Psyche Shield (20 page)

It troubled me too, and seven pointless deaths weighed on me
every day. Billie sensed how the memory affected me and ran a finger across my
cheek. “She didn’t do anything to protect herself. As soon as I was in trouble,
she fought back. Sadie doesn’t respond well to threats against her mate.”

“Apparently not. Or against my friends,” I replied, not sure
if I liked that part of myself. “I had no idea how protective I was until I met
you.”

“She’s rubbin’ off on ya,” Nathan decided approvingly.

Ten people had died because of me. The three dead Mages
haunted me, but not in the same way as the teenage boys. “I didn’t mean to. I
didn’t know I could do that until I did it. I have a better appreciation for
the power of a thought now. It won’t happen by accident again.”

“Good thing, too,” Amy added with mock seriousness. “Jason
would be in trouble!”

Sierra laughed and stopped herself as something occurred to
her. “Why didn’t you kill Jason when he broke into your home? That was right
after you were attacked, right?”

It didn’t even occur to me at the time. “Billie told me to
trust him. Plus I thought she was dying. I didn’t know how to help her, and I
couldn’t call an ambulance for a wolf. Jason knew what to do.”

With everyone’s help, it didn’t take long to pack my stuff
and clean the house. Phil and Nathan took a load to the thrift store, leaving
only a couple trips back and forth to Billie’s house. My landlord voiced his
displeasure at the last-minute notice, withholding my deposit before inspecting
the house. I wouldn’t get it back anyway, and it saved me the trouble of trying
to explain the carpet.

With everything done, I left my key on the counter and
locked the door behind me. One more piece of my old life came to an end.
Content in the thought, I walked away from it.

Chapter 12

The afternoon sun had just begun to retreat. I’d
spent most of the day unpacking, watching over the territory automatically. The
others came in and out as they attended to their various Pack duties. Sierra
and Kathryn ate an early dinner at Ruth’s, utilizing the time to calm the
nervous Wolves staying with her. Kato, the only Wolf unconstrained by the Alpha’s
orders, left soon after. Unused to life under a roof, he took the opportunity
to run.

Amy arrived, escorted by Nathan and Phil. Excited by her new
purchases, she showed off the medical supplies and a brand new yellow phone.
Nathan wouldn’t easily let his mate out of his sight. He and Phil had other
duties but waited until their Beta arrived to leave us. Still weak from her
injuries, Sierra tired quickly, so Billie picked her up from Ruth’s on her way
home.

As the day moved into evening, the four of us discussed our
day on the back patio. “How are they faring at Ruth’s?” Billie had checked in
with them of course. She’d come to respect the Sender’s observational skills
and trusted Sierra’s assessment.

“They’re putting up a good front, but it’s an act. They’re
starting to jump at shadows. They know you and Jason will defeat any direct
threat, but my Alpha isn’t coming at you directly. They don’t feel safe
anywhere. Without Kathryn I think you’d have a real problem very soon, but
she’s keeping it at bay.” She paused to collect her thoughts and choose her
words carefully. “Gossip about Amy’s close call is spreading, and it’s not all
accurate. They know Sadie trespassed on Amy’s mind. That’s not helping. They
have two boogeymen in their minds, Sadie from inside the pack and Graham from
outside.”

“But I’m not upset with Sadie. Why are they? She made a
mistake,” Amy insisted loyally.

“Tell them that,” Sierra suggested.

“I will!” She pursed her lip determinedly. Her unwavering
support touched me.

“What do you recommend?” Billie asked the astute Wolf.

Sierra thought about it before answering. “Kathryn should
stay at Ruth’s until this is over. I’m learning a lot during our visits, but
I’m not much help yet, and I’m worried I’ll lose control around them. Keep
popping in, both you and Jason. Your presence reassures them. Wolves are
resilient, but everyone has their breaking point.”

I wondered if I could eliminate one of the boogeymen. “What
if Amy and I visit Kathryn at Ruth’s home tomorrow? Will that help?”

“It couldn’t hurt,” Sierra gave her opinion.

“If Kathryn thinks it’s a good idea, do it,” Billie decided.
“Make sure William stays by your side. If you’re forced to defend yourself
against a packmate, we’ll have even more problems on our hands.”

“Is that why you wouldn’t come near me the first day?”
Sierra asked.

“Partly,” I admitted with a wry smile. “Mostly it was to
keep Billie from blowing a gasket.”

The feeling, though vague, came on very suddenly. Distracted
from the conversation, I stretched my senses as far as possible. It came from
beyond my normal range, and I had difficulty bringing it into focus.

“What’s wrong?” Billie noticed, and her voice sharpened. All
attention focused on me.

Still indistinct, I finally grasped why I felt uneasy,
though I couldn’t come up with any details. “It’s Nathan and Phil. They’re in
trouble.”

“Where are they?” Billie’s phone appeared in her hand.

“That way.” I pointed off to my left. “I’m not sure how
far.”

“Can you estimate?” she asked as Jason answered her call.
She filled him in as I searched for the information she needed.

Ignoring her other conversation, I tried to narrow it down
before replying. “More than ten miles. It could be twenty. I just don’t know.”

“How can you not know?” Jason growled, his voice coming
through the speaker on Billie’s phone. Concern for his Wolves’ safety didn’t
improve his personality.

“Because I’m obeying your orders,” I snapped right back at
him.

Fear for her mate caused Amy’s voice to rise shrilly. “They
planned to meet Richard tonight.”

“That fits. I’m on my way, Amy. What’s happening, Sadie?
Give me something.”

“Matthew’s closer than you,” I offered desperately.

Billie punched at her phone impatiently as she conference
called Matthew. Billie gave no preamble. “Head to Richard’s home now,” she
ordered and explained as he drove. To my relief, Matthew declared himself less
than ten minutes from his destination. “I’m on my way, too,” she decided,
unable to sit still with her packmates in danger.

Jason countered her decision before she did more than stand.
“I’m closer. Stay where you are and coordinate with Sadie.” She sat once again,
her tense muscles showing the difficulty of that directive.

Matthew’s calm voice reached my ears, and my earlier fear of
him didn’t return. Nathan and Phil mattered more. “Sadie, what else can you
tell us? Describe everything, important or not.”

“They’re too far away to tell much.” I closed my eyes,
wishing I had another pair of eyes to look through. I could read a little of
their emotions without prying into their minds. Of all the times to discover my
limits, why did it have to happen with Nathan in trouble? “They’re not alone. I
think they’re fighting.”

“There’s got to be more,” Jason grumbled loudly.

Already irritated at myself for not having the answers, I
took it out on him. “I’m not a psychic, Alpha. I’m a mind-reader. Without a
mind to pick, all I get is vague impressions. You’re lucky I can sense anything
at this distance with my hands tied.” I followed the conflict as well as I
could through the peripheral emotions of the Wolves involved. “They’re
definitely fighting. Matthew’s nearly there.”

“I see them,” Matthew announced and gave his location.
“They’re fighting six Wolves. I’m going in.” He disappeared from the
conversation, and Billie looked like she would blow a fuse.

“Oh, thank God.” Matthew’s arrival and dispassionate update
calmed my anxiety, and I began to breathe again. Jason headed in their
direction, still too far away. I continued to follow the conflict, relaying
what I sensed to the others. “Nathan’s in pain. He’s injured. Wait, I think
they got away. Yes, they’re headed in our direction, too quickly to be on
foot.”

“We can travel fast in wolf form,” Jason reminded me, still
listening to me ramble.

“Not this fast.”

Billie spoke to Amy. “Try Nathan’s phone. Tell him to drive
straight here.” She’d already pulled her phone out of her pocket.

“Nate, are you okay?” She calmed when she heard his voice. I
only heard Amy’s side of the conversation, but I could read between the lines.
“I’m at Billie’s. How badly are you hurt? ... Okay, that’s not that bad. ...
Sadie told us. ... They want to know if Isabel, Richard, and Kathryn are okay.”

I checked and said yes. “Richard and Isabel are downtown.
Kathryn is still at Ruth’s. They’re all fine.” With my packmates out of danger,
I sat anxiously and waited.

Several deep breaths began to calm my nerves, and I looked
up at Sierra. She sat with wide eyes, concentrating on her breathing and barely
able to keep her emotions under control. “Sierra. Nathan’s going to be okay.
It’s over.”

“It’s not over. He’s not going to stop.” She trembled with
fear and pent-up anger.

“For now, it’s over. This one is over. We’ll figure it out.
Breathe.” She gained some ground, and I felt the difference in Billie and Amy.
She continued the struggle to control her emotions while we waited for the
others.

Jason arrived first, and we met him in the living room,
Sierra loping ahead of me on her crutches. The minutes ticked by, and
eventually the missing Wolves pulled into the drive. Jason and Billie met them
out front, insisting the rest of us stay behind. Not knowing what they would
find, I raised an illusion around the property. They returned with a pale
Nathan supported between them, Phil and Matthew directly on their heels.

Blood ran down Nathan’s leg from a deep cut on his thigh.
His slashed jeans exposed the wound, and an image of Billie bleeding on my
couch sprang to my mind. Nathan bled freely, arterial blood pumping out of him.
Phil carried a blood-soaked shirt in one hand, his chest bare. He’d already
tried to stop the bleeding with little success.

Amy got down to business. “Put him on the couch. He’s lost a
lot of blood.” She pulled dressings out of her jump bag, covering the wound
with blurred movements. “You lied to me, Nathan.” she accused loudly, fear
transforming into anger at her mate.

“I didn’t want ya to worry.” He slurred his words as he
tried to focus his eyes on her.

“I’m the Medic and I’m your mate. Don’t lie to me about
injuries. Ever!”

“Sorry, Darlin’.” He looked like he would pass out.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” she demanded as she applied
pressure on the wound and assessed him quickly.

“Don’t think so. Honest.”

“Okay. Someone hold this for me.” Phil knelt beside his
packmate and did as she asked. “Press harder,” she told him. “Put your other
hand here and press hard. I better see a bruise there later.” She showed him a
pressure point and pulled what looked like a sewing kit out of her large jump
bag. She threaded the needle and lifted the towel. Blood began flowing again,
but at a trickle compared to before. Stitching so quickly her hands blurred,
she knitted the wound together. At last the bleeding stopped. “Okay, Phil. Ease
off slowly. Let’s see if that did the job.” Phil released the pressure point,
and it didn’t start bleeding again. She let out a small cry of relief. “Thank
heavens for Wolf metabolism. It’s not that easy with a Human. Nate, are you
still with me?”

“Yeah. I’m here. Yer not rid of me yet.” He slurred his
words and lolled his head at his mate.

“I plan on keeping you for at least a century. No dying,”
she ordered him.

“Good thing yer a Medic,” he joked.

“Would someone get him something to eat?” Amy requested of
no one in particular, and I headed to the kitchen. Seeing Nathan bleeding on
the couch after I could do so little for him made me feel useless, so I
gathered as much as I could carry.

He scooted so he could eat partially sitting up, accepting
the food gratefully. His face turned to shock when he saw the trail of blood
across the carpet, ending in a large stain soaking into the couch. “Aw, I’m
sorry.”

Billie dismissed it. “You’re not the first person to bleed
all over my home. You won’t be the last. You’re okay, and that’s what matters.”

“Yep,” Amy agreed. “You’re going to be good as new in a few
days.”

I nearly tackled him from behind, hugging him tightly around
the neck. “You scared me, Nathan.” I told him. “I couldn’t figure out where you
were.”

With Nathan stabilized, Jason wanted answers. “What
happened?”

Phil sat back on his heels and recounted the events. “We
were on our way to Richard’s and headed up his drive. He was supposed to meet
us there. We saw Isabel’s car off the road and wrapped around a tree, so we
stopped. That stretch of drive isn’t visible to the neighbors or the road. It’s
a good place for an ambush, and we knew it, but we had to check. We approached
the car on foot and smelled a Wolf we didn’t recognize. It wasn’t much warning.
Six Wolves jumped us, all in human form. Nathan’s a brawler, and he did okay,
but we were outnumbered. Matthew showed up and evened out the odds a bit. One
of them put a knife in Nathan’s leg. I gave it back blade first. It distracted
his packmates, and we got out of there.”

Matthew continued. “They must have stolen Isabel’s car. That
would have delayed Richard too.”

“Get Richard and Kathryn on the phone,” Jason ordered
Billie.

“Already done,” Matthew replied. “Richard’s dropping Isabel
at Ruth’s and picking Kathryn up. They’re coming here.”

“How did they steal Isabel’s car without you sensing them?”
Jason demanded of me.

I shook my head, just as frustrated as my Alpha. “I’d have
sensed a Wolf.”

“Linda.” Billie reminded us, her voice grim. “She slipped by
us again.”

Matthew updated his Alpha and Beta. “She knows how to stay
low. We don’t know where she’s staying, and Glenn hasn’t found an electronic
trail to give us a place to start. With only a name and a photo, we haven’t
found her.”

“You can’t find one Human in our own territory?” Jason
belted. We outnumbered the Montana Wolves and had a much stronger fighting
force, but once again they’d found a way to strike in our own territory. I
shared his frustration.

“She’s good,” Matthew told him. “If she stole the car, we’ll
have a scent. We’ll find her.”

“Make sure you do.”

Sierra, observing from the other side of the room, finally
spoke. “My packmate. How is he?”

Phil’s face showed obvious remorse. He’d had little choice,
and he knew it. “He was alive when we left, but not for long. He won’t make it.
I’m sorry.”

“What did he look like?” Sierra asked weakly, anguish
building in her.

“Blond hair, red highlights, with a small scar over his left
eyebrow.”

Sierra raised her hands and pressed her palms against her
temples. Anger filled the room as she lost control. She reacted as any Wolf
might have in her situation, but other Wolves didn’t have the Sender’s gift.
Every Wolf felt her anger as their own. I felt it fill the room to a
suffocating level. “You killed Xan!” She screamed at him.

“I didn’t have a choice!” The normally even-tempered Wolf
yelled right back, rising from the floor aggressively. Jason put a hand on
Phil’s shoulder, pushing him back to the floor. “He attacked us!”

“He was my friend!” she spat right back.

Jason kept his hold on Phil. He and Matthew exerted
remarkable control, and I wondered if they’d simply had more practice managing
anger. Billie felt it worse than anyone and held herself in check with obvious
effort. Even I felt it a little. Usually I noticed it without feeling its
effects.