by Fel Fern
“The Alpha wants to meet the brothers.”
He blew out a breath. “And I’m guessing Santino and Sabine will be there with him? Way to go to scare off Jack and Glenn right off the bat.”
“Well, consider it an Alpha’s concern for one of his enforcers.” Joe grinned, then the other enforcer’s expression turned serious. “Months ago, Deacon would have never given Theo and me a chance after Theo made an attempt on Daryl’s life. He’s changed, Max. There’s no reason he’ll reject Jack or his brother.”
“Why this meeting then?”
“He’s curious about the brothers’ abilities. If Jack really is your mate, then having a seer will be beneficial for the pack, no? It’s not just that, I’d like to see you happy for a change, too.”
“Jack is my mate,” he confirmed, relaxing a little. “I’ll bring Jack and Glenn to Deacon.”
* * * *
“Are you sure we’re just meeting the Alpha and this isn’t an execution?” Glenn whispered to Jack.
They were both seated in the backseat of Max’s truck. Jack would have preferred to ride shotgun, but his brother needed some reassurance.
“You do know that shifters have awesome hearing, right?” Max sounded amused behind the wheel. “And don’t worry, I’m not letting anyone harm you both. Deacon just wants to hear your story, from your own lips.”
Glenn shot him a wary look, and they drove in silence for a while. Jack leaned forward, blinking a few times as the scenario changed. Trees still bordered either side of the truck, but up ahead, he spotted a few buildings.
“Is that a town?” he blurted. Glenn peered out the front windows, as well, his eyes wide as he traded a look with Jack.
“Yeah, shifters like living surrounded by nature, but we have other paranormals, Espers, and also humans here,” Max said. They passed by a grocery store, a bookstore, and even a movie house. Max parked his car in front of what looked like a cozy little inn. They got out of the car and Jack noted they managed to generate a few stares from the townsfolk.
Max must have noticed his apprehension, because he walked behind Jack and gave his shoulders a reassuring squeeze. He didn’t know why Max’s touches soothed him. “Don’t worry about the looks. Up until recently, we usually don’t welcome outsiders.”
Jack did remember Max mentioning that.
“What’s going on between you?” Glenn finally asked, narrowing his gaze.
“Let’s just say, I’m interested in your brother,” Max said, cocky grin on his handsome face.
“In what way?” Glenn ventured.
“Glenn, I’m an adult,” Jack said. “Besides, we have more important things to do.”
Glenn sighed, nodded. “You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just, I still can’t believe we managed to make it out alive.”
“It’s going to be all right,” he told his brother.
The inn had a sign outside which read ‘Honey Bee’. Max pushed the front doors open, letting them inside. Max seemed to know the old woman at the reception desk, because she beamed at him, then to Jack and Glenn.
“The Alpha’s in the dining area. No one will bother your meeting,” the old lady said. The hairs on his arm rose a little, telling him this woman wasn’t human, but her smile seemed genuine. “I’ll be right there to take your orders, if you’re hungry.”
They passed the reception area and entered a restaurant. The scent of freshly brewed coffee hit his nose, as well as waffles. His stomach rumbled, and despite his nerves, he realized he could eat. True to the old woman’s words, the tables and chairs were empty, save one, dominated by one huge titan of a man with black eyes and hair.
Even at a glance, Jack knew this was Deacon Becker, the Alpha of Max’s pack and the leader of the Devil Hills community. Deacon gave off the same aggressive energy Max did, but maybe three times more amplified. The Alpha had a plate of breakfast in front of him—waffles, eggs, bacon, and a pile of sausages. Glenn gave him nudge in the shoulder, and he followed Glenn’s gaze.
Another huge man appeared from the kitchens, holding a cup of coffee in one hand, with dark brown hair and striking silver eyes. He knew without a doubt this was Santino, and he nearly missed it, but he saw a white wolf by the window, with the same silver eyes, watching them. Max mentioned Deacon had two other enforcers with him, but something about the Alpha and the two with him told him they were the last people in the world he wanted to cross.
“Have a seat,” Deacon said, gesturing to the three empty seats in front of him. “Breakfast?”
Both Glenn and he froze, but Max said, “I can eat.”
“Mrs. Barker will be right in to take orders,” Deacon said, flicking his gaze to Jack and Glenn. “You’re the two Espers Max saved. Sit.”
Knowing it was unwise to make the Alpha repeat the order a third time, he grabbed Glenn’s sleeve and they both sat at the table. To his relief, Max sat on his left, and the big werewolf patted his arm. Max looked relaxed. He took deep breaths and did the same. No reason to be nervous, and besides, he knew shifters could smell fear.
Max made the introductions. “This is Jack Summers and that’s his younger brother, Glenn.”
Deacon gestured to Santino. “You’ve already met Santino, that is his sister Sabine by the window. Let’s have a nice meal first, before we talk.”
Santino grabbed an extra chair and dragged it close to Deacon.
Mrs. Barker arrived and asked what they wanted. Since Glenn seemed tongue-tied, he ordered for them both, bemused Max ordered twice as much as them.
“Can you eat all that?” he asked, forgetting for a second they were at an important meeting.
Max scoffed. “Of course. We shifters burn energy really fast.”
“That explains why you’re all muscle and have no fat on you.” Realizing he blurted those words out loud, he blushed. Santino laughed and he blushed even deeper.
“Max, your Esper’s kind of cute,” Santino said, flashing teeth.
Max growled at him. “Mine. You have your own mate.”
“Be civil,” the Alpha said, rubbing at his temples, as if Santino and Max sniping at each other was a common occurrence.
Their food arrived soon after, and he took his sip of coffee. Glenn eventually relaxed and started shoveling food into his mouth.
Finally, after a few forkfuls of bacon and eggs, the Alpha asked, “Max tells me you both fled New City, running from the Squad.”
Jack swallowed his food and told the Alpha what happened to him and Glenn yesterday, omitting some personal facts, details he’d share with Max, like the fact he hadn’t seen his family in ages.
“Why do you think the Squad took interest in your family? And how did they discover your family, after years of hiding?” Deacon asked.
Glenn took that question. “Ever since the Squad started becoming aggressive in rounding up more Esper families over the past few months, my mom had been helping others see their future, to avoid capture. I guess she stopped being careful along the way.”
The Alpha asked them more questions. The Alpha seemed interested in knowing the situation of the Espers and other paranormals in New City, how their abilities worked and about the collared monsters that went after them. After they were done, Deacon regarded them for a few moments, not speaking.
“You two can stay here, at the Honey Bee. I’ll give you the same thirty-day guest rights we give to those seeking shelter in Devil Hills,” Deacon said. “One of these days, I’ll want you to look into the pack’s future for us.”
He let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “That means a lot, thank you. Of course, we’ll do our best in helping you and your pack any way we can.”
The pack, after all, didn’t need to help them. Besides, he had another ulterior motive he hadn’t told his brother yet, that he wanted to spend more time with Max.
“Jack can stay with me, at my cabin,” Max interrupted.
“Well, I’ll leave the arrangements to you,” Deacon said. “I’ve got a m
eeting to attend to.”
“Can I ask why you agreed to letting us stay?”
“Max obviously trusts you,” Deacon answered. “Neither of you lied to me once, and my enforcers tell me you both are in the clear.”
After the Alpha his two enforcers left, he looked at Max, who wore a big grin on his face.
“Didn’t I tell you everything would turn out fine?”
Chapter Eight
“You’re serious about him, aren’t you?” Glenn finally asked him when they were alone in the room they’d be assigned in the Honey Bee.
Glenn walked to the window, which overlooked the town. Jack knew that tone, didn’t miss the way Glenn kept clenching and unclenching his fists by his side.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked. “We got what we wanted, sanctuary for a few days.”
Glenn turned, looking pissed. “What about Mom and Dad? Last night, I kept running the scenario of their deaths in my head. What if they’re alive, Jack? We can’t just hide away here, and here you are, playing around with a damn werewolf.”
He stiffened, a little stung by the accusation. Glenn didn’t get it. Having Max helped keep him steady, manage his sorrow, his anger, and all his emotions a little better.
“Glenn, don’t you think I care, too?” he asked.
“Do you? You ran from your family, or did you forget that?”
Jack blistered, nearly lashed out and punched Glenn in the face, but he held himself back. Glenn was probably acting like a dick because he felt helpless like he did.
He tried reason, to make his brother understand that Glenn wasn’t alone. “I came back wanting to fix things. God, you have no idea how much I missed you guys, how much I hated myself for making that decision. A frightened adult who didn’t know what he wanted made that decision, but I’m older now, wiser.”
Jack shut his eyes, then continued, “None of us expected the Squad to arrive.”
Glenn blew out a breath and he thought he had another fight on his hands, but Glenn only slumped his shoulders. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Grief and anger are making me say these things. I’m happy we got out. You always know what to do, always had your head screwed on while I panic when things don’t go the way I hope.”
“Glenn,” he said gently, opening his eyes. “What do you really want to do?”
“I don’t know, but I need to know if Mom and Dad are still alive. If there’s a chance they are—”
“If we go back to New City, we might end up dead, too, and what then?” To that, Glenn had no answer. Part of him hoped his parents were alive, but what if that was wishful thinking? They didn’t come all the way to Devil Hills only to go back to New City. No doubt a trap would await them there.
Jack was the big brother, he needed Glenn to see logic. “Look, why don’t we think about this more? I’ll ask Max if he and his pack could help us find out.”
“Whatever. Can you leave the room? I want to be alone for a while.”
Understanding his brother needed some space, he left the room and headed downstairs, where Max waited for him. Max halted mid-conversation with the blue-eyed and blonde-haired man he’d been speaking to. Like Max, the Alpha, and Santino, this guy, who he assumed was another shifter, looked like he worked out, too.
“Jack, this is Jared, a packmate. He’ll be Glenn’s guide, in case Glenn wants to see the town,” Max said.
He turned to Jared. “Thank you for the offer, but I think Glenn would be inside his room for a while.”
“I’ll be around,” the other werewolf said. “How about you? Want to look around the place?”
A rumble of what sounded like disapproval came from Max, followed by a snarl. Jack swore the very air turned hot, and Jared quickly took a step back.
“Jack’s taken. Sniff at someone else, pup.” Jack could barely make the words out.
Then without waiting for Jared’s reply, Max guided him by the elbow out of the inn and back to the sunlit street.
“Wow, are all dominant werewolves this growly?” he asked.
“When they’re around their mates, definitely.” Max grinned. Damn, but his wolf’s smile was growing on him. Lethal, because it instantly melted his insides. He wanted Max to kiss him again. God, what was wrong with him?
“Better warn your brother. The younger, single, unmated werewolves in the pack are starting to see other unattached Espers as mate-material,” Max added.
“Please tell me you’re joking,” he said.
Max didn’t answer him, merely placed a hand on the back of his neck and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“Did you and your brother have a fight?” Max finally asked him.
“We did.” Jack bit his lip and told Max about their argument.
“Look, Jack. It might take a little while, but I promise you, we’ll find out happened to your parents. Together,” Max said, and when Jack began to protest, Max continued, “Don’t give me any bullshit about not involving myself in your problems. It’s not bad, asking for help, Jack.”
Max had a point. Jack took a deep breath, nodded. “Then I’m grateful.”
“What did I say about constantly thanking me?”
When Jack told his brother they’d figured things out along the way, he blurted the first thing that came to his mind. Glenn always thought he was put together, that he’d know what to do in unexpected situations, but back in that hotel room, he’d lied. The last thing he wanted was for Glenn to recklessly decide to go back to New City on his own and end up captured or dead. What he didn’t tell Glenn was that he didn’t know what they’d do next, but with Max on his side, he began to realize that their situation wasn’t as hopeless as he thought.
Glenn and he would take one day at a time, and hopefully, the answers would come to them.
* * * *
“Jack?” Max asked, making him blink.
Jack realized Max already stood in front of his grandmother’s house, while he remained glued to the car door, still holding onto the bunch of flowers he insisted on getting.
“Sorry,” he blurted, walking up to his mate. “I’m nervous.”
Max raised his eyebrows. “What for? You weren’t this scared when you met Deacon.”
“Well, this is different. The stories you told of your grandma and how she watched over you after your parents and brothers died, she’s special to you. I want to make a good impression,” Jack admitted, gripping the bouquet in his left hand. Should he have bought something else? What was he thinking, bringing Candace flowers?
“Relax, she’ll like you. I’m sure of it.” Max knocked on the door.
“Max, is that you? I’m in the kitchen,” yelled an older woman’s voice.
Max led him around the house and to the backdoor. Once inside, he spotted a gray-haired, slender, and tall woman with the same green eyes as Max placing a tray of unbaked cookies inside the oven. She finally turned to face them.
Max broke into a warm, familiar smile. “Grandma, I want you to meet Jack.”
He cleared his throat. Jack never thought in a million years that he’d ever be meeting the folks of the man he was falling fast and hard for. This tough, elegant-looking woman had raised Max on her own.
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am. Um, these flowers are for you,” he said far too quickly.
Candace Riley took off her apron. “Aren’t you a polite one? Come closer, let me take a good look at you.”
He did, utterly terrified she’d say her grandson was too good for him. After all, Max was a sought-after, good-looking, amazing enforcer for the pack. What did Jack have to offer? He was practically an outsider to most of the wolves and other paranormals in town. Three days had passed and the townsfolk no longer stared at him like the first time Max bought Glenn and him to the Honey Bee, but he had a long way to go to earning their trust.
Candace accepted his flowers. “Let me put these lovely daisies in a vase, and we’ll have coffee and some cookies.”
“Can I help?” he asked, relieved whe
n Max taught him how to use the coffee machine.
Ten minutes later, all three of them sat at Candace’s kitchen counter, chatting. She seemed to be a very nice lady, no-nonsense, and it was amusing seeing her order a pack enforcer around with ease.
“You know, this is the first time Max ever brought anyone to see me,” Candace said. “So, excuse me if I’m asking too many questions.”
“I don’t mind,” he answered. “This is new to me, too. Sometimes, I wonder why Max saved my life, why he’s with me. I’m no one remarkable.”
Max snarled in protest, gave the back of his neck a squeeze.
“Don’t let me hear you say that again, Jack,” Max said. “You got you and your brother out of New City and found your way here.”
Jack blushed, stunned into silence. He was about to remind Max that was what anyone in his position would have done, when an intense headache hit him. He groaned, putting his hands over his head.
“Jack?” Max asked, sounding concerned, but his voice was far away.
“Vision,” he mumbled.
Jack shut his eyes, focusing on the vision, his first one since arriving at Devil Hills. He conveyed to Max what he saw.
“I see some kind of lake near a mountain, two wolf pups running across the bank. One has a grayish brown fur, the other has a reddish one,” he said, sucked in a breath. “One of them pushed the other into the water, but she can’t swim.”
Max swore. “I know where that is. That’s Lake Encru.”
Jack opened his eyes.
“The pups you described are Amanda and Teddy,” Candace said, looking at Max.
“Max, my visions happen a few minutes before,” he said, panic in his voice.
Max was already on the phone, speaking to someone else. “Look, just go to the lake and check if Amanda and Teddy are fine.”
Max put down the phone, looked at him. “Even in wolf form, I won’t be able to run that fast. I’ve reached out to a wolf stationed in that sector.”
Jack disliked this, the waiting part. He wished he had his mother’s or brother’s range of visions. As if Max sensed his apprehension, the big wolf walked up behind his seat and gave his shoulders are squeeze.
