25
The Bitch Boy returns
T he cobblestone path outside of Aggie's holds my attention as I stalk away from her house, intent on going to the Packhouse next. I know Jay is there talking with Nero about how best to handle the Whites, having left in the early hours of the morning. Beyond my curiosity about their solutions, I can offer helpful insight into the Whites and the connections they harbor.
The blacktop streets are bare as I drive down them, navigating to the town center. Snow dusts lawns, bits of deep green grass still peeking out from beneath the crystalized water. I can remember winters that would practically bury the town for weeks. Jay really wasn't joking when he told me it rarely snows anymore.
I can't help but feel…sad about it. Despite my dislike of the cold, I guess nostalgia still has me in enough of a chokehold to lament the lack of snow.
Spotting Jay's pretty blue GTR at the rear of the building, I park next to him, quickly locking the Stingray as I stalk towards the burnt red brick building.
The big black door here requires a code that I punch in with my thumb before tugging open the latch. It was recently updated with Jay's taking over.
It's a combination of our birth months. It makes my chest ache in the best way every time I enter the code into the system.
Arcade cabinets beep and chirp from down the hall, the different game soundtracks blending into a cacophony.
My first stop is the pool room. That's where I'm willing to bet the boys are.
Call me a prophet because the pool room is precisely where I find them. With Jay and Dante's keen eyes on him, Nero is bent at the waist, lining up his shot.
Nero sinks the striped 12-ball, stalking around the table to line up his next shot. I should have known Jay would be a pool shark at Angel's party. Magnus spent a considerable amount of time at this very table.
"Hey, Alpha," I say sweetly, and Jay smirks at my greeting, running his teeth over his bottom lip. I greet the other two with a wiggle of my fingers as a wave. "Nero. Dante."
"Hey, Gorgeous. Where's Saint?" Our Alpha replies, mercurial blue-green eyes drinking in my body.
"Probably at the Cabin?" I reply, going over to his side of the pool table. Dante is already typing away on his phone. "I went to Aggies."
"Ah, how was she?" Jay asks, opening his arm to pull me into his side.
"Good, sends her love. Where'd Magnus go? I saw him leaving with a big suitcase." I ask, tucking my arms around Jay's middle.
"He's off to visit Alex and Helena for a few days, see the baby," Jay murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"Ahh," I hum, letting him slip through my arms for his turn. Jay easily lines up his shot, the loud crack echoing through the room.
"So, what's up, Gorgeous? Did you just come by to say hi?" Jay asks, and I wrinkle my nose. Then Jay bursts with laughter.
Clingy girlfriend, I will never be.
" No," I reply, rolling my eyes. "I wanted to talk about what we are going to do about the Whites. I lived with them in their compound for over a year. I know way more than they think I do."
"Oh? Well, that's a coincidence because we were just talking about our options," Dante mutters, still typing away on his phone after periodic pauses. Jay lines up another shot, sinking the solid purple ball.
" So… what are our options?" I press, perching on top of one of the empty tables. Nero glances at Jay for a minute, silence ringing in the large room.
"You can tell her," Jay says quietly without looking away from the pool table.
I have to accept that, technically, I am not within the pack hierarchy structure. I'm merely Jay's girl.
While I wrestle with my pride, Nero painstakingly lays out their plans. The Pack, Jay as the 'mayor,' will file lawsuits for illegal trespassing and poaching protected animals. Jay has already found where the Whites are staying in Somerville.
"When will you serve the paperwork?" I ask, glancing between the three wolves before me. Jay and Nero have the same build, mountainous shoulders, thick arms, and tree-trunk thighs.
"Later today," Nero answers while I glance at Jay, who won't meet my eyes.
"I'm coming," I reply flatly. It's more of an order than anything else.
"You really don't have to be involved, Artemis," Jay urges, putting the cue stick down.
"How am I not already involved? He's my ex-fiance, for fucks sake!"
"You know what I mean," Jay says flatly, holding my upper arms. "You never have to look at him, hear him disrespect you, or call you names again. You're out, Artemis. You're safe with us. Let me take care of this?" Jay urges, and my heart practically breaks. I want to let him take care of this; I really do. Still, I cannot stomach the possibilities my mind creates when even considering letting Jay confront the Whites by himself.
"No. I'll never forgive myself if something happens to you while you're there and I wasn't there to help or, or-" I stammer, unable to voice the silent fear.
That Hunters would take Jay away from me, too.
"Alright, alright," Jay hushes, coiling his arms around me and tucking me into his chest.
"So, what still needs to be done before you go over there?" I ask, directing attention away from my near freak-out.
"Just need to draw up the paperwork. We've dealt with similar issues before, so we'll be ready to go once Nero fills in the White's information."
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
Jay exchanges a look with Nero and Dante before turning back to me and smiling.
And then, the doors to the Packhouse open again, and Saint's large form comes in framed in sunlight, shaking out his curls.
"Nothing," Jay replies, still smiling at me. I roll my eyes. Of course, they called the puppy.
Nero and Dante ask Saint for coffee almost as soon as he is within earshot. Saint laughs, throwing his head back with it, blonde curls bouncing, but makes the coffee while Jay and Nero finish their game of pool. Jay wins, his last shot sinking the eight ball in the corner pocket. Nero still had a few balls left.
Then, Nero and Dante stalk off toward Nero's office, heads tilted together.
And then, it's just the three of us, The Alpha, the Chef, and me.
Saint and Jay waste exactly zero time before they pepper me with questions about the Whites, their habits, and their connections.
"Are they going to respond with a lawsuit of their own?" Jay asks, blue-green eyes peering at me over the rim of his mug.
"They'll probably try to, at least. You can't try to strong-arm them into compliance; Ethan will just see it as a challenge. If you talk to Stephen like it's a business deal, though, he's more apt to pay attention."
"They will be leaving Pack land, Artemis. Even if I have to strong-arm them into leaving," Jay rumbles.
" Yes , but if you make them feel like it was their idea to leave, then they might do that quietly, " I urge, hoping Jay can understand what I'm saying.
"How connected are they?" Saint asks over the rim of his orange coffee cup, delivering one for me in an emerald green mug as well.
"The Whites regularly rubbed elbows with the upper echelon of the California government, not to mention giving Senators a standing invitation to dinner," I answer simply, blowing steam off my coffee. "That's why you have to make them think it's their idea. Stephen thinks they're untouchable."
"And I can't convince you to stay behind?" Jay asks again, brushing my hair off of my shoulder and gripping the back of my neck.
"No. I started this. I need to be there when it's done."
Jay sighs, and Saint gives me a sad smile. "Alright, Gorgeous. Alright. I had to ask, though."
The boys keet up their interrogation about my time on the Estate while Nero and Dante drew up the paperwork. When everyone is ready, Jay and Nero take his car while Saint Dante and I ride in Saint's SUV. My nerves kept my stomach in my throat and my hands clammy the entire way to the hotel in Sommerville, where the Whites are holed up.
Luckily, it's a strip hotel, where the entrance to your room is located on an outdoor balcony. I will say, though, that it looks much more… upscale than other ones I'd seen or even frequented over my years away from the Hollow.
The layout conveniently means there is no need to ask hotel staff to let us in or anything like that. I don't know how Jay discovered which room is theirs, and I don't think I care.
In sync, the five of us all open the doors to the vehicles and exit. As much as I would prefer to clutch Jay's hand in mine while this confrontation happens, I know that it will do nothing other than aggravate Ethan, which is the exact opposite of what we need. So, instead, I just shove my hands in my back pockets as we walk towards the room door with the number six stamped in black. Jay and Nero march confidently towards the door while Saint and Date act as their shadows, with me bringing up the rear.
I need to be here, but suddenly, I'm worried that my mere presence will be the spark that lights the fuse.
Fuck.
My wolf whines, golden eyes flashing in the dark confines of my soul.
Nero raises his fist and knocks on the door. Thump thump thump.
Saint's shoulders straighten, and Dante's knuckles pop one by one in quick succession.
None other than Stephen White himself answers the hotel door, eyebrows lowered. "Yes?"
"Stephen White?" Nero asks, the envelope containing the documents they drew up earlier clutched in hand.
"Who's asking?"
"Nero Cicero, Attorney for the Timber Hollow conservation agency. We have proof you have been illegally hunting on protected lands. Additionally, entrance to our protected forests is by permit only."
"Mr Cicero, I can assure you we have done no such things."
Nero nods, and around Saint's side, I see him shuffle through a few papers, pulling a printed copy of the picture I saw on Ethan's social media.
"Mr. White, can you identify the persons in this photograph?" Nero asks calmly.
"Yes, obviously, that is me. My sons. What of it?"
"Thank you for that confirmation. This photograph was taken on protected lands. See this tower here in the background? That is our radio tower that monitors tagged wildlife in the area. Mr. White, you were trespassing and poaching on protected lands, and we have irrefutable proof."
"Who cares about a little dumb coyote?" Ethan says from just inside the doorframe, snatching the photograph from Nero, crumpling it, and tossing the paper to the floor behind him.
"Respectfully, Mr. White, we do," Nero answers simply.
Stephen doesn't immediately answer, but then Ethan says, "What is this dipshit doing here?" Gesturing towards Jay.
My Alpha smiles; I can barely see the edges of his grin before he smugly says, "Jay Temple, Mayor of Timber Hollow, nice to see you again."
I nearly laugh but manage to keep the sound locked behind my teeth.
"The proceedings to take this matter to court are in these documents," Nero says, handing Stephen the envelope.
"And if we would prefer to keep this situation quiet?" Stephen asks, looking over our group again.
"Leave now within the next five hours. We have notified other wildlife protection agencies in the area, and they know of your presence. Lingering will force our hand. You will be expelled with force if spotted within our protected areas again."
"And if we leave now, no one will have to know about our misstep onto… protected lands?" Stephen's purposeful pause sends my gut rippling.
He knows. He knows. He knows. My wolf cries, and I press myself closer to Saint, drinking in his presence.
Unfortunately, it draws Ethan's attention, who says, "What is she doing here?"
"I'm just a concerned party," I answer, stepping out from behind Saint.
"So you're still stalking my socials, huh? Gotta know what I'm doing at all times, don't you? Miss your rich fiance?" Ethan croons, making my lip curl in disgust.
"I followed a hunch when bodies started piling up, you idiot," I reply, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms.
"Miss Hunt's presence is unrelated to your prior relationship. She is a member of our Agency. I suggest you pay attention to the legal proceedings rather than harass someone, Mr. White." Nero says in a curt voice that brooks no argument. Or at least wouldn't if Nero spoke to anyone with even a lick of sense.
Unfortunately for all of us, Ethan opens his ugly mug to speak again. "This bitch has no right accusing us of doing anything! She's just jealous and looking for a way back in. Father, Call Mr. Dunkirk. He'll set the whore straight."
"Ethan, that is enough. Go. You have my apologies for his behavior, Mr. Cicero. Thank you for your candor; we'll be out of your hair as soon as possible. If that is all?" Stephen says, moving to close the door in Jay and Nero's faces.
"Yes. Have a pleasant evening." Nero says, then turns on his heel.
We all leave, my gut still churning relentlessly as I slide into the backseat of Saint's Jeep.
Dante and Saint review the interaction, examining the entire ordeal, while I do the same, silently, from the backseat. When we're a couple of blocks away from the hotel, Dante gets out at a stoplight and disappears into the small city.
Once we're back at the Packhouse, I can't help but feel like we've missed something crucial.
Even though the confrontation at the hotel went well, I'm still on edge. Something isn't sitting right. The look in Stephen's eye was too…. calm and calculated. He knows we're wolves, I'm sure of it.
I would wager my life that the Whites' reappearance is because our pack is full of Direwolves. The biggest of wolf shifters. There is no way they wouldn't have noticed our size if they'd been here for any length of time. If they'd seen any of us--namely, me on their property.
People are dead because of me.
I swear, if I had anything in my stomach, I'd hurl right here on the blacktop.
Jay notices my fidgeting, picking the skin around my nails and gnawing my lower lip. "What's wrong, Darlin'?" He asks, tucking my hair behind my ear before hooking his arm over my shoulder. I let him lead and steer me back into the brick building before I can answer over the tightness in my ribs.
In a rush, my anxiety spills out. "I know him, Jay. Ethan isn't going to give up so easily. Particularly now that he knows you are involved."
I want to rip out my hair and scream that something is wrong .
"It's going to be fine, Gorgeous," Jay's confidence makes me grit my teeth.
"I'm telling you, Jay. It's not over yet," I reassert, hoping that I am wrong, just this once.