Alphas for the Holidays

by Mandy M. Roth

  “There will be wolves and other shifters patrolling the woods at all hours, of course. Try not to worry, Mags. There are more resources here than you think. Just because you can’t see them all, doesn’t mean they aren’t here. A large part of our defense is stealth.”

  She ceded the point, but nothing could make her feel better about the danger on her trail. Danger that she’d brought to these good people who had given nothing but kindness to her and her boys.

  Chapter 7

  That following night—after a day spent watching furniture being moved all around Rocky’s house—they had dinner with Tim, Rafe and Allie at Rocky’s place. The Alphas, as Rocky called them, explained a bit more about their role as the leaders of all were, and the uncommon marriage between themselves and the priestess, Allie. Maggie was shocked at first but tried hard not to let it show. She asked Rocky about it later that evening, but he seemed to take it all in stride, his attitude doing more to settle her mind than his actual words.

  He helped her fix the linens on the large bed they’d moved into his windowless den. Some of the Pack members had brought it over earlier in the day. The room was done up in warm, honey colored wood paneling and hunter green fabrics. It felt as much like being in the woods as you could get without actually being outside. Maggie liked it.

  The twin sized crib had been moved into the farthest corner, and Rocky had helped ready the boys for sleep as if he’d done it a million times before. Maggie felt comfortable with him at her side helping. Their friendship and the closeness they had always seemed to share had come back to life with very little prodding. He was a steady presence that reminded her of all the good times in her past.

  Rocky and Tony had been central figures in her high school years and beyond. That had only changed after her marriage, when Rocky had drifted away and they’d lost touch. She’d been sad but focused on her new life with Tony, and she’d supposed Rocky was forging a new life of his own. She had figured they’d all reconnect eventually, but it hadn’t happened. Until now.

  “I hope this room is okay. I know it doesn’t have a window, but that’s actually for the best. It’s more secure, and since the boys will probably have you up during the night, the sun won’t wake you in the morning and you can sleep in.” He looked over at the sleeping children. “If the cubs will let you.”

  She nodded in agreement, smiling at the babies now fast asleep in their crib.

  “It’s perfect.” And it was. Close to the bathroom and centrally located in the house, she could see how it would be the safest place for the boys.

  Rocky’s massive desk, a state-of-the-art computer setup and several filing cabinets had been taken out to make room for the bed. Rows of built-in bookcases held everything from adventure novels to stock market analysis. The crib, a changing table and the rocking chair had been arranged on the far side of the room from the door. All in all, it was very homey for something so makeshift.

  Rocky and his friends had moved out all the furniture, but hadn’t been able to do much about the books. She didn’t mind. She liked books and would probably spend some time browsing the titles if she couldn’t sleep.

  “We’re going to do some more rearranging tomorrow. The Pack will be out early to help, so don’t worry if you hear a bunch of trucks pull up in the drive just after dawn.”

  “I’m sorry to have brought such upheaval to your home.” She was amazed at the way he’d taken all of this in stride.

  He turned and caught her in a quick hug. “I’d do anything for you, Maggie. Moving a little furniture around is the least of it,” he whispered near her ear and kissed her hair before releasing her.

  He’d been treating her with kid gloves since that first night. He’d backed off, which both confused her and brought comfort. Her emotions were all over the place, and she wasn’t sure she could have handled full on seduction mode from him on top of everything else. Knowing Rocky, he was sensitive enough to realize it and was cutting her a break.

  “If you need anything, just call. I’ll be in the living room tonight. Right next door. If nothing else, I can help you juggle the twins if and when the boys wake in the middle of the night. Mom and Dad are flying in tomorrow and the wolves will bring them from the airport about mid-morning. After that, you’ll have all the help you need with the boys. We should also have a bit of the new construction done soon, so we’ll have room for everybody and everything.”

  She knew his computer had been set up on the coffee table in the living room. His desk and the other furniture from the den had gone into the construction zone and sat under a tarp.

  Things were up in the air in many ways, but in the way that mattered most—the security of the babies—she felt more confident than she had in a long, long time. They were safer here with Rocky and his friends than they would be anywhere else. In the back of her mind, she knew the bad guy on her trail would have to be dealt with, but she was letting things ride for now. Trouble would come for her sooner or later, but this time she had powerful allies. This time she wouldn’t run. She would make her stand here, with Rocky.

  The next morning, Rocky made pancakes for breakfast. It had been a long time since anyone had made breakfast for her and she appreciated the gesture.

  “My parents should be here in about an hour,” Rocky said conversationally as they ate together. The boys were asleep in a playpen they’d set up in the living room, with a baby monitor on so Maggie could hear if they stirred.

  Maggie felt conflicted by the idea of Rocky’s parents coming to help. On the one hand, she wanted to see them and bask in the warmth the older couple had always generated. On the other, she couldn’t bear facing them knowing she had brought such bad news about Tony. She had failed her husband in so many ways. If she’d been a shifter, maybe he wouldn’t have died.

  Why he hadn’t felt able to tell her about being a grizzly shifter until his final days only drove home to her how much she hadn’t known about Tony. And about Rocky. And about both of their parents. She’d been living in the dark, blissfully unaware of the dangerous existence these people faced every day. She’d been such a fool.

  “It’ll be good to see your parents again.” It was the right thing to say and she felt the truth in her words as she spoke them. Still, she couldn’t kick the feeling of having been less than Tony needed. If not for her human limitations, Tony might still be alive. It was a staggering thought that had hounded her steps from the moment she’d left their burned out home over eight months ago.

  “I know they’re looking forward to meeting the twins.” Rocky’s grin was infectious as he looked over at the babies, now crawling all over each other in bear form. “My mom will likely spoil them rotten. Dad too, though he’ll never admit it.”

  “I always loved your parents. They were so welcoming when we were kids. And after I got engaged to Tony, I realized just how close they were to him.”

  “They loved him as a second son. When his parents died, they claimed him, though he was really too old for a formal claiming. The families had formed a close bond being the only two grizzly shifter households for hundreds of miles. We formed our own little Pack, and for a while it was really, really great.”

  “You miss them.” She stated the obvious but he didn’t seem to mind, lost in thought.

  “Every day. It’s not often that weregrizzlies have the opportunity to bond in such a way. We’re a rare species and somewhat solitary, so most families live on their own, raising their cubs one by one.”

  “Sounds lonely.”

  “It can be. But it’s the nature of the beast to want to prowl solo. I’ve had to temper some of my loner tendencies to get along with the wolf Pack. It’s been worth it though. I like belonging, even if I’ll always be a bit of an outsider because I’m different from the rest of them.” He grinned. “Of course, that comes in mighty handy at times too. Few, if any, of the other shifters will stand up to me. Makes me helpful to the Lords as an enforcer.”

  “You said that before. What
exactly does that entail? I’ve been wondering how a grizzly bear fits in with a wolf Pack.” She was learning so much here.

  “Well, you know I’m an engineer by trade. I work for one of the Pack’s companies. Mostly, I work from home, but once in a while I have to go into the office or visit a client’s site. That’s my mundane job. On the shifter side of things, I’m a lieutenant in the hierarchy headed by the wolf Lords. Since they rule all were on this continent, their organization encompasses many different kinds of shifters. All the Allied Tribes, anyway. So it’s not that strange for me to be included in their chain of command. Now if it was just a wolf Pack, I doubt they’d want me anywhere near. But Rafe and Tim are special.”

  “So are you.” She smiled at him, loving the way he’d taken charge of his life and found a place for himself in this strange world she was only just beginning to understand. “I’m sorry to have to come here and complicate your life, but I want you to know I’m grateful you took me and the boys in and that you’re willing to help combat the danger that’s been following us.” She would have said more, but he silenced her gently with one upheld hand and a rueful look.

  “There’s no need for gratitude between us, Maggie. I don’t want you to ever feel beholden to me for doing something that comes as naturally as breathing. Caring for you and the boys is part of me. It’s something I do without conscious thought. I hope one day you might feel the same connection I’ve always felt for you. And Tony. And now his sons. My sons.” Rocky swallowed hard and she could see emotion in his warm gaze.

  She was saved from answering as they both heard another car pull up in the gravel drive. Rocky stood and went to the window, glancing at his watch. The mixture of chagrin and consternation on his face was easy to read.

  “Are they early or are we running late?” She carried their plates to the sink and began to neaten up the kitchen.

  “Both,” he said on a gusty sigh. “I’ll go get their luggage. Looks like they’re planning to stay a while judging by the bags tied to Pete’s roof rack. Good thing he took the SUV to get them.”

  Maggie followed him out of the kitchen and through the house, hesitating at the front door. But when she saw Rocky’s mother hop out of the SUV, she found herself sprinting toward the older woman. Within moments, she was wrapped in a warm hug as tears streamed down her face.

  Maggie hadn’t had motherly support for far too long. She’d lost her own parents a few years back. It was a loss she still felt every day—particularly since she’d become pregnant.

  “Mrs. Garibaldi, it’s so good to see you.” Maggie pulled back when she was able to force her emotions into a semblance of order.

  “Just look at you, Maggie, dear. You’re still as beautiful as you were when you were a girl. But so sad.” Rocky’s mother touched her cheek, turning with her toward the house. “We’ll work on that. But first, I want to meet my grandbabies. And you must call me Marissa now.”

  Maggie hastened her step. She’d left the children alone in the house. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks along with anger at herself. She didn’t think. She was a bad mother.

  Relief flooded her system when she saw the boys were sleeping soundly in bear form in the playpen. They were wrapped around each other like little bear cubs sharing warmth and they were the cutest babies she’d ever seen.

  Marissa Garibaldi seemed to think so too. She cooed quietly to the boys, careful not to wake them up as she smiled down at them.

  Maggie heard Rocky and his father enter the house and place bags down on the floor in the front bedroom. The men joined them and Rocky stood behind her as his dad took his place behind his wife. The love between the older couple was so obvious and so real it made her ache for what she’d lost.

  After a moment of admiring silence, the older couple preceded them out of the room and into the kitchen. Rocky’s dad gave Maggie an unexpected hug that knocked the wind right out of her and made her want to laugh at his exuberance. He was as big as his son, with sparkling brown eyes that spoke of his merry, easygoing nature.

  “It’s good to see you, Maggie. It’s been too long,” he said as he let her go.

  “I’ve missed you both,” she admitted. “It’s been a rough couple of months.”

  That statement sat out there like an eight hundred pound gorilla until Mrs. Garibaldi took her hand and gave it a compassionate squeeze.

  “Rocco told us all about it. The important thing is we’re here now. The family is all together and we protect our own. You’ll be safe now.”

  God, she hoped that was true. She didn’t want to bring down any more sorrow on these good people.

  Marissa Garibaldi took over the kitchen and soon scrumptious aromas were wafting through the house. Rocky’s dad went off with him to the construction zone, to meet the Lords and consult with the Pack members who were helping build the addition to the house. Maggie tried to make herself useful cleaning and straightening up while she kept an eye on the twins, now back in human form. She fed them and changed them, enjoying the idle time with her boys as she got to know them both.

  The men came back for lunch and were joined by what looked like at least half the work crew. Mrs. Garibaldi served up a spectacular meal while Maggie helped by distributing plates and utensils and making room for all the extra people to sit. She felt a little superfluous, but she was still moving slower than her normal pace, her energy returning at a more human rate without the magical assist from the boys, which had worn off for the most part after that initial burst of healing.

  Marissa insisted that Maggie nap after they’d cleaned up from the lunch crowd. She was so weary she didn’t resist the idea too strenuously. She woke when the boys did, to feed and change them before she sought her own dinner.

  Rafe, Tim and Allie joined the Garibaldis for dinner and were soon discussing events and politics that were well beyond her rudimentary grasp of shifter society. It was okay though. Rocky sat next to her and tried to explain what he could so she could at least try to learn.

  “Marissa and Joe,” Allie spoke during a lull in the conversation. “We want you to know that you both are welcome here anytime.”

  “And if you wanted to relocate here permanently,” Tim picked up the conversation, “you would be a very welcome addition to our community.”

  Silence reigned while Rocky’s father regarded the three who ruled over all the other were in North America. Even Maggie could tell this invitation wasn’t given or received lightly.

  “We are honored,” Joe Garibaldi answered after a slight hesitation. “We haven’t made plans yet, but it’s something to think about.”

  “We’d like to be near our son and help raise our grandcubs,” Marissa added. “But we’re not sure yet how everything will work out.”

  “Of course.” Rafe smiled to cover the slight tension Maggie sensed swirling around her.

  The Garibaldis were being so nice. It was clear they didn’t want to presume, and saying anything right now would be awkward.

  Maggie would never deny her babies the gift of knowing others of their kind, and she would have to corner Rocky’s mom later and reassure her on that point. Maggie might not be too comfortable with the idea of people turning into bears—and all other kinds of dangerous wild animals just yet—but she’d have to adapt, for the boys’ sake.

  “Let me help you bring in the desert, my dear.” Joe turned the subject handily while the main course drew to an end. The older couple stood and headed for the kitchen.

  “Your parents are great, Rocky,” Allie was the first to comment.

  “Thanks. And thanks for making them welcome. My dad’s a stickler for propriety so he really needed the invite from you to be sure he wouldn’t be perceived as invading your territory. I’m not sure they’ll take you up on the offer though.”

  “It would be a nice change,” Joe’s deep voice sounded as the older couple rejoined them. He was carrying a pie in each hand and his wife held another.

  Maggie was still amazed by the vast quan
tities of food these people could put away. Lunch had been huge and dinner likewise.

  “So you’ll really think about it?” Rocky seemed pleasantly surprised and a bit eager.

  “Yes, we will,” his mother answered, sliding a giant piece of blueberry pie onto his plate. “There’s nothing much in California for us. Not when you consider that the babies are here. It’s been too long since we had cubs to spoil.”

  “I told you they’d spoil them rotten.” Rocky rolled his eyes in exaggeration as Maggie laughed.

  Chapter 8

  The Garibaldis moved in, and though the men didn’t discuss it in front of her, Maggie figured out that they’d set up some kind of sleeping rotation so that someone would always be awake and on guard in the house. Every time she woke up with the boys, no matter what time it was, day or night, either Rocky or his dad were just outside her door, in the living room, keeping watch.

  She slept late the next day and managed to join the Garibaldis while they were still at the breakfast table discussing plans for new construction. Rocky kissed her good morning. It was an innocent kiss, just a buss on the lips really, but it still made her blush. His parents no doubt noticed, but didn’t say anything.

  “How are the boys?”

  “Sleeping again.”

  “Enjoy it while it lasts,” his mother advised. “They’ll be little balls of energy soon enough, and with two you’ll have a hard time keeping track of them. I remember how it was with Rocky. Until we pooled our resources with Tony’s parents, each of us were having trouble keeping up with our boys individually. It’ll be easier here in the woods with so many other shifters around, but the little ones could still easily get into trouble when they start to roam.”