Page 13 of Rogue If You Want To (Fur-Ever Mountain Pack #2)

TORIN

I entered the brand-new pack dining hall that Larkin had said was only completed recently. As it was breakfast time, the place was packed, and I stood at the door, surveying the tables filled with pack members.

I admired how Creven had brought together people who for different reasons didn’t belong anywhere else and formed a cohesive group. A few people glanced in my direction. Some nodded while others appeared curious and followed my progress to the serving area.

Otto preferred to eat in the room because he’d had a restless night.

Also, he wasn’t ready for large groups. The one time he’d been in here, he’d insisted on sitting in a corner so he could see who was entering the building and if anyone came close to us.

He’d told me to come here for a meal, saying I might pick up gossip that concerned him.

Creven and Auden were sitting in the middle of the room. This was awkward. Did I wave to them and sit elsewhere? Probably because I was just a guy, not even pack, one who’d brought trouble to their door. None of the other members were eating with them.

I busied myself getting a tray and choosing what I wanted. But as I turned away from the serving area, Creven beckoned me over. Again, I wasn’t about to plonk myself down, assuming they wanted me to join them.

“Morning.”

Creven pulled out a chair, and I sat but didn’t touch my food. Auden was shoving eggs in his mouth and only pausing to sip his black coffee.

“How’s Otto?” Creven was always mindful of my mate.

“He’s better. The nightmares are fewer, and his otter is enjoying spending hours in the stream.”

I grinned, thinking of my pruney fingers and toes remark which was an understatement.

If I spent half the time in the water my mate did, my extremities would barely be recognizable, and that included my length.

I told Otto we’d never make love in the water, and he’d giggled, saying he’d make it work.

My wolf turned up his nose at my fried eggs and toast, saying he’d thought once we were living in a pack, he’d get to hunt more. But I was fearful of leaving pack land, and my beast had to be content with moseying around and waiting for a rabbit or another small mammal.

“Excellent.” Creven added sugar to his coffee while Auden acknowledged me with a grunt.

The pair shared a glance, and I braced myself for what was coming. We’d established a routine with the only difference being the location. They’d give me bad news, I’d ask questions and make suggestions, and they’d come up with a plan.

“Okay, hit me with whatever you’ve got.” I held up a hand. “But let me get caffeine in my system first.” I gulped three big mouthfuls and regretted it because the coffee was so hot.

“We’ve been hearing rumors.” Auden didn’t wait for me to pick up a napkin and wipe my mouth.

That got my attention because this was what we were waiting for. Information about Lutris or the bear he’d hired would help Otto’s case.

But neither the Alpha’s nor Auden’s expression suggested it was good news.

“We have a problem.” Creven folded his napkin while looking at me.

Of course they did. There was always a hurdle to overcome.

“While we’ve been investigating Lutris, it’s come to our attention that word is getting out about us harboring non-pack members.” The Alpha didn’t flinch from delivering bad news, and I appreciated him being straightforward.

They wanted us to leave or go into hiding, but Otto would be defenseless, only having me and my wolf to protect him.

“Specifically people who are running from something.” Auden was checking out his teeth in the knife's reflection.

I tamped down the desire to point out that was exactly how Creven and Larkin had made their way here and how they’d formed a pack with Auden. Maybe they weren’t aware gossip went both ways and some of the pack members had shared that tidbit with me and my mate.

Instead of blurting out some truths, I waited because there was a point to them bringing this up.

“My contacts tell me strangers have been sniffing around asking questions about any unusual activity on our mountain.”

I gripped my fork so hard, my hand hurt. I had nothing in my history that would warrant people looking for me. I had no debts or enemies that I was aware of.

“It has to be regarding Otto, so it was either his twin or cronies working on his behalf.”

“That would be our guess.” Creven nodded. “He’s hired trackers to look for your mate. He probably doesn’t know about you yet, though.”

The eggs congealed on the plate, making my stomach revolt and my appetite vanish. People like that wouldn’t respect shifter boundaries, territories, or the Alpha.

“We can resolve part of the problem.” Creven attempted a smile.

There was always a but, a detour, or an obstruction, but it was best to get it out in the open.

“You can join the pack. Or rather I’ll make you pack.” Creven was expecting an answer.

Otto and I hadn’t discussed this. We liked it here and had begun to make friends, but with the looming threat, we hadn’t spoken of what came next.

“As a guest, the pack could vote to expel you from our land, but as a member, you would have had to commit a crime to be booted out.”

That was a huge decision, one that should be made with my mate.

“If Lutris’s people track you here, they can’t remove you unless they want to start a war,” Auden added.

It made sense I supposed, but if Otto were ever to present his case to the bevy council, he couldn’t be pack. He had to remain a bevy member.

“But how does this help Otto?” I must have missed something.

“Imagine you are Lutris,” Auden said.

Ewww, no. Not that. Anything but that .

“What would be the best way of getting Otto to agree to whatever Lutris wanted?” Creven chimed in.

But he wouldn’t. Otto was the one person on the planet who was privy to his twin's personality.

“If he threatened you, how would Otto react?” Creven continued.

Shit. The mating bond that should protect Otto could be used to harm him and kill our relationship.

I was part of the problem, and yet by marking me as pack, it was as though I was abandoning my mate and leaving him exposed.

I put my head in my hands, saying I had to speak to Otto, and Creven told me to do it quickly.

Otto was washing up when I raced in and spilled the details. He wasn’t conflicted like me and said I had to do it.

“Go, now.”

I wanted him to be present and for it to be a ceremony, but there wasn’t much to celebrate.

“We’ll have a big party and make vows when I join the pack.” He told me to get it over with but that he’d come too and witness my marking.

We met in Creven’s office. Auden was present but no one else. He spoke a few words but I only heard “Stoney River.” Otto held my hand, and I gripped my pendant as Creven’s fox’s claws extended. Shoot, I’d never done this, and it was going to hurt.

My wolf told me I’d be fine, and I gritted my teeth while staring at my mate and wishing he was being marked too. I looked away as I used to when I was vaccinated. Back then Mom was with me, holding me tight and promising me a lollipop afterward.

Owww, owww, owww. Those fox claws were sharp. I didn’t want to cry, and I pictured what Otto’s and my life would be like once Lutris wasn’t a threat.

“Welcome to the Stoney River pack, Torin.”

"Thank you.” That was my voice. It was done? I was pack?

Otto kissed me and admired the jagged mark over my chest. He raised a brow, and I sent him a look that said, “Not here.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. Being part of the pack means you have responsibilities.” Creven shook my hand

Great. Did I have to be a short-order cook or something?

“But first you need to learn our territory boundaries, so I want you with me while I do a perimeter run.”

Otto returned to the cabin, and I followed Creven away from the buildings. But he was my Alpha, not just the Alpha. We removed our clothes and shifted, and his fox raced ahead. My wolf was pleased at being in his fur, but disappointed not to be hunting.

The land was larger than I’d thought because I hadn’t made it much further than the stream. Alpha’s fox pointed out the boundary markers such as the scratches on trees and boulders, as well as the pack scents.

My mind went to Otto. We were still mates, though not marked, and I refused to allow me being a pack member to come between us.

What I’d done was for him.