Chapter 896 Chapter 896
She couldn’t remember a dinner ever being the way that one had been. Everyone was chatting and happy. It made her heart feel like it was going to burst a few times. Each time the reality of what she had agreed to hit her, Foster had been right there to stop her from drowning.
She, Ena Clarke, was an alpha of a small and slightly crumbled clan. She opened the door and stepped into the building that had been her family’s home. It was dark and smelled musty. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d even given it a second look. It was built away from the others, but here was the best spot. She remembered how the sun hit it each morning like it was in the spotlight. There had once been gardens around it. She remembered that much.
She left the door open and went in further. It would take a week to clean the dirt and dust out of it. Oddly, it didn’t seem to have any leaks, at least as far as she could see from this vantage point. It had three bedrooms and a big kitchen with an open dining room. She took slow steps, not trusting that the floor wouldn’t grab her leg and send her crashing to the basement.
She wondered if her mother’s things were still upstairs. She didn’t dare try to go upstairs in the dark. She would have to wait until daylight. She stopped in the middle of the room and stood there looking around. Could she live here again? She’d never considered it before. She’d also never known there could be a chance that her mothers hadn’t left on her own. Heidi said she came and went several times, never for more than a few days at a time, and then one time, she didn’t come back. It had crushed her father, that part she remembered well.
The creaking of the steps told her that she wasn’t alone. She turned and could smell Foster. He was a silhouette in the doorway. “This used to be my family home.”
He reached along the wall.
“Power is disconnected.” She said, just in case he was looking for a switch.
“I wondered what this house was down here.”
Ena hugged her waist and looked around again. “The furniture was pulled out a long time ago to cut down on mice taking up residence.”
“Are you going to fix it up and live here again?”
“I don’t know.” She took a quick breath. “What if my mother didn’t leave on her own Accord? I’ve been hating on her all these years, and it may not be her fault.”
He took a few light steps toward her. “You couldn’t have known. Betty said she had no idea what was happening out there until those girls told us.”
“It’s hard to believe how they were treated. I know we’re shifters and different, but we’re still human, and for other humans to do that…’ She shook her head. “It’s sick and wrong.”
“It is.”
“Do you think their kids will be found?” She couldn’t imagine how they managed each day, knowing their children were out there in the hands of sick people.
“We can use age and, if needed, DNA tests to find out if any are already on the list, and hopefully, we’ll find them.”
“That would be something, wouldn’t it? Karlee and Melony would be so happy.” She knew it wouldn’t be all roses, but it would still help them try to be whole again.
“So, how does it feel to be the one in charge of a clan of thirteen?”
She snorted. “Don’t remind me. I think I was overwhelmed with emotion when I accepted that.”
He stopped a few feet from her. “You should have. I’ve never seen anything like that. They all wanted you without a doubt.”
“Hopefully they don’t regret it.” She bit her lip. “Foster, what have I done?”
“Hey.” He moved closer and then touched her arm. “Don’t freak out on me now. I don’t know the protocol for how to handle panicking alphas that aren’t my clan.”
She snorted. “You know more protocol than I do. The only thing I remember about our old alpha was he forbid us to go to town on weekends. I don’t even know why.”
“Too many strangers around.” He said quietly. “A lot of clans stick to that.”
“See.” She covered her face with her hands. “I have no idea.”
With a gentle touch, he moved her hands and leaned closer to her.
“You will have help. Margie will help Jesse and Walker when he gets here. You’ll be pro at it in no time.”
“Or I could just run off and help the Alliance now.” She sighed. “I can’t do that. I can’t accept it and then take off the next day.” She cringed. “What kind of message would that send?”
He chuckled. “You should talk to Deacon. He runs off as often as he can. He was offered alpha out of the blue like you were.”
“Really? He seems decent.”
“He is. He’s just used to being alone, and now he has a mate and a growing clan.”
“Growing clan?” He was still close. She could taste his scent on her tongue. Her animal was very near the surface.
“Yeah. He’s a maned wolf, the first here in North America, but the international guys have been getting others out of Europe and other areas.”
She didn’t even know what a maned wolf was. “I can’t believe this is happening all around the world, and it’s only being dealt with now.”
“I know, but in the last year so many have been freed and locations shut down that it gives me hope that we’re going make it.”
“We’re going to make it.” She couldn’t see his face clearly, but she could feel his breath on her hair. “And I’m not going to drown.”
“Not on my watch. I’ve got you. If I can’t be here, I’ll make sure someone is to help you.”
She realized then that he was probably going to be leaving soon. He’d have another assignment or op to go to. How had she forgotten that? It felt like he was part of this life here with her clan. He’d blended seamlessly with them since arriving. He wasn’t part of it. He had his own clan and alpha and a job that was going to send him who knew where. Her animal moved through her, and Ena almost laughed out loud. She didn’t need prompting from her. She was going to get that kiss she kept thinking about before there were no more chances to take.
His mouth touched hers lightly before she could move to kiss him. His hand was still on her shoulder, but he didn’t pull her any closer; just his lips touched hers. It was soft and gentle, as if he was asking before kissing her properly. She lifted her chin, moving her mouth closer to his. He squeezed her shoulder gently as his mouth covered hers completely. He moved it slowly but without hesitation. His taste made her think she would never tire of it.
Her animal was no longer watchful. She relayed that Ena needed to bite him. The image of it made her break the kiss, even though she hadn’t wanted to. She couldn’t bite him. His hand moved into her hair, and he tipped her head back and covered her mouth again. Her tongue scraped over sharp teeth, and she couldn’t even think past the cloud of lust filling her head to know if they were her teeth or his.
A knock on the door had her jump back so fast that she would have fallen to the floor if his hand hadn’t been behind her to stop her.
“Sorry to intrude.” It was Jesse. “Devin and Rayne want to do a video call to welcome the new alpha.”
That cleared her head like a plunge into a frozen lake. “A video call?”
“Yeah. I’ll go set it up under the shelter. Take your time.”
All she could hear was Foster’s breathing, her own almost in synch with it. “The prince and princess want to see me?”
“Just to welcome you.” He took her hand and gave it a gentle tug as he moved back toward the door. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be right there.”
The prince and princess of the entire shifter world wanted to welcome her. “Oh god, I feel ill.”
He chuckled. “You’ll be fine. Promise. They’re great.”
She didn’t feel like she would be fine. She suddenly felt like a fraud.