Laying Claim to the Soul (13 page)

“You and me both, here.” Melody handed her a washcloth. “Hoyt is getting crackers and ginger ale for you. Now tell me what set this off?” she asked.

“Chax’s mother is a shit demon and let’s just say when she got mad at me, I had to get new clothes,” she mumbled into the wet cool cloth.

“Yuck! I’d be the same place you are right now. That is just gross. You okay now though?” She asked looking down at the sink seeing nothing. “What the?”

Tabby laughed. “My men,” she moved down the hall putting the cool cloth behind her neck. “Can I ask what you and Shane are going to do? Are you going back to the house? I really think that until Ben is caught, you should stay here. You two can have that room, I’m not using it. Plus it would help having you around here, because I have a feeling we’re going to have a full house again when everyone finds out I’m back and that I’m pregnant.”

Melody took her seat at the table that had been cleaned off except for Melody’s plate. “For now yes. The house was put in Ben’s name and I just don’t feel right staying there and Shane agrees. But we will need to find a place, sooner or later.” Melody smiled up at Shane as he came over and placed a kiss on her cheek.

“I’ve already spoken with Hoyt. We’ll be staying here until Ben is found. It’s safer. I don’t want Melody out there alone when I have to work. And she’ll be here to help you and you two can plan your weddings,” he said popping a ring in front of Melody.

“What? What are you talking about?” She screamed staring at the ring and Tabby couldn’t help but laugh.

“What I mean is we’re having a double wedding, you and me and Hoyt and Tabby. A human wedding and you’re marrying me.” He didn’t ask just put the ring on her finger.

“Really?” she cried, tears rolled down her cheeks looking up at him.

“Really. You’re mine Melody and I’m not letting you go. You two plan the wedding, a big one with all the bells and whistles. Hoyt has agreed along with Chax and Wol-itelm. We are done hiding. Now finish your food.” Shane said placing a hard kiss on her friend’s lips leaving the room when Hoyt came in with the trunk, while Chax carried the pop and crackers.

“I’d prefer the rolls?” she asked looking at Chax when he put the food next to her.

“I’ll get them in a minute. I don’t want you to worry about mom, she’s disappeared. Even dad has been looking for her after that last stunt. He was furious with her and you don’t want my dad mad, or you will learn why he’s the destroyer of our kind. His name is Bael by the way, but I know for a fact he’ll make you call him dad.”

“Oh and I forgot to tell you my parents and grandparents will be here tonight also,” Hoyt said sitting back down.

“As mine will be dropping by to meet you as well. So I think we should cook out tonight, like your barbeque. My mom loves to try all the new foods when they travel and I know they’ll be able to handle that.”

Tabatha sat there stunned. Talk about the in-law invasion. Her stomach knotted so she stuffed a cracker in her mouth. “Really? Damn…See I told you Melody. Now I know I’m going to need you. How long is everyone staying?” she asked.

“Mine will just stay for dinner, a few hours and there is no need to go all out for any of them. I mean it, Tabby, you have been through enough and have two babies to think of. We will take care of dinner. So quit worrying and open the trunk.” Wol-itelm ordered.

She snorted. “Melody, we’ll talk later about what we’ll need for dinner,” she mumbled pulling the trunk closer taking the lock off of it.

Chapter Sixteen

Hoyt watched Tabby open the trunk holding her breath. He had worries that there might be something in the trunk their woman couldn’t handle right now. Each of them were worried of her fragile nature since coming home yesterday. She put up a good front, but inside her head and heart they knew Tabby was holding everything in and soon the dam would bust.

He glanced over at Wol-itelm who had come back in the room with his friend, Therbelenth. From what Wol-itelm had told him, Chan Therbelenth was here for three reasons: to make sure Wol-itelm didn’t step over the line; to help protect their woman; and to find the source of the power that was here on Earth, but had suddenly disappeared.

“There’s a letter,” Tabatha whispered pulling out an old envelope. Her hand was shaking as she sat back staring at her name on it. “I’m almost afraid of reading it.” Tabby said her eyes watery, but held back the tears.

“Would it be easier if I…” she was already shaking her head at Hoyt.

“No, I have to do this, but thank you,” she reached over and squeezed his hand, before opening the letter.

Not being able to sit there, Hoyt got up and moved behind her chair resting his hands on her neck reading the letter with her.

My dear little girl, 3-24-01

I lay here wondering if you’ll hate me after reading this letter, but I have no choice. You must be told the truth. I just hope you can forgive a very lonely lady. Someone once said you can be surrounded by people, but still be lonely. How true those words are for an Alpha Bitch.

He squeezed her shoulders when a tear rolled down her cheek and she took a deep breath closing her eyes. “I want to hold her so much right now,”

“I know baby,” Hoyt said knowing how much her parent’s murder had taken out of his woman. “We’re here for you.”

“I know and thank you,” Tabby lifted the letter back up and continued to read.

Tabatha don’t get me wrong I loved my husband with all my heart, but in the beginning he would leave me alone with your brother for weeks. Finally, I left him for two weeks and found this place, along with Trace. You see my little one, Trace is your natural father. I have left you a map to his house. If he is still alive when you read this, he will be there within an hour upon entering the cave. He too is a were, just a lone wolf, preparing to spend his days alone. When you see him, tell him Little Butterfly sent you. He’ll understand. I told him about you, but he thought it best that you would be raised with the pack. I’m sorry I’m not there in person telling you this news. Be careful Tabby, those close to you aren’t what they seem.

I will always be with you and Love, your Mom!

“Great, just great. My dad wasn’t my dad, but this doesn’t explain why everyone wants me dead? I mean my real father is a wolf, so what is the big fucking deal?” she screamed throwing the letter onto the table, angry and hurt.

“I mean I can see Ben being pissed that mom did this, but this is no reason to kill me or act like a total jackass.”

“Maybe we should put the trunk away for now?” Wol-itelm suggested and Tabby shook her head.

“No. I need to figure this out, but if my real father is at this place, maybe he might be able to help us. He might know why others want me dead.” She picked up a map and handed it to him. “Let me get changed and we’ll go. Bring the trunk. Maybe my father can help go through it with us.” She rose and made her way to the bedroom without saying anything else.

Wol-itelm followed her as Hoyt took the letter and put it back into the trunk, closing it. Melody placed her hand on his arm. “I’ll get things ready here for everyone’s visit. You three need to be with her today, whatever the outcome is.” She left the room with Shane leaving him and Chax.

“I’ve called a meeting later tonight for the pack with my father and yours here. I think it’s time to inform everyone what’s happened,” Hoyt said and Chax nodded.

“Will you accept her father into the pack if he’s a lone wolf?” Chax asked moving toward the bedroom knowing Tabatha was in Wol-itelm’s arms right now crying.

“Yes. He stayed close if he is still there, so it’s saying something. Plus, we’ll be able to see how he deals with all the news.” They stepped into the bedroom and Tabitha looked up at them, trying to smile.

“I hate to say this, but I’m scared. Why didn’t he want to raise me? I know he had to hear of Mom’s death and Dad’s. Why not step forward then?” she shook her head and sighed. “I have more questions than answers now. What if he isn’t even there anymore?”

“Up you go.” Wol-itelm said. “We won’t find out sitting here. Let’s go.” He took her hand and looked at them. “Ready?”

Hoyt nodded.

*****

`Snow Mountain stood tall in front of her. Overgrowth covered the place where her mother had once come. The parking spot where her mother used to park her jeep was still there, but. Gazing around, nothing but woods surrounded them. Only the entrance to the cave just like the map had pointed out.

This was a place her mom came to when things were bad between her and my father. From what she gathered, no one knew of this place. “Now how do we get in?” she looked towards Wol-itelm and he winked, nodding to a huge bolder.

She followed Wol-itelm into the cavern, and lanterns that hung on the wall lit up as they made their way down into the mountain.

The air started to get hotter and she knew they were descending down further into the ground. Turning corners she stopped stunned at what she saw. A room the size of half a football field lay out before her. The walls were smooth, hung with pictures, a large king size bed sat in one corner of the room while a kitchen stood in the other. Little things she knew belonged to her mother decorated the room.

“Wow, how in the hell did she get all this stuff in here?” Walking around the room, she spotted a large 8 x 10 envelop lying on top of the bed with her name on it. She dumped the contents of the envelope onto the bed sitting on the edge with Chax next to her.

Keys, photos and some kind of journal. 
My life is a lie all of it.
She picked up the picture of a man staring tall. She had his features. She now knew who she looked like. He too had fair skin and light hair. 
Is he still alive?

“Yes, I’m still alive. Who are you?” The growling question came from the end of the bed.

She jumped as did Chax, but Wol-itelm stayed where he was, leaning against the wall. “He’s your father.”

Tabby nodded and slowly looked up at an older version of the pictures on the bed. “From what my mom says, I’m your daughter, Tabatha.” She grabbed the pillow and hugged it. He scanned her from head to toe.

“You have my light coloring, I had hopped you would have your mother’s.” He sat down in the chair near the bed. “I take it your mother is gone from this world?” Sad eyes met hers.

“Yes, she was murdered a few years ago with her husband.” Tabatha watched the man. How could he not know about her parents?

“Who are they?” Trace nodded to her men.

“They’re my mates. Chax is here next to me. Hoyt is holding onto Mom’s trunk and Wol-itelm is leaning against the wall.”

“As for your question why I didn’t know about your mom? In this place here, you lose time. You see I’m not a normal wolf and if others found out about me, they’d try to kill me, so I live here away from everyone.”

“What do you mean you’re not a normal wolf?” Wol-itelm asked. “I can’t get a feel of what you are which is strange in itself.”

Tabby moved off the bed towards Wol-itelm sliding her arms up around his neck. “Easy there, my big gecko. Give him a chance to explain.” She kissed his chin and rubbed her cheek against his chest when Therbelenth came into the room, shocking her and Wol-itelm.

“He comes from my planet,” Therbelenth said, looking from Tabatha to her father. “That’s why she can change, Wol-itelm. She might not be the white dragon in true form.”

“Don’t! She is my mate. I knew it before she changed into the other. Just because her father is one of you means nothing, except she has more gifts then what we knew of,” Wol-itelm looked from her father to Therbelenth. “How do you know him?”

“He’s my, how do you say it, Uncle. No one has seen or heard from him in over 200 of your Earth years or 50 of ours. Trace, you know father has been worried about you?” Therbelenth said not moving while her father stood and stretched.

“I’m surprised he even noticed I was gone. I’ll contact him later, but you are wrong. She is white, as I am,” Trace said, shocking Therbelenth, actually making the man step back away from him.

“Then why didn’t you claim the throne?” he asked, scanning her father with dark black eyes.

“That is my business,” her father turned to her and held out his hand. “Come here, child, let me take a closer look at you.”

She looked at the hand he held out and took a deep breath, knowing her mother would want this. “I do this for Mom, but I have to ask, did anyone else know what or who you are?” Tabby put her smaller hand into her father’s and at once a small cold charge went through her, showing her the history of his planet.

“Wow, talk about a computer dump,” she shook her head.

“Sorry, but you needed to know since Therbelenth seemed to share his knowledge. It’s only fair you know who you are. I was hoping this wouldn’t affect you, but I see I’m wrong. Why did you ask if anyone else knew who I was and what I was?” her father asked, pulling her to him and hugging her tight. “And what happened to your mother?” He led her over to a small table.

“You carry two little ones, sit,” her father said, looking at Wol-itelm. “You’re an Anasazi?”

“Yes, and one of her mates. Your nephew here is making sure I don’t step over my bounds and is helping us. Someone murdered her mother along with her mate, but until recently your daughter had been safe.”

Trace plopped down in the chair stunned. “I should have stayed away, but your mother… The pack was destroying her slowly. She wasn’t that strong inside as I see you are. It’s one of the reasons her mate stepped down from being Alpha. He knew she couldn’t handle being the alpha bitch, but it was a little too late. He found out about us right before you were born. Needless to say, that was the last time I saw your mother. You say someone has been trying to hurt my girl?” Trace said softly, but Tabatha knew the deadly threat in his voice.

“We just got her back two days ago. Someone from 
Tremzs
had her in subspace for over a month. I know three people who are involved and I will take care of them when the time is right, but I do believe the word is now out that you are here and that you are her father. They have been looking for you. Trying to draw you out. How do you know Erole?” Wol-itelm moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders rubbing them, but her father’s low growl seemed to shake the room.