by Mandy Rosko
She nodded. “So did he. Not that it surprises me, though.”
“It wasn’t his fault.” Shepard was quick to defend his vampire friend. “They tricked him. They starved him until he couldn’t think and told him you let them.”
“So that when your family threw me to him he would kill me?”
Shepard was the on to flinch this time. He hadn’t been there but Allen had gleefully filled him in on the gory details. They’d been in Nevada when it happened.
She lifted her arms so that might have a better look at her. “As you can see, it didn’t quite work that way.”
“He changed you instead.”
“Nearly bled me dry.” Shepard could tell from her tone that she was still bitter. Whether that was directed at the Shepard family or Jacob himself, Shepard had no idea.
“Your brothers tricked me. Then, after Jacob bit me, they threw me out in the desert for the sun and left me to die. I had to dig a pit in the sand to survive.”
“I’m sorry.” Shepard knew the words were useless before they left his lips, but they were all he had to give. “That’s why you were so determined to come with me to get him.”
She folded her arms. “I had to. If it had been up to you, he would be waiting another ten years on your false promises.”
“It wasn’t as simple as just letting him go.” Shepard shifted uncomfortably, like a school boy being scolded. Even though the statement was true, there was more he could have done. If only he’d tried harder. He’d failed Jacob and used him for all those years. Only hours ago, he’d agreed with Jimmy when he suggested that everything would have been better if they’d let Andrew and Allen stake him.
Fighting Weres and Zombies he could handle, standing up to his family was something different.
He really was a coward.
Shepard grimaced at the idea that perhaps Jacob might not want to see him again for what he’d done. Not that he would blame him.
Evey’s eyes bore into him. The only vampire he’d ever had a civilized conversation with was Jacob. During his Hunting days, he managed to convince himself that Jacob was simply one of a kind. No other vampire out there portrayed such human qualities; could be hurt, angry, or embarrassed.
First, he thought Jacob was the only one. Next, Gwen, when he discovered what she was. And, now, here was Evey, staring him down and hurt over his actions.
Her arms were crossed, she was waiting for him to say something but he was sure that nothing he said would make a difference. He realized what he’d done now, he’d made the people he’d hunted seem less than human to make the killing easier on himself. He’d taken away their human faces and thought of them as monsters. How could he have ever done that?
“What will the two of you do?” he asked.
Evey shrugged. “I can’t leave him here to stand before Bill alone, not that I have anywhere to live now because of your brothers.”
That’s right, her house was littered with bullet holes, not very safe for the daytime. And Jacob would stand trial for being a part of the team that attacked the Weres. He’d almost forgotten that.
“This pack owes you, they’ll let him off. Especially if I tell the pack master we forced him to do those things.”
“That is the least you could do.” With that, she walked away. “Goodnight, Eric,” she called.
A sheepish, “Goodnight,” was her reply.
Shepard blinked. He really was being followed.
***
Gwen’s hands shook around her coffee mug and she jumped when the kitchen door slammed. When no one appeared, she sighed and took a sip of her drink.
The hot contents didn’t ease her tension. She couldn’t help it, she was nervous.
She held the cup so tightly it smashed in her hands. She yelped and jumped away from the spill, shaking her hands out and cursing before sticking them under the tap and trying to pick out tiny pieces of porcelain.
Yeah, she was really nervous.
“You okay?”
She turned to see Shepard was standing in the doorway, watching her. She’d been so caught up in her thoughts and the broken mug pieces in her hand that she hadn’t heard him coming.
She put a nervous smile on her face, wondering how long he’d been standing there. “Thought I’d be asking you that.” A familiar scent caught her nose and Gwen realized David was being following.
He shrugged and waved it away. “He’s been following me since I left Elaine’s room. Just ignore him.” He went to the stove, grabbed a towel that was hanging from the rack, wet it in the sink, and began tending to her hands. They were scratched, barely bleeding, but the act made her flush. She liked having him so close, it almost made her anger at Eric disappear.
Her smaller hand fit into his bigger one perfectly, his face scrunched in concentration. He felt so warm, she was feeling warm now, too. She needed to occupy her mind with something else.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I guess. A lot of things happened tonight, so I just need a little time for this to sink in. Here, sit down.” He led her back to her chair and she sat while he knelt before her.
Gwen glowed under the attention, tiny shocks of pleasure dancing up her arm from where he touched her, temporarily making her forget about the pain in her palm. She reached out with her senses to touch his, only to remember that Eric was right outside the kitchen door. Her mood instantly darkened. He was probably following David around to be sure he didn’t escape, making it difficult for the two of them to have a private moment.
David sensed her change in mood and gently squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry about him.”
Gwen couldn’t believe his calm demeanor, she expected him to react differently than what he presented to her now. Perhaps it was just the shock of it all.
“I don’t blame them,” he said suddenly.
“Who?”
“My—” he stopped himself, as if re-thinking the proper term. “My adoptive family. I don’t blame them.”
“You don’t?” She wondered which blame he was talking about. There were so many…
“Not really.” He shook his head and carefully pulled a particularly stubborn piece of porcelain out of her hand. Gwen winced and flexed her palm. It would heal soon.
She couldn’t help her curiosity. She was sure anyone in his position would be angry. More than that. Vengeful. He was stolen from one life and given another more twisted one. “Why?”
“Because I grew up with them. I still think of them as my father and brothers. I spent years believing we were blood related, and even though we’re not, one conversation doesn’t take all of that away.”
Just as one conversation wouldn’t take away their distrust for each other. Or was the distrust still there? When had Gwen stopped seeing David as the killer hunter and started seeing him as the man she loved again?
“At least this will put you in a better position when you see Bill,” Gwen said. “I mean, if Elaine and I are right behind you, then there’s not much he can do but let you go. Being connected to me is one thing, but since Elaine is your mother you’re practically a part of our pack.” The thought was both lifting and depressing. Yes, the chances were better that Bill would release him unharmed, but then they might never see each other again. Practically a packmate didn’t mean he was a packmate. Unless Gwen were to admit that she thought he was her mate. She was almost sure of it at this point.
Shepard rose to his feet and threw the pieces of the mug into the trash before returning to wrap the damp cloth around her hand in a temporary bandage.
Gwen could tell there was something else. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit. What’s going on?” Her tone shocked him, but she wasn’t in the mood for more secrets.
He pressed his lips together and stared hard at her. “They think I was the one who shot your packmaster.”
“What!” Gwen stood, knocking over the chair. As soon as the shock wore off, she was furious. “I wa
s never told about this!”
“Elaine told me after she was finished explaining how I’m supposedly her…son.”
Gwen paced around the kitchen in a stomping fit. Of all the stupid ideas! He was with her, not shooting Bill! “How could they think that?”
“It wouldn’t be too hard y’know,” Shepard said, and Gwen realized she’d spoken out loud. She faced him, he was now sitting in her chair, leaning forward. “Think about it. You only saw me after I’d caught you, and then you passed out seconds later. Your word won’t matter if you tell them I was with you, and they’re not going to believe me,” he growled, low in his throat. “Even if they believed I didn’t shoot him, I’m still guilty by association. I was there and I had a gun in my hand.”
“I believe you,” she said firmly and loudly enough so that Eric could hear her from where he was spying. It occurred to her now that Eric probably wasn’t sent to make sure David didn’t escape, but to listen in case he were to implicate himself.
“Then there’s Jacob,” Shepard continued as if he hadn’t heard her. He had, but it was hard to listen to her telling him that she trusted him when he was the reason for all the chaos in the first place. “He was there too, and there’s no question that he was fighting. What’s going to happen to him?”
Gwen hadn’t thought of Jacob at all. With everything going on, she was nearly ashamed to admit that she’d forgotten about the vampire’s involvement. Bill wouldn’t have forgotten though. “Well …”
Shepard eyed her, wondering what she could say that would make the situation sound better. Instead, she closed her mouth and stared back helplessly.
He nearly laughed. “What a day, huh?”
Gwen could sense his despair and guilt. She took two steps forward and put her hands on his knees, looking him in the eyes.
“Don’t think like that.” She hated feeling such negative emotions rolling off of him. “None of this was your fault.”
He felt her hands on his knees and tried not to react, but his eyes moved to her lips. “And whose is it?”
She kissed him, a gentle, comforting caress. She didn’t even mind that his goatee tickled her chin. “Everyone’s,” she said after pulling away, only to kiss him again. “And no one’s.”
He slid his fingers into her hair and pulled her closer to deepen the kiss. She put her knee between his legs on the chair and gladly accepted him when his tongue touched her lips, asking for invitation.
She needed this, needed to feel him. Just touching was bringing back some semblance of normalcy. It made her forget the tension around her and reminded her of their days together, that he loved her.
A throat loudly cleared and they broke apart. Larry stood in the doorway with Eric behind him, having been relieved from his post of spying.
Gwen tensed at his grave expression but didn’t release her grip on David’s shirt, she was almost too afraid to ask, “What is it?”
“Bill’s here.”
***
Shepard had never seen this particular pack’s leading alpha before. The last time they were in the same area both were preoccupied, so when an older man with greying hair and a missing leg was wheeled into what had to be the living room to face them, Shepard was forced to choke back a shocked gasp.
Every pack master he’d come into contact with had been young, in their peaks of physical health. The image he’d been expecting wasn’t the one he received.
“Can someone get some chairs?”
“They can stand,” Bill said stiffly.
Apparently this pack valued their leader’s mind rather than a powerful body.
One look at Jacob standing next to him told him that the vampire was having similar thoughts.
Evey sat quietly behind them, beside Elaine and Gwen on a sofa that had been pushed against the wall to make room. If there ever had been chairs and a television set in the room, they had been removed to make the living room more spacious for the upcoming judgment.
Bill glared coldly at them and Shepard felt a tight knot in his stomach. The man Shepard recognized as Doc was standing behind his patient, wringing his hands. Obviously the man didn’t approve of Bill being out of the hospital so soon, regardless of how quickly Weres were known to heal.
“The two of you are responsible for attacking my pack, at my cabin, on our Moon Night.” His voice was raspy yet determined. Jacob flinched and Shepard spoke up.
“It wasn’t his fault, we made him. He wouldn’t have even been if it weren’t for—”
“Silence!” The command was sharp and Bill choked on it, coughing until Doc put a glass of water to his lips.
“That’s enough, it’s too soon. I’m taking you back.” He grabbed the handles of the wheelchair but Bill stopped him.
“If you even think of taking me out of here you’ll live to regret it.”
Gwen was stunned. She’d never seen Bill so angry before in all her life, but then he’d never had to deal with several dead packmates, two bullet wounds of his own, and two prisoners, both of whom had claims of innocence and pack members standing behind them for support all at the same time.
Jacob was staring at Shepard, shocked that the former hunter would readily come to his defense. Evey had the same expression on her face.
Bill eyed the two of them impatiently. “You're a hunter and you are his aid,” he said to them. “The both of you have been getting away with murder for too long, I’m stopping this tonight.”
Gwen inwardly screamed.
Evey flew to her feet. “Bill, I’m invoking vampire immunity for Jacob.”
“You can’t do that.” His hand clenched the arm of his wheelchair. Gwen thought he was about to pop a vein.
“Yes I can,” Evey shot back. “If you want him to face a trial then we’ll go to Griffon City and have it done by a head vampire. Either way, he’s not going to be judged by a Were with a bias.”
“I have no bias,” Bill said.
“Yes, you do. I’ll admit that it’s with good reason, but not good enough to judge someone outside of both your pack and your species.”
They both glared at each other for a minute, fighting to win.
“That probably is the best idea for now, Bill,” Larry said cautiously.
Gwen wondered why Evey hesitated before invoking the immunity, but dismissed it. She looked at David and saw him watching Evey with curious interest.
Vampire immunity? he asked. It seemed he was still getting used to talking to her like this because the look on her face suggested he didn't even know if she would get the message.
She was definitely still getting used to this, too.
Yeah, it’s a law. Not one that’s set in stone, mind you, but most packs and covens try to follow them, she said.
But, didn’t you and Evey kill off a coven of witches? Wouldn’t the same law extend to them?
Yes and no. They were attacking us first. What we did was self-defense and the head Warlock of the area agreed with us. Actually, he was pretty happy to be rid of them. She eyed him carefully. How do you feel?
“Gwen,” Bill rumbled.
She snapped her eyes toward Bill, he was staring at her with narrow eyed suspicion.
She swallowed. “Yeah?”
“What are you doing?"
Gwen froze. How was she supposed to tell him that she and David had that mental link that only mates were supposed to have? She hadn't even told David that yet.
"I..."
“Bill, I want to invoke Lunar,” Elaine stood up and said quickly.
Gwen looked up at her in shock. She was wringing her hands and gave off the emotions of a terrified woman.
“Elaine, you can’t do that,” Larry said, though he appeared more frightened than against it.
“Yes, I can! I’ve been a part of this pack for over a year, I’m qualified to invoke it,” she insisted, staring hopefully at Bill.
“Now that I can say no to,” Bill said.
Elaine sobbed and Gwen rose to her feet, putting an
arm around the older woman’s shoulders.
“What’s Lunar?” David asked, searching around as if he would find the answer.
Gwen felt sorry for him now because so much was happening that involved him that he knew nothing about.
“But, why?” Elaine sobbed. “He’s my son.”
“That has yet to be proven and probably won’t be after tonight.”
Elaine was shocked to silence and Bill’s eyes softened.
“Larry briefed me on the situation, so yes, I know. Even if he was yours, that’s exactly the reason why you can’t invoke it.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry.”
To his credit, he did actually appear sorry, but that didn’t help David at all.
Gwen wasn’t sure how to react. She could invoke Lunar but that would mean leaving her pack. But, what would she do if Bill decided to have David killed? She couldn’t let them do it no matter what they said.
She looked at him, he was rubbing a fist to his stomach and grinding his teeth. He needed a dose of potion again. She looked out the window, the sun had completely set, it would be a matter of minutes before the moon came out.
“Bill, we need to do this another time.” Gwen got up and went to Shepard.
“Young lady, sit down!”
Gwen halted, it had been years since anyone called her that. She had to gather her courage before she could speak. “The moon’s coming out, you’re not going to do any good—”
“I’ll decide what’s best for this pack.”
“By killing him?” There, she said it, and now everyone in the room was staring at her. It was strange how she felt proud of herself and really small at the same time.
Then the lights went out.
“What—?”
Shepard and Jacob knew what was happening. “Get down!” He threw himself over Gwen, the both of them landing hard on the floor just as the room exploded with bullets.
Everyone hit the floor, splinters from the wall showering over them. Gwen held on tight to David and tried to control the fear raging through her. How did he keep so calm?
Just as Gwen thought the bullets wouldn’t stop, everything went silent and dust clouded the room.
“Everyone all right?” Larry called.