Wolf Creek Alpha (Texas Pack 1) (31 page)

“I think
that
either he put a spell on Dunstan, or
somehow
he can track him,” Devlin said flatly. 

“Shit! Which does your gut tell you?” Rafe asked. 

“I’ve thought about it and I don’t think he has a spell on him.  I think Lisa would have seen it when she was in his head
or felt the spell
.  That’s why I would like to see the Queen
, or maybe one of the
fae
staying here would know
.  I found a vague reference to the
fae
and blood
rituals.  I think
that
maybe Ciar has some kind of object that has power behind it.  If he used it in a blood ritual, it’
d
be even more powerful.”

“Let’s go talk to Robert,” Rafe decided quickly.

They found Lisa and Robert in the great room, discussing spells. 
Telling them what Devlin had dug up
on his computer
, they asked Robert if h
e knew anything about blood rituals
.

“I’ve never heard of any
fae
just ‘knowing’ where their kin are.  I have heard rumo
rs that if they had that person’s
blood, they may
be able to find
them.  Using
a witch
that had the knowledge
for a spell,
or
some object
with the
person’s
blood were the only two ways I’
d heard of,” Robert stated.

“We need to speak with Dunstan.  Anyone know where he is?” asked Rafe.

“He and Ian have gone looking again for Stephen.  They think he’s probably in the dark realm with Ciar, but they thought they might be able to track where he’d been and what he’d been doing,” said Devlin.

“Okay.  Lisa, when you were in Dunstan’s mind, did you see anything?  What I mean is, could you tell if there was any kind of spell on him?” asked Rafe.

“If there
was,
I didn’t see it.  But you have to remember, I also wouldn’t know what a spell would have looked like,” she answered. 

“
You would have noticed, if it was there,
” Robert stated.  “It would have looked like a very dark mass, circling around like a snake.”

“Then no.  There was nothing like that,” Lisa said.

Rafe’s
parents came in, carrying groceries.  Everyone immediately jumped up to help carry in the many bags
they had
bought
.  Rafe told his dad what they were working on while the
y
walked to the car. 

“I’d heard of that.  Those blood rituals I mean.  It sounds exactly like something Ciar would do too,” Mack said. 

Rafe spoke quietly to his dad while his mom and Lisa went into the kitchen to put the groceries away.
 

“I think he’s after Lisa.  The more I learn, the more that’s what I suspect.  The man craves power.  If he had her, he also has access to the pond.  I know my job is to protect the pond, but you need to know, I would never
give her up to keep the pond safe,” Rafe said quietly, waiting for his
dad’s
reaction.

Mack put his hands on
Rafe’s
shoulders.  “Son, we never, ever give up our mates.  There is no man in this pack that wouldn’t back you up.  Our families are the most important
part of
our lives.”

Then Mack slapped him on the back in the usual man hug way. 
They went back into the great room, discussing the best way to keep Lisa safe. 

Liz and Lisa worked on putting the large amount of food away.  After everything was done, Liz started on the chicken, seasoning it for the grill. 

“I’m doing this the easy way tonight.  Which means, the men are grilling,” she said smiling. 

“What side dishes are we havin
g?  I can help make something,”
Lisa said.

Liz picked up the bag of corn that needed to be shucked. 

“If you’ll pour us a glass of wine, I’ll take these out to the patio.  We can shuck them outside.  Less mess to clean up if we do it there.”

Lisa poured two glasses
and then
made her way outside.  Liz had already started working, placing the husks in a grocery bag to throw away later.  Sitting beside Liz, she got to work helping her.  They made small talk while the
y
cleaned the silk off the corn.

“Lisa, it seems
like you want to ask me something.  Please, feel free.  I w
ant y
ou to be comfortable here,” Liz
said. 

Lisa thought she was very astute.  “I don’t mean to get too personal and if you don’t want to answer, that’s fine.  I just wondered if you were born as a wolf, or changed by the water?  I’ve talked a little to Stephanie, but I still have questions,” Lisa said. 

Liz could see the wolves and one of the
fae
guards patrolling in the woods.  She doubted Lisa even noticed them.  She watched them while she thought about how to explain about her change.

“I wasn’t born a
wolf
. 
I was changed at the pond after Ma
ck
and I mated.  It w
as magical.” Liz giggled.
 
“
Don’t be afraid that it will hurt.  It’s hard to put into words. It was like being surrounded
by
and insi
de of a rainbow.  I
remember the sensation of the magic entering my body, changing my molecules I guess.”

Remembering the moment, Liz sat quietly thinking about it.  “I remember standing beside the pond and seeing the world around me differently.  I could see much better, hear small animals scurrying through the woods.  Oh, and the smells.  I was overloaded with the scents of everything around me.”

“But you were still you, right?  I mean, you didn’t lose your sense of self?” Lisa asked.

“I was very much still me, only better.  When you first change, every smell distracts you and you want to investigate it.  I took off running before I even realized what I was doing.  It was so much fun!  Mack and I ran for what seemed like hours.  He chased me while I learned how to be a wolf.  He could have caught me
easily, but he gave me room to run and learn,” she laughed again.

Lisa could tell Liz was
recollecting some private moments, so she finished pulling more silk off the corn, waiting.

“Oh, sorry.  I was remembering some
happy moments
.  I just want to say, I’ve never regretted a single moment of my life with Mack.  He gave me three wonderful sons and a life I’d never even imagined.  I always thought the world could use more magic, I just never thought I’d be the one living it,” Liz eyes had watered, with good memories. 

Lisa reached over and hugged her.  “Thank you.  I appreciate your sharing this with me.”

Rising, Liz picked up the pot of corn.  “Come on, let’s get those men busy cooking.  Our contribution won’t take long.  We’ll just add a salad and then watch the men work.”
 

Going inside, Liz placed the pot on the stove.  She wouldn’t add the water or start it boiling until the meat
was almost done.  Lisa went to the fridge to gather the salad makings
while Liz went to get a chef
from the great room. 

They all followed Rafe as he grabbed a beer on his way outside. 
Liz and Lisa glanced at each other, giggling.  They knew everyone would be giving Rafe advice on how best to cook the chicken, as they all considered themselves the best cook. 

“Where are Stephanie and the girls?  I haven’t seen them today,” Liz asked.

“They all left to go with Colin’s parents
.
I believe they were going to visit
his mom’s side of the family
.  Some cousins, she said.
They’ll be back tomorrow,” Lisa
told her. 

“You haven’t gotten to spend much time with them,” Liz said.

“More than I have in the past.  We have been able to talk in between my
magic lessons
and her taking care of the girls.”
 

Liz refi
lled their wine glasses and
they went outside to join
the men. 
Anna was already seated talking with the guys. 
Liz turned around to go back inside and get Anna a drink also. 

Lisa sat beside Anna, making small talk. 
She
was still somewhat amazed by the change
s
in Anna.  She interacted now instead of q
uietly sitting on the sidelines
observing
others
.  It was a nice thing to see. 

Once again, the guys had started a football game.  “You’re not joining in this time?” asked Lisa.

“No,” Anna laughed,
and then
said loudly, “I’d hate to show them up again.”

The guys started doing their trash talking, hearing
her.  Not to be outdone, Anna gave
back
as good as she got. 

Rafe ran over to check on the chicken, winking at Lisa while flexing his muscles.  They had all taken their shirts off for the game.  He was such a showoff, she thought.  But boy did he have the physique to pull it off. 

He let his mom know the chicken would probably be done soon so she could start the corn.  Lisa rose also so she could set the table and get her salad and
different
dressings set out. 
Anna
followed the women, helping also
. 

Dunstan and Ian had gotten back from their outing and were just getting a beer when they came in. 

“We’re just about to eat, so you can’t join the game.  No sense you two getting all sweaty too,” Liz told them.

The men came in after rinsing off with the garden hose and putting their t-shirts back on.  Liz had never allowed her boys to come to the table undressed. 
It didn’t matt
er that they were all grown men.
  They
had too much respect for her to disobey her wishes.

Rafe saw that Ian and Dunstan were back and asked how the hunting
went once everyone was seated and started to eat.

“Stephen hasn’t been back to his job, but he has taken a leave of absence.  We followed his trail from the motel he and Dunstan had stayed in.  A friend of mine from
another pack
who is a cop
tracked his credit cards.  I told Colin not to
bother
since he’
s too close to home.  I didn’t want Ciar or any of his minions knowing we were looking in to Stephen,” Ian said.

Ian went on to explain that there were records showing that Stephen had bought a gun.  The same caliber as the one Rafe had been shot with.  That wasn’t a surprise to any of them. 

“We all have his scent
now;
since we know it was definitely him in the woods.  He won’t get close again,” Dunstan stated. 

“He checked out of his hotel, after that
, he disappeared off the radar.  We’re assuming he’s now with Ciar,” Ian said. 

Devlin told them what he’d learned in his research.  Letting Dunstan know Lisa hadn’t seen a spell in his mind. 

“We think he tracked you by using your blood.  We can only go on the little knowledge I found, and what
Robert had heard about.  Can you think of a time he may have taken any of your blood?” asked Devlin.

Dunstan thought of all the times his father had punished him for some small infraction.  He’d received many injuries from Ciar, but being
fae
, he healed quickly. 

“If he did, I didn’t know about it.  As you know, we heal fast.  There were times I was unconscious and awoke in the dungeon
, but they
were not physical beatings.  He usually blasted me with magic.  That was painful enough, but he didn’t draw blood.  If he took some while I was knocked out, I never knew about it,” Dunstan told them. 

“My guess is that he did do it while you were out.  He knew you would heal and not show any scars if he cut you,” Robert said. 

They decided to go on that assumption. 
The guys had
started
cleanup duty, leaving the women to go about their business. 
Lisa left to go shower while they continued discussing Ciar.  A
nna went to her room to
watch television
.  Her favo
rite program was about to start and she didn’t want to miss it.
Melissa hadn’t said much, just lis
tened in and occasionally added
her opin
ion.  They adjourned to the great room to continue the discussion.