See me, p.16
See Me, page 16
Glass began to unhook the prisoner’s chain, and Conal joined her. Although it appeared like they were freeing the Lycan, I knew that wasn’t true. They lifted him to his feet.
Black stood in front of him. “Fight me for your life, Mateo Plante,” he sneered.
The prisoner was gathering his energy, or perhaps he was considering the best method for attack, when Black grabbed his wrist and tore his arm from his body.
I think it took a moment for my brain to comprehend what I’d just witnessed. Blood arced through the air as Black beat the man with his own arm. When the bones were so broken that the appendage was slack, he threw it away.
It landed almost on top of me.
But I didn’t scream. I bit my bottom lip so hard I tasted blood, but I couldn’t scream. I didn’t want their attention. I didn’t know what might happen.
Every time the prisoner fell to the ground, Conal or Glass picked him up. The man had stopped making those terrifying noises a while ago. Finally, it ended when Black wrenched the man’s head from his body.
I was numb. I’d watched the entire beating. Something inside me wouldn’t let me turn away.
Glass approached, her clothes and exposed skin were covered in blood. She leaned over to grasp my upper arm. “Come, Theodora Morrissey.” She pulled me to my feet.
I didn’t fight her. Her hold was firm but not bruising. Her wolf was satisfied, and I didn’t feel any bloodlust or aggression. I stood still, watching her punch numbers into the keypad.
The door opened, and I followed her into the corridor. After she heard the heavy door slam shut, she looked at me. “Come.”
I followed her long strides as we walked through a maze of hallways and up a flight of stairs. We were heading toward the gym.
At the door, she paused. “Shower.”
I nodded and followed her into the large locker room.
She immediately began to strip off her blood-soaked clothes.
I was still getting used to all the nudity. I’d shared the showers with her before after my self-defense lessons, or should I say beat downs. I was hopeless against her strength and speed. I walked like a zombie to the row of showers and turned on the hot water at the first faucet, and then continued to the farthest.
She entered as I had just finished adjusting the temperature. “You need to bathe.”
I glanced down at my clothes. They were red. Jesus, I was covered in blood. I didn’t undress; I just turned and stepped under the hot spray. My brain shut down for a while.
“Seer, are you ever going to finish?” Glass stood near me.
Something broke within me. I started to cry and shake so hard that I dropped to my knees. I didn’t want her to see me like this. I screamed at her, “Get out.”
Any other time I would have relished the look of shock on the placid woman’s face, but tonight, I just wanted to be alone. For a few fucking minutes, I needed to be alone.
“Get out, please.” This time the words rumbled from deep in my chest.
She nodded and left the showers.
* * *
I felt him before I saw him. Not that I looked up. His black boots came into view as he sighed, “Theo.”
I slowly raised my head. “Laird.” I briefly wondered if it was past midnight and did I need to show him my brand?
He sank gracefully to his knees then onto his ass. “You’ve had a long shower.”
I sensed no judgment in his tone. I didn’t respond. There were no words. I’d just watched this man tear another, limb from limb until he was dead. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. It was like I was incapable of comprehending it all. Finally, I said the words that I held onto. “He killed one of us.”
“He did.”
“He had to die.” I looked at him again.
“That is our way,” he said slowly.
I nodded.
We sat in silence for a while.
“Theo.”
I think I’d forgotten that he was still there because for a moment, I just stared. “Yes?”
“Do you hate us?”
I considered my answer. What I’d witnessed shocked me—the controlled anger, the brutality, the blood—but from the time I’d walked into that room, the philosophy of the Novus Pack sounded in my head. I licked my dry lips. “With us or against us,” I whispered.
I felt his wolf’s approval as the Laird nodded once. “When you’re ready, Issa will drive you home.”
About a half hour after he left, I stripped out of my clothes. I left them in the shower. After opening my locker, I pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. I didn’t care that I wasn’t wearing underwear. I wanted to get out of there. Issa met me at the door and for the first time, she didn’t talk at all.
Once I got to my bedroom, I again showered. I wanted to smell the coconut of my shampoo instead of the scent of the prisoner’s blood.
Eighteen
Conal MacGregor
I’d gotten home about three hours ago. I checked in with Solle and on Theodora, who was pretending to be sleeping. Black had been firm in his order that we give her space. I’d wanted to give her a ride home, but I’d followed his instructions. I often wondered who knew our Seer best. Solle seemed in tune with her moods and was Theodora’s first choice to discuss her concerns about her transition. The human spoke with me at length about Pack politics and the special rules that applied to her. She relied on my counsel, and I enjoyed her sly sense of humor and ability to quickly grasp concepts. However, there was a bond between our leader and the Seer. It was Black to whom she’d turned tonight to verify that she would be safe around the prisoner. She trusted him with her life.
His handling of her wasn’t gentle. In fact, he was consistently demanding, always pushing for more. However, he was also protective in a way I’d never seen from him. It was subtle. Perhaps, he didn’t realize that more and more often, he checked on her first. A small, petty part of me noticed, that had always been my place, his first concern.
Solle opined that it was Theodora’s strength and overwhelming vulnerability that attracted the Laird. The human was actively devoting herself to learning our ways and history while mastering her skills. However, there were times, when she was unguarded, that she was so aware of her frailty we could feel her pain.
I heard her footsteps above my office as she got out of bed and headed to the stairs. For a few minutes, I didn’t leave my chair. I didn’t want her to think I’d been monitoring her movements. I heard her in the kitchen, so I headed in that direction, because the result was always tasty.
She was making a cup of coffee, so I made sure my steps were heavy enough for her to notice.
“Hey,” she said as she turned. “Oh man, you look like you could use this more than me.” She handed me the full mug.
“Thanks,” I told her gratefully.
I took a seat at the breakfast bar and enjoyed a few sips of the coffee.
She poured another cup and walked to the refrigerator. She stood in front of the open door, studying its contents. “What sounds good?”
I wasn’t sure what to make of her mood this morning. She was unsettled, yet she was acting as if last night hadn’t happened. “What do you feel like making?”
She looked over her shoulder. “Something with multiple steps. I think I need to be busy this morning.”
“Surprise me.” I didn’t know how to cook. If I got hungry and no food was prepared, I changed and hunted my own.
She started to unload ingredients onto the counter while facing me. After a few minutes, she began to beat the multiple eggs she’d cracked. “So, did you get any sleep?”
Although she asked casually, I understood she wanted to talk. “No. Solle was asleep, and I didn’t want to wake her.”
“I tried to sleep.” She added salt and pepper to the bowl and continued the quick motions with her hand.
I studied her as she worked, channeling my mate in her doctor-mode. “Do we need to talk about how you’re doing?”
She paused her actions and rested the whisk against the side of the bowl. “I think I’m okay.” Her eyebrows drew together. “I’m not sure if that should bother me, or if I should feel relieved that I’m not freaking out.”
I saw confusion in her eyes. “Babe, I can’t promise that you won’t be called into something like that again.” I needed to prepare her.
Her exhale was sharp. “I get that you’re all violent.” One side of her mouth lifted. “Brutal.”
“Knowing it and seeing it are two very different things.” I remembered the first time Solle had watched a challenge. She’d stood frozen in shock, and then had cried for hours later that night.
She noticed that my mug was empty, so she grabbed it and poured me another cup. While her back was turned, she said, “I think it helped that it was the Laird who handled things.”
“Black is considered a just and fair leader. We’re lucky to have him.” I’d pledged my life to protect him.
“I understand that, Conal.” She returned the steaming mug to the spot in front of me. “What I mean is that it brings me some comfort that he did it himself. He didn’t order one of you to do it.” She let out a long sigh.
“The Laird won’t ask of us what he wouldn’t do himself,” I said with some heat.
She again attacked the mixing bowl and added a few more ingredients before she poured the mixture into a rectangular dish and put it into the oven.
I knew that she was working through her thoughts. Theodora turned cautious at times when expressing herself.
She made another cup of coffee and leaned on the counter. “I’m trying to remember that your world is different. Sometimes, I still forget,” she said softly, “especially when we do normal things, like talk while I make breakfast.”
“Theodora, you’re adjusting well. We all think so.” I knew Onyx had loftier expectations for the woman, but, in my opinion, she was doing a great job. Last night was amazing.
“Thanks,” she said, but it was a reflexive answer. “Do you think he does it because he’s the boss, or does…does he like it?”
Her voice had gone very tense. I wanted to answer very carefully. I knew it was important to their relationship and to how she regarded our race. “What do you think?”
She tilted her chin a little and smirked.
I could almost hear her thinking the words, Tricky wolf, something she often muttered under her breath.
She narrowed her eyes a little. “I think that he’s violent and brutal. What do they call it? An apex predator.”
I shifted on the stool, ready to interrupt her and remind her that, in our world, that wasn’t a bad thing.
“But I also believe he’s always in control and knows exactly what he wants and has a plan to get it. That’s why he’s always the most dangerous one in the room.” She said these words almost to herself. “He’s a good leader, and it seems, I dunno…uhm, I guess you could say that he does the dirty work himself.”
After considering her calm expression, I gave a nod. “I think that’s a fair summation.”
She gave a little shrug. “So, do you want bacon or sausage?”
I wanted to laugh at her change of topic. “Both.”
She turned to get the meat.
“Babe,” the endearment rolled off of my tongue, “if you want to talk about this some more, we can…later.”
She smiled. “I know and thanks.”
My phone vibrated.
Black: Have you spoken to the Seer
Me: She’s making breakfast
I waited for his response. When one didn’t come, I typed: There will be plenty. You should come by.
Black: Can she cook
I wanted to laugh at his logical question. Yes
Ten minutes later, I heard his bike. I got up and went to the door. As we walked to the breakfast bar, I told Theodora, “There’ll be another mouth to feed.”
Her back was to us as she made the biscuits. When she turned her head to greet our guest, I saw her eyes flare with interest for a second, before she gave a flustered, “Oh…oh.” She rushed to the sink to wash the flour from her hands then formally presented her brand to the Laird. I’d always thought she did it saucily. As if she was saying, “I am wearing your mark, but you don’t really own me...yet.”
I glanced at my friend, and he was giving her an appreciative smile. He definitely sensed the challenge that she unconsciously sent.
“Theodora, I didn’t know that you cooked.”
“I haven’t told you all of my secrets,” she threw over her shoulder as she returned to the dough.
He was watching her ass.
“Coffee?” I interrupted his admiring with a smile.
“Sure.” He didn’t look upset that I’d caught him mid-act. Of course, he was the Laird, so he could do whatever he liked with whomever. There were more than enough volunteering at every turn to lay with our leader.
Nineteen
Raider Black
The Day of Change really took place at night. At dusk, the teens gathered in the square. They stood in a long line as I signaled to Conal which ones would be traveling to the Camp for their first change.
This year, Theodora was three steps ahead of me with Asher. She was calling to their wolves, which made this part of the evening go much more quickly. So far, Conal had recorded seven names. The teens were given time to say goodbye to friends and family before they were transported to our secure facility for the next step.
We were coming to the end of the line. From the corner of my eye, I saw Theo pull up sharply and move a step behind her guard. She was looking ahead to Kenta Yu.
He was small for his age and still resembled a young teen. The only child of Caroline and Akiro Yu was staring boldly at the Seer. It was odd to see one who was so slight stare aggressively at the human. My human. “Seer?”
“That one,” she nodded in the boy’s direction. “He’s ready.” Her mask was in place.
After spending so much time with her, I was learning her expressions, and I hated it when she made her face blank.
I bypassed the next two females and came to a stop in front of Kenta. I could feel his wolf. He would be one of the first to change. “The bus will leave in fifteen minutes.” The boy stared straight into my eyes, something that few so young dared to do. He slowly turned to focus again on my Seer.
My wolf roared, and Theo moved slowly to stand behind me. Whatever she’d experienced upset her. I felt her hand rest briefly against my back. My wolf was watchful.
I turned my back on the boy and formally offered her my arm. “Seer?”
She looked at my arm, and then at my face, before resting her hand in the crook of my elbow.
I could feel her body trembling as we stood to the side of the gathering. Solle had joined us. She glanced at the group that was slowly making their way to the bus.
“I guessed right except for two.” She flashed a satisfied grin.
“Is eight a small group or large?” Theodora usually looked like she was ready to smile, but now, her mouth was set in a straight line.
“It’s the biggest I’ve seen,” Solle said.
“We’re lucky. The Lady gives us many young.” Solle and Conal had explained to her that couples asked to be blessed with a child. We still fucked like humans. If The Lady chose to bless a couple, their sex drives increased until an egg was fertilized. Our Goddess bestowed her blessings as rewards for acts she approved of, or unions she deemed strong. There were packs that were dying because The Lady was unhappy with them. Of course, they would never admit that. They blamed the chemicals in the water or the pollutants in the soil.
Solle studied Theodora. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
The human straightened her shoulders. “I want to help.” I could smell the acidic scent of uncertainty.
“You will help,” I said to encourage her.
The teens had boarded the bus, and their families were now heading home to await word of how their child fared. Some didn’t survive their first change; more couldn’t control their wolves. They had one year to prove they could live safely amongst us.
Mrs. Yu approached our group, walking with purpose. She reached out to touch Theodora’s arm. “You’ll make sure he survives, won’t you?”
Theodora’s mask slipped for a moment, and she looked fearful. However, she quickly gathered her composure. “I will do all that I can.”
“Kenta, he admires you,” the mother told Theodora.
Theodora opened and closed her mouth but didn’t respond.
Solle took over. “We will be there, Mrs. Yu, to help in every way we can.” Solle placed her hand over Mrs. Yu’s and separated her from the Seer. She slowly led the woman away from us.
“His wolf…” Theodora spoke very quietly. “Did you feel anything weird about him?” She looked at me and then dropped her gaze.
“He wants to be freed. I predict he’ll be one of the first to change.”
She nodded quickly, but I knew that she’d felt something more.
I would have the guards watch him closely.
“Laird,” Glass called out. “We should go.”
Our group headed to our SUVs. I couldn’t speak anymore with Theodora, because she rode with Glass and Tex.
We gathered in the large room at the Camp. The teens were in groups of twos and threes, except for Kenta; he stood off by himself. I waited for Solle to verify that she had everything she needed before the ceremony began.
I’d given specific instructions to Conal that no matter what happened, he was not to leave Theodora’s side. If she had to pee, he’d stand over her. She was the most vulnerable person for miles. Newly freed wolves should recognize that she was a gift from The Lady, but I didn’t trust their control. She was too valuable, and I wouldn’t take the risk of trusting a newly changed.
I was starting to second guess my assigning Conal the task. As a mated male, his first priority would always be Solle. I watched the doctor return to the room and walk directly to Theodora and hug her. I knew that not only would my Second see to the human, but his mate would also.
