Chapter 16

“I don’t know what the fuck just happened,” Chief admitted. 

He and the pack were watching as Monroe’s Hummer pulled away from the compound with Sha secured inside.

“Sha sacrificed herself for you and Alise.”  Mama reached up as she turned back toward the house and slapped Chief on the chest.  “Don’t mess it up, scaredy wolf.”

Turning, Chief watched Mama’s shuffling steps as she ambled up the front stairs.  Around him, the pack began to disperse, all except for Dell and Chloe.

“Chief, you remember my mate, Chloe.”

Chloe shot Chief a forced smile before looking back at the road and watching the Hummer disappear.  “This doesn’t feel right.”

Dell pulled her into a hug and murmured into her hair, “I know, baby.  But it’s what she wants.”  Pulling back, he tugged on her hand.  “Come on, let’s get our guests settled.”

“Just like that,” Chief asked.  When Dell and Chloe looked at him, he glared at the road and then snapped his fingers.  “Just like that he’s gonna let me and Alise go?  It’s not like him.”

“He wanted something more than you,” Dell answered.  “He got it.”

And that left Chief felling empty.  Had this been a ploy from the beginning?  Had Monroe’s bet against Chief at the pack battles been planned?  It only would have worked if Monroe knew Chief would become stricken.  There was no way he could know that unless he’d made it happen.

“Come on,” Dell clapped him on the back.  “You’re thinking too hard.  It’s giving me a headache.  Let’s go tell your mate the good news.”

But was it good news?  Chief followed quietly behind Dell and Chloe, his mind a whirlwind of thought.  He needed a minute to process.  He needed to figure out where this actually left him and Alise.  Yeah, the BlackBird pack was ready to take them in, but he wasn’t sure that was best.  Stalling at the door, he glared into the house.  The inevitable confrontation with Alise wasn’t something he was looking forward to, especially after the way he’d left things.

***

Huddled in the basement with the pack children and teenagers, Alise felt humiliation wash over her, it intensified when she rubbed at the itch coursing through her arms, and one of the teenage girls asked, “Is the stricken bothering you?  You need me to get your mate?”   

“No,” she smiled weakly.  “Just cold,” she lied.

The pretty girl’s delicate brows fell into a frown.  “We can smell lies.”  The girl shared a look with her friends before muttering, “Nice way to introduce yourself, lady.”

It was no wonder Chief didn’t want a human as a mate.  She was so clueless about everything. 

“I’m sorry,” she offered lamely.  “I…I just don’t want to be more of a bother than I already am.”

The girl’s expression softened, and she looked at her friends before offering.  “Don’t let him give you crap about being human.  My mom was too, and she’s badass!”  The girl shot Alise  a genuine grin, “I’m Ava.”  She pointed at one of the other girls, “That’s my sister, Keyahna.” 

She introduced all the other girls in the basement, but Alise didn’t hear their names because Ava’s words were stuck in her head. 

“Wh-what do you mean your mom used to be human?  She’s gone?”

Ava giggled.  “No!  I mean yeah.  She went into town with dad.”  She lifted her head and was quiet a moment before saying, “But they’re back now.”

“I don’t get what you’re saying,” Alise stood and approached slowly.  “What do you mean your mom used to be human?”

Ava shrugged negligently.  “Dad changed her when they mated.”

“Changed her?”

“Yeah.  He turned her into one of us.”

Holy hell!  Alise felt rocked, she even had to throw out a hand to steady herself when her legs nearly gave out.  “Ch-changed her?  They can do that?”

“Only with mates.  Chief’ll probably change you too,” Ava beamed.  “Then you’ll be one of us.”

Chief could change her?  Did it happen when they mated?  If they mated?

“Does the male always change the female?”

The two sisters exchanged a look.  It was Keyahna who answered.  “Not always.  It’s up to the female if she wants to be changed.”

“Not with mom and dad,” Ava corrected.  “Remember, he accidentally changed her.”

Accidentally?  Alise lifted a hand to her throat.  Heart racing in her chest, she didn’t know if she should be pressing the girls for answers.  After a moment’s hesitation though, she realized that Chief wasn’t going to give her any so she pressed on.  “Changed her accidentally?  How…how’d that happen?”

A deep masculine voice from behind her had Alise gasping as she startled hard. 

“That’s personal, Alise, and something I’d appreciate if you’d asked my mate or me directly.”

Alise turned and found a man towering behind her.  He was big and handsome, but nowhere near as tall or as intimidating as Chief.

“I’m sorry,” she muttered and backed up a step.  “I was just…”

“Looking for answers.”  A beautiful woman with big brown eyes set in a face framed by waist-length, straight, black hair stepped forward, and shoulder bumped the guy.  “Give her a break, love.  This shit is scary in the beginning.”  Jerking her head at the girls, she said, “Upstairs girls.  See to your chores before anything else.”  She caught Ava’s arm as she made to pass and asked, “Can you go get the guestroom prepared, please.”  She looked at Alise, “We’ll have company for a while.”  Facing Alise, Chloe held out a hand.  “Come on, we’ll take you up to Chief.  He’ll be itching to see you.”

“Wait!”  Alise didn’t move.  “I need some answers, and he refuses to give them.  Can…can you answer them for me?”

Chloe looked from Alise to Dell.

“I deserve to know,” Alise pushed.  “I’ve been stricken too.  This isn’t all about him.”

Chloe agreed.  “You’re right.  You deserve answers.  Ask.”