Aislinn found herself back at her apartment. She had originally intended to pack up and run. She had about $200 in cash from tips hidden beneath her mattress and she figured that she could catch a bus and get out of town before Rafe finished with the wolves. But as she walked inside she only barely managed to lock the door behind herself. She had never had a premonition that strong before or during the day. Not to mention the court case and then Cullen. Just thinking his name hurt. It briefly occurred to her that her premonitions had always given her information about the future in a fuzzy way. She knew that usually what she saw was a warning and not guaranteed to happen that way. But the one she had tonight was awfully close to happening for there to be much that could change it.
She walked over to her bed and collapsed onto. She didn’t even manage to get her shoes off. Falling into a fitful sleep she just prayed she didn’t have any more visions for now. I know I’m in trouble. I know he’s coming. I know that Cullen Arnauk is someone else’s. I don’t need to know anymore right now, she thought at whatever forces brought the premonitions on as she felt herself fall into oblivion.
***
Cullen paced in the elevator. When the doors finally opened into the great room his friends cheered his entrance. Until they saw the look on his face. “Every able fighter, even the ones who didn’t plan on attending, need to gather in the garage and get out to the reservation. There’s going to be a raid tonight.”
They all stood in shock a moment, not wanting to believe what he was saying. It made no sense. Why would there be a raid on a lycan reservation. Was the source of their troubles recently that stupid?
“NOW!” Cullen shouted when no one moved. Suddenly the room burst into action. An alarm that hadn’t been used in decades was sounded and the pack snapped into action as though they had never left war footing. There was a reason that the Arnauk enjoyed the peace they had.
A caravan of black vans and SUVs with tinted windows filed out of the parking garage at the Madadh-Allaidh Saobhaidh and roared down the road toward the reservation. The reservation was a 20 mile square of land that Cullen had acquired when he had first founded the pack. It was mostly wooded and there was a small mountain range that bordered one side. A manor-like cabin was nestled into the forest at the foot of the mountain. There were a number of older pack members who had retired there. There were also a number of cabins that Cullen had allowed to be build in various locations around the forest. The manor itself was just as elaborate at the den in the city. But it was also built to be self sustaining. There were not electrical lines that led out there and there were no cell towers that reached far enough into the territory for a signal. The manor ran on generators and solar power. The only outside contact was through a satellite phone. And that was only when the satellite was in the right position. There was no way to call ahead and tell people to watch for an attack.
The trip was only three hours long. But it felt as though it took all night. When they arrived in a rush of concern and warning the people who were there were all stunned with disbelief. It just didn’t make sense. Who would be stupid enough to attack such a large group of Arnauk on their home territory?
And then there was Jenna. The minute the announcement was made and the possibility of the ceremony being canceled became possible she started screeching and didn’t stop. She followed along behind Cullen blaming the situation on him and accusing him of making excusing to cancel the mating. Cullen couldn’t help but wonder what had her in such a panic. There was more going on with her right now than he knew but he didn’t have time to figure it out. The current plan was make things look like everything was normal. But in a way that result in everyone being ready when the attack came.
Convincing Brennus of the trouble was the hardest part. He was inclined to agree with his daughter about Cullen’s motivations, even if he was making the accusations in a more diplomatic way. In the end Cullen agreed to setting things up for attack and going through the motions of the ceremony. If the attack never came then the mating would be completed and it wouldn’t matter. But if the attack did come then everyone would be ready and they might not lose as many lives.
***
Aislinn felt herself being pulled into her dream. She fought against it as hard as she could. I don’t want another vision, she cried into the blackness. As the scene flashed into view she was standing in the woods beside one of the large stones she had seen before. Rafe was standing next to her.
“I’m glad you could join us,” he said in that sweet tone of voice that she had believed was sincere for so long. He had this ability to get into her head and change her perceptions. He had her doubting herself for so long. That was until she realized that he was doing something to her mind. At first she had thought he cared about her, then she thought he was drugging her, but after she escaped she realized that he could get into her head and make her think things. Like the jedi mind trick.
Aislinn tried to leave but when she turned to go there was nothing behind her. No where to go. When she turned to face the scene again she could see the people milling about and Cullen and Jenna. She had her hands all over him and although he didn’t look very happy about it, he was allowing it. When Jenna reached down to stroke Cullen’s cock Aislinn turned away. She found herself looking at Rafe who was watching the scene with great interest.
“You know. I had originally thought to bring you here when I first took you. This place holds power for people like us. You’ll see. You’ll come to appreciate me once I show you.” His eyes never left the couple. He seemed to be waiting for something. “We’re the same you know.”
“I’m nothing like you,” Aislinn hissed at him.
He just smiled. “I don’t mean morally or ethically. I’m referencing our abilities. That’s why I had to have you. You know how few of us there are left. The bloodlines have thinned over the years and most of us don’t know what we are. But there are some. Once I have all of what was stolen from us I’ll find the others as well. I’ll make us strong again. If you really want the pet wolf so badly perhaps you can keep him once I’ve relieved him of his throne.”
Aislinn’s mind was racing. She was trying desperately to think of something she could do. But it wasn’t as if she was really there. When she looked back to the scene playing out in the stone circle she saw that Jenna had dropped to her knees in front of Cullen. He was breathing slowly and looking about as she sucked eagerly on his erect cock. Her hands toyed with his balls and inner thighs. He had his hands clenched into fists at his sides and was staring up at the sky with a frustrated expression. Aislinn was torn. If he truly didn’t want this then why is he letting it happen?, she thought.
“Because he has no choice,” Rafe answered her unasked question.
“Get out of my head,” she spit at him.