Authors: Kassanna
Chapter Seven
Tee slapped the phone to shut off the alarm and missed. The cell fell to the carpet creating a muffled buzz. She opened one eye and groaned as she leaned over the edge of the mattress. Her shoulder burned when she reached for it. Myka had claimed her, but she had yet to return the favor. She snatched the phone off the floor and the buzzing stopped. The screen denoted a missed call. Why the hell did people insist on waking her up at the ass crack of dawn? She slid the phone across the surface of the ancient wooden table.
Myka turned over, skimmed his hand over her hip. “Who is it?”
She burrowed back under the covers. “No clue.”
He rose up on his elbow and looked down at her. “You’re not going to check?”
“No because if it’s important, they’ll call back.” The cell skittered across the nightstand.
Tee narrowed her eyes. “You jinxed me!”
“Better you than me.” He rolled over and pulled the pillow over his head.
Tee slid her finger across the screen. “What?”
“Ooo, am I interrupting something?” Nix’s slick voice filled her ear.
“Nothing but my beauty sleep.” Tee scooted up and reclined on the headboard.
“Oh.” Nix’s disappointment was evident in the way she said that one word. “I can’t reach Myka and some serious shit has gone down.”
“Myka’s in bed. I don’t know where he put his phone though. What happened?”
“Tee, it’s bad. I can say this with all honesty because I am currently the voice of reason at the Volkshire compound. Me! And I am not happy about it.”
“Nix, girl, calm down and talk to me.”
Myka turned to face her, his brows drawn together.
“Roman planted men outside of Volkshire, and Rhys has gone off the deep end. Fre is trying to keep him calm and Boris is planning a strategic strike to kill all the mofos. I need Myka like yesterday.” Nix said it all in one breath.
“Oh shit. Umm, gimme one minute. I’ll get him.” Tee lowered the phone. “Your brothers have lost their damn minds and it must be bad if Nix is the one telling folks to calm the hell down.”
Myka’s lips compressed into a grim line. He took the phone. “Nix, what the hell is going on?”
Tee sighed and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. She needed coffee. She grabbed her robe from the end of the bed and padded out the room. Myka’s calm tones followed her into the kitchen. She was scooping grounds into the coffeemaker when he stalked into the room with the phone still attached to his ear.
“Rhys, will you shut the fuck up for one damn minute! If you’re right and they came for Keen they will be the ones who’ll get a surprise. I trust these people. I’ll talk to Percel, see if we can leave Keen here. No one knows where we are so he’ll be safe. No…dammit, just no! Tell Boris to dial it back a notch. Snatch one of the fuckers for intel, leave the rest be. For now.” Myka paced the living room area, listening to Rhys. “We have the damn resources to make sure that bastard Roman will never find Keen. We cannot kill the Council members, at least not yet. Tell Boris to put that idea on the back burner. Give Dad some time to handle those idiots. Listen…For the love of God will you fucking listen. The Alphas here are having a town meeting to decide on our petition for an alliance. I will pack up and leave immediately afterward and be home by tomorrow afternoon. Do not do anything until I or dad gets there other than what we discussed!” Myka yelled into the mouthpiece. He pulled the cell from his ear. Rhys could be heard from where she stood in the kitchen, his words as clear as if he stood next to her.
Tee poured black coffee into a mug and slid it across the island which divided the room. Myka glanced up and mouthed “thank you.” His finger moved across the screen quickly as he dialed a number. He picked up the cup and took a sip of the brew. She looked longingly at the cups and exhaled. Myka needed help and she could pave the way with her family. Tee glanced out the window into the night. Maybe her Aunt Sint was up? If not she’d just suffer her favorite family members wrath, ’cause she had every intention of getting the woman up.
“Dad?” Rushing to put the mug down, dark brown liquid sloshed over the rim. “What is going on up there? Nix called me in a panic. Roman has men literally sitting on our doorstep.”
Tee wiped up the spill and moved around the island dropping the paper towel in the garbage as she passed the can. Myka grabbed her wrist and yanked her up against him.
“Dad, hang on a minute.” He lowered the phone and nuzzled her neck, kissing the spot he’d bitten.
“You have pack business.” She pulled away.
He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “You’re just as important. Is there any way you can see if we can move up the town meeting? We need to leave here sooner rather than later.”
She nodded. “I’ll check with Aunt Sint about Keen too.”
“You’re amazing and I’m lucky.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before lifting the phone to his ear. “Yeah, Dad, I’m back.”
Tee shook her head and went to her bedroom to dress. He was still talking to Colin when she passed him sitting at the island. She trailed her fingers along the back of his neck and waved as she walked out the door when he looked up. Her heart beat faster simply watching the way he smiled. The sun was just coming over the horizon when she stepped onto the deck. She glanced over and saw her Aunt Sint sitting in a patio chair sipping her morning brew. Tee jogged down the steps and crossed the yard to her aunt’s house. She climbed up the stairs and walked across the wooden planks to fall into one of the overstuffed seats.
Her aunt looked over the rim of her cup. “The way you were caterwauling yesterday afternoon, I didn’t expect to see you up so soon.”
Tee sunk deeper into the chair. Her cheeks burned from embarrassment. “Heard that, huh?”
Sint snorted. “Chile, the little green men living on the moon heard you. Must have been…pleasant.”
Tee changed the subject. “What are you doing up anyway?”
“Waiting on your momma.”
“Pardon?”
“You heard me. Loretta said she was on the way when I called and told her you were attacked. I suspect she will be rounding that corner in about an hour.”
“Why, Aunt Sint, would you go and call my mother?”
Sint shrugged a hint of a smile on her lips. “Why not?”
“Because you’re Aunt Sint and mother enjoy torturing each other and right now you’re the fodder for their cannons, young lady.” Percel stood shirtless behind the screen door. “Guess I can’t call you that anymore. Not after the sounds I witnessed last night.” He pushed the door open and crossed the threshold.
“Y’all aren’t going to leave this alone are you?” Tee questioned.
Sint shook her head while Percel answered with a huge smile. “Not on your life.”
Tee scrubbed her face with her hands. “All right, since your both up I have a couple requests.”
Sint put her cup down. “Which are?”
“We need to return to Volkshire as soon as possible. Myka was hoping there was a way to hold the town meeting earlier? We were also hoping to leave Keen here for the time being if that would be okay?”
Sint glanced at Percel and he nodded. “Keen is welcome to stay as long as he wants. Percel will call the other Alphas, but we can’t make no promises.”
“I understand.”
* * * *
The community center/courthouse was packed to capacity. Some people had to stand along the back wall, the group so large others peered through the doorway from outside. The leaders sat at a folding table listening to Myka as he explained the Volkshire pack offer. Tee sat to the side next to Loretta, her mama, with her hand over her mouth. The ceiling fans above head squeaked with every rotation and a few people patted their faces with bandannas.
Myka sat down next to Tee in the old wooden folding chair while Percel opened the floor for people to comment. A few folks voiced their opinion not to get involved and others murmured in agreement.
Tee leaned over and Myka dipped his head. “I told you your offer was too low. You gotta give them something they want.”
Myka shook his head. “I already got two votes from Etienne and Armand. This is in the bag.”
“But you haven’t convinced the one who counts and in the end. Uncle Percel makes the final decision. He listens to his people, not just the Alphas. It’s been like this since Betaille has been around. It’s how they stayed neutral and off the Council’s radar for so long,” she stressed.
“I think I know what I’m doing,” Myka whispered back.
“I think your being an arrogant ass.” Tee stood up. “Alpha Percel, if I may?”
Percel snorted and glanced at Myka. He gave a faint nod, and her uncle acknowledged her request. “The floor is your, Gertrudis.”
Myka watched as she fisted her hands and pasted on a smile when her full name was spoken. Loretta leaned over Tee’s chair and tapped Myka on the hand. “I don’t understand why that chile don’t like her name.”
At a loss how to answer, Myka shrugged and watched Tee move with a serpentine grace while she modulated her voice. It dawned on him Tee was a wonderful speaker.
“Betaille, most of you folks know me.” She raised her hand and covered her heart. “I have seen firsthand what the Council is trying to do simply because a shifter who happens to be an Alpha claimed a human. Most of you are mated to others outside of your species. That was the whole reason Betaille was founded. As a safe haven for us to live and love as we choose no matter the who or what of our species.” She cleared her throat and glanced back at Myka. “I have a personal stake in this. As some of you may know, Myka and I are now mated…”
Myka listened to the snickers that seemed to roll through the area and watched as she waited for the crowd to grow quiet.
Tee continued, “As I was saying, if the council is allowed to do this to the Volkshire pack what’s to stop them from trying to overthrow other Alphas and impose their will on other clans. If we step up now, we can change the face of council. We can make a difference and finally have a say.” She turned around to face the tables where the Alphas sat. “I offer ten-percent gross of our contracts proceeds and work options on choice government jobs for one year. Five percent for the year after that and three percent for the year after that and for as long as we continue to do business. I ask that you partner with the Volkshire pack to start a training program so that we may share information to expand the knowledge of our sentinels.” She pursed her lips as if in thought before she continued. “Starting with our ten best male and female fighters. I’m sure you can see how lucrative this offer is. Thank you for your time.” Tee nodded her head and resumed her seat.
Myka stared at her, clasped her hand and rubbed it against his thigh. He leaned close and whispered. “You just gave me the hardest erection I ever had.”
Percel and the other Alpha’s were deep in a murmured conversation. A commotion started in the back of the room. Those seated in the front turned, rising and dropping in their seats to see what was happening.
His fingers still tangled with Tee’s, he rose from his seat. A head was thrown down the aisle, it rolled to a stop where Tee had stood only moments earlier. The hair on the head was matted with mud and blood and the eyes were wide open giving the face a look of abject terror. It looked as if some its teeth were missing. Loubel stalked down the aisle, his people slipping through the crowd to flank him. Myka felt his canines lengthening. He pulled his hand from Tee’s and took off his glasses.
Loubel swung around and faced him. “That be the snake that attacked Tee. He was trying to start his own clutch and thought he could do that wit my cousin.” Loubel kicked at the head with the toe of his boot. “He thought wrong. I yanked out his fangs for the disrespect. Seems you folks be having a party witout me. I heard the offer and as Alpha of the pit viper clutch I want in. Accept this head here as my token to cement an alliance.”
“We already have an alliance with the constrictor clutch.” Myka growled.
Loubel waved his hand. “Jamison is a pussy.”
Myka took a step forward. Tee stood and wrapped her fingers around his arm. “Thank you, Loubel. We accept your offer.” She turned toward the panel. “What say you?”
Percel looked at the other men sitting with him. They nodded. Percel leaned on the table “As leaders of our people we accept your offer. Your war has become our war. Loubel, get that damn head out my community center.”
Myka pulled the phone from his pocket hastily dialing his father’s number as he moved through the group.
“Give me good news, Myka,” Colin answered.
“We have the alliance. Percel Babin of the wild boar herd, Etienne Mouton of the american gator clan, Armand LeBlanc of the wolverine pack and Loubel of the pit viper clutch.”
“Best news I have heard all day. How soon?”
“I’ll get the papers signed and faxed to you within the hour. How many seats does that give us, Dad?”
“Five seats on the Council, son. With our supporters, it’s more than enough to shut Heinrich down. He’s going to shit a brick. I’ll let Matos know.”
“Wait, Dad. I need to tell you I mated Tee.”
The line was quiet for a second. “Fantastic news, son, but that was a given. I have to go. We’ll celebrate when I get to Volkshire.”
Myka ended the call and turned to reenter the building. Keen sat on the stoop with a few of his playmates. All of them wore frowns. Myka’s steps faltered. “Hey, Keen, why the long face?
“I don’t want to go back home yet.” Keen lifted his chin to look at Myka through big puppy eyes.
“Oh.” Myka crouched to meet Keen at eye level. “I can’t stay. Tee and I have to get back home.”
Keen’s little friend stuck out his lip. “We can ask Mama if Keen can stay. She won’t say no.”
Myka pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. “Why don’t we do that? If Sint says he can stay and it’s okay with Percel, we’ll let Keen stay.”
The boys whooped and spoke in unison. “Okay!” They scrambled to their feet and took off running into the building. Myka strolled behind them. Well, that was easy.
Chapter Eight
Heinrich watched the door, waiting for Colin to make his entrance. His exit was an Oscar-worthy performance. He stood abruptly, sending his chair toppling over, when his phone rang. A quick glance at Matos and a mumbled, “Excuse me” and Colin dashed from the room talking quietly in the mouthpiece. In the wake of his sudden departure, Matos called a break after tempers flared regarding Jamison’s nomination. At least his supporters were making the snake’s recommendation to the Council a bitch to pass. Heinrich rubbed the back of his neck. Something was up and there was only one person he could ask. Unfortunately his sister wasn’t returning his calls and he was guessing blind as to what was going on in Volkshire.