“I think that’s the last of Keith,” Ben said. “But we haven’t seen Brett yet. Unless he’s a total coward, he’ll come forth to issue a challenge himself.”
“No.” Alex put the first aid kit back together. “No, this has to be over.”
“I agree with Ben.” Chris tied his shoes. “Brett’ll show his face. Then it’ll be over. In the meantime, we need to keep our promise to Keith. Ben, could you call in an anonymous tip to the cops about Keith’s cocaine stash?”
“My pleasure,” Ben said.
Chris pushed to his feet, keeping his face blank to hide the pain. He slung an arm around Alex’s shoulders. “Let’s go.”
Thank God she didn’t argue, just let him walk beside her, leaning on her a little. He didn’t want to appear weak in front of his pack. He loved his pack but he knew some of them had dreams of being Alpha one day. Challenging him when he was weak would be their best chance. So he couldn’t be weak. Ever.
When they reached the car, he purposely waited. Let his pack mates think he did it so they could congratulate him. The truth was he didn’t want them to see him hand the keys to Ben. But no way did he want to drive home with his right leg throbbing.
As the last car left the lot, he pulled his keys out of his pocket. “You drive.”
Ben grabbed the keys. Alex helped Chris into the back seat then climbed in beside him on the other side.
“You’re hurting worse than you’re letting on,” she said.
“Yeah.”
“We could call the pack doctor.” Alex helped him fasten his seat belt.
“They can’t know,” Chris said. “You can take care of me. You’ve done fine so far.”
“I understand,” Ben said.
Ben would. Chris still shuddered when he thought of everything his mate had gone through. He better than anyone would understand why Chris needed to project strength at all times.
“Well, I don’t. You’re injured and I’m not a doctor.”
Chris leaned over to kiss her. “‘’Tis but a flesh wound.’ But you’re right. Have you ever considered med school?”
“Med school?” she sputtered.
He kissed her again. “You can be my own private doctor.”
“And mine,” Ben said. “I want some of that action, too.”
Chris sat back, contentment stealing over him. Brett would come when Brett would come. But for now, he had his mates and he was happy. “All joking aside, what do you want to do?” He ruffled the tips of Alex’s hair. “With your life.”
* * *
How was Alex supposed to answer that? “I don’t know.”
“Surely you have dreams. What did you want to do before you met Brett?” Chris said.
She hadn’t known. She’d liked school okay but had no idea what she wanted to do for a career. “I don’t know. My parents wanted me to go to college. Dad said I’d figure it all out there. Papa thought I should be a teacher.”
“What do they think about your finding your mates?” Ben said.
Aw, shit. She’d told Chris she and her parents were estranged, but she’d never told Ben. Guess she’d have to do that now. “They don’t know. We don’t speak.”
“But they’re alive,” Ben said.
“Yes.”
He twisted in his seat and looked at her for a second before turning his attention back to the road. “How can you not talk to them? I’d give anything for my parents to be alive again.”
“They don’t want me, okay?” The word came out sounding whinier than she’d wanted. “They haven’t spoken to me since I left with Brett.”
Chris ran his hand through her hair then let it rest on the back of her neck. “Have you called them?”
“A few times, at first.” After a while, it had hurt too much to keep trying.
“You could try again,” Chris said.
“They won’t pick up. And I feel so pathetic leaving messages. They never call back.”
“Just call once,” Ben said. “Do they even know where you are now?”
“They have my cell number.” She’d gotten a new cell after she moved out, but she’d given them the number the last time she called.
“Just call them,” Ben said. “Tell them where you are and that you’ve found your mates. Maybe when they know you’re not with Brett anymore, it’ll make a difference.”
She wanted to see her parents so bad. But it hurt every time they rejected her. She didn’t know if she could do it or not.
Chris rubbed his thumb up and down the side of her neck. “Just think about it. There’s time.” He shifted in his seat, pulling her closer to him. “Now. You said your dad wanted you to be a teacher. Do you want to be a teacher?”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“There’s a community college here in Marysburg, and several excellent schools in Virginia,” Chris said. “You could take classes in Marysburg for a couple of years, figure out what you want to study, and then transfer somewhere else.”
“As long as it’s close enough to commute,” Ben said. “I don’t even want to think about those horny college boys drooling all over you.”
Chris popped Ben lightly on the head. “What he means is, we’d miss you too much if you moved somewhere for school, so we’d like you to commute.”
Ben rubbed his head. “Yeah. That’s what I meant.”
“You do realize those college boys would stop drooling as soon as I threw up all over them,” Alex said.
With a grin, Ben said, “Oh, yeah. Forgot about that.”
Alex curled closer to Chris. “That sounds like a good plan. I’ve been thinking I wanted to go to school but we’ve been on the road so much it wasn’t possible.”
“And now it is.” Chris kissed the top of her head.
Ben pulled into the driveway to Chris’ house. “How tired are you?”
“Not too tired to get rid of this hard-on,” Chris said.
“Chris!” Alex smacked his chest.
“What? It always happens after a challenge. I can’t help it.”
Ten minutes later, they limped into the master bedroom.
* * *
Ben figured they wouldn’t have to wait long for Brett’s challenge. What still confused him was why he’d even bothered to send Keith in the first place. Maybe they were trying to soften Chris up, injure him, before Brett had to fight him. But Keith hadn’t hurt him that bad. A temporary injury at best, and one that would quickly heal. Keith had failed.
So it seemed like Brett wouldn’t wait; he’d want to strike while Chris’ injury might still give him some advantage. While they made dinner the next night, Ben told Chris that, but it didn’t make a difference.
“I’m healing quickly,” Chris said.
“All I’m saying is, we skip going to the bar for one night. The pack will understand—we’re newly mated. They’ll figure we’re fucking like bunnies. And as long as we’re on pack territory, Brett can’t challenge you.”
“I like that idea.” Alex hugged Chris from behind. “Especially the bunny part.”
With Alex on Ben’s side, maybe Chris would come around. “No one would blame us for taking a night for ourselves.” Ben wanted Chris safe. Why couldn’t he see that?
“It’ll make me appear weak. Like I’m hiding.” Chris stirred the pasta in the pot. “Or they’ll think I’m injured too badly to come out in public. I can’t have that.”
Ben touched Chris’ arm. “Did you ever think your pack might have your back? They know how strong you are. Hell, you flattened Keith without breaking a sweat then you stood there like some kind of statue while Alex patched you up. You didn’t even flinch. No one thinks you’re weak. They think you’re invincible.”
“And you know what the invincible reigning hero always does,” Alex said. “He goes home and fucks like a bunny.”
Chris’ mouth pulled to the side like he was fighting a smile. “You might have a point.”
“So we can stay home tonight?” Ben said. “Hang ou
t, maybe watch some TV?”
“What happened to fucking like a bunny?” Chris pulled plates out of the cabinet. “If there’s not going to be any fucking, I might as well go to the bar.”
“Oh, I see.” Ben knocked Alex with his elbow. “He just wants us for our bodies.”
“Damn straight.” Chris strained the pasta.
“I’m okay with that,” Alex said. “Seeing as he brings such a nice body to the table himself.”
“There is that.”
“You two could help.” Chris pulled a serving bowl out of another cabinet. “Set the table and take out the plates.”
Alex grabbed the stack of plates and headed for the kitchen table. “Just like my mother.”
With a jolt, Ben realized he hadn’t eaten in someone’s home like this since the last time he’d eaten with his parents. But instead of feeling sad, he felt like he’d finally come back to life. He understood now why mom didn’t want to live after her mates had been killed. He couldn’t imagine living without Chris and Alex, either.
But he didn’t have to. They were together, happy, and they would stay that way.
Ben opened several drawers and finally found the silverware. By the time he had laid them out, Alex had added napkins and Chris had brought the pasta and sauce over to the table.
Ben stood beside his chair. “We’re really a family.”
Chris rubbed Ben’s neck, brushing his thumb across Ben’s jaw. “We really are.” As they all sat down, Chris said, “Speaking of family, how soon do we want to start popping out babies?”
Alex choked on the water she’d been drinking.
“Careful, there.” Chris slapped her on the back.
“I’d like to finish college first,” she said.
“This is the problem with our age differences,” Chris said. “I’m already thirty-five. I’m ready to have kids now.”
“I’m okay with waiting,” Ben said. “But I can see Chris’ point. What if we agreed to do most of the work so you could continue college?”
Alex scooped pasta onto her plate. “So you’re going to carry the baby, deal with morning sickness and hormonal changes, lug my body across campus even when I’m five feet wide and then go through the joys of childbirth for me?”
“Well, not those parts,” Ben said.
“What if we timed it so you had the baby during the summer break?” Chris said.
Alex paused, looking at him. “So you’re saying I should be most pregnant during the hottest months of the year…in Virginia.”
“When you put it that way—” Chris said.
“Listen.” Alex ladled sauce onto her pasta. “Let me think about it a little. So far none of this sounds good to me, but if you’re serious about doing most of the feeding and staying up all night and changing diapers and all of that, then maybe I can figure something out.”
“Our cubs will be beautiful,” Chris said. “Just like you.”
“Well,” Alex said. “When you put it that way…”
* * *
The next morning when Chris got to work, a wolf stood outside the door waiting for him. Keith and Mad Dog stood next to him. Chris’ workplace was in neutral territory. He was a sales rep working on commission at a company selling athletic equipment.
The new wolf, a lanky dark-haired male wearing a black leather jacket, sauntered toward him. “You didn’t show up at the bar last night, Chris. Scared? Or licking your wounds?”
Chris stood up a little taller and made himself look more imposing. “Brett, I presume.”
Chapter 14
The wolf tilted his head in acknowledgment.
“Listen, Brett, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m newly mated. What do you think I’ve been doing?”
Brett’s jaw tightened. Probably thinking about Alex. And Alex in bed with Chris and Ben. Good.
Brett stepped up to Chris. “Chris Byers, I challenge you.”
Looked like Ben was right. Brett had been waiting at the bar for them the night before in order to challenge him. “I accept your challenge.”
“The place I choose is the farm, same place as Keith’s fight,” Brett said.
Damn it. What the hell was it with them and the farm? And how was he supposed to explain two “parties” so close together to his tenant? He’d choose a late time again. That would at least help reduce accidental visitors. “Tomorrow night. Eleven o’clock.”
Brett winced theatrically, getting his whole body into it. “Keith said you liked the late night stuff. How come, Chris? Hoping I’ll be too tired to fight?”
“I’ll tell you as soon as you tell me why you insist on having the fight at my farm instead of at the park in town.”
“Onlookers, Chris. The park is right in town. Anyone could see us.”
“Same reason I want it late. So my tenants don’t wander over to see why I’m using part of the land they’ve legally leased from me. You agree to switch to the park and I’ll agree to an earlier time.” Chris mentally crossed his fingers.
“So sorry, Chris. We really want to do this out of the way. So it’s gotta be the farm.”
“Then it’s gotta be eleven o’clock.” Chris settled his gaze on Keith. Nick had told him Keith had been carted away by the cops. Someone must have posted bail. “Out of jail so soon?”
“You bastard.” Keith started toward him, but Mad Dog held him back.
Chris stood his ground. “Uh-uh-uh. Don’t want an assault charge added to your record.”
Keith sneered. “Pretty soon you’ll be dog meat. Then we’ll see who’s sorry.”
Chris ignored Keith, looking instead at Brett. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” He deliberately walked past them into the building, showing that he wasn’t afraid of them and hoping they wouldn’t jump him when his back was turned.
When he got inside, he called Ben. His mate didn’t have a job yet, so he was able to take a couple of hours to call everyone who needed to know. Chris would have to call his tenant himself. He dreaded the phone call. His tenant, Bill, hadn’t sounded happy the first time. How much would it take before Bill dragged Chris into court again and cost him a bunch of money?
He finally pulled himself together and called. This time he didn’t mention a party, just asked if he could use the fallow field again.
“I could say no,” Bill said. “You can’t force me to let you.”
Chris gritted his teeth. Couldn’t force him? He could force him. “I know this is highly irregular.” He wouldn’t beg, damn it. And he wouldn’t apologize.
After a pause, Bill said, “What is it you want it for?”
“A get together that’s too big for my house,” Chris said. That was the truth.
“And how many times is this going to happen?”
Chris’ wolf grumbled. This peon of a human had no right to question him. “This should be the last time.” Damn well better be.
“Fine. Just see that this doesn’t happen again, or I’ll have to talk to my lawyer.”
“Thank you.” Even thanking this man went against the grain.
“All right, then,” Bill said.
They signed off. For this, if nothing else, Chris would wring Brett’s neck. And for hitting Alex—well, Chris would demolish him.
At lunchtime, he met Alex and Ben at The Weeping Widow. They squeezed into a booth with Alex in the middle. Chris put his arm around her shoulders and instantly felt some of his tension slip away.
“How’s your leg?” Ben said.
“Much better.” Chris might be exaggerating a little, but Ben didn’t need to know that.
“How do you think it’ll be by tomorrow night?” Alex threaded her fingers through his, where his hand rested on her shoulder.
“Good as new.” And that was a total fabrication. But maybe the positive thinking would help.
Alex rested her head on his shoulder. “He’s lying to us.”
“I know,” Ben said.
Chris wasn’t used to people calling him on stuff like th
at. “You just assume I’m lying?”
“I dressed your wound the other night.” Alex squeezed his fingers. “I know enough to know you haven’t healed all the way.”
“I can do one better,” Ben said. “I saw you dressing it this morning. It looked better but no way was it healed. And it won’t be healed by tomorrow night, either. He’ll go after your leg. So we need to find some way to protect it.”
“Put a big bandage around it. Something thick enough he can’t bite through it.” Alex said.
“That would display weakness. Even worse than having a weakness is displaying it.” Ben leaned his elbow on the table. “Maybe we can numb the area.”
Chris listened to them, feeling slightly amused. Not that it wasn’t deadly serious, but it was funny to hear them talking about him as though he wasn’t there. That didn’t happen often.
“Like with an anesthetic? Won’t that just mean he doesn’t feel it when it gets injured even worse?” Alex said.
Ben tapped the table. “Exactly. It’s not like he can back out of the fight. So the next best thing is to keep him from feeling the pain so he can keep fighting as hard as he needs to. After it’s over and Brett is a bloody puddle, we can put Chris back together again.”
“A bloody puddle?” Chris said.
“Please don’t tell me you’re going to do any less to him. If he’s not a bloody puddle at the end, I might have to step in and finish him off after you’ve won.” Ben cracked his knuckles. “On the other hand, that sounds like fun.”
They all knew he was kidding. Pack law wouldn’t allow Ben to fight Brett unless Brett won the challenge. Which he wasn’t going to do.
The waitress arrived and they ordered.
After she left, Chris said, “I’m all for anesthesia as long as it won’t cause delays in my reaction time or a reduction in my strength.”
“We can’t do anything about the delays and weakness caused by the injury itself, but we’ll find something that will numb it without making things worse,” Ben said. “One problem. The best person to talk to would be the pack doctor. And I’m guessing you don’t want us to do that.”
Fated Mates: The Alpha Shifter Boxed Set (12 Book Bundle) (Insatiable Reads) Page 107
