Bryce Evans (3 page)

“
I understand.  You are going through the motions of what needs to be done and you get them done, but you can’t figure out what is missing, but you know something is missing from your life,” Adrianna said to Mace then he looked at her as if a light bulb moment just happened.

“
Yes that’s it.  I want to explain it to you, except I can’t because I don’t know what it is exactly.  It is just a feeling.  Something I can’t describe to you either.  Does that make sense?” he asked.

“
Yes it does, but remember it won’t last long, and when life changes for you, it will happen suddenly.  There will be no preparing for it.”  Adrianna allowed Mace to think about what she said as she started walking back toward the house, when Samson walked out the front door.

“
Are you psychic, too, Sissy?” asked Mace as he jogged up beside her.

“
No.  I just remember how I felt before my mates came into my life and changed it for me.” 

Before Mace could ask more questions, Samson walked up to him.

“So, Mace, do you mind if the Reddens become part of the pack and clan?” asked Samson.

“
No, Samson, I don’t.  You trust these people and that is good enough for me.  I will accept them in the pack Saturday night at the Mirage.  Will you guys be there, too?” said Mace.

“
Sure, we haven’t had a night out to have fun in a while.  What do you say, baby?”  Samson looked down at his mate as he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to him.  Samson placed his hand over his mate’s stomach. 

Mace looked at them, not understanding that
was what he wanted.  The love two people felt for one another.  Having to touch them just to feel whole.  Mace shrugged the feeling off, struggling with the emotions.

“
I’m game.  I’m excited to meet the woman who helped raise you.  I’ve got a lot of questions to ask about little Samson.”  Mace and Adrianna laughed as they looked at Samson’s scared face.

“
I have to go, guys.  Thanks again for lunch and I will see you Saturday night.”  Mace got into his truck as Samson picked up his giggling mate, kissing her as he carried her to the house.

Mary Redden walked into the guest bedroom where her daughter, Lexy, was staying until she could find an apartment.  Lexy was sitting on her bed with a book in her hand.  Her curly hair was framed around her face as she continued to read the book.  “Well I just got off the phone with Damen McDonald.  He is the Ashland Pack’s Beta and he said the Alpha has agreed for us to become part of the pack and Samson’s clan.” 

Lexy looked up from the book she was reading
, absorbing what her mother just said.  “Mother, I don’t really care what the Alpha said.  I’m going to be part of the Ward Clan whether the Alpha likes it or not.  Why do we have to join the pack, too?” 

Mary rolled her eyes shaking her head at her daughter then walked over and sat on the side of her bed. 
“Listen, Lexy.  We have a chance here to make a new beginning and for all of us to be together again.  The Twisters Council will be here in Ashland so you can continue studying with Felix, and Peter can be part of a pack again.”  Lexy looked away from her mother, trying to hide the tears pooling in her eyes.  She felt responsible for Peter having to leave his old pack. 

“
Lexy, please don’t cry.  He doesn’t blame you.  We did what we had to do to get away from him.  Peter loves you and thinks of you as his daughter,” said her mother. 

Lexy sniffed then got up and walked over to the window, looking out. 
“Do you think he will find me?” 

Mary got up and put her hands around her daughter, hugging her. 
“No I don’t, and if he does, he will regret it.  Your magic is so strong now; he won’t be able to hurt you anymore.  His father promised we would never hear from him again.  Plus—” 

Lexy pulled away from her mother. 
“Mom, you didn’t tell anyone, did you?” 

Mary didn
’t look Lexy in the face but turned around, walking toward the door.  “Lexy, I will never apologize for protecting my daughter.  I spoke to Samson in private and he assured me that he would protect you.  He won’t tell anyone.  It’s been ten years since it happened.  Look, perk up, we have the ceremony with the Alpha tomorrow night that will welcome us into the pack.  They call it the Mirage Dance.  It’s a way for all the different groups to come together and mingle.  We were requested to attend tomorrow night.”

“
Mom,” said Lexy.

“
Lexy, do it for Peter.  We owe him this.”  Mary didn’t look back at her daughter as she walked out of her bedroom.

Lexy watched as her mom left her bedroom.  She knew she owed Peter everything.  He had given up his pack to take Lexy and her mom away from Cain Holliday, the evil son of a bitch. 
He has caused my family so much pain, and for what?
Lexy mumbled.

Lexy couldn
’t help but remember all the things Cain did to her growing up.  Instantly, the memories began to flow into her subconscious like a snowstorm.  He was a wizard and his family was part of the Twisters Council.  Well, his father was on the Council, he was a rich and powerful man.  He thought Lexy and her family were trash since her mom wasn’t married when she was born.  Malcolm Holliday knew that Mary had an affair with a human.  He told everybody she was an abomination, bringing tainted blood to his race.  He tried to have them thrown out of the Twisters association, but Felix put a stop to it.  However, it didn’t stop Cain and his friends from tormenting her at school.  Day after day Lexy had to endure Cain’s relentless torture.  He would have the girls in his group gang up on her in the bathroom, knocking her down to the nasty floor, telling her she was fat and that nobody liked her.  Amanda Fullington was the worst one of Cain’s minions.  She adored Cain so she would do anything Cain wanted her to do.  She was beautiful but if you looked beyond the beauty, one could see she was just as evil as Cain was.  Amanda brought a pair of scissors with her to school every day.  She had told Lexy that she was going to cut her hair off since it looked like medusa with snakes crawling all over her head.  Amanda would walk down the hallway with them in her hands tormenting Lexy.  Amanda knew Cain liked her hair and she was jealous.  Lexy would make excuses so she didn’t have to go to school.  Her mom believed she was a sickly child when she complained of stomach pains and migraine headaches.  On the days Lexy went to school, she would huddle in the corner praying that Cain or his minions wouldn’t notice her.  Her beautiful curly hair would always get the attention of Cain.  He would smile as he watched her coming down the hall and yell out remarks to her, getting everyone to join in as he delighted in her torment.  Lexy cried as the kids chimed in, wanting to please Cain and his group.  They were just as scared of him as she was.  The only problem was the other kids had two parents that were witches and wizards. 

Lexy wasn
’t as fortunate.  Her dad was a human and when her mom told him she was pregnant, he left them.  Lexy’s dad wasn’t his mom’s true mate or he wouldn’t have been able to leave them.  Peter Redden was her true mate and Lexy loved him as if he was her real dad.  She owed Peter a lot since he protected them. 
Peter may not be my blood, but he was a dad in every other way that counted. 

Lexy could feel something dripping from her hands.  She looked down and saw blood dripping from where she had her hands balled up so tight that her fingernails were cutting into her
palms.  As the blood dripped, the lights blinked on and off from the power of her magic.  The windows rattled as the air shimmered around Lexy.  Her lips and chin trembled, remembering the fear she felt each and every time she encountered Cain.  Her body shook uncontrollably as she tried to calm herself.  Lexy released her hands and ran into her bathroom, turning on the sink faucet while she watched the blood run down the drain. 
Stop this, Lexy.  He is gone now and you don’t have to be afraid of him anymore.  That’s right, you are stronger now, better than him or any of them.  You are a beautiful person.  Tomorrow you start a new life with new people…maybe even new friends.

Mace looked at his reflection in the mirror, talking to himself as he straightened his tie.  Damen had already been in his office once telling him to get his ass out there and meet the new members of the pack.  It wasn’t that he did not want to go mingle, he missed the calm in his small town before the rush of so many new members. 
Well, you can’t stall anymore.  So get your ass out there. 
Mace sighed, then opened the door to his office.

He walked out into the
Pub and observed the different people mingling and dancing with each other at the Mirage Dance.  Damen was speaking to a middle-aged man and woman.  He watched as Damen turned and saw him standing beside the bar.  Damen waved at him, beckoning him to come over.  Mace grabbed his beer from the bartender and walked over to Damen.  “Mace, this is Peter and Mary Redden.” 

Mace smiled and extended his hand out to Peter first. 
“Mr. Redden, it is nice to finally meet you.”  Mary tried to shake Mace’s hand, but he reached over and hugged Mary instead.  Mary relaxed as she felt the warmth and generosity coming from Mace. 

“
Peter and Mary, it’s nice to meet you and welcome you to the pack,” said Mace. 

Mary and Peter both smiled at Mace. 
“Alpha, thank you so much for the kindness you have shown to my family since we have arrived.  We love the house and when I start my job and get my first pay check, I will pay you back the rent money.” 

Mace smiled but had no clue what Peter was talking about.  He looked at Damen for an explanation. 

“Peter, don’t worry about it.  We always try to help each other out.  Don’t worry about the money.  You are family and we take care of family,” Damen responded as he looked over at Mace, letting him know what Peter was talking about.

“
Peter, where will you be working?” Mace asked.

“
Well I thought you knew, Alpha.  I will be working here at the Pub as your new manager.”  Peter looked over at his wife, confused and worried about the Alpha not knowing he had hired him.

“
Oh, I’m sorry, Peter.  It is my job to find members new jobs.  I haven’t had a chance to tell Mace that you were hired.”  Peter looked at Mace, wondering if he really wanted him at the Pub. 

Mace knew he needed to say something.  He could see the despair in Mary and Peter
’s eyes.  “That is great, Peter.  You don’t know what a blessing it will be to have you working here.  I just don’t have the time to spend doing the manager’s work and be Alpha, too.  So this will be a great fix.  I understand from Damen that you have experience in this business,” Mace asked as he smiled at Peter and Mary, trying to ease their mind. 

“
Um yes, Alpha, I do.  I worked at the lodge in the last town we lived and it had a bar, too.  I was also the manager there, so I know how to do the job.  I hope you won’t be disappointed,” Peter answered.

Mace leaned forward, putting the Reddens at ease. 
“Look, Peter, if you show up every day, order the supplies and make sure the Pub is running smoothly, you will be great.  We will run into snags here and there, but we will get through it together.  We’re pack and we look after each other.”  Mace could tell Peter looked relieved to hear his Alpha tell him he would be great. 

All of a sudden, Mace
tilted his head up smelling the air.  It smelled like fresh strawberries and caramel. 
His favorite desert
.  The scent drew closer and closer as Mace looked around, trying to pinpoint where the smell came from. 

“
Damen, did you put desserts out tonight?” asked Mace. 

Damen looked at Mace as if he was crazy. 
“No, Mace.  You know we don’t serve desert here at the Pub.”

Instantly, Mace looked over and watched as a beautiful woman walked toward him.  He could feel his back straighten and his eyes widen as his stare fixated on the woman as she crossed the floor.  The music and noise from the Pub disappeared as she glanced up through the fan of curls surrounding her face.  She had curly hair with distinctive ringlets in corkscrew shapes that drifted around her heart-shaped face.  Her hair bounced and shimmered as the overhead light hit it at the right angle.  Mace could tell her hair, when touched, would feel springy and plush.  She was a no-nonsense girl.  This was a real woman with real curves.  His gaze roamed up and down her body as the blood surged to his cock.  She was beautiful
—and that was an understatement.  He was suddenly aware of his arousal pressing painfully against his zipper.  He had the overwhelming desire to step forward and touch her soft pale skin.  He forced his gaze up as she calmly came to stand beside Peter Redden.

Peter wrapped his arm around his daughter and introduced her to Mace. 
“Hey, baby girl.  I would like to introduce you to the Alpha of the Ashland Pack.” 

Mace couldn
’t keep his eyes off the beauty called Lexy.

“
Nice to meet you, Alpha.”  She extended her hand to Mace who continued to stare at her.  Damen cleared his throat when Mace delayed to shake Lexy’s hand.  Mace continued to stare at Lexy with hunger in his eyes until Damen nudged him with his elbow.  This brought Mace out of the haze of lust that had just attacked his body.  He was tingling all over as thoughts of what he wanted to do to Lexy bombarded him.  He looked over at Damen, then Peter, and noticed that everyone was staring at him. 

Mace cleared his throat. 
“Umm, sorry, Lexy.  It’s nice to meet you, too.”  Mace reached out to shake Lexy’s hand and when his hand touched hers, he felt an electric jolt.  Lexy jerked her hand back, examining her hand to see if she was burned.  Mace had done the same, shaking it.  Mace knew immediately the smell of strawberries and caramel was Lexy’s scent.  Then Mace heard his wolf whisper, ‘
Mate.’
 

Mace could feel the magic tingling in his body.  It felt strange because he never felt any type of connection to his magic.  Selena had informed him that it would come when it was time.  Mace
’s sight immediately darkened like a door opened in his mind.  Lexy was shaking as she walked toward an old farmhouse.  A man with blond hair was smiling at her while he watched her walk toward him.  He could feel her terror, as she got closer to the man.  Then the vision left him as quickly as it came. 

Lexy couldn
’t take her eyes off the Alpha of the Ashland Pack.  He was simply gorgeous. 
Why is he staring at me?  Do I have something on my face and he is embarrassed to say anything to me, or does he think I’m ugly and he hates that I’m in his pack now.
Lexy couldn’t help the self-doubt that had seeped into her conscience.  She hated feeling like this but everywhere she looked, there were beautiful women.  These feeling were new to her.  She didn’t feel like she fit and she wanted to so much.  Lexy didn’t want to stand here anymore.

“
Mace, your sister and her mates just walked in,” said Damen, breaking the heavy silence. Mace was still staring at Lexy, who was looking down at the floor.  Mary looked over at the door and saw Samson and his mates had just walked in.  Mary smiled and looked over at Lexy, who was staring at the floor. 

“
Will you excuse us, Alpha?  I see that Samson has just walked in and Lexy hasn’t seen Samson in a while.”  Mace looked over at Samson then back at Lexy.  When Lexy heard her mom say that Samson was here, she took the opportunity to get away from the gorgeous Alpha. 

“
What is
wrong
with you?” Damen asked Mace as he watched Lexy eagerly walk over to Samson and hug him.  Mace jerked out of the trance. 
What the fuck was that?  Was it a vision
? Mace started growling as he watched Lexy hug Samson.  Mace’s wolf was chomping at the bit to get out.
  ‘No, she cannot be my mate!' 

“
Dude, what is wrong with you?  People are staring, Mace.”  Damen elbowed Mace, trying to gain his attention.

Mace blinked several times and looked down at his hands as they trembled. 
“Damen, get me out of here.”  Damen looked down at Mace’s hands as they shook.  Mace turned pale and began sweating.  Damon grabbed Mace and pulled him in the corner out of view.

“
Alpha, are you okay?”  Mace wiped the sweat off his face with a napkin he picked one off the table and walked back toward the hallway where his office was located.  Damen followed Mace at a safe distance.  He didn’t know what was going on, but the look on his Alpha’s face wasn’t a happy face. 

Mace sat down at his desk, leaning his head back, trying to calm his emotions down.  He didn
’t understand what was going on and he didn’t like the way he was feeling.  He grabbed his tie and pulled it loose trying to get the much-needed air into his lungs.  ‘
No, she’s not my mate.  She is a witch, she isn’t my mate.
’  Mace continued to fight with his wolf.

“
Mace?”

Mace looked over at his Second. 

“What is wrong?  You are acting as if you are sick and we don’t get sick, so I know it’s not that.  One would think that you have found your mate the way you’re acting.”  Damen laughed, not realizing he was dead on the money.  Mace rubbed his hands together then leaned forward, placing his head between his legs.  “Okay, now you are freaking me out, Mace.  Talk to me.  Do I need to go get your sister or a doctor?”

“
No!  I will be fine in a minute.  I just need a minute to get myself together.”  Damen stared at Mace not believing him.

“
The way you were looking at Lexy Redden—” 

Damen didn
’t get a chance to finish his sentence before Mace bit his head off.  “Just give me a few fucking minutes and I will be back out there.  Go do your fucking job and see to the pack,” Mace said angrily.  Damen stared at him, offended.  Mace knew he had hurt Damen’s feelings, but he was so messed up emotionally that he couldn’t help it.  Damen turned and walked out of Mace’s office slamming the door as he left.

What is wrong with me?  Was that a vision or
, fuck, I’m going crazy.  That’s it. I’ve lost it now.  She is only a kid, well maybe not a kid, but she smells so good and she looks good, too.  She is perfect.  Her hair is brown with blonde streaks.  It’s long how I like.  Her hazel eyes are beautiful and her body is to die for.  All I want to do is lick her all over.  Man, get a grip.  Her dad is going to work for you and that is his daughter
.  Mace leaned back in his chair trying to make himself believe that Lexy wasn’t his mate and he just had his first vision.  “Fucking magic,” Mace muttered.

***

Mace stayed in his office for fifteen more minutes then a knock at his door brought him out of his thoughts.  “Come in.” 

Adrianna opened the door, staring at her brother with concern in her eyes. 
“Damen said you are not feeling well.”

Mace rolled his eyes as he leaned back in his chair again. 
“No I just needed a moment, Sissy.  You know we can’t get sick.”  Adrianna walked over to his chair and reached out and felt of her brother’s head checking for a fever. 

“
I don’t have a fever, Sissy.  Stop feeling my head.  You know we can’t get sick.”  Adrianna caressed his cheek before she dropped her hand back down beside her.

“
I’ve let it pass, Bubba, with the mood swings.  Now your Second in Command is worried about you.  I’m also worried about you.”  Adrianna was going to ask something when someone knocked on the door.

“
Come in,” Mace said it with a little bit of annoyance in his voice.

Mace immediately jumped up as Lexy opened the door.  He didn
’t speak but stared at her.

“
Um, Alpha, I don’t want to bother you, but—” Lexy started.

“
You’re not bothering me,” Mace quickly sputtered as he cleared his throat, trying to find his voice. 

Adrianna surprisingly watched the interaction between his brother and Lexy.

“Um, Lexy, do you…have you met my sister, Adrianna?”  Mace wanted to crawl under the table.  His face reddened when he stuttered.

“
No, sir, I haven’t yet.  I didn’t want to disturb her when she was talking earlier.”  Adrianna walked forward, smiling at Lexy.  Lexy stuck her hand out so she could shake Adrianna’s hand, but Adrianna wasn’t having that.  Adrianna pulled Lexy to her and hugged her in greeting. 

Lexy was shocked at the greeting she was given from Mace and his sister.  She had never had a friend so it was strange when Adrianna hugged her. 

“Samson has told me so much about you and your family, Lexy.  He loves you and your parents.  He thinks of you as part of his family.”  Adrianna watched as Lexy blushed when she finished her statement.  She then turned her head and watched as her brother stared at Lexy.  She knew something was up between the two of them.  The attraction was obvious.  Mace couldn’t stop staring at the girl.  Mace had never responded to any girl like this, even if he was attracted to them. She started to understand what was really going on, but she knew Mace was hardheaded and would have to learn the hard way.  She couldn’t help but wonder why Mace wasn’t accepting it.