Ouch. Guess having rights didn't equate to being trusted. He leaned over to buss her cheek and turned her toward the stairs.
“Go find Mick, darlin',” he ordered. With a slap on her ass he was gone, leaving her to fume through her wounded pride.
Chapter Eight
Zach waited just inside the door, leaning one shoulder against the wall with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He fell into step beside Jonas as he walked down the hall.
“She's going to make you pay for that.”
“Who? What are you talking about?”
“Your mate. Blowing her off. The „don't worry your pretty little head about it'
response back there.”
He snorted. “Not your business how I deal with my mate, Beta.” Zach grabbed his arm, stopping him before he could open the alpha's office door. “Everything in this pack is my business, up to and including how you treat your mate. Caleb and Liza think you have it under control. I think that's about as far from the truth as you can get.”
Jonas wrenched free, barely restraining a growl. Harper was his. He wasn't going to tolerate any interference, not even from his beta.
“I seem to recall your relationship had some growing pains,” Jonas reminded him, fighting to contain his wolf.
Zach watched him and waited until he was back under control before he nodded. “That it did.”
Zach reached out to open the door but paused a moment first. He continued,
“Harper is fragile, but you shouldn't confuse that with broken. A woman doesn't survive what we suspect she did without an iron will.”
Jonas wasn't sure he agreed, but he nodded anyway and followed Zach inside.
Everyone else was already there. Caleb and Liza—alpha and paladin. Plus Gabby and Ethan, two of the other lieutenants, the highest-ranking soldiers in the pack.
The six of them met at least once a week.
Caleb was behind his desk, and Zach sat in an armchair off to the side. Liza went to take her usual perch on the front corner of the desk, but Zach grabbed her before she could and pulled her into his lap. Everyone pretended not to notice the way she blushed.
There was another chair in front of the desk and a sofa tucked under the window. Normally, the chair was his, but when he signaled Gabby to haul her ass out of it, she gave him a mutinous look. Ethan didn't look much happier on the sofa.
Jonas sighed. He was going to have to do something about that. Like he didn't have enough going on? He sat next to the younger werewolf and let his mind wander as they went over training reports and other mundane tasks involved in running a pack the size of Redhawke.
“Something odd in town,” Ethan said when Liza asked if there was anything else. “There seem to be a lot of new people coming and going, but none of my people have been able to get any specifics.”
“For how long?” Jonas asked.
“A few days. Maybe a week.”
He looked at Liza and saw his suspicions mirrored in her eyes. “Harper's—” He cut off people. She wasn't theirs anymore. “Family?” Though he objected to calling them family also.
Liza nodded agreement. “Go check it out.”
“Anything else?”
He stood and looked around the room. When everyone either shook their head or said no, he stalked out, digging his cell phone from his pocket as he hurried to his house and his truck. He put the call through, and it was answered on the first ring.
“Yeah?”
“Mick. You got Harper?”
“She just walked in.”
“Keep her close.”
“What's wrong?” Mick snarled, low and mean. Sometimes Jonas forgot he had that side.
“People snooping around town. I'm going to check it out.”
“Watch your back.” It was as close as Mick would come to telling him to be careful.
“Always.”
Jonas got his truck and drove out the main gate, and hung a left on the dirt track to head for the closest town, which was twenty miles away. Redemption, Florida, wasn't much more than a hole-in-the-wall. Redhawke had spent generations encouraging that. Half of the town's five hundred residents were pack members, either werewolves or humans who had mated in. The other half knew exactly who owned the land they bordered, and most were the descendants of the original founders. A handful were refugees from the magical world.
Redhawke had a good relationship with the town. They depended upon each other for survival. Thirty minutes later Jonas turned onto Main Street. It was a scenic little town, mostly turn-of-the-century buildings and bungalows. He pulled into a parking slot in front of the tiny police department and strolled inside to find the man who ran the operation.
He was sitting behind a desk, leaning back in his chair with his feet propped on the edge while he juggled tennis balls in the air without using his hands. He grinned when Jonas walked in. He was one of the few people Jonas called friend, a lone wizard in werewolf territory, who'd earned respect and trust over many years.
“What brings Redhawke calling?” Harris asked.
“Heard there've been some strangers around.”
“Ah, good.” Harris's feet thumped to the floor. “Ethan found you.”
“Why didn't you call me?”
“Tried yesterday. You didn't answer.”
There was a question in that statement, but Jonas didn't respond to it. He'd been focused on Mick because of the full moon, and later Harper.
“Fill me in now.”
Harris shrugged, standing as he grabbed his hat and gestured for the door.
“There were five or six snooping around. I got wind of it yesterday morning, but a couple of the locals remember seeing them as early as a week ago. Though, looks like they've all cleared out. 'Cept for one.”
“Describe him.” The wolf was in his voice. Harris gestured him to follow.
“Let's go visit. He's staying at the McCaller place.” The last McCaller had died before Jonas was born, and left his house to the town. The town used it as an inn. Redemption was wolf territory, but they'd established it as a neutral meeting ground decades ago. Whoever the stranger was, he wasn't hiding. Jonas would lay odds on Harper's father. He was arrogant and brazen. Neutrality or not, that particular wizard had no business there.
Since it wasn't far, they walked down Main Street and then turned left to follow a lane to its end. The big house sat on a corner, porches wrapping the exterior upstairs and down. Their guest was waiting in a rocking chair when Jonas walked up the steps. It wasn't who he had been expecting, but he shouldn't have been surprised.
“Dane.”
“Took you long enough,” he grumbled.
Jonas cocked an eyebrow. “If you wanted to speak to me, you could have done it yesterday.”
Dane rolled his eyes. Jonas supposed the kid was now technically family, his brother-in-law, and maybe he shouldn't give the juvenile a lesson in manners. He was pretty damned tempted, though.
“Harper's been through enough. I did give her a phone. I figured you’d use it.”
“I was busy,” he said defensively, and that just pissed him off. He was not explaining his actions to a damned kid. “Why are you still here?” he growled.
Dane's spine stiffened until he stood at his full height, and he narrowed his eyes. Jonas studied him. The kid was tall and lanky. He hadn't filled out yet, but there was promise there, especially in the hard, determined look on his face.
“I hope I didn't make a mistake sending my sister here. You're supposed to take care of her.”
“Says who?”
The kid did the shutting-down thing Harper was so good at. His expression went blank, even his eyes. He held himself calm and loose, no sign of distress in his body language. It didn't just fuel Jonas's anger. It made him sad. No kid should have to learn that kind of coping mechanism.
“Your father must be one real piece of work,” he muttered.
“You don't know that half of it.” Dane's smile was cold and humorless. “If you can't or are unwill
ing to protect my sister, bring her to me. I'll take her somewhere safe. Somewhere he can't reach us.”
Jonas didn't care how the fuck important the kid was to Harper. Dane wasn't taking her anywhere. In one long stride, he had the boy's shirt twisted in his hand, yanking him close.
“No one takes what is mine, and she is mine, you understand?” He felt magical power building in the air and shook him. “Don't even think about it, kid.” Dane ignored him and used his magic to add to his strength enough to shove Jonas away. “If you think my father has given up, you're gonna get her killed. He won't hold back out of concern for her feelings.”
Jonas bristled at the unspoken threat. “And you are?” Dane just nodded once, curtly. But there was something in the kid's eyes. Something…uncertain.
“Are you strong enough to fight your father?”
“Yes. Maybe.” Dane shrugged. “He's older and a hell of a lot more experienced.” Jonas made a split-second decision he was sure he would regret later. “Go pack. You're coming back with me.” He opened his mouth to protest, and Jonas speared him with the look that made every juvenile in the pack obey him. “Do it.” He sprinted off, and Jonas pulled out his phone to scroll through numbers. He should call Liza first. She'd welcomed Harper into the pack, but he got the feeling she'd draw the line at Dane. Caleb would back her up. Zach, on the other hand, had left four brothers behind in his pack when he'd joined Redhawke. He might be more sympathetic. Plus he understood better than Caleb the struggle Jonas was experiencing. He found the number, hit Send, and stepped off the porch to get some privacy.
“Jonas. What's going on in Redemption?”
“Harper's brother is here.”
There was a long silence. “And?”
“I'm bringing him in. He's definitely not a threat to Harper, and I don't think he is to us either.”
“What else?”
“He thinks their father hasn't given up. That he'll be back. Zach, this is her kid brother. I can't leave him out here unprotected.” Zach sighed. “You didn't call Liza, did you?”
“No.”
Another long silence.
“Liza is an only child. So is Caleb.” Jonas didn't add that he was too.
“Sneaky, Jonas. I'm not sure whether I should congratulate you or beat you into the ground.”
“You can try,” Jonas growled before thinking better of it.
Zach chuckled. The bastard knew how much that irritated Jonas. “Bring the kid. But he's your responsibility.”
“Of course. Thanks.”
“No problem. You're the one who's gonna have to deal with Liza. She won't be happy about you circumventing her.” He sounded entirely too happy about that circumstance.
“Right,” Jonas answered drily before flipping the phone closed on Zach's laughter.
Dane waited silently on the porch, a big duffel slung over one shoulder. He looked mutinous, but he obeyed when Jonas gestured him forward. Jonas and Harris dropped back, but neither spoke until they were on Main Street and almost to the truck.
“Care to explain what the hell is going on?” Harris asked.
“My mate's younger brother.”
“Mate?”
“Harper. You've met her.”
“So all the activity in town was looking for her?”
“Probably. And we don't want anyone finding her.”
“Got it. I'll call if anyone else shows up.”
“Thanks.” He shook Harris's hand and shoved the kid in the truck before recalling the other matter he needed to deal with.
“Anything else you need?” Harris asked.
As a matter of fact there was. Crossing his arms over his chest, Jonas turned back to face Harris.
“Yeah, one thing. About Gabby and Ethan. But first,” he added in a lazy drawl,
“nice of you to step up and help when Dane tried to use his magic against me.”
Harris grinned, cocky and assured and arrogant. “He's a puppy. You didn't need my help.”
True, but… “This is our town, Harris. We welcomed you. You belong. We need to be certain where your loyalties lie.”
“You don't have to worry about that.”
Jonas nodded. “Good. So about Gabby and Ethan.” Harris's expression turned wary. “What about them?”
“Don't you think it's time y'all all made up and made nice?”
“I have no idea what you're talking about.” His tone had turned flinty.
“Sure you don't. You know how to find me if you want advice on straightening that out.”
Harris snorted. “Right. 'Cause you're an expert on relationships.” Jonas grinned. “I'm learning at least.”
Harris shook his head, shooting him a dirty look before turning and going back inside the police station.
Jonas got in the truck and turned toward home. His phone rang on the drive, and he might have winced a little when Liza's name showed up on the screen.
“Yeah?”
She jumped straight to the point. “You know, you could have asked me.”
“I thought you'd say no.”
“I would have. At first. We don't need to create an interspecies incident. There was almost a war when my parents mated.”
The reminder made him go cold. “I can take Harper and Dane somewhere away from the pack. Mick will come with us, of course.”
“Oh, give me a break. That is not what I'm suggesting. You're Redhawke. And so is Harper. And now her brother too, I guess.” Liza sighed. “We just need to be prepared.”
“What do you want to do?” Liza was paladin. He'd defer to her on this.
“For today, you take care of Harper and her brother. I'll talk to Ethan and Gabby about increasing patrols and my mom about magical defenses. I'll see you in my office at dawn.”
“Fine. See you then.”
He ended the call just as he drove through the gate. The question was where to put his new charge? Harper and Mick both lived in small cottages with one bedroom. His house had four. No-brainer, right? Except the part where he convinced everyone to move in with him.
He drove to his place. He figured he could tell Harper there was no way he was letting Dane out of his sight, and she'd hustle her cute little butt on over. Mick wasn't so easy. Jonas might have to grovel.
Chapter Nine
Harper was waiting for him. She'd gone to Mick like she had been told. Like a good little girl. It made her spitting mad to be out from under her father's thumb and following the orders of a different man. So she'd hung around a few minutes until Mick's bright gaze finally focused back onto his work, and then she'd sneaked out.
Which was surprisingly harder than it sounded. She liked watching him.
Jonas had farmed her off to Mick a few times, so she'd had time to observe him with his patients. Some he was kind and gentle with, his voice soft and soothing. Others he was just as obnoxious an alpha as Jonas, bullying soldiers until they allowed treatment or examination.
She went to her place, knowing eventually Jonas would come looking for her. If she weren't careful, he'd order her around, and because against her better judgment she felt safe with him, she'd follow. She'd do it blindly, with no explanations from him, and she knew that was just wrong. He wasn't supposed to be keeping her in the dark. She couldn't explain how she knew that, but she did.
What would it take, though? To throw him off balance enough he opened up?
To shake him enough he took her seriously? Sighing, she walked to her room. Found her backpack and tossed it on the bed. She couldn't think of a thing. He was just so…Jonas. An immovable force of nature.
How the hell did Mick handle him? She scowled as she moved to the closet and started pulling her few belongings off hangers. She left the things Liza and other women in the pack had given her. When it was all out, she moved to the dresser and did the same.
Then she realized Mick didn't have much more of a handle on Jonas than she did. How many times had she seen him and Jonas interact and nothing but frustration and s
adness in Mick's eyes when Jonas turned away? Sucking in a deep breath, she stopped packing and sat on the bed, struck by new knowledge. She wasn't the problem. Mick wasn't the problem.
Jonas, on the other hand… She appreciated that he was a dominant male.
Hell, she liked it. But even a dominant male had to let loose with the people he loved, right? Caleb and Zach didn't seem to have that problem with Liza.
She shoved the rest of her things into the pack and opened the back door.
Okay, Liza didn't have the same problem with her mates, but that didn't mean it had always been that way, right? Dropping the pack just inside the kitchen door, she stepped out, tipped her head back to enjoy the afternoon sun before setting off.
She needed advice, and she couldn't imagine anyone better than her cousin to seek it from.
When she walked up the stairs of the alpha's house, she didn't sense Liza inside. She hesitated but knocked anyway. She'd turned, given up on any answer when it was pulled open with an abrupt “yes?”
“Zach. Is Liza around?” Why did she ask? She already knew the answer.
“Sorry, little one. It's just me.” He gave her a teasing smile and opened the door wide. “Come in. Want a beer? It's five o'clock somewhere, right?” She laughed. “Yes, it is. And yes, I want one.” She followed him to the kitchen and sat at the long table when he motioned. A second later he handed her a cold Coors Light.
“What brings you here?”
She shrugged. He was male and huge and outranked Jonas. He scared her as much as he comforted her. His hand covered hers.
“Harper?”
“I don't know what I'm doing,” she confessed in a soft whisper. “I thought it was just me, but I think he might be just as bad with Mick.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. This was their beta. She shouldn't be talking to him about their private relationships.
With a small smile, he pulled his hand away.
“You aren't betraying anyone, Harper,” he said gently. “Jonas is hard to handle.”
She bristled. Okay, fine. He was an obnoxious jerk, but he was her obnoxious jerk, damn it. But Zach was just trying to help. She took a deep breath.
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