18
“I wasn’t sure at first, but he turned up at the riverside apartment when I was there once,” I said for the fifth time.
Rhona was nowhere to be seen and the head team wasn’t inclined to involve her in this discussion after the display on pack lands.
I was on the verge of fainting from exhaustion. I had to shift and yet this talk had to happen while I had their sympathy. From most of them anyway. Valerie was off Team Andie for good.
“We can use this to our advantage,” Roderick said. “He put antlers on her chair. The pack leader is inclined to be softer where Andie is concerned. I think there’s truth in this.”
That was a nice way of saying Sascha had a boner for me—which was essentially what I’d said.
“Why are we only hearing of this now?” Pascal asked. She’d been silent for the last half an hour.
I sighed. “Because I’m new to the valley, new to being a steward, new to head stewardship, and new to basically everything here. I thought this information could be detrimental and cause division between the stewards. I didn’t really know any of you, even when Herc asked me to sit in on your meetings for Rhona sometimes. I thought this could harm the way stewards and this team perceived me. It was a risk I didn’t want to take.”
“You sat in on head meetings?” Trixie asked.
I lifted a shoulder. “I thought Herc was embarrassed Rhona wasn’t around at the time, but now I wonder if he did it on purpose.” I looked at them. “What are the thoughts moving forward?”
Nathan looked around the table. “I’m inclined to agree that this should be kept from general steward knowledge. We can strategize in private.”
“The stewards have a right to know what their head steward is up to.”
It was time to put Valerie in her place. My patience for her bullshit ran out sometime last week. “Valerie, while you offer valuable contributions to this team, I will always, no matter how you feel about me personally, listen to your opinions. As long as your opinion is made with the welfare of this tribe in mind. I understand that you loved my father, and that you greatly prefer his second daughter to myself. I understand that you dislike me so much it’s very hard to keep it under wraps. But as long as you can keep your opinions of me separate from your advice, you’ll find I don’t care.”
“What, like you’re doing?” she sneered.
I smiled. “Can you name one instance where I brought my issues into this room?”
“Rhona—”
“Exactly,” I cut her off. “Rhona.”
Valerie’s jaw set.
“Do you understand what I’m telling you?” I didn’t move my gaze from hers until she glanced away. And I had a feeling that my wolf got involved there.
“Yes,” she muttered.
I glanced at the others. “Today has upset us all, me included. In the interest of keeping the tribe strong and in the interest of protecting Rhona’s feelings, I’d appreciate everyone keeping what happened to themselves.”
“The pack leader asked that Rhona not be present in future meetings,” Pascal said as I rose. “We need to vote.”
“So we do.” I locked my shaking legs and leaned forwards on the table.
We need to shift, my wolf urged.
Five minutes.
“All in favour of the pack leader’s request?” I called.
Keeping Rhona from future gatherings would make life easier, but her anger would spill out in other areas. I may not be present in those areas to damage control.
“Andie? Your vote?”
An even number of hands were in the air and flat on the table. Dammit. With Rhona absent, my vote would be the decider.
Hoping I didn’t come to regret it, I placed my hand on the table, ignoring Trixie’s surprised murmur.
“Rhona is a Thana and she’s a valued part of this tribe. We can’t allow the Luthers to weaken her stance in our community in case something happens to me. However, I suggest that Rhona only return to these meetings and those with the Luthers once we’ve witnessed stability in her behaviour.”
Everyone, even Valerie, seemed on board with that.
Thank fuck. I staggered to the door.
“Are you alright, Andie?” Roderick called.
We need to shift. My wolf was alarmed.
I know. And I really did. “Fine. Thank you. Just tired.”
Not waiting for their response, I wobbled down the hall, ignoring cheerful greetings. I had to get out of here.
Gasping, I made it to Ella F and fumbled for the keys.
I can’t wait any longer.
No! I shoved the keys in, and gunned the engine, tearing away from the manor.
I couldn’t go back into town. I flattened my foot on the accelerator, blinking through the black darkening my eyes.
Just wait, I pleaded with her.
If I do not shift, we will die. I shouldn’t have left it this long.
I ripped the wheel down and parked on the shoulder. The handbrake was barely up before I pushed open the door and fell to the ground. Kicking the car shut, I half crawled, half rolled to the edge of the road and didn’t hesitate to throw myself down the steep forest slope.
It happened immediately.
The shift took over.
… But then it didn’t.
My snout shortened and lengthened; shortened and lengthened. It should only move one way.
I arched, crying out. The cry morphed to a howl before cutting off to a pained cry yet again.
Flung forward, rocks and roots jabbed my half-shifted form as I tumbled farther down the steep slope bordering the north valley road.
It isn’t working, I panted.
We are too weak, she replied grimly. I waited too long to respect your wishes. I failed you.
I felt my leg break and choked on a scream. What now?
Nothing. Now we die and our mate will soon follow.
Sascha and Greyson would die.
Yes.
I didn’t know this could happen. She’d told me, but I hadn’t understood how quickly things could spiral downward.
You felt that I broke your trust, and you shut me out. I did not realise my efforts to prove our feelings for Greyson would affect you so deeply, and for that I am sorry.
I vomited, unable to turn my head to do so. I needed the wake-up call. It hurt, but I was in denial about Herc. This is my fault.
No, Andie. But it will be over soon. I promise.
It was nice to meet you before the end, I whispered.
And you. I would have loved an existence with you.
A tear leaked over my temple as I stared up at the canopy, anguish overriding the agony.
Sascha would die.
Greyson too.
Was he dying as I died, or would it happen suddenly to him when I passed? Seeking comfort, I felt for the elastic band under my ribs.
Funny… I could feel it happening—death.
Cold.
I pulled at the elastic band, disappointed when I encountered complete resistance. I pulled again.
Stupid idea.
I closed my eyes.
Something cool moved over my skin, and I frowned, mumbling.
“Just covering you with a sheet, young wolf,” a warm voice said.
The woman smelled like pine.
I didn’t know her, but pine was safe.
Forcing my eyelids open, I blinked the room into focus.
Sascha’s bungalow.
His bed.
How—?
We almost didn’t make it, my wolf said wearily.
I stilled as she blasted images at me. Me tearing out of the manor. Rolling down the slope. Half shifted.
Dying.
My heart hammered. How did we get here?
Did we black out or something?
He found us. You pulled him to us through the bond. He forced you to shift and brought us to enemy territory.
“Shit,” I said.
“That about sums it up,” pine
woman said.
I rolled to my side.
She sat on the wicker furniture, knitting. At first glance, the woman appeared around my age, maybe younger. A quick sniff told me she was old as hell, her pine scent earthy and rich.
I peered closer, noting the unusual golden hue of her irises. “You’re Sascha’s mother.”
She dipped her head, continuing to knit.
Naked and in her son’s bed. Well, this was about ten out of ten awkward.
“What happened?” I asked. “Sascha found me.”
“With his help, you made the shift,” she murmured. “You remained in wolf form until ten minutes ago. You shifted back in your sleep.”
We nearly died, I croaked to my wolf.
My fault.
Our fault, I said firmly. We both made mistakes, but we won’t let it happen again.
We must figure out how to make this work, she said.
“Is Sascha around? I should thank him before I leave.” I wrapped the sheet around me.
She put her knitting aside and met my gaze. “You may find it difficult to leave. My son is very angry.”
I dragged a hand over my face. “He deserves to be. I didn’t realise what was happening until too late. I put his life in danger.”
Her lips curved. “That’s not why he’s angry.”
I stared. Nope, I didn’t have the energy to leap down that rabbit hole. Standing, I tied the sheet in a knot over my boobs. “I’ll find him.”
A snarl rose from the hall. A lucky thing—or maybe not—that the doorway was so wide because a dark-brown wolf stalked into the room to loom over me.
“Greyson,” I said.
His hackles were raised, teeth bared as he advanced.
He won’t hurt us, right? I asked my wolf.
… No.
It would be awesome if she sounded certain. “Greyson, I was coming to find you.”
He leaped forward, teeth snapping an inch from my cheek. Heel catching in the sheet, I toppled back onto the bed. He lowered his head under my legs and tossed them onto the mattress.
Right. Guess this was where I was meant to stay. “Uh…”
The heavy, wooden bed groaned in protest and he leaped up and lay bodily on top of me.
I wheezed. “Get off.”
He is a very powerful male, my wolf said.
Oh, brother.
I gave up pushing at his underbelly because, honestly, I was tired beyond words. Closing my eyes, I waited for him to relax and get off.
Mmm. He was really warm.
The whole healing thing still worked with him in four-legged form. I sighed a breath, relaxing further, and felt my breaths deepen.
His bed was miles more comfortable than my shitty cabin one.
A warmth crept over my mind as the lull before slumber took me.
“If she’s resisting the change, she won’t live long.”
Greyson growled.
“Why is she doing it?”
I wanted to reassure Sascha’s mother the non-shifting saga really was a mistake, but my body was past responsiveness.
Snap. Crack. Sascha sighed. Not a wolf sound. Did he just shift his snout to a human mouth to talk—because that visual was gross.
He spoke, “She fears losing her people. Her sister and friends. Why else do you think she’d managed a partial shift already? She’s deathly afraid.”
Well that explained why he was simultaneously proud and sad about my ability to partially shift. It did sound kind of pathetic when he put it that way.
“Just kidnap her for the remaining meets, dear,” his mother said. “It worked wonders for your father and me.”
He snorted. “Thanks, Mum.”
“The younger generation overthinks everything. What did your father say about her not shifting?”
“That it proves she isn’t worthy.”
“Though he did kidnap his potential mate, so keep that in mind.”
That’s where Sascha got his quirky humour.
Darkness blanketed my mind, and I tried to resist, but Greyson had known what I didn’t.
I was past exhaustion. I barely caught her next words, and they slipped away as quickly as I registered them.
“Will you keep her here?”
“Against her will? Never.”
I startled awake and bolted upright, clutching the sheet to my chin. The first strands of daylight streamed in through the open bifold doors.
“Andie,” Sascha said in a low voice, striding to me from outside.
His mother was gone.
Relaxing, I dragged my fingers through my messy hair. I had to stink. “Sascha.”
He sat on the bed, and I hesitated before placing my hand in his.
“I’m so sorry. There’s no excuse for my behaviour but ignorance.”
Sascha squeezed my hand. “Your wolf didn’t tell you what would happen?”
“She mentioned dying, but there was never a good time…” I averted my face. “That sounds really stupid. I’m just sorry. To both of you.”
He shuddered, honey eyes blazing. “We got there in time. Just. I thought you were dead. The only reason I didn’t give up on the spot is because I was still alive.”
My wolf whined in my mind.
“You made me shift somehow?” I rasped.
Sascha leaned across and passed me a glass of water. The cool liquid soothed my throat.
I must have screamed at some point. For a while.
Shadows crossed his face. “I lay next to you for a time to give you strength, but I had to force your shift in the end. Others helped.”
“Who?”
“Those you know from The Dens. It took an hour, but once you got there, your natural healing took over.”
I was out for all that? “Sascha?”
He briefly met my gaze.
“I owe you my life.”
Sascha stood abruptly. “There’s no debt between us. But I didn’t realise you weren’t shifting. You should do it once a day after recovering from the first shift. Doing so helps you find balance with your wolf. The more you shift, the closer you will become.”
Will we get stuck again? I asked her.
No, we are stronger now, she answered.
I dragged the sheet with me as I stood. “Okay. Let’s shift now. Then I need to get back.”
A terse nod was my answer. I followed him to the stream and wrenched to a halt when Sascha undressed.
Oh…
Uhm. Over to you? I told my wolf, dropping the sheet.
Despite the horrendous snapping noises, the shift was like sliding into silk pyjamas. The rapidness of the transformation made it impossible for my mind to process the pain at all. My senses and brain were overwhelmed—like watching a movie in quadruple time—and then it was done.
On all fours, we shook, glimpsing the deep auburn fur covering our forelegs. Trotting to the stream, we peered down at our reflection.
Shit! We’re a wolf.
Yes, Andie, she replied patiently.
Okay, but it’s still a shock to be a wolf. We’re pretty. Are we good-looking for a wolf?
What do you think?
I bared our teeth in a grin as she faced Greyson. She snarled, a polite warning not to fuck around, and then approached, smelling him.
If you sniff his butthole, we’re done.
Human sensibilities. What do your handshakes tell you? Nothing. I can learn a whole range of things from the secretions of another wolf’s anal glands—his breeding status and health, diet, and current emotion.
Sounded illegal but handy. I’m of the opinion that if a task involves anal glands, it’s a hard no.
She huffed and, thankfully, left Sascha’s butt alone.
Greyson lowered his head to look at me. He was around two thirds bigger than me, around the same size difference as our human forms.
I wondered if Sascha was talking to Greyson about buttholes too.
See if you can keep up, beautiful wolf. His words echoed.
Over to you, I told my wolf, giving up everything for the time being. It was only fair with my behaviour of late. After saying I’d never stick her in a box, I did just that. Even if I felt she went over the line to prove a point, reacting that way showed how strongly I’d refused to admit the truth.
The sun touched my fur and energy poured into me, soaking into my tired bones and filling them. Greyson set into a steady lope that I mimicked. When we cleared the stream and left the cabins behind, he took off without warning. Flattening our ears, we took off after him, bounding over fallen trunks and roots. He weaved between ancient trees, pine needles and dirt flying up behind him.
We ran straight, trying to head him off.
Snapping at his heels, we only just avoided smacking into a tree.
Greyson’s laughter rang in our ears, and we set off in pursuit again.
Silence.
He’s hiding somewhere, my wolf hushed.
Crawling on our belly, we panted, listening for signs of life. He had to be close.
A muted thud sounded to our right and we readied for his attack.
Boo! Greyson erupted from the trees at our back.
Yelping, we leaped directly up, scratching our way onto the lowest sturdy branch.
A very human roar of laughter rang out.
Flopping over the branch, we glared down at Sascha.
“A tree-climbing wolf,” he gasped, naked and covered in dirt. “That’s a first.”
What else were we meant to do? He startled us, I said to her.
He tricked us.
Sascha had never looked more carefree as he continued laughing, but my sidekick wasn’t happy about the slight.
She pounced from our branch and bowled him to the ground, standing over him, teeth gnashing over his throat.
He exposed his throat more. Reaching up, he threaded his fingers through our fur. “Sorry, beautiful wolf. That was unexpected is all. I admire your creativity.”
That feels good, she slurred.
It really, really did.
Sascha scratched behind our ears.
Oh god, I moaned.
Tell me about it. Let’s stay for a bit.
We lay on top of him and let the man continue.
“I’ve never seen anything like you,” he crooned.
Moon Claimed: Supernatural Battle (Werewolf Dens Book 2) Page 19