Seven #2
“We can’t do that, Merritt.” Abel’s voice had changed to the low growl of his wolf. “And I know the barrier on your land will respond to a threat of violence, but we don’t want to hurt you, only bring you into the fold.”
“Even without my permission?”
“Yes.” Abel turned to his son. “You must. For the pack.”
Justin and his father had a quick staring match before Justin muttered “Fine” as though giving up, and then focused on me.
“Though you don’t smell like a wolf,” Justin murmured, coming around the island, stalking toward me, “I bet you’ll fall into line just like the others.
And you’ll enjoy being one of many I visit in the night, Merritt. ”
I had a moment to dwell on that truly noxious comment before his pheromones almost punched me in the face.
It was like running the gauntlet of perfume testers in a department store, which I’d done years ago.
I understood that people had to ask you before they sprayed you with the next best thing now, but back in the day, there wasn’t the same emphasis on individual choice.
I got the feeling that Justin wasn’t used to concerning himself with what other people wanted either.
If I had been susceptible to his pheromones, I would have either been fighting for my life at that moment, or as powerless as a fly caught in a spider’s web.
The lesson, about exerting sway over others, was what I’d been trying to teach Ondine for years—that as a siren, she needed to use her power for good.
She would argue that it was like the fable of the scorpion and the frog, that it was in the scorpion’s nature to sting.
I would always point to myself and remind her that what I was made for was not what I was.
I was used to getting a very dismissive wave in response.
Even though she was far older than I was, I had learned certain things faster.
But now, as I stood there, I thought that me trying to force Ondine to change wasn’t fair.
She had to come to the realization herself.
I would apologize the next time I saw her, but in the meantime, I was still being inundated with the scent rolling off Justin.
It was cloying and far too sweet. I was catching vermouth and cognac, sandalwood and… fig?
“Is that fig?” I asked the wolf in my kitchen.
Justin stopped moving toward me and stared. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to pick out all the individual scents in those pheromones you’re trying to drown me in, and I can tell you, it’s not good.”
Fletcher, who had turned away as though he didn’t want to see the fly get eaten by the spider, looked back at me, appearing both startled and faintly hopeful.
“You said people like to roll around in his scent. Is that true?” I asked Fletcher.
“Uh…yeah.” He sounded nervous.
I turned back to Justin. “Wolves fall all over themselves normally?”
“Without question.” Justin looked wary.
“Have you taken advantage of anyone when you made them drunk on your pheromones?”
“You think I’m, what, some frat boy spiking drinks and accosting coeds?” He looked affronted now, glaring at me.
“I don’t know.”
“This is my power, Merritt, to call others to me. To make them pliable and open to reason. And suggestion.”
“Ah, okay. So I’m supposed to do what? Share my land with you, my home, and the profits from my business?”
“Yes.” He smiled, tipping his head as he stared into my eyes, clearly not grasping how little power he had over me. “And you are a beautiful creature, Merritt Baker. That is absolutely without question. I think with the correct handling, we can figure out your secrets and bring you into the pack.”
“That’s all we want, Merritt,” Narah said gently. “For us to share with you, and for you to share with us.”
“I told Cole I was interested in you, and normally he backs off, but he didn’t this time. He’s been so different since we got here, and I don’t know why.”
“You should talk to your cousin,” Abel counseled his son. “If he wants to share Merritt, you should allow that. He’s very important to the continued health of our pack.”
“And now I’m done,” I announced, walking to the front door and throwing it open with ease, even though it was six-inch thick-cut glass and cherrywood, as well as being nine feet tall.
“As fun as this has been, I need you all out of my house. All you’re doing is pissing me off with this talk of submission. ”
Abel turned to his son. “I don’t understand. This is your power. Why isn’t it working?”
I was sure it had been used on others, many times over the years, and probably not too long ago on Desmond Laramie to acquire his parcel of land.
Now I had to wonder if the Haviland Pack was angry for a reason.
Of course, it didn’t give them the right to try and kill innocents, children at that, and they’d killed other pack members, so I had been just in my response to their threat…
but still. What had Justin done, either for his own amusement or profit, or because he felt it was best for the pack or in the name of his father?
“I don’t—he’s not—”
“He’s not what?” Narah asked her son, her voice rising in concern.
“Earlier,” I said, and I could hear how brittle my tone was, “in the hospital, I had to release a small portion of my power, and none of you, except Cole, could remain standing. Unless you want that to wash over you again, I suggest you go.”
“Cole grabbed for the bed,” Justin snarled at me. “Any of us could have stayed on our feet if we’d had a bed to brace against.”
“Get. Out,” I ordered, and a blast of hot, prickly air blew through me and hit them.
Only then did the look of surprise and horror, expressions I used to feed off of, appear on their faces.
Fear had fed my soul once. I remembered it, and had the urge to gnash my teeth and draw blood.
This feeling, right now, was why apologizing to Ondine was going to the top of my list. It was my nature to punish and kill, hers to ensnare and kill.
We were the same. Just because, as a rule, I controlled myself, didn’t mean I was allowed to judge her.
I wasn’t angry with Fletcher—he’d done nothing to me—but he didn’t know that, so he ran with the others to the door. It had to be disconcerting for him to see his alpha, his pack leader, bolt on my order.
It hurt to know that Narah’s words had been empty, that she wanted what I possessed, not my hand in friendship.
I felt no warmth toward Abel or his son, except that I had thought well of the alpha for taking Cole and Evan in after their father died.
And yes, that was what a pack, an alpha, was supposed to do, but still. Easy to see them all so clearly now.
I strode out onto my porch after them just as Cole and Reggie were climbing the stairs up from my driveway, where a pickup and an SUV were now parked.
“Hey,” Reggie called out. “Sorry it took so long. Cole wanted everything out of his and Evan’s cabin for whatever reason, so all their stuff is in… What’s wrong?”
No one said a word.
“Mere?” Cole strode over to me and dropped the duffel he was carrying, letting it slide off his left shoulder before he slipped a hand around the side of my neck. “Are you all right? Is Evan all right?”
“He’s fine,” I told him. “Everyone else is tired, so they’re going home. You should come inside with me.”
“Yeah, that was my plan. I had the weirdest feeling that I should bring all my stuff and Evan’s from the cabin and… I just… It was strange. Like nothing of ours should be there. So right now all of it is in the back of my truck, and I’m sort of freaking out.”
“It’s fine, it’s good.” I smiled at him before turning to the others. “We’ll see you all later. Reggie, thank you for helping.”
“Of course, but it’s a lot of stuff, Merritt. I can help you bring it all in.”
“No, it’s fine. We’ve got it.”
“Cole,” Abel barked at him. “I don’t want you or Evan here. Merritt’s not safe and—”
“Sorry?” His tone, that had been warm and soft with me, was icy and sharp with the alpha.
Abel cleared his throat. “I said that Merritt’s not safe for you to be around.”
“Merritt’s not safe?” he repeated. “Did you just say that?”
“Listen—”
“You can’t be standing there, saying that to me,” Cole said, his voice rising.
“I—”
“He saved the kids Friday night, he kept us safe from Tuss and the rest of his goons, he took care of the problem of what to do with their bodies, and today he saved my little brother. I don’t think you know what safe is, Alpha, if you’re saying Merritt isn’t it.”
“I forbid you and your brother to stay here!” Abel roared, and suddenly his hands were claws, his eyes had gone gold, and a growl came from the back of his throat.
“You cannot defy your alpha!” Justin screamed, even as his pheromones rolled over both Cole and me.
“I will defy my alpha because what he’s saying makes no sense,” Cole told his cousin, staring at him as he stepped in front of me, shielding me. “And you better stop with your fuckin’ pheromones or I will throw you off the goddamn porch!”
Justin’s eyes went gold, and Narah took a step toward Cole, but paused when he turned toward her, bracing for an attack.
“Cole,” she heaved out, and I could hear the pain there. “You cannot disobey your alpha and remain in the pack. And it’s your pack too. It was your father’s and—”
“Something’s wrong,” he told her, his voice cracking. “I’ve felt like a pinball for the last few days, so many ideas bouncing around in my head, and right now the only thing that makes sense is that I’m supposed to be here, with Mere, and Evan.”
“I will not allow that!” Abel roared, and he made a sweeping gesture with his hand that sent both Reggie and Fletcher toward us. They had no choice—he was their alpha; they had to discipline Cole on Abel’s behalf.
“Please, I’m asking you to let whatever this is go.” Even though Cole was pleading with Abel, there was power in his words. He was angry and ready to spill blood if needed. “Don’t stand there and make me choose between my family and my mate.”