Rook (Black Mountain Pack Book 2) Read online

  Her challenger stepped forward. “I, Maverick, of the South American Pride, challenge for Alpha.”

  Casey stepped forward. “I, Casey, Alpha of the South American Pride, accept your challenge.” She turned to the crowd. “Let it be known that this is the only challenge I will accept.When I win this it will cement my position as your Alpha. If anyone here thinks to challenge me my seconds will take you out. I do not have time to fight petty squabbles to prove myself. If you still do not accept me after this fight, then leave or face the threat of being hunted by my elite.” She turned back to Maverick. “I do not want to kill you, but make no mistake, I will if I must.”

  They both stepped back and Mack stepped forward. “This fight will be in shifted form, no one is allowed to assist them in any way. The fight ends when one submits to the other, or at the first death, whichever comes first.”

  Both of Maverick’s firsts were in their animal form. Mack chose to shift as well.We had agreed in our meeting I would stay in human form. Casey rubbed against my leg as she went by. Maverick charged at her and the fight began. He was bigger in his tiger form, but Casey was more agile and faster. I could tell Mack and Jerome had been working with her. I was amazed at how much she had learned in the few days since I had left.

  She got a lot of nips in as she maneuvered. Maverick was bulky and awkward, trying to use his weight against her. He was slow for a tiger. Teeth and claws raked at each of them. Casey dodged most of his attempts until her paw found a small hole that made her falter for a second giving Maverick the advantage. His claws raked down her side and she let out a roar. She recovered quickly and clamped onto his back leg. Bone snapped and his hind end went out from under him. The crowd roared in support. Casey saw her chance and charged at his side, rolling him and taking his jugular in her mouth. Standing on his chest, teeth clamped, she growled.

  I stepped forward. “Maverick, do you concede?” The two shifters he brought with him paced at the edge of the clearing, pawing the ground and growling. I looked at Jonah. “Ask him.”

  “He won’t respond, Rook, letting him live isn’t an option,” Jonah whispered to me.

  “Casey, he has cut off communication with the Pride, if you let him live he will always be a danger. A threat to you and the Pride. I know you don’t want to, but you must kill him.” I spoke through the pack bonds.

  Casey whined softly. She clamped down and shook her head, breaking Maverick’s neck instantly. Stepping off his limp body she roared, and the crowd roared with her, and then they kneeled down with bowed heads. As she was scanning the crowd the two shifters that came with Maverick charged to attack. Mack and I weren’t close enough to help. What we saw next seemed to happen in slow motion. Three shifters exploded from the crowd leaping to Casey’s defense. Two tigers went for the attackers and a bear knocked Casey down covering her completely beneath him. All four paws framed her as he roared, challenging anyone to confront him. He moved only after Maverick’s friends had been eliminated. He and the other two lay down and exposed their throats to Casey in acceptance. She sat up and lowered her head, accepting their submission.

  Mack shifted and ran to Casey’s side checking her for any other injury beside the gashes on her side. I turned to the crowd. “Who will dispose of the challenger’s bodies?”

  Paul and DJ stepped forward. “We will.”

  “Good. Everyone else go home. We will celebrate this win tomorrow. If you still feel that Casey isn’t your Alpha I suggest you leave, now.” I walked over to Mack and Casey as the crowd slowly dispersed. The shifters who defended her were still there. “Shift so that we can thank you properly.”

  The bear was the first to shimmer back to his human form. “There is no thanks needed. I will protect the Alpha till my last breath.” He kneeled again.

  “Please stand.” I heard Casey say behind me. She stood there with Mack at her side in a long silk robe. “I would like to know the name of my protector.” She smiled.

  “My name is Ben.”

  “You are not of this Pride, are you, Ben?” Casey asked.

  “No, I have no Pride or pack. I have been wandering on my own for years searching for the right place to settle. I heard of you and came to see if a woman could truly be Alpha. When I saw you enter into the challenge without hesitation to defend yourself and your Pride I was impressed. But it was the moment after, when I realized not only did you do what was necessary, you did so even carrying your cubs. You put your Pride before yourself that is what I want in an Alpha. I would like to apply for acceptance into the South American Pride.”

  “Anyone who puts themselves in harm’s way for me will always be welcome in this Pride.” Casey smiled. “Join us for dinner tonight, all three of you, and let us get to know you. If you wish to join you are welcome. We can use good and trustworthy shifters. I believe you are all such.” Casey took Mack’s hand and they headed back toward the Pride grounds. Jerome, Marla and Ben followed, scanning for threats along the way. Jonah and I stayed back.

  “What is your choice?” I addressed the two shifters left. It was then I realized one was female. She stepped forward first.

  “We would like to join as well. My name is Nikki, and this is my mate, Stephen.” She averted her gaze when she finished.

  “Very well, join us. The Alpha would like to get to know you. Come eat and get a good night’s rest. Jonah and I will speak more in depth with you about your position in the pack tomorrow.”

  They nodded and headed after the others. “Do you think the threats are done?” I asked Jonah.

  “For now. Once word gets around about the fight, and the fact that Casey fought, even while carrying cubs it will show her strength. Threats will always be there, but tonight Casey proved herself and will now have the support of the whole Pride.” Jonah smiled and grasped my shoulder. “Now let’s go celebrate with the others.”

  A WEEK HAD GONE BY since the big challenge fight. I didn’t go and I felt bad but I knew that I couldn’t handle it. I stayed back with the cubs. I have been seeing the therapist daily. Our sessions were short but I felt comfortable with Kat. She didn’t try to pry, she accepted me as me without expectations and she actually asked me what I wanted out of life now that he was gone. I told her I wanted a normal life, but didn’t think I could ever have one. She said it was possible, but I had to get through all the pain from my past. I couldn’t hide it anymore, I had to forgive myself and others before I could move forward. Hah, I probably would never live a normal life then.

  I walked toward her room for today’s session. I knocked at her door.

  “Come on in, Jasmine,” she called.

  I opened the door to find her room different. The curtains were drawn halfway, making the room dimmer and softer. A chaise lounge had been brought in and placed near the fireplace with her chairs that we normally sat in.

  “Come on in. I wanted to see if you would be willing to try something different this session.” She smiled.

  I closed the door behind me and went to my normal seat. “What do you want to try?” I asked a little nervous.

  “During our conversations I have found that you don’t want to talk about the past. I understand it hurts too much and you are afraid to open yourself to that pain again. Today I want to see if you would be willing to try guided hypnosis.”

  “What is that?”

  “It’s a way for you to access your memories, to deal with what happened but without feeling the emotions. You will be in control at all times, and can come out on your own. I will help put you into a calm state and guide you to your memories. I have found this to be beneficial for many clients who have experienced trauma like you.”

  “I don’t know.” I took a deep breath. “I’m scared to face any of it again.”

  “I know you are, Jasmine, but until you do you won’t be able to have the life you want, or the relationship you hope for. I’ve seen how you look at Rook and how he looks at you. If you want him you are going to have to take some risks in therapy to
get there. But it’s up to you. We will only go as fast as you want.” She relaxed, waiting for my response.

  I stared into the fire. I wanted Rook, my cat wanted him, too. It was harder to keep her caged the more we were around him. He calmed me in a way no other had. I knew deep down that he wouldn’t wait for me. He had been so patient this week, but his job was coming to an end here in the Pride. He might be here a couple more weeks but I knew he would be going back to his Pack soon, and then he would be gone for good. It was time for me to take a chance, if I didn’t I might never get out of the darkness I was in. I looked at Kat. “Ok, let’s try it.”

  She smiled “Great, do you want to lie down or recline in your chair? Whichever is most comfortable for you.”

  I chose to lie on the chaise, in the sliver of sunlight filtering through the curtains. I pulled a lap throw over my legs and got comfortable.

  “Ok, now just take a few deep breaths and focus on my voice. Know that you are safe, you are warm, and nothing in your memories can hurt you ever again. I am here with you, and you can bring yourself out at any time. You are in complete control.” Her voice continued in a warm and calm tone until I relaxed. “What is the first thing you can remember?”

  I am dirty and hungry in the basement waiting to see when we would get our next meal. I was maybe twelve. I was well developed for a twelve year old having more of a figure than my oldest sister down here. I had lived in the basement for the last six years and knew the routine. I didn’t know where the older shifters went when they were taken away but they never returned. The oldest sibling here was fourteen, though she looked about eight. I tried to keep the younger ones busy, telling them made up stories and playing ‘hide and seek’. We had to be quiet though, if we didn’t we were punished. He would lock us in a small box sometimes for a few hours, but most times for a few days. It smelled of death and decay, and it usually only took one time to remind us of his rules.

  This day the door opened. My stomach growled at the possibility of food, but that’s not what was brought. Tomas entered with a shifter I had never seen before. “My daughters, come to me.” We all scurried to his request and lined up. “Maverick, you may have your choice.” The shifter with Tomas came and inspected each of us,circling us and sniffing at our necks. His breath reeked, and when he sniffed my neck I could barely contain the shiver that threatened to overtake my little body. He licked his lips at my ear and whispered, “We will have fun, little one.” He stood and faced Tomas. “I’ll take this one.”

  “Jasmine, you are safe. It’s time to wake up.” Katrina brought me out of my memories. My hands shook as I ran them through my hair pushing it away from my face. “Can you tell me what you experienced? What memory came forward?”

  I met her eyes and in a voice that sounded dead to me replied, “It was the first time Tomas gave me to someone as a present. The start of the hell I lived in for so long.” Breathing deeply I went on. “I had forgotten about that first meeting, locked it away. Mad at myself because I didn’t resist.”

  “First, you need to acknowledge that you couldn’t have. You were but a child, doing as she was told. Could you have overtaken Tomas or the man you were given to?”

  “No.”

  “ First and foremost, you need to forgive yourself. It’s okay to admit you were scared, and that what you did you did out of self-preservation. To make sure you came back to protect those younger than you,” Katrina assured me.

  “I don’t know if I can,” I honestly replied. It was true, I didn’t know if I could. I was sure the Pride wouldn’t.

  “That’s what I want you to work on before our next session.” She handed me a journal. “I want you to take a few minutes every day and write that you forgive yourself, write something good that happened that day, and something that made you feel happy and positive. I know you can heal, and I am here to help, but you have to be willing to work on it as well.” She stood and escorted me to the door. “Go play with the cubs, or better yet, go find Rook and go for a walk.” She smiled.

  I carried my journal with me, deciding to get started now. It was time to take back control of myself and my life. I wandered looking for a spot that called to me. I needed to be away from the other shifters so I headed further into the jungle. I knew that the perimeter was guarded and I would be safe. I settled into a small grove of ferns at the base of a large tree. I gazed into the limbs thinking it would be a great hiding spot for a big cat. A tear escaped and landed on the first page of the journal I had open. “Hell of a way to start, Jazz, crying on the first page,” I chastised myself. I spent the next half hour writing, once I got the first few words on the page they seemed to pour out of me. I realized I wasn’t alone when I stopped. I could feel someone watching me. I searched the foliage around me unable to locate where the feeling was, until I looked up in the tree branches above me. That’s where I found him, in all his tiger glory. I knew immediately it was Rook. He twitched his tail at me, grazing the top of my head before he leapt to the jungle floor next to me. I sat still while he watched me. It felt like his eyes could see past all my walls and into the darkness, where I hid all the reasons that I felt so broken. There was a mixture of compassion and underlying hunger in his gaze. “Hey,” I whispered, and reached out for him, my hand shaking. He lowered his head so I could touch him. His fur was warm from the sun and soft under my touch.

  Rook lay next to me, turning his head to lick the palm of my hand before lowering it to his paws and closing his eyes. I was content to sit with him by my side. The emotions from that day had drained me and I fell asleep with the knowledge he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.

  MY CAT AND I WATCHED Jasmine as she slept. She must be dreaming, her face twisting as her eyes moved beneath her eyelids. I moved closer, trying to comfort her with my body heat. I had no idea what horrors she was reliving in her dreams, or how to make them go away. I just knew I wanted to protect her and banish her fears. I had a long road ahead of me with her. Patience would be the key and I told my cat the same. He didn’t understand, but my human side did. We couldn’t claim her yet. She had to accept our claim, and she wouldn’t be able to do that until she dealt with her past.

  The sun was setting and I knew we needed to get back to the Pride. I nuzzled her neck, breathing her scent deeply into my lungs and let out a low growl. Sitting back I watched her wake up. My heart clenched as she opened her eyes and met mine. I wanted to watch her wake up every day. I chuffed at her.

  She smiled and stretched. “Hey.” Then she noticed the sun. “Wow, I didn’t mean to sleep that long. I actually didn’t mean to go to sleep at all.” She hopped up and grabbed the journal she had with her. “I need to get back to the cubs.” She talked more to herself than to me. I rubbed against her leg and looked up at her. “Thanks for staying with me.” She couldn’t meet my eyes. Her shyness had returned and she clenched the journal with both hands. “I’m going to head back.” She turned and started walking. Her steps faltered when I joined her but she didn’t say any more.

  I wasn’t going to let her return alone. There were still dangers out there and my cat nor I were going to let her out of our site until we were back in the village. My senses were alert as I escorted her, always scanning for threats, even as I rubbed against her and playfully flicked her with my tail. Only when we reached the main building in the middle of the village did I relax. Tamara greeted us as we walked in.

  “There you are, Jasmine, I was just heading out to find you.” She looked down at me, “And hello to you, too, Rook.” She smiled, returning her focus to Jazz. “Do you have a minute to sit with me? I want to go over the meal and snack plan I have created for the cubs?”

  “Sure,” Jazz replied.

  I nuzzled her hand.

  “Thanks for the escort, Rook, I’m safe now.”

  I wasn’t leaving her that quickly. I followed them to the table and curled up at her feet as she sat. I heard her let out a heavy sigh.

  “Let him be, Jasmine, if he�
��s anything like Jonah he’s going to stay no matter what you do or say.” Tamara laughed when I huffed in agreement. “See, he even agrees with me.”

  I lay there while they went over the meals and where the cubs would eat. I enjoyed listening to Jazz talk about the cubs, the passion in her voice when she spoke about them warmed my heart. She didn’t realize it but working with the cubs, seeing to their care and learning was breaking down the walls she had erected one chunk at a time.

  “Rook, where are you? Mack and I need to meet with you before dinner.” Casey spoke through the Pride magic. I no longer needed the witches’ magic to access both the Pack and Pride. Giving my loyalty to Casey before the challenge had solidified my connection. We had found a way to include me in both the Pack and Pride with Jerome’s help.

  “I’m at the meeting house, I’ll be right up,” I responded. Standing and stretching I licked Jasmine’s hand and trotted off stopping to shift back and donning the clothes I had stashed at the gates before entering the Alpha’s house to find Casey. She ran up to me as I closed the door, hugging me. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “Hey there. Everything okay?” I inquired.

  “Everything’s fine, I just needed a hug from you. Come on, Mack’s in the living room.” She led the way and joined Mack already reclining on one of the couches. “We have come up with a plan on how to get this Pride back in order.”

  I sat with them for the next two hours listening and discussing their plans. I was so pleased with how Casey was taking charge and their plan was unconventional, but I felt it would be beneficial in the end. It meant staying in South America longer than I had planned, part of that time spent away from the Pride and Jasmine, but I agreed it was necessary in re-establishing the South American Pride as a forwardly progressive Pride. I leaned back when we had come to an agreement. “What about Jasmine?” I asked. It was the one question I hadn’t asked up until this point.