From the Grave

by Karina Espinosa

  “Mackenzie,” Mohammad interrupted.

  I cleared my throat and tried to shield Sterling, but that was hard to do. “Uh … not right now.”

  “I can help her.”

  My gaze whipped to the captain and his deadly, empty eyes. “Excuse me?”

  He was stone-faced as he said, “What she’s feeling is not something that can be easily overcome with a pep talk. Let me help. I have more experience than you.”

  I flinched. It was an insult but the truth. Honestly, I didn’t know what to do at the moment—all of my thoughts were with Bash.

  I narrowed my eyes on him. “Why would you want to help?” Mohammad didn’t like me. After Blu died, Mohammad couldn’t stand to look at me.

  Not a single muscle besides his lips moved, and only his eyes followed me as I shifted under his glare. It was eerie.

  “I see what you’ve been doing with the Lunas. You’ve been making good progress. Sterling shows promise after tonight. I think she’d make an excellent captain, but she still needs further training. Much more than you can give her. Let me take her under my wing.”

  Another backhanded compliment.

  “I don’t trust you,” I returned.

  “Blu did.”

  I clamped my mouth shut. I never had the opportunity to inquire, but I knew he had some sort of relationship with Blu. It wasn’t the romantic kind—he wasn’t Blu’s type—but they had something because her death hit him hard.

  “You’re cold and callous. I don’t want her to lose her humanity.”

  “I won’t,” Sterling promised. “Kenz, I can do this.”

  Looking up at her sad eyes which were desperate for any sort of relief or help, I nodded.

  “Ultimately, it's up to you, Sterling. If you want to be mentored by Mohammad, it’s your choice. Just remember, you make decisions for yourself. So, whenever you want it to end, you just say the word. Understand?”

  “Yes,” she replied.

  I watched her carefully before letting her go. If this was what she wanted, I would respect her choices, even if I didn’t agree. I would watch him very closely though. Mohammad unnerved me with his stiff movements and eyes that followed my every move.

  I left the two of them on the main floor and went to Bash’s office. My nerves were creeping back, and I was getting agitated. I entered the office without knocking. Luckily, it was just the two of us.

  “Close the door behind you,” he ordered.

  Stubbornly, I did as I was told and leaned against the door, keeping a good distance between us. I looked for any injuries on his body, but there was nothing besides dried blood from his victims.

  “You rang?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

  He glared at me from behind his desk, his eyes trailing over every inch of my skin. I felt bare before him. It gave me goose bumps, and I couldn’t help the shiver that ran through my body.

  “What happened tonight, Mackenzie?”

  I shrugged. “Nothing.”

  “You almost killed that girl.”

  “She almost killed you.”

  He sighed loudly. “Her team retreated. She was the only one left. There was no need to kill her. You were so blinded by bloodlust, you couldn’t see that though, could you?”

  I scoffed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “This is why I didn’t want you involved, Mackenzie.”

  “Excuse me? I’m a cop, dammit! This is what I do for a living. If anyone should be involved, it's me. What? I made one mistake. I’m—”

  “Human?” Bash finished. “You’re not. Don’t forget that.”

  My eyes snapped to him and narrowed. I hated how well he knew me. Being raised human had its downfalls, and this was it.

  “How’s Duke?”

  Bash was quiet for a moment before he answered. “He suffered mild paralysis. They had wolfsbane injections. They didn’t get the full dosage in Duke, so he should be good in a few hours.”

  I let out a sigh of relief. “And the girl?”

  “She’s in a cage. We’ll keep her chained up until morning and question her once Duke is better.”

  I nodded. I’d been worried he was really hurt, but if it was only wolfsbane, he was in the clear. For wolves, it was only a paralytic and typically kept us down for twenty-four hours.

  “Those people tonight, they were human?” I asked.

  Bash rubbed at his lips. “That’s what they appeared to be.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know, Bash. They were inhumanly fast.”

  He nodded. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. In the meantime …” He walked around his desk and prowled toward me.

  “Bash …” I cautioned.

  “Mackenzie.” He stood before me and whipped off his shirt. “I think it’s time for a shower. Together.”

  I gulped. Sweet baby Jesus.

  5

  “Do I still make you nervous?” Bash traced the curve of my bare hip and thigh, making gooseflesh appear on my skin.

  We laid on his bed facing each other after a couple of extracurricular activities that started in his office, moved to the bathroom, and ended in his bedroom.

  “No.” He didn’t make nervous in the sense he was thinking. “What I feel are butterflies in my tummy.” I moved my hand to my stomach. “They flutter every time you’re near.”

  He gave me one of his rare smiles, and I made sure to memorize it—every line, the creases at the corners of his eyes, everything. It was perfect. I wanted to enjoy these moments between us, but the idea that someone was out there trying to kill him only made me sick.

  Bash placed his hand on mine. “Would you ever want something other than butterflies in there?” he whispered.

  I froze, and my eyes flashed silver as my vision heightened and a silver ring covered my sight. My wolf was not happy with that question.

  “Bash,” I muttered. “I don’t think right now is the appropriate time—”

  “When is?” he demanded as he sat up.

  “When you’re not being hunted!”

  “So you would consider having children if this wasn’t happening?” Bash inquired.

  I couldn’t believe where the conversation was going. Grabbing the blanket, I covered myself and stood. “There’s nothing to consider. The lives we live are not suitable for children, Sebastian. Have you ever thought about that? You’re an Alpha, and I’m a freak who will most likely always have a price on her head. Children are targets.”

  His jaw tightened and ticked. “Your father is going to demand an heir from you. There’s no running from that. The MacCoinnich line will lose the throne if you don’t produce one.”

  I scoffed. “Wait a minute … Have you been talking to Alexander about this? Is this why you’re bringing it up now? I can’t believe this shit.”

  “Mackenzie—” Bash reached for me, but I stepped away.

  “I’ll sleep in one of the guest rooms. Call me when you’re ready to interrogate the girl.”

  I lied. So what? Bash was a liar too. It was obvious he was in talks with my biological father, Alexander, the King of the Lycans. I knew I’d eventually have to take my place beside him, but I never signed up to have a kid. Although, I probably should have known, it’s common sense, but whatever.

  Instead of sleeping in a guest room in the warehouse, I left Brooklyn and found myself on the train into the city. I texted the only person in the world who could keep me sane in a situation like this.

  “Well, ain’t this a doozy?” Amy slurped her piña colada. “I honestly thought he’d be smoother about it, but that was just a disaster. Like, hurricane-category-five disaster.”

  We stood at the counter at Gray’s Papaya, our usual spot. It seemed anytime either of us had a problem, this was where we ended up. Amy and I met freshman year in college, the night I shifted into a wolf for the first time. I owe her more than I can ever repay. Unfortunately, during the Luna revolution, she was killed by Alexander’s then-wife, the Queen of the Lyca
ns. In my desperation to save her, I had her changed into a vampire. Now, she was frozen in time—her fiery-red hair in perfect waves, her two arms in full-tatted sleeves, and her nose, tongue, lip, and eyebrows pierced. We’ve had our ups and downs. She hated me for what I did to her. I was selfish, I understood that, but Amy was more than my best friend, she was my sister. I couldn’t lose her. I did whatever I had to do to save her life. A few months ago, during the war, I searched high and low for someone who could cure vampirism, and I finally found them. I gave her the cure, and now she had a choice: stay a vampire or go back to being human. She’s still figuring that out.

  “Things have been off between us lately,” I said. “I can feel the truths we keep from one another and they’re piling sky high.”

  Amy stopped mid-bite of her hot dog. “You’re lying to him too?”

  I nodded, avoiding eye contact.

  “Kenzie …”

  “I can’t tell you. If I do, you’ll want to tell Jackson, and you can’t.” I bit my tongue to stop talking and telling her more. That was more information than needed to be given.

  “Why would I tell Jack?” Her eyes widened. “Does it have to do with Jonah?”

  “Amy …” I groaned.

  “Kenz, whatever you’re hiding, you can’t keep it a secret forever. It's eating you up inside,” she whispered and leaned forward, grabbing my hands. “I thought we told each other everything.”

  It was eating me up inside, and soon, there’d be nothing left. But if I risked telling Amy, she could tell Jackson. Jonah was right; we didn’t know how he’d react. Selfishly, I didn’t want to risk our new friendship. We’d gotten close, and he’d be furious I hadn’t disclosed the fact his brother was still wandering around limbo. Oh, and I could see him. Right.

  “I won’t tell him, if that’s what you’re worried about. I respect our friendship, Kenz. Chicks before dicks. Remember?”

  I chuckled. Of course.

  “Hoes before bros?” I quirked a brow.

  “Damn right.” She grinned.

  Here goes nothing …

  “It is about Jonah. I’ve been keeping a secret about him from everyone.” I took a deep breath. “He’s not dead. Not completely.”

  “What?!” Amy spat out her drink.

  Everyone in Gray’s Papaya stopped talking and turned to look at us.

  “Sorry,” I waved them off, “she just found out Macy’s is having a huge sale. Ladies, make sure you hit up the store, yeah?” I joked, but everyone just turned around and ignored us. “Jesus Christ, Aims. Let’s use our inside voices please.”

  “Inside voices?” she whisper-yelled, her green eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. “You just told me one of our really good friends is still alive. How does that constitute inside voices?!”

  “Because he’s still dead … just in limbo.” I probably should have led with that.

  Amy’s mouth hung open. If she wasn’t already dead, I’d worry she’d have a heart attack and croak on the dirty floors of Gray’s Papaya at three in the morning.

  “And how do you know this?” She quirked a pierced brow.

  I sighed. This was the part I was dreading, but I needed to explain. I told Amy everything, from the very beginning—when I first saw Blu after her death to now. I explain the ceremony, even if it was forbidden and all. What the Lycan didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. Right now, I needed someone to talk to and that happened to be a vampire.

  “Shit, Kenz,” Amy exhaled, “where the hell is Jonah at this precise moment?”

  “My apartment. Watching Netflix. Although that’s probably turned off by now.” I slammed my forehead on the countertop. “Dammit, I’m an idiot.”

  “Yeah, you are, but it’s okay.” She rubbed my back.

  “Not helping,” I mumbled.

  “Well, you’ve dug a deep hole for yourself, wolfey.” She hadn’t called me wolfey in a very long time. It almost made me smile. Almost. “Look, I gotta get back before sunrise. Let’s talk some more tonight. Wanna do dinner?”

  I lifted my head and rubbed at my forehead. “Yeah, sounds good.”

  “And Kenz,” she said as she walked toward the door, “the truth will set you free.”

  It was eerie how quiet it was in the warehouse so early in the morning. After I parted ways with Amy, I walked around the city trying to clear my head before making my way back to Brooklyn. When I opened the metal double doors into the warehouse, I didn’t hear the squeak of the hinges. I stood in the middle of the empty main floor, shut my eyes, and listened. So many racing hearts. Panic. My eyes shot open and my pulse raced as I sprinted to Bash’s bedroom in the basement. I came to a halt as I noticed his door ajar, which it never was. He liked his privacy, and I had made sure to slam it shut behind me last night before I left. My right leg wouldn’t stop bouncing as I hesitated. I feared he’d either be dead or gone. A sense of dread overcame me—I wouldn’t be able to handle either one. Had I stayed behind last night, I could have fought the intruders.

  Taking a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes tightly before opening them. They shifted from gray to silver as my inner wolf came out, and I slowly made my way to his room. I widened my hearing and heard two heartbeats. Relaxing a little, I lifted my nose in the air and sniffed, recognizing his scent immediately. It was strong, which meant he was still in there. Whether he was alive, I didn’t know, but whoever owned the other scent wouldn’t be on this earth much longer.

  I kicked open his bedroom door and let out a deep howl. Going into a half-shift, I bared my canines and snarled. A man stood at the foot of Bash’s bed. His back was to me and there was an empty syringe on the floor. I sniffed the air again and smelled the wolfsbane. I howled again. This time, it was a cry to the pack. Their Alpha was hurt.

  “No use crying to your pack,” the man said. “They’ve all been put down.”

  I gasped. “Y-you killed them?” I nearly stumbled over my feet as I tried to steady myself.

  He shook his head with a smirk. “We’ve injected them with wolfsbane.”

  “We?”

  All confidence evaporated, and the grin disappeared from his face. He shouldn’t have told me that. I jumped on him like glue and snapped his neck in one fell swoop. The man dropped to the ground like cement, but I didn’t care. I ran to Bash, whose eyes were wide open.

  “I’m here.” I cradled his face and brushed the hair away from his eyes. “Do you know how many there are? Blink once for no, twice for yes.”

  He blinked once. Damn.

  “It’s okay. I’m gonna check on Duke. They’re probably in his room.”

  He blinked twice.

  “It’s going to be okay.” I placed a kiss on his lips and gave him a small smile for reassurance. Being paralyzed with wolfsbane was not fun. I knew it was killing him not being able to help, and I hated leaving him alone and defenseless, but I had to make sure Duke was all right.

  I locked his bedroom door from the inside and slammed it behind me. I’d have to ram through it later to get in, but that meant no one else would be able to either. Not without me hearing it.

  Leaving the basement, I crept back upstairs. Duke was staying in one of the bigger rooms on the first floor. I itched to check on Jackson, but I had to concentrate—the Alphas were my top priority because they were the main targets for the intruders. It was rare to see the main floor so desolate at eight in the morning. Some of the Lunas who still wanted to continue the status quo should’ve been milling about getting breakfast prepared. There was no one.

  I stepped out into the opening and made a left, sticking to the wall where the doors were. So far, I’d heard the heartbeats of pack members and no one else. Was the guy lying? I couldn’t imagine him taking out a whole pack on his own though.

  When I got to Duke’s bedroom, I placed my ear to the door and heard the additional heartbeat. It was practically against the door, just like I was. The scent was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. It wasn’t pack, and it wasn’t one of the Nashv
ille captains.

  I slowly turned the knob, and the door creaked open. I stepped in and listened. The assailant was behind the door, waiting until I was fully inside with my back to them.

  Dumbass.

  I pulled the door as if I were to close it and slammed it back again, banging the attacker in the head. They hit the wall, and I went stepped around to see the girl we’d captured the night before at Central Park. She kicked me in the gut, and I stumbled backward, not expecting her to fight back. My mistake. She scrambled to her feet, a syringe full of wolfsbane in hand.

  “Give up now,” I taunted. “You won’t win.”

  “I’m the one with the wolfsbane,” she sneered.

  “And I’m the one with the claws.” I lifted my hand and went into a half-shift.

  “You don’t scare me.” She tightened her hand around the needle.

  “Then c’mon,” I grinned and waved her over, “drop the bane and show me what you got.”

  “Unshift.”

  I laughed. “Touché.”

  I unshifted and she set the wolfsbane on the ground. A criminal with a moral code. I could dig it.

  She came for me first, and while she had the same speed as her colleagues, she was sloppy. I tried to get a hit in, but her speed was her advantage, so my punches weren’t hitting their marks. When she went for the wolfsbane, I stepped on it and shattered the syringe. So much for a moral code. I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised.

  “My bad,” I said sarcastically.

  “Typical of your people.”

  “My people?” I chuckled. “Are you some werewolf Nazi?”

  She scoffed. “How dare you say that to me after what your people did to me.”

  “Excuse me? I’m going to need a little more context than that.”

  She lifted her shirt and exposed her abdomen.

  Holy shit. That’s a wolf bite.

  6

  The bite mark on her abdomen looked fresh. I wouldn’t have believed her if I didn’t see the indention of canines. It could be from anything like a dog, but knowing what I knew, that was unlikely. She was here on a mission to exact revenge on those who’d wronged her—wrongfully so, but I oddly understood. Although, I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening. I’d never seen a wolf bite. Hell, I’d never met anyone who was actually turned from a bite. It was taboo.