by Casey Morgan
“Why aren’t you going to come with us? You’re perfectly capable of running with us, brother.” Kace makes direct eye contact, looking tense.
“Got business in town,” answers Axel.
“What kind of business? Surely, it’s not more important than checking out our land and making sure that spell we spent so much money on worked?” Heat flickers between them, jumping like a spark that might catch.
“Business that’s none of your business, Kace.”
“So, you’re gonna just spend all the money we have to our name on some spell, and then just leave everything to me and Zane?”
“I’ve got other details I’ve got to make sure are in working order as the eldest.” He bares his teeth. “Now do as I say, Kace and transform. Get running!”
“Not until you tell me what you have to leave us to go do in town!”
Just as Axel and Kace are about to go at each other’s throats, I run to put myself in between them. As I do, I think, maybe Finn had the right idea after all. Maybe staying away for the night with that girl was just the thing he needed. I could go for that right now. Much more so than breaking up this nonsense!
“Knock it off, you two!” A growl and a snarl are in my voice. “Kace, let’s just fucking do what he says! I don’t have time for this shit. I don’t have energy after everything else.” With that, I transform from human to wolf, and get running.
From behind me, I hear Axel leave in a huff. I hear our second car’s engine, and then the sound of Kace’s feet on the ground, all four of them, running after me. In a moment he’s right there, looking at me with one amber eye.
“Sorry I lost my cool over there. It’s just, he’s spent way too much money on all of that last night, and…”
“He didn’t even ask us about it. Any of his brothers for our opinions,” I add.
As we run, we’re checking the ground, the trees and bushes. There are none that we can identify as new growth. No revitalizing of what was already there. It’s as if we worked no magic at all. Astonishing, since I felt pretty loopy and happy last night after everything.
“Nothing. No change,” growls Kace. “Exactly what I was afraid of.”
Exactly what I saw without needing to do this stupid run. We keep going to the edge of our property, as ordered. “I’m beginning to think he just made us do this to get away. Seems like Axel is up to something.”
“He has been acting strange since last night. Shifty. I don’t know what’s causing it, but I don’t like it.” Kace pants and sneezes. “I’m suspicious of his sudden desire to go into town, especially since he’s been keeping us all out in the woods since we got here. I’m about to move back to Kentucky, in all honesty.”
Even on the farthest edge of our property, there is no visible change. No effect of any of the spell’s supposed benefits. The whole thing has seemed to be one big mistake. One ill-fated venture.
“I wouldn’t mind going back to be with Grandma,” Kace continues, “Help her out with whatever healing business she has left, while she has the ability to do it.”
I whine, stuck between missing grandma and feeling compelled to see Olivia again. That human girl we had fun with. Even if she’s the reason why the spell didn’t work, I’m a little jealous of Finn not coming back to us and getting to escort her home.
“I miss grandma too. I miss Kentucky a little bit more than I thought I would, but I don’t know if I’m ready to leave just yet. That girl, Olivia, she was pretty fun. Pretty cute and sexy.”
“Yes, that Olivia intrigues me as well. Wouldn’t mind seeing her again. Especially after last night.” For the first time since this run started, Kace actually sounds happy. Bemused. He even wags his tail a little.
“Finn must’ve been unable to resist her,” I say, as we wheel back around and start heading toward camp. “He wasn’t back this morning, as I’m sure you noticed.”
“I did.” I hear Kace give a little yip, howl. “But he’s back now.”
I see Finn as well waiting for us by the fire pit drinking coffee. He’s looking happy and aglow, freshly washed and dressed.
Lucky. I feel my jealousy grow as I transform out of wolf form and back into human. I grab my clothes, all still in the same place, and start getting dressed.
Kace transforms right after me, addressing Finn. “Good to see you this morning,” he says. “That must’ve been a long drive back to her place.”
“You spent some more time with her, didn’t you?” I snap. I don’t care that jealousy is showing through my voice.
Finn just smiles drunkenly. “I might have. What can I say? I just like hanging out with Olivia, you know?”
“I bet you do,” I say. “Just FYI, the spell seems to have done shit. So, I don’t know how we’re gonna live.” After that, I trudge away from my brothers and make a plan to spend some time with Olivia.
I can’t have my brother being the only one to spend that much quality time with her. I can’t have her falling for just him. Ducking into my tent, I decide I’m going to drop by The Diamond Club tonight and ask her out on a date. I need to get her alone with me, since Finn got one over on all of us last night.
****
Around nine p.m. I arrive at The Diamond Club. I borrowed the smaller car the moment Axel came back from wherever he was doing “business in town”. Unlike last night, the club is popping. There are many people coming in and out. Most of the seats are filled or are waiting to be filled when people leave.
I make my way in, finding Olivia immediately. She actually seems to be doing some bartending at the moment and cleaning the main bar counter. I make my way up to her, not bothering to take a seat.
“Good evening, Olivia,” I say, loving the way she looks tonight. She may not be wearing the revealing dress she was wearing the night before, but I like the charm of her outfit anyway. Her black t-shirt and pants are tight fitting and they show off her gorgeous curves.
She recognizes me instantly. “Hello, Zane,” she says, blushing. “What can I do for you this evening?”
“Well, I heard that Finn got to spend some extra time with you last night.” A deeper blush from Olivia here, confirming something along those lines did indeed happened. “I wanted to ask you out on a date. Have my own quality time with you. What do you say?”
“I’d be up for that,” she says, smiling wide. “What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. Maybe just a drive or ride together after your shift is over?”
“Sure,” she says.
“In the meantime, I’d like to get a drink.”
Olivia’s green eyes meet mine. “What’ll you like?”
“Piña colada,” I say, digging out my wallet. I flashed her my ID, as well as a couple dollar bills. She looks at my ID, takes the cash, and gets to mixing my drink.
I don’t know how much longer she has to work her shift, but I’ll be willing to wait. So I do, I keep my spot warm at the bar for a couple of hours, watching various people come in and out and various orders be filled.
It’s around midnight when I see something that immediately has me on edge. A young woman with bright blonde hair comes running into the establishment. Her eyes and mouth are full of panic and fear. Even with only getting a glimpse of her, I can tell she’s been crying.
“Olivia! Olivia, come quick!”
Immediately, Olivia comes forward. She goes white, obviously recognizing the woman, the witch, running up to her.
“Tina! Tina, what’s wrong?”
“My husbands, they’re ill! I don’t know what’s happened, but they’ve come down with something strange. I’ve never seen anything like it, and neither has anyone else. I’ve been making rounds to the pack members, and nobody knows what to do.”
Olivia looks wide-eyed at this news. “Oh my God! That’s terrible!”
I get a pit in my stomach. I don’t know why.
“I don’t know what to do! I didn’t think anything like this would happen to them. My baby is okay. He seems
immune to whatever they have. It just doesn’t make any sense. Everyone loves my husbands, the alphas.” Tina rubs her own tears and starts sobbing again.
The pit in my stomach grows, and I know I have to do something to help her. Whatever is going on with her husbands, maybe my brother, Kace can help. Out of all of us, he was the one with any magic. Trained by grandmother, he knows at least some healing.
“I can help,” I say, not sure if I have any right to be butting in, “my brother, Kace, might be able to do something for your mates.” I barely meet her eyes, unsure of why I feel so awkward. “I can go get him and bring him to your home if you want.”
“Take me with you,” says Olivia. She takes off her apron, as well as the rest of her work-related clothing, badge and other things. “I want to come with you, and then go over to Tina’s house.”
I nod, having no objection to this. It’s not the date I had in mind, and this is important so, that doesn’t matter right now.
“Okay. Come along with me then. Quickly,” I say, and head out to the car, watching her follow me.
“I’m going to go get Leslie,” says Tina. “I’m going to see if her boys can come over and help with the situation.”
I’m not paying attention past this and go get in my car. I practically drag it Olivia up with me, waving away the thank yous and gratitude being tossed my way by her friend. “Thank you so much!”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, and peel out of the parking lot with Olivia next to me. “I’ll bring my brother and everyone around as soon as I get them.” I murmur an apology to Olivia. “Sorry about our date. Looks like we won’t get to it.”
“It’s okay, Zane,” she murmurs quietly. “I’m just glad you’re helping my friends.”
Chapter Eight
Olivia
Driving out of the city limits and toward the woods, I can’t get my mind off of what Tina said. Her husbands are sick with something strange, and briefly, I am worried about the Whiteclaw brothers. What if this is a werewolf specific virus? I keep wondering whether they will “catch” whatever is going around. I think about Leslie too, since she’s pregnant, but I try to put my mind off it.
I reach over and hold Zane’s hand. “Thank you, Zane. Thank you so much for helping everyone or trying to.” Before I can tell myself to resist, I kiss the top of his hand. Then I lean over and kiss his cheek. “Thank you so much for being willing to get your brother. I know that your new here, all of your brothers are, but it means a lot that you’re willing to help out one of my friends and her husbands.”
He grins, appearing lit up by my kisses. “No worries. No problem,” he says. I love how calm and upbeat he’s able to be. As it is, I’m trying to remain calm. I’m amazed he can be so clear and focused. “I’ll get you whatever help I can. My brother knows a bit of healing and a bit of magic, so hopefully he’ll be able to sniff out something.”
“I didn’t know Kace had those kinds of skills,” I murmur, interested in the brothers even more than I already am. I want to learn everything about them.
“Yeah, grandma noticed a bit of magic in him, and decided to nurture it,” he answers smoothly. There is not a hint of jealousy anywhere in his voice, only admiration. “If anybody knows what’s going on, Kace might.”
This lightens my spirits. I do hope that we get some answers for Tina and the alphas. I just hope that nothing gets too much worse in the time that it takes for us to get to the Whiteclaw’s camp and then over to Tina’s.
After an hour or so, we finally roll up to the campsite. The one I remember seeing the night before. The tents are there, in the large, sprawling portion of land. The moment we are in park, Zane jumps out of the car and immediately starts calling for Kace.
I don’t bother to follow, since I see Axel watching the car. He’s watching me through the front windshield. I don’t want to make him angry on top of everything else, so I decide to stay where I am. I sink down in my seat some, hoping to defuse any negative situation.
I see Zane grabbing Kace by the arm, and trying to explain about the illness, about the emergency one of my friends is facing. Kace seems willing to follow, but Axel quickly nixes it. A fight erupts right then and there, with Axel screaming, “You are not going over there! You are not going to get involved in all that! We are not part of their pack!”
Zane pushes his older brother back. “I already promised to try to help them, and Kace is the only one who can even shed some light on this. Maybe.”
Axel crosses his arms over his chest. “No! As alpha, I’m telling you you’re not going to go do that!”
“I don’t care if you’re the alpha. Right now, I’ve given my word and that carries more weight than your status!” I see Zane tugging at Kace, but Kace steps between his brothers. He puts his hands on each of their chests and defuses the situation.
“Let me go, brother,” says Kace evenly. “I won’t be able to do much, but the little I can do, I will do.”
With that, he follows Zane toward the car, and gets inside. Axel rages at us, saying that they have bigger and more pressing problems to deal with right now, but Zane ignores him. He backs the car out of the forest lot, and heads back toward the road to Love’s Hollow.
Only when we are a good distance away from the camp and on the highway again, do I bother to ask what any of that was about. Why Axel had such an issue with Kace just helping.
“Axel is the alpha of our little group,” explains Zane, “which I’m sure you already know. But, as the alpha, he doesn’t really want us helping other alphas, which your friend’s husbands are.”
“He is very protective of his status. Very proud,” says Kace. “But it’s not anything out of the ordinary. He’s always been that way.”
My heart beats quickly, thinly. “How will you all stay here, in Love’s Hollow, then? If he doesn’t get along with other alphas, what is going to happen to you all?”
“If given the choice, we would gladly join the Love’s Hollow pack as members,” murmurs Zane. “I have no issue with the already-established authority here.” He looks at me from the rearview mirror. “The three of us feel the same way. It’s just Axel we would have to convince.” He smiles nervously. “And that might be a little bit difficult, given his nature.”
My heart clenches.
“But anything is worth a try,” says Kace. “Especially if it scares you.”
****
After an eternity in the car, we all finally reach Tina’s. We quickly go to the large, ornate front door and knock. Tina opens it and leads us inside. She hands Nicky, her little boy, to me. “Would you mind looking after him for a bit?”
“I don’t mind at all,” I say, and immediately take Nicky into the playroom with all his toys, some blankets, and a little playpen. Zane follows, immediately intrigued by the baby. He’s started talking cutely to him and saying how big and strong he looks.
“Like babies?” I ask him, as we sit down on the floor, and I set Nicky up with a stuffed animal and another toy.
“Love them to bits,” says Zane, immediately playing peekaboo with Nicky and his stuffed wolf. He then acts like he’s nibbling the baby with the stuffed animal, making cute growling and munching noises. Before long, both him and the baby are giggling. The way they are laughing and playing together, it makes my heart melt.
“You’re so good with him! So sweet and kind,” I say. I blush, thinking about us having babies together. About how good he would be with them. How polite and well-mannered they would grow up to be, but still playful and loving, just like Zane.
I don’t know how long we’re playing for, but after at least an hour, Kace comes out with Tina. He looks upset. Sadness and anger fill his face. My friend is still crying. I get up, feeling my heart clench again.
“Were you able to help?”
I already know the answer, but I need more information.
“I was able to take the edge off the situation,” Kace answers solemnly. “Whatever their illness, it’s created by magi
c. It is a specific spell I’m not familiar with. I was able to identify that much. I got it to back off, but they are still ill. They are going to be, unless we can remove whatever magic has been cast.”
Tina breaks down sobbing. “I just don’t understand! They don’t have any enemies. Any difficulties they had with the Timberwolves, that’s already been settled. Leslie and her husbands are great friends with Ryder and Gray both. They all work together. I don’t understand how any of this could be happening!”
I hug her, squeezing her tight, not knowing what I can say or do to help. “It’s gonna be okay,” I say. Of course, I’m not really sure if it is, but what else is a friend supposed to do in this situation? Say that it’s hopeless? “We’re going to get through this. Your husbands are going to get through this.” Tina just sobs for a while in my arms, and I let her.
We decide to leave so Ryder and Gray can get some rest. Zane and Kace pull me outside with them and back into the car. As we are heading away from Tina’s large house and back toward the city, and to my apartment, Zane says, “I’m sorry we couldn’t do more.”
“I’m sorry that we’re going to have to have a meeting between all of us brothers, leaving you by yourself for the night,” says Kace. It sounds like he knows Zane and I had originally planned to hang out together. “We can all get together tomorrow for a hike. As a way to make it up to you.”
“Sounds great,” I say, feeling honestly excited by the possibility of seeing all the brothers, despite the gloom hanging over the situation. “I look forward to it.”
Shortly after this, I’m dropped off back at my place filled with a mix of excitement and worry.
Chapter Nine