Walker's Run (29 page)

“I was. Twenty years worth of vengeance, and I paid for your misjudgment, Dad.”

He dropped his head and closed his eyes. “But Braedyn rescued you.”

“Braedyn nursed me through my first series of transformations and felt guilty because he takes half the blame for what happened that day so long ago.”

Furrowing his brows, her father shook his head. “He was the adolescent wolf.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I was playing with him. I got tired, sleepy, and scared. He went and got his father. They curled up with me to keep me warm and safe. They were going to let me rest before they took me back.” She bit her bottom lip, remembering his words about not being able to trust a wolf. “Knowing what I am now, how does it change our relationship?”

His expression softened. “You're my daughter, Casey. You and your brother are the biggest parts of my soul. No matter what you do or what you become, that will never change.”

“I also know how you feel about wolves.” She looked him in the eye. “I can't change what I am, Dad.”

Dean sat back in the chair and smiled, looking at Casey. “I always told Dad you should have gone into the military, did you know that?”

Casey shook her head and blinked at her brother. The abrupt subject change floored her. “What?”

“You should have gone into the military. Want to know why I thought so?”

She was confused.

“You fell from countless trees as a child; a broken nose from playing football is the only broken
anything
I can remember you ever getting. You played tackle football with me and my friends...who outweighed you by at least fifty pounds or more. You've always been tough.” He laughed. “You're smart and
tough
. You would have been perfect for the military, but you chose photography. You chose to stand behind a lens and shoot rather than behind a gun. You've always had the knack for seeing people for who they truly were. You just never seemed to use that ability with me or Dad.”

She shook her head, listening to her brother. “What do you mean?”

“Dad and I are Guardians, Casey. We work for a specific black-ops unit that deals with preternatural, supernatural, and paranormal beings.”

Her father nodded when she turned to him. “With my connections from the military and the fact that I needed to stay close to home because of you two after your mother left, I joined. The guide I had in Haiti helped me to find a place where I could be useful to protect the world on another level. Walker's Run is a sanctuary for Weres. Laveaux told me about it more than twenty years ago,” he said with a sigh. “Supposedly, it’s one of the best sanctuaries in the world, and I killed their Alpha, didn't I?”

Amber sat back in her chair and tapped her finger nails on the table. “Yes, you did.”

“Braedyn is the new Alpha?”

The brunette nodded.

“And you? Are you a wolf?”

“No and that’s what makes me a better ally to Braedyn than any other in this pack.” She gave Casey a tight smile. “Wow, so much for them taking the news badly.” She turned to Dean, and he narrowed his eyes.

“If you're not a wolf, what are you? I can tell you're not human. No human woman of your stature could have hefted that box the way you did.”

Amber smiled and cocked a brow. “You knew I wasn't human, yet you still flirted?”

Dean laughed. “I've seen enough and learned enough to know when I could be in danger, even though I have no doubts you can be dangerous when you need to be. You're close to the Alpha family, but you're not a wolf and you're from Vegas...” He pursed his lips, thinking a moment. “Vegas has a conglomerate of greedy and nasty Weres. The largest group there used to be tigers. I worked out there for a while about five years ago. We wrapped up a few of the most dangerous Weres with a tip from someone here in Walker's Run.”

Amber looked down at the table. “I am a tiger.”

“Working with wolves?” Peyton gave an amused smile. “It must be pretty hard for you.”

The brunette shrugged. “Braedyn isn't prejudiced. I still have no idea why he keeps me around sometimes.”

“Because you keep me on my toes,” Braedyn said walking into the kitchen. He sighed looking at Peyton and Dean. “Sorry for the secrecy gentlemen and the quiet entrance. I've been listening for a bit.”

Peyton and Dean stood and shook Braedyn's hand.

“So you two pretty much already knew what was going on the moment you headed out into the forest, didn't you?” Braedyn asked, placing his hands on Casey's shoulders.

Peyton shrugged and smiled. “I knew a lot more than I let on, but didn't know everything. My heart prevailed. After the dreams, it was all I could do not to go mad trying to find out how my Casey was. I've spent my life trying to protect her from this, but because of a stupid mistake I made twenty years ago, she's paid the price for it.”

Braedyn gave a grim nod. “I don't think anyone knew which spirit would choose her. Though many prophets have talked of her return, no one knew when.”

Peyton narrowed his eyes and sat back down in the chair.

“It’s written in the very book you Guardians follow. Most of the Guardians are psychics and clairvoyants who range with other abilities to help aid them,” Braedyn explained, squeezing Casey’s shoulders gently. “Some are even prophets.”

Dean leaned onto his elbows on the table and looked in her eyes. “You must be the Silver Wolf. We caught wind the Silver Wolf stepped in, defeating the most viscous leader in North America recently.”

Casey shifted uncomfortably under her brother's gaze.

Her father sighed and ran a hand down his face. “Well now, for as close as we were, we sure know how to keep secrets from one another, don't we?” he said softly. Leaning across the table, he took Casey's hands into his and looked in her eyes. “You're still my little girl. Our job isn't to police preternatural, supernatural, or paranormal beings. We watch, and we intervene only when necessary.” He looked up at Braedyn. “You of all people know what we do, and there’s no real danger in us unless it’s provoked or required.”

Braedyn nodded. “I've worked with a few Guardians in the past. It was me who gave you the tip for Vegas. I saw first-hand how viscous they were, and I couldn't possibly have them exposing us all to the world.”

Amber sighed and shifted in her chair and ran her hands through her hair. “All right, this is all out in the open. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm
hungry
.” She picked up her napkin and laid it across her lap, and then picked up her sandwich. “I've been polite.”

Dean grinned. “Nice, you’re a woman after my own heart.” He reached down for his own sandwich.

Casey shook her head. “I think my appetite is gone for the time being, to be honest with you all,” she said with a sigh, pushing back from the table. “Braedyn, you can have it if you like. I think I'm going to go and take a bath and gather my thoughts.”

Braedyn watched Peyton push back from the table and move to follow Casey. He held up a hand to stop him. “She's got to have some time to get this all straight in her head, Peyton. Casey’s been through a lot, in a very small amount of time. Give her some space.”

Amber managed a few more bites of her sandwich before she glanced up at him, and then at the other two men staring at her. She growled, set her food down, and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “It is not nice to keep a tigress hungry, boys. You know this, right?”

“Please, right now you are probably the only one she’ll talk to,” Braedyn said with a shrug.

Sighing, she rose from the table and cast a longing look at her unfinished sandwich before leaving the room.

Braedyn turned to the men seated at the table and sighed.

“So how much trouble do you reckon we’re in, Dean?” Peyton asked running his hands through his hair.

Dean laughed and shook his head. “No telling, Dad. You know how long Casey can hold a grudge.”

“She loves the two of you and was scared to death to tell you what had happened. Afraid of how you’d react. Let’s just give her some time to digest this new information. I’m sure she’ll come around sooner than you think.”

“Did you know what we were?” Peyton eyed him over the table.

“No, at least I don’t think I did. There was something…different about you. But honestly, my only concern was Casey and getting her through the final shift the night you came.”

“You truly love her?”

Braedyn smiled and nodded. “More than my own life.”

Peyton returned his smile. “That’s exactly what every father wants to hear.”

* * * *

Casey heard the knock on the bedroom door and ignored it, expecting her father or Braedyn. Right now, she didn’t want to talk to any of them.

“Casey?”

It was Amber. “In the bathroom,” she called back with a sigh.

“Are you decent?”

Unable to help it, she laughed. “Yes, I’m just running the water.”

Amber pushed open the door. “You okay?”

She ran her fingers through the water, testing the temperature, and then rose from the edge of the tub. Turning, she looked at her friend. “I don’t know.”

“I understand it’s a lot for you to process right now. But at the very least, you know your father and brother have a better understanding of what you are.”

“I just can't believe they’ve kept this a secret from me.” Casey shook her head and leaned against the sink. “That they hid it from me.”

Amber raised her hands. “Just like you were worried about how to explain to them what you'd become. They were afraid to open that door for you. You're successful out in the world. It very well could have changed your view when you weren't ready to accept it. They weren't hiding it from you, Casey. They were trying to protect you.”

Casey closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “Yes, I know. But it doesn't change the facts, Amber. I had really always thought we were a very close family. No secrets. Then I find out that's not the case after all.” She shook her head. “Not lies really, just half truths. I'll be able to deal. I just need to get myself together right now. I'll be all right in a few minutes.”

“You're sure?”

“Go finish your sandwich, I know you're hungry.”

Amber grinned and nodded. “Maybe Dean and I can finally have the conversation he was hinting at earlier since there are no longer any secrets to be had.”

Laughing, Casey shook her head. “I'll be out in a little while. Let them know I'm all right.”

* * * *

Braedyn made a fire, trying to find something to do while they waited for Casey to come around. He noticed the furtive glances Amber kept casting in Dean’s direction. As her friend and Alpha, he was incredibly protective. Because of her past, he would kill anyone who hurt her again. His wolf surged forward checking Dean out on a more personal level, but after a moment relaxed, and settled down. Still unsure, even though Dean had passed the wolf’s test, he’d yet passed his own.

Amber brought him a cup of coffee and noticed the telltale shakes of her hands. This couldn’t have come at a worse time for her.

“You can go home if you’re uncomfortable,” he murmured.

Her jaw tightened, and she squared her shoulders. “I’m fine,” she growled and stormed away into the kitchen.

Braedyn sighed and shook his head.

“Looks like we’ve got two pissed off women in our midst,” Peyton said with a soft chuckle, joining him next to the fire.

“It may be a tad more complicated than that, I’m afraid.” Braedyn ran a hand through his hair.

Peyton smirked, turning to glance back at Amber, and then at Dean. “I’m quite certain things will work out.”

“Certain of a lot of things recently, aren’t you, sir?”

Clapping a large hand onto Braedyn’s shoulder, Peyton gave a grin and a wink. “It’s one of the few gifts I have that I don’t second guess.”

“I guess I am a bit too analytical,” Braedyn ceded.

“You were forced to grow up before your time, son. For that I can give a thousand apologies, but it would do no good.” Peyton’s expression drew deep and thoughtful. “I was protecting my own—”

“I understood that. I have never hated or held you in contempt for doing what any man in your situation would. There is one person you should meet. My mother, she could help put your mind at ease.”

Peyton blanched and shook his head. “I—I couldn’t—”

“Trust me, my mother knew my father better than anyone. From the very beginning, she stood with me as a champion for your family against my uncle and the other’s who thought I was too young or inexperienced to make such a decision.”

“
You
…spared our lives. Why?”

“Because I understood. My father would have done the same.” Braedyn shook his head and paced away a moment and turned back. “Casey was the first
human
other than Jazzy I’d had experience with. But…she saw me in my wolf form…and wasn’t afraid of me. She accepted me…we
played
. I had never really
played
before. I was the one who lured her away. I couldn’t let her die alone and afraid. I convinced my father to warm her. It was his decision to let her rest, and then lead her back. My uncle and those who followed him didn’t have the…compassion it takes to understand someone who wasn’t
our
kind. My mother could set you at ease better than I could.”

Peyton nodded. “I need to face her and come to terms once and for all for what I’ve done. I destroyed more than one life that day, Braedyn. I tore apart a community…an allegiance of Weres—”

Braedyn put a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “You sped up the inevitable is all. Please, set your mind at ease, Peyton. I harbor no ill will toward you and neither does my mother.”

* * * *

Casey knew her father was nervous. Coming face to face with the woman whose husband he’d killed twenty years ago would be difficult for anyone. When they arrived at Aquene’s house, his step faltered a little at the door.

“I don’t know if I can do this baby-doll,” he said turning to her. “What if she hasn’t forgiven me?”

“I wouldn’t willingly draw you into a trap, Dad.” She smiled and patted his shoulder. “Trust me. You both need this.”