Rikki shuddered when I slipped my fingers between her thighs and into her wetness. I rotated my index over her clit, and she gasped. Her hands gripped our sheets. Rikki moaned as I took her fast and hard. Her lips pressed hard against mine and I knew we'd need more than an hour to get through our mating frenzy.
*
“Took you both long enough,” Rosemary teased.
I rolled my eyes and plopped down in one of the lawn chairs in the backyard. The firepit was lit and several of the pack members were roasting marshmallows. Rosemary handed me a marshmallow and a skewer. The atmosphere was entirely different. Cain wasn’t coming to take me away.
Cecilia sipped iced tea from a pink glass. “I could get used to this. I think I'm going to sleep out here tonight.”
“Agreed,” I added.
“Remy loves the outdoors. I wonder what she will be like as a wolf? Ric says she's strong.” Izzy kissed Remy’s forehead as she nestled her against her stomach.
“She will be.” I smiled at the little baby, happy to see her healthy.
“Word will spread that a cub has been born,” Rosemary said, worry in her eyes.
“I'm not going anywhere.”
“No, you're not,” Rikki stressed, sitting down in a chair next to mine. “The Council has taken most of the rogues into custody, except for the four that wanted to join our pack. I think they might do well with our pack.”
Council? What the hell is that? I also wanted to ask about Braelin but said nothing. I was nervous and unsure of what to feel.
As always, Rikki saw through me. “Braelin is one of them. They are on their way.”
Rikki wasn't done. She had more to say. I could sense her stress, the wolf inside her pacing. I lifted my hand over my head, brushing my fingers against her jaw.
“Tell me.”
Everyone around the fire pit watched cautiously. Rosemary had forgotten her marshmallow, letting it burn beyond recognition.
“The Council is coming too. They want to meet you.”
“Uh-I,” is all I could manage to say.
Everyone took that moment to get up and leave.
Rikki moved into the chair Rosemary had occupied and held my hand. “I won't let them take you.”
“You think they will try?” I asked nervously.
“I am respected by most of them. They will ask. But they won't force you.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. I studied Rikki. “What aren't you telling me? What is this Council?”
Rikki grimaced. “The Council is a group of elders that rule on werewolf issues. It is an institution that was set up centuries ago to maintain order. There are a few members of the current Council that do not like me as an Alpha. I am female and have Native American ancestry. He...and a few others, are from the first colony. One of them was responsible for over a dozen Omega deaths.”
“What?” I snarled, sitting up.
“His name’s Luke. He joined the Council to redeem himself. But he still might harbor some animosity for Omegas, so we need to be careful.”
“And here I thought we were finally in a good place,” I said, bemused by the situation.
“When they leave, I'll make sure we all have a small vacation,” Rikki promised.
Tato appeared in the doorway of the house. They're here.”
Rikki rose and offered her hand to me. Tato walked out onto the back deck, Rosemary at his side. The pack reconvened outside, seating themselves in the grass around the firepit. Rikki would not ask them to leave. She would need their support in front of the Council.
Four rogues approached from the side of the house. One of them was Braelin. Another group followed – three men and one woman. The power in their scent was palpable. They were strong and ancient. Probably older than Rikki. I expected to see them in dark robes, but they were in everyday, modern garb. They noticed Remy first. One of their group, a man with silver hair, sauntered over to Izzy and Ric.
He appeared to be in his early 50s, but I knew that was bullshit. He felt too strong to be so young.
“It has been quite a few centuries since I laid eyes on a shifter child.” He smiled politely, and I relaxed as he admired the baby. “May I?”
Izzy was hesitant, but she gave the man her baby. He cradled her gently and smiled when she cooed in his arms.
“She is beautiful.”
“Yes, yes, she’s incredible. Can we get on with it?” A man who I assumed was Luke approached the pack. “The child is proof that an Omega is in their midst.”
His gaze met mine. I refused to look away in submission, and he snarled at my insubordination.
“Luke,” the only woman of the Council said, “I thought it was clear, that your old ways were wrong. She has every right to be what she is.”
“Damn right,” I grumbled.
Rikki squeezed my hand tightly.
I frowned but said nothing else.
“As always, Rikki, you impress us with your ability to keep this territory safe,” The silver-maned man holding Remy commented. “Despite all that, we are concerned for you. Having an Omega as your mate will bring you trouble, as I’m sure you know. Peace will be hard to come by.”
“I appreciate your desire to keep my mate safe, but she is safest with us.”
Her response didn’t surprise him. “Then I suggest you make allies by using her abilities for other packs. You will need them.”
Rikki nodded. “I will.”
“Good,” the older man replied. He studied me and smiled. “Our sanctuary will always be open to her.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you,” the woman said.
I smiled. “Same to you.”
Rikki walked them out and I sighed, relieved to see them go.
“Wow. That was, intense,” Rosemary said softly.
“Yeah.” Greenly chuckled. “Luke hates you.”
“I didn't notice.” I rolled my eyes, thankful they were gone. “Well, enough of that. I think it’s time for a vacation.”
*
The night carried on as if it hadn’t been disrupted by the Council. I managed to avoid Braelin for most of the night, but I knew I couldn’t possibly avoid her forever.
“Go talk to her.” Rosemary noticed me staring at Braelin and nudged me forward.
I groaned but got up anyway.
I was nervous as I approached. Tonight, the outsiders and I would become official members of the pack, partaking in a time-honored ritual. It would be a welcome distraction from the concern the pack shared that we still didn’t know the identity of the traitor. The rogues couldn’t reveal much either. Apparently, Cain was secretive. It made sense. It’s the reason his pack thrived for as long as they did.
Frowning, I realized I was nervous. Braelin arms were folded inward laying in the grass, her head resting over her linked fingers. She tilted her head my way and smiled shyly.
Braelin moved to sit up but I gestured for her to stay as she was. I decided to lie beside her on the ground. The black sky was pregnant with bright stars. My skin hummed in harmony with the sound of the crickets in the grass.
I didn’t know how to start the conversation.
Luckily for me, Braelin didn’t seem to have that problem.
“You know, my father told me once that anytime I felt loss, the moon would remind me of who I am.” She chuckled to herself and continued, “I thought his words were total bullshit. Telling me what I wanted to hear before he left me.”
Her words forced me to think of my father and of everything I lost when he died. He didn't choose to leave me, but a loss was a loss, no matter how it happened.
“My dad was...a kind man. Honest and fair. He told me all the time that he would love me no matter what.”
“Sounds like he was a great dad.” Her voice was full of regret.
“The best,” I boasted. Despite the alcoholism that caused his death, I loved him. “He knew I was gay, even before me.”
“I'm sure it meant a lot to have his support.”
&nbs
p; “It did.”
Braelin turned her head toward me. “I never meant to cause you so much grief. I was alone by the time I turned 17. That was about 30 years ago. I thought I understood life, but I will never understand why my father left me.”
I reminded myself werewolves aged slowly. I would age slowly.
“Where did he go?” I asked.
Braelin smiled weakly. “The same place my mother had gone. To his grave. He was killed.”
“Was he—”
“A werewolf?” Braelin finished my question. “Yes. The night my mother was killed, 10 years prior to my father’s death, was the night my father and I were both attacked and turned. But he thought I was safer away from him and his new mate who was a trueborn werewolf and pregnant with his cub. I hated him for leaving me. Blamed the woman I never met. Blamed that unborn child. Jealousy is an ugly thing.”
I understood that all too well. After my father died, I hated seeing my classmates when their fathers came to pick them up. I wished everyone misery, and it only made me bitter.
“When I found out my father was murdered, I assumed his new mate and unborn child were too.”
“You don't have to share your past with me.” I glanced at her and then back up to the stars, giving her the opportunity to change the subject.
“I honestly didn't care to know if they survived,” Braelin continued, undeterred. “I became a rogue. Got into some trouble. Had a gambling problem. Was homeless a few times. Being a female werewolf alone in the streets was a dangerous thing. That's how I met Cain.”
I perked up at the mention of Cain.
“About four years ago. Promised me security in exchange for my loyalty. He helped me beat my gambling addiction. And when my mind was finally clean, I told him about my father and his mate and unborn child. He got curious and had me share everything I knew. And one day, he came and told me I had a sister. He said that her mother was also killed, and the baby was taken and hidden with a human family.”
I said nothing.
“It took me a few more years to let go of all the pain left in my heart. And that is when I pleaded with Cain to help me find her. I wanted to make things right. I'd let her down before and couldn't do it again. I knew, one day, she would need me.” Braelin pulled handfuls of grass from the earth. “I didn't know Cain had a hidden agenda.”
I stood abruptly. “I don't want to talk about this. This is—”
“Bonnie.”
“I said, I don't want to talk about this anymore!” I yelled.
Braelin tried to reach out but I took a step back. “Bonnie. You feel a connection with me. You felt it the moment we met. And you see the resemblance.”
I shook my head. “No. It doesn’t make sense. I have been human all my life.”
“History proves that a born cub doesn't shift until their late teens. Maybe you were a late bloomer? Cain only wanted to induce your shift, but he never caused you to turn. You can’t turn a born werewolf.”
“No!” I yelled again.
I noticed Rikki approaching. The pack was inside the house. I rushed to Rikki, feeling the tears forming in my eyes.
“She has to be wrong! My mom would never lie to me! People have always told me how much we all look alike!”
“And you should,” Braelin remarked. “When Rikki told me who your parents were, that made sense. I had a little sister. I don't know how he found her, but he thought it was best to give you to her.”
“What?” I laughed, not wanting to believe her story. “You're telling me, the woman who raised me is my...sister? That you are my sister? And I was born through two werewolves, which is very rare? And my brothers are my nephews? And she kept this all from me?”
“Yes,” Braelin said calmly. “Except, she doesn't know the truth about you. However, they adopted you. I don’t know why. I doubt she even remembers me.”
I couldn’t be sure if the ground was still under my feet. The stars blurred together in my view, and the trees became a sea of hunter green. I wanted to cry and scream and shake, anything to remove the last few minutes from existence. But I knew that was futile. There was nothing that could erase this moment. Nothing that could slip the grasp of Truth when it had you in its suffocating embrace.
Everything I had known was gone. All that I was…gone. And though Braelin had given me so much information, I still had a million questions. I didn’t want to ask any of them now. The ache in my gums and familiar agony of the shift overcame me.
I left them there staring after me.
I ran.
I ran into the woods and felt them getting smaller behind me.
Me. Did I have any idea who that was?
I surrendered to the wolf inside me, knowing that I would be comfortable in that identity for a while. Bonnie was gone. Only the wolf remained.
Epilogue
The need to shift was strong. My wolf lurked close to the surface of my skin, impatient for the full moon to reach its zenith. A black blanket of sky stretched across the dome of the Earth. Starlight flooded the area, refusing to rob the forest of its vibrant, green hues. The chirping of crickets echoed through the darkness. It was peaceful. I was ready.
Tonight, I would officially become a member of the pack.
“We will hunt, and you will lead. It is our way of welcoming you into the pack and solidifying the bond between all of us,” Toni explained.
I smiled in anticipation. Braelin and the other three rogues would also lead their own hunting parties. They would no longer be rogues. They would be pack. We would be family. They seemed as eager to belong as I was, and I felt happy for the four of them.
It was difficult to interact with Braelin, but I knew that I had to put away my feelings for the moment because this night was far too important for both of us. When I approached her, my legs started trembling and I had to steady myself. Just talk to her, Bonnie
I cleared my throat and she turned around to face me. “I…Um…”
I dropped my head in defeat. What the hell am I going to say?
Luckily for me, Braelin spoke up, saying, “It's okay. It took me almost 30 years before I was ready to face you. I thought I'd just make sure you were safe and leave you alone, but then about two years ago, I realized that I really wanted to get to know you.” She smiled and that seemed to ease the tension in the air between us. “You're entitled to be skeptical of me and of our history. I probably would be too if I was in your position.”
I shook my head.
“That isn't it.” I sighed. “I'm...not a fan of change, especially when it’s an earth-shattering change. I don’t handle it well.”
“Fair enough.”
“I’m not saying that I don’t want to know you. I mean, I—”
Braelin held up both of her hands and smiled. “Relax.”
I noticed that my claws had emerged. I attributed it to the stress of our discussion plus the impending full moon. “I'll never get use to this.”
“Yes, you will.” Braelin reached out and squeezed my clawed hand. “Give yourself time.”
Arms wrapped around my waist and hugged me tightly. The scent of honeysuckle was overpowering. Rikki.
She leaned her head over my shoulder to kiss my cheek. “You smell like you are ready to shift.”
“I am. And, I’m ready to belong to this pack.” I shot a glance at Braelin.
*
There was a lot for me to process, and I’m certain that there would be more surprises for me in the future. There were also so many decisions I needed to make. I needed to talk to my mom about Braelin and our shared history. I simply could not go on as before without that being cleared up, and maybe it would make things better to have Braelin included in our family unit.
It was difficult not to wonder what my life might have been like had I been raised as a werewolf, knowing my identity. Rikki wanted me to keep all of that secret for now. I understood. The pack and I still needed to grapple with my identity as an Omega. But it would not stop me from se
arching for all of the answers I desperately wanted. I wanted to know more about my birth parents, for starters, and more about the history of my family. I knew those answers would come in time.
Once the hunt was over, the pack rested together around a campfire in a clearing in the forest. Rikki wrapped a blanket around me, and we snuggled together while listening to the crackle and hiss of the fire. Everyone was quiet and content. I closed my eyes, ready for sleep.
I felt something buzzing at my backside, and then felt Rikki reach between us to pull out a phone.
“Yes,” she answered.
I could sense Rikki’s anxiety as she spoke with whoever was on the other end of the line. I was not the only one – most of the pack had turned their attention toward us. She stiffened, then put the phone down on the ground.
“What's up? Toni asked.
“The Council has already announced that we have an Omega and a cub. It seems they didn’t want to wait.” Rikki agitatedly combed her fingers through her brunette hair. “That was the Alpha in Mount Angel. He is on his way here now. He needs our help.”
I thought I had more time to adjust, to be hidden from the rest of the supernatural world. I was wrong. But there was a strain in Rikki’s tone that troubled me more than the news that I was no longer anonymous to other packs. Trouble would be following this Alpha. I knew it. It would be trouble that I could not avoid. I was comforted somewhat in the knowledge that I was no longer alone.
For the first time, I was thankful to Cain. He may not have turned me into a werewolf, but he had changed my life forever and even brought me to Rikki. I'd be lost without her. I had more now than I ever thought I'd need. And I would show my own appreciation to my mate tonight when I made love to her in these woods. I was a part of this strange and extraordinary world and I would no longer run from it.
I snuggled closer to Rikki and she wrapped her arm around me.
There would be peace for a little while. And that’s all I needed in that moment.
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