by SF Benson
“There’s nothing cryptic in what I say. When you’re calmer, you will see. There’s a way for both of you to be happy. Your enlightenment will come with the rising of the sun.”
My wolf grumbles. “My family’s indebtedness doesn’t give you the right to read my mind.”
A thin smile appears on Elsbeth’s face. “My assistance doesn’t give you the right to question my actions.”
If I want her continued help, it’s best to accept her mind reading. There are far worse things the witch could do. “Back to the subject… Are you saying I’ll wake up in the morning and everything will make sense?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I did not say which sun.” The Red Witch opens the door and disappears into the night, leaving me confused and far too sober.
Only thing the rising of the sun brings is a monster hangover. My stomach roils, and my brain slams into my skull. Shit. My mouth, feeling like I slept with a paw in it, tastes like shit. Peeling open my lids, I try to take in my surroundings, but piercing sunlight attacks my eyes. I shut them, roll over, and place the pillow over my head. That’s when somebody’s fist collides with my front door. Swinging my legs out of the bed, I’m prepared to rip apart whoever is making that racket.
For a moment, I’m lost. Why the hell am I in the guest house? Then my brain flicks a switch, and it all comes back to me—the break-up, moving back to the estate, talking to Elsbeth last night, and…the bourbon. It also explains why I’m still wearing sweatpants.
The continued banging on the front door disrupts my thoughts, and I pad down the hall at top speed. I’m a little shocked to find my mother on the porch.
“It’s about time.” She gives me an elevator glance. “Did you drink the whole bottle?”
No words needed. The empty container lies on the sofa. “Good morning to you too, Mom.”
“Morning?” She pushes the door shut behind her. “It’s afternoon, Brady. I know I’m just your mom and you don’t want to share everything with me…”
“It’s not that, Mom.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. “Audra and I broke up. I can’t move forward if I’m thinking and talking about her. Understand?”
“I do. If you need me, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks.” I step back. “Elsbeth learned some things. I need a shower, some coffee—”
“How about I make you something to eat? Get you some coffee while you shower?”
“Sounds good. I’ll be up to the house in half an hour.”
Mom has always enjoyed cooking for all of us. If you’re hurting, she’ll treat you to all your favorites. It’s afternoon but she prepared a full spread—blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheddar, applewood bacon, thick slices of honey ham, and endless cups of coffee. Makes me appreciate the biggest advantage of being a wolf—a voracious appetite and a rapid metabolism.
After a third plateful, I push away from the table.
“Care to talk now?” Mom asks, sitting across from me with her own cup.
She won’t let things rest until I say something. “You want to know what happened with Audra?”
Mom nods.
“Audra already made up her mind. She thinks she’s doing what’s best for all involved.”
“But you don’t?”
“No. I’m going to make this right.” I take my plate to the sink. “But I need you not to push. We’ll make the pack happy and announce my union with Amber Broussard. But we’re not moving on it.”
Mom purses her mouth. “What are you planning?”
“My marrying someone isn’t as important as this thing with the Ryders. Will you contact the pack for me today? Get them all here tonight for a meeting.”
“Shouldn’t your beta make that call?” Mom lifts her coffee cup.
“He’s still in New Orleans.”
“Why?”
“Elsbeth mentioned the Mercier witches—”
The cup slips from Mom’s hand and crashes to the floor. Ceramic shards along with coffee paint the tile. Her voice shakes as she asks, “Did you say Mercier?”
“Yeah.” My eyes narrow as I scrutinize my mother, biting her lips and trying to hide her trembling hands in her lap. “It’s something we need to discuss.”
Consuela, our housekeeper, rushes into the room. “¡Dios mío! ¿Qué ha pasado?”
“Just a spill. Would you mind cleaning it up now? Mom and I need to see my father.”
“Of course.” Consuela’s head bobs nervously, and her dark eyes dart around the room. “The Master is awake.”
To avoid repeating myself, I choose to share Elsbeth’s news with both of my parents. Mom’s mouth drops open while Dad doesn’t blink or say a word.
“Dad?”
“If you’re expecting me to be surprised, don’t hold your breath,” he says flatly. “The night we helped Hank, I knew there would be retaliation.”
Mom gasps.
“Thing is, I wouldn’t do anything different,” Dad continues. “If the panther showed up today, I’d help him. Hank’s a good male. His sister didn’t deserve to die that way.”
Mom’s gaze shifts from Dad to me. “So what happens next?”
“Elsbeth will break the curse.” What I’m going to say will upset my mother, but it’s part of my plan. It has to be carried out. “I don’t want anyone to know Dad recovers though.”
“Why?” she shouts. “Your Dad can help you.”
Dad shakes his head. “No. Brady is alpha. He knows what he’s doing. What’s your end game, son?”
“Cal and his brother think they’re going to break us. Let them think you’re so sick you’re dying. Mom, that’s what you tell the pack to get them here. Keep up the lie this evening. Someone within our own ranks is behind all of this. I’m certain of it.” I walk over to the window and pull back the heavy curtain.
“How do you plan on outing the rat?” Mom says.
“The same way we deal with all vermin,” Dad tells her. “You lay a trap so tempting that the culprit will jump without thinking.”
Exactly.
Now to set out the bait.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Sebastian asks. He waves the envelope in front of his ruddy face.
“Yes. Someone within my pack is a traitor. This is the best way to flesh him or her out.” I reach across the wooden desk and take the envelope. The document inside looks authentic right down to the signatures.
“How will you detect the culprit?”
“Not that I don’t trust you, Sebastian, that’s guarded information. Believe me when I say it’s handled. We’ll find out who’s behind this tonight.”
With pack business behind me, for now, I need to deal with the rest of my life. I have to unravel Elsbeth’s mystical words. The last being on earth I care to spend time with is the very one that might help me.
Unwilling to go by Balls Up, I meet Greg on Crucifix Island. He joins me in the clearing near an area where humans enjoy rock climbing. I don’t understand the attraction of scaling the side of mountain with only a thin rope keeping them from death. To each his own.
Crunching dead leaves grab my attention. Greg Nevers slinks out of the shadows. To be honest, I’ve never liked the male. Even before his plunge into alcoholism, he was an arrogant wolf. He never listened to anyone, including his parents. For years, I tried to look past his flaws. Now that I’m no longer with Audra, I can’t help but focus on his imperfections.
Cigarette smoke wafts off his body. Great. Another damned vice. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. You know about Audra and me?”
He nods.
“Did you see her before she broke up with me?”
“She came by the house. Tried to talk me into becoming alpha.”
My wolf bares its teeth. If this ass would step up and be a real male, Audra wouldn’t have broken up with me. “What else?”
“I told her to walk the fuck away. She doesn’t want to be an alpha. Audra’s only doing it out of obligation.�
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What the fuck? “Audra’s alpha because she’s a responsible being. She wouldn’t abandon those who rely on her.”
Greg laughs. “What’s with you two? Who gives a flying fuck about being responsible if it means trading in your happiness? Audra is miserable.”
Something I already knew. “If you did your part, she wouldn’t be miserable.”
“You don’t get it, Brady. My sister thinks shit will fall apart without her. The pack doesn’t give a fuck who leads them as long as it’s not me. I failed my parents. I’ll only fail the members too. Audra thinks she’s protecting a legacy. There’s nothing left to protect. Tia’s mated with your brother. I could walk out of this town and nobody would care.”
My head bobs up and down. Audra won’t leave the pack without a good reason. Sadly, I can’t be it. I won’t be the one Audra blames when the pack suffers.
Fixing this is going to take a lot more effort than I’d bargained for.
Waking up in my childhood room—pink walls, a four-poster bed, and some tattered stuffed toys sitting on a dusty corner shelf—is a little disorienting. It’s been years since I’ve been in this room. When Mom and Dad died, I slept in the guest room. Once I moved out, Greg didn’t bother keeping sheets on the bed. Last night, I didn’t feel like doing it, so I crashed here.
To be honest, it wasn’t fatigue that drove me here last night. It was the very real inability to sleep in the home I shared with Brady. But it wasn’t the empty house or the empty bed that bothered me. It was the staggering silence. Turning on the TV, blasting music, or even checking out my social media didn’t fill the massive void.
In a futile attempt to block out the sun, I drag the threadbare, floral comforter over my head. It’s safe beneath it. There isn’t any pressure beneath it. Brady’s scent isn’t beneath it.
Unfortunately, as much as I’d love to stay under the covers and wallow, I can’t. There’s work to be done. Word travels fast in this town. My breaking up with Brady will be gossiped about over breakfast. The imagined details will be exchanged as individuals pass each other on the street. If there was a rumor segment on the evening news, we would be the lead story.
Creaking floorboards and the ticking of the grandfather clock greet me as I shuffle toward the hall bathroom. A shower and a tall cup of coffee, hopefully, will do the trick.
A quick glance in the mirror before leaving—hair is neat, makeup is in place—and then I shrug into my jacket. I yank open the door and find Sarah, an older pack member, with her hand poised to knock.
How the hell did she figure out I was here? Her arrival makes me wonder if there’s somebody watching me.
I close my gaping mouth. “Morning, Sarah. I’m on my way out, but did you need something?”
Her thin lips lift into a smile. “If you can spare an old woman a moment.”
“Oh, you’re not old,” I lie. Truth be told, Sarah isn’t aging gracefully. Deep lines etch the surface of her caramel-colored skin. Her short, kinky hair is mostly gray, and she walks with a limp—an injury from a wound that never healed properly.
She pulls her beige wool coat closer. “You’re a lousy liar. Just like your father.”
“Where are my manners? Come on in, out of the cold. Would you like some coffee?” I step to the side and let Sarah enter.
“Thank you, child, but this won’t take long.” Her rheumy eyes look me over. “Every day you look more and more like your blessed mother.”
As much as I’d like to hurry Sarah along, I can’t. It’s rude, and my parents raised me better than that. Butterflies taking off in my stomach give me a dire warning, but I lead her to the sofa anyway. Whatever she has to say is probably inevitable.
“What can I do for you?”
“We need to discuss pack matters.” Sarah avoids eye contact with me.
Forcing myself to sit patiently, I ask, “What’s going on?”
The elder wolf, keeping her gaze lowered, twists her fingers in her lap. “More families want to leave the pack.”
Exactly what I feared. Members deserting the pack has been a problem ever since I became alpha. Some of it comes from members not trusting me. They don’t believe a female can properly lead them. Others leave because opportunities—better jobs and packs with chances for advancement—present themselves outside Falls Creek. Every time a member leaves, though, they take income and muscle with them. It weakens those left behind. Of late, it’s been getting worse. At least one family departs each week. If this keeps up, there won’t be many members left in town.
A good reason for you to step down.
I let go of the breath I’ve been holding. “How many?”
“Five.” A few moments pass before Sarah lifts her eyes. “Can I offer you a little advice, dear?”
Like I said, the inevitable speech. Every time I meet with Sarah or one of the other elders, I get unsolicited advice. They all think they could do my job better than me, but when I ask for suggestions, no one speaks. The biggest problem in our pack is the elders treating me like I’m still James Nevers’ little girl—pigtails and skinned knees chasing behind my brother. After Tia came along, I became the kid who dragged her sister along. Everyone used me as the sitter for all the other pups while their parents attended meetings. No one took me seriously. They still don’t even after I stepped into my father’s shoes.
“Unless you have a little magic to help the pack—”
“Not magic. Just wisdom.” Sarah shifts her position on the sofa. The plastic-covered cushion squeaks beneath her ample body. “Maybe it’s time for you to give it up.”
My head whips toward her. “I’m not a quitter,” I spit out through gritted teeth.
“No one’s saying you’re a quitter.” She pats my hand. “This is about cutting your losses. The pack is aging, Audra. The young families are leaving. They want reassurances you can’t give them.”
“Like what?” My hands clench as my wolf wakes up.
“Prosperity, protection, progress. So far, you’ve offered none of that. Packs need all three of those to survive.”
Although Sarah’s words don’t shock me, they do piss me off. No one gives me credit for the things I’ve done. I’ve continued programs my parents started, like the orphaned pups program. It may not seem like much, but it’s a start. With a little time and patience, our pack can be stronger and larger.
Keep telling yourself that one.
Fatigue and frustration fall on my shoulders and they slump. “It’s not from a lack of trying. This is all new to me, Sarah. Members trust your guidance. Help me convince them that we’ll have those things. Soon. If they stick by me…”
She bites her lip and moves her head from side to side. “I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise you anything. I suggest you seriously consider turning over the pack. Let either your beta take over or let us vote on the next leader. You’ve given it your best.”
Apparently, my best isn’t good enough. Sarah’s visit spurs me into action though. Before leaving the house, I take a moment to draw up a plan. So far, I only have a handful of ideas to increase income, mostly. Bottom line? I can’t afford to sit back and do nothing.
Arriving at the bar, I consider one of my decisions. For months Brady and I have speculated opening for lunch. Just one of many plans we had. I love how that man indulged all my ideas. Now who do I turn to? Who will find interest in what I think?
No one. Stand up for yourself.
I’m sure the bar will turn a profit with a lunch crowd. The extra income would help my family be more self-sufficient, which would allow pack members to reduce their contributions. More money in their pockets would let them grow their own pursuits, have nicer homes, and build better lives. Not supporting their alpha might keep members from bailing.
The front door opens, and a breeze ruffles the pages of my notebook. I don’t bother looking up as I announce, “We’re not open for—”
“Audra.”
The sound of her voice forces my eyes up.
Riding boots, jeans, and a thick sweater adorn the body of the last person I expected to see today. “Brenna. What can I do for you?”
Brady’s mom slides onto a bar stool. “You seem to be doing well, considering.”
“Why wouldn’t I? People break up all the time.” I close my notebook. “Is there something you need?”
She traces the wood grain on the counter with a manicured, polish-free finger. Brenna Romero has always been a straightforward female—minimal makeup and casual clothing. Although Santiago’s money could give her the world, she embraces a simple life. One of the few things we have in common.
Brenna presses her lips together briefly. “Is this thing between you and my son permanent?”
“What do you mean?”
Brenna’s blue eyes focus on me. “Are you playing a game with my son? Hoping for more time?”
Slamming my pen down, I lean toward her. “Brenna, I don’t play games. As far as what happens or doesn’t happen between Brady and me, that’s personal. If you have questions, go ask him. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now. I have work to do.”
Brenna works my nerves. If she doubted whether our breakup was real, she should have just asked Brady. Faking a separation serves no purpose for either of us.
“You heard her, Brenna.” The deep male voice comes from the open door. “Beat it. You’re not wanted here.”
We both look over to find Calhoun Ryder in his customary ripped jeans and flannel shirt. I’m surprised his usual funk isn’t as overpowering today. As much as I can’t stand him, in this moment I’m thankful he’s here.
Brenna takes one look at the were-panther and then toward me with darkening eyes. “We’ll speak again.”
Neither of us says a word after she leaves. Calhoun lumbers toward me and leans over the counter. “She giving you problems?”
“No. I’m fine.” I open the notebook. Unfortunately, with him here, I can’t focus on the numbers. “Did you need something?”
“Just wanted to know if it’s true.” He rests his hand on top of mine. “You know, the rumor?”
