A/N: Just so everyone knows, the main character's name is Siobhan. It's Irish, and if you have trouble figuring out how to pronounce it, it sounds like Shivaun. Why didn't I use a simpler spelling? Because her family is supposed to be a more traditional Irish witch clan that moved to New York, that's why! And being Irish in descent, myself, I didn't feel like changing the Gaelic spelling to an Anglicized version. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
"Mama?" My son, Caleb, only seven years old, was holding his face in his small hands and squeezing my cheeks together. Still groggy, I opened my eyes to find him only five or six inches away from my face. He had a haunted yet determined look on his face.
"Wha's wrong, sweetie?" I asked, trying to blink myself awake. He bit his lip, his chestnut hair falling in his green eyes.
"Um . . . I got cold . . . and I couldn't sleep, so I came to check up on you, Mama." My little trooper. He always said something like that when he'd had a nightmare. I smiled, and decided to play along.
"Really? Caleb, that's so thoughtful . . . You know, I was actually getting a little scared. Do you want to stay here and keep Mama safe, sweetie?" He nodded eagerly, and I flipped open the covers so he could climb up and snuggle in. I loved my son so much; he sometimes brought up bad memories, though.
As Caleb snuggled up against me, it reminded me of his conception in New York, right before he was born.
As a member of one of the more powerful witch clans, I was a prime target for a shot against my family. Coming from Ireland, my family had made our home in New York, around seventy years ago. Years later, when I was seventeen, I was off to work when I had been attacked by a man around my age from one of our rival clans. My powers had been neutralized, and my martial arts training couldn't come in handy considering he'd jumped me, carried me off, and tied me to a bed. Nine months later, my little Caleb had been born into the Ravenwood clan. I didn't talk about his conception, and I had refused my parents in their pleas to get rid of him. I had wanted a son anyway, and this gave me an excuse to fly under the radar. Caleb was a long standing name, and it had also been my grandfather's. He'd been the only one to side with me in keeping my son, my own flesh and blood. I loved him all the more for it.
So I had continued to raise my little boy. I got a better job and started taking college classes at night. Grandpa helped me with Caleb while I was at work or school and I'd settled into a routine. If not for Grandfather, my parents probably would have disowned me for keeping their grandson just because he was fathered by someone from an enemy clan. Instead, they didn't have to use that as a way to get me out of New York.
Two years after my first accident, when I was nineteen, I had been mauled by a rogue Werewolf. He'd been totally lost, and I'd lost my classification as "human," afterwards. I had woken up, scared, changed, and animalistic, my powers totally out of whack. Luckily, Grandpa had found me, taken me back and kept me under control using a few charms. It seemed to work well enough. Though, he had admitted, he could only do it for so long until I found my own control. I had to fight her, my wolf, with everything I had. Then the wolf and I came to an agreement. We would fly solo, no packs, no family except for little Caleb and Grandfather. And above all, Caleb stayed safe, at all costs.
When my parents had found out that I'd been changed, they had banished me from their sight and sent out a hit team to try and take me out. Sadly, they hadn't realized that in training me to one day be the Ravenwood Matriarch, they had ruined any sort of chance at destroying me; I was too powerful for the family spell casters. Without my help, they were tactless ruffians: no direction, no real focus just a lot of shooting. That, and the wolf magic helped me, too.
By the time I turned twenty, I was travelling around, nothing but a secure bank account, a car, a trunk full of clothes and a baby to my name. I couldn't put down roots in case either my family finally managed to track me down, a 'were caught wind of me, or someone from an enemy clan tried something. It was a hazardous life, to be sure. But I was content in most ways.
Like right now, for instance. I was cuddled up with my handsome little boy, and I hadn't even scented a Were or someone out for my life, or Caleb's in six months. It didn't get much better.
"Mama?" I glanced down at Caleb. He asked, "Mama, when you gonna be a wolf again? You're real soft then." He yawned, his mouth opening so wide I'm surprised his jaw didn't crack.
I chuckled softly. "Soon, sweetie, very soon." I kissed his head as he fell asleep. I couldn't find sleep as he had, though. I never could after I mentally relive the chain of events from the couple of days after my seventeenth birthday to now. Instead I stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow, I'd be interviewing for a few jobs that I could work either at home or on the run. It was vital that I work that way. I wouldn't risk sending Caleb off to school, so I homeschooled him. Because I homeschooled him, I couldn't work away from home. Luckily, he was already on high level third grade material, so I didn't think he was lacking. That, and he also got his magical education from me. I was exceedingly proud of my son. His social skills would leave somehting to be desired one day, but at least he had a future to speak of because of my choices.
We were just getting adjusted to our new apartment. I had scoped out this place and thought it was perfect. I love the northwest, but there was a feeling that maybe, just maybe, I was a little cocky being this close to the Tri-Cities . . . The last thing I really needed was Hauptman breathing down my neck.
And considering this was really his terf that was without a doubt, invariable.
I just decided that I'd be extra careful and keep Caleb close to me. He knew not to annoy his dear mommy since having the wolf didn't make me an exactly lenient mother. I ruled with an iron fist; if I said to be quiet and stay put, he did so.
From the few encounters I'd had with wolves though, I was exceptionally dominant and not just by female standards. I'd been told by my grandfather that after I had settled into myself, I exuded a powerful aura that, if he hadn't already known me, would have scared him a bit. It was tough being so primitively dominant. When people met my eyes, being human and ignorant, it awakened the Wolf. She didn't care in the least for such actions, and it took every last ounce of my control not to just growl and start beating them over the head with the nearest blunt object.
I glanced at the clock. Six-thirty. Time to get up and prep myself. I also had to get Caleb breakfast, and get him dressed up nicely so he could come in with me. That had always worked well with employers; they could appreciate a young, single mother with such a well mannered, clean child. That and it usually brought up a few pity points, which, hey! If it works, it works.
I rolled out of bed, tucking the covers around Caleb while he snuggled farther in. I showered and popped back out into my bedroom wearing cotton shorts and a white tank top. I never dressed until after I had breakfast on the table. It cut down on a lot of last second stain removals and dry cleaning fees.
I picked up Caleb who never started to wake up until I physically carried him to our little kitchenette and plopped him in a chair. He blinked sleepily, yawning. His wide emerald eyes looked at me. I bent toward the counter and rested my chin on my propped up hands.
"Momma why you always do that?" Caleb rubbed at his eyes. "I needs my beauty rest, you know," he mumbled indignantly.
I chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Get used to it, squirt. We are going to have do this on a regular basis." I fed him, got him dressed, got myself ready, and stuck his DS and games and a book for him in my hand bag so he could occupy himself.
When I parked in front of the large law firm, I felt a foreboding sense run through my bones through to my very core. The wolf in me was mysteriously excited, yet anxious and jumpy. With Caleb with me, he was in the safest place on earth, but if I was attacked, that also meant that he might get into the line of fire. I used a simple muttered charm to check the area, and didn't sense anything amiss, so I shook it off, and pulled my son out of the car. He walked along happily with me, laughing at the funny clacking sound my heels made as they struck the tile. This law firm was looking for someone who could basically play errand girl, so I figured that'd be perfect. I could keep Caleb and teach him while I ran around while on duty.
Today I was wearing my high waisted navy tailored suit. I wasn't a small woman by any means, so my grandfather had made sure that I had some nice work clothes. My crisp white dress shirt was opened showing a modest amount of flesh. My purse was the one I usually used: a blue leather bag large enough to hold anything from toys to heavy file folders and withstand the abuse of it all. One of Grandpa's Christmas gifts from a couple years ago, probably the best gift I had ever gotten. I walked by a tall man with ashy-brown hair with pale blue eyes, somewhat like mine, but with less green. I caught the scent from the air as it blew into my face when I passed and stiffened, grinding to a halt.
He was a 'were. And he was as dominant as I was which meant I couldn't bully him into keeping his mouth shut and ignoring me. This was bad, this was very, very bad. I forced myself to keep walking, pulling Caleb along with me quicker. My job interview forgotten, I ignored the deep voice that called out to me from behind. Normally, you don't run from a werewolf; it called to the predator and then they want to give chase, but I couldn't risk being caught as a female with no pack. I had heard what happens to some females. They get passed around the pack like some kind of sex doll. I couldn't let that happen, especially not with Caleb with me.
The good looking 'were I had passed started to walk after me. I picked up Caleb and started walking a bit faster, taking corners to find an exit of some sort. This was a large office building; there had to be more than one exit. Caleb asked me what was happening, why my eyes were turning the same shade of brilliant sapphire that my wolf had. I shushed him telling him he needed to stay quiet. I turned another left and came face to face with the exit doors. I breathed a sigh of relief. Until I realized that the man was still following me, and he was coming up fast. I started to jog toward where my car was parked on the opposite side of the large parking lot. Sadly, that wasn't really all that easy in heels.
"Miss! I just want a word . . . Goodness, woman! Would you stop?" I heard footsteps start to catch up with me before a large, warm hand wrapped around my upper left arm. Caleb looked at me fearfully before hiding his head against my neck and shoulder, shaking. He knew what kind of auras different types of people gave off, and he knew that werewolves and mommy were not a good mix.
I shook my arm out of his grip as I turned to look up at the were who had chased me. I glared daggers up at the tall man. "What do you want," I asked unceremoniously.
The man looked a little shocked by my brusque manner but shrugged it off. "Are you one of Adam's wolves? I don't think I've seen you around the Tri-cities before." He also seemed off-put by my unwavering gaze. I probably shouldn't have found as much joy as I did in the fact that he seemed to be getting pissed off.
"That's because I'm new to the Tri-cities . . . I mean, I was off to a job interview, but I won't make that now, since I just realized I have a more pressing matters that need to be taken care of." Yeah, like packing up all of mine and Caleb's things, throwing them in our SUV and getting out of dodge, pronto.
The man frowned at Caleb. "How is it you have a child?" He sniffed the air. "You're obviously a werewolf, and you aren't mated . . . Did you adopt?" I stiffened at his inquiry. Instead of answering, I turned and walked, saucily back to my car. Fighting the urge to growl and snarl at the mention of my son, I focused on the staccato beat of my heels hitting the pavement. He ran ahead of me and jumped in my way, forcing me to halt. He eyes were narrowed.
"Who are you," he demanded to know. I growled and angled Caleb away from him. He insisted, "Who are you? You can't possibly be in Adam's pack after that . . . Who's pack are you in?" I tried to go around him but he grabbed the arm that was mostly supporting Caleb.
"Touch me again, and you're losing that hand," I informed the man. Suddenly, realization hit him. His gaze narrowed suspiciously.
"You do not have a pack." His hand tightened on my arm. He was trying to force his dominance on me, but I matched him, and we were stuck at a stalemate.
Dreading what I was just about to do, I snapped, "If I answer you, will you let me go and not breathe a word of me to anyone?" He thought it over before nodding.
"I don't have a pack. My son wasn't adopted, I have no mate, and if you say anything to Hauptman, I will personally hunt you down and kill you. I can't let anyone know about me or my pack-less state. Especially not an Alpha. So if you'd be so kind?" I looked pointed at his grip on my arm, as Caleb whimpered.
The 'were's face softened at the sound. There was a deep sadness and longing in those eyes. He glanced up at me and all of a sudden the wolf roared to the forefront as the man in front of me met my gaze. She, my wolf, I mean, could only convey to me one thing: mine. I gasped as I felt her settle down a bit while I watched the eyes of the man in front of me flash white then back to that same pale blue. All of a sudden a connection or bond of some sort opened up and I realized what had just happened.
My wolf had just claimed the man in front of me as our own, and his must have agreed, because he seemed as shocked as I was. Worse yet, I suddenly knew one thing that was very, very bad: my "mate" was the son of the Marrok. Horror washed over me with this newfound information. He was a doctor, Dr. Samuel Cornick. He was the Welsh son of Bran, the Marrok, who lived in Montana. If there was one thing I could safely say about my life at that moment it was that I was totally screwed, and life sucked.
This Samuel was the son of the Marrok, my mate, and the bane of my existence, hence forth.
