Howling Moon (26 page)

Wednesday dawned cold
and clear. Cat had spent die night alternately tossing in her bed and pacing the suite. Eventually she gave up on sleep altogether, watching die bustle of die city from the window seat of her hotel bedroom. She was completely exhausted, but her racing droughts wouldn’t let her rest.

She had killed a woman.

Worse, a part of her had enjoyed it.

Thinking about it was driving her mad. She needed to occupy her mind with something – anything – else. So she wrapped herself in me blankets from the bed and sat down in front of the laptop provided by the hotel and started working on some of the more mundane pieces of die puzzle: ordering the supplies she would need online, designing die Web site.

Having trouble sleeping?

Jack’s urbane inquiry made her want to scream and throw something. What she wouldn’t
give
to get him
out of her skull.

You don’t have to feel guilty you know. By all accounts she was a stupid little bitch at best. And it
was
self-defense.

And how would you know that?

I know
you,
Fiona. You show everyone that rock-hard exterior, but I’ve seen inside your mind. I know all your weaknesses. You have this absurd notion of “honor” and “fair play” that keeps you from doing what is necessary. It’ll get you killed eventually if you don’t get past it. They say the meek shall inherit the earth, but from what I’ve seen, it’s the ruthless that survive. I tried to teach you that when I was training you for Wolven, but you’ve never been a very good listener.

I’m
not
Fiona, insisted Cat.

Of course. I keep forgetting, new identities and all that. But you’ll always be Fiona to me, kitten. Oh, and before I forget, darling, your anniversary gift is down at the front desk, something to remind you of me.

Just like that, he was gone. Almost against her will she glanced over at the phone. Sure enough, the red light was blinking, telling her she had a message. He’d
been
here? Dear God! It was bad enough that he talked to her, but that he could pull information out of her head just that easily. He knew where she was staying – had known long enough to send a flipping
gift. Your anniversary gift is down at the front desk.

Cat shuddered, pulling the blankets tight around her. She couldn’t stop shivering. Jack was insane, completely fucking futz. And if things kept up the way they were going, she wouldn’t be far behind him.

The cell phone Charles gave her rang, rattling as it vibrated atop the coffee table. Cat unwound from the blankets, walking over to take the call.

“Hello?”

“Cat, it’s Raphael.”

It sounded like Raphael all right. But then again, he usually just spoke to her mind to mind. It was easier.

“I know you’ve decided to go to ground for a while. I even think it’s a good idea. But there’s some pack business I need to take care of, and I want you there when I do.”

“After yesterday? I don’t think so!”

He sighed. “Yesterday is the biggest part of it – that, the challenge, and the incident with Ned. Please, Cat? Raven and I will be there, and Charles. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

I don’t like this, Raphael. She thought the words directly in his mind, mostly as a test. If he answered her thoughts she’d be able to tell if it was really him. She wasn’t sure why, but she just
knew
she would.

If you decide to come, Raven’s agreed to drive the limo, and Ivan will act as your bodyguard. It was Raphael all right. Cat could dimly sense the thoughts and emotions behind his words. He was frustrated and angry, but beneath all that he was sad. Something about yesterday had grieved him. It wasn’t just having had to kill, she could tell. But he’d shielded his thoughts too tightly for her to see what
was
wrong.

But…

Charles is more worried about your safety than his. Frankly so am I. I wouldn’t ask this if it wasn’t important.

All right. She sighed heavily. When exactly is this fiasco supposed to take place?

Tonight at seven.

What am I supposed to wear?

Not casual, but not too dressy, either. Business clothes would be best.

Right.

Raven will be in front of the hotel waiting with the limo at five thirty.

You know where I am?

When you can see my thoughts, I can see yours, too. With that rather alarming thought he cut the mental connection, leaving Cat feeling guilty and like a nosy fool.

“Are you certain
that Ramirez is well and truly mated to her? You smelled the bond personally?”

“I’m positive, but there’s a small… wrinkle you might not have considered…”

Jack paused, waiting for the lightly accented Russian voice to continue over the phone. When it didn’t, he prompted with an irritable snarl. “Well, out with it! What is this
wrinkle?”

“The woman appears to be mated to Ramirez as well. It’s a double mating. How would you like me to proc – “

He hung up the phone with a whisper, while the room spun around him. Mated. She was mated. And to that… that son of a – “No. No, for this… she must be punished.” For this disregard of his… desire? Wish? No,
order,
she would pay, and pay dearly. He reached across his desk and caressed the bow on the model ship that had taken hundreds of hours to create. Every scrap of wood hand carved, every line on every mast absolutely perfect. How many hours of dreaming of his revenge against Ramirez had he put into this model? He lifted it up and turned it around so the overhead lights glowed through the nearly transparent sails.

With a vicious snarl and feline hiss, he crumpled the ship into slivers and threw it against the wall hard enough to dent the plaster.

His seer was going to pay for not warning him of this possibility. Yes, dear, faithful Muriel was going to see just what happens when Jack Simpson or, more precisely, Colecos, the legendary jaguar god of Mayapan, was well and truly
angry.

* * *

Raphael set the
phone back in its cradle. She’d come. That was a relief. He hadn’t been sure she’d be willing. Nor would he have blamed her. It was a terrible risk, and he hated to ask it of her. But if there was to be any hope of them working things out with the pack so that she could be safe, her presence at tonight’s meeting was necessary. Still, he hadn’t been able to hide his relief when Charles had insisted on not only being there, but on having Ivan and Raven acting as security as well. Until the pack severed their ties to Lucas and acknowledged Raphael as their alpha there were limits on the amount of magical power he had at his disposal to control them.

Raphael used his thumb and forefinger to rub the bridge of his nose. He had the mother of all headaches, and his body wasn’t keeping up with healing it.

It was going to be a long day. He had a lot to get done, and not a lot of help to do it. Claire was dead, as was one of the other secretaries. Sally was the only one left and she didn’t know any of the passwords, or where the files were. Worse, she alternately cringed and groveled, or burst into tears, so that Raphael felt like a monster for losing patience with her.

Raphael’s musings were interrupted by a tap on the door. It was Emma, dressed in a white wool coat with a red beret and matching leather gloves. Her cheeks were red from the cold, but her eyes were sparkling. “Do you have a minute?”

Raphael smiled. “For you, always.”

She walked over to the guest chair and dropped the cell phone on his desk. “You forgot it at the house this morning and it’s been ringing like crazy.”

“Thanks for bringing it by.”

“It wasn’t any trouble. I wanted to speak to you anyway.” She smiled. “Something’s come up and I need to fly back to New England and visit with my mother for a few days.”

Raphael made a protesting noise, but she waved him to silence.

“I was
hoping,”
she cringed, and started again. “I know it’s terribly rude of me to invite myself – but Raven seemed to think it would be all right.” She took a deep breath and said the next sentence very quickly. “Could I possibly join the two of you for Thanksgiving next week?”

“Of course! I was planning on your being here.”

“I don’t want to impose – “ She looked at him a little helplessly.

“Don’t be silly.” Raphael rose from his seat behind the desk and walked around so that he was standing right in front of her. He very deliberately perched on the edge of the desktop so that they were looking eye-to-eye. “You are
always
welcome here, Emma.”

“Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate you saying that.”

Actually, he probably did. Until Raven had come to live with him as a teenager, most holidays for Raphael had been spent either as an awkward tag-along, or lonely. He recognized the symptoms in the way Emma held herself, her tone of voice.

“Will you be inviting Cat?”

“I don’t know that she’ll be available.” He said it sadly. He wanted her with him, and not just for the holidays. He wanted to look into those deep green eyes every morning when he woke, and last thing every night. But even if the mating was mutual, she was a cat. She could choose to leave. Under the circumstances, he wouldn’t even blame her if she did.

“Yesterday wasn’t your fault! She can’t possibly blame you for that.”

He took a deep breath, his emotions switching quickly from sadness to anger. “They were my people. I’m responsible.”

“You haven’t even officially taken power yet!” Emma protested.

“And what a way to start.” Raphael tried to keep the bitterness from his voice, but didn’t succeed.

“I’m sorry.” She reached over to cover his hand with hers.

“Don’t be. Not your fault.” He squeezed her hand then let it go. He stood, giving her a warm smile. “Just make sure you make it back for the holiday. I’m fixing a big meal with all the trimmings.”

“I’ll be there.” She stood. There was an awkward moment, where neither of them knew exactly what to do. Suddenly she leaned forward to give him a fierce hug. “I’m glad I got to meet you. It explains a lot about Raven.”

“Good or bad?” he teased.

“Both.” She smiled when she said it, but pulled away. “I’ve got to go.”

“Come back soon,” Raphael ordered.

From the parking lot Emma waved and blew him a kiss. Raphael laughed and returned her wave. He watched her drive off, thinking that Raven was a very lucky man, and wondering if he had any idea just how much Emma loved him.

He was still staring out at the snowy landscape when the cell phone rang. Raphael hit the button and put it to his ear. “Ramirez.”

“Raphael, it’s David Streeter.”

“David! It’s good to hear from you!” After a few more pleasantries, Raphael explained what he needed from him at the meeting tonight. David was nervous, but understood the problem. They ended the call by agreeing to meet for dinner to go over any details.

Busy as Raphael was, the time flew by. The lunch hour passed unnoticed, as did the early portion of the afternoon. It seemed like only minutes had passed before it was time for him to go home and get ready for dinner and what just might be the most dangerous pack meeting of his life.

Cat berated herself,
telling herself she was being an idiot. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her ragged nerves. It was one thing to tell Charles she was willing to deal with the pack. It was quite another to actually do it. Her stomach did a little flip-flop as she paced barefoot over the thick carpet. She tried to reassure herself that she’s be fine, reminded herself that she’d been the one to insist to Charles that she go. It didn’t matter.

She checked her appearance in the mirror again. Her raw silk suit was caramel colored, tailored to show every curve, its skirt long enough to be businesslike, but short enough to show off a pair of very shapely legs. Her blouse was the color of black coffee, and exactly matched the pumps and purse that lay on the bed. Even her jewelry was old-school classic: a heavy brushed gold chain with matching earrings.

The clothing was fine. She’d pulled her hair into a French braid. It looked both simple and tasteful. She’d used more makeup than usual, but her skin still looked pale. All in all she looked every inch the elegant businesswoman.

“Are you ready?” Ivan asked.

“I wish I had some of that stuff you use to mask your scent. I can manage to
look
calm, but one whiff and they’re going to know I’m terrified.”

Ivan gave her a long, assessing look.
“You
are not even supposed to know about such things.”

Cat wasn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t intentionally eavesdropped on Ivan’s thoughts, but he
had
been thinking how very bad it was for her to smell terrified when heading into the pack meeting, and wondering whether Charles would be angry if he sprayed her with the Wolven cologne. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to listen in. It was an accident.”

“An
accident?”

The door to the suite opened and Raven stepped inside. “Is everybody ready to go?”

“Give us a moment,” Ivan ordered. Raven nodded and stepped back into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind him.

Ivan glared at his charge. “When this is over Cat, you and I will be having a talk about ethics. You do
not
go rummaging around in people’s minds. That’s a sure way to get a visit from one of us that’s not
social
in nature.”

She swallowed hard. Even not completely knowing what he meant, she was pretty sure it was bad. “Yes, sir.”

“Don’t
do it again.”

Nodding, she said, “I won’t.”

“Good.”

Cat started to step forward, but Ivan held her back with one strong arm. With his other hand he used a spray bottle to douse her liberally with cologne.

The bottle disappeared into the pocket of his jacket. “You didn’t see that, and know nothing about it. Now get your shoes and purse and we’ll be on our way.”

“Yes, sir.” Cat smiled faintly until she noticed his frown, and then hurried into the bedroom to comply.

Raven’s nostrils twitched as she stepped through the door into the hall. One dark eyebrow arched upward, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he walked two steps ahead of her, looking grim and dangerous in all black, the platinum band that held his gleaming hip-length hair back the only accent. Ivan took up the rear position, and though he wore an elegantly cut gray business suit, he would never be mistaken for anything other than a bodyguard.

People stared openly as they moved through the lobby and out to the long white limousine that was waiting at the front doors of the hotel.

It was a long drive up to Boulder, but Ivan didn’t seem inclined toward conversation. Instead, the three of them listened to the muted strains of Chopin’s Nocturnes. The music slowly worked its magic, soothing Cat’s frayed nerves, so that by the time the car pulled up to pack headquarters she was more herself.

Raven held the car door open for her. As she stepped onto the curb Cat looked around. The parking lot was packed with vehicles. Every light in the school building appeared to be on, and Peter, dressed in a navy suit, stood stationed at the door to greet them.

Peter opened the door and held it for them as they approached the building. In the distance Cat could hear the murmuring of a crowd in the background and the sound of someone running a test on a microphone and sound system. She fought down a wave of panic-induced nausea. Standing tall and proud she followed Raven through the gymnasium doors with Ivan guarding her back. They walked the length of the hardwood between bleachers filled with suddenly silent spectators to the black draped stage mat had been erected at the far end of the room.

There were three separate tables ranged behind the podium at the front of the stage. Raven led Cat to the table on the left where Holly sat next to an empty chair, looking frankly terrified. He held the chair, scooting it under her as she sat before taking his own seat at the large center table with his father, Ivan, Lucas, and Charles. On the far side of the stage, at a table directly opposite Holly and Cat, sat Betty and Tatya. Both were wearing black, both were silent and grim. When everyone had taken their places, Raphael rose.

He looked good. Cat had never seen him in dress clothes before. The crisply tailored gray linen slacks and black dress shirt suited his dark good looks. His hair was freshly cut, his face shaved to perfect smoothness. He didn’t look at her as he strode to the center of the stage. He spoke without using the microphone, but his voice carried clearly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, pack members and family, I have invited you here today for a number of reasons. As many of you already know, Lucas Santiago has been selected to take over the administration of Wolven.” There was a smattering of applause for the honor, which Lucas acknowledged with a slight nod of his head. “He has voluntarily stepped down as Alpha of this pack. As is the case when any pack leader chooses to leave his post, the Second becomes Alpha.”

All eyes followed Raphael as he stepped down from the stage and strode across the gym. When he reached the center of the floor he called out in a ringing voice that echoed through the room. “I claim the position of Alpha Male of the Boulder pack. Do any here challenge me for that right?” He turned, his gaze locking very deliberately with that of Martin Black. There was a long, breathless silence. Without bothering to look at anyone else in the room he continued. “Does
anyone
dispute my fitness to lead or question my judgments?”

A dark flush crawled up Martin’s neck, and Cat could see the muscles of his jaws clench. But still he remained silent.

“Does anyone
challenge
me in my rule?”

He let the breathless silence drag on. No one moved. No one seemed to dare breathe.

“Good.” He smiled. “There has been a
personal
challenge regarding mating issues. As it doesn’t directly affect pack administration, we will
not
be dealing with it until the end of this meeting.”

He walked back to the edge of the stage, but didn’t climb up onto the dais. “Lucas Santiago has been a brilliant pack leader for decades. The pack has prospered under his leadership, and I am grateful for everything he has done for us.”

Several people called out their assent to this. Raphael and Lucas both smiled.

“But every pack leader does things in his own way and makes the changes he feels are necessary and in the best interests of the pack.”

“My first act as Alpha was to call for this meeting, to address discipline problems within the pack. My second, unfortunately, was to enforce the most sacred laws of our people that had been deliberately violated.”

Raphael looked around the room, his eyes locking with those of many of the spectators. Always, they were the first to look away. Cat understood from her training that it was the custom among the pack members but there was more to it than that.

“I have heard that there are those who say that by ‘turning’ a human we would be ‘doing them a favor.’” Raphael’s bitterness was palpable. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Now I will show you why. For those of you who didn’t know, your friend, your classmate, Candy Streeter, did
not
move away. She was murdered.” He waited until the whispers and murmurs from the crowd had died down. “One tiny scratch from a friend,
doing her a favor,
and you’re about to watch the result.”

As he had been speaking, Peter – looking ashen and trembling – had quietly wheeled in a cart with a projector on it. He set it up while Raphael held everyone’s attention. At Raphael’s cue he dimmed the lights and hit the switch that lowered a large projection screen from the ceiling. Candy Streeter’s first full moon came onto the screen. Her screams echoed off the cinder-block walls and lofty ceiling.

Cat sat rigidly in her seat, her back turned to the screen. She’d seen it before – lived through it in Raphael’s mind. But she couldn’t ignore Holly’s sobs beside her.

She would
not
throw up. She
wouldn’t.
But many others did, and not all of the screams and sobs were coming from the speakers or from Holly. When the tape finished and the lights came back on, not one member of the audience wasn’t shaken.

Raphael climbed onto the stage. He stood, tall and commanding in front of the podium. “To change a human other than in self-defense is a capital crime. Yesterday, members of this pack deliberately attacked Cat Turner and Holly Sanchez, a human family member. Those who did it have been punished. But that does not change the fact that the next full moon may be Holly’s last.”

There were gasps of shock. All eyes shifted to the table where Holly and Cat sat. Under the table, Cat reached for her friend’s cool, trembling hand and held it firmly. Holly was holding onto her control with teeth and toenails as she avoided the collective gaze of the pack on her. In the background Peter discreetly unplugged the AV equipment and removed the screen before wheeling the cart out of the gym.

“But the attempt they made was made possible by actions of two other, senior, pack members – both of whom should have known better.” He gestured to the table where Betty and Tatya sat rigidly. “I have consulted with Wolven and the Chief Justice, and we find that Betty Perdue and Tatiana Santiago have gravely damaged Cat Turner and Holly Sanchez.”

There were gasps throughout the room. Cat turned to stare at Raphael. She didn’t remember much from those training books, but
that
she remembered. If you injured someone, she was entitled to claim damages commensurate with the injury – the ultimate eye for an eye.
Grave
damage meant that if she or Holly wanted it, Betty and Tatya would be killed.

“Holly Sanchez, do you wish to claim your damages from Betty Perdue and Tatiana Santiago?”

Holly’s face moved from rage to pain to emotionless. But finally, after a long pause, she replied. “No.”

“Cat Turner, do
you
wish to claim the damages you are due from Betty Perdue and Tatiana Santiago?”

What good would it do? Two more deaths in a string of other deaths? More people hurting as much as she did? She shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. “No.”

Cat opened her eyes and watched as Lucas let out the breath he had been holding. Betty and Tatya both sagged a little bit in their seats. It was obvious they’d believed she’d do it.

Many people would have. Charles’s voice came clearly into her mind.

Raphael continued to speak. Cat could hear him in the background talking about Betty and Tatya being brought before the council on charges regarding a breach of medical ethics. But her mind was on her internal conversation with her godfather.

You sound as though you don’t approve.

She could hear him sigh in her mind. It wasn’t my choice to make. It was a merciful decision. I just hope you don’t live to regret it.

The meeting seemed to stretch on forever. It wasn’t boring. It was exhausting. Cat was completely drained in no time and her mind began to wander. She couldn’t imagine how Raphael kept going.

Cat brought her wandering mind back to the present abruptly at the sound of Raphael saying her name.

“Cat Turner has purchased a section of land that has traditionally been used for pack hunting.” There were audible growls at that point, and pack members began shifting restlessly in their seats. Cat could feel their hatred beating at her.

“Ms. Turner agreed to this purchase
after the pack had exercised its right of first refusal!”
Raphael cast a glance at Tatya, who blushed and hung her head in obvious acknowledgment of her part in that refusal.

The crowd was still muttering, but they sounded marginally less aggressive.

Raphael turned back to the crowd and continued. “I have been informed that a petition will be made before the council for her to retain full possession of that property, fn light of the attack on her, it is likely that the petition will be granted.” He raised one hand to still their protests. “It is my
hope
that if this happens, Ms. Turner will negotiate with the pack regarding hunting rights.”

Cat heard someone, she couldn’t see who, shout out that they shouldn’t
have
to negotiate. It was their land damn it! Let the cat go somewhere else. Another anonymous speaker questioned whether Raphael was
capable
of putting the pack interests before those of his
mate.

There were more than a few gasps throughout the room at
that
bit of news, and Charles’s expression grew murderous.

Just like that the cat – Cat snickered despite herself – was out of the bag. There was no keeping something from Jack if the whole pack knew. God alone knew what Jack would do about it. He’d do something, though. She was sure of it.

Raphael’s face darkened with anger. His granite expression frightened Cat and he gestured toward the crowd. But before he could speak there was the thud of a body impacting against
the
gymnasium doors. The doors then slammed open with a bang. Three men stood framed in the doorway. Two wore traditional Arab garb; the third, an exquisitely tailored business suit.

Low growls erupted throughout the room, all of which were loftily ignored by the intruders, who strode arrogantly across
the
gymnasium, stopping only to give the briefest of bows to
the
Chief Justice, who stood center stage. Ivan was now a protective presence at Cat’s back, and she was grateful for it. She didn’t know who these intruders were, but she could sense they were dangerous.

Raphael dropped his shields. Suddenly she could hear his thoughts, sense what he was feeling. She felt both his anger at the betrayal of one of his people, and the wary mistrust he had for the intruders. His name is Ahmad al-Narmer. He is the council representative for the snakes, a friend of Jack’s, and a very old enemy of mine.