Wen Read online

  “Shut up,” Trayis barked. “You sound like a youth yourself.”

  Gerri laughed. “He didn’t embarrass himself when he got me in bed.”

  The clan leader turned in his seat to look at her but he smiled. “Don’t encourage him.” He reached over and slapped Yern with the back of his hand on the side of his arm. “Stop looking for something to tease Wen over. He’s got it tough enough right now without you adding shit.”

  The sight of her old home came into view and Gerri unbuckled her belt, leaning forward to get a better look at it. Memories of her childhood flashed through her mind, and with them came sadness.

  Yern parked and both men in front got out. Trayis opened her door and inhaled. “Klentz was a good man.”

  She blinked back tears. “He was.”

  “This is your home again.” Trayis took her backpack. “I had it cleaned this morning, since we haven’t had visitors staying here in about a month. Food has been put in the fridge.” He led the way.

  She followed with Yern at her side. More memories surfaced. She’d been so happy being raised in this cabin. She hesitated when they reached the front door, staring at it. Trayis opened it wide and stepped inside first.

  Yern waited for her, so she moved forward. The interior had been painted and the furniture had been upgraded. The coffee table was the only piece she recognized, and she was touched that it was still there. Trayis followed her gaze.

  “I know Klentz carved the dolphin-shaped legs for your mother. We kept it.” Trayis put her bag down. “Gerri?”

  She gave him her full attention.

  “You stay inside for right now. I plan to inform the clan first thing tomorrow that you’re back with us. Most will recognize you but we have youths who won’t. This isn’t a remote home and you’d run into clansmen. Wen’s scent is still with you but I don’t want some overzealous teen to think they’re protecting the clan by grabbing you. They wouldn’t mean to hurt you, but I won’t risk you being bruised up or hauled in. Yern will be outside on guard duty. His brothers will switch shifts with him. You’re to have round-the-clock protection.”

  “Wen’s parents?” She didn’t fear anyone else in the clan.

  “They are unstable.” Trayis stepped closer. “Wen will deal with them, or I will. One way or another, this is a temporary solution. I refuse to have you in danger with our clan.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s good to have you back where you belong. Now I have to go meet with Wen.”

  Her heart sped up. “Does he know I’m here?”

  Trayis shook his head. “I plan to go home and shower, change my clothes, before I see him. He’ll find out tomorrow with the rest of the clan. I want to give him more time to think about all the horrible things that could happen to you in the human world.” Golden streaks flared in his brown eyes and that mischievous look returned.

  “You’re going to give him some shit,” Yern chuckled. “No fair.”

  “That’s why I’m clan leader and you’re an enforcer.” Trayis winked at Gerri. “Stay inside. Promise? Tomorrow morning I’ll come for you and hold that clan meeting. We’ll hold it around nine.”

  “You have my word. I’ll eat and then sleep. I didn’t get more than a few hours last night.”

  Trayis left and she faced Yern. “Are you hungry?”

  “No, but thanks. I’m going to go outside. Do you need anything before I leave?”

  “You can stay in here.”

  “It’s against orders. I’m to patrol outside, and hell, when Wen does find out you arrived today, he’ll try to kick my ass if I spent the night alone with you.” His gaze lowered and he shook his head. “You have boobs. I’m so not getting over that. I was sure you’d be flat as a pancake.”

  She laughed. “Fine. If you get hungry or don’t want to piss on a tree, I’ll leave the door unlocked. I can still do that here, can’t I?”

  “Yeah. No one is going to hurt you.”

  “Trayis wouldn’t tell me the truth so I didn’t bother to ask him. Will my being here cause him any trouble?”

  Yern shook his head. “You’re clan, Gerri. Always have been. I know some of the adults were assholes about not trusting you when you were a child, but you never betrayed us.” His expression tensed. “We have bigger things to worry about these days.”

  “Like what?”

  “Whatever underhanded thing Decker will do. You helped Wen on his mission, so I know you’re aware that the son of a bitch sent a nest to attack his old clan. Some worry he’ll expose us to humans next and send them here.”

  “He’s still the boogeyman.”

  Yern nodded. “Pure evil. We all long for the day he dies. We’re finally at peace with his old clan and united though. They visit us and we visit them.”

  She thought about her house. “Where will they stay if they come to visit, now that I’m here?”

  “We have a few other cabins we built. This home was only used since no one lived here.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Now someone does.”

  He turned, closing the front door closed behind him.

  Gerri made a slow circle, taking in the large room. It was good to be home.

  * * * * *

  Wen went over every detail of what had taken place in Washington. Trayis had called in a few of the enforcers to be present at the meeting. He’d been relieved that no one questioned it when he’d skipped over his private time with Gerri. He wasn’t about to share those moments with his clan.

  Trayis had food brought in and they ate dinner together as they discussion the mission.

  “Why do you smell like Tymber?” one of the enforcers asked.

  Wen opened his mouth to respond but his friend spoke first.

  “Because he was injured still when he arrived. You’ve met our human lawyer. There’s not much meat on her bones. Wen didn’t want to take too much blood. I gave him some of mine. If you have a problem with that, or want to give me shit over it, I promise to never let you bite me if you’re hurt in battle.”

  Kavler grinned. “Where’d he bite you?”

  Tymber lifted his middle finger. “Right here.”

  “I’ll call this meeting to an end, since it’s obvious we’re all relieved the threat has been taken care of. I’ll share the details with the other clans.” Trayis smiled though. “Go. Wen, you stay. The clans might have questions for you.”

  Everyone left, leaving him alone with his clan leader. Trayis didn’t reach for his phone though, instead leaning back in his chair.

  Wen regarded him with a frown. “I thought you were contacting the other clans.”

  “No need. They know the highlights I’d gotten from Graves and then you over the phone. Horton is dead. That’s all that matters. I wanted to talk about your parents. No one else needed to know that.”

  “My father attacked me first. I slashed his arms to prevent him from doing me harm.”

  “I figured. He’s healed. I saw your father before the meeting. He wants me to punish you for attacking an elder.”

  Wen couldn’t say he was shocked. “What’s my punishment?”

  “Having Mandro as a father. I told him he was lucky you didn’t take his arms off for attacking you. What he didn’t tell me was what prompted the fight. It had to be bad, since you normally tolerate a lot of shit from him.”

  “They found a woman from Crocker’s clan willing to breed a child with me, and she didn’t want a mate.”

  “Fuck.”

  “I guess they figured I’d do it, have nothing to do with my own child, and they could help her raise it.” Anger filled him again at the thought. “I said no, and all hell broke loose. Didn’t Tymber report that to you? He was outside.”

  “His orders were to stick close to you, not tattle. I figured your parents would pull some shit and I wasn’t around to deal with it. I asked him to.”

  “Where were you?” Wen instantly regretted the question. It wasn’t his place to ask. “I apologize.”

&n