by RJ Blain
“Why can’t it be on our terms?” I muttered.
Richard stared at me for a long time, his eyes wide and his lips parted. “What do you mean by that?”
“You people do everything backwards!” I wailed.
“Backwards?”
I drank my coffee and cursed my inability to keep my mouth shut. “Aren’t people supposed to, you know…”
“If I knew, I doubt I’d be having so much trouble with this conversation—and a better idea of what to do about you and the Shadow Pope.”
“Courting. Betrothals. Relationships. Dating,” I stammered. “That.”
Richard set his coffee aside and rubbed his forehead. “All right. I keep think you’re dense and shy, but it’s more than that, is it? You’re dense, shy, and uneducated. Evelyn just scowls and tells me you’re traditional.”
“At least you didn’t call me ignorant.”
“I don’t suppose you can shine some light on what the fuck being traditional means? A clue might help. I’ll take two. I’m sure Frank has a baseball bat here somewhere. Beat me over the head until I have an idea of what I’m working with here.”
I clenched my teeth and reminded myself I couldn’t run and hide forever, no matter how much I wanted to bolt for the door. “Frank told me females have equal standing in the pack as males.”
Emotions had scents, and I wasn’t sure what I was smelling from Richard, but he straightened and frowned at me. “I’d say females have a higher standing than most males in the pack as there are so few of you. Most Fenerec males have Normal or Fenerec-born mates. Females are courted by the males. It can get quite competitive when there are thirty males vying for the attention of a single female. Once she’s mated, she’s a jewel of the pack. The males certainly can’t bear puppies, and there’s little Fenerec want more than entire litters of puppies. I should know. It’s my job to make sure all those little ones make it into the world alive.”
Running and hiding seemed so much easier than telling the truth. I gathered my courage and mumbled, “This is the first pack I’ve ever actually been in. When I came to Canada, I wasn’t a part of the pack. I wasn’t old enough to mate, and I was to be given to the Alpha.”
Richard frowned. “Explain.”
“I belonged to the pack.”
“I don’t think I understand.”
“The Alpha decided who the bitches mated with, and that was it. I was shipped overseas, and I became the property of the pack.” I stared at my cup. “When the Inquisition killed the pack, I became their property.”
“When you say property, you mean it literally, don’t you?”
Richard’s rage stung my nose. Short of making a run for it, there was nothing left for me to do but nod.
“You were an Inquisitor?”
“A long time ago.”
“Then you became a rogue.”
“Yes.”
“So, if I did things as you expect, I would marry you off. That’s it?” Richard’s face took on a distinctively green hue. “Please tell me I’m misunderstanding.”
Taking another sip of my coffee, I considered Richard’s sickened tone and the bitterness in his scent. “I was too young to mate. I don’t know the specifics. The pack was killed by the Inquisition before I found out the details. I never saw the terms of the contract.”
I was grateful I couldn’t remember the Alpha’s name or much about him, only that he had viewed me as his property, and that he hadn’t let the other males of his pack near me.
“Contract,” Richard snarled, rising to his feet. While I flinched, I kept seated, although my entire body tensed. Instead of lashing out, my Alpha stalked to the stove and lifted the lid on the pot. “Let me make this perfectly clear. Times have changed. Young ladies, be they Fenerec, Fenerec-born, or Normal, are not up for sale. If she wants to sleep with every single eligible male in the pack, she’s welcomed to—hell, she’s encouraged to, if that’s what she wants.”
“That’s insane.”
“No, your situation is insane. I have not, do not, nor will I ever, trade away one of my bitches. You’re not for sale. No one should ever be for sale.” Richard hesitated. “Well, unmated Alpha males are prime pieces of real estate, but that’s different.”
“How is it different?” I demanded.
“We always have the right to say no, just like you do. Thing is, females want dominant males more often than not, and Alpha males are the cream of the crop. Females will fight tooth and claw for a chance to be Alpha female—just like a male will do a lot for a chance to be with an Alpha female. There are situations where packs arrange courtships and betrothals. I’ve negotiated for males and females alike to join Yellowknife’s pack because someone was interested in a courtship, but both parties—and their Alphas—agreed to set terms. Hell, I betrothed my own brother off to Lisa to keep her father from ripping my head off. Of course, my brother didn’t put up much of a fight after he saw my Nicolina in a bikini, the rat bastard.”
“I didn’t give him a choice.”
Richard sighed. “Is that the real issue here? Vicky, how many times do I have to tell you? For a mating bond to form, there needs to be a mutual interest and desire for one. Elliot knows far better than most what is involved with mating bonds—he may not know how to cope with the feelings, the instincts, and urges, but he’s been dealing with Fenerec pairs for most of his life. It’s his job. If anyone knows how to prevent an unwanted mating bond, it’s him. The man wanted you. He still does. You didn’t see him when news came down on the wire that you, Nicole, and Dante had disappeared. I did. He’s always been aware of the risks his brother takes. He’s grown up knowing one day he might get the call Dante won’t be coming home. But you? He never even considered you might not come back to him. It wasn’t even a possibility to him. Until we find Nicole and Dante, you are his entire world. If you can’t accept him or his feelings for you, I don’t think it would take much to sever the bond. A few phone calls, and it’s do—”
My mug shattered on Richard’s forehead, and I launched myself at him, teeth bared and fingers curled into claws. I hit him hard enough he staggered into the stove and crashed to the floor.
The stew pot fell with us.
Chapter Sixteen
Stew covered me from head to toe, and the thickened broth scalded my skin. It oozed into my pajamas and puddled on the tile around me. Half of me sprawled across Richard, who snorted and worked his hands beneath me, dislodging me from his lap.
“This isn’t funny,” I hissed.
The pot over my head made my voice echo, and the stew dripping down my face tasted good enough I mourned its loss. Tears of frustration stung my eyes, and I bit my lip to keep it from trembling.
“Normally, when one of my bitches decides she’s had enough of my shit, she at least manages to bite me once or twice. You? Not so much. Good aim with the mug, though. I’m bleeding all over Frank’s floor. He’s going to love that. He’s going to come down here, he’s going to see this mess, and he’s going to kill us and take our pelts for trophies. He’ll turn me into a rug, since my fur is simply that luxurious. I’m not sure what he’ll do with you. Maybe he’ll use you as a dish rag.”
“It’s your fault.”
“I do so enjoy provoking bitches into trying to kill me. It’s one of my few pleasures in life.”
I sighed, grabbed hold of the pot, and pulled it off my head. Narrowing my eyes, I considered if the stainless steel would have any hope of breaking Richard’s skull. “I hate you.”
“You don’t hate me. You’re just frustrated and confused. You’re fighting your wolf’s instincts for no good reason, you don’t know what to do, and you’re covered in stew. That’s your fault, by the way. You could’ve just thrown the mug. It was a well-deserved mugging.”
I glared at him and lifted the pot.
“I don’t think Frank will be happy if you dent his mate’s stock pot. Those things aren’t cheap.”
“You can afford to replace it.”
>
“Only if I’m alive to pay up.”
I had to swallow several times before I could speak without my voice cracking. “Why are you doing this?”
Richard reached over and picked chunks of stew out of my hair. “I was proving a point. If you didn’t care about Elliot, you wouldn’t have tried to murder me with a coffee mug and a pot of stew. Creative, making it look like a kitchen accident. I’m going to have to give you a failing grade for execution, however.”
A giggle tickled my throat, and despite my efforts to choke it back, it escaped. “You said execution.”
“At least the stew was on low heat, or you’d be lobster red right now. You know, if we shift, we could eat the evidence. Frank doesn’t have to know.”
“You’re an idiot, Richard.” Frank sighed and stepped into the kitchen. “Why are you two wearing my stew instead of eating it?”
Richard raised his hand.
“When did my house become a preschool? Yes, Richard?”
“I was mugged.”
“What did you do to deserve it?”
“Why do you always assume I’ve done something?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you purposefully provoked her into trying to kill you. The stew would’ve been a casualty when she tried to kill you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you planned it so the stew would get involved—on purpose—because little is as effective as stopping a brawl than scalding hot liquid dumped over someone’s head.”
“You’re being awfully sarcastic, Frank.”
“One of my mugs is broken, Vicky looks like she’s ready to cry, and she’s covered in stew. Since it’s my house and it’s probably your fault, I can be as sarcastic as I want. Isn’t that right, Mr. Murphy?”
“I don’t know why you’re being so grumpy about this.”
“Okay.” Frank pulled out his cell phone. “I guess I’ll just have to call Alex. Why couldn’t the sane brother be the Alpha?”
“That’s really not necessary, Frank.”
“I’ll be the one to decide that. Vicky, Elliot’s thawing in the guest bathroom upstairs, but you’re welcome to use the master bathroom. If you don’t mind taking a quick shower before making sure he doesn’t drown, I’ll take care of cleaning the kitchen. Richard’s going to help make sure my kitchen is completely spotless, or when I call Alex, I’ll have him and the rest of the pack back me while I use Richard’s mangy ass as a mop.”
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
“Apology accepted. Go get cleaned up. There are robes in the master bath. Steal whichever one fits best. Just leave the pajamas on the floor and I’ll have Richard do the laundry. Maybe if he’s too busy doing chores, he won’t have enough time to cause any more problems.” Frank put his hands on his hips, glared at Richard, and bared his teeth. “Don’t you even think of trying to get out of it, either. Take your time, Vicky. I’m sure this will take a while. Won’t it, Richard?”
It took me several tries to get up off the stew-slicked floor. When I did, I gave the growling males a wide berth and fled upstairs.
I’d met talented liars before, but never one quite as good as Frank. Elliot was upstairs, but he wasn’t in the guest bathroom.
If I’d been wise, I would’ve knocked or checked before barging in. Elliot was at no risk of drowning, and he wasn’t thawing, either. He was toweling his hair dry while his wet skin glistened in the overhead light.
Underneath his suit was a lean, fit man, and I lost the ability to do anything other than gape at him.
Elliot looked me over head to toe, kept on drying his hair, and arched a brow. “Did you bathe in stew?”
I opened and closed my mouth, but no sound emerged.
“I’m going to guess by your stunned expression you thought I was in the other bathroom.”
A horrified blush washed over my cheeks and heated my face, and I clapped my hands over my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why are you covered in stew?” I heard the soft tap of Elliot’s bare feet on tile draw closer. “It’s stuck in your hair.”
“It’s Richard’s fault.”
“I’m not going to ask. You don’t have to cover your eyes, you know. I really don’t mind if you sneak a few peeks.” His throaty chuckle made me shiver, and the heat of my wolf’s eagerness spread through me. “I have Richard to thank for your company?”
“Frank told me you were in the guest bathroom!”
“They ganged up on you? Richard dumped stew on you, and Frank directed you straight to me?”
Unwilling to confess I’d throw a mug of coffee at Richard and caused the pot of stew to end up on my head, I mumbled, “I need a shower.”
“Let me help you get that junk out of your hair. If you go in like that, you’ll flood Frank’s house. You can look. I’m decent.”
I peeked through my fingers. My wolf wanted far more than a look. She wanted to touch and find out if his water-slicked skin was as smooth as it looked.
True to his word, Elliot had wrapped his towel around his waist. His expression was amused, and his smile brightened his brown eyes. “If you promise you won’t leave my sight for even a minute, I’ll take that collar off. It’s got stew all over it.”
My wolf found his offer intriguing, especially since I needed a shower. While she left most human customs to me, she understood the key points. To shower, I’d have to get out of my stew-stained pajamas.
It wouldn’t take much work to rid Elliot of his towel, and she knew it.
“I don’t like the collar.”
“And I don’t like when you’re not close to me. We both get something we want. It’s a good bargain.” Elliot stepped closer, and he laughed as he went to work picking food out of my hair. “I won’t deny it; I’ll work hard to steal a few peeks. I dislike whoever invented frosted glass right now.”
“How brazen of you.”
“When subtle doesn’t work, a man has to be a little more direct. You could invite me into the shower with you. I’ve missed you.”
“I tried to murder Richard. I smashed my coffee mug in his face, but I knocked him into the stove and the stew pot ended up on top of my head.”
Elliot’s mouth opened, but he remained silent.
He stood so close to me I could feel the heat of his body, but as always, Markus got between us, and the weight of old promises dragged me down to cold, miserable depths. “I was just trying to keep my word to Markus,” I whispered.
“Vicky, it’s a two-way street. Dupree broke his promise to you the instant he took your puppies away from you. You owe him nothing. You gave him far more than he deserved. He may have even been the one who had tried to kill them. We almost lost them, Vicky. If it hadn’t been for that collar, if it hadn’t been for the fact you found them when you did, they would’ve died.”
Running and hiding wouldn’t help. I took deep breaths, and I waited for the tension in my chest to ease. “I should’ve done more.
Elliot sighed. “Hindsight is perfect. I should’ve done more, too. Instead of passively waiting for my chance, I should’ve abused every bit of my power to confirm he was worthy of you. I didn’t. Because I didn’t, a lot of good people died. Dupree might’ve been the one to kill James and Elizabeth, too. He had all the skill and knowledge needed to do the job. No one knows where he is. You have reasons to feel guilty, but not over him.”
The relief Elliot didn’t try to wave away my guilt was so strong my legs trembled. “I want the truth.”
“I want justice. For the kids, for James, for Elizabeth, and for the North Fork pack. For you, too. Did Richard tell you why he had you in confinement?”
“I was told.”
“Richard’s smart and wise—and right. I’ve wanted you for years, and I can’t say I would’ve been able to resist the temptation. That doesn’t make me a good man or a gentleman, and you deserve better.”
The truth hurt, but I was so tired of ignoring it, burying it as deep as I could, and pretending I wasn’t afraid. I’d spent sev
eral lifetimes running and hiding, and it hadn’t worked. “I threw my coffee at Richard because he said if I couldn’t accept you, I should let you go. That you could be freed from me.”
Elliot stiffened. “Would you excuse me for a few minutes? I think my newly renovated house will need a silver wolf pelt for a rug.”
“I hit him with my mug.”
“Did it kill him?”
“No.”
“You didn’t hit him hard enough.”
My wolf approved of the anger in Elliot’s scent and the tension in his body. Ignoring her, I reached out and pressed my hand to Elliot’s chest.
His skin warmed mine.
“If you kill him, he can’t suffer for even suggesting it.”
“If I can’t kill him, I can accept long-term suffering. How did you end up with stew all over you?”
“I attacked him.”
“I’m finding this development oddly promising. And the stew?”
“We hit the stove. The pot fell. It landed on me.”
“You weren’t burned, were you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You should let me check you over very, very carefully. In the shower. So there are no misunderstandings, I fully intend to seduce you. I told you, Richard was right to worry about me. I’m going to give you one chance to run away. You can say no, but I’ll be watching and waiting for my chance. I’d like if you let me hunt you and make you mine.” He leaned forward, and his breath warmed my throat. “Even if you say no, I’ll wait until you change your mind. I don’t know what I have to do to prove myself to you, but I’ll do it. Anything.”
My wolf’s desperate whines filled my head. Richard had been right; I’d been denying her for no good reason.
My fear surged, and the anxiety I might lose him ate away at me. The unknown frightened me, too.
Instead of running, I swallowed and kept swallowing until I choked out, “I’m afraid.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“Of losing you, too. Like I lost Samantha. Like I lost Elizabeth and James.”