Werewolves and Wranglers

by Kristen Banet

  “Listen to her, Lawrence,” a feminine voice called out. Adalyn looked around him to see an exhausted and weak-looking Felicity. “She might not be a wereanimal, but just because she’s female, that doesn’t make her weak. I’ll lose a lot of respect for you if you continue down that road.”

  Lawrence winced. Adalyn smiled at Felicity. If there was one woman who knew what it meant to live in a man’s world, it was Felicity. Lawrence respected the hell out of the werecat Alpha. With her endorsement, Adalyn knew she would get what she wanted.

  “We’ll work together,” Lawrence promised. “But I’m going to face challenges over this.”

  “Then win them,” she ordered. That was the only thing she could tell the werewolf Alpha. With that, she turned around and clicked her tongue. Dark Prince trotted over to her and she rubbed his nose.

  “Where are you going?” the Alpha asked incredulously.

  “Home. To sleep. You can give me a proper report in the afternoon. Tobias, Valen, Remy, and Easton will tell you everything we saw last night. Easton has an injured werewolf in the jail.” With those orders left for the men, she swung up on her stallion and left before any of them could stop her. She knew she should have been worried about leaving her lovers and friends together, but she couldn’t handle one more cock—and the day had barely started.

  They’ll work it out or I’m going to start throwing all of them around too.

  14

  Remy

  Remy watched her ride off, in a bit of shock. When he’d come back from his errand to the house, Easton had given him a quick replay of what went down. Now he just wanted to make things right. He didn’t like Adalyn Lovett mad at them. No, she was terrifying when she was angry. The last thing he wanted was to get tossed around the way Lawrence, a damned werewolf Alpha, just was.

  Lawrence was still trying to gather his pride from the event.

  “So, what do you want to do?” the werewolf Alpha asked them. “And hurry up and tell me everything that happened.”

  Remy waited as Easton launched into the explanation of how they found out the Ranch was being attacked. He told the Alpha how Adalyn rode off alone to handle it, proving she was more than willing to risk her life for his people if he let her. That made the Alpha wince, but he made no comment.

  “I sent Valen, Tobias, and Remy after her,” Easton finished. “From there, I took your man in and got the silver out of him. He’s stable. Tobias and Valen looked at him when they got back. You can have someone go in and pick him up. His horse is here as well.”

  “Thank you,” the Alpha said, full of meaning. Remy could smell the truth to it, the well of emotions. Lawrence didn’t like hearing about his pack getting hurt. “What happened next?”

  “Valen and I caught up with her on the road. We arrived at the Ranch in the dark. The rain was making the situation worse. The humans took cover in your fields and were taking shots from the dark. It was hard to defend against. Adalyn lit the area up with a simple light spell in strategic areas. Together, we continued to fend them off. There’s a chance that there were others, though, stealing your cattle. That was one of your men’s guesses.” Tobias finished and looked at Remy expectantly.

  He swallowed. He wasn’t one for speaking in a group like this, not really. Easton did all the talking for a reason. “I ran in. I went directly for them and took two out before they could stop me. If they haven’t been cleaned up yet, be warned there are dead bodies on your property now. Um. I chased out the ones shooting. There were four more. I got a bite on one but he was able to get on his horse and get away from me as another tried to take me out. I didn’t check your herd. I followed them to the border of your land and made sure they left, like last time.” Remy sighed. Now it was time to admit the bad news. “The rain kept me from getting a good scent on any of them again. I think they’re doing it on purpose, knowing you all have strong noses as well.”

  “I agree,” Lawrence said, nodding. “We’ve had a hard time tracking them too. I’m almost beginning to wonder if this is only partly about the land—and partly because we’re werewolves.”

  “It’s a possibility,” Easton agreed. “They’re loading up with silver, attacking during times they know you’re vulnerable, and they have better cover than the pack. It means the full moon might also be a problem.”

  “Is this something that happens often everywhere else?” Tobias asked. “We’ve never had…this sort of problem before in Redstone. Humans passing through is one thing, but humans don’t normally try to war with us.”

  “Could be a human passed through, saw what we had, and decided they wanted it. We’re not exactly well-liked in other parts of the country, thanks to our history with humanity and the danger we pose to them.” Lawrence shrugged. “It’s why I brought my pack out here to Redstone. Far enough away from humans that we could live in relative peace.”

  “Until this. A bad combination of what you are and your success, then we can throw your behavior in which probably upset them even more.” Easton nodded slowly. “We’ll let you go. Go check on your pack. I’m going to rest inside the jail for the morning. Remy, you can go back to whatever you were doing. It’s your day off. Sorry for pulling you in last night.”

  “Any time!” Remy wasn’t worried about it. If anything, he loved the action. He loved being able to go hunting in his primary form. “Though I think we need to look at the bond soon? I know we refreshed it after everything was said and done with the demons, but if this keeps up, it could get stressed.” He didn’t want to lose control, not with Adalyn relying on him. He couldn’t end up feral and stuck in his hellhound form when she needed him.

  “You’re fine,” Easton promised. “Go on.” With that, Easton patted his shoulder and turned, walking inside the sheriff’s office without a word to Adalyn’s friends.

  “We’re going to head out,” Valen said diplomatically.

  Remy watched them begin to walk away. He would have gone to see Adalyn, but he had a strong feeling she didn’t want to deal with him. He didn’t want to intrude on her when she was in such a mood. Easton needed to relax and close his eyes for a few hours, so Remy felt uncomfortable going inside as well.

  He really had only one option.

  “Wait. Um. I figured…uh. We could talk about what happened earlier…” He hadn’t been there for the showdown between Easton and Valen, but he could help fix it. He liked Redstone. He cared for Adalyn and he knew the situation hadn’t helped her mood. He wasn’t stupid when it came to women.

  “It’s fine.” Tobias’ face was closed off.

  “Come on,” Valen said kindly. “We can talk.” Tobias made a strange noise and Remy could smell the anger from his Russian friend’s decision. “Stop that. He’s offering an olive branch. We’ll accept it.”

  “So…Easton has telepathy and told me a bit about what happened…Look, we’re not going to hurt Adalyn, but I don’t blame you for thinking we could.” Remy wrung his hands a little, following them towards the saloon. “I also hate how mad she is right now.”

  “You have no idea. She’s a dangerous woman in general. Angry…” Valen sighed. “I fucked that up. I let your friend goad me a little by not giving me full answers and keeping to himself like he always does. She’s justified in her anger, but yeah, I wouldn’t go bother her right now.”

  “Easton is a private man. He keeps a lot to himself.” Remy didn’t even know who Easton’s father was. He knew he might need to use that later if they kept pushing. “He’s worried people will be scared of him. He hates hurting people. He likes work, though. And I don’t see him get attached to people very often. Really, since I met him, I’ve been the only one. He has high standards for people, and most can’t meet them.”

  “Sounds a little like Maxwell,” Tobias muttered as they climbed the steps before the saloon door.

  As they walked in, Remy chuckled. “Maybe that’s why Maxwell has been sending Easton letters about being a deputy. Well, they’re for me too, but I know Easton rea
lly appreciates them.”

  “Of all the friendships, I never saw that coming,” Valen said, laughing. “Sit down. We’ll have a drink.”

  Remy followed him to a table. Tobias was last, coming along after them slowly and falling into a seat with a grumpy expression. Remy didn’t know what his deal was but it didn’t bode well for anyone.

  “So…what happened with Easton…” Valen sighed, waving a hand. Drinks, already full, appeared in front of them. Remy waited. “I got in his face a little. He got in mine. I’ve been trying to get to know you both, and yet I’m blown off. I like you two, but I need Adalyn safe first.”

  “I know. What do you want to know?”

  “Who’s his father?” The unknown Russian met his gaze. “Because that could change everything.”

  “I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “I never have…but maybe I can tell you a bit about my time with him so you can understand he’s not bad.” There’s really only one story I can tell them. Here comes a trip down memory lane.

  “Oh, I know he’s not evil. He’s not a Fallen. I could tell the moment you both walked into my saloon that day.”

  “No. He’s not a bad guy at all. Has nothing to do with who his father is.” Remy sighed now, taking a sip of the drink. “You know I’m a Coldwell. Remington Coldwell. I was born to Anastasia Coldwell. My father doesn’t really matter. He’s probably in Hell, eating someone, and doesn’t understand I exist.”

  “Gross,” Tobias muttered.

  “It is, but have either of you ever heard of her?”

  “No.” Valen waved a hand for him to continue.

  “She…was a high bred socialite. A wolf shifter like David and his family. The main family members are always wolves. They consider it a sign of strength. Power over the family passes to the next wolves. They have others, though. Some felines, some horses, bulls and bears. Shifters are diverse.” Remy hadn’t thought about his family in a long time. “Well, she was in line to be the next in charge of the family, or marry whoever it would be. She uh…They say something was wrong with her. She wasn’t right in the head.” Remy never knew her. “It doesn’t matter. She did what she did and had me. I was taken away from her and raised by my grandparents. They didn’t treat me very well. I was a freak. I am a freak.” I hate talking about this, but I need them to know.

  “Where does Easton and bounty hunting come into play?” Tobias asked, now less aggressive and more interested.

  “I went feral as a teenager. I decided…fuck them. I wasn’t doing it anymore. I loved being in my hellhound form. It felt more natural. It had always been a struggle to maintain humanity.”

  “So…what you’re saying is your hellhound form is your…primary form?” Valen narrowed his eyes. “Really?”

  “I am…Half shifter, half hellhound. I’m not even sure some would consider me a being with rights. They could look at me more as an animal.” Remy couldn’t look at them anymore, swirling the whiskey in his glass, watching the amber tones move, catching and losing the light in a beautiful little show. “So yeah. It was easy for me to live as a rogue hellhound. Much easier for me than all this humanity stuff. Even growing up, my grandparents had to force me to become human. I even slept in my hellhound form. Well, they didn’t like me running away and put a bounty out for my capture. I’m a blight on their perfect reputation.”

  “And Easton was already a bounty hunter…” Tobias guessed it.

  “Yeah. By the time he started coming after me, I had evaded them for years. Years. I was nineteen, I think, maybe twenty. It was a long time ago. I was no longer legally my family’s problem. When Easton caught me, he knew what was wrong. Being a Nephilim, he could see more than others.” Remy was lost in the memories now. Roughly a decade since then, he could recall everything about the meeting that changed his life. “He convinced me to shift into my human form and we talked. I told him why I wouldn’t go back. I would fight to the bitter end to keep from going back. By the end of it, he promised to help find a solution for my problem, so I could live a normal life. He made this symbol and carved it into my back. He bonded with it and it showed up on him. He binds me to easily keep my human form so I don’t fall back into being feral. When the bond on his hand begins to fade, it means he needs to reconnect with mine and strengthen it. We’ve never slipped.”

  “He made you his hound. How does that make him—”

  “At a risk,” Remy snapped at Valen. “If I lose control, there’s a chance the bond won’t be completely broken. He could lose control, too. I could take him with me into our other sides. He’s the way he is because he needs to be. If I lose it, so could he.”

  “Fuck. A Nephilim out of control,” Valen breathed out, sagging back into his chair.

  “He did that for me. A young man who had literally nowhere to go or anyone to turn to. He taught me how to be a bounty hunter and we roamed for ten years before settling here. So he’s never told me who his father is…I’ve never cared. I never will. Because it never mattered.” Remy closed his eyes and finished his whiskey. “I haven’t told anyone that before. Not all of it. I would like if you keep it to yourselves.”

  “Of course,” Tobias agreed.

  “So you’re saying that you can trust Easton knowing so little, so we should.” Valen was staring thoughtfully at him.

  “I trust you and I don’t know what you are,” Remy replied. “Really a pot calling the kettle black, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, you don’t have to tell me that. Adalyn made it very clear.” Valen shook his head. “I was just thinking out loud.”

  “I’m not going to give up,” Tobias said softly.

  “On Adalyn? I don’t expect you to. I just don’t plan on letting you walk in and ruin the first good thing I’ve gotten since I met Easton.” Remy met the shaman’s challenge. “He and I had you figured out the day you showed up.”

  “So. We’ll play nice for her. We won’t be hostile, but this is still a battle over Adalyn Lovett.” Valen groaned. “You two—”

  “It’s not a battle and if it is, I’m winning,” Remy said, cutting him off. “Well, I hope you both think on that. I don’t want there to be hostility. I don’t want that for her. She obviously respects you two and wants you in her life, but I’m not giving up my place in it for you, Tobias. Never going to happen.”

  “I can be cordial,” Tobias said softly.

  “She said you were peaceful and non-confrontational. Where’s that?” Remy asked, staring down the shaman, who was behaving nothing like the man she, Maxwell, and Valen had described.

  “He’s only thinking with his heart and not his head,” Valen explained softly, looking away from them.

  “He’s not the only one trying to look out for his heart,” Remy said, still staring down the shaman, whose eyebrows went up a fraction.

  “Why don’t you two shake hands and agree to play nice?” Valen ordered, waving between them. “I’ll do the same with Easton next time I see him. Agree to play nice and stop trying to pry into his personal business.”

  “That works for me.” Remy held out a hand and waited. Tobias was slow, but he nodded, reaching out to grab it. He had a firm grip, but Remy knew he could crush the shaman if he needed to.

  “I just want her happy,” Tobias finally said. “And with William gone, I’m willing to do anything to make that happen.”

  “You just think she would be happiest with you.” Remy pulled his hand away finally. “And you can keep believing that. She probably could be very happy with you. But she can also be really happy with Easton and I.”

  “So you two would always share her?” Tobias was incredulous.

  “Yeah.” He shrugged. He saw no problem with that. If she was game, he never thought it had to change. “I know Easton cares for her. I’m not going to get in my closest friend’s way. Not when he and I share so well.” With a crooked smile, thinking of all the ways they knew how to share, he waved at them. “Now, I’m going to go. This was uncomfortable.”

  �
��Very,” Tobias muttered.

  As he turned to leave, he caught the curious way Valen watched him walk out. Like he was studying Remy and had a revelation.

  Valen was a strange man.

  15

  Adalyn

  Adalyn was still in a bad mood when she woke up alone in her bed. She had grown used to having two very sexy bedmates, and now there were none.

  Probably my fault. I left very pissed off. I should be happy they took my mood seriously enough to avoid me for a little while.

  She rolled out of the bed and found her clothes. Clean, dry ones, anyways. She wasn’t getting back into the soppy mess she had worn home. She didn’t stomp straight down the stairs, though. She peeked her head into one of the guest bedrooms and found no one. She tried the second, and there he was. Remy was sleeping, sprawled out without anything on. She crept closer and touched his shoulder. His orange eyes flew open and she smiled gently at him.

  “You can go to bed in my room,” she told him softly. “Thank you for staying over here for a little while.”

  He didn’t respond. He reached up, wrapped a hand around the back of her neck then pulled her down. She kissed him slowly, their tongues lazily playing. In a split second, her bad mood was gone. When he released her, she didn’t want to pull away and leave.

  “You needed some time away from us,” he said softly. “I could tell.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered again, kissing his cheek. “I’m heading back to the office. Has Easton been holding it down?”

  “Yes. Waiting on word or a report from Lawrence. I’ll get up. I’ve been out for a while. I can come in—”

  “No, it’s supposed to be your day off,” she reminded him, putting a hand on his chest.