Choices: Alpha City, Book 3 (12 page)

M
aggie got
up and walked out of the room for a few minutes. All the emotions in the room were affecting her. It gave her a terrible headache when everyone was upset. Apparently, almost dying messed up her ability to control her reaction to strong emotions in groups. Witches had a different energy than anyone else, and when they got angry or upset for any reason, they put off a unique intensity.

She had spent many hours training preparing her mind to keep these emotions at bay. She obviously needed to work on it more, or she wouldn’t be able to help the members of the Order. She stood in front of the rock fireplace, warming her hands, wondering what she could bring to the table. All of this new information shook the group, especially London.

She had read about Jameson Wingate, the leader of the council, but she had never heard of his wife and daughter. It had to be strange for London to hear about an aunt and a cousin she never knew about. Not only that she had family, but also that they were trapped in that hellhole with the witch and dragon. She could feel how much pain London was in, but like Me-Len said, it was her daughter and granddaughter’s choice.

“How are you feeling?” Maggie turned around to find Ransom standing at the door. She had a lot of questions to ask him about his gift. She was worried that if people found out about him, they would try to use him for their own gain. She worried that if Claudia Blackwood or Jamal ever found out about him, they would do whatever they could to capture him.

She smiled. “Better. A lot better, thanks to you.”

“Good. I’m glad I could help you.” Ransom walked closer to her, but stopped before he got to close. He sensed her mate as he walked around the corner. She smiled at Judd as he took in Ransom. She knew he’d sense another male near her. Although it was strange; she kinda liked the fact that he was so protective of her. Nobody affected her like Judd, and her heart already belonged to him. Ransom was very good-looking, but she felt something different for him. She couldn’t figure out why, but he felt familiar, like family. The way he stared at her, too, was different.

Maggie hoped that whatever they learned tomorrow would convince Judd that mating with her would be okay and not make them into some type of freak of nature—something that shouldn’t exist. It had to be okay. Mick wouldn’t have pointed them in that direction if it wasn’t. She trusted her Sire.

“I wanted to say thank you for using your gift to help me. I only remember the pain, how much it hurt and how I couldn’t stop it.” Maggie sat down on the hearth and held her hand out to Judd. He slipped his fingers inside of hers and sat down beside her.

“I didn’t think you were going to make it. I’m glad I could help.”

“Did you feel any of it at first? The pain I was feeling?” Maggie asked.

“Yes, though the gift gives me the strength to take it, I could feel your pain. I don’t know if you would have lasted through it,” Ransom admitted.

“Me either. How have you kept your gift secret? I’ve never heard of anyone like you.”

“I’m part of a Navy Seal team. They are the only ones, except my commander, who know about it. I hope you’ll keep it to yourself,” Ransom added.

“Don’t worry Ransom, your secret is safe with us. I’m grateful to you for helping my mate.” Judd reached over and kissed her on top of the head. “I don’t know how I will repay you.”

“You don’t. It’s my gift to give to those in need and to whom I choose.” Ransom answered.

“Are there others like you? I mean, with your gift?” Maggie asked. She was fascinated by what he could do. She had read everything she could about the different paranormals, and never once did she hear about a paranormal being able to take away one’s pain. If the vampires didn’t know about Ransom, then they didn’t know about any matings between a vampire and shifter. This was good news, or at least that was what she was hoping.

“Hey guys, you need to be part of this conversation,” Nolan said from the doorway. Her chat with Ransom would have to wait until after the meeting.

They all got up and walked back into the kitchen, where everyone was sitting at the table eating snacks.

“
H
ow are you feeling
, Maggie?” Me-Len asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? I don’t want to offend you.”

“Of course.”

“I understand that you can feel emotions and tell what people are thinking?” Me-Len asked.

Maggie could tell that she didn’t mean any harm by asking. “Yes. I don’t always get it right, but I can usually tell if you feel a certain way about me or toward someone else.”

“I’m sorry Maggie, I guess you can probably feel how upset I am. Does it hurt you to be around me right now?” London asked, concerned.

“Ever since the incident happened with Penn it’s been tough, but it will get better. There are several witches in the room, and you put off a certain type of emotion. I can feel your energy. Even if I’m in another room, I can feel it. I have always been able to do it. I can heal as well, and feel when you’re getting better, too.”

“You have a remarkable gift, Maggie, and I think you can use it to help us,” Me-Len revealed.

The corner of Maggie’s mouth lifted. Could her gift really help the Order? “It’s just feelings. How could that help?”

“If we put you in certain places, maybe you could pick up any negative emotions from pack or pride members. They wouldn’t have a clue you were there, but if their Alpha walked in a restaurant they were in, then maybe we could watch them more carefully if you picked up on any negative feelings. It would help us find out who we can trust, and who we shouldn’t,” Me-Len explained.

“Brilliant idea, Me-Len,” Ryder said.

Immediately, Maggie could feel how tense Judd got. She knew he wouldn’t want her near any danger, but this was her chance to help. If this was the only way she could help to stop Claudia, then she was going to do it. But she needed to talk with Judd and make him understand why she wanted to do this. “If you could give me and Judd a few minutes, I would like to discuss this with him in private.”

Judd’s brow rose in surprise as he turned and looked at her. He figured she’d just agree and not consult him. She had to do this so he’d know that they were a team, and to be a team they needed to talk to each other. She got up and waited for him to follow her into the living room.

“You’re surprised?” Maggie asked her mate.

He laughed, then reached out and pulled her to him. “I love you, Maggie, and no, I don’t want you to do this. But I know you want to help, and as long as I’m with you then we will do it together. I don’t know if I could leave you, in case something happened.” He kissed the top of her head. “You should tell them, then.”

Maggie couldn’t believe how well he was taking it. Of course he’d stay with her; he was her protective, overbearing Alpha. She wanted to laugh, but decided even this small victory was a huge step in their relationship. “Okay.”

“Thank you for talking with me about it,” Judd said.

“I’m hoping it catches on.”

They both laughed as they walked back into the kitchen. Everyone looked toward them, worried. Nobody said anything as they waited for one of them to answer.

“Okay, but we have to wait to do it when we get back.” Maggie said with a smile on her face. She could tell that some of them were holding their breath waiting for her answer.

“Good. We could hit a different restaurant each day. Maybe even have a meeting with each one of us and have Maggie nearby,” Me-Len added.

“Now, what did the wizard say?” Nolan asked.

“It appears that Claudia Blackwood can’t open the
Book of Thoth
without the right spell. Apparently, she has Sage and Jessica looking through all the books for that one spell that will open the book. But what Claudia doesn’t know is the only one who can open the book is a person who has a pure heart. Someone who is innocent in mind and body.”

“She will never get that book open then,” Nolan answered.

Me-Len spoke up. “Don’t be so sure, Alpha. There are people out there like that. We just need to end this before she gets a chance to try.”

“What if there is a spell out there that can open the book? What if Sage and Jessica find one?” Maggie asked.

“When my daughter feels that it’s safe, she will contact me, but only when they feel they’re not being watched. Every room has cameras, and they’re not so sure that every room isn’t bugged, too. They can’t take the chance to contact me and blow their cover, and I have no way of contacting them. We have to hope they figure out that Claudia has the
Book of Thoth
and never finds a spell or any documentation that states what she would need to open the book. You see, the spell is the innocent one. They can just say ‘open,’ and the book will open for them. It’s really quite simple, but I only know of one book with that in it, and I have the only copy. At least that’s what I’m praying for.”

“Then we continue with the plan on weeding out the traitors and with the mines. The full moon will be coming up in a few weeks; we need the mines completed by then, and we need to know who we can trust,” Brody said. “The bees that MJ made will work great once we find out where she is located, but we need to plant new flowers around the city to see who is coming in and out of the city. She has to be meeting with some of them. I know she is.”

“We have more flowers at the office being made; that should give us enough to cover the city, as well as pack and pride territories. I think it would be a good idea to have them scattered throughout the area,” Zoey added. “Oh yeah and we have to put the camera systems through out town disguising them as cable. That was the easy part. Here is the hard part—we will need enough staff to watch all these cameras and train them on what would be considered suspicious.”

“What we need is a lot of nosy old women,” Nolan answered.

“That’s it!” Judd smiled. “Who better then members of the sewing club and elders? Think about it Kayden who better to watch and know everyone’s business if we asked someone like Purdy and Nancy Bellows?” Everyone laughed.

Maggie leaned over and whispered in Judd’s ear. “Who are Purdy and Nancy?”

Kayden smiled. “To answer your question Maggie, and please don’t think I don’t love these women because I do, but they are members of my pride and they are the two nosiest women on earth. They know something way before it hits the gossip line, and not just about things that happen in my pride. They talk with all the busy bodies in every group here.”

“Then we need to check them out before you even ask them,” Maggie said. “I can do it after we return tomorrow.”

“That’s good Maggie. It should give us enough time to get all the flowers completed and a place to house the computer system,” London said.

“Where are we going to house that many computers?” Ryder asked. “We don’t want anyone getting suspicious if we put them all in the same location.”

“Then we put them in their house, and they can monitor them from their own home. They can do it in shifts, and we can set up a system that is secure for them to get information to us. They will love it,” Kayden answered with a smile.

“We have a meeting with the sewing club first, then the elders in the group. Nobody would think anything was strange with that, since we do this regularly. Plus, we can work in teams with the Betas and send them out at night to set up the computer system,” Ryder said. “Okay seems to me that we have a plan. Nolan and Brody, you’re going with Maggie and Judd tomorrow after the funeral?”

Both nodded.

“Good, then let’s eat. I’m starving,” Ryder announced as he and London got up and went to get the food. Maggie looked around the room at the different people she called friends. Now she felt like she belonged. She had a purpose, and that was to protect these people she loved. She only hoped that tomorrow would bring them good news, and she would be able to mate with Judd.

S
age rubbed
her eyes before she opened another book. What the hell did this woman want to open? If she knew what it was, it would definitely help them in the search for a spell. There had to be thousands of spells on how to open things up, but if they knew what that thing was it would be so much easier. Her mother wondered if this was just another test. Maybe this was another way to get them to leave.

She couldn’t wait to leave, either. They needed a way to finally be free of this woman and her evil ways. She felt like she needed to take a shower every time she was in the same room as Claudia Blackwood. Her aura was as black as the magic she used, but they had a mission. They had dedicated their lives to eradicating the evil that tainted their covens. She was an evil witch, and there wasn’t a way to rehabilitate this one. She was too far gone.

The Council of Covens had no clue how far into the dark arts Claudia Blackwood was, and even if they did, they didn’t have powerful enough magic to deal with her. She had sold her soul to the devil himself; nobody should have that much magic burning inside of them.

There was no way to warn them, either. She hadn’t spoken to Me-Len in a long time, and she knew that Claudia was watching her mother and her like a hawk. She couldn’t chance it.

“Are you okay?” Jessica Wingate asked her.

“Yes, mother. I’m just tired. There are so many spells, but I have no clue which one will work because we don’t know what it is she wants open.”

“I know, so we give her all of them. With only half the puzzle we don’t stand a chance, but…” Jessica pulled a piece of paper from her notebook and wrote, ‘I pray we don’t find the one she needs. Something tells me whatever she has isn’t meant to be opened by the likes of her.’

Sage nodded, then crumbled the paper up and pulled the wastebasket over to her. She lit the paper on fire with a spell and then threw it in the wastebasket. Her mother was correct. Whatever book Claudia had wasn’t meant to be opened by her, or likely anyone else.

M
aggie reached
out and held MJ’s hand as Judd scattered Penn’s ashes up into the air. The wind carried them out into the cool waters of Pier Point. Judd had said earlier that he didn’t want anyone lingering long at the Point. They didn’t know whether or not there was a spy among his pride. Everyone appeared to be saddened as Judd said the final prayer and then dismissed the pride.

She watched as MJ walked away from everyone. She needed a moment alone. Most of the pride members came up to her telling her what a good man her brother was. They sat and watched as MJ knelt down by the water and wept. She held her stomach as she cried for her brother.

She noticed that Ransom watched her closely. She couldn’t figure out if he wanted to take her pain away, or if there was another reason he stared at her so much. Maybe he liked her? Whatever the reason, he walked over to the edge and sat down beside her on the rock. He didn’t speak to her but put one of his hands in the water and swirled it back and forth as ripples formed.

MJ looked up and stared down at the water. “I miss him so much.”

“I know, and he is here with you. Close your eyes and think about him. He’s at peace. I feel that,” Ransom whispered.

They watched as MJ’s shoulders relaxed. She could tell that Judd was watching as well, but what she also saw was Ransom, his right hand palm down sitting on the rock they were sitting on. He was using his gift; not fully, but enough to maybe give her some peace.

She didn’t know how long they sat there, but it seemed to help MJ. Finally she stood up and held her hand down to Ransom. He reached out and took it as she pulled him up. “I’m ready now,” MJ said.

They walked back to the vehicles and found Nolan and Brody waiting for them along with four other black SUVs. They had already discussed what they were going to do. Lex Crenshaw and two other members of Brody’s sleuth were helping out today. She’d ride with Judd and MJ. Brody and Nolan would be in one vehicle, Lex and another member would be together, and then another SUV would contain the other member.

They all turned when another black SUV pulled up. Knox got out and walked over. “I would like to help.”

“Me too,” Ransom added.

“Sounds good. If you two could ride together and take I-20, you can meet up with us at the Market Stop on Exit 52. Make sure you’re not followed. I think it should only take an hour to lose whoever seems to follow us. If not, then go back toward town and alert Ryder and the others. I have some friends that will be waiting for them,” Brody commented.

Everyone got into the vehicles. They each pulled out right behind each other, and after turning out onto the highway they went their separate ways. Maggie and MJ watched the road while Judd drove. At first nothing looked suspicious, until they noticed a black truck which continued to stay behind them, back a few cars. “I think we have one following us, but I’m not sure yet. Turn off on this exit and then get right back on.”

Judd did, and the black truck got off too. Maggie watched as the truck tried to let another car get in front of it so it wouldn’t look so suspicious, but they were on to them. “They’re following us.”

Judd picked up the phone, called Brody and gave their location and the make and model of the truck. It wasn’t long before someone flew up beside them on a motorcycle and threw something at the black truck. They watched as the bottle busted across the windshield of the black truck and blew up.

“Haven’t seen anyone use a Molotov cocktail before, but it works great.” MJ laughed as the truck launched across the road hitting the guardrail and then flipping over it. “I hope they burn in Hell.”

Maggie understood why MJ and Judd were so angry. She only hoped that they could find peace when this was over. Anger was one step away from evil.

It took them two hours to meet up with everyone. Every vehicle that left Alpha City had a tail on them. It was unbelievable, but Brody’s sleuth took care of them. They all took extra roads just to make sure that nobody slipped through the cracks. They met up at the Market Stop, but only to get gas and snacks. They only had to take the next road to the right, and they would arrive at the address Mick Vanguard had put in the notebook.

Judd gathered everyone around. “I’d like to set up a perimeter, but I only want Maggie and me to go up to the house. I don’t want to spook these people.” Maggie was tense and worried. This was it for them. They needed to see what would happen to both of them if they mated. Would they be able to live as a vampire and shifter, or would Judd’s jaguar be killed? There was a lot to figure out.

Judd pulled down the dirt driveway.

“It’s pretty,” Maggie said as they passed the open area filled with wildflowers and trees.

“Are you nervous?” Judd asked, concerned.

She smiled as she turned and looked over at him. “A little, but no matter what we learn, I want you to know that I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Judd stopped before they got to the elegant white house. It was beautiful, like something from the Victorian area, with flowers draped around the banisters on the front porch. She noticed that some of the rocking chairs were still moving, including the swing, but nobody was in them.

“The chairs are still moving,” Maggie stated.

“Yep, they definitely don’t like strangers. Be careful when you get out, and keep watch on the trees.” Judd gave her hand a quick squeeze before they got out of the vehicle.

She could sense the people in the woods beside her, but she also picked up their emotions as they walked hand in hand toward the house. Most were curious and knew they were shifter and vampire, but some were nervous and on edge. There was one, though, that she was picking up who wasn’t nervous; he was angry. “Someone is very angry that we are here,” Maggie whispered.

“Brody and the others are listening; they’ll know if we are in trouble. Just stick with me.”

They continued down the path until they got to the bottom of the steps. But before they could walk up, the door opened and the biggest man she had ever seen walked out. He had on a pair of overalls and he was pissed. “Did you not see the ‘No Trespassing’ signs?”

“Alpha, my name is Judd Walsh and I’m the Alpha of the Walsh Jaguars in Alpha City. A friend gave me your name and I was hoping… ”

“He wasn’t too good of a friend if he sent you here. I have no clue who you are or anything about a town called Alpha City, so you can get off my property right now.”

Maggie couldn’t tell what the man was; she couldn’t sense if he was a vampire or a shifter. He smelled human to her. “My father sent me. His name is Mick Vanguard. We only need some answers, sir. Please!”

“Your father?” the man in the overalls asked.

“Yes, sir. He is my Maker. He said you would help us,” Maggie added.

“I knew one day I would be able to return the favor. You’re a vampire?”

“Yes, sir, and this is my mate.”

The man looked out toward the woods and stuck his finger up in the air, then made a circle with it. Maggie and Judd watched as men came out of the woods. Every single one of them was built like the Alpha.

“Come inside,” the man said, and held the door open for them.

“Your house is beautiful. I haven’t seen many homes like this,” Maggie said, trying to make the man comfortable with them.

“It’s been in my family since the early 1900s, and I’m pretty partial to it too. Come sit in the kitchen.” They followed the man into the kitchen; it was remarkable. Beautiful cabinets stretched from the ceiling to the floor, and there were granite counter tops. The room was massive, and had a table that could seat at least twenty-five people.

“How is Mick doing?” the man asked.

“He’s good. I’m sorry, he didn’t give me your name, just your address. He didn’t want anyone to see your name and ask any questions. The reason we are here is—”

“Because of me and my mate,” the man cut in. “That would be the only reason Mick would have sent anyone to our home.”

Maggie glanced over at Judd, who was looking around the kitchen.

“Yes. We’ve never heard of a vampire mating with anyone except a human or another vampire. They consider it to be a…”

“Yes, yes, I know what they call it. Those people are a disgrace of a race. I’ve heard it all before. They want to keep the bloodlines pure. If you mate with a shifter then you practically mate with a dog. I’m no damn dog. I’m a grizzly bear, and now I’m both. My mate is also both. They don’t want you to mate for one reason and one reason only—because we are stronger than they are. We have all the traits of a vampire and a shifter. Combine those two, and you have a deadly combination that could easily take over. That’s what this is all about. You two together scares the shit out of them. They kill the mates if they find out about them, spitting out such nonsense on how they go crazy after they mate and if they live through it their kids turn out to be monsters.”

“How did you survive?” Judd asked.

The man smiled. “Mick Vanguard said he killed us. He got a truck just like mine and put a bomb in it with two bodies who fit our description. I didn’t ask where he got the bodies, but he blew it up and reported to the council that he took care of the problem. We changed our names and moved away. We stay on my land with my clan and don’t go anywhere that would draw attention to us. We’ve been together going on fifty years now. We don’t get involved with the others.”

“I wanted to know about the mating. What does it do to your bear?” Judd asked.

“Nothing, except made me ten times stronger than I was before. There isn’t a shifter or vampire that can take me or my mate down. After the mating she had a beautiful bear inside her, and that woman could take down a damn brigade if it came through here. Not that she would, but she could if they pissed her off enough.”

Judd and Maggie both laughed as the back door opened. One of the people from the woods came in, carrying a couple sacks of groceries. “Speak of the devil.”

“I better not have heard you call me a devil, you old goat.” Walking in behind the man was a beautiful woman with shining black hair and piercing blue eyes. Her gaze settled on Maggie as she came in the door. “Bo?”

“It’s okay, Cat. Mick sent them.”

Maggie watched as the man who had walked in first took the bags from her hand. She smiled and signed to him, “Thank you.”

The big man nodded and walked out the back door.

Cat walked over to table and put her hand out to Maggie. “I’m Cat Toland.”

Judd and Maggie both stood up and shook her hand and introduced themselves.

“Maggie is one of Mick’s, and Judd is her mate,” Bo explained.

“Are you sure you weren’t followed?” Cat asked, worried.

“Yes, we made sure. We have friends helping us. I would never bring trouble to your front door,” Judd answered.

“Your name sounds familiar, Judd,” Cat commented.

“I’m from Alpha City, and Alpha of the jaguar pride there. My family has been there since the city was formed.”