A Pack of Two

by Jacky Russell

  That meant if I lost but stayed anyway, the wolves would kill me.

  “I understand.” I was no stranger to challenges but never multiples.

  The Alpha bantered politics with Tristyn for several minutes before turning his attention to me.

  “Change your mind?”

  “No, sir.”

  The big man laughed and took another gulp of milk. “Your father isn’t pleased about you being here.”

  “You talked to my father?” Maybe Josef had called on my behalf.

  The Alpha didn’t answer until I looked away. “Yes. I called him. He was surprised you were in America.”

  There were probably multiple enraged voicemails on my phone.

  “Why are your wolves challenging Lucas? Non-pack wolves come here all the time.” Tristyn asked.

  The big Alpha leaned back in the booth. “Well, it’s complicated. They think Lucas might hurt Breanna and as much grief as they like to give her, every wolf in this pack is protective of that witch.”

  “I won’t hurt her.”

  Alpha McGregor twirled his glass. “She’d probably kick every one of their asses if she knew they challenged you for the right to talk to her.” He shook his head. “She’s a spirited one, that’s for sure. Eat your fill, Lucas. We’ll handle the challenges in a few hours at my house. I have a training room in the basement. My wolves will not bother either of you while you are under my roof. We’ll finish our meal and the two of you will ride with me. One of my wolves will drive your rental.”

  “Yes, sir.” For the first time in my life, I didn’t finish all the food on my plate.

  Chapter 13

  Breanna

  Saturday morning dawned clear and bright. I had visited the hardware store and was ready to work on my house. My plan to fix the porch boards, sand the cabinet doors, and lay the tile in the guest bathroom would take most of the day.

  Lucas hadn’t called. Sitting around twiddling my thumbs waiting for what might happen was stupid. Hell, he might not show up. Why waste time? Wisconsin winters were unpredictable and today was a surprisingly mild forty-five degrees.

  My iPod and I were in our own world when the smell of musk interrupted my porch repair. My heart did a skip, then resumed normal operation. Johnny Reed’s long, lean form stood on my steps.

  “What’s up, Breanna?”

  I held up the hammer and nails.

  He looked surprised. “On your day off?”

  “Why are you here?”

  I liked Johnny, but this was weird. He sank onto the step as though I had invited him to stay. I hadn’t. “Whatcha doing tonight?”

  He leaned back on his elbows to watch me hammer nails. He looked very handsome in his khaki pants and baby blue pinstriped shirt. With sandy blond hair and eyes so blue you’d swear you were looking at the ocean, Johnny was easy on the eyes.

  “Grouting.”

  “What?”

  Guess he wasn’t a home improvement kind of guy. “Working on the floor in my bathroom. Why?”

  “I was wondering if you want to see a movie or something.”

  I missed the nail and slammed my thumb. Damn.

  Johnny grabbed my hand and rubbed it gently. “Geez, Breanna. Why don’t you hire someone to do this before you hurt yourself?”

  “Because I enjoy doing it myself,” I snapped, snatching my injured hand from his.

  “So, about tonight?”

  “Johnny, you know I don’t date within the unit.”

  His forehead wrinkled. “Why not?”

  “It’s not a good idea, you know the whole code of ethics thing.”

  “Dang, Breanna, it’s just dinner and a movie. I thought you’d appreciate going out since you don’t ever date.”

  The next nail went in with one hit. “I’m busy.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Grout.”

  “What the hell is grout?”

  I wanted to bang my head against the wall. Better yet, bang Johnny’s head against the wall. “Why don’t you call Shelly? She wants to go out with you.”

  “She does?” Johnny looked genuinely surprised the newest lady werewolf in their pack would be interested in him. Most women were interested. Johnny was a decent guy and, like most werewolves, he was a stud muffin.

  “Go ask her.” I turned on my music and went back to nailing. Johnny watched me for a couple minutes and his mouth moved, but my music was too loud to hear him. Darn.

  By mid-afternoon, all the boards were secure except for a single aggravating one on the corner. I ate a sandwich and started sanding. The cruddy yellow paint didn’t want to let go, but the sandpaper’s bite slowly won out and the natural glow of oak began to show.

  Two sandwiches later I was tackling the bathroom. I had already pulled up the disco era linoleum a few weeks earlier and prepared the surface. Stacks of warm brown tiles were nestled in the corner. When I bought the tiles, they reminded me of melted chocolate. Now all I saw was the same color as Lucas’s eyes.

  “Hey, Bre? You home?” Bates Sorenson yelled from the front porch. Why had I bothered to install a doorbell and a knocker? Damn werewolves had no manners.

  “No, I’ve left for the day,” I yelled as he opened the door and let himself in.

  Dressed in black dress pants and a turquoise shirt that molded to every muscle in his chest, Bates was quite the head-turner. The man loved women, particularly the scantily dressed human ones who drooled when he walked by.

  “What are you doing?” Bates asked, staring wide-eyed at my trowel.

  “Grouting.”

  “What the hell is a grout?”

  Damn, did none of these guys know anything about home improvement? “It’s tile for the floor. Why are you here? You look like you’re going clubbing.”

  “I’m going to the Meridian later. Do you want to go?”

  I dropped my carpenter’s square. “What?”

  He picked up the square as though it was a deadly weapon. “I thought you might like to go dancing, play pool, you know, do something fun.”

  This was weird. First Johnny and now Bates? Was I that pathetic? “Uh, I’ll pass, but thanks anyway. I really want to get this floor finished.”

  He knelt beside me and picked up one of the tiles. “I could stay and help you.”

  I plucked the tile from his fingers. “Go find a hoochie in black lace and heels. I’ll be fine.”

  He gave my saw a distrustful look. “You sure you should be doing this by yourself?”

  I tossed a blob of adhesive onto the surface and began to smooth it. “I’m pretty sure I can handle it. Go drive the women crazy.”

  He backed away as the adhesive began splattering. “Well, if you change your mind, come on to the club. I’ll find somebody to dance with you.”

  “Gee, thanks.” I really must have been pathetic.

  Chapter 14

  Lucas

  Galen kept his word and his wolves stayed away from Trist and me, though their dislike was evident. Tristyn and the Alpha bantered for several hours about Divine Council policies, the state of the economy, and other assorted things. I focused on not hyperventilating at the scent of so much musk.

  I stumbled upon a quiet, though well-used, walking path around the property. The muted winter sounds of nature helped calm my nerves. The cool wind cleared my head. My wolf wanted out, but a change was energy I could not afford to use. Everything I had needed to be conserved for the challenges. Many a wolf had met death while fighting in a circle like the one I was about to face.

  I debated calling Breanna, just to let her know I was nearby, but decided against it. There was no guarantee things would go well for me tonight. Galen had given his word to protect Tristyn, no matter the outcome of the challenges, and there was no need to drag Breanna into werewolf affairs.

  As I made my way back to the house, Galen was sitting on the deck.

  “You sure about this, Lucas? I can call it off, no problem.”

  My wolf normally rumbled at the
close proximity of an Alpha. Today he was unnervingly quiet.

  “I’m sure I will fight the challenges, Alpha, though I do appreciate your concern.”

  Galen nodded, watching me over tented hands. “Have you spoken with Breanna?”

  “Not yet.” When the Alpha cocked an eyebrow, I continued, “I didn’t want to create any more issues between her and the others.”

  Galen squinted like he was watching some sort of circus freak. I couldn’t help but squirm under his gaze.

  “Does your father know about Breanna?”

  “No, sir.”

  “So if his son doesn’t come home, Josef Benelli won’t know it was because of a witch?”

  I choked on a growl. “If I do not return to Italy, it will not be because of her. It will be because I was not strong enough to win.”

  Galen nodded, but his expression changed. “Hopefully it will not come to that. You are strong, your wolf is powerful, and you fight for something other than yourself. Such combinations are hard to defeat.”

  It was a small, almost tiny affirmation of belief in me, but it meant the world. Galen maintained his guarded expression, his eyes swirling with silver. “I’ll leave you to gather your thoughts. We’ll be downstairs whenever you are ready.”

  Tristyn and I descended the stairs to the basement training room. The floor was covered in thick mats and heavy punching bags hung ready for use. The room smelled of musk and sweat and tonight the musk was overwhelming. The wolves had been arriving for well over an hour and now the Wisconsin Pack anxiously awaited the fights.

  Keep it together, Benelli.

  My wolf was ready to explode, the suffocating proximity of so many male werewolves enough to send us both into spasms. Breanna was worth enduring whatever I faced. It was the only way to see her. Deal with this pack. Win these challenges.

  Breathe, Benelli. Get a hold of yourself. You know how to fight.

  I was dressed in a loose-fitting pair of sweats and no shirt. My muscles were warm and stretched. It was time to fight. The first wolf stepped forward. He was a big man, dressed in military fatigues, short brown hair in a traditional crew cut and a cocky bounce in his step.

  Stay away from the crowd.

  The Alpha quieted the group of fifty-plus werewolves standing three deep along the walls. “Tim? You ready?”

  The big man nodded, his eyes locked onto mine.

  “Lucas? You ready?”

  I nodded. I’d need to take down this guy fast. If he got me on the mat, it was over. I was strong but at barely six feet, he’d have me pinned in under a minute.

  I struck first, popping him in the nose to blur his vision. He stumbled and I took advantage. The big man yielded. My kicks had broken at least two ribs and he could barely breathe.

  The Alpha nodded. “Yield accepted. The challenge is won by Lucas Benelli.”

  A second wolf stepped forward immediately. He was a wiry blond with crystal blue eyes that spit sparks of hate.

  Don’t look into the crowd. Nobody matters but her.

  “Aaron, are you ready?” The blond never took his eyes from mine as he nodded to his Alpha. He was the one who had wanted to fight at the sports bar and the same one I had fought at the base.

  “Lucas?”

  “I am ready, sir.”

  This wolf was dangerous and skilled. He feigned left and struck right. We were about the same height, our reach equal, and he hated me.

  This challenge went on and on until we were both near exhaustion. I had a split lip and swollen eye, but I managed a sleeper hold. In under a minute the bout was over, the wiry blond passing out from lack of oxygen. As soon as he went limp, I released my hold. He was doing what he thought was necessary to protect Breanna. I respected that.

  “Challenge won by Lucas Benelli due to Aaron’s inability to continue.”

  A quiet murmur filtered through the spectators. Tristyn stood in the corner, keeping a wary eye on the crowd. He was watching my back like he had so many times before. He knew, without saying a word, how hard this type of situation was for me. The room was small, there was only one way out, and werewolves surrounded me.

  Breanna.

  Another challenger stepped forward. He looked familiar but not friendly. The top of my head reached his nose. I allowed my wolf to surge. A deep breath cleared my head.

  “Ordy, are you sure you want to do this?” Alpha McGregor asked the dark-haired werewolf standing before me. I didn’t hear his answer before his fist connected with my jaw. The room began to tilt as another punch ripped into my tender ribs.

  My opponent lunged forward and I went for his legs. He leaped sideways, but not before I swiped his knee. He roared in pain and thudded to the floor. I went for his ribs, hoping to pound the breath from his lungs. He scissor-kicked me across the room and climbed to his feet.

  I circled, my motion keeping him off balance. I got in a few good punches before he sent me flying into the wall with a massive uppercut. I jumped to the side as he charged. The floor shook from the force of him hitting the wall. My vision was blurry, three images of my attacker dancing before my eyes.

  The mountainous werewolf was much quicker than I had originally thought and he managed to get a hold of my arm and slam me into the mat. I rolled as his crushing elbow missed my head by a few millimeters. There was no air left in my lungs and the rib that had cracked earlier snapped.

  I kept rolling but stopped before getting too close to the cheering crowd. The jeering males infuriated my wolf. If my wolf took over, Galen would end the challenges and I’d lose my chance to see Breanna. Every survival instinct inside me cried that I get away from this place. Too many werewolves, too many male werewolves, too much anger to fight. My wolf demanded to take charge, but I fought him.

  Pain exploded across my face as the mountain’s fist connected with my cheek, my vision darkened from the impact. I stumbled back and fell against Tristyn. He caught me and helped me to my feet.

  “Luc, are you sure about this?” he asked in Italian.

  I pushed my wolf down and focused on my attacker. I was fighting my wolf and this giant who wanted to break me into pieces. Panic lanced through my muddled mind. My hands trembled, my wolf begging, pleading to take control, to save me from this fate.

  The panic faded as the mountain charged and I shoved Tristyn toward the wall. Tree trunk arms jerked me into a bear hug and snatched me off the ground. With every breath I took, his arms tightened and the room got darker.

  Chapter 15

  Breanna

  The grout was smooth and I was trimming the edges of the corner tiles when fists pounded on my front door. The nippers slipped and took a chunk out of my finger.

  “Damn it.” Blood splattered all over my fresh white grout.

  “Breanna. Open the door!”

  “Simon?” He was always so polite, the only person who actually used my doorbell. I tripped over the grout bucket on my way to the door.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, wrapping a paper towel around my bleeding finger.

  “What the hell were you doing?” He wrinkled his handsome face in disgust.

  “Grouting. Why are you banging on my door?”

  “Grouting? What is–oh, never mind. There is more pressing business for you. We need to go to Galen McGregor’s home.”

  “Galen’s house? Why?” I didn’t have time for any stupid werewolf crap.

  “Get your coat. We need to go now.”

  My entire team had lost their minds. “No, not until I know why. Is Aaron in trouble again?”

  “Your wolf,” Simon stopped mid-sentence and checked his phone before hurling a string of French profanities. “Get in the car, Breanna.”

  I didn’t know whether to be angry or afraid. Simon was never like this. “Sime, what were you saying about a wolf?”

  He looked at me, his eyes deadly serious. “Lucas is at Galen’s house.”

  My heart dropped to my stomach.

  Simon grabbed my arm and escorted me t
o the car. “We need to go now.”

  Lucas had come to see me. He had really come. I was so happy I could do a Snoopy Dance, but Simon was freaking me out. He was upset Lucas was at Galen’s house, but Lucas was only following werewolf protocol for visiting out-of-pack territory.

  The forty-five minute drive took twenty. Simon was talking on his Bluetooth the whole trip, while Celeste sat quietly in the front seat monitoring text messages. I sat in the back and tried to do something with my hair. With a stained t-shirt and filthy jeans, I looked like a homeless person. I should have grabbed a jacket.

  Simon peered into the rearview mirror. “The wolves will try to interfere but you need to get inside.”

  “Is Lucas all right?”

  Simon glanced at the cellphone screen. “I don’t know. He’s presently engaged in a challenge with Theodore.”

  “What? Why the hell is he fighting Ordy?”

  “They challenged him and Lucas accepted their challenges. He has to win the challenges in order to stay in the territory.”

  “Challenges? Why did they challenge him?” Somebody’s ass was so mine.

  “They want to protect you.”

  My intestines double-knotted. “Protect me? Protect me from what?”

  “They believe he is a threat to you.”

  “They’ll kill him.”

  “That is a possibility,” Simon replied.

  “Not what I wanted to hear, Sime. Stop the damn car and let me out. I can fly from here.”

  The BMW slid to a stop and I hopped out, shifted on the spot and took to the air. I flew over the guards and landed outside the massive front door of Galen’s estate.

  Lydia, a werewolf I knew from the diner, was standing at the door. I shifted to human and reached for the knob.

  “I’m here for Lucas.”

  The bushy-haired brunette nodded. “The Italian? He’s inside, getting his ass handed to him.”

  “Where are they?”

  She crossed her arms and blocked my path. “I can’t let you in, Bre. This is werewolf– Uck.”