Howling Moon Part 23

"I'll be there." She stood. There was an awkward moment, where neither of them knew exactly what to do. Suddenly she leaned forward to give him a fierce hug. "I'm glad I got to meet you. It explains a lot about Raven."

"Good or bad?" he teased.

"Both." She smiled when she said it, but pulled away. "I've got to go."

"Come back soon," Raphael ordered.

From the parking lot Emma waved and blew him a kiss. Raphael laughed and returned her wave. He watched her drive off, thinking that Raven was a very lucky man, and wondering if he had any idea just how much Emma loved him.

He was still staring out at the snowy landscape when the cell phone rang. Raphael hit the b.u.t.ton and put it to his ear. "Ramirez."

"Raphael, it's David Streeter."

"David! It's good to hear from you!" After a few more pleasantries, Raphael explained what he needed from him at the meeting tonight. David was nervous, but understood the problem. They ended the call by agreeing to meet for dinner to go over any details.

Busy as Raphael was, the time flew by. The lunch hour pa.s.sed unnoticed, as did the early portion of the afternoon. It seemed like only minutes had pa.s.sed before it was time for him to go home and get ready for dinner and what just might be the most dangerous pack meeting of his life.

CAT BERATED HERSELF, telling herself she was being an idiot. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her ragged nerves. It was one thing to tell Charles she was willing to deal with the pack. It was quite another to actually do it. Her stomach did a little flip-flop as she paced barefoot over the thick carpet. She tried to rea.s.sure herself that she's be fine, reminded herself that she'd been the one to insist to Charles that she go. It didn't matter. telling herself she was being an idiot. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her ragged nerves. It was one thing to tell Charles she was willing to deal with the pack. It was quite another to actually do it. Her stomach did a little flip-flop as she paced barefoot over the thick carpet. She tried to rea.s.sure herself that she's be fine, reminded herself that she'd been the one to insist to Charles that she go. It didn't matter.

She checked her appearance in the mirror again. Her raw silk suit was caramel colored, tailored to show every curve, its skirt long enough to be businesslike, but short enough to show off a pair of very shapely legs. Her blouse was the color of black coffee, and exactly matched the pumps and purse that lay on the bed. Even her jewelry was old-school cla.s.sic: a heavy brushed gold chain with matching earrings.

The clothing was fine. She'd pulled her hair into a French braid. It looked both simple and tasteful. She'd used more makeup than usual, but her skin still looked pale. All in all she looked every inch the elegant businesswoman.

"Are you ready?" Ivan asked.

"I wish I had some of that stuff you use to mask your scent. I can manage to look look calm, but one whiff and they're going to know I'm terrified." calm, but one whiff and they're going to know I'm terrified."

Ivan gave her a long, a.s.sessing look. "You "You are not even supposed to know about such things." are not even supposed to know about such things."

Cat wasn't sure what to say. She hadn't intentionally eavesdropped on Ivan's thoughts, but he had had been thinking how very bad it was for her to smell terrified when heading into the pack meeting, and wondering whether Charles would be angry if he sprayed her with the Wolven cologne. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen in. It was an accident." been thinking how very bad it was for her to smell terrified when heading into the pack meeting, and wondering whether Charles would be angry if he sprayed her with the Wolven cologne. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen in. It was an accident."

"An accident?" accident?"

The door to the suite opened and Raven stepped inside. "Is everybody ready to go?"

"Give us a moment," Ivan ordered. Raven nodded and stepped back into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind him.

Ivan glared at his charge. "When this is over Cat, you and I will be having a talk about ethics. You do not not go rummaging around in people's minds. That's a sure way to get a visit from one of us that's not go rummaging around in people's minds. That's a sure way to get a visit from one of us that's not social social in nature." in nature."

She swallowed hard. Even not completely knowing what he meant, she was pretty sure it was bad. "Yes, sir."

"Don't do it again." do it again."

Nodding, she said, "I won't."

"Good."

Cat started to step forward, but Ivan held her back with one strong arm. With his other hand he used a spray bottle to douse her liberally with cologne.

The bottle disappeared into the pocket of his jacket. "You didn't see that, and know nothing about it. Now get your shoes and purse and we'll be on our way."

"Yes, sir." Cat smiled faintly until she noticed his frown, and then hurried into the bedroom to comply.

Raven's nostrils twitched as she stepped through the door into the hall. One dark eyebrow arched upward, but he didn't say a word. Instead, he walked two steps ahead of her, looking grim and dangerous in all black, the platinum band that held his gleaming hip-length hair back the only accent. Ivan took up the rear position, and though he wore an elegantly cut gray business suit, he would never be mistaken for anything other than a bodyguard.

People stared openly as they moved through the lobby and out to the long white limousine that was waiting at the front doors of the hotel.

It was a long drive up to Boulder, but Ivan didn't seem inclined toward conversation. Instead, the three of them listened to the muted strains of Chopin's Nocturnes. The music slowly worked its magic, soothing Cat's frayed nerves, so that by the time the car pulled up to pack headquarters she was more herself.

Raven held the car door open for her. As she stepped onto the curb Cat looked around. The parking lot was packed with vehicles. Every light in the school building appeared to be on, and Peter, dressed in a navy suit, stood stationed at the door to greet them.

Peter opened the door and held it for them as they approached the building. In the distance Cat could hear the murmuring of a crowd in the background and the sound of someone running a test on a microphone and sound system. She fought down a wave of panic-induced nausea. Standing tall and proud she followed Raven through the gymnasium doors with Ivan guarding her back. They walked the length of the hardwood between bleachers filled with suddenly silent spectators to the black draped stage mat had been erected at the far end of the room.

There were three separate tables ranged behind the podium at the front of the stage. Raven led Cat to the table on the left where Holly sat next to an empty chair, looking frankly terrified. He held the chair, scooting it under her as she sat before taking his own seat at the large center table with his father, Ivan, Lucas, and Charles. On the far side of the stage, at a table directly opposite Holly and Cat, sat Betty and Tatya. Both were wearing black, both were silent and grim. When everyone had taken their places, Raphael rose.

He looked good. Cat had never seen him in dress clothes before. The crisply tailored gray linen slacks and black dress s.h.i.+rt suited his dark good looks. His hair was freshly cut, his face shaved to perfect smoothness. He didn't look at her as he strode to the center of the stage. He spoke without using the microphone, but his voice carried clearly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, pack members and family, I have invited you here today for a number of reasons. As many of you already know, Lucas Santiago has been selected to take over the administration of Wolven." There was a smattering of applause for the honor, which Lucas acknowledged with a slight nod of his head. "He has voluntarily stepped down as Alpha of this pack. As is the case when any pack leader chooses to leave his post, the Second becomes Alpha."

All eyes followed Raphael as he stepped down from the stage and strode across the gym. When he reached the center of the floor he called out in a ringing voice that echoed through the room. "I claim the position of Alpha Male of the Boulder pack. Do any here challenge me for that right?" He turned, his gaze locking very deliberately with that of Martin Black. There was a long, breathless silence. Without bothering to look at anyone else in the room he continued. "Does anyone anyone dispute my fitness to lead or question my judgments?" dispute my fitness to lead or question my judgments?"

A dark flush crawled up Martin's neck, and Cat could see the muscles of his jaws clench. But still he remained silent.

"Does anyone challenge challenge me in my rule?" me in my rule?"

He let the breathless silence drag on. No one moved. No one seemed to dare breathe.

"Good." He smiled. "There has been a personal personal challenge regarding mating issues. As it doesn't directly affect pack administration, we will challenge regarding mating issues. As it doesn't directly affect pack administration, we will not not be dealing with it until the end of this meeting." be dealing with it until the end of this meeting."

He walked back to the edge of the stage, but didn't climb up onto the dais. "Lucas Santiago has been a brilliant pack leader for decades. The pack has prospered under his leaders.h.i.+p, and I am grateful for everything he has done for us."

Several people called out their a.s.sent to this. Raphael and Lucas both smiled.

"But every pack leader does things in his own way and makes the changes he feels are necessary and in the best interests of the pack."

"My first act as Alpha was to call for this meeting, to address discipline problems within the pack. My second, unfortunately, was to enforce the most sacred laws of our people that had been deliberately violated."

Raphael looked around the room, his eyes locking with those of many of the spectators. Always, they were the first to look away. Cat understood from her training that it was the custom among the pack members but there was more to it than that.

"I have heard that there are those who say that by 'turning' a human we would be 'doing them a favor.'" Raphael's bitterness was palpable. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Now I will show you why. For those of you who didn't know, your friend, your cla.s.smate, Candy Streeter, did not not move away. She was murdered." He waited until the whispers and murmurs from the crowd had died down. "One tiny scratch from a friend, move away. She was murdered." He waited until the whispers and murmurs from the crowd had died down. "One tiny scratch from a friend, doing her a favor, doing her a favor, and you're about to watch the result." and you're about to watch the result."

As he had been speaking, Peter looking ashen and trembling had quietly wheeled in a cart with a projector on it. He set it up while Raphael held everyone's attention. At Raphael's cue he dimmed the lights and hit the switch that lowered a large projection screen from the ceiling. Candy Streeter's first full moon came onto the screen. Her screams echoed off the cinder-block walls and lofty ceiling.

Cat sat rigidly in her seat, her back turned to the screen. She'd seen it before lived through it in Raphael's mind. But she couldn't ignore Holly's sobs beside her.

She would not not throw up. She throw up. She wouldn't. wouldn't. But many others did, and not all of the screams and sobs were coming from the speakers or from Holly. When the tape finished and the lights came back on, not one member of the audience wasn't shaken. But many others did, and not all of the screams and sobs were coming from the speakers or from Holly. When the tape finished and the lights came back on, not one member of the audience wasn't shaken.

Raphael climbed onto the stage. He stood, tall and commanding in front of the podium. "To change a human other than in self-defense is a capital crime. Yesterday, members of this pack deliberately attacked Cat Turner and Holly Sanchez, a human family member. Those who did it have been punished. But that does not change the fact that the next full moon may be Holly's last."

There were gasps of shock. All eyes s.h.i.+fted to the table where Holly and Cat sat. Under the table, Cat reached for her friend's cool, trembling hand and held it firmly. Holly was holding onto her control with teeth and toenails as she avoided the collective gaze of the pack on her. In the background Peter discreetly unplugged the AV equipment and removed the screen before wheeling the cart out of the gym.

"But the attempt they made was made possible by actions of two other, senior, pack members both of whom should have known better." He gestured to the table where Betty and Tatya sat rigidly. "I have consulted with Wolven and the Chief Justice, and we find that Betty Perdue and Tatiana Santiago have gravely damaged Cat Turner and Holly Sanchez."

There were gasps throughout the room. Cat turned to stare at Raphael. She didn't remember much from those training books, but that that she remembered. If you injured someone, she was ent.i.tled to claim damages commensurate with the injury the ultimate eye for an eye. she remembered. If you injured someone, she was ent.i.tled to claim damages commensurate with the injury the ultimate eye for an eye. Grave Grave damage meant that if she or Holly wanted it, Betty and Tatya would be killed. damage meant that if she or Holly wanted it, Betty and Tatya would be killed.

"Holly Sanchez, do you wish to claim your damages from Betty Perdue and Tatiana Santiago?"

Holly's face moved from rage to pain to emotionless. But finally, after a long pause, she replied. "No."

"Cat Turner, do you you wish to claim the damages you are due from Betty Perdue and Tatiana Santiago?" wish to claim the damages you are due from Betty Perdue and Tatiana Santiago?"

What good would it do? Two more deaths in a string of other deaths? More people hurting as much as she did? She shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. "No."

Cat opened her eyes and watched as Lucas let out the breath he had been holding. Betty and Tatya both sagged a little bit in their seats. It was obvious they'd believed she'd do it.

Many people would have. Charles's voice came clearly into her mind.

Raphael continued to speak. Cat could hear him in the background talking about Betty and Tatya being brought before the council on charges regarding a breach of medical ethics. But her mind was on her internal conversation with her G.o.dfather.

You sound as though you don't approve.

She could hear him sigh in her mind. It wasn't my choice to make. It was a merciful decision. I just hope you don't live to regret it.

The meeting seemed to stretch on forever. It wasn't boring. It was exhausting. Cat was completely drained in no time and her mind began to wander. She couldn't imagine how Raphael kept going.

Cat brought her wandering mind back to the present abruptly at the sound of Raphael saying her name.

"Cat Turner has purchased a section of land that has traditionally been used for pack hunting." There were audible growls at that point, and pack members began s.h.i.+fting restlessly in their seats. Cat could feel their hatred beating at her.

"Ms. Turner agreed to this purchase after the pack had exercised its right of first refusal!" after the pack had exercised its right of first refusal!" Raphael cast a glance at Tatya, who blushed and hung her head in obvious acknowledgment of her part in that refusal. Raphael cast a glance at Tatya, who blushed and hung her head in obvious acknowledgment of her part in that refusal.

The crowd was still muttering, but they sounded marginally less aggressive.

Raphael turned back to the crowd and continued. "I have been informed that a pet.i.tion will be made before the council for her to retain full possession of that property, fn light of the attack on her, it is likely that the pet.i.tion will be granted." He raised one hand to still their protests. "It is my hope hope that if this happens, Ms. Turner will negotiate with the pack regarding hunting rights." that if this happens, Ms. Turner will negotiate with the pack regarding hunting rights."

Cat heard someone, she couldn't see who, shout out that they shouldn't have have to negotiate. It was their land d.a.m.n it! Let the cat go somewhere else. Another anonymous speaker questioned whether Raphael was to negotiate. It was their land d.a.m.n it! Let the cat go somewhere else. Another anonymous speaker questioned whether Raphael was capable capable of putting the pack interests before those of his of putting the pack interests before those of his mate. mate.

There were more than a few gasps throughout the room at that that bit of news, and Charles's expression grew murderous. bit of news, and Charles's expression grew murderous.

Just like that the cat Cat snickered despite herself was out of the bag. There was no keeping something from Jack if the whole pack knew. G.o.d alone knew what Jack would do about it. He'd do something, though. She was sure of it.

Raphael's face darkened with anger. His granite expression frightened Cat and he gestured toward the crowd. But before he could speak there was the thud of a body impacting against the the gymnasium doors. The doors then slammed open with a bang. Three men stood framed in the doorway. Two wore traditional Arab garb; the third, an exquisitely tailored business suit. gymnasium doors. The doors then slammed open with a bang. Three men stood framed in the doorway. Two wore traditional Arab garb; the third, an exquisitely tailored business suit.

Low growls erupted throughout the room, all of which were loftily ignored by the intruders, who strode arrogantly across the the gymnasium, stopping only to give the briefest of bows to gymnasium, stopping only to give the briefest of bows to the the Chief Justice, who stood center stage. Ivan was now a protective presence at Cat's back, and she was grateful for it. She didn't know who these intruders were, but she could sense they were dangerous. Chief Justice, who stood center stage. Ivan was now a protective presence at Cat's back, and she was grateful for it. She didn't know who these intruders were, but she could sense they were dangerous.

Raphael dropped his s.h.i.+elds. Suddenly she could hear his thoughts, sense what he was feeling. She felt both his anger at the betrayal of one of his people, and the wary mistrust he had for the intruders. His name is Ahmad al-Narmer. He is the council representative for the snakes, a friend of Jack's, and a very old enemy of mine.

She watched as Raphael's golden eyes scanned the crowd. Someone had betrayed him, invited his enemy to this very private meeting, and Raphael intended to find out who.

Nearly every face showed surprise and mistrust mingled with fear. Only Martin and Daphne Black appeared unmoved. They didn't even seem bothered by the fact that their son lay unconscious and very still in the gymnasium doorway.

Peter wouldn't support his father in this. He's loyal to Lucas, and to me. There was grat.i.tude and pride in those words. Raphael knew it had to have been hard on Peter to make that choice. There was no doubt that for all their faults, he loved his parents. Martin wanted the pack. He was trying to undercut Raphael's authority, make a move to take over the pack leaders.h.i.+p. Raphael could see the realization dawn in Lucas's eyes. Ahmad would push for capital punishment for Michael's crimes. If Raphael refused he risked appearing weak before the pack. That combined with the pack's mistrust for Cat could trigger a riot or revolt.

Cat, mind-speak to Betty. Have her go tend to Peter.

Right.

Cat did as he bid, and saw Betty discreetly leave her seat to climb down from the stage and head to the doorway.

"And to what do we owe this honor, honor, Councilman?" Raphael's voice brought Cat's attention back to the main action. He didn't bother to hide his displeasure. She saw his thoughts. This was his pack, his territory. Ahmad was a trespa.s.ser, an interloper. Councilman or no, it was for him to explain why he should not be killed outright. That he came with only two bodyguards Three. Cat corrected him in his mind. Councilman?" Raphael's voice brought Cat's attention back to the main action. He didn't bother to hide his displeasure. She saw his thoughts. This was his pack, his territory. Ahmad was a trespa.s.ser, an interloper. Councilman or no, it was for him to explain why he should not be killed outright. That he came with only two bodyguards Three. Cat corrected him in his mind.

Are you sure?

He left one behind in the hall. It's in snake form. I heard him s.h.i.+ft.

Raphael bared his teeth at the leader of the snakes. "Councilman, please bid your third guard to come join us. There's no need for him to be left out."

Ahmad's visage darkened, his eyes narrowing. After a long moment he gestured. A huge cobra slithered through the doorway, its scales making a soft hissing noise as it slid across the hardwood. Cat noticed that several people sitting on the first row of bleachers moved to higher ground as the snake pa.s.sed by.

"So, Councilman. Why have you chosen to join us, and without even giving us the opportunity to prepare a suitable welcome?" Raphael was not growling. His words were perfectly polite, but there was a hint of sharpened steel beneath the velvet. "I am surprised surprised you chose to omit the customary courtesies." you chose to omit the customary courtesies."

Ahmad tilted his head slightly. It was the traditional gesture of deference between equals, but he managed to make the movement somewhat ironic. When he spoke there was the slightest hint of amus.e.m.e.nt in his voice. "Apparently there has been a... miscommunication! miscommunication! My people made arrangements for this visit with your Second, Raphael. Or Lucas's Third. Under the circ.u.mstances I'm not sure how to refer to him." Ahmad turned a calm gaze to Martin, who looked as though he'd been forced to swallow something large and unpleasant. "I'm My people made arrangements for this visit with your Second, Raphael. Or Lucas's Third. Under the circ.u.mstances I'm not sure how to refer to him." Ahmad turned a calm gaze to Martin, who looked as though he'd been forced to swallow something large and unpleasant. "I'm astonished astonished that you weren't advised." that you weren't advised."

Even from this distance Cat smelled the black pepper of a lie, but far stronger was the orange scent of amus.e.m.e.nt. The snake was enjoying enjoying this. this.

"Martin Black," Raphael's voice rang through the clearing. "Come forth."

Cat watched as Peter's father stepped out of the crowd. He was a handsome man, tall and blond, with a square jaw and strong features. But Cat instinctively disliked him. It might be Raphael's impressions bleeding over on her, but she didn't think so. Something about the way he stood, the way his eyes were constantly scanning the crowd, made her distrust him. Everything about Peter was honest and open. His father was demonstrably not.

Raphael didn't give Martin a chance to explain. He gave him no chance at all. Before the man had even come to a stop there was a s.h.i.+mmer of magic. A huge black wolf leapt, attacking the other man with teeth and claws.

Blood sprayed through the air in a wide arc. Martin fell to the floor with Raphael riding him. He s.h.i.+fted in a s.h.i.+mmer of power. He was a large, traditionally marked wolf. But even though he was larger than Raphael he was struggling to fight back, to defend himself.

It was a mistake. She realized he had earned a harsh punishment for going behind the Alpha's back and for humiliating his pack leader in front of visiting dignitaries. Raphael was expected expected to do exactly what he was doing. His form began to glow blue with the power of his magic until it hurt her eyes to look at him. Cat felt a surge of heat. She and everyone else in the gymnasium watched in shocked silence as with only the power of his mind Raphael threw Martin's body more than twenty feet across the room to slam into the cinder-block wall. If he still breathed, Cat couldn't see it. to do exactly what he was doing. His form began to glow blue with the power of his magic until it hurt her eyes to look at him. Cat felt a surge of heat. She and everyone else in the gymnasium watched in shocked silence as with only the power of his mind Raphael threw Martin's body more than twenty feet across the room to slam into the cinder-block wall. If he still breathed, Cat couldn't see it.

The room was utterly silent for a long moment. Then, one by one, every wolf in die building, including Raven, sank to his knees in acknowledgment of Raphael's authority until Lucas and Raphael were the only wolves still standing. Neither Ahmad nor his men had moved more than a finger's breadth, although their clothing had been liberally splattered with Martin's blood.

"MICHAEL S SANTIAGO, COME forth." Raphael's voice was calm and clear. He was not the least bit winded. forth." Raphael's voice was calm and clear. He was not the least bit winded.

Michael was still in human form. He wore faded blue jeans and a plain white T-s.h.i.+rt that stretched taut across his muscular chest. He belly-crawled in human form across the floor until he lay facedown at Raphael's feet.

Raphael didn't bother to look down for a long moment. Instead, his eyes were first for Ahmad, then Lucas. Cat could feel something something pa.s.s between the eyes of the two wolves, but she couldn't comprehend it. Their communication was almost an emotional shorthand, the kind of nonverbal communication that only came from years, decades, of working closely together. pa.s.s between the eyes of the two wolves, but she couldn't comprehend it. Their communication was almost an emotional shorthand, the kind of nonverbal communication that only came from years, decades, of working closely together.

"One of the most solemn duties of the Alpha Male of a pack must enforce the laws of our people and dispense justice." Raphael gave a nod of his huge head to where Martin was just starting to stir.