by Layla Nash
Maybe Logan bought us some time. Or maybe Kaiser remembered what he'd told me, what felt like another lifetime ago in his gym — Evershaw was dangerous for me, too. I refused to react, though.
John, the skinny coyote leader, addressed the assembled alphas with a winning smile. "The coyote collective is pleased to join the Council. We agree to abide by the judgments of the Council, and will adhere to the standards of conduct as outlined by the Council."
Logan's voice rumbled into the quiet room, and he managed to sound irritated as well as disinterested. "So you will cease organizing and profiting from illegal street-fights?"
The coyote's smile broadened, but he held his hands out in an almost helpless gesture. "We could, but it turns out we supply an entertainment option that is in high demand. We wouldn't want to cut off the fighters who profit from our enterprise, or the spectators who so enjoy each sporting event."
"Pitting unwitting humans against shifters is not sporting." Kaiser's fingers drummed a sharp tattoo on the table. "Much like a coyote baiting a bear is not sporting. Don't you agree?"
John didn't even blink, his conman skills bubbling up as he took an offended air and a wounded tone. "I would never bait the bears, Kaiser, and I'm disappointed you feel that way. And we go to great lengths to make sure the humans aren't in any real danger. We even employ a gorgon as insurance against anyone going berserk. Well, we used to employ a gorgon, until the Chases stole her away," and he shook a finger at Benedict, as if the lawyer was a naughty kid and not a lion about ready to shift to protect his mate.
A snarl broke the silence as Benedict leaned forward over the table. "Stole? Stole?"
"A coyote baiting a lion is also pretty stupid," Kaiser said, as Edgar gripped his brother's shoulder to keep Benedict from launching at the grinning coyote alpha. The bear did not look impressed. "And since Eloise is no longer in your employ, how do you propose to run fights that are illegal but will not get any humans killed?"
"We're re-evaluating our business model and security posture." John's grin never slipped. "And look forward to the Council's input on our way forward."
Lacey, the hyena queen, folded her arms over her chest. "And if the Council voted you must cease organizing and supporting these fights?"
"The collective would respectfully petition the Council to develop alternate revenue streams." John faced her until I could no longer see his expression, though I wanted to throw something at the back of his head. "Unfortunately, the fights sustain the entire collective. If those earnings went away, we would be in dire straits. Most dire."
"The Council will not provide welfare because your illegal business is put out of operation." This from the jackal alpha, a grizzled older man with his son Harrison by his side. Sam Armstrong didn't take shit from anyone, and his attitude only grew colder and angrier after the death of his youngest son, Cal. It was still so recent that the jackals occasionally retreated from the Council as they debated how to heal their pack internally. Sam gripped the edge of the table as he watched the coyote alpha hem and haw.
John finally inclined his head at the jackal. "Point well taken, Armstrong. We're developing other investments to take the place of the fights."
Rafe glanced at me, about to speak, but Logan beat him to it. The lion alpha started gathering his papers, preparing to leave. "Fine. When you're ready to stop conducting illegal fights, we will be ready to readdress your petition to join the Council. We're not going to accept a criminal enterprise into the governing council."
"Funny, coming from the biggest criminal in the room," Evershaw said, and I blinked. Rafe tensed beside me, and leaned away from where the lions sat on his left.
Logan's teeth glinted in the light, and a gold shadow crossed his eyes. "Tread lightly, Evershaw."
The wolf shrugged. "Your business skirts the law, Chase. Bends it, interprets it, breaks it. You steal from the poor, and gather more wealth for yourself and your friends. You do nothing to contribute to society. At least John is providing housing, food, healthcare, and other necessities for his people and strays in the city."
A chorus of growls rose from the lion table, and I allowed a bit of hope to grow in my chest. Evershaw only alienated the rest of the Council by antagonizing the Chase brothers and supporting the fights. Sure, some shifters made money fighting in abandoned warehouses, including Atticus Chase and his mate Sophia, but every fight increased the risk of the humans discovering shifters existed.
Logan bristled, the shoulders of his suit straining as he flexed. "You know nothing about my business, Evershaw, and if you defame me again, we can handle this in the traditional manner."
Which meant fighting to the death in animal form. I almost hoped it would come to that. I had no doubt who would win that fight. But Evershaw wouldn't antagonize the lions without a backup plan.
Evershaw didn't look particularly concerned. "Truth isn't defamation. That aside, I will vouch for the coyotes. They will cease the illegal fights within sixty days, or you may hold me accountable for their failure and any penalties levied against them. Will that assuage the Council's concerns?"
Kaiser looked between the lion and the wolf, then heaved a sigh. "Not entirely, but it's a start. We'll put it to the vote, then. The bears do not oppose allowing the coyotes provisional status with the Council, to be reviewed in thirty days."
My stomach clenched and I dug my nails into my thigh to keep from turning and snapping curses at the bear leader. Son of a bitch. How could he vote in support of those bastards?
Logan didn't blink. "The Pride is opposed. Strongly."
And then it was our turn. Rafe folded his arms over his chest. "BloodMoon opposes. Equally strongly."
John, still standing in the middle of the Council, just grinned at me, unconcerned. Like the outcome was already set. I hated the feeling of inevitability that swept through me. As if I watched a movie, and could identify the exact turning point when everything started falling apart.
Lacey, the hyena queen, stared at the coyote leader for a very long time before she voted. "We will support the new membership, contingent on all illegal fights ending within sixty days."
It grew more difficult to breathe, my heart in my throat.
Sam Armstrong shook his head. "Fine. Sixty days to prove yourself, coyote." He pronounced it "kah-yote," the last syllable clipped with ill-concealed anger.
And with that, and Evershaw's supportive vote, we lost.
John executed a partial bow to the Council, shook Evershaw's hand, then eyed the assembled alphas. "We'd like to raise a motion to create a single representative for each species. There's another group of coyotes operating outside the city, and if they were to try and join the Council, it would create tension and strife."
Kaiser's expression soured. "Don't push your luck, coyote. As I said, your status is the only issue we will address tonight, and…"
"SilverLine seconds the motion to create a single representative to vote on behalf of the rest of their kind. Chase votes for the felines already. It doesn't make sense to have multiple wolf packs and coyote groups. Any fool can create a pack and claim they need status with the Council. The next thing you know, we'll be as unwieldy and ineffective as the federal government." Evershaw eased to his feet, making eye contact with each alpha as he spoke. "What if more bears showed up in the city but wanted to remain loners? Should each lone bear have a voting position with the Council? No. We need to limit the voting members, and the best way to limit it is by species. One vote per species."
The bear grumbled as he scowled at Evershaw. "We're not getting into this now, Evershaw. If there's trouble between the wolves, we will deal with it at the next meeting."
"Very well." The wolf alpha didn't look disappointed. "So long as it is on the agenda, we can table the discussion until then. But we will certainly address it."
So we had three weeks to figure out how to stonewall Evershaw. How to convince the rest of the Council this was just an insane grab for power. Before Kaiser could ev
en close the meeting, I shoved my chair back and walked out. Three weeks wasn't enough time. If we weren't strong enough to meet and overturn Evershaw's challenge in three weeks, it would be the end of BloodMoon pack.
Chapter 18
Carter tried yoga. He tried meditating. He tried beating the shit out of a punching bag in the gym at the mansion. When none of that kept his mind off Ruby and the Council meeting, he retreated to the kitchen for beer and something deep-fried or covered in chocolate.
He found Eloise and Natalia deep in conversation, which stopped the moment he appeared. Carter nodded to Nat as he headed to the fridge, "I'm just getting a beer, I'll get out of your hair in…"
"Sit down." The chef's voice didn't give him much confidence it would be a pleasant conversation for him, so Carter put the beer back and got a bottle of whiskey from the cupboard instead.
Eloise snorted, swinging her feet against the cupboard where she sat on the counter, and tossed a towel at him. "Want a blindfold before you face the executioner?"
He gave her a sideways look and used the towel to mop up a puddle on the island as he pulled out a stool. He poured himself more whiskey than he normally would, and put about half of it down before he could face Natalia.
She wore an apron dotted with chocolate and spattered with flour and other baking ingredients, and a bit of flour dusted her cheek as well. But she looked ready for battle as she waved a whisk at him. "Eloise has been trying to explain what the fuck went on today, and I've already heard from Ruby what she saw and heard. Logan said you wanted to fix this. If that's true, then start talking."
Carter finished the rest of his drink and poured another. Sometimes liquor worked better than yoga and meditation, combined. It was only a temporary fix, but at least if he was drunk he could get a little sleep. The weight of their attention made him shift his own weight on the stool. It would be easier just to talk to Benedict and Logan, and even Atticus. But Natalia was the only one with a direct line to Ruby. He studied his hands on the smooth quartz countertop. "Eloise asked me to go with her to talk to Evershaw. I went. I lost my temper with Evershaw and told him to fight fair if he planned something against Ruby."
"Did you get involved in pack business?"
Carter wanted to deny it immediately, but he took his time to weigh what he'd said and done. "That wasn't my intention. I wanted to keep Evershaw from being an underhanded shitbag. That was it."
Natalia narrowed her eyes as she watched him, stirring a double boiler on the stove. "Did you tell Evershaw to stay away from Ruby?"
"I wanted to." His hand closed around the bottle of whiskey. He envisioned chucking it across the kitchen, watching the bottle explode against the cabinets. But he just dumped more into his glass and got up to put the bottle away. "But I didn't."
Natalia took the chocolate off the stove and began to drizzle it over little truffle things on a baking sheet on the counter. She only paused to smack Eloise when the gorgon stole a truffle and scooted across the kitchen. Natalia went back to the dessert, her back to him so Carter couldn't read her expression as she spoke. "Just you being there, talking about Ruby at all, is interfering in pack business. That's the problem, Carter. If you don't see it, you…"
"I told him to fight fair." Carter gripped the edge of the counter and tried to keep his tone even. Shouting at Natalia would mean a very quick death if Logan ever found out. "And there is no one on this planet who could convince me to let some asshole like Miles Evershaw take advantage of my mate. Even you. Even her."
He ground his teeth so loudly he didn't even notice the silence. When he looked up, Natalia stared at him, chocolate forgotten as her spoon dripped all over the floor, and Eloise plundered the truffles with impunity. Nat shook her head. "Your what?"
"My mate." Carter laughed, but it had an ugly edge to it that he hated. "Oh, Ruby didn't tell you that part? She's my mate. I'm pretty sure I'm hers, but she won't admit it. Ruby O'Shea is my mate. I wanted to pick Miles Evershaw up by the throat and crush him for the things he's said to her, the way he's treated her, but I didn't. I didn't. It took every ounce of control I possess – and a hell of a lot of meditation – but I managed not to kill him in his own den. And now she won't even speak to me."
Natalia spluttered, looking at Eloise before returning her attention to Carter. "Your mate?"
"Yeah." Carter leaned his elbows on the counter, fixing her with a hard stare as his lion rumbled, and his voice dropped. "So think about what it would take for Logan to stand aside quietly as some douchebag like Miles Evershaw propositioned you like you were a business deal, and then started doing underhanded shit to try to drag you down? What would he do?"
Natalia's lips compressed to a thin line and she looked away.
"Right," Carter said. "I helped clean up the mess at the soup kitchen, so I guess we both know what he would do. And yet Miles Evershaw lives. He lives. I deserve some fucking credit for that."
"You've got it," Edgar said from the doorway, looking grim as he walked into the kitchen and retrieved a beer from the fridge. "And I also deserve some credit for not killing Evershaw. Logan really does, too. Benedict, not so much."
The lawyer loosened his tie as he strode over to Eloise. "Shut up, Edgar."
Logan already pinched the bridge of his nose as he followed behind Benedict, but he went to Natalia to kiss her forehead and check her over before he turned blue-gold eyes on Carter. "The coyotes are in a probationary membership to the Council now. And BloodMoon has three weeks until the Council addresses who will represent each group."
Carter stared at his whiskey, wishing he still had the bottle. "Evershaw behaved himself?"
Edgar snorted as he pulled out the stool next to Carter and slapped his back. "Of course he didn't. Called Logan a criminal."
Natalia untangled herself from Logan's embrace and started cleaning up the chocolate on the floor. She sounded flustered as she scrubbed. "How was Ruby? Did she say anything?"
"No." Logan frowned as he pulled her upright to hold against his side. "And leave that, the maids can clean it up later. Ruby didn't do anything but sit there."
Carter wanted to flee, with three of his brothers watching him closely. The silence stretched as they waited, and Natalia finally blurted out, "Ruby is his mate. They're mates. What happens if she doesn't forgive him?"
"Depends," Edgar said, when no one else spoke. Eloise looked at the floor, and Benedict edged closer to her with a worried grumble. Logan's arm tightened around Nat and he got a faraway look. Edgar spoke as if he gave her the weather forecast. "She's still around. He could torture himself by staying here and seeing her every day, but not being able to have her. He could leave and torture himself knowing she's here, alone and unprotected. They will both spend the rest of their lives knowing there is a hole in their heart, something missing from their soul. That life could have been a thousand times better, more real, more colorful. It would be the difference between living in black and white, and living in color. It's like not being able to feel any warmth unless you stick your hand in a fire, not being able to taste anything, or smell anything."
Edgar's voice never changed but Carter couldn't swallow, staring down at the counter and praying he didn't bolt for the car to drive to O'Shea's to convince Ruby she was wrong. He had to get her back. He couldn't live like that.
"How do you know that, Edgar?" Natalia's voice cracked, as if she already knew the answer to her question. Logan held her tighter still, pressing his face to her hair.
Carter watched Edgar in his peripheral vision, holding his breath. Edgar never talked about it. Never talked about her. They knew better than to bring it up. It was too terrible, too impossible to comprehend, or understand, or even just hear.
But Edgar's expression didn't harden. He didn't break or grow angry. He sounded resigned, tired. Even the smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth looked just a little sad. "Because my mate died in a car accident twelve years ago."
Nat's eyes brimmed with tears and then
overflowed, and even caustic Eloise dashed at her cheeks.
Edgar knocked his knuckles on the counter and eased to his feet. "So I know whereof I speak, Natalia. It's a shitty way to live, and I wouldn't wish it on either Ruby or Carter."
"You can't do this to a pregnant woman," Natalia said, too loudly, and lurched forward to hug him tightly. She cried on his shoulder while Edgar stood and patted her back, but Edgar had long since stopped crying over his lost mate. Carter remembered the exact day Ed stopped crying, because that was the day Ed stopped feeling almost everything.
Nat hiccupped and punched Edgar's side, pushing him away to sniffle and wipe at her nose. "You never said anything. And you let us walk around here in love, and hugging, and happy, and you just…you didn't say anything. How can you stand it? How can you stand seeing us together?"
Carter couldn't breathe, let his head fall forward on his arms so he might not hear Edgar's response. Carter didn't want to face a future like Edgar's, always alone. Always wondering what if. Always angry at the universe and fate or whatever took his mate away. And Carter would still have to face Ruby, knowing their life together would be amazing but still unable to have it. He didn't know what would be worse.
Edgar patted her back and directed her to Logan, agitated by Nat's tears. Logan immediately engulfed her in an embrace. Edgar retrieved the bottle of whiskey from the cupboard and poured a bit more for Carter before he took a deep swig, right from the bottle. He capped it and held it up for Nat to see. "I drink. A lot."
"Does it help?" Carter asked, not lifting his head.
"Not really." Edgar squeezed his shoulder. "So we'll get you sorted, Carter."