Pack Bonds, page 29
part #4 of Amarok Series
“Gods bless them. Without them, none of us would have made it. Or it would have been a lot messier and the last thing we need is to draw attention to ourselves.”
Lamar brought a hand to his mouth and whistled shrilly. The blood wolves came to attention and started to move, packing up the little food that remained and the objects they’d brought with them.
Dean frowned in confusion at the sudden activity. “What’s going on?”
“It’s time to leave.”
“Leave?”
She turned as Lorna came up to them with Rachel and Viktoriya at her sides. Dean held out her arms to them, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief as they each took one of her hands. She had a bad foreboding about the way he said the word “leave” and it wasn’t helped by the uncharacteristic frown on her sister’s face. “What do you mean leave?” Dean asked, repeating Rachel’s question.
“I mean we have to go,” Lamar said with a grim expression. “This city is a dangerous place. The Scouts have been working to find a place for us to settle down. Bruno came here because of rumors of it being a place where the three races lived in peace. From what you’ve told me, this city is anything but peaceful.”
He sighed at her scowl. “Don’t look at me like that. I understand this place has value to you, but we can’t stay here. We survive by moving. That’s how we’ve lasted this long. Lingering will bring nothing but trouble. We can wait for you and your mates to retrieve some things but…”
“Wait a minute!” Dean shouted. “I said WAIT!”
The second shout echoed through the area, causing the blood wolves to pause and turn to her.
Dean took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to slow her racing heart. This had to be a joke. She’d just found them and her cousin was trying to run off into the night. “You can’t leave.”
“I understand this is sudden, but it must be done.”
“Must be done? You’re not explaining anything! Where do you want to go? What--”
“None of that matters right now!” Lamar snapped. “Rogues are fighting with this territory’s changers. Vampires are deeply entrenched in the area and our great enemies have already made moves against you twice. This city is a boiling pot about to bubble over. We don’t need to be anywhere near here when that happens.”
Dean nodded, forcing down her initial disgust with his response as she reminded herself she’d reacted the same way. She understood that fear and couldn’t fault him for it. “I can understand your reluctance but running isn’t the answer.”
He growled. “Don’t make it sound like I’m running because I want to be. If we had so much as a chance, I’d stand and fight.”
“You think you have a better chance escaping?”
“We had our mountain. If we keep looking, we’ll find another place to settle down and rebuild. Then--”
Dean felt bad but she couldn’t help laughing, even as Lamar’s tense expression twisted into something ugly. Her ears heard the cruel and mocking edges to the sound. It took several moments and all her training to reign in the anger fueling her panic.
“Where exactly do you think you’re going to go? We survived because no one gave a damn about us. The moment they did, it took one attack to wipe us out. They are everywhere, control every world power. How do you run from that?”
“We will find someplace. Amarok do not--”
“You have already given up. Listen to me, cousin. There is no running, no escaping, no hiding. We have been thrust into the middle of this conflict. Either we win or we perish. Here, we have a chance. I have a seat of power here. Trustworthy friends and people who I need to look out for. This is the time to be preparing, not sticking your head in the dirt. Come with me. I--”
“ENOUGH!” Lamar roared. He took a menacing step forward. “I don’t doubt you’ve got friends here. Perhaps they have spoiled you so you don’t realize the true danger.”
“Spoiled?” Dean didn’t have to say anything. Viktoriya and Rachel felt the way her arms tensed and let go, stepping backward while guiding a nervous Lorna with them.
“I have never been spoiled. Two years I spent running for my life, fighting everyone and everything. Including myself. Yes, coming to Freewood was a spot of good luck for me but it was never easy. Don’t you dare mock that, you blue-eyed bastard.”
“You only had yourself to look out for. I made decisions knowing that people lived or died by them. I don’t have the luxury of gambling with the future of our people in the middle of a warzone.”
“No, you’re going to run away from your problems with your tail tucked between your legs. Apparently, you haven’t changed at all.”
She could see her words hit a soft spot. Lamar, who’d been working to keep his calm, grit his teeth, eyes flashing in anger. “I’m not the same as back then, Dean. You were right. Abstinence and imminent death were potent motivators. I’ve grown into the alpha my father wanted to be.”
He took another step forward, meeting her eyes. “Luckily for you, that means despite your stone-headed delusions, I won’t leave you here. Deanna, we’re leaving. Come with your family.”
Dean could feel it. Before, a dominant meeting her eyes would simply provoke the animal, heightening her aggression. With her new senses, she could feel what was really happening.
She didn’t see the rays of light that defined the bonds, but she could feel a pressure on her chest, where she held her bonds. He probably didn’t realize he was subconsciously trying to lay claim to them, and in turn, all those connected to her.
The beast roared within the confines of her mind. Family or not, Lamar had gone too far. He had changed, she had to admit it, but he wasn’t the only one.
Dean was a different person too. She had too much to lose and more burdens to bear.
Not bothering to hide her anger any longer, Dean took a large step forward. She met his stare with a glare, snarling at the surprise in his eyes.
He may have changed but his reaction told her he had yet to be challenged. The look on his face said he hadn’t expected the brazen defiance.
She didn’t blame him. Dean had never outright challenged him. She’d never had a reason to, fully believing it was her role to support Lucien’s chosen heir.
But despite Lamar being his son, Lucien had chosen her. They didn’t know it, but she was their alpha, despite being absent in her duty for the past two years.
The present was as good a time as any to start. The future of the changers lay in Freewood. Her future was with her family. She’d be damned if she didn’t bring the two together.
“You are my family,” she said clearly, her voice loud in the silence surrounding them, “but you are not my alpha.”
The tension between them became palpable. “Fine,” Lamar spat, turning his eyes to the side to dispel the current tension. “You want to stay here? Stay. We’re leaving!”
He stomped toward the ring of Scouts, shaking his head. In his haste, Lamar nearly ran into them. He expected them to part and barely managed to stop himself in time before he crashed.
He was surprised further when he noticed the one blocking his path was Bruno. “What are you all standing around for? We need to get moving.”
“We remember,” one of the Scouts said, drawing the attention of all those gathered.
“What are you talking about?” Lamar growled.
“Before Lucien fell, Deanna Anadaya Amarok, a great Warrior in the making, was dishonored by her alpha,” another said, followed by someone else in the line.
“She was cast out of her home for being too capable.”
“But instead of sowing chaos, she sacrificed being with family and accepted her exile to preserve order. A true alpha in the making.”
“We remember,” all of them said in unison.
Bruno stepped forward, squaring his shoulders as he faced down Lamar. “You’re Lucien’s son. We supported you because you were a symbol to unite around. But you’re no longer the only one. Many advocated Dean succeeding your father over you. Many who would support her now.”
“Is this a joke?” Lamar growled, looking between them but the Scouts’ expressions were unreadable.
Bruno shook his head.
“You expect us to fight? Is one of us going to die here on this manicured grass? Has our family not shed enough blood!?”
His last question echoed, filled with so much emotion Dean almost felt guilty at her actions. Still, she held her ground, standing tall as she faced him.
Heaving great breaths, he turned back to her. “Dean…are you really going to do this?”
“If it must be done,” she answered grimly.
“And the rest of you?” he asked, looking past her shoulder to the other blood wolves. “We have been together for the past two years. We have faced dangers together, protected each other in our greatest moment of need. Would you all forget that and go along with someone who spent the nights we squatted in buildings without roofs fooling around with her mates and chasing tails with wolves?”
The blood wolves looked distinctly uncomfortable. Each of them stood frozen as they watched the drama play out. Their conflict was most adequately displayed on Lorna’s face. Dean’s heart went out to her little sister as she watched the conflicting loyalties in her heart play across her features.
But watching them debate with themselves resolved her further.
“Lamar! Who are you?”
He scowled at the question. “What are you asking me? You know--”
“Yes. I know who you are. I know who you come from. But you seem to have forgotten. On the day our family died, I rushed back to our home. Everything burned as I moved through the rubble but not all were dead. Surrounded by raging flames, Lucien fought despite a hole in his chest.
“He could have tried to escape in his final moments. He could have given in and let death take him in the least painful manner. But he fought, holding on with every last bit of strength he had because he was an Amarok!”
Dean turned her back to him, ignoring the growling coming from him at what could be interrupted as a rude gesture. The other blood wolves were more important to her. They were the ones she wanted to reach and she had their full attention.
Come on. We need to make sure they hear this.
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS.
Her animal half stepped up beside her and light flooded her vision. The bonds of the blood wolves were indeed held by her cousin, but the lines were spotty, nearly translucent. The same could be said about the Scouts, though those lines bent toward her, clearly showing their intentions.
“Listen to me,” Dean spoke, her voice carrying extra weight the changers couldn’t hear with their ears. “We are at war. Not with persons, groups, or organizations. We are at war with legions and nations. The world is a much smaller place than any of you think. We thought we were keeping up with technology, but we haven’t a clue.”
She looked toward Viktoriya who caught the hint and hurried to her side. Any trace of her hesitance was gone as she dove into a familiar topic with confidence.
“I can’t speak to the resources of the Council, those who we are sure are to blame for the destruction of your home, but we have been dealing with vampires for years and we know their reach.
“They have connections on every continent, military and law enforcement assets that would allow them access to things more destructive than anything you can imagine and satellites that can find you on any corner of the world. There isn’t a corner on this Earth they can’t reach if they put their minds to it and with your numbers, there is little you could do to mount a defense while on the run.
“That is if they decide to come after you themselves, which they won’t. They’ll hire dozens of mercenaries who don’t know they’re carrying silver-coated ammunition and silver loaded shrapnel grenades. They’ll chase you down relentlessly.
“You’re all tough but we know that enough damage can bring you down. Dean has not been fooling around the last two years, I assure you.”
Her last words revealed some of her offense with the accusation. Dean placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back so their attention refocused on her.
“There is no running. And that doesn’t matter! Since when do we run? Since when do we hide? If your ancestors, great warriors and conquerors, could see this sorry behavior, they’d gut themselves to prevent any of you from being born!”
She looked back to Lamar at the end of the scathing remark but turned back before seeing how he could respond. The comment had also burned the others. The anger was plain on their faces. Good. Dean wanted them angry. Fear was paralyzing, anger was motivating.
“Understand this. If we want to survive, there are two options. The first is subservience. Eventually, you’ll realize there’s nowhere to go and, since you’ve lost any backbone you might have had, you’ll go slinking to the vampires and the fae for protection. How does that sound? Are you looking forward to putting on collars and wagging your tails for your new overlords?”
Dean grinned inwardly at the growls that answered her but kept a firm scowl on her face. “That’s what awaits you. You’ll run, sleeping in dirty alleys and scavenging scraps from dumpsters and catching stray animals, until they run you into the ground. Then, when all the fight has left your body, they’ll offer you a choice. And you spineless weasels disguised as wolves will lick at their heels. Anything to live another day.”
The blood wolves were outraged and ready to snap.
“That’s what my cousin would lead you to. Better to die a year or two from now than today. Maybe a better opportunity will come tomorrow. Does that sound like a blood wolf to you? Does that sound like it brings glory to your blood?”
The grumblings in the crowd became less angry and more indignant, focused.
“I offer you a second choice. The only way for changers, all changers, to fight against these nations controlled by our enemies is to build a nation of our own. To unite and build a power base that rivals them. This is what I plan to do, starting in this city. I don’t plan to run. I plan to stand and conqueror!”
She had them now. Dean could see it. Constantly fearing for their lives had taken its toll. It went against all their traditions. Nodding, she turned back to the scouts, ignoring Lamar all together. “Is there a place nearby where you can stay?”
“For a short time,” one of the scouts answered.
“Good. Then this is what we will do. All of you can go to this safe place. Quietly watch and I mean really watch the state of the world. Watch what happens in the next couple of days. Scouts, I’m sure you have a good idea what we’re up against but gather your evidence.
“Present it. When I have handled the current situation with the rogues infesting the city, I’ll return. Once all of you understand the exact situation we’re in, I’m sure all of you will come to me. And you!”
Dean turned to Lamar. Her cousin was nearly purple with rage as she leveled a finger at him. “If you stand in my way when that time comes, I will remove you.”
“If a challenge is what you want, we can settle this right now!” he shouted.
Dean shook her head. “No.”
“Ha! All your talk about standing and fighting but you turn tail within moments of your inspiring words.”
“I am not running. I’m giving you time, cousin. Because you’re right. Our family has already spilled too much blood. I don’t want to kill you but if the choice is between you and the future of our people…I’ll put you down. You know I will.”
“If you can,” Lamar growled.
Dean motioned to Rachel, who came to stand beside her and Viktoriya. “Bruno, how can I reach you?”
“Rosa has my number.”
“Good. I’ll be back. Submit to me. Or I will make you submit.”
She turned to the others, placing a closed fist over her heart and the other at the base of her spine. Lead with your heart but beware your back, for our enemies are many. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the scouts returning the gesture.
The others didn’t, as it was something reserved for those considered warriors, but they nodded in respect to what it meant.
Dean dropped her arms, giving the remaining members of her people one last determined gaze before walking off. A small pounding started between her ears, but she waited before telling the beast to retreat.
The last thing she needed was to collapse after rallying them on their traditions of strength. Pounding footsteps made her turn around.
She was both surprised and not surprised at all to see Lorna jogging after them, falling in step behind them as they continued to the car. “You have room for a fourth?”
