by DJ Phoenix
“That was you at the bench? Why were you squawking so loudly?”
“I was trying to warn you there was someone watching you. I couldn’t just turn into my handsome self in front of the humans, so the next best thing was making noise and looking toward the area where the wolf was watching. When you walked into the diner, I went back to keep an eye on your stalker, but he was gone. I haven’t been able to find him since.”
“Luke smelled something outside the cabin I was renting, but he couldn’t pinpoint the scent, and he couldn’t find anyone. Maybe that’s what he smelled.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that wolf has been lurking around your home, so just in case, stay close to your guards. This could be related to your parent’s prophecy, or could be one of Luke’s problems coming back to haunt him. Either way, never go anywhere alone.”
Cynthia tried not to get irritated at having yet another male attempt to tell her what to do. “Okay.” She let out a frustrated breath then took a deep breath to help calm her. “I will take a step of faith … I don’t know why, but I feel I can trust you. Please ask whoever Eve is if Cassie is safe. I just need to know she’s okay.”
“I’ll have news for you next time we meet. Now go.” He pushed Cynthia out the door and flashed himself back to the gown department. That had gone well, considering all he had told Cynthia. Getting the news that you were part Fae wasn’t something that happened all the time, so he was sure she’d be calling him as soon as she was alone or as alone as was safe for him to show up.
Cynthia walked to the dressing room, surprised to find Kristy in the same chair she had left her. “I’m back. Have you had a chance to try on your dress yet?”
Kristy looked up and smiled. “You were fast. I’m waiting for Mindy to come out so I can try my dress on. I really like this one, so if it fits this is the one I’m taking, no need to keep looking.”
Cynthia looked at her watch and found she had only been gone eight minutes. “I think I’m taking the first one I tried on. They are all beautiful, but that silver gown just seems to be calling me to take it home.”
“That’s exactly how I feel about this one. If you’re not trying anymore gowns, can I use your dressing room then?”
“Sure, I’ll sit here and watch the purses.” As Cynthia sat waiting, she went over all Adam had said. She was half Fae, and would have some kind of gift and magic. It all sounded ludicrous; yet, deep down she knew it was possible. Adam had never told her how he knew about the ceremony. Had he been watching her all this time and no one had noticed? That meant the Fae had some good skills if they could evade a pack of wolves.
Chapter 24
Cynthia
Cynthia had seen firsthand the dedication Luke had for his pack. He woke early every day and headed to the pack office: He tended to any paperwork or meetings on his schedule, dealt with any pack issues, and then headed out to whichever cabin or property was being worked on. He also checked up on any pack members that needed his help or attention. According to Margaret, he supervised each cabin project personally, and even did some of the labor himself; he never neglected to visit or tend to the elderly pack members, or the widows or cubs whose parents weren’t around. Cynthia had seen the proof of her mate’s hard work when he came home in the evenings sweaty and dirty, or when he was kept out late because he was out tending to a pack member. Of course, she hadn’t complained one bit since she’d had the pleasure of helping her mate strip and clean off the day’s sweat and grime, enjoying every minute of it as they made love before collapsing, exhausted and sated, onto their bed.
Cynthia had accompanied Luke several times to the office, per his request, but most of her time had been spent with Lucy. The elderly she-wolf had taken her duty seriously, dragging Cynthia to the next town over several times to choose table cloths, dinnerware, centerpieces, and flowers. To her relief, there hadn’t been any wedding or bridesmaids’ dresses involved; instead, Cynthia had been fitted for a gown she hadn’t known the style of. Lucy had explained it was tradition for all shifters who performed the bonding ceremony to wear a ceremonial gown, which would be discarded as soon as the vows were completed.
A little melancholy seeped in as she thought of Cassie. Mindy and Kristy had been by her side since the night of her attack, and in this short time both girls had earned a special spot in her heart. Kristy had become another baby sister, and Mindy had practically become her best friend. But she missed Cassie, and would have given anything to have her here by her side.
She understood, however, that it wasn’t the right time for Cassie to find out what they truly were. That knowledge and logic, however, didn’t keep her from missing her. Cynthia took a deep breath and opened her bedroom window. She didn’t know if this would actually work, but she gave it a try anyway. She spoke Adam’s name out the window and prepared herself to wait.
Adam suddenly appeared in her bedroom and she squeaked, her hand going to her chest as if it would keep her heart from beating right out.
He smiled at her and looked around the bedroom as if he was inspecting it. “Your mate is providing well for you.”
Cynthia managed to get her heartbeat under control to respond. She tried to sound miffed, but she couldn’t hide her elation at seeing her only other known relative again. “Well, hello to you, too.”
Adam waved her off. “To what do I owe your call?”
He didn’t seem upset that Cynthia had called him away from whatever he had been doing, but she decided to err in the side of caution anyway; it wouldn’t be good to offend the only person that could give her answers about her Fae heritage. “I’m so glad you came. I didn’t know if you would actually show up when I called your name, and I didn’t mean to pull you away from anything important. I just wanted to ask you about Cassie. Is she safe? Has the Fae that was sent to help her revealed our true nature to her, or is Cassie still oblivious to the supernatural world?”
Adam stopped his perusing and smiled at Cynthia. “You were hoping she knew so she could be here for the bonding ceremony.” It wasn’t a question, just a mere observation on her cousin’s part. “I am sorry, cousin. Eve has befriended Cassie, and spends most of her time with her in human form, and other times she watches over her as a white dove. But she has not revealed who we are, and feels that it is not time yet.”
“It’s okay, I just miss her, and I worry about her. She’s in another continent by herself, and if someone has been stalking me, I’m afraid she might be a target, too.”
Adam sat on one of the chairs that matched a small tea table near the window. “That is why Eve is there. She will keep her safe and, if Eve notices anything suspicious, she will let us know. I promise you she is well and safe.”
Cynthia took the opposite chair. “I know, I trust you.”
Adam looked pensive for a moment as he ran his hand down his chin, then he looked at Cynthia. “I need to meet your mate. When is a good time for me to introduce myself? He needs to know about the lone wolf I saw in town.”
Cynthia was excited to introduce her only relative to her mate, but also worried that he wouldn’t be too welcoming. When Lucy had shared that maybe there was a Fae in town, everyone had been suspicious over the reasons behind the unknown Fae’s visit, but she knew it had to happen. She couldn’t keep her cousin a secret, that just wouldn’t help anyone. “I’ll call you tonight. Knowing who is in town and why will appease everyone’s tension over a Fae being here.”
Adam stood and walked toward the window. “Very well, I will wait for your call. Everything will be alright, cousin. You are safe, as is Cassie. And stay with your guards. I will see you tonight.” Just as suddenly as Adam had appeared in her bedroom, he disappeared.
Cynthia walked down stairs, ready to tell her mate about her Fae cousin. Her determination took a dive the minute Luke told her that Joe had information on her family. Cynthia was instantly a ball of nerves. Will they even want to know me? Could I even trust them? Mom and Dad kept us hidden for a reason. A knock p
ulled her out of her worried thoughts.
“Good evening, Luke. Sorry for the late visit, but I feel the information is important.” Joe’s voice was as confident and strong as ever; no hint of emotion.
Luke ushered Joe to the living room. “We’ll meet in here.”
Cynthia didn't know if these men drank coffee during their meetings, but she needed to do something to keep herself from worrying. She set the tray with coffee and pastries on the coffee table. Then turned to welcome Joe. “Thank you for doing this. I would have never figured out where to start. No matter the outcome I am grateful for whatever you were able to find.” Joe embraced her, and Luke growled from behind her. “Don’t you start growling, Joe is like the uncle I never had.”
Matt, Evan, and James arrived together not long after Joe had settled into a chair. A few moments later Dan walked in carrying a twelve pack of beer. Cynthia looked around the large living room, the dominant males sitting there filling up the space making it feel too small.
Her hands were slightly trembling and she kept wringing them. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to sit or stand. Luke took her hand and led her to the loveseat. He kept her hand in his so Cynthia began to worry her bottom lip instead. The anticipation was killing her.
Luke’s voice was steady and strong; there was no question over his Alpha authority. “Joe, share what you found. We’ll listen first and then decide the best way to address the information.
Joe nodded. “I was able to trace back your father’s name to a pack in Scotland. Their Alpha, Rodric Wheelan has been in charge for the last three hundred years.” Joe looked at Cynthia and a shiver ran down her spine. Her life would never be the same again. “He informed me that Aaron Wheelan was his son. Seventy years ago Aaron found his true mate, but her people would not approve or allow the bonding ceremony to take place, so the pack joined Aaron in a battle against the Fae. Cynthia, your mother was Fae.”
Cynthia’s heart stuttered and a knot formed in her throat. They lost their families over something that was out of their hands. What kind of family goes to war over something that should be beautiful? A tear rolled down her cheek. Hearing about her parents like this was harder than she thought.
Joe gave her a sympathetic smile and rested his elbows on his knees. “Rodric said the battle went on for days, and not until both armies were nearly decimated did the Fae pull back. When Aaron’s body was not found, Roderic believed his son dead. You can imagine his shock when he learned that he has not one but two granddaughters.” Joe looked at Cynthia again. “He wants to meet you, Cynthia. I told him I couldn’t promise anything, that I would give all this information to our Alpha, and that it would be up to you. However, you must understand that he is an Alpha, and a powerful one at that. Not many can go to battle with the Fae and survive.” He paused, giving her a chance to take in all the information he had just shared. When he continued, his voice took on a business-like tone as he straightened up in his seat. “You must understand that we are not human, Cynthia, we have our own laws, it’s how we keep our races in line and keep the humans safe. Under pack law he is your Alpha. You are blood bonded to Luke, but again, under pack law you won’t be officially part of this pack until the bonding ceremony is performed. As your Alpha, he can demand that the ceremony be postponed.”
Luke gently tugged on Cynthia’s bottom lip, releasing it from the tight grip her teeth held it in.
Cynthia stood up abruptly before he could say anything. “Wait, what? No! He can’t do that! I’m Fae too, and they’re not lining up trying to run my life. They sent Adam to watch over me, if anything they’ve been trying to help.” At the end of her rant she stomped her foot for good measure, then realized her slip up when Luke’s tight voice filled the room.
Luke’s voice was even and controlled as he spoke his next words. Cynthia had never heard it before. “Cynthia, what do you mean they’ve been trying to help?" His voice raised an octave. “And who is Adam?”
Cynthia swallowed hard. Shoot, this was so not the way to tell him about Adam. She released a frustrated breath and plopped back onto the loveseat. She had to tell him everything. “When I went dress shopping with Lucy I bumped into a Fae. I was going to tell you about him tonight but then this came up. I’ve only seen him twice so there hasn’t been much time to talk. All I know is that my mother’s magic had been keeping us hidden from the supernatural world and it vanished when she passed away. Adam was sent to watch over me when our grandmother found us.”
Luke’s glowing eyes met Cynthia and she knew that his wolf was at the wheel. His voice was close to a growl and a little distorted as he spoke his next words. “You met with an unknown male without anyone there for security. You put yourself in danger without any regard for anyone else.” Luke pointed at his enforcers. “Evan and James would have forfeited their lives had you been hurt.”
Cynthia jumped out of her seat. I have a Neanderthal for a mate! And to think I felt bad for keeping something so important from him. “You listen to me, mate.” Cynthia put her hands on her hips and stared her mate down. “Evan and James are not responsible for my actions, and I am not a baby in need of a nanny. I will not be responsible for them being hurt, and I will not stand around while your overprotective wolf attempts to hold them accountable for my actions.”
As soon as Cynthia had mentioned her meeting with Adam, Evan and James visibly tensed. Great I’ve made them angry. They’ll never trust me again. They both bared their throats to Luke. “Alpha, we failed and put your mate, our Alpha female, in danger. We accept whatever discipline you see fit.”
Before Luke replied to Evan and James, Cynthia spoke up again. “No, there will be no discipline. I am fine, nothing happened to me, I met my cousin. A cousin that has been sent to help me.”
Luke stood from his seat. “Cynthia, I am their Alpha, and as such my commands are to be obeyed. That’s how the pack stays safe. If I have to discipline them, it’s so they know that I will do whatever I need to do to keep them safe.” Luke walked to Cynthia and held her face gently in his large hands. “You are the most amazing and wonderful person I have ever met, and I know this is all new to you, but you have to trust me.” Luke turned to Evan and James. “You two and I will have a talk later.” Then he turned his attention back to Cynthia. “I need you to contact this cousin the Fae have graciously sent.”
Cynthia opened the front door. “Adam, I need to speak with you.”
To everyone’s surprise Adam appeared in front of Cynthia with a friendly smile on his too-handsome face. Then the Fae looked around Cynthia and into the room, and his sweet smile was replaced with a blank poker face and confidence oozing off of him like the sweet fragrance of a baked cake. As if he were taking a leisurely stroll in the park, Adam made his way around his cousin and into the living room where the most dominant males in the pack awaited him.
Adam didn’t wait for his stunned cousin to move, and introduced himself. “Alpha of the Clear Creek Pack, I am Adam, knight of the Fae court. I am also a first cousin to your mate, Cynthia, and her sister, Cassie.”
Luke stood and approached Adam, his wolf peering from his eyes. “Tell me, Fae, what is your business in our town, and why have you contacted my mate without making yourself known to me first? You know that supernatural law states any supernatural entering a claimed territory must announce themselves to the Alpha before making themselves at home.” Cynthia had gasped at Luke’s reply. She hadn’t known that rule existed. Luke had briefly looked at her, giving a slight nod, letting her know that was indeed law.
Cynthia worried for her cousin. Though she had only talked to him twice, she already cared for him as family. “Luke, he sought me out while we were out of town, so technically he didn’t break any law. The second time we spoke it was me that called him to learn how my sister was doing. I was supposed to tell you about him tonight, so he could come and speak with you.”
Luke walked over to Cynthia and pulled her to his side. He motioned to the rest of the men in the ro
om and introduced them to Adam. “Adam, take a seat. Let’s talk about why you are here and any other information you have that will be useful in our attempt to keep my mate safe.”
Adam took a seat on one of the armed chairs in the room. “Very well. Cynthia’s mother and mine are sisters. Aunt Viv disappeared seventy years ago. So that you can understand the magnitude of Aunt Viv’s power, you must know that Fae magic leaves a trace whenever it is used, and we can’t hide it from others of our kind, but Aunt Viv managed to hide her trace. She placed a cloaking spell over her and her mate, and then over her daughters. Not even the king and queen were able to track her. So, after years of searching, everyone just gave up. She wasn’t spoken of, and it was assumed that she had died, possibly during the battle with her mate’s pack.
“Then, almost two years ago, she contacted her mother. It was brief. But this time she left some trace behind; enough for us to know she was in the new world, but not enough to pinpoint where. We don’t know what she told her mother, but right after that happened the queen sent out scouts to search for her. A year ago, the cloaking spell weakened, and I was able to narrow the search to California. I hadn’t been successful in finding her until some months ago, when the spell broke. That’s when I knew where Aunt Viv was, but she was dying. Like most supernaturals, our kind is immune to illness. I discovered some other Fae trace leading to Aunt Viv, but it was distorted somehow, and we were unable to find the Fae behind it. Unfortunately, whoever this Fae was placed a curse on Aunt Viv that she couldn’t recover from.
“After Aunt Viv’s funeral, I was ordered to make contact with Cynthia and Cassie. However, the girls left their home, heading for different destinations before I could introduce myself. The queen then ordered me to watch over Cynthia and a Fae knight named Eve to watch over Cassie. I made sure she made it to her lodging safely. I figured she needed time to heal, and that she would be okay here, so I kept my distance.