I groaned as Augie shook me awake. I didn’t want to get out of bed. The burial for Cord was this morning, and we were set to leave for Thunder Springs immediately after. My head hurt from all the studying last night, my heart ached from missing my brother, and my muscles screamed at me from all the training. I was officially a hot mess.
“Come on, Tay. I let you sleep as long as I could,” Augie groused. “Let’s get moving. You can sleep more in the truck on our long ass drive.”
I let out an exaggerated sigh. Why we couldn’t fly, made no sense to me. My wolf was going to be pissed being in the truck for twelve to fifteen hours. The time to get there really depended on who was driving.
I glanced over at the outfit I had picked out for the burial. Black hadn’t seemed appropriate. Cord wasn’t a dark person, but bright colors weren’t his thing, either. I chose a deep green top that I thought matched his eyes and some fancy grey pants. He’d have smacked me if I mourned him in all black.
My heart was pounding, and breathing was difficult. “Augie, don’t leave me today, okay?”
I wasn’t usually a vulnerable person. I hid any insecurities behind my ‘I don’t give a crap’ attitude, but this morning, I didn’t have the strength to keep up pretenses. I trusted Augie with anything and appreciated I could let my guard down with him.
He leaned down in front of me, grabbed my face with both hands, and kissed my forehead. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere other than by your side today.”
I was one lucky wolf. He was the best friend I could have ever hoped for.
I attempted to shake off the pressing darkness and got ready in the bathroom while Augie lounged on my bed waiting for me.
As soon as I was ready, we headed toward the burial grounds that were on the property. My grandparents were buried there, along with my mom, so it was definitely somewhere I was familiar with, but that didn’t make any part of the morning easier.
We quickly found my dad standing over the casket. His hand was placed on the mahogany wood, and his eyes were tightly closed. I gently laid my hand on his back as I walked up to him and put my other hand on his. Just as Augie was strong for me, I would be there for my dad.
It appeared as if most of the pack was already seated behind us and everything was in place. I was beginning to feel like a spoiled shit for not getting here earlier and helping. Hopefully, Davis took care of most of it, which reminded me that I hadn’t seen him yet.
“Let’s take our seats, Dad,” I whispered.
Augie stepped on the other side, and we both guided him to the chairs behind us. The burial was going to be even harder to get through than I anticipated. I knew it would be rough, but it was killing me to see my dad in so much pain.
“Where’s Davis?” Augie asked once we were settled in our seats.
“I sent him ahead to Thunder Springs to set up our site and make sure everything was good to go since we’re getting in late,” my dad answered, his tone soft and almost inaudible.
Burials in our wolf pack were short and to the point since there was usually a reception to follow that lasted most of the day, but since we had to leave right away, it was changed to more of an open house. Food would be set up, but the setting would be more informal.
I felt awful that Cord wasn’t getting the proper celebration he deserved, but I also knew he’d want us to move forward with their original plans. He’d come back just to kick our asses if we didn’t.
Edmund, one of our oldest pack members and most spiritual, would complete the burial ceremony. He stepped up to the small platform that had been erected next to the grave site and cleared his throat, waiting for the murmurs to stop. Once he had everyone’s attention, Edmund repeated the usual verses spoken at all burials, but when I thought he was all done, he gestured to my dad. “Our alpha has requested to say a few words since there will be no reception to follow. Gerald, will you please come up now?”
My dad’s hands were shaking, and his body trembled. I had an inkling that he was regretting that particular request.
I tugged on his arm and stood up first. “Come on. I’ll go with you,” I whispered in his ear as I bent over to grab his elbow and pull him up.
He nodded and finally stood. We walked to the platform and with each step, my resolve wavered even more. There was no way I would make it through my dad’s speech without crying in front of our pack.
“Thank you all for coming,” my dad began. “My son was a valued member of this pack. He did much for each of you, and I know he will be missed by all. He died protecting others, and I know he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Cord’s personality was one-of-a-kind, and his strength was beyond measure.”
My dad’s voice cracked as he paused to regain his composure. I squeezed his hand, and he glanced down at me with tears in his eyes. Seeing my strong alpha dad breaking down caused my own dam to burst finally. Tears streaked down my face as he continued.
“I know a lot of you are wondering what will happen next and we appreciate you being patient while we take time to grieve and figure things out. Taya will be filling in for all of Cord’s commitments and joining the few of us who are headed to the Decennial Gathering today. Once we are back, we will have a pack meeting to go over any questions you might have. Even though we’re not having an official celebration, the pack house is open to all, and Cord’s favorite foods will be served throughout the day. We encourage you to stop and visit with others who were touched by his kindness and strength in one way or another. Thank you again for being here.”
With those final words, my dad stepped down, and I followed him. Once we were back by our seats, Augie swept me into his arms, and the tears became heavier.
“Let’s get you settled in the truck,” Augie whispered, and I gladly let him guide me away.
I looked back at my dad, and he nodded his approval. I felt bad leaving him, but I was falling apart and wouldn’t be much help to him anyway.
***
Many hours later, I was finally tired of tossing and turning in the back seat of my dad’s truck. As we drove to Thunder Springs, I had been trying to get some rest in the back while Augie and my dad were up front. After the initial few hours of sleep, my mind wouldn’t shut off and sleep evaded me. I was half-tempted to try counting sheep to get some solace from all the thoughts racing through my head.
So many things had happened in the last few days. My heart pained as though a permanent knife was lodged in it when I thought about Cord and the burial we had this morning, so I tried not to. Declan and his evil mini-me Rafe were on my mind a lot, as well. I hated that we couldn’t confront them head-on. I hated politics and having to do things properly. Why couldn’t we just smash their heads in and be done with it? It was a much better plan than being all adult about it.
I also worried about my dad. He had mostly been keeping his cool about everything, but we were both teetering on the edge and barely keeping it together. Augie was the rock we both needed.
I finally had enough of my flailing around the back seat and sat up. Sleep was a lost cause. “Where are we at?”
“More than halfway there. We just passed through Pioche, Nevada. Should be arriving in under six hours,” Augie answered. “Get enough sleep?”
I smirked at him. “I’ll be fine, no thanks to you. So much information was shoved into my brain last night, it was hard to shut off.”
That made him laugh, and I got comfortable. “Did Davis get there okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, he made it about an hour ago. Our section is all set up, and he’s keeping an eye on things.”
“Does he know everything?”
“I told him last night,” my dad answered. “I should have done it sooner. He wasn’t too happy with me, and I couldn’t blame him.”
“I imagine he was about as happy as I was when I found out. Is there an agenda for the two days we’re supposed to be there?”
Augie tapped on his tablet and brought up a screen. “I was just looking at the email, but there’s not much there.”
I shoved his shoulder and snatched the tablet from his hands to see for myself. Unfortunately, Augie was right, and there really wasn’t a lot there, so I tossed it back to him and sat back in my seat. I took my phone out of my bag and decided to numb my mind with pointless games for as long as I could.
My dad must have had his lead shoes on, because in just under five hours instead of six, we arrived in Thunder Springs. It was already dark, but lights had been put out, so we could see. Over thirty large canvas tents were assembled in small clusters around the sparse land, each with a pack logo on it, so we knew where to go.
Dad parked in front of a sign reading West Coast Territory – Gerald Rush – Alpha and Chief Councilman. Well, isn’t he fancy getting his own designated parking space, I thought. There were four tents set up with our logo on them. I assumed one for each of us, but my dad pointed to the second one and said, “You and Augie are going to share that one. Davis is on your left, and I’m on the right. The last one will be our meeting room.”
I nodded, not minding that at all. I felt better having Augie closer to me anyway.
“Come on, Tay. Let’s get you all tucked in,” he snickered.
I slapped him upside the head. “You can sleep in Davis’s tent instead.” His lower lip immediately popped out as he pouted at me with his adorable face. “Don’t look at me like that.” I laughed. “Get in there and be nice or I will kick you out.”
He chuckled. “You wouldn’t. You love me too much.”
“Don’t push me.” I glared at him, but I couldn’t hold the look for long. He was right; I’d never kick him out.
We went inside and quickly got our stuff situated. It was just after eleven, and I wasn’t even close to tired. “You want to go explore a little?” I asked Augie.
“Better ask your dad. I have a feeling he’s going to be even more protective than usual while we’re here.”
Ugh. I hated when he was right. “Fine. He’d probably call in the cavalry if he came in here and we were gone.”
We walked next door, and I tapped on the metal rod holding the canvas up, so my dad would know we were there.
“Come in,” he called.
“Hey, Dad. Augie and I are going to stretch our legs. We’ll be back in a little bit, okay?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Taya,” he warned.
“We’ll stay in the lighted area, and I’ll have Augie with me. Nobody is going to try anything. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
He glanced from Augie to me, and back again. “Don’t let her talk you into venturing too far or you’ll pay the price for it,” he threatened Augie.
Dad knew me well enough to know I probably would have done just that. I’d gotten Augie into more trouble than I could remember over the years.
Augie laughed, probably thinking the same thing as me. “You have my word.”
My dad nodded. “Be back within thirty minutes, or I’ll come find you, and it won’t be pleasant.”
I smiled at him, feeling twelve instead of eighteen. I’d appease him for the time being. In a way, Augie was lucky his parents transferred to the East Coast territory a couple years ago. He didn’t have to deal with his every move being watched.
His parents had wanted a change of scenery but didn’t force Augie to go with them, even though he had only been fifteen at the time. His parents had wanted to live with a smaller pack in Florida.
Most of the territories had a primary pack where the majority of shifters lived, but smaller packs could be found throughout each sector. My dad agreed to keep an eye on Augie, and he visited his parents twice a year. It seemed to have worked out well for everyone.
I grabbed Augie’s hand and headed back outside. The temperature was still in the eighties, the sky clear, with a full moon illuminating the mountains and trees. It was the perfect night to venture around. The ground was hard and cracked beneath our feet, but I was glad to see some greenery off in the distance under the moon.
We passed by the first section of tents that belonged to the Midwest Territory, and all was quiet. Neither of us spoke while we kept an eye on our surroundings. I may have told my dad everything would be fine, but I wasn’t naïve. I’d be keeping my guard up.
We came upon the next set of tents, and someone was leaning against the bed of a truck. I could only see the silhouette from where we were, but it was definitely a man. A tall, dark, and hopefully sexy man. I peeked at the sign in front of their tents and noticed it was the East Coast section, which caused me to mentally groan. Please don’t be Liam, please don’t be Liam, I chanted in my head. I hadn’t been able to get his cocky smile far from my mind since I’d seen his picture on the wall.
The figure pushed away from the truck and headed our way. When he made it to the area under the light, I grimaced. Of course, it was him, or maybe it was a relative who looked like him. A girl could hope.
He eyed us both carefully, but his gaze finally settled on me. “Can I help you two with something?”
“Nope,” I replied rudely, unable to help myself. I often copped an attitude when I was nervous or feeling unsure.
Augie reached his hand out to Liam in a friendly gesture. “I’m Augie, and this is Taya.”
“I’m Liam Anders. Did you guys just get in?” he asked, his voice smooth and profound in the quiet of the night.
Words were lost on me, so I let Augie do the talking while I continued my appraisal of Liam, hoping Cord had been wrong when he told Augie Liam was arrogant.
“Yeah, we drove, so it was a long day and we wanted to stretch our legs some before we called it a night.”
Liam’s seafoam-green eyes kept bouncing between Augie and me. He grinned at me when he realized I was still staring at him, and I really wanted to smack the self-satisfied look right off his face. His dark hair was tousled as if he had spent hours running his fingers through it. Damn him!
“Would you like to take a picture for later, doll face?”
Ugh, he didn’t really just say that. He couldn’t have. It looked like I was going to have the pleasure of taking him down a peg or two. “Excuse me, asshole? Don’t be so full of yourself. For one, you’re not my type, and two…” Oh no, I couldn’t think of another reason. Shit, shit, shit.
He lowered his face to mine and grinned. “That’s what I thought.”
I shoved him away from me, letting my wolf come through, and growled at him like a petulant child. Grabbing Augie’s hand, I made a quick retreat. Liam might be hot as sin, but I really needed to avoid him for the next two days. I had to keep my head on straight, and he was not going to help with that.
“Care to explain what just happened?” Augie teased as we walked back.
“Shut it. I’m blaming it on the long day,” I said as I stormed into the tent. “See you in the morning.” I threw myself down on the cot like a two-year-old, not bothering to change.
“Goodnight, doll face,” Augie snickered.
I flipped him off and rolled over. He was never going to let me live that down. Cord had been right, unfortunately. Liam was nothing but egotistical eye candy, and I would not let him get under my skin again. He’d be out of my head by morning. Right?