CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

Something poked her in the side, over and over, ripping her from the bliss of sleep.

Someone needed to die, again. Mickey tightened her hold on Riktor’s torso and snuggled closer to him while burying her head deeper into his neck.

The poking on her side continued.

“You keep that up, you’ll lose more than a finger,” she growled.

The poking stopped. “Sorry,” Banan whispered. “Was just trying to wake you up and not Riktor. I used a pencil, if that helps?”

Riktor let out a loud snort. “But I am up. What?”

Mickey opened her eyes, sat up, and yawned.

“Um!” Banan shuffled away from the bed.

“Yes, I’m naked. What is it?” Mickey scooted up to a sitting position against the pillows.

Banan didn’t turn around or move closer. “Your father is here and raising hell. He’s in Riktor’s office with Everly.”

“Fuck no.” Riktor shoved off the sheets and stood up, only to sway on his feet. “Fuck.” He placed a hand on his forehead and sat back down.

“Stay here. I’ll go see what my dad wants. Maybe you could put on pants and eat something? Banan, have the kitchen send up some beef stew, heavy on the beef, and some red wine and black coffee. No dessert.” She held up a hand. “I know, but you need the basics for recovery. Processed sugar will fuck that up and slow it down. So the basics for now. Only sweet things you can have are fruit.” She pushed back the sheets, threw her legs over the side, and stood up.

She strode over the couch and started to pull on clean clothes. “I won’t be gone long. You get some rest, and I’ll fill you in later.”

“There’s a speaker that connects to my room. You push the button and flick the switch, and I’ll hear everything. Don’t make me get out of this bed, wife.”

She peeked over her shoulder and met his pointed glare. “Fine,” she sighed out the word. “It’s cute that you’re calling me wife. That should help things with my father.”

Mickey pulled a sweater over her head and slipped her feet into a pair of flats.

“That’s my sweater!” Riktor protested.

“And it’s mine now.” She grinned. “It’s really comfy. Welcome to married life!” She blew him a kiss, left the family apartments, and headed for the office area.

Ace leaned against the wall outside of Riktor’s office. He jerked a thumb to the door. “Your father and Everly are in there about to bite each other’s heads off.”

“You’re moving awfully slow to stop them.” She smiled at him.

Ace held up his hands. “Why spoil their fun? Everly started this shit. Let him clean it up. How’s Riktor?”

“I sent Banan off to order him some food.” She glanced around. “Time?”

“One thirty in the afternoon,” Ace said.

“Thanks.”

A loud thud sounded, and the door shook.

Mickey winced. “Sounds like Dad is getting pissed off. I better get in there. Do me a favor? Order my two double bacon cheeseburgers, a separate plate of steak fries, and a large strawberry mojito milkshake? Thanks, snookums.” She reached up and patted his cheek before she entered the fray.

Everly sat at Riktor’s desk, and her father paced in front of the filing cabinets.

“Dad. Everly. What’s going on here?”

“This asshole refused to tell me whether or not you were OK and who was dead. And then there’s that marriage! What were you thinking, not inviting me or your mother, sweetheart? Your mother is gutted that she couldn’t attend. You know we would’ve done everything we could to fly here for it.” A mixture of emotions filled her father’s faded green eyes.

Her heart lurched. Marrying Riktor may have been spur of the moment, but she could see the fallout would be forever. She moved toward her father. “I’m sorry, Dad, really sorry. We got carried away while being pheromone drunk and well…”

“Not even a phone call the morning after?” her father demanded.

She swallowed. “Yeah, things were confused, and then Winthrop’s challenge came, and things got lost. But now we have time to straighten things out and do things the proper way.”

Her father reached into the inside pocket of his blazer, pulled out a thick sheaf of papers and threw them on the desk. “You can start with the courtship and marriage contract. Six months of courtship before you get married again in front of family and friends as witnesses from both packs and a proper prenup hammered out. You will be covered. I won’t take no for an answer.” He slashed the air with his hand.

Everly picked up the documents and flipped through them. “I’ll look these over on behalf of Riktor Brody.”

“Shit,” she muttered.

Mickey went around the table and turned on the speaker. “Testing. Wolfman, can you hear me?”

She ignored the questioning look her father threw at her.

“I can hear you. Now, what is this all about? And Everly, get the fuck out of my chair,” Riktor ordered. He strode into the room and around the table, not even a limp visible.

Everly scrambled out of the seat and settled into a visitor’s chair.

Riktor settled into his seat.

Mickey gave him a quick rundown of what had happened. “And there you have it. Dad wants us to do it right, according to him.”

“We can discuss the dowry when you’re feeling much better,” her father interjected.

“Dowry! Listen, old man—” Riktor exploded.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Mickey got between her father and Riktor.

“Look, everyone, calm the hell down. Now, Daddy.” She focused on her father. “How about this? You didn’t ask Winthrop for a dowry, nor did you request one from Maxwell Brody when you offered a marriage contract between Riktor and me,” she called over her shoulder. “Why not wave it this time, hmm? For me? You don’t need it, and I certainly don’t want to be treated like a piece of chattel to be traded for some sheep or whatever.”

Her father frowned. “You’re not chattel. A dowry, in this case, is an exchange to assure that you will be marrying someone. We could take Banan on as a ward until the time of your wedding comes along, how about that?”

Mickey stared at her father. “Dad, this isn’t medieval times or Game of Thrones. What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Glad someone asked that.” Riktor stared at her father.

“Fuck,” Mickey exhaled. She massaged the bridge of her nose. A soft throb over her right eye heralded the approach of a migraine. “I need a whiskey. Maybe I should’ve told Ace to have them put extra rum in my milkshake. OK, let’s start again. Why do you want a dowry or an exchange of hostages?”

Her father snorted and took the empty seat next to Everly, who seemed deep into reading whatever contract her father had had drawn up.

“In the old days, if a pack didn’t have money, they’d exchange a cherished family member for a member of the pack they were marrying into until the day of the wedding. How you treated them showed just how serious you were about becoming joined as one family. Taking on Banan would be an honor and would allow us to prove to the Brodys that we can be trusted.” Her father settled back and gave her a pointed look.

“But Dad—”

Her father held up a hand. “No, they have to be assured. Normally I wouldn’t suggest this, but our family has done the Brodys wrong for generations. This is our chance to make up for it and allow them to see that we can be trusted. And the six months allows them to see that we can work together to be a stronger family—a stronger pack.”

Mickey thought about it. She could see his point. “But taking Banan in as a ward is a step too far. Besides, he’s an adult, twenty-four years old.”

“The laws of werewolf wardship don’t limit age,” her father said.

“Riktor what are your thoughts?” She turned to Riktor.

Banan hurried into the room and put the food in front of him and wiped away a few stray trails of moisture. “You should’ve stayed in bed,” Banan muttered and glared at his brother.

“Sorry, Ban. Anyway, I do understand where you’re coming from, but I won’t treat Banan like a chip to be traded in. Banan must decide for himself if he wants to spend time with you. And not be a ward or some stand-in for the dowry.” Riktor dug into the stew and made a show of chewing and swallowing his food. “See. Eating. Now as for the marriage contract and the six-month wait.”

Mickey’s heart stalled. This was the moment where he could go ahead with the annulment and send her and her father off and not set eyes on them again. Everly was here, and he could state his case and have the papers drawn up.

“Why the six-month time limit? Why not a year? Also, any contract must be approved by Ace and Banan, not just me. You aren’t marrying one of us, but all of us. We may be a small pack, but we have a lot of assets that we share. This resort being one of them.” He gestured around them. “I can’t re-marry Mickey without my brothers agreeing to it. They didn’t have a say either,” Riktor pointed out.

Her father leaned forward in his seat. “The six-month period will allow you to get to know my family, and us you, properly. Also, it will give us a chance to plan and create contingencies for any of our pack who are pregnant.” He glanced over at Michaela. “We found out while you were gone that Tanya is pregnant, two months along.”

Michaela stared at her father and let the words sink in. “Oh my gods, that’s amazing. They’ve been trying for so long.” She glanced over at Riktor who gave her a confused look. “Tanya is a young werewolf the pack adopted. She got married two months ago, but they’ve been trying for years to have kids. It’s been difficult to watch the disappointment and depression she’s gone through with IVF.”

“Oh.” Riktor went back to his meal.

She couldn’t blame him for not being excited. Tanya and her husband were strangers to him that he was just hearing about.

“Anyway, by the time the wedding day arrives, she’ll have given birth, since werewolf gestation periods are three months shorter than a human’s. Nice thinking, Dad.” Mickey grinned at her father.

Her father preened. “I try. Six months should be enough time to let the Brodys get to know us and for your mother to plan a wedding. She really wants to see you wearing white and walking down the aisle. This is more for her than me.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “Plus, as the winner of the alpha challenge, Riktor has to figure out what to do with Winthrop’s pack and all that comes with it, as well as make an appearance before the Council to certify your win and make it official. Pain in the arse of course, but a necessary procedure so that you can’t just get challenged willy-nilly by desperate, packless wolves.”

Mickey groaned. “I’d forgotten that point. All that damn paperwork. I think I blocked it out. Anyway, what do you think?”

“I have to read over the contract with Ace and Banan,” Riktor said, “but I think it’s reasonable. We’ve already been through so much together already. I am willing to do courtship for six months. And you can plan the wedding. I’ll tell you when I’m ready, but I doubt you’ll have to wait long. Give me three weeks to go over this contract. At the end, you’ll know.” Riktor went back to eating. “We’ll also be able to make a fresh start, get past the rumors and the years of bitterness. Deal?”

Her father smiled. “Deal.” He held out his hand, and Riktor shook it. Her father turned in his seat and stared at Mickey. “Now, as for you, young lady…”

She squirmed under his penetrating glare.

“These six months will give you time to make it up to your mother. But before that, I have a favor to ask of you and”—he nodded his head over to Riktor—“to your husband. Can you hide someone here for a few weeks? I’ll pay the bill and everything. But I need your brother Ace to look after her. Keep her safe.”

Riktor’s dark eyebrow winged up. “Why? What’s this about? I’m fresh from an alpha challenge. I’m not sure I want more drama.”

Her father took a moment and then exhaled. “It’s Tiye. Her father has found a beta for her to marry and is trying to get her to sign the marriage contract.”

“Fuck,” she muttered. “Riktor, I can’t give you all the details at the moment. Only Tiye can do that.”

“I’ll have to meet her, and you’ll have to ask Ace if he will help her. Other than that. I’m beat, so I’ll get back to bed.” Riktor pushed back his bowl. “Ate all my stew. Happy?” He glanced from Mickey to Banan.

They both nodded.

Riktor stood up, pressed a kiss to Mickey’s cheek and left the room.

She lifted her hand to her cheek and grinned. Warmth filled her at the simply touch of affection. They had really come a long way. “I’ll tuck you in when I get there,” Mickey called out behind him.

Her father snorted, and Everly actually chuckled.

“Why are you both laughing? This is not a laughing matter. You are trying to pull some bullshit while Riktor is injured and vulnerable. You”—she pointed to her father—“will call him after a week and tell him you’ll handle all the wedding details including the cost. Also, when you get home, have mom air out her wedding dress. I want to wear it, but with alterations to make it more my style. And you”—she shifted her focus to Everly—“will do a quick read of that document and get back to him ASAP. You will give him an honest read, regardless of what my father threatens you with, and you will tell him the truth, even if it means he calls everything off. Both of you understand?”

Both men nodded.

“Good. Now, Dad, you will stay in my suite for the duration of my stay. Once it’s over, we will both travel to the mainland and talk things over with Mom.” Her stomach growled. “And now I need to find Ace and demand to know where my damn double bacon cheeseburger is.” She turned on her heel and left the office. Her conscience poked at her, wondering why she hadn’t told them about the mate part, but she brushed it off. If she had told her father what her wolf had told her, he would stop at nothing, even going so far as to blackmail and lie to Riktor to keep this marriage going. She didn’t want that.

“Oh, honey.” Her father rushed after her. “I brought Tiye with me. She’s in the lobby waiting for me. I booked her a suite on the same floor as yours.”

Mickey’s spirits lifted. She had missed her friend and hated that that last few months had been so busy that they hadn’t been able to catch up.

“I’ll go exploring. You go see your friend.” He patted her on the arm.

She rushed out of the office area and crashed right into a wall of muscle covered in a tight black Henley.

Ace placed a hand out on her shoulder. “Whoa, I just got your order. Where are you going?”

“Sorry, my dad brought an old friend of mine with him, and I haven’t seen her in ages. Come on. I want you to meet her. I need to ask a favor of you. And I’ll be paying you, not my dad,” she rushed to add.

He stopped and stared at her. “OK, what’s going on?”

She licked her lips. “My friend, Tiye Sherman, is here. She’s the third daughter of a powerful werewolf pack and the last to get married. Her father is trying to marry her off to a wolf of a lower pack, and well, she doesn’t want to. Her father is pretty ruthless, and she’s scared he’ll force her into marrying. I’m going to arrange for an open-ended stay here at the resort, and I’ll be footing the bill. She needs protection, and I was hoping you’d take on the job personally. I read your file. I know what you can do.” She stared up at him and prayed he’d say yes.

Ace rubbed his jaw. “Well, I have a few jobs, but I’m sure I can juggle a few things around. But—” He held up a finger. “I can’t watch over her forever. I can watch her for a month and check in with you after that.”

That was better than she had hoped for. “Deal. We’ll have our lawyers work up the contract and then send me the bill.” She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go meet her.”

She dragged him out to the lobby. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s my oldest friend. We went to high school and college together.”

“Uh-huh. Look, this tray is heavy and hot. Can we sit down at a table near the pool area? There’s a new lifeguard…”

“Ace this is Tiye.” Michaela released his hand and rushed to hug her friend. “Tiye, this is Ace, Riktor’s brother, and he’s agreed to help you for a month.”

Tiye’s face flushed, and she ducked her head. “Hello!”

“I can’t wait to tell you everything that’s happened here.” Mickey took the tray out of Ace’s hand and led her friend to the restaurant for casual dining. “I met my mate! Can you believe that? I’m still getting used to the idea.”

They sat down at a table.

“It’s only been a few days, but I can’t wait to get to know Riktor. I just know we’ll be happy.” She picked up her burger and took a huge bite. “And I can’t wait for you to meet him,” she murmured in-between chewing.

Her life with Riktor was just beginning, and she looked forward to fighting for it. Now, if only she could find Ace and Banan their mates, too. She eyed Tiye’s honey-gold skin, hazel eyes, and thick fall of dark brown hair framing a round face. She’d be perfect for Ace.

Michaela started plotting. Oh yes, she thought. All the brothers would find their mates, and before that timeline in the will ran out. She took another bite out of her burger and settled into her seat. Pleasure rushed through her, followed by a sense of yearning. She needed to see Riktor.

Mickey flagged down a waiter. “Please, send this plate up to Riktor’s suite.” She turned to Tiye. “I’ll have to finish this later. I just want to check on Riktor.”

Tiye nodded. “No problem. I’ll just eat and then explore for a bit.”

Mickey grinned and left the table. She rushed across the lobby, past the front desk, and turned down a hall. Her heart hammered against her rib cage. She arrived at the elevator and pressed the button.

Banan walked up to her. “Riktor is resting. I made sure.”

She grinned at him. “Thanks. You’ve been such a big help. One of these days you’ll have to tell me how Riktor chose you for your position instead of Ace.”

Banan ducked his head. A flush spread across his cheeks. “It’s easy. Ace turned him down for the position and Riktor asked me. Ace has his own reasons for things.”

The doors slid open and they both stepped inside.

“Anyway, I’m off to take a nap myself.” He pressed the button for the second floor of the private family residence.

They arrived and she waved him off. She tapped her foot in irritation at how slow the ride seemed to go. When the lift opened at the top floor of the private residential area, she rushed off the elevator. She reached the door and dug the key card to his rooms out of her pocket and unlocked the door.

Riktor lay on the couch, the TV showing some 80s action movie, complete with a hero wearing a mullet.

Her heartbeat increased. She stepped into the room and pulled the door shut behind her.

“Your food arrived.” He nodded to a small, circular dining table in front of a long bank of floor-to-ceiling windows.

She went to the table, grabbed the server, and carried it over to the couch. Mickey settled down next him and took a bite out of her burger.

Riktor wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You know, for a Shaw you’re not that bad.”

She let out a laugh. “What brought that on?”

“Nothing. Just a thought I had.” Riktor shifted on the couch, getting more comfortable.

She settled into the warmth and ease of sitting next to him. If someone had told her that one day Riktor Brody would be happy to be sitting next to her while watching a movie, she would’ve called them crazy.

Riktor let off a soft snore.

And she smiled. Emotion flooded her chest. Riktor felt so comfortable and safe with her that even in his current condition, he trusted her enough to fall asleep next to her rather than move to the bed. They had come a long way. She couldn’t wait to see what the future had in store for her. Maybe Maxwell Brody had known what he was doing when he’d put that clause in his will.

Maybe. Only time would tell.