“So how long will it take you to pack up your things?” Scott asked as he dressed.
Ted stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you’re going to come back to St. Jerome with me, aren’t you? That’s why I came, to bring you back.”
“I can’t just pack up and go, Scott.” Ted jerked open a drawer and pulled on a T-shirt. “I have a life here.”
“You’re a PI. You can be a PI anywhere.”
“Right. In St. Jerome? Exactly who is going to hire me in that hick town of yours?” Scott had lost his mind.
Scott bristled. “Well, I don’t know. You could be a deputy, do law enforcement again.”
“Under you? No fucking way.” Ted tugged on his jeans. “Besides, I swore off being a cop three years ago. You haven’t thought this out very well, have you?”
“I came to claim my mate and bring him home; that’s about as far as I got. Ted, my life is there. My career as sheriff. I’m alpha of my pack. I have responsibilities.”
“And I don’t have a life?” Ted barked. The wolf had some nerve.
“Don’t you want to be with me?” Scott face fell, pain evident around his eyes.
“Yeah, I do. But I’m not sure how.” Ted ran his hands through his hair.
“I told my deputies I’d be gone for a few days. My pack expects me back. You and I have to be together, not in two different cities. It’ll kill us both,” Scott blurted out.
“Whoa! What are you talking about, kill us both?”
“I needed to claim my mate. My pheromones were going off the chart, and it was driving everyone in the pack insane, including me. If I didn’t claim you, I’d sicken and die. Same goes for you.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“Have you been feeling dizzy since you came home? Out of sorts. Weak?”
“Yeah, but I thought it was the beginning of the flu.” Ted rubbed his chest.
“No, it’s the beginning of the sickness. I felt it too. So it comes down to either leave the pack or claim you and bring you before them for a vote.”
“Wait. A vote? Leave the pack? What kind of stupid rules are those?” Damn, he needed a fucking rulebook for wolves. Where the hell could he get one of those? Maybe they handed them out at the pack meetings.
“Pack law. The alpha of the pack gives permission for each member to take his mate. In return, the entire pack must agree to the alpha’s mate. If I bring you, there’s a good chance the pack will reject you.”
Ted sat on the couch. “No shit. And if that happens?”
“I can accept exile, abandon you, or fight for you.” Scott sat on the coffee table opposite Ted and clasped Ted’s hands between his.
“Exile. That sounds bad.”
“It is. I’d have no protected territory. No place to change and run. No pack to set rules to live by. For a wolf, a pack animal, it’s torture. Lots of wolves go rogue and have to be eliminated.”
That option didn’t sound good to Ted, especially the eliminated part.
“This fight? What if you lose? You get kicked out?”
“If I survive.” Scott shrugged.
“What?” Ted groaned. Didn’t any of these options not suck?
“It would be for my position as alpha, and my right to keep my mate. My wolf will defend that to the death.”
“Who would you have to fight?”
“Well, right now, a guy named Wyatt wants my spot. Probably him.”
“Can you take him?” Ted searched Scott’s eyes for the truth.
“Maybe. He’s a big wolf.”
“Are you bigger?”
“No. But it’s not size that matters with alphas; it’s attitude, skill, and strength.”
“So he could kill you.”
Scott looked away, refused to meet Ted’s gaze.
“Then you have to abandon me.” Ted shook his head. “Don’t be crazy about this, Scott. Your pack isn’t going to accept me. I’m gay. They’re going to freak at the idea of you having a gay man as a mate. They’re going to hate me for doing this to you, for turning you gay.”
Scott stood and paced. “I can’t leave you. My wolf won’t let you go. I won’t let you go. I’ll fight for you, Ted. I told you that last night. I’d fight to the death for you.” Everything about the way Scott held his body told Ted he was telling the truth.
“Why?” Ted didn’t understand it. He didn’t get the whole werewolf pack thing. It baffled him and pissed him off.
“You are my mate.” Scott jerked his chin up.
Okay, along with strong and fast as werewolf characteristics, he could add stubborn. Ted wasn’t going to convince Scott to give him up. There had to be another way out of this mess.
“And if you do fight, and you die, what happens to me?” Ted asked.
“Nothing. I’m dead. Whatever bond between us will be broken. You’ll be free.” Scott turned to face Ted, and their gazes locked.
Ted walked up to Scott, wrapped his arms around his waist, and laid his head on Scott’s shoulder. “Leave me now. Don’t do this. I’ll take the chance about getting sick.”
Scott buried his hand in Ted’s hair. “No. I’m alpha. I make the decisions. I’m bringing you back for the pack vote. You’re mine.” He took Ted’s mouth in a hard kiss.
“Fuck that alpha shit, Scott.” Ted pushed him away.
“It’s who I am.” Scott shrugged. “It’s why you love me.” He gave Ted a sexy smile and a devilish wink.
“Love you?” Ted sputtered. “Who the hell said anything about love?”
Scott grabbed Ted’s shirt and hauled him against his body. He ran his nose over Ted’s neck, inhaling. “I can smell it on you. Every time you come near me. When we’re talking, right now, when we’re fucking. I can smell the way your body reacts to me.”
“That’s not love, that’s lust. That’s a hard-on for a hot guy,” Ted declared, but damn if Scott didn’t speak the truth.
Scott licked him, dragging his tongue over Ted’s neck, over the line of his jaw and across his cheek. “You love me.”
Ted swallowed. “Do you love me?”
“You’re my mate.”
“That’s not an answer, Scott.” Ted broke Scott’s hold on him.
“That’s the best I can do right now.” Scott looked truly sorry. “It’ll have to do.”
Ted stared at his mate, his wolf. “Yeah, it’ll have to do.” He was so fucked. This wasn’t going to end well. The best he could hope for was what? Scott dead and he’d be free? Or Scott and him on the run, as a rogue wolf? Both of them dying, alone and apart?
“So how long to pack?” Scott looked around the apartment.
“I’ll go with you, but I’m not packing anything. Let’s see how the vote goes. If you wind up dead, I don’t want to lose this apartment.” Ted gave Scott a cocky grin.
“Sure, I understand. This is prime French Quarter real estate. Bet there’s a waiting list and everything.”
“Damn straight, wolf.”
They grinned at each other.
“So how soon can we leave?”
“Well, I have a little business to take care of first.” Ted had decided to face down Charbonnet and ask for his money back. He’d need at least the day to do that. Maybe more if he got his ass kicked again.
“A little payback for last night?” Scott cocked an eyebrow.
“Yeah. Those goons stole the check for the work I did, and I want it back.” Ted slipped into his loafers, slung on his shoulder holster, and covered it with his jacket.
“Great. Let’s go.” Scott tugged on his boots.
“Uh-uh. You’re not going.”
“Oh, yes I am. I’ve got your back. You need me, like you needed me last night. I’m not going to let you walk into wherever and get another beat down.” Scott curled his hands into fists, and Ted knew arguing with his alpha wolf would be pointless.
“Okay. Let’s pay Judge Charbonnet a visit and see if I can get my money back.” Ted snatched his keys off the table, and they headed for the door.
»»•««
Ted stood on the same doorstep as he had last night, only this time, he had backup. On the way there, he’d filled Scott in on what had gone down the night before.
Before the door opened, Ted slipped his gun out of his holster. The goon stood there, shocked as hell to see Ted.
More shocked to see the gun pointed at his belly.
“Tell the judge I’m here.” Ted used Scott to shield his gun from view of the street. “Now.”
The goon backpedaled, and the two men stepped inside.
“Nice place.” Scott looked around, then froze. He inhaled. “Shit.”
“What is it?” Ted cast a glance at Scott.
Scott moved closer to whisper, “Another werewolf.”
“I thought as much.” Ted nodded. “It’s Charbonnet. What can you tell about him?”
Scott stepped farther down the hall. “He’s older. Powerful. Definitely alpha.”
“Is he the only one?” Ted needed to know if they were in over their heads. “Do I need silver bullets? An AK-47? A bazooka?”
“No, that’s a myth. Real bullets work just fine.” Scott sniffed again and took another step down the carpeted corridor. “No, just one. In there.” He pointed to the room where Ted had met the judge before.
“Right.” He motioned with the gun. “Out of my way.”
The goon held up his hands in surrender and moved aside.
Ted went to the door, knocked, and then opened it and stepped inside.
The judge looked up, frowned, then bolted to his feet as Scott came through the door and closed it behind him.
“What the hell is this?” Charbonnet’s gaze danced between Ted and Scott but landed on Scott. “Who are you?”
“This is a friend of mine. You don’t need to know his name. He knows all about you, Judge.” Ted grinned.
Low growling from both weres filled the room, and the hair on the back of Ted’s neck and his arms stood on end. A lot of fucking power shot around the library.
“Now, before everyone goes all wolf crazy and furry, we need to talk.”
“What about? I paid you last night. You told me Kirsten didn’t meet anyone. I believe you.” The judge kept a wary gaze on Scott.
“Oh, so I suppose you didn’t order your goon out there to meet me down the block with his friend, take me to the wharf, beat the shit out of me and steal that check?” Ted sat in the chair in front of the desk, and Scott moved to stand behind him.
“What? He took the check?” The judge looked puzzled. “I’ll admit my instincts told me you suspected something. I wanted you scared off. They were only supposed to rough you up a bit, nothing serious. But I never told them to take the money.”
“Maybe you should have a talk with your minions,” Ted suggested. “It’s so hard to find good help these days.” He pulled out the goon’s gun and laid it on the judge’s desk.
The judge glared at the door. “I’ll take care of it.” He sat and pulled out a checkbook. “In the meantime, I’ll write you another.”
Wow, Ted didn’t expect that. At all.
Charbonnet tore it off and handed it to Ted. “It doesn’t look to me that you were hurt too badly.” He sounded sincere.
“No, I had help.” Ted glanced up at Scott, towering over him.
“I can see that.” The judge frowned as his gaze darted between them. “You’re mated?” It seemed he’d decided not to play stupid about being a werewolf. “I didn’t know there were other weres in town.”
“I’m not from here.” Scott grinned but didn’t reveal anything.
“Yeah. We’re mates.” Ted stood. “Just like you and Kirsten.”
“So that’s why you didn’t believe my wife cheated.”
“Right. But I can’t figure out why you did.”
The judge slumped down in his chair, and all his attitude and confidence fell away. “Like you said, she’s beautiful and young. I’m old and…the truth is I haven’t been able to…well, Kirsten isn’t pregnant.” He waved his hand in the air. “I’m worried she’ll want a baby more than she wants me.”
Scott snorted. “A mated pair are bound to each other, no matter what. No one divorces, leaves, or cheats. It’s one of the perks.”
The judge sighed. “I know. I know. But”—he glanced away then back at them—“I’m fifty. What if I can’t give her a child?”
“Look, be thankful you have a mate who adores you. Lucky son of a bitch.” Ted tapped his check on the arm of the chair. “This time, I’m leaving, and I hope there won’t be any problems.”
Charbonnet stood, pulling himself together. “Not for you.” Intent burned in his eyes, and Ted didn’t want to think of what might go down once they left. “By the way, Kirsten spoke highly of your artwork.”
“She did?” It shocked Ted that Kirsten had even mentioned him.
“Perhaps you should quit your day job,” the judge suggested. “Sounds like you have a lot of wasted talent.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll keep my day job.” Ted waved the check. “The money’s good.”
“Good day, gentlemen.” The judge nodded, dismissing them.
“Good day, Judge.” Ted stood, and with Scott following, they left the office.
Ted searched the street. It was almost ten in the morning, and people traveled up and down the sidewalks.
“All clear.” They headed back to his apartment.
“Did you know he was a were when you took the job?” Scott asked as they strolled.
“No. But I got the strangest vibe from him. It’s like I knew something was different about him but couldn’t put my finger on it.”
Scott grunted. “Once you’ve been around us for a while, you’ll be able to tell who is pack and who isn’t.”
“That’s presuming we survive the vote.” Ted slapped his wolf on the shoulder.
Scott growled, and all Ted could do was laugh. “Ouch!” He rubbed his side. Damn wolf.