Protecting the Pack

by Tabitha Conall

  For a split second, she thought maybe she’d been mistaken. He had always taken care of her. Of course, this was just him taking care of her again. Then she remembered what the other guy in the kitchen had said—that they’d chosen her for Chris. That meant Brett had only approached her because of what she could do for them. It meant he was lying.

  But she couldn’t let him know that. She let her face soften, and reached out to cup his cheek. Her skin rebelled at touching his. “Of course I believe you. I just…it feels wrong to sleep with somebody else when I’m your girl.”

  He kissed the palm of her hand and she forced herself not to jerk away. “Of course you’re my girl. I just need you to do this for me. Once we’re in the pack, you’ll never have to do anything like this again.”

  She sat up, which allowed her to pull her hand back. “I guess I should shower.”

  His eyes turned bright. “You sure you don’t feel well enough for a goodbye fuck?”

  She barely caught herself from shivering. “Sorry. I’m going to be lucky if I can stay standing up in the shower.”

  Brett stood. “Give me a call later when you’re in.” He strode out of the room.

  How could he betray her like this? Had he been like this all along? Had she been blind? Or had he been so good at pretending that she couldn’t have known?

  She took a quick shower, her mind racing with everything she had learned. What she really needed to think about was what to take with her. Because she sure as hell didn’t want to try to come back later to collect her things. She couldn’t take everything or Brett would be suspicious. But she didn’t want to leave behind anything she couldn’t part with.

  She continued to think about it while she got ready the rest of the way. Then she gathered a few items in her purse. All of the sentimental things she owned were on her cell—her pictures, her phone numbers, voice mails from her parents from before she left. What she needed to take with her was clothes. And not much would fit in her purse. She finally broke down and shoved as much as she could into a backpack. If Brett saw it, she’d say she figured she’d need some things if she was joining the pack tonight. Worst case, she’d leave it behind. But it was worth a shot.

  In the end, he didn’t even come out to say goodbye. She tossed her stuff in her car and drove away, feeling her body deflating with every mile that grew between them. She’d made it.

  Now for the harder part—facing her mates.

  Alex drove to the bar. She didn’t expect either of them to be there on a Sunday morning, but she had no idea where else to look. If the bar was even open, the bartender might be able to point her in the right direction.

  She went inside, not surprised to see the place nearly empty. A couple of men sat in a booth, and the bartender stood at the bar cleaning.

  She walked to the bar. “Hi.”

  “What can I get you?”

  “I—actually, I was wondering if you know Chris? Chris Byers? The—” She almost said, “the Roanoke Alpha” but the bartender smelled human. And humans couldn’t know about them. “He’s here a lot. I just need to get in touch with him.”

  The man, an older guy about fifty, stared at her. “Yeah, I know him. And you are?”

  “I’m Alex.” She pushed her hair back and pulled at her shirt. God, he made her feel like she’d done something wrong. “He’ll want to talk to me. Maybe you could give me his number?”

  The man grabbed his phone and pressed a couple of buttons. “Hey, Chris. I’ve got a girl here, Alex. She’s looking for you.”

  Alex leaned forward a little, trying to hear the other side of the conversation, but he stepped away and with the music in the background, she couldn’t make out what Chris was saying.

  “You’re sure?” the guy said. After a pause, he said, “Okay.” Then he hung up. He turned to Alex. “Sit down. What do you want to drink?”

  “I’m not going to sit here and drink.” She could hear her voice rising. “I want to talk to Chris.”

  “He’s on his way. Told me to get you a drink and whatever else you wanted.”

  Butterflies erupted in her stomach. On his way. She wasn’t sure whether she felt excited or nervous or some sick combination of the two. She sat down on one of the stools. “Just a soda.” Maybe she’d throw up again, with the way her stomach was jumping. “Ginger ale.”

  ***

  She’d come looking for him. As Chris drove to the bar, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so nervous. He’d even gone and brushed his teeth again after Mike had called.

  “At least we’re not going to have to track her down.” Ben sat next to him. “Why do you think she came?”

  “She didn’t know how to reach either of us. So she took a shot that someone at the bar would know how to reach me.”

  “Yeah, but why? Do you think she realizes?”

  His heart went out to Ben. Such a strong wolf, turned into a little puppy by a girl. Alex better not be playing them. Chris wasn’t sure Ben could take much more. “She must feel the mating urge as much as we do.”

  “Do you…” Ben’s throat worked. “Do you think she slept with him?”

  Chris took a corner a little too fast. “Nah. You’ve heard the stories, right? How the mating urge makes the idea of even touching someone else sexually an excruciating experience?”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard that.” It didn’t sound like he believed it.

  “Even if she wanted to sleep with him, I don’t think she could.” Chris hoped all those stories were true. The thought of someone else touching his mate made him want to howl.

  As they turned into the parking lot, Chris spotted Alex’s car. “I feel this awful need to park her in.”

  Ben smiled, a mischievous light in his eyes. “I feel that need, too. But we shouldn’t. She came to us on her own. We should trust that she’ll stick around long enough to talk this out.”

  The logical, rational, human part of Chris’ mind agreed with him, which is why he pulled into the space next to hers. The wolf part of Chris’ mind wished they’d done more to make sure she couldn’t leave them again.

  When they opened the door, that delicious scent from the night before washed over them. Chris immediately got hard. Shit, he should have worn baggier pants.

  Alex turned toward them, pressing her lips together and holding one arm over her waist. But she didn’t bolt. Always a good sign.

  They were still several feet away from her. “Why don’t we get a booth?” Chris said. The bartender, Mike, knew about the wolves, but that didn’t mean Chris wanted him to hear all his business.

  Without answering, Alex picked up her soda and followed them. Chris hung back while Alex and Ben scooted into the booth facing each other, then Chris sat down next to Alex, effectively pinning her in. No way would he let her get away without talking this out.

  She didn’t say anything, just stared at her drink and traced patterns in the condensation on the side of the glass.

  Chris’ stomach wrenched. “Alex?”

  “I’m sorry.” She continued to stare at the soda. “I’m really sorry, I just—” A tear rolled down her cheek.

  Was she here to say goodbye? What was going on? Chris reached for her, but she pulled away immediately.

  “No,” she said. “I need to say this. I just don’t know where to start.”

  “Start at the beginning,” Ben said.

  “I think maybe I’ll start with what’s easier,” she said. “Brett…I guess I never knew him. I thought—” She glanced at Ben. “Well, that doesn’t matter.” She paused again. “He told us we needed a new home. He told us Roanoke pack was the best pack around, and that once we joined, we’d all be safe. But he said you wouldn’t want a bunch of wolves all joining in a group, so he wanted us to spread out and not join all at once. So we wouldn’t spook you. So you wouldn’t reject us.”

  So far, this matched what Chris had figured out.

  “That was all he told us. I thought…” She tipped her head to the side,
still staring at the glass. “I thought we were doing a good thing. Improving our lives. But it was all a lie.” She took a long breath. “I heard him this morning. Him and some other guy. They said they were going to challenge you and take over the pack. And then the other guy would challenge the Stonewall Alpha and then they’d own Marysburg.”

  Bingo. He knew it had to be something like that. He hadn’t guessed about Stonewall, though. He’d have to let Jake know ASAP.

  “I’m so sorry, Chris. I never meant to hurt you. I didn’t know.” Another tear rolled down her cheek.

  Her pain killed him. Chris took a chance and ran his hand down her hair. This time she didn’t pull away. He left his hand resting on her shoulder. Just touching her eased something inside him. And while the ever-present arousal still lurked in the background, most of his feelings had to do with the contentment just being with her brought. “It’s okay. We can fix this.”

  She swallowed. “He said they picked me for you.”

  Chapter 8

  Chris’ stomach jumped again. What?

  “Brett romanced me because they wanted me to seduce you, to distract you. And they think I’m your type.”

  He took a breath, trying to hold back the flood of conflicting emotions pounding at him. “You are my type.”

  Ben reached across the table and snagged her hand. “You’re my type, too. I wanted you the second I saw you.”

  “Brett never wanted me at all,” she said softly.

  Chris snorted. “Doubtful.” He cupped her cheek. “You’re gorgeous. He’d have to be gay to not want you. All the same, I’m damn glad you’re done with him.”

  “You are done with him, right?” Ben said.

  “Yes.” She didn’t meet their eyes. “I’m sorry I ran away.”

  “It’s okay.” Chris squeezed her shoulder.

  “Just don’t ever do it again. I don’t think I could take it,” Ben said. “He—uh—Brett. He didn’t touch you, did he?”

  She choked a laugh. “You mean last night? Yeah, he did. And I threw up.”

  Ben’s eyes, which had flashed to gold, went back to brown. “Threw up? All over him?”

  “Not quite. But it sure turned him off.”

  Chris stroked her hair. A warmth spread through him. “Yeah, well, vomit isn’t much of an aphrodisiac.”

  She laughed. “Happened again this morning. Perfect timing, too. I couldn’t figure out how to turn him down.” Pushing her glass a couple of inches, she said, “Ginger ale.”

  “You still feel like puking?” Ben’s hand played with hers.

  “No. Not at all. But I was a little nervous before you came.”

  “Me, too,” Ben said.

  “And me,” Chris admitted. He didn’t usually admit to weakness. But these were his mates. If he couldn’t trust them, he couldn’t trust anyone. “But now we’re together. For good. No one’s ever going to come between us again.”

  As the other two agreed with him, almost on cue, Dana walked through the door. She headed toward them but stopped short when she saw Chris playing with Alex’s hair. Dana’s mouth fell open.

  Shit. He’d forgotten all about Dana. And she hadn’t been one of the wolves out scouting for him, so she hadn’t been at the meeting that morning and his cryptic apologies the night before wouldn’t have told her anything—she didn’t know he’d found his mates. “Dana—”

  She turned and hurried out of the bar.

  He got out of the booth saying, “I didn’t tell her. I forgot. I’ll be right back.”

  Chris caught up with Dana in the parking lot where she leaned against her car, head bowed.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I found my mates. I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

  When she turned to look up at him, her eyes could have flayed him on the spot. “I didn’t find out like this. Tony called me and said he’d seen your mate this morning. He thought he was congratulating me, that I was your female. What the hell, Chris?”

  Oh, shit. He’d never for a second thought that when Alex didn’t show up at the meeting people would assume his mate was Dana. But he also didn’t remember ever naming his female mate. Stupid. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen like this. Everything’s just so up in the air right now.” He didn’t want to tell her about the rogue wolf pack encroaching on their territory. Knowing her, especially as angry as she felt, she’d tell everyone. And the last thing he wanted to do was panic his pack.

  “So you’re mated to that little bimbo. Instead of me. Me! Didn’t I put in enough time with you? Didn’t I stick by your side all these years?”

  “You know we don’t choose our mates.” If they did, he wouldn’t have chosen Alex. As hot as he found her, he still didn’t like the idea of mating jailbait. But he couldn’t tell Dana that, either. His loyalty had to lie with Alex. Now and forever. That didn’t mean he couldn’t lie a little, soften the blow. “You were a great girlfriend. I have no complaints, none at all. One day you’ll make someone an excellent mate.”

  She jabbed a finger at him. “We’re supposed to be mates.”

  “We have no control over that.” If they did, they’d doubtless choose the wrong mates, over and over. “I know you don’t want to hear this. But I’m not rejecting you. I’m not in control of this.”

  Dana took a long breath, tears gathering in her eyes. “I’ve waited all these years.”

  He almost reached out to her then pulled back. “You’ll find your mates. Females do. You’ll find them and then you’ll be glad you and I didn’t end up together, because you’ll know that those two men are the perfect men for you. No matter what you think right now, they’re more perfect for you than I am.”

  She started crying in earnest. He reached out this time, but she pushed his hand away. “Go back to your mates. I want to be alone.”

  He hated to see her in pain, but he couldn’t do anything for her. When she saw he wasn’t leaving, she got in her car. He could hear her sobs from behind the glass of the windows. She turned on the car and drove away.

  ***

  Ben continued to hold Alex’s hand after Chris ran off. He didn’t want to offend her when she had just spilled her guts, but he could barely keep the smile off his face. Everything was coming together—his mates, his pack, his life. He felt better than he had since he that challenger killed his father.

  He squeezed Alex’s fingers. “Let’s go home after this.” He couldn’t wait to get her into bed.

  “I don’t have a home anymore.”

  “Of course you do. Pledge yourself to Chris and then we’ll go to his place. Which is now our place.” He loved saying that.

  “I can’t just move in with two guys I don’t know.”

  “Why not? We’re mates. That’s what mates do. We live together and we make each other happy.” He kissed her fingertips.

  “Is sex all you think about?”

  “Tell me the mating urge hasn’t got you cranked up to full power. Go ahead, tell me.”

  She blushed. She actually blushed.

  He had to take advantage of this. Leaning forward, Ben said, “Imagine us going back to Chris’ house in a few minutes. Imagine my hands on your naked skin. I’m going to touch you and kiss you all over your body.” His cock, already hard, got even harder.

  She made a soft noise in her throat. “Stop.”

  “Why?”

  “We’re in public.”

  Yes. “Am I turning you on?”

  “What do you think?”

  “That’s not an answer.” He wanted to hear it from her.

  “Yes. So stop.”

  Ben smiled and leaned back, still holding onto her hand. “I’ll stop. For now.” He hoped Chris got back soon. Or Ben might just drag her to the back alley and have his way with her.

  She was his. His.

  He gazed at her for the next few minutes, until she squirmed and looked away. Even then, he could only bear to take his eyes off her for a few seconds. She was so beautiful. Maybe othe
rs wouldn’t agree, but he couldn’t imagine anyone more lovely.

  Ben knew when Chris came through the door from the tingles that raced across his skin. Would he always feel like this when his mates came into range? That was okay by him.

  Chris plunked down next to Alex.

  “How’d she take it?” Ben said.

  “Not well. She’s spent the last several years thinking the two of us were mates and we just needed to find our third. I didn’t think she was right but I didn’t bother arguing. And now this. Worse, someone who saw us together this morning assumed Dana was our third and called her to congratulate her. You can imagine how she took it.”

  Dana hadn’t struck Ben as being that warm a person. He couldn’t quite see her with Chris, except as arm candy. In which case, she was probably mostly upset about not dating the Alpha anymore.

  “Ohhhh.” Alex slipped her hand over Chris’ arm. “I’m sorry.”

  “Nothing for you to be sorry about,” Chris said.

  “I know. I just mean I’m sorry this happened.”

  Chris slid his hand over hers. “Nothing to be sorry about.”

  Alex frowned. Ben had the feeling his mates were speaking different languages. Except, he agreed with Chris. There wasn’t anything for Alex to be sorry about.

  Chris tipped his head and gazed at Alex. “What do you say? Can we go find someplace to get closer?”

  She blushed.

  “If you’re not ready, we can wait,” Chris said.

  The hell they could. Ben could barely hold himself back from crawling under the table, yanking off her pants and tasting that sweet nectar between her legs. And Chris wanted them to wait?

  “I’m okay,” Alex said. “I don’t need to wait. Unless you do.”

  Chris and Ben were already standing. Chris put his hand out to her. “Nope, don’t want to wait a second longer.”

  “Where are we going to go?” Ben said. “My hotel room? I haven’t checked out yet.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” Chris said. “We can’t go to my place.”

  “Unless she pledges fealty to you right now,” Ben said.

  Chris helped Alex out of the booth. “No,” he said.