“Do you…” Amara hesitated, clearly not wanting to articulate whatever thought was going through her head. “Do you think they’re from Kal?”
Nova thought for a moment. It was an interesting theory, but red roses were usually more for romance of some kind. They were cliché and traditional, and Nova knew they weren’t even her favorite flower. Amara loved dahlias. Yes, she was a woman who liked flowers so she could appreciate the beauty of a rose, especially a dozen of them, but if Kal was trying to romance her, it seemed more his style that he would do his research to make an impact, particularly if he was trying to remain mysteriously anonymous.
“I don’t know,” Nova finally conceded, taking the flowers from her so she could open the front door to let them inside. “But right now, roses are the least of my worries. Get your stuff, beautiful. We’ve got to get back to the compound.”
It didn’t take long for Amara to fall asleep on the drive back to the compound, and Nova mentally kicked himself for letting her get stressed enough to do so. She had never fallen asleep in the car before. The Amara he knew and loved was alert even when she was on the verge of passing out. So she must be feeling pretty overwhelmed if she were willing to make the drive unconscious. Nova made a note to pamper her sometime soon.
When they reached his house, he lifted her from the truck and carried her inside. He settled her in his bed, making sure she was warm enough. He had to admit, seeing Amara in his bed, her lovely gray eyes closed in sleep, was a sight he loved to see.
Too bad he didn’t have time to sit and enjoy it tonight.
Satisfied that Amara wouldn’t wake, Nova slipped from his cabin and set off at a brisk jog toward the Council Chamber. There was a meeting going on tonight and he was already late.
All around him, the compound was quiet. Men and women of his pack were settled into their homes, their children nestled in their beds. They were worried about the increasing danger from the Valley Clan, of course, but they were able to trust that their Alpha and Beta would take care of them like they always had.
Nova envied them their peace of mind even in troubled times such as these.
The Council Chamber stood in the center of the compound like a huge wooden longhouse. Smoke curled from the chimney into the midnight air. The only light Nova could see made a yellow arch around the door. As quietly as he could, he opened it and stepped inside, easing his way along the back wall toward his Alpha.
There were more people in attendance tonight than he had thought. Usually, Council meetings were boring. Just rudimentary, every day reports. Every few months there would be an exciting one, and Nemoy would declare the second half of the meeting to be Council only and closed to the rest of the Pack to discuss whatever attack or danger the Mountain Clan was currently facing. As far as Nova knew, this particular meeting should have been closed as well, but it appeared there had been far too many interested parties to keep attendance at a minimum. Nova supposed he and Nemoy had their mother to thank for that.
The man who was speaking was named Ivan. He was assigned to the Eastern border patrol. In fact, if Nova recalled the schedule correctly, Ivan was supposed to be on patrol tonight. So what was he doing here?
“There was nothing I could do,” Ivan said, addressing Nemoy. “There were at least twenty of them to our five. We were overpowered and they seized the border. The four of us barely made it out alive.” Ivan hung his head. “We lost Coah.” The regret and grief in the man’s voice was palpable. Nevertheless, it provoked a rage in Nova he was having trouble controlling.
He should have been there. It was Nova’s job to lead the security for his Pack. It was his job to protect his people. And every day, Kal and his Pack of murderers got closer and closer, ingraining themselves into the very lives of the people Nova was trying to protect.
Nova clenched his fists and fought for calm as he watched his brother stand and place a hand on Ivan’s shoulder. Nemoy’s face was grim. “It is a grave loss,” he said, projecting his voice into the crowd. “Attacks like these have doubled at the very least since the battle here in the compound two weeks ago. We must stay vigilant.” Nemoy turned and locked eyes with Nova. Nearly every head in the crowd followed his lead. “We need to up patrols. Assign double shifts if necessary. No less than ten to a team.” Nova nodded in agreement. “Good. What is the news from Strathford?”
Nova cleared his throat. “There was another attack the other night, as you are all aware. Nate and Ian were able to stop the Valley wolf in question. He is in our possession as we speak. Amara convinced the Mayor to instate a town watch at night. They are armed, but that won’t be enough. However, the extra eyes won’t hurt. As Amara is spearheading this particular campaign, the humans report any sightings to her, and in turn, she relays them to me.”
For a moment, Nemoy continued to stare at him. Nova could feel the deductive powers of the Alpha slide over and around him like a heavy blanket. Then, just as quickly, they were gone. Finally, Nemoy nodded and the meeting continued. It lasted probably another hour.
Nova waited until there were only a few people left in the Council Chamber before he approached his brother and pulled him aside. From across the room, he could see his mother eyeing him. Even though he turned away, it was like he could still feel her gaze. “She’s still furious with me, isn’t she?”
Nemoy glanced past Nova’s shoulder and smirked. “Mother? Of course she is. You’re shacking up with a human. You had to know she was going to be upset.”
“And you?”
“You have my permission, brother. There is nothing for me to be upset about. Now, what did you want to tell me?”
Nova took a moment to appreciate what his brother’s support actually meant to him. Then he forced his head to get back in the game. “It’s about Kal,” he said quietly. He looked furtively around. “He’s recently started dating Amara’s little sister.”
Nemoy’s brows shot up into his jet-black hairline. “You’re joking.”
“Trust me, I wish I was. Amara’s beside herself with worry. But he’s got us by the balls, Nemoy. We can’t say anything without breaking our secrecy laws, and he knows it. He knows we can’t tell Sadie the truth.”
“And going after him directly would be too risky for the sister.” Nemoy tapped his chin with one long finger. “No, you’re right. This is a problem.”
“Yeah,” Nova agreed wryly, “it is. So what are we going to do about it?”
Nemoy thought for a moment before heaving a heavy sigh. “For now, we do nothing.” Nova’s jaw was set and Nemoy could sense his frustrations, “Nova, I’m serious. Do nothing. You said it yourself, there isn’t much that we can do. So instead, we’re going to keep an eye on her. Encourage Amara to keep her sister close. Make sure she’s protected until we can figure out a way to keep her safe.”
“And then?”
“And then? Well.” Nemoy’s dark eyes lit with danger and lethal excitement. Nova couldn’t help but shudder. “And then we watch that bastard burn.”
Chapter 9
“Don’t worry, this won’t be painful,” Amara assured Nova. Then she paused, her hand on the door knob. “Well, at least not terribly.” Her grin was mischievous at best. It only widened when Nova rolled his eyes.
“I’m not worried, Amara,” he replied, shifting the bag of groceries to his other arm. “I have met mothers before.”
She cocked one manicured brow. “Yes, but have you ever faced my mother?”
“Well…” Nova’s voice trailed off, and she could tell he was beginning to get nervous. Good. “Okay, so maybe your mom is a little bit different but that’s just because I want to make a good first impression.”
Amara swallowed hard. If she were being honest, she was quite nervous as well. She wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with both Nova and Kal being there tonight. If only her mother knew the reality. Her mother had become agoraphobic after Amara was attacked just three short years after her husband, Amara’s father was killed. She rarely left
her house anymore, and when she did, she was a nervous wreck by the time she got home. Just the thought of her mother not knowing the truth of this night made her stomach turn.
“Alright. Come on, Lover Boy. Let’s go inside.” Taking a deep breath, Amara opened the door. She loved her mother’s house. It was filled with bright colors and cozy furniture. And it always smelled like freshly baked something. Today it was corn bread muffins.
Amara set her purse on the scrubbed wooden table. She motioned for Nova to place the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter. “Mom?” she called, reaching for Nova’s hand. She led him through the rounded archway to the living room. “Mom?” she called again. This time, she heard voices.
Her mother and Becca were sitting on the couch going through a cook book. Becca’s father, Dan, was reading a book in the arm chair beside them, his hand resting on Becca’s cane. Amara stopped short and glanced over her shoulder at Nova. Did he recognize her? It was he and Nemoy who had saved them ten years ago.
Nova, to his credit, had gone a little white, but kept his cool none the less.
Amara’s mom looked up. “Hey, kiddo!” Closing the book, she stood and rushed over to her daughter. She threw her arms around her.
“Hey, Mom. This is Nova.” She gestured behind her. “My boyfriend. Nova, this is my mother, Cathleen.” They shook hands, and Nova turned on the charm. It didn’t take much, she knew. One smile, and that was it. And, if she didn’t know any better, she’d say her mom was smitten.
She couldn’t blame her.
Nova leaned forward to shake Dan’s hand as he and Becca were introduced. Amara watched with pleasure as Becca’s tan cheeks flushed a beet red. She so rarely got out anymore to see anybody. It was just too hard for her to get around. And what with all the scarring around her face and throat…well, she understood why Becca kept to herself and her small circle of people most of the time. Still, it was nice to see she was still the same sweet Becca, even when meeting strangers.
“We were just about to leave,” Becca apologized, reaching for her cane. Amara rushed forward to help her up.
“Don’t be silly,” Cathleen replied. “You’re more than welcome to stay for dinner.”
Amara started to agree before she remembered Kal would be joining them as Sadie’s guest, and clamped her lips down tight. There was no way she was letting that bastard anywhere near Becca. If only she could get him the hell away from her sister, too.
Becca smiled, but shook her head. “That’s so sweet of you, Mrs. Townsend, but we really do need to be going.” She shared a warm yet exasperated look with her father. “My mother starts to worry whenever we’re out too long. Especially me.”
Dan chuckled and Cathleen blushed scarlet. She knew exactly how Becca’s mother was feeling, Amara knew. “Another time then,” Cathleen conceded.
“It was lovely to meet you,” Nova said, taking Becca’s hand again.
Becca flushed and murmured something that sounded like “you too,” but Amara couldn’t tell. Amara smiled and threaded her arm through her friend’s. “Come on,” she said. “I’ll walk you out.”
“He’s so cute!” Becca exclaimed once they were out of earshot. “I thought Zoe was exaggerating, but nope! He really is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. And look at those muscles! I wish Brandon had muscles like that,” she grumped, referring to her own boyfriend. She lowered her voice further still. “Speaking of Zoe, have you talked to her much lately?”
Amara frowned. “No, why? Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. She’s been a little strange lately.” Worry creased Becca’s brow. “I think she and Mitch are having problems. She won’t admit it, of course, but I don’t believe her.”
“Really? They seem to be working together alright to me.” Amara thought for a moment. “Then again, I did just take a couple weeks off with Nova, so I’m not entirely sure that’s correct.”
“Would you mind keeping an eye on her for me?” Becca asked.
Immediately, Amara softened. “Of course I will. Anything for you, Becs.”
By then, Dan had joined them, so the two women said their goodbyes and Amara opened the door. Sadie and Kal stood on the porch. Kal’s lips turned up in a cold, cruel smile as he stared from Becca to Amara, and back again. He recognized her. He must have. The lumps of scar tissue along her jaw and neck were sure to give it away.
Amara clenched her teeth together and forced a cheery smile for her sister’s benefit. She was almost certain it came out as more of a grimace.
“Excuse us,” Becca said politely. She and her father pushed through the door. Her voice was uncharacteristically timid, and Amara had to wonder if it was just because she was shy, or if on some level, she recognized Kal for the dangerous monster that he was.
Kal let them pass without a word before turning his leering grin back on Amara. “Well, well, well. That was a pleasant surprise.” Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss over her cheek, lingering to whisper in her ear. “Maybe I’ll finish her off when I’m done with you.” The sickeningly hot feel of his breath against her skin, mixed with his threat made Amara want to gag.
She glanced over her shoulder to where Nova stood, grateful to see his expression was one of stoic reserve rather than the open hostility she knew he was looking to show. As much as she hated Kal and his pack, her mother couldn’t handle any added stress, especially with all of these recent attacks.
Cathleen rushed forward and enveloped Kal in a hug. It was like watching somebody transform right before her eyes. Kal became an entirely different person. He wrapped his arms around Cathleen’s ample frame and hugged her tight, a broad smile across his sharp-featured face.
The sight was sickening. Amara looked at Nova in alarm.
Next to her, Sadie frowned, clearly getting angry. “What is wrong with you two? You’re looking at him like he’s going to kill somebody. It’s not like Kal’s an ax murderer or something. Lighten up.” Still shaking her head, Sadie stepped forward to say hello to her mother.
“This is not good,” Amara whispered to Nova, groping for his hand. She could seriously use the reassurance from someone who wasn’t absolutely terrifying.
Nova scowled. “No,” he agreed slowly, eyeing the other man with dislike. “It definitely is not.”
Chapter 10
Dinner was awkward. Nova could feel Amara’s discomfort and anxiety even though they weren’t actually touching. And Kal, that rat bastard, was enjoying it. He kept making snide remarks about finishing a job, or comments about the benefits of a good meal while staring Amara down. He was toying with her, Nova knew; trying to get a reaction. Doing anything at all was exactly what Kal wanted. The best thing for all of them would be for Nova to just sit there and keep his mouth shut.
But it didn’t stop him from wanting to rip Kal’s throat out all the same.
By the time they’d finished the meal, even Sadie seemed to have sensed that something was wrong. And, thankfully, she understood that Kal was the cause of it. “I’m sorry he’s acting like this,” she told Nova in the driveway while frowning at her boyfriend. “I don’t know what’s gotten in to him. He’s normally so sweet. And tonight he’s just…”
“An ass?” Amara supplied. It was the first time Nova had seen her smile all night.
Sadie’s lips twitched. “Yeah, that.”
Nova chuckled. “Don’t worry, Sadie. We know it’s not your fault.”
“We do?”
He raised a brow in Amara’s direction; she just shrugged. “But seriously, have you considered that there might be more to Kal than you think? He seems pretty comfortable tonight. In fact, he seemed to enjoy making the rest of us uncomfortable.”
Sadie rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Nova. Not you too!”
“All I’m asking is how well you really know him.” He pulled her into a hug. “We just want you to be safe, is all.”
“I know. And I appreciate it. Really, I do. He’s just having an off night.” Seeing her mother carrying
something in the house she went and offered her help, “Mom, wait, I can lift that for you!”
“Nice segue,” Amara murmured. She opened the truck door and climbed inside.
Nova smiled warmly, but just as he was about to close the door, Kal slammed it shut for him.
“Concede the borders, Lowery,” he sneered, glaring at Amara through the window. “Give the Valley Clan what is rightfully ours, what we want, or I promise you, I will take every last person you care about, starting with this one right here and little sis. And I will destroy them.” Kal’s lips spread over sharp, white teeth. “You’ve been warned.” Turning away, he strode over to Sadie’s car before turning back. “Oh, and Nova? Make sure you let your brother know what I said.”
Nova was seething the entire way back to Amara’s place. Concede the borders. Not a chance in hell. As if they would give up even an inch of land for those bottom feeders. How many people had been lost already? How many times had he had to grieve a friend or one of their young because the Valley Clan refused to honor the treaties they signed decades before?
And how much should he blame his late father for letting it get this far? For letting his need for peace outweigh his need to protect his pack? Nemoy wasn’t making the same mistake, that was for sure, but would it be enough? What if it was too late?
“Nova, baby, you need to relax.” Amara’s voice was worried, but Nova couldn’t get himself to turn. Ignoring his guilt, he continued to stare out the window. He felt her arms come around him, her delicate fingers brushing the skin along his bare chest. He felt her lips press kiss after kiss along his shoulders, his back, and down the line of his arms, but it did nothing to assuage his tension.
He needed to protect her. It was his job, his duty. She was his now, in every way he had hoped for since he was seventeen years old. And he’d be damned if Kal Vann was going to take her from him. Or take any more people from her.
He would see Kal in Hell before he let that happen.
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