"Ashe, they’ll try to pull you to them," Nathan said. "I had a choice when Aedan made me. He asked me as I lay dying upon the road. I was attacked by thieves," he added. "Aedan appeared and asked me if I wanted to live, no matter what. I said yes. I woke four days later thirsty for blood. You, on the other hand, may not be given a choice."
"Yeah," Ashe nodded, staring at his shoes. "Nathan, I’m sorry if your life has been difficult." Ashe nudged a small rock with the toe of his athletic shoe. It skittered down the paved street a short way before rolling to a stop. Ashe sighed as he watched it.
"It has been bliss, the past fifty-one years," Nathan replied softly. "I hope for another fifty years or more with my Lavonna. And my daughters."
"I hope you have that and more," Ashe said.
"I won't ask that you forgive the Council or any vampire, Ashe," Nathan said. "They can be quite selfish at times in their desire to protect the race."
"I’m glad you won't ask," Ashe said. "Because I won't forgive them. When Dad leaves tomorrow, I don't think things will ever be the same again." Ashe walked away from Nathan.
"If it ever comes to it, try not to let them know you're not susceptible to compulsion. Unless you're ready to defend yourself against them," Nathan called out softly.
"Don't worry about that, all right?" Ashe walked faster.
* * *
"Who wants to take this?" Winkler eyed Dexter with distaste. Trajan, Trace, Marcus, Marco and Ace had all come to a vacant portion of Shirley Walker's groves. Plowed ground and piles of dead vegetation surrounded them as Dexter Beesley's fate was considered.
"I’ll take it," Ace began to unbutton his shirt.
"No. Dad," Marco looked at his father. "It's time I bloodied my muzzle."
"Then do it, son. Don't stop until it's finished," Marcus commanded. Marco jerked his head in a brief nod.
"Come on, filth," Marco growled at Dexter. Winkler and Trajan began to remove the chains from Dexter Beesley's hands and feet. "Get out of your clothes and turn."
* * *
When Ashe arrived at his home late the evening before, his parents had taken the SUV and driven away. He didn't hear them come in until nearly daybreak. Ashe didn't know what that might mean. His mother had gone to bed immediately after, his father had locked himself inside his underground shelter. Ashe, lying in bed awake, hadn't gotten to speak with either of them. He tiptoed out of the house after putting breakfast together and walked past the DeLuca's house to get to the beach for a run. Bear Wright was just coming back from a walk, carrying a few shells in rather large hands.
"This is a lettered olive," Bear held up a brown-patterned shell. It was two inches long and appeared smooth and shiny. "Olives are like that, right after the animal dies. If they lie in the sun too long after washing up, the shell will be bleached white." Ashe fingered the smooth shell in his hands. That's what he felt like that morning—an empty shell. He might appear smooth and normal on the outside, but his insides had been emptied out. He was hollow. His life would never be the same. He knew that, now.
"Looks like you had a successful hunt," Ashe handed the shell back.
"I heard that one of my fellow candidates was eliminated last night. I spoke with the Grand Master," Bear said, his eyes searching Ashe's face. "And I hear your father has been called back by the Council."
"I think I hate them," Ashe muttered, his eyes settling on the water between Star Cove and the barrier island that lay eastward.
"Hate is a strong word," Bear cautioned. "It's best to know what it is you hate, before you say that word and mean it."
"You're saying I should study the enemy before I slap a label on him?"
"Something like that. Try to keep an open mind. Your father is vampire, after all. Do you hate him?"
"No." Ashe turned his gaze to his feet. He'd need new athletic shoes soon. Running on the beach had nearly worn them out.
"I don't believe you hate Nathan Anderson, either."
"No."
"Study your enemies. Make sure that they're not your allies before you apply the H word," Bear advised. "The Council isn't just one vampire." Bear Wright, candidate for Principal of Star Cove Combined walked toward the paranormal community, leaving Ashe behind to run and think.
* * *
"Dude," Sali was standing in Ashe's driveway when Ashe arrived at the house after his run.
"You should have gone out to run with me," Ashe said before he thought. He had to think of Sali in different terms, now. As an acquaintance and not a friend.
"You didn't ask," Sali pointed out.
"Would you have gone?"
"Don't know," Sali hunched his shoulders. "Marco. Marco—he uh," Sali stuck his hands in the pockets of his shorts, uncomfortable, suddenly.
"What is it?" Ashe was concerned, now. "Is Marco okay?"
"Marco's good—a few bites and bruises but that’ll heal up while he sleeps," Sali muttered. "Marco bloodied his muzzle last night."
"What?" Ashe stared at Sali in incomprehension. He drew in a breath when the realization hit him. "Marco took the execution?" Somehow, Ashe hadn't thought of Marco in those terms. He did now.
"It's a mark of accomplishment," Sali said, scuffing his sneaker on the concrete of Ashe's driveway. "A sign that you're looking to move up in the Pack."
"Sali, come in the house but be quiet. I hope Mom's asleep," Ashe said. "I’ll get you some juice and eggs."
Ashe dumped scrambled eggs onto a plate for Sali, handing that plus a plate of buttered toast to the sixteen-year-old werewolf. Sitting down with a glass of juice, Ashe watched Sali dig into the pile of cooked eggs before speaking again. "I keep forgetting that everything is different from what we see on television," Ashe sighed. "That werewolves and vampires hand out their own justice. That shifters won't ever lead a completely human existence. Humans outnumber us, Sali, and it confuses things. They're considered the norm, so I expect things to fit into that norm. And that won't ever happen as long as we are what we are."
"We get lessons from Dad on how to be werewolf. About the laws and protocol governing the werewolf race. Every pup is expected to learn and recite those laws. You move up in the Pack if you seek Pack justice, under the Packmaster and the Grand Master, of course," Sali stuffed more eggs in his mouth.