Bayou Dreams

by Lynn Lorenz

  “So how long to pack?” Scott looked around the apartment.

  “I’ll go with you, but I’m not packing anything. Let’s see how the vote goes. If you wind up dead, I don’t want to lose this apartment.” Ted gave Scott a cocky grin.

  “Sure, I understand. This is prime French Quarter real estate. Bet there’s a waiting list and everything.”

  “Damn straight, wolf.”

  They grinned at each other.

  “So how soon can we leave?”

  “Well, I have a little business to take care of first.” Ted had decided to face down Charbonnet and ask for his money back. He’d need at least the day to do that. Maybe more if he got his ass kicked again.

  “A little payback for last night?” Scott cocked an eyebrow.

  “Yeah. Those goons stole the check for the work I did, and I want it back.” Ted slipped into his loafers, slung on his shoulder holster, and covered it with his jacket.

  “Great. Let’s go.” Scott tugged on his boots.

  “Uh-uh. You’re not going.”

  “Oh, yes I am. I’ve got your back. You need me, like you needed me last night. I’m not going to let you walk into wherever and get another beat down.” Scott curled his hands into fists, and Ted knew arguing with his alpha wolf would be pointless.

  “Okay. Let’s pay Judge Charbonnet a visit and see if I can get my money back.” Ted snatched his keys off the table, and they headed for the door.

  »»•««

  Ted stood on the same doorstep as he had last night, only this time, he had backup. On the way there, he’d filled Scott in on what had gone down the night before.

  Before the door opened, Ted slipped his gun out of his holster. The goon stood there, shocked as hell to see Ted.

  More shocked to see the gun pointed at his belly.

  “Tell the judge I’m here.” Ted used Scott to shield his gun from view of the street. “Now.”

  The goon backpedaled, and the two men stepped inside.

  “Nice place.” Scott looked around, then froze. He inhaled. “Shit.”

  “What is it?” Ted cast a glance at Scott.

  Scott moved closer to whisper, “Another werewolf.”

  “I thought as much.” Ted nodded. “It’s Charbonnet. What can you tell about him?”

  Scott stepped farther down the hall. “He’s older. Powerful. Definitely alpha.”

  “Is he the only one?” Ted needed to know if they were in over their heads. “Do I need silver bullets? An AK-47? A bazooka?”

  “No, that’s a myth. Real bullets work just fine.” Scott sniffed again and took another step down the carpeted corridor. “No, just one. In there.” He pointed to the room where Ted had met the judge before.

  “Right.” He motioned with the gun. “Out of my way.”

  The goon held up his hands in surrender and moved aside.

  Ted went to the door, knocked, and then opened it and stepped inside.

  The judge looked up, frowned, then bolted to his feet as Scott came through the door and closed it behind him.

  “What the hell is this?” Charbonnet’s gaze danced between Ted and Scott but landed on Scott. “Who are you?”

  “This is a friend of mine. You don’t need to know his name. He knows all about you, Judge.” Ted grinned.

  Low growling from both weres filled the room, and the hair on the back of Ted’s neck and his arms stood on end. A lot of fucking power shot around the library.

  “Now, before everyone goes all wolf crazy and furry, we need to talk.”

  “What about? I paid you last night. You told me Kirsten didn’t meet anyone. I believe you.” The judge kept a wary gaze on Scott.

  “Oh, so I suppose you didn’t order your goon out there to meet me down the block with his friend, take me to the wharf, beat the shit out of me and steal that check?” Ted sat in the chair in front of the desk, and Scott moved to stand behind him.

  “What? He took the check?” The judge looked puzzled. “I’ll admit my instincts told me you suspected something. I wanted you scared off. They were only supposed to rough you up a bit, nothing serious. But I never told them to take the money.”

  “Maybe you should have a talk with your minions,” Ted suggested. “It’s so hard to find good help these days.” He pulled out the goon’s gun and laid it on the judge’s desk.

  The judge glared at the door. “I’ll take care of it.” He sat and pulled out a checkbook. “In the meantime, I’ll write you another.”

  Wow, Ted didn’t expect that. At all.

  Charbonnet tore it off and handed it to Ted. “It doesn’t look to me that you were hurt too badly.” He sounded sincere.

  “No, I had help.” Ted glanced up at Scott, towering over him.

  “I can see that.” The judge frowned as his gaze darted between them. “You’re mated?” It seemed he’d decided not to play stupid about being a werewolf. “I didn’t know there were other weres in town.”

  “I’m not from here.” Scott grinned but didn’t reveal anything.

  “Yeah. We’re mates.” Ted stood. “Just like you and Kirsten.”

  “So that’s why you didn’t believe my wife cheated.”

  “Right. But I can’t figure out why you did.”

  The judge slumped down in his chair, and all his attitude and confidence fell away. “Like you said, she’s beautiful and young. I’m old and…the truth is I haven’t been able to…well, Kirsten isn’t pregnant.” He waved his hand in the air. “I’m worried she’ll want a baby more than she wants me.”

  Scott snorted. “A mated pair are bound to each other, no matter what. No one divorces, leaves, or cheats. It’s one of the perks.”

  The judge sighed. “I know. I know. But”—he glanced away then back at them—“I’m fifty. What if I can’t give her a child?”

  “Look, be thankful you have a mate who adores you. Lucky son of a bitch.” Ted tapped his check on the arm of the chair. “This time, I’m leaving, and I hope there won’t be any problems.”

  Charbonnet stood, pulling himself together. “Not for you.” Intent burned in his eyes, and Ted didn’t want to think of what might go down once they left. “By the way, Kirsten spoke highly of your artwork.”

  “She did?” It shocked Ted that Kirsten had even mentioned him.

  “Perhaps you should quit your day job,” the judge suggested. “Sounds like you have a lot of wasted talent.”

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll keep my day job.” Ted waved the check. “The money’s good.”

  “Good day, gentlemen.” The judge nodded, dismissing them.

  “Good day, Judge.” Ted stood, and with Scott following, they left the office.

  Ted searched the street. It was almost ten in the morning, and people traveled up and down the sidewalks.

  “All clear.” They headed back to his apartment.

  “Did you know he was a were when you took the job?” Scott asked as they strolled.

  “No. But I got the strangest vibe from him. It’s like I knew something was different about him but couldn’t put my finger on it.”

  Scott grunted. “Once you’ve been around us for a while, you’ll be able to tell who is pack and who isn’t.”

  “That’s presuming we survive the vote.” Ted slapped his wolf on the shoulder.

  Scott growled, and all Ted could do was laugh. “Ouch!” He rubbed his side. Damn wolf.

  Chapter Thirty

  Scott drove down the road from the highway to his house.

  “I’ve seen this before, you know.” Ted pointed at the trees on the side of the road. “In my dreams.”

  “Dreams?”

  “The ones your mother sent me, the ones I’ve been having of you for the last four months. I never saw your face, just your arms. Strong arms, blond hair. That’s all I knew.”

  “So I could have been anyone, huh?” Scott chuckled.

  “Yeah. I thought my mystery man could have been my art instructor; he was blond and tanned. Quite hand
some.”

  Scott growled. “That Darcy guy? Did you…you know, with him?”

  “No. Might have if I hadn’t seen you in the restaurant.”

  “Good.” Scott smiled.

  “There was a young man too. Peter. Blond and so fucking cute. I thought it could have been him.”

  “Is that the guy I smelled on you?” Scott’s face darkened, and his hands clenched the steering wheel.

  “Yeah. He tried to—well, you know, it didn’t happen.”

  “Once you find your mate, that’s it. No one else will do.” Scott winked at him, then sobered. “Did you want him?”

  Ted leaned back in the seat. “I wanted to want him. I didn’t want to be controlled by whatever was or wasn’t happening between you and me. I let him suck me just to prove I could, but in the end, I couldn’t fight it. I pushed him off and told him to forget it.”

  “Sorry. Sort of.” Scott shrugged. “From what I learned about you from that bartender, you seem to have a lot of casual sex.”

  “Yeah, I did. Is that a problem? You didn’t expect me to be a virgin, did you?” Ted laughed.

  “Maybe, had you been a woman.” Scott exhaled. “Those thoughts went out the door when I realized my wolf wanted a gay man.”

  “Well, at least one of us is a virgin.” Ted gave him a saucy wink. “Your ass is still virginal.”

  “And it’s going to stay that way.”

  It was Ted’s turn to growl. “Oh, really?”

  “Give me time, babe. I’ve had to put a lot of learned behavior aside. I’m straight, and I’ve never done anything like what I’ve done with you, Ted.” He frowned.

  “Does that bother you? What we’ve done? The sex?”

  “Yeah. It does. It bothers me that I love it so much. That I can’t stop thinking about fucking and sucking you. I’m not supposed to want that, not with another man.” Scott swallowed and stared out the front window of the truck. “We’re home.” The truck came to a stop.

  Ted looked out at the house in his dreams. The stairs up to the front door of the raised house were exactly as he remembered them.

  “And I swore I’d never fall for a straight man again, and here you are, and here I am, and I feel as if I have no control over my life anymore.” Ted punched the dashboard. “It’s frustrating, Scott. I don’t like this situation. Every fiber in my body wants you, and my mind just keeps telling me to run for it.”

  “Come on up. Let’s relax for a bit. I have some phone calls to make.” Scott got out of the truck and waited as Ted got out and shut his door.

  Ted followed Scott up the stairs and inside.

  “It’s just like I dreamed.” Ted stared as he turned in a circle. “Your bedroom, right?” He pointed to a door.

  “Right.”

  Scott walked over to the couch and sat. “Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I need to make those calls.”

  Ted nodded and headed to the refrigerator for something cold to drink. Right now, he was praying for a beer.

  ∙•∙

  Scott pulled out his cell phone. First, call to Billy Trosclair and check on the men and the job.

  “Billy?”

  “Hey, sheriff. How’s it going?”

  “I’m back in town. At home. How are the men?”

  “It’s weird. After you left, everything settled down. It’s been life as usual, sir. No events, no fights.”

  “Good to know.” Scott exhaled. It had been him all along causing the craziness, and it just proved without him there, the pack had been better off.

  “Are you coming in today?” Billy asked.

  “No. But there’s going to be a pack meeting tonight. I’m getting ready to call for it now.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll be there.” Billy rang off, and Scott leaned back on the couch as Ted joined him, handing him a beer.

  “One of your deputies?” Ted asked.

  “Yeah. Good kid. Levelheaded as hell. Even when all this was going on, he kept his cool.”

  “Who’s next?”

  “I need to call a pack meeting.” He punched a few buttons on the cell and put it to his ear. “This is Sheriff Scott Dupree. There will be an emergency meeting of the Rougaroux Social Club tonight at eight. I’m bringing my mate before the pack for a vote tonight. All available members and their mates should attend.” He snapped it closed. “Well, that’s that.” Scott took a long gulp of his beer.

  “Great. Can’t wait.” Ted rolled his eyes.

  Scott’s phone rang, and both men jumped. Scott glanced at the cell and groaned. “My mom.”

  “Yeah, mom. It’s true.” He wanted to make this as brief as possible.

  “Is it Ted?” she asked. He could hear her smoking.

  “It’s Ted. He’s here with me now. We’re going to ask the pack to accept him.”

  “You weren’t going to call me first before you let the whole pack know?”

  “All they know is there’s a meeting, and I found my mate.” He needed to know how his mom felt about this, and if he’d lose her over having a gay man as a mate.

  “Scott, you’re my son. I love you.” She exhaled. “Are you sure about this?” She sounded more concerned than mad.

  “I’m sure. It’s the only way.” Scott ran his hand over his head.

  “I’ll see you at the meeting tonight, then.” She hung up, leaving Scott completely unsure where she stood. If his mother wouldn’t vote for this, they wouldn’t stand a chance in hell.

  “Is everything okay?” Ted asked as he slipped his arm around Scott. Not thinking, Scott leaned into him. That was it, really. When Scott didn’t think about it, being with Ted came easy.

  “I’m not sure. She didn’t say one way or the other.” He looked at Ted, trying to put on a brave face. “Look, both of us know how this is going down, babe. I’m going to fight.”

  Ted bit his lip. “Do you have to kill this guy, Wyatt? Does he have to kill you?”

  “No, I can force him to submit to me and leave it at that. But if he wants a clear path to control of the pack, he’ll have to kill me. My wolf is alpha, and nothing will stop it from fighting to the last breath.”

  ∙•∙

  “Great. Just great.” Ted shook his head and took another drink. “I get to watch you fight to the death and maybe die.” Ted’s gut shredded at the thought of that. “Do you know how that makes me feel?” He turned Scott to face him. “I’m more frightened for you than I was last night when I thought those guys were going to shoot me. I’m scared to be left without you. I’m mad and angry that I got caught up in this mess with no way out.” Ted wrapped his arms around his belly as the pain hit harder. Tears filled his eyes. “I can’t do this. Tonight. I can’t be there.”

  “What? You have to be there.”

  “No, I don’t. I won’t.” He shook his head and bolted out of his seat. “I won’t watch another man I love die.” He turned away from Scott. “It’ll kill me.”

  Scott leaped from the couch, over the coffee table, and took Ted in his arms. “Shhh, babe. I’m not going to die. Promise.”

  “Liar. You know you could be killed, and I get to stand there and watch it?” Ted yelled. “Watch the blood, the life flow out of you? Watch you take your last breath?” His voice rose as fear flooded him. “This is going to be just like Douglas. Just like the convenience store. All the blood. Holding Douglas as he died. I can’t do that again. No fucking way.”

  Scott held him, tightening his grip. “Hey, babe. I’m sorry about what happened to you before. And I know I can’t make promises about this now. But I need you. I need you there. Life or death, I need you to be there. I need something to fight for, my mate standing beside me. Understand?”

  Ted looked up into Scott’s blue eyes and shook his head. He didn’t want to understand. He wanted to go home.

  “If you don’t go, I don’t stand a chance. My wolf needs his mate there to defend. Without my mate, there’s nothing to fight for, and I won’t last long.”

  Ted burie
d his head in Scott’s shoulder. “Damn you, Dupree. Goddamn you. And this crazy wolf shit. I hate it. I hate you.” He nuzzled into Scott’s throat. Even now, when his heart was breaking, and he was so frightened of what would be left of him if Scott died tonight, even now, he wanted Scott.

  Scott put his hands on either side of Ted’s face and pulled him up. “You are my mate. Be there. For me.” Scott kissed him, a brush over his lips.

  Ted surged, bringing their lips together in a hard kiss. Who was he kidding? There was no way out of this. He couldn’t leave Scott to face this alone. The idea of Scott dying on the floor, without his lover holding him, hit Ted even harder.

  “I’ll go. I’ll be there. Fight for me, wolf.” Ted gasped as Scott pulled him even tighter and took Ted’s mouth in a soul-searing kiss, all tongue and teeth.

  Scott pulled him down, and they hit the floor, Ted on top of Scott, grinding their erections against each other.

  Scott’s phone rang.

  “Fuck!” Scott growled and held it up to see who it was. “It’s Mike.”

  “Who’s Mike?”

  “My best friend. He knows about you.”

  “Better answer it.” Ted rolled off his lover and sat up.

  Scott flipped open the phone. “Yeah, Mike.”

  “You found your mate? What the hell happened to the gay dude?” Mike sounded out of breath, like he’d just been running.

  “It is the gay dude. It’s Ted.” Now he had to gauge Mike’s reaction.

  “Cool. It’s going to freak everyone out, you know.” Mike laughed. Scott should have known Mike would stand behind him, just like he’d said.

  “I got you behind me on this, right?” Scott had to ask.

  “Right behind you. Like I told you before, better a gay mate than Wyatt for a boss. Merde, I hate that guy,” Mike cursed. “What are you going to do about everyone else?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Look, I’m going to talk to Sharie.”

  “What for?”

  “She’s on a zillion committees with the other wives. She’ll make some calls.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate that.” Scott hung up.

  “Mike’s with us.” He exhaled. That was one. No wait, two, and maybe more, because the pack’s mates would have the right to vote also. “He’s going to get his wife Sharie to call around for more support from the women.”