Denver Pack Twelve 1/2 (2 page)

Chapter One

“They gone?” Quin asked from his office doorway.

All the men of the Council were in his office making sure the women were gone before coming out to the Pack room, grouped around the windows and door, waiting for their women to leave the house. Few men could declare twenty-two best friends and actually mean it.

“All clear,” Dalton said, and stood with his hands on his hips looking at the room the women decorated. “Whoa!”

They did an awesome job; all the men commented one-way or another. That wasn’t their problem. They were screwed when it came to gifts this year. It had all been so easy when they were newly married, all of them were happy with the flowers and the small tokens they bought them. Now the pressure was on; the second Christmas was the key. Well, at least it was, according to the chick’s magazine they had found lying on the table in the den of the Pack house. It could only mean one thing; they were expecting something from them and all of them were clueless.

“So who has what?” Jaden asked and looked at his friends.

Over the last two years, like the women, the men had become very close. With the personalities they had flying around on any given day, they need to be backup for each other. They learned to adapt, but they were not making the same mistake they had last year. No, this year they were going not to give their mates anything to gang up on them about. Last year, Griff, made them all a mother’s ring, they added to it when the children were born. He was refusing to be the fall guy this year; the women loved the gift, but they all commented on how they all got the same thing. Hell, who could understand the female mind when it came to that shit?

Besides, everyone was coming this year, all the parents, all the siblings, and all the New Council Pack. Granted, that made it a huge number, but Quin and Jaden were smart this year; the girls missed their families last year. To make up for it, Cami, and the girls said they would handle everything; it got out of hand.

None of the men had seen their mates until Christmas night, when they fell asleep in exhaustion from cooking, planning, and cleaning for over three hundred people. Some of the women of the Pack helped, but Cami and the others insisted they wanted to make things special.

Therefore, this year when the planning began, all the men put their foot down and insisted they had the meal catered, and a cleaning crew come in to deal with things. Cami relented. However, it had been a major argument in the Conference room because all the women wanted to make this second year better than the last. Especially, since all the families were coming.

It wasn’t hard to outdo last year, Quin wanted to laugh. They were attacked during the large buffet, and most of the food ended up thrown against the walls. Cami and the other women had been pissed and jumped into the fray. A cluster fuck was an understatement, compared to what they could have called the ending to their holidays last year.

“We have the Pack all coming into the compound for lockdown on December 22
^nd
, the first day of the Winter Solstice,” Tey said and laughed. “We have beds for everyone in the cabins and the snow made it look like Christmas out there. They only plowed lanes to the front door, so the kids can make snowmen if they want. It was a brilliant plan to have small cabins built on the back part of the land for visiting members and family, Trace.”

All the Council members had homes on the compound in Milliken, Colorado. The base for the New Council Pack was a small unassuming community that was chocked full of shifters and other magical people. Some people passing through always commented on the unusual stores in their small downtown area. Lev, the new town Sheriff, made sure none of the humans figured it out. Most thought the area was full of tree huggers, so it made perfect sense to have a designer clothes store, a women’s lingerie store, and a potion shop, although most humans thought it was a voodoo store.

“What did Cami say?” Blaine asked and leaned back on the wall folding his arms and looking grumpy. “Kira just says it’s up to us.”

“It’s like a trap,” Lagon grumbled. “If I thought it would do any good, I would allow all of you to come and get something from my stash. Even so, seriously, then we would be blamed for giving them old stuff. I mean who cares when I got it. But they would, you all know it.”

The men grumbled and agreed. “So, who has any good ideas?”

“Shit,” Quin said and ran his hand over his face.

“Cussing?” Jaden smirked.

“Shut up,” the Alpha replied and looked around the room.

Twenty-three men stared at each other helplessly, and then they did the only thing they could do. They called for reinforcement. The group watched as Sid shook his head and called his mom. “Mom? We kinda have an issue.”

“So, who are we betting calls one of the moms?” Casey laughed and looked around the store; they were all shopping for their men. If nothing else, this year had been entertaining making the men panic with all their well-placed hints about gifts.

“I already called mine, so far nothing,” Ruby, chirped up. “But my mom said she would let us know if they did. She wanted to be sure what to tell them.”

“I thought we all agreed. One-week vacations to somewhere exotic. We all watch the others kids, and we all get some much needed alone time with the guys,” Bama asked. “I, for one, want to go somewhere I can show off the post baby boobs. I mean seriously, Trace is enamored with the increased size of my chest.”

All of them laughed, and Trinity turned and looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before she said, “Blaze practically clapped when mine increased a size or two after the babies. I was trying to lose the baby weight, and he was complaining when the first thing he noticed getting smaller was my chest.”

“You know, Devon is more of an ass man,” Casey said.

Cloe held up a particularly sexy nightie and said, “Darien and Teagan don’t really care, as long as they have their names tattooed on my ass where they can see it, they are good.”

They were beginning to draw attention, but they all wanted to get something for Christmas Eve. This year was going to be special, whether the men knew it or not. Jordan thought of the perfect gift for the men on the way over. Romy and Larkin were easy to buy for usually, but with the birth of all of the children this last year, and the Prophesy happening, it seemed like they were on the cusp of something ending and a new stage beginning.

Jo could feel the Pack growing and becoming more content. Even with the rise of activity with the Rogues, it still seemed like somehow they were preparing for a new stage in their journey.

After the first of the year, Quin called for a meeting of the New Council to discuss just this. What they were going to do to plan for their future? Blaine, Dalton, and Kira began having visions last month, most of them are still hazy, but it let them know that something was about to change.

With the development of their overseas Senate, more and more shifters and magical people were coming out of the woodwork, joining them. However, some very weird things were happening also. Disappearing Covens, and attacks on other groups. The Rogues were planning something, and to be honest, they were beginning to think there was a possibility it was not going to be what they expected.

Jordan and her mates hosted the last football game party for the New Council; it was their men’s favorite sport. They played in the front of the house on Saturdays for a stress reliever, and then watched the games on Sunday the entire day, all of them arguing what was happening, and poking fun at each other's teams. So the women made it easy on all of them, because the game days were becoming a bit too testosterone filled, it really detracted from their normal chick's day. It was not nearly as fun to have a mani/pedi be ruined when Cloe or Lacy was called back to help patch someone up.

For Christmas this year, they pitched in and bought box seats for the professional team they all now shared. Cami thought it was brilliant, because not only would the men be gone now for Sundays, this meant they would have an easier time doing their own thing, but now they wouldn’t have to make excuses for their indifference to the game.

“I think it is well past time for the evening festivities,” Cami announced, as they made their purchases and bee lined for the door.

The Enforcers, who were on duty for the particular trip, all stared at each other with a look of horror. The way the day had already been going, with going to the lingerie store, and to the adult toy store, it had already been torture. Especially when they asked the men’s opinion on nipple clamps. TMI seemed to be an understated phrase for what they actually thought.

Chapter Two

The restaurant they went to was called the Melting Pot. Cami arranged for a room upstairs that was away from the rest of the restaurant. The cuisine was amazing; it was an entire fondue menu. Each of the tables had a center that held three burners. On each of them, they mixed decadent cheese fondue with various veggies and bread to dip into them. None of the women had been there before, so they all ‘ohh’d’ and ‘ahh’d’ over the food.

However, the best part, of course, was the fact the restaurant stocked their favorite wine, Moscato Di Asti. It was the perfect beginning to the evening when the waitress brought each of the tables a bottle of wine.

Discussions varied from table to table, but the room was all theirs, so they just turned the chairs at one point, and each of the women held their fondue forks in one hand and a glass in the other.

“Meeting of the New Council women has come to order,” Cami said, and they all laughed. They laughed even harder when they heard the Enforcers groan from the door to the room.

“Hey, guys,” Cloe said and then stood up. “Come on; just forget what happened last time. We all admit, we got a little out of control but seriously, will you never let the shit go?”

Marshall stepped forward and said, “Hey, it wasn’t only one time. It was one time out in public. The cops were called. How about last Christmas after the fight? If I remember correctly, Casey got lost going home, which I might add is right in back of the Pack house, and Trinity was undressing in the car with the Enforcer because she said she was having a hot flash, I could go on. Cloe, you broke your hand punching that Rogue, and forgot you took pain meds and then drank four shots of Tequila. Teagan yelled at us for allowing you access to the holding cell. You then proceeded to throw candy at them telling them to ‘Taste the Fucking Rainbow.’ I guess to answer your question we are not going to let the ‘shit’ go.”

All the women laughed and clapped. “Awesome memory!” Shea said, and then winked at the Enforcers, who narrowed their eyes at her. She was an actual Fairy, wings, and all. When they found her the first day, all the women had been excited. Shea was the author they had followed for years, and never knew she was going to be a part of their Council. The awesome part, she was also one of the new creatures Cami had yet to discover.

Therefore, when they went for a book signing, they found her, and the rest was history, or ‘the night of hell’, as the Enforcers called it. None of them really remembered much of what went on, but the men did. In addition, they never let them forget it.

As the night wore on, the men began to look at each other nervously. The servers brought out the next course, an amazing broth fondue they could dip in various chunks of meat and veggies with dipping sauces. In addition, the wine kept flowing. The Enforcers continued to watch closely, ready to call the Pack house and tell the Alphas if anything looked like it was going to go south. So far, so good, they were drinking, but they were not out of control. Marshall told them, as long as they were manageable, then they were fine.

The owner of the restaurant asked the server to tell the ladies she would be bringing up their dessert chocolate fondue herself. It was her special concoction of milk chocolate, marshmallows, and wine.

If any of the Enforcers were later asked to pinpoint when the night took a bad turn, it would have been when they noticed that instead of bringing up a bottle of wine at a time, one of the servers had just brought up a case of wine and set it in the corner of the room.

“I think we need to remind our men about a few things,” Cami began to slur.

All of them nodded their head, and Kira raised her hand. “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me?”

Skye held up her glass and continued, “a brand-new pair of fuzzy handcuffs.”

“Oh shit,” one of the Enforcers muttered and looked at the others.

“On the second day of Christmas my true loves gave to me,” Casey sang smoothly.

“Two nipple clamps,’’ Cloe laughed.

“And a brand-new pair of fuzzy handcuffs.” Skye finished.

“Wait, I have an awesome idea,” Cami said loudly.

It went downhill from there. The Enforcers kept looking at one another as they plotted, drank, and generally got drunker by the minute. The men had to admit they were funny drunks; they all had a sense of humor at least. Marshall protested only once, and that was when Shea turned and grinned at them.

He held up his phone and wiggled it at the fairy. She knew, with one phone call her mate, the Sheriff, would be notified. Shea flipped the leader of the men off and then snapped her fingers and made his pants fall to the floor.

“Dammit,” he yelled and flipped open his phone ready to call for reinforcements.

“Press that button and that will be the worst thing you could do,” Kira said quietly. All of them paused and looked at the calm bear shifter that shrugged her shoulders. “No, dumbasses, not like I am gonna kill him, what the hell is wrong with you? I meant, literally, press that button and you will miss out on what is to come.” The Seer shrugged. “Sorry, can’t tell you yet, there is more than that that’s gonna be revealed.”

Cami rolled her eyes and said, “Thank goodness, I have at least a good buzz going on. I am the Alpha of this damn Pack. You should have told me if there was going to be drama.”

Kira shrugged and took another drink. Marshall was struggling with his pants while getting ready to bark out an order, when there was a knock on the door.

“We need some karaoke,” Bama said loudly and then laughed when her friends agreed. "Wait, who has the machine at their place.”

Since the last outing was so much fun, what with the whole singing thing and everything. Now when they got together, the machine always came out.

The owner of the restaurant led a string of employees into the room; all were carrying various pans for the tables and plates with amazing looking dipping treats. Cami should have seen her lead Enforcer freeze in shock, but she was instead lifting her glass in a toast for the chocolate that was being brought into the room. She did notice, however, one thing; the owner was a shifter of some kind.

The Alpha raised her eyebrow at the lovely woman, who was in a chef’s uniform and smiled broadly. If it weren’t for her best friend freezing and saying extremely loudly, “WHAT THE FUCK?” Cami would have waited and talked to the woman in private.

As it was, the entire room froze and Jo jumped to her feet and turned in a circle, looking at each of the people who had entered the room. Marshall growled and Cloe stood up turning to the Enforcer, wondering what the hell was going on.

“Shit, Shea, I need some help,” Cami called and the fairy stood up and raised her hand. She had powers that some still didn’t know about.

“Uh, okay?” Shea said then snapped her fingers. Anyone who was a human froze in the room to keep from freaking out with whatever was going to happen next. All the servers froze in their spots, and the only one who remained free to move was the owner.

Marshall bristled and made another low noise in his chest. Cami's head snapped up and she looked at the lead Enforcer. “I know I haven’t had enough to drink if you are making that noise at me. I swear. I will kick your ass if you do that again. Now, we need to take this one thing at a time. Marshall, what the fuck has your panties in a wad?”

The owner of the restaurant looked like a deer in the headlights as she looked around the room. The petite woman looked over her shoulder and frowned when the large Enforcer walked slowly toward her.

“Mate,” he said slowly.

“Ooookkkaaayyy!” Cami said slowly and looked at the owner. “I assume you know who we are and I am pretty sure I would know if we had a shifter chef in the Pack so, the question is, who are you?”

None of the ladies of the Council was talking, but all of them were on guard as they watched the owner. If there was a shifter, this close to a Pack that had no acknowledge she was near, it was either she was a Rogue, or she was in hiding. Either way, there was gonna be a little problem.

Marshall paused right next to the woman and inhaled deeply, “She is my mate, and she is a wolf.”

Cami laughed and said, “Sucks for you, but now, why have you not come to the Pack then? Jo, what the hell is wrong with you?” the Alpha female said to Jo as she watched her friend moving slowly to the other side of the owner, and she sniffed.

“I smell my father,” Jo said lightly, and her friends gasped in surprise. Everyone knew her father died in a battle with the once leader of the Rogues. Jo was devastated, since she was an adult when she found out who she really was. It had shocked the hell out of everyone when it was discovered Jo was the missing key to the Prophesy.

“Well, thank the gods for that, I thought we were going to have a weird situation here.” Shea laughed. “Can we at least unfreeze the straights and send them on their way while we sort this out. I would think it would be very uncomfortable being frozen like this.

“Killed my buzz,” Cloe grumbled and touched one of the server’s faces. “This is like fuckin’ scary. Shea, how the hell do you do this? It’s as if they are wax.”

Skye, Bama, and Casey stood up and did the same thing. “Whoa, that is some weird shit!” Lacy blurted out.

Ruby, Skye, and Kira began laughing and their Alpha glared at them for a brief moment before her gaze was drawn to Bama, who was pulling out a tube of lipstick. “No,” Cami yelled as Bama twirled it between her fingers.

“Dammit, you are no fun when you are playing Queen Bitch,” Bama said with her accent more pronounced now that she had been drinking. “I was just going to make sure they were all refreshed and beautiful for their frozen wax state, there is no excuse for them to be without cosmetics.”

“Are you serious?” Kira asked with a smile on her face.

“Uh, ya, gosh have you not listened to all the times I have said, you cannot walk out the door without a fresh coat of lipstick!” Bama yelled and threw up her hands.

Cloe snorted and said, “I am pretty sure none of us have taken you seriously over the last year when you start talking about that, I mean, not to be a bitch or anything, but lipstick is the last thing I put in my pockets when I walk out the door.”

“That is ‘cause you carry a knife, and the only things you put in your pockets are weapons and Band-Aids,” Skye laughed and slammed her hand on the table.

“Would you people focus please,” Cami ground out. “Marshall, snap out of it, what the hell are we talking about here? Who is your mate?”

“She is,” Marshall said and pointed to the owner of the restaurant.

“Okay, and Jo, where are you getting the scent from?” Cami said calmly, now that she had things back under control.

“She is,” Jo whispered, staring at the woman intently.

“Great, now I suggest that we unfreeze the humans, all of us will play nice, got it. When they are all gone, we can have a calm discussion about what the battle fuck is going on. Bama, check the case of wine, I think we’re going to need it, Kira, move the chairs back to where they were, and everyone get back right where you were.”

The Enforcer opened his mouth to protest, and Cami stared at him with an evil glint in her eye. He knew she could make his life miserable, unless he followed orders. With one last longing glance at the woman who was his mate, Marshall turned and walked back to the door. The other Enforcers were standing there grinning at the chaos their leader seemed to be involved in.

“Dude, they dropped your pants in front of your mate.”

“Fuck off and do your job or I will call your mate and tell her you were looking at Cloe in the lingerie department,” Marshall snapped, and the Enforcers shut up.