Sorry, Charlie (Poconos Pack)

by Dana Marie Bell

  “Finally grew a pair and bit her, huh?”

  Ted gave him the finger. “Fuck you, Ben.”

  “That’s my job.” Behind him, the deep voice of the Beta surprised him. Dave Maldonado entered the office and immediately went to his mate. He kissed Ben quickly. “Good day so far?”

  Dave’s tone was completely different with Ben. The soft, loving affection made Ted smile. Ben and Dave had been through hell and come out on the other side stronger than ever. The only mating he’d seen as strong was that between his Luna and his Alpha. Ted was glad for both men.

  Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t rib them a little. “Ugh. Kissy-face. You know I hate kissy-face.”

  Dave made kissy-face at him.

  Ben scowled and elbowed his mate in the stomach.

  Dave merely laughed. The Beta was huge, almost as big as the Alpha, and had a lot of the qualities of an Alpha. Yet the man was completely content being Rick’s Beta and living peacefully with his mate.

  “So I hear congratulations are in order,” Dave said with a smile. “It’s about fucking time, man. With the way you kept hiding and shaking I was starting to think we had ninjas.”

  Ben blinked at his mate. “Ninjas?”

  Dave shrugged. “What else would send the Second of the Poconos Pack running?”

  “Clowns.” Ben shuddered. “That would do it for me.”

  “Ninja clowns?” Dave tilted his head. “Not sure how well they’d blend.”

  Ben’s brows rose. “I guess it depends on the decor.”

  Dave laughed and took a seat. “So. Charlie, huh?”

  Ben began to whistle something that sounded like “Hakuna Matata”. Or it might have been two hummingbirds having a fight. He wasn’t certain.

  Before he could comment, Rick came into the office and closed the door behind him. “Good. We’re all here.”

  As Rick walked around to his desk, the others glanced at one another. Chela was usually included in all meetings, due to her status as Omega. And Belle would find out what was happening before any of them could step out of the room. So why had the Alpha shut the women out?

  “They’re plotting something.” Rick sat at his desk and stared at them all, a worried frown on his face. “I don’t know if you noticed, but all three of them were huddled together. They had that look on their faces.”

  Ben winced. Dave groaned. Ted’s insides turned to ice.

  “Any idea what they might be up to?” Ted took the seat next to Dave. He wasn’t certain his knees would hold him up. “And should we invite Steve?”

  “Good idea.” Ben pulled out his cell phone. “Chela tells him everything.”

  Rick growled. “Must be nice.”

  It was well known that the Luna kept secrets from her Alpha, and it drove him crazy. The secrets were for the most part harmless, but that wasn’t the point in Rick’s eyes.

  Ted wondered what type of mate Charlie would be. Would he know all of her secrets, her fears and desires? Or would she tease him with little glimpses until he went out of his mind like his Alpha? He wasn’t sure which one he feared more. If he knew all, he might feel he wasn’t up to the task of taking care of his mate. But if she hid things from him, he’d go insane trying to find out what she was up to on a daily basis.

  “Steve? Get your ass over to…No, I don’t care where you… Oh.” Ben made a face. “You don’t say. Here?” Ben shot Ted a quick, terrified glance. “I’ll let him know.” Ben hung up the phone. “The Leo is coming.”

  Ted froze. This was his worst nightmare coming to life before him. “Eshcusawhat?”

  Ben nodded. “He wants to meet the man who mated his baby sister.”

  Ted tried to remind himself that breathing was a good thing.

  “Let me guess who invited him?” Rick crossed his arms over his chest and sighed.

  Dave shook his head, put his hands to his lips in a trumpet shape and blew Taps.

  Ted stared at Rick in horror. “I need a one-way ticket to Abu Dhabi.”

  Rick flopped back in his chair. “Denied.”

  “Damn it.” Ted’s leg began to bounce. “How far can a lone Wolf run?”

  “Depends on his motivation.” Dave leaned forward, a semi-serious expression on his face. “How motivated are you?”

  Ted stood up to show him when Rick barked, “Enough!”

  Ted sat his ass back down.

  “You—” Rick pointed to Ted, “—are not acting like the bad-ass I know you can be. You—” Rick pointed to Dave, “—stop encouraging him.”

  Dave pouted. “You never let me have any fun.”

  Rick snarled, but Dave only laughed in response.

  “The Leo isn’t just coming to see Ted.” Ben glanced around the room. “He’s coming to see us.”

  “I’m surprised he hasn’t come before now, but I bet Charlie yowled at him until he agreed to stay away.” Ted rubbed his face. “If she’s invited him here, we might never get rid of him.”

  Ben’s brows rose. “That sounds almost like you’re plotting to off him.”

  Ted kept his lips zipped. In a Lion eat Wolf world, he’d be cat food.

  “We need to follow Protocol when he comes.” Rick’s pronouncement was followed by a round of moans.

  “He’s right,” Ted replied. “If we follow Protocol, we’ll bore him so badly he’ll go home after three days, max.”

  Dave’s head swiveled toward the books on Rick’s shelves. “What is the Protocol for a visiting Leo?”

  “I have no fucking clue,” Rick grumbled, “but we’d better find out.”

  “I’ll check the archives. There might be something there.” Ben, who usually handled the money, was probably the best of them at research. He was meticulous in whatever he chose to do.

  “I’ll call Alpha Consiglione and Alpha Cannon.” Dave pulled out his cell phone. “They’re the closest Alphas to us. I’m certain the Leo will want to meet them.”

  Ted began to smile. “I don’t think the Cannons will make it, not with a new baby, but Nate should be able to.”

  “Good point, but I’ll invite them anyway. Maybe Max will come without Emma.”

  Ted doubted it. He remembered the way Max Cannon hovered over his petite dynamo of a mate. No way would he leave her behind, even for the Leo. “I’ll take care of the room. He’ll probably have an entourage.” Ted frowned as he thought about where to place the Leo. “Perhaps we should give him the largest cabin, the one facing the woods.” It housed six to eight people, boasted a full kitchen and a wrap-around deck. It was their best cabin. “That would be appropriate for the Leo yet keep him out of the main house.”

  “And off the Pack’s floor.” Rick nodded. “Schedule it. Move people if you have to, but do it.”

  Ted nodded and called the front desk, scheduling the room under another name. He didn’t want the Pack to find out quite yet that the Leo was coming to the Poconos, not until Rick had a chance to tell them himself. “Done. For now it’s under the name Joe Smith.”

  Rick tapped his fingers together, then tilted his head to stare up at Dave. “Have the ladies sent you any emails about scheduling a room for a party?”

  Dave frowned and checked his email over the Alpha’s shoulder. “Yup. Chela’s requested the space for next week.”

  Ted whistled. “He’ll be here sooner than I thought.”

  “I’d better call—” Dave was cut off by the sound of Rick’s phone ringing.

  Rick scowled and picked up. “Hello?” His brows rose. “Hold on, I’m putting you on speaker.”

  “You there?” Nate’s voice was cheerful. “I hear we’re having a party.”

  Ted and Ben exchanged a glance. “Seems the ladies contacted him first,” Ben said quietly.

  “Yes, we are.” Rick nodded to Ted. “Our Second mated with the Leo’s sister.”

  “Really? Congratulazioni. I nostri migliori auguri e tanta felicità.”

  “Thank you,” Ted replied. He had no idea what the Coyote Alpha ha
d said, but Nate’s tone had been congratulatory, so Ted took it that way.

  “So I guess the formal wedding is this week?”

  “No,” Rick replied. “The Leo is coming to visit and congratulate his sister on her mating.”

  The line went silent for a moment. “Sucks to be you, man.” Nate started laughing. “Hey, Keith! Guess who’s getting a visit from the Leo!”

  “Ass,” Rick growled.

  “I am so taking pictures of your face when he gets there.” Nate chuckled. “I’ll be there tomorrow, Beta in tow.”

  “You do that, because he’s gonna meet you too.”

  “Can’t wait, Dick.” Nate hung up, his laughter still ringing in Ted’s ears.

  “Fuckin’ Coyotes.” Rick glanced at Dave. “Did you get hold of Max?”

  Dave nodded. “He said he’d discuss it with Emma, but he’d probably send his regrets.”

  “Not surprised.” Ted stood and stretched his hands over his head. “Told you he wouldn’t take his baby up here. Not yet, anyway. Plus I hear they have their own shit going on down the mountain. If his Pride is in danger he’d never leave.”

  Rick scowled. “Why didn’t I know about this?”

  Ted shrugged. “Whatever it is, they’re keeping pretty quiet about it. I just noticed we’ve had fewer Pumas visiting than usual. Maybe it has something to do with that doctor that went nuts.” Now that he was mated he couldn’t imagine losing Charlie. It would literally kill him.

  Rick sighed deeply. “Belle needs to know. If her Pride is in need, she’s going to want to act.”

  “And woe to any who stand in her way,” Ben added quietly.

  “One crisis at a time, please.” Ted held up his hands, hoping to stop that line of thought before it took off too far. “We’ll find out soon enough about what’s happening in Halle. The gossip mill will make sure of it. Let’s concentrate on the Leo’s impending visit first.”

  Chapter Six

  Charlie stood next to her mate, trying desperately to ignore his rigid stance and pale complexion. Next to Ted stood Ben and Dave, and next to Ben stood Chela and Steve. And just in front of them, one step below, were Rick and Belle. The Alpha’s long red hair was free, his thick arms crossed over his chest as he waited. Sometimes he scared the shit out of her, but most of the time he proved to be a big marshmallow wrapped in power.

  Hail, Hail, the gang’s all here. Only they weren’t having a party. They were awaiting the arrival of the Leo, the Pack’s leaders in the forefront with the members of the Pack spread out behind them on the huge wrap-around porch.

  Her brother was due to arrive at any moment, and the Wolves had decided to pull out all the stops. She’d been told that they were going for full Protocol, whatever the hell that was. Ted had tried to explain it to her, but she’d gotten bored halfway through and pounced on him. The sex had been phenomenal, but she still didn’t know what the hell was going on.

  A white SUV pulled up to the Lodge, followed by another, bigger SUV. She could see Kincade in the front of the smaller SUV, with Sebastian right next to him. She smiled. That must have driven Kincade nuts, having the Leo front and center, visible through the windshield. He took his duties very seriously when it came to Seb’s safety, but Seb had the habit of ignoring or outright overturning Kincade’s measures. How Kincade could continue working for her brother she didn’t know. She adored them both, but she was happy to have found her mate far, far away from Sedona.

  The driver’s door of the smaller SUV opened. Kincade pointed at Seb, probably telling him to stay put while Kincade figured out what the hell was going on. Seb, for once, seemed to listen, as he stayed right where he was until Kincade had approached the Lodge. She caught his gaze and winked at him, hoping he’d get the idea that she was fine, but she never knew with Kincade. He could be breaking out laughing inside, and on his face was nothing but blank sternness.

  Seb, on the other hand, showed everything. He was watching her like a hawk. When she looked at him, he glanced at Ted and raised his brows. She nodded, letting him know silently that she was standing next to her mate.

  The grin that crossed his face was quickly wiped away, but she’d seen it. Ted was in for the time of his life. She just hoped that his heart could take whatever Kincade and Sebastian dished out.

  Rick uncrossed his arms, but the stern expression never left his face. “We welcome you, Kincade Lowe, to our Pack lands.”

  Charlie almost choked out a laugh. The royal we? Really? She bet Belle was rolling her eyes as Rick continued to speak.

  “We offer the safety of our den and the freedom to run on our lands. May your hunts be successful and your prey distracted.”

  Kincade nodded his head, and the larger SUV’s doors opened, spilling out a few men Charlie had met before. All of them worked for Kincade, therefore all of them were dedicated to keeping Sebastian safe.

  The men approached the smaller SUV. One of them opened Sebastian’s door and he finally stepped out. There was a faint smile on his lips as he looked at the men and women on the porch, a smile Charlie knew. Sebastian was amused by all the formality, but unless he decided he didn’t like the Alpha and his Pack, Sebastian would follow their Protocol. He stepped forward and allowed his men to form a semi-circle behind him. “Alpha Lowell. Thank you for your hospitality, and for taking care of my sister, Charlene.”

  Rick didn’t bow his head, choosing instead to nod as Sebastian had. Rick was on his Pack lands, and while Sebastian held rank over him, in this area Rick reigned supreme. He’d chosen to meet her brother as an equal, Alpha to Alpha, rather than Alpha to Leo. Sebastian was going to love that. It meant he’d be freer to act and be himself than he would be with an Alpha who insisted on treating him as the Leo.

  Rick spoke the welcoming words that would finish the formal greetings, or so she hoped. “Welcome, Alpha, to the Poconos Pack.”

  That confirmed it. Rick was going to treat Seb as an equal, not the Leo. Sebastian’s amused expression deepened, but she could tell he was busy laughing at himself, not Rick. Her brother was having the time of his life right now.

  “May your visit be filled with joy,” Rick intoned, fully into his Alpha role now, his voice deep and low, “and your house be filled with cubs.”

  “Kits,” Belle hissed.

  “Kits,” Rick corrected. “Ted.”

  Ted stepped forward, pausing to glance back at Charlie. She tilted her head, wondering why he had a small frown on his face.

  She understood when he held out his hand. She took it and sauntered down the steps with him, eager to see her brother and cousin.

  Before she could hug them hello, Rick’s voice rang out again. “We celebrate the mating of Charlene Lowe to our Second, Teodoro Pedrozo. We will confirm Charlene Lowe as Pack this evening before dinner.”

  They would? She thought that with Ted’s mating mark she already was Pack. Even Belle looked confused, her gaze glued to her mate now instead of Sebastian.

  Finally, Ted stepped forward, past Rick and Belle. His grip on her hand was painfully tight. “Welcome to the Red Wolf Lodge, Mr. Lowe.” He held out his free hand, his tone stiff and uncomfortable. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Sebastian winked at her before taking Ted’s hand. “The same to you, Mr. Pedrozo. Call me Sebastian. We’re family now, after all.”

  That didn’t seem to soothe Ted at all. If anything, the grip on her hand got tighter. “Call me Ted.”

  “Sure thing.” Seb opened his arms wide for her. “C’mere, pain in my ass.”

  Charlie didn’t hesitate. “Sebby!” She squealed, leaping into her brother’s arms and wrapping her legs around his waist. “I missed you, Sebby.”

  Seb sighed. He hated that nickname. The only one allowed to use it was Charlie, because he knew she could wipe the floor with his ass if she felt like it. They’d been wrestling since she was three, and even with a three-year age difference she annihilated him.

  “Charlie. Missed you too.” He hugged her tight,
rubbing his cheek against hers, scent-marking her. She could faintly hear Ted’s low growl but didn’t stop her brother. They scent-marked each other all the time. And ew; this was her brother, not some random Lion who could possibly take her away from her mate.

  The moment Seb put her down she was all over Kincade. “Kinny!”

  “Charlie!” He laughed as he twirled her around, totally breaking that stoic bodyguard image he so adored. This was the cousin who’d put frogs in her shoes and who’d helped her glue Seb’s guitar strings to the body because dear lord, her brother was tone-deaf and refused to believe it. Kincade put her back down, also ignoring Ted’s increasingly loud growls. “How much trouble have you gotten into since you got here?”

  She toed the earth with one foot while batting her lashes innocently at her cousin. “I’ve been good.”

  The Pack snickered behind her, some of them loudly. One outright guffawed.

  “Mostly.” She glared at the Pack over her shoulder, but they weren’t afraid of her one little bit. If she’d been Belle they would have been cowering in their doggie boots.

  Bastards. Wasn’t she queen of the jungle? Weren’t they supposed to cower before her greatness?

  “Uh-huh.” Kincade eyed her with familiarity. “I don’t want to know. You’re Alpha Lowell’s problem now.”

  “Thank God,” one of the guards muttered.

  She snarled at the guards in general, since she wasn’t certain which of them had said that. None of them looked guilty or scared. In fact, all of them seemed remarkably relaxed and happy.

  “Hmph.” Charlie turned back to her cousin. “You need to meet Teddy.”

  “Teddy?” Ted said softly.

  “C’mere, Teddy.” She crooked her finger, smiling when he did as she asked.

  Kincade looked Ted up and down, seemingly unimpressed. “So he comes when called, huh? Does he sit and stay too?”

  She felt Ted stiffen next to her, just then realizing what she’d done to him. Ted had been so accommodating toward her she’d forgotten that he needed to be seen as strong by his Pack mates. “Ted’s the Marshall’s Second. Trust me, he’s a badass when he needs to be. I wouldn’t have mated him otherwise.” She grinned at Seb. “He beat me at wrestling the other day. Something you’ve never done.”