New Beginnings (2 page)

“You do?” Her surprise made him smile.

“I do, and I can talk to Gregory for you.
We’ll work it out if you give me a time frame.”

“Two, three weeks at most. Otherwise you may
have to send someone to put me down for conspiring to murder
Gregory. He was a pain in the ass before, but he’s going to be
about a million times worse.” She half-laughed but regret laced her
humor.

He doubted she would attack her Alpha
without good cause, but he refused to leave her in that situation
either. “Don’t worry, Jess. I’ll be happy to get things moving
quickly.” He meant that more than he should. Slater refused to
consider about what that could mean.

She hesitated before saying, “Gabriel
Sharpclaw mentioned that you have a bar you’re looking to sell. I’m
looking to buy one. Trust me, I have the experience. I do
everything now even though Gregory doesn’t trust me to own it
myself.” Slater didn’t miss the hope and doubt warring in that
statement.

He smiled, and was truly pleased that he
could give her something she wanted. “Well, the bar is currently
empty and I am happy to sell it to you. I should warn you now,
you’ll likely want to redecorate, and I can help with the funds for
that. Rhonda was a wild card. It doesn’t look much like a bar at
the moment. Feel free to decorate as you please.”

Jess interrupted, “I can cover the costs,
and I don’t mind revamping the place.”

“Good, and I kept all the licenses, so until
you can get that paper work squared away, you can run it under my
name. I’ll have the contracts drawn up and sent immediately.”

They continued their conversation a bit
longer. When he finally hung up, he looked down at Victoria’s dark
hair and pale skin. For the first time in a long time he felt
guilty, but he didn’t have a damned clue why.

* * * *

Liam flopped down in the middle of a
clearing some miles from his home. He ran himself out of breath
which wasn’t easy for a werewolf to do, but he wanted to outrun the
voices. He knew better, but he had to try.

Reality seemed to slip a little further
every day that Brody kept Slater’s favor. Once, a long time ago, he
was Slater’s confidante. That was why he was Slater’s second. He
still held the title, but the old man no longer trusted him.

Break Brody.

Ruin Slater.

Take the pack.

“Stop,” he screamed at the top of his lungs,
pulling at his hair. Brody, it was all Brody’s fault. If he hadn’t
stepped in and saved that damned human, Liam would still be the
golden boy who could do no wrong.

What was one measly human compared to the
wolves. Slater let Hayden shoot Raj through the head with a silver
bullet in a bar full of Others. As the Alpha, Slater should have
sided with the wolves and allowed Raj to tear the human and Brody
to shreds.

No. Instead Slater promoted that
goody-two-shoes to enforcer to fill Raj’s place. The one man who
understood why Liam was the only one fit to rule the pack. Slater
never even tried to stop that bastard fae from putting Raj down
like a crippled horse.

Liam still felt as if Slater had betrayed
the pack when he rewarded Brody for saving a filthy human. The
voices constantly reminded him of that fact.

The shrill ring of his phone jolted him out
of his head and into the middle of the mountain forest. He took a
moment to slow his breathing before he answered Slater’s call.
“Hello.”

“Hi Liam. How are you?” Slater sounded
hurried.

“Good. What’s up?”

“We have a new wolf moving up. I just wanted
to fill you in.”

Liam listened to Slater drone on about the
new female. There was something in Slater’s voice that was
different than any other time he spoke of a new wolf—or anything
really. He always had a hollow tone before.

Liam’s mind spun through the possibilities.
He found himself sitting there in the clearing long after Slater
hung up.

* * * *

Jess sat behind her desk at Greg’s Pub. The
office was horrendous with its whore red walls, chairs and shag
rug. The desk was black, as well as the shelves and filing cabinet.
It was so trashy it was sad, and that fucktard wouldn’t let her
change the decor.

The books were done, and now she was
dreaming about her own bar. She had big plans on how she wanted to
decorate. Edenton was an out of the way small town. She could see a
rustic hunting lodge, complete with pool tables and dartboards.

Slater had already impressed her with his
efficiency. He faxed the contract an hour after she called.

The man had a super sexy voice. All low and
smooth like silk sliding over skin. She could listen to him all day
and night, as long as she remembered her new motto. No screwing the
Alpha
.

The phone rang and Jess cringed. She knew
this conversation was coming sooner or later. After a deep breath,
she picked up. “Hello, Gregory.”

“What? You aren’t going to ask, what can I
do for you?” he purred.

She shuddered and not in a good way. “We
will never speak of last night again. Ever,” Jess insisted,
squeezing her eyes shut. She really hoped Slater had already called
him. “Besides, I won’t be around much longer.”

“I heard, though I don’t believe it. Why
ever would you want to leave
me
, my pack and
your
bar?”

“
My
bar? It’s
your
bar, as you
keep reminding me. You can have it. I have my own up in Washington
now.”

“You do everything in the bar, so it’s
yours. You really want to leave
your
bar behind?” He said,
but it wasn’t true and even if it were, it was a little too late.
His voice went colder. “Slater will never sell you the bar. He’s
older than I am which means he shares the same views.”

“Funny, I already have the contract. It is
official.” She tapped her fingers on the table.

“Bullshit.”

“Would you like to see it? And remember, if
you do, you aren’t touching me again. Period.”

“But you loved everything about last
night.”

“Oh, no I didn’t.”

“Yes you did.”

“See, I figured my leaving without a word
this morning would be a good indicator that last night was clearly
a mistake.”

“That’s not what you were thinking when you
sat on my face and swallowed my cock.”

She gagged, she couldn’t help it. That
memory came back with sudden clarity. “Trust me, it’s never
happening again.” Then she ended the call before he could say
another word.

Jamie slipped through the door and plopped
down in the chair opposite Jess with a sassy little smirk. Her
twin’s pale blond hair was up in a ponytail, instead of down like
Jess’s. She wore almost the same clothes. Her big blue eyes danced
with humor. “So Gregory, huh?”

Jess groaned. “I want to forget.”

“Was he that bad? I mean, I walked in on you
two in the bathroom. He seemed to know what to do with his tongue.”
Jamie snickered. “He had you bent over the counter, your skirt
hiked up and his face in your pussy, going to town. You, my dear,
were screaming his praises like you were at a Southern Baptist
revival.”

“Well, that was good,” Jess grinned. She
might have been desperate for a little of the real thing after one
long-ass dry spell. “Still, he’s already trying to get more, and
it’s not happening.”

“You could do worse.” Jamie shrugged, and
she would know from past experiences. “It would be just sex.”

“He’s the Alpha, and expects me to be his
new playmate and be fine with sharing. You know me better than
that. It will never happen. Besides, you know I wouldn’t have gone
there if I weren’t drunk off my ass for the first time in fourteen
years.”

“I still can’t believe you were letting
Fallon hand you cup after cup of the moonshine.”

Jess shrugged. “I didn’t think I could get
drunk anymore. I remember hearing rumors, but that shit hit me
hard.”

“Yeah, well I tried to warn you, but you
were slurring by then, and I let it go.” Jamie sat back in her
chair. “So, what’s your plan of action?”

Jess settled in and told her about her new
bar, the cabin she would be renting and everything up in
Edenton.

Jamie listened intently and a frown pulled
her lips down. When Jess finally finished, Jamie nodded. “Okay.
Just promise you’re not going to forget about me down here.”

“Of course I won’t. You could come.”

“Maybe in time. I’m just not ready to leave
yet.”

“Yeah, didn’t figure that.” Jess reached
over to squeeze her sister’s hand. “I’ll come to visit, and vice
versa. When you’re ready, you should move up.”

“Agreed.” Jamie finally smiled back. “Now,
just promise me you’ll let me know if you find my mate up
there.”

“Done.” She truly hoped Jamie would move up
because she was always getting into trouble.

The door was thrown open and Fallon’s voice
echoed through the half empty house. “What the hell are you doing,
Jess?”

“Shit,” Jess muttered as she turned to face
the music. “Sorry, Fallon, I’m moving. I have to.”

Fallon stalked in, her red curls bouncing,
her green eyes flashing. Her hands landed on her hips. “Is this
about Isaac? Because I have a real simple solution, don’t bring him
up and we’re good.”

Yup, just like her vision. Jess ducked her
head as she muttered. “It’s not so simple. I just need to get out
of here.”

“Why?” It was a demand.

“Remember that night you loaded me up on
Bill’s Moonshine?”

Fallon nodded but didn’t look impressed.

Jess grimaced. “I woke up in Gregory’s bed.
Now I can’t get rid of him.”

“You fucked your Alpha?” She laughed out
loud. “Oh wait. I remember seeing you two in the bathroom. Jamie
told me I had to go look, but I didn’t believe my eyes.” She
slapped her legs, and nearly doubled over she was laughing so
hard.

Jess crossed her arms over her chest, and
sighed. She hadn’t seen this part of the conversation. Now she felt
shitty. “Okay, you can stop busting a gut now.” Fallon looked up at
her with an expression caught between amusement and sympathy. Jess
asked, “Do you see why I need a new start?”

Once Fallon finally calmed down, a frown
marred her face. “You could have told me.”

“I don’t want you trying to talk me out of
this. Yes, I’m frustrated you won’t listen about Isaac, but that’s
not the only factor.”

“Good. If he was, I’d kick your ass.” Fallon
grabbed a couple of boxes and started for the truck.

Man, she wished she got more than a few
brief seconds of that vision. She’d expected all hell to break
loose and now her best friend was helping. With a heavy sigh, she
grabbed a couple of her own and followed.

Jess set the boxes down and turned to
Fallon. “Gabe hooked me up with a new pack. The Alpha is selling
the bar to me. The contract is already drawn up.” Jess chewed her
lip, waiting for a response.”

“Good for you.” Fallon managed a weak smile.
“Does Jamie know?”

Jess barely nodded, “Yeah, sorry. Look, I
was going to tell you. Just not until I got there.”

Fallon’s mouth fell open. “Goddess, am I
that bad? Really?”

“Yeah, Fallon, you have your moments.”

“Still, you should have told me.”

“Probably.” Jess yanked off her bandana and
twisted her hair underneath before retying it. She wanted to say
something but went back to work. Deep down, she knew Fallon would
wind up in Edenton, but that wouldn’t be for a couple years. Her
best friend didn’t want to hear it either.

“So what’s up there?” Fallon asked as she
walked back to the house.

“My own bar, and no Gregory.”

One scarlet brow arched. “Well, that is a
positive. Gregory is a dumbfuck. He should have sold you the bar
forever ago.”

“Yeah. Well, that’s his loss.”

Fallon nodded, “Damn right it is. I bet the
place closes in a few months because he doesn’t know the first
thing about running it.”

“Got that right.” Jess glanced over and
asked, “Forgive me?”

“Like I ever stay mad at you.” Fallon
snorted and grabbed a couple more boxes. “But you should name the
bar In 2 Deep. That’s your damn catch phrase, and you seem to have
landed yourself in the deep-end this time.”

* * * *

“When will she be here?” Brody asked as he
pushed a hand through his shaggy blond hair. It was a hot day and
they’d been working hard to get the overgrown yard under control.
It finally looked like someone lived there.

As the local Alpha, it was Slater’s job to
get new wolves settled into his territory. He owned several
properties that he rented for as long as the new wolves wanted, or
until they found themselves a new place.

“Soon. We’re almost done but I don’t expect
either of you to stay longer than you want. I do appreciate the
help though.” He hoped she pulled in before they took off so they
could help her unload her truck.

“I never said I wanted to bail,” Brody
grumbled, before taking a long drink from his water bottle. “I’m
interested in meeting the new wolf.”

For some reason, that rankled Slater, even
though he never hooked up with his wolves. Besides, Brody wasn’t
interested in
women
. The man still mourned his dead
wife.

Slater checked his watch. “She could be here
anytime really. In fact, I assumed she would be sooner. Gregory
said to remember that she’s meaner than she looks.”

“And that means?” Hayden asked as his dark
eyes filled with suspicion.

He was starting to regret inviting the
behemoth of solid muscle who intimidated some of his toughest
enforcers. Sheriff Hunter was the Earth realm’s General for over a
century before leaving Faerie. When Hayden was ticked, his power
would roll through a room like a wave, raising the little hairs on
the back of his neck. When Hayden was really pissed off, the ground
would shake.