by Sara Dailey
I didn’t need a shrink to tell me that I had relationship issues. I’d put money on the fact that a Dr. Know-It-All would diagnose me with a “fear of commitment” or some shit like that. And then I’d be “encouraged” to go through some intense therapy where I’d find out that it all stemmed from the death of the mother I never got to meet. Dad never got over her, and somewhere deep inside, I was scared that the same thing would happen to me. For good measure, the good doctor would decide that, on some level, I felt guilty for what happened to my mother. Blah, blah, blah. Whatever. It was all bullshit anyways. I just didn’t do relationships. End of story. No therapy needed.
I barely made it to the driveway before the front door of the Walker’s home swung open. “Luke, it’s about time. Come on in,” Marcus said as I walked up the steps to his house. It felt weird meeting with Marcus alone, like I was betraying Cade. For as long as I could remember, Cade was going to be the next alpha of this pack, and I was going to be his second in command, the enforcer. It was predetermined when we were born. I’d never questioned my future before. It was always supposed to be Cade and me, even though we had never really been friends.
From an early age, I was expected to keep my distance from him socially. It was an unspoken rule, so I ran with a different crowd to avoid getting too close to him for the sake of the pack. According to Marcus and my father, it was better for the pack if we could maintain a “professional working relationship” when we took command. Things could become confusing if the lines between our positions were blurred, or whatever. Personally I’d always thought it was stupid.
Now that Marcus had discovered he had another son, he wanted Aiden to replace him as alpha instead of Cade, just because Aiden was a few months older. I had to be kind of a loner for all these years. I hated thinking about all the parties I didn’t go to, all of the invitations I had to turn down, and now some other guy that no one really knew was going to take over. I felt like it was all for nothing and I was being cheated too.
“Have a seat, Luke,” Marcus said, moving to the big leather chair behind his desk. Sitting there in his massive office, Marcus looked more like the CEO of some big corporation than the alpha of a werewolf pack. I had a feeling I knew what this little impromptu meeting was about, and I wasn’t going to like it.
He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “I need your help, Luke. The pack needs your help.”
Oh man, the pack, really? Marcus is pulling out the big guns on this one.
“The situation with my sons is out of control. We cannot continue this way. Not having a clear and accepted heir leaves our pack vulnerable. I need you to help me rectify this issue,” Marcus stated plainly.
“I completely agree, sir, but isn’t this a family issue?” I asked in my most nonjudgmental, most non-argumentative tone. I almost said more but decided that it wouldn’t be in my best interest to mention that this “situation” was entirely his fault. If he had just let Cade take over as planned, none of this would be happening. Aiden would have never fought to be alpha if Marcus hadn’t forced it on him. Yes, Aiden was Marcus’s first born, but for almost eighteen years, he thought Cade was his only son. While it wasn’t Marcus’s fault that he didn’t know about Aiden, Marcus should have just left well enough alone.
Regardless, he didn’t like my response. “It is, but wouldn’t you agree that we are all family here? This pack is our family, and as the future enforcer of this family, it is your duty to guide them in the right direction.”
So now we were all one big happy family? I remembered when Cade had turned ten and had a giant sleepover at his house, complete with water-gun fights and tackle football, and I was the only boy his age not invited, for the good of the family. “So, what would you like me to do, sir?” I asked, trying to cut to the chase and to hurry our little meeting along.
“I need you to talk to my boys. Get them to come together and do what’s right for the future of the pack.” He said, being very vague.
“And what would that be, sir? I won’t choose sides.”
Marcus leaned forward, placed his elbows on the desk, and intertwined his fingers. With his eyes narrowed, he put on his I’m-the-alpha face and stated, “You know how I feel and what I want, but I’m not asking you to choose between them. I’m still sticking to my decision that Aiden should be alpha. It is his birthright, after all. And I plan to stand by him, but I’m at odds with the elders. Something needs to be decided. You were raised to do this. To aid in making decisions that will protect and advance us. Think of this as your first official duty.”
That was it? That was what was so important that we had to meet today? Talking to Aiden and Cade. Couldn’t one of the elders do that? Someone with a little more clout? What was I supposed to say, You two need to stop being fucking babies and get over yourselves? I didn’t have the patience or the tact for this kind of assignment, plus who’s to say they’d listen to anything I had to say anyway? But that didn’t matter. My alpha asked, so I would try, but I seriously doubted I’d have any effect on them. In fact, I would probably just end up pissing them off even more, and then they’d be pissed at each other and at me.
Trying to get out of there as fast as I could, I stood up, nodded my head, and reached out to shake Marcus’s hand in agreement. After assuring him that I’d do whatever I could, I attempted to make my exit. If I left now and ran all the way to the lodge, I would just make kickoff.
“I appreciate this, Luke. I will call Cade and let him know that you are on the way. I believe both boys are at the Wrights’ residence as we speak,” he said, stopping me in my tracks. Now? Shit! They better have the goddamned game on!
CHAPTER 3
Drew
“Hey, looking good, baby sis,” I teased as I walked passed Scarlett and pinched her cute little ass. She hated it when I did that, but what did I care? She had to put up with me now; well, at least for the next few weeks. Besides, her tight ass was hard to resist, not to mention her huge tits that she proudly displayed every chance she got. Did she really expect me to keep my hands to myself when she dressed like that?
“Pig,” she whispered as she rolled her suitcase toward the trunk of my car.
Prying my eyes off Scarlett’s mouth-watering body, I glanced over at her brother. “Gavin,” I acknowledged just to be polite.
As usual, the golden child didn’t respond. One day that jackwagon was going to have to do whatever I said. I may not have been officially the alpha of this pack, but it wouldn’t be long before Gavin would be forced to follow my rules. Apparently for now, he still thought it was acceptable to act as if he was above me, but he and I both knew that wasn’t truly the case.
After helping Scarlett’s dad pack up his car, my father made his way over to us. “Do we need to review the plan one more time?” my father asked, looking directly at me like I was the one who was going to screw it all up. He needed to worry about Scarlett being able to keep the attention of Luke, the man-whore. Not me. I would fit right in. Everyone loves me.
Turning to Scarlett, my father explained, “Scarlett, your job is to get Luke to side with Aiden. Do whatever needs to be done to make it happen. The sooner, the better.” Then his attention turned to me. “Drew, you are posing as Gavin. Make sure you don’t fuck up with the names. And don’t forget that you and Scarlett are supposed to be brother and sister, so make sure you act like it. Befriend both boys. Make them both one hundred percent sure that their being alpha is best for their pack. We need them at each other’s throats.” Finishing his recap of the plan, he turned to Scarlett’s dad and continued, “Brian, you know your role. We don’t want you three gone any longer than needed. I’m not sure how long I can keep the mortgage company from foreclosing on our land.”
Gavin looked at us with blatant disapproval and then turned to go back inside without saying goodbye. Pouty little bitch!
Scarlett’s face fell as she watched her brother storm away, but she recovered quickly and looked more determined than ever.
“I’ve got this, Mr. Barnes. Luke is covered,” Scarlett told him, seeming fairly confident.
“See you in a few weeks, Dad,” I said, shaking my father’s hand before sliding into my car. As I went to close the door, he stopped me and stated firmly, “Whatever you do, make sure this pack crumbles. We need them weak before we can attack. Understand me when I say that pack will be mine, no matter the cost. We don’t just need their land; we need their business too in order to keep this pack afloat. I’ve been able to hide just how bad our situation has become, but I can’t keep our council in the dark for much longer.”
Shaking off my father’s warning, my thoughts quickly turned to the girl I was leaving behind. “I need to make a quick stop,” I said when Scarlett said that she was riding with me. If I didn’t stop and say goodbye, Avery would kick my wolfy ass. I hated leaving her, but we both knew it was for the good of our pack. Avery would rule by my side one day, and this was step one in our plan to be in charge of one of the most powerful packs in North America.
“You are so whipped,” Scarlett teased. I knew she was joking; as tough as she pretended to be, she wouldn’t dare make a comment like that to me and mean it. Scarlett, if anything, knew her place in this pack, not like her arrogant-ass brother.
As we rounded the corner to my girlfriend’s house I said, “Stay here.” Scarlett didn’t reply as I hopped out of the car. Before I made it to the door, Avery’s front door opened and the sexy, leggy brunette stood in the doorway and watched me hurry her way. God, she was gorgeous. Seeing her there made me want to drag her inside and have my way with her right then and there.
“Hey baby, I was hoping that you would stop by one more time,” Avery cooed.
I walked up the steps to her and grabbed her around the waist. I pulled her body against mine and kissed her hard. The small little moan that escaped her lips reminded me how much she loved it when I did that.
“I can’t stay,” I practically groaned, motioning toward my car and Scarlett sitting in the passenger seat.
I saw the pout begin to form on her stunning face, so kissed her again, running my hands down her waist and over the back pockets of her jeans. Squeezing her perfect ass, I pleaded, “I’m sorry, baby. You know I have to get to Red Ridge.”
“I know,” she said, pressing her body even closer to mine. “Remember what I said about them,” she warned again.
“I'll be careful, but I don’t know what you are worried about. Nothing can touch me,” I teased.
She pulled away a bit and chided, “I mean it, Drew. Don’t drop your guard around them. Promise me.”
I was just about to kiss the worry off her face when Scarlett honked the car horn.
“Bitch,” Avery muttered before she planted a fake smile on her face and gave Scarlett a cute little wave.
“I love ya, babe. I’ll be back before you know it,” I said and gave my girl one more kiss before I left.
“Love you too. Text me every day?” she asked.
“You know it. See you in few weeks,” I replied. I walked back to my car.
“You ready now?” Scarlett asked when I opened the door.
“Yeah, sis, I’m ready.”
“God, I hate it when you call me that.” She laughed as we pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.
CHAPTER 4
Luke
I walked up to the Wrights’ residence just as Aiden and Teagan were pulling up. I stood there with my hands in my pockets waiting for them to grab their packages and walk my way.
“Hey Luke, how was your Christmas?” Teagan asked, walking up to me.
I liked Teagan. She’d been through a lot lately: finding out the hard way that her boyfriend and everyone else on the estate were werewolves, ending up in the middle of a battle between our pack and a crazy werewolf hunter, and worst of all, watching her own father gunned down by the hunter when his plan fell apart. Losing her father had to have been traumatic, but at least she had Aiden and his family to take her in. I wasn’t proud of the way the pack had treated her either. Hopefully with time, they will stop treating her like an outsider and more like a member of the pack. Even if she was human, she was mated to Aiden. That had to count for something. I wasn’t going to hold my breath though.
“It was good. Yours?” I replied.
“Great,” she said looking over at her true mate, Aiden.
I found myself wondering what that must feel like. Finding your true mate. Someone you literally couldn’t live without. Not that I would even want something like that to happen to me. I never thought of myself as a one-woman man. The thought of being with only one girl for the rest of my life kind of freaked me out. No, I like it the way I do it. Hook up, have a little fun, and move on.
“What’s up Luke? Are you here to talk to Cade? I think he’s inside with Alli,” Aiden said, knowing I wasn’t here to just shoot the shit. It wasn’t like I’d ever just come over to hang out.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to both of you. Do you have a minute?” I said. Suddenly, it occurred to me that Aiden may not even know about my role in his future—if he is the next alpha, that is.
“Did Marcus send you?” Aiden asked, the irritation evident in his voice.
Direct, I liked that.
“Yeah, and I’m missing the Lobo game for this. So you got a minute or not?” I knew as soon as the words left my mouth that I was being a jerk, but come on, these two guys are acting like babies and I was going to be the next enforcer, not a goddamned babysitter.
“Sure, come on in. We can talk while we watch the game,” he said.
Oh thank God!
I followed Aiden in the house, and he went directly to the family room to turn on the game. He motioned for me to sit, “So, what’s Marcus want to know?”
We were already down by ten to San Jose State. Shit!
After watching a short recap, I turned my attention back to Aiden and asked, “So…honestly, why do you want to be alpha? I mean, have you really thought of what it means?”
Aiden didn’t hesitate with his reply. “Listen, I know you and Cade are friends, but I’m not backing down. I may not have been sure at first, but I’ve made my decision. Marcus wants me to take over, I know I can do it, and technically it is my birthright.”
Aiden was a lot more serious than I’d ever seen him. Maybe it was because of everything that had happened over the last two weeks, but he’s usually more of a jokester. I guess that was why I could never imagine him running this pack, but surprisingly, he looked and sounded a lot like Marcus, which kind of threw me off. How had no one around here noticed the resemblance before?
“Luke and I aren’t really friends, Aiden,” Cade said as he walked in the room and sat in the chair opposite from Aiden. Cade still looked every ounce the next alpha. He was calm, put together, and had that certain essence about him that demanded attention. He, too, was just like his father, but I would never tell him that. He was right though. We weren’t really friends, but only because we were never given the chance.
“My father, well our father, never allowed it. He thought that it would be better for the pack when we took over if we didn’t have any kind of personal relationship,” Cade continued.
Aiden looked a little confused, “Wait, what do you mean we?”
“I will be second in command, the enforcer, to whichever one of you becomes the alpha,” I explained.
“Marcus never mentioned that,” Aiden said as he sat back in his chair. He looked to be contemplating the idea of not running the pack alone, but with me by his side.
“Dad forgets to mention a lot these days,” Cade cut in.
I really didn’t like being stuck in the middle of these two. The cold, hard look in their eyes made me think that a fight was imminent.
Sitting forward on the edge of his seat, Aiden forced a smile and said, “Well hell, with you helping me out, I’m positive I can do this.”
I heard a low growl come from Cade, and I knew that this conversation would be taking
a turn for the worse if I didn’t stop it.
“Okay, so you know I’m going to have to report back to Marcus. So let me get this straight. Cade are you backing down?” I asked, looking over at Cade.
He crossed his arms over his chest, narrowed his eyes, and shook his head.
“Aiden, I take it you’re not backing down either?” I asked.
With a smirk on his face, Aiden sat back and threw his arm over the back of the couch as he replied, “Hell no.”
“All right, I guess I’m done here,” I said as I stood up, taking one last peek at the game and making my way toward the door.
“Luke, wait a minute,” Cade commanded just as I was about to make my grand escape. “I’m sorry my dad is dragging you into this.”
I turned back and shrugged my shoulders like it was no big deal. “Whatever you two decide affects my future as well.”
“I know it does. It just sucks that my dad is sticking you in the middle of it all. Sorry, man,” Cade admitted.
“Forget about it. Listen, I gotta go,” I said, heading for the door once more.
My hand was turning the doorknob when Cade’s next statement stopped me in my tracks. “Hey, tell that I’m glad he’s back.”
This time I didn’t turn around. I just kept my hand on the knob and asked, “What do you mean?”
Gage was back. That son of a bitch was back, and he didn’t bother to tell me.
“Yeah, I heard he showed back up earlier today. Just tell him, okay?”
Without responding, I finally opened the door and headed out.
*****
“Where the hell have you been?” I growled as I opened my front door for Gage. He stood there on my porch with his hands shoved into his pockets and a goofy grin on his face. After Gage had disappeared for more than a month without a single call or text letting me know where he’d run off to, I literally could have killed him if I hadn’t been so damned relieved to see my best friend again. He didn’t tell any of us he was leaving and didn’t answer any of our calls, even when Marcus called. That took some serious balls. I had almost written him off for good, until today.
