HIDDEN (Hidden Trilogy Book 1)

by Yelden, T. J.

  With my thoughts constantly returning to Cade, I decided I needed a distraction. The following weeks I made an effort to finish up my college application and hoped they would accept me. Southern Oregon University was an hour away, and outside of McCoy territory. I’d asked Cassie. Chances were I wouldn’t run into Cade that way.

  A few days later, the subject of colleges came up again and that was when I also found out that Cade’s elite family school was just for shifters.

  “What do you mean, just for shifters?” I asked Cassie one night while we were studying at my house. Bree couldn’t be there since she was working with her Mom on some healing thing. We spent more time at my house now anyway, since there was less of a chance of running into Cade.

  “All the prospective alphas have to train as the High Council’s Enforcers for five years. They learn the ins and outs of laws, procedures, and protocols that govern our society. As well as get an up close and personal experience in the life of the High Council.”

  “Who would want to do that? I thought you said the High Council were a bunch of old, stuffy shifters?”

  “They are but every prospective alpha is required to serve for five years upon high school graduation. I think it’s their way of keeping track of the alphas and knowing who the trouble makers are. Just in case they get any ideas.”

  “Ideas about what?” I asked, curiously.

  “Like if they don’t like the way things are run, I’m sure the High Council would tamp out the rebels quickly.”

  “Tamp out meaning?”

  “Anything necessary to keep the peace.” Cassie replied. I shuddered.

  “Are they that strict?”

  “Tradition and order are important to them. Very important. They don’t take kindly to anyone opposing them.”

  “Why would anyone oppose them?”

  “You only know the bare minimum on the rules we follow. Besides, we aren’t the only ones, Kendra.” She looked at me quietly.

  “I know. You said there are other packs with their own territories.”

  “No, I mean shifters.” She paused before adding, “We are wolf shifters, but there are other kinds of shifters too.” My eyes widened.

  “Really?” Why didn’t I think of that before?

  “Yes. But according to the High Council, all other shifters besides wolves are secondary. Seen as less important.”

  “Why?”

  “Supremacy?” She shrugged. “I told you they are steeped in tradition and that’s the way it’s always been, as far back as I know. Everyone on the High Council is a wolf. Other shifters don’t get a chance to serve.”

  “That hardly seems fair.”

  “It’s the way things have always been.”

  “So, these other shifters. They would be the ones that would be the rebels?”

  “Most likely. They are the ones with the most objections.”

  “Are there any at our school?”

  “No. They aren’t allowed in our territory. They have their own schools.”

  “I never figured there would be more of you out there.”

  “Mom has some history books around home somewhere. It tells a lot about all the different shifters. Remind me to find you one next time we are at my house.” Speaking of her house…

  “How’s Cade doing?” I asked quietly. She sighed.

  “He’s moody. I swear his mood swings give people whiplash. He’s half smiling to reassure our parents one second, then he’s running out of the house, shifting midstride, and disappearing into the forest for a few hours. He acts like he lost his lifemate. Which can’t be, because you’re not a wolf.” She looked at me before asking, “How are you doing?”

  “I miss him.” I admitted. I didn’t add that it felt like a piece of my heart was gone.

  “Maybe you should talk to him. You see each other at school but you avoid him even though I know you want to be near him. He looks after you like a lost puppy.” She shook her head. “I don’t see the harm in spending time together if it’s what you both want.”

  “And what happens when he meets his lifemate?” I argued. “I get pushed aside and my heart-“ I cut myself off but Cassie finished the thought for me.

  “Will be broken.” She sighed. “Yeah, I can understand not wanting to go through that. But is what you are feeling now that different?” I didn’t answer. The rest of the night was spent on homework and we discussed the upcoming Christmas shopping trip we planned for Ashland.

  Cassie followed through on her word and handed me a history book on shifters the next time I was at their house to work on the car. Everyone always gathered around when it was time to work in the garage. It was almost normal if it weren’t for Cade’s steady gaze on me. I made it a point not to look at him. Brody was good about cracking jokes to try and lighten up the mood.

  Bree would try to smooth the tension over with little known facts about healing she picked up from her Mom, Diane. Apparently being the Omega was super awesome. Bree was working on projecting emotions of calmness through touch that would help diffuse stressful situations, which could otherwise escalate into an all-out battle if left alone. She admitted that she tried it on me a few times before I knew about wolves. To say I was surprised was an understatement.

  I also witnessed her healing abilities when Hunter accidently cut his hand open while working on the car. As soon as Hunter hissed in pain, Bree ran over to him and picked up his cut hand. I watched in amazement as she concentrated and the wound slowly sealed. Like it wasn’t even there. A beat passed where Bree was ecstatic as she managed to seal the wound and looked up at Hunter in happiness. Hunter looked sucker punched. I couldn’t tell if he was surprised by Bree’s achievement or that Bree was smiling up at him. The smile fell from Bree’s face and she retreated back to her seat. To cover her awkwardness, I asked about their natural healing abilities. Brody informed me that if they shifted it helped the healing process speed up, although nothing was as fast as an Omega’s ability.

  The week leading up to our shopping trip, I read through the short history book that Cassie gave me. No other history book ever held my attention like that one. There were so many different kinds of shifters. Cougars, panthers, lions, tigers, foxes, grizzly bears, polar bears, hawks, eagles, just to name a few. How could they not have any representation on the High Council? I didn’t understand it, nor did I believe it was fair. There was one small blurb about how other shifters besides wolves used to be represented on the High Council but that was over 200 years ago. A power struggle of some sort brought about the change in leadership. Wolves had been in power ever since.

  I tried to do a little research on my own, about what I was, since I needed things to keep me busy. But when you don’t know what you are, or what makes you different, well, you don’t really have a good starting place. To everyone’s frustration, Liam and Mica still hadn’t figured out anything either. They said they had a few leads, but wouldn’t tell me what. I had mentioned my mother’s name, Clara, in the hopes that it might help them. So far, nothing had come up.

  My sketches and drawings had taken a turn for the bizarre, but maybe I could chalk it up to all my lessons on other shifters. They were starting to contain depictions of other animals, in all shapes and sizes. I couldn’t seem to get the details right, like they were in a haze and you couldn’t pick out the true image. But I knew what it was. A panther seemed to be the only image I could draw with detail. My dreams were the same way. I knew it was connected to what I was, but I had no way of knowing for sure.

  My hearing seemed to be improving too, which I found extremely weird. There were times at school when I had my head down as I worked on my homework and I could hear Tyler talking with his friends about some sports thing. I’d look up to comment, then frown when they were nowhere near me, but across the room. How could I have possibly heard every word? I didn’t mention that, or the new developments in my drawings and dreams to any of the pack. Things were always better swept under the rug anyway, right? />
  Finally our shopping day arrived. Cassie planned to pick me up at my house before her, Bree, and I continued on to Ashland. I assumed it was just us girls, but I should have known that a trip outside of Pack territory would mean an escort. When I stepped out of the house that morning, I wasn’t prepared for what greeted me. Hunter and Cade waited on the driver’s side of a silver Chevy Tahoe. Bree and Brody stood on the other side. Cassie was making her way toward the front door but stopped when she saw me standing on the front porch.

  “Surprise,” she smiled hesitantly and bit her lip. I looked from her, to the others surrounding the Tahoe, then back to her. I raised my eyebrow in question. “Yeah, sorry. I couldn’t leave them home.” I made my way to her and stopped a short distance from her.

  “Whose idea was this?” Thinking Cade was the usual culprit.

  “Dad’s actually.” Cassie admitted. I looked to her in surprise. “Since we are leaving the territory he wants us to have enough protection to be safe.”

  “So we have to bring Brody, Hunter, and Cade along.” I noted.

  “Well,” she hedged.

  “What?” I asked suspiciously.

  “A few of Dad’s Enforcers will be tailing us also.” I blinked at her.

  “Come again?” I asked. Hunter stepped up beside us.

  “The Alpha’s daughter needs to be protected. We don’t want other packs getting ideas that kidnapping Cassie would broker a deal with Liam.”

  “Who would make a deal with kidnappers?”

  “We wouldn’t,” Cade answered softly as he approached our small group slowly. “But other packs are sometimes desperate.”

  “Desperate for what?” I asked.

  “Let’s continue this conversation in the car.” Bree called. We made our way to the SUV and both Bree and Cassie jumped into the back seat. Hunter slid behind the wheel and Brody folded himself into the front passenger seat. This left me in the middle with Cade. I had great friends.

  “So why the added protection?” I asked as Hunter turned the car around and headed out of town.

  “Our pack is pretty strong.” Cassie explained from behind me. “A lot of packs want a treaty with us, others just want what we have.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Power and Money.” Cade supplied. I glanced over at him and noted that he was watching me. I couldn’t very well ignore him when he sat right next to me. Cade continued with his explanation. “Our pack is strong because we have a lot of members. There are some packs that have less than ten. Our territory stretches across thousands of acres, while others only a few hundred.”

  “How would smaller packs be a threat to you?”

  “Blind ambition and stupidity.” Cade answered. “They would try to cement an alliance with our pack by forcing an alliance as the deal to return one of our pack members.”

  “Would you do that?” I asked skeptically.

  “No. We would hunt down the pack that took one of ours.”

  “Aren’t there laws against that? Wouldn’t the High Council have something to say?”

  “The High Council leaves pack disagreements to the packs. The only time they get involved is when humans run the chance of finding out or an all-out war is imminent.”

  “Or when other laws are tested.” Hunter added.

  “So what laws do they oversee?”

  “They mandate that all prospective alphas serve as Enforcers for five years, communicate with the other high councils across the world, suppress any unrest-“

  “I didn’t know you had other High Councils.” I interrupted, surprised.

  “Each continent has their own to oversee their territory.”

  “Huh.” That was something to think about. I thought back to Cassie’s statement about their pack Enforcers following us. “So every time you leave your territory you have to have extra Enforcers?”

  “Yes. Just to be safe.” Bree replied, and then added, “But don’t worry. You won’t even know they are there.”

  “Right.” I nodded, unconvinced.

  The hour long drive to Ashland was interesting. Bree and Cassie kept up a constant stream of conversation. All the while I could feel Cade watching me. Was he waiting for some sign from me? I still firmly believed that we were better off without each other, but my will was slowly deteriorating with time. There was an unexplainable pull to him that I couldn’t stop thinking about. Or ignore.

  Hunter pulled into one of the shopping districts of Ashland and we all piled out of the SUV. I could see and feel the trepidation on the boys’ faces in regards to the long shopping day ahead. I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. It felt…good. When was the last time I laughed? Cade’s eyes snapped to me and a small grin tugged at his lips.

  “What’s so funny?” Brody asked as he looked around before his eyes landed on me.

  “You guys hate shopping.”

  “Yeah, we do. But we can suffer through one day.” Brody sighed and Hunter scowled. I didn’t think he agreed with Brody’s statement.

  “Where to first?” Bree asked.

  “Let’s start on that end and work our way to the other.” Cassie said with a gleam in her eye. Brody groaned and Hunter shook his head. Cade didn’t say anything as he stepped up beside me. I didn’t look at him as Cassie and Bree lead the way, with the rest of us trailing.

  The morning shopping wasn’t too bad. There weren’t as many people around and we managed to pick up a few things. I bought a new shirt and scarf for Nicole, thinking she would appreciate it. The boys, mostly Brody, requested we go to the hunting store. We obliged since they were being good sports about waiting for us. I managed to find some outdoorsy items for Steve that Brody and even Hunter said he would like. They said it would come in handy as a Ranger. I took their word for it. Bree and Cassie looked over running shoes and debating the best brand. Apparently when you ran as fast as wolves in your human form, having a good pair of shoes was imperative. We continued down the chain of stores when I noticed we were passing a gallery. I had to stop.

  “Hey guys?” They all turned to look at me. “I’m going to take a quick look around, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all.” Bree assured as she backtracked and stepped into the store. Everyone else followed. I perused the wall hangings with different paintings and frames available. Someday I wanted to be good enough to sell my work. I hoped after college I would be ready and able to do something like that.

  “Which is your favorite?” Cade asked softly beside me. Without glancing at him, I pointed to the one to our left.

  “The lake scene.”

  “It’s very pretty.” He commented. We stood there admiring the art for a few more seconds before I cleared my throat.

  “I hope someday I can sell my work.”

  “I’m sure that day will come. Your work is fantastic. Anyone would be proud to own one of your pieces.”

  “Thanks,” I said with a small smile. When I moved to pass in front of him, he stepped back slightly to allow me more room. He then trailed me around the room as we continued to look at the different paintings. We talked a little about one here and there, and I found that he agreed with me on most about which ones we liked. I enjoyed talking to Cade again. It seemed since the conversation in the car, a wall was torn down. And I had no chance to rebuild it. Not that I wanted to. We continued walking around the store and I especially admired a rustic wood frame that made it seem aged. I thought it would look good around one of my drawings of the Pack. I ran my finger over the frame lightly.

  “You like that one?” Cade asked.

  “Yes.” I replied simply.

  “Kendra, the boys are getting antsy. You ready?” Cassie called. I turned my head and noticed both Brody and Hunter stood near the entrance trying not to look bored, and failing miserably. I nodded and both Cade and I followed them out of the store.

  We decided to have lunch at the food court. Brody thought this was the coolest idea since he could go to multiple places and not look like a pig.
How he came to that conclusion I’ll never understand. I had to laugh as he bought food from four different places and sat down happily to eat. We talked about what else we needed to buy, Brody and Hunter assuring us that we had enough. I grinned as I finished my food. I needed to run to the restroom before we started shopping again but wasn’t sure of the protocol. If they were that worried about other packs making a play against theirs, I doubted they would let me go alone. Not that I was a “real” pack member, but I could still be used as leverage.

  “I need to use the restroom.” I said to no one in particular as I stood up. Cade stood up with me.

  “I’ll take you.”

  “You know you can’t go in the woman’s restroom with me, right?” I teased to lessen the awkwardness. A small grin graced his lips.

  “I’ll wait outside.”

  “If you give me a few minutes I can go with you.” Cassie offered.

  “If you don’t have to go, don’t worry about it. One of them would have to come with us anyways.” I pointed out.

  “All right.” She nodded. Cade and I turned and made our way to the public restrooms. He stopped in the hallway leading up to the doors as I continued inside. I just started to round one of the walls when I collided with a body coming from the other way.

  “Oh! Sorry.” I apologized. The other woman, a girl about my age I realized, backed up and studied me. We were the only two in the bathroom from what I gathered and I was a little unnerved by her steady gaze. “Do I have something on my face?” I joked, as I peered around her to look in the mirror.