BAYNE
"That should be the last of it." I dusted off my hands as I set the last box in the living room of Brett's parents' new home. "You sure you don't want help unpacking?"
"No, we'll slowly get through the boxes as we settle in. You guys have done enough helping us get the large stuff inside. I really have to thank you and the pack for all the help." Phil smiled.
"I told you this pack was nothing like our old one." Brett grinned.
His parents had joined pack several nights after they arrived, and since then had been a very active part in pack life. They would be great assets and I was excited to see what role they would play as they got comfortable with life here.
"You'll stay for dinner, won't you?" Brett's mom stuck her head around the corner to look at us.
"Actually, we are going to go. Kurt needed to talk to me about something and we promised him we'd drop by." Brett glanced over at me.
I nodded. "Another time?"
"Any time you want. You two are always welcome here." She smiled.
I really liked his family. I had yet to meet his sister, but his parents were amazing. It made me wonder what my own parents would be like if they were still around. I was glad Brett had his family close, and that they seemed happy with the location and the new pack.
"Thanks, Mom." Brett went over to her and hugged her. "We'll be by soon. You guys call us if you need anything."
"We will, but I think we'll be fine. You two go and do what you need to do. Thank you again for all the help, and for finding this house for us." She kissed his cheek.
The house was smaller, perfect for a couple who didn't want a lot of upkeep. It also was less than a mile from the pack house, making it easy for them to spend time there and have a place to run and hunt when they wanted.
"We'll be by soon." Brett waved as he took my hand.
"Have a good night." I smiled as we headed out the door.
Once we were in the car, Brett glanced at me. "Any idea why Kurt wanted us to meet him at the cells?"
"No, but I'm guessing it has to do with Mark, the other guy who was working with Justin. If it's not that, then it will be some other problem. He only uses the cells when it's not safe to bring someone to the pack house." I pulled out on the road and headed toward the cells.
"I hope it's nothing new. After Bridger's death, it's the last thing the pack needs." Brett stared out the window.
"There's always something going on. Kurt is good about keeping most of it from the rest of the pack unless they need to know. I see more of it than most since I work with him so often. Most of the time it's just one of the pack members being careless or getting drunk. Nothing major, but every now and then something comes up where he has to bring in others to help." You couldn't pay me to run a pack. I don't know how Kurt manages to keep his sanity. Dealing with so many personalities would be more than I could handle.
"I don't know why he would call us if it was Mark. Wouldn't they just kill him?"
"That depends on how involved he was with the attacks. Kurt's good at smelling a lie. He will have interrogated Mark to make sure he got the truth. Kurt can't kill him unless he's a risk to the pack or shifters in general. We have no idea how much he knows."
Brett rolled down his window, turning his face to catch the wind. "I'd almost let myself forget he was out there."
"You've had a lot going on. Besides, it wasn't your place to worry about him. That's what Kurt's job is." Through our link, I felt Brett's uneasiness. He didn't want to think about the attack anymore, and I didn't blame him. Now that he had his sight back, we both just wanted to move on. I hoped if this was Mark we were going to deal with, it would be the final step before we could find closure and move on with our lives.
"Corta pulled me aside yesterday and had me talk to Gloria. She runs the elementary school in town. They have a position open for a third-grade teacher." Brett didn't look at me as he spoke but kept his face toward the window.
"Do you want to take it?" The thought of us being apart for eight hours a day nearly killed me, but I'd known the time would come where we would have to get back to work and face the fact that we couldn't be together all the time.
"I do. But how do you feel about it?" He turned his head, finally looking at me.
"I hate the idea of being apart for so many hours every day, but it's how things are. I mean Kurt and Josh aren't together all the time, and look at Cohen and Stephen. Cohen is gone sometimes twelve hours or more working at the hospital. I guess it's something I'll get used to." I ran my hand over my chest, feeling an ache at the thought of being apart.
"I don't like the idea either, but I know I'll go nuts with nothing to do, and I can't do what you do. I don't have the stomach for it. I miss being around the kids. I enjoy teaching. I don't want to refuse this offer and miss my chance to get my foot in the door. Who knows when another position will open up?" Brett reached over and touched my arm as I held onto the steering wheel. "If you're okay with it, I'd like to take the job."
"Babe, if you want the job, take it. I'm not going to stop you. I want you happy, and you're right, we can't be together all the time. As much as I would love to have you by my side all day, we do need our own lives. We'll drive each other crazy if we don't. Besides, there are things I do in my job that I'd rather not have you witness. I don't want you having those memories or thoughts in your mind. If what was done to Justin makes you uncomfortable, a lot of what I do would bother you. This is for the best. You go teach the future of our community while I continue to take down the bad seeds." I hated that he asked me for permission to take the job. "We'll figure out how to deal with the separation. It's only a few hours a day. Others survive it, so will we."
"It won't start for two months, but I'll have to make sure my certifications and everything are legal in this state, then there will be some training, but we still have time together." Brett stared back out the window. "I never dreamed that coming to visit Bridger would change my entire life so much."
"Both good and bad changes."
"Mostly good." Brett smiled at me.
"I agree." I sent a wave of love through our link as I parked the car. "Ready for this?"
Brett nodded as he opened the door. "It's Mark. I can smell him from here. He's scared."
"Good, he should be after what they did." I didn't try to hide the change that came over me. I let the lovable Bayne slip aside and put on my work face. The side of me that could kill a man with one blow, the side that enjoyed making people suffer. This man had a part in hurting my mate and other pack members. I was ready to make him pay.
Brett raised a brow at me, obviously sensing the change in my mood.
It wasn't as if I could hide it from him. He saw every part of me. He knew what I was, both good and bad. I loved him for accepting me for who I was completely, no judgment. "Hey, Justice, Preston." I nodded at the two men who were waiting outside the cells. "What's up?"
"They caught the other kid who attacked us. I'm not sure what's going on. Kurt and Josh are inside with him. Kurt told us to wait out here." Preston leaned against the wall. "You know anything?"
"Nothing. Just got the call to report here. I thought they'd gotten him a week ago." I honestly assumed they'd picked him up and dealt with him right after we killed Justin. Depending on how involved he was in the attack and what he knew, Kurt didn't have a reason to involve all of us. Now, I wondered what was going on, because there was no way Kurt would have let Josh inside the cell with Mark if he was in danger or if they were going to kill him. Kurt was careful to protect his mate from the darker side of shifter life.
"I know Kurt had trouble tracking him down. Evidently, he was living with Justin and when all the shit went down, Mark took off. I don't know where they finally found him." Justice ran his fingers through his hair. "How are you two? Get your parents moved?"
"Yeah, just unloaded the last of it today. Dad's looking for a job, but isn't too worried. Mom has been hanging with Corta a lot and I think she'll end up hanging around the pack house and helping out there a lot. It's been a good fit for them."
"And your sister?" Preston asked.
"Should be coming home soon. I talked to her last night and she is in Italy right now for some modeling thing. I can't keep up with her. She'll stay with my parents when she comes, but I don't see her hanging out here for long. Montana is a little slow paced for what she is used to." Brett shrugged. "As long as I get to see her from time to time, I'm happy she is enjoying life."
The door to the cell opened and Kurt smiled at all of us. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Come in."
I let Brett go in first, then followed with Justice and Preston behind me. Once inside, I saw a young man sitting inside the cell, looking nervously at all of us. His eyes were swollen as if he'd been crying, and the scent of his fear filled the room.
"Everyone, meet Mark. He is the one who was with Justin when you were attacked, and Bridger was killed." Kurt stepped over to Josh's side and wrapped his arm around his waist. "I hope you'll forgive me, but I've talked to Bridger's family about this situation already. I wanted them to have a say in things before I brought it forward to you since they suffered the biggest loss."
I ran my hand over my beard. "What is there to talk about? He was part of the attack. Doesn't that mean he receives the same sentence as Justin?" I hated the man just for what he'd done to my mate.
"That's where we have a problem. As for the attack, it was all Justin. I've interrogated Mark thoroughly and he did nothing more than watch. He had no idea what Justin had planned. He'd told him they were going rabbit hunting to try out the new dart gun Justin had bought. He didn't shoot the gun, he didn't beat any of you, he didn't kill Bridger. I think it's fair to say, he was too scared and shocked to do anything. He thought Bridger was attacking wolves, nothing more."
Brett shook his head. "He's lying. His scent was at both attacks. If he didn't agree with what was happening, why would he have gone back when Preston and Justice were shot?"
Kurt looked at Mark inside the cell. "You want to explain?"
Mark swallowed hard. "The first attack I didn't know what you were. I thought it was just wolves, but then Justin told me what you were. I thought he was crazy talking about shifters and wolves and all these weird things you only see in movies. He convinced me to go out with him again, this time to catch one and force it to shift and show me what it was. I was curious. He was convinced shifters existed. I thought he'd lost his mind. I went with him partially to humor him, but also because I guess a part of me wanted to believe. I had no idea he was going to do the same thing again. When he shot the wolves, I thought we'd capture them and force them to shift like he said, but he went nuts again, talking about taking out all the evil in the world and the unnatural beings. I ran. I didn't stick around to see what he did that time. I ended up walking home. When he got back, we had a huge fight and I left. I haven't seen Justin since the night of the second attack."
Justice narrowed his eyes as he moved closer to the cell. "Why didn't you stop him?"
Mark bowed his head and softly said, "I was too scared."
I glanced at Kurt. "So now what?"
"Well, that's why I have asked you all here. Bridger's family doesn't blame Mark. They have spoken to him and believe he was stupid in following Justin the second time, but they believe he didn't know what was going to happen the first time. They said to let him go. My problem is that when we took him into custody, our team was half wolves, half humans. The moment he saw the wolves with the humans, he knew Justin hadn't been lying about shifters existing. So, because of our carelessness, he is aware of what we are. We all know we can't let him walk out of here because of that." Kurt stepped forward. "You know I don't take killing humans lightly. I've worked hard to make it so we can live among them safely. It's because of our tightly kept secrets that we have a safe and manageable life and aren't living in caves like our ancestors used to. We've adapted to their ways. So, I had to come up with something that would keep Mark from running off and telling the world about us."
"And that is?" Preston asked.
"Make him one of us." Kurt stared at the small group of us.
"What?" I shook my head. "We don't change humans. Hell, we just took down Stephen's pack a while back because they did just that."
Kurt nodded. "We don't change anyone against their will. There have been many cases where humans have been welcomed into pack for one reason or another. My father offered Josh's grandparents the option at one point, though they turned him down. I asked Mark if that would be an option, and he's agreed to it. Now, the question becomes, do we change him and send him off to another pack or keep him here where we can train him and watch out for him?"
"So, this is decided?" Justice asked.
"Unless you have another way to let him live and guarantee he keeps our secret," Kurt told him.
"Who says he stays silent even after being changed? He could out all of us. Letting him into our community is still a risk." Brett reached for my hand.
I nodded. "He's scared to death of us. Sure doesn't look like someone who is excited to become a shifter."
"I'm scared you'll still choose to kill me. I want to join you. I have no one. My family is gone. I was living with Justin until he lost his mind. I've been living on the streets since the attack. Honestly, I wouldn't tell anyone about you. No one would believe me if I did."
"They would if you shifted in front of them." Preston stared at him. "How do we know you won't fuck us over?"
"Because I don't want to die, and you'd kill me if I did." Mark lifted his head and stared at us. "I'm sorry for being a part of what Justin did. I hated every bit of it. I couldn't stop throwing up after the first night. Then to find out I'd actually watched him kill someone. It wasn't just any animal, which was bad enough, but a person. Someone I'd hung out with and considered a friend. I have nothing right now. If you kill me, no one would know, no one would care. The few friends I have around town aren't real friends. They put up with me because Justin did. I know what Kurt is asking of me when he offered to change me. I want this. It's a new start to my life. One where I don't have to wander around alone anymore. I'm scared. I'd be stupid not to be, but I'm willing to face this, willing to try and make up for not stopping Justin, willing to try to get you to forgive me."
I didn't say anything. It wasn't my place. This had to be up to Brett, Preston, and Justice. They were the ones who had been hurt by everything. It was clear Kurt had decided but was leaving it up to the rest to decide where Mark would go.
Justice blew out a long breath. "This is risky. Who's going to change him? That in itself is a big responsibility. Does he even know what happens?"
Josh nodded. "I explained it."
Josh had been human once. Attacked and bitten by a lone wolf, he didn't know what was happening to him. It was only luck that Kurt had found him and helped him through the shift, which was extremely hard on a person.
"So, it's up to us whether we keep him here or send him off to another pack?" Brett asked.
"Not just another pack, but a Pack Authority pack. One where he will be watched and limited in his activity until he's proven his trust. Here, he will also be watched and will be limited in what he's allowed to do for a while, but he'll have more freedom and probably a better structure of what real pack life is like. You know as well as I do that Pack Authority camps are more like prisons." Kurt pulled Josh tightly against him. "Take time to talk and decide, but I need a decision from all of you before you leave."
Brett turned to me, his eyes wide. "I don't know." He shook his head. "I mean, I guess he doesn't deserve to die, but do we want him here?"
"This has to be your call. You three are the ones who will have to live with seeing him around. It's not up to me." I kissed him softly before pulling away and walking to the other side of the small area.
Brett sighed as he turned to Justice and Preston. I watched them as they talked, trying to figure out what I would do in their situation. It wasn't an easy one. Mark would be a constant reminder of what happened, but if Bridger's family could forgive and allow him to stay, then I guess I could too.
"It's been quite the month, hasn't it?" Kurt asked as he and Josh came to stand beside me.
"Yeah, never dreamed I'd find my mate, let alone have all the other shit happen on top of it." I smiled as I looked over at Brett. "He's amazing. I never thought anyone could be so perfect."
Kurt laughed. "Being mated is amazing. I hate that all of our wolves won't find their mates."
"Me too. I never thought it really mattered, but now, knowing what I was missing, I don't know how I ever lived without it. I didn't just get a mate, I got his family too. There was so much absent from my life before and I didn't even realize it." I glanced over at Mark in the cell. "What do you think? Is he safe to have around?"
"I'm not worried about him. This actually might be the best thing for him. He lost his family in a car accident and has been in foster care in Helena for the last ten years. Now that he's aged out of the system, he's on his own. He works at the coffee shop in town, but other than when he was staying with Justin, he's living on the streets. I don't think he's ever had any real friends or people who give a shit about him. This could be his chance to actually have a somewhat normal life and connect with people," Kurt told me softly.
"Don't you think you should tell them that?" I nodded to Brett and the others.
"They know enough. Their choice needs to be made on factors other than pity. If they can't get past what Mark did, then he doesn't belong here with us. He'll make it fine in another pack once he adapts to it. I'll support whatever choice they make." Kurt shook his head. "Doesn't bring Bridger much justice, but Mark wasn't the one to take his life anyway."
I nodded. "Nothing will bring him back. This has upset enough lives. It's time for it to end."
"I agree." Kurt glanced up as Brett, Justice, and Preston turned toward us.
Justice glanced over at the cells. "He can stay on one condition."
Kurt nodded. "What's that condition?"
"I'm the one to bite him. He'll stay with me so I can keep an eye on him. I'll be there through the whole transition. Once he's changed, then we'll see how things are and how he's acting." Justice moved over to the cell, wrapping his thick hands around the bars. "We'll give him a chance, but he has to prove himself."
Kurt stepped to the cell beside Justice. "Your choice, Mark. You can either agree to their demands or you can go to another pack."
"You won't hurt me?" Mark stood, staring Justice in the eyes.
"I won't hurt you, but as Josh must have told you, the change isn't easy, and I won't let you lose control of your wolf. There will be times you won't like me, but I'll treat you fairly and won't hold the past over your head other than to have you gain our trust." Justice glanced at Preston and Brett. "We almost died because of what Justin did. We won't forget that, but we can move on if you prove that this is what you want, and you can be trusted."
Mark looked at Kurt, then at Josh. "I should trust them?"
Josh nodded. "You can trust them. No one here will hurt you."
Mark closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, he looked right at Justice. "Then I agree."
"Good, I'll bite you tonight," Justice said before turning and looking at Kurt. "Unless you have reason to delay?"
"No, if you are ready, go for it. Maybe take the night to get to know each other. Talk more about the change and what happens. Josh has told him a lot, but I'm sure there are always more questions." Kurt glanced at the group. "Are you all in agreement on this?"
Everyone nodded.
"Okay, then I'll release him to you, Justice. You are free to go to your house or stay at the pack house during the transition." Kurt pulled a key out and unlocked the cell. "Mark, there is no changing your mind on this. Are you sure? Once he bites you, you'll be linked to him for the rest of your life."
"Like you and Josh? Mates, I think you called it?" Mark looked worried.
"No, mates are different. There is always a bond from the one who bites you. A connection that only death can break. It's nothing like a mating bond, and not as strong as an alpha bond, but it's still there. He'll use it to keep your wolf from acting up once you first shift. He'll teach you how to use the bond to communicate with other members of your pack when you join one. It's nothing you should fear, at least not from Justice," Kurt assured him.
I reached for Brett's hand, running my thumb over his knuckles. "We're going to go. Good luck to both of you." I nodded to Justice.
Brett smiled at Josh and Kurt, then turned and tugged me out of the cell. "Thanks for getting me out of there."
"I could feel it through our link that you wanted to go." I pulled him into a hug. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just don't really know what to feel. I know he didn't do enough to deserve death, but it seems like he's being rewarded with a better life instead of punished in any way." Brett leaned against the car.
"I can see how you feel that way, but Justice is the one who is going to be helping him through the transition, and that isn't going to be fun. He's not going to let Mark off easy. And the transition isn't pleasant. He's going to hurt and suffer. I know it's not the greatest outcome, but it's the best one to protect our secrets. By being one of us, he has something to lose too if anyone finds out what we are. If it helps to avoid Mark, we can do that. We don't have to be around when he is." I brushed my knuckles over Brett's cheek. "Do you know what I think?"
"That we should go home and have sex and forget about all this?"
My cock stirred at his idea. "Yeah, but also that we should get away. Take that vacation we talked about. Go now, before you start teaching, and before more drama hits the pack and I can't get away. Let's leave. We can go anywhere you want."
"You mentioned Alaska."
"I did. I know people in one of the packs up there. We can go stay with them, hunt and let our wolves play for a week or two." I loved the idea of staying in wolf form for a few days. It had been a long time since I'd given my other half that much freedom.
"Then yes, let's do it. I'll call my parents tonight and let them know we won't be around for a while. This is the best idea." He hugged me tightly.
With all the stress he'd been under, I figured getting away for a bit was going to help Brett relax. With his sight restored, I couldn't wait to run through the open land in Alaska and show him how beautiful it was up there. I had nothing to keep me here for the time being, and once Brett started working, our time together would be cut in half. If we didn't take the opportunity now, who knew when we'd get another chance.
As I pressed a tender kiss to Brett's lips, I thought back to all we'd been through in such a short time. He meant everything to me, and I'd never stop doing everything I could to make his life happier. He was my mate. He'd been chosen for me. I was blessed, and I swore right then I'd never forget that. Not many wolves found their mates, but I was holding mine in my arms. One thing was for sure. I was never going to let him go.