Shattered Pack

by Erin, Aileen;

  When I reached the sparring room, it was crowded. Small groups had formed. Some were working out and some were sparring, but most were chatting while watching Donovan and Ian’s fight at the center of the room.

  I paused in the doorway to watch. Donovan spun to avoid a hit, and Ian lost his balance. He slammed into the floor with a sickening crunch.

  I winced as Ian got to his feet, his arm tight against his body. I wasn’t sure if it the bone was broken, but if it was, it would take a few hours to heal. This room made no sense to me. The only space that wasn’t gray stone was the wooden doorway. With stone walls and floors, a simple wrong move could send you to the pack medic. Not fun.

  Why not pad this place? I asked Donovan through the bond.

  Aye. We should. I’ve been meaning to make this room more modern, but some of the pack members like things the way they are. Donovan bounced on the balls of his feet. His sweatpants rode low on his hips, but not a single drop of sweat glistened on those perfect abs. What a shame.

  Ian, on the other hand, was dripping. His T-shirt was stuck to his skin, showing his muscles. He was cut well enough, but a little too thin. His face was beet red as he tried to catch his breath and figure out how to take down Donovan.

  I started weaving through the room, making my way toward Donovan, but couldn’t get over the fact that the sparring room at the Irish stronghold didn’t hold a candle to the one at home. I sighed. The stone was dingy and smelled a little mildewy from absorbing so much sweat over the years. It looked like there was going a lot more to do here besides installing Wi-Fi and making an emergency plan. The entire stronghold needed an overhaul.

  Ian tried a pitiful move to kick Donovan’s feet out from under him, and I almost laughed. This was ridiculous.

  Werewolves were naturally stronger and faster than humans. Adding in our ability to heal, we were pretty unstoppable. At least, that was what some Weres thought until they had to go up against something that was bigger and badder than them. That was why we Wayfarers trained so hard. St. Ailbe’s had a similar training philosophy, requiring two hours a day of intense training. Most young Were guys were also practicing for the Cazadores test, so they trained at least double that.

  From what I knew about the Irish pack, they didn’t really leave their stronghold much. They kept to themselves, and they weren’t very welcoming to others. Donovan might like to have enough room for visitors, but the only person I’d ever known to have contact with the Irish pack was Shannon. And she’d never wanted to talk about her home pack. Ever.

  It seemed like while they were hanging out in the stronghold, they’d let a lot of things go. They weren’t up to speed with technology or the modern era and their physical shape was pitiful.

  Your fourth looks like he’s about to pass out. What’ve you done to him?

  Nothing! I swear it!

  I stopped next to a group of women. I’d been looking for Saoirse, but she wasn’t there. Thankfully, neither was Vivian. It took a minute for the group to notice me. Then, slowly, the little bits of chatter in the room died down as I stepped up behind Ian and tapped him on the shoulder. “You mind if I cut in?” I unzipped my hoodie and tossed it off to the side.

  “No.” Ian bent over, hands on his knees. “Fuckin’ hell. Been sparring with that bastard for two hours now, and I’m tapped out.”

  I patted his shoulder. “I didn’t get to see all of it, but he’s a beast to beat.”

  Straightening, Ian huffed. “Can’t be done. It’s impossible.”

  “Challenge accepted.” I rubbed my hands together. “Let’s do this,” I said as I waved Donovan forward.

  Donovan stopped his bouncing. “You’re not going to beat me.”

  I grinned. “Maybe not, but it’ll be fun to try.” And if I could hold my own against him, then maybe, just maybe I could start gaining some approval in the pack.

  Donovan lunged toward me and I slid to the side. It was on. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but he’d still push me.

  I threw a series of punches at him, trying to break through his guard, but he batted my fists away easily. On my last punch, he grabbed my wrist, yanking me forward.

  Before he could put me in a hold, I arced into an aerial. The force of my motion with my whole body weight was enough to yank my wrist free.

  I smiled at the muttering from the pack, but only had a split-second before Donovan started at me again.

  Donovan kicked. I caught his ankle and twisted, sending him spiraling to the ground. He hit the stone with a heavy thud. I was pretty sure I heard a “Jay-sus” in the back of the room.

  Donovan rolled to his back and grinned up at me. “I should really have mats installed.”

  “You think?” I wiped a little bit of sweat off my forehead with my shirt. “This room isn’t doing you any favors.”

  Donovan kipped up. “Let’s get it sorted right away. I’ve a guy we can call.”

  I stepped back, raising my hands up to be ready for whatever Donovan threw at me next. “Good.”

  With that, Donovan attacked again. Kick. Kick. Jab. He’d throw them, I’d block them.

  Every time I managed to get a hit on him, more and more people joined in to cheer me on. It gave me a nice rush. Thirty minutes later, Donovan had me pinned. I’d built up a good sweat, but it was over. It was the same pin I’d used on Max. I was flat on my stomach, my cheek pressed against the stone. Donovan had my arm wrenched in an impossible position behind my back, and his knee was digging into my spine.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. At the sound, his arms relaxed, and he bent down to brush a kiss across my forehead. “We need to work on your offense. You’re good with defensive moves, but you don’t plan ahead.” He pulled me up. “You don’t press me.”

  I shrugged. “Agreed. I’m all about defense. Especially when fighting against someone stronger.”

  “But if it’s someone stronger, you’ll need to fight smarter.”

  Fair enough, but I wasn’t sure how to do that and not get my ass kicked.

  “I’ll show you how.” He rolled off of me and rose to his feet before holding out a hand. I didn’t need any help getting up, but it was nice that he offered.

  “That was impressive,” a voice said, and suddenly, I was aware again. The audience had fallen away while we were fighting. I’d heard them cheering occasionally, but ignored them. Sparring with Donovan took one hundred percent of my focus.

  There were more Weres now. Almost the entire pack must have been watching us. Some faces were shocked and others were mad. Some looked impressed and pleased, while even more were… I’d call it unhappy.

  But at least I’d won over half of them.

  Ian came up to me. “I don’t believe it.”

  I shrugged. “I’m a Wayfarer. Plus, I’ve been training with Donovan pretty much all the time for the last few weeks. And while he was gone to Canada, I had my older brothers on my ass, twenty-four seven.” I wiped sweat from my brow. “I wasn’t half this good a month ago.”

  “That’s a lie,” Donovan said. “I can’t teach that in a year, let alone a month. She’s better than most Weres I’ve come across but has yet to realize it.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.” He was talking me up to them. That wasn’t true.

  I’m not lying.

  You don’t have to say that. We’re already mates.

  It’s the truth. I swear it.

  Part of me wanted to believe it, but I was used to being around so many amazing fighters that it was a little hard.

  A couple guys came up to talk to Donovan, and I stepped aside, scanning the floor to find my hoodie. It fit perfectly to my body without being too tight, and it was cashmere. I’d never find another like it. Throwing it on the ground in a packed room might not have been my best call.

  Just as I was about to give up, a woman stepped to me, holding my jacket. Tendrils of her frizzy, curly black hair were escaping her braid. She was a little shorter than me, but the way she was hunched down made her
look way shorter.

  I took my hoodie from her outstretched hand. “Thanks.” I gave her my best let’s be friends smile.

  “I…” She trailed off, and I waited patiently, trying not to be self-conscious. “That was amazing. We haven’t… We don’t train all the time—I haven’t in years—but with what happened to John and Thomas, I can’t just sit around anymore. I want to learn. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind workin’ with me?”

  My smile got so big, I was sure I was glowing. Finally. A solid in with this pack. I wasn’t about to pass that up. “Of course.”

  That’s Francis. She works in the kitchen. I believe she makes the pastries.

  Good person to know. Desert was the most important meal of the day.

  Yes. Donovan was quiet for a second. The bonds are changing. Calming.

  I couldn’t discount the awe in his voice, but that seemed way too easy. Really?

  Yes. I think everyone was impressed.

  He sounded so excited that I didn’t want to bring him down, but one sparring session wasn’t going to fix what was wrong with his pack. Maybe it was a start, but I wasn’t so sure that anything lasting would come of it.

  Francis was the first to talk to me, but she wasn’t the last. For the next hour, I corrected forms, taught basic defensive moves, and genuinely had a good time. That didn’t mean everyone was suddenly buddy-buddy with me. I got more than my share of stare downs and dominance displays. Donovan had to step in to stop a heckling situation as I tried to teach the ladies. Every time the guys watching said something rude, at least one of the women would stumble. This pack had a few grade-A assholes that needed a lesson or ten on how to be a decent Were.

  After a couple hours, Francis was covered in sweat, and her friends were getting sloppy with their movements. It was time to call it. “All right. That’s enough for today. Who else is ready for some food?”

  I need to talk to Ian, Donovan said.

  Cool. This group is wiped, and I’m hungry. Unless you want me to hang back?

  No. I’ll meet you there in a bit. Just stay safe.

  Don’t worry. I’m not going to be alone. And you’ll be just behind me. Donovan was worried about me, but he didn’t realize that I was just as scared about Bhrunyz being after me as he was.

  I gave him a little wave and walked out with Francis.

  “I know it must be hard coming here, but I think you’ll be good for us,” Francis said. That was really kind of her. Before I could say anything, she continued. “I didn’t think you would be. I mean, Donovan hasn’t had the best choice in women, but you’re proving yourself.”

  I could’ve taken that badly, but instead, I accepted it as a compliment. And I had no idea how to respond, so I was keeping my mouth shut.

  “I’m sure Riona’s thrilled that he’s found someone.”

  What? I stopped walking for a second, before catching up with Francis. “Who is Riona?” It better not be another crazy ex.

  “You don’t know?”

  “I haven’t heard of her, no.” But I had a feeling whoever she was, this was going to be bad news.

  Christ. If he’d slept with another mad wolf, I was going to flip.

  “I figured as his mate, he’d have told you. I haven’t seen her in years since she doesn’t live at the stronghold anymore. It was too big for her to navigate, but it was sad to see her go all the same. She kept Donovan coming around, even when he was busy. He never misses his yearly visit with her…”

  Oh my God. The woman was rambling and my fingers itched to grab her shoulders and shake the information out of her. Yearly visit? What the hell was she talking about? “Francis. Who is she?” The words came out a little crisp, my frustration clear.

  She stumbled a few steps. “Oh. Sorry. It’s just… I mean… I just thought you’d know.”

  For the love. Donovan. Who. Is. Riona?

  Why?

  I was going to kill someone. Please.

  She’s my mother.

  All the air whooshed out of me. I never would’ve guessed that. Not in a million years. I stopped walking again as questions ran through my mind. The first one was most important. Is she still alive?

  Yes. Of course. You didn’t know?

  How’s that possible? Your father’s dead. Usually when one half of a pair died, the other didn’t last long. Every Were knew the story of Donovan’s father. He’d died battling an evil fey queen. It was a legend.

  Aye. But my mother had some fey blood in her. Even though she started aging after Da died, it’s been much slower than your average Were. She looks to be about early seventies in human years now. She’s still spry enough but has issues living with the pack. Too many fragile feelings. So she decided to move to a home with—

  A horrible realization hit me. Does everyone know she’s alive?

  In my pack? Yes. Course they do.

  Do they know where to find her?

  Yes, but no one reaches out to her. They know she craves her privacy.

  We need to get to her. Now. I raced down the hallway and swung open the closest window. A blast of icy air chilled me to the bone. I longed for a thicker coat, but I didn’t have time for that. Meet me at the cars.

  Two stories up wasn’t that bad. Tessa had done worse. I gripped the edge of the window as I climbed out.

  “What are you doing?” Francis asked as she looked down at me from inside the window.

  “Wish me luck.” I let go. The wind froze my skin as I fell, and I had a second to think that this might not have been the best plan before I hit with a thud. The landing rattled my teeth, but after a second, I was up and running around the castle to the garages.

  I just hoped I wasn’t too late to save Donovan’s mother from the beast.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I tapped the steering wheel. Donovan?

  I’m coming! Just wait one more minute.

  He was taking too long. That minute could mean the difference between his mother living and dying.

  No. I wasn’t risking it. Gravel skidded out from under the tires as I accelerated down the driveway, but I didn’t get far before someone darted out in front of my car.

  “Shit!” I screamed as I downshifted, trying to stop before I hit my mate. Warn me next time you’re about to do something that stupid.

  I told you to wait! He slid into the passenger side and slammed the door. “Go.”

  I shifted into gear and gunned the car down the drive. “You’re not dressed. What were you doing if you weren’t getting clothes?”

  “There are clothes in the trunk. I’ll get them later. I had to tell Ian what to do. You’re right about the pack needing more of an emergency plan. You wouldn’t happen to have your phone on you?”

  “Yeah.” I pulled it out of my hoodie’s pocket and handed it to him.

  He dialed quickly. “Stephen,” he said as soon as someone answered. “It’s Donovan Murry. Is my mother around?” Donovan motioned to the right as we hit the end of the drive. I didn’t slow down, sliding a little as I made the turn.

  “Ehm. No. It’s Tuesday, right?”

  “Aye.”

  I’d made the trip into town once before, so I knew it wasn’t but five minutes away. Donovan motioned to the left. That wasn’t the way I’d come last time, but hopefully it was a shortcut.

  “Tuesdays she takes tea in town. She fancies the place with—”

  “Nice icing on the petit fours. L’Ami.” Right here.

  That’s barely an alley.

  Right.

  I took the alley, but it was too narrow. My left side mirror hit a trash can and the garbage spilled into someone’s garage.

  “Yes. That’s it. Is there something—”

  Donovan didn’t wait for Stephen to finish. He hung up. “Right up here. Faster. Please.”

  I hit the gas, thankfully leaving the alley for a bigger road. A huge truck came at us, and I wasn’t sure both of us would fit on the road. Shit. Maybe the alley was better.

  Normall
y, I would’ve slowed and pulled over, but not this time. My right side mirror ran into the brush on the roadside. The truck honked, but I wasn’t slowing.

  It roared past, and I took a breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “You people are nuts with your tiny roads.”

  “Left here.” His panic was starting to bleed through our bond, making mine worse.

  I tried to breathe through it. One of us had to stay calm. “Where?” There was nothing but fields on either side of the road. I didn’t see any intersections coming up either.

  “Here.”

  What? He wasn’t thinking clearly. “There’s no road—”

  Donovan took the steering wheel and jerked it around. The car skidded, and I could’ve sworn we were up on two wheels for a second.

  I glared at him as I corrected the wheel. “Don’t do that again.”

  “Follow my directions then!” He snapped at me, his voice low and gravelly as his wolf rose up.

  He was losing it. I got it. Apparently, he was close with his mother, even if he didn’t talk about her. “We’ll get there in time,” I said as the car bumped over ditches and rocks. “Can you feel her?”

  He shook his head. “She’s not part of the pack. Hasn’t been for a while.”

  “Why not?”

  “She claims she didn’t like the drama, but it’s not that. Or not only that…” Donovan trailed off. “No. That way.” He pointed across the field.

  By the time we hit a real road again, we were already at the row houses, which meant we were less than a mile away from town.

  Donovan rolled down the window and stuck out his head. “I don’t hear anything.” That was a very good sign. The beast had been loud. If he were in town attacking Donovan’s mother, we would’ve heard something.

  “Maybe I’m wrong.” I kind of wanted to be wrong, even if it meant that I was the beast’s next target. Knowing that Bhrunyz was coming after me made me want to hide in a cave somewhere until all of this was over, but I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t be a coward. And for some reason, protecting myself seemed easier than protecting someone else.

  My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel. “The fey beast could be coming after me next like we thought.”