Morning arrived cold and sunny. It was just past dawn and Brogan lay awake, watching El sleep. When she’d finally settled down after her crying jag he’d gotten to the heart of the issue. There wasn’t only one. There were many.
With all the things that had happened since her arrival he wasn’t surprised she’d had a meltdown. She deserved one. They’d talked for hours. He’d explained some of the coyote law and things she could expect now that she was a shifter. She’d asked about his life and he’d done the same. There wasn’t much left to discover about each other.
Now he had to get through this morning’s meeting with the Council. Marcus had been a thorn in his side for so long Brogan wasn’t sure what he’d do without him around to stir up trouble. They’d soon find out because he had every intention of this being the last time Marcus caused anyone problems.
He hated to leave the bed and El but it was past time to get up. It would take an hour by road to get into town. Over land in coyote form would be less than half that but arriving naked wouldn’t be a good start to the meeting.
El didn’t stir when he slipped from the bed and tucked the covers around her. Even covered, the sight of her had his libido soaring. It didn’t help to have her scent all over him or the smell of sex filling the room. His cock twitched and he shook his head at the damn thing. It had a mind of its own and all it wanted was El.
It looked as if he’d be suffering through another cold shower. He swore under his breath. Cold showers and holding back his wild impulses were becoming a regular thing. Something he’d have to fix when he got the problem of Marcus out of the way.
He left the door to the bathroom open. He wanted El to know where he was if she woke to find him gone. Soap in hand, he made quick work of scrubbing down and rinsing. A squirt of shampoo later he was clean from head to toe and all the bits in between. Still sporting a semi-erection, he shut the water off and stepped out.
Peeking through the door, he saw El slept. She was curled on her side facing him and he soaked up the thrill of having her in his bed.
The towel was rough against his skin and he dragged it over his body in quick swipes, doing a rush job of drying off. Satisfied, he made his way back to the bed.
“El, baby.” Hand on her shoulder, he gave her a nudge. “Come on sleepy-head, time to rise and shine.”
She murmured something sounding suspiciously like a swear word and he chuckled. Not a morning person.
“Come on, El.” He yanked the blanket off her. “I’ve got to go soon and I want to eat breakfast with you before I leave.”
“Go away,” she murmured as she curled up tighter.
She looked like a child. Petite as she was, the position made her look smaller, more vulnerable. He didn’t like the idea of her being exposed. This afternoon he’d teach her to protect herself. Not that she’d need to since he wasn’t planning on letting her out of his sight when he returned from town.
He reached down and scooped her into his arms, her squeal of surprise delighting him.
“Time for sleeping beauty to get in the shower,” he said.
“No! Coffee! Need coffee.” She struggled in his grip but she was no match for his size or strength.
With one hand he turned the water on and stepped beneath the spray. She sputtered and protested but it was too late. They were both drenched.
“Jeez, Brogan,” she gurgled. “If this is how you plan to wake me every morning I might re-think staying.”
His arms tightened around her and bands of steel constricted his heart. She’d leave him? His heart stopped for several beats, then it took off at an alarming pace, pounding in his head and ears. Fear sliced into his soul before common sense took hold and he realized she was joking.
“You’ll never leave,” he breathed. “If you did I’d hunt you down and bring you back. You’re mine.” His final words erupted on a growl.
“What?” She turned her face to his.
“You’re never leaving.”
“No, I’ll never leave.” She placed her hands on either side of his face, pulled him closer. “I couldn’t leave you if the devil himself tried to chase me away.”
El kissed him. Not with the passion they’d burned with before but tenderness he’d never experienced from a woman. She poured what he hoped was her soul into that one locking of lips. Gently, he plied her mouth open, dipped inside and handed over everything he was in return.
By the time they made it out of the shower, Brogan had ten minutes to gulp down the bacon and eggs Rowan had made. At the dining table they rarely used, he talked with Quinn about the meeting and reminded both Rowan and El to stay inside. His gut was telling him not to leave the house but as sovereign he had no choice. He pushed back from the table and picked up his plate.
“Leave that. You and Quinn get going. The quicker you get there the quicker you can sort it out and come home,” Rowan said.
“Okay.” He put the plate back down. “Remember what I said. We have no idea what Marcus is up to so don’t leave the house, not even to go on the front steps.” He threw El a pointed look. “Either of you.”
He headed for the door, his mind already switching gears to what lay ahead.
“Ahem,” Rowan cleared her throat in an exaggerated fashion. “Aren’t you forgetting something, Quinn?”
Brogan stopped and turned to see what his sister was talking about. Quinn, who’d been a step behind him, hightailed it across the room to Rowan and bent over to kiss her goodbye. With a sheepish grin on his face, he apologized before scuttling back to Brogan.
Because El hadn’t made a point of asking or even commenting, he made sure she knew how much he’d miss her while he was gone. Striding over, he pulled her from her seat and plastered his mouth to hers. When he came up for air they were both breathless and her eyes held that dreamy look he was coming to love.
The trouble was he now sported a hard-on in his jeans. Good thing they had an hour before they hit Whispering Springs.
Brogan’s hands were wrapped around the leather steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip. The mountain road was treacherous at the best of times but after a snowfall it turned deadly. With care, he kept the speed as fast as possible without risking losing control on the slippery surface. Each mile he put between him and El made his gut tighten.
It was more than the need to be with his mate. All his coyote instincts were screaming and his beast pulled at its restraints. The hair on his nape stood on end, his heart pounded as if he’d run ten miles and his palms, slick with sweat, slid on the wheel. Disaster loomed up ahead but what it could be eluded him.
On the approach to town the road was littered with branches and snowdrifts from the plows that would have been through first thing this morning. No large trees had fallen that he’d seen and he hoped the destruction was minimal everywhere. Some pack members had suffered considerable damage in the last blizzard but he didn’t think yesterday’s had been as bad.
They hit the end of Spring Road and were brought to a standstill. Traffic backed up the whole length as far as the eye could see. Four-wheel drives lined the street bumper to bumper. More off-road vehicles filled the parking spots along the side. Either everyone in Whispering Springs had come to town for supplies to make repairs or word had spread about the sovereign being summoned.
Quinn whistled low, the sound piercing in the cab of the truck. “Looks like we’ve got an audience.”
“It’ll take hours to drive through this lot.” Making a snap decision, Brogan spun the wheel and made a u-turn. He turned onto School Road and parked in front of the two-story high school building.
“I guess we’re walking,” Quinn said as he undid his seatbelt and opened the door.
“Yep, we’ll get there a hell of a lot faster. Besides, being seen in the open will give the impression I’ve got nothing to hide, which I don’t.” Brogan got out and walked around the hood to the curb. He pushed the lock button on his key as he met Quinn on the path.
The rumble of a diesel engine vibrated the ground beneath their feet. Pivoting, he saw Steven McKenna pull the town’s big snow plow onto the street. Huge wheels rolled over tarmac and brought the machine closer. Steve had the plow scoop up, there was no snow on the road now. The main streets would have been plowed first thing and there hadn’t been a drop of snow since the evening before.
Parking behind Brogan’s truck, the big engine rattled and shook the hunk of metal in its final breath of life as Steve cut the power. The scent of diesel hung heavy in the air, coating Brogan’s nose and throat.
Steve flung the heavy door open and jumped down from the cab.
“Hey, Brogan, Quinn.” Steve nodded at them as he strode around to where they waited on the footpath. He slapped Brogan on the back in greeting. “So I hear you’re forcing humans to turn now.”
About to take a step, Brogan faltered and turned to look at his friend and fellow shifter with his mouth hanging open.
“Well, now we know what kind of shit Marcus is spreading,” Quinn said.
Steve’s smile spread from ear to ear. “And don’t forget he’s going around killing off the naturals in some underhanded attempt to rule the coyote world.” Steve laughed.
Brogan didn’t see the funny side. “What other venom is he spewing?”
“What? That’s not enough?” Steve continued to chuckle. “He claims to have seen you attack a natural to impress some human woman who you then forced to turn into a shifter. Just the usual bullshit that spills every time Marcus opens his mouth.”
“You obviously aren’t buying into it. What’s the rest of the pack saying?” Quinn asked.
Steve was the closest thing to a gossip columnist the pack had. He outdid the old biddies with his knowledge of what went on in and around Whispering Springs. If anyone could get Brogan the information he needed, it was Steve.
“Most are inclined to think it’s bullshit but it’s the human in the equation that has everyone curious. The entire pack knows a human arrived at your place the other day.” Steve aimed a questioning look at Brogan.
Brogan knew his friend didn’t really think he’d force the change on El. His interest was more in El herself. It wasn’t often a human came through town, never mind a single female. A bolt of jealousy and possessiveness speared his gut.
“Mine,” he growled, the beast rearing its head in defense of its mate.
Hands up, Steve took a step back. “Whoa! Stand down, Brogan. I’m not planning on poaching.”
He shook himself, tried to remember this was his childhood friend who would never stab him in the back.
“Sorry. I’m still coming to grips with everything.”
“No worries. So you found your mate then.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes, El’s the woman Rowan lived with in Australia for all those years. She’s here for the wedding.”
Quinn laughed. “And she’ll be staying for one of her own.”
Steve stuck out his hand. “Congratulations! For what it’s worth, I think this may cement your standing as sovereign. Producing the next generation will put you in good stead with the Council.”
Brogan shook the offered hand. “Thanks. After this latest Marcus-emitted bullshit is cleared up why don’t you come out to the house and meet her?”
“I’d love to, but I’ve got a date.” Steve waggled his eyebrows.
“Anyone we know?” Quinn asked.
“Nah, she’s from the city, visiting over in Mountain Pass. Friend of a friend kind of thing.” He shrugged. “Doubt anything will come of it. Come on, let’s get to this shindig and see what happens.”
They headed in the direction of Spring Street. Brogan nodded hello to those they passed. He even stopped to talk to a few but he tried to make the stops short. That niggling sensation in his gut was getting bigger. It was more like a nudge now. Two blocks from the community center he remembered what he’d wanted to ask Steve.
“Hey, Steve, do you know what Marcus is up to? Other than spreading garbage around.”
“Nothing I would consider unusual. I know he’s been in town less and less over the last few weeks. Could be the weather, though. We’ve had some mean storms rolling in recently.” Steve turned to look at him. “Why? Got something you want me to look at?”
“No. Nothing I can put a finger on. Just keep your eyes and ears open for me.”
“Sure. If I see or hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
No one spoke again until they reached the community center where Steve bade them farewell to go get himself some breakfast at The Den Café. Brogan and Quinn made their way to the closed-door meeting and the Council members waiting for them.