“Don’t. You’re nothing to me now and the only reason you’re still breathing at all is because of my niece and nephew.”
“Nick, let’s focus for a moment on what we need to do here,” his father said. “You’re within your rights to challenge Ben. But that won’t change this fuck-up. I’ve just lost a son in many ways, I’d prefer not to lose him all the way. I’m asking you for mercy on his behalf. Not because he deserves to lead this Pack, he doesn’t. But because he’s my son and your brother and the father of my grandchildren.” He turned to Tracy. “We’ve wronged you. I apologize for that. You’re also within your rights to challenge Sarah and I know you’d win and she does too. So I guess I’m asking you for your mercy too. Again, not because she deserves it. I’m ashamed of her and what she’s done to this Pack and my son. But she has children and those children need a mother.”
Josh shook his head. “And what are you proposing? That we just all turn a blind eye to this? Their forsaking of their oaths as Alpha because they have kids? I’m sorry, Charles, but I can’t get behind that.”
“Stop talking about us like we’re not here!” Sarah exclaimed.
“Shut up,” Gabe ordered. And she did, reminding him once again, that Sarah and Ben were not fit to be Alphas of Pacific Pack. “You have no idea what you’ve done, have you? You never should have been Alpha, neither of you. Stupid. So fucking stupid. Do you realize what Warren Pellini is? What he’s capable of? And you’ve given him the keys to the front door of this Pack. The Pack where your children live, damn you. You’re going to fix it? How’s that? Do you think he’ll just let you walk away after you’ve laundered half a million dollars for him? With all you know?
“Normally I’d counsel you to go to the National Enforcer. Except he’s in Pellini’s pocket too. There’s no system in place to protect you because of Warren Pellini. There is no fixing it, Sarah. You’re fucked and you’ve dragged your entire Pack down with you. All for money. I hope it was worth the lives of everyone you were supposed to be caring for.”
“What do we do, then?” Ben leaned forward, wiping the blood from his nose on his sleeve.
“You’re unfit to lead this Pack. You will step down and take Sarah with you. Nick should have been Alpha all this time. I shouldn’t have kept my mouth closed about it,” Nick’s mother said quietly.
Ben flinched but nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. God. So sorry. But I still want to help. This mess is our fault, I want to help clean it up. I still love this Pack.”
“Ben! You can’t just give in to this. They’re all crazy. Pellini can help us. He can help us keep control here. He’ll send people, he told me.”
Ben turned on her, despair in his eyes. “What? Sarah, what have you become? You want to sic thugs on our family? You want them to infiltrate this Pack even more than they already have? My god, I’m sick with this. I’m sick because I’m bound to you and you used to be something so much more and now you’re rotten on the inside. And I don’t know how to be quit of this connection to you.” He put his head in his hands and wept.
Tracy moved to Gabe’s side, sitting on the arm of his chair. She desperately wanted to go to Nick but he had to do this on his own, handle it his way.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to challenge Ben, do you?” Gabe spoke quietly to Nick. “Ascend, it’s your birthright. Tracy will sit at your right hand like a real Alpha female.”
Nick turned to him. “And you at my left hand. Three Alphas to rule this Pack. I won’t ask you to turn away from National, your job is very important. But if I’m Alpha, so are you, just as Tracy is.”
“Stop talking about this like it’s going to happen. I’m not giving it up,” Sarah snarled.
“Stop talking crazy, Sarah. You don’t have a chance in hell of winning a challenge against Tracy and you know it. You’ll be dead, and what about Chris and Haley then? Are you such a callous mother that your greed surpasses that too? When did this happen to you? How could I have missed the change?” Nick just looked at her with disgust on his face.
Nick stood and began to pace. “No. As of this moment, I am Alpha of Pacific. Your ties, along with Ben’s, are severed. You are shunned. You have a few hours to get your stuff and leave. I’ll allow you to take ten thousand dollars to start a new life elsewhere. You’ll have to lay low for a while.”
Ben stood and went to his brother. “I am so sorry, Nick. Please, let me help you. He won’t just leave you alone. He told Sarah that he’s got evidence on the Pack that he’ll turn over to the National Enforcer if she tries to back out.”
Nick looked at Ben for long moments and the two of them embraced. Tracy’s heart ached for Nick. If Lex or Cade ever did something that betrayed Cascadia, she couldn’t imagine the betrayal she’d feel. But they’d still be her brothers and she’d still love them.
Ben went to his knees and lowered his head in obeisance to Nick and Nick put his hand out to touch his shoulder. Tracy felt whatever magic that bound an Alpha to a Pack slam into her. Felt the responsibility of all her wolves nestle in her soul. It was heavy, but it felt right too. She turned and looked at Gabe, who blinked slowly and then relaxed back into his chair, and she knew it had happened to him as well. She wondered how he would deal with the dual responsibilities he’d hold as Third in National and Alpha in Pacific. What a complicated road he faced.
Sarah jumped off the couch with a scream and lunged at Tracy, who tossed her to the side. “I won’t! You can’t lead, they won’t follow you! This is my Pack!”
“No. It’s my Pack now. You don’t deserve them. Don’t move, Sarah. I’m not your Anchor and I don’t like you. You disgust me and I have no compunction about taking you down in a challenge. As far as I’m concerned, your children would be better off without you.”
Nick flinched and Ben gasped. Keeping Sarah in her line of vision, Tracy addressed them. “What? Do I lie? Tell me. Because someone had better well start leading this Pack because it’s not happening. Pacific is a disgrace. Why didn’t your accountant come to Nick? As Enforcer, it was something he should have been told. But this Pack has been rudderless for how long now? Even now, this bitch has betrayed you all, has attacked me and still you’re making excuses? Lead or get out of the way because I am Alpha and I am willing to do what it takes to get Warren Pellini and his family out of our business. And if you think that’s going to happen because we ask nicely, you’re out of your fucking minds. And Sarah, if you get up off that floor I will kill you without breaking a sweat, I mean it. Don’t look to Nick to save you, he couldn’t reach me in time to stop me.”
“They won’t follow you!” Sarah sniveled.
Josh stood and knelt next to Ben. “I swear my fealty to you, Alpha, and your mates.”
The Fourth and Fifth followed suit and Gabe raised a brow at Tracy and flicked a dispassionate glance in Sarah’s direction. “Looks like you were wrong.”
“Get up.” Nick motioned to the wolves who’d gone to their knees.
“What about my children? Nicky, will you just toss your niece and nephew out into the street?”
“Don’t call me that. We’d be happy to keep Chris and Haley here or up with Cascadia until this is solved. We’ll keep them safe. They are my blood and my Pack. I love them and want to keep them safe. But they’re not going to save you.”
“Call her off!”
“No.” Nick turned to Tracy. “It’s up to her.” Turning again, he looked at Gabe. “Let’s start working on a plan to deal with Pellini.”
“Not in her presence. I don’t trust her.” Gabe nodded his head toward Sarah. “In fact, I don’t trust her not to go running to Pellini the first moment she can.”
“We’ll take her down to our vacation house in eastern Oregon. The kids are on midwinter break from school anyway, they can come too. Keep it quiet and low-key,” Nick’s mother said.
“They
might know to look there. Hang on a second.” Tracy pulled out her cell phone and called Lex.
“Lex, I need some help.”
Without any other questions he agreed immediately. “What do you need, sweetie?” Tracy smiled. “I need one of the cabins on the Peninsula and a few of your guards.”
She briefed him quickly on the situation. He agreed to send three of his guards out to the cabin to wait for the arrival of Nick’s parents, Sarah and the kids and however many guards Nick wanted to have accompany them. He told her to call if she needed anything else and reminded her to stay safe.
“I suppose Josh is Enforcer now. Send two men you trust absolutely out with my parents and Sarah and the kids. Don’t let Sarah near a phone. Do not let her go anywhere alone. Cooperate with the Cascadia guards. Our lives are on the line here. Shoot her in the head if she tries to contact anyone but me or Ben.” Nick looked at his friend, who took up the responsibility immediately and went into action.
Nick’s father embraced him. “You’re going to do a fine job, son. Let us know if you need anything. We’ll get out of here as soon as we can.”
Ben went to Sarah and hugged her but she yelled at him to stop Nick. He shook his head. “No. I’m going to do what’s right by this Pack and by our children. Please don’t make trouble. We can rebuild our lives somewhere else when this is over. You know it’s what we have to do.”
“You have to do right by me, Ben! We can go and be part of the Pellini Group! He’ll take us in.”
“You’re delusional. He’ll kill you and the kids. He’s a murderer and a thug. Please go. I’m begging you to cooperate and behave.”
Once the others had left holding a defeated-looking Sarah, Nick turned back to Ben. “Here’s what we’re going to do. Nothing. Not for a bit anyway. How often does he contact Sarah?”
“Once every two weeks or so. He did his last exchange a week ago so you have a bit of time. What do you have in mind? I offered to buy him out but he just laughed. Said he was making way more through the Pack than I could pay him.”
Nick’s jaw tightened. “Why didn’t you come to me? Damn it, I’m your brother, I would have helped.”
“I was scared and ashamed. I wanted to fix it before anyone found out. I was wrong, I know that.”
“We’ll go to Boston. Introduce Tracy to National. I’ll have to get a special dispensation to keep my position there and here too.” Gabe tapped his bearded chin as he spoke. “The Enforcer will be there. I need to feel him out on this. I wanted to wait but it’s too late, it needs to happen now. If wolves can’t count on the protection of the National Pack, what good are we? He’s really not a bad man, just arrogant.”
Tracy snorted. How uncommon for a high-ranking male wolf. Not. “Seems to me this is a three-tiered issue. First, how do we get them out of Pack business? We can’t just say no at this stage or he’ll use the information and destroy us. Secondly, we need to figure out a way to make the kids safe. And they won’t be as long as Pellini sees Sarah as his way in and thinks we can be persuaded by harming the kids. Lastly, the problem of the Pellini Group as a whole and their connection to the National Enforcer.”
Suddenly she asked, “Gabe, is he unmated?”
Gabe narrowed his eyes at her. “Yes, but you’re not single.”
She rolled her eyes and waved him off. “Duh.”
“What are you up to?”
“Answer the question.”
“Yes. He’s straight and unmated but you’re not going to tear off on some half-formed plan to seduce him over to our side.”
Narrowing her eyes at him, she growled. “Don’t you talk to me like I’m some stupid piece of fluff, Gabe Murphy. I am an intelligent woman who is the Alpha of this Pack. I demand respect, especially from my mate.”
He stood and went to her, getting in her face. “I will protect you at any cost. Even if your feelings get in a snit.”
“You are an asshole, Gabe.” Spinning, she addressed Nick, who hid his dismay. “If he’s unmated it’ll be three against one. He doesn’t stand a chance against all of us. And each of us has our own area of power. You’re a former Enforcer and now an Alpha, I know Inner Circle well, my family is a ruling family too. And Gabe, while utterly a prick right now, is the Mediator. He won’t know what hit him.”
Nick’s eyebrows went up and he grinned, nodding. “Excellent idea, baby.”
“We’ll call and get the travel arrangements made when we get back home.”
“You can call from here. It’s your house now that you’re the Alpha,” Ben said quietly. “Tracy, I’m very sorry. I panicked and blamed it all on you. I know it’s not your fault. I am happy Nick found you.”
“I don’t want to live here. No offense. But Cade doesn’t live in the Pack house either and runs Cascadia just fine. The Pack ate my father alive and nearly destroyed my parents’ marriage because they had no distance. I don’t want that. Nick doesn’t want to live here and I’m with him on that.” She paused and put her hands in her pockets. “As for your apology, as I told Sarah, actions speak louder than words, Ben. I hope you’re telling the truth. Mostly for Nick’s sake because he loves you. Keep in mind that I don’t and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him and this Pack.”
“I respect that. The news is going to spread that you’re all Alpha now. How do you deal with that when Pellini hears? Sarah called him, freaked out about Tracy. He knows there’re problems.”
“Damn woman!” Nick cursed. “Well, let’s not hide that. Ben will still be seen around. Make it seem that the Ascension was amicable. For now let’s leave Sarah’s name on the accounts. She can’t do anything from the cabin anyway. Ben, keep her phone so when Warren calls, you can cover for Sarah’s absence. Assure him that everything is fine and that you’re still doing the accounts.”
“You sure that’s wise? Letting Ben talk to Pellini?” Josh asked.
“I’m going to trust my brother, Josh. He knows that not only is his life at stake but also the lives of his kids, who’ll never be safe until we get Pellini out of this Pack.”
Josh took a deep breath and nodded.
“Let’s get an announcement made and set up a Howl. We’ll get out to Boston tomorrow and deal then. We’ll do the Howl when we get back.” Nick pulled on the mantle of leadership easily and Tracy knew he was born to it. “We’re going home. I’ll keep in touch, Josh. Do what you need to do to keep the Pack safe in my absence.”
“I’ll send two guards with you when you travel to Boston. An Alpha has the right to travel with guards, especially into another territory. And I insist on you having two guards live at your new place. You’re the Alpha triad now, you need the protection.”
Gabe nodded. “That’s acceptable. I’ll contact the Enforcer’s office and make the arrangements.”
Nick knew he’d have insisted on the same thing and nodded. “Fine. Send Derek and Trey over.”
They went back out to the car and Tracy got behind the wheel to drive back to the house. Gabe tried to catch Tracy’s eye but she wasn’t having it. He knew there’d be hell to pay for his comments earlier. And he had to admit, he deserved it. He jumped to conclusions, she waved them off and he’d charged at her again, assuming the worst.
Back at home, they got out and showed Derek and Trey where the room downstairs that was to have been Nick’s office was. “You can bunk in here for now. We’ll clear out the study tomorrow so each of you can have your own room.”
They nodded at Tracy and she smiled and went upstairs. Gabe was waiting in the office just off the master suite. Ignoring him, she moved around his body and grabbed the phone to call Nina, explaining the basics and asking her to keep an eye out for anything hinky with the National Enforcer’s accounts.
Without looking at Gabe, she spoke coolly, “You need to get the permission to travel taken care of so I can get the
plane situation taken care of.”
He grabbed her but she remained stiff in his arms. “Tracy, I’m sorry.” She remained silent.
Sighing, he tried another tack. “I should have trusted you. I underestimated you and I’m sorry.”
“You thought I’d whore myself?”
Jerking in surprise, he held her body out so he could look into her face. “What? I never said any such thing!”
“Oh really? And what was your assumption? Hmm? You assumed that I was going to seduce the Enforcer over to our side, did you not? Like a whore. Well, fuck you, Gabe. I don’t need to sell my pussy to figure this.”
He paled. “I... Jesus, Tracy, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry. It sounds that way, yes. But I’d never think that of you.” Leaning in, he brushed his lips over hers and she relaxed in his arms. “I’m sorry, honey. I hate that I hurt your feelings.”
She looked up into his eyes and smiled softly. “I hate it too. And I accept your apology.”
Sitting on the desk, he pulled her to stand between his thighs. “You know, it’s been forever since I’ve been inside you.”
She laughed. “It’s been six hours.”
“Okay, so it’s been longer than I want. Go to Nick and I’ll get permission and make the plane reservations and call my assistant to have my house readied for us all. I’ll be in in a bit.”
Moving in tight against his body, she captured his bottom lip between her teeth. “Okay. See you in a few minutes.”
On her way out, he swatted her ass and she flipped him off over her shoulder. His laugh delighted her and the tension and anger were gone.
But her concern wasn’t. She’d given Nick a bit of time but it was enough and she wanted to go to him. She felt his pain as she walked into the bedroom. He sat on the chaise near the French doors leading to the veranda, absently stroking a hand over Milton’s head. Milton was really good at cheering people up, goodness knows she’d snuggled up to him plenty enough over the past four years.
“Hey,” she said quietly as she moved toward him.