by A. D. Ryan
Layla, Colby, and Roxanne joined us moments later, each of them taking a seat at the table. Before any more time could be wasted, Marcus cleared his throat, commanding our attention. When he got it, he began.
“I’m going to hand the floor over to Brooke in a minute, but I wanted to thank each of you for everything you’ve done to help bring her home.” His eyes met mine at the same time Nick pulled my hand to his lips. “Brooke, I can’t tell you how deeply sorry I am that this even happened to you. We should have protected you.”
“Please,” I interjected. “None of what happened was your fault.” Shrugging, I looked around the room. “Besides, had I not gone off all hot-headed, Cordelia wouldn’t be home. So, yeah, while being caged and collared isn’t exactly my idea of a five-star mountain holiday, in the end, it was all worth it to complete your family again.”
“And for that,” Marcus said, pressing his palms together, “I will be eternally grateful to you.”
With that out of the way, Marcus explained that I would recount everything that happened to me, right down to my escape. I started with my capture, even though the details were still a little hazy, and went into the events of the days that followed. Nobody seemed too particularly surprised by the fact that I was caged or that they’d gotten smart and laced the bars with silver to keep our kind contained. The collars came as a bit of a surprise, but the torture didn’t; that was apparently right up their alley. When I got to the part where they were drawing blood samples from me, that was when the room fell eerily silent, their unspoken questions hanging heavily in the air.
Roxanne was the first to speak, pushing herself away from the bookshelf she was leaning against. “Why would they need our blood?”
“No,” I corrected her. “Just mine.”
Her perfectly arched eyebrows narrowed. “This is going to sound awful given our history with one another, so I’m going to apologize in advance, but what the hell makes your blood so special?” She paused. “Again, no offense.”
“None taken,” I assured her before looking down at Nick. Having not spoken with any of them about my capture since I’d returned home, I suspected they didn’t know everything yet. Marcus and Miranda likely did, but the news hadn’t travelled to the rest of the Pack yet. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for my reveal. “My blood is the same as Bobby’s. He plans to mix the races, giving his kind the added benefit of being able to go out during the day.”
Nobody blinked. Nobody breathed.
“I’m sorry,” Layla spoke up, leaning forward from her seat and rubbing her protruding stomach. “Bobby’s alive?” She looked at Nick and then at Vince. “I thought you killed that miserable son of a bitch.”
Nick ran a hand over his face. “We thought we had. Apparently he’s a little more resourceful than we thought.”
A chair creaked, and my focus shifted to Zach as he leaned back in his chair. “I’m having trouble understanding this. Why can’t he use any of our blood?” Everybody stared at him, and he must have felt like he was being judged, so he quickly tacked on, “Not that I want this to happen to anyone else, I’m just trying to wrap my head around this.”
Nausea crept up again, and a feeling of light-headedness came over me quickly. My knees felt unsteady, so I slowly lowered myself to the step beside Nick before anyone caught onto my sudden fatigue.
After shaking the foggy-brain feeling away, I looked at Zach. “He’s tried using other’s blood. The way he tells it, Gianna has been up to this since the beginning. She’d capture our kind and try every way imaginable to create this hybrid creature. Injecting blood, biting…every test subject she used—wolf and parasite, alike—died a slow and painful death.”
“So what makes them think it would be any different with you?” Zach continued.
“They figured it has something to do with the genetic breakdown of the blood not being compatible.” Nick ran his hand up and down my back when I inhaled a shaky breath. “Since Bobby is my twin, she must have figured she’d have the perfect test subject. That’s why they came to Arizona.” I looked to Nick, hoping to alleviate any guilt he still harbored for why Gianna had come after me. “It wasn’t because you killed Bobby, obviously. They just wanted to use me as a guinea pig. They knew you’d try to protect me, and they manipulated the situation.”
The color drained from Nick’s face. “So, by biting you that night, I got them halfway there.”
I slipped my hand into his and shook my head. “You couldn’t have known,” I whispered.
Turning my attention back to the rest of the Pack, I continued. “Bobby never got the chance to test his theory—obviously, since I’m still alive and also not some freakish vampire-werewolf thing. Something deterred him. Made him postpone it for a few months.”
I noticed Layla eyeing me curiously, her brow furrowed. The way she stared was almost unnerving, like she was appraising me in some way. When she caught me staring back, she shook her head quickly and smiled before averting her gaze, her hands continuously rubbing her belly.
First Miranda, now Layla. I couldn’t help but wonder what was making them act so peculiar.
Marcus steered the conversation back to the compound, and I explained the layout and the location based on the memory of my escape. When Marcus asked if I thought I might be able to draw a rough layout of the compound, I told him I would try. I knew it would help when we made our way back.
I drew what I could remember, being sure to explain that I hadn’t seen every room. “I imagine it’s even bigger than what I saw,” I told them. “We can’t possibly know what to expect.”
“This is good,” Vince assured me, leaning on the table and looking over the sketch.
“It’s definitely helpful,” Marcus agreed. “We can use this, and with so many of us going, we might actually stand a chance.”
It was the “might” that worried me.
Marcus started coming up with a plan for when we would go back to the mountains. The idea definitely gave me a twinge of anxiety, but I forced it aside so I could focus on the plan.
Just as he was explaining the plan to search for Jackson, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. The moment he looked at the screen, relief flashed in his eyes. “It’s Jackson,” he announced, and I felt this immense pressure lift. I knew him still being gone had stressed me out, but I hadn’t realized just how much until I saw the look on Marcus’ face as he looked at the screen of his cell phone.
“He apologized for not returning any of my messages, but said he’d been away from his phone while he hunted.”
Without thinking about it, I rounded the table to where Marcus was standing and read over his shoulder. Marcus didn’t seem to mind.
“He’s not coming back yet,” I relayed when I got to the end of the message. I looked at Nick, then to my left at Marcus. “Should we go and meet him? I mean, there’s strength in numbers, right?”
“It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea,” he replied before tapping out a quick message back. “We can head out tonight before the sun se—” His phone vibrating in his hands cut him off.
I read the message, confusion and disappointment swirling inside me. “He says for us to stay put until he calls for us,” I announced to the room, likely out of place. “He thinks that too many of us lurking around will alert them before he’s able to gather more information.”
“He’s not wrong,” Nick spoke up, pushing himself to his feet. “Let’s give him the space to do what he needs to do. He’s careful. He’ll call for us when he’s got what he needs.”
I didn’t like the idea of leaving Jackson out there on his own, but looking around at the rest of my packmates told me to trust that he’d be fine for a while longer. So, even though it went against what my gut was telling me—something I rarely ever ignored—I conceded.
“Now, why don’t we wait for Jackson to contact us again?” Marcus suggested. Everyone agreed, so he continued. “Let’s take an intermission, and we’ll reconvene a little later. If any
of you think of anything or have any ideas for when we’re ready to proceed, bring it to the meeting tonight.”
Inhaling deeply, I turned away from Marcus and walked around the table toward Nick. He wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head as we headed toward the door. Before we could leave the library, Marcus spoke again.
“Brooke?” I turned at the sound of my name, meeting his expectant stare. “Can you spare a moment? I’d like to speak with you privately.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but no sound came out as my nerves caused my vocal chords to seize.
Nick gave my hip a gentle squeeze, coaxing my eyes to his. “I’ll be upstairs. Come find me when you finish up.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine before leaving Marcus and me alone.
The sound of the heavy library door closing seemed to echo in the silence of the room, and I bit the outer corner of my lower lip nervously, folding my arms in front of me. I was pretty sure I hadn’t done anything wrong, so why did I feel like I had?
Marcus smiled, but it did little to assuage my fears. He waved a hand in front of him, indicating the various chairs at the table. “Please, have a seat,” he offered. He took note of my nervous gait, and laughed. “No need to be nervous, Brooke.”
I heard the words, but for some reason, I didn’t quite believe them.
Chapter16 | successor
I took a seat across from Marcus and watched as he lowered himself in the chair behind him. His eyes held mine, but I couldn’t get a read on what he wanted to talk to me about. Alone. Without any of the other pack members around. I could count on one hand how many private meetings the two of us had shared…
Though, if I thought about it, each one of our interactions had always been positive or informative.
Realizing this helped me relax, and I noticed Marcus’s posture soften a little as well.
“That’s better,” he said with a grin. “You were so nervous, I was debating whether or not to offer you a drink.”
Laughing, I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. As Alpha, I’m generally a little more sensitive to the emotions each of you experience,” he explained. “Which is kind of the reason I wanted to talk to you.”
Intrigued, I leaned on the tabletop and prepared to listen.
“Now, I understand with everything you’ve been through, your tension is justified.”
I could feel my body stiffen as it prepared itself to talk about my time in the compound again. It didn’t seem to matter how much I talked about it; it still wasn’t any easier.
“I’m not going to hound you for more information than we need. The things you experienced, how they made you feel…well, I can only imagine the toll it must be having on you. I just want you to know that I’m here—as a friend and as your Alpha—should you need to talk to someone.” He shrugged. “Assuming you’d want to talk to me, that is.”
Smiling, I reached across the table and patted his enclosed hands. “That’s sweet. I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.”
Marcus cleared his throat and pulled his hands back. It was his nervousness that polluted the room now. “Now, that’s not the only reason I asked you to stay behind.”
“Okay.”
“Your brother,” he continued carefully.
I shook my head vehemently, recalling the things Bobby did and said to me down there. “That thing is not my brother. My brother died seven years ago.”
“Fair enough.”
“What is it you’d like to know?”
Marcus hesitated. “I’m sure you understand that a war is coming.”
I couldn’t keep the tremble from my hands, so I moved them from the table to my lap, hiding them. “Seems inevitable, yes.”
“It’s been escalating for decades. But now, after taking Cordy and then you, doing the things they did to you both…I can’t stand by and not avenge my family. I won’t.” The growl in his voice was low, coming from somewhere deep within him. The amber rings around his pupils flared, and I could feel the waves of heat rolling off him.
“They’ll come for you again,” he predicted, and I knew he was right; Bobby hadn’t gotten what he wanted while he had me. “But I won’t let them near any of my family.”
“He won’t come for anyone else,” I stated confidently. “I’m the key to this crazy hybrid plan. He wants me to be the first. After that…I can’t be sure. Nick seems to think he’ll want to make more and then colonize after wiping the Pack out.”
Perplexed, Marcus inquired further. “If what you’re saying is correct, and it’s your DNA that makes you a viable candidate to his…cause, then I don’t understand how he figures he’ll be able to reproduce more of this new species.”
“I don’t either,” I answered truthfully, “but Nick has this theory that once a hybrid has been successfully transitioned, they’ll be able to create more. Using humans as their starting point.”
“Good lord,” Marcus exhaled, falling back in his chair. “We’ll need to act fast to avoid this from happening.”
“Which is why I think Jackson is wrong to stay out there alone,” I argued. The wolf inside me stirred, reminding me to mind my place with my Alpha. I backed down sheepishly. “Sorry.”
With a broad smile, he brushed my apology off. “Don’t ever apologize for following your instincts and standing up for what you believe in,” he commanded, standing up and heading to the window. “This brings me to the other reason I asked to speak to you privately.”
His back was to me, arms crossed in front of him as he stared out at the mountains. It looked beautiful outside, the sun shining in the blue sky with barely a cloud in sight. Now that the wolf was awake, she was itching to go out for a run; it had been a while since I’d shifted, and I craved it.
“With the war coming, I need to prepare this pack for the worst.”
My feelings of dread from earlier returned with a vengeance. I knew I sensed something when he asked to speak with me. “Wh-what do you mean?”
He exhaled a heavy sigh. “After everything that’s happened in recent weeks, and as Alpha, it is my duty to protect this pack until I take my last breath.”
“Marcus—”
“This will be the biggest battle this pack has ever been thrust into, and I need to make sure this pack is taken care of after it’s all over.”
I tried again, sensing where this conversation was going. “Marcus—”
“If something should happen to me, I want to name you my successor, Brooke.” He turned to me then, eyes hard, serious.
It was just as Nick had predicted before I’d been captured. “Me?” My voice reached an octave I hadn’t even realized was possible. “But…Corbin?”
“Isn’t ready,” he admitted honestly. “He knows this, and agrees with my decision.”
“Then Nick…Jackson? Surely they’re better suited to the position than me,” I said, pushing my chair back and standing up quickly.
“Nick and Jax are both great at what they do, but they’re too hot-headed.” No arguments there. “I need someone who can think rationally and act with caution in any situation. They’re both ‘act now, think later’ types, and their past is colorful. There would be a power struggle between them, and I need this pack to remain unified. A family. One glimpse of weakness in our ranks, and our enemies will use it to their full advantage.”
My head shook as I moved toward Marcus. “I’m not ready. I’ve only been in this life for a couple of months. It’s…it’s not enough time.”
Marcus gripped my upper arms and held me in place, his dark eyes boring into mine. “Then let me guide you. Who knows, maybe we’ll make it through this with no casualties, and we’ll laugh about this later. Either way, you’re exactly what this pack needs in its future.”
“I don’t see how. I can barely shift on my own.” Even just bringing it up had the wolf scratching at the edge of my subconscious. “I could get us all killed.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. I
’ve been watching you since you arrived, and while you could definitely benefit from some more practice, you’ve come a lot further than most who are bitten this late in life.”
If I wasn’t still stunned about his wanting to name me the Pack’s future Alpha, I probably would have been a little offended by the age comment.
“Your experience on the police force is a valuable asset. It’s taught you to think before acting. You’ve been programmed to look at the entire situation before coming to a conclusion. You’re rational and level-headed, compassionate, resourceful, and able to put your differences with others aside for the good of the Pack.” He was talking about my history with Roxanne. “These are all desirable attributes for the leader of this pack. And you embody every single one and more. The Pack would be lucky to have you lead them.”
“You’re saying this like you know something is going to happen to you,” I interjected, my voice soft and wavering.
Marcus shook his head once. “Just putting all my ducks in a row in the off chance something should. I wanted to approach you and give you the option.”
“So I can say no.”
Smiling, he dipped his head and closed his eyes. “You can, though I’d really rather you not. I won’t force you into something that makes you uneasy, but I have no doubts you were made for this. And with Nick by your side…you’d be unstoppable.”
“Well, that’s because he’s built like a bulldozer,” I joked, making Marcus laugh loudly. “Do I have to decide right now? How long do I have to think about it?”
“I’ll tell you what,” he began, taking on a bargaining tone. “Take the next couple of days to think about it, but during that time, I want to meet with you to talk to you and teach you a little more about what it is you would be doing.” He paused. “I won’t pressure you to accept the offer, but this way you can gather all the information and make an informed decision regarding your future and the future of the Pack.”