by Casey Lane
Movement to my left caught my eye, I whipped around and saw Howl racing toward me. Relief swept over me. Together, we faced whoever was about to emerge from the cab. The door opened, the cab driver stepped out to open the door for his passenger and then the trunk to remove luggage. Finally, we saw a woman emerge. My entire body sighed. “Aunt Jo?” I jumped off the porch and rushed to greet her. As I neared, her arms opened to me, but the smile at seeing me still couldn’t hide the pain she felt at the loss of her sister. I took a deep breath. “I know,” I murmured as we hugged.
“Tell me everything. I’m here to help.” She studied me while smoothing my stray hairs. Then Aunt Jo glanced at Howl. Her brow arched. “You should know, I don’t plan on leaving until everything is settled.”
I laughed. “Will you be staying with us, auntie?”
Studying the homestead, she shook her head. “I don’t do well with packs.” She glanced down at Howl. “Not everyone is cut out for pack life.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know how to respond to her remark. “So that would make you a…”
“Rogue. I’m a rogue, dear.” She sighed. “And you should be happy I am.” She rifled through her purse and pulled out a bottle of her famous spray. “If I hadn’t gone rogue, this never would’ve been. You can’t imagine the lives that have been saved because of it.” Aunt Jo smiled proudly.
“I’m sensing there’s a story, maybe some family history I’m currently unaware of?” Then I gestured for her to follow me to the porch after I carried her bags to my vehicle. “We’ll figure out where you’re staying soon enough. I need a moment to rest after the back-breaking labor. Shall we sit and talk a bit?”
With a slight nod, Aunt Jo hesitantly sat beside me on the top porch step. “I suppose I need to check in with whomever is running things now, just so I don’t look like a threat.”
I bit my cheek and shrugged. “You already did.”
Her eyes widened. “Savvy! You?”
“Yes.” I grinned. “Won it.”
“Who challenged you? You need to make sure this can’t be contested.” Aunt Jo shook her head while smiling. “I never thought I’d see a female Alpha in my lifetime.” She swiped at her eyes. “I’m so proud of you. You give me hope. Maybe in this new age a woman truly can be anything and have it all.” She glanced at Howl. “Maybe if it had been this way when I was your age, I wouldn’t have gone rogue.”
“Father trained me for this, when it was obvious he wouldn’t have a son.” My head hung as I recalled the night everything changed.
“Your father was a good man. He was a forward thinker. That’s why the Phoenix Pack has prospered.” She sighed. “Before they left, we were all part of the Golden Pack, originally from Colorado. I joined your parents here when they started your pack. I found my mate.”
“Wait. You found your mate?” I frowned. “Then how are you a rogue?”
She glanced at Howl. This time he leaned more heavily against my legs. “I denied him. I didn’t want the future he offered. I couldn’t be less than I am, could never be satisfied as the simple housewife to a successful doctor.” Aunt Jo stared into my eyes. “So, I left, moved to California, studied at Berkeley, and finally created the special perfume—and cologne—which has preserved many a pack.” Her smile seemed sadder now.
“I thought you couldn’t leave your mate. I thought it would be so painful many wolves chose to die with their mate.” I shook my head. Right now, it felt like all my beliefs were crumbling.
Aunt Jo reached out and laid a hand on my thigh. “We knew we were meant for each other. My wolf recognized him, but I couldn’t go through with it. I left.” She shrugged.
“What happened to him? Did he die?” My eyes widened as I tried to process all this information.
“No, but he has mostly lived a half-life, I believe. This is what happens when you decide to love the one you’re with, rather than mate with your true love.” Howl whimpered. Aunt Jo stared down at him. “He refused to take a wolf mate. Instead, he found a dog shifter, and they had a son, I heard. There are problems in the pack. Their leader is greedy, driven, and essentially completely corrupt.”
The dog lay on my feet. He seemed almost sad. I laid a hand on his head. “It’s okay, Howl.” I could feel my wolf growing agitated. “Something you said…about your wolf recognizing its mate. How’s that work exactly?”
Our discussion was interrupted as Lenoir and Shelby pulled up. They jumped out of the minivan and rushed to hug the aunt none of us had seen since we were little. Aunt Jo patted the wood. “Come sit. You’re old enough to hear this too.” She waited until they had settled in before continuing. “Savvy asked about your wolf recognizing its mate.”
They both leaned in, but Shelby was the one who spoke. “Ooooh! Tell me.” Her cheeks grew pink. “I think I found my mate.”
“How lovely for you!” Aunt Jo gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Did your wolf grow agitated? Or even better, did your wolf howl?”
Shelby’s head tilted. “There was some definite pacing in there.” She sighed. “He wasn’t looking at me. He was too busy paying attention to Savvy.” She jabbed me in the side.
“Ow. And I thought you said he seemed to like you too?” I frowned.
“Well, he looked at me curiously. I thought maybe he felt something.” Shelby bit her lip.
“Nobody ever sees us with Savvy around.” Lenoir huffed. Then she stared at Aunt Jo with teary eyes. “I found my mate too. When I look at him, my wolf dances and whines. She only settles down when I’m near him. I can’t handle it, so I give in.” Her head hung. “That’s why I come off as pathetic. It’s better than the alternative.”
“I’m so sorry, Lennie.” My heart hurt for her. Then Howl seemed to sense my sadness, and he began to lick at my fingers. I held his face in my hands. “Thank you,” I murmured as I ran my hand through his fur.
Aunt Jo’s brow peaked. “Want some advice, Lenoir?”
Lennie nodded her head fervently while she sniffled. “Yes. More than anything. This…is torture.”
“Make him see you. In my experience, that’s all it takes. The minute your eyes connect, he’ll feel it. He’ll know. Then everything will change.” Aunt Jo patted Lennie’s hand.
For a moment, I played with my ponytail. Then I slowly caught my aunt’s attention. “Is the wolf ever wrong? Has a wolf ever wanted a human?”
She smirked. “Never. Trust your wolf. She knows what our other senses deny.” Then she licked her lips and looked completely satisfied.
Chapter Fourteen
“What are you thinking, Savvy?” My aunt leaned closer.
Howl couldn’t seem to sit still. His head bobbed as he looked first at Aunt Jo and then at me. I reached out and laid a hand on his back. “Relax, boy,” I murmured absently. In my mind, I was replaying much of the last two days and every interaction I’d had with Quinn.
Shelby used my silence as an opportunity to question the woman she probably barely remembered. “So, what’s it like being a rogue?” A grin spread across her face.
Aunt Jo laughed. “It has its pros and cons.” She shrugged.
“Come on. We’re all adults here.” Shelby huffed. “Details. I need details.”
Finally, Howl settled down. “Hey, she just arrived. Give the woman a break.” I glared at her.
“She’s fine!” Aunt Jo patted my leg. Then she turned to address my ridiculously curious little sister. “I like not having to answer to anyone. I like being completely in control of my life.” She blew out a breath, and I knew we were getting to the dark side of her story. “Of course, I also have no one to love, no children, and no one to protect me. This wasn’t such a big deal when I was younger.” She winked at me. “I could hold my own in a fight.”
I laughed. “I bet you could.”
“As I get older, self-defense is increasingly more challenging. I’m battling arthritis.” She held out her hands so we could see her enlarged knuckles. “I need a hip replacement. I’m falling apart.�
�� Aunt Jo chuckled, but I could tell she was worried.
“You don’t have to be alone,” I reminded her. “You always have a place with us. You’d have to give up rogue status and fall in line with the pack, but it sounds like your wild days are done anyway.”
Her head tilted. She seemed to be considering my suggestion. “I could give up my rogue status...” Howl interrupted her with a groan and Aunt Jo smirked. “This course of action isn’t so easy for everyone. Some shifters don’t fit in anywhere. Others choose not to fit in.” She gave my dog a knowing look.
With a frown, I prepared to question her actions, but Tanner and Dallas burst out of the woods. “Alpha,” Tanner called. “There’s a problem at the mine.”
I stood. “What’s wrong?”
“We caught the scent of other shifters near it. We were about to get back to work, but had to cancel that plan rather than risk giving away the secret location.” He panted some, evidence of how far he’d run. As a wolf, he could race through the forest for long stretches and barely get winded. As a human, he wasn’t nearly as fit.
Dallas scowled. “I warned your father this could happen. I told him we needed to tunnel in from the homestead to keep the mine’s location quiet.”
My eyes narrowed. “You spoke to my father? What did he say?” I made a mental note to grab the daily journals from the safe next time I opened it.
“He thought it was a terrible idea, refused to even discuss it.” Dallas kicked a rock with his boot. “I’m going back to my cottage.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “No, you’re not. We haven’t finished discussing the matter.”
“There’s nothing left to say,” Dallas sneered. He started to turn and strut away, but I couldn’t allow that.
If he continued to undermine my authority, more serious consequences would have to be implemented. I swallowed hard. The idea of banishing anyone bothered me. There were always challenges when the Alpha changed. He simply had to grow accustomed to the idea of a female leading the pack. “Stay,” I ordered.
He didn’t even pause. With this many people watching, I had to take action. I was about to shift, when I heard a growl behind me. Then Howl rushed past me, leapt into the air, and tackled Dallas. Seeing him face down in the dirt while my dog snarled and snapped at him was immensely satisfying. I slowly neared him, circled and ultimately crouched at his head. “You’ll do as I say, Beta.”
His inner struggle was obvious. Clearly, Dallas had no interest in following my rules and directions. He couldn’t even meet my eyes, but I still saw enough. In his face, I read a combination of fear and rage. Howl stepped on his skull, forcing him to eat dirt. He spluttered some before struggling to raise his head.
“If you don’t listen to me, I will banish you. You swore allegiance to my father. I beat you in a fair fight observed by every adult in the pack. Don’t bring shame on yourself or your family.” My voice was low but intense. “I will do what’s right for the pack whether you agree or not. You can fall in line or leave. Those are your only two options.”
Dallas turned away from me. I nodded at Howl, and the dog stepped off the man’s back. He quickly scampered to his feet. “Can I go now, Alpha?” He nearly spat the words.
Though I was ready to go for his throat, I decided it was safer for him to leave my sight at the moment. Plus, I had more pressing concerns given Tanner’s report. “Go,” I growled. Then I watched as he raced off to his cottage. I was shaking mad until Howl leaned against my legs and started licking my hand. Squatting down, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you,” I whispered. “You soothe me.”
Standing once more, I turned to see Tanner staring at me in the most unnerving way. Apparently, Howl agreed. I could hear a low growl in his throat. With a sigh, I addressed him. “Yes, Tanner?”
He shook his head. “Nothing, I guess.”
My brow arched. “No, if you have something to say, spit it out. I’m already mad, so you might as well be the cherry on top of my shit sundae.”
Tanner shrugged. “I guess Dallas is having trouble accepting a female Alpha.”
“What about you?” My eyes narrowed.
He smirked. “Oh, you can boss me around all you like.” Then he chuckled.
Howl didn’t think he was funny. His growl grew louder. I reached down to comfort him, running my fingers through his fur.
“Listen up, man-pup. Never talk to me like that again.”
“Hey, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be having this problem if you’d take a mate already.” He grinned and nodded. “I’m still available whenever you’re ready.”
Out of nowhere, I heard a scream that evoked memories of Miss Piggy, followed by my sweet, demure, silent sister Lenoir tackling him. My lips twitched as I tried to hold back a smile. Then I gave up and laughed aloud as she settled in on his chest and pummeled him with her teeny tiny fists of fury.
“You…you asshole!” Her voice was high-pitched, a combination of anger and hurt. “How could you say that to my sister when you’re supposed to be with me?” Lenoir grabbed the sides of his face and then leaned down until she was inches from the tip of his nose. “Maybe I don’t want you anymore. Maybe you can suffer the rest of your life without your mate. How about that?”
Even as he lay there with Lennie hitting him, Tanner had been staring at me. Then she started to get up and he finally glanced her direction. For so long, she’d been nothing but a nuisance to him. She’d been a pawn in his plan to marry the Alpha. I don’t know if he was trying to prove a point, but he flipped her on her back and rolled onto her.
“Lennie, what the hell are you blathering on about?” He huffed as he prepared to ream her out. “I’ve been nice. I’ve tolerated you because you’re Savvy’s sister, but enough is enough.”
Lenoir had been staring off toward the woods. I could tell she was crying from the periodic sniffle. Then she whipped her head around, tears streaming from her eyes, her chin jutting out. “I couldn’t agree more. Enough is enough. I have no idea what I ever saw in you. How could I possibly think you were supposed to be mated to me is a complete and utter mystery.” She swiped at her face and tried to dry her eyes, but only managed to smear dirt over her skin. “Dammit.”
Shelby started to move toward them. Her face was crimson with rage. She had always been her twin’s biggest defender. Her hands had formed fists, and she was ready to attack Tanner.
“Wait,” I hissed. Then I nodded toward them. Something had happened. Something had changed between them. I could see it. Tanner was no longer irate but now the picture of calm.
“Hush, Lennie,” he murmured gently. “I can fix it. Let me take care of you.”
Though she had been trying desperately to remove the sand from her eye, Lenoir suddenly froze. “What did you say?”
Tanner cupped her face, leaned down, and planted a kiss on her lips. “You heard me. Hold still, while I take care of you.” He slowly pushed the hair away from her face.
The way he looked at her hit me in the gut. This was it. Lennie had her mate. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Shelby slapping a hand over her mouth. When I smiled at her, she moved in for a hug.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered. “I promise I won’t leave you until you’re happy.” Shelby pulled back and grinned.
I knew what was coming next. “Shall I hurry up and get happy?”
She nodded enthusiastically. In response, I squeezed her hand. Then I glanced down at my little sister, now wholly embraced by her mate and my wolf sighed.
Chapter Fifteen
Once Tanner and Lenoir wandered away hand-in-hand and Shelby had sprinted to the new tiny house to pick her bed, I sighed happily and jogged up the porch steps with Howl on my heels. As I passed my aunt, she grabbed my wrist. “Where are you going?”
“Study. I’ll be right back. I just want to grab something before I forget.” She released me and I continued to the front door, but as I opened it, I heard her speaking.
“You’ll sta
y here.” Aunt Jo eyed Howl. He whimpered and lay down on the porch, clearly determined to wait for me.
“You okay, auntie?” I frowned.
She nodded. “I’m great. The dog is going to keep me company while you get what you need.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be right back.” What I needed wouldn’t be in the safe, but could easily be accessed in the file cabinet. Though it was locked, I had the key on my keyring already. In a matter of minutes, I’d found the records I needed. I’d pulled out everything from the past year. This might be the only way I truly discovered what had been happening in our pack.
After locking the cabinet again, I rushed back toward the front door, but something caught my eye. The sun streamed through the front windows as it sank in the sky. This time, the edge of a gold coin caught the light. I bent down and moved the chair enough to pick it up. The coin was stamped with a capital “B” on one side, and the image of a phoenix was on the other. My heart pounded in my chest. This coin belonged to Dallas. My father gave it to him when he made him Beta roughly five years ago before I’d even graduated from high school. I still remembered the ceremony. My mind raced as I wondered why it would be there. Dallas always carried it on him, proof of his role in the pack and thanks for his efforts. The gold had come from our mines.
How did it get there? Why hadn’t Dallas mentioned losing it? My stomach rolled. He didn’t fear my wrath, so he hadn’t held back because of some unfounded worry. The reason for not telling me had to be nefarious. I held the metal in my hand before slowly pocketing it.
Reaching for the door, I prepared to open it when I realized my aunt was deep in conversation with Howl. I paused, half laughing, eager to hear what she had to say.
“Your intentions better be honorable. Savvy is special.” She frowned. “She has choices.” Her eyes widened. “So do you.”
The floorboard creaked under my feet, and two pairs of eyes were suddenly upon me. “Hi,” I murmured weakly. “Found what I needed.” Then I walked through the door while my aunt studied me. “So, I’m going to go to the tiny house now. I need to do some research.”
