by Ines Johnson
Jackson sat back down. "You tried to go up the Sierra Mountain? To get them back?"
The wolf looked at Jackson as though he were the crazy one. "Of course I did. She's mine."
Jackson realized it wasn't so crazy. He would do the same thing if Lucia were being held away from him.
"You've seen her? Katerin?" There was such hope in Serrano's eyes.
Katerin? That must have been Lucia's mother.
"No,” Jackson said. “I haven't. I... My name is Jackson. I'm your daughter's mate."
"Lucia?" Serrano's eyes brightened. "My little Lucia."
"She's not so little anymore."
"And her mother?"
Jackson looked away now. He searched for the words to tell another man that the other half of his heart was long gone. But words couldn't express such a loss. Nor could words express the sound of a breaking heart. Luke Serrano let loose an agonizing howl. And then he roared, the sound one of rage against a cruel world.
Serrano leapt to his feet and the chain snapped. Jackson didn't have time to think. The warlocks were moving in on the lone wolf.
"I need to see her," Serrano demanded, his eyes the glowing silver of a lunatic. "I need to see my baby girl. I need to explain to her. I just want a chance to explain that—"
From his sides, two warlocks approached. They moved into position. One grappled with Serrano hand-to-hand. Finally a third warlock was able to catch his eyes.
Serrano struggled as he went down to his knees. Jackson had never seen any wolf so powerful.
"I just want to see her," Serrano whispered as he was finally subdued.
Jackson's voice seized in his throat as he looked at the scene, helpless.
Chapter Twenty
Lucia slunk against the backseat of the car, her body suddenly weary. No, not suddenly weary. With all the excitement of the last night, she'd forgotten about her early twilight activities with Jackson. No, not forgotten about them. She'd pushed the pleasurable memories aside to deal with the warlock, and then Pierce's recovery. But now, the delicious ache that Jackson had wrought over her body came back to the forefront of her mind.
She remembered his teeth as they struck her collarbone. His tongue on her breasts as he soothed the ache within her. His hands on her ass as they brought their bodies together. The stroke of him in and out of her...
"Someone's happy my son is awake."
Lucia's eyes darted open. She looked into the mirror hanging from the front of the car and caught Karyn's bright eyes.
"Don't worry, my dear," Karyn said. "You'll have him home and in your arms in no time."
Lucia bit her lip. She'd already had one of her sons in her arms. Just not the son Karyn referred to. Lucia didn't miss how Karyn's eyes lit up at using the word "home" in the same sentence as “Pierce.”
Lucia looked over at Kayla who sat beside her in the backseat of the vehicle. The young girl had a knowing expression on her face. The same expression Pierce wore when he looked between Lucia and Jackson while he lay in his hospital bed. Pierce had spied Jackson's hand on her lower back. Pierce had known, almost instantly, that there was something between Lucia and Jackson. And by the rise of his eyebrow, Lucia thought he found it amusing. Kayla had the same rise in her eyebrow.
Lucia couldn't exactly communicate with Kayla via telepathy. It would only be one way since the girl was a wolf and not a witch. Lucia let out a helpless sigh that must have acted as a confession because Kayla chuckled and looked out the window. How was it that the Alcede children could easily sense something was going on between Lucia and Jackson but the parents were clueless?
At least Kayla and Pierce's amused acceptance made her relax. When she and Jackson set the record straight about who belonged to whom tonight, she felt fairly certain that the elder Alcedes would come at the situation with the same touch of amusement.
The Alcedes were lucky that they had two such fine sons that a girl could easily, and instantly, fall for. They were both upstanding men ready to help out a stranger in need. Sure, Jackson had been bristly at first. But that had been because he'd wanted Lucia for himself. She wondered what it must have taken for him to back down when he thought she'd belonged to Pierce.
Harold Alcede pulled up to the house. The familiarity of the structure struck Lucia. In just two nights it felt like home. Not so much because of the structure. Because of the people. They'd hung blue lights over the fence and strung up paper moons in the trees in celebration of last night's extra Moon. Lucia smiled at the decorations.
She looked up at Harold and Karyn who held hands as they walked through the gate. He dipped his mouth to her ear and whispered something. A memory flashed in Lucia's mind of her father leaning into her mother in the same way. She remembered her mother, a normally stoic woman, grinning with bright eyes.
Kayla came up behind them and leaned into her parents. They broke apart, just enough to let her in-between their embrace. She asked her mother if she could hang out with a group of young people across the street for a little before dinner. Once Karyn agreed, Kayla gave each of her parents a quick kiss. Then she came over and gave Lucia a quick hug before heading off to be with her friends.
The elder Alcedes thought nothing of their kisses and headed inside the house. But Lucia stood still, rooted to the spot. She watched Kayla join her friends while the warmth from the girl's arms permeated her brother's coat.
It wasn't the house that was home. It was these people. This was her family.
The coven had been a lonely place, especially for a girl with wolf blood who craved a connection. Her mother had tried her best to give Lucia the affection she craved. But these people, Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. Alcede, Kayla, and now Jackson, had welcomed her in and showered her with more affection in the last two nights than she'd received in a lifetime. Lucia trudged up to the front door feeling full and languid.
Karyn came up to her smiling. "You poor thing, you look so tired. Where did Jackson have you sleep?" She unbuttoned her coat like Lucia was a toddler. Lucia, independent woman that she was, couldn't bring herself to mind the coddling. So much so she answered Karyn with the truth.
"I slept in Jackson's bed." She shut her eyes when the words came out and held her breath.
Karyn was behind her, tugging the coat off her shoulders. Lucia almost protested at the loss of Jackson's warm scent.
"Hm," Karyn hummed. "Never have to worry about that one. Jackson has always been chivalrous. I know that's not all that attractive to a witch.."
"No," Lucia said. "I love that about him."
Karyn smiled as she folded Jackson's coat. "I'm so glad you two are getting along now. I know he was suspicious when you first showed up, but he's protective of his brother even when they're at odds. You'll have to get used to two men looking out for you. It can be overbearing. Kayla will give you some tips."
Then Karyn frowned. "What are you wearing dear?"
Lucia looked down at the shirt Jackson had been wearing the day before when he picked her up from the Alcede's.
"Is that Jackson's?" Karyn asked.
Lucia's mouth wouldn't work. She could only nod. The jig was up and she wished Jackson was standing beside her. She'd never gotten in trouble before. She'd always done what she was supposed to do. The only times she'd ever been scolded were the few times when she reached out her arms for a hug to one of the elder witches.
“First thing we need to do,” said Karyn, “is take you shopping. Kayla will love that.”
Karyn came up and brushed something off the shirt and then she frowned again. She moved the collar of the shirt to the side. Her eyes went wide.
"What's this?" she asked.
Harold came into the room at that moment. His eyes looked to his wife's stricken face and then narrowed in on Lucia's collarbone. His eyes, so kind and accepting ten minutes ago, were like lasers on hers.
"My son has been in a coma for two nights,” he said in a low, controlled growl. "Explain to me how you have a fresh claim mark?"
> "Who did this to you, Lucia?" Karyn asked.
"What are you playing at?” Harold snarled. "Is this part of your Rumwicca?"
"No." Lucia covered her neck with the lapels of Jackson's shirt. "It wasn't some stranger."
"Then who?"
Lucia swallowed, looking out the window. There was no sign of Jackson.
"Who?" Harold repeated in what must've been his alpha voice.
Lucia felt compelled to answer, and so she did. "Jackson," she whispered.
Karyn still looked at her, confused.
Harold's eyes were cold slits. "Jackson would never do such a thing to his brother's mate. Did you spell him under the Blue Moon? Is that what happened last night?"
"No," Lucia's voice wobbled.
Karyn took a long inhale. When her eyes reached Lucia, she knew that Karyn had smelled the truth on her skin. Jackson's scent was laced into her very pores. "She's telling the truth, Harry."
"It was a mistake," Lucia stuttered. "Pierce and I. I thought I loved him, but I barely knew him."
"You barely know Jackson," Harold barked.
Why weren't they being amused like Pierce and Kayla?
"You plan to pit my sons against each other?” Harold demanded. "Play with their hearts like this is some game?"
"I never played with anyone's heart," Lucia pleaded. "Pierce never offered for me."
"So you lied?" asked Karyn.
Lucia looked into her eyes. Her own eyes rimmed with silver as tears threatened. Karyn's eyes widened, then she looked away from her. Before she did, Lucia caught the fear in them. Karyn must have thought the tint of silver was in preparation for a spell.
"Karyn, I would never—"
Harold stepped in front of his wife. "Lucia," he said quietly. "I want you to leave my house."
Lucia tried to peer around the imposing wolf to the woman who'd treated her with such motherly care. But Karyn wouldn't look at Lucia. Lucia turned to Harold, who looked away but his jaw clenched as though he was barely containing himself.
There was nothing she could do, nothing she could say to make this better.
Lucia walked to the door in a daze. She paused on the stoop. Jackson was nowhere in sight. She looked down the block. Neither was Kayla. A shiver ran up her body as she realized she'd left without the warmth of Jackson's coat. Her witch's cloak was long gone on the train tracks. She pulled her arms around herself as she walked down the street, directionless and alone.
Chapter Twenty-One
The pounding in Jackson's head mimicked the rhythm of the yellow flashing streetlights. Traffic had been horrendous getting back into the city from the prison. He looked down at his dead cell phone. He hadn't charged it after Warwick handed the device to him earlier, so he couldn't call to let anyone know he was running late for dinner. His mother would be pissed again. All he wanted was the feel of his woman in his arms, and then the taste of his mother's cooking in his belly.
He couldn't stop thinking about the scene back at the prison. It'd taken three warlocks to contain Serrano, and even then the wolf shone determinedly through the man's eyes. Serrano had been slowed, subdued, but only for a while.
Jackson slowed down at the traffic signal. The blinking yellow cautioned him to first look both ways and then proceed with caution. Jackson's foot remained on the brake.
He knew Lucia's entire purpose for coming down the mountain was to find her father. She'd lost so much. His heart ached at what she'd endured; to have known love and then have it ripped from her, not once but twice.
The ache in his heart subsided as he sat still in the middle of the road, thinking back to the wild man he'd seen inside those steel walls. Jackson still heard the man's roar of outrage.
No, that was horns blaring at him to move on.
Jackson let go of the brake and hit the gas, only to come up against a flashing red signal at the next intersection. It was common after a Full Moon festival for the city's grid to experience power surges and failures.
Up ahead the streets were plunged into darkness. The lamps lining this section of the city were all out. People milled about the streets, some had candles, others flashlights. They were humans. Moonkind could see perfectly well in the dark.
In the middle of the street, Jackson came to a full stop, checking all directions to see if it was safe to proceed. In the end, he threw his head back against the headrest.
What did they really know about this man, Serrano? Lucia hadn't seen him in fifteen years. Even then, her memory was filtered through the prism of a five-year-old child.
What if Serrano wasn't the father she remembered? What if Lucia's mother had actually run away? Domestic violence in the wolf community against women and children was rare, but it happened. What if Serrano wanted to take Lucia away back then? What if he tried it now?
The blood drained from Jackson's hands as he thought of any harm coming to Lucia. But she couldn't come to harm if she didn't know Serrano had been found. The man was locked away for life. Why even put her at risk by telling her he was near?
Turning onto his family's block, Jackson saw a dog chained to a tree in the front yard. It brought to his mind the sight of Lucia's father chained like a beast. The man was clearly unstable. More so now that he knew the fate of his mate. Lucia had a new family; a family that had taken to her instantly. A family that would never let any harm, physical or emotional, befall her. A family that would never deny her, or abandon her, in a time of need.
His parents adored her. Kayla would have the sister she always wanted. Pierce had already shown that he would protect Lucia with his last breath. Jackson's entire existence would be spent on keeping her safe and making her happy.
She had everything she needed. She didn't need the burden of seeing her father in such a state. It would only hurt her to see him like that; chained, with no hope of retribution. Maybe it was best for her to believe he was in the wind like any lone wolf?
Looking out the car window, Jackson saw that the power was on in his family’s neighborhood. He let go of the Serrano issue and turned to the more pressing matter at hand.
He'd rehearsed in his mind how he would explain the situation between him and Lucia to his mother and father. Luckily, it didn't look like he'd have to explain anything to Pierce. His brother had taken one look at the two of them and instantly sensed what was between them. Before leaving the hospital room, Jackson had seen Kayla giving him the side eye as well. How was it that his siblings understood things without any words spoken, but his parents never saw the true desires of their children?
Jackson pulled up to his parents' house. A jolt of excitement shot through him. He imagined Lucia in the kitchen with his mother, helping with dinner. She'd look over her shoulder at him when he entered. Her eyes would shine in that way they did; shy, hesitant, and determined all at the same time. His steps would inevitably lead him to her. He'd have to tell his parents immediately because the first words out of his mouth would have to be that Lucia was his.
This was the life he wanted; coming home to his wife after a long day. He wasn't such a traditionalist that he'd demand Lucia stay home and have his cubs. But, oh, the prospect of making cubs, of seeing her swollen with his child, those thoughts quickened Jackson's steps. He'd give Lucia anything she wanted. He wouldn't hold her back from the dream job she wanted -if she wanted a job. He would do whatever made her happy because in the end her happiness was all that mattered to him.
Her smile had been such a tentative thing the first night as though she wasn't sure if the affection from his family was real. But ever since last night, she'd given her smiles easily and openly. Whatever the cost of those smiles, Jackson would pay each day for the rest of his life.
He turned the knob. His nose crinkled. He didn't smell anything good to eat.
His ears perked up. He didn't hear Lucia and his mother laughing in the kitchen.
His eyes narrowed. He looked into the living room and saw his parents sitting together, their expressions full of gloo
m.
"Oh Goddess," Jackson breathed. "It's Pierce. What's happened? Has he taken a turn for the worse? They said he was out of the woods."
Harold Alcede looked his son over sternly. "It seems you are the one who has taken a turn for the worse."
His father's words rang hollow in Jackson's ears, like a gong struck with a ball of feathers. There was no resonance. Jackson shook off the strange sensation. Then he looked around. "Where's Lucia?"
His parents shared a look. Jackson had been privy to these looks all his life. They came in two varieties. If his parents had 'the look' along with a small uptick at the corners of their mouths, then he knew to brace himself for words of praise and huge hugs. If his parents had 'the look' along with frowns or pursed lips, Jackson knew to take cover for the deluge of their disappointment.
Jackson inhaled deeply. There was only a faint trace of Lucia in the air. In the hall, he spied his coat, the one he’d placed around her shoulders earlier this evening. It lay discarded on the floor. His wolf's ears went straight up in alert. She wasn't here.
Jackson looked back at his parents' disapproving glances. It was the same glance they'd gave him when he was considering majoring in law. He felt the weight of their stares and he knew that they knew.
But they weren't happy. Why weren't they happy? They'd taken to Lucia instantly when they'd thought she was Pierce's mate.
Jackson gulped as their glares became clear. The disapproval in his father's frown weighed heavy on Jackson's heart. But he refused to bend on this one, not with her. "She's mine," he said simply.
"But first, she was your brothers?" There was disgust in his father's voice.
Jackson shook his head. "She was never Pierce's."
Harold lowered his head with a heavy sigh. "You disappoint me, Jackson."
For a moment the words stung him to the core. But then Jackson inhaled and the emptiness of Lucia's absence swallowed that feeling up.