by Tena Stetler
“Hmmmm.” She buried her head in his shoulder and drifted off to sleep. Sometime during the wee hours of the morning, he slid out of bed. Barely awake, she yawned and drifted back to sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
Oh, My God, Only Two Weeks Before the Wedding—Panic Sets in—Decisions to be Made
Unable to sleep, Lathen slipped out of bed, grabbed a pair of jeans, and padded into the hallway. Motioning Tonk and Ember to follow, he led the way to the back door, laid his jeans on a chair, opened the door, closed it silently, and phased into wolf form. Three sets of paws pounded the ground across the meadow and into the forest under the pale moonlight. Twigs cracked under his paws, an owl hooted its displeasure of having its hunting ground disturbed by interloping predators. Small creatures scurried away as he tore through the trails. At last, exhaustion slowed his pace. Tonk and Ember caught up to him, tongues lolling out of their mouths, breathing hard. Ember nudged him at the shoulders, he butted her with his head, and they trotted back to the cabin. On the porch, he phased to human before opening the door.
Inside he pulled on jeans and silently padded across the kitchen. He raked his fingers through his hair, rubbing the tension knot at the back of his neck. The run had eased the stress, but he still had no idea what to do about Raymond and his request. Sure, he could unravel the encryption codes, write the code for a worm or virus to act as they needed, depending on its execution requirements. But did he really want to get involved or bring Pepper into… In his mind, he knew he wasn’t at fault for what happened to his team, but his heart—that was another thing entirely.
Searching through the cupboard, he found the last bag of his favorite coffee beans and poured some into the grinder. Before he flipped the switch, he paused. This will wake Pepper up, and I still need to sort things out. Was he willing to risk what he’d built with her, to help his country, again? If things went south, could he protect… What exactly did they need from him?
He had lots of questions but no answers in sight. Like it or not, he needed to have a conversation with Ray, before making any decisions. He should have let the man lay it out before stalking out, letting his temper control him, yet again. Lathen’s intel was correct, the Commander’s face and men’s reactions confirmed it.
Lathen pulled out the tub of ground coffee, added a scoop, water, and turned the machine on. The enticing aroma filled his nostrils, as he watched the stream of steaming dark liquid fill the pot. The minute gurgling sounds stopped and the stream turned to drops, he filled his mug and sat at the table. With both hands wrapped around the large mug, he stroked his thumb over the handle of the smooth ceramic, trying to figure out what to do next.
Pepper appeared standing behind him dressed in her robe, hands resting on his shoulders, thumbs caressing small circles at the back of his neck. “What are you beating yourself up about now?” she asked quietly.
He’d felt her presence before she touched him, so he merely leaned into her. “Nothing.”
She made a clicking sound with her tongue. “You can’t make a rational decision without finding out exactly what they need you to do.”
“But anything I do could eventually be traced—to me—then to here. If there was a leak.”
“You can’t tell me a computer programmer—uh—hacker of your caliber couldn’t cover your tracks.”
Lathen shook his head. “Not that…”
“Oh, cut the crap. If you weren’t that good, they wouldn’t have been on our doorstep shortly after we arrived home. Hell, they have a whole military to choose from. Who do they call?” She leaned over and pointed a slender finger in his face. “Not the ghost bust…” she snorted recalling the old movie.
He snapped at her digit, she giggled, jerked her hand away and patted his shoulder. “Go talk with them. See what exactly they want entails. You’re not bound to the military or SEALs anymore. If you don’t like the risk, walk away.” Pepper wandered over to the cupboard, took out a mug, heated water for tea. Kaylee’s soft whistle reverberated through the quiet house as the yellow rays of sun peeked over the horizon.
“It’s not that easy—I spent nearly fifteen years—dedicated my life to this country.” He paused. “How do I walk away—when they need my skills—and live with myself? Part of the reason I had such a hard time pulling myself together after the physical wounds healed was because it was my fault four of my SEAL team died and three of us were badly injured. I’m the one with the preternatural abilities. I should have been able to save them. At least sensed what was coming. But I didn’t.” His voice rose to a loud growl. “They shouldn’t have died on my watch.”
“Ohhh…so you’re a precog now, in addition to a werewolf?” She arched a well-shaped red brow, taking her mug out of the microwave and swishing an orange spice tea bag through the water viciously.
“Noo…but you know.”
She pulled out a chair and flopped down, waving her free arm in the air. “No. I don’t. We hashed all this out before I agreed to marry you. Healed your shattered psyche.
“You help others heal as well. One visit from some damn spook and you run right back to…to what? Playing the blame game? Not going to happen on my watch,” she said vehemently.
His eyes went wide at her tirade.
“If you want to help. Fine. But as the man I agreed to marry. The man reunited with his family, and pack. Not the man so racked by guilt, he was unable to function. Clear?” She added milk and a dash of sugar to her tea, took a gulp, set the mug on the table harder than necessary.
Lathen’s gaze met and held Pepper’s fiery stare for a couple of beats. “I love it when you get fired up.” One corner of his mouth curved up into a half grin. “If someone tied your arms, you wouldn’t be able to talk at all,” he teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
The thin line of her mouth relaxed into a smirk, Pepper reached across the table and swiped at him.
Dodging the blow, Lathen grinned wide. “I don’t plan to be anything but the man you agreed to marry. So…on that note. I’ll contact Lt. Commander Raymond Sale, get the details, and we can make a decision.”
“Whatever you decide is all right with me. I trust you,” she said quietly. “I know you wouldn’t put our lives, Mike, Alec, or the Center at risk. You’ve made that quite clear, and I appreciate it.”
Kaylee’s whistling grew louder while Tonk and Ember nosed their bowls across the kitchen floor.
“Probably better feed the critters before we have a mutiny on our hands.” Lathen stood and took Pepper in his arms, kissing her soundly. “I’ll feed them, if you want to get breakfast started.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’m going to run up and get dressed first.”
“Toss me down a shirt, would you?”
“Nope, I like you half naked.” She ran her fingertips over his bare chest, tracing the muscles. “But if you’re going to whine—I’ll do it—under protest.”
“Thanks. I’ll make it up to you tonight,” he said in a low seductive rumble, then tossed three logs in the fireplace. “Your turn.”
She whipped around, flicked her hand toward the logs, instantly flames raced up the wood. “Good enough?”
He nodded, poured kibble in the dog and wolf’s bowls, then jogged down the hallway to Kaylee’s aviary. After tossing fish to the osprey, Lathen started back to the kitchen when his phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, he checked the screen and rolled his eyes, let it go to voice mail.
After breakfast, they trudged through the slushy snow to make sure all the animals and birds were fed and watered, while Tonk and Ember raced circles around them barking and yipping. Alec and Mike had the day off. Pepper stopped, talked, and cooed at each animal. He was always in awe of her ability to make even the most cantankerous creature docile. The moose was healing nicely. It would be returning to the wild in early spring, as would most of the birds in the seabird aviary. Next stop was to make sure the vet quarters were neat and tidy since his dad and Amy would be occupying the space until the
New Year.
“Brock must be a neat freak. Looks like it did when we left.” Pepper ran her finger along the countertop next to the sink, turned, and crossed the floor, stepped outside. She stopped to put her sunglasses on and glanced into the forest. “We need to find the arbor. Do you remember exactly where you found the anomaly?”
“Sure do. The wood to make your bench was offered from an adjacent tree.” Lathen tromped through the snow and ice until he came to a twisted tree trunk leaning against an upright tree. “This is it.”
****
The closer Pepper moved to the tree, the bark seemed to shimmer in the golden sunlight. When her fingertips caressed the wood, it vibrated warm under her touch, rough edges blurred like a trick of light. The trees creaked and groaned as they blended into a wedding arch with intricately carved moon phases on one side and star alignments on the other. She stood in awe running her fingers over the lettering carved across the top of the arch, síorghrá separated by a Celtic knot then more letters go síoraí.
Lathen reached up to support and tip the arch so they could better study the lettering. “What do the words mean?”
“My Gaelic is rusty, but I think it’s Eternal Love separated by the Celtic Trinity Knot then the word Forever.” She closed her eyes feeling the heat, then suddenly it was gone. Her eyes flew open. “Where did it go?”
His head tilted to the side, one eyebrow raised in question. “I’m not sure. It shimmered and faded away. Did you inadvertently send it somewhere?”
“No, I was trying to visualize how it would look standing between the two benches at the pond.”
Alarmed, Pepper followed by Lathen sprinted, slipping and sliding over the snow into the clearing and down the path to the pond. Between the two benches, a few yards from the pond’s edge stood the arch. It appeared to be settling into the soil, sending roots deep into the dirt.
****
“What the heck?” Lathen pushed his parka hood from his head and stared wide-eyed. Suddenly, he had an epiphany, watching the base of the arch dig its roots into the rocky ground. An idea formed in his mind for a special wedding gift for his bride.
“It’s relocating.” Ashling appeared out of the swirling mist beside her favorite pine. “Thanks for bringing it down. We needed the arch situated so we could plan the rose bushes, seating, and walkway for the ceremony.”
As Ashling explained about the arch being a living thing, like the bench he’d built last summer for Pepper, his concept grew. Magic would be required. He scrubbed his hand over his face and peered at Ashling. That was it, I’ll enlist her help, maybe Aidan’s as well. Lathen smiled to himself when her voice penetrated his thoughts.
Ashling sidled closer to him, eyes narrowed. Her frosty breath in his ear, she whispered, “What are you up to wolf?”
“Something we’ll discuss at a later date, Auntie.” He knew she didn’t like it when he called her auntie, which in all honesty was exactly why he did it.
She huffed, raised her arm in a threatening gesture then dropped it, and floated toward her niece.
Eyes rounded, Pepper stared at her aunt transfixed, oblivious to the conversation around her. “I—uh—didn’t move it.” She walked beneath the arch staring at each side where roots were disappearing into the soil.
“Sure you did. Thought about how it would look and here it is. Nice.” Lathen pumped a fist in the air.
“Well…not intentionally,” Pepper retorted. “What’s it doing?” She pointed to the ground.
“Permanently settling into its new location. It is a living thing and needs nourishment from the earth,” Ashling said nonchalantly. “Now that you’re here. Who is performing the ceremony? The McKay spirits would like to attend. But if that is going to be a problem, we’ll just disappear into the mist and float across the pond during the nuptials.”
“I…we…haven’t talked about that.”
“You haven’t made arrangements for someone to perform the ceremony?” Ashling blurted. “You’ve only a couple weeks left. Better get a wiggle on, girl. Winter Solstice, Christmas is a busy time… Laws of the land prevail, especially when you are a business owner, profit or not. Gotta be married by an official.”
“Listen to the woman of unconventionality, spouting advice on the law of the land. Your relationship with Colleen was anything but conventional.”
“Not my—our fault. Now days, we would have been married. Be that as it may, we remained true to ourselves and each other.” The usual gray misty aura around Ashling changed to slightly red.
Though Lathen enjoyed watching Ashling get riled, he considered a solution to the problem, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “My dad is ordained to perform marriages. Performs wedding ceremonies for pack members all the time. The marriage license is issued locally.” He narrowed his eyes at Ashling. “Yes, we’ve already gotten the license. I don’t see a problem with having him perform the ceremony.”
“I love that idea. We better ask him,” Pepper said excitedly.
“No, I’d rather it be a surprise when he arrives.” Lathen’s lips curved into a wicked grin.
“Won’t he need to bring…”
“Just himself, a pen to sign the license, and we’ll have plenty of witnesses.” He reached over and kissed the tip of her nose. “Our vows are already written.”
“True. Okay that’s one more thing taken care of.” She reached her arm through Lathen’s. “We’d better be getting back. I’d like to stop by the office and finish up any paperwork. Then try to clear the schedule for a couple weeks before the wedding, since Gwen is coming in early. We can start decorating the cabin, get the tree up, and maybe add a touch of festive garland to each of the animal habitats.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then.” The mist thickened, Ashling’s form faded and disappeared right through the window glass.
Lathen chuckled. “The creatures don’t care whether or not their area is decorated.”
“How would you know?” she asked indignantly over her shoulder. “I only have the wedding decorations and a few Christmas ones I picked up recently in town. But Mom is bringing her extras, and Amy said your dad had a box of tree ornaments for each of you boys. He’s bringing yours with them.”
“Okay, so where are the decorations you have?”
“In the supply room in a box marked decorations,” she said flippantly tugging him up the path.
After they arrived at the office, Pepper disappeared behind the computer, and Ember relaxed at her feet. Lathen walked through the office into the supply room. He picked up the boxes and carried them up to the cabin, Tonk on his heels. In addition to the boxes he brought to the cabin, sat several small boxes marked “decorations” and one big one marked “tree.” They were stacked in the middle of the living room floor. He took off his parka and scratched his head. He’d slit the top of the first box open when Tonk raised his head, ears flat and growled menacingly. A knock sounded on the door. Tonk jumped up and let out a sharp bark.
“That’s enough boy. Sit.” Lathen opened the door.
Lt. Commander Sale stood on the porch, dressed in casual attire, shifting from one foot to the other. “May I come in?”
Lathen paused for a long moment, his forehead creased, then pushed the door wide open and motioned the man in. “What brings you out this way?”
“We need your expertise and are willing to work with your terms,” he said stiffly.
“Have a seat.” Lathen motioned to the couch. “I’ll put the coffee on. Then you can fill me in.” He strolled into the kitchen, got mugs from the cupboard, and poured water in the coffee maker. A few minutes later, Lathen emerged with two mugs of steaming coffee on a tray along with a plate of warmed peanut butter cookies, fresh from the microwave.
Ray accepted the coffee. “Thanks.” He took a sip, pulled a file out of his briefcase, and spread the contents across the coffee table.
Lathen sat down, grabbed a cookie, took a bite, and chewed while he looked over the paperwork. He shook the co
okie crumbs over the plate. The men were deep in conversation, bent over the table when Pepper and Ember swept through the back door.
“It’s freezing out there,” she called from the kitchen. “And…”
Lathen glanced up from the paperwork.
Pepper shrugged out of her coat, unwrapped the scarf from her neck, tossed them at the peg on the wall and raised an arm toward the living room fireplace.
Before he could utter a word, she twisted toward him. “Why didn’t you…” She stopped mid-sentence, dropped her arm and blew out a breath. “Didn’t know we had company.”
Lathen breathed a sigh of relief. “Ray stopped by to discuss the situation he needs my assistance on.”
“Oh.” Pepper arched a brow and fisted one hand on her hip.
“Yeah, seems the problem has escalated, and he needs me to report to the navel base approximately an hour away from here tomorrow morning. Should only be there a few hours and be home by supper. Can we make that work? Alec and Mike will be here tomorrow.”
“I guess so.” She nibbled on her bottom lip.
“The Lt. Commander is well aware of our schedule. At worst, I’ll need to check in a couple more times between now and the wedding. At best tomorrow will be it. I’ll be directing the operation. There are plenty of skilled computer programmers available. Once we get what we need, I’ve written code for a worm that will activate once the intended person signs in. It will crash their system making the files unrecoverable. Our penetration will be undetectable, if everything goes as planned. Ray’s put the safety measures we discussed in place. So no worries there.”
Pepper hesitated for a couple beats as Lathen’s calm washed over her. “It’s your decision.”
Ray looked from Lathen to Pepper, cleared his throat, glanced at his watch and stood. “I have to be going. See you at five a.m. tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there. And I’ll be gone by fourteen hundred hours.”
“Fair enough. If the guys can’t handle things on their own by then, we have little hope of completing the mission.”