The bears' gym stayed open at all hours, even if the bears always looked like they'd just woken up from a nap. Carter knew the code to the front door and let himself in right after leaving the mansion. He always did yoga at dawn, but lately the number of participants increased so much he couldn't focus on his own relaxation. Kaiser and the bears were kind enough to trade some of his business planning for unfettered access to their workout space.
He went into the back room, recently converted into a makeshift locker room, and changed into workout gear. He had an hour, maybe two, before meeting Logan at the company headquarters. He hadn't slept well at all, between the tequila and images of Ruby. Her scent clung to his clothes, taunted him, drove him crazy with half-waking dreams until his lion seethed and grumbled about chasing after her.
Carter wrapped his hands as he walked back into the main gym. Two of the bears, Owen and Axel, lumbered in from the backyard and nodded to him. Owen looked half-asleep as he offered to hold a heavy bag for Carter, and soon enough Carter lost himself in the easy rhythm of punches and body kicks against the bag.
And yet, still Ruby distracted him. Funny how he'd known her for so long and yet the simmering interest hadn't boiled over into anything physical. He'd always found her attractive, his lion always scented her with interest, but she was never someone who seemed open to romance. Owen, a shock of black hair falling across his forehead, grunted as Carter slammed his knee into the bag in frustration, and the bear backed up a few steps to recover.
As Carter ducked back and lifted his guard again before the next assault on the bag, a bell rang. Owen blinked and yawned, then shuffled toward the door. "Visitors. You expecting anyone, Axel?"
The polar bear, whipping the speed bag so fast his fists blurred, merely grunted. "No."
Carter turned, wiping the sweat from his face, and froze. Ruby and Natalia stood outside the giant glass-front doors. He steeled his nerves as Natalia bulled through the door as soon as Owen opened it, Ruby close on her heels. Owen let them in, looking a bit taken aback, and managed to say, "Kaiser's in his pool, I'll go get him," before heading toward the back door.
"Carter?" Natalia noticed him but slanted a sideways look at the Viking polar bear growling and smacking the bag around before she approached the heavy bags. "What are you doing here?"
"Working out." He didn't look at Ruby, not knowing how she would react after the way he'd left the night before, and wiped his face with the front of his t-shirt. "What are you guys doing over here?"
"Oh, Ruby and I had brunch nearby." Nat eyed him askance, and Carter knew immediately Ruby told her something. He fought to keep his equilibrium and remain aloof and unruffled, knowing Ruby would look for how he reacted under pressure. Natalia wrinkled her nose as she looked around. "She wanted to talk to Kaiser about the gym. I thought I'd tag along. I did not realize it would smell so…ripe."
Carter nodded, then rubbed his jaw as burly Kaiser lumbered in from outside, wearing only a towel and rubbing his hair with another. Even the alpha bear, a half-polar half-grizzly grolar bear, looked like he'd been caught dozing. Kaiser smiled at the women and gently pressed their fingers with his, as if he feared bruising them by a handshake alone. "What can I do for you?"
Ruby shoved her hands in the pockets of her tight jeans, surveying the gym, and studied Kaiser with a critical eye. "Benedict said you started some MMA training and other stuff for shifters. Some of my pack are interested in participating. I want to make sure they're not going to be exploited or committed to rank fights if they cross someone here."
Kaiser finished rubbing his short hair and tossed the towel across his shoulder. It didn't cover much of his massive pecs or traps. "Everyone who joins signs a contract. Benedict agreed to draw it up for me so it's legally binding, and the Council will ratify that it will absolve the signatories from any rank implications of fighting in this gym."
She mulled it over, and her gaze strayed to Carter. She flushed when she realized she was staring at him, and snapped her attention back to Kaiser. "Okay. If the Council ratifies it, BloodMoon would be happy to utilize your facilities. Do you give group discounts?"
"You'll have to discuss that with my business manager," the bear said, and nodded at Carter. Ruby's flush climbed a little higher, and Carter bit back his glee. Kaiser, apparently oblivious, turned and wandered toward his office. "I'll show you the price breakdown. I'm sure we can work something out, O'Shea."
"I'm sure," she said under her breath, and Carter pinched the bridge of his nose so he wouldn't watch her ass as she stormed after him. Jeans like hers should be illegal.
He hesitated, about to follow, then jumped as Natalia pinched his side. "What the hell, Nat?"
The chef gave him an arch look. "What are your intentions toward my friend?"
Carter laughed, then caught her arm and drew her away from the office, so hopefully Ruby's supernatural hearing wouldn't pick up on what they said. "The ball is in her court, Nat. Entirely."
"She's my dearest friend," Natalia said, lowering her voice as she poked him in the chest. Even being half a foot shorter than him and easily half his weight, she still managed to make him step back. "And she is amazing, Carter. She deserves much better."
"I know." He caught Nat's shoulders and held her back a little to avoid any more bruises. She had sharp fingers. "And I'm offended that you think I wouldn't treat her well."
"That's not what I said." Natalia rubbed her stomach, frowning over his shoulder at where Ruby played hardball with Kaiser. "It's just…we've both got some hard edges, Ruby and I. We're used to keeping people away. And I want her to be happy."
"Of course." Carter grumbled and pulled Natalia into a sweaty hug, making sure her face ended up near his armpit just because, and she spluttered and shouted as she tried to get away.
He laughed even with the death-glares from Natalia as the chef backed up and made a face at the sweat and damp. Carter gave her a winning smile, knowing perfectly well Natalia wouldn't stay mad at him. "It's her call, Nat, and she's a big girl. She can make her own decisions."
"She does. Believe me, she does." Natalia took a breath and checked her phone as it rang. "But she has to think of Rafe and her pack and everything, and sometimes…well, hell. Every single time, she puts their welfare and what they want ahead of what she needs. What she deserves. So don't be a jerk. Please."
"I'm not a jerk," he said under his breath, then pointed at the phone. "Answer it. Logan will just keep calling. And calling. And calling..."
"I know." She scowled at the phone, then held it up to her ear. "What?" She paced as she talked, ignoring the two other bears that wandered into the gym.
Carter nodded to them, about to ask if one wanted to spar, but stopped as Owen muttered, "Shit," and the doorbell rang again.
Miles Evershaw and half a dozen of his best fighters waited outside. Owen lackadaisically headed to the door, glancing back at the office where Kaiser and Ruby continued an intense conversation. Axel, the Viking polar bear, straightened from his abuse of the speed bag and scowled at the door. "Fucking wolves."
Carter crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the door. He didn't normally want to punch Miles Evershaw right in the face, but after hearing what he told Ruby, that seemed like the best course of action. The alpha of the SilverLine pack brushed past Owen with barely a nod, and scanned the room for threats or challengers as he strode in, the pack on his heels. He noted Carter's presence with a slight dip of his chin, but he paused and scented the air. His gaze went first to Natalia, still on the phone with Logan, and then to the office where Ruby argued. A smile touched Evershaw's face and Carter wanted to hit him even more.
Instead, Carter strode forward to shake the wolf's hand. "Evershaw. What brings you here?"
"Business with the bear," Evershaw said, and jerked his chin at the back office. Kaiser noted their presence and shuffled toward the main area, and Ruby looked like she wanted to flee. Carter maneuvered himself so he stood between the alpha and Ruby. Just in case.
Kaiser frowned as he lumbered over and shook Evershaw's hand. "Busy this morning. No one calls ahead anymore."
"I didn't think you were open yet," Evershaw said. His gaze remained on Ruby as she sauntered over, unwilling to let two other alphas talk without being part of the conversation. The SilverLine alpha took a wider stance, arms folded over his chest, and raised his eyebrows. "But apparently you're letting all kinds of people in today."
Ruby opened her mouth to retort, but Kaiser cut her off with a warning grumble. "This is neutral territory, Evershaw. And it's still my den, so I let in whoever the fuck I want. You got a problem with that?"
The wolf didn't blink. "No problem with you, Kaiser. Just curious about why BloodMoon was so eager to get over here with the lions in tow."
"The lion was here first," Carter said, bristling. Evershaw couldn't speak without a challenge in his voice. "So step back."
Miles's face lost all expression and his shoulders grew as he reacted to the challenge. His pack arrayed out behind him, each one eying Carter, and Kaiser, and Ruby. Ready to fight. Carter debated unwrapping his hands before the brawl started, if only so he could cause more damage, and loosened the grips as he watched Evershaw. He wished at least Atticus was with him, but Kaiser and his bears wouldn't let things get out of hand. Still, a lion could hold off a wolf pack. He'd done it before.
Ruby growled, her eyes flashing gold as she edged around Kaiser and elbowed Carter in the ribs. "Cut it out, Evershaw, no one's going to…"
"Not now, Ruby." Evershaw dropped his chin as he eyed Carter and flexed his fists. "I'll deal with you later."
She bared her teeth, lurching forward as Kaiser blocked her from getting too close to the other alpha. A deafening growl built in the bear's chest. "No blood will be spilled here unless I'm the one spilling it."
Carter braced himself to take on the wolf pack, hoping the bears would come in on his side. The tension simmered as he stared Evershaw down, and the lion wanted to defend Ruby. He might have leapt at the SilverLine alpha just to break the silence, except Natalia patted him on the back and marched to stand in front of Evershaw.
Natalia squinted at him, her phone still in her hand as she studied the unblinking alpha. "So you're the asshole everyone's talking about."
Kaiser snorted and Evershaw blinked, jostled out of the challenge with Carter, and stared down at her. "I beg your pardon."
The human tapped her chin as she studied him. "You don't look like an asshole. I mean, you helped Eloise out when she needed it, right? So what's with the posturing?"
Evershaw looked from her to Ruby, then Carter, then back to Natalia. "Who are you?"
"Natalia," Carter said, before she could speak, and he gripped her elbow to tug her out of the circle of bristling shifters. "Logan's mate."
"Logan's mate," Evershaw repeated. He studied her critically, then shook his head. "You're human. I don't see the point."
Nat scowled as Carter dragged her out of harm's way, and she muttered, "Now I get it. He's an asshole."
Carter parked her near Owen, with a few words for the bear. "If anyone starts fighting, take her somewhere safe. If she gets so much as a scratch, Logan will kill everyone in at least a three block radius."
Just as he returned to face the group, Evershaw gave Ruby a once-over and raised his eyebrow. "Neutral territory, O'Shea. You got something you want to tell me?"
Before she could respond, Carter's lion growled – loud and angry enough even Kaiser looked up. A snarl wanted to follow but he choked it back when he saw Ruby's face and her struggle to remain in control. He didn't want to fan the flames, but every atom in his body wanted to kill Miles Evershaw for daring to proposition her. For daring to treat her like a business deal.