and you foot the bill.
“The Reckoning”—Robert Service
Chapter Nine
Light had just begun to sneak over the mountain when she woke. Sometime in the night, Evan had shifted and was now in his wolf. They were cuddled together like two puppies, and her heart fluttered.
It felt so right.
Less than twenty-four hours had passed, and already there was a place inside that couldn’t imagine not being with him. And yet, she didn’t know for sure what came next, because that kind of trust and belonging were for other people.
Too many plans had been set in place that would have to be worked out one step at a time. Like shoving a musk ox into a china shop, things were about to get complicated.
After extracting herself from their warm, comfortable nest, she slipped outside to get some fresh air before the crazy day began.
She’d barely made it to the edge of the trees when it registered. Something was wrong. No birdsong, only utter silence from the animals of the woods and her sentries. Amy listened carefully, concern increasing at the unexpected stillness.
The faintest of rattles warned her in time to turn and face the wolf who leapt at her. He hit her hard enough to knock her to the ground, his jaws snapping on air rather than on her neck as she put on a burst of speed and moved to the defense.
She scrambled to her feet to face her foe, growling displeasure at having been attacked on her own territory. There was no way anyone should have been able to sneak up on the cabin like this.
Either her sentries were in trouble, or they would be.
The wolf she faced was black-furred and vaguely familiar. Amy cursed, the sound coming out as a furious growl. She’d expected to have to deal with Shaun at some point. She’d considered the Beta of the Takhini pack as she planned her strategy for revenge on Evan.
But it was too early in the day for this kind of discussion.
He took another run at her. Even as she dodged to the side to avoid his paw swipe, the attack just made her angrier.
Fine. He wanted a lesson in hierarchy? She would oblige.
She leaned forward on her front paws, crouching as she bared her teeth. Shaun hesitated for a split second, obviously surprised at the amount of power she put behind the snarl. While he was distracted, she slashed out, claws raking his shoulder. Before he could go on the offense, she crowded forward, batting again, this time striking the side of his muzzle as if disciplining a baby.
Her body might be smaller than his, but when she rushed in and hit simultaneously with her wolf side and a physical blow, Shaun had no chance of maintaining his feet. They rolled down the slight incline, claws scrambling as they fought for freedom. A series of growls and yips escaped into the morning air.
Amy hung on tightly as he attempted to roll her one final time and get his jaws around her throat. The momentum took them farther than he expected, and she thrust out her legs to halt their motion. She jabbed a paw at his eyes, and while he was temporarily blinded, caught his throat in her jaws, biting ever so carefully.
She didn’t break the skin, but her grip and body position was solid enough he wasn’t going anywhere until she released him.
A third wolf stood only feet away, observing. Amy had sensed his arrival, but thankfully Evan didn’t move to interrupt. She was determined this first fight would end the way she needed.
Shaun finally relaxed, tilting his head to the side just enough to loosen her jaws. It wasn’t a complete offering of submission, and Amy debated biting harder to make her point clearer, but something warned her to ease back.
She let him free. Shaun rolled to his feet, shaking his fur to shed the dirt and sticks clinging to him.
Evan chose that moment to pace forward, but instead of going to his Beta, he surprised her. He moved smoothly to her side, leaned in and brushed his muzzle against hers.
Shaun shifted. His hands were clenched in fists by his side, his eyes snapped dark with anger as he sniffed distastefully at Amy. “Dammit, Evan. She’s the important business you had to take care of in such a hurry yesterday?”
Oh goodie, this was going to be entertaining.
Both she and Evan shifted to their human forms.
“Is something wrong with the pack?” Evan demanded.
Amy had to give Evan credit for asking about them first.
“Yes.” Shaun jerked to a stop then kicked his feet like a little kid with a hand in the cookie jar. “I mean, no. Nothing that needs your attention this instant.”
“Then why are you here when I told you to stay in Whitehorse and take care of everyone?” Evan’s growing displeasure was clear, in both his tone of voice and posture.
Shaun didn’t seem to get the message to back off. “Yeah, well, there’s news. I thought it was important enough to track you down.”
That raised an interesting question. “How did you know where to find us?” Amy glanced into the trees. “And what have you done with my sentries?”
The Beta of the Takhini pack looked far too pleased with himself. “They’re a little tied up at the moment.”
Fury struck, and Amy moved without thinking. She had an arm wrapped around Shaun’s throat, him on his knees before the man could blink. Evan cared about his pack mates? She cared for hers as well. “If you hurt a single one of them, I swear you will pay.”
“Amy. Let him go. Please.”
She had no intention of setting Shaun loose until she was satisfied he’d learned his lesson, but the fact Evan had said please made the difference. She relaxed her grip, but shoved between Shaun’s shoulder blades at the final moment to send him sprawling to his hands and knees.
He mumbled something, and she rolled her eyes. “Working with you is going to be an absolute joy. Yes, I am a bitch, thank you very much.”
Evan stepped forward as Shaun scrambled to his feet, brushing the dirt from his knees. “Where are the Canyon members?” Evan asked.
Shaun pointed into the trees. “When I realized I’d tracked you into the heart of Canyon territory, I figured I’d better make sure no one could make a move on us. I found some rope in one of the outbuildings then snuck up on the sentries. They’re where I found them.”
Bastard. “You go and untie them this instant,” Amy snapped.
He rocked on his feet as her order slammed him, but the fool still had the audacity to cross his arms and glare haughtily. “You’re not my Alpha. I don’t take orders from you.”
“You want me to kick your butt some more to prove you will take orders from me?” She leaned forward, ready to take another swing, but Evan raised a hand.
“You made your point. Shaun’s being an ass like usual.” Evan turned to the dark-haired man. “Let her sentries loose then get yourself back to the Takhini pack house.”
“But, Evan,” Shaun protested. “You need to hear me out. Justin’s team called this morning, and they’ve got crazy news.”
Shaun continued to glower at her, his gaze filled with suspicion and concern. Amy couldn’t blame him for his misgivings. There were big changes coming in his life, and she was the cause of most of them.
Evan snapped his fingers in front of his Beta’s face to get his attention. “You said there was nothing that needed my attention. Do you really want to do this now?”
“There’s probably not much you can do about most of it,” Amy offered. “Isn’t that right?” she asked Shaun.
His eyes narrowed and his expression grew colder. Then he deliberately ignored her and faced Evan.
“I thought figuring out my mate was insane, but you picked an even crazier woman than me to get stuck with.” Shaun sighed as if the weight of the world were on his shoulders. “Fine. I’ll go back and make sure everything is waiting for you. Come back as soon as you can. And, dude, I suggest you keep your wallet hidden while you’re around this chick.”