Tamara didn’t expect Devin to return so soon. The rhythm of his footsteps on the porch and the sounds of him dropping his ax and shedding his boots were all too familiar to her. He’d left a couple hours ago for the market, but assured her that Nick wasn’t too far away and that she’d be safe. Every so often, she would peek out the window and true to his word, a brown wolf lay under the trees nearby.

She glanced over at the kitchen table, which was not yet set. He’d be hungry from the journey and she should have had his food ready. She finished folding up a pair of his jeans and placed them in his sack as he came inside.

Devin looked around the house. He seemed confused. Had she cleaned and dusted the place to his liking?

“I’m sorry. I should have had food ready,” she said, then started off toward the kitchen.

He came behind her and gently pulled on her waist, tugging her into his chest. “What is my name, Tamara?”

“Devin.” She was puzzled with this question.

“There is no punishment for not doing something you don’t feel like doing. I will never give you orders,” he said, firmly.

She closed her eyes, embarrassed at her actions. It was only a normal routine for her to cook, clean, and have everything in perfect order before he came home. He was never angry when these things happened. He…

Tamara shook her head. Brad was gone from her life. She didn’t have to worry like this anymore. No one would strike her because the bed wasn’t made or the towels weren’t folded or the dinner table wasn’t set. Not anymore.

“I just don’t want you to be angry.” She’d never seen these emotions in Devin, and she certainly didn’t want this evening to be the first time. The last evening before he left on his quest.

“Tamara,” he whispered sadly, and then he dropped his forehead onto her shoulder. “Do you know it is custom in Caedmon culture to put the woman’s needs before the man’s?”

She shook her head.

“Even in human culture, there is never any excuse to treat a woman so badly.”

She bit her lips, swallowing down the shame of her past.

He lifted his head to look at her. “There is a difference between a man and a coward, don’t you think?”

“I guess so.”

“The answer is yes.” He brushed a curl from her forehead with his fingers and kissed her there. “Give me the name of the coward who did this to you?”

Tamara shook his head. “It’s over with.” There was no way she could let him get involved. This was her problem, not his. The solution to the damage that was already done would come in time…when she got her old life back. She could forget about the abuse then, while she focused on things that really mattered to her.

“I will find out,” he whispered.

It was a promise she hoped he did not keep.

“Devin, I don’t want to talk about that. This is your last night. I appreciate what you’ve done for me. I want it to be special, just in case I don’t see you again.”

“Come here.” He took her hand. “This will be our special night. I have something to give you.”

“What is it?”

He brought her to sit on the bed, and then lifted the lid to the chest in front of it. She waited as he parted the clothes and pulled out a small wooden box. He opened it up to reveal an emerald pendant on a necklace and lifted it, holding it between them.

The shiny edges flashed and glinted as he held it up to the light. “This used to belong to me. My mother gave it to me.” He opened her palm and placed it inside.

The stone was surprisingly warm against her skin. “It’s pretty.”

“It’s for protection. I want you to have it.”

“No. It’s too much.” She tried to give the pendant back to him.

“Tamara, please keep it.” He opened the loop and draped the necklace over her chest.

“I’m not worth this. You should give it to someone very special.” It seemed like too generous of a gift for someone like her, someone that would be gone from his life in a matter of hours.

“You are very special to me. Do you want to know one of the reasons?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

“You’ve made me realize how good it feels to help others. I helped you, and now I want to help my pack find a leader who will lead us into the next generation.”

Tamara picked up the stone and closed her palm over it. How could she ever say no to that? “Thank you.”

“I know you don’t believe in the spirit of Caedmon, but its powers exist within that gem. You will be protected from evil.”

“I believe in the spirit of Caedmon. I believe because you are Caedmon.”

He smiled. “Let’s eat together, and then we will talk until the sun comes up as we did last night.”

* * *

“Stay strong, Tamara. I will return.”

It was all the words that Tamara needed to hear from Devin.

“I can do that.” She nodded and then stepped into his embrace. His bare chest felt warm and soft against her cheeks. Taking a deep breath in, she reveled in the scent of him. Why did she want to demand that he not leave?

“Remember, Nick will be nearby at all times. Should you need something, just call out to him.”

“Devin, how long will you be gone?”

“I won’t be long.” He pressed a single kiss onto her forehead. “Six hours at the most.”

“I wish I could go with you.”

“Not this time, Tamara.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how well received I will be among my people. I will come back for you. You have my word.”

Devin started to leave but she grabbed his arm, pulling him closer. She stood on her tiptoes and leaned into him, meeting his lips in a kiss. He rested his hands on her hips and returned her kiss. His tongue sought entrance into her mouth. She parted her lips slowly, allowing them to join in a more intimate union.

The hard angles and muscles of his body fit perfectly to her soft curves just as they had last night when she fell asleep by the fireplace curled against him. He was gentle with her and took her mouth lovingly.

Before she knew it, her back was pressed firmly against the wall of the cabin. They parted briefly to catch their breath, and then he claimed her lips again. He angled their mouths and deepened the kiss. Her body grew hotter by the second, and her legs felt like they would give out from under her. His body wasn’t the only thing as hard as rock. A hard erection pressed against her stomach through the confines of their clothing.As soon as she arched into him, Devin broke away and brought her hands up to his face to kiss them. “We should stop now before it’s too late.”

Her lips tingled and her body yearned for something more. “Wait,” she said when he moved toward the door.

He paused, his hand on the doorknob.

She pointed to the bag that was packed and ready for him by the chairs. “Your bag.”

Emerald flickered bright around his irises. “I go as wolf tonight.” With that, he was out of the door.

She ran out under the evening sky and stood on the porch. Devin’s body was illuminated by the majestic moon and bright stars, his eyes glowing in the dark.

“Devin…” she whispered.

It happened so quickly. In a flash. It had to have occurred when she blinked. The wolf stood in the same place where Devin had once been. His stare bore into hers one last time before it titled its nose to the sky, and let out a howl that echoed beyond the trees.

What chilled her to the very core was a chorus of howls from wolves further off in the distance.

The wolf took off into the forest, disappearing from her sight.

* * *

Devin heard them before he saw them.

He stood back behind an old oak tree peering in the opening where his people mingled. They were having some kind of celebration despite the dire situation of the pack. From the type of music that flowed through the speakers of the Main Hall where some of them socialized, he could tell that it was someone’s birthday. One of the elders probably. They always got the biggest and most extravagant parties.

It had been five long years. Nothing had changed about the place. Those he recognized from his post behind the tree looked like they hadn’t aged a day in their life since he left. The aging process of the Caedmon was significantly slower than humans. Except for shorter hair, he probably looked the same as he did the day he left the place.

Would everyone feel the same way about him as the day he was declared an outcast?

There was only one way to find out.

Devin emerged from behind the bushes and attempted to blend with the crowd. At first, no one noticed him. As he hastily made his way toward his destination, heads began to turn in his direction. Of course. They were wolves and could smell an imposter among a crowd. He held his head low, eyes to the ground. Unrest among the pack was not something he wanted to be the cause of. At least not this night.

Something totally unexpected began to happen. The noise died down considerably. When he looked up this time, most everyone was staring in his direction. They formed a line on either side of the trail, parting to let him pass. The ones in wolf form bowed their heads with their noses pointed to the ground. Those in human form lowered their heads as well. By now, the music had stopped playing and the whispering grew rampant.

Devin was shocked at this receiving, but he feigned a calm composure and nodded to return the display of respect. The only wolf deserving of this type of welcoming was the Alpha of the pack. Perhaps they’d mistaken him for Daniel’s other son.

Making his way to the home at the end of the beaten path, he spotted the statuesque form of the elder he came to see. Roman. He was the oldest Caedmon alive. The old man had to have been well over a hundred-fifty years old. The brown cloak that was draped over Roman’s shoulders seemed to weigh down his frail form. One hand rested on his cane, leaving the other free to push the hood of the garment off his head. His white eyes seemed to sparkle with question. He’d been blind since he was born, yet Roman was known as the wisest Caedmon elder to date.

Roman lowered his head just like the others. “Devin.”

“That’s not necessary,” Devin remarked.

“Come inside.” The old man gripped his arm firmly and led him into the home.In the foyer, Devin removed his shoes, leaving them near the door.

Roman moved through the home as if he had 20/20 vision, and poured two tiny cups of what was likely some herbal tea and placed them on an end table near the fireplace. “Sit.” He motioned to the empty chair with his hand.

He obliged Roman’s request.

“What took you so long to come?” the old man asked.

“I ran into some things that needed to be taken care of first.”

“The woman? Has she been taken care of?”

Devin stiffened. He’d forgotten how easy it was for Roman to catch a lie or, for this matter, the other half of the truth. This was the man who’d tutored him for almost seventeen years. He should have known better. “Yes. She ran into some trouble and needed some help.” He picked up the cup and took a sip of the warm tea. “I also needed time to think.”

“And your decision?”

“The Blue Moon and voting ceremony are two nights away, is it not?”

“Do you plan to cast a vote against Darius?” Roman asked.

“Yes,” Devin said firmly. There was no doubt about that. One thing he never wanted to see was Darius leading his people.

“Good. Then you will rise to lead the pack.”

“I did not say that.” Devin placed the cup back on the tray.

Roman’s face became distorted in anger. “Did you not see tonight that our people have accepted you? You are next in line. They look to you to lead.”

“I was never meant to lead.”

“You were always marked to lead us. I told you this long ago.”

He’d been no more than twelve when Roman told him of the Alpha who would lead their people for over a century, climbing in rank as the strongest pack in the nation.

“Daniel prohibited me from benefiting from the treasures that he bestowed on his other sons. I was born a bastard, and he was ashamed of me. I wasn’t marked to lead; I was marked as an outcast.”

Roman sighed heavily and squeezed his eyes shut as if the words hurt him. He knew they were true. Even the Caedmon people knew he was nothing more than the son of the Alpha’s mistress.

“You were at his funeral, weren’t you?” Roman asked.

Devin lowered his head. It took every ounce of energy in his body to dispel his pride and see his father being laid to rest.

“Your father had a change of heart.” The old man stood and moved to the other side of the room near a tall bookcase. “Sadly the death of your mother, his failing health, and seeing you leave the pack indefinitely was likely the cause for this.” He brought a silver scroll and placed it firmly in the middle of the table. “The last will and testament of Daniel Caedmon.”

Devin shivered visibly as a cold draft stirred in the small home. “It doesn’t matter what is written. I know what he said to me. I saw how he treated my mother.”

“People say things they don’t mean. Your mother left Daniel to bond with her true mate. Daniel knew that she was not his mate, yet he wanted to claim someone so badly. The Alpha who is prophesized to lead us to greatness claims a mate. He wanted that title. Greed contributed to his ultimate downfall.” Roman pushed the scroll toward him on the table. “Before Daniel passed, he made me promise that you would receive it. Many attempts to contact you in Montana failed.”

“Damon…Damon claimed a mate. He’d done all the things outlined as prophesized. His death was an accident. Could he have been the chosen?”

Roman shook his head. “No. Damon rose to leadership because you were absent. AWOL. Only three of us know about the will. Your own brother, Damon, read it to me and the other Elder. We have not told anyone because we want our people to have hope for their futures. We cannot bear to tell them that the pack will die out because the chosen refuses to rise.”

Devin clutched the scroll in his palm, making a fist. He unscrewed the top and pulled out the rough vellum paper. It took both hands to hold the curled edges down against the table so that he could read the fine print.

It read: I, Daniel William Caedmon III, of the state of Virginia, son of Daniel William Caedmon II, now leader of the Caedmon people, do make and declare my last will and testament as follows…To my first born son, Devin Tomas Caedmon, I give and devise all lands, buildings and properties that I hold or have a right to. I also give him all sums of money, silver, and gold. I give him my blessing to rise as Caedmon leader should he choose this path…

Devin looked up, meeting the adamant, blind gaze of the elder.

Roman whispered one word and one word only on a hoarse breath. “Rise.”