The Tempering (The Mackenzie Duncan Series)

by James, Adrianne

  “You’re lying.”

  “I wish I were. She told me I had been chosen, and the night I bit Liam had been planned. They are growing the pack any way they can. The California pack wasn’t attacked, we attacked them.”

  “Teresa said she wasn’t told to bite me. That she doesn’t have a quota.”

  “And she is most likely telling you the truth. I wasn’t told to bite anyone either. They didn’t care who bit Liam, just that he was bitten. She still isn’t in full control of the wolf. They won’t ask her to change others until she is. You can come with us if you want to.”

  “You know I can’t. I could never leave her or my family. I will just opt out or something when the time comes. I can be one who stays behind to care for the pups or something. I’ve already pledged. Leaving scares me. I need them. I need Margret.”

  “Okay.” Mackenzie wanted to be angry with her. Staying with the pack and helping to care for the young ones allows the others to go and fight and turn people. Choosing inaction is not the same as taking a stand. But the pack was all Natalie knew and Teresa was there. Her heart would be broken in two if she left. She may not agree with her, but she understood.

  “Where will you go?”

  “I don’t know. Just far away from here.”

  Mackenzie finished packing her bag, just taking what she had when she moved in and a few pictures of her with Teresa and Natalie and one of her and Geoff. She slung the bag across her back and walked up to one of her best friends.

  Reaching her hand out, Natalie grabbed it and squeezed. Mackenzie gave it a tug and enveloped her in a hug. The two girls clung to one another and cried.

  “Can I get in on that?” Mackenzie and Natalie looked up to see Teresa standing just outside the door with a sad smile and red-rimmed eyes. They opened their arms up and welcomed her in their embrace.

  “You better write to us. Let us know you’re okay.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  Finally taking a step back, she waved a little goodbye and headed down the stairs.

  ~*~

  The house had turned eerily quiet while she was packing. The stairs creaked under her feet with every third step or so. Looking around at the large house that had been her home she was sad. She had finally found a place she felt like she belonged, but it was all a lie.

  The front door had been left wide open. She knew she closed it behind her so either someone left in a rush or someone came in. Desperately hoping that it was the latter, she searched the main floor for Geoff.

  The office door was closed up tight but light spilled out beneath it. Could they have gone in there? Had he known all along that Margret had planned everything? Could she really have kept him in the dark the whole time? The chances were slim, but her heart needed to believe that he hadn’t been lying to her all along.

  “Hey, you ready?” Liam’s voice called to her from down the hall. She slowly turned from the office door to see him standing there ready to go. He too had a backpack and looked exhausted. It was a lot to mentally process in such a short time, but she was ready to go. If Geoff wanted to go with them, he would have left when they did.

  “Yeah.”

  Taking a deep breath, Mackenzie joined him and walked out the door.

  ~*~

  “WAIT!” Geoff called from behind. Turning around she saw that the front door had opened and he was running to catch up. Liam shook with anger but watched Mackenzie to see how she would react.

  “What?” she asked, trying to show annoyance in her voice even though she was desperately hoping to be able to accept whatever he had to say as the truth.

  “I didn’t know about her setting up certain people to be bitten. I didn’t know that we were attacking the others, just that we always won and we were stronger for it. I knew she was the daughter of the Royal Were and I knew about the quotas. I told you I had more mistakes that I cared to remember but I told you about my past, about growing up alone. Margret took me in and trained me. The world was very different before and being strong was all that was important in staying alive in our world. But I told her I was leaving, that I couldn’t be part of it anymore. Will you wait for me to grab a few things?”

  Liam watched the interaction with guarded eyes. Mackenzie could tell that he didn’t believe him, but she knew Geoff better than he did. She nodded her head at him and watched as he ran back into the house and up the stairs.

  “I don’t trust him.”

  “I know, but you trust me right?” Her eyes pleaded with him. She knew that she was making a hard situation that much worse by asking him to accept Geoff as a part of whatever it was they were now.

  “You know I do.”

  “Then trust that I think he is being honest. We need him out there. Neither one of us has control, or has the kind of experience to make it for long, otherwise. He can teach us, help us get control faster, maybe even help us learn to defend ourselves.”

  “Okay. But so help me if he hurts you, or betrays us in any way, I will kill him.”

  “Fair enough.” Geoff said from behind them. Turning quickly, the two men nodded at each other before giving their attention to Mackenzie.

  “Goodbye, house.” Mackenzie said and Geoff closed the door behind him.

  “Where to?”

  “Somewhere we can call home, I guess. I just don’t know where that is yet.”

  The snow crunched beneath their feet and the wind whipped by them as if it were any other day. But it wasn’t just any other day. It was the day that would change their lives forever for the second time. Mackenzie looked over her shoulder as they stepped into the trees, and saw Margret standing in the window of her bedroom, watching them. She had a feeling that it wouldn’t be the last time she saw her.

  Sneak Peek

  THE ENLIGHTENING,

  Book 2 in The Mackenzie Duncan Series

  Liam Hardy had been complaining about the cold since they had left the pack house three days prior. The snow was cold, his socks were wet, his nose was tingling from the wind chill. All of which was bullshit in Mackenzie’s opinion. They were Werewolves and the heat that radiated from within their bodies made sure they never felt the sting of the cold.

  "Let's head west. I'm fucking tired of the cold."

  "West doesn't mean warm. South means warm," Geoff bit back. Tensions were running on high between the two men. It could have possibly had something to do with the fact that both wanted Mackenzie and she couldn't pick between the two. Or it could have something to do with the fact that they were all used to living in a huge house with all the amenities and left it behind with nothing more than a back pack each. They had been sleeping wherever they could manage and still didn't have an actual plan as to what they were going to be doing now that they were considered rogue.

  "Of course it does! Everyone says California is hot. They have mild winters and hot summers. California is west." The boys had stopped walking long enough to glare at one another. Mackenzie was sick and tired of it. She wasn't their mother, nor either of their girlfriends, so why was it that she had to step in and take care of them?

  "Will the both of you just chill the fuck out? Let's go south west okay? It's a little thing called a compromise, boys. Figure it out or I will leave the both of you and find my own way. Oh and Liam, you know I adore your face just the way it is but if you complain one more god damn time about your nose being too cold I will rip it off. We radiate heat. If you need to complain about something at least be honest about it."

  "And what would something honest be?" Liam looked at her with a mix of adoration and irritation. It was an interesting combo that was for sure. He wore his feelings on his sleeve and was still a young wolf, much like her, whose emotions could shift in point two seconds if given a reason to. Hell, even without a real reason to.

  "Let's see, we have been walking for three days and have yet to actually stay in a real building. The only food we have eaten was hunted by Wolfy Geoff so it was mangled to bits by the time he brought it back
to be cooked and the two of you stink. Big time. Didn't either of you think to pack deodorant?"

  Mackenzie was just as annoyed with their situation as the boys, but she didn't see any reason to openly complain at every turn. Liam did. His looks would only get him so far with her patience, and with his blonde hair, blue eyes, and sculpted abs, that was actually quite far. Geoff on the other hand was dark where Liam was light. He was just as gorgeous but also had hundreds of years of experience under his belt to help him with his maturity. If only that maturity flowed into his romantic life, they would have been together a long time ago.

  "What are you talking about. We smell like roses!" Geoff said from behind her through a hearty laugh. Liam glared at him for a moment before laughing along with him.

  "You might want to be careful who you call stinky, Mac. You are not too far behind us." Then Liam ran. It was a smart move because Mackenzie was right behind him.

  "Sure, leave me to grab the bags!" Geoff called out after them. When Mackenzie glanced over her shoulder, she watched him lift both hers and Liam's bag onto his shoulders. His strength had always impressed her and she could imagine the way his muscles were moving and flexing beneath his long sleeved shirt. Licking her lips, she remembered just a week before when those muscles were rippling beneath her fingers as she explored his chest.

  Geoff smirked at her and blew a kiss in her direction. Mackenzie shook her head to rid her mind of his gorgeous body and talented tongue. She had been the one to stop things. She had been the one to say that until she knew who she wanted, Geoff or Liam, it wasn't right to be with either in that way. Both men agreed with her, much to her surprise. She had fully expected one to tell her to fuck off. She knew that if she had been one of two girls vying for the affection of a man she might be a little pissed that he couldn't choose.

  "Geoff, what's the hold up?" Liam called from a few feet in front of her. Mackenzie turned back around and took off after him again. He wasn't expecting it and since she was the fastest runner she tackled him without even trying.

  "I do not stink. Let's get out of the damn woods and find a real place to stay for once?"

  "I don't know, I think I like you right here." Liam whispered, keeping his hands firmly on her hips. She rolled her eyes and stood up just as Geoff caught up with them.

  "Good idea. Real food should be on the agenda as well."

  "Agenda? Who talks like that?" Liam asked under his breath. He wasn't taking things as well as Geoff was. Perhaps Geoff just had more confidence or maybe Liam just cared more. He had never pushed her away like Geoff had. Well at least he hadn't once he was done trying to kill her. Turning a perfectly wonderful human into a blood thirsty monster sort of dampens the lovey-dovey feelings.

  "I do. Let's just go." Geoff took the lead, which Mackenzie was more than happy with. She was sick and tired of looking at snow covered ground and bare trees. She wanted a real bed and a hot shower and possibly three or four plates full of pancakes and eggs.

  ~*~

  The motel was run down and rather sketchy looking. If it wasn't for the two men on either side of her and her super strength thanks to her new wolf genes, she might actually be afraid to step through the doorway. But they were and she was, so Mackenzie opened the door to what she guessed they considered a lobby to rent a room.

  "Is this place really where we should be staying? I mean, I bet we can find a hotel if we go further into town." Geoff was looking around in disgust. It made her laugh a little at how uncomfortable he was. She wasn't sure if he was worried about the possible crime or if he just wanted his normal accommodations of king size beds, room service, and a maid. Geoff was kind of a slob on his own.

  "This is what we can afford. Seriously, it's not that bad. We have all stayed in better and after three days in the woods, anything with a mattress is perfect for me." Geoff and Liam shared a look then with a shrug went back to inspecting the area. A creak from behind the desk alerted them to the fact that they were no longer alone.

  An old man with no hair on his head but a full white beard on his face hobbled into the room. He nodded at Mackenzie then found his seat. The legs of the chair screeched against the linoleum floor, sending a shiver down her spine. It was almost like nails on a chalk board.

  "How many?" The old man's voice was harsh. It sounded like someone who hadn't had a drink of anything in days. He coughed a few times and cleared his throat, but nothing helped him.

  "Just the three of us. One room please, with two beds if you have it?"

  "Got a room with one bed or you can get two rooms."

  "One bed is fine. I'm sure we can manage." Mackenzie looked behind her at Geoff and Liam hoping they would agree but they stared at her instead. Then looked at each other. Then both groaned. They knew they would either have to share the bed with her together, or sleep on the floor. She had a feeling she knew what they would choose and it was stupid.

  "Room 103. Thirty dollars."

  Mackenzie pulled the money from her bag and handed it over. She didn’t know if either of the other two had any. She really didn't know anything about what they were doing, where they were going, or what they would do when they got there. How had they gone three days without really saying anything to each other? It was time to really sit down and talk and as much as it needed to be done, it was not going to go over well.

  ~*~

  The springs squeaked loudly as Mackenzie sat down on the floral print blanket that adorned the double bed in the center of the small motel room. Geoff and Liam stood awkwardly in separate corners of the tiny space looking anywhere but at her on the bed or at each other.

  "So," Mackenzie began. She looked up to Geoff first, his dark eyes penetrating the stain in the carpet just in front of his foot, then to Liam, who was studying the poster on the bathroom door of how to get out in case of an emergency.

  "So,: both Liam and Geoff spoke at the same time, glancing at one another then quickly away.

  "This has got to be talked about. Are we going to keep traveling together in complete and total silence or awkward conversations? We are all mature adults, I'm sure we aren't the first to find ourselves in this situation right?"

  "Is that supposed to be a joke?" Geoff looked up, irritation in his eyes. "Three werewolves caught in a love triangle, because one can't decide between the one who gave up his home and family of two hundred years for her and the one who is tied to her by a sire bond? Which do you think is real, Mackenzie?"

  "Hey! It has nothing to do with the fact that she is my sire. If you remember correctly I hated her for that exact fact!"Liam's whole body was shaking with tension. Mackenzie knew she needed to cool the situation down before he lost control, not that Geoff couldn't handle it if he did.

  "I meant when three friends have feelings for each other and they don’t know what to do. That has happened to so many damn people in this world that just about a quarter of all romance's are about that exact thing! And no, most aren't supernatural beings but being a wolf doesn't change the fact that we are together right now, all three of us. I meant, we need to talk about what we are going to do about our—I mean, The pack? Are they really just letting us go? Would Margret give you up that easy?" The last part was directed at Geoff. He knew the wolfy politics and he knew Margret. Probably better than anyone else.

  "So we ignore the attraction, both physical and emotional, for now and focus on keeping our asses alive. As long as we keep our heads down and don't interfere with her plans I am pretty sure we will be fine. It might be a good idea to go somewhere out of her areas though." Geoff had crossed his arms over his chest and Mackenzie knew that he was still irritated with her. Who wouldn’t be in his position?

  "Where would that be? Sounds like she is working on taking over the whole United States." Liam sat on the floor with his legs tucked under him, his back against the wall and his head leaning back, eyes trained on the ceiling. With a quick look up Mackenzie knew he was counting the tiles. He did that when he was trying to keep his cool.


  "There are other descendants of the other were ‘royalty’. Margret's mother, had siblings. They never became powerful like she was, they were the younger siblings and much like human royalty, only the eldest gets to attain the crown. When Rosalinda, Margret’s mother, was killed, her siblings decided it would be for the better to allow each family to run itself with a few guidelines. They sent messages out in hopes that they could all live how they wanted and be better able to hide and keep everyone safe. Rosalinda's pack had been sloppy. Arrogant. They were being spotted by humans left and right and were turning people without even a worry of who it was to be turned. If each family governed themselves, then perhaps they would learn from the mistakes of their deceased queen and would protect the secret."

  "So before Rosalinda was another Queen?. Were there ever any Kings? How did they run things?" Mackenzie was fascinated. None of her research on the mythology of Lycanthropes told this story. Even Liam had leaned forward, listening intently.

  "Correct and no, there were no kings. Back then, women were in charge. Only born female Weres can guarantee an offspring with the Were gene. Even now, many packs have female pack leaders. Rosalinda’s mother, Gwendolynn and her court were strict with the rules governing their kind. They were diligent in enforcing the rules, both for the wolves protection as well as the humans. Then, one day, Gwendolynn was found dead along side of her was her court and her mate. Rosalinda was heartbroken after her parent’s death and thought that the wolves of the world should have protected her parents instead of killing them. There were rogues that didn't want to live under a ruler. They wanted to feast whenever they wanted and mate whenever they wanted with whoever they wanted and there were strict rules about that back then. So when Rosalinda took over, she really took over. She executed any who would go against her or spoke ill of her parents. She began turning humans to create her army and even infiltrated the human royalty by marrying a duke and having an affair with the King.