Into the Unknown (Werewolf Wars, #2) (31 page)

“I can go with you, if you want,” Gene offered.

“Okay,” Natalia agreed, resting her head on his shoulder.

“She’ll need help getting to the clearing on this leg,” Devon replied. “It's probably going to hurt the first few times you shift. If the pain is too intense, stop. Don’t force it. Take as long as you need to. Lark and my mom are looking after Adrian. Do you have any questions?”

Natalia shook her head as she bit her lip.

“Let me know if you do,” Devon responded. He stood up and walked to the door.

“You ready now, or do you want to wait?” Gene questioned, meeting her gaze.

“Let's do this. I’m sure I’ll feel better after this, and it’d be nice to be able to take care of my son without help,” Natalia said determinedly.

“Alright,” Gene agreed. Looping his arm under her armpit, he stood up. Gene pulled her flush against him and carefully eased her off the bed. Natalia grunted as her feet touched the carpet. Putting the majority of her weight on him, she took a tentative step forward. She gritted her teeth at the spike of pain that jolted up her leg.

Gene froze and she inhaled sharply, taking another step forward. “I can do this,” she told herself aloud.

Gene admired her determination as they slowly made their way outside of the house. Her forehead glistened with sweat, but he could tell by the set of her jaw and the gleam in her eyes she wasn’t going to give up.

“You doing okay?” he asked. The soggy grass slurped beneath them as they entered the tree line.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Let me know if you need help. I know when I was injured a few months ago, I almost passed out after my first shift.”

“Hmmm.”

“You know you scared the hell out of me the other day,” Gene told her honestly as he helped her sit down on a rock.

“I was scared myself,” Natalia admitted. “I transitioned my feet. I did not know you could do that.”

Gene smiled. “You can do just about anything. When you’re fighting for your life, you can do things you never imagined you could.”

Natalia grimaced as she slipped her sandals off. “Are you staying with me the whole time? I have never turned in front of someone before.”

“I don’t have to. If you want me to walk away, I can go just through the trees down to the creek.” Gene pointed to the water that ran about fifty feet from where they were.

“It is not that I do not appreciate your help. I just do not know if I can do it with someone watching,” Natalia explained. “Thank you for being here for me.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Gene knelt down in front of her, clasping her smooth hands in his. Heart pounding in his chest, he swallowed, meeting her chestnut eyes. “I love you, Talia.”

Her mouth popped open, eyes widening as she gasped. Shaking her head, she looked away. “Even after everything? All the problems I have brought here?”

“Yes! And these problems weren’t because of you, Talia. They would’ve happened regardless. I love you and Adrian,” Gene said. Cupping her face in his hands, he leaned in, pressing his lips lightly against hers. She sighed as her lips caressed his, her hands winding into his hair.

“I love you too, Gene.”

Placing one last kiss to her lips, he pulled back. “If you’d like, we could shift together,” he offered. Her brown eyes flicked to his with uncertainty. “I’ll go first,” he added.

Hands on the hem of his shirt, he lifted it over his head and grinned as her gaze followed his movements.

“Alright,” she smiled.

Raising her hips, she carefully lowered her shorts. Gene’s hand rested on his belt buckle, a groan escaping his lips as she continued to undress. Inhaling a deep breath, he focused on the task before him. She needed to shift so she could get better.

“You go first,” he said, allowing his eyes to wander over her perfect form once before meeting her gaze.

Nodding, he grasped her hand and helped her to her knees.

“Take deep breaths, close your eyes and try to relax. Once you complete your transition, you’ll feel better almost instantly,” he encouraged.

“Okay,” she grunted.

Placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, he felt her bones pop out of place as they began to realign. She whimpered as cracks filled the air. Taking a step back, Gene watched as black fur erupted from her skin, her joints shifting into place.

With a hand on his belt buckle, Gene lowered his jeans and boxers and kicked them to the side. Lunging forward, he transitioned within a few seconds time. Quickly flexing his paws, he rubbed his head against her neck.

He backed up, watching as she shifted forward then backward. Gene chuffed and started at a slow trot. Natalia followed after him, he inhaled her floral and sea salt scent, letting it envelop him.

Squirrels rustled in the brush as they made their way through the thick forest. Birds sang in the trees and Natalia relaxed as they slowed, coming to a walk. Mud squishing between their claws, she fell in step with him. Together, they walked through the dank forest.

***

L
ark fluffed her pillows before relaxing into them. Picking her book up from the nightstand, she opened it to her bookmark. She started reading the first paragraph when Devon’s phone rang and vibrated on his side of the bed.

“Can you grab that, it’s probably Gene,” Devon called from the bathroom.

She heard the water turn off and rolled over across the blue comforter to grab his phone. She didn’t recognize the number but answered anyway.

“Hello.”

The phone was silent. Pulling the phone back from her ear, she looked at it and saw the call was still connected.

“Hello,” she said again.

“Hello, Lark,” a rough male voice said.

Sitting up straighter, she bit her lip as she placed the voice. “Fernando Juarez,” she whispered.

“I have to admit, I was not expecting you. But this is a pleasant surprise,” he replied.

“What do you want?” she asked as she got up from the bed and walked into the bathroom. Devon looked up at her as he dried himself off and she pointed to the phone.

“What I’ve always wanted, my dear. Family! Unfortunately, it appears that is too much for an old man to ask for. The little she-wolf you’ve taken in murdered my son, Luis.”

“I heard it was self-defense,” Lark stated, eyeing Devon as he put his hand out for the phone.

“Self-defense? She called me and offered to turn herself in. I don’t care what her reasoning is. We had a deal and it was broken,” Juarez snapped.

Lark rested her head on Devon’s shoulder, holding the phone close enough for him to hear too. “I still don’t understand why it is that you’re calling,” Lark persisted.

“Revenge, Ms. Davies. Isn’t that reason enough? My son was murdered.”

Lark scoffed and shook her head. “And you murdered her mother.”

“That girl is delusional. She has had her mind poisoned by her mother. I am prepared to declare war on your pack,” Juarez said calmly.

“You can try, but we don’t give up easily.”

Juarez chuckled into the phone. “I can see how you would gain the alpha’s favor. You, my dear, are feisty. More so than some female alpha’s I’ve met. Which means it will be all the more fun to break you when the time comes.”

“I’m not scared of you,” Lark countered.

“Maybe not yet, but you will be. We are about to be at war, Ms. Davies. That is the reason for my call tonight. I wish to inform Devon and Gene of my declaration. I do enjoy your tenacity. I believe you will be a fine addition to my family,” Juarez sneered.

“Family? You call what you have family?” Lark asked.

“Family is being surrounded by those who love you. There is nothing greater than the comfort of family. Having lost your parents, you can’t honestly tell me that you wouldn’t give anything to see them one last time. To have one last hug, one last talk, one last—”

“As much as I’d like that, it isn’t going to happen. They’re dead, and nothing is going to change that. That’s something I have to live with. And the thing you’re forgetting is that family
wants
to be there. You can’t force love or respect! That is something earned,” Lark ranted. Devon’s arm tightened around her, and his hazel eyes met hers as he shook his head.

She knew she shouldn’t egg Juarez on, but she couldn’t help herself.

“Are you so naïve to think that you’re safe there? The Harris’ packs are puny compared to mine. I can squash them like a bug within days, and I will thoroughly enjoy doing it. I will murder your lover in front of you. Then I will take you and your baby sister with me back to New Mexico and—”

“Enough!” Devon bellowed as he snatched the phone out of Lark’s hand. “We’re not afraid of you! Maybe the numbers are on your side but we fight for what we believe in, and that is more powerful. I am fighting for the woman I love, for my family—my pack. That is a stronger reason to fight than anything else. So go ahead and come! Because if you come here, it will be the last mistake you make.” Devon said coldly. His eyes flashed gold and his hands shook as he squeezed the phone against his ear.

Lark leaned against Devon, resting her head under his chin so she could still hear the conversation.

“No, son, this is your mistake. Before I kill you, my previous offer will flash in your mind’s eye, and you will wish you had taken my generous deal. Me and my men will come in masses and destroy you, and, in time, that beautiful mate of yours will break,” Fernando growled.

“Go ahead and try; you’ll see that it was you who made the mistake by underestimating us,” Devon barked.

Plucking the phone away from his ear, he jammed his finger down on the end call button.

Lark closed her eyes, shivering as Juarez’s threats washed over her. “Devon,” she whispered as he enveloped her in his arms.

“It’s going to be okay,” Devon assured as he kissed her forehead. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you—to anyone.”

Lark burrowed further into his comforting embrace. Though they’d known war was coming, it suddenly felt real, and it chilled her to the bone. Nodding numbly, she clung to him worrying what tomorrow would bring. She prayed that Juarez’s predictions would never come to pass.

N
atalia looked around the old, giant farmhouse as Gene led her through the entryway. This was the first time she’d ever visited Devon and Lark’s home. Even though Lark was her closest friend here, Natalia had always considered herself a prisoner until recently and had never left Gene’s ranch.

“Hi,” Lark grinned as she walked down the stairs. “I’m so glad you three came. How are you feeling?” she asked, turning to Natalia.

“Better. I’ve done shifted twice, and that has helped a lot. Everything is healed, and I feel like myself again.”

“I envy your speedy recoveries. It’s been two days, and you look perfectly fine. It took me a week to get the stitches out of my head and I still have a reminder of it,” Lark said, pointing to the fading pink line on her forehead.

“Where’s Dev?” Gene asked as he looked into the den filled with men watching a basketball game.

“He’s helping the new guys from New York get settled in. He should be down in a minute,” Lark said, leading them to the kitchen. “I hope you don’t mind; I made us some baked ziti.”

“One of my favorites,” Gene grinned as he set Adrian’s seat down on the tile floor.

“I do not believe I have ever had it,” Natalia said, gazing around at the up-to-date kitchen.

Lark followed Natalia’s gaze. “It’s one of the first renovations Devon did. I’m an experienced baker and now, I get to really try my hand at cooking too,” Lark went on meeting Natalia’s gaze with a smile. “Although, with all the new recruits, I think we’re going to need to build an apartment complex ASAP,” she added as an afterthought.

“Our packs have grown from a few dozen to well over two hundred in a matter of a few weeks,” Gene replied.

“And Lark’s right; we need to grow with our pack,” Devon said as he entered the kitchen. “Smells good,” he murmured, kissing Lark.

“I assume that is part of the reason why you invited us for dinner tonight,” Gene said as he pulled a chair out for Natalia at the dark hardwood table.

“Yes. Lark has come up with an interesting suggestion,” Devon said.

Lark nodded as she went to the oven and pulled a ceramic pot from the stove. “It’s just an idea.”

“What?” Gene asked, looking between the two of them.

“I spoke to Vincent earlier today. They were able to make contact with the pack in Louisiana. They are bringing evacuees here. Their goal is to leave tonight. Vincent estimates they will be bringing around fifty, most of them women and children. However, ten of them will be men. Apparently, the Bayou packs used to be a large network. Unfortunately, Juarez’s relentless attacks have significantly diminished their numbers.”

“Juarez has them beat,” Gene sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face.

Devon nodded. “Vincent said it is only a matter of time before they fall. He doesn’t expect they will be able to hold the compound through the night.”

“That is a shame,” Gene said, running his fingers across the table.

“Which means Juarez will be here next.” Natalia shuddered, closing her eyes.

“Probably,” Lark said as she set plates down on the table.

“Regardless, we don’t have enough room to house that many extra people for an extended period of time. We should start making preparations now,” Devon added.

“With all the new men, it shouldn’t take long to construct a new building,” Gene said thoughtfully.

Devon leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. “Lark suggested we could build a complex in between our two residences. That way if there were an attack, they would be close to both homes.”

“That’s a good idea,” Gene acknowledged. “I can talk to Jared—he has some architectural experience—and we can begin work in the morning.”

“Also, I want to cement Lark’s place in this pack,” Devon said quietly.

“I think you’ve already done that,” Gene said, tapping his finger on the diamond ring that encompassed Lark’s ring finger.

“Yeah, but there will always be people who feel like Maddie, and I want to make sure that everyone knows that those thoughts will not be tolerated. Lark is my second in command. Her orders carry the same weight as mine,” Devon spoke.