Wild Fire (The Kingson Pride Book 2)

by Kristen Banet

  He moved back downstairs where everyone was eating, and Brenton looked up to him.

  “How is she?” He looked worried.

  “Sleeping on her couch as a cheetah, good idea telling her to stick to her feline form,” Troy gave his Alpha a casual shrug but none of this was casual.

  “We will talk about it later. She is going to be asleep for a long time, so we have a few hours at least.” Brenton was back to his mild professionalism. “We have some important stuff to discuss.”

  “First, all four of our guest bedrooms are on the top floor. Troy and Gabe will show you guys around up there after this meeting. You can figure out who is sharing with who,” Andrew pointed to the wolves, who all nodded. “Leave one open for Finn, another open for Sheriff, though our old bear is only going to be staying until his wife is back in town, then someone else can claim the room.”

  “Next, Chris,” Brenton looked to the wolf Alpha. “I’ll show you to my office and we will start making calls. Finn, Andrew is going to help you out. We aren’t going to let you wander off without knowing if you have someone to go to.”

  “You aren’t my Alpha,” Finn growled.

  “I am until you get back to yours and while you are in my damn house,” Brenton just looked the fox over, who looked away. “I won’t have it said that I don’t take care of people who need it. Is that clear?”

  “Yeah,” Finn growled. Troy could imagine what he was going through. He’d lost his brother and Troy couldn’t imagine a world without Gabe. He wasn’t sure he could survive a world without Gabe.

  Troy turned to his brother, who looked like he was strung out. He hadn’t seen Gabe looking like that in years.

  “The troopers are bringing everything tomorrow. I am going to junk the Range Rovers and replace them,” Brenton continued.

  “I want all our vehicles upgraded to bullet-proof glass like the house,” Zachary snarled. “All of them, including your little sports car and Riley’s Cayenne. Especially her Cayenne.”

  “Yeah, it is just going to take time, Zachary.” Brenton ran a hand through his hair. “Next up, the troopers are getting everything to the US SSTF. They are giving it to the Denver office and I made it clear to them that none of us want to get wrapped up in it. We want to be left alone unless they feel there is a continued threat to us.”

  “Let’s hope they listen,” Chris rolled his eyes and Troy raised an eyebrow at the wolf. “They tend to just run over people’s lives in their pursuit of justice. It’s a hardcore group of guys.”

  “Like?” Zachary asked, his arms crossed. Thomas was the one who sighed and gave a shrug.

  “They aren’t afraid to walk away from their lives to pursue ‘justice’. They tried to recruit me, but I wasn’t willing. Years possibly undercover, no pack or pride to call one’s own. Different identities, and years all over the world. More than a few are divorced or never married. More than a few haven’t seen their children in years, left in the care of ex-wives and relatives.” Thomas shook his head slowly. “They give it all away, walk away from their lives, in pursuit of their goals. They are more than just protecting country and home, a lot of them have personal stakes in the missions they do, and it’s nearly an obsession.”

  “Sounds lovely,” Troy groaned, Andrew chuckling at him. “Do they not care about who they leave behind?”

  “I’m sure they care, but find their work more important,” Thomas looked uncomfortable. “I couldn’t do it. I want to settle down one day, have kids, have a life. I saw a war, fought in it, and I wasn’t ready to dedicate my life for more.”

  “Hence, why someone like Sheriff retired when he met his wife,” Chris gave a wry grin. “They are hardcore in the US SSTF. So let’s hope that the fear of dealing with the infamous Kingson Pride keeps them very far away. I mean, you guys have a serious reputation.”

  “Let’s hope,” Brenton lifted his glass at the other Alpha. “I got a call from Jamie just before I walked in. They released Sheriff and Jamie got him in a car home, so he’ll be here in a couple of hours. He’s doped up, leave him alone. Don’t need anyone pissing off a drugged and injured bear.”

  “Anything else?” Gabe asked, looking at his own shaking hands. Troy needed to talk to him. He knew what Gabe was thinking about since it was ringing in Troy’s head as well.

  They’d failed her.

  That thought would kill Gabe and Troy faster than anything the world could ever throw at them.

  “No. Everyone get some sleep. Chris, come with me.” Brenton walked out, the wolf following him.

  “Gabe, let’s go get some sleep,” Troy took his brother’s shoulder and pulled him along gently. “Come on, brother mine. Let’s get some sleep.”

  “Yeah.”

  They lead the others up to the third floor and showed them their rooms. Troy dragged Gabe to their room and shoved him inside.

  “Snap out of it, Gabe,” Troy growled. “If we can’t hold it together, we’re going to crash and burn.”

  “I am holding it together, Troy,” Gabe snarled, vicious and mean. “By a fucking thread, I’m holding it together.”

  “I swear to God, Gabe, that thread is nearly snapped,” Troy took his brother’s shirt and shook Gabe. “And we both know what happens when it snaps.”

  “I’m fine!” Gabe tried to shove Troy back, but Troy didn’t release his grip.

  “I know about the Adderall, Gabe!” Troy roared. “I know! You can’t be taking that shit! You can’t be taking anything, and you fucking know it!”

  Troy had found the bottle in Denver but never got the chance to confront Gabe without the entire pride knowing. This was between them, not Brenton or Zachary or Andrew. It sure as fuck wasn’t Riley’s problem. This was a Walker problem. Troy had to stop it now before it blew up and Brenton took drastic measures. Like sending one or both of them away from Riley until they got their shit together.

  “Why?” Gabe stopped struggling to glare at Troy.

  “Because eventually it won’t work as well for you as you would like, and you know it. You’ll find something stronger and harder to keep you going.”

  Troy let go of Gabe, pushing him back as he did.

  “And you will go down, Gabe. You will go down a rabbit hole you won’t survive a second time. I was a drinker and yeah, it would have killed me. Ten years from now.” Troy rubbed his face, angry and sick. “But you? Gabe, you were always the stronger one of us. You held it together for longer, but you fall so much farther, so much harder.”

  “Troy… I’ll be fine,” Gabe was shaking now, and Troy could barely look at him. “I promise.”

  “You better be,” Troy was desperate. He couldn’t lose his brother, it would kill him. He couldn’t be Finn and seeing that fox for the last several hours tore Troy apart. “Because Riley needs you. The pride needs you. I need you.”

  “I’m going to go downst-”

  “Sleep, Gabe. Get some sleep.” Troy pointed to their bed, unwilling to let Gabe leave the room. If he didn’t force Gabe to get some sleep, he wouldn’t.

  When he finally heard Gabe’s even breathing of sleep, Troy let himself be taken by it. He held Gabe close to him like they had slept as kids, wishing life was as simple as it used to be.

  ZACHARY

  Zachary was awake earlier than he would have liked. They had made it home at nine in the morning and now it was only noon. He maybe got two hours.

  “Can’t even catch a real amount of sleep,” he snarled to himself, pushing out of the bed. “Of all the days I can’t get any real sleep.”

  He grabbed some sweats just to cover himself and stormed out of his room, frustrated. They were home and he couldn’t sleep.

  He stomped into the kitchen to grab anything Andrew might have left for them, only to run into a wolf doing the same thing.

  “Thomas,” Zachary growled. “Good… afternoon.”

  The wolf looked up, and Zachary wondered if he’d slept at all.

  “Hey Zachary,” Thomas grabbed a water fr
om the fridge. “Sorry, I just needed something to drink.”

  “You’re good,” Zachary nodded. “I’m grabbing something to eat, hungry?”

  Might as well be nice to the house guests, even if he was feeling cranky as fuck.

  “Yeah, man. Thanks.” Thomas sat at the bar, as much the polite guest Zachary figured he could muster.

  Zachary could see the military in him, the posture, the haircut. Also, in a sense of the brotherhood. Thomas also exuded a strange energy of tense calm, ready to strike but still completely relaxed. He moved with a confidence that none of the other wolves had.

  All of that combined probably kept the wolf alive in the compound.

  “So, Marines?” Zachary looked over to the wolf after he threw the leftover casserole in the oven. Andrew would kill him for being in the kitchen without his watchful eye on him. Fuck it.

  “Yeah. Fifteen years,” Thomas grinned. “I’m a bit older than you all.”

  “Didn’t want to retire?” Zachary jumped on the counter and crossed his arms.

  Thomas shrugged and took another drink of water. No answer would ever be given to that question, and Zachary wasn’t sure it was his business to press for it.

  Once the food was hot, Zachary dished them both up and they sat next to each other at the bar.

  “I’m so fucking mad at my brother,” Thomas sighed.

  Zachary’s head snapped over to the wolf.

  “What?” His brother was the Alpha of his pack, and that said something.

  “I told them that going after the hunters was stupid, told them that we would be making a mess for ourselves.” Thomas took a bite and shook his head, glaring down at his plate. “And now he wants to run off and fight with the new Alpha that the South Dakota pack picked.”

  “How bad is that?” Zachary shrugged. “He’s an Alpha, he’s got to lead something.”

  “Our pack knew it was his bad decision to antagonize the hunters. They figured, after the entire inner circle was taken that they had to rebuild the upper ranks fast or lose the entire territory. And they made the right decision,” Thomas took another bite, still glaring at his plate. “It’s going to get us killed to follow him to that.”

  “Why do you follow him?” Zachary growled. “You are an Alpha. Riley didn’t notice and when we noticed that you followed Chris, we didn’t question it. But you are an Alpha.”

  Thomas turned his glare from the plate to Zachary. Oh yeah, Thomas was a stronger Alpha than Chris.

  “I’m the younger brother. Other than my time in the Marines, I’ve always followed Chris and hell…” Thomas groaned, throwing his fork down.

  “He doesn’t listen very well,” Zachary pointed out. “If Brenton was like that with me, this pride would have fallen apart years ago. Yeah, he gets the last and final say and he makes mistakes, but he also owns up to it at the end when it happens.”

  Thomas stewed for a minute until they both turned to soft footsteps coming down the stairs.

  Finn walked in, dark rings under his eyes. He looked at them and moved quickly, loading up a plate for himself and keeping his eyes low.

  “Finn, you have any idea where you’re going to go?” Thomas looked at the lone fox who’d lost his brother.

  “No. We… I don’t have a pride or pack or anything. It was just me and… We did odd jobs around the country, moved a lot. We were no one special,” Finn had his back turned to them. “Can I eat upstairs?”

  “You can eat wherever you want,” Zachary turned back to Thomas and raised an eyebrow as Finn practically ran off.

  “That kid,” Thomas watched the fox disappear.

  “Yeah. And about what we were talking about. How do James and Antonio feel about this?” Zachary stretched his legs, watching Thomas frown.

  “They don’t know yet. I can tell you, they won’t be happy, but they’ll go die for Chris if it’s necessary.”

  “Are you sure?” Zachary raised his eyebrows. “You saved them. You were right about it all, in the end, and Chris doesn’t seem prepared to stop making risky decisions.”

  “Shit, Zachary… What you’re saying is that I should steal what’s left of my brother’s pack.”

  “Your brother lost his pack. You know how I know that? I’ve got four wolves in the house instead of two hundred,” Zachary pointed around the empty mansion. “Do you see a pack of wolves here?”

  Thomas was a little pale at that.

  “No. And what pack should I have?”

  “Whatever makes you happy and keeps you alive. Brenton keeps a small pride. Any shifters we work with aren’t pride, they’re allies.”

  “Yeah…” Thomas ate quietly after that.

  Zachary didn’t want to see the wolves go get themselves killed, but if Thomas followed his brother to that, then they really deserved to get stomped on a bit.

  The doorbell rang, and Zachary groaned. He jogged over and opened it slowly to see Sheriff standing there grinning.

  “God, have mercy on me,” Zachary growled to himself. “Come on in, Sheriff.”

  “Wife gets in tomorrow! So, I guess I’m staying here, tonight,” Sheriff strolled in as soon as Zachary got the hell out of the bear’s way. “I’m starving, feed me please.”

  “Alright, Sheriff.” Zachary leaned against the front door for a moment while Sheriff crutched his way to the kitchen.

  Sheriff was very high. Just what Zachary wanted to deal with on two hours of sleep. The damn bear was so high, it was like he was never shot in the first place.

  “Hey, wolf!” Oh God.

  “Hey, Sheriff,” Thomas laughed at Sheriff, and Zachary went back to the kitchen.

  “Let me get you a plate, old bear,” Zachary growled, quickly throwing more food on the plate for the guy. “Here. Sit and eat, then I’ll help you get to your room.”

  “I’m older than you, son. Don’t tell me what to do,” Sheriff sat and began to eat anyways. “I’m so happy to be back in Wild Junction. The damn docs wanted to keep me overnight, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to let that happen.”

  “I bet.” Zachary tried to hold back the growl in that. He couldn’t be mean to Sheriff. They had been in captivity just a day before, and getting out was a miracle. Zachary could be nice. Brenton wasn’t here to be the face of the pride, so Zachary had to be nice.

  “Where is everyone?” Sheriff said with a full mouth. Zachary knew his wife would never let him do that at his own place.

  “Asleep mostly,” Thomas chuckled.

  “Everyone here has gotten at least a little sleep,” Zachary threw the casserole back in the fridge. If anyone else wanted food, they could do it themselves.

  “I haven’t,” Thomas chuckled. “But I’m really used to it. I wanted to talk to James and Antonio before Chris gets up.”

  “Trouble, wolf?” Sheriff looked at him, and Thomas handed his own empty plate to Zachary.

  “Yes… but let’s not get into it now,” Thomas gave Sheriff a tight smile. Sheriff nodded with an exaggerated jerk of his head, then turned to Zachary.

  “Where’s kitten? She didn’t want to see me?” He seemed a bit depressed now.

  “She doesn’t know you’re here since you just got here. She’s asleep.” Zachary washed the dishes as Sheriff ate. “She’ll probably be up by dinner.”

  “Fine.” Sheriff was practically pouting. What the hell did they give this old man?

  It took an hour for him and Thomas to drag Sheriff to his own room for some sleep.

  “That was an entertaining way to spend the afternoon,” Thomas chuckled as they headed down the stairs.

  “Yeah,” Zachary growled back. He didn’t find it entertaining at all. They were at the second floor when they heard soft footsteps.

  Star came tearing down the hallways and Zachary cursed.

  “Please don’t, Star,” he pleaded as the small cat latched onto his leg. “Fuck! Star stop, why didn’t Brenton put you in Riley’s fucking room?” The cat only yowled at him and tried to climb. Thomas wa
s laughing hysterically as Zachary tried to pull her off him. “Come on, Star, let’s go to Riley’s room so you can see your mom. Jesus Christ.”

  “Is she normally like this?” Thomas laughed as they walked to Riley’s door. Zachary was holding the little cat, who was trying to get on his shoulder.

  “When she’s freaked out, yeah. Too many new people in the house for her. She really only likes Riley, but she comes running to me when Riley’s not around.” Zachary knocked on Riley’s door and it took a few minutes, but the door opened. Riley was bleary-eyed and exhausted still. Zachary let go of Star who dove into the room. “That’s yours. Go back to sleep, baby.”

  “Thank you,” she mumbled and closed the door.

  “Well. I’m going to try and get more sleep. You can crash in the den and watch a movie if you want,” Zachary thumped Thomas’ shoulder. “You know where it is?”

  “Yeah. Thanks, man,” Thomas walked down the stairs, and Zachary wandered to his room.

  He hit the bed and was out instantly.

  RILEY

  It was past dinner time when Riley rolled off her couch in human form. She had forgotten to shift back when she went back to sleep. She groaned, her body aching, and dragged herself into her bathroom for a hot shower. She felt days of grit and sweat fall off her. She washed Texas and the compound away, like it would help make her feel better.

  “There’s no place like home,” she whispered to herself, leaning on the wall in her shower, the hot water pounding into her. She washed slowly, the tension leaving her body as she went.

  But when she got out, she didn’t truthfully feel much better. Something was riding her, and she wasn’t sure what.

  “Aren’t I supposed to feel depressed?” She mumbled as she dried off. “Isn’t this where I break down and fall apart?”

  Was she broken? She didn’t want to fall and cry. She sure as shit wasn’t depressed. She didn’t know what she was.

  She threw on a tank and hoodie with a pair of yoga pants. She should be feeling something. She’d been victimized, and she hated it; but she didn’t feel what she thought she should, what other people feel. She slipped in new lip rings, happy to find her holes were still fine after days of not having jewelry in them. She looked more like herself after that, which was a little comforting.