The Alpha's Pack (6 page)

“What about Roanoke Pack?” Sam said, his voice a little weak. “If you set the challenge for neutral territory, I can get some of my pack mates to show up. That’ll help keep everything fair.”

“That’s a great idea,” Deirdre said.

“Will Ted go for the neutral territory thing?” Jake said.

“He won’t want to,” she said. “He’s never fought in neutral territory before, and would no doubt see it as suspicious. But if we put enough pressure on him, maybe we can make it happen.”

“Get me my phone,” Sam said.

Deirdre sat up to get it, but Jake beat her to it. As he handed Sam his phone, he brushed his hand over Sam’s cheek in a rough, thoroughly masculine kind of way. “How’re you doing?”

“I’m pretty tired,” Sam said. “And I’m starting to get hungry. But I can feel the wound healing. It’s just a matter of time.”

“I could order food,” Deirdre said. “Pizza?”

“I’d rather have meat,” Sam said. “Lots of meat.”

That made sense. His body needed the protein and fat to rebuild itself, especially at this increased pace. “I’ll see what I can find.” She dug through the B&B’s small stack of takeout menus.

“Hey, Chris. It’s Sam.”

He must be on the phone. She heard the other man’s voice say a tinny ‘hello.’

“I’ve got news. Lots of news.”

She tuned out as he filled Chris in on finding his mates, the fight with Ted, and the upcoming challenge.

Jake slid his arms around her waist. “You should get on the phone, too. I can take care of getting food.”

“I can’t believe we met just this morning,” she said.

Jake put his head on her shoulder. “It seems like a long time ago.”

She put her arms over his, where they rested on her waist. “I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

Sam’s voice broke through, louder than before. “Chris is on his way over.”

“Why?” Jake said.

“To help.” Sam set his phone on the bedside table. “He’s my Alpha. He’s also a doctor. And, he’s hated Ted for a lot of years. I figured he might jump at the chance to get Ted out of power, especially if a potentially friendly Alpha took his place.”

Jake’s eyebrows rose. “I’m friendly?”

“You’re my mate. And I grew up in Roanoke Pack. I’ll leave if I have to, but I won’t turn my back on them.”

Jake nodded. “Good enough for me.”

Sam grinned, his smile a little weak. “That’s what I figured.”

While they waited for Sam’s Alpha, Deirdre got on her cell and called everyone she could think of from Stonewall Pack, to let them know about Bridget and ask them to show up at the challenge. “You don’t have to tell Ted you’re against him,” she said over and over. “Just show up and be there in case he tries to pull something.” She got a few outright rejections, but mostly lukewarm agreement. No one wanted to go up against Ted. At the same time, they couldn’t deny they’d like a different Alpha. Even if they wouldn’t say so out loud.

She was just finishing the last phone call when someone knocked on the door. “Sam, it’s Chris,” the man said. A human wouldn’t have been able to hear him through the thick door, but they had no problem.

Jake looked at Sam for confirmation. When Sam nodded, Jake opened the door.

Chris stayed in the doorway a moment as he and Jake sized each other up. Chris was almost as tall as Jake, but much bulkier. He looked like one of those really friendly guys who you never want to cross because he’ll whoop your ass. At the same time, he was carrying a doctor’s bag. It seemed a little out of place being carried by a guy who looked more like a bodybuilder than a doctor.

Deirdre’d had more than she could take of male displays of testosterone, but if she did what she really wanted—including dragging Chris into the room—it would break protocol and make things tense. So she stayed quiet.

The two men introduced each other and shook hands warily. Then Jake stepped out of the way so Chris could enter.

Chris carefully kept his back to the wall. “How’re you doing, Sam?”

“I’m okay,” Sam said. “You didn’t meet my other mate, Deirdre.”

Deirdre and Chris shook hands.

“You’re the one from Stonewall,” Chris said. “I think I’ve seen you around.”

“I think I’ve seen you around, too,” she said. But she hadn’t realized who he was.

Jake moved to the other side of the bed. Whether conscious or unconscious, she knew he did it so Chris could feel comfortable going up to the bed and looking at Sam’s wound without having the vulnerability of Jake standing behind him. It was a thoughtful thing to do. She went to Jake and slid her arm around his waist.

Chris stepped closer to the bed. “Mind if I take a look at that?”

“Sure,” Sam said.

Chris leaned over Sam. After peeling back the bandage, he poked at the wound. “It’s healing well. Whoever patched you up did a good job.”

“Thanks,” Jake said.

Chris taped the bandage back in place, then dragged a chair closer to the bed and sat. “So, what’s this about challenging the Stonewall Pack Alpha?”

Deirdre told him the short version as she walked to Chris’ side of the bed and sat down near the foot. “So now he has Bridget, and we have to get her back. Jake wants to challenge him.”

Jake had his hands on his hips, still standing on the opposite side of the bed. “He tried to keep our mate from us. Then he kidnapped her and stole her sister. Even if I didn’t want to challenge him, I don’t have a choice. But it doesn’t matter, because I want to.”

“You know this will mean you’ll lead the pack?” Chris said. “You’re a Lone Wolf, aren’t you?”

Chapter 6

Jake cringed. She hadn’t expected that. Was there some painful reason he was a Loner? She had thought he just liked being on his own, and he hadn’t said any different. Then again, they’d known each other less than twenty-four hours, even if it felt years longer than that. What did any of them really know about each other?

“I can do it,” Jake said. “I’m strong enough.”

Chris templed his fingers. “It might not be a matter of whether you’re strong enough. Do you want to lead a pack? It’s a lot of work.” He glanced at Sam. “Don’t get me wrong; I love it. But it’s not for everyone. Or are you one of those wolves who went lone solely for the purpose of finding a pack to take over?”

Deirdre fidgeted, and Chris wasn’t even looking at her. She couldn’t imagine how Jake felt under the intensity of that gaze.

“I left my pack because my dad was beating my mom.” Jake bit the words off one by one. “He’s the pack’s Alpha, and my other dad is a wimp who never did a thing to protect her. I tried to stand up to him myself, but I failed. I’m strong, but not strong enough to beat my dad. When he killed my mom in a fit of rage, I left.”

Deirdre choked back a cry. “Oh, Jake. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I failed her. It’s my fault.”

Chris let the silence settle for a while. Then he said, “You did your best. You might have failed to stop your dad, but none of it’s your fault.” He leaned forward. “And if you’re willing to take on Stonewall Pack, I’ll give you whatever assistance you need. Not just now, for the challenge, but also in the future. I’ve always wanted Marysburg’s two packs to work together, but Ted wouldn’t go for it. I’d like to make a new start.”

Jake nodded his head, once. “Thank you. A new start sounds good.”

Chris leaned back and smiled. “Especially since you’re taking one of my best wolves with you.” He looked at Sam fondly. “I’ll be sorry to see you go.”

“I’m not going far,” Sam said. “We can always hang out.”

“Yes, but it won’t be the same.”

After a moment of quiet, Chris clapped his hands together. “So, what’s the plan?”

“I’ll challenge him, and we’ll fight in neutral territory,” Jake said. “Deirdre has called all the friendly wolves she can think of in Stonewall Pack and asked them to show up. If you would also bring some wolves, I think we can keep the fight on the level. And on a level playing field, I think I can beat him.”

“He can.” Sam’s voice sounded a little stronger. “Ted ran from him tonight rather than fighting. I think he knows Jake is stronger.”

“Always good to have the competition scared,” Chris said. “The only problem will be in getting him to fight in neutral territory. Alphas usually require the fight to be in their own territory.”

“I don’t think Deirdre’s pack friends are strong enough without outside help,” Jake said.

“Then we need to lure him out.” Chris put his finger against his lips. “I can ask him to fight where we can attend, but I don’t think he’d do it. Even if I told him I was backing him up, he wouldn’t believe me. There’s been too much bad blood between us.”

“Is there a place in his territory where we could fight, but where it’s right near the edge?” Jake said. “So that your wolves could be just over the edge in neutral territory, and I could draw him over the line while we’re fighting?”

“That would be risky. What if he didn’t follow you over the line?” Chris said.

“If he refuses to fight, it’s forfeit,” Deirdre said.

“Yes, but I don’t think he’ll back down as Alpha unless he’s forced to. You’ll need to trounce him, decisively enough that he has no choice but to leave,” Chris said.

“Or kill him.” Sam shifted on the bed. “That would be decisive.”

Chris didn’t say anything. They all knew what was going unsaid. In challenges, it was expected that the loser be given the opportunity to either pledge fealty to the winner or leave as a Lone Wolf. But all too often, the loser died. And in a case like this, they’d all be safer if Ted never left the field of battle.

Deirdre finally broke the silence. “There’s a park on the edge of our territory. Across the road is a field where kids play soccer. The field is in neutral territory, and the road is considered the border.”

“I know it,” Chris said.

“That’s the best place I can think of,” she said.

Chris touched his finger to his lips. “That could work. Do you think our being there will bolster the Stonewall Pack members? Because if something happens while you’re still in Stonewall territory, they’ll have to take care of it.”

“I will,” Sam said.

“Not you,” Chris said. “You’re still in my pack. You can’t go into Stonewall territory.”

Sam growled, but it sounded more like a tired whimper.

“I’d cuff you for that if you weren’t injured,” Chris said, no heat in his voice. “I know you want to protect your mates. But there’s more to leaving one pack and joining another than just wanting. And even if you declared yourself a Lone Wolf, you still couldn’t enter Stonewall territory. Not even to stand by your mate. Not unless you pledged fealty to Ted.”

“Then it’s up to me,” Deirdre said.

Now it was Jake who growled. “You’ll stay with Sam. He’ll protect you.”

She rounded on him. “No. It’s my sister who’s in danger, and I’m the one who asked all those pack members to come out and support you. How would it look if I asked them to put their necks on the line while I hid behind Sam in neutral territory?”

Jake shook his head.

Deirdre stepped closer to him. “Look at the bigger picture. When you win this, you’ll be the Alpha Male, and I will be Alpha Female. What kind of Alpha would I be if I didn’t stand by you? How could our pack ever respect me?”

“I don’t want you in danger,” Jake said.

“If anyone threatens her, I’ll cross the border and take them out,” Sam said.

“Bad idea,” Chris said.

“I don’t care.” Sam pushed up onto one elbow. “You’re expecting
me
to stand in neutral territory and just watch as my mates get attacked? Not going to happen.”

Chris gazed at him. At length, he said, “You’ll make them a good Alpha Third. You do me proud.”

Sam’s mouth twitched. “Thank you.”

“It sounds like we have a plan,” Chris said. “I assume you want to do this as quickly as possible.”

“Tomorrow,” Jake said. “I’ll challenge him first thing in the morning, and request a fight tomorrow night.”

“He could stall,” Chris said.

“I don’t see why he’d want to,” Jake said. He’s holding Bridget, and that’s gotta be a thorn in his side. He wasn’t expecting to have a prisoner.”

“I’m sure she’s not making it easy on him, either,” Deirdre said. Her sister seemed sweet as sugar on the outside, but when someone crossed her, she could be more stubborn than anyone Deirdre’d ever seen. She wouldn’t fight Ted; she’d just dig in and refuse to cooperate. She was probably driving him crazy.

Chris stood. “Call me tomorrow with the exact time. I’ll gather some wolves together and we’ll be ready.”

After Chris left, Deirdre stepped into Jake’s arms. He hugged her tenderly, and she felt some of her fear and worry fade out of her. With these men, everything would be all right. They’d help her get Bridget back. Everything would be okay again.

Deirdre lifted her head and pulled Jake down for a kiss. She needed this, too. The touch of her mates, the chance to lose herself in sensation and forget for a while. There was nothing else she could do right now. Getting some comfort wouldn’t hurt anything.

The bed creaked. “Hey, don’t forget about me,” Sam said. He struggled to sit up.

“Don’t you dare,” she said. “We’ll come to you. You stay right where you are.”

He leaned back, smiling. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Better yet—” Jake picked Sam up and deposited him in the middle of the bed, then climbed in beside him. “Now you’re in the middle of the action.”

Deirdre lay down on the other side of Sam. “Are you sure you’re up for this? Maybe we shouldn’t.”

Both men looked at her, aghast.

“Not have sex?” Sam said. “You’re kidding.”

“You’re injured,” she said.

“I’m healing. Besides, you could do all the work. This time, I mean. I’ll make it up to you,” Sam said.

He looked so endearing and pitiful, she couldn’t help but laugh. “We’ll take care of you, don’t worry.” She kissed the upper part of his arm, the part closest to her mouth.

Jake reached down and began to massage Sam’s cock through his pants.

“Getting right to it, eh?” Deirdre said.

“We’re men,” Jake said.

“That feels really good.” Sam closed his eyes.

Deirdre leaned over Sam and kissed him, careful not to touch his chest or side. He gripped the back of her neck and held her tightly in place while he ravaged her mouth. Maybe he wasn’t as injured as she’d thought.