The Wolf's Man Friday

by Julia Talbot

  “Good.” Sebastian pulled his hair back, smoothed his shirt. “Let’s do this.”

  “I’m right behind you.” All the way. No matter what.

  Chapter Fourteen

  CHRIST, HIS head hurt. No way Sebastian was going to let on, though. He was going to see this out; he was going to have to put his head to this. Ron had information, and he was going to ferret it the fuck out.

  Ron was waiting for them in his office, barricaded behind the huge desk.

  “Feeling better, son?”

  “I’m alive.” He sat, holding Ron’s eyes. “We need to talk.”

  “Do we?” Ron sat back, folding his hands.

  “Yes, sir, I believe we do. Together.” He found a smile, because this was the closest thing to a father he’d ever had and he loved Ron and Ron loved him. “We have to figure this out, and I think it’ll take both our brains.”

  “Well, come on and sit down. You too, Reedis. Foxes. God save me.”

  “You hired him. I just kept him.”

  “I did. I would fire his ass right now too. If I could.”

  Jaxon just stared right at Ron, clearly not at all worried. His fox was pretty fearless.

  “Too bad that’s not on the table.” He didn’t have time for this bullshit. “What’s with the cats?”

  “Cats?” Ron put on a completely fake surprise face.

  “Uncle. Please. We can’t pretend anymore.”

  Ron bit his lower lip, then looked at Des, who was always lurking. “Out.”

  “Yes, Alpha.” He disappeared so fast it was almost audible.

  Ron sighed, shaking his head once the door shut. “Tell me what happened.”

  “Three bobcats and a mountain lion rammed us. They weren’t interested in Alan. They wanted me.” Just him.

  “Knocked you out?” Ron didn’t sound surprised.

  “Knocked me out over and over. They didn’t try to hurt me, didn’t bind me. Wouldn’t you bind a wolf if you decided to keep him for ransom?”

  “No ransom call ever came in.” Ron shook his head.

  “None of this makes sense.” Jaxon was still staring at Ron. “Give us the missing piece.”

  “There’s no missing piece.”

  “Uncle, there has to be. This mountain lion… he’s insane, sick, Uncle. Filled with rage.”

  “I don’t know anyone.” Ron was lying. His heart speeded, and he wouldn’t meet Sebastian’s eyes.

  “Uncle, please. I will protect you, but I need the truth.” Don’t lie to me anymore.

  “There was a cat once. A mountain lion. But that was a woman.” The air went out of Ron when he said it, as if he was deflating.

  “A woman? When?”

  “A long time ago.” Ron did look at him then. “Years. I—we had a thing.”

  “Oh?” Like he was going to bitch about that. They weren’t animals, after all, not wholly.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I—well, I was in love.” Ron smiled a remembering kind of smile.

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. Who was she?”

  “Just someone I met. We had common interests.”

  That wasn’t exactly a lie, but it was an evasion.

  “Common professional interests?”

  “That was how it started, yes.” Ron lifted his chin, looking defiant now.

  “Uncle, please. Please talk to me.” He was this close to losing his temper.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Her name is Hallie Beaman.”

  “As in the designer and queen mother of Denver?” No way. No fucking way. How cool and terrifying was that?

  “Well, she wasn’t that when we were together. Just like I wasn’t Alpha of the Boulder pack. Things change.”

  “Sure. Sure. Do you think it’s her? That she’s got some grudge?”

  “I can’t see how. She left me.” Something agonized filled Ron’s expression for just a moment, so fleeting, but so real.

  “Why would anyone leave you, Uncle?” The question was immediate, well-meant.

  Ron grimaced. “That was a while ago. It wasn’t as easy then as it is for—well, for you two, I guess.”

  No. Times had been different, he knew. Hell, they hadn’t even had interspecies matings on television back then. He’d been a teenager when he’d seen the first ones.

  Now they had gay interspecies. Like him and Jaxon.

  “Could she be involved, though?” He pressed it, needing to know.

  “In backhanded threats? Kidnapping? Never!”

  “Straightforward type, is she?” Jaxon asked.

  “She’s fierce and wild. The most gorgeous, strong woman you’d ever meet.” Ron took on that faraway look, a happy remembrance. “God, she was something.”

  “Could this be her family?” Who was her family? Sebastian wasn’t sure he knew more about her than her clothes.

  “She doesn’t have a lot. Her dad is still alive, but she has no siblings.” Ron squinted at him. “She’s a cat. That’s all they seem to have in common.”

  “Children? This guy was my age, maybe a bit older.”

  “No.” Ron scowled. “I mean, yes. She has kids. I don’t know anything about them. Her private life has always been real private. Her kids aren’t in the news.”

  “Does she have a mate?”

  Ron’s face closed up. “Probably.”

  “Come on, Uncle. Please. Was it the mountain lion that attacked you?” He needed help.

  “It was cats. I never saw a puma, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Can you call her?”

  “What? And ask if she has a psychotic son?”

  Sebastian let one eyebrow lift. “Works for me.”

  “I can try.” Ron sighed. “I haven’t spoken to her in years.”

  “Was it a bad breakup?” Is that what this was about? A lover’s quarrel?

  “It damn near killed me, son.”

  Why break up, then? He didn’t understand.

  “We didn’t have a lot of choice,” Ron said, anticipating his question. “Meddling families. I wouldn’t be surprised if my people didn’t run her off. They’d already started grooming me.”

  “Can we set up a meeting? I mean, you’re in textiles, I’m a designer, she’s a fashion designer. We could meet.”

  “That might work better than me trying to call her.” Ron liked that idea, he could tell.

  “Let’s do it. Jaxon? Can you arrange it?”

  “I certainly can.” Jaxon bounced behind him, and he knew his mate was excited to have something to do.

  “Good. As soon as possible. Neutral ground.”

  “You got it.” Jaxon stood before bending to kiss the back of his neck. “I’m on it.”

  Ron waited for Jaxon to leave before asking, “A fox? Seriously?”

  “A mountain lion?” he countered. “He’s mine, Uncle.”

  “You couldn’t find a nice lady wolf, though?”

  “Nope.” He was gay. Ron knew it, and he wasn’t gonna pretend, even for the pack. “Any more than you did, I guess.”

  “Yeah, I guess. You okay? I mean, you’re really okay?”

  He’d been kidnapped, in his second car accident of the fall, and drugged. “I’m fine, Uncle.”

  Ron studied him critically. “Uh-huh.”

  “Right as rain.”

  “You look worn out.” Ron sighed, rubbing his face with one hand. “You feel good about the direction we’re going with this?”

  “I know it’s cats. I know they’re banding together, at least for cash. I know this is about you, and now it’s about me.”

  “I’m sorry, kiddo.” Ron really did sound regretful. He just wasn’t sure about what.

  “We don’t need to be sorry. We just have to figure it out.”

  “We do.”

  They agreed. Hallelujah.

  It was about fucking time.

  “Okay. I’m going to check on Alan, then I’m going to take a fucking nap.”

  “Sounds good, son. Tell your fell
a to let me know what’s what.”

  “I will. Love you.”

  “I love you. Are you going to have supper with the pack tonight?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thank you.” Ron stood, looking smaller, so much skinnier.

  “You need some steak, hmm? Every day for a month.”

  “I haven’t been all that hungry.”

  “And that’s why you’re not healing,” Sebastian said. “I’ll order you some.” He went over and hugged Ron. “I love you, Uncle. I need you to get better.”

  “Me too.” Ron laughed, but hugged him back hard. This had been tough on the old man. “Now go sleep.”

  “I will. We’ll be at supper.”

  “I’ll see you there.” Ron rubbed his hands together, and Sebastian was pretty sure he was laughing about introducing a fox to the wolves.

  He headed out. “Someone get Uncle a steak. He needs a minimum of two a day, starting right now.”

  “But….” Someone dared to try to argue.

  “I said now!” His growl filled the house.

  “Yes, sir.” One of the guys took off.

  “Impressive. You practice that?”

  He looked over at Tyrone. “Aren’t you worried about being eaten, Mr. Elk?”

  “Nope. I got antlers you wouldn’t believe.” Ty smirked, one eyebrow waggling.

  “Thanks for riding to the rescue. Driving to the rescue. Whatever.”

  “You know it. Jaxon is fierce, buddy. I think he’s more than a personal assistant.”

  “He’s my mate.”

  “Okay.” Tyrone’s eyebrows flew up. “Yay? I mean, he’s a fox.”

  “You noticed that. He’s a stud.”

  Tyrone laughed, shoulders relaxing. “He totally is. I thought he would tear the Jeep apart with his bare hands looking for you.”

  “Thank you for finding me.” He hugged Ty hard. “I was in a bad way.”

  Patting him on the back, Tyrone made soothing noises. “We weren’t gonna let you get got.”

  “No. No, I know. You guys have my back.”

  “Always. Anything I need to do for you? Tell Alan?”

  “Is he awake yet?” He needed that nap.

  “Nope.”

  “Can you tell him to meet me half an hour before supper?” That way he could fill in everyone.

  “Of course. Should I make myself scarce?”

  “No, sir. I need you.” He needed people he could trust.

  “We gonna meet in your room?”

  “That’s the best place. It has a sitting area.”

  “Rock on. Go. Nap. I’m going to do the same. I’m next to Alan.”

  “Okay. Thanks again, buddy. I mean it.” He headed into his room, finding Jaxon at the desk setup, headset on and talking fast.

  “Yes, ma’am. I think that would be perfect.”

  He didn’t bother Jaxon; he just stripped down, folded his clothes, and slipped between the blankets to get warm.

  Jaxon’s green gaze landed on him, a smile curving those lips he loved. He nodded over, trusting that Jaxon had his back, in this and all things.

  “Yes. Tuesday at ten. Thank you so much. Right. Have a good day.” Jaxon hung up before slipping off the headphone. “Done.”

  “Good deal. Text Ron’s secretary?”

  “I’m on it. Can I come to bed then?”

  “Goddess, yes. I want to hold you. We’re meeting in here half an hour before supper.”

  “I’ll set an alarm.” Jaxon picked up his cell, his fingers flying when he texted. “Ta-da.”

  “Thank you. Come here. I need you. I need to… hold on.” Rest. He needed to rest.

  Jaxon just stripped out of his clothes so he could slip into bed.

  He held the blankets open and drew Jaxon in. “Hey.”

  “Hey, babe.” Jaxon pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

  They rested together, their foreheads met. Jaxon breathed with him, helping him relax, his muscles unclenching.

  It was going to be okay. It was.

  They would find out what Ron was still hiding. It had to be something to do with his cat woman. Sebastian felt it deep down. All he’d needed was a trail. A scent.

  Now he had that much.

  Jaxon was humming for him, a tiny vibration of sound.

  His eyes crossed and his train of thought derailed. He loved how much of a fox his mate was. All these little things built up to this amazing whole.

  “Shh. Breathe, Sebastian. Rest with me.”

  “I am. I was thinking of all the things I love about you already.”

  “I can hear them.” Jaxon rubbed their noses together. “You honor me, mate.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too. Are you ready to stir up your uncle’s issues?”

  “I don’t think we have a choice. We need to do all the research we can.”

  “We do.” Jaxon stroked his ribs, soothing in more ways than one.

  “After our nap.” He needed this first.

  “Nappage.” Jaxon blinked, relaxing against him.

  “Yeah. Exactly. Rest.”

  Jaxon patted his chest, the touch clumsy, and a soft snore had him blinking and laughing gently. His mate. He stroked Jaxon’s hair, the softness making him smile.

  This was his. No cat and no Alpha was going to take Jaxon away.

  They could figure out anything as long as they knew that.

  JAXON SET up for the war room meeting in Sebastian’s suite. They would go straight to supper, so he skipped the snacks, but he ordered water and sodas, as well as coffee for him and Sebastian.

  Ron’s assistant had hemmed and hawed a little when he asked for a whiteboard, but she’d produced one, along with markers and an eraser.

  Sebastian was dressed in a turtleneck and soft, easy slacks. He looked powerful but still relaxed. Hot as all fuck. If Tyrone and Alan weren’t there….

  Sebastian shot him a lazy, seductive grin, proving that his mate got it. Something had happened to Sebastian—some decision, some turn of thought. Jaxon wasn’t sure what it was, but he approved.

  He pushed down the surge of lust, setting up his little presentation instead.

  “Okay, guys. I got a timeline done. From the attack on Ron to today.” He handed out copies of the line chart he’d made of the escalating attacks.

  Sebastian and Alan sat side by side, shoulder to shoulder, staring at the information with the same expression on their faces.

  Jaxon grinned. Wolves.

  “And here’s what we know.” He wrote a column of information on the left side of the board. “Cats. One in particular, a mountain lion, has been seen at all the incidents.”

  “Was there anything before? Any hint? Can we get Ron’s right-hand in here? Or Des?” Alan frowned. “This sort of thing doesn’t just happen out of the blue.”

  “Des I have on speed dial.” Jaxon ignored Sebastian’s raised eyebrows. “Let me get him here.” He tugged out his phone to text the big guy, who was far easier to deal with than Ron’s right-hand man, Gray. Gray was… kinda dire wolf.

  Besides, Gray rarely left Ron’s side. Ever. Rumor was no one had ever seen him sleep.

  Jaxon wondered if he wasn’t a wolf. Maybe he was a ghost wolf.

  Oh, that would be….

  Sebastian tilted his head, staring at him.

  “Sorry. Des is on the way.” Jaxon grinned.

  “Uh-huh. So, they take out Ron in Dallas, then they hang out, play with us for a while, then follow us here instead of following Ron for another attack?” Alan shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. We assumed that this was a single planned hit—cause damage and get out.”

  “So does this make this guy more or less an organized attacker?” Sebastian asked. “I mean, I can tell you, he was insane. Like, barely holding it together.”

  A knock sounded at the door, so Jaxon rose to let in Des. “Hey. Thanks for coming so fast.”

  “You guys have been busy,” Des said in his bass ru
mble.

  “We have to stop this, huh? Together.” Sebastian stood and shook Des’s hand.

  Des nodded slowly. “I was talking to Gray.”

  “What’s his take on it?”

  “He wants the threat neutralized. He did tell me Ron got some threats via email, which was new info. About two weeks before the attack.”

  “Can we get hold of those? How did they get past Gray, exactly? I know there was a tranq gun and a flash bang involved.”

  Okay, alert Sebastian was hot as hell.

  Des pulled out his phone. “Let me get those sent to you. And yeah. There was a tranq with enough ketamine for an elephant. Seriously. The flash bang surprised them just enough. They were at one of Ron’s offices.”

  “Fuckers.” Alan and Sebastian spoke together, the sound a deep growl.

  “Wait, so Ron was only with Gray?” Jaxon sat back, chewing on his lower lip. “Not with two or three of you guys?”

  “Right.”

  Alan’s eyes widened. “Just like Sebastian was with just you or me. No Tyrone, no other big guys.”

  “So this isn’t as organized as we think. This is pure emotion.” Jaxon bounced on his toes. “This is….”

  “Insane. He’s insane.”

  They all looked at Sebastian, but to a man, they nodded. Jaxon’s phone dinged, and he glanced at it. “Okay, here are the emails. Two of them from camocat99. One is really straightforward—give me what is my birthright—the other is rambling and weird. Just crazy.”

  “Birthright?” Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “I wonder what he thinks that means?”

  Oh, Jaxon thought that Sebastian had some ideas of his own.

  “I dunno,” Alan murmured. “You said Ron and the cat lady broke up years ago.”

  “This wasn’t a teenager,” Sebastian pointed out. “In fact, Ron said they broke off about the time I was born.”

  Sebastian was clearly turning everything over and over in his mind.

  “So…. What are we saying?” Des asked. “That Ron has a kitten?”

  “Maybe. Or the kitty thinks Ron is the baby daddy.” Jaxon nodded slowly. “He would have equal motive for Ron and his heir.”

  “Like I want to be Alpha,” Sebastian muttered.

  “Well, no, but how does he know that?” Jaxon shot back.

  “No shit?” Des chuckled. “I think it should be Alan.”