Fault Lines

by K. C. Stewart

  He really didn’t like that guy but he also knew that his ultimate goal would be achieved so much faster with his help. Not that help was exactly what Mr. Jones was offering. More like opportunity.

  As he turned around he caught sight of his now empty table. Mira had left in his short absence. Just when he had her talking about Sadie too. Admittedly, he hadn’t planned on talking about Peter. Her sympathy had eased the pain in his chest just a little. She didn’t know it was Peter he spoke of and probably would not have offered any kind words if she had known but the emotion was still appreciated, especially coming from someone in his killer’s family.

  To his surprised, he actually enjoyed talking with Mira. She didn’t give up her thoughts outright; he had to work for them. It made the conversation a little more personal.

  Mitch was about to head back inside and pay his bill so he would not be late for Mr. Jones but the man of the hour happened to be standing down the alley across the street. He could go upstairs and wait like the dog he was being treated as or he could walk down that alley and have this meeting on his terms. At least, on terms that weren’t Mr. Jones’.

  He crossed the street and made sure that there weren’t many, if any, around to see him duck down the alley. It was cooler in between the buildings, the shade a welcome relief for his eyes. There was a dumpster in his way but he heard the soft displeasure of Mr. Jones as he spoke to someone else. Mitch stayed close to the wall and didn’t come out from behind the dumpster. So much was still a mystery about this man and his organization; a little eavesdropping would do him good.

  “I detest this body,” Mr. Jones said repulsed. “Next time, you will be the one to make contact with the human and I will track.”

  Whoever he was talking to snorted like an animal. Mitch crept forward and quickly looked around the corner. He couldn’t see Mr. Jones but did catch sight of a large dog. As far as he could see, there was no one else with them.

  “I hope this parasite found something. We need to act on the sister while she is still here, and the boys are getting tired of their old toy.”

  Mitch’s brow creased as he listened. Something was not right here. The way they said toy made his stomach clench.

  “Tomorrow at the latest. Tonight if possible. Keep eyes on her so when we get approval we can just take her.”

  Take her? That…that wasn’t what he signed up for. Jesus. Who were these people? Mitch felt stranded there behind the dumpster. He couldn’t leave to go get help because they might see him but he couldn’t stay because the five minutes was up and Mr. Jones was about to head inside to meet him, which would take him directly past where he was crouched.

  The clicking of the dog’s nails on asphalt sounded rhythmically as he jogged down the alley. Mitch jerked back into the corner as he passed. He tried to make his tall frame as small and blendable as possible but his crisp button down shirt and Armani scents drifting from his skin didn’t scream homeless beggar.

  The dog was larger than he had originally though. In fact, he was pretty sure that wasn’t a dog at all. It was completely black, more of a void of color than any one hue. It was big, bigger than any dog he had ever met, with ears that stood solidly atop its head.

  It slowed about three feet past him. His nose lifted into the air and sniffed before stopping altogether. When he turned his head, Mitch saw the awful truth. That was no dog. That was a wolf. A wild animal. He bared his teeth at Mitch and let out a low snarl. If he could have sunk into the wall, he would have. He had never felt fear as clearly before. With each step that wolf took, Mitch could feel more and more of his courage withering away until he was left cowering.

  Mr. Jones stepped around the dumpster to stand behind the wolf. Mitch didn’t see the disapproving stare on his face, but he felt it.

  “This is unfortunate.”

  “Get him to back off,” Mitch said with a gnarled, almost unrecognizable voice.

  A thoughtful hum came from Mr. Jones. “I don’t think I will. In fact, I think you should go meet his friends. As you have probably heard, they are looking for a new toy.”

  Jesus.

  “Since you have been less than useful and are curious about what our plans are, why don’t we just take you back to base camp where you can hear all about our plans for that Alpha who has his sights set on young Miranda. Then you can take her place for a little while until we gather her up too. I’m sure the boys would enjoy two toys to share. Shadow, I think you better change back. I’ve got to go clean out his room and check him out before he is missed.”

  Mitch was paralyzed with fear. It wasn’t because of what fate awaited him but because the wolf’s face began to morph and stretch in a painfully horrific way that he cried out. Its limbs grew and smoothed out, the fur disappearing to reveal smooth mocha skin. The snout shortened and sank into the face. A human man rested on hands and knees in front of him, panting for breath. After five minutes, all that was left of the wolf were the eyes.

  There were no words he could string together to explain what he had seen. But he didn’t need any. They would be useless in any case. No one would ever hear them and those that did, wouldn’t care. Mitch knew this moment for what it was, the end of his life.

  “I hope he screams,” the newly turned man said with a sardonic smile. “I like it when they scream.”

  *****

  “Is he gone?”

  “Looks like it, Sadie,” Chuck said as he came back into the kitchen where Sadie and Lee were holed up.

  “And Mira?” She walked pasted Chuck to look out the little window in the door.

  “Upstairs.”

  Sadie turned back around to face her two friends and pack mates. “I can’t believe she did that. I know I should call Tyson or Owen but she hates me enough as it is.”

  Lee’s eye roll wasn’t quick enough. Sadie sighed getting tired of her attitude towards her sister.

  “What?” she asked sharply.

  “Nothing.”

  It was so not nothing. Chuck took this as his cue to exit and leave whatever was to come for them to figure out. The coward walked pasted her and out the swinging door to the bar.

  “He’s gone. So what is it?”

  “Owen and your sister. I don’t like it.”

  Sadie wanted to bang her head against the wall. “Of course you don’t because you still love him. It’s called jealousy but remember my sister is living with another woman. You’ve got nothing to-”

  Lee cut her off. “No she’s not.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mira and her girlfriend broke up. I heard her talking about it the other night, which is why you need to tell her to back off Owen. She wants to use him as a rebound,” Lee’s features soften. “He’s not a rebound. He’s forever. So you need to talk to her before he gets hurt.”

  Sadie ignored the majority of that or she would have gotten seriously pissed at her friend. She focused on the part of that which was actually important. “Mira and Sophia broke up.”

  Lee sighed. “Yeah, I guess.”

  “This makes so much more sense now.”

  “Oh good. I’m glad I could help.”

  Sadie’s unamused look told Lee just how funny she thought she was. That attitude needed to be checked.

  “Hand me my phone.” Lee picked up the phone sitting on the counter next to her and tossed it to Sadie. It was odd to be calling someone else to find out information about her sister instead of just asking Mira herself but Sadie had a good feeling that Mira wouldn’t give her the time of day if she didn’t have any of the facts.

  “Hey, Owen.”

  “Sadie,” he said with a smile in his voice. It made the wolf in her content to hear her Alpha so happy. “How is Mira doing? She was still a little shaky when she left.”

  “What?” Just how out of the loop was she?

  “She didn’t tell you? No, of course she didn’t,” he said not sounding the least bit surprised. “Mira showed up here waterlogged and paler than a full moon.
The storm had done a number on her. Tyson left with her about two hours ago. Her jeep is at your house, Tyson was fixing the flat.”

  The thunderstorm. Crap. Tyson had even called and told her about it. Sadie had spent so much of the past two years selfishly focused on herself that she hadn’t even considered her sister’s ruthless fear of thunderstorms that afternoon. It would be a miracle if Mira ever spoke to her again.

  “That’s not why I’m calling.” Lee was watching her. Sadie couldn’t take her scrutiny too. Maybe it was cowardly but she walked over to Chuck’s closet-esque office and closed the door. There was just enough room for a desk, a chair and a filing cabinet. And on more than one occasion, Sadie wondered if the room had been built around the desk since the fit was so sung. She didn’t bother sitting in the squeaky chair, instead just leaned her back against the wall.

  Owen waited patiently for her to continue. He was great in that way that he never rushed her when conversing. The man had the patience of a saint.

  “Did Mira tell you anything about her girlfriend?”

  A thoughtful pause and then, “she did, yes.”

  “Did they break up?”

  “Ah, figured it out, did you?”

  And that horrible sister feeling was back, lodged in her chest. “Lee told me.”

  “Well, it’s not my story to tell but it’s not a secret either. They did break up and it is why she came here.”

  Sadie pulled out the worn green chair and sunk into it. She seriously felt like shit right now. Selfishness had always been a horrible trait of hers. Living for what was right in front of her and forgetting about the rest had been how she lived the majority of her life. Peter changed that in her, but he also made in worse. Sadie was more aware of those around her but she had a bubble of personal space that wasn’t breached easily. Since moving to Andora and meeting Tyson, Sadie had begun to let people in again. But with Mira, it was easy to keep her in the spot she created for her after Peter, the one that was there for her in spirit but not in any physical or emotional form. Sadie let their mother handle Mira when she was trying to put herself back together. She had needed to be selfish then, but she didn’t need to be anymore.

  “Sadie, I know she is angry with you because you can’t tell her about your other form. Mira is perceptive and knows you are keeping a secret. Soon she will catch on that we all are keeping a secret. You’re situation, well, it’s unusual but you already know that.”

  She was a gifted wolf. Instead of being born either dominate and able to change or submissive without that ability, Sadie had been gifted from Gaia, the earth, with ancient magic. It was a once in a century, if not more, gift that only worked when the recipient is near death and knows how to wield the magic.

  “Typically families know about the pack but only because they are in it in some form. But we don’t know how your family would react. They seem trustworthy but our secret is not just given away because the person is assumed to be open minded. We have not survived this long by telling our stories to just anyone.” Owen paused to choose his words. “However, after getting to know her and having some time to think on the matter, I’m considering letting you tell her about us.”

  “What?”

  “Ultimately it is your choice if you want her to know or not but she will always know you are hiding something from her and will never fully trust you again until she knows. Everyone else has a support system but yours is disjointed. I believe Mira would, in the end, take the news with well.”

  Sadie was shocked to say the least. Their pack was a secret not even the town knew fully of. If they were discovered, who knew what the government and humans would do to them. Telling an outsider was huge. But Sadie felt like there was something missing behind his reasoning.

  “Owen?” she asked.

  “Yes?”

  “This is asked from friend to friend and not wolf to alpha.”

  The amused, “alright,” was also hesitant.

  “Are you suggesting I tell Mira for my benefit, or yours?”

  Chapter Twelve

  The knock at Mira’s door came later than she expected. Chuck had kept his promise and kept them away. So when it did come the following morning, she was ready for whoever it was, spouting off whatever they thought she did wrong. Considering it would presumably be one of three people, it was no shock to see Sadie in her door frame.

  “Hey,” Sadie said in a soft tone that did surprise her. There was no fire in her eyes or threat in her voice.

  “If you’re here about yesterday-”

  “No,” she cut in. “I’m not.”

  It was rude but she didn’t invite her in. Sadie could say what she needed and then leave. Mira planned on spending her last day in town sitting on Zach’s bed committing mass murder to a horde of zombies. After she had gotten back to her room the night before, she had called her mom and Kent. It was time for her to go home. She needed to be at work the following Monday but she had to move her stuff from the apartment first. Mom and Kent would meet her tomorrow afternoon to help.

  For one more day she could escape reality, and she wasn’t spending it being lectured or otherwise by Sadie.

  Realizing she wasn’t going to be let in, Sadie sighed. “Mira, where’s Sophia?”

  Mira wouldn’t look at her. Raw anger bloomed anew in her gut. “Who told you?” she asked. Reality had a way of sneaking up and biting her when she least expected it. “Was it Mom?”

  “No, no it wasn’t. What happened?”

  This Sadie, with the kind eyes and comforting smile, was the one she had wanted to come and see. This was the understanding, voice of reason Sadie who had talked her out of a string of bad moods and heartache.

  But that wasn’t the Sadie she had gotten and that wasn’t who she wanted now. “So now you want to be my sister? Now you care?”

  “I was a bitch, I know. There are things that I can’t talk about yet and I was scared when you showed up. I wasn’t sure how to explain everything.”

  “So try,” she urged. She hated secrets. Maybe it was just because she was in the aftermath of Sophia’s cheating, but secrets drove her crazy.

  Sadie looked defeated. “I can’t. I’m sorry Mira but I just can’t. But I’m not here about me. Do you want to talk about Sophia?”

  “To you or in general?”

  “Miranda, please,” she begged exasperated. “Look, I’m sorry for how I’ve been but I’m not apologizing for that anymore. I got here and I…changed. This place, these people, I just feel safe here.” Mira could tell that she did. Her voice lightened when she talked about them. “I just don’t know how to do this anymore.” The motion was small but Mira saw the way she waved her hand between them.

  “This? As in, being my sister? Wow. Thanks for that.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Sure it is! That’s exactly what you meant. You’re right though, you are different. You’re Mrs. Tyson…whatever his last name is. I don’t even know your last name Sadie. That’s just pathetic.” Sadie’s eyes sparked with surprise and a heavy dose of guilt. “And thanks for just confirming what everyone has been too chicken shit to say. You are married. First of all, thanks for inviting me. I had a great time,” she said, heavy on the sarcasm that was hiding her disappointment. “Being your maid of honor just like we always talked about as girls was a dream. I loved when Tyson got is first look at you all done up and slipping that tissue to you when you said 'I do,' and dancing to 'A Pocketful of Sunshine', our song. It was all so wonderful.”

  Tears began to well in her eyes while Sadie was openly crying. Mira held no sympathy for Sadie at this point. Her sister could have her secrets, she was done.

  “So go on, be whoever you are now. I’m going home.”

  Mira pushed past her in the doorway. She saw Zack standing in his and opened the door another inch in invitation. If Sadie wasn’t right there she would have done it, would have hidden away in his room. But Sadie would then know where to find her and once she got her
voice back, she would locate her for round two. Besides, Mira just needed out to clear her mind, her room was just too damn small for her right now.

  She walked past Zach and down the stairs. Her eyes were red with tears that she wouldn’t allow to fall. No way in hell was she going to fall apart now. She could feel the heat on her prickly skin. Everything was so sensitive as she focused on not crying.

  Owen was talking to Chuck at the bar when she reached the restaurant. Mira walked as fast as she could to the door. Chuck saw her but he didn’t say anything. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t done anything to her hair or makeup that morning, which was unheard of when it came to Mira. Or maybe it was the red splotches that littered her neck and chest, but he did not give her away to Owen.

  The Brute however, had some kind of sixth sense. He turned his head just in time for her to grab the hand of the door.

  “Mira?”

  She sighed. So freaking close.

  “Mira!”

  She never had a chance. He was across the room in a second and turning her with a hand on her shoulder. “Rabbit, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  Oh god, I’m going to cry. Don’t show me kindness, I can’t take it right now. I don’t want to cry.

  “Brute, get out of my way,” her voice was small but she feared to give him anymore.

  He cradled her chin in his large hand and titled her head till her eyes found his. Owen’s worry almost had done her in. She couldn’t look at his brown eyes that had so much care in them. Lashing out was all she could think to do.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked again.

  It wasn’t hard to find the anger in amongst the pain. “What’s wrong? This town, these people, my non-sister, everything!”

  She twisted her head and his grip dropped away. As she left, she waited for the bell to ring a second time as he followed after her, but it never came. She had made it down the block before having the courage to look behind her. Owen hadn’t followed her.

  That was both a relief and a disappointment.