Eclipsed Legacy (Sentinels Book 1)

by Alex Stone

  Uncle Carl looks at me with pity in his eyes, which infuriates me further. “Tala,” he says, addressing only me once again, despite the fact that his only son stands three feet from me dumbfounded. Great priorities as a father, I suppose. “They aren’t our enemies.” I open my mouth, but before I can call bullshit, he continues. “My mother’s death was a complete accident,” he says. “She was a member of Totius, but you know my mother was always stubborn.” He smiles at me as if we share some sort of inside joke. “She didn’t like following the rules, so she left, but she didn’t tell anyone she was pregnant, except for her friend, Nichole. Nathaniel was young at the time, so he didn’t have the power or resources to find her until his father died and he became alpha. Raina had changed her name— did you realize she completely made up our family name?” Uncle Carl scoffs. “It made it difficult to find her, as we were great at staying off the grid, until finally another pack started talking about us, our large numbers, the numerous born wolves.” Uncle Carl looks affectionately back at Nathaniel, which makes me want to gag. How could I not have seen it before? Grandma’s elusive answers regarding her past, the lack of information about Uncle Carl’s lineage, and the claim that she stole Totius’s legacy. I didn’t understand what it meant before, but the information hits me like a tractor trailer speeding ninety on the highway.

  Uncle Carl returns his gaze to me. “Only then was he able to find us, and I was able to finally meet my father. Tala, why do you think our pack doesn’t have a name?” He doesn’t give me a chance to respond and, instead, answers his own questions. “It’s because we’re already part of a pack. Raina joined Totius, so all of her children— all of us— are members too. You don’t just leave a pack.”

  I shake my head at the pure idiocy of what I’m hearing. I should be angry. I was furious just moments ago, but all I feel now is disappointment and shame. “I never took you for a fool with daddy issues,” I finally respond. “This is madness. The pack will never join you; Totius is our enemy.”

  Uncle Carl’s nostrils flair before he speaks. “No. They’re family.”

  Briefly, I glance at those next to me. Ray shifts uncomfortably, but Ricky and Carlie are red in the face with their arms crossed. I know those expressions; they’re enraged but waiting for my word to attack.

  Uncle Carl licks his lips, but before he can speak, a rasping cough breaks the silence. Nathaniel wheezes as several fits overtake him. It’s a moment before I realize that he’s laughing at me. “You seem overly certain of yourself for a young girl with a pack without leader or name. Do you really consider it a pack at all?”

  I bare my teeth, allowing a guttural growl to escape.

  Nathaniel’s own jaw sets before he states, “Eager to fight me, are you?”

  Uncle Carl quickly adds in, “That’s really not necessar—”

  But I reply at the same time. “I’m not sure what kind of threat you’d make, especially since you’re an entitled and shriveled old man with a god complex.” I know I should keep my mouth shut but backing down has never been my strong suit.

  Nathaniel growls in return, and I begin to shift. Other wolves step forward, but Nathaniel holds out an arm as he stands, silencing them. “You will not engage,” he commands. “You want to play at being alpha?” he asks mockingly. “I’ll beat you into submission like the bitch you are.” He’s trying to bait me further, to get me to attack prematurely, but I won’t bite. The wolf will want to react, but I have to think. Carlie and Ricky step back as well; this is my fight.

  The old man instantly shifts. His shaggy gray wolf approaches mine, nearly towering over me. But if his coughing was any indication, I should be able to make easy work of him. He may be old and weak, but I refuse to feel guilty for fighting him; he didn’t feel guilty for having my grandmother murdered in her own home. My home. We assess one another, each circling the other in a deathly dance. The moment I spot an opening, I lunge. But he doesn’t attempt to dodge. Instead, he knocks me back with a single swipe of his paw.

  What the hell? He shouldn’t be that strong, not in his condition. Unless he’s faking, hustling me in a fight, possibly to the death.

  No, that’s not it, I realize. It’s the talisman. He’s cheating. Empowered and larger than me with years of experience, he has every advantage. And I can’t call for help. This isn’t a chaotic onslaught like in the woods. This is a battle of honor, comparing the fortitude and will of two leaders. I am alone in this.

  Moving quickly, Nathaniel makes multiple swipes at me. I manage to dodge without taking so much as a scratch, but he has me fully on the defensive. I can’t win by dodging. Nathaniel rushes toward me, and I take a risk, dropping to get beneath his head. If I can get an open shot at his neck or underbelly, I may have a chance. Nathaniel quickly crouches, preventing me from executing my plan. Seeing his movement, I promptly leap away, but not before he nips at my side.

  My wound isn’t life-threatening or remotely serious, but he’s drawn blood— the first blood, and I am getting tired.

  Outside, I hear the faint sound of metallic whirring but am unable to place its source. Perhaps an old generator? I can’t focus on that now. Nathaniel and I circle each other once more in half-moons. If I continue the way I have been, he will win. I’ve been able to come close to hitting him, but still haven’t landed a single hit. And almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. As I try to watch him and plan my next move, Nathaniel snarls, taunting me. He’s winning, and he knows it, knows that I know it. As we stride, the talisman gleams once more, and I know this isn’t over yet.

  I spring forward toward his neckline, a death shot, catching him off-guard. He still avoids my attack, as I knew he would, but I wasn’t really aiming for his throat. I hold the string of the talisman between my jowls. Nathaniel’s breath quickens, and I watch as his wolf struggles to stand straight. He backs away, almost cowering, before throwing his muzzle to the ceiling and howling. Two of his bodyguards rush forward and start engaging with Carlie and Ricky, who quickly return their punches in kind, but no one else shifts. Ray stands shocked on the sidelines, occasionally stepping to the side to avoid involvement.

  Carlie slips, and the man she fights takes full advantage, pinning her and slamming his fist into the side of her face. What a fucking gentleman, but Dante— Dante puts the man in a chokehold and pulls him away from her. I’m not sure what prompts him to switch sides now, but I don’t have time to think on it further.

  Two more men enter from the back, and we are outnumbered, but my target cowers in the back. Dashing forward before he can escape out the back door, I notice a man pulling something from his jacket— a weapon?— and watching me. This is my chance, though, I can’t withdraw because of fear. My target is all that matters. I pounce, pinning Nathaniel down. To his credit and my deep satisfaction, he doesn’t submit. I descend upon him, jaw open to his throat. I hear a gun sound, but my teeth are deep in the Totius alpha, tearing apart and devouring his throat. I feel no pain.

  Hearing a shout, a I lift my head to see Ray between me and the man with the gun. I shift back as quickly as my body will allow as Uncle Carl weeps, choking on his own shouts. As I rush forward, Ray places a hand on his middle and tumbles to his knees. I manage to reach him, holding his head in my lap. He stares up at me wide-eyed, but I can’t speak.

  I hear the sound of vehicles on the pavement. Our back-up, but I can’t be relieved. Seeing the talisman on the floor beside me, I drag it toward us with my foot and clasp it with my free hand. Frantically, with my hands shaking, I place the talisman on Ray, but he shakes his head. It’s no use.

  Uncle Carl shouts and runs toward us, but Nathaniel’s men grab his arms from behind. Ray coughs blood and reaches for my hand, giving me a pained smile as his body tenses before relaxing completely, his eyes going blank.

  “My son!” Uncle Carl cries out, his voice already heavy with unashamed tears before turning his head toward me, his teeth bared. “You had to fight! If you weren’t so blood thirsty,
he’d be alive!” The accusation echoes in my mind. Is this my fault? I led them here, fought Nathaniel, even goaded him on.

  “We have to go!” the men holding my uncle back say. “Sir, you have to get in the chopper. Fight another day!”

  “I will never forgive you!” he spits as he is drug out the back door. “I’ll kill you for this, Tala!” I don’t acknowledge him. I’m still holding Ray, clutching him closely and rocking him like I did Grandma a few short days ago.

  Faded voices enter and surround me, urging me on, telling me to let go. Why would I want to let go? Of Ray? He needs me. I can’t leave him alone in the cold. He’s still warm. And he saved me. Literally took a bullet for me. “I won’t leave him!” I cry out, my tears obscuring my vision. The heaviness in my chest reminds me of my pain and that I am alive. This isn’t surreal. It’s sharp, tangible pain.

  It takes Carlie, Ricky, and my other cousin, Miles, all to pull me away from Ray. Kicking and scratching, I slow them. I don’t fight fair and use my elbows, yank hair, and take all the cheap shots I can. I don’t know why I fight. I know he’s gone, but it’s so new that if I hold him, I can pretend he’s not. Eventually, they manage to get me out of the warehouse and into one of the cars. Only once I am in the vehicle do I finally submit, but my mind isn’t there. My pack moves around the lot. I hear their voices coming up with a story. A robbery gone wrong? Nothing else sticks or stands out.

  Staring out the window at nothing, I consider all of the losses and the betrayal I have experienced over the last week. The pain begins to wane, and Miles gets into the driver’s seat. Miles says something, but I don’t process his words. We pull away, and I can’t help but reflect on the irony.

  This is far from over. Ray’s body is still warm, and members of Totius still roam free. Grandma knew how they operated, which is why she fled with her unborn child to escape their fate of living forever in a cage. She wanted to create her own destiny, to guard what she held dear. That’s probably why she chose the last name Ward. Wards are guardians, sentinels that stand vigil, protecting and guiding in a world of fear and darkness. My family should never have had to see that darkness, as the lights of our lives were forever put out. Nathaniel had been so concerned about his bloodline, his legacy, that he caused its end. Ray had a bright future, but that future, that legacy of light and kindness, was forever eclipsed by his father’s and grandfather’s need for power and blood. So, I will not let go. I will fight until my last breath to ensure that no one else as good and sincere as Ray ever has to watch the darkness consume their lives. My pack and I will stand vigil, my Sentinels will protect them all.

  Epilogue

  The sun shines brightly overhead without a cloud in sight. It’s abnormally warm for February, nearly sixty degrees, especially since it rained last night. My heels sink into the moist ground beneath me as I make my way to my seat, the one nearest to the blue coffin. I smooth my black dress as I sit. I grab my mother’s hand and give it a supportive squeeze. Across from me, Aunt Angie sits alone, numbly looking at one of the two coffins between us, the classic mahogany one. Ray’s coffin. The pastor begins to speak words of encouragement through hardship.

  My mind wanders, and I glance around at the guests. Aunt Angie wanted to keep it small, just close friends and family, so I thought it best to give her whatever she needed. Grandma was never religious, but I knew she wouldn’t mind sharing a ceremony with her grandson, so the funeral followed Ray’s beliefs. Despite only close friends and family being present, no one has seen any sign of Uncle Carl since the warehouse. Several have said good riddance, but I know he is still out there waiting for a chance to strike.

  Around me, people stand, so I do the same. Aunt Angie takes a flower from Ray’s flower wreath and slips it into her Bible. Both flower wreaths are set aside, and many people begin to leave for the workshop as the two caskets descend into the ground. As is terrible tradition, everyone has made some sort of pasta or casserole.

  Once Grandma’s casket is down, I lift the first shovel of dirt and throw it in her grave. The gravediggers proceed to carry out their assigned tasks. I turn to leave with my mother and some of her siblings, but Aunt Angie speaks up. “Tala, will you stay with me?” she asks.

  “Of course!” I answer, surprised at the request. I thought that, of all people, she wouldn’t want to be anywhere near me. I place a hand on my mother’s shoulder and tell her, “I’ll meet you back at the workshop.”

  She nods, and I go stand next to my aunt. We stand in silence until the hole in front of us becomes a mound. The entire time, Aunt Angie doesn’t shed a single tear, so I don’t allow myself to either.

  “I don’t blame you,” she says. “I know you think I do.” She turns to look at me. “But I don’t, Tala. Ray was a good man. That’s why I didn’t want him to go. I knew he’d do whatever he could to help you, and he did. I won’t dishonor his memory by shaming those he sought to protect.”

  My lip quivers, and tears well in my eyes, spilling over before I can turn away.

  Aunt Angie pulls me close to her. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay,” she croons, rubbing my back. I quickly get myself under control.

  “I’m sorry,” I smile, sniffling, as I pull out of her hug. “I have something to give you,” I say pulling out the letter Grandma had left to Uncle Carl. “I haven’t read it,” I add. Aunt Angie takes it, immediately slipping it into her purse as if it is something of insignificance. There’s something else on her mind. “What is it?” I ask.

  Aunt Angie gives me a guilty smile. “I didn’t just call you over for moral support. I have a favor to ask.”

  I take her hands in mine, saying immediately, “Of course. If there is anything I can do for you, you know I will.”

  Aunt Angie looks down at nothing in particular and nervously shuffles her feet before looking in the eye. “I want you to turn me,” she says. “Turn me into a werewolf.”

  Stay tuned …

  Veiled Legacy is coming January 1, 2021!

  About the Author

  Born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Alex grew up in a close-knit community. She has lived in multiple states including North Carolina and Virginia and has traveled all over the the United States from Vermont to Arizona. When Alex isn't hard at work on her novels, she is spending time with her son and husband.