“Landon Joseph Miller.” His mother’s use of his full name would normally have earned his compliance except the anger burned stronger.
Instead of responding, he hurled the half-full beer bottle into the fire then took off at a run toward the woods around the edge of the house. His clothes were shed in mid-run, and he felt his wolf begin to take over. Bones twisted and stretched while hair began to sprout through the slits in his skin yet his feet never stopped, transitioning from two legs to four without an ounce of hesitation. Freshly released claws tore into the ground as he ran deeper and deeper into the woods, heedless of the path until noises from up ahead caught his attention.
Voices and shouts reached out to him along with a strong whiff of coppery blood. His wolf perked immediately on alert, though a brief glance around let him know exactly where he’d inadvertently run. It hadn’t changed nearly enough in over a decade, but he hesitated to approach, wondering what kind of welcome he might receive.
Landon took in another whiff of the area and identified several familiar scents, a mix of members from all three packs. One was stronger than the rest and prompted him to step forward, though he’d barely reached the clearing when someone called, “Didn’t think you’d have the guts to show yourself here.”
The familiar voice halted his steps, abruptly, focusing on the man in front of him who’d been a confidante once upon a time. He had almost as many memories of Roy as Imogene, though the man before him had aged significantly despite their shared age of early thirties. Gray was visible at his temples and in his beard along with a thick scar that bisected an eye gone milky white; however, there was still an undeniable hard quality to Roy as he folded thick arms across his chest and stared down at him. Almost every part of him appeared like a thick tree grown into human form, and intimidation struggled to set in except that had never been his place, and he couldn’t bring himself to accept it now.
Roy might have been a friend growing up, but he was under no delusions that twelve years of silence would go over any better with him than it had with Imogene or his family. A lot of what he’d felt back then had been kept from Roy due to his status as a regular pack member rather than the succession line yet he’d always been available to work off frustration via punches or stolen beers, generally the former.
Pushing down the threatening mix of emotions, Landon began to shift back and managed to do no more than minimal wincing. He hadn’t changed much in the last week so his wolf didn’t appreciate having their run cut short and being caged by the human form, regardless of what the human part needed to do. His wolf released an almost physical growl in his head, but he pushed it aside, leveraging himself up onto two legs and distinctly aware of the vast amount of eyes on him. And his own nudity.
“Catch.”
The single word had his hand moving without conscious thought, grabbing what ended up being a pair of sweatpants in mid-air. He pulled them on then glanced to his left to see who’d cared about his modesty before Roy demanded, “You think you can walk back in here, say some bullshit to Mel, and we just forgive and forget, Landon?”
He briefly caught a glimpse of Imogene’s friend, Letty, then he focused back on Roy, drawing himself up to his full height. “No, I don’t think that, but I do think you’re a bigger asshole now than you used to be.”
He thought he saw the corner of Roy’s lips twitch just before the scowl took over. “Bury the number of people I have, and you’d be an asshole, too.”
Landon wanted to ask how many, thinking about his brothers in the Sons of Mayhem, except he doubted their griefs matched. Roy had likely loved whoever the pack had lost whereas he’d been drifting away from the club lifestyle for years. Too bad he hadn’t been able to take the necessary steps for change until someone else forced their hands, driving him back to his second confrontation in less than an hour.
“I should have been here,” he said rather than argue. “I’m sorry, Roy.”
The collection of snorts over Roy’s shoulder shifted Landon’s attention to the others present, picking out a mix of old and new faces. Some were older, more scarred or lined, while others were simply unwelcoming or turned away in clear rejection of his presence. Only Letty seemed curious, though he put that more to her curiosity about his history with Imogene than anything else, but he held his ground rather than back down from the mob.
“Sorry doesn’t mean shit.”
An involuntary wince met the words despite having expected them before he questioned, “Would you feel better if you hit me?”
“I would,” someone from the back yelled, followed by several voices agreeing..
Jeers and laughter met his words, but he kept his gaze solely focused on Roy as the mountain of a man glared down at him. Only Mac Walsh, the former president of the Chaos’ Sons and a self-proclaimed alpha, had ever made him feel this level of inadequacy with just a look, though after a lengthy pause, Roy shook his head and turned away.
“The effort isn’t worth it,” he said, not even glancing over his shoulder. “Back to practice. Kate, Libby, take ten then back in the ring against Austin and Mariah.”
Landon’s shoulders slumped, but he didn’t have too much time to wallow before Letty popped up beside him to remark, “You’re a really unpopular guy.”
“It’s a gift.” His words were grumbled as his eyes moved from Roy to the pairs of wolves sparring, picking out the familiar faces from the ones who’d been just pups when he left. “Imogene didn’t mention you were part of the guard.”
Letty’s shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Not sure Imogene mentions much to you at all,” she replied with an all too sunny smile. “Micah and Steven asked me to join as kind of eyes and ears since Imogene moved up in rank. It’s my night to supervise the youngins.”
His brows lifted. “Youngins?”
“Teens.” A hand gestured toward the younger wolves hanging off what looked like a giant, domed jungle gym under a pair of spotlights before she continued, “It’s completely voluntary for the ones who want to prep to join the guard, get about five to ten on a good night.”
Landon’s brows furrowed. “I thought the guard didn’t accept anyone under 18?”
“Hence why we all take a night to supervise,” she said, tugging up her shirt to wipe her face. “One or two were dumb enough to challenge early in the past, did not end well, but you probably wouldn’t die against Roy. Maybe just wind up mildly maimed or crippled.”
Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t stop a laugh. “I’m starting to see why Imogene likes you. Does she have a night?”
Letty gave him a look. “I just said she moved up rank so no, she doesn’t come out here much. Were you hoping for a glimpse?”
He shook his head and swept his gaze around again before admitting, “I didn’t plan to come out here, but I guess my wolf thought we needed to see this or maybe it’s just coincidence the run took me here. It was nowhere near this organized when I left.”
“Thank Imogene,” she said, already beginning to back away from him toward her charges. “A lot of the changes were her idea, had to throw herself into something to avoid crying over assholes until I got her back into the dating scene. It was actually her suggestion to begin the teens training earlier, even volunteering to head things up herself despite not being much older, probably needed the release, too.”
Landon winced then hated the smug look she sent his way. It seemed to know too much so he questioned, “You think they’ll ever forgive me?”
Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I’d say odds are decently split on forgiveness and death with the guard, but Imogene? Let’s just say I wouldn’t volunteer letting her hit you because she’d take you up on it, and for a librarian, she’s pretty damn accurate.”
Even as a laugh escaped, he felt the familiar desire to make her smile rather than be the cause of her anger. If only things were as easy as letting Imogene punch him and moving forward as had always worked in the past, but they were no longer kids, and he wasn’t su
re he deserved forgiveness. From her or anyone else.
Casting one last glance over the gathered guard, Landon turned on his heels and started the trek back to the house while his guilty conscience nagged him with whispered memories. It reminded him of all the times he’d felt overlooked and discarded, all the times he’d wanted something more, and now, all he wanted was to feel at home again except who knew if that was even possible anymore?
Chapter Fourteen
Almost a week after Letty’s attack at Bordertown and without a tribunal, Imogene had tucked herself into a booth to keep an eye on her friend for another night. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Charlie or his claims of surveillance, hadn’t seen the cameras with her own eyes, but she felt better being closer and noticed more turneds than usual scattered throughout the bar. It also hadn’t been lost on her that a pair of fully transformed wolves had guarded the door alongside the security in human form when she’d stepped inside, though Letty seemed unbothered as she flitted among tables.
“You need a refill?” Alexis’ voice brought her attention away from her friend, shifting her head to focus on the younger wolf. A smile curved her purple lips as she added, “I’m kind of surprised you aren’t hanging out at the bar.”
Without conscious thought, her eyes flicked toward the bar where Landon stood in a gray Bordertown t-shirt that strained against his biceps and offered a glimpse of the ink on his arm. He laughed at something Tyler said while pouring a shot, though she swung her gaze back to Alexis and said, “Yes, thank you. I’m here for Letty, not Landon.”
“Uh-huh.” Skepticism dripped from the word before Alexis scrawled a quick word on the notepad on her tray. “For the record, she’s doing great, and she’s not even allowed a smoke break without company so you don’t have to worry.”
“Letty doesn’t smoke,” she pointed out with a smile.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing that she isn’t allowed to have smoke breaks,” came the amused reply before a hand caught her attention. “Duty calls, but I’ll get your drink to you soon. Sure you don’t want to order anything to eat? Frank’s in the kitchen, and I know you love his bbq quesadillas. I can put a rush on one just for you.”
Imogene started to argue except the loud rumble from her stomach had Alexis’ brows raising in what looked like a dare. “Fine, put an order in for me.”
Grinning, Alexis added a second note then a wink before sauntering off to the next table where the charm went up an extra five watts for the humans. While she watched Alexis work her magic, she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have the kind of confidence for purple lipstick and greeting a table of strangers like she’d known them for years. There was no awkwardness as Alexis rested a hand on one’s shoulder then made a joke about hitting the gym followed by suggestions of what to order from the menu and a date rejection that prompted good-natured laughter from the others.
Although she’d never been self-conscious, Imogene knew she wasn’t the most outgoing and her job didn’t lend itself to meeting a lot of new people. The library’s patrons seemed to lessen with each passing year, and a lot of them were older community members or there for the electronic resources rather than book-reading purposes.
In Letty’s words, it gave her an excuse to be the most boring wolf in the history of wolves which generally led to a night out for them, often at Bordertown, or a rescheduled Tequila Tuesday if she felt less sociable. However, despite the brief envy, she couldn’t begrudge Alexis’ more flamboyant nature since she made for interesting people watching and ensured there were rarely dull moments, here or at tribunals.
Only the presence of someone to her left lifted her attention away from Alexis’ newest round of flirting, though it surprised her to see Riley. “Oh, hi,” she greeted with a smile. “You just missed Alexis.”
“Yeah, I saw her putting on the usual show,” Riley said, fidgeting with the strap of her purse. “Do you mind if I sit with you? If I sit alone, someone inevitably tries to pick me up then my brothers descend so it’s just easier if I sit with someone lacking a Y.”
Imogene laughed, quietly and gestured toward the other side of the booth. “Go right ahead. They do know you have claws and teeth of your own, right?”
Riley shrugged and settled into the booth opposite her then slid off her bag, placing it on the seat beside her. “I’m a little more selective who sees them than most,” she offered then smiled at Alexis’ arrival with a drink. “Hey, you. How’s Landon’s first night going?”
Despite herself, Imogene’s eyes were drawn back to where he shook something in a silver cylinder as Alexis remarked, “He hasn’t broken anything, served anyone illegal, or argued with Charlie so I’d say things are going pretty well. You want your usual? It’ll be fifteen on your quesadilla, Imogene.”
Only being spoken to pulled her attention away from him.
“See something you like?”
Color flushed her cheeks, though Riley’s confirmation of a drink took the attention away from her as Alexis scrawled a note. “I told him we were out of his shirt size so he’d go one smaller which means you’re welcome.”
“That’s not nice, Lex.”
Riley’s objection resulted in a kiss planted on her cheek that left behind a purple lip print and an amused, “You know you’re the nice one, Ri. I’ll bring your drink with the quesadilla.”
Watching the other wolf head off with a bounce in her step, Imogene gave her attention back to her seat partner and offered a smile. “I don’t think I’ve seen you without a camera in the last six months,” she said by way of conversation. “No one needed an expert photographer today?”
Riley laughed, quietly before agreeing, “Not today, but I have a couple of senior portrait sessions tomorrow for students who want to take advantage of the early fall aesthetic. The next two months are usually my busiest time with holiday shoots so I thought I’d take advantage of the quiet for a night out, and before you ask, I’m not being a busybody like the rest of them.”
“I would never accuse you of it,” she replied with a laugh. “Obviously you come here for the bbq quesadillas and a chance to oogle the bar staff like the rest of the pack.”
She made a face that involved sticking out her tongue. “No and no. Frank’s fried green tomatoes are why I come here, and after years of living with them, my brothers are as gross as pond scum to me.”
Before she could stop it, a laugh burst from Imogene that turned into a coughing fit, requiring a drink from her glass. The liquor only made the fit worse before a napkin covered her mouth to block the continued coughing. Finally, she felt under control enough that she risked a second drink then rested her hand against her chest, ordering her heart rate to slow now that choking was no longer an option.
“I’m sorry, but it’s so rare to hear anyone who isn’t halfway in love with the lot of them,” she admitted and saw Riley’s eyes roll. “I can only imagine how much worse it is for you as their sister.”
“Let’s just say I’ve had way too many people over the years who thought befriending me was an easy ticket into someone’s bed.” Riley’s words tried for a joke except something in her eyes gave away their truth. “Thank God, I have an Alexis who loves me vastly more than them.”
Despite having no biological siblings of her own, Imogene offered a sympathetic smile and took a sip from her glass. “It kind of feels like old times aside from Matthew’s absence,” she remarked, back to watching the bar. Something Alexis had said prompted a towel smack from Charlie which in turn made Landon laugh, lightening up his entire demeanor. “How’s he been?”
“Grumpy and distant so about the usual for Matthew,” Riley replied with a shrug. “The twins are spending the weekend at his place which means slightly less grumpy, but he’ll be by for family dinner like every week.”
Giving a nod, Imogene took another sip from her drink to delay a comment that he had plenty of reasons to be grumpy with Alexis’ situation. Her eyes were drawn back to Landon at the
bar again, though she pulled her attention away only to find Riley watching with an amused smile. “What?”
“I thought Alexis was just in shipping mode when she said you couldn’t take your eyes off him,” came the reply as her smile grew. “And it’s not just the ill-fitting shirt.”
The flush came back at the quiet accusation, and Imogene put every bit of effort she had into focusing solely on the table. Thankfully, Alexis’ return with the quesadilla plus a multi-colored monstrosity in a large glass gave her an excuse to not answer. A smile and thanks were offered before she waved a hand over the quesadilla to speed up its cooling process, though the attention wasn’t enough to miss the look exchanged between the other pair of wolves.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she replied as she worked one of the quesadilla slices free. “I am here purely to keep an eye on Letty. Also, are you allowed to drink rainbows?”
“And yet Letty isn’t seated at the bar where you keep pretending not to stare,” Riley mused, pausing for a sip from her straw. “It’s called a Paradise, and it’s delicious. Want to try it?”
She hesitated only a second then shook her head. “It probably has enough sugar to tranquilize a bear so I’ll pass.”
Riley gave a shrug then remarked, “Suit yourself, but you are missing out.”
Rather than arguing, she took a bite from her quesadilla and chewed in thought while studiously avoiding looking at the bar. It took more effort than she wanted to admit, but Letty’s passing in peripheral vision gave her another focal point; however, her friend still seemed to be doing fine and had apparently taken a couple lessons in charm from Alexis, judging by the smiles from her newest table of patrons.
“So what are yo---” Imogene’s question came to a halt as the bar’s main door flew open, sending the body of one of the security guys through along with the scent of blood. He was a big, bald-headed guy who shouldn’t be that easy to move without a whole lot of force, though the doorway filled a moment later with another large male except this one had yellow eyes set within a bloody face plus extra sharp canines pushing against his bottom lip and claws visible on his hands that spoke to his lack of control.
Rule of Claw: Wolves of Worsham #1 Page 8
