Rick

 

Rick watched as his friend and his alpha finally rose to his feet. Relief swept over him, and he pulled his mate into his arms. He needed the reassurance of life. His battle with Greg had been tough, and for a time he didn’t think he would win. Rick looked down at Stella, his mate, his lover, and his savior.

“You were reckless,” he said, feeling the anger seep in.

When she had thrown herself on top of him he had wanted to kill her himself.

“You’re welcome,” she said, walking off to send the bodies of Greg and the woman on to another life.

He smiled knowing she couldn’t see him. Her sass and determination were as sexy as they were a nuisance. He looked around at his pack members as they began to shift back to their human forms. Rachel stood off to the side, tears brimming in her eyes. Rick wanted to hate her for being a part of everything, but she seemed like a scared little girl to him now.

“What are you doing to do with your freedom?” he asked her.

She looked up at him, her eyes apologetic.

“I’m truly sorry, Rick. I never dreamed all of this would come of that night.”

“What did you think would happen?” he asked.

“Honestly, I knew he wanted me before I found you at the bar. He had made it clear that he would have me no matter what. You were my last act of rebellion.”

“I figured that out already. I’m glad you were honest with me, though.”

“How did you know?”

“It didn’t make sense. Them sending you to me as bait just to come after me for touching you.”

“I knew I could make you think I was your mate. He had taught me how to manipulate. I didn’t know that Arriell wanted you then. She was just another chameleon like me. Apparently they had struck a bargain. One that I don’t think Greg ever had any intention of fulfilling. He used it to manipulate and control her.”

“Greg said he was always the runt. I didn’t even know he was a shifter.”

“Yes, Arriell told me that he had been cast out of his pack for being too little and weak. He was a drifter that never found a pack. He found power in the dark magic, though.” She hung her head as the words escaped her lips.

“So, back to my first question. What are you doing to do with your freedom?”

“I guess see if Jasper will let me keep my job. Maybe find a place to rent. I have no idea. I’ve been under his magic for so long.”

Rick nodded, not saying anything. He wanted to offer her asylum with the pack, but it wasn’t his decision to make. He left her to her thoughts as he walked inside. The bar was full of the entire pack, most half-clothed. Austin sat at the bar looking pale, but alive. Rick figured he probably didn’t look much better.

Kate flew past Rick on her way to Austin, baby cradled in her arms. Austin wrapped one arm around his mate and tugged her close to him. Rick watched as the three huddled together. He looked down at Stella, wondering what was in store for their future. If they would be blessed with a cub of their own.

He shook off his thoughts and approached the table.

“I would like to offer Rachel asylum with our pack,” he said, casting silence throughout the bar.

“No,” Jasper said immediately.

“Not only is she a chameleon, she’s done a lot to this pack. I don’t think it would be wise,” Austin said.

“Maybe she did, but she also helped us. Had she not given me Greg’s name I wouldn’t have been able to cast the spells that hindered him. He wasn’t at full strength tonight, and that is thanks to Rachel.”

“One good deed does not make up for a multitude of bad ones,” Jasper said vehemently. Rick knew that Jasper would feel the strongest against Rachel staying.

“Jasper, I know you feel betrayed, but I think we must see if she’s truly changed before we cast judgment,” Stella tried to placate him.

“The other chameleons didn’t get that chance. We killed them. She should be dead,” Emma snarled.

“For now, let’s leave the discussion. We need to assign somebody to her, though, to make sure she doesn’t take off,” Austin said, looking around at the other shifters.

“What if she just manipulates their feelings like she did to me?” Rick thought out loud.

“I can cloak them. The cloak will stick for about a week, and then maybe we can discuss this again?” Stella said to the group.

They all nodded their heads in agreement.

“Maverick, come here,” Austin called over the bar.

Maverick was the only shifter in their pack that wasn’t a bear shifter. He was a lion. Maverick didn’t talk much or spend much time at The Kamp. He kept to himself, but when they called for the pack he came, and was loyal. Rick didn’t know much more about him than that. Justin had brought him to Austin two years back to seek asylum with the pack. He walked over to their group, scanning each one of them as he came to a stop in front of Austin.

“Yes, alpha?” Maverick said. Austin hated being referred to as the alpha, but he didn’t correct Maverick.

“Maverick, I need you to take the chameleon and watch her for the next week. Where she goes, you go. Understood?”

Maverick was already shaking his head.

“It’s not a request, Mav. You’re the one person I trust to not get tangled up in the sheets with her. The rest of these young shifters would lose their heads,” Austin said, motioning to the bar full of shifters.

“Alpha, I do not wish to watch this woman. She’s a chameleon, is she not?” he asked, looking back to the doorway where Rachel stood.

“I’ll protect you with a spell. It’ll last the full week,” Stella offered.

“Maverick. Take the woman back to your place, keep her there for the week. I’ll be in touch,” Austin said firmly.

Maverick nodded. Stella took him upstairs to do her spell.

The beer had started to flow and the music kicked on. The pack always seemed to find themselves at The Kamp. It was their home when they were all together as one. Rick had never been more thankful for their sanctuary or his pack as he was then, standing there watching them all.

Stella came back inside and immediately came to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him.

“Why didn’t you tell us Greg’s name?” he asked.

“Because you all would have gone after him immediately. I needed to cripple him somehow. I had a spell, but it takes time to perform it just right. Then I wanted to meditate over it. Grandma always said to meditate over the spells that mean the most. It helped. He wasn’t nearly as strong as he should have been.”

“You’ve saved me in more ways than one. I never thought I would live a life that was worthy of a mate like you. I will forever be thankful,” he said before tenderly kissing her forehead.

“It’s me who is thankful. I’ve waited a long time for you. I love you, Rick.”