by Layla Nash
"Yes." Natalia's voice barely escaped from Logan's arms.
No one said anything, no one made eye contact, for a long moment. Benedict finally straightened from his lean against the counter, and looked at Natalia. "Did you just say you're pregnant?"
Logan sighed. "Yes."
Benedict looked around the room, expression comical. "Did everyone know but me? What the hell, Logan?"
"You explain," Edgar said to Logan, then reached out to drag Carter to his feet. "Little brother and I will take a walk."
Carter went with him, struggling to breathe. Edgar would know how to fix it. Edgar would find a way, he always did.
Chapter 19
I met Nat a few days later at the designer’s shop for her final dress fitting. I felt like nine miles of bad road, with a constant migraine and a short temper. Rafe and I spent every waking moment at the bar or the office, searching for ways to challenge Evershaw's assertion. We reached out to the jackals, the hyenas, the bears, a few stray wolves roaming the city, and every other shifter we could find to try and gauge their interest in supporting us over Evershaw. He had a good argument, though, and none of the other alphas wanted to see their power diluted.
So I wasn't in the mood to gossip and giggle as I dragged myself into the designer's fitting rooms. Not that Nat wanted to giggle. She looked pale and wan, almost uneasy as I walked in, and she wobbled to her feet to hug me. "How are you?"
"I've been better." I attempted a smile and flopped onto the chaise. "There's a lot of work to be done."
She waited until the designer retreated to face me from the dais, wearing her beautiful gown. "Have you talked to Evershaw? Or Carter?"
"No and no." I covered my eyes, feeling tired to my bones. With each passing hour, walking away seemed better and better. The stress would kill me before Evershaw got a chance. "Rafe and I have been busy trying to make friends."
"Logan said it isn't clear which way the Council will go."
"Oh, it's plenty clear." I rubbed my forehead and couldn't meet her gaze. "They'll side with Evershaw. He's giving them a case for maintaining their power later. If more bears or lions or jackals move in, Evershaw's stance gives Kaiser, and Logan, and Armstrong the precedent to force those newcomers to swear fealty. They'd have to be stupid to side with us."
Natalia swallowed hard, dry-washing her hands in front of her, and her eyes grew red. "What are you going to do?"
Resignation crept over me. I'd fought it for the last few days, and the two weeks before that, but it felt inevitable. Evershaw would win. Rafe and I would have to deal with the fall-out. We just didn't know what that looked like. "I don't know. Sell the bar and leave?"
She stumbled off the dais and nearly tripped on her skirt as she tried to hug me. "You can't."
"We'll stick around until the Council meeting, so I can still be your maid of honor." I tried to smile. "So don't worry about that."
"I wasn't, you idiot." Natalia gingerly sat on the chaise next to me, fussing with the gown and the skirt and the neckline, and shook her head. "You can beat Evershaw in a fight, though. If it comes down to it, can't you just demand trial by combat and finish things up that way?"
"Maybe." I shoved to my feet so I could undress and get into my gown. I tried not to remember the last time I'd tried it on, when the evidence of Carter's passion covered me from head to toe. "That's assuming the rest of the Council lets the wolves decide among ourselves."
She watched me without expression. "Carter might…"
"Don't." I refused to look at her, even in the mirrors, and concentrated on checking the hem and waist and back of the dress. I didn't want to look unkempt or rumpled at the wedding. It might be the last time I saw Carter, and I wanted him to remember me in the best possible light. Even if it was torture for us both.
"He wants to explain." She gripped her knees and continued on doggedly. "And you should listen."
"You don't understand."
"Maybe not exactly." She clamped her lips together as a seamstress knocked and ooh'd and aah'd over my dress, making a few final adjustments before she gestured for me to take it off. I complied, and once the seamstress disappeared with the dress, Natalia bulled on. Stubborn as a mule, that one. "But the thought of living a day without Logan takes my breath away. I can't function without him, Ruby, and I know it's worse for him. I can't imagine you would torture yourself by walking away from your mate. I just don't understand how you could do that."
"You're human," I said under my breath as I got dressed. "You're not an alpha, and you're not a wolf. For us, the mate and the pack take up parts of our soul, our heart. You can survive with one. That's enough."
"But why is only surviving enough?" She lurched upright and caught my hands, squeezing until my fingers cracked. "You shouldn't just survive, Ruby. Jesus."
"You don't get it, Nat." I pulled away and ran my hands through my hair. "And you won't. Ever. So let's talk about the party and what else needs to be done."
She gave me a dark look. "Don't shut me out just because you're being stubborn and miserable."
"I'm not." I hugged her and gathered my bag. "Put your clothes on so you can make me something delicious for lunch."
Natalia pulled on her jeans and scowled at me. "Don't act weird, girl."
She almost made me smile. As she led the way out of the designer's showroom, my phone rang. Carter. I hesitated, then silenced it and put it away. I wasn't ready to listen yet. I needed more time to figure out what Rafe and I were going to do. Then I could see if Carter fit in to those plans. My wolf didn't like it, wanted to stalk and chase him, but loyalty to the pack consumed her, as well. I forced myself to be cheerful as I followed Nat to the nearby apartment. At least I'd look damn good and go out in style.
Chapter 20
The night of the party and Nat's surprise wedding, I spent most of the afternoon getting a manicure, getting my hair done, getting dressed in that gorgeous dress. I spent every minute of it second-guessing myself. I finally made a decision – what was best for the pack and for Rafe. And yet, my heart hurt just to think of it. My wolf mourned, but she understood.
I steeled my courage and had one of my wolves drive me to the warehouse where Evershaw worked. I didn't call ahead or give him any notice, but Todd assured me he was there. The younger Evershaw didn't ask any questions. Neither did my driver, though I caught her watching me in the rear-view mirror as she parked. I kicked open my door but took my time getting out, worried about falling on my face with wobbly high heels, and said, "Keep the doors locked until I come back out."
"Yes, ma'am." She gripped the wheel and stared straight ahead, as if she already knew what I planned to do.
The massive steel door opened for me before I even knocked, and Todd stood back to let me in. His eyebrows rose to his hairline. "O'Shea. You look…lovely."
"Thanks." I tried to sound like I meant it, and nodded to him. "Logan's party."
"Ah, yes." Todd smiled with half his mouth as he led the way through the empty halls. "I think our invitation was lost in the mail."
"I think Benedict might have forgotten to put a stamp on yours."
Todd laughed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Does that still bother him?"
"You better believe it." I hesitated as Todd gestured at the door to his brother's office, and my stomach flipped until I thought I might barf all over the floor and the front of my dress. As I stared at the closed door, Todd leaned back against a nearby desk and folded his arms over his chest.
He watched me with a critical eye. "I was surprised you called. And that you wanted to talk to Miles."
"I'm pretty damn shocked myself."
He smiled more, looking down. "It would be nice if the packs got along."
"Yeah." I took a deep breath. "It would." I nodded to Todd and knocked on the door. "I'll work on that."
He opened his mouth to say something, reaching out to catch my arm, but then I heard Evershaw's deep voice from inside the office. "Come in." And I open
ed the door.
If I waited any longer, I might lose the rest of my courage. I needed to say my piece before I changed my mind.
Inside the office, Evershaw sat behind his desk, the entire surface covered in papers and cartons of half-eaten Chinese food. He frowned as he looked up at me, then the expression melted off his face. He eased to his feet. "Ruby."
My mouth went dry. He never stood up. Ever. It was a power play, always, to show that he owned the room and didn't have to get up for anyone. But he stood up for me, and called me by my first name. I cleared my throat to knock the words loose as I approached the desk. "Evershaw. Thanks for seeing me."
His eyebrows arched and he nodded at the chairs in front of his desk. "Sure. Have a seat. You look nice."
"Thanks." I perched on the edge of the chair, gripping my clutch so my hands wouldn't shake and clue him in to my nerves.
He rubbed his jaw and the graying stubble rasped against his palm. "I'm surprised you're here."
"Why?"
Evershaw shrugged and leaned back in his chair. "Technically, we still practice bride-napping. And since you walked into my den by yourself, I should just keep you."
My heart jumped to my throat but I refused to react. I kept my expression as blank as his, and prayed my voice didn't wobble. "That won't be necessary."
He glanced over my shoulder, toward the door, and I wondered whether Todd would overhear. Or if he waited with a bag to throw over my head. Bride-napping? But Evershaw didn't look concerned. "Oh?"
"I thought about your...proposal." The word tasted like ash. Business proposal, really. None of the magic, or love, or sentiment of Logan's proposal to Natalia. I talked faster, so I wouldn't change my mind. "And I accept, with a couple of conditions. BloodMoon pack remains under Rafe's control, and you drop the issue with the Council over there being a single pack in the city. SilverLine will not attempt to destroy or drive away BloodMoon. We can work out whatever power-sharing agreements need to be made, but I will leave BloodMoon and join you as alpha of your pack."
Evershaw didn't react at first, though he played with an extra chopstick as the silence stretched. Eventually, he cleared his throat. "Why?"
"Why?" I blinked and shifted my weight in the chair, uneasy. I hadn't expected him to question my decision. I didn't want to convince him to take me. It had been his idea. "Jesus, Evershaw, you were the one who…"
"Ruby," he started, then cut off and shook his head. He leaned his elbows on the desk and looked at me evenly. "Cut the bullshit. What the hell are you doing here when your mate is waiting for you?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" My wolf snarled at the rejection, the insult that he would refuse us when we'd offered ourselves. I clenched fists against my thighs and wished I could shift and tear his throat out. But I couldn't ruin my dress, not with Nat's wedding in an hour. I struggled to breathe through my nose so I wouldn't pass out from sheer rage. "You, of all people, have no right to…"
"Why me, of all people?" Evershaw pressed his hands together near his chin and watched me. "What, because I'm an asshole? Because I made things a little tougher for Carter and for you?"
I lurched to my feet and threw my clutch on the floor. Picked up the chair I'd occupied and hurled it across the room, so it splatted against the fireplace and broke apart. I prayed I hadn't busted a seam. I wanted to break everything else in the office, including his face, as tears burned my sinuses and threatened to spill over. I would not cry. Would not.
"Because this was your idea. Your stupid fucking idea, and now —" I cut off and turned away so he wouldn't see me, just in case the tears broke free.
Evershaw, thank God, didn't follow me. He stayed where he was, and he sounded tired. As tired as I felt, as if every muscle hurt and every joint ached, and all he wanted was a warm bed. "Ruby, I proposed that deal before either of us knew you and Carter are supposed to be together. I'm not going to take another man's mate."
"I'm not going to be with Carter." I steeled myself and faced him, hands on my hips, and took refuge in the wolf's rage. "That's over. Done with. You two don't get to negotiate for me. I make my own choices, and this is it. This is my choice."
"It's the wrong choice." When I geared up to break something else, he held up his hands. A gold sheen rolled over his eyes. "Take a breath and sit your ass down, O'Shea. Before you break a leg in those ridiculous shoes."
"I hate you so much," I said, but part of me knew he was right enough about the shoes. I grudgingly sat, but I dragged the surviving chair away from the desk so I could establish my own territory.
"Join the club." Evershaw ran a hand over his short hair. "You're making a stupid choice. Part of it is my fault, but most of it is yours. You found your mate, Ruby. What the fuck else matters enough to walk away from that?"
"The pack," I said. "My pack. My pack matters. I've worked too hard to…"
"Bullshit. Packs come and go."
I rocked back in the chair as if he'd punched me in the chest.
Evershaw made a face, then yanked one of the desk drawers open. He pulled out a bottle of scotch and two glasses, and poured a healthy drink in both of them. He handed me one and finished his own before going on. "Look. I've led a couple of packs. Shit happens. Families break up. Some kid challenges you and you're having an off day. Or maybe you're just tired and hurt, and you walk away because it's not worth fighting for anymore."
I held the glass and sipped, wrinkling my nose as it burned my nostrils. But his words would have knocked me over if I'd been standing. "You left your pack?"
"Yeah, twice." His gaze slid away and for a moment the wolf looked out of his eyes. He shook it off and poured another drink. "And a couple of times the pack left me. So believe me when I say it's not worth giving up a mate for some bullshit pack."
"It's not that easy."
"It is." He shook his head, gold eyes searching my face. "Your mate is waiting for you to pull your head out of your ass, and he's been a hell of a lot more patient than I would have been. So go tell Carter you guys are meant to be, and get out of here before I vomit all over my desk."
I frowned as I looked at him. "And you'll give up this shit about a single pack in the city?"
He braced his hands on the desk. "No. It's a legitimate concern, which is why all the other alphas are entertaining the idea of a single spokesperson for each species. But I'm willing to table the issue until we have a discussion with both packs and the coyotes."
"Not the coyotes. They aren't going to make the sixty day deadline."
"I know." Evershaw sighed, and scrubbed at his face. "Don't remind me. Look, we meet some time next week and figure out how to make this work. Maybe the solution is a third pack, then we always have a tie-breaker."
A third pack. I stared unseeing at the corner of his desk, then shook myself out of my reverie. I didn't have time to sit around arguing with him. Although it was the first time he'd been a decent person. I kind of wanted a photo or something.
Before I could even suggest such a thing, Evershaw fixed me with an irritated look. "And don't look so fucking gleeful. I have reasons for everything I do. Just because I don't want you to be a miserable old wolf like I am does not mean I don't gain from it, as well. So go to the damn party and tell Carter he owes me one."
"We don't owe you anything," I said, just to make sure things were clear. "And we'll fight you if we have to, Evershaw."
"I would expect nothing less, O'Shea."
I wobbled to my feet, suddenly struck with a wave of emotion that almost knocked me back down, and I had to grip the back of the chair to stay upright. Carter. I could have Carter in my life, and maybe it didn't matter as much what the pack looked like. I had Rafe and Natalia and Carter, and they were enough pack for me.
As I concentrated on breathing through the maelstrom of emotion, Evershaw sighed. "If you're really conflicted, we could just fuck and you can get me out of your system."
"Seriously, I hate you." But I almost laughed as I said it. I gathere
d my strength and my skirt, and turned to go. "Thanks, Miles."
"Any time, Ruby." He sounded nonchalant, but I heard more scotch splash into the glass as I shut the door behind me.
Todd waited in the reception area, taut as a piano wire, and raised his eyebrows as I appeared. "Well?"
"We figured it out." I patted his shoulder as I strode past, feeling light as air even in those damn shoes, and headed for the exit. "We'll talk in a week and figure this stuff out. But I'm late for a party, so I've gotta run."
I even picked up my skirt and jogged for the door, shouldering open the heavy steel and scaring the bejesus out of my driver, who leapt out of the car and prepared to face whatever chased me. It wasn't an Evershaw chasing me, but a Chase pulling me forward. I didn't want to be late for Natalia's wedding, but the thought of Carter being there...being able to touch him, to be with him in public...I shivered.
I laughed and waved at her to get back in, jumping into the backseat. "Drive. Fast. The Chase mansion."
She did, but it wasn't nearly fast enough.
Chapter 21
Carter almost didn't go to the party. The last thing he wanted to see was Logan celebrating his birthday, and he sure as hell didn't want to be in the room when his cougar matchmaker walked up to ask how all the dating went. Any answer he could offer would not be socially acceptable, or even polite.
But Logan insisted, and since the party took place in the ballroom at the mansion, Carter didn't have an excuse to stay home. He even wore the tuxedo Edgar left for him, though he grumbled and growled the whole time. He'd called Ruby a handful of times, and every time he got her voicemail. Even when Carter stopped by the bar to drop off the completed business plan, Rafe just shook his head when Carter asked how Ruby was doing. The other wolf alpha wouldn't talk about her, other than to say she was stubborn.
Carter waited as long as he could before heading to the party, but eventually Benedict dragged him out of his room and through the halls. He clenched his jaw until his teeth creaked as they entered the ballroom, and suddenly all of Logan's business associates surrounded them, wanting to talk investments, and portfolios, and plans. He tolerated it with the now-familiar mask over his features, even feigning a smile as one of the accountants cracked a numbers joke, and he understood better than ever why Edgar reacted – or failed to react – to some things. Carter could already feel numbness creeping through his heart.