by Lauren Dane
She resisted touching her fingertips to her lips until she’d gotten onto the 520 bridge heading back into Seattle.
Chapter Three
Ben walked off the elevator to find Lex and Cade Warden standing there, flanked by two guards. Naturally he noted the resemblance between the brothers and their delicious sister. Now that it was too late to unknow.
He’d quickly driven home and showered, changing out of his jeans and T-shirt and into khaki pants and a button-down shirt. Her taste was in his mouth like it belonged there.
Shaking his head to try and dislodge her, he reached out and shook hands with Lex and Cade and waved them into his office.
Lex sat and leaned in. “Why do you smell like my sister?”
Megan raised a brow and hid a smile.
“I, uh, well, your sister and I have started to date I suppose you could say.” It was disconcerting that they could smell her on him even after a shower. He was glad they hadn’t had sex, he wasn’t ready to have to explain that to them.
“You could say? What the hell does that mean?” Cade’s voice was a low growl.
“Oh for cripe’s sake! She’s an adult. He’s an adult. Stop it or I’ll tell Nina.”
Ben wanted to thank Megan but he just leaned back in his chair. He had to approach this as an equal. He wished he’d had more time to think on it but it was something he had to deal with right then.
“I just met Tegan this evening. I’ve asked her to have dinner with me because all we had time for was coffee. I’m sure she’ll tell you more if she feels it’s necessary.”
“What are your intentions?”
“Cade!” Megan stomped to him. “I’m telling you this as your sister, not as a member of your Pack. Let Tee tell you all this if she wants. If you meddle...look, please. Let her have a life.”
Ben wondered what that comment meant. He supposed it had something to do with Tegan’s saying she hadn’t dated for a long time.
“I want to respect Tegan. I’m not asking to marry her. I just met her. But I like her a lot. I enjoyed her company and I want to spend more time with her and get to know her. I’m an honorable man, my intentions are not something I’m going to share with you other than I’ll treat her with respect and honesty. And now we’re moving on to our conference call with Nick, Gabe, Tracy and Agent Benoit.”
Once the other three Alphas and the FBI agent were on the line they began to compare notes.
“Today I received a call. Jack says Pellini has been pressuring Tina, the Fourth in National, for more control. Templeton is holding Pellini off for now but I think it may be time for some of the Packs to break with Jack. It’ll be authentic and keep Pellini thinking National and Templeton are still in his pocket. Tina is too weak to challenge Jack so all this internal politicking will keep Pellini busy for a while.” Ben sighed. Templeton Mancini was the National Alpha and right at the moment, Warren Pellini believed him and the National Enforcer, Jack Meyers, to be in his pocket when really they were working with the FBI and some of the other Packs to try and bring him down. This was complicated by the fact that their Fourth was in fact a Pellini pawn and they’d recently lost their Third to Pacific when he became Tracy Warden’s mate. Damned werewolves were more complicated and political than humans.
“I’ll go first,” Gabe Murphy, the co-Alpha of Pacific Pack and Cade and Lex’s brother-in-law, spoke over the phone line. “It’ll mean more coming from me because I was Third for a long time and used to count Jack as a good friend.” They were still good friends in fact. But the plan was for Jack to look dirty, which put Gabe in the position of publically holding his old friend up as a liar and a fraud. Kept Pellini feeling in control while they looked for ways to take him out.
“Pellini has pretty much taken over Sargasso and Quinta. It’s very strategic, they’re both on the border and he can move drugs and guns through a lot easier now.” Ben sat back and took notes.
“He’s working on Michigan and Maple Leaf for the same reason. We need to move on him and soon. He’s like a cancer, the deeper he gets into the Pack structure the more dangerous he becomes. We can’t let it happen,” Cade added.
“We can’t move just yet. Not until we know if he’s got the virus, Cade. If he’s got the virus and we move prematurely we’re endangering wolves and humans alike. We have to take this slow.” Ben understood Cade’s wanting-to-get-in-and-end-it-now attitude, he felt the same way but the stolen lycanthropy virus was too big a threat. They had to be methodical and smart, too many lives were at stake to rush or be sloppy.
Cade sighed, sitting back.
The conference call lasted another twenty minutes before breaking up. At the conclusion, Megan stood and went to the door, looking outside and conferring with Dave, the other guard who’d come to escort Lex and Cade.
“Keep me apprised.” Cade nodded sharply at Ben who nodded back.
“You’d better be good to my sister. She’s been hurt and I’d have no problem ripping your head off and beating your body with your spine.”
Ben had been a cop for fifteen years; he knew when a man was telling the truth and Lex was not lying. He put his hands up.
“I’m not an asshole and your sister is a werewolf, she can kill me herself if I get out of line. Now go on. I’m willing to talk with you in detail about Pellini but not about my love life.”
Megan reached in and yanked Lex toward the door and Ben heard Cade chuckle.
When they’d finally gone, Ben sat in his chair and looked at the stack of papers on his desk. He knew he should back off. Cade and Lex were going to be a big hassle if he continued to see Tegan but he couldn’t help it. There wasn’t anything he wanted more than to see her again.
* * *
Tegan knew they’d heard about her and Ben the minute she walked into the house. They must have smelled her on him when they had their conference call.
Trying to ignore it, she checked in with Dave, who filled her in on all the details she’d need for the midnight to 6:00 a.m. shift. It wasn’t much. She’d spend most of that time as a wolf anyway, patrolling the grounds.
That’s why she took the midnight shift one day a week. It was solitary, she didn’t have to talk to anyone and she could be outside in wolf form. It was a nice gig.
But when Lex came around the corner wearing the big-brother-in-charge face, she knew she wouldn’t be able to get out the door anytime soon.
“Good luck,” Dave murmured. “I’ll get Peter out on your patrol, you can do inside tonight.”
Damn. Stuck inside. With her brothers who knew she’d been rubbing up on Ben Stoner. Her heart sped as she thought of that kiss and the way he’d taken her in hand at the club. Thank goodness they didn’t know about that.
“Evening, Lex. It’s a bit late for you isn’t it?” She was almost amused by his frowny appearance.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Ben?”
“I just met him. I’m an adult, Lex, I don’t run home to tell you about every man I meet.”
“He’s human, Tee. It’s very complicated to date humans. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Lex, I like him.” She shrugged. “He’s funny and nice and very sexy. He asked me to dinner. He made me feel beautiful.”
“I’m just saying that perhaps dating wolves would be better. Safer.”
“Which must be why you did it, huh? Lex, I haven’t had a romantic thought about anyone in over four years. I have not been touched by a lover in all that time. Not kissed because I was so lovely he couldn’t stop himself. Do you know how lonely that is? Tonight I met someone who made me feel alive after being numb for a very long time. I don’t care if Ben is a human or a wolf. He’s a nice man and we’re going out to eat. It’s not the prom, it’s just a date.”
He moved to her, hugging her, and for the first time since the week
s after Lucas’s death, she not only let him but she returned it.
“I just worry about you. I love you, Tee. I saw you nearly lose it after Lucas. I don’t want you to ever have to be hurt again. You’ve had enough in your lifetime. I’m going to try and not interfere too much. I said try. I just want to protect all of you.”
“Aw, Lex, you know what? Nina is the best thing that ever happened to you. And I know you want to protect us all. And I love you too.”
“Why does she get all the credit?” Lex teased as he stepped back, kissing Tegan’s forehead. “I was a fabulous guy before she came along.”
Tegan laughed. “Yeah. A fabulous control freak. But, since you’ve been together you’ve relaxed a bit.”
Cade walked in and put his arms around the two of them briefly. “We’re all getting better. I can’t say I’m pleased about this new development but Ben is a good guy for a human. And it’s so good to see the old Tegan again.”
“Older and wiser, with a few bumps and bruises but I’m trying. Lucas wouldn’t want me to just roll over and give up.”
“No he wouldn’t. So you like Stoner, huh?” Cade sat at the table and looked at his sister.
“As I was telling Lex, I just met him tonight. He’s a nice man. Handsome. We hit it off and had coffee. He asked me to dinner. It’s just a date. Stop engraving the wedding invitations already. And what difference does it make if he’s human? Why are you both making such a big deal out of it?”
“He’s not going to understand our culture or our rules. You remember how it was with Nina.”
“Well, uh, yeah! Someone tried to kill me at the first dinner I attended as your mate. Excuse me but that’s an issue with you people, not with humans.” Nina came into the room, looking pissed off.
“You can’t deny it’s been difficult because you were human when we mated. That’s all I’m saying,” Lex countered.
“No it isn’t what you’re saying at all. What made things difficult, Lex? Werewolves burned my house down, killed my brother and turned me without my consent in a fight to the death because someone insulted my dead brother and I was supposed to apologize. That’s not an issue of me being human. That’s an issue with just how undemocratic werewolves are and how they cling to the old ways that used to protect them but aren’t necessary now.”
Tegan listened to her sister-in-law and agreed. Had agreed, especially since that night Nina had been torn apart and no one could move to help her.
“I’m not having this conversation again, Nina. It’s been two years. Let it go.” Cade made a cutting motion with his hand.
Nina looked shocked and stood. “You’re right. And I said afterwards that I’d never be able to trust you again on the level I did before that, Cade. Thank you for reminding me.”
“Nina! That’s unfair.” Cade stood and Tegan sighed.
“I’m done here. Nina’s right about whose issue all of that really was. Cade, you’re wrong. You did what you did that night and I understand why, but we need to change our ways. I’m going to get to work. Goodnight.” Tegan leaned in and hugged Nina, who was caught off-guard but accepted the support gratefully.
Silent and surprised, they watched her leave the room before she heard them taking up the argument anew.
Tegan walked through the house and did a security check. Everything was fine and after an hour, she went out and chatted with Peter for a while, listening to night sounds.
But something wasn’t right. Tegan changed into wolf form and moved around the perimeter that surrounded the house until she got to a spot on a vista about a quarter of a mile away.
Someone had been there. Another wolf. Two. She didn’t recognize the scent so it wasn’t a Cascadia wolf. Tegan went over the whole area, scenting a trail down from the vista to a dirt road that they often used when the Pack came up for casual weekend runs.
A car had been there about three hours before. When she’d first arrived. Damn. Peter should have noticed this and she didn’t relish having to deal with Lex over such a huge failure. Peter would surely get his ass in big trouble.
Worse, she smelled gun oil at the vista where it was obvious someone had been camped to watch the house. It wasn’t a close enough spot to snipe through the windows. Lex had been very meticulous with the plans when he’d designed it, taking great care to situate the house on a high point, out of all but surface-to-air missile range. On top of that, their security existed in concentric rings, layer upon layer of fail-safes for protection of the house and the property around it. Still, the spot where she’d scented the intruders was close enough to monitor the comings and goings into the property.
She followed the trail of the car out to the road and lost the scent once she hit the entry to the drive to the main house. Too many other vehicles had been in and out to keep track.
Trotting back the way she’d come, Tegan rechecked to be sure no one else was around before getting back to the house and changing back.
Knowing Lex would want to hear of this immediately, even if it was four in the morning, she gave Peter a glare and motioned him inside. She then buzzed Megan and Dave and the other guards, telling them to meet in Lex’s office in ten minutes before finally contacting Lex.
He came into his office five minutes later, stone-faced. Tegan knew that face, she wore it then herself.
“Tell me,” he said simply as he sat down.
“Intruders. On the vista up the road. I scented two. They’d been camped there for a few hours, probably starting at eleven or so and stayed until about two. I followed their scent to the back road and down to the main road, losing it when I got to the main drive. They weren’t our wolves and at least one of them had a gun.”
Lex’s eyes narrowed. “Who had outside duty tonight?”
Peter walked forward, eyes down. “I did, Enforcer. I failed. I’m sorry.”
“Two strangers with a gun within a mile of this house. That’s a failure all right.” Lex looked to Tegan. “Why is it you discovered this and not him?”
“I went outside to compare notes for the shift. It was in the air. It just wasn’t right. I shifted and checked the outer perimeter.” Tegan shrugged. There was no way to sugarcoat it. Peter had fucked up. Every outside shift should include a run around the outermost perimeters. “There is no excuse for such a lapse and I take responsibility for it. The team is mine when I’m working.”
“I appreciate that, Tegan, but this is not yours to own. Peter has been in the Enforcer guard for fifteen years. He got lazy and that could have gotten someone killed. We know Pellini is out to hurt us. We can’t afford this kind of lapse.”
Tegan had to fight her wolf not to completely submit to the Enforcer wolf. The anger radiated off him in waves. This was not her sweet and concerned brother. This was Lex Warden, legendary Enforcer, boogeyman to all naughty wolves everywhere.
Peter fell to his knees and put his forehead to the ground in utter obeisance. Lex’s arm shot out and Peter was on his side, bloody but still breathing.
“Rise, Peter. You took your punishment. You’ll be on probation and moved to administrative work. I can’t trust you in the field.”
And that was worse than a cuff to the face. Having your Enforcer tell you he didn’t trust you to keep the Alpha safe was a deep blow and Tegan watched as Peter flinched but kept his eyes down.
“Yes, Enforcer. I’m so sorry.”
“I want the teams to expand to five. Let’s go with three shifts of eight hours. Tegan, I want you on the day shift. Eight to four. Lead it. Megan, you’re on midday. Four to midnight. Dave, you’ll take midnight to eight. Choose your team carefully. Put two extra guards on Cade and one more on Nina at the nursery.”
Nina was going to love having another bodyguard hanging around her all day as she dealt with customers. Tegan was glad Lex and Megan would have to deal with her.
Nodding shortly, she moved around him to the door. Once she gave brief instructions about who would take over for her, she headed toward the guest room that had been hers for some time.
“Tegan.”
She turned around to see Lex moving toward her.
“You did an excellent job tonight, Tee. Thank you.” He touched his hand to his forehead and heart and it moved her. He’d thanked her as Enforcer to his subordinate wolf instead of brother to sister. It meant a lot.
“Thank you.”
She changed into some clothes she’d left behind, knowing there’d be times like these when she’d have to sleep over, and slid between the sheets. Even though she was amped from the situation, she knew she needed the rest and meditated until she was able to shut down and fall asleep.
Ben’s steel-blue eyes were the last thing she thought of before she fell into sleep.
Chapter Four
By the time Tegan got home that evening she was tired. But not too tired for dinner. She had an hour and a half so she decided on a quick, forty-five minute nap and then she’d get ready.
People often didn’t realize just how good a short nap felt but when Tegan awoke at six-fifteen she felt refreshed. Even more so after a shower and a cup of coffee as she got ready.
Dinner and maybe a bit of play, he’d said. Tegan shivered as she remembered just what a fine hand he had at play.
It was January but wolves were very warm-blooded. Foregoing a coat, she chose a scoop-necked cashmere sweater. It was a coppery-brown that Tracy had given her for her birthday the year before. A long black wool skirt and knee high boots with a nice heel completed the outfit. She decided to leave her hair down and went with just a little makeup. She generally preferred a bit of lipstick and some mascara.