Chapter Ten
Cash was sitting outside the facility on a bench, his elbows on his knees as he lightly brushed the mark he had found this morning on his wrist. He had cut Jenna off, blocked her from knowing his every thought and move. She didn’t deserve it like the others, she hadn’t betrayed him. He just needed enough time to figure out how and what to do about her.
He wasn’t healed, but he was getting there. He needed to shift to make that happen, but it had been too long, and his bear was unruly. He wondered how the beast would react to being free. But that couldn’t happen here, too many people around to witness it or get hurt.
Cash could feel Jessie watching him, but she wasn’t the only one. He could feel Senior, Mattias, and the man they said was his brother, all near, all watching, waiting to see what he would do next. It was causing havoc with his bear, and he wished they would all just walk away.
Cash wondered about Chase. The man was supposed to be his brother. Why had he stayed away from him for so long? He had to know what was going on, he was a part of it. Pushing his senses, he tried to hone in on his brother, pushing Jessies, sadness, and guilt away, Declan’s regret and resolve, and Mattias’s anger and distance. He still couldn’t get a lock on the man. He could feel Kiera somewhere close by, upset and hurt.
Closing his eyes, he looked into his mind, clearing it of everything else and looked for the threads that bound him. The one to his beast look different, stronger, fortified but still where he remembered. Another one shot off he recognized as his connection to Jacks, weaker less substantial. It bothered him, but he was still healing from whatever had happened, and they hadn’t been around each other for a long time. Moving on, he saw the bright green bond linking him to Jenna; it was beautiful and even stronger than the one linking him to his bear. He also saw the void, the block he had put up, preventing her from being in his head. He explored several other strands, never finding the right one. Shouldn’t blood brothers be connected in some way?
Taking several deep breaths, Cash sought that connection, but it kept coming back blank. Sensing someone coming, he drifted back from his mind. Straightening, he rubbed his temple as the one he least wanted to talk to right now took a seat beside him. There were no pleasantries exchanged or politeness considered, Mattias just started talking.
“Declan is informing Jacks of your miraculous resurrection. I assume he will be on the next flight out or Ryleigh will fly him herself. It is in your best interest to only give him basic information. Jenna, Jessie, and everything else is off limits.”
Cash laughed and leaned back looking up at the sky. What had he expected?
“So, basically, more games. Let me ask you, do you and Senior get off on this moving each of us around as you see fit?” The fucker had the nerve to laugh. Cash stood, taking the man by the lapels of his stupid black coat, and snarled into his face, “I will NEVER lie to my Alpha. I am done being a pawn in the games you two have decided to play. Jacks will know everything.” Cash pushed Mattias back, but the asshole was a steady as a fucking tree.
Cash watched as Mattias fixed his coat, smoothing it out with his hands.
“See that’s the problem, Cash, Jacks is no longer your Alpha. Feel that power running through your veins that power you have denied your whole life? You are stronger than Jacks, probably stronger than all the Alpha’s combined. Do you want to know why?”
“More fucking games,” Cash sneered. But he could feel it, had ever since last night. There was a buzz around him constantly. He could feel himself getting stronger, his senses spreading wider, his beast, fuck his beast was…
“Games?” Mattias asked. “No, this is no longer a game. Ryleigh will be hurt by this information along with all the Holly Group. Do you want to be responsible for that? Because if you tell her that will be on you. You will always be the one who ripped her from the only father she has ever loved. Plus, do you think letting anyone know what Jenna can do is smart? Then there is your precious Jessie. How would she feel having Jacks and the rest of Alpha sneering and berating her?”
“Then change it,” he demanded. “Break whatever the fuck that woman did to me, and I will promise to keep your fucking secrets.” It was a desperate attempt and something Cash wasn’t so sure he wanted, but he had fought so long to have this side of him repressed, he wasn’t ready to just give in without a fight and give these fuckers what they wanted.
Mattias sat back down on the bench, crossing one leg over the other.
“Fate doesn’t care what you want, Mr. Warren. You can never go back; even I don’t have that power. Even if I did, I wouldn’t.”
“You broke the bond between Jessie and I, why not this one?” Cash said through gritted teeth.
“You had no bond with Jessie, it was teenage lust or whatever you want to call it. When she was taken out of the equation, you were supposed to move on with your life, but as always, you made it your mission to make it into more than it was. Fought the truth and let it lead your life.”
“Bullshit!”
“No, not bullshit. When Jessie was standing in the room with you last night, did you feel anything?” Mattias asked, cocking his head to the side, questioning. “Were you drawn to her, did you want to fuck her so bad, you thought your balls were going to explode?”
“Fuck you, Mattias,” Cash said, starting to walk away, but the man always had to have the last word.
“When she left the room after you demanded it, did you feel the need to chase after her, comfort her, care for her?”
“NO,” he yelled, spinning around, pointing, “and that is because of you! If you hadn’t broken the bond, she would be with me now.”
“Clueless, boy,” Mattias said, shaking his head, “even you know how absurd that statement is. There is only one fated mate for each of us. Childish bond or not, Jessie wouldn’t have the fate mated blessing symbol on her neck if what you are saying is true.”
“Fuck you,” Cash said and started walking again. He needed to get away from Mattias and all this shit. Deep down, he knew everything the man was saying was the truth, but he needed to process it on his own. Deal with it the way he saw fit, not someone else. He hadn’t even gotten two steps before his entire body froze in place. This was Mattias’s power, and it was immense. Cash couldn’t break the hold he had on it.
When Mattias came and stood in front of him, Cash wanted to step back, there was a darkness about Mattias. His eyes were glowing, that of a shifter, but the irises were now swirling with a multitude of colors. He wanted to look away but was compelled to keep staring.
“No, Mr. Warren, fuck you!” Mattias said calmly. “I didn’t agree with Declan’s decisions regarding you or Jessie Gunther. However, I allowed it to happen. Neither of you is my concern. Each of you has a path you must follow and are linked because of the Militibus geminae.”
Cash had never heard of the Militibus geminae, but he knew the words mean Warrior Twins in Latin. His father hadn’t been the best about passing on history or legends, Cash had gotten most of that information from Jacks’ father. He considered his own father a coward. The man hid from everything, insisted on acting more human than animal. Cash had rebelled at a young age, determined to accept his heritage. Funny how karma comes back to bite you in the ass when you least expect it.
“Your destiny was written long ago, Mr. Warren.” The colors in Mattias' eyes changed to pure red, giving him an evil look. If black signified a dark soul, then red seemed to signify death. Cash was leery but far from scared. He could feel a warmth in his body and his beast pumping up. He was still paralyzed, but he could feel the energy around him lessening Mattias’s hold.
“Jenna, however, is my concern. My first and only concern,” Mattias snarled, “and I will not allow you to destroy her with your iodic beliefs. You have a choice—be the great Alpha and mate fate has decided or be nothing. There is no in between for you. Because,” Mattias said, getting up close, “I will destroy you if you hurt that girl.”
Mattias
abruptly released Cash from his hold, and Cash fell to his knees. Mattias crouched down.
“Mind my words. They are not a threat, Mr. Warren, but a promise.”
Cash might be on his knees, but he wouldn’t allow this asshole to think he was that easy. Gritting his teeth, he let his own power out, drawing from the people around him, opening the door on Jenna, drawing her power too. Looking Mattias in the eye, Cash channeled that power and threw it at the man. When Mattias staggered back, Cash stood and made a statement of his own.
“Neither you nor Senior will be involved in the decisions I make regarding my mate or the life I lead. Don’t push me, old man.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Cash noticed a man standing not too far away. He was just as big as he was in body stature, but that was the only similarity between the two of them. He was light where Cash was dark. It was also apparent by the way he dressed, khakis and a sweater, they were nothing alike. It was only when he felt the tendril of a bond snapping in place, he realized it was Chase, his brother.
Chapter Eleven
Twisting herself into another pretzel shape that was no way natural for the human body, Jenna wanted to yell at someone. Yoga was not calming and peaceful, and it sure as hell wasn’t for her. She wanted to rage at the people who said it helps your mind, body, and soul. All it was doing for her was making her angry, not a soul refining moment for her, nope not even close. Jenna’s mind was working overtime, trying to figure out what she was going to do next and fighting the hangover from hell.
She didn’t have long before she had to make a decision. The truth was she had already made her decision. She was going to go to Cash as he had demanded, but she was trying her best to build up the courage. Jenna felt guilty, a little angry and there was a tremendous amount of regret mixed in there too. He deserved an explanation. Plus, the disconnect from him was driving her crazy.
There was a brief moment, a few hours ago, he had let her in and the feelings he had staggered her. He was so mad. What had surprised her was how easy it had been for him to filter her power to him. That was a skill she had never been able to accomplish. She wasn’t weakened by it either which was another surprise. In the past, when the five of them—Jessie, Chase, Trace, Chance, and she—tried to do the same thing, they had been out for days, the energy was leaving swiftly and not coming back. Cash had somehow figured out how to, not only use the power of the Gemini but how to maintain the rest of them. The implications of him being able to do so were huge, and Jenna was keeping her mouth shut, hoping the others did the same. This was what Declan had wanted all along.
Just thinking about Declan “Senior” Quinn had always brought her more questions than answers, and at twenty-seven, she was sick of it. Declan had dismissed her as a child, deciding she was better off where she was, not paying her even the smallest amount of attention. There was a part of her that always knew he deemed her unworthy, just like her family had. If it hadn’t been for Uncle Matt, she would have been in foster care until her eighteenth birthday, then who knew?
Uncle Matt was the one who took her in, trained her, cared for her, and opened up this whole new world. There was only one secret he had kept from her, her real origin. Jenna remembered the pain she felt when she found out. When she reached puberty and her gift started to show, that was when Declan took an interest in her, brought Jessie and the rest of the Gunther family to her, then eventually Chase and then Chance and Trace. Jenna knew even then, it wasn’t out of the kindness of his heart. He had an ulterior motive, and Jenna had become his key, the girl he had deliberately thrown away.
Jenna had complied and did everything she could to gain the Gunthers’ love and approval. They hadn’t been cruel or mean to her, but they also never let her in. Jessie was their prized and beloved daughter, and it became Jenna’s job to take care of her.
Jenna did another pose, moving her body fluidly into another unnatural position, concentrating on her form, trying to regulate her breathing and center her mind, but there was no focusing for her today. Giving up on the so-called soothing effects of Yoga, Jenna stood up and shook out her body. Placing her hands on her hips, she scowled at the treadmill. She thought about doing a hard run but quickly changed her mind. With the hangover she had, she would be lucky to make it a few steps before throwing up all over the place. Then there was the boob factor, she had them and running on that damn machine always made them hurt. No matter how tight her sports bra was stretched across the suckers, they still bounced with a freaking vengeance.
Walking over to the cabinet in the corner, Jenna opened it and grabbed one of the many rolls of tape and started wrapping her hands; the heavy bag was calling her name. If she couldn’t shoot something, hitting it was going to have to do. Kiera would frown on her whipping out her gun and shooting at a picture of her family members, especially Declan’s. The woman was in love with him. Unfortunately, Kiera was too stubborn, and Declan was just as dismissive of Kiera as he was of Jenna.
Jenna took her stance in front of the heavy bag, starting with a simple set of punches and kicks. Soon, she was hitting the bag with every bit of power she had, trying to relieve the tension she had in her body. Jenna wasn’t about to delude herself, the bag was getting all the pain and frustration she had felt lately. This was something that had always helped her. She would never be the quiet, contemplative type of person, she thrived on activity and action. Even when she had been out in the woods all by herself, she trained, just like she had been taught.
Jenna hit the bag for everything bugging her—one for Declan’s high handedness, a harder one for her past, and a double, complete with a roundhouse kick for Cash. She was so deep into her workout, she failed to pay attention to her surroundings. When she heard someone clearing their throat, Jenna whirled around on them, ready to attack if needed. When she saw who was standing at the door, she just dropped her head and shook it. Damn, she was fucked up right now.
“What’s going on Jenna,” Kiera asked in her soft, motherly, sweet voice. Jenna could tell by the swelling and redness in Kiera’s eyes, she had been crying.
Jenna walked over to the bench where she had laid her water and towel, taking a big drink. She corralled her anger, resentment, hurt, and fury before saying a word. None of this was Kiera’s fault, Jenna had been the one to bring this shit storm to her door.
“I think I should be the one asking that question, Kiera,” Jenna said after clearing her throat. “What happened why were you crying?”
When Kiera didn’t answer and looked away, Jenna had her suspicions about what had happened, and it was all her fault. Jenna sighed and started to wipe the sweat from her face and body, giving Kiera enough time to answer her or not. They had been close for years, Kiera one of the people Uncle Matt allowed into her life without reserve. They were close to the same age, but Kiera had a soft, mothering personality, whereas Jenna was more brash and abrupt. True to her nature, Jenna dropped the towel, put her hands on her hips.
“What did he do to you now?”
“It’s not like that honey, and you know it. Dec is concerned, and I went against the rules by telling Cash what I did.”
“You told him because I asked you to. Anything Declan had to say should have been said to me.”
“I know you don’t understand everything he does, but I can assure you, he always has a purpose with his plans.”
“Quit making excuses for him, Kiera, he is never going to change. Don’t you ever just get sick of doing his bidding? I mean, he has kept you on the fence for so long, and still, after all these years, he treats you as an employee instead of a friend or maybe something more,” Jenna hedged and then added, “Don’t you just want to slap him, or hell maybe just yell at him?”
Kiera laughed, shaking her head. Getting up, she walked over to the window and looked out, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. It was a defensive pose, one that Jenna had often seen in Kiera. Jenna had tried to guard her feelings, but the woman wore them on her sleeve. Jenna did the onl
y thing she could think of, walking over, she hugged Kiera. Taking her hand, she pulled her over to the bench. After they both sat down, Jenna put her arm around Kiera.
“I’m sorry, Kiera, I shouldn’t have asked you to get involved.”
Kiera wiped her eyes and gave Jenna a small smile.
“Thanks, honey, but now that I am involved, are you going to tell me what happens next?”
“I wish I could tell you, Kiera, but the truth is, I don’t even know. Cash wants to see me, and I need to do that, but beyond that, there is no telling what’s going to happen.”
“Did he call you? Who told him you were here? I thought you were keeping that to yourself.”
“You could say that,” Jenna laughed, “and as much as I would love to tell you all of what is going on, I can’t.”
“More secrets?”
“There are always secrets, Kiera. That’s something that will never change in this world. You and I both know it. The question is can we accept it?”
“Honey, I accepted that a long time ago. You and I are different; I always admired your strength. You stand up to these men, and you won’t take no for an answer. I’m not that person, so I will accept your need to not say anymore. But if you ever need to talk, I am here for you, always.”
“I know Kiera, thank you.”
Just then the door flew open, and Kayden was standing there, full animal showing. He was bigger, and the Alpha vibes were pouring off him in waves.
“You need to come now. Jackson Thorp and his family were attacked. He was shot, his mate and kid got away.”
NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team Page 132