They come out through my voice.
Shit. No wonder he never said a word. He’d risk spewing visions about every person he attempted conversation with.
“Can you talk at all without telling fortunes?”
I used to.
“When?”
Before Sigma took us.
Huh. Us. That was the first Dane heard about others with Parrish. Had they been killed?
Silence passed with the minutes while Parrish was deciding what to say. Dane hoped he’d elaborate on the “us” part of the story.
Can I tell you more tomorrow?
Dane resisted a sigh. They’d definitely made more progress and he could be patient, but dammit, he didn’t want to be. For a moment he let himself wish he didn’t have to use his immense patience with Parrish, on his mate, or on every other aspect in his life.
I’m sorry.
Hell, now Dane felt like crap. His selfish emotions spilled over to this young kid who’d been severely traumatized and was finally trusting him enough to come out of his shell.
“It’s not you, Parrish. My mind was reflecting on other things.” It wasn’t a complete lie. The situation with Irina had been getting under his skin lately. “Of course we can talk more tomorrow.”
After Parrish left, Dane sat staring at the wall. He could go home and see if Irina was around, maybe try to talk to her. They’d gone years and years doing a good job ignoring each other and would’ve kept it up, but all the mating rituals in the last year left them surrounded with happy couples blissfully in love, and it sucked.
Each mating ritual brought back memories of a much younger Dane, facing a fresh-faced Irina, her long golden hair flowing down her back, those cornflower-blue eyes beaming at him in adoration. The day of the ceremony had been the best day of his life, and the night of the ceremony had been meteoric. He and Irina had been compatible in so many ways. Their bond had grown so strong, their telepathic communication had been like a video between them instead of just words. He was the consummate leader while she nurtured and cared for those under his command, a true mother to the pack. She’d been an even better mother to their son. Dane rarely allowed himself to think about Kade anymore, or the baby they lost in the attack who hadn’t stood a chance at life.
Dane heaved himself up. He wouldn’t allow himself to think about it now, either. It was time to run his wolf and go for a swim.
Chapter 3
Lycabyter29 was a problem. He just declared his undying love for Irina in his latest email.
Crazy fucking vampire, if he really was one. He was dangerous even if he was just delusional in his conclusions. Unfortunately, except for the true mate part of his claims, he’d been spot on about what she was. And he wanted to meet her.
Irina hadn’t responded to any more of his emails, was still deciding what to do. She’d become pretty computer savvy, holed up in the little cabin in the middle of nowhere, but she couldn’t hack computers and track her cyber stalker. But she knew someone who possibly could.
Letting herself into the lodge, Irina hoped she wouldn’t run into anyone. She was enough of a hermit that they’d question what she was doing there and, while she knew they’d all find out soon enough, she strived to keep her private life private.
Heading down a long hallway to Dani’s office, Irina’s nose twitched. It smelled like someone had sex recently. Her lips quirked unbidden as she remembered those days after Kade was born when her and Dane would couple together anytime and anywhere possible. She waited for the familiar heartache that began after she thought of her beautiful little boy, but it didn’t come. Strangely, Irina found herself pleased that Mercury and Dani were making time for themselves. They’d both come so far and it’d been way too long since this pack had young to care for. It was time.
Knocking lightly on the office door before she walked in, Irina stopped to take in the office setup.
Dani swung around in her chair, astonishment lighting her face. “Irina!” She made a move to stand, but Irina waved her back down.
“This is amazing.” It was all Irina could think of saying. Monitors spread across Dani’s desk in one hundred and eighty degrees. The surrounding woods, the area around the cabins, and various points in the lodge transmitted on the screens.
On Dani’s desk were schematics for numerous weapons. From the sketches it appeared she collected traits from each type to make specialized weapons for the Guardians. Irina’s heart sped up. That would be awesome. In fact, as much as she liked writing about Westerns, she was working on a new Steampunk series, and she would love to bounce ideas off Dani.
“Isn’t it?” Dani’s voice sounded as excited as Irina felt. “I’m getting the system set up to send me updates when there’s activity in the trees. I’ve already programmed my phone to be able to see views of each screen so I don’t have to be tied to the office quite as much.”
“Do you have another room where you try out those?” Irina gestured to the drawings on Dani’s desk.
“Oh, these are just ideas. I would love to bring them to fruition. Commander Fitzsimmons gave me the go ahead. I’ve just been so busy setting up all this stuff and upgrading it.”
Ah yes. The disturbed Guardian who had been killed while he was trying to slay Dani had done a good job of getting the pack situated in West Creek and installing their security. Although, much of it had been geared toward his interests of spying on them for the council. When Dani joined the pack and took over technical security, she gave it a much needed overhaul.
“You’re working on some new concepts?”
“Yeah. I figured it’d be a good way to use Dante’s naptime.” Dani’s face filled with maternal pride as she glanced over to the little playpen that held her sleeping son.
Irina had avoided looking in that direction, not sure how she’d react to the little guy. Since he was still sleeping, she didn’t have to worry. She wanted to ask her questions and get out of there before he woke.
“I won’t keep you long. I just have some questions about email addresses.”
Dani tilted her head in interest, no doubt wondering what a recluse like Irina did with email addresses. The older Guardians probably remembered the days when Irina had boxes of her electronics shipped to wherever they were residing. Since they’d been here, technology had become more streamlined that she didn’t need near the amount of equipment she used to.
“What do you need to know?”
“Can you track one?”
Dani frowned, thinking for a minute. “I can try. I’ve dabbled in it a bit, and I’m getting better at hacking, but I’m still pretty novice. What’s wrong?”
The young woman would make inquiries about Irina’s request, and frankly she was glad. It meant Dani’s priority was pack safety. “Nothing yet. But he’s sent me some emails that make me think I should look into him more.”
“What kind of emails?”
“Ones that make me think he knows of our world. Here’s his address.”
At the name, Dani raised her eyebrows and almost whistled but glanced quickly over to where her son slept, stopping herself. “Is he making threats?”
Irina shook her head. “No, but he’s getting pushy. He wants to meet and I’m afraid when I don’t acquiesce, he’ll cause trouble.”
Nodding in agreement, Dani typed away, already working on the address. “How did he get your email, anyway?”
And here was the moment Irina was dreading. “I do some online work and keep an email for business.”
Dani stopped what she was doing and faced Irina. “What kind of work?”
Irina hesitated, knowing this was the end of her secret career. “I’m a writer. Romances mostly, Westerns.”
The young woman’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“I write about nothing that would give us away.”
Dani’s brow creased trying to understand. “Does the pack know? No one’s ever mentioned anything.”
With a deep sigh, Irina sank into the spare ch
air in Dani’s office. “I’ve never mentioned it. Dane might have known a long time ago when I conferred with my publisher via snail mail, but he never asked and I never elaborated on it.” Irina leveled her gaze on Dani. “If the council knew, they would most likely make me stop, not trusting me to keep my identity hidden.”
A subtle raised eyebrow made Irina wonder if Dani didn’t agree. But Dani shook her head. “There’s so much more to worry about than that. So many more ways we might be discovered.” She turned back to start clicking away again. “But Irina, you have to let the pack know. I don’t keep secrets from them.”
Mercury had found such a quality mate, but damn she could be irritating. “I figured I’d have to tell them once he kept emailing me.”
“Here,” Dani slid the keyboard toward Irina, “show me the emails. And Irina, once I find something, or even if I don’t, I’m going to have to report to the commander.”
Dani stared unflinchingly at Irina, no fear or hesitation. She either trusted Irina wouldn’t lash out or she was confident she could handle herself. Very admirable. After all, she was nearly a stranger to Dani.
“Worry not. I’ll talk to Dane tonight and Dani.” Irina finished pulling up her email and laid her hand on Dani’s arm, meeting the woman’s intelligent chocolate gaze. “I’m extremely glad Mercury has you and the pack has you.”
Dani’s eyes widened at the sudden compliment, and she blinked rapidly at the tears welling up in her eyes. “Sorry, damn hormones,” she muttered, wiping at her eyes.
Irina chuckled gently. “It’s normal. No matter what species we are, children turn us inside out.”
Dani dissolved further into tears, trying to keep quiet. Irina wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her tightly. Poor girl. While the other three females could help her out, they were shifters and none of them had kids. Irina was the only one Dani had access to who knew what she was going through. Again, Irina saw how her self-imposed isolation helped no one.
“How long have you been feeling emotional?”
Sniffles could be heard from her shoulder. “Pretty much since Dante was born,” came the muffled reply.
“My dear, it’s all normal. Everything you feel, all of it. Your life changed, you have a new home, a new job, and a new mate. All of that would be difficult enough without being a new mom, too.”
Dani sat up and gave Irina a watery smile as she pulled in a shaky breath. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. I feel like I’ve been on the verge of bawling for months.”
“It’s not a bad thing to let it out.”
“I know, but it’s hard, you know. Like, I’m weak or something.”
Irina shook her head. “Balderdash, dear. Shifter mothers are the strongest, most ferocious creatures you’ll find.” Irina reflected inward; there was deep meaning in those words. She no longer felt strong, definitely not ferocious, and she’d hidden from life ever since that fateful day.
Dani coughed to cover up her giggle. “Balderdash,” she said. “I like that one.”
Irina stood to go. “Why don’t you let me know when you find something?”
“No problem. And Irina, thank you.”
“Don’t be afraid to stop by, dear. I don’t bite. Anymore.” It was a lame joke, but their kind always thought it was funny as hell.
Dani appeared pleased at the idea. “Would it be okay if I have Dante with me? Mercury takes him when he’s around, but he and Bennett have been out in the field a lot.”
Irina peered over at the playpen and Dani’s gaze followed. The little boy was awake and had been watching them for who knows how long. Irina was struck by his looks. Where his daddy had silver reflecting through his dark features, burnished gold flashed through Dante’s milk chocolate hair and dark eyes. He quietly watched Irina and his mother, as if he sensed his mommy was distressed and needed comfort from Irina.
“Of course he’s welcome.” And Irina meant it. Actually looked forward to having the noise babies brought with them in her house again.
With that, Dante raised his chubby little arms to his mommy and soon his face was crumpling in distress.
“Time to eat. I better feed him before he cracks another monitor.”
The joys of having gifted young, although none whom Irina had known could express their natural powers outwardly at such a young age. They normally developed strength after puberty when shifting started. But Mercury was unique and as far as anyone knew, his pack had been destroyed. From what Irina heard, they hadn’t found much information yet about Mercury’s origins.
Stopping in the hallway after she closed the office door behind her, Irina stared at the floor while her mind worked her Lycabyter29 problem.
Talking with Dani and seeing little Dante, on top of the mating celebration from the other night, Irina would be damned if anything threatened those close to her again. It was time to talk to her mate.
Dane floated on his back in the little waterfall-fed pond, forcing himself to relax. He had just finished a brutal run and was still restless, edgy. Like something was about to happen. Something that made shit change and that worried Dane. He hated feeling unprepared.
Dane, I need to talk to you. Irina’s mental summons interrupted his thoughts.
How long had he been waiting to hear those words? At least, the “Dane, I need you” part. The “talk” part was never good, not matter what century it was.
I’ll be there shortly. He stepped out of the water, flowed into his wolf and ran home.
The cabin was quiet like it always was when he arrived home. Like every other time, the light in her office was on, signaling where she was. He donned some shorts and padded to her door. He didn’t bother with a shirt. He was still hot from his workout and that was as good an excuse as any.
When he entered her office, she flicked those lovely blue eyes his way and he didn’t miss the millisecond they lingered on his bare chest. Maybe there was still some interest on her end. He certainly been pining for his mate for years, but eventually gave up on a pursing her physically. She couldn’t get past her scars and it had always seemed more like a chore for her to lie with him. Still, he hadn’t given up hope.
Her soft golden hair fell around her shoulders and she wore a simple sundress, yellow with daisies. His favorite. It showed off her eyes and hinted at the curves he knew were hidden underneath.
“Irina.” He didn’t know what else to say. With no spare chairs in the office, he parked his butt on the edge of her desk. Operation Win My Mate Back had officially begun.
A delicate eyebrow raised and she shot him a pointed look, but he didn’t budge. He’d danced around her for too long. She would soon find out he was going to be hard to get rid of.
“Dane, I have something I need to talk to you about, but I need to explain myself first.”
Dane crossed his arms and waited for her to continue, reveling in her soft voice. This was the most she’d said to him in at least twenty years.
Astonishment kept him from getting distracted by her appeal as she explained what she’d been doing with her life. Irina told him about her writing, how it started, and why she didn’t tell anyone. While he was insulted she didn’t at least confide in him, he knew she wrote a lot, but not for a living. He assumed it was a hobby to get keep her busy—and away from him. Often he wondered what she wrote, thought maybe she journaled, though her days weren’t full of adventures, or detailed their history through the years.
Romance? Couples beating the odds, fighting to be together…happily ever after and all that. Dare he interpret it as a sign that Irina wanted their relationship mended as much as he? Perhaps he should read her material, find a way to burrow back into heart so far that she couldn’t throw him out again.
She was correct about how the council would react. Some members would make her quit just because she was Dane’s mate and he’d gone against their orders too many times in his years as commander. On top of that, this pack had the audacity to thrive in West Creek where they were undou
btedly sent to get killed off.
“You have how much money?” Dane asked incredulously. His train of thought was quickly brought back to her words. She’d just told him that she had saved almost everything she earned, what she didn’t use for publishing costs had been socked away in investments.
Irina repeated herself and he still couldn’t believe it. “I donate some every year, but split it up to different groups so they don’t go searching for an anonymous benefactor, and the rest I saved in case the pack is ever in financial trouble.”
Always a possibility, but the pack was doing well. They’d saved, and been smart, and learned finances over the years. When Jace joined the pack, he was money savvy and secured the Guardians’ financial future even better. But Irina had them all beat.
“Off of romance novels?”
Irina pursed her lips. “I’ve worked hard for years, Dane, and I’m good at what I do. I can use my first-hand knowledge of the Old West to make it feel more realistic and give the reader a genuine experience. It’s modern cowboys who are all the rage, though, and I’ve had to update my stories.”
Dane’s mind worked over all she said. He had quit wondering what she did in her office all day. Whenever he had asked, she’d answered “writing” and no more. He chalked it up to her needing more space.
From her accounts, she’d been very productive in her writing, research, and education. He didn’t fully comprehend the work and dedication it had taken for her to build her business, but her bottom-line suggested it had been a lot. And while he should have been embarrassed he knew so little of his mate, he felt better that she spent her days in this room building an empire and not just mindlessly avoiding him.
“Why tell me now, Irina?” He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m glad you did, but why now?”
The Sigma Menace Collection Page 51