N. Walters: Alexandra's Legacy

Now that the immediate danger had passed, her body was once again reminding her that she wasn’t totally human. Her skin was tight and confining. Her breasts ached and her nipples were tight buds that brushed against her bra, sending a blast of heat rocketing down between her thighs. The folds of her sex were sensitive and she was consumed with an almost overwhelming need to touch herself. Her panties were damp, a stark reminder of her constant arousal.

Her feet were encased in a pair of soft slippers that Joshua had dug up from somewhere. She suspected they had belonged to his mother. He’d also given her one of his shirts to wear. It was an older shirt with a well-worn, often-washed softness about it. The material was a pearly gray that matched her eyes. Her jeans needed a good washing, but she wouldn’t be wearing them for long. After this meeting, she was going to go find a bed, crawl into it and sleep for about twelve hours straight.

Raising her hand to the back of her neck, she rubbed. She still felt battered and bruised, but the hot bath had helped loosen up her stiff muscles. The long scratches on her arms and the furrow from the gunshot had all been properly cleansed. Joshua had taken the time to rub a healing ointment on it himself. She’d allowed him to do so, knowing instinctively he wouldn’t be satisfied unless he took care of it himself.

But turnabout was fair play. He hadn’t been too pleased, but he’d sat and allowed her to tend to his injuries as well, all the while complaining it was unnecessary. As a werewolf, he would heal much faster than a normal human would. Still, she needed to take care of him in some small way.

Then he’d planted a rough kiss on her lips, told her to stay out of trouble, and stalked off to talk to some of the men who had arrived. Stay out of trouble. None of this was her fault to begin with. Trouble just seemed to follow Joshua around. She’d wandered outside to look around but was starting to get rather uncomfortable with all the covert stares she was receiving from the groups of men and women who were gathering.

She felt very alone and uncertain and she didn’t like the sensation. All these other people knew one another. She was the odd man out, or rather odd woman out. It was because of her those other werewolves had mutinied and died. Alex didn’t think her transition to life here was going to be easy.

She was contemplating retreating back to the covered porch of Joshua’s home when she heard footsteps coming up behind her. She glanced over her shoulder, hoping it was Joshua, but had to swallow her disappointment when it wasn’t. What was wrong with her? She’d never been the type to need a man around before and she sure as heck wasn’t going to start now. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and went to meet her father.

“How are you?” He stood back and ran his eyes over her body, his fingers tracing the bruise that still bloomed on the side of her face.

“I’m okay. How about you?”

One corner of his mouth kicked upward. “I’m fine.” He drew her into his arms and she rested her head against his solid chest. “I’m sorry this has been so hard on you.” He rubbed his hand over her back, soothing her frayed nerves.

“I know you are.” The last thing she wanted was for him to feel guilty. He’d done everything he could possibly do to protect her and, no matter what, he was still the best father a girl could have. But she was also looking at him a bit differently these days. “So what will happen now?”

He released her and stepped back. “That depends.” Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he guided her toward the side of the clearing. The bodies of the traitorous wolves had been carried away while she’d been getting cleaned up and, except for the blood staining the ground, there was no sign there had ever been a fight.

She dug her heels into the ground, bringing them both to a stop. He was evading her question. More than once she’d noticed the way he looked at the forest around him. There was sorrow and longing and so many more emotions mixed together in his face. Alex knew this homecoming was hard on her father, but it was what he needed. She sensed he was more at home here than he’d ever been in Chicago. The wildness of the forest and mountains suited him.

She stared up into his golden brown eyes, wanting him to know that she understood what he was feeling. “If these past few days have taught me anything, it’s that life is short. Don’t be afraid to go after what you want.”

His face was sober, his hands gentle as he cupped her face. “You’re all grown up, aren’t you?”

She smiled at him. “Yeah, I am. You did a heck of a job with me.”

He gave a short bark of laughter. “I guess I did.” His expression once again became serious. “Are you going to follow your own advice? Are you going to fight for what you want?” He stared past her and she followed his gaze. Joshua was standing across the yard, his stance seemingly relaxed, but his eyes tracked her every move. “It won’t be simple, you know. He won’t be an easy man to live with.”

Now that was an understatement if she’d ever heard one. “I know.”

The wryness in her tone made him chuckle. “I see you know what you’re getting into.”

“I do,” she whispered softly.

Her father nodded. “So be it. Stay by my side until the time comes.”

Before she could get him to answer her question about what was going to happen, Joshua stepped to the center of the circle. All the people who had come gathered around. When everyone fell silent, Joshua began to speak. “Our pack has come under attack from the outside and from within.” There were shouts and general mumbling, but he raised his hand for silence again. “Our leader and his mate have been brutally slain by people they trusted. Justice has been carried out and those men are no more.”

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife and Alex stood like the rest, waiting for Joshua to continue. He was a natural-born leader—an imposing figure with his tall, muscular build and his dark, piercing eyes. It wasn’t so much the way he looked, she decided, but more the way he carried himself with complete confidence and composure.

“We all mourn their loss.” Men nodded, while many of the women wiped tears from their eyes. Alex hadn’t known these people, but even she felt their loss.

“But we must have a new leader,” Joshua continued. “The pack cannot be left vulnerable.”

Several men stepped forward, placing themselves in the ring with Joshua. Alex watched, wishing she knew what would happen next. Joshua nodded at each man in turn. She recognized one of them as Donovan Brody, the werewolf who’d had to slay his own kinsmen.

“We will challenge you for leadership.” She didn’t know the man who spoke, but he was tall and hugely built, not like the lean, muscular builds of most of the others.

Joshua shook his head. “I am not challenging for the leadership.” The crowd sucked in a collective breath. Voices were raised in protest. Even the two men standing across from him appeared stunned.

“If you’re not running for pack alpha, then who is?” An older man across from her shouted.

Her father stirred beside her and took a step forward. “I am.” All heads turned toward him. Alex could see the wonder and disbelief on some faces.

“You abandoned that post years ago,” the older man countered.

Her father nodded. “Yes, I did. I was young, I was angry and I was lost. I am none of those things now.” His eyes swept over the challengers. “It is still my right as a member of this pack to challenge for leadership.”

Alex stared at her father, amazed he would do such a thing. But then, he’d always been a protector, she realized. And now that their home and neighborhood were lost to him, he needed someone or something new to focus all those protective instincts on. When she thought about it, she couldn’t think of anyone better for the position, except maybe Joshua.