There were a few nods of agreement, but I noticed that both Tegan and Derek Callumn, the twin-brother Alphas of Clan Wolf remained silent and unmoving.
“You don’t agree?” I asked them.
Derek answered, surprising me. He was the quieter of the two brothers, often doling out his words as if they were rationed. “You place your position in jeopardy if you send anyone seated at this table.”
Eva and Mathias were both quick to jump to their feet. “You dare to question our loyalty?” they snarled in unison.
Derek ignored their outburst and ran a hand through his close-cropped auburn hair before leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest.
He’d said his peace.
His brother Tegan continued where he’d left off. “We’re all Alphas. We all have the instinct to lead. What do you think will happen if any of us succeeds in killing Thorne?” Tegan scanned the room and rested his gaze on each Clan Alpha in attendance, one after the other. "Would any of you hand over the reins of the South Atlantic Pack to Declan? I know myself, and I know my wolf. I would not."
The last was said with the briefest moment of eye contact, demonstrating just how dominant Tegan had grown these past few years. He was unmated, as was his brother. It was unusual for two unmated males to lead a Pack, but they’d matched each other in dominance from the womb. I imagined the relationship was now chafing.
Tegan was going to surpass his brother. I’d have to watch the relationship closely to ensure that when the time came for a single male to lead Clan Wolf, that neither ended up dead.
“I appreciate your honesty.”
The brothers nodded.
“Do the rest of you feel the same?” I scanned the table and briefly met the eyes of every single Alpha in the room.
One by one, each lowered their gaze. Expressions were awash with a mix of anger and shame. I couldn’t blame any of them. If roles had been reversed, I wasn’t certain my tiger would relinquish control of a Pack to anyone either.
The fight to bring Noah Thorne down would be hard-won, and the victor deserved the position and praise that came with dethroning an Alpha.
"Send me," James stepped forward.
I lifted a brow and waited for him to pitch his case. I’d considered sending him, but I couldn’t order the Pack Hunter to do anything. He was outside of my authority. A Hunter answered to no one. This needed to be his decision.
James’ eyes turned liquid silver as he neared the table, his wolf present for the conversation. “Aria needs you here.”
“I know that,” I said. That didn’t mean I could ignore the threat Noah presented.
He nodded but didn’t look away. His gaze locked with mine, proving just how dominant he was.
I felt the challenge in his gaze, and my beast raked its claws inside of me.
A growl worked its way up my throat, and I stood from my chair. The wooden legs scraped across the stone floor as I leaned forward, resting my hands on the table’s rough wooden surface.
“I live to serve the Pack,” James said. “The Pack needs you, and Aria needs you. But the longer you take to retaliate, the weaker the appearance of your position becomes. Allowing neighboring Packs or Factions to think they can hurt one of our own without retribution is unacceptable.” I nodded my head and waited for him to continue. When he finally broke eye contact, my beast settled, realizing James wasn’t challenging its dominance and place as Alpha. “I’m just as dominant as any Alpha here, but I don’t have the drive to lead.”
That was the one quality that made a Hunter truly unique. They had the strength and dominance to rival any Alpha. James’ little display let me know that his dominance was strong enough to rival even mine.
That dominance was necessary in order for a Hunter to track down rogue shifters and take them out. A shifter had roughly a one in three chance of going rogue and giving in to the beast inside of them, losing all semblance of their humanity.
The more dominant the shifter, the higher the chance. A Hunter needed to be strong enough to take on any opponent, even a Clan or Pack Alpha. They were a necessity to any Pack’s survival.
“The Pack needs you. If you fail—”
“I won’t. Besides, if something does go wrong, Caden is showing signs of being a Hunter. The Pack won’t be left without someone capable of filling my shoes.”
“You’re sure?” Caden was a recent addition to the Pack. At seventeen, he was now a ward of the Pack, having been orphaned, held captive by the H.A.C., and later rescued by Aria and Inarus. Damn psyker. I didn’t have to like the man, but I respected him for what he’d done.
I hadn't spent much time with the cub, but I trusted James' judgment of the boy.
“You’ll have no problem handing over the South Atlantic Pack once Thorne has been eliminated?” Robert asked.
James shook his head. “I don’t want to lead. It won’t be a problem for me.” Several heads nodded around the table.
“It’s the best course of action,” Yvonne Ortiz, the Alpha for Clan Muridea, said.
“Indeed.” I looked to Derek and Tegan for confirmation. James belonged to Clan Wolf, and while I didn’t need their agreement, having it wouldn’t hurt.
Both men nodded.
“It’s settled then. James, start packing, you’ll leave at dawn for Orlando.” I knew I’d get hell for this from Aria, but it was the best option.
James nodded, and with that, the room began to slowly clear out, leaving only myself and Robert behind.
“Was there something you wanted to say in private?” I asked the coyote. Robert wouldn’t linger unless it was important. Despite growing up together in the Pack, we weren’t exactly friends. But I had a lot of respect for him.
“She needs to make a decision.”
A growl worked its way up my throat. “I’m not going to rush her.” I wouldn’t allow others to rush her either.
“You need to do something. The others are becoming restless. Uncertainty never bodes well.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I knew he was right. Noah Thorne wasn’t the only one weakening my standing. If Aria continued to reject me, the Pack would begin to wonder where I was lacking. It was a thought some were likely having already.
I moved to the door, intending to find Aria. I needed to see her. To assure myself that she was okay. I didn’t trust Inarus’ intentions where she was concerned.
"Declan, Noah Thorne isn't the only one making you look weak right now. Don't make any more mistakes. You're a good Alpha."
I grunted but didn’t otherwise respond. Regardless of whether Aria needed months or years, she’d have them. I’d made enough mistakes. I wouldn’t risk losing her by pushing her before she was ready.
5
Aria
Declan came back thirty minutes later, and in that time, I’d figured out exactly nothing. Flames still coated my arms, and my feelings where he was concerned were still muddled.
It hadn’t helped that this past half hour Inarus had been sweet in a way I wasn’t accustomed to. He was patient with me, and he made jokes that made me laugh. I didn’t know if he was flirting. I didn’t have a lot of experience with men trying to flirt with me. But this had felt like flirting, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
It just further complicated things.
He’d said he understood that my relationship with Declan was complicated. I’d assumed that meant he’d back off and give me time to sort things out.
I’d been wrong.
Should I say something?
“You’re frustrated,” Declan said as he came into the room and closed the door behind him.
“It’s that obvious?” I picked at a string on the hem of my shirt.
He flitted a glance towards Inarus but otherwise didn’t acknowledge him.
“What do you need?” Declan took a step toward me but maintained his distance.
I sighed and ran a flame coated hand through my hair. If only it were that easy.
> "Liquor," I suggested. "Or coffee. I guess I could settle for coffee."
“I don’t think I’ll be giving either to you anytime soon,” he said with a chuckle.
I smirked. Good luck with that.
I’d raid the entire Compound if I had to. It was doubtful that I’d find coffee, but I’d certainly find liquor.
I smiled at the thought of either man dealing with me while I was intoxicated.
Maybe that was all I needed. A night where I could just let loose and forget about all of my troubles.
“How was the meeting?” I asked.
“We can talk about it later,” Declan dodged. He tucked his hands into his front denim pockets and tried to look nonchalant.
Hmmm … He wasn’t going to get off that easy.
“I think now is a good time. Don’t you, Inarus?” I flicked him a glance just as Declan let loose a deep growl.
“He isn’t privy to Pack concerns.” Declan snarled. His fangs descended and curved over his bottom lip.
Woah, where had the anger come from?
Inarus stepped forward, placing himself between Declan and me. I closed my eyes and groaned. Okay, I should have expected this sort of reaction since I’d baited him, but did he really have to go for it all, hook, line, and sinker?
“What do you think you’re doing?” Declan said. His voice was deceptively calm.
Oh no. This wasn’t going to be good.
I tried to step around Inarus, but he held an arm out to block me.
I watched Declan’s eyes track the movement and saw them flash to liquid green. Shit.
“Don’t touch my mate,” he snarled. He took a threatening step forward.
“Hey! Guys! Let’s both take a breath here. We’re all friends.”
“We’re definitely not friends,” Inarus said. His eyes locked on Declan’s in challenge, and I could all but feel the testosterone ratchet up.
Declan’s nostrils flared, and I felt his rage roll through me.
I needed to de-escalate the situation, fast.
I ducked under Inarus’ arm and, without thinking about what I was doing, I extended both arms out, one towards each of them.
“Stop!” I shouted.
They both froze. I stared at Declan and then Inarus, realizing that I'd frozen both men in place with my new telekinetic abilities.
Inarus was staring at the hand I had extended toward him, my palm facing out.
“I—” I didn’t know how I’d done that. His mouth twitched, but he didn’t say anything. I mentally slapped myself, realizing he couldn’t.
I looked to Declan and saw strain on his face and felt a shove against the foreign power inside of me. My head started to pound.
I frowned and lost concentration for just a moment, long enough to hear Inarus shout out to Declan.
“Don’t!” he yelled, right before I felt the weight of a stone wall slam into my skull.
I dropped to my knees and cried out.
"Dammit, I said don't!" Inarus swore and rushed to my side. His eyes were livid as he shouted angrily at Declan, “You can’t shove against a mental hold without hurting her.”
I cradled my head in my arms and moaned as wave after wave of pain rolled through me. It felt like I had the worst migraine imaginable.
“Make it stop,” I begged, hating the whine in my voice.
“Aria—” Declan was beside me, his hand rubbing small circles along my lower back in comfort. “I didn’t mean—”
“To what, hurt her?” Inarus said. “That’s all you ever do.”
No, that wasn’t true. I wanted to tell him to stop. Some part of me wanted to defend Declan. Inarus goading him wasn’t helping, but the pain in my head kept me from saying anything.
The door opened, and James strode in with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
“What’s going on?” He dropped his bag on the floor and rushed over to me. “Ari, what happened? Are you okay?”
I shook my head. I definitely was not okay. I wiped my nose, my hand coming away stained in blood. Shit.
“This is your—”
“Shut up,” James shouted at the men instantly silencing them both.
Finally.
“Give her some space,” he said and made shooing motions at both men. When Declan and Inarus had taken several steps away from me, James crouched down and, with his hand beneath my chin, forced me to meet his gaze.
“I need you to pull the fire in. I can’t help if I can’t touch the rest of you.”
I gasped and blinked back tears. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do anything but try and roll with each fresh wave of pain that pounded through my skull.
“Inarus, can you help her pull the flames in.”
“No,” his voice was gruff. “Doing anything to quell her abilities will only cause her more pain. She’s like this because he shoved against her mental hold.”
I didn’t need to see who he was pointing at to know he was referring to Declan.
“I thought you were the one freezing me,” Declan snarled.
“It doesn’t matter, and the arguing isn’t helping. If you can’t help, then leave. She doesn’t need this right now,” James admonished.
The pounding in my head was slowly subsiding. My head still hurt like hell but at least it was becoming bearable.
Declan took a few steps forward and dropped to the floor beside me. “Aria, I’m so sorry. If I’d have known—”
His gaze collided with mine, and I saw so much regret right before he closed his eyes and a serene expression washed over his face.
A wave of peace washed over me and the flames began to recede along with most of the pain. I stared wide-eyed at Declan, watching the rise and fall of his chest as he inhaled and exhaled carefully measured breaths.
Like a slow moving tide, the pressure ebbed in my mind. I sighed in relief and pushed my hair away from my face.
When the last of the flame died down, James swept me into his arms and carried me toward my bed. He laid me on the sheets and pulled my comforter over me before kicking off his boots and resting on top of the comforter beside me. He didn’t say anything to either of the men, just wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close against his chest.
A single tear slipped down my cheek, and I tried to push past the lingering ache. At least I wasn’t on fire anymore.
James combed his fingers through my hair in a tender gesture, and I heard the door to my room open and close. I assumed both Declan and Inarus left, but then I heard the scrape of a chair on the hard stone floor.
I didn’t bother lifting my head to see who was sitting in the chair. I knew it was Declan.
“Are you any better?” James whispered into my hair.
"A little," I whispered back. I didn't know why we were whispering. Declan could hear us either way, thanks to shifter's heightened senses.
“Just try and close your eyes and get some rest,” he suggested. I snuggled deeper against his chest before I realized he’d come into my room with a duffel bag.
“Where are you going?” I asked him.
James sighed. “I’m going to Florida for a while.”
“Why?” What was in Florida that he needed to go see?
“I have some Pack business to take care of.” He was being vague, but I didn’t have the energy to pry further.
“How long will you be gone?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Hopefully not very long. A week. Maybe two.”
I bit my lower lip. I didn’t want him to leave. I didn’t want to be left alone to deal with the mess that my life was right now. James was my person, the Christina Yang to my Meredith Grey. I needed him.
I also knew that if I asked him to stay, he would. I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t exploit our friendship that way.
“When do you have to leave?”
James kissed the top of my forehead and sat up. His grey eyes were gentle as he looked down at me and rubbed his thumb beneath my chin.
“I was coming
to say goodbye when I walked in. I don’t like leaving you like this, but you’re in good hands.” He flicked a glance toward Declan seated in a nearby chair.
I lifted my head and saw lines of sorrow etched into Declan’s face. He was tearing himself up over this.
“The bond is a powerful thing,” James said. “Trust in it.”
He leaned down to kiss my forehead once more before standing. “And try and stay out of trouble.”
I watched James walk out the door, then turned my body to face the other way on my bed.
6
Aria
I felt more than saw Declan come closer and take James’ place beside me.
My mattress dipped under his weight, and I lay there motionless as he settled himself beside me. He didn’t touch me, but I could feel his gaze boring into my back.
The seconds stretched to minutes, and I started to wonder if he was going to say anything at all. My headache was slowly abating, leaving behind a dull throb that was easy enough to ignore.
My eyes grew heavy, and sleep pulled at me just as Declan said, “I’m sorry.”
I sighed. “I know,” I told him, and I meant it. I knew I was being a shit by allowing him to feel guilty. It had been an accident.
I wasn’t angry with him. If anything, I was grateful. Not for the splitting headache. That’d hurt like hell. But I’d felt a soothing presence in my mind that I knew wasn’t coming from me. He’d used the bond between us to help calm me, and that calming presence had helped my flames recede. I also had a feeling he’d used Pack magic to ease my pain. I didn’t know exactly how he’d done it, but I didn’t care.
That little trick would come in handy if I lost control and, given the recent prophecy, that was an inevitability.
“You helped me calm down,” I said, hoping he would explain what he’d done.
Declan shifted closer. I could feel the heat of his body against my back and fought the urge to turn toward him. He smelled like pine and mint. It was a heady aroma that drew me in.
“I’ve had years to master taming my beast. You just need a little more time to learn to tame your own.”
Branded by Fire: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy Series (Blood & Magic Book 4) Page 4