Fearless Little Werewolf

by Katie Salidas

  At least, she’d thought it was empty.

  Chapter 16

  She’d heard the wheelchair being brought in, but in her emotional outburst she’d managed to forget the whole reason she’d gotten out of bed in the first place. Her father.

  Secured in his special chair, Orion sat silently. He’d been turned so he could see the scenery though the window outside of their suite’s adjoining living room.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Whether or not he could respond meant nothing; she spoke to him as if he were listening. It was the least she could do.

  Giselle walked toward him, looking at him, emotions warring with each other inside of her: love, fear, sadness, desperation. Here sat a man who’d once ruled. Once loved. Once hoped for family.

  And what had he gotten for all his aspirations?

  Sentenced to a life of nothingness.

  She walked around to face him, staring into his glossy eyes, hoping to find that spark of life within. “Is it worth it?” she whispered, as she knelt in front of her father. “You know I didn’t want this. When I first learned that being a wolf was okay, I was fine with it. When Martina accepted me into her pack, I was ecstatic. Then I learned that I had a mother... sort of... Cassandra.”

  As if the word had sparked something within Orion, his body twitched. She’d have thought it a trick of the light except for the sweat ring that had formed on the leather armrest of her father’s seat. His finger had moved, leaving that telltale sign of what had once been there.

  “Do you remember her?” Giselle asked. “Cassandra?” She hoped hearing the name again would cause the same reaction, but Orion remained motionless, still staring blankly out of the window.

  Forgetting her own thoughts for a moment, she turned her mind to her father and his needs. He was in there. He had to be. And maybe instead of being so self-centered and worrying about petty fighting among wolves, she should leave her focus on him. That’s what she’d always wanted: a family. Might not be perfect, but he was her flesh and blood. And he needed someone to treat him like something more than a statue in the room.

  “Would you like me to tell you about her? I understand you two were in love once. You were willing to walk away from everything to be with her. A regular Romeo and Juliet.” Giselle laughed at the thought of Cassandra standing out on the balcony, calling his name longingly.

  Orion’s body sat unnaturally still. His breathing so shallow he might as well have been stone, but Giselle refused to give into the ruse. She sat down cross-legged in front of his chair and looked up at him.

  “She’s alive and well. The witches back in Vegas have her on a tight leash for abusing magic, but she’s happy to be part of a coven again. You’ll get to meet her when we go back home.”

  Fate had been cruel to them both, stripping Cassandra of her magic and Orion of his sanity – all because they’d wanted to start a family.

  “And of course, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other better and make up for all those lost years. I’d thought I was unwanted and unloved; but as it turned out, I was more wanted and loved than most, I just got lost.” She laughed nervously and then caught the twitch of his hand again.

  “You can hear me, can’t you?” She expected him to respond again, but it seemed every time she looked for it, it was gone, as if she and he were passing trains only destined to connect for a brief second and then rush away again.

  “I don’t blame you at all,” Giselle continued. “I want you to know that. The situation got royally messed up. And I get that. Totally. So just remember that. I love you and know you loved me too. I don’t want you blaming yourself or whatever. I grew up just fine. I mean, look at me.” Giselle stood and spun for effect. “I’m happy and healthy.”

  Taylor came into the room unexpectedly and caught Giselle mid-spin. “What are you doing?” she asked cautiously.

  Giselle’s first instinct was to bow to embarrassment at having been caught play-acting for a silent audience, but instead she owned her silliness and gave another spin just for good measure. “Just telling Dad that despite what happened, I’m cool.” Somehow being out here with her father, even in this state, was comforting and a welcome contrast to the tension and stress she’d been put through the previous few days.

  Taylor laughed at her sister’s antics. “You’re more than that, Elle. Which is why you need to talk to someone about being your champion. You owe it to your future self, if nothing else.”

  “No. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to let them fight amongst themselves. I’ve got my dad now.” She placed a hand over his. “And that is all I need.”

  His hand twitched and shifted under hers, and when she looked down he was holding on to her.

  “Oh, crap, Taylor!” Giselle yelled, and though she jerked back instinctively, she did not pull completely out of his grasp. “Look!”

  Taylor strolled over cautiously and peeked at Giselle’s hand. “How did you do that?” Her eyes lit with amazement.

  “Do what? He did it.” Giselle couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The rest of him still sat in the same limp position on the chair, but his hand had strength, and he’d clearly moved with intent to hold on to her.

  “We have to tell Martina and Gavin when they get back!” Taylor said.

  Giselle bent and whispered in her father’s ear, “Thank you for showing me you’re still with us.” This was far better than becoming an Alpha. The spark she’d felt was there, and that meant he was there, and if he was... she had to talk to the witches! “Where is Martina? Or Gavin, for that matter?”

  “They had to go make arrangements for the nurse to come in and check on Orion a few times before we leave tomorrow. Vivian was not happy with us, but allowed us at least one more day’s care. They’re waiting to meet her in the lobby.”

  She’d all but forgotten about his special needs. And those would have to be taken care of when they settled into normal life back home. Her excitement dampened a little with the reality of his needs, but bolstered by her new mission to see if she could change his situation, she kept a smile on her face. “Okay, well, then as soon as they get back, I have to tell them. This is huge news.”

  Chapter 17

  In a few short hours, she’d be back to the dry dusty desert. That thought kept her eyes riveted to the window as the van cruised along the highway toward the airport. She’d be homesick for it, as she had been the first time she left, but that would be the only thing she’d miss. Giselle might have been born here, but it was not home – only a place filled with bad memories and nasty people. The one good thing about it was her father, and he was coming home to live with her forever. That was a much better prize than winning the title of Alpha, though she knew that battle was long from over.

  Richard pulled the van into the parking lot, and the finality of their time in Washington became a reality.

  Martina and Gavin pulled in next to them driving a specially equipped rental they’d had to pick up at the last minute to transport Orion. They busied themselves with unloading and inventorying their bags for the walk into the airport.

  Giselle took one last look at the trees, burning the greenery into her memory, as that would be the last she’d see of such things for a while.

  Di and Taylor didn’t have the same reverence for all the natural beauty of the trees and grass surrounding them; too many years spent as desert rats. They struggled on the sidelines to balance the multiple suitcases they’d brought.

  She could hear Gavin telling everyone he was going to get a cart, and she knew she’d have a few more minutes to enjoy the last glimpse of nature around her.

  Richard came around the front of the van and stood next to Giselle as if waiting for her to finish her thoughts. The feeling of eyes at her back made her turn around quickly to face him.

  “This is where I leave you for now,” Richard said, placing a hand on Giselle’s shoulder.

  “Thanks for all the help. I’m guessing I won’t see
you again.”

  He scrutinized her face as if trying to look beyond the veil of her teenage indifference. “You’ll see me sooner than you think, little wolf. I’ll be attending the trials.”

  “I won’t,” Giselle said with finality. She’d set her mind the previous night. She’d attend if they forced her, but she would not fight.

  “You have time to change that stubborn mind of yours,” Richard replied. “And my offer still stands if you wish me to fight for you.”

  “Why?” Giselle asked.

  Richard winced as if the sharpness of her words had cut him. He took a step back and turned his gaze to the field just beyond the parking lot. “I knew your father well. Served him until the day he chose to leave. And his brother after him. This is an honorable family, despite a few bad mistakes. I will continue to serve.”

  “Why not fight for Ace? You know he’s planning to fight,” Giselle said. If Richard was so dead set on fighting, it might as well be for someone already in power.

  “Aeson is of age. He cannot have a stand in, though I would if I could,” Richard said with a wink. “But you are first in line, by blood of the eldest son.”

  If Giselle had to hear that one more time, she would scream. Blood this and blood that. It was all anyone seemed concerned with. What about smarts? What about experience? She was no more guaranteed to be a good Alpha than Taylor would be. But because her father had been an Alpha years and years ago, she had claim to it by blood. And even then, her blood had accounted for nothing. The whole Alpha selection process was stupid – even more so now that it would be left up to the last wolf standing in a battle of strength. And they wondered why she didn’t want the job? Who in their right mind would?

  “I’ll never be what they want me to be. And I don’t want anyone to fight and die for me.”

  “You have the potential.” Richard sighed deeply. “Sad the Council did not see it. You are so much more than the lone wolf they see you as. If only they’d taken into account what you have accomplished already in such a short time for your family.”

  “Any more talk like that, and I’ll blush. You give me way too much credit.”

  “I only give it where it is due. Remember that.”

  Richard did have that going for him. Blunt honesty was exactly what she liked about him.

  “Should you change your mind, all you need to do is call on me, and I will come to your aid.” He held a hand to his chest.

  “Thank you.” Giselle felt proud, though she could not reason why. “I don’t deserve it. But I do appreciate it.”

  “If you promise to think of the options made available to you – really think on them – then you do deserve the help I offer.”

  Giselle smirked. “You should be Alpha.”

  “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I was offered the job many times.” Richard smiled back.

  “And you think me a fool to reject it?” Giselle asked.

  “No.” Richard’s eyes narrowed. “You’re a fool to not fully consider the options for your future.”

  “And you think I haven’t?” Giselle asked.

  “I know you haven’t,” Richard said with no hesitation. “And you’d be lying to me if you said you had.”

  “Curse you, Merlin.” Giselle laughed.

  “At least you’re beginning to recognize my aged wisdom.” Richard chuckled. “But sadly... no magic.”

  “I’m going to miss you.” Giselle spoke truthfully. She might not have enjoyed the lectures, but he was real. Nothing held back. No ulterior motives.

  “We’ll see each other again before you know it,” Richard replied. “Now go home and think. Promise.”

  “Yes. I promise.” Giselle rolled her eyes and joined her family, offering to push Orion’s wheelchair into the airport herself.

  Chapter 18

  Giselle had left some of the pressure back in Washington, but knowing the trials were coming kept the shadow of anxiety close. As soon as she could break away from her family, she retreated to the one thing that helped to burn away the layers of pent up negativity, and headed over to her favorite running mate’s house to drag him out with her, willing or not.

  “So should I kneel, or would that be risking my Alpha’s ire?” Asher joked as he greeted her at the door.

  “Like you don’t already know.” If he’d expected a laugh out of her, he was in for a surprise. She’d hoped to get some peace from the whole damn situation, but it was the hottest gossip, and she was the cover story on the latest issue of Wolf Weekly, it seemed. “I was unacceptable to the Council due to my lack of experience as a wolf,” said Giselle pointedly.

  “But you were to have a Regent.” Confusion added a tilt to the way Asher held his head. Like a cute little puppy who’d seen you throw the ball but never spotted where it landed, he looked to the horizon for answers. “They knew that, right?” When his eyes found her face again, disappointment had darkened them and added a wrinkle to his brow that aged his face.

  He really hoped I would make it. Giselle had never seen Ash look so bothered. And it wasn’t even something that he’d benefit from. She’d shrugged off his picking at her as playful teasing because he knew how much she didn’t want the role. It hadn’t occurred to her he might actually want her to be Alpha just to see her succeed on her own. And all this time, she had selfishly prayed for a way out. More anxiety settled on her, and she sighed as she began to rehash her failure again. “They felt that since I was raised human, I was not wolf enough for them.”

  “That’s not what they said, was it?” Asher asked.

  Giselle puffed out her chest and narrowed her eyes on Asher, giving her best impersonation of Misha. “‘She bears a wild spirit cannot be tempered by the bonds of nobility and duty. Hers will be an exciting future, of that we have no doubt, and we look forward to the great deeds she will have in her time, but leadership must be finalized immediately and permanently.’” Giselle blew out a breath and sucked in a deeper one before continuing. “‘Should she inspire loyalty enough for someone to step into the trials and fight in her stead, we will honor that wolf as Regent and assign Alpha-ship if they are victorious.”

  “Well, at least they tried to be nice about it.” Ash cringed as if waiting for Giselle to strike him.

  She’d considered it. Every time she came across someone who hadn’t been at the meeting up north, she had to recount her failure. First with Christine then Jeffrey when they’d arrived. Next she’d spoken to Cassandra on the phone, hoping to tell her about Orion, and ended up spending more time with her sort-of mother’s attempt at consolation for over an hour. If she’d had her way, Giselle would have retreated into Jeffrey’s old caves in the mountain and hidden out until it all blew over, but no one would let that happen.

  And worst of all, it wasn’t a job she’d wanted, whether or not she was meant for it. Blah, blah, blah and all that bullshit. Having to relive the fact that she couldn’t have it made it all that much worse.

  “Well, for what it’s worth, I thought you’d make a good Alpha.” Asher at least was not making her go into too much detail. He leaned against the brick wall outside the door, not even attempting the courtesy pats or the sympathetic hug. Good for him. She’d probably have punched him if he did. What she needed was a run.

  “It’s cool.” Giselle shrugged, hoping that would be the end of it, and turned, ready to take off and get a run in the desert.

  “Father too,” Asher said to her back.

  “What?” She turned sharply.

  “Father believed in you too. He thought you’d be great.”

  Not sure whether his words were meant to be inspiring of if he had some ulterior motive, Giselle walked up face to face with him. He was too tall; she craned her neck to meet his eyes. “Even better than you or your brothers, perhaps?”

  If he had an ulterior motive, he wasn’t showing his cards. “What?” Asher asked with that puppy dog tilt to his head again.

  “I knew you were playing dumb about knowing wh
at happened to me.” She scrutinized his face and came up empty. “I doubt your father would have left out the last bit, though.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Asher snapped at her like she’d just accused him of conspiracy.

  She took a step back. Maybe he had been left in the dark. That didn’t seem possible. Knowing Nathaniel Thrace as the by-the-book Alpha, surely he would have told his son....“The position has been opened to all of age within our borders who wish to fight in combat to take the position.”

  “Shit, really?” Asher’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

  “Your dad didn’t tell you?”

  “No. He hasn’t mentioned anything at all to me.” He spoke truthfully; his body language screamed confusion. “Maybe he has an eye on one of my brothers vying for the role.”

  The door to Asher’s home opened, and Mr. Thrace himself walked out. “Has it crossed your mind at all that I do not wish any of my sons to die in an Alpha war?” He spoke as if he were already part of the conversation.

  “Mr. Thrace. I...” Caught off guard by his sudden appearance, she stuttered, trying to find the right words.

  He sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I meant what I said when I originally backed your claim. I feel you have some excellence inside of you... once some of your youth and defiant spirit are tempered by age and wisdom. Which will come through apprenticeship to a Regent.” He could intimidate with a look, but his eyes merely confirmed the truth of his words when they met hers. “And by virtue of your birth, you should be first in line for that role.”

  For a man normally disapproving of everything she did – loudly and angrily most times – to hear him speak so highly of her now felt beyond awkward. Her fight-or-flight instinct had Giselle squirming from his grip. “But I’ve been deemed too wild.” She chuckled nervously.