by Breezy Jones
I shuddered but refused to give into the fear he was trying to evoke.
“And what about your pack? What do they think about me being a woman werewolf?”
Ryker inhaled deeply, relaxing his shoulders as he shifted his weight to the other foot. “They don’t know about you, not yet. I haven’t said anything because I wasn’t sure what you were until I was in your house last night.”
“Should you maybe tell them first?” I asked, panic lacing my words.
Ryker quirked his lips to the side. “No, they’re going to want to see you for themselves.” I glared at him and he continued, “This is impossible, remember? They need to see you, so they can accept what you are and want to protect you.”
I clicked my tongue. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t have to do this alone, anymore,” he said, and our eyes met.
I thought about that. About how lonely and terrifying it had been when I’d first awakened as this beast two years ago. Every day since had been a constant struggle to keep my wolf in check—and my secret safe. What Ryker was offering was a new life. One where I no longer had to hide or feel like a freak.
He was offering me everything I thought I’d never have again.
I took a deep breath and leaned forward, still not convinced it was a good idea to just barge into the middle of a strange pack of werewolves and announce myself to them. But Ryker was right, if I was going to live here, I’d have to meet them at some point. Better to get it over sooner rather than later.
“Okay,” I finally said, taking his hand as he led me through the open door.
Chapter Three
Ryker held the thick wooden door, gesturing for me to enter first. Taking in a steadying breath, I slipped past him and stepped inside. I was immediately greeted by the smell of freshly baked scones mingling with coffee beans. The scent was comforting amid the anxiety building inside me. I swallowed hard then circulated my attention from him to the rest of the room. The café normally gave off the cozy atmosphere of a small-town coffee shop, but today it just felt crowded as maybe thirty or so people were packed within the four walls.
My heart thudded wildly as every one of those thirty pairs of eyes swiveled to rest on me and Ryker.
Ignoring them, Ryker headed for the nearest empty table. It was near the front and engulfed in a white ray of light shining in from the large window to its rear. He guided me behind him, and I reluctantly followed, trying not to focus on all the stares penetrating my skin like little knives.
He gestured for me to sit and I obeyed. Ryker focused on the rest of the café and said, “Morning, everyone. I have someone I’d like you to meet.”
Shuffling movement cascaded with wooden chairs scraping against the cherrywood floors as everyone fought to get the best view of the two of us.
“Who’s the chick?” someone shouted followed by, “This meeting is supposed to be pack only.”
“Hey!” a girl yelled, clearly offended, and I realized she was the only other girl in the room. She scurried through the crowd and behind the glass-fronted counter that I knew held crème cakes and pastries. I recognized her from my previous visits—the friendly waitress.
“Well, and Lexi of course,” a dark-haired man corrected.
Ryker raised his hands to quiet the room. “This,” he gestured toward me, and a wave of nausea rolled through my stomach. “Is Nina Winters, our newest pack member.”
“A woman?” a thickly built man asked. He frowned as if confused.
“That’s impossible,” another voice shouted.
“Bullshit. Women can’t be pack members. Only fellow werewolves.”
“Ryker’s messing with us,” someone else said, waving off Ryker’s words.
“Funny,” another man snorted. “Women in the pack. What a joke.”
My pulse raced as I wiped my sweaty palms against my jeans. Coming in here had been a bad idea. Sneaking out wasn’t really an option with so many eyes on me but bolting from the building sure was a possibility.
Slowly, I rose from the chair I’d perched on. Before I could take a single step, Ryker caught my eye and glared at me, silently telling me there was no way in hell I was getting out of this. I froze, reminding myself of why I was here in the first place.
Answers.
Ryker let out a sharp whistle and everyone fell silent. “Now,” he started again. “I know this all sounds crazy. But it’s true. I’ve tested her myself. Nina is a werewolf.”
“Prove it,” someone said, and Ryker pivoted toward me.
I sighed. Careful to keep hold of my concentration, I called my wolf to the surface until the bones in my hands broke and reformed into furry paws with long, lethal claws protruding. My bones ached and moaned at being forced to lengthen, and I bit back a grunt of pain.
A few gasps sounded at the sight of my partial change, and I knew they’d all sensed my wolf because I could damn sure sense theirs. And none of them felt particularly friendly at the sight of my half-changed state.
Quickly, I let my wolf recede, and my fur once again became smooth skin.
Voices began to rise again. Ryker lifted his hand, and the noise died down as he continued, “I know this is a lot to take in, but we need to accept it and move on. Nina’s a resident of Pinefall and as such, she is now a member of our pack.”
“Hold up. Have you thought about what kind of issues this presents for us?” A blond man with steel behind his gray eyes made his way through the room, coming to stand in front of us and crossing his muscular arms. “A woman werewolf is going to draw a lot of attention.”
He cut me a look that made it clear he didn’t want that kind of a spotlight. I shrank away.
“Her being a female would make her incredibly valuable to us, Eric. Think about that.” A second man stood. Now, he stepped forward, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. “Not just the phenomenon of her even existing, but the future she could ensure us with pure werewolf pups. Having her in the pack makes us stronger.” His voice grew more excited with each word, and I recoiled at his implications.
“This,” Ryker glanced at me, and then gestured to the blond man. “Is Eric, my second in command.” He then motioned to the other. “And this is Seth. He’s my third.”
“Hello,” I said stiffly, still hung up on Seth’s suggestion about werewolf pups.
Eric went on like I hadn’t spoken. “Seth, you’re delusional. Her value, as you put it, only makes her dangerous to have in the pack.”
“Dangerous?” I repeated, my voice rising as I shoved my way forward to meet them, my hands on my hips. “I’m not a threat, and I’m not some risk you can discuss like I’m not even here.”
Eric glared at me, and the tension between us crackled.
“I see what you mean about being valuable,” an older man said as he pushed his way through the crowd, coming to stand next to me. He took my hand in his and shook it slowly, an appreciative smile on his aged face. “I’m Pops. The pack elder. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nina.”
I gave him a tight grin as he released my hand.
“You’re Ryker’s dad?” I asked, and he shook his head.
“No. Pops is just what everyone calls me since I’m the pack elder. They say I’m wise. I say I’m just old, but, hey, I won’t deny the perks.” He said with a laugh then leaned in close, adding, “Don’t let Eric bother you. He likes to argue. Makes him feel important.”
Eric’s face flushed, and his nostrils flared. “You don’t think others will want to use her as leverage against us?” Eric asked. “Or better yet, just kill her to take the little advantage she offers from us completely? Letting her into the pack puts a target on all our backs.”
Ryker placed his hand on my lower back as he replied, “Nina’s very existence will be taken as a threat by some. That’s why we have to protect her.”
“Why us? Why doesn’t she have a pack already?” Eric challenged. “Wouldn’t a female wolf have packs beating her door down already?”
“Nina’s never had a pack. She’s alone. Which is why we need to claim her,” Ryker said.
Eric scoffed at that, clearly still skeptical. “Of course, she wants us to protect her. Look at her. She even looks weak—no muscle. Just blow on her, and she’ll fall over.”
At his words, my cheeks burned and my stomached tightened.
“She will get stronger. We can train her.” Ryker puffed out his chest authoritatively making mine swell with his confidence. I glared at Eric.
“Excuse me for not having a pack at the ready to make things easy and obvious like you did,” I snapped at him.
“If she’s never been told how to maintain her wolf, it isn’t really her fault,” Seth cut in. Ryker gave a nod.
“Seth’s right,” Pops said. “Besides, we don’t turn away one of our own.”
Eric didn’t answer, but it was clear from his flushed face he hadn’t changed his mind.
The silence from the rest of them pressed down on me, and I swallowed hard. “Look, if you don’t want me, I’ll find another pack or whatever.” I met Eric’s gaze evenly, adding, “I don’t need your charity.”
Before I could make a move toward the door, Ryker’s hand landed on my shoulder. “It’s not a matter of whether we want Nina or not.” He kept his eyes on Eric as he went on, “Pops is right. We don’t turn away one of our own kind. It boils down to whether she wants us.”
Pops turned to me, laying his hand over mine. “Ryker’s right. It’s up to you, dear. We choose you, but you have to choose us back.”
The silence clung to the air in a suspended moment—like the split second before falling glass shatters to the ground. Everyone around me waited quietly for my answer. I eyed the warm peach-colored walls decorated with shelves displaying their finest coffees while the silence seeped deeper into my every pore. It was like a poison slowly paralyzing me as I struggled to force words from my lips.
“I don’t know,” I finally said. “I have so many questions.”
“Then we’ll take some time to answer them before you have to choose. In the meantime, we’re agreed. We accept Nina into the pack if she chooses to join us,” Ryker announced to the room. A wave of nods and grunts followed his words.
Ryker offered a short farewell that signaled the end of the meeting, and the room slowly cleared out. Only a few men remained—Seth, Pops, Eric, and another rather large and intimidating man. The waitress made her way over to Ryker and me, her red curls bouncing with each step.
“Hey, Lexi,” Ryker said.
“Morning. Thought I’d see if anyone wants coffee?” she asked.
Most of us nodded except Eric.
I sat down at the table while she poured me a fresh mug of the steaming brew. “They’re a bunch of bullies if you let them be. Don’t let them scare you,” she whispered before moving away. I watched her go, surprised at how much she knew about what we all were—and how little it bothered her to be surrounded by monsters.
“I’ve asked these men to stay behind because they’re considered my inner council,” Ryker explained, taking a vacant chair at my table. “You know these three, over there is Mason,” he said, pointing. Mason dipped his head in my direction as he and Seth both picked up chairs and joined us at the table.
Eric remained standing and said, “I don’t like this.”
I snorted. “That makes two of us.”
For some reason, Pops grinned.
“You don’t have to like it. You just have to follow orders.” Ryker glared at Eric as if waiting for a challenge. “Besides, she’s here now. Which means her scent is known. I won’t risk turning her away and letting her get hurt because of us.”
Eric rolled his eyes, “Whatever. How did she survive the change, anyway? Plenty of other woman have tried.”
“She doesn’t remember. Her mother had no knowledge of our kind. And before you ask she doesn’t know her father, so she wasn’t aware of the gene she must carry,” Ryker said.
Seth whistled low from the edge of our little group. “So, she’s a stray?” Although I could tell he meant nothing by it, his words grated on me.
Ryker leaned back against his chair as he reached for the coffee Lexi had poured him. “Nina’s been alone for the last two years—ever since the change. Which is why we’ve stayed behind. Nina wants answers and I’m hoping we can give her some,” he said, sipping from his cup.
“That just makes this even worse,” Eric argued. “How do we know she hasn’t already exposed us to humans? Or broken a hundred pack laws?”
“She hasn’t,” Ryker said folding his arms across his chest hardening his gaze. “I know because I’ve been following her.”
“For two years?” Eric countered.
“For a few months,” Ryker said, and his tone was sharp—a warning.
Eric fell silent.
“How did you handle a full moon without anyone to run with?” Seth asked, excitement showing in his eyes.
I froze, looking from him to Ryker.
“I hide in a storm cellar out in the middle of the woods.” Although I squirmed uncomfortably under the penetrating glare of the surrounding men, I tried to keep my voice even though my veins vibrated with tension. “I didn’t know what could happen if I let myself loose, and I didn’t want to risk hurting someone,” I said, answering the question I knew was bound to follow.
“Shit,” Pops muttered.
“Well, we can teach you how to handle a full moon, and you won’t have to worry about hurting anyone,” Seth said.
I inclined my head gratefully.
“No, she just has to worry about others trying to hurt her.” Eric snorted.
“Why would anyone want to hurt me?” I asked.
“For a number of reasons,” Seth said. “As a female, you can make a pack stronger, physically offering a pure werewolf gene line. That gives our pack a stronger standing among other packs.”
“Listen, I’m not your incubator or concubine or whatever you might be thinking,” I began but Ryker cut me off, his hand landing lightly on my back for reassurance.
“We know that.” Ryker gazed at me, his features softening, “Seth just means other packs are going to want you for themselves for those reasons—and they’re not all going to be gentle about it.”
“Let’s not forget the number of other Fae out there who would kill her to keep werewolves from gaining a stronger foothold in the supernatural community,” Eric pointed out with a grimace that said he didn’t at all like the idea of being caught in the middle of it.
I glared at him from across the table.
“We will train her, teach her the ways of the pack and of taking care of her wolf,” Pops said his voice gentle beside me. “When we’re done with her, she can protect herself.”
I blinked liking the sound of it. For the first time, the idea of being in a pack didn’t seem like a bad thing. “You can train me to fight?” I asked.
Before Pops could answer, Eric cut in, “Yeah, and in the meantime, we’re risking our necks until she’s actually worth anything.” He crossed his arms, and I snarled.
“There was a time when the pack had to protect you, too, Eric. Don’t forget that,” Ryker said, sipping from the cup of coffee in front of him.
“We can teach you the ways of the pack, and the supernatural community as a whole,” Pops said, turning back to me. “The laws, history, and hopefully, find out how you survived the transition.”
I took in their words, and when Eric snorted again, I ignored him. “Will I have to quit my job or leave my apartment or anything like that?” I asked.
“No, of course not,” Ryker said. “It’s important to integrate into human society. We all have a human life, too. Pops owns th
e café. Mason and Seth are police officers. While Eric here runs a bar on the other side of the square.”
“Are we even sure she can learn all this quickly enough to avoid getting us killed?” Eric asked, his voice dripping with disdain.
Ryker glared at him.
“Damn straight I can,” I said, glaring.
“You don’t know how you survived, who your father is, or if he’s still alive with a pack of his own. Which could come down on our heads if he is and does.” Eric glared. “And in all the time you’ve been a wolf, you don’t even have the basics down about how to shift without pain.”
“Eric,” Ryker said harshly.
“I didn’t have someone to show me the ropes like you did,” I said, jutting out my chin.
Eric scoffed. “That much is obvious,” he sneered as his eyes raked up and down my body.
Squinting as I balled my fist, I challenged, “Ryker claimed you guys were more than a pack—that you’re a family. But you know what? I’m better off alone if this is how you treat family.” I shoved to my feet and stormed to the door.
No one called out to stop me. Throwing back a final glare over my shoulder, I noticed the men staring at Eric. The anger on their faces was palpable. I yanked the door wide and rushed out, letting it slam behind me.
Outside, the cold autumn air whipped across my flushed face, and I welcomed it. Stomping my way past old buildings and vintage streetlights, anger raged red hot through my veins. My wolf shoved to the surface, and I had to force it away.
I didn’t stop or slow down until the familiar building came into view over the rooftops. A sense of security washed over me as I wound my way through the alley that would spit me out in front of the bookstore.
I rounded the last corner, and my shoulder hit something hard. I stumbled back, blinking at the petite girl who’d nearly ran me over.
“Ouch,” the girl said, delivering the word like an accusation. She stood a few yards away, glaring at me as she rubbed her injured shoulder.