by Mary Rundle
PEACE MAKER
By
Mary Rundle
Copyright 2018 Mary Rundle
All Rights Reserved
A Dragonheart Story published by Dragonheart, LLC.
Peace Maker Copyright © 2018 Mary Rundle
First Edition: February 2018
Cover Photo by Alex Salgues
All cover art and logo copyright © 2018,
Dragonheart, LLC
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED under the International and Pan-American Conventions: No part of this book may be reproduced or translated in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical which includes photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system in whole or in part, without the express written permission of Mary Rundle. [email protected].
No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Mary Rundle. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in a federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.
Mary Rundle asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
Peace Maker is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is strictly coincidental.
All characters depicted in sexual acts in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.
DEDICATION
To All My Readers
Your delight in, and enjoyment of my stories
inspires me to write more of them for you.
Thanks so very much for your support.
Acknowledgements
My gratitude and appreciation go out to many people who helped bring this book to life.
Peace Maker was a challenging book to write, but through it all I received support when I needed it most. Lisa, who is my friend and mentor, was always there with help and encouragement.
When my doubts grew in the dark of night, Carla was there with the light of wisdom, knowing what I needed most.
My friend, Phil, was always ready to answer my many questions and dispense his insightful advice.
My beta readers, Amanda, Carla and Jessica left no stones unturned to exterminate continuity and grammar bugs that crept in.
Alex's exquisite photography was again the perfect cover choice and Muriel enabled me to communicate with him to make it possible.
And to my editor, who is also my husband. I could not have been luckier than to have him dedicate his professional skills to this book and who gave me a good laugh or two along the way when I needed it most.
WHO’S WHO IN THE BLACKWOOD PACK SERIES
Fox River Pack
Striker and mate Hope ̶ Former Alpha of Fox River Pack. Younger brother to Josiah. Father to Jackson, Logan, Cody, Colton, Carson, Dakota, Zane and six other children who were killed in the massacre.
Blackwood Pack
Jackson ̶ Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. This pack consists of Jackson’s brothers Logan, Cody, Colton, Carson, Dakota, and Zane, the sole survivors of the Fox River Pack Massacre. First-born son of Striker. Fraternal twin to Logan. Mated to Steel Valentin, a Dire Wolf. His story is told in Dire Warning.
Logan ̶ Survivor of the Fox River Pack Massacre. Second-born son of Striker. Younger twin to Jackson. An interior designer.
Cody ̶ Survivor of the Fox River Pack Massacre. Third son of Striker. Oldest triplet. Has foresight ability.
Colton ̶ Survivor of the Fox River Pack Massacre. Fourth son of Striker. Middle triplet. A nurse. His story is told in Raphael’s Power.
Carson ̶ Survivor of the Fox River Pack Massacre. Fifth Son of Striker. Youngest triplet. Works with Jackson’s mate, Steel, in business.
Dakota ̶ Survivor of the Fox River Pack Massacre. Sixth son of Striker. The pack’s chef.
Zane ̶ Survivor of the Fox River Pack Massacre. Seventh son of Striker. Computer genius.
Associated with the Blackwood Pack
Jimmy ̶ Known as Jimmy Blackwood. Fated Mate of Mystia. Friend and surrogate parent to Blackwood Pack. After the massacre, the survivors of the Fox River Pack changed their name to the Blackwood Pack for security reasons.
Mystia ̶ A Witch. Fated Mate of Jimmy Blackwood. Friend and surrogate parent to Blackwood Pack. Friend of Oracle.
Penn ̶ Known as Penn Anderson. Personal friend of Steel and Slate. Attorney for Dire Enterprises.
Ian ̶ Dr. Ian Wallace. Worked for Frontline Doctors. Jackson’s and pack’s physician. A Scottish Wolf. Fated Mate of Colton.
Dire Wolves
Maximus ̶ Alpha of the Dire Wolves. Guardian of the Dire Wolf Treasure. Chairman of Dire Enterprises. Fated Mate of Oracle. Father to Steel and Slate.
Oracle ̶ Mate of Maximus. An Oracle. The voice of the Fates on Earth. Mother to Steel and Jackson.
Steel ̶ First-born son of Maximus and Oracle. Fated Mate of Jackson. Older brother of Slate. CEO at Dire Enterprises.
Slate ̶ Second-born son of Maximus and Oracle. Younger brother to Steel. COO at Dire Enterprises.
Daniel ̶ Newborn son of Jackson and Steel.
Silver Point Pack
Josiah ̶ Alpha of Silver Point Pack. Older brother of Striker. Former member of the Fox River Pack. Challenged his father and lost. After being banished, formed the Silver Point Pack. Never found his Fated Mate. Mated with a Beta and had four children. Believed to have issued the Fox River Pack massacre order and subsequent kill orders for members of the Blackwood Pack.
Kahn ̶ Eldest son of Josiah. Cousin to Jackson, Logan, Cody, Colton, Carson, Dakota, and Zane. An artist.
Rudy ̶ Second in command for Silver Point Pack.
Dylon ̶ Was an enforcer for Silver Point Pack. Fated Mate of Cody
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Epilogue
Ice Soul - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Cody sat in the great room, listening to the chatter of his brothers as they played with Daniel, but his mind and heart were elsewhere. His Fated Mate was hospitalized—brutally beaten, almost unrecognizable and barely hanging on to life. It was yet another time he was unable to prevent a trag
edy, only this time the loss of his Fated Mate would affect him like no other loss had, and for the rest of his life.
He wasn’t sure how he’d survive—or even if he would—but he knew the only way to save his mate was for his brother to use the gift he received from the Fates. Seems so simple. Colton calls on Archangel Raphael and places his fingers on the dying shifter and poof—good as new. HA! Nothing was ever simple in his life and here was proof again, just when he thought he’d get a break. But nope— not me! Oh no, the Fates saw to that by giving me a mate who is a known enemy of the Blackwood Pack.
Carson placed Daniel in Cody’s arms and said, “Hey bro, I think it’s time for you to spend some time with your nephew.”
He looked down at his nephew and saw a smile on Daniel’s face. Breaking out of his depression, Cody hoisted Daniel up against his shoulder. Nestling his nose in his nephew’s chubby neck, Cody inhaled deeply, loving the fresh baby scent he found there. Cuddling Daniel close, he felt at peace; he saw his aura turn to pure silver. Searching for his wolf Cody found him sitting quietly, but still alert. That was a relief. He’d been fighting him from the moment he’d scented his Fated Mate.
Daniel cooed in his ear and Cody felt endorphins surge through his body, bringing a smile to his face. Lowering Daniel and nestling him in his lap, Cody played peek-a-boo before taking his nephew’s hands and clapping them in time to nursery rhymes. Daniel’s gurgling and cooing sounds opened Cody’s heart in a way it hadn’t been since the death of his parents and younger siblings. His brother Logan was right. Daniel had brought new hope to the Blackwood Pack—even for himself.
Jackson studied his brother, glad to see smiles return to Cody’s face. Since the birth of his pup, Jackson noticed how quiet his brother had been. It appeared all Cody needed was Daniel to bring him out of his funk. Looking at the interaction between them, Jackson remembered his joy when a new brother or sister joined the pack. As the oldest, he took care of all his siblings but he enjoyed the younger ones most. Probably because he was old enough to act as their father when his Alpha father was away on pack business.
But that changed when his Uncle Josiah, Alpha of the Silver Point Pack, ordered the massacre of the Fox River Pack resulting in the death of his parents and younger siblings. He and his six brothers escaped because they were in Las Vegas on an end-of-semester trip, celebrating being young and free and anticipating a summer of fun. Until the phone call came from Jackson’s friend Jimmy. During a night-long drive to find a place of safety for them, Jackson left his freedom behind and became Alpha of the newly formed Blackwood Pack.
But they made it, escaping a kill-on-sight order his uncle, Josiah, had placed on their heads. With the help of Jimmy’s wife, Mystia, a witch, the brothers built a new life for themselves. It was on a trip to see his lawyer about the trusts his grandparents had set up for the brothers that he met his Fated Mate, Steel, one of the last four Dire Wolves in the world. That’s when he discovered the Fates had given him a gift. Jackson was an Alpha/Omega hybrid who could have pups. And the pup Cody was playing with was Jackson’s first-born.
It was during Jackson’s pregnancy that his brother Colton met his Fated Mate—Dr. Ian Wallace who’d been called in as the attending doctor. It appeared the Fates knew what they were doing when Colton received his gift from them because it saved Jackson’s life after he had his pup. Now the Blackwood Pack had a new member, Jackson and Steel’s son, and his brothers had a nephew. Jackson looked around and saw Logan, his fraternal twin engaged in a discussion with his mate’s mother, Oracle. Cody, playing with Daniel, was the oldest of the triplets, while Colton, who was born next, was downstairs with his mate. The youngest of the three, Carson, was deep in a business discussion with Maximus, Steel’s father. Dakota and Zane, the two youngest of the seven brothers were trying to put together a wolf baby toy for Daniel.
Jackson sighed. Life was good right now and he would take it. The pack’s surrogate parents, Jimmy and Mystia would be over later to visit with their grandchild and tell Jackson more about the wolf shifter lying in a hospital bed downstairs. Jackson was puzzled by Mystia’s assertion that the injured shifter was important to his pack, mainly because he knew the shifter was an enforcer for the Silver Point Pack, the Blackwood Pack’s sworn enemy.
Jackson wondered who had beaten the wolf shifter within an inch of his life but more important, he was apprehensive about the danger the shifter might pose to his pup. He knew if he wasn’t satisfied with the answers he received from Mystia, he would order all medical treatment stopped and let nature take its course. It would go against the position he’d always taken about killing but having a pup had changed his entire outlook.
Cody was glad Carson had handed Daniel to him because it was exactly what he needed. He propped his nephew up so he could look around and Cody saw a glow of silver in Daniel’s eyes. He smiled. What a gift Daniel had given him—the first glimpse of his nephew’s wolf. Saying nothing, he turned Daniel towards Jackson and said, “Hey bro, look at your pup’s eyes.”
Jackson turned his head and then gasped. “Steel, look. Our son’s wolf! There—in his eyes!”
The room fell silent as everyone looked at Daniel who smiled at all the attention. Then everyone saw it and the room burst forth in exclamations of joy and amazement. And through it all, Daniel held court as he cooed and blew spit bubbles, happily waving his tiny fists in the air.
Steel strode over and lifted his son up in the air and Daniel started giggling. “Oh, aren’t you the smart one. Your wolf, and so soon! You are the most intelligent pup of all times!” Steel exclaimed, as he swirled Daniel around in a circle like an airplane.
“Son, I don’t think that’s a good idea right now,” Maximus said.
“Why not? Look how he loves it.”
“Uh, because I just fed him.”
“What does that have to do with…Oh shit!” he said as Daniel threw up all over himself and Steel.
Jackson chuckled. “Bring him over here and I’ll clean him up. What your father was trying to tell you is there’s a time and a place for Daniel to fly but right after eating isn’t one of them.
“Are you going to clean me up also? My arms are covered with his puke,” pouted Steel.
“I think you need more than that,” Jackson laughed. “Give me Daniel and go change your clothes or else you’re going to smell like sour milk.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Cody snorted as he watched a disgruntled Steel leave. Steel better get used to baby spit-up. He’d lots of experience with that when Jackson had pressed him into service to help with their young siblings. As his eyes turned from Steel, they caught Jackson’s staring at him with a raised eyebrow. He knew his brother was curious about his mood lately but Cody wasn’t interested in talking. That time would come soon enough and Cody wanted to delay it. Standing, he announced, “I’m going outside for a while.”
Jackson studied his brother, concern clearly written on his face. “Sure, but I want to talk later, maybe after dinner, okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll be around.”
Jackson gave his brother a hard look before turning to his son. “Well sweetie, that was a fun ride, wasn’t it? How about we get you out of these messy clothes and make you look better? Jimmy and Mystia will be here soon and I just know they’ll want to cuddle with you.” Jackson smiled at Daniel as he stripped his milk-covered onesie off him.
Cody walked to his spot in the forest where he could enter his trance in peace. It still shocked him how his foresight had grown since the massacre. He was now forced to meditate—at least that’s what his brothers thought he did—more often than ever before. He knew exactly when the future called to him and demanded his attention—his body would grow restless and his wolf would pace endlessly; no respite could be found until he entered his trance.
He was pretty sure Oracle knew he possessed foresight but she hadn’t revealed it to anyone. Cody was pretty sure Jackson and his other brothers didn
’t know; they just thought he meditated because that’s what his mother told them. When he was old enough to realize he was different, she took him aside and explained what was happening to him every time he slipped into the space where the real world ceased to exist.
When his mother found him kneeling on his bed one evening surrounded by the glow, she consulted with their Shaman and then made sure no one else knew. Hence the “meditating” story. Cody was uneasy about Steel seeing him in the woods the other evening while he was ‘meditating’ but with the drama swirling around Jackson, he hoped he’d forget. He knelt down in a submissive pose, his hands palms-up on his thighs and closed his eyes. The glow started slowly, spreading through and around him until his body was encased in it. Then and there, Cody found his answers.
~/~/~/~/~
Jimmy and Mystia arrived for dinner just as Steel came downstairs wearing fresh jeans and a t-shirt. Greeting them with hugs, he asked, “Did you see how much Daniel has grown?”
Mystia smiled, “No, not yet. We were just on our way to see him.”
“Well you won’t believe it. He’s already wearing the next size of clothes.”
“Really? What are you feeding him, steak?” Jimmy asked.
“No, although it would be easier to clean up than formula.”
Bursting into laughter, Jimmy said, “Well, just look at it as practice for his teen years when he starts to drink.”
“He won’t be doing any of that stuff,” growled Steel. “If he does, he’ll be grounded until he’s an old wolf.”
“Sure he will,” chortled Jimmy as they entered the great room together.
The trio walked over to Jackson where he was feeding Daniel. “Babe,” said Steel, “do you know what Jimmy said about our son? I don’t know where he got the idea our son would ever drink too much. Shit, if he does he won’t be allowed outside our home until he’s fifty.”
