by Anya Nowlan
“I haven’t relinquished my place in the council, you have only been keeping it warm for me. Now that I’m back, I’m ready to take my place in the pack – as Alpha,” he announced.
And he had to admit – it felt good saying that.
Thirty-Four
Tessa
Something about Tate had changed – she had noticed it the moment he had told Caleb he was ready to be Alpha. Now, they were back in Pinedale, and despite the ominous weight of knowing Loch could use Tessa’s dreams to spy on her, Tate was taking the time to address the pack.
Loch hadn’t been back inside her dreams since she ran him over with Tate’s car, so that was something Tessa was clinging onto as a positive. And she really didn’t want to be thinking about the demon right now, not when Tate was taking this huge step in his life.
Dealing with Loch could wait. This was important.
Standing in the middle of pack lands, in a clearing up in the mountains, Tessa stood in a crowd of people as Tate was getting ready to address them. He walked up in front of the whole pack, eyes slowly moving across the sea of faces, fixing on hers a second longer than all the others.
Tessa smiled at him, admiring the man who had somehow become so important to her in such a short time. His happiness made her happy, and there was no doubt in her mind Tate was making the right call.
It’s what he’s meant to do, she thought, watching him stand up there, looking downright regal.
Spine straight and shoulders squared, with a look of determination on his face, Tate was clad in dark jeans and a black button-up, his silhouette striking against the backdrop of lush green. The excitement in the air was palpable. Many had already guessed what this meeting was about, at least that’s what Tessa gathered from all the hushed conversations and whispered approvals.
Standing in between June and Sean, Tessa glanced around, most of the faces now familiar to her, but she had yet to put names to all of them. The pack had given her space since she had arrived, except for some curious looks.
She wasn’t sure if that was due to their respect for Tate, or they were just avoiding the crazy demon-girl. Either way, she appreciated the fact no one had come up to tell her she should leave instead of dragging dark forces to their doorstep.
Wouldn’t blame them if they did, though.
Tate cleared his throat, and everyone grew quiet. Tessa snuck a glance at Caleb, standing next to June, but couldn’t read the man’s carefully neutral expression.
“Thank you all for coming,” Tate started, and she fixed her gaze on him instead. “I’ve been gone, and I haven’t returned under the best of circumstances. I know that, we all know that. But in the time I’ve been absent, I’ve had the opportunity to think about this pack, and all the men and women who make it as strong as it is.”
Tessa couldn’t help but wonder if she should really be there. This was Tate addressing the pack, after all, and she wasn’t a part of it. Just because Tate had told her she was his soul mate didn’t mean she had any right to weigh in on pack matters. She was still an outsider here, she accepted that.
I wouldn’t want to force my way into his family, either way. These kinds of things take time.
“I didn’t accept my position as Alpha right away, because I didn’t know what kind of a leader I would want to be. And you deserve someone who is sure about the future and doesn’t hesitate when it’s time to make the tough calls. I stand here to tell you – I am ready to be that leader,” Tate carried on, and a wave of emotion swept over Tessa.
This was a big deal for Tate, and she couldn’t have been more proud of him. After all his soul-searching, he finally knew what he wanted, and was going after it. Tessa admired the fact he didn’t rush into anything. Wasn’t that a sign of a good leader already?
“But I want to do things differently from my father,” Tate said, chin held high. “I want all of you to have voices. I want all of you to be able to come to me with your concerns, doubts, ideas…We are a family, after all, and families stick together.”
Looking around, Tessa could see people nodding to each other. Shouts of approval came next, interspersed with some howls and growls. To say she was on unfamiliar ground would be an understatement. There were so many things she still didn’t know about shifters, but oddly, she felt at peace there, surrounded by some thirty odd wolves.
There was just something about their unity, and the primal feeling of their brotherhood that made her feel at home.
“There is something else I need to tell you,” Tate spoke up, looking right at her. “Most of you already know who Tessa is, even if you haven’t been introduced yet,” he said, reaching out a hand for her.
Caught off guard, Tessa just stood there like an idiot for a moment, to the point where June had to gently prod her forward. Her feet felt heavy as she joined Tate, her heart beating fast when he grabbed her hand.
Pulling her to his side, he smiled at her, making her forget all about the dozens of eyes glued to them. When they turned back to the crowd, she stayed close to his side, forcing herself to stand up tall and not fidget.
“I found more than I bargained for in my time away,” Tate announced, squeezing her hand. “Now, I have someone by my side who makes me stronger, better, who speaks to both the man and the wolf. I would like you all to welcome Tessa Mayberry – my mate.”
Before Tessa could even grasp what had just happened, the pack erupted into cheers. June was grinning at her from ear to ear, still among a sea of moving bodies, now all coming toward them.
Sean reached them first, giving Tate a quick hug and clapping him on the back.
“Congratulations, man,” she heard him say, before he grabbed her into a hug next. “Welcome, Tessa,” he said to her, and she could feel her cheeks grow warm.
Not only had she not expected Tate’s announcement, she had not expected the reaction that followed it. People kept coming up, one by one, with excited faces and well-wishes, most of them offering her a handshake, but some going for a hug like Sean.
In a brief moment of respite, Tessa glanced over at Tate, and he grinned back at her, arching a brow at the chaos around them. Tessa laughed and shook her head at him. This was certainly an evening she would never forget.
How the hell am I supposed to go back to Whitefish after this? she wondered. Now that Pinedale feels more like home than any place I could have ever imagined…
Thirty-Five
Tate
After all of the congratulations, the pack embracing him as Alpha and welcoming Tessa, Tate felt worn out, yet keyed up. Now, sitting in the living room of his house with all of the council members around him, it was time to get down to business.
He had already filled in Sean, Reeve and Collins about what had happened at Roman’s, while Caleb stayed silent and watched everything unfold. Tessa was curled up on the edge of the couch, legs tucked under her body, resting her head on her hand.
“Do you think the demon will show up in Tessa’s dreams again?” Reeve asked, rubbing his graying temples.
“Now that’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear you say,” Collins chimed in, shaking his head.
They were both senior members of the council, respected among the pack, and men whose opinions Tate valued. Reeve stood in the middle of the room, long hair falling to his shoulders, while Collins sat in an armchair, rubbing his beard.
At least neither of them have called me crazy, yet.
Then again, being shifters kind of made them more open-minded to the weird side of life. Weren’t werewolves considered to be just the stuff of myths and stories once? Yet here they were, living alongside humans, real as can be.
“Let’s not forget, Roman could be wrong about Loch being able to spy on her memories through her dreams,” Sean added.
“Yes, but we have to consider the worst case scenario,” Tate replied. “We can’t be caught unprepared if he does show up. Trust me, that would be a mistake.”
“The amulet can’t be here if or when he doe
s,” Tessa quietly said, looking around the room. “We have to hide it somewhere, and I can’t know where. If Loch can get inside my mind, there can’t be any clues for him to follow in there.”
Reeve nodded at that, pursing his lips. Sean and Collins seemed to be in agreement as well, but Caleb was still avoiding getting involved. Maybe his pride was hurt, or he was still opposed to Tessa even being there, but one thing was for sure – this was not the time for the council to not be on the same page.
“Caleb, what are your thoughts?” Tate asked, making everyone turn and look at the man, leaning against a wall in the corner of the room.
He stepped forward, his expression unreadable. Despite their differences lately, Tate still very much valued his friend’s opinion. There had been enough fighting already, so much so it was distracting all of them from the real enemy here – Loch.
“I think that’s our only play. You’ve made it clear this amulet cannot fall into the demon’s hands, and if Tessa’s memories really are compromised, she can’t have any part of hiding it,” Caleb said evenly.
“I’m sorry for ever getting all of you involved in this,” Tessa spoke up, drawing the attention away from Caleb. “And I want to thank you all for being so welcoming, when you didn’t have to be.”
“It’s not your fault someone brought a demon amulet to your store,” Sean interjected, giving her a small smile. “Besides, everything happens for a reason. Our Alpha has returned with his mate. I’d call that a win.”
“Besides,” Collins said, his deep voice echoing throughout the room. “This Loch character isn’t invincible. You two have kicked his ass once already,” he pointed his chin at Tate and Tessa. “We have a whole pack here. He won’t stand a chance against all of us.”
“Damn straight,” Sean agreed, and Tate had to smile.
This was the kind of pack he wanted to lead – where no one was afraid to speak up, and there was a sense of unity. He was already preparing to address the rest of the pack in the morning, and fill them in on everything.
Usually, if the council was in agreement, everyone else followed suit. But Tate wanted to make sure all doubts and concerns were heard, and the plan clear to everyone. Still, the final decision would always fall to him. And he knew whatever example he set, the others would follow.
“So,” Tate said, all eyes turning to him. “We will conclude for now. Everyone feel free to think of places where the amulet could be hidden. Let’s discuss options first thing tomorrow morning, and then get that thing out of here as soon as possible.”
“Sounds good,” Sean replied, as Collins was already pushing himself out of his armchair.
Reeve gave Tate a quick nod before heading to the door. The men started to file out, one by one, but as Caleb turned to leave, Tate walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Can I have a word with you?” he asked, as everyone else was already out the door.
“Sure,” Caleb said, pushing the door shut.
“I’ll let you two have some privacy,” Tessa said from the couch, giving Tate a brief smile before getting up and heading for the stairs.
Caleb waited until she was out of sight before fixing his gaze on Tate’s face, arms crossed in front of him.
“Did I say something wrong?” he asked, eyeing him coolly.
“No, the opposite, really,” Tate replied, tilting his head toward the kitchen. “A drink?”
“Sure,” Caleb shrugged, following him to the kitchen and sitting down at the table while Tate opened a cupboard, pulling out two glasses and a bottle of whiskey.
Pouring the drinks, he set them on the table and sat down opposite Caleb, folding his hands in front of him.
“I understand your concerns,” he started, as Caleb tilted his glass to his mouth. “You have a wife and a kid, and the last thing you want is for them to get in the crossfire of something none us fully understand. I can’t imagine how you must worry for them, but I promise you, nothing is more important to me than the safety of those we love.”
Sighing, Caleb set his glass back on the table, rolling his shoulders. His eyes looked tired, his features tense, and it seemed everything Tate had said had hit home.
“Maybe I haven’t exactly looked at this objectively,” he admitted. “But have you? Tessa is your mate. You can’t say that hasn’t affected your decisions.”
“No, I can’t say that. But I’m being completely honest when I say – I would make this call even if I had no feelings for Tessa. That’s the truth,” Tate replied.
There was a long pause as the two men looked at each other, Caleb tapping his fingers against the glass. Tate’s wolf was alert, yet calm beneath his skin, now that everything was out on the table. He knew protecting the amulet was the right thing to do for everyone, and he was glad he had stuck to his guns.
“All right,” Caleb finally said. “We’re brothers, Tate. I’ll always have your back. I don’t need to be in a hundred percent agreement with my Alpha all of the time to stand by him.”
“And that’s exactly why I want you to be my right hand,” Tate replied.
Caleb blinked at him for a moment, before narrowing his eyes at him.
“You’re serious,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “You want me as your lieutenant?”
“Who else?” Tate spread out his hands. “I don’t want someone who blindly agrees with me, or is afraid to call me on my shit. I need a different perspective, and I have always respected your opinion, whether I agree with it or not.”
A small smile spread over Caleb’s lips as he pushed his chair back and stood up. Tate followed suit, walking over and extending his arm. Grabbing onto each other’s forearms, a low growl filled the air, as the men’s wolves tested each other.
“I’d be honored to serve my Alpha,” Caleb said.
“Now that’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” Tate grinned.
Things were finally going his way. He was home, mending old wounds, with the woman he had already fallen for sleeping upstairs. This was the most invincible he had ever felt.
And the fall from this height was going to be nothing but brutal.
Thirty-Six
Tessa
Tessa was standing in the meadow again, right in the spot she had been in when Tate made his announcement. This time though, she was alone, with nothing but the sound of the trees swaying in the distance keeping her company.
“Hello?” she called out, taking a step forward.
The sun was starting to set, and she knew she would be lost here in the dark. What direction had she come from, again? She had been too busy chatting with June and Sean to really pay attention.
Damn it, Tessa, she chided herself.
But why had everyone left without her? Tate had just been here, talking… He wouldn’t have just gone back without her…
“Tate?” she called out again, starting to walk toward the trees.
Maybe she would recognize something that would tell her which way to go. There had to be a path, or some footprints leading back to Pinedale, and to pack lands. There had been so many people here just a moment ago, hadn’t there?
A snap of a twig made her glance back, eyes honing in on the row of pines, but she couldn’t spot anyone. There was a rustle up above, so she reluctantly turned her head back, heart starting to race.
The sound of the wind rushing through trees now became ominous, as every sound made her steps faster and faster. The grass was already slick with dew, making her feet slip and slide around as she started running.
Was that a growl in the air, or was she just imagining things? She couldn’t be sure anymore, as she rushed up a small hill, losing her balance and falling on her hands. When she got back up and started to brush the dirt of her hands, she almost screamed.
Her palms were covered in blood, dripping down her fingers and onto her wrists, cold and thick. What the hell was going on here? Gaze swinging around wildly, she crouched down to wipe her hands on the grass…
That’
s when it hit her – this wasn’t the meadow. Not the real one, anyway. Memories started drifting back, of her in bed, and Tate crawling in next to her, pulling her against his warm body. The blanket was heavy, and she had tossed it aside with her foot, letting her toes dangle off the edge of the bed…
Shit. This is a dream.
The meadow started to fade at the edges, becoming fuzzy. She no longer bothered with running, just stood up and squared her shoulders, looking off into the distance.
“Come on, Loch. I know you’re here,” she said. “I’m not playing these games anymore.”
The meadow was starting to get fuzzy, folding in on itself, becoming smaller around her. Loch’s voice echoed out to her, rusty and decayed, making a shiver run down her spine. But he didn’t appear, just spoke.
“No, I am the one done with games. You are going to bring me the amulet, right now,” he said.
“You must be getting desperate,” Tessa replied with a bitter laugh. “Because there is no way that is going to happen.”
“It is,” Loch assured her, a hiss in his voice. “Because I know where you are. And this is what is going to happen to your new friends if you deny me.”
The hill grew taller beneath her feet, making Tessa wobble to hold on to her balance. When she looked down, the green grass was no more. Instead, there was a thick layer of blood on the ground, still pouring and pooling, and in the middle of it…
Tessa’s hands flew to her mouth, the fact that her palms were also painted crimson forgotten, as she stared down at a pile of bodies, strewn across the meadow. Her heartbeat was now in her throat as she forced herself to look, from one face to the next, recognizing all of them.
There was Caleb, and Sean… Collins and Reeve, from the council. A young werewolf she faintly remembered someone calling Wes was off to the side, his throat slashed deep enough his head was barely attached to his body. And all the others, every single wolf from the pack, lying lifeless on the field, like a shot from a war movie.