Or was there a different kind of blankness coming, one that took lives with abandon?
“I have a feeling this won’t be as simple as a dominance challenge. This man, your older brother, is crazy. He’s angry about what happened to him and I think it festered inside him all of these past years. That kind of embitterment has turned into this sense of righteous revenge.
“Trying to kill me last night might have been a part of that revenge. It was my mother who helped Sampson, after all. Pushing her towards insanity might not have been enough.”
Cohen gripped her tight.
“And I shudder to think what he might do to the Packs.”
She ran her hands down his back as he rested his head on her bare chest. A thought skittered through her mind, a whisper until she snatched it and inspected it closer. Could it work? Her nails dug into his back as she mulled it over, making his head rise.
He was patient, the shadows that normally surrounded his eyes now gone, and waited for her to bring voice to whatever was bothering her.
She licked her lips. “I know you weren’t a fan of this idea, but… but what if it could stop this war before it even starts?”
He hesitated and swallowed. “I’ll do anything to keep the Packs from getting hurt.”
“Even if it means doing the very last thing you wanted to do?”
She saw it the moment he realized what she was saying. He rolled away from her. His feet hit the floor. She moved to watch him rest his elbows on his knees. He sucked in a deep breath. She could tell he didn’t want this. It’d been the first thing he’d asked of her.
Break his bond to the Pack that’d pledged to him.
Now, she was asking him to lead his father’s Pack. As it was, they were vulnerable without an Alpha. His brother could sweep in and steal leadership from them, starting a vicious cycle all over again. Killian had been awful, but Ashe was certain this shifter would be so much worse.
“I know… I know what you’re asking, but are you sure? I mean, are you sure I’m the right person? What if I hurt them?”
She inched closer to him so that her stomach pressed against his back. His warmth seeped into her and steadied her. “I’ve told you before that I think you’re the perfect man for the job. Gage is bound to you, but Archer is trapped here. If you walk away from this…”
She let her unsaid words hang in the air. It was a low blow, using Archer to sway her mate’s decision. Yet, she knew this was the right move. She knew it deep in her soul, even without the use of her cards.
“Archer has an Alpha,” Cohen argued without turning to face her.
She heard the wobble in his voice. He was unsure of his own argument. The desire to protect was rising inside of him. It was what his beast had been built for. He just needed to see it.
There was a long pause that stretched out. Cohen was still beneath her touch. She waited, holding her breath.
“Fine.”
She exhaled.
“I’ll do what I have to.”
His voice was strong and confident. He meant what he said, and it warmed her. This was her mate, her warrior.
“Alright,” she said as she nodded. “First thing’s first, I need some damned clothing.”
Cohen laughed, the weight of their future suspended for a brief moment. He rolled away and she was left cold until he returned with a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. The t-shirt was too tight across her breasts, even if he liked the way it showcased her nipples. He gave her a hoodie to cover them and, together, they went in search of the rest of the Packs.
Chapter Seventeen
Cohen watched his mate fly away. His stomach protested, churning with fear. He had to remind himself she was capable of taking care of herself, but the urge to protect her was overwhelming. How did anyone get anything done once the mate bond took effect?
He turned back toward his younger brothers, both mated men. Were their minds on their women? Did they worry about where they were or what kind of trouble they could get into? Did Archer worry about Joanna being an Alpha? Did Gage worry about Kaylee getting into a car accident? The way his mind spun was overwhelming.
“Are you ready?” Archer asked.
“Just a moment,” Cohen said, his feet stuck beneath him. He looked past his brother at the house. It belonged to him now. Later, he would have to talk to his witch about moving in with him. She would be able redecorate it, of course. Maybe they would have a demolition day and destroy all of Sampson’s outdated furniture.
Thinking about Ashe living with him helped him steady his overactive mind. Could he go through with this? The bear said he could. In fact, it was what the bear had been born to do. Having people to protect would calm the beast. It would fill it with a sense of family and safety.
Not once in his life did he think he would find himself here. A week ago, he’d cornered his witch to demand she break his bond to Gage and Kaylee. He’d been ready to run back to solitude, preparing himself for the day someone might have to put him down.
It had been an awful truth, but now that truth slipped away, replaced by a new one. One not so awful, but terrifying all the same. What if he couldn’t do this? What if he screwed up?
“Hey.” Gage slapped a hand on his brother’s shoulder and threw him a sly smirk. “You got this. You can’t fuck up any worse than that time you burnt a package of ramen in the microwave.”
Archer scrunched his nose in disgust. “The house reeked for a month. It’s one thing to have a human nose, but we don’t. That was easily the worst month of my life.”
Their words bolstered him. He nodded and felt their humor sink in and push a smile across his face. The bear rose inside him, proud and excited. His mate had been right. This was what they needed to do.
He turned back toward the house filled with people. They looked at him with expectant eyes. He tried to meet each one in turn, tried to keep up with the bevy of emotions that filled them. Some were hesitant, some were hopeful.
Yet, each time someone approached him to bare their neck, his stomach flipped. At first, he questioned each second, yet as more people stepped up with hopeful smiles on their faces, he steadied. He smiled back at them, trying to appear gentle.
He would not be the cold man his father had been. He would not be the monster he’d feared he would be. The people who knelt and bared themselves before him, binding their pledge, trusted him.
The bear leaned back and roared through him. This was what they’d been born to do. He could feel it as each pledge steadied his rough-hewn soul.
His mind slipped back to his mate, who’d taken the pledge the night before. She hadn’t questioned her decision once and sealed the pledge with a long kiss.
An hour later, he stood before a room, more confident than when he’d entered. A slow smile slipped over his lips. A sense of belonging anchored him. This was how things had been meant to be.
Now, they just had to find their missing brother.
***
No one knew where the eldest Vancourt brother had disappeared to or what he might be doing. No one knew if there were more shifters coming to his aide or if he came to Stonefall alone. Ashe had filled them in on what she’d learned, telling everyone the story of Sampson and her mother, telling them how Killian had lied and how Grover had turned on them. Nancy had spat on the ground when she spoke of Grover. They’d been close, and his betrayal pissed the little cat shifter off.
Ashe released her owl and let it take to the skies. The eldest Vancourt brother’s face was fresh in her mind, her mother’s fading magic apparently not working on her. All her life, she’d hated the woman, but now that she understood what happened, she found a small amount of forgiveness in herself.
Using her owl eyes, she scanned the world below. Trees, some fitted with needles and others budding with new life, passed beneath her, but she saw no sign of the brother or even Killian. It wasn’t likely that they’d packed up and vanished overnight. She’d seen the crazed determination in the brother’s fa
ce. He wasn’t about to leave without causing some sort of trouble.
She flew over the now dead bonfire. Embers flickered in the ashes, a charred post now toppled onto the ground. She would not fear the fire. She would not fear this man or his intentions. The mantra repeated through her mind as she surveyed the area around it.
Her magic had been slippery and out of reach when Killian and Grover had grabbed her. She had the power to command their bodies, to make them turn away from her. Theoretically, she was untouchable, yet fear had rendered her useless.
She was anything but. She could be strong. She only had to remember.
Part of her feared she would forget again. That panic would take hold and she would become prey once more. The animal inside of her scoffed. The owl was irritated with her feeble human emotions. It wouldn’t allow her to forget. It would not get trapped again.
There, below, she caught the sparkle of something in the light. It flashed, and she circled back, dropping steadily, to get a closer look. It flashed again as she passed over it. Whatever it was, it was catching the light. She caught a perch in a nearby tree and observed the object.
A small cell phone sat on the ground with a little note stuck to the front of it. Her stomach flipped. She glanced around, wondering if this was a trap. The owl flapped its wings. Magic flowed over them. It tried to tell them they would not get caught again.
Sure, and she told herself she’d never eat cookie dough ice-cream again after drinking too much tequila and bingeing on ice-cream. That hadn’t lasted long.
Still, she hopped a little closer. A few branches later, she could read the note taped to the phone.
I’ll call you,
Logan.
She wanted to sneer. Quickly, she launched herself from the branch and snatched the phone from the ground. Like a blur through the air, she swooped up into the sky before anything could jump out at her. Owls were the ultimate predators of the sky, soundless and sleek. Gripping the phone, she flew back to the Vancourt house.
Chapter Eighteen
The call came not too much later. Cohen had finished, and a new feeling sat on his shoulders. He thought it would feel like the weight of the world, but it felt more like a cloak. It settled on his shoulders and wrapped around him. It gave him power, but with it came responsibility. One that he didn’t mind.
The call didn’t shake him. Instead, power and confidence flowed through him as he held the phone up to his ear.
“Hello, little brother.”
It was odd to hear the strangely familiar voice call him little brother. Cohen had always been the eldest. This man didn’t know what it meant to be the eldest, to have a family.
Cohen rolled his shoulders. “You’re welcome to come to Vancourt house. Come tell us why Sampson kicked you out of the Pack. Of all people, your brothers understand the sentiment.”
Across from him, Ashe’s face twisted with annoyance. His mate didn’t want to give this man a second chance, but Cohen felt it was his duty now. He could give this stranger a second chance, and if he refused it, he would do what needed to be done.
Blood or not.
“Oh, no. Father kicked you out of the Pack because he feared the three of you would become better than him. He ousted me because he feared I would become a monstrosity.”
“And did you?”
Silence stretched between them, static from the phone buzzing in his ear.
“As much of a monster as you are, brother. I know you’re like me. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and we both inherited the explosive power of father’s bear.”
A shudder passed through Cohen. Not once had he released his bear to do as it wished. He’d always fought for control when the bear lost it. If Logan was anything like him, he had the same struggle with his beast. No, he didn’t struggle. It sounded like Logan let his beast run wild.
It had infected his mind. It had spoiled him with a false sense of power.
“You make it sound like you want me to work with you.”
“No, I want you to love me. We’re family, right? I want to get to know you.”
“You almost killed my mate,” Cohen growled. The cheap phone groaned beneath his hands, threatening to snap.
“The witch is your mate? You best be careful with one like that at your side. They’re shifty and self-serving creatures who never fully love. I was doing you a favor, then.”
Cohen wanted to hang up. He wanted to put the kitchen table through the wall. He wanted to hunt down this man who claimed to be his brother and make sure he never hurt anyone ever again.
“Alright, alright,” Logan said. “How about we meet tomorrow. I’ll stop by the old house and we can get to know one another. How does that sound?”
He hated the thought of Logan setting foot anywhere near the house, but he knew it was the only chance he was going to get. It was the only way to get the elusive bear shifter to talk.
“Tomorrow, then.” He hung up.
Cohen slapped the phone down onto the table. He gripped the edge of it, moments away from swinging it through the door when Ashe touched his arm. The warmth of her touch flooded him, and he found his breath again. His mind cleared, the rage stepping back.
This was new. Not quite a new feeling, but the intensity of it. He had so much more to protect. So much more to live for and it hit him hard. He offered his mate a weak smile.
Logan walked down the driveway, hands in his pockets. He surveyed the old house with bright eyes, as if memories passed over his vision that no one else could see. What did Logan think about when he approached the Vancourt house? Cohen thought of Ashe, of the antics his brothers pulled inside the house.
Did Logan have any fun or cherished memories, or had they all been filled with darkness? More likely, they’d been tainted over time, darkening like the patina of silver until he could barely see what had originally lain underneath.
Cohen threw the front door open and marched toward the forgotten brother. He reached inside himself, trying to dredge up memories of this man. It seemed so ludicrous to think there had always been a fourth Vancourt brother. This man had always existed, yet no one had thought to tell them, to warn them.
“You know,” Logan said, his voice almost too low to hear. “I held you when you were nothing more than a baby. I knew, in that moment, that father was trying to replace me. I wanted to crush your tiny little skull in my hands.”
Cohen faltered. The venom that his voice ended with shook through Cohen soul. It was dark and regretful, as if he had wondered for years what would have happened if he had done exactly that.
Logan’s gaze dropped to Cohen and he offered a wide smile. “I’m glad I didn’t. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Behind Logan was Killian. What had once been the monster that destroyed the Bart Pack was now just a peon. Cohen knew Logan would be far more dangerous than the jaguar shifter.
“I’m glad you didn’t kill me, too,” Cohen said with a weak laugh.
Behind him, the Pack that had been laying in wait filtered out of the house. They filled the lawn, much like they had been for the past few days, already anticipating the fight that would take place. Logan had come to take back what he thought was his.
They stood around Cohen and made him feel stronger. He worried he wouldn’t be able to do what needed to be done. He worried he would never fill the shoes he’d stepped into, but the least he could do was try. He was strong enough to do that.
“Kneel,” Logan began, his voice taking on an edge. “Kneel and I won’t have to crush your skull today either.”
“Is that so?”
“There will be absolutely no skull crushing today,” Ashe declared. She stood beside Cohen, her chin set at a defiant angle.
“Oh, I was wondering what happened to you. I’d thought, for sure, the bird shot would have killed you.” Logan’s smile was sharp and bitter.
“Your morons said it the best. The only sure way to kill a witch is with fire.”
One she’d
narrowly escaped. Cohen fought the urge to place himself between his mate and his brother, a situation he’d never thought to find himself in. He wanted to tell her to retreat, but she was part of their secret plan. They’d stayed up through most of the night, practicing and doing research for this extra advantage.
“And no one will be kneeling today,” Cohen added.
“Your pack doesn’t even have an Alpha?” The shifter asked with eyes wide with gleeful excitement. There was a gleam, one that they’d all seen on Killian’s face before. “It looks like I’ve found the Pack a new resting ground!”
Cohen stepped forward. There was no way he was going to let an actual monster take control of his family. Even if this monster was family. “There are enough Alphas here that you should be worried.”
The shifter looked back to Cohen with mocking disbelief in his eyes. “What? A pregnant woman and the leader of a two-man pack? That’s nothing. Pocket change, really. And, who likes pocket change?”
All his life, Cohen thought he was the monster. He thought the headstrong and nigh uncontrollable bear beneath his skin was a creature to be feared, but the arrival of this new pack told him the truth. They were the true monsters. They hurt people for laughs, stealing lives and territory as they swept through. The bear inside Cohen was not happy. It would put their horror joy ride to an end, one way or another.
It was the spirit of a true Alpha. It would be obeyed. It would protect.
Unlike this creature, one who shared their blood yet no sense of trust and love. Archer and Gage stood behind Cohen, their support and allegiance bolstering him. Beside him was his mate, a witch and shifter of great power. Technically, they had a plethora of power compared to Logan. Yet, why was there still a nervous energy running along his skin?
He watched Logan with wary eyes. The shifter paced back and forth with a wry smile, as if he knew something no one else did. Cohen watched him and waited for whatever he had hidden in his back pocket. He clutched Ashe’s hand, hoping she wasn’t his weapon, his Trojan Horse.
Outcast Box Set Page 40
