Alpha’s Challenge

  “Part of it is...”

  “I hate to break this up but people heard the cars pulling up, some are moving this way,” Lex called out.

  Her spine slumped a bit and he sighed. “Thanks, Lex.” Looking back down into a face he’d already fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with, he smiled. “I’m sorry. Can we talk about this later?”

  “Sure. Let’s go.”

  The smile she wore didn’t light up her eyes the way he’d seen her in unguarded moments but she walked in and embraced her position without hesitation. His family responded to her, he realized. Responded to her natural sense of order and calm. Whereas the Wardens in general were raucous and loud, when she was around he noticed they tended to be more affectionate. His grandmother told him earlier that day when she’d brought their rings by that a good Alpha match was like theirs. Two halves of a whole that complemented the other.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Even midsummer in the northwest could be chilly, and the morning of the joining ceremony, a bite hung in the air, fighting with the growing influence of growth and fecundity. Grace had sat, watching the sun rise as Tracy had wound flowers through her hair. They’d fall away when she transformed into a wolf, but until then, they’d be very pretty.

  “This dress is so lovely.” Megan motioned her head at Grace. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything like it.”

  “Thank you. It was a huge splurge. There’s this vintage clothing shop, near the hospital I used to work at. I knew they got stuff like this in from time to time and I checked their website. When I saw it, I knew I had to have it. I can’t believe it fits me so well.”

  Splurge was a minor word compared to how much she’d spent on the 1950s-era Mainbocher dress. Pale pink silk, close-fitting bodice and skirt trailing down to her ankles. She felt like a goddess in the dress and hoped Cade saw it that way as well.

  “You look like one of those Hollywood starlets from back in the day.” Tracy stepped back. “Perfect. You’re ready to go. I’ll tell everyone and we can get started. Are you all right?”

  Grace nodded. “I am. I’ve been ready since I walked into that room and laid eyes on Cade the first time.” He’d been so breathtakingly gorgeous, her hormones had done the samba.

  She’d nearly jumped out of her skin when she carefully walked toward the stairwell leading to the meadow out back where everyone waited. Jack stood there wearing a tux and grinning.

  “I came to walk you to Cade. That okay with you?”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh! Yes, more than okay, it’s wonderful. Thank you. It means so much to me.”

  He bent and kissed her, just a brief brush of his lips over hers. “It’s my pleasure, Grace. I love you. Don’t panic, we all three know our place in this little triangle. But it pleases me to make you smile that way. And I wouldn’t miss this day. I have to fly back out again to do some business down south and then in a few more places to check out what our Enforcers are doing with their training. But for the next four hours or so, I’m here for you and Cade.”

  She took the arm he held out and they walked together.

  Cade stood there, sheltered by an arch marked by intricate carvings. Wolves, she discovered as they got closer. Real wolves stood at attention all around the area, guarding her entrance into Cascadia.

  Most of the ceremony went by in a blur. Grace felt as if she were underwater. Cade looked amazing there, a breeze ruffling his hair. He wore no shirt, a ceremonial nod to giving his mate the shelter of his body and his Pack.

  She spoke words older than her people’s presence on the continent and at some point she’d been handed a sharp blade. The slice into her flesh, the metallic scent of her blood hitting the earth and the subtle shift in the air as Cade’s joined hers at their feet.

  Howls on the breeze.

  Her dress sliding from her skin as she stepped from it. Standing naked under the sky until she’d slipped her skin and looked at the world through wolf eyes.

  And then they’d run.

  Far. Far as the earth beneath her feet welcomed her, as the Pack took her in and she became Cascadia with a surety her wolf recognized and became quieted by.

  As wolves, Cade took her, his teeth buried in the fur at her neck.

  She reclined in the soft loam of the forest floor and watched the wolves, her wolves run and play, enjoy themselves. It was one of the first truly carefree moments she’d witnessed since she’d arrived in Seattle and it made her heart glad.

  * * *

  Cade stood on the deck, drinking a glass of wine, watching the stars. It’d been the second best day of his life, right after meeting and claiming Grace. She’d looked like a little smidge of heaven as she’d floated across the grass in that pink dress. So feminine and beautiful with flowers in her hair.

  She’d loved their rings and had gifted him with such a smile, his heart had stuttered. How he’d gotten so lucky in the midst of all this turmoil he didn’t know but he didn’t plan to question it.

  “Cade, I’m sorry to bother you, Templeton is on the phone.” Megan came out onto the deck.

  Grace stirred from her chair where she’d been curled up, just watching him as he watched the sky. They’d retreated to their room earlier and had made love for hours. His muscles were relaxed, languid as he turned to her.

  He gulped down the wine and held his hand out to her and she took it.

  They sat in his office, he didn’t want her far so he pulled her into his lap and she’d just made herself comfortable.

  “Okay, what’s up?” he asked, stroking an idle fingertip up and down Grace’s arm.

  “I’ve got Maxwell on the line as well as Georges from Siskiyou. Are Nick and Gabe there?”

  “Yes,” both men answered from across the room.

  “Well, I’ll get right to it. Warren Pellini was in contact an hour ago. He’s called a Challenge of Council.”

  A collective intake of breath left the air in the room electric with tension.

  “Is that even legal? He’s shunned. Technically he’s not in any position to use the old laws against anyone,” Gabe said quietly.

  “We don’t have to honor it. Not technically. But he’s made the Challenge publicly and has agreed to call his wolves off if he loses. The war would be over,” Templeton said.

  “But at what cost? Why even let Warren Pellini cherry pick our laws when it suits him? He’s the one who broke Palaver.” Anger coursed through Cade. And some concern. “Two humans were murdered today in Los Angeles. It’s most certainly Pellini Group wolves who did it. Ripped apart and left in the foothills east of downtown. The FBI has been in contact through Agent Benoit. This is increasingly difficult to manage. They want it to end or they’ll get involved. Benoit told me higher-ups are discussing legislation that would register the entire werewolf population. This isn’t like the old days when we could simply fight pitch battles out in open fields. Humans are everywhere and Warren is involving them to protect himself,” Jack said simply.

  “So you’re saying you’re going to do this, Templeton?”

  Grace turned and stood, moving behind him and beginning to knead his shoulders. “I’ve been poisoned,” Templeton said simply.

  Cade leaned forward, as did the other wolves in the room. “What? What?”

  An uproar sounded over the conference call and it took a few long minutes to get things back under order.

  “Explain please.” Cade tried to let her fingers relax him but it wasn’t working too well.

  “This afternoon, when I was still on my way back, he took Carla to the grocery store. With only one guard.” Jack snorted and Lex joined in.

  “I can tell my own damned story, Jack,” Templeton broke in. “I wanted to take my wife to the market, is that so wrong? Without nineteen guards. And you were right so shut up now. Anywa
y, when I went to grab a buggy a bunch of people were jostling around, you know how that goes and in the jumble someone cut me. I didn’t think anything of it until we got inside and Carla smelled something off, something wrong. It was the poison.”

  “Dichilimate?” Grace asked, moving around Cade.

  “Sure is, pretty lady. I take it you know about the stuff? If so, explain it please because it’s all gibberish to me,” Templeton said.

  Grace sat on the desk. “One of the few poisons other than silver-based that can harm us, even kill in high enough doses. But if the latter was the case, Templeton wouldn’t be on the phone now. Did you spend the last few hours getting a chemical flush?”

  “Yes, and it was so very pleasant. I’m gonna find the fucker who did this to me and pound a nail though his skull.”

  Grace’s mouth hinted at a smile but she held it back. Cade shook his head and snorted.

  “Okay then. So moving along, Templeton is going to have some lasting aftereffects like muscle loss and weakness and most likely a course of physical therapy that will last about six months. Given that he’s already in his seventies, he’ll most likely never achieve the same strength he had before today. I’m sorry, Templeton.”

  “So you get it in one, dolly. Yes, she’s correct. Right now I have to use a cane to walk, my legs are fucked up. I can change but I can’t hold my wolf for very long. How come I never heard of this shit before?”

  “It’s extremely rare and hard to acquire. The human government invented it by accident but it’s harmless to them. The only stores available are synthesized and stolen from the government labs. And almost certainly come from Warren and his operation. I’ve only seen it once before and that was in medical school, a textbook case. There’ve only been five or six confirmed cases, half were fatal. I’d guess they just wanted to maim you and call your leadership into question. And really, what better time to challenge you? Warren isn’t an Alpha but he’s very strong physically and certainly now can defeat you. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be flip.” She looked worried and Cade didn’t need to fall into their link to know she was afraid.

  “Smart one you’re mated to, Cade. So here’s my plan. Cade will take on the Challenge in my place.”

  Grace stood, fury on her face. “Oh no he won’t!”

  Lex had jumped up as well and everyone else looked from person to person. “What makes you think I’m the best choice, Alpha?”

  Grace spun to face him, eyes narrowed, hands on her hips.

  “I’m in no shape to do this. Maxwell would be another choice but strategically, I need him to stay powerful in Chicago. We can’t be weak in Pellini’s backyard. And we need to keep Great Lakes powerful. They just lost an Enforcer and got a new one. The upheaval would be too much,” Templeton said.

  “What do you mean upheaval?” It occurred to Cade far more than this Challenge was being discussed.

  “When you win, I want you to take over for me. Jack isn’t an Alpha although he’s very strong and he should continue to be Second here. You and Grace would be my successors. It’s the natural choice, all the Nationally Aligned wolves would agree and you know it. You’re strong. You’ve got the fancy letters behind your name and you hold important territory without any challenge at all. You know politics better than any wolf I’ve ever seen. You’re the logical choice, Cade. I’m sorry this falls on your shoulders but that’s where it fits best.” Templeton said it and all the wolves in the room began to nod.

  Except Grace, who shook her head vehemently.

  “I’ll send over the proposed dates. You and I will need to discuss the transfer. I expect you’ll need to speak with Lex, who is most clearly the best choice to replace you as Alpha there. Give me a call tomorrow. Carla is shooting daggers at me to go to bed, damned poison. Grace, forgive me.” He hung up.

  “Well, that was unexpected.” Nina looked back and forth between Cade and Lex. “Grace will have some knowledge of what Pellini’s physical form is like, and Tee too, I’d expect. Good thing you work out all the time.”

  “This isn’t going to happen.” Grace’s voice was very quiet.

  “Grace, it has to. He’s right. He can’t do it, Maxwell can’t do it. I’m the strongest and most powerful wolf in the country after those two. I can beat Warren. I am an Alpha. And to be made Supreme Alpha? It’s beyond an honor. Being hand-picked is immense.”

  “So essentially, who fucking cares what I have to say? Is that it? Just stand off to the side and shut up?” Her voice went from soft and scarily calm to loud and scarily, well, scary. She was pissed off and scared as hell.

  “Grace.” Tracy stood up and moved to her but Grace spun and put her hand out. The power radiated off her, pouring through the space in a hot, angry rush. Cade couldn’t help but be impressed.

  “Don’t. Is it your man who’s being threatened here? No. No. Not your man, not yours either.” She turned to Nina. “No it’s mine. And so don’t try to pooh pooh it and talk to me about duty because I. Will. Not. Have. It.”

  “Grace, settle down.” Cade moved toward her. “Honey, I know you’re scared but I’m going to win. There’s no question of that.”

  “There’s no question because it’s not happening.”

  “I don’t want to fight about this but this is my duty.”

  “You made your choice.” She turned and left the room, slamming the door so hard pictures fell off the wall.

  “Dave, be sure she’s all right but give her some space,” Cade said before sitting back down.

  “Wow. Who’d have thought she had all that in her?” Tracy looked toward him, one eyebrow raised.

  He exhaled hard, scrubbing hands over his face. “Lex, you’ll need to take over for me so be sure we get all the procedure done correctly. Let’s set up a meeting with Dad tomorrow and get Melissa here as well. You’ll need to tap someone for Enforcer in your stead.”

  “Are you sure about this? She seems pretty opposed.” Lex had a look on his face and Cade knew what his brother was feeling. Relief it wasn’t his wife who’d flipped out and also understanding of what she must be feeling.

  “Doesn’t matter what she feels about it, Lex. I’m Alpha. Wardens have led Cascadia for generations. You’re a fine choice and my choice is to step up and take the challenge given to me by my Alpha, just as you will. What should I do? Not accept because my wife is afraid for me? Let this monster kill our people and endanger us with the humans because I turned away from my responsibility? I don’t want her to be unhappy but I will do this.”

  And he sat at his desk, booted his computer and began.

  * * *

  “Grace, wait up!” Dave called after her as she practically ran down the hall to their room.

  Exasperated, she turned. “What?”

  “Why don’t we take a run? You’ll feel better after a run. Come on. He’s going to be busy for the next several hours. Don’t sit in there and stew.”

  “I’m not sitting here. I’m going to the lab to work. I have work to do as well and since our special day is apparently not inviolate, I may as well go in. You have five minutes, after which I’m leaving and you will not stop me. You can go with me and bring Hiroshi, or you can hang out here. I don’t care which. I’m grabbing a sweater and I’ll meet you in the garage. Or not.” She shrugged and walked into her room, picked up her beautiful dress and carefully placed it in the box and grabbed a sweater.

  Dave had gone, most likely to tattle on her but she would leave in three minutes. She had a set of keys to one of the Mercedes and the little decoder that allowed the engine to engage too.

  “Hey, Tiny, hang on a second.”

  Grace prayed for strength as she tossed her stuff into the front seat of the car and turned. “Nina, just...don’t.”

  “I’m sorry. I just wanted to say I’m sorry and I wish things were different.??
? Nina actually looked at a loss for words and for a moment Grace waited for space/time to fold in on itself.

  “Well, that’s up to Cade. I’m leaving now. Go to sleep, you’re going to be facing a lot of stress over the next weeks.”

  “Not, leaving leaving though, right?” Nina asked.

  “No, not leaving. Just going to work. I need some space just now, to think and process. Go on.” She shooed Nina.

  Dave hustled down the steps with Hiroshi and frowned until she handed him the keys.

  “We’re not taking the Mercedes, Grace. Cade, or rather Lex says you take the Hummer every time you leave the property.”

  “Fine.” She grabbed her stuff but Nina stopped her.

  “Don’t let this get between you and Cade. He loves you but he has a duty.”

  “And God knows I’m used to being second best.” She would not cry.

  “I know what you’re feeling, Grace. You know how I was changed right? That I was attacked and challenged at a Pack dinner and the entire Pack stood by and watched as their Third tried to kill me? You don’t know how much I hated Lex and Cade both for that. Over the years I’ve come to know a lot about Cade Warden. He’s a man of intense honor and he believes in the rule of law that’s kept the wolves safe for centuries. I’m not making excuses for him, just explaining from another perspective. I know what you’re feeling. You’re afraid for him. Afraid he’ll die and you’ll be alone. Afraid he’s choosing responsibility over you. But he cannot do anything else and hold his head up. You know that. He loves you, Grace. Help him here.” Nina kissed her cheek and stepped back to allow her to get into the huge vehicle. Dave and Hiroshi knew better than to pick her up.

  “Go, damn it. I’m your Alpha too. If you can’t obey me, let me drive and leave me alone.” She sounded sullen and she knew it. It wasn’t something she did usually but she’d had enough. Everyone had their limits.

  They left her alone the trip over to the lab and once they got inside, they made themselves comfortable in the staff lounge area while she worked. If her stupid mate was going to risk his life by fighting her worthless brother, she had to get that vaccine working beforehand.