Where Wild Things Roam

Exchange

Sean    

I can scarcely fathom this concept.

A part of me aches for him and I don’t know what to say. Before today, that was the only way to be fair, but it’s not our reality anymore.

Silas’ voice through our link sounds sheepish.

**

Jack    

Blah. Blah. Blah.

I hate contract negotiations.

Especially these alliance negotiations. All the posturing and the polite social chitty-chat about how great your pack is and how awesome mine is. The jockeying for the things most benefiting one pack without ceding anything of real value to the other. Bores the hell out of me, and believe me, there’s a lot of work to that.

Seriously. I have real s**t to deal with.

And what’s there to say? The three of us reviewed Desert’s contract yesterday afternoon when Ian hauled his p***y-whipped ass back to the office doused in the scent of his mate and s*x after his lunch quickie.

Lucky jerk. If I wasn’t sitting in this meeting where it will piss Ian off, I’d be going through my phone for a hook-up right now.

Speaking of which, I sure hope he’s done something about the weird connection between Darby, him and me. This last time wasn’t as bad as it was at her cottage, but it’s unnerving and intrusive. Because seriously, I have real s**t to deal with.

“… reviewed your proposal for an alliance.”

Hallelujah. Ian’s finally getting down to the bones of this. I can see Silas is expecting what’s coming. He’s disappointedly resigned, but he knew coming in that the business model Ian uses doesn’t work in a territory like Desert pack’s. Even as ruthlessly opportunistic as it is.

The Desert alpha though, he’s got something up his sleeve. His face might be a blank mask, but there’s something poised, calibrating, waiting for Ian drop what he wants, plainly visible in his body language. If I didn’t know we aren’t allying with them, I’d say this guy—Sean—he warrants more profiling. I’ll definitely be keeping a closer eye on him in the future.

As desert wolves, both these guys are lean to a fault—there’s not an ounce of excess on them—but they aren’t small like a lot of wolf species that live primarily in harsh environments. Though Sean’s the slightly larger of the two, even Silas stands as tall as me, just neither are anywhere near as broad. They’re still strong and, in combination with the calm cunning behind their yellow-gold eyes, that makes them powerful allies or potentially dangerous enemies. Not that Ian won’t have that covered.

“I’m happy to accept it just because of what you’ve done for my Luna, but I need you to understand, we have no plans for the foreseeable future to expand any operations that might benefit you as you’ve sought into your territory. An alliance with us isn’t going to give you what you want or need, gentlemen. And I’ll understand if you want to withdraw it and conserve the resources for a better alliance elsewhere.”

“I don’t,” Sean says confidently. “And I don’t think you do either. We both have something the other needs, you just don’t know what yet.”

Ian flashes a gracious smile, but having grown up with him, I can tell he’s calling bullshit. “We’re listening.”

Uh, no. You and Ivan are listening. I checked out at the door. What Sean says next makes me check in in a hurry.

“You need trackers.”

“Say what?” I toss him an indignant glare. “No we don’t. I have some of the best trackers in the country.”

Sean casts a casual glance at me before locking invisible horns with Ian again. “That’s very true, Second. Your trackers are known for their skills. Just not for hunting witches and vampires. Those would be ours—from Desert pack.” He leans back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his neck with a smugness that makes me want to punch his lights out.

Ian’s face betrays nothing. “Why would we need that?”

“Come on. Everybody on the plaza knows about the vampire, Ian.” Silas’ tone eases the argumentative one Sean set. “We know it’s not the first attempted strike against you either. Ivan here took a cursed arrow well inside your borders.”

“And those, Desert pack is well acquainted with, including clearing up,” Sean finishes, a steely glint in is eye.

Okay. I have to hand it to them—their intel is impressive. My office employs hawk and owl shifters to keep tabs on our borders from the air twenty-four seven, but Desert pack has something else working for them if they know about Ivan. That’s been kept on the downlow.

“What are you proposing?”

And… there it is—what Sean was waiting for.

“An exchange program.” Smiling, he leans forward, elbows on his knees. “Me for Ivan,” he raises his hands placatingly, “just until we find and kill the witch. The curse will break then. And Desert pack will rotate trackers to Candlewood to back up and train yours in our tactics. If you want, you can send trackers to our pack to get a different perspective.”

“No. Ian, we don’t need them— I can figure out how to hunt vamps and witches. And if they want Ivan to look over their business plan, they can pay for a consult like everybody else.”

“That learning process takes time, Jack.” It’s the first time during this whole meeting I’ve heard Ivan speak. Granted, I wasn’t exactly attentive until these guys started throwing shade on my work here, but of the two of us Seconds, he’s the brains and I’m the guts—crap like this isn’t exactly my wheelhouse.

“While I’m still cursed and bound to the pack that has Darby as Luna, I’m a danger to everyone in it, including my own family. I can’t do that to Kasey, even if she’d let me. I definitely can’t do that to my daughters.”

I catch the quickly exchanged glance between Silas and Sean but neither says anything. Ian’s eyes are boring into Ivan’s.

“As part of Desert pack, there’d be nothing in me to trigger the vamps.” He nods to Ian’s unspoken question. “I’ll do it.”

“Excuse me? Wait a damn second—you said Ivan for you, Sean.” I peer at him closely, trying to figure out his game and irked that he’s a couple steps ahead of me. “You’re an alpha. He’s a Second—and from another pack. That isn’t going to go over well with yours.”

“Desert isn’t as closely knit as Candlewood, triumvir. It’s just not that kind of territory.” Sean shrugs. “Probably wouldn’t be as bad as you think in any case, but my suggestion is Silas becomes alpha of Desert pack, Ivan replaces him as Second, and I’ll replace Ivan as triumvir here in Candlewood.”

I look over at Ian helplessly. There’s a con here—I can feel it, but I’m out of my league in political machinations without help.

Ian crosses his hulking arms over his chest and tips his head back. It’s his signature tell, but first-time negotiators with him wouldn’t know it. He’s onto something, thank the goddess. Now this s**t will get straightened out.

“Those are different skill sets. Losing Ivan in his current roll hurts Candlewood. And are you really prepared to be subject to me as alpha?”

Unfazed, Sean smiles. “As it happens, I’m in a unique position to do exactly that. Silas and I have flip-flopped rolls for years—it’s part of the concern when two brothers occupy command rolls in the same pack.”

Ian fixes me with a pointed stare.

“Not just no, hell no. Not doing it. Your job sucks, Ian.” Though I meant it in all seriousness, my staunch refusal lightens the mood. “Besides, bossy-butt, you can’t do Second and that’s not because the job is hard.”

Ian flashes me a feral smile. “Glad to hear you finally admit that.”

“Wait.” Brows drawn together, Silas raises a hand, pointing at Ian, then me. “Ian Gallagher. Jack Moran. You two are brothers?”

“Yes. Jack was raised by my parents.”

“Just more things in common.”

Sean’s smile doesn’t touch his eyes. He’s keen to close this deal and not knowing why makes me nervous. Real nervous. But I’m more nervous reading Ian’s cold-eyed stare. He’s onto something and I can see the wheels turning in his head, plotting how to turn this to his advantage. Which usually means more bullshit down the road for me.

“I can do Ivan’s job, Ian. Remains to be seen whether that’s with his level of skill, but I promise not to mess it up. And yeah, you can be my alpha. It’s not as difficult an adjustment for me as it might seem.”

Ian’s eyes flick to Silas. “You’re on board with this?”

“In the interest of alliance transparency, he’s been flying entirely by the seat of his pants here, but—I can’t say I don’t think it’s a good exchange for both packs.” Silas’ down-to-earth attitude and open admission soothes some of the tension in the room. “Ivan’s a fresh pair of eyes looking at our resources and how to best utilize them, even in the short run, and Candlewood gets an alpha level leader with a Second’s set of skills. With the reputation Desert pack has in the witch and vampire covens, Ivan and his family will be safe, and your Luna as a trigger minimized. Our trackers could use some new and challenging sport and yours get the benefit of our assistance and training. I do have one other addendum though.”

At that, Sean’s head snaps up. This he wasn’t expecting. I kind of like seeing him kicked in the crotch after what he’s put over on everyone.

“Which is?” Ian invites an answer.

“It appears my mate is a member of your staff,” Silas says apologetically.  

Ian’s laughter is genuine. “Well I’ll be damned. Sonya? Or Kallie?”

“Kallie.”

“Interesting.” Ian’s brows flick up and he looks his question at Ivan. Getting a nod, he replies, “Silas, you have my blessing. You should probably ask Ivan’s though.”

Golden eyes turn to Ivan. Not that there’s anything to say. I know Ivan, and I know what he’s going to do. Since Kasey and Kallie’s parents are deceased, he’s primarily responsible for ensuring a good pairing for Kallie, and in agreeing to this deal, he’s just guaranteed his sister-in-law’s bedding down as a Luna.

“Kallie is my mate’s sister,” Ivan explains, then warns, “You’re in for the ride of your life. They’re some feisty women.”

“Anything else, Ivan?” Ian asks, and when he gets a head shake as no, his gaze swivels to me.

Fuck.

I’m picking up way too many things here—things I’m not sure how to sort. Moving Ivan to Desert pack doesn’t fix the problem of him being cursed—it’s just geography. Plus, it’s a perilous assumption that what he sees in Desert pack won’t be of value to whoever is using him while we’re still trying to find them. It just spreads the risk from our pack to theirs like a virus. But whether Ivan’s part of Desert pack or not, he’s stodgily loyal to Ian which gives us an insider there—an insider with a deep understanding of resource management. And bound to Ian as Second, Sean’s kind of under his thumb too.

Double f**k. I hate alliance meetings. And politics. Since there’s no help for it, I exhale, puffing my cheeks and nod.

Ian rises from behind his desk and extends a hand to Silas, then Sean. “We have an alliance, gentlemen. If you don’t mind staying another day in Candlewood, we’ll take care of the formalities after Ivan has a bit of time.”

“For?” Sean asks.

“I’m going to get a tongue-lashing from my mate,” Ivan explains and we all cringe. “It’ll be alright. She’s been wanting to travel. And if Kallie’s going to Desert pack, that’ll help make the transition better for both of them. It’s a matter of waiting for her to let me get a word in edgewise.”

**

Ian    

As soon as I step into the packhouse entry, I hear delighted squeals and bubbly laughter, followed by a crash and splintering sounds as something breaks.

Tasha and Tavie.

“Where’s Darby? Didn’t you say she was watching the girls?” Jack’s eyes lock on mine, immediately alert for trouble, and both Sean and I kick our senses up several notches.

“I did. I didn’t feel the wards.”

“Unngh.” Jack’s face looks as though he just ate rotten eggs and he clutches at his heart. “I don’t want to feel anymore wards.”

All of us leap into defensive position as a small, airy, greenish form that looks like a hare zips into the kitchen. In close pursuit, Tessa wheels and darts after it, banging around under the tables and knocking over chairs. There’s a stampede of pounding feet, then Tasha and Tavie round the corner after the dog. A peal of trilling laughter erupts as they watch the show, jumping up and down ecstatically and clapping their hands.

Scrabbling to get her feet under her on the slick red oak floors, Tessa makes a wild pounce and lands on the magical rabbit, searching frantically for it beneath her when it disappears with a poof.

The girls slump with a synchronized groan of disappointment. “Awwwww!”

“What are you two still doing up?” I start towards them. “It’s after two in the morning. Where’s our Luna?”

“We’re playing with Tessa,” Tavie offers, then both girls point towards the sofa.

Just as my attention falls on it, I see a graceful arm rise, the opal ring on the hand flashing as Darby makes a swirling flick. Behind me I hear mad scrambling and another shriek of glee as a new rabbit conjuring appears and the chase is on again for Tessa. Darby’s hand drops lifelessly out of sight.

Taking a couple steps towards the sofa, I lean to look down at her and can’t help my grin. Her eyelids are covered in sparkling blue eyeshadow. Bubble gum pink lipstick, also full of glitter, coats her plump lips. Her normally tidily contained hair has been rebraided poorly in random strands, tied with multi-colored ribbons and clipped in erratic loops all over her head. It looks like she lost a fight with a macramé wall hanging.

My heart swells. She’s so adorable.

“Is she sleeping while they’re trashing the packhouse!?” Jack demands as pandemonium erupts from somewhere in the back bedrooms.

“It’s really late, Jack,” I offer as he comes up beside me, Sean on the other side of him, all of us looking down at Darby. “Look at her. You can’t blame her for being exhausted.”

“No,” he replies irritably. “I blame you for disrupting her sleep by boning her all night long.” Turning, Jack heads toward the bedrooms. “Make her kill the magic, Ian. Girls! Time for bed!”

“Nooooo!”

“Five more minutes? Pleeeeeeeeease!”

“Nope. It’s past Tessa’s bedtime.”

I come around the sofa and take a seat on the edge. Kissing Darby’s cheek, I let my lips wander to her ear. “Darby. Baby. Wake up.”

She groans, smacking me on the shoulder with her weak attempt to wave me away.

“Come on, baby. Open your eyes and look at me.”

She inhales sharply, tightening into a loose ball, then yawns, stretching sinuously.

I can’t help my growl of appreciation. In my periphery, I see Sean turn abruptly and he paces away then leans against the wall at the hallway junction moodily.

As Darby gives an enthralling moan, rubbing her eyes with her knuckles, my eyes follow Sean.

I’m not entirely certain what he was hoping to gain with his terms for our two packs’ agreement beyond some access to my mate, but I’m confident after Jack’s comment about our s****l habits, the realization has hit him that tomorrow, he’s officially a member of my pack. And under my command as alpha, Darby is untouchable.

While I don’t expect the arrangement to be long-term—Desert pack’s trackers are doubtless exceptional at what they do—I also know it doesn’t take long to reinforce subordination in a wolf. And the results tend to be lasting. Whether he returns eventually to Desert’s Alpha role or not, his wolf will remember mine ranks above his.

 my wolf congratulates me.

Darby’s soft palm caresses my cheek, drawing my attention to her.

“Thanks for looking after the girls.”

She groans in response. “Oh my word, I don’t know how Kasey and Ivan keep up. The thought of having a third one like those two terrifies me, and I’m not even their parent. Was that some kind of birth control exercise? Or is something else going on?”

“Ivan and Kasey are out on date. Ivan’s breaking the news.”

“What news?” Yawning again, Darby drags herself into a sitting position.

“They’re leaving. They’re going to Desert pack.”

“What!? Why?”

“Part of our pack alliance. He’s cursed, baby. This keeps you safe. Keeps them safe.”  

“Ian, are you mad? I can lift the curse from him! Now that I know it’s there.”

Sean’s head turns almost imperceptibly, directing an ear toward our conversation. Quiet creeps over the house as Jack’s efforts to get the girls in bed are successful.   

“I wish I’d known. The arrangement’s been made, Darby. There’s no going back.”

“Ian, the vampires are testing the barrier. They know we’re here already. Sending Ivan away isn’t going to change that,” she argues.

“Neither is lifting the curse. You heard Kassandra, baby. We need to clean them out. But if you can lift it, then do it.”

“I need him here to do it. I have to touch him.”

“Then the answer is no,” I refuse firmly. “Something was watching you through him. The minute he’s near you again, that door reopens.”

“That takes a vampire— a coven master. Only they can look through the eyes of—.”

She stops speaking abruptly, glances away from me, comprehending.

“I can put up wards. Elemental ones. Just big enough for the two of us.”

“The eyes of what, Darby?” I press. “Were you about to say ‘minions’? I already know that’s what Ivan’s become—the witch’s curse subjugated him. No wards. There’d be no stopping them porting inside those and taking you.” I pull her into my embrace. “I’m sorry, baby. I can see you’re upset by this. It’s the only solution. In the meantime, a desert team will guide and train our weres to hunt down the witch and the vampire using Ivan.”

“I have an alternative,” Jack offers. He’s standing in the entry now too, arms crossed over his chest. He quickly qualifies, “But you’re not going to like it.”

“What are you waiting for? A drumroll?”

Jack gives me a withering glare. “Send for Mattie.”

“Who’s Mattie?” Sean asks.

My eyes narrow, peering at Jack. “You, of all people, want me to invite the leader of a dark magic witch coven into Candlewood?”

“Dark magic? Sounds to me like some witches worth investigating. Let me get a team here and Jack and I will go take them out.”

“We have a treaty with them, Sean. A peaceful one. I’m not attacking them until we have proof.”

“I get it, Ian. I don’t want her or her ilk anywhere around Candlewood, but—,” Jack pauses, shrugging, “some of her witches are diviners. And they’re a lot less kooky and cryptic than Kassandra any day, even if they are more dangerous.”

“As an incumbent Second triumvir here, I still vote no.” Sean shakes his head. “Sorry, Jack. Nothing good comes from witches. I don’t care what color they are.”

At Sean’s comment, Darby’s eyes lock with his, her brows arched crossly. Something startling and angry flares in her, burning into him. Under it, and with an expression I don’t recognize, he caves and looks away.

I still believe Darby that he didn’t touch her, but clearly something significant did happen between them. Whatever it was, she’s not the least happy about this new development. It’s a variable I hadn’t anticipated.

“For the time being, my answer’s also no. We haven’t even started trying to track them down. We’ll reserve Mattie as an option for more desperate times.” I scoop Darby off the sofa and head for our bedroom. “Goodnight.”