"I didn't know you played guitar." He was still grinning. "And I like when I turn your cheeks red."
"I haven't in ages." I swatted his chest. "It's embarrassing."
"No it isn't. It's very sexy." He waggled his brows at me and I laughed. He pressed his lips to mine and captured me in a quick kiss that set my cheeks on fire. He broke it with a coy smile and then led me back to Vanessa and the others. I didn't see how playing the guitar was sexy at all. I guess for rock stars on stage it could be, but not for me. It seemed more like a clumsy effort at best.
Some of the kids ran into the circle for a jingle dance, including Cote. Some of them had aluminum-like cones and shells dangling from their outfits that made a jingling noise when they moved. I enjoyed watching them. They seemed to love causing a cacophony and the jingling matched up with the drumbeats pretty well. Vanessa rested her chin on my shoulder as she watched. Her eyes darted here and there as the shiny jingles reflected the light of the setting sun.
"Having fun?" I asked.
"Mhmm."
At the end of the dance, Steven had the kids join him again in the circle for a "candy dance" which simply meant that he tossed candy all over the place and they picked it up as if the circle had erupted like a piñata. Vanessa's soft, breathy laugh pressed against my neck and I smiled. There was a lot of conversation around us now that all the guests had arrived. For a moment, the murmurs pressed in on my ears. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the familiar voices around me. It didn't work as well as I'd hoped. I heard Vanessa call my name a few times and I opened my eyes to look at her.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"It just got loud for a second."
She nodded then brushed her lips over mine. The gesture was tentative, as if she wasn't sure if I'd accept the contact. I stroked her cheek and guided her into a kiss. I tasted beer when she pressed her lips against mine. When she leaned back, I smelled it on her breath. Discomfort ran through me and chilled me like an icy breeze.
"What?" she asked, her eyes searching my expression.
"You...you taste like beer. I don't like it." I rubbed my thumb over her lips as if it would wipe away the taste.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Shawnee, I didn't even think about that." Her face paled and she looked a bit gray around the gills.
"It's okay. It doesn't make me want it or anything." I stroked her cheek. "I just don't like it on you. I'm sorry."
"Are you sure?" she asked. Her voice sounded heavy, as if I'd caused her some sort of panic. Which I probably had. Mal took a seat beside me after refilling his plate with food and listened to us.
"Yeah. You tasted better like strawberries." I offered her a smile.
"Go take a quick dip in the lake, Red. It'll move the alcohol through your system faster," Mal said.
"Are you telling the truth or just making me have to go in the water?" she asked him suspiciously. He laughed.
"I'm serious. Do it in feline. The activity will help it go through your system faster and the water will wash it away from your skin. That way you won't smell like it anymore." His voice sounded genuine and it made sense.
"You don't have to do that, Ness. It's not that important." I felt bad that she'd have to be uncomfortable just because I was. It wasn't fair to her. She should be able to drink if she wanted to without having to worry about me. I was regretting opening my big mouth.
"It is important." Her pouty red lips curved into an unappealing frown. I liked it so much better when she smiled.
"Just stay with me. It'll help me get used to it," I said. She shifted her position so that she wasn't breathing on me. Though out of the corner of my eye I watched her pour out the cup she had and take a drink from a water bottle.
"Did you drink, too?" I asked Mal.
"Nope. Sniff me."
I laughed and sniffed him a bit. "You smell like Mal." I grinned.
"You still smell like sage." He laughed.
Barron's voice boomed over the screeching children. He was hooting and hollering and came over with armfuls of beer bottles and passed them out to his Sept mates. His Beta, Foster, and a woman named Melinda were with him. Foster watched Alice learn to dance with some of the kids in the circle. I followed his gaze and smiled at her. She must've felt my eyes on her because she offered me a shy smile in return. I was very grateful that she was still around.
"To celebrate the recovery of our Breeders!" Barron shouted.
Everyone took a beer but when he got to me I shook my head. "No thanks," I said.
"Aw, c'mon, Shawnee, you deserve it," he said. Xany leered at me over Barron's shoulder but she didn't need to. I shook my head again.
"Thanks, Barron, but I'm all set." I showed him my water bottle.
He nodded and proceeded to do a toast to Xany, me, Vanessa, and the rest of the Sept. Foster lifted his glass and gave Xany a nod, but Melinda glared at him, the corners of her lips turning ever so slightly into a frown. Everyone drank with Barron before he cheerfully made his way over to Hank. He must've been rather drunk because his bulky body seemed to bounce along the grass. It looked odd and almost cartoon-like. Xany gave me a light smile when Barron left though her eyes drew toward Melinda. I furrowed a brow and followed her gaze. Melinda was eying Foster, her lips pursed in what appeared to be distaste. I looked between Xany and Melinda for a moment and shrugged. Whatever had Xany's attention was a mystery to me. She tugged Caden's arm and they moved closer to us.
"Are they in the same pack?" Xany asked Caden as she nodded toward Melinda and Foster.
"Yeah, Foster is Barron's second and that's Melinda," Caden answered.
"Well then, why does she feel like she wants to rip his head off?" Xany asked.
I looked back at Melinda and, now that I was truly paying attention, noticed that her eyes occasionally focused on Foster's throat. Caden followed my gaze. Foster was happily watching Alice dance with one of the kids in the circle while Melinda continued to stare at him.
"Wow, it's like she wants to tear his heart out and eat it," Xany added as she continued to watch Melinda.
"Caden, is she..." I trailed off. I'd seen that look on a wolf before. That distinct stare meant only one thing. I couldn't force the words from my mouth.
Mal grew suddenly tense and he caught Caden's eye. They began gesturing subtly as they watched Melinda. Foster clapped for Alice when the song ended and she ran over and tossed her arms around his neck. He embraced her warmly and walked with her toward the food table. Melinda remained behind, standing with Barron as he talked to Hank, her eyes never leaving Foster's throat.
"Caden, she's going to—" Xany began.
"She's the one with the bad sniffer, Xee," I said.
"If they're in the same pack, why does she hate him?" Xany asked.
"Good question," Caden said, and for the first time that I can recall, his lips bent into an uncharacteristic frown. Caden was not happy about something, something very serious.
He lifted his chin and Hank's gaze shot in his direction. Caden gestured again and Hank broke away from Barron to approach us.
"Melinda's in bloodrage," Caden told Hank. Mal's body lifted from his perch beside us, his movements slow and deliberate. Instinctively, I moved closer to Vanessa and she put her arm around me.
"No shit," Xany said. She frowned at Melinda, who was still eying Foster and Alice as they ate chicken by the fire. "And she hates Alice, too."
"Alice is Foster's mate," Mal said.
"Well, don't you think that's interesting? She has bloodrage for Foster, hates his mate, and just so happened to be the one who led your search party to Wyoming. Doesn't that sound fishy to anyone?" Xany said rather loudly, her hands on her hips. She definitely didn't care whether or not Melinda heard her. Melinda turned toward Xany.
"What's bloodrage?" Vanessa asked me.
"It's when a wolf wants to challenge another wolf in a pack for rank. Melinda has bloodrage to challenge Foster for the Beta position and maybe something else," I explained. "Does it ha
ppen for weretigers?"
"Not like that." She shook her head.
A stark sudden growl emanated from Hank. I'd never heard him growl before or show any expression of emotion other than worry or glee. He called Barron over and they began whispering. Caden had his eye on Melinda, who was now eyeing Xany.
"That's right, we figured you out." Xany stepped toward Melinda with her hands still on her hips. Melinda curled her lip up at Xany and stood to face her.
"You're delusional," Melinda accused through a nasty snarl.
"Hardly," Xany said, her stance firm as if she weren't at all fazed by the threat.
"Mind your own business, bitch." Melinda's snarl turned to a growl.
"It is my business," Xany said, her brows narrowed. I'd seen Xany angry before but this was a whole new level. She was downright challenging a bloodraging werewolf. I drew my eyes over to Caden to see if he would stop her as visions of Xany being torn to bits crossed my mind. I shuddered at the thought. Hank moved up beside Xany and Barron quickly appeared at Melinda's side.
"Stand down." Barron's brow narrowed; his eyes flashed red as he spoke to Xany.
"Hell no, you need to keep your pack mates in check, Barron. Why don't you ask her how she feels about your Beta before you go mouthing off orders?" Xany shot back.
Melinda tossed her head back and roared at Xany. I cringed and Vanessa lifted me right out of my seat and we took a few steps back.
"What is she talking about, Melinda?" Barron said.
"You must be a pretty lousy Alpha to not notice that she hates Foster and Alice," Xany said as she wagged her finger in Barron's face. Now Caden moved up behind her. Insulting a dominant wolf was never a good idea.
"Xandrea Wade," Mal chastised. Hank seemed to allow Xany to speak her mind. His posture had Xany and Caden flanking him. Allowing a Breeder to speak for the Sept was unheard of where I came from and I was growing even more worried for Xany's safety.
"No, Mal, he needs to know." Xany waved her hand at him dismissively.
By now, Foster and Alice had noticed the confrontation, as had many others who gathered along the fringes of the circle. The drumming had completely stopped and the voices of Barron and Xany were clearly audible.
"How dare you question my ability to run my pack!" Barron's voice was barely human as it traveled along a brutal growl. Caden's shoulders broadened as he prepared to protect his mate though his face remained remarkably calm.
"When it puts me and mine in danger, then I have every right to question it." Xany seemed to have no qualms about getting in his face.
Hank moved between Barron and Xany, one hand pressing Barron's chest and the other blocking Xany from continuing forward.
"Now jus' wait a darn minute here," Hank finally spoke. "What are you suggestin' here, Miss Xany?"
"I'm not suggesting. I'm saying that Miss Broke Snout here"—she cocked her head in Melinda's direction—"purposely led the search party away from the mountain. She wanted Alice to be away from Foster so she could challenge him." Xany dropped her hands from her hips, her fingers twitching with readiness not unlike Vanessa's when she's about ready to pounce.
With Alice away from Foster, he would be easier to challenge. Almost everyone knew that a dominant Changer was weaker without a mate. Caden placed his hand on Xany's shoulder, a subtle rumbling held deep in his chest. At Xany's accusation, several people burst out talking. Gasps filled the clearing when Melinda lunged for Xany. Mal caught the raging wolf around the middle and slammed her to the ground. He pinned her down with one hand on her shoulder. Barron roared at Mal for subduing his pack mate but Hank jerked Barron back to attention.
"Is this true?" Hank asked Melinda, who was now thrashing at Mal.
"Fuck you! Get off of me!" Melinda's voice was deep and husky as she fought the change. Mal dodged her swipes and grabs as he flipped her over and pressed his knee in her back.
Alice had her hands over her mouth and Foster had his arm around her, his eyes on Melinda though his expression seemed mixed with rage and disbelief. Vanessa moved me even farther away from the scene when the wolves started tumbling. Melinda momentarily broke away from Mal to lunge at Foster. Again, he caught her and slammed her to the ground. His growl was fierce, matched only by Barron's. Melinda continued to fight against Mal and fur burst along her forearms and torso.
"Answer the question," Barron said and caught Melinda's gaze. His command wouldn't be easy for her to ignore.
"I deserved it and you know it!" she shouted at Barron.
"Foster earned his position!" Barron's face twisted with pain and anger.
"But I deserved it! He would've never made rank if he didn't choose that little bitch for his mate!" Melinda's voice was barely human. The scratchy alien quality of it had me shivering.
Mal twisted her arm up her back and continued to hold her to the ground. Alice began to cry and Foster burst into a sudden roar.
"You knew she was taken by the hoarders," Xany said, her eyes narrowed.
"Yes, fucking fine, Yes! I knew," Melinda shouted as Mal twisted her arm harder.
Barron roared, his rage over the revelation reflected in his burning red eyes. Hank snapped at Melinda and howled at the betrayal. Every Changer in the Sept joined him in the wolfsong. Without warning, Barron swung his arm at Mal and knocked him back into a tumble. He then grabbed Melinda by the back of her neck and pulled her up to stand.
"Tell all," he demanded. His gaze kept her locked in a frozen stance, one that only a very dominant Alpha could inflict.
Melinda fought against his command but was forced to her knees almost immediately in front of the entire Sept. Xany stood beside Caden with her arms crossed over her chest. I admired her ability to read between the lines of her empathic gift. Melinda growled but was unable to resist Barron's domination. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Imogene and her friend Ann gathering up the children and backing them away. I glanced to Vanessa, whose lips were pursed and pale. Her fingers dug into my hip as she held me closer.
"I saw the gypsies take the school teacher from the camp. I couldn't scent them but I could see them. I followed them to the mountain and saw where they were taking people. I waited for them, and decided to exchange a Breeder for my silence. I said I'd keep their secret if they took Alice. And they did," Melinda said through clenched teeth that began to sharpen into canines. She salivated as she resisted the transformation.
Alice looked on in horror and held tightly to Foster. I imagined that if Alice wasn't holding onto him, he might've torn Melinda's head clear off her body.
"You traded our only Breeder for your own personal gain? You have no honor." Barron's tone was no longer a growl but a breathless wheeze of disbelief. "That's why you could never be Beta. You could never stand as my second. Alice is more precious to us than you could ever be."
Melinda roared and leaned back as her shoulders began to crack and reshape. She dropped her head then snarled at Barron again. Her body began to contort. Barron caught Mal's gaze and held it a moment. Mal was still standing behind Melinda. Barron offered him a quick yet faint nod. Mal turned to Hank who stood firmly with his arms crossed. He was still only for a moment before he too nodded once. Mal reached forward and without an ounce of hesitation, gripped Melinda's head and twisted it violently. A loud crack disrupted the hush and Melinda's body slumped to the ground. I looked on in horror but Vanessa guided my face against her chest. There was only silence.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Barron and Hank removed Melinda's body from the circle as people began to quietly arrange themselves with their families to talk about what had happened. I remained hidden against Vanessa, my body trembling as the sound of Melinda's neck snapping echoed over and over in my head.
"Shawnee," Vanessa whispered and pried me off her shoulder. I looked up at her just as Mal joined us. He put his hand on my shoulder. I jumped and backed away from them both.
"No."
"Shawnee, I—" He took a step forward.
"Shawnee, you know that—" Mal started but I interrupted.
"No!" I shouted at him, at everyone, before turning and bolting toward the lake.
I ran as fast as I could away from the Sept. A cool trail of tears streamed down my cheeks as I grabbed onto the rock to stop myself from falling. Had I really been so blind as to forget what it was like living in a pack? I knew that Mal had no say in killing Melinda, but I couldn't help being upset. I didn't like seeing people get hurt, or die. Even if they were tainted or betrayers. Even if I was the one who was doing the killing. I gripped my chest as the weight of everything that had happened over the past few weeks came crashing down on me.
In an instant, Vanessa was beside me. Mal wasn't far behind. She stroked my cheek but I refused to look at her. Mal emerged from the shadows behind us. Fueled by a burst of anger, I turned and stalked off toward the woods.
"Red, can I talk to Shawnee alone for while?" Mal asked.
I looked over my shoulder when he spoke and offered Vanessa a faint nod. Reluctantly, she stayed behind and Mal followed me into the woods.
"You know wolves like to chase, right?" he said as he ducked a branch and pursued me past the tree line.
"Don't be funny." I huffed.
"Shawnee, stop," he said.
It wasn't a demand but I stopped anyway. With my stillness came more tears. Mal moved up behind me and this time instead of putting his hand on my shoulder, he slipped both arms around my middle. I struggled for about half a second before giving in.
"How could you let me see that? What about the kids who saw?" The heat of his body pressed against my back and I sighed. I couldn't refuse him no matter how hard I tried.
"They've seen it before, Shawnee. It's part of pack life. I know you know this." He nuzzled his chin against the back of my neck as more tears streamed down my cheeks.
Birthrite (Legacy Series Book 2) Page 25