Branches of the Willow 3 (8 page)

“I don’t mean to sound crass, Jessica, but why are these three our problem?” Mac, the leader of the MacDonnel Pack, wasn’t looking at me with the eyes of an enemy. He wanted good reason to throw his resources behind a problem, most saw as my own.

“Here’s why. Avery’s lands have already been used as a hide-out before. He’s had problems with interlopers, trappers, on his lands for a couple weeks now. They are not afraid to use every means necessary to get at me. That includes luring me out with threats of violence against others. If you want your pack to be amongst those used and abused by all means, keep your resources to yourselves and your mouths shut. I don’t begrudge anyone choices. I have my own to make too.”

Mac nodded in my direction. “I’ll put some of my boys on it first thing.”

“Well, I can tell you John ain’t doing no such thing.” I looked over at the scruffy man who spoke up. He had been sitting quietly at the end of the table, trying not to draw attention to himself.

“And you are?”

“No friend of yours.” The man stated simply.

“He’s one of Freedman’s.” My father snarled as he stood, stalking closer to the man who had spoken.

Mikael stood beside me, a threatening growl burst from him, the likes of which I had never heard from him before. I put my hand on his to calm him, and I stood too.

“An invitation wasn’t extended to your pack.” My father seethed through his clenched teeth.

“A little birdy told John about the meetin’. He thought we should be represented, especially since that’n there thought she could just waltz in here an’ take o’er without having to scrap for the spot.” My father was the one to growl a warning this time, and he was right in the man’s face. “Lookin’ like John’s right ‘bout that. Not a hair outta place, but her men folk are spittin’ fire at me.”

I’d had enough. He was calling me out. Basically saying I’ wasn’t wolf enough to take him on, or anyone else. I wasn’t sure if it was solely because I was a woman, or if there was more to it, but I was about to show him what was up.

“You wanna be alpha, you take it, sweetheart. You don’t wake up with white hair, and think your pretty face is ‘nuff.”

“Sit. Your. Ass. Down.” I enunciated each word so that I made myself perfectly clear, and I threw power behind each word as I stalked forward. Every word brought me a step closer around that table. “Do not ever mistake my kindness or diplomacy for weakness.” The power oozed from me now, electrifying the room with enough static energy that it began raising the hair on everyone’s body. “I am not weak, and you will show respect when you are here.” I was right next to him now, the stink rolling off of him just as offensive as anything he had said to me thus far. He tried to stand up to me, but I shoved him back down and threw more power into him. “SUBMIT!” My voice was all power, and had I looked around the room, I would have seen everyone else there on their knees. He fought it for a second, and then he dropped, wincing from the pain it caused him to attempt defiance. Not only did he drop to his knees, he lifted his chin, holding his head off to the side, exposing the column of his dirty-caked throat. His body was shaking under the weight of my command, and the fact that he didn’t want to submit, but knew he couldn’t fight me. When he began to let out little startled whimpers of pain, I released the hold my power had on him. He collapsed forward, catching himself with the palms of his hands.

“Do not, for one minute, think that I have this position because of the color of my hair. I am the white wolf. I hold the power of generations of leaders within my blood. I hold council with the wise ones still. I will not tolerate another showing like this. You let John Freedman know the next time he wants a voice, it better be his. If I catch another of his inbred, stink-covered, vile betas in my business or near these lands again, they will come back to him in a God Damn body bag.” The man was still shaking where he kneeled over. “Get. Out.” I tossed a wave of power over him, and he crawled on hands and knees until he hit the door.

When he was gone, I turned back to see everyone still down on their knees, necks exposed. It was a startling show of submission from some of the most powerful alphas we had in this part of the world. It took everything I had not to suck n a surprised breath. I nodded to them all. I hadn’t forced the posture on anyone, but John Freedman’s man. They took the position out of respect, and to show that they backed me. I appreciated the gesture, even if it was unsettling.

“I am going to have some food ordered for everyone. No one is to leave this room right now.”

My father approached me then, “Jess, what are you doing?”

“You didn’t invite Freedman, did you?”

“No, obviously not.”

“Well, I’d like to know who the little birdy is that leaked information about this meeting to him. The people who were invited are all here, so let’s see which one tipped him off.”

“It’s your show, Jessica. Just be careful with it.”

“I don’t think anyone in this room did it purposefully, but we need to know who they talked to about coming here.”

My dad walked back over to the table to start talking to the other leaders as Mikael approached me. We both walked out into the hall to let Sierra know that we needed some food ordered. She was the unofficial secretary during traditional pack meetings so she was around whenever my dad was here now. Once I got her situated Mikael started talking.

“You gained his respect, but you damn sure didn’t gain a friend there.” Mikael said to me through clenched teeth. “It took everything I had not to go punch his nose out through his asshole.” He was still seething over the episode with John’s man.

“His nose through his asshole, huh?” I laughed at Mikael, trying to shake off the tension that had settled in him.

“Yeah, well, you know what I mean.” He pulled me close to him, “you handled yourself brilliantly in there.”

“You should not have bowed down before me though. We’re equals.”

“Oh, no ma’am. I will bow down to you until my dying day. You are mine to worship and cherish. Besides, you never complain about me being on my knees before you when we’re at home.”

Sierra’s laughter behind me let me know that she’d walked up at just the right time to hear him. “Should I get you two a room as well?”

“Not necessary.” I grinned at her. “How long for the food?”

“About an hour and a half thanks to the drive time.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry, it was the best I could do, unless you want to put some of the pack to work cooking for you guys.”

“Maybe I should add restaurants on pack lands to the agenda in there.” I nodded back to the meeting room door.

“Can you pull for an Olive Garden? I just want those damn crack-sticks they have. I don’t even care about the rest of the food. Just give me some Sangria and garlic bread.” Sierra walked away wistfully then.

“She doesn’t require much, huh?” Mikael commented.

“Nope, she’s a woman of simple tastes, but she’s right about the breadsticks though-yum!” My stomach growled at the thought of food. “An hour and a half, huh?” Mikael grinned and nodded his head. “This is gonna suck.” We both went back into the meeting hall, where everyone was now bantering back and forth about what happened earlier.

“Jessica,” Avery called out to me as he approached. “I wondered if I might get a minute with you.” Avery and I stepped back out into the hall while he explained to me what happened with his daughter Annalise and my pack-mate Andy. I was shocked, but understanding of the situation.

“I’m just glad they’re both okay. Hopefully, Andy stays that way!” I gave him a side-long glance.

“I don’t see as there’s a choice left in the matter. He can stay on with us if you like, or…”

I cut Avery off when his eyes turned sad. “How about we just let them decide what they want to do?” Avery agreed. “Oh, before we go back in. I have two Ancients that came in last week. I think they’d best go to your pack. One of them is a bit cheeky, so he bears watching, which is why I wanted him with you, but if it’s too much, considering…”

“No, it’s fine. It’ll give me someone to yell at.” That seemed to cheer Avery up a bit, and we made our way back into the hall to sit with everyone else while we awaited on our dinner to arrive.

My father did a good job of guiding the others through who could have possibly been working with John Freedman’s pack. As it turns out, one of Freedman’s sisters was traded off to Mac’s pack a few years back, and she had overheard her mate talking about the leader heading here for a special meeting. Mac promised to get the issue straightened out as soon as he got back.

A knock at the door interrupted the lighter conversation that followed. We all thought it was just the food, so my father bellowed, “come on in.”

To his surprise, and everyone else’s, Serena stood in place of what we thought was going to be our food order. Jaws dropped as the stunning woman’s piercing glacial eyes travelled the crowd until they found mine. “Jessica, we need to talk.”

Every wolf in the room jumped to get in front of me, some snarling and snapping. They could sense that she was a witch, though they weren’t certain if she was friend or foe yet. Many were not aware what Sophia looked like, or whether witches could change their appearance on a whim. Mikael, even knowing who Serena was, still didn’t trust her. He pushed me behind him, and snarled at Serena right along with the rest of the wolves.

“Please, if you would allow me to explain, I promise it would ease your worry.”

“If you allow us to lock you up while you explain, then you can stay, but I’ll be damned if I am going to have another witch involved with anything near Jessica without taking precautions.”

“I think that’s a fair proposal.” I called out from behind Mikael’s shoulder, suddenly pissed about feeling like a school girl who couldn’t see over the rest of the class. “Once you’ve said your peace you will be free to go. You have my word.”

“Very well, if that’s the way it must be. I suppose you have a secure location to put me?”

“As a matter of fact, we’ve been preparing.” My father announced stiffly. I hadn’t known anything about cells being prepared for witch containment, but then again, this was my father’s pack lands, not mine. He was free to do as he saw fit. “Once you are secured, Jess will follow.”

Serena nodded, and allowed herself to be escorted out by my father, Mikael, and Mac. Avery and two others stayed behind with me. The men were only gone with Serena for two minutes before my mom came bursting through the door to the meeting hall. “Jess, you need to come with me.”

“Mom, we have a little crisis going on right now, I can’t.”

“Well, it’s about the whole reason you’re all gathered here.” That piqued everyone’s interest.

“What is it?”

“Annabelle, she sent word with one of the guards that she heard from Malachai. She said she will only talk to you about the details though, because you’re the only one who can make a deal with her for her freedom in exchange.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake. Is everyone going to pop up out of the woodwork today wanting to make deals and tell me special stories. Fine.” I turned to look at Avery. “I’m going with my mom real quick to see what this is all about. Let them know, I will be back to see Serena as soon as this is taken care of.” Sierra popped her head in just then, and the minute she opened the door the smell of oriental food sent my taste buds into overdrive, salivating over the food I no longer had time to eat. I looked longingly at the food as it was brought in. “Enjoy dinner.”

“I’m sure it will still be warm when you get back, Jess.” My mother offered sympathetically.

“Seriously, Sierra just served up fresh, hot food to a room full of hungry werewolves, and you think there will be any left when I get back?”

“I can always make you something, if you like.”

“Are Annabelle and Leanne still being held over at Betsy’s house?” I asked.

“Yes. It’s the most secure location outside of the cells. We were hoping if they were in a homier environment, they’d be more inclined to talk.”

“Well, looks like your plan may have worked then.” I offered. “I’ll swing by the house for something to eat as soon as I’m done. There’s no need for you to come with me.”

“Okay, Jess. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Once I was at Betsy’s place, my hackles went up, and I tensed, on alert. Something wasn’t right. The guards that should have been stationed around the house were nowhere in sight. I thought, maybe since my mother had come to get me, that she had them wait inside with the women. So, I went to knock on the door anyway. I waited for an answer, and Annabelle opened it with a sweet smile on her face. “Thank God, you came. I thought for sure you were just going to ignore my pleas.”

“I’m here. Now, tell me what’s going on, because I have some important things to get back to.”

“Oh, okay, well come in.” She slid out of the way, so I could pass by her to get inside the house.

No sooner did I walk into the house than Leanna came out of the shadows to the right, and blew some kind of powder into my face from a ring she had on her finger. When I turned in her direction I noticed two guards face down on the floor in the shadows, apparently victims of the same little trick. There was someone else in the shadows, but she wasn’t a victim. “You…” I didn’t get anything else out, because my world spun on its heels and tipped sideways all of a sudden. My body was suddenly an immobile brick, as I fell over, and wasn’t even able to catch myself. No one else in the room bothered to catch me either. I knew I would be aching if I could feel anything, but the lights were dimming, and everything sounded like it was suddenly coming from the end of a very deep, dark tunnel somewhere. As things grew quieter and darker I wondered if I would be lucky enough to be rescued this time. Surely, this time, my captors would just kill me and get it over with. Mikael’s face came to mind. His eyes lit up behind that gorgeous grin of his. His smile made me want to mimic it, but he wasn’t really there. His face faded, and I saw Ashley’s, and my parents, the Reynolds family, even Jack’s wonderful visage graced my presence. It wasn’t so much my life flashing before my eyes as my love. Everyone I ever cared about streamed in and out of my conscious thoughts before it all dimmed completely and I was swallowed whole by a numbing, black, nothingness.