Acceptance

by Grace R. Duncan

  “Fine with us,” Finley said. “We’ve got the room.”

  “I’ll pay for our food and such.”

  “You don’t have to—” Tanner closed his mouth and chuckled, and Quincy glanced at Miles to see him scowling too. “Fine! Fine. You can buy groceries.”

  “Thank you.” Quincy sighed. “There’s something in all of this that I’m missing, but I don’t know what. Some piece that isn’t fitting. I need some time to think through it.”

  “Well, here is as good a place as any for that.” Finley smiled.

  “Thank you,” Quincy said again and focused back on his food.

  HE HAD one more throwaway phone from his last set of purchases. The problem was, they’d found him. Way too fast last time. And the last thing he needed was to bring those bastards to the wolves.

  He decided instead to call through the computer. He could send it through about a billion proxies, and once he disconnected, tracing it would be damned near impossible. If he took his time and was careful, he could avoid them finding him—and the wolves.

  Quincy set up in the dining room, working slowly and double—and triple-checking every proxy, every extra server he routed through, every extra step he added to his phone call. He’d keep it brief, because he was pretty sure he already knew what his father was going to say. Even so, he wanted to take as few chances as possible.

  He’d considered actually driving somewhere else to make the call, but no matter where he went, if he did it that way, whoever was feeding information to the Three Ds would trace it and their time would be much more limited. No, after careful consideration, he knew this was the right way to do it. He’d learned the hard way that they had more resources than he’d thought. He couldn’t make any assumptions.

  With a deep breath, Quincy glanced at the others around the table, then started the call.

  His father picked up on the first ring. “Hello?”

  “Father.”

  “Quincy, are you going to listen to me this time?”

  “Are you going to take responsibility for the fact that my mate almost died at the hands of your goons?”

  His answer, at first, was silence. “Someone tried to kill your mate?”

  Quincy sighed. “Why do you act like you don’t know this when it was under your orders?”

  He wasn’t surprised by the low growl that came through the phone. “I will not keep arguing with you. I did not order any kind of violence against you or your mate. I may be ruthless, Quincy Dean Archer, but I take responsibility for my actions. If I order something be done because I feel it needs to be, then I will take that responsibility.”

  Quincy winced at the use of his full name, but his father’s words didn’t change his resolve. “I can’t believe this of you, Father. I really can’t. How can you justify possibly starting an interspecies war over this?”

  “Interspec—what?”

  Quincy blinked and frowned. “Tell me you did it. Take the fucking responsibility that I know is yours, or I’ll be forced to go to my mate’s alpha.”

  “Alph—he’s a dog?”

  It hurt, there were no two ways about it—his outright refusal to deal with this. “Good-bye, Father. I suggest you watch your back.” Quincy hit the disconnect, quickly closing out the proxies. He’d been on for barely more than a minute, so he doubted they’d be able to trace, but he wasn’t taking chances.

  When he’d finished, he took a breath, struggling with his emotions, but he couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen. A red haze seemed to cover everything. Damn him! Quincy stood up abruptly and looked at his mate. Miles reached up and took off Quincy’s glasses, then mouthed, Go.

  Quincy remembered himself enough to open the french doors to the back deck, then started running. By the time he cleared the railing at the end, he’d shifted, his clothes flying off in tatters. He landed lightly on his feet on the lower level, then ran.

  HOURS LATER, Quincy lay on the banks of a wide stream, exhausted. He’d run, just like he had in Washington, but the clarity he sought eluded him. No amount of giving his cat control had helped this time.

  Nothing made sense. His father had never shied away from laying claim to his actions. In all the years he’d known the man, he’d never seen Aubrey Archer shun responsibility before. For as much of an asshole as he could be, he’d taken duty and his own warped sense of honor seriously.

  Quincy didn’t understand the surprise at Miles’s species either, unless those reporting didn’t know Miles was a wolf or simply didn’t tell his father. It still felt off to him, and that, as much as anything, frustrated him. He didn’t like puzzles, not like that.

  He smelled them before he heard them. Quincy was proud of them despite himself. He didn’t bother getting up, simply stayed put, sure they’d come to him. They surprised him, though. He’d only smelled the first two. But when five wolves cleared the tree line, approached him, then lay down with him, he really was impressed.

  He couldn’t tell them apart very easily by sight. The solid black wolf he guessed was Finley. He knew his own mate—would recognize Miles’s scent instantly anywhere. The white-looking wolf had to be Jamie. But he wasn’t positive which was Tanner and which was Chad and wasn’t familiar enough with their scents either.

  Until Chad chased a lightning bug across the grass.

  Quincy snorted and, if he’d been human, would have laughed.

  Jamie lay down and put his paws over his eyes, the action clearly saying, I don’t know him!

  Finley chuffed and tackled Jamie, and then the two of them started rolling around and play-fighting. Tanner shook his head and stretched out on the other side of Quincy from Miles.

  It was an odd sensation to be surrounded like that. As a cat, he rarely spent time around others. He’d certainly never have considered spending time with the pride like he was with the wolves. He had to admit, it felt good. He knew he couldn’t do it all the time. He’d need his solitude. But he found he was liking the feeling of belonging to the group.

  He laid his head on his paws, watching Jamie and Finley play even as Chad still chased the lightning bugs around. He looked over at Miles, then tilted his head toward Jamie and Finley. Miles gave him a wolf-grin and nodded. He looked at Tanner and got the same reply.

  Quincy got to his feet and crouched, slinking along the grass silently. He paused, waiting for just the right moment, tail twitching and watching as they rolled and nipped at each other. Reminding himself to keep his claws sheathed, he leaped, landing just past Finley’s snout and pushing Jamie over. They rolled together for a few feet. Finley barked and chased after them, jumping onto Quincy’s back. Quincy wiggled out from under him and batted at Finley’s flank. Jamie chuffed, jumping up and nipping at Quincy’s tail. Quincy turned around, batting at Jamie this time, when Finley jumped onto his back.

  Quincy flopped down in surrender. To his surprise, Jamie dropped next to him and Finley by their heads. Chad came back from his bug-chasing, and a moment later, all six of them were in what Quincy could only call… a dog pile.

  He closed his eyes, letting himself enjoy it. He’d always known he hadn’t belonged to the jaguars the same way everyone else did. He’d always had a different attitude, a different feeling about what was right and comfortable.

  He guessed he figured out where he really belonged. He wasn’t about to admit it to all of them—at least for a while, anyway. Miles, yes, but not the others. He did have an image to maintain, after all.

  But Quincy knew he was home. He just had to keep that home safe.

  QUINCY PACED Tanner and Finley’s living room, his frustration mounting. “Father and I have been at odds for years, that’s no secret. I am a huge disappointment, blah blah blah.” He sighed, turned around, and met Miles’s gaze before continuing his pacing. “I don’t and never have agreed with the way he runs the pride. Sure, we survived, but….” He shook his head and kept pacing. “Maybe that’s just me not agreeing with the way most of the jaguars are. Anyway, I never wanted his
business. I never wanted the pride, and I made no secret of that. But even with that… he’s never been… like this before.”

  “What if…,” Chad said, drawing Quincy’s attention. “What if it’s not your father?”

  Quincy frowned, stopping dead. He scowled. That had never occurred to him, the idea it could be someone besides his father. “Who else could it be?”

  Chad shrugged. “Hell if I know. But your father seems awfully adamant that it’s not him. Is there someone else who would benefit from you coming back?”

  The head shake came automatically, but then he stopped and gave it real thought. He still came up blank. “I don’t think so. I mean… our laws say that if my father is killed or steps down, I am next to take over as tepey.”

  “Unless they plan to kill you both.”

  Quincy whipped his head around to stare at Jamie. “Kill us both?”

  Jamie nodded. “Yeah. What if they want both of you out of the way, but they need to make it look right? So, they get you back there and get both of you together, then… I dunno, an accident of some sort, house fire. Who knows? There’s plenty that can kill us—and you.”

  “I still don’t know who it could be.” Quincy frowned, chewing on his lip. “I mean… sure, there’s a line of succession. Cats like to think they’re nobility.” Quincy rolled his eyes. “But I can’t see anyone else in the line willing to do that. I have an uncle and a cousin, both of whom are fairly decent for cats—and on the other side of the world. They travel and both have said they didn’t want it either.”

  “Is your father the only one with power in the pride?”

  Quincy nodded. “He has ultimate say. The only one who overrides him is our tepey-iret, but he doesn’t get involved unless it’s an interpride issue.”

  “What about a council? Like… we have our elders. They don’t have power or anything, but as advisors, they sometimes think they do,” Finley offered.

  Again, though, Quincy shook his head. “No. I mean, we do, but like yours, it has no power.” He sighed and flopped down onto the couch next to Miles. He rubbed his eyes, then looked over at Tanner. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to talk to your father. He should know I’m here, anyway, I guess.”

  “I called him, but yes, he’d like to meet you. Especially since you’re Miles’s mate.”

  Quincy sighed. “Okay. See, the thing is, if—and I’m not saying I believe it—if my father isn’t behind this, then he still should be trying to find out who is. And you’ll notice he never once said anything about that.”

  “Well, to be fair, he might know he’s being tapped,” Chad pointed out.

  With a groan Quincy dropped his head back. “Fuck. I’ll have to deal with that part later. First, your father.” He glanced at Miles, who looked ready to pass out. “After my mate gets more rest, since we do have time.”

  Miles waved, but Quincy snorted, stood, and proceeded to pick Miles up. “Whoa! Hey, I can walk!”

  “Stow it, Grant. You’re as weak as a newborn cub.”

  “You know I love you, Quincy, but fuck you,” Miles said, scowling. He scowled harder when laughter followed them down the hall.

  Quincy smirked, nudged the door open with his toe, carried Miles to the bed, then laid him down. “I’ll stay with you. But you need rest.”

  Miles sighed. “Fuck.” He frowned. “I don’t have to like it.”

  Quincy grinned. “No, you don’t. Just have to do it.”

  To Quincy’s satisfaction, before he even got the covers situated over them, Miles was already starting to drift. He kissed a temple, then settled in with Miles in his arms.

  A THREE-HOUR nap, another plate of steaks, and two shifts later, Miles was looking a lot more normal, and Quincy felt like he could breathe a little better. By that time, it was getting kind of late, so they decided to put off the visit to Alpha Noah’s until the next day.

  Which was fine by Quincy. As much as he wanted to move forward, he also wanted a little time with his mate. Tanner and Finley disappeared up to their bedroom, and Chad and Jamie had wolfed out and headed into the woods, so Quincy took the opportunity for the quiet with Miles.

  “So…,” Miles said, when the others were gone. “I wanted to ask you… what happens now? I mean, between us. Are you going to leave again?”

  Quincy thought about it but shook his head. “No. I think at this point it’s best if we stay together. It didn’t work to keep them from you by leaving, so….”

  Miles nodded. “Good. Because I want to suggest something.”

  “Oh?” Quincy raised his eyebrows.

  Miles reached up and brushed at Quincy’s hair. “Yeah. I’d like to start bonding with you.”

  Quincy swallowed. “If we bond… we can’t be apart?”

  Miles nodded. “Well, to a point. I mean, we can go do our own thing for a little while. But nothing long-term. Not until we claim each other, and as much as this pains me to say… I don’t think we should claim each other yet.”

  “No?” Quincy blinked.

  “No.” He hesitated, frowning. “Not until this is all over. If… if something happens to one of us after we’ve claimed each other, well… at best? Pure hell. You’ll wish Osiris had taken you to the underworld. At worst… you will find yourself facing him and your feather of maat.”

  Quincy stared at him, ignoring for the moment that Miles understood so much about his religion. “And if we bond but don’t claim?”

  “It’ll hurt for a while, but nothing nearly as bad. But in the meantime, our animals will handle things a bit better.”

  “Being together, you mean? Our emotions and such?”

  Miles nodded. “Yeah. It’s… it’ll be a little weird. You know how you got hit with my jealousy earlier?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, right now, because the bond was begun but not strengthened, all we feel is really strong emotion. Once we start bonding, we’ll feel much more. And we can soothe each other if it’s needed.”

  Quincy blinked. “Huh. That’s… really cool.”

  Miles smiled. “I think so.”

  “So… when did you want to do this?”

  Miles grimaced. “I’d love to say now, but I’m a little afraid I’d fall asleep.”

  That surprised a laugh out of Quincy. “That wouldn’t do much for my ego if you fell asleep during sex.”

  Miles shook his head. “No. But those shifts earlier took a lot out of me, even with the food. I just… I wanted to bring it up. I thought we should talk about it. It’s not just about having sex—making love.”

  “No, the bonding makes things more complicated, at least for now.” Quincy leaned forward and kissed Miles on the forehead. “How about I put on some anime?”

  Miles smiled. “I’d like that. How about that one you were telling me about? With the guy that looks like you and the kid with the orange hair. Um…. The… shinigami?”

  Quincy laughed. “Yeah, he does look like me.” He couldn’t hide his grin, thrilled Miles asked. “All right. Let me get my computer.”

  Chapter 8

  MILES FOUND himself wishing he’d bonded with Quincy that morning instead of going with the plan he’d put together. Quincy was going nuts in the seat next to him, and he wished he could send calm through their bond. But it wasn’t that strong and he couldn’t really project yet, so he could do nothing but hold his mate’s hand.

  No one else would know Quincy was so wound up. Miles swore to himself he’d never play poker with Quincy because his poker face was downright ridiculous. But there were minor tells, and Miles had spent every available minute studying him to know what they were. Granted, that wasn’t a lot of time, but it was enough to learn when Quincy was hiding something.

  He squeezed Quincy’s hand now. “We’ll get this all worked out.”

  Quincy sighed. “He’s going to argue with your alpha, and I have no idea how to stop this from escalating.”

  Miles frowned. “Well, Alpha Noah won’t jump to a war or anythin
g. He’ll try everything else he can think of first.”

  “That’s what Tanner said.” Quincy looked out the window briefly, then back to Miles. “If he continues to be stubborn, Alpha Noah will have to talk to your alpha prime, though.”

  “I know,” Miles said, nodding. “But there are other options first. Let’s just talk it out with Noah and go from there.”

  Quincy sighed again and nodded. “Yeah, that’s best. Just… I’m still so pissed at him.”

  Miles lifted Quincy’s hand and kissed it. “And you have every right to be. He would find a way to get a message to you that he was looking into it if it really wasn’t him. That he hasn’t is still bullshit. There may be more than your father at work here, but he’s not entirely innocent either. I think we should let Chad and Jamie help like they’ve offered.”

  “Well, as long as it doesn’t go straight to an interspecies conflict, I think you’re right. We’ll see what they can do to help.”

  “Good. Looks like we’re here,” Miles said, pointing when Tanner turned down the driveway.

  “Oh good,” Quincy said, and Miles wasn’t sure it was possible for Quincy to sound more nervous if he tried.

  They climbed out of the third row of Tanner’s Outlander, and Miles took Quincy’s hand again as they walked up to the porch. Tanner called out to his dad as they went inside.

  After somewhat chaotic introductions and greetings with Tanner’s mom, Carol, she made an offer of coffee; then Alpha Noah came out from his study. “Hey, son.”

  Miles, along with the rest of the wolves, tilted their head in respect. Miles was a little surprised to see Quincy do it, but he guessed it had something to do with the shaky ground the jaguars and wolves were already on with each other.

  “Alpha,” Miles greeted him.

  Noah nodded, then turned to Quincy. “Welcome to the Forbes pack, Quincy. It’s nice to meet you.” He offered his hand.