In Wulf’s Clothing

by B. A. Tortuga

  “That’s enough!” Stephen snapped. “Fuck, can’t you two be serious for half a second?”

  They both stared at him, mouths dropping open, until Stephen threw up his hands. “Christ! I’m going home. Cory, I need you with me, please. River, call if anything else cocks up, will you?”

  “Uh, sure.” River gave Cory a better you than me look.

  No shit on that.

  He wasn’t sure what the fuck was wrong, but he sure as shit was going to find out. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll be at the main house, Wendy. I’ll holler.”

  “You got it, boss. We’ll keep those kids safe.”

  “Alpha.” He gestured for Stephen to precede him and waited until they were in the truck to take the bull by the horns. “I do something wrong, Stephen? Say what’s on your mind.”

  “Drive, Cory. We’ll talk on the way.”

  No. No, we’ll fucking talk now. He didn’t say it, but he wanted to. He’d be damned if he took orders.

  That though startled the fuck out of him, and he frowned at himself, shaking his head to clear it. What the hell?

  Something calmed Stephen down. “Cory, man. Just drive. I worry about Laurel and all of them at the house. Please.”

  “Shit. Of course.” Cory got them in gear, got them going. “My mate is there too.”

  “I know, and I forget that. It’s new to me, if not you.”

  That he could accept. Stephen had more to worry on than any of them.

  “He’s important. I thought he was dead. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have gone to him, found him.”

  “No one thought Trey was going to make it, at first, and then…he was Wulf. He was busy and traveling and you seemed settled here. I wasn’t sure you’d even know him.”

  He bit back any recriminations he had in him. Stephen had been even younger than they were back then, and that was pretty damn young. How could he have known how serious they’d been?

  “He asked me to go,” Cory said quietly. “I wasn’t brave enough, so I thought I deserved to stay here.”

  “I’m glad you were here for me, to have my back.” Stephen stared straight ahead. “You’ve been a solid supporter, but I think, after the wedding, you’re going to want to talk.”

  Cory thought so, too. He couldn’t let Trey go. He couldn’t. It had been disastrous the first time. They wouldn’t survive a second.

  Stephen nodded at whatever he saw on Cory’s face. “Good man. I can see you have ideas. Wendy did good, man. I don’t mean you’ve been doing a bad job, I just mean she surprised me in a great way.”

  “Right? She’s a tough broad. I respect the hell out of her, swear to the moon.”

  “I’m learning a lot about tough ladies. My mom, well, you know how she is. Laurel, now? Pure steel.”

  “It’s so weird, because she’s so…gentle, but so fierce. You’d like how Alder runs his pack.”

  “Who?”

  “Alder Andaluz?”

  “Oh. Alder? Like a tree?” Wow. That was a name. No wonder he went by Andaluz.

  “Alder, Aspen, Willow, Laurel, Poplar.”

  “Wow. Mrs. Andaluz isn’t a tree is she?”

  “Brenda.”

  He fought a losing battle to keep a straight face. “Br-Brenda.”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, there you go.” He snorted, then got to laughing, which made Stephen whack his arm.

  By the time they got back to the house, they were hysterical, hooting and snorting with the wild release of tension. Tears streamed down his cheeks, in fact, so Cory was grateful to park, because it was hard to see.

  Every time they calmed down, they’d look at each other and it would start all over.

  Laurel finally came out to stare at them from the main doorway of the house, hands on her hips.

  “Uh-oh. Now we’re in trouble.”

  Cory wailed with laughter, slapping the steering wheel.

  “I’ll sic your fashion designer on you.” The threat might have been more impressive if Stephen hadn’t been laughing so hard that the last word had been “yoo-ooo-ooo-oou.”

  They howled, just helpless with it, not even able to get out of the truck.

  Laurel’s voice floated in around their laughter. “—gigglefits. I suppose they’re due, but—”

  “Gig-gig-gigglefit!” Cory was going to hurt something.

  Stephen moaned, but set off another whole spate of laughter. The truck rocked with it.

  Laurel threw her hands up, and it was Trey who stayed, his mate all grins. “Wow.”

  Stephen snort-giggled. “Uh-huh.”

  “Did you two stop to get high? You know that’s not legal here yet, right?”

  “Oh, hush.” Stephen grinned, and they started to subside some.

  “Seriously. If the Sheriff’s going to light up, so am I.” Trey winked over. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. George was making threats, but he has no support left. Even his cronies wanted to crawl away.” Cory had been relieved, frankly.

  “Good. We all need some peace. All of us.” Trey pursed his lips at Stephen, trying to play.

  “We do. You think Laurel would kill us if we played football or something?”

  “She’s going to hide with her sisters until the ceremony. She said to tell you to suck it up.”

  “Ah.” Stephen nodded. “Well, that is the superstition. So. Video games? That way no one shoots at us.”

  “I’m in.” He could shoot zombies for fun.

  “After I check the fit on your suit.” And I’m serious. I am not going to be hemming all night.

  Okay. I can go there. Trey was all stern, so he wasn’t going to argue.

  “We’ll meet at the rec room. Trey’s going to do his magic.”

  “Yes. You’re the last one.” Trey sounded so firm.

  “I’ll set up,” Stephen said. “Be good.”

  Cory almost laughed, but he thought Stephen really didn’t want to be alone.

  “We will, brother. I promise.” Trey patted Cory’s leg. “Come on.”

  Cory followed his lover back to the ballroom studio he’d set up. “You okay, baby?”

  “I don’t know. I think so. Last night was…I don’t even have words.”

  “We don’t have to.” He took the hug he needed since the adrenaline had left him shaky and laughing hysterically.

  Trey held him tight, and the connection was everything. Somehow Trey’s touch soothed him. He thought it worked both ways.

  “So, what am I trying on?” Had he even seen the suit? Cory didn’t think so.

  “Mainly the slacks. The rest you’ll try on, but I’m not worried.”

  “Okay.” Might as well get it done. He wanted Trey to spend time with his brother since they had the time to spend. Or whatever.

  “They’ll be comfortable. I work in menswear quite a bit. I started out there before I moved to red carpet.”

  “River said he’s never had such amazing dress clothes. They have to be better than my uniform pants, right?” he dared to tease. There were no pins or scissors yet.

  “Anything—anything up to and including Walmart cast-offs—would be better than those fucking things.”

  “Hey, now.” He agreed, really. They were kind of his hair shirt. He wore that ugly, uncomfortable uniform as his penance.

  “Don’t argue. Trust me.” Trey swatted his ass, making him jump.

  “No. No arguing.” He slid out of everything but his briefs. “I’m all yours.”

  “Good man.”

  There was something incredibly intimate about having his mate dress him, hands touching him everywhere, stroking and petting and smoothing the cloth. The pants were a little too long, and a little loose in the waist, but everywhere else, they fit like a dream.

  “Okay. I’ll take these up and fix the hem. Go play with Stephen.” Trey kissed him, the buss soft and quick.

  “Miguel is all alone and worried about River, I bet.” The more help Trey had, the more time they would have t
ogether later.

  “If you see him, can you send him to me?”

  “You know it, baby.” He took the kiss he really wanted, hard, if short. “Work fast.”

  “I’ll be there in a bit. I promise.” Trey looked so pleased at his kiss.

  He headed out, grinning from ear to ear, and almost ran smack into Miguel. “Hey, man. Are you okay to help Trey?”

  “It’s what I live for. Is…Is River okay?”

  “He is. He’s helping keep watch at the jail, but he’ll trade off and be back by bedtime.” He winked, hoping he didn’t seem smarmy.

  “Oh, good. I mean, I’m glad he’s okay. Really.” Goddess, the cuteness.

  “He’s fine. It was tense, but he’s a solid guy.” He clapped Miguel on the shoulder before making his way to the media room.

  Stephen was waiting. “What did you think of the suit?”

  “It’s amazing.” The jacket had fit like a glove. “He’s really good.”

  “As much as Laurel paid for things, he’d better be.” Stephen rolled his eyes. “I’m not complaining, I swear. He gave her her wedding dress as a gift. That was…” Stephen shrugged. “That’s more than I can repay. She will feel like a queen.”

  “Wow. I can’t wait to see her.” Stephen was his Alpha, his friend, but Laurel had opened her heart to him as if she’d known how damaged he was, how in need of love.

  “Me too. I know I should be nervous, but…I’m not. She’s my mate.”

  “She’s amazing, man. Like really.” He would be leaving his Alpha in good hands.

  Whoa. Leaving. He was leaving? All the talk about going to visit Trey was good and well, but Trey would never split his time, would never come back to the canyon.

  He blinked, feeling a moment of panic, and then he felt a soft touch to his soul.

  Mate? Are you well?

  I am. Miguel is freaking out a little. Okay, deflecting was bad. I had a moment myself, but you’re here, and that helps so much.

  Weddings are stressful. Especially this one.

  Stephen is ready. I hear the dress is stunning. He grinned when Stephen poked him. “What?”

  “Stop it. He’ll come and help us shoot things soon.”

  “You’re just jealous because you’re sleeping alone.” Cory stopped teasing, though, grabbing a controller and settling into one of the recliners. “What are we playing?”

  “I thought we’d fight together, instead of fighting each other.” The words seemed to have portent.

  “Okay.” He blinked. Somehow, he was back to where he’d done something wrong again. He faced the screen. “You just tell me what you want me to do.”

  “We’re going to save the world from the zombie apocalypse, dude.” Stephen rolled his eyes, and the weird moment was gone.

  Again.

  He shook it off, grabbing the character he wanted. Maybe it was just the wedding. They were both in weird moods. Hell, even River and little Miguel were all up in arms.

  The whole world was fucked up, off-kilter, and he didn’t know exactly where he fit.

  Now he knew how Trey felt, huh?

  He looked over at Stephen. “You ready, boss?”

  “I was born ready.” Stephen put on a very serious face.

  “Yeah, yeah. Bring it on. Let’s do this.” Cory put all the worries to the side. Time to play.

  14

  Cory’s stress and worry was making Trey ache, giving him a violent headache. “I should just go.”

  “You don’t have a car, and I still have work to do.” Miguel didn’t sound sorry for eavesdropping out loud.

  “Oh, shut up.” He said it fondly, though, because Miguel didn’t need his Wulf shit right now. “I’m just making everyone crazy.”

  Miguel gave him a sideways look. “Don’t give yourself so much credit. This whole situation is freaky but it’s only marginally about you. It’s about the changing of the guard.”

  “I feel like it’s about me. I really do.”

  “Well, that’s because you’ve been away for so long, mi’jo.” Cory’s mom peered into the room. “Come get a snack. I’m peckish.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He gave Miguel his best “save me” expression, but the little bastard just waved.

  “I’ll finish this up.”

  Dammit. He stood up and brushed the threads from his dove-gray shirt. He did love this particular cut of T-shirt, the light jersey soft and comfortable. He had twenty at the house in varying shades from ebony to crystal.

  Mrs. Benally gave him a rather triumphant grin. “You can’t hide forever.”

  “I’m not hiding, ma’am.”

  “Melanie, please. We’ve known each other a long time, and bullshit. You’ve been hiding, Cory’s been hiding, and I should have sent him after you years ago instead of worrying about how he’d fare.”

  He blinked at her, his mouth falling open. “I—well. Um.” What the hell did he say to that?

  She patted his arm. “So, where is your pack?”

  “North of Santa Fe. It’s pretty, and we have land. We’re not big, but we’re happy.” And he loved it there. He needed to show Cory.

  “Room to grow, then?”

  “I think so? I’d never turn people away, but I’m busy designing a lot. Most everyone works for me.”

  “Well, that’s a good system.” She started pulling things out of the fridge. “Defensible?”

  “It was a ranch. There’s a fence, and the houses are more than an acre in. If you get to the pack, you won’t be surprising anyone.” Everyone in his little pack had been shut out, turned away. This was home and precious.

  “Oh, I like that.” She began slapping sandwiches together. Club sandwiches. When had she made bacon?

  “Those look amazing…”

  “They should be.” She handed him one on a plate. “I want to come. I want to see things. I want to be your pack’s village crazy lady.”

  “What?”

  “I love Stephen. I do. He’s a good Alpha. And Laurel will make the canyon a better place. But I’m not getting any younger. I want to be close to Santa Fe and be able to come and go without the whole world freaking out.” She pierced him with those eyes that looked so much like Trey’s. “I want to be close to my son, Trey. I’m a good cook. I can contribute to the pack, don’t worry.”

  “Of course you can.” Wait. What? What?

  “Well, good. Good.” She bustled around the counter to kiss his cheek. “You make sure Miguel gets a sandwich or two. I’ll take these to Cory and Stephen and I think River is back. So cute, River and Miguel.”

  “They are.” He was utterly confused.

  “Is Miguel coming here, or is River moving? That would leave Stephen in a spot, wouldn’t it?”

  “I don’t—I don’t know.” Why would he know?

  “Oh. Well, I just wondered. That Aspen boy is nice. He needs a place in the world, and his papa won’t be the one to give it.” She was leaving him dizzy.

  “Mr. Andaluz seems to be a nice guy. He wouldn’t throw Aspen out.”

  “No. Of course not, but he has normal kids, right? Aspen will always be the weird one.” She grabbed a bag of chips with her free hand.

  “I know all about that, I suppose.” He was going to start shaking any minute.

  “I thought you might. You always were a smart one, hon. Okay, no running off, you hear? Your brother needs you at the wedding.” She headed out, leaving a platter of sandwiches and taking a second one twice that size.

  He took a sandwich for Miguel, his head swimming. “How are the alterations going?”

  “Pretty much done except for the hem of Cory’s pants. Are those club sandwiches?” Miguel’s nose twitched.

  “They are. I’ll wash my hands and do that. You eat.”

  “Did you have something?” Miguel didn’t argue, though. He laid the pants aside carefully and came across the room to plop down on the floor to eat.

  “Yeah. I ate one.” He sat down too, because he needed to talk. “That was
fucking weird, man.”

  “What’s that?” Miguel gave him a piece of bacon.

  “I just had the strangest discussion with Cory’s mom.”

  “Mother-in-law conversations are supposed to be odd.”

  “Are they? How do you know?” Mother-in-law? Had he fallen down the rabbit hole?

  “Word of mouth.” Miguel shrugged, ever so nonchalant. “So? What did she want?”

  “To tell me she was moving to the pack.”

  “What pack?” Miguel asked it around a mouthful, then his eyes widened. “You mean ours?”

  “I mean ours. She offered to cook for us.”

  “Oh, damn, I’ll weigh a ton.” Miguel smacked his lips.

  “I bet you work it off. I just can’t believe she asked.”

  “Well, how else are we supposed to know she wants to come?” Miguel looked at him from under his lashes. “Um, is Cory coming?”

  “I don’t know!” He shocked himself with the ferocity of his answer, so he made himself calm down. “I just don’t know. He’s welcome there. I want him there.”

  “Well, when the time comes, I guess you’ll talk about it.” Miguel gave him another piece of bacon.

  “I guess. We leave tomorrow after the cake. Can I ride with you?”

  “Of course you can.” Miguel reached over to poke his leg. “You need to talk to him. You can’t just leave.”

  “I know. I do. I don’t know how. Is that weird, that I can’t figure out how to ask him if he wants to be with me full time?”

  “No. I mean, you’re mates, but how well do you know each other after all this time?” Miguel shrugged. “I mean, I get you a little. River makes me… want things. Not just sex.”

  “And you don’t have all this shit to deal with. You can start from scratch.” And he still had to deal with that sometimes, being easy to lose, being replaceable.

  “Right. He’s totally into you, though.” Miguel gave him a gentle smile, then polished off his sandwich. “Go play video games. I’ll finish up here.”

  “There’s enough here for River…” he offered.

  “Oh?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well, send him my way if you see him and I’ll share.” Miguel’s grin went wicked.