Zack backed down. Judging from the raw, ragged power that spilled out of the man, he relented either out of respect for his cousin or because he was simply tired of fighting.
“We need the whole story,” Jay said. “It’s the only way I can help.”
“Okay.” Zack studied Eden for a moment longer before his lips quirked in an awkward, sad smile. “You weren’t this bossy when you were ten.”
“I was shorter too.” She slipped her hand into Jay’s. “Trust him, Zack. He’s a good man. Whatever you guys are running from…”
“The same thing every other wolf is.” Zack turned his back on them and started toward the porch. “Might as well come in. Waiting won’t make it hurt less to hear. Or to say.”
“Never does.” Jay pocketed his keys and kept hold of Eden’s hand as they followed her cousin up the steps and into the house.
Though he could hear plenty of footsteps and movement in the upstairs rooms, they didn’t run into anyone as Zack led them to the kitchen. The girl who’d saved Eden the previous night was standing in front of the sink, and Zack’s severe expression softened slightly. “Kaley, could you run and get Lorelei?”
Her gaze fell on Eden as she dried her hands, and her brow furrowed in confusion. “Uh…sure. She’s just out back.”
Jay watched her go. “How many of you are there?”
“Six, other than me.” He sank into the chair like his whole body ached. “No—four. There was a couple expecting a baby, but they split after last night’s attack. Now there’s one other man and three women. Everyone’s pretty roughed up.”
Jay took the chair opposite his. “Your pack?”
He nodded, not looking at Eden. “Memphis is too big for only one. There was the strongest pack, but they always left the rest of us alone, as long as we paid our tribute.”
“What changed?”
“The alpha let too many vicious bastards join up.” Zack’s features twisted into a scowl. “By the time he realized how vicious they were, it was too late. They put him down and turned Memphis into their playground.”
An old story, the kind of thing that happened all too often. Especially in cities, where the stress of hiding amongst humans seemed to lead to ever-increasing savagery. “So you ran.”
“Not at first.” The words came from a slender blonde standing in the doorway. She walked in with a grave look at Zack. “Kaley wanted to come back, but I sent her out to the barn with Mae. I figured you wouldn’t want her in here for this.”
“Thank you.” Zack cut a look at Eden. “You don’t have to listen to this either, you know.”
Eden stared right back. “I think I do. I’m a part of it, whether you want me to be or not, and I need as much information as I can get.”
Zack smacked his hand on the table with a growl. “You don’t get it, Eden. You don’t know what life in a city is like for a werewolf. In your worst nightmares, you can’t imagine it.” He gave Jay a desperate look. “You know I’m right.”
“So is Eden. Like it or not, this is part of her life now.” Jay laid his hand over hers. “But be sure you want to hear this, honey. You don’t have to—not yet, anyway.”
Eden squeezed his hand lightly, then pulled hers away and offered it to the blonde. “I’m Eden. You must be Lorelei.”
The woman nodded but kept her hands to herself as she slid into the remaining empty chair. Eden let her hand fall to the table, her embarrassment plain.
Zack sighed and rubbed his face. “They asked me to step aside as alpha. When I didn’t, they snatched me off the street and told my pack I was dead.”
Lorelei took over. “With Zack gone, most of the stronger men tried to fight. They died. The ones who didn’t took their loved ones and ran. With all the outward opposition gone, the gang pretty much did whatever the hell they wanted.”
“But you weren’t dead,” Eden said softly.
“I wasn’t dead,” Zack agreed. “They were having too much fun beating the shit out of me.”
If the fresh scars on the man’s face, neck and arms were any indication, they’d done more than that. They’d tortured him, and with magically enchanted weapons, no less. It was the only thing Jay could think of that wouldn’t heal, the reason he still had a shallow, scabbed-over scratch on his own side. “What about everyone