Page 7 of The Brave (Black Arrowhead #6)

S hivering a bit, I slipped into a black sweater and leggings. Yesterday’s events had kept me tossing and turning all night. Coming clean with the pack, Tak’s words during our private meeting, discovering that my baby was special, that buffoon hitting me, and then… Atticus.

Why was he so invested in making me happy? He knew virtually nothing about me. Was it guilt? I recalled the time when he generously catered lunch for Cecilia and me at her bookstore. Even last night, right before the confrontation, he silently instructed his bartender to whip up a costly dessert for me. He waived the bill for our most recent lunch and even added cantaloupe, knowing it was my favorite. Yet his compliments made me uneasy. Vampires always had ulterior motives.

What rattled me more was that I wanted to trust him. So many people I’d trusted had turned their backs on me, and because of that, I felt my walls going up.

A knock at my bedroom door yanked me out of my thoughts. When I opened it, Lakota laughed at my black outfit.

He pointed to his black pants and long-sleeved shirt. “Maybe I should change. Between us and Lucian, it looks like we’re attending a funeral today.” He leaned against the doorjamb. “Although, that might be the case.”

“What do you mean?”

His long brown hair slipped forward when he tilted his head. “Tak is paying that man a visit—the one from the bar. If I had been there with you, I would have knocked his lights out. Why didn’t Virgil jump in?”

I chuckled softly. “Virgil was in outer space and not very alert. Then he shifted and ran through the club, chasing after that man. It would have been disastrous if he’d killed him. Mercy had to borrow someone’s belt to make a leash so we could take him home.”

“I hope he at least got a bite.” Lakota shook his head. “Tak sent me up to let you know that, uh… you and Hope will have your own private bodyguard whenever you go out.”

“Are you teasing?”

He played with the choker around his neck. “Nope. He wants to assign someone with a powerful animal. Mel volunteered, but my wolf is stronger than hers. She’s stubborn—thinks she can take on the world.” Lakota suddenly jolted forward, eyes wide.

Melody peered inside with her index finger pointed at Lakota as if she’d poked him from behind. “And who says I can’t, husband ?”

He put his arm around her. “Because, Freckles, your wolf is more likely to lick someone’s face to death.”

“I have my bow and impalement wood.”

Lakota smiled at her. “And how is that going to stop a Mage?”

She lifted her chin defiantly but was clearly fighting back a laugh. “If you had bought me those stunner arrowheads last Christmas, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“Those are illegal to buy, wife .”

“You just know everything, don’t you?” She gave him a light shove into the hall. “Girl talk.” After slamming the door, Melody put her back against it, “What in the world happened last night? I missed out on all the action. Did someone really hit you?”

“Honey, it’s nothing to fuss about. What he did to me is nothing compared to what Atticus did to him.”

She tugged on the collar of her oversized tie-dye tee, which she wore over a long-sleeved black shirt. “I didn’t even get to hear about your visit to the Relic. Everything okay?”

Overwhelmed by all the concern, I rubbed her arm reassuringly. “You’re so sweet for asking. I’m absolutely fine—nothing to worry about. All this drama over nothing.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Well, if you think that’s drama, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Melody took my hand. “Follow me.”

As we headed downstairs, I thought about how energetic and fierce Melody was, so it wasn’t surprising that she would have volunteered to guard us pregnant ladies.

She skipped ahead of me and smiled over her shoulder. “Hurry!”

Archer breezed by, and when he noticed me at the base of the stairs, he put his arm around me. “Don’t tell a pregnant woman to hurry.”

He escorted me into the living room, and I got butterflies, uncertain what the excitement was about. The fragrance hit me first—a heady floral scent I knew all too well.

Once I passed the fake trees that bordered the sectional by the hallway, I got the full view of the room. Some of my packmates stood to the right by the massive stone fireplace, and they were watching me like a hawk.

I gaped at hundreds of roses in vases, spread across the room. On the coffee table, accent tables, windowsills, around the hearth, and even on the mantel.

Someone sure got lucky , I thought.

The men in our pack loved competing with each other in the romance Olympics. Recently, Archer hired violinists to play at a catered sunset dinner for Cecilia. Two days later, Tak gifted his mate with the loveliest turquoise stones I’d ever seen.

“What’s the occasion?” I asked. “And who’s the lucky lady? Melody?”

Lakota immediately covered his face.

Hope plucked a red rose from a vase. “You are. These came for you this morning.”

I blanched and searched the room. “Where’s Salem?”

Archer scratched his shoulder. “It wasn’t him. Show her the card.”

Melody waltzed over and flourished the white card.

I read it aloud. “You deserve all the beautiful things. Mr. Rain.”

Melody rocked on her heels. “You made quite the impression last night. In all the years I’ve known Atticus, he’s never done this for a woman. Not that I’ve seen.”

“Surely it’s a mistake.” I stared at the roses—a deep shade of red with no imperfections on the petals. No dark spots, no dried edges.

The door flung open, and a very naked Virgil sauntered inside. The black cat tattoo on his lower right leg always made me laugh. “Holy cannoli! Who bought out the flower shop?”

Melody plopped onto the sofa with a rose. “Atticus.”

He jerked his head back. “The Vamp? That was sweet, but I’ll have to tell him I’m not interested.”

Archer threw a pillow at him. “They’re for Joy. Probably because of what happened last night.”

“Oh.” He rubbed his forehead. “Last night was a trip.”

“Literally,” I added. “Do you remember anything?”

Virgil stroked his scruffy chin. “Drinking with Krys, then Mercy chasing me with a belt.” Virgil suddenly blinked with surprise. “I forgot about the slap heard round the world. Are you okay?” He headed toward me, arms wide.

Archer cut him off. “Don’t hug her until you put some pants on.”

“Why? She’s already pregnant.” He howled with laughter.

“If you hadn’t been wasted on sensory magic, maybe it wouldn’t have happened.”

Virgil gave him an indignant look. “She was at the end of the bar! I couldn’t even hear their conversation. I heard something, and when I looked over my shoulder, I saw him slap her. It happened fast, and I couldn’t have gotten there on time. Nobody could—not even Mercy.” Virgil directed his gaze to me and held a sheepish look. “You’re not mad at Virgil, are you?”

“Gracious no. Everyone needs to calm down. He was unspeakably rude, and I hit him first. Maybe I shouldn’t have reacted so impulsively in my condition.”

Lakota leaned against the back of the leather sofa and crossed his arms. “If anyone ever disrespects you, let me know and I’ll do all the slapping for you. How’s that sound?”

“Ooh, my big strong man.” Melody squeezed his biceps and flashed him a playful smile before scurrying behind the sofa.

Lakota shifted, and when Melody realized she was about to be licked to death, she sprinted down the hall, his wolf chasing behind her. After several barks and a loud thump, Melody squealed and erupted in a flurry of laughter.

I surveyed the flower-filled room, still in disbelief that all these roses were for me. Men had bought me flowers, but never the whole store. “What am I supposed to do with a thousand roses?”

“Make potpourri,” Hope suggested. “Or put the petals in your bath.”

Virgil swaggered out of the room. “She’ll need a bigger bathtub. The real question is what’s she going to do with all the vases after the flowers die.” While heading to the stairs, he sang about laying someone down in a bed of roses.

I crossed the room to the window and admired the roses in the morning sunlight. “Sorry I missed breakfast. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

Hope put a long-stemmed rose back into the vase. “Tak wants you to eat a nourishing breakfast this morning. No more skipping meals. Bear left you something in the refrigerator before he went to work.”

I gazed out the window at the wind chimes. “I’m not sure if that’ll be necessary.”

“Why?” She joined my side, and we watched a Dragonfly’s catering van pull up the drive. “What’s going on? Did I wake up in a Hallmark movie?”

Archer joined us at the window. “What the actual fuck? The gate alarm didn’t go off.” After the van stopped, the men began unloading. “We better keep a close eye on this Atticus fellow. I get that you grew up with him around, Hope, but how well do you really know him? Even Tak doesn’t trust him all the way.”

Hope put her hand on Archer’s shoulder. “Tak wouldn’t be here if not for Atticus recommending this place.”

“Yeah, and maybe he wants something in return for his… generosity. People have a right to date who they want to, but?—”

“Hold on,” I said, interrupting him. “Nobody here is dating. This is just an apology for last night.”

He grinned and shook his head. “If you say so. I need to talk to Lucian about the gate alarm. Looks like it’s on the fritz again.” Archer headed to the back hall. “Can one of you go out back and let Cici know I’ll be a few minutes?”

“Too late.” Melody squeezed between us to peer outside. “She already shifted. We’ll handle this.”

Two men carried large black containers up the steps.

Melody swung the door open. “Hey, guys. What’s up?”

Lakota’s wolf sniffed the air and moved in front of her.

“Courtesy of Mr. Rain,” the first guy replied while warily looking down at Lakota. “Brunch for the Arrowhead pack.”

Melody walked out of view, onto the porch. “Come on in! I never turn down free food.”

Lakota escorted the men to the dining room, Melody following behind them.

After a moment, she dipped back into the room and cheered, “Steak! They brought us prime rib! Call Tak and tell him to hurry home. I don’t think I can wait until dinner.” Melody darted back into the kitchen.

I turned to Hope. “Where exactly is Tak?”

She led me to the sofa, and we sat. “What happened to you last night carries more weight than you realize. Joy, I know you just want to forget about it—I would too. But that man struck a female wolf who belongs to a pack, and Tak won’t let that stand. He went to deliver his punishment; that’s what Packmasters have to do. If he were to let that slide, it would send a clear message to everyone that our alpha doesn’t protect his people. Would you want to join a pack with an alpha like that? He also needs to send a warning to others. You’re pregnant. Maybe that guy didn’t know it, but he shouldn’t have even hit a woman in the first place.”

The caterers bustled out and then returned with more black containers.

Hope waited until the room cleared. “What’s happening between you and Atticus?”

I ran my hand over my belly, quietly wondering if my baby had shifted back to human form or was still hiding as a wolf. “Honestly, I don’t know. I think he’s trying to make up for what happened to me.”

Hope shook her head. “If Atticus wanted to make reparations, he would have done it directly with Tak. They might have come to an arrangement about catering a meal, but that doesn’t explain the roses. Or the fact he paid for your lunch the other day.” She tapped her chin. “This is what men do when they’re courting a woman.”

I adamantly shook my head. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

She touched her white feather earring. “Tak grew up on tribal land and didn’t associate with other Breeds. That’s why it takes him longer to warm up to them. I didn’t learn the same prejudices. Granted, some Vampires are extremely dangerous, but not Atticus. I’ve known him since Melody and I were teens. He’s always kept to himself, but he genuinely loved helping with the bakery and was always friendly. Sometimes he would sneak macaroons to us when no one was looking. I’ve never had a reason to question his intentions. You don’t think he’s handsome?”

Handsome wasn’t the issue. Atticus could stop a heart with his regal looks. If not for those inky-black eyes and fangs, I might have entertained the idea of him as my suitor.

“Can I be honest?” Hope asked. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t know you.”

Overcome with emotion, I burst into tears. “Sometimes I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

Lakota appeared naked in the hall entrance.

Hope shielded her eyes playfully. “Can’t you shift somewhere else? A sister shouldn’t see such things.”

He dipped behind one of the fake trees. “What’s going on? I heard someone crying.”

“Nothing, brother. You focus on the food, and I’ll take care of Joy.” Hope threw him his pants.

The next thing I knew, we were in the art room.

She sat me down on the hot-pink sofa.

“I’m sorry for having a meltdown,” I croaked.

“Don’t be silly. And don’t you dare blame it on hormones. You have a right to be emotional. It was hard enough joining a pack of strangers, but I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through all these past months. Let it out.”

The emotions crashed through me in waves as I wept on her shoulder.

Why did this have to happen to me?

These people had no idea what I’d gone through—no idea. I desperately wanted to tell them, but I was scared.

What do I do? What do I do?

“You can trust me, Joy. Whatever’s troubling you, I promise you can trust me. It hurts to see you this upset.”

Though Salem knew my secrets, I felt abandoned. The truth had freed him of his obligations, and though he still wanted to remain in the pack, we no longer had a connection. Not that we were ever close. Salem had always been a reticent man and approached everything with an analytical and pragmatic attitude—not exactly best-friend material.

She has a baby on the way, so she just has to understand. I can’t keep this a secret any longer.

Leaning back, I wiped my eyes and sniffled. “Can I tell you first, before you invite Tak? I don’t want him to look at me like a monster.”

“Don’t say such things.” Hope pulled a tissue from the table behind her and offered it.

After blowing my nose and collecting myself, I drew in a deep breath and began. “The baby was the result of a lab experiment. Salem was one of the workers, and he’s also the one who saved me.”