The tension in the car was miserable. It didn’t improve when they arrived home, either, as the only thing grandmother said to her was, “It’s late, and you have studying to do before you return to school on Monday.” It was a clear statement that she expected Rebecca to continue with school despite the supernatural situation she suddenly found herself in. Yet another layer to add to her already complicated life. Without another word, or even the chance to protest, grandmother slammed her bedroom door in Rebecca’s face.
As Rebecca started up the stairs to the room she shared with Savvy a shadow crossed the French doors which led to the back yard. Without thought for her own safety, guided only by instinct to protect her house and family, she decided to investigate. Instinct that was in overdrive thanks to her new alter ego.
As she peered out the window she saw her brother talking to the neighbor, Natalia. Rebecca sighed with relief knowing her family was safe for the night; despite the small fact she didn’t think Natalia was good enough for her brother. Truth be told, she didn’t think anyone would be good enough for her brother. This over-protectiveness for Hunter existed long before her decision to become a wolf.
Big sister issues aside, what was so important for them to be meeting secretly this late? Initially, she wanted to see if there was any sign of the strange man who stood on the street staring at her bedroom window yesterday. Just as she turned the knob, Savvy bounced into the room with her usual cheery demeanor.
“Let them be. You still have to give me some explanations about what is going on.” Savannah’s voice stilled Rebecca’s fingers on the door knob.
Rebecca sucked in a deep breath, planted a smile on her face and spun around on her heel towards her sister who happened to be holding out Rebecca’s car keys.
The look on Savvy’s face showed little amusement as she dropped Rebecca’s keys on the counter with a clunk. “When were you going to tell me?” Savannah crossed her arms against her chest. They were identical in many ways but if one looked closely they would see Savvy was a few inches shorter and slightly more curvy than Rebecca was.
“Tell you what?” Rebecca’s nerves were tingling as her body prepared itself for the familiar rush of hormones flooding her body; the flight or fight response. Unfortunately, Savvy and Hunter were the only two people Rebecca could not, or would not escape. It was them against the world. Even as Rebecca considered telling Savvy her secret, she was reminded by the inner voice, the wolf, 'You’re bound by a blood oath not to tell your secret.' If that wasn’t enough the invisible tattoo on Rebecca’s hand began to burn, serving as a warning. The Authority had all their bases covered; now Rebecca regretted not reading the contract she signed more thoroughly. Maybe she should have told them she needed a lawyer to look it over. Perhaps she could argue she signed it under duress or maybe she could argue she was only seventeen when she signed it. Now she found herself wondering what else she agreed to with her own blood.
“Seriously?” Savvy glared at her with identical blue eyes. “This is the biggest news our family has had in months! I can’t believe you haven’t told me already.”
She knew! By gods, somehow she knew. Rebecca was suddenly flooded with relief of not having to hide this secret from her sister. “Savannah I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, it’s just…”
“What I can’t figure out is why you’ve been keeping him a secret.” Savvy started towards the kitchen cabinets and pulled out some tea as she turned on the tea kettle.
“It’s simply not that easy too… wait, him?” Rebecca looked at her sister with confusion clearly defined on her face in the form of furrowed brows.
“Your boyfriend, silly!” Savvy gushed with the happy news.
Warning bells exploded in Rebecca’s head as she tried to remain calm; fitting because Savvy was making them chamomile tea. Rebecca’s first instinct was that someone was impersonating being in a relationship with her so they could get close to the family. Which was not that ridiculous of a thought since her entire pack was recently massacred. Of course, Gabriel was her first suspect. Something about him made her uneasy. Besides, she couldn’t figure out who else would gain any benefit from telling Savvy they were dating. “Okay, sis, I’m confused?”
“Lucky. He is super cute, sis.” Savvy grinned showing her approval. “How else do you think I would’ve gotten your car?”
Once again the warning bells ignited in Rebecca’s mind, only this time it was for a different reason. Two problems suddenly became an issue. One, “Sis you can’t just get into a car with a strange boy who tells you he’s my boyfriend.” It puts her in danger, now more than ever before, not that she could say that out loud. “What if he was a rapist or murderer, or something else?”
“Okay, paranoid much?” Savvy asked, irritation beginning to show on her face and around her eyes.
It was in that moment that Rebecca realized Savannah was making three cups of tea. “Savvy who is…”
“Hi, baby.” Lucky chose that moment to come into the room and immediately wrapped his arm around Rebecca’s waist. He must have seen the confusion swimming in her eyes because one moment he was pulling her close and the next he crushed his mouth against hers. Rebecca could not lie; she had imagined what it would be like to kiss him. He was handsome and gentlemanly and all, not to mention how protective he was. While her wolf found that irritating her human side found it flattering. But her imagination couldn’t have prepared her for the intensity of the kiss.
The force of the kiss was like a tidal wave, sending emotional intensity to every point of her body. Despite her resolve, she found herself responding to the kiss; reveling in his soft lips, his gentle hand at the nape of her neck, and the way his fingers sunk into her hair. He succeeded in taking Rebecca’s breath away.
Everywhere his lips touched her body responded with shivers. For a moment Rebecca forgot her sister was in the room. His lips left a hot trail on her skin marking a path from her lips to her neck. It would have been easy to get lost in the passionate haze he created. His breath was hot in her ear when he whispered, “It’s our cover story.”
His words doused her like a pail of cold water and Rebecca shoved him back.
Savannah giggled, “It’s not you, Lucky. My sis hates public affection. She rarely even lets me give her hugs or a hand squeeze, and I shared a womb with her for nine months.”
Her uplifting laugh reminded Rebecca they were not alone. She managed a grateful smile when Savannah set down the mugs. Lucky reached for the Grand Canyon mug and Rebecca intercepted him and handed him the plain blue mug. They drank from the mugs that represented their favorite trips. Savvy’s hands wrapped around a picture of the San Diego skyline and Rebecca’s around the rustic Grand Canyon. They picked their favorite trips for two very different reasons; Savannah loved the ocean, the beach and all the sports that came along with it. Rebecca’s represented their last family trip with their parents. It wasn’t the location that made it a favorite, but the memories that she refused to let fade away. So she held on to the mug and the memories that represented a happy family.
Lucky’s eyes met Rebecca’s over the rim of his mug but he didn’t speak. She supposed angel hybrids would have some sort of empathic sense. She wondered what energy or emotions he got from her.
“So spill the beans. How’d you two meet?” Savvy asked as she sat down at the breakfast nook. She folded her knee up to her chest and motioned for Rebecca and Lucky to sit on the bench across from her.
“I think destiny had a hand in that one.” He grinned, gone were the understanding, sympathetic eyes and in their place were amber and gold eyes filled with laughter and mischief. He was very good at changing moods with a flip of a coin. Rebecca supposed that was a handy skill being a policeman of sorts.
Rebecca managed to hide the eye roll. He may have been right, this was a great cover, but that didn’t change the fact that she was upset with him for making that decision without talking to her first. Rebecca began their story by sitting down and patt
ing the bench next to her, an invite for him to sit. “I was crossing the street without looking and he rescued me from an oncoming vehicle that was barreling down on me.”
Savannah sucked in a breath. “Oh, my god! When did this happen? Are you okay?”
Savvy was so sweet and innocent; which made Rebecca feel terrible for deceiving her. “Yes, sis, I’m fine. See?” Rebecca held out her hands and noticed the cut in her palm was completely gone. Thank goodness for super healing abilities. That would have been a hard one to explain.
“You’re a hero!” Savvy smiled after she inspected Rebecca’s arms and face. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost another family member.” Her lower lip quivered slightly and Rebecca knew she was thinking of their parents. No tears fell. She was too strong to show her pain over their loss. She only did that when she thought no one was listening.
An uncomfortable silence fell over them. Rebecca wanted to speak, but couldn’t come up with a good change of subject.
Lucky managed the subject change easily. “It all seemed like fate; I’m new to town and am starting school with you all on Monday.” He filled the empty space with another surprise. He may look their age but Rebecca had a sneaking suspicion he was older, a lot older than he appeared.
“Wow, really? That’s fantastic. We can show you around and help you get comfortable.” Savannah, ever the politician, smiled as she started talking about teachers to avoid and others whose classes she enjoyed.
And just like that their parents’ presence was gone from the room and Rebecca’s cheery, sunny sister was back on track. Rebecca admired Savvy in that she could find happiness in even the saddest moments. If Becca had that ability perhaps she wouldn’t be a lone wolf in charge of a non-existent werewolf pack. If she could have compartmentalized her pain and guilt perhaps she would have been head cheerleader and on the student government at school just like Savvy. But she was not like that, and that meant she was on the road she was meant to be on.
They chatted for a few more minutes; it was Lucky who ended the conversation. “Well it’s getting late and we have plans for tomorrow. I really should be getting home. Thank you for the tea.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Rebecca followed him toward the door.
When they were outside by his bike he smiled at her and leaned in for a kiss. Rebecca promptly slapped him.
“Ow! What was that for?” He rubbed his cheek.
His face was red for a moment; even under the dim light of the street lamp, which made her feel better about the pain in her hand. “One, we’re not dating for real.” Rebecca began counting off the reasons on her fingers. “Two, you should’ve asked me if I was okay with this sort of cover. Three, my lips are not free for all.” She placed her hands on her hips, “shall I go on?”
The corner of his lips twitched upwards as he stared at her for a moment in surprised silence. Then his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her close to him so she couldn’t struggle against him.
“One, your grandmother and I decided this was the perfect cover. Two, I had assumed she had discussed this with you on the ride home." He also ticked his reasons off on his fingers. "I’m sorry if she didn’t get around to having this conversation, I’m sure she had plenty of other things to discuss.”
“Yea like giving me the silent treatment.” Rebecca tried to cross her arms over her chest but he had her pulled so close it was an impossible venture.
“I see. Understandable.” He nodded slightly. "Your grandmother has good reason to be upset with you."
Rebecca pushed her hands against his rock solid chest in an attempt to get away from him; like that would have worked. He simply pulled her closer and this time the position seemed to rob her of deep breaths. “Understandable? Why is that?”
“Well, you’re a member of one of the most powerful Wiccan families in the southwest and you simply threw that away to be a werewolf.” His tone was so matter of fact that if she did have a free hand she would have slapped him again.
“For your information, my family never told me of my heritage. None of us knew that we were part of the supernatural world. I did this to avenge my parents’ death, something I caused.” Rebecca never meant for that last part to slip out, but her blood was boiling and heart racing. Damn that anger button! She really needed to get it under control somehow.
She wasn’t sure if it was because she was near a cute boy that enjoyed kissing her or if she was simply beyond angry. None of that mattered when she looked in his caring gold eyes and saw no judgment, only compassion. She guessed that myth about angels was true. And if she let herself relax in his arms she knew she would break down. He had no way of understanding, yet he seemed to care enough to try and empathize.
“I’m sure your siblings will be made aware of their DNA in a rather quick manner now. You’ve become quite a trail blazer in your family.” He stated in a failed attempt to break up the uncomfortable silence that fell between them. His humor was misplaced and the look on her face made that crystal clear, she wasn’t amused.
"I would hardly call myself a trailblazer. I was simply tired of waiting for the authorities to take some action in my parents’ case. The deed is done now. It is what it is. I am what I am.”
He slipped a blonde curl that came loose from her ponytail in the wind behind her ear. “What do you mean you caused their deaths?”
As fast as she found ease in his arms she also found unease. Rebecca bit her lower lip and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.” Tears threatened to fall as they pricked the back of her eyes. She lowered her head to hide the pain.
With a gentle finger under her chin, he raised her eyes to meet his own. “It does.” His eyes searched her face. It was like he could read her soul, and while some people who read romance novels may think that’s wonderful, Rebecca could honestly say it was uncomfortable and difficult. No one likes to be that exposed in front of another person.
Despite her better judgment the words slipped from her mouth. "They wouldn’t have been out driving on the streets that night if it hadn’t been for me. I wanted to come home from the sleepover. I threw a fit and finally they agreed to come and get us. It’s my fault they’re dead.” A single tear fell past the barrier that she refused to let down. It rolled down her cheek tickling as it went. The cool breeze outside chilled its path down her face which only served as a bitter reminder that she allowed herself to be weak for just a moment. Something she swore she wouldn’t allow to happen since the day they died. It was her weakness that killed them; it would be her strength that avenged them.
“You need to listen to me very carefully, Becca.” His eyes were so intent she couldn’t pull hers away even if she wanted to; it was like a magnetic force kept them connected. “Nothing about your parents’ death is your fault. Do you understand?”
She shook her head. “You can’t know that.”
“How old were you when they died?” His eyes searched hers again.
“I don’t want to discuss this with you.” She tried to turn away.
He shook her gently. “How old were you when this happened?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She wanted to escape his arms, despite the safety they allowed her to feel. She needed to escape his eyes and the nakedness they made her feel.
“Answer me, Rebecca.” It was a command, even though his voice was barely above a whisper. It was a simple command; one she could not refuse.
“Seven! And my cry-baby antics made them leave the house that night making them prime targets for the jacking. Gods only know how long they sat in the car bleeding to death. If I hadn’t begged them to come and get us from that sleepover none of this would’ve happened.” Tears fell down her face, making her angry. She was not a girl who cried. She always held her emotions in check, but something about this man made her weak and she did not like that.
He smiled sadly, which only made the tears fall more. She hated that look of compassion. She wanted to push him away. Instead, he simply pulled her close
r and hugged her while the tears fell and her body shook. It seemed like forever before she could pull herself together. When she did, he was the first to speak.
“You know it’s not your fault. Deep down you know you didn’t put the gun in the criminal’s hands. You didn’t create this horrible tragedy; you only played a part in it happening. In truth, we all have a certain number of years on this earth. Well, humans at least. When that time is up, it’s up. The one thing we cannot escape is death unless you have some supernatural means by which to escape. But those are rare. Even werewolves don’t live forever.”
Rebecca chuckled softly at his strange logic; it didn't fix her anger at her parents’ death. It simply gave her a release to feel something other than sadness. “Who would want to?”
“Even those given immortality will tell you eventually that they wished they didn’t have it.” He pushed that stray strand of hair behind her ears and used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her face.
She leaned back in his arms so she could see his face. It was ruggedly handsome in the daylight, but even more so in the darkness, lit only by the light of the moon overhead. He was very good-looking, compassionate and wise. He deserves better than someone so broken. She sighed. “I should really get inside and to bed.”
“Okay. I’ll pick you up tomorrow for training. How does ten in the morning sound?”
She laughed as she started heading back into the house, “you really are sure of yourself.” But in truth she knew she needed training to survive in this world and he was offering to help. How could she refuse? "I usually run about nine, do you want to join me?"
“Sure, see you then.”
And with that he hopped on his bike and drove off. She watched as the night simply swallowed him up. He irritated her but she was thankful for the help. Besides, she liked so much about him; maybe she could live with that irritation.
Lone Wolf Rising (Paranormal Romantic Thriller) (The Winters Series) Page 9