Lone Wolf Rising (Paranormal Romantic Thriller) (The Winters Series) (25 page)

"So does my grandmother do the same thing?"  Rebecca changed the solemn subject.  So much death, so much destruction.

               "It’s the duty of all witches to maintain balance.  Without balance there’s no earth, no life, nothing."  Angel offered up, it sounded like a programmed response, but seemed sincere.

"Yes and she’s very good at it.
  As good as your mother, who seemed to have a natural affinity for it."  Ricky's eyes glazed over again as he went back to a past moment that he shared only with himself.

"And my father?"  Rebecca wasn’t sure if this was the right place to ask.  She wasn’t too impressed with what she has learned about him since she started digging.  She found she was a little afraid of what else she might learn.

No one thought Rebecca noticed as all eyes lowered to the scarred wood table.  There were multiple couple's initials carved into the wood and circled by hearts.  "And my father?"  She raised her voice, unwilling to let them avoid her further.  She may have been afraid of what she would learn, but their reaction told her she needed to know.

"Your father; your father fell on the side of darkness, your mother, the light.
  He was very clear of his intentions of making the Convent laws a priority in your family, she was happy with the strict rules of the Authority."  Ricky offered with sympathy in his eyes.  “It was a matter of great contention in your family.  Some believe that is why she bound your powers, to protect you.”

"You mean to say my father was a bad person?"
  Rebecca knew he was a wizard and she knew he chose the Convent but that wasn't enough to make him a bad person.  In truth, there were many points the Convent had that she agreed with. 

"Your father loved your mother; that was obvious.
  Your mother thought she was changing him, and he thought he was changing her.  Her lineage required her to be neutral, his gave him free will and he chose the darkness.  Making that choice is not necessarily bad, it is simply a choice."  Ricky tried to explain.

“I thought it was both of my parents that bound us?”  Rebecca felt confusion flood her mind as she tried to put the pieces together.

“No one really knows, but your grandmother has searched high and low for a removal spell, which is why many people in the supernatural community know about your predicament.”  Ricky answered.

Rebecca found herself nodding as she digested the information.
  It wasn't what she wanted to hear but it helped her understand him more.  "I know he chose to be a wizard, I know he believed in the right to choose."

"
Yes."  Ricky smiled weakly, his eyes veiled.

"So that choice made him unable to help my mother with her charges?  They basically lived different lives when it came to the world of magic."
  Everyone nodded.

Rebecca rubbed the back of her neck, it ached.
  The more she dug into her parents’ life and death, the more her world seemed to fall apart.  But one question still seemed to weigh heavily on her mind.  Who killed them?  One thing she felt certain of now is that this wasn't a random accident.  Deep down she knew that should make her feel a little better, knowing it probably wasn't her plea to be rescued that night that aided in their deaths.  But still it was the not knowing that made it worse.  The guilt may be less but the rage at their untimely murders made her feel things she wasn’t familiar with and did not like.  At least as an alpha she could do something about it.

‘
It’s about time you realize my worth
.’  The wolf chimed in.  ‘
We’ll find their killer and avenge their deaths.
’ 

The wolf’s promise brought tears to the back of her eyes.  ‘
Thank you
.’

"Do you think the Protectors were right in assuming this was a human crime?"  Rebecca asked when her emotions were back to normal.

Ricky's eyes slid nervously towards Lucky.  Lucky remained stoic.  Everyone else lowered their eyes. 

"Honestly, I really don't know."
  Ricky said softly.

"And you’re sure you don’t remember who she met with that night?"  Rebecca found herself wishing Lucky would excuse himself from the table so Ricky would feel more comfortable answering her questions, but she knew he wouldn’t. 

Ricky shook his head and lowered his eyes. 

"Well, thank you for your help
.  Can I use the restrooms?"  Rebecca knew she was getting nowhere at this point; instinct told her he was lying.  Lies held a certain scent.  It didn’t matter what or who you were, lies carried a nervous scent.  He had that scent, and his heartbeat quickened every time he lied. 

She knew there was more to the story.  She also knew he wanted to tell her, but every time he was about to say more he looked over at Lucky.
  Rebecca knew Lucky wasn't trying to keep the truth from her, but his group, the Protectors might be.  She thought maybe getting away from Lucky for a few minutes might give Ricky or Angel the opportunity to talk to her freely.

"Oh,
I’ll take you."  Angel jumped up and grabbed her hand.  The protective instinct had her wanting to pull away.  She was not a touchy-feely kind of gal, but etiquette kept her hand where it was and she allowed Angelique to pull her towards the bathroom.

Behind
 them Rebecca heard Ricky excuse himself from the table offering the boys a soda and some snacks, which they wholeheartedly accepted.   Rebecca had to admit both sounded really good at the moment.  As if on cue, her stomach grumbled in agreement. 

"So have you thought much about how you are going to rebuild the pack?"
  Angel asked; curiosity clear in her eyes as they entered the restroom.  She jumped up and sat on the sink counter, her slim legs swinging back and forth.

Rebecca shrugged, "I figured I would start with the rogues."
  She closed the bathroom stall behind her fully expecting Angelique to stop talking for a moment while she did her business; but she was wrong.

"Can I give you some unsolicited advice?"  Angelique asked.

Rebecca rolled her eyes; she hated it when people began a statement with that question.  It wasn't until she was out of the stall and washing her hands before she shrugged and answered "sure."

Angelique moved in closer, her voice barely above a whisper.  With the music blasting in the background a human would have a hard time hearing her, but not a wolf.  "Be careful with the rogues. Test them well.  Some can’t be trusted."

"And Gabriel?"  Rebecca turned towards her as she dried her hands.

"Gabe is a wonderful guy who was messed up emotionally by his father.
  He refused to marry someone that his father wanted him to for the sake of politics.  His father exiled and disowned him in an ancient ceremony where his entire pack was required to beat him within an inch of his life.  Wolves are a rough breed.  It’s one of the reasons I’m thankful to be a Spanish elf, one of the farthest warrior classes from wolves as possible."  As if to reinforce her lineage she pulled her hair back behind her pointed ears.  "But he is loyal, if my opinion helps anyways.  You can trust him."

"I’m new to this whole business so any
genuine, honest opinion given my way is appreciated.  I can tell you’re that.  Thank you."  Before Rebecca knew what was happening she was pulled into a surprisingly fierce hug and a friendship that she knew would be a strong one.

"But one thing’s for sure, you’re a definite
 upgrade from Tomas.  He made many enemies and many believe he endangered his pack with his mood swings.  The rumor is that his alpha and his own humanity were constantly at war within"

Rebecca understood that feeling.  It seemed like she and her wolf were constantly arguing back and forth.  It was difficult to deal with.  She only hoped they would get on the same page soon, otherwise she feared her own sanity would suffer.

Rebecca shrugged her shoulders and said, "I try not to live in the past.  There’s often too much pain."

"I can understand that."
  Angelique smiled and opened the door for Rebecca. 

Rebecca put a hand up for a pause.
  She didn't want to ask this but she had to know.  She closed the door for privacy.  "Were you and Gabriel dating?"

She started laughing, "Oh no, no never.
  Gabe came here when he was first exiled.  He worked with us for a while until he got his strength back.  We bonded, but as siblings.  He’s like a little brother to me."  Angelique moved closer, as if to tell Rebecca a secret.  "Since the painful experience with his father Gabe promised the next relationship he had would be with his mate."

There was that word again.
  Mate.  "What, in all that is holy, is a mate?"

"From my understanding, wolves
 have one mate, someone they bond with for life.  Someone they put above all others including the pack.  Their mate is considered the other half of their soul.  It’s also the one person that the wolf accepts without hesitation."  She shrugged, "if you ask me it’s a romanticized ideal, but it’s the only romance Gabe wants."

"Wow."
  It was all Rebecca could say.  Gabriel wanted far more from her than she was willing to give to anyone at this point in her life.  She was only seventeen and had way too much happening in her life to appreciate that kind of relationship.  He was going to have to know that she was in no way his mate, despite her wolf's urges.

As if in response the wolf whimpered in her mind.

Rebecca headed toward the door.  "Thank you for making me feel so welcome, Angelique."

"Please call me Angel.
  I have a feeling we are going to be great friends."  She smiled as they left the bathroom.  That was officially the first female bonding experience she ever had in the bathroom.  But she was right.  They would be friends, good ones, Rebecca hoped.

Ricky
was waiting in the hall between the restrooms and the dinning room; he slipped out of the shadows.  "Rebecca, may I speak to you for a moment?"

Rebecca jumped at his surprise visit, "sure."
 

The look in his eyes turned from fatherly to dangerous in a flash of an instant.
  In that heartbeat Rebecca felt the hair on her neck and arms stand at attention.  Her wolf was alert and ready.  He moved in closely to whisper his message.  "I remember very clearly that night, the protectors have this information, and so shall you.  Your mother met with Celestia only hours before her death."

"Celestia?"
  The confusion on Rebecca’s face must’ve been obvious.  She met a Celestia outside this very establishment a few nights ago.  She wasn’t a person Becca wanted to meet again.

"Yes, the previous vampire queen.
  Many of us thought it strange that she was stripped of her title very shortly after your parents’ deaths."  He backed away from her, "if you want to start your investigation; that seems like a logical place to begin."  He smiled and turned swiftly.  One minute he was there, the next he was gone.  But the message in his words remained with her.

Chapter Sixteen

 
~"Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.”

 
~Barbara Alpert

Rebecca

Rebecca, Gabriel, and Lucky managed to get back to the school in time to pick Savvy and Hunter up after practice and Rebecca managed to make enough excuses that Lucky and Gabriel offered little resistance when she said she needed to go home.
  They felt even better after she agreed to rotate evenings with them for training.  She really did need to do a little research.  She wasn't lying.  She just didn't go into detail as to what that research was about.  Before Gabriel and Lucky left Rebecca and her siblings at the house, she asked Lucky to set up a meeting with Celestia.  He was reluctant but finally agreed to trust her intuition. 

Now, nestled in her bed, curled up with the ‘rule’ book, Rebecca finally felt normal for the first time since Friday night.  On the other bed, head bopping in time to the music on her ear buds, Savvy used her pencil as a drum stick on her text book.  Rebecca could easily forget about the secret lives their parents lived, the family secret that was kept from them, the pack,
 the Convent, and the Authority.  There was no judgment of good or bad in this room tonight, just two sisters studying for school.  No Gabriel, no Lucky, no fiancés, no mates, just simple teenage lives.

In that moment, Rebecca realized how envious she was of Savvy.
  She was still innocent in all of this.  They say ignorance is bliss and Rebecca would give anything to be ignorant again.  Savvy’s biggest decision was figuring out which boy was going to take her to the dance and which dress she planned to wear.  If Rebecca knew Savvy, she was also contemplating the option of wearing her hair up or down and which would look better with the crown.  Her life was so easy.