The Pack

by Donna Flynn

  The need to harm the girl became so strong as Mercy watched them together she’d been afraid she might actually lose control and do something to harm her. Horrified by her reaction she excused herself from her friends and ran all the way home, where she cried all night, hurt by his deception and confused by the jealousy that ate at her.

  Now as he sat next to her once again, the calming balm to her worries, she sensed the bond between them strengthen and that worried her. She did not want to get to the point where seeing him with other girls would make her sad and so filled with rage she thought she might physically hurt someone. She couldn’t go there again it hurt too bad and turned into someone she didn’t want to be.

  “Mercy,” Lucan reached out and took her hand in his brining her back to the present. “I should not have embarrassed you last night and I never meant to hurt you, but we need to talk about why you would lie to us.”

  She squeezed his hand hoping to ease the sadness in his eyes and decided being honest was the only way to deal with everything happening around her. “You never give me freedom. Most girls my age have been dating for a few years and until last night I had never even been kissed.” She heard Alec’s deep intake of breathe, but did not dare glance his way. “I need to grow up and you won’t let me.”

  “I want to keep you safe.”

  “From what?” No one answered, but she had not expected them too they never answered her questions about why they feared for her the way they did. “Kirk treats me with respect and he asked me to be his girlfriend last night, but you ruined the whole thing. Now he will probably never want to speak to me again.”

  “No loss,” Alec murmured under his breath, earning a sharp look of disapproval from Mercy.

  “I doubt anything is ruined, he seemed to like you a lot,” Lucan replied unhappily.

  “I am sorry I lied to you. I was afraid if I asked to go you would say no and I wanted to go out with Kirk, I like him.” She bit her lip silently waiting for his reply.

  Lucan realized she had a point, they couldn’t keep her locked away forever. “We were both wrong in this, me for keeping you locked up and you for not coming to me and giving me a chance to do the right thing. For the next week you are grounded for lying to us, but after that you can see Kirk if you let us know where you are going and who will be there.”

  “But…” He laid his finger on her lips and smiled stopping her objection.

  “Take it or leave it,” he told her laughing when she nipped his finger playfully.

  “I’ll take it and I promise I won’t ever lie to you again.” She hugged him then reached for Cade who swept her against him in a bear hug, leaving her gasping for air. “By the way, you were right. Lying brings nothing, but trouble.”

  Everyone grew silent, but she was too happy to notice the discomfort her words caused to the three males in the room.

  “How about some breakfast?” Lucan asked as he rose from the chair, turning away before she saw the regret in his expression. They kept what they were from her for all the right reasons, but he wondered if she would understand that once she found out.

  “Let’s go sit out front until breakfast is ready,” Alec said taking her hand and pulling her out of the door before she noted Lucan’s unhappiness.

  “We did this for her, do not second guess the past now,” Cade said from the table. He too had plenty of regret for all of the lies they had told, but how did one tell a six year old her parents were killed by werewolves and they kept her hidden so others, including her own family, wouldn't harm her?

  “We’ve done the best we can, her father should be protecting her, and he should have been the one she turned to when her mother died.”

  “What kind of a life would she have had then?” Cade asked striding angrily to his side. “Father would not give her the attention she needs and our brother would exploit what she is for his own gain. That is why Linda kept her hidden, why she made us promise that if anything ever happened to her we would care for her and tell no one in our family of her existence.”

  The hate he held for the man who sired them made his blood boil and he sensed his wolf awaken. His father was old school, he believed in fighting for your place within the pack, a philosophy that forced Linda to leave. He refused to change and she could not fathom the idea of her child being raised in such a primitive environment. She tried to take Lucan and Cade with her, but their father forbade it so she left before he found out about the baby she carried. Somehow, though she had, keep tabs them, and when they left the pack, she sought them out and begged them to protect Mercy if something happened to her.

  His body tingled and his spine moved under his skin as he thought of all the pain his father had caused in their lives. He was the reason they had left, and he was the one responsible for their brother’s reign of terror over them as children.

  “Enough! He has no impact on our lives now.” Lucan placed his hand on his brother’s arm and squeezed. After years of having, only each other to depend on they read each other well, anticipated each other’s thoughts and moves with startling regularity. He sensed Cade becoming very close to allowing the shift overtake him.

  Cade responded to his brother’s touch easily, the calming influence of Lucan’s wolf commanded his to rest and soon he leaned against the counter, breathing heavily, as his wolf slunk back into its hiding place deep inside of his human form.

  “Cade what’s wrong?” Mercy cried out rushing inside to his side, laying her hand on his back.

  His skin tingled as soothing heat flooded him warming him inside and out. Just one touch of her hand reassured him that everything they had done was worthwhile and he turned to face her fully in control of himself again. “Nothing brat, just a little headache.”

  “Are you sure?” she said looking doubtful.

  “He didn’t sleep well last night. I told him to go rest for awhile, but you know how stubborn he is.” Lucan handed her the plates and napkins he had gathered and pushed her towards the table hoping to sidetrack her. He pulled the frittata out of the stove and handed it to Cade to bring to the table.

  “Thanks,” Cade said.

  “No problem,” Lucan replied turning back to the counter, grabbing his coffee and joining them at the table.

  Alec sat next to Mercy digging into the food on his plate with unbridled enthusiasm while she watched him with a half smile, wondering how he stayed so trim and fit. “I guess now you're here I can kiss leftovers goodbye,” she teased.

  “You missed me admit it,” he said placing his fork on his empty plate staring at her half eaten portion with envy. “You done?”

  She nodded and slid the plate towards him unable to resist the urge to look him over. He was, to her, simply the most gorgeous guy ever and her heartbeat out of control as the old longing for him began to grow again inside of her. He meet her gaze as if sensing her interest and he gave her a devastating smile that melted her instantly and reminded her why all girls fell for him.

  “Something wrong?” he asked bringing her from her musings.

  “What? Oh…no…you got some on you,” she murmured reaching out to brush a toast crumb from his lip. Such an innocent gesture lead to him playfully bit her finger in response before taking her hand in his own and bringing it to his mouth. His warm soft lips brushed a kiss over her knuckles immediatly ending her laughter and spreading a warmth though her that made her gasp and pull her hand back in surprise.

  Both of them froze startled by her reaction. The room seemed to grow smaller as they stared at each other oblivious to everything, but each other. She stared at his lips wondering what it would be like to kiss them, to have them against her own. A low moan emanated from deep inside his throat and her eyes met his in shock. They leaned closer to each other, their hands twining together, their heartbeats synchronizing until they beat in perfect harmony.

  Lucan slapped his hand on the table making them both jump in surprise. “We need to get going the movers are coming at ten o’clock,” he s
aid then looked to Mercy. “Would you help me clean up?”

  “Sure.” She pulled her shaking hands from Alec’s and stood, grabbing the plates, embarrassed by how easily she had been seduced by his charm.

  “Alec, let’s go next door and get the place ready,” Cade said from the doorway.

  Alec nodded and joined him at the door giving Mercy one last longing glance before walking out on the front porch still dazed by her response to him.

  “I’m glad your father had the foresight to buy this property, the guest house will make a nice home for you,” Cade said making small talk.

  “Yeah, it sure did come in handy,” Alec, agreed wondering for the first time if his father had any inkling of his feelings for Mercy back when he brought the property. Knowing his dad, he was sure he did.

  *****

  They finished unpacking all of Alec’s things late in the evening and the men were in the process of devouring their second pizza when Mercy finally sat down. She was too tired to contemplate eating, so she laid her head back against the soft cushions of the leather sofa Alec’s father had sent and closed her eyes wanting a few minutes to relax. She was half-asleep when she felt the cushion move under her. Immediately she recognized Alec’s scent and opened her eyes prepared to tell him she was going home, but he cut her off before she could utter a word.

  “Tired?” he asked placing his arm around her shoulders.

  “A little,” she told him rubbing her temples to help ease the ache there.

  He pulled her closer and she rested her head on his shoulder letting him rub the soreness from her neck. His fingers were like magic, soothing her tired muscles and before long, she fell into a deep peaceful sleep.

  The men talked and joked until a little after midnight when Lucan finally broke up the gathering. “We should all go to bed,” he said after he finished the last slice of pizza. “You got her or should I carry her home?”

  “I got her,” Alec said lifting Mercy easily in his arms and carrying her towards the door Cade held open.

  He carried her across the yard to their house and up the stairs all the while dreading the moment he would leave her side. It had been nice to hold her in his arms as she slept and he anticipated the ache that would fill him once he let her go.

  After laying her on the bed and tucking a blanket around her, he brushed her lips with his own, unprepared when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer kissing without hesitation. It was like a dream to have her respond as she did and he might never have left her side, but for Cade clearing his throat at the door. With reluctance he pulled back unwilling to take unfair advantage of her while she slept.

  “Good night Angel,” he whispered turning away.

  “Night Alec, love you,” she mumbled, turning on her side away from him.

  He stopped dead, shocked by her words, but Cade cleared his throat again leaving him little choice, but to leave the room.

  “Well that’s a good sign,” Cade told him as they walked into the hall where Lucan waited.

  “She’s sleeping who knows what she was dreaming about,” Alec told him still reeling by her admission of love.

  “She said your name,” Cade pointed out.

  “She’s worshiped you since she was six, this will be a piece of cake,” Lucan told him placing his hand on his shoulder. “Besides, you have history with her, Kirk does not.”

  “I just hope our history does not make this harder,” he told him. Truthfully, he had dated more girls than he could count on both hands while trying to avoid the feelings, he had for her, but since he had claimed her, he dated no one. No other who compared to Mercy, she was everything to him. Now he just needed to make her understand that before she fell in love with the werewolf jock.

  “Make sure you come for breakfast tomorrow,” Lucan told him. “It defiantly won’t hurt that you have access to her home.”

  “Thanks I appreciate your help. I’ll be by first thing in the morning.” He walked out of the house reveling in the strong rush of emotion her words of love evoked,but cautioning himself not to get excited. Until he heard the words from her while she was awake, they could not take them as the truth. Still, the words she had muttered made him hopeful for their future.

  His musings kept him from noticing the abnormal silence of the forest around him or the lack of wildlife that usually roamed the area. He felt something hit his chest with enough force to cause him to stagger backwards and let out a loud howl of agony. Immense pain tore through his chest and he stared down at horror at the blood gushing through his fingers as he clutched the wound. His legs wobbled like Jell-O then he felt himself crumple to the ground.

  “Alec!” Lucan screamed running out the door, vaulting over the porch rail arriving in time to catch him as he collapsed. “What happened?” He saw the blood and tore the shirt open gasping when he saw the hole left by bullets entry.

  Cade ran past them into the woods looking for the shooter, knowing Lucan could care for Alec until he returned.

  “Relax,” Lucan said as Alec tried to speak.

  Alec felt the burning that accompanied silver when it entered thier kind and knew he had no chance of recovery without a healer close by. He spit out the vile blood pooling in his mouth, its acrid taste making him gag. The bullet had been aimed to perfection, the silver in his heart pumped furiously though him, shutting down his body one agonizing inch at a time. There were only minutes before he would die. He grabbed Lucan’s hand and met his eyes grimacing at the pain such a small movement caused. “Take care of Mercy for me,” he rasped out.

  “You can take care of her yourself,” Lucan told him pressing his hand to his chest trying to staunch the flow of the blood despite the burn of the silver to his own flesh. “Fight!” he yelled as Alec’s eyes closed.

  “Can’t,” he moaned.

  “No!” Lucan howled in disbelief as Alec closed his eyes and took one last shuddered breath.

  Chapter Six

  Mercy stumbled out of the house half-asleep, but aware something very wrong was happening. Lucan’s intial scream had woken her, but some sixth sense, a premonition, made her run outside to where her brother sat at Alec’s side crying out in disbelief.

  “Alec?” she whispered her eyes widening as she noted the amount of blood that ran through her brother's fingers from the gaping hole in Alec's chest. “Oh god no!” she screamed shoving Lucan out of the away with strength that would have made her pause if the situation were not dire.

  “It’s going to be alright, be still,” she told Alec, but he made no response other than to open is eyes and stare at her with a finality of one who knew they were dying. “No! You don’t get to leave me. I won’t lose you too, I can't!” she yelled, laying her hand upon his chest closing her eyes and focusing on the wound.

  Visions of the bullet slamming into his chest came to her and for a brief moment, she felt everything he had in that moment, the impact of the bullet, the pain as it tore into his flesh, the realization that he was going to die. A low hum sounded in her head taking away the pain and her body became still as healing energy built inside of her.

  Placing both hands on his chest, she focused pulling all the energy inside of her together before allowing it to seep from her body into his. The energy worked its way through Alec following the bullets path mending the damage it had inflicted until it came upon the bullet imbedded deep in his heart. With great precision, the energy surrounded the silver slug and forced it from the perilous position before mending the damage it had caused.

  “Mercy stop he’s gone,” Lucan pleaded placing his hands on her shoulders trying to pull her from Alec’s still body.

  His touch brought Mercy back into her own body before she was ready and she growled, shoving him away, refocusing her energy on Alec.

  Lucan lay on the ground staring at her unsure if her Were side or a rush of adrenaline had given her the strength to move him.

  “What’s going on?” Cade asked as he ran back into the ya
rd and knelt next to his brother looking to where Mercy sat in a trance like state her hand over Alec’s chest.

  “I’m not sure, but I think she’s trying to save him.”

  Bright flashes of light filtered through Mercy’s fingers into Alec’s chest. His body jumped as if being shocked and his heart shuddered then began beating dimly at first then strengthening under her influence until his heart beat in time with her own.

  Satisfied he was going to survive she pulled her hands away and sat back taking a deep breath before glancing to her brothers who stared at her with mouths gaping open. She never meant for them to find out about her odd gift in such a manner. She had never meant for them to find out at all, but Alec needed saving and she was the only one with the ability to manage such a feat. On trembling legs, she stood ready to face their recriminations, but exhaustion and the use of her healing energy had sapped her of strength. Her legs gave out from under her almost immediately and she felt herself falling as the ground rose up to meet her.

  “I got her,” Cade said lifting her in his arms just before she hit the ground. “Is he going to survive?” he called to Lucan who was now kneeling next to Alec looking over his wound with wonder.

  “I’m not sure, but for now he’s breathing. Let’s get them both into the house and get some help.” He lifted Alec in his arms carrying him into the house then the guest room, laying him on one of the twin beds as Cade laid Mercy on the other.

  Both worked to clean up their charges and make them as comfortable as possible. Cade placed Mercy’s hand on top of the blanket noticing for the first time her fist was balled, as if trying to hold on to something. He pried her fingers open and found the bullet that she had extracted from Alec’s heart burning into her skin. Grabbing a wad of tissue, he lifted the object from her palm setting it on the nightstand next to them and applied burn cream to the already healing skin.

  “Lucan look at this,” Cade called out. Lucan came to his side peering down on the bullet with disgust. The silver shined under the light of the lamp as if taunting them with its power over them. “We should call Gregory, somebody tried to kill Alec and they are aware of what he is or they wouldn’t have bothered with silver bullets.”