Rosette and Kyle remained parked, their van a silent observer to the unfolding scene. Jupiter, her voice laced with frustration, spoke, "Well, I'm not strong like you. I can't go work construction. There are only so many jobs I can get that pay cash under the table," she huffed. "I want to earn my keep, too."
"Speaking of," one of the males said, his voice a casual drawl, "there's a guy promised us one hundred cash each to come and work the graveyard shift for him on the new road construction. We took the offer. It'll make a long day, but we need the money.""You just got home," Juniper said plaintively, her voice edged with concern, "and you look exhausted. Can't you just not go tonight. I'll work an extra couple of shifts at the club and make up for it.""Sorry, sis," another voice said, his tone laced with a hint of resignation, "it's hard to find work with the packs cracking down. We'll be home by dawn. Just lock the door and be safe, okay? Don't let anyone in."Rosette delved into Kyle's mind, witnessing his internal struggle. These kids had fled a horrific tragedy, and he had no desire to harm them in the first place. The fact that one of them was destined to be mated to a member of his pack made him even less inclined to cause them any pain.However, Kyle didn't want to risk endangering the pack by welcoming unpredictable renegades."Emily," Rosette said softly, "please remember protocol. We don't know these boys. Apologize for interrupting your Alpha.""I'm sorry, Alpha Luther," Emily said, "please don't hurt him. You have to understand, I need him. Please, let me keep him."Kyle ran a hand through his hair and addressed Rosette through their bond.'We shouldn't hurt a pack member's pre-determined mate. If these boys are who I think they are, I'm letting them stay as full members. We've got the cameras in the den now. We could literally watch everything they did. Do you agree with me?' he asked.'I don't sense these are dangerous renegade
"We don't want to harm her," Kyle said, "I would like to question her, though. Can you tell us where she went? We were watching your trailer. One of your neighbors alerted her we were nearby, and she ran.""No, sir, I don't know where she went," the boy said shaking his head."Keep looking for the girl," Kyle ordered Ethan. "Absolutely no harm is to come to her in our care.""Yes sir, Alpha Luther, we'll keep on it," Ethan said, striding out of the room."Tell me your names," Kyle demanded."Joseph," the boy said and then pointed to the other boys introducing them as Brett, Michael, and Rick."You are the acting Alpha in your pack, Joseph?" Kyle asked."Yes, sir, I guess I am," the boy nodded."I would like to do this right. We will meet in the circle, and we will battle. When I win, I lay claim to all of you," Kyle said, "including the female.""And what if I win?" Joseph asked, puffing out his chest.The Betas in the room all snickered a little."You've never fought a true Alpha, ki
Rosette snuggled with Kyle and thought about Roel. Part of her hoped he really had found a mate, and part of her hoped he hadn't. It was going to be hard either way.The healer was at their door the next morning with the glass from the strip joint."No spells," she guaranteed them, "although they might want to invest in a dishwasher. I don't think this thing has ever really been cleaned."Rosette balked, thinking she had drank out of a glass just like that one."You have a superior immune system now, love," Kyle reminded her when he caught the look on her face.Kyle and Rosette went to the security center and watched the videos from overnight. Brett had stayed with Emily's family. He had not left their quarters, no surprise there. Joseph and the others stayed in a room for unmated wolves. One of them had been out checking out a different part of the den all night."The only thing they did that was questionable was take a bunch of food from the kitchen," the security chief told them. "
Rosette and the boys talked for a while after they got off the phone. During the light conversation, she noticed Rick's stutter had returned with a vengeance; it had almost disappeared this morning. She wondered about it, but didn't ask for fear it would embarrass him. After the meeting, she took Rick and headed for the infirmary while Kyle dealt with things upstairs. Rosette wasn't wrong about Rick. He had a sixth sense about dealing with people. He was an excellent listener and knew how to speak to people that had been hurt. As the days passed, Rosette came to trust Rick completely with the injured women. He spent most days watching over them. It was a big relief for her not to worry over whether they were with someone that would scare them. Rick listened to the survivors; they told him all their stories. It was like they'd known him their entire lives. His capacity to really appreciate someone's position was awe-inspiring. Rosette knew he must be counselin
The boys explained Dee was a human. She had been burglarizing a fifth-story condo and fallen. She caught herself, but her grip was slipping. They had been in the alley below, and Juniper had begged them to help. Joseph climbed the building and lowered her to safety."You told her you were werewolves?!" Rosette accused, getting irritated along with her mate."No, ma'm," Rick said, "she knew what we were. Dee knows all about things she shouldn't know about: werewolves, magic, just about anything. She taught us a lot about how to survive. We helped her steal for about a couple of years, and then Joseph said we should stop. He thought it wasn't a good way to earn money."Kyle and Rosette both commended Joseph on his good judgment. Stealing was certainly a bad way to make a living. It was nice to see that when he was Alpha, he had his pack's best interest at heart."She's gone straight now, I've heard," Brett told them. "She came into some money and bought a semi-truc
Rosette followed Kyle toward the back of the rig. Dee undid the locks and levers and threw the doors open. None of the warriors or security people got in front of the doors when they were opened. They waited for instructions.Rosette pushed into her mate's mind and felt his discomfort with this situation. Some deep instinct told him to be cautious, that there was danger very near. Softly, she told him she felt the same way.Dee stood looking at them and pointed into the truck."Your shit's in there," she said. "Get it the fuck out. I'm not touching it anymore.""Hell of a mouth you've got, Dee," Will said, passing in front of the open doors and walking toward her.She backed away from him and the truck. "I got his word," she said, pointing at Kyle, "I get to leave. Don't touch me."A warm breeze came through the trees and pushed into the trailer. The wind billowed back out at them, and they gagged as a group. Rotten, putrid flesh assaulted their senses.
Rosette followed her mate through the woods to the circle. There wasn't any reason to tap into his mind right now. It was obvious just looking at him; he was seething mad. The source had been a member of his pack. All the destruction caused across the country had started on his home turf. Rage was radiating from him.When they reached it, Kyle stopped her from stepping in the circle. Looking in, she saw Ethan and the others had built a simple wooden funeral pyre in the center. They were laying the body on it when they got there. At Kyle's command, they lit the kindling underneath and bolted back so they were outside the circle of stones.Kyle reached for her hand as he watched the scene before them."The body will release its energy when it starts to burn. The circle is meant to contain magic. We will be safe out here," he said in that level voice she'd come to dread.The kindling burned slowly, catching the larger pieces on fire. Suddenly the light hit the body,
"She is cooperating, Alpha Luther, may she have some water?" Will asked.Kyle nodded, and a pitcher and glass appeared before them a moment later. Kyle poured a glass for Dee and gestured for her to take it. She hesitantly accepted the water and took a sip, seemingly reassured that it wasn't poisoned, she finished the entire glass."Thank you," she said, nodding to Kyle and then looking at Will.Will patted her back reassuringly and encouraged her to continue.Juniper had told Dee about a woman who had approached her with strange questions a year earlier. The woman knew Juniper lived with werewolves and was curious about their potential cooperation. Juniper had initially been intrigued, as the woman offered a substantial sum of money in exchange for a simple task from one of the boys.The woman had piqued Juniper's curiosity. Juniper had visited her home and confirmed she was a witch. Juniper, never one to resist a good heist, had later broken into the woman