Kin Bound Read online

  Cayden and I walk beside each other, in the back. Aunt May comes up beside me and faces me with proud blue eyes.

  The tree branch, Cayden thinks.

  We can thank the Russells for that.

  Cayden snaps his gaze to me. But what if our new pack members question it?

  What do you mean?

  Everly sends me a warning look. Great. Sure, she’s warmed up in the past month, but with business, she’s still a lump of ice. You can‘t cheat during challenges.

  I hold back my flinch. I didn’t cheat.

  She keeps me in her stare. Without the branch, the fight could have gone differently. If they think you did, they might attack you.

  Ugh. Comfort isn't her strong suit—the truth is, even if it's brutal. No one's questioned it.

  The challenged might. Once he gets his thoughts together. Look.

  I follow Everly's gaze. The brown wolf still walks in the lead—where I should be right now—weaving through trees and jumping over fallen branches. His ear's healing quickly, but he keeps staring at the ground like he's lost in thought. I don't like the way his shoulder blades pop out of his skin, pushed by strained muscle. And I don't like the sound of his heavy, angry breathing. I get sulking after losing. Cayden did it. But this is something different. I'll have to rule with authority, at least for now.

  We walk in silence for a few miles, catching another wildlife trail. Cayden and I cut in front of the brown Wolf, taking the lead as we should. A trail emerges from the woods. It carries a strong Noble scent and leads us back to where the main meeting area must be. This place would intimidate any Savage who dared breach it. These Wolves have done a good job of protecting the people in town. And as we walk, town gets louder and smells more strongly. The pancakes must come from a restaurant, complete with sausage and other breakfast foods. My stomach rumbles.

  I trot forward. We need a place to change back and dress.

  With a snort, the defeated alpha runs in front of me, hackles raised, and cuts down another, wider trail with quad tracks. There's a huge two-story cabin far down the trail, barely hidden by the trees. The brown Wolf steps onto the porch. No other houses stand near it. Just woods. Whoever built this place wanted seclusion.

  A cloud moves over the sun as we reach the cabin. It sports three balconies, a large porch, and huge glass windows. All the Wolves stop behind me, leaving me to survey it. It carries a strong piney scent laced with dry grass—the scent of the brown Wolf. This is his home, and the scents of the other Wolves surround it as well. We're at this pack's meeting hub.

  Well, it's also ours now. I have to get used to that thought.

  The brown Wolf faces the door, and I watch as he shifts back to human form. The painful concert of snapping and popping follows the shape change. At least it's quick. Bones snap and rearrange as fur retracts into dark skin. A man in his mid-twenties stands facing the door, back to us. The former alpha must spend lots of time hitting the gym, because muscles ripple as he stretches, popping strained joints. Then he grabs a blue robe he's thrown over the railing of his house and puts it on, tying it around his waist.

  I feel inadequate, Cayden thinks, facing the ground.

  Don't, I tell him, basking in the warm, tingly connection I feel with him. When we're close, I feel safe, as I'm sure he does, too. Once Cayden and I took things to the next level, it intensified.

  The man turns, now robed, and lifts a heavy flowerpot with ease. He almost looks royal, with strong cheekbones, a perfect nose, and neat dreadlocks. But hardness fills his eyes. He picks up a key from where the flowerpot rested and unlocks the double doors to the front of his lavish house. "You can all come in," he says, not facing me. "Quick. Before anyone sees us."

  This pack has done well for themselves. How did no one know they lived so close to our territory? Where they here when my parents fell to the Savages? My grandparents, too?

  There's a lot I don't know.

  Cayden nuzzles up beside me. I know he feels my distress and anger. The robed man holds the double doors open while we all file inside. The house opens up. Sun pours through skylights and balconies hang overhead. I step into a living room with a grand piano against one wall. A storm of smells reaches me. Fresh carpet. Polish. A well-stocked kitchen and exotic spices. Then synthetic fibers. That smell emerges from a closed closet door on the other side of the room. The defeated alpha keeps a stockpile of clothes for his pack.

  My pack. I won and felt the power sweep over me.

  "We're all safe in here," the man explains with a curt nod. His lip twitches. The air gets thick and hard to breathe. "That big closet is for changing back."

  The other Wolves all sit, except for Cayden, Everly, Remo, and Aunt May. I'm to go first. I enter the closet by pushing the door open and walk out of sight. It's huge, almost as big as a bedroom, and full of hanging clothes of all types. Once I nudge the door shut, I reach for the human within. The pain sweeps over me in waves of lava and armies of porcupines. Skin stretches. Bones shift. I'm now eye level with hanging coats, folded jeans and boxes of shoes. While I can still smell everything, the world is slightly dulled now as if my human form puts a veil over it. I eye large mens' overalls and pink coats for junior high girls. Some have tags. Nothing has holes. How much money does the defeated alpha have?

  Why is a pack this big and well-off neighbors with struggling Breck, and have never made themselves known?

  I'm going to find out.

  I choose a tank top that fits me perfectly—they have every size here—and a pair of tight jeans I know Cayden will love. Once dressed, I hold open the door and smile at the assembled Wolves in the living room. The sun's out again, shining on fur and bringing every natural color. "Next?"

  * * * * *

  The defeated alpha sits at the piano and strums keys, masking the sounds of shifting in the other room. He's not a bad player. Cayden can sing, but this guy can play.

  Since only Cayden and I have changed back so far and dressed, I nod to him. We need to size up this guy. Can he challenge me for alpha back?

  "Hey. What's your name?" Cayden asks, because I'm not breaking the ice anytime soon.

  "Lawrence." He strums the keys again, creating a beautiful, but angry rhythm. Music fills the room and echoes off the walls. I'm getting the idea the piano is his method of calming down.

  "Great to meet you. You fought well," I say. A sniff and a metallic scent tells me that in one of the back rooms, Lawrence has his own gym. "I can tell you really care about this pack."

  His lip quivers as he misses a key. The song trips on itself before he picks up the pace again. Someone else steps out of the closet, dressed and in human form, while another Wolf walks inside and nudges the door shut.

  "In a manner of speaking," Lawrence says.

  "Yeah, man. Looks like you guys do great," Cayden says.

  "We were doing great," Lawrence mutters.

  I bite my lip. "So, you prefer to stay away from other packs?" I won't blow up at him, but I need the truth. We're less than twenty miles from Breckenridge, and this huge pack might have made the difference between life and death for my parents. My pulse roars in my ears. "How long have you been in this town?"

  Lawrence hits another couple of keys, masking the noise of someone shifting in the clothing room. A gulf grows between us. The living room has dwindled to five Wolves. The others have returned to human form, dressed, and exited the room one by one. People open cabinet doors in the kitchen and someone starts a hissing coffee machine.

  "We're in Colling," Lawrence says. "Colling is your territory now."

  Colling. A tiny dot on the map less than twenty miles north of Breckenridge. A nothing town, surrounded by woods. I've never thought about it before.

  I look to Cayden. He nods. We just won ourselves a one stoplight town. I hope he's right we still have our territory around Breck so long as no one takes it from us, that defeating another alpha doesn't force us to give up or original home. Watching over two territories doesn't happe
n often. Very few alphas have managed the feat for long.

  But his smile says I might be the first. I love him. He makes me believe I won't screw everything up.

  An old woman, dark like Lawrence, steps out of the closet, buttoning her blouse. She smiles and waves to me. She's warm and might be related to Lawrence because she has those same strong cheekbones.

  "Hi!" I say, injecting warmth into my smile. I need an ally.

  "This is Brie, and I'm Cayden," Cayden says.

  The woman strides over with a slight limp. She was the white wolf. Her hair in human form is the same color. I imagine she's got to be in her late seventies or eighties.

  "I'm Abigail," she says, giving me a firm handshake. "This is my grandson, Lawrence. Welcome to Colling." As she speaks, she studies me, no doubt wondering why a small, blond girl defeated her strong grandson. With her gaze, she indicates I'm to follow her onto the porch.

  This pack might not know about the Royals next door, but this woman tells me that's doubtful.

  Cayden and I follow her while Lawrence goes back to playing. Once the three of us stand on the porch, Abigail wastes no time.

  "Don't let my grandson give you a hard time. He thought the Noble Royals were all dead. And before you showed up, so did I."

  "Huh...what?" I ask.

  Abigail smiles. "How else could a girl your size have taken down such a powerful Wolf? Lawrence and I come from an old line of Nobles, almost as old as yours. I have to admit that's gone to my grandson's head. He was the top dog since he challenged me for alpha seven years ago and won. And he deserved it, too."

  My pulse calms. In my anger, I forgot that the Royals had ceased to exist, through the use of our silver pendants, for several years in Breck. The Russells and Aunt May alike hid our existence from everyone. I shouldn't blame other Nobles for that.

  "You used to be alpha?" Cayden asks.

  Abigail's taller than me, but even seven years ago, she would have been old. How strong is she? "Twice. Before Lawrence's parents died about fourteen years ago, and after he challenged me for my position. There aren't many female alphas out there." She winks at me. We have something in common. "At least my son and Lawrence's mother were both lawyers. They left us the means to keep our territory."

  But at the same time, I shudder. Lawrence can try to become alpha again, then.

  "You know we're from Breckenridge?" I ask.

  "Where else would you have come from?" Abigail's eyes betray tears of relief. "Should have known. The whole Remus line has bright blue eyes like you. Or had. My pack used to travel the world with theirs, protecting them. We called ourselves the Guardian Wolves, because we came from the oldest lines of Nobles. The first Wolves Remus turned, in fact."

  "Is that how Lawrence's parents died? Trying to keep the Savages from reaching my town?" I ask, slipping my hand into Cayden's.

  Abigail swallows. "Yes. I'm sorry. Our pack fought hard." Her chin quivers as she speaks. Abigail might be strong, but she struggles to hold back emotion.

  She turns away as if she's let me down. And I can't help it.

  I hug her, squeezing out all the anger I felt towards this pack.

  "Brie!" Abigail says, stiffening.

  "I had to do that," I say. "I can tell you give a crap. That Lawrence gives a crap, too. He wants to protect the pack and then I took that away from him." No wonder he's angry.

  But instead of disagreeing with me, Cayden nods.

  "But he also needs to understand the natural Wolf order," Abigail says. "You won, regardless of what he will say."

  I drop my shoulders in relief. Someone's on my side. Another former alpha, in fact. "If he'll listen," I say, "then tell him I thank his parents for their service." My words feel hollow.

  Lawrence plays with more fervor when we get back into the house. If he's heard our conversation, he doesn't show it. Abigail nods to me. I read her expression. I'm to explain myself to the new pack and why the heck the Noble Royals are still alive. That's a job she won't do for me.

  Nor should she.

  I swallow as I weave past a middle-aged couple, who study me with wide eyes, and past a strawberry blond woman about Lawrence's age. Everly and Remo stand on the other side of the room. An older guy steps out of the kitchen with a mug of coffee. We're an assortment of regular people and with the piano going, it almost feels like a party atmosphere. I'm responsible for these people now.

  I step away from Lawrence. He's holding his sanity and emotions in check by playing, and I'm glad to see that. It's not as if I wanted to unseat the guy. I stand in front of the couch. Aunt May waves to me and then smiles at Abigail. I survey the whole room. Twin women, both blonds, step out of the closet together. They're both well-built like they've used Lawrence's gym. Abigail unfolds a metal chair and sits.

  "I've never seen such an old Wolf," Cayden whispers.

  She snaps her gaze to us, but instead of frowning, Abigail grins, as if surviving this long is an accomplishment. And it is. Most Wolves, I've noticed, don't make it past middle age.

  "It's a good sign. This pack is tough," I say. But a sinking feeling fills me at the thought. I'm planning to bring this pack into war. Against Romulus. That means some Wolves could die...

  Pressure fills my chest.

  You'll kill them.

  You are too weak.

  Romulus's vile whispers fill my head and I close my eyes, sucking in a sharp breath, trying to get air into my lungs. My ears ring. The cult didn't finish the rite that would let him possess me. The Russells and Cayden stopped them. He shouldn't be in my head...

  But I am.

  I tighten my grip on Cayden's hand and force my eyes open, focusing on him, hoping he can't see that reddish darkness in my eyes. As I do, the pressure fades, but he winces.

  "What was that?" he asks. "I felt strange."

  I take a normal breath. The air is fresh and clean. "I don't know," I say.

  What if I am possessed, and Romulus is waiting for the right moment to attack everyone around me?

  But I can't be. I felt him flee. I've had zero blackouts or memory lapses, unlike Mr. Saffron.

  Abigail's looking right at me. I have to do this. Running isn't an option now, even if Romulus is toying with me.

  The pack ranges in age from the grandmother in her eighties down to a boy who must be in the seventh or eighth grade. He's the last to emerge from the dressing room, and though he's built well enough to compete in wrestling, his face is young. Too young, but also too eager. A deadly combination that I've seen before.

  Cayden grabs my hand at the sight of him and I know why. Wyatt will forever burn in his memory.

  "I won't make him fight," I promise.

  "He might not listen."

  "I'm afraid of that." What have I done? But I swallow down nerves and over the lump in my throat. Maybe I should ask for a glass of water. "Attention," I say.

  Lawrence stops playing, and every eye in the room locks on me. Everly makes me nervous all by herself, but Aunt May smiles. Cayden releases my hand. I study the assembled pack members—our new members—as they stare back. I count six men, seven women, and the boy. A few of the men look at me like I'm crazy. Nothing I don't expect.

  "I'm Brie. A Noble Royal," I choke out. But nobody reacts. "Me and Aunt May are the last two known Noble Royals in the world. It is us who keep the entire Noble species going. Without us, the Nobles would eventually fade away and become like regular humans, and the Savage Wolves would take over and spread terror. It's our job to protect humanity and keep them back. You probably thought all the Nobles were dead."

  Two of the men nod. Eyes widen with shock.

  But so far, Romulus stays away.

  Lawrence, behind me, spins on his stool. His quiet, angry breaths follow. Without the distraction of his music, he can't hold his fury down. Some of his family died protecting mine. I can't blame him.

  Cayden moves to stand between me and him. I wait for the pain curse to hit him, but it stays away. For now. The pro
tective spirits must still be with him, and now I know so long Cayden's around, they extend to me, too.

  "Noble Royals descend from Remus, the first Noble Wolf," I explain. "Some of you might think it's a myth, but it's true. All of it. Remus died a long time ago and no one knows what happened to his spirit. Well, Romulus died a long time ago, too, but he has a cult who worships him and feeds his spirit. They also help him possess people—"

  "This is crazy," Lawrence says.

  "Lawrence, hon," one of the blond twins says. She weaves through the assembled people and joins him at the piano. "We should listen to what Brie has to say. She's the alpha now."

  "Or is she?" Lawrence asks.

  Everly's jaw drops. I tense.

  "She is, hon," the woman says. She must be his mate, and probably the former beta.

  "Kaylie, you're supposed to side with me," Lawrence says, forcing a smile.

  I think of the cult, the dark spirits, and Romulus himself. We need all the help we can get to defeat them. I have to take charge. "The Nobles need to gather and stop the threat. Romulus is very close to destroying our kind. He possessed a teacher at my school and attacked us."

  Instead of sounding sure and confident, I let fear slip into my words. One of the men, a middle-aged guy with gray-brown hair, lifts an eyebrow. I'm screwing this up. No one argues, but the rug is about to fly out from under me. An alpha has to be strong. And maybe I am.

  But I'm also descended from Romulus through the human half of my family. The weak spot can destroy me. I won't tell them that. Heck, I won't even tell them about the tainted Hunter side of my family, just in case they can make the connection. These new pack members have enough doubt.

  "We need to stop him in any way we can," I continue. "Romulus can alter the form of anyone he possesses, but when you kill him, he just jumps bodies. He can also sneak into Noble territory that way. He violated ours, but he needs his cult to stay strong. If we knock them out, we start weakening him. And we can't stop him or his cult with a small pack. Any questions?"