by Laura Hysell
“I understand,” I replied. “Although, I don’t think Henri has any power over me any longer. It feels different.”
“That’s good to hear, but with you and Mark being so… close, we can’t risk it.” He stopped speaking and looked at Mark. I shivered, and I had the strange feeling Jed was speaking directly to Mark. After a moment he turned back to me. “Be careful of your thoughts and feelings. You’ve been projecting rather loudly.”
“Projecting?”
“In wolf form, we are all connected through Pack magic. We can speak to each other over great distances, mind to mind. As you spend more time as a wolf, you’ll learn to control your personal thoughts and feelings. Right now, though, every thought and action is projected through the Pack. Needless to say, every member of the Pack, whether they were in human or wolf form, was able to hear everything you said or thought for the past three days,” Jed finished.
Well, crap. “What about now that I’m in human form?”
He smiled and nodded his head, as though I was learning quickly. “Human form is our natural form, and although we are all still connected through the magic of the Pack, this type of communication is not as easy. Your thoughts aren’t popping up quite as readily. We still catch some thoughts though, so be mindful. Humans just weren’t meant to speak telepathically. While some members of the Pack can, it’s not a common or easy gift. As Alpha, I can speak to any of you when and where I choose, from the moment you are bitten. Mates can also speak to each other easily, over any distance. The mating bond is unique and very rare. It is almost like a Pack bond inside a Pack bond,” he said, shrugging. “I don’t know much about it. Other than that, most of the Pack keep their minds to themselves when they can. You can learn to tune others out, but it can be difficult. Not everyone has the knack for it. There are, I’m afraid, some rather upset people who had a difficult time tuning things out.”
Mark’s arm tightened on my waist and I attempted to relax into his arms. “Too bad I don’t remember everything,” I replied. What had I thought or said that others had heard?
Jed smiled and nodded. “Mark will fill you in, but then I want you to go find Vanessa. She’ll be your coach. Just don’t let her talk you into climbing trees. Please.”
“Trees?” I asked, frowning. Never had I seen Jed plead with anyone, but that was certainly what he seemed to be doing. “Okay.”
Jed nodded, as though everything was settled. “Good. I’ll see you both for dinner tonight. Mark, go find Justin. I don’t care what it takes to get this vampire shit out of your system for good. Just do it.”
“I will,” Mark replied. “No blood-sucker will control me again.”
“Ditto,” I murmured in agreement.
Jed stared at us for a moment, a frown creasing his forehead. “Izzy, you’ll need to see your brother too. I’m not sure if the vaccine will work for you, or if he’ll have to come up with something else. Either way, you’ll need to get fixed up.” He didn’t wait for a reply before he turned and walked away.
As soon as he was gone, I turned and set the pile of clothes down to sort through. Beth had brought both of us dark gray sweat pants and t-shirts. No underwear. “What’s this?” I asked as I fished through the clothes.
Mark grabbed the sweatpants and pulled them on. “You’re a brand new wolf. If you can’t control yourself and end up shifting into a wolf, at least this way you won’t ruin any nice clothes. Plus, it’s a pain to shift when you’re wearing jeans.”
“But no underwear?” I asked, shaking out the clothes to see if something was hidden in the pile.
Mark chuckled and kissed me on the cheek. “That just makes it even easier to get naked.”
“Whatever,” I replied, shaking my head in irritation. I grabbed the sweatpants and pulled them on, realizing for the first time that the knife was still strapped to my side. I didn’t have time to think about Aidan and the blade though as Mark spoke again.
“Let’s go for a walk. I need to tell you a few things before you meet up with Vanessa.”
Something in his voice made me look at him, trying to read his face. I pulled the shirt over my head quickly and said, “What kinds of things?”
“Not here,” he said softly, taking my hand.
I followed him out of the barn, where John stood waiting. He was dressed in all black with his arms crossed over his chest. Two men I didn’t recognize stood near the corner of the barn, talking quietly. John fell into step behind us as we made our way toward the house. We hadn’t been supplied shoes, and dew still coated the soft spring grass, tickling my feet. It was an early overcast morning, but the kitchen at Jed’s home was already bustling. The smell of breakfast made my stomach rumble as we entered the back door into the kitchen. Delicious aromas assaulted me, overwhelming my senses. People milled through the kitchen, carrying food, laughing, talking, and eating. The only people in the room I knew were Beth and the twins.
Logan immediately walked forward with a plate piled high with food, pushing it into my hands. “Welcome to the family! Eat up, so you don’t take someone’s head off.”
I smiled and moved to a vacant seat at the table. “Thanks, Logan,” I replied as I picked up a piece of bacon.
Lucas moved around the table and came up beside me, his body uncomfortably close. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Yeah, Izzy, welcome to the family. I’m glad you survived.”
“Wow, thanks,” I said, doing my best to ignore him as I devoured the bacon.
“You know, if you get tired of Mark, I’m more than happy to see to your needs,” he continued.
I stiffened at his words, memories of his hands on my body coming back to me in a flash. My hands shook as emotions I had buried bubbled to the surface. A hand touched my back, and I jumped out of my seat in surprise before I realized it was Mark. He tentatively reached out, and I let him fold me into his arms. Tears I had suppressed for months poured from my eyes as memories came back to me in a flood. Part of my brain knew it wasn’t completely Lucas’ fault that Henri had mind-controlled me, but the other part of me could never forgive him for what had happened. He should have known. He should have realized what was happening.
“You’re a real piece of shit, Lucas,” Mark said over my head. “The only reason you’re still in the Pack is because of your brother.”
“I was just messing around,” Lucas replied, his voice sounding strangely small. “I thought if we joked about it, it wouldn’t be as bad.”
“This isn’t a joking matter. Would you like me to remind you exactly how much it isn’t a joking matter? Or perhaps Izzy would like to remind you herself. I bet she could kick your ass,” Mark added, his voice deepening in anger.
Mark’s words made me smile, and I managed to pull myself back to the present and out of the memories, stilling the tears before they formed. I took a deep breath and turned my head to look at Lucas. “I’ve spent months under vampire control. You have no idea what that’s like. I haven’t been my own person. My body hasn’t been my own. My choices haven’t been my own. And it started that night with you. That’s when things really changed. My actions were controlled by a vampire that night, Lucas, but yours weren’t.”
Lucas stared at me, his face strangely somber. “I know. You’re right. I probably should have realized something was wrong with you, but I wasn’t thinking. I’m not trying to be an insensitive prick, I’m just… I don’t know what to say,” he said, shrugging. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay, just don’t bring it up again. Don’t hit on me. Don’t flirt with me. And do not touch me. Ever.”
He nodded his head, then stopped, frowning. “When you say don’t flirt with you, do you mean ever? Like, I’m never allowed to flirt with you again? Ever?”
“Lucas.”
“Yes?”
“Fuck off.”
“Got it,” he said as he continued to bob his head. “Got it. I’ll wait a few months.”
“Lucas!” This time it was Logan, Mark, and several others spea
king in unison. I smiled and leaned my head against Mark’s shoulder, feeling an overwhelming sense of safety and security that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was still pissed as hell at Lucas, but I wasn’t afraid.
Lucas chuckled and backed up, holding his hands in the air in supplication. “I got it, I got it,” he said. After he had backed up across the room, I finally moved back to my chair and sat down. I picked up my fork, but could still feel his eyes on me. I looked up and was surprised at the way he looked at me. He didn’t leer. He wasn’t smiling. He was staring at me with a look I had never seen on his face. I could only call it remorse. He smiled weakly and said, “Sorry, Izzy. Really. Sorry.”
I stared at him for several seconds, taking in this strange side of Lucas I never thought I’d see, before I nodded to him. He nodded back, and I returned my attention to the plate of food in front of me. Suddenly, my entire focus was on the eggs, bacon, and pancakes on my plate. Mark set a cup of coffee beside me and I picked it up, smiling at the sweet caramel taste that zinged across my tongue. I ate with a ravenous appetite, filling my plate twice before I was full and content. Mark sat beside me, eating almost as much as I had. John stood in the corner, watching me as though I would suddenly sprout horns. Or perhaps it was claws. After three plates of food and two cups of coffee, I was ready to hear about werewolf life.
Mark had found slip on shoes for us, so we didn’t have to wander around barefoot. He took my hand and led me outside, with John following us like a shadow. We walked toward the cottage in silence, and I almost forgot John was there until he suddenly cleared his throat. I stopped and looked back at him.
“We are currently host to several delegates from various Packs. The best place to speak about personal matters is the meetings grounds north of here. Mark, you know the place. The area is currently off-limits, so no one will disturb you. Vanessa has asked that you meet her there at noon,” John said, his voice quiet and even.
“So, does that mean you’re done following us around?” I asked.
He frowned and shook his head. “No,” he said simply. “You will have someone with you at all times. New wolves just can’t be trusted.”
“But Mark is with me,” I said.
“I’m sure Mark can do a fine job controlling your wolf, but we can’t trust Mark to control himself right now. I will be with Mark at all times. I can give you two space, but know that I will always be nearby. When we meet up with Vanessa, she’ll be in charge of you and I’ll stay with Mark. It’s just how things need to be for now.”
Mark didn’t say a word as he squeezed my hand and indicated we should continue on. If Mark was okay with a chaperone, who was I to argue? I didn’t say a word as we followed the trail to the cottage, and my brother’s laboratory.
CHAPTER THREE
Justin was waiting for us at the door, his blond hair mussed and a grin on his face. As soon as he was in view, I dropped Mark’s hand and ran to my brother. He hugged me tightly while tears streamed down my face. No matter our problems or arguments, he was still my only remaining family member, and I loved him. We held each other for several minutes before he finally pulled back to look at me. He smiled brightly before glancing past me to Mark and John. The smile slipped, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of Mark or John.
“So, have you saved the world yet?” I asked, nudging him playfully and bringing his attention back to me.
He grinned widely and turned to the lab door, pulling it open. “Not quite, but I’m making considerable progress.”
I followed him into the lab, hesitant after the last time I’d been there. The lab was clean, and several men were working at stations throughout the room. No vampires were chained to the wall, and there were no telltale piles of ash either. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. At least my brother seemed to have moved past keeping vampires for experimentation. Either that, or he’d gotten better at cleanup. I let the thought go, determined not to let myself think about it and the fact that I wouldn’t have been as upset about it if he had. In fact, I might be just a little too okay with him torturing and killing vampires now. As long as he didn’t get himself killed in the process. Justin led us across the room and ushered me into a seat. Mark and John followed close behind, neither saying a word. Justin pulled out a needle, setting it on the table with a couple vials before grabbing my arm.
“Uh, what are you doing?” I asked, pulling my arm back.
“I need to take a blood sample,” he replied.
“Well, ask first next time,” I retorted.
Justin rolled his eyes and said, “Yes, Izzy. Can I take your blood? I need to analyze it before I proceed with treatment.”
“Treatment?”
“You were a human under vampire control, but now you’re a werewolf. According to the others, the vampire control should be completely eliminated. I want to check first before I give you the vaccine. Even then,” he shook his head and took my arm again, swabbing the area. “I don’t know if the vaccine will work on you. Honestly, I don’t completely know if the vaccine will work at all. It should, but there are too many variables.”
“Variables?” I asked, watching him draw my blood. “Such as?”
“Werewolves and vampires defy the normal order of things. When I first started working on this, I thought it was infection, or a strange disease. The more I research it though, the more confusing it becomes. It’s fascinating, really. I’ve figured out the human element. It’s the werewolf element that makes things confusing. I’m working on it, but it’s not fool-proof.” He finished drawing my blood and dabbed at the spot he had poked me. The small needle prick healed instantly. “Now, with you and Mark here, I can really test this. I’ll make sure that vampire can’t touch you again. I promise.”
I smiled and touched his shoulder. “Well, I swear I won’t get vaccines from strangers or let vampires bite me again. Not if I can help it, anyway,” I added.
“Good. Okay, Mark, you’re next.”
I moved out of the chair and Mark took my place. Justin took a sample of his blood and labeled it like he had mine. Then he moved to the refrigerator and pulled out a vial of swirling liquid. I shied away from it, feeling a strange disorientation coming from the vial. “What is that?” I asked.
“It’s a modified version of the werewolf serum. I got a sample of Mark’s blood when you first arrived before I gave him the vaccine, and again yesterday. The original solution is working, but not completely. I made some adjustments this morning. I think this will work.” He filled a syringe and moved toward Mark. “This is going to hurt worse than last time, I’m afraid. I had to increase the silver quantity because your body is metabolizing it too quickly.”
“Silver?” I asked, watching the liquid swirl in a strange array of blue and silver.
“A form of it, yes,” Justin replied. “Can you feel it? I’ve been told werewolves can feel silver from a distance.”
I nodded my head, but he was focused on giving Mark his serum. “Yes, I can feel it. It’s strange, to say the least.”
The solution entered Mark, and he visibly winced. I stopped talking and watched as Justin slowly injected the unusual liquid. Mark growled, a sound low in his throat, and gripped the chair arms so hard the wood splintered. John moved to his side and pushed Justin back as soon as he had withdrawn the needle. Mark’s eyes turned golden as he fought the pain. I stepped closer, seeking to sooth Mark. Fire suddenly coursed through my body. I groaned and doubled over as the pain spread through me, pulsing in fiery waves.
“Izzy, stop,” Mark growled.
Stop? I frowned and looked at the remnants of the solution sitting on the counter beside me. I stepped back, seeking to put distance between me and the silver, but the pain stayed the same. John was suddenly there, his hands on my face. His mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear his words. What was happening? Shouldn’t he be helping Mark, not me?
Izzy, came Mark’s voice.
Mark, what’s happening?
Y
ou’re taking my pain. Don’t. Just let go, honey. Please, let go.
I don’t know how. I don’t know what you mean.
Mark’s scent enveloped me as his arms pulled me close, turning me away from John. I buried my face in his chest, breathing deeply of his scent. I felt it then, like a turning of the tide as Mark sucked my pain away and back into himself. He tensed visibly as the pain returned to him, his arms tightening around me. He straightened and pushed me away from him. As the pain slowly eased, I once again became aware of my surroundings. John had positioned himself between Mark and me, looking ready to pounce on either one of us. Justin had backed up across the room with the other researchers, his blue eyes wide. Mark growled and dropped to his knees, his arms wrapped tightly around himself. The burning sensation slowly ebbed away, but I reached back for it, seeking to pull some of the pain away from Mark. I cringed as it hit, but this time I held only a portion of it. Mark looked up at me, his eyes still wolf gold, but the tension in his face eased little by little.
I don’t know how long we were like that, staring into each other’s eyes as we rode the shared wave of pain. Slowly, the pain diminished and we both breathed a little easier. After what felt like an eternity, the pain completely dissipated and we both collapsed into each other’s arms in relief. Mark stroked my hair and pulled me tight to his chest, both of us exhausted.
Justin finally stepped forward, his eyes wide and inquisitive. “What was that?”
I shook my head, not knowing how to answer him. John spoke, his voice tinged with something that sounded a little like awe. “They shared the pain.”
“Wow, really? I didn’t know that was possible,” Justin said, the excitement in his voice almost palpable.
“Neither did I,” John replied, and I turned to him in surprise.
I opened my mouth to speak, but Mark nudged me in the side before speaking. “We should get to that meeting. I hope your serum works, Justin. I don’t really want to go through that again,” he said.
