Spiral of Need (The Mercury Pack 1)

“Is it always like that?” Derren asked. At her questioning look, he added, “The visions. Do they always seem real?”

“Yes.” Even when she was sleeping, they were never unclear or dreamlike.

“Must be hard, scary, watching people you know—maybe even care about—be seriously hurt or die.” He deliberately brushed his foot against hers beneath the table, almost smiling at her reproachful narrow-eyed look. “I guess the flip side is that you get to save them.”

“Not all of them.” At his speculative look, she cursed. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

“Who didn’t you manage to save?”

She so wasn’t going there. Done with her sandwich, she got to her feet. “You know what, I think I’ll go relax in the hammock for a while. I’m tired.”

“I’m not so easy to dismiss, Ally. Surely you’ve figured that out by now.”

She had. It was a frustrating quality that part of her admired. “Look, I’m grateful that you watched over me while I was unconscious. But I’m fine now. You don’t need to stay.”

“I know.” But he was still going to stay; his expression made that clear.

“Fine. Do what you like.”

“I will.” He always did. It had made him a difficult son to raise, since his parents were—

Instantly, Derren shoved the memory of them and their betrayal from his mind before it had the chance to darken his mood.

Stepping out onto the porch, he had to smile at the sight of Ally lounging in the hammock, eyes closed, listening to her iPod. And effectively dismissing him once again. She was a stubborn, prickly little thing intent on holding the world at a distance. Why that intrigued him, he really couldn’t say. But very little intrigued Derren, and the fact that she could do that drew him as surely as her scent and delectable body.

He could fully admit that to himself now that he was no longer looking at her through a dark cloud of resentment and suspiciousness. He was no longer knotted up inside, no longer unreasonably angry with her or himself for how badly he wanted her. It made him able to see her more clearly—see the sharp, strong-willed, wounded female who possessed a dangerous edge and who could show loyalty and kindness to a pack that hadn’t given her the same.

With that one deed, she’d earned not only his respect but his loyalty. Maybe even a piece of his trust. That pleased and relieved his wolf.

Hearing footsteps, he turned just as Shaya and Nick rounded the corner. Derren gently tugged on Ally’s hair, gaining her attention. She scowled until she noticed her new visitors.

Switching off her iPod and pulling out her earbuds, Ally sat up. “Hey. What’s this?” She eyed the plate in Shaya’s hands that was covered with tinfoil.

Shaya smiled. “Kathy knew you’d missed lunch, and she didn’t think you’d feel like cooking.”

Surprised, Ally raised her brow. “A peace offering?”

“No, this is what packs do. We take care of our own.”

“She’s already eaten,” Derren told her, irrationally offended by another wolf taking care of Ally. “I made her a sandwich.”

“Which he bullied me into eating,” grumbled Ally, carefully taking the plate from Shaya. Peeling back a little of the foil, revealing pasta and salad, she sniffed.

Nick’s brow furrowed. “What are you doing?”

“Checking for poison.”

Shaya rolled her eyes, snatching back the plate. “I’ll put it in the fridge. Take it out when you’re hungry.”

Ally thought it was kind of ironic that saving Shaya’s life through the use of her gift had earned her acceptance, when the very reason the pack had initially been so unwelcoming was because of said gift. It would no doubt gall Kathy on some level, since she’d been clear that she didn’t want Ally to share her visions. To be fair to the woman, though, she’d backed right down and owned up to her mistake by offering her acceptance. Ally could respect that.

When she reappeared on the porch, Shaya told Ally, “Kathy will never be fond of Seers, but you’re now the exception. And please know that I’ll love you forever. To think that I might have missed my daughter growing up, that Nick might have died right along with me . . .” She shuddered, eyes glistening.

Cuddling his mate close, Nick pressed a soft kiss to her temple. He then spoke to Ally. “We won’t forget what you did.”

“Do you have any idea who caused the explosion?” Ally asked him.

“Eli and the enforcers scouted the direction from which the grenade was fired,” Nick replied. “They came across a spot that smelled strongly of foxes, but there were no tracks.”

Derren blinked. “Foxes?” He hadn’t received an update before now, since he’d stuck with Ally as opposed to joining the enforcers.

Nick nodded. “The trail went stale after a hundred feet. It took everything I had not to keep going to hunt them down and rip them to pieces,” he rumbled.

Ally frowned. “Why didn’t you?”

“The last time someone crossed our border was to lure away the males from the main lodge so the females were vulnerable. That was the night Roni almost died.” A muscle in Nick’s jaw ticked. “I won’t make that mistake again, no matter how badly I want blood. Especially not when every instinct I have tells me to stick close to my mate and child.”

“The poisoned animals and rifle grenade have to be related in some way.” Shaya rubbed her temple. “I find it too hard to believe that two attacks could happen so close together unless they were related.”