Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 59 - Dove

Jadea

Adam left for Ty's early the next morning.

Neither of us slept well. Both mulling over the knowledge Keb was on the prowl.

I hoped, with our pack here tonight, we would be able to sleep better.

Rocking on the porch, I sipped on a cup of steaming tea, watching the sun rise. It was a gorgeous morning. Calm. Quiet. Serene.

"Good morning." Caden's mind brushed mine in a warm greeting.

"Morning," I replied brightly. "Was wondering if your pack took you hostage and locked you away." I teased.

His chuckle reverberated within my mind. "Landon's threatened to lock me away. He has become comfortable these past several months not having to dabble with the mundane chores of alphahood or deal with the daily clan squabbles. He's about to riot."

Landon was Caden's beta, and younger brother. There had been several times over the past years when Caden left Landon in charge as he helped me. However, these past months when I'd been gone, Caden hadn't left. Which, had given Landon a break and spoiled him to the duties Caden left in his capable hands. "Tsk, tsk. He's missing out on his beauty sleep."

"And being depraved of his precious daughter's time," Caden added, amusement curling through his tone.

"Oh, he can't have that, now can he?"

"He's been complaining the kids and tweens have been causing mayhem in the middle of the night. Sneaking out, skinny-dipping and setting up harmless pranks on the perimeter wolves. There hasn't been a time yet where he's been able to sleep through the night."

It warmed my heart knowing Caden's pack was continuing to heal, and that such mischief—as was usual within healthy werewolf packs—was returning. "You should accompany those youngsters one night."

"And show them what true mayhem is," he agreed on a chuckle. "How is the tattoo coming along?"

"Making great progress. Agamemnon will wrap it up today."

"You enjoying your alone time with Adam?" he teased, his tone turning suggestive. I just knew he was waggling his eyebrows playfully.

The slight hesitation clued him in that something was wrong.

"Jay?"

"The first day was amazing." I started, wishing I could go back in time and change my decisions. Instead of going to the feast, we should have just come home. "Constance invited us to a feast the first night, to celebrate a newly mated couple. We decided to go..."

"What happened?"

I showed him my concerns, and then the vision Adam had the night before.

"Why didn't you say something? I would have come right back and been an extra set of eyes and ears," he demanded, upset we were suffering needlessly.

"Because you deserved to have your time with your pack." I stood firm on this. "Everyone will be here tonight."

"I'll gather Rick and Gary, and a few others--"

"No. Don't disrupt their lives over me," I interrupted, already hating how many lives were now centered around me and my wellbeing. It made me feel guilty. "With Agamemnon's pack, and ours, we will have plenty of wolves on the premises." Not to mention, Constance and her crew were one simple telepathic distress call away.

"Will the scenes resume?"

"Yes." Everything would continue on as it had been. The faster my memories returned, the sooner we could hopefully return to normal life.

"Is anyone coming to be with you today?"

"Garret and Chance are on their way." Refocusing on my immediate surroundings, I realized how much time passed. They would be here soon.

A movement to my right caught my attention and I snapped my gaze to Agamemnon. He'd taken a seat in the other empty chair, and was waiting patiently for me to come back down to earth.

"I've got to go," I told Caden.

"I'll be headed that way sometime in the afternoon. I'll see you later."

"Morning," I greeted the hellhound.

He nodded his head in response. "Constance hasn't found anything yet. Though, she hasn't been able to get close enough to who she believes may be the mole. She doesn't want to accidentally spook her."

Her. I wondered if she was looking into Charlotte Orhan. "Thank you."

"No problem. Just let me know when you're ready to head to the--"

"Do you think you could do another tattoo today?" I interrupted him. Quickly, I pulled up a picture of the tattoo I used to have on my shoulder. The one Silas removed.

"Hmm," he studied it. "We should be able to add that on to today's session," he concluded. "Do you mind if I send this to myself so I can start working on the stencil?"

"Go ahead."

Some fifteen or so minutes later, a howl permeated the stillness.

"It's your wolves, Jay," Agamemnon stated, knowing I was on edge.

Relaxing back in my chair, I waited patiently for my beta and brother to appear. Moments later, their forms trotted into the clearing.

After they shifted, and pulled on some clothes, we greeted each other. Garret spun me around to study the tattoo. "Dude, that's one sick tat!"

Chance ran a finger down my spine, marveling at the intricate details.

"Blade did one heck of a job drawing it, and Agamemnon took it and ran with it."

"Did you complete your tasks for the day?" Garret asked sternly.

Nodding, I replied, "Yep! Was just waiting on you guys."

Moments later, we told Agamemnon we were ready, and he whisked us away to the stronghold. Within a couple of hours, he finished the gorgeous spine tattoo and moved onto the other one. The chatter was more lively today, which made everything go by faster. As we were wrapping up, the hellhound let us know there were no disturbances at the cabin. No perimeter breaches or any commotion around the cabin itself.

"I'm on my way," Caden declared, right as we were preparing to teleport back.

"We will see you soon. Be safe."

"Always."

When Agamemnon teleported us back to the clearing in front of the cabin, we were all in high spirits. All of us carrying on with each other. Right as I turned toward the porch, my gaze fell on a white dove laid out on the top step and an ice-cold shiver ran down my spine, drenching me in dread. Keb's fresh scent lingering in the air.

Everyone was in motion at once. Agamemnon shifted, his warning howl carrying hauntingly in the air as the rest of his pack responded. He charged into the surrounding trees, following Keb's scent.

"Get her inside!" Adam's orders ripped through our minds, his fear palpable.

"No!" I snapped. Keb could have doubled back. He could be waiting to ambush us inside. Hell! He might be preparing to attack us with his pack.

Right at this moment, we were safer out here in the open. Even if we were more exposed.

"So help me," Adam roared. "You will listen to me!"

"Garret, back. Chance, front," I ordered, forcing them to ignore Adam. They did as instructed, Garret's back pressing into mine, his gaze scanning the cabin and surrounding area while Chance's back was to my front, watching the treeline.

Falling into myself, I reached for my primitive powers and sent a strobe of power through the very ground. It rippled out across the meadow and into the forest. I felt Agamemnon tracking the scent, while two of his hounds converged on him. Two others making haste toward us. I sent out the strobe again. Further. Stronger. Deeper. Searching...

And that's when I felt him. Retreating.

He hadn't been aware I was being protected by Agamemnon's pack. He thought I would be an easy target, and was alone.

Where was the rest of his pack?

He'd almost reached the perimeter line. With a well-timed order, one of the nearest tree roots snapped out from the ground and caught his ankle, bringing him up short and falling flat on his stomach.

"You aren't going to escape," I hissed, continuing to manipulate the earth to my advantage. Other roots surging from the ground and wrapping around his legs, arms and body. Holding him hostage until Agamemnon could get there.

"Oh, little bird, yes I will. And you're going to help me," he declared, his mind dragging me into one of my greatest fears. Through his mind's eye, he showed me where his pack was. They were hunkered down in some foliage just outside the guest cabins at Ty's, watching Persephone play with Aidan and Anika.

Adam, and the rest of our pack, had just been teleported here by Jupiter. Adam's crazed gaze crashed with mine, knowing his children were in imminent danger.

"No!" I thundered, as something worse than fear and terror took hold.

"Call them off. Because if you don't..."

His beta started to slink forward.

Adam, luckily, was merged completely with my mind. He'd already sounded the alarm with Ty. Through Keb's beta's perspective, I watched Persephone instantly react to Adam's warning, shoving the children into the cabin. The beta lunged after them, trying to race time. To get to them before they locked themselves inside the safe room.

"Stop!" I shouted, the order ripping through everyone's minds. Even Keb's. The force making his beta stumble. "Go." I commanded Keb, releasing him from his shackles, knowing my manipulation powers would not work on him because his mind was protected. Sheilded. He'd been one of the many immortals who'd paid a hefty price for Alessandra's talents many years ago. It was a barrier I could not breach.

"Remember, little bird. You may run, but you cannot hide. Eventually, I will claim you."