They followed the path back to his mother’s house where the black cat waited for them on the porch railing. Despite her denials, it wasn’t her cat, it sure looked that way to Scott.
“Shoo!” She waved at the animal, but it just stared at her as she clomped up the steps and across the porch.
It hopped down and slipped between her legs just as she opened the door and stepped back. Her foot came down on its paw. A screech broke the silence of the night, and she cursed as she stumbled backward, arms pinwheeling in the air.
Scott rushed up and steadied her before she fell off the porch. “Maman, I think that cat is trying to kill you.” He gave it a hard stare, but it merely sat and licked the wounded paw, claws splayed open.
“Count yourself lucky I’m out of the spell business, cat.” She sniffed and opened her door. “You boys coming in for some coffee?”
“No, I think Ted needs to get back, and I need to go home and get some sleep.” Scott came down off the porch and walked to the truck. The last thing he wanted was for his mama to get to like Ted. His wolf was bad enough.
Ted had gone around to the passenger side and opened the door. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Dupree. I’d like to say it was very nice but very strange is the best I can do right now.”
“Not to worry, Ted. Everything happens the way it should.” And with that, she went inside and closed the door. Scott didn’t see if the cat made it in or not, but he’d put money on it that it had.
He got in, started up the truck, and turned it around. They rode to the highway in silence. He figured there wasn’t much to say.
Earlier, he’d been a jerk, accusing Ted of being a dirty cop. From everything he’d seen, which admittedly wasn’t much, Ted was a good guy. He’d felt awful listening to Ted’s account of that night, and wondered how he’d feel if the same thing had happened to him. Would he have taken the blame?
He wasn’t sure if he would have given up his career.
They passed the town and turned into Bayou End. The parking lot was full, the front porch light on, but most of the windows in the house were dark.
“Is someone up to let you in?” Scott asked as he parked in front of the big house.
“No. But Marie told me where she keeps the key, so I can get in. They lock the doors at midnight.”
“I’m surprised they lock the door at all.”
“I take it there’s not much crime around here.” Ted smiled.
“Not if you don’t count the shit my own pack members get up to.” He chuckled. “Lately they’ve been going nuts. It’s called a mating moon, and the guys who don’t have mates get a little stir-crazy.”
“You mean horny, don’t you?” Ted leered at him.
“Well, yeah.”
“Does that happen every month, the mating moon?”
“No, it coincides with the equinox, in the spring and the fall.”
“Wow.” Ted nodded. “What about the guys with mates?”
“Well, I suppose their wives are a little extra tired around this time, if you know what I mean.”
“Right.” Ted laughed, then sobered. “What about you? Is this affecting you too? Is this why you kissed me? Why you let me—you know?”
“Yeah, it’s been hard these last few months, what with Maman’s spell, and my age.” Scott shrugged.
“Your age? What’s that got to do with it?”
“I’m thirty-five this year. That’s much older than a were usually is when he takes a mate. It usually happens around thirty.”
“So, you’ve been putting it off for five years? Damn, it’s a wonder you haven’t exploded. Have you…well, you know, fucked anyone in that time?”
“Sure.” Scott snorted. “I’ve had girlfriends, but none of them were my mate.”
“Just me.” Ted smiled.
Scott looked away. “Yeah. But we both know why that was and why it can’t work.”
“Right. The spell. And now? Is it really broken?”
Scott turned to Ted, his mind and heart determined to make it so. “Yeah. Nothing.” He shrugged.
Ted sat there for a moment, then nodded. “Me too. Nothing.” He opened the door and got out. “I’d love to say it’s been a slice, but I’m ready to get off this ride.”
“And I’d like to say, see you around, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Good-bye, Ted.” Scott gave him a salute.
“Good-bye, wolfman.” Ted waved back and headed up the stairs onto the porch. He swatted down, lifted the edge of the welcome mat, and stood. After unlocking the door, then returning the key to the mat, he stepped inside, not even looking back.
Scott shifted the truck into gear and drove away.
Deep inside, his wolf whined.
“It’s for the best.”
»»•««
Ted entered his room and left the light off. He rushed to the window and looked down, but all he could see were the taillights of Scott’s truck fading in the dark.
His gaze ran over the cars in the parking lot. All accounted for. Good. The chances of Kirsten going out in the three hours or so he’d been gone were slim, but he’d check with Marie in the morning and see if she knew.
Turning away from the window, he told himself he’d narrowly dodged a bullet. He’d like to believe the attraction between Scott and him had been more than just a crazy spell, or the pull of the moon. He’d like to believe Scott had seen something in him that he could care about, but that was a very dangerous idea and not to be entertained at all.
He undressed and got into bed. He was free now. He could enjoy the rest of his workshop, finish his surveillance job, and go back home where he belonged.
Life as usual.
He rolled over, clutching a pillow to his chest. Tonight had been the weirdest night of his life. The swamp, the gators, the voodoo, even that damned cat, were all something right out of a bad movie.
At least he got out alive, right?
“Right,” he whispered. “Alive and unscathed.”
Even as he closed his eyes, he prayed it was really over and done with, because he was bound to be on the losing end of the situation.
Scott Dupree wouldn’t have stood up for him against his town or his pack, no matter how much his wolf wanted Ted. Scott, the man, was in control, and he was straight as they came.
And face it; no way did Ted deserve a guy like him.
Scott was meant for better things.
»»•««
Scott lay in bed running his list of things to do through his head. He needed to get a handle on the men of the pack, get them under control without bringing the glaring light of the media down on them.
Once his pack duties were taken care of, he could concentrate on his own needs and at the top of that list, right below getting laid, was finding his real mate.
He should make himself more available to the right type of mate. A woman. His mother was right; he’d blocked himself off from his duty as alpha and pack leader, hiding behind his newly elected position as sheriff.
This weekend, he’d drive into Lafayette and go bar hopping, see what he could find. None of the available women in St. Jerome were right for him, or he’d have known it by now. His mate would have to come from outside their community.
He really didn’t like the idea of dating. Hated it, actually. Getting all dressed up, trying to find the right woman, and playing the usual games.
But being a wolf cut through a lot of that bullshit. He’d know her the minute he saw her, that much he knew. Just like when he’d first seen Ted, there would be that spark, that flash of awareness, and his wolf would call to her.
And she’d respond. Just like Ted had.
Damn his maman. She’d really interfered this time and nearly cost him everything. He knew she was only doing what she thought was best for him, but her meddling had come with a cost.
Poor Ted. He’d been dragged into this mess without any warning and dropped right into the frying pan. But despite everything, he’d handled it well, even dealt with Scott’s mom and her craziness. And Scott could tell his mother liked Ted.
It was a close call, that’s for sure.
Good thing they’d broken the spell and put his life and Ted’s life back in place.
Ted was a nice guy, and he didn’t deserve to have his emotions jerked around, not by someone who couldn’t return them. Scott had seen the hurt and devastation on Ted’s face when he’d talked about Douglas, and he didn’t want to be the one to make Ted feel that way again.
The right guy would come along for Ted, and that was how it should be.
He closed his eyes and told his wolf to stop whining. Ted would be gone in two days, and he had no plans to do anything about it.
His wolf fell silent, and for the first time that night, Scott believed the spell had truly been broken.