Truce: Book 1 in the Aftermath Series

by Alainna MacPherson

  The raw feeling in my chest had me shoving Gearden back as I jumped to my feet and strode off, hoping to find my tent without asking for directions.

  For each collection of tents, there were three or four blue boxes with doors. The wolf, Bri, had explained that they were for relieving yourself. I shined her on and refused to ask about them further in front of the others, but with everyone else asleep or otherwise in their own tents, I decided it was safe to investigate it now. I pulled open one of the doors, peering inside to find a large closet area. In the center was a—

  Ah, I thought, now I understand. Stepping inside, I relieved myself, finding it a clever invention and wondered what happened when it was full, or if they were magic like they had in Seelie Hill. There were wash stations as well, for washing hands, but the female beta had informed me that they hadn’t figured out bathing just yet.

  I suspected there was a body of water somewhere nearby, judging by the abundance of greenery, so we would make do.

  I found my tent and fell onto the empty cot, my personal items at the foot, snores from my tentmates serenating me as I tried not to think about the last couple hours. My mind needed a break. I prayed for Danu to clear my mind for sleep so that I might take on everything in the morning, then I shut my eyes, hoping she heard me.

  Maeleigh

  What the hell was he thinking attacking Bobby like that? I’d just given him skin privileges, as wolves, we thrived on touch, and his hand on my shoulder had been platonic, even Luna felt that.

  “He wasn’t thinking,” Gearden told me.

  Startled, I realized I must have projected that thought for him to overhear. Our mate connection was crazy annoying like that sometimes.

  “He is still adjusting to the feelings he has for you. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is a first for him as much as it is for you and me,” he went on. On my other side on the bench, I could see that he was pretending to listen to something Bobby was telling Bri about the updates made around the Westboro’s own compound and financial reviews Liam and Pierce had done on my behalf while I was away. I wish I had the luxury of shutting off like that. Being as this was my pack’s welfare they were talking about, I had to force myself to absorb at least some of the information being shared. It was hard to grasp even that, with the broken sign the Westboros were using. They’d earned a lot of credit for learning though. They’d told me that Dad had taken it upon himself to assist their tutorage by supplying them with videos and books on learning sign.

  I could tell that Bobby was apprehensive about his temporary position as my beta. I couldn’t help him with that tonight, as I had absolutely no idea myself.

  “You should get some rest,” Gearden told me, echoing my own thoughts.

  “I’m going to get some sleep. I’ll see you all at Westboro tomorrow morning, alright?” I looked around, seeing acceptance and less anxious expressions than what they started the night with, despite the chaos and news about Zerena’s death.

  They all nodded, and collectively got to their feet to file out of the compound, making their way up to the driveway, where their old suburban was parked. I tried to picture all of them crammed into the single vehicle and came up short.

  “Come on,” Gearden said, taking my hand to lead me back to our room. The house had since turned quiet, everyone having gone back to their respective homes. I dragged my feet to the bed and thankfully sank into the padded mattress, moaning a little at the feel of it. I’d nearly forgotten how my body missed the comfort it offered. The lumpy mattress we shared in Seelie Hill was just that, lumpy. Made with what was available, it was probably the best they could offer at the time, but oh, man, I was so glad to be home, I couldn’t wait greet my pillow.

  Movement caught my eye and I looked up to watch Gearden shove his pants down, his shirt already gone. When he looked up, I could see the troublesome thoughts etched on his face.

  I knew this day had been equally stressful on him. I stretched a hand out to him when he looked up, standing in just his shorts. He crossed to me without hesitation, taking my hand. I drew him in close, stretching up as he leaned down, our lips meeting halfway, gentle, supportive. We both needed comfort, and our wolves were more than eager to push us forward, practically chanting us on.

  Mate, Luna sighed. Being in Seelie Hill suppressed our basic wolf nature. We could still feel them there beneath the surface, but Luna, and Gray, as I’d come to call Gearden’s wolf, were forced to be bystanders rather than equals to their human counterparts.

  I felt a growl rumble up my chest and past my throat, met already sharp canines nipping at his lips as I kissed him deeper. He untangled his fingers from mind to plant his hand on the mattress behind me, leaning over me, crowding me so that I laid back across the bed. I could feel his breath rush over my cheeks in soft pants as he thrust his tongue past my lips to duel with mine. They battled as he deftly reached for my jeans, unbuttoning and unzipping in one swift move. Together, we worked them down my hips and off my legs, taking my underwear along.

  “Mate,” Gearden repeated in my mind. It was a rush, but we were both eager for each other. We hardly had time to be intimate with one another beneath the surface, between my training and his apprenticeship. Most of our downtime was spent resting. But we couldn’t deny our wolves, not now, not after they’d been reawakened on the surface.

  “Hurry,” I told him, crossing my arms around my middle to tug off my shirt.

  I felt a growl snap from his chest the second before his hands grasped my hips and hauled me up the bed, following me until he covered my body with his, a living furnace that had me panting.

  “You’re mine,” he told me, his words barring any argument as he lifted my knee to anchor it around his hip as he pressed into my center, sliding home.

  He was by no means gentle. We were both ravenous for one another, racing for the top of a mountain we’d been climbing for months. When we peaked together, it was like jumping off the cliff and gliding back to land.

  Chapter Eight

  Maeleigh

  Crammed into an extended van the McIntires used for pack business, I sat in the middle, surrounded by an overwhelming amount of testosterone. Dom and Tomos – I almost preferred Tweedle Dum – sat in the row in front of me, shoulders nearly touching, with Ro driving and Bri sitting shotgun. That left Lugh and Gearden at my sides, with Weis and Trune in the back row. The tension in the vehicle was nearly suffocating, and I was all too happy the moment we arrived at the Westboro compound. We parked outside the house this time around, which I was sure was a power play for Ro. At that moment, though, I didn’t care, I needed out. When fresh air finally hit my face, I drew in deep breaths and tried to keep the eggs and bacon I’d eaten earlier in my stomach and not on the dirt at my feet.

  Someone waved their hand to get my attention. Turning, I lifted a brow at Ro. “You want to check out the main house?” He looked to Bobby, who had come out to stand at the top of the stairs of the house porch. It was a pretty house, now that I could look at it without having to worry about being attacked. White, with dark blue trim and shutters outside the windows, I noticed that it had a fresh coat of paint. One thing I remembered about the house the last time I saw it was the chipping paint. Not anymore, though. The boards on the wrap around patio even looked to have a fresh dark cedar stain. Windows looked new or just freshly cleaned, though I recalled the foggy look they sported when I fought Vic. It was two story, but looked to be your average single-family house, unlike the mansion Liam and the McIntires kept.

  Belatedly, I nodded to Ro, then looked to Bobby, smiling in greeting. “How are you, Bobby?” I asked him, giving a small wave to the onlookers that came out to see their new alpha. They seemed weary of the manpower I’d brought with me, keeping their distance.

  “Doing good,” Bobby replied. He quickly stretched around me to open the door for me, allowing me to enter first.

  I stepped into a large farmhouse looking living space. No walls separated the living area, dining or k
itchen, and the two doors directly to my right as we entered were a closet and powder room. The furniture looked worn but clean, wood plank floors were polished and the walls sported a clean slate of new white paint on them as well. I looked back to Ro and Bobby, who stood shoulder to shoulder. I wondered if they’d gotten to know one another a little better while I was away. “Did you do all this?” I asked them, seeing pride in both of their expressions.

  As suspected, they nodded, grinning. “It’s great, you guys,” I praised, making sure to convey my approval. “Where did you get the funds to do all of this? I figured the pack was broke.”

  “We were,” Bobby confirmed.

  “Dad looked over the finances and found an old investment Vic had made,” Ro said. “He cashed out enough of it to pay off old debts and fund the repairs around the compound, but there’s nothing left now.”

  I walked deeper inside, headed for the apron sink that sported a chip on the corner, adding to the charming feel of the house. Things were old, but still working, it seemed. “Who’s working?” I asked, looking at Bobby, my temporary beta.

  “I am, right now. As well as Marshall and AJ,” Bobby supplied. I saw the two exchange a look.

  I tried hard not to notice the other men surrounding me. Tomos and Dom stood at either end of the kitchen, living statues, while Gearden and Lugh stood on the porch talking to Weis. As I watched them give some sort of direction to the guard, Bri darted around them to pull open the screen door, striding in, looking like she had a message for me.

  I raised a brow at her.

  “There are some people outside who have some concerns but are too afraid to come to the main house,” she told me. From the disgusted look on her face, I had a distinct feeling that fear derived from the previous alpha, Vic, and his abusive leadership of the people he should have been protecting.

  “I’ll go out there in just a second,” I said to her. She nodded and waited to go with me when I turned to look at Dom and Tomos. “You guys need to give me space while I’m talking to them. They’re already spooked,” I signed and spoke at the same time. I had no idea if they’d even taken the time to learn sign or not, seeing no real need for them to have.

  They glanced at one another and then back down to me to give reluctant nods.

  I stared them down for a moment, letting Danu’s mark flare on my cheek to let them know I was serious.

  They didn’t blink but I felt the atmosphere in the room change. I was in charge. And guards or not, they needed to recognize that.

  I rounded the island separating the kitchen and dining space and took Bri’s hand. She squeezed it and I saw the grin spreading from ear to ear on her beautiful face. She got a kick out of the two getting bumped down a notch, I could tell.

  When we exited the house, Gearden stepped to me. “I’m going with Weis to show him the perimeter. Bri’s going to stay here with you,” he paused. “And Lugh.” His eyes found someone else’s behind me.

  I turned to find Lugh standing a few steps away, looking a little sidelined. I looked back at Gearden. “Okay. Have fun. Are you going to run there?”

  “Of course,” he said, winking at me. “Gotta show the old general how a wolf does things, don’t I?” Mischievousness written all over his face, he pecked me on the lips before lopping down the stairs, catching up with Weis who stood waiting. I noticed Trune standing at the bottom, obviously sticking around.

  Making sure my marking was back under wraps, I stepped forward to meet a few of the nervous eyes of those gathering around.

  Tamping down my own nervousness, I signed and worded as clearly as I could. “I’m sorry I’ve been gone for so long, but I’m back now and I’m happy to be here. Everyone is welcome to come forward to the house and state your concerns if you have any. For the first few days here, my door will be open to you, day or night.” I understood some may not want to come around publicly. “Once things settle down, we’ll find some sort of schedule that works for all of us. Also, I’ll be giving Bobby my phone number to give to all of you.” I tilted my head to Bobby, who nodded that I could consider it done. “I’m sorry for all the theatrics,” I waved a hand to the guards surrounding me. “Something new has developed since my return. Once we know more, I will let you know.”

  Lugh stepped forward, “It’s better if you didn’t keep it from them, Maeleigh,” he signed. I could see he was trying his best to keep from stepping on my toes.

  I seriously hadn’t come to terms with my new position myself. Admitting it to the Westboro pack would make it even more real.

  Unable to keep my fear below the surface, where I could ignore it, he saw it then. Immediately, he started to take a step towards me, but Bri slid up, positioning herself between us. She looked at me to say, “Get it done.”

  Thank god for her. The last thing I needed was to be seen as weak, and that’s exactly what would’ve happened if Lugh had held my hand then. I was thankful Gearden had left, now, because I didn’t know if it would’ve played out the same way.

  I turned back to my new pack. “I just learned that the Unseelie queen made me her successor in the event of her death. And that the elder vampire, Zerena, was killed yesterday after learning that.”

  There, it was out.

  One by one, I looked for their reactions. Most were surprised, but it was hard to tell if it was about the elder vamp’s passing, my new station, or both.

  “It’s possible that whoever Zerena’s killer was may try for me next, it’s not clear yet. But with the new security, we should be ready if they do try anything here,” I tried to sound as confident as possible, when really, even I could feel the tremble in my voice, see the shaking in my hands.

  The second I was done, Bri took my hand again. I avoided looking at Lugh though, not wanting to succumb to whatever had me wanting to sink into his warmth just a few minutes ago. I couldn’t deal with that right now.

  I walked around with Bri, introducing myself, seeing that not all of the pack had taken lessons in sign while I was away. Acting as my interpreter, though, Bri helped me navigate introductions, learning names and where everyone lived. I kept it short and sweet, but personal. There were ten adult women, only two of them single, and fifteen men, five of them single. There were a few teens and some adolescents, no babies and no one over the age of thirty-five. One detail that I didn’t fail to notice, though: they were all wolves.

  Not a single druid in the pack. When I asked Bobby about it, he got a confused look on his face, as if he had no idea why I would even think a druid would be included within the pack at all.

  I noted that Gearden and Weis had returned about an hour later, just when I was finishing up with the last members, a mated pair. We had two foster wolves that looked to be outcasts within the pack for some reason, teenaged siblings named Marshall and Shelly.

  Bobby brought them forward from behind the main house as I made my way back to the porch where Gearden and Lugh were talking, doing their best to keep their conversation from prying eyes and ears.

  The fostered pair looked to be in their older teens, maybe even eighteen or nineteen.

  Luna picked up on something about Shelly right away. She was different from the rest of the wolves. I’d never smelled one like her before. I felt protective and calm at the same time. My reaction to her wolf was neutral except to acknowledge that she was more pack than the rest of those I’d just met. I decided I would have to ask Gearden about it later when we were alone.

  Marshall seemed to be sending defiant energy out to those around us, members of his adopted pack. Though he looked older than I was, I still felt the need to assure him and his sister that they were welcome, at least by me. Needing to hear more of their story, I invited them inside, gesturing towards the house as I slowly walked away, giving my best “I don’t bite” smile.

  Still distrusting, he and his sister followed. While he shot looks to others who gawked, his sister kept her eyes downcast.

  Bri followed behind them, saying something to Bob
by before she moved to stand on the porch to talk with Gearden, probably about the perimeter walk he and Weis just finished.

  Back in the house, grateful for the obvious air conditioning I felt on my skin, I headed for the refrigerator, hoping that someone was nice enough to stock it with some sort of beverage.

  Jackpot! There were boxed and bottled juices galore, a few things of Pepsi and Sprite, along with a pitcher of filtered water. Smart, because the fridge was older and wasn’t equipped with a water dispenser. Excited, I pulled out the two-liter bottle of Pepsi, set it on the counter and hunted for glasses. When I came up empty on the first couple tries, Shelly came over and opened a cupboard near the sink, pulling out three glasses. I smiled in thanks and broke the seal of the brand-new bottle, letting it breathe before pouring generous amounts for each of us, passing them both a glass before taking a hearty gulp.

  When I’d finished, I waited for Bri to come inside. She stood beside me, taking my glass to take a sip of her own. One thing I appreciated about being lycan was the lack of disease, definitely a plus when we seemed to share a lot.

  Turning to her, I asked, “Interpret for me?” Happily, she nodded, setting the glass down, waiting for me start.

  I smiled back at Marshall and Shelly, who both looked at me as if waiting for me to sprout horns. Obviously, they weren’t around deaf people often.

  “How long have you been with the Westboro pack?” I asked, Bri reiterating aloud.

  Shelly glanced at her brother, not saying anything. Being shy went to her voice as well, I noticed.

  “A little over three months,” Marshall told me, obliged to answer for both of them.

  He was a handsome guy, tall, muscular, but not enough to tell me focused on it. Maybe he played a sport. He wore a sleeveless gym shirt with basketball shorts, but he could have been working outside on something for all I knew. The darkness of his shin accentuated the puckered scar still healing on his right shoulder.