Wolf's Strength (7 page)

They thought she was just a child, but she knew what to do. She knew what to do to bring Roman back.

“Elisa, you can’t keep him on your life support any longer,” Devin scolded her.

“I can do this! All he needs is time. Time to heal. He’ll regain his strength and then he can call to his wolf. I know he will,” she mumbled, clutching Roman a little tighter.

Her heart twisted and anguish ran through her veins. He said he would be there for her. She couldn’t let him go. Death wouldn’t take him away.

Elisa closed her eyes and focused. Her chest grew tight with agony as she kept her life-force bonded with Roman’s. There was energy in him. All he had to do was wake up.

He couldn’t keep lying on the cold ground any longer. Get up! Get up!

Roman was like a father to her. He was the only father she’d known. He taught her math, science, and social studies. He schooled her when no one else would because she had once been a lowly servant. He taught her to use her powers—how to use them for others and how to use them against others.

She was special. She was a Seer. That was what he told her when she insisted her gifts were a curse. But if she was so special, why couldn’t she make him wake up?

Elisa Caedmon rocked with Roman’s head on her lap.

“Elisa.” Dawson put his hand on her shoulder. “There is too much smoke for you to handle. Let’s move away at least.”

“No!” she shouted, and a tree split in two nearby and collapsed on top of what was left of Roman’s burnt home.

The Caedmon people were beginning to come out of their homes to witness the destruction, fire, and mayhem. The guards stood close, not letting anybody get within several yards of their circle.

“This isn’t what Roman would’ve wanted.” Devin spoke from behind her. “He wouldn’t have wanted you to bind your life-force to his. This is a dangerous thing you are doing.”

Elisa knew what he said was the truth. Even if she bonded her life-force to his, there was still a chance that he could succumb. And if he perished after the bonding, no one would be able to reverse it and she would die as well.

“Let him go,” Devin urged. “He loved you more than life itself, Elisa. He loved you more than any one of us. He wouldn’t have wanted this.
Trust me
.”

“No,” Elisa whispered. “I saw the visions. I knew my birth mom would come back for me, but I didn’t know she would…” She chocked on a cry.

Roman had told her that he’d have to fall so their Pack could rise, yet she refused to believe it. It couldn’t happen now, not when she needed him the most. Supposedly, this was the result of her convincing Roman she was an adult and she could wield her magic and contain her powers without his help anymore.

“I’m sorry, Roman,” she said, placing her hand over the wound over his heart.

A tear escaped a duct, trailed down her cheek, and fell onto Roman’s forehead. He blinked and opened his eyes.

“Roman?” Elisa gasped, and both Devin and Dawson came to kneel beside her.

Roman no longer stared with glazed-over irises. His eyes were the color of an evergreen, like the trees that once surrounded his cabin. “Beautiful.” He peered from Elisa to Dawson to Devin. “You are all how I imagined you would be.”

“Roman, I’m sorry,” Devin spoke. “I didn’t kn—”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I did this for you and our Pack.”

“We don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell us everything?” Elisa asked. “I asked you what I was seeing. The clues were there, but you told me not to delve into that.”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference. These things would’ve happened eventually.”

“But you could’ve ruled this. All of it,” Dawson said sternly.

“Don’t doubt me, Dawson. Not now. I’ve known my place in this all along. Everyone has a purpose.”

“Nothing will be the same after this,” Devin replied. “How can I ask our people to have faith now?”

“I taught you better than this.” Roman coughed, choking on the blood in the back of his throat. “Never be ashamed of who and what you are.”

“We’re all tainted,” Dawson exclaimed.

“No, you’re not. The powers pass through the male bloodline. Nothing has been tainted. Like the Alphas before Devin, there’s been one prime agenda: conceive a male offspring who could keep the Spirit alive. And you’ll keep it alive.”

Roman’s hand fell limply to the ground, and Elisa clutched him tightly. “I can heal you. I know it.”

“I want to go. Let me pass. I have to in order for you to help your brothers.”

Elisa sensed him trying to use what little power he had to sever the ties she used to bind him. She couldn’t let go. She just couldn’t. “I’m not as strong as you are. What good am I if I can only see the past?”

“Devin needs your help. We’ve had the same enemy for centuries. When we brought the lost powers of William Caedmon II home, this angered that enemy even more. The enemy knows they’ll never be able to get it back since the powers are now a part of us, and they’ll continue to attack us. Bring peace to the Caedmon Pack again and eliminate this threat.”

“How?” Devin asked.

“You must keep Caedmon united. If you let our history crumble, the enemy will succeed.” Roman’s voice came out hoarsely.

“We are united,” Dawson said.

“No,” Roman whispered. “To be truly united, the bloodlines must be one as they were before.”

Devin shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“There is one other whose blood is potent with the Spirit of Caedmon.”

“No. You can’t mean…”

“Listen to me.” Roman grabbed Devin’s arm and pulled him down. “I don’t have much time. You must—” His breath caught in his throat and he clutched his chest.

Elisa chanted a series of words. They came to her without thought, and they were the ones that would keep his Wolf Spirit in his body.

“You must,” Roman whispered. “If both of you refuse, your Packs will die out. There will be nothing left of us.”

“Why can’t we just eliminate the enemy?” Dawson asked. “We’re the strongest Pack. We don’t need territory to tell us that.”

“You might succeed in eliminating him, but that won’t stop his successors from regrouping as they’ve done before. Only through unity will you be able to fight them off.”

“What do they have?” Devin demanded.

Roman’s eyes rolled into his head until only the whites were showing, and his body went limp in Elisa’s lap. “Give me your hand,” he mouthed.

Elisa did as he said, slipping her fingers into his cold palms.

“I love you, Elisa. You’re no longer a child, but there is so much you have yet to learn. I’m so sorry I have to do it this way.”

She moved a closer since his voice was now a whisper. “What is it?”

“It will hurt but only a little.”

“What will you do?”

“I have a gift for you. I’ve been saving it all this time…just for you. But you must accept it.”

“Please…” Maybe she truly wasn’t ready to step up in the place of the greatest Seer there ever was.

“Quickly. You know what you’ve done, now undo it. Unbind my life from yours and release my Spirit.”

“How?” Her fingers trembled as they held onto Roman.

“You must drain my strength until there is nothing left, and all I know will be yours to keep. It’s the only way. Release me from this life.”

Elisa exhaled and nodded her head. “I understand.”

Roman gazed at Devin and Dawson and reached for them. “My duty is done; now let me rest. You two will carry on and you better not fail.”

“Yes, Roman,” Devin said.

Roman gripped her hand tightly and spoke in a language only she would understand. Elisa closed her eyes and did as he requested. As soon as their life-forces were unbound, his body went cold. He began to fade rapidly. She harnessed her powers and drew on his knowledge, drew his pain, and drew his life. Much of what she took was painful memories, wisdom, and burdens he’d carried for many decades. She took from him until she couldn’t take any longer. Just before his Spirit vanished, she captured it and allowed it to wrap around her like a rope. That final caress soothed her, but then a sharp wind came and the essence dissolved.

“Farewell, Great-uncle.”

Silence followed Roman’s death for a long while. No one said a thing. Roman’s old cabin became ashes, and the same wind that took his Spirit away finally picked up the ashes.

Devin lifted a finger and wiped her moist cheeks. She realized she was crying.

“What is it, Elisa? What does our enemy have?” Devin demanded.

“The power to expel the Caedmon Spirit in all of us. One by one.”

When Naomi entered the small cottage-style home, she heard the voices of her brother and father in the kitchen. They were deep in conversation and failed to notice she was inside. More than a day had passed, and the entire Crew 38 was being held on lock-down. E1s were stationed all over the main territories, enforcing the laws of Arnou as always, plus word had gotten out in the community about their suspension. As an E2 this was the first time she’d been reprimanded and forced into lock-down within Arnou borders but even before then, she sometimes felt like a prisoner being held against her will.

Something strange was going on. She felt it in her bones, and she sensed it in the way Tristan didn’t hesitate to reprimand them the other day. Yet, she grew tired of being stuck in the Elite Compound and longed to be free of their punishment. And she longed for the light and knowledge. In the Compound she was in the dark, and there was so much to discover.

Her attention moved to her brother and father in the small galley kitchen. She set her duffle bag on the floor but remained just outside the door and out of sight.

“How long?” her father asked Nathan.

“There was no definite sentence given. Arnou refused to see me afterward. One of the Enforcers from my Compound promised to find out for me. Ruby’s betrayal shocked us all. I feel stupid. She was under my control and I failed to see through her,” Nathan replied.

“It’s not your fault, son. She did what she wanted, and I doubt anyone would’ve been able to stop her once her mind was made up.”

“Right after the fight, she told us she thought the instigators were humans, but I knew who they were at first glance. I had the misfortune of crossing paths with one of them before. At the time we were in a human-led government building, so nothing ever came of that.”

Naomi’s ears perked up. They must have pressed Ruby for answers when she was on the roof with Blake. She leaned against the wall and waited.

“This is strange,” her father replied in a hoarse tone. “Ruby’s credibility is worth less than dirt at this point. How do we know she wasn’t lying about her mistake?”

“Good point.”

“We’ll put this behind us, starting now. It’s just one set back. I have no doubt Tristan will deal with her.”

Eavesdropping had never been her thing, so Naomi entered the galley kitchen. Both her brother and father fell silent and regarded her with undeviating scrutiny. Her father was standing behind Nathan, who was sitting in a chair with his back exposed. The welts were no longer raised, but the skin was raw and red. Senior Valentine frowned and tore his gaze away from her. He began applying a thick ointment to the scars. Naomi’s stomach began to churn again as images of Nathan’s punishment came to her full force.

“Don’t mind me,” Naomi said, heading toward the cabinets. She poured a glass of ice-cold water. She took long sips and let the coolness relax her throat. She lengthened the duration of her routine early morning sprints, knowing she had time to waste, given the fact she was forced to stay under watchful eyes. She ran until her lungs ached and her legs burned, almost hoping something or someone would confirm this was the life meant for her.

She’d served Arnou and complied with every one of his commands, whether direct or indirect, since she turned eighteen. Anyone else would have been honored to serve; so why did she feel like her duties were in vain?

“You know…you should return and apologize,” Senior Valentine said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Apologize?” She didn’t have a clue as to what he was referring.

“For almost a decade we’ve earned and held honorable titles within our Pack. The family name should carry on that way.”

She set the empty glass on the counter. “If you’ve forgotten, I should remind you my title is Elite. E2.”

“I heard all about what happened during your meeting with Arnou yesterday.”

“Let me guess.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Did Nathan tell you?”

Nathan turned to scowl at her but winced in pain when his skin split again. “I did not.”

“I have ears and eyes…sources by other means. If you’ve forgotten, I should remind you my title was Enforcer. E1. Retired. I have some clout, yet, in the Compound. Your insult to our Alpha utterly embarrassed me.

“Insult?” she scoffed. “Are you serious? Do I look like a whore to you, Father?”

Senior Valentine turned with stone-cold annoyance on his face. “Me referring to it as an insult is a gross understatement. You’ve offended our custom. Why?”

“I call it what it is. If I wanted to lie on my back daily at the mercy of a greedy leader, trust me, I could have long ago,” she replied.

“Explain yourself!” Her father was so angry she detected spittle flying from his mouth.

She swallowed. “It wasn’t the first time he asked me to become Enola.”

Senior Valentine’s eyes widened.

Nathan turned in his chair, and the wooden legs scraped against the old floorboards.

“Years ago, when I talked about leaving the Pack, I almost did. I thought if I disappeared, it would be better than leaving the Pack publicly and on bad terms.” If she got this off her chest, that would be one less burden to carry. “Tristan Arnou, caught me crossing our territorial lines. You two both know Arnou plays a tough game, and everything is about numbers and territory to him. He gave me an ultimatum that involved a trade-off. The ranking ceremony was to be held the next night, and he knew Nathan wanted to serve. Nathan had failed some of the tests and didn’t place high enough to be considered for any ranking. I stayed so Tristan would rank you. I knew that’s what you both wanted. Either way, he had the power to tarnish the Valentine family name if I didn’t accept.” Her gaze shifted from a puzzled Nathan to a dumbfounded Senior Valentine. “He tried to commit me as Enola, but somehow I convinced him if I served, I wanted to do so as an Elite.”

“You were going to
him
, weren’t you?” Nathan asked quietly.

“Yes.” She’d wanted to escape with her mate, but found herself in a Catch-22.

Nathan huffed in frustration. “So then, everything is a fluke? All of this was never meant to be?”

“How do you know Nathan wasn’t supposed to rank?” Senior Valentine asked.

“I’m not stupid. I asked to see the proof before I agreed. There was no badge designating Nathan as an Elite leader. Tristan ordered one to be made that same night.”

“This is crazy.” Her father shook his head.

“This is what you wanted. You wanted to keep our family name high in the rankings. Imagine if Nathan didn’t rank that night. We know leader positions only become available once every other blue moon. When someone dies. When someone retires. Or when the title is stripped. Those things don’t happen often. Your Crew thirty-eight would’ve been handed to someone else, Father.”

“No.”

Both her father and brother were in complete denial. Even her brother’s face was expressionless, and his gaze shifted left and right, not focusing on anything. She wanted to hear from her brother the most.

“I’m out!” she exclaimed. “Don’t expect to hear from me for a few days. I need some time to think.”

Her father’s eyes were darkened slits by now. “I hope you return with your good sense.”

“I never said I would return,” she said, meeting his gaze.

Her father’s expression softened and a visible lump rose on his throat.

“It’s forbidden,” Nathan said.

“I’m no one’s prisoner,” Naomi replied and turned swiftly, heading for the door.

Nathan was hot on her tail. She picked up the duffle bag with her meager belongings and strapped it to her back.

“You can’t be serious. What are you doing?” Nathan grabbed her forearm, stopping her in the foyer.

“Something I should’ve done a long time ago.” She jerked her arm away from him and opened the door. If she stayed a moment longer, she would change her mind again. And then what? Spend another few years in this Compound with high ranks and honors that meant nothing outside of these walls. One thing she was not was a traitor. She pledged allegiance to her Pack long ago, but how could she protect them if the limits of her position bound her?

She’d accept her punishment later, but they had to catch her first.

“Where are you going?”

“AWOL.”

“Naomi!” Nathan’s voice grew more distant as she reached the paved road leading toward the Arnou residences. “Naomi, wait! Please!”

He never begged. Never said please. He was always the leader and never the follower. That simple word gave her pause, and she stopped and turned.

Nathan ran out to meet her on the road. “If you’re going to get through the barbed fence, you’ll need this.” He picked up her free hand and placed into it a handmade knife in a shield.

“Thank you.” She squeezed his hand in a warm gesture as she accepted his token, and then she clipped it to her Belt.

“I wish I’d done this years ago, Naomi. My path was carved for me before I had a chance to make my decision. What would’ve happened if I’d gone against the grain and broken the tradition?”

She slid her palm against his brother’s cheek. “No one has the answer to that. Live your life for today.”

“I’m not like you.” He shook his head. “My bark wasn’t loud enough to speak against a leader whom I respect and whose visions I’ve grown to admire.”

Naomi smiled. “Then you are loyal to your leader and to your people, and that is something you should be honored for. But remember something, Brother, the strength of a wolf isn’t measured in the timbre of his growl.”

Nathan’s lips parted as if he wanted to say something else, but Naomi turned and left. If he uttered one more word, especially if it pertained to loyalty, she would have changed her mind.

She ran. Her strides ate the distance as fast as her breath could catch up to her. The wolf that shared her soul always had been rebellious, so the animal inside Naomi rejoiced as she sought out their freedom.