Chapter Fifteen

Dom

The dull knife at the cabin was doing a poor job of slicing the bread I'd gotten from the general store, but jagged sandwiches would be better than nothing to a group of wolves who needed to eat. It was a long night with Amelia and Jerod; the exhaustion of the last seven days was taking its toll, and now we had just over a day left to go.

"Ugh, sunlight," Carson grumbled as he shuffled out of his room.

"Feeling any better?" Aaron asked from the couch.

"Yeah, actually. Nausea's gone," he said as he came over to grab a sandwich I'd already finished making.

"I think we've seen the last of it, and I'll be glad to never take Lunaria's Dream again," I said, Aaron nodding along with my sentiment.

"Take one to Amelia and the warlock," I added. "We may be feeling better, but they're still going through their sickness, and they need to eat something."

"Got it." Carson stuffed his sandwich in his mouth to carry it as he grabbed two more and disappeared down the hallway.

"You better, too, then?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah." I cut the last sandwich in half and tossed it on the plate, then carried it over to the living room where Aaron and Jack were already sitting. Aaron was working a knot out of his boot laces and Jack was still half asleep, head laid back and eyes closed.

"Eat up," I offered as I set the plate in front of them, taking one for myself. "Today's the picnic, we're getting announced to rejoin the pack."

Aaron pulled the knot loose, untying his booth and relacing it straighter. "I'll eat once I've cleaned up. So, we heard back from Evander?"

"Yeah, he came early with Smokey while you all were still asleep. Here's the deal: we'll be on a bullshit probation."

Jack snorted, sitting up and grabbing a sandwich. "Asshole."

"Don't expect too much out of this, stick to the plan," I said. "We train up, find out what's been going on here for the last decade, get Naomi, and then skin that fucker alive. We have to wait for Amelia, obviously, but I'll help her get back in shape."

"Agreed." Aaron nodded. "I'm glad to be back. My head's clear, my wolf is itching to run. I don't like how Evander made his way into the pack. I'm ready to see him dead."

"Yeah, it was a confusing mess back then." Carson came in and sat by Jack. "The weird rogue attacks, all the warriors that were—" His mouth fell into a flat line and his eyes disappeared into that nothing space where he'd spent a lot of time in the early days after his parents died. Those were clearly the warriors he was thinking of.

"Killed." Jack scowled. "They were killed, and Alpha Liam never did figure out what they were doing here before Evander challenged him."

"That bit Smokey said about them stopping after Evander took over doesn't sit right with me," Aaron said.

"Convenient for him, wasn't it?" I frowned. "I want to look into that."

"Yeah," Aaron agreed. "And I'd love to know why Naomi's in the pack house with that prick. There's got to be a good reason she hasn't come running to find Amelia yet."

A pause hung over the conversation while we ate, mulling over the insinuations. How would Evander have anything to do with what should have been a string of unconnected rogue wolves? Albeit sick ones, but those things weren't right somehow. It was like their minds weren't in the driver's seat, they were acting on violent instinct. And then there was Naomi, like a little sister to me and yet none of the messages I'd tried to send her over the years had made it. That, or she hadn't responded. There was no way she hadn't heard we were back, so what was going on in that pack house?

"We try to find out more." I broke the silence. "No matter what we find, the plan stays. Get information, find Naomi, and challenge Evander for what he did to this pack ten years ago."

June

"There's a cute one," Carmine said, pointing across the grass at a pair of shirtless guys throwing a ball back and forth. "Too bad, he doesn't smell like the one I'm after."

We were sitting on a thick blanket in the grass as the morning sun rolled overhead, peeking through the clouds that came and went. A large pit had been dug in the grassy fields south of the village and a few wild-caught animals were being roasted in it. Two deer, some ducks, a goose, and an elk. It smelled amazing, which surprised me since I wasn't usually big on meat.

"How will you know he's the one you're looking for?" I asked.

Carmine looked around the field. The picnic was in full swing as clusters of folks gathered and chatted in little knots of friends who set up blankets and games around the smoking meat.

"You just know," she said. "I can't explain it well since I haven't experienced it yet, but I've grown up seeing mates and watching wolves find theirs, and you just know."

"That's not very helpful," I said.

Carmine laughed and tucked a stray lock behind her ear. "You've got to start leaning on your intuition, June. A wolf's intuition is no joke."

"I'm not going to pick a life partner on a gut feeling," I said. "But I'll cheer you on if that's how you find yours."

"You bet it is." She grinned. "I'm going to jump his tail so hard, then I'll drag him into the woods for a week straight."

"And do what?" I asked, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"Oh you sweet thing." Carmine cackled wickedly. "It's not for a tea party, I can tell you that."

"Whoa!" I said. "Too much information. You're going to screw a guy you just met because he smells good?"

"You bet I am. And if you're lucky enough to find your mate, you'll want to do it too."

I didn't know about that; the wolves' intense desire to pair off was a bit strange to me. But if what Smokey said was true, I might understand it better on the other side of the shift. It was both frightening and reassuring at the same time.

"What did you do back in your home pack? What was it like growing up there?"

"Ahh, home." She sighed and stretched out on the blanket. "Papa's the Man at Arms. A strong wolf. Fierce. And maman cooks for the pack house, she makes some of the best food I've ever had, even having traveled so much in the past few years. I'm a pack warrior, through and through. I was hoping to find my mate in my home pack, it's much bigger than this one. I will admit, the wandering life to explore other packs has been exciting."

"You really think your mate is here?" I asked.

"Hmm. Je ne sais pas ." She shrugged. "I have a feeling that I should be here. I hope it's because I will find my mate, but I can't be sure."

I fell back onto the blanket, joining Carmine in looking up at the lazy clouds overhead. "Have you always wanted to be a warrior?"

"Always," she said. "I take after my papa completely. I live to protect the pack. I love them with my whole heart."

We stared up at the sky for a while. I closed my eyes, content to lay there and smell the cooking meat and listen to the blurred chatter of the people talking around us. The smell of the grass under me, the distant calls of birds. I could fall asleep like this; my jogging pants and big sweater were cozy, too, and the warmth from the sun added to everything was making me dangerously ready for a nap.

Carmine yawned. "Males incoming."

"Hmm?" I asked, still not opening my eyes.

Two thuds landed on the blanket on either side of us, and my eyelids flew open. The man closest to me was clean shaven with light hair and dimples. The other had a darker, more rugged look to him.

"Afternoon, gorgeous," Dimples said.

Both guys were staring at me. Not us, not Carmine, me. I sat up slowly.

"Um, afternoon?" I inched closer to Carmine.

"We couldn't help but hear about you, New Bite," the other said.

"We thought we'd come to meet you. Scent you out. Who knows, we might be mates this time next month." Dimples wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Back off, guys," Carmine growled. "You're making her uncomfortable."

"Sorry," Dark and Rugged said. "That's not our intent."

"If you want a mate so bad, go out and smell her like the rest of us," Carmine said.

Dimples shrugged. "But what if it really is the new girl here? I'd hate to miss out on the chance of a cute thing like her by leaving before she shifts."

He leaned in and sniffed my neck. I even felt fingers brush my backside.

"Hey!" I pushed him away.

He was gone in a flash when someone behind us lifted him completely off the blanket and threw him onto the grass away from us.

"Back off." Dom's deep tones rumbled overhead.

Dom was standing behind me and scowling down at Dimples. He looked good, healthy. Better than he had since I'd met him. Dom's eyes were unplagued by dark circles and troubles, his body was moving with no stiffness, and I had to admit the relaxed, healthier appearance looked really good on him. His hard eyes shifted away from Dimples down to where I sat, and his face softened.

"You all right, New Bite?"

I managed to nod, inexplicably flustered. Or maybe it was the asshole who just got thrown onto the grass that made me feel that way.

"Dom?" Dark and rugged said. "When did you get back?"

"A couple of days ago. I'm surprised word hasn't already spread."

Dimples had recovered by now, getting worked up and walking up to Dom. "Hey, man, we were just scoping out the new bite. Who are you to stop us, her mate?"

Dom growled low, his eyes flashing, and I could have sworn they turned yellow for a moment. An intense energy was coming from him, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight. Instinctually my eyes drifted downward, but not before I watched the two guys flinch hard.

"She's a human who doesn't know a damn thing about the customs of our mating, and apparently neither do you. Get your asses away from her, and if you want to know if she's your mate so bad, you wait for her to shift."

"Whatever, let's go back to the game," Dark and Rugged said, and the two offending wolves left.

Carmine licked her lips, and I could have sworn her teeth had grown to fangs as she eyed Dom up and down.

"Fuck, why couldn't you be my mate?" Carmine asked.

Dom chuckled, sitting down on the blanket next to me. He looked into my eyes with a soft smile. "How are you holding up, June?"

"Getting used to it. I can even use some of the lingo now," I said. "Thanks for getting rid of those males. See?"

Dom and Carmine both chuckled before he looked at me again. "I have something for you."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar device with pink earbuds wrapped around it.

"My phone!" I snatched it and tapped the screen. Dead, of course.

"I'm sure by now you understand the importance of secrecy here," Dom said. "Besides, there's no reception."

"At least I have my walking music," I said, clutching it to my chest. "Thank goodness I bought a charger."

As I inspected my phone, Carmine looked at Dom strangely. "You smell great."

"Thanks, but I'm not interested," Dom answered.

"No, something on you smells really, really good," she said.

"In that case, the other wolves I've been traveling with are wandering around here somewhere," Dom answered.

"I'll take a walk." Carmine winked and stood up, sniffing the air as she went.

"That wasn't weird at all," I said.

Dom chuckled. "Someone I've been with smells good to her. Real good. She's sniffing out a potential mate."

"Gross," I said.

"You say that now," Dom said. "But when it hits you, you'll know what we mean."

"Mm-hm," I hummed. I'd believe it when I saw it.

Dom frowned, leaning forward.

"You're not smelling me, are you?" I asked, leaning away even as my cheeks flushed and my heartbeat picked up.

"What's that spiced scent?" he asked. "Were you around smoke?"

Frowning, I lifted my shoulder to smell my clothes, and then it clicked. "Oh, no, it's these candles Linda keeps in her house. I've never smelled anything like them before. Kind of spicy and earthy."

Dom was quickly lost in thought, and I took another sniff of my clothes. I'd been getting used to the candles, but was there something wrong with them?

"Attention, Moonpeak!"

The voice boomed across the field, stopping the chatter and games. Evander was standing near the smoking pits of food, an arm raised to gain attention.

"Welcome to the new moon picnic. I'm glad we could all join together on this fine summer day. I only have a few announcements, then I'll let our cooks begin cutting the meat." Evander grinned wide, and his eyes drifted to me. "First, and I'm sure you've mostly heard by now, we have a bitten wolf joining us for her first shift. June, come on over please."

Several heads turned my way, and I instantly froze. "Well, crap," I whispered.

Laughter scattered around the field.

"They can all hear what you just said," Dom murmured, amusement plain on his face.

Heat swelled to my face as I scrambled to my feet and walked over to Evander.

"Not big on public speaking, eh?" he asked. "Don't worry, you won't have to do this again. Moonpeak, this is June Gunn. She's a bitten human from . . . Where are you from, June?"

"Seattle," I said.

"Wow, pretty far." Evander grinned, then turned back to face the pack again. "June will be with us for a bit while she shifts, and maybe we can convince her that Moonpeak will make a good home. Please welcome her if you see her around town. June, thank you, you can go back to your blanket."

Carmine had returned and was sitting in her original spot. As I sat back down, some applause and calls of welcome followed me.

"And one more announcement before we eat," Evander said, pulling the attention back to himself again. "We have a few new old additions to the pack. They were here under old rulership, but have returned to us on a trial basis. They will be welcomed into the village for the next two weeks, then will run with us on the full moon, when they can become full pack members. I'm sure some of you remember Dominic, Amelia, Aaron, Jack, and Carson."

I looked over to see Dom's blank reaction. Whatever he was thinking, he wasn't letting it show on his face.

"Welcome them with open arms, as you would an omega!" Evander said, spreading his arms wide in gesture. "They need the most help of all of us after living as rogues for the last ten years. Now, come on up and we'll serve the food."

Murmurs rumbled around the grass, and Carmine growled low.

"What?" I asked. "What's wrong?"

"That was a backhanded compliment if I ever heard one, an omega? Really?"

Carmine shook her head, turning to me. "An omega is someone who is weak, doesn't have many uses to the pack, and it's an outdated term anyway. The children and elders who don't work anymore, people like that. It's nothing shameful when used correctly, but for a group of wolves in their prime, that alpha just basically called them useless."

Dom's jaw twitched. "Don't worry about it."

"This is so backwards," Carmine snapped. "What rank were you before you left?"

"The beta's son," Dom said and stood up. "June, I'll see you later."

We watched him go, and my chest tightened at the thought of all he'd already been through, only to be slighted here in front of everyone.

"Another for the list of weird things in Moonpeak," Carmine grumbled. "Omega, my ass."

"Come on," I murmured. "Let's get some food and talk about it later. I want you to teach me about ranks, but not here."

"Right, tonight, under Linda's roof," Carmine said. "Come on, I want to get up there before the elk is all gone."

"Okay," I said, and we went to get in line for the delicious smoking meat.

Another for the list of weird things in Moonpeak indeed.