In Wulf’s Clothing

by B. A. Tortuga

  “I-I swear. I won’t leave. Not today. I promise.” Trey lifted his face for another kiss.

  Cory took it, hard enough to bend Trey’s head back over his arm, to bruise that pretty mouth. “I’ll see you soon, baby.”

  He wasn’t letting this stand. No fucking way.

  Cory made his way to Stephen’s study, where sure enough, a full war cabinet was meeting.

  Stephen was foaming, Laurel was snapping, and her family was having a knockdown drag out with the Yazzies. The Yazzies were totally outnumbered.

  Cory cleared his throat, which did nothing, so he barked out, “Don’t make me discharge my firearm.”

  “You’re on my side, remember,” Stephen snapped.

  “I am, but we all need to calm down. There’s a kid sitting out in my truck that needs to be locked up, and I’m going to have to go see his family.” Cory wasn’t going to be intimidated.

  “What are we going to do with him?” Laurel asked, her sweet face pale as milk. “Can you just hold him?”

  “I can.” He peered into her eyes. “Do you need a doctor?”

  “It was a graze. I swear. More scary than bad.” She lifted her shirt, showing off a long scratch on her belly.

  He growled, furious on her behalf. “Damn fool kid could have killed you.”

  “But he didn’t. He’s been lied to his entire life. He’s just a teenager.”

  “Laurel,” Stephen growled. “What the fuck do you want us to do?”

  “Treat him better than he’s been treated, mate! Ask your brother what he would want?”

  “Fine.” Stephen turned to Cory, eyes like chips of ice. “Get me Trey. Now.”

  Cory raised an eyebrow, but he could tell Stephen was on the very edge, so he turned on his heel to go get his lover. He got back to the huge ballroom area Trey and Miguel were working in.

  “Baby? Stephen needs you to weigh in.”

  Trey sighed softly, stood up, and brushed his clothes off. “How do I look, Miguel?”

  “Like you need eyeliner.”

  “Is that like armor or something?” He winked at Miguel but held out a hand to Trey. “I have you.”

  “Eyeliner is better than armor, Sheriff. It’s camouflage.” Miguel dug through a box, coming up with a pencil. “Come here, boss. I’ll fix you right up.”

  The makeup went on in a few seconds, then Trey looked up at him. “Better?”

  “That’s hot, baby.” It really, really was. “Come on.” He took Trey’s hand, mouthing his thanks to Miguel.

  Miguel nodded, gave him a thumbs up.

  “Let’s do this. What does Stephen want?”

  “Well, you’re going to have to weigh in on Eric. Stephen wants to punish him harshly.” Hell, he had no idea what had been suggested, really. “Laurel wants your input.”

  “Okay. I’m good at opinions.”

  That was the understatement of the millennia.

  Trey pinched him, reaching across with his free hand.

  “Ow!”

  “I heard that.” Trey stuck out his tongue. He sobered when they walked into the study, chin jutting out.

  “You rang, brother?”

  “Don’t, Trey. Not now.”

  Trey rolled his eyes but went to Laurel. “Hey, girlfriend. Tell me you are still going to fit in your dress.”

  “Asshole. Of course I am.” She pushed into Trey’s arms and burst into tears.

  “Hey. Hey, I got you.” Trey soothed her like he did this every day. “No one is going to spoil this wedding, you hear me?”

  “Tell Stephen you don’t want Eric hurt.”

  “I don’t want anyone hurt. Who’s Eric?” Trey looked to Cory with wide eyes.

  “George’s grandson. The shooter. He and his brother slashed your tires.”

  “He needs a lesson,” Stephen said. “It’s the way of the pack.”

  “But it doesn’t have to be violence,” Laurel’s dad argued.

  “Why did he do it? Isn’t that important? Is hurting him going to fix it?” Trey’s questions fell into the air like a lead balloon.

  Cory cleared his throat. “He did it because his family told him he would be alpha one day, and it’s Stephen’s fault, and yours, that he won’t be. The kid has been lied to all his life.”

  “That’s not his fault. That’s George’s.” Trey looked at Stephen. “You’re a better Alpha now than George had ever been.”

  “He has to be dealt with, brother. He can’t shoot my wife!”

  “No. No, he can’t. That’s human law, and he can stay in the jail until the wedding is over, right? Isn’t there a place he can go to get some education? Someone not with you or me, since we’re who he hates?”

  Cory wanted to howl with how decent his mate had become, even after he’d been banished. He felt such pride.

  “How about with us?” Laurel’s dad chuckled when they all stared. “We’re a way bigger pack. We have more resources and can expose him and his brother to so many possibilities that don’t include being the old alpha’s scapegoats.”

  “Their mother would love a chance to breathe.” Laurel’s words shocked them. “I’ve been to visit, and she’s totally overwhelmed since Harold died. George keeps her under his thumb. She wants to go back to her people in Cuba.”

  “No one tells me anything!” Stephen growled.

  “Because you would have just put her on a bus. She’s not going to leave her sons.” Laurel stuck out her chin too, which was so cute. Maybe she’d decided if it worked for Trey…

  “Oh, poor thing.” Laurel’s mom nodded. “We’ll take them.”

  “They deserve that, brother. A pack to show them how it’s done.” Trey went to Stephen. “You’re the enemy; I’m an abomination. This is a chance to stop this shit.”

  “What about George?” Stephen leaned over to touch noses with Trey. “He’s not retrainable.”

  “No. He’s not.” Trey’s fury at George was a white-hot, deadly thing, and Cory shook his head.

  No. Stephen might be Alpha, but he was the law. “When we catch him doing something, we take him in.”

  Stephen stared at him, cheeks red, eyes flashing gold. But he finally blew out a breath. “Yes. We’re not like him. But I am the Alpha and I’ll have to make a public stand. He will have to be formally reprimanded.”

  “Absolutely.” That was Laurel’s dad. “Focus on the wedding now. Put the teenager in custody. Laurel can contact the boys’ mother, make sure that she meets me, your mother. After the wedding, we’ll take the boys with us.”

  It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t banishment.

  Stephen bared his teeth. “You and your civilized pack,” he told Laurel, but he was teasing. Finally.

  “Yes. You and your fierce love.” Laurel was nearing tears again, and Trey nudged Stephen.

  “Go take care of your mate, brother.”

  Stephen lifted Laurel into his arms. “You know what to do.”

  “I do.” Cory had to set up a formal perimeter, get Wendy to go get Eric’s brother, put them both under house arrest…

  “Okay, who wants doughnuts?” Trey had disappeared, and now reappeared with a fresh box of doughnuts from God knew where.

  “Son?” Trey’s mom stood there, reaching for him. “You forgive Eric and Cory but not us?”

  Trey looked at his mother, face carefully neutral. “I wish you two nothing but the best. May Stephen give you many grandchildren to enjoy.”

  Her hands dropped to her sides. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to do. I think I’ll go lie down.”

  Cory winced, but that was Trey’s call. I love you, mate.

  “No one did. No one but me. I finished growing up alone and hurting and managed to form a pack of my own. I’m sorry that I can’t be the son you want, but I never could. This can’t possibly be a surprise.”

  She turned back, hope in her eyes. “You are the son I have, and I love you, no matter what you think.”

  “I wanted to be worth standing up for, but
I wasn’t.” Trey leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Mama. Have you tried your dress on yet?”

  Trey’s words shot right through him, sharp and cutting.

  Cory had stood up, then got knocked down, and he’d been too stupid to go with Trey back then. He couldn’t change it now, so he would do what he could. “I need to go check on River and find my damn phone.”

  I don’t have it. Take a doughnut. I love you.

  He had to give Trey a smile. And he took two doughnuts, just for good measure. Cory headed outside, finding River sitting in a lawn chair by his truck, fully clothed.

  “Distracted Miguel too much, did you?”

  “Shut up. Does it ever get easier?”

  “How the hell should I know?” He glanced at Eric, who he thought was sleeping now, not unconscious. The kid had huge dark circles under his eyes, his face pale. His neck was a mass of bruises. “You call Wendy for me?”

  “I did. She’s deputizing. She’ll be here in a bit to take this one in and have Doc Miles look at him.”

  “Good deal. I need Kyle, Miles, and Hank.”

  “This sucks. All of it. Seriously.” River looked so miserable. “What’s going to happen?”

  “Short story? Eric and Damon will do a little house arrest, then go to stay with another pack. George will be reprimanded, and you know he’ll lose his shit.” He shook his head. The proverbial fan hitting would happen, was what.

  “Your mate’s going to kill him.”

  Cory whirled around, finding Aspen standing there, eyes white as the snow. “What the actual fuck?”

  Aspen stopped, shook his head, eyes gone pale blue again. “Huh? Dude. Someone took all the doughnuts.”

  “Uh. Okay? I can get some at the store.” The grocery had some, if not as yummy as the ones Miguel had brought.

  “You rock. Is this the kid that’s coming home with us? He looks sad as fuck.”

  “He’s the older of the two, yeah.” Eric did look sad. How had he not known?

  “It’ll be okay. He’ll learn about being accepted.”

  “Will he?”

  Aspen cocked an eyebrow. “I’m an albino wolf who got lucky and got the blue eyes… I know.”

  “I bet my mate thinks you’re beautiful.”

  “Wulf?” At Cory’s nod, Aspen laughed. “He uses me as a model a lot. He’s the kindest man I’ve ever met, except for my dad.”

  “That’s cool. Your dad is a force of nature. Did you know your eyes turn white and you have visions?” Didn’t surprise him. His people had lots of visions, but usually assisted by smoke.

  “Yeah. I’ve heard. Not sexy.”

  “It was cool,” River blurted. “The guys are all on their way. I texted.”

  “I’m going to head in, enjoy the company of my sisters. Did you know Poplar was pregnant?”

  “Yeah. Miguel had a little freak out.” He glanced sideways at River when he said it.

  “He’s high strung,” Aspen agreed. “Later, dudes.”

  “Later.”

  He wasn’t going to survive this day.

  “What do you make of him?” River asked.

  “Seer. Now, why he would say Trey is going to kill George…” Not that he was freaked right the fuck out.

  “Because George fucked up his life?”

  “That too, but he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. You should have seen him, River, telling Stephen to let Eric go after the wedding.” Pride filled him again.

  The sound of paws on hard-packed dirt sounded, and he saw Miles’s huge gray wolf pad out from behind the house.

  “Hey, buddy. Shit has hit the fan here. Thanks for coming.”

  A truck pulled up moments later, Hank and Kyle piling out. “Shit. No way. Miles got here before us?”

  “He did. Y’all stop to drink a beer?” River teased.

  “Asshole. What’s the lowdown?” Hank pulled a bundle out of the truck. “Clothes, M.”

  Miles snorted and curled his lip, and they all cracked up.

  He went over everything, sent Hank to collect Damon, Miles to guarding the perimeter, Kyle to their little jail with Eric. He and River were going to stay and protect the family.

  “Okay, I think I have a fitting, man. Did you do yours yet?”

  River flushed. “Miguel said he would do mine.”

  “Are you sure you can handle it?”

  “Are you sure you can handle yours?”

  “No.” He barked out a laugh. “I might explode but I’ll make it.”

  River snorted. “Good luck with that. I’ll keep watch.”

  “Just don’t make Miles grumpy.” Grumpy Miles could be bitey.

  “I don’t think Miguel would love that—Miles biting.”

  “Probably not, and he survived banishing.” That was important for River to know.

  “He did. He’s so strong. I can’t wait to—” River stopped, and turned bright red. “You know.”

  “Knock yourself out when you’re not on duty.” He did know. Like whoa. “Okay, I’m going in.”

  “Good luck, buddy.”

  “Thanks.” Cory headed back inside because he couldn’t avoid it anymore. He really didn’t want to avoid Trey, in fact.

  He needed to touch his mate. He was wondering whether he was ever not going to need to touch Trey.

  I hope not.

  You and me both. Are you ready for me, or should I check on everyone? He loved how effortless it felt to talk to Trey.

  Come see me. I’m hiding.

  He followed his nose, which led him to the bathroom in the hall first, where Trey wasn’t, then a spare bedroom where Trey’s bags were strewn about, and Trey lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

  “Baby.”

  “Lock the door. I want to hold you.”

  He didn’t question even a little. He locked the door behind him, setting aside his sidearm and phone on the dresser by the door instead of taking them to the bed. His wolf would be his best weapon in a sneak attack.

  Trey let Cory slide in and wrap around him, pull him closer.

  “Hey. How are you holding up?” He could tell from the fine tremor in the hand Trey laid on his arm that nothing was okay. Not one thing.

  “I’m fine. Just…You know.”

  “I do.” He so did. This day had been one freakishly long roller coaster ride.

  “There’s two days until the wedding.”

  “I know. We can do this.” He rubbed noses with Trey, knowing it was like wolves rubbing muzzles. It would calm them.

  “I feel lost, Cory. I didn’t think being here would be so…crazymaking for people.”

  “It’s not just you, though. Like, old man Wendell has been in wolf form ever since they announced the engagement, and no one knew you were even still alive then. It’s a total shake up.”

  “What do you think? Are you happy?”

  “For Stephen? Fuck yes. For the pack, too. We need people who can see us from the outside.” They needed the change. Evolve or die out. Most of all, he was happy that his mate was whole and hale.

  He loved Trey, after all.

  He hugged Trey to him. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Trey looked totally confused.

  “For being here. For making me remember what it feels like to be alive.” He’d been existing. Just that.

  “You’re welcome. More than. I missed you.”

  “I know.” He believed that. Trey had fought him, but they’d both given in too fast to really have been anything but desperate to see each other again. “I’m grateful. You’re alive. You’re my mate. You’re so strong.”

  Trey looked at him, so serious. “You think so?”

  “I do. You survived on your own when you were just a kid. Hell, we’re still kids. Think how much longer our type live.” He stroked that lean back.

  “Think how long we have to be together…”

  “I know.” The possibilities seemed endless. Stephen wasn’t going to be thrilled with the outcome, maybe. But then
again, who knew? The Alpha was mercurial.

  Hell, Stephen adored Trey. Maybe it was all for the best.

  Shake it off, he told himself. There’s still the wedding, George, all that to deal with. Christ, what a cluster fuck. He also needed to talk to his mom. Where the hell had she been at Dave’s funeral? Hiding in the kitchen, no doubt.

  Baked goods were love for his mother, and she was determined to learn to make puff pastry.

  He grinned.

  “What?”

  “I was thinking about how mom likes to pound butter with a rolling pin.”

  “Oh? Is that what she takes out all that aggression on these days?”

  “Yep.”

  “Wow. Poor butter. Is she happy?”

  “She’s okay. She takes a lot of those online cooking classes.” He thought his mom wanted to travel but didn’t want to leave him on his own. Maybe he would get Trey to help him get her a vacation.

  “Of course I’ll help. She should go on a cruise. She’d love that. They have cruises just for lycans.”

  “No shit?” Who would have thought? He’d bet they didn’t run them on the full moon. He chuckled, then it turned into laughter. Real, comforting belly laughs. “Oh, Goddess. A bunch of wolves on a boat.”

  “Right? Can you imagine the dick-measuring? The puppies?”

  “What’s that movie? Hotel Transylvania?” Okay, sue him, he was a secret technophile. He had all the new media players, satellite everything, and he loved movies. His mom suddenly had Fran Drescher’s voice in his head.

  “Oh, you aren’t a Luddite. I approve.” Trey rested their foreheads together. “Thank you for coming in. I needed a second with you to think again.”

  “There’s been some stress. We can stay a minute.” Maybe not for a nap, but to share breath and space? Sure.

  “It has. Are we sleeping together tonight? I don’t want to sleep alone.”

  “We are. We might end up here.” Stephen would want to keep them all close. Hell, he might call his mom in.

  “I can handle that. So long as we’re together.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I won’t be going anywhere.” Aspen’s vision stuck hard in the back of his mind. He refused to let Trey become a murderer.

  It wasn’t an option.

  “What?” Trey rested against him, hand over his heart, which had started beating faster.

  “I was just thinking too hard about everything.”