Ashwood Falls Volume Two (22 page)

She dipped her brows and wondered if the candle had been there before the wolf lit it. How did he light it? Did he have powers beyond his ability to shift into his animal? She knew that some shifters had an extra gift.

Did Hayden have any?

Why the hell did she care?

She growled and turned from the flame to take in her dark surroundings. Taking a deep breath, she banished all the questions that whirled around in her mind like hungry vultures. She was out of here the first chance she got.

Just as soon as she found out where ‘here’ was.

The front door opened, and she whirled. The driver, Tanner she believed Hayden had said, entered the house. From the glow of the candle, she could make out the similarities in his features to Hayden’s. They had the same high cheekbones and same almond shaped eyes, yet Tanner appeared younger in a bad-boy way.

She stepped back and watched as he went to the fireplace, and grabbed a broken wooden chair on his way. With quick movements, he broke the chair into several smaller pieces and placed them inside the fireplace. After striking a match, he threw it in the fireplace and stood to face her.

The fire flared to life, illuminating the whole living room in a soft glow. Still, she watched Tanner, unsure what the man was about to do. He held a certain power that made her edgy and leery. Damn, she hated to be unarmed.

“Why am I here? Why didn’t you just kill me with the others?”

Tanner stared at her for several long moments before finally giving her a shrug and dropping into the nearest recliner. “That was Hayden’s call. Besides, you’re not infected.”

Infected? Was he serious?

“Infected with what?”

Tanner raised a brow at her outrage, which only pissed her off even more. “Every one of your co-workers was infected with the mutant virus.”

She started shaking her head. No. It wasn’t possible. “I don’t believe you. They’d have to have been bitten by the beast to become infected.”

Tanner leaned his head back to rest against the back of the chair. “We used to believe that too. Like a horror movie werewolf come to life. Now, we have proof that the rogues have a serum.”

She watched him, searching for some hint of a lie. There was none. He believed everything he was saying. “They can’t infect humans. Does it work the same as the bite? Because, if so, then my soldiers at Shield couldn’t had been infected.”

“What makes you say that?”

“They would’ve changed within forty-eight hours, and during that time, they’d have some kind of symptom like fever or pain.”

Tanner lifted his head and met her gaze. “You’ve seen it?”

Buried pain resurfaced. Her heart ached and a lump form in her throat. She nodded, but refused to speak it out aloud. She didn’t know Tanner well enough to share her demons. And she damn sure wasn’t going to stick around long enough to get to know him or his brother.

She turned and sat on the floor in front of the fire, arms wrapped around her middle. She stared into the orange and red flames as they flickered. “How do you know they were infected?”

Tanner released a heavy sigh before he spoke. “I smelled it. Mutants have a distinct scent.” She went to speak, but he spoke over her. “Save your questions for Hayden. I can’t answer any more.”

Christa peered over her shoulder to study him. “You can’t or won’t?”

“Both. You are Hayden’s to deal with. He’ll answer your questions when he sees fit.”

Fury built inside her. She was no one’s property “to deal with.” Fucking shifters and their superior attitudes. She set her jaw and focused on the flames to soothe her. It was something she’d learned to do when the demons of the past came to haunt her.

Christa relished the silence that filled the room. The only sound was the crackling of the fire. She sat with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees. Even with the fire, she was still cold. Yet, she didn’t dare break the silence by asking if there were any blankets around.

If her hunch was right about the den being abandoned, then there wouldn’t be any supplies. That included food. God, she hoped they didn’t expect her to hunt for her own food. Then again, that could be a good excuse to try to escape and find the twins.

On the heels of that thought, the front door flew open. Christa stood and swung around in one swift movement and went into an attack stance out of reflex. She found herself face to face with a petite woman with long red hair and eyes that were almost identical to Hayden’s.

Tanner jumped up and came to stand between them. “Mom. What are you doing here?”

The woman didn’t remove her gaze from Christa as she spoke. “Dane said you needed supplies, so I came to see what your brother wasn’t telling me.” She let out a low growl of warning that made the hairs on Christa’s arms stand on end. “Move, Tanner. The female challenges me.”

Fuck. Years of training had hardwired Christa to be on the defensive. Plus, she didn’t back down from anyone.

Suddenly, Hayden blew through the door and headed straight for her. Heart pounding, Christa ducked his attempt to grab her, but in the dark, she was at a disadvantage. The shadows fucked with her head too much, and she stumbled over something on the floor.

Hayden was there in an instant. He gripped her by the upper arm, pulled her to a stand, and tucked her behind him. “Mom. Stop.”

The woman peered at Hayden, then Christa, and then back at Hayden and started to shake her head. “This is really fucked up.”

“I know, Mom,” Hayden replied softly.

Christa watched son and mother in confusion. She agreed that this whole thing was messed up beyond fucked, but somehow she didn’t think they were talking about Hayden kidnapping her.

After a moment the woman looked at Tanner and patted his cheek. “Was this your idea?”

Tanner grinned. “Nope. This one is all Hayden.”

“I figured as much. The wolf sees what it wants, and the wolf takes it.” The woman took a step toward them. “Bring her forward.”

Hesitantly, Hayden tugged Christa around to stand next to him. The woman rolled her eyes. “What’s your name?” Hayden shifted on his feet next to Christa, which made the lady hold up a hand to him. “Not a word.” She moved her gaze back to Christa. “Answer the question.”

“Christa Baker.”

“Who do you work for?”

Standing straighter, Christa met her gaze. “Until this afternoon, I was hunter for Shield.”

“And now?”

She was free. Well, free as soon as she escaped her captors. “No one. I’m unemployed.” A giggle bubbled out of her.

“Why is that funny?”

Christa sobered. “I...I’m tired, and it’s been a bad day.”

The women smiled and held out her hand. “Luna Raines, Ashwood Falls’ wolf Alpha.”

The blood in Christa’s veins went cold, and she backed up. “You’re the rogue Pack.” She had to get out of here. Darting to the left, she ran out the front door, which thankfully was still open, and pushed her legs to run as fast as she could. She got only about fifteen feet away from the house before Hayden caught her by the waist.

She punched at his chest, trying to break his hold. It was no use. He held on too tight.

“Christa. Listen to me. Look at me.” When she refused, he let her waist go to cup her head in his hands to force her gaze to his. “Ashwood is not the rogue Pack. Onyx is. You have to believe me.”

She shook her head as best as she could in his grasp. Closing her eyes and taking deep breaths, she calmed herself. She would not freak out. Okay, think. Tanner’s earlier words filtered in her mind. He’d said the soldiers in Shield were infected. “You killed them all.”

“I had no choice. They were infected with the mutant virus.”

“How do I know you didn’t infect them? Besides, I didn’t see any signs.”

He pressed his forehead to hers, and damn if his touch didn’t feel good.

Wait.

She was losing her mind. She had to be.

“I’m not sure why they weren’t showing any signs, but I smelled it on them. On everyone, but you.”

That was another thing she wondered. If they were infected, then why wasn’t she?

“I need proof.”

“I can’t give you that yet.”

She struggled to break his hold on her. If he didn’t give her proof, then she was gone. No way was she going to hang out with a bunch of would-be rogue shifters that could kill her at any time.

She doubted they just let her go if she asked. Oh no, they’d want to keep her where they could watch her, make sure she didn’t run back to Shield and share their location.

Hayden managed to turn her so her back pressed against his front and wrapped his arms around her. “We have to learn to trust each other. I sensed in the house that you were looking for an out. Well, you got it. Why not use it and fight the true rogues with us?”

Christa had lost the ability to trust anyone long ago. Yet, she did have twin sixteen-year-old wolves to protect. “Is there anything you can offer me tonight that tells me I might someday trust you?”

He chuckled, making his chest vibrate against her back. “I’ll share if you do.”

H
ayden walked his mother out to her car. She’d been silent since he returned to the house with Christa. That wasn’t good. His mother had no problem speaking her mind, but something had her holding her tongue.

Luna faced him when they reached the car. “I hope you know what you’re doing. I can’t allow her entry to the den just yet.”

“I know. I wouldn’t ask it of you. Mate or not, Christa’s loyalties could still be with Shield. Or should I say Vance.” He ground his molars together at the thought of the rogue running a human rebel group.

“What if she doesn’t believe you and decides to go back to Shield?”

“I’ll have to make sure she sees the truth and that doesn’t happen.”

She smiled wickedly and tugged him down so she could place a kiss on his cheek. “Be sure you do, dear.”

He opened the door for her, and once she settled in the driver’s seat, he shut the door and stepped back. Christa would see the truth. She’d said she was looking for an out. Still, he couldn’t help, but sense that she was hiding something.

He was going to find out what.

Determined, he turned to go back to the house. When he stepped inside, he saw Christa huddled in front of the fireplace. He grabbed one of the blankets his mom had brought, along with an apple from the box of food and walked over to Christa. He wrapped the blanket around her and sat down so his shoulder touched hers.

“Thanks,” she muttered, but didn’t look at him.

He handed her the apple. “You’re not a prisoner.”

“Then let me go.”

“I can’t do that.”

She snorted. “That makes fucking sense.”

Hayden felt his lips twitch. The female had spirit, that was for sure. He was going to enjoy playing with her. “Have you heard the stories on why Ashwood and MoonRiver merged together as one pack?”

She took a bite out of the apple and chewed before speaking. “I’ve heard several rumors. It depends on the source...” She drifted off as if realizing something.

Hayden remained quiet and let her stew over whatever conclusion swirled around inside her head. Finally, she said softly, “Shield isn’t like it used to be. We were established to protect humans from the rogues. We never went out of our way to attack dens without solid proof.”

He fisted his hand in his lap to keep from touching her any more than he was already. He heard the slight disappointment in her tone, but it was masked by anger. It was as if she’d lost faith in their cause. “Is that why you want out?”

She shrugged and continued to stare into the fire. “I’m thirty-nine and not getting any younger. The new commander of Shield changed everything. He had the Memphis unit ready to go into Ashwood in a full-on attack.”

Hayden tensed at her admission. It sounded too close to the vision his mother had. If what Christa said was true, then Vance may already have a backup plan in place. He’d be sure to tell Blaine and his mother to look into other rebel groups. Maybe Blaine’s mother-in-law’s mate, Damian Archer, had information to share. The puma did work for one of the shifter rebel groups and had contacts all over the U.S. Damian and Sarah had moved to Ashwood Falls a few weeks ago after Sarah was targeted by his right hand.

Of course Christa would have information on the human groups as well, but he’d have to gain her trust first before she’d work with him.

“My father went rogue.” It was the only admission he could think of that would catch her attention.

She peered over at him and frowned. “Did you kill him?”

He studied her features in the glow of the firelight. There was no judgment in her gaze, just a hint of compassion as if knowing that he’d put down his own father saddened her. He looked away from her to watch the flames dance. “No. My mother did.”

She placed her chilled hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. For both of you and your mother. Is that why she’s Alpha?”

Hayden nodded. “Knowing my father, he’d figured it’d be the perfect punishment for her. Leave her with the burdens of a broken Pack.”

He felt her wince beside him before she asked, “Was he abusive?”

Hayden sighed, and so didn’t want to talk about his father, but he’d opened his big mouth. It was too late to back out now without seeming like a total ass. “Not until he turned rogue, the illness we all fight within.”

“What illness?”

“The craving for blood and power. Not always in that order.”

“Blood? Like bloodlust?”

He met her gaze and held it for several moments before she looked away. “Shifters aren’t like vampires. We don’t need blood to survive, but we do like the hunt. Those of us who live in a healthy Pack have the support and love of our pack mates, so the risks are low. But the ones with an Alpha that has submitted to his or her animal too much run the risk of going rogue.” He paused to let her soak in what he’d told her.

“Are there exceptions?”

He shrugged and peered back into the flames. “There are always exceptions. My mother is one. Because she is the first female Alpha of a Pack, she had to submit to her wolf a little more. However, she is a maternal female at heart. Her soul’s focus, along with her wolf’s, is nurturing and protecting her Pack.”