Rook (Black Mountain Pack Book 2) Read online

  “Okay, I want to see the women first, all together. Niko will show me where they are. Jonas, you go with Tamara to the kitchens and see what kind of food can be put together to feed everyone. I want you to bring the children upstairs and into the most comfortable room, with the cushiest furniture. Let them eat and play. Paulo, see if you can find a tub or wash basin that they can get the children washed up as well. DJ, I need you and Miguel to stand guard at the front. No one gets in tonight.” I looked at everyone standing around and my patience snapped. “Get to it!”

  As everyone scattered I followed Niko up the stairs. I was exhausted and the negative energy in this house was weighing down on me. I made a mental note to ask Mack to have the coven send some energy clearing crystals for the room and a huge amount of sage. It would take a truckload to rid this house of its energy, but we had the resources.

  “They’re in here, boss.” Niko stopped.

  “Thanks.” I looked into Niko’s eyes. “Would you come in with me? I wish I had another female here, but of guards here, you are the most approachable.”

  “Boss, I don’t think I can, man. That room is full of broken, I can’t handle broken.” Niko put his hands up waving me off.

  “Please, as a request. I don’t want to order you, though I will if need be. I need back up in there. I don’t know what kind of emotional state these women are in.”

  “A’ight. I don’t really have a choice, do I?” He sighed.

  “Nope. Let’s do this.” He opened the door. This was the darkest room I had been in yet and the stench hit my sensitive nostrils before I entered the room. How any shifter lived in that odor I didn’t know. I pulled a handkerchief out of my back pocket and held it over my nose as I let my eyes adjust. I was vulnerable during those few seconds, my cat didn’t like that feeling and sprang into readiness just below my skin. I tied the handkerchief around the lower half of my face so both my hands were free. The cloth filtered some of the stench so that I could discern the scent of each female. “Niko, how many women did Jonas say were in here?”

  “Five, I think.” His answer was muffled by his own makeshift mask.

  “Make note, he was wrong. There are seven females in this room, and possibly three more in the adjoining closet or bath, whichever that is. Get some lights on in here so I can see.” Niko hit the switch on the wall and females scattered to hide behind furniture, tables, anything they could. They watched Niko as he walked across the room to open the heavy draperies on the windows. “Open the windows while you are over there.”

  Niko struggled with the first window. He inspected it and announced, “Can’t, boss, they are nailed shut, and looks like a couple layers of caulking as well. It will take a lot to open them.”

  “Okay, contact Jonas and see if he can find a chisel and hammer somewhere downstairs, those windows need to be able to open.”

  “NOOO! He’ll kill us if you open them,” one of the females closest to me whimpered.

  “He can’t kill you, he is no threat to you anymore.” I addressed all of them. “Tomas Alejandro is no longer your Alpha, he is dead.” Wails erupted in the room, in joy or sadness I didn’t know. “I will not hurt you, but I do need to ask you some questions. If you could all come out and sit around the couches please. I have a team member preparing food and drinks for you. Something light as we weren’t sure when you ate last.”

  “Maybe a week ago,” a petite blonde answered, her voice hoarse from lack of use.

  A knock sounded behind me. Jonas walked in the room with a tray filled with a large pot and freshly sliced bread. Tamara followed him with another tray with mugs. “I figured a broth and bread would be best to start with since I didn’t know when they ate last. From what I just heard I chose right.” Tamara let Jonas fill the mugs and hand them out with a piece of bread to each of the women and came to me. In a lowered voice she stated, “Jonas and I brought the children up but the Nanny they have is old and can’t keep up with them all, we need more help.” No matter how low her voice everyone in the room heard her. One of the youngest looking females perked up.

  I pointed to her. “What is your name?”

  She swallowed her bite of bread before answering, “Jasmine, my little brother is with the cubs downstairs. I can help if you want.” She seemed to be the least broken of the bunch.

  “I would like to speak with you first. Join me in the hall.” I turned leaving Niko to monitor the room and waited for the young shifter to join me. She stood before me naked. “Do you have clothes anywhere in the house?”

  She nodded yes as she finished the last of her bread. “Yes, in the room next door he kept spare clothes. We only wore them when he was entertaining visitors, and sometimes not even then.”

  “Jonas, see if you can get into that room and find a dress to cover Jasmine with.” I gazed at her again. “How long have you been in that room?”

  “This time, or since he moved me from the basement?” she asked in return.

  “Both”

  “It’s been over a week since anyone has come into the room, but I have been there about six months, I think. Time moves differently in that room. We don’t know if it’s day or night, or what day of the week or month it is. We aren’t allowed clocks, or TV, or anything that can connect us to anything but him.” She put the dress on that Jonas brought, it was baggy but covered her adequately.

  “Why did he keep you all there?”

  “We were his. Any female shifter of cub bearing age were brought to him and added to his collection. He called us his wives, though we never married, and he only completed the mating ritual with one female years ago, before I was born. She has become a legend among the women because she was the only one that ever got away. Many of us don’t believe she is real though, just a tale to keep hope up.” She spoke as if this was the normal way a Pride or pack was run.

  “She’s real, and it’s her daughter that defeated Tomas, and in turn has become your new Alpha,” I told her.

  “A female Alpha, yeah right.” She scoffed.

  “It’s true, declared by the strongest Alpha in the US. She defeated Tomas, inflicted the death blow.”

  “Then why are you here and not she?” Jasmine challenged.

  “You’re a smart girl, and that’s a good question. Walk with me to the cubs and I’ll try to explain. I am here in her stead, as her general. I came to make sure things were safe before she and her mate arrived. Her story is unique and hers to tell, but she is strong, compassionate, and ready to take the shifters to the next level of survival. She is learning all she can from the Black Mountain Pack Alpha before she arrives as well. So until she travels here I will do what I can to turn this Pride into what it should be.” I paused to gauge her reaction. She was taking this news well. “Could you accept a female Alpha?”

  “I think anyone who can handle the job and proves themselves should have it. If it’s a female then more power to her. I wouldn’t want that responsibility myself, but could I accept a female? Yes.”

  I could tell by the noise coming from behind the door we had arrived at the room with the cubs. Jasmine’s face lit up with a smile.

  “They are giving Nanny a hard time. Stink pots is what they all are.” She looked at me. “Any other questions?”

  “Yes, how old are you?” That wasn’t the question I had intended to come out, but my cat wanted to know as well. Her scent was stronger away from that filthy room and he and I were both interested in knowing more about this female. She intrigued me. There was strength hidden in her that flitted to the surface when she spoke. The look on her face showed a passion for the cubs behind that door. My question caught her off guard.

  “I’m twenty-eight.”

  Not too young then. I stopped that train of thought. “Thank you, please go on in. Tamara will join you shortly with more food for the cubs, and Jonas will be bringing in wash tubs and clean clothes if he can find them.”

  She laughed. “Bathe them, which will be a sight to see. I hope there isn
’t anything in this room you want to keep.”

  “Nope, they can destroy it for all I care.” I smiled back as I watched her enter.

  “Hey, rug rats, leave Nanny alone. You know she’s too old for you to rough house with.” The rest of her words trailed off as the heavy door closed after her.

  I breathed deeply taking in the small whiff of her true scent that I found. I locked it away to examine closer later. I climbed the stairs again to rejoin Niko meeting Tamara and Jonas on the way with a smile as we passed. I found the women clothed and calm when I returned. “Hello again, ladies. I am sure you have questions, as do I. Will you permit me to sit and talk with you?” I gazed around trying to meet each one’s eyes to reassure them I meant no harm. I pulled a large ottoman in front of them and sat. Niko moved to stand behind me and to my left.

  “Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Rook, I was a part of this Pride many years ago. I left for reason that will be explained in time, and have returned as general for your new Alpha. Behind me is Niko, many of you probably know him. He is one of four that I trust to help me usher in a new era for this Pride starting with getting you and your cubs out of this house and back into the Pride.” A glimmer of hope entered a few eyes.

  I spent the rest of the night with those women. Learning about them and their stories. Each one broke my heart more and made me wish Tomas was still alive just so I could kill him all over again. The degradation he put these women through was inexcusable. I realized many of these women would need professional help before they could ever truly heal. Some of the most broken had three or four cubs in the room below and they didn’t even know them. The cubs were taken from them upon birth and put up in the third floor in a nursery where they were cared for by Alpha approved nannies and wet nurses. These cubs didn’t even know their true moms. I needed to let Casey know that bringing a therapist would be beneficial as well. Maybe more than one.

  The most recent additions to the group weren’t as broken, though they hadn’t conceived yet. Tomas had taken all breeding age women for himself. All the cubs were brother and sister. That could become an issue as they grew, but for now they were okay. By doing this he controlled the population and those in the pack. He used the women as rewards for those most loyal to him forcing them to perform sexual favors for his elite guards or visiting members from packs he wanted to align himself with. The stories Rook heard simply made him madder than he already was, and when the sun began to crest over the treetops he finally ended the session, sending the women to rest in the guest rooms of the house and taking himself to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and a chat with Tamara and the men. Niko had left the room sometime earlier in the night when he realized there was no threat.

  He found everyone in the kitchen, a fresh pot of coffee made. Pouring himself a mug he faced them. “We have a long road ahead of us, what is up first today?”

  “We are going to need a doctor to check out the children, and someone needs to run to town for supplies. I think you need to call Casey and fill her in before we do anything else,” Jonas offered.

  “Mack’s not going to be happy.”

  WE ALL FELT THE SHIFT in Pride magic when it happened but we couldn’t truly trust it. Tomas had pulled stunts before to test us, see how we would react. We couldn’t be sure if what we felt was true or just a spell his witch created to test us once again. Rook had just confirmed that what we had felt was indeed the truth and a sense of relief washed over me. I didn’t have to worry if today would be the day he chose me to be his mate for the day, or if he would force me to shift and let his men chase me, giving the winner free reign. I was free. I worried about the others though, some in the harem had been here for years and knew nothing else. A few of them would recover with help and possibly live happy lives, but some I feared wouldn’t take the transition well.

  My initial reaction to Rook bothered me as well. I felt an immediate attraction and my cat paced in the cage I kept her locked away in. She was pissed at me but I shoved her to the back. Even if she wanted him, and honestly I did too, I was too damaged to be considered for a mate.

  I looked over the room of cubs and worried about them most. None of them knew who their mother was, and now their father was dead, leaving them orphans. I was their protector and I didn’t know what Rook and the new Alpha had planned but I would fight for these kids with my life, they would be raised in this Pride. I knew they couldn’t find mates here since they were of the same bloodline. That would be something to deal with in the future, for now I needed to make sure their bellies were full and get them clean.

  “Hey, did you guys hear me?” I clapped my hands. Most of them stilled and looked at me, except for two. The youngest two. I raised my voice a notch. “Settle down and listen.” I waited but they still ignored me. I closed my eyes and focused deep to pull authority from my animal side. I didn’t let her out often, simply for self-preservation I kept her locked deep away. The less I rebelled the better things were, that lesson I learned young. I opened my eyes and I knew that they had changed shape, I was looking at the cubs through cat eyes. “I said listen.” My voice reverberated through the room charged with a power I had never heard before. Whatever it was made everyone stop and settle. I took a deep breath and released my animal back to her resting place.

  “Now here is what we are going to do. Ms. Tamara will be bringing us more food and drinks. We will sit like good little boys and girls, we will use our table manners, and we will be nice to each other. Then when you are done Mr. Jonas will be bringing in two baths, one for the boys and one for the girls.” I held my hand up at the sounds of whining. “I won’t hear it, you are all filthy, and probably covered in fleas, and you smell horrible. Now you have two choices, you can wash yourself or one of us will wash you. Trust me, you don’t want me to have to wash you so do a good job. For the youngest ones of course we will help with your baths.” I scanned the eyes watching me to make sure I still had their attention. “Now once we all get full and clean we may be able to convince Miss Tamara to stay and tell us a story. Would you all like that?”

  A resounding “yeah” filled the room. Their little happy eager voices made me smile. They had no clue what they had been put through. Because they didn’t know any other way of life. I couldn’t wait to have permission to take them outside and show them how to really play. The door behind me opened, jarring me from my daydream of playing with the kids in the yard. Tamara and Jonas came in with trays full of sandwiches, apples, bananas, and bottles of water. Miguel followed with a large folding table. Niko and DJ brought in chairs and left them to be put around the table when it was assembled. It took only moments to put it all together and get the cubs seated.

  I smiled a thank you to Niko and Miguel as they left the room. Jonas came to stand beside me and watch. “Hungry little devils, aren’t they?” he chuckled.

  “Yup, and the food will be gone in moments. Now would be a good time to bring the tubs in, while they are occupied. I have threatened and bribed them, but we will still have a challenge on our hands to get them clean.”

  “Our hands?” Jonas cocked an eyebrow.

  I looked at the floor realizing what I had said, hoping I hadn’t angered him. Jonas had never been one of the inner circle allowed access to the harem but I still didn’t know what kind of man or shifter he was. My voice wobbled when I replied. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say us. I didn’t mean to order you. I meant to ask if you would help, it would help the cubs if they had a male assist them, show them how to properly wash, but if you don’t want to it’s ok. I can do it.” I held my breath and closed my eyes waiting for a response.

  “Jonas, it won’t hurt for you to help. Those boys need all the male connection they can get right now,” Tamara agreed.

  I peeked up at him, Jonas’ eyes softened as he gazed down at Tamara. She was too busy watching the cubs eat to notice. “You have a good point, Tam.” He looked back at me. “Okay, I’ll help the little buggers. Let me go inform Rook of
the plans in case he needs me in the next couple of hours.” He left to finish his tasks.

  Niko and Jonas brought in the tubs a few minutes later. Half the cubs were already finished with their supper and getting fidgety. Paulo followed them with two huge containers of steaming water. As they worked to get things set up my thoughts drifted upstairs to Rook and what he was learning in the harem. Seeing Niko down here was an indication he felt comfortable sitting and talking with them. I know those women well, a few would talk, and the stories they would tell were horrible. My heart skipped a beat thinking about how those stories would affect Rook. Learning what kind of a Pride he had walked into. I hoped some would share, I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t relive that and what would he say if I told him. That I was a favorite of Tomas’ even before I hit puberty, that I offered myself up when he started eyeing any of the other cubs in the room. That I learned to lock away the fear, the memories as soon as it happened. That I even locked away my cat, not allowing her to protect me because it only made things worse. My cat hadn’t ran in years, she only came out when Tomas forced her. We have been ruled by fear for so many years none of us know any other way. I looked forward to the change for the others, the hope that a normal life could be found. For me, that hope left long ago. Just the ability to focus on the cubs until I knew they were safe and in good hands was all I wanted. Then maybe the possibility of living a quiet existence away from everyone. I didn’t want to join the Pride, knew there was no hope for love or family. The idea of a mate left me years ago. Who would want a used up, damaged shifter like me. I didn’t even know if I could let anyone close enough to try.

  I focused my attention back to the cubs and the task at hand. It took us a little over two hours, but they were all clean, dry, and in fresh clothes. We had rounded up all the blankets we could find and had them snuggled on the couches and floor in front of the fire place. It was too warm for a fire this time of year, but the cubs didn’t care. I tucked the last one in and stood. “Ok everyone, who wants a story?”