles and mulch breaking under his feet, the tree branches whipping by him, and the cold air bringing al
l the scents of the woods to his nose. His wolf senses were so much keener and the sightless eye wasn’t such a burden with his hearing and sense of smell so improved. Humans missed so much by not being able to breath in the deep pine of the forest combined with the crisp chill of snow on the air.

  He made the clearing in moments, the scents of the Pack reaching him long before he saw any of them. Still, as he neared the center of the group, he could distinguish those who accepted him and those who did not. At this point, however, he’d focused his attention on two gray wolves in the very middle of the Pack.

  Micah Keeps Vigil and his mate Olivia. He’d have known his Alpha anywhere just from the sheer size of the wolf. Dropping his head as he neared the mated pair, he tilted his head to one side, exposing his neck as was proper for anyone in the Pack when greeting the Alpha.

  Micah nodded to him, touching his nose to Gareth’s neck in acknowledgement of his tribute. The Alpha’s scent filled his nostrils, calming him in a way only Micah could. Where have you been, Gareth? Talia was disappointed that you weren’t at the lodge to greet us.

  I’m sorry, Micah. I’ll make it up to her. I had to go into town for some parts for one of the snowmobiles and then I stopped to help someone on the road. Turned out to be Pete’s niece. He also sends his apologies. He got stuck working tonight.

  I know. He left a message for us. Greet Olivia, would you? She’s a little nervous about tonight. It’s her first Gathering since giving birth.

  He dropped onto his belly in remorse. Not only hadn’t he been there to meet his Alpha’s daughter, he hadn’t even thought to ask about his Alpha’s son. With that foremost in his mind, he turned his attention to the female standing at Micah’s left shoulder. She touched her nose to his muzzle and whuffed air at him. He returned the greeting then opened himself to the Alpha female.

  Welcome home, Olivia.

  Gareth, you have no idea how happy I am to be back here. Talia was upset with you for not being there to meet us. You’ll have some apologizing to do there.

  I know, I’m sorry. And how is Miakoda? I’m sure I won’t even recognize him.

  You won’t! He’s growing so fast. And he’s such a good traveler. Oh have we got stories to tell you!

  I can’t wait. Dropping his jaw open in their version of a wolfy grin, he backed up a bit so that some of the other late arrivals could greet their Alphas. He knew he’d definitely have some serious groveling to do with Talia.

  Micah and Olivia’s adopted daughter had been scared shitless of him when she’d first met him, but now they were buddies. He’d taken her fishing a couple of times and let her help him with the sled dogs. When he’d given her pick of the litter of one of those sled dogs, the deal had been sealed. Talia had decided he was okay to have around. The little girl was one of his favorite people in the world.

  Moving through the Pack, he could feel animosity from his right and instinctively turned his body to meet the threat. He barely held back his snarl.

  Same old, same old from the three wolves growling softly at him. They hadn’t gotten over the last ass-whipping he’d doled out and it looked as if he’d be doing it again. Those three just didn’t understand that as long as he had Micah’s favor and was one of the seconds in the Pack that they’d never be able to fully defeat him. Sure, they could hurt him, they had in the past, but they’d never be able to get rid of him, which was what they really wanted to do. He stared at them as they paced toward him.

  He let out his own growl then, baring his teeth at them to let them know this was neither the time nor the place for their juvenile bullshit. A presence at his left let him know that another wolf had joined them. The three in front of him suddenly dropped to their sides then rolled, exposing their bellies. He knew without doubt that Micah was the wolf at his side. Even without the familiar scent, the submissive posturing of the three would have given it away.

  Are we going to have to have another talk about this? If Micah had been in human form, Gareth knew one eyebrow would be raised and his normally stoic face would have been somewhat pinched-looking.

  No, Micah. Everything’s fine. We’re all just glad you’re back, right boys?

  He glared at the three, before letting his attention sharpen on Luke, the usual leader of that group. All of them were still whining a bit as they stayed on their backs. They didn’t answer him, just gave Micah his due as their leader. The middle one urinated just a bit, making Gareth’s inner jerk dance with pleasure. Yeah, they wouldn’t fuck with him anymore.

  Blowing out some air, Micah turned and left. He waited just a moment then followed. He could still feel some anger, but most of it had waned in the face of their Alpha’s displeasure. They might not mind ganging up on him at a Gathering but there is no way in hell they’d dare to do it with Micah right there.

  He turned his mind to enjoying the rest of the Gathering. For now he’d forget all about lesser wolves with mischief on their minds, females who smelled of honeysuckle, and sullen teenagers. For now he’d simply enjoy the night.

  Chapter Two

  “So, tell me about your life, Niece.” Willow hadn’t asked any questions when they’d first arrived. She’d sent both mother and daughter straight to bed after a light snack. They’d needed the nap. Now Harmony was glad the wait for the inquisition to begin was over. Willow had returned from her afternoon shopping with that direct question.

  Now she repeated it. “I gave you the time you asked for. We’ve had dinner. What happened?” The tone was gentle but the gaze was intense. Harmony sighed, looking away from her aunt.

  “Really? You want me to recap the last sixteen years? How much time do we have?” She glanced toward the living room, where Rain had flopped onto the couch after helping clear the dinner dishes. They’d spent the time they’d been awake and alone getting their bearings. Mentally Harmony noted that she’d have to get them both cell phones since there wasn’t a landline at the cabin, it was just too isolated to go to the expense of installation. Glancing toward the living room where Rain sat with closed eyes and arms crossed over her chest, Harmony realized she could hear the tinny sound of the music from Rain’s earphones even from this distance.

  “No need to take that tone with me. I’m not the reason you left.” Willow’s voice was firm.

  “You’re right, I’m sorry.” Harmony rubbed her forehead. It was harder than she’d thought it would be, being back here. Too many memories, not all of them pleasant, warring for her attention. When her own parents had died, Aunt Willow and Uncle Jake had taken her in without question. Uncle Pete and his wife Aunt Margie had also always been there for her, people she could depend on no matter what. They’d been the ones who would have stood sponsor for her entry into the Pack.

  And then Tom Marks had come into her life. She’d been sixteen years old and hadn’t known yet that the moon would deny her. Though most teens shifted right after reaching puberty her family had always taken a bit longer. She had been looking forward to that, until Tom, then her entire focus had been on him. He’d been so wonderful then.

  With his smooth city ways and his promises of showing her the world, he’d swept her right off her feet and into his bed. She’d lost her virginity to him before she’d lost her heart. Then nearly lost more than that before she’d finally gotten away from him. The only good thing he’d ever given her now sat in the next room.

  “The first couple of years weren’t so bad. I managed to get my GED even though I was working full-time. We moved a lot. I thought it was because Tom couldn’t catch a break, you know? He always had an excuse for losing whatever job he’d found.”

  She paused, taking a deep breath, knowing she had to get this out of the way but not liking it at all. Fortunately Aunt Willow knew the reason she’d returned. From her desperate reaction to that first phone call to the last time they’d spoken right after she and Rain had reached the Wisconsin state line, Willow had been nothing but encouraging. She’d also never taken no for an answer.

  “We’d
been together for a while before things got really bad.”

  “Was that when he put you in the hospital?”

  “Rain was three the first time. She’d spilled some milk and when I didn’t get it cleaned up fast enough he just went crazy.” Yes, just like so many other women she hadn’t learned her lesson. It had taken three more severe beatings for her to realize that he wasn’t going to change.

  With the help of her sympathetic female boss she’d left him. She’d taken their daughter and just kept moving farther away from him until she’d wound up in California. There she’d managed to start rebuilding her life. She and Rain had been happy there. Until Tom had shown up in their lives again.

  He’d claimed he had changed, that he still loved her and their daughter. He’d said he wanted them back. She was no longer naive or desperate enough to believe him but she’d wanted her daughter to know her father. The first time Rain came home with a bruise on her arm Harmony had lost her mind. She glanced toward the living room again. Rain hadn’t moved but she couldn’t be sure the child wasn’t listening to their conversation instead of her music. It seemed to her that the volume had gone down a bit.

  She felt sure Rain remembered some of her father’s violent outbursts but hoped her daughter had forgotten the more virulent ones. She knew she’d never forget the time he’d hurt her though. Rain had told her that he’d grabbed her arm when she told him she didn’t want to do something. The next day Harmony had gotten an order of protection to keep him out of their lives.

  It wasn’t until Tom threatened Rain again that she knew the cops couldn’t, wouldn’t help. He always found a way to get back at them, at her. That coupled with the fact that she felt certain Rain was going to be able to shift had been the inducement to get her back to the res and her Pack. Rain needed Pack. She needed someone to help her through her first shift, if that was her fate and that someone couldn’t be either of her parents. Not only was he too dangerous and crazy to be responsible for their daughter, Tom was also one of the Moon-Denied.