“I don’t know. When I woke up, Will was gone, but Aggie was asleep. I don’t even know if Will stayed the night here.”

  He nodded. “I’ll check to see if he’s at the cabin with my dad.”

  After that, he didn’t speak for a couple of minutes while I prepared a snack of pastrami sandwiches and homemade potato chips. I set the plates on the table, but he still didn’t eat, staring out the kitchen window to the forest beyond.

  “What are you thinking?” I asked.

  “That we got a big problem. Has anyone reported seeing any other trunks?”

  “I told Jake and the other elders in the pack to text me if they spotted anything suspicious. So far so good. There’s only one place where I know there are trunks.”

  Thorn’s eyebrows lowered. “Are they secured?”

  “Oh, those suckers got chained up the moment they showed up at The Bends. It’s the folks who don’t know about the trunks I’m worried about. Especially the human population.”

  Thorn stood and my stomach grumbled at the sight of another abandoned meal. “I want to see them.”

  I hurried and took a massive bite of my sandwich. Oh, how wonderful it tasted. “How about you eat first?” I managed to say between chewing.

  “I won’t be able to eat until I get an idea of what I’m up against.”

  The pastrami and whole-grain mustard in my mouth turned to ash.

  Way to go, Nat, stuffing your face while the world falls apart.

  I wiped my mouth with a napkin. “Let’s go.”

  “Stay and eat. Your stomach sounds like a grizzly bear. I can circle the property to investigate.”

  The sandwich, so perfectly arranged with the chips snuggling it, waved to me. Time to do the right thing.

  “I can let you into The Bends.”

  Ten minutes later, I pulled into my work’s parking lot. The most interesting sight was the faint lights through the window to the new building across the Parkway.

  “That’s new.” Thorn peered at the windows, but the new occupants covered them with cardboard. Hope they didn’t plan to open any time soon. Bill would complain up a storm if we had competition.

  I led Thorn from the car to the back entrance. This late in the afternoon, I expected more traffic along the Parkway, but only a few cars whizzed past. The harsh June sunlight illuminated Thorn’s back as he took point and approached the door first.

  “What’s that horrible smell?” he whispered.

  I almost laughed. “Yeah, once the trunks open, no amount of air fresheners or bleach can get rid of the rotten-eggs-corpse stench.”

  I unlocked the door. The lights in the back office were off.

  “Dead bodies don’t smell this bad,” Thorn muttered.

  “Tell that to Quinton.”

  I headed to the light switch, but Thorn’s hand rose to stop me. Then I spotted it. A set of wet footprints five feet from the door plodded across the floor.

  “That’s not water.” The fluid had a peculiar odor—a bit sulfurous with saccharine undertones.

  Thorn clenched his fists. “No, it isn’t.”

  The footprints ended in the corner. Worse yet, the trunks were gone. Only the chains remained.

  Chapter 10

  After hunting through town and the surrounding boroughs all night with Thorn, I settled into a coma-like sleep until dawn. Knowing that the town was quiet should’ve given me peace as I woke up and dressed in a shirt and jeans, but my senses were piqued. A little too alert. At any moment, I expected to open a door and see a trunk waiting to be opened.

  Just in case the dog shit hit the lawn the wrong way, I kept the goblin blade on me. Usually the weapon took on the form of a letter opener, which made it easy to stash in a purse or back pocket. By mid-morning, I thought it wiser to keep it strapped to my ankle in a switchblade carrier. If the thing transformed, at least I’d be able to grab the weapon before it chopped my leg off.

  Thorn awakened long before me and left me a note: Checking on my dad. Stay out of trouble until I return.

  He kept thinking I’d find trouble. He should stop saying that. My luck these days didn’t fare so well.

  Since today was Tuesday, I should be getting ready to attend therapy group, but I had guests this morning. To my surprise, Will had slept in the four-season room on the wicker couch while Aggie slept in the spare bedroom. Before I left town, they’d gotten cozy. Had something happened between them?

  The urge to nudge him awake poked at me, but I grabbed a blanket and covered him instead. Whatever went down would reveal itself in conversation sooner or later.

  Might as well head to the kitchen and fix some chow. While I was preparing a breakfast of sunny-side-up eggs along with gravy and biscuits—one of Aggie’s favorites—Thorn returned and wanted to chat about our hunt last night.

  “I don’t get it. There’s not a single trunk anywhere,” he said. “We followed that sulfuric scent from The Bends to the lumber mill, but the trail disappeared north of here.”

  “It is weird.” I scooped the cooked eggs onto a plate. The oven would ding any minute to let me know the biscuits were done and the gravy bubbled in the pot. Now was a perfect time for us to consider our options.

  “Guess that means we keep up with the nightly patrols?” I suggested.

  Using a fork, Thorn stole an egg off the plate and gobbled it up before I could protest. “I want one done every six hours. Since Will is back and doesn’t have a job, he can do it.”

  As if on cue, Will sauntered into the kitchen from the four-season room. “I’m back and you’re already bossing me around.” He also tried to take an egg, but I slid the plate out of the way. One Grantham brother already tricked me today.

  Will chuckled and helped his older brother with preparing buttered toast. They spoke in low tones about their dad.

  “How about you let Aggie get some food before you guys eat everything in sight?” Then I caught her footsteps coming from down the hall.

  When she entered the room, Will gave her a long look, but Aggie ignored him and approached me. She was wearing a familiar black T-shirt, but I couldn’t place where I’d bought it. The shirt read: I’m getting nothing for Christmas…So I stole this shirt.

  Had she raided the shopping bag full of Christmas shirts I wanted to hide back at my old place? Asking her where she got the clothes would only incriminate me, so I forced a smile.

  “Need any help with cooking?” she asked.

  “Nah, I’m good,” I replied.

  Thorn patted his brother’s shoulder in support and directed Will to set the table. Did Thorn know what was going on between them?

  The tension between Aggie and Will eased as they sat on opposite sides of the four-seater table. Thorn sat between them at the head while I added the biscuits from the oven and the bowl of hot gravy. Steam rose from the biscuits and filled the room with the mouth-watering smell of fresh bread. The moment the eggs hit the table, the Grantham men helped themselves.

  “Do you mind?” I laughed. “Can we please let Aggie get some first?”

  They froze. Will with one bite in his mouth and Thorn with his fork stabbing an egg.

  “It’s all right.” Aggie snatched some biscuits. “Victor’s cronies fed me well—even after they tied me up. They only slipped up once.”

  “I’m sorry we didn’t help you sooner,” I said.

  Will ate with his eyes on his plate.

  “I held my own. They untied me one time so I could use the ladies’ room.” The side of her mouth slid up with a sinister feline grin. “They were smart enough to not do it again.”

  I shuddered, wanting to ask how she managed to use the bathroom, but I didn’t want to know.

  I said softly, “I had no idea you were missing.”

  Aggie took my hand briefly and squeezed it. “Last night, Will and I talked. He caught me up on everything. I can’t believe you went all the way to Russia by yourself to learn Old Magic.”

  “I did what I had to do,” I said as I gave Thorn a quick glance. “Some prices are worth paying.”

  Thorn gave me a small smile.

  Five years ago, Thorn disappeared from my life, but he hadn’t done it on purpose. A warlock had imprisoned him and Thorn earned his escape the hard way: my mate used one of the warlock’s dark spells against him. In the process, Thorn cursed himself.

  “Believe me,” Thorn said. “I wasn’t too thrilled she ran away to learn Old Magic to remove the curse I had, but then again, that’s Nat for you.”

  He made the curse seem simple, but less than six months ago, my mate was close to dying. No one knew how to help him, even Nick, and I was forced to take the matter into my own hands and learn how dark magic like curses worked.

  When I really thought about it, even now, I knew I needed to stop acting like the town pariah and play nicely with others.

  “Did she really lift the curse?” Aggie asked. “Wow.”

  Thorn nodded. “Yep, I’m good as new, but I don’t know if Nat is the same anymore. A lot happened in Russia.”

  Aggie quirked a grin. “She’s different all right. She’s a badass now.”

  I shook my head. “I did what I had to do, and now it’s time for me to forget what I learned and move on with my life.”

  Aggie snorted. “You never forgot when I left food out on the counter; there’s no way you’ll forget Old Magic.”

  I scoffed as if all those words I’d seared into my mind could be blown away like dandelion seeds. “I’ve already forgotten a lot.”

  Thorn rolled his eyes, smelling through my lie’s stench.

  I shoved a generous bite of biscuits and gravy in my mouth and tried to recall the spell Tamara taught me to conjure fire. The words bubbled from my subconscious with ease.

  Damn it.

  I tried to think of mundane things—like what inventory hadn’t been sorted back at The Bends or what trash the necromancer janitor hadn’t cleaned up. None of those tasks wiped away the words. Maybe if I believed I couldn’t do magic anymore, then I’d be okay. Nick had told me, “Magic isn’t a simple formula. It comes from your heart. When you have the right tool, the right words, and you believe without a doubt, magic can happen.”

  Operation Believe-in-Shit-I-Could-Do-Myself started today. I had a bunch of self-help books from my trip to the city the day before. Time to put those to use.

  Thorn’s phone beeped, pulling me from my reverie. He glanced at the screen and frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Rex was patrolling all night...and he wants me to join him today.”

  I rolled my eyes so hard I heard the marbles in my head clicking. “Bullshit. How come we never smelled him while you and I were out there?”

  “Exactly.” Thorn’s voice lowered. “Over the last couple of months, Rex has gotten antsier than I’d prefer. He’s pushing boundaries. Be careful around him.”

  “I know. I know.”

  “He was never like this when we were younger. He was competitive, sure, but he changed after college.”

  I picked up my plate and put it in the sink. “Did something happen there? Where did he go to school again?”

  “He stayed in town and went to Ocean County College. Not sure what went down while you and I were at Pitt.”

  I smiled, recalling how two South Toms River kids found each other at the University of Pittsburg. There and I had good times there.

  Thorn continued. “He never finished though—I know what much. Guess I need to dig deeper over a couple of beers and get back to you on this.”

  Like a friendly chat for old time’s sake would really reveal what the hell was going on with Rex.

  I slowly nodded. “I wish he’d just get it over with you and try to challenge you instead of pissing in everyone’s yards.”

  Thorn snorted. “He’s been doing that, too.”

  “He’s marking?” Aggie said with distaste.

  “Every couple of weeks he’ll go outside of the pack’s boundaries to leave a mark here and there,” Thorn said. “I called him on his actions, and he said he was trying to help.”

  “Help, my hairy ass,” I said stiffly.

  “Pack members who crave power are more dangerous to their pack than an external foe,” Thorn said. “Remember that, Nat.”

  He kissed my forehead and left the house. As I watched him leave, I wondered if I should fear Rex’s maneuverings more than I had. Who else smelled my weaknesses and would sweep in to hurt those I loved?

  For the rest of our breakfast, I listened to Will and Aggie make small talk. They didn’t talk about their relationship, but I snooped until I realized I was pressed for time. With my books in hand, I hurried to the door. Aggie volunteered to remain behind to tidy up. Will offered to help and she didn’t refuse. Maybe they could talk it out. Without my prying ears.

  As I left though, they had other things to say.

  “Does she really want us to clean?” Will asked as I grabbed my keys in the foyer. “She…wants things done a certain way.”

  Aggie laughed. “Watch and learn, young grasshopper. We’re gonna be killing off some microscopic sentient beings with the stuff she’s got.”

  Maybe things weren’t so bad between them—even if they made a joke about my cleaning standards. Cleanliness meant their food wasn’t contaminated and wouldn’t make them sick. A win-win in my opinion. Who knew when the next pandemic would hit? I had enough antiseptic wipes to protect the whole town.

  Tuesday passed swiftly without any trouble, but I jolted awake again around three in the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. Thorn snored away, not a care in the world. Nothing stirred outside of the house, yet I slipped out of bed and curled up on my couch to read. Interestingly, the pile of self-help books had a new book on top. The paperback’s edges were slightly worn, but the title was still easy to read on the front and side: Bill’s Introduction to Management and Leadership.

  I nearly choked on my spit trying not to laugh. How did Bill manage to slip this into the pile? I’d only left them in the car briefly.

  I had to see this disaster, especially considering how that goblin could scarcely manage The Bends. The book’s spine gave a quiet pop as I opened the cover. The dedication in the front read,

  Leadership is derived from actions. The action to inspire. The action to complete what can’t be completed.

  That wasn’t too bad, but the chapter headings didn’t promise a great read. There were gems like Recreate Your Success Post-Dark Ages. And even: You Too Can Con Your Way to Your First Buck.

  I tossed the book onto the heap and grabbed one from a more reputable author.

  I didn’t always try to use a self-help manual to fix my problems. Back in college at the University of Pittsburg, I was often selected as group leader for assignments. Why? ’Cause I never turned in incomplete work. Sickness, a part-time job, and even the full moon wouldn’t stop me from fulfilling my obligations. Becoming the de-facto group leader should’ve given me respect and friends, but I was constantly reminded of my faults.

  One sociology assignment came to mind. The incident was like a carpet burn seared into my memories. At the time the teacher issued the homework, groups were formed then my teammates met up with me. They smiled and made small talk. One guy even ordered pizza. But their body language revealed a mountain of bullshit. Even my werewolf hearing caught their true thoughts.

  After one work session I thought I’d done well, one gal left the study room and ran her mouth. Not more than ten steps away from the room she blurted out, “Did you see the inside of Natalya’s backpack? Weirdo alert. I’ve never seen so much random junk.”

  Another group member replied, “I don’t give a shit. I need an A and I can pretend to like her if necessary.”

  And those were the nicest comments.

  Keeping the wolf within me from lashing out was difficult—and believe me I wanted to go wild—but that wouldn’t have helped. My dad used to say you couldn’t teach kindness to stupid people. You either had home training or you didn’t.

  Afterward, I steeled myself against their words and I led. I picked up the slack for good-for-nothing students too busy gaming to contribute. I even smiled at the back-stabbing bitches who talked about me when they thought I couldn’t hear them…because I wanted to be accepted. Even if I behaved differently.

  Now that I was older, yet not necessarily wiser, I was back at square one. A student opening a book expecting the knowledge of the world to change me, perhaps ply me like Play-Doh into an acceptable form.

  What I feared the most was that I’d always be this way and nothing would change for the better.

  A few hours later, I woke up feeling refreshed.

  “I love that sound,” I murmured, stretching my arms out.

  Beside me, my mate yawned, and he rubbed my back. “The silence?”

  “You’re home and everything is sort of right with the world again.”

  He chuckled and wiped the sleep from his eyes. The faint shadow of a beard darkened his jaw. “Don’t worry. Just when we think everything’s fine, somebody will show up with chainsaws, a clogging dance crew, and mimes.”

  “Not the mimes.” I said. “They’re the worst for noise.”

  I’d lost my two days off, but I refused to let that slow me down. I almost grabbed my usual garb but snatched a brand new T-shirt I won during a summer music festival in Beachwood instead. The orange shirt didn’t give me the same honeyed feeling as my business clothes, but wearing the top and jeans reminded me that every day was a new chance to see a new Natalya.

  Thorn nodded with approval and added, “You’re not completely abandoning the skirts, are you?”

  “Oh no, I’m just trying this out for personal growth.” I made air quotes around personal growth. “If I want to be a better alpha female, I should act and look like everyone else instead of standing out all the time.”

  His face grew serious. “You don’t have to try to be like other people to lead.”

  “Doesn’t it help though?” I gave him a small smile.

  “Wonder Woman doesn’t need tight clothes to kick ass.”

 

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