by Kat Bostick
Mari was about to shrug, unsure of why that admission created tension in the air, when she understood the implication. “Whose blood?”
“Mine.” Jasper answered.
“Are we even compatible?”
“You’re mates.” Clem said as if that was the same thing. “We didn’t really have time to consider other options and he was quite insistent that he be the donor.”
“Am I…” She wasn’t sure if she could finish the question. “Am I going to turn into a werewolf?”
The room fell uncomfortably silent. “By all accounts witches are immune to a werewolf bite.” Clem eased some of Mari’s panic. “However, it’s difficult to say if there will be any side effects. When a human is given werewolf DNA through,” she cleared her throat. “intimate means and becomes pregnant, there are lifelong changes. She will never become a shapeshifter but she benefits from the werewolf’s vitality and healing. Our mother lived double the life expectancy of the average human woman.”
“We don’t know if giving you blood will do the same. Theoretically, you already have wolf blood in you, though the amount is quite minute.” Charlie added.
“It’s possible you may experience nothing more than a quick recovery. Unfortunately—or, rather, fortunately—there has been no research done into the blood of werewolves. Such things require equipment and scientists, which are avoided by us for obvious reasons. There are too many risks involved in that knowledge.” A familiar sparkle lit Clem’s eyes. “However, you will make an excellent case study.”
Charlie cut her off before she could get lost on a tangent. “We can go into more detail later. Right now I think Mari could use some peace and nourishment.”
Clem’s lips turned down in disappointment but she nodded and slid from the bed. The alpha helped Jasper shoo the rest pack out of the room. Once they were gone, Mari sat awkwardly on the edge of the mattress, staring at the door where the six wolves had disappeared.
“Are you alright?” Jasper asked softy, kneeling before her to take her hands in his.
She should be the one asking him that. The grey rings under his eyes only worsened the pallor of his complexion. Exhaustion etched hard lines into his features. His hair was tied sloppily at the nape of his neck but several tangled strands had escaped to hang limply around his face. If he’d slept in the last—Father Above, how many days had it been? Well, if he’d slept recently, she couldn’t tell.
“I…I don’t know.” Was Mari alright? Would she ever be alright again after the insanity of this year? Her gaze travelled to the door, then returned to the man before her. Even as red veins carved paths along the whites of his eyes, those deep green irises were breathtaking. She could almost hear the trilling of birds and smell wildflowers on the breeze as she watched them shimmer with unshed tears. They were like summer come to life, the vibrant sunlight and heady heat swirling together in beautiful pools.
The answer was yes. Mari would be alright so long as she could gaze into those eyes. So long as she had six people who cared for her enough to hover in the hallway and fall asleep outside her door, anxiously awaiting her recovery. However wild a change it would be, choosing the pack was the right decision.
“Are you?” She brushed a thumb across his cheek.
A trembling breath parted his lips but no answer came for a very long time. Finally he said, “no.”
“That’s okay.” Mari leaned forward to kiss him, swiftly changing her mind when she realized she hadn’t brushed her teeth since before their date. That simple movement sent her head spinning. “Hey, Jas? Do you think maybe you could, um, help me into the shower?”
A cautious smile touched his lips, making her heart flutter. “I think I could manage that.”
Clem had washed the blood from her skin but Mari’s hair was matted with it. She hoped to soak it in a stream of hot water until every drop of grime was gone but Jasper insisted on a bath to keep her stitches dry. She was planning to grumble but he distracted her by stripping off his clothes and slipping into the tub behind her.
She closed her eyes and focused on the heat of the water and his gentle fingers untangling what was left of the braids in her hair. There were too many turbulent emotions clashing inside of her and she didn’t want to give them any attention yet.
Maybe she never would. Who would want to think about how they felt after killing someone? Or think about the surprising absence of feeling. Mari was sad that Lyse had been corrupted. She was sad for all of the witches and wizards that joined her out of grief and misguided notions. Yet, she didn’t regret killing Lyse. Shouldn’t Mari care more about taking a life?
Did that make her just as bad? Had Mari opened herself to darkness when she drove that dagger in Lyses’ back?
No. The voice of the witch answered. I restored the balance.
Mari choked out a sob at the sound of that inner voice. She was so accustomed to having it there that she hadn’t immediately registered the presence of her magic within her again. She was still whole.
“Please don’t cry.” Jasper pressed his lips to her temple. “Your tears break my heart.”
“They’re happy tears.” She sniffled. “Kind of.”
Once they were both clean and dry, he carried her back to bed. Mari was surprised when he yanked open one of his drawers and plucked out her clothes.
“We moved in together while I was unconscious?”
“I needed a distraction.” He shrugged a little too nonchalantly.
She quickly threw on the sweatpants and sweater Jasper handed her then tugged him to sit on the edge of the bed beside her. “You know the spell Lyse thought I was using on you was actually wolf magic. If we weren’t mates I probably wouldn’t have been able to reach you.”
“Are we mates, Mari?” Hope cautiously flickered across his features.
She nudged his arm with hers. “Obviously.”
“Sweet, sweet Mari.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lightly. “I’m blessed to call you mate. I will destroy all of your enemies. I’ll give you everything that your heart desires.”
“Ditto.” She replied shyly. “Except the part about giving you everything your heart desires. Unlike you I don’t have a million dollars so if you want a yacht or Maserati, that’s a no go.”
“My money is your money. You can use it all. I have no need for it.”
“Eh, let’s not go wild with that just yet.” She fiddled with a loose thread on her sweater.
“Cash meant it, you know. We all mean it.”
“Mean what?”
Jasper looked nervous as he said “You’re pack now; family. You belong to us. You belong here and that means you stay.”
“I thought pack members could leave to join another pack whenever they wanted.” Mari narrowed her eyes at him.
“Nah, Charlie only says that to make us feel better. If any of us tried to leave he would hunt us down and bring us back.” He grinned.
She giggled awkwardly, hoping that she wasn’t actually a prisoner on pack land. They could debate the details of that arrangement later. Mari was too hungry to keep her mind on it. All she could focus on was the scent of bacon wafting up the stairs.
“You never did tell me how long I was unconscious.” She said to Jasper as he helped her down the stairs. Her shoulder ached and she was still lightheaded so she’d resigned herself to letting him take care of her. For now.
“Five days.”
“Five days? Father Above!” Mari exclaimed. “What if I hadn’t woken up?”
Jasper froze in the middle of the staircase, his arms wound so tightly around her waist that she was almost short of breath. He squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled slowly before blinking and continuing their journey downward. “I knew you would.”
“Did I miss anything important?”
“Nothing important.” He considered. “Your squeaky friend wanted you to know that she’s angry with you for ignoring her and she sent several indecent pictures of her new boyfriend to your cell
phone. I deleted them.” Mari swatted his arm for that. “A package came for you in the mail. It was full of new underwear.” She swatted him a second time. His only response was to shrug and say “I’m inquisitive.”
“So basically you invaded my privacy while I couldn’t stop you?”
“Yup.” At least he had the decency to look sheepish about it. “Oh and your father called. Many times. He left a voicemail saying that he had a bad feeling and that he really needed to talk to you, so I answered.”
“You answered? What did you tell him?” Mari stopped at the bottom of the stairs to gape at him, nearly toppling sideways when she let go of his arm.
“I told him you were sick and couldn’t come to the phone but I would have you call him when you were feeling better.”
“And who did you tell him you were? I hadn’t exactly explained to him where I’m staying. I told him I got a job at the lodge and that I was living there.”
“Now he knows you’re staying with me. I don’t think he’s happy about it but it’s not his concern anymore.” He ran his hands through her damp hair. “I told him that I was your mate.”
“Jasper! He has no idea that I’ve spent the last five months with werewolves. He’s going to freak!”
“He’s clueless. He thought Jasper meant he was your roommate.” Clem said from the kitchen. “Don’t worry, little witch. We told him that Jasper is your boyfriend and that you’re living safely in his home with his family.” She emerged with a tray full of cappuccinos and headed for the parlor.
“On the bright side, I don’t have to be the one to have that uncomfortable conversation with him.” Oh well, it wasn’t like her father thought her capable of making responsible decisions anyway.
Jasper and the others couldn’t understand why Mari was wary of Dad’s reaction any more than they could understand why she wanted them to knock before entering the bedroom. Their concept of privacy and intimacy was very different than the human concept. It was one of the many aspects of pack life that Mari would have to adjust to.
They followed Clem into the parlor and Mari couldn’t hold back a happy gasp when she saw what they’d done to it. The couches and chairs were pushed against the wall to make room for the piles of blankets and pillows strewn about the floor, slumber party style. The new and very large TV was positioned in one corner of the room with stacks and stacks of DVDs. Apparently Jasper told the pack about Mari’s werewolf movie list and they were so interested that Teal ordered them online. Yup, even werewolves used Amazon.
Charlie and Cora carried in plates of sausage, steak, bacon, pancakes, French toast, biscuits, gravy, and scrambled eggs. It was technically dinner time but Charlie, Mari was learning, had an affinity for breakfast foods. Especially pancakes and bacon.
Jasper settled her in the middle of the blankets and curled up next to her. The rest of the pack joined soon after, munching on crispy bacon and snuggling up together as they watched the original Wolf Man from 1941. The marathon continued with the first Underworld movie, followed by Ginger Snaps. Eventually they ended up finishing four episodes of Teen Wolf, a favorite among the wolves for reasons unknown to Mari.
With a full belly, surrounded by warm bodies, she found it easy to forget the events of months past. Laughter and the teasing banter of pack mates filled the room, bringing joy with it. Mari took in the sight and remembered how she thought of pack as a family of choice. That was truly what they were; family. As loyal and loving as if they were kin. Perhaps blood wasn’t thicker than water.
Jasper was right. This was where Mari belonged. This was where she wanted to belong.
She must have dozed off because she sat up to find the parlor dark except for the blue glow of the DVD menu on the TV screen. Her arms were wrapped around Jasper’s waist, her face pressing into his back. Cora of all people was spooning her. It was kind of funny to sit up and see six adults snoring in a blanket fort on the floor. Wait, shouldn’t there be seven? Mari scanned the room and found the shadowy silhouette of the alpha in an armchair by the door, his ice chip eyes alight from the television.
Carefully, so as not to make herself dizzy or wake the two wolves walling her in, Mari rose from the blankets and tip toed over to him. She took the chair beside him without a word, turning to see where his gaze fell. A month ago it probably would have struck her as creepy for Charlie to be watching them sleep, but she understood now. The alpha could only rest when the pack was safe. They were safe in that moment, bundled up like children at a sleepover.
But the fear and powerlessness of the last week was as fresh in Charlie’s mind as it was in hers. This was his penance for failing to protect the pack from an outside threat. As alpha it was his duty to keep them safe. She had to appreciate how lighthearted and kind Charlie was given the heavy weight of responsibility he always carried on his shoulders.
“What happened to your eye, Charlie?” She’d been suspicious ever since this afternoon but hadn’t found a private moment to ask him. Everyone seemed intent on changing the subject when it came up.
“Your mate happened.” He smirked. “You should see my ribs.”
“Jasper did that to you?” Mari gasped. “Why?”
Charlie patted her knee. “Don’t worry, I deserved it.” His gaze softened as he turned quiet for a moment. “I underestimated that witch and her coven when I formed my plan.”
Her heart kicked up a notch. “What plan?”
“My plan to use you as bait.” He gave her one of those boyish smiles, looking far too innocent. “I knew the witch wouldn’t leave. The only way to end this was to kill her. If I’d realized she could seize the power of others, I would have come up with an alternative strategy.” He sighed ruefully. “I am sorry for how things turned out, Mari.”
“You—” she pressed her lips together to keep her voice down. “You let us go on that date because you knew Lyse would be there?”
“Suspected. They were obviously keeping tabs on the pack house.”
“And you were, what, hiding in the parking lot?”
“Precisely.”
Mari spluttered, unsure if she was angry, surprised, or impressed. Maybe all three. “That’s why Jasper clobbered you?”
“Indeed. I think he would have tried to kill me if you hadn’t woken up. Probably would have succeeded.” Everything Charlie said was in that too casual manner of his.
“Why didn’t you just tell us? If it meant righting what I did, I would have agreed to be your bait.”
“And you think that one would have allowed it?” He jerked his chin Jasper’s way. “Secrecy was supposed to give us the element of surprise but, as I said, I underestimated her. I underestimated you too.”
“There aren’t supposed to be secrets in a pack, Charlie.” She turned back to the alpha, trying to disguise her smile. “Don’t expect me to save your ass twice. I’ve used up all my ancestor juju.” She wasn’t sure how she knew the finality of her foremother’s actions that night when they lent her their power, but she did. The witch understood that their guidance served a purpose and now their duty was complete. They were still with her but they were silent, trusting her to make the journey on her own from here.
Charlie chuckled. “Hopefully we won’t need you to save anyone’s ass for a long time. You have some training to do before then.”
Mari nodded in agreement, subtly twisting to see the peaceful, sleeping faces of the pack. The alpha did the same, his gaze scanning each one of them, circling the room, always alert.
“You can’t protect them from everything.” She said softly.
“I have to.” He answered in a rumbling growl. “They’re my family. They are everything. I’ll lay down my life for each and every one of them.” Charlie fixed his steely eyes on her. Despite the color they were warm with affection. “That includes you. You’re pack. You’re mine now, little witch.”
A tear escaped and made a run for it down her cheek. “I don’t want anyone else to die, Charlie.”
“Aye, th
ey won’t.” He cupped one of her hands in his. “You and I will make that so, won’t we?”
“I don’t know how to protect a pack.”
“Of course you do. You saved us, Mariella. You’re an angel and God sent you to the wolves to show us mercy.” The alpha said with unshakeable confidence.
“Maybe I was in the right place at the right time.” She shrugged. “That magic the other night was a fluke.”
“You’ll see. Someday.”
“Maybe so.”
Mari glanced to the window where dim rays of moonlight could be seen through the open curtains as the Blue Goddess ascended above the trees.
I accept this task. She told Mother Moon. I accept my divine duty and I will perform it as best as I know how. Her eyes travelled to Jasper then and she couldn’t help but smile. I accept this pack and I accept my mate. I carry his song in my heart.
Chapter 50
Mari
Cash and Teal stood in the hallway outside Clem’s door, singing Oh My Darling Clementine. Teal had a melodic voice, smooth as melted chocolate. Cash was mostly just loud. This was their routine on every full moon, the one night each month where Clem acted enough like a normal person to pout.
Mari could understand Clem’s perspective. Of all the wolves in the pack, she was the only one who couldn’t shift. Without a mate or children, there was no one to keep her company when her brothers and sister were out running under the moon. It had to be lonely.
Clem wouldn’t be the sole pack member that didn’t shift tonight, however.
“Go away, Cash!” Clementine hollered through the door.
“Clem?” Mari said softly. “It’s me.”
“Mari?” The she-wolf cautiously cracked the door open to peek out and make sure Cash wasn’t waiting in the hall to ambush her. Clem looked unusually unkempt with her dark hair tousled, wearing jeans and t-shirt instead of slacks and a blouse. Mari wasn’t sure she’d actually seen Clem wear jeans before. “Did you need something?”
“Actually, I have an experiment for you to observe. For science.”