My eyes widened and I couldn't help but giggle. “Can I call your mate Uncle Richard?”
“I do not believe he is ready for that title.” She enjoyed the joke and let it lighten her spirit.
* * *
Billie and Jason stayed secluded for a long time. Only Amy entered and exited the cave to tend to her patient. Word spread that Jason had woken, and everyone strained to hear their conversation. Amy refused to say a word and threatened anyone who came within listening distance. Still they came, undaunted by her threats, so she recruited Kathryn's help.
Several people asked me, and I gave each Wolf the same response. “I don't know. I'm staying out of it. They will tell me when they're ready.” My answer brought an odd look every time, but they accepted it as the truth.
Eventually Billie stepped out of the cave, clearly exhausted but enduring it well. Her bruises had blossomed in the time spent with Jason. Wolves bruised and healed just like anyone else, but at a more rapid pace. Without clothes to hide them, we saw her injuries in full. Purple and blue marks traced one entire side of her face, and lighter bruises emerged across her ribcage and breasts. Her right leg had swollen from knee to ankle, adorned with a single foot-sized purple spot where Jason had kicked her. Most shockingly, on each flank she sported a large collection of deep black bruises from multiple strikes to each kidney.
The sight of her shocked me despite knowing the extent of her injuries. Everyone stopped at their current task when they heard her emerge, and several gasps erupted from the Wolves. No one could claim she’d won the fight easily. They stared and waited for her to speak. “Our Alpha is awake and on his way to a full recovery. We will stay here tonight, and maybe tomorrow night too. Run, hunt, and sing. Bring some of your prey back for those who are unable to hunt for themselves.”
“What about you and Sadie? Are you coming home with us?” Phil asked. I'd previously noticed that he supported Billie and me despite his silence and unwillingness to challenge those with more authority. He was young, and young Wolves didn't usually challenge mature Wolves. Since Billie, the foremost Wolf in my life, didn’t follow this pattern, it took me a while to notice.
“We are coming home. Jason and I are discussing the details. Whatever agreement Jason and I come to, the entire Pack will follow.” She enunciated every word so that everyone heard the mandate. “Anyone who does not will face consequences. The Pack cannot be divided and strong at the same time. This is not up for debate. Any opinions will be voiced respectfully and without inciting division among us.” She let them see her resolve on the matter. “Now, it's been a long day and an even longer week. I'd like some time alone with my mate. Have fun without me for a while.”
She came to me and enveloped me in a deep embrace. Let's get out of here before I hit someone.
What's going on? I asked as we walked hand in hand towards the ridge.
Jason doesn't want to give you Pack Status. We can come home, I can be Beta again, and no one is allowed to harm you, but no Pack status. I could hear the growl in her mental voice, and her free hand clenched into a fist.
Then we're back where we started. The lack of progress discouraged me.
We're right where we were when everything went to hell. He doesn't see it that way.
He still doesn't trust me? The insult wounded me after all I'd done for his pack.
He believes you upset the balance of the pack. Your presence causes trouble no matter what your motives are. He knows we're telling the truth. If you were like other Mages, he would be dead, I would be Alpha, and you'd be on your way to having an army of Wolves at your disposal. He believes you won't hurt us, but he also believes a Mage doesn't belong with Wolves or in Pack business. He thinks there will be problems if you're called Pack in any way.
Do you believe there will be problems if I have Pack Status? I asked curiously, still learning Pack politics.
Yes, but less than if you don't.
What does he think will happen if I have Pack status? I wondered what problems he anticipated.
Billie reiterated some of what I knew before explaining. Every packmate is given a voice, and the Alpha, Beta, and Elders are expected to listen. We don't have to follow their opinions, and we don't even have to follow the majority. But we are expected to hear them out. If you are Pack, you have a voice. Jason believes it will discredit our leadership if a Mage is allowed to have a voice. He's particularly concerned about what other Packs will think about it since I'm Beta and you're my mate. Even if I gave up Beta, he wouldn't agree. I already tried that.
I cast a look of genuine surprise. I'm glad he didn't agree. I don't want you to give up being Beta.
I would if it would help us come to a reasonable solution. But it won't.
He’s worried that another Pack will think I've collared all of you?
Yes. A Mage with an army of Wolves is a terrifying thought for any of us. That would be a very valid reason for them to kill every one of us. And it would be a bloody mess.
I sighed. Is this happening because you beat him in a fight?
I'm afraid so. He doesn't feel as powerful as he used to.
I considered the problem. If I have no Pack Status, then he has no authority over me. I looked sideways at her. Wouldn't it be easier for him if I have a very visible reason to obey my Alpha?
What do you have in mind? Billie knew I had something up my sleeve.
He gives me Pack Status, whatever is appropriate for a Human in my position. The lowest status that's appropriate for a Human in my position is fine. That will help the other Wolves see that I belong, they won't bully me as much, and I won't feel like I'm sitting on the back of the bus. In exchange, I agree to train the pack to defend itself against Mages like Cassandra and play sentry in our territory. Jason can take all authority over me, not you, so other packs can't use our relationship against him. Not as much anyway. He gets to boss me around, everyone else sees the Alpha powerful enough to have a Mage working for him, and I get to be an equal part of the pack.
I like where you're going with this. I asked him to let you train the pack, and he said no. I'll ask again with your spin on it. He might go for it.
I'll have to quit arguing with him, won't I? I found the downside.
No, don't do that. He likes your teeth. Actually, it's the only thing he likes about you. Even if he doesn't agree, I want to learn how to protect us from Mage assault.
Gladly, I told her. I'm going to watch over our territory no matter what. I won't let someone sneak up on us like that again.
Good. If he doesn't allow you to train anyone, will you help us understand magepower anyway? It would have to be completely informal, just you being you. When you show us your abilities and explain the weaknesses, we can use that to our advantage. Like when you showed us the parrot and pointed out it lacked an odor.
If Matthew had known that, he wouldn't have been fooled by my illusion, and I'd be dead. That's the kind of advantage you need. I agreed even though it made my skin crawl.
I don’t like that example anymore. Billie's eyes narrowed. But yes.
I filled her in on my day, and her mood lightened. When I got to the part about Amy and Nathan, she whooped in delight. She deserves it! She pulled me close and winced in pain.
Amy said no hanky panky until you've eaten and rested. You're only halfway there.
Ignore Amy. I want you.
She'll chew off my ear and eat it if I put a rib through your lung. But God, it's tempting. Billie laughed so loud she coughed and held her ribs.
I promise not to hurt myself.
You are already hurt. You look like hell!
No super-strength. No acrobatics. Nice and gentle. No injuries. I promise. She slipped her hands under my shirt and caressed bare skin on my sides. I caved and traced a line down her stomach to the edge of red curly hair below. She buried her face in my neck, nipping and nibbling until I shivered deliciously.
I reached around, resting a hand on her hip, and she winced despite
the gentleness of my touch. Jerking back, I reached around front and found another tender spot. I pulled back entirely. “I’m having a hard time figuring out where to touch you that doesn’t hurt.”
“Touch me anyway,” she invited, but I refused. “Okay. Avoid the face, ribs, leg, and kidneys. Anywhere else. Just touch me,” she pleaded. After the brutal day, she needed a little tenderness and I couldn’t say no.
“Okay. If you get off that broken leg.” She did as I asked, finding a comfortable position on her back while I slipped out of my clothes. Lying beside her, I ran gentle fingers over her belly. Her breath deepened and her tensions eased as I caressed every unbruised part of her I could find. She closed her eyes and absorbed my attentions, the back of her hand moving over my belly absently.
I didn’t bring her to orgasm, Amy’s concern for her broken ribs echoing in my mind. I gave her the tenderness she wanted and helped rid her mind of Pack problems for a while.
We headed back to camp feeling lighter than we left. Billie went from exhausted to completely drained, the physical and emotional toll of the day creeping up on her. Dusk settled in, and we looked forward to a good night's sleep.
Amy caught sight of us and waved hello. As we neared, her smile transformed into tightly pursed lips, and she crossed her arms over her bare chest. Air rushed through her flared nose in angry puffs. Blazing eyes landed squarely on me, ignoring Billie entirely, and I cringed. “I knew she would ignore me. But I thought you would listen, Sadie.” Half a dozen pairs of furry ears twitched our way curiously, and every head turned. I felt my cheeks burn red.
I sputtered, babbling in discomfort. “I'm sorry. See? She’s fine. And she quit walking on her broken leg for a while.” Amy didn't see the value of the rationalization, and I continued rambling recklessly. “How am I supposed to keep my hands off of her, Amy? Have you seen her?” Still she didn't back down, and Billie shook with silent laughter. I pointed a finger at my mate desperately. “It's her fault. Can I keep my ear?”
The valley erupted in laughter, Amy's glare piercing the humor like an icepick. Billie hooked her arm in mine and saved me from the medic's wrath. I realized they'd all been her target at one point or another and they enjoyed the show every time the bull's-eye landed on someone else. I found the humor in it, but my cheeks still burned. “Amy's too laid-back,” Billie told me. “We think she saves every ounce of dominance to bullying her patients into doing what she says.”
As Billie led me away from the humiliating scene, I overheard Nathan speaking to Amy. His compliment distracted me. “In the last two days, I've seen Sadie go up 'gainst Mages 'n face a mob o' angry Wolves without blinking. You're tougher than you look.”
“Aw, Nate! You're sweet.”
They want to hear me tell them what happened with the Mages, don’t they? I asked Billie. Is that a good idea?
It’s a very good idea, Billie replied. Especially if you don’t hold back. They’ll hear your side and smell the truth on you.
Reluctantly, I invited the Wolves to gather around to hear my story. Billie lay on her back with her head in my lap and listened along with the rest. She could barely keep her eyes open. As suggested, I told them everything. I let them see the extent of my power, though I refrained using the word Kratos and didn’t pronounce myself the most powerful of all Mages. I showed my internal struggles about the deception and how it sickened me to call Billie my pet. As I bragged about spying on Billie at the dojo, their eyes grew wide, and they looked at Billie in disbelief. She smiled contentedly, proud that I’d accomplished something no Wolf could.
I told them why I didn’t prevent Gary from hearing my conversation with Cassandra. “She already told me about her pet Humans. It takes time to claim a Wolf, but Humans are easy. She views everyone as either a tool to get what she wants or an obstacle in her way, including other Mages. That’s all I was to her, too. If she knew Gary was important to me or connected to the Pack, she would have claimed him and used him to her advantage. So I made sure he looked unimportant.”
Walking into the Mage den with Billie on my arm impressed them the most. A couple of them cheered when I killed the Mage who tried to enter Billie’s mind. When I reached the part about my grandmother, I stopped. Looking at the ground and lowering my eyes, I said, “Cassandra’s mother and my grandmother are sisters, and she told me things about my family. I don’t think I can talk about that yet. They were terrified and chose to end their own lives.”
“Do you think anyone will come after you for what you did?” Phil asked, concerned for my safety.
I replied honestly. “I know this isn’t over, but I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I will stop anyone who tries to mess with me, Billie, or my pack again.” By the end of my story, every one of them believed me. Still, they did not all trust me, Richard among those who still held my race against me. Old prejudices die hard. Richard listened in silence and studiously ignored Kathryn.
After I finished, they turned to Nathan and Billie to tell their parts of the story. We talked late into the night until I yawned repetitively. “I don’t know how you guys can do so much on so little sleep, but I’m headed to bed.”
Jason had my sleeping bag, so I curled up between two trees and Billie, Nathan, Kato, Kathryn, and Phil surrounded me with their fur and body heat. Amy gave her apologies, saying she would stay with Jason. “That bullheaded Alpha won't stay put if I don't keep threatening to break his foot. He won't think it's cute if I do it.”
I slept as warm as in a sleeping bag and enjoyed it much more.
Chapter 20
Morning dawned, crisp with the promise of fall. We continued much as we had the day before. The Wolves ran and hunted. Some avoided me while others showed the strength of our friendship.
Amy informed Billie that Jason wanted to talk to her again. She knew they had to resume negotiations. Wish me luck, she requested grimly.
I know what I want out of this, but I'll take what you can get. I want this to work. Good luck. She pressed her forehead to mine and entered the cave, tense but determined.
“Aaaah!” Amy stretched. “Jason's stable, and I get a break.” She turned to Nathan who'd barely left my side since we woke. Her eyes shone bright with excitement and longing. “Want to run with me?”
He puffed with pleasure. “Yeah!”
“Great!” She shimmered into her stunning Arctic Wolf form, and he followed, becoming a small red wolf. He looked more like a large fox than a wolf compared to the rest. Amy bowed playfully and nipped at his chin. She outweighed him and appeared even larger with her masses of fur. Surprised by her behavior, he jumped back. She took off at top speed into the trees. He looked at me puzzled.
“What are you waiting for?” I laughed. “Go catch her.” He yipped and bolted after the Arctic Wolf.
Kato, sitting beside me, watched them race off. His eyes filled with joy, mirroring mine. With Billie talking to Jason, Amy running with Nathan, and Kathryn seeking solace down the creek, Kato was my only friend in the valley. The remaining Wolves, though no longer enemies, largely avoided me. I placed a hand on his shoulder seeking comfort.
Your place within the pack is changing, he told me.
Is it changing for the better? I asked, daring to hope.
Conflict and difficulties are sometimes part of change. Only through change will you find improvement.
I sighed. So whatever happens, I should be patient that it will get better.
Better and worse are a matter of perception. The changes are necessary for what is to come.
That sounded ominous. What is coming?
The conflict between Wolves and Mages has endured since long before I was born. It is escalating. There is much to be done.
Can I have a week off first? I asked wryly.
Rest and enjoy as you are able. That sounded like a no.
I considered his words with a heavy heart. A conflict between Wolves and Mages. An escalating conflict. I'm going to be right in the center of the battl
e, aren't I?
With you in the center, less blood will be shed.
I looked around the valley at my packmates. I'll do whatever I can.
As will I, he assured me. Your mate has a part to play as well and must remain Beta if she is to play it in full. You are not alone in this.
That helps a lot. I smiled at him.
Richard continued to avoid Kathryn. When she approached him after her walk, he turned his back on her. She came close to tears but refused to shed them, seeking solitude instead. It disturbed me to see them falling apart. I didn't have to dig into his mind to understand what the problem was. Kato had shamed him in front of his mate and the entire pack. He knew Kato spoke the truth, and he refused to face it, so he withdrew and hid behind defensiveness.
He hadn't even acknowledged me or Billie since the faceoff, and I decided it was time to say something. I waited until he was alone and out of earshot from the others. Uneasy, I walked up to him, and he whipped his head around, glaring. I stopped in my tracks, nervous.
“What do you want?” he snarled.
“I just want to talk,” I said, holding my ground but coming no closer.
His mouth worked before sound came out. “Why?”
“Because you're hurting Kathryn,” I blurted. “We were friends and you turned on me. That hurts more from you than from anyone else. You did the same thing to Billie, and she was your best friend. Now you're doing it to Kathryn, and that's so much worse. She doesn't deserve it.”
“You have no right to talk to me about Kathryn.” He brooded.
“You're probably right,” I admitted. “I'm doing it anyway. You and I ... we're not okay. Maybe we never will be. Right now I don't care. What you did to me was wrong, and I'm still mad at you even though I understand it given your history with Mages. What you're doing to Kathryn is incomprehensible. It's not too late to make it right with her, but that won't be true for much longer.”
He returned my speech with an icy stare. He seemed hollowed out and putting up a defensive front to hide it. I turned and left him alone, not sure if I'd helped the situation or made it much worse.
Psyche Honor (Psyche Moon) Page 24
