Wow. Now that was a piece of insight that I hadn't expected. “Then where do we go from here? I can't be sorry enough that I lied to you, but I can't change it either."
"We go home."
I snorted. “Just like that?"
"Well, I'm not leaving you here. You may drive me insane from time to time—and heaven knows you have enough ammo now. But you're still my wife. I'm bound to you, just like I'm bound to the Georgia Pack."
"And what about the Hunting Club? I won't up and leave every time they call me for a hunt, but if there's enough danger involved, I won't sit around the house and do nothing, either. They may not be a legitimate pack, but they're all I've got. They're like an extended family to me."
"Sounds like they're a pack anyway. At least for you."
A thought had occurred to me. Something that probably wasn't possible in the werewolf sense, but my gut told me I could make it work. So I put it out there.
"I have two packs, Matt. The Hunting Club and the Georgia Pack. The hell with Seth's rules. He can't stop me from loving his people."
Matt's eyes went wide. He stood and walked over to the window, gazing at the smoke billowing from the grill. “What happens if you have to choose between the two? Werewolves swear allegiance to one pack, Lex. Not two. What you're talking about is something that's unheard of."
"So is a human hybrid joining a pack. I don't recall anyone complaining about that."
Matt inched around and faced me. “You didn't answer my question. What happens if you have to choose?"
Unfortunately, I didn't think that far ahead. “I'll work it out. But if everybody understands each other, then they won't put me in that position."
"Don't count on it."
Chapter 39
I couldn't say for sure if Matt and I had settled our differences because I didn't know myself. We didn't bite each other's heads off anymore, so that was a plus. Our conversation remained civil but guarded along with the other tensions in the room. This was one of those things that only time could heal. Everything that I told Matt in regards to the black market and human involvement, he promised not to tell anyone. He knew that telling Seth about that part of our conversation might still end in my death, so he would keep that much to himself. More important, he gave me credit for breaking my vow of silence to Dane.
While he helped Graham with dinner, I got a chance to spend some quality time with Stephan, Aiyana, and Evan. We sat in the living room as I rehashed the story leading up to the point where I hid out in my uncle's trailer. They told me about Matt's awful outbursts and how glad they were that we had worked some things out, although I tasted a few leftover kinks. Aiyana said if my presence calmed him down, then we had worked out enough of our problems for them. They hated having to slip drugs in his drinks, but it was either that or beat him up. I thanked them for using the drugs.
"Now for a confession of our own,” Aiyana said, crossing her ankles. “We've known about the contracts on Vaughn and Adam for a while."
My jaw dropped. Of all the ... Why the hell didn't they ... “If you guys knew about them, then why didn't you do anything to fix them?"
"Because it's not that easy when it's hearsay,” Stephan said. “Vaughn killed the Detroit Pack Alpha for good reason. But he was human when it happened. Vaughn was a decorated green beret when he left the military. He had moved his family to Detroit for a lucrative job. Anyway, the Pack Alpha took a liking to Natalie, his wife. He tracked her to her car and bit her."
"He must have been a maniac like Parry."
Nodding, Stephan half-smiled. “You could say that. Anyway, Vaughn knew something was wrong when she didn't return home for two weeks. When she escaped, he found out she had been held captive by the pack. Vaughn was so livid that he went on a killing spree. When he finished, he moved Natalie and Colleen away. Unfortunately, Nat didn't know how to control her changes yet. So during a—um—lovemaking session, she changed and bit him."
"Dear God,” I breathed, lowering my head. Tears backed up in my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall. All that agony because some dumbass Alpha couldn't keep his mind off another man's woman.
"Ego got the best of the pack,” Evan said, crossing one muscled arm over the other. “No one in their right mind would ever admit to having their Alpha and a third of their pack slaughtered by a human. So they made up the story about him going rogue when it happened. Of course, they were drunk at the time, but still..."
"They put the bounty on him anyway,” I finished. “Why not Natalie?"
"Don't know,” Stephan answered. “With them raising a human child, things get complicated. Colleen was all the proof that Seth needed to know that the Detroit Pack was lying. He took them in and offered Vaughn a position as the eyes and ears of the pack. As for Colleen, she's under pack protection and we love her as though she were one of our own."
"But unfortunately,” Aiyana continued, “as much as she's Vaughn's redemption and proof that the Detroit Pack is filled with liars and assholes, if she comes forward, she's as good as dead because she's human. Vaughn and Natalie won't let that happen. So for the time being, Vaughn's protecting his little girl as only a father would."
"By keeping his mouth shut and not contesting the bounty,” I added.
Evan leaned forward reaching for his bottle of Coors. “I wouldn't worry about Vaughn. Knowing he picked off an Alpha and a couple of other werewolves to boot, I'd stay the hell away from his bounty anyway. That's why nobody's ever gone after it. Even your bounty hunting group knew the risks and decided that Adam was the easier target."
From the kitchen, Graham caught the corner of my eye. “My uncle told you, didn't he? While you guys were manning the grill."
Stephan nodded. “He figured it was up to you to tell your husband. After that, it didn't matter if anyone else knew or not. He didn't go into details, and to be honest with you, I don't want them. I like seeing you as a perfect little angel."
I smiled. “What about Adam?"
"His story is less complex,” Aiyana admitted, sliding her foot underneath her. “He and his gang ran around, killing and maiming everywhere they went. The only person we're certain that Adam killed was his cell mate and that's because the man suffered from schizophrenia. He tried to strangle Adam in his sleep. If he had killed him out of spite, he would still be in jail. Anyway, Adam got released, got infected, and went on a rampage with a rogue pack throughout Nebraska, Kansas, and Arkansas. Adam didn't want any part of his pack after that, so he got as far away from them as he could. The rest you already know."
"Does Matt know about this?"
"He asked while we were searching hospitals in and around Atlanta,” Stephan said. “We don't talk about the people we consider the black sheep in the family unless it's absolutely necessary."
My eyes downcast. “I don't blame you guys for not trusting me."
Evan slapped me on the knee. “Are you kidding? You risked life and limb diving out of a window to save a guy you'd talked to for ten minutes. I can't imagine what you'd do if the entire pack were in danger."
I rubbed the hot spot on my knee. “You hit me like that again and you'll be the first that's in danger."
* * * *
After a hearty meal and much talk at the table, Aiyana helped me pack my things. I hated leaving Graham. It had taken days for us to reconnect back to when everything was innocent. He would spend the next couple of days alone. In private, I called Dane and asked him to come over and spend some time with Uncle Graham, even if it meant letting him cheat at Uno. Dane laughed and said he wanted to hit the old buzzard across the back of the head for being so stubborn. Maybe throw him in the hole for safe keeping. I asked him to keep working on that “old buzzard."
"Thanks for calling Matt,” I said. I sat on the bed with my left foot curled underneath me and my injured foot dangling over the side.
"How did he take the news?” Dane asked.
"He's still taking the news.” I wanted to tell him that Matt knew everything,
but one tongue lashing was enough for one day.
"Decker had a few more choice words for you,” Dane said, changing the subject. “But don't bother asking what. Your sensitive ears couldn't handle it."
I smiled as though he could see it.
Scuffling came from his end of the phone. “Riley wants to say something. Hold on."
Riley came to the phone and started right in with kissing sounds. “Don't be a stranger, making us wait months or years to see you."
"You might get your wish,” I mumbled.
"What's that?"
I sighed. “Matt knows I need a pack. If the Georgia Pack isn't an option, then the Club will have to do."
My ear met with silence. Then, mumbling filled the background, something about me getting hit over the head.
"What did you just say to Riley?” Dane asked. “He thinks Matt slapped you senseless.” He listened as I repeated myself. “Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Well...” he laughed, “I hope everything works in your favor. Though I doubt it will because spouses don't belong to different packs. That's like a witch marrying a priest."
"As if the Hunting Club were so pure. This will work."
The Georgia Pack trying to do away with the Hunting Club worried me more. Dane didn't worry about things like that for the same reason he never worried about others having had similar ideas. He had life insurance. Not the kind that people purchase for $15 a month. His went along the lines of if something happened to him evidence about the werewolf subculture would find its way to the Washington Post and New York Times.
"I'll tell you what,” Dane said. “If you can put everything on the line and swear loyalty to me, then the least I can do is stand by your side. Be a real Pack Alpha for a change."
A howl resounded in the background. Shouts of happiness and joy screamed through the earpiece. Louder scuffling came through on the phone followed by muffled thumps. Dane threatened to smack Riley unconscious if he didn't let him go. I laughed. It sounded like I wasn't the only one happy with Dane's proclamation. Finally.
Of course, the news about Dane's overdue Alpha role was for werewolf ears only. The humans might think more of it than they should, jeopardizing the Club's stability. He'd probably talk to Fisk about assuming the post of second-in-command in all hunting issues. Heaven knew Fisk had certainly earned the title, and I couldn't think of a better person.
Riley came back to the phone, happier than a dog in heat. “In terms of the pack, that means I'm second. Damn, it's going to be good ordering you around, Angel."
"No, it won't,” Dane declared on another line. “After what happened in North Carolina, I know there's no way in hell you're mature enough to handle that kind of responsibility. Not yet, anyway."
"Well,” I said, feeling a tweak of panic. “I hope you didn't have me in mind. You guys will be lucky enough to get one visit a month from me."
"Let's worry about that later,” Dane said. “Right now, the only thing that concerns me is making this place a real den for the Club werewolves."
"It'll sure make things easier when one of the humans has a ... work-related accident. They'll have a pack ready to take them in.” Heaven help them, too. Thoughts of Decker in the hole, naked and howling at the top of his lungs, flooded my mind. Ewwww!
Matt strolled into the room. “We're ready to...” He looked at the phone. “Are you talking to Dane?"
"Yes,” I said.
"Who's that?” Riley asked.
"It's Matt,” Dane answered.
He held his hand out for the phone as he sauntered into the room. “Let me talk to him."
"I have to go,” I said. I didn't trust Matt to keep the conversation civil, even though Dane would. My days of causing trouble were over.
"That's not what he said,” Dane mumbled.
"Too bad.” I watched Matt close the distance. “I'm hanging up now."
Matt grinned, all teeth, dimples digging into his cheeks. “I'll be good, I promise."
He darted forth, trying to snatch the phone out of my hands. I turned and stepped out of his way. Matt lunged for me again, tackling me on the bed. His hands tickled my sides. Screaming laughter filled the room and beyond. Covering the phone with my body, I pressed several buttons, hoping one of them would sever the call. Matt tickled with one hand while trying to wrestle the phone away with the other.
A blunted thump hit the floor, startling us.
Uncle Graham stood at the door, holding his cane. “Could you two please take your foreplay elsewhere? The neighbors will think I'm throwing a sex party over here."
Everyone gave Graham a hug or handshake and thanked him for taking such good care of me. He extended an invitation to everyone, including and above all Matt. He had never gotten to know my husband the way he had hoped to, and after spending a few hours in his company, he wanted to know him like a real nephew.
Now if we could only survive the six-hour ride home. Damn.
Chapter 40
Tickling on my toes woke me. At least that's what it felt like. I sat up so fast that I had to take a moment to regain my bearings. Everything was white except for the ugly sea-foam green walls. To my left was a cart with canisters of cotton balls, tongue depressors, bandages, and the like. On my right were a wall-mounted blood pressure cuff and another diagnostic device for checking ear, nose, and throat. The paper on the plastic-cushioned table crinkled at my weight, shattering the silence of the exam room.
Unmoving, Bryce stared at me. His pale blue eyes gazed from behind his gold-rimmed glasses. He wore a red U2 T-shirt and a pair of jeans with shredded kneecaps. No white coat as one would expect. He sat motionless on a stool at the end of the table. Strapped to my ankle was a hard plastic boot. My body must have needed the sleep, because I was usually a neurotic light sleeper. Bryce had gotten further treating my injury than he should have.
"Matt paged me out of a sound sleep,” he groaned. “I told him to meet me here. He said you had stress fractures in your foot and was hoping I had something more stable to put on it."
I laughed and fell back on my elbows. “Don't worry. I promise not to kick you as long as you don't hurt me."
He began checking the clasps. “That's good and all, but I'm tired of coming out and patching you up for one thing or another. Hasn't anyone talked to you about being more human than the rest of the pack, and how you can't take the punishment like they can?"
"You wouldn't believe how many times I heard that argument on the ride home. Why do you think I passed out in the car?"
"Well, this should give you more cushion than that splint. Though your swelling is almost gone; I'm guessing at least another week or more before it heals completely."
"I was hoping by this time tomorrow."
Bryce gave a wry laugh and adjusted his glasses. “Not unless you want to risk re-injury. If I had my way about it, I'd put you in a real cast and keep you off your feet another two to make sure.” He wheeled his metal stool backward and retrieved a prescription pad from the counter.
"Is that necessary? I still have the pills you gave me from the last time."
He stopped and narrowed his eyes. “You didn't take all of them, did you?"
"No."
His pen drummed an ominous rat-a-tat, smacking against the prescription pad. For more than half a minute, he sat there quietly, glaring at me as though he could reach out and wrap his fingers around my throat. I didn't want to ask the question because I knew it would get me in trouble.
"Is there something wrong?” I said, asking it anyway.
"Yes!” he roared. “The other prescription was for infection! You take the damn penicillin until it's gone!"
His biting temper scared me enough to draw my legs into the fetal position.
I smiled, shrugging my shoulders. “Well, look at the bright side. With all the milk I drank, you would have been dealing with one hell of a yeast infection by now."
Bryce leapt off the stool and yanked the examination room door
open. He hollered down the hall for Matt, cursing at the top of his lungs. I felt sorry for my husband, but he got what he deserved for not bringing me straight home. My ears strained to listen, but muffed sounds came through instead. Except for a generator whirring and repeated blipping from somewhere else in the building, stillness filled the halls. We were the only ones in the clinic long after normal business hours. Seconds later, footfalls scuffed down the corridor in my direction. Stephan entered the room.
"Ready to go?” he asked, helping me off the table.
"I was ready before you guys brought me through the front door. What's Bryce in a huff about? I thought he'd be pleased to know I heal fine on my own without the drugs."
Stephan laughed. “Sometimes he has to guess because our metabolism is so different. He tends to over-prescribe just to make sure, and he hates it when we ignore his advice. Unless Seth is cracking a whip, we'll take a temporary fix and go about our business.” He scooped me in his arms and stepped into the hall.
"So what's he bickering to Matt about?"
"Bryce wants you off your feet for the next few days, so he's hammering Matt about how serious he is. Between you and me, I suggest you take his advice. You think he's an ogre now—if he has to reset bones, he's ruthless."
We left the clinic with prescriptions in hand and looked for a twenty-four hour drug store.
* * * *
I remembered getting into my white laced nightie. Matt enjoyed the virginal effect because it reminded him that he was the only one to ever taste my goods. And since I still had some smoothing over to do, I started with the easy part: the seduction.
My hand rested on my husband's side of the bed. Wrinkled, cold sheets opened my eyes. That was a dark omen if I ever saw one. Golden sunlight peeped from around the corners of the thick lined curtains of our bedroom. Morning had come.
Matt's voice echoed a one-sided conversation on the phone downstairs. I thought about going back to sleep, but the smell of omelets with cheese, green peppers, and onions kept me up.
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