How to Tame a Werewolf: Seven Brides for Seven Shifters, Book 3 (10 page)

The revelation shocked Ian. He knew Garrett was well liked but he hadn’t imagined his pack, the wolfen he’d grown up with, would prefer the lone wolf. Ian’s animal raised its head inside him.

“Is it your intent to retain the position?” Dillon asked Garrett.

Garrett didn’t hesitate. “I do not intend to stay in the role. If there are no objections, I will step down.”

Silence met his words. Garrett scanned the wolfen around him, looking for answers. Dillon obliged. “If you step down, no one will respect Ian’s return. You ascended in an emergency situation because you were the strongest available. This is different. Ian must prove to be the better choice by wit or by strength, by instinct or by fang.”

The formality with which Dillon oversaw the proceedings made Ian proud. His friend had to be above board or he’d be accused of taking sides.

Garrett eased back into his seat. “Then what next?”

Faye stood. “I would ask Garrett to stay. May I be heard in this request?”

Lennox gasped in surprise. Ian echoed her sentiment silently. Faye had no love for Lennox and that dislike extended to Garrett.

With a sharp nod, Garrett gave Faye his permission. The wolfen woman, who looked like she’d stepped out of the world-wrestling ring, took the center of their circle. Her wheat-brown hair shimmered as she moved.

Facing Garrett, Faye began to speak. “No one here can deny Ian has my love and loyalty but I am a creature of the pack. My first duty is to the whole, not the individual.” Faye paused to take the temperature of the room. She held everyone’s attention. “Many of us agree Garrett has been a leader who isn’t complacent but actually works to change our lives and traditions for the better.”

In support of her words, the many Faye spoke of showed signs of agreement. She turned to the section of wolfen to Garrett’s left. “Point in case, Garrett’s work on The SRF, The Shifter Regulatory Force. An organization set up to help monitor shifter crimes or threats that can’t be handled by human law enforcement.”

Ian hadn’t realized Garrett had accomplished so much. He admired the Wolfman for it even as his wolfen instincts buzzed and his claws itched in his fingertips. Neither Ian nor his wolf liked where Faye was headed.

“Beyond our borders,” Faye continued, “Garrett is working with a number of shifter groups to set up SRF offices in other cities. Having founded a landmark organization of this caliber is a matter of pride for the LuPines pack. We owe this honor to Garrett’s leadership.”

No one argued. How could they? Garrett’s worthiness wasn’t under question. The pack questioned Ian’s right to return. His claws slid slowly out of his fingertips and the wolf whispered to him to take Faye by the throat and pin her down until she tapped out in submission.

Oblivious to the feral wolf watching her through Ian’s eyes, Faye faced the next section of wolves. “Lennox is also a strong alpha bitch. She’s become a voice of wisdom as much as her home, Averdeen Manor, has become a sanctuary. Despite Lennox being…” Faye didn’t know the answer, “…other than shifter, she’s one of us. Conversely, we have no idea what kind of alpha Rue will be.”

Dillon maintained his position as moderator, but he lost some of his formality. Actually, Dillon never lost control. His next words were strategic. “I call bullshit on your praising Lennox. You’d slit her throat if you could.”

Faye hammed up her affront at being called out by Dillon. “Untrue, Dillon Reardon. I want the best for the pack.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Dillon said. His eyes narrowed. “But I also know the only thing that rivals your loyalty to the pack is your quest to take control.”

More sounds of agreement ricocheted around the group.

“Here’s a question,” Dillon said. “Does anyone doubt my need to see the pack stand strong under a solid leadership?” When no dissension came he said, “Faye, you’re well aware neither Garrett nor Lennox want to lead us beyond Ian’s return.”

Faye’s façade of caring statesman crumbled. Her face pinched in a guttural growl.

Dillon had no fear. If he weren’t serving in an official capacity he might’ve laughed at the she-wolf. “I can’t help but think you’re shaking the pack up to destabilize the alpha role to leave it ripe for the taking.”

“Untrue, Dillon,” Faye snarled. “You support Ian because he’s a brother to you. He’s a brother to me as well. But Garrett has ancient bloodlines. His wolf outshines Ian as much as his abilities do.”

Rue exhaled sharply. Ian stroked her arm, not realizing he used his claws to gently scrape across her soft skin. The wolf appreciated that the cat stood strong beside him. And her ire at the way that Faye spoke about him fueled his simmering wrath. Fighting for control of the wildness inside him, Ian stood. “Do you truly think I need to be reminded that I am not Garrett, Faye? That’s not what this council is about.”

His former third-in-command surprised him by whirling to snarl at him, her fangs bared. Rue moved to his side, her fingers playing against the small of his back, a reminder she stood beside him despite the lie they were living. Only Rue’s caress kept his animal at bay.

With a smug look on her blunt features, Faye said, “What if we do remind you that you’re not Garrett? Will you run off and abandon us again?” The venom in her tone made him howl inside. She’d been one of his most trusted pack mates, yet her contempt sliced into him as sharply as if her words were claws. “That’s the real problem,” Faye said. “How do we know you won’t disappear again when something emotionally difficult happens?”

Something about Faye’s tone of disrespect raised Rue’s hackles. Ian’s kitty stepped in front of him and hissed, her claws unleashed, her irises transformed into the slit pupils of a cat. The wolf grinned inside him, not in amusement but at the prospect of a partner that would pounce and rule with him.

Faye mocked Rue with a high-pitched hiss of her own. “Careful, pussy,” a tsk, “you can’t handle me.”

Before Ian could backhand his former friend, Rue purred, in the exact opposite of pleasure. “Win or lose, I’ll use your eyes for cat toys.”

The beta wolfen female started to reply but Lennox’s voice cut her off. “And if Ian’s pretty kitty doesn’t finish you then I’ve got next.” Lennox backed the larger woman down with slow deliberate steps. “You’re a bully, Faye, but you can’t take me.” Lennox’s eyes flashed. “Say you believe me.”

Ian entwined his fingers with Rue’s. A
shink
sound let him know Kitty had retracted her claws, while he tapped Lennox on her shoulder to let her know he’d take it from there. His lifelong friend, the person who’d hurt him more than any other, retreated and resumed her seat. At the periphery of his vision he saw Garrett watch his wife with hungry eyes. Perhaps there was hope for the two of them.

Faye backed down from Lennox but snarled at Rue one final time, her teeth bared in a vicious display. Ian caught her by her neck, lifted her and tossed her ten feet. Faye hit the ground and bounced back to attack. Ian pounced, pinned her to the ground and closed his fangs around the pounding pulse in her throat. The wolf wanted to take a bite. Faye reminded him of the deer he’d chased and chomped down on, hot blood and fear mingling in an enticing rush.

A soft voice caressed his ear. “This is one way to handle the situation,” Rue said, her fingers petting the crown of his head. “But it may not be the best way.”

Ian growled and his teeth snapped closed less than a centimeter from the she-wolf’s carotid artery.

The wolf inside him stood and shook off his ire, like a giant canine shaking water out of its fur. Ian’s return to form was equally liquid. He sinuously cracked his neck and addressed the gathering with his animal’s wildness thick in his throat. “I made a mistake. The one mistake in all the years I’ve led you.” He swept each member of the council with burning amber. “I don’t know how to prove I won’t disappear again. I can’t nor would I ever create a crisis just so we can see how I respond.”

“Then I vote we wait and see,” Faye said from the ground, clearly afraid to move lest the terrifying new version of Ian’s wolf took over again. “Let Garrett lead until we know Ian can return or until we find someone else.”

“Just as I thought.” Dillon held his arms wide for all to see, his expression scornful. “You want to put Ian on probation?” Dillon asked. “Perhaps give yourself enough time to build the support you need to take over.” The last wasn’t a question but a statement. “You do realize he’s the one who had the good sense to make Garrett interim leader? He took care of us even with his heart broken.”

“Why didn’t he name you interim leader?” Faye sneered as she rose into a crouch.

“Um, because he loves me.” Dillon blanched. “Running these proceedings is headache enough.”

Gayle stood. “I’d like to call the vote.” Dillon opened his mouth but Gayle assured him. “You’ve been honest and fair, doll. I ask for the vote only to see where we stand.”

Dillon acquiesced with a short nod.

“Then we vote,” Gayle said. “Who howls for Faye?” In the resulting silence Faye retreated to her mate’s side.

“Who howls for Garrett?” Gayle asked. Roughly half of the members raised their hands in concert with low howls.

Gayle nodded. “And now—”

“Wait.” Rue’s husky voice, the tone reminding Ian of the way famous singers spoke, rang out to stop Gayle. “Do I have the right to vote?”

“Yes,” Dillon said, a faint smile on his lips. “Your vote will be heard.”

Rue tugged on Ian’s hand. Their intertwined fingers felt so natural he hadn’t noticed she’d taken his hand again. When had she done that? He looked up to meet her gaze.

“What do you want, Ian. Truly?” she asked.

“Aw, Kitty,” he said, stroking a thumb over her lovely brow. “I want my pack back. I want to prove to them I’m a better leader now and I want to regain their trust.”

She dipped her head. “I understand seeking redemption very well,” she said. Then to Gayle she whispered, “I’m ready.”

The former pack second called for the vote and she, Rue, Dillon, Lennox and Garrett gave their howls to Ian along with many others. It was then that Ian realized some had howled twice. The packed stood undecided.

Faye’s smug voice took center stage again from the safety of the other side of the circle. “Then it’s probation. I vote for three months. If Ian can’t stand out as our alpha during that time then we choose someone new.”

No one disagreed. “Done,” Dillon said. The finality of the decision rang through the night.

“I have something to say.” Garrett stood for the first time. The Wolfman didn’t bother to ask if he could be heard, he simply spoke because he could. With his gaze on Ian, he began. “The major problem is you can’t beat me physically, which would be the most convincing way.”

“Truth,” Ian said. It didn’t hurt to say. He wasn’t burdened with the ego he used to have. And he knew that made him stronger rather than weakening him. Garrett had a bloodline that went back through shifter history and ancient blood was tough to beat. Garrett’s beast could easily be described as a prehistoric monster. Ian hadn’t known it the first time they’d fought, but one night Garrett had asked him to shift and help solve a problem to help Lennox. Ian had scoffed, asking why Garrett didn’t use his own wolf. The Wolfman had answered by shifting. His animal had filled the room. Hell, if Ian had been a kid at that time he would’ve had nightmares. He could no more fight Garrett and survive than Faye could beat Lennox. Some things were a matter of natural law and neither Ian nor his wolf was stupid enough to mess with that.

But, fuck it. He’d fight the Wolfman if he had to. Hell, he’d probably enjoy it. He just wasn’t going to jump into anything or risk losing his pack again.

Garrett’s dark eyes flashed in appreciation for Ian’s honesty. “Then I’d like to suggest wits. Overtake me with something symbolic, something clever. You don’t even have to give me fair warning.” Garrett’s wolf resonated in his next words. “Retake leadership whenever you’re ready. Just make it good.”

Chapter Thirteen

Rue watched the activity around her unfold in a state of shock. The intensity of the pack council meeting hadn’t prepared her for what came next. The LuPines wolves were partying. After they’d finished talking shit to each other and making decisions about Ian’s position, they’d turned on the music and poured the wine. This included the hulking she-bitch, Faye, and the other members who’d voted against Ian. The weird thing was, Rue didn’t detect an ounce of animosity. They’d all said what they had to say and they were done with it.

Not only that, but all the pack members had come over. More than a hundred wolves and their mates of varying species filled the terraces behind Somerfield Villa. A gay couple that, despite being wolf and coyote, looked so much alike you’d mistake them for brothers (kissing cousins at the very least) had just shoved their big chubby too-stinking-cute baby into Ian’s face. And Ian loved it. He tickled the baby’s tummy, while teasing the pair about finally getting together after all that flirting down at the Peach Pit.

An older wolf who’d obstinately opposed Ian and supported Garrett came over to hug Ian tightly. The gray-bearded wolf’s eyes swam as he told Ian how worried he’d been. Magic Man hugged the guy back.

Rue received a bunch of hugs as well along with invitations to events, and toddlers to hold on to “for a minute while I go say hey to Abby.” Also, Lennox Averdeen, the woman stupid enough to back out of becoming Mrs. Ian Somers, invited Rue to her home “in case things ever got overwhelming.” Oh honey, as if.

What are these people on and how can I get some?
Rue mused. Her mouth kept falling open and Ian kept tapping her chin to close it. Then he snatched the fifth glass of wine she’d tried to consume out of her grasp. Dammit.

The wolves had forgiven each other. These people who were as close as any family had excused one another for their faults and disagreements. Ian had broken a lot of hearts when he left, yet they’d found a way to forgive him and they hadn’t stopped loving him.

Rue thought of her family. The LuPines wolves or perhaps more accurately, the Somers family, gave her hope that she could also be forgiven. Plus, her second rule required that she never give up. Taking out her phone she typed a quick email to her parents, sharing the news of her new job (fingers crossed) and the home she may have found in North Carolina. She didn’t have much hope of reuniting her family but she had a spark and that’s all it took to keep her going.

Putting her phone away, Rue scanned the gathering and landed on Cora and Mr. Amon. The two jackals had joined everyone on the terraces once the business concluded. Cora caught her gaze and tapped her own chin to tell Rue to keep her head up. Rue used both hands to hike her face up high. Her antics made Cora giggle behind a delicate hand.

Through all of this Rue kept her composure. She’d actually been congratulating herself for her manners when a man with shoulder-length onyx hair that blended to a honey golden color at the tips stepped onto the main patio. Rue perked up.

The man had arrived with another man who could be an archangel walking the earth. Despite his slight limp, he was sinfully beautiful. Not that Rue noticed the archangel at all. Nope. Because the first guy was none other than Dashiell “Daz” Warren, The Undefeated Wolverine of the Shifter MMA League, and the star of her second favorite YouTube Channel, DazDaze. Daz Warren exuded a killer mix of danger and sex.

Rue had to battle Dillon to get to Daz first. She didn’t feel bad about stepping on Dillon’s foot. He wanted to talk to The Wolverine about sports—Rue had more important things to say.

She’d only been telling Daz how much she loved him for ten minutes when Ian walked over. Magic Man politely nodded to Daz Warren, Cash Warren (the archangel), and Dillon, before he took Rue’s hand and dragged her off. She dug her heels in but the dang werewolf was too strong. He left her with no choice but to scream out, “Give me Dashiell or give me wine!” And damn her if he didn’t give her the wine albeit in a shot glass.
Fucker.

Hours later, Ian’s mother and Pop-pop had long since retired and Dillon, the last man standing, said his goodbyes with a wave over his back.

As she watched, the Magic Man, who’d been a stellar host all night, deflated. His smile melted and his steady amber eyes flickered blue. He rarely let his guard down enough for the natural blue of his irises to make an appearance. Concerned, Rue followed him to the bar. He poured a large glass of 1982 Somerfield Sangiovese and grabbed a bottle of sparkling lemonade. That done, he walked over to a section of the terrace surrounded by planters of tall swamp grasses, completely enclosing the area in a wall of green. The interior of the square patio had a banquette wrapping around its perimeter with a woven ottoman in the center.

Ian set down the drinks and dropped onto the padded seats. His head hung for a few minutes and when he looked up at her from behind vulnerable blue eyes through the shield of his lashes, she ached for him.

Rue moved to his side and sat down. He offered her the lemonade. She looked hopefully at his glass but he shook his head with a rueful smile. She took the lemonade. After a short silence, Ian leaned back on the banquette and put his feet up on the ottoman.

His pack was a bunch of idiots. This man showed leadership in every nuance of his character. Rue thought of Garrett Westlake, the movie mogul. Garrett did everything in a big way because he had a huge personality and an obscene amount of money. That’s why the things he did for the pack were big things. The moves Garrett made were for the good of all shifters. Not just the ones in the LuPines wolf pack. He was a good man, Rue had no doubts, but in his soul Garrett was a lone wolf who preferred to help shifter-kind from a distance. She could see it. If things weren’t wonky between him and his wife, Lennox, Garrett would likely run off with his family and close friends to make movies ten months out of the year.

Ian handled things differently. He took care of his people because in his soul he was a family man. All the moves Ian made were to bring the pack happiness. He made their lives better on a day-to-day basis. Whether through Camp Big Bad, the camp he ran each summer to allow the wolfen kids from all over the region to bond, or in the way he solved arguments with humor edged in a whole lot of wisdom, she’d seen him settle things seamlessly throughout the night. And no one recognized it or thanked him. Rue had noticed he kept up with individual pack member’s dreams as he’d spoken to them. She’d also learned he allowed any shifter in LuPines to submit business proposals to his office. If the proposal made sense, he’d give the petitioner the money and guidance to make their dream happen. If the proposal lacked merit, Ian personally worked with the petitioner to find a solution. Then he gave them the same money and guidance. Oftentimes the pack ended up owning a small minority stake in the businesses, out of the gratitude from the owners, which made the LuPines wolves one of the wealthiest small packs on the east coast.

If shifter kind needed a leader it was Garrett. If LuPines wanted an alpha they needed Ian.

Rue hid a secret smile behind her hand. She’d learned a lot from Ian’s best friend over the course of the party. She loved research and Dillon was better than the internet. Press a few buttons, AKA give him cookies, and Dillon produced all kinds of information. He’d told her she’d landed herself a helluva mate. She wished. Or at least she was starting to.

Something inside her wanted to take Ian’s sadness away and bury it so he could forget. He’d made a mistake in leaving his family but perhaps he’d become a better man because of it. He’d definitely gotten stronger. Rue didn’t think any emotional upheaval could shake him up a second time.

And honestly she didn’t understand why the wolves were making such a big deal out of the equivalent of him taking a sabbatical. He’d risen to alpha at the age of nineteen, immediately after his father’s death according to Gayle. Since then, as far as Rue could tell, he’d been the ideal leader, giving them no reason to complain. She found it hard to identify with their complaints now. Ian had earned the break he’d taken.

Of course, Rue was glad that many of the wolves still offered their support and appreciated him. She was starting to greatly appreciate him too. And dammit she wanted him to smile.

“Hey,” she said. “Have you ever noticed Dillon looks exactly like Prince Harry?”

Ian’s sad blue gaze side-eyed her. “He
is
Prince Harry. Did you learn nothing from your experience with me?”

“Really?”

“No, Rue. Not really. He was born here in LuPines, and although his mother is British, she’s also black.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.

She snickered. “So, he could be a royal cousin.”

Ian snorted. “Dillon is no more a royal than I’m Prince William.”

Rue leaned around the muscular arm, loosely holding the wine glass. It forced Ian to look directly at her. She basically gave him her version of an extreme close-up. He leaned back a bit and she touched his arm.

“You sure look like a prince to me.”

He snorted again then mushed her in the forehead with his index finger. But she’d seen the spark within the blue of his eyes, and the amused crinkling of the skin around them.

“They’ll come around, Ian. And no matter what decision they eventually make, they still respect you, still love you.”

He gazed at her as though seeing her for the first time. “You think I’ll survive being a beta wolf?” he asked.

“Not hardly,” she said, maintaining a straight face. “You’re going to have to move back to Arizona and be the big dog in cat territory.” His shoulders shook first. Then he laughed so hard he had to set his glass down.

Rue giggled. “You’ll be their alpha again. I’m not sure how soon it’ll happen, but you’re meant to lead your pack.”

He ran a finger down the bridge of her nose and tapped the tip. Her cat rose up for his touch.

“Seeing Lennox today…did that make facing the council harder?” she asked.

Ian gave it some thought. His gaze lowered to the ground. “I’m not sure how I feel about her.”

Rue did not want to ask the next question but she had to. “Do you still love her?”

His eyes snapped up to meet hers. “I don’t think so. Not in the same way I used to. Mostly I feel friendship and pain. And I don’t know what to do with that.” He searched her face. “Maybe that emotional upheaval makes me weak and that’s why the pack doesn’t trust me anymore.”

She brushed the hairs that refused to stay in place off his forehead. “You think feeling hurt makes you weak?”

“Maybe.”

She leaned further into his personal space, once again forcing him to focus on her. “Aw, Ian. Seems like being able to identify with the day-to-day struggles of your pack mates makes you a better leader.” He bit down on his bottom lip and she finished her thought. “I bet you empathized with them before but you didn’t know what being hurt by life truly felt like.”

“I knew loss,” he said, clearly thinking of his father.

“We all do.” Her voice cracked as her brother’s stunning smile danced in her memory. Pounding on her chest to chase away the ache, she said, “It’s impossible to be mortal and not lose someone. But if you have loved ones, even a single person who gives a damn about you, you survive it. Otherwise, the pain of rejection or loneliness…those are the things that kill you in increments.”

“Is that why you’re scared of the dark?”

“In a way,” she answered. “But I’m not afraid of what will happen. I’m afraid of what I’ll
do
in the dark.”

Ian pulled her into his lap. With her settled across his legs, he laid her head on his shoulder, and his fingers began to stroke the tight curls at the nape of her neck. “Can you tell me what happened?”

She wanted to tell him, as much as she hated to relive that night twenty years ago. And he was there; his strong arms wrapped around her, his compassion a guarantee. And she suddenly needed to tell him.

“My brother Tor—” She covered her face. It had been an entire lifetime since she’d said his name. “Tor Gray-Sayf,” she finally said. “Played baseball better than anyone. As a sophomore in high school, he’d already been scouted to go to the major leagues when he graduated. That’s how good he was.”

Ian lowered his cheek to rest on her forehead. “Yeah? Better than Jeter?”

“Just as good,” she said. “But better because he was mine and he loved me. Tor was my parents’ heart but he took more pride in his baby sister than in his batting average.” She lifted her head slightly. “Can you believe that, Ian? He treasured me.”

He squeezed her. “I believe it, Kitty. It only makes sense.”

Rue took a stuttering breath. “So, about a week and a half after we got back home from our visit here, to Somerfield,” she gestured around them, “we found out there was a pervert in our neighborhood.”

“What kind of pervert?” Ian asked, his voice nearly dropping into a growl.

“Some guy was breaking in through girls’ windows at night and jacking off on their beds while they slept.”

At that, Ian did growl, a low rumbling in his chest that made her feel better.

“The day Tor found out about that creep he started training me to swing a bat,” Rue said. “He had an old aluminum one that he put beside my bed and told me to swing for the cheap seats if anyone came through my window.”

“I like your brother,” Ian said softly, nuzzling the crown of her head.

Rue smiled through her tears. “How could you not?”

They sat quietly until she had the strength to continue. “One night my brother went to an away game. Being home without him freaked me out, even though my parents were down the hall. You’ve seen how big my father is.”

She felt the warm caress of his cheek against her forehead as he nodded.

“That’s why I was awake, sitting up in bed, when that creep popped the latch on my window from the outside and tried to crawl through.”

Ian stopped breathing. “What happened, Kitty?”

“I did what Tor told me to do. I swung with everything I had and knocked the guy through the window. I cheered when I heard him fall because it felt amazing to get the bad guy.”