by Bonnie Vanak
What the hell was it?
The baby began to wail as she bounced the stone in her palm. Jenny turned as the back screen door slammed and the blonde woman rushed out.
She took a few paces back as the woman grabbed the child.
“Stay back. I don’t know what this is, but I found it in your tree and it’s evil.”
Expecting the woman to castigate her or run away, she was surprised to see her nod. “Finally, someone found the source. Can you destroy it?”
A loaded question. Truly, a peculiar one as well. “Why do you think I can?”
“Because you’re the only one who found it and we’ve been searching for days, so you must have some abilities my mate and I don’t possess.”
The woman stuck out a hand. “I’m Samantha, and this is our son, Hunter.”
Jenny ignored the obvious question in the woman’s voice. She wasn’t about to share any personal information and names were personal.
“Get back and keep the baby safe. I’m not sure if this will work and I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Samantha went into the house and returned without the baby, watching from the porch. Jenny turned her back and looked at the forest.
The stone burned in her palm, making it itch beneath her skin. And yet she felt a surety with this, knowing what it was and what must be done. Once she had been a terrified Lupine caught in a cascade of bullets hailing from a helicopter. Now she felt in her gut that she had the power for a reason, and needed to use it. No, she must use it.
Destroy it.
Jenny closed her eyes, pulling on every molecule of magick in her body, envisioning it as a grayish white streak of pure light. She flung the stone into the air and opened her eyes, directing the light streaming out of her fingertips into the stone’s center.
The crystal exploded, then disintegrated into powder and suddenly vanished.
“Amazing,” Samantha cried out.
Shaken, she dusted her hands. Never before had her powers manifested themselves with such force.
She had the magick within her to obliterate solid matter. Who ever heard of a Lupine possessing such powers?
It felt as if she’d opened the lid to a dangerous chest. Pandora’s Box, but instead of releasing evil, it vanquished it. She had no desire to use this power for her own gain or money.
Instead, she only wanted to retreat back into the forest.
Maybe these powers of hers could be used for good. But she didn’t want to explore that thought right now. It was too overwhelming.
Just being here, in front of a Lupine and her child in a pack setting, was freaking out the introvert inside her.
Overriding that fear was an intense desire to know why such evil haunted this tree and this Lupine household.
“Tell me what happened before. Did you know the stone was there? Could you feel the danger?” Jenny asked.
“Darius and I knew something was wrong.” Samantha passed Jenny and went to the tree, stroking the bark. “This old tree has guarded our home since we were mated and moved into the cabin. When our son was born, Darius dug that sand pit next to the tree so the branches would shelter him while Hunter played outside. But for the past two weeks, every time I came outside, I felt uneasy. It felt… like someone was watching me.”
Unable to prevent a shudder, Jenny nodded. “I expect someone was, for them to get this close.”
“It doesn’t make sense. Darius is a powerful Lupine and warded this area twice. How could something get past his magick?”
“The stone. Maybe the stone weakened the warding, enough for the evil to penetrate through.”
“I put the stone inside the tree. It’s a Hermatite crystal, a stone Fae use for everyday protection. I placed it there more than a year ago to protect Hunter while he played outside.” Samantha shuddered. “How did it get like this?”
“Are you Fae?”
“Half-fae, half Lupine.”
Interesting. “In my former pack, no half-breeds were allowed.”
Samantha didn’t blink. “Some packs are like that. Not this one. My mate, Darius, made sure of that, along with our alpha, Aiden. Everyone is welcome, as long as they are loyal and follow the rules and don’t endanger the pack.”
Back to the stone… Jenny thought hard. She had read a book written by a Fae once about crystals. “Some crystals are open to healing and protection, but they have to be infused once in a while with good magick if they are placed outdoors in open areas.”
Where they can be vulnerable to bad energy, like the type that invaded your ranch. But how did such negative energy get past your alpha’s safeguards?
Questions swirled in her mind. Deep inside, she felt a nagging need to help these people, as if it were part of her blood and bone. But her own need for privacy and self-preservation nudged it aside.
And if Troy chose to stay here, what then?
Samantha nodded. “That makes sense. I had forgotten about it and maybe when that … thing… invaded our land, it centered on the stone.”
Still she felt the urgent need for a warning. “I’d watch out for more like it. Something dark wants to infiltrate your territory and like most darkness, it sneaks around doing it. You won’t see it until it’s too late.”
Jenny knew about darkness, but mostly from the Skin world – alleys and corners where evil things like to hide. This kind of darkness was worse – it stank of malevolence.
“Thank you. Please, can you come inside and have something to drink?”
“I have to leave.”
“Please stay.” Samantha glanced at the woods. “I want to thank you for what you did.”
“No thanks necessary.” Jenny flexed her hands, the need for privacy and isolation rising up once more. Nice as Samantha was, she didn’t want to get involved. Not further.
“Then at least tell me your first name.”
She liked this Lupine, and was glad she’d helped. Names were personal, but she felt no harm in sharing her name, not when Samantha had been grateful and kind.
“Jenny. I have to go. Take care of your son.”
Shifting into her wolf form, she fled back toward the forest, leaving Samantha staring after her.
Leather creaked as Troy adjusted his weight in the saddle. Today he’d joined Darius, the pack beta, along with Snake and three other wranglers in watching over the cattle grazing in the summer field. Dale had assigned him to watching over the cattle because someone, or something, had been killing them. One cow each day, left in the field, drained of blood.
All of the enforcers had been working long shifts, trying to protect the herd.
Ellison, one of the cowboys rode up alongside him. “See or feel anything?”
“No. Nice day. Nothing in sight.”
“Yeah. This is pure living. Love it here.” Ellison flicked his reins. “I settled here a couple of years ago. Came for the cowboy work, stayed and made it my home. It’s a good place.”
He gave Troy a meaningful look. “Aiden and all the rest of us are protective of our way of life and our people. We don’t tolerate those who disrupt it.”
Troy shrugged. “Who said anything about disrupting it? I came to visit, see how things are because Zoe invited me.”
At the mention of Zoe’s name, Ellison’s manner changed. He grinned. “Zoe. She’s great. A little naïve in the ways of the world. She told us how you convinced her to return home. Thanks for that.”
Troy nodded.
He rode a short distance, scanning the herd. It was peaceful, the sun burning the back of his neck, his spirit settled and calm, thinking all was okay since Jenny was safe. They could have a good life here.
The fantasy ended when Darius’ mate Samantha drove up in one of the ranch’s four-wheelers to tell the pack beta how a stranger named Jenny had found a dark crystal in their backyard.
Next to him, Darius leaned forward as he studied his mate.
“And this Jenny saw the crystal you placed in the tree had gone bad? A crys
tal the rest of us couldn’t find and had no idea where to look?” the beta asked his mate.
A chill raced down his spine, but he kept his mouth shut. Jenny’s presence was known, but he had to be quiet about her, until he found out how they’d react.
Would these Lupines be like others and dislike her for her special powers?
Samantha pushed back at her long fall of blonde hair. “She knew. She saw, somehow. Darius, she protected our son by getting rid of the stone.”
“How did she destroy it?”
Samantha’s gaze flicked to the distant woods. “Trust me, honey, she did. She seems like a private person, but a good Lupine. I think she’s living on the ranch land. You should invite her to stay with us. Let her know she is welcome.”
“She’s an outsider,” Ellison said, frowning. “How can you trust an outsider?”
Darius glanced at Troy. Well damn. He knew others in the pack looked at him with natural suspicion Lupines had for strangers outside the pack, but this was a clear dig.
Troy leaned forward in his saddle. “You got a problem with me, Ellison? Because if you do, stop waffling and tell it like it is. Far as I can see, Aiden and Darius are the authority in this pack and I go by what they say.”
“I trust you. For now.” Darius locked gazes with him, a clear indication that he would give Troy leeway, but if he screwed up, he was gone.
Maybe gone by the way of the pack chasing him down and tearing him up.
That was fine by him, because they didn’t know about his little secret… yet.
“Jenny’s shy. I doubt she would take you up on your invite, Samantha. Not unless I ask her.” He addressed Samantha, locking gazes with her because he sensed she had seen exactly how Jenny destroyed the stone, but wanted to keep that part quiet.
It made him respect her even more.
“Is she your mate?” Samantha asked.
Now everyone stared at him. Time to level. Suddenly the sun seemed too bright, too intense and warm.
“I’d like her to be. Met her a few weeks ago and we’ve been traveling together since. She doesn’t trust many Lupines. Or anyone, for that matter.”
Troy explained how they had met and worked their way to Montana, and how Jenny had stayed in the woods, despite his trying to coax her into visiting the pack.
“I’ll talk with Aiden.” Darius blew a kiss to his mate. “Sam, I’ll see you back at the cabin.”
As Samantha roared away on the ATV, Ellison shook his head. “Darius, all due respect, this guy is new and he’s told you he trespassed on our land! And now you have another Lupine living on pack land, clearly violating pack rules. What gives?”
Ellison frowned. “Maybe we should pay her a visit and show her exactly how we protect our land.”
Troy growled deep in his throat. If anyone dared to set a finger on Jenny, he’d find himself missing that finger, along with several other digits.
The beta held up his hand. “Whoa. Stop it now. Our laws are clear. We don’t tolerate trespassers who intend harm. Period. Jenny saved my son from harm. She did not violate our laws. As for Troy, he declared his presence, Aiden hired him and though he’s not vowed his loyalty to our people, he’s an employee and under our protection.”
“I don’t need your protection.” Troy growled again, and stared at Ellison. Hairs rose on his exposed forearms. “I can protect myself and my woman. You’ll find out how much if you even get within spitting distance of her.”
The wrangler blinked and grinned. “Hey now, I didn’t mean any harm. I’m only trying to obey the rules. If Darius and Aiden say she’s okay and it’s okay for her to be on pack land, then fine by me. Don’t blame me for being cautious. I’ve been here a while and I’m protective of my pack.”
Troy made a note to keep an eye on the Lupine. Ellison had been friendly, but beneath the jocularity, it lurked something Troy couldn’t figure out. Like a politician trying to court votes, the Lupine wasn’t what he appeared to be, and hid his true personality.
At least he knew where he stood with Snake, He knew Snake couldn’t stand him.
For Jenny’s sake, he hoped she’d at least visit the pack, and become acquainted. The longer she remained alone in the woods, the more he worried about her.
Sooner or later, she’d have to make a choice, and so would he. Would he stay here, solo, or go with her if she left the area?
And how exactly had Jenny destroyed the stone that threatened Darius’ son? Troy wondered. Did Jenny have even more powers he didn’t know about and hid them from everyone, including him?
Chapter 6
Troy was eating dinner with the pack. Outdoors. It looked like a fine feast. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she’d yet to dine today.
Somehow this food smelled tastier. A slight wind blew the scents in her direction, the steak and grilled meat cutting through the smells of forest, river water and assorted Lupines.
Tents peppered the riverbank. A wood deck at the river’s edge held several tables, all filled with Lupines sitting and eating what looked like a fine feast. Two Lupines hovered over a brick barbecue pit. The smell of grilled steak and chicken made her salivate.
Jenny felt longing as she studied the Lupines at the tables, laughing and socializing. Sure, she understood Troy’s need for pack. Lupines were social creatures and needed pack. But these Lupines dined as humans.
For some reason, she found the sight not only nostalgic, but oddly alluring. Red candles glowed on each table. The sharp blue sky above had softened with twilight. Shadows dappled the nearby pine forest and rock cliffs, and birds chattered and sang nearby. The wood deck set with several tables, offering a splendid view, blended in with the natural setting.
Voices were loud to be heard above the river’s roar several feet away. Forks and knives clinked against china, and once in a while she heard a loud childish protest, “But MOM!”
These Lupines could easily pass for human, and yet the sight did not repulse her as it had in the past.
It’s Troy. He’s there and he’s the only Lupine you trust. Not the others.
Except that wasn’t true. Troy sat at the same table as the pack alpha she’d seen earlier in the woods, and at the table’s far end she spotted Samantha with a handsome, dark-haired male. Must be her mate, for Hunter sat in a high chair between them.
Troy helped to serve slices of rare beef from a round platter. A female sat next to him – with short brown hair, a wide smile and pretty features.
Each time Troy said something, she laughed, a gurgling laugh that drew attention her way.
A low growl rose in Jenny’s throat. She pawed the ground. Stay away from my male.
But she had no real claim on Troy. Not yet. They were friends. Nothing more.
Had they been mates, she would have rights. Jenny pawed at the ground again. Dirt flew. Yeah, she’d have rights and would show her rights with her claws.
Though the trees hid her presence, Lupines had a keen sense of smell. No one had it more than Troy, who turned and stared at her hiding spot.
“Jenny hon, come on out and join us. It’s all right,” he said in a deep, soothing voice.
Unable to resist the allure of his voice, she stepped out from behind the tree. All talk ceased, and everyone turned to look. The heavy weight of all those eyes centered on her. Glad she was in wolf form, Jenny studied them as intently as they studied her.
The bearded male she’d seen in the forest, Aiden, stood up. He gestured to the tables. “Hello Jenny. Troy told me about you. Please join us. We’d be happy to have you dine with us and there’s plenty of food. I’m Aiden, the alpha. My mate Nia, over there is Jackson…”
He rattled off names. Her ears pricked. She remained silent and still. Observing.
“Come on and join us.” Darius waved a fork. “Always room for one more. Besides, Sam wants to thank you again for what you did for our Hunter.”
“Please,” Sam added. “It’s the least we can do for you.”
Jenny
glanced at Troy, who nodded. “They’re a good group. Get to know them. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Troy held fast to his promises. She could trust him, even if she couldn’t trust these others.
For now.
The alpha gave her a friendly smile as she loped over to Troy, her ears pricked. As wolf she felt more in common with these Lupines.
It was in human skin she feared. Human skin made her powers rumble like volcanic lava beneath a mountain.
Troy looked at the woman sitting next to him. “Zoe, can you make a place for Jenny?”
Zoe left her chair. Troy patted the empty chair. He pulled it out and Jenny jumped into it, tail wagging. She licked his face.
Aiden cleared his throat. “We have rules. No wolfskin at the dinner table.”
Jenny hesitated. Shifting wasn’t in the plan. But she understood rules, even if she didn’t like them.
As she prepared to jump down and slink back into the forest, Troy shook his head.
“Stay,” he murmured. “Please stay with me, Jenny.”
So seldom had he ever asked her for anything. She licked the air, testing it. They were all Lupine… surely there could be no harm. Just this once.
For you, I’ll do it, she said silently.
Jenny shifted back and clothed herself by magick in jeans, a powder blue T-shirt and sneakers. Everyone at the table gasped.
She glanced down at her clothing. “What’s wrong? Too informal?”
“No,” Aiden’s mate, Nia, stared at her. “I’ve never seen a Lupine shift with all those colors before. Smoky gray swirled with cinnamon and green.”
“And the fragrance…Lupines usually don’t emit that strong of a scent while shifting,” the one named Jackson added.
Had to diffuse these suspicions now or she’d bolt. Jenny shrugged. “Sorry. I thought that deodorant I used earlier was funky, but it was all the drugstore had.”
Troy reached over, squeezed her hand. “You smell amazing to me.”