Microsoft Word - Book 12 FINAL Read online

  "Hell no you don't," Cloe said and struggled to get up off the couch. "I may have just given birth, but I am a part of this too. The babies and I will be coming with you. If my parents want to come and use the nursery to help them fine, but you will not leave me."

  Teagan closed his eyes. They knew their mate would never go for what they suggested.

  She was not like that. From the first day, he met her when they were children she had shown her strength. It was what he fell in love with. She was Beta, and an Enforcer as well as a doctor.

  "Can you guys watch the babies for us?" Darien said with a resigned tone. He knew there was no talking his mate out of her decision.

  "Of course we can," Her mother said briskly and said. "Let me gather some things, Bryan help me."

  Her father nodded, and they walked out of the room; one, to give them a moment alone and two because they had to get things for the babies. Teagan walked to the bassinets and looked down at their sleeping children. He never thought he could love anyone as much as he did his family. Darien and Cloe had been the center of his world since they found out they were mates.

  It was hard. They were not mated traditionally. But they were true mates none the less.

  Darien had always insisted that if Cloe and he had not shared blood; they would have been mates anyway. Teagan had not been so sure, but Darien had gone a long way to convince him.

  '"Remember when we first met that day in the Diner," he said quietly.

  Cloe laughed. “Of course, Darien and those other wolves sitting there at that table looking like they were all that and a bag of potato chips. I wanted to knock him on his ass. Then I scented him. I was ready to ride out of town and never look back, at first. I would have too if it hadn’t been for the fact that I felt the pull."

  Darien chuckled. "When you were shot and went down, I thought we would never be mated. But when I saw you had killed the Rogues, who attacked you; I was so hard. I thought there was something wrong with me."

  "Hell yes, she was so sexy when she fought them off." Teagan said and turned to his mates. "Still is."

  Cloe blushed and then said, “Damnit don't make me cry, or you’ll be sorry."

  Teagan laughed, "Yes, dear."

  Cloe chuckled and pulled him down to kiss her. She knew that they could not have sex for a few more weeks, but her hormones were raging already, even when she looked at her mates they made her hot. Darien growled at her side, and she turned and grabbed him and pulled him in for a deep kiss also. Damn she wished time would go faster. If it wasn’t so selfish, she’d go visit with Christian and Cassandra to see if they’d heal her.

  Darien pulled them into a hug after he released her mouth, and they stood together for a few moments in silence. Cloe felt their connection and sighed, "Tell me."

  Darien paused and then answered her while continuing to hold her and Teagan. "Shea's clan are all gone; their village burned. We’re going to help Jordan do some research into why the Fae refused to come back into the magical community. Something is going on there. Also, they locked down the compound. That’s what I was talking to your father about, they are gonna have to stay here with us until it is safe."

  Cloe shivered, "Damnit can we ever catch a break?"

  Both of her mates were silent as since they agreed with her. Her father cleared his voice from the doorway. "Sorry, couldn’t help but overhear. Did you say Fae?"

  Darien looked at his father-in-law and nodded. “The last Chosen is a Fae, the girl found here when they were in Denver. We have not made the official announcement to the Pack yet. Why?"

  Bryan stepped into the room and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. "Well now, a few years back we had a man and his mate traveling through the country and stopped here. He was Fae; we talked for hours at the Diner. It was funny; he said he had no clan because he had chosen to leave the clan with his true mate. The woman was human, and they didn’t allow anyone to tell the outside world of their existence, he disagreed and said he was ready to join the magical community again."

  Teagan said, "Why do you think he told you all that?"

  "Because of Blaine's tattoo he saw the mark on his arm and asked why we had a Fae symbol on a shifter." Bryan said, and Cloe looked at him in surprise.

  "What are you talking about? This tattoo?" Cloe said and pointed over her shoulder where she, and the rest of the Enforcers had gotten a tattoo when Blaine had one of his dreams. It was two wolves howling at a red moon. It was pretty basic, nothing really exciting. She turned Teagan around and pulled his shirt aside so she could see it up close.

  Her father nodded and then pointed to the outline of the tattoo. Around the entire border were small designs; she assumed it was for looks. He stepped closer and pointed at the bottom of the tattoo where there appeared to be a bell-like shape.

  "That is what he was talking about. I have no clue what it means, but he said it was a Fae symbol. The rest, he said were shifters and other symbols, hell I have slept since then, and I don't remember everything he said. But the gist of it was the tattoo is what got him talking." Bryan said.

  Cloe let Teagan turn back around, and she looked at her mates, “How many have the tattoo now?"

  Darien thought and then said. "All the Enforcers, and most of the other shifter Warriors though most changed the wolves to their own animal shift the rest of the tat is the same on them all. Everyone seemed to think it was the mark of the New Council Pack guards.

  So, there’s a lot."

  "Fuck a duck,” she said as she felt a tingle and grabbed her shoulder. Teagan turned back around and pulled his shirt aside, and she groaned. "Yep, going all glow wormy on us again."

  Chapter 16

  Shea and the others had gone through the rubble, but found nothing that they could use to tell them where the clan had gone, or who took them. She was feeling depressed, and Lev and Griff had tried to comfort her. She felt strange at first, having them touch her so much in front of the others. Now she needed it. She craved it.

  Shea looked down and focused on the way they held her hands like the connection between them all would flow through them. When she relaxed enough and concentrated it did. This what her mother had talked about when she found her true mates. She wished she were here right now so she could share it with her.

  They had called all the people on the list she had, including her sister and explained to them that Warriors and Enforcers were on their way to get them. Her sister had been panicked, but she told her that she would meet her at the compound when she arrived.

  Cami and the girls were amazing; they had taken everything over planning on places for all of them to stay with one phone call. Quin and the men concentrated on the security.

  The Alpha had even called his father and asked that Aiden be allowed to come with them back to America. Dalton was grumbling about having extra baggage. He was glad that his powers had increased since his mating. Shea wondered if hers would also, she was not sure; if that was a good thing or not considering what she had made the Enforcers do when she was drunk.

  They would probably want her to put a leash on her powers, so they would not get out of control. When she had said something about it, Cami had laughed and said that she thought it would be fun to see if the guys all reacted the same way to her influence.

  As they neared the Pub in Kilkee, she felt a familiar Fae energy coming from the Pub.

  She shook it off, thinking that she had to be imagining it, since she was tired from walking. It was a seriously long day.

  Devon and Aiden walked into the Pub first, telling them all to wait until they were sure things were okay in the establishment. Quin nodded reluctantly, Devon and he had been arguing already about the security. The Alpha apparently felt like he could take care of himself. His mates were trying to sooth his irritation at being left outside.

  Devon opened the door for them and nodded. The Pub was big, and decorated in dark mahogany floors and tables. The sports jerseys that hung around the walls in glas
s frames showed that whoever owned the place loved the Irish football team. The lights we dim from artfully decorated lamps that hung from the ceiling. It was just as you would picture a Pub in our head. The barkeep in white cleaning glasses and talking to men seated at the bar on stool, and all.

  Aiden was standing just inside the Pub looking around for someone who would catch his eye. The man who called in the problem said he would be here at this time. Shea swept her gaze over the patrons of the Pub and landed on a younger man in the back; he was in a tall booth, but he was leaning out to see who had entered the Pub. She breathed a sigh of relief at seeing he was actually still safe.

  "There he is," Shea said and pointed to the booth where Derek sat. The younger Fae looked upon, and his eyes widened when he saw Shea and the others that were with him.

  They were drawing attention with the other patrons. This large of a group could only mean one thing; a football game was on the telly. Most of the men eyed the guys to see if they could tell which side they were falling on with regards to the game.

  Derek stood up and for the first time she realized he was not alone. A couple who had been sitting in the tall booth slid out also, and she gasped and cried out in surprise.

  "Ma, Pa," she yelled frantically and ran into the Pub before her mates could catch her arm. She was taking in their disheveled appearance as she ran to them. Her mates tried to grab her, but they missed and had to follow quickly behind.

  "Shea!” Her mother cried out and sobbed as her oldest daughter got to her and fell into her arms. "Thank the Gods, you’re safe. We were so worried when you, and your sister, did not answer your phones."

  "We shut them off for security," Shea said and pulled back, and her father who was equally emotional pulled her into his arms next. She could smell the smoke on his jacket and pulled back.

  "Who are all these people 'A chroi'?" Her mates tried to grab her, but they missed and had to follow quickly behind.

  Shea stepped back and said, "They’re friends. We have a lot to talk about, but first introductions. Maggie and Tommy Bryne this is Lev Adler and Griff Blask; they are my mates."

  Her mother gasped and held a hand to her chest and looked at her father who was frowning. Quin stepped forward and said, "I’m Quin, Alpha of the New Council these are my mates Jaden and Cami our Beta Devon and his mates, Casey and Sid. Our White Wolf Josephine and her mate Tey. And Dalton is a Sidhe, he and his mates are the Seers of the New Council. Finally, this is my brother Aiden; he has been sent by the Elders of the Old Council to look into what happened here. We came because Shea couldn't get hold of you and was worried."

  Her father's frown deepened, and he looked at his daughter. "What have you done?"

  Shea stepped back like he had slapped her, all of her fears of being responsible came crashing down on her. Lev and Griff stepped in front of her to create a barrier.

  "Whoa there sir," Griff said holding up his hand and shaking his head. "Your daughter has been through hell over the last several hours, cut her some slack. Yeah we know all about the secrecy thing, but don't you think that is kind of a moot point now that your homes have been ruined, and you’re on the run, so to speak."

  "We need a place to talk privately." Quin said and turned to the barkeep and asked if there was a meeting room. The man grunted waved to the door next to where they stood.

  Quin thanked the man and then led them all into a small room that looked like it was designed for men. There was a bar and huge television in the corner. "Her father held on to his wife's hand and turned to look at his daughter.” Shea, I wasn’t trying to say you had done something wrong. It came out that way I know. It’s just, your mother and I had been on a business trip, and when we returned we found the village like that. No word, nothing. Then Derek came to visit his parents, and we called for help. It’s time the leader allows the Elder Old Council to help us. Too much time has passed for there to be hard feelings."

  Shea looked confused, "Da, what are you talking about?"

  "Our leader is the one who insisted on the break from the Old Council. His daughter found her true mate years ago, and he was a shifter not a Fae like the leader would have hoped. He refused to allow the mating to occur, and his daughter ran away. Since then we have been separated from the Council, our leader will still say the wolf kidnapped her. He even went so far as to say until she was returned safely to him, he would not acknowledge the Council. So we have lived in secret, away from the other magical people, because the leader thinks, our pure blood will be tainted if we breed with other people. Your mother and I decided to stay with the clan, even though we disagreed. But it was for you Shea." He said with a pleading look in his eyes for her to understand what he was going to explain.

  Shea looked at her mates, who were flanking her now. They each put an arm around her; as if to hold her up when her father delivered whatever news, he was about to. Shea could feel the tingling of apprehension in her chest.

  Her mother stepped up and grabbed her hand, "My darling girl, you will never know how much this has pained me to keep this from you. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive your father and me when this is all over."

  Shea squeezed her mother's hand and said. "I am sure you did what you thought was best. I really wish you would have told me though, but you are my parents, I am so glad to see you safe."

  Her father cleared his voice, and they all sat down to hear what he had to say. Cami and the girls sat, as close to Shea as they could, because if she was anything like the rest of them, she was going to have a small meltdown that her mates would not be able to deal with. It was the whole destiny thing, they were all on their own paths in life, and suddenly without warning, they changed. It tended to mess with a women’s psyche.

  Shea and her mates sat close to one another across the table from her parents. She took her mother’s hand again and held it tight when her father began to speak.

  "Before you were even born, this thing with the leader happened. We were young and newly mated, and listened as he talked about the horrors of the world and the shifters.

  Of course, as the years went on we figured out his view was skewed. But we were content with our home and clan. Then you came along. At first, we had no clue that you were destined for something outside of the clan. Then your sister came, and we noticed the leader had become very interested in you. He explained that he wanted to be your trainer for the Fae."

  Shea nodded and said. "I remember that, he was insistent that I knew the Fae were not to ever leave their clan or something bad would happen. When I discovered my talents for writing, he was upset. The fight we had to let me go to school in the States."

  Her father grimaced. "Just before your fifteen birthday, your mother and I were called to his office."

  "That’s when I got my letter from Stanford for early acceptance." She whispered.

  "Yes, and our leader was extremely upset. He said we had to find a way to make you stay here. We argued that it was your choice, and as long as you followed the rules, there was nothing we could so. He said he would not allow it. We were shocked and pointed out the others who had been allowed to go abroad and study. Each of them had returned to the clan and was making their living here."

  Shea frowned. “But when I went away, you said to stay in the States?"

  Her mother interrupted. "It was for your own good, and why we sent your sister out too.

  We were pulling away from the clan. Your father and I have always thought that even though we would miss this place, if push came to shove, we would follow our children.

  Regardless what our leader may think, we are strong enough to handle the outside world on our own."

  "Back to the point," her father said in a resigned tone. "We were defiant and refused to allow him to make you stay here. I think he knew we were not going to bend. Because he became angry then he started making all the rules for you to go, including having a shadow for the last five years, one you knew nothing about.”

  Shea sna
pped her head back and looked at her parents shocked. “And you agreed to this? Who was it?”

  Her father shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and her mother had the decency to look ashamed. “We couldn’t say no. He was insistent, and we didn’t want to squash your dreams. So we agreed, as long as you were never told about the shadow. Then he dropped the real bomb, and we were scared to death for you.”

  Shea rolled her eyes and said, “Real bomb, what else could be more shocking?”

  This time it was her mother who looked worried, and Shea knew, all this time they had known that she was one of the Chosen and never told her. She braced herself for her parent’s deceit. Never in a million years would she have thought her mother would have been able to keep this secret from her. Hell, any of them that was shocking, in and of itself.

  “When you were born, we were so happy, nothing would ever change how we felt about you. We heard rumblings from the shifters about something happening. Our leader said it was a rouse to get us back into the fold. We didn’t want to go through that upheaval when you were young, and your mom got pregnant again right away again.

  We followed along, although we knew that things we not as our leader had explained.

  Then when he called us to his office before we left, he stopped us. He said there was more we needed to know. We thought he was trying to trick us into making you stay, but he gave us the proof. A letter had come from the Council leader Oliver, explaining the prophecy and the children who would be born. Our leader said he had watched and researched. You were the only child born on the first of April. We refused to believe him at first, claiming that if you were one of the Chosen, he would have told us a long time ago. Then he told us about what happened with the baby who was stolen. We were horrified. What if it happened to you, we would never be able to live with ourselves if in some way we contributed to someone hurting you." Her mother began, and then she turned to her father and let him continue.