Chapter 26

​Deacon glanced at her as they turned the last corner to her clan’s village, she had a white-knuckle grip on her hat. Giana hadn’t said much since they’d left his cabin. They took turns driving, listened to the radio, and only stopped for a quick bite or gas. He should be happy she wasn’t trying to discuss what had happened between them, but now he just wanted her to talk. His animal was almost as tense as she was, fretting because their mate was unhappy.

Giving her another quick look, he slowed and pulled the van off the road. Giana looked over at him, a questioning look on her face. Putting it in park, he turned and looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. When she opened them, he was surprised to see anger in them. “The last time I saw my parents it didn’t end well.”

He raised an eyebrow, “because you were leaving?”

“That and why I was leaving.” She slumped back in the seat and stared out the window.

“They don’t want you on the team?”

She snorted, “they don’t want me doing anything but being a perfect, pretty Alpha’s daughter.”

“Your job with Jesse is important,” he motioned between them, “what the teams are doing together now is even more so, we’re rescuing our kind.”

“I know. They get that too—they just don’t want me to be part of it.”

“I thought it was just Nox, being himself.” He said quietly.

“No. Nox’s opinion of what I do is the popular consensus of my entire family.”

“I thought one of your brothers was on your side.”

“Walker?” She looked down at her hat, “he is, but he works with our clan, so he can’t make his thoughts known or his life would be hell.” She shrugged, “I get that.” Tossing the hat on the dash, she turned and looked at him, “my father called the king to have me removed from the team.”

Deacon didn’t know what to say to that.

“He ended up getting Devin who sided with me.” She motioned to the road in front of them, “my brother was removed from the special operations because of me,” she shook her head, “I’m going to be walking into a battle, trust me.”

“If the prince wants you on the team, your father can’t have you removed.” He didn’t understand what it was to have parents that fought for you, or in her case, against what she wanted. “I didn’t know it was that bad.” He said quietly.’

Gia turned to look at him, “most think life is perfect when you are part of an Alpha family,” she shrugged, “maybe it is for some, but not me.”

“I can go in and give him the number.”

She laughed, “oh that will go over even better.” Her gaze moved to his neck, “when my father senses my scent blended with yours, and yet I’m hiding in the van.”

His hand went to the bite scar on his neck. “It’s a little late for him to object.”

“And you’re ready for the conversation about why I don’t have a mark?” She closed her eyes and sighed, “look, I get that you have—reservations about it, I do, even if they’re not really warranted, I’m still respecting your feelings on it.” She sighed and then pointed out the window, “he will not, and it won’t just be him,” she shook her head, it’s never just him, “two of my brothers are Alpha’s in training,” she made exaggerated quote symbols in the air, “so they’re going to be all up in our faces too.”

“What’s between us, is no one else’s business, Giana.”

The stressed look on her face, eased slightly, “you are the only person that doesn’t make me cringe when you use my full name, did you know that?”

He shook his head. “No, but the fact remains that this is between us and no one else.”

“I wish that were true.” She blew out a breath, “this is going to be awful.”

“I don’t care what your father has to say, we’re doing our job and then we have to move on to the next and pick up Konner.” Those eyes that felt like they were branding his soul every time she looked at him, moved over his face with a soft caressing look.

“I don’t want you in the middle of it, Deacon, my family problems.”

He tried to shrug it off playfully, “as you know I have my own problems,” he smirked, “you have no issue with all of my,” he waved his hand around, “issues, so a few barked words won’t bother me.” The anxiety coming from her was almost crippling him, his animal was angry, and wanted blood. Reaching over, he took her hand and held it in his until she looked back to his eyes. “I will do anything to protect you, from anyone.” He hadn’t intended the growl in his voice, but his animal wanted his say in this too.

Squeezing his hand, she nodded, a jerky motion at first but then he saw the resolve come back in her expression. “Let’s get it over with.”

Lifting her hand, he kissed it before releasing it and turning in his seat. “Just have a little faith, sweetheart, growling Alpha types I’m used to,” he glanced at her quickly before pulling back onto the road, “I work with your brother, remember?”

Gia grinned, “well, you’re about to meet version one and three of him, they’re more polite than Nox is, but worse in other ways.”

The village was larger than he had thought it would be. In all the years of keeping informed about her, he never thought to look into her clan. If he were anyone else, he might feel intimidated, but after what he’d been through to prove himself and get on the team, there was nothing they could do or say that would phase him. His creature was close to the surface but working with his feelings and not fighting with him about their mate for once. He knew that they’d have to go into this with a united front to get Giana through it and back on the road.

She pointed to a street, “main house is at the end of this.”

“You’re sure he’ll be there?”

She nodded, “the offices are beside it, but he works from the house most of the time unless it’s an official thing.”

Her voice was strained, but she had steeled her spine and was ready to face them. He was proud of her at that moment. He always was, now that he thought of it, but now more than ever. He had no idea what she’d been through to get to this point and doubted many others would have pushed through the struggle to last. Amari, the other Alpha female on her team, was an entirely different type of ‘Alpha’s daughter.’ Giana was softer, more compassionate and he meant what he’d said, he would protect her no matter what. Even if the threat was her own family.

When he turned off the van, he looked over to see her tucking her hair up under her hat. Reaching for his own, he turned it around backward, he wanted no obstruction for others to see the expression in his eyes if they crossed a line. “Ready?”

She nodded and opened the door.

Deacon got out and his hand automatically went to the sidearm on his leg. He wouldn’t shoot anyone but keeping his hand close to it tended to make people think before doing something stupid.

Giana came around the front of the van and raised an eyebrow as she looked at his hand, “you can’t shoot them.” She said quietly.

He shrugged, “should I bring the tranq gun?” She smiled and that was much better to see than the hesitant expression. He motioned for her to lead the way.

As they walked up the long walkway, a man came out of the buildings beside the house. Deacon didn’t have to guess if he was part of her family, his red hair was the exact color of hers.

He walked with long strides toward her, a big smile on his face. “Well, this day just got better.”

Giana turned and darted over to him, throwing her arms around him.

Deacon paused; a feeling of jealousy filled him. He had to reassure his animal that this was her brother, and judging by her reaction it was Walker, her only ally in her tense world.

Releasing her, Walker gave Deacon a quick once over and then looked down at her, “why are you here?”

“Official business,” she told him, then motioned to Deacon, “we’re bringing new contact information to the clans on our way back to work.”

Walker nodded his head slowly, “does that information come with explanations? Because I have to tell you writing in notebooks instead of on my computer is getting old fast.”

Deacon stepped over, closer to Gia, to placate his creature, “we can offer few answers at this point.”

Walker held his look for a moment and then nodded and motioned to the house, “let the games begin.”

Giana started walking again, “how is he?”

“Pissed, not just because of you, but all this hush-hush shit is getting on everyone’s nerves.” He stopped her in front of the door. “Nox told them someone followed you and tried to take you.”

Giana’s shoulders slumped. “Nox should learn to keep his mouth shut.” She looked down the step to Deacon, then back to her brother. “Is he here?”

Walker shook his head, “no he was called back yesterday and took off out of here.”

Gia looked relieved.

Deacon stepped into the house behind them and closed the door. He paused to look around. It wasn’t elaborately decorated like he’d imagined it would be. The face that Giana had been content at his cabin surprised him though.

“You want me to go get him?” Walker asked her in a hushed tone.

Giana nodded but said nothing for a moment. “I don’t live here anymore, remember?”

Deacon frowned, the riff with her family had been serious enough that she’d left home? Where was she living then? His animal prompted her to move closer to her.

As Walker disappeared around the corner, a woman started to come down the stairs. She was an older version of Giana.

“Giana?” The woman smiled at her, the look fading when she noticed Deacon. “Is everything all right?”

Gia took a step and then stopped. “Everything is fine. This,” she motioned to him, “is my partner, Deacon, he’s on the same team as Nox.”

Her mother smiled again, a polite, forced one. “You’re here on business?”

Deacon nodded, “yes ‘mam, the Alliance has us visiting all of the clans delivering information from the king.”

A look of surprise replaced the fake smile. “Do you travel with my daughter?”

Giana nodded, “They have us paired with members of the incursion team now,” She glanced at Deacon, an impatient look in her eyes, “after they tried to take Jesse’s mate.”

Deacon realized she was trying to keep the attention from her.

“Are you able to stay for tea?”

Deacon watched Giana stiffen. “I’m afraid not, Mom, we have other clans to go see today.”

“Of course.” She moved down the stairs. “I’ll go see if Oren is free.”

“Walker went to get him,” Gia said quietly.

Her mother paused. “We’ll wait in the office then, rather than stand in the entranceway.”

Giana gave him a quick glance and followed her mother down the hall.

Whatever he’d thought her life was like, he was realizing how wrong he’d been, this felt like a war zone, not a home.

Giana’s mother led them into a large office. It was decorated with dark wood and much fancier furnishings than what he’d seen of the house.

She turned and looked up at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even introduce myself.” She held out her hand, “Dani Marin.”

Deacon moved closer and grasped her hand lightly. He bowed his head in a brief polite acknowledgment of her status before letting her hand go. “Deacon Parrish, ‘mam.” When he lifted his chin again, he noticed she was looking at his neck.

She inhaled a deep breath and then gave him a polite smile. “I’ll go see what’s keeping your father.” With barely a look at Giana, she walked out and closed the door.

Giana sent him a quick look of panic. “She knows.” She whispered.

“She didn’t say anything, so don’t panic—before we need to.” He added quickly. The anxiety was coming off of her in waves. He went over to her and put his hand on the side of her neck. Using his thumb to tip up her chin, so she was looking at him again, he held her eyes with his own. “Where’s that girl that breezes over the finish line because she’s confident in her abilities?”

“She’s standing in her father’s office.” Her voice was quiet.

He nodded, “on official business, not at his daughter.” Deacon watched until she gave him a slight nod. “Okay.” Touching her cheek softly, he dropped his hand away. The last thing they needed was him kissing her when her father walked in and right now that’s what he wanted to do, kiss her until she was distracted from the fear and anxiety that was rolling off her.

“He’ll be waiting for Nash and Vance.” She said and then took a deep breath, exhaling loudly. “It’s always the three of them when I’m involved.”

Deacon didn’t say a word for a moment, he needed to override the anger that hit him like a punch in the gut. It pissed him off that they would do that. He could just picture three men towering over her. “You have me this time.” He smiled at her, hoping the anger was buried deep enough it wasn’t visible.

Before she could speak, the door opened, and an older version of Nox walked in. The way he walked into the room left no question that he was in charge. Deacon often wondered why Nox had this arrogant air about him, now he knew why. Behind Giana’s father, two men came in, both resembled their sire with dark auburn hair. Dani followed and went to sit in a chair near the corner of the room.

Walker was the last to come into the room. He closed the door and then leaned against it. He watched his sister, not the men positioning themselves opposite her.

Deacon noted he had at least five inches on the tallest of them, not that he was measuring, but it was a false comfort to know he had some kind of advantage. They weren’t tiny men, by any means, all were solidly built.

Her father gave Giana a hard look.

Taking her hat off, she cleared her throat, then looked at Deacon, “this is my partner, Deacon, he’s part of the incursion team.” She kept her gaze on his, “Deacon, this is my father, Oren,” she motioned to the first one that walked in, “and my brothers Nash and Vance.” She turned back to her father, “we’re here on behalf of the Alliance.”

Deacon stepped over to the desk and inclined his head the way Calum had almost had to beat into him. “Sir.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a slip of paper and held it out. “Due to a breach of the Alliance’s system, you’re to use this number. They will explain the new protocols to you when you call.”

Her father took the piece of paper opened it and looked at the number. “What of our phones, are they secure?”

“I don’t know the details regarding private phones, sir,” Deacon motioned to the paper, “they’ll have all the answers for you.”

Her father nodded his head slowly and then looked across the desk at Giana. “You’re driving to every clan to bring them this information?”

Giana nodded, “there are many teams out doing it.”

Oren Marin looked from her slowly to Deacon, he noted the gun his hand rested on. With a hard look on his face, he turned back to Giana. “Nox told us you’d almost been taken.”

Giana gave Deacon a quick look, “Nox shouldn’t be discussing things with people unless he’s been authorized to do so.” Her tone was a lot more respectful than Deacon would have managed.

“I’m your father and an Alpha with the Alliance.”

“I know, Dad, but someone has been sharing information and helping Aiden Tomas’ organization from within the Alliance members—so discussing anything without clearance is a problem.”

She wasn’t wrong. Deacon felt a tinge of pride by the way she was holding her own.

“Is this true?” Dani asked quietly.

Oren nodded. “Shepard gave me a heads up a few weeks ago, that something was happening.”

Her mother looked quickly back to Gia, “should you be involved in this.”

Giana took a deep breath and blew it out. Deacon noticed she looked to Walker before she held her chin up and answered her mother. “It’s no different than what’s been happening since before I was born, Mom.”

“They almost took you,” Nash said.

Giana shook her head, “no they didn’t. They never would have found me. Jesse said if Deacon hadn’t been there, he probably wouldn’t have.”

Everyone in the room turned to look at him.

“You were under the ground, weren’t you?” Walker asked.

Giana shrugged, then turned back to her mother, “I was alone that time,” she pointed to Deacon, “now I’m not. The team travels with a member of the incursion team everywhere they go now.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to continue with this,” Nash waved his hand around, “ridiculous fantasy of working for the coordination team.”

His animal was poised for a fight, and he didn’t blame him. Deacon wasn’t doing much better.

“It’s a good thing I don’t need your permission then, isn’t it?” She put her hands on her hips and looked around the room. “In case you forgot, I’m an adult and able to make my own decisions.”

Tension filled the room so suddenly that Deacon had to force his hand to move away from his gun and focus on keeping his animal under control.

“That’s enough.” Her father said, using that tone only an Alpha could get away with. He turned to Nash and held out the paper with the number on it. “You and Vance go over to the offices, use the landline and call this. Find out the protocol going forward. If our cell phones aren’t to be used, find out what is acceptable.”

Nash took it and nodded. He gave Giana a hard look and turned on his heel.

Walker opened the door and stood holding it as they went out of it.

“If you’ll excuse us, my mate and I would like a word with our daughter.”

Deacon looked at Giana, he searched her eyes for a moment, there was no fear or self-doubt in them.

She nodded her head slightly. “I won’t be long.”

Deacon inclined his head to her father and went over to the door. When he stepped out, Walker followed and closed the door behind them.

“Never a dull moment when my sister is home.”

Deacon glanced at him to acknowledge he’d heard, then looked back at the door.

“So, funny thing, I didn’t sense that Gia was mated, but,” he made a point of looking at Deacon’s neck, “it looks like you’ve been claimed.”

Rubbing his hand over his beard, Deacon tried to figure out how to answer. Walker stood there, watching him with interest. There wasn’t a trace of the judgmental look the other two brothers had given him. He was different. He was important to Giana.

“I’m actually relieved to see you’re thinking this through instead of spouting off something that will piss me off and force me to deck you,” he looked at Deacon’s weapon, “and probably get shot as a result.” He gave him a lopsided grin.

“I can see why Giana speaks highly of you.” Deacon told him in a distracted way. He was still trying to contain his animal side and hear if Giana needed him on the other side of the thick door. Before he could offer him some sort of answer to his question, his phone buzzed in his pocket. “Excuse me.” Pulling it out, he hit the button to answer it, thankful for the interruption. “Yeah?” He cringed, probably not the best way to answer, considering the Prince of the Alliance could be on the other end.

“That sounds like a mood.” It was Calum.

“Yeah, it’s turning out to be that kind of day.”

“Where are you?”

“Giana’s clan.” Deacon glanced at the door again.

“Ah, I understand the tone now. Her father is of the old school variety.”

“I noticed.” He watched the door, wishing she would come out of the room so the urge to kick it down would subside.

“I’ll keep it short then, I wanted to finish the last conversation you hung up on.”

He scowled, trying to think through the moment’s tension to remember what the conversation was. It came back to him; he’d been freaking out about Giana marking him. “Oh, that.” He said, moving a few more feet from Walker.

“There are some things you don’t know that I should have told you a long time ago, but you had enough shit to wade through at that time.”

“What are you talking about?” Deacon rubbed the back of his neck, trying to release some of the tension.

There was a long pause, “Shit. I’ll call you right back, we have to do this the proper way.” He hung up.

Deacon looked at the phone. Do what right? Had something happened that would affect the operation? Tucking the phone back in his pocket, he turned back to face the door and Walker.

Walker gave him a curious look.

Deacon shook his head, “I don’t even know.”

The door opened, and Giana came out. The expression on her face told him how well that conversation went. Not well at all.

A door opposite the office door opened and a teen boy came running in. “Walker.” He gasped for a breath, “Zariah and her sister are trapped down by the gorge,” he took a ragged breath, “by a bear, I don’t know what’s wrong with it.”

Walker jolted and ran into the office.

Giana looked at the boy and ran down the hall to the front of the house. She went out the door.

Deacon caught up to her and put his arm out to stop her. “Where’s the gorge?”

She pointed.

Turning he looked to where she pointed, “how far?”

“If you go down to the end of that street, there’s a drop-off that leads down to it.” Giana watched Walker come running out, he took off in a different direction than she’d pointed. “Walker’s going down the trail.” She grabbed his arm, “a fox isn’t a match for a bear.” Her voice shook.

Deacon nodded and jogged to the van, he opened it reached in, and grabbed her run pack. “Go,” he tossed it to her, “wait,” pulling his shirt over his head, he gave her a quick look, “use this when you shift back.”

She caught the shirt. “What are you going to do?”

Deacon opened the side door and pulled out his rifle. “I’ll deal with the bear.”

Giana nodded, then turned and took off running.

Slipping the case over his shoulder, Deacon ran full out down the street she’d pointed to.