Nita's Redemption, page 23
“We were about fifteen miles from here on the other side of the mountain. The water source we had, suddenly became poisoned. We weren’t sure how, but knowing our old alpha, he probably had something to do with it. Hell, he probably tainted the wolves who had been with Troyana. That was Tank’s mama. I wouldn’t put it past the bastard to have known the land over here was richer, larger, and better all-around for us shifters and did all he had to do to ensure we could own it. Of course, back then, his modus operandi was do first and fuck whoever got in the way.” Brock went back to the closet and pulled out a box.
“What’s that?” Honor asked.
“This is what I have left of Tank’s mother. She passed away bringing him into the world. I was so angry at fate for taking her while giving me such a remarkable gift. She’d been one of the greatest fighters, literally beating most of the males in our pack, and then she gave up and died right in my arms with our son nestled against her chest. I didn’t understand why the Goddess did that to me.”
Tank wiped at his eyes. He’d heard about his battle warrior of a mother who he’d killed coming into the world. He’d almost killed his own father, the huge male nearly taking his own life when he couldn’t stand living without his female. Instead, his dad had burned everything that had reminded him of his mate, except Tank who was a constant reminder.
“I thought you burned all of her stuff?” he asked, unable to go see what his dad held.
“Most everything. Like with their maman, I kept what I couldn’t part with.” Brock pulled out a beautiful lace scarf and a ring that glimmered. “This was passed down to your mother from her mother who got it from her mother and so on. If you look closely, there are wolves in the lace. When we mated she added our names and just before she gave birth, she stitched in Tank’s name.”
“What about the ring?” Tank moved next to his dad, his hand itched to touch what had once been on his mom.
“This was another thing that had been passed through the ages from females to her male. Hurricane, your mom gave it to me, and when our son found a mate, I was to pass it on to him so that he could give it to her, and so on through the ages. There’s magic weaved into the metal, so it will magically shift to fit the owner’s finger. I didn’t believe it until she slipped it off her finger and onto mine.” His father took a shaky breath.
“Why haven’t you given it to Tank yet?” Hurricane asked.
Brock smiled for the first time since he started talking, reminding Tank that his father was still young and handsome.
“I’m sure it’s because we hadn’t mated with Nita until recently. The lace is beautiful, and I’d be honored to gift it to our female. But our father is a wise man. Since there’s two other males in the bond with our female, he no doubt was thinking about the three of us. The issue of giving something special like the scarf to me, without also giving an equally unique bonding gift to Abe and Link to give to Nita surely held his hand. However, that ring is from your mother, not mine and is meant for you to give to your fated mate. ”
His dad shook his head. “Like usual, Tank is pretty much on point. I know I’m supposed to give this to you, but I feel like it’s still mine. Lorna told me I should wear it since I gave her a ring, and she hadn’t given me one, but...”
Tank held his hand out for the ring, taking it with reverence as he read the words inscribed on the inside. “To my beloved whom I’ll love ’til the end of time,” he read out loud. “I think you should wear it, and if it feels wrong then put it back where you had it unless Hurricane feels a connection to it.”
“No, I feel no draw to the metal. However, what you say about my maman leaving is all well and good, but still doesn’t explain why she came home with the impression that you wanted to share her. You say she left you this note,” he held up the piece of worn looking paper. “While I can obviously read, and yes, this looks like her handwriting there’s something off. Like you, I can tell when someone is lying, and either you’re an accomplished liar or you’re telling the truth. The question still remains and leaves me with the need to find an answer or I will have disrespected my maman’s memory. So, who the fuck was screwing with her and her memories?”
Tank went to the fireplace, grabbing a framed photo. With deft fingers he took the back off and slid the old picture from the back of the new one, showing them the image with Seamus in there. The old alpha stood in the front of their pack, his hulking form and red-haired image looked menacing in the picture.
“You see that big fucker in the front? That was Seamus, our old alpha. He wasn’t above abusing his mate, his daughter, one of us pack members, or anyone. If the wind blew wrong, he could and would blame one of us, and the wrath was swift and painful. My dad was the beta, so if he alpha ordered any of us to shut up, we had to. He wielded that power like a fiery whip from as far back as I could remember. I’m sure he was every bit as alphahole when your mama came here. Hell, if you two didn’t look and smell like him, I wouldn’t have put it past Seamus to have taken your maman for himself. What about your aunt. Did she have any children from her pairing with him?” Tank shuddered to think the fucker would have any kids with his blood running around. Jaklyn and Nita were lucky and had more good than him in them.
“Well, I think we could go round and round with what ifs and theories of what might’ve happened. What we do know is that Brock is our father, and he does not have any recollection of doing what our maman thinks he did. She obviously got lucky by getting away from here no matter how you look at it, because from the sounds of it, your old alpha was unhinged and could’ve killed her or ordered you to do so.” Hurricane handed the scarf back to his sister.
Brock shook his head. “That’s not entirely true. We were mated, so he couldn’t have messed with our bond. However if he put a memory in her mind like that, it would definitely give her the ability to flee since she was pregnant. Her need to protect them would override her love for me.”
“Our lunch break is over, and my mate is waiting for me. Hurricane, Honor, I knew there was something wrong with what you’d been told. I hope the both of you can begin to forgive our father for a past he hadn’t actually been a part of. I know that it doesn’t change the fact you grew up hating him and that you both were treated horribly by the male your mother had been mated to. None of what you learned can rewind time. The only thing we can do is move forward and try to create new memories.” Tank held out his hand to Hurricane.
The clock on the wall ticked as seconds went by, and still he held his hand steady, waiting. Finally after what appeared to be minutes, Hurricane took his hand into his, but he didn’t shake it. No, his brother pulled him to him, giving Tank a hug that was heartfelt.
“I think we can skip the handshakes, brother,” Hurricane murmured.
Honor wiped her eyes, and then she was there, wrapping her arms around the both of them. “Oh Goddess, I have two jackasses for brothers, and still I feel as if I’ve been doubly blessed.”
Tank and Hurricane enfolded her into their hug, making sure she was properly squeezed between them. She gave a growl that would probably scare most males, but they were alphas. They didn’t scare easily. He looked up, seeing his father smiling the happiest he’d ever seen him in all his years. Tank motioned him over, but his dad shook his head.
“Come on, old man. Let’s hug it out.” Hurricane’s growl made Brock growl.
In a four-way hug, Tank sent a message to his mate and two best friends, letting them know shit was cool.
“You let your female and brothers know you’re fine?” Hurricane stepped back, his arms dropping to his side.
Honor slapped her brother on the chest. “One day, you’ll find your mate, and you’ll be the same way. I’ll be the one who is reminding you not so subtly that you’re being an asshole.”
Hurricane chucked his sister under the chin before hopping backward. He almost tripped over the chair then righted himself. “I’ll see all of you at the arena.”
Tank waited for Hurricane and Honor to leave before he let out a loud breath. “What’s Lorna think of you keeping these things, truly?”
If he had trinkets from other women, he was pretty sure Nita would be pissed. He and his brothers wouldn’t like finding other males’ shit in their female’s home either. Especially if those males were ones Nita had loved and made love to. A growl threatened to break free from his tight lips.
“Lorna is my truemate. While I cared for Hurricane and Honor’s maman and I would’ve chosen her as a mate, fate had other plans. When your mother and I found one another, it was a no brainer. She was mine, and I was hers, and then she was taken from me. Lorna was my second chance truemate. She is aware of my past and knows nothing can take away the love, respect, and devotion I have for her. I am blessed to have been given her and she feels the same. We vowed to always be honest to one another, and neither of us have ever broken that vow. So yes, she is aware of the things I’ve kept of both of my mates before her. That box wasn’t always right there in the hall closet. I pulled it out from the safe after our talk last night.” Brock took the box and walked toward the back of his home.
“You’re a good man, dad.”
“Thanks. Get your ass out of here and see your female before the next round of exercises.” Brock disappeared in his bedroom.
Tank left his dad and Lorna’s house, hopping down from the top of the stairs to go in search of Nita and his best friends. More than likely, the two males used their lunch break as a time to get lucky.
“Hey.” Nita stepped out from behind a tree.
He inhaled, trying to ease his racing heart. “Hey yourself. Did you eat a good lunch?”
She nodded. “And yep, I got lucky with two sexy males.”
Tank pulled Nita into his body. “Oh you did, huh?”
Nita laughed. “Yep, and I came three times.”
He eyed the three fingers she held up. “Is that all? Three times? Such amateurs.”
“You going to do better?”
Tank heard her heartrate pick up and could smell her sweet arousal become richer. “Oh, I plan to do so much better. It’ll have to be later though, since we all have to go woop some ass first.”
Nita gave a groan. “Can’t we skip and let the others show what we can do?”
Tank bent, placing his shoulder firmly into Nita’s abdomen. Her yelp and laughter was music to his ears. He gave her ass a nice swat and rub while he walked toward the arena.
NITA LOVED HAVING HER males’ hands on her. She just wished they would forego fighting or whatever the rest of the afternoon was going to entail.
“We will go and be good little warriors for the pack, see what the others can do, make sure our own pack isn’t lacking, and then we’ll go home and show you how much we love and adore you properly,” Tank said. His deep authoritative tone reminded her of his father’s.
“Sounds like a solid plan to me. Do you think the Shadow Ravens are prepared to battle in their shifted forms without killing?” Abe asked.
Nita lifted up slightly, her head hanging upside down gave her the perfect view of Tank’s ass, but it also made all the blood rush to her brain. She looked over at Abe, wanting to gauge his expression to see if he was as worried as he’d sounded. Both the twins were experts at hiding how they felt unless she was inside their heads. Abe didn’t meet her eyes as he continued striding toward their destination. She could hear the voices of dozens of pack members along with the newcomers. With her abilities she’d honed on Olympus, she sent out her essence, a small part of herself that went unnoticed by everyone, even her mates. Nita wasn’t sure why she felt an uneasiness the closer they got to the others. Her wolf had gone quiet while the small section that the demoness females had instilled within her to help heal what had been broken came awake. Bakra had told her to always listen to her intuition, which Nita figured included the demon blood that formed inside her and created something more.
“You look very pensive,” Link growled, holding his hand under her jaw.
The feel of his hand on her gave her a sense of protection and eased the strain on the muscles she’d been using. She hadn’t realized the strain it was causing her to hold herself up at such an odd angle, nor had she paid close attention to the fact they were at the walls of the arena. The noise from the chattering shifters not so muted now.
“Sorry, I was thinking about everything that has happened and what it means to our pack.” A half-truth that would keep her mates from smelling a lie.
Tank shifted her down, letting her slide down the front of him. She loved the feel of his muscles brushing against her body. Hell, she loved the feel of all her males bodies, especially when they were all naked and making love. Gah, she needed to stop thinking about that, or every shifter present would smell her arousal.
“Mmmm, you smell so fucking good. You need to stop thinking whatever sexy thoughts are running through that amazing noggin’ of yours, or we won’t be responsible for the shit that happens,” Tank growled with eyes glowing down at her.
Nita bit her lip, then licked the small wound. “If I apologized, I’d be lying. This mating between us is too new. It’s hard to not think about being with you three, especially when your sexiness is so close to me.”
She giggled and jumped backward, barely escaping Tank’s grasping hands. Oh there was no doubt he could’ve caught her if he’d wanted to.
“There you four are. We thought you might’ve decided to skip the afternoon session.” Lorna held open the huge door to the main area. She had a smile on her face, exuding happiness from every pore of her being.
“If I had my way, we’d have done just that, but these three males have a thing about being honorable. I, on the other hand do not, but I’m trying to learn from them,” Nita mock whispered, winking to show she was kidding.
“Why do I only half believe you?” Lorna asked, slinging her arm over Nita’s shoulder.
Nita looked back, grinning at her males. “Was it the part about them being honorable you didn’t believe?”
Lorna was the one to look back this time, winking at the males. “Maybe, maybe not. I’ve always known these males to be nothing but good boys. However when it comes to alphas and their mates, all bets are off. Come on, let’s get inside before they decide to whisk you away.”
Her three males mock growled and made a lunge for them, missing her by an inch or less.
They all entered the arena on the side where most of the Shadow Pack was waiting. Nita again sent her senses out, drifting over them. The male named Ziggy was crouched down still in his human form, anger wafting off of him. She wanted to probe him to see if she could find out what his problem was. In that moment, he turned his stare toward her. Glowing amber eyes filled with rage had her taking a step backward.
She stopped herself from showing fear. His short brown hair looked as if he’d been running his hands through it a lot. The jeans he wore were the same he’d had on earlier in the day, but he’d taken off his shirt, leaving him bare chested and showing off a chest full of tattoos. As he stared at her, his chest rose and fell rapidly.
“Zig, you need to cut that shit out and do it now.”
Nita broke away from Ziggy’s stare down to see who’d spoken. If her memory was correct the shifter’s name was Lars. He looked a lot like Ziggy only a little younger. She’d bet they were brothers. He had the same hair color and glowing amber eyes.
“Alright, shifters. Looks like everyone is here. Like earlier we’ll be battling two at a time. This is a dual where we are learning weakness within one another, not trying to maim, hurt, or kill one another. If at any time one of you who are in the arena goes too far, you will be removed and face the consequences of not obeying the rules. You’re here either as pack or visiting pack. We are not enemies, so we will not behave as such. Is that clear?” Brock asked, his alpha order clear in each word he spoke.
A chorus of ‘Yes alpha’ echoed throughout. Nita couldn’t help but look back toward where Ziggy had been. The male was gone as was his brother. She looked at the area where the rest of the Shadow Ravens stood, counting heads. There should be eleven including Hurricane but only nine stood with their arms crossed over their chest. Their auras were a mixture of aggression and friendliness. The same colors filled the entire space, which in her mind was normal when they were getting ready to shift and fight for teaching and learning purposes.
‘I don’t see two of their pack members.’ She sent the images of the two males in question to all three of her mates. Before they could shrug off their absence, she sent the encounter she’d had with him and the feelings she’d gotten from him. Tank spun to face her, his growl deep and angry.
“Why didn’t you say something when it was happening?” Tank asked.
Nita crossed her arms over her chest, then dropped them so she didn’t look defensive. “I wasn’t sure what was happening. He was kinda crouched down like he was battling to hold his wolf inside, and then he looked up like he knew I was watching him. Which he totally shouldn’t have been able to do. I used an ability that is not shifter to search,” she admitted.
“Hold up. What do you mean you used a non-shifter ability?” Link eased in front of Tank, lifting her chin with a gentle touch.
She took a deep shaky breath. “When I was on Olympus, the females worked with me to help me heal from the inside out. The female you see before you isn’t the same as the one who left all those years ago. I was broken, almost beyond repair. The things I saw and went through at the hands of that monster.” Nita couldn’t control the shudder the thoughts from her past caused.
“We’re so sorry we didn’t save you sooner.” Abe stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his twin. Both males had sorrow etched within their faces. She wanted to wipe all traces of that expression from them.
“There was nothing anyone could do until the time was right. And when it was...I was a kid who’d been through too much. On Olympus was truly the only place I could heal. The only thing with my healing came some side effects. I was willing to deal with them, and I will never regret what I had to do in order to be the female standing here today. Bakra and the others took me under their wings. Every day, little by little, they peeled back the layers of trauma I was hiding behind. Sort of like an onion. Finally they found me at the core, and those layers were boiled away in a pot like a stew. Mind you, this is how Bakra put it. We didn’t eat the stew, she’d said. I was a little stumped at their way of explaining the process. For me it was like a rebirth that was a couple days later. Only on Olympus, time works differently. I could tell it was longer. I aged as you can tell. They did not. Bakra feared I would get too old and die on them. Again her words. They were my family, keeping me company when the nightmares woke me, and little by little, the nightmares went away, like the onion peels that were boiled to nothing. Zeus came to visit us in our little corner of Olympus. He touched my head and smiled. Goddess, he is truly one of the most...amazing males in all the universes.” Nita grinned at the grunts her males made.
