Her mother came out to the porch and motioned her inside. Not one to disobey a command given by Trula Faye Benton, Aimee heaved herself out of her car.
“I’m so hungry,” she said and hoped she sounded pitiful enough to get something with gravy on it.
“Come on in, baby. I’ve got a pot of beans on the stove and some ham if you want me to fry you some up.”
Sighing happily, she accepted the hug and headed to the kitchen. “That sounds so good.”
Her mom bustled around as Aimee told her the details of what had happened and by the time she was done, she had a plate of food and some tea so it really didn’t seem as annoying.
Her dad came in, and before Aimee even got to her third piece of corn bread, Katie Faith had shown up, pissed off and worried.
Once she’d gotten a meal into her and had told the story a few times, she began to feel a little more like herself.
And then she felt bad. “I snapped at Mac Pembry. He was just trying to help me.”
“I imagine it’s pretty scary to have two full-sized werewolf males in their prime barreling toward you. Must have been a whole lot of negative magic and adrenaline in the way,” her mom said.
“I sort of froze. Like my brain was screaming at me to move but my muscles hadn’t caught up yet. I was scared because it was aimed at me, I guess. Not on purpose. But it was there, coming at me.”
Katie Faith gave her a one-armed hug. “I know exactly what you mean and I had you at my side when Darrell came at me. You were alone and surprised. I’m glad Mac was there to snatch you up out of danger, but it just goes back to the fact that the wolves have created this mess and we keep getting sucked in to clean it up.”
“You’re the wolves now,” Aimee told her.
“Yeah, marrying Jace makes me Patron too. And they are my wolves. I’m their witch. That was part of the oath I took and made to them. But I’m still a witch and this is bigger than any one pack. This is a threat to the magic that keeps us safe.”
“We’ll definitely talk about it on Saturday at the Consort,” her dad said, features grim.
“Is there any way we can get your mom and dad off to Asheville early?” Things were getting so heated that Aimee was even more concerned about Katie Faith’s dad’s health.
“I’ve been trying all week long,” Aimee’s mom replied. She and Nadine Grady had been best friends since they were just kids and were as close as sisters. If her mom couldn’t talk Nadine into not attending, Katie Faith probably had even less of a chance.
Katie Faith sighed. “I even resorted to full-on guilt tripping. Bringing up daddy’s health, saying she should get him away from all the drama. But he won’t hear of it and she’s backing him up. He says he’s plenty strong and this is important. I can’t argue with that even when it makes me crazy with worry. She’s still worked up over the scene at the Founder’s Day dance and she’s going to see it through.”
The big town party had dissolved into an actual brawl when Scarlett Pembry had been so awful to and about Katie Faith and Jace’s family. Nadine had gone all in on the female Patron of the Pembry wolves, erupting in a spill of violence and magic Aimee had never seen from Katie Faith’s mom before.
Nadine Grady was well and truly pissed off and in defense mode. Her family was being threatened and nothing got a woman like her worked up more than something like that. You didn’t hurt her kids or her husband and get away with it.
“I surely don’t know what’s gotten into that woman,” her dad said of Scarlett. “She’s always been unpleasant and unpredictable, but this stuff about Jace and his father’s erasure is beyond bizarre. I know she was petty after Darrell left Katie Faith for Sharon, but what she did at the market and then at the dance, well, that’s worrisome.”
Katie Faith said, “Part of this is what Mac said. Wolves get all riled up and they often work it out by beating each other up.” The eye roll told Aimee just what her friend thought of that. “Pembry is at loose ends. No one is really in charge. That’s what Jace says anyway and I agree. He and Mac met for a beer earlier this week. They’re going to try to see if they can get somewhere.”
“I don’t know why he doesn’t just take over! Take the job from his dad and get things back on an even keel,” Aimee told them. He certainly was big and scary enough. Now that she’d stopped being scared all she could seem to think about was how grrr-arrrrgh-scary he’d been as he’d been tossing werewolves all over the parking lot at the grocery store.
“He can’t,” Katie Faith began to explain. “Well, he can but it would be really bad. Wolves are all about hierarchy and rules. If they don’t have it they sort of lose their way. Like bratty kids I guess. Anyway, Jace says Mac has to build his base first, go through all sorts of stages with the pack and then take over. Otherwise it causes more trouble and then Mac would leave himself open to challenges and dissension from pack members.”
“You’re all very complicated.”
“Witches are complicated too,” Katie Faith said with a snort. “I think Mac is exactly what the Pembry wolves need. But Dwayne always played favorites, even at the expense of the pack. Darrell, that dingus, is the golden boy. Wolf. Whatever. Which has to make it pretty hard for Mac for that reason.”
“Then why call him back from London? That seems sort of mean.” Aimee felt badly for Mac. She had siblings but she’d never felt like her parents favored any one of them over the others. Though certainly she knew there were times they liked one of their kids more than the others.
“Dwayne might like one son over the other, but he can’t ignore the truth. They called Mac back to take over. Pembry was the strongest pack for the last several years. That’s not so true now. It definitely won’t be true in six months. I guess we’ll see if Mac’s strong enough to steer them through this storm,” her dad said.
“I need another piece of corn bread to digest all this stuff,” Aimee said as she buttered the slice her mom put on her plate. “Everyone thinks life in a small town is so sweet and normal. Ha! This is what happens in small towns.”
“At least our drama comes with bake sales and corn bread, though. Don’t forget the tight butts in Wrangler jeans too.”
“You’re a sage sometimes, Katie Faith.”
“Right? I was just telling Jace that a few days ago. He thinks I don’t know he rolled his eyes when he turned around.”
Chapter Four
Mac headed straight to his parents’ house where, given the number of cars out front and in the driveway, everyone else had headed as well.
Everett and his uncle Bern caught up with him outside. “Just wait a second,” Bern warned. “You can’t go in there half-cocked or you’ve lost before you even start. Darrell is in there no doubt laying out the story however it suits Ronnie and his buddies best. How you handle that is important. You need to be thinking more and feeling less just now.”
With a growl of annoyance, Mac paused to calm down before he ended up challenging his father.
Before he was ready.
It wasn’t a game but if he didn’t play it like one, he’d be signing the future of the pack over to the hands of a fool who’d make mistakes that would take years to correct.
Chaos at the top meant chaos through the ranks and it was the height of irresponsibility to charge at it like a bull. He was a werewolf and he needed to act like it.
So, he remembered what was true, not necessarily what was fair. And then he got himself under control and stood taller.
Bern had been watching close, but once Mac gave a nod of thanks, they all headed to the door his mother had just opened.
Her energy spilled out enough that he felt it from feet away. She was upset and spoiling for a fight. Not necessarily an unusual state for his mom. She was, and had always been, what his father affectionately called spirited. It was just part of his mom.
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But since he’d been home, he’d wondered daily just exactly what was going on with her to send her off into such a lather. This was more than worked up. Or high-strung or whatever.
He worried about her and wished she’d open up to him a little. She was his mother, spirited or not, and he loved her. Something was wrong and he wanted to help.
She’d avoided talking about it though, the times he’d tried. So he’d keep at it until she let him in or he figured it out. He didn’t get his stubborn streak from his father.
She hugged him once he got to her. “Your brother already told us what happened. The Dooleys started the fight,” his mother said before her gaze flicked to her brother-in-law. “Bern, didn’t expect you tonight.”
“I’m unexpected that way, Scarlett.” His uncle grinned, but showed more teeth than he normally did. They’d never been the best of friends. His mother was guilty of a lot of things, but she was always totally on her husband’s side and saw Bern as a threat.
Inside, in the dining room, Darrell was telling their father some fanciful tale about a truckload of Dooleys beating the hell out of poor little Ronnie down at the market.
His father was outraged, predictably. When he noted Mac standing there, he waved a hand. “Did you hear that bullshit? Carl’s just going to let Jace Dooley’s wolves do whatever they want now? Must be nice to be related to the cops and have the laws enforced whenever Carl decides to.”
Starting a feud with Carl Benton was a terrible idea and he needed to quash that before it got any worse. “Carl does his job and he does it well, so let’s not jump down his throat. I was just at the market. That’s not what happened.” Mac remained standing, speaking directly to his father while ignoring his brother.
“Ronnie already told me the story,” Darrell said.
“Well, if he told you that story you just gave Dad, he’s lying. Like I said, I was there. I broke the fight up. It was one-on-one. Two wolves barely old enough to shave. Ronnie was only around to stir shit once the danger of getting a beat down passed. No truckload of wolves. Just Pembrys embarrassing us yet again by acting like assholes in public.”
“Why is it so hard for you to side with your own?” Darrell muscled to his feet to get in Mac’s face. But Mac held his ground easily, mainly ignoring his brother as he continued to speak to his father.
“Ronnie’s making things worse. Every time there’s some kind of problem around here, he’s part of it. Darrell is helping by repeating all these tall tales when not a one is true. It’s stirring everyone up. This isn’t junior high.”
“He’s asking you a question, son. One I ask myself too,” his father said.
That hurt. A lot.
He shoved it away. Mac narrowed his gaze at his dad and let his wolf show. “You’re seriously asking me why I won’t lie to you? Why, after seeing something with my own eyes and knowing this lie Darrell is telling is not just untrue, but potentially harmful, I won’t what? What is it you’d like me to do? If you’re telling me lying is actually the best thing for this pack because the truth is too painful, it’s my turn to call bullshit. Real leadership is hard. A lot harder than just being told whatever makes me feel warm and fuzziest while the whole world goes to hell all around me. That what Darrell brings to the table?”
“You watch your mouth,” Darrell snarled and this time, Mac did pay attention. He cuffed his brother so hard he fell back over the couch and hit the wall behind.
“Shut up and let the adults talk, boy,” Everett told him.
“Macrae! What are you doing?” his mother demanded.
Without turning his attention away from his brother, he answered, “What y’all should have done years ago. You’re letting your son swing his pecker all over town, stirring up trouble and for what? You bored, Darrell? I’ve got some real work for you if you need a job.”
“Everyone needs to settle down,” Dwayne said as he watched Darrell make his way to his feet. As Mac figured, their father didn’t move to help. He pitied his brother, who’d take this new future with Mac at the head of the pack far harder than their father cared to admit.
They’d made his brother into the petulant monster he was. Just like they’d made Mac the wolf to finally deal with the mess they had created in town. Both brothers had been formed and placed into a role. At least Mac wasn’t a shit-headed loser and tool like Darrell was.
“What do you suggest we do then?” his father asked, not even addressing the lies Darrell had been telling them about Ronnie and the fight at the market.
“First thing is, we deal with Ronnie. Because if he’s flapping his gums all over town with this bullshit lie, he’s going to end up starting a riot. I warned him off at the grocery store so he’s violating that order by lying about what happened just to make trouble.” Mac turned to his uncle. “Can you get him over here?”
“Why you askin’ him?” Darrell demanded. “You’re just trying to railroad Ronnie.”
Because it wasn’t his business, nor was he anyone Mac sought advice from, he ignored his brother.
Mac’s uncle spoke to Darrell, uncle to nephew. “He’d have to be important for us to want to railroad him, boy. He was told in public to rein his behavior in and he didn’t. Ronnie doubled down, setting himself to even more destruction and lies. If we don’t make an example out of him, everyone else is going to think it’s okay to do whatever they want, whenever they want. Or worse, that there’s a set of rules for Darrell’s friends and one for the remaining pack. And one more fight could very well spark an open war with Dooley or the witches.”
One they weren’t in a position to win. One that had the potential to ruin the community for good. They needed to stop that from happening. Even if his father was too blinded by his affection for Darrell to actually do anything about it one way or the other.
Werewolves weren’t human. They didn’t run their lives in the same way. Violence was part and parcel of their existence and their governance. But the wolves in the pack respected a well-played hunt. They needed to see Mac’s takeover as necessary and deserved. More than a fist, but a beating heart. A brain. All used in service of the many.
The army had made him harder. Faster. He’d been without a pack of wolves so he’d become close with the guys in his company. They’d been his pack in a very real way. Mac had learned to be smarter. To never stop training and learning.
Once he’d been battle hardened, he’d gone to London to work on his brain some more. He’d come back what they’d sent him away to become. But no one was going to pull his strings.
The wolves in the Pembry pack would support the strongest wolf. Either way. But if any of them had doubts, or felt he didn’t do things the right way, the most clever way, things wouldn’t stabilize for very long.
That was tradition. That was what kept them together even during the toughest times. He’d take over and he’d do it in a way that left absolutely no doubt he was in charge. He’d deliver the firm hand and the generous spirit the wolves needed to replace the chaos they had now.
“I’ll go get him.” Everett nodded once and headed out, saying he’d be back shortly. Huston—who’d been pretending to casually lean against the doorway—stepped into his place at Mac’s side.
“Seems you’ve got yourself a plan, Mac. Care to share that with your Patron?” his father asked, leading the way to the kitchen just beyond.
“Let’s cut the crap. You knew what was going to happen when you called me back here from London. This pack is in a mess and you need me to clean it up. And that’s fine. I’m committed to doing that. But most of this tension is avoidable.” He remained silent for long moments after, just to let the words his father needed to hear sink in.
“Ronnie has no control and he’s been allowed to act a fool because he’s buddies with your kid. That’s lazy and we can’t tolerate it another day.”
 
; “He’s not your concern. He’s my friend and our cousin and he’s protected,” Darrell said as he stomped into the room.
“We don’t work that way. We’re all protected until we step out of line. Ronnie has. He’s not the only one, but he’s certainly at the top. With some others.” Mac gave his brother a look.
“If you think you can get away with hitting me, you’re wrong.”
Mac turned on Darrell, getting right into his face, nose to nose. Definitely violating his personal space. “That so? What do you have to say about it? You want some more? Come on then because God knows you need to be knocked down a few more times.”
“You two stop it this instant,” their mother snapped, trying to get between them.
But that wasn’t what werewolf parents did. They were supposed to let their children learn to defend themselves and also to learn they’d get their asses kicked if they stepped out of line.
So, Mac gave no quarter, not moving and leaving it to Darrell to step away. “Stop protecting him. That’s the problem here,” Mac told her.
“Everyone calm down,” their father said. “You two should be working together instead of against each other. And never letting a Dooley get between you. We’re better than them. Act like it.”
Without moving, still staring his brother down, Mac said, “I’m totally calm. What I’m not, is tolerating any of this bullshit. Not from Ronnie and certainly not from Darrell.” His brother dropped his gaze, which hadn’t ever gotten higher than Mac’s chin anyway.
“You can’t let those Dooleys think they’re as good as us. They need to remember their place. Even if they managed to sucker Katie Faith over to their side,” his mother said, touching Mac’s arm, trying to draw him away from Darrell.
The powerful witch and new Patron of the Dooley wolves was nothing even resembling a sucker, but Mac let that part pass because his mother was clearly going through something.