“It’s not winning the game that’s so important,” he said to his brothers, “but how you win.”
“Ha!” CJ said. “You’re playing an entirely different game than us. We have our names and reputation to uphold.”
Everyone on both sides laughed.
She realized that a lot more wolves had moved around to see them play. Usually, everyone did their own thing while several activities were going on at the same time. But their game seemed to be drawing a lot of attention.
Even Sarandon was standing there, arms folded and smiling.
And of course Richard. He said he was too old to play vigorous games like this, and he usually manned a grill, but now he wanted to see what was going on. Or maybe to figure out if their leadership was going to be changing anytime soon.
Susan was smiling at Pepper from the other side of the net, and Pepper wondered if Susan had witnessed what she had done. She would hear about it soon enough.
Before long, Pepper’s team won, but CJ and Brett were shaking their heads, saying next time Eric had to be on the other team.
Pepper laughed. “He played his best. You all did. It just wasn’t good enough to match the Grayling pack.”
Eric smiled, but his expression said he was thinking of having more fun with her.
After the game, Eric’s brothers dragged him off to play tug-of-war against her pack, and Lelandi joined Pepper, motioning to all the activities going on. “This is so much fun. We get kind of stagnant when all we have to visit with are the same old people. Though the MacTyre sisters are new to our pack, and that’s really helped to bring in fresh blood.”
“I understand one of Eric’s brothers already mated one,” Pepper said. Sarandon had given her a rundown of his brothers during the Scout speeches.
“Yes. Well, they’ve been with us now for over a year, and CJ fell hard for Laurel.”
“And she did for him,” Pepper guessed.
Lelandi shook her head. “She was fighting it.”
Like Pepper was fighting her attraction to Eric? That made her curious. That was the problem with her own mating. It had been inevitable. No one thought anything otherwise. No conflict. No other wolves showing up to woo her and sweep her off her feet. Everyone in the pack had thought it was just the way things were supposed to be. She couldn’t imagine two wolves getting together when one wasn’t interested. “Why?”
“She and her sisters were searching for their missing aunt,” Lelandi explained. “That was why the sisters bought the hotel. That is their business though—renovating Victorian hotels, selling them for a profit, and then moving on. But once Laurel gave in to what she knew in her heart was true, she and her sisters decided to set down permanent roots. So they’re running the hotel at full capacity, even turned the former maids’ rooms into a suite of rooms to rent because the place has been so popular.”
“Ah.” So that was one isolated case of a wolf not wanting to mate. But they had loved each other. Pepper still thought that was atypical. What had her more than curious though was Lelandi’s relationship with Darien. She had begun to think there didn’t need to be any passion between the leaders of a pack, but Lelandi and Darien still acted like courting wolves. They had children already, and yet they seemed so passionate with each other. Their actions made her wonder how they had been when they were courting.
“Darien seems to be a good mate, giving you equal decision-making authority, but being all alpha male when it comes to taking care of threats. Yet he concedes to your psychology training and woman’s intuition.” Pepper wanted to mention how much she admired their obvious love for each another, but she didn’t feel comfortable speaking about it when she and Lelandi had really just met.
“Yes, but I was as reluctant about Darien as Laurel was with CJ. And in truth, Darien had no intention of ever making me his mate either.”
Shocked to the core at the revelation, Pepper couldn’t help also being amused. It was astonishing how much they appeared to treasure each other with a beginning like that. “Well, it’s good it all worked out then, because you both seem perfectly suited to each other.”
“I so agree. We’re very happy together. You were mated before, I understand.”
“Yes.”
“For some, the grief process can take decades or even last forever. No one will ever measure up to the one we loved. I think if I ever lost Darien, I’d feel the same way. But time would tell. No two people are ever alike. So what we might love in one, we might not find in another. Yet, something else will make that person special to us. So even though I don’t think I would ever find another mate I love the way I do Darien, I can’t know that for a certainty.”
Pepper was taken aback to hear Lelandi say so. She had believed Lelandi would remain mateless for the rest of her life if she lost Darien. “But it’s different for us as pack leaders. We have our packs to consider. A new mate might want different things for the pack. You have your children to worry about too. What if a new mate didn’t treat your children right?”
“I’d have a whole pack up in arms. Not to mention, he’d have me to deal with first.”
Pepper laughed. She could just imagine Lelandi, although very sweet in her demeanor toward Pepper, could be a real wolf if anyone treated her children badly. “What if he didn’t lead the pack like you were used to with Darien?”
“He wouldn’t lead it the same way. That’s the thing. Different wolf, different ways of doing things. We’d work it out. Life is taking chances.”
“What if he wouldn’t give you equal say?”
“It wouldn’t happen.”
Pepper wasn’t sure. An alpha male could be terribly hardheaded. Waldron was. Her father had been. Even the wolves who had sought to court her were. She thought of Eric. “But what if it did?”
“Then as an alpha leader, you ensure you get equal say. Even if you mate with another wolf, it’s still your pack. Your people. They will love you and side with you until your pack mate realizes you’re vital to the rule of the pack.”
Pepper could see that. Her people were loyal to her.
Darien sauntered over and smiled. “Great party. Everybody’s enjoying it. Kids are having a blast. Adults are too.”
Pepper hadn’t realized the kids would have so much fun with the others. It was a great way for them to get to know other wolf kids. It was so hard to find them otherwise. And though the teens in her pack played with the little ones, it wasn’t the same as having real teens to socialize with.
Darien watched the men playing tug-of-war. “So what were you ladies talking about that you got so quiet all of a sudden when I arrived?”
“You, dear,” Lelandi said, patting his shoulder. “If anything should happen to you, how I would consider finding a new mate.”
Pepper closed her gaping mouth. She hadn’t figured Lelandi would ever say such a thing to Darien, not when they were so obviously in love. Then again, maybe that’s why she could.
“Over my dead body.” He smiled at her and kissed her lips. “You would never find anyone as great as me.”
The ladies laughed and Pepper loved the way Lelandi and Darien were with each other.
She still worried about how a male wolf would impact her pack leadership, but now that she was involving her people with the Silver wolves, she could see that some change was for the best.
Someone started playing music and Darien said, “Do you mind excusing us? I want to take my mate for a dance if she’s thinking of replacing me anytime soon.”
Pepper smiled. “Have fun, you two.” Then she went to get some fried chicken and potato salad. When she drew closer to where the food was being served, Pauline glanced at her, her cheeks reddening a bit. Because she was talking to a man? From another pack? If she found a new mate who made her happy, Pepper would be ecstatic for her.
Pepper motioned to the chicken. “Which is be
st?”
“Fried chicken, ma’am,” the gentleman said, but this one wasn’t the same one Pepper had seen Pauline talking to earlier. That one was younger and now playing tug-of-war with the others.
“This is Mason, president of the Silver Town Bank,” Pauline said, “and, Mason, this is my pack leader, Pepper Grayling.”
“My pleasure.”
“Can you believe they run everything in town? The bank, hotel, bed and breakfast, newspaper office, just everything,” Pauline said.
“I’ve heard great things about your pack,” Pepper told Mason.
“They have some super interest rates on accounts. I’m going to switch my money over to their bank,” Pauline said.
“Sounds like a great idea.” Pepper wondered how many of her people were going to begin doing business with Silver Town now. She thought it was a wonderful idea—wolves helping each other, which, in a perfect world, would be the way it was. She couldn’t imagine how complicated it would be to run a pack that large and a town that size. She could see why Lelandi would get another mate if she had to run things by herself. Yet, Lelandi wouldn’t be alone in managing things. Not when Darien had two brothers who would continue to be her sub-leaders. They’d help ensure things ran as smoothly as before.
Pepper took her plate of food and headed for one of the picnic benches.
“Nice spread,” Eric said, joining her, his plate piled high with barbecued brisket, corn on the cob, and potato salad.
“Who won?”
“Ah, the other side. More than half the team was made up of your people, and they must practice a lot.”
She laughed. “I’m sure they didn’t want to lose face if they lost the game to another wolf pack.”
“The Silver pack too. We know so much about each other in our pack—everyone’s moves and tactics—that fresh opponents made it fun. No one knew what the other side was going to do, what their weaknesses or strengths were. But all of your strongest players had to have been playing.” He took a sip of his bottled water. “My brothers were giving me a hard time about you distracting me during the volleyball game.”
She took a seat opposite him. “I really didn’t think you could be that easily distracted.”
“Hell, are you kidding? I thought you were trying to tell me you wanted to return to the kitchen and finish what we started.”
She smiled. “In your dreams.”
He chuckled. “My brothers are still asking what you did to take my mind off the game. They said they were watching the ball.”
She laughed again. “I like your brothers. I think it would have been fun if I’d had some siblings like that.”
“No way. If you had brothers, I could just see them giving me grief for kissing you in the kitchen. Shotgun wedding. The whole business.”
“True. And one of them might have been the leader.”
“Your sub-leaders. I have no doubt you would have been in charge even then.”
“Thanks, Eric. You look like your shoulder is doing better.”
“Yeah, good as new. And with babying it for so long, I needed the exercise.”
She doubted he’d spent a moment babying it.
“Did Lelandi invite your pack to our Victorian Days celebration in the fall?” he asked.
“Not yet. Sounds like fun. I’m sure everyone will want to attend.”
Suddenly, Darien was stalking toward his brother Jake, his cell phone to his ear, his expression dark.
Eric got up at once. “I’ll be right back.”
She watched the men as Lelandi joined them. Pepper knew that the other deputy sheriff, the sheriff, and Darien’s youngest brother, Tom, his other sub-leader, had stayed in Silver Town to protect and run it. Others had too, though Pepper assumed more than half their people were here, as big as the crowd was.
Eric spoke to Darien, then Darien nodded. When Eric returned to the picnic table, wearing a frown as big as Darien’s, she knew something bad had happened.
“Someone set fire to three buildings in Silver Town. Darien and Jake are returning with some of our men. The women and children and the rest of our men are staying here. Including me. Until everyone’s ready to end the party.”
“You don’t think this has to do with Waldron, do you?”
“Yeah, I do. But we’re not discounting anything. The fires are contained, but Darien and Jake want to get back there in case any more are set, or if they can help catch the culprits.” Eric finished his barbecued beef and corn on the cob.
“If they’re human arsonists, you can catch them. But if they’re wolves—”
“They’ll be covering up their scent.”
“I can’t believe this.” She finished her food and they dumped their trash.
“Well, the good news is we investigated the place where Waldron and his pack came from. Idaho. CJ is checking out there to learn what he can about their old pack.”
“How did you learn that much?”
“The Fairhaven twins. When we told them they could be locked up for a very long time—considering we’re wolves and run our own town, have a judge, the works—they decided to talk.”
“Wow. Okay, so what have you discovered?”
“Nothing yet. They gave the name of the pack leader in Idaho. We thought that it was important to remind the boys that if they lied, it would go worse for them.”
“But they still might have lied.”
“We’ve located the pack and should have news soon about what went on. Darien hasn’t been able to get hold of the pack leader yet. The boys were released late that afternoon the day after they were arrested. I’m thinking their incarceration—and possibly the boys spilling the information about their prior pack—caused Waldron to retaliate. I gave the boys a good talking-to that day, told them if they wanted to switch packs, we had a lot to offer them—stability, other teens to socialize with, job opportunities. Some of ours help run ski programs during the day and want to be on ski patrol during the ski season when they’re older. During the summer, they help with the silver mine tours.”
“I would have jumped at the chance if I were them.” Pepper dug another couple of bottles of water out of the cooler and gave one to Eric.
“Thanks. It would be a great opportunity to steer them down the right path. I talked with your teens about the possibility too. They seemed to hit it off with ours. Anyway, as far as the Fairhaven boys go, they’d have to talk it over with their parents, who we said would be welcome to join us too. They’re both teachers—one teaches English, and the other history. We homeschool all our kids, so the parents would be a great asset. We share duties on who has the most knowledge on certain subjects and teach the kids that way.” He glanced down at the cooler. “Looks like it might need more ice.”
“I’ll send you in by yourself this time,” Pepper said. “I could just see Richard watching us and making some excuse to visit the house if we both went inside. He’s been like a father to me.”
“Ahh, so then we’d have the shotgun scenario anyway. Truly, I think he wished he hadn’t intruded,” Eric said and walked her back to the picnic tables.
“About the Fairhaven twins… Your pack taking them in sounds like a great idea. But the parents would have to deal with Waldron too.”
“Right. But it’s a great opportunity for them, and wolves can leave packs at any time. So hopefully they’ll consider it favorably.”
“What will you do now about the arsonists if they turn out to be Waldron and his pack members? If Waldron doesn’t own anything, you can’t confiscate it.”
“We can let Waldron know his actions won’t go unpunished. We just have to prove he had a hand in it. If he didn’t, but his people did, they’ll be punished. They will pay for the destruction and be incarcerated for a time, the stiffest punishment we can give.”
“I’m so sorry. This could all hav
e been because of me.”
“Nonsense. It’s because of Waldron, if he’s done this. And I can’t imagine who else would be responsible.”
Although everyone still there was eating and talking, Pepper sensed that the overall mood had darkened. The adults were much more wary, not sure what was going on, but they appeared to understand that some trouble had befallen the Silver pack.
“Do you want me to stay the night?” Eric asked, and he seemed so sincere, Pepper scolded herself when she told him “no” vehemently.
“We’ll be fine,” she said, softening her tone. She didn’t want him to think she was annoyed by his suggestion. But she didn’t want him to believe she suddenly needed anyone from the Silver pack to watch their backs. Sure, some of it was fear of losing control of her pack. Was it that without her position as a leader, she felt she had no worth? She hoped that wasn’t the reason she was so against mating another wolf. It seemed so materialistic, so driven for power.
Thankfully, Eric cast her an elusive smile, not bothered by her response. “You’ve got my number. Just call me if you need anyone’s help.”
She realized what he was saying. Not his help particularly. But that anyone would come to her aid. And at that moment, she thought she’d sounded afraid of him. Which she wasn’t. Really.
“Thanks.” The thing was, they lived four hours apart, so if she needed his help, or that of anyone from his pack, it would take some time for them to get here. Even so, she wasn’t having him stay with her or with anyone else in the pack. That was plain silly and totally unnecessary.
The music started up again, and Susan began getting couples together to dance. When she came over to see Eric, Pepper gave her a stern pack-leader look that said she had better not suggest Pepper dance with Eric.
Instead, Susan grabbed his hand and tugged at him. “Do you know how to dance? If not, I’ll teach you.”