Keeper (Matefinder Next Generation Book 1)

by Leia Stone

  ‘Brady is back. Pack meeting. Bring the boy.’

  Boy. My eyes would disagree with my father. Jax’s eyes met mine and he nodded. Dad had told him, too. We tossed Gavin’s duffle bag in the house and then walked together to the barn. Crossing through the thick woods, Gavin was looking all around.

  “Have you ever been to Mount Hood?” It dawned on me then that other than public ski parks, the mountain was closed off to most humans.

  Gavin nodded. “Just skiing, but it didn’t look like this. Your land is beautiful.”

  I smiled. Score. He was funny, sexy, and sweet.

  As we crossed the clearing, the barn came into view and I saw that Mason and Avery stood outside waiting for us. Avery took one look from Gavin to me, and smiled.

  Jaxon pulled Avery into a hug, giving her a quick kiss. Mason was sizing up Gavin, unsure whether or not to let him into our tight little circle.

  “Guys, this is Gavin. My mate.” Any hesitation from me and the pack wouldn’t accept him. I needed to own it so that he would be treated with respect. Mason nodded and stuck out his hand.

  “Good to meet you, bro.”

  Gavin returned the gesture.

  I could hear rumbling voices in the barn.

  “What’s going on?” Jax asked.

  Avery chewed her bottom lip. “Brady’s back. His captors let him go.”

  “That’s great!” I exclaimed.

  Avery and Mason shared a look.

  “What?” Jax prodded them.

  Mason leaned in close, whispering, “I overheard Brady tell your dad that the people who took him, did like … experiments on him.”

  “What the fu–” I started before my father poked his head outside.

  “Pack meeting,” he reminded us sternly.

  Whoops. We began to shuffle inside when my father’s arm came out, stopping Gavin.

  “Son, I’d like to talk to you in private for a moment, if that’s ok,” he asked Gavin. Hah. That was a very nicely disguised order.

  My eyes bugged out of my head. “Dad,” I growled. He better not embarrass me anymore than I already was.

  My dad met my gaze. ‘Trust that everything I do in life is for your happiness and wellbeing, dear daughter.’

  Well, shit, how can I argue with that? Nodding, I reluctantly followed Jax, Mason, and Avery inside and left my mate with my Alpha father. What could go wrong?

  We weaved our way through the crowd, getting respectful nods and glances. As the first pups of the result of my mother’s Matefinding gift, we were treasured. More so than the pups being born now. It was common place to see children and pregnant women in packs now, but twenty years ago that was not the case. We were the first born, the most valued.

  We found my mother off to the side of the elevated platform. She was talking with Alexa, one of my father’s most trusted and valuable wolves. Not only was she a changed wolf with the power of creating an EMP type of blast that could short circuit electrical devices, she also used to work for the government. She was my father’s representative at all meetings that involved the human government. There used to be a secret research branch of the government called RAIDOS, Research and Intelligence Division of Supernaturals, and Alexa headed it up. Only when they began to turn on us did Alexa break free and become one of us.

  Alexa and my mom stopped talking as we neared. Alexa was looking at me with sympathy, so I was guessing my mom told her that I had found my mate and he had an expiration date.

  I waved at her and she gave me a tight smile. Great, I was envisioning lots of pity looks in my near future. The pack quieted as my mother took the stage.

  She stood tall and strong and her voice boomed, carrying out to the entire barn.

  “Kai and I have met with the council and I’m sorry to tell you but Brady’s kidnapping was not an isolated incident.”

  Rumbling went through our 300-strong pack as my father slipped inside the barn doors, Gavin on his heels. They walked over to meet us and I saw something fierce in Gavin’s gaze as he looked at me. Protection, possession, pack.

  ‘Mine,’ I heard Gavin say in my head. I sucked in a breath at the sound of his voice in my head and nearly stumbled backward. Then I felt it, I was too preoccupied with my mom and Alexa before but my father had brought Gavin into the pack. He was pack now and that must have jumpstarted our matebond because as I was locked in his gaze, I got flashes of thoughts and images from him. Everything around me ceased to exist as I stared into his green eyes.

  I got visions of him as a child, playing in the backyard with Tom and Betty. They were good parents and he loved them but the knowledge that he was given up for adoption still hurt him deeply. Then I was shown him being picked on in school, at around twelve I saw him taking wrestling classes, then at sixteen he started MMA training, then I saw him holding up a belt, trophies. This was the one thing that kept his mind calm, kept him from giving in to the madness that tried to take him when he was thirteen and the sickness and fevers started. Right after he missed the spirit walk. They were mild then, nothing like now, but he knew something was wrong with him then and it only increased his drive to compete in martial arts and gain control over his mind and body.

  Suddenly, the connection broke and I knew that Spirit had just shown him things that would be important for him to know about me. We were both panting and I was very aware that there were over 300 wolves standing around us but I didn’t care. I reached out and took his hand in mine. It was impossible but this was the proof we both needed ... we were 100% True Mates. Instead of being totally in shock or running away, Gavin simply squeezed my hand and held on tighter.

  Suddenly, my attention was drawn to my father, who was up on the stage. “I’m an old wolf,” my father addressed all of us. “My entire life has been dedicated to finding mates and protecting humans. But my gut tells me that times have changed and if I find out that the human government is behind this string of werewolf kidnappings … it means war.”

  A nervous ripple went through the pack as we all looked anxiously at each other. Saying what he said felt wrong. Werewolves were meant to protect humans from the vampires. To keep the bloodsuckers accountable, honest. It felt wrong to declare war on the people you were meant to protect. But then my eyes found Brady who looked like he had been through hell and back. He was staring at my father with pride and respect, all the while, the wolf tattoo shown on his neck like a brand.

  My father cleared his throat and met my eyes. “In happier news, my only daughter Anya has found her mate.”

  The pack rumbled with cheers and gasps. I grinned. It was a happy thing, at least it should be anyway if we weren’t both going to die in four days.

  My father quieted everyone. “His name is Gavin, he’s a shaman and now a member of our pack. Please take the time to get to know him. He is one of us now.”

  At the word shaman, every wolf in the room began to whisper, point, and stare. But my father’s voice was strong and the subtle threat laced into his speech was not lost on the pack. Just because Gavin wasn’t a werewolf, didn’t mean he wasn’t pack. I was suddenly grateful my father had thought to bring him into the pack before announcing him as my mate. It showed his approval and made Gavin look equal to us. If a war with the humans was on the horizon, then we couldn’t afford a division in the pack, we needed to be strong. What my father hadn’t told the pack, and what was spinning in the wheels of my mind, was that the man I was slowly falling in love with was destined to die, and if Nahuel was right, so was I.

  ‘I’m stronger than you think and I have a lot to live for,’ Gavin told me and my eyes widened. I would have to get used to this matebond thing. …

  *

  After the pack meeting, Jax, Mason, and Gavin went into the basement at our house to play video games while I talked to Avery in my room. I told her everything and I mean everything. The True Mates thing, the visions, and the fact that I was somehow linked to Gavin so much that I too would die if he perished.

  Avery sat
there dumbfounded for a few moments, her cascade of red hair so vibrant to me in that moment.

  Finally she spoke. “Well, shit. Not how I expected this day to go when I woke up this morning.”

  I laughed. “Me neither.”

  I could see the wheels turning in Avery’s mind, she was my science friend, my logical mind, no fo-fo bull crap. She didn’t believe in angels, or fairies or any of that. She was all about what you could see and touch. That must be why she wanted to go into the medical field.

  “Okay,” she began and I braced myself for her rational tirade, “obviously True Mates exist because your mom was half witch and half wolf.”

  I nodded but her brow creased.

  “But according to Nahuel, Gavin should have died shortly after not attending his vision quest to meet his power animal and I’m assuming he would have somehow joined with his wolf to become one or something.”

  I nodded, impressed. I hadn’t really thought about it like that, like he was half empty without his wolf. This is why I needed Avery’s advice, she saw things differently. She didn’t crack under pressure.

  “Fever,” Avery repeated and looked at me with wonder.

  “What?” I asked her.

  “You were born connected!” Avery shouted and jumped up, scaring me.

  “Yes?” I looked at her, dumbfounded.

  Avery began to pace. “Born connected so if he dies, you die,” she spoke out loud.

  “That doesn’t exactly sound like you’re helping with my problem,” I reminded my bestie.

  She came to rest her hands on my shoulders. “You are what has kept him alive this whole time. Maybe together you can fix this.”

  A lightbulb went off then, something Nahuel had said before he left. I get his fevers, he gets my wolf. I was taking some of the illness and he was borrowing my wolf’s strength! Together we could fix this.

  ‘Testing, testing … 1, 2, 3,’ Gavin spoke into my mind and I grinned.

  ‘Hey,’ I answered back.

  Avery was looking at me like I was crazy.

  ‘This is so weird. Can you ... like … read my thoughts?’ Gavin asked me.

  I chuckled. ‘Not really, just what you want me to get.’

  Mates actually could read thoughts if they probed each other but I didn’t want to freak him out.

  ‘Cool, so we have built-in texting,’ Gavin joked.

  I laughed. Avery was waving her hand in front of my face.

  “Are you having a vision? You look crazy,” Avery said.

  I grinned at my best friend and tapped my forehead. “Matebond Gavin is fascinated.”

  Avery suddenly gave me a sultry look. “So, about Gavin. Have you?” She wagged her eyebrows.

  I rolled my eyes. “Dude, we just met and he was sick and stuff.”

  She nodded. “Mm hmm, but he’s your mate and he’s damn hot.”

  I had to suppress my wolf then. Avery didn’t mean anything by it but the jealousy flared nonetheless.

  ‘Your brother and Mason both threatened to skin me alive if I mistreated you,’ Gavin told me.

  “Come on, Mason and Jax are threatening him.”

  Avery laughed and we made our way into the basement. Our basement was huge, over 2,000 square feet and was sectioned off into a full work-out gym with mats and all the fancy equipment, cages for containing wolves, and a bedroom and bathroom. This is where my dad had set up Gavin while he was staying with us.

  When we turned the corner into the basement, I skidded to a halt. Gavin and Jax were wrestling on the pads. Gavin had my twin in an arm-bar hold and Jaxon was trying not to show pain before he tapped out and Gavin released him.

  Jax stood to his full height and grumbled. “I’m better on my feet.”

  Gavin turned as if sensing me.

  Avery looked from me to Gavin. “You know, Anya is really the better wrestler of the two.”

  Gavin looked me up and down and my cheeks reddened.

  Jax growled again. “Avery, you’re my girlfriend. You’re not supposed to admit that my sister is a better wrestler.”

  Avery batted her eyelashes. “I’m sorry, you’re better at boxing than she is.”

  I chuckled and stepped further into the room. “Because he’s freaking ten feet tall.”

  Suddenly, I felt Alpha power surge through the pack bonds. We all froze. My heart hammered in my chest.

  ‘Anya! The council has assembled at the barn ready for your meeting. Come alone.’

  My dad must be totally losing his shit to let it trickle through the entire pack like that. Something was up. Everyone looked to me, so I stood tall.

  “The council has assembled. I need to speak with them about my vision.”

  Both Jax and Gavin stepped forward but I shook my head. “Alone.”

  Gavin looked hurt but nodded, Jax just shrugged.

  Turning my back to my friends, I nervously made my way back through the house and outside. Shit. Why did I tell my dad to assemble the council? Maybe I should have just told him my vision and then he could have relayed it to the council. No, that wouldn’t work because the council would want to question me anyway. Lost in my thoughts, I was at the barn in record time. My hand froze on the door handle of the barn as I forced myself to calm my breathing. I didn’t want the werewolf council to see me looking anything but strong.

  Entering the large barn, I saw that a table had been set up with thirteen chairs. The twelve council members had assembled, plus my mother. I gave a nod to my grandfather, Raj, who was a council member and the Alpha of the largest pack in India. The council was made up of some bad-ass mothers. Making sure I didn’t meet their eyes head on, I addressed them formally.

  “Council.” I bowed deeply and got a growl from my inner wolf. She didn’t like bowing but I knew for what I was about to share I needed to show the utmost respect.

  My father gestured to me. “Tell us of your vision.”

  I took a deep breath. “I have news of our future that I feel I must share with you.” If Nahuel was right, and this was my purpose than I needed to do what was best for my people. One of the more serious council members, Griff, leaned forward listening intently. He had a look in his eyes I didn’t like.

  “I have seen the future and I was shown a world where humans were capturing werewolves, caging them, torturing them. Mass riots, and zero respect for our rights. We were treated like animals.” Now that I had said it out loud, it sounded worse than I had originally thought. The council was outraged. They lost all composure and shouted at each other. My mother and father shared a look.

  Griff stood. “When, where?”

  I shrugged. “Time wasn’t given to me. I saw Los Angeles, but I got the sense this would be worldwide.”

  Griff narrowed his eyes at me. “You got the sense? Is this your first future sight vision?”

  “Well … kind of, yeah,” I mumbled.

  Another council member turned to me. “How do we know it’s not some witch trick? Dark magic messing with you?”

  My mouth opened in shock but before I could retort, my mother stood so fast that her chair fell back and hit the ground.

  “How dare you! You come into my home as a guest and call my daughter a liar!” Mist leaked from my mother’s skin and the barn doors rattled. Holy shit. The slightest bit of fear passed over Griff’s face before being replaced with anger.

  My father tried to put a hand on my mother’s arm, but she shrugged him off and walked around the table to stand next to me.

  She put one hand on her hip and addressed the council. “So, when I have visions of your mates, it’s okay to believe me? But anything else is a witch trick? Maybe I’ll stop telling you when I have mate visions and let our race die out.”

  My eyes bugged out of my head at my mother’s threat. She stared down Griff; the tension was so thick it could almost be felt, like a wet blanket saturating my body.

  ‘Holy shit! Mom just threatened the entire werewolf council,’ I told Jax.

  ‘I mi
ss all the good shit,’ my twin told me.

  My father stood. “I agree. I’m offended by your line of questioning my daughter.”

  Raj stood then, placing his hands out and addressing the council. “We’re old wolves. Wolves don’t like witches and magic, but we must admit that Aurora’s gift and magic has benefited our pack greatly. Now my granddaughter shares that gift and we too must trust that it is for the benefit of our kind.” His words rippled through the space with the power of an Alpha. I had to resist the urge to bow my head.

  Griff shrugged in agreement as my mother glared at him.

  “Tell us every detail from the vision, Anya,” my grandfather prompted. I looked at my mother who nodded beside me.

  So I did, I described the awful scene I witnessed. The wolf caged in the pick-up truck, the girl being whipped and cracking out her teeth. I told them everything Nahuel had shown me and only left out the part about Gavin being my True Mate. It felt too intimate to share in this setting. When I was done, my father thanked me and dismissed me as the council figured out what to do.

  Walking back to the house, I saw everyone was outside waiting for me. Waving, I faltered as dizziness suddenly hit me and the fever raged to life inside of my body making me fall to my knees. My breathing hitched as heat flushed my cheeks and my heart raced. Jaxon ran to my side as I saw Gavin stumble in front of me as well. Flushed, looking sweaty, Gavin met my eyes. A pulsing need burned inside my belly to touch him. Reaching out, he clasped my hand and that’s when I drifted into the blackness.

  Chapter Five

  I came to, groggily, a pounding in my temples that threatened to make me sick. Then I felt it, a soft, warm hand laced with mine. Peeling open my eyelids, I looked over to see Gavin. He appeared to be sleeping soundly, breathing even, cheeks flushed and a light sheen of sweat upon his brow. I looked up and saw my mother and father standing at the foot of my bed. My mom’s eyes were ringed red; it looked like she had been crying. My father stood arms crossed like a sentinel, wearing a wild expression.

  “Anya.” His voice was gruff. “Are you okay?”