by Tena Stetler
Wild stories of life in Alaska circulated as well as embarrassing tales of Kolby and Lathen’s childhoods. Pepper along with her parents, and Gwen enjoyed them all. Gwen told a few hair-raising tales of the Salem Sanctuary’s early years and what a blessing it was when Pepper joined the staff. She also recounted the story of Kaylee and the ruckus she caused until Pepper arrived to take the osprey with her to Lobster Cove.
A couple days before the wedding, Pepper and Lathen strolled through the town square waiting for the others to finish shopping across the street. She sucked in a breath and pointed to a tall, thin hooded figure, head down walking directly in their path. Suddenly, he glanced up, veered right, and ducked behind the tall decorated tree in the center of town square.
Lathen dropped Pepper’s hand and gave chase. Within a couple of minutes, Lathen appeared on the other side of the tree, hands out in front of him, palms up, shaking his head. “He disappeared. As if by—”
“Magic.” Pepper finished for him. “It was Ben’s brother. He wore the same coat and boots he had on last time I saw him.”
“Maybe he works around here, and this is a short cut home,” Lathen offered hopefully.
Chewing on her bottom lip, Pepper frowned. “Guess we need to see what Mom and Dad know about the Bonchard family.”
Chapter Twenty
History, Friends, and Family
Ember and Tonk sped across the meadow in an effort to beat the other to greet the family as they emerged from their vehicles. The bright sun dried the path and driveway to the cabin, leaving mounds of snow on the other areas. Once inside the house, everyone went their separate ways to stow the treasures and possible presents purchased, except Lathen who stocked the fireplace and Pepper used her flick of the wrist to start it. She took her coat and scarf off, hung both on the peg next to the back door then sprinted down the hallway to feed Kaylee. When she returned to the living room, she settled into the couch facing the roaring fire. Pepper’s mom and dad joined them after starting a pot of coffee, their packages left in the SUV.
Shifting in her seat to face her parents, Pepper asked, “Mom, what did you know about Ben Bonchard’s brother, Brent?”
“I never knew Brent well. He was a year younger and never hung out with us. Guess he had his own group of friends.” Pepper’s mom frowned and scrubbed her hand over her face. “Seemed like they didn’t get along very well. Ben always complained about him being a pain. At our ages at the time, never thought much about it. Teenagers are so self-absorbed, you know.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “Is there a problem?”
“Not really. I’ve run into Brent in the town square a couple of times. Acts strange, he never says hi or anything. Which seems unusual for this time of year. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays are on everyone’s lips. The last time he appeared in our vicinity, Lathen tried to catch up with him, but he ducked behind one of the pines and disappeared.”
“The Bonchard boys—the whole family—were always a little strange.” Pepper’s dad drew in a deep breath, blew it out slowly. “Until the events of Halloween, I thought they were harmless. But I can’t believe Ben would be so stupid to risk the deadly wrath of the coven.”
“Me either, but it makes me nervous with the wedding and all.”
“Think Ben convinced his brother to cause problems, maybe exact revenge?” her dad asked, his lips set in a thin line. “I don’t believe Brent would do it. He left town as soon as he graduated, never looked back.”
“So why did he come back—now?” Pepper asked.
“I’ve no clue. It’s probably best to keep an eye out but not do anything else. He’s had two opportunities to cause trouble, and he hasn’t. I’d take that as a good sign.” Her mom tapped a finger to her chin. “Didn’t the coven decide to implant a charm in Ben’s arm that reports magic activity around him?”
Pepper nodded. “Yeah, after the initial shock of being spellbound wore off, he was quite combative, made threats. Without his ability to wield magic, I didn’t give it much thought.”
Klaren pursed her lips. “I’m going to call Ravyn, the coven’s high priestess. See if there’s been any activity reported. I’m sure you’d have heard from the coven had there been a problem.”
Pepper glanced over at Lathen, pointed her thumb in his direction. “He thinks I’m over reacting.”
****
Lathen raised an eyebrow. “Noooo. The information I dug up, concurs with your parents. I vote we take a wait and see attitude, until after your mom checks with the high priestess.” He planned to do more digging but didn’t want to worry Pepper; with the wedding only two days away, it seemed best to downplay any possible collusion between the brothers.
Elijah strode into the room, glanced around. “Why so serious? It’s a time for celebration!” he announced. “Unless there is something I should know about.”
“Nope. Just nailing down last minute details. We’re all set,” Lathen said nonchalantly.
The rest of the evening, it was the men against the women in a variety of board games, then everyone for themselves in a cut throat game of poker.
“I’ve had enough.” Elijah glanced at Amy. “How about we turn in and have some fun.”
“Yeww. Dad. Too much information.” Hayley squealed, her protests turning into gales of laughter at the red patches blooming on Amy’s cheeks.
“You’d think I’d get used to this heathen.” Amy fanned her face and chuckled.
Elijah caught Amy’s hand in his and tugged her to her feet. “Time to turn in and go to sleep.” His eyes twinkled with amusement.
Lathen grinned, he never tired of seeing his dad so happy. The long years of being pack leader and raising two headstrong boys had taken a toll long before Amy steam rolled into his dad’s life. Covering his mouth, Lathen couldn’t stifle the jaw popping yawn.
A gracious smile curved Amy’s lips. “Know that feeling well. Days before our wedding, I was exhausted chasing down all the details. And I had most the women of the pack helping out. Naturally, everything pertaining to pack business needed Eli’s expertise, day and night. Then you two appeared on our doorstep and things became a lot easier. He was forced to let his assistants handle the day to day, something he should have done long ago”—she cut her gaze to Elijah who glared defiantly at her—“so he could spend time with you and Pepper.” She paused. “Don’t give me that evil eye, Elijah Quartz. Won’t work on me. Where was I? Oh yes, but when we stood at the truck, ‘Just Married’ written all over it, tin cans tied behind it, a wave of exhaustion overtook both of us. That’s why you and Kolby got away with the little escapade.”
Kolby cleared his throat, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Technically, we didn’t do a thing to your truck.”
“Nope, sure didn’t.” Lathen smirked, leaning his chair on its back two legs, fingers tented on the edge of the table.
“I don’t know what you did to your cohorts in crime, but not a one of the pack owned up to assisting you. I know it had to be…” Elijah roared with laughter. “There were a lot of teen wolves avoiding me in the weeks after we returned from our honeymoon.”
“Speaking of honeymoon, where are you two spending yours?” Pepper’s mom asked.
“Not taking one until spring.” Lathen dropped his chair back on four legs as Klaren shot him a warning glance. “We decided to purchase a fifth wheel trailer. I can pull it with my truck. Pepper arranged for us to take a month off, volunteers covering shifts. Ember, Tonk, and Kaylee will go with us. We plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone, and Glacier then meander our way home.” A conspiratorial grin passed between him and Pepper. “We might even stop at a certain cabin near Evergreen, Colorado, for a couple nights.”
Pepper’s mom immediately reached into her purse, took out her phone and scrolled through her calendar touching the screen a couple of times. “I’ll make sure spring is clear, though I think we will be taking a trip to Alaska come summer. Your father has always wanted to see Denali National Park. Now
we have a professional guide in the family and an open invitation for a place to stay.”
Lathen yawned again, this time made no attempt to stifle it, and got to his feet. “I’m for bed.”
“Me too.” Pepper shoved out of her chair. “You guys are welcome to stay as long as you wish. Lock the door when you leave.”
“Better get your rest, or you won’t have enough stamina to…”
Amy reached over and punched Eli in the arm. “Knock it off with the innuendos.”
Eli held his hand up in a gesture of surrender. “What—I was just going to…”
“I know what you were going to say. Don’t.” She pushed to her feet and pulled him with her. “Good night everyone.”
“It’s about time.” Eli waggled his eyebrows and grabbed Amy around the waist. “Good night all.” He nuzzled her neck.
“Elijah, you are incorrigible.”
“I know, but you love me anyway.” He reached for their coats and helped Amy on with hers.
Lathen and Pepper crossed the room. The wooden back door groaned in protest when Lathen shoved it open for his parents. Standing in the doorway, Pepper and Lathen watched his dad and Amy amble down the path washed a shadowy silver by the moonlight.
When they returned to the living room, Pepper’s parents stood at the front door dressed in their coats, hats, and gloves. Kolby assisted a waddling Hayley down the hallway to their room.
Pepper kissed her mom and dad on the cheek, walked them out to the vehicle her dad had started a few minutes earlier. Tonk and Ember trotted out, did their business, and returned to wait patiently on the porch. After watching the SUV bump down the gravel road, taillights disappearing in the inky night, Lathen and Pepper sprinted into the cabin.
“It’s freezing out there.” She shivered in front of the fireplace, rubbing her hands together. “Not much heat left to the fire.”
Lathen nodded as he pushed her toward the stairs and banked the fire. On his way to the stairs, he turned out the lights and followed Pepper upstairs to the loft.
****
The day before the wedding arrived with a flurry of phone calls, last minute arrangements, and deliveries. Most of Lobster Cove would be attending the reception, with only a few close friends in the know attending the ceremony. Pepper woke up to huge white flakes drifting gently to the ground outside the bedroom window and Lathen softly snoring next to her. When she tried to slip out of the bed without waking him, he banded a strong arm around her.
“Morning sunshine,” he mumbled, rolling to his side spooning his front to her back. “Time to get up already?”
“I was, but apparently you have other ideas.” She wiggled her behind against his growing interest and giggled.
“I wake up that way, comes from having a sexy woman sharing my bed.” He nuzzled at her neck and breathed several kisses from the hollow of her throat to her jawline.
“Last night’s romp in bed didn’t keep you satisfied?”
“I’ve slept since then. You should know by now that werewolves are—”
“Horn dogs,” Pepper finished for him.
“By nature we are a carnal species,” Lathen said thoughtfully, then chuckled. “Yep, you got it right.”
Kicking the covers off, she sashayed into the bathroom. “Wanta share the shower?” she cooed.
“Sure.” Lathen swung his legs off the side of the bed, touched his feet to the soft rug, and stood. Arms raised high above his head, he stretched, then leaned from one side to the other.
Resting her shoulder against the doorframe, she waggled her finger. “No time for funny stuff this morning.”
Lathen groaned. “You take all the fun out of a shower.” With preternatural speed, he jumped in the shower, flipped on the water, and grabbed the soap; holding it above his head, out of her reach, he crowed, “I get to lather you up.”
She giggled and stepped under the cascade of warm water. “Only if I get to do the same,” she cooed. One half hour later, they bounded into the kitchen. Lathen grabbed a mug and poured coffee to the rim. Pepper took the cup of orange spice tea Gwen handed her along with a breakfast burrito. “Thanks.”
“Hey, where’s mine?” Lathen whined, swiping at Pepper’s burrito as she took a big bite. Scrambled egg spilled out the side of the stuffed tortilla. He caught the egg and popped it in his mouth.
“Quit squealing before you’re hurt,” Gwen retorted and handed him a plate with two steaming burritos.
“These are Gwen’s famous breakfast burritos. She always made them on Saturday morning, and we had a full staff of volunteers show up early those days.” Pepper giggled. “Still doing that?”
“Only once a month and I never say which Saturday, so everyone has to show up, just in case,” Gwen said smugly. “It’s not the same without you there. Jodie is a quick learner, but she can’t boil water without burning it.” She shook her head and snickered.
After breakfast, Gwen sat at the table sipping coffee reading the morning newspaper, while Kolby and Hayley stretched out in the reclining sofa in front of the fireplace. Pepper shrugged into her parka, opened the door to see the sun peeking through the mist. It would be a nice day after all. “What’s on your agenda today?”
Lathen pulled his coat on, kissed her on the nose. “Make sure the buildings are spotless. Check on our creatures. Go over the schedule with Alec and Mike through the first of the year, so we can spend as much time as possible with family. Oh yeah, I meant to talk to you about offering the kids that brought the bird in the dog crate months back part-time work after school, weekends, holidays, whenever they’re available.”
“That would be Rick and Judy.” Pepper yanked gloves out of her pocket and put them on. “They’ve volunteered off and on, seem to have a talent for rescue work. Maybe it’s time to offer them a paid part-time position.”
“Sure could use their help right now.” The door let out a nails on a chalkboard squeal, when he tugged it open. Tonk and Ember skidded across the kitchen floor, dived between him and Pepper, bounding outside. “First thing I’m going to do is oil those damn hinges, again.”
“Home numbers are in the office, give ’em a call, and set a time to have them come in and talk with us after the wedding. I’m going to check on things at the pond, see if Ashling’s around.”
Lathen nodded. “Meet up with you later.” The door banged shut behind him as he sprinted across the path to the supply room shared with Pepper’s office.
She stood for a beat in the doorway, watched Lathen and sighed. What a hunk. A tune about a fiddle playing boy startled her. Glancing around, she chuckled to herself and pulled her cell phone from her pocket. Hayley had changed the ringtone on Pepper’s cellphone when she was in Alaska. Claimed the simple chime she’d always used was boring.
The number on the screen wasn’t familiar. “Hello?”
“Pepper, this is Ravyn, high priestess of the Lobster Cove Coven. Talked to your mom the other day about concerns regarding Ben Bonchard. While the fact his brother is in town might be disconcerting, there’s been no magic activity registered around him. He should have reported his brother was here, and we’ll have a talk with him about this infraction.”
“Okay. So there’s not a problem?”
“Don’t believe so. I called to remind you that even if there is a problem, the magic emanating from your property is so strong with all the McKay’s in residence, that penetrating the perimeter is absolutely impossible.”
“I hadn’t considered the increase in magic. I feel better already.”
“The Lobster Cove Community Center will be protected by members of the coven attending your wedding, myself included. Some members volunteered on the decorating committee for the Center, so there’d be no questions when they arrive early on your wedding day. Enjoy your wedding, there will be no incidents.”
“Oh, thank you so much for doing all this and for the call.”
“You’re welcome. Feel free to join in the coven’s activities, when you have
time. We miss Ashling’s participation and only see Colleen on occasion.”
“LCWRRC keeps us pretty busy. But after all you’ve done for us, Lathen and I will be happy to assist the coven in any way we can. If you could send us the coven’s calendar of events, I’d like to coordinate it with ours and see if we can’t make it to a few of the activities. Thanks for calling.” Pepper disconnected the call and held the phone to her chest for a beat as relief flooded through her. But why was his brother here?
Shoving the phone back in her pocket, she scurried over the rock path to the pond and suddenly back-pedaled to a stop, her eyes rounded.
Several feet in all directions from the pond’s edge piled snow and brown vegetation ceased to exist. Soft green sprouts were abundant with flowering deep purple roses every ten feet or so near the water’s edge. The wedding archway gleamed a rich tawny with thin ribbons of mahogany woven through it. Stems with tiny green leaves and rosebuds climbed their way up the sides and over the top of the arch.
Pepper sidled closer, gingerly caressing the wood with her fingertips, surprised to find it warm to the touch as was the ground beneath her feet. Inside the magic induced environment felt like a fairyland in the middle of barren frozen landscape. She stood between enchanted realm and Mother Nature’s blanket of winter. She breathed in the warm air and exhaled into the frosty air watching her breath curl in white tendrils caught on the breeze, carried upward. At the sound of snapping twigs, she paused, then called out, “Lathen?” When there was no answer, she whirled around nearly crashing into Brock, his eyes wide, and mouth hanging open. Lemon yellow eyes stared out of the bundle of blankets he held in his arms.
