Psyche Shield

by Chrissie Buhr

  “I’m surprised they didn’t kill you,” Sierra asserted.

  “Billie carried my matebite, and I saved her life that night. After she saved mine. Jason, our Alpha, gave me a chance, but it isn’t easy to build trust with Wolves.”

  “It wouldn’t be. And the recent Mage problem?” Once she started, she didn’t let up. During the conversation, she’d grown even more comfortable with me, so I welcomed her curiosity.

  “That’s an even longer story.” I sighed and asked Billie to fill her in. I don’t know how much you want to tell someone from another pack.

  Gladly. Billie tucked her legs under her, getting more comfortable as she picked up where I left off. “Nathan came to us already collared, but we didn’t know it at the time. Kato knew, and he knew Nathan was a pawn in the Mage’s plan to take the entire pack. He had a vision, and he asked Sadie to help him stop it. What was the vision? You never did tell me.”

  Glancing at Amy, I took a deep breath. If I could erase a memory from my own mind, I’d rid myself of this one. “He did more than tell me what he foresaw, he shared the vision with me. Amy was in the forest, crying and screaming while she told Kato what happened. Everyone was gone. Billie, Matthew, and Jason were dead and every other Wolf was collared. Most of the Humans too. Kato helped her get away, but she was completely broken. The Amy I know was gone.” I couldn’t tear my eyes away from my friend. She covered her mouth in horror, and Billie’s ire rose upon hearing the gruesome details. “It was as vivid as a memory, but it hadn’t happened yet. Except I knew if I told anyone about it or what I was doing to prevent it, Wolves would be lost. It was so real. I’m glad I don’t have visions.”

  “That’s horrible!” Amy exclaimed and snuggled closer into Nathan’s protective arms. Sierra shuddered at the idea of losing her entire pack.

  Billie resumed the story, her voice harsh. “Sadie lured Nathan’s owner in and pretended to be interested in joining them. That was the first time Sadie ever met another Mage. Growing up in Pack territory, she didn’t have the opportunity.

  “She even told Cassandra that she’d collared me. She didn’t, of course, but I was her ticket in. When she met with Cassandra the second time, she agreed to let them use me to take the pack. Gary, one of our Human packmates, overheard them. You can imagine how he reacted. He told our Alpha she’d sold us out, and I was collared. Jason ordered Matthew to kill Sadie, and me too if I tried to save her. I stopped Matthew, and we fled to the mountains. On our way out of town, we found out that Cassandra had used Nathan to kill John. Nathan was missing.” She left out the part about beating our Alpha in a fight in order to reach me.

  Anger darkened Nathan’s face, and he interrupted. “I remember killin’ John, but I didn’t wanna kill him. I couldn’t stop m’self. That Mage was yappin’ at me, and I said somethin’ out loud. He figured it out, ’n she could tell. She made me put a knife in his throat, steal a car, ’n join her.”

  Amy tucked her head under his chin, the memory of that day still haunting her. “They found John in his home, dead just like Nate said. They told us Sadie did it and she had Nate and Billie collared. Almost everyone believed it. She’s a Mage. That’s what they do, right? Me and Kathryn and a couple others didn’t. It didn’t make sense. Sadie let Gary go when she could have stopped him. And Billie left Matthew alive even though he tried to kill her mate. She even called me right away to patch him up, and good thing. He would have bled to death if she hadn’t done that.”

  Sierra looked cautiously at Nathan and frowned thoughtfully as she absorbed the story. Billie continued. “We hid in the mountains, and Kato joined us. They told me about the vision and what Sadie was doing to prevent it. John’s death and Nathan’s disappearance gave us the opportunity we needed. Without Nathan here to spy for her, Cassandra didn’t know what was going on in the pack, and we were able to continue with Sadie’s plan. She met the Mages with her pet Beta on her arm.”

  Bile rose in my throat as I recalled that day. “It was disgusting. I showed her off like a fancy car, and that’s all she was to them. My possession. A prized pet. There were three of them. Three Mages, one pet Wolf, and seven pet Humans. Plus a large handful of other Humans they used as sentries in the nearby towns. They wanted to use Billie to lure the whole Pack into a trap on the next full moon. They told me how they planned on claiming everyone and offered me a share of pet Wolves in exchange for using Billie. They never got the chance.”

  Billie picked up the story smoothly. “She uncollared Nathan and the Humans. One of the Humans died, but everyone else got to go home. We had Nathan back, fully himself and very different than when we first met him. Thank the Gods for that. He was a real ass before. We’d stopped Kato’s vision, but we were still on the outs with the pack. We headed back into the mountains to regroup with Kato and figure out our next move. The next morning they found us.”

  “You must have some excellent trackers to find you so quickly,” Sierra remarked.

  Amy boasted about her friend’s skills. “Kathryn’s the best. We went with the hunting party, but not to kill them like everyone else. We wanted to hear their side of the story.”

  Billie interrupted Amy so she could control the flow of information. “They found us. It was a showdown, and Jason and I had a lot to work through. Sadie told them all about the Mages we stopped and why she deceived us. Jason believed us. He’s still not happy about having a Mage around, but he knows Sadie won’t hurt us. She’s proven herself. He set some ground rules that Sadie has to follow and let us come home.” Her packmates appreciated how she summarized it. Billie effectively excluded every sensitive Pack detail including how she won a second fight against the Alpha. Once again she deferred to Jason’s authority and saved his pride despite everything.

  “Incredible,” Sierra declared, obviously believing us. “I wouldn’t have believed a Mage could ever be Pack.”

  “I’m not Pack,” I corrected her reluctantly. Jason denied me Pack Status largely as a statement to outside Wolves, and I felt obligated to uphold it. “I’m a Mage, and that still makes some people uneasy. Jason decided it was best this way.”

  “But you consider this your pack and obey the Alpha’s rules,” Sierra pointed out.

  “True.” I hadn’t thought about it quite like that. I hadn’t had much time to ponder everything. “I guess I consider myself Pack even if I don’t get the benefits of Pack Status.”

  “Interesting.” She thought about it as she formulated her next statement. “I need to call my Alpha and tell him where I am. If I tell him I’m staying with a Mage, he’s going to think I’m collared. If I don’t tell him and he finds out later, it’ll be even worse. I don’t know what to say to him.”

  Kathryn jumped off the couch and shifted into human form before sitting once again near my feet. The entire motion only required a few seconds, and we didn’t have to wait for her to speak. “I can speak to your Alpha on your behalf. I have known Graham since we were Pups and have a chance of convincing him all is well.”

  “I appreciate that,” Sierra replied without much hope of success.

  I shared her opinion and envisioned Sierra’s Alpha coming after me, hackles up and teeth bared. “Do you really think you can convince him?”

  “I doubt he will take our word for it. If given a chance to speak with him face-to-face, I believe he will see the truth. We were packmates for a very long time. My mate was our Alpha and his my best friend’s daughter. Jason, Sierra, and I should meet him alone and where he feels strong.”

  “No. Not happening,” Billie declared. I will not let the three of you go alone to face an Alpha whose first impulse is to kill you. I’m going with you.”

  Kathryn reasoned with her. “It is our best chance, Beta. As the Mage’s mate, your presence will complicate the meeting. Your talents in a conflict are less likely to be needed if you remain behind. You must not come. Richard, too, must stay behind. He does not trust Sadie.”

  Billie knew Kathryn’s mate well, though the
ir friendship had thinned in recent weeks. He would not like Kathryn’s idea either. “How do you plan on convincing Richard to stay behind?”

  “I hope he will listen to reason. If not, he will follow his Alpha’s orders. I believe Jason will agree with me.”

  “If you fail to convince them, they will try to kill you,” Billie argued, a growl nearly surfacing. Staying behind while her packmates walked into danger went against every natural impulse in her.

  The doggie door flapped with Kato’s return, and Billie turned her head in surprise. No one expected the Eldest to come back so soon. The leggy old Wolf carried a large grouse in his mouth. He stopped in the dining room, dropping the dead animal to the floor before crossing into the carpeted area. He locked eyes with Sierra and shifted into his human form. “Fresh meat for your recovery. I thank you for seeing my Muzi with clear eyes and promise to aid in explaining her presence to your Alpha.”

  “Thank you.” Sierra looked at the game on the floor, stunned at the unexpected gift. Kathryn shared her astonishment, finding Kato’s behavior out of character. Nathan jumped to his feet, delighted to have something carnivorous to cook. He plucked the bird off the floor and carried it into the kitchen.

  I didn’t think you’d be back so quickly. I admitted, grateful for his return.

  He smiled softly at me and sat with his back against the couch. A cat padded into the room and climbed into his lap, purring loudly. Billie’s cats didn’t show their faces to strangers often, but Niall found the courage for Kato. The Eldest pet the cat fondly. I did not have time to hunt for Sierra before coming to you earlier. Your packmates were well able to care for you in my absence, allowing me to acquire a proper gift for our guest.

  Sierra isn’t just a guest, is she? What am I missing? I pried for an explanation of his odd behavior.

  Our visitor is dear to my heart, though she does not know it yet, Kato replied. I would not risk conflict with her pack if she were otherwise. I found myself making an unexpected decision when bringing her here.

  I couldn’t imagine leaving her to face the mountains alone and injured no matter what conflict she brought with her. Is this likely to go badly?

  Her presence will draw conflict to us. That sounded like the same thing to me. I wish to speak privately with you, Kathryn, and Billie. Will you make this possible?

  Switching to audio, I answered Kato’s request. “Of course, Muso. Kathryn and Billie, would you join me and Kato in the kitchen? He would like a private conversation.”

  “I’d be delighted,” Kathryn replied as we quickly made our way to the kitchen. After a full day of bizarre behavior, we eagerly awaited what the Eldest had to say.

  Behind me, Sierra asked how we expected privacy so close to Wolf ears. Amy answered on my behalf. “Illusion. It’s a Mage thing, but not one that mettles in our minds.”

  Billie kicked Nathan out of the kitchen temporarily, and I raised an illusion to dull the sound. At most the Wolves in the other room would hear indistinct buzzing. Sierra’s loud peripheral emotions reached me in the kitchen. She strained to hear us through the illusion, and I stifled a laugh.

  Kato took Kathryn’s hands in his and looked at her with bright eyes that made him look much younger. “Sister, do you remember Dalla?”

  His use of the title ’Sister’ startled Kathryn even further. “Yes, Brother. I remember meeting her when you visited Sanyu and Kibuuka. She was a beautiful soul and a lovely girl.”

  “She returned to her family shortly after that visit, and I never saw her again. I did not know until this morning she was with child when last I saw her. The Wolf we rescued from the mountains is my descendent. What’s more, she shares your gift.”

  “Kato! By the Gods, you have a granddaughter!” Kathryn declared. I nearly let the illusion slip, and even Billie appeared startled. “I am delighted for you. This is why you brought her to us?”

  “Yes. Her presence creates much difficulty in the future of our pack, and yet I could not let her die.”

  “Of course you couldn’t let her die,” Billie told the Eldest, the idea of abandoning someone in distress offensive to her. “We’ll deal with any problems.”

  “Thank you for your support, Beta,” Kato nodded solemnly. “I’m afraid I have created much trouble for you and your mate by bringing her here. I must ask you to face enmity from another pack before ours is ready to stand with you.”

  Billie spoke fiercely. “Kato, I wouldn’t have left her out there even if she wasn’t your granddaughter. You don’t owe us an explanation.”

  Kato’s need to explain baffled me as much as Billie. More importantly, his granddaughter sat in the next room unaware of the relationship. “Why are we discussing this behind an illusion? Why don’t you tell her?”

  He looked at each of us as if searching for something. “In time, yes. For now I ask you to keep my secret. Sister, she shares your gift but does not yet know how to harness its benefits. She must learn quickly. Will you teach her without telling her of its origins?”

  Kathryn’s face tightened with his request. Her eyes shifted focus, and she replied hesitantly. “I will do as you ask if I can. Lately I find myself troubled by this gift and inconsistent in its use. I sometimes spread my own sorrow unintentionally, which I have not done since losing my Sanyu.”

  A shadow fell across Kato’s face at the mention of his twin brother’s death. It lasted only a moment. “You ache for your mate’s attention. Richard is alive, and hope still exists between you. Find joy in this Wolf, your niece, and you may find your gift returns in full.”

  Kathryn had been distant a great deal since discovering my Mage heritage. Her mate, Richard, had turned on me viciously, despite our friendship. Kathryn refused to tolerate his bigotry, and their relationship had suffered over it. I’d assumed conflict with her mate caused the melancholy that settled over her, but there was more. Her voice shook as she articulated it. “What of its origins, Kato? This changes how I view the family I left as a child.”

  He looked within her, his eyes softening compassionately. “The gift sometimes comes of Human parents with no such ability, as it did for Sierra, a Mage distant in her heritage.”

  I glanced back and forth between the Elders and interrupted. “Kathryn’s a Sensitive?”

  “Her gift is much like that of a Sensitive but flows in the opposite direction. She bestows emotions instead of reading them. My brother taught her to use the Sending gift well, and she has done so for many decades.”

  Billie expressed her surprise more sedately. “That’s what you meant after you told us Sensitives are of Mage lineage. You told Kathryn there was no benefit to adding to the situation.”

  “Even now there is no benefit to any others knowing of either Wolf’s lineage. Our Mage packmate is still difficult for them to accept.” He spoke to me directly, eyes bright with excitement. “In my people’s tradition, Muzi is adopted as one’s own child. It is why I call you daughter. Will you accept Sierra as family? She is of the age to be your sister.”

  “Of course!” I replied, happily. As an only child, I’d dreamed of having a sister.

  “My mate’s sister is my sister too,” Billie’s pronouncement came with a promise to protect and care for Kato’s granddaughter as she would Pack or family. This pleased Kato and assured him of Sierra’s safety and wellbeing.

  “I thank you both.” To Kathryn he said. “Your plan is wise. Take only Jason and Sierra to meet her Alpha. I will join you.” Billie bristled but didn’t argue.

  My presence in the pack created the conflict, just as Jason predicted. I felt obligated to help in some way. “What can I do?”

  He saw through me as he always did. “You are the subject of the conflict, Muzi, but you did not cause it. Your assistance is needed to resolve the conflict, but you owe no debt. I ask for help not atonement.”

  His rebuke pleased Billie, and I sensed her hope that I would take it to heart. I nodded, words too thick to reach my lips. He’d said it before, and I had t
rouble believing it.

  He watched me struggle and touched my face softly with his wrinkled hand. “Continue building a friendship with your sister. She believes you but still must unlearn distrust of all Mages. Keep close watch over our territory, and inform your mate immediately if you sense a strange Wolf. Beta, watch patiently and quietly. Do not let my granddaughter’s unease affect your actions unwisely. Pack against pack is to be avoided at all costs.”

  Billie nodded her understanding. Kato indicated the time for privacy had ended, but Billie asked him to wait and addressed Kathryn. “Would you mind giving us some privacy?”

  “Of course,” she replied graciously and rejoined the others in the living room.

  The question that weighed on Billie burst out of her as soon as Kathryn left the protected area. “What happened to Sadie today?”

  I shrank under the dark eyes that usually brought me comfort. “Your mate can answer your question.”

  I couldn’t look at either of them and responded softly. “I got lost.” Kato once told me that my power came with a risk of becoming lost to myself. I’d already known.

  “You have been lost before.” He nudged gently, drawing the truth out of me.

  The lie I told myself for years had become so natural it felt true. Even Wolves couldn’t smell the lie as it passed my lips that afternoon. Kato coaxed it out of me, refusing to accept the deception. “Once, when I was 16. After I came home from partying that night, I got lost. That’s the real reason I quit using magepower.”

  “What do you mean you got lost?” Billie asked, drawing me close to protect me from my own anguish.

  “I got lost in my own mind and couldn’t find my way out. I couldn’t hear you or Kato. It’s terrifying.” I shuddered, the room suddenly feeling cold.

  As usual she looked for an action or solution when handed a problem. “How did you get out?”

  “I heard Nathan.” It shamed me to admit that I’d heard his voice when I couldn’t hear my mate’s.