by H. D. Gordon
No wonder she wanted to stay with me. As I looked at her now, I realized I wanted her to stay, too.
When she spoke, I was already decided, but I let her voice her thoughts, anyway. “I’m attracted to you, yes,” she said. “I won’t deny that. You’re beautiful and strong, and I’ve always loved such females…but it’s not just that. You’ve shown me kindness. You’ve been a real friend to me, and I don’t have any friends. I…I feel safe when I’m with you, and I don’t want that feeling to end. I want to be part of your Pack, of your family. If you’ll have me, I’ll be loyal to you. I’ll never break your trust, and I’ll help you in any way I can.”
With these words, Mila dropped to her knees in submission. I blinked down at the Shifter, surprised and touched. This was a Wolf’s way of showing obedience to their Alpha, a request for me to let her into my world, a plead for acceptance.
I found I could not deny her.
I tugged her to her feet, and met her green eyes. “I accept you, Mila,” I said. “I’ll take care of you, if that’s what you want. You can be part of my Pack, my family. You’re safe with me.”
When tears welled in her eyes, I had to swallow to suppress my own rise of emotions. I brushed hers away with my fingertips, and brought her face gently toward mine. I placed a gentle kiss on her lips, which was another way of confirming her admission to my Pack. When I pulled back, she was smiling, and the sight of it lifted my cold heart.
Some people you meet in life just seem to claim you this way, just seem to fit as if they’d always been there.
“Thank you, Dita,” Mila whispered.
And so it was done.
Three days later, I’d gathered my closest people into the office of the main house, pouring them each a glass of shine before I delved into the topics that needed to be addressed.
Present were Elian, Mila, Devon, Kyra, Cora and Cecelia. These were the people I trusted the most, and the ones whose approval I now wanted before I made a move. Before, I would not have asked for anyone’s permission, so drunk with power I’d been. Now, I saw that seeking the council of those you loved and trusted was not a weakness, but a strength.
Once they’d all taken seats in various places around the office, drinks in hand, I stood in the center of them and met their gazes individually before I began. I had their full attention, and they awaited my direction patiently.
“Angelo Mangera is not going to venture out of his stronghold,” I said in greeting.
I watched as they shifted in their seats, each as concerned about the matter as I was. I drew a breath and continued. “Which is why I want to hit him at his home.”
Devon and Kyra glanced at each other, as did Cora and Cecelia. Elian leaned back in his seat and appraised his glass of shine before tipping it up and draining it. Mila bit her lip, her pretty face scrunched in concern.
I let them absorb this information. None said anything for a long time.
After a while, Elian asked, “How would that be accomplished?”
Mila nodded, glancing at the Demon and back to me. “Yeah, D. You know I’ve been there pretty much everyday since the ambush, and Angelo’s security is tight. There are dozens of Wolves roaming the grounds at every hour, and more in the house itself. On top of that, there is magic in place to alert in case of intruders. My insect form is the only one that was small enough to slip through unnoticed.”
“It won’t be easy,” I conceded. “But we can find a way. I want this done. I want to leave this place and go somewhere where no one is trying to kill us.”
“We all want that,” Kyra replied. “But hitting Mangera at his house? I don’t know, D.”
I nodded, sipping shine and swallowing before replying. “I won’t act without everyone’s agreement,” I said. “I want you all behind me, but I won’t force your hands. In fact, from here on out, I won’t be making big decisions without your input. I don’t want to be your Alpha. I want to be your family.”
“You are our family,” they all said at once, and chuckles followed at the synchronicity.
“That’s generous, D,” Devon said after the laughter died down. “I’m very proud of you.”
My throat grew tight at my brother’s words, his approval more precious to me than gold.
Elian gave me a look like he would show me later how very proud he was of me as well, and I winked at him to relay that I was looking forward to that.
“Well, I agree about going to his house,” Cora said, surprising me. The Vampire had been a trusted member of my family since before we’d left Borden all those moons ago, but she’d been content to take a role in running things here at the house, and letting me handle all the outside nonsense. “I’m anxious to be done with this, too,” she added. “We’ve done well here, but I think it’s time we moved on.”
“Yes,” Cecelia added. “Too much bad blood. Too many dark memories.”
Kyra said, “I’ve always believed this land was haunted, anyway. Being a former Dog plantation, there’s no doubt there are more ghosts wandering these grounds than we can count.”
That reminded me of another thing I’d been withholding, and though it was a real show of vulnerability on my part, I’d made a commitment to be honest and open with these people, and I intended to keep to it.
“There’s another thing,” I said, and swallowed before I could continue. “I’ve been seeing Lucas Borden around.”
There were gasps from those who knew about the history with the Mad Wolf, those who’d been there when the whole thing had gone down. I’d told Elian about the battle back in Borden, so only Mila glanced around in confusion. I gave her a nod to let her know I’d fill her in later.
“That’s impossible,” Kyra said. “The orb showed him still in his coma.”
“Where did you see him?” Devon asked. “When?”
“I thought he was dead,” Cora replied.
“Dear Gods,” Cecelia mumbled.
I nodded at all of these responses. “There is a strong possibility that I’ve only been imagining him,” I admitted, despite the fact of how I knew this would sound. “I’ve only caught glimpses here and there, and always at a distance, so it very well could just be in my mind.”
“As worrisome as that would be,” Devon said, “it’s still preferable over him being back.”
“Who is Lucas Borden?” Mila asked, clearly unable to stand the anticipation.
“The Mad Wolf,” replied Cora.
“A bad mother fucker,” added Devon.
“Dita killed his brother and put him in a coma,” said Kyra.
Mila blinked at me. Then she leaned back in her seat and took a deep swig of her shine. “Wonderful,” she mumbled.
“All right,” Kyra said. “Then the first order of business is making sure that bastard is still trapped in sleep.”
“What about what we saw in the orb?” I asked. “Could that spell have failed?”
Kyra tilted her head. “Not failed, exactly. The spell worked, but it is possible that there was magic counteracting it. Magic put into place to show an image of him still sleeping should anyone care to check. If he didn’t want it to be known that he’d awoken, he could have hired a magic user to do such a thing. It would be expensive, of course, but of no matter to a Borden.”
“And if he’s back?” Devon asked.
“I need to kill him, of course,” I said.
Devon nodded.
Elian leaned forward in his chair, and I could see the wheels turning in that beautiful mind of his. “Do the Bordens have any connection to the Mangeras that we know of?” he asked.
This question took me aback, and my mind reeled at the implications. “Not that I’m aware of,” I said.
The Demon leaned back, his fingers toying with the armrests of his seat, a habit of his when his mind was reeling. “I’ve been wondering why Mangera would take the risk of robbing you of that shipment, wondering why he would make such a powerful enemy, when he is a business-minded person, and your prior relationshi
p was clearly more profitable to him than starting a war…. I’ve been thinking that the only reason would be if the matter was personal. And you said you never insulted or disrespected him on that front.”
I nodded. “That’s true. I’ve been fair and decent to him.”
Devon blew out a heavy breath. “But if the Borden’s and the Mangeras know each other, if there is some sort of familial connection or alliance…”
“Exactly,” Elian said.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
Elian nodded. “Exactly,” he repeated.
Chapter 20
It seemed far-fetched, but was it really?
The Bordens were old money, and so were the Mangeras, and families of that status were limited in number by the pure nature of our economic world. It was entirely possible that there was a link between the two, perhaps relatives that had Mated and entwined the bloodlines, or long held business dealings that had created an alliance.
Either way, I needed to figure out if the Borden’s played into this, and if so, I’d need to take care of the Mad Wolf along with Angelo and his circle. As much as the idea of running and starting over with the substantial amount of resources and money I’d accumulated appealed to me, it was clear to me now that if I left without handling these things, they would only follow me to the new location.
I should have learned this lesson when my father had shown up on my doorstep after I’d left him on another continent. If the Mad Wolf was really here, then this was all the more reason to put things to rest before making my escape.
Elian brought the news the next day, as my group of trusted loved ones was once again gathered in our home office. As soon as the Demon strolled into the room, I knew that he had found something, and that that something had confirmed his earlier suspicions.
“They are connected,” he said in greeting, after shutting the office door behind him. “The Mangeras and the Bordens, their familial intermingling goes back generations.”
Eli pulled a piece of parchment out of his suit jacket and carried it over to the desk behind which I was sitting. The others gathered round as he unrolled the paper, which revealed a family tree of sorts, with names going back more than a hundred years.
He pointed at a branch where two names met and sprouted off a dozen more. The names read: Sierra Mangera and Alfie Borden
“Shit,” I mumbled, seeing that this Mating had taken place nearly a hundred years ago, and that the two families had been entwined ever since.
I stared down at the family tree, and the others stared as well. For a tense and long moment, no one said a thing.
It was Devon who voiced the decision. “It’s settled then,” he said.
I removed my eyes from the parchment and looked up at him with raised brows.
My brother met my gaze square, a stoic resolve in his expression that I had scarcely seen before. “We have to kill them. All of them, and then we get the hell out of this cursed place.”
I glanced around at the others individually, and one by one, they each gave a nod of approval.
While I’d wanted to avoid this, having them by my side made the decision much easier, and determination filled me. We were strong, and together, we could eliminate this threat and move to greener pastures.
But, first, there would be blood.
The air in front of me shimmered, as if there were a thin curtain of water hanging between me and whatever lie on the other side.
I glanced over my shoulder at the Demon, tilting my head back toward the barely visible curtain. “What realm is this?”
“It belongs to the Fae,” Eli answered.
My brows rose. “Was that wise? Are they safe there?”
Eli came forward and took my hand, standing beside me, a smile tugging up his lips. “I would not have put them there if they were not,” he said, and pulled me gently forward. “Come on.”
I held my breath as I passed through the barrier, expecting it to have some sort of effect, but I felt nothing but a slight tingling along my skin as we passed from one realm into the next. Once we were through, I looked behind me, seeing the same trees and landscape I’d just left, that shimmering wall hanging suspended between.
“Have you never crossed to another realm, my love?” the Demon asked.
My heart jumped at this term of endearment, but I only shook my head, giving a sheepish smirk. “I’ve never had any reason to.”
“There’s always good reason to travel.”
I nodded. “True, but when basic survival is in question, it leaves little time for explorations.”
Eli leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips. Then he tugged me forward once more. “Come on. It’s this way.”
I tried not to gawk at the marvels of the world around me as I took in the new terrain. I’d known from stories that there were magical barriers spread throughout the realms, and if one could locate them, they could cross into the other territories and see what lie beyond, but I’d never imagined that I would do so. Not so long ago, just getting out of The Mound and the shadow of my father and Borden had been my biggest dream, but it was funny where life could take you.
“How did you find this place?” I asked, noting the wonder in my voice.
“I’ve made an effort to locate as many of the barriers and crossing points as possible,” Eli responded. “I’m an explorer at heart.”
I nodded, shutting my mouth for the time being so that I could absorb what was around me. We’d ridden two hours from home to reach the barrier, and the terrain on that side had been fields and trees, the air tinged with the smell of salt to the east.
Here, the air was warmer, the trees of a different species entirely, with broad palm-like leaves that were as green as any I’d ever seen. The ground was soft and coated in a layer of sand over the dirt. In the distance, great mountains rose up from the earth, their peaks scraping a sky that was blue and bright, fluffy white clouds floating lazily by.
Even the air smelled different. There was still a hint of salt, as if a sea were nearby, but there was strong floral and citrus scents as well. As we ventured further into the trees, I spotted large flowers of scarlet and violet, marigold and sapphire. These blooms let off an aroma that was almost choking to my Wolf nose, but I was too caught up in admiration to truly mind.
The creatures I spotted as we pressed onward were equally captivating. Birds with multicolored feathers and large beaks swooped through the trees. Lizards of all shapes and sizes darted from here to there, so quick in their movements that if I blinked, they were gone. Gray monkeys blinked down at us in disinterest, some stuffing their furry faces with the round fruit that hung from the trees.
I could feel Eli’s eyes on me as we made the trek, knew that he was enjoying watching me marvel at this new world. I pulled him to a stop to kiss him.
“What was that for?” he asked when I pulled away.
“To thank you for being so good to me. You’re amazing.”
The Demon’s handsome face lit up with delight. “You’re welcome. I’m quite fond of you as well, Miss Silvers.”
With that done, we pushed ahead and soon came upon several modest structures set into the trees. They were little more than huts, with straw roofs and a well-beaten path connecting them. I’d never seen such dwellings.
“They’re here?” I asked.
Eli nodded.
No sooner had he answered than a pup came bounding toward me, big ears perked up on his head. I recognized the child at once, and scooped him up into my arms, my heart at greater ease with just the contact.
“Hello, Little Demarco,” I said as I snuggled and kissed him. “I’ve missed you.”
Little Demarco licked my face, his fur as soft as feathers beneath my fingers.
“Dita!” said another instantly recognizable Wolf.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread over my face as Analise and Ada came running out of one of the huts and threw themselves into my arms.
The twins wrapped around my legs as the
y used to do when I was little, and I set Little Demarco down so that I could pick them up.
They both held tight, showering my face in kisses. Eli stood beside me with a pleased grin on his face.
“We missed you so much!” Ada said.
“When can we come home?” Ana added.
“Very soon,” I promised.
I’d just set them down when Delia emerged from the same hut the twins had come out of, and my little sister’s welcoming smile warmed my heart to a degree I’d forgotten was possible. She did not run toward me as had the little ones, but she moved quickly, opening her arms to me upon arrival.
I watched the way she moved, and realized with a bit of a start that my little sister was not a child anymore, that at some point when I had not been looking she had become an adult. There was sadness in this realization, but also no small degree of pride, for I’d surely had a hand in the realization of this process. I’d helped to raise her into the beautiful Wolf she now was.
I inhaled her scent deeply as I pulled her into an embrace, and was grateful when she held me back.
“I’ve missed you,” I said into her mind.
“I’ve missed you too, D,” she replied.
I felt the emotion welling up in me and clamped down on it, because I did not want to cry right now. It was strange that the sensation should even come over me, as I was not a Wolf who broke into a blubbering mess on any occasion. I wondered distantly what was happening to me, why I was finding myself softer than I had been in the past, why the ice around my heart had been seeming to thaw.
I wrapped an arm around Delia’s shoulder and nodded toward the hut. “So this is where you’ve been?” I asked. “Do you like it?”