Sorry, Charlie (Poconos Pack)

by Dana Marie Bell

  “Plus, I’ve seen her hold her own with my mate,” Rick interjected calmly. “She’s stronger than you give her credit for.”

  Ted nodded, his eyes comically wide, hoping Sebastian would lighten up a bit. “That woman is scary.”

  “She’s not that bad,” Charlie replied. “After all, she takes care of the Pack even though she’s in pain all the time.”

  “Trust me, you’ve never seen scary until you’ve seen our Luna mad at you.” Ted shuddered. “I’d rather get paper cuts all over my body, then sit in a vat of vinegar for an hour than make my Luna mad.”

  Sebastian laughed, but it died a quick death when none of the rest of them joined him. “Really? The tiny Barbie-doll blonde I met is that frightening?”

  “You have no idea, and I pray you never find out.” Ted sighed and took hold of Charlie’s hand. “I understand you’re worried about your sister, but she’s good. Hell, she’s better than good, she’s perfect, at least as far as I’m concerned. She’s got her shit together, man. You have nothing to worry about with her.”

  Charlie’s cheeks flushed bright red, but her chin remained high, that arrogant smirk still on her lips. “Damn straight.”

  “I’ve already talked to Kincade. It won’t happen again.” Sebastian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I admit, knowing Charlie is safe—” He held up his hand when Charlie snarled. “Whether you like it or not, I need to know that you’re protected. Not only are you my sister, but you’re the closest blood relative of the Leo. You could birth the next Leo, Charlie.”

  Charlie’s face paled. “Fuck that shit. I’m not going back to Sedona, even if my future child is a white Lion.”

  Sebastian nodded. “I know.” Sebastian smiled. “Even if you do give birth to the next Leo, I think raising him here, with Rick and Belle to help mold him and Ted to protect him—”

  “Or her,” Ted said, glancing at his mate.

  “Or her,” Charlie smiled back.

  Sebastian sighed. “Yeah, your cub will do just fine in the Poconos, no matter what shade his or her fur turns out to be.” Sebastian turned to Rick. “You need to be aware, however, that because she’s a Lowe there will always be a target on her back.”

  “The Senate can shove their manipulations up their collective asses,” Charlie growled. “They’ve tried for years to get me to do things to influence you, and I’ve always told them to shove it.”

  “But they could also try to persuade someone else near you, or try and use your cubs against you. You know that as well as I do. Your Pack leaders need to be aware of this so they can protect not only you but your mate and the rest of the Pack as well.” Sebastian put his hands on his hips. “Am I wrong?”

  Charlie sighed. “No, damn it. But what Kincade did crossed the line.”

  “It did, and it won’t happen again, like I said.” Sebastian grimaced. “He’s pissed because I got hurt and he wasn’t there to stop it from happening. He was too far back.”

  “He could have caught up to you easily, you know that.”

  “Shh.” Ted kissed the back of his mate’s hand. “It’s over and done with, right? I’ll be fine, Sebastian will be fine, and Kincade will do penance.”

  “Oh, he most definitely will. He didn’t tell me what he was up to until a few minutes ago.” Sebastian smiled evilly. “I’m thinking a stint with Uncle Harvey might be in order.”

  “Oh, jeez, don’t torture him. Just let him come in here and apologize and be done with it.” Charlie shivered. “Uncle Harvey is a creep.”

  “And a blowhard, and someone who needs protection every now and then.” Sebastian rubbed his hands together. “I’ll tell Kin he needs to keep a close eye on poor Uncle Harvey for, say, two weeks. That ought to do it.”

  “He’ll go nuts being that far away from you.” Charlie started to chuckle. “You’ll have him begging to come home within two days.”

  “Nah. I’ll send all his calls to voicemail. He can bet on that.” Sebastian looked around the room, blinking lazily. “I’ll get out of your hair, for now anyway.” He glanced at Rick. “I’m covering the medical costs on this.”

  Since he’d used his Leo voice on that last bit, Rick could do nothing but nod in acknowledgement. “Thank you.”

  “No. Thank you.” Sebastian clapped Rick on the shoulder. “You have a good, solid Pack with good people in it. You should be proud of what you’ve built.”

  Without an ounce of humility Rick replied, “I am.”

  “Kin and I are going to wait out front. We’ll buy you guys breakfast before heading back to the Lodge. No arguments.” Sebastian turned and walked out, leaving the rest of them staring after him.

  “I’d love some waffles,” Ted sighed. Damn. Now he was hungry. “Can I go now?”

  “No.” The doctor gave him instructions on wound care. “And you’ll have to come in for more shots.”

  “Yay.” Ted slid off the gurney. “Waffles now.”

  Charlie glanced at the doctor, who nodded. “Go. Get out of here. Make an appointment with your regular doctor to get the rest of the shots. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” The doctor walked out first, not even looking at them, muttering something about Wolves and drama.

  “I don’t think he liked us,” Ted said, still staring at the swaying curtains.

  Chapter Ten

  “So now what?” Sebastian leaned against the railing, his expression curious.

  Ted sipped the coffee Sebastian had handed to him the moment he arrived on the Leo’s porch. “We live?”

  Sebastian sighed. “I meant what I said, you know. There will be others who come here, hoping to manipulate her.”

  Ted grinned. “That’s what Pack is for. Trust me when I tell you that we can be the most annoying assholes on the planet when we want to. Hell, Belle alone could probably send them packing, whoever they might be. And she’d do it just because Charlie is her friend and no other reason.”

  “I’m starting to understand that.” Sebastian sighed. “I wish I had that, but the Leo doesn’t lead a Pride. That was dispensed with a century ago, when other shifters felt that they lacked his attention and that his Pride received it all.”

  “Maybe that’s a decision you should rethink.” Ted couldn’t imagine Rick without the Pack. “All Alphas are born to lead, you more than others. Having a Pride should put you more in touch with other Alphas, not less. I can totally see Kincade as your Beta or Marshal, too.”

  Sebastian shivered. “It’s something for me to think about, but the Senate would probably shoot the idea down.”

  Ted shrugged. “That’s your call, but I don’t see how you can let them dictate your Pride to you. They’re either yours or they’re not, and no one except the spirits can take that away from you.”

  “When my uncle trained me, he told me that I was to be the Alpha of Alphas, the supreme ruler. Having a Pride of my own would distract me from my duties no matter how powerful the pull might be. And he said it with this look of such sadness that I knew he’d given up almost everything to be the best Leo he could.” Sebastian smiled. “And he was a good Leo, right up until his mate’s death.”

  “He was Kincade’s father, right?” Ted was pretty sure from the way Kincade acted that he’d been raised by an Alpha. Hell, if not for his ties to Sebastian, Kincade might be an Alpha of his own Pride.

  Sebastian nodded. “Yeah, but my uncle was never disappointed that Kincade wasn’t the Leo. He told me he never wanted that life to impact Kincade. Kin was free in ways my uncle could only dream of.”

  Ted put his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Listen to me, okay? Get a damn Pride, even if it’s made up of all Alphas. Look at Kincade! If he wasn’t with you he’d totally be an Alpha of a Pride, and you know it. If the Leo is supposed to be the Alpha of Alphas, then be that. Shove their words back in their faces if they complain. Be what you were always meant to be.”

  Sebastian’s expression became faraway as he thought over Ted’s words. He just hoped he’d gotten
through to him. Sebastian was a good person. He deserved to have the things he’d longed for.

  “I’m glad my sister found you, Ted.” Sebastian’s smile was bittersweet. “I wish she were home, because I miss her something fierce, but if she has to be away from me I’m glad it was you who got to keep her.”

  Ted blinked. “Please tell me you don’t have Jamie Lannister feelings for her, because I’d have to bite you.”

  Sebastian gagged. “Ugh. No. That’s sick.”

  “Who’s Jamie Lannister?” Kincade’s deep voice caused Ted to turn around. The dark-haired Lion had his own cup of coffee. “Is he someone whose ass I need to kick?”

  “He’s a fictional dude who banged his sister and created tiny monster children with her.” Ted ignored Kincade’s frown. “Tell the Leo he needs his own Pride.”

  “You need your own Pride.” Kincade joined them at the bannister, staring out at the mountains in the distance. “You’ll need them if the rumors my men have been picking up are true.”

  Sebastian and Kincade exchanged a glance that worried Ted. “Is this something my Alpha needs to know?”

  Kincade shook his head. “Not yet. Not until I’ve got proof.”

  “Then I’ll alert the Alphas myself, but I promise you we only have rumors of some shenanigans that are beginning to piss me off.” Sebastian scowled at his coffee mug. “I might put Barnwell on this.”

  Kincade laughed. “Might as well. I hear Apollonia and Artemis are in town as well. They might give him a hand.”

  Sebastian’s grin was pure evil. “Then I definitely want Barnwell for this one. Get a hold of him for me, will you, Kin? If I know Barney, he’s already on the job.”

  Kincade grunted but didn’t move. “So. Charlie.”

  “I’ll take good care of her, I swear.” Ted wasn’t worried about his ability to physically protect his mate. And now that he had made nice with Sebastian Lowe he wasn’t too worried about her family.

  “I know you will.” Kincade winced. “I owe you.”

  Ted waved Kincade’s words away. “De nada.”

  “Don’t give me that. You saved my Leo when he was knocked out, Ted. That means something.” Kincade put his hand on Ted’s shoulder. “Listen, if you ever tire of this Second gig I’ve got a job for you in Sedona.”

  Ted thought about that, about leaving his beloved mountains, his Pack, his friends. “Never gonna happen.”

  “I thought not, but the offer’s open if you ever want to take it.”

  They all stared out at the mountains, watching the wind in the leaves and listening to the chatter of birds in the early morning air. There was a sense of peace Ted felt whenever he looked out at the greenery. The cabin had a beautiful view of the valley to the side of and below the Lodge, giving the impression that you could fall off into infinity and be swallowed by the land. He smelt the smoke coming from the cabin’s chimney, nearly overpowering the scent of bacon and eggs. “I don’t think I could breathe anywhere else.”

  Sebastian took a deep breath. “The air in Sedona is different, but I know what you mean. I love my home, the town and the red mountains in the distance. When you stop and really give yourself a second to breathe, you feel like you’re a part of something greater than yourself, like you could disappear into those mountains and become one with them.”

  “Exactly.” Ted finished his coffee. “Charlie and I wanted to know if you two would go horseback riding with us.” He’d discovered that his mate loved the horses here, enough that she’d told him she wanted one of her own. He was going to see if that was possible.

  “We’d love to.” Kincade put his mug down on the bannister and stretched. “After breakfast.”

  “Works for me.” Sebastian picked up Kincade’s empty mug and followed him into the cabin.

  Ted turned back to the landscape, enjoying the solitude, until someone joined him who would never break the peace he felt. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Charlie put her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Did they say yes?”

  “Mm-hmm.” He sighed happily, lost in everything he’d ever wanted and never thought possible.

  “Good. I want them to see some more of our home before they go.” Charlie leaned her head against his shoulder with a purr of contentment.

  “They told me it reminds them a little of Sedona, except their mountains are red and ours are green.” He tilted his head so that his lay on hers. “What do you think?”

  Charlie smiled smugly. “I like green.”

  “Red is good.” Ted pointed to some of his favorite trees. “Their leaves turn crimson in the fall. Those over there turn yellow. It’s like the forest has been painted with fire.”

  Charlie pointed to a pine. “But the green remains, even under the white. That’s something Sedona doesn’t have.”

  “Seasons?” Ted laughed when Charlie poked him in the side.

  “Ass.” But she was smiling as she said it, so that was okay.

  Holding Charlie like this, just quietly enjoying their morning together without drama, meant everything to him. He hoped more mornings would be just like this, peaceful and serene.

  “God damn motherfucking piss bucket!”

  Or not.

  Belle stumbled up the stairs, her cane catching on the top one and nearly sending the Luna to her knees. She managed to catch herself before falling, the snarl on her lips frightening to anyone who didn’t know her.

  “Are you all right, my Luna?” Ted let Charlie go with great reluctance. Turned out his Lioness was one hell of a cuddle buddy, and stopping to help Belle was almost physically painful.

  “I’m fine.” She smiled through gritted teeth. “I’m just going to kill your Alpha.”

  Uh-oh. “What did he do this time?” Ted was always amazed at the numerous ways his Alpha could piss off his Luna, half the time without even trying.

  She threw her hands up in the air. “I don’t know!” The cane came down with a loud thump. “He’s being sneaky and quiet. Hell, he brought me flowers.”

  Charlie started to laugh. “Yup, he’s up to something.”

  This time the Luna’s snarl was all cat, her eyes bleeding to gold. “It’s not our anniversary, so that’s out. We’re not pregnant, we’ve got everything under control as far as the Lodge goes, so what gives?”

  “Maybe he wanted to say I love you?” Ted shrugged away when the Luna hissed at him.

  Right. Time to play this another way and calm Belle the best he could. He grabbed his wounded shoulder and winced.

  Immediately her arched back—yes, she was that upset—straightened, the gold of her eyes bleeding back to jade green. “I keep forgetting you guys are wounded.” She scowled. “Maybe that’s why he’s acting so weird. He has rabies and doesn’t want to tell me.”

  Ted burst out laughing. “I think you’d know. Ben or Chela would tell you even if he didn’t.”

  “Not if he ordered them not to.” Belle shook herself. “No, that’s insane. He’s just being his usual crazy self. I’ll figure out what he’s up to.” She stared at the two of them. “Why are you two here, anyway?”

  “We came to see Seb and Kin, to see if they want to go horseback riding.” Charlie helped Belle to one of the Adirondack chairs on the deck. “You want me to get someone to help you back to the main house?”

  Belle stuck her tongue out. “Nah, I’m good. You two go back to making out, I’m calling Rick.” She pulled her cell phone out, pressed a key and held it to her ear. “Hey, Fido, guess where I am?”

  Charlie nudged Ted back. “Let’s give them some privacy.”

  His brows rose. “You have heard the two of them fight, right? It’s King Kong versus Godzilla in surround sound.”

  “And we know Kong always wins.” She glanced toward Belle. “See that smug smile? That’s a winner.”

  “Well, the kitty usually wins in cat versus dog.” Ted pulled her against him. “I’m smart enough to realize that, and dumb enough not to care.”

/>   Charlie slugged him in his uninjured arm.

  “Owie.” He rubbed the sore spot, pouting. “What was that for?”

  “Be nice or I won’t push treats off the counter for you.” She grabbed the arm she’d punched and snuggled against it. “And you know you like my treats.”

  “I thought I was being nice,” he muttered.

  “You need a keeper. Luckily, I’m just the woman for the job.” She gave him a gentle nudge.

  “Sorry, Charlie.” He kissed the top of her head. “I think we get to keep each other.

  “Hmm.” She tilted her face up to his. “I think I can live with that.”

  As he kissed his mate (ignoring the clapping from the male Lowes and the “Woo-hoo! Suck that face!” from his insane Luna), the only thing on his mind was the feel of his mate in his arms, right where she belonged.

  Epilogue

  Ted stood in the Pack’s meeting spot and shivered, despite the warmth of the day. What Rick was telling them was damn near impossible to process.

  “War?” Ben’s expression was concerned as he glanced around at the Pack members. None of them had seen this coming, and Rick had been holding it close to his chest for some time, it seemed. Since it hadn’t directly impacted the Pack, he’d chosen to keep silent, watching on the sidelines as things happened down in Halle, Pennsylvania that simply blew Ted’s mind.

  “Did you know about this?” Ted whispered to his mate.

  She shook her blonde head quickly, still watching the Alpha pair. “Belle never told me. Neither did Seb.”

  He grunted in acknowledgement, but he knew Belle had to know. Rick wouldn’t have kept his Luna in the dark over something so big. “Can we trust our Senator?” Ted asked. It was important for him, and the Pack, to know, because the Senators were the ones who laid down shifter law. If the Wolf Senator was in on this whole white shifter thing, then all of his rulings, his Alpha appointments-including Rick-could be brought into question.