“Brandi, I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy talking that you haven’t had a chance to say anything, have you?”
“No, but that’s okay. I just wanted to… er… to see how you were doing.” She fumbled through an explanation and then ended the call as soon as possible.
Hanging up the phone, Brandi sank down into a nearby armchair and let her head fall back onto the cushions feeling totally exhausted. Calling Tabi hadn’t helped at all. It had just made her feel even more alone, more unsure of what to do. Tabi could announce her news to the whole world and expect gushing congratulations, but that wasn’t an option Brandi could consider.
She gave a dry laugh and wondered if anyone would even believe her if she told them. Wouldn’t that be a strange conversation? Everyone lounging in the break room, drinking coffee, and she’d saunter in with a big smile on her face to make her announcement. “Hey guys, guess what? I accidentally blood bonded with Reno Smith!”
The room would go dead silent and then a buzz of questions and expressions of disbelief would erupt. What do you mean? How is it possible? How could you accidentally blood bond with someone?
Brandi shook her head. Yeah, as if anyone would believe that story.
But it was true. A totally freak accident had landed her in this mess and she’d just figured it out. And now that she knew, what the hell should she do about it?
Brandi glanced towards her computer where a file was displayed. She’d been doing some research on accidental blood bonds; however, information on the phenomenon was scant and mostly based on anecdotal reports rather than actual scientific research. Apparently partial blood bonds sometimes occurred when one party nibbled during the sexual act but the other didn’t. However, the odds of a truly accidental blood bond occurring, the type she had with Reno, were astronomically small.
At first, she’d never suspected she was the victim of such a strange happenstance. When random thoughts and feelings started flitting through her brain and haunting her dreams, she’d attributed it first to stress from exams, and then to moving and a new job. Her mind had been racing a mile a minute trying to assimilate all the changes in her life, so it made sense that her thoughts and emotions might go a little haywire.
However, last month during the Langstaff case, it had all started to make sense. She had just finished her orientation training and had been partnered with Al Zimmerman. They’d been assigned a few minor cases, more or less opportunities to get their feet wet and learn to operate as a team, but nothing big had landed on their duty roster. Then, a call had come in that a critical incident was going down on the outskirts of a small town called Langstaff. She and Al were the next team up and in no time she’d found herself aboard a private jet heading towards her first major case.
Information had been sketchy but she’d occupied herself by reading over the file containing the preliminary reports. She noted Reno Smith was heading the case and barely suppressed a snort. Of course there’d be a critical incident if that man was involved. His foul-ups were legendary. Sure, he got the job done but he seldom followed regulations. Rumour had it he’d flushed his copy of the manual down the toilet and operated solely on gut instinct.
Brandi had just sighed, hoping she was up to dealing with the man, when out of nowhere waves of deep and intense emotions had hit her. It had been worse than ever before: fear, anger, soul-gutting grief, self-hatred… A rollercoaster of feelings bombarded her while vague images had flicked before her eyes: blood and fighting, death, children crying, shouted accusations, pain…
She must have paled, even looked ill, for Al had inquired about her well-being. He’d found a cool cloth for her and asked if she was prone to air sickness, even finding her a small bag to hold ‘just in case.’ Somehow she’d managed to pull herself together all the while fearing she really was going insane. And then when she’d arrived on the scene and realized the visions had been of that exact location… Well, she’d been almost too shocked to talk.
Thankfully, everyone attributed her behaviour to it being her first big case and she’d been sent off to check on Reno. She hadn’t been keen on the idea, given how they’d parted, but she’d put on her professional face and found his room.
The professional face hadn’t lasted long though. His grief had become her grief, his pain was hers. How she’d hidden it, she still didn’t know. Maybe he’d been so caught up in his own horrific thoughts that he just hadn’t noticed. Whatever the case, she was grateful to have been given some time to come to grips with the idea. To be sure, knowing she wasn’t becoming mentally unbalanced was a relief, but learning you were blood bonded to someone… Well, it just wasn’t something you could put into words.
She’d left Langstaff armed with her new knowledge, but still clueless as to how it had happened. They’d only had sex once before and neither of them had done any biting to break the skin. For days she’d gone over every encounter they’d had and it wasn’t until she’d accidentally scratched herself with a broken nail that a vague memory had provided her with the key. It had happened during their impromptu encounter in his self-defence class. She’d scratched his face, his bloodied cheek must have brushed her mouth when he’d nuzzled her neck and voila!
Usually a minute blood exchange wouldn’t have been enough to start the bonding process, but their mutual arousal—and she had no doubts now that he had been aroused—must have released sufficient levels of the bonding hormone in her system to initiate the process. Unknowingly licking the small smear of blood from her lip had done the trick. The faint salty metallic taste on her tongue was just a dim memory. The consequences, however, were not.
Just to be sure, she’d gone to the clinic at Lycan Link and had some discreet blood work done, the results of which had been handed to her today. She was definitely bonded to someone, the doctor had proclaimed. While it was a weak bond, rather like a light bulb partially screwed into a socket, flickering on and off depending which way it was jiggled, there was no denying its existence.
Her stomach clenched yet again as she contemplated what her next step should be. According to her wolf, there was no question.
Tell him. He needs to know. He is our mate.
But he didn’t plan on this. We aren’t mated. We aren’t even dating.
It makes no difference. The bond is there. He is our other half now.
But does he want to be my other half? And do I want him?
Don’t be silly. Of course you do. We need a mate.
She stood and paced the small living room, glancing at her phone, wondering if her wolf was right. This did involve Reno since she was privy to some of his thoughts and feelings now. And it was unlikely he was even aware of the fact given that it was a one way bond. So telling him was the honourable thing to do.
Giving a little nod, she reached for the receiver only to draw her hand back. What would she say? It really wasn’t something you could blurt out over the phone. Perhaps she should ask him over and make him a nice meal before breaking the news.
No, that wouldn’t work. He was already angry at her about the Langstaff case. She winced, thinking of the upcoming hearing during which she might have to testify against him. The very thought made her already nervous stomach do even more flip-flops.
The day after she’d arrived in Langstaff, Reno’s team had been summoned back to Headquarters and a full investigation was launched. As one of the attending officers, she’d supplied a report, and while factual, it looked damnably bad for Reno. She’d tried to frame her wording so people would understand why he’d acted as he did, yet the fact remained that the risk of exposure had been high. It was only through the quick efforts of Al and herself that suitable explanations for the events of that day had been constructed. In fact, rumour had it she might even be given commendation for her work by the time the hearing was over.
While the acknowledgement of her skills was gratifying, she’d also seen Reno storming down the hallway and heard him ranting about her report. Based on precedent cases, he’d
likely be docked pay and even have a black mark added to his file if he wasn’t demoted from head of the team.
No, inviting him over definitely wouldn’t work. And if someone found out, they might think Reno had instigated it in the hopes of swaying her testimony.
Oh God, what a mess! The only way this could be worse would be if she were pregnant as well. Thank heavens she hadn't been in heat during the Langstaff case!
She resumed pacing, nibbling at a fingernail and wondering what to do. Her own feelings were in such disarray, she didn’t feel equipped to handle him right now. Maybe… just for the moment… she'd keep quiet and let fate take its course. Some might think it was the coward’s way out… Hell, who was she kidding? It was the coward’s way out. But she was just too overwrought to come up with a better idea. And if she and Reno were meant to be together, something would happen to steer the course of events, right?
Chapter 8
Reno resisted the urge to drum his fingers on the table and instead gripped the arm of his chair even tighter. The Langstaff hearing was drawing to a close and he was damned sick of the whole business. Spending days listening to people reading reports and giving testimony was a waste of time. Everyone knew what had happened. Why sit around rehashing the case?
He eased himself back in his chair and bit back a sigh, having been told by his appointed representative to look sharp and guard his expression.
“They won’t deal kindly with you if they see bored contempt on your face.” The elderly man—Ricardo Machado—had hissed the instruction at him at least a dozen times over the past week. Machado was akin to a lawyer in the Lycan world and represented any of the Enforcers who were brought up on charges from events that occurred in the line of duty. His job was to ensure that Reno and his squad were treated fairly and without prejudice when facing the Council of Elders.
The fact that his squad had been brought into this mess angered Reno almost more than the charges that were against him. His men had done nothing wrong. They’d followed orders, and if there was any wrong-doing, it was his fault alone.
Of course, Damien and the others had shot that story to hell and back as each man insisted they’d acted under their own initiative and not Reno’s orders. It had made him both humble and proud that his team was standing up for him and not leaving him to hang in the wind by himself. Yep, they’d come a long way from the ragtag team he’d started with; near rogues more interested in fighting with each other than working towards a common goal.
Too bad he’d have to beat the crap out of them for being such fools! If the whole team went down, who would be left to deal with the Purists? It was better if one man took the fall rather than risking the whole of the ACS. Of course they hadn’t thought of that.
He shook his head at their misplaced loyalty, and began to scan the room trying to keep himself occupied while waiting for the final verdict to be read.
A long empty table occupied the front of the room. Soon it would have members of the Council of Elders seated at it; a group of elderly Alphas whose grey hair and lined faces provided visible signs of the years of experience each brought to the job. To be on such a council was a great honour. Only past Alphas who had abdicated their position of pack leader due to advancing age were considered for the position and they had to have displayed exemplary leadership throughout their years of service.
Shifting his gaze, Reno noted some of those seated on the far side of the room. His team filled the first two rows of chairs. They were awaiting the verdict as well, though Ricardo had assured them the most they’d face was a reprimand placed in their files. Still, it had to be nerve-wracking for some of them. With an experienced eye, Reno assessed each man looking for signs of unusually high anxiety or tension. His men were usually solid, both mentally and physically, but these weren’t normal circumstances for them. Thankfully, each appeared relatively calm.
Reno made eye contact with Damien and the younger man pulled a face showing he found the whole process boring in the extreme. While inwardly he concurred, Reno frowned at his partner though it did little good. With typical irreverence, Damien flipped him the finger before grinning and turning towards the cute brunette seated behind him. With benevolent exasperation Reno watched the kid using his charm on the young female. No doubt before the day was done, Damien would be dating her.
Shaking his head, Reno checked out the rest of those gathered. Captain Fielding, his immediate superior, was there along with a number of other Lycan Link employees who’d gathered to offer moral support. Near the back, a few reporters and curious members of the general Lycan public filled some of the seats. And, of course, Brandi Johansson had to be there. She was sitting very straight in her chair, her eyes firmly fixed on the door that the Council would enter through.
He took in her appearance, the way her curls were restrained in a knot at her nape, and the grey tweed business suit that did little to disguise her curves. She seemed pale, dark shadows smudged under her eyes as if she’d been sleeping poorly. Reno narrowed his gaze noting the way she twisted her fingers in her lap and the nervous tapping of her foot against the leg of her chair.
What was she so tied up in knots about? He was the one who might lose his job, perhaps even be thrown in detention if they decided his wolf was becoming unmanageable! A growl escaped him as he thought of all the questions the Lycan Link psychologist had asked him in the mandatory sessions he’d attended. Thankfully the man hadn’t ordered him to be locked up—yet—and he’d been allowed to roam freely as long as he stayed within the Lycan Link compound.
A sound from the front of the room drew his attention and he turned to see the Council filing in from their consulting chambers. The quiet hum that had filled the room for the past half hour quickly disappeared as everyone fixed their eyes on the Council.
Reno eyed each member, careful to keep his gaze mildly curious and not challenging in case one should look his way. For all that he might scoff at Ricardo’s advice, only a fool pissed off an entire table of Alphas. Their expressions gave nothing away and he bit back a curse, shifting yet again in his seat.
The designated Speaker cleared his throat and stood, a sheaf of papers in his hand.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I apologize for the delay but this was a complex case and we had some difficulty reaching a consensus on appropriate consequences and recommendations. However, we have reviewed the evidence presented: the eye-witness accounts, the reports of those involved, the video footage taken after the fact, and the victim impact statements. As I said, this was a complex situation given the number of Lycans—both full and half-breed—that were involved, the tender ages of some of the parties, and the emotional factors that came into play.”
He scanned the room, then flipped a page and began to read. “The events at Langstaff were regrettable and preventable. Had proper procedures been in place the loss of life could have been prevented. To this end, we are establishing a committee to form the Langstaff Protocols, a set of rules and policies that shall be followed whenever… ”
Reno gave a small nod as he listened, pleased that something positive might come out of the debacle. He wondered if he’d be allowed any input; given the fact that he’d replayed the case a thousand times in his mind, he felt he was more than qualified to offer some suggestions…
The man paused, adjusted his glasses and then looked directly at Reno. “Mr. Smith, will you please stand.”
Reno slowly got to his feet. This was it. The room was silent save the faint scraping of chair legs as his seat slid backwards. He clasped his hands behind him, standing straight with his shoulders back. Following Ricardo’s instructions, he kept his expression as bland as possible; however he couldn’t stop himself from looking each Alpha directly in the eye. If he was going down, he wouldn’t cower before those sentencing him.
“Mr. Smith. We’re curious. Do you have any regret for your actions at Langstaff?”
Was this a trick question? Did his fate rest on his answer?
He gave a mental shrug and replied honestly. “Only one, sir. That I didn’t do an initial check to ensure all the mixed families and halves were accounted for. My negligence resulted in the death of a wolf and the serious injury of his pup.”
“The death of one wolf?” One of the seated Elders quirked a brow. “There were several killed at Langstaff, at least one by your own hand.”
Reno compressed his lips but gave a quick nod. “I stand corrected.” He wanted to add that the Alpha he’d killed didn’t deserve the title of wolf, but Ricardo’s timely kick to Reno’s shin served as a reminder to watch his mouth. Somehow the man must have sensed his client’s thoughts.
“Humph!” Whether his answer impressed the Elder or not, Reno had no idea, however several of the Alphas leaned together to exchange private comments.
“Do you have anything else to add?” The Speaker looked Reno’s way.
“No, sir.”
“All right, then. We, the Council of Elders, find you guilty of misconduct.”
A murmur spread through the room, several chairs were shuffled and a female gasped softly. Reno was sure it sounded like Brandi yet didn’t turn to look. A curl of nervous tension was growing in his gut. He kept his eyes fixed on the Speaker wondering what his punishment might be. His wolf stirred anxiously as well, not totally understanding the proceedings but sensing possible danger.
The Speaker waited for the noise in the room to die down before continuing. “Your team is exonerated from any wrong doing. While they each claimed to be acting independently, you were in charge and thus must bear the brunt of responsibility. However, a letter of reprimand will be placed in each of their files.”
Reno nodded, feeling some relief that his men would be left alone. A letter of reprimand was nothing. He’d collected his fair share over the past few years. The ACS could continue the fight against the Purists without him. He’d trained them well. Damien showed potential as a leader for the group but was too new to the team to be promoted. Perhaps Garret… The sound of Brandi’s name being spoken jerked his attention back to the Speaker for the Council.
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