Scott’s pack was going crazy. That was the only explanation he could come up with.
“Did anyone else see them?” he asked Mike. His best friend sat in the chair on the other side of Scott’s desk and shook his head.
“No one. My car was the only one out that late at night, fortunately. I nearly shit a brick when I caught them in the headlights.”
“Damn. They were crossing the road? Could you tell who it was?” Scott couldn’t believe any of them would take such a stupid risk.
“No, it was too dark, and my lights only hit them for a second. But if something doesn’t give soon, it won’t be long before one of them is spotted chasing goddamn cars!” Mike’s voice rose in pitch. “Seriously, Scott. You need to do something. You’re alpha.”
Scott leaned back and ran a hand over his face. “Yeah, I know. But what? Lectures aren’t working, or threats. I have no idea what’s causing this behavior.”
“It’s like wolf testosterone overdose. Even I’m affected.” Mike snorted. “I been hitting on Sharie morning and night, and if I could get away at noon, I’d be on it then too.”
“At least you’re getting some.” Scott rolled his eyes.
“Hey, you know what you can do about that, don’t you?” Mike grinned at him. “Claim your mate and get some.”
“That isn’t going to happen. Ever.” Scott leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Look. It’s over. Last night we went into the swamp, and Mom reversed the spell.” He sat back. “All done.”
“Really?” Mike scowled at him. “The spell is broken. That easy?”
“Yeah. That’s all it took.” Scott gave Mike a happy smile, despite the confusion bouncing around inside him.
“Great.” Mike looked relieved.
“Yeah, great.” Scott didn’t want to think about what he felt or didn’t feel.
Mike’s gaze didn’t leave Scott’s for a minute. “So, what are you going to do about this?”
“I’m not sure. Call another pack meeting for tonight.”
Mike stood. “Right. Maybe once the full-moon cycle is over, things will calm down.”
“We can only hope. But for now, I’m ordering everyone to stay home.”
Mike gave him a nod and left.
Scott picked up his cell phone, dialed the pack’s number, and texted a message that went out to all the members. ROUX 8PM 2NITE
He slumped back in his chair and bit his lip. Whatever was taking over his pack might just be the thing that exposed them all to the world.
As alpha, it was his job to do whatever it took to stop that, no matter what. Scott knew he was up to the job, but the “no matter what” part of it scared him like nothing before.
»»•««
Something had been weighing on Ted’s mind, and he’d only barely listened to Darcy’s lecture that morning. Kirsten’s language when she’d spoken about her husband bothered him. It smacked of the familiar, and Ted couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Judge Charbonnet might just be a werewolf.
If that was the case, and Kirsten was the judge’s mate, then there was nothing he could or should do about it. From what Scott had told him, they belonged together as mates and to try to end that would prove disastrous for both Kirsten and the judge.
The judge he didn’t give a shit about, but he cared what happened to Kirsten.
If only he had more information, but talking to Scott at this point wasn’t a good idea. At all. He’d woken that morning hard, thinking about the handsome sheriff, but forced it out of his mind with a cold shower.
The spell had been broken, and nothing other than lust held them together now. Thank God. Lust he knew how to handle. That mate crap? That just scared the shit out of him.
He might not talk to Scott, but he sure as hell could talk to Kirsten. After they’d had lunch, he’d decided to have that chat at their next painting location, a dirt road off the highway that ran along part of the bayou.
After finding a spot next to her as they set up their easels that afternoon, he began chatting, hoping to bring the conversation around to her darling husband.
“So, he’s really cool with you doing this? Must be very confident of you.” Ted laughed as he sketched.
She laughed. “We’re rock solid, Ted. I’m as sure of him as he is of me.”
Ted stopped and stared at her. “Seriously. ’Cause you are H.A.W.T. and he’s, what? Twenty-five years older than you? If you were mine, I wouldn’t ever let you off my leash.”
She made a face. “Thanks, I think. But I don’t even think about the age difference; it’s not an issue with us.”
“Really? I hope I can find someone who’s still got it when I’m that age.”
“Oh, trust me, he’s still got it.” She winked. “He’s an animal.”
“An animal? Like how?” Ted jumped on her words. Maybe he was getting closer to the truth.
She looked around to see if anyone was close enough to hear. “Yeah. He’s all growly and alpha and ‘you’re mine.’” She shivered and rolled her eyes. “Turns me on.”
Ted stared at her, and for the first time, he wondered if she even knew her husband might be a werewolf.
“Sounds like he’s a real wolf to me.” He winked.
Kirsten froze, her eyes wide. Then she licked her lips and turned away to paint. “I suppose.”
Well, that had been a guilty look if he’d ever seen one. So she did know, and she was okay with it. That changed things, for sure. She was there knowingly, so that meant she didn’t need rescuing.
A small rush of relief raced over him. One less thing to deal with. So if they were mated, according to Scott, they couldn’t look at anyone else. Ever.
So why was Charbonnet so sure she’d cheated on him?
“Is he all jealous and possessive?” Ted asked. “Because that’s one thing I can’t stand in a lover.”
“Possessive, definitely. Jealous. No, never.” She shook her head, and her ponytail swung back and forth.
“And you. Never jealous or possessive?”
“He’s my man. End of story. I trust him completely.” She stepped back to get a glimpse of Ted’s painting. “Man, you’ve done it again. Darcy is going to wet himself over this painting.”
Ted stared at what he’d been working on as they’d chatted. He hadn’t really been thinking about it, just putting paint to canvas, but now that she’d brought his attention to it, he stared at it.
“Yeah, it is good.” He couldn’t believe it.
“My gallery friend would love to get ahold of your work.” Kirsten went back to her painting.
Kirsten had to be just talking. He wasn’t art gallery good. Not by a long shot.
They finished working in silence until Darcy made his rounds.
“Ted, good Lord! What are you doing taking my class? You should be teaching it,” Darcy raved as he stood back from Ted’s easel.
Ted stepped closer to Darcy. “It doesn’t matter what you say; I’m not sleeping with you.”
Darcy bust out laughing. “Ted, I’ve given up hope of that ever happening.”
“So you really think it’s good?” Ted asked.
“I do. Very good.” Darcy nodded.
“I told him I could probably get it into a friend’s gallery,” Kirsten added.
Darcy eyed him. “Listen to her. Take a chance.” Then he moved on to the next person.
“Really, Ted. Take a chance.” She stepped over, digging in her purse, then pulled out a business card. “Here, take this. If you’re interested, call. I’ll hook you up with her.”
Ted took the card, glanced at it, then shoved it into his wallet. “Thanks.”
“I want ten percent. Finder’s fee.” She laughed and went back to work.
“Sure. Like that’s ever going to happen.” Ted filed it away, along with the information about her husband.
Judge Charbonnet was a werewolf.
Damn.