Page 17

Grey

I wave goodnight to the men who watched Stacy for me. Quite a night. I began the night leaving two and once we knew who had taken Riley’s (still unclaimed) mate from the four corners of the village, we decided to ramp up security.

I’ve told the team guarding the four corners that if anyone else shows, they should lock them down, keep them alive. We’re monitoring the perimeter not to destroy, instead to question.

The run I took as wolf tonight was good for me, for my wolf, being able to run at full speed not worrying about my mate keeping up. I could swear I’ve run faster, that all my senses have been more acute, but it could also be that I needed to expend energy.

Even still, I’m glad to be back. As much as I was needed tonight, by Riley as well as by Erica who seemed relieved to meet me and feel like she has more than a few of the girls as allies in the pack, this is where I’m supposed to be, at home protecting my mate – particularly since there’s a threat and because there’s now a dead shifter who spoke of my mate and who smells like he’s vaguely related to her.

Though my mating scent still lingers in the air, there’s a new scent flooding in. A familiar one, a strong one.

“Riley,” I say to Mase who is getting ready to pull out of my driveway.

“See?” he quips.

We both grin. He waves and backs out of my driveway.

He estimated it’d take an hour for Riley to seal the deal and finally mate with Erica once they were alone in Ty’s cabin. It probably hasn’t even been half that long.

We voted to lock them down for a week there, so they’ll work out their issues. So Riley can get his head right. During my brief time with Erica tonight, my instincts tell me she’s the one for him.

Other than Rye doing what he’s meant to do with claiming his woman, it’s been an absolute clusterfuck of a night. And I’m not looking forward to the conversation I need to have with my mate now that I’m home. But I am relieved to be in her orbit. Whether it was four pack members watching her or forty, I’m the one who needs to protect her.

Jase and Linc will take turns keeping watch outside the house tonight with three betas while I crash in case the other shifter shows back up. We’re sure the dead one wouldn’t have given up Erica for the ‘female we took’ based on Erica’s report that he told Wyatt on the phone he had our witch and that it was a bonus .

Stacy telling me her brother was holding a witch who escaped makes it obvious they want not only to dismantle our council by taking out Tyson and debilitating alphas, rendering us unable to shift, unable to fight for what’s ours… they’re also hungry for access to more witchcraft, more potions to help them do it.

That the now dead shifter spoke to Wyatt on the phone tonight has me thinking Stacy’s brother isn’t too close. Then again, he might also not be too far away to cause problems tonight. I don’t have a sense of his scent, but I do have surveillance to show my mate so she can identify who was here.

I’ve looked at the footage and the other shifter that was here doesn’t resemble Stacy. He’s a fair-haired, strong-looking beta. Tall. Lean. Younger than me by a few years. And he ran scared.

I suspect that the dual alpha mating scents in the air along with the smell of the blood of his packmate will have sent him running far. Not that we’ll take chances. We’ll be vigilant.

She’s asleep when I come in, but she rouses when I climb into bed with her.

She turns into me and her eyes open. Panic spikes in her expression, also in my chest.

“Hey,” I say softly, sifting my fingers through her soft hair. “Just me.”

She blinks a couple times and her expression gentles, but she’s got questions in her eyes.

“Rough night,” I tell her. “Need to talk to you.”

Her chin trembles like she’s about to cry. “Wyatt,” she guesses.

“He was either here or sent some men in. Need to show you some pictures. Video. Get you to identify some people. Yeah?”

She rubs her eyes while shuffling to a sitting position. I turn the lamp on and our eyes meet.

“Someone died tonight, Blossom. Pretty certain they’re not just from your old pack, also from your family.”

She goes rod-straight and her lips part in shock.

I reposition us so our backs are against the pillows. One arm around her, I slide the thumb of my free hand up my phone screen and show her the still shot of the two guys at the four corners taken from our surveillance video. I add my index finger to my thumb and spread them to zoom in on the faces.

“Jimmy and Malachi,” she whispers. Her eyes hit mine and she whispers, “Who died?”

“Him,” I point.

She flinches. “Jimmy? Jimmy’s dead?”

“I’m so sorry, babe.” I squeeze her shoulder and press a kiss to her temple before asking, “Jimmy’s your cousin, right?”

“He’s dead?”

“Yeah.”

“What happened?” she asks.

“He took Riley’s mate. Hit one of our pack’s females who tried to stop him. Riley went ballistic when he got to Erica. Found her bound and upset and he lost it. Took out the shifter responsible.”

She blinks a few times and asks, “Is… she okay?”

“She’s okay.”

“Jimmy didn’t hurt her?”

“No.”

“And Jimmy’s definitely dead?”

“Definitely dead, babe.”

“She’s… a witch?”

“Yeah, Blossom.”

“That’s why he took her.”

“Erica said Jimmy told Rye he’d exchange her for the female we took. In other words, you. ”

She shakes her head. “They wouldn’t have given her back for me. No way. What about Malachi? Is he–”

I get a strange sensation from her and she gulps.

“He got away,” I tell her. “We’ve got people lookin’, but he might be too far. They both masked their scents, but Linc caught a whiff. He’s got the strongest nose in the pack. Either it was wearin’ off or it wasn’t as effective as whatever you had on the other day. You think he’s close? Think he’ll strike out?”

She swallows and closes her eyes, blowing out a long breath. “I’m surprised Wyatt sent Malachi here, especially with Jimmy. They didn’t get along.”

“I’m sorry about Jimmy, babe. I know he was family.”

I can’t read her. She stares into space for a minute before whispering, “Wyatt’s gonna retaliate.”

“Suspected as much.”

“Jimmy’s his right-hand beta. He’ll be livid.”

“Malachi his left?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I didn’t think so, but… the fact that he was here? Maybe something changed since I was there. Maybe Mal came because I was missing. I don’t…” she trails off and looks lost in thought.

I’m picking up on something strange. “Tell me more about this Malachi.”

She doesn’t answer.

“Stace?”

She shakes it off. “He… we grew up together. He’s one of the few decent betas left. Or, I thought he was. I don’t know if that’s changed. I’m…”

She leaves that hanging. I’m sure she’s in shock about her cousin but I can tell there are things she’s not saying. I wait.

“Can I… go get some water?” she finally asks.

“I’ll get it.” I kiss her temple and get out of bed.

When I’m back, she’s cradling her elbows, staring off into space.

I pass her the glass of water. She drinks half of it and gives it back to me, looking haunted.

I’m about to ask questions, prod to find out what she’s not saying, but she speaks up, voice sounding haunted, “If I were male, I’d be dead right now, too.”

My lips part, but words don’t come. Because she might be right. If we’d found a male shifter in the woods that day, he might have died. Chances are, we’d have done questioning, but chances are even higher that the male would have fought capture.

Alphas and most betas would likely have fought to the death against another shifter in a situation like that, where one was sent in to assassinate an alpha. Betas can get pretty worked up and failure to show an alpha that’s not their alpha the right body language to save themselves would’ve made things dicey.

I see she’s shaken. I’m guessing now it’s by the what ifs and by the fact a member of her family was slain by a member of my pack.

I pull her close and kiss her forehead.

“I’m real sorry for your loss, Stace.”

“He was awful,” she whispers. “He hit someone and kidnapped someone else. And that was just what he did tonight .”

“Doin’ your brother’s bidding like you had to,” I put in.

She says nothing, but I feel a reaction from her that has me speaking quickly.

“Not comparing you to him, just sayin’ he’s family to you, so I’m sorry, babe. I’m sure that can make you feel conflicted. I wish I had words that could ease the pain you’re feeling. We were watching the village’s entry points with cameras but now we’ve got paws on the ground, too. We’re code orange. We’ll do our best to ask questions and give anyone from your pack approaching a chance. We don’t strike first and ask questions later. I’ve got you, okay?”

She’s crying. Softly, noiselessly, but with emotion and tears penetrating my skin. Tears penetrating from the outside in, and emotion from the inside out. I don’t like the way it feels, how this deep sorrow oozes from my mate. No, it’s more than dislike; I fucking hate it because it’s attached to a helpless-to-fix it feeling.

I need to make sure that whatever the issues are, regardless of what her brother attempts, that I work to find a way to iron this out with her brother instead of putting him to death. I’ve asked the guys to put the cousin’s body in the walk-in freezer in the basement of the town hall.

When we sit down to work things out with her brother, I’ll be able to give him the body as a gesture of goodwill so their pack can have whatever funeral they wish to have. Even if she says he’s not a good guy, this doesn’t mean others in her family, her pack, won’t want a funeral for him.

I purr for her, and it doesn’t take long before her body settles and her tension ebbs.

I’m not angry with Riley for killing Jimmy. I can’t be. If someone had taken Stacy and I’d found her the way Rye found his mate tonight? I can connect with how that must have felt, the rage that must have spilled out of Rye. Stacy’s cousin stole Riley’s mate, tied her up, and of course it was all really fucking poor timing because of Riley’s mindset.

Riley isn’t right at the moment, and nothing would’ve talked him down. His wolf has been close to the surface, ready to battle, and Riley’s wolf emerged with a vengeance tonight. Rage and frustration has been slow-leaking from him and this burst the bubble, unleashed it all. When someone gets between an alpha and his mate it’s never pretty, Tyson’s recent standoff with Mason is another example. If the rest of the current council and the retired council hadn’t been present, Mase might not have made it out of that and Ty might not have realized how tight we really are, how connected we are to him.

Now that Riley’s claiming scent is in the air and he’s done what he’s meant to do, he should come back to himself. Our vote to lock them down together was the right call. And it’s showing, too, that Tyson is fitting well into his role within the pack as that was his idea.

I pull my wife closer, purring for her while inhaling the fragrance of her skin, her hair, which is for me – helps me calm myself, too.

Stacy and me? Things are off to a rocky start. But I’m determined to make it right by playing things as carefully as I can with her family to minimize the impact on her. To show her how important she is to me.

I shift to wolf before sleeping; I need to stay alert tonight.

***

I wake with her wolf snuggled up to mine, which surprises me. She’s awake and her eyes are on me. Her tail is thumping against the sheets. I shift; she does as well.

I kiss her. “Good morning, wife.”

“Good morning…” she says and lets it hang, as if she was about to add a title as well. Mate? Husband? I yearn to hear it from her.

Sadness creeps into her expression and I’m sure it’s remnants of last night’s news. It’ll take time for her to process the loss. She’s also afraid of what might be coming.

“Can I ask… why do you sometimes sleep in your wolf shape?” she asks.

“To protect you,” I tell her, twirling a lock of her hair around my finger. “As wolf I’m a much lighter sleeper. I want to be able to react quickly if I need to.”

She tilts her head curiously, but doesn’t ask any questions.

“How you doin’?” I ask gently.

“I’m… worried.”

“About the fallout.”

She nods.

“If your cousin hadn’t abducted Riley’s mate it might have gone differently.”

She changes the subject. “Do you want me to make you some breakfast?”

“Not yet. I want you first.” I move her to her back and cover her body with mine. “Is that okay?” I trace her hairline with my fingertips.

She nods, looking emotional. If this was all I had to go on, I might ask if she’s sure, but I can feel that she wants me. I smell that she wants me, too.

I fuck her gently, missionary position, looking into her eyes, hoping I’m doing a good job of showing her my emotions with my eyes and my touch as well as what I’m sure is being sent through our mate bond. I want her to see and feel how important our connection is to me. How important she is already becoming to me.

Tears glisten in her eyes when she hits her climax with my knot pulsing inside her. She’s looking at me with affection. I feel it, too, mingled with the fear in her heart right now. After a while, my knot finally slows and she’s kissing me when it eventually stops and deflates. She’s kissing me like she’s trying to communicate through lip and tongue touches. I already mean something to her; I feel it.

Snuggled up after I slide out of her, I do my best to put her mind at ease. “It’s all gonna work out. I’ll make it work.” I caress her face. “Do you believe me?”

She leans into my touch and hope flares in her eyes. “The only promises I’ve ever believed from a male before were threats. But I believe you’re being sincere, Greyson. I only hope you’re right.”

“Things might go wrong, yeah. No way to know what’ll happen. What we’ll have to do, whether we wanna do it or not. But even if things go wrong, we’ve got each other. We’ll get through it together. And babe, nobody will ever threaten you again without answering to me.”

She bites her lip and says nothing, so I add, “Believe me… I’ll do my best to minimize damage. My goal is us. The life we’re building in the place we’re building it. I won’t allow anything to get in the way of that. And part of that is showing you how much your happiness means to me. I know these folks are your family. While this pack is my priority, your past matters too. I’ll do my best to protect the innocents, to reason with your brother.”

“But he’s not reasonable, Greyson. He only cares about himself. Since he’ll happily sacrifice his innocent pack members to further his agenda, believe me, he won’t think twice about sacrificing your pack members.”

“Let’s wait and see what happens.”

“You’re going to… wait for him to attack?” she asks, forehead crinkling.

“We’re investigating him and your pack. We’ve amped up our security. After we eat, I’m gonna ask Bailey to come over and keep you company while I go over to Joel’s and get an update. I’m also gonna call Wyatt and tell him you’re safe, you’re with your fated mate, and that I’d like to meet and have a conversation.”

Her eyes bulge.

“If he doesn’t answer, I’ll leave a voicemail message saying the same.”

She’s trembling. “You’ll t-tell him I’m your mate?”

“Absolutely. Can I ask you some questions?”

She nods hesitantly and I don’t know why she looks like she wants to plead with me not to call her brother, or not to tell him who I am to her. But no way would I keep this a secret. If anything, I’d think it could make him more open to a conversation with me. At least I’ve made the effort and given him the opportunity to handle this the right way going forward.

“Let’s get some breakfast and we’ll talk some more.”

***

When we’re seated at the dining table with an easy meal of cereal and the muffins she baked yesterday, I set a pencil and a pad of paper down between us.

“How many people in your old pack?”

“We’re down to seventy-two, not including me. Unless that changed after I left to come here.”

I write that number down.

“Can you tell me the approximate breakdown in age?” I make a list of categories. “How many pack members over forty but fit, over forty and not fit, under forty but over eighteen, and the rest. Also a breakdown of how many of those people are male and female. Just approximate numbers.”

I pass her the pencil.

She bites her lip as she jots down her answers. And it doesn’t take long.

“You’re well-versed on the demographics or these just approximate?”

“I did a lot of the admin for the pack. Handling supplies and things like that. I know everyone in the pack quite well. Those numbers are probably pretty accurate unless something has changed in the weeks I’ve been here.”

“He say why he doesn’t want the water tested? Why females aren’t allowed to shift?”

She shakes her head. “You can’t question him. His word is just… law. And it’s not just females that can’t shift. Nobody shifts without his permission.”

What the fuck? That’s fucked. And that’s an alpha who wants his people weak so they can’t challenge him.

She reads my reaction well and gives me a knowing look.

“Anything else you think I need to know? Anyone else in the pack I should look closer at?”

She shrugs. “He had me on a need to know basis. I didn’t want to cause harm to this pack, but he held things over my head. I wish I’d come and asked for help instead.”

“You didn’t know us.”

“I spied on you during some of your morning runs. I sensed something better about the way this pack is structured, but I…” She looks pained.

I grab her hand and squeeze affectionately. “Don’t do that. No point looking backwards, right?”

She doesn’t say anything.

I continue, “I’m gonna do what I can do to help this go a way that works out for everyone. No, he’s not gonna get to take over our pack.”

“I hope not,” she whispers.

“Believe me, it won’t fuckin’ happen. I’ll talk to him. Feel him out. If he’s open, I’ll offer to help him with his infrastructure. Is there anyone close to him with a good head on their shoulders that might have some sway over him?”

“Jimmy was his right hand, and Jimmy didn’t have any influence whatsoever. Greyson, I hate to say this and don’t want it to say bad things about me because Wyatt is my flesh and blood, but… he’s an egomaniac. The only way forward with him might be a fight because once he digs into something…he’s not the type to end something without a winner and a loser. He always craves a fight, and I would bet money he’ll fight dirty like he’s already done, using potions. He doesn’t care about honor or family or anything but himself.”

I measure my words, but she speaks again before I get a chance to reply.

“You have to do what you and your council decide you need to do, but whatever you guys do, please do it carefully. He could follow through with some of his threats. The people in my pack could come to great harm either because of what he does to them or what he forces them to do.”

She has no faith whatsoever in him. I’ve seen things like this when we’ve consulted for other packs. That pack needs a new leader.

“I’ll be careful, Blossom.”

There’s so much trouble in her eyes, in our connection. I lift her up and hold her on my lap while I purr for her for a few minutes. My phone interrupts this so I check it and see a message from my sister, who wants to know when she’s needed here.

As I reply, Stacy rises to clear the dishes.