Returning Home
"Are you ready?"
I looked over at Tristan. "Yeah. This is the last suitcase."
"Isn't that like the third one?" Tristan grunted and he heaved the suitcase off my bed. "Good God woman! What's in this? Bricks?"
I blinked. "Weapons." Tristan set the bag down at the door. "Just weapons? How many are you bringing?"
"Just two suitcases," I answered. "Since I don't actually know where it is that we're going I would like to be prepared."
"Prepared for what? The zombie apocalypse?"
I shrugged. "Maybe. Hey do you think if one of us got bitten by a zombie and turned would the zombie person also be able to shift into a wolf?"
Tristan pondered that for a moment. "No, I think the zombie would remain in the same form."
"What if it was a virus that only affected humans and we got bite in wolf form. Would we then turn because we are half human?"
That stumped him. "Maybe. I don't know."
"Personally I think the virus may mutate so that it affects animals."
"Kate! Tristan!" Jason yelled coming up the stairs. "We have to get going. What's taking so long?"
"We were discussing the biology of zombies," Tristan said.
I swear a muscle in Jason's forehead popped a little. "Zombies." He sighed and just went back downstairs.
Once he was gone I spoke. "I think one of these days I'm really going to break him."
Tristan nodded. "Between you and Lily I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet."
I pressed my lips into a line. "Let's go. I want to stop by the diner to eat before we hit the road."
"You mean you want to stop by the diner to demand that Jason tell you where we're going."
I smiled, "Eh, whatever works. Now schlepp."
He groaned. Big baby.
Once the last bag was loaded onto the back of my truck we tied everything down. "Trina," I called, "You're riding with me. Damon, Gina you guys are going in Tristan's car. Colin, you and Lisa are on guard duty so you'll be riding with the Alpha and Luna. Everyone good?" They all nodded. "I have good news. I suckered my big brother into stopping at the diner to eat before we leave Fire Light!"
"I never promised that!" Jason called over the hoots.
"You did now!" I called back cheerfully.
Lily shook her head laughing. "Let's move out guys. I'm hungry."
"Don't help her!" Jason said.
I kissed him on the cheek. "You know what they say. Chicks before d-"
"Don't finish that," Jason cut me off. "It's inappropriate language."
"I'm 23 Jason. I can say the word dick."
He tsked at me. "Go drive. Potty mouth."
"Over sensitive," I fired back over my shoulder as I went to the truck. "Trina get your butt in the car, you can flirt with Jeffers when we get back." The barely out of high school Jamaican flushed when I yelled out his name. I guess he and Tree won't be flirting
Trina huffed and stomped to the car. "His name isn't Jeffers."
"I'm fairly certain that it is," I said. "Kane or Lane Jeffers."
"Bain Jeffers," she corrected buckling her seatbelt. "Must you call everyone under twenty by their last name?"
"I address you with your first name," I countered as we started driving.
She waved a hand. "I don't count. I'm your sister."
"You're kind of a bratty one too," I teased. "At least Lily always agrees with me."
Trina scoffed. "It isn't that she's agreeing with you, she's disagreeing with Jason. She has that whole saying..."
"If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong," Trina and I said together.
I rolled my eyes. "I got her that T-shirt because I thought it was funny. I didn't think she would use that as her life's motto."
"You know Lily," Trina said as if it explained everything. It did.
It took maybe an hour to reach the diner. It was the same one Jason had found me at when I first came and it remained almost unchanged after all the years. Except for one minor detail. I bought it. Well Jason, Lily and I. It was going under a few years back and well we were a little sentimental. Maintaining it was one of my many undertakings.
Despite it being my idea to go to the diner I didn't really eat much. I waited until everyone was well into their meals and conversations before I went up to Jason. "Can we talk?" I asked. "Outside?"
He looked at Lily but she was frowning. "You owe it to her Jason," Lily said sparking a dark feeling in the pit of my stomach. "You knew how I felt about this from the start." He opened his mouth to say something, probably defend himself. "Don't Jason."
He sighed and got up. I led him outside and into the forest. I have a feeling this will get loud. "Where are we going?"
"Kate before I tell you, try to remember that they really need our help." That's concerning. "A little over a week ago I got an email scheduling a conference. With Trina's car in the shop I knew you'd drive her so I scheduled it for when you'd be out."
"Why?" I asked trying to ignore the dark voice in the back of my head.
"Because of who it was. That conference call wasn't with the Alpha of Blue Waters. The Alpha in need of help, the pack we're going to... it is Silver Moon."
It was like being stabbed in the gut. The air was leeched out of me and the old pain of betrayal flared up. "No."
Jason reached for me and I flinched back. I saw pain flash across his eyes. "Kate-"
"Don't," I growled. "You can't seriously think that this is okay!"
"They need help," Jason pleaded.
"But not from me!" I shouted furious. "Not after what they did! You can send a damn team. Fine. Not my problem. But there is no way in hell I am going back there!" I wanted so badly to hit him.
"Kate what about your family?"
"I have a family, here. Or at least I did," I spat. He flinched and a wave of guilt splashed at my feet. "When I said yes to becoming your Beta you made me a promise. Do remember what that promise was?"
"Of course I do," he sighed.
"Clearly you don't," I snarled. "You promised that my mate would never find out where I am. You make me go back then he'll know. Why Jason?" I fought back the tears that stung at my eyes. "Why?"
"Because I know you want to see them. Not Grant," I cringed at his name, "not the people who turned their backs on you. But your parents. Alex. Tyler." The last one hit a little too hard. He knew it tore me up to leave my baby brother, my blood sibling, behind. "I know you checked up on them."
I frowned. "I only did that once. I never told anyone." It clicked. "You checked my files!"
"I'm Alpha, I do it on occasion."
"How often?" I demanded.
"It's not important," he said. "But you did it for a reason. Clearly you thought about going back."
"No," I said. "I wanted to see how they were. I waited five years and I told myself that if they were okay I would never do it again but if they weren't I was going to call. But I never, ever thought about going back."
"Might I suggest doing it now then?" he said laughing nervously.
I was not in the mood for his humor. "Do not try to this into a joke. This isn't like when you covered my car with post-it notes or replaced the salt with baking soda. This is serious. How can you ask this of me?"
"I'm not going to send you alone," Jason said.
I nodded. "Of course. That's why you and Lily were on the team. I was wondering." I turned my back to him. "I won't go."
"Kate," Jason sighed.
I spun around. "The only way you get me to go is if you give me an Alpha order. And I promise you the second the words leave your mouth I will leave." I wasn't sure if the threat was empty or not. I'd done it before, left everyone I loved behind. I'd been betrayed then. I guess I'd been betrayed again but... I couldn't imagine life without Jason and Tristan and Lily.
Jason turned cautious. He wasn't sure about my threat either. "There's another way to settle this. A more civil way."
"You want to fight it out?" We don't often do that. The deal was whoever won the fight won the argument. "Fine." It was never a sure fight. He had Alpha strength which trumped mine. But I was one of the best fighters, I had more training than Jason, and I was faster. However he knew how I fought, he was one of the people who trained me to fight and that was an edge I didn't have.
We circled. One of the first things they teach you when you're starting off is don't make the first move. If you make your first move your belligerent instantly gather's knowledge about your skill, technique, and speed. They can see you coming and counter.
They drill that into your head. At least until you're good enough to be taught how to make the proper first move. I lunged. For the first few minutes I had the upper hand. Then Jason knocked me onto my ass and then I was struggling to get back to my feet. Neither of us spoke. No taunts or barbs. And suddenly it was over. I was kissing the dirt and my arms were twisted behind my back. "Submit," he growled.
"Relax," I grunted submitting. "I know when I'm bet. I'll go."
He let me up. "Come on, I'll buy you a milkshake."
"No thanks," I said snidely dusting myself off. "I may being going along with this but I'm okay about it. And you and I are a very long way from being cool. It's going to take a lot more than a milkshake to make up for this." And he knows how serious I am about milkshakes.
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I deserved that."
"Yes," I agreed darkly. "You did. Let's go."
"Want me to drive front?" he asked as we walked back. "I have GPS."
So do I. "I still remember the route," I said harshly. "And don't think you're off the hook for looking through my files."
The others were waiting by the cars when we returned. "Let's go Trina," I said, I'll admit my tone with her wasn't pleasant.
"What gives?" Trina asked looking between Jason and me. "I have a feeling that the rest of us just missed something mega serious and important."
"You want to tell them?" I asked Jason coldly. "Or shall I?"
"Tell us what?" Tristan asked me.
"The pack we're going to, it's Silver Moon," I said. Trina and Tristan both rocked back in surprise but the others were confused.
"What's so special about Silver Moon?" Colin asked. "I mean I've never even heard of it."
"But you have heard about how I came to be Fire Light's Beta," I said gently. No point in hiding anymore. The second we reach Silver Moon Grant is going to know exactly where I am and that's something I'll have to deal with.
Colin nodded. "You've never made that a secret."
"But I never share the whole story," I said. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment as I gathered my thoughts. "I was born and raised in pack to just south of Iowa known as Silver Moon." I didn't wait to catalogue their reactions. I couldn't. "I was to be my father's heir as Beta. But on my sixteenth birthday I found my mate in the Alpha's son, Grant."
"He is now the current Alpha," Jason pitched in.
I nodded. "And you all know the rest."
"This doesn't make any sense," Lisa said. "I've heard of the Silver Moon pack but I know his son hasn't found his mate."
Lisa was our resident expert on other packs. She made it her duty to know any useful or important information about other packs. We nicknames her the Spy because of it. "Holden, Grant's father covered it up. He knew it would look bad if his heir rejected his mate who was then punished instead of his son."
She gritted her teeth. "Scum," she hissed. Lisa hated when packs hid things. Her eyes widened. "Hold up. You said you were to be the next Beta of the Silver Moon pack?"
"We all knew she was going to be a Beta," Damon said.
Lisa shook her head at him then turned back to me. "You real name is Katrina Grim."
I actually stepped back in shock. It'd been so long since I'd heard that name, let alone be addressed by it. "That is an old name," I said softly. "And it isn't my real name, not for a very long time. My real name is Kate Greyson."
"Sorry," Lisa said blushing. "It's just that I remember reading about you. The reports said that you died in a car crash when you were sixteen. I even read that your car was scrapped."
I scowled. "That's cruel even for Holden. I get covering up my disappearing but killing my truck on paper, that's just wrong."
Lily shook her head but I caught her smile. "Of course that's your concern. Come on, we need to get going. All this drama is slowing us down."
"You know how I am, Lily," I said, "I do love my dramatics."
She waved a hand and pulled Jason to the car. If he wasn't making me go back to my old pack I'd almost feel bad for him. I had no doubt Lily would trade words with him.
"Come on Trina," I said as I started for the truck.
Someone grabbed my arm and stopped me. I turned. "Tristan?"
He was frowning, a rarity for him. "I won't ask if you're okay. I know you well enough to know you'd lie and say yes. But I will ask if you're sure you can do this. Face them again after all this time. They may not be happy to see you."
"I know," I whispered sadly. My parents and brother, Alex. They're more likely to be angry that I never made contact than glad that I showed up. I steeled my emotions. "I know how to maintain myself on a mission. This time won't be any different."
"Are you sure you'll be able to do that. Your old family won't be the only ones there. Grant Adams is the Alpha of that pack now. There won't be any avoiding him, you'll have to work with him. Are you really sure that it won't be different? When mates are involved everything is different."
"It can't be different. I won't let it be different," I said. I brought Tristan's head down and pressed my lips to his. The kiss lasted maybe four seconds before I pulled away. "You know me, Tristan. So trust me when I say that I can do this."
He sighed. "I do trust you. But just say the word and I'll get you out of there."
I smiled, "Aw Tristan, you say the sweetest things." I donned the southern accent I'd learned from Jason's mom. "But I'm just a sweet lil' southern gal and you're going awful quick for my tastes."
Tristan snorted. "Way to ruin to moment smartass."
I dropped the accent and laughed. "If we were having a moment you'd up and run long before I ruined it."
Trina grabbed my arm. "You just yelled at me for flirting with Bain and now you're flirting with Tristan."
"She can't help herself," Tristan told Trina. "Look at me. Women just fall helpless to my charms."
"Yes, if you can call sedation drugs charms," I quipped.
He flashed a toothy grin. "You know it girl."
I rolled my eyes and grabbed Trina, pulling her to the truck. "And he says I'm the smartass."
I mind-linked Tristan through the pack bond. "I know what you were doing."
"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied.
I smiled to myself. "Of course you don't." I got into the car as started. Despite the laughter with Tristan the dread of what I about to do wouldn't be ignored. He knew that. Still he tried. "Thanks."
There's a saying, time flies when you're having fun. The same goes for when you're dreading something. We neared the border of Silver Moon far too soon. I pulled over and stopped just outside where I knew the Silver Moon territory began.
"Kate?" Trina said rousing from her half-asleep state. "What's going on?"
My hands trembled. "I need a minute. Take the wheel. Tell Jason I'll meet up with you guys at the pack house." Normally I'd be resistant to let even Trina drive the truck but I had to be alone when I do this.
I got out and Trina crawled over to the driver's seat. "I'll link you when we get there so you can see," Trina said before pulling back onto the road behind the others.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I could see it in the cold.
I closed my eyes and remembered the last time I was here. I'd gotten out then, for a moment, unsure if I could really cross. I opened my eyes and I could almost see that little girl. Her eyes were red and puffy, tear stains on her cheeks, her blonde hair in a messy bun, and so, so young. A child barely old enough to think she was grown up.
She was also weak. I left because then I'd been too weak to face them every single day.
"I can do this," I hissed to myself. "I'm not that weak little girl. I'm stronger now. I need to be stronger." Despite my words my body shook and my nerves were trying to get the best of me.
Can I really do this? Go back after all this time? I shut my eyes and nodded. I've been through far worse since I left this place. This shouldn't even phase me. "So why does it Kate?" I asked myself.
I knew the answer of course. Leaving here set me on the path of all the pain I suffered in the past few years. This caused all of it.
But haven't I fared well considering? I shook my head. The girl I was when I left here, well she's dead. She didn't fare well. Who I am now emerged from the aftermath. But who I am now is strong enough to face Grant after all these years.
At least I hope I am.
So I crossed the border and started walking towards the pack house. Trina opened a mind link with me soon after. There are different types, the one I opened with Tristan was a communication link. The one Trina opened is called a surveillance link. It allows me into her head to see and hear she did.
I closed my eyes.
"We here," Trina said for my benefit. She got out and joined the others. People were waiting outside on the porch. Trina studied them. Even after seven years I knew them. Grant as an Alpha. As much as I hate him I can admit he grew up alright. I was hoping he would be ugly. Maybe I'm a little petty. Greg, Alexandra's cousin, the Theta, third in command. And... Tyler. It pained me to see him so grown up. I knew he would be but I wanted him to be the boy I left behind. Not this stranger.
Trina lingered longer than necessary on my brother. That girl is ruled by her hormones sometimes. "Welcome Alpha Greyson," Grant said. Even now his voice sent tendrils of anger down my spine.
Trina looked at Jason. His face was hard. I knew they'd look intimidating in their gear. The standard uniform for missions. All black. Black slacks and plain black shirts. Weapons as well. Lily was the least armed, as Luna she was to be protected. Still she had a gun strapped to her hip. Jason liked showing off his strength so he wore no guns but opted to wear two steel batons on his back. Tristan taught hand-to-hand combat but he was pretty handy with daggers so he had one on the outside of each thigh. The others liked guns. Gina especially. Except Lisa. She like archery. And Trina was a weapons trainer. She wore two machetes crisscrossed on her back, a hand gun on both hips and, her personal favorite, a leather wipe. She really wanted it after Justin and I made her watch the Indian Jones movies.
I was kind of a jack of all trades. Like Trina, I had a thing for swords. I liked the art form. I wore two double-edged long blades on my back along with a bow and quiver of arrows. I wore two hand guns of my own on my hips and two spare clips on my holster belt with the gun. Daggers on my thighs like Tristan and just for my own personal kicks in a pouch on my belt three Wolf's Bane grenades. The herb was weakening to us, hence its name. It was risky to do but you know, I got bored. I've been dying to test them.
"Hello," Jason greeted coldly. "Alpha Adams."
Trina couldn't stop herself from growling and she wasn't the only one. I loved them for their over-protectiveness but it wasn't necessary. Grant and his people were caught off guard by the hostility. Jason offered no explanation, once I got that it would be needed. Grant would know how aware the pack is of who he is and what he's done.
I'll grant my mate this, he didn't let their attitudes stump him. "This is my Beta, Tyler Grim. And my Theta, Greg Petiole."
Trina cringed and whispered to herself, "Sorry Kate."
Yeah you better be. Checking out my baby brother when you know I'm in your head.
"During the call you said you would be bringing a team of nine," Grant said. "I count eight people. Where is the last person?" He doesn't trust us? How insulting!
"She in on her way!" Lily snapped. "She got held up decided exactly how to beat you-"
"Lily!" Jason hissed.
She pressed her lips together angrily. "It most likely is what she's doing, Alpha," Gina said. "Knowing her she's probably trying to pick to most painful way to k-"
"Gina," Jason warn.
Gina smiled with false sweetness. "Fine, train their warriors."
I pulled from Trina's mind and broke the link. I'd arrived. "And I finally chose Gina," I called out as I joined them.
I caught Jason's smiled. I do love my dramatics. Grant looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Katrina?" he whispered in shock. "Katrina is that you?"
I narrowed my eyes. "No. My name is Kate Greyson. Not Katrina. And you may address me as Beta Greyson, nothing else."
"Greyson?" he repeated. He glanced at Jason. "You have his last name."
"Alpha Greyson is my older brother," I replied donning a professional tone.
"Katrina," Grant said stepping towards me.
Then suddenly Tristan was there at my side growling. "You do not touch Kate until you have her expressed consent."
Grant growled and my hand flinched towards my gun. "Back off Grant," I said. "You do not stand a chance against Tristan even if you are an Alpha now."
Confusion flickered onto his face. "What happened to you? Where have you been?"
He reached out towards me and I swiftly grabbed my bow and used it to slap his hand away. "Don't touch me. And as for where I've been or what I've been doing, that is none of your business. I'm here as Beta of the Fire Light pack. Nothing more."
I nodded to Jason. "Alpha Adams, we must discuss matters."
"Of course," Grant said. He shot one last longing look at me before he, Lily, and Jason went inside. Colin followed and Lisa disappeared. She likes to do recon every time we go somewhere new.
Despite my words to Grant I did want to talk to my brother. I looked at him with my own eyes. "Tyler."
Then I saw his angry and I took a step back, away from it. "I am Beta Grim."
"You're also my brother," I said gently.
His face turned hard. "No. I had an older sister. But she died years ago after she abandoned us."
I flinched and Tristan wrapped his arm around me. "Watch it kid," he growled.
"Don't Tristan," I said grabbing his arm. "He has a right to be angry with me."
"Yes I do," Tyler snapped.
Trina glared at him. "You were so cute up until now."
"Trina," I groaned. "Now is not the time for that."
She grinned. "There is always time for that."
I ignored her and turned back to Tyler but all I saw was his retreating back as he went into the pack house. I sighed and dropped my head.
"He's angry," a female voice said softly behind us. I turned around. Alexandra? "We search for you," she said softly never meeting my eyes. "For years we search. Alpha Holden had declared you dead when you didn't immediately show up. Tyler, your parents they thought you were dead. Killed by Rogues."
"And you?" I asked. "I notice you said they not we."
She gave me a sad smile. "We grew up together. I knew there's no way you'd give Holden or Grant the satisfaction. You're too stubborn."
Tristan raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought stubbornness was something you'd acquired from your bonehead older brother."
"It takes a bonehead to know a bonehead," Gina said.
"Babe, you wound me," Tristan said.
Damon growled. "Reframe yourself from flirting with my mate."
"Tristan flirts with every woman alive, and some who aren't," I couldn't help but say.
Tristan grinned and slung his arm over my shoulders. "But you're my favorite Kate."
I elbowed him in the gut. He groaned. "Alex, my parents are they...?"
"They're still here," she answered. "But they don't live in your live in your old house. They couldn't. Not after they lost you. As soon as Tyler turned eighteen your father passed on the title and they got a place on the edge of the territory. As far away from Grant and Holden as possibly. They would have left altogether if not for Tyler."
I sighed. "Can you take me to them?"
She nodded. "I see you kept the truck."
The corners of my mouth turned up slightly. "Yeah. I kept the truck."
"Do mind I if tag along?" Trina asked.
I looked at her confused. "Why? You hate parents. I have to practically kidnap you to get you any."
"Yes," Trina agreed. "Bout you're psycho little brother won't quit staring at me through the window. And yes I know he's staring at me because I tried walking around and he's eyes followed me. It's giving me the creeps."
My eyes flickered towards the windows of the pack house. Tyler was staring at Trina. I knew that look too. I looked back at Trina. Does she really not know? I knew. But then Trina is a special case I suppose. The better questions do I tell her? I know how she'll react. And I wouldn't blame her. Perhaps it is better if she finds out for herself.
"Sure, but you'll have to ride backseat since Alex is navigating," I said. "And as for Tyler, he's not a psycho."
"I'll take your word on it," she grumbled.
I sighed. "Tristan, Damon, Gina find out where we stay. Do me a favor?"
"Sure," Damon said.
"Make sure wherever I sleep it is far from Alpha Adams."
"You got it Kate," Gina said. "Tree, we'll see you later to go over a training schedule?"
Tree nodded. "First we need to assess the basic skills of current warriors and then trainees."
"Let's get settled in today and handle the assessments tomorrow," I said before we left.
No one talked for the duration of the car ride. I was nervous. Would my parents be as mad as Tyler? Or worse. I'd never seen their reaction to what Holden had done. What if... No, don't go there Kate.
The house Alex was talking about was small. One floor and no other houses around it. No mailbox. "Maybe I should have called ahead," I said white-knuckling the steering wheel.
"They don't have a phone," Alex said.
"Oh." We got out and went up to the door. Do I knock? Ring the bell? Just enter and call out? I went with knocking. It was 63 second before the door opened. I took a deep breath. "Hello Mother."