A New Beginning
By Rebecca James
Published by JMS Books LLC
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Copyright 2017 Rebecca James
ISBN 9781634863827
Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Published in the United States of America.
* * * *
A New Beginning
By Rebecca James
Prologue
Chapter 1: Josiah
Chapter 2: River
Chapter 3: Brooks
Chapter 4: Josiah
Chapter 5: Foster
Chapter 6: River
Chapter 7: Josiah
Chapter 8: River
Chapter 9: David
Chapter 10: Josiah
Chapter 11: David
Chapter 12: Brooks
Chapter 13: Josiah
Chapter 14: Brooks
Chapter 15: David
Chapter 16: Josiah
Chapter 17: River
Chapter 18: David
Epilogue
Prologue
One by one, the grotesque creatures slipped out of the darkness of the forest and descended upon the small group. Patrick sat outside the camp, on guard while the others slept. Dagger-like claws slashed through Patrick’s throat before the alpha could make a sound, and he quickly bled out. During the night, Xavier had rolled closer to the warmth of the fire, and his mate Trace had wound up snuggling closer to Matthew and Toby. A sudden blow from one of the intruders sent Trace flying into the trunk of a gnarled oak, and his head split like a melon.
The gruesome sound jerked River out of a deep sleep, and the pack alpha sprang to his feet in time to see a sleep-disoriented Matthew fall to the ground like a felled tree. A snarling Toby lunged at the nearest creature’s throat. River shifted, dimly aware of Josiah waking up beside him, and fear for his mate brought a growl from the alpha’s chest. He lunged for the nearest beast, latching with sharp canines onto the putrid-smelling fur at its neck. Long seconds passed as River fought, sounds of the melee around him coalescing into a sharp buzz in his ears.
When it was over, the pack gazed around them, in shock. Two of the Turned lay dead on the ground, and the pack had lost Patrick, Toby, Trace, and Matthew. River and David dragged the mangled carcasses of the Turned into the woods before building pyres for their fallen pack members. As they stood solemnly watching the bodies burn, Xavier let out a desolate howl, the sound promising to be a feature in more than one pack member’s future nightmares. By the time the fires burned down to smoldering ash, X was gone.
River had failed his pack. He was supposed to protect them, and now they’d lost four pack members—five if he counted Xavier. From the moment they’d left the compound, bad luck had followed. Human hunters seemed to be everywhere, and they’d found no suitable land to claim as theirs. The stress had begun taking its toll, driving tempers high and morale low. The time had come for River to make a difficult decision. He didn’t like it, but the safety of the pack was paramount.
They would head for Cascade City.
Chapter 1: Josiah
“Stay away from the humans.”
River’s words replayed in Josiah’s mind as the first omega sat across from his friend Mark at a large table in one of the conference rooms of the Human/Werewolf Congress. River’s trust in humans had dimmed considerably since the alpha had been ousted from his pack, and even though Josiah understood his mate’s feelings, that didn’t mean they were rational.
The humans weren’t the ones who’d killed four members of their pack, and they hadn’t been directly responsible for the way events had happened at the compound. Besides, when River had said to stay away from humans, he couldn’t have possibly meant Mark, Josiah’s best friend, and the others working at the Congress where Josiah once had been employed.
Josiah realized his alpha was second-guessing himself, and that it was natural for River to do so, feeling he’d let down his pack. But the alpha was wrong, and Josiah knew it was up to him to make his stubborn mate see it, especially now they’d found themselves living in Cascade City.
While Josiah hated to go against his mate’s wishes, his innate independence insisted upon it. He may be River’s omega, but Josiah was also half-human and his own person. Finding out he was half-werewolf had only strengthened Josiah’s determination to help end the hatred between the two species. Already great strides had been made by the Congress, and much of that progress was due to River’s initial willingness to allow the humans to see how the werewolves lived. The act had stripped away much of the superstitious mystique surrounding the weres and opened the doors for communication.
There was still quite a way to go, however, and Josiah felt it his place to help Mark in his new role as president of the Congress. The omega could only hope River would understand.
Mark had been updating Josiah on what had been going on over the summer while Josiah, River, and their small band of loyal followers had been trying to find a place to settle in the wild, but Josiah was having trouble concentrating while worrying about what River would think if he knew Josiah was there. The first omega finally had to force his mate from his mind so he could zero in on Mark’s words.
“So, we’re building housing for them on property the Congress purchased near here. They would be able to move in by the end of the month, which will spare them from another winter on their own,” Mark said.
Josiah struggled to pick up the thread of the conversation. Who was Mark talking about? Oh, the rogues. The packless wolves had been a source of contention between the two species for years. Starving, they haunted the city, going through trash cans and sometimes eating pets to survive. Not many wolf packs took in strays. River had been one of the few, and even he had had to be convinced. Josiah knew his mate probably regretted it now, adding it to the list of decisions that had led to their removal from the pack.
“You know there wouldn’t be so many rogues if it weren’t for the humans,” Josiah said. “Every time they attempt to destroy a pack, they send more homeless werewolves into the wild that gradually end up here. The violence needs to be addressed.”
“I agree. These are vigilante-type groups, though, and they stay under the radar. Believe me, we’re attempting to flush them out.”
Josiah relaxed back into his seat. He had to admit he was impressed with everything Mark had done since Thomas King stepped down as president of the Congress. King now devoted all his time to the branch he’d begun in France, and reports showed significant progress there—progress Mark was determined to make in America, as well.
“You’ve done so much,” Josiah said, pushing the sheaf of papers he’d been looking at across the table b
ack to Mark.
“Thanks.” Mark’s face tinged pink. “Doing it makes me feel like I’m doing something for Alex, you know?”
Josiah nodded. Their friend Alex had been killed by a werewolf. River’s second in command, in fact. For a long time, Josiah hated David for it, but he’d come to realize it hadn’t been David’s fault. “I particularly like the housing idea. How’s that going over with the humans?”
“We’re having to keep it a secret for now,” Mark said. “Only those with special clearance in the Congress realize who the housing is for. I’m afraid at this point we haven’t built enough good-will between the species to foster a welcome for the rogues, but if we continue to have people shooting them for going through their trash, it’s only going to make everything worse. At least now the rogue wolves will have a place to live and people helping them get jobs.”
“Will their employers know they’re weres?”
“Yes. We’re working on finding companies willing to take them on.”
Josiah smiled. “It’s a great idea.” He thought over what Mark had said. “You don’t think there are still people working here who aren’t really working for peace, do you?”
Mark’s countenance grew serious. “It’s difficult to say. After all, no one who’d been on Davis’s side is about to step up and admit it. And somebody had to create that shifting inhibitor that was given to David and Brooks, and my sources tell me that kind of thing had to be tested and retested. That means it was used on werewolves.”
Josiah gasped. “You mean someone’s been testing on them?”
Mark nodded. “I’m afraid so. You thinking of coming back full-time? We could use the help.”
Josiah sighed. “Now we’re back with the girls, I need to be with them, but maybe in a few months I can try it.” Reuniting with his twins had mended Josiah’s heart. He’d tried to be strong for River and the pack when they were in the wilderness, but inside he’d been pining for his babies. As their small pack kept moving, the search for a home proving fruitless, Josiah had begun to fear Mark and his fiancée would have to take care of the girls indefinitely. The first omega was happy to be back in the city, even though his mate wasn’t. Josiah couldn’t help feeling a little guilty for that.
“I still can’t believe River brought you here,” Mark said.
Thoughts of their present living conditions dampened Josiah’s mood. “We didn’t have much of a choice. Living in Jax’s place isn’t ideal, but hopefully something better will turn up soon.”
“There’s always the housing—”
“River would never go for it. He wants something more like what we had.”
“I don’t think there’s a compound nearby.” Mark leaned back in his chair.
Josiah knew his mate didn’t want to live so close to humans, no matter how much the pack alpha claimed he wanted good relations with him. Josiah knew River wanted to hold onto pack ways and was too proud to take housing provided by the Congress. The alpha had a difficult enough time with the temporary stay in Jax’s apartment. The close quarters were beginning to wear on them all. Not for the first time, Josiah wished his old home with Uncle Horace hadn’t been torn down.
A knock on the door brought both men’s heads around, and a young man Josiah had never seen before peered in.
“Jaime.” Mark’s face lit up as he stood to greet the man.
“Josiah, this is Jaime. He’s the one I told you about who’s been working with the rogues living within the city.”
“Nice to meet you.” Jaime shook Josiah’s hand. The man was tall and slender with broad shoulders and hair the color of the apricot and cinnamon preserves Josiah’s uncle Horace used to make when Josiah was little. A sweet, unmistakable scent tickled Josiah’s nose, and Josiah looked at Jaime in surprise.
“You’re an omega.”
Jaime smiled. “And so are you.” Grinning, the two embraced.
Mark frowned in confusion. “I thought you two didn’t know each other.”
“I’ve told you—omegas have a special bond,” Josiah said.
“Oh, yeah. Weird.” Mark shook his head. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you; Jaime’s recently started a refuge for unmated omegas.”
Josiah looked curiously at Jaime. He’d been puzzled when Mark had told him about Jaime working with inner-city rogues. He hadn’t realized there were any. Most rogues lived in the forestland beyond the city and crossed its borders only to scrounge for food.
“Are there many rogue omegas?”
Jaime nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. We’ve discovered a startling number of homeless omega werewolves here. In hiding, of course.”
They’d have to be, Josiah thought. They’d be sitting ducks for rogue alphas.
“They’re living in the sewer system.”
“The sewers?” Josiah’s mouth fell open. “How long have they been there?” He looked to Mark.
“A long time, apparently,” Mark said, sitting at the table again.
Josiah settled across from Jaime. “How could we have not known?”
“We never thought about it. They probably came out at night for food.”
“They’re hiding there to stay safe from humans and to be able to withstand their heats without being attacked by rogue alphas,” Jaime said. “But we’ve got to get them out of there. It’s unsanitary, and one of them is pregnant, either from a rogue alpha or a human. He won’t say.”
“I can’t believe it. They must be miserable down there.” Josiah couldn’t imagine living in the dank, smelly underground channels.
“It’s been surprisingly difficult getting them to leave,” Jaime said. “Only the fact I’m an omega has let me get close enough to talk to them.”
Intrigued, Josiah leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your story?”
“An unusual one,” Jaime said with his disarming smile. “I was raised by humans. More werewolves live in Cascade than you would ever have thought. It wasn’t until Bart Davis died and Mark took over that any of us got the courage to come out. He’s made us feel safe for the first time in our lives.” Jaime sent a bright smile Mark’s way before meeting Josiah’s gaze again. “My adoptive human parents found me next to my dying birth father, who’d been shot by hunters. They took me in and kept the fact I was a werewolf from everyone. It was easier for them, because they live out in the mountains. I’ve never known what happened to my sire, although I assume he must be dead, or he would have tracked me down by now.”
“Can you shift?” Josiah asked.
“No. I’m not sure I can.” Jaime looked embarrassed. “I’ve never really tried very hard.”
Josiah felt even more of an affinity for the other omega. Granted, growing up he’d never known he was part werewolf, but he’d never felt completely comfortable in his own skin, and he’d been raised in the country like Jaime had been. “My Uncle Horace brought me up on Six-Toe Mountain. He never told me I was half-werewolf, and when I visited River Wolf Pack compound, I went into heat. I was able to shift, so I’ll bet you can, too.”
“We live near Hunter’s Gap,” Jaime said, and added with a laugh, “Ironically.”
Josiah smiled. “I know the place.”
“My father worked as a janitor here at the Congress and kept his ears open for information that could help me. He didn’t trust Davis.”
“Rightfully,” Josiah said.
Jaime nodded. “When Davis died and Mark took over, Dad thought it time I came forward and did my share to help.”
“And we’re so glad you did,” Mark said. “You’ve been a great asset to us. We never would have found those omegas without you.”
Jaime’s fair skin turned a rosy pink at Mark’s praise, and Josiah hoped to hell he was mistaken about what he was picking up from the other omega. Mark was straight and engaged to Beth, and Jaime looked at Mark as though he’d hung the moon.
“I really haven’t done much. Only talked to the omegas,” Jaime said.
br /> “Which no one else could do. Hell, we didn’t even know about them until you.” Sure, lay it on thick, Mark. Make the guy fall completely for you.
“Finding them was an accident.” Jaime looked at Josiah. “I was out one evening, scented one, and followed him.”
Josiah shook his head in wonder. “Incredible.”
“I’ve been working for a couple of months with my parents, taking food and supplies to the omegas underground until Mark could procure the funds to obtain a safe house.”
“How many are there?” Josiah asked.
“Fourteen.”
“We bought and converted an old farm building on Halifax Road,” Mark told Josiah.
“I’d love to see it.” He pushed away all thoughts of how much River wouldn’t like the idea.
Jaime looked at his watch and stood up. “I have to be going. I’ll be heading out to the refuge tomorrow. Can you meet me here about five P.M.?”
“I’ll be here.” River would be working, and Josiah would find a way to manage it, even if he had to walk. Since they’d come to the city, he’d wished many times he’d brought his jeep from the compound. Mark had picked him up that morning and would give him a ride home, but Josiah couldn’t count on him all the time.
After Jaime left, Mark rose, stretched, and approached the water cooler. “How are things going?”
The excitement Josiah felt at the prospect of seeing the omega refuge died a little. “About the same. The alphas are afraid of losing their jobs due to our heats.”
Mark handed Josiah a cup and leaned against the wall. “Think about all those times your uncle told us stories about the werewolves. Seems crazy he knew the whole time about you being one of them.”
Josiah gazed out the large window. “I know. At first, I was kind of mad he hadn’t told me, but then I realized how different I would have felt if he had. He’d planned to take me to the compound before I’d go into heat; I guess he thought it better to leave me ignorant until then.”
Josiah had arrived at River Wolf Pack compound ready to study the werewolves his uncle had talked about for years and to help bridge the gap between them and the humans. Instead, he’d gone into heat and wound up mated to River, the pack alpha. Of course, Josiah wouldn’t change a thing now, but at the time it had been a major upheaval in his life, and he’d been confused and a little hurt his uncle had kept the truth from him.