Chapter Nine
Fletcher stared at the broken cabinet and cursed himself for being a damned fool. The past week had been one disaster after another, mostly because the older females in the pack wouldn’t accept Avery as his mate. Not to mention that he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Avery’s ex since he’d trashed her cabin, and he didn’t have the time to hunt the bastard down and make him pay. That was enough to make him cranky, but now this happened. It was early Friday evening, but he felt as though it were ten o’clock at night. He was tired. Mitch was tired. Avery was tired. All he wanted to do was go to bed and sleep, and instead they had to deal with this shit.
“Well, fuck,” he said, running a hand through his hair. He reached out and opened the door. This was the archives cabinet, and he should feel some sort of compulsion to not touch it. Some kind of power, or lock, or even residual energy, but he felt … nothing. Absolutely nothing kept his hand away from the iron latch. A Witch wolf had spelled it for protection centuries ago, but whatever she’d created was now gone. Destroyed. And that particular talent power had died out, so there was no way for him to have the protection recast, even if he had anything to protect. He swung open the door and sighed as the empty shelves greeted his glare. This happened because I’m a cocky bastard and Karma is a bitch, he thought, flushing with anger and embarrassment. Five days ago, he thought he could handle anything, but this week had proven him wrong in oh so many ways.
“So much for an easy transition,” Mitch said dryly, leaning against the wall. “That’ll teach us.”
They were in the basement storage room. Everyone in the pack knew the room existed, but most of the members thought it was simply to store odds and ends of furniture and old pack memorabilia. Only a select few knew that the Pack’s archives were down here. “Ignorance means safety,” Fletcher’s father had said on more than one occasion, but now Fletcher questioned that idea. It certainly hadn’t worked for him. He glanced around the dusty, dimly lit room and growled under his breath.
“Yeah. Ain’t it just poetic justice?” Fletcher shook his head and stood up. “Is Avery still trying to sort out the squabble between your grandmother and my Aunt Lillian?” He could use her level-headed advice right now, but he wasn’t going to interrupt her if she was once again trying to get Mitch’s grandmother to stop arguing over Lillian’s insistence that Avery was the head female in the Pack. He didn’t know why his Aunt Lillian was so insistent on Bridget’s submission, but it had thrown them all for a loop when she’d first brought it up this past Monday. Maybe she wants Uncle Marcus to retire as Sanctuary head sooner rather than later. He’s already stepped down as Beta, so she’s no longer the ranking pack female, but she does a lot of stuff at the Sanctuary, too. He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. It was getting long, but he had no time to cut it.
Mitch grimaced. “Yeah, she’s still up there with them. And it looks like she might be losing tonight’s battle. My grandmother can be a perfect bitch sometimes. She always hated your mother, and her own lack of status. She complained about it constantly to my dad, and then to me.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “My grandmother is antagonizing Lillian, and as the former Beta’s wife, Lillian isn’t backing down. I told my grandmother that she would have to deal with Avery as head female, but she was having none of it. She seems to think that as my grandmother, she has higher status now that I’m your Beta. She’s been hanging out with Avery’s father, too, so her obstinacy over this is doubly weird. You’d think both Kurt and my grandmother would know better. It’s not like they’re new to how pack politics works.”
“There’s something weird about Kurt that I can’t put my finger on,” Fletcher said, frowning. “He doesn’t smell right.”
“He’s never smelled like Avery’s father to me,” Mitch said.
Fletcher grimaced. “Me neither, but it’s not like we can check the genealogy records, can we? They’re missing, and the electronic database is incomplete.” He gestured to the broken cabinet. “I don’t know why Avery doesn’t shift and put an end to all the shit the females have been giving her,” Fletcher said, exasperated. “I suggested it to her, and she almost snapped my head off.”
“She wants them to respect her for herself, not because she’s a dominant wolf,” Mitch explained again.
It still didn’t convince Fletcher. The only reason he was Alpha was because of a genetic quirk. Avery’s status as a Queen was just as random as his status as the pack’s leader, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t fit for the job. Far from it.
“Werewolf packs run on instinct. They think she’s weak because their wolves are idiots. One shift on her part would end all of that,” Fletcher argued.
“I know that, and you know that.” Mitch shrugged. “But Avery wasn’t on walkabout with us, Fletcher. She didn’t see all the pack wars that we did. And she’s a female. They’re used to talking things out, not fighting. Well, mostly not fighting.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I think she’s more scared than she lets on. She hasn’t shifted since the first time, when we bonded. And pushing her isn’t going to help. She needs to discover her own strength. She can’t lead until she knows who she is. You know how many status and dominance fights we saw that led to bloodshed.”
Fletcher made a face. He well remembered that one pack in France where two females shifted and went at each other with great violence, and it seemed Mitch did, too.
“Avery knows we’ll support her, whatever she chooses to do,” Mitch said, and then he crouched down and examined the empty cabinet shelves. “Well, isn’t this just a bitch and a half, eh?” He looked up at Fletcher. “We can’t seem to catch a break, this week.”
Fletcher snorted. “Yeah, no kidding.” The empty archives would have to be dealt with, and sooner rather than later. Traditionally, only an Alpha could open the damned cabinet, and he had no idea how someone had managed to break in and steal the archives. “Who the hell could’ve done this? My father was the only one who could open the damn thing.”
“From the looks of it, I’d say they didn’t even try to touch it. It’s been hacked at with a sledge.” Mitch pointed to the long scratch along the iron lock’s face. Part of the front facing wood had broken and splintered, too. “It would take another Alpha to open it, I’d bet, so they bypassed the issue with brute force, and it worked, because the cabinet is so old.” He stood up, stretching out his back. “Your father must have thought that the natural repulsion on the lock coupled with no one knowing the cabinet was here would be security enough.”
“He did. He said as much.” Fletcher rubbed his chin. “This means a rival pack broke into this house.”
“Or someone from Boulder Pack betrayed us.”
Fletcher stared at Mitch. He knew exactly what his bondmate was thinking. “Avery’s ex? Does he even have the balls for this?” He scowled, pissed all over again that he’d lost the bastard’s tracks. He’d gone out to look for him twice in the past week, but it was if the man had disappeared into thin air.
“Possibly.” Mitch shrugged. “Or someone working with him.” He started pacing. “Did your father mention anything about a rival pack to you?”
“No. He didn’t tell me anything that you don’t know. You and Avery were both there on Sunday before he left. That was the last time he said anything to me, and it was mostly about the trip and random high-level advice.”
Fletcher refused to start pacing along with Mitch. We’ll wear a hole in the floor, he thought, suddenly amused, despite their problems. He admired his best friend’s graceful movements, and abruptly realized that they hadn’t even tried to have sex since they’d bonded with Avery last week. Which is crazy. I waited my entire life to be able to make love to Mitch, and to our Queen, and we haven’t bothered getting naked together to go for a run, let alone fuck, he mused, vowing that he’d need to change that. “I hate to see Avery get hurt trying to calm down a couple of old bitches. She doesn’t deserve that, and they don’t deserve her patience.”
“I know. I agree.” Mitch sighed. “The females of our species are just as beastly as the males, and you know it. My grandmother is a difficult person.”
Understatement of the year. Fletcher knew that Mitch never got along with the old female. That was why he’d spent so much time with Fletcher after his parents had died in a car crash. “Avery’s a Queen, and that’s a thing they’re just going to have to get used to, like it or not. Their instincts have already told them the truth, but they’re too stubborn to accept it.” Fletcher looked down at the busted cabinet. “Not that I can prove a Queen Wolf is a thing that exists outside of stories.” He growled, pissed again, instead of amused. “Not without our archives. I know there were some records about it. Shit.” He glared at the broken cabinet.
“We’ll figure it out,” Mitch said softly. “Don’t get yourself too worked up. It’s not a thing that you absolutely need to lead the pack.”
Fletcher shot him a glare. “Yeah, right, said the pot to the kettle.” The last thing he needed was for his best friend to try to calm him down. His father told him to trust his instincts, and well, now his instincts told him it was time to kick some ass. “You know what? I’m done. I’m fucking done being the nice guy.”
Mitch’s eyebrows rose. “What do you want to do?”
“Call the pack together. It’s not too late to have a meeting tonight, and if they value their fur, they’ll make an effort to be here.” Fletcher pushed past his friend and headed for the stairs. “I’m going to look each and every one of them in the eye and dare them to lie to me.” He started up the wooden stairs, not caring if Mitch agreed with him on this or not. He needed to do something.
“Good. It’s about time you let them all know that you’re not just filling in for your father.”
Fletcher paused on the top step. “You agree?”
Mitch nodded. “I was going to suggest it today, actually.”
Fletcher once again gave thanks that he had such a solid Beta to back him up. He smiled tightly. “I’m glad I have you at my back.”
“Of course. Where else would I be?” Mitch stepped up onto the step with Fletcher and pressed against him. “I think we’ve been too preoccupied with nailing down the minutiae of running the pack, instead of nailing each other.” He grinned. “We need to trust our instincts. We need to remember to communicate with each other, and with Avery, and to follow your lead when your gut tells you what you should do.”
Fletcher nodded, entirely in agreement. He leaned in, kissing Mitch lightly. “All work and no play makes us very dull wolves indeed.”
Mitch grinned, sliding a hand around Fletcher’s waist. “We should rescue our mate.” He stepped closer, pushing Fletcher against the doorjamb.
Fletcher growled as Mitch’s erection slotted up against his hip. “We should.”
“She’s been working really hard this week, too,” Mitch murmured. “I bet she’d like to watch us together.”
He leaned in, and Fletcher slid his hands into his Beta’s short hair. “Don’t tease,” he said, just before he bit down on Mitch’s lower lip.
“Who’s teasing?” Mitch opened his mouth.
Fletcher dipped inside, groaning softly. He could come just from this. Just from kissing Mitch in the middle of the day. He held his lover firmly and devoured his mouth.
“Oh my God!”
A woman’s shocked voice interrupted them. Fletcher growled, this time in anger instead of lust. He whipped his head around as his wolf snarled in frustration in the back of his skull. He wasn’t surprised to see Mitch’s grandmother staring at them, a hand on her throat.
“Bridget. Was there something you wanted?” he asked calmly, not letting go of Mitch. He had nothing to be ashamed of. They’d told the pack that he, Mitch, and Avery were a mated triad. It wasn’t his fault if no one believed him. He could feel the golden bond that connected him to Mitch and Avery, and more dimly, the pack bonds that connected him as Alpha to the rest of them. Mitch and Avery took precedence, however.
Old dame Bridget’s face went white, and then red. “How dare you!” She glared at him, and then at Mitch. “What are you doing?”
Mitch stepped out of the doorway, and Fletcher let him go with a sigh. Neither of them had erections anymore, anyway. “Grandmother, this doesn’t concern you,” Mitch said evenly. Fletcher admired his Beta’s self-control.
The old woman stared at her grandson. “It most certainly does concern me. As the ranking female now that Fletcher’s mother is gone, I have the right—”
Fletcher interrupted her before she could continue. “Bridget, you are not the ranking female, and neither is my mother,” he said formally. He stepped forward and closed the basement storeroom door. “Our mate Avery is the dominant female of Boulder Pack.”
Bridget drew herself up, and Fletcher had to admit, she was fairly intimidating for her age. He could see her wolf in her eyes, and he knew she’d never been a weak female. Sadly for her, he was the Alpha, and he let own beast bleed over onto his human side. He knew his eyes had gone golden from the look on her face. He could smell her apprehension and didn’t feel even a bit of remorse over it. Because she should be wary of me. They all should.
Bridget stepped back, but she didn’t retreat, and Fletcher knew she was going to say something unfortunate as soon as she drew breath. “All this nonsense about being a triad doesn’t excuse such depraved behavior,” she said, pointing at Mitch. “You, young man, should know better. I certainly raised you better than to, to, kiss another male in public!” She looked simultaneously outraged and disgusted.
Ah. Homophobia is alive and well in Boulder Pack. How nice, Fletcher thought sarcastically.
Mitch crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “But it’s okay if I kiss Fletcher in private?”
Fletcher bit back a smile. His friend always knew exactly what to say. With just one pointed question, he’d managed to calm Fletcher down and put his grandmother in her place.
“It’s not okay for you to kiss him anywhere,” Bridget amended, looking more angry and less intimidated than Fletcher had expected so soon. She shifted her glare to Fletcher. “And you need to stop messing around with this triad foolishness and be the Alpha. Leaders don’t share their female.” She shook her head. “Or kiss their Beta.”
Fletcher frowned at her. “You, of all people, should know that some of the old stories contain more truth than myth.” He glanced past her to see Avery striding towards them, his Aunt Lillian on her heels. Avery’s eyes flashed with anger, and Fletcher sensed she’d reached the end of her patience. Good, he thought, with no little satisfaction. His wolf growled quiet approval in the back of his head.
Bridget opened her mouth to speak again, but Avery cut her off. “Enough, Bridget. I’ve explained the situation to you several times. I am done, and so are you. Please see yourself out.” She gestured down the hall to the front door.
Fletcher waited to see what would happen. Bridget didn’t disappoint.
“I am not taking orders from you, girl,” the old woman said. She flashed a look at Mitch. “My grandson knows his place. You will learn to regret the airs you’ve put on.”
Fletcher sensed the moment Avery’s wolf took over.
“Indeed?” Avery’s eyes glimmered silver, and she stared at Bridget until the older woman stepped back again. “I am no longer asking. Leave this house,” Avery commanded. Her voice had that peculiar two-tone depth only an Alpha could command. Fletcher felt his beast’s pleased approval even through his own surprise. He knew she was a Queen, but he’d had no idea her strength translated into traits that were traditionally reserved for Alphas. He glanced at Mitch, and one look told him that his Beta was just as surprised.
Bridget stood there for a moment, obviously fighting her instincts to submit. Avery stalked closer to her. “Do as I say, old woman.”
“You’re going to regret this,” Bridget said, backing away. Her head twitched to the side in an instinctive gesture of submission.
Fletcher knew the old woman didn’t like that Avery could force her to back down. Too bad, he thought.
Avery took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you feel that way. However, I’m Fletcher and Mitch’s mate. Our wolves know it. Your wolf knows it. All you need to do is look inside yourself and your wolf will tell you what the truth is.”
“You dare lecture me about my wolf? You can’t even shift into one. You’re a pretender. You’re not one of us,” Bridget said angrily. “I knew it was a mistake when your mother came home pregnant with you, and I was right.”
Avery clenched her fists, and Lillian put a hand on her arm before Fletcher could get to her. He sensed her anger, and her fear, but there was no way he was going to let this old woman speak to the Pack’s Queen like this. Before he could speak, though, his aunt stepped into the fray.
“No, Dame Bridget. I remember when Avery’s mother first came back to us, and I also remember the not-so-warm welcome you gave her when you discovered she was carrying a pup and had no husband. Is it any wonder Susan left again? Is it any wonder that she didn’t come back again until after Avery was born? Her own pack didn’t welcome her, and she had to find shelter with Gorge Rock Pack, to our eternal shame. Avery’s father wasn’t around until later, as I recall,” Lillian said, her voice cold.
Fletcher could see Avery’s shock at the revelation that her mother’s pregnancy wasn’t as cut and dried as she’d thought. Hell, I’m shocked. I had no idea. It would’ve been nice if Dad had mentioned this particular family drama, he thought, but then he remembered his father’s suggestion that he look in the archives. Archives I no longer have, dammit. He frowned, and moved closer, easing Avery away from Lillian. “Easy does it. Remember who you are. You’re important to the pack. You’re important to me,” he murmured into her ear as he felt her rigid muscles. Avery frowned at him, and he wished he could say more, but now wasn’t the best time to reassure her. “Does it really matter what happened so long ago?” he asked more loudly, when no one spoke. “Avery is my chosen mate, and we’re bonded together with Mitch in an ancient triad. That is fact.”
“There’s no such thing as a triad,” Bridget said, defiant to the end. “That’s nothing but a tale told to naive children to foster promiscuity.”
Fletcher sighed as Avery’s muscles tensed again.
“Let me go. I need to deal with this,” she said angrily.
He shook his head. “Unless you plan on shifting and forcing her to submit, she’s not going to listen to any of us.”
Avery sighed with frustration. “This is ridiculous.”
Mitch walked over to his grandmother. “Go home, Grandmother. It’s late.” He took her arm and physically herded her towards the front door.
Bridget let him escort her outside, but she certainly wasn’t cowed. “You’ll regret this,” she told Fletcher as she stepped down the front stairs.
Mitch just shook his head and walked her to her car, not letting go of her arm.
“Is he going to see her home?” Avery asked, sounding tired.
“No. He’s tired. You’re tired. You three need your rest.” Lillian grabbed her purse from the table near the door. “I’ll follow her home and make sure she stays there. By now, your Uncle Marcus is probably wondering where I am, anyway.” She briefly hugged Avery. “Stay strong, my dear.”
“Wait. What did you mean before? My mother stayed with Gorge Rock Pack?” Avery asked.
Lillian’s face closed down. “It was a long time ago, Avery.”
“And my mother is gone, so I can’t ask her,” Avery pointed out.
Lillian shook her head. “You should talk to your father about it. I don’t really know the whole story.” It was obvious she wasn’t going to explain further.
Avery stepped back, and Fletcher sensed the tension in her body. He knew she didn’t want to force Lillian to talk, and he understood why. She’d been nothing but helpful during the transition, and Avery didn’t want to lose her support.
“Thanks, Aunt Lillian,” Avery said, after a moment. “For everything. You’ve been a big help, and I appreciate it.”
“Of course, my dear,” Lillian replied, and then headed outside. Fletcher could see the frustration on Avery’s face as she watched the older woman leave, and wished he could soothe it away. But I can’t fix everything, even though I’m the Alpha.
A few minutes later, Mitch returned. “Well. That sucked.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, then reached back and locked the door. “I’ll contact the pack tomorrow, okay? I’m no longer sure it’s a good idea to have a meeting tonight.” He told Fletcher.
Fletcher nodded. He was too tired to deal with all the issues he had to address right now anyway. I need a good night’s sleep. He glanced at his mates. We all do. Lillian was right. We’re exhausted, and it’s only the first week since the transition. How in the hell did my father do this?
“A pack meeting?” Avery asked.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Fletcher pushed a hand through his hair. “Someone broke into the cabinet that held the archives and stole them, which is infuriating. The protection ward is broken, and there’s no way to replace it, now that we don’t have any Witch wolves anymore,” he told her. “I want to question the Pack and see if anyone has information about the theft. I want to look every member in the eyes and see who flinches.” He glanced at Mitch, remembering the heat of their kiss, and realized he had more business to discuss than just the stolen archives. “And I want to see how they react to you and Mitch. We’ve told everyone about our triad, but I fear there are members who don’t believe it. They won’t believe it until they see us interacting together.”
“I don’t understand why so many of the older folks are so reluctant to believe in our bonding,” Avery said, sounding frustrated. “They’re the ones who taught us the old myths when we were young.”
“Because they were forbidden to try for their own triads, and they don’t want to admit that their lives could’ve been very different,” Fletcher said, remembering stories his grandfather used to tell him. “But times have changed.” His wolf howled silently in the back of his head. “We have to show our people the way back to the truth.”
“A triad is an ancient werewolf custom,” Avery said, staring at the storeroom door. “We’re not the only pack with those legends.” She lifted a hand, as if she were going to gesture at the door, but then let it drop again. “Not that we have any way to prove it, now. Damn it.”
Fletcher shrugged. “We’re wolves, but we’re also people. And if there’s any species more capable of screwing up their lives than humans, I don’t know of them.”
Avery smiled bitterly at this. “It sounds as if my mother had her share of problems, too. I had no idea she had ever left the pack. She died before I was old enough to talk about stuff like that. And my father won’t talk about her at all.”
“I had no idea about her history either,” Mitch said, sliding an arm around Avery’s waist. “My grandmother didn’t tell me much when I was growing up, either. We don’t really get along. Never have.” He grimaced. “That’s why I spent so much time here, with Fletcher.”
“It sounds like we both spent a lot of time with Fletcher’s parents,” Avery said, smiling wryly.
“Yeah.” Mitch kissed the side of her head. “It’s a good thing our Alpha was a good wolf.”
Avery gave him a brief smile. “It’s weird, though. The way Bridget talked, it sounded as if she didn’t believe my father was really my father,” Avery said, shaking her head. “And my mom died when I was so young…” She leaned into Mitch. “I spent a lot of time here with Paige, growing up. My father wasn’t the most reliable parent, and now I think I know why.” She frowned. “Lately, I’ve been getting the feeling that he truly dislikes me. No one should feel that way about their child. And he always seemed to have some sort of ulterior motive when he wanted me to do something. Like, if he wanted me to talk to someone at school, it was because he knew the kid’s parents and wanted an excuse to meet them. It was weird. I hated it. I really don’t like the idea of him and Bridget hanging out together. It’s not normal. The only thing worse would be if he was hanging out with my ex.” She gave a bitter laugh.
Fletcher could see Avery’s pain, and wished he could do something to take it away. Both of his parents had always been supportive towards him and his sister, but neither Avery nor Mitch had enjoyed that luxury. “You’re no longer alone, Avery. And I would never treat you like that.”
“I know,” Avery said. “And I had Paige, just like Mitch had you, so it wasn’t terrible.” She reached out and touched Fletcher’s arm. “I’m lucky.”
He patted her hand, then pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist.
“Let’s not think about it anymore tonight,” Mitch suggested. He glanced at the door through which his grandmother had so recently left, then grimaced.
Fletcher knew his Beta was exhausted. “We don’t have to do anymore tonight.” He glanced around. “All these problems will be waiting for us in the morning.”
“Good, because I’m tired. And there’s nothing more we need to do right at this moment. We can figure it all out tomorrow,” Mitch said, moving away from the storeroom door.
Avery sighed, then nodded, letting Mitch lead her to the stairs. Halfway up, she paused and looked back at Fletcher. “Are you coming?”
I could do more tonight, but none of this is an emergency. And I have two lovers waiting for me. Fletcher stared at the storeroom door, then walked over and switched off the lights to the downstairs hall and foyer. If there was one thing he’d learned during his years away, it was to take advantage of the calm moments when they happened, because the bad stuff always occurred at the worst of times and was never something you could plan for. He smiled up at his mates.
“Yes. I’m coming.”