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So Rand had expected some posturing, some wariness from the pack leader. But even before Fane's cryptic comment, he could tell more was going on.
When Rand invited Fane to take a seat on a fallen log so they could talk, the shifter looked as if he might refuse. His body language remained exceptionally rigid. Since Fane kept Cai upwind and in his view, Rand might have attributed it to suspicion of another species, but Fane seemed even more suspicious of Rand.
Since Fane wasn't being forthcoming on the conversation side of things, Rand decided to start with why they were here and see if that broke anything loose in Fane's attitude. As Rand briefly explained their mission, Cai stayed sitting against the tree. Picking up a branch, he began to whittle on it with his gleaming knife, probably his attempt to look as harmless as possible.
Though the vampire could choose to shoot his mouth off at the most inauspicious times, apparently vampire authority figures triggered that trait quicker than a potential wolf ally. Rand counted it as a surprising blessing with a limited shelf life. He had no doubt, despite his disinterested facade, that Cai was listening to their exchange intently.
All that was fine. What wasn't fine was how often the vampire's gaze strayed over Fane's body with lingering appreciation as the shifter rested his elbows on his splayed knees, head bowed in concentration over Rand's words. Fane's long ropes of hair slid forward over his brown shoulders.
Cut it out, Cai. He's already acting twitchy. If he figures out you're eyeing him, he could get aggressive and less cooperative. Most wolves aren't that tolerant of males who prefer their own gender.
Sure you're not just jealous?
He suspected the vampire could tell exactly what Rand's reactions were. He couldn't help his wolf's possessiveness; it was that mating instinct again, which could be tripped even after a casual coupling. Rand knew how to recognize it, and manage it for what it was. He just wasn't used to someone being able to pick up on it. He turned his attention back to Fane.
"We've no intent of pulling your pack into this. I'm just asking if you've seen them. Cai says they're likely a small group, three to five vampires, because Trads don't like to congregate much. Especially not this group. They'd have a female vampire with them."
Fane lifted his head. For the first time, he seemed to really focus on Rand, see him, though his dark gaze shifted from Rand to Cai, and back to Rand again. When he spoke, he went a different direction, as if Rand's information had been addressing other, far more important questions he had. And he wasn't satisfied with the answers.
"Why aren't you with a pack, Rand? News travels. There was talk. It's said that you killed Grey." Fane's jaw set. "And a litter of his pups."
"What?"
Aggression and affront came quickly. Rand was off the log and taking a step toward the other shifter in mindless reaction. Fane came to his feet and Rand felt Cai tense. I've got this.
Then calm him down or calm yourself down, because if he goes for you, I'm not sitting out.
That was unexpected, but maybe vampires had their own streak of possessiveness. Or maybe it was just as simple as no one got to mangle a vampire's toys while he was still playing with them.
Cute. Asshole. But he could feel Cai's affront on his behalf, reinforced by the vampire's next thought. But killing kids? Does this fucking guy know anything about you?
It echoed Rand's sentiments, but he tried to contain his temper. "How long have you known me, Fane?" he asked, quiet and cold. "In what universe would I ever harm a pup?"
"I've known you," the male said evenly, not backing away or breaking eye contact. "But no one has seen you for over two years. I haven't seen or heard from you in longer than that. Now you show up traveling with a vampire. One whose scent is all over you." His gaze grew equally cool. "Word is, you got angry when Dylef mated with Sheba. You killed them and their litter of pups, as well as Sylvan's, and torched their house. That's why you dropped out of sight."
Rand's mind stopped for a full second, struggling with the idea that anyone could think...but then, realistically, how could they not? The house had been on fire, and, remote as they were, that would attract attention. He'd only had time to put the bodies killed outside the house into the flames before he'd had to shift and leave.
He'd hated throwing Grey's in with them, since it was the only burial site his family had, but without dental records or other ways to identify the bodies, there needed to be a body that could pass as his. Grey's followers had run with their tails between their legs, but he should have anticipated they would spread lies. Lies that had only grown, without him appearing in any shifter's territory to provide a different story and defend himself.
The Colorado shifters might have doubted the story, being more familiar with Grey and his betas, but shifters on this side of the country wouldn't have that background. The betas could easily make up stories about their own origins, so they became strangers merely relaying local shifter news they'd "heard."
Vindictive bastards, trying to make sure you couldn't find a place for yourself if you surfaced. After we get done here, we'll run their asses down and set them on fire. We'll skip the killing-them-first step. More fun the other way.
Cai sounded like he meant it, though Rand couldn't answer, his brain spinning.
Fane was studying the reactions on Rand's face. "There are wolves out there who have said, if and when you ever surfaced again, we should kill you on sight. Put you down like a rabid dog."
Cai rose, sheathing the blade. He didn't move away from the tree, but by standing and leaning against it, he made his readiness clear. "I would reevaluate that idea," he said mildly.
Rand didn't bother to tell the vampire to back down this time. It didn't feel bad, with the ground turned to quicksand beneath his paws--or rather, feet--to have someone who could see the full truth of all of it in his mind.
"The male I knew would not have done such a thing," Fane continued. "But I need to hear what the story is and decide for myself."
The urge to tell him to piss off if he was going to believe such bullshit was kneejerk testosterone. But Rand reminded himself if he were in Fane's position, he would have the same need to verify.
Rand sat back down on the log and gestured, inviting Fane to do the same. Fane warily complied as Rand prepared himself to say the terrible words. "You probably heard Sylvan was killed during a challenge?"
Fane nodded, his expression getting more serious. "It was a grievous loss to all of us. I wondered why the challenger took it so far."
"Because Grey was a sadistic bastard. He tried to kill Sheba and Sylvan's pups. Some of the pack, including Dylef and me, fought him. We got Sheba and Sylvan's pups out of harm's way before he could kill them. Over time, we decided to form our own pack. I mated with Sheba."
Fane's dark brows lifted in surprise, but Rand pressed forward. "We relocated in Tennessee. We talked about finding you, about reaching out, so many times over those several years. I wish to God we had. I knew you'd gone mostly off grid and we wanted to respect your reasons for doing that, not interfere with it. Dylef and Sheba...they wanted to be closer to human civilization. And I guess maybe, somewhere in the backs of our minds, we knew that...we weren't entirely safe. But we weren't wary enough."
He paused, then pushed onward. "We figured as long as we put a good distance between us and Grey, he'd let things lie. We were wrong. He was obsessed with having Sheba as his own. He came after us. He didn't observe the rituals."
Rand swallowed and shifted his gaze to the forest. He could never say it without seeing it in his mind, but maybe it was good that Fane could see his reaction. All he knew was he wanted to reach some point in his life he never had to say it again.
"He and his betas killed Dylef and Sheba. And all the pups. I killed him, and Sylvan's boys took out a couple of his followers, but all too late."
Rand's voice had gone flat, but over by his tree, Cai felt what it took out of his soul, every time he had to say the words, opening a wound that neve
r fully closed. He wanted to get up, get in Fane's face and tell him to fuck off. Rand's honesty, guilt, and ironclad honor emanated off him like a cloud of Boy Scout cologne mixed with Superman and choir boy aftershave. It was damned annoying, but impossible to miss, even by the completely clueless.
Rand cleared his throat. "From your version of the tale, I'm assuming some of Grey's surviving betas have spread the lies to have me ostracized, if I sought another pack."
Fane's expression relaxed into sadness and anger. "I can smell the grief upon you," the male said softly, reaching out to touch Rand's stiff shoulder. "I'm so very sorry." He dipped his head, a gesture that was both human and oddly wolfish.
"You are the male I once knew," he said formally. "Your strength as a hunter and a protector is welcome at our table and under our roof."
"Thank you, Fane." Rand bowed his head in the same gratitude and deference. "I am honored."
Vampires were duplicitous and intensely political, so Cai was surprised that the resolution was that simple between them, but then he remembered what Rand had said. Wolves had instinct and highly developed scent skills that were better than polygraph tests. They knew what was truth and bullshit, simply by asking for the answer to their questions. Lie detectors. Plus, Fane had known Rand before, so there was history there.
"Is it only your grief that has kept you from seeking a pack?" Fane asked. From his direct expression, he revealed the question wasn't an idle follow up. Which made Cai guess he already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear Rand say it.
"Yes, and no." Rand's gaze reflected the same awareness. "I prefer males exclusively, Fane. That's why you smell the vampire...all over me. From your look of surprise when I mentioned mating with Sheba, I expect this isn't news to you. You suspected."
