Page 25

Chanin walked into the Tavern now. It was early, and only Raul and a few of his workers were cleaning and stocking the bar for the night rush.

“Morning, Alpha. A little early for a shot, ain’t it?” Raul joked as he nodded to Bleddyn and Minsi.

“A bit.” Chanin didn’t miss the ginger-headed Lupine who skirted his eyes over behind him for a brief moment.

As Alpha, Chanin prided himself on paying attention to things that happened in his Pack and particularly the people in it.

He wasn’t a fool, and he’d been aware for months how the tavern owner’s nose flared when Rudie was around.

Raul was a good guy, and Chanin wouldn’t be adverse to Rudie and the kind, burly wolf as mates, except Rudie wasn’t ready. Not because of her age being an issue but she still had some growing to do and some demons to wrestle with before she’d be a decent partner for another.

Chanin stood close enough to the reclaimed wood bar to rest his elbows on it as he eyed his friend. “We’ve got trouble up north. I was hoping you were bored of wiping down tables and cleaning glasses and wanted to see if you were itchin’ to get your paws dirty.”

“Well, hell yeah, Alpha. Just say when.” Raul tossed down the towel from his shoulder, then laced his fingers together and cracked his knuckles on both hands simultaneously as he rotated his wrists outward.

Chanin slammed his fist down on the bar. “I figured I could count on you. You got someone to keep the place until you get back?”

“Yup.” Raul tapped a blonde, female Lupine as she carried two empty bottles toward the back. “Paddy, see if my brother is still upstairs and tell him to come down.”

She greeted Chanin and the others before she sashayed out the side door leading into the storage room.

Chanin knew a set of stairs at the back of the supply room led up to Raul’s place.

“What we huntin’?” Raul moved from behind the bar to stand before Chanin.

“Rogues.”

“Your cousin Farkas, or have some stray North American wolves shown up?”

Chanin was sure all Lupine had come to the territory and joined the blended Pack. “Yes, my cousin.” Chanin glanced over his shoulder and saw the area was empty. “I’ll fill you in once we head out. I’m trying not to alarm anyone.”

“Understand.”

“Raul, I was just headed out to pull my nightly reports and get a count.” Wolcott, Raul’s identical twin, came lumbering through the storage door. “I don’t have time to—” He stopped as he noticed the group. “Hey, Alpha, Bleddyn...Minsi.”

“Hi, there, Wolcott,” Minsi emitted a low, teasing growl as she let the male’s name play off her tongue.

The shy veterinarian’s face and neck blanched three shades of red: tomato, cranberry, and then burgundy.

Chanin would have laughed at the wolf-shifter’s loud gulp in response to Minsi.

Once a few months ago, he’d been surprised to pick up Wolcott’s scent on Minsi when she’d passed by him one early morning.

She looked like a wolf who’d caught a rabbit by the hind legs.

However, it had been the rabbit caretaker and breeder.

Now that he’d seen the two in close proximity, Chanin was relatively sure Minsi had been the bashful veterinarian’s first sexual encounter. At the moment, Wolcott appeared as if he’d rather be anywhere but five feet from the sensuous female.

“How’s the farm stock?” Chanin inquired, hoping to break the male’s focus from Minsi. The shifter looked caught in a trap, and Chanin’s ex-lover made it worse by licking her lips and running blatant fingertips down her neck and over her breasts.

“Nice. Good. Great.” Wolcott gulped again but finally snatched his eyes from the she-wolf.

“Um. I mean now that we have begun giving the rabbits better quality vegetation than they had been surviving on and no longer seeing evidence of radiation, the does are continuing to breed high numbers and healthier litters. Soon, I’ll recommend increasing our meat rations to two meals daily to control the numbers.

” Wolcott smiled and rubbed the back of his neck.

“We don’t want them to overpopulate until we can complete the expansion. ”

Chanin nodded. “Thanks for the update. I’ll send Rudie over to pick up those monthly reports once I return.”

“I’ll get them compiled and ready.” Wolcott glanced at his brother. “What do you need, Raul?”

The two men were identical in everything but personality and hairstyle.

Raul kept his hair long like most male shifters and had a dominant personality, while Wolcott, the introvert, maintained a shorter, tapered style and couldn’t even be classified as a beta.

However, Wolcott’s brilliance couldn’t be surpassed when it came to animals.

“I’ll need you to manage the bar for me tonight...” Raul glanced at Chanin.

“Short of anything going wrong, we should be back before you open tomorrow,” Chanin confirmed.

Wolcott grumbled and made mention of reports.

“You’re part owner of this place,” Raul folded his arms over his broad chest and stared down at his brother.

“Ten percent. And that’s because you refused to let me sell you all my half.”

“It’s your legacy,” Raul barked, then smiled. “Just be here by opening tonight in case something’s needed. You can do your damn reports in my office. My staff is pretty efficient in everything else.”

“Fine.” Wolcott glanced at Chanin to indicate a bye to his Alpha. After that short pause, he left the tavern by the back door instead of the front, where he would have had to pass Minsi.

She laughed.

Chanin would have to have a chat with her one day about deflowering the virginal male wolves in the Pack. He didn’t believe she was forcing herself on them, but perhaps she was laying her sensual persuasion on too thick. However, he needed to deal with Farkas before anything else.

“One moment so I can inform my staff, Alpha.” Raul went into the storeroom and came back out minutes later. “Ready.”

“Now that your place is squared away, I want to hit the rendezvous point and time with Boris and the Fang Warriors.” Chanin led them out of the tavern.

Raul blew a low whistle as they walked through town and headed toward the western border. “The FWs are on a mission. This has to be serious.”

“It is. Once we shift, I’ll bring you up to speed.” Chanin picked up his pace once they were away from the central part of their town.

They finally arrived at the wood-lined area that separated them from the Ursine shifters. The four of them hastily undressed and piled their clothing at the base of the trees. Traveling in animal form would be faster, and their senses more acute.

In a breath, they all shifted from their human form to wolf.

Chanin’s wolf glanced around before lowering his nose and sniffing along the ground.

He wanted to be sure no surprises had already come their way.

When he was sure everything was clear, and his Pack was safe, he angled his head toward the other three gathered.

Let’s move out.

On your right flank, Alpha. Bleddyn’s thought came to him.

I’m with you , Minsi mentally confirmed.

On your six, Raul communicated with an internal howl.

Not wasting any more time, Chanin took off through the woods, his wolf’s paws striking hard but sure-footed into the earth.

So, what’s going down, Alpha? Whose flesh can I rip my claws into?

My cousin’s. He’s stolen goats from the dragons and abducted two faes.

He’s trying to start a war, Bleddyn snapped.

“Grr.” Raul snarled. Fucking Farkas. I want to get my claws and teeth into him.

You’re in line behind me, Minsi indicated.

Chanin knew this group would be enthusiastic, for their reasons, and willing to take down Farkas. However, he wanted to make one thing clear as he commanded sharply, He’s mine.

Once he handled his cousin, he’d take care of the issue of his mate.