Chapter 65

Zara

Lucian returned the day after the Rogue attack. At first I was relieved. Lucian was generally calmer and easier to predict than his brother. And Kieran had been weird after the Rogue attack.

I understood why he ordered me to stay close immediately after the attack. It was only practical. But even after he was certain all the Rogues had been captured or killed, he still wouldn’t let me out of his sight. He insisted on sleeping in my room. When I balked at sharing my bed, which was much smaller than the hotel bed, he shrugged and slept on my rug instead. It wasn’t nearly as cute and endearing as it had been when his wolf was in command.

So I was initially glad when Lucian returned. I assumed that meant that life would go back to normal. I was mistaken.

Kieran got to Lucian first. I don’t know what he told Lucian, but I was called into Lucian’s office only an hour after he returned.

“Zara, meet Sandra. My new Beta,” Lucian said.

“Um, hi,” I waved. I was vaguely aware of the other woman, mostly through gossip. The pack had been abuzz with rumors and curiosity after Lucian had released her from the dungeons and promptly left her in command of the pack while he was traveling with me. And then, upon our return, he made her his Beta.

“Hi,” Sandra said.

“Sandra is going to be your bodyguard for the immediate future,” Lucian announced.

“Yes, Alpha,” Sandra said.

Because of course the former Rogue decided to be a good little wolf and obey without question.

“What the Hell?” I demanded, because I had never been a good, obedient wolf and I sure wasn’t starting now. “No, she will not be my bodyguard because I do not need or want a bodyguard!”

What was he thinking? I had little enough freedom as it was, and now he wanted to accept someone constantly following me around, watching me, probably reporting my every word and action back to Lucian and his brother? Not happening!

“Zara, be reasonable,” Lucian said. “Those Rogues were after you. Until we know why, we need to take extra precautions.”

“We don’t know they were specifically after me,” I protested. “Maybe those particular Rogues just wanted a hostage, and I was convenient since I was out in the garden.”

“No,” Lucian said, “Kieran spoke to several guards, and they said that team of Rogues was looking for something, and they headed right for you. You were definitely the target.”

“Why?” I asked. “I’m no one special.”

Lucian shrugged. “We don’t know why yet. I’ll be handling their interrogation personally. Until we do know, I want extra security for you. I suggest you cooperate.”

“Why should I?” I demanded.

“If I have to make it an order, and use the Alpha voice, I will,” Lucian threatened.

“Go ahead. We both know it doesn’t work.

Beside me, Sandra’s head jerked around. Oh, right, she hadn’t been present when I defied Lucian and Kieran despite the Alpha voice.

“It will work on Sandra, though,” Lucian pointed out.

“There is no need for that, Alpha,” Sandra said. “I’ll keep an eye on her.” She looked at me. “I know how to be unobtrusive, Zara. I won’t… what’s the phrase, cramp your style?”

I realized Lucian wasn’t going to budge, and if I kept up, I’d only be antagonizing someone who would be following me for the foreseeable future.

“Fine,” I sighed. “May I be excused? I wanted to go for my training run. Or am I not allowed to do that anymore?”

“No, go right ahead. Just make sure Sandra can keep up,” Lucian said.

“Don’t worry,” Sandra told me, “I can run pretty fast.”

So I went back to my rooms, while Sandra politely waited outside, and changed into some of my new athletic clothing. I hated myself a little for being grateful for the new things, while the twins were once again being utterly unreasonable. How did they go from being kind and caring, to overbearing and possessive, with absolutely no warning?

“Do you want to run in that?” I motioned to Sandra’s tight leather armor.

“Sure,” Sandra said. “It’s more comfortable and flexible than it looks. It’s well worn in.”

“Huh. You don’t see many wolves in leather like that,” I said.

“I used to run with a biker gang,” she explained.

“A… human biker gang?” I asked.

A few wolves owned and rode motorcycles, but I’d never heard of them forming anything you could call a gang.

“Yes,” Sandra said.

She didn’t explain any further, despite my attempts to draw her into conversation. She did make a surprisingly good running partner, keeping pace and encouraging me to push myself by speeding up just a little when I felt myself start to flag.

The first couple of days with my new shadow were awkward. What did you say to someone who was ordered to protect you? She wasn’t a friend, but she wasn’t like the guards who’d been ordered to keep me in the tower, either. This wasn’t meant as a punishment, so I didn’t feel the instinctive need to rebel against it. I just didn’t know how to relate to her.

“You mentioned you ran with a biker gang,” I said one day over lunch. “What was that like?”

“Why?” Sandra asked.

“I’m just curious,” I said. “I’ve always wanted to live among humans.”

“Why?” Sandra asked again. “I mean, they’re okay as a whole, but there are some complete assholes among them, too.” She paused. “Really, they’re just like us in that way.”

I shrugged. “I’m half human. I’ve just always wanted to know more about my mother’s people.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize,” Sandra said. “Well, I spent about six months with the gang. They were loud, violent, and unreasonable. But they were also loyal, brave, and capable of a surprising amount of compassion when it suited them.”

“Huh. Why were you living with a bunch of human bikers?” I asked.

“Oh, I’d worn out my welcome among several packs and the Rogues, well, they’re not very friendly to a lone she-wolf who won’t bow and whine for their attention. I thought I’d have a better chance among the humans.”

“And did you?” I asked.

“For a while. The bikers acted a little bit like a pack, and I fit in pretty well. But I’m a wolf, I belong among wolves,” Sandra said. She shrugged. “Maybe it’ll be different for you, since you’re mother was human. Or maybe you just think the grass is greener on the other side.”

“What?” I asked.

“It’s a human phrase. It means we always want what we can’t have. It’s a story an elder taught me that he learned from some humans. Let me see if I remember. Right. In the story, a horse is held back by a fence. Or maybe it’s a cow. Doesn’t matter, the animal eats grass and it wants the grass it can’t reach because of the fence, even though it’s surrounded by grass it can easily reach. So it strains and strains and eventually starves, longing for greener grass.”

“That’s not a very nice story,” I said.

“No, it’s not,” Sandra agreed. “I know better stories though, if you’d like to hear them later.”

“Sure,” I said. “I’d like that.”

Was Sandra trying to tell me something? Warn me off of my efforts to learn about my human side? Or was she just trying to pass the time? Or was she trying to be friendly?

I didn’t know. I’d never had a friend, and I had no idea how to go about making one.

Listening seemed like a good place to start.