Reese Read online

  “Me too.” Stan adds.

  “Jam will also go along just to be safe.” Reese insists. “I’d go but I have several teleconferences this week for a new deal.”

  Stan and Jam just nod and I’m just glad he’s letting me go because I thought he’d argue. I guess he knew I’d have to get my clothes and other items eventually. He’ll probably argue when I least expect it.

  “When do you want to go?” Rachel asked. I got the feeling she wanted away from here for a little while too.

  “This afternoon would work.” I suggested and they all laughed. I looked at them indignantly. “What’s so funny?”

  “It is afternoon already.” Rachel replied. I blushed, I hadn’t realized I had slept the day away.

  “Don’t be embarrassed.” Reese ordered. “You’ve gone through a hard change and you’re breeding. You need to keep well rested. Stan and Jam, you take care of her.” He instructed, then he looked up at Rachel adding the correction, “of them.”

  I didn’t think he was too worried about my safety. Delane would have no way of knowing I was away from home and I hadn’t been to my house in a couple of weeks. If he’d been watching it, he would have given up by now. I got my house keys from Reese. He’d found them the day Delane had abducted me and kept them and my purse, which he’d put up for me. I would be packing my truck and bringing it back. I couldn’t deny I had felt a bit like a prisoner with nothing to drive for the first time since I was fifteen. I would have my truck now and with it a sense of freedom even though I knew Reese would curtail my movements. I couldn’t blame him if I carried our first pup. It was both exciting and scary. Scarier than it would have normally been with the worries about Delane and the pack females who I was sure weren’t done with me yet.

  I kissed my sexy mate goodbye while Rachel made gagging noises. I had to laugh, I found her antics cute and funny. She made faces at Stan behind his back and I was sure he knew it. He would try to turn around fast when I laughed to catch her at whatever she was doing. She would look as innocent as a newborn babe. Even Jam laughed until Stan asked him what the hell he was laughing at. Jam just shrugged but he didn’t look back at us anymore.

  We took one of the other SUVs because Stan explained Reese didn’t like others to drive his personal vehicle. I wasn’t surprised since he was a tad anal about being in charge and controlling things. The trip went pleasant enough with Rachel and me talking about our ancestry and me asking questions. I think the guys were listening too although they didn’t say a thing or make a sound.

  It wasn’t long before we got to town and the college was on our end of it. Stan didn’t ask for any direction so I assumed he’d been with Reese the day he’d tracked me here only to miss me when Delane took me. It was an uneasy feeling I got when we pulled into my driveway behind my truck. I shook it off and decided it was just because Delane had once again managed to escape even if he’d sacrificed most of his rogues. Until Reese captured him I would probably always feel obsessed eyes watching me although I was sure they weren’t there. He was clearly obsessed with me because he’d had Rachel who was prettier than I was but had left her behind, almost like an offering, to try to take me again.

  I didn’t know why since I was mated and would be difficult for him to try to have pups with. It wasn’t the fact that I’d resisted him which I know turns on some sickos, Rachel had resisted him too. She was a bit taller and bigger than I was so maybe my smaller size made him feel more powerful. I tried to reason it out but I always came to a dead end. Reese said you couldn’t reason out crazy, they had a different way of thinking that made no sense to the rest of us. I guess I would just have to accept that and move on.

  I led the way to my door searching for any signs of a disturbance but finding none. I turned the key and started to push open the door so I could step in but Stan shouldered his way in front of me. I knew he was just trying to ensure my safety. I followed him in with Rachel behind me and Jam brought up the rear carefully scanning the yard before stepping inside and securing the door. The house looked just as I had left it. Knowing I planned to be gone for an indeterminate time, I had made sure everything was in good order and clean. At least I wasn’t embarrassed coming home to some awful mess. I wasn’t a particularly organized person but neither was I a messy one.

  I headed back to my bedroom to get my personal items packed first. I would leave some of the furniture, it was garage sale bought and neither wonderful nor awful. It had served its purpose and now I was ready to let it go. I did have a few items I was attached to like my antique desk, a small trousseau trunk my mom had given me when I turned sixteen and the kitchen table. The table was a neat and valuable find at the time since it adjusted to several sizes with both sides folding down and two leaves to make it larger. The matching chairs would also go so I asked Jam and Stan if they would load it while Rachel and I packed my personal items from my bedroom.

  We got a little sidetracked as we packed my jewelry and we realized we loved much the same items. Rachel noticed a ring that called to her and I remembered my mom had told me the ring had belonged to my blood mother. Rachel held it and tears came to her eyes. She moved closer to me and gave me a hard long hug.

  “I believe you are my sister. I have a talent for reading items and this ring belonged to my mother.”

  “Is that a witch’s power?”

  She shook her head. “It’s a mystic’s power I suppose. I know of no other witches that can do that except those in our family.”

  Our family she’d said and just that easily I felt a connection and a sense of belonging to my birth family. It surged through me and I knew now that I’d missed this sense of belonging but hadn’t realized it. That old saying seemed true here, you can’t miss what you’ve never known. Now that I did know, I felt a terrible sense of loss for all those family members I should have but had never met. Rachel had known them well and I hoped she would share them through stories.

  I went out to the living room where Jam and Stan were sitting on the couch to tell them the other two items of furniture I needed loaded. Most of the items in my bedroom were packed and Rachel was carrying boxes and the trash bags we had used in a pinch, out to the living room for the guys to load up. I was beginning to think a second trip would be necessary even after leaving most of the furniture behind. I hadn’t realized how much stuff I’d acquired in my nearly four years living here.

  We were working hard and I thought we worked well together. What would fit in the two vehicles was nearly loaded. I locked the door and picked up the box I was carrying while Jam and Stan were rearranging things to fit these last few containers. I moved behind her setting the box back down by my truck. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and that was a sure sign something wasn’t right. I casually glanced around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I looked at Rachel and saw she was aware of whatever disturbed me too. The only thing I could think of was that Delane had found us. The problem was this heaviness in the air was not something I’d ever sensed before. The word magic came to mind but I wasn’t sure why since I’d never been around it how could I sense it?

  The air seemed to shimmer, that couldn’t be right yet it was right there in front of me. A large male stepped out of the air, yes I know that sounds crazy. He was gorgeous but had a cruel look on his face, “Rachel!” He yelled and she shot a flash of light at him.

  Jam and Stan both had their wolves in their eyes, I could tell by the glow. They would be no help since they could barely keep themselves from running away.

  The male put up his hand and seemed to bat away the light. He laughed evilly, “That won’t work twice,” he advised. “Who do we have here?” He asked looking at me with interest.

  Rachel chanted but looked frustrated when nothing happened. “Here, take this.” She said handing me what looked like a wand.

  “Are you crazy? I’m not a witch.” I insisted.

  “Try.” She implored. “He’ll capture us and never let us go.”

  Ange
r at the thought of another male just like Delane thinking he could take whatever he wanted from those weaker than him surged through me as I pointed the small wand in his direction. The bastard laughed at me.

  “You may not have useful magic but I see something I like.” He said as he licked his lips suggestively while he stared at my chest.

  I felt power surge through me as my anger took flight. I kept the wand pointed at him and he stepped closer just as an arc formed from the end of the wand to his chest. He flew back twenty feet or more and just lay there unmoving. We all loaded up rushing like crazy, even Stan and Jam were moving now.

  Stan grabbed Rachel and pushed her into the SUV. They took off with wheels spinning out as they backed on to the road. With a squeal of tires and some newly laid rubber, they took off speeding down the road as Jam shoved me into the passenger seat. He hopped in holding his hand out for my keys but I only had a wand in my hand. The keys lay on the ground about ten feet away from what was either a witch or a wizard. He was shaking his head trying to clear it as I got out and ran over to pick up my keys.

  “You are a witch and I’ll have you too.” He yelled after me as I got in and tossed Stan the keys.

  He took off in much the same fashion as Stan while my eyes stayed glued to the white blond haired, magic man with teal eyes. I’d never seen eyes exactly that color and he was beautiful but I sensed he was also deadly. Maybe the worst part was now I was on his short list of acquisitions along with my sister. I couldn’t help wondering who he was, why he wanted us and as powerful as he clearly was, why hadn’t he been able to just use a spell to capture us?

  Jam and I didn’t talk any on the way back, I guess were both going over the events in our minds trying to figure out what the hell had just occurred. I was pretty sure Rachel had failed to inform us of something very important. She had a powerful magic user after her and he knew we were with her. I was now also on his radar and my alpha mate wouldn’t put him off the chase in the slightest. Witches were very arrogant especially the male ones and he wouldn’t hesitate to come on pack lands after us since many of them considered wolves beneath them.

  I suspected he was a rogue and one not to be trifled with. It also looked like he had a way of neutralizing Rachel’s magic but she couldn’t do the same with his. My magic, wow I had magic, wasn’t something he could neutralize. That could change but for now that had proven to be a good thing. We sped down the highway staying within view of Stan and Rachel in the SUV. I was glad we weren’t in there with them because I had a feeling it was anything but quiet there. I glanced at Jam who seemed to have calmed his terrified wolf and wasn’t tense like he’d been earlier. We were nearly home and I was sure Stan had called Reese with a report by now. Reese was probably upset and I worried he would want Rachel to leave even though she clearly needed our protection.

  We pulled up behind the SUV and I watched as Stan and Rachel got out. I hopped out as soon as Jam put the truck in park. I had to be there when Reese questioned Rachel because I worried that he’d be mad. If I wasn’t so worried about his reaction, I would take the time to be pissed at her myself since I didn’t need this shit in my condition. I wouldn’t blame him for being upset, but I didn’t want her sent away. I hurried up the stairs trying to catch up and make it into the kitchen just as Reese turned his attention on my sister.

  “Explain yourself!” He demanded and I felt waves of alpha power hitting the room, pressing for submission from all present. I fought against the urge to drop and roll on my back to offer my belly and my throat for him to do as he wished. Damn the male had such strength, it was so hot!

  I looked at Rachel and saw she was fighting the need to submit as well. That showed me the power worked on more than just wolves. Stan and now Jam stood with their necks bared awaiting Reese’s pleasure. Jam was a true beta, but Stan was alpha, just not as strong as Reese. Most people made the assumption that a pack had only one alpha but many betas were often lesser alphas and sometimes they even rose to become pack alphas when the alpha died or abdicated.

  Council members at every level, sentinels, they did ambassadorial and high level law enforcement duties and wardens were all alphas. Some of the wolves that chose to live in high ranking positions among humans and even some famous celebrities were also alphas. Alphas tended to run in families with two alpha parents almost always having alpha pups. The exception would be what were called throw backs by scientists meaning that somewhere in the family line one of the ancestors had a mate that wasn’t alpha and the risk of that coming out existed forever unless white or red wolf blood was introduced into the line.

  Those bloodlines were so strong that anything other than alphas had never been born into them. That helped explain to someone unfamiliar with wolf genetics why an alpha wolf, especially one who feared his blood line polluted with non-alpha DNA, would value a female of either of those bloodlines. It was one of many reasons that mates from red or white wolf bloodlines were coveted. To make matters worse for those from these bloodlines not wanting to mate supernaturals, there was enough of magical and other DNA in both of the bloodlines that other supernaturals, like this male magic user, desired them too. Yup, my sister and I as the only known red wolves would be so screwed if the word got out.

  Rachel half stutters, “I-I don’t know what to say.”

  “Why don’t you tell the truth and start with why some magical male attacked you and my mate?” He snarled.

  I didn’t interfere because all things considered, he was taking it well. All eyes were now on Rachel and she fidgeted in her chair.

  “He’s a rogue witch.” She admitted.

  “That’s a good start. Why is he after you?” Reese asked.

  “My family.” She said then she looked at me. “Our family has a strong magical blood line mixed into our human one. It’s not the strongest in existence, we’re about the third of those lines that have survivors. His line is fifth but he is their strongest witch ever because his father, the patriarch of that line, married a sorceress.”

  “Is there even a difference between that and a witch?” Stan muttered but Reese shot him a nasty look.

  “Go on.” Reese encouraged.

  “There is a difference and having more than one kind of magic makes you stronger. Witches use Earth magic which is natural and is constantly replenishing itself. Sorcery uses another source that I know little about. I know that they can pull power from other magic users but their original source is finite and doesn’t replenish itself but it’s somewhat like energy changing from form to form but neither increasing nor decreasing.”

  “I get it now. That’s why he couldn’t cast another spell. He’d depleted his power.” I guessed.

  “Very good, Megan. He used a great deal of power for the portal that brought him to us and he had to keep it open so he could go back through it. Fighting my magic used the rest so when you hit him with your blast, he couldn’t protect himself. Well done by the way.”

  I blushed with pleasure at the complement. “Thank you.”

  “Let’s get back on track.” Reese growled. I could see he was frustrated and worry showed on his face.

  “Okay, he’s looking for a harem of witches or other magic users that he can drain power from. He has several females he keeps at his castle. He captured me but he underestimated my fighting skills and my magical strength and I escaped. I’ve been running from him for five years now and I move whenever he gets close. I work for the witches’ council so where I live doesn’t matter. They’ve been after him for a while and there is a big bounty on his head but no one seems able to bring him in.”

  “I’m more interested in why you didn’t warn us about him especially since you know your sister is breeding?”

  “I didn’t think he would find me here. It usually takes him months to track me down once I run.”

  “It would seem he’s getting better at this.” Reese observed. Yeah, he knows how to state the obvious and make it sound brilliant.

  “So, w
hat are you going to do?” Rachel asked. I wanted the answer to that too.

  “Do about what?” He asked.

  “I suppose you’ll want me to leave.” She stated.

  “No, I won’t be dictated to by some rogue witch.” Reese snarled. “You’ll stay until he’s dealt with and I have no doubt he’ll find us soon enough. Meanwhile, we still have our own problem to deal with since Delane has fallen off the radar but I know he’s not done with us yet. He’s too focused on Megan to give up so easily.”

  I felt relief wash through me when I realized Reese wasn’t making Rachel leave. I should have known his alpha wolf wouldn’t allow some rogue witch to scare him or to push him into doing anything. Reese had the typical aversion to witches most wolves did, but he didn’t allow it to overwhelm or freeze him in his tracks as some others did. It made me respect him even more than I had before if that was possible.

  “Thank you,” Rachel whispered.

  “Stan, you add more security and get a few extra guys looking for Delane. I’m tired of waiting on him to attack us. Rachel, we need some wards to a least warn us when your psycho rogue witch shows up. We need to make some plans to be proactive or we’ll just have targets painted on our asses.” Reese growled.

  We were all frustrated and we didn’t need a new enemy but life just throws this shit at you and doesn’t ask if you’re ready or not. Reese looked at me and I saw the warmth in his look. I wished we had some time to be alone and reconnect but it looked like he’d be busy setting up defenses and making plans.

  “I think he’s a keeper, Sis.” Rachel observed.

  “I know he is.” I agreed.

  I glanced at Stan and Rachel’s eyes followed mine. I saw interest in her eyes and I knew Stan had some interest in her too even though the fact that she was a witch was off putting to him. If it was meant to be and all those trite things people always say. I often speculated about what part fate really has in our lives. Sometimes you find two people who should be together and are even though they seemed to come together accidently. Other times you find people that should never have been brought together yet they are. I guess there’s nothing we can do except try to make the best possible decisions with whatever facts we have and hope for the best.