Jace stepped back and dropped the knife. The body fell to the ground. He turned to face me, and Malone twitched at his back. Jace made it three steps, then he fell to his knees.
I ran for him and dropped to the ground at his side. I wrapped my arms around him, and he shook in my grip. Jace clung to me, and I let him. Feet away, my mother knelt over Ryan’s body, crying, oblivious to the slaughter around her. I stared out at the yard over Jace’s head, and exhaled silently. Then I blinked.
It was over. The strays had made short work of the remaining opposition.
In the new quiet, the rush of air overhead caught my attention, and I looked up as the remaining birds dropped onto the ground, already Shifting into mostly human form.
“Faythe Sanders?” Beck called, and I let go of Jace to stand. The bird approached me, almost fully human, and bleeding from a bullet wound to the side. “It seems you have won your war, and it was a glorious battle indeed. Unless you have changed your mind about feasting on the bodies of your enemies, we will take our leave.”
I nodded, shocked beyond logic for the moment, then shook my head abruptly. “No. No feasting. But thank you all.”
He tilted his head to one side, like he didn’t understand gratitude. “We will consider our debt paid, and we look for no further contact with you or your species.” He reached up for something hanging from a cord around his neck, and I only recognized my phone when he handed it to me.
I nodded. “Fair enough.” Especially considering that half a dozen bird bodies lay scattered about the battlefield.
With that, the birds lifted into the air almost as one. Several swooped in pairs to pick up the bodies of their fallen Flightmates, then they took off together toward the west.
I stared after them, in awe and in gratitude.
The sun was just peeking over the trees to our east when I turned to look over the battlefield. Bodies lay all around me, many still breathing, but seriously injured. Our losses were grave. Our victory was bittersweet. And our road to recovery would be rockier than the tumble we’d taken to get to this point, I had no doubt.
But the war was over. We had won.
And Marc had come back.
Thirty-five
“I called Holly,” Michael said, coming to a stop at my side with his hands in his pockets. “I asked her to take Manx, Des, and Kaci to our house. I don’t think they should come back here just yet.”
“Agreed.” It would take hours to dispose of the bodies, and hours more to hose down the grass to wash away the blood. “Maybe they can stay for a week or so? Until I can…get this place put back together?” My carpet would have to be replaced before Kaci could come back inside, even once we’d cleaned up the yard. The smell of Dean’s blood in the house would traumatize her.
Hell, it would traumatize me, too.
“Of course.”
“How’s Mom?” I asked, watching as she knelt beside an injured tom, aiding Dr. Carver on autopilot. Her movements were stiff, her eyes glazed with shock. “How is she really?”
“She’s dealing, for the moment, but it’s going to hit her the minute she stops moving long enough to get a deep breath. He saved her life, Faythe,” Michael said, and I knew he was talking about Ryan. “She wants to put him next to Ethan. And I think you should let her.”
I nodded slowly, crossing my arms over the clean shirt and jacket I’d changed into. “Yeah. He saved my life, too.” If he’d lived to be one hundred, Ryan could never have made up for what he let happen to me, Abby, and Sara. Even by saving my life. But in dying for our mother, he’d done it in a single instant. In the end, he’d died protecting someone he loved. It wasn’t quite like Ethan, but I wasn’t going to dishonor his sacrifice. Nor was I willing to break my mother’s heart. Not after all she’d been through already.
“Do you have the count?” I asked, already dreading his answer.
“Yeah. Eighteen dead on their side, and there may be a couple more in a few hours. Everyone who’s left is hurt pretty badly, but most of them will live.”
I struggled to keep my horror hidden. So many lives. So much loss. So much death. But revolution comes with a price, and the best we could do now was try to deserve it. “On our side?”
Michael swallowed thickly, and I made myself look at him. “Ten dead, not counting Ryan. Three of Uncle Rick’s, two of Di Carlo’s, and two of Aaron Taylor’s.”
“Lucas?” I asked, my heart thumping painfully.
“No. He broke an arm, and got a pretty good gash on his thigh, but he’s going to be fine. Teo, too. He dropped six toms on his own.”
I didn’t doubt that. Teo Di Carlo was one hell of a fighter.
“And our three, other than Ryan?” I asked, dreading the answer like I’d never dreaded anything in my life.
“Tom Hagarty and William Wright.” Two of our nonenforcer volunteers, who’d believed in me enough to die for our cause. But that left one more.
I turned slowly to the sheet-covered body I’d avoided looking at for the past hour. And to the tom who sat on the ground next to it, head in his hands, crying steadily.
“You’re going to have to deal with him soon,” my brother insisted.
“I know.” I sighed and uncrossed my arms. Michael put one hand on my shoulder and I squeezed it, then crossed the ten feet of bloodstained grass between me and our greatest battlefield loss. I knelt on the ground next to Kenton Pierce, heedless of my blood-soaked jeans, and carefully pulled back the sheet to expose Parker’s face, so cold and pale in death.
He looked peaceful, in spite of his violent end, and I couldn’t stop more tears, in spite of all I’d already cried.
“I don’t know how all this happened…” Kent sobbed. “A month ago, everything was fine, and now I have two dead brothers, and one barely breathing.” He glanced across the yard, to where a gravely injured Holden Pierce was being treated by Dr. Carver.
“We all have choices, Kent,” I said, running one finger down Parker’s cold cheek. His chin stubble was rough on my skin, and somehow that characteristic of growth—of life—made his death seem more real than it should have without more time for it to sink in. He’d evidently shifted to try to heal mortal wounds, but it wasn’t enough. “You and Lance dug your graves, and now Parker’s lying in his.”
Kent sobbed harder, and I wanted to hit him for whining and feeling sorry for himself over the destruction he’d helped bring about. But I didn’t, because of what he’d tried to do for me. Kent wasn’t a bad guy—he was just weak enough to be used by his father and Calvin Malone. But weakness wasn’t a killing offense. Not in the south-central Pride. Not under my command.
“Get yourself together.” I pulled the sheet gently over Parker’s face and stood, tugging Kent up with me. “You’re going home today.”
“You’re going to let me go?” He scrubbed tears from his face and stared at me like he’d heard me wrong.
“I’m going to make you go. You’re not welcome here, Kent. Ever again. And Parker stays with us. The rest of your family can come to the funeral, but you keep your father at home. Do you understand?” Because I couldn’t afford to let him close enough to launch a counterattack with what men he had left.
Kent bobbed his head. “Thank you.”
I nodded curtly, then left him to mourn his brother in relative solitude, while I made my way toward Owen. He sat on the grass at the end of the triage line, a makeshift bandage wrapped around his thigh, cell phone cradled in his lap.
I sank onto the ground next to him. “How you doing?”
“I’m scared,” he said, and I could tell from his expression that his fear had nothing to do with the battle, and everything to do with the phone call he’d just finished. “I talked to Manx, but Teo had already called her. He brought down six toms, Faythe, and he said he did it for her. To protect her freedom. He can protect her better than I can. But…”
“But she loves you,” I finished, when he couldn’t.
“Yeah.” However, his obvious d
espair belied such good news. “I know it’s crazy, but she does. She swore she did. But we don’t have a Pride, and even if we did, I’m not Alpha material. I know that. But I love her, and I love Des, and I want him to be mine. I want to give her more, if she wants, to make up for what she lost.”
I put one arm on his shoulder. “Owe, that’s not crazy. That’s love, and love doesn’t always make sense.” It didn’t ever make sense, in my experience. “And you do have a Pride. You have this one. And you both always will.”
“But we already have a tabby,” he pointed out, obviously meaning me.
“No, you have an Alpha bitch. And even if I become a dam someday, so what? We’re already the weird Pride. Why can’t we have two tabbies? Or three? This is a brave new territory now, Owen. Manx and her children will be safe here. We’ll all protect them. And you will love them.”
And maybe someday, if Bert Di Carlo was willing to institute a similar compromise, depending on her own romantic interests, Kaci might see fit to give his territory a second chance at life. At a new generation.
“You’re serious?” Owen’s expression hovered on the edge of a smile, as if he didn’t dare make that leap.
I grinned. “Are you questioning your Alpha?”
“Hell, no.”
“Good. Make your phone call.”
Owen was grinning from ear to ear, already dialing when I stood to make my way back to Jace, my heart thumping painfully. I dreaded the next moment with every cell in my body. But the universe had delivered my miracle—given me a second chance—and I could not mess this up again. Not and live with myself.
Jace leaned against the back porch rail, alone, and I stood close enough that my arm touched his. “Are you okay?” I asked, and he only hesitated an instant before nodding.
“Calvin’s dead. I’m better than I’ve ever been. With one exception.” He looked up, and I followed his gaze toward the woods. To where the strays and the bruins had congregated. With Marc.
I sighed, and my heart felt so bitterly, unbearably bruised. “He came.”
“Yeah. He did.” Jace stared at the ground and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Jace…”
“Don’t.” He turned to face me and ran one hand down my arm slowly, as if to make the contact last. “I know. I knew the moment you saw him. You were happier that he came back than you were that I stayed. I know when I’ve lost.”
I sniffed back tears and reached up to hug him. “I’m so sorry, Jace,” I whispered, as his arms wound around me for the last time, squeezing me hard enough to hold my fractured heart together, even if just for the moment.
“Don’t be.” His cheek scratched mine, and I breathed in his scent, trying to memorize it. “We do what we have to do.”
“This doesn’t mean I don’t—”
“Stop.” He pulled away from me, and the pain in his eyes echoed deep inside me. “Don’t say you still love me. That’ll just make this harder.”
I nodded, swallowing the words that wanted to be said. “What are you going to do?”
He sighed. “I’m going to take Cal’s body home to my mother. Then I’m going to kick Alex’s ass and take back my father’s Pride. Someone’s going to have to run things until Melody eventually has a husband qualified to take over. Who knows, maybe I can undo some of what Cal did to her. Show her that she has options.”
I smiled. “If anyone can do that, it’s you. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Jace glanced at the ground, then met my gaze again. “Yeah, if you believe in me, recognize me. As Alpha. I’ll have to be confirmed, even for temporary control, and I could use a few votes…”
“You’ll have mine.” And I was sure my own allies would help too. We could all use the extra support a Jace-controlled Appalachian Pride would represent.
Jace’s smile faded, and his gaze intensified. “Thank you, Faythe.”
“For what?”
“For giving me a chance. It was all worth it. Every single minute. Even this one.”
I couldn’t stop tears then, even when Jace kissed me, for the last time. When he pulled away, he leaned with his forehead against mine. “Damn, this is harder than I thought, and that doesn’t seem possible.”
“I know.” I was shivering, and not from the cold.
He let me go, and I stepped back. “Go on. He’s waited long enough.”
I nodded and made myself turn away from him, my shoulders shaking. I’d only gone a few feet when the back door squealed shut behind me, and Jace was gone.
I took a deep breath and headed toward the tree line.
There were six toms, other than Marc, and two bruins—Elias Keller had brought a friend.
I owed them my life. My Pride. My eternal gratitude. And I had no idea how to say that.
Marc saw me coming and met me halfway. My heart thumped as I watched him walking toward me, wearing nothing but jeans, in spite of the cold. He had a gash in his left arm and blood had soaked through the material over his right calf, but other than that, he looked good. Very, very good.
“Hey,” I said, when he stopped less than a foot in front of me.
“Hey.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, and his glittering brown gaze bored into mine.
“Thank you.” I sniffled and blinked away tears, but my eyes just filled again. “If you hadn’t shown up…”
He crossed both arms over his bare chest, half covering the clawmark scars. “I made a promise.”
“How did you know about the orange tape?”
Marc shrugged. “I called the Flight and made them swear not to tell you. My name was on the list of approved phone calls, remember?”
I did remember.
He hesitated, then glanced at the men he’d brought. “You want to talk to them?”
“Please.”
“Come on…” He led me to the others without taking my hand or my arm. Without touching me at all.
“Hey, kitten,” Elias Keller said as soon as I was within hearing range. The trees at his back swayed beneath a frigid breeze, including the one he’d knocked over during his grand entrance.
“Elias…I can’t thank you enough.” I cleared my throat, choking back a sob of gratitude, so I could at least aim for composedly appreciative. “You guys…you’re all amazing. I don’t even have the words…”
“And you don’t need them.” Keller’s massive, warm hand swallowed mine, and he squeezed gently. “Cat or bear—or evidently bird—we fight for what’s right.”
I didn’t think the birds really gave a damn about our ideas of right and wrong, but I wasn’t going to argue. “Who’s this?” I asked, glancing at the other bruin, who was every bit as big as Keller, though not quite so tall.
“This is Evert.” Keller slapped one massive hand on the other bear’s broad shoulder. “I needed a ride, and he said he’d only drive me if he could get in on the action. Worked out well for everyone, don’t you think?”
“Very well.” My smile could not have been wider. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Mr. Evert.”
“Likewise,” the new bruin boomed, pushing long, pale hair from his face. “I haven’t had exercise like that in years, even if it did interrupt my nap.”
I smiled and turned to the only stray I recognized: John Feldman. “Mr. Feldman, I am in your debt. If there’s any way I can return the favor, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I won’t.” His voice was hard, but still as smooth, and dark, and gorgeous, as his skin. “Marc assures us that any Pride run by you will be stray-friendly, and we figured it can’t hurt to establish a good relationship with our neighbors.”
“I completely agree.” And my relief had no limit. I’d been afraid that after what Malone had done to several members of the stray population, they would think the rest of us beyond redemption. “And you’re all welcome here as our guests. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us.”
We chatted for a few more minutes and I invited them all to stay over
. Then I said goodbye and Marc followed me across the yard for a little privacy.
“I don’t…I don’t know what to say, Marc.” The guesthouse cast its early-morning shadow over us both, and the winter air was several degrees chillier there than in the sun.
“Yeah, me, neither.” He glanced at the berry-laden holly bushes, then back up at me. “I couldn’t let you down. Couldn’t let the Pride down. But nothing’s changed. You don’t owe me anything. But if you want me…I can’t share you, Faythe. I won’t. It’s all or nothing, for me. You’ve always known that.”
“I know.” The tears wouldn’t stop, and I felt like a fool, because I had nothing to wipe them on. “I want you. I want you so badly I can’t stand it. When you left, it felt like the world got darker. Like I couldn’t truly see anything. Couldn’t feel anything.”
“Faythe…” His frown was dark enough to eclipse the sun, and I realized he’d seen me kiss Jace. “This doesn’t matter, if you still love him. So please stop—”
“I do love Jace,” I said, and Marc’s face crumpled. He started to turn, but I grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let him pull away. “I can’t help that. I love him, but I can live without him. I can’t live without you, Marc. Please don’t ask me to.”
“You…? You’re serious?”
I nodded. “As a broken heart. I want you to stay. The Pride needs you, but I’d be lying if I said that has anything to do with this. Stay for me. Stay with me. There will never be anyone else. Not in my bed. Not in my life. And not in my heart.”
Marc smiled, hesitantly at first. Then he smiled for real, and the gold in his eyes glittered with light from within. I’d never been able to resist those eyes.
I glanced down and pulled the chain from beneath my shirt, so that the ring he’d given me months ago hung in full sight. “Marry me, Marc.”
His eyes widened. His gaze snapped from my face to the ring, then back again.
“Is that a yes?” I grinned.
Alpha Page 38