Phoenix Rising (Invasion #1)

by Bethany Shaw

  A twinge of jealousy raced through her and she swallowed, fighting back tears. Her eyes misted and she swiped at them with the backs of her muddy hands. The father and daughter spoke as they embraced, but she couldn’t make out their words. She didn’t even realize she was staring until the girl lifted her finger, pointing it at Enid.

  “Enid?” the familiar voice called out.

  Enid paused, her gaze snapping up to meet amber eyes. She gnashed her teeth together to keep from crying out. Alex! Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes darted to the girl next to him. She had the same amber eyes and chocolate-colored hair as Alex. The girl she’d saved was his daughter.

  Questions tumbled through her head. When did he come to Mount Rainier? Is Melissa here too? Why did he come? She knew the answer to the first question. He’d come with the pack that had just arrived.

  Damn it, I really do need to pay more attention, she berated herself. Alex is here. He’s alive!

  “Enid,” Darren’s voice cut through her train of thought. “Get yourself cleaned up and out of those clothes before you get frostbite.” He placed a hand on her shoulder as he glanced at her.

  Enid shrugged away from him, meeting Alex’s eyes one last time before she bolted to her cavern.

  She made her way through the icy, narrow tunnels until she came to the fork that broke off from the main chambers. No one came down this way; flooding occurred occasionally when the weather got too warm. Enid didn’t mind; she liked the solitude. Everything that mattered was gone. What she had was material possessions and they could be replaced.

  Her fingers shook as she pushed back the sparse, yellow sheet that acted as a door to her cavern and then drew it shut again. She let out a long breath and shook her head, willing her racing heart to calm. Alex Andrews was the last person she’d thought to see here. There had been rumors of his death. Her heart pattered faster at the realization that he was alive and he was here.

  Melissa might be too, she reminded herself. Not everyone had succumbed to the Wolf Flu. The survivors were the lucky ones, according to Darren. She preferred to think of it as a curse.

  Enid closed her eyes and shook her head. She walked to the stack of clothes that rested on a rock. Shuffling through the cotton garments, she tugged out her well-worn sweats and hoodie.

  She slipped off her shoes and tiptoed to the hot springs that were in the corner of her cavern. One of the perks to exploring was finding this little gem. It was a cozy bath and a place to wash her drab linens. Much to Darren’s chagrin, her interaction with the pack was as little as possible. The idea of being banished from the pack had terrified her into submission fourteen years ago. Now, she relished the idea of solitude.

  Stripping off the rest of her soiled clothes, she sunk into the steaming water and closed her eyes, praying her troubles would leave. But it would be hard to relax knowing that Alex was here and under the same rock as her.

  He’s alive.

  ***

  Enid is here and alive, Alex thought as he wrapped an arm around his daughter.

  She looked the same as he remembered. Her hazel eyes enchanted him and wisps of her long auburn curls had fallen out of her ponytail, begging to be twirled around his fingers.

  Alex’s lip curled as Darren stepped in front of Enid and touched her. He had no respect for the acting alpha of the aligned packs. The man wasn’t fit to lead the wolves and if Darren knew what was best for him, he’d get his hands off Enid. Alex had no right to claim the beautiful wolf, but he couldn’t help his feelings.

  “Dad,” Cori sighed as Darren marched toward them. “I think I’m in trouble...I wandered off,” she mumbled.

  “It’s okay,” he assured.

  Great! I can only imagine what he’s going to say. If he thinks he’s going to berate my little girl he’s going to have another thing coming. I wonder if Enid is coming to. She saved my girl’s life.

  His attention darted back to Enid, but the auburn-haired beauty was nowhere to be found.

  “I know your pack is new here, Alex, but we have rules in place for a reason. Your daughter and Enid could have been killed tonight,” Darren reprimanded.

  Alex ground his teeth as he inhaled through his nose. Darren’s putrid pine scent infiltrated his senses and he huffed. “It was her first transition into a wolf. She deserves the right to explore. I’m sure you can remember what an exhilarating experience your first change was,” he reminded the man.

  Darren opened his mouth to argue, but Alex spoke up first, “Where is Enid?” he questioned, forcing his mind to focus on what was important. He had to see her again, speak to her, to make sure she was really here and alive.

  “Why? I am an original member of the Rainier pack,” he reminded. “I know about the feud between your alpha and Enid’s father,” Darren replied as he laced his fingers behind his back. “All packs live peacefully here. I don’t want any trouble.”

  “She saved my daughter’s life. I’d like to thank her and, like you said, that feud was between our parents. It has nothing to do with us,” Alex quipped, casting a glance down to Cori for emphasis. That wasn’t the only reason he wanted to see the she-wolf, but he wasn’t going to tell Darren that.

  “Enid keeps to herself. I’m sure she wouldn’t want any visitors. You can thank her at breakfast tomorrow,” Darren dismissed as he twirled on his heel and returned to the wolves guarding the entrance to the caves.

  Since when did Enid keep to herself? The woman he remembered was vibrant, full of life, and loved being social.

  “What feud?” Cori wondered, drawing him back to the present.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore,” he answered as he led Cori down the main corridor toward their cavern. The caves were imbedded deep within Mount Rainier. Enid’s pack had called this place home for generations. Now what was left of the werewolves on the West Coast took refuge here, too. His pack had been the last to join the alliance and it wasn’t because he’d wanted to. They’d literally just arrived. If there had been any other option he would’ve seized it.

  But Enid was here. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  Chapter Two

  Enid tossed her wet hair up into a messy bun and blew out a few of the candles that hung from lanterns on the walls before making her way over to the stuffed blanket she called a bed. The nightstand next to the bed held a few dozen books she’d read at least five times each. She shifted through the piles, finally settling on Stephen King.

  In the beginning, the wolves had raided the abandoned towns nearby. Most of their supplies had come from early runs. It was too dangerous for that now. Humans and witches were taking back the streets, returning power to areas, and moving back in. The werewolves were public enemy number one. As long as there were wolves, the humans and witches feared another outbreak.

  She couldn’t blame the humans; the witches on the other hand were responsible for the outbreak to begin with. Chase was ill before the incident involving her brother and the witch, Chloe. Enid didn’t know how they’d cursed the wolves with the devastating sickness, but the witches had.

  “Enid?” Alex’s voice whispered.

  Enid froze, holding her breath. Alex? Is he here?

  “I know you’re in there, Enid. Can I come in?” Alex questioned.

  “Okay,” she croaked as her knees wobbled. She cleared her throat. “Come in.”

  The curtains swished as he opened them and his footsteps thudded against the concrete earth.

  Enid drew in a breath before she turned and met Alex’s amber eyes. Alex’s mouth opened as if he was going to say something, yet nothing came out. She swallowed meeting his gaze and holding it. Heat surged through her, awakening emotions she’d buried years ago.

  It had been fourteen long years of separation. Time had been kind to him. His muscles were sculpted and rippled beneath the form-fitting red sweater he wore. Sexy stubble covered his upper lip and chin and she wondered how it would feel as it scratched her face.

  “Hi,” Alex w
hispered.

  “Hi,” she breathed. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as her feet shuffled forward.

  “I didn’t realize you were here. If I’d known I’d have sought you out sooner,” he admitted.

  She took another few steps forward. “I keep to myself. I heard that your pack had come, but...” she trailed off as she twiddled with her fingers. “I thought you were dead.”

  “Not yet,” he chuckled. Alex looked around the cavern before meeting her gaze again. “You are here...alone?” he gulped.

  Enid swallowed. “It’s just me...and you...are you here with your...daughter?” There was no mistaking the girl she’d rescued was his blood. They shared the same eye and hair color as well as a similar sea salt and apple aroma. She’d just been too caught up in the rescue to recognize the similarity sooner.

  Alex’s face fell. “It’s just Cori and I. When my father quarantined our pack it protected us from the Wolf Flu for a while, but it made its way into our family. Melissa and my youngest, Tate, passed. We lost over three quarters of the pack, including my father.”

  “I’m sorry, Alex,” she told him, reaching out to touch his hand. Electricity surged up her arm from the simple touch and she inhaled, surprised by the reaction after all these years.

  “Me too. You had two boys?” Alex asked as he entwined his fingers with hers, his gaze searching deep within her eyes.

  “Chase and James,” she answered as a sad smile slipped over her face. Tears pricked her eyes and she blinked them away. “Chase caught it first, James a few weeks later. Nik...” she trailed off and shook her head as a rogue tear trickled down her cheek. She hadn’t spoken about her boys or her brother, Nik for ages. It was too painful.

  “For what it’s worth, I never believed Nik had anything to do with that witch’s disappearance,” Alex told her as he swiped the tear off her cheek.

  “You hated my brother,” she laughed as more tears fled from her eyes.

  “I did. He was reckless and had a temper, but I never thought him capable of murdering an innocent and defenseless woman,” Alex replied as he caressed her cheek with his thumb.

  “He wouldn’t have done it.” She closed her eyes as her bottom lip trembled. It had been years since she’d seen Alex, yet it felt like only hours. He’d always made her feel complete and she knew she could tell him anything, even after all this time. “Besides, he went to the shop hoping to find a cure. Chase was already sick with the virus.”

  “Already sick?” Alex questioned. “But...I thought the Wolf Flu was the witches’ curse for Nik murdering Chloe Sullivan?”

  Enid huffed and folded into Alex’s arms. No one had believed her when she’d tried to defend her younger brother. Nik’s disappearance after the matter didn’t help the rumors. “That’s what they say,” she muttered. “But it’s not true. Chase was already sick. Nik went to the witches for help after the doctors tried everything they could. He loved his nephew; he wouldn’t have done anything to cause him harm.”

  “I know.” Alex wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. “I’ve missed you, Enid.”

  “Me too.” She wound her arms around his neck, resting her cheek against his chest. The steady thump of his heart met her ears and she let herself get lost in the rhythm of it. “I’ve missed this...you.”

  For a moment, everything was perfect. The years and tragedy that had separated them didn’t exist. It was just the two of them. Her heart lurched in her chest as desire and warmth flooded her.

  No!

  Enid reeled back and shook her head, using the edges of her hoodie to wipe the salty tears from her face.

  “Enid?”

  “It’s been a long time, Alex,” she reminded him.

  “I know. Not a day has gone by the past fourteen years that I haven’t thought about you,” he said, taking a step toward her. “Our parents aren’t here to separate us this time. You’re my mate, Enid. You always have been. Finding you here and alive...I thought you were dead, too. I’d heard of the pack at Mount Rainier, but when I learned Darren was in control I assumed you had passed during the outbreak. If I’d known you were alive I’d have come here much sooner,” he admitted. “I don’t want to lose you again. Give us a chance to get to know each other again.”

  “Alex,” she whispered as she licked her lips. “I can’t. I’ve lost everything. I can’t open my heart up again. I can’t lose anyone else.”

  Alex took a step forward and cupped her chin with his palm. “You were always so stubborn,” he murmured placing a kiss to her forehead.

  Enid quirked her brow at him. “Me?” She should pull away.

  Alex smirked. “Both of us.” He looked up at the glacial ceiling and then back to her. “Cori wants to thank you for saving her life. Join us for dinner tomorrow night.”

  Enid sighed and shook her head as she crossed her arms over her chest and took a step back, needing some distance from Alex and his intoxicating smell. Her body screamed at her. It begged her to get close to him. To let Alex take her, make her his. Her heart refused to budge. It was broken—destroyed—and she wouldn’t let herself be hurt again.

  “I’m not taking no for an answer,” Alex challenged. “If you don’t come, we’ll come to you.” He grinned and motioned with his hands to her home. “I know where you live,” he paused, pointing to his nose. “And I can follow your scent anywhere.”

  “Fine,” she caved. He would hunt her down until he got his way.

  “Don’t make it sound like such a chore,” he teased. “I’ll see you tomorrow night at seven.”

  “All right,” she agreed.

  “Good night, Enid,” Alex said as he took a step back.

  Enid clasped her biceps, determined to keep her hands from reaching out and stopping Alex. “Night.”

  ***

  Alex eyed the table, ensuring everything was just right. Cori was fetching food from the cafeteria, if you could even call it that, and Enid would be here any minute for supper.

  The little cavern wasn’t anything he’d ever consider home, but it was safe and he had Cori and Enid here.

  The gorgeous wolf had slipped through his fingers once. He wasn’t going to let it happen twice. Enid was his mate and it was time to claim her. There was nothing to stand in their way this time—except Enid it appeared.

  Footsteps scuffed over the rock outside the curtain separating his room from the main tunnel. They stopped outside, hesitating for a long moment. He drew in a breath and inhaled Enid’s crisp vanilla and sandalwood perfume.

  Alex breathed her in and smiled. “I know you are out there,” he commented.

  Enid huffed and tossed the curtain open as she strode in. Her jeans had holes in the knees and the black zip-up sweater she wore was so worn you could see through the fabric at her elbows.

  The packs in the mountain had it worse than his had. They were cut off from the world and it had been that way for some time. His pack had stayed in the shadows, lost to the world until a few weeks ago.

  “Hey,” she greeted.

  “Hi,” he smiled as he motioned to an old, wicker rocking chair. Everything in the caves was old. Raiding parties hadn’t left the comforts of home for years from what he gathered or Darren had given him the crappiest furniture because of whom he was, it was hard to tell. “Have a seat.” He struck a match on the card table that was their dining table and lit a few candles.

  “Where is...Cori?” she questioned, glancing around the dreary cavern as she took a seat and began to rock.

  “Getting our dinner,” he commented.

  “Darren can be a real stickler at times. Hopefully, he doesn’t delay her for taking three portions. I’m hungry,” she told him.

  “How did Darren get to be the alpha here anyway?” Alex asked, lifting a brow. “I would have assumed you would be. You are the daughter of an alpha.”

  Enid scoffed and shook her head, sending tendrils of auburn hair gliding around her head. “No. I’m not interested in leading the p
ack. Besides, most people blame me for the Wolf Flu. Nik isn’t around to be held responsible, so I’m found guilty by association.” She forced a smile and looked away. “Darren’s a good guy. These are our caves, it’s only fitting that someone from the Rainier pack would lead the group.”

  “No one’s challenged him?” Alex persisted. How did a guy like Darren, a man with no alpha blood, become the leader of the remaining wolf packs on the entire West Coast?

  “Alex,” Enid spoke, tossing her hands up in the air. “My father died, Nik went missing, I was devastated after losing Chase and James. Darren picked up the pieces and rallied what was left of our pack together. He brought other wolves here and has probably saved their lives in the process. The old way of living is gone. We’ve gone from a network of twenty thousand strong to a few hundred. Our numbers are much too low for a few dozen men to be fighting to the death over who gets to be alpha. Have you met everyone here? You and I are the only alpha bloodlines in the mountain. Everyone else is a beta or omega. With the way the witches and humans keep coming after us, our species will be extinct within the century—maybe even sooner. Werewolves are a dying breed.”

  Someone cleared their throat and both Alex and Enid spun around. Cori stood at the opening of their cavern with a platter of food in her hands. “Hi. I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said as she shifted her gaze between them.

  Alex cursed under his breath for not paying better attention. Cori was growing up fast, but that didn’t mean she needed to know the burdens of adulthood yet. “Of course not. What did you get?”

  “It’s deer stew,” Enid answered as she stood up and walked to the card table, taking a seat.

  “She’s right,” Cori replied as she turned to Enid. “How did you know?”

  Enid chuckled. “It’s always deer stew. It makes the meat go further that way. There are a lot of mouths to feed and the deer population isn’t what it used to be.” Her face sobered and she met Alex’s eyes.

  Things were even more dire here than he’d realized. His pack had come here because they had no other place to go. But if he was reading Enid’s unsaid words correctly, the pack in the mountains was in just as much trouble.