Chapter 6
By the time Brandt pulled up in front of his house, Tempest was already standing out on their porch, looking down the staircase at him. She’d felt the pain swirling inside him, then his intense need for her, so was waiting for him when he arrived.
He raised his gaze to hers and she simply opened her arms to him. He jogged up the steps to her and she immediately enveloped him in her embrace, kissing his neck and ears as she held him. “Show me,” she whispered.
He opened his mind and let her see the replay of the entire encounter between himself and Remi.
He threw in the encounter earlier that morning and the condition he’d found Remi in at Vince’s.
He held onto her just as tightly as she held him, soaking up all the love, all the comfort he knew she’d give him.
When Tempest finally let go enough to ease back and look into his face, she saw that his lashes were damp and he was trying so hard not to get too emotional.
This was the hard part of being an Alpha.
At least it was for Brandt. He loved all his family, every single one of them was absolutely necessary for his happiness.
And he did his absolute best to make sure everyone was safe and had everything they needed so they’d be happy in the clan they all shared.
But being an Alpha also meant that sometimes it wasn’t enough.
If one of your members was really struggling, sometimes the best thing for them was a little tough love.
And as in this case, it sometimes went further if the tough love didn’t produce the desired affect.
“He didn’t leave you much choice, my love,” Tempest said.
“But I promise you it’s going to be okay. ”
“I’ve trusted and admired Remi all my life. How did it come to this?” Brandt asked.
“He’s lost. He’s going to need to do the work himself. Until he does, or until something other than you or any of the rest of us happens to touch something deeply enough that he wakes up, nothing else is going to make a difference.”
“I shouldn’t have been so hard on him. Maybe I should have let the girl in.”
“I can tell you right now, you made the right call. She’s all about herself.
All she wants is more — of anything. She’s already disrespected you, and intimidated Abby and her kids.
She’s trying to separate him from those he trusts.
She comes in all sweetness and light, then manipulates him into believing everything she says and blames everyone else for any fall out if they don’t buy into her shit.
And he’s hurting so badly inside that he believes it.
He’s terrified to be alone, so he’s trying desperately to forge a bond with her.
“He’s got us!”
“We’re not his mate. We have each other. Most of the clan is mated already. He wants that desperately.”
“Stupid bitch,” Brandt grumbled.
“Oh, she’s not stupid by any means. She knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s survived that way all her life. The only reason she didn’t try it with you is because she knows you see right through her. You made the right choice to keep her out.”
“Maybe you can talk to him,” Brandt suggested.
“I’ll try, but I don’t think he’ll react any differently to me. He’s defensive because she’s licking his wounds and justifying everything he says and does while telling him how heartless we all are for not wanting him to be happy.”
“I don’t know how to fix this,” Brandt said.
“It’s going to take more than just you. He’s got to fix himself. Once he does, you can do your part. Until then he wouldn’t recognize any effort you made anyway.”
“Is he going to be alright?”
Tempest smiled at him and smoothed her hand over his cheek. “It’s up to him. Only he can make the choices that take him to where he’s supposed to be.”
The baby, nestled in Tempest’s womb kicked so hard that Brandt felt it. He smiled and looked down at her huge, and I do mean huge, belly. “Hey, now! Don’t hurt Momma.”
The baby kicked again, and Tempest laughed. “It’s almost time.”
“Now? Right now?!” he demanded, fear coloring his features.
“No, not at this moment, but it won’t be long.”
“Let’s get you inside and off your feet.”
“That’d be great,” Tempest said.
Brandt led her back inside and helped get her propped up on several throw pillows on the sofa. “Can I get you anything?” he asked.
“Just sit with me. I’ve missed you today.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice,” Brandt said, removing one of the pillows and replacing it with himself.
Tempest leaned back against him and sighed. “Best thing ever.”
“Using your mate as a back rest?” he teased.
She laughed. “No, just being beside you. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Don’t know what I did to deserve you, but thank fuck I did.”
Tempest laughed, and snuggled herself against him for an unusually long amount of time until she was comfortable.
“I swear, you’re part cat,” Brandt said.
“You know my dad’s a Dragon. It’s kind of like a giant cat. With temper issues. Sometimes.”
Brandt laughed this time, but ended up pressing a kiss to her head before leaning his head against hers. “I don’t know how to tell everybody Remi’s out. I’m going to have to tell not only our people, but all our parents, too. I am not looking forward to that.”
“You know what, some may be upset, but ultimately, they’ll understand. They’re not blind and they’ve been watching his spiral from the sidelines. Besides, you gave him a choice and he chose to walk away. And it’s not forever. It’s just until he pulls himself together.”
“Isn’t that kind of the opposite of what family is? You’re supposed to be there for them when they’re spiraling.”
“Sometimes the people you love are so lost that they don’t even see it until something shocks them out of their own heads.
Maybe this will do it. And you're forgetting that he practically challenged you. You had to assert yourself, had to stand for the clan. It’s what Alphas do.
Making poor decisions and trusting the wrong people for yourself is one thing, expecting everyone around you to just follow you blindly into the pits of despair is quite another. ”
“Why did I want to be an Alpha again?” he asked.
“You were born to it, my dear,” she said. She turned in his arms just enough to kiss him. “You did nothing wrong. It’ll be okay.”
“Promise?” he asked.
“Promise,” she answered.
~~~
Two days later Daisy was outside helping her dad with lawn work. He was cutting the grass, while Daisy was edging her mother’s flower beds. She had her ear buds in, and her safety glasses on, her head bobbing in time to whatever song she was listening to.
Bane had just finished a pass along the empty field next to their house when a car slowly made its way toward him. He brought the lawn tractor to a stop and engaged the brake as he watched the car approach. As it got closer he noticed a little boy in the back seat waving furiously.
Bane grinned and killed the engine on the lawn tractor, swinging a leg over the tractor so he could walk out to the road and greet the driver and his passenger.
The car came to a stop and the window rolled down. “Hello! Hope we’re not imposing too terribly much. But you did say any time,” Charlie said.
“How you doing, Charlie?” Bane said. “No imposition at all.”
Charlie’s gaze wandered over to watch Daisy dancing her way down the flower beds with the edger. He chuckled and lost himself for a moment watching her.
“She’s something, ain’t she?” Bane asked.
Charlie’s attention jerked back to Bane. “She really is. I see y’all are busy, maybe it will be better if I just come back later.”
“Not at all! Park this thing and get yourself out here and help,” Bane said.
“Yes, sir,” Charlie said.
“Back it up and park it on the edge of the road back there a bit. Just make sure that people can get around you.”
“Will do,” Charlie said. He backed up the car and pulled over to the side of the road that ran between Bane’s house and the two on the other side.
Soon as he turned off the engine, Carson was pushing the back door open and jumping out.
He ran right back to where Bane had spoken to them, and still sat waiting.
“Stay out of the way, Carson! They’re doing yard work. ”
“I will,” he yelled back.
“You ever ride on a lawn tractor?” Bane asked Carson.
“I never rode on any tractor.”
“You will today!” Bane said, gesturing for the child to come closer.
Carson darted toward Bane, then stopped and looked back at his father.
“You don’t have to do that, Mr. Bane.”
“It’s just Bane. I’m not a mister. And we’ll go cut some grass while you see if you can manage to let her know you’re here.”
“If you’re sure,” Charlie said.
“Of course, I’m sure. I’m never wrong,” Bane said, winking at Charlie as he picked up Carson and put him on the tractor with him, showing him how to start it and then how to turn the steering wheel.
The blades engaged as Bane took his foot off the brake and Carson hunched in on himself.
Bane put his foot back on the brake to stop it. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t like loud noises.”
Bane thought about it for a minute. “You know what? I got some ear mufflers in the house. You sit tight while I run get them, alright?”
“Yes, sir,” Carson said.
“Now, do not start this tractor, or you won’t ever ride on it.”
“I won’t. I’ll just sit here and wait.”
“Good boy,” Bane said. He jogged over the grassy field toward Daisy and Charlie.
Charlie was still waiting quietly for Daisy to look up and see him.
“Boy, just tap her on the shoulder!”
Charlie looked stricken at the idea of that. “No, I don’t think so, sir. She’s really shy, and really jumpy.”