by Lauren Dane
“Okay, I think we should go to the Pack house tonight. It’s been a few days since we’ve been there and now that you’re bonded it’s your responsibility as a ranking member of the Pack to bring Nina around for everyone to see.” Cade bustled through the kitchen as he talked.
Nina moved past him and grabbed some juice out of the fridge. She tossed one to Lex and handed another to Cade before hopping up onto a barstool to listen. A rhythm had been established and no one questioned it, it simply was.
“So, what then?” Nina asked.
“Well, I think all we have to do is say who you are, you know, what a coincidence, Rey’s sister is Lex’s mate! And then we can talk about how you met, how despite losing Rey we have this laptop and we’re trying to figure out how to get in,” Cade said.
“In fact, I think we should keep the computer whiz part to ourselves. Unless you have a record. If I were the killer, I’d have run a background check on you.” Lex watched her as he fished for information about her past.
“My record was all juvenile stuff. I got smart enough not to get caught after I’d turned eighteen. My juvenile stuff was petty, no computer-related anything. I don’t even have internet access at home. There’s no reason to believe I could crack it,” she hedged.
“Have you been clean since you turned eighteen, then?” Lex asked.
She yawned. “I hope you’re better at this when you’re on the job. If not, you wolves must be pretty stupid.”
“I have a right to know, Nina!”
“You don’t have a right to everything of me when it concerns my past, Lex. It’s my business. I told you I’ve been clean for seven years and that’s the truth. That’s all you need to know.”
“What are you hiding, Nina?”
“Nothing, Lex! Nothing that means anything to anyone but me. Now drop it, studly, or we’ll have to have our first fight. In the last hour.”
Cade laughed and then quickly coughed to cover it as Lex threw a glare his way.
“Fine,” he said through clenched teeth and she rolled her eyes.
“So back to planning. We’ll go to the Pack house—what’s that anyway, like a frat house for werewolves? A flophouse? Where you keep your chippies?”
“Chippies?” Lex grumbled. “I had no need to keep a chippy! And I’d hardly call a Victorian mansion with twelve rooms a flophouse. It’s a communal house where we often meet. Many of our single wolves live there. We have offices there so that we can work. It’s a way of establishing a familial atmosphere.”
“Without getting werewolf hair on the two-thousand-dollar couch here?” she said dryly.
“Precisely. My father nearly died because he had no filters between running the Pack and his home life. He had a heart attack ten years ago, it’s why Cade took over the Pack. He and my mother were barely speaking, which as you might imagine, is a serious thing for a bonded couple. Anyway, we have big gates out front for a reason.” Lex wanted her to know he was planning to put their relationship high on his list of priorities.
“Okay so we go to the Pack house tonight and what? Hang out? Have some beers and I get to get dirty looks from all of your old girlfriends? Will the suspects even be there?”
He wasn’t going near that girlfriend comment with a ten-foot pole. He knew enough about women to know that was a trap and he wouldn’t go willingly.
“Yes, Melissa lives there and Carter and Eric will be there because Wednesday nights are gathering nights. There’s a big dinner there, a sort of social. All of the single females will be around and Eric is always on the prowl,” Cade said with a wry grin. Eric would be eminently pleased that Lex wasn’t competition anymore.
“And these are your three suspects? You know it has to be one of them?”
“Well, the money that has gone missing came from accounts that only the Inner Circle of the Pack had access to. In other words, Cade, me, Melissa, Carter and Eric. No one else had that level of control or the ability to get into accounts. Tommie seemed very sure it was one of those three.”
“Okay then. Let’s go and see what we see, shall we?” She stood up and tossed the glass container into the recycling. “Nice. Eco-friendly wolves.”
“You think she’ll be accepted by the Pack?” Lex murmured to his brother when she got on the phone with the manager of her shop.
“I’d like to see the first wolf who tries to give her any shit,” Cade said with a laugh. “Rey was easygoing and took a lot. I don’t think this apple is from that tree.”
Lex laughed at that. Yes, he thought she’d handle herself just fine, but if any wolf in Cascadia Pack even thought they could treat her as anything less than his mate he’d grind them into a greasy spot.
She came back into the room and looked them both over. Hands on her hips, she cocked her head. “A few things—first, I hope you had fun talking about me, punks. Second, I need to go to my shop starting tomorrow. Third, I want to plan a memorial service for Gabriel. Lastly, I need to get changed before we go to Kappa Kappa Werewolf. I’ll be right back.”
Before she could get out of the room Lex had stopped her. “You can’t go back to work! Jesus, Nina! People are out to try and hurt you. You think some fucking daisies are more important than your life?”
Her eyebrows went so high at that comment that he knew immediately what a stupid thing he’d said. Cade got very quiet behind him.
“Let go,” she said in a quiet, flat voice.
“I’m sorry, that didn’t come out right.”
“No, I think it came out just exactly right. Oh no, I’m not an architect, I don’t own multiple businesses and wear watches worth more than my late-model sedan. Clearly my life’s work—my shop—can’t possibly be as important as what you do. Isn’t that right, Lex?”
“Nina, I think your business is great. I’m not trying to belittle it. I just don’t think flowers, or anything else for that matter, are more important than your life. You’re my mate, I am biologically determined to want to protect you. And I quite happen to like you in one piece.”
“There are three weddings and a business reception that I am contractually obligated to provide flowers for. These couples shouldn’t have their wedding plans ruined because you people want to kill everyone in your sights! I have a business to run! It’s a small business, I do well but if I just let it go I stand to lose everything. You grew up rich, you have no idea what it means to have built something like this on your own.”
He could see the hurt in her eyes but the way she assumed that he was handed everything was hurtful too. “I went to college to get my degree, Nina. I worked to become an architect. I work damned hard to protect Cade and this Pack. I wasn’t handed anything. In fact, I have been trained since birth to be an Enforcer. It didn’t matter that I may have had other plans. So I’m sorry that I said something insensitive but don’t compound that by doing the same.”
“Hey, you two. Come on. Nina, baby, we both love you and want you safe. But we understand you are a small-business owner and we’ll work out something to be sure you get your obligations taken care of. And Lex, you’re taking what she said the wrong way too. I’m sure she knows how hard you work and the sacrifices you make every day. Let’s not make things worse here. You love each other. Remember that.” Cade put an arm around each one of them and leaned his head against theirs. He could feel the anger and the hurt drain out of each of them.
“I have to go change. Lex, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,” Nina said softly, looking up into his face.
“I’m sorry too, gorgeous. I am proud of your business and like Cade said, we’ll work something out. Go on and get changed, we’ll be down here waiting.”
She kissed Lex quickly and then tiptoed up to kiss Cade’s chin and ran up the stairs to get dressed to go to the Pack house.
Lex turned to Cade and sighed. “Thanks.”
Cade shrugged. “It won’t be the last time you two will butt heads over her wanting to do something you think is dangerous or foolish. It’s very clear she has a hot button about the whole class issue. You’re both going to have to find a way to work through it and to figure out how to talk to each other without hurting the other.”
Lex nodded. “Yeah. In the meantime, I’m putting guards on the shop and extra on you here too.”
Cade had long since given up bristling at such measures. It was Lex’s job after all.
* * *
Lex kept stealing looks at her. Really, the transformation was quite stunning. She had appealed to him as the buttoned up, pursed-lipped matron—but the Nina beside him blew his socks off.
Her long brown hair was gathered in a pretty clip thingy at the base of her neck and curls had escaped and framed her face in wisps. She didn’t have a lot of makeup on, which was fine with him—he hated too much makeup. But what she did have was artfully applied. Her eyes looked huge and her lashes long. Those lips shimmered just enough to make him have to move around and adjust himself quite a bit. She was wearing a skirt that came to mid-calf and boots to go with it and she was one sexy woman in a red sweater.
She was every inch his mate and he thought she looked like a queen. When she became a wolf she’d be even more stunning. Pride radiated from his heart at how beautiful and strong she was but he also felt possessive of her. Putting an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close and kissed her temple.
“What?” she murmured.
“You’re beautiful. They’re going to love you.”
“Ha! Some of them maybe. But those girlfriends I keep bringing up—you know, the ones you keep changing the subject right after—I don’t think they’re gonna love me.” She looked at him and narrowed her eyes. “But too bad, cause I don’t share.”
Cade chuckled from the backseat and Lex made a disgruntled snort of annoyance that only made Cade laugh harder.
They pulled up in the driveway of a large, colorful Victorian in Queen Anne and she made a low whistle. “This is really beautiful.”
Lex got out and opened the door for them both, the guard standing discreetly but protectively at the ready. Cade brushed off his clothes and Nina watched as he pulled the mantle of leadership around himself, cloaking power at his shoulders. He was impressive before but this—she realized with a start—this was an Alpha.
Cade walked ahead of them up the grand porch that had really lovely furniture in small clusters from one end to the other. A glider swing, small tables, comfortable chairs and planters filled with seasonal greenery. Nina gave it a quick assessing look, critical. The plants needed some major attention. Hmph, she’d talk to Lex about it later.
The large double front doors opened up and a tall dark-haired woman stood there with a smile. “Alpha! Enforcer! It’s been several days, I’m glad to see you. We were just ready to serve dinner.”
Cade touched his hand to her cheek and she stepped back, her eyes lowered.
Lex urged Nina in after his brother and the tall woman looked up in surprise. “Oh! She bears your mark. Congratulations, Enforcer.”
“Melissa, this is Nina Reyes, my mate. Nina, this is Melissa Warren, she’s ranked fifth in the Pack.”
Melissa looked at her with recognition. “Oh, you’re Rey’s sister. I’m so very sorry. I’m ashamed that it was one of our own. Welcome to our Pack, although I do wish it was under happier circumstances.”
Nina smiled. She felt that the other woman was genuine. She knew she was one of the suspects though and it wouldn’t be wise to let her guard all the way down. “Thank you.”
Cade took one of her hands and Lex held the other. They’d explained on the way over that everyone would know that Cade was her tri-bond and that in many ways, she’d hold a position much like his mate, even after he found his true mate she’d still have that connection to him and her place in the Pack.
As they walked through the long foyer deeper into the house, Nina took in all the details. The place was gorgeous. The details were authentic for the time period the house was built in. The colors, deep greens, deep wine and burgundy and creams and yellows, highlighted the furnishings and drapes. It was obvious that an interior designer had seen to all of those very important details. The wood gleamed, the banisters curved, the rugs were ornate and classic. The house was a masterpiece.
They walked through to a large dining room dominated by a large table. At their entrance, everyone in the room stood up.
Nina could feel the surprise ripple through the group as they took in the way that both men were holding her hands and she supposed they got her scent. She also couldn’t help but be impressed at how everyone seemed to view Cade with deep respect and Lex with deep fear. She chuckled inwardly and thought about what a big pussycat he was deep down.
Cade stood at the head of the table, Lex and Nina to his right. “Everyone! We have had much sadness of late. Losing two of our own in such a short period of time. But there is reason to celebrate tonight. Lex, your Enforcer, has found and performed the claiming with his mate. Better still, she is Nina Reyes, our Gabriel’s sister. We have lost him, but she is here with us now.”
The room got very quiet. Nina wasn’t psychic but she could read people really well. She saw faces that were happy and faces that were not. She snorted inwardly when she noted that most of the unhappy faces were female. That didn’t worry her as much as those faces she could not read at all.
She wanted to talk to Lex about it but she knew that their hearing was very sensitive and it would have to wait until they were out of there before she could bring it up.
“Well, let’s eat shall we? And raise our glasses to Nina and Lex.”
Nina saw Tracy there and grinned in her direction. She really did like her sister-in-law and she felt a bit more comfortable with a few friendly faces in the room.
Everyone in the room raised their glass and took a drink. A happy buzz of conversation filled the room once Cade nodded to Lex, who pulled out a chair for Nina, and they sat down.
Heaping platters of food were passed around and Nina watched with awe as they loaded their plates. Several of the Pack smiled at her, sending waves or tips of their glass in her direction.
Her eyes goggled when Lex tipped three pork chops onto her plate. “Whoa! One will do there, Hoss.”
“You need to eat to keep your strength up. You’ve had a rough few days,” Lex murmured and then frowned as she forked two of the chops back onto the platter and passed it to Cade.
“Lex, thank you for worrying about me but there’s no way I can eat three pork chops. Hell, if I did that, I wouldn’t have room for that pie I see over there.” Nina tipped her head toward the sideboard that was heavy with desserts.
Melissa heard that and laughed. “Lex, you need to remember that humans don’t have the same kind of metabolism that we do.”
“Why on earth are we discussing humans at the dinner table? Don’t ruin my appetite, please!”
The entire room’s attention moved to the doorway where a blond man was standing in a very nice suit.
“Sorry I’m late, Alpha. I had to go to Issaquah earlier and traffic was nuts on I-90.” He swept into the room.
Nina felt a wave of irritation bordering on rage and turned her head to see Cade stand up. He growled low in his throat. All the other wolves except Lex and the studly dude with the black hair across from her, Eric, lowered their heads and sat very still.
Nina’s skin crawled with the power that rolled off Cade and that buffeted off Lex as well, who’d risen, shielding her with his body. Nina picked up her steak knife and held it, not knowing what was going on.
“Carter, would you like to apologize for that remark or choke on your teeth?” Lex said in a menacing tone and Nina stifled a squeak of fear as she thought she saw the
flesh of his forearms ripple.
Cade, feeling her fear, put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Stand down, Lex. Let me handle this,” Cade said softly.
Lex remained standing and Nina peeked around his body and saw the blond looking up at Lex in confused terror. His eyes then moved to her and he jerked in surprise and he blushed furiously.
“Oh, man! I didn’t know!” he stuttered.
Cade moved next to Lex. He turned and looked into Lex’s face. “Alexander, I will handle this. Attend to your mate.” Cade’s voice was steel, his eyes unblinking and Lex let out a breath with a tremble and after several long moments, he sat down and turned to Nina, putting an arm around her shoulders.
Nina though, only had eyes for the exchange between Cade and the blond, even as she snuggled into Lex.
“Alpha, I apologize.”
Cade looked at the other man without speaking. The tension in the room was thick as the moments ticked by.
“I’m waiting, Carter.”
Carter? Oh! Blondie was one of the suspects and a bigot too. Lovely. Well, Nina had to admit she’d had a few of her own ignorant thoughts about wolves herself. She made a mental note to really work on that.
Blondie nodded quickly and fell to his knees. He bent, forehead to the floor. “I apologize most sincerely for my ignorant remarks about humans.”
Cade nodded once and looked down at Lex, who narrowed his eyes and then gave a very slight shrug.
“Get up, Carter and get some dinner. Then you can meet Alexander’s mate, Nina. Rey’s sister.” Cade tossed this back over his shoulder as he turned and moved to his seat.
Carter’s eyes widened as he stood up and looked at Nina. She couldn’t tell if the shock was more than just, oooh, shit I just talked smack about the boss’ wife, or her being Rey’s sister or that he was guilty over something.
“I do apologize. It was stupid and insensitive of me,” he said to Lex. Nina wondered if the reason he wasn’t apologizing to her was another werewolf thing. Whatever the case, she didn’t like this guy at all.