by Cali Mann
Drew looked at me, his warm brown eyes full of worry.
“I tried to kill—”
Drew pressed his fingers over my lips. “I know. And she’s not telling anyone.”
My brow wrinkled. “What is she . .?”
“An accident.”
“Why?”
“She knows who Chuck is.”
Shit. I tried to sit up, but my whole body hurt, and I couldn’t move. How much blood had she taken, anyway? I still didn’t know why she hadn’t killed me. I’d certainly been trying to kill her. “Water.”
Drew nodded and went to fetch some.
I felt for my arms and legs. I was whole, just really tired. They had a blood bag hooked up to me, replacing what I’d lost. But they hadn’t chained me down or even handcuffed me to the rail. And they were letting Drew visit me. It wasn’t what I’d expected to happen at all.
When Drew came back with a cup, I grabbed the straw and sucked the liquid down.
“Thank you,” I gasped, finally able to speak properly.
Drew smiled sadly at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I swallowed.
“I could have helped,” he said. “You could have leaned on me.”
“But I had to do this alone.”
He took my hand in his, turning it over and stroking the palm. “You aren’t alone, Sasha. Not anymore.”
The goo in my eyes dissolved rapidly under the onslaught of my tears. I wasn’t just destroying my life. I was hurting Drew too. And the last thing that I wanted to do was hurt the guy who’d been so good to me. “I was protecting you.”
“I’m not your little brother. I don’t need protection.” He looked away down the long hall of the infirmary.
“I know.”
His lip lifted. “No, Sasha, I don’t think you do.”
My heart ached. He was going to leave me. I’d not trusted him, and he was going to walk away. Like my mom, I was the kind of woman that guys left. My chin dipped toward my chest. I couldn’t look at him.
Drew reached out and lifted my chin, making me meet his eyes. “Sasha, I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whispered hoarsely.
He stroked the side of my face. “Love is being there for and supporting one another. It’s a partnership.”
“Of course—”
He pressed his fingers to my lips. “You need to tell me everything. Your enemies are my enemies.”
My heart ping-ponged against my chest. What would it be like to have someone to really share my burdens with? Was I protecting Drew by keeping him in the dark?
“Are you willing to let me stand side-by-side with you?” he asked. His hands returned to his side, and he watched me silently.
He’d been there for me all along. I hadn’t been willing to see it. I exhaled. “Yes, Drew. I am.”
“No secrets? No holding anything back?”
I shook my head. “None.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Then tell me what this asshole is demanding.”
After Drew and I talked, I had the most peaceful sleep I’d had in a long time.
Later that evening, I opened my eyes to find another visitor—a much more intimidating one. Headmaster Larkin sat on the cushioned visitor’s chair. Her chestnut hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her skin was unmarred by my attack. She’d obviously gotten the better side of the deal with my blood replenishing her. Her pale hands were folded in her lap as she waited, patient as a cat, for me to wake up.
I swallowed.
“Good,” she said, briskly. “You’re awake.”
“I’m sorry,” I croaked.
“Of course you are,” she said. “And that’s why you’re going to help me snare him.”
My mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Charles Denison has been messing with my school.” She leaned forward, her eyes dark. “My students.”
I squeezed the blanket, looking around. She’d said his name aloud. Were we really alone? But the infirmary was dark and quiet. “How did you find out who he was?”
“Calder Bass. His parents are enforcers.” At my confused expression, she continued, “The equivalent of shifter police.”
“That’s how he knew Chuck,” I mused, rubbing my temple. “at the pool.”
Larkin nodded, then leaned in closer, her voice full of violence, “Chuck tried to have me killed, and he hurt my students.”
I didn’t think I’d ever seen her that worked up before. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I had tried to kill her. But this was more than anger at the attack. This was a mama bear defending her cubs.
And I knew that feeling. I’d been defending Alex my whole life. “Who else knows?”
“Just you and me,” she said.
“How did Drew find out I tried to . . ?” I asked. Not like I hadn’t told him everything this morning, but the more of us who knew, the easier it could spread.
Larkin’s lip twisted. “He stormed my office when he heard you’d been hurt, and he interrupted Cal telling me about Chuck.”
“Cal won’t tell anyone else, will he?” If this spread any further, I was never going to be able to keep Alex safe.
“No. He’s been sworn to silence.” Her eyes narrowed. “We’re going to take the executioner down, Sasha.”
I licked my lips. “How?” As long as we could protect my brother, I was all for demolishing that asshole. He’d been hurting me and mine for too long.
Headmaster Larkin smiled.
14
Lucan
I rubbed my shirt across my face, mopping up the sweat, then tossed it to the corner of the goal. For a late fall day, it was hot out here. But it felt good to be one the field again.
My whole body was filthy, dirt sticking to the sweat. I pressed my hands against my knees, watching the ball move in my direction. My wolf growled, eager to come out and play, but I kept him boxed up. Control, as uncle Derrick insisted, was the way to alpha.
The ball came careening towards me, and I dived, knocking it back toward the field.
Focus on the game. Just like in meditation class, this was a training opportunity. A chance to not think about the sexy blonde who’d invaded my thoughts. I’d woken up to wet, twisted sheets last night with a brutal hard-on. All I seemed to dream about lately was her soft body under mine. Her moans as she came.
I shook my head. Focus.
A figure by the bench caught my eye, and I nodded to Drew. I called a break and loped over to him. I grabbed one of the bottles of water and poured it over my head, cooling my body and, I hoped, my libido. The other players headed for the stash on the other side of the field. They knew better than to disturb me when I had company.
Drew leaned back against the bench, looking out across the field, and I followed his gaze.
Beyond the grassy stretch, the woods stood, calling to my wolf to hunt. This nice day would bring out all the small animals seeking food for the winter ahead. I glanced back at Drew and we both grinned. The predators in us were hungry.
I lifted my chin. “So, what’s up, man?”
He leaned forward, studying me. “Do you care about Sasha?”
“Of course I do. She’s my fucking mate.”
“Ours,” he said.
“Yeah. That.” I dried my dripping face with my balled-up shirt. I needed a shower. A cold one.
“But you don’t love her.” Drew grimaced. “Not yet.”
I blinked. “Hell, I barely know the chick.” I rubbed the mate mark on my shoulder. Not for lack of trying. Sasha wouldn’t let me come within a ten-foot radius unless it was for sex. We’d fucked the other day, then she’d sent me packing.
“But you want to?”
“Of course I fucking want to.” I sighed. “She won’t let me in.”
His lip twitched. “Yeah, she’s like that.”
I grunted, then grabbed another water bottle, drinking it down.
Drew leaned forward, his legs wide and his elbows on his knees. A line
of wing tattoos ran up his arm.
I gestured to them. “You still keep those up? That’s a lot of work.”
“Pisses the old man off,” he said with a grin.
“Yeah, he was always an asshole.” I dropped down on the bench next to him. “Remember when he burned our pirate ship?”
Drew snorted. “The one we made out of cardboard boxes and twine.”
“I loved that damn boat.” I chuckled.
“It was a great boat,” Drew agreed, laughing. “Dad thought it was trash.”
I shook my head. “You’re too kind. He burned that ship out of spite.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t want you to have any friends. Thought it disturbed your focus on your archery.”
Drew frowned. “Did he warn you off?”
I nodded.
“Did he kill our birds?”
“I don’t think so. He was an old bastard, but he revered those birds. Thought they were better hunters than us.”
Drew snorted.
My uncle was a demanding jerk, but he’d never been as brutal as Drew’s Dad. I didn’t blame Drew one bit for getting as far away from that shit as he could.
One of the pack caught my eye, giving me an ‘are you ready gesture.’ Time to get back to the game. “Well, I got to—”
“She’s in trouble, Lucan,” Drew said, stopping me in my tracks. “She needs us.”
Wolf howled within me. Our mate was in danger. We needed to help her. “I’m there, man. What do I do?” I waved the players to go ahead without me.
“She’s got to tell you herself,” Drew said. “Go and see her in the infirmary.”
“She’s in there again?” I growled.
He nodded. “Go talk to her.”
“I will.”
Standing, Drew turned away. His shoulders slumped. “I need you, man,” he said roughly. “I can’t protect her by myself.”
“Of course.” I watched him walk away. In all the years we’d known each other, I’d never known Drew to ask for help. No matter how badly his father beat him or tossed him out fucking windows, he never did. Until now. Until her.
As soon as the game was over, I bounded upstairs to the shower. I needed to talk to Sasha, sooner rather than later. If it was bad enough to have Drew spooked, it was serious. We didn’t have the best relationship, but I knew my old friend.
I toweled off and threw on some clothes. Dashing through the suite, I headed downstairs. The old nurse sat at the desk. I waved to her. We’d done this dance before. At the door to the girls’ side, Poseidon sat, flipping through a magazine.
“Taking your guard duty seriously?” I asked.
“She’s safe here.”
“That’s what you said about the pools and somehow he got to her there,” I muttered.
Poseidon leaned closer to me, conspiratorially. “Don’t you think it’s just the spirit madness? This guy she keeps saying appears and disappears from nowhere?”
“No, I don’t,” I growled, shoving the door open and walking in.
He didn’t try to stop me. What a fucking useless guard. Whatever he thought was happening, his job was to protect Sasha and the students.
Poseidon caught the door as it was closing. “Be careful in there.”
I snorted and pushed it closed. Turning, I gazed down the long empty aisle. They’d moved any other patients out. It was only Sasha, hooked up to a saline bag in a cot half-way down the aisle. I strolled over to her, my eyes taking in the soft blonde of her hair against the pillow, her closed eyes, and the rise and fall of her chest. She’s okay, wolf.
At her bedside, I stood and watched her, curling and uncurling my fists. Whoever’d done this to my mate needed to pay.
“Hey,” Sasha said, opening her eyes and giving me a tremulous smile.
“Hey.” Despite my bristling anger at her attacker, I kept my voice soft. I sat on the edge of her bed and reached for her hand. “Are you okay?”
Her blue eyes widened. “You remembered to ask first.”
“Yeah.”
She pushed herself up to sit against the headboard.
I helped as much as I could, fluffing the pillows and making her comfortable. My wolf hummed within me. This was right. This was what we should do for our mate.
Once she was settled, Sasha took my hand. “I’m okay, Lucan. Thanks for asking.”
I stroked it, needing to touch her. “What happened?”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” I said. “Everything that happens to you matters to me.”
That false smile crossed her face again.
I squeezed her hand. “I know I haven’t been the best at being your mate. But I want to be here for you. I mean it.”
“I’ll only cause you trouble,” she said.
“I don’t mind trouble,” I said. “I can take care of myself.”
She chuckled. “That’s what Drew said.”
I nodded. “He’s right. We’re your mates. We are here to help and protect you, not the other way around.”
“And the other way around,” she said, a glint in her eye. “A partnership is the only way I do this.”
“Do what?”
“Let you in,” she said softly.
My wolf howled inside me. She wanted us. I inclined my head. “Now, tell me what’s going on.”
And she did. How the former executioner, Charles Denison, had forced her to come to Thornbriar Academy. He wanted her to cause trouble for Larkin and the spirit shifter trial and get them all thrown out. My wolf snarled when she said he’d threatened her brother. Alex was pack. We wouldn’t let him be hurt again. Then she told me about her attempt on Larkin’s life. To think that she’d gone through that alone. My wolf howled. And then she told me what Larkin wanted her to do.
“Double agent?” I asked.
Sasha nodded. “She wants to lure Chuck to campus again.”
“By using you as bait?”
“Yes.” She turned her head to the side. “But it’s more than I deserve. I owe her.”
“For what? Trying to keep your kid brother alive?”
“Larkin really wants this trial to work.” She glanced back at me.
“Of course. We all do.”
Sasha shook her head. “No, actually, no one wants it to work. Not the Council. Well, except Hightower, maybe.”
“My uncle—”
“Doesn’t care that you’re mated. He wants me gone.” She shrugged. “He’s not wrong.”
I stared at her. Sasha had upended everything I thought I’d already settled about my life. She was unpredictable and certainly trouble, but I’d never wish her gone. If my uncle wanted me to be in any way fit to take over the pack, I needed my mate. “He can’t do that.”
“Lucan, it’s likely I’ll die anyway. I need two more mates or I’ll go mad. And I don’t see anyone stepping up to the plate.”
“No,” I said, horror leaking into my voice. “You’ll find mates. You have to live.”
“You really believe you can make it happen with the strength of your will, don’t you?”
I shrugged. “Always worked for me before.”
She laughed. A real laugh this time that echoed through the empty room.
“So we need to kill Charles and find you a couple of mates,” I said. “Seems doable.”
“As if it was that easy.”
15
Sasha
I couldn’t believe I’d blurted out all my problems to Drew and Lucan. Rolling over, I gazed at the long line of empty beds. I was just tired. So tired. I’d been fighting alone for so long—to keep my brother alive. In a way, I’d been fighting this same fight since I put the first bottle in his mouth.
It was a relief to have it all out there. Not to everyone, but to the two guys that fate had marked as mine. It hadn’t been fair that I’d kept them in the dark. Even though our mate marks were new, they would be hurt by my death. They at least deserved an explan
ation.
I rolled over again. I couldn’t sit in this bed anymore. Shakily, I pushed up to a sitting position and then let my feet fall over the side. My head spun, and I bit my lip, but I was up. I unhooked the saline bag at my bedside. I’d seen the nurse do it often enough. Taking a breath, I dropped my bare feet to the floor. The cold stone chilled them.
My whole body hurt. But I could catch my breath and I didn’t feel like I was going to immediately fall if I stood up. So I rose on shaky legs and stumbled a few feet forward. I took a breath and, carefully putting one foot in front of the other, made it to the end of the bed. There I stopped, breathing heavily.
Nearly dying sucked almost as much as actually dying, apparently. I chuckled at my own humor. The full moon shone in through the windows, bathing the room in brightness. Since there weren’t any other shifters in here, the staff had forgotten to draw the drapes closed. I made it to the window and pressed my heated head against the glass.
Moonlight dripped across the garden outside. A small sound startled me, but I didn’t have the energy to jump. I slid down into a squat, peering at the floor, and the sound came again. I nudged the bed next to me aside to reveal a frightened cat pressed up against the stone wall.
“How’d you get in here?” I asked, pulling a blanket off the nearest bed. I was going to have to sit down, and I didn’t want to on the cold floor. Once I settled cross-legged, I wrapped the edges of the cover around my bare knees. The infirmary gown was short and open at the back.
The cat was almost all black with short matted fur and so skinny that his bones pressed against his skin. One of his paws was white.
“I’m sorry I don’t have anything for you to eat,” I said. “They clear the dishes up pretty quick around here.”
He meowed, stepping closer to me.
I held out a hand for him to sniff. “I’m all alone here, too.”
The cat padded up to my knee instead and clawed at the blanket. He climbed on top of my lap, kneading the blanket as he searched for a comfortable spot. Then he lay down.
Gently, I stroked his head with one finger, and he purred. “So much for your fear.”
He rubbed his face against my hand.
“I wish it was so easy to win over everyone,” I said softly.
