by M. A. Church
“He had a flat.” Lawson poured himself a drink. “He hasn’t left yet, and it takes twenty minutes to get here once he does leave.”
“He is coming, right?” Janelle asked.
I started uncovering trays, and Janelle helped me. “Thanks,” I mumbled to her.
“Yeah, he’s still coming,” Lawson said. “He said to go ahead and start without him, and he’s sorry. Okay, food’s ready. Just fix a plate and head to the dining room.”
Lawson moved out of the way so they could start the buffet line. I stepped up to him and pulled him a little out of the way of everyone else. Quickly I hugged him. I wished we could have a private moment, but we couldn’t disappear on our guests, so this was the best I could do for now.
“He’ll be here. He knows how important this is to you.”
“I know. He was sorry, but I could hear how stressed he was,” Lawson whispered from my arms. “Marshell was mad. Really, really mad. That’s never a good thing. I guess we better join them. Everyone’s about ready to eat.”
“They can wait if you need a minute,” I said.
“Naw, I’m fine, but thanks, babe.” Lawson stepped back. “Come on, let’s eat.”
Lawson and I fixed a plate and joined our guests at the table. No one spoke for the first couple of minutes since they were so busy stuffing their faces. After the first rush of hunger was appeased, conversation was struck up.
“Sam, this is great. Hell, this is better than anything I’ve cooked. I want to say thank you again for doing this for us,” Lawson said.
“Yeah, this is the best dressing I’ve ever had,” Aidric said.
“I agree,” Remi said. “Turkey is nice and tender too.”
“I swear to God,” Kirk said as he ate. “I’m probably going to have to be carried out of here later.”
“Not a problem, mate,” Dolf said. “And I agree, Sam. This is wonderful.”
“Thanks, everyone. I’ll make sure to pass that along to the cook,” Sam said.
“With my thanks too, Sam. I dumped this on you at the last minute, so I really am thankful,” I said.
“Add my thanks to that too,” Lawson said. “Could I maybe get the recipe for the cornbread dressing? It’s better than mine.”
“I’ll make sure and ask the cook,” Sam said.
Everyone continued to talk, but Lawson was kind of quiet.
I leaned over to him. “You okay, babe?”
“Yeah. Just wish Marshell would hurry up and get here,” Lawson said.
Conversation flowed around the table. Several of our guests finished and went back for seconds. I offered to refill Lawson’s plate, but he was full, so I just refilled mine. I sat at the table just in time to hear Janelle and Aidric talking.
“Speaking of Marshell,” Aidric said. “I take it he’s gay?”
“Jeez, random much?” Remi asked.
Janelle just laughed. “Labels are such a human thing, don’t you think? We don’t really pay attention to gender. So for us saying we’re gay or bi or whatever is moot. Scent attracts Vetalas. The sex of a person is secondary. Marshell has had just as many female sex partners as male. Why?”
“I was just wondering, that’s all. You asked earlier if whoever showed up was male or female,” Aidric said. “So Heller tells us you guys are twins. Is that common with Vetala?”
“Um, about as common as it is for humans, I’d say,” Janelle said.
We talked and ate for the next twenty minutes. I’d forgotten how much fun I used to have hanging out with Dolf and the rest of the betas. Finally we heard Marshell drive up. Then we heard him stomping across the front porch.
“Well, better late than never, I guess.” Lawson stood. “Lovely, sounds like he’s in a good mood.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” I said, listening to the stomping I heard out front. “The man sounds like a herd of buffalo heading our way.”
“Yup, he’s in a mood,” Janelle agreed.
“You can tell by how he walks?” I asked as Lawson left to let Marshell in.
“You better believe you can.” Janelle laughed outright. “Normally we’re very light on our feet. Kind of goes with the territory.”
Remi shuddered.
Janelle raised an eyebrow at him. “Scared, kitty?”
“Scared? No. Freaked over the whole blood-drinking thing? Slightly. I’m man enough to admit it.” Remi shrugged.
“Guess no one’s told you about the whole paralyzing venom thing either, huh?” Janelle added as she sipped her drink.
“Fuck a duck, for real?” Remi goggled.
“Oh yes,” Sam answered, and then blushed.
“Well, now, there’s a story there, I’m guessing,” Kirk said, and then looked at Remi, who was wearing a T-shirt that said, of all things, Fuck a duck. “I meant to say something about that T-shirt earlier, man. Nice visual.”
“Oh, bite me, Kirk,” Remi retaliated.
Aidric elbowed Remi and whispered, “Might want to rethink that saying with Vetalas around.”
“You do realize whispering is pretty much useless around paranormals, right?” Marshell asked as he joined the group at the table.
“Ha! Busted!” Remi hooted at Aidric.
Marshell took a deep breath and grinned. His eyes turned snake blue, and his fangs dropped down. “I knew it.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lawson
“OH SHIT!” Knew it? I had no idea what the hell was Marshell talking about. Knew what?
Power blanketed the room. Rarely had I felt it to such an extent. He normally kept it locked down because the strongest of paranormals either took his strength as a threat and challenged him or tried to ban him from their territory, even if he wasn’t part of their group. Oh God, if that did happen, where would that leave me?
“Holy cow!” Aidric’s chair flew back, and he moved toward Dolf.
“Dammit!” Heller jumped up too.
Heller was Dolf’s beta and my mate, but Marshell was like a brother to me. I somehow had to put an end to this before it got out of hand. I was out of my chair and moving toward Marshell before I realized I’d stood. There was a mad scramble behind me as tension and confusion blasted though the room.
Kirk slowly climbed to his feet. “Whoa! Jesus fucking Christ, do you guys feel that?”
Dolf shoved Kirk back behind him and Tal. Kirk tried to look between his two mates’ shoulders that currently blocked his view.
Kirk tapped them on the arms. “Um, I can’t see.”
Tal glared at Kirk. “Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about?”
I caught what Tal said to Kirk. Great. We had an Alpha apparent in the room with us. What if Dolf felt threatened and challenged Marshell? Jesus, the last thing any of us wanted was for these two rattling their balls at each other.
“Dammit, Marshell, dial it back.” Janelle slammed her hand on the table then reached out to Sam, who had also stood. “No, no, Sam, it’s okay.”
“You might want to tell them that.” Sam motioned at the various people up and running around. “Don’t think they got the memo.”
I wasn’t sure what had set Marshell off, but most times the eyes and fangs came out, it was bad news. “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod, Marshell, what the fuck, man?”
Heller was right behind me, muttering under his breath about people calling him a diva.
I got to Marshell first and grabbed his arm. That’s when I noticed everyone but one person reacted to Marshell. Only one person was still sitting at the table looking shell-shocked. I looked back and forth between the two.
Shit. And then I knew. “Um, Marshell?”
“Mate,” Marshell hissed, doing a fine imitation of a snake.
“Aw, fuck me running,” Heller exclaimed, coming to stand next to me. “Who?”
It was pretty obvious to me, but everyone froze. As one they all turned to the only person not freaking out.
“Me.” Remi stood.
Well, hell. This was not how I s
aw Thanksgiving dinner going. Everyone started talking at once while Remi and Marshell stared at each other. Now a different kind of tension filled the room… sexual tension.
Tal jerked like he’d been shot. “Really?”
Remi never looked away from Marshell. “Yeah. There’s no mistaking that scent. You know that, Tal. You’ve smelled it twice in your life. He’s my mate.”
“Damn straight,” Marshell said.
Janelle looked back and forth between the two men. “Hmm, things just got interesting.”
Sam took a deep breath. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Dolf pinched the bridge of his nose. “Indeed that’s one way of putting it. Remi, I’m happy for you, but we have a problem. A very big problem.”
“There’s no problem that I can see,” Marshell said. “He’s my mate. That’s all that matters.”
“I wish that was all that mattered,” Dolf said. “Unfortunately it’s not.”
I guess it was a good thing most everyone had eaten because with those words, Thanksgiving was over.
AN HOUR later it was just Heller and me. Janelle and Sam had left. Aidric had also gone home. Marshell and Remi left together in Marshall’s SUV and left Remi’s work truck at our house. Dolf and his mates left too. After what happened with Marshell, I needed a drink. We’d put the rest of the food up, and now Heller and I were sprawled on the couch, my feet in his lap, a whiskey by my hand.
“Okay, explain to me, what’s the big deal with the two of them mating,” I said, sipping my drink. “Is it because Marshell’s a Vetala? Is the clowder against his kind as well as humans?”
“It’s not that.” Heller massaged my instep. “Janelle was accepted, no problem.”
“Then what? Dolf was as tense as a turkey at Thanksgiving.”
Heller snorted. “Good one.” Then he sighed. “Tell me something. Did you feel that power surge when he saw Remi?”
I wiggled my toes to remind him where his attention was supposed to be focused. “Well, yes.”
“Have you felt anything like that from him before?”
“It’s rare that he lets it get away from him like that, but yes,” I said.
“That’s the problem. I’m not sure, but I think he may actually be stronger than Dolf. Possibly even Dolf’s dad. And that’s bad news. No Alpha wants someone in his clowder who’s stronger than him.”
“Jesus.”
“Yeah. Marshell’s a threat to their position. Then you have Remi, who’s a beta. He’s probably not going to want to leave the clowder.”
“Vetala don’t have packs or clowders or whatever. I’ve told you that. Marshell might be strong, but I can guarantee you he doesn’t want to lead.”
“It’s not you who needs to make that guarantee,” Heller said, patting the top of my feet. “Even then I’m not sure it’ll matter.”
“Are you saying Remi might reject Marshell?” I sat up, pulling my feet out of his lap. “That’s just wrong, dammit. Marshell can’t help how powerful he is. This is bullshit. If that’s a problem for Remi or the rest of you, then—”
Heller jerked me into his lap. “Hey, hey, hey. Settle down there. I don’t have a problem with it. All I’m trying to do is explain why my Alpha might have a problem with Marshell, and how that may affect him and Remi.”
I scrubbed my hands over my face as I reined in my temper. Yelling at Heller wasn’t going to accomplish anything. “This just flat-out sucks. Marshell has waited for his mate for a long time, and now… I hate this.”
“Until we actually hear something from them, I vote we don’t worry about it.”
I snuggled in his arms and sighed. “When we do, what if it’s bad news?”
“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Okay?”
“Okay. Not like we have much choice.”
Heller yawned, then rubbed his eyes. “What do you say to us taking a shower, then watching some TV in bed for a while? Suddenly I’m beat.”
“Sounds like a plan. By the way, Happy Thanksgiving.”
We stood up, and Heller hugged me. “Happy Thanksgiving to you too. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out how you wanted.”
“Yeah, me too.” I followed Heller to the bedroom. “Ah, well, we’ll try again next year.”
“We sure will.”
SEVERAL HOURS later Marshell’s ringtone blared through our bedroom. With a curse I rolled over to answer it.
“I’m going to kill him,” Heller muttered as he threw one arm across his eyes.
I glanced at the bright blue digital light on the clock next to the bed. It was three in the morning. “Get in line.”
Throwing my hand out, I searched for my cell on the end table by the bed. It took me a couple of tries, but I finally managed to find it. Just as I unlocked it, Heller’s cell started to ring with Dolf’s ringtone.
“Okay, that’s just weird. What the hell’s going on?” Heller tossed the sheet back and sat up.
“I don’t know, but it can’t be good.” I answered my cell. “Hello?”
“Hey, Lawson.”
“Marshell? Hey, man, what’s going on?”
“Aw fuck, nothing good.”
“I kind of figured. You don’t randomly call me at the middle of the night for no reason. Are you okay?” Across the bed I could hear Heller speaking softly to Dolf.
“Yeah, man, sorry about that. I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important,” Marshell said.
“I know. So what’s going on?” I heard Heller exclaim angrily.
“I hate to do this to you, but can you and Heller come outside, please? Remi’s truck has been vandalized.”
Well, hell. “Aw God, yeah, we’ll be right there.” I hung up. Heller was already dressing, so I started grabbing clothes. “Remi’s truck was vandalized while sitting in our driveway. But I guess you know that.”
“Yeah, Remi called Dolf first.” Heller slipped on his shoes, then returned to his closet. “Did Marshell tell you how it was vandalized?”
I finished dressing and was putting on my shoes when Heller came out of the closet holding a Glock. Good thing I was already sitting down.
“What the hell are you doing with that thing, and holy shit, please tell me it isn’t loaded.”
“Not much point in it if it’s not loaded.” Heller secured it at the small of his back. “Dolf and Alpha Armonty are on their way over.”
A gun. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “What’s the gun for?”
“Remi drove his work truck over here when we had everyone over for Thanksgiving, right?”
“Yeah, and…?”
“He left it here while he and Marshell talked. Now it has some very deep, very long, and very wide claw marks down the sides,” Heller said. “Know what kinds of shifters are able to make claw marks that deep?”
“No.”
Heller put on his jacket and then tossed me mine. “Apex predators, which is what werewolves are.”
My stomach roiled. I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut. “Shit.”
“Yeah, shit.”
We hurried out of the bedroom and through the house, flipping on lights as we went. We turned on the outside lights too, and I followed Heller out through the garage. Heller grabbed a flashlight on our way outside.
“You don’t know that a werewolf did this,” I said as we walked to where Remi and Marshell stood.
I was glad he turned the outside lights on. It was sure dark, and I didn’t like that fact. Even with the lights on, there were still too many places to hide. I made a point of staying close to Heller. I doubted the werewolf was still around, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
“Actually I do.” Heller stopped next to Marshell and Remi and sniffed. “I smell the bastard.”
Smelled the bastard? Jeez, I took a step closer to Heller. “And the bastard is gone, right? Please say he’s not here.”
“He’s not here.” Marshell sent me a quick grin even as he scanned the area. “The scent isn’t fresh. He messed
with Remi’s truck, then ran off.”
Heller shined the light on the claw marks. I swallowed, and then swallowed again. Those were seriously deep claw marks.
Marshell sighed as he looked at the truck. “Thanks for the light, but I can see in the dark as well as you can.”
“I brought it more for Lawson. His eyesight improved after we mated, but it’s still not as good as ours,” Heller answered, looking at the claw marks. “Looks like the marks are down to the frame. Damn, Remi, I’m sorry, man. But I’m glad it’s your truck and not you.”
“Me too,” Marshell said.
Conversation stalled as Dolf and Alpha Armonty drove up and joined the crowd around Remi’s truck.
“Dolf. Alpha.” Marshell nodded to the two men.
Alpha Armonty returned the nod. “Marshell.” Then he glanced at the truck. “So I take it we’ve had another visit from our less-than-friendly werewolf?”
“Yeah. Dammit,” Remi said. “Clawed it all to hell.”
Dolf leaned a little closer to the marks and sniffed. “Well, at least Kirk wasn’t in it this time.”
Remi’s laugh sounded a little on edge. “There is that. I swear to God, what is it with me and vehicles?” Remi scowled at the truck. “First my car burns to the ground, and now this.”
“The vehicle gods don’t seem to be very happy with you.” Heller slapped Remi on the back.
“Huh. I wonder if those gods are related to the parking lot gods who dislike me,” Dolf said.
Remi let out a long breath. “This is just too much. I guess… I’m just glad I didn’t replace my Mustang yet. A new car getting clawed up would’ve pissed me off more.”
“Pissed you off more? Did you somehow miss the implied threat behind this?” Marshell asked, his voice rising. “That truck is meant to represent you.”
“I know that. I just don’t know why.” Remi stuck his finger in Marshell’s chest and hissed softly. “It’s been a long night, so don’t start with me.”
Well, it appeared Marshell didn’t intimidate Remi, not if the way Remi was drilling his finger into Marshell’s chest was any indication.