Protecting the Pack

by Tabitha Conall

  How could he say no to her big blue eyes? “All right. Tomorrow night.” As Alex leaned forward to kiss him, Chris continued, “But I have a condition.”

  She stopped in mid-lean. “Oh?”

  “I want to know what you two have been doing while I’ve been stuck up in bed by myself. Every detail.”

  Alex leaned forward even further. A glance downward showed the generous cleavage down the neck of her shirt. “Every detail?” Her warmth spread to him even though they didn’t touch.

  Chris slid his hands up her sides to her breasts. “Every detail.”

  Before he could get a good grip, she stood up. “I don’t think your heart can handle it right now.” She turned and walked into the cooking area, an extra swing to her hips showing off her rounded ass.

  Damn, she had a fine body.

  “Tease,” he said.

  “I thought you said you didn’t know what we did.” Ben closed up the dishwasher.

  “I don’t.”

  Leaning on the counter between them, Ben said, “Cause that’s one of the things I did.”

  “What?” Chris said.

  Alex peeked around Ben’s thick bicep. “Tease. He’s horrible.”

  “You loved it.”

  She smiled almost shyly and skittered away.

  Chris rested his arm on the table. “Every. Detail.”

  ***

  When they got to the bar the next night, Ben snagged them a table while Alex helped Chris in from the car. He really wasn’t strong enough to be out, but they couldn’t sway him. He wanted to put on a show for the pack, and so he would.

  A waitress had already visited the table and Ben had placed an order when the door finally opened and Chris and Alex walked in arm in arm. They looked like a couple in love. Nah, scratch that. It looked like Chris wanted to show Alex off. The arm around her waist, the slow walk so everyone could get a good look. As a cover for a serious injury, it wasn’t bad.

  Ben leaned back in the booth, sitting sideways, and watched the show. Alex was just as hot as she’d been that first time he’d seen her. Hotter, if that were possible, now that he knew exactly what her clothes covered.

  The only good thing about coming out was that Chris had hinted he felt ready to jump back in the sack tonight. Although who knew how much this little trip would tire him out.

  Their progress toward the table was slow because they kept getting stopped by wolves wanting to congratulate Chris. Several patted him on the arm or shoulder but when one wolf unthinkingly aimed a pat at Chris’ back, Alex blocked it with her arm.

  Ben stifled a laugh.

  She didn’t even turn her head, just lifted her arm into the way and kept talking. The wolf looked a little confused when he patted her arm but he didn’t try again.

  Alex finally maneuvered them over to the booth, making Chris slide in first. “This was a bad idea,” she hissed quickly, then pasted a smile on her face as more wolves came to say hello.

  Ben had always ducked out when his father had to hold court like this. What a pain. Chris held up quite well, though as the hour wore on, Ben saw the tightening around his eyes. Chris hurt. And he wouldn’t say a word.

  The wolves of the moment left and Ben leaned forward. “We should go soon.”

  Beside Chris, Alex nodded.

  “We haven’t been here long enough,” Chris said.

  “You’re in pain. That’s what matters,” Ben said. “They’ve seen you. Now make a ribald comment about doing your mates and let’s go hole up at home for a few more days.”

  Chris smiled grimly, his eyes tired. “You’re as much a bully as she is.”

  “I love you, too.” He said the words quickly, almost sarcastically then realized he’d never said them before. At the same moment, Chris’ eyes widened.

  Before either of them could stumble around trying to fix the situation, yet another wolf stopped at their booth.

  He wasn’t pack. A big guy, he stood an inch or so taller than Ben with nearly as much bulk as Chris. His dark hair hung to his shoulders framing a face shadowed by stubble. His black eyes fell on Chris.

  “Chris Byers, I challenge you.”

  Chapter 18

  Ben felt a numbness crawling over him from the tips of his fingers in toward his body. Sounds became muted, colored by a whoosh that rushed in his ears. His claws sprung out and dug into the tabletop.

  This couldn’t be happening.

  “And you are?” Chris said.

  Ben struggled to focus. Everything he saw seemed encased in a blurry tunnel.

  “Bruno Holter. Do you accept my challenge?”

  Heat covered Ben’s neck and face, his eyes watering. Panic scraped up his throat, struggling to scream free. Could he fight this man? Right now, tear out his throat before Chris could say yes? He couldn’t.

  “I accept your challenge.” Chris’ voice sounded like steel, so strong, like he hadn’t just been falling over in his seat.

  Ben couldn’t catch a breath. He coughed, trying to cover his gasps. He couldn’t show weakness to this stranger.

  “Tomorrow night,” Bruno said.

  “You forget yourself,” Chris said. “The time is my choice.”

  Bruno sneered. “Then we will have it at the farm.” He paused. “Or if you’d prefer to have it at the park, then we will fight tomorrow night.”

  Chris’ eyes gave away nothing, but Ben could see a ticking along the side of his jaw. Why did he even hesitate? He needed all the extra time he could get. Who cared if they fought at the farm again?

  “Tomorrow night. Eleven o’clock. At the park,” Chris said.

  Ben blinked. A chill stole over him. As Bruno walked away, Ben withdrew his claws from the table, his hands shaking. He blinked again.

  No one said anything, the entire bar silent even after the interloper had left. Alex didn’t move. She seemed nearly as shell-shocked as Ben.

  Chris put his hand on the tabletop. “Let’s go home.”

  ***

  Chris should have listened to his mates. They’d told him not to go to the bar, and like an idiot he’d had to have his way. And now he had to fight a guy who looked like he could crush Brett with a thought. If Chris were at top fighting form, it would be a tough challenge. As it was, he very well might lose.

  And if he did, he’d lose everything.

  The bar continued to remain silent, nearly all eyes on Chris and his mates. Alex pushed herself out of the booth and to her feet. Her hands trembled slightly but she held them by her sides, giving nothing away. Ben, on the other hand, didn’t move. This was probably bringing back memories of his parents’ downfall. And what could Chris say? Ben’s fears might be right.

  After he stood, Chris faced the roomful of wolves. He didn’t see any humans there, but needed to be cryptic just in case. “We’ve faced trouble before and overcome it. We’ll do the same here. Everything will be all right in the end.”

  From a nearby table, a female voice said, “Are you sure? He looks mean. We don’t want him as our Alpha.”

  With that, the room erupted in wolves agreeing, nodding, and turning to their neighbors for reassurance. The Stonewall wolves seemed to agree along with the Roanoke wolves.

  Chris raised his hand and the room fell silent. “Thank you. I want to stay your Alpha. And I will do everything in my power to see that happens.” He needed to go further. He needed to fake it, even if he was worried. “Do not fear. I will fight him, and I will beat him, just as I beat Keith and Brett. And when I’m done, with your help, we’ll run them all out of town.”

  Several of the more dominant wolves smiled, and the smiles spread to the rest of the pack. Soon his wolves were talking loudly about how best to kick the rogues out of Marysburg and make sure they stayed gone.

  Ben still sat in the booth. When Chris reached his hand out, Ben slowly took it. He slid out of the booth. Chris wrapped his arms around Ben and Alex’s shoulders. He hoped they wouldn’t notice that he leaned on them a little.

 
He wasn’t ready for another fight. Not by a long stretch. But for now, they had to put on a show. The pack needed to believe he could win. They had to be behind him.

  The three of them wound their way through the tables. Chris let go of Alex because there wasn’t room for the three of them abreast, but kept his arm around Ben. Ben still hadn’t said a word.

  When they got out to the street, Chris said, “Alex, could you call Sophia? Tell her I need her to come by the house tonight.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m okay,” he said. “I want to talk to her about options for tomorrow night.”

  Alex stopped walking. “I saw her in the bar. Why don’t I go get her?”

  His arm still around her shoulders, Chris tugged her forward. “Call her. I don’t want anyone else to know.”

  While Alex pulled out her phone, Chris squeezed Ben’s shoulder. “How’re you doing?”

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Ben’s voice sounded dry.

  “I’m holding up,” Chris said. “How are you? You looked shell-shocked back there.”

  Ben took a breath and finally met Chris’ eyes. “That’s a good way of putting it. Why—” He licked his lips. “Why did you choose the park tomorrow night instead of buying yourself more time? Why?”

  Chris still wasn’t sure that was the right choice. “My tenant is a son of a bitch. He’s dragged me into court four times already for petty little shit. He was pissed when we had the second fight there, and told me he’d talk to his lawyer if I asked for a third. I imagine they knew that. That’s why Keith and Brett wanted to fight at the farm. To squeeze me.”

  Letting them squeeze him had been the hardest thing of all. But he couldn’t get dragged into court. They’d want to know what Chris had been doing on the field, and he couldn’t tell them. His tenant could soak him, and then how would Chris support his new family? But Chris had wanted to agree to the farm if for no other reason than to not let Bruno get his way.

  Both Chris and Ben heard the ringing as Alex called Sophia. They stopped their conversation so Sophia wouldn’t overhear it. In the next couple of minutes, Alex asked Sophia to come to the house and to keep it quiet. Then she hung up.

  When they got to Chris’ car, he rearranged them, asking Alex to drive.

  “I can drive,” Ben said.

  Chris pushed Ben toward the back seat. “I want you to sit with me.” Heaven forbid he say what he really thought—that with the way Ben looked, Chris didn’t want him operating a motor vehicle or any other type of heavy machinery. He might wrap them all around a telephone pole. But if Ben knew Chris thought that, his pride would make him insist on driving.

  Ben still resisted, although he opened the back door. “Why? Are you okay?”

  “I just need you. Please?”

  They gazed into each other’s eyes for a minute then Ben relented. Chris handed Alex the keys as Ben slid into the back seat. “Are you okay?” he asked her.

  She took a deep breath as she nodded. “I’m scared. But we’ll figure this out.”

  Chris cupped her cheek. What a strong woman. Not afraid to admit her fear. And not freaking out because of that fear. “You’re right. We’ll get this done.” He pressed a quick kiss on her mouth.

  ***

  Half an hour later, someone knocked on the door. Alex had never thought she’d be the strong one in their threesome, but Chris was tired out both physically and emotionally, and Ben looked like he’d walked through hell in his head. So Alex answered the door and ushered Sophia into the living room where the two men sat on the couch staring into space.

  “Are you hurt?” Sophia put her medical bag on the coffee table.

  Chris roused himself to look at her. “No. I mean, nothing new. I wanted to talk about options for tomorrow night.”

  Sophia sat down on an end chair. “I can give you painkillers again.”

  “That would be good,” Chris said. “I was also thinking about something to enhance my performance.”

  That was the first Alex had heard of that.

  Sophia leaned back, making a face. “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why you’re here. Adrenaline? Steroids? Something that will help me keep going during the fight.” Chris paused. “This is going to be a tough one. But I have to win.”

  “If you go that route, you could end up seriously hurt,” Sophia said.

  “Worse than if I lose?” Chris said.

  If he lost, Bruno might kill him. Alex was glad Chris hadn’t said it out loud. Ben didn’t need to hear it.

  Sophia put her finger to her lips. “There are things I could give you if you’re sure you want to do this. Remember Tyler?” She turned toward Alex and Ben. “He’s an MMA fighter. He left our pack a while ago when he moved to California, but before that I was working with him to manage his pain after the fights. And sometimes he took drugs before the fights, too.”

  “Is it safe?” Alex said.

  “I don’t know what else to do,” Chris said. “I have to win. And I don’t have enough time to heal before the fight.”

  And in werewolf fights, there were few rules. Certainly no rules against performance-enhancing drugs. And no guarantee Chris’ opponents weren’t using them too.

  “This time,” Alex said, “after you win, you need to stay home until you’re healed. No going to the bar when you’re not ready.”

  Chris leaned his head back against the couch. “Agreed. As soon as we’ve run them out of town.”

  “Once you beat Bruno, Matt and Nick and Ben can take care of getting rid of them. You will stay with Sophia and me and get patched up. If you’re conscious, you can lead things with your cell phone.”

  “My beautiful bully.” Chris smiled at her.

  He thought she was beautiful? She couldn’t keep from smiling back at him, but kept her voice firm. “If that’s what it takes.”

  “What do you think, Soph?” Chris said.

  “I think an opiate would be the best choice. Tyler used to say taking morphine or Nubain before the fight took the edge off his anxiety and fear, and made it so he could keep going no matter how much he got hit. I don’t have any with me, so I’ll have to get a hold of it. Why don’t I meet you before the fight?”

  They made arrangements for her to meet them at the park at quarter to eleven the next night.

  “Now,” Sophia said. “As important as any drug I might give you is how you take care of yourself in the next twenty-four hours. I want you to sleep as much as possible. Don’t shift until the fight. Up until three to four hours before the fight, gorge on protein and fat. That’ll give your body the nutrients it needs to heal. But in the three to four hours beforehand, cut back a little. Eat, but not as much. You don’t want your body to be expending calories digesting while you’re trying to fight.”

  Sophia stood. “And water. Drink lots and lots of water.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Alex said.

  After Sophia left, Alex went into the kitchen. She’d put both her boys to bed just as soon as she fed them a nice hearty meal. And while she cooked, she’d try to forget that tomorrow night her entire world could crumble.

  ***

  Ben had seen this movie before. The one where the super-strong wolf gets challenged by someone bigger and badder and gets slaughtered. And his mates soon after.

  Not again.

  Alex called them into the kitchen. Ben helped Chris into the other room, where Alex had laid out a spread—cold meat and bread and sandwich fixings, plus some heated-up leftover pork loin from the fridge.

  She stood at the end of the table, rubbing her hands over each other. “I can make omelets.”

  “This is good, thanks.” Chris patted the table. “Sit. You need to eat, too.”

  Ben didn’t think he could eat. He’d probably throw it up. “We could leave,” he said without thinking.

  “I won’t leave the pack.” Chris spread mayo on a slice of bread. “I’m going to win. I know you’re scared,
but it’s all going to be okay.”

  “Then Alex,” Ben said. “We should get Alex away so they can’t hurt her.”

  “I’m going to win, Ben. Alex doesn’t need to leave. They’re not going to do anything to her.”

  Ben felt a skittering in his throat. “How can you know that? Shouldn’t we at least make plans so she’s safe?”

  “She’s not leaving her mates,” Alex said.

  “Here’s the plan,” Chris said. “If by some chance Bruno wins, the three of us will go join Stonewall pack.”

  Chris wasn’t getting it. Ben leaned forward. “If Bruno wins, what makes you think he’ll let you live?”

  Not looking at him, Chris slapped some ham onto his sandwich. “If he wants the good will of the pack, it would be stupid of him to kill me.”

  “What makes you think that’ll stop him?”

  Alex put her hand over Ben’s. “This isn’t your parent’s pack. Bruno isn’t the wolf who killed your fathers. And we don’t have a son to protect.”

  Ben’s hand spasmed.

  “If the worst happened and Bruno killed Chris,” Alex said, voice cracking, “you and I would go to Stonewall together.”

  “Hamrick killed Dad right after he killed Papa. There was no time to go anywhere.”

  “I’m taking a gun,” Alex said.

  Chris paused in cutting his sandwich. “What for?”

  “There are protocols. He challenged you. He can fight you. But he has no right to come after Ben or me, and if he does, I’m going to shoot him.”

  Ben felt a lessening in his heart rate. Alex was nothing like his mother. Mom had been tiny and ladylike and would never have dreamed of shooting anyone. She had done her best in the situation they’d found themselves in, but it wasn’t in her nature to be aggressive. All she could do was sacrifice. And that’s how she’d saved him.

  But Alex…Alex would shoot Bruno. Ben had no doubt. She’d shoot him over and over if that’s what it took.

  Chris’ eyes grew warmer even though he didn’t smile. “Good. Then I don’t need to worry about you two.”

  “You just said you weren’t worried,” Ben said.

  “I said you shouldn’t worry.” Chris put his sandwich down on the plate. “We’re in a bad situation, I won’t deny that. But Alex is right. This is not the same as what happened with your parents, and we aren’t the same people.”