by Lisa Olsen
“Did the police… Did they figure out what happened to them?” Millie mashed her lips together, reluctant to say much about the night before, hardly sure she believed any of it herself.
“You mean do they know that your parents and my beloved Luc were torn apart by wolves? No, the fire managed to mask their true cause of death, thank goodness for that.”
The breath left Millie’s body in a rush as she burst that bubble of anticipation. “Then how did you…?”
“My sphere of influence extends beyond this valley, Amelie. I am not without my resources. It was only a matter of time before they came for you. It’s unfortunate that your parents sought to shelter you by hiding you away from me as well, or I could have…”
“Wait… what? Before they came for me?” Millie blinked, not quite sure she’d heard her correctly. Why would anyone come after her?
“Yes, my dear, after you,” she replied gently. “Through no fault of your own, you have been sought after since the day you were born.”
“But… why? I don’t get any of this. Why aren’t you surprised to see me? Why would anyone be after me and why are you so blasé about your son and family being ripped apart by wolves?” An edge of hysteria gripped her voice, and Millie felt the sudden need to sit down, sinking onto the couch.
Adele lowered herself into the large wingback chair before the fireplace. “It’s a long story, one that might be better served after a good night’s rest.”
Sleep was all she’d been craving for the past twelve hours, but that was the farthest thing from her mind after that pronouncement. “If you think for a minute that I’ll be able to slip off to dreamland after something like that, you’re crazy. I need some answers, and I need them now.”
Stiffening at the response, Adele’s mouth dropped into a frown of disapproval. “I’m not accustomed to being addressed in such a manner.”
“I don’t give a good Goddamn what you’re used to. In the past twenty-four hours I’ve seen my parents and my brother ripped apart by some kind of wolves and my home destroyed by fire. I’ve driven halfway across the country without a lick of sleep, and you’re telling me this is all because of me. So start talking now or I’m walking out of here to find my own answers.” Millie was running on fumes, but there was no way she could back down, even if the old lady tossed her out on her ear. Chin coming up with determination, she met her gaze evenly.
For a long moment they locked gazes and Amelia began to think she really would throw her out for talking back, but then instead of blowing her stack, Adele laughed. A rusty sound, as though she wasn’t prone to laughter at first, followed by a deep throaty chuckle. Amelia’s brows bunched together in frustration as she rose to her feet. “I’m glad you find this so amusing.”
“Oh sit, ma chère, you just reminded me of why you’re the One. Actually, you remind me of myself at your age,” she added with another chuckle. “Very well, I will give you all the answers I have to give, and then you may decide if you will stay here with me and what protection I can offer you, or if you would prefer to take your chances out there alone.”
Amelia sank onto the couch again in relief. “Okay. Start with who they are and why they’re after me,” she prompted, but Adele countered with a shake of the head.
“Before I begin with who they are, I must begin with who you are.”
“I know who I am, Grandmother.”
“Do you?” Her eyes crinkled with amusement.
Chapter Two
“Do you know your family’s heritage or your own true nature? You haven’t even been told your real name,” Adele scoffed.
“My name is Amelia Singer,” Millie replied evenly, though she started to get a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“Your name is Amelie LaRoche, daughter of Remy and Marie LaRoche, and you are the One, the Mother of us All.” The dramatic proclamation was made, as if that meant something to her.
“LaRoche? Mother of us all? What is that supposed to mean?” Amelia blinked, trying to connect the dots, but there were too many still missing.
“Your parents changed your name when they took you from here in a misguided attempt to keep you safe.” Adele made no effort to disguise the bitterness of her tone.
“I don’t get it, safe from what? What’s all this ‘one mother’ stuff?” Amelia’s head started to pound again. She needed more energy drink, or she needed some sleep, and neither were available at the moment.
“When you were born, we realized almost immediately that you met certain conditions ordained by prophecy. The prophecy marks you as someone of great importance, highly sought out by our kind. You are destined to be the Mother of us All. Quite plainly, from your line will issue a new ruling class from which all packs will look to for leadership.”
“Our kind?” Packs, a new ruling class? Her head swam with possibilities.
“Did you never feel special, Amelie? That there was something… unusual about your family?”
“Everybody’s family has craziness built into it, mine wasn’t any crazier than most.” But she had felt a little different, from time to time. All those unanswered questions resurfaced. Why wasn’t she ever allowed to have any sleepovers? Why had her parents flipped out when she appeared on a local news broadcast when her school broke ground on the new playground? Why had Luc shown her a secret place he wanted her to go to if there was ever any trouble from the time she was six years old?
“Our way is not to embrace craziness, Amelie. Our way is ordered, not chaos, but it can also be wild as nature intended. Our people have been shifters since the beginning of time, the trait passed down from generation to generation. Not by bite or curse as the movies would have you believe, but coded within our genes is the ability to change form at will.”
“Shifters… you mean werewolves.” The statement was given in a flat monotone.
Adele shrank in upon herself in disgust. “We abhor that term, it conjures all manner of superstitious nonsense.”
“Superstitious?” A laugh bubbled out. “You’re sitting there telling me that you – that we are a race of shapeshifters, and you’re worried about being misunderstood as the creature of the week?”
“To shift into another form is the design of nature, not a product of demonic involvement,” Adele said loftily. “We don’t crave human flesh or bend to the call of the moon, though we do hear her song.”
The moon’s song. It sounded awfully poetic for changing into a beast as part of her family’s heritage. “So, you’re saying what? I’m going to be able to… to shift into some other animal?” The idea that she might not know her own body was hard to accept and starting to freak her out more than a little bit.
“No, ma chère, not all in our line are born to shift. You would have already given some sign by now, and your parents would have told you all of this already, as they did with Luc.”
“Luc. He was a…” The memory of the bloody fight pushed itself back into the forefront of her mind, the wolves snapping at one another. Had one of them been Luc protecting her? “And Mom and Dad?”
“Your father and mother both had the ability to shift, it was one of the conditions of the prophecy,” Adele confirmed.
Millie sat in stunned silence, digesting that for a few moments before she found her voice again. All the secrets and lies – had she really known any of them? “You keep mentioning this prophecy, where did it come from? And why are people so willing to kill over it?”
“No one knows where the sacred stories originated, they have been passed down from generation to generation. Not every prophecy comes true of course, but the codex that references you has been extremely accurate over the years. I’m afraid you represent a great deal of power, as your firstborn child is destined to unite the packs and bring a new rule to our people. There are those who would give everything they have or kill anyone in their way to attain that power, as you have learned the hard way. That is why your father decided to secret you away from your family to keep you safe
,” Adele added sadly.
“Oh, Daddy,” Amelia sighed, eyes tearing again as she realized all they’d sacrificed for her. “And it was all for nothing, they still tore them apart, all because of me.” Head bowed, her shoulders shook with ragged sobs as the last thread binding her composure together snapped under the stress.
In the first show of real emotion, Adele came to sit beside her and enfolded Millie into her embrace. “Shhh, don’t take it on so, ma chère, it was none of your doing. Who is to say the attack would not have come had you been here as I wished? I can’t say I agreed with Remy’s decision to take you, but I do agree with his desire to keep you safe. That is my wish as well, to keep you safe here with us until the danger is past,” she soothed.
“Until the danger is past? But Luc said they would never stop coming.” Hope flared that someday it might be over and she could get back to her normal life.
“That is true, after a fashion. Until you are mated and have whelped your first born, you will be a prize for anyone with the power to take you.”
“Mated, you mean married? And whelped? Eewh, does that mean with a baby?” Her voice climbed an octave. Amelia was nowhere near ready to settle down. The last guy she’d dated had stolen her cellphone. And start a family? She wasn’t even ready to own a dog for chrissakes, let alone have a baby.
“It would be the only way to fulfill the requirements of the prophecy.”
“I’m not getting married to fulfill some stupid prophecy, Grandmother, it’s… it’s barbaric!”
Another chuckle came from Adele’s throat. “There’s no need to decide anything tonight, ma chère, you are safe on our lands for as long as you choose to be here. And now I think perhaps it’s time you sought your bed. The rest of the questions can wait until morning, can they not?” Amelia nodded, too worn out to argue anymore, the news of the night adding to her fatigue. “Scarlett?” Adele called out, and the blonde returned with a swiftness that made Amelia believe she must’ve been hovering nearby, waiting for the call. “Please show Amelie to the rose room.”
“Of course, Grandmere.” Scarlett inclined her head gracefully, waiting for Amelia to join her.
“Goodnight, Grandmother,” Amelia offered awkwardly, unsure whether to embrace her or kiss her cheek. In the end she settled for a little half wave and rose to follow Scarlett out the door.
Once upon the stairs, the girl turned to Amelia with another one of her shy smiles. “I’m Scarlett, in case you didn’t guess. Welcome home.”
“Hi, Scarlett, it’s nice to meet you.” Amelia returned her smile, relaxing once they were out of Adele’s earshot. “Do you live here too?”
“Mmmhmm, Chase and I both do, since our parents died a long time ago. It’ll be nice to have someone else around the house. The rose room is next to mine. I’ve got the yellow room right by the bathroom,” she gestured as they crested the top of the stairs, and Amelia nodded, taking in the second floor’s layout. “That’s Gran’s room over there at the other end. She likes to be as far away as possible for her peace and quiet. Word to the wise, use earphones for your music and you’ll be a much happier camper here,” she grinned.
“Oh, okay, good to know.” Not that she had her mp3 player or any of her stuff anymore.
“Here we are.” The bedroom, so dubbed the rose room, earned its name by being decorated in muted shades of a dusky rose, tasteful and feminine, the heavy mahogany four poster bed dominating the room.
“It’s pretty, thanks.” Millie nodded her approval, testing the edge of the bed. Not exactly her style, but it was nicer than anything back home.
“I heard you lost all your things, so I brought you a few basics until we can go shopping tomorrow.” A dressing table held a hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant and such. The bed had a white slip of a nightdress on it, edged in lace, fine enough to be part of a bridal trousseau.
Millie had to smile at both the thoughtfulness of the gesture and the light that came into the blonde’s bright blue eyes at the mention of shopping. “Thanks, Scarlett, that was sweet of you. I don’t have anything but the clothes on my back and my Jeep. My Jeep…” Suddenly she remembered it was back at the bar.
“Oh, don’t worry about your car, Amelie. Gran will make sure it gets delivered here by morning.” Scarlett was quick to ease her fears.
“It’s Amelia, okay? Or Millie,” Amelia corrected her automatically.
“Millie, that’s cute. Nobody ever shortens my name except for Chase and he calls me Scar.” She wrinkled her nose, stepping towards the door. “Well, I should let you get some rest now. Like I said, I’m right next door in case you need anything. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“G’nite, I’ll see you then.” It was nice not to feel quite so alone, especially in a house full of strangers. Scarlett made her feel at ease with her gentle, friendly nature. Barely taking the time to undress, Amelia fell across the bed like a zombie, slipping into a deep sleep, blessedly devoid of dreams for once.
Chapter Three
The morning broke bright and clear, the autumn sun still dominating the sky, though there was a noticeable chill in the air marking the passage of summer. The sound of a lawnmower in the distance woke Amelia, and she stretched in her soft, downy comfort.
Cutter’s Folly.
All at once it flooded back to her – she was in Cutter’s Folly with her grandmother and a couple of cousins she’d never known about. Did she have other family in town? It was a comforting notion, which was a big plus considering all the other jumbled thoughts that crowded for space in her mind.
First order of business was a shower and something to eat. The idea of putting her dirty clothes back on after a shower made her cringe, but when Millie swung her feet down to the floor, she realized her clothes were not where she’d left them in a crumpled heap on the floor. Someone had been in her room and what… tidied up in the middle of the night? The clock on the bedside table showed it was after ten a.m., most likely the entire household had been up and around for some time. Maybe Scarlett or Gran had come in to check on her?
On a hunch, Millie padded across the dark, wood floor to the closet, opening it wide. Sure enough, there was a small selection of clothes, close enough to her size, and Millie sent out a swift thank you to her thoughtful cousin. A quick survey of the dresser drawers found more casual clothes, better suited to her style, and she grabbed a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top to change into after her shower. There was even a soft yellow bathrobe to wear on the walk to the bathroom down the hall.
The bathroom was old fashioned, but scrupulously clean. A huge clawfoot tub stood at one end with a shower attachment, and a small pedestal sink and toilet at the other. As long as there was hot running water, it all looked like heaven to Millie, and she used up every last bit of it without a trace of guilt. Emerging over half an hour later feeling clean and refreshed, she set out to do some exploring.
There wasn’t a sign of anyone on the ground floor, but she did find a scribbled note from Scarlett on the kitchen table under a blueberry muffin.
Ran into town for some errands, will be back to make lunch soon!
– S
Millie picked at the muffin, breaking off tiny pieces and popping them into her mouth as she stepped out onto the back porch. The sound of the lawnmower no longer echoed over the grounds, but the snick, snick, snick of clippers could be heard over the late morning birdsong. The steady sound of the clippers occasionally gave way to a decidedly male grunt or the odd swear word, bringing a smile to her lips as she strolled through the gardens.
Gardening was never her idea of a good time, and it didn’t surprise her to find Grandmother opted to hire out to tend to the extensive grounds. A warren of shrubs and flowering plants formed a maze like path, with a gazebo as the focal point in the center of the back yard. A large expanse of lawn bordered the area between the house and the surrounding woods. She was struck again by the lush beauty of the property, so different from the rocky desert terrain of
New Mexico.
Turning around to go back to the house, Amelia was startled to find her path blocked by the gardener, a wicked pair of shears in his hands and an even more wicked smirk on the face she recognized from the bar the night before. He looked even better than he had the night before in a sweaty tank top and pair of faded jeans with a hole big enough for her to see the bulge of his thigh through.
“You…”
“Me?” he prompted, eyes raking over her boldly. Millie wasn’t used to being stared at so openly, and started to worry something about Scarlett’s clothes wasn’t fitting her right, but she resisted the urge to pat herself down to check.
“You, ah… you work here?” Amelia immediately felt like the biggest dork for stating the obvious.
“Only when forced. What about you? What’s Adele making you do for her?” he asked, shoving the pointed end of the long clippers into the soft ground.
“Me?” she blinked in surprise. “She’s not making me do anything for her.”
“Don’t be too sure about that,” he muttered, a flash of something in his eyes before the amusement returned. “So, what’s on the agenda today, Millie? Wake up when the sun is warm, enjoy a little breakfast, and then it’s off to go shopping on Granny’s dime?”
Something about his tone annoyed the hell out of her, implying that she intended to sponge off of the old lady, when she hadn’t made any such plans. She wasn’t even sure if she was going to stick around. “Whatever I do is none of your business, and… how did you know my name?”
“You’d be surprised at some of the things I know about you, Millie.” He gave her that wolfish grin again.
Amelia was not amused. “You don’t know anything about me except for maybe what Scarlett might’ve mentioned in passing,” she replied, figuring the friendly blonde must have shared her name with the sexy gardener.
“Blame it all on Scarlett, huh? Fair enough, though you should be careful what you tell her. She never could keep any secrets from me,” he grinned again, dropping the predatory vibe. “Okay, then what are you going to do today? Or were you just planning on wandering the gardens, tromping all over my begonias?” He raised a single brow.