Blood Bond

by Heather Hildenbrand

  It was a challenge, that much I knew, and if I was being honest, one too tempting to pass up. “Come on.”

  I led him past the gazebo where we’d talked last night—where he’d heard everything. Remembering the stark truth of my confession in the light of day did weird things to my stomach. Confessing it to my mom and Grandma had been one thing—their love was unconditional—but this was Alex. I stopped at the edge of the woods on the pretense of stretching.

  “About last night …” I began, grabbing my foot and pulling it behind me.

  “It was quite a story,” he said.

  “Is that it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve had all night to think about it, I just—I don’t know.”

  “I told you last night what I thought.”

  We’d both given up any pretense of stretching. He was looking at me with the same expression he’d worn last night. It made me more nervous than when he’d checked me out at breakfast. I swallowed. “I know, but maybe you changed your mind.”

  “I didn’t change my mind. Not about you.”

  His words seemed to reference more than just my blood type and physical capabilities. I purposely ignored that part. “Good,” I said. “I was afraid you’d be mad at me for not telling you about George right away.”

  “I wish you’d told me so I could’ve helped, but I’m not mad. I mean, I guess we’re even, since I didn’t tell you about working with Edie.”

  “Did you only take the scouting job with Kane because of Grandma? Or did you really want it?”

  “Both, I guess.” His jaw tightened. “I know you don’t approve, so don’t lecture me. Besides …” He scratched his head in a way that made him look suddenly unsure. “In a way, it wasn’t your grandma that made me agree to work against Steppe. It was you.”

  “Why me?”

  “You inspire me. To be better, or something. I don’t know. I mean, look at me, I’m not a spy. I’m a soldier. Always have been, always will be. When you really get down to it, the scouting thing is me. Being a Hunter is me, just like it was my dad. The spy thing, the revolution, is you.” He looked back at me, his expression carefully clear of any emotion. “Come on, chief, show me these woods.”

  He broke into a jog, and I followed. His words twisted me up inside. What did that even mean, “the revolution”? I hadn’t said anything like that. Is that what he thought? Is that what this was?

  And him agreeing to spy for Grandma, had he only done it because he thought it would make me happy? I’d half hoped he’d changed his mind on hunting with Kane, but that obviously wasn’t the case. He sounded like he missed it. Like maybe he wished he hadn’t left.

  Too many emotions, too many conflicting thoughts swirled inside me, and in the end, I was glad for the run. It meant we could be together without the burden of talking. Moments of silence—this was the one, sure time Alex and I could be friends.

  I had no idea how far we ran. I stopped estimating after mile four. Our pace was comfortable enough that I wasn’t hyperventilating—much. Alex was barely winded, as usual. Still, he motioned for us to stop when we reached a shallow creek.

  “It’s really nice back here,” he said, walking a small circle, admiring the green-leafed canopy that closed us in on the forest floor.

  I inhaled deeply, partly to catch my breath and partly in appreciation of the damp, woodsy smell that was inherently home to me. After the dry dustiness of the Nevada air, this was heaven.

  “I’d trade the humidity for the desert again, though,” he added.

  “Mm, not me.” I bent down at the water’s edge and splashed water over my face and arms to cool off. “Never thought I’d say that, but I missed the humidity right along with everything else. All that dry heat gave me a headache.” I rubbed water over the back of my neck.

  “Funny how even the stuff we hate about home, we can still miss.”

  “Are you thinking about anywhere specific?” I asked, straightening and drying my hands on my shorts.

  “Monroe, North Carolina. It’s a small town near Fort Bragg,” he said.

  “Like the military base?”

  “My dad’s family was army. Five generations.”

  “As in human army? But I thought they were Hunters.”

  “They are. They were. Doesn’t mean you can’t kill the old-fashioned way. Human war is just as good as Werewolf war. And when Werewolf war time is slow …” He smiled wryly. “I told you before, I’m a soldier.” Despite the smile, shadows framed his expression.

  “You’re whoever you want to be, Alex. You’re not your father.”

  His eyes clouded. “Yeah, I know that.”

  “Is that why you think you’re like them? You want war?”

  “Don’t you?” he asked. Fire laced his words, not just passion, but anger.

  “No. I don’t know.”

  “Something in you wants to fight. I can see it. It’s one of the things I first noticed about you.”

  “The question is, what are we fighting for?”

  “No, that’s your question. You’re bent on protecting the innocent, taking up a cause. Some of us don’t care nearly as much about the reason behind the bloodshed.”

  “Are you referring to Steppe or yourself?” My temper flared, heating my neck and rising into my cheeks. He was purposely baiting me and I couldn’t figure out why.

  “Do you remember what I asked you in Nevada?” he asked.

  “What?” The question threw me off balance.

  He strode up, his long legs eating up the ground between us. He leaned down, his breath a warm puff against my face. “When you told us about your metal immunity, do you remember what I said?” His tone was impatient.

  “You asked me what I was going to do about it.”

  “I know you don’t want to be involved,” he said quietly, “but sooner or later, you’re going to have to pick a side.”

  “So will you,” I shot back.

  “I thought my presence here made that clear.” All I could do was stare back at him. He was right, of course, but I couldn’t help but feel this entire conversation had gone completely askew. “My choice surprises you?”

  “Well … yeah.”

  “My purpose is to protect humans from Werewolves. Steppe kills innocent people for the fun of it. There’s a difference. I’m not completely evil, Tara.”

  “I know that,” I said. Of course there was a difference. A huge one. “Damn, you make me angry on purpose, and then I can’t think straight, and you win the argument.”

  He grinned, setting me further off balance with the abruptness of the gesture and the butterflies it caused. I hated that grin—because I loved it.

  “Why are you smiling?” I snapped. He was still standing way too close and I couldn’t breathe.

  “Because you’re half-naked and angry and your boyfriend would kill me if he could see us right now. I’m enjoying the look on his face while I imagine it.”

  I punched him in the stomach, hard enough to let him know he wasn’t funny. Then I stomped up the trail. “Time to go,” I called over my shoulder. When I was far enough ahead that he couldn’t see it, I smiled.

  Alex gave me at least a quarter of a mile head start before he yelled, “Race you!”

  “You’re on!” I yelled back—only because I was hoping if I left him far enough behind, he’d get lost and I’d win by default.

  No such luck.

  Somewhere around the two-mile mark, he passed me. By that point, I was too winded to talk smack. He knew it too, because he winked as he passed. The irritation propelled me, but it wasn’t enough. He was waiting in the gazebo when I broke through the trees.

  “You cheated,” I said.

  “How did I cheat?” he asked. He stepped off the gazebo and followed me across the yard.

  “I don’t know.” I hung my head between my knees, sucking air and staring at the toes of his shoes. “You just did.”

  He laughed. “You’re out of shape.
Two weeks out of school and you’re worthless. You know what this means, right?”

  I groaned. “No, we are not doing this every day.”

  “Yup. Every single one until you can at least keep up.”

  “Alex … I’m warning you. I will kick you if you make me run.”

  His brow went up, but he didn’t look nearly worried enough. “You’d have to catch me first, chief.”

  That did it. I charged.

  We hit the grass at the same time, him on his back and me on my stomach. I tried holding him still with my arm but he wriggled away. Like a snake. I caught his ankle when he wasn’t expecting it. He flopped back on the ground and I threw myself over him, trying desperately to get a grip on him before he escaped.

  “This part of training doesn’t start until tomorrow,” he said between blocks.

  His torso shook with silent laughter until he couldn’t hold it in any longer. Hearing it made me struggle harder. I landed a fist in his gut and he growled. His movements changed from defensive to offensive. Within seconds, he had me pinned underneath him. His hands held mine above my head and he straddled my torso.

  “Get off me,” I said.

  Alex grinned.

  “Tara? The others are …” My mother’s voice went from neutral, to confused, to decidedly pissed before it trailed off. I stilled. Alex rose and dusted his hands off, looking completely at ease and innocent. I, on the other hand …

  “Just finishing some offensive moves,” Alex said.

  I got to my feet, thankful the flush from my run covered the heat rising in my cheeks.

  “Riiight,” she said. She didn’t sound convinced but she didn’t argue. Her lips pressed together in a tight line, and I realized why she’d let it go.

  George stood behind her—with Wes.

  My mother looked from Wes to Alex and back to me with a smirk. “I’ll be inside if you need me,” she said, way too cheerfully.

  No one said anything as she walked inside. Alex wandered away to retrieve his bottle of water, as if the tension weren’t thick enough to cut with a knife.

  I watched Wes. “When did you get back?” I asked.

  “Just now.” His eyes flickered to Alex and then back. “Are you going to hug me or what?” I hurried forward. At first, he held me stiffly, his posture rod straight, but then his arms relaxed and the embrace turned familiar. “Missed you,” he whispered in my ear.

  “Missed you too,” I whispered back. “Oh.” I pulled away. “But I’m sweaty. Alex and I just got back from a run.”

  Wes gave Alex a sharp look. Tension—it took me a moment to realize it came from George, from the bond—pulled taut. I held my breath, waiting, and Wes broke into a smile and swooped down, planting a kiss on my mouth.

  “Didn’t bother you last time,” he said, his words full of innuendo, and I knew none of it was for my benefit. I sighed and let it go.

  “George,” I said, turning to him. The tension in the bond dissolved into happiness.

  “Hi, Tay.” He pulled me into his arms and lifted me off the ground. I laughed, enjoying the uninterrupted relief at seeing him whole again. No twitching, no feet tapping, no yellow eyes. He was more himself than I’d seen him in weeks. It made our entire trip worth it, all of the fear and lying and sneaking—none of it mattered, seeing him like this.

  “I’m glad you’re back,” I said. “I was worried.”

  “You couldn’t feel that I was all right?” he asked. “I felt you the whole time.”

  “I could, I just … it’s not the same as seeing you.” Something in my gut twisted when I tried putting my paranoia into words. Ever since the bond had formed, worry hovered like a cloud, threatening to consume me. Astor’s story haunted me. If something ever happened to him, especially now … I couldn’t live with that. “Some of it is still hard to read.”

  He frowned. “Are you sure you’re not still fighting it? Because I read you loud and clear.” His eyes flickered to Alex, then Wes. I didn’t bother checking to see if they’d seen it. I knew they had from the way George stiffened, how the connection between us filled with tension.

  “I’ll work on it,” I mumbled. I grabbed Wes’s hand and pulled him away.

  “Where are you going?” Alex called. “Training isn’t over.”

  “Lunch break,” I called back. “I have my rights. There are labor laws, you know.”

  I felt, rather than heard, George’s laughter. Maybe he was right; maybe I had been fighting it.

  I chose a path that led back toward the creek where Alex and I had run. I could’ve gone inside, probably could’ve used a shower, but I wasn’t so sure my mom would’ve approved of my break from training any more than Alex had. The woods were easier. Calmer. Quieter.

  “Where are we going?” Wes asked.

  “Away,” I said. I slowed our pace but kept his hand. He didn’t resist, but his hand felt stiff. “I thought you weren’t getting back until tonight.”

  “George has a lead foot. It was all I could do to keep up.”

  “And Cord and Logan?”

  “Logan and Victoria stayed behind to hang with Astor. We decided it’s the best place to hide Victoria for now. Cord’s driving to DC to check on her friend.”

  “The girl you went to see? The one who disappeared?” I asked.

  “Yeah. She’s going to ask around, maybe check with the girl’s family and see if anyone’s seen her. I think she’s worried about foul play.”

  “You don’t sound very bothered by it.”

  He stopped walking and turned me to face him. “I was more concerned with being here. Seeing you. After you left … I saw what that headache did to you. Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.

  Concern washed his features, just as deeply as it had when the pain had been present. I remembered the terrified look on his face when I’d managed to squint up at him through the pain, and felt horrible for putting him through it—for putting myself through it. All because I hadn’t wanted to accept what was happening.

  “I’m fine. George didn’t explain it to you?” I asked.

  “He did, some. I just … I needed to make sure, to hear it from you. Your phone’s off.”

  “My mother killed it.” His brows shot up, so I went on. “She and Grandma made me explain.”

  “Explain what?”

  “Everything.”

  His expression indicated he caught my full meaning. “The night in the woods? The hybrids?”

  I nodded. “The hybrids.”

  “How’d they take it?”

  “As expected. My mom cried, then grounded me for life. They’ve made me a schedule to train with Alex for my Hunter side and Jack for my wolf. They want me to learn to control it, I guess. Apparently, he and my mom have been hanging out so she can catch up on everything she’s missed in the past seventeen years.”

  “I know.”

  “What?”

  “The day Bailey …” His eyes clouded and he blinked it away. “I read it in Fee’s mind when I asked her about Jack. He was here.”

  Vaguely, I remembered a silent exchange between the two of them. “Speaking of Fee, how much trouble are we in for leaving?”

  “Derek told her the basics.” He grimaced. “I have kitchen duty for a month. You’re welcome.”

  “For what?”

  “I told her it was all my idea. She’s punishing me for both of us.”

  I smirked. “Well, thanks. Dishwater hands aren’t really my thing.”

  His expression remained serious. “She knows you’re shifting. They all do.”

  My amusement fell away. “What did they say?”

  “Cord said you better not get fleas.”

  I glared at him. “Of course she did.”

  He shrugged. “They don’t care, Tara. Not in the way you think. You’re family. Nothing will change that.”

  My heart swelled. It was exactly what I needed to hear. “They’re my family too.”

  We shared a smile.

  “
How are you, really?” he asked.

  “Much better now.” To prove it, I pushed up onto my toes and pressed my lips to his. This was nothing like the kiss he’d given me earlier. It was heavier, longer, deeper. Everything I’d wanted to do since Grandma pulled me away. The stiffness had melted off somewhere during our exchange. This was us, Wes and me. No one else.

  His arms slid around my hips, pulling me closer. It should’ve been gross, me, sweaty and dirty. But out here, in the woods, all it did was awaken me. I wrapped my arms around him so tightly that he stumbled back, but I didn’t care. I pushed harder until we sprawled on our backs, arms and legs tangled. He started to pull away, laughing, but I didn’t let him. Whatever had woken inside me needed this too badly.

  “Tara …”

  Just the sound of my name on his lips drove me on. My thoughts were hazy. All I could think about was his mouth on mine, his skin, his hands. I was vaguely aware of a sound being made, something like a growl, and then froze when I realized it was me.

  “Tara,” he said again.

  I sat up, breathing heavily, trying to understand what happened. I pulled a leaf from my hair. Wes sat up and I scrambled back a little as something else floated up from the back of my mind. Awareness and then … embarrassment. Why did I feel embarrassed? It was Wes, I had nothing to be—

  “Oh, no,” I groaned, covering my face with my hands.

  “What is it?” His hands were instantly there, against my back, my neck, soothing.

  “The bond,” I said. It came out muffled against my hands.

  “What about it?”

  “I can feel it.”

  “Okayyy,” he said slowly.

  He didn’t get it. I raised my head to look at him, my expression bleak. “I can feel everything George feels, all of his emotions,” I began. He nodded for me to go on. “Right now, he feels embarrassed, because he feels everything I feel too.” I waited.

  His eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I shook my head. I wished I were. “He knows what we were just doing?”

  “Yes.”

  Unbelievably, he laughed. I gawked at him until he got himself under control and, to my horror, tried to kiss me again. “Wes,” I hissed, pushing him away. “Did you hear what I said?”