by Dannika Dark
“Dammit, Maizy! Get back here,” he growled.
“If you want to shrivel up like a prune, then be my guest and sit in there all day. I’m going home.” I yanked on my clothes, tying my shirt around the back of my neck before slipping on my sneakers.
Denver crawled onto the rock and approached the wolf, who began growling low in his throat. When he bared his teeth, I intervened.
“Don’t even think about it,” I snapped, staring him straight in the eyes. The wolf submitted to my voice and backed off from his aggressive standoff with Denver. I might have been mad at Denver, but not enough to put him in danger.
“What’s gotten into you?”
I grabbed the truck keys. “I grew up with wolves. You think I don’t know how to behave around your kind?”
He pulled up his pants and left the shirt on the ground. “My kind? What the hell do you mean by that? Since when do you talk about Shifters in such an uppity tone?”
I spun around. “Uppity? I’m human, you’re not. What’s uppity about pointing out the truth? No matter how you slice it, I’m an outsider in your world.”
“Lately you are. You didn’t used to be.”
“I’m not the only one who’s changed. Since when did you guys start hiding bodies?”
“You know as well as I do that Shifter life is complicated, and sometimes a Packmaster has to do some unsavory shit to keep his pack in good standing. Dirt needs to be swept under the rug, and believe me, that asshole was dirt. His Packmaster isn’t the kind of man you want to owe.”
I shook my head, my hair still dripping with water. “Who we were is no longer who we are.”
His cheeks were red from either the sun or his temper. “Maybe you’re the only one who changed. It’s the same family, Maizy. You’re just seeing it with new eyes. Maybe if you hadn’t gone away, you wouldn’t be standing here trying to figure out why we’re too dysfunctional for you to be a part of.”
I turned around and neared the truck, twigs breaking beneath my steps. “You keep trying to blame me for leaving. I had to live in the human world to figure out who I was.”
“Figure it out yet?” he asked sarcastically from behind.
“When did you become so mean?”
“Mean?” Denver laughed and skipped ahead of me. “I haven’t changed, honeypie. You used to think I was funny.”
I still did, but maybe not so much on serious matters when I wanted answers. I just needed time to figure out where I fit, because I felt like a puzzle piece trying to slide into the wrong picture.
When we reached the clearing where the truck was parked, I confronted him. “Prince made me an offer.”
He stepped back. “For what?”
“What do you think? What kind of offers do Packmasters make to young women?”
Denver’s jaw jutted forward and his eyes skated to the side. “I guess a guy like him has a lot to offer if being his bitch is your thing.”
“Who said I was going to be anyone’s bitch?”
He exhaled sharply through his nose. “Guess you got the happily ever after you were always looking for. What the hell did you bring me out here for?” He stormed past me and headed for the truck.
“How can you just walk away so easily?” I shouted.
“What do you want me to do?”
I grabbed his wrist and he half turned. “Fight for me! Your wolf is willing to fight for me. Why aren’t you? If you don’t, you’re going to lose me, and I don’t know if that even matters because I don’t know if you wanted me in the first place. I have my whole life ahead of me, but there are some things that you can’t expect to stay the same. Sometimes you make choices in life, and sometimes life makes choices for you. Which is it going to be?”
He opened his mouth as if to speak and then fled. Maybe I’d gone a little overboard. I’d just gotten into town, and now I was expecting the man to declare his undying devotion for me? I’d been a fool to assume Denver felt the same for me as I did him. Not all love given is meant to be returned.
As soon as Denver approached the truck, he turned around, his eyes wide.
I slowed my pace. “What’s wrong?”
His brow arched high and he locked his fingers behind his head. “Looks like we have a passenger.”
Confused, I walked around him and peered into the truck bed. “Oh my God. Is that—”
“Aaron.” Denver leaned against the truck, resting his elbows on the open window of the driver’s side door. “This reminds me of that old song about the farmer who tried to kill his cat, but it kept coming back the next day.”
I slapped his arm. “This isn’t the time for jokes.”
“Well, they thought he was a goner, but the cat came back.”
I walked away and squinted up at the trees, listening to the cry of a red-tailed hawk. After he flew off, I peeked at the body and wrinkled my nose. Aaron was in the same position as before since rigor mortis had set in. “Why is he covered in dirt?”
“We buried him in a human cemetery. Austin figured no packs would accidentally find him there. Plus, it was kind of appropriate. He had a nice spot beneath a tree.”
“Well who dug him up?”
He motioned his head at the wolves. “Ask them.”
The black wolf at the edge of the woods took a seat and looked between us.
“You think Prince had something to do with this? What are you not telling me, Denver? Prince wouldn’t want any part of this. What are we going to do?”
He pushed away from the truck and used his fingers to comb back his semi-dry hair. “I’m on the fence between calling Austin and burying this asshole in one of the sand pits at the golf course.”
Chapter 13
After Denver called home and delivered the news about the body returning, Austin and William showed up in separate cars. William took me back home, and Austin stayed behind. As we drove off, I looked back and saw Austin kicking the tire on Denver’s truck.
I’d come to realize that no matter how much you tried to convince your family not to do anything for your birthday, someone was always going to do something special anyway. Lexi had baked an amazing sheet cake that was half chocolate and half white. She didn’t just spread canned icing on it either, but made fresh buttercream icing. The kids had helped decorate it with sprinkles of colorful candy—some of them arranged in the shape of smiley faces. There was enough to feed an army, or the Weston pack. Mom had a few gifts for me, including new clothes. We always disagreed where fashion was concerned, but my cutoff shorts must have been wearing her patience thin. She preferred me in blue since it matched my eyes and happened to be her favorite color, so of course there were two blouses that were more her style than mine.
After two scoops of strawberry ice cream, I played a game of checkers with Hendrix. It was becoming easier to differentiate the two since they each had their own unique personality and way of speaking. When Wheeler saw Lennon looking on, he took him outside for a game of horseshoes. Wheeler knew what it was like to grow up as a twin, so he intervened whenever the boys would get competitive.
Although I’d gone to bed early that evening, I found it impossible to fall asleep in my old room. One of the springs in the box mattress squeaked when I rolled over, as if no one had lain on the bed since I’d left. The sound of footsteps moved up and down the hall—a sound I hadn’t been used to in years. I heard Lexi stop Austin in the hallway outside my door, asking where he’d been. They had a brief argument before the passionate kissing began. They were two headstrong individuals who never went to bed angry. After their bedroom door shut, I wrapped my purple blanket around me and headed downstairs.
“Is anyone using the heat house?” I asked.
Izzy laughed from her spot on the sofa where she was painting her toenails. “No, but if there’s something you want to tell us, I’m all ears.”
The heat house was adjoined to the main house by a windowless hallway. It reminded me of a hotel with the dim track lighting overhead. Once I reached t
he room, I didn’t bother turning on the lights. I headed straight for the bed, my blanket still wrapped around me.
I tossed and turned, thinking about Prince’s offer. I kept seeing his multicolored eyes, feeling the power behind them as he gazed upon me. In a flash, those eyes changed to Denver’s. I remembered the way he’d kissed me in the old house, the feel of his rough hands around my neck and his masculine smell. While I’d grown up with Shifters, I wasn’t sure if what I felt for him was right or wrong. It felt right, but would the others see it as wrong? Denver had been my crush for more years than I could remember. I’d thought our separation would make me realize the feelings I had for him weren’t real and that I liked him because of how he protected me as no other man had, before or since.
But coming back home had only intensified all those old feelings, and they’d blossomed into something new and unfamiliar. I knew that was dangerous, especially if he didn’t feel the same. The last thing I wanted to do was create friction within the pack, so I decided the next evening I was going to have fun on my date and keep an open mind. I had faith that Naya would choose a man who wouldn’t be unkind or hurt me, because she loved me too much to set me up with a clown.
When I woke up the next morning, Denver’s wolf was sleeping outside my door. Our quarrel had nothing to do with his wolf, so I bent down and gave him a nice scratch behind the ears before eating breakfast.
Or lunch. Apparently without clocks or lights, my body had finally caught up on the rest I’d been craving for the past week. I had on my new clothes—white shorts and a purple cotton shirt that fell off the shoulder.
“Where are you off to?” Austin asked when I grabbed the keys hanging from the nail.
“I haven’t seen Ivy in a long time. I was going to head over there for a little while. I’m sure she’s already heard I’m back in town and it would be rude not to pay her a visit.”
Austin leaned on the wall, staring at the row of keys. “I think we might have to get you your own nail soon.”
“I’d need a car first, and that could be a while since I don’t have a job. One thing at a time.”
“Mel!” he shouted.
“Yeah?” a voice sang from upstairs.
“Maizy’s heading out to the Church pack.”
“Awesome! I’ll be right down!” Melody shouted.
Austin chuckled. “Tell Jericho!” Then he lowered his voice. “She’s always looking for a reason to have a sleepover with Hope.”
I hadn’t seen Hope in years. She was Lorenzo and Ivy’s little girl and close to the same age as Melody. “Doesn’t Hope stay over here sometimes?”
Austin turned his mouth to the side. “Church doesn’t think this is a suitable environment for his daughter.”
I laughed. “I see nothing has changed between you two. But I can see his point, especially given the body count. What’s been going on with that?”
He shook his head. “Denver thinks Prince is the one returning it to sender, but that doesn’t make any sense.”
“Did you ask?”
He huffed out a laugh. “I’m not about to accuse one of the most influential Packmasters in the territory of dumping a body on my porch. If it’s not him, he’ll be offended. It’s important to keep pack relations. That’s one reason I’d rather not return Aaron to his Packmaster. He’s a dangerous man. This isn’t about right or wrong; it’s about protecting my pack, and I’ll do whatever it takes to watch out for my family.”
“I know. It’s just a culture shock to go from living with humans back to Shifters. I know the rules and ways of life on both sides, so it’s hard for me to decide what’s right and wrong.”
Austin shook his head. “I lived in the human world too, Maizy. When it comes to pack life, there’s no right or wrong when protecting your family. You do whatever it takes.” He patted me on the head and then swaggered off.
“I’m ready!” Melody was dragging a long duffel bag with patchwork on it behind her.
“You’re ready for boot camp by the looks of it.”
She jumped from the step to the main floor and grinned. “We like to trade clothes. Plus I’m teaching Hope to sew in exchange for her teaching me how to make jewelry. Have you seen what she can do? It’s awesome.”
I chuckled softly and opened the door for her. “You two should go into business together someday.”
She brushed back her razor-cut hair and flashed me a smile. “That’s the plan!”
As I turned to leave the house, I noticed Spartacus buried in the pile of shoes in the corner, two golden orbs staring up at me. “Bye, Sparty.”
He poked out his pink tongue and began purring.
***
When we arrived at Lorenzo and Ivy’s home, we were greeted by Caleb, their second-in-command. He bowed graciously to Melody and she laughed, doing a silly curtsy in her black leggings and blue shorts.
“You have grown up before my eyes,” Ivy said, giving me a warm hug at the door.
Lorenzo stood behind her and smiled, inclining his head. Ivy finally let go and brushed her hands through my hair, giving me a detailed inspection.
“Such beautiful hair,” she said, admiring the gentle wave.
How strange to return home and find I was the only one who’d changed. The kids had grown, but everyone else had stayed exactly the same. She still wore her hair in a braid, had the warmest skin color and loveliest shade of brown eyes. So beautiful—especially now that I was old enough to appreciate a woman’s natural beauty. Ivy appeared to be my age but was one of the wisest women I knew.
“Melody, you shouldn’t be carrying that,” Lorenzo scolded, taking her heavy duffel bag. He lifted it as if it weighed nothing.
“It’s Mel,” she said. “Everyone calls me Mel.”
His brows angled in a disapproving slash. “That’s a male’s name. Did Cole come up with that?”
“No, Mr. Church. Where’s Hope?”
Caleb laughed, which made him look endearing. He had the face of an angel and blond curls all over his head. “I ask myself that every day,” he said, returning to the sitting room with some of the pack. They waved at me and I waved back.
Ivy closed the door just as a wolf scurried in. She swatted him on the nose and he wagged his tail at her before tearing up the stairs.
“Lorenzo, I’ve told you before I don’t like the wolves in the house unless it’s behind closed doors.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’ll take care of it, sweet Ivy.” Lorenzo stalked up the stairs and a young girl passed him on her way down.
“Oh my gosh, look how she’s grown,” I said to Ivy.
Hope had all the loveliness of her mother and the power of her father behind those brown eyes. Her hair was elegant, long, and silky. She hadn’t turned fourteen yet, but something about her was regal and more mature than Melody. While Melody had on mismatched clothes that were colorful and creative, Hope was more reserved in blue jeans and a brown bohemian shirt. She had the longest lashes—the kind every woman envied.
“Hi, Miss Maizy.”
I reached in my purse and pulled out a small piece of jewelry. “I brought this for you.” I handed her a stretchy bracelet with blue beads.
“Thanks! This is really pretty,” she said, immediately putting it on.
“I got one too,” Melody said. “See?” Hers was pink, and I’d given her first choice of the two. “Your dad took my bag up. I brought over some clothes for you to look through.”
Hope’s eyes brightened. “Is it okay, Mother?”
Ivy smiled. “You two go upstairs and have fun.”
The girls flew toward the back of the living room and up the staircase like a hurricane.
“Like peas in a pod,” Ivy remarked.
“You think?”
She walked toward the right with her cane, and I admired the Native American paintings, sculptures, and the overall warm feel of the house.
“Of course. Melody just wears her creativity on her sleeve, but they�
�re both artists and have much in common. Lorenzo is so protective of Hope that it’s impossible for me to get him to budge on certain matters.” She closed the door and I took a seat in a cozy brown chair by a window. “I think it would be good for Hope to spend time with the Weston pack, but she’s a daddy’s girl, and he’s afraid they’ll corrupt her.”
I laughed. “I turned out okay. Despite their rowdy behavior, their pack is probably no different than yours.”
She sat across from me. “You and I both know this, but headstrong Packmasters like Lorenzo aren’t as easy to convince. But I did manage over the years to get him to yield on certain matters. This has always been his room,” she said, motioning her hand toward a wooden chair on the opposite wall. “He wanted to sit like a king on a throne with his guests on the floor before him. I insisted on these chairs. It’s better to be on equal ground when speaking with your peers.”
I kicked off my flip-flops and pulled my legs up.
“What troubles you?” Ivy played with the bottom of her braid and worry filled her eyes.
“Can I speak to you in confidence? I love my mom, but some things I can’t talk to her about. I don’t want to burden Lexi with this because she’s going through something right now.”
“Should I be concerned?”
I shook my head. “No, but you always have good advice. I just need someone to listen who won’t judge.”
She shifted to her right side. “You don’t even have to ask for such things. If you don’t want my opinion, then I’ll just listen as a friend.”
Boy, did I need her opinion. “Don’t hold back, Ivy. I really want an unbiased view of all this.”
Her brows slightly arched. “This sounds important. I’m listening.”
Nerves balled up in my stomach and I wrapped my arms around my legs, peering at her over my knees. “So I’m having adjustment issues since coming home.”
“Understandable.”
“And… Denver is a big part of that.”
A knowing smile touched her lips. “I knew this day was coming.”
That struck me as a surprise and I pulled my tangled hair away from my shoulders. “What do you mean?”