Eight

Five hours into his day and Aaron already had a job. Sure, it paid shit, but it came with room and board until he could get a place of his own. Starting over was supposed to suck, but right now he only felt… liberated.

Rider had an opening for an extra mechanic in his shop, and the gig was right up Aaron’s alley. His specialty was cars of course, but he knew his way around a bike too. And since Rider spent so little time in his apartment above the shop, he’d offered to let Aaron crash there, even hinting that Waldo might have extra work for him around the track.

He’d kept busy all morning, but it wasn’t enough to keep his mind off of Lexington and her crew of vixens. The urge to help them rode Aaron as hard as his revenge had. Maybe he’d only switched vices. Instead of being obsessed with killing the Junkyard Dogs in Memphis, he was now obsessed with saving a fox at home.

He fumbled his wrench and bent to retrieve it from the oil stained concrete.

It was more than that though. More than just switching gears. Whatever had happened last night between him and Lexington was… weighty. It felt heavy even though it made him lighter.

“Nothing even happened,” he muttered to himself.

Not true. She’d confided in him, a perfect stranger. About her fox and her people’s ways, and believed he would help her. And he’d… well, he’d just been himself. She’d seen his fight with Drake, she knew his history as a shifter hunter, and she’d been witness to all those rough-around-the-edges moments, yet she hadn’t flinched at his dirty looks. She didn’t shy away from his harsh tone.

Barky, the blond one had called him. The potty girl.

So, yeah. He was going to help them. And maybe this was the first step to atoning for the wrongs he’d done. For blindly following the hunters. For allowing Mina to get hurt. And for his part in the war between him and the man who’d hurt her. Because there was no denying his part anymore.

Maybe this was his redemption. Maybe this was the beginning of something great.

Except…

His solution for the vixens had holes, and he’d been mulling them over while he worked.

Racing was the way to the dogs’ hearts. And those foxes wouldn’t get into their pack without getting into their hearts. End of story.

The wolves weren’t motivated by money or greed like the Memphis clans. They weren’t influenced by the prospect of growing their numbers like the werecats were. Drake wasn’t a typical alpha on a power trip, so making the females submit to his authority wasn’t a bargaining chip either. And even if it was, Aaron wasn’t sure how submissive the vixens really were.

So even though he had a direction to head in, there didn’t seem to be a road to take him there.

“Gonna hafta hike that motherfucker,” he said under his breath as he tightened a gasket he’d just replaced.

“You always did that when you were thinking hard.” The voice of his sister came from over his shoulder and he twisted around to find her smiling wide in the opening of the garage.

“What’s that?” He chucked the wrench into the tool chest and wiped his grimy hands on a rag.

“Talking to yourself,” she said, strolling over. In her hand was a large paper sack, and judging from the smell, it contained her homemade chili and biscuits. “You always did that. Like you needed to hear yourself think out loud in order to sort things out. So I guess the question is, what are you trying to sort out?”

Aaron eyed her.

Damn, he’d missed having her around. He’d been so lonely over the years and that’s how he’d preferred it. But now, that same feeling of loneliness choked him, and he wished he had ridden out the storm with his sister. Wished he could have mourned with her and been around to watch her find happiness. Whatever the future held, he never wanted to be that low again.

No more running. Ever. If he had to repeat the motto over and over again so his dumbass brain would get it, that’s what he’d do.

“How about you hand over that bag, and maybe I’ll tell ya,” he bargained. His stomach growled at the mere idea of tasting what was inside. He missed his sister’s cooking almost as much as he missed her smiles.

She pushed the bag at him, and he took it outside to the small picnic table Rider and Waldo used for breaks. He straddled the bench and Annie planted herself across from him as he started unpacking the food she’d made.

“Red Cap busy today?” he asked.

“Lunch was easing off when I left. Punk has it under control. So… do I need to ask how last night went? Or can I just assume by the black eye and split lip, that you and Drake worked things out?”

Aaron smirked. “Yeah. I think we’re good for now. I explained a few things, and so did he.” He gestured to his face for emphasis.

Annie’s expression became troubled. “I have to ask,” she began. “I… I know you wouldn’t… but I have to ask. The shifters you hunted, were they like us? Peaceful?”

Aaron dipped the edge of his biscuit in the dark broth of the chili and brought it to his mouth before answering.

“They were about as different from your group as possible. Nothing like DTD. They were terrible people who took advantage of innocents.”

He took a bite, and his eyes closed just in time to see the relief on her face. Fuck, that tasted good.

“Damn, sis. I think your cooking has gotten better over the years.”

“Lots of practice,” she quipped.

“Mm,” he grunted in agreement, using the plastic spoon to shovel some chili into his mouth.

“So… what about the rest of last night?”

“What rest?”

Annie rolled her eyes. “The cute little fox, dummy. What’d she want?”

Aaron frowned. “How’d you know she was a fox?”

“The quiet one, Ragan, told me.”

“Oh.”

“So?”

Aaron took several more bites before answering. “First of all, don’t mistake her for cute even though, yes, she’s small. She’s got balls the size of Texas.”

“She showed you her balls?” Annie asked with a snort.

Aaron gave her a dry look.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help it. Punk’s rubbing off on me. But she can pull these things off with finesse, whereas I snort.”

“Anyone who does stunt biking has some brass balls, is all I’m saying. But back to your question…” He set his chili down and looked out toward the street, collecting his thoughts. “She wanted to make a good impression on Drake, and she doesn’t feel it went so well.”

“Why not?”

“Because before she got a word in, me and him got into it.”

Annie rolled her eyes. “Knew that was coming,” she muttered, but then added, “You did come here to kill them after all. And at Christmas. That deserves a beating, I’m thinking.”

He gave a single nod. “It does. I’d do at least that if one of them boys came hunting my family. It’s why we’re even now.”

But Drake would be watching him. He knew because it’s what he would do. He’d watch him until there was no doubt left that he was a danger. Lexington was right to want to distance herself from him, right to think that it could pit Drake against her.

It was why they had to prove the vixens could be of value to the Dirt Track Dogs.

“Annie… I need your help.”

A frown curved her bow lips. “What is it?”

“The vixens aren’t just here to race. They want into your pack.”

“Into it how?”

“They want to be Dirt Track Dogs. Want to pledge their allegiance to Drake and fall under his protection.”

Her eyebrows shot upward, crinkling her forehead. “Wow. This has never happened before. We’re such a small pack, and a group of misfits at that.”

“Let’s just say they appreciate DTD values,” he murmured.

“Our values? Oh no.” His sister’s expression changed again, taking on a look of concern. “Are foxes like the cats? No fated mates? Forced matings?”

Aaron shook his head, the chili suddenly turning sour in his stomach.

“Not like the werecats, but similar. At least for the clan they originated from. The males battle it out over the females of their choosing until a victor arises, then they’re given over to be bred.”

Annie shook her head, staring away. “Bred?” she mouthed, as if saying it out loud made her ill. “Is this why you became a hunter? Because of crap like this?”

“No. The Memphis wolves treated their females better than this. The Memphis cats, not so much, but… they were a wicked breed.”

“But it’s this feeling, right? The feeling of someone being unjustly treated, and by someone with more power. That’s why you did it.”

He nodded, because yes, she’d hit the nail on the head. He’d never been the type who could sit back and watch a bully have their way.

Annie was quiet, staring at her hands where they twisted atop the table.

“It seems like you got some of those DTD values yourself,” she said. “I can’t imagine the pack turning their back on someone who needed help. But that said, Drake won’t take risks with our people. He saves the risky business for the track.”

“That’s what I wanted to ask you about.” Aaron leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table. “Can they… can they race for a spot in the pack?”

Using their abilities as currency was the only idea he had, and even he could admit it was a weak one.

Annie pursed her lips, thinking. “Ella raced Drake to win a place in the club, but that was way back when. And at the time, she didn’t know they were shifters. Didn’t even know she was a shifter. But so much has changed since then. They went from five bachelors to a full-fledged pack with families and young. I’m not sure what Drake would say to a race-in now.”

“Damn.” His plan was going from weak to on life support.

She watched him, and no doubt she could sense how hard he was feeling this. It was no joke what they said about twins and their hooky intuition. For the millionth time, he gave himself the middle finger for damaging that bond by leaving Annie high and dry for so many years.

“You really care what happens to those foxes, don’t you?” she mused.

“I know it sounds crazy, Annie, but something happened to me last night. I felt something when Lexington confided in me. I felt…” He looked away trying to find the right words without sounding like he’d lost his marbles. But if he couldn’t say it out loud to his sister, then he might as well turn in his man card. “Necessary. I felt whole. Like all the dents and dings from over the years, she filled them in somehow with just her trust. And now, I can’t let her down. I have this… urge to have her back. Hold her up. Make things work. I feel responsible for her, and… I like it.”

Annie’s slight frown turned down, down. Like it was a melting candle. And then suddenly her eyes grew big and round, looking surprised and oddly… excited?

“Aaron,” she breathed. “You’re bonding with her.”

“What? Like...? No. It’s not that.” His heart started a thumping rhythm that could rival a heavy metal song. Because Annie was suggesting…

It couldn’t be that. He’d convinced himself last night it was just the beer and moonlight. But even as her words entered his mind, they were followed up by a hell, yes.

“A mating bond?” he choked out. “Do they happen so fast?”

The thought had crossed his mind in the heat of the moment, sure, but he’d only been grasping at straws, trying to understand the feelings that had him trembling in the fox’s presence.

Annie nodded.

“It’s kind of par for the course. Unless you’re mating someone like Blister who was so steeped in denial, I needed a backhoe to dig him out.”

Shit, he wasn’t settling down material. He wanted to be. Desperately even. But could he be any good for Lexington? He hadn’t been good for Mina, but what they’d shared was a pale comparison to what he already had with the fox. And things were different now. No more big city. No more shifter gangs and the wars that went along with them.

Conflicting emotions battered him until his chest felt like exploding. Shock, denial, good stuff he couldn’t describe, and a whole lot of oh, shit. And then something that settled all the quarrelling inside him.

That blushing grin she’d given him last night right before walking away. The sudden attraction he felt for her, she felt it too.

“She knows, doesn’t she?”

Lexington’s fox would have known right away that Aaron was her mate.

Annie pressed her lips together, nodding.

“Probably. Her animal is likely going batty on her right now, wanting to get closer to you. It was like this for Punk and Beast. Quick like this. No getting to know you, because you already feel so comfortable. But if Lexington is worried for the future of her friends, she might be struggling against the bond right now. She might not feel right until they’re secure.”

Aaron swallowed hard. This was so much, so fast. He didn’t blame his fox for being confused about her instincts. Hell, he was confused, and he was the human with no animal driving him.

But they had time. He’d fix her up with the dogs, somehow, and there’d be time to take things farther later.

Annie stood from the table and started gathering his trash.

“Take care of her, and whatever is meant to be will be. I’ve seen it plenty of times. These things have a way of working out.”

Funny, but Aaron hadn’t seen a lot of things “working out” in his time away, so his sister’s words weren’t so easy to accept.

“Does that mean you think Drake will take in the vixens?”

Annie cocked her head to the side, thinking.

“I honestly don’t know what he’ll say. But how about this? You and the foxes can ask him yourself, tonight. We’re grilling at six, me and Surge. You’re all invited.”

Aaron arched an eyebrow. “You think the alpha will be cool with that?”

“Bring drinks and—now write this down, it’s specific—sour apple Bubblicious. Do that, and your invitation will stand.” She gave him a wink as she tossed his used napkins in the trash barrel. “I can’t promise what he’ll say about the other though. This just gets you in the door, so be on your best behavior. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am. Bossy little sister.”

“Only by four minutes,” she reminded.

She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and then squeezed, reminding him what home felt like. What safe felt like.

“I like them, Aaron,” she murmured. “I hope the others do too.”

He grunted an agreement.

“Oh! I almost forgot.” She rummaged around in her purse before coming out with an overstuffed envelope. Shoving it toward him, she said, “This is yours.”

Frowning, Aaron thumbed it open to find a thick wad of cash inside. Twenties and hundreds.

“No, Annie,” argued. “I’m okay for money and I have this job now. Rider’s paying. I don’t need you to support me.”

She shook her head causing her curls to swing, and held her hand up to stop him. “I’m not supporting you, brother. This is your share.”

“My share of what?”

“Red Cap. I figure since I’ve kept it afloat all these years, and made it my own, I should buy out your part. Make it mine for real, on paper. That envelope right there contains your fair share of our family business, that is now solely mine. There are some papers for you to sign, but otherwise it’s a done deal. I even went and got you cash since I figured you hadn’t had time to open a bank account yet. I hope you don’t mind.”

Aaron stared at the envelope. Red Cap was always Annie’s.

“It’s exactly how mom and dad would’ve wanted it,” he murmured.

“I figured you were ready to let it go for good and start your own path. This money will help.”

“You didn’t need to buy it from me, sis.”

Her sweet smile was sun shining on him. Always. She was always the sun.

“I know, silly. I wanted to. Like I said, make it legal and start you off on the right foot back at home. It makes sense.”

Aaron shook his head, grinning. “Sure, Annie-girl. If you say so.”

She bent, pecking his cheek. “I do,” she said, and then heading for her car. “See ya later, brother.”

On her way out, she passed Rider coming back from a parts run. Without a word, his friend yanked hard on the garage door and slid the lock into place.

“Closing early,” he called.

“Why?” Aaron had hoped for a full day’s work but with the envelope of cash in his pocket, he really didn’t need it as bad as he had before.

“Waldo called. Says we need to get to the track ASAP. He decided to let the bikers use it for practice. Big mistake.” There was humor in his voice.

“What happened?” Aaron gulped the rest of his lunch and tossed the bag into the trash.

“The girls are tearing it up,” Rider said with a smirk. “Waldo’s spitting mad, I can tell. But he’s also impressed. And if they’re good enough to impress Waldo, this is something we gotta see.” He tossed Aaron the keys to his truck. “You drive. I gotta call Rod.”

As they hopped in Rider’s Chevy and started toward the dirt track, the spot inside Aaron that felt familiar, that felt like him, settled even more, soothing the past that had been chipping away at him.

He was finding himself alright. And quicker than he’d ever expected.