Chapter Three
Avery Montag did her best not to lower her gaze from the two hulking men in front of her, though she didn’t meet their eyes either. She’d read about wolves and their dominance games. She was just a human, and there was no way she wanted to challenge them by just meeting their gazes. However, she also refused to lower her chin in a sign of true submission. That left her with her head held high but her eyes not directly on theirs. She just hoped that was good enough.
“How do we know you’re not here to finish what your father started?” the larger man asked, his voice almost a growl.
She did her best to ignore the insane shivers that rolled over her at the sound of his words. There was clearly something wrong with her if she was thinking about how sexy they both sounded instead of running away from the big, bad predators.
“I’m not my father.” She’d said that to herself countless times, whispering it in the dead of night when she had nothing left. She’d thought it for years, using it as a talisman to ward off the darkness before her mother had been killed. Then, when she’d lost it all, she’d said it daily—only never aloud to another soul.
Until now.
She wasn’t her father. She wasn’t a monster.
She was just a woman who needed to atone for the sins of her father.
Nothing unusual there.
The other man tilted his head, studying her as a wolf might. These two clearly weren’t human, even though they looked it. They were too large, too in-tune with everything around them. How anyone could mistake them for anything but…more, she didn’t know.
Of course, no one knew she was different either—even if she were a special kind of unique.
She was good at hiding what she was. She had to be. Only now that she’d put herself in the middle of a war she wasn’t sure she fully comprehended, she had a feeling she wouldn’t be hiding for much longer. As she’d said before, these two saw too much.
And they would soon be able to see her if they looked hard enough.
The smaller one—if you could count the six-foot, muscled man in front of her small—frowned.
“She’s right, she’s not her father,” he said softly. “I think we should let her speak to Gideon once she tells us what exactly she means by help.”
She tried not to show her cards by looking too relieved, but she couldn’t help it. She let out a breath and adjusted the camera on her hip. “I have a few ideas, but really, I’m here to do whatever you need me to. I know that what’s happening to your people is wrong, and I want you to know that not all humans want to see the end of the shifters.” She was rambling at this point since she didn’t have a clear plan. She only knew she needed to figure out something to show the human world that shifters were just people with their own set of rules—regulations that didn’t necessarily go against the human ones. She wasn’t sure that would be enough for the Alpha of a Pack of shifters, though.
What she was sure of…she’d been out of her mind when she’d seen the battle on-screen a few nights ago. She’d witnessed the pain and agony of so many because of one man: her father. And when she’d seen her dad die at the hands of those he’d tried to butcher, it hadn’t been sadness for the man she’d felt—but relief.
What kind of daughter did that make her, if she weren’t sad that her father was dead but sad for those he’d hurt along the way?
Not a daughter he could be proud of, that much was true—he’d said it over and over throughout her younger years. And yet she was just fine with that. Any daughter that cruel being could be proud of was not a person she wanted to be.
She narrowed her eyes at the two men, something from her memory coming back in an instant. “You were shot,” she gaped at the shorter man. “I remember seeing it.” She looked at the larger one, not taking care to avoid their gazes as she did. “And you were the one who tried to get him off the field.”
The man who’d been shot growled low as the larger man sighed.
“That was us,” the larger man said. “I’m Parker Jamenson. This is Brandon Brentwood. He doesn’t like when you mention that I saved his life.”
“I was doing just fine without you,” Brandon bit out.
Okay, then. It looked like she’d stepped into something that wasn’t her business. Again. But as a photojournalist, that was kind of her job.
Brandon growled again before looking past Parker at a dense section of woods. The same thick copse the two men had magically appeared through when they’d first shown up and the two guards flanking her had blended away. Those must be the wards everyone was talking about online—the ones that humans couldn’t see, which kept the wolves safe. She didn’t blame the Packs for using them one bit. With so many people confused or out to get them, they needed any type of protection they could get.
“There’s something about her, but she’s sincere as far as I can tell.”
She wasn’t sure whom Brandon was talking to until an even larger man stepped through the trees. Were all shifters this big, or were these just her welcoming committee? And what had Brandon meant by that?
Her hands went clammy and her vision blurred, but she pushed down what she knew was coming back. She could hold on for a bit longer as she’d trained herself to do, but if she weren’t careful, she’d reveal too much, too soon.
“What is it you plan to do to help us?” the newest person said, his voice low, demanding.
“You’re the Alpha,” she said softly, recognizing him once he came closer. “Gideon Brentwood.” She turned to Brandon. “You’re his brother, and if you were the one who came out to gauge who I was, I take it you’re the Omega. And that man who was out here earlier since you all thought I was a threat, was the Enforcer.”
Gideon’s eyes went gold, and she pressed her lips together, aware she’d probably said too much. “You seem to know a lot about wolves for someone who says they aren’t like their father.”
The words were a direct affront, but she took them, as was her due. She hadn’t been able to stop her father when it had counted, and now she had to pay the price.
“There’re stories about all of you and your positions on every screen out there,” she said after a moment. “They have some of the hierarchy but not all, and I’m pretty sure they’re making half of it up. But there are a few things that are in each and every one, so I figured those had to be close to the truth.” She looked at the three men surrounding her and raised her chin once again. “I hadn’t spoken to my father for almost ten years before he died. The only reason I know he’s dead at all is because I saw it happen live like everyone else did thanks to the satellite feed. Not to mention the fact that his face is plastered all over the place, labeled as a traitor.” She let out a breath. “They haven’t revealed the fact that he had a daughter yet since he cut me off and hasn’t mentioned me. And I, for one, am grateful for that. I’m not the man who tried to harm you—I’m nothing like him. But I want to find a way to help your Pack if I can.”
Gideon narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, and she ducked her head. She might be human, but the power in his gaze was so intense that she instinctively knew not to meet it. Prey knew a predator when they saw one.
“My wolf is saying I can trust you,” Gideon growled low. “And my wolf never says that these days. So I’m going to hear you out, along with the council and some of my wolves. But you won’t be stepping into the den.” He paused. “It’s too dangerous. Do you understand that?”
She didn’t even feel a moment of hurt at that statement. She would have been surprised—and a little disappointed—if they’d let her past their wards so easily. She’d only known where the place was since the field they were currently standing in had been the place for not one, but two battles recently.
“Where do you want to meet, then?” she asked.
“The Chambers would be a good place,” Parker put in, never letting his gaze fall from her. She did her best not to squirm under his scrutiny.
“I agree,” Brandon added. “But blindfold her before she gets there.”
“She is standing right here,” she said, annoyed. “You don’t have to talk like I’m not.”
“You’re lucky we’re letting you talk at all,” a fourth wolf said. This one was new, and she didn’t recognize him.
“Stop scaring her, Mitchell,” Brandon said with a sigh. “We’re not going to kill you,” he said directly to Avery.
“Thanks for clearing that up,” she said dryly.
She could tell Parker was trying to hold back a laugh at her words.
“We’re trying to figure out what to do with you, so, yeah, we’re going to talk like you’re not here. Kind of hard to do anything else when you’re on our territory,” Brandon added.
Though his words made sense in a way, it still grated. “Fine. Blindfold me, I guess. I came here and put my life in your hands anyway. Might as well keep going.”
This time, Parker did chuckle. “I think I like you.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t know if I like you,” she said honestly.
Parker’s smile widened. “Yeah, I definitely like you.”
“Freaking wolf,” Brandon muttered so low that Avery almost missed it. He pulled something out of his back pocket and held it out to Parker. “Cover her eyes while I get ahold of the others.”
Both Gideon and Kameron watched the three of them with curiosity in their gazes before moving back through the wards, apparently satisfied for the time being. Parker stalked toward her—there was no other word for it with the grace in which he moved—and held out the blindfold.
“This is just so we keep our location secret. I promise you, no harm will come to you while you are with us.” His voice was low, reassuring. “We aren’t the monsters they show us to be.”
“I know that,” she whispered, for some reason unable to speak any louder when he was so close, so looming. “That’s why I’m here.”
He studied her face before nodding. “Good.” He reached forward and tied the blindfold over her eyes. Darkness surrounded her, but for some reason, maybe because he was there, right by her side, she didn’t feel scared.
Then again, maybe she was truly going insane.
He took her hand, and she jumped. “Sorry. I’m going to lead you to one of our vehicles now so we can get to the meeting place.” She stopped where she was at those words. “We’re not going to kidnap you.”
“The whole blindfold thing kind of belies that point,” she said with a laugh.
“As long as you don’t go kicking and screaming, it probably won’t feel like a kidnapping.” She laughed again at Parker’s words and took a step forward. She felt the relief in his grip as she moved, and she knew she had to trust these men. She was here to atone, after all. Running away at the first sign of trouble wouldn’t help anyone.
Soon, Avery found herself sitting in a large room with tables set in a square pattern so everyone faced one another. Every chair had been filled in record time, and Avery had a feeling she was the only human in attendance. A daunting sense that everything was once again out of her control filled her, and she did her best not to panic.
She was just one person with a tiny plan to help. It wasn’t much, but for some reason, these wolves had seemed to trust her enough to meet with her. That had to count for something.
“We’re here because the moon goddess spoke to me,” Gideon said, breaking the silence.
A few others gasped, but Avery didn’t say anything. She’d heard of the goddess before, but she didn’t know much, other than the fact that she was directly connected with the shifters.
“What did she say?” another man asked. The power bleeding off of him matched Gideon’s, and she looked at him again before remembering that this man was the Alpha of the Redwood Pack, Kade.
“She told me that Avery is important,” Gideon answered slowly. “I don’t know what that means, and you know the goddess likes to speak in riddles—if she speaks at all.” He looked at Avery. “But since she spoke to me, we’re here to listen to you.”
Avery cleared her throat. “Um…will you tell me who I’m talking to? That way, I don’t mess up protocol or something by talking to the wrong wolf?” She truly was out of her depth, and she knew she only had a short leash with the people her father had hurt so deeply.
A very pregnant woman next to Gideon smiled. “I think introductions are in order, as well.”
“I think you should be behind the wards,” Gideon growled.
The woman raised her brows. “I think I’m surrounded by some of the strongest wolves of both Packs and I need to be here. The goddess said so.”
“The goddess is out of her mind,” Gideon growled.
Lightning flashed across the clear sky, and Avery froze—as did the rest of the room.
“No offense,” Gideon said quickly before running a hand over his face.
“Schooled by a goddess,” Kade said with a laugh. “Good to know she’s listening.” The Redwood Alpha turned to Avery with a nod. “You already know who I am, don’t you?” he asked.
“You’re Kade, Alpha of the Redwood Pack,” Avery answered immediately.
Kade nodded. “Good. This is my mate, Melanie.” The blonde woman next to Kade nodded. “My Heir and son, Finn.” Kade gestured toward the man at his side, who looked remarkably like him. “And his mate, Brynn.”
“Brynn is also our sister,” Gideon added. “This is my mate, Brie.”
The pregnant woman waved before putting her hand down over her large stomach.
“Brie is also my niece,” Kade added. “We’re…complicated.”
Avery snorted. Complicated probably didn’t even begin to cover it.
Gideon continued the introductions. “Kameron is our Enforcer, Mitchell our Beta. You’ve already met Parker and Brandon. Though Parker is a Redwood, not a Talon.”
Her head was beginning to spin at all the names and titles, but she did her best to pay attention.
“And finally, the others are our council,” Gideon said. “They are the ones that make sure our two Packs run smoothly as a unit.”
He paused and she tried to catch up.
“Gina, Parker, Farah, and Quinn are the Redwoods. Lorenzo, Kimberly, Max, and Leah are the Talons.”
Each of the wolves nodded in her direction as they were named, and she let out a breath. There was no way she was going to remember everyone, but that didn’t matter for now. She knew who the Alphas were, and they were here to listen to her. Only now, she was afraid that she was going to let them down.
Avery squirmed in her seat. “I don’t really know why the goddess spoke to you about me. I’m just here with a small plan to help. I mean, I figured I’d talk to one of you and see if I could assist on the sidelines. It’s not like my plan has any huge merit beyond goodwill.”
“Then maybe the goddess wants you here for something other than your plan,” Brandon said softly from her side. She couldn’t help but feel the heat radiating off him next to her, just as she did with Parker on her other side.
“But I don’t have anything other than this little idea. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“You’re in the world of the paranormal, Avery. Not everything makes sense until the rest of the pieces come together.” She looked over at Parker as he spoke, aware that the others were staring, as well.
“What plan do you have?” Gideon asked. “Why did you come to see us?”
She put her hands on the table in front of her. “I’m the daughter of a traitor. I know this. I know only part of what he’s done to you, but even that part is far too evil to even contemplate. You all know what he did. I’m here in whatever capacity you need me. If it’s to show the world that you can work with a human who has the same blood as a monster, so be it. If it’s to show that you want nothing to do with me, I can understand that, too. But I’m also a photojournalist. That’s my job by trade and passion. I’ve spent my life going to war-torn countries and trying to show the rest of the world that people need help outside of our borders. I’ve tried to find peace for those who cannot find it for themselves.” She stopped to catch her breath, yet no one spoke, so she continued. “I know it’s not much, but I can show the world who you really are. People fear what they do not know, and if they know you, at least as much as you’ll allow, they’ll find that they don’t need to be afraid. Or at least they can be less afraid.”
Parker reached out and patted her hand, while Brandon did the same to her knee. It wasn’t until they both touched her reassuringly that she realized she hadn’t been breathing. She finally sucked in more air, her hands going clammy. If she weren’t careful, she’d reveal the rest of her reason for being there.
“We tried doing something like that before,” Kade added. “And we lost some of our own in the process.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“Are we ready to show the world who we are?” Gideon asked quietly, his hand over Brie’s on her stomach. “Because, like Kade said, we tried that and it didn’t work. They killed us. Our blood is on the field out there right next to your father’s. Would it be better for them to fear us? I don’t know. But I don’t want my child, our future Alpha, to die or live knowing I didn’t do what I could to help.”
Avery wrung her hands together. “I don’t know what you should do. But I will say that the humans out there watching the screens and whatever news the media can report about you don’t know the truth. They see what the media wants them to see, and honestly, I don’t know if the reporters know their own message. They say they want a fair fight, that they want the truth, but growling wolves and death pays more than seeing the truth about the atrocities being leveled against you.”
“And you think you can help?” Gideon asked, his tone neutral enough that she had no idea what he was thinking.
The only reason she wasn’t jumping out of her skin was the fact that Brandon and Parker were on either side of her—stone sentries in the face of uncertainty. She had no idea why she felt safe between them, but she of all people knew not to go against her instincts.
“I only know that it can take just one step. You’re probably fighting on twenty sides right now, and that’s understandable. I know I’m not the final answer, and I told you that before I began, but I can be part of the answer if you’ll let me.”
The wolves studied her for a moment before Gideon stood up. Her heart thudded in her chest, and once again, the two men on either side of her leaned closer, as if reassuring her that she was safe—at least as safe as she could be as the lone human in a roomful of wolves.
“We’ll take your proposal under advisement,” Gideon said after a moment.
“And considering we don’t have much time to screw around, we’ll give you an answer by tomorrow,” Kade added.
She let out a relieved breath. They were listening. That had to count for something. At least they hadn’t killed her right off like some of the media had said would happen. She hadn’t believed that would be the case, but with tension riding high and the fact that her father had been a murdering bastard, she hadn’t been a hundred percent sure she’d be safe.
“Thank you for listening,” she said softly before standing up. “I know you have countless other things to do, but thank you.”
The two Alphas nodded as one, and she wondered if they even knew they’d done that. It was interesting to see how well the two dominant Packs got along in close quarters.
As she began to leave the room, Parker and Brandon followed her. It seemed they would be continuing their roles as her guards. Safeguarding her from danger or saving the wolves from her, she didn’t know.
“Do you have a place to stay?” Brandon asked. “From what you said, you don’t seem to live around here, and your father lived out near DC. We knew of your father’s background from whatever we could dig up during our research, but he did a decent job of hiding your existence from any files we could find.”
She tried not to let any of what Brandon said hurt. It wasn’t their fault that her father had cut her out of his life. Of course, now that she knew even more about the man, she was actually grateful.
“I rented a motel room in the town closest to the den,” she answered. There was no reason to lie since they’d probably have someone follow her back anyway to keep an eye on her. She wouldn’t blame them.
“Do you need us to take you there?” Parker asked. “It’s not exactly safe around our den anymore.”
She shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. No one knows who I am, and since I’m human…” She winced. “Hell. I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re right,” Brandon corrected. “You’re human and far safer than any of us. But our enemies don’t know how to tell who is shifter or not, so be careful. We’ll send word of the Alphas’ decision as soon as we know it.”
She nodded and took the blindfold from Parker as he held it out. She’d done what she’d come to do, and now she just had to hope it would be enough.
By the time they stopped, and she got out of the car right back where they’d started, darkness was coming, and she knew she needed to get to her safe place soon. She’d pushed away the vision for too long, and if she weren’t careful, she’d pass out in the middle of the forest.
“Thank you,” she said as she pulled on her pack. “I appreciate it.”
“Thank you,” Brandon said. “You’re trying to help us even though you don’t know us.”
She shrugged. “It’s what anyone would do.”
“You’re wrong about that,” Parker said with a shake of his head. “It’s going to be dark soon. You’d better get back to where you parked your vehicle.”
She gave them both one last searching look, not knowing why she felt such a…connection to them. It didn’t make any sense, but it wouldn’t matter in the long run. She was the daughter of the man who had tried to kill them.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Avery pressed her lips together as she made her way back to her car, aware that she didn’t have much time before she blacked out. Her hands were clammy, and sweat rolled down her back.
“Almost there,” she breathed, running out of time.
She was so focused on getting to her vehicle, she almost missed the growl. Hair rising on the back of her neck, she turned, only to open her mouth on a soundless scream.
Gold eyes.
Sharp teeth.
Torn flesh.
Searing pain.
Nothing.