Dawn Reclaimed

Marianne shrugged, "This and that. You know, the usual, math, English, science, history, stuff like that," she mumbled vaguely. She knew from the stuff she saw on the Internet that she was far advanced for her age. And telling Claire was probably off limits. Just another part of the 'secret' she was supposed to remember not to talk about.

"You must be very smart," Claire said.

"I am," Marianne replied. She was not going to lie and pretend to be stupid to keep a secret. Her education was important to the role she'd someday have to play. Grandfather and she rarely spoke of it. What she'd have to do when the time came. And she didn't want to think about it. She studied world history, of course. But, in her free time, when there was no one around to ask her about it. She studied Pack history. The line of succession had rules, strict codes she'd be expected to follow.

Her grandfather encouraged her to think bigger, to challenge everything, and to change her world. And she was going to start by figuring out a way to take over the Pack without killing him to take his place. She snatched the empty plates off the table and carried them into the kitchen. The idea of it left her cold and terrified. Just because it was the way things were done in the wild and the way things had always been done in the Pack didn't necessarily mean they couldn't change. She dumped the dishes into the sink, splattering Daniel with sudsy water out of frustration over her the destiny she'd been born into. Angry that it wasn't him or Tristen instead of her that would have to live it.

Marianne blew off his scowl and returned to the dining room. Giving Claire a big hug around the neck, she soaked up the reassurance of touch. Claire gently patted her arm and sighed, her lips curling in a smile as if she'd needed the hug just as badly. The front door opened, interrupting the bonding moment. "Aunt Tala! Uncle Drew!" Marianne squealed in delight. Trotting at full speed across the spacious living room, she leapt into Drew's arms. "Piggyback ride!"

Grant rose to his feet, pulling Claire with him into the living room. He tipped his head subtly in a bow, showing the proper measure of respect to Psaiwiwuhkernekah Ptweowa, the Great White Wolf, or Drew as the stoic leader preferred to be called. Grant had no hard feelings toward Drew or Tala. The bitterness of his hatred for the both of them had almost destroyed him.

The scales were truly balanced and Grant had come to peace with this chapter of his past. His idiocy and jealousy had almost cost Tala her life. And in return, she'd almost taken his life from him. Drew had saved his life. There was more than DNA shared between the three of them. There was history. And there was the very blood flowing through their veins. But, it had taken all that pain to get him where he was, to lead him to Claire. If he'd met Claire at any other point of his life, he would have missed out on so much. And while he'd hurt others and been hurt, he couldn't regret the outcome.

The sheer size of the mountainous man roughhousing playfully with Marianne alarmed Claire. He could easily hurt her accidentally. He was huge. Tall enough that he could easily reach up and touch the ceiling with his fingertips. Black leather clung to layers of hard as steel muscle. His dark hair, silver at the temple, was slicked back close to his scalp and gathered into a tight, short ponytail at the base of his skull. He was danger incarnate. His eyes, golden-brown and lit with otherworldly fire, were fierce and observant, missing nothing.

The newest addition in a long line of introductions, although this man's name she'd not likely forget. He was not ugly by a long shot. But, Claire didn't necessarily find him attractive either. He had a sharp aquiline nose that dominated his face. His high cheekbones, so much like Grant's, and angular jaw helped to balance out his facial features. But, there was something intimidating about him that had her heart racing in her chest. He smiled as he played with Mouse. Tugging on her braids and speaking to her in a language Claire had never heard before. He was gentle in his teasing, but beneath his affectionate smile was a 'don't screw with me, or you'll be sorry' vibe.

The woman at his side was as small as he was large. Her features were delicate and utterly feminine. Long hair hung in a thick, braided, silky, black rope down her back. Deep brown eyes, a shade that Claire had never seen before and could not describe, shifted over her to size her up. Her voice was like music that had never been put to sound before. The woman was beautiful, not in a classical way. But, in a dark, breathtaking, exotic way that had Claire blushing in shame that she was so ordinarily plain in contrast. But, there was something else, something almost ethereal about her that had Claire staring and inching closer to Grant. "Hello," the woman said politely. She crossed the living room with cat like grace. The steps deliberate as if they were those of a dance. "I'm Tala and this is my husband, Drew. You are...?"

"Claire," Claire answered. Her voice sounded more like a croak than and actual reply. Something was off about these two. Alarm bells sounded in her head, settling in her gut. She stood on shaky legs, fighting to keep them still against an instinct that cried out for her to run.

Grant sensed Claire's fear. Smelled it. Claire's instincts knew that Tala and Drew were something more than human. And she was terrified. He eased an arm around her and pulled her close. She'd spent the whole evening in a room filled with supernatural beings and hadn't batted an eye. Yet now, she trembled in his arms.

Drew scowled at Claire. She shouldn't be able to tell what he was. And probably hadn't guessed it. But, she was terrified of them. "Hello, Claire," he said. Drew knew humans and he knew their nature, their instincts. Hers were clamoring with her to run. He extended a hand for a handshake.

Claire stared at the extended hand, biting her lip. She didn't want to touch him. But, she also didn't want to insult Grant. Drew was family. It wasn't so much in the vague resemblance Grant and he shared. But, in the calm confidence and surety and the way his very presence commanded recognition. Grant stood, with an arm around her shoulders perfectly at ease. "Hello," she answered back. Call her rude. But, she was not shaking Drew's hand. She'd explain it to Grant later. "Grant, we should be going," she whispered, trying to go for the obvious by glancing at the clock on the mantle.

"Sure."

"Miss Marianne, would you go tell your grandpa that we're here to see him?"

"Then a piggyback ride?" Marianne insisted.

"Maybe later." Drew cocked his thumb to get her going. "Scoot."

"Ok," Marianne said dejectedly. She trotted through the living room and out of sight. "Grandpa!" Her voice rang out angelically.

"We should wait in the study," Tala suggested. Claire's response confused her. Claire was pale as a sheet and snugged against Grant as tightly as physically possible. Tala hated to ask, but the purpose for their visit was crucial. "Grant, will you join us for a minute?"

"Sure," Grant answered hesitantly. A pack meeting was serious business. Especially if the Great White Wolf was calling the meeting himself. He was curious about what was up with the pack. But, he hesitated to leave Claire while she was so shaken up.

Tala dragged Drew down the hall out of earshot. As soon as they were out of range of human hearing she asked, "Do you think Claire knows what we are?"

Drew shrugged. He felt badly for causing such a stir. "I don't know." He wondered if she had previously been exposed to vampires before. Perhaps, an unfortunate run in that she couldn't recall in her conscious mind. But, her subconscious never forgot. Maybe, she had a touch of the supernatural in her lineage. So far down the line that only the faintest traces remained. But, her scent was definitely human. He smiled, recalling Claire's scent. No only was she human. But, she was pregnant.

Claire exhaled an easy breath as soon as the couple was out of eyeshot. Her nerves still wired, but definitely eased. She thought back, to that night at Thomas's house. His friends had the same effect on her. Sometimes, she'd see someone out and about in the town and have the same distinct feeling of uneasiness. Before, she'd always dismissed the feelings as just her. Given the person a wide berth and gone on about her business. But now, she wondered about her instincts and if there was something going on, with the people, with the town, or with her specifically. After all, she had seen a ghost. Maybe, she was turning into some kind of crackpot.

Claire's cheeks pinked up as soon as Tala and The Great Father left the room. Grant didn't say anything about her reaction to them. After all, she didn't realize that he could smell fear or feel her trembling. He was supposed to be human and so were they. The patter of stocking feet bounding down the hallway relieved him of anything he could or would have said.

"I found grandpa. He's coming," Marianne panted. "Everyone is coming." Meetings were big news. And since she was part of everyone, she planned to slip in through the back of the crowd. She was small enough not to be noticed. And at the age of twelve, almost thirteen, considered inconsequential enough to be ignored.

Grant had no idea what to do with Claire. He supposed he could park her on the couch to wait for him. Nana wasn't a brilliant conversationalist. Claire was curious about him and his family. And wandering around alone in a house this size might get her into trouble. For the most part, his family was pretty much like any other family. But, there were clues, here and there, about how otherworldly they actually were. One look at the photos or the family tree dominating one wall of the study and there'd be no secrets between them anymore. "Mouse, I have to go talk to Tala and Drew. Will you keep Claire company for me? How about taking her on a tour?"

"Ok, sure." Marianne beamed. Grant's assignment didn't seem like much. But, she knew he intended for her to keep Claire out of the rooms she shouldn't be in. Whatever the Pack was going to discuss was important enough to steer Claire away from it. She grabbed at Claire's hand and tugged her to the bottom of the stairwell. "I'll show you my room first."

"Ok," Claire said, glancing over her shoulder at Grant. He gave her an encouraging wave and turned to walk down the long hallway, leaving her with Mouse as an official tour guide. She didn't care where they went. Mouse could show her the plumbing as far as she was concerned. As long as they didn't bump into the creepy couple again, Claire was good to go.



Chapter 27

Grant crowded into the study. Normally, the room was spacious and luxurious. Filled with overstuffed dark leather couches and comfortable easy chairs. Shelves lined with volumes of books. A large oak desk sat deeply embedded into a nook, the base of operations. From the computer that sat on its glossy, wooden surface all the bills were paid, family lineage and pedigree checked, and the Internet monitored for the children's children of ancestors who had left the pack. Sometimes, there were clues. People capable of incredible feats, unusual intelligence, or physical abilities no human should possess. The gene could still be intact. Carried from generation to generation, never waking, until the carriers were introduced to the magic of their own kind. Every available seat and inch of floor space was filled with bodies as the Pack filtered in.

Drew was quick and to the point. His brothers were anxious to return to their woods and to their wolf forms. And it was that part of them he had need of. The Sons were quick and lethal, definitely more capable of passing for human than their furry cousins. But, they were also limited in their numbers and their maneuverability in the daylight. Carter had agreed to his suggestion. His Guardians were inexperienced in this type of thing. And even between the two vampire factions there was still too much ground to cover in a city of that size. The wolves had wicked tracking abilities no vampire, no matter how well trained, could hope to match. He had need of their noses.

"There have been two murders in the city, women. The Guardians and the brothers are checking into the killings. There seems to be a common thread between them. Both girls were blonde, both young, both murdered near their cars. I suspect this may be the work of a serial killer. I've sent as much manpower into the city as the brotherhood can spare and still keep the perimeter of our territory secured. More men are needed in both places. The rogues the brotherhood has battled in the past aren't gone. If they suspect our numbers are down. They could see it as an opportunity and attack."

Nash felt horribly for the women and their families. But, he didn't see what the Pack had to do with goings on in a city over a hundred miles away. The Pack had a duty to protect its lands and the people on them. Usually, though they did not traverse dense populations of humans. The wolves did not kill people. There were no mistakes or accidents. Their spirit wolves would not permit it. Even under attack and hunted, a wolf would surrender its body rather than take a human life. And he was certain that this was not a Pack issue. "Are you sure its not a vampire?"

"Certain. Too much blood left at the scene. The trackers haven't been able to get a clear lock on the killer's scent. I need to send more men to the city. I'm asking for your help to guard the border we share. And I'm asking for a volunteer to go into the city to help track the killer," Drew answered.

"We can only track scents with any degree of accuracy while in wolf form," Nash interjected. A wolf in a city teeming with humans was not a good idea. Pack magic only sustained a wolf for so long over so far a distance. If one of the wolves were captured, it'd just be a matter of time before the magic failed. "A human could spot one of us."

"I'm hoping we'll have a lead on the killer soon. I'm hoping that even if one of the wolves was spotted, the locals would mistake it for a dog," Drew explained. He didn't go into details. The Pack was his family. He led them. But, he did not give away all of the brotherhood's secrets. Perhaps, it was the vampire part of him demanding clandestine secrecy. Toby had perfected the range and accuracy of the electronic trackers. The Pack volunteer would be injected with the device. And while Drew had no particular love or an in depth understanding of electronic gadgetry, Toby assured him the device would work. He was not as convinced though. He could be leading one of his great, great, great, many times great nephews or nieces into danger. But, what other choice did he have?

"A dog?" Nash lifted an eyebrow. That wasn't very damned likely. Even the most citified human could tell a wolf from a dog. Sometimes, Drew was almost too cocky for his own good. Too dismissive of the humans and what they were capable of. Nash had no such beliefs when it came to humans. They killed each other. They killed everything. Natural wolves had almost been hunted to the point of extinction and were still struggling to come back from the brink. What would they do to a vampire or a Pack Mate? He would not take that risk with one of his Pack.

Grant's mind ran to thoughts of Claire. What if she had gone to the city for a simple shopping trip and ended up a victim? She fit the killer's profile perfectly. How would he feel if some maniac killer stole her away from him? Somewhere families were suffering and there was something he could do about it. "I'll go."

Drew nodded, accepting Grant's offer. Grant was a better choice than anyone else in the Pack. He'd donated blood and received it in equal measure. Drew would have opened a vein for the man without expecting anything in return. He was responsible for Tala's training and his indulgence of her. Allowing her deceive herself that she could truly deny her dual nature had almost led to Grant's death. Grant owed him nothing. The Pack had turned their backs on him. Yes, he'd earned their disrespect and was desperately trying to prove himself to the Pack. As far as Drew was concerned, Grant had nothing further to prove. "Thank you."

Nash frowned at Grant, thinking him careless. Especially since he had a child on the way to think about. He would not stop Grant from volunteering. And Grant's act of bravery had somewhat shamed him. The Pack could not live in such close quarters with the brotherhood and remain removed and impartial. They were blood. An extension of the Pack through the lineage they shared through the Prophet, the first Great White Wolf. "I'll put on extra details. The Pack will guard the perimeter of the territory. Send as many brothers as you need."

"Thank you, all of you." Drew scanned the room filled with tawny faces and brown eyes. "Tala and I are staying behind with a small garrison to protect the compound and coordinate the search teams."

Grant winced at Nash's hard glare of disapproval. It wasn't the first time he'd earned such a look from his Pack Master and surrogate father, and probably, not the last. "You will keep an eye on Claire won't you?"

"Yes. Of course." The woman was carrying a future pack member. Pack took care of their own.

Claire followed the little bundle of endless energy up the stairs. Pausing at each closed door as Mouse revealed who lived behind them. Cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and a few whose relation, Mouse couldn't even recall. She stepped through a door and into a child's paradise. Toys overflowed shelves and spilled out of the top of a very battered toy box that had seen more than one generation of children. Some of the toys were so old they were antiques. But, their age and value didn't seem to matter to Grant's family. They were piled in with the other less old toys to be played with.

Mouse explained the lay out of the house in great detail. Claire followed behind dismissing a few of her wilder theories about Grant's family. No, they were not a religious cult. No, they were not incestuous. The single men lived on one floor. The women slept on another. And the families and married couples on a different level. There was no polygamy or polyandry going on here. Nothing really creepy or frighteningly bizarre going on at all, and Claire was relieved about that. Grant's family was just a family. Not the normal mom, dad, and a couple of kids, kind of family that she was used to. But, these people cared, they loved, and no one living under this roof would ever lack.

Claire gave up counting bathrooms and bedrooms and trying to remember who slept behind which closed door. Some of the kids shared rooms once they were old enough to move out of their parent's suites. Pretty normal. No self-respecting kid wanted to have a bedroom right next to where their parents slept. The rooms for the kids consisted of two twin beds with a nightstand in between them and a shared bathroom. Many of the rooms were empty and the beds neatly made. Others were a mess, such as the bedroom Mouse's older brothers shared.

The individual family units stuck together. But, there was such a sense of community here. Everyone belonged. Everyone had a job to do. And the kids had not one set of parents, but several. The kids rotated chores. This week Mouse was on table setting detail. And her grandfather was trying, although Mouse believed it was hopeless, to teach her brothers how to cook. Next week she'd move on to dish duty. And her brothers would rotate to laundry detail. She did not relish the thought of having her white socks turned pink when they messed up the laundry. And as for the litter kids, the older kids had a part in helping tend to them too. Mouse wouldn't say how many dirty diapers she'd changed. But, Claire guessed the number as a lot.