EnemyMine (24 page)

“Silence!” Trey thundered, his voice deep as he turned on
his pack. “Mary Shepherd is mated to my brother. That makes her my
sister-in-law. Your
Alpha’s
sister-in-law.” Trey didn’t have to yell any
longer, his presence and newfound connection with the pack shut them all up.
“If any of you have a problem with that, pack your shit and leave my city. A
person doesn’t choose their blood but they do choose their family. Mary has
chosen her family—our family.” Trey spun around and looked at Mary, glowing
eyes intense. “Isn’t that right?”

Mary’s eyes widened and she looked around the room. Her fear
returned, the stench of it stinking up the entire area around them. “I… I…”

“Welcome her,” Trey commanded softly. “Show her the respect
she’s due. She saved a shifter girl she didn’t know and could have died for it.
She ran from her family because she isn’t like them. Don’t judge her for what
she hasn’t done. If you do you’re no better than those she left behind.”

The threat of violence lingered in the air, a combination of
the anger of the feline shifters and the animosity of the wolves in the room.
Emory prepared to attack anyone who came at Mary, his muscles tense, the beat
of his heart drumming in his ears. The females of the pack came first, their
shoulders stiff, revealing they weren’t entirely happy about the situation but
they weren’t going to challenge their Alpha over it. One by one they greeted
Mary, welcomed her to the pack and stepped aside.

Diskant took the lead when it came to the men, only he
didn’t nod at Mary and welcome her. The Omega brought her into his arms and
hugged her. Bending low, he whispered something in her ear. Whatever it was
made Mary’s lips curve into a small smile. Then Diskant moved away and allowed
the other members of the pack to greet her properly. The men weren’t as harsh,
giving her warm smiles. By the time they were finished, the pride
Alpha—Harrison—seemed appeased and Mary had stopped trembling.

“With that out of the way, I’m asking if any of you want to
challenge my position in the pack,” Trey announced, bringing everyone’s full
attention to him. “Changes have to take place, so I need to know if you’re
going to listen to me or give me shit. If you want a shot at the crown, say so
now. I won’t tolerate any bitchiness later.”

Emory glanced around. No one moved, watching Trey closely.
Then they inched their heads to the side, revealing their necks, a sign of
submission and respect. Trey didn’t smile or nod, waiting until everyone had
the opportunity to speak their piece.

“I’m backing Diskant’s original request,” Trey said. “Those
of you who live away from the pack inside the city need to start house hunting.
Those of you who live in the Five Boroughs need to tighten security. The
Shepherds we’ve encountered aren’t going to stop. We are safe when we are
united. We’re going to have to organize a security detail as soon as possible.”

He glanced at Diskant and waited for the Omega’s nod before
he continued, “We received word early this morning that the attacks on the
Shepherd compounds we located were moderately successful. Over a dozen
locations were destroyed. Many managed to flee but our enemies have been dealt
a devastating blow. They’ll need time to recover their losses and plan. During
that time I want us to start doing the same. I expect all of you to work
together to coordinate a guard rotation in your area. For those of you who feel
the danger is too high, I’ll make calls to packs that interest you and see if
they have room.”

Trey stood taller, looking at everyone around him. “I’m not
going to lie. Staying here will put you and those you love in danger. It’s not
a safe time to be a shifter. No one will judge you if you decide to leave. All
we can do is brace ourselves.” Trey glanced at Diskant. “This isn’t a job for
one man, it’s a pack effort. All in or all out. It’s your choice.”

“I’m in,” Diskant replied with a trace of humor.

“So am I,” Nathan said and stepped in beside Trey.

Each of the pack called out their support, although Emory
noticed a few slip out the door to the garage, including the man with a mate
and child who’d questioned Diskant earlier. Most of them were males who’d
brought their mates and children along. He didn’t blame them for wanting to go,
for needing to protect their families. And Trey was right, no one would hold it
against them.

Emory leaned over and whispered in Mary’s ear, “What’s it
going to be, sweetheart?”

She lifted he head, frowning as their eyes met. “You’re
letting me make the decision?”

“Ava wants you to be the godmother of her child. Diskant
wants you to be there to support his mate. And I want you in whatever way I can
have you.” He ran his fingers down her arm until he came to her hand. Twining
their fingers together, he murmured, “You’ve had people telling you what to do
all your life. I won’t do the same. If you want me—if you want
this
—then
it has to be your decision.”

She brought her bottom lip between her teeth and bowed her
head. He knew she was thinking things over, trying to decide. It couldn’t be
easy, not with everything she’d been through. But if they wanted a real chance
together, they had to start with a clean slate.

No hate. No remorse. No fear.

Mary let him go and took a hesitant step forward. The pack
went quiet, watching her, waiting to hear what she had to say. Even though he’d
whispered in Mary’s ear, Emory knew everyone had listened in, wanting to know
what he’d said to his mate. Now they were eager for her reaction. Would she
run? Would she stay? Or would she shock the shit out of the entire room by
giving them the middle finger they deserved for their earlier treatment?

He watched Mary square her shoulders as her head lifted.
Although he couldn’t see her face, the way Diskant grinned told him she wasn’t
backing down from the pack.

“We’re staying too. If you don’t like me, that’s your
problem. I’ve dealt with worse.”

She turned and extended her hand, waiting for him to take
her offering, to accept that she had made her choice. Emory grasped her fingers
and moved in close to yank her to his chest. He knew he was smiling like an
idiot, the exuberance he experienced completely overwhelming. With a laugh, he
met the shocked gazes of his pack mates.

“You heard her.” He hugged Mary tighter, wishing he could
keep her that close forever. Lifting his head, he looked at Trey.

Once they’d been at each other’s throats, the need to
dominate and control running through their veins. Emory had never believed he
could reside under his brother’s authority. It was too difficult to restrain
his nature, to keep his wolf under control. But not now. His anger had been
tempered by love, his beast was finally content with the hand it had been
dealt. From this moment forward he could live the life he wanted. He could get
to know Trey in the same way he had as a child. He was strong enough not to
show his emotion but he knew Mary felt it since she pressed against him.

“We’re not going anywhere,” he finally said, cementing her
decision before the pack. “This is our home. We’re not leaving.”

Mary could hear the pride in Emory’s voice. The arms he’d
wrapped around her loosened, allowing her to breathe without gasping for air.
She remained in a state of shock. When she’d woken alone and gone in search of
Emory, she’d been taken aback by all the shifters in the residence. Since she’d
told her relatives about the map before the pack could put it to good use, she
hadn’t been sure if they were there for her blood or Emory’s. Speaking out
before they could harm the man she’d fallen in love with had seemed like a good
idea at the time.

She’d never thought her actions would lead to this.

“Mary,” Emory breathed against her ear.

He felt so warm and smelled so wonderful. “Hmm?”

“You need to go back to our room and let me get Doc. Your
shoulder’s bleeding.”

It was then that she felt stickiness against her shirt. She
pulled away and looked down. Sure enough, the T-shirt had a small, bright red
stain. Strangely, her shoulder didn’t hurt as much as she imagined it should.
When she shifted, there was a dull ache. No sharp bite, no agonizing burn.

“What about Dara?” She’d been so excited to see the young
woman and know she’d played a part in saving her life. Surely they’d have a
chance to talk. “She’s come all this way to see me.”

“The pride will need to rest before they leave, and I’m sure
they’ll want to visit any relatives who live nearby,” Emory said. “I’ll make
sure you see her before she goes.”

Ava appeared and held out her hand. “I’ll go with you. We
need to talk.”

While she didn’t want to leave Emory, she didn’t want to
stand in front of everyone and bleed all over the place. Reluctantly, she
placed her hand in Ava’s. The tiny woman pulled her through the crowd and back
to the basement. A conversation resumed upstairs. Mary frowned as voices
drifted to her ears. She could make out some of what was said when she focused,
able to hear more clearly than she should. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t
noticed before.

When they were inside the bedroom downstairs, Ava released
Mary’s hand and closed the door.

“You don’t need Doc to heal that, you know,” Ava said,
looking Mary in the eye. “If you finalize the bloodbond with Emory, you’ll be
as good as new in a few hours.”

“Is that what you wanted to talk about? My bloodbond with
Emory?”

“Partially,” Ava confessed. “But mostly I wanted to tell you
that what happened isn’t your fault.”

Mary sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “You’ve been
reading my mind again, haven’t you?”

“No, but I’ve been in your head. I have a good idea of what
you’re thinking. The truth is Diskant fucked up, not you. If anyone should take
the blame, it’s him.” When Mary lifted her head, surprised at the declaration,
Ava laughed. “He’s not perfect. His pride gets the best of him sometimes. But
when he makes a mistake he owns up to it.”

Ava walked to the bed and took up the space beside Mary.
“Your family got to you because Diskant honestly believed he could keep his
home safe. Kinsley’s been warning him that it’s too dangerous to live inside
the city but Diskant wouldn’t listen. Now the hard-ass is all ears. He knows we
can’t stay here anymore. He’s accepted it. I just hope you can forgive him for
putting you in danger. That wasn’t his intention.”

“You want me to forgive him? Shouldn’t it be the other way
around?” Mary couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I’m the one who brought
my uncle here. This is my fault. Elijah came after me.”

“Don’t forget he came after me and Trey,” Ava quipped. “Your
uncle would have come after any of us if given a chance. You can’t take the
blame for what other people do. You are
not
your family.”

Mary’s eyes drifted to Ava’s belly. There was no sign of her
condition, but that probably wouldn’t last long. Soon her stomach would swell
as the life inside of her grew by leaps and bounds. A lump formed in Mary’s
throat. Ava’s pregnancy wouldn’t matter to Shepherds. They’d probably force her
to deliver and do all sorts of horrible things to her child if they got a
chance.

“Maybe I was wrong,” Mary murmured. “Maybe I shouldn’t stay.
It’s not safe for you.” She lifted her head and looked at Ava. “It’s not safe
for your baby.”

Another shock—Ava smiled. “Now that is a load of crap.”

Ava rose from the bed, walked to the dresser on the wall and
removed something. It wasn’t until she turned that Mary saw the small jewelry
box in her hand. It was sturdy, made of a metal of some kind. Ava sat down
again and held it out.

“Here, take a look.”

Mary took the box and studied it. The bottom identified the
metal as stainless steel. Opening the rounded top with a filigree design, she
looked inside. The box was empty, the inside covered with a satiny red
material.

“Give it a squeeze,” Ava said. “Feel how solid it is.”

Mary did, unable to do more than compress her fingers around
the cool metal. “It’s heavy duty,” she agreed, unsure of what Ava was trying to
accomplish.

Ava reached out to take the box and Mary handed it over. As
soon as Ava had it in her hand, she flexed her fingers. The metal started
shrinking, breaking under the strain of Ava’s tightening fist. Mary’s eyes
bulged and her lips parted. She wouldn’t have believed what Ava was doing if
she wasn’t seeing it with her own eyes. Ava was demolishing the steel as though
it were a marshmallow, taking it from beautiful and shiny to a handful of
garbage. When she finished, she tossed the crushed object to the bed.

“I’m not as weak as I look and neither are you. If you
bloodbond with Emory, you’d be shocked at what you’re capable of, and it goes
beyond strength and longevity.” Ava exhaled softly and said, “But that’s not
what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m a part of the pack but I’m not one of
them. I never will be. There is only one other I know of who’s bloodbonded, but
as soon as the pack was attacked she moved away with her mate for safety.”

Ava’s eyes were full of hope when she peered up at Mary. “I
know it’s not fair of me to ask but I’m going to because I want the best for
the child I’m carrying. I need to know that no matter what happens she’ll be
taken care of. That’s why I declared you as her godmother in front of the pack.
If you bloodbond with Emory and agree to move with us outside of the city,
we’ll have a safe place to call home. We can watch out for her together. She
can understand both of the worlds she comes from.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Mary’s mouth. “She?”

“Just a hunch.” Ava touched her abdomen. “I’d like to have a
little girl.”

“Have you told Diskant?” God, Mary hoped not. Diskant was
possessive and protective enough. The enormous man wouldn’t let a daughter out
of his sight.