And why the hell did she care so damn much? She rubbed at her forehead, trying to ease the tension. He was Alpine. A.L.P.I.N.E. She was Woodland. He wanted to annihilate her pack. She’d tried to have him and his guardians killed. It wasn’t a good basis for any kind of relationship.
There was a general hubbub as the guardians gathered nodded in agreement over something, and Zane and Matthias made their way over to her.
She looked up, squinting against the sun as the guardians stood in front of her. Matthias lowered himself to one knee beside her and spread out a large document at her feet. A map. Her anger cooled in her veins. Here we go, she thought.
His gaze was brittle, cold, remote—such a contrast to the heat and desire of the night before.
“Show us where your den is,” he said, his hand holding down the map, his tone cool.
She shook her head. There was no prevarication, no attempt to coax the information out of her, but even if there was, she wouldn’t give him that information.
“No.”
He rested his arm across his knee, his eyes narrowed as he stared at her, assessing her. “Why not?”
She laughed at his question, then realized he was being serious. “Uh, because I’m not going to get my pack killed.”
He tilted his head. “There doesn’t need to be any killing. We’ll go in peacefully.”
She tilted her head, mirroring his angle. “Seriously? You think I’d trust you?” She’d be ten times a fool if she did.
“You have my word,” he responded simply. “We will only act to defend ourselves. We’re only interested in Rafe.”
“And what about the Woodland guardians? So many like your own?” she asked sharply. “What of them? They will do everything in their power to protect our alpha prime. You go in there and they will react to an attack, and lycans will die.”
“Rafe killed another alpha prime. Do you realize how disrespectful, how offensive that is?” Matthias asked, his tone silky soft. “Samantha Alpine is pregnant with his pup. She’s lost her partner, a child has lost his father and we lost our leader. He will pay. Do you condone what he did?”
Trinity dropped her gaze. No, she didn’t. What Rafe had done—well, it was abhorrent to her, and she knew most of her pack felt the same. Primes held a position of honor, of respect, and killing one was the highest of insults. But Rafe was a strong alpha prime. He had loyal guardians who would protect him at the risk of their own lives, purely because he was their alpha prime, and they’d sworn allegiance. The rest—well, they were probably more scared than loyal. Rafe was a formidable enemy, and if you were insubordinate or rebellious, then he made it clear you were his enemy. She’d had to learn that lesson the hard way. He didn’t act with the same code of honor as her father when he had been alpha prime. She still had to respect him as her leader, no matter how distasteful. “I’m loyal to my pack.”
Matthias looked up at Zane and shrugged. “Take the boy.”
Her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
“I told you, my word is my bond. If you don’t help me, I told you I’d have young Jax taken back to Alpine.”
Panic rose, and she met his gaze. “You can’t,” she said quietly.
“Ah, but I can.” He started to roll the map up.
“But—you’re taking him away from his family,” she argued.
He shrugged as he rose. “From what you tell me, it’s not much of a life for him, what with his mother pining and all.”
“Is Alpine going to be any improvement?” she asked sharply as she gained her feet. He handed the map to Zane and folded his arms, his muscles bunching with the movement. Damn it, none of these lycans seemed interested in wearing shirts, despite the cool autumn air.
“I won’t lie to you. There are some at Alpine who want all of Woodland dead for what happened to Jared, and a Woodland pup would be a focus for their anger.” He shrugged. “Or else he’ll be largely shunned—but not my problem. I’m here to get Rafe.”
Tears burned beneath her eyelids at his words, and she looked away. To be abused for a crime you didn’t commit was unfair, unjust and unacceptable, but to be shunned—to be ignored, to be made to feel like you’re invisible, like you don’t matter, that people would be happier if you were just gone—that was something she couldn’t abide. She knew how that felt, and wouldn’t wish it on anyone, let alone a curious, happy little pup like Jax. She lifted her gaze, watching as Zane beckoned the little pup over, took his hand, and started walking off into the forest, toward the Nightwing border.
“It’s up to you, Trinity,” Matthias said, tilting his head to the side. “Jax or Rafe. I know which one I’d choose.”
“This isn’t fair,” she whispered as Jax disappeared from view, so innocent, so naive, so vulnerable and defenseless against a pack that would hate him on principle.
“Tell that to Samantha Alpine,” Matthias responded roughly. “Better yet, tell that to the pup that will grow up without a father.” He laughed softly, the sound so bitter, so cold in its humorless tone. “There you go, Jax and Jared’s pup have something in common—they’ll both grow up without a father because of Rafe Woodland’s actions. Interesting that death is the common thread between our packs.”
Trinity hugged herself, goose bumps chilling her at his insight. This wasn’t fair. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Why the hell had Rafe not told the trackers that there was going to be a parley in the forest? If she’d known, she would have taken them on a training run through the Woodland den’s tunnels, not out into danger.
But what choice did she have? Jax was sweet and innocent, and should be playing in his home forest with his pack mates. Rafe was big enough and mean enough to look after himself. Sure, the pack would never forgive her for leading the Alpine guardians to the home den—but they wouldn’t forgive her if she let one of their young be taken. She sucked in a breath. She couldn’t allow Jax to be abducted, but just like laying a false trail, she could convince Matthias she was doing as he wanted—and hopefully give Woodland some warning in the progress. Did they even know there was a squad of Alpine guardians on Woodland territory?
“Call him back,” she whispered, her eyes still on the spot in the forest where Jax and Zane had disappeared.
“Sorry, not sure I heard you. Do you agree to my terms?”
“I will take you into Woodland,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “Bring Jax back.” She turned to look at Matthias, her eyes somber. She understood why he was doing what he was doing. She still kind of hated him for it.
He must have read something in her glare, because he stepped closer. “I’ll call Jax back as soon as I have your word—no more stunts like yesterday afternoon.”
Trinity’s lips twisted into a half smile. “What makes you think I’ll keep my word?”
Matthias’s eyes sharpened, and he moved even closer, as though to make sure she heard what he had to say. “Because I have to hope that not all of Woodland is dishonorable,” he said quietly, intently. “Prove me wrong, Trinity. Prove to me that there is still some decency in your pack.”
She refused to respond to his challenge. “Call Jax back.”
“Your word,” he insisted smoothly.
“Fine. No more vampires,” she muttered, and her eyelids fluttered. “Please,” she whispered, “call him back.”
Something flickered in his gaze, an awareness, a curiosity, and he slowly nodded. Pursing his lips, he whistled. It sounded like a bird call, but not one that she recognized. An answering trill was heard in response, and her shoulders relaxed. They were on their way back.
“I might be doing this under protest, but let’s get some things straight,” she said, needing to show some resistance, just so that he knew she wasn’t completely submissive. “Number one, I shouldn’t be kissing you. Number two, you so shouldn’t be kissing
me. Number three, the sooner we remember we want each other dead, the happier everyone will be that order is restored in the world.”
Matthias’s eyes gleamed. “Deal. But just so there is no repeat of yesterday, you and Jax will remain separated.”
“No, please don’t,” she said, shaking her head as she hugged herself. She needed to hug the boy, reassure both of them that he was here. Safe. Cared for.
Matthias smiled grimly. “Don’t worry, he’ll be safe enough with me.”
She shook her head. An Alpine guardian, even a guardian prime, wasn’t the same as family. Sure, Matthias would make sure Jax was physically safe, but it wasn’t his physical safety that now concerned her.
“He’s with a rival pack, Matthias. He’s a kid. He can’t be ignored, or merely tolerated. Someone needs to watch him.”
“I’ll watch him.”
“No, he’s—he’s a curious kid. He’ll wander off, he’ll get up to mischief, especially if he feels he’s being ignored, or like nobody is watching him. Like he’s invisible...” her last word trailed off, and she bit her lip. She didn’t want Jax to feel invisible, or that he wasn’t cared for.
Matthias’s eyes narrowed, and he gazed at her intently for a moment. “I’ll take care of him,” he told her quietly.
She shook her head. “You don’t unders—”
“I know how to look after a pup, Trinity,” Matthias interrupted, almost roughly, then turned and stalked away.
Trinity blinked at his retreating back. She’d touched a sore point, she realized belatedly, although what the hell it was, she had no idea.
Chapter 8
“I’m pretty sure I’ve walked past that boulder twice already,” Zane muttered.
“Three times, actually,” Matthias commented as he walked the trail that apparently Trinity could clearly see, but they could not—although it was becoming clearer each time they completed a circuit.
“Nine times,” chirped Jax from atop Matthias’s shoulders. Matthias couldn’t help the smile that spread across his lips.
“Can you count to ten, Jax?”
“Uh-huh. One, two, nine, four, eleventy—”
“Eleventy?” Matthias’s smile morphed into a grin.
“Now you made me lose count,” Jax grumbled, tugging on the guardian’s hair, and Matthias chuckled.
“It’s okay, Jax. You can count just fine. We might need to work on it just a little, though.”
“You know she’s walking us in circles, right?” Zane grumbled, and kicked a stick out of his way.
“I know.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
Matthias paused, sensing his friend’s frustration. “Yeah, I am. Because I understand.” Other guardians continued to trudge past them.
Zane moved his hands in a rolling motion. “Oh, please, share your wisdom, Guardian Prime. Lay it on me.” Zane stopped to face him, and Matthias stood on one foot, casually placing his other on the oh-so-familiar boulder. Jax leaned on his head, as though he was interested to hear this, as well.
“She’s trying to protect her pack,” Matthias said quietly. “She doesn’t want any of them hurt.” Despite his emotional distance that morning, he’d learned a few things about Trinity from their conversation. Like how much she cared for this pup, and how she wanted to make sure that the pup knew someone cared. That was very important to her, but anything important could always be used against you. He’d felt no guilt at employing her emotional need as a weapon. But he had to admit, her care for the lad was...sweet. She was also faithful to her pack. Painfully so. “She is loyal to a fault. She may not agree with—” he hesitated, tilting his head back. Jax met his gaze, openly curious.
“With what someone has done,” he continued. He didn’t like Rafe—would love to spit on his grave, frankly—but he was aware he was discussing the boy’s alpha prime. “She may not like it, but she is determined to protect her pack.” He shrugged, gaining a giggle from the boy sitting on his shoulders and more tugs on the hair. “It’s almost admirable.” And didn’t it suck to have to admit it?
Zane shook his head and waved his hand. “No. No, no, no, no.” He turned and walked away for a moment, then came back. “Don’t.”
Matthias frowned. “Don’t?”
“Don’t—don’t get sucked in by the she-wolf,” Zane snapped. “She’s Woodland. They’re the bad guys, remember?” Zane glanced up at Jax and winced. “No offense, Jax. You’re all right.” He wagged his finger at Matthias. “But you know what I mean, Matt.”
Matthias shook his head. “I’m not getting sucked in by the she-wolf,” he stated. Just because he liked to go for long runs in the moonlight, exchange hot kisses and basically try to get into her pants at every opportunity did not mean he was getting sucked in by the she-wolf.
Zane sighed. “Look, I’d be the first person who would be absolutely delighted for you to find someone you’re attracted to. Hell, I’ve tried fixing you up, Nate’s tried fixing you up—half the Alpine she-wolves have been trying to get your attention so frankly, it would be nice if you could just finally pick one so that the rest of us have a chance with the females, but—” Zane gestured in the general direction of the tracker leading the guardians on a bush walk “—she’s one of them.”
“I’m confused,” Matt said, perplexed. “The other night you were suggesting I ignore her—what was it you called it? Her shortcomings?”
“That was before she led us into an ambush with vampires and dragged us across the butt-end of Woodland, over and over and over again. Now you’re cozying up to her, and I don’t think we can trust her as far as we can pee.”
“I want to get Rafe and make him pay for Jared’s death,” he said quietly. “That’s all there is, that’s all it can be.”
Zane looked to the sky as though praying for an intervention, then started walking again. “Uh-huh. That’s exactly what it looked like last night.”
Warmth bloomed in Matthias’s cheeks, and he resumed walking. “I didn’t realize you saw that.” To have one of his guardians witness Trinity’s rejection—well, he thought last night was humiliating. Now it appeared he could top it.
Zane looked over his shoulder. “Of course I saw it. I was there, remember? I brought Jax home.”
Matthias pretended he was watching where he was putting his feet, and Zane stopped again. Matthias almost plowed into him, and Jax giggled as he swayed forward at the abrupt halt.
“Aw, hell. You’re not talking about that, are you?” Zane folded his arms and sighed. “I don’t get it. The whole three years you’ve been with us, I’ve never seen you so much as look at another wolf. What gives?”
Matthias surveyed his friend. Zane didn’t appear angry. He couldn’t blame his friend if he had felt anger at what must seem an obvious attraction to the wrong woman. Hell, he was angry at himself for feeling it. Zane was right, he hadn’t so much as looked at another woman, not since Cara. Actually, he’d thought, after that night, that maybe he simply couldn’t experience those emotions again, but this woman... For some reason his libido had woken up and would not let go.
But she’d made it clear. She thought he was a...skunk. He pursed his lips. A damn skunk. Had she smelled something on him? Or was it just a deep sensing that revealed his secret?
“Nothing gives.” Like, literally, nothing. He would shut this off, this compelling attraction. He’d managed so long without it, he could keep going, keep functioning. Okay, so maybe it was taking a little more effort these days, but he had practice. He could do it. He’d just keep on keeping on. His focus shouldn’t be on Trinity, anyway. His focus, his mission, was to get Rafe. That simple.
He lowered Jax to the ground, despite the boy’s protests, “See that guy over there?” he pointed to Warwick, one of the guardians who had just walked past them. “He likes to play
tag.”
Jax ran off and smacked the large dark-haired guardian in the butt. “You’re it,” the boy cried excitedly, before dashing off into the forest.
The surprised guardian turned back, and Matthias lifted his chin in the direction of the pup. Warwick rolled his eyes and then loped off after him as Zane muffled a chuckle behind his hand, then sighed as they started walking again.
“I know I’ve been here before,” Zane commented as they clambered down a beaten path of mossy green grass.
“She’s scared we’ll kill her whole pack,” Matthias told him.
Zane rolled his eyes. “As tempting as that sounds, you won’t let us.”
Matthias tilted his head. “Does it? Sound tempting? To wipe out an entire pack?” He halted. “I’ve seen that happen, and it’s not pretty. It’s horrific, it’s evil and it leaves a stain that you’ll never recover from. Annihilation isn’t the answer to anything. You’re talking about the slaughter of an entire bloodline.”
Zane looked at him closely. “You never talk about what happened.”
Matthias shook his head and started walking. “No, I don’t,” he responded simply.
“If you ever want to—”
“I won’t.”
“Okay, then.”
“Okay.”
“So what do we do about this tracker leading us on a wild-goose chase?”
“We let her. At the moment, she’s our best bet, until Nate comes back with a response from Woodland about the trade. Until then, we just let her lead us where she will. Eventually she’ll have to trust us.”
* * *
“If you’re so fantastic at tracking, why haven’t we got to the den yet?”
Trinity’s eyebrows rose at the question drawled from behind. She glanced briefly over her shoulder at the russet-haired guardian. Kai. Her shadow.
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