Avenging Autumn (6 page)

Autumn moved forward to stand beside Chogan. She didn’t need him speaking for her. “I know that name,” she said. “You’re the one who’s been leading that gang—Tooth and Claw—or something.”

His blue eyes narrowed. “We’re The Company of Tooth and Claw, and we’re not a gang. We’re a movement. A revolution.”

She gave a cold smile. “I think you’re a little late on that front. The revolution has already happened, in case you weren’t aware. The existence of shifters is out in the open now.”

He folded his arms across his broad chest, and Autumn did her best to keep her eyes on his face. This guy seemed like a total asshole, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a fine body, and right now, the entire thing was on display.

“Don’t you have any clothes hidden somewhere?” she snapped.

He took another step closer and Chogan lifted his weapon. A couple of Ollie’s shifters growled, lips curling and flashing white teeth.

“Why? Does the sight make you uncomfortable?”

“Stay right where you are,” snapped Chogan.

“Why did you attack my shifters?” Autumn demanded.

“Your shifters ...?” His eyes narrowed. “Hang on a minute. I know who you are.”

Chogan’s fingers closed around her arm. “We should get going.”

Autumn knew Chogan was right, but something about this young man intrigued her, and it wasn’t just the perfect set of abs or the sparkling blue eyes and dangerous set to his jaw. This guy obviously had plans, and had people on his side. What did he plan on doing with this gang he had formed? She needed to know more.

“Autumn,” Chogan hissed in her ear. “These people might have been connected to Mia’s shooting. In case you’ve forgotten, there’s a good chance that bullet was meant for you. They like to cause trouble, and we have enough on our plate right now.”

“We’ll be leaving in a minute,” she told him. “First of all, Mr. Pritchard here needs to answer my question. Why did you attack my shifters?”

“We didn’t attack them. They came running at us, and we reacted, that’s all.”

“So you just fought for the sake of it?” She couldn’t hide the disbelief in her tone.

Ollie cracked his knuckles. “It’s good to keep the skills well-honed.”

“Bullshit. I think you’re protecting something ... or someone.”

“Think what you like, but I told you the truth.”

“So you’re not involved with Vivian Winters then?”

His smooth brow formed creased as he frowned. “Vivian Winters? Isn’t she the psycho who was testing on shifters?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

“Why would we be involved with her?”

“Because we’re looking for her, and you just happened to try to stop us in our tracks.”

“Why are you looking for her? Didn’t the government shut her down?”

“Yes, but she hurt someone I love.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “So you’re out for revenge?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, in that case, why don’t we tag along? There’s strength in numbers, right?”

Chogan spoke up. “We don’t need you to come with us. We have plenty of strength on our own, as you just experienced for yourself. I’ve seen how you guys operate—pick on the weaker person for your own entertainment. We don’t need to be associated with your type.”

Ollie’s blue eyes flicked between Chogan and Autumn. “But you’re the one who is in charge here,” he said, addressing Autumn. “I know who you are, and what you’re able to do. I’d be willing to lend you my guys as extra muscle, if it means I can get a taste of you, Autumn.”

“Watch your mouth,” Chogan snapped, though a strange thrill went through Autumn.

He smiled. “Chill, bro. I only meant a taste of what she can do. I have a couple of human friends who would like to be turned. I don’t normally think much of regular humans, but these guys are tough and would make excellent shifters.”

Chogan snorted. “What, so you’d be able to go around tormenting more innocent people?”

“People need to know who is in charge around here.”

“Right now,” said Chogan, “the people who were in charge, are still in charge. Some of them might be shifters, but nothing has changed in that respect.”

Autumn wondered about Chogan. When they’d first met, he’d been a staunch advocator of shifters above humans too. She was almost surprised he wasn’t taking Ollie Pritchard’s side. While the last thing she wanted was for the shifters to start some kind of war against the people, his turn of mind astonished her. But, whatever Chogan thought, she felt like they could do with some extra shifters on their side.

“Coming with us might be dangerous. Are you ready for that?”

Ollie grinned. “We’re ready for anything.”

Chogan spun to her. “Autumn, this is a mistake. I know you’ll do anything to take Vivian out, but inviting a group of shifters we already know are trouble is plain stupid. Your grief isn’t allowing you to make rational decisions. What would Blake say if he were here?”

She experienced a pang of guilt at the thought of Blake. He’d tell Ollie to get lost, too, but if she had Blake, maybe she wouldn’t feel the need for extra backup. “Yeah, well, he’s not here, is he?”

Chogan pressed his lips together, obviously forcing himself to keep his thoughts to himself.

“So how are you planning on finding Vivian Winters?” asked Ollie.

“We have one of her men in the truck back on the road. He’s giving us directions.”

“Directions? So he didn’t put up a fight for his superior then?”

“No. Vivian wants me to find her. So if you really want to come with us, you need to be prepared. She’ll be watching out for us and has no qualms about killing every single one of us.”

Ollie nodded. “Noted.”

“Good, then let’s move. I assume you’ll be traveling as a shifter?”

“Sure will.”

Autumn moved to turn away, and then turned back. “Oh, and Ollie?”

He raised his eyebrows in anticipation of what she was about to say.

Autumn continued, “If I ever see you or your guys so much as lay a paw on one of my friends again, I’ll shoot you in the head myself.”

––––––––

B
LAKE HAD WATCHED from his wheelchair on the porch as the others left to shift, and Autumn walked away with her prisoner.

It wasn’t just his paralysis and feeling of uselessness that left him hollow and hurt. As he’d watched the others go into the forests to shift, he realized that he missed his wolf as well. It had been part of him for as long as he remembered, and now he had to get used to existing as a regular person. The world had dimmed for him. The longer he spent in this crippled body, the farther and farther his wolf had distanced itself from him. At first, he’d at least been able to get a sense of it—though fearful and confused, whining as it moved away from him. But now he sensed nothing. Blake believed that, since they normally existed in a symbiotic relationship, with him providing a strong and healthy body for the wolf to shift from, and now was no longer able to do so, the spirit guide was also withdrawing its part of the deal. It no longer provided him with the heightened senses and ability to see beyond what his own eyes could see. The last thing it would want to do was shift into a broken body and find itself trapped. Blake couldn’t blame it for staying away.

His father stood at his side, his hand rested lightly on Blake’s shoulder.

“Are you all right, son?”

Blake shook his head. “How can I be?”

“You need to come to terms with the person you are now.”

“I can’t. He’s unrecognizable.”

Movement came behind them, and Blake turned to see the woman, Madison, who Chogan had picked up off the side of the road, together with her young son, Billy. Her dark hair hung loose around her face, her green eyes bright. She was looking at them apologetically.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I was going to make something to eat. Can I get you both anything?”

Blake shook his head. “No, I’m fine, thank you.”

“You have to eat,” his father admonished. “I thought you were doing better with all of this.”

“Sorry. It’s just with Autumn going away again, and me being stuck in this goddamned chair ...”

“Mister,” a little voice said from next to the side of his chair. “You just said a real bad word.”

Blake glanced down to find the little blond boy sitting on the floor beside his chair. In his hand, he held a couple of marbles and he threw the biggest one out onto the porch to see if he could hit it with the others.

“I did, huh? Yeah, I guess I did. Sorry about that.”

The boy shrugged, and threw another marble. It missed the one he was aiming for by a yard. “That’s okay. My daddy always uses bad words. He uses even more bad words when mommy tries to tell him off.”

Blake glanced over at Madison. Her cheeks had colored pink and her gaze shifted away from him. “Come on Billy. The nice man doesn’t want to hear all about that.”

“Nah, he’s okay,” said Blake. “It’s good to have some company that doesn’t judge for once.”

“I’m not judging,” said Lakota. “I’m only trying to help.”

“I know, Father, but I can’t help how I feel.”

Madison turned to head back into the house. “So how’s that sandwich sound?”

Blake nodded. “Sounds great, thanks.”

“And milk for me, Mom!” shouted Billy, though Madison was well within hearing distance.

“What’s the magic word?”

The boy rolled his eyes. “Puuuuhhlllease.”

Madison rolled her eyes at Blake in exactly the same way her son had done to her, and disappeared back inside to get the sandwiches.

“I’ll go and see if I can help,” said Lakota, and followed the woman.

Blake was curious to know about this human mother and child who had made themselves at home with the shifters. Chogan had seemed particularly taken with her, but he wondered what her motives were. Did she assume she’d found protection with the shifters? If so, he couldn’t imagine what kind of protection she thought she would get now, left here with an old lady, an elderly man, and a cripple.

“So have you seen your dad much lately, buddy?” Blake asked to the boy still playing marbles.

He shrugged. “Nah. He went out one night, and after he’d gone out, Mommy said we needed to go for a ride. That was a few sleeps ago now, and I haven’t seen Daddy yet. When I ask Mommy when we’ll see Daddy again, she just says, ‘soon,’ but I don’t think she means it really.”

“Do you want to see your dad?”

“Don’t know. I miss him, but when he shouted and hit Mommy, it made me sad and frightened me a lot.”

“Jeez, I’m sorry, bud.”

“It’s okay.”

Madison and Lakota walked back out, carrying a tray each of sandwiches, chips, and drinks.

Billy saw the food and jumped to his feet. “Oh, yummy!”

“What have you two been chatting about?” Madison asked, her eyes flicking between him and her son.

Billy shoved a handful of chips into his mouth. “Just Dad,” he said, around them.

“Hey! Say it, don’t spray it,” his mother chided.

“Sorry.”

Madison looked to Blake. “We needed a little space,” she said. “It’s just a vacation, really.” Her eyes flicked to her son, and Blake understood that she didn’t want to say too much in front of him.

“Sure, I understand.”

Lakota handed him a plate of sandwiches, and Blake rested the plate on his lap before lifting one of the sandwiches to his mouth and taking a bite. Salt beef, Swiss cheese and pickle. His taste buds danced at the sensation, and Blake was reminded how he was still able to take pleasure from the small things in life. Things like having Autumn straddle him, the tips of her blonde hair tickling his chest as she curled her back over him.

Blake cleared his throat and glanced down at the plate, trying to clear his head of the inappropriate thoughts racing through it. Yes, he could take pleasure in the simple things in life. But only if Autumn came back safe. If she didn’t, he couldn’t imagine having a reason to want to live. Food would no longer have any taste, the air would never be as fresh. Perhaps it was bad to base his whole reason for existing on another person, but then he glanced at Madison wiping her son’s face, and wondered if she would say the same thing.

Billy came to stand in front of the wheelchair. He reached out and touched the armrest. “Were you born in this chair?” he asked.

“Billy,” Madison said, a warning tone to her voice.

“It’s fine,” Blake said, and turned back to the boy. He was tempted to tell him that it would have been pretty painful for his mother if he’d been born already in the wheelchair, but decided not to. He didn’t want to welcome any more awkward questions from the boy. “No,” he said instead. “I’ve only been in this chair for a few days. I used to be able to walk, just like you.”

“Could you turn into an animal like the others?”

“Yes, I could.”

“But not anymore?”

“No.” His stomach twisted with the deepest of regret, his hands clenching into fists. “My spirit guide won’t join with me now that my body doesn’t work.”

Billy frowned. “But isn’t a guide supposed to help you?”

“Yeah, I guess it is. Except spirit shifters have a kind of deal, you see. They help us by giving us guidance and allowing us to see a part of the world we wouldn’t be able to without them, and, in return, they get the use of a body again, and get to run back on earth for real. I can’t hold up my end of the bargain.”

The boy’s nose wrinkled. “Still seems mean.”

Blake sighed. “Yeah. Maybe, but it’s just the way things work.”

A part of him couldn’t get to grips with the idea that he was no longer a shifter. It was something he’d known his entire life, and without it he felt bereft.

“That’s enough questions now, Billy,” said Madison.

“Okay.” Billy picked up his empty cup. “Can I get some more milk?”

“Sure, the carton is on the side in the kitchen. But be careful not to spill. Or second thoughts, ask Wenona to help you.”

“Sure, Mommy.”

He disappeared inside to hunt for a refill.

Blake turned to the brunette. “So Billy’s dad has no idea where he is?”

Madison shook her head. “You’re probably going to tell me how bad that is of me, right?”