At Sixes and Sevens

by M. A. Church

I hugged him close. “You okay?”

  “Yes!” Keegan pulled back, then launched into an overly excited, detailed account of what exactly had happened, and how Shirley had defended them.

  Yeah, things could be replaced, but not love.

  THE SUN was rising over the horizon before Aidric and I had a chance to shower, eat, and fall into bed. I wanted to make love to my mate, but exhaustion lay upon me like a wet blanket. Aidric pushed me onto my back, and I wrapped my arm around him, pulling him against me. His head rested on my shoulder, and his hand lay upon my heart.

  “So you love me, huh?”

  “Yes, you independent feline, I do.” I sighed happily as Aidric played with my chest hair. I closed my eyes. “And you love me too.”

  “Yes, you growly werewolf, I do. More than anything.” Aidric released a long breath. “Can you stay awake for a few minutes?”

  “You got plans for me?” I opened one eye and squinted at him.

  “I do, but later. We’re both exhausted. No, what I want is for us to take a little trip and visit Dolf and the rest of the clowder. I want to introduce you formally as my mate. I know things are up in the air right now and we can’t be gone long, but surely we can take two days.”

  I snuggled deeper into the bed, pulling Aidric against me. Sleep tugged at the edges of my mind. “Can you give me a couple weeks to get the new pack members settled?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then you got a date.” I yawned and closed my eyes again. “By the way….”

  “What?”

  I could barely stay awake, but something had been bothering me for a while now. “How is it that Baylor managed not to kill Marshell when he stabbed him? That’s been preying on my mind.”

  Aidric sighed. “This is never to be repeated, okay?”

  “Goes without saying.”

  “They can be killed by being stabbed in the heart with a silver knife. But… the knife must be twisted once to completely and effectively kill them.”

  “Shit.” One twist of the knife was all that stood between Marshell and death.

  “Yeah. Baylor basically put Marshell in stasis when he stabbed him.”

  “Shit. Yeah, I’m going to forget you ever told me that.” That was information I wasn’t sure I needed.

  “Probably would be best.” Aidric yawned. “Now get some sleep.”

  “I’m already asleep.”

  Aidric snickered. “Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Aidric

  A FEW weeks turned into closer to a month. As the saying went, spring had sprung down here in the South, and everything had a nice light green layer of pollen over it. Yuck. It was the middle of April, tax season for the humans in the States, and the full moon had come and gone. I figured since the moon phase affected Carter so much, we’d wait until after the hunt to visit.

  The new wolves were settling in well, and several small new homes were being built for them. The wolves were cautious, skittish, but slowly blooming under Carter’s care. Sabrina was dating another pack member, and it appeared things were getting serious.

  Delaney… well, Delaney wasn’t doing as well. He and Carter had a long talk, and fortunately for Delaney, Carter didn’t banish him. Unfortunately some pack members were keeping Delaney at arm’s length. But reparations had to be made to the pack. Delaney needed to make an effort, not hide away just because they ostracized him.

  Carter and I talked about that. If Delaney continued on this path, Carter planned to step in and make Delaney do pack community service. I agreed it would take time for our pack to get over what Delaney had inadvertently caused. Faulkner hadn’t been Delaney’s mate, thank the goddess since I killed him. Delaney had cared about Faulkner, even though Faulkner had obviously only seen Delaney as a means to an end.

  Delaney shut himself off from the rest of the pack, but I was keeping an eye on him. Physical wounds had been healed; now it was time for the emotional ones to heal also.

  I LEANED against the dresser, waiting for Carter to put his shoes on. “Are you about ready?”

  “Yes.” Carter stood. “In a rush, are you?”

  “I can smell the hot wings, dammit. If we don’t hurry up and get down there, they’ll be gone. You don’t know how werecats are when it comes to hot wings.”

  Carter and I had arrived early that morning and spent the day with Dolf, Tal, and Kirk. Since we were only spending one night, we’d decided to stay with Dolf. After we visited for a while, we rode out to my old cabin so I could show him where I used to live. Dolf had bought it and planned to use it as a rental property for clowder members, but it hadn’t been rented yet.

  I also felt it was necessary to point out my old house was what a cabin was supposed to look like. Carter hadn’t agreed. Not that I would ever admit it, but that monstrosity he called a cabin had grown on me. After we spent several hours exploring, we returned to Dolf’s home, showered, and now we were getting ready for the party.

  “Okay, I’m ready,” Carter said and huffed.

  “What?”

  “It’s nothing. I just never imagined I would be attending a party thrown by werecats. Life is odd, isn’t it?”

  I stepped toward my mate and pressed a quick kiss on his lips. “Yes, it is. Isn’t it grand?”

  Carter chuckled. “Yup.”

  I led Carter downstairs. Pulling him behind me, we headed straight toward the kitchen.

  “Hey, you guys. I was starting to wonder if I was going to have to come up there and get you two.” Kirk winked, hauling out more glasses. “Do we have enough ice, do you think, Dolf?”

  “There are several bags in the freezer, just in case.” Dolf placed napkins and plates on the bar. “We should be fine.”

  “It was hard keeping Kirk from checking on you guys, but Dolf and I succeeded.” Tal passed by, holding several trays of finger foods. He arranged them on the bar.

  The hot wings immediately caught my eye, and my mouth watered.

  “Carter? What do you want to drink?” Kirk gestured toward several two-liter bottles by the food.

  “Soda is fine. Thank you.” Carter stared at all the food. “I thought this was a small gathering.”

  I snorted. “It is.” He’d learn.

  “Aidric? You want unsweetened tea?” Kirk asked, wiping his hands on a towel.

  “Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.”

  Carter and I waited until Kirk handed a glass to each of us. “So.” I leaned against the bar. “Did you happen to see what we arrived in?”

  Kirk checked whatever he still had cooking in the oven, then straightened. “If you mean that black Corvette parked in my driveway, then hell yeah.” Kirk rubbed his hands together, an excited glint in his eyes. “Any chance of me getting to peek under the hood, Carter?”

  Tal snickered, grabbed the towel Kirk had, and threatened to pop him on the ass. “Kirk’s car crazy.”

  “Ha.” Remi strolled into the kitchen with Marshell behind him. “Kirk’s just crazy, that’s all there is to it. Hey Aidric, good to see you again.” Remi quickly hugged me.

  No mate liked to see his significant other in the arms of someone else.

  “Hey, Remi. Good to see you too.” I laughed as I saw what Remi was wearing. He had on a gray shirt with a blue silhouette of a rooster. Above that, in bold blue lettering, were the words Stop staring at my cock. “Good grief, where do you find these things?”

  Remi rolled his eyes. “If I told you—”

  “He’d have to kill you. Brah, how’s it hanging?” Marshell one-arm hugged me.

  “Good, good. Guys, let me formally introduce my mate, Alpha Carter Lovelock of the Dark Lake Pack. Carter? You know Remi and his mate, Marshell.”

  Carter shook hands with Remi, then Marshell. “At least the shirt didn’t say something about letting the dogs out this time.”

  Remi snorted. “Come on, you know it was funny.”

  “You have a very warped sense of hu
mor.” Carter shook his head, but he was smiling, unlike last time.

  “Seriously, you have no idea,” I said.

  “So how are things going with Jack and his new mate Baylor?” Marshell wrapped his arms around Remi’s waist.

  “Pretty good. Jack had a small scare when he mated Baylor. No one knew Baylor was asthmatic, and he had an attack during the transformation. But he’s fine,” Carter said.

  Marshell nipped Remi’s ear, then straightened and grinned when Remi swatted at him. Then he got serious. “I guess you know I spoke to the both of them.”

  “I did, yes,” Carter said, watching the two of them. “I didn’t hear what was said because the two of them stepped outside while talking to you. Are you okay with what Baylor told you?”

  “As much as I can be. But it all worked out, I guess.” Marshell poured a drink since Kirk had gone to open the front door after the doorbell rang. “You still working Jack from dusk till dawn?”

  “You better believe it,” Carter said.

  “Dammit, Hellcat, stop rushing me. It’s not like the food is going to disappear before you get there,” Lawson complained, walking toward the kitchen, Heller and Kirk behind him.

  “You don’t know how we are around hot wings.” Heller sniffed the air and grinned. “Oh good, there’s plenty this time.”

  “Want to bet?” Lawson griped as he came closer.

  “And Lawson and Heller are here,” I said to Carter as they entered.

  “So I heard.” Carter watched the other two.

  Heller and Lawson crowded into the kitchen. Kirk fixed them something to drink, and I introduced the two of them to Carter.

  “Everything is almost ready,” Kirk said as we stood around talking.

  “Thank the goddess,” Heller said.

  “Need any help?” Lawson asked.

  “Naw. I got this.” Kirk waved Lawson off.

  “Now if only Kirk ‘got’ fashion.” Heller sighed dramatically. “At least he’s not wearing flannel this time. And when do we eat?”

  “Bite me,” Kirk piped up.

  “Would you stop about eating already? It’s not like you’re going to starve.” Remi lightly punched Heller on the arm. “Marshell? Are Janelle and Sam coming?”

  “Yeah, they should be here shortly,” Remi said.

  Five minutes later Janelle walked in, minus Sam. Once more I introduced Carter to Janelle.

  “Hey there.” Janelle hugged me. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m doing fine. How’s the beta position going?” I asked. As far as I knew, nothing significant had happened in the clowder since I left. Dolf had remarked he was enjoying the peaceful time.

  Janelle absolutely glowed. “It’s fabulous. I’m having the time of my life. Lawson, Marshell, and I had to hire some more people at our business.”

  “Oh? Why is that?” I asked.

  Dolf joined us. “Because I’ve started construction on that jail we talked about. Remember that?”

  “Seriously? You’re actually doing it?” I asked, surprised. The jail was only to be used for werecats who misbehaved, since the last thing we wanted was to involve the human authorities.

  Marshell nodded. “Not that we’re expecting to have a lot of people in it, but when we do, I’m going to be the acting sheriff.”

  Carter tilted his head. “Sounds interesting. I think you’d be perfect for the job.”

  Marshell grinned and flexed his arm, showing off his muscles. “And I even have a uniform.”

  Remi cleared his throat and blushed. Carter raised an eyebrow.

  Janelle cackled as she poked Lawson in the ribs. Lawson swatted at her and told her to quit that crap while he blushed harder.

  I leaned over to Carter. “Apparently Janelle has pointy elbows that could be classified as lethal weapons.”

  Lawson yelped, rubbing his side. “There’s no apparently about it. She damn well does. By the way, Janelle, where’s Sam?”

  Kirk asked what Janelle wanted to drink, fixed it, and handed it to her.

  “He’s running late, but he should be here in about an hour.” Janelle took a sip of her drink.

  The doorbell rang again, and this time Tal answered it. Brier walked in with his sister Breanna.

  “Hey, Aidric! Good to see you, man.” Brier shook my hand.

  “Aidric! It’s been too long!” Breanna hugged me. I was glad she was here. I’d missed her. She grew up with the rest of us betas, but I hadn’t had a chance to spend much time with her since she moved back.

  “Guys, this is my mate, Alpha Carter Lovelock of the Dark Lake Pack. Carter? Brier is a beta to Dolf too, and Breanna is his sister.”

  “Nice to meet the both of you,” Carter said.

  “Okay! Food’s ready! On your mark, get set, and go,” Kirk yelled and quickly stepped out of the way.

  I grabbed Carter by the elbow. “Better get it while the getting is good.”

  Carter glanced at everybody hurrying toward the food. “And I thought wolves were bad.”

  “Werecats and food. It’s a thing.” I pulled him along behind me.

  After everyone had a plate, we followed Dolf to the living area. He had soft music playing. We sat around talking and reliving past times. Carter was a little stiff at first, but I guess it was to be expected.

  Dolf, Heller, Remi, and I had known each other for a long time. But my friends were making an effort to include Carter, and as more time passed, he began to laugh and joke with the others. I was pleased to see how well he and Marshell were hitting it off. I had a sneaking suspicion those two were going to end up being good friends. They had so much in common.

  A short time later, Sam walked in. “Hey, everybody. Sorry I’m late. We were busier than I had expected. Hey, Aidric.”

  I introduced Sam to Carter. Sam fixed a plate and sat next to Janelle. A couple of hours after that, all the food had run out, and we were all stuffed. Since it was getting late, everybody started saying their goodbyes.

  This time I didn’t get nearly as choked up. Yes, it would be hard leaving tomorrow, but it wasn’t nearly as painful as last time. I knew what I was coming home to. Everybody said goodbye, and it was only Brier, Breanna, Sam, and Janelle left with us.

  We were still in the living area. Tal and Kirk were finishing up in the kitchen. I’d offered to help but was threatened with bodily harm if I so much as stepped foot in the kitchen.

  “Hey, Dolf?”

  “What’s up, Sam?” Dolf said.

  “I don’t want to worry you, but I think you need to know I picked up the scent of a werecat on one of my trips out to the dumpster behind my restaurant. The scent isn’t familiar.”

  “Damn. That isn’t good,” Dolf said, frowning. “Unless a werecat is only passing through my territory on the way somewhere else, they’re required to get in touch with me.”

  “Also there’s something off about the scent,” Sam said.

  “What you mean?” Brier asked.

  Sam scratched his head. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to explain it. There’s just something… odd about it.” Sam pursed his lips.

  “Huh,” Dolf said, tapping his finger against his lip. “Odd, you say? Can you give me any sort of idea what you mean by odd?”

  “It’s not something I can explain.” Sam shrugged. He wrinkled his nose. “You just have to smell it to understand.”

  “Do you want me to check it out?” Janelle asked.

  “No, you and Sam go on home. Brier? Have you got anything going on tonight?” Dolf turned toward Brier.

  “I got nothing going on. I’ll go check it out,” Brier said. “I’ll head out now before the scent is lost.”

  “Good. Let me know in the morning what you find. Unless it’s an emergency, and then let me know immediately,” Dolf said.

  “Sure thing.” Brier stood up, said his goodbyes, and left.

  Janelle and Sam also said they needed to get going. Our evening wrapped up shortly after that. I managed to sneak into the ki
tchen, even though I had been warned to stay away, and nagged until they allowed me to help finish cleaning up the food.

  Mainly I made a pest of myself because Dolf and Carter were sitting at the bar talking, and I wanted to give them a few private moments together. It wasn’t hard to see they’d shifted from friendship mode to Alpha mode.

  “So would you be interested in forming an alliance?” Dolf asked.

  “I absolutely would. Why don’t you call me in a couple of days, and we’ll figure out exactly what we want to do. How does that sound?” Carter asked.

  “It sounds great. Thank you,” Dolf said.

  I sat down next to Carter now that they were done. There was something I really wanted to talk to Dolf about. “I have a special favor to ask.”

  “Oh? What’s up?”

  “I would like to take Carter out to the Circle of Stone.”

  “Oh.” Dolf paused. I’d caught him off guard, and that wasn’t something easily accomplished. “Ah, may I ask why?”

  “I know it’s something sacred to us and also know that’s where we go to induct new mates to our clowder. Well, obviously that’s not going to happen with Carter and me. I may not be able to have that ritual, but it would mean a lot to be able to take Carter there. Just us. Is that going to be a problem?” I asked.

  Dolf didn’t speak, and several moments passed. “You know what? You’re right. You shouldn’t be cheated out of something that means so much to us. You take your mate, and you go there.”

  “Am I going to cause you problems by asking for this?” It meant a lot to me, but I also didn’t want to add to Dolf’s stress that was already going on in the clowder thanks to the changes he was making.

  “No. If anybody doesn’t like it, they can talk to me. By the goddess, I am the Alpha. There have got to be some perks to this job,” Dolf grumbled.

  Carter raised his glass and saluted Dolf. “I heard that.”

  Dolf snickered. “Here.” Dolf stood, removed his keys from his pocket, and took off the house key. “Take this with you, just in case my mates and I have gone to bed by the time you return.”

  “Thank you. That really means a lot to me,” I said.