Legacy Read online

  “I always do. Good luck.”

  “I hope I don’t need it.”

  I’d only been asleep for a few hours because the sun was still low in the sky when we zoomed out of town and toward the alpha’s house and the pack properties. It was cool, but I didn’t mind. I did, however, wish I’d braided my hair or covered it with a bandana. A glance at the big mirror in the alpha’s foyer made me cringe. And Brandon gave me no time to deal with the tangled mess whipped up by the wind before he grabbed my hand and towed me to the office. I tried to smooth my hair with my free hand, but it was a lost cause.

  The alpha waited behind his desk. He was dressed in a white button-down shirt and jeans with a crease, work boots on his feet, and generally looked like he’d had a good night’s rest and was ready to work, but the moment he spoke, I knew none of it was true.

  “Right after the party last night, the Rattlecreek pack sent a message. Despite our ceremony, they claim the right to woo you to join them instead.” He ran a hand through his hair, drawing my attention to the fact it was standing up, as if he’d been doing this a lot. “I wanted to talk to you before I reply.”

  “I want to stay here. You asked me, I decided. We had a party.” I stood gripping the back of one of the guest chairs in front of the desk. “Tell them to go to hell.”

  Brandon cleared his throat, and I recognized giving orders to the alpha, even when grouchy and annoyed, might be bad.

  “I mean, I am very happy here. Can you just thank them for their invitation but let them know I am not interested in a change? Or maybe I should send a note?”

  He stared at me as if I’d grown two heads. Could I do nothing right?

  “Do you mind if I sit down, alpha?” Despite my improvements, I still got tired standing faster than the average person. “If it’s all right.”

  He waved me to the chair. “Sit, both of you.” Once we were seated, he went on. “I need to explain some things to you, Wendi. And I’m not sure how much Brandon knows about these details, so please let me finish before you ask any questions.”

  I nodded, and Brandon said, “Yes, alpha.” I really needed to get my act together in the courtesy department where pack hierarchy was concerned.

  “Years ago, decades ago, we signed a treaty with them. It was a time when females were at a premium. Maybe not the best way to say it, but basically, there weren’t many in either pack. There had been a lot of males born and few females, and so we agreed any female who came to the area would have the opportunity to spend time with both packs before deciding which one she belonged with.”

  “Alpha,” Brandon protested, “I’ve never heard of this.”

  “I had but only in vague terms, and it hasn’t been invoked in my lifetime, so I spent last night reading old papers in the archives and found an original copy.”

  “Surely, they can’t be expecting us to follow something so old!”

  He fixed Brandon with a glare capable of wilting a lesser wolf. “It didn’t have an expiration date.”

  “So, we’re supposed to hand Wendi over whether she wants to go or not?” I’d never seen Brandon so upset. His cheeks were flushed, and he jumped to his feet, planting his palms on the alpha’s desk. “That’s barbaric.”

  “Are you done?” The alpha’s gaze fixed on Brandon’s hands, and, with a muttered apology Brandon resumed his seat. “Now, of course we’re not going to send anyone anywhere against her will. If Wendi doesn’t feel comfortable going, we’ll defend her.”

  “And then what happens?” I finally got in. “If I were to refuse to go there, what will transpire?”

  They both stared at me.

  “It’s a perfectly good word,” I defended. Working at a library and reading a lot sometimes had an odd effect. “Anyway, if I say no, I am essentially asking you to violate the terms of a standing treaty and people could get hurt.”

  The alpha nodded. “People will very likely get hurt.”

  “Then I’ll go.”

  “Wendi, no!” Brandon grabbed my hand. “I won’t let you.”

  My laugh was harsh. “I can’t let the pack suffer because I refused to pay a visit to our neighbors. I already know who I belong to. It will be okay.”

  “It’s much more serious,” the alpha said. “But for the good of the pack, it’s the right choice.” He offered me an approving look, but his jaw was tight.

  “We can’t send her alone.” Brandon’s grip on my hand was starting to hurt. “I’ll go.”

  “No, Escher will go. He was born to them and knows their ways. Cash was, too, but he has his own reasons for not going there.” The alpha stood. “We’ll make the arrangements and let you know when it’s time to go, Wendi. Your decision makes me gladder to have you in the pack. Sometimes, we all have to do things for the good of the others.” To my shock, he came around his desk and laid a hand on my shoulder. “Go home. Get some rest. You look like hell.”

  Chapter Four

  “Say it for me one time and I will never ask you to do it again. It’s just your last name.”

  Escher chuckled and shook his head, not believing a word I said. Hell, I didn’t believe it. I would ask him to do it again, no doubt. Especially if he said it as sexy as he did in my mind. “Female, I’m not saying it.”

  Heat licked up and down my spine at hearing him call me that. Yeah, I got the whole female thing since I’d had someone call me the name the way Escher did.

  I got it. My lower belly got it. My core got it. My entire body got it.

  “Then I’m not going.” I stomped and crossed my arms over my chest, dramatic on purpose.

  He tipped his chin up and looked at the sky as though it would help him with his nemesis in the moment. Me. I was the nemesis. “Yes, you will. You already told the alpha, and I know you are a woman who keeps her word. Now, where are your bags?”

  Damn it. He got me, throwing my own moral code in my face.

  Not fair at all.

  “They are right there. It’s just one bag. We’re only staying overnight, right?”

  He ducked under my arm, where I had braced it against the frame after throwing my little fit, and grabbed the small duffel. “Yep. One night. Trust me, one night is plenty.”

  Escher had thrown a bit of a fit of his own once the alpha told him about going. He wasn’t upset about accompanying me, but rather going to the other pack at all. Something about the pack being the reason his parents left in the first place.

  I wanted to find out more but didn’t want to pry, though I was sure he would tell me if I asked.

  “I don’t want her anywhere near them,” I’d overheard him saying. “You know…you know why, alpha.”

  “I guess I’m ready, then,” I said, tucking my fingers into the straps of my backpack and hefting it higher. At the very least, I could get some studying in while I was there.

  “This is it?” He bobbed the bag up and down, testing the weight like he was doing a biceps curl. Looked to me like he did those a lot.

  More things I needed to know about him.

  “Yep. Pajamas and one outfit. How much did you expect me to bring?” After grabbing my purse, I shut the door behind me, jiggling the knob a little to make sure it was locked.

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Women in movies always bring a suitcase for one night.”

  I snorted and took his extended hand as we walked to the truck. “We seriously need to amend your movie choices. We need a movie marathon, all my choices. We can stay up all night.”

  He said nothing and made no movements other than to nod, but the rim of his ears turned red. Maybe I was onto something with the suggestion of the movie night.

  Not thirty minutes later, we were at the gates of the other pack’s lands, and immediately I noticed the difference. The shrubbery was unkempt and ragged. The houses seemed rundown and almost forgotten.

  Hanging baskets swung back and forth, empty of any color or flowers.

  Paint peeled from the siding of every house.

  We waited only a moment before the gates opened, and Escher drove through. Christie was in a car behind us and parked next to us.

  Escher’s breathing grew labored, and, as he looked at me, his normally golden eyes glinted, more golden than ever. I had learned this meant his wolf was close to the surface.

  “What’s wrong?” I put my hand on his thigh. I hadn’t meant to place it so high, but when I tried to take it back, he pinned it down.

  “I know you are independent and strong-willed, and I’m all for it. You understand?”

  I nodded, struck dumb by the seriousness in his gravelly voice.

  “But here, if you don’t mind and maybe if you do, I am going to be a little…” He screwed up his face, searching for a word.

  “A little what?” I didn’t understand what was happening other than my belly was doing flip-flops because thighs and him holding my hand there.

  “Caveman,” he growled out making me jump. His voice, mixed with that of his wolf, filled the cab of the truck.

  “Explain,” I said, but it came out more like a question.

  He breathed out a weighted sigh. “My wolf wants to keep you safe, as I do. And around these other males, unmated males as well…are you getting the point?”

  I wished I did, but I was shifter-dumb. I hated he had to kindergarten shit up for me, but this was something I needed to know. “No, you’re gonna have to break it down. Just say it. Whatever it is.”

  “Don’t be mad,” he said. “You are unmated, and other males are going to want to…well, mate with you. But the thing is, I’m not going to let them. My wolf is not happy about you being here with them. My pack is one thing, they know you and I are here together, and they would not infringe on that. But here…well, think of them as hyenas and you are a fresh meal. It’s a horrible way to put it, but there it is.”

  I’m sure he was getting to a point, but he’d said he and I were together, and my thighs kind of went up in flames.

  “Go on,” I prompted.

  “There’s going to be growling from me, but it’s not aimed at you. I will insist you try to touch me in some way while in the presence of other males. And if I put you behind me, know I’m not pushing you around, I’m trying to put me in between you and whoever in the fuck here wants what is mine.”

  A shudder ripped through me. This beautiful brooding man called me his. My feminist side reared up, but she was quickly tampered down by the truth of it. Somehow, it didn’t bother me much.

  Okay, then.

  Silence hung between us like a guitar string, waiting for one of us to pluck it.

  “I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to me, and I’m absolutely fine with you going a little caveman on me. A little wolfman, I guess. I trust you.”

  He slammed his head into the headrest behind him. “Yeah, like I protected you before?”

  Oh…I hadn’t realized there was a wound of guilt inside him until that moment.

  “Escher, look at me,” I whispered, squeezing his thigh a little to get his attention, not that I didn’t already have it, but making sure.

  He turned his head and opened those brilliant whiskey-colored eyes to stare at me. I sucked in a breath.

  How lucky was I to have this man be my protector?

  “I know you would’ve gone to the brink of death that night to protect me. And you did. Yeah, I passed out or whatever, but only because of what happened with my hands, not because you let anyone attack me. Those wolves didn’t get close to me. Because of you. You were fierce and brave and strong. I couldn’t ask for a better male to protect me and keep me from harm.”

  He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “You have so much confidence in me, Wendi. You say we support you, but you have no idea how much you hold us up in turn.”

  Heat rushed into my cheeks. I looked out the window. Already, people had gathered around the biggest house, and Christie tapped her finger on her watch as she stood in front of the car, between the crowd and us.

  “I think I need a kiss for courage,” I said.

  “Is that right?” He voice, low and husky, made me want to be anywhere but in front of all of these people.

  “Yeah. I don’t like this at all.”

  Escher gently moved his hand around the back of my neck and coaxed me forward until his lips met mine. This kiss wasn’t like the ones before. There was a demand to it, an underlying need for it. But as I was ready to jump across the seats and make it last longer, he pulled back with a chuckle. “Feel free to do it anytime you want in front of these people. Or when we’re alone. Or anytime,” he joked, giving me a small smile.

  “I will if you say it.”

  He leaned forward, rolling his eyes before saying the words I wanted to hear then nipping at my earlobe. “It’s Bond. Escher Bond.”

  Chapter Five

  After he came around to open my door for me, Escher took my hand in his and held it tight.

  “Escher Bond, you sure have grown,” a husky voice boomed over the roar of the crowd who had gathered at our arrival.

  “Since I was born, yes, I have grown.”

  I almost snorted, but kept it in. Christie didn’t try to. She walked behind us toward the bigger house, and as I looked over my shoulder, I saw her scanning the place, growling a few times.

  “Hmm, ever the charmer. And you must be Wendi. We’ve heard so much about you.” The rotund man chuckled at his own joke and held out his arms wide like he was Santa Claus and I was a kid starved for attention.

  Not sure what he expected from me, but…no.

  “I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you…”

  “Just call him alpha,” Escher ground out, pulling me closer to his side.

  “Alpha. Though I’m not sure the purpose.”

  The man squinted for only a second. “Well, let me explain it to you in my office.” By the time we got there, Escher had me cuddled right under his arm and I’d looped mine around his back and tucked my pointer finger into the belt loop of his jeans.

  Inside, we found several worn and tattered couches and chairs in front of the desk. “Please, have a seat. My betas are here to be witness.”

  Four or five men lined up against a wall, their hands clasped in front of their groins, seeming completely unnatural like it was the first time they’d held such a stance.

  I surveyed my options as Escher sat down, but he quickly took them from me, pulling me onto his lap. I didn’t protest one bit—I mean, it was Escher’s lap.

  Christie perched in a chair near us.

  “I’m sure the alpha of Midnight Alder has told you about the treaty,” he began and I nodded.

  “Yes, but my choice is already made. I am in the pack I belong to. I am a member of the Midnight Alder pack, and that will not change. I’ve come here to keep the peace between the two packs, but I won’t be here long.”

  Growls rolled from several of the betas at my brave admission. Escher pulled me tighter against him, and I turned to get closer while Christie stood in front of us.

  “Alpha, we have come to fulfill the treaty, but I’m sure your betas growling at the female in question are not helping your case.”

  The older man nodded and cut a look at the betas I was sure could kill if he wanted them to. He then cleared his throat. “Escher, I hope you are doing well since the passing of your parents. We were all grieved to hear of the accident. Stacy and Jared were valued members of our pack before they decided to leave.”

  Escher tensed. “I am fine.”

  The man nodded. “I can see that. We’d love to give you a tour of our grounds, Wendi. Our mate would like to offer that to you, and we’ve prepared a grand feast in your honor.”

  My stomach replied to the feast part, but the rest of me stiffened at his use of the word our. “I’m sorry, our mate?”

  Christie and Escher shared a look, but I couldn’t decipher what it was about.

  “Yes. Our mate. Oh, well, there aren’t any harems in Midnight Alder, are there?” The alpha looked at Christie and then Escher in turn. Christie shook her head. “I see. Well, something you can look forward to learning about, I suppose.”

  As he finished speaking, a woman came in. She was the kind of woman who stole the air out of the whole place. She flipped her long red hair over her shoulder then kissed each beta on the lips one by one before doing the same to the alpha.

  “You must be Wendi. I’m Beatrice. It’s lovely to finally meet you. Should we start our tour of the pack lands before dinner?”

  “I’m not going alone. Escher and Christie will come with me.” I put the fact out there, unwilling to waiver on it.

  “I understand. Shall we?” She said. I got up and waited for Escher to rise. He put himself in between me and the betas as we walked out and tucked me against his side again.

  “You did good, female.”

  “What’s a reverse harem?” I asked, maybe a little too loud, turning the head of more than one person as we exited the musty house and into the fresher air.

  “We can talk about it tonight, but as we walk around, you might get an idea. Rattlecreek is full of them.”

  I stopped and tugged on the front of Escher’s T-shirt. “I want you to tell me more about your parents, too.”

  He nodded but didn’t look like it was something he particularly wanted to discuss. “We will talk about all the things tonight. So bossy, today.” He chuckled before bending down to capture my lips with his. As he pulled away, he grinned. Yeah, everyone had seen that.

  “Wait until tonight,” I said with a little more sass.

  “You’re in trouble later,” he breathed into my ear then resumed his stance with me by his side like he hadn’t just made me swoon in place.

  I thought I was going to like trouble…a lot.

  The lands weren’t anything I’d want to give a tour of. In fact, you’d think they would’ve tried to spiff up the place a little since they were trying to recruit me. Even Beatrice seemed a little disenchanted, and this place was where she lived.