Dreams of the Forgotten (8 page)

The afternoon was consumed with business plans. My birth father, Ammar, had left me two businesses that Nathan managed after our dad, Ramsey, died. Ramsey and Ammar were twins. Like their father before them, Ammar was constantly moving to stay one step ahead of the assassins. Upon his death, Ramsey had adopted me, and took control of Ammar's inheritance, putting it in a trust for me. After his death in a car accident when I turned eighteen, Nathan had taken over my trust fund.

It wasn't until after I had found out I was Nathan's cousin, not a true brother did I learn of the inheritance. One business was a geology company and the other was a diamond handling company. Both of them were being moved to Clearwater so I could better manage and get to know the businesses that were left to me. It was be a huge undertaking. The majority of the employees were Lycans but I'd still need to employ people from the town.

Although I didn't think it was necessary, the mayor felt the need to entertain me for an hour after our meeting. By the time we'd left his office, my feet felt like melons and I was bone tired but not exhausted enough to skip my weekly visit with Theo's children.

A dark SUV, carrying six warriors, was leading our vehicle, with another containing six more warriors following behind us. In our car, Ushna and I sat in the middle row with Juan driving, Samuel shotgun, and two more warriors sitting behind us. All of the men dressed like cowboys. It helped drive the assumption these men were hands who worked on the ranch. Whenever we stopped someplace, all the men would scatter, leaving two to stay with Ushna and me. The appearance was deceptive because my warriors were never far from me, each able to communicate through their earpieces to coordinate their movements.

Comfortable in my cocoon of safety, I had reclined back in the seat and watched the business district give way to residential. Twice a week we'd come to town. I'd make my rounds handling business, meeting with tribe members who couldn't come to the ranch, and checked on Theodore Sullivan's three young children, whom I had been named guardian of: Justus, Neoma, and Dawn. Unfortunately, Theo's mate, Daniel Sullivan had been thrust into my care as well.

At one time, Theo Sullivan had been my Twin Flame until his lies and infidelity poisoned our bond and he almost killed me. I had the tie between us broken and I separated from Theo, not looking back. The leech, Daniel Sullivan, was the man, along with several women Theo had adulterous affairs with. Daniel had somehow convinced Theo that the two of them were Twin Flames and Ushna believed my animosity for the charlatan was repressed emotion.
Repressed, my big pregnant ass!
I'd repress Daniel right into the fucking ground if he so much as breathed wrong. He had everyone fooled into believing he was a likable guy. My predator and I, we knew better. His scent was rank to us. He'd bring us nothing but grief.

I had refused to let him live on the ranch. I needed to keep him away from those I cared about. We still went into town and visited with the children. I wanted to place them in a different household but Ushna firmly nixed my plans. Ushna argued that Daniel was the children's only remaining parent and I couldn't take them away right after they lost their father, Theo Sullivan. So I waited for the moron to fuck up.

To be honest, at first I had struggled with how I felt about the pups. They were the offspring Theo had desired, and reminders of a past that all but killed me, a love that nearly destroyed me, and a time I wanted to forget. I hadn't wanted to be interested in them, or to know them, but the alpha within me wouldn't allow the reticence. Instead, it had pushed forward my natural protectiveness.

Somewhere in the process of working through Theo's personal effects, the slow progression of sorting through Theo's life with his children, they had begun to turn into something more to me than orphans. The emotional distance I attempted to maintain disappeared. They were in an apartment across town but they were also in the boxes that lined the wall of my office. Before I knew it, they had been firmly ensconced in my heart and I was reluctant to kick them out.

We rolled past an alley and I had a glimpsed of a group of kids. "Stop! Juan, stop the car!" My hand fumbled with the seatbelt before the vehicle pulled to the curb.

Ushna didn't question, he followed me out as soon as my hands could open the door. The SUVs in front and behind had stopped, the warriors waiting until I had opened my door.

As swiftly as I could, I walked back to the mouth of the alley, my temper igniting at the scene that unfolded before me. Justus's arms were held behind him by an older blond-haired boy. A tall and lanky youth swung his fist, hitting Justus in the stomach. Neoma screamed and launched herself at the taller one, wrapped her legs around his waist, one hand gripped his hair as the other reached around to gouge at his eyes. Tiny Dawn hung from the blond's arm that held Justus, kicking the boy with her small feet. Justus screamed, demanded the boys leave his sisters alone.

I saw this in the few seconds of turning into the alley and I forgot where I was, bellowing a roar so loud and fierce the warriors around me fought to keep from changing, my anger calling to the Lupe within them. Ushna quickly grabbed my arm and the touch grounded me, helped me to fight for control.

"Uncle Tristan, Uncle Ushna!" Dawn released the blond boy and ran down the alley crying. Ushna stepped forward and caught her before she could break my illusion, revealing my pregnancy.

"Neoma, Justus," I called, unable to keep the rage from my voice, "come to me."
Sliding down the tall boy, Neoma gave a final tug of the boy's hair before she released him. Justus shook off the hold of the other, immediately going to Neoma, took her hand, and walked to me, his back straight with pride.
Unlike Dawn, they didn't run and embrace me. I knew they were more withdrawn than their sister but it still hurt a little bit. I wanted to draw them in and comfort them but I couldn't right now. They stopped in front of me and I stared at them, past the evidence of the fight to the children underneath.
Something wasn't right. Justus had a busted lip and a bruised cheek. He wore a long-sleeve shirt and baggy jeans but I didn't see a coat. Neoma wore a light jacket, her clothes similar to her brother's. The longer I looked, the more alarmed I became. Their hair was unwashed, faces and hands dirty, clothes stained and filthy. Neither child would look me in the eye, the longer I regarded them. They didn't say anything and appeared nervous.
I glanced up at the two boys who were still standing where I'd first caught them. It wasn't hard for them to recognize who I was. Silently I beckoned a couple of warriors to take the children to the cars and I walked forward to stand in front of the two boys.
"What are your names?"
The tall, lanky boy shook his long dark hair to cover his face, his caramel eyes peering at me through his hair. He was comprised of angles, a pup whose bones were growing faster than his muscle mass. "Ira Weatherby," he replied.
"Marek Gillander, Sir." The blond boy stood tall but not as tall as Ira and had an exotic tilt to his blue eyes.
"How old are you?" Ushna asked.
"Eleven," they echoed nervously as I stared at them.
"I'll send an escort home with you. They'll make sure you tell your parents what has happened here. You'll also tell them they've been summoned. They'll be contacted and given a time to meet with me in three days. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Alpha Janick."
I waved two warriors forward and made arrangements for the boys, Ira and Marek, to be driven home. The warriors would meet back up with us at Daniel's and then we'd go home.
Pulling up to the apartment the children and Daniel lived in; all three pups began to fidget. Nothing had been said on the way over but I had felt their tension increase the closer we'd come to their home.
Walking to the door, I realized the children hadn't exited the car. I rapped loudly, determined to get down to the bottom of their physical condition, and their skittish behavior. As illogical as it was, when the door didn't immediately open, it pissed me off more and I pounded, heavily snarling.
The neighbors living on either side of Daniel Sullivan stuck their heads out into the hall to investigate the commotion I had caused. The Lycans greeted me and then disappeared back into their apartments. Who wanted to get between a pissed off alpha and his target?
I scowled at the door, willing it to open, and when it didn't, I lifted my fist to abuse it some more.
"Alpha Janick." Justus stood at the entrance into the hall, the door to the outside closing behind him, only to be yanked open again. Neoma and Dawn stepped in behind their brother.
"I have the key." He held up his key ring, a single key hanging from it.
I moved away from the door. Justus was scared as he strode up and unlocked the door. The girls crowded in behind him as he walked through the entrance. The place was a
disaster
. Every flat surface was covered with debris. Empty food packages, soda cans, dirty plates and glasses, mail, and clothing. I was overwhelmed with the stench of rotting food and my stomach rolled.
I walked through every room, noting the cool air, taking in everything while I struggled to tamp down my temper. The kitchen was chaos. I searched in the cupboards noting the lack of food. When I opened the refrigerator, I held my breath against the reek. There wasn't electricity and from the state of biological growth within, it'd been off for a while.
I checked out the children's bedroom, observing the lack of clean clothes. In one room, the twin beds had been pushed together with a pile of sheets, towels, and blankets covering it. It was autumn and the nights were starting to get cold enough to reach freezing temperatures.
"Tristan."
I moved out into the hallway. Ushna stood in front of a closed door. He pointed to the shiny deadbolt. I walked back to the living room where the children stood waiting. "Do you know where your Dad is?"
My question was met with large doe eyes.
"How long has he been gone?"
Silence.
"Why didn't you call me, pups?"
Justus stepped slightly over and in front of his sisters. Neoma gave him a push but he wouldn't move. "We were told we'd get in trouble if we made trouble for anyone. But it wasn't their fault. My sisters didn't do nothing. It was my… my fault."
My predator was pissed and roared around in my head. I attempted to reassure the children. "You are not in trouble."
Justus didn't believe me. The last time I had seen Daniel was two weeks ago. No one had answered the door the last three visits. I thought he was simply being difficult and had taken the children elsewhere when he'd known I would come by.
"Did you not answer the door because you thought I would punish you?"
Justus said nothing but, over his shoulder, Neoma nodded her head. I gritted my teeth. Juan came into the apartment. He'd spoken to the neighbors to discover Daniel hadn't been seen for at least ten days.
"There is a deadbolt on a bedroom door. I want that door open. Samuel, help the children gather their belongings. They're coming home with us. I'll send a car for what we can't bring now."
The sound of splintering wood came from the hallway. Justus herded his sisters like a mother hen toward the bedroom. He was skittish and watchful of the people around them. If someone moved too close, Justus put himself between the stranger and his sisters. Not the typical behavior of an eight year old.
I breathed through my anger, long slow breaths.
"Xenres."
I stomped down the hall to the now opened door and stood at the threshold. I wasn't sure what I'd expected to see. Whatever it was, the sterile white room wasn't it. A twin bed covered in a white comforter, a night stand, a lamp, and a dresser. There were no wall hangings, nothing sat on the surfaces, no ornamental rugs, or other color. Why the lock?
I opened the closet and ignored the suits and shoes. My patience eroded the longer I searched the room. In aggravation, I started tearing the clothes off the hangers. If I was honest, I was angrier at myself than anyone else. Three visits. I'd been by on three separate times where I knocked on the door and walked away when there wasn't an answer. At least ten days the pups had been alone and on their own. Some fucking guardian I was. No electricity. No heat. No running water. They were running out of food.
Where the hell was I? On my ranch warm and fed and secure behind my guards. A Lycan left my territory without notification and I had been unaware. When there wasn't an answer, I thought it was another one of Daniel's games. How was I supposed to be a good father if I was such a shitty guardian?
"Alpha."
Samuel pulled a wooden case out of the dresser. It was twelve by eight and three inches deep. The wooden box was red lacquered with engraved lettering on the top that read
The Faithful Are Rewarded
. Inside the case were rows of rings laying pinched between hills of blue velvet. Magic pulsed off the items in the box. Instinctually, I knew not to touch and warned the warriors.
More searching revealed nothing else of value in the room. I glanced back at the demolished area and allowed myself the feeling of petty satisfaction. The pristine room was no more. If I'd been by myself I'd have given in to my predator's need to mark his belongings, a warning we were done being tolerant.
Warriors were carrying off bundles to the waiting vehicles. The children stood in the farthest corner from the activity, wary looks on their faces when I rounded the corner. I carefully sat on the edge of couch, making an effort not to wrinkle my nose in distaste at the pungent stench. I wasn't going to speculate what I sat on.
For a moment, the children and I regarded each other. "Come here." Hesitantly, the pups responded to my soft command. "You aren't in trouble. I'm taking you home, to live with us."
"For how long?" Neoma asked.
"Oh, forever. You'll be safe with us."
Justus gave me a look of undisguised disbelief. It called me a liar. Glancing at Dawn and Neoma, I could see they didn't believe me either. Not that I blamed them. Their father had died, they'd been kicked out of their home, moved to a tribe they didn't know, and nothing was familiar. Now apparently their only remaining parent had abandoned them and their guardian had so far proved to be useless.
Ushna sat next to me and took my hand, giving it an encouraging squeeze.
"I've let you down. I am alpha of this tribe and you've been without protection…"
"No, sir." Dawn clutched Justus's arm as she spoke to me. "We're supposed to learn to…" Justus shot Dawn a quick look. "It's not his fault," she whispered to her brother. "Dawn," reprimanded Justus.
Ushna cleared his throat. "Pups are never to be left alone for any reason. In this tribe, to Tristan and me, pups are treasures to be protected. What happened here broke the rules. Alpha Janick will take full custody of you. You'll come and live with us, as our children, until you are twenty and of age. Do you understand?"
"What about Dad?" Neoma asked, pushing limp hair out of her face.
I glanced at Ushna. "What do you want to know about him?"
"Won't he come and take us away?"
"No." My answer was immediate. Justus hadn't said anything, skeptical of our promises. It was in his eyes.
By the time we arrived at the ranch it was late, but we had a welcoming party on the front porch. Neesie and Marjan took the girls and I steered Justus toward Nathan's office. I wasn't sure how injured he was but I wanted him examined. Justus hadn't complained about the obvious trauma to his face, and I knew he wouldn't tell me if something was wrong either.
In the exam room, the boy fidgeted, feet swinging back and forth as he sat on the table, knocking his heels against the metal base. I stood in the corner, doing my best not to scowl. I wanted to earn his trust, not frighten him.
Ushna rested against the wall behind me. Unthinking, he placed his hands over my stomach and broke the illusion. Justus's eyes went wide, Ushna swore under his breath in my ear. I placed my hands over the top of his, holding them in place. The boy stared and I didn't hold back my smile. Nathan walked in and stopped inside the door, taking in the scene before him.
"Are you sick?" Justus asked.
Nathan sat down on the stool and rolled it in front of Justus. "No, he's not sick; he's pregnant."
Justus gave Nathan a
whatever
look. "He's a boy. Boys don't get pregnant." It was said with much authority.
"Human boys don't get pregnant," Nathan agreed. "Lycan boys, some of them can get pregnant, with help."
Justus's eyes had become comically large as he glanced back at me. "Why couldn't I see it before?"
Ushna spoke up. "Because we hide his stomach when we're not at home; the humans wouldn't understand and would hurt your alpha."
Large blue eyes darted from Ushna to me. We answered a barrage of questions that only an eight year old could think up until he was satisfied. Justus would tell his sisters. I had to make sure the three weren't around others who didn't already know. Asking them to keep this secret would be wrong. They were only children, too young for adult intrigue. The next couple of months, they would be kept on the ranch until the children were born and the announcements were made.
Nathan listened to the boy's heart, examined his throat, took his temperature, and then coaxed him out of the long-sleeve shirt for a physical examination. There was a moment when I had held my breath as I counted the bruises and scars. My predator roared, pushing forward to look out of my eyes at the pup. I had failed. I was his guardian and my charge sat before me covered in bruises and pink puckered scars. In that breathless moment, I hated myself for not knowing, not protecting the children who were entrusted into my care.
I snarled, unable to pull the sound back before it escaped my lips. I turned away so Justus wouldn't see as my beast changed the tint of my irises and the shape of my teeth. Colors bled away, turning everything into shades of gray. I pressed my hands against the wall, my nails long, sharp, and black.
My predator whispered to me, cajoling me, pushing me to hunt the creature that would dare touch and harm what was ours. I shook with rage and fought to stay where I was and not release a hunting howl. I would be a man when I faced Daniel Sullivan. I wouldn't be ruled by my anger or the primal part of me that called for his blood. No. I'd crush him as only as man could.
Coming back to myself I found Ushna at odds with himself. His soothing hand rubbed circled into my back but he also emitted hair-raising guttural snarls. I took his hand and kissed the pulse at his throat, helping him push back his Lupe. A small hand slipped between ours at some time, holding onto us, claws, and all.
I glanced down into the wide crystal-blue gaze and was gifted with a shy smile. I touched his face and said what I'd wanted to say for such a long time. "You and your sisters are our pups now, Justus. Never again will we allow another to hurt you."