“Think you might be biased?”
“Maybe.” She ran her hand over his chest. “But it’s true. You can do this. I can wait.”
“You’re amazing, know that?”
“Honey, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” she repeated the words Marcus had spoken moments ago with a grin.
*
“I don’t know how you do this Alpha stuff. You make it look so easy.” Marcus sat back in the porch chair and took a long drink of the beer his brother-in-law handed him.
Cooper smiled. “Having a hard time, huh?”
“Yeah. Look, I’m not the right person for the job. They’re either scared of me or they hate me. I don’t know how to be a nice guy like you. I don’t know how to relate to them. You need to come and take over.”
Cooper stared at him for a long moment before looking out into the forest. Marcus had left Silverton saying he had a meeting, but really he’d needed some time away. He couldn’t breathe anymore.
The wolf was in agreement. They needed their freedom. Although he was committed to helping the pack, he needed to be alone at times too.
Although he wouldn’t mind being alone with Hanna.
Another problem. Hanna. He was sick of denying their connection, tired of having to sneak around.
If they were discovered it could rip apart the very fragile ties holding the pack together.
“You want me to leave here?” Cooper asked without anger. “Leave my pregnant mate?”
Marcus growled. “They’re your pack. Your responsibility.”
“Maybe. I was kind of hoping they’d become your pack. Your responsibility.”
Marcus gaped at him. “What? This is only a temporary job, right?”
Cooper stared at him with knowing eyes. “You’re a very dominant wolf, Marcus. You know it and I know it. You need a pack of your own. If it weren’t for the constant threat Shadowpeak has been under lately, your wolf would be growing restless, eager to challenge.”
“You think I’d challenge you?” Marcus asked. He wouldn’t deny his dominance. He’d always held it back around Zachary, knowing he’d see it as a threat. Maybe Cooper did as well. “I’m a tracker. I don’t like to be around others.”
“Bullshit. You’ve told yourself that in order to keep your wolf in check. You need to look after others, to protect them. Look at how you took Hanna under your wing.”
“That’s different.”
“Why? Because you love her?”
Marcus kept his shock from showing. Barely. “Love her? What makes you say that?”
Cooper’s lips twitched. “It’s obvious in the way you look at her. Your wolf calls to hers, doesn’t it? Tell me, do you think she’s your true mate?”
“I don’t think it, I know it.”
Cooper nodded. “And you haven’t claimed her because of the story we fabricated.”
Marcus snorted. “Everything is fucked up. At first I convinced myself that she was better off without me. I never wanted a mate. And I definitely didn’t think she needed me. She’s been held down all her life, subject to others’ whims. I wanted her to experience life.”
“And now?”
“Now she’s made me realize that I can help her rather than hinder her. That no matter what I think, I will do what’s best for her. Always. Except now we’re stuck in a lie. If I claim her then Cade and Connor will challenge me and then she’s stuck as Anna. Or we tell the truth, meaning everyone knows we lied. They’ll never trust either of us again. I don’t give a shit about me, they hate me anyway. But she’s happy there.”
Cooper’s brow rose. “Really? At Silverton?”
“It’s not so bad,” Marcus replied, surprising himself.
“That so?” Cooper drawled. “I thought you wanted out?”
“I do. But not because the pack is damaged. They should be, after everything Leonard put them through. He was a complete autocratic bastard. Do you know he only kept his favorite people in the house? The rest had to fend for themselves, build their own cabins, find their own food. He didn’t take care of the old or the young. It’s no wonder they’re so wary around me.”
“I heard one of them challenged you.”
“Yeah.”
“And then you made him an enforcer.”
“Yeah.” He waited for Cooper to tell him how stupid that was.
Cooper grinned. “Good move. It’ll give him a sense of power and control, but keep him close so you can watch over him. My brothers should be helping. Are they?”
“Yeah, well, Connor is. Who knows what Cade’s doing half the time.”
Cooper laughed. “You can blame a coyote for that.”
Marcus groaned. “You don’t plan on ever taking over the Alpha role, do you?”
“Nope,” Cooper answered with a grin.
“You going to start looking for someone else to take over?”
“Nope.”
“Fuck,” Marcus swore. “You really want me to do it. Why not Rye? Or Cain?”
“Rye doesn’t have the empathy to deal with them. All he would focus on is security. He’d make sure everyone is safe, but he’d forget about making sure they were happy.”
“Yeah, well, they’re not happy under me.”
“No,” Cooper said. “But at least you know that and you want to remedy it.”
Marcus ran his hand over his face. “I don’t want this.”
“If you really can’t do it, I’ll find someone else. I can talk to Cain. But if Cain goes so does Dusty and I lose two enforcers.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d give it a bit longer there. Laney’s frail at the moment and the pack needs me to help hold them together after everything that’s happened. I’d consider it a favor. Just take some time and think things through.”
“There are a lot of factors to consider,” Marcus said slowly. “Hanna and I would have to come clean. They may hate me after that. But I can’t give her up. And I’d have to give up my pack.”
“Believe me, I know how hard it is to leave your pack.”
“Who’s leaving?” a sleepy voice interjected.
Marcus rose to greet his sister as she walked out onto the porch. He scooped her up into his arms as she let out a delighted squeal.
“Marcus! I didn’t know you were coming.”
Grinning, he kissed her cheek. “Neither did I, baby sis. It was kind of a last-minute thing.” He sat down with her on his lap.
“You’re supposed to be resting, sweet.” Cooper stared at her in concern.
She leaned her head against Marcus’ chest. “I am. See? My feet aren’t even touching the floor.” She wiggled them around.
Cooper growled, grabbing her feet. “They’re freezing. You should have slippers on.”
“Is there something I should know?” Marcus asked. Cooper had always been overprotective of his mate, more so now that she was pregnant, but he seemed even more intense than usual.
“No, nothing,” Laney said quickly.
Cooper shot her a look and rose, walking inside. She stared down at her lap. “I’ve been having a few contractions and, umm, a bit of spotting.”
“Oh hell.” Marcus held her close and rocked her.
“It’s okay.” Her voice quavered. “It’s just a bit scary, you know? Especially for Cooper. He doesn’t know what to do… Well, except for growling at me all the time.”
Something splashed against his hand and he realized she was crying.
“Shh, don’t get upset. That can’t be good for you or the baby.”
“I know.” She sniffled. “Hormones, you know? Plus, I have nothing to do all day but worry. Even with Dusty and Cassie coming to see me most days, just— Oh, listen to me feeling sorry for myself. So ridiculous. Other people have much worse things going on in their lives. Tell me about Silverton. How’s Hanna?”
Cooper stepped back onto the porch and handed Marcus a blanket, which he tucked around his sister, then proceeded to tell her about the last few weeks, leaving out the challenge from Ryder and his worry
over the pack.
Nearly two hours later, he handed a sleepy Laney over to Cooper, who held her tenderly, laying a sweet kiss on her forehead. “Wait for me. I’ll get her settled then walk you out.”
Marcus hung around outside on the porch until Cooper returned and together they walked to his truck.
“Thanks for that,” Cooper said. “She needed some cheering up.”
“You should have told me.”
“I know,” Cooper agreed. “But I feel like I’ve dumped enough on you. If you really don’t want this I’ll figure something else out.”
Marcus looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time pushed past his own problems to see the fatigue in Cooper’s eyes, the new lines on his face. “I’ll be fine. You just take care of my baby sister.”
“You said it yourself. A good Alpha looks after everyone, not just the strongest in the pack. And he doesn’t just take care of security, but sees to their whole well-being. I think you know what to do, you just have to stop thinking that you can’t do it.”
Marcus snorted and then punched him on the shoulder. Hard.
“Hey, no hitting the Alpha!” Cooper barked.
“Yeah, well, looks like you’re not going to be my Alpha anymore.” He climbed into his truck. “Plus, you set me up. Bastard. You’re just lucky my sister loves you.”
Cooper smiled. “I know. I tell myself that every night.”
Driving back to Silverton, Marcus didn’t feel the wrenching need to stay at Shadowpeak that he’d thought he might. Instead, he was eager to get back. Could Silverton really become home? Could he be an Alpha?
You need to take care of everyone.
Marcus drove through the entrance to the Silverton estate, gratified to see that there were guards on watch. But there was more to a pack than security. Way more.
Parking, he picked up his cell and called Cooper.
“What?” his brother-in-law asked. “Giving up already?”
“No. I need you to buy me some building supplies. Since you made this mess, the least you can do is pay to fix it.”
“Goddamn bastard, should have known better than to put you in charge.”
Marcus chuckled. “Well, I can’t hurt you, but I can make it pinch in other ways.”
“All right,” Cooper replied with a laugh. “What do you need?”
“Don’t know. Yet. I’ll get back to you.”
Plan in mind, Marcus entered the pack house. His house.
*
“Yep, put that over here. Lower it down slowly. Good.” Marcus and Iain laid the large beam down exactly where Trent told them.
Trent, a large but soft-spoken man, turned his attention to another worker and Marcus took the moment to step back and appraise all they’d accomplished over the last three weeks.
When he’d first gotten the entire pack together for a meeting and a pack run, he’d seen their skepticism and fear. He’d known he had to handle this delicately, a challenge when he was used to speaking his mind.
So he’d started the meeting with a question he knew none of them were expecting.
“Who here knows how to build houses?”
Everyone had looked at him blankly and for a moment he’d wondered if he’d taken completely the wrong tack. Then a large man with long, dark hair and a beard had stepped forward and raised his hand.
“I can,” he said. As soon as Trent had spoken, a few more stepped up.
Marcus had outlined his plan to replace the worst of the housing. That which housed the most vulnerable, the elderly and those with young children would be done first. The very pack members Leonard had ignored.
Many in the pack had scrutinized him with disbelief, trying to figure out his angle. But once the building supplies started rolling in and the work began, those looks had become fewer.
After his announcement they’d gone for a run. The first run as a whole pack, he’d been told. Leonard used to run with only his enforcers. Of course, Marcus hadn’t turned the opinion of the pack overnight, but gradually they’d been warming toward him. Parents with small children no longer avoided him like the plague. Those who were submissive didn’t seize with fear or immediately kneel when he came close.
Yeah, things were definitely looking up.
“We’d like to help.”
Marcus turned at the words, his eyes immediately settling on Hanna even though it was Blair who’d spoken.
He forced his gaze from his woman. “Yes?”
“We’d like to help with the building work,” Blair replied, and five women standing behind her nodded.
His forehead puckered into a frown. He knew it was old-fashioned of him, but he didn’t like the idea. They could get hurt so easily.
“That’s a really nice offer, but—”
“Oh Marcus,” a breathy voice interjected. Loudly. “I brought you some refreshment.”
He barely hid his wince. Olivia had a voice like nails on a blackboard. He glanced over at the tall, rail-thin brunette. A couple of other women stood behind her. They all held trays of ice-cold beer. His mouth watered and he gave her a brisk nod. He didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her, which was a long way considering her skinny stature, but he’d kill for a beer.
“Thanks, that’s great. Break for the day,” he called out. The men let out a whoop and put down their tools. Olivia stepped over, too close, and handed him a beer. She smiled up at him, licking her lips.
“Anything for you, Marcus.”
He took a step back. If she got any closer he’d be able to see what she’d had for lunch. He glanced at Hanna to see her scowling at them.
Jealous?
He raised a brow at her. Her hands rested on her hips, attitude screaming from her as she turned her head away in an obvious huff.
How could she be jealous? Didn’t she know that she meant everything to him?
Then he noticed everyone else in Hanna’s group had the same scowl on their faces. Was it because Olivia and her group had brought them refreshments?
Women. He really didn’t understand them. But they were part of his pack and he wanted them happy.
“Blair, maybe you and your friends could help Olivia and the others tomorrow,” he offered. There, that should satisfy them. Good work.
Blair sniffed and gave him a look of disgust. “Get your own fucking beer.”
Everyone quieted, watching.
Damn. Here was another of those moments where he had to tread carefully.
“Firstly,” he said quietly, “I don’t swear or speak to you so disrespectfully and I expect the same courtesy.”
She paled a little but stood her ground, arms crossing her chest. Hanna and Honey stepped up on either side of her, Honey watching him warily, Hanna giving him a look that told him to fix this.
“Understand?” He lowered his voice, letting the wolf shine through. Had Blair been a member of Shadowpeak, he’d have laughed her comment off. But he had to establish his dominance here without coming across as an asshole, or he’d never gain their respect.
Blair averted her eyes, laying her neck to one side in a sign of submission.
Thank fuck.
“Yes sir. I’m sorry.”
“Secondly, if you want to help, then what exactly were you proposing?”
“We want to help with the building work.” It was Hanna who spoke up.
Like hell. He bit back the instant denial. But there was no way he wanted Hanna doing hard, dirty work.
Tread carefully.
“And do you know anything about construction work?” he asked.
“You lot? Building?” Olivia laughed before Blair or Hanna could answer him. “That’d be right. It would suit you, wouldn’t it Blair? After all, didn’t your father always wish you’d been born a boy? You certainly don’t know how to act like a female.”
The hurt in Blair’s eyes made his back teeth ache with the urge to snarl and wipe the smirk from Olivia’s face.
“Enough, Olivia,” he said curt
ly. “I don’t think you’re needed anymore.”
“But, Alpha,” she whined.
“You can head home now. Thanks for the refreshments. And I’m not the Alpha.”
With a pout he was certain she practiced in the mirror, she flounced off, her friends following behind.
“We have as much experience as some of these guys,” Hanna interjected.
He glared at her. She was so getting a spanking.
“This is hard work, ladies. You could easily get hurt. And it’s my job to protect you from that.”
“Doesn’t take a lot of strength to use a drill.” Surprisingly, this came from the usually quiet Honey.
Ryder stepped up beside him, wiping his sweaty forehead on his arm. “You’re not working on-site, Honey. If you want to help you can make up some curtains,” he ordered arrogantly.
Marcus almost grimaced at the fury flaring on the women’s faces. If looks could hurt, Ryder would be writhing on the floor cupping his balls.
“You’re worried we’d show you up, Ryder,” Blair spat. “I was always better with tools than you were and it just kills you.”
“That’s when we were five, Blair, and they were plastic!”
Hell. Time to diffuse this. But before he could speak, Rafe stepped up to the other side of him.
“Blair, you’ll speak with more respect to your brother.”
“What? Why?”
“Because he’s your brother and you’re acting like a brat. Marcus would have been within his rights to punish you for the way you spoke to him before, and you’re still carrying on.”
“Ryder is just as rude to me!” she cried, her face growing red.
Rafe placed his hands on his hips. Marcus had never seen the soft-spoken guy get so upset before. “Calm down, Blair.”
“Calm down? Get fu—” The rest of that statement was cut off by Hanna’s hand landing on Blair’s mouth. Just as well, because Rafe had taken a big step forward.
“Enough,” Marcus said firmly. “We’re all tired and our tempers are fraying. We’ve been working too hard. Tomorrow, everyone take the day off and chill out. Ladies, you can help on-site, but there are a few rules. You have to do exactly as Trent says. The minute you argue with him or disobey him you’re out.” He looked at Blair as he said that and the temperamental werewolf nodded and looked down. “If you decide it’s not for you then you’re free to leave without repercussions.” He glared at Ryder and Rafe as he said that. They agreed reluctantly.
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