by SF Benson
“Cal cornered me at my Jeep. He said the Ryders are coming for your family.”
“Shit.” She’s definitely pissed. Audra and I have been together for so long that she automatically gets included on family business. For her to make the distinction, isn’t good. I shake my head and keep my thoughts to myself. Adding a pair of underwear to my pile of clothes, I head to the adjoining bathroom. I’ll deal with Audra’s attitude later.
Mom and Brian are eating by the time I reach the estate. I take my seat beside Mom near the head of the table. She cuts her eyes toward me while Brian gives me a nervous grin.
“Nice of you to join us, Brady,” she says curtly.
Placing eggs and bacon on my plate, I lower my gaze. “I’m sorry, Mom. It couldn’t be avoided.”
She pushes the food around on her plate. “What did Audra say about the union?”
Lying to my mother is a waste of time. She’s always been able to see through any untruth any of us crafted. If we didn’t want Mom to know something, we simply refrained from telling her anything. It was safer that way.
I drop a napkin in my lap and pick up the fork. “We haven’t talked about it.”
“I see.” Mom lifts her cup of coffee. “Brian, leave us.”
My brother pushes away from the table, starts to get up, and then freezes. “No.”
Crimson moves across Mom’s face, and she sets the cup down, coffee spilling over the side. “Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly?”
“I’m not going anywhere. If I’m Brady’s beta, then whatever you have to say concerns me too.” Brian sits back on the chair and folds his arms over this chest.
I nod and raise an eyebrow in his direction. My little brother makes me proud. He doesn’t want to carry the cross, but he’s doing what’s required—a show of strength, demonstrating he’ll lead.
Mom’s gaze darts from Brian to me. A smile flickers on her lips, but she doesn’t let it take full possession. “Very well. Brady, I want this mess wrapped up. Speak to Audra today. If she turns you down, I’ll meet with her. I know I gave you two weeks. She doesn’t need to know that. Audra has to believe this is more urgent than it is.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Sometimes when we believe things are critical, we’re more prone to act.” Mom returns to her cup of coffee.
There’s no arguing with my mother. Her word is as solid as mine when delivering instructions to the pack.
“Brian, I have a job for you,” Mom announces. “As beta, you’re to contact the Broussards. I want Amber in town next week.”
Amber Broussard.
Damn.
Words escape me. Simply speaking her name makes breathing difficult. Amber and Audra crossed paths about a year ago. There’s no love between them. If Audra learns about Amber, my family might as well tack my carcass on a wall for decoration.
Brian takes a deep breath. “How do you suggest I handle this, Mom? I’m supposed to be back in school next week.”
“School will wait. You have to go to New Orleans.” Mom dabs at her lips with a cloth napkin. “Take the jet and you can be back overnight. You’re only presenting the idea to the pack. Let them know your brother is handling his personal affairs. I want Amber and Brady to get to know each other before any deal is struck.”
Brian nods and stands. “I’ll go make the necessary phone calls.”
After he leaves, Mom turns to me. “You should know I don’t anticipate a union between you and Audra.”
“I know.” I lift my water glass. Her words aren’t surprising. Everyone in Falls Creek knows how stubborn Audra Nevers can be. It hasn’t stopped me from loving her though. “Thanks for at least giving me an opportunity.”
Mom sighs. “Son, sometimes love isn’t enough. Sometimes loyalty and doing the right thing have to take precedence.”
“Do you honestly think marrying Amber is the right thing? It’ll alienate Audra. The Romero pack is strong, but it’s better with the help of the Nevers wolves on board.”
Mom shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me! I don’t want anyone else but my mate.”
My mother ignores my outburst. “As much as I like your chosen mate, I won’t lie. She’s not a child anymore. She knows, or should know, all about pack politics. If she can’t put aside her issues for you, then she’s not the right mate for you.” Mom pushes to her feet. “End of discussion. Move forward. Send me a text after you’ve spoken to Audra.”
“I will.” Staring into my plate, I wish I could find an easy solution to my problem amongst the half-eaten eggs and bacon. My thoughts turn to my father. I glance up. “Mom, before you go can we talk about Dad?”
Tension pulls at Mom’s expression. “What about him?”
“I think it’s time to call Elsbeth,” I say quietly. The Red Witch has been in Falls Creek since the town’s founding. If there’s something supernatural about my father’s illness, she would know.
Mom sits down, her gaze distant. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Doctors can’t explain what’s wrong with Dad. He’s been sick for a year and it’s getting worse. What if he’s cursed? Elsbeth is the most powerful witch in town. She’d know if someone cast a spell on him. She might even be able to break it.”
“To be honest, I’ve thought about a curse.” A pained look crosses my mother’s pretty face. “I even mentioned it to Santiago. He said it was preposterous. The Romeros have no issues with anyone in town. So who would do it, Brady? Who?”
“Call Elsbeth, Mom. Please.” I drop my napkin on the table—my breakfast no longer appealing—and rise. “We’ll deal with the who once we find out what’s going on.”
If I were to gamble on the answer, I’d bet on the Ryders. But Mom doesn’t need to know this. It’s just one of many truths we’ve kept from her over the years. All a part of protecting my family.
Mom has no idea about what happened the night Hank Richards, a were-panther and a former police detective with the Falls Creek Police Department, killed Jackson Ryder. My father and I hid the shifter from Elijah, the patriarch of the Ryders. If I tell Mom I believe the Ryders are behind the curse, I’ll have to tell her everything. Keeping the secret keeps her protected.
A curious expression crosses her face before she leaves the dining room. She knows I’m not telling her everything. Shaking my head, I walk toward the front door. It’s just one more thing I’m not proud of today. I check my watch. It’s time to see the lawyer.
Sebastian Archer has been our family’s lawyer for years. His ancestry dates back to the founding families. His small office is located on Main Street—thankfully on my way home. The rotund man wearing a dark-brown suit reminds me of a fat tree elf with a bald head.
“Good to see you, Brady. How’s your dad doing?” Sebastian leans back, and the seat squeaks under his girth.
“The same. Mom’s calling in Elsbeth.”
Sebastian lifts a ginger eyebrow. “That sounds serious. How can I help you today?”
“I need you to draw up papers to transfer my properties to Audra Nevers.”
The lawyer tilts his head to one side. “Also serious. What’s going on, Brady?”
“I won’t bore you with the details, but I’m taking some precautions if we don’t bond and marry.”
Sebastian exhales and pushes to his feet. He turns to the bookcase lining the wall behind him. He studies the brown leather tomes until he settles on one toward the bottom. The book is huge and covered in dust. Dropping it on his desk, papers scatter. Sebastian takes a moment and flips through the pages.
“Do you know the history of the Romero pack?” he asks after a few silent minutes.
“Sure. Mom and Dad filled me in before I became alpha. What are you getting at?”
Sebastian shakes his head, and the sunlight bounces off his shiny pate. “I’ve heard the chatter in town. Someone in your ranks wants to enact the mate clause. What that person doesn’t know is that Council gets to weigh in on the decision
.”
“Huh?”
Sebastian turns the book toward me. “In Falls Creek, supernaturals decided to go against the rules and made their own. The first thing our ancestors did was to do away with common challenges and depositions.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Read it for yourself.” The lawyer points down the page.
I lean forward, and my gaze settles on the parchment covered with archaic lettering. It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust, but I key in on the paragraph:
No supernatural may have his or her status revoked by simple challenge. The matter must be brought before Council. Proof of an infraction must be submitted with the complaint.
I look up. “So what does this mean for me?”
Sebastian reaches for the book. “It means you have time. Whoever wants to challenge your authority has to file a claim with Council. You’re on Council. By law, the other members must call you and inform you of the challenge.”
The breath I didn’t know I held comes sputtering forth. “Thanks.”
“You’re most welcome. I’ll draw up the paperwork for you. I advise to move forward with whatever plans you have in mind. Just remember there’s no urgency until someone contacts Council. This might simply be a threat you need to investigate.”
“Threats I can handle. Oh, there’s one other thing. I need to protect my brother, Brian. He’s my new beta.”
Sebastian’s face pales. “Even more reason to find the wolf threatening you. That is, if there’s really a wolf behind it.”
My gaze snaps to his. Sebastian is the only human who knows what went down between Jackson and Hank.
“Don’t waste any time contacting Elsbeth. You might need her help in the end.”
“Thanks, man.” I stand and shake Sebastian’s hand. “Let me know when the papers are ready. I don’t want anything left open.”
“You got it. I’ll give you a call.”
A realm of likelihoods dance in my head on the drive home from Sebastian’s. Could the threat simply be a seed planted by one of the Ryders? If that’s the case, how do I uncover it? If they’re behind it, it’s even more important to act as if I know nothing. Keep moving forward and doing what’s necessary. Involve as few people as possible.
Which brings me back to the bonding situation. If I tell Audra the truth, I’ll have to tell Mom too. In this case, the truth won’t set anyone free. It’ll do the opposite. Something I have to avoid. So I’m back at square one.
Audra won’t like anyone, even me, forcing her hand. Insisting she marry me might be the breaking point between us. The last thing I want is to charge in like a damned Neanderthal and demand she submit to my rule. I’ve never commanded Audra to do anything. Our relationship is a rare one in our community. I believe in equality, and I’ve always allowed her a say in whatever we do. A contradiction with how things are normally done with wolves.
I turn my car onto Main Street, one possibility comes to mind. Granted, it’s the worse choice other than losing Audra.
Becoming a lone wolf.
We’d have to leave Falls Creek. Cut ties with our families and friends. Would Audra leave everything behind for me? For us?
Don’t kid yourself. She won’t give up her pack for you.
I stop at the light, pick up my phone, and call the bar. The phone rings incessantly. Where the hell is she? A car horn blaring behind me snaps my attention. I put the car in gear and drive off.
I’ll go home. Maybe she’s waiting there for me. Audra doesn’t do as she’s told. Another reason why I love her. I don’t want some mate who sits around needing me to tell her what she can and can’t do. That’s what I’ll get with Amber. The female is the stereotypical blonde. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that she needs a male to tell her when to let her wolf out.
I pull off Main Street and steer the car toward the curb. It’s better not to surprise Audra. I’ll give her a call and then head home.
It’s so refreshing to be put in one’s place by their so-called mate. Not.
Something is going on with Brady, and I don’t like it one bit. He’s never disregarded me. When my parents died, it was Brady who told me I wasn’t alone as long as I had him. He was my family. I guess he lied right along with his parents. Santiago and Brenna welcomed me into their home and treated me like a daughter. I thought of Brady’s siblings as my own.
Family business my ass.
Something I’m not a part of.
But if you marry Brady, enact the bond, then you’ll be part of the family.
Yeah, right.
Enacting the bond and committing to marriage requires relinquishing control and my leadership—something I can’t do to the pack. The members helped take care of us—food, clothing, advice—until I could do more for my siblings. I owe the pack my loyalty.
“Take it easy before you break a bottle.”
I flinch and stop restocking the bar. Turning around, I’m ready to attack, and then I see my brother. Pushing the box to the side, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you, of course.” He takes a seat on a stool and leans over the counter. “Want to tell me what crawled up your ass?”
Wearing my emotions on the surface so that all can see them has always been a problem for me. Being alpha hasn’t helped me learn to hide my feelings though. When I’m pissed, the entire pack knows. Hell, the whole town knows.
“Brady.”
“TMI, sis.”
I smack Greg’s arm. “Not like that, you ass. Brady left early this morning for a family meeting.”
Greg grabs one of the beer bottles on the bar and twists off the cap. “Without you?”
“Exactly.” I snatch the drink from him. “It’s too early for this, besides it’s warm.”
He snatches it back. “It’s the right time somewhere. People in England drink shit warm.” Greg takes a long swig. “So what’s the meeting about?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Removing the last bottle of gin, I drop the empty box on the floor. “Brady didn’t tell me shit.”
A smile tugs at Greg’s lips. “Then you’ll want to hear what I learned.”
My brother is the biggest gossip peddler in Falls Creek. Sometimes the words he spouts are worth hearing. Other times they need to be weighed against the possibilities—both real and imaginary.
“What?”
“Rumor has it the Romero pack is going through some shit. Members doubt Brady’s ability to lead them.”
“Who told you that bullshit?” How dare anyone question his leadership? When it comes to alphas, Brady is one of the best. He doesn’t rule with a heavy hand. If anything, he’s too considerate of the opinions of the pack—always taking emotions into account before acting.
“That cute waitress from last night, the one from a founding family.” Greg lifts a hand. “But I’m just the messenger. According to her, older members are challenging Brady because he doesn’t have a mate.”
I was ready to dispute what Candace told Greg until he said mate. My heart sinks as I grasp the neck of the bottle. There it is. The real reason why Brady proposed again although we’d discussed it last time. He said he’d give me a year. Enough time for Greg to either straighten his shit out or position my beta for leadership.
Damn pack rules.
“What happens if he doesn’t have one?” I have no idea why I bothered to ask. Any alpha worth a damn knows the answer. It’s an old rule that no one really challenges anymore.
Greg squints at me before taking another pull on the bottle. He knows the answer as well as I do. “He’ll be deposed, but Audra, you know that.”
I keep quiet.
My brother lowers the bottle while pointing a finger toward me. “Here’s the best part of the news… The part that should interest you. Supposedly there’s a she-wolf down in New Orleans lined up to become his wife—a Broussard.”
I see red. Glass breaks. The clean smell of Beefeater’s Reserve brand gin surrounds me, but I d
on’t feel pain. Only fury so strong I want to rip someone apart.
“Audra!” Greg grabs my hand and yanks me out of the fog. “What the fuck?”
I snap out of my trance. A glass shard sticks out of my palm. Blood drips onto the counter, but I’m too shocked to speak or move. Thankfully, my brother springs into action. He jumps over the bar and finds a clean towel. He removes the glass fragment before pressing the cloth over the wound. “Where’s the first-aid kit?”
Absently, I say, “In the office.”
“Hold this. I’ll be back.” His heavy footsteps pound the floor as he runs from the room.
Greg’s words swirl inside my head. Would Brady marry someone else? A Broussard isn’t just anyone. Would the only wolf I’ve ever loved stoop so low just because I said no?
“Let me see.” Greg is by my side again. He inspects the cut on my hand. “Thankfully, you won’t need stitches. I’ll clean it and bandage it. It’s going to be sore for a while. What were you thinking, Audra?”
I wasn’t. All rational thought takes a back seat when it comes to the Broussard pack. The females are plain hateful. And the males? So full of themselves their arrogance has a stench.
Swallowing hard, I regain the ability to speak. “Which Broussard is he supposed to marry?”
“Huh?” Greg looks up from the first aid kit. “Oh… I heard it’s Amber.”
Jerking my hand away, I stomp around the bar. Like hell will Brady marry that wench.
“Where are you going? I need to bandage—”
“I’ll be fine. Stay here and keep an eye on things. And don’t drink up all the liquor. That’s an order. Break it and you’ll pay.” For once, I need my brother to listen to his alpha. To listen to me. “There’s something I need to do.”
The pain in my hand doesn’t come close to the ache in my heart. Brady knows how much I despise Amber Broussard. How could he even think about hooking up with that skank?
Amber and I met during a national convocation of alphas about two years ago. The wench took one look at Brady and wanted to stake a claim. I told Amber that Brady was mine. She let me know without his mark, Brady was free to claim anyone he pleased. Lucky for Amber, her brother stepped in and saved her ass. Then, Brady set the record straight with her.
