Grave Origins

by Lori Drake

  Owen’s wolf rose behind his eyes in answer, and he gazed defiantly up at Chris for a few seconds before going slack—long enough to convey that he did so because he wanted to and not because Chris had ordered him to.

  Joey’s fingers explored beneath Owen’s chin, but she yanked them back after a moment. “What the…”

  “What?” Chris asked. “What is it?”

  “There’s something sticking out of his skin. A needle of some sort. Silver.”

  Maria giggled again. Chris twisted—painfully—to look back at her. She peeked around Ben at them, her eyes twinkling in the moonlight. Something long and slender danced between her fingers.

  “It’s a dart,” Chris said, blinking. How the hell had Maria concealed a dart gun on her person, much less had the faculties to use it in her current condition? “A blow dart.”

  Joey growled softly and looked over her shoulder. Maria ducked back behind Ben with a snicker. “I don’t know whether to be pissed that she hid a weapon or impressed by her ingenuity.”

  “Same,” Chris said.

  “Just get it out! Out, out, out! Please!” Owen said, his whole body trembling under their restraining hands and legs.

  Chris responded by letting go of the arm he was pinning. Owen’s hand flew to his neck, and he managed to pull the needle out after a few seconds’ struggle. Once it was done, he sagged against the ground with a groan and tossed the needle into the darkness.

  The sound of footsteps hastily approaching from the direction of the house brought Chris’s head up. “Here comes the cavalry.”

  “You’re all dead,” Owen snarled. “Dead!”

  Joey looked up from her captive as the balance of the Wenatchee pack—minus Kyle—thundered onto the scene, surprisingly heavy-footed for a bunch of wolves. Then again, they were in human form, so perhaps it was to be expected.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” Gerald demanded, shouldering his way to the front to stand beside Max. “Unhand our Alpha, immediately.”

  Joey lifted her hands and picked herself up off the ground. Chris followed suit, keeping his right arm tucked against his chest. He appeared shaky on his feet, and she steadied him with a hand automatically, concern tightening her chest. She’d seen the blood dripping down his arm, the dark stain on the front of his shirt, but she couldn’t tell how bad the wound was. Had Owen’s gun really been loaded with silver bullets? Worry scratched at the back of her mind, but she shoved it away to tend to the matter at hand.

  “Obviously, they brought their pet hunter to finish off the rest of us,” Owen said as Gerald and Max helped him to his feet.

  Maria made that horse noise again. It sounded much cruder coming from a human mouth.

  Joey glanced behind her, then smirked. “Yeah, she’s a real threat right now, still trying to shake off whatever chemical cocktail you’ve been giving her. If anyone is owed an explanation, I think we are. Why was our missing packmate drugged and in your wood shop?”

  “That’s Kyle’s workshop, not mine,” Owen said. “I’m as shocked as you are.”

  “Oh sure, blame it on the one guy not here to defend himself,” Ben said while helping Maria to her feet. The cylindrical object that Joey had glimpsed in her hand moments before had vanished again to wherever she’d been stashing it. Joey began to strongly suspect she wasn’t as out of it as she seemed.

  “Way to throw a brother under the bus,” Joey said, shaking her head. “But Kyle wasn’t even at the carnival. There’s no way he could’ve snatched Maria. And of all the wolves who had access to her, I’d say you’re the only one with a proper motive.”

  “What do you mean?” Max asked. The fact that he’d stepped aside, putting some distance between himself and Owen after he helped him to his feet, wasn’t lost on Joey.

  “I’m glad you asked. But first, I have a small confession to make. I didn’t come here just to make nice with the locals and update our records. I came here to help Maria find information on her birth pack. She was adopted, you see. We knew she was from Cincinnati originally, but didn’t know who her birth parents were. Now we know.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Owen said, “and has nothing to do with why this filthy stray killed Lewis and tried to kill me—with your assistance, I might add.”

  Joey started to take a step forward but thought better of it when she realized how heavily Chris was leaning on her for support. He hadn’t made a peep since getting to his feet, and the set of his jaw telescoped pain to anyone that knew him well. Again, she shoved her worry aside.

  Fixing Owen with a level gaze, she smirked. “You’re right, it has nothing to do with Lewis’s death, but I’d say she has a very good reason to kill you. After all, you killed her father.”

  As she spoke the words, she shifted her eyes to take in the expressions of the others. Max, Amanda, and Caroline appeared shocked at the accusation. Gerald was more speculative than anything, and Heidi’s face was a study in weary resignation. Joey was certain that she knew, or at least suspected, that Owen had been behind Paul Evans’s death.

  As for Owen, he laughed as if that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “And I suppose you’re going to blame me for killing Lewis next?”

  “Well, since you mentioned it… you did have motive and opportunity.”

  Owen’s features darkened, his laughter fading. “You’re over the line.”

  It was Joey’s turn to bark a laugh. “Buddy, you don’t know the half of it.”

  Chris squeezed her arm, glancing pointedly in the direction of the house when Joey looked at him in response. She followed the direction of his gaze and spotted Kyle jogging toward the group with something in his hand.

  “I’ve been Lewis’s second ever since he took over the pack a decade ago,” Owen said. “What possible reason would I have to kill him?”

  “Maybe the fact that you’d been playing second fiddle to him for a decade,” Ben said. “But you weren’t a strong enough alpha to challenge him outright.”

  Owen shot Ben a glare, then shook his head. “Like you know anything about me, interloper. What evidence do you actually have? None. Because none exists. I didn’t kill Lewis.”

  “Oh yeah?” Kyle jogged to a halt and held up a bloody shirt. “How do you explain this?”

  Silence fell over the group like a pall. Heidi stepped forward, her lips set in a grim line. She took the shirt from Kyle and held it to her nose, closing her eyes as she inhaled. Pain flickered across her face before she opened her eyes, fixing them on Owen. “How could you?” The words were little more than a whisper, but everyone heard them.

  Owen turned, flicking his eyes over his pack, which appeared largely stunned by the irrefutable proof Kyle had produced. He wet his lips. “It’s a trick. I’m being set up.”

  Heidi took a step toward Owen. “All I smell on this shirt is you. And my mate’s blood. A hint of Kyle, but no more than would be expected from him carrying it out here.”

  “Don’t take her word for it,” Owen said. “She’s just lost her mate, and her grief is looking for an outlet.”

  Heidi stamped a foot and threw the shirt at him. “How. Dare. You.”

  Amanda and Caroline moved as one, flanking Heidi, a silent sisterhood.

  Heidi took another step forward, and her foot nudged something on the ground. The gun. She bent and picked it up, giving it a long look, then pointed it at Owen. “I knew you were capable of murder, once upon a time.” Her eyes flicked to Maria. “But I hoped and prayed that it was an isolated incident. That we could put it all behind us. Now I wish I’d had the courage to speak out for Meghan. What you did to her—to Paul—it defied reason.”

  Owen backed away, hands raised. “Don’t do anything rash, girl. I know you. You’re no killer.”

  “Takes one to know one?” Joey suggested. Chris nudged her gently, and she reined in her tongue, watching the drama unfold.

  “But no,” Heidi continued as if uninterrupted. “You couldn’t let sleeping dogs lie. From the momen
t I laid eyes on Maria, I worried you’d do something to her. That’s why I hid her and her brother from you to start with, keeping them secret, sending them to live with Paul’s family. But you’re never going to hurt them, Owen. I won’t let you.”

  Joey’s eyes widened as Heidi squeezed the trigger. The gun barked noisily, and Owen staggered backward. A dark spot appeared on his midsection and blossomed outward as blood stained his shirt.

  Owen’s hand went to the spot automatically. He sank to his knees, but a moment later, a pained laugh escaped him, and he looked at Heidi. The gun shook in her now-trembling hand. “It’s going to take more than that to put me down. I told you, you’re no killer.”

  Maria appeared behind him in a blur of motion. “I am.” She snapped his neck with an efficient movement, then shoved him forward with a boot to the back. He tumbled bonelessly to the earth while his pack looked on in silent witness.

  “Good riddance,” Max muttered.

  Heidi’s eyes were locked on Maria as she lowered the gun. Tears flowed freely from her eyes. “I’m so sorry. So very sorry.”

  Maria stepped over Owen’s body and walked over to stand in front of Heidi. She took the gun from Heidi’s shaking hands, then put a hand to her cheek. Joey held her breath, more than a little fearful that Maria might go on some sort of killing rampage now that she had a proper weapon.

  But no, Maria just said, “Let his blood stain my soul, sister. Not yours.” Then she turned, walked back over to Owen, and put a bullet in his head for good measure.

  While Maria traced a cross in the air with the smoking barrel of the gun, Joey cleared her throat. “So, uh, I guess we can say that’s settled. Anyone got a first-aid kit? I think my mate has a bullet in him.”

  Chris smiled at her, though his face was still tight with pain. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever called me your mate.”

  Joey scowled, but gently. “It’s not, but if you want the win, you can have it.”

  Ben appeared on Chris’s other side, helping Joey support him as they started toward the house.

  Caroline rushed ahead of them. “Bring him to the dining room. I’ll meet you there with the first-aid kit.”

  “What about him?” Joey asked, indicating Owen’s remains as they passed.

  “I’ll take care of him,” Gerald said, staring expressionlessly down at the corpse.

  “Helpful tip,” Chris called over his shoulder, “don’t bury him—or Lewis—on whoever’s property this is now.”

  27

  Joey’s first order of business after helping Ben get the bullet out of Chris’s shoulder—if holding Chris down until he passed out while Ben dug the bullet out was considered helping—was to seek out Maria.

  She found her in the living room, kneeling at the foot of the sofa where Heidi sat with her pack sisters around her. Maria’s face was turned up in rapt attention as Heidi spoke quietly to her. Tears tracked down the older woman’s face as she spoke, but she made no move to dash them away, just held Maria’s hands in hers.

  Joey leaned discreetly against the wall just inside the door and tuned in to the conversation.

  “She had a way with animals,” Heidi said. “It was something to watch. Usually dogs are wary of us, you know? But strays would trot right up to her for a scratch or a belly rub.”

  Maria smiled. “Jack’s like that. I mean… he’s not like us, but he’s always had a way with animals.”

  “I’d like to hear more about your brother sometime.”

  “Would you like to see a picture?”

  “Oh yes…”

  Maria reclaimed her hands and reached for her pocket, but her face fell when she remembered her phone was gone.

  “Looking for this?” Joey produced Maria’s phone from her jacket pocket and walked it over.

  Maria scrambled to her feet, eyes wide. “You found it!”

  “Your bear’s in the car, too.”

  Maria grinned, unlocking the phone and bringing up a picture of her brother to show off.

  Heidi took the phone with a trembling hand, her other hand going to her mouth. “Oh my, he’s handsome… and I do see Paul in him, too. Meghan would be so proud of you both.” She showed the picture to Amanda and Caroline, who looked but, of course, couldn’t corroborate. Heidi’s eyes lingered on the screen until it went dark automatically. Only then did she hand it back.

  Maria gave Joey a triumphant look. “I told you he was my brother.”

  Joey quirked a smile and spread her hands. “So you did. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  “I’m the one that owes an apology,” Heidi said, her eyes on Maria once more. “I had no idea a human and a wolf could produce a wolf child. If I’d had any inkling that it were possible, I wouldn’t have left you to be raised in ignorance. I would’ve made sure you had someone to safely guide you through your change, to teach you our ways… I’m so sorry, Maria. All I wanted was to keep you and your brother safe, and to do that… I thought it was best if the pack believed you dead.”

  “You succeeded. We were safe. And we loved our uncle. He taught us”—Maria paused, biting her lip and shaking her head—“everything he could.”

  Heidi nodded and looked to Joey. “I owe you an apology too. I wasn’t exactly forthcoming with you about, well, anything.”

  “I’ll say,” Joey said, hooking her thumbs in her belt loops. “But I have a better understanding of why, now. Sort of. But there’s something that’s still bothering me. Why didn’t you want Lewis to know any of this?”

  A flicker of pain flashed across Heidi’s face at the mention of her lost mate. As she bowed her head and fresh tears slid down her cheeks, Joey regretted the question.

  “You know what, never mind. I don’t need to know. I’m sorry for your loss. Truly.”

  Heidi’s head turned slowly, back and forth, and then she lifted her chin again. “No. No, you deserve an answer. I tried telling the truth once, the day after Meghan and Paul died. The Alpha told me to keep my ‘dangerous accusations’ to myself, to not stir up trouble. Lewis was a better man. A strong Alpha. A just Alpha. I knew if he found out, he’d confront Owen. And I didn’t want Owen to know that I knew what he’d done.”

  “How did you know?” Joey asked. “For sure, I mean. It seems to me like the only people who could’ve possibly known were in the house that night.”

  Heidi held Joey’s eyes for a long moment—long enough that Joey was certain by the end that Heidi knew full well that Kyle had been in that house too. “The same way I knew the children had survived. I was Meghan’s emergency contact. They called me when she arrived at the hospital, and she told me before she died.”

  Joey was already inclined to believe that Kyle was as much a victim in all of this as anyone, and Heidi’s omission sealed the deal. She nodded, satisfied, then looked to Maria. “I’m sure you could sit here all night asking questions, but we should probably be heading home. These people have had a rough night.”

  Maria studied her feet for a few seconds, then lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “You can always come back and visit,” Joey said. “If they’ll have you.” There was an immediate murmur of assent from all three women on the couch.

  Maria’s face screwed up in puzzlement. “You’re not going to kill me?”

  Joey blinked. “Egads, woman! Do I have to remind you that your Alpha took a bullet for you tonight? Why would we want to kill you?”

  “I killed a wolf, violating the terms of my sanctuary. My life is forfeit. I was hoping, maybe, you might consider letting me slip away if I promise never to return.”

  Snorting, Joey slugged Maria’s shoulder. “You just avenged your father’s murder. I think we can give you a pass this once.” She narrowed her eyes. “But we’re going to have to talk about you hiding weapons.”

  At that, Maria had the grace to blush and look away. “I—”

  “As in, teach me some of your tricks.” Joey grinned.
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  Maria relaxed with a sigh and a chuckle. “Sure, I can do that. No problem.”

  Chris wasn’t sure how long it’d take Ben to finish digging the bullet out of his shoulder, so he went for a walk. Sure, everyone probably assumed he’d passed out from the pain, but instead he’d merely slipped into the astral realm. A handy trick, once it finally occurred to him to try it.

  He drifted out the back door and found Gerald carrying a tarp-wrapped body toward the open trunk of a car. It was too small to be Lewis’s, so Chris assumed it was Owen’s. Chris recalled what Joey had told him, about Gerald having trouble with his wolf the way Vince did. He wasn’t sure, but he thought there might be a resemblance between the two of them. He made a mental note to follow up on that later.

  Gerald tossed the body into the trunk none too gently, then reached for the trunk lid. “Filthy prick,” he muttered, shut the trunk firmly, and walked around to the front of the car, keys jingling.

  Chris moved on. He found Max and Kyle sitting on the front steps, taking turns swigging from a bottle of something or other. The two sat in silence, Max looking off into the distance and Kyle gazing up at the stars. Chris was about to move on when Kyle broke the silence.

  “You gonna send me packin’?”

  Max glanced over at him and lifted a brow. “Should I?”

  “Maybe.” Kyle rubbed a hand down his face. “I feel like this is all my fault.”

  “Why?”

  Guilt tugged at Chris’s mind. He was intruding on a private moment, but he still wasn’t fully convinced that Kyle deserved to be let off the hook. So he lingered, listening.

  “If I’d just said something to Lewis when I first saw the girl, maybe he’d still be alive.”

  “Maybe.” Max offered him the bottle again—skipping his own turn, Chris noted. “But if there’s one thing we don’t get in this life, it’s do-overs. You did right by Lewis, in the end.”

  Kyle raised the bottle for a long swallow, wincing as he lowered it. Tears slipped down his cheeks, but Chris doubted it was from the burn of the alcohol. “I wish I’d met Lewis sooner. He taught me more about being a man than Owen ever did.”