Life After Humanity

by Gillian St. Kevern

  “We don’t suspect Wisner’s trying to discredit your department,” George spoke for the first time. “We know he wants to destroy it. Replace it with his own werewolves obedient to him.”

  Gunn tilted his head as he weighed George. “That’s a very serious allegation to make.”

  “So is kidnapping.” George glanced at Ben.

  He nodded. There was nothing to lose now by telling Gunn the entire story. “George and I teamed up to investigate the missing werewolf. We found a lot more than we were expecting.”

  George took over the story, detailing her visit to the pound and subsequent imprisonment. “And before you ask, no, I was not acting threatening in any way. I just asked the guy if anyone matching Grant’s description had asked about spending the full moon there, and he said, possibly. Did I want to come out to the kennel to check?”

  “And locked you in?” Gunn’s eyes narrowed. “How does this tie to Wisner?”

  George grinned at him. “Guess who the owner of the kennel called to report once I was safely locked up? And guess who came to see who’d been snooping around the pounds in person?”

  “Wisner?”

  “And two of his posse. Ben can confirm—he arrived shortly before they did to let me out.”

  Ben was aware that Nate was staring at him. He winced, shooting Nate an apologetic look. I was going to tell you! “We hid and were able to overhear their conversation. Wisner identified my scent and sent the kennel owner and his pack off to threaten me.”

  “The cause of the disturbance downstairs?” Gunn’s eyes narrowed. “Hold it right there. I’m calling Kenzies up to hear this.”

  Gunn dragged each of them in turn into the kitchen to give their version of the story, leaving his subordinate in the room to make sure they weren’t collaborating.

  Ben watched the clock, trying to stay as still as possible. Time is wasting. We need to get on with our preparations. He was conscious that the passing time was only one cause for his unease. Grant prowled the room, obviously on edge. He tried to keep as far as possible from the other wolf. For her part, Kenzies sat on Ben’s sofa, discussing the difficulties of finding heavy-duty boots in sizes for women with George, with an appearance of placid calm, but every time Grant whirled around, she tensed, her eyes following him across the apartment.

  Nate bent over the back of Ben’s chair to talk to him. “Were you going to tell me about Wisner threatening you?”

  “It wasn’t a secret. I told you part of it when we faced off with the Juggawolves.” It was a relief to focus on Nate rather than the tense atmosphere of the room. “I’m certain that when the wolves arrived here, it was me they were expecting to find, not Grant.” He bit his lip. “I was rather surprised about that myself.”

  Nate ducked his head. “We didn’t know he was the wolf when we adopted him. We thought he was a stray dog. We only worked it out last night.”

  “And what happened when you did work it out?”

  Nate winced. “We were pretty upset. Aki, especially. We threw him out. In the morning—I guess we had second thoughts. After all, we’ve all seen how Wisner treats people.”

  “He doesn’t deserve to be pack leader.” Kenzies lip curled. “Leading by fear is a fast way to create a monster.”

  “If Wisner succeeds, he’s going to put pressure on every wolf in the city to join him or face supernatural restrictions,” Grant said. “There’s no way—”

  “I’ll be allowed to keep working at Department Seven?” Kenzies nodded. “I’ve got no illusions about what Wisner has planned. But I have a responsibility to keep the city safe. As long as I’ve got this job, that’s what I’m going to do.”

  Ben considered Kenzies. The woman was no fool. “Grant’s clearly no threat. You don’t really believe you have to protect the city against him, do you?”

  Kenzies snorted. “It’s less Grant, more the situation. The city’s at powder keg levels of tension. If that goes off—you saw the fallout of the necromancer attacks. The city’s vampire population saw a chance to cut loose and did.”

  “It’s not Grant you’re afraid of, but Wisner’s wolves?” Nate straightened.

  “And Wisner’s pull. He’s got a lot of influence with the mayor.” Kenzies’s eyes hardened. “He’s been gunning for Department Seven for a while now. If he decides to come down on us over this—well, it might not just be me losing my job.”

  Ben felt Nate tense behind him. He squeezed his hand. “You okay?”

  Nate took the invitation to lean in. “I remember New Camden during the necromancer attacks. It looked like a cyclone had hit it. Everyone was afraid—and I was responsible. I don’t—we can’t let that happen again.”

  The kitchen door slammed open, making everyone flinch. Gunn sauntered out, hands in his pockets. He was followed by Aki, the last to be interviewed. “Stories check out. Kenzies?”

  Kenzies stood. “Let’s see your safe room.”

  Kenzies was thorough. She tested the door from the inside and out. “Room meets standard,” she said crisply. “If you had more time, I’d get the walls padded and soundproofed. Makes such a difference.”

  Gunn scrawled his untidy signature on Grant’s paperwork. “We had to go by the Registry anyway. We can file this at the same time.”

  Ben breathed out. If anyone was waiting to block Grant’s application, they wouldn’t be expecting Gunn to have it.

  “All my decades of hard work for this city and here I am, reduced to playing filing clerk for a rogue werewolf and Benny of all people.” Gunn snarled half-heartedly.

  Ben raised an eyebrow. “You know we’re grateful. But you don’t want to hear us say so.”

  “God, no.” Gunn shuddered. “Keep your gratitude firmly to yourselves.”

  “What my superior officer is trying to say,” Kenzies said, “is that once we file these, Wisner’s going to know where you are. He’s going to come down on you like a ton of bricks—and there may be little we can do to help.”

  Gunn gave her a look of dislike. “You take this on your own risk.”

  “We understand,” Grant said. “And we’re prepared to take the consequences.”

  “Your funeral.” Gunn smiled. “Isn’t that a nice thought?”

  THE KNOCK AT the door was authoritative and demanding. Ben halted, in the midst of an incantation. Far too soon.

  He glanced up, meeting the worried glances of Charlotte and Vazul. Grant had phoned his friends to let them know what had happened and warned them of possible consequences from Wisner’s pack, and they’d come over to help get the apartment prepared for a werewolf attack. “Wisner.”

  Charlotte glanced at the clock. “We don’t have to let him in, do we?”

  “If we refuse, he might be able to lodge a claim of obstruction.” Vazul had a thick volume of the laws regarding supernaturals in front of him. “At this exact moment, he is still Grant’s alpha.”

  The knock repeated. It was every bit as demanding.

  “Better get this over with.” Ben set down his candle carefully and made his way to the door.

  Wisner stood there, fully dressed in a crisp business suit. The two men with him were similarly attired, and shared their father’s blond hair and tawny eyes. Clearly his sons.

  Ben, braced for one wolf, found it took an effort to bear the stares of all three. “Can I help you?”

  The younger of the three men snarled. “Don’t act like you don’t know why we’re here.”

  “Ronald,” Wisner said. There was only a faint hint of censure in his tone, but the wolf flushed and stepped back. Wisner didn’t take his eyes off Ben. “Would this be your apartment? That’s not terribly wise. Harboring a known fugitive is not likely to impress the committee.”

  “On the contrary,” Ben said. “I’m helping a fellow citizen pursue legal means of emancipation—legal means that you are obstructing.” It took an effort to hold his ground as an expression of fury flickered over Wisner’s face. The wolf is close to the surface. The full m
oon was only hours away. Civilized Councilor Wisner was rapidly becoming even more dangerous.

  “You have no idea what you’re doing,” Wisner ground out. “And frankly, I don’t care to enlighten you. I’m here to see my stepson.”

  “He doesn’t want to see you.” Charlotte looked as startled by her outburst as everyone else. She yelped as Wisner transferred his venomous gaze to her.

  His angry son snarled. “Don’t disrespect the pack leader, you—”

  Vazul gathered his breath. “With all due respect, Wisner is not our pack leader.”

  “I’m a civilian,” Ben stated firmly. “This is my private property. I’m entirely within my rights to refuse entry. If you attempt to remove Grant against his will, you’ll be trespassing—”

  “Grant!” Wisner barked, drowning out Ben’s words. “Show yourself!”

  “Here.”

  Ben’s heart sank. He turned to see Grant, Aki looking on anxiously behind him, in the study doorway.

  But while everyone else looked dismayed, Grant looked determined. “I know why you’re here, and it’s not going to work. I’m not coming back.”

  “My dear boy. You’re not yourself—you’ve allowed this last month to blow everything out of proportion. Consider your actions.” Wisner’s voice took on an overly soothing tone. “You’ve cut yourself off from the pack who raised you, and taken up with strangers—none of whom have any experience in meeting a full moon. I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but I have your best interests at heart. Believe me, wolves need wolves—especially at the full moon. You don’t want to risk hurting someone—or losing your mind.”

  “Mind?” Aki repeated. “What do you mean—”

  Wisner’s expression took on concern. “Grant didn’t tell you? That was very remiss of him. It so happens that the full moon is an incredibly stressful time for a werewolf. At any other time of the month, the wolf is tempered by the human. However, on the night of the full moon, the change is irresistible and complete. There is no human remaining. We are wolf—all wolf. And wolves need the society of other wolves.” He smiled, and there was a distinctly predator-like note to his smile. “It is only one night, but spending it in an unknown place, surrounded by unknown sounds and smells, is torture to the wolf. Without the presence of others of its kind, the wolf had been known to injure itself in its attempts to free itself, working itself up into a frenzy that leaves its human self fatally injured, or worse—their mind shattered and broken.” Wisner spread his hands wide. “Grant will tell you I’m not exaggerating.”

  Grant narrowed his eyes. “There are cases on record of wolves not surviving the full moon alone.”

  Wisner looked from Ben to Charlotte and Vazul, his arms spread in an expansive gesture. “Why subject him to that risk? If you consider yourselves Grant’s friends, then it is in your interests, as well as ours, that Grant return to his pack.”

  “No longer my pack,” Grant said shortly. “Going back would mean surrounding myself with hostile influences. You—” He glanced to Aki standing behind him, then looked back at Charlotte and Vazul. “—you are my pack now.”

  He’s not just saying that. Ben frowned. If Grant succeeded in freeing himself from his stepfather’s control and set up a new pack, one that didn’t discriminate against nonwolves…

  “Them?” Ronald began to laugh. “Don’t fool yourself. Do you know how many wolves we have? There’s no way—”

  Wisner held up a hand, silencing him. He didn’t take his eyes off Grant. “You persist in this foolishness? Even knowing that you risk your very life?”

  Grant glared back. “I know what I risk going back. And I consider my chances of survival better on the outside.”

  “You dare—” The son that had been silent up until then made a lunge for him, his teeth bared. As he barreled through the doorway, he collided with the runes. The barrier was invisible, but they all heard the impact.

  “Mickey!” Wisner’s snarl was vicious.

  “Don’t blame him,” Ben said. “I told you that an attempt to take Grant from this apartment by force would be considered trespassing. My wards guard against that.”

  The look Wisner turned on him made Ben very glad that they’d just redone the wards. It was with a visible effort that the councilor regained control of himself, turning back to Grant. “Grant. Look me in the eyes. Tell me that this is truly your choice.”

  Grant took a step forward. He raised his gaze to his stepfather’s. “You won’t change my mind.”

  Wisner’s mouth flickered into something that looked like victory. “You know I only want what is best for my pack.”

  It wasn’t silent. As the moments stretched out, every movement seemed astonishingly loud. His hand locked around the door handle, Ben could only watch the contest of wills unfolding right before his nose. The atmosphere seemed to crackle with pressure. The inner vampire stirred, urging him to hiss and fight for his territory.

  And if it’s bad for me, it must be even worse for Grant. Ben couldn’t raise his head to look at him. He had bowed his head, unable to resist the inevitable pressure, but he could see Grant’s bare feet shift on the wooden living room floor. All Wisner’s attention was focused on him, the wolf’s natural power augmented by the presence of his own sons, both powerful wolves approaching their prime. Their combined weight was too much for Grant to resist indefinitely. He took a hesitant step toward the door—

  Aki gasped. It was an involuntary sound that broke the spell. Grant’s head jerked up and back to look at him, and Charlotte raised a hand to her temples. Vazul shook his head as though dazed, and Ben discovered he could move again. And Grant—

  After a long look at Aki, Grant turned back to his stepfather. “I’m staying here.”

  Wisner ground his fists together. His fury was naked on his face for the first time. “Insolent pup! You will pay for your defiance!”

  There’s more than the full moon at play here. Ben looked around for something that might make a suitable weapon against a werewolf.

  “Pay for my existence you mean.” Anger flashed through Grant’s eyes, and he faced his stepfather without fear. “You’ve begrudged me every moment of my life as a member of your pack, but you can’t stand the thought of me being free. You want to contain me. But I’m not going to be a pawn in your power play. I’m my own wolf, Wisner. Get used to it.”

  Wisner strode angrily toward him, and Ben had a moment’s panic. The man was larger than Grant and had all the cunning of an old wolf. But Wisner suddenly jerked away and stumbled, his hand coming up to his face. It took Aki’s startled laugh for Ben to realize what had happened. Wisner had collided with the defensive barrier created by his wards.

  Grant’s hand on Ben’s shoulder made him start. “As you can see, my security needs are met. My friends will not let me become a threat to the public.”

  Wisner growled, his eyes settling on Ben. “Think twice about where you put your faith. Not everyone you have trusted deserves it.”

  Ben folded his arms. The vampire surged within him. In his apartment, Ben had full rights—and the magic to back them up. “It’s getting late, Councilor Wisner. I suggest you think about getting home yourselves. You don’t want to risk getting caught out by the full moon.”

  Wisner leaned on his son’s arm, getting himself back on his feet. “You’re making a very big mistake.” He was back on sure ground now, his eyes settling on Charlotte and Vazul, and frowning at Aki, before returning to Ben. “I came straight from a meeting of the City Council. A vote of no-confidence in Department Seven’s ability to handle the situation was made and a state of emergency declared. You can expect no help from Gunn and his lackeys. Your only option is to surrender Grant to me now, before you find yourselves in serious trouble.”

  “You’ve tried intimidating us before,” Vazul said, his voice bored. “You’re wasting your time. You know what our answer will be.”

  “You are all fools,” Wisner said. “I look forward to the moment that you
realize just what a mistake you’ve made.” He turned aside, his sons immediately falling into formation behind him. “Until tonight, Grant.”

  Ben shut the door with more force than he’d intended. The noise made him wince. He turned back to his friends. “So—”

  “Tonight?” Aki said at once. “But he’ll be a werewolf tonight. There’s no way he can leave his safe room—is there?”

  “And without Department Seven, who is going to stop him?” Grant turned to Aki. “I told you to stay out of sight with the others. Why didn’t you listen?”

  Aki folded his arms. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

  “It’s for your own good! My stepdad’s got something planned. I’m sure he has.” Grant looked around the room. “You’re all putting yourselves at risk for me,” he said. “I’m grateful—but I also don’t want you guys to endanger yourselves for me. If you need to get out of here. I won’t hold it against you—”

  Vazul snorted. “Grant, we’ve been waiting for this moment.”

  Charlotte nodded, tucking her hair out of her face. “I’m the last to condone violence. My coven’s practice specifically prohibits it. But this— A stand has to be made. For all of us.”

  Grant was unable to meet their eyes. “You don’t know what this means—”

  A tug at Ben’s elbow brought his attention to Aki standing beside him. Aki glared at him. “Your wards able to stand up against a pack of werewolves?”

  Ben nodded. “Wisner doesn’t have the legal right to make Grant leave, and magically it’s my apartment, and my wards. He can’t break them through sheer force.”

  Aki hesitated, watching Grant hug Charlotte. His hands fluttered to a halt, curling into fists. “You’re sure about that?”

  Aki had no problems letting Ben know that he was unimpressed or angry, but Ben couldn’t remember seeing Aki uncertain before. “What’s the problem?”

  “I hate to say it,” Aki said. “But I’ve got a really bad feeling about your wards.”

  “Can you—” Ben’s phone rang. He tugged it out of his pocket, intending to turn it off, when the name on the caller display stopped him. Diya? “One moment.” He walked into the kitchen. “This is a really bad time, Diya.”