He put his other hand on top and squeezed. “Thank you. My mother left a note. Rafe was the product of an affair with a stranger. A man she later came to believe was the Devil. Somehow my dad must’ve known—must’ve feared what Rafe would become. Or, at the very least, he must’ve thought Rafe wasn’t his son and his wife was going mad. I don’t know and never will, but I didn’t show the note to my brother. Every day I saw more and more evil, but I thought I could help him. When Mom died, we were left with very few options. The courts, according to the town lawyer who took our case, were going to put us in the foster care system. My parents were both only children and their parents were gone.
“I decided our one chance at staying together was to find the only family we had left—our werewolf family. Ever since we were turned, I’d hear voices in my head from various members of the pack. Rafe never did, or never talked about it, so at first I thought I might be going mad like my mom. But I used that sense to find others like us.”
In Reagan’s short time with her new family, she understood the draw to find others like yourself. “I get it. The foster care system would’ve been hard on both of you, especially considering your special circumstances.” If being a werewolf didn’t qualify as a special circumstance, she wasn’t sure what would.
“We soon found a group. I had no clue if someone in that clan was the one who turned us, but it felt good to find somewhere we belonged. They were led by a man named Hemming. He reminded me of our father and was willing to take us in. Hemming seemed uneasy around Rafe, so I kept my brother close to me at all times. It wasn’t long before we met Ricardo, Sasha, and Madeleine.”
She knew Madeleine’s history with the brothers went way back but didn’t know about the others. Their closeness was making more sense.
“Within the group, we became quite the family. Plus, there was Madeleine’s sister, Amélie. Hemming wasn’t thrilled about what a tight clique we were becoming. I knew he was feeling threatened, so I did all I could do to keep him happy. I became his right hand man, so to speak. I wanted to earn his trust. Rafe, however, kept making things difficult. He’d lead groups on hunts. Then, another group of wolves found us. The ones you met in the forest.”
Eerie red eyes flashed before her and shivers ran up and down her spine. “Creepy is definitely the best word to describe them,” Reagan said. “I felt this overwhelming sense of evil. I can’t quite put words to the feelings those creatures stirred inside me.”
All this time, Nana had kept her hand on Rowan’s.
He stood up and began pacing again.
Reagan sensed how difficult it was for him to share his story. She wondered why he’d chosen now to do so, but she was glad he did.
“Well, you’re dead on. They’re pure evil, commanded by the Devil himself.”
“Whoa, wait a second. Are you telling me they’re some kind of Devil’s army or something? Are you telling me the Devil actually exists?” Reagan couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and she was getting pretty adept at believing unimaginable things.
“Sweetie, of course there’s a Devil. Where there is light, there is darkness. One cannot exist without the other.”
Reagan jerked her head toward her grandmother. “Do you believe in God? I got the feeling Mom wanted us to be church-goers, to believe in something she was never taught to believe.”
Nana shook her bowed head. “I so wish I’d fought harder to keep your mother in my life, to be a grandmother to you and Sam. I’m not sure how the years slipped away so quickly, but I was in such a hole of grief. Of course I believe in God. I’ve seen too many amazing things in my lifetime, too many beautiful miracles, not to. I couldn’t love everything about nature, believe in all its power, without my faith also in the Lord. I’m not saying it doesn’t make me unique, and I certainly don’t celebrate my faith in the traditional way, but it doesn’t make my belief any less powerful.”
Taken aback by the revelation, Reagan wasn’t sure how to respond. She wasn’t even sure what she truly believed. Before Yellowstone, she would’ve said nothing could shake her belief in God; then, there were werewolves and magical powers. Now, she wasn’t sure what or whom to believe about anything. One thing was certain: If she was going to face life with the Devil, she sure wasn’t going to go into battle without being armed with the belief there was an equally strong good force. All this evil couldn’t exist without some kind of balance.
“You’ve been wanting answers, and you deserve to know what you’re fighting for. I don’t think I could put my life on the line without knowing what I know. But the answers you seek aren’t pretty,” Rowan said.
Reagan didn’t come this far to be scared off by the truth. She needed to know why he abandoned his brother after fighting so hard to make sure they were together. “So, tell us, what made you leave that group and your brother? How did Rafe end up their leader?”
“Madeleine fell for Rafe, and I was hoping she’d bring out the better side of him. They were young, and he seemed to be so in love. But then her sister showed feelings, too. I watched him play those two against each other, and I knew it was going to end badly. Hemming wasn’t happy either, because it was causing dissention in the group. Not something he needed. We were having some trouble with a small group of vampires at the time, not to mention the issue of these new wolves. They caused all kinds of trouble and were hard to keep in line. Rafe seemed to have a way with them. Then it all started to become clear. My father’s accusations, my mother’s suicide.”
Rowan paused, and Reagan let the words sink in. Red-eyed wolves controlled by the Devil, the flash of evil in Rafe’s eyes. Could Rafe possibly be some Devil-werewolf hybrid? Did such a thing exist? She knew she should keep the crazy thoughts to herself and not speak them out loud because it would make this confession harder on Rowan. But her mouth flew ahead of her brain, and the questions came out before she could stop them.
“You’re a quick study. I don’t know how my mother came to be involved with such evil, but it became very clear to me that my own brother had demon blood coursing through his veins. It was the way the demon wolves, the Devil’s own army, succumbed to Rafe so easily. He became more and more brutal with each battle. The night I saved your grandfather, Rafe was out of control. It was one thing when we were protecting ourselves from the vampires, but he was killing humans. I know they came to kill us, but we could’ve just run away. Still, I hoped he would change.
“A few years, and several incidents later, Hemming told me he was going to attack Rafe, to make sure the group knew who the alpha was and to take back control. But I couldn’t betray my own brother, even when Hemming came to me with his concerns. I wish I had, maybe I could’ve ended this then. Hemming asked me to stay out of the way and said no harm would come to me, and he promised to only teach Rafe a lesson.” Rowan, still pacing around the room, walked over to the cave wall and punched it. A small dent was left from the impact, and he shook out his hand. Reagan could see it was smashed up, at least a few fingers broken, but she knew his physical wounds would heal. She wanted to go to him, to make the emotional pain easier, but she sensed he needed his space to handle his feelings his way.
“I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I told Rafe that Hemming was at his breaking point and was planning to attack. I begged Rafe to cool things down, to become a better team member. He laughed. I’ll never forget the sound. It’s when I knew the brother I’d loved, had fought so hard to protect, no longer existed. I could only imagine the signs that had caused my father to finally want to walk away. When Hemming attacked, Rafe was ready. It was over quickly. Hemming was dead, and Rafe was the new leader.”
Fighting for her brother was something she could fully understand. She wasn’t sure what it would take to make her give up on him. “What made you finally leave?”
“Madeleine. She convinced me. Of course, Sasha and Ricardo were backing her up. They came to me one night; they wanted me to know how evil my brother had become. When we left, I decided to search f
or Jed. I knew he’d gone off with the one pack, and we needed a new one. There was something about Jed. When I found him, he remembered me and took us in. I don’t know where I’d be without him.”
Math was never her best subject, but things weren’t adding up in her head. “So, let me get this straight. My grandfather disappeared thirty years ago, and you saved him that night. But, by looking at you I’d guess you’re in your early twenties. How old are you?”
“I’m forty-three.”
Startled, she tried to regain her composure. When Papa told her about the night so long ago, he mentioned Rowan had been their savior. Somehow it never crossed her mind then to add it up in her head. She knew how long her grandfather had been gone. Still, his face crept into her mind. She had to admit, he didn’t look much older than some of the pictures Nana had shared. Oh, God! I’m crushing on a middle-aged man. Reagan didn’t have time to let everything sink in. There were more important issues. “You said it was Madeleine who convinced you. How?”
“She told me she was pregnant and afraid. It was my brother’s baby. She needed my help in, well, getting rid of it. And I don’t want you to think I’m talking behind her back. She told me I could tell you when the time was right.”
Guilt hit Reagan full on in the gut. She felt ashamed for every time she’d been nasty to Madeleine. “What did you do?”
“We ran. We looked for help with Madeleine’s situation. I couldn’t let what happened to my mom happen again. But she was distraught. Not only about killing a baby, but about leaving her sister behind. Amélie refused to come.”
“Who did you go to for help?” Nana asked. With all the focus on Rowan, Reagan had forgotten her grandmother was in the room.
He took in a deep breath and blew it out. “Cheveyo.”
Nana and Reagan gasped at the same time. “You didn’t.” Reagan thought it, but it was Nana who said the words out loud.
He hung his head. “I didn’t know what to do. I had to help my friend, and I knew the baby was dangerous. We were also hoping to find some kind of potion, something we could use to help someone else.”
“Who?” Reagan asked.
“Amélie. She was pregnant, too.”
Lying in her bed staring at the ceiling, Reagan replayed the last couple of days’ events. Her memories seemed to be failing at every turn. She had a recollection of seeing her grandfather when she was little, had convinced herself he’d been around, but Nana said he disappeared thirty years ago. Reagan knew the facts, but they weren’t adding up. Then, there was Rowan—the boy who made her toes curl was really in his forties. She shuddered. He was only slightly younger than her dad. Papa certainly didn’t look to be in his early seventies.
Cave life made it impossible to know what time it was. Without the alarm clock next to her bed, she’d have no clue it was six o’clock in the morning. Nana was still sleeping in Papa’s bed. He’d roomed with someone else last night, telling the ladies he knew they needed to be together. Reagan appreciated it. Several times during the night she wanted to hop over and curl up next to Nana, to feel like a little girl again and be protected. Yesterday was exhausting. After the confession and startling mention of Cheveyo, Rowan had been called to deal with some security matter. Nana and Reagan were left behind to work on her growing skills. By the end of the session, she felt more confident in her abilities. They’d been so caught up in their work they didn’t realize dinner had come and gone.
Papa was kind enough to bring them some food and hang out for a bit. He suggested Nana stay the night and even offered to personally take her home the next day.
Reagan had wanted to ask Nana a slew of questions after Papa left, but exhaustion won out and both women collapsed into a deep sleep early. Still sitting in bed, Reagan knew she couldn’t waste any more time. Stiff from all the training, she bent her head first to one shoulder then the other. Loud popping noises rang from her neck, waking Nana.
“My goodness, dear. You sound like an old lady with all that creaking,” she said as she sat up.
Reagan noticed she didn’t hear any creaking coming from her grandmother’s bed. “It’s been a hard couple of days.”
Nana swung her legs over the side of the bed, stood, and came over to join Reagan. “I bet it has.”
“With every answer I get, I have ten more questions. I’m so confused. When I was at Sam’s funeral, I remember thinking I’d seen Papa when I was little. The memory is so clear. Yet, he’d disappeared like ten years before that. Or something. I can’t keep it all straight.”
“That’s impossible. You couldn’t have seen your grandfather, unless...” Nana let the words trail off.
“Unless, he snuck in a visit at some point. In my memory, I see him handing me a ball. I don’t remember where I was or who was with me.” Stranger things had happened. It wasn’t that far-fetched to believe.
“My best advice for now is to focus on your future, what needs to be done. Living in the past is never good. Trust me. Now, let’s not waste whatever time we have today.” Nana stood and motioned for Reagan to follow. “I hear this cave has an amazing breakfast.”
“Who told you that?” Reagan asked as she got out of bed, reveling in the moment of normalcy.
Nana smiled. “Nobody. I just figured a bunch of wolves wouldn’t go hungry for long.”
For an old lady, she sure could go with the flow. Reagan was impressed. She wondered if her mom was handling the developments as well. “How’s Mom?”
“She’s struggling. She feels guilty for what she put you through with the doctors and the hospital, but she was terrified. And your dad lied to her. That’s a bitter pill to swallow. Of course, she kept things from him, too. So many deceptions.” Nana sighed. “But more than anything, she wants to see Sam for herself so she knows he’s okay.”
“So do I. I just don’t think it’s safe to see him right now, especially after hearing Rowan’s story. I have no clue what kind of BS Rafe is feeding him. But I also don’t want to leave him with Rafe for too long. It’s so complicated.” Reagan put her shoes on, and she and Nana headed toward the smell of breakfast.
In the hallway, Nana placed a hand on Reagan’s arm and whispered, “I hate to say this, hate to even think it, but I sure hope Cheveyo has some answers.”
“Have you and Papa figured out how to contact him?” Reagan, too, wanted to meet with this man who seemed to have a hand in a lot of what was going on.
“We did,” Nana said as they entered the kitchen. For a moment they were coaxed into silence by the tempting smell of eggs, bacon, and pastries. Hunger took over, and they started filling their plates. Few people were in the eating area when the two ladies chose a secluded table toward the back of the room.
“And?”
“And what? Don’t toy with an old lady. Especially a hungry one,” Nana said between bites of food.
“You said you and Papa figured out how to find Cheveyo.”
Nana put her fork down and turned to face Reagan. “Ah, yes I did. We think you’re the key.”
“Me? I’ve never met the man. Wouldn’t you or Mom be a better bet? Heck, even Rowan. Obviously he’s been in contact with him as well.” All thoughts of hunger disappeared, and she pushed her plate away.
“I’ve tried to find out what your mom knows, but there’s a strong block there. One of the most powerful I’ve ever felt.”
She realized how little she knew about her own family, about their strengths and powers. “Why would I know something?”
“Call it a gut feeling. He had a hand in your birth, and I think maybe more than that. There are a lot of blanks in your mother’s memories—blanks that don’t make sense, and they’re only about you, not about your brother.”
In the past, back when Reagan had nothing more stressful to worry about than family issues, she would’ve taken that response as proof of what she always thought—her mother really did love Sam more. “I’m not sure I have any answers, but I’m up for anything that’ll help us defeat Rafe
. Or, from what I understand about the prophecy and Rowan’s story, the Devil himself.”
“Quite a heavy topic for breakfast, wouldn’t you say?” Papa asked as he sat down to join them.
“I was just explaining to our granddaughter how she might be the key to finding Cheveyo. But I’ll need your help, too.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Reagan loved seeing them together, even in the midst of a pending life and death, good versus evil battle.
“I’ll need Sarah to be here so she can help search Reagan’s mind. And I’m guessing you’re going to want to do this sooner rather than later.” Papa nodded, so Nana continued, “And you’ll have a fight on your hands if you think you’re going to leave Susie behind.”
Papa rolled his eyes upward before letting them land back on Nana. “I suppose I won’t be taking you back today, either. Guess I’ll be picking up my two daughters instead.”
A reunion in a cave surrounded by wolves and under the constant threat of a demon-wolf uprising—not a typical day for most families, but Reagan would take what she could get. As excited as she was to see her mom and Aunt Sarah again, a heavy cloud settled over Reagan as she thought about why they were coming.
After the Yellowstone attack, nightmares plagued her every night. Over time, they provided the information she needed in small snippets. However, she still didn’t know exactly what happened when she and Sam were attacked. Would Aunt Sarah’s search of Reagan’s memories result in equally frustrating information? Then a thought struck her. Rowan had found Cheveyo all those years ago. That boy must know something.
Reagan pushed her chair back from the table, causing several heads to turn toward the screeching noise of metal on rock. “Why don’t you two chat for a minute? I need to find Rowan.”
Nana and Papa exchanged worried glances, but they didn’t try and stop their granddaughter.
Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Page 24
