The water level dropped as the light started to dim.
Vaughn was the first one to speak. “Is it over?”
Her heart pounded in her chest. She still had a heart in this form. And yes, she had—was?—a dweller now, but she was still Tessa. She was still herself.
She started to laugh. “Yeah. I think so.”
Marcus rose up on his knees, clawed hands curled and dripping water. He threw his head back and howled. The surge of emotion that flooded her was beyond anything she had ever felt.
“Victory.” She didn’t know if the thought was his or her own, and she didn’t care.
They had defeated the enemy. Protected their pack.
Tessa’s laugh turned into a deep roar, then she threw her head back and let her voice join Marcus’s in a howl that seemed to carry out all the fear and pain Edgar had brought into her life.
Behind her, she heard Vaughn say, “What the hell,” then he added his shaky voice to their song.
Marcus broke off the howl first, laughing as he stood. Tessa joined him as he turned to stare at Vaughn.
“When in Rome, do what the werewolves do.” Vaughn shrugged, then crinkled up his nose. “Ugh. You guys smell like burnt wet dog.”
Tessa laughed.
“Are you all right?” Marcus looked at her. She could sense tension and anxiety in him.
“I’m fine.”
“Tessa—”
She cut him off before he could start on a line of inquiry that would most likely push her over the edge. The adrenaline rush was distorting everything, making it easier not to think about her arm.
She wanted—needed—to delay processing that loss. First, she needed to process what she’d become.
“I’m. Fine. Are you?”
“Yes.” He kept staring at her.
Without thinking about it, she leaned forward and butted her head against his shoulder. “You don’t feel fine.”
“I had trouble controlling myself when I first changed.”
“You were alone. I have you.”
She felt a wave of…something stronger than affection. Something she wasn’t ready to name, but that echoed back to him. He reached for her waist, pulling her close.
Together, they let go of the energy holding them in their other forms. It felt like a long exhale, her body growing lighter, smaller. The world glowed blue around her, then faded back to the dim greens and grays she was accustomed to.
She had never felt more alive.
When the adrenaline faded and the reality sank in—of changing, losing her arm, of finally not having to look over her shoulder constantly—she had no doubt that she would well and truly freak out. But for the moment, all that she could think about was what she had gained from her sacrifice.
Freedom. A family.
“We did it,” she said. “It’s over.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Vaughn said. He stared at the puddle. “That’s usually when the bad guy jumps up behind the heroes and—”
“This isn’t that kind of story.” Tessa shook her head and laughed again. “I’m not living in a horror movie anymore.”
Brock approached them, still staring at the puddle. “Well, technically, you’re a werewolf who polices alien monsters, so…”
Tessa kicked him in the shin.
“Ow! Geeze, werewolf powers.” He bent down and rubbed the spot.
“Sorry,” she said. “I thought I was going easy on you.”
He grinned at her, then pulled her into a hug. She was hugging her brother—her brother.
Of all the things that had happened, this seemed the most impossible. The most miraculous. Her brother was alive. And they would figure out how to keep him that way.
Marcus rested his hand on her back. She felt Vaughn approach and reached for him, drawing him into her hug with Brock. Marcus wrapped his arms around the group.
Dexter was hovering a few feet away.
Tessa cocked her head back enough to look at him. “You want in on this?”
He smirked and shook his head. “No thanks. I’m good.”
“Don’t be a dick,” Marcus said. “We’re family.”
Dexter chuckled. “Funny, I would’ve thought you would say pack.”
“There isn’t a difference.” Marcus held out his hand.
Dexter stared at it for a moment, then shook his head again and walked to the group. Marcus put his arm around Dexter.
“Bring it in,” Vaughn said. “Group hug.”
Chapter Thirty
His pack was whole. Marcus wrapped his arms around them all—even Dexter. This was his family now.
“This would be a lot less awkward if Tessa and Marcus weren’t naked,” Vaughn said.
Marcus laughed. “You have a point.”
The group spread apart. Vaughn picked up Tessa’s soaked T-shirt and shredded pants. “You werewolves sure do go through outfits. This is why Marcus always wears a duster, by the way.”
Tessa nodded. “That finally makes sense. I guess we’ll need to get one for me, too.”
She smiled at Marcus and his heart seemed to skip a beat. He had never seen her look so purely happy.
And he could feel it. Everything she felt flowed into him, deepening his emotions, strengthening them—and him. He was calmer than he’d ever felt, more in control and balanced. The voice in his head had been silent for so long. Marcus couldn’t even sense its presence.
“If it’s really over, can we please go back inside now?” Vaughn said.
“It’s really over.” Tessa pulled Marcus along after the others. The moment they were inside, she headed for the kitchen. “I hope they didn’t eat everything. I’m starving.”
The apex ghouls must have been as well. Marcus couldn’t catch a trace of Tessa’s human blood anywhere.
He tried not to think about that too hard.
Tessa didn’t seem to have picked up on his unease, or she wasn’t talking about it. He was glad to know they could control the telepathy and wouldn’t share everything that passed through their minds. Still, he could sense the underlying turmoil of everything they’d been through, the trauma she hadn’t started to process yet.
He would give her the time she needed. And he would be there for her when she was ready.
“I’ll get you guys some clothes.” Vaughn was leaning against one of the walls. His heartbeat was finally slowing.
“Dexter, go with him.” Brock picked up one of the barstools, then slumped on it.
“Only after you stop borrowing Porter,” Dexter said. “It depletes your energy.”
Brock scowled at him.
A spike of fear drove through Marcus. Not from him—from Tessa.
“Are you really dying?” she said.
Brock’s scowl softened into a smile. “We can talk about that later, Chicken.”
“Don’t call me that.” She growled for good measure, but Marcus could sense her anxiety. He shared it even without their bond.
Brock blinked a few times, then sat up straighter. Porter let out a sigh.
“This could get tedious,” he said. “Brock gets us in trouble, then leaves before he has to deal with the repercussions.”
“Welcome back, Porter,” Marcus said. “You missed the excitement.”
“Oh, we were there for it. We just had a different perspective.”
“Back to using the royal ‘we’,” Tessa said.
Vaughn laughed. “You are really going to have to explain how that works. For the database, if nothing else. Or have you already entered yourself…selves?”
“We haven’t taken that step yet, but after today, we may have to,” Porter said. “Things will be changing among the Blades.”
“Oh shit.” Vaughn’s eyes were wide as saucers. “One of the other bases mentioned ‘the twins’ when we were talking about our bosses. I assumed they meant you guys. Were they talking about another pair of replicants?”
“Later,” Dexter said. “Come on.”
Vaughn was still as
king questions as they headed down the hallway that led to the bedrooms.
“This place is a mess,” Porter said. “Would you two mind?”
Tessa looked around at the demolished kitchen. “What do you expect us to do?”
All traces of the dwellers had vaporized, but the kitchen island was still on the other side of the room. Wires stuck up from the floor and broken tiles mixed with white froth from the fire extinguisher.
Marcus picked up the kitchen island, then set it back in place. “We can do more thorough repairs later.”
“That is so cool.” Tessa walked over to the island and picked it up and set it down a few times, pressing both forearms tight against it for grip.
Marcus was amazed at how well she was managing…everything.
“Werewolf strength is good for many things,” Porter said.
Her stomach growled.
“You’d better eat,” Marcus said. “A hungry werewolf is no one’s friend.”
“What’s safe?” She opened the refrigerator and started rooting around inside.
“Anything.” Marcus picked up two more barstools and set them near the island. “But meat will be your favorite. Too much raw vegetable matter will make you cranky.”
She laughed. Her excitement and happiness was so strong, it was palpable. He wasn’t even sure it was their connection making him sense it. Porter was smiling as he watched her.
Vaughn and Dexter returned with clothes.
“We come bearing…” Vaughn’s voice trailed off as Tessa popped her head out from behind the fridge door. She was holding half a brick of cheese in her mouth.
“Seriously?” Vaughn said. “I didn’t think your table manners could get any worse.”
Tessa bit off the cheese and chewed a few quick times, then mumbled, “I’m not at a table.”
“Things will certainly be even more animated around here now,” Porter said.
Vaughn shook his head as he handed Marcus a stack of clothing, then headed for Tessa as Marcus dressed. She bit down on the rest of the cheese, holding it with her teeth as she grabbed the top item of clothing and pulled it on awkwardly. Vaughn stood there with one eyebrow cocked. He had the good sense to not try to help. As soon as she’d taken the last piece of clothing he held, he lifted his hands and walked away.
“She might be a lost cause when it comes to etiquette,” Vaughn said.
She took the wedge of cheese from her mouth and pointed it at him. “Cut me a break. I haven’t had a table in years.”
“Okay, that’s fair.” He nodded and sat on one of the barstools.
Tessa piled the kitchen island high with food, tossing things onto its countertop straight from the fridge, then she started working her way through it. Marcus brought over another barstool for her to sit on, and stood next to her. He wanted to support her however he could. He still couldn’t believe what she had done—what she had sacrificed to survive. The smooth skin covering the end of her forearm was a harsh reminder.
“What do you suppose Edgar meant about me being the most dangerous of us?” Vaughn’s voice was still shaky. There was no joking lilt to his tone or playful smile to cover his nervousness.
“You’re the one who designs all our weapons,” Dexter said. “The Blades wouldn’t be nearly as effective without you.”
“Well, thanks for the first ever compliment.” Vaughn shook his head. “But that’s not what he was talking about. He tried to infect me and it didn’t take. And what’s a curator? Am I…not human?”
“We didn’t find anything unusual in your genetic screening when you came to work for us,” Porter said. “But we can run more tests.”
“Goodie.” Vaughn scowled. His attention was drawn back to Tessa as she picked up a hunk of meat and started tearing into it. “And…gross.”
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Sorry. I’m just really hungry.”
“Nobody wants to deal with a hungry werewolf,” Marcus said.
“The more I eat, the less I want to—” Tessa broke off her thought, staring guiltily at Vaughn.
Marcus knew what she was feeling without sharing it through her bond. He blocked himself from that emotion, not wanting to fuel it in her. Her dweller nature was telling her that Vaughn was prey. Whatever a curator was, Vaughn was the most human being in the room. Marcus knew it wouldn’t be long before Tessa fully adjusted and bonded with Vaughn as pack.
“I was the same when I first turned,” he thought to her. “You’ll feel it whenever you encounter humans for a while. But it gets easier to block those thoughts.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Just make sure you never let yourself get really hungry.”
“That’s less of a relief.”
He gave her shoulder a squeeze and smiled at her.
Vaughn broke into their conversation. “We’re well aware of how cranky hungry werewolves are. Just be sure to wash your hands when you’re done. And your face. Not all of us have your immune system.”
“Okay.” Tessa glanced at Marcus briefly.
Marcus opened one of the cabinets and pulled out the packages of jerky he kept around for when he needed to load up on protein quickly. She tore into the bag using her teeth.
“Does anyone else think this feels a little anticlimactic?” Vaughn said. “I mean, we just defeated two seriously bad baddies, Tessa’s a werewolf now, our bosses are…” He stared at Porter for a moment, then shook his head. “And we’re sitting around watching Tessa eat cheese and jerky.”
“Hey.” She shook her jerky at him, talking around another huge mouthful. “If you hadn’t had any meat or cheese in seven years, you would realize the importance of this moment.”
Vaughn laughed.
“I think we could all use a little peace and quiet to get our bearings,” Marcus said. “Tessa needs to learn about her dweller nature, and we all need to…settle in with each other again.”
He stared at Dexter. Things between them had changed permanently. Marcus wanted to be sure Dexter understood that.
“We’re going to have to take care of that on the job,” Porter said. “Dwellers don’t take vacations just because we’re changing up our ranks. We need you out on the street again as soon as possible.”
Dexter nodded. “And we need to overhaul our systems to make sure we don’t have a breach like this one again. We have some VIPs coming, and this place needs to be airtight before that happens. Unless Tessa isn’t interested in seeing Brock and Dad in person again.”
She stopped mid-chew, pressing her hand to the countertop. It took her a moment to swallow. Marcus could feel her excitement, her nervousness.
“Will they accept me?”
Marcus nuzzled the side of her head. “Of course they will.”
“They’re coming here?” she said. “Both of them?”
“If we can make the ranch secure enough.” Dexter turned to Vaughn. “Which means you have a lot of work ahead of you.”
Vaughn shrugged. “I am the tech guy. I have some ideas for screens we can place over the vents. Maybe an energetic filtration system that zaps—”
“We’re glad to hear it,” Dexter said. “But we need to make one more thing clear.”
Porter stood and walked to Dexter’s side. The closer they became, the more synchronized their movements. Marcus was surprised he’d never noticed it before. Their breathing, the angle of their bodies, even their heartbeats were in synch.
“You’re all still Blades,” Porter said.
“And we’re still the boss.” Dexter glared at Marcus, daring him to object.
Marcus didn’t care. Dexter and Porter could be in charge of the Blades. That didn’t make them his alpha. And when it came to his pack, Marcus knew that he—and Tessa—would be making the final calls.
Marcus nodded, then turned to Tessa. “How about it? Do you still want to join?”
“Do I get a hoverbike?”
Porter’s smirk deepened. “Once you learn how to pilot one, sur
e.”
“Can Vaughn make me a robot hand? Maybe one that stays on when I change?” She held up her right arm briefly, then tucked it protectively against her chest. “It’ll make me more useful in the field.”
“A cyborg werewolf on a hoverbike.” Vaughn looked stunned for a moment, then spun around in his chair to face Porter. “Please, tell me I can make her a robot hand. I’m not above begging.”
Porter let out a sigh. “We can discuss it.”
“In that case…” Tessa slid off her barstool, wiping her left hand on the back of her pants. She stared at Dexter and Porter for a moment.
With a smile, she straightened and said, “Reporting for duty.”
—
Thank you so much for reading Pack, the first novel in The Blades of Janus series! I love all these characters so much, and spend quite a bit of my time in Providence (at least, in my head). These characters and their world are dear to my heart and feel almost real to me. I hope you love them as well!
Tessa may be free of Edgar, but his shadow is still falling over her foster-brother, Brock. With time ticking down, will the Blades be able to work together to save their leader? Read on for a sneak peek at the second Blades of Janus novel, Progenitor.
“Please don’t kill me…”
“This is a dead end. Let’s head back to the bike.” Brock projected his thoughts into Dexter’s mind—which wasn’t hard, since they were sharing the same brain at the moment.
“If you’re bored, you can always visit one of your other replicants,” Dexter thought back. “Zach is tracking a kelpie in Europa.”
“No thanks. I’m sure you’ll find a dweller to deal with eventually. Providence is crawling with them. Present company included.”
“Thanks for the reminder.”
Dexter’s thoughts retreated. If Brock didn’t know better, he’d think Dexter was sulking. At least the distance meant he’d stop bugging Brock about going back to his own body for a while. Probably.
Brock wanted to stay near town mentally as well as physically. His family was finally whole again, now that he and his dad had found Tessa. With everyone living at the ranch along with the other Blades of Janus who were assigned to Providence, it felt like home.
Pack Page 27