Alpha (35 page)

I went up on my toes. “You can get a kiss for whatever you want.” Because Marc had washed his hands of me, so there was no reason not to kiss Jace now. So why did I still feel half-empty inside? Why was I sure my chill would last long after I went in from the cold?

“Well, at least there's a perk.” Jace kissed me, and though my heart ached, my body responded. Remembered. But it wasn't the right time. There hadn't
been
a right time, because there was no privacy in such a small house.

But privacy wasn't the real problem. The problem was that being with Jace could only make me feel better for a few minutes at a time. Marc was always there in the background, just out of reach, while my hands ached to touch him. I couldn't tell Jace that, and eventually I would learn to deal with my loss, but getting over Marc wasn't as easy as jumping into Jace's bed. It would take time, and denying that would be doing us both a disservice.

A car door closed in the front yard, pulling me from my private agony. In the house, they were waiting for us, all packed and ready to go. We just needed official word from Patricia Malone that her husband and his men were on the ranch. Once we had that, we could leave. We'd eat dinner on the road and arrive in time to attack before dawn, when our invaders were hopefully still asleep.

Uncle Rick, Aaron Taylor, and Bert Di Carlo were all
standing by with their men, within a few hours' drive of the ranch. Waiting for word. The thunderbirds had assembled a couple of hours' flight from the property, ready and eager to swoop in on command.

“I guess it's time,” Jace whispered against my ear, and I tightened my arms around his neck.

“Yeah. Let's just get it over with.” I understood his dread and respected his willingness to work through it.

He stepped back and autodialed.

“Jace?” His mother answered on the first ring. “Is that really you?”

“Yeah. It's me.” He turned away from me, and I stared at the back of his head, brown waves shining in the moonlight.

“You shouldn't be calling here. Cal says you… Do you know what they think you did?” Over the line a door opened, and her light footsteps rushed quickly over a hard-surface floor.

“No, but I know what I actually did, and I know why I did it.”

“They said you turned Lance Parker over to the thunderbirds and let them kill him. Cal says you tried to kill Alex, and that you cut up Colin's face. Is…is any of it true?”

Jace sighed. “I never tried to kill Alex. I was just defending myself and Faythe.”

“But you did the rest of it?”

He leaned against the tree again, and I could see his frustration in profile. “I don't know what all Cal's told you, or what you believe, but you're my mother, and I was kind of hoping you'd take me at my word, even if my version doesn't line up with his. Cal framed us,
Mom. Lance killed a thunderbird, and Cal set us up to take the fall. We had to turn Lance in to keep them from slaughtering the rest of our Pride and killing Kaci Dillon. We did what we thought was right. And I stand by that.”

Patricia was quiet for a long moment. Almost half a minute. “I'm sorry you were put in such a difficult position.”

“I'm
still
in that position. Cal's put Kenton Pierce in charge of the south-central Pride and kicked us out. We're living in the free zone, Mom. All of us. Women and children included.”

Her sharp inhale spoke volumes. “That can't… That's not safe, Jace. You have to send the women back. Kent will take them. I know he will. Or we will. Send them here.”

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the tree trunk, but Jace answered without even glancing at me. “They won't go. I need to talk to Cal, Mom. I have to work something out. Can you put him on the phone?”

“He's…” Springs creaked as she sat on what sounded like a bed. “He's not here. He's still helping Kent get everything set up in Texas. But don't call him there, Jace. Not unless you're going to send the women to us. If you come back into the territory, they're going to arrest you, and Cal says… Jace, he doesn't think he can keep the other Alphas from giving you the death sentence. Treason is a very serious charge, and they don't seem inclined toward mercy.”

I nearly laughed out loud.
Cal
couldn't convince the
others
to go easy on us? Patricia Malone was either in serious denial or completely brain-dead.

“I…” Jace faked a hesitant pause. “Thanks for the warning. I guess I better lay low for a while.”

“Yes. But thank you for calling. It's good to know you're okay.”

“Thanks. Can I call you again, just to check in?”

Brilliant!
If Patricia were inclined to tell Malone that we called, he'd be ready to take advantage of another call later, but hopefully completely unprepared for the imminent attack.

“Please do. I love you, Jace.”

“Love you, too, Mom.” He flipped his phone closed and shoved it in his pocket before turning back to me, and when he did, his fists were clenched at his sides. “I hate what he's done to my mother. To my father's Pride. And he's completely warped Melody.”

“I know. I'm sorry.” I shoved my hands in my pockets, wishing I knew how to comfort him.

“Let's hit the road. I don't want to lose any of this anger before I see Calvin.”

My anger was in no danger of fading. In fact, I was confident I'd still be marinating in rage until Calvin Malone spat out his bitter last breath.

I
was a bundle of raw nerves, buzzing with bloodlust, drowning in impatience, and cranky from spending nine hours stuffed in a car. Again. Jace and I were in the lead, with Michael and Holly in the backseat. Behind us, Owen drove with Ryan, Manx, Kaci, Des, and Mom. Parker, Vic, Dr. Carver, and Brian rounded out our caravan in Vic's car.

We'd considered leaving the women in the free zone, to keep them as far from Malone as possible. But the truth was that they'd be no safer there—largely unprotected and surrounded by strays, most of whom had never even seen a female of their own species—than they would be inside the south-central territory. So long as Malone died without ever finding out they were there.

I wondered if the others were all as restless as I was. So far, Jace and Michael seemed to be taking everything in stride, though I knew from the tension in Jace's arms that he couldn't be as calm as he looked.

“So, you guys do this all the time, right?” Holly asked,
leaning forward with a hand on the back of my seat. “This fight is no big deal? It's not really dangerous?”

I glanced from her to Michael and decided to let him field that one.

He sighed. “We fight a lot, yeah, but this isn't a normal fight. It's more like a war. Or at least a battle. Calvin Malone and his men kicked us out of our home and our territory, and we have to take it back by force.”

“But you're just going to beat some guys up, right? No one's going to get…killed?” When Michael didn't answer, she turned on him, and I saw the horror on her face in the rearview mirror. “Michael, have you killed people?”

“Not by choice,” he finally answered, and Holly's mouth opened and closed, without producing any sound. “We do what has to be done to protect ourselves and the rest of our Pride. That's just the way it is. I'll explain it better when I get back, but I don't have time right now.”

Because Carey Dodd's house had just come into sight at the end of the street.

“But what if you don't come back?” Holly demanded, as Jace turned into the driveway. “Who's going to explain that to me?”

Michael took her by the shoulders, as Jace turned off the engine. “I will come back,” he said. “I haven't told you the truth after all these years just to…” But he clearly didn't know how to finish.

I twisted in my seat to face them as Owen pulled into the driveway behind us. “Holly, try not to worry. Glasses notwithstanding, your husband's kind of a badass.”

“Really?” She looked both hopeful and skeptical.

“Yeah. Did you think all those muscles come from
pushing paperwork at judges? He's done this a time or two, and he always comes out on top.” Which was more than I could say for myself lately.

Thanks,
Michael mouthed to me, as he helped his wife from the car. I nodded, and wordlessly accepted another layer of guilt for having given her false hope. I couldn't guarantee Michael's safe return any more than I could guarantee my own. But neither could I justify letting her worry, when there was nothing she could do to change things.

Dodd met us at the door and ushered us inside. The other toms were waiting for us in his living room, having parked elsewhere and walked the rest of the way in the dark. His house was so packed with large men it looked like the Dallas Cowboys had stopped in for a visit. At my count, nineteen toms waited for orders, all either watching me or eyeing Manx, Des, and Kaci in awe and curiosity.

While Michael and Owen said their goodbyes to Holly and Manx, I found my mother and Kaci in the kitchen.

“Who are all these guys?” Kaci asked, peering nervously through the doorway into the packed living room.

“They're the Pride members who've remained loyal. Most of them are going to fight with us, but we're leaving Carey and Ryan here with you. You remember Carey Dodd, right?” He'd been driving the getaway car when one of the thunderbirds dropped a huge bolder on it during their siege on our ranch.

Kaci nodded, and though her eyes were shiny, she seemed to be denying true tears an exit. “I'm not mad at you, Faythe. I just wanted you to know that before
you go fight. Just in case…. I know Marc's supposed to meet you there, but Jace is pretty good, too, isn't he? And Vic and the others?”

“Yeah. They're all great fighters. And with any luck, when this is over, we can all move back home.” Four days away from the ranch felt like forever, when I wasn't gone by choice. “You and Mom try to keep Holly calm, okay? She's new to this.” Even newer than Kaci.

“I'm not staying,” my mother said softly. I had to process that for a moment before her intent truly sank in.

“Oh, yes, you are.” I planted one hand firmly on the counter separating us. “I can't take you into this fight, Mom. Dad would never forgive me. Hell, I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

She propped her hands on the hips of her gray slacks and eyed me like I'd just threatened to ruin my dinner with cookies. “Katherine Faythe Sanders, I've spent my entire life in this territory, and I've lived on that ranch since before you were born. I will be there when its fate is decided, and if you try to keep me from it, I will never, ever forgive you.”

I gaped at my mother, speechless. “But…” I pulled her to the side so we could argue in whispers, well aware that Kaci was straining to hear. “Mom, this is a war. People are going to die. I can't let you become one of them.”

She frowned fiercely. “I know my limits, Faythe. I haven't seriously fought anyone since before Michael was born, and I'm not going to take on more than I can handle. And no one's going to be gunning for an old dam, anyway. I just want to be there. I
need
to be there.”

I scowled at her, but she only rolled her eyes. “I'm not asking permission. I'm stating my intent. You may be my Alpha, but I'm still your mother. Let's go.” And with that, she crossed the kitchen to kiss Kaci on the forehead, then stalked into the living room and out of sight. Leaving me speechless.

Jace pulled me aside when I stepped into the main room to issue the final orders. “Did I hear that right? Your mother's coming?”

I huffed. “Yeah, and if you try to stop her, she'll ground you till you're thirty.” Before Jace could argue, I stepped into the center of the room and cleared my throat. And almost dropped dead of shock when silence descended and every head in the room turned my way.

There were no whispers, no jokes, and no stupid questions. They were wearing their game faces, and they'd all come to fight. And they were prepared to die for our cause.

A chill of awe ran through me at the power we represented. The potential we held. The future was in our hands—not just the future of our Pride, but of our entire species, because with Malone disposed of and me reinstated as Alpha, things would change. They would have to. And the men surrounding me believed in that change, or they wouldn't have been there. They believed with every cell in their robust bodies, with every thrum of restrained power and bloodlust humming through them.

The only thing wrong was Marc's absence, and I felt that like I would have felt a missing limb. He was supposed to meet us in the woods behind the ranch, but I kept turning to spot him, expecting to find him with us
already, watching me from the corner or standing by with advice. And every time I couldn't find him—every time I remembered that he'd left me—the wound broke open all over again.

And the worst part was that I had opened that wound in the first place.

Jace stepped up behind me and wrapped one arm around my waist, whispering in my ear. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I shook my head, trying in vain to concentrate on the task at hand. “Just…thinking.”

“I think it's time for a little talking, then a lot of fighting.”

I nodded, and Jace stepped back. When I looked up, I found everyone watching the two of us in one combination or another of confusion and surprise. I cleared my throat again. “First, thank you all for showing up today. Your loyalty will not be forgotten.”

Several toms nodded, but no one interrupted.

“Second of all, the Midwest, East Coast, and southeast Prides have all sent men to fight with us, and we'll be meeting them in the woods behind the ranch in just a few minutes. Also, I've cashed in a favor from a Flight of thunderbirds in New Mexico, and when we leave here, I'll call them in.”

They all already knew about our air support, but a murmur of general fear and skepticism ran through the crowd, anyway.

“Our main objective is to take out Calvin Malone. Not capture him. Not spank him and send him home crying. I want him dead. If you have a shot, take it. If not, fight for that shot. Kill if necessary, but show mercy if it won't get you killed. If someone surrenders, knock him unconscious and move on.”

There were a couple of grumbles, but no one openly objected.

“Because the thunderbirds can't tell us apart in cat form—and you're all going in cat form—everyone will get a strip of orange construction tape.” I gestured to Jace, and he held up the three rolls we'd bought on the way. Di Carlo, Taylor, and my uncle were all similarly equipped. “One of us will tie it to one of your front legs, so the birds know you're off-limits. Do not lose that tape. Hopefully I don't have to tell you how dangerous thunderbirds are, and we can't afford to take hits from friendly fire. Any questions?”

“Where's Marc?” One of the older toms—from somewhere near the Oklahoma panhandle—asked.

I answered without hesitating, but no one was fooled. “He's coming separately, but he'll be there.” But they all heard what I hadn't said, and glances flicked toward Jace, who stood tall against the wall to my left, neither acknowledging nor denying. “Anything else?”

“When do we get started?” Holden Pierce called out from the far corner of the room. Parker's youngest brother was our newest Pride member, and he'd remained loyal to us, rather than his father. He was only a sophomore in college, and I felt another strong pang of guilt at the knowledge that I might be sending him to his death before he'd really lived.

But he'd made his choice. We all had.

I smiled. “Right now. Load up.”

 

My pulse raced as I picked my way carefully through the woods, aiming for silence in spite of my awkward human form. I wouldn't get to Shift. Someone had to call all the allies together and tie a bunch of orange flaps
around feline legs. But I was armed. I had cat eyes, and I carried a crowbar in my left hand and a folding knife in my left pocket. And once the fight began, I'd have cat teeth, and claws on one hand.

That was the best compromise I could find between Faythe-the-Alpha and Faythe-the-fighter.

Jace was in human form, too, at least so far, to help me tie.

We'd gone about half a mile with me in the lead when brush rustled on my left, and I froze. My heart raced and I raised my crowbar. All movement behind me stopped, as our toms followed my lead, instantly on alert.

A dark blur soared over the brush to land in front of me, huge and tensed for action. I sniffed the air and relaxed. My cousin Lucas. He seemed to recognize me at the same time, and he stalked forward to run his head under my waiting palm. A moment later, more toms leaped over the brush, and my uncle stepped into sight from around a thick pine tree. Bert Di Carlo and Aaron Taylor were right behind him.

They'd contributed six men apiece—seven, including themselves—to the effort, which put our ground troops at a staggering forty-two toms, all ready and willing to kill—or die—for the cause. It was the largest offensive in living memory, even without counting the thunderbirds.

“Faythe…” My uncle stepped forward for a quick hug, then held me at arm's length to study my face. “Are you ready for this?”

I gave him a firm nod, then a small smile. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“Ready and willing,” Di Carlo answered for them
all, hugging my mother in greeting, and my heart beat so hard my chest ached. It was time.

But Marc wasn't there. I pulled Vic aside for a moment and asked if he'd heard from Marc again, but he could only shake his feline head.

What if he'd gotten caught on the way in? What if he'd gotten killed? What if he'd simply changed his mind—decided not to come because he couldn't stand to be near me?

“He's probably just running late,” Jace said, rubbing one hand along my back. “He'll be here.”

I nodded, then pulled out my father's phone and called myself. Beck answered on the second ring. “It's Faythe Sanders,” I said, half whispering, even though we were still a mile and a half from the ranch. “Are you ready?”

“We are always ready,” the thunderbird answered, his dual-tone voice screeching softly into my ear.

“Good. Move in and perch nearby. When you see the fight begin, have at it. But remember the rules…”

“We know. Do not kill anyone wearing an orange flag, and do not partake of our kills.”

“Right.”

When I hung up, Jace, my mother, and the Alphas were already tying orange strips to the toms' legs. I shoved the phone into my pocket and joined them, then tied a short strip to Jace's upper arm.

“You can do this,” he whispered, as he tied a matching length to my left arm. “And I'll be right there with you.”

I tried for a smile, but failed.

“With any luck, this is overkill.” We were attacking in the middle of the night for a reason. Hopefully,
everyone would be asleep in human form, and we would give them no time to Shift. Baring catastrophe, getting to Malone should be easy, and I was fervently hoping that the biggest problem we'd have would be consoling the thunderbirds over the small scale of the promised slaughter.

Well, that and the guns. But hopefully Malone and his men weren't hard core enough to sleep with their pistols.