by Vivian Arend
Okay, that was bull, because, he was still going to worry. She was family, and taking care of her was what he was supposed to do. Even when it was clear she was in a powerful new place in her life.
What he needed was a distraction. Something new to focus his energy and attention on.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, he knew exactly what thing he’d been fixated over for years. Ever since he’d discovered the truth about shifters—thank you, TJ, for being a clumsy fool—Tad had been trying to solve his own dilemma.
He wanted it. Bad.
Not just to be a wolf, although that haunted his dreams and made his very skin itch. He wanted it all. The mate, the pack, the belonging…and what he had now was a sort of drifting with the tide.
He had a pack, yes, but his place was uncertain. Not like Robyn, who was now the center of the Granite Lake universe with Keil at her side.
It wasn’t jealousy, even. Hell, Tad didn’t care if it turned out he was somewhere near the bottom of the pack, although he doubted it. It was the uncertainty that killed his joy every damn time.
And forget finding a mate. Forget getting to fool around within the pack, stupid half-breed hormones and freaking wolf sexual woohoo.
Sex. He straight up needed some.
Yup, while his troubles were far from over, that’s what he needed to focus on with all the energy he now didn’t need to spend on his sister.
Plotting to have a damn good time was better than moping. Anything was better than sitting and waiting for life to happen.
As he lifted a hand to acknowledge the Granite Lake Beta’s wave, rising to his feet to see what Erik wanted, Tad knew where he was going to go look for a solution once he was out of there.
The arms of a beautiful woman was the perfect place to start.
Bonus Vignette
TJ’s Big Adventure
The following is a vignette about the day when Tad Maxwell found out about shifters. I hope you enjoy this short trip into history with Tad and a few members of the Granite Lake pack.
~Viv
Part One
Kluane National Park, Yukon
Some years in the past…
The sun shone off the surface of the lake to reflect a million sparkling jewels back into his eyes. The bright blue summer sky stretched from mountain peak to mountain peak. Tad maneuvered his floatplane toward the portable dock visible along the north shore of the small lake. He took a deep breath and congratulated himself for being smart enough to find a job that got his butt out of an office and into some of the most beautiful country anywhere in the world.
Damn, he loved to fly.
He had just tucked the plane next to the dock, neat as can be, when he felt a solid clasp to his shoulder.
“Nice landing, hotshot, very nice.”
Tad grinned as he slipped the lock on his door and hurried to open the passenger compartment and let out his clients. This was the second time he’d flown a private booking for the Alaskan based Maximum Exposure Adventures. The owner, Keil Lynus, was a monster of a man with the arms of a gladiator and the gentlest demeanor.
“Great set up, Keil,” Tad said as he secured the tethering ropes fore and aft, tightening them to keep the massive floats next to the dock. He admired the tidy little log cabin at the edge of the lake, a small storage shed tucked behind it next to the trees. “We can unload the gear in stages, or we can organize ourselves into a bucket brigade and get everything off the plane all the way to the cabin, or wherever you want it. Your choice.”
The dock swayed as Keil climbed down to stand next to Tad. “What do you think, Erik? I’m game for the brigade. I hate picking things up a dozen times.”
Tad watched as Keil’s business partner and best friend twisted his shoulders sideways to get through the door. If Keil was big, Erik was the Friendly Giant on steroids.
With lots of tattoos.
“Definitely the long carry, only I think you and I should be on land. We’ll put things where we can find them. The last time we let your little brother store gear it became part of the lost Templar Treasure.”
“Hey,” TJ complained, “Can I help it I like to organize supplies in a logical manner and you yahoos don’t?” He sat on the edge of the plane doorway and made a face at his older brother. “And I do mean Yahoos in the purest sense of the word.”
Tad grinned at his passengers and took a deep breath of the crisp fresh air.
He had flown full time for three months now and he hoped for many more days like this. Regular clients who treated the wilderness like a precious gem. People who returned to the same places to change them for the better, not trash them to the ground.
Tad thrilled to think he was on his way to secure a living doing what he loved.
After TJ whacked his head on the doorframe for the third time Tad held out a hand to restrain him. “Do you want me to pass you the stuff? I’m not as tall as you, and if you slam into the frame much more you’ll bend it out of shape. I charge extra for things like that.”
TJ jumped down and rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Sounds great. It was hard to turn around in the back too, and I’ve smacked my funny bone so many times it’s gone numb. Not quite as bad as when my arm fell asleep and Keil threw something at me, and I couldn’t reach up in time to grab it. Damn near broke my nose.”
Tad chuckled as TJ stumbled toward the end of the dock, his arms full with duffle bags of supplies. Whatever they fed those boys down in Haines, Alaska, made them grow pretty damn big. Even TJ stood taller than Tad, and he wasn’t small at almost six feet.
Tad turned back to ready another load when he heard a distant splash followed by a shrill scream.
Winter or summer, the water was glacier fed and icy cold.
He leapt to the dock to help the boy, but Keil beat him there. “TJ, you’re a bloody idiot. What the hell are you doing?”
He reached down and with one hand, hauled the boy up to stand dripping wet beside him.
“Oops. I don’t know how it happened. I mean, one of the boards must be loose or something.”
Keil rubbed his hands over his face, took a calming breath, then pointed to the cabin. “Go get changed, Mom will kill me if I let you catch another cold. Put the kettle on to boil.” He took a few paces toward the plane before he paused. “TJ, did you fall in before or after you picked up a load of gear?”
TJ bit his lip, and took a slow step away from his brother. He spun around and ran for the cabin like the devil was after him.
“That’s what I thought.” Keil muttered. He shouted after his fleeing younger sibling, “You’re lucky Mom likes you, brat! Or you’d be swimming with the polar bears right now!”
Tad tried to keep his face blank as Keil approached the plane to take over carrying gear.
Keil chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill him. He’s better than he used to be, if you can believe it. Just wait, you ain’t seen nothing. Hang around with us for very long, and you’ll feel right at home in a nuthouse.”
Tad passed down another load of gear, and a flash of contentment surged.
He wasn’t sure why, but spending time with this group of kooks felt very, very good.
“TJ, why are you hiding by the storage shed?” Tad had wandered the entire camp to find the boy.
“Because I can’t hide in the cabin, and if I hide on the dock, well, duh, people will see me.”
Tad shook his head in disbelief. “Are you insane? Are you going out of your way to piss your brother off? I thought you had to make lunch or something.”
TJ leant on the barrels stacked behind him. Large plastic containers with a tight seal to keep bears out of the supplies stood in a neat line along the side wall of the storage shed.
“I already made lunch. It’s on the table.” He took a cautious look around before he confided, “Actually, Mom made lunch at home and I just unwrapped it. Don’t tell Keil. I hope to gain some brownie points here.”
“You’re a menace to yourself, aren’t you?”<
br />
“Klutz of the first order, that’s me. Only I do have my redeeming qualities. I’m very well read, I have excellent dental hygiene, and I never fart in public unless I mean it.”
Tad stared around the mountainside with delight as TJ rambled on. What a beautiful place to bring clients to canoe and fish and—
“Shit!”
Tad glanced back to see the boy nudge one of the barrels out of line with its partners.
“Careful, kid.”
TJ shifted his body weight to the side to avoid the barrel on his right. That put him into contact with the one on the left, and it slid off its base, wiggled a few times and fell in a direct path toward TJ.
The entire wall of barrels collapsed in chaotic fashion, coming to land in a haphazard pile, the loud crash echoing through the air.
Frantic with concern, Tad raced to where TJ was buried to pull him out, shouting for help over his shoulder. “Keil, Erik. I need you.”
He spotted TJ’s boot under the mess.
Several of the barrels had landed propped on each other, forming a pocket of space. With some luck TJ wouldn’t be crushed beneath the heavy load.
“Hang on, TJ, we’ll get you out of there.”
Tad gave a gentle tug on the boot, to see if it might be possible…and then he wasn’t sure what he had planned to do. Because the boot came loose in his hand, a plain white sock clinging to the inside.
“What the—?”
The barrels rocked, and Tad stepped back for a second. Heavy footsteps approached, and he had just turned back to the pile when he heard it.
A long, drawn out wolf howl coming from under the barrels.
Part Two
Keil rushed up behind him. “Where’s TJ, as if I don’t already know the answer?”
Tad’s finger trembled as he pointed at the barrels.
Low curses escaped Keil’s lips. “Awesome. Just awesome.” He raised his voice to shout at his brother. “I’m going to kill you, TJ. I swear I’m going to—”
Another howl rose on the air, and Tad shivered. “If we pull the top barrel—”
“It’s okay. Give me a minute.”
Keil stomped around to the backside of the pile and shoved hard. The rest of the pile shifted, and Tad tripped over his own feet in an attempt to reach safety and still keep his gaze on Keil.
A large shape slipped past the barrel.
An extra-large silver-grey timber wolf.
“Holy shit!” In a flash, Tad scrambled to his feet and fled from the wolf toward the safety of the shed door.
Keil blocked his path, standing with his hands up, open palms, “Hey, it’s okay. Relax.”
Tad fumbled with his belt, grabbing his hunting blade to hold it between them. “Relax? Shit, shit… no fucking way. What the hell is going on, Keil? Where’s TJ?”
“Tad. Put the knife away. TJ’s fine, he’s right there behind the shed.”
Tad flicked a glance sideways before pointing the knife back at Keil.
“He’s a fucking wolf?”
Keil took a step back then crossed his arms. “Will you put the damn knife away so I can talk to you?”
“Not bloody likely.”
“Tad, I’m warning you.”
“No.”
Keil reached under his padded vest and pulled out a handgun. Without a word he adjusted his stance, aiming straight at the center of Tad’s chest.
They stood motionless, the sound of spring songbirds obscenely loud in the air around them, until Tad stood down and sheathed his knife.
“Damn American gun laws,” he muttered.
The other man shrugged as he slipped away his pistol. “I’ve got a permit. I can’t help it if you Canadians are too polite to carry.”
“I have a shotgun in the plane,” Tad said shortly.
“And I’m sure it’ll come in real handy when the bears try to climb in for a free ride.” Keil turned back to the storage area. “TJ,” he ordered, “Get your furry ass out here now!”
The large silver grey wolf slunk around the corner, head dropped.
Keil motioned for Tad to join him. “I’d say all the usual things like he’s not going to hurt you, and don’t panic, but saying it won’t make this any easier.” He pointed at the wolf where it sat on its haunches in front of them. “Tad, you’ve met TJ, otherwise known as Mr. Disaster. You may as well get a proper look.”
“Look at wh—?”
“Shift, TJ,” Keil commanded.
Tad swung his head back to stare at…TJ? Impossible.
For a moment the wolf regarded him with bright eyes before Tad’s vision blurred, and instead of a large animal, there was a tall youth sitting buck-naked on the ground.
“I suppose it was too much trouble for you to ask me to shift once I was somewhere near clean clothes, hmmm?” TJ complained.
Keil glared at him.
TJ shut his mouth tight, biting his bottom lip hard.
His brother snapped up a hand, pointing toward the cabin, and for the second time in an hour TJ sprinted away from them.
Of course, this time he was naked, but Tad was trying real hard not to notice.
“Well, sorry for the sudden introduction to our reality, but… Hey, here we are,” Keil announced.
“I’m actually in a coma somewhere, right? This is a dream, and I’ve got some freaky obsession with seeing TJ’s ass.”
Keil snorted. “I hope not. His ass is too young for you, even if you swung that way, which I don’t think you do.” He slapped a hand down on Tad’s shoulder, tugging him toward the cabin. “Come on, I think you could use a little shot of bracer. We’ll have some lunch, answer your questions. It’ll work out fine.”
Tad looked back over the lake again. Sun was still shining; sky was still bright. Only in the past five minutes the whole world had flipped upside down.
Strange how quick life could change.
They pulled chairs onto the porch of the cabin so they could sit in the sun while they talked.
Tad threw back the shot of whatever it was Erik had handed him with no hesitation. If they wanted him dead they wouldn’t have to waste time drugging his food or drink, and for some reason he was absolutely starving.
Apparently finding out that werewolves existed had that effect on his system.
“So… you’re werewolves, but you don’t need a full moon to change, and you’re not into ripping people’s throats open. I’m kinda glad about that particular detail.”
“Mine.” Keil snagged the last sandwich from the tray, slapping TJ’s hand from it. “You’re not very high in my good books right now, little bro. Go find something productive to do, like fishing out the gear bags you dropped off the dock.”
TJ scrambled away.
“He’s a natural disaster, but I do love him.” Keil admitted.
Tad dragged a hand through his hair. “Okay dokey, since you’re explaining yourself to me, what now? I have to swear some secret oaths to never reveal your presence? I’m sure this is all pretty hush-hush stuff, and I’m not supposed to know about you.”
“Oh, no,” Erik offered. “It’s just fine for wolves to know about other wolves.”
Tad froze. “What…are you talking about?”
“You smell like a wolf, Tad,” Erik said.
“But it’s not full strength. Probably one of your parents, or maybe one of your grandparents is a wolf. You’re what we’d call a half breed, no matter how many generations back the wolf is in your family tree,” Keil informed him.
“You’re shitting me. I’ve never turned into a wolf.”
“No, you won’t be able to until you get the wolf genes turned on. You need a special hormone to flip the switch, so to speak.” Keil stared at him, his face unreadable.
Holy shit.
Tad sat there quietly, watching the other men as he tried to wrap his brain around the impossible. “So, why has no one told me this? Like my folks, or Grampa, or whoever?”
“There’s no way for us to know,” Ke
il said. “It’s possible your gene donator was an outcast and didn’t want to tell you. As for anyone else mentioning it, well, full-bloods don’t tend to tell half-bloods who aren’t aware of their heritage because… Well, I have to confess it’s a bit of a race bias thing. I don’t really hold with that way of thinking. Erik and I had discussed if we should tell you. You know, after we met you last trip.”
He looked guilty enough that Tad felt a little better about the secret keeping. Keil and Erik were good guys overall. Other than the going furry and pointing guns at people bit.
Erik nodded. “The real point is you’ve got the blood, and if you get triggered, you’ll be able to shift.”
Oh, man. Getting to be a wolf? How awesome would that be?
“Wow. So how do I get the hormone? I’d love to be able to turn into a wolf.” Tad leaned closer, trying to decipher Keil and Erik’s suddenly strange expressions. “Does it cost a lot? Because I’ve got some money saved up—”
“It’s not money you need. It’s…” Erik shrugged. “It’s…complicated. Simple, but complicated.”
Keil broke in, speaking firmly. “And that’s all we’re going to say right now.”
“No damn way,” Tad all but shouted. “That’s not fair. I don’t care how complicated it is, you’ve got to tell me. I mean, you’ve already sprung the ‘There are werewolves living amongst us’ card, and the ‘You are one of us’ card. This last thing can’t be any worse. Spit it out, you bastard.”
Erik grimaced, tucking himself protectively between Tad and Keil, although it seemed he was protecting Tad from Keil. “Umm, slow down there, junior. One thing you’ll eventually learn is wolves don’t like being ordered around. Especially not Alpha wolves.”
Gabbly-gook. This was bullshit. “Well, tough cookies. I find it hard not to be pissed off when people—excuse me, wolves—refuse to tell me what I need to know.”
“It’s not my place,” Keil snapped. “You live in Whitehorse. You have to talk to the Alpha there, or we could start a territorial war.”