by Crissy Smith
Tony smirked but he did nod just before disappearing back into the house.
Emily tugged on his hand, stopping him from crossing over the threshold. She leaned up on her tip-toes with her mouth just inches from his. “I’m going to make you some breakfast while you talk to the Alpha.”
“I’d appreciate it,” he said sincerely.
She brushed her lips over his. “Everything is fine here. You just go do what you need to and I’ll take care of everything else.”
Cain nodded.
Her smile was bright when she kissed him one last time before striding past him into the house. Cain stood just staring at the door. He had no idea what had happened but somehow it didn’t worry him. He’d give Emily anything he could, so the ball seemed to be in her court. Now, he could get down to business and make sure he wasn’t distracted from the task ahead.
* * * *
The drive to Colorado was long, but Cain knew when the meeting was over he had something to get home to. The sight of Emily in his robe standing at the door was one Cain would cherish during his time away. They’d showered together before he’d had to get downstairs to meet up with Adam.
She’d offered to walk him out, but Cain had just smiled and told her to stay right where she was as he grabbed his bag.
The robe had been way too big for her so she’d attempted to wrap and clench it closed, but the opening had gapped and her breasts had just been barely visible. Even thinking about it right then, he was hard.
He shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable and calm down before Adam noticed anything. Not only would his friend be able to see his hard-on pressing against his jeans, but he’d also be able to smell his arousal. And that would be embarrassing. He glanced over at Adam and frowned.
Adam had been silent for most of the trip. They had stopped for coffee fifteen miles back and Cain had taken over the driving, but Adam still wasn’t sharing what was wrong.
The strong emotions coming off him smelled a bit like desperation and anxiety. He’d expect a little of both, but these were just too potent. Something else other than this case was bothering him. If anyone could get answers out of Adam it would be him. He was not about to let his buddy suffer alone. He’d help Adam figure out whatever the problem was. He also had a good idea where to start. He’d bet Adam just needed someone to listen to him without the worry of putting the Pack in danger.
A troubled or weak Alpha put the entire community in danger. Adam was keeping his concerns close to his chest, but Cain would offer whatever assistance he could. They both knew that Cain had no interest in becoming an Alpha and being in charge of an entire Pack.
“How’s your dad doing?” Cain asked.
Adam sighed.
“Adam?” Cain pressed.
“Still depressed and blaming himself. He won’t listen to me, to anyone, that it wasn’t his fault,” he finally said.
“Other Alphas, other territories…”
“I think what happened to Mindy reminded him of something in his past. He’s having nightmares and he’ll lock himself in his room,” Adam said.
“Oh jeez,” Cain blurted out. He hadn’t realized things were so bad for Adam and Christian. He’d been so wrapped up in his own drama that he’d let down the people who were like family to him.
He and Adam had been raised together, as Christian had served as his father’s Beta. When Christian had been given his own Pack it had broken both his and Adam’s hearts to be separated. Sure, they understood why, but it hadn’t been easy to let go of that closeness.
“I should have been there for you.” Cain felt guilty.
“Nothing you can do,” Adam assured him.
“No, I could have…”
“Left your mate alone and come keep an eye on me and my dad,” Adam finished for him.
“No!” Cain argued. “Just been more available, I guess.”
“Cain, I know if I call you day or night you’re going to answer. If I’d asked you to come down, you would have been there. It just wouldn’t have helped.”
“So what can I do now?” he asked.
Adam shook his head. “Nothing. You spent some time in Texas with Gage Wolf’s Pack, right?”
“Yeah.” Cain nodded as he glanced in the rear-view mirror before putting on his blinker. Their exit was coming up, and he changed lanes before giving his attention back to Adam. “Dad and Gage have been friends for years. That Pack is awesome.”
“My father and Logan grew up together,” Adam said. “He’s there now with him.”
“Logan’s been staying at your house?” Cain asked.
“Yeah,” Adam said. “I’m hoping with me being gone, Logan can reach him. They seemed to have an understanding that I just don’t get. Whatever is wrong, it seems that Logan knows exactly what the problem is. I think he’s just trying to come up with the solution.”
“If anyone can it would be that guy. Especially if they’re as good friends as you’ve said. That guy is fucking brilliant,” Cain said.
“I like him,” Adam said. “I just feel…comfortable around him.”
“It’s what makes him such a great Beta. Your dad does the same to me. They are just so calming to be around,” Cain agreed.
“Usually,” Adam said. “Not so much more anymore. My dad is so full of… I don’t even know how to explain it.”
“You don’t have to,” Cain told him. “Just vent, let it out, I won’t judge you, your father or anyone. Nothing you say will ever leave this car.”
Adam stared out of the window. “He wants me to take over the Pack.”
Cain jerked the wheel in surprise. He quickly corrected his steering before he realized he’d almost missed his exit. He slowed and followed the other traffic off the highway until they turned onto a much less traveled road.
“That was pretty much the reaction I had.” Adam laughed bitterly. “Except, luckily, I wasn’t in a moving vehicle, although I did drop a crystal glass.”
“You’d be a good Alpha.” Cain wanted to make sure that his friend knew he believed in him.
Adam finally looked at him. “Do you think so?”
Cain didn’t hesitate with his answer. “Yes, I do. I guess it just shocked me. Your dad’s still in his prime. He could lead the Pack for several more years. Lots more years.”
“That’s what I told him,” Adam said. “He said he’s lost the taste for it.”
Suddenly Cain was assaulted with an overwhelming sense of fear. “Adam! What is it?”
“I’m worried that when Logan leaves, Dad might want to end his existence.”
“Fuck.” Cain swerved again. He immediately hit the knob for his blinker before he started to pull over to the right, out of the way of traffic. He could not continue this conversation while trying to drive.
Once the vehicle was on the side of the road with the hazards flashing, Cain turned to his friend.
Cain knew shifters who had done that. Ended their lives or had someone do it for them. It wasn’t common, but it had happened in the past enough times that Cain had been trained in the symptoms to look out for in case one of his Pack members was in danger.
“Maybe he won’t,” Cain offered, not knowing what else to say.
“I guess we’ll find out soon. Logan got word that his Alpha is expecting his first child. He’ll need to return to guard over them. Gage won’t want anyone else near Marissa. He’s overly protective on an average day, but this is going to send him spiraling out of control.”
Cain smiled. Marissa Boyd and Gage were having a baby. That was awesome news. He was glad to hear that Marissa was still happy in her new home. Gage’s mate was one of the few weres who couldn’t shift and had recently come across her old Pack that had abused her terribly. Marissa had ended up changing a lot of people’s beliefs on non-shifters.
Thinking of Gage having a child made him think of Emily. She would be a great mother. The way she was with Toby was proof of that.
It was something they needed to dis
cuss. He could picture their children running around playing while he held her in his arms. Not right away, but he actually wanted to think about it.
Emily was changing him, for the better, and Cain hoped he wouldn’t screw things up completely.
Just as things were coming together for him, his best friend’s life was falling apart. Cain wanted to help but he wasn’t sure what he could do. Adam was a smart, kind and strong man and he would be a great Alpha, but Cain hadn’t thought his father was doing so badly.
“What can I do to help?” Cain asked.
Adam looked over at him. “Actually, just talking this out with you is helping,” Adam said. “I’m just so overwhelmed.”
Cain nodded. “So let’s break it out. Here.” He reached into the glove box for a notebook and pen. “Take this and write down what needs to be done. The Beta is helping you?”
“Yes,” Adam said. “Luckily our Pack isn’t as big as yours, so everyone is doing what they can to help each other, but this isn’t how it is supposed to go. Our family should be taking care of business so the rest of the Pack can enjoy their lives and not worry. We’re never going to be able to help Mindy and move on if the Alpha and inner circle are falling apart.”
“So do it,” Cain said.
“What?”
“Your dad wants you to take over the Pack because he is unable to handle it right now for whatever reason. He might recover or could get worse, but this isn’t just about him. It sounds to me like you want to fix things, so do it,” Cain said.
“I can’t help him,” Adam said. “So maybe I can do something good for the rest of the Pack.”
Cain patted him on the shoulder. “Exactly.”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds,” Adam told him. “I’ve been running things for several weeks now but things I need his decisions on aren’t getting done.”
“Then decide,” Cain told him.
“I can’t!” Adam threw up his hands. “I’m not the Alpha even if he wants me to be. The Council would have to approve the transfer and that takes time.”
“You’re thinking too much. You need to make sure the Pack is running well, help Mindy and protect everyone. Just make those decisions that are needed and get things happening. If your dad wants the Pack again he can take back over, and at least no one else will be hurt. If he formally requests retirement than you already have things set up the way you want,” Cain advised.
“I’m worried that he’ll think he’s not needed. There’s no telling what he’ll do then,” Adam said.
Cain understood what the issue really was. Adam was capable, but he was holding back out of fear that his dad would end his existence knowing the Pack was safe. He had no idea how he would feel if this were happening to him. “Adam, you need to do your best for the Pack. Your father is a great man and while he’s struggling now, that won’t last. He’ll get past this and everything will work out.”
“I hope so,” Adam said. “You’re right, though, I do need to step up.”
“Good.” Cain straightened so he could get them back on the road. “Now let’s talk about this meeting.”
Adam sighed. “Yeah, even that has to be better than everything going on in my head.”
Cain flipped on the turn signal to return them to the highway. Once traffic was clear, he pulled out. “I’m not sure how I feel about Riker.” The Colorado Alpha was not a nice guy. He was often too harsh with his Pack, and Cain didn’t like that.
“I don’t like him,” Adam told him. “My dad says that he’s very old-school and believes that all Pack members have to fight to get high positions. He pits them against each other so there’s a lack of trust and closeness. It’s a good thing his Pack is smaller, like mine. Can you imagine if he had as many members as yours?”
“It wouldn’t be good,” Cain agreed. “Do you think he’s involved in this? He didn’t appear very sympathetic when it was one of his own Pack.”
“We went around the entire property searching for the scent of the attackers. Wouldn’t we have picked up on something?” Adam asked.
“Yeah,” Cain said. “You have a point.”
“Of course that doesn’t mean he didn’t set it up,” Adam added. “If he used someone outside his Pack, maybe even a rogue. He did get our attention and now one of the largest gatherings of all the Packs is on his territory.”
“I asked Lamont why we were meeting there and he wasn’t sure whose suggestion it was, but I can imagine Riker insisted. The others would agree just to get it over and done with. We’ve got to catch this guy.”
“It could be dangerous,” Adam said. “If he is involved and we’re all on his land.”
“He can’t make a move against all of us. Our Alphas would hunt him down, but I do agree that we need to be careful. I don’t trust him,” Cain said.
“After the meeting, I’d like to sniff around,” Adam told him.
“Okay,” Cain replied. “I’ll see what I can do to cover for you. Just don’t get caught.”
Adam scoffed. “Come on, I was taught by the best.”
“I am the best,” Cain said smugly. He laughed as Adam grinned.
It might have only been something small, but at least Adam had a smile on his face. If Cain had a chance, he’d get a hold of Tony and see what his brother could do to help. Tony was heading to California to the Council property, but Tony always had time for him. He’d also make sure that his brother kept what was going on with Adam’s father under wraps for now. He didn’t want the Council to get involved yet. Christian could still pull through.
“Thanks,” Adam told him quietly.
Cain only nodded. No other words needed to be said between the two friends.
* * * *
The moment he walked into the meeting, Cain knew that it wasn’t like the others he had attended before. That in itself wasn’t a shock, since the assembly had been arranged as a result of such horrible violence. What was troubling him was the way the different Packs’ representatives were all edgy and looking at each other with suspicion. If they turned on one another they wouldn’t get anything done.
As he and Adam strolled closer to the large conference table, he dipped his head respectfully at the other shifters in the room. Riker wasn’t there yet and as far as Cain knew he would be the only Alpha attending.
It was unusual for Alphas to leave their territory, especially during a time in which they were needed to protect their Pack. He spotted Sam, Gage Wolf’s third-in-command, and sat next to him.
“Sam,” he greeted his friend quietly.
“Hey, Cain, Adam,” Sam returned with a nod. “Glad to see you both here.” Sam glanced around the room and the smell of unease was flooding off him.
Sam was a guard who had recently been promoted and spent most of his time looking after the Alpha mate of his Pack, Marissa. Cain didn’t think Sam had ever attended a summit for the Packs. But with Logan off territory it would fall on Sam to attend and report back to Gage.
Cain clamped his hand down on Sam’s shoulder and squeezed. He leaned closer and in a low voice said, “Just stay calm and don’t get involved in other Packs’ business,” Cain advised. “Sit back and listen, pay attention to the others, but don’t bring their interest to you.”
Sam nodded before he relaxed. “Thanks.”
“Sure,” Cain said. “I’ve been there. I remember my first summit by myself.”
“I hope it was under better circumstances,” Sam whispered.
“It was,” Cain told him. “But I was still scared shitless I would disrespect the wrong wolf and start a Pack war.”
“Yeah,” Sam said. “Gage already has enough on his plate and I don’t want to add to it.”
“Don’t worry, Adam and I have your back. Everything will be okay.”
The room filled up quickly, and finally Riker walked in. He went directly to the head of the table and sat. Since he was the highest rank, he would run the summit.
There were nine territories being represented b
ut twelve seats taken. While Riker was representing his own Pack, he would also be allowed to have one of his men at his side to help run the meeting but also look out for their interests. Larry had walked in behind Riker. Cain didn’t know much about Larry. He would have had to fight well to be so high in the Pack, but Cain didn’t know anything about his personality. The fact that Larry belonged to Riker’s Pack at all made Cain suspicious of him. An Alpha could tell dominance inside a wolf without the need for violence. Cain didn’t respect a bully and that was how he thought about the entire Riker Pack. This was only one of the reasons that Riker’s reputation was that of running an old-school Pack. Wolves were used to violence, and Riker seemed to encourage it.
In the last two chairs sat two shifters that Cain didn’t know, but he could feel their power. Both men were built and extremely intimidating, even to him. One had dark brown hair and to the left of him was a slightly smaller light-haired guy. They had to be the representatives from the Council, and Cain was happy to see them there.
Cain’s doubt and unease about Riker was still bothering him, and the only ones present who would be able to question or take on the Alpha without causing issues for their home Pack would be the Council guys.
“Let’s get this summit started,” Riker said. “First, I’ll go over what we know, then we’ll open with suggestions on how to catch the person responsible for the attacks. We need to outline what all of you are doing in your own territories to keep the members safe and where you are investigating. There is no point in duplicating research when we can better spend our time elsewhere.”
Cain leaned back as he listened to Riker update everyone.
The survivors had all given the same description. The attacker was out to cause as much pain and humiliation as possible. After he sexually attacked the girls, he would beat them with his fists. The beatings had rapidly gotten worse until the last victim hadn’t lived through it.
Cain peered around, taking in the reactions of the others, until he met Larry’s gaze. Cain took an immediate dislike to the man. There was no compassion in Larry’s eyes as Riker spoke about the results of Mindy’s attack. Adam was gripping the edge of the table and his fingers were turning white. Not moving his eyes, Cain leaned against Adam so to offer him some comfort without anyone else picking up on it.