Chapter Twenty-Four

For that which does not kill me, should run.

—Wolf

 

TRISTAN ARRIVED THE following day after the call from the sheriff. Ryan told Thomas he wasn’t sure what he could tell Tristan. He looked to Thomas for help before telling him to hide.

“Seriously? You want me to hide?”

“Thomas, don’t start. I can’t spring you on Tristan. I’m freaking out,” Ryan said, full of panic as Thomas slipped out to wait near the cabin.

We need Malcolm, Ryan sent silently to Thomas. Those people will come back. I don’t want to lose our home, Thomas.

“Things have been a little crazy around here,” Ryan said to Tristan as he stalled for time, setting the porch chairs back outside. He motioned for Tristan to take a seat and went inside to get him something to drink.

Thomas hid in the tree line and sent the message. Father, Tristan Steele has arrived. Please advise.

We’re on the way, Malcolm said, and Thomas, relieved, could only maintain his hiding place as he listened to Tristan grilling Ryan and, more surprisingly, Ryan taking it.

“Why does this place appear to be a private hunting club again?” Tristan demanded. “My dad took all those signs down and stored all of that property years ago. Why would you put them back up, Ryan?” Tristan was clearly upset.

“Did your father ever mention a treaty? About this land?” Ryan asked.

They’re coming now, Thomas told Ryan as he continued to listen in on them.

“Yes,” Tristan said, “he had an agreement with a family who has an interest in the land to the east. They wanted an agreement, and my father not selling the land to the sawmill was part of it. The other part was that the hunting of Wolves would cease.”

“Do you remember the name of the family?” Ryan asked.

“Not off the top of my head, no. I’m sure I could find it in his documents for this property.”

“Does the name Mitchum sound familiar?”

“Why are you dragging this out, Ryan? Just tell me what has happened,” Tristan said, clearly frustrated.

Ryan reached out and squeezed Tristan’s arm as if reassuring him. “I’m waiting for someone to get here to explain it to you. Malcolm Mitchum is on his way, and you are about to meet his son.”

“Does that put you in danger?”

Ryan shook his head. “No, this is the safest place I could be. Well, once we take care of this current problem with the scientists.”

“Hang on, wasn’t your boyfriend’s name…it was Thomas Mitchum. Is that the same…” Tristan trailed off as a group of men and women emerged from the forest and approached the cabin. Thomas stepped out as well and joined the group as they drew closer.

Ryan stood, and so did Tristan. Ryan bowed to the council and the Alpha. “Welcome council members, Alpha Mitchum,” he said, and Thomas could hear the nervousness in his voice. Tristan looked back and forth between him and the large group, appearing quite confused. “I’d like to introduce you to Tristan Steele, the landowner and son of Mr. Steele senior, whom you previously met and held a treaty with.”

“Tristan,” Ryan continued, “this is the Mitchum council and their leader, Alpha Malcolm Mitchum. This next introduction will be a bit of a shock. It was for me, but I would like to introduce you to Malcolm’s son, Thomas Mitchum, who is not dead after all.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say so many words at once, Ryan,” Thomas said and stepped forward and held out his hand to Tristan.

“Me either,” a shocked Tristan said and shook Thomas’s hand.

“Thank you for helping Ryan, and oddly, thank you for trying to give me a proper burial and retrieving my personal effects. It means a lot. Would you like to hear a very long and complicated story?”

“Yes, but why don’t we take it inside.” Tristan looked upset and worried as he kept glancing at Ryan.

“It’s going to be okay, Tristan, but prepare yourself to freak out,” Ryan said and gave a shrug. “Not much else I can do to prepare you for what you are about to hear. Just remember, your dad knew all of this.”

“We’ll see if I need to get you out of here…” Tristan whispered, but Ryan shook his head.

It was close quarters, but everyone found a place to sit or lean as Malcolm and a few council members explained their history with Tristan’s father. Malcolm also explained their tie to the land, the Wolves, the pack, and Thomas. At one point, Ryan relayed to Thomas he thought Tristan might need a drink, and Thomas agreed after glancing at Tristan briefly. Ryan slipped from the storytelling, and Thomas half-listened as Ryan muttered to himself as he rummaged around in Tristan’s truck. Finally, Ryan came back with a bottle of something brown, showing it to Thomas as he passed him. Ryan took it to the kitchen, poured Tristan half a glass, and popped out some ice cubes.

Silently, Ryan returned, sat down next to Tristan, and handed him the glass. Thomas had already made tea and passed it out to their guests, and everyone listened for quite a long time. The end of the telling brought them through the war and up to their current situation. There were many issues to deal with.

Tristan had sat quietly and listened without interrupting. Once he had his drink, he sipped it and stayed focused, but now, he spoke. “Ryan, let me see your side.”

Ryan’s eyes widened, but he did as Tristan asked. Ryan lifted his shirt and pushed down his waistband to reveal no scars or injury. “I’m okay,” he said.

“And the hunter Wolf that tried to kill Ryan, who is he, and where is he?” Tristan wanted to know.

Malcolm had promised transparency from the start, so he answered, “Luke Pace is the hunter.”

This, Thomas knew, but as his father spoke, he picked up on the things he’d missed after his departure from the pack.

“He was only following orders from a council member who was punished for giving them and now no longer holds a position on this council. Councilwoman Wessler was banished by vote. She has been removed and will not return to our pack. The council has not yet determined if Luke should be punished. He is detained until his hearing, but he has requested to be allowed to make amends. That decision is still being considered. It was delayed due to the Bellum war.”

Tristan nodded. “Your justice is your business. I will honor your treaty and suggest we update it while I am here. I want it to include Ryan as co-owner of this property, and he will have the authority to represent my interests if I am not here. Then, I suggest we gather some equipment and take a team down to the cave and see if we can’t retrieve the devices the scientists want. My attorney has informed me there are two GPS-tagged Wolves, and they will have an implant just beneath the skin between the shoulder blades below the back of the neck.”

Thomas shot Ryan a so not up the ass look, and Ryan bit his lip.

Tristan took another sip of his drink and continued, “I have no intention of turning any of this over but do plan to move it off my property and likely destroy it. I haven’t quite decided since I’m not sure what kind of research they were doing yet. My attorney has requested information through discovery since they are suing me to return the Wolves’ remains. I find that highly suspicious. Why would you want the remains if you weren’t conducting experiments? And you should know I oppose that. My father did as well.” Tristan waved around at the animal mounts on the wall.

“He was a clean-kill hunter who almost always ate what he killed. He never killed a Wolf, and he taught me the same. He never believed in animal cruelty or testing. But back to the current issue. Apparently, the GPS is still active and emitting a signal. There is a device in my truck we can use to identify the two tagged Wolves. Let’s see…have I addressed everything?” Tristan looked at Ryan.

“I think we should agree to leave the hunting club signs up as a deterrent,” Ryan said. “I also would like to suggest that the pack consider sharing their technology access here at the cabin to make communication in these situations, when they arise, easier. I think being able to contact you or research the various things we need to know should be shared since we’re all on the same side.” Ryan glanced at Thomas who relayed his approval.

Tristan smiled. “That would certainly be an act of good faith on the part of a pack who violated the treaty. Anything else?”

Ryan shook his head, and Thomas thought he just might be able to like Tristan…a little.

“Then I suggest we take the truck down to the cave and use the winch to see how far down we can reach. If you have cables or ropes?”

While there might have been a council and an Alpha present, Tristan’s presence exuded authority, and it was clear that everyone there who held power respected Tristan immediately. He didn’t flinch. He spoke truthfully and factually. It was clear to Thomas they all saw Tristan as an equal, not someone they wanted against them.

Malcolm sent word to the packhouse for assistance and equipment, then said, “Councilman Adler and Councilwoman Quill, would you two mind writing up a new treaty while we handle the other business?”

They agreed and headed to the packhouse to work out the drafting of the new treaty.

“I think the three of us should drive down together,” Tristan said to Ryan and Thomas. “We’ll need to unload the truck first. I brought the supplies I’ve been gathering for Ryan since my last visit.”

The three of them unloaded the truck and gathered things they needed for the cave trip. Thomas and Ryan then joined Tristan as he took a smoke break on the porch while waiting for the pack team to arrive.

“So…” Tristan gave Ryan an uncharacteristic grin.

“So,” Ryan repeated and shook his head. “Can you believe it?”

“About the Wolves, yes.” Tristan glanced at Thomas. “About Thomas, no. That’s what you meant, right? And okay, I am a little freaked out, but I’ve always suspected something more was going on here. This place has never been exactly normal.”

Ryan looked relieved.

“I’m glad you aren’t dead. That was…difficult,” Tristan admitted to Thomas.

Thomas smiled tightly, not really knowing what to say.

Ryan filled Tristan in on everything else while they waited, and when the team arrived, a haggard-looking Luke was with them, wearing a pair of old manacles. Thomas narrowed his eyes at Luke as his Wolf began to stir. Luke walked with his head down as he approached and then bowed before his Alpha, council, and packmates. He didn’t look at or bow to Thomas, knowing better.

Malcolm extended his hand, presenting Luke and then spoke directly to Tristan. “This is Luke Pace.”

Tristan suspiciously eyed the shackled man, and Thomas appreciated how his jaw ticked as he smoked. Thomas didn’t know Tristan Steele, but he could see the anger in his eyes as he stared down the man who had hurt Ryan.

Malcolm continued, addressing Tristan. “Councilwoman Quill made a recommendation I agree with and will present for your consideration. You are welcome to think about your response, but the council and I feel that Luke’s punishment should reflect the violation of the treaty. Since he harmed a resident of the Steele land, we feel it is only just for him to serve a sentence of protective duty for the Steele heir. We have an interest in keeping you safe. Luke has agreed this is a reasonable and fair punishment. It will enable him to earn back his honor and titles.”

Malcolm faced Luke and continued. “Luke appeals for your agreement to this punishment. He is a skilled fighter and hunter. He has extensive security training. He also has an extended family within our pack who depend on him to provide an honorable status. A mother and three little sisters. Luke’s father, Milas, was killed in an accident alongside my own father several years ago. He wants to work to reestablish his status within the pack, and after an agreed time is served with an honorable performance, Luke would be allowed to return to the pack cleared of all wrongs.”

Luke glanced over briefly, away from the commanding face of his Alpha, took in Tristan from head to toe, and then locked his eyes to the ground at Malcom’s feet.

Thomas understood their Alpha had spoken on behalf of Luke. While it was all true, Thomas didn’t necessarily agree with his father, but Luke, who, after assessing Tristan, seemed to have already accepted the will of his Alpha.

“These are our ways, our laws, and justice,” Thomas added for Tristan’s benefit.

Tristan coldly assessed Luke and then turned to Ryan, who stood with a frozen stare at the iron manacles and heavy chain.

“Is he a threat or danger now?” Tristan asked Thomas while still studying Ryan.

“No,” Thomas and Malcolm answered at the same time.

“Then can we have those removed?” Tristan asked.

Malcolm tipped his head, and a guard removed the restraints with a heavy key. Thomas noticed how Ryan seemed to breathe easier after they were out of sight. And Tristan might have earned another point with Thomas for that move.

“How long?” Tristan asked.

“Two years,” Thomas blurted out and scowled at Luke, unable to conceal his or Wolf’s anger at the one who had dared to harm their mate.

Luke visibly winced, even with his head down and shoulders slumped.

Ryan appeared shocked by Thomas’s outburst but remained silent at the murderous glare Thomas wore and the low growl emitting from Wolf within.

“He tried to kill my mate and me. A year for each.”

Malcolm conceded to his son’s deserved fury, but added, “And no banishment. Your wages paid directly to your family, and a minimal living stipend while you are in service of Mr. Steele. Your family’s status will be restored immediately, should Mr. Steele agree to the terms, and will remain as long as you perform honorably and complete the indentured sentence.”

“So he would be like Tristan’s bodyguard?” Ryan whispered to Thomas but so Tristan could also hear.

Thomas acknowledged with an affirmative while he tried to calm himself and Wolf down. He then took a breath and addressed Ryan. “This not only helps his family but keeps Tristan safe. We anticipate issues with the research group. We’ve received some scary reports from other packs about what they are up to. The council wants this relationship with Tristan, so they’re hoping he accepts this as an olive branch. And for now, the pack will respect Luke again if he serves honorably. He protects Tristan, and he’s ultimately protecting the pack at the same time.”

“The pack won’t still think of him as a criminal?” Ryan asked quietly.

“No, they understand that Luke believed he was following council orders,” Thomas answered truthfully, despite his feelings. “It isn’t common for anyone to have reason to question an order from a council member or the Alpha. But he should have known an order to kill the Alpha’s son would have been given unanimously in the council hall, approval from the Pillars…some major red tape. Councilwoman Wessler is really to blame. But there is some accountability on his part. For that, Luke has to make amends, and he knows it. He has a lot to lose.” Thomas widened his eyes at Tristan, giving him a you-should-agree look.

“And if I’m unsatisfied with his performance?” Tristan asked coolly, now casually perusing Luke for a moment.

“He will be banished, and his family will either join him or live with the pack in shame,” Malcolm answered.

“Motivating,” Tristan said.

“Look…” Thomas sighed and rubbed the side of his head. Wolf was not happy. If Thomas shifted, there was no doubt what Wolf would do to Luke. When it came to mates, Wolves were unforgiving. “I know Luke. I might not be on good terms with him right now—” Thomas shot a glare at the prisoner, who dropped his gaze once more. “—but he is a hard worker, very loyal, and loves his family. I know he’d never do something like this unless he was ordered to. My guess is Wessler used his obedience or his family situation against him. That doesn’t make it right, but I will vouch for his character, just not his past actions.”

Ryan and Tristan exchanged a glance, and Ryan leaned in. “If he apologizes,” he whispered—although they could all hear—“I like the idea of you being kept safe.”

Tristan eyed Ryan, considering, and Thomas measured them both.

Ryan nodded at Tristan, then rested a hand on Thomas’s arm to quiet his Wolf’s growling. “Alright,” Tristan agreed. “I will agree to the terms, but Mr. Pace will need to apologize to the victims of his crime. I leave today, so I would also agree to him being able to clean up and spend some time with his family before we depart.”

Luke sank to his knees. “I am sorry to both of you. I am so sorry.” Then, he let out a choked-up noise.

Tristan turned to Ryan and Thomas, seeming confused at the sound, but said nothing as they all waited.

“Then it is agreed,” Malcolm said. “Escort Luke back to the packhouse. Allow him to get cleaned up, spend time with his family, see his sisters, and pack his essentials. Then return him here…” He turned to Tristan.

“At sundown,” Tristan answered.