Sorry, Charlie (Poconos Pack) (9 page)

She held her finger and her thumb about half an inch apart. “Maybe a little.”

The doctor moved behind him and shoved a needle into his shoulder.

“Jesus Christmas warn a guy, wouldja?” Ted wanted to rub where he’d been injected, but the doctor was scowling at him. “I mean, thank you, kind sir, for taking such good care of me.”

“You’re welcome.” The doctor took out a needle and thread. “But I’m not done yet.”

“Eep.” Ted scooted closer to Charlie. “Save me.”

Charlie stroked his hair, tangling her fingers in his curls. “Let the man fix you up so I can take you home and maul you.”

He had to think about that one. “The good kind or the bad kind?”

“The worst kind.” She wagged her brows at him, her gaze smoldering over a layer of laughter.

Ted turned to the doctor. “You might want to use industrial strength thread there, doc. She’s a tiger in bed.”

“Oh please.” Charlie flipped her hair back. “No one beats a Lion in anything.”

“Sorry, Charlie.” Ted grinned, but it quickly turned to a grimace as one of the stitches pulled. “I think I can at least match you.”

She tilted her chin up, replying arrogantly, “You wouldn’t be mine otherwise.”

He just shook his head. Lions and their pride. Good thing he thought she was adorable. Not that he’d ever tell her that. He liked his testicles where they were.

Someone cleared their throat on the other side of the curtain. “Can I come in?”

“Sebastian?” Charlie didn’t move from his side. If anything, her fingers tightened in his hair. “I thought you were with Dave.”

“I was, now I’m here.” Sebastian came into the area, his gaze landing on the needle and thread in the doctor’s hands. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his tone was subdued when he finally spoke. “I need to thank you for saving me.”

“There’s no need.” Ted sighed as the doctor tied off the last of the stitches. “I was just doing my job.”

Sebastian scowled. “No. You did Kincade’s job. The ass was testing you, but it went too far.”

Charlie froze. “He did
what
?”

Sebastian lifted his hand, stopping Charlie from continuing. “You know how he is. He wasn’t certain Ted was capable of protecting you.”

“I can protect myself. I’m a fucking Lioness!” Charlie threw her hands up in the air, yanking some of Ted’s hair with her frustrated movement. “Even if Ted couldn’t protect me I wouldn’t care.”

“But we do.” Sebastian took a step forward, his gaze beseeching. “You’re my baby sister, and I love you to pieces, but you’re stubborn. You could get hurt without someone strong to protect you.”

Ted raised his hand. “Pardon me, sire, but that’s bullshit.”

Sebastian looked at Ted like he was dead wrong and Sebastian was dead right. “Explain that, please.”

“Charlie is more than capable of taking care of herself. She’s been doing it since she got here. She’s a valued member of our Pack, and mating me only makes her mated, nothing else. I do my job, she does hers, and the Pack benefits.”

“Plus, I’ve seen her hold her own with my mate,” Rick interjected calmly. “She’s stronger than you give her credit for.”

Ted nodded, his eyes comically wide, hoping Sebastian would lighten up a bit. “That woman is scary.”

“She’s not
that
bad,” Charlie replied. “After all, she takes care of the Pack even though she’s in pain all the time.”

“Trust me, you’ve never seen scary until you’ve seen our Luna mad at you.” Ted shuddered. “I’d rather get paper cuts all over my body, then sit in a vat of vinegar for an hour than make my Luna mad.”

Sebastian laughed, but it died a quick death when none of the rest of them joined him. “Really? The tiny Barbie-doll blonde I met is that frightening?”

“You have no idea, and I pray you never find out.” Ted sighed and took hold of Charlie’s hand. “I understand you’re worried about your sister, but she’s good. Hell, she’s better than good, she’s perfect, at least as far as I’m concerned. She’s got her shit together, man. You have nothing to worry about with her.”

Charlie’s cheeks flushed bright red, but her chin remained high, that arrogant smirk still on her lips. “Damn straight.”

“I’ve already talked to Kincade. It won’t happen again.” Sebastian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I admit, knowing Charlie is safe—” He held up his hand when Charlie snarled. “Whether you like it or not, I need to know that you’re protected. Not only are you my sister, but you’re the closest blood relative of the Leo. You could birth the next Leo, Charlie.”

Charlie’s face paled. “Fuck that shit. I’m not going back to Sedona, even if my future child is a white Lion.”

Sebastian nodded. “I know.” Sebastian smiled. “Even if you do give birth to the next Leo, I think raising him here, with Rick and Belle to help mold him and Ted to protect him—”

“Or her,” Ted said, glancing at his mate.

“Or her,” Charlie smiled back.

Sebastian sighed. “Yeah, your cub will do just fine in the Poconos, no matter what shade his or her fur turns out to be.” Sebastian turned to Rick. “You need to be aware, however, that because she’s a Lowe there will always be a target on her back.”

“The Senate can shove their manipulations up their collective asses,” Charlie growled. “They’ve tried for years to get me to do things to influence you, and I’ve always told them to shove it.”

“But they could also try to persuade someone else near you, or try and use your cubs against you. You know that as well as I do. Your Pack leaders need to be aware of this so they can protect not only you but your mate and the rest of the Pack as well.” Sebastian put his hands on his hips. “Am I wrong?”

Charlie sighed. “No, damn it. But what Kincade did crossed the line.”

“It did, and it won’t happen again, like I said.” Sebastian grimaced. “He’s pissed because I got hurt and he wasn’t there to stop it from happening. He was too far back.”

“He could have caught up to you easily, you know that.”

“Shh.” Ted kissed the back of his mate’s hand. “It’s over and done with, right? I’ll be fine, Sebastian will be fine, and Kincade will do penance.”

“Oh, he most definitely will. He didn’t tell me what he was up to until a few minutes ago.” Sebastian smiled evilly. “I’m thinking a stint with Uncle Harvey might be in order.”

“Oh, jeez, don’t torture him. Just let him come in here and apologize and be done with it.” Charlie shivered. “Uncle Harvey is a creep.”

“And a blowhard, and someone who needs protection every now and then.” Sebastian rubbed his hands together. “I’ll tell Kin he needs to keep a close eye on poor Uncle Harvey for, say, two weeks. That ought to do it.”

“He’ll go nuts being that far away from you.” Charlie started to chuckle. “You’ll have him begging to come home within two days.”

“Nah. I’ll send all his calls to voicemail. He can bet on that.” Sebastian looked around the room, blinking lazily. “I’ll get out of your hair, for now anyway.” He glanced at Rick. “I’m covering the medical costs on this.”

Since he’d used his Leo voice on that last bit, Rick could do nothing but nod in acknowledgement. “Thank you.”

“No. Thank you.” Sebastian clapped Rick on the shoulder. “You have a good, solid Pack with good people in it. You should be proud of what you’ve built.”

Without an ounce of humility Rick replied, “I am.”

“Kin and I are going to wait out front. We’ll buy you guys breakfast before heading back to the Lodge. No arguments.” Sebastian turned and walked out, leaving the rest of them staring after him.

“I’d love some waffles,” Ted sighed. Damn. Now he was hungry. “Can I go now?”

“No.” The doctor gave him instructions on wound care. “And you’ll have to come in for more shots.”

“Yay.” Ted slid off the gurney. “Waffles now.”

Charlie glanced at the doctor, who nodded. “Go. Get out of here. Make an appointment with your regular doctor to get the rest of the shots. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” The doctor walked out first, not even looking at them, muttering something about Wolves and drama.

“I don’t think he liked us,” Ted said, still staring at the swaying curtains.

Chapter Ten

“So now what?” Sebastian leaned against the railing, his expression curious.

Ted sipped the coffee Sebastian had handed to him the moment he arrived on the Leo’s porch. “We live?”

Sebastian sighed. “I meant what I said, you know. There will be others who come here, hoping to manipulate her.”

Ted grinned. “That’s what Pack is for. Trust me when I tell you that we can be the most annoying assholes on the planet when we want to. Hell, Belle alone could probably send them packing, whoever they might be. And she’d do it just because Charlie is her friend and no other reason.”

“I’m starting to understand that.” Sebastian sighed. “I wish I had that, but the Leo doesn’t lead a Pride. That was dispensed with a century ago, when other shifters felt that they lacked his attention and that his Pride received it all.”

“Maybe that’s a decision you should rethink.” Ted couldn’t imagine Rick without the Pack. “All Alphas are born to lead, you more than others. Having a Pride should put you more in touch with other Alphas, not less. I can totally see Kincade as your Beta or Marshal, too.”

Sebastian shivered. “It’s something for me to think about, but the Senate would probably shoot the idea down.”

Ted shrugged. “That’s your call, but I don’t see how you can let them dictate your Pride to you. They’re either yours or they’re not, and no one except the spirits can take that away from you.”

“When my uncle trained me, he told me that I was to be the Alpha of Alphas, the supreme ruler. Having a Pride of my own would distract me from my duties no matter how powerful the pull might be. And he said it with this look of such sadness that I knew he’d given up almost everything to be the best Leo he could.” Sebastian smiled. “And he was a good Leo, right up until his mate’s death.”

“He was Kincade’s father, right?” Ted was pretty sure from the way Kincade acted that he’d been raised by an Alpha. Hell, if not for his ties to Sebastian, Kincade might be an Alpha of his own Pride.

Sebastian nodded. “Yeah, but my uncle was never disappointed that Kincade wasn’t the Leo. He told me he never wanted that life to impact Kincade. Kin was free in ways my uncle could only dream of.”

Ted put his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Listen to me, okay? Get a damn Pride, even if it’s made up of all Alphas. Look at Kincade! If he wasn’t with you he’d totally be an Alpha of a Pride, and you know it. If the Leo is supposed to be the Alpha of Alphas, then
be
that. Shove their words back in their faces if they complain. Be what you were always meant to be.”

Sebastian’s expression became faraway as he thought over Ted’s words. He just hoped he’d gotten through to him. Sebastian was a good person. He deserved to have the things he’d longed for.

“I’m glad my sister found you, Ted.” Sebastian’s smile was bittersweet. “I wish she were home, because I miss her something fierce, but if she has to be away from me I’m glad it was you who got to keep her.”

Ted blinked. “Please tell me you don’t have Jamie Lannister feelings for her, because I’d have to bite you.”

Sebastian gagged. “Ugh. No. That’s sick.”

“Who’s Jamie Lannister?” Kincade’s deep voice caused Ted to turn around. The dark-haired Lion had his own cup of coffee. “Is he someone whose ass I need to kick?”

“He’s a fictional dude who banged his sister and created tiny monster children with her.” Ted ignored Kincade’s frown. “Tell the Leo he needs his own Pride.”

“You need your own Pride.” Kincade joined them at the bannister, staring out at the mountains in the distance. “You’ll need them if the rumors my men have been picking up are true.”

Sebastian and Kincade exchanged a glance that worried Ted. “Is this something my Alpha needs to know?”

Kincade shook his head. “Not yet. Not until I’ve got proof.”

“Then I’ll alert the Alphas myself, but I promise you we only have rumors of some shenanigans that are beginning to piss me off.” Sebastian scowled at his coffee mug. “I might put Barnwell on this.”

Kincade laughed. “Might as well. I hear Apollonia and Artemis are in town as well. They might give him a hand.”

Sebastian’s grin was pure evil. “Then I definitely want Barnwell for this one. Get a hold of him for me, will you, Kin? If I know Barney, he’s already on the job.”

Kincade grunted but didn’t move. “So. Charlie.”

“I’ll take good care of her, I swear.” Ted wasn’t worried about his ability to physically protect his mate. And now that he had made nice with Sebastian Lowe he wasn’t too worried about her family.

“I know you will.” Kincade winced. “I owe you.”

Ted waved Kincade’s words away. “
De nada.
”

“Don’t give me that. You saved my Leo when he was knocked out, Ted. That means something.” Kincade put his hand on Ted’s shoulder. “Listen, if you ever tire of this Second gig I’ve got a job for you in Sedona.”