BlackWolf Legacy

by Sydney Addae

  “For a moment this device impacted me and I couldn’t move,” Lucian admitted.

  Angus returned the device to Lucian.

  “Yes, that’s the reason,” Silas said.

  “Did it impact your beast at all?” Lucian pressed.

  “No it didn’t,” Silas said and explained. “I’ve got more experience dealing with electronic devices. The next time someone uses a thing like that against you, your beast won’t hesitate. He’s growing and learning, evolving to meet and succeed against every threat so that you’ll be able to survive as the world changes. I remember the days men didn’t use guns in fights. It was considered lazy and dishonorable to simply fire one shot to kill a man instead of using a sword, or knife or your fists.” He waved his hand. “No one bothers with those skills anymore. They go for the quick kill and hide like cowards.”

  “Thank you for explaining. I noticed you didn’t hesitate and wondered why I did,” Lucian said and turned to Jasmine. “You conquered the heat of my anger, how did you do that?”

  “Does he really want me to answer that in front of everyone?” she asked Silas.

  “Yes. He’s not too proud to learn and will not take offense which makes him a great leader.”

  “I’m stronger.” She held up her hand when Raven and Duke moved in the background. “That didn’t come out right. As La Patroness, I can draw energy from every Pack member which gives me and Silas for that matter a huge power base to work with. Does that make better sense?”

  “Yes, thank you for explaining. I should’ve known that.” Lucian grinned. “I’ve never seen you operate as La Patroness before; it’s liberating and beautiful to know you’ve got his back the way you do. His power is yours, is the reverse true?”

  Silas looked at Jasmine. “Yes it is.”

  Lucian looked at his litter-mates and Solo. “Gives us something to look forward to, eh?”

  “Yes it does,” Raven said with a slight smile. “The food is here. Prepare for a feast. Do you remember the time you visited and ate at the small restaurant in the village?” She looked at Silas.

  “Oh yes, the food was delicious. Are we having some of her cooking?” he asked.

  “Her daughter is opening a restaurant on Pack lands here in Panama. It should be completed by the end of next month. She’s honored to prepare meals for our Alpha and his guests,” Raven said standing and walking to the door. Duke and Solo followed.

  “The food was really good. I told you about it remember?” Silas asked Jasmine.

  “I think so. It smells good. My mouth’s watering.” Jasmine stood and walked to the dining table as covered platters were brought inside and placed on the long granite island.

  “That smells delicious,” Shyla said as she and Angus moved to the dining table to watch. Raven and Solo inspected each dish while Duke set the table. Lucian remained on the sofa deep in thought.

  “Alpha?” Raven called to her brother. “We’re putting the food on the table, please come.”

  Lucian stood and walked over to them. He pulled out the chair at the head and sat down. Silas and the others sat as well. Raven, Duke, and Solo placed steaming platters of meat, patties, rice, plantains, sauteed vegetables and more meat in front of them.

  Lucian said a short grace and they filled their plates. Raven and Solo continued serving until every glass was filled and refilled with beverages, empty platters were removed and replaced. Once everyone was eating, they sat and joined the feast.

  “You were right,” Jasmine said afterward. “This is really good.”

  Silas smiled at her and continued eating. Lucian hadn’t said anything since he sat and Silas knew there was a lot on the young Alpha’s mind.

  When most of the plates were empty and the table partially cleared, Lucian sat forward with his hands clasped. He leaned back and held up one finger. “The first mandate is to deal with the full-bloods who violated the Goddess’ rule and exposed us to humans. That can and will have a far-reaching impact on Pack around the world.”

  Silas and the others nodded.

  Lucian held up two fingers as he met Silas’ gaze. “After they’re eliminated, we need to know how many people they’ve told and eliminate them as well. No matter how I think through this quagmire, I can’t get around eliminating them... even if they’re human,”

  Silas nodded.

  Lucian held up three fingers. “We also need to shut down Housman’s workshop or lab or wherever he created that thing. They tested it already in Costa Rica which made it harder to bring Pack together but not impossible. Which tells me some Pack are more susceptible than others. Tonight, they used a concentrated dose in a small space but that’s not normal. We will beat this and run them out of our territory.”

  Duke, Solo, and Raven cheered.

  Silas and the others clapped in support.

  “We’ll go downstairs and have a chat with the men from the van.” He looked at Solo. “I want the names of the traitors tonight so they can be eliminated for jeopardizing all Pack.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Solo left the room and went out the front door.

  “I appreciate you and Angus being here along with your mates and would value any opinions you might have during the interrogation,” Lucian said.

  “He wants my opinion? That’s different,” Jasmine teased.

  “You made an impression earlier. I don’t think any of them will ever think of you quite the same.” Silas stood. “We won’t be returning to the island for another three hours, until then we would be happy to help.”

  “Thank you,” Lucian said with genuine gratitude. It was obvious this recent event shook him.

  They all stood and followed him toward the door. Raven hung back and cleared the table. “I’ll be there in a bit,” she told Lucian when he turned and looked at her.

  “Have someone else do that,” Lucian said.

  “They’re coming. I just need to give them instructions and I’ll be there,” Raven said while removing platters from the table.

  Lucian and Duke looked at each other and shrugged. “This way,” Lucian said as they entered the hall and strode toward a different elevator in silence. This elevator had three buttons. Lucian tapped each one in a certain pattern. The door closed and they moved downward. This time when the door opened, they entered a brightly lit wide corridor with an industrial appearance. Concrete floors and walls with overhead LED lights.

  Duke walked ahead and opened the first set of doors. They continued to another set, which Duke opened. Silas had sensed heartbeats before, however, now he sensed human heartbeats and realized they had arrived.

  “In here.” Lucian opened a door. Inside was a table and several comfortably padded chairs facing a thick glass. “This room we use when we interrogate Pack. It dampens your scent, sound, and presence from the person you’re watching.”

  Silas, Jasmine, Angus and Shyla took seats. Duke remained outside and closed the door. “I’ll watch with you as Solo questions them. Just so you know, they were given drugs earlier, nothing too heavy, just enough to loosen their tongues,” Lucas said. “As soon as we have names of the full-bloods, Duke and a small team will go get them.”

  Silas nodded and watched Solo take a seat in front of a male who looked to be in his 40’s. His eyes were glassy as he sat comfortably in the chair gazing at Solo.

  “Who are you my friend?” Solo asked.

  “Manuel and you?”

  “Gabriel, the angel from heaven’s gate.”

  “Si. You have come for me?” Manuel asked.

  “Do you think you should return with me to heaven? What of your sins? The blood on your hands?”

  Manuel started crying. “Por favor. I have sinned. Forgive me.”

  “What were you doing in the van tonight?” Solo asked.

  “Listening to the people inside, it’s an important job. We must get the right information on the people,” he said almost eagerly.

  “You think it’s good to listen to others, my friend?” Solo asked.
<
br />   Manuel frowned. “They are friends. I think he said they are friends of his.”

  “Who? Who told you this?” Solo pressed.

  “Carlos. He works for... for... Estevan Cortes,” Manuel said in a low voice while looking around. “Shhh, don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret.”

  Solo nodded. “Why does Carlos want to listen to his friends in the restaurant?”

  Manuel’s frown deepened. “I don’t think it’s for him but for someone on the phone. He talked to them.”

  “Tonight? He talked to them tonight?”

  “Si. Si. While we listen,” Manuel said. “Perdóname padre porque he pecado.”

  Lucian chuckled at Solo’s startled expression. “I don’t think anyone’s ever asked him to forgive them for their sins or called him Padre.”

  Silas grinned. “One thing for sure, Manuel didn’t talk to Cortes tonight. Which means Carlos works for someone else. I’m thinking Rafe Alvarez is at the root of this mess.”

  “So do I,” Lucian said and stepped out the room.

  “How much trouble are the traitors in?” Jasmine asked.

  “Quite a bit. Even rebels in the States know better than to run to the humans saying look at us, we’re different. That’s a death sentence,” Silas said with heat.

  “It’s important to know what’s been done with the information,” Angus said staring at his fingernails.

  “We need to know the answer to that,” Jasmine said and looked at Silas. “Maybe on the way out tomorrow we can check on Jandro?”

  “Nothing can be done to Rafe until Lucian has the names of the traitors,” Shyla warned.

  “Maybe one of the other humans have that information,” Jasmine said.

  “It’d be sloppy if anyone other than Rafe knew their names. Dr. Housman didn’t know their names or identity,” Angus said.

  “I’m with Jasmine on this,” Shyla said. “They took advantage of our hospitality, we cared for their son, and for them to try to hurt us in any way is just foul.”

  “Lucian is Alpha here,” Silas reminded them.

  “Alpha Lucian already gave me permission to talk to anyone I want and I want to look Jandro in the eye to see if he’s involved in this,” Jasmine said.

  “And if he is?” Silas asked.

  “Then he won’t be happy to see us, will he?” Jasmine said with a wicked grin.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  THEY RETURNED TO THE island later that night with no problems. Jasmine decided to wait until morning to finish packing. Dressed in an egg-robin blue gauzy dress, she slipped out the sliding glass door onto the deck. Laying on a lounger, she stared at the crescent moon reflected on the ocean. The waves lapped gently against the shore in a hypnotic rhythm easing the tension from the day and week.

  Tomorrow they would leave for home. Despite her complaints and the interruptions, she had enjoyed her time alone with Silas and the others. Life with him was never dull. There was always something happening.

  Staring at the sky, she reviewed the memory that had been niggling in the back of her mind for the past hour. Tonight, she affected humans. That was different than the sandstorms and wind blowing them into the ocean. Until the man rose in the air by her will, she had no idea that was possible. Silas had been just as surprised as Lucian although neither mentioned it.

  How could that happen? Red hot anger had whipped through her when she saw what the man holding the box was doing and realized it impacted the others. She hadn’t given it a thought as she reached out to grab him, something she did with wolves in the past. On the flight back to the island she half-listened to Silas and the others discussing Lucian’s dilemma, and it hit her. Jasmine recalled the man from the restaurant hanging in mid-air.

  The door opened and Shyla walked outside wearing a long, flowing, multi-colored caftan in shimmery golds and blue. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful here. No matter what, I really appreciate you pushing for us to come here for a break. Angus needed it as well. He’s much more relaxed.” She sat in the lounger next to Jasmine’s.

  “It is beautiful here,” Jasmine said, glad for the company and a break from her thoughts. She would discuss what happened with Silas later. “Hard to believe there’s so many problems in the world when the sky looks like that, right?”

  “Definitely,” Shyla said softly.

  “Enjoying the night?” Silas asked as he walked outside.

  Jasmine turned in her chair to look at him.

  Dressed in nothing but a pair of low-riding jogging shorts, he grinned at her.

  She extended her hand to him.

  He took it, pulled her up, took her spot and lay her beside him. Angus had followed Silas out and had moved Shyla in the same way.

  “Quite a few visitors while we were gone,” Angus said a few moments later.

  Curious but not wanting to dampen the mood, Jasmine didn’t say anything. Instead, she cuddled closer beneath Silas’ arm.

  “How many?” Shyla asked.

  “At least five, as much as nine. They walked around the entire shield searching for a way to reach the houses. Both Detectives Marin and Suarez returned on a police boat. The human scents from the other boats weren’t familiar. They left when we boarded the copter to come back,” Angus said.

  “Made a full night of it,” Shyla said.

  “Yeah,” Angus said.

  “Tell us what happened with Amynta,” Jasmine said wanting to change the subject. “You were sick when you woke. Did you see anything? Nikolas or the woman?”

  “Yes, I saw them,” Silas explained the bumpy ride.

  “Those winds were time channels. She had to make holes in them to pass through,” Angus said. “It was impressive to see her work as fast as she did to reach the right era.”

  “He says impressive.” Silas tipped his head toward his brother. “I say bumpy and rough.”

  “Did you understand she was drilling holes in time?” Jasmine asked. Silas had no mystical inclinations or abilities, while Angus did. She wasn’t surprised Silas missed the nuances of going back in time or the amount of skill involved.

  “No. But that doesn’t change the way it felt,” Silas said and brushed a kiss against her forehead.

  “We’re waiting for Hawke and Niall to interpret what was said?” Jasmine asked.

  “Yes. None of us have any idea what was said in the ritual,” Silas said.

  “Isn’t Lucian and his family BlackWolf?” Shyla asked.

  “Yes, he is,” Angus said.

  “Why isn’t he involved?” she asked.

  “They only contacted wolves over a certain age,” Angus said.

  Shyla nodded.

  Jasmine chuckled and shook her head as a thought slipped through her mind.

  “What?” Silas asked.

  “Nothing... well, just a weird thought. What if all this is connected somehow?” She looked at Silas and then the others. “Come on, I mean the timing is suspect, right? Lucian’s a younger BlackWolf Alpha. The first one in a long time who’s given a continent. His Pack is targeted, tested around the time BlackWolves are going through something... that would be too wild,” Jasmine said and shook her head.

  None of the others moved or said anything. Jasmine noticed Silas’ stillness and looked up at him. “Wait... it was just a random thought, Silas. Not something to seriously consider.” When he continued staring at her and his eyes changed to that uncanny blue-green color, she sat up and pushed his shoulder. “What are you thinking?”

  He blinked in slow motion, the way he did when he was on the verge of shifting. She grabbed his arm and pinched him. “Silas.”

  “Jasmine?” His gaze met hers and she knew he was there with her.

  “What are you thinking?” she demanded and glanced at the others. Both Angus and Shyla eyes were large and bright like their beasts were a hair-strand away as they stared at Silas.

  “I was thinking I have a brilliant mate.” He pulled her back against him, took a deep breath and shuddered. The movement remi
nded her of his beast shaking water from his fur.

  “Don’t shift,” she told him.

  “I control him, not the other way around,” Silas said.

  “Why... what made you think that?” Shyla asked a few moments later.

  “Huh?” Jasmine looked at her.

  “The connection between BlackWolf and what’s happening here now? What made you think of that? It’s highly probable by the way, something totally unexpected and probably the missing piece to whatever’s going on,” Shyla said.

  Jasmine didn’t think it was brilliant or a missing piece. “Just seems strange all of this is happening now. We’ve come here, to this island several times... never had any problems. This time hell’s gate swung open and started taking names.”

  “We’d forgotten or hadn’t paid Lucian’s BlackWolf status much attention. Central America is a rough place for any Alpha to tame, so when Duke mentioned problems in Costa Rica it didn’t send up a flag,” Angus said. “I never made the connection of their BlackWolf lineage to their being targeted, which is totally possible.”

  “Makes you wonder who told the humans about full-bloods. Hard to believe one of our own would run to the humans,” Shyla said.

  “Right. What if it’s not full-bloods, but the same entity or situation that’s causing problems for our Clan?” Angus said. “We really need to know what the other mage had to say. It’s possible he started something in motion, just as Bazla and Nikolas did.”

  “What do you think he did?” Jasmine asked him.

  “I think he countered her spell. He couldn’t stop it but he could’ve layered it with something that set things in motion. They killed him immediately, so it must’ve been bad,” Angus said.

  “Or on general principle for sneaking around,” Shyla said. “Back then, rich, titled, men like Konstantin were the law and could dispense justice for any reason.”

  “True,” Angus said. “But the expressions on their faces over what he did clearly showed their displeasure.”

  “If someone had killed my child or servant over something like that and if I had the power or ability to wreak vengeance, I would,” Silas said slowly. “If the other Mage belonged to another Wolf or Mage or Nobleman ... or someone he trained under or belonged to, killing such a valued servant the way Konstantin did would be a slap in the face. And if the owner of the servant knew Konstantin and Nikolas were linked... to directly kill a Nobleman was death but if he killed Nikolas, it would be the same as killing Konstantin.”