Indirect Lines: Halle Shifters, Book 5 (18 page)

Chapter Thirty-Two

“I want to thank you all for coming,” Max Cannon said formally. The Puma Alpha was flanked by his Curana, or co-Alpha, Emma, and his Beta, Simon Holt. More than just the Puma Pride had arrived at the meeting the Alpha had set up. Barney had watched as Heather’s entire clan, including their mates, had filed in. Some shifters from the local college had also arrived, restlessly watching the rest of the shifters in the room.

Barney and Heather had been back in Halle for little more than a week when Max sent out the order for a mandatory Pride meeting, to be held on Pride lands rather than in the Alpha’s home. Now Barney understood why. This many shifters would never have fit in the Alpha’s lovely home. Perhaps if the Freidelinde mansion were still available he’d have been able to hold the meeting in the ballroom there, but no.

Jamie Howard was, of course, nowhere in sight, but Barney had the feeling he was there somewhere in the shadows. After all, Hope Walsh
was
there, standing between Sarah Anderson and Becky Holt. She was trembling, barely standing up, but behind her he caught sight of powder-blue hair. Her twin, Glory, was right there, whispering in her ear, soothing her while Ryan stood guard over them all.

Nothing would get through Ryan to those women.

Casey Lee and Derrick had agreed to join Kincade’s Special Forces. He’d been impressed with their work, and agreed to allow them to become part of Barney’s school. They were currently with Kincade, going through some training before coming back to Halle. Barney was happy for them. They both deserved the recognition Kincade was giving them.

His attention returned to the Alpha when Max began speaking once more. “While I know it’s unusual to hold a Pride meeting with members of the community who aren’t Pride, the issue I’m about to discuss concerns us all.” Max was looking around the meadow, watching each of the shifters for their reactions. Barney had seen Alphas in action before, but there was something about Max that was different. He’d accepted people into the Pride who weren’t Pumas, he enjoyed a close relationship with a Wolf Alpha, and he’d proven himself more than once to be concerned not only about his own people but those who lived in his town. “I’ve received a warning from the Leo.”

Gasps of shock followed his pronouncement, followed by whispers.

“I know, it’s rare for the Leo to contact anyone, but he’s sent out a mass email to all of the Alphas of Prides and Packs. He’s asked us to contact as many shifters as we can to spread the word.” Max sounded calm, but there was a faint hint of his power in the air, enough to let Barney know that the Alpha was anything but calm. He was going into protection mode. Barney knew enough about Max after having been in Halle for a few months to gauge the man’s actions. If he was right, Halle was about to rally around its most vulnerable members: the children.

Barney watched the shifters absorb Max’s pronouncement, their gazes returning to Max as he continued to speak. “It seems there is a group of people who believe the white shifters, like our Chloe and Julian—” Max pointed them out in the crowd, “—do not deserve to live.” More murmurs, some confused, some angry. Eric Bunsun looked ready to burst in anger as he sidled next to Tabby. His sister-in-law was holding Wren close to her. “In fact, they’ve been trying to prevent the white shifters from even existing by systematically killing those who have even the
potential
to become white shifters.”

Heather grabbed hold of his arm, her fingers trembling. “It’s starting,” she whispered.

“What is?” What the hell was she talking about?

She looked up at him, her expression tearing at his heart. “The war. They’ve been secretly killing for years, but now it’s out in the open. Their only choices are to go underground, or…”

“War.” Barney’s back stiffened as he glanced around at the crowd. “Fuck. You think the Senate will try and do something about the Leo’s actions?”

“Not all of them, but yes.” She stroked his arm. “Carl will side with us, but who knows about the others?”

“We’ve got to get the list of names from Senator Jennings,” Barney growled. “So far, the Leo hasn’t managed to get anything out of her. After the duct tape was removed she refused to talk, even when the Leo ordered her to.”

“How?”

He could understand Heather’s confusion. The Leo
had
to be obeyed, no matter what. “She somehow drugged herself. Kincade still doesn’t know who’s funneling her the drugs. When I spoke to him yesterday he was beyond pissed.”

“I bet.” She scratched at his arm. “Shh. Max is speaking again.”

“I know that a number of you have no clue what the hell makes the white shifters so special, or why someone would want them dead.” He held up his hand to stop the flow of questions that were suddenly being flung at him. “I want to reassure you that the Leo is now aware of this plot, and is asking us, as the brothers and sisters and families of these precious members of our Pride, to be careful. Be vigilant. Until this is settled, no one is safe.”

“Who’s doing this?” A voice somewhere from the college crowd bellowed.

“Yeah, who do we have to kill?” one of the Bear clan, Keith maybe, shouted at Max. “Because they aren’t touching another member of my family ever again.”

Barney smiled as Max looked toward him. “Barney, would you mind coming over here?” He gestured toward Barney. “James ‘Barney’ Barnwell is a Hunter, and has been working on this problem since we first discovered it.”

Barney joined the Alpha, keeping Heather close to his side. He hadn’t been able to let her go since seeing her name on that damn list. While he knew she’d never be the white Fox, seeing it had jarred him badly. “I can answer that.” He nodded to Max, who nodded back. “There’s an investigation ongoing, but until we know who is behind it, there’s not much I can tell. I do know that one of the perpetrators is the Ocelot Senator, Kris Jennings.”

Complete silence. “The Senate is doing this?”

The fear behind that question was understandable. “We don’t know.” He so did, but he wasn’t going to point the finger at the entire Senate when he was willing to bet it was only a few of them involved. “As far as I know, she acted alone. She is currently being held by the Leo’s Special Forces, who are questioning her further.”

More whispers.

“Kincade Lowe is at the head of this investigation,” Barney continued, speaking a little louder to be heard over the continuing chatter. “I’m going to be working with him on this closely. This warning is more than important, as we have a bigger concentration of white shifters in Halle than has been seen in centuries.”

One of the college students raised her hand. “Why do white shifters even exist? What’s their purpose?”

He smiled. “Once upon a time, the white shifters
were
the Senate. They advised the Leo through their contacts with the spirit world, and sometimes the Leo acted on that advice, depending on whether or not it was important to all shifters. The Leo guides and guards us all, while the Senators are supposed to do the same for their individual species.”

Chloe Williams looked shell-shocked. They hadn’t bothered to tell her what her new status would eventually be. Her mate was whispering in her ear and holding her close.

Julian just smiled, like he’d known something like this was coming. He probably did, the smug bastard.

Barney acknowledged another raised hand. This was beginning to remind him of a press conference rather than a Pride gathering. “Yes?”

“How do we know who needs protection?” It was a girl, standing alone, just off the group of college kids.

“Those of mixed lineage, like half Bear, half Wolf.” He pointed toward Tabby, who was holding her baby. “Wren Bunsun, for example.”

The girl looked at Tabby. “The one with the green hair?”

“No. The baby.” Barney held up his hands as some of them cried out in horror. “Yes, Wren Bunsun
is
a target. Alex and Tabitha are well aware of it and are guarding her closely.” He felt Heather snuggling closer to him. “The attack that nearly killed Chloe Williams was, we believe, due to her having a Bear father and a Fox mother. Why her, and not her brother Keith or her sister Tiffany, is still something we need to figure out.”

“But we will,” Heather said, surprising him. “Once we’ve fully grasped the key, we’ll know what to do and who to protect.”

The key. His Heather really had been the key that opened the door. It was up to Barney to figure out where it led. She’d been right all along. He’d have to tell her, even if she would hold it over his head for the rest of their lives.

“Anyone with mixed blood, even if it was your grandparents, needs to come forward and let Max know,” Barney continued.

“I’ll make sure you’re protected.” Max gestured toward his Marshal, Adrian Giordano, and the Marshal’s Second, Gabriel Anderson. “We’ll arrange protection for all for all of you, even if you do not join our Pride.”

“Why are you doing this?” One of the college students stepped forward. “You don’t owe us protection.”

Max smiled. “The moment you entered the college you entered my territory, with my permission. It’s up to me to ensure your safety until such a time as you rejoin your Pride, Pack or family group, or strike out on your own.”

Gabriel Anderson spoke next. “We’re giving you a special number to call if you encounter any trouble. It will bring the wrath of God down on whoever is attacking you, so use it wisely.”

“It will only be given to those of mixed lineage, like Chloe, Heather and Wren, whose parents will hold the number for her,” Adrian added. His mate, Sheri, was in the crowd, her seeing-eye dog at her side. She wore a hat and sunglasses, her arms covered by a light shawl. She was an albino and would burn easily in the sunlight.

“When we have more information for you we’ll be letting you know via a newsletter we plan on setting up. All of you are required to subscribe to it.” Emma was speaking, her throaty voice reaching every part of the meadow. Her own power began to swirl around her, more than a match for her Alpha’s. “You
will
be checked up on regularly. You
will
respond when we text you. I don’t care if you’re in the middle of the best fu—”

Max’s hand slapped over his mate’s mouth. “Children, dear.”

She removed his hand, glaring up at him even as she changed what she’d been about to say. “Happy fun times of your life,
you will respond.
Do you understand me?”

“Because if you don’t respond,” Max added gleefully, “the entire Pride will turn out to look for you.”

The college students looked horrified. The Bunsun-Williams clan looked relieved, while the Pride seemed to take it in stride. If one of their own was in danger, and they responded, no questions asked.

“Be aware that Rick Lowell of the Red Wolf Pack, Grace Benedetto of the Philadelphia Lion Pride and Nick Consiglione of the New York Coyotes are also giving a similar speeches to their Packs and Pride. All across the nation, the word is spreading.” Max stared at his people, and Barney could see the determination in the Alpha’s gaze. “I’m sorry this is necessary, but in order to make certain some are safe, we all need to be vigilant.”

Gabriel had some of his cops, also shifters, start handing out flyers. “On this sheet is the URL for the newsletter. Those of you with mixed blood will receive a separate paper with the emergency number listed on it. Please keep these in a safe place. Don’t let any humans get hold of either of them.” He glared particularly at the college students. “Not girlfriends, boyfriends, buddies you’ve known since kindergarten. No one.”

“If you’re mated and he or she is not present, feel free to share the information,” Emma added. “But only with them.”

“Barney?” Heather tugged on his arm. “Do you think all of the mixed-blood shifters will come forward?”

He shook his head. “Hell no. Some of them won’t believe it, while others will try to hide, thinking they’re better off on their own. Some will think this is a trick to expose themselves to the ones killing them.”

She closed her eyes wearily. “They’ll be killed.”

“More than likely, yes, unless we can get them to believe.”

“Everyone, if you have any further questions, please direct them either to Gabe, Adrian or Barney,” Max yelled. The murmurs of the crowd were becoming louder, almost drowning out the Alpha’s words. “Their emails are on the flyer we just handed out to you.”

“What?” Barney grabbed a flyer from a passing cop and stared at it. “Fuck my life.”

Heather giggled. “Welcome to the Pride.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Heather was on her way to work. Things hadn’t become normal again, not by a long shot, but Barney was far too busy with his own work to stop her from going to her own. She was looking forward to a nice, relaxing day of tattoos and bullshitting with the girls. It felt like a lifetime had passed since she’d done that.

She pulled into the parking lot of Cynful, careful to park under a streetlight. Mrs. H, the owner of the building, had placed a large H on the streetlight, telling Heather it was her spot. Mrs. H didn’t like it when Heather, the youngest of the Cynful girls, had to leave at night, as she was the only one whose mate didn’t come to pick her up. This was Mrs. H’s way of protecting Heather, and Heather was grateful for it.

She got out of the car and checked to make sure she had everything with her. Her sketchbook she’d shoved in her oversized purse, along with some drawing pencils. She hadn’t been in the mood to take her entire kit with her, so she’d only brought the basics.

Smiling, she turned away from her car, clicking the button on the key to make sure it locked. She heard the telltale
beep-beep
and looked up, ready for her day to start.

Only to have it stop dead in its tracks.

Jamie Howard stood not five feet from her. His hands were loose at his sides, his feet shoulder-width apart. He was dressed in worn jeans and a gray tank top, and on his feet were a pair of work boots. His gaze was fixed on her, his eyes pure silver, as was his hair.

The white Puma had come to speak to her, and he was scary as hell.

“Good afternoon, Heather.” Jamie spoke softly, but there was a menace in his tone, a chill that struck her to the bone. His expression cynical. “I have a message for your mate.”

“Oh?” She tried to remain calm, but her heart began to race as she stared at Dr. Howard.

He smiled. “Don’t be afraid.” His tone was soft, almost soothing, but the menace pouring off of him negated any sense of safety she might have had. “I won’t hurt
you
.”

Her back immediately stiffened. “But you’ll hurt my mate?”

He tilted his head, the gesture cat-like. His Puma must be riding him hard. “Only if he gets in my way.”

“You were at the meeting two days ago?” Barney had told her he suspected Dr. Howard was hidden somewhere, either in the crowd or among the trees ringing the meadow. He hadn’t bothered to try and find the man because he didn’t view him as a threat.

“Yes, I was. I heard what my Alpha had to say.” His hands twitched, and she saw his claws emerging. “The Leo acted too quickly.”

A chill ran down her spine. “What do you mean?”

He looked away with a grimace as his whole body shuddered. “I don’t give a fuck how many of you die.” His tone was cold. “None of you matter to me.”

“Hope,” Heather whispered.

He glared at her. “Hope.” That shudder racked him again. “Nothing can happen to Hope.”

“She’s not of mixed lineage, so she should be safe.”

He laughed, and there was no humor in it. “But I am.”

“And she could be used against you.” Heather nodded. “I understand.”

“Good. Then you’ll understand what I’m about to say.” He stared at her, his silver eyes glittering with sudden rage. “I’ve been forced to step in sooner than I’d planned, thanks to your mate and the Leo. Things will escalate much faster than either anticipated, all because they let the cat out of the bag.”

“We thought—”

“I know what you thought,” he interrupted roughly. “If we put what was shadowed into the light, then they’ll be helpless.” He tsk’d. “Guess what? All you did was piss people off. Worse, some of those who are giving out the warning the Leo so carefully crafted? They’re going to use it as an excuse.”

“To do what?”

“Kill that which they don’t understand.” His expression became dull, almost lifeless. “People like me. They’ll do the work of those Senators for them rather than help those in need.”

“Max is different. Halle is different.” Heather took a step toward Dr. Howard. “We won’t let anything happen to either you or Hope.”

That dull, lifeless look disappeared, replaced with a smile that was almost gentle. “You’re so young. So naïve.” It took only two steps for him to reach her. He touched her cheek, his claws scraping across her skin. “They will bleed you dry just to get to your mate.”

She stood perfectly still even when his claws came dangerously close to her eyes. “I’ll help protect Hope. And you. No matter what.”

He shook his head and took a step back, his hand finally leaving her face. “You’ll try, but you’ll fail. I’ve seen it.” He looked haunted. “No. It’s going to be up to me to act now, before things get too far out of hand and the whole world loses what you’re fighting for.”

“What do you mean?” He knew something he wasn’t telling.

“Do you understand what it is the spirits are fighting for?” That cynical look was back on his face. “Do you even have a clue?”

“The white shifters talk to the spirits. Through those shifters, they can communicate with the Leo, giving advice and orders to the rest of the shifter world.”

His brows rose. “Very good. But that’s not all.”

“No?”

“Like all politicians, they’ve hidden something from you. Something very important.” Dr. Howard leaned toward her, touching her face once more. “You see, if all the white shifters die, the line of the Leo dies. And if that happens, the death of the shifter world is inevitable.”

Heather’s eyes went wide. “What?”

He nodded, standing so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. “Our children will be born human.”

“Holy fuck. We lose our animals.”

“Now you understand how stupid the Senate is being?”

“They don’t know, do they?” Heather couldn’t even see Dr. Howard anymore. She was too caught up in following the thought he’d implanted in her. “To them, it’s just a way to gain control of us.”

“And because they can’t hear the spirits, they have no idea what will happen if that connection is lost.” Jamie stepped back again, releasing her. “And the fight will be here, in Halle, where the white shifters are gathering for a final stand.”

She stared at him, horrified. “More of them will come seeking shelter.”

“And Max. Max will wind up taking care of them all.” He frowned, looking at the ground. “I have no choice but to step in and keep the white shifters safe.”

“Because you are one?” Heather tried to sound sympathetic, but really, he was still scaring the fuck out of her.

“No.” He lifted his head, and she could see tears in his eyes. “Because Marie would want me to.” He turned on his heel and began to leave the parking lot. “Heather?”

“Yeah?” God, he was hurting so badly, and there was nothing she could do for him.

“If you die, stay dead. And if anyone brings you back, slit your goddamn throat.” He turned and looked at her one last time. “Because living without your other half is living in hell.”

And he was gone, disappearing between the buildings as if he’d never been there.

“Whoa.” She stepped back until she could lean against her car, breathing heavily. Her hands were shaking as she called Barney. “Guess who just visited me?”

“The Ghost of Christmas Past?” Barney shushed someone who yelled out his name.

“Jamie Howard.”

Silence. “I’m on my way.”

Before she could stop him he’d hung up.

Suddenly being alone in the parking lot didn’t feel like a good idea. Rubbing her arms to chase away the chill, she sprinted around the building and to the front door of Cynful.

She yanked it open, setting off the bell at the top, and dashed inside. Cyn was there, looking startled. Behind the curtains she could hear the buzz of a tattoo gun. Little Wren was on the counter next to Cyn, whose claws were out.

A spate of Spanish was hurled at her before she could take a breath.

“Hi.” Heather waved her shaking hand at Cyn. “Jamie Howard stopped by to say hello.”

Cyn picked up the baby carrier and put it behind the counter. “Is he still here?”

“No, and I don’t think he’d hurt Wren.” She held up her hands. “Let me tell it all once Barney gets here, okay?”

Cyn nodded. “I’m calling Julian. Glory’s off and Alex is working with your mate on setting up the training grounds.” Bunsun Exteriors had offered to set up various training routes for the Hunters and the Special Forces, using plants and hardscape to mimic conditions in other parts of the country. Some of it would be done in a building that someone else was designing via Kincade Lowe’s specific requirements. Other parts would be outside that building. And Alpha Lowell of the Red Wolf Pack had given permission for “weekend getaways” at his lodge, where they’d train among the mountains and in snowy conditions.

Cyn picked up the phone, speaking quietly. Heather sat in one of the waiting chairs, still trembling from her encounter.

Cyn came around the counter with the baby. “Here. Watch her. I’ve got to go speak to Tabby.”

Heather smiled down at the sleeping infant. “Will do.”

The baby was making some kind of sucking, puckering face. Her little hands were fisted and her little brows furrowed. Her pink knit cap was askew on her head and her adorable black curls were visible. Heather smiled down at her little cousin and touched the baby’s cheek. It was so soft, so vulnerable. “Hello, little one.”

The baby sighed and relaxed. She watched Wren sleep until Barney and Alex came barreling through the front door.

“You okay?” Barney asked quietly as he crouched down in front of her.

“Yeah, I am.” She’d had a little bit of time to relax. Jamie Howard had been warning her of what was coming. He hadn’t been threatening her. He’d been
helping
her. “Dr. Howard is…intense.”

“That’s one word for it,” Barney muttered. He moved out of the way as Alex scooped his baby up. “She’s fine, Alex.”

“I know.” But that didn’t stop Alex from taking his child through the curtain, where his mate was.

Barney turned his attention back to her just as the bell jingled and Julian stepped in. “Tell me.”

“Me too. I want to hear what Jamie said.” There was a silver streak in Julian’s hair, but his eyes were still dark. He sounded almost happy, but his expression when he said Jamie’s name was completely different. He missed the old Jamie, and everyone knew it.

Heather took a deep breath. “He said the Leo made a mistake in announcing everything right from the start, that it will only end in more deaths for the white shifters. He also told me that if the Leo dies, then our children will be born human.”

Barney blinked. “Holy fuck.”

Heather nodded. “He also said that he thinks those who are doing this have no idea of the consequences of killing the Lowe line. They think it’s just power, nothing more, but the Leo is our link to our animals. It’s through him that we exist at all.”

“You think…” Julian’s eyes went wide. “Of course. It makes sense.”

“What does?” Heather smiled as Barney took hold of her hands. She hadn’t realized they were still shaking.

Julian sat down in the other chair, his gaze on Heather. There was a flicker of silver. “That’s why the Leo can’t talk to the spirits. He’s a conduit.”

Barney and Heather exchanged a confused glance, but it was Cyn who spoke. “In English,
mi corazón
.”

“He’s channeling the power of the spirits into us, the descendants of the first shifters,” Julian replied faintly. He still seemed stunned by his own revelation. “Without that cornerstone, the Leo, the whole thing crumbles to dust. We lose our connection to our animals, and thus our children are born human.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being human,” Cyn replied.

“No, there isn’t.” Julian stared at his mate. “Now, imagine losing your Bear forever.”

Her eyes went wide, and she shivered.

Heather could understand. Her Fox was yipping in distress, and the urge to soothe it, to reassure it that they’d never be apart, was so strong she almost shifted right then and there. “Hell.”

“How did Jamie know when no one else did?” Barney was staring out the window, but she could see the wheels turning. “Because he’s the white Puma?”

“Who knows?” Julian shrugged. “The rules the spirits live by are different from ours. Perhaps it was simply time we knew, and the spirits allowed it. Or perhaps Puma broke the rules to make sure we lived, and will be punished for it. Without talking to Bear, I can’t answer that.”

“And it looks like you’ve been a busy boy already,” Cyn grunted. She stepped from behind the counter and touched the streak of silver in her mate’s hair. “No spirit jaunts for you until you rest,
cariño.
”

“Yes, ma’am,” Julian replied, leaning into his mate’s touch.

“Now I’m really worried.” Cyn shook her head. “Go in the back and get something to drink.” She turned to Barney and Heather as Julian nodded, stood and headed for the employees’ area. “Barney, you need to let Max know what Jamie said. Heather, you think you can work today?”

She took a deep breath. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Good. Go clean your station. You’ll be tatting someone today.”

Barney kissed her cheek. “Good luck, sweetheart.” He turned to Cyn. “Call me if anything, and I mean
anything
, seems out of place.”

“Will do.” She pointed out the window. “We’ve got a guard out there, one of Gabe’s men, but he must not have seen Jamie.”

“I don’t care if Rambo is guarding this place. Call me.” Barney gave her one last kiss before striding out the door.

Cyn put her hands on her hips. “Okay. Forget all of that. It’s time to get your head into the art, got it?”

Heather nodded, but it would take a while for her to forget the words Dr. Howard had said. She’d been right to tell Barney a war was coming.

Now all she had to do was keep her mate safe, and pray it didn’t take her family.