TherianPromise (21 page)

“It’s likely.”

Anxiety crept through the afterglow. She wiggled away from
him and sat up, dragging the sheet with her. So many Therian customs were truly
savage. She’d almost adjust to all the changes and something like this would
make her feel like an outsider all over again.

“As truly horrific as that is, it doesn’t change the basic
fact that I’m in danger.”

He heaved a frustrated sigh and shoved a couple of pillows
behind him so he could recline against the headboard. “There’s no way to undo
the danger. You are unique and highly desirable. We can be aware of the risks
and surround you with people willing and able to protect you.”

“Is this why Carissa agreed to the blood ritual so quickly?
Was she trying to avert the danger?”

“I’m sure it contributed to her decision, but Carissa
doesn’t strike me as the type of a person who would bow to external pressures.”

It was Ava’s turn to sigh. He was right. External pressure
tended to make Carissa contrary, not compliant. “Is there any way to release my
abilities other than definition?”

“No, and definition can only be done once.”

She’d suspected that’s what he would say, but she’d needed
to hear it. “Then teach me how to fight or at least let me practice with a gun.
Mom made us both take firearm safety classes because we always had a loaded gun
in the house, but it’s been years since I fired one. There has to be some way
for me to be less useless.”

“You are anything but useless.” He reached for her hand, but
she kept it out of reach, not yet ready for his touch to distract her. “All
right. Think about it like this. The president doesn’t go anywhere without the
Secret Service. They immediately surround him if there’s a threat and they
examine each situation before he’s allowed to go near it. Does that make the
president useless?”

She smiled. “Some would argue that his uselessness has
nothing to do with the Secret Service.”

Kyle chuckled. “Political frustrations aside, do you
understand the parallel.”

Holding the sheet with one hand, she finger combed her hair
with the other. “I’m not the president.”

“Your role is different, but to the Therian nation you are
every bit as important as a president or prime minister. The clan leaders want
you now because of your potential, and after your definition, you’ll be pursued
for your power. I could pat your hand and tell you everything’s going to be
fine, but you need to understand the reality of your situation.”

“I appreciate your honesty and I don’t want to be coddled.
That’s been my point all along. I want to be able to protect myself.”

He leaned forward and caught her upper arms then dragged her
into his lap. The sheet ended up tangled around her hips as she relaxed into
the cradle of his strong arms. “Someday, not too long from now, you will be
able to do all sorts of things you can’t do now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t
want to protect you.” He paused for a long, lingering kiss. “Spend tomorrow
with my mother and Carissa. They’re here to answer your questions and help you
adjust. But tonight belongs to me, belongs to us. And I’m tired of talking.”

One of his hands covered her breast as his mouth took
possession of her lips. Her troubled thoughts scattered and she raised her arms
to circle his neck.

* * * * *

Nate slowly circled his son, shaking with fury and
frustration. The Clubhouse was silent, every person in the place anxiously
watching the drama unfold. A tiny part of him had hoped Bruce would surpass his
expectations and quietly return with Ava in tow. Instead a cold-eyed tigress
had dragged Bruce into the bar in restraints, forced him to his knees and
informed Nate that he had twenty-four hours to punish Bruce for attempting to
murder the new Omni Prime or the cats would interpret his inaction as an act of
war.

His guards had been so stunned by her arrogance that none of
them had thought to detain her. She’d stormed into a wolf sanctuary, snapped
out her ultimatum and departed while everyone looked on in shocked fascination.

“What the fuck happened?” He dragged Bruce to his feet but
left the handcuffs and shackles in place. Muffled speculation rippled through
their audience. He hadn’t set up this ending, but it was perfect for what he
had in mind. Bruce had failed his final exam and now he must pay, but there
could be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Bruce deserved what he was about to
get. The pack could not think he perceived Bruce as a threat, just a failure.

“It was a setup.” Bruce glared at him, yanking against the
cuffs until blood trickled from his wrists. “Half the council was there to
protect her.”

“Why does that surprise you?” Nate faced his oldest son,
hands clenched as anger churned within him. “Of course Kyle would have called
in backup. You were supposed to sneak her out in the middle of the night or
find a way to isolate her from the others.”

Bruce looked around, his gaze blazing with anger and
rebellion. “Don’t you see what he’s doing?
He
set me up,” he called out
to the room at large. “Your alpha is afraid of his own son!”

Nate backhanded him hard enough to knock him sideways. One
of the guards stepped forward and steadied Bruce until he recovered from the
blow. “I entrusted you with the most important assignment I’ve ever delegated
to anyone.” Nate sneered. “Don’t attempt to mask your failure with ridiculous
allegations.”

“Why were we not included in this decision?” one of the
elders asked from the far corner of the room. The question was met with nods
and scattered mumbles.

“I learned of Ava’s location and knew our window of
opportunity was tiny.” He stepped back from his trembling son and spoke loud
enough for everyone to hear. “There wasn’t time to gather the elders. I am
alpha. I made the best decision possible under the circumstances. I sent the
person I trusted most, our strongest hunter and a male whose dedication to this
pack has never been questioned. I warned him that the situation required
stealth and creativity. He assured me he was up to the task.”

The crowd parted as the elder moved closer, but his hostile
gaze was now focused on Bruce. “I can understand how you were discovered, but
why did the cat accuse you of attempted murder? Ava is no use to us dead.”

“She said he threatened the current Omni Prime,” Nate
reminded. “He must have threatened Carissa.”

“I was trying to get Ava to come with me.” Bruce rolled his
eyes, belligerence the only weapon available to him now. “I wouldn’t have hurt
Carissa.”

Nate crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.
“And the cats sensed your weakness so they charged you.”

“I had no other choice! She was—”

“There are always other choices,” the elder snapped. “Your
father is right to be angry. Your actions have forced us to do the cats’
bidding or prepare for war! Are you really so shortsighted that you risked this
entire pack to further your own ambitions?”

“You’re crazy, old man! I only did what I was told.” The
other guards emerged from the crowd, circling Bruce with grim determination.

Nate fought back a triumphant smile yet sorrow coiled in his
belly. He’d wanted Bruce to succeed, had given him every opportunity to temper
his aggression with reason. Besides, with Landon supporting the rebellion,
Nate’s only hope for a worthy successor was Dhane. And Dahane was still more
child than man.

“If you’d done what you were told, you’d be fucking Ava
right now.” Nate moved to one side as the guards closed in, relieved that
they’d taken the task out of his hands. Setting Bruce up for failure was one
thing, actually ripping out his heart was another.

Bruce looked at him as the color drained from his face.
“Dad! What the hell’s wrong with you? Do something!”

Someone touched his arm and Nate looked back and into
Dhane’s pleading gaze. “Can’t you—”

Nate silenced his youngest son with a scathing glare. “He
did this to himself. Never forget that.”

“Dad!” Bruce screamed as the guards dragged him toward the
back door of the Clubhouse. Stunned yet resigned, the crowd parted for them.
When Nate failed to intervene, Bruce went wild. He twisted and jerked against
the guards’ restraining hands, screaming obscenities and hollow threats.

The back door slammed closed behind them and Bruce’s
indignation soon turned to screams of pain. Nate crossed to the bar and
accepted the shot glass waiting for him. He’d known how this would end. Still,
the sorrow twisting through him caught him by surprise. Landon had betrayed
him, chosen the rebels over his own family. And Bruce had proven unworthy to
take his place.

If two out of his three sons were failures, what did that
say about him?

He motioned for the bartender to refill his glass and
quickly tossed back the shot. Closing his eyes, he tuned out the room and
waited for the fiery liquid to burn away the bitterness of regret.

* * * * *

Ava spent the next day with Carissa and Erin just as Kyle
had suggested. Erin’s stories still seemed a bit fantastical, but her knowledge
was impressive. Every question Ava asked Erin answered with patience and
thoroughness. Carissa added her perspective whenever she could and soon Ava felt
less overwhelmed by the choices before her.

It really wasn’t that complicated once she accepted the fact
that she was part of a nation of shapeshifters. Erin would determine whether or
not she was really a potential Omni Prime. Apparently, her bloodline wasn’t the
only prerequisite. The ancients needed to accept her into their ranks. If they
did, she would choose six males she wanted to participate in her definition.
The ritual would probably make her sexually aggressive, but she wasn’t required
to have sex with any of the men.

She would be safer once she chose her mate and the bonding
would make her stronger, but she could take as long as she liked to make that
decision. As long as they kept Osric away from her, of course.

“So what’s my next step?” Ava asked after a long pause.

“When we return to the sanctuary, I’ll take you to the
vault,” Erin explained.

“That’s where you keep all the artifacts and your journals?”

“Yes. If you react to the artifacts as Carissa did and if
you’re able to read the ancient language, it will prove you’re worthy of your
calling.” Erin didn’t look old enough to be Kyle’s mother. There wasn’t a
strand of gray in her brown hair and her face was still unlined. Her eyes were
the same vivid green as her son’s, but hers possessed a thoughtful wisdom Kyle
had yet to achieve. Dressed in jeans and a fine-gauge sweater, Erin appeared
far too normal to be clan healer and Historian.

Ava looked at her sister, amazed by the changes evident in
her bearing and demeanor. Carissa had always been fun loving and adventurous,
but the quiet confidence Ava sensed now hadn’t been there before. “You just
looked at the journals and suddenly you could read them?”

Carissa shook her head. “The change began as soon as I
stepped into the vault. I could feel the power calling to me, stirring
something deep inside. It’ll be the same for you. I know it will. We’ve always
done everything together.” She smiled and playfully pushed Ava’s shoulder. “Why
should this be any different?”

They sat in Jake’s living room, enjoying the fire’s relaxing
warmth. The day had turned out cool and rainy, and everyone was worried about
Ian, who was gathering information at the secluded complex. The other men had
split their time between strategy sessions in the kitchen and internet searches
in Jake’s office.

“Has anyone heard from Jake?” Ava asked after a short pause.
“Or Enya, for that matter. They must both be going crazy by now.”

“I spoke to Enya a couple of hours ago,” Erin told her.
“Jake and his men are still hunting, but so far, no luck.”

“Did they call the police?” Even with her unusual
upbringing, it seemed like a natural reaction. When someone was in danger, the
police were notified. “Even if they’re only human, police tend to be aggressive
whenever children are involved.”

Erin shook her head. “Involving humans in our problems gives
them access to our lives. We live among them, but we are not part of them. The
less humans know about us, the better off we are.”

A shiver slipped down Ava’s spine and she rubbed her upper
arms. Despite the crackling fire, she suddenly felt cold. “I’m going to go grab
my hoodie and a pair of socks. I’ll be right back.”

“We should probably scrounge together something for lunch.
I’m sure the men are getting hungry right about now.” Erin and Carissa headed
to the kitchen as Ava turned toward the stairs.

The upper level was quiet, almost eerily so. Ava hurried to
the bedroom she shared with Kyle and found her favorite hoodie. Summit County
Outfitters was emblazoned on the front of the bright red garment. She ran her
fingers over the stylized letters with a sigh. All the time and energy she’d
poured into the store seemed like part of another lifetime. Accounting
anomalies and slow suppliers seemed extremely insignificant compared to
kidnapped children and confrontations at gunpoint.

She found a pair of socks and crossed to the bed. One look
at the rumpled covers sent heat cascading through her body. Her feelings for
Kyle grew deeper and more specific with each passing moment. It wasn’t just the
pleasure they shared—though she’d never imagined sex could be so amazing. Each
time they joined, their link expanded and she was drawn deeper into his mind.
She shared his thoughts and memories and felt what he was feeling. His strength
and nobility had been apparent from the start, but she also experienced his
compassion and tenderness. He wasn’t just protective of her. He jumped to the
defense of any person in need of his strength.

With a dreamy smile curving her lips, she sat on the edge of
the bed and pulled on her socks then wiggled into the hoodie. Noon had come and
gone while she spoke with Carissa and Erin. Ian should return soon and she was
anxious to hear what he’d learned. Kyle was sure her spontaneous teleportation
had guided them toward something important and she was curious to find out if
he was right.