From the Shadows (A Shadow Chronicles Novel) (36 page)

Tom and Martha left shortly after the young werewolf declared his loyalty to Race, letting us know that they’d speak to the Canine representative on the Council of Families first thing in the morning to see when the hearing would take place; as it was likely to be soon, they advised Race to stay near a phone. My mother, Alex, and Lochlan all stayed through dinner, during which both Race and Alex got to know one another. They eventually relaxed to the point where they were trading good-natured insults, and I knew instinctively that no matter what happened, my mate had just gained a friend for life.

There were also a number of calls made to my cell from Tyler, who reported that
he and the others from the gym had managed to reach the rest of the pack to tell them what had happened. As I’d explained to Race, each person had reported feeling a shift in the magic, but weren’t sure what had caused it. Some of the older members were making noise about sticking with Kevin, referring to Race as a “meddling interloper” (among other choice names), but had agreed to attend a pack meeting tomorrow afternoon at Tyler’s house. Some were waiting to hear from Race himself before making their decision, and yet still others had accepted him without hesitation. Those, Tyler admitted, were mostly young wolves who had felt their free choice had been stifled under Kevin’s leadership and were more than willing to accept someone new, no matter who it was.

When dinner was over, Race borrowed Mark’s truck to drive Alex home. After kissing him goodbye and waving as he backed down the drive, I turned to find Lochlan standing by the back stoop, watching me. His expression was…wistful.

Perturbed by it, I asked, “Is something wrong?”

Lochlan blinked,
then smiled briefly. “No, my dear. All is right in your world, is it not?”

I scoffed.
“Almost. We have to get this business with the pack straightened out, but other than that… I suppose everything else is right.”

“I imagine so. You have met your mate in life, and you are healing from the terrible trauma that was done to you,” the vampire said. “I am truly happy for you, Juliette.”

I tried not to frown. His words were nice words, and they felt sincere. But there was definitely something bothering him—that much I could tell. Though I knew it was technically none of my business, I found myself wishing he would open up to me and tell me what was on his mind.

“Thank you, Lochlan,” was all I found myself able to say.

He smiled that half-hearted smile of his again and then stepped up to me, leaned forward and kissed my cheek, then said, “Goodnight, my dear. I shall see you soon.”

“Yeah, goodnight,” I replied, and watched as another of the men in my life climbed into a car and drove away.

Shaking my head, I turned and started to climb the stoop, intending to join Mark and Saphrona for company while I waited on Race to return. As I was pulling the screen door open, my cell phone rang again. I loosed an exasperated groan, wondering what else Tyler could have to say that wouldn’t keep until tomorrow. But when I looked at the I.D. screen, I noted the Cincinnati area code and recognized the number as the same one Race’s mother had called from the other night.

“Good evening, Ms. Covington
,” I said as I stepped into the house.

“Hello, Juliette,” Caroline Covington greeted me. “Sorry to have to call your phone again, but Race apparently hasn’t replaced his yet.”

I sat myself down at the dining table, the events of the day crossing rapidly through my consciousness. “Race has a good excuse for that, ma’am,” I said slowly.

There was a pause, and then Caroline said, “Let me guess… It has something to do with his condition?”

“Um, yeah, you could say that,” I replied.

“What happened? Is my son all right? Where is he?” Race’s mother queried.

I sighed. “It’s rather complicated, Ms. Covington, and with respect, it’s not really my place to explain. I’m sure Race will tell you anything you want to know.” I told her. “But I’m afraid that right now, he’s not here. He’s giving a friend a ride home to Dayton.”

“That’s kind of him,” Caroline mused. “Well, despite my sudden curiosity, you’re right, my dear. I shouldn’t ask you to tell me my son’s business. But you can tell me if he’s all right, can’t you?”

“Yes, I can. And yes, he is, you have my word,” I assured her. “Would you like me to have him call you when he gets back, or will it be too late?”

“Oh no,” she said with a chuckle. “It’s never too late for my son to call me, Juliette, but no
, he doesn’t have to. I was just calling to let him know I managed to get a few days off to come up and spend time with him. I know it’s a little more sudden than expected, but to be perfectly honest, dear, I’ve been rather antsy ever since hearing about… well, you and your mom and everything. I figured getting the full story as soon as possible might settle my nerves, so I traded some days with a friend at work and I’ll be up tomorrow. I’ve got a flight into Port Columbus that will arrive around 2:30 in the afternoon.”

“I’m sure Race will—” I stared to say, but then paused. Race wouldn’t be able to pick her up. He had t
he pack meeting tomorrow.

“
Juliette, is everything alright?” his mother said in my ear.

I cleared my throat. “Sorry. Yeah, everything’s fine, except that Race has a meeting tomorrow in Dayton at 2:00.”

“Oh,” she said, and I hated to have caused the disappointment I heard in her voice. “Well, I suppose I could always rent a car. Do you think your mother might be able to pick me up? I’d hate to impose on her, but…”

“Ms. Covington, I’m fairly certain Mom wouldn’t mind at all,” I broke in. “But I believe she’s working
tomorrow. I can make the drive to Columbus to pick you up, if you like.”

“That’s really very
kind of you, Juliette, but I’ll just rent a car.”

“No need for you to do that, it’s
no trouble. Besides, I’m not sure Race would forgive me if I made you rent a car or take a cab,” I added with a laugh. “He’s going to feel bad enough not being able to pick you up himself.”

“Well, if you’re sure it won’t be a problem for you,” Caroline said slowly. “As I said, my plane should land at about 2:30. It’s Delta Airlines flight 1102. And you know what? I’m suddenly glad you’re being so genero
us with your time, young lady. It will give us a chance to talk girl talk.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, and after a few more pleasantries—and an assurance I’d make sure Race bought a new cell phone while he was out tomorrow—I said goodbye to the woman who would, sometime in the not-too-distant future, become my mother-in-law. I wondered what sort of “girl talk” she intended to bring up with me, and I suddenly thought of a question I really wanted to ask her.

When Race returned later that evening, he growled with annoyance when I told him about his mother’s impending trip north. He was upset that he wouldn’t be able to pick her up, to assure her just with his presence that he was fine. He also expressed concern as to whether my absence from the meeting would have an impact on his credibility with the wolves, and I tried my best to reassure him that as long as he mentioned I was attending to a family matter, he should be fine. Shapeshifters were big on family.

***

The next morning when we woke, I could tell Race was already preoccupied with worry about the pack meeting. I sensed his concern about the outcome, his lack of detailed knowledge about shifter politics. He worried as to whether or not they would listen. If they would respect him, acknowledge him as their leader. He wondered if those that had already pledged loyalty would change their minds.

He wondered whether or not he was truly capable of
being
a leader.

I knew that nothing I could say would assuage his concerns, so I just let my love for him, my belief that he was going to do fine, flow across our bond. Race looked at me and then reached for me, wrapping me in a warm embrace, his love and gratitude for my support flowing strongly back at me.

After dressing, we exited the apartment and headed toward the house, where we were to join Mark and Saphrona for breakfast. As we were closing the outer door to the stairs I noticed a horse that was not one of Saphrona’s tethered to a post on the other side of the driveway.

“Where the hell did that horse come from?” Race asked as I sniffed the air.

Recognizing the familiar scent of Saphrona’s closest neighbor, I patted Race’s arm. “I believe that horse belongs to Harry Mitchell, Saphrona’s neighbor. Come on, I’m hungry.”

We crossed the driveway and entered through the back door, finding Harry seated at the table with Mark while Saphrona stood at the stove. The man’s back was to me as we stepped inside, and it was with a start that I realized my soon-to-be sister-in-law had been right. His build, the broad set of his shoulders, was eerily similar to Race’s. I’d never thought of it, I suppose, because I couldn’t recall ever seeing Harry from behind before.

He turned and smiled good-naturedly at us, then stood and said, “Good morning, Juliette. A pleasure seeing you again.”

I found that I could only nod, because now I was looking at the man’s face and I could see again what Saphrona had been talking about. Race and Harry looked a lot alike—so much so that it was more than a little disconcerting.

Race was politely shaking Harry’s hand as the two introduced themselves to each other, but feeling my shock, he casually placed his left arm around my shoulders and asked me silently,
Jules, you all right?

Don’t you see it?
I asked.

See what, babe?

I didn’t believe her when she mentioned it the other day—probably because I haven’t seen him in nearly a month—but Saphrona mentioned how you and Harry looked a lot alike. Now that he’s right in front of me, I see it. You have the same build, the same eyes. Even the same chin
, I replied as we joined Mark and Harry at the table.

Race studied Harry surreptitiously from across the table
, then turned to me with a frown, his thoughts churning so fast I couldn’t follow them. I sensed a mix of anger, frustration, and confusion within him, and was suddenly sorry I’d brought the matter up.
Race, I
—

“Harry, how old
are you?” my mate blurted suddenly.

Harry looked at him with one eyebrow
raised, the coffee cup he’d been lifting paused halfway between his lips and the table. My brother looked at Race as if he’d grown a second head, and while her glance back had been brief because of the breakfast she was cooking, I knew Saphrona was listening.

“
I’m thirty-six, Race,” Harry replied slowly, lowering the coffee mug in his hand to the table. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you look too much like me for my comfort,” Race answered. “I admit I didn’t even give your appearance a second thought, but now that it’s been pointed out to me that we look alike, I can’t help noticing every little detail that’s mutual.”

For a long moment, Harry stared across the table at Race, while Mark’s eyes darted back and forth as though watching a tennis match. “Holy shit, they do!” he said, turning to look at Saphrona. “Babe, look at them—if I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were brothers!”

Saphrona turned off the stove and set the pans she’d been using aside. She turned slowly and looked first at Mark, and then at me. “I know,” she said quietly. “I noticed it the very first time I looked at Race. And I mentioned it to Juliette the other day.”

“Man, I don’t need this!” Race exclaimed, bursting from his chair and running both hands through his short hair. “I’ve got way too much shit on my plate right now.”

“Race, our looking alike probably means only that,” Harry said as he wrapped both of his hands around his coffee cup. “I mea
n, what are the chances of there being a relation? And even if one does exist, we couldn’t possibly be more than cousins.”

Race turned to him. “Are you sure about that? My best friend since childhood thinks we could be brothers—who was your father? What was his name? Did he marry your mother?”

I watched as Harry sighed heavily and looked down at the cup in his hands, which he now turned in a circle slowly. “The man I’ve always called ‘Dad’ married my mother when I was three. I never actually knew my biological father.”

“I’ve never known my sperm donor either,” Race said slowly. “He left my mother before she even knew she was pregnant. Fuck! I don’t need this shit—not today!”

Race suddenly rounded the table and stormed out. I rose quickly and followed. “Race, I’m sorry!” I said as I flew down the back stoop to catch him. “I never should have said anything to you. I was just so startled by the similarities. Look, Harry’s right—if there’s any relation at all, it has to be distant, right? Or maybe we’re all just seeing things that aren’t really there. That happens sometimes.”

“Juliette, would you listen to yourself?” Race said as he whirled on me. “Think about what you’re saying—
think about what you’ve seen! There’s too many similarities between us, now that I’ve noticed them. Hell, both of us were abandoned by our birth fathers, even.”