In Wulf’s Clothing

by B. A. Tortuga

  “After the hem?” he teased.

  “Totally. Walk slow.” Miguel washed up at the little bar, then dried off meticulously. “No bacon grease stains allowed.”

  “Right? Tomorrow another job will be done. I can’t believe it.”

  “There’s always another one, huh? Go on, Wulf. Shoo.” Miguel waved him away. “Seriously, go spend time with the guys.”

  “You come when you’re done with Big, Tall, and Burly?”

  “You know it.” Butter wouldn’t melt in Miguel’s mouth.

  So, he went to the media room, which was where he found River. “Uh, River? Miguel needs you in the ballroom.”

  “He does?” River was up and off with gratifying quickness.

  “You’re bad,” Stephen said. “I’m not giving him up.”

  “Miguel wants him.” And Miguel wasn’t his to give one way or the other, but they were best friends and Miguel was his right-hand man.

  “Sure.” Stephen grinned. “River was just waiting for someone to tell him where Miguel was. Want a sandwich? Cory’s momma made a dozen.”

  “No, thank you. I had one.” He sat in one of the recliners and grabbed his phone, checking in on the pack, on work, on everything.

  “Baby? You want to play?” Cory offered him a controller.

  No. No, he didn’t want to, but this wasn’t about what he wanted. This was about Stephen. “Hell yeah. I need to be a hero too!”

  That got him a beaming smile from his brother, and a gentler one from Cory. Thank you, baby. He’s not nervous, but he’s missing his girl.

  Just having Cory in his mind settled his nerves some.

  I bet. It’s our last night to just hang out, too.

  It is. At least with Stephen. He’s been weird all day. Cory sat back, watching, letting him and Stephen battle it out for a bit.

  Yeah. Yeah, he could only imagine. Stephen was having to postpone his honeymoon for this shit, there was a pregnant sister, a seer brother, him.

  George.

  Man, what a mess.

  “Hey, top right,” Stephen told him, and he laughed, shooting down a zombie. Yeah, Stephen needed to unwind. Trey could do his relaxing when he got home tomorrow.

  They played for more than an hour, and it was relaxing, easy. He needed another drink, though, and a bathroom break, so he traded off with Cory.

  “I need to check on Miguel. Make sure there wasn’t a problem with the pants.” He winked, and went to check-in at the ballroom, but it was dark. Huh.

  Weird.

  Maybe Miguel went off with River. He just needed to make sure those hems were done. Trey didn’t want to have to do it in the morning.

  There was a strange smell, and he frowned. Cory?

  Something was off.

  Baby? Where are you? Cory was up and moving. He could feel it in his mind.

  I’m—

  And suddenly it didn’t matter, because he wasn’t anywhere at all.

  15

  Cory staggered, clutching at his head. It was like Trey had just disappeared. Boom. He howled, running toward the ballroom, where the clothes were.

  “Cory? Sheriff?” Stephen was right behind him, solid and fast as hell. “Lock down the house!”

  People poured out of other rooms, but he skidded to a stop in the ballroom. “What the fuck is that smell?”

  “Chloroform.” Stephen pulled him out. “We have to be careful.”

  “My mate’s in there.”

  “No. I bet he’s not.” Stephen pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, then tied it over his nose and mouth. “Let me check.”

  Stephen slapped the lights on, exposing Miguel and River, both bound and out cold.

  Goddamn it. Trey wasn’t there. He turned on his heel, heading for the front door.

  “Where are you going?” Laurel asked. “Can you feel him?”

  “No, but someone took him!”

  “Cory!” Stephen’s voice made him jerk to a stop, and that pissed him off. He whirled, baring his teeth.

  “He’s my mate!” he roared. “He’s been hurt enough!”

  “He’s my brother. We need to split up. He wants the boys, so would he go to the jail? His house? Is he still here?”

  Cory shook his head, trying to get rid of the ringing in his ears. “He’ll want us to bring the boys to him. He only feels safe on his land.”

  “Okay. We’ll focus on…”

  “Where’s Aspen?” Laurel asked at the same time as he thought about Miles.

  Where was his deputy?

  “We have to find Trey.”

  “I’ll see to River and Miguel,” his mom said, brushing past him. “Call Wendy, son.”

  “Right. She needs to be prepared.” He grabbed his phone and dialed, heading for the door and his truck.

  “Yo, boss, are you sending Miles?”

  “George kidnapped Trey. Lock it down.”

  “Shit. You got it. I’ll call in anyone who can help.”

  “Watch out for chemicals. He used chloroform here.”

  “Motherfucker. Is Miles tracking him?”

  “I hope so. He and Aspen are gone.”

  “Who’s Aspen?”

  “Laurel’s brother. I have to go. Wends. Be careful.”

  “Always. Take care of yourself. Go find him.”

  “Yes.” Yes, he would. He wouldn’t let Trey down again. Mate. Trey. Wake up. Wake up. I need to find you. Wake the fuck up.

  He thought he heard something deep in his mind, something fuzzy, but it was gone as quick as it came. Still, it was something. It was real. And it was Trey.

  “Come on!” Stephen wanted him to wait, but soon he would just shift and go tear out George’s throat.

  A white wolf bounded out of the trees, barking sharply. Aspen. Trey ran, shedding clothes as he went.

  They ran hard, heading not to George’s land, but to the springs, toward his house.

  Shit. He would kill the bastard himself if he hurt Trey or defiled the springs. Or both.

  He followed Aspen, and when the other wolf slowed, so did he. Trey was there with George, still out cold, the old man ranting and raving, arms waving hysterically. A growl tried to rise out of him, but he tamped it down, wanting to keep surprise on his side.

  Miles crept beside him, silent, crouched down low.

  He touched his nose to Miles’s muzzle, then Aspen’s on the other side in thanks. Then he got serious, slinking to the bank of the creek where he could hear George now.

  “…ruined everything. You and your family. If you’d died, if you’d disappeared, he would have never believed he could usurp me!”

  Did people still say ‘usurp’? Fucker. Cory was going to bite him so hard. He got lower, placing every step with extreme care.

  Mate. Mate. Mate, I’m at the spring! Mate, help me! The blast of terror hit him square between the eyes, and he stumbled.

  George whirled around, and Miles leaped, landing behind the man and cutting off any retreat. Aspen flanked him too.

  Trey stood up in a rush, shifting partway and growling, the sound shaking the trees.

  He barked out a warning, not wanting Trey to make a huge mistake. Cory was the law. If he had to take George down, he would.

  George took a swipe at Trey, who ducked and snarled, barking furiously, and driving him back. Aspen kept him from running along the creek bank, and he didn’t seem to be armed, so Cory moved in.

  Before he could though, Trey eased back, tattered clothes hanging off his suddenly smaller form. “You are a pointless, crazy old fucker. No one is scared of you. No one.”

  George turned again, his whole face a rictus of rage. “Don’t you say that! I’m the fucking alpha! This is my canyon!”

  “Bullshit. Stephen is the Alpha. You were a big bully who wasn’t strong enough to rule without hurting people. You couldn’t even lead a scared teenager!”

  “Fuck you! I hate you, you fucker! I’ll kill you!”

  Cory moved closer, because he would take George down
if he even tried.

  “You tried already. You failed. Now I’m successful, happy, and I got out. Your grandsons will be out. You’ve lost. You’re not worth fighting.”

  George clenched his fists, drawing up, and for a long moment he looked like the alpha of old, full of rage and command. “Fuck you.”

  Trey looked at him, one lip curling. “Bitch, please. You can’t afford me.”

  Then his mate just turned his back on George, like he wasn’t a threat at all.

  George reared back, ready to deliver a killing blow. Just as Cory crouched to leap and intervene, George gurgled, his face going purple then utterly gray. He collapsed to the ground, his breath rattling.

  They all stood there, staring, and then Trey went to George, fingers checking his pulse. “Oh fuck.”

  Cory shifted, because it was clear the threat was over. “Damn. He had a heart attack or a stroke.”

  “What do we do?” Trey’s eyes were huge.

  “I told you, Cory. Your mate would kill him.” Aspen stood there, looking down at George. “Maybe he’ll come back as a lapdog.”

  He snorted. “Maybe he’ll come back as a rabbit.” That way he could tear the bastard apart.

  “Guys! Dead man! Hello!” Trey was fixin’ to lose it, Cory could see.

  “Hey.” He stepped over to grab his mate. “You’re okay, baby. You’re all right.”

  “I’m not all right! I was going to check on your pants and I woke up here!”

  “Well, it looks like you’re a little bruised, but not broken.” Headlights split the night down at his house. “We need to get you looked at, though. Miles, can you go check on George’s cronies?”

  Miles woofed softly and trotted off.

  “Are Miguel and River okay?” Oh, his mate was a good man.

  “They were still out cold when we left. Mom was looking after them.” Hopefully, someone had brought his phone.

  And pants.

  He needed pants.

  “Cory! Report!” Stephen was being smart calling from cover, not exposing himself.

  “Clear! We need some extra hands.”

  “My brother?”

  “I’m here. I killed George.”

  “What?” Stephen came crashing through the trees.

  “Well, he dropped dead after Wulf mic dropped on him,” Aspen said.

  “You did…what? Are you speaking English? What the fuck is going on?” Stephen was going to stroke out next, if he wasn’t careful.

  Cory shook his head. “George was all ranting and raving and Trey cut him off, told him he wasn’t worth fighting, and turned his back. George went to attack him and dropped dead.” There. Summation.”

  “Oh. Let’s get him out of here and to his house. What family he has can mourn him.” Stephen sighed and shook his head. “We’ll let the grandchildren go see him after the wedding once he’s been cleaned up.”

  “I got it.” Aspen bent down to pick up George. “Did you bring another vehicle? I don’t want to put George and Wulf in the same one.”

  “I did!” They heard Laurel before they saw her, but she rounded the bend in the trail moments later. “Trey can come with me.” She rushed to Trey to give him a hug, kinda knocking Cory out of the way.

  “You scared me.” Laurel blinked. “Is he…”

  “Dead.”

  Stephen nodded. “As a doornail.”

  Trey frowned. “Are doornails ever alive?”

  “I don’t think so, dude. They’re like, born dead, which is why the phrase works?”

  “Oh, dammit.” Cory shook his head. “Aspen, take that with you to Stephen’s truck. Laurel, do you have a phone? Need to call Wendy.”

  “I do. Have you ever met me? If I could shift and carry it on me I would.” She rolled her eyes and handed over her phone. “Do I have a phone? Dork.”

  Stephen never said a word, but the man was staring at him oddly.

  He called Wendy, hoping all was well.

  “Hello?” She sounded cautious. She probably didn’t know Laurel’s number.

  “It’s me. Don’t say anything. George had a heart attack. He’s gone. Trey is with me.”

  “Whoa.”

  “Yeah. The kids will be able to come see him after the wedding, but they don’t need to know tonight. I’ll call their mom.”

  “Sure, boss. Nothing odd here. Kyle called in a few other guys.”

  “Miles is on his way to you.”

  “I’ll give him some water.”

  “Good deal.” He laughed a little. “Hang in there.”

  “I set up the cot in the main office. I’ll be fine. Kyle got me some tacos.”

  “Excellent. I’m going to take Trey home. I need to look him over in the light.”

  “Okay. I hope he’s all right.”

  “Me too.” He would have to deal with someone hanging out at the jail so Wends could come to the wedding, but he could do that tomorrow.

  Right now, he needed to get his mate inside and in a hot shower. With him.

  He gently took Trey from Laurel. “Lead the way, lady.”

  “Okay, but you have to sit on a blanket. No junk on my seats.”

  “Not even Stephen?” he teased.

  “I’ll beat you, Sheriff. Hard.”

  “Sorry.” Cory was a little giddy with relief. Trey was alive and looked mostly uninjured, and George was finally, permanently, gone.

  “Are Miguel and River all right?” Trey asked Laurel. “I need to know they’re okay. Are the clothes okay? No one ruined them?”

  “The clothes were all zipped into the big wardrobe roller thing, so Miguel must have been done with his alterations.” She walked along beside them on the way down to the house. “Miguel and River are groggy, and worried, but fine.”

  “I didn’t mean to— I wasn’t going to fucking be afraid of him anymore!” Trey’s control was shattered, his mate shaking and shaken.

  “Good for you.” Laurel was cheerleading, but he just hugged Trey closer.

  “You’re amazing, baby. You were fucking stunning.” He wasn’t just blowing smoke up Trey’s skirt either. It had been stunning, watching his mate just…stand up.

  “I was done being worried. I have a life, a pack—he’s an old man.”

  “He was. He needed to move on.” Not that Cory hoped George found any peace. In fact, he hoped the motherfucker twisted in limbo for a good long time and came back as a better wolf.

  “I—Yeah. Yeah, but he won’t ruin the wedding, right?” Trey shivered. “That’s important. You’ll start the day anew.”

  “We will. All of us.” Laurel’s tone brooked no argument.

  They got to Laurel’s SUV, and he slid with Trey into the back, wrapping up in the blankets there. “I got you. I’m so sorry he took you, baby. You did so good.”

  “You found me.” Trey pulled the remains of his shirt around him. “Asshole. I like this shirt.”

  “I bet you have a dozen,” Cory teased.

  “At least. In this color. But that’s not the point. I’m pouting.”

  “Oh. Well, damn that man for ruining your shirt.” He stroked Trey’s back, cuddling hard.

  I was scared. I called for you, and you came.

  I was crazy to find you. Miles and Aspen had followed him.

  Good. Trey took a deep breath before melting into him.

  Cory closed his eyes, resting his cheek against Trey’s hair. Trey needed a hot shower, a hug, a good hard fucking. Okay, maybe he needed all those, but what could it hurt to ask?

  Cory needed to keep touching his mate to make sure he was safe.

  Laurel pulled up to his little house. “Home sweet home. Are you sure you don’t want to come to the house?”

  “No, we’ll stay here. We’ll be there bright and early.”

  “Okay. You’ve got some time. The wedding isn’t until five.”

  “Thank you, hon. You’re amazing.” He crawled out of the SUV, still holding Trey.

  “Tomorrow. Do you have a snack? Som
e booze?”

  “I have all the things.” He had a freezer full of easy to heat pizza rolls and cheese sticks. “Go home, Laurel. And skip the weird bridal superstitions.”

  “Right? I’m so getting laid.”

  He laughed at her, and she drove off after watching them head inside.

  Trey stood there in the center of the front room, just quiet, still, and staring.

  “Hey.” Cory went to him. “Want a shower? I have some clothes that won’t fall off.”

  “I do. I…I think I need to sit down.”

  “Come here.” He grabbed Trey again and moved to sit on the couch, mate on his lap.

  Trey sat with him, blinking slow. “I don’t know how to feel.”

  “I get that.” He did. He was relieved, but it had to be so much more complicated for Trey.

  “What I did…it wasn’t a crime or anything, right?”

  “No, baby. You never laid a hand on him.” He wouldn’t have to do more than file natural death paperwork. Rage and disappointment had done all the damage to George’s body that it had to.

  Trey sighed, leaning on him. “What a mess.”

  “No shit, but that part is over, baby. That bit is done.” He knew it was ridiculous to expect Trey to suddenly get over tonight, and he didn’t, but he wasn’t going to pretend to be sad. The whole pack could move on.

  He could move on. Stephen and Laurel were safe. George’s people would scatter, and no one would remember soon enough.

  He stroked Trey’s hair. Rumbling low in his chest to soothe. It worked too—Trey slowly melted against him, sighing softly.

  “That’s it, baby. Now. About that shower.” If he got Trey into the water, it would help a lot.

  “Yeah. I could use some hot water and some naked time with you.”

  “Ditto.” He set Trey on his feet, then rose to take his hand. This was a good thing, however much of a dick that made him. He felt lighter.

  He felt free.

  He could go with Trey, see their pack, see Trey’s home.

  That sounded so amazing. “I can’t wait to see Santa Fe.” He held Trey’s hand all the way into the master before letting go just long enough to get the water going.

  “Are you coming with me tomorrow? Can you?” Trey stripped off his ruined pants.

  “I am.” He would make it so. Cory knew he might have to come back to settle a few things. Handing off the sheriff job to Wendy, passing on his house to someone who deserved it. But he was leaving.