Stolen Relics

by Karina Espinosa

  I handed it over to him. “Bottoms up.”

  He winced and took it from me, putting the glass to his lips. Hesitating for just a moment, he threw it back and choked on the bitter liquid, almost spitting it out before swallowing it all down. He fell to the ground on all fours, dry heaving and coughing, spittle flying from his mouth.

  I dropped to the ground with him and placed a hand on his back, rubbing circles. “It’s okay, Ollie. Just breathe.”

  He screamed as his whole body shook, the tonic taking hold. I could only watch in horror. There was nothing I could do to lessen the pain. We sat on the floor for about thirty minutes until the pain began to dull, and by the end, he was in the fetal position, shivering as if the room was freezing. I draped my body over his, hoping to warm him up and stop the shakes.

  “Is it almost time?” Ollie croaked beneath me.

  I typically didn’t wear a watch, but I did tonight since I knew that down here, we wouldn’t be able to feel the moon.

  “You should feel your first bone break very soon. I’ll get the next tonic ready.” I started to get up, but he latched onto my forearm.

  “D-don’t leave me,” he stuttered as a shiver wracked his body.

  I looked over at the bottles lined up by the cage bars and looked down at my brother, whom I’d never seen so vulnerable before.

  “AH!” he screamed and arched his back. Even without my sensitive hearing, I could have heard the sound of bones cracking. It was his spine. He squeezed my forearm so tightly, I thought I would lose circulation. His body contorted in ways that weren’t humanly possible.

  “It’s going to be okay, Ollie,” I whispered over his screams. “Breathe through the pain.” I tried to hold on to him, but he was moving so much, his arm snapping, his legs kicking and distorting, that eventually I had to let him go so he could shift freely.

  His screams were unnatural. Though Ollie’s eyes were squeezed firmly shut, tears poured out and streamed down his cheeks. Sweat glistened all over his body as he exerted an enormous amount of energy. He was gritting his teeth so hard I thought they would crack.

  I didn’t realize I was crying until I licked my lips and tasted the salt. I ran, stumbling from the effects of silver, over to the bars of the cage and grabbed one of the tonics. Bringing it to Ollie, I gripped his cheeks and squeezed his mouth open. I poured the liquid down his throat and he almost choked on it, but it went down. Within seconds, his body relaxed a bit and I threw the empty bottle across the room.

  I held on to my brother as his body paused in the transformation cycle. He’d blacked out from the pain. He was completely disfigured, and I couldn’t stop the sobs that wracked my body. I stroked his damp hair away from his face and checked to make sure he was still breathing.

  After almost an hour, the screaming commenced again. It continued for hours, but it wasn’t until midnight that I started to see the wolf. His human legs formed into hind legs, and his face now fit a snout. By one in the morning, he was in full wolf form.

  He was beautiful, his coat a dark, glossy brown with silver highlights, and his eyes a golden shade of bright yellow.

  He lay on the concrete floor, exhausted and breathing heavily for several minutes. I gave him his space and didn’t approach him. After a while, he stood and started to scan the area. He was wobbly, the silver of the cage making him weak, but when those yellow eyes landed on me, he growled. I dropped to one knee and bowed my head, giving him a submissive pose and extending a hand for him to sniff. Tentatively, he approached me, taking a whiff of my hand and prowling closer to my face. His canines were white and sharp, and he was snarling.

  “Ollie, it’s me,” I whispered. “You’re still in there. Don’t let the wolf take over. Take control.”

  He huffed and the air blew my hair back, but I didn’t dare lift my head just yet. After a couple of tense minutes, I jerked back in surprise as he licked my face.

  I lifted my head and laughed. “Is this your version of a wet willie?” I joked, and he did it again. I smiled brightly and went to rub him behind the ear and down his coat. “Good job, Ollie. You did it. After this, I promise I’ll never let you get hurt again.”

  Ollie backed away from me and started to pace the cage, and I knew he was itching to get out of there. We were both weak and tired from the silver, but we were stuck there for the night. Tomorrow would be different.

  “How did he do?” Jackson asked as we sat around a dying fire in the woods. After leaving Ollie in the basement to sleep and get some rest, I went searching for Bash. Instead I found Jackson in human form, sitting on a log by a fire. It was odd because the temperature was already sweltering, and the fire only amplified the heat.

  “He did great,” I beamed. “The first couple hours were rough. I didn’t realize how long it would last, but he finally broke through around one in the morning. And when he did, it was amazing.”

  “Did he recognize you?”

  I shook my head. “Not initially, but I told you, Ollie is strong. He was able to get control of his wolf.” I pushed Jackson playfully. “He had yellow eyes, though. I thought he might have—”

  “I know what you thought, Kenz.” Jackson smiled. “But only MacCoinnichs have silver eyes. No matter what.”

  I knew that. Obviously, I did. It had been drilled into me since I found out about my lineage. I just hoped that by some miracle … Well, I didn’t know what I hoped for.

  “I heard your pops is coming to town,” Jackson said, kicking some dirt into the fire to let it die.

  “News sure travels fast,” I snorted. “Did Bash tell you?”

  “He told my dad and I overheard.”

  Of course he told Charles that the King was coming. Charles Cadwell was such a suck-up. Our relationship still wasn’t anything to write home about. The guy hated my guts and continued to blame me for Jonah’s death. Not like I didn’t carry enough guilt already.

  “Alexander will be here Monday. He was going to come for the weekend, but I told him about Ollie shifting and that I wanted privacy.” I sighed. “Bash told him everything.”

  Jackson’s head snapped toward me. “Like, everything?”

  “Yup. He’s pretty much coming here to reprimand me.”

  He twisted his mouth. “Do you know that for sure?”

  “No.” I rolled my eyes. “But that’s what it feels like.”

  “You’re so dramatic, Kenzie. Alexander worries and cares about you a lot, and he’s been itching to come out here for a long time. This was probably just the perfect opportunity,” Jackson said, like the reasonable adult he was. I, on the other hand, was irrational.

  I shrugged. “I just feel like a little kid. I’m trying to be more responsible, but everyone still handles me.”

  Jackson snorted. “I don’t know what universe you live in, where you think someone is able to handle you.”

  I punched him in the arm. “I’m being serious, jackass.”

  “I am too. You’ve never let anyone control you. It’s what started the whole rebellion. Why are you getting it through that thick skull that someone is?” I looked away and didn’t answer him. Instead, I stared at my sneaker-clad feet as if the answer was there. “Just because you’ve simmered down, doesn’t mean you’ve lost your touch, Kenz.”

  “But don’t you miss it when I used to—”

  “No,” Jackson cut me off. “You were a nightmare.”

  I gasped in mock horror, then we both burst out laughing. We hung out in the woods for a while until we realized no one was coming to look for us. We made our way back to the estate and found Bash and Charles in front of the house.

  “There you are!” Bash said as we walked out of the tree line. “I expected to find you in the basement.”

  “I thought I’d let Ollie get some sleep.”

  Charles Cadwell, the Alpha of the Northeast region of North America, stood in a pair of jeans and a tucked-in polo shirt. His chestnut hair was combed back in waves and his eyes were the same as Jackson’s,
a burnished milk chocolate. He stood stonily beside Bash, eyeing me with such hatred and disdain it practically radiated from his pores.

  “Mackenzie,” Charles said. “A pleasure, as always.”

  “Charles, how are you?” I tried to plaster a genuine smile on my face, but it felt stiff.

  He ignored me and got right to the point. “I hear your father is coming for a visit, after another disappointment of yours. Such a shame this is what the Lycans’ future holds.”

  Bash stiffened and glared in his direction but didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. That was his Alpha and he was already on thin ice. I didn’t blame him.

  Jackson, however, wasn’t under the same allegiance. “Father!”

  I placed a hand on Jackson’s arm to stop him. “It’s no secret I make mistakes.”

  “Of course they’re not secrets. You’re so loud, the whole community is aware of your every move!” Charles spat disgustedly.

  I gave him a tight smile. “Yes, it does make me well known. Liked by some, feared by others. Almost like how a ruler should be, wouldn’t you say?” I tilted my head, but he only glared at me. “The important thing is that I learn from my mistakes. That’s what will make me a good leader. And at the end of the day you’re stuck with me, so quit your whining.”

  As Charles marched toward me Jackson moved to stand in front of me, but I pushed him aside. I could face off with his father. The last person on the planet I feared was Charles Cadwell.

  He got in my face and I smirked, only pissing him off further. “You will not survive in our world, and Alexander won’t always be there to save you.”

  I almost let my smile slip, but regained my composure quickly. Alexander had been saving my ass a lot recently. “I don’t need saving.”

  He grunted and stormed off.

  We all stood around awkwardly for a moment until Jackson cleared his throat. “Well, that was fun.”

  I eyed him. “Your dad’s a dick.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” he mumbled and walked over to Bash. I followed him and Bash pulled me into a one-arm embrace. He smelled like a mixture of the woods and his soap. He must have just shifted.

  “How did Oliver do?” he murmured into my hair as he kissed the top of my head.

  “Why don’t you see for yourself?” I pulled him towards the house and Bash and Jackson followed me down the hallway to the end, where I’d left the door slightly ajar. I pushed it open and we headed down the stairs to find Ollie pacing anxiously inside the cage. His coat bristled at the sight of us. Bash approached the silver cage, keeping his distance to prevent the affects from hitting him. Ollie growled and snarled at him, adding a sharp, barking sound as he snapped his canines.

  “Bad pup,” Jackson teased, and I elbowed him.

  “He’s not a pup,” I grumbled and watched Bash as he stared Ollie down.

  “Heel,” Bash demanded, and I tensed. What is he doing? My brother growled defiantly and I took a step forward, but Jackson held me back, shaking his head, silently letting me know not to interfere. “Oliver Grey, heel!” Sebastian’s voice boomed in the basement and I felt a chill run down my spine. He was in full Alpha mode.

  Ollie stilled, his amber eyes glowing as he stared into Bash’s sapphire eyes. Suddenly, he plopped down, laid at Bash’s feet, and started to whine.

  I tugged on Jackson’s hold, but it was firm and he wouldn’t release me. I wanted to go to Ollie. For some reason, I felt compelled to stop this.

  “He’s not you,” Jackson whispered in my ear. “Oliver must be initiated just like everyone else.”

  “Shift!” Bash commanded, and I felt the power exuding from him. It was strong and directed straight toward Ollie.

  Before our eyes, my brother shifted back into his human form. It was a little messy and painful at times, but once he got the hang of it, it would be easy. After a few minutes he was lying on the concrete, naked and sweaty, breathing heavily.

  I ripped myself from Jackson and grabbed the blanket on the table and ran toward the cage. I was about to open it when Bash extended his arm over my chest and stopped me.

  “He’s a big boy, Mackenzie. Leave him.”

  My mouth fell open, but nothing came out. I looked over at Ollie, heartbroken to see he could barely lift his head on his own. I clutched the blanket tightly against my chest, slapping Bash’s arm away. Jackson steered me to the side and away from the power struggle unfolding before us.

  Sebastian opened the cage door but didn’t go inside. He knelt on one knee and beckoned Ollie over. My brother dragged himself over with trembling arms. I couldn’t stand seeing him like this.

  “Oliver, you have completed your first full shift,” Bash said, his voice neutral. “Now you must join a Pack. I have petitioned for you to join mine. If you accept—”

  “Wait a fuckin’ minute!” I exclaimed and flung the blanket across the room. “Who the hell said he wanted to join a Pack?”

  “Kenz,” Jackson started as he tried to calm me down.

  I pulled away from him defiantly. “Don’t Kenz me.” I squatted down beside a frustrated Bash and looked at my brother. “Ollie, listen to me, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. If you want to be free, you can be a lone wolf. Joining a Pack isn’t your only option, no matter if that’s how they present it. I’m a lone wolf.”

  “You’re a MacCoinnich,” Bash scoffed. “Your case is different. It’s still not safe for lone wolves. He’s better off joining a Pack. You know this, Mackenzie. Don’t make this difficult.”

  I bit my lower lip and stared at my big brother. I only wanted what was best for him. Bash’s Pack wasn’t bad, but at the end of the day they were still Pack. Men had it better, but Ollie was coming from a human life where he had choices. In a Pack culture, they would tell him what to do—what his occupation would be, who he could mate with, everything. The Lycan had their whole lives to learn to be okay with that. My brother didn’t.

  “Kenzie,” Ollie said breathlessly. He picked himself up and leaned on his elbow. “Sebastian has already explained everything to me. He told me what you’ve done, and I think you’re amazing.”

  “But … ?” I said, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears.

  “But I come from a structured environment in the military. I believe in teamwork and family, and I can get all that from the Pack. I also know the downsides. Sebastian didn’t hold back when he told me the good, bad, and the ugly. I’ll be okay.”

  Bash reached for my hand and squeezed tightly. “I’ll take care of him, Mackenzie. You have my word.”

  I nodded silently, because there wasn’t much else I could say. I had to respect his decision. It wasn’t mine to make, and he knew what he was getting into. That was the important part. He wasn’t going in blind.

  4

  Scrubbing the toilet bowl really gave you a whole new perspective on life. In other words, I decided to get a cleaning lady because living with guys made this chore traumatic.

  “None of you are allowed to use this bathroom!” I shouted from the downstairs bathroom as I waved the toilet brush in the air.

  Bash popped his head inside. “Don’t complain. When I cleaned our bathroom, I pulled a wig out of the shower drain.”

  “Shut up!” I glowered at him and threw the brush at his face, but he ducked just in time.

  I heard his laugh all the way upstairs and I hurried up to finish cleaning. We were getting the house ready for Alexander’s arrival, which should be in about two hours, depending on traffic. It was all-hands-on-deck for this behemoth of a house and I was exhausted.

  After we left Cadwell Estate, Ollie shifted a couple more times, but he mainly rested because the first shift took a lot out of him. Unfortunately, I now had him cleaning my house. Eventually, he would have to move into the Compound since he was now Pack, but I convinced Bash to give us a few days since Alexander was coming to visit.

  I put away the cleaning supplies and hurried upstairs to shower and get ready whi
le the guys got ready themselves. When I was dressed and presentable, I met everyone downstairs where they were waiting in the living room.

  “So, let me get this straight,” Ollie said as he sat in the armchair wearing a pair of pressed slacks and a dress shirt with shiny black shoes. “Your bio-dad is the King, you’re pretty much royalty, and you’re greeting him looking like that?” He pointed at me.

  I looked down at my attire. I was wearing my good jeans, a clean gray tank top, and I was still wearing a pair of cheap flip flops.

  “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

  Bash grinned. “This is why I love you.”

  My eyes narrowed. “Liar.”

  He shrugged. “I grew to love it.” He grabbed my wrist and pulled me down to sit beside him on the sofa, wrapping his arm around me. “But Oliver is correct. Don’t you want to dress up a little to see your father?”

  “He’s not going to care what I’m wearing. Only you losers give a shit, which is why you’re wearing your monkey suits.”

  It was a great honor to have a visit from King Alexander MacCoinnich, but I thought by now the awe would have worn off. At least for Bash. To be fair, Ollie was meeting him for the first time. The two of them looked like it was Sunday and they were going to church.

  The doorbell rang and we sat up straighter. It could only be one person.

  “I’ll get the door,” Bash announced as he stood and went to answer.

  Now I started to get nervous. My hands got clammy and I had to rub them on my jean-clad thighs. Ollie blew out a breath and sat at the edge of his seat in anticipation. We looked at one another and knew what the other was thinking—this is going to be crazy! We chuckled and jumped up when we heard Alexander’s Scottish brogue enter the living room.

  “It’s wonderful to see ye, Sebastian,” Alexander said as he clapped him on the back.

  “Likewise, Your Highness,” Bash said, coming around to stand in the middle of the room.

  “Please, I’ve told ye, call me Alexander.”