Motor City Wolf (5 page)

The back door of the club opened again, and this time George and Jase strolled in, their expressions taut and strained. They were both dressed for an evening out, George in black leather pants and a white silk shirt, Jase in crisp denim and black cotton.

“I thought you two were gone for the night?” Greg asked.

“We got a call,” George said with a grim twist of his lips. He looked around the kitchen. “And not about this. What the hell is happening here?”

Greg shrugged. His brother would read his body language, know he was seriously pissed. “Hell if I know. I do know the assholes locked us in the storeroom. If Ric and Des hadn’t shown up, we’d have been there all night.”

George took a step toward Fee, who so far hadn’t said a word. George’s nostrils flared and his eyes widened. He didn’t say a word, but lifted one eyebrow at Greg and mouthed,
About time.

“So this call…” Greg prodded.

“Oh, yeah.” George winced. “Grandfather will be here any minute. He’s demanded a meeting.”

“Son of a bitch.” The last person Greg wanted to deal with was his grandfather, the Prime alpha werewolf for the entire region.

“Literally and figuratively,” George agreed.

Greg dope-slapped his brother, though of course, George was right. Their grandfather was a right bastard, and technically, their superior. All the smaller packs, like Greg’s, reported to the Prime. Greg and the old man had never gotten along, but you didn’t say no to the man who could have you banned from half the state with a word.

Greg ran his hand through his hair. “I guess we should move this party out into the main room. At least it’s cleaner there.”

A pounding at the front door announced the Prime’s arrival, so the entire group followed Greg. Jase and George immediately started shoving tables together, well away from the boarded-up windows. Fee hung in the back with Ric and Des. Odd how Greg already missed having her by his side.

He opened the front door and admitted his grandfather. Ivan Novak was eighty, but still a commanding presence as he swept into the room, tall and strong, with a thick mane of silver hair and penetrating dark eyes. Behind him, as usual, were his two betas, Maurice Zelig, Ivan’s executive assistant and right hand, and Peter Bartok, who had been the old man’s bodyguard since Greg was a kid. Hell, he’d grown up with Peter’s two daughters.

“Grandfather. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He stepped aside to allow all three men in, greeting each as they passed him. Peter said hello, but Maurice completely ignored him, his sharp, dark gaze sweeping the room.

“Who are these people? This is a family meeting.” Ivan tossed his head at Des, Ric and Fee.

Greg stood toe to toe with the old man. “These are my friends, and they’re here about a matter affecting all lupines in the area.
They
were invited. They stay.”

“Very well.” The old man grudgingly took a seat at the head of the table, flanked by his two associates.

Greg allowed the show of dominance and took his place at the far end. “Can I get you gentlemen some coffee? As you can see, our bar isn’t in working order right now, but I can run down to the storeroom for something else if you prefer.”

“Coffee will be acceptable.” Ivan folded his hands on the table and added with mock politeness, “Thank you, grandson.”

“I’ll make it.” Fee ducked behind the bar and busied herself with the coffeemaker while Greg introduced Ric and Des. His grandfather had already met Jase, of course.

“The
Wyndewin
are involved in this?” Ivan demanded, not bothering with a polite preamble. “Why? It’s a werewolf matter.”

“Because the murders go hand in hand with increased drug trafficking by demons, as far as we can tell,” Des said. He nodded at Ric. “Also, they seems to be connected to the Fae takeover plot last month. It’s all tied together. Not just any one supernatural group is involved.”

“I see.” The old man nodded his shaggy silver head gravely. “Nonetheless, what I have to discuss now is family business. Where are Lana and Vincent? I called them both and told them to come.”

“Lana is right here.” Wearing a form-fitting micro-miniskirt and towering heels, she strolled in from the kitchen. She flung herself into the seat next to Desmond, who scowled and shifted aside. “And not happy about it, I might add. I had a date tonight. A real, honest-to-goodness date, with a very nice firefighter. We were going dancing and everything. So this better be the family emergency I told him it was.”

“Svetlana Marja Novak, if you do not wish to be returned to the family compound, you will treat your Prime with greater respect.” Ivan glared daggers at his granddaughter. “I’ll be informing your parents of your behavior.”

“Sorry, Grandfather.” Lana sat up straighter and pulled her shawl around the skimpy bodice of her dress.

Greg winced. Lana flat-out
hated
being called by her full name. He saw Des mouth the name
Svetlana
with a wicked grin.

“We’ll proceed without Vincent, since this only affects him indirectly.” Disgust twisted Ivan’s narrow lips. Vince’s parents had never had any significant rank in the pack hierarchy, and had moved to Florida several years earlier. In Ivan’s eyes, that meant Vince was nothing but a stray pack member, one who ought to jump at the Prime’s every command. Ivan looked around the table, spending time studying each face. “Gregory, perhaps you should inform me first of what’s happening in my territory.”

Briefly, Greg, Des and Ric filled the older werewolves in on what they knew and why the current events might be related to the Fae unrest that Ric and Meagan, along with Aidan and Elise, had gotten caught up in.

Ivan nodded. “I knew about the fires and the shooting, but not all of this.” He nodded at Des. “My thanks to the league for their assistance in this investigation. Our people have long assumed the assassin known as Beowulf was a myth, but clearly someone is now using that name. However, the fires would seem to be the work of a different, less professional perpetrator.”

Des tipped his chin in agreement. “We think they may also be using gang members to take out some targets, while others, primarily the more powerful alphas in the region, are being shot. With all due respect, sir, I’d think you’re a prime target for the shooter. You might want to increase your personal security.”

“I’ll take that under consideration, as will my grandson and heir. Won’t you, Gregory?”

“Desmond and I have already discussed hiring a wizard-owned security crew to mind the bar until this is over.”

“Very well.” Ivan accepted a cup of coffee from Fee as she passed it around. Like George, his nostrils flared as she passed, and Greg knew the old man smelled Greg’s scent all over her.

Greg bit his lip to suppress a possessive grin.

Ivan narrowed his eyes. “Now, Gregory, if you wish your friends to be present, that’s your choice, but this is personal and pack business.”

Greg held the chair next to him for Fianna, who sat after she finished passing out the coffees. “My friends can stay. They’re practically pack.” Well, Ric was at least. Des had yet to be categorized, but Greg trusted him at his back. “What do you want?”

“You are thirty-seven years old,” Ivan began. “And you are heir to the entire southern Michigan territory.”

“Both things I’m well aware of.” Where the hell was the old man going with this?

“It is time you took a mate, Gregory. The heir to my pack, to the territory as a whole, has certain obligations. You will return to my territory and follow through with the mating your parents arranged before their deaths.”

His jaw hanging slack, Greg stared in amazement. Surely, his grandfather had to be joking. Except Ivan didn’t have a sense of humor.

“My parents died when I was ten,” he said when he’d regained the ability to speak. “While they’d jokingly made plans with their friends about the future, there was never any formal agreement that I would marry Sofia.” He nodded at Peter, showing respect for the man, even though he had no intention of marrying his younger daughter.

Peter nodded, though he looked like he was eating a lemon. “It wasn’t meant to be humorous, but nothing was ever formalized.”

Greg smiled his thanks. “Even among the pack, that sort of thing went out of date a hundred years ago. When I decide to mate, it will be with a female of my own choosing, not because she’s the daughter of my father’s best friend.”

Sofia Bartok was beautiful, smart and almost family, but Greg had no illusions that they could ever work out as mates. A short affair right after college had put paid to that idea. He had no urge for a mate who was as dominant as he was. Greg and the band had hit the road right after that. He’d never once looked back.

Ivan laid both hands flat on the table and stood, glaring down at Greg. “You will take a mate before the end of this year.”

“And if I don’t?” Panic began to set in. It was November already. That didn’t leave a lot of time to change the old man’s mind.

“If you don’t, you will be banished, permanently, from all of my territory. I’ll choose a new heir from among the local alphas. It’s time, grandson. You
will
be mated by New Year’s Eve.”

Greg swallowed bile and tried to breathe. Then he felt Fee’s hand pat his knee under the table and it was all clear in a blinding flash. He looked up at his grandfather. “I’ll agree to the mating, but not with Sofia. With all due respect to my parents and hers…” He dipped his head at Peter again. “They didn’t know the people that we would grow up to be. I’ve chosen my own mate, Grandfather. If that means you’re going to exile me, so be it.” He squeezed Fee’s knee under the table, hoping she’d understand and play along.

“And who is this…person? Not that human who wears your scent, surely?” He said the word
human
as if it were a curse. To Ivan, it probably was.

Fee squeezed his hand back as she drew herself upright and gave the old man her best Faerie princess glare, which was pretty damn haughty. Greg didn’t even bother to suppress his grin when she raised one eyebrow and sniffed. “Excuse me? I imagine even among packs, discussing such things is considered rude.”

Lana laughed as she stood and ran around the table. “It is. Oh, Fee, congratulations and welcome to the family.” She hugged Fee tightly as she beamed. “I’m so glad Greg finally came to his senses.”

George, next to Fee, leaned over to kiss her cheek. “What Lana said, sweetie.”

They received slaps on the back and hugs from Ric and Jase as well, and even Des offered his congratulations without too much suspicion in his gaze.

Greg stood and held out his hand to Fee, his eyes searching hers. Would she do this for him? “Fee?”

Head held high, Fee stood and wrapped her arm around Greg’s waist. “This isn’t how we’d intended to tell anyone, but we couldn’t be happier.” Playing her part, she gazed up into Greg’s eyes until he brushed a kiss against her lips.

Finally, he turned back to the others. “Grandfather, packmates, I’d like to introduce my future mate, Fianna Meadows.”

Fianna locked her knees to prevent herself from shaking as she stared down Greg’s grandfather. She’d spent her whole life with bullies like this, and she wasn’t going to take it anymore.

Finally, the old werewolf nodded his head. “I see. Provided the mating ceremony is before the end of December, you have my blessing. One day after the New Year, and you, Gregory, are exiled. Do I make myself clear?”

“As crystal.” Greg’s voice was strained and brittle as ice. “Now was there anything else? We have an assassin to catch, and it appears my fiancée and I have to move up our wedding plans.”

“Just this.” The old man stood and took a step toward the door, his two betas moving right beside him like puppets. His voice turned even gruffer. “Try not to get yourself killed. And bring the girl to dinner tomorrow. Your grandmother will want to meet her.” With that, he stalked out the door, leaving the others too stunned to speak.

“Tomorrow?” George managed to croak. He turned to Fee. “Princess, do you still have the clothes you wore as Aidan’s secretary?”

Fianna nodded. As personal assistant to the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, of course she’d been provided with an elegant wardrobe, including the proper attire for any kind of social event. Aidan had been kind enough to send those with her when she’d moved to the club, even though she hadn’t had a reason to touch them since.

“Good,” Lana chimed in. “You’ll want an evening gown, but nothing too flashy. And, Greg, you’d fucking better have her ring by tomorrow.”

“I’d intended to,” he growled. Fianna felt his chest vibrate with the sound. He handed her back into her chair and resumed his own before looking back around the table. “Meanwhile, can we get back to figuring out who’s trying to destroy the club and maybe kill us? It would be nice if we survived until Christmas.”

“Ric and I were going to go question one of my informants tonight,” Desmond said. “He’s pretty up on what’s happening with new drugs on the market. Greg, you want to come with us?”

While the others discussed investigation plans, Fianna listened without really participating. She didn’t know this world well enough to feel confident suggesting ways of interrogating drug dealers.

Were she and Greg betrothed? For real or was it a ruse? She assumed the latter, but he hadn’t said so as soon as his grandfather left. Surely, he didn’t plan to keep his brother and friends in the dark.

“Wait a minute, guys.” Greg held up one hand. “Go without me. I don’t want to leave Fee alone, not after two attacks on the building.”

Lana shrugged. “I’m not going anywhere, not now that my date has probably forgotten all about me. I’ll stick with Fee. I can brief her on what to expect tomorrow at the family dinner.”

Fianna glared at Greg. “I keep telling you, I do
not
need minding. If you have to go, go. Though someone might want to call the police first and report the break-in in the kitchen. Or has everyone forgotten about that?”

Judging by the guilty looks all around the table, they had. Greg shook his head. “Okay, that does it. Des and Ric, the cops will want to talk to you, since you were the ones who let us out of the basement. Will your informant still be around in a couple hours?”

Des nodded. “We can wait. Luther isn’t going anywhere.”

Lana stood. “Meanwhile, let’s clean up this mess, so the cops don’t think we were having a party.” She stuck out her tongue and shrugged. “Well, maybe this time one of the cops will be cute, since I blew my chance with the firefighter.”

Fianna could have sworn Des turned purple. How odd. Still, nothing was stranger than what had happened with Greg and his grandfather. An ache throbbed behind her eyeballs when she started to think about it, so she busied herself with the dishes while Greg called the police.

It was pushing ten by the time the officers left and the bar was locked up. Ric and Desmond had already left after giving their statements.

“Well, we’re off,” George said. “There’s a Celtic punk band out of Corktown called the Kreellers. We want to check them out, maybe sign them to play once in a while.”

“I’ve heard their stuff. They’d be a good fit,” Jase added.

“Go,” Greg told them. It wasn’t up to him, anyway. George managed the kitchen and booked the bands while Greg was in charge of the bar and the books. It was still early enough to catch a set pretty much anywhere. “We could use some new sounds.”

Both men took the time to hug Fee good-night and renew their congratulations. Greg tried not to snarl. Odd, how even having his mated and gay brother touch her raised Greg’s hackles.

“I’m going upstairs to change and take a bubble bath,” Lana decreed as they left. She, too, kissed Fee’s cheek. “I really couldn’t be happier, cuz. We’ll talk in the morning, okay? Ten-ish? Mani-pedis and hair appointments are definitely in order before the big night.”

Fee nodded as if in a daze and stared after Lana’s retreating back. Greg moved up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders, which were taut with strain. “I think we need to talk.” He automatically began to knead her tense muscles.

“Yes.” She sagged against his hands. “What do—?”

“Upstairs.” The short walk might give him time to figure out what to say. “And don’t worry about the mess. I’m calling a cleaning service in the morning to finish the work.”

“And the guard service Des mentioned?” She turned her face up to look at him, and the lines of fatigue around her eyes about broke his heart.

“Already done. There are cars in the front and back, watching on a twenty-four-hour basis. Tomorrow morning, they’ll upgrade our alarm system and locks. When we reopen, they’ll have a guard stationed inside.”

“Good.” When he headed toward the stairs, she followed, shutting doors and turning off lights as they went. He liked that she obviously felt so at home here. When she paused outside her apartment door, though, he tugged on her hand. “Let’s go up to my place. I have better beer in my fridge than you keep in yours.” And he had condoms. She probably didn’t. Come to think of it, maybe that made it safer to talk in her place. As much as he wanted her, he should probably wait.

“But I have a bottle of elven wine that Elise sent me.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion, or a really rough night.”

“And this probably qualifies as both,” he added. “Fine.” He stood back and let her unlock her door, but preceded her inside, just in case.

He’d been in Fee’s apartment before, of course, but tonight he looked at it with fresh eyes. It was pretty bare. He’d provided some basic furnishings, but she’d been allowed to bring almost nothing with her from her previous life to personalize the place, and her salary as a waitress didn’t lend itself to extensive interior decorating. Still, she’d managed to make the big, mostly empty flat look something like a home. A landscape of Faerie held the place of honor on the living room wall opposite the windows. A gift, he assumed, from Meagan, since no way could Fee afford one of her paintings.

“From Aidan and Elise,” she murmured. “As a thank you.”

He didn’t have to ask for what. Seeing Fee almost bleed out on Aidan’s floor was imprinted in his brain. Since Elise owned the gallery that sold Meagan’s paintings, the gift made sense. A few of Jase’s pottery pieces also dotted the room. A soft aqua-tinted vase in one corner held ivory silk lilies and a cream-colored bowl on the cheap wooden dining table was filled with green apples and pears. Pillows in pale greens and blues decorated the plain cream faux-suede sofa, and a couple larger ones made for additional seating on the floor. It was plain, but it suited her sleek, elegant style without being cold or uncomfortable.

Most of all, it smelled like Fee. Sweet vanilla and peach overtones filled the apartment, and Greg squirmed to keep his jeans from cutting anything off.

“Have a seat.” She gestured to the sofa and crossed to the kitchen area, returning a few minutes later with two glasses filled with sparkling golden wine. Greg had tasted elven wine once before and knew it tasted like ambrosia but packed a wallop, so he took a small sip before placing it down on the cedar chest that served as a coffee table.

“Now, about my grandfather. You have to have questions.” He angled himself at one end of the couch so he could face her and maintain some distance.

“Many.” She took a slightly bigger swallow, but stopped there as well and faced him, sitting cross-legged on her end of the sofa—a pose she’d only adopted since she’d been hanging out with Lana. “Where would you like me to start?”

“You understand the concept of alphas and Primes within werewolf society?” That was probably the most basic and impersonal information she needed to have.

“I think so. According to Lana, two alpha males can’t live closely together, which is why most young werewolves break off from their parent packs and form their own small groups. But to keep some order within the population, there is a regional Prime alpha who controls which other wolves may live in his territory. I did not realize the Prime was your grandfather.”

Greg grimaced. “It’s something I’d rather forget. We don’t exactly get along.”

“And yet you are his heir?”

“Only because he’s too proud to let the title and authority pass out of the Novak family. Believe me, I’d be happy to let someone else have the headaches.”

“You have cousins, right? Other than Lana? Aren’t any of them alphas?”

Greg nodded. “Derek is a second cousin, and he’s on the edge—not a full-out alpha, but he could step up if he had to.” Derek and his wife Katarina had been to visit maybe once since Fee had been living in the building, but he didn’t think they’d met. “He’s an okay guy, a lawyer, actually, but he doesn’t want to be Prime any more than I do. Besides, his wife Katy
hates
politics, so she’d be miserable if Derek had to deal with all that territory shit. All they want is their own house, just them and their kids.”

“George told me they have four.” She bit her lower lip and her lashes fluttered down, shading her eyes. He tried to ignore the wistful tone to her words. “That must be wonderful.”

“Fee, you should know better than anyone that family isn’t always a blessing.” Her uncle and cousin had both abused her emotionally if not physically, and he suspected they’d dabbled in the latter, as well.

“Yet your brother is your closest friend and your cousin lives under your protection.” She shook her head. “You can’t fool me, Gregory Novak. Family is the most important thing in your world.”

“Yes, but notice you didn’t include my grandparents in that list. Some people should never be allowed to have children, or more importantly, raise somebody else’s. My grandfather is one of them.” He shuddered at the memories of being beaten and berated by the old man, who’d had very specific notions about how a future alpha male should be raised. “At least George had it a little easier. Grandfather used up most of his meanness on me.”

“How horrible. No wonder you want nothing to do with him.” After a thoughtful moment of worrying her hair with her fingertips she inhaled deeply. “And no wonder you were so careful this afternoon. I’m sorry if I tempted you to go against your principles. I know I’m one of those people you couldn’t trust.”

“That isn’t true.” The couch wasn’t very long, so with a short scoot, he was close enough to cup her chin in his hand. “If I didn’t think I could trust you, I sure as hell wouldn’t have told the old bastard we were engaged.”

“What will happen when we don’t get married?” She went back to twisting the end of her ponytail.

Greg shrugged. “I’ll probably have to leave Michigan for good. Or at least until there’s a new Prime in the area who might rescind the exile order.”

“Where will you go?” Her eyes were wide and full of worry. For him? How could anyone have ever believed this woman had no feelings? She was full of emotions but had never learned how to express them. He was powerfully glad her cousin and uncle were already dead. Saved him the time and trouble of hunting them down.

He took her hands in his to keep her from tying her hair into knots. “If we can get rid of Beowulf in the next month, removing the danger my grandfather sees, maybe he’ll change his mind and let me stay. Probably not, though. Most likely scenario is that I sell my half of the club to George and go buy one somewhere else. I’ve still got friends in L.A. and San Francisco.”

Fee gave him a soft smile and shook her head. “George would go with you. So would Lana and Vince. They follow you, not your grandfather.” She held onto his hands, lacing her fingers through his in a gesture so natural, he didn’t think she was even aware of doing it.

“And what about you, Fee?” He stared straight into her eyes, refusing to let her look away. “Would you come with us or stay in Detroit? You know Aidan would make sure you had another job and another place to stay.” No matter what others believed of her, he knew she was bright and courageous and loyal. She’d simply been loyal to the wrong people who had taken advantage of her naïveté. In the last few months, she’d finally grown into the person she was meant to be.

Her whispered response was so soft he barely heard it. “If I have a choice, I will go.”

Kissing her again would be a phenomenal mistake. He had to remember that. “I promise you, Fee, whatever happens with this business, one way or another, we won’t abandon you. Your queen owes me a few favors, too, and I’ll call them in if I have to.”

“Thank you.” Her breathing had gone rapid and shallow. Then she flicked out her tongue to lick her lips and he was sunk.

He didn’t think he was in love with her, not the way Ric or Aidan or George loved their mates. Not that he’d know what that felt like, but surely he’d know, wouldn’t he? Apparently that sort of grand romance wasn’t in the cards for him. He liked Fee a lot, he cared about her, and God knew he wanted her. Most of all, he’d simply run out of the will to fight.

Between the full moon, his grandfather, the vandalism, her pheromones and everything else that was messing with his mind and body today, he was finished. He wanted Fee. He wanted her in the most elemental and visceral way possible, and he wanted her
now.
His canines began to lengthen and he felt, rather than heard, the rumble of a near-growl reverberate through his chest.