Hidden Destiny (Redwood Pack) (18 page)

She and North might have professed their love for each other, and they were working on finding out how their mating would work, but that didn’t mean things were easy.

Far from it.

They each had their own insecurities about where this was heading, not that they’d actually talked about it with each other. No, of course not. Why act like reasonable adults when they could act like scared teenagers when it came to emotions?

Honestly, after what had happened in her past, she’d never thought she’d actually find a man she could love and who would love her back. Once she had Parker, she’d never really thought about how their lives would adjust to having another man in the house. North was cautious, not acting like a father per se, but a father figure. Parker didn’t come to him for permission to do things, but she had a feeling that her son would soon be testing the boundaries of how their relationship would work.

She and North needed to learn how to be a mated pair, they’d have to learn how to raise and, if necessary, discipline Parker. She wasn’t sure how that would all work out, but she knew that the situation would arise soon. There was no way she could have an eight-year-old in the house and not deal with issues. Issues were par for the course.

North would just have to deal.

She shook her head. Damn it. She was counting him out before he’d even had a chance. North was great with Parker, and she needed to believe it would stay that way—even with a few bumps along the way.

North grabbed her hand, and she froze. “What?” she asked.

“I answered your question, yet you weren’t listening,” he said as he faced her. He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and tilted his head. “What’s going on in that head of yours, baby?”

“Just thinking,” she mumbled.

“About? Come on. I can’t help if you don’t let me in.”

“I was just thinking about the adjustments you’ve had to make since we found each other.”

“What do you mean? You think the fact that I’ve had to change a few things around is a problem for me? I love it, baby. I love you.”

Her heart warmed as she heard the words again. “I’m just a little lost.”

“Then I’ll find you,” he whispered, and he took her lips. She melted into him, needing his touch, his taste. She could drown in him and relish it.

He pulled away, and she licked her lips, needing his flavor on her tongue for just that much longer.

Wow, she had it bad.

“So, what was your answer to my question?” she asked.

“What was your question?” North teased.

Lexi rolled her eyes. “Why are we going to the elders’ camp?” North had come to her that morning with an odd light in his eyes that she couldn’t quite figure out, telling her that they were going to go see Emmaline, an elder who was friends with the Jamensons, to talk about…something. North hadn’t been too helpful in the details, and by the manic way his wolf was coming through his eyes and his growls, Lexi hadn’t asked too much about it, worried she’d hurt him by doing so.

North gave a small smile, but Lexi could see the strain behind it. “We’re going because I’ve asked Emmaline to take a look in the archives—the ones that only the elders can use—to see if she can find anything about being a latent wolf.”

Lexi froze. The sound of the wind brushing through the trees, the birds in the air calling for each other, and the scurrying of prey on the ground reached her in almost slow motion.

She’d known North had been looking into what to do with her situation. She also knew he was doing it to save her life and not because he felt she wasn’t worthy of him, but still, it unnerved her.

It’d caught her by surprise, and she didn’t like that. She shouldn’t have been surprised that North would do
anything
for her. He’d told her that, yet she hadn’t put two and two together.

“Oh,” she finally said, the sound of her pulse in her ears finally slowing down.

“I know I should have told you more about it when I was talking to Emmaline, but I was afraid to get your hopes up, considering mine were up too.”

“So she found something?” She chewed on her lip, worry washing over her.

North rubbed his thumb over the place she’d bitten and took a deep breath. “That’s what she says. She said she’d already talked to my father a couple days ago and now was the time to tell us. I’m not sure what that means. I had wanted to bring her to us, or at least to my parents’ place to talk, but the other elders are being asses about ‘elder knowledge’, so they wouldn’t let her leave.”

“She’s a prisoner then?”

North growled. “Maybe. I’m not sure since the elders are a league of their own within the Pack. At least it seems like that. Dad’s not going to stand for it though. Come on. I don’t want to be late. The other elders might make Emmaline stay away from us or something.”

Lexi nodded and gripped North’s hand. Soon they found themselves in another part of the den, where a small grouping of houses surrounded a stone circle.

Emmaline, a beautiful woman with blonde hair and faraway eyes, came out and greeted them. “It’s good to see you,” she said, her voice soft. “I’ve found something that might help, but I don’t know if it can be done.”

Well, that was straight to the point.

She led them into her home, and Lexi gripped North’s hand as hard as she could.

“Tell us what you’ve found, Emmaline.”

The elder looked off into space for a moment before blinking away whatever she’d been thinking of. Lexi wondered what it would be like to live so long and to see so much. It was no wonder that Emmaline seemed not of this world, more Fae-like than any of them.

“I’ve been reading all I can because I’ve personally never heard of a latent reaching adulthood, let alone having a child of their own.” She frowned. “At least I don’t remember knowing. Sometimes things get jumbled after so long.” She shook her head again and gave a small smile. “I promise I’m not crazy, just a little lost.”

Lexi reached out and gripped Emmaline’s hand. “It’s okay. We all get that way sometimes.”

Emmaline turned her hand to return Lexi’s grip. “Thank you for being so kind. Now, what I’ve found about latent wolves isn’t pretty, not by far. There’s only one way in all that I’ve read that actually will set the wolf free.”

Lexi started. “There’s a way?” Hope filled her. This could be what they’d be waiting for.

Emmaline gave a sad smile but nodded. “Yes, but it is not easy.”

“Tell us.”

“It’s said that a latent wolf is so buried beneath the human that it takes two parts of a whole to bring it forth. It takes two Packs, two Alphas, two slays, and two acts of brutality to let the wolf roam free.”

Lexi swallowed hard. That didn’t sound good at all. No, in fact, it sounded downright scary as all fuck.

“What does that mean?” North asked, his voice low, dangerous.

Emmaline met Lexi’s eyes. “It means that latent wolves are doomed to die by fate’s decree unless there is one who is of two Packs. Talk to your father, North. He’ll know what to do. It won’t be easy, and death might be the only way to relieve the pain, but it’s an answer.”

“You’re saying she’ll have to go through a change like a human turning into a wolf.”

“Yes.”

Lexi swallowed hard. Turning a human into werewolf wasn’t like it was portrayed in books or movies. It took an act of brutality so gruesome that most didn’t do it. The human had to be near death in order for the enzyme within the wolf’s bite to work. It also usually took an Alpha wolf and their power for the change to take hold. Though Willow had been able to survive on Jasper’s bite alone, it was almost unheard of for other wolves to make the change happen.

“What’s this about two Packs?” she asked, her voice a little too shaky for comfort. North wrapped an arm around her, but she didn’t lean into him. She was so scared that if she did so, she’d break down.

Emmaline tilted her head, looking more wolf than human. “You were born within one Pack and are now of another. You’re of two Packs like the books say. Not all wolves have that option. It seems, though fate has taken much from you, it has given you this…loophole.”

“You’re saying the Alpha of the Talon Pack needs to change me just like Edward will? That’s so not happening. Joseph, the Alpha, is a cruel man. He kicked me out, remember?”

Emmaline smiled. “You cannot be bitten by a dead man, sweetie. You’ll need the Alpha of the Talon Pack to bite you.”

Lexi froze. “Joseph’s dead?” she rasped out.

“How do you know this?” North asked, sounding just as shocked.

“I don’t remember,” Emmaline said as she shook her head. “I’m sorry I’m not much help. I’m reading through all I can to keep the Centrals away and now looking into this. I don’t remember where I learn things all the time.”

The woman looked so distressed that Lexi couldn’t help but want to make the woman feel better. “It’s okay. North…” She turned to her mate. “We need to talk to your father. If Joseph isn’t the Alpha anymore, that could mean something for the Redwoods.” And they would need to talk to Edward about her changing into a wolf.

“Thank you, Emmaline. Thank you.” Lexi stood and hugged the woman hard. Emmaline seemed surprised for a moment then hugged back.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help. I hope it works out. I’m going to go back to the stacks and look up ways to bring those dark magic wards down now. The Centrals’ put up those wards right after they took Hannah and Reed before they mated and found Josh. The wards seem to be getting stronger as time passes. At least that’s what the scouts tell your father. I think it has to do with the fact that the Pack is dying. As time moves on, the wards use their specific magic and the life essence of the Pack members to maintain the ward’s strength. In other words, the demon is using the Pack to protect the den, but killing them at the same time by using their souls to keep the dark magic alive, rather than using the inherent power that emanates from the Pack.”

“My goddess,” Lexi whispered.

“Indeed,” Emmaline agreed. “I’m still looking for ways to break them. There’s got to be something.”

“You’re doing great, Emmaline. Thank you so much.”

“The Redwoods are my Pack,” she said simply.

They left the elder part of the den and made their way to North’s parents’ house. North called on the way, telling them what they’d learned. Who knew how much time they had or how much time had passed since Joseph had died. They needed all the time they could muster to figure out what to do. His father told them cryptically that plans were being made and that they should come over…quickly.

Other than the phone call, they were silent on their way back. There really wasn’t much they could say without breaking down. Before they had never had a true hope, and now, they did.

It just wasn’t the ideal solution.

She’d either die because her body was giving out on itself when it couldn’t release the extra energy and chemicals accumulating in her body because she couldn’t change, or she’d die like so many others before her trying to force the change.

“Can you make sure Parker is there at some point?” she whispered right as they arrived in front of the Alpha’s home. It had taken almost an hour of walking to get there since they couldn’t use a car to get to the elder’s part of the den, so she’d had a lot of time to think.

North stopped her and looked down. “Should he be here for this conversation?”

“I…I think he needs to be told what’s being done but not be there for it.”

North nodded. “I’ll tell Mom when we get inside.”

They walked inside without knocking and found Logan talking with Edward in the living room while Pat poured iced tea.

“Let me help you, Pat,” Lexi said when they walked in.

Pat waved her off. “I need to do something with my hands. Go sit down. You guys had a long trek from the elders’ area.”

Lexi looked down at Pat’s hands and frowned. The Alpha’s mate wasn’t shaking, but her tension seemed high.

“What’s wrong?”

Pat looked over her shoulder at Edward, who gave her a nod. “It seems we’re having visitors here any minute now. As soon as North called to tell us about the Talon Alpha, Edward called the Brentwoods.”

The Brentwoods were the ruling family of the Talons.

“Is Gideon Alpha then?” Lexi asked. Gideon had been the eldest son of the Alpha and was therefore Heir of the Pack. He and his brothers had also fought to keep her and her family in the Pack but had failed because Joseph had ruled the Pack with an iron fist.

“Yes, though it had happened only a few days ago, hence why I wasn’t told yet. Gideon had wanted to ensure the Pack wouldn’t rise against him once he took control. He was very interested to know how I’d heard, but I didn’t mention Emmaline’s name.”

North let out a low whistle. “Lots of change. And I’d like to know how Emmaline knew as well, but I think it has to do more with magic and the moon goddess than with a mole.”

Edward nodded as Lexi sat down next to North. “I agree. She’s always been more connected to the voices in the wind than most. I’m glad she listened to them this time and was able to warn us.”

“Wait,” North said. “You said visitors. The new Alpha is coming here? So soon after  taking control?”

Logan let out a growl. “Apparently the Brentwoods want to make good with the Pack and ex-Packmates they’ve ignored for so long.”

“Logan,” Lexi admonished, “Gideon and his brothers and sister were always good to us. It’s not their fault they had shitty parents.”

Logan snorted. “I didn’t see them caring for us and trying to help us.”

“They let us leave the Pack without being hurt, and it was Gideon who made sure Joseph didn’t kill me as soon as they understood what had happened to me and what was growing within my belly. Remember that.”

North growled beside her, and she leaned into his hold. “It’s okay now,” she soothed, even though she was nervous at seeing any of them again. “The Brentwoods… at least these are good ones. I saw two extra glasses, Pat. I take it Gideon and another are coming then?”

“Yes, Gideon rather than Ryder, the Heir, because the Alphas need to meet, and he was also told of your…situation. Emmaline told us a few days ago, Lexi. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. We wanted to make sure that we could actually do something about it and not leave you wanting.” Tears filled Pat’s eyes but she blinked them away.