Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
After the restless night at the apartment, which included the Shadow City police getting involved since Dick had died in the alpha wolf’s home, I almost cried in relief when we pulled into Killian’s pack neighborhood and I saw our house.
Just getting out of the city and away from all the politics put me more at ease…almost.
“Do you think when Julius and Bart get here that your brother might be willing to tell us information now?” Griffin growled. “I mean, he could’ve helped us before now.”
Part of me wanted to take up for my resurrected brother, but Griffin was right. I understood that Julius didn’t trust us, especially with how he was raised. However, I was done being patient. We had to make sure both he and I were safe.
I linked with Bart, We’re back at the house. How much longer until you two get here?
We’re walking into your backyard now , he answered. Just know he’s nervous.
Oh, I knew that. I could feel it through our connection, but I worked to lock it down. I couldn’t let Julius influence me. I’d been so concerned with his feelings and well-being that I’d put Griffin and myself at risk. That time was over. I just hoped that Dick had been the person in charge of hunting me and my pack. Doesn’t matter. Do you think he’ll tell us anything?
Yes, I think he’s ready to come clean. Bart paused. Hearing that you were attacked again bothered him.
Well, there was that.
When we pulled into the garage, I opened the door, eager to get the conversation going. “I’m going to let them in. They’re in the backyard now.”
“Okay, but Sterlyn…” Griffin grabbed my hand. If he doesn’t cooperate, we’ve got—
I cut him off, not wanting to hear it. I get it. The games are over. He puts everything on the table, or I’ll have to figure out a way to punish him without him feeling like we’re turning our backs on him. He was family and a silver wolf, after all.
Appeased, he let me go, and I marched straight for the door. When I opened it, Bart and Julius were standing right there, their floral, musky scent invading my nose.
Julius averted his eyes to the ground, not even attempting to challenge me, and his usual animosity was absent.
My concern for him coiled inside me, and I had to make a conscious decision to push it down. “Thanks for coming so quickly. Please come in.”
“I’m glad you’re safe and well.” Bart hugged me and kissed the side of my head. “But you are the alpha of our kind, so I’m also not surprised.”
Being around him was nice. He reminded me of my father and had the same temperament. The association was bittersweet, but I clung to it.
I stepped out of the way, not wanting too many of the guards outside to take notice of them. Griffin had talked with the guards who were watching the back, but the fewer who knew about Bart and Julius, the better. They entered the house, heading directly to the living room, where Griffin waited, as tense as if he were preparing for a fight.
I hoped it didn’t come to that, but I couldn’t blame my mate for his demeanor. The best course of action was to get everything in the open and let things fall into place. That was something Mom taught me when having candid conversations with Dad. She’d say, “Men aren’t mind readers, and they aren’t very intuitive about certain things. Be assertive with them, and remember that it does not, in fact, make you a bitch or aggressive. Those are terms that men who aren’t as confident as your father call women when women act the same as they do.”
I pulled out a picture Ulva had given me of her, Atticus, Dick, and Saga, taken a few weeks before Atticus died. “Was this the man who gave the order to kidnap me?” I asked my brother.
His eyes flicked to the picture, and he grew pale. “Yes, that’s Topper.”
“I wish you’d known his real name.” I tried keeping my voice even, but a little frustration leaked through as my throat tightened. “This is the man who was trying to steal Shadow City away from my mate. ”
“I didn’t know that.” Julius lifted his hand. “The way he talked and acted, I thought he didn’t even live in the city.”
“Wait.” Griffin’s hands clenched. “Dick wanted to breed with my mate?”
“No!” Julius shook his head, then paused. “At least, I don’t think so. When he was talking about it on the phone, it sounded as if she was intended for someone else. Topper said that person was weak, but he needed an ally. That was almost two years ago. I haven’t seen him since then.”
My stomach dropped. He did have an accomplice. “Who was he working with?”
“I…I don’t know.” Julius sighed and walked over to the windows to look out. “I grew up with a woman who was disinterested in me, who made sure I had the bare necessities and trained hard each day with instructors they brought over with any sort of combat skills a non-shifting wolf could use. When he first met me at sixteen, Topper—Dick,” he amended—“didn’t seem comfortable with me and didn’t want to be around me more than he had to. Almost as if he’d just found out about me. When he talked to some woman on the phone—I never met her, just heard her voice—she pointed out that Topper was meant to lead, and that some man named Atticus being dead was a blessing for everyone.”
Heartbreak slammed into me as my mate heard how Dick had regarded his father. He’d already been through so much. I wished I could take this hurt away, but unfortunately, this was the world we lived in.
I wished, at least, that Julius knew more so we could take down every single asshole who’d caused our families pain. “Who sent all the people you trained?”
“Once again, they just showed up.” Julius shrugged. “You have to understand, I was just trying to survive. All I knew was that Grace said that the people who saved me wanted me to train all those men because I had a natural talent for battle strategy, and if I didn’t train them, they would kick me out. I had nowhere to go and no one to turn to.”
I sighed, nearly over the conversation. The one thing we’d learned was that Dick was the contact, but there was someone else out there. “Where did you grow up?”
“In the house you were taken to.” Julius pursed his lips. “I lived there my entire life, and two years ago, Grace left, right before Topp—Dick showed up. I’ve been on my own since then.”
Most likely because they didn’t want the lady to see Dick. Just another clue that there were so many more people involved than we’d originally thought. “How did you get your orders?”
“At first, Grace was the one who talked to whomever—until the day Dick appeared.” Julius growled in frustration. “After that, he’d call me and tell me when people were coming, where to send people, and what training needed to be accomplished. They kept me out of the loop for the most part.”
It was as if every time I felt like we were getting closer to the truth, we took several steps back.
I hated to keep pushing, but we needed answers. “I’ve seen at least two guys take their own life instead of being captured. You trained them—why did they do that?”
“Because if they’re captured, their families will die.” Julius grimaced. “It’s for safety measures so no identities get released. I was willing to run because I didn’t have anyone to risk.”
His words hit hard. He was that alone.
“Look, he’s telling the truth.” Bart sighed. “We all know it. At least part of his hellacious past is gone.”
Yeah, maybe. But I hadn’t gotten much closer to the truth other than realizing that someone else was still out there. A woman—which didn’t make sense, as Dick had such a problem with people of that gender being in charge.
“Look, I’m sorry, but…I need some time.” Julius ran his hands through his hair, and his pain pulsed through me. “I…I just…” He turned and walked out the back door, rushing toward the woods.
I took a step to go after him, but Bart grabbed my arm. “It’s best if you let him go for now. He’s been on his own a long time, and has to process things his way.”
“I hate that I caused him pain, but we’ve got to get some answers.” The longer we stayed in the dark, the more death and chaos might result.
Bart patted my arm. “I know. But now he’s connected with his wolf. He’s mellowing out, though it’s going to take a little time. Don’t push too hard, or he might shut down again. Let me go run with him, and I’ll connect with you later.”
“Okay,” I sighed as Bart hurried after him.
Still, I couldn’t help but think that maybe this would’ve all been over if Julius had told us everything to begin with.
A few weeks later, Sierra entered Griffin’s Shadow Ridge kitchen and yawned, placing several bags of food from Dick’s Bar on the table. “So, what are we doing tonight?”
I’d hoped that they would change the establishment’s name, but Saga had moved into the back of the restaurant in Dick’s office and insisted on keeping it the same. Almost as if it would serve as a reminder of what we’d done to them.
I wanted Sierra to quit, but she was insistent that the tips made it all worthwhile. I finally relented when she promised she’d let us know if something went wrong or if anyone shady showed up.
“We?” Griffin arched an eyebrow and placed some canned drinks on the table. He sat in the seat closest to me and pointed at one of my best friends. “Why does she always assume that she’s hanging out with us?”
“Because she’s part of the group.” I winked at Sierra and settled back, feeling the happiest I’d felt in forever.
Rosemary sat on the other side of me with Killian next to her. We had one open seat that Sierra had dubbed hers since the first night we’d all piled in here together.
“And I always feed you.” Sierra pulled out a styrofoam box that had Griffin written on it. “But I mean, if I’ve overstayed my welcome, I can take this and the rest of the food back to my house.”
“ Your house?” Killian snorted. “Can you even still claim it? You’re still staying here with the rest of us.”
“Speaking of which, why are we all still staying together?” Griffin glared at everyone. “I mean, maybe Sterlyn and I could get acclimated to our own space.”
“Sorry, but I want to spend more time with my distant cousin and be here, since this whole predicament isn’t over.” Rosemary snatched the container with her name. “We have a lot of catching up to do, and Mom thinks it would be wise for me to stay out of the city while things are so tense with the angels. She’s afraid a civil war could break out at any second.”
When I’d told Rosemary the truth about my heritage, her face had lit up with surprise and relief. She’d felt a strange connection with me that she hadn’t understood, since I was all wolf. But the revelation of our real relationship explained our familial pull toward each other and mine to Yehaliah when I’d seen her in the council room. Apparently, it was my angel genes recognizing our family.
After Dick died and Luna and Saga were banished, the mood in Shadow City had darkened. The angels were beginning to divide, either siding with Rosemary’s parents or Azbogah. Of course, the other races weren’t thrilled about Dick being kicked out of the city and his subsequent death, but there was no denying that Dick had broken into Griffin’s house. However, Griffin killing Dick had elevated his alpha status within the shifter community. The change was good, but I hated that it had taken that for the shifters to actually look at him as their leader.
A leader should inspire confidence, not instill fear, and I had a feeling that Griffin’s acceptance was due to the latter at the moment.
Our best bet was to let things calm down and go back into the city in the next couple of weeks for the first council meeting after the entire debacle. We’d been gone for a few weeks now, and the tension was still at a boiling point. We weren’t hiding, but we didn’t want to stir up more drama by just being seen.
Yelahiah had visited us a few nights after we’d returned to Griffin’s Shadow Ridge home and told me her side of the story. She’d shared with me her guilt and regret for not standing firm with her brother. She’d never thought it would go that far, but when she’d realized that his death was imminent, she’d taken a stand beside him.
By then, it had been too late.
She’d carried the guilt with her for so long, but she wanted to have a relationship with me and the rest of the silver wolves. She said that we were family and that our angel side was just as strong as it had been all those centuries ago. Angel magic didn’t dilute even when they mated with other races—rather, the power manifested over generations and remained just as strong. That was why, when Griffin and I finally had a child, they’d be a full-blooded silver wolf, too, and the oldest would be the future true alpha heir of both packs with our second child being the spare.
“Speaking of tense, how’re Julius and Bart?” Sierra asked as she plopped into her seat. “I figured we’d have seen more of them by now.”
“We met with them yesterday.” For now, they were staying out of sight. Until things were settled with Shadow City, I didn’t want to make it easy for anyone to find the remainder of the silver wolves. I didn’t want to risk them being slaughtered, too. “They’re at the new location Dad was developing. Apparently, a few houses have been finished, so they’re staying there.”
“Is Julius still being ornery?” Killian asked, leaning toward Rosemary.
“Actually, he isn’t.” He didn’t stare at me with outright contempt anymore. He’d finally shifted and was more settled with his wolf, which hopefully changed things. “He wasn’t overly friendly, either, but he confirmed that Dick was who he’d been working with.”
“I still don’t trust him.” Griffin took a bite of his hamburger and talked around the food. “He went against his own race and family once—he could be biding his time to do it again.”
This was something he and I had agreed to disagree on. I couldn’t blame him for feeling that way because if the shoe were on the other foot and someone had tried to kidnap Griffin, I wouldn’t have been too forgiving, either.
“Okay, enough depressing talk.” Sierra clapped her hands. “It’s movie night. Now, show of hands, who wants to watch Mean Girls ? Majority wins.”
“Is there even a point to this?” Griffin sighed and shook his head.
Killian shook his head. “Nope, but we need to find another guy to hang out with us so it’s a split vote. I swear, my pecs are softening from the amount of estrogen we’re around nightly.”
“Hey.” Sierra jumped to her feet and grabbed her box of food. “Rules are rules, so deal with it.”
Griffin shut the door to our bedroom, then grabbed my waist and pulled me against his chest. He linked, I swear, Sierra better be glad you enjoy those movies, or I ’ d throw a fit.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and grinned. Is there anything that you wouldn ’ t do for me?
Nothing , he replied, kissing me.
His tongue brushed my lips, and I opened my mouth, letting him inside. Every touch and time we were together was better than the last. Each day, I fell more madly in love with him, to the point that it was almost scary, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The last week had been some of the best times we’d ever had. The fact that my secret was out was freeing. Our group had been able to run together without fear of someone finding out what I was. Despite the alpha duties we were attending to, we got a lot more alone time, and without a constant threat hovering over us.
You taste so good. He growled. Better than any dessert.
Really, now? I teased as my hand brushed down his chest and below.
He was hard and ready, and I was a very willing participant. I unfastened his jeans, ready to see him in all his naked glory. His body was perfect, and I couldn’t wait for it to be all over me.
God, I love you so damn much. He pulled back and removed all of his clothes. His hazel eyes darkened to almost liquid gold as he advanced toward me. He stalked me like I was his prey, and I loved it.
He was the only person I’d ever been thrilled to feel that way with.
My body warmed just at the promise, and I was beyond ready for him. The back of my knees hit the side of the bed, and I fell onto the mattress, leaving my silver hair fanning out around me.
“You are so beautiful.” He paused, studying me, his face filled with adoration. “I don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve you, but there are definitely no take-backs.”
“Are you sure?” I teased. “I mean, maybe I could find—”
He covered my body with his and nipped my lips. You finish that sentence, and you ’ ll have to be punished.
Promises, promises.
The scent of our arousal hung heavy around us, and his breath caught. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and ripped the material away from my body.
I gasped with surprise but also with need. He’d never done something like that before, and the possessiveness and desperation were the perfect aphrodisiacs. His hand unfastened my bra as his mouth captured my nipple.
My body arched against him, already wanting him inside me. Griffin.
He tensed as I slipped my hand between us, touching him. I stroked him, and his body coiled on top of me.
Oh, God. He moaned as he rolled to the side of me. He pulled back to yank down my yoga pants and growled. No panties.
I thought you might like that. I quickened my pace, enjoying the control I had over him.
Hell, yeah. His fingers slipped between my legs, and the two of us rubbed one another, bringing each other close to the edge.
The pressure built inside me, and I grabbed his hand, yanking it aside. I straddled him, guiding him inside me, and then rode him hard.
There was no gentle build to it, as close as I already was to the edge. He bucked against me while his fingers dug into my waist, turning me on even more. I spread my legs further apart, letting him slide in as deep as he could go.
Our bodies slicked with sweat as pleasure rocked through us. Our feelings merged together, making our orgasms even more intense as our bodies convulsed in pleasure.
“Holy shit,” he rasped, raising himself to kiss me once more. That was amazing.
Yes, it was .
A loud knock sounded on the door, and Killian said, “We’ve got a huge problem. Two of the guards have disappeared, and their connection has gone cold.”
The implication rang clear. “You think they’re dead?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said tensely. “And whoever is behind it all is here.”