The house fell quiet. As he stood there, stroking Piper’s strangely fragile back, he looked around. There were maybe eight weres other than him, Tom and Suzanne. He saw their eyes move over him, taking in his size. Saw their nostrils dilate ever so slightly as they reached out for his scent. Owen took his own read on the room, smelled their pain, confusion and anger.
His wolf sensed the same questions from each of them. How? How could their Alpha be dead? How could he leave them so soon after their Beta had been taken? Without discussion Owen knew these people were vulnerable. Without being asked, his wolf gave his consciousness a hard slap and demanded he step up.
When Piper straightened away from him he handed her the handkerchief he always kept in his inside pocket. She blew her nose discreetly then brushed an invisible speck of lint off his dark jacket.
“Have you eaten?” she asked and stepped over to the refrigerator. “I can make you something.”
“We’ve already—” Tom started to say. Owen lifted his hand, silencing the other were.
“Breakfast sounds great, Piper. And maybe coffee if you’ve got some.” They really didn’t need food but he knew Piper needed something to do. Anything to keep her body moving and distract her from the unbelievable truth of her mate’s death. He sat down at the kitchen table and ignored the ache behind his knees. Tom and Suzanne joined him. Owen remembered when he got the news that his mother had been killed. How he’d taken all the extra patrols he could, how he’d worked out until his muscles shook with exhaustion. Anything to keep busy. When the pain was so horribly fresh all he’d wanted to do was deny the truth of it, frenetic activity had bought his psyche time to deal with what had been thrown at it.
Piper brought out eggs and a loaf of bread. There were a few foil-covered casserole dishes on the counter but she bypassed them in favor of cooking herself. She brushed her brown hair back from her face. “We’re getting low on coffee,” she said, speaking to no one in particular. “The coffee cups are all clean though.” She put bread in the toaster and began breaking eggs into a frying pan. Without asking she poured three glasses of juice and put out three place settings. “I got the walkway swept this morning but I’ll probably need to do it again.”
No one interrupted her rambling. For a while Piper lost herself in cooking and musing. When she set their plates on the kitchen table, she stopped quite suddenly and stood still. Owen stood, seated her in an empty chair, put a half-slice of toast in her hand and touched her cheek before returning to his seat. Piper simply stared at the toast for a moment then began nibbling on it as if she wasn’t really aware of what she was doing.
“Abby,” he said, speaking to Piper’s sister. “Would you get a pen and paper and make a list of things Piper might need from the grocery store?”
Abby blinked as if she’d just been shocked out of whatever dark thoughts had taken her. “A list?” she asked and her voice shook, just a little.
“Yes. Please.” Owen kept his smile and his voice as warm and encouraging as he could. The Army had taught him how to create order out of chaos but it wasn’t big on mollycoddling. He’d just have to wing it. “Start with coffee then see if she needs any milk or cream.”
Abby jumped to the task. Soon she and another woman were rummaging around Piper’s cupboards, pantry and refrigerator. The scents of unease and grief that had been hanging around them dissipated as they focused on the task Owen had assigned.
He asked another woman who was hovering in the living room to call the grocery store. “It’s not open yet but Roger’s there. Ask him if he’d open up early for Abby.” The woman nodded, fished a cell phone out of her purse and went in search of a phonebook. Owen hadn’t actually seen Roger inside his store when they’d driven past but he had seen a sheriff’s squad car parked out front. It had to belong to the deputy assigned to guard Roger.
When the house phone rang Katherine answered it. She told the caller that, yes, Piper was in and it would do her good to have people drop by. Katherine looked up at the sudden activity around her. Her gaze went to Owen when he asked a couple of women to start running hand towels through the washing machine. The suspicion in her eyes toned down to skepticism.
In groups of two, Piper’s visitors presented their lists to Owen. He glanced at the items, nodded his approval then got out his wallet. With wads of twenty-dollar bills in their hands, Owen sent them out on their tasks.
Suzanne leaned across the table and nudged his elbow. “You shouldn’t carry so much cash,” she said. “What if you get mugged?”
He snickered, stood up and stuck out his chest. “Like that’s going to happen.”
Tom and Suzanne left soon after. They’d be back that afternoon to pick Owen up. They said goodbye to Piper and told her they’d find whoever killed Cory. Another visitor, a retired male Owen recognized from the community center, saw them off at the door. Once they were gone Owen sat back in his chair, flexed his knees covertly and exhaled slowly. Piper, sitting across from him, was still nibbling on the piece of toast he’d given her. Her knuckles were red, as if her hands had been immersed in cleaning products all night. A wave of foreign, emotional discomfort almost had him running for the door. Almost. Instead he put his shoulders back and got to his feet.
“Piper?” he said gently and when she looked up he nudged his empty plate in her direction.
“Oh,” she said and blinked as if she was in a daze. “Did you get enough to eat? Can I make you anything else?”
“No, Piper. It was delicious. Thank you.” He stood back and let her clean away the breakfast plates. He could have helped. When he’d eaten there before he’d always helped clean up. But Piper needed activity so he watched her fill the sink with hot, soapy water. There was a perfectly good dishwasher sitting right beside the sink but Owen knew she wouldn’t use it…not when she could do the job by hand and stretch it out.
Another one of Piper’s sisters came up to him. “Is there something I can do?” she asked hesitantly.
Owen gave her the same smile he’d given Piper. “Yes. Do you think you’re up to calling Piper’s work? I don’t know if they’ve heard. We need to tell them she won’t be in for a while. Can you do that?” he asked and gentled his voice. “If you don’t think you can, look up the number for me and I’ll make the call.”
“N-no. I can do it.” The short, timid were breathed in and squared her shoulders. A few years older than Piper, she had the same gentle brown eyes as her sister. Before she turned away though, she laid her forehead on Owen’s arm. She nuzzled him carefully, as if she wasn’t sure of her welcome. When he didn’t rebuke her, when he touched her head and smiled at her when she finally looked up at him, he sensed the tension in her ease.
Next Owen made his way over to the male hovering around the front door. “Do you know if any of Cory’s employees have a computer and printer at home?”
That lost look that had settled around the older were’s eyes receded. “Yes. Bethany, his head cashier for sure. Oh and Harris, the stock boy. He’s always fiddling with computer games. Wants to study computer programming when he goes to college.”
“Good,” Owen said. “Can you call one of them? Bethany, perhaps? Ask her to print up a sign for the front door saying the pharmacy will be closed for today.” He put his hand on the older were’s shoulder. “Tom told me the sheriff’s office needs the place to stay closed for a day at least.”
“I’ll get on it. The name’s Tim by the way. Tim Egley.”
Owen held out his hand. “I’m—”
“You’re Owen Wells,” Tim interrupted with a wide grin. “Most folks around these parts know who you are. Cory spoke highly of you before he…” Tim’s smile faded. “Well, I’ll get Bethany on the phone. She and her mate should be awake by now.” Tim shook Owen’s hand again and he and his cell disappeared into the dining room.
When Owen returned to the living room Katherine looked at him, long and hard. The phone rang again. This time when she answered it she held up a finger lik
e she was asking Owen to hang on.
“One moment. I’ll find out.” She held the receiver out to Owen. “It’s David from the diner. He wants to know if he can send Myra over with a platter.”
Owen looked at the receiver in Katherine’s hand and felt his eyebrow go up. Despite how surreal it all felt, Owen took the call.
“Hello, David. It’s Owen speaking.”
There was a pause. “Owen? Um, hi.” David cleared his throat. “Listen, I wanted to know if I could send something over. Maybe a platter of sandwiches for lunch.”
“That sounds terrific. There are already a dozen or so people here and I expect more will start turning up soon. Can I give you my credit card number or something?”
Owen had to hold the receiver away from his ear when David, as nicely as possible, tore into him for offering money. David promised to add a couple of berry pies and said Myra would be out there with the order around eleven or so. When he gave the handset back to Katherine, Owen waited for her to say something.
She looked at him for a moment. The skepticism had left her eyes. Acceptance, albeit grudging, had replaced it.
“Seems everybody wants to do something,” she said as she hung up the receiver. She straightened the hem of a blouse that looked like she’d been wearing it all night. “Most of them are in shock. Ever since it happened I’ve been fielding calls.” She blinked furiously then looked away. “I’ve lost track of how many people I had to tell, yes, my cousin is dead.”
Owen reached for her arm. She grabbed his hand, held on tight for a moment then let go.
“Do Cory and Piper’s sons know?” Owen asked. He’d spoken quietly but when he heard the strangled gasp from the kitchen he swore at himself and looked up.
Piper, her eyes huge, her face pale, was staring at him. Without conscious thought he walked up to her and opened his arms. This time she collapsed into him, clung to him with a strength he wouldn’t have thought she possessed, and sobbed. Harsh, tearing sobs that made him want to weep. He held her head to his chest and willed himself to wait out the storm. Helpful hands passed boxes of tissue, reached under his arm, dabbed at Piper’s cheeks. She squeezed him so hard his bruised ribs started to ache. He let her hold on.
When the worst of the storm had passed Owen touched her chin, made her look up at him. “Are you up to telling your sons?” he asked quietly.
Piper shook her head. “I don’t know how to tell them. I’ve been waiting for a decent hour to call. They like to sleep in and…and…” Someone handed her a fresh bunch of tissues and she wiped her face, blew her nose.
“Katherine?” Owen asked. He turned his head and looked at the far more powerful female who was standing near his elbow.
Piper exhaled audibly. “I can do it.”
Gently, Katherine took Piper in her arms and led her upstairs.
“Katherine,” Owen said just before they left. “Tell the boys to make their own flight arrangements. It’ll give them something to do.”
By the time they came back downstairs Owen had finished his second cup of coffee and was listening as two weres shared stories about Cory with him. Six more weres had dropped by. Piper roused herself visibly, welcomed them, asked if they wanted something to drink or eat.
Katherine drew Owen aside. “Piper will need somebody to stay with her around the clock for the first few days,” she said.
“Can you make that happen?” he asked. “Set up a roster. I see a lot of bodies milling around and I’m pretty sure they’d be glad of something to do. Maybe get a few of the people here to make the calls and get everybody organized.”
Nodding tiredly, Katherine began rounding up visitors.
The next time the doorbell rang Owen recognized one of the doctors from the clinic in town. His wolf’s ears tracked Piper’s conversation with the doctor, heard her say she was there to give Piper an injection and leave some pills to help Piper get through the next few days. When the doctor and another one of the women led Piper upstairs Owen wandered into Cory’s office.
The room was quiet. Off the front hall, it was big enough to hold a desk, a bookshelf, some cabinets, a small conference table and six chairs. The phone on the desk rang and kept ringing. Owen glared at it, wishing he could throw the thing through the wall. Then follow it out and never come back. Instead he took a breath and forced himself to sound pleasant when he answered it.
“No, no date has been set for the funeral. We’ll let everybody know. Piper’s resting now but if you come by this evening she’d be glad to see you.” As he talked a middle-aged were walked in. He moved around the office, looked at the framed pictures on the walls, at the certificates, the letters and drawings grade-schoolers had sent their Alpha, before taking a seat across the desk from Owen.
It was then Owen realized he was sitting in Cory’s chair, writing the caller’s name down on a pad of paper on Cory’s desk, using one of Cory’s pens. What business did he have doing that?
After Owen hung up, the older were slowly tipped his head to one side and looked Owen over. He looked at the width of Owen’s shoulders, the row upon row of service pins on his uniform jacket, the bits of colored ribbon. After a moment his head came back up.
“I’m Howard Rupert. The pack’s business manager. I dropped by to see if Piper needed anything and to see if Cory signed some checks I left before he…” Lifting his chin, Howard stared at a point on the wall behind Owen. He sighed. “Well, that can wait.” He looked back at Owen. When he spoke this time his voice was flat. It sounded forced, as if he wished he was doing anything but sitting there discussing money when his Alpha had just been killed. “Pack treasury allocates a set dollar amount for funeral expenses for every member. But since Cory was Alpha…” He spread his hands helplessly.
Owen stood. His knees gave a twinge but he didn’t let on. “Let me get Katherine. She’ll help you decide.”
He stepped out of the room and looked around for Cory’s cousin. Just what the hell am I doing here? he thought to himself yet again as he moved past knot after knot of mourners, smiled kindly, held himself still whenever one laid their forehead on his arm or chest. Several minutes later he returned to the office with Katherine in tow.
She didn’t even blink when he sat in Cory’s chair. Katherine took the one beside their business manager.
“Howard brought up the matter of the standard funeral stipend,” Owen said.
“Since Cory was Alpha,” Howard said, “do we want to approve more?”
Katherine seemed to be thinking about it. She looked out the window and the light caught her face. Owen could see circles under her eyes that hadn’t been there the first time they’d met.
“No,” she said after a moment. “I’d say no. Cory liked simple things. So does Piper.”
Then, against all reason, they turned to look at Owen. He blew out his cheeks and looked back at them. “I guess that settles it.”
“Good,” Howard said with the air of a man who liked decision. “I’ll let the funeral home know. For big funerals we usually hold the service at the community center. Will that be all right?”
Owen blinked when Howard posed the question to him. He actually balked when Katherine looked at him expectantly. Finally he swallowed and nodded. “That will be all right.”
Howard stood and held out his hand. “Good to meet you, Owen, although the circumstances suck. Good to have you here.” He turned and left.
Owen sat back down slowly. He expected to hear the Twilight Zone theme playing in the background. Across from him, Katherine was staring at nothing. She ran her fingers through her short, coifed hair, disturbing it in a way that made Owen uncomfortable.
“There are so many things to take care of,” she said and he wasn’t sure she knew she was speaking out loud. Her voice was distant, distracted and weak. It startled him to see this assertive woman so frazzled. Again he remembered it wasn’t just her Alpha who’d been killed. He’d been her cousin too.
He reached across the desk and touched
her hand. “Call your mate, Katherine. Tell him to take you home for a while. If that doctor’s still here we’ll get her to give you something. Just to take the edge off. Get some sleep. The pack needs you to be sharp, for them. For the next couple of days anyway.”
Katherine blinked and she looked tired, maybe even a little lost as she focused on Owen’s face. “Who’s going to take care of all this?” she said and spread her free hand over the papers on Cory’s desk. “You?”
Before he could stop it Owen’s inner wolf answered for him. “Yes.”
Owen hated the sound of his own voice. Hated the admission that he could and would step in to help this pack out. He wasn’t the leader they needed. “I liked Cory but I didn’t know him that long.” Owen inhaled slowly. “I wish it hadn’t been so but I’ve got the luxury of being able to step back from your grief, be objective. Your family needs you and you need to take care of yourself. Now go. Mourn.”
“Why would you take this on?”
“Because I can’t not step up, dammit.” He rubbed that permanent furrow between his eyebrows. “As much as I wish it wasn’t, taking charge is in my DNA, like it’s in yours.”
“I wish I were stronger.” Katherine tried to smooth the creases in her skirt. “I’m just so tired.”
Owen moved around the desk, helped her to her feet and, with his arm around her, walked her to the kitchen. There she phoned her mate, who agreed to pick her up immediately. There’d been nothing for him to do the previous night after they’d gotten word of Cory’s murder. He’d left Piper in his wife’s care and had been manning the phones at their place ever since.
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