Chapter Fourteen #2
“Hey.” She turned to me and lifted a brow. “You went out early.” I nodded.
I turned to the two girls. “Once you two eat breakfast, can you guys do me a favor?” I walked over to Carly and kissed her head.
“Of course.” Carly bounced as she smiled up at me.
“Yes.” Abby smiled.
I looked her over and rubbed her head. “How are you feeling today?”
Abby’s smile got bigger. “Great.” She did a little shimmy in her chair. “Better than any of my best days.” She looked up at me with wide, happy eyes. “Am I really cured?”
“You tell me.” I laughed. “You just said that you feel better than you ever have felt, even on your best days.”
She nodded. “I’m not tired and there is no pain.”
Rick and Shelly came to the doorway for the dining room. I winked at them over Abby’s head. “Any symptoms at all?” I questioned with a raised eyebrow.
She really thought about it before she shook her head. “I feel good.”
“Then I think we have our answer.” I looked up at the duo in the doorway. “How do you both feel?”
They looked at each other, then Rick stepped into the room.
“Amy, I don’t know how I am ever going to thank you.
You saved my family.” He grabbed my hand.
“You saved my pup, and that would have been enough for me. But then you saved Shelly, I knew Abby was going to be safe, but I never expected you to save me. Not after everything I did to you.”
“Rick.” Shelly grabbed his other hand, but Rick shook his hand.
“You saved me even when I didn’t deserve it.
” He dropped to his knees. “Wraith told me what you did.” He dropped his head.
“I hadn’t heard from my wolf in almost two years, and I didn’t know why.
” He looked up with tears. “He was busy saving me, and I was too stupid to realize it. But now, he has been catching me up on everything. Starting with what you did.”
“Rick.” I pulled him up to his feet, and Shelly wrapped her arms around his back.
“You don’t have to thank me.” I nudged him and he finally met my eyes.
“You might think you are not worthy of being saved. But I don’t agree with you.
And…” I paused as he shook his head. “Neither does the Goddess.” I patted his shoulder.
“Can you get the others? We need to talk, and the girls have agreed to play upstairs while we do it.”
I looked back at the two girls who met my eyes and started to shovel the food into their mouths. “Be done in a minute.” Abby talked around her full mouth, making me laugh.
“It’s okay, sweet girl. I’m going to have a quick shower, and then we can reconvene here.” I patted both of the girls as I headed up the stairs. I met Lynn on the upstairs landing. She looked a little antsy. “How are you doing?”
She took a breath and straightened her shoulders. “Honest answer?” She asked, and I nodded. “I still hear his breathing when I’m in the dark, but I’m better than I was.” I nodded and raised a hand to touch her on the shoulder. I waited until she nodded before I pushed that last inch to rub her arm.
“Bright side?” She looked at me. “We’re leaving today.” I watched her tense. “He will be dead within the week.” She shuddered. “I don’t know if I’m that ready.” Her voice was a whisper.
“You are.” My mother’s voice rang out behind us. We both turned to see her coming up the rest of the stairs. “And if you aren’t, then Amy can help you take out the threat. But,” she came over and grabbed Lynn’s hand. “You are stronger than you think you are, and you can do this.”
Lynn took a deep breath and then nodded. “I can do this.”
My mom nodded. “You hold the power to your own destiny, you can take back your life.”
Lynn nodded, then turned to me. “I’ll be ready.”
“Good.” Then I left them to shower.
“Okay.” I slid into a chair and looked at everyone there. “Lynn, Toya, and I will leave today to head back to my father’s pack. You guys will be here with my mom and Wendy, to keep you guys safe. I’ll come back with food if you need anything, but don’t plan on being here long.”
There were a few looks. “Why can’t we just come with you?” Shelly looked at my mom. “I hope you aren’t offended. I just want to stay with Amy.” She smiled, but it was a grimace.
My mom laughed. “Not at all. I understand why you want to stick with her.”
I leaned in. “Honestly, if I had the choice, everyone would come with me today. But Vince has someone with magic. They can’t trace you here, because of the shield I erected.” I held up a hand. “And before you ask, I have no ability to erect another one strong enough to hide everyone in the pack.”
Alannah tilted her head. “How did you make this one?”
I looked down at my hands. “Carly’s father.
” I looked up and met her eyes. “He was the last Shaman and knew what was going to happen. He made sure that his death wouldn’t be wasted.
” I looked away. “His death, blood, and sacrifice are fueling the shield. It isn’t something I could recreate, even if I wanted to. His love is keeping this place safe.”
Everyone nodded, but Rick looked disappointed. “So we won’t be able to fight with you?”
I shook my head. “But there is something else you can do.”
Rick perked up. “What? I’ll do anything?”
I held up a finger and ran upstairs. I came down with my computer and slid it to him. “Vince’s mainframe is on here. We need names, connections, bank trails. Everything.”
Rick nodded. “I can have the information in a day.” I just looked at him but he smiled. “Believe me. I know where he hides his files, and I helped create the security. The hardest part will be tracking everything down.”
“Good.” Then I turned. “Alannah and Ternen, if you could just help where you can.” Alannah and Ternen brightened. “You guys are probably more inclined with half the stuff around here and I know Wendy and my mom would love the help.”
“Yes.” Ternen smiled. “If you don’t mind, I love to cook. I could take over meals.”
Wendy bounced. “Oh my Goddess, yes. I suck at it.”
Two giggles were heard from upstairs. “She does.” Carly’s voice floated from upstairs.
Wendy laughed. “See.”
Ternen smiled. “I haven’t been able to cook since Vince moved me out of the kitchens. I miss it.”
Alannah smiled. “I can help with chores.” She rubbed her stomach that doubled over night. “I’m starting to get nesty.”
My mom smiled and patted her hand. “You have to rest. But I’ll be doing morning trainings, even for you two.
” She looked at Ternen and Alannah. “I will give you a pregnancy friendly workout. But no one in my pack will be helpless.” I raised an eyebrow and my mom smiled.
“If you two are okay with it, I’ll teach Abby the same training as I have Carly doing.
It’s good to start them early.” Rick and Shelly both nodded.
“Now.” I sat back. “Since that is all settled. Let’s talk about what happened last night, and this morning.”
Rick looked at his hands. “Amy…”
I just reached over and patted his hands.
“I know the three of you know what happened with your wolves. But I just want to tell everyone.” Everyone nodded their consent.
“So the first three, Shelly, Ternen and Alannah, all had the same creature in their minds. A leech, if you will. I’m telling you, just in case you ever run into this.
” Toya and Wendy leaned in. “It lives in the recesses of their mind. Where your wolf feels the safest. It hides in the shadows and drops down on your wolf, feeding from it.”
Wendy shivered. “What does it look like?”
“Almost like a black centipede.” She gagged, making me smile. “The only way I could kill it was by force feeding it power. It eats away at you slowly over time. It can’t handle lots of power. Push it into it, and it will explode.”
Wendy bit her lip. “What if I’m not strong enough?”
“You are. It doesn’t take much, honestly. It’s not built to withstand much power. It sips at you and injects you with fear so you feel stuck until you are too weak to fight back.” I tapped at the table. “Now your wolves know what to look out for.” I turned to Rick. “Now your monster was different.”
He nodded. “Bees.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed my eye as phantom pain exploded there. “When they stung, their stinger felt like your bones were melting, but you got a boost of energy. There was a giant hive, feeding your energy but also torturing your wolf. He was almost dead by the time I got there.”
“But you killed them and saved me.” Rick looked a little lost.
“And almost died doing it.” My mom cut in.
I waved her off. “I was fine, hurt, but fine.” I smiled as she growled at me. “I woke up with a burst of energy. So I went for a run.” I sighed as I pushed my chair back. I needed to move. “Everything was fine, but then I sniffed a tracker from Vince’s pack.”
Rick stiffened. “How close?”
“Not close enough. The shield hides your scent here, so don’t leave the area and you guys will be fine.”
My mom nodded. “We train right next to the house and don’t go farther than that.”
“I ran away from here, anyway.” I smiled.
“I scented more than I went. By the time I collected them all, I had five trackers on me, and we were running in giant circles.” My mom snorted.
“Nix shut off our scent and shifted to Megan. She hid, confusing the trackers and just enjoying herself.” I smiled, but then I thought of Thane, and my smile dropped.
“What?” My mom grabbed my hand.
“One tracker was Thane.” I met my mom’s eyes and I watched her face fall.
“No.” She shook her head.
“Yeah. The trackers searched for a while, but then Thane dropped to the ground. He spoke, saying he didn’t want to find me.”
My mom raised her shoulder. “Of course. He’s in love with you.”
I froze. “What?”
My mom just furrowed her brow. “You had to know, baby. That’s why he asked to train with you.” I felt my heart sink.
“I was just good at tracking.” I just shook my head.
My mom smiled. “Baby, he was hoping you would fall for him. But he would not approach you until you came of age. He was really hoping to be your mate.” She patted my hand. “He’s okay that he wasn’t though. We talked before I left.” She sat back. “He told me he was asking to transfer out.”
“He’s gone.”
“Honestly Amy, you might want to give him a chance.” She laughed. But then her face fell. “What did you say?”
“He’s gone.” I was staring at the floor.
“I’m…what?” Rick leaned over the table to look at my face.
“Thane and Clarke got into an argument about me. Thane said he wasn’t going to catch us or hand us over to Vince.
But Vince was there, and he hopped out. He snapped Thane’s neck, and the others snapped to attention.
” I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “Vince had said the brotherhood doesn’t keep traitors alive.
Told the others to go help them look closer to the school for us, and then Vince killed Thane.
” My mom slapped a hand over her mouth, but Rick slammed a hand on the table.
“It’s not your fault.” I reeled back from the words to find Toya staring at me.
“What?”
“It’s not your fault Thane was killed.” She kept staring into my eyes. “I know you. If you attacked six men, you would have been killed.” Her words hit closer than I was willing to say. “You are strong, but not immortal. You would have died.”
My mom’s fingers trailed over my clenched fist. “Amy, she’s right.”
I shook my head. “I know, but it doesn’t change that it was my fault.
” I knocked on the table again. “Anyway. The brotherhood…whoever they are, are closing ranks. That means something is going to be happening soon.” I wiped at my face and then focused on everyone.
“That means we have to be quicker. We have days to strengthen our position in this war before they finally make their move towards the King.”
My mom stared at me for an extra second before she turned to look around the table.
“Okay, then. Rick, get started on that laptop. Why don’t we go strip the bedrooms upstairs and make sure everyone is settled into their rooms by tonight?
?” My mom pressed out from the table. Then she turned to me.
“If it’s possible, I need you to ensure the houses are locked down, and that there is no way someone can get through the closet before you leave. ”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
My mom turned to Lynn. “Let’s go for a walk before you leave.” She held out her hand and waited for Lynn to join her. “Let’s go.” The two turned and walked out the kitchen door. It all switched so fast, I think everyone was confused.
“What was that?” Alannah asked.
I smiled. “My mom doesn’t like feeling out of control. She has to stay here to protect you, and me leaving to go to war is making her antsy.”
“She can go.” Rick looked up from the laptop screen that he had cracked open when my mom said to. “I can take care of everyone with Wendy.”
I nodded. “I know. But I have a feeling that she is going to be needed here.” I reached over and patted his arm. “She does too. She is okay with staying. She’s just worried, is all.” I pushed up from my chair. “Toya, make sure you are ready in fifteen minutes. I’m going to check the closet.”