Rook (Black Mountain Pack Book 2) Read online

  I glanced at Jonas once more for confirmation, at his nod I agreed. “Yes, if it will make communication faster and easier with my guard.” She nodded in agreement. I watched her combing the herbs in her mortar and grinding them with her pestle. She recited a prayer over the bowl as she worked, adding in sprinkles of water and then reaching out for Jonas’ hand. With a small dagger procured from a sheath at her hip she pricked his fingertip and squeezed a few droplets into her bowl. Stirring the concoction again she again repeated the words. She dipped a tiger eye pendent into the bowl and used it to stir as she closed her eyes and recited an incantation. When she finished she pulled the pendant out and looked at me.

  “As I said, the magic in this pendant will only work for a couple of days to keep you connected to the Pride magic, but continue to wear the stone as it will help you to see things clearly without illusion and will help keep you grounded and free from the pull that great power brings with it. Wear it beneath your shirt against your heart where the human and tiger soul rest together.” She held the pendant out for me to take.

  I placed the chain over my head and let the pendant slip below my shirt. When the stone hit my skin I felt the magic disperse through me. Lilly smiled at me. I looked at her, tilted my head and asked. “How did you know my animal was a tiger? I haven’t shifted since arriving.”

  “That’s another gift of mine. I can read shifter souls, I know what animal you are before we were even introduced.”

  “That’s a valuable talent to have.” I sat back down. That talent opened up a few possibilities for me as well as for Casey when she arrived. “Please don’t go far, I may have a proposition to speak to you about soon.”

  She bowed slightly and moved off to an unoccupied corner, pulled out a book, and relaxed,seeming to be completely available whenever she would be needed. I thought about how her ability to read shifter souls could help when meeting with Pride members that wished to stay and potential members when they arrive. Being the first Pride or pack with a female Alpha would draw all kinds of weirdos, but I knew when things smoothed out Casey will prove that gender doesn’t matter when running the Pride. I felt a tug on the pack magic inside and I turned to see Jasmine walking into the building. I watched as she searched the crowd and her eyes landed on me. A smile lit up her face as she made her way to the table I had commandeered as my desk for the day. I gestured for her to sit before she even spoke.

  My heart felt a bit lighter looking at her,knowing she had escaped the harem life. The stories I heard last night would haunt me for a long time. Her eyes danced with laughter, but I didn’t care. I took in all of her that I could. Her hair was golden with darker streaks of brown, and just shoulder length. One thing I learned from the women last night was they all kept their hair about the same length. Tomas preferred long hair, the more there was the more he could hold and hurt them. If they kept it shorter than shoulder length he punished them severely. I assumed that was why Jasmine’s was that length for the same reason. Her eyes were green with specks of gold, round, and framed by dark full lashes. I wondered at this moment what she shifted to. I had never asked her. I guessed a panther, or puma, possibly a leopard. The tiger inside couldn’t wait to find out. The more I studied her the more attentive he became as well.

  My nostrils flared as we took in her scent. He wanted to rub against her and ravage her at the same time. At that moment he wanted to be free more than my human side. Jonas slapped a hand on my shoulder breaking the trance I had settled into. I glanced up at him in thanks. Returning my gaze to Jasmine I spoke first. “What can I do for you?”

  “Niko told me to come down and talk to the women who want to help with the cubs, though I don’t know why. He said Jonas told him they were ready to come help so I’m here to show them where to go.” She kept her eyes averted.

  I looked to Jonas. “Where do you have the women she needs to talk to?”

  “They are outside under the canopy.” He looked at Jasmine. “They aren’t all women, there are a few men who would like to help as well. I eliminated anyone I didn’t feel would be good with the cubs, and those I felt weren’t the right influence. Everyone left has passed my test and now just needs to pass yours.”

  “Mine? Why me, I thought I was just helping out and bringing up the ones you had chosen.” Jasmine looked confused.

  I turned back to her. “I should have asked you first before assuming you would want the role.” I took a deep breath. “Those cubs need an advocate. Someone who will always have their best interest at heart, and be their line of defense until they are old enough to stand for themselves. They need an education, proper meals, hygiene, and caregivers that will love and nurture them. I thought since you also know what they have been through, how they have been mistreated you would have a keen sense of how they feel and help them open up to adults as well. Would you be interested? It would mean you would be in charge of all those caring for the cubs.”

  Jasmine stood and paced back and forth in front of me. “Why me? I’m not a leader, I’m probably just as broken as those kids are. Why would anyone listen to me?” Her eyes flicked to mine and back down again. In that moment I saw the fear and uncertainty,the lack of confidence in herself.

  “You may see yourself as broken, but let me tell you what I see.” I stood and grasped her shoulders. She stiffened at the contact but I didn’t let go. “I see a strong passionate woman who would rather die than see anything happen to those cubs. I see a shifter who would rip apart anyone endangering those cubs. I see a caregiver who loves to cuddle with them and tell them stories. Who loves to watch them discover things about the world and the excitement that comes from them.” I squeezed her shoulders to bring her eyes back to mine. “My cat senses another strong feline inside you and he agrees with everything I’ve said. I have faith in you.” I dropped my hands and stepped back. “But it’s your choice.”

  Jonas came around the other side of the table to join us. “Jasmine, I knew the moment Tamara and I walked in with food last night that taking care of those cubs was your calling. You didn’t hesitate to instruct us where to set things up, and you gently asked if I would be help with the boys’ baths. You didn’t even realize what you had done in your own soft and loving way, and I didn’t think to challenge you either. That’s the stuff a leader is made of. It’s what you are made of.”

  “I don’t know.” Jasmine started pacing again.

  “She wants to, Rook, she just needs a gentle nudge. Commanding won’t work with her, gentle encouragement will help bring her out of her shell. Suggest she meet the people who want to work with the cubs. If it doesn’t kick in then we may have to consider putting someone else in charge. Unfortunately, we don’t have time to baby her into it,”Jonas added. I opened my mouth to respond when I realized I had heard him in my mind, through the Pride bond. I smiled.

  “Looks like the witch’s magic worked. I agree, but I think she’ll decide before she gets to the group. Just give her another minute.” I turned and sat back down, shuffling papers around until I found what I was looking for. “Another option we have is this.” I handed her the pamphlet.

  “A boarding school for shifters?! Are you crazy? We can’t send them away, they need their Pride to make them feel loved, not like they are something in the way that can be sent off and ignored.” Jasmine huffed. She glared at me and I could almost see the wheels turning in her head until she realized what I had done. She dropped her eyes and her shoulders. “You…you…you did that on purpose. Fine, I’ll do it. I may screw it up, but I’ll do it. Jonas, show me where the group is so I can talk to them.” She looked at me. “That was not nice, not at all.” It was the first time she had really shown any backbone.

  I laughed as she walked out with Jonas. She had spunk, I liked spunk. My tiger chuffed in agreement. With all the emotion going on, the long travel, I needed to let him out to run soon. Preferably before Mack and Casey got here. I’d have to grab one of the guys and go for a run tonight. I made a mental note to a
sk DJ, he was the most aloof of the guys Jonas had suggested, I needed to get to know him better before fully trusting Casey’s security to him.

  BLACK MOUNTAIN PACK

  “YOU CAN’T TAKE THE WHOLE closet.” Mack sighed in exasperation. I had been rushing around trying to pack since we had gotten off the phone with Rook. “Please just sit down and eat something. Whatever you forget we can get on the way or while we are there. This is just a quick visit. Right?!”

  “Yeah a quick visit, unless they need us longer. I am their Alpha now, I hate to leave all the choices to Rook, and that Sat phone sucks on a good day.” I continued to shove things into yet the fifth bag she had found.

  “Casey, we talked about this. I thought we decided to not stay down there. That we would visit, see what the Pride needs, get the resources put into place for them, then come back home ‘til the cub is born,” Mack reminded me.

  I stopped in front of him. “I know what we talked about but Mack, I have to do what my gut tells me, and it tells me to pack for just in case.” I continued searching for something. My voice echoing out of the closet. “Is Jaxson ready to go, and are we bringing Marla, too? Did your dad contact the therapist he knows that retired to Rio? Are the supplies that Rook asked for already on their way?” I emerged, arms full of sundresses and sandals.

  “Yes, yes, and yes, Casey. Relax.” Mack stood and took the clothes from her, dropping them on the floor, and scooped me into his arms. “We leave first thing in the morning, and I don’t want to waste the night packing. I would rather spend it wrapped in my mate’s arms.” Mack devoured my lips as he lay us both on the bed.

  “Mmm, that sounds better than packing to me, too.” I purred, wrapping my legs around Mack’s hips.

  Mack took his time with each button on my blouse. Releasing the bottom one he peeled it off my shoulders.

  I shot to a sitting position, grabbing my temples and knocking Mack backward on the mattress. “Ohhhh.”I sucked in a breath and rubbed my temples. The sensation lasted a few moments and then was gone. “That was weird.” I glanced at Mack.

  “Are you okay? Is it the baby?” Mack was running his hands over me, trying to find what had pained me

  I pushed his hands away. “No, the baby is fine, it was like a pull at the center of my pack magic. I’ve never felt it before except when I killed Tomas and the Alpha rank fell to me. It was sort of like that shift, but not as heavy. Almost like sucking something through a straw and then stopping.” I tried to explain.

  Mack thought a moment. “It wasn’t through pack magic, I would have felt that.” He rubbed his chin in thought. “Maybe it was Pride magic. Someone pulled on Pride magic. Can you tell who it was? Close your eyes and concentrate. Da can always tell who pulls on Pack magic, you might be able to do the same with Pride magic.”

  I closed her eyes and delved into my mind. Pack and Pride magic looked like sparkly spider webs. I had been practicing learning them so I could call on one particular pack mate. My web was more complicated because I had two that melted into one. My pack web that fell into place when I mated with Mack and then the Pride web that enveloped me when I defeated Tomas and was declared the new Alpha.

  SI danced along the web looking and found one string slightly brighter than the rest and followed it. I smiled and retraced the web in my head. I opened my eyes “It’s ok, Mack, it wasn’t anything big. But I think I’m going to like this girl when I meet her.”

  “A girl pulled on your Pride magic?” Mack scoffed.

  “Yup, she sure did, and she doesn’t even know what she truly is. I honestly can’t wait to meet her. Now let’s forget about Pack/Pride magic and get back to enjoying each other.” I crawled into Mack’s lap.

  “Whatever my mate wants,” he replied, and returned to the mattress with me.

  SOUTH AMERICAN PRIDE

  I FOUND DJ ON THE perimeter of the village giving out instructions to a few men I recognized from the meeting the night before. I stopped to observe his leadership skills. A lot could be determined of a man’s character by watching him when he is unaware. DJ was very military in his movements and stance. Authoritative without malice. As I watched he stopped and sniffed the air, turning to find me observing. He motioned for me to join them.

  “Hey Rook. These are the men who will be patrolling the perimeters.” He made introductions around. I took note of each scent. There were two panthers, two tigers, a cougar, a lynx, and the last had me taking a double whiff because I didn’t expect to find a bear in the jungle. “I have set up a rotating schedule so the border is never left unguarded.”

  I nodded in approval. “It looks like you have things well in hand. I came to see if you had a bit of time to talk when you finish up.”

  “Of course, give me a couple of moments to wrap this up and I’m all yours,” DJ replied. He turned back to his crew and finished his meeting. I let my tiger rise to the surface. His senses are more detailed than my human ones. I let him prowl under my skin as I strolled along the outskirts of the meeting and when he found nothing to alarm him we both settled to wait for DJ to join us.

  After the crew disbanded DJ walked the few steps to join me. “What can I do for you?”

  “How long have you been with the Pride?” I inquired.

  “Ten years,” DJ answered.

  “How have you not been influenced by the evil that consumed Tomas?” I really wanted to know. That long under a malicious leader would change any man. I stayed silent while he replied.

  “It wasn’t easy, but I give all credit to Jonas. He took the brunt of Tomas’s anger and temper. He sheltered most of the guard from it. He also took the demands and twisted them so that Tomas would get the result he wanted but with a firm yet rewarding way.” He took a breath. “You know being prior military that to keep your men working for you, willing to die for you, then you as a leader have to put your soldiers and team first. That is what Jonas does. If we need anything he madeit happen and took the heat for it from Tomas. If any of us should be jaded and evil it’s Jonas.”

  I nodded as he spoke. I did know what it took to keep a team devoted to you. Jonas and I had been two of a five man team that spent years working together on missions. We were the shadows that entered, annihilated, and left before you could blink. We left that life when we lost two of our team during a mission that we realized was a trap a moment too late. Hearing the way DJ spoke of Jonas confirmed that he was a trust worthy ally. “So you know this jungle like the back of your hand.,” I stated.

  “Yes, sir. Every inch, every potential hazard, hiding place, or possible ambush,” he said with confidence, his chest expanding.

  “Good. I need to let my tiger out to run and need someone who can show me the closest safe place to do so, and who will run with me for safety. For the next hour that will be you.” I smiled.

  I followed DJ through the dense forest for a good five minutes when he stopped and turned to me. “We can shift here. I’ll show you where the best running grounds are. We are still within the border of the Pride and the guards are already at their posts on this side of the village.” We both divested ourselves of our clothes, folding them and hiding them in the crevice of a tree. Moments later shaking out my fur and stretching I was ready. My tiger happy to be let free. DJ stared back at me through the eyes of his panther gauging my readiness. When he was satisfied he took off and I followed.

  We were soundless on the pads of our paws. He was sleeker and more agile than I was, showing off by jumping up and running through the branches of the trees above. My tiger being bulkier and heavier with muscle I didn’t have the ability to climb as high as he, but I didn’t care. “Show off.” I laughed,grateful for the spell the witch had performed that allowed me to speak through the Pride magic. I followed on the ground as DJ flew through the trees. The scents and sounds of the jungle around us a symphony that played as we ran. The humidity became heavy and uncomfortable slowing us down to a walk. I could smell the small prey around us. A rabbit scurried to find his ho
le in fear. A deer munched on the low hanging foliage up ahead. My tiger wanted to hunt. “Hungry?” I asked DJ.

  “Let’s do it,”he responded. I could sense his excitement at the anticipation of a hunt. We both crept along, stalking our prey. Him from the trees and me on the ground. He ran through the trees until he was on the far side of the deer. I crouched just feet from the deer, hiding among the fern leaves. I was on its downwind side, keeping it unaware of my threat. “I’ll send it your way, ready?”

  “Yes.” My tail swished, the muscles in my legs coiling to pounce. DJ jumped down from his perch startling the deer. The deer headed my way unaware of the threat in its path. I waited, letting my tiger choose the moment to strike. I exploded from my hiding spot just as the deer passed, toppling him from the side my jaws clamping down on its neck. The more it fought the deeper my teeth went, I could taste the metal of its blood as my fangs found its jugular. DJ sunk his claws into its flank and his jaws found its spine, breaking it with a shake of his head.

  The deer proved to be enough for both of us to fill our bellies and leave enough for another. “Who is the closest guard to our position?” I asked as I licked my paws clean.

  “The closest guard is twenty feet to your left.”

  “Great.” I stood and began dragging what was left of our meal toward his location. It took DJ a moment to realize what I was doing and quickly joined me, helping me move the carcass. We came upon the guard, who had his gun raised at first until he recognized DJ. I let go of the deer and sat waiting. The guard looked at DJ nodding once.

  He kneeled, leaning his head to the side exposing his throat. “Thank you for providing this meal, I pledge my loyalty and protection to you and to our new Alpha Casey.”