Creature Comforts

by Creature Comforts (lit)

“Jealous? I’m not—.”

  “I’m not finished.” Karen shook her head in warning. Behind her, Diana watched, her arms crossed under her breasts. Displeasure in every nuance of her body language as she listened to her daughter’s speech. “We’ve had more contact with Morgan and the fairies since Bradley made his deal. And we’ve seen just what we’ve been missing out on with our people not working together. ” Karen thrust a finger at the brownie. Her voice lowering. “You will butt out of business that should be between the leaders of our people.” Karen’s head lowered a bit, making India wonder just how human the psychic was anymore. Her voice brooked no argument. “Or. I. Will. See. You. Gone.”

  Ember sent a beseeching look to Diana. If Chase and the Psycho Twins were Adam’s wardens, then Karen was Diana’s female equivalent and Beta rolled all into one. The female Alpha nodded and held out a hand to India. “Come inside. It’s time for lunch.” They’d get no argument from her. India slipped past, going inside and Diana shut the door behind her. The wash of Psychic energy and dead silence met her curious ears. Shaking it off, she went in search of her mate, leaving the brownie to Diana’s tender mercy.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Inside the building, India hesitated to call the place a house with its bare unfinished walls, concrete slab floor, and exposed light fixtures. The place felt established, but had a utilitarian atmosphere that seeped into the pack refugees, keeping everyone on edge.

  Inside, the wardens, including Bradley, as thin and gray but still looking better than anyone smelling so strongly of recent injury should, crowded around a nondescript stranger. Brown overly neat hair, local western attire, the male nodded a greeting in her direction calling particular attention to the black plastic rimmed birth control style glasses that covered much of his face.

  The Hunter lounged against the wall, his eyes on the group of young ones sitting on the bare floor eating from a tray of assorted meats and cheeses. Giggles erupted in a tussle of yellow fur and brown hair as one of the mini-Brandon’s twins rolled across the floor ending with the boy triumphantly on top. The only one to find the boy’s teeth latched in a furry mouthed hold on the puppy was the Hunter. India caught her breath as the Hunter took two steps toward the tumbling pups. Brandon growled, drawing everyone’s attention. His curled back to show a hint of sharp wolven teeth. His eyes gleamed red as he warned the other back from the youngsters.

  “Daddy?” A dark haired princess in a pink jumpsuit wrapped herself around the fierce warden’s leg. Her baby plump cheek pressed against his jeans as she took careful measure of the familiar looking stranger. “Who is he?” Imperceptivity, Brandon’s face softened as he laid a hand on his little girl’s downy hair.

  “Not one of ours,” Brandon answered, swinging the child up into his arms. He turned around, giving the Hunter his back as he nudged the still playing duo. His voice softened with love but still allowed no disobedience. “Break it up boys. You need to finish eating.”

  Karen and Diana swept through the door, the house brownie conspicuously absent, at least to India. With a frown, they hustled the children up, enlisting the older ones in putting the remaining food aside. “Okay, Morgan. We’re ready to go,” Diana announced, the second plump little girl on her hip.

  Draping an arm around his mate, Adam held out a hand to the western clad male. “Take good care of them.”

  Morgan reached out, to touch the baby girl on the nose. A slight smile lighting his eyes behind the ugly glasses. “Have no fear, wolf. Your treasures are safe in my keeping.” His attention shifted to the Alpha female. “This day has been long in coming. We have a comfortable place for all of you prepared, lady.”

  Diana reached up to lay a hand on her mate’s cheek, sharing a long meaningful look. “Be careful and come back to me, Fuzzy.”

  Wry, Adam kissed the baby. “I will.” He glanced at the two weakest males of the pack. “You too. Eddie, Reggie.”

  Reggie swallowed, bouncing a bit on his toes, bumping into his nerdy companion. “We want to stay and fight.”

  Carter Hunter snorted in disbelief. Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked up at the ceiling as if imploring the Almighty to explain how he’d ended up here.

  Eddie leaned forward, as if he needed permission to walk. India wanted to wince at the odds of either of them surviving. Still, the two were eerily similar in their careful defiance. Eddie snuck a wary glance at the Hunter. “We’re part of the pack too. Let us help fight the psychics, Adam.” His voice cracked on the word fight. His very real terror at doing what he volunteered, evident in his scent. The packbond crackled with the emotion.

  “Let them fight, Adam.” Chase’s quiet request surprised everyone. Even Morgan looked at the warden with interest. Wrapping his arms around his mate, Chase faced his Alpha. His solemn words carried a heavy weight. “They have the right, boss. Even if they die trying. They should have the right to protect what is theirs.” Feeling how much he’d rather keep them safe, India bit her lip to keep from protesting. She closed her eyes against the thought of Reggie dying at the hands of their enemies.

  “I’m staying too.” Normally soft spoken, Seth stood facing the Alpha. His hands tucked into his jeans pockets as if to keep the fine tremor in his body from showing. “This is our home.” His lush inky lashes fanned against his dark cocoa cheeks, the faint scent of salty moisture from the young wolven’s emotion glimmered in the air. “We’ll defend it.” India knew he was thinking about his packbrother Rick Weis. Emotions ran high all around, cementing the idea that more than a little vengeance counted into the votes to fight back.

  Outside the unmistakable sound of a truck engine made some tense, then relax as they identified the sound. Many vehicles, like people are distinctive. Scents, the way the engine runs, how that particular driver handles it, even an annoying persistent squeak from somewhere underneath announces the machine’s arrival.

  “I’ll fight.” Hamilton rubbed one hand absently against Tamara’s shoulder. The subtle gesture was the non-sexual kind that gave both a measure of reassurance.

  “Me too.” Tamara called, from where she sat on the futon curled against the third member of the Pack’s geek patrol, Hamilton. Subtly he pulled her closer, needing or giving more reassurance about the upcoming battle. Adam Weis grew more grave with each volunteer. His connection and responsibility for keeping his people safe visibly showed in the taut stretch of his shoulders.

  The main door opened, admitting the big human, Mack. Scratches marred what skin was visible under the gray and brown beard. His once blue plaid work shirt carried the scent of blood, smoke, and sweat in with the man’s entrance. Dirt pronounced the lines fanning his reddened eyes. “Count me in.”

  “Mack…” Adam’s words trailed off with a short shake of the human’s head. He sighed, crossing his arms in resignation. “Okay… Okay.”

  “Yeah!” The oldest of the children shot an arm in the air. His brown eyes shone bright with excitement.

  “Not you, Rice.” Adam admonished.

  “But Dad.” The pup whined. “I can fight. Remember that guy who--.”

  “No.” The Alpha’s platinum blond hair swept his shoulders at the vehement shake. Diana’s taken aback look of motherly horror as she contemplated one of her little ones in the line of fire was enough to chill anyone’s blood.

  “Save your choppers, Rice.” Chase’s tolerant rumble soothed India. In her mind’s eye, she could visualize his easy guiding hand on a pup of their own. “You might have to use them to keep the little ones out of trouble with the fairies.”

  “Well, I did good the last time.” The boy insisted, ducking Mack’s huge hand before it made contact to ruffle the mop hair.

  “Yep, you did.” The big man’s agreeable tone brooked no argument. All the pups looked on with trust. “And you’re going to do a great job helping your mom while you guys stay with Morgan.”

  “Mack?” Rice grabbed on to one big hand and held on, despite his mother’s hovering presence. His voice
, on the verge of manhood cracked. “You look after my dad, okay?”

  “I will.”

  “He’s like, important, you know?” Rice glanced quickly at the Alpha, before pulling Mack down closer to his level. Large and serious brown eyes pinned the Beta with all the turbulent feelings roiling inside the boy. His voice lowered to almost a whisper. “I don’t want to lose him now that I finally got a dad of my own.”

  Mack nodded pushing the boy back into the group. “I’ll protect him with my life.”

  “Yeah.” Rice responded, turning in a tough swagger as he dodged his father’s quick touch. Trying for aloofness, he pulled one of the twin youngsters back into the group. “Don’t go getting’ yourself kilt. We like you around too.”

  Morgan clapped his hands. “Not to be rude, but it’s time to go. Let’s take this outside.” He walked to the door, opening it to usher those who’d followed his lead outside. He caught Chase’s eye, giving a nod of approval. “The iron built into this dwelling affects my magic. I’d rather not tempt the Fates to muck up my spell.” He made a visual check of the group. “Everyone not going with me needs to move back. I can be selective, but I’d rather not waste extra energy by having to send someone back.”

  “And don’t it just take the bad a--.” Chase felt smug surge of pride that his building design affected the freaking lord of the fairies. He pulled India back with him, as the rest staying behind took a healthy step backward. He grimaced, editing his comment. “—The cool outta your move when that happens?”

  “Yes it does,” Morgan agreed. “Much like having to watch your language around the little ones.” He smiled and suddenly Diana, the children, and the non-fighters were gone. No flash of light, just gone in between one moment and the next.

  There was a moment of unsure silence as the pack absorbed all that had happened. India’s eyes slipped over to the grim Hunter’s unreadable visage. Just as Brandon had asked, she imagined how unsettling it must be to suddenly find himself on the other side of the fight. As if sensing her scrutiny, he looked up, meeting her with the unmerciful coldness of the psychic Hunter. She gripped Chase’s surrounding warmth, trying to pull a bit of it inside for the future. For when the Hunter made his move to finish what he’d come for.

  The explosion of light brought a round of gasps and groans. Too late, Chase covered his eyes. Spots danced behind his eyelids. How was Bradley able to use fairy magic inside the house? Did that collar give him all the fairy bennies and none of the drawbacks?

  “Damn, Dude. Leggo.” Blinking to find Mark via his voice, she located him and Bradley. The normally easy-going blond wolven used the heels of his hands to rub at his eyes. “I don’t know if you’re trying to strangle me or blind me.”

  “Both sound good,” Bradley said.

  “Yeah. Well pick one and stick with it. Multi-tasking isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.” Pulling his hands away from his face, Mark slumped down on the couch, his sharp focus settling on the Hunter. “So? How we going to do this thang?”

  Adam moved to the center of the room, pulling the remainder of the pack with him. Feeling grounded like she’d never felt before, India let her mate’s arms fall away, accidentally bumping into Seth. Without hesitation, the younger male bumped back, startling her with the small acceptance. The group herded her toward the futon, where she sat on the floor within easy reach of Chase her attention on the Alpha. Slipping his hands into his jeans pockets, Adam sighed. “Okay, folks. As you see, the fairies are now on board. So we’ll have a location soon.” His square jaw moved. “Stay close to the building—line of sight—if you must get some fresh air. Get some rest, because the action will move fast once we get going.”

  * * * *

  The room felt increasingly small and the company split up into groups that she didn’t really fit into. With Chase distracted by warden talk, India slipped outside. She raised her face to the warming late morning breeze, relishing nature. Nape prickling, she turned. Her stomach clenched.

  The Hunter waited. Strange that he frightened her more than the wardens ever had. Then again, what was hard about understanding their motives? The Hunter’s, any Hunter’s motives were hard to reconcile.

  “You killed Pete.” He took a step forward.

  India hated herself for that weak step backward. “Yes. It was him or us.” She took another step backward, keeping the door in her peripheral. She wanted to call out to the others, tug on the matebond to bring Chase to her side, but lifted her chin instead. She felt like scared prey, but damn if she’d die like one. “I wanted to live.”

  “You ate him.”

  India shook her head. “No. Ripped his throat out. I didn’t swallow.”

  The Hunter snorted, mocking and hard. “I’ve heard that one before. Forget it. I saw what was left of him.”

  “No. I didn’t eat your friend.” Taking a deep breath, she forced her feet forward, surprising the Hunter by pushing past, her only goal the door. “I let the murderer bleed out. Something else treated him like the carrion he was.” His obvious disbelief angered her, pushing past the fear, into the indignation that had carried her before. Grasping the door knob and the safety beyond in one hand, she half turned back. “Your colleague killed twenty-seven innocents in two weeks. Not one arrest, ticket, or lawsuit against our pack in nearly twelve years.

  Her eyes burned with suppressed grief. “You think your man was just ‘policing’? We fucking police our own. We had children…Years from their first Change and your Pete poisoned them, killing their parents’ souls before he even aimed silver shot in their direction.” The door opened beneath her hand, bringing India back from the memories of the past. She backed up, leaving plenty of space for Chase to move if needed. Her eyes never left Carter’s face. “I killed your Hunter. Gladly. And I hope to watch the one who killed poor Rick Weis die like the miserable son-of-a-bitch deserves.”

  * * * *

  “Keep your feet parted, like this. It’ll keep your center of balance in human or half-wolf fighting form.” Chase shifted Reggie, one of the three of their weakest, into a proper stance. At least, Mark and Seth had karate training while they were kids. Tamara and the two geeks were straight out cannon fodder. He’d do his best to keep them safe, but there was only so much you could learn hours before the big show. A frisson of alarm raised the hair on his nape. Pausing, he looked around, not seeing his mate. The power of near-Change hovered around Brandon, in all his ill-tempered glory as the male caught his eye then glanced at the main door.

  With a bit of concentration, India’s voice came to him clearly. “I didn’t eat your friend. I let the murderer bleed out.” The defiance and the fear, he’d been blocking to focus on his packmates, barreled through the matebond. Before he realized he’d moved, he closed the distance. Adam, the spirit of reason, connected with him. The alpha kept Chase from Changing, tearing the door from its hinges, and killing that what his mate feared. His pack stood at his back, everyone alert for the possibility of danger. The door opened, revealing India as she faced the Hunter barely two arms lengths away, declaring her loyalty to a dead packbrother she’d never met.

  India didn’t make a sound as Chase’s hand closed around her upper arm. He pulled her behind him, feeling as his pack closed ranks around her. Eyes on the Hunter he walked half the distance. Inside, anger rolled and burned. The wolf howled in frustration as he denied it the right to kill his rival.

  The Hunter stared past Chase with an insolent smirk. “I figured the Alpha would be more aggressive. Less trusting of strangers.”

  Adam laughed. Little humor infused the sound. Chase’s hands fisted at his sides as he held himself back from attacking the Hunter. “Son, you might know a hundred different ways to kill a wolven. But you have no idea of how we live. Letting you out of that cage, I gave you a chance at a new life. You want to screw that up by hanging onto your old life? Go ahead.”

  “Fuck you!” The Hunter’s eyes flashed red. The energy of the Change slapped at Chase. Uncontrolled an
d untrained, the new wolven’s abilities were tied to his emotions. Both rode the Hunter hard as he lunged toward Adam. Fur slipped over the male’s body. His nose and muzzle elongated until he was more werewolf than man. “You bastards bit me!”

  Chase intercepted him, Changing just enough for his natural weapons. Claws and teeth dug into the Hunter as they rolled over the ground. The Hunter grunted, as, nails made for ripping tough wolven flesh raked down his side. His eyes glowed red. Sharp white teeth snapped against flesh, biting hard into Chase’s flesh. Blood welled and flowed, though the warden felt little as he fought to bring his hand to his enemy’s throat. His claws raked down the Hunter’s collarbone.

  Carter had one brief moment of clarity. The taste of hot blood in his mouth, the feeling of power in his body, he wanted to kill and roll in the victory. The need to howl his need to the world stopped him in disgust. His psychic senses were numb in his brain, he physical senses overloaded with the scents and taste. He pushed away from the werewolf as another burning rake of claws tore his chest open. “Stop.” He raised a hand, not expecting any quarter while he stared in horror at the hairy digit. “Wait.”

  Body coiled for attack, Chase raised a handful of sharp claws, ready to follow through with a killing blow when he saw the look in the Hunter’s eyes. Blood smeared over his face, the fur receding in a wash that left the male’s pain naked on his human face. Instead of finishing him off, Chase took a calming breath. He’d been there once, had that defining moment. “Sucks when you realize that you’re one of the monsters.” When you accept the truth.

  “I can’t hear.” Carter’s words brought back memories Chase tried to forget. The ex-Hunter didn’t mean his ears. He remembered the pain of losing an integral part of yourself. Of feeling lobotomized and pumped up on steroids at the same time. Carter rubbed the heel of one hand against his forehead. “Why can’t I hear anything?”

  With his mate safely behind him, protected by Adam and the pack, Chase could afford the mercy he didn’t want to give. No one would stop him if he killed Carter Hunter. No one would deny him the right to protect what belonged to him. “Your mind is closed now.” His gravelly tone was softer than he’d intended. “The energy that powered your psychic abilities fuels the wolven side of you.”