Pack of Trouble

by D. M. Turner

  “Graham, let her go.”

  She flicked an ear briefly at Brett but kept her eyes locked on the man who stood in her way.

  “Are you sure?” His gaze skipped away from hers to the other man.

  “She won’t hurt Ian.” He chuckled. “Me, might be another story, but she won’t bring any harm to Ian. Their wolves have chosen each other as mates.”

  What? How did he figure? She cast Brett a curious glance. She’d made no such claim on Ian, nor he on her. At least, not that she knew about.

  Not quite meeting her gaze, he nodded once. “Ian’s called in the pack. We’ll meet at dawn.”

  Why was he telling her that?

  Shaking it off for later, Sophia trotted into Ian’s room and curled up on the rug beside the bed. The entire room was filled with his scent, but it was strongest near where he slept.

  Restlessness settled. She sighed and closed her eyes.

  * * *

  “Ian?”

  The scent of Sophia drifting to him, Ian rolled onto his side and opened his eyes to look at O’Neil, who leaned through the bedroom door.

  “You asked me to wake you when the pack had arrived. The last one just walked in the door.”

  “Thank you.”

  The man nodded and disappeared into the next room.

  Ian took a deep breath. His room smelled like Sophia. Probably the blanket he’d thrown back on his bed the night before. It made him smile and want to growl at the same time. Chuckling softly at the ambiguity, he rubbed his eyes and sat up, dropping his feet to the floor. They landed on something warm and furry. He froze and lowered his hand.

  Sophia’s wolf glanced over her shoulder at him. Was it her or just the wolf? Only one way to know for sure.

  “Sorry. I wasn’t aware you were there.”

  No response. Not again….

  Try again. “Bad dreams?”

  Her chin dipped once.

  Sophia. Good. With everything they might be facing, he didn’t need an out-of-control she-wolf going after his second again.

  She sat up and turned to face him, resting her chin on his knee.

  “Clara’s arrival brought up ugly memories, huh?”

  A soft whimper underscored a deep sigh.

  He gently scratched behind one of her ears, sadness filling him for all she’d endured as an innocent child. Such things were bound to haunt a person. He certainly knew about those sorts of demons and ghosts. Thank you, Lord, that the dark moon’s effect is weak today. It tugged a bit, but the worst of it had passed the day before. “I understand far too well.”

  Amber eyes closed, and she relaxed against his knee.

  He smiled. Even if she was at war with herself about trusting a dominant male, her presence in his room, the memories she’d shared the night before, and her contentment when he touched her told a very different story. Did she understand what that meant? Was she ready for it? Was he?

  “Well, I hate to say it, but I need to get dressed. I’m meeting with the pack this morning about Clara.” He brushed a hand over one silky ear. “You’re not pack. If you don’t want to be part of this, you don’t have to. In fact, now might be a good time to get out of Dodge while the getting is good.”

  Sophia lifted her head, glared at him, and growled low in her throat.

  Ian raised both hands. “I’m just saying, you have no obligation here. You’re free to go whenever you like. This threat could be serious. If you want to get as far from here as you can, no one will think less of you.”

  The amber in her eyes deepening and flashing with indignation, she stood, backed away, and re-planted her butt on the floor.

  He chuckled. “Have it your way.” He got up, retrieved clothes from the closet, and went to the bathroom to dress, aware the whole time of a particular she-wolf glaring at every move. Apparently, he’d ticked her off by suggesting she run away.

  Minutes later, he opened the door to return to the bedroom. And promptly tripped over a furry form stretched across the doorway between the bedroom and bathroom. He caught himself before he landed face-first on the floor, but barely, and turned to face the doorstop.

  Sophia lifted her head and stared at him with mock innocence.

  Ian laughed and shook his head. “I know. I should’ve watched where I was going.” Not that he usually had to worry about a wolf blocking any of his doorways. “Let’s go deal with the pack.” He cocked his head. “Do you intend to stay in wolf form awhile, or do you want to Shift and dress?”

  She lowered her head.

  “Still feeling vulnerable after the nightmares?”

  A brief nod.

  “I understand.” He glanced at the bedroom door and sighed. “Let’s get this over with. We may not have much time.”

  Her nose touched his left knee every step of the way as he left the bedroom.

  The entire pack, except Kelly, had gathered in the living room. Conversation ceased, and all eyes turned to him. Except they weren’t on him. They watched the she-wolf at his side, who basically ignored all of them.

  Brett eyed her suspiciously.

  Ian chuckled. “She’s fine, Brett.”

  “Are you sure?” The man’s eyes narrowed.

  “Yes.” He glanced at her to be sure nothing had changed the few steps from the bedroom.

  Her eyes bright with amusement, Sophia snorted and lay in front of the fireplace, staying out of the middle of the floor.

  Brett nodded.

  Colin and Tanya, sharing one of the chairs, smiled, as did Jeremy and Annie from the couch. O’Neil stood behind them, arms folded loosely across his chest, his face relaxed.

  The rest of the pack studied her curiously. Graham and Donna shared the couch with the doctor and his wife. Carlos, Peter, and David remained on their feet around the periphery. Max had taken a seat on the floor, leaning his back against the side of Brett’s chair. Donna’s lanky thirteen-year-old brother, Tommy, was stretched out on the floor entertaining Duncan.

  “For those of you who haven’t met her, this is Sophia. I’m sure you’ll get a chance to meet her other self later today.” After she’d had time to shake off the lingering effects of the nightmares, no doubt, though he wouldn’t say as much to them. “Where’s Kelly?”

  “Upstairs with Clara,” Brett said. “She should be down any minute.”

  “I’m here.” Kelly crossed the dining room, rounded the couch, and settled on her mate’s lap.

  “How’s Clara?”

  “Not good.” She shook her head, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I don’t know how she managed to give birth to that baby and make it here in her condition. I thought my father was evil, but even he never brutalized my mother as badly as Farley has Clara.”

  Sophia brushed by Ian, padded across the area rug, and put her front paws on Brett’s knee to nudge Kelly’s arm. Brett tensed at first, but relaxed when it became clear she meant no harm and only sought to offer comfort.

  To Ian’s surprise, Kelly, who rarely accepted comfort from anyone but Brett, buried her face in Sophia’s neck.

  Brett apparently had the same thought. His brows shot up.

  After a moment, Kelly straightened. Sophia’s paws dropped to the floor. She returned to the fireplace to lie back down, her worried gaze meeting Ian’s for a moment before she rested her head on her paws.

  Ian forced his focus back to Kelly. “Were you able to get information about Brimfield and his pack?”

  She nodded. “You’re not gonna like it.”

  “I didn’t expect to.”

  “He’s a strong, domineering type like my father. Unlike my father who, as you know, wouldn’t tolerate males strong enough to challenge him, Farley thrives on having tough, dominant males around to prove how big and bad he is.”

  Just great. Ian clenched his teeth. “How many in his pack?”

  “Clara wasn’t entirely sure. Nine for sure, but she said there are two or three other males that come around from time to time. She thinks they were lone wo
lves hanging out on the fringes of Farley’s territory but answering to him in important matters to avoid conflicts. There could be even more.”

  “So we’re looking at maybe a dozen males, perhaps more, possibly with a large percentage of them being dominants.”

  She nodded.

  This just keeps getting better. If Farley was that dominant and had other strong, dominant males in his pack…. Ian glanced at Brett, who wore a tight frown. Apparently, he’d had the same thought. If a fight occurred, which was likely, Ian would have no choice but to actively participate to protect his pack. If he had to kill more than one or two…. His wolf enjoyed killing.

  “Alright.” Ian shook off threatening fear. There was no help for it. He would do what must be done. “Decisions must be made. First, we need to do everything we can to keep our human pack safe.” He turned his gaze on O’Neil and David. “The two of you need to get your families out of town. I don’t want this pack showing up in Flagstaff and tracking the scent of wolf to vulnerable humans.” He glanced at Tanya. “You might suggest that your parents spend a few days in Phoenix with your brother.”

  Fear in her eyes, she nodded.

  “Second, we decide who’s staying and who’s leaving.”

  Frowns and puzzled glances shot all around the room.

  “Clara is Kelly’s sister, but she’s not pack. I won’t order any of you to stay to defend her and her child. The decision to stay or go is entirely up to each of you. If you choose to go, get out of town until the threat passes. I don’t want anyone out where they can be caught alone. O’Neil, David, that especially applies to you. If you want to take your families and leave until this is done, go. Keep your families safe.”

  The two men frowned at each other, confusion clear on both faces. They obviously hadn’t expected to be released from their duties to the pack.

  “If you think I’m leaving, you better think again.” Brett nudged his wife to her feet then stood behind her. “Even if I wanted to go, if I try to talk Kelly into leaving, she won’t wait until I sleep to kill me, so you’re stuck with us.”

  Chuckles and grins circulated.

  Ian smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, old friend.”

  Colin and Tanya rose next, hand-in-hand. He glanced at his mate then met Ian’s gaze. “Good sense says I should take my mate and son as far from here as possible, but this is my home. Kelly is family. That makes Clara and her pup family. We’re staying.”

  Tanya nodded.

  One-by-one, every man and woman in the room stood or stepped forward.

  Max, the lowest ranking member of the pack, was the last. All eyes on him, he climbed slowly to his feet, sighed, and offered a lazy grin. “Well, boss, I’d say you’re stuck with the whole lot of us.”

  Not one of them flinched or wavered as far as Ian could tell. He swallowed a knot that formed in his throat. “I appreciate that more than you know.” He cleared his throat. “Carlos, Max, find out what you can about this man and his pack. See if you can track their movements through whatever means.”

  They nodded.

  Carlos was a scary good computer expert. He’d been a programmer for the government before his Turning in the mid-eighties and had kept abreast of every technological advance since then. He knew the ins and outs of finding information on just about anything or anyone.

  Max, as a private investigator, had his own ways to get information, though Ian had never asked about the nature of those means.

  The two working together… well… Ian wouldn’t want to be the person trying to hide from them.

  “Peter?”

  The lawyer met Ian’s gaze.

  “I hate to say this, but you better make sure all wills are up-to-date. Get with Graham to verify that trusts and finances are settled. Just in case.” Dread wove through him. They could lose pack members if Brimfield and his wolves were as strong as Kelly indicated.

  Peter nodded grimly.

  “Jeremy?”

  “I’ll lay in supplies to bandage wounds.” Sorrow crossed the doctor’s face. “Just in case.”

  They all knew without it being said that wounds bad enough in a well-fed werewolf to need the doctor’s care would probably be fatal.

  “The freezer in the garage is almost empty. Colin, restock it. If we have to hunker down for a couple of weeks, we don’t want anyone losing weight or strength from lack of food.” He frowned. “As a matter of fact, the spare upright freezer in the basement? Plug it in and stock it as well.”

  “Will do, Dad.”

  He turned to Kelly. As the highest ranking female, other than Sophia who remained behind him in wolf form, the next task would fall to her. “Kelly, I want you, Tanya, Donna, and Annie to get the basement ready for occupation. Plan for all of you to hide down there for a few days with the children, if it becomes necessary. That’s the only room in the house that’s truly secure. No one’s getting through those outer doors. Should this fight go bad, the women and children need to be safe.”

  “I can fight,” she replied, though she didn’t meet his gaze.

  “As can I,” Tanya added.

  “I know, but we won’t risk you or the children in this kind of battle unless we have no other choice. If something happens to either of you, think about Adam and Duncan. They need their mothers.” His heart twisted as his gaze fell on Duncan, sitting on the floor at his mother’s feet, playing with Tommy and a toy truck. Colin had grown up without a mother. Ian couldn’t stand to see that happen to any more children in the pack.

  He shook free of worry over such possibilities. They had enough to consider without that fear rising up. “Brett and I will work out a schedule for rotating guards. The rest of you, get to your various tasks. Do things as quickly as you can. We could have days or weeks before this situation blows up in our faces, or we could have hours. Prepare for the worst, to be on the safe side.”

  “What about me?” Tommy sat up and crossed his legs Indian-style. “I can fight. Graham and the others have been teaching me.”

  The eagerness for battle in the boy’s dark brown eyes turned Ian’s stomach. A child on the verge of becoming a man, Tommy had no idea of the high cost of being a soldier. Ian shook his head. “Not this time.”

  A rare spark of rebellion etched a frown on the boy’s face.

  “Don’t argue.” Ian growled softly, and Tommy looked away. “The pack is teaching you well, but you’re not ready for a true battle yet. You’ll stay with your sister.” He put enough authority behind the last so there’d be no doubt of the order.

  Tommy nodded, his gaze pinned to the floor.

  Ian scanned the room. “Any questions?”

  Heads shook in the negative all around him.

  “Then get to it.”

  Most of the men headed for the front door. The women remained until Kelly corralled and herded them toward the guest wing. The inside access for the basement was under the stairs that led to the second floor.

  Brett chuckled as he closed the distance between him and Ian.

  Baffled by his friend’s show of humor in an anything-but-amusing situation, Ian frowned. “What’s funny?”

  Brett motioned behind Ian with a nod of his head. “I don’t think Kelly and Tanya are the only females upset about being excluded.”

  Ian glanced over his shoulder to find Sophia-wolf sitting up and glaring at him. Before he could say a word, she stood, raised her head with another dirty look, and trotted through the house toward the guestroom, her tail high.

  “Oh, yeah, she’s ticked.” His friend laughed. “At least I’m not the one in trouble this time.”

  “I’ll deal with her in a bit. Can you work up a guard schedule? Four-hour shifts, two wolves per shift. Leave David and O’Neil at the end of the rotation, subject to change once we know how things stand with temporarily relocating their families.”

  “Can do.” Brett nodded.

  “We’ve got sheer cliffs on two sides of the property, and that high ridge behind the ho
use gives the best vantage point to watch the other two directions. We can see the whole canyon from there. That would be the best point from which to keep watch.”

  “I agree. I’ll get a schedule worked up.” Brett turned and headed to Ian’s office in the guest wing.

  One task left, and he couldn’t assign it to someone else. Face Sophia and explain to her why she couldn’t be part of the fight. Ian sighed.

  Chapter 19

  Back in human form and dressed, Sophia stared out the window, thinking about the past few days. Given all that had transpired, no wonder Ian thought she needed protecting. Other than attempts to attack Brett, she’d shown herself to be nothing but weak. She’d given him no choice but to exclude her along with the other females and their children.

  A light tap on the door broke into her thoughts. One guess who that was.

  “Come in.” She turned as the door opened.

  Ian glanced around. His gaze skidded to a stop on her, and he entered the room and closed the door.

  “Before you say anything, I’m not mad at you.”

  He blinked. “You’re not? You sure looked it when you stalked out of the living room.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” Sophia lowered her gaze and sat on the edge of the bed. “I reconsidered.”

  “Why?”

  “Since I got here on Friday, I’ve done nothing but be a burden. I’ve shown you just how weak I am. I don’t blame you for not having any faith in my ability to fight and wanting to lock me in the basement with the other women.”

  “That’s not it at all.”

  She glanced up at him, confused.

  Frowning deeply, Ian closed the distance and sat next to her. “If Brimfield’s pack is as bad as it sounds, as I fear, we’ll need layers of defense. If any of them get past us, I need to know someone is with our most vulnerable who won’t hesitate to do what’s necessary to protect them.” His gaze met hers. “I’ve seen your weakness, but I’ve also seen your strength. If any of the enemy gets past me and the others and manages to break into that basement, I know you’ll rip his throat out to protect the weaker among us.”

  Sophia smiled then laughed softly. “Or I could just eat his liver.”