The Severed Thread (20 page)

Huh
?  My brows furrowed in confusion.  What was he talking about?

“You have been marked and he seems to have taken that as an infringement upon territory he considers his.” 

“Wait a minute.  There was so much wrong with that statement that I don’t know where to start.”  I took a deep breath.  “First of all, I’m
so
not his territory and what do you mean by marked?”

“I can smell Corbin’s mark on you.  Recent if I’m not mistaken.”  He raised a single, perfectly shaped eyebrow in question.

“Ah…” I murmured, understanding dawning as I remembered Samantha’s strange look earlier.  I had forgotten about Corbin’s wolf rubbing himself on me this morning.  I was sure the shower I took shortly afterwards would have eliminated most of the smell.  “This morning before breakfast his wolf rubbed himself all over me.”

“His wolf?” he said with a little confused head shake.

“Of course his wolf!”  Did he think Corbin
the man
had rubbed himself all over me?  That would have been hilarious had he tried.  I would have to tell Corbin that later. 

“I was sure that Corbin was a homosexual,” he said, seemingly mystified.  “It caused quite a stir when he was formally admitted into the pack as an Alpha.”

“He is and it did.”  What did Corbin’s sexual preferences have to do with anything?

He leaned towards me and I took an involuntary half step back.  He gave me a chastising look, his wolf looking out at me through the jade of his eyes.  “I promise I won’t bite, but I would like a better scenting.  If you will permit me?”

I couldn’t decide what to make of the pack-master.  Earlier he was throwing off dominance like a nuclear reactor but outwardly appeared a genuine, albeit attractive, and personable individual.  Of course, no one got to be pack-master of one of the largest packs in the US by being just a nice guy.  There were dominance challenges in all werewolf packs, most usually bloody affairs ending in the loser’s demise.  That reality seemed at odds with the congenial man in front of me.  Another man met who was a conundrum.

I nodded my agreement, and one of the most handsome men I have ever met leaned in to smell me.  Just
fabulous
.
 There was something so sadly humorous about having this gorgeous man sniffing around for all the wrong reasons.  He inhaled deeply with his face inches from my skin.  His rich brown hair grazed my shoulder and I was unable to suppress a shiver. 

“Ah,” he said to himself.  I was
so
hoping that that was about the smell and not my tremor.

“So, I take it that was helpful?”

“Very,” he said smiling.  The smile did not appear to be an entirely happy one.  “He has marked you as pack, not as mate.  That explains my wolf’s reaction.”  It did? 

“It’s a distinction usually reserved for other wolves,” he explained.  “A vampire, even one as old and seasoned as Liam, wouldn’t be able to distinguish between the two.  I suspect that you showered shortly after?”

“Yes.”

“That is why I couldn’t smell it as distinctly,” he said.  “The mark is there, but some of the subtleties have been dampened.  Had you not showered so soon after, it would have been stronger.”

“Who knew there was a difference in the scents a wolf could lay down?”  I said in wonder. 

“A wild wolf could not achieve the subtle distinction but a werewolf is much more complex.” 

“So why can’t I smell it?”  I involuntarily sniffed my arm.  I had really thought after my shower the smell was gone, or nearly so at least.  Not to mention that elves have a better sense of smell than humans and many of the other races.

“The wearer is not meant to smell it.  It would drive those with a sensitive sense of smell crazy to have a constant odor tickling their noses.”  He looked out over the crowd his eyes skimming the others in the room.  “Corbin is obviously concerned about you.  The only way his wolf would mark you as pack is if it thinks you need protecting.”  He turned back to me, his eyes narrowing as he pinned me with his gaze.  “Do you?’

“Do I what?”

“Need protecting?”

“I can take care of myself,” I assured him.

“Hmm,” he murmured, looking unconvinced.  “I know you are an elf and as such have innate weapons at your disposal.  But Corbin has insured that should you have a problem, any Lenape wolf in the vicinity will feel compelled to help.”

“Oh shit.”  I didn’t really need more attention drawn to the things currently going on in my life.

“Exactly.  And if your issues are with Liam McCallister and my wolves get involved, that could pose a serious problem for me,” he said while running a hand through his hair.   “I think I need to have a talk with our friend Corbin.”  Even though I was seriously irritated with Corbin, I was feeling a bit sorry for him too.  I did not envy anyone who incurred Jonathan Wilder’s displeasure.

Chapter 17

“I got quite the dressing down from my pack-master last night,” Corbin reported to me the next morning.  He had showed up again for an early morning visit complete with breakfast.  I was going to have to run to the market soon if he kept popping up after a shift.  I was nearly out of eggs and the orange juice container was feeling a little light.   I was going to have to get creative if he showed up again before I did some shopping.

“I hope you did not come here looking for sympathy,” I told him while flipping over the six pancakes that were currently cooking on the griddle, “because you are about to get another earful from me.”  I was ticked that I was now going to be looking over my shoulder to make sure there weren’t any Lenape wolves around every time I was having a tense moment with Liam McCallister.  Since we were nearly
always
having a tense moment, it was guaranteed to cause a problem sooner rather than later.

“My wolf just wants to protect you,” he tried explaining.  “We both love you like a sister.”

“Honey, I love you too.”  Softening a little I ruffled his hair before setting a steaming stack of food in front of him.  “But…” I stretched out the word.  “This scent marking business is going to make my life a little tricky.”  If my life got any trickier, I was going to be in serious trouble.

“Why won’t you let me help more with whatever is going on with McCallister?”

“What McCallister expects from me is not something you should knowingly keep secret.  I will not compromise your ethics unless I absolutely have to.”

“I still want to help.”  He crossed his arms as he presented me with a stubborn stare.

“I know you do and you are helping.  You’re my lawyer.”  We sat in silence while Corbin went back to inhaling his food, each of us stewing on our own thoughts.

Corbin’s head popped up as if a light bulb went off.  “What if I could arrange someone to help that I guarantee will not report details back to me?”  I could tell by the eagerly hopeful look on his face that he believed he had a good candidate.

“I can handle it,” I mulishly refused.

“Don’t you mean that you and Samantha can handle it? 
She
knows what is going on I assume?” 
Uh oh.
  I think I had hurt his feeling by confiding more in Samantha than him.

“She only thinks she does,” I said carefully.  “I have not confirmed any details.”  I suddenly remembered something.  “Hey, you also helped by getting Marsha to bring Francine and Jax on the play date.”  I had spoken with her at the funeral yesterday.  We planned to get the kids together tomorrow at the park as long as I got approval from McCallister.  I texted Lok with the details last night but had yet to hear back.

“Yeah, she told me you guys are meeting at the park tomorrow.  And it isn’t like I had to twist her arm.  She is looking forward to seeing you and the kids are excited to meet the kid that lives in the house with all the vampires.”

“Wow, I had not realized Penny was such a celebrity,” I chuckled.

“You do realize that getting involved in the personal life of Liam McCallister is hands down the most asinine thing you have ever done, right?”  His eyes held obvious concern.  I knew he was right but what was I supposed to do?

“Yeah well, not feeling like I have a ton of options at the moment.”  I started putting all of the dirty dishes in the dishwasher as Corbin rose to put the pancake ingredients away. “I can get that,” I said.

“You made breakfast; I can at least help clean up.”  We worked in companionable silence for a few minutes, each of us lost to our own thoughts.

“Since we never did really talk about any of this, can you at least explain why in the hell you
are taking the kid out anyway?” Corbin finally asked.

“McCallister offered to reduce the term of my
indentured servitude
by one month for taking Penny on a play date.  Sounded too easy to pass up,” I shrugged.

“Still sounds like insanity to me.  Just sayin….”

“I’m thinking that the more I make McCallister happy, the better off I’m going to be.”

“Playing.  With.  Fire,” he said while jabbing the stick of butter he was holding at me to emphasize each word.

“That lost a little something with the butter.” 

He looked at the stick in his hand and smiled sheepishly at me.  “Doesn’t make it any less true.” 

No.  No it didn’t.

The rest of my morning was spent in the office catching up on email and paperwork.  I was also waiting to hear from Samantha regarding her research into the wonky retirement fund report.  Just after lunch Johanna buzzed my office from the reception desk in the lobby.

“Ms. Lassiter?”

“Yes?”

“Jonathan Wilder is here to see you.”

I groaned while flopping my head back on my desk chair. 
What did he want?
  McCallister’s shipment and little Penny’s play date both loomed on the horizon.  I had a lot to do and very little time to do it.

“Ms. Lassiter?” Johanna prompted.

I sighed in resignation before pressing the button to reply.  “You can send him back.”  I closed my eyes in silent preparation before standing to greet my visitor.  All too soon Johanna was ushering the pack-master through my office door.

“Good morning Jonathan,” I said, reaching out to shake his hand.

“Abigail,” he smiled, taking my hand in his and giving it a firm shake.

“Can I offer you something to drink?” I asked.  Johanna hesitated at the door, waiting to hear his reply.  “Coffee, juice, water?”

“I’m fine.”

“Alright,” I said before dismissing Johanna.  “Thank you Johanna.  Hold my calls, will you?” 

“Certainly Ms. Lassiter.”  She left, closing the door behind her.

“So, what brings you in to see me this morning?” I asked now that we were alone. 

“I have someone that I think may be able to help you with a problem you have.”

“What problem would that be?” I asked carefully.  A slow burn began to build in the region of my sternum.  Heartburn?  No, that would be dread.  I rubbed the middle of my chest absently, hoping to rid myself of the sensation.  I couldn’t help remembering Corbin’s words of this morning.
“What if I get you some help that I guarantee will not report details back to me?”

“It has come to my attention that you might need help from a stevedore at the Tioga Marine Terminal.”   How the hell did he know I needed help at Tioga?  Corbin’s mind was an amazing thing.  He must have figured out what was going on and asked the pack-master for help. 
Shit, shit, shit!

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” I said after pasting a puzzled expression on my face.  I don’t know who the hell I was kidding.  I
so
needed the help.  I was also apparently lousy at hiding things from my closest friends.   

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”  I am a
bsolutely
certain I need the help.
 
I am just not willing to admit it to
you.

“Our mutual friend must have misunderstood the situation then?”

“Must have…,” I replied noncommittally, nodding my head.

“Well, in case you change your mind, here is the stevedore’s information.”  He placed a slip of bright green repositionable note paper on my desk.  It was folded and sealed closed along the sticky edge.  He used the index finger of his right hand to push it towards me.

When I reached out to take the slip of neon from him, he wrapped his left hand around my wrist.  He leaned across the desk and began speaking mere inches from my face.  The scent of peppermint and man wafted towards me. 

“This is one of mine,” he informed me, tapping the paper with his free hand.  I forced myself to listen to what he was saying instead of staring at him stupidly.  “He will help because I have asked him to.  Do not betray our trust.”

“As I said, I don’t need any help.”  I guess he didn’t hear me the first time?

“Mmmhmm….” I detected some skepticism in his tone.  “Is that why you were going to take the information anyway?”

I started to shake my head, about to make another denial when a thought suddenly occurred to me.  “What were you expecting from me in return?”

“Nothing,” he said with a shrug, leaning back out of my personal space.  He released my hand and the paper before sitting back down and casually crossing his ankle over his knee.   Nothing was for free.  I narrowed my eyes at him in suspicion as I pulled the paper towards me.  I wasn’t quite ready to give up on the information despite my protests to the contrary.  “Corbin already took care of it.”

“Corbin?”  Now I was on high alert.  “What did he offer to do?”

“He offered to step-up.”  Well that explained everything, didn’t it?

“Step-up?”  I repeated, puzzled.  “What does that mean exactly?”

“It means that he has been hiding in the middle of the pack too long.”  His reply came out in an annoyed rumble.  He looked irritated just thinking about it.

“Oh no,” I groaned as I realized what that meant.

“Oh yes,” Jonathan confirmed.  “Corbin is more dominant than many wolves currently above him in the hierarchy.   I know it and he knows I know it.”  His voice was still a rumble and my skin began to itch as his power simmered.  “He is also aware that nothing aggravates me more than a man holding his wolf back.  Starting today, he is no longer hiding in the middle.”