by Lauren Dane
“I’ve taken plenty of breaths, Dwayne. But your wife is out of line—as usual—and we’re all pretty done with it. And you too,” Aimee said. “She needs to get her hands out of people’s faces and keep her attitude to herself or risk the consequences.”
“What consequences?” Scarlett sneered but before she could say anything else, Billy, one of Darrell’s brothers, pulled her aside, putting his arms around her and talking to her quietly.
“You can’t talk like that and not expect a reaction,” Dwayne said using his reasonable voice.
“Go suck an egg, Dwayne.” Aimee only barely resisted giving him the finger.
A few people gasped, some laughed. But Dwayne just stared at her for long seconds. “There’s no call for that talk.”
For real?
“You know what, you self-righteous hypocrite? There’s all the call in the world for it. You’re not doing your job. Control your wolves. Control your wife. Control your kids! Don’t you stand there and scold me for finally saying what the rest of us have been dying to say for years now. She comes at us with threats and anger and thinks we’ll just let it roll off? Fuck you.”
Under her breath, Katie Faith snickered but didn’t interrupt because Aimee was on a tear.
Dwayne’s face paled just a little at the curse.
Aimee continued while she had the chance. “The fact is, this town is home to more than you and your kids running up and down the avenue causing a mess. Your constant fighting is affecting everyone here. You never even consider that, which makes you a terrible mayor as well as a terrible Patron.”
Dwayne sneered. “You don’t know a damned thing about it. You just plant some flowers and take meals to the elderly and leave the governing to those who know what to do.”
Did he just tell her the equivalent of get back in the kitchen?
“I will when I see someone who does know. You act like we owe you the mayor’s office or something. We’ve been waiting on you to govern and we’re all still here. Waiting. And what do you give us? Lectures about how we should stick to planting flowers and let you do the decision-making? Oh, ’cause it’s hard and that’s all we can manage?”
“Girl’s got a point, Dwayne,” Avery called out. “Take your lesson like a big boy.”
“This is wolf business. She’s got no point because it’s not about her. You neither.” Dwayne pointed Avery’s way.
“Like a broken record.” Aimee waved a hand at them. “Every damned day we get pulled into it. And every damned day one of you tells the rest of us it’s not our business when you go out of your way to make it our business. I don’t want it to be in my face. I don’t want to have tomato plants getting frostbite because this tension is eating away at the magic in the earth here. But it’s happening. And you’re making excuses and doing nothing. Months and months this has been going on. Your wife is all over town stirring the pot, getting in faces, starting fights. Darrell and his friends are acting like drunk frat boys.”
“You think it’s so easy, why don’t you do it then?” his voice was sullen and defensive. Not a good look.
“Run your pack, you mean?” Of course that wasn’t what he meant at all, but she didn’t care.
Thing was, Dwayne Pembry wasn’t a totally bad person. Back when she’d been younger, he’d been a decent enough mayor. Until Darrell dumped Katie Faith and his pettiness had led to him getting booted from office the first time. Just then she sensed his fractured feelings of responsibility for everyone. But he wasn’t strong enough, or whatever, to follow through by ensuring his wolves did the same. He had a problem at home, so to speak, and it was screwing things up everywhere else.
He needed to be confronted with this so he could accept it. Own it and then make his changes. He’d been on the verge of losing control of his pack and the town for years and had survived more than one battle.
He couldn’t win the way he was going now. Worse, Dwayne seemed all too willing to let everyone suffer rather than make the changes he’d need to. Why, she had a feeling was more complicated than his own desire for power. But at that point, a mess was a mess and it needed cleaning up.
“You goddamned witches!” Scarlett yelled out and that time everyone gasped, turning to face her and that angry expression she wore.
Scarlett had a lot of energy. She was a polarizing force in town and had been, from what Aimee understood, her whole life. Plenty of folks had stories about some terrible thing she’d done or said over the years.
But this was just so totally out of proportion, even for her. The guilt and anguish spicing her anger was what caught Aimee’s attention, reminding her that people had lives no one else could see from the outside.
A wild light in Scarlett’s eyes only made things more tense as she kept hollering. “This is all your fault. Everything was fine until Katie Faith Grady came back to town and now look! Dooleys reaching above themselves all because of a witch. A witch flapping her gums at the mayor as if she has a right.”
Aimee held on to her temper by her fingernails. “I totally have a right. It’s in the Constitution and everything. I don’t know what your problem is, Mrs. Pembry. Whatever it is, you’re clearly in pain and I’m sorry to see it. But you can’t act this way. I’m not going to allow it.”
She was angry, yes, but she didn’t want to hate anyone. She felt bad for Scarlett. She didn’t have to like the other woman to know some kind of something was going on with her. But it wasn’t going to stop Aimee from saying what needed saying. For the good of everyone.
So she took a deep breath and continued. “I’m also over and done listening to you take your bad mood out on Katie Faith. In the market. In the town square. At the Founder’s Day dance. As far as I can tell, you’re the one who’s been the problem in the months since Katie Faith has returned. Diablo Lake is her home. It’s mine too. It belongs to everyone here. If you don’t like witches, that’s your right, I suppose. But we aren’t your hired help and we’re done with you acting like we are. This town and the way things are run should be about all its citizens.”
“Who knew you had all that in you, girl?” Jace said loud enough for people to hear.
Katie Faith raised her hand. “I did.”
The squabbling at the edges grew louder until finally, Mac whistled loudly to get everyone’s attention. “I’m going to suggest that given tempers right now we adjourn until Wednesday. That gives us all two days to cool off and we can get back to it,” he called out.
Aimee looked to Miz Rose, who nodded her agreement. It would be better done when things were less tense.
Hopefully.
One thing was clear though, things could only get worse if they kept on the way they were. JJ looked pale and drawn, Jace worried about his grandfather as well as the general pulse of the town and his wolves. Darrell had shown up to shove at Mac, who manhandled his brother away, back down the steps and off to the side in a heated conversation.
Good luck to him trying to talk sense into that dumbass.
“Let’s get out of here. I’ll give you a ride home,” she told her parents.
“We’re headed over to Nadine and Avery’s so we’ll go with them.” Her mother hugged her. “I want you to tell me, but I’m guessing you aren’t ready after that scene.”
Her mom got her. How lucky she was.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to you soon. It’s not like you’re going to let me not tell you now.”
“Glad we’re clear.” Her mom gave her one last hug, followed by her father and they all headed out.
“You should come over,” Katie Faith told her.
“Your house is going to be full of wolves all worked up about stuff. You have to be their mommy.”
Even though her friend rolled her eyes, there was truth in what Aimee had said and she couldn’t deny it.
“You kicked but
t tonight.”
“I will always get your back. Especially when that crazy bitch makes yet another pass at you. Did you piss in her Wheaties or what?”
Katie Faith’s sadness rolled from her in a soft wave. “I don’t know what her thing is. It’s not like I left her son at the altar, hello. Also, have you noticed the way Mac keeps looking over at you?”
“Mac Pembry? Nah, he’s just trying to get a lay of the land. Jace does the same thing.” And wishing otherwise was dumb.
“Liar, liar, pants on fire.” Katie Faith snorted. “Sure, he does that too. Wolves do that. But he’s been looking at your boobies and that isn’t necessary to get a lay of the land. He’s totally cute.”
“He’s a werewolf. A Pembry. Jesus on a skateboard, Katie Faith, Scarlett is his mother. I said good day.”
“He’s so cute, though. And I can highly recommend werewolves as romantic partners. If you know what I mean and I know you do.”
Aimee laughed. Not that she hadn’t thought about Mac’s romantic partner potential several times since he’d come back to town. Especially since that day he’d hauled her up and away from the fight the week before.
So strong. Damn. He smelled good too. Threw out testosterone like crazy, which left her a little loopy and slightly defensive every time.
“It’s not like you’d be smooching her.” Katie Faith broke into her thoughts.
“You just got married. A body’d think you had better things to do than trying to arrange my dating life. Go home, weirdo. I love you and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Don’t hide your light under a bushel, Aimee,” Katie Faith said.
“Laws,” Aimee muttered as she turned to head away from the scene. She’d been all worked up and ready to speak her mind and the whole night had gone sideways in the worst fashion possible.
Darrell stepped into her path with an ugly look on his face and in the background she heard Katie Faith swear.
“You got a big mouth on you.” Darrell’s body language was aggressive. He invaded her personal space on purpose. Tried to crowd her.
Wanted to cow her. Oh. Hell. No.
“Blue ribbon for your clarity.” Aimee fake smiled at him as she attempted to dodge around his bulk. But he adjusted so she couldn’t.
“One witch tossing your worthless ass out into the street not enough for you?” Katie Faith’s voice bristled with antagonism as she stormed up to Aimee’s side. “Fuck off, Darrell. Why aren’t you home harassing your wife instead of out here trying to scare people?”
“Says the dumb bitches attacking old ladies like my mom.”
Aimee stepped in between them. Jace kept a very close eye on his wife as it was. If he got it into his head that Katie Faith was upset or felt threatened things could get bloody.
In fact, she noted Jace stalking their way already and there was probably little chance of avoiding an incident.
But before she could say anything, Mac shouldered up, putting an arm around his brother and bringing him to heel.
Loathing crawled over Darrell’s features for a brief moment and Aimee took note of the discord between them.
Mac said, “Darrell, you left our discussion early. I still have some things to say. You and I need to let these fine ladies get about their evening. So much excitement already I’m sure everyone would regret it if anything bad happened.” There was a lot of emphasis there on getting Darrel to knock it off. A lot of power in the words and plenty of compulsion too.
“Did you hear what she just said to me?” Darrell bellowed like a man-baby.
Aimee rolled her eyes. “Just in case you didn’t, we told him to fuck off. And you can too if you think we’re going to take abuse from any more Pembrys tonight. Or, quite frankly, any other time.”
Mac shook his head. “No, ma’am, I’d never think such a thing.”
“What the hell is going on over here?” Jace growled on approach.
Mac turned his focus on Jace as he held Darrell in place. Like he was showing another pack that he was handling the situation.
“Just getting on our way and letting Katie Faith and Aimee do the same,” he told Jace in a serious tone. “Y’all have a safe drive home.” Nodding, he press-ganged his brother away.
“Close one,” Katie Faith muttered.
Jace eyed them carefully. “What went on?”
Aimee flapped a hand quickly. “Darrell was a dingus. But that’s not news. You two get on home. That’s where I’m headed too.” Where it would be quiet and no wolves would be anywhere. And she could change into pants without a zipper and rid herself of her bra.
Like the Lord intended.
“You want to stay at our place a while?” Jace asked.
“Thanks for the offer. But I’m good. I’m not worried about anything that shithead can do to me. I think Mac is going to slap him upside his head though.” She hoped it would be more than once.
“He’d better or he’ll have an even bigger problem on his hands.”
Katie Faith gave her a quick hug before she and Jace headed off toward home.
Once she got across the street and headed to her car, she heard Mac call her name so she stopped with a sigh loud enough so he’d better understand how close she was to going off.
“What?” she demanded. “Haven’t you and your family done enough tonight?
He put his hands up in defense and even in the light of the street lamps he was beautiful. “I haven’t done anything.”
Aimee harrumphed. “Again, I ask, what?”
“Just making sure you were okay.”
“Keep your jacked-up family away from me and mine and I’ll be perfect. If you can stop a war from erupting because your brother and father have such small dicks, that’d be icing,” she told him as she got into her car.
Chapter Seven
Mac stood there in the street, watching her drive away.
That was unique, he had to grudgingly admit. He rarely had to chase them. Or. Never. But he never wanted to catch anyone for longer than a day or two. Until her.
Right then he had to fight back a flood of possessiveness as her taillights faded.
But the problem here—one of them anyway—was his damned brother constantly causing trouble. Darrell had attempted to scare Katie Faith and Aimee. Part of Mac wanted to rip his brother’s arms off and beat him with the stumps. A big part. Okay, all.
His family should have nothing to do with him and Aimee and whatever he’d manage to get her involved in. Starting with his pants. But they were his family after all, and that meant of course they’d be a problem.
He turned on his heel and stalked back to his truck. He’d have to deal with his family soon enough. Especially because Darrell waited for him with his cousin.
“I’m really close to leaving you bloody right now, Darrell. So I’m telling you to keep your trap shut and open your ears.”
“I don’t have to listen to you,” Darrell spat out.
Mac popped him a quick one in the nose. Enough to make him bleed and make the point about how easy it would be to do it again.
Darrell howled and started for Mac, who popped him again twice more before he pivoted, sending Darrell to the ground as he lost the target he’d been lunging at.
As he lay on the pavement, holding his nose—already healing, the fucking baby—he complained long enough for Mac to telegraph that he was going to be punched again, and then Darrell shut up quick, not wanting any more pain.
Mac left his brother on the ground as he knelt next to him. “You’re making my job a lot harder than it has to be. And that makes me really cranky. If I ever catch you trying to scare witches or anyone smaller or less powerful than you again, especially in the name of this pack, I will personally make sure you’re stripped of membership and shunned. You wi
ll not start a war, Darrell. Hear me? And you will not terrorize women like a goddamn bully. You disgust me. Now get the hell home and if I see you again before I tell you I’m ready, you’ll be spitting out teeth.”
He turned, giving Darrell his back, letting his brother know he had no fear of him at all. To Huston he said, “Make sure he gets his ass home. He makes any stops before that, I want to know.”
His cousin nodded before moving off to follow Darrell.
Rage roared through his veins. Aside from the pact that the wolves were supposed to abide by—namely never using their power unfairly—his brother had no call to try to harm or intimidate Aimee. She was strong. Hell, when she told him off... Well, each time she did, because she seemed to do it a lot, he got off on it.
But teeth and fur, claws and ferocious beast strength could break her. Catch her by surprise or off balance and if she wasn’t ready, she could get caught in the crossfire. Which was unacceptable.
He’d keep a very close eye on his brother. Yes, there was no way around a challenge. Pembrys were going to self-destruct unless they got some real leadership. So his dad had to step up or get out of the way immediately. His hope of a peaceful transition like the Dooleys had just gone through was waning.
He got into his truck, scrubbing his hands over his face before sighing. He needed to talk to Aimee, make sure she truly was all right and also speak with her about the situation in town. Try to diffuse things. And maybe ask her out. Yeah.
It’d be part of him truly moving back to Diablo Lake. Plus she smelled really good. And he wanted to lick the magic off her skin.
First the job. Make nice with the witches to diffuse this a little. Then the romance.
* * *
Half an hour later, she opened her door to find Mac standing on her porch.
“I thought this was done for the day.” She crossed her arms over her now braless chest.
“You’re nice to other people.” He said this like it was new to her.
She cocked her head, eyeing him warily. “I’m a very nice person. But that doesn’t mean I’m a doormat. And it doesn’t mean I don’t push back when someone shoves me. Nice doesn’t mean weak.”