Asanni (9 page)

“Eigi Einhamir is how humans from Northern
Europe called us long ago. It means ‘not of one skin’. We shortened
it to Einhamir, and adopted it as the official title for a clan’s
Alpha male. Einhamir sounds more… well, let’s say, less zoological
than Alpha.”

“What’s the official title of an Alpha
female, then? Einhamira?”

Jack rubbed his chin. “How about Einhamir’s
beloved wife? There’s no official title for her, and please don’t
be pissed off. She’s an Alpha female, that’s it.”

Astrid pursed her lips let out a dry snort.
“So, the female title is more zoological.”

“Now I see that, too.”

“Well, that’s something to work on, then.
Einhamir’s not a hereditary position, is it? Your father was the
previous Einhamir, but you didn’t automatically replace him when he
died. James did,” Astrid said.

“No, it’s not inherited. The clans choose
their Einhamirs. Sometimes, although rarely, Einhamirs die, more
often they retire, sort of, or they need to be replaced, like Seth
now. Or a new, better leader emerges.” He smiled. “Or it could
happen that a chosen Einhamir feels he’s not ready for the job. Red
Cliffs wanted me to be their Einhamir after my father died, but
back then, I wasn’t ready, so James temporarily took the ‘office’.
He’s been keeping it for me since then.”

“So you’re going to be the Einhamir?

Jack shrugged. “Yes. And soon, I’d say.”

“Oh. Why have your changed your mind?”

He smiled and gently kissed Astrid’s lips.
“I’m ready now.”

Astrid wondered if that whole mess with her
in the main role had anything to do with Jack’s sudden change of
heart.

“What did you do while James was doing your
job?” she said.

“I studied, traveled, lived in many different
places and on different continents.”

“What’s your job?”

“Special missions. I have assignments with
the Government. They send me to get somebody’s butt out of
impossible and quite dangerous places, after all other conventional
methods fail, or when they don’t want to try them at all. Helped
quite a few of your colleagues trapped in the various war
zones.”

She wasn’t surprised. That fitted him
perfectly.

I wouldn’t mind being rescued by you. In
fact, I’m sort of being rescued, and I like it
, another thought
came from nowhere.

“There are a few of us,” Jack continued,
“from all around the world, doing the same job.”

“That’s a noble job,” she said, truly
impressed.

“Well, thank you. But I don’t think it’s any
more noble than yours, Astrid. As I said, many of those we rescued
were doctors, and I was always impressed with their courage and
determination to go to such places to help others.”

“Who else are your usual charges? Besides
doctors.”

“People without common sense or good
judgement about where they should or shouldn’t be. Hostages,
journalists... I came here from South America. A militant group had
kidnapped a journalist and asked the family for ransom. His
mother-in-law arranged to send the money, but instead of releasing
him, they asked for more. So she paid again—she’s the richest one
in the family—but then she decided to contact me. This time it was
a private arrangement, she didn’t go through the official
institutions. She wanted to make sure he was going home that
time.”

“And you brought him back?”

“Sure. Two of us went, my friend Adam and I.
It took us less than a week to find him and bring him home. She
should’ve contacted us as soon as she’d gotten the first ransom
request. It would have saved her a couple million.”

“How did she know about you?”

“I’ve known the family for a long time.”

“Who was he? The journalist?”

“Harold Bertram.”

“Harold Bertram!? That man has guts! How come
nobody’s heard about it?”

“The family was warned not to notify the
authorities, and later Bertram decided not to go public about it.
He has his reasons. By the way, his daughter, Lucy, just married a
guy from Red Cliffs.”

“A werewolf?”

“No, Charley’s human. Lucy’s family was
concerned about her safety. There were some threats before Bertram
was kidnapped, so James suggested she should come to Red
Cliffs—”

“Why there? Is she a werewolf?”

“No, but she has a ranch within our
boundaries, beside Charles’ place… long story. Anyway, she did
come, but as Charley’s wife. They live outside of town. We’ll visit
them once we’re back home… Are you working today?” Jack asked
suddenly.

“Tonight. Weekend night shift, ER. Why?”

“Let’s have a walk. You need some fresh air.
I saw a coffee shop near here.”

“I haven’t finished with my questions.”

“I know. We can talk there. Put your rain
boots on, it’s wet outside.”

“I love rain, but sometimes I wish it would
snow here. I like snow,” Astrid said a little bit later, pushing
her feet into her pink rain boots.

Jack smiled and gently kissed the tips of her
fingers. “Then Red Cliffs is the perfect place for you, Miss
Spock.”

IT WAS a sunny day, fresh and crisp, the air
was humid and smelled of earth, pine and wind.

As soon as they stepped outside, Jack put his
arm around her shoulder. She didn’t expect it and instantly
stiffened.

Jack pulled her closer. “You are my
girlfriend, remember? I’m going to take you with me in about two
weeks. Let your fellow citizens see how crazy you are about me.” He
took her arm and slid it behind his back. “Come on, Astrid, you
know how a pair in love is supposed to walk.”

She tucked her thumb through the belt loop of
his jeans.

“Like this?”

“Exactly. To be honest, I took you outside so
that we could do this. It’s dangerous to hold you tight
inside.”

Astrid was obviously well known in town—Jack
wondered how that contributed to her safety here—and well liked.
Every few yards somebody would say hello to Dr. Duplant, and nod
politely in Jack’s direction.

The crew at Café Flamingo greeted her warmly.
The teenage boy behind the coffee machine asked Jack what he
wanted, and grabbed a warmed white cup for Astrid’s usual double
espresso.

“I see you’re a regular here.” Jack pulled
out a chair for Astrid and sat close to her. He slid his arm around
her waist and left it there.

She briefly closed her eyes and the warm
current embraced her from inside. Now it was the right time for her
next question. “How old are you?”

Jack laughed. “That’s classified. God,
Astrid, don’t you have some easy questions on your list? Old enough
for you, no worries.”

She decided not to insist on a more precise
answer. This time. “What did you study?” she asked instead.

“Economics. Law. Art. Marine biology.
Business, most recently.”

Astrid put a spoonful of sugar in her cup and
stirred it, then licked the spoon and pressed it on her lips. She
always did that, she liked the warmth of the metal and taste of
coffee foam on her lips.

Jack leaned closer. “That’s so sexy,” he
whispered into her ear.” The way you lick the spoon.”

Astrid slowly placed the spoon back on the
plate. “You’re sidetracking me, Jack Canagan.”

“Your heart is beating quite fast. I can hear
it.”

“How about yours?”

“Feel it.” Jack took her hand and placed it
on his chest. His heart beat in a strong, fast rhythm that mirrored
hers. “I told you I’d do anything to make you fall in love with
me.”

And you are progressing just fine
.

“But I’m already there. I couldn’t help
falling in love with you.”

Jack took her chin between his fingers and
gently turned her head to him. “Astrid, I don’t want to remind you
unnecessarily of our talk last night, but do you remember what you
asked me before you fell asleep?”

“What did I ask you?” she winced.

“To hold you. And I did. And that’s why you
woke up laying across me.”

“I don’t remember, Jack. I must have been
upset. Sometimes, when I’m under too much pressure, I easily fall
asleep and I sleep a lot.”

He noticed that. Two nights ago, she’d also
fallen asleep, unwilling to confront her own confusion. Last night
she simply shut herself down twice.

He had a feeling, though, that things were
not so simple. She wasn’t a person who would hide at the first sign
of danger. She was a little warrior, preferring maybe a strategic
approach to an open battle, but she didn’t lack courage. He was
missing something, and that could be a clue. Something was nagging
in the back of his brain, something she’d done or said… He let out
a deep, irritated sigh.

Astrid placed her hand over his. “Hey, is
everything okay?”

“Oh, God, Astrid, you feel so good,” Jack
said softly.

Slowly, hesitantly, her other hand touched
Jack’s face. Her fingers traced his eyebrow, first one, then the
other one, and moved down along his jawbone. Her palms framed his
face and stayed there.

He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent
and feeling her touch with every single fiber of his being.

Everything else ceased to exist.

“Jack,” she said in deep, husky voice.

Then he remembered. He didn’t need to look at
her eyes to know that the sapphire blue of her irises darkened
slightly, shifting toward amber. The change in her voice was enough
to prove his suspicions. He knew what his subconscious mind had
been trying to tell him. And he was sure he had the answer to why
her change was so dramatic. It was so simple yet nobody had thought
about it.

His lips touched her palms, one by one. “You
don’t have a split personality, Astrid.”

She pulled her hands away, startled by his
reaction. Her eyes were blue again.

“I was just joking. What’s going on? Why are
you so excited?”

“You asked me last night if James was going
to be upset with me for telling you about Seth and his plans. Do
you remember what I told you?”

Astrid looked puzzled. “I don’t even remember
asking you that. What was your answer, by the way? I wanted to ask
you that before.”

“I said that I outranked him. And you said
you were glad to hear that. Ring any bells?”

Astrid shook her head, alarmed. “Jack, what’s
wrong with me?”

He stopped and pulled her closer. “Relax,
Astrid. Everything’s fine with you. I believe that your wolf is
trying to come out.”

“I know.”

He looked sharply at her. “You know? Why on
earth didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know for sure, but that’s the only
logical conclusion. I’m hoping you’re going to be able to fill me
in soon. I have no clear memories, remember? But I can feel her
somehow. And since you came, I’ve had thoughts that... that are and
are not mine. That’s new. Before I change she must take over,
that’s how I see it. Otherwise, she hadn’t been interfering with
me. My other part, I mean. Until now. I have no problem that she’s
with me, Jack. Why I don’t remember her, that’s what I want to
know.”

“She is one smart wolf.”

“You bet she is. She’s me.”

“I need to talk to Tristan and Liv later. Now
let’s go home and we’ll make something to eat. And then we’ll
talk.

“Jack, is everything really okay with me?”
Astrid said, worried.

“Yes, don’t worry. I believe your spirits are
not connected yet, and that’s the reason for all your troubles. In
other words, your untamed little beast roams free, Astrid. That
happens.” He pulled her closer. “We need to get them connected
somehow, and I think I even know what needs to be done.”

Another surprise, she thought. Why wasn’t she
surprised then? What else was going to happen? She didn’t have
split personalities, but rather split spirits. How reassuring.
“Jack, can you tell me how to connect them?”

“Even better, Astrid. I think I’ll be an
active participant in the process,” Jack said and kissed her
temple. “So what would you like to have for supper?”

THEY WERE a block from Astrid’s house when
Jack suddenly scooped her up and carried her to the door. The
movement was as unexpected as it was smooth and easy. “I was just
curious how it would feel,” he said, in lieu of explanation.

STILL IN Jack’s arms, I punched in the alarm
code and opened the door. He carried me in.

“So what are we going to eat today, Chef
Jack?” I said to hide my confusion. And panic, mixed with a strong
desire to somehow direct him to one of our bedrooms.

He put me down on the sofa and pulled off my
rain boots.

“Let’s see what we have,” Jack said and towed
me to the kitchen. He placed his wrist watch on top of the
microwave and inspected the contents of the fridge.

“How about halibut steaks in wine and dill
sauce and grilled asparagus?”

“What should I do?” I said, looking for a
distraction.

“Rinse the asparagus and break off the tough
ends.”

As I was working on my assignment, I watched
him from under my lashes. He seemed absorbed in his task,
skillfully preparing the fish fillets for grilling, chopping the
herbs, looking for the pans and pots in my cupboards. In my small
kitchen, he looked even bigger than his solid 6’3” but managed
nonetheless to move with natural ease and elegance.

He wore a tight black V-neck T-shirt, which
so deliciously contoured his broad shoulders and graceful, long
muscles. His forearms were lightly dusted with soft, brown hair.
His hands were big and strong, and brought up a whole bunch of wild
images in my head.

Show-off...

I stood in the opposite corner of the
miniature kitchen island, busy with the asparagus. I had a million
and one questions to ask, but Jack’s presence in such limited space
was simply overwhelming. He attracted me like a magnet, but it
wasn’t only the sexual chemistry. Not that there wasn’t an
abundance of it; on the contrary. But Jack also radiated
irresistible vitality and energy and I responded to that call with
insane enthusiasm as if I had been waiting for it my entire
life.