2. Chapter 2

Chapter two

I rooted through the flowerpot at the foot of the front steps until I found the spare key for the loft above the garage. It wasn’t as comfortable as the main quarters, but it was a far cry from the rundown motels I’d grown accustomed to.

“I know you’re there.” I called out. My boots clanked against the metal treads of the staircase on the side of the detached garage that led up to the apartment. “Your hide and seek skills have not improved over the years.”

“Skulking off already? You’ve hardly been home five minutes.” Mitchell, the youngest of my brothers and the only member of my family on speaking terms with me, stepped out of the shadows between the house and the garage. “That might be a new record.”

He followed me up the stairs and inside the apartment. Which, judging by the cobwebs and musty smell, hadn’t been used in a long time. I tossed my backpack on the recliner, fanning away the cloud of dust that erupted when it landed on the cushion.

“Mom hasn’t been up here in a while, huh?” I tracked a line through the thick layer of dust on the counter in the kitchenette with my index finger.

“Not as many people coming and going since the funeral.” Mitchell rubbed the back of his neck. “Mom didn’t see much point. She closed it up around the same time you left.”

As the head of the NPA’s family, we enjoyed the spoils of his position. With my father gone, we weren’t at the top of the pack order, and it was a long way down to the bottom. The Redford’s still had some clout left as the legacy red wolf pack. Otherwise, the alliance would have seized the property.

The lack of visitors didn’t surprise me. My mother’s lack of interest did. Marianne Redford was a certified neat freak. The apartment, along with the main house, were always immaculate whether she had guests or not.

“How did she take the news?” I didn’t have to elaborate. Mitchell knew what I was talking about.

“About as well as expected.” Mitchell opened the windows to air out the overpowering smell of moth balls.

“So, not well at all.” I rummaged through the small linen closet in the bathroom for sheets and made up the pull-out couch.

Cedar Grove had me mentally and physically drained. Sleep called and my body answered. I grabbed the cell phone Lucas gave me and collapsed on the flimsy mattress.

“They’ll come around, Lina.” Mitchell pulled the sheet over my shoulders, tucking me in like I used to do him when we were kids.

Two years separated us. Growing up it’d felt like twenty.

“They shouldn’t have to come around at all, Mitch.” I draped my arm over my eyes to block the light pouring in from the kitchenette. “They should already be on my side. I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s just it. You didn’t do anything.” Mitchell sighed. “You left, Caroline. The pack, the family, your responsibility. You walked away from all of it.”

I checked the phone for a message from Lucas. Nothing. More and more it felt like he was the only ally I had. I’d hoped that Mitchell would make the list, but while I tried to be independent, he’d been spoon fed the family bullshit.

“It’s not like they gave me much of a choice, Mitchell.” I rolled over on to my back and stared at the ceiling. “Are you happy?”

We had this conversation before. Several times. Including the night I ran away.

“A lot can change in a year.” Mitchell avoided my question as much as he answered it.

“And some things never will.” It was my turn to sigh. “No matter how much time has passed.”

I checked the phone again. Still no word from Lucas. My heart sank. His injuries must have been worse than I thought and that was saying a lot.

“Try and get some sleep, Lina.” He flicked the switch on the wall beside the door jamb. “You look like hell.”

“Gee, thanks.” I would have protested, but the last year had took its toll on me. Particularly the last two days. “Be sure to send my best to your wife.”

“What is it with you two?” Mitchell combed his fingers through auburn hair a shade darker than mine.

“Ask her. She started it.” I said, stifling a yawn.

“That was in sixth grade, Caroline.” He was the spitting image of our father as he leaned against the door jamb. Right down to the incredulous look he wore.

It was the same look our father gave me whenever I got into trouble—which was all time.

“Like I said, some things never change.” I closed my eyes, unable to look at Mitchell any longer.

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re home.” The door closed with a soft click. He was gone.

It was probably for the best. The lump in my throat prevented me from saying anything else.

I tossed and turned for an hour on the couch before I gave up on it altogether. As much as I needed it, I knew I wouldn’t get a decent night’s sleep in Cedar Grove. Memories haunted my dreams like ghosts in a graveyard.

The apartment sparkled with the first rays of sun—and a hell of a lot of elbow grease. Unable to sleep, I put my energy into cleaning. I was more like my mother than I cared to admit. Still, we were different in the ways that mattered most. For example, she was an alpha female.

I wasn’t.

Covered in dust, cobwebs, and reeking of pine scented cleaner, I opted for a shower while my fourth pot of coffee brewed. I stepped under the hot spray of water just as the doorbell rang. Intent on melting the stress away with the jet setting and near scalding temperature, I pulled the curtain closed and ducked my head under the water instead of answering the door.

My visitor was nothing if not persistent. They switched their incessant bell ringing to pounding on the metal door.

Wrapped in nothing more than a towel, I left a trail of water in my wake as I marched across the apartment. Poised to open the door, I froze when the person on the other side called my name.

My mother.

“Caroline Eloise Redford.” The door rattled in its frame as she thumped her fist against it. “I know you’re standing on the other side of the door. Open up.”

She could have skipped the drama and used the other key, but my mother would have considered it rude to let herself in. Besides, being refused entry to her own property by her daughter, rather than coming inside and quietly waiting to speak with me until I was out of the shower played better to the crowd that was no doubt forming outside the garage.

My mother was nothing if not a master manipulator.

As much as I wanted to ignore her and finish my shower, I unlocked the door. The longer I left her out there the worse it would be. Besides, I had to face her eventually.

Might as well get it over with.

“Caroline.” My mother waltzed in like she owned the place.

Partly because, well, she did own the place, but she always had that air about her. Like she was better than everyone else and according to pack law she was. Still, that didn’t mean she had to act like it. At least not toward her family.

“Mother.” I returned her clipped greeting.

“So, life outside of the pack proved too tough for you and you came running home with your tail tucked between your legs.” My mother walked around the apartment appraising my cleaning skills.

I bit my tongue hard enough to draw blood. Do not take the bait, Lina. I knew her tricks far too well to be goaded into an argument for half the Southeastern territory to hear. My brothers and a few wolves whose scents I couldn’t place milled about in the courtyard between the cabin and the garage.

“Can I offer you a cup of coffee?” I refilled my mug, leaned against the kitchen counter, and eyed her over the rim as I took a sip.

“What you can do is speak with Benjamin Williams about a place in the Southeastern Territory pack, because there isn’t one for you here.” My mother pulled a piece of paper, folded into quarters, and set it on the counter. She slapped her hand over it when I reached for it. “You have a week to figure it out, Caroline, and then you’re out of here. One week. Am I clear?”

“Crystal.” I picked up the paper after she removed her hand and unfolded the note.

This is your fault, Caroline. Your father is dead, because of you, and you will make it right. You’re being watched.

I knew coming home wouldn’t be easy. I did the unthinkable when I walked away, but it wasn’t unforgivable. Refusing to give her the satisfaction, I blinked back the tears from the pain and shock of the blame for my father’s death being laid at my feet.

“So, I guess that’s a no on the coffee?” I asked before drowning a sob with another swig from my mug.

If looks could kill my mother would have been arrested for homicide.

“Talk to Benjamin. I want you the fuck off my property, Caroline. The sooner, the better.” The glass sidelight cracked when she slammed the door behind her.

A mixture of coughs and cackles made its way up from the courtyard below. Assholes. Everyone of them. I never understood how two alphas like my parents managed to produce so many betas. My brothers acted like a flock of sheep, not a pack of wolves. Being in a pack didn’t mean you gave up your free will or ability to think, but they never questioned anything.

Not even who they should marry.

I read the note again. And again. And again, but no matter how many times I did, I couldn’t understand why my family believed I was the reason for my father’s death. He was the alpha. Wolves waited in the wings for their chance to challenge for that position.

Not to mention his politics.

Public opinion changed, but my father didn’t. He, along with the other ranking members of the alliance, upheld the old ways. The alliance prohibited bitten members of the community from holding positions higher than local pack alpha. That earned him and several of his council members more than a few enemies over the years.

And yet, my mother blamed me.

I stayed glued to the stool at the kitchen counter, staring at that damned note until the coffee in the pot went cold. Lucas’ cell phone buzzed against the Formica countertop, pulling me out of my pity party.

“Lucas. I’ve been worried about you. Are you alright? What did Dr. Bennett say? Why didn’t you text me last night?” My questions all spilled out at once.

“Uh, is this Lina Redford?” The voice on the other end of the line sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

“Who is this?” I demanded. “How did you get this number?”

“You gave it to me.” He sounded unsure if that was the right answer to the question. “It’s Gabe.”

I hadn’t expected to hear from him so soon— or at all for that matter.

Gabe was a lone wolf. He’d gone rogue from his pack and settled into the hills around Hell’s Hollow. Until I came to town and a member of the alliance followed.

He helped me get Lucas back to the motel after he was caught in the bear trap. I convinced him to call if he picked up the scent of the wolf who set the trap and left the note on the bathroom mirror.

“Gabe, hey.” I slid off the stool, shuffled over to the coffee pot and topped off my mug before popping it in the microwave for forty seconds. “What’s up?”

“I told you I’d call if I picked up the wolf’s scent.” Wind and the rush of traffic made it difficult to hear him.

“Do you have me on speaker? It’s hard to hear you.” I grabbed the coffee mug, cursing when the overheated ceramic burned my fingers.

“No, I’m on highway eight. Just trying to catch a ride.” Gabe spoke up, almost to the point of shouting as eighteen wheelers sped by. “Lina, about that rogue.”

“You found him?” I blew on the steaming coffee in rapid succession before I took a sip.

“Not him. His trail.” Gabe hit pause on our conversation to ask someone else where they were headed and how far along they’d be willing to take him. It sounded like Gabe caught his ride. “Where are you now? Did you make it back?”

“I’m in Cedar Grove.”

Every wolf in the U.S., whether pack or rogue, knew where Cedar Grove was. It was home to the Alliance—and the Redfords.

“That’s what I was afraid of.” Gabe bounced back to his conversation with the trucker before coming back to me. “It looks like he’s headed your way.”

“Already?” I knew the rogue would be coming. I just didn’t expect them so soon.

“I’m not a hundred percent on that. I’m on the move, but I’ll keep an eye out and get back to you.” Gabe was in the cab of a tractor-trailer and not in a position to have a conversation about a rogue wolf making its way toward national pack grounds. He said a quick goodbye and ended the call.

I stared at the phone in my hand. Hours passed and there was still no word from Lucas. I’d waited long enough. If he wouldn’t send word about how he was, then I would just have to see for myself.

For his sake I hoped Dr. Bennett was still there treating him. If he wasn’t and Lucas simply forgot to call, it’d be the second time the good doctor made a house call to the Williams’ in as many days.