by K. S. Martin
“I just had a really strong feeling that you were…what were you thinking just then?” Cami cheeks flushed crimson. “About licking me weren’t you?” Mike chuckled and raised the paper so they couldn’t see his face but Dylan knew he was laughing just like he knew what she’d been thinking. “Weird. I could almost feel your mouth on me.” Cami waggled her eyebrows and smiled broadly. “Think something else and let’s see if I can feel that too.” He turned back to his eggs and Cami concentrated squeezing her eyes closed. She drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly then thought about putting her mouth on his nipples. “Oh shit!” He jumped back from the stove shaking his hand. “Damn it that burned. Think about something less pornographic.” The paper was shaking in Mike’s hands and he could no longer contain the guffaws that burst out of him. “Shut it.” Dylan growled at him but grinned. Cami squeezed her eyes shut again and thought about Dylan’s wolf, about his soft fur, his massive frame and how good it felt to be dominated in her wolf form by him. When she opened her eyes, she was in her wolf and he was standing over her. “What the hell Cami?” Dylan was still a man and she was on the floor? She was never going to understand or get how to make things happen, when she wanted them to. “Shift back.” Dylan commanded her in the alpha tone that always made her obey. Cami was upright again.
“What do I look like?” He gave her a blank look. “When I’m a wolf, what do I look like?”
“You’re a pretty little tawny and silver wolf with green eyes sweetness. I’ll take your picture sometime, I think you’re gorgeous. Let’s eat. We’ll try again later.” Cami sat back on her stool and sipped her coffee while he got her plate ready. “Can you cook?” She shrugged.
“I wouldn’t starve but I’m no chef, that’s for sure.” In truth, she loved to tinker around in the kitchen almost as much as she liked to tinker under a hood. Cami soaked up cooking shows when she had the chance and memorized recipes she thought would be good. “Do you like Mexican food?” He nodded. “Okay, I’ll make you something later.” He nodded shoving eggs in his face.
“Are we going to see Henry this morning?” Mike asked not looking up but obviously waiting for an answer.
“Yeah.” Dylan grunted. He was not looking forward to this. He never wanted to be alpha, and the last thing he ever wanted was to challenge Henry. Henry was his father if not by blood. He watched over Dylan when he was young. He taught him, fed him, trained him, and protected him. Dylan’s only hope had always been to serve his alpha the way he deserved. Now, according to Junior, he would have to challenge Henry and challenge meant that one of them would have to die. He didn’t want to take Henry’s life because he loved him. His cell vibrated on the counter and he reached for it. “Damn.” Dylan swiped the face of the phone. “Yeah…I will…yeah shortly. Fifteen minutes.” He clicked off. “We’ve got to go.” Dylan put his unfinished breakfast in the trash and grabbed his keys. Mike and Cami followed him to the garage and piled into the SUV.
“What’s happening?” Cami asked from the passenger seat while she fastened her belt.
“I have to challenge Henry. He’s dying and if I don’t he’ll die without a successor.” Dylan complained.
“So?” Cami didn’t understand.
“It will be a huge fucking mess. Every werewolf for hundreds of miles will head for our pack and try to take it over. Sometimes they don’t live by the same rules, sometimes they can round up all females in the pack for themselves.” She gasped. “We don’t want that do we?” Her head shook. “Didn’t think so.” Dylan pulled into Henry’s yard a few minutes later. Junior’s truck was there and he was on the porch waiting.
“What the hell Dylan? You should’ve done this last night as soon as you got into town. Do you want to be alpha or not?” Junior stormed. Dylan brushed passed him with a snarl.
“Not.” Mike threw his hands up in surrender to Junior.
“Don’t look at me. I’m a beta through and through.” He grinned and loped after Dylan who had just slammed inside the house.
“Henry! Alpha of Fern Valley. I call you out and challenge you. You will accept your fate like the alpha you are and you will surrender your pack to me, Dylan Ellis, current beta, and next alpha.” Henry grinned up at him from the couch stifling a cough.
“Damn boy, it took you long enough. Now help me up and let’s get this shit over with. I got things to do.” Dylan’s chin quivered and he took a deep breath looking past Henry to the plaid wall paper in the kitchen that he’d help hang when he was seventeen. “None of that crap boy. You know that I love you and you know that Junior and I both want this. I couldn’t ask for a better replacement. You’ve been training for this ever since I’ve known you.” Henry coughed up blood into his fist and wiped it on his pants. He was wearing the navy blue work pants that he always wore. “You know we have to do this and it’s about time that you stood up like a man and put me out of my misery. You take care of that little she-wolf too. Make her your world Dylan.” Dylan nodded and wiped his eyes then hugged Henry trying not to squeeze the breath out of him. “Go on out in the yard boy and I’ll be there in a second.” Dylan nodded and turned to push passed Junior. He passed Mike outside on the porch. There were more than a few pack members gathering, a lot of them lived pretty close by and could sense that something was about to happen. Cami watched them all, she knew a lot of the guys that hung out in the bar but not most of the women who were eyeing her suspiciously. Wolves were territorial and Cami was a new female which meant competition for the males to the unmated females. Cami was mated though so they didn’t have a lot to worry about she thought. Besides, from the way she heard it, most of them had already had their chance with Dylan. So it was her that should be pissed not them. Dylan stepped up to her and kissed her.
“This will be over soon and if you don’t want to watch, you don’t have to. I love you.” He murmured the last part against her ear. Cami hugged him to her. “Be right back sweetness.” He drew every ounce of bravery that he had and turned to wait for Henry. The porch screen door swung open and Henry stepped outside.
“Who challenges the alpha of Fern Valley?” Dylan was about to answer when Pete pushed through the crowd.
“I do.” Pete snarled and looked around, his eyes nearly glowed. “I challenge you.”
“What the hell Pete?” Mike shoved him hard. Pete stumbled sideways. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing? This is Dylan’s job not yours.” Mike snarled and growled. Cami bit her bottom lip. This was awful, and getting scary. She looked up at Dylan. He would never take orders from Pete, would he? Cami wasn’t sure how she felt about this. Dylan was going to be the alpha, wasn’t he? Or was she mated to a man who would always take orders? No. Dylan didn’t take orders. She didn’t think he would take orders from anyone besides Henry. Pete sucker punched Mike in the back of the head when Mike looked to Dylan for direction. Mike crumpled to the grass. His head would need ice later, quick healer or not, that was going to hurt when he woke up. Cami saw Shari smiling maliciously at the crowd and then saw Junior watching Shari from his place by the porch rail. He did not look pleased. He’d said that she was trouble. It looked like she’d talked Pete into doing something stupid. Shari was getting closer to the crowd and closer to Dylan. If she tried to interfere and hurt Dylan, Cami was going to rip her head from her shoulders. The crowd was growing larger and nervous. She looked around at the anxious faces. These wolves did not want Pete in charge either. Cami could hear the tense growls. Pete was shifting to wolf and snarling at Henry who looked to Dylan in confusion. Dylan shrugged. It was a challenge and there was nothing any of them could do about it.
“As his beta, I accept your challenge.” Dylan boomed and shifted. Pete whirled on Dylan and the crowd backed up.
“What’s happening?” Cami said to no one in particular. Betty appeared by her side and grabbed her hand then squeezed.
“Oh Betty, thank goodness. Please tell me what this is?” Betty put her arm around Cami.
“Pete has challenged the a
lpha, Dylan as Henry’s beta is obligated to protect his alpha since the challenge wasn’t yet accepted by the alpha. Dylan is Henry’s right hand man and he doesn’t think that such a pesky wolf should bother his alpha when Dylan can handle him, no problem. Pete isn’t worth the alpha’s time, only the most difficult jobs are handled by the alpha, his time is important. Small problems are handled by other pack members when they can be.” She smiled at Henry. “Henry is a very busy wolf, and highly regarded by the pack. Pete is the lowest of the betas. Now tell me who that nasty looking she-wolf is over there?” Betty pointed at Shari. Cami explained how she and Pete mated the night they met and Pete brought her here. Dylan’s larger wolf was still circling Pete, his hackles were up, and he looked ferocious. Cami shivered. Pete was smaller but his huge teeth were gleaming in the sun shine. He dove suddenly for Dylan who caught his throat easily and ripped a patch of skin away. Pete yelped. Dylan snarled and Cami chewed on her thumbnail with her brows knitted tightly over her nose. Pete was bleeding but circling again. White foamy spittle was gathering at the corners of his mouth and his chest heaved with exertion. Dylan still looked perfect which made Cami feel a little better. He started toward Dylan again and Dylan nipped his ear, Pete yelped in pain when part of it tore away. Dylan rolled it out of his mouth and snarled viciously at Pete. It was a warning to give up or die. Cami understood it perfectly even though she’d only shifted twice. Betty was squeezing her waist again. Pete charged going for Dylan’s throat. Dylan twisted in the air and took Pete down to the grass hard. The air whooshed out of him then gurgled from Pete’s lungs. Dylan’s jaws sank into his soft throat and blood pooled there. Pete whimpered and closed his eyes. Dylan closed his eyes in remorse at having to kill Pete and in that instant, Shari charged forward. Her large red wolf intent was on killing Dylan. Cami broke free from Betty’s grasp and put her hands up.
“No!” Cami wailed. Shari was thrown back onto her butt in her human form. The crowd gasped and backed away from Cami, some turned and ran. Pete shifted back to his human form, his dead human form. Dylan howled at the loss of his friend and was joined by his pack brothers and sisters that hadn’t run away. After a moment Dylan shifted back to himself, still kneeling, eyes still closed. His breath huffed out.
“I’m sorry Pete. I loved you like a brother.” Mike was beside him suddenly helping him to his feet. Cami stood on his other side.
“She was going to interfere.” Dylan nodded.
“Good job.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Go stand with Betty, sweetness.” Dylan heard the murmurs around him. “Her name is Cami Montgomery Ellis, she’s my mate, and yes she has some powers that we aren’t sure of yet but she won’t hurt you.” Dylan spoke soothingly to the crowd. Cami could feel the anxiety leave the crowd of nervous wolves.
“Cami is a good girl, ya’ll don’t need to be nervous. She is a welcome member in this pack. I have accepted her, as have Mike and Dylan. I suggest you all welcome her with open arms.” Henry’s voice rumbled over the crowd and they nodded then lowered their heads in submission to the alpha.
“You still have to challenge the Henry Dyl.” Mike said looking up at Henry barely standing beside Junior, Dylan nodded.
“I challenge you Henry for the position of alpha.” Dylan called to him.
“You are deemed a worthy challenger Dylan. I accept.” Dylan waited, head bowed for Henry to enter the circle. Mike pulled Pete’s body from the challenge area and knelt beside him. He whimpered and wiped his eyes but stayed beside Pete. Shari was backing away from the crowd trying to disappear until Junior was beside her. Cami couldn’t hear what he was saying but she nodded then showed him her throat. Whatever Junior said, she had just given him her complete submission. Henry circled Dylan now. He was a huge silver wolf who didn’t look like he’d ever been sick a day in his life. Seeming larger and more powerful than Dylan, Cami was suddenly afraid for Dylan. She could stop it at any time with her power but Dylan wouldn’t want her to interfere in his challenge and neither would Henry. The wolves circled each other but Henry tired quickly. He used the last of his strength to lunge at his challenger. Dylan easily over took him. Henry rolled to his side and Dylan sank his teeth into Henry’s neck waiting for Henry to pass. Henry growled then groaned. Dylan fell down beside him and whimpered as Henry turned back into his dying human form. Tears fell from many pack members’ eyes. Cami tried unsuccessfully to stifle her sob. Her mate was hurting and now so was she. She could feel his pain, his sorrow, and his loss. Dylan stayed there for several minutes and Cami saw that the crowd was on their knees with their heads bowed. Betty nudged her and nodded toward the grass. Cami pursed her lips and dropped to her knees. She didn’t want to bow, she wanted to comfort him. Cami shifted to her wolf and went to her mate. She nuzzled his face and licked him. Another chorus of howls echoed through the valley. He got to his feet and licked her muzzle. Junior came toward them then.
“Thanks Dyl.” Dylan stood up as a man and lifted his chin.
“This was your responsibility Pup. I don’t want to see you around here again. Take the bitch with you.” Dylan glanced at Shari. Junior snarled at her but nodded his compliance. “Staying for the funeral?” Junior nodded again. “Okay. That’s acceptable. You can stay here.”
“Thanks, Dyl.” Junior wrapped his arms around Dylan. The two hugged then parted going their separate ways.
“What happens now?” Cami asked on the way to the SUV. Dylan blew out a breath. Mike climbed into the backseat.
“Dylan is the alpha. He is responsible for discipline, helping anyone that needs it, pack protection, settling disputes and about a million other annoying things. No more partying, or chasing women.” That got a sharp look from Cami but Dylan just reached over and patted her thigh. “And I’m the new number one beta, which means I get to party and chase the women now.”
“What’s changed?” Dylan scoffed.
“Well, now I’m more of a catch. You’re mated, so no competition.” Mike grinned at Dylan in the mirror.
“Asshole.” Dylan muttered. Mike laughed almost as loud as Cami.
Chapter 9
Henry’s funeral was short and sad. He wouldn’t have wanted a long drawn out affair. Henry was a simple man and a lot of hoopla would’ve pissed him off. Cami didn’t know him but she cried just the same. He was laid to rest in a suit at Junior’s request and even though it didn’t sit right with Dylan, he let Junior have his way. If it was up to Dylan, Henry would be wearing navy blue work pants and a white button down shirt. Junior gave the eulogy and Betty sang a song that made everyone cry. Pete’s funeral was just as simple and over just as quickly. Junior took Shari to his truck as soon as Pete’s funeral ended. Dylan had a reception for everyone at Betty’s diner after the funeral. Cami and Betty served. It was their way of helping Dylan. Cami watched him comfort his pack members, his family. Dylan had a way about him that soothed even the most ruffled feathers. He may not have wanted this but he was good at it. The responsibility may make him uneasy deep down but he was handling all of it perfectly. Dylan was the sexiest man she’d ever met and she couldn’t wait to get her hands and her tongue on him. His head whipped around at her, his eyes alight with wolf. Cami’s breath hitched and she felt light and giddy all at once. That look, the way his muscles flexed, and the way he was moving toward her now, like she was prey had her aroused beyond belief. “Outside now.” Dylan said in her ear quietly but with such command she turned to quivering mush. “Darlin’.” Cami sighed and hurried out of the glass door and onto the sidewalk.
“What’s up?” She nearly bounced with anticipation.
“Come on.” He took her elbow firmly and tugged her around the corner of the restaurant out of sight of people on Main Street. “You can’t think things like that around me when we’re in public.” Was he scolding her? She’d hoped for a kiss and maybe to have his hands on her for a few minutes.
“What things?” She bit the inside of her cheek.
“That you want me like that, that powe
rfully. It’s a real turn on Cami and its damned difficult not to just throw you down and fuck you in the middle of the diner.” He took her hand and put it on his huge erection. Her mouth made an ‘o’.
“I can’t help what I think Dylan. It just pops in there and I can’t help it if I want you. A lot.” Cami stepped toward him and he grabbed her arms holding her away from him. She pouted.
“I love you sweetheart but if I touch you right now, we won’t leave this alley tonight. Can you try not to think about it? Try to think about other stuff when we’re out okay? I don’t know who else can hear your thoughts. You’re kind of broadcasting them.” He chuckled at her horrified face. “I don’t think that anyone else can hear them like I can but we don’t know for sure so try to think about engines or flowers.” She made a face. “Okay, think about the five hundred horse powered goat in my garage. Think about how the engine fits together, how the cylinders will sound when fired, how many steps there are to take it apart. Think about accepting it as your birthday present. Think about how she will feel growling under you when you finally drive her. That should keep you occupied for awhile.” She nodded and he pressed his lips to hers chastely. “Good girl. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She murmured and followed him back inside. He was going to give her the GTO! It was the wrong thing to put in her head at a funeral reception. It was so hard to contain the smile that kept curving her lips. The GTO!
Dylan spent the rest of the afternoon calming and soothing pack members that wandered in and out of the diner. Frankie came in and hugged Cami. Dylan was instantly at her side.
