by Lori Drake
“Don’t do it, son.”
“Do what?”
Reginald’s brown eyes were heavy. “Make the same mistake I did.”
It took Chris a moment to catch up. He grimaced and glanced in Joey’s direction when he did. “She’s not Mom.”
“No, she’s not. But she has a lot of her mother in her. She doesn’t want someone else to fight this battle for her. She’ll come around, but not if you push her.”
Chris sighed. It didn’t matter, not really. Because the only way he could fight in Joey’s stead was if she named him her second, and she couldn’t do that while he belonged to another pack. At best, all he could do was persuade her to name a second. Sam was the logical choice, but Joey didn’t need him to tell her that. He didn’t know what she did need, but maybe… maybe it was time he asked her.
He gave his father’s shoulder a pat and walked over to Joey, crouching down at the foot of her chair. “What can I do?”
She smiled faintly and cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb lightly against his skin. “Give me a few minutes alone with Dad?”
The request hurt, but he nodded. “Okay, folks, you heard the lady. Clear out.”
She caught his hand when he moved to stand and leaned forward to press her lips to his. “Don’t go far, okay?”
Chris held his tongue and nodded, then herded the last few stragglers from the room. It didn’t make sense why she wanted to talk to Reginald alone. What could she possibly have to say to him that she didn’t want Chris to hear? There were no secrets between them, not anymore.
Doing his best not to think about it, Chris took up a position against the wall outside the room and nodded to Sam, who had taken up a similar position on the other side of the archway. “Think you can handle him?”
Sam snorted and folded his thick arms. “Yeah.”
Chris had the utmost confidence in his brother’s abilities, but all he could think was: It should be me.
Joey waited until the room cleared before drawing her father into the corner of the room farthest from the doorway. “I hope you’re up for some fatherly advice.”
“Whatever you need, kitten.”
That nickname. She was glad none of their guests were around to hear it, but hearing it brought a smile to her lips. He seemed more like himself than he had since her mother had died, but she couldn’t help but worry that it wouldn’t last.
“I admit I didn’t pay as much attention as I should have when Mom explained to me how Alpha challenges work, and Chris’s was unusual, at best. I know they’re not supposed to be to the death, but if Lucas wins he gets everything, doesn’t he?”
Reginald nodded gravely. “Any assets that are in your name would be transferred to him.”
“So, my bank account, inheritance, and the house. What about the trust fund?”
“The trust fund should be safe. Those are specifically designed to limit your access to the money, to protect you from yourself.”
What had always been an annoyance turned out to be a blessing in disguise. “I guess that’s a small relief. Does the fact that Mom’s will is still in probate give us any wiggle room on the rest?”
“Not really. There’s no reason to believe the will won’t be upheld, and once it does… what she left you is yours.”
“But it’s not mine now. Technically.”
Reginald shrugged. “It’s a gray area, I admit. But you shouldn’t bet on it.”
“What if you contest the will? You’re her husband. The house, at least, should’ve gone to you.” She’d been shocked as hell when she found out that her mother had left her the house in Seattle, along with the one in San Diego. Their other properties had been divided between her brothers and father. Everyone had gotten something, along with a share of the family fortune. For the first time, Joey wondered if dividing it up had been a strategic move on her mother’s part and not merely a sentimental one.
“I would’ve had to do it before the challenge was issued. Doing it now would be… poor form, at best.”
“But not technically against lycanthrope law?” she asked.
“Not technically, no.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “But the challenge will happen, one way or another. Instead of worrying about what happens if you lose, why not focus on how you can win?”
Joey sighed and looked away, unwilling to meet his eyes, not wanting him to see just how worried she was. There was no way she could win, not without naming a second. It should be simple. It wasn’t.
When she didn’t answer, he said, “I bought you time, kitten. It wasn’t just to delay the inevitable.” He chucked her under the chin, and she lifted her eyes to meet his.
“I know, Dad. I just don’t know what to do.”
“What are your options?”
“Fight him myself—and put myself in the hospital, at best—or name a second and put everything in their hands.” And that was the rub. Joey hated not being in control. The prospect of being able to do nothing but sit back and watch it all happen, watch the course of her life be decided by a contest of strength between two other people—between two men… She could barely stomach it. “I don’t want to hide behind a second. Naming one now… it feels like admitting I’m not strong enough to answer his challenge myself.”
Reginald guided her to a nearby chair and moved one to face it, settling across from her. Leaning forward, he took her hands in his. “Being Alpha isn’t just about physical strength. It’s also about strength of mind, of spirit. It’s about doing what’s best for your pack, even when that means admitting your own weaknesses.”
“I never should’ve told Lucas about my injury. I feel like such an idiot, Dad. Chris and Sam tried to warn me about him, but he seemed so nice. Especially after he stood up for us against Elijah. How can I even look Chris and Sam in the eye now, much less ask for help?”
“The same way you did before, kitten. So, you’re not perfect. They don’t expect you to be. They love you. Chris would do anything for you. You know that, right? As we speak, that poor boy is probably hovering outside the room, champing at the bit.”
Joey glanced toward the doorway. From where she sat, she could see Sam’s profile as he lingered outside to discourage interruptions. Chris was probably on the other side of the arch. “Yeah. You know, part of me wishes he could fight for me. I’m sure he’d like nothing more than to tear Lucas apart at this point.” He’d been angry enough at Lucas before the challenge, after all.
“Why not let him, then?”
Joey frowned. “And ask him to give up his own pack? No, I couldn’t do that.”
“You know, a funny thing about lycanthrope law… nothing says an Alpha’s second has to be from the same pack.”
Joey blinked, her fingers tightening on her father’s as if the floor had dropped out from under her. “Seriously?”
Her father smiled, one corner of his mouth lifting higher than the other. “No one does it, of course, because it’s kind of silly. Probably no one thought there was a need to make the rule. But it might just work out in your favor.”
Joey’s thoughts were racing. She could name Chris her second. It was the perfect solution to several problems, both immediate and less pressing. If she named him and he named her, it could be a step toward integrating their packs, giving his people the chance to get used to answering to her and vice versa while they tried to figure out which one of them would be Alpha of the mega-pack. Plus, the more they worked together, the easier that would be to figure out. For the first time in over a week, she felt hopeful, like they could actually make this crazy situation work.
But in order to do that, they had to get through this Alpha challenge, bag a hunter, bury their mother, and get rid of their relatives. Preferably in that order.
“There’s just one catch,” Reginald said, interrupting her thoughts.
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“Well, since Chris is also an Alpha… if Lucas defeats him, he could argue that he’s become Alpha of both packs.”
<
br /> Joey winced. “And he’d probably try to lay claim to Chris’s assets as well. The greedy little shit. But even if he did… he can’t expect that both packs will just sit back and take it. He’ll be facing challenges as soon as the waiting period is over.” Lycanthrope law didn’t allow any new challenges to be issued to an Alpha within one week of a challenge, to prevent anyone from taking advantage of an injured Alpha.
Her father shrugged. “One week is long enough for him to transfer his assets. I don’t think for a moment that he really wants—or expects—to take over this pack. We are a family, and our loyalty won’t be easily transferred to an outsider. If we assume the purest of motives, he only wants to keep everyone safe and make sure the hunter is dealt with. If he’s more of an opportunist, it’s your assets he’s after.”
“So… maybe I should name Sam as my second, after all.” For some reason, hiding behind her big brother seemed somehow worse than hiding behind her boyfriend. Granted, Chris didn’t have nearly as much training and combat experience as Sam did. Unless Lucas would agree to a dance-off, Sam would be the logical pick.
“I think that’s something you should discuss with Chris.” Reginald stood, then bent down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll tell him you’re ready to talk.”
Joey started to nod, then thought better of it and stood. “No, I’ll tell him myself. I think it’s better if this conversation takes place behind a closed door.”
Before they left, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her father for a hug. “Are you going to be okay, Dad?”
He rubbed her back, but didn’t answer right away. She tightened her hold on him, hoping he wasn’t slipping away from her again. But he did answer. “I hope so, kitten.”
Joey sat on the loveseat in her office, tugging Chris to sit beside her. He’d been tense ever since she’d come out of the great room to fetch him, and she hoped it wasn’t because she’d asked him to leave the room while she spoke with her father. She couldn’t blame him if that were the case. In his shoes, she would’ve been pretty annoyed about something like that. But it’d felt necessary at the time. She’d needed the time, the space, to clear her head and figure out what was best and how—if at all—that differed from what she wanted.
They sat with their knees angled toward one another. Joey stroked her thumb along his, eyes focused on their interlaced fingers.
“Just say it,” Chris said, after they sat in silence for the better part of a minute.
Joey lifted her eyes to meet his, troubled by the storm raging there. “Say what?”
“That you’re going to name Sam as your second.”
“I thought we should talk about it first.”
“Is there something to talk about?”
“Well, for starters… are you okay with that?”
“It’s not my decision.”
“It’s not one I want to make without you.”
His expression softened. “Really?”
“Really. We’re in this together, right?”
“I’m not the one he challenged.”
“Not directly, but you’re my man. Do you want to be the one to answer it?” She quickly put a finger to his lips. “Before you say yes, there’s a lot to consider. For one, Lucas knows that the Grant pack isn’t a hodgepodge of unrelated wolves. Winning won’t make him the head of our family, but it will make him rich. I think that’s what he’s really after.”
“You think he finally got the message that he wasn’t going to be able to woo you away from me?”
Joey nodded. “Or break me with his wolf’s dominance. He’s strong, Chris. Seriously fucking strong. I’d bet my favorite dancing shoes that the only reason he’s not Alpha of his own pack is lack of interest. He’s seizing an opportunity.”
“The blue ones, with the abalone buckles.” One corner of his mouth twitched upward.
“Uh, gold star for you. But stay on topic.”
“It doesn’t matter how strong his wolf is if he doesn’t know how to fight.”
“Well, that’s point two. We don’t know what his capabilities are. He’s a wild card,” Joey said.
“He mentioned to me that he took an anti-kidnapping class at some point, but I imagine any self-defense that came with that was in human form. I’m not intimidated by his wolf, anyway. I grew up with three older brothers that liked to roughhouse after a successful hunt. I can scrap.”
Joey chuckled. “Yeah, tell me about it. I had four. Anyway, point four… you’re an Alpha. If he defeats you, he could try to claim your pack too.”
That gave him pause, but he shook his head. “You’ve obviously given this a lot of thought, and I appreciate it, but it’s all moot. I can’t be your second. I’m not part of your pack.”
“Dad said there’s no rule that says a second has to be from the same pack. It’s generally not done—because why would it be—but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it. I could name you my second, but like I said… it’s risky.”
His nostrils flared and his jaw ticked, a sure sign of an impending explosion. “Fuck risky. This asshole thinks he can stroll into my territory, force himself on my mate, and shit on my mother’s memory by challenging her successor before she’s even in the ground? He’s going down. It’s not only my duty, it’ll be my goddamn pleasure.”
15
The challenge was set for dawn the next day. Chris expected to have trouble sleeping, but ended up sleeping like a rock from the moment his head hit the pillow until Joey woke him up an hour before dawn. It had been a hell of a long day, that was for sure, and today probably wouldn’t be any better.
He took his time in the shower, letting the steam clear his head. The anticipation of the fight ahead had him on edge. He kept imagining how it’d feel to have his jaws clamped around Lucas’s neck, to hear the son of a bitch whimper and yield so they could get on with their lives. He wouldn’t even send Lucas packing, he’d decided. No, he’d be the better man and let him stay for the funeral.
The scent of breakfast tickled his nostrils the moment he opened the bathroom door. There was a folding table and two chairs set up in the open space at the foot of the bed, with a plate of food sitting atop it. Joey sat in one of the chairs, nibbling at the crust of a triangle of toast.
“You made me breakfast?” Chris couldn’t contain his surprise. Joey’s idea of cooking usually involved a takeout menu.
She smirked and rolled her eyes. “Don’t sound so shocked. It’s just scrambled eggs and toast.”
Even though he appreciated the gesture, eating was pretty much the last thing Chris wanted to do. His stomach was on edge, but he put on a pair of sweats and settled at the table anyway.
“You don’t want any of this?” he asked, motioning at the lone plate with his fork. How many eggs had she cooked for him, anyway? It looked like three or four, easily.
“Nah, just some toast and coffee. Gotta watch my figure.”
He could tell she was deflecting, though it wasn’t entirely uncommon for her to have toast and coffee for breakfast. She was probably as nervous about the coming challenge as he was. As the first bite of eggs hit his stomach, he changed his mind. She couldn’t possibly be as nervous about the coming challenge as he was. There was too much riding on it, but it wasn’t like he didn’t know what he was getting into when he’d accepted it.
They ate in silence, but he didn’t make it through more than half of the eggs and a slice of toast before deciding he was done. “Thanks, that hit the spot.”
“We should probably head down. You ready?” She hid her nerves well, but the way she’d been fidgeting with her coffee cup telegraphed her anxiety.
Chris put on his most confident smile. “You bet.”
Fake it until you make it, right?
She caught his hand on the way to the door and pulled him against her. As she looked into his eyes, he knew he hadn’t fooled her. “You can do this. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t believe it.”
It was just what he needed to
hear, though he hadn’t realized it until then. Taking her face between his hands, he pressed his lips to hers and indulged himself in a slow, tender kiss. Her fingers curled behind his neck, and she held him there, deepening the kiss until he had to break away or take her back to bed. There wasn’t enough time for shenanigans, alas.
He bit her lower lip, gently but firmly. “Hold that thought, eh? We’ll revisit it later.”
“I’m counting on it.” She smiled at him, and they headed for the door.
It wasn’t the best time for an Alpha challenge, especially since the hunter was known to lurk in trees with a high-powered rifle. Their brothers had been up for hours, scouting the property under cover of darkness to ensure there were no interlopers present. Chris hoped between that and the early hour, there wouldn’t be any interference. Though, if he were honest with himself, he couldn’t say if he’d mind Lucas dropping dead in the middle of the challenge.
As they stepped out the back door, they found that quite a few of the guests were curious enough about the outcome of this fight to haul themselves out of bed early. Guests milled about in the predawn light, some wearing housecoats and slippers, while others were fully dressed. Chairs had been set out, but most everyone was standing.
Neither Chris nor Joey had announced to their packs what the plan was. The only person who probably knew what that meant was Sam, who had to suspect that Joey wouldn’t name him her second without talking to him about it first. Chris met his brother’s eyes, and Sam gave him a slight nod, seemingly confirming it. Still, as they took their place with their packs, Sam took up position on Joey’s other side.
Lucas appeared at the appointed time, not a minute sooner. The dark-haired wolf stepped out of the house in a tee shirt and pair of pajama pants, looking for all intents and purposes like he’d just rolled out of bed and come downstairs to get this over with.
