by Fel Fern
“Hello, I know you,” she said. “Hurt black bird. You feel better now?”
Slightly taken aback, he stared at her. Recognition hit Theo a moment later. “You were that gray furry wolf pup who snuck in with Zack a week ago.”
“She actually has white fur in wolf form, but that doesn’t last long,” Zack and Joey’s new friend said. Those blue eyes searched his, and he felt queasy, a little exposed. Whoever this man was, he wasn’t just a normal human, and Theo had a feeling he wasn’t a shifter, either, because he didn’t have that natural grace both Zack and Joey seemed to possess.
“You’re Theo?” the man asked.
Suddenly, this stranger had eyes that looked a lot older, sadder somehow.
“Daryl—are you actually reading him?” Joey complained.
Daryl. Daryl Rush. The name echoed repeatedly in his head. Powerful empath Esper. More importantly, mate to Deacon Becker, Alpha of the Devil Hills wolf pack. His true objective. A headache started in his temples. Pressure started at the back of his eyeballs. Moaning, he put his hands on the table.
“Theo? What’s wrong?” Zack asked.
“Someone’s inside him,” said the little girl.
He forced himself to look at Daryl. “Run,” he whispered. “Please. You need to get away from me right now.”
Chapter Twelve
“What are you talking about?” Daryl asked him. “Theo, your emotions are everywhere. You should calm down or you’ll get a panic attack.”
Enemy, a voice in his head whispered. Opportunity. Kill him.
“No!” Theo stared at the plastic menu on the table, feeling nauseous, ready to throw up. He saw himself transported back to the past, sitting in that examination chair while Voss whispered those words over and over in his head.
Kill Daryl Rush. Kill Deacon Becker. Without the head or the heart, the pack can’t function.
Joe’s pack. Joe’s family. Theo couldn’t ruin that, but he couldn’t stop himself from fumbling for the cutleries on the small charming basket next to him. Stop it, he told himself, but his body wouldn’t obey.
He flicked a misery-filled glance at both Zack and Joey, who were stunned, unsure of what was happening or what to do. “Get Daryl out of my sight.”
“Uncle Daryl, we should listen to him,” said the little girl, tugging at Daryl’s hand.
“Theo, I can help you,” Daryl said, voice soothing, calm. “I’m a healer, like Zack, but I heal wounds of the mind and heart. Let me touch you, I’ll drive all these negative emotions away.”
“No,” he whispered. Sweat dripped down his back as he closed his hand on the handle of the knife. A growl filled the diner. It came from the big guy Daryl came in with, probably his bodyguard. “No one can help me. I’m cursed.”
Did Theo really think he was free? God, but he’d been a damn fool.
“That’s not true. Theo, I’ve read the emotions of rehabilitated Espers and shifters from the Squad, you don’t feel like that at all,” Daryl blurted.
“Daryl, step away from him,” said the werewolf bodyguard.
The diner had grown deathly quiet, and he realized everyone looked at him. If he were a mind reader, he could imagine what they were thinking now. The outsider’s true colors had finally shown.
“Daryl, I don’t think he’s listening,” said Zack. Suddenly, he was the only one sitting at the table. Both Zack and Joey had risen to their feet, wary of him. Scared, he realized, stomach clenching.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, lunging out of the booth, knife pointed at Daryl. The Esper looked paralyzed, his blue eyes wide with shock.
“No, don’t hurt Uncle Daryl!”
He was maybe two inches from plunging that knife into Daryl’s chest, but the girl made all his muscles lock up. An Esper might possess psychic abilities, but they didn’t have a shifter’s healing or speed. Theo could have done it, ended Daryl Rush, twist the knife into the heart and even a healer like Zack wouldn’t be able to repair the damage, but God.
Children were off-limits. That fraction of a second’s hesitation was enough for Zack and Joey to pull Daryl and the girl out of the way and the bodyguard to disarm him. The knife clattered to the ground. The werewolf shoved him so hard, his back hit the closest wall.
The air left his lungs, but before Theo could recover, the werewolf slammed him against the wall again. Huge hands went to his neck, cutting his air supply. Theo choked, gasping. He tried to push, claw at the werewolf, but it was no use. The shifter was twice, maybe thrice his size, and he saw fury in those eyes, his death reflected in them.
“Russell, don’t kill him,” Daryl interrupted, sounding alarmed.
“Daryl, you should know this, but you’re the Alpha’s mate. If he succeeded, what would happen to the pack?” Russell demanded.
The werewolf tightened his hold on his throat. He gasped, vision turning dark. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to die. Theo wasn’t safe to be around anyone but Joe. The pack had every right to end him. God. If he were whole, not this fucked-up broken mess of a man Voss reduced him to, he would have loved to live in Devil Hills, with his wolf by his side.
Not anymore. That fantasy would never come true. Besides, his family waited for him on the other side, except the hidden thing inside him didn’t want him to surrender.
Fight. Live, for our mate.
Who the hell was that? Theo looked deeper inside him, finally saw the animal that hid inside him all his life and he understood. He could have been like Tommy, but instead, without realizing it, chose to suppress the magpie inside of him.
“Russell, most brainwashed victims of the Squad feel like empty shells, but Theo feels regret and guilt,” Daryl was saying.
A terrifying growl came from outside. He couldn’t turn his head but knew that sound. Glass broke and Russell loosened his hold on his neck, making it easier to gasp for air again. He focused on the scene unfolding in front of him. Joe, in wolf form, tackled Russell to the ground.
Theo had nearly forgotten how big Joe was in his animal form. Memories played in his head, first of his family, then of Tommy’s corpse. They were replaced by better ones, happy ones he created with Joe. It had only been one week, yet it felt like a lifetime.
No, he realized, he didn’t want to die.
Help me, he told his inner animal, hoping the bird would listen. Gazes fell to him, some telling him that if Russell couldn’t finish the job, they would. He didn’t blame their animosity. Devil Hills was their home, one they wanted to protect. He’d protect this place, too, wouldn’t want the Discipline Squad to wreck these beautiful woods and the people who had such big hearts.
If Joe chose to end his life on the road that day, then Theo wouldn’t be able to learn how to love or the joys of unexpected friendship. Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes. Russell shifted. Clothes tore and a smaller wolf emerged from him. Joe would emerge victorious, no doubt about it, but today proved he was a danger to them all.
Help me, he silently screamed to his animal again.
Fierce black eyes looked back at him.
I’m sorry for trying to hide you all my life, but I need you now.
Agony surged through his entire body. He let out a hoarse scream as bones broke. He began to shrink and feathers began covering him, replacing skin. No one ever told him shifting could be this painful, but he endured it. Finally, wings emerged.
“He’s getting away!” one of the diner customers shouted.
He flared his wings open, praying he wouldn’t fail. Theo didn’t miss Zack getting in the angry paranormal’s way. Thankful to the bobcat shifter healer, Theo lifted himself to the air. He thought he wouldn’t be able to fly, but his magpie knew what to do.
Theo couldn’t believe his eyes, but he flapped his wings harder, moving past the broken glass window Joe came barreling straight into. Joe. A pang hit his chest as he streaked past buildings and started for the woods.
He didn’t want to leave his wolf behind.
No, Theo needed to sta
y alive first, maybe find a way to explain himself. Could he be fixed, though? It scared him, losing control of his body like that. Focus on survival first, Theo thought, putting other thoughts behind.
Joe would find him, he was sure of it. Then he’d deal with his angry wolf.
Chapter Thirteen
Joe didn’t know what came over him. After finding Theo’s note in the kitchen, he’d been pissed at first. Zack and Joey probably put Theo up to this, to leaving the cabin. Theo never mentioned it in his note, only said he who he was with, but he knew those two.
Then again, a week had passed and nothing had happened. Joe relaxed and headed toward town, only to feel his wolf on edge, and he understood why. Seeing Russell, one of the senior members of the pack and currently in charge of watching Daryl, had his hands around his mate.
Joe lost control, his wolf taking over. He didn’t care the damage he caused, merely broke glass to reach the bastard stupid enough to think he could harm Theo without a care for repercussions. Hearing a scream from Theo distracted him, enabling Russell to complete the shift. Claws dug into his fur, but Joe hardly cared about the pain.
A sleek little bird with white and black feathers had replaced his mate, and Theo flew out of the broken window, not looking back at him once. It felt like someone tore his heart out. His human side won over as he shoved Russell aside.
Then he heard it, Russell, too, a loud howl that rendered the chattering occupants in the diner deathly quiet again. That first sound was followed by another, then another. His wolf stilled inside him. Joe outranked most of the wolves in the pack, could probably take out Russell if he really put his mind to it, but he remembered this was his packmate. Russell warily watched him, not going for him again, knowing he’d lose against Joe.
It was no use brawling, not when their Alpha was coming.
Fuck, did Deacon sound pissed.
Theo, what happened?
Judging from Daryl’s pale figure and Zack and Joey talking to Daryl to one side, he knew it couldn’t be good. Daryl hugged Sylvia tightly against him, repeating the words “I’m sorry” again and again.
“No one’s hurt,” the girl told him. “Why are you sorry?”
Russell changed back to human form just as Deacon leapt over the broken glass. In animal form, Deacon had the largest wolf, his fur entirely pitch-black, like his eyes. The Alpha narrowed his gaze at both of them, nostrils flaring, the aggressive energy coming off him staggering. It suddenly felt hard to breathe, and his wolf whimpered inside him, recognizing the authority of their Alpha.
Following Deacon closely was the second largest and deadliest wolf in the pack, with dark chocolate brown fur and silver eyes. Santino. He could see a slender but no less deadly white wolf with the same silver eyes observing the broken glass, the scene.
Joe was fucked.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out why Deacon arrived, looking like he wanted to murder someone. Deacon was supposed to be at a meeting, had taken Santino with him, but he probably also called Sabine to him. Not good signs. Those who didn’t know Deacon always assumed the Alpha had his Devil and Ghost beside him at all times for an extra edge. That was true enough, but the silver-eyed siblings also had a hand in stabilizing Deacon’s monster of a wolf.
“Joe’s human, shifter, whatever he was, went after Daryl with a fucking knife,” Russell began.
He snarled, silenced by the Alpha’s growl. Deacon turned those furious eyes on him and forced the change on him. Joe’s wolf didn't like that. He screamed as his wolf melted away and he fell on his knees, sweating and pissed.
Only the Alpha could force a change on any of his pack members, but this was the first time Deacon had done it to him. He clenched his jaw, digging his nails into his palms.
No way in hell Joe had time for this bullshit. He needed to go after Theo, track his mate down and demand answers. Daryl was still standing, meaning Theo had failed, didn’t go through the assassination
A familiar truck stopped in front of the diner and the Beta walked inside, using the front door. Lance took one look at the scene and said, “Everyone who’s not pack, clear the space.”
No one argued with that. The diner emptied out in moments. Shit. Joe didn’t want an audience, yet here he was. Forrest and Max were probably still in charge of patrols while the Alpha dealt with him.
“Wait, that’s not the whole story,” Daryl interrupted, still hugging Sylvia to him. The Esper quieted at Deacon’s snarl.
What the hell happened? Joe wanted to yell.
Deacon changed to human form, but both Santino and Sabine remained in wolf form. Joe closely watched the Ghost, who jumped inside the window and padded to her daughter. Sylvia parted from Daryl and went down to hug her mother.
She said, “I’m okay, Mama. Really.”
Looking satisfied, Sabine went back outside, studying the window again, then the sky. Shit. He knew she could track anything and anyone.
“Go,” Deacon said to her, before turning his attention back to him.
Seeing her take off, Joe began to rise to his feet, but Santino blocked his path, baring his fangs in warning. Joe sucked in a breath, realizing the Alpha probably had a discussion with the siblings mind-to-mind.
Lance walked up to Deacon but still didn’t speak. Joe knew how the Beta worked. Lance was still probably assessing the situation, would step in if necessary or if Deacon crossed the line. Thank God Lance was here.
“Explain to me, Joe, why this outsider you vouched for would go after my mate?” Deacon finally asked him.
“I don’t know what exactly happened,” he admitted, trying to think past his anger, because the old Deacon would have resorted to claws and fangs first, not reason.
Ever since Deacon mated Daryl, though, the Alpha had mellowed out. Not in a bad way. Deacon hadn’t lost his edge but became more instead, a better Alpha now that he had an empath for a mate.
“He went berserk,” Russell muttered.
“Keep talking and you’re on your way to my list of least favorite people,” Joe said dryly.
“Russell, stop provoking Joe’s wolf,” Lance said calmly, speaking for the first time. “He’s not in the best state right now, and Joe, try to calm your beast.”
He breathed in and out, tried to soothe his erratic wolf. This was his pack, his family. From this viewpoint, Theo had made an attempt on Daryl’s life, an unforgivable act, yet Deacon was trying to understand.
He finally asked the Alpha the most important question. “Will Sabine kill Theo if she finds him?”
Joe didn’t know what he’d do if he lost Theo. He also knew he’d never fight his way out of this mess even if he tried. Joe would be dead in seconds, especially when he was surrounded by the most powerful members of the pack.
The best he could do right now was find out what exactly happened and how he could remedy the situation.
“Not until I tell her to.” Deacon’s answer made him release the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Daryl?” Deacon asked his fuming Esper mate, who stalked up to him and poked at his chest.
If Joe wasn’t mad with worry for Theo, he would have found the sight of the smaller man getting all pissed at his mate funny, because no one in their right mind would piss off Deacon.
“Like I was saying before you went all Alpha,” Daryl began, “I saw Zack and Joey having lunch, came over with Sylvia, and I’m not sure what happened.”
“Theo was fine before, normal,” Zack said. Santino must have no longer seen him as a threat, because the other enforcer moved toward his mate’s side. “Then when he saw Daryl, he begged Joey and me to remove Daryl, told Daryl to move away from him.”
“It’s my fault,” Daryl blurted. “I thought I can soothe his emotions, but Deacon, he’s not like the other rehabilitated Espers or shifters we’ve crossed before.”
“Why is that?” Joe found himself asking, because he recalled Sabine telling him the same thing, that Theo still managed to hold onto his real self.
“He didn’t succeed. Why?” Deacon asked pointedly.
Daryl bit on his lower lip, and Joe had a feeling what Daryl would say next was important. “Sylvia sensed it, she said Theo wasn’t himself, she went in front of me when Theo grabbed the knife to attack me.”
At those words, Santino growled. Even Deacon looked furious again, and Joe swallowed. Children were precious to shifters, to the pack especially, and Sylvia was like Deacon’s niece.
“He didn’t go after Sylvia,” Daryl said in a rush. “In fact, he looked tortured, froze in place, and that’s when Russell knocked the knife from him. Deacon, he can still be saved.”
Those words gave him hope, but what would the Alpha decide?
“Why don’t we ask Sylvia?” Lance said.
Deacon turned to the little girl, who blinked at him.
“Sylvia, Daryl said you sensed something from Theo? What did you feel?” Deacon asked. She must have recognized it wasn’t family who was talking to her, but the Alpha, because she straightened and met Deacon’s gaze evenly.
Joe stilled. Theo’s right to live all depended on the word of a girl. She was one of the wildest and most reckless wolf pups in the pack, would someday become a formidable warrior in the future, but Joe knew her to be honest, too.
Sylvia looked thoughtful. “He had two voices inside of him. One’s a bad man, telling him to kill Daryl.”
“Is Theo a bad man, Sylvia?” Lance asked.
She shook her head. “He’s important to Uncle Joe.”
Deacon swore, and Daryl nudged him in the shoulder.
Sylvia walked up to him and said, “That seems to be Uncle Deacon’s favorite word.”
Joe hid a smile, which faltered when she continued, “Mama’s about to find Theo soon.”