Shepherd's Moon (37 page)

He didn’t have to remind me.

“In return, you will provide frequent updates of both your findings and your progress.”

“I understand.” Jace could help me out with the updates. I didn’t have time to report back on every action.

“With no other pressing matters to attend to, I believe we can end this call.”

As each of the faces began to blink out on my screen, I logged off, leaned back in the couch and snuggled with the cubs for a second longer, taking advantage of the rare moment of silence. Tau purred and stretched against his sister, before rolling over on his back and lifting his chin as I stroked his fur. “Once again, I’ve gotten us entangled in another mess, little ones…”

I wondered how long it would take for me to get everyone packed up and relocated to the middle of a jungle somewhere. After all, how big of a problem could I create in the middle of a jungle? But with a glance at the cubs stretched out beside me, I sighed. “You two wouldn’t make it a half day in the wild. You’re far too spoiled…”

Tau chuffed softly, in obvious agreement.

By eight the next morning, after hurriedly consuming a halfway decent cup of coffee and a relatively fresh doughnut from the lounge at the station, I stood in the doorway of Richard’s office. Falling asleep in my office with a large jaguar cub sleeping on my head hadn’t done wonders for my already disheveled appearance, and it was obvious from the way he motioned me in with a brisk wave and a frown that I wouldn’t be going anywhere for awhile. Sighing in resignation, I stepped through the doorway only to find Tristan leaning confidently against the corner of the desk. We stared at one another in silence.

“What’s he doing here?” I finally asked.

Richard responded with a grim look, his dark eyes sweeping over me in a concerned, fatherly way. Noticing that I still favored my leg, he shook his head softly, but kept his comments to himself. “You were looking for a plan to resolve this mess with Diego. Tristan has one.”

Hmmm.
Well, he wasn’t so concerned that he wouldn’t pair me up with his Nephilim.

“C’mon, Richard…” I groaned, taking a seat in the chair furthest from Tristan. After the last time we talked, we had a better understanding of one another, but it wasn’t so much better that I trusted him with my pack. The thought did cross my mind that I still didn’t have a plan, but I had sort of hoped that things would work themselves out as I pursued the most obvious path. Apparently, Tristan was now that path.

“It’s not a request, Alex.” Despite his words, I could hear the silent plea for cooperation in his voice and frustration surged through me. “We have a responsibility to the public.”

He may have a responsibility, but I was tired and had a very different set of priorities. “My responsibility is to protect the animals, not the public,” I said. That statement wasn’t exactly true, as part of my duties included protecting the public from animals, but I was trying to make a point.

“How are you going to protect them if you can’t read them?” Tristan asked.

I shook my head, surprised, and stared at him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You told me yourself you can’t read humans,” Tristan said calmly. “If you can’t read humans, you aren’t utilizing your ability to read Weres. Last I checked, they are half-human.”

“Tristan will be training you on how to better control your ability,” Richard said. “While I’m not sure I agree on the timing, it seems as if you need the help. You’ll have to learn as you go.”

“He’s not even a Shepherd,” I protested. “Besides, Caleb can show me.”

“Caleb can’t do it,” Tristan chimed in. “And neither can Victor or Adolfo. They can’t show you how to do it, because they can’t do it.

“Then what makes you think I can?” I asked.

“Have you noticed that you tend to drain your pack when you communicate with them?”

I reeled back with a sharp intake of breath. No one knew that. Not even Richard knew that, and I felt him tense from across his desk. “How the hell would you know that?”

“It’s like Richard said. I’ve worked with a lot of Shepherds in my time, and some of them were very gifted.”

“What is wrong with him?” I jerked my thumb towards Tristan but directed the question to Richard.

“My first guess would be ‘a lot’. But, Tristan has been around for awhile. A long while. Much of his time was spent around Shepherds.” Richard hesitated before continuing, “Joseph’s grandfather was one of them.”

I felt my jaw go slack as I tried to formulate words for a response. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were draining your pack every time you read them?” Richard snapped back.

I stared at my hands, studying the lines of my palm and avoided answering him.

“Obviously you need him more than I thought you did, Alex.” He continued his disapproving stare, then sighed heavily. “He also has a personal interest in this case.”

“What kind of personal interest?”

Tristan turned to face me. “I wasn’t exactly honest with you about the brand on my shoulder. My daddy never gave me anything — truth is, I never knew my daddy.” He rolled up his sleeve. “This was a souvenir from the only man who has managed to grab hold of me for any length of time. He learned some neat tricks that allowed him to keep me captive for three years, and there’s a very good chance that it’s the same man you’re looking for right now. You can believe me when I say he’s not a nice person.”

My throat tightened with sudden worry.

“We’ll work together on this case.” Richard said the words softly, understanding my fear. But rather than meet my frustrated stare, he focused on the papers stacked on his desk. “I’m sorry, Alex. This isn’t my first choice. But, I do believe Tristan is right.”

Tristan gave a low whistle to catch my attention as he tossed me a small electronic device, which I smoothly caught. “SIM card,” he said. “If we’re going to work together, we need to have some trust between us. Now, normally I wouldn’t make it this easy, but we’re on a tight schedule, so everything you need to know is on that chip.”

I turned the card over in my hand and whispered, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Richard.”

For a brief moment, it appeared Tristan did have a heart. Or at least a variant of one. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his legs as his scent washed over me; spice and warm vanilla. “You’re at a crossroads, darlin’. Now, you can either soar or fall from the heavens. It makes no difference to me.”

“Why do you even care?” I asked, already resigned to my fate. It was obvious I didn’t have much of a choice in the situation. I could try to go it alone, but if the last few days had taught me anything, it’s that I’m not ready to be on my own. The thought made me feel defeated, as though my life was unraveling faster than I could knit it back together.

“I don’t.” He shrugged, feigning indifference, but I could see the flash of interest disguised in his expression. “I can do this with or without you, but I’m feeling generous enough to let you make a name for yourself. So take the deal or don’t. I’ve got places to be.”

We scowled at one another in silence.

“You’ll have her cooperation,” Richard muttered, breaking the silence. He glanced up at me, knowing I would do what was needed to keep my pack safe.

“Not that I don’t trust you, Captain Kirk — but I would just as soon hear that from her.” Tristan glared at me, awaiting a response.

I clenched my teeth, feeling an ache in my jaw. “I’m in.”

“Well, all right then, partner!” He held out his hand. After a brief hesitation, I shook it. “Darlin’, you and I are going to have all kinds of fun…”

“Anything happens to her and I’ll come after you myself,” Richard growled at Tristan.

The last thing I needed today was more posturing. Frustrated with the entire morning, I left the room, slamming the door behind me with only a small degree of satisfaction.

The door opened and closed again, and I heard Tristan padding behind me.

“So, I guess you do always do get what you want,” I mumbled, stomping through the hall.

“Yeah, I sort of do.” He jumped in front of me and began walking backwards, matching my stride. “C’mon now, it’ll be fun.”

I frowned and tried to step around him. “The one thing this won’t be is fun.”

He grinned, clearly amused, but I ignored his condescending expression, waiting until I stormed out the station doors before turning on him. Pressing my finger into his rock solid chest, I backed him against the wall. “Look — I don’t want to work with you. I don’t trust you, and I don’t want you around my pack. Let’s just get the job done so we can go our separate ways.” Raising my eyes to meet his, I held his gaze for a brief moment before turning, stomping towards my car, and hoping he would grow tired of following me.

A lean smile curved his lips as I fumbled for my keys.

“What?” I said sharply.

A lazy grin crossed his face, creasing the corners of his eyes. “You’re cute when you’re feeling all vulnerable and defeated.”

“I’m neither vulnerable nor defeated,” I said, locating my keys and pressing the button to unlock the door.

He shook his head, sliding dark reflective sunglasses over his gray eyes. “Well, we’ll just have to see
what
you are. I’ll meet you back at your place and we’ll start the first lesson.”

“Yes, Sensei,” I answered sarcastically. Then, climbing into my car, I shifted into first gear, reaching third before I was even out of the police parking lot.

Let them give me a ticket. Today I was past caring…

Nothing ever works out as planned.

If I had thought for a moment that I would align myself with the hybrid offspring of a fallen angel and a pack of preternatural creatures, I would never have stepped into Brock’s old pickup truck lured by the smell of a greasy hamburger so many years ago.

Part of it I attributed to my young age. The rest of it I attributed to stupidity.

As soon as I made it home, I assembled my team. After an abbreviated update on the unusual situation we found ourselves in, I let them ask their questions. Billy, as angry as I had anticipated he would be, was the first to chime in.

“So, you’re saying we have to take orders from him?”

Slightly annoyed, I bit my lip and decided the best way to deal with him was to stay calm. For now, at least.

“You’re all free to do what you want. You can work with whoever you want, take orders from whomever you like. But, if you work on this specific case, you will need to take some…” I hesitated.
Orders
were strong words, ones that my pack would never react well too, “…direction from Tristan.”

Listening to myself talk, I knew I had to be stronger for the pack. I had to show that I was in control of the situation and that I had confidence in Tristan’s ability to do his part and follow through — I
had
to do these things…despite what I felt. Clearing my throat, I tried again.

“He’s dealt with these people before, and from what I’ve seen and heard, he’s a good man to have in the field.”

There was something surreal about standing in my living room and defending a man I hated to my pack. Not only defending him, but requesting that they follow him.

Until Tristan proved himself, my pack would never show any respect to the man. Their loyalties lay with me, and I didn’t like the guy. Despite their pack mentality, all animals — especially Weres — have a very distinct sense of individualism. The pack mentality exists for the purpose of survival — no one particularly likes the system. Loyalty has to be taught and not every species takes to it well. I should know. Had I wanted to force this decision on my pack, I could have.

But, I didn’t want to.

Amongst the wolves, that was Brock’s position by honor and right; I would not be the one to challenge him. As far as the cats are concerned — well, they are under no obligation to anyone. Jace would follow whatever I felt was right — I was confident in that. But Billy was his own man in every sense. I remained silent, waiting for their responses.

Brock spoke first. “We are a family,” he said softly, ever the leader. “If it means we have to work with a Nephilim, we work with him.” His eyes flashed a warning to any who stood in opposition to his statement.