“Someone’s coming.” Cole shifted to his human form and turned to his best friend. “Get Jacque. I’ll see who it is.”
Gator rolled his shoulders. “They’re on the road. Probably a lost tourist.”
“Maybe.” Cole shifted and trotted off into the woods. His friend might be happier now that he was mated, but he was still a man of few words.
Gator hurried back toward the main house. Jacque was just stepping out onto the porch and, from the sated look in his eyes, Gator was damn glad he hadn’t had to interrupt his alpha and friend a few minutes earlier. “We’ve got company.”
Jacque tensed and his eyes gleamed. Nothing remained of the relaxed man he’d been only moments before. Now he was all alpha male. “Who?”
Gator shrugged. “Don’t know. Cole is gone to keep watch.”
Jacque trotted down the steps. He was wearing only a pair of jeans. Even his feet were bare. Louis and his mate strolled around the corner of the house.
“Louis. Get Gwen, gather the rest of the women and take them to your place,” Jacque instructed. “We’ve got company.” Jacque jerked his head and Gator joined him, leaving Louis to deal with the women. Better him than me, Gator thought. The women might object to the men’s overprotective natures, but they understood where it came from.
Gator listened intently. “Only seems to be one person.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he kept pace with Jacque. “I thought I felt someone out there this morning, but I never found a trace of anyone.”
Jacque growled. “And I’m only hearing about that now.”
“Sorry, mon ami. I couldn’t be sure if it was just my imagination. It’s been so quiet these past months.”
“I know. But this proves we can’t get lax in our security. Our former pack is not the only threat out there.”
And wasn’t that the truth. Gator knew there were packs out there that didn’t like the idea of half-breeds like Gray or wolves that couldn’t shift, like Cherise. And as a much as they tried to keep a low profile, their former pack and the Kentucky Pack knew about them. Armand had been keeping tabs on the Internet and word was getting around in certain quarters of an unusual pack in North Carolina.
The last thing they wanted was for some other pack to take an interest in them. They were all tired of fighting and just wanted to live in peace.
Gator spotted Cole, still in wolf form, off to the left. For such a huge man, he moved like a ghost. There was no better when it came to moving undetected.
They rounded a bend in the road and stopped. The lone male, who was about twenty feet away, halted. He slowly held up his hands in front of him. “I’m not looking for any trouble.”
Jacque put his hands on his hips and stared at the stranger. “What are you looking for?”
Elias studied the two men in front of him. There was no doubt who was the alpha wolf. The man stood about six-four and had shaggy brown hair. But it was his golden-brown eyes that bespoke his absolute confidence. Danger surrounded him like a shroud.
The other male was no slouch either. He had tattoos running up and down both arms and was shorter than the alpha, but no less dangerous. Elias knew the man’s piercing blue eyes missed nothing.
These men would respect strength, so Elias went on the offensive. “You might want to call off the wolf in the woods.” By now both men would have sensed he was a wolf. No point in trying to hide the fact.
The alpha narrowed his eyes, but other than that, he gave no indication Elias’s words bothered him. “Why do you think there is someone in the woods?”
“I know he’s there.” Elias knew he was gambling with his life but there was too much at stake to back down. “Probably the big bastard I saw earlier. He’s good.”
“But you’re better.”
It wasn’t a question, but Elias inclined his head. “I’m better.”
“And just who are you?”
“Elias Gallagher.” He didn’t offer his hand. It wouldn’t be accepted. Not yet.
“And how did you find your way here, Elias Gallagher?”
The short hair on the back of his neck rose. He knew the big man he’d seen earlier was behind him. He could scent him now he was so close and no longer trying to be stealthy.
“My sister-in-law heard rumors of a pack in North Carolina, but my brother was the one who tracked you down.” Elias still wasn’t quite sure how Everett had managed that, but his brother had been highly motivated.
“That still doesn’t tell me why you’re here.” The alpha was getting impatient. Never a good sign. Elias was outnumbered and in a defensive rather than an offensive position. And these men knew how to fight. It was in the way they moved and how they stood. There was a very good possibility he wouldn’t make it out alive if he had to battle his free.
“My brother and sister-in-law are dead.” He swallowed hard. It still hurt to say the words out loud. “I have twin nephews.”
The alpha’s jaw tightened slightly. “How old?”
“Seventeen.” Elias took the biggest gamble of his life. It was one thing to put his own life on the line, quite another to put his beloved nephews in danger. “My brother was a full-blooded werewolf, but my sister-in-law was a half-breed.”
The alpha’s gaze sharpened, and the man beside him whistled low. “And they had children. Twins. That’s very rare, mon ami,” the man added.
Elias was surprised he’d speak instead of the alpha. Even if he was the alpha’s second in command, he should have waited for his leader to respond.
This pack was very different.
Elias glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, the biggest wolf he’d ever laid eyes on was standing watching him. Any move toward the alpha would be met with violence. Fine by him. He wanted a protective pack for Sage and Reece.
“You have no idea,” he answered. He wished he could read the alpha better, but the man gave little away. “One of them can shift and the other can’t.”
“That’s impossible,” the tattooed male replied. He took an aggressive step forward, but the alpha put a hand on his chest stopping him.
“You have proof?” the alpha demanded.
“Forgive me, but I’m not about to give you anything but my word until I know my nephews won’t be in any danger.”
“We could kill you now and hunt for them,” the alpha pointed out.
Elias shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet in case he needed to fight. “You could, but by the time you got anywhere close to finding them, they’d be long gone. They have their orders.” And Elias had never been as grateful for planning as he was at this moment. Problem was, he couldn’t tell if the alpha was threatening him or testing him.
The alpha studied Elias for long moments. He didn’t flinch under the heavy golden-brown gaze. With each second that ticked away, he grew tenser and started rethinking the whole idea of finding a pack for his nephews.
He’d expected scrutiny, but he’d hoped to find some glimmer of acceptance here.
“What about their father’s pack? Your pack?”
It was a legitimate question. One that the alpha probably already knew the answer to, but Elias replied all the same. “Not an option. They don’t like half-breeds.” He left it at that. They all knew what would happen to his nephews if he tried to take them to his old pack.
Elias didn’t come right out and ask the alpha if the pack would accept his nephews. There was no other reason for him to be here.
“How can you be reached?” the alpha asked.
Not the question he’d been expecting, but Elias rattled off the number for his cell phone.
“I’m going to confer with my pack.”
Elias felt as though he’d stepped into an alternate universe. The alpha was going to confer with the pack? That just wasn’t done. The alpha made all the decisions and the pack lived with them.
As though understanding what was going through his mind, one corner of the alpha’s mouth quirked up into a half smile. “We do things a little differently around here.”
“That’s what I hoped.” His honest reaction got another partial smile.
“I am Jacque LaForge,” the alpha stated.
Elias nodded his head but still didn’t offer his hand. That had to come from the alpha. Any sudden move on his part would be viewed as a sign of aggression and be met as such.
“Go. We’ll contact you once we’ve had time to discuss your situation.”
It wasn’t the best outcome, but Elias consoled himself with the fact it wasn’t the worst either. He acknowledged the other two men, turned and headed back down the road. He could feel their eyes on him and half-expected a surprise attack. But none was forthcoming and he made it back to the road safely.
He knew at least one of them would be following to make certain he left pack land. When he made it to the highway, Elias crossed over and headed into the woods beyond. He started running as soon as he was out of sight of the road. He put every skill at his disposal to work. No way was he leading them back to his boys.
“What do you think?”
Jacque watched Cole hurry after their uninvited guest before he turned to Gator. “I think this is something we need to seriously consider.”
“They’re only boys,” Gator pointed out.
And that was the kicker. They both knew life was difficult enough for a young male wolf when he was part of a pack. For two orphaned half-breeds, it would be even tougher.
“It’s a big decision. I want Armand to research this Elias Gallagher. I want to know everything about him. I should have asked more questions.”
Gator slapped him on the back. “Not every day a strange werewolf comes waltzing down the road asking for sanctuary for twin half-breeds, one who can shift and one who can’t. I still can’t wrap my brain around that one.”
“But he didn’t ask,” Jacque pointed out. When Gator raised an eyebrow in question, Jacque elaborated. “He didn’t ask for sanctuary for them. He was testing us to see how we’d react.” It had taken guts and not a little bit of craziness to approach an unknown pack and tell them about his nephews. Jacque admired that kind of courage.
“We need to know more,” Gator agreed.
“A lot more.”
Jacque sensed Cole before he heard him. He truly was a ghost, which meant Elias Gallagher was very good at tracking. He’d sensed Cole when most others would never have been aware of his presence.
Cole shifted to his human form. “He’s gone. He left pack land and cut through the woods.”
“Which direction?” Jacque didn’t like the idea of not knowing where the man was.
“Toward town.”
“Let’s get back. I want Armand on this immediately. I want to know everything there is to know about this man and his family. I want to know if he’s telling the truth or if he’s lying.”
“You think it might be some other pack testing our strength before they attack?” Gator asked.
Jacque looked up at the sky and soaked in the sunlight and the peace of the land. He’d only just gotten used to the idea they might be safe, and now this. “I don’t know. But I’m not willing to take the chance.” He headed back to the house. He needed to see Gwen, to reassure himself she was safe. He knew his friends felt the same way about their mates. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Five
It took Elias a lot longer to get back to the campground. He’d stopped long enough to call the boys to let them know he was okay. Then he’d taken his time, backtracking and laying down several false trails just to be safe.
He wasn’t about to underestimate Jacque LaForge and his pack. Their life here had been hard won. That much was obvious by the battle-readiness of the three men he’d encountered. Some packs grew soft over the years, used to being safe by virtue of what they were. Humans were easily beaten in a fight. And most wolf packs just wanted to live quietly and not cause any ripples that might bring unwanted attention their way.
Elias understood that Jacque’s first and only agenda would be to protect his pack. What that meant for Reece and Sage, only time would tell.
His nephews were waiting when he strode into their camp. Sage was sitting quietly reading a book, but Reece was pacing back and forth. Elias knew the boy’s wolf was making him fidgety. The wolf would want to run, and Reece was still learning how to control that part of his nature.
Reece whirled around and Sage jumped to his feet. “What happened?” Reece demanded.
“How did it go?” Sage asked at the same time.”
“I’m not dead, so that’s a plus.” Elias went to the cooler and pulled out a bottle of water. He opened it and drank half of it down. He was parched. He’d spent hours running around some heavily wooded area.
The twins shared a look. Elias knew they could communicate without speaking a word.
“Maybe we should pack up and leave,” Reece suggested. “We can go out west or maybe down south.”
Elias shook his head. “I’ve made first contact. The alpha’s name is Jacque LaForge. He wants to talk to his pack before he makes any decision.”
Sage frowned. “I didn’t think that was the way things worked in a pack.” He bent down and slid his book into the knapsack at his feet.
“It doesn’t.” Elias finished off the last of the water, capped the empty and tossed it back into the cooler. “This pack seems different. I think your mother was right about them.” He didn’t want to build false hope. “Thing is, they may not want to open up their pack to strangers, even if some of their own members are half-breeds.”
Reece shrugged, trying to act indifferent. Sage simply looked away. Elias hated feeling this helpless. He wanted a better life for them, some stability.
“Either way, we’ll know when they call. I expect we’ll hear before nightfall. In the meantime, why don’t we go fishing?”
“Fishing. You want to go fishing?” Reece stared at him like he had two heads. Sage simply went to the SUV and started getting the gear together.
“Yes, fishing.” He went to Reece and caught him in a headlock, tussling with his nephew until he finally drew a laugh from the boy. “We have to eat. No reason we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves while we’re waiting.” He slapped Reece on the back. “No matter what happens, we’re in this together,” he reminded them.
“Together,” both boys echoed at once.
Elias took the fishing rod that Sage held out to him. “Let’s catch some fish. I don’t know about you two, but I’m hungry. A feed of fresh trout would hit the spot.”
“So would more oatmeal cookies,” Sage muttered under his breath. Elias didn’t answer, because there was nothing he could say. More than oatmeal cookies, he wanted to see Sue.
“If we catch enough fish, maybe we can swing by Sue’s place and give some to her and Billy as a thank you for the cookies,” Elias suggested. He knew he should stay away from her, but a short visit wouldn’t hurt. Especially since they’d be leaving tomorrow if the pack didn’t agree to meet with him.
“That’s a great idea.” Reece grabbed his gear from his brother and led the way to the creek.
* * * * *
The entire pack gathered in Gator and Sylvie’s home. They’d taken over the second of the original homes since it had the biggest kitchen and Gator did so much cooking. They all sat around the living room waiting to find out why Jacque had gathered them all here.
Jacque hated the shadow of fear in Gwen’s eyes. He wanted to howl in fury. Why now? Just when they were starting to believe they were safe.
“We had a visitor,” he began.
“The Louisiana Pack?” Gwen asked.
In no other pack that he knew of would anyone have interrupted the alpha while he was talking. Jacque didn’t take it as an affront.
He knew Gwen and the others were worried.
“Non.” He lifted Gwen out of her chair and sat with her in his lap. “Not the Louisiana Pack, chère. You’ve got nothing to worry about from that quarter.”
“Then who is it?”
Jacque glanced at Gator and Cole, who were standing beside their mates. He wished he’d had time to discuss this with the males of the pack first. Chauvinistic? Maybe, but his first priority was always the protection of the women.
“A man named Elias Gallagher.” He nodded at Armand. “I know you haven’t had much time, but what do you know?”
His cousin looked from the computer in his lap. “Since I don’t know where he came from, I’m having to narrow things down.” Armand’s fingers tapped on a few more keys. “I did find a newspaper article on an Everett and Marcie Gallagher. They were caught up in a multi-vehicle crash last winter in Michigan. I didn’t find an obituary, which is unusual, but the article mentions they left behind twin sons.”
“That’s so sad,” Gwen murmured.
“That matches the story Elias told us.”
Gwen swiveled in his arms and poked him in the chest. “What exactly happened? What did he tell you?”
Jacque caught her hand and brought it to his mouth where he nipped the tip of her fingers. Her breath caught and her eyes glazed over slightly. He loved how she responded to his every touch. As much as he wanted to drag her back to their home and take her to bed, they had a serious problem that had to be dealt with. “He walked down the main road, bold as brass.”
“I thought I felt someone watching earlier in the morning, but I couldn’t smell or see anything out of the ordinary,” Gator added. “I think it was him.”
“He’s that good?” Louis asked.
Jacque nodded. “He’s good. He knew Cole was in the woods watching.”
“That makes him exceptional,” Armand pointed out. They all knew Cole was like a ghost in the woods.
“What did he want?” Joseph Blanchard asked. It was only lately that Cole’s father had started speaking up at pack meetings. He still wasn’t used to the openness of this pack, but he was getting there.
Wolf on a Mission: Salvation Pack, Book 6 Page 5
