“Oh, he wouldn’t hesitate to resort to abduction.”
“That’s illegal!” Elain said.
“Unfortunately, he doesn’t care about the law,” Lacey responded.
“He’d have to fucking kill me. This guy isn’t dealing with reality. I’m sorry, I’m no lawyer, but I’m pretty damn sure blood oaths aren’t legally recognized contracts in this country.”
“And that is why Charles and Ellie did what they could to help shifters. I dare say at least half, if not more, of the people they helped were trying to escape from the Abernathys. Rodolfo Abernathy isn’t interested in right or wrong, only in keeping his Clan under his paw and guaranteeing his line survives.”
“And that’s why Charles and Ellie were killed?” Elaine asked. “Because they helped people escape him?”
“I’m sure that’s part of it, although there is no concrete proof. There are others who have taken their place. They aren’t openly talked about, needless to say.”
“I have proof,” Lina said. “I saw the fucker who killed them. Fat Boy.”
“Mr. Creepy?” Elain asked.
Lina nodded. “One and the same. And since he did it after Liam met with them, my guess is he’s after you.”
“Ain seemed pretty insistent on trying to keep this whole thing hush-hush from the Clan bigwigs,” Elain said. “Like he’s afraid the Clan will actually hand me over.”
“You have to understand something,” Lacey said. “We don’t want another Clan war. Anything that draws outside attention to our affairs puts us all at risk. Rodolfo Abernathy knows that. He’s willing to risk it.”
“So you’re saying she not only has to worry about those asshats, but asshats from her own Clan?” Lina asked incredulously. “I can’t believe Ain and the guys would agree to that.”
“No. To keep the peace, the Clan Council would agree to uphold the oath.” The old Seer slyly smiled. “Who’s to say you wouldn’t disappear without a trace, however?”
Elain followed her train of thought. “And then the Abernathy asshats couldn’t complain I wasn’t handed over, and the onus is on them.”
Lacey touched her nose.
“Sooo,” Elain slowly said, “what you’re saying is that I shouldn’t worry?”
“Oh, I’d worry,” Lacey said. “They’re bug-nuts crazy. However, what happens in public isn’t the same as what will happen behind the scenes.”
“Why doesn’t someone just fry Rodolfo’s nuts and get it over with?” Lina asked as she examined her fingernails. “I’d be happy to oblige.” She waved her hand in the air. “Ooh, pick me, pick me!”
“And perhaps that’s what should happen,” Lacey said. “I haven’t seen his future. I haven’t seen anything about him in a few centuries, to be quite honest.”
“Do you know their Seer?” Elain asked.
Lacy shook her head. “They haven’t had a Seer in over two hundred years. He killed the last one because she dared tell him the truth.”
“Killed her?” both younger women asked together.
Elain felt the wave of sadness from Lacey. “Yes,” the older woman quietly said. “He couldn’t take hearing the truth. He saw her as a threat to his leadership.” Her eyes looked bright, like she was close to tears. “She was my cousin. We were as close as sisters. Once again, we have no concrete proof it was him, but from what she told me before she died, I’m sure of his involvement. Without reservation.”
Her expression hardened. “Several of the people Charles and Ellie helped escape were Abernathy Seers. They relocated to other Clans. A few to other shifter races entirely. They were rightfully so afraid of Rodolfo Abernathy that they willingly exiled themselves completely from their own kind.”
Lina snorted. “He sounds like a special kind of fucktard.” She put one hand to her eyes, with the other stretched out before her, and feigned a vision. “I foresee him exploding in a blaze of barbecued wolf if he fucks with my BFF, Elain, or any of her Clan.”
Lacey laughed. “You’d probably be carried around on more than a few shoulders and celebrated as a hero.”
“Ya think?” Lina asked. “If he’s as bad as you say, sounds like I could take a few bids to off the bastard.”
“So what about this Code of the Ancients Ain keeps mentioning?” Elain asked. “What the hell is it?”
Lacey shrugged. “It’s a set of guidelines that the honorable wolves stick to. An Alpha rules, protects, and cares for their pack. An Alpha’s mate submits to their Alpha. An Alpha must love, protect, and cherish their mate, do anything in their power to keep the mate happy. No wolf will ever take the mate of another. There are some others, but those are the most important ones.”
“And what happens,” Elain asked, “if a wolf doesn’t abide by the Code?”
“Well, for starters, they’re shunned by their Clan. Which might not sound like much, but it was a huge deal back in olden days when wolves had to band together for protection and survival. A lone wolf shunned by others was liable to be killed.”
“So what happens now?” Lina asked. “Are they, like, added to the ‘straight to voice mail’ list on people’s phones?”
Lacey smiled. “No, it’s a little more complicated than that. Remember, wolves and other shifters normally have much longer life spans than humans. They usually have complex social networks of family and friends. Allies. To suddenly be cut off from that might not seem like a lot, but to a wolf, it’s everything.”
“Well, that settles everything,” Elain said. “I’m mated to the guys. Abernathy’s fucked.” She grinned. “Not a damn thing he can do about it.”
Lacey tipped her head. “Eh, not exactly. One of the Codes is that existing blood oaths will be honored. And since Maureen was of our Clan, that has to be honored. No one makes blood oaths anymore for just this reason. But back then, it was the only way to prevent a Clan war.”
“I reeeally want to take this fucker out,” Lina said with a growl.
Elain gave her a fist bump.
* * * *
Elain lost track of time while they talked. She finally had not just one, but two women she could open up to and unburden herself about everything she’d been through in the past several weeks. In turn, Lina and Lacey had done their best to pass on as much knowledge as they could about what being a Seer entailed. They’d even tried to contact Baba Yaga, but the woman was apparently out of the office, much to Lina’s irritation.
“Just like that damn woman,” Lina groused. “I don’t need her, she’s in my damn face. When I want to talk to her, she’s not home. She needs a damn cell phone.”
“Oh,” Lacey said, “she hates those things.”
“What about Callie?” Elain asked. “Didn’t you say she’s her sister?”
Lacey shook her head. “She doesn’t have any more sway over her sister than we do.”
“What’s going on with her?” Elain asked.
Lina frowned, but Lacey seemed to know what she was talking about. “I talked to Daniel the other day, and this is to be kept amongst us three, by the way. He says she’s having nightmares every night, but she doesn’t remember them.” She leveled her gaze at Elain. “What did you feel?”
Elain shrugged. “She was friendly. Nice. But it’s like there was something sad there, too.”
Lacey looked at Lina. “Did you sense anything?”
Lina frowned. “No. That bothers me, too.”
“Don’t let it. Whatever it is, if it has any bearing on future events, it will become apparent in its own time. It’s nothing to worry our Clan about.”
Elain raised her hand. “Okay, I have another question. What’s the difference between a pack and a Clan? I keep hearing those two terms.”
“With the wolves,” Lacey said, “it’s just a difference of smaller and larger. We have a Clan Council, that’s like the governing body of our whole extended family. A pack would be closer-knit family. Like you and your men. Perhaps even Micah and his mate, depending on how close Aindreas is to his co
usin. It could include even more extended family than that, depending on how close the relatives are.”
The sun had crossed a fairly good portion of the sky by the time they finished talking, and Lina had made several trips back and forth across the beach area to go “water the dirt,” as she termed it, behind another large boulder.
As they started toward the path leading from the beach, Jasper prancing behind them, Elain asked, “So what do I tell the guys?”
“I don’t understand the question,” Lacey said.
“They’re going to want to know about all this…stuff,” Elain said. “What do I tell them?”
“As much or as little as you want. There’s no reason to hide any of this from your mates.”
“So I just wait to start seeing stuff?”
Lacey smiled. “That’s about all you can do.”
“What about the shifting stuff? I don’t even know how I did it the other time. It just happened. If it even happened. I’m still not sure it did, because no one saw me do it.”
“What does your gut tell you?”
She thought about it. “I don’t know. Maybe I did.”
“Don’t fret it. You’ll figure it out when you’re ready.” She smiled. “Perhaps let your Brodey chase you again. He is, of all his brothers, the most in tune with his wolf nature.”
Elain had one more question, which she saved until they reached the top of the outcropping and Lacey had snapped Jasper’s leash back on his collar. “My mom and dad,” she quietly said. “Did either of you see anything about them? You know…their future?”
Lina and Lacey exchanged a look. “I haven’t,” Lina said. “But if I do, I promise I’ll tell you.”
“Good or bad?” Elain asked.
Lina hugged her. “Good or bad. I promise.”
Lacey nodded. “As will I. Like Lina, I haven’t seen anything. But I will tell you.”
Liam appeared to be the only one who hadn’t attempted to pace a groove in Lacey’s hardwood floors by the time the three women returned. Lina’s men and Elain’s mom all bore nearly identical expressions of relief when Lina, Lacey, and Elain returned. Lacey let Jasper off his leash. After a quick drink, he promptly splayed himself on the kitchen floor and went to sleep.
“I know how he feels,” Elain said. “My brain’s fried.”
Carla gave her a hug. “Everything okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah, as okay as it can be, I guess. I have a feeling there’s some crazy stuff ahead.”
“That’s an understatement,” Lina snarked as she heavily dropped to the couch. “But don’t worry. We’ve got your back.”
Lacey insisted they stay for dinner. After the dishes were once again done, she looked at the time. “I’m not trying to rush you out, but I suggest you all get back to your hotel and get a good night’s sleep so you can get an early start in the morning.”
“Why?” Elain asked.
Lacey smiled. “Because Jocko’s plane gets in around seven in the morning, and if you’re not here when he returns, why I guess he just can’t do anything about it, can he?”
Lina smiled. “You sent him on a wild-goose chase, didn’t you?”
“Who, me?” Lacey feigned innocence. “I simply suggested it was a good time for him to take a few days off and go on vacation. I didn’t tell him why, and he didn’t ask. He’s known me long enough to know that when I give him a suggestion like that, it usually simplifies his life in the long run, and he’s learned not to question me about it.”
“You sly fox,” Zack said with a laugh.
“That’s sly wolf, Zachary,” Lacey playfully corrected him. “Believe me, I’ve learned more than my fair share in my long life. So has Jocko.” Her expression grew serious. “I mean it. Get an early start. Rodolfo and his men will find out about your arrival later tomorrow. As long as you’re gone early, you won’t have any problems.”
Jan and Rick helped Lina up and off the couch. “Then I suggest we head on out,” she said. They all hugged Lacey and said good-bye before piling into their cars.
* * * *
When they reached the hotel a little while later, Elain stepped outside to talk to Ain on the phone.
“Everything go okay with Lacey?”
She heard the nervous tone in his voice.
“I’m fine. Except at full moons.”
“Why? What happens?”
“Apparently then I’ll turn into a pink badger.”
A moment of silence from his end. Finally, he spoke. “Okay, you got me. What’d she say?”
Elain giggled. “Come on, I had you going.”
“Yes, I said you did. Now what did she say?”
Elain sighed. “I am a shifter. An Alpha wolf shifter. But that’s not all.”
“Do you also turn into a bunny?”
She snorted. “Very funny. I’m serious.” She took a deep breath. “I’m a Seer, too, apparently.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Lina apparently knew it when she met me, but she waited to tell me until we were with Lacey.” She closed her eyes. “I miss you guys. I want to come home,” she softly said.
“We miss you, too, sweetheart. Are you leaving tomorrow?”
“First thing in the morning.”
“Here, Brodey’s about to yank my arm off. Talk to him. Love you.”
She smiled again. “Love you, too.”
Immediately, Brodey came on the line. “Babe? You okay? What’s this shit about a bunny shifter?”
“I’m fine. He was teasing. You guys were right. I’m an Alpha wolf.”
“Um…wow.”
“Yeah. And I’m a Seer.”
“A Seer, too? No shit?”
“No shit.”
She could hear his smile through the phone. “Can you see what I’m thinking now?”
“Brodey, a blind kumquat could see what you’re thinking. You’re horny.”
He whined. “I miss you, babe. It’s been too long.”
“This is only the third night. You’ll survive.”
“Fly home. You can be here in a few hours.”
It was tempting. “No, I really want this time with everyone. Please understand.”
He snorted. “Oookay. Fine.”
“Don’t pout. It’ll cause wrinkles.”
That finally got another laugh out of him. “Be safe, babe.”
“I will. Put Cail on.”
He came onto the line. “A bunny-shifting Seer, huh?”
Her turn to laugh. “Come on, enough with the bunny shifter stuff.”
“Aw, but you’d look so cute with the little tail.”
“Do you want to hear or not?”
He snickered. “Go ahead.”
She caught him up. When he next spoke, his tone sounded serious. “You guys are leaving early tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s good. I’m glad Lacey’s on our side on this. I know she can’t do too much, but sounds like she’s handled Jocko well.”
“Yeah, I think so. Let me get inside the room and get to bed. Love you.”
“Love you, too, babe.”
She hung up and returned to the room. Her mom and dad both looked up from where they were talking at the small table when she walked in.
“Is everything okay?” Elain asked them. They’d almost looked…guilty?
Her mom nodded after flashing a smile at Liam. “Everything’s fine, sweetheart.”
Elain didn’t miss the smile on her dad’s face.
Hmm. That would be cheating to see if I can read them, wouldn’t it?
She didn’t give it a second thought. Instead, she walked over to them, put her hands on both their shoulders, and gave first her mom, then Liam, quick pecks on the cheek. “I’m going to get ready for bed.” She tried to conceal her grin as she grabbed a T-shirt and shorts to sleep in from her bag.
As she walked into the bathroom, she also had to suppress the urge to giggle. If her new Seer skills were right, she suspected her mom and
dad were more than a little interested in each other.
She just wished she knew for sure.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, they were all awake and ready to leave by daybreak. As Zack fell in line behind Lina and Carla’s cars, he glanced at the gas gauge.
“We need to fill up,” Zack said. “Otherwise, we might run out before the next planned stop.”
“Let’s hit that convenience store at the edge of town,” Kael suggested. “I could use the can one more time before we hit the highway.”
Zack pulled in and texted Lina that they were stopping and would catch up. “Can you bring me a coffee, please?” he asked Kael.
“Sure,” he said. “You want any snacks?”
“Yeah, get some muffins or something breakfasty.”
“Okay.” Kael headed inside.
* * * *
She watched from the edge of the woods, desperate. Despite running all night, she hadn’t managed to lose them yet. Her pursuers would catch up with her soon. As exhausted as she was, there was no way she could continue to outrun them. She eyed every vehicle that pulled into the parking lot. That would be her only chance to escape. She watched as a car carrying two men in it pulled in, with a Florida license plate on the back. One man got out and started pumping gas. The other walked inside.
She jumped as behind her in the distance she heard the howl of a wolf.
Gaining on her.
Frantic, she prayed for an opportunity. Then the second man returned and opened the back passenger door of the car. He put his purchases in and, without closing the door, he walked around to the driver side where the other man still pumped gas.
She bolted, streaking across the parking lot tarmac as fast as she could. She dove into the open door and, thankfully, found the floor behind the driver empty. She reached up onto the seat and with her teeth grabbed a jacket lying there. Pulling it over her, she curled herself into a tight ball, nose to tail, and prayed they didn’t throw her out when they discovered her.
Or that they didn’t discover her before she put some distance between her and her pursuers.