Chapter Nine
Len entered the basement and spotted two strangers. Both were large, dressed differently from the pack, and one she instantly knew had to be Fray’s father. There was a strong resemblance, and his eyes were silver. He didn’t look old enough to have two adult sons, though. She was starting to truly understand that other beings didn’t age the way humans did.
Both Fray and Chaz were talking to the visitors, along with Kevin. Fray seemed to sense her and turned, smiling. He motioned her toward him.
“This is where we part,” Gina whispered.
“Thanks for babysitting me upstairs.”
“Any time.” Gina spun, walking to go talk to some of the pack.
Len straightened her shoulders and approached Fray. He shifted his stance, and as soon as she was in reach, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side. “I want you to meet my father, Hawk. The gloomier one is Delbius.”
She glanced at Delbius, but her attention focused on Hawk. “It’s nice to meet you.”
He smiled at her, but it didn’t reach his eyes, which were just like those of both of his sons with their lively silver orbs. “Lenore. I’ve glimpsed you a few times over the years. You’ve grown into a lovely woman.”
That surprised her. “You’ve seen me? I don’t remember ever meeting you before.”
“That was intentional.” Hawk didn’t give any more explanation.
She turned her head to arch her eyebrows at Fray.
“It was tough enough for Moe to explain why Chaz and I always wore sunglasses, even at night. We don’t blend in well without them. It would have been weird to introduce you to a third person who also wore sunglasses and looked like me and Chaz. Besides, Dad doesn’t visit this area as much as we do.”
“Moe won’t be happy about the two of you being together.”
She tore her gaze from Fray to stare up at his father. “I’m an adult. I don’t need his permission.”
Hawk watched her. “Feisty. That will come in handy.”
“Like I’d be drawn to someone who wasn’t,” Fray teased.
Hawk sniffed at Len. “You aren’t afraid.”
“No. I’m not.”
To her surprise, Hawk smiled. It reached his eyes that time. “I like you.” He turned to Delbius, giving him his attention. “My sons can be the distraction while we sneak up on these bastards.” His emotions turned to anger. “It will be hard, but ignore their victims until we make sure all threats are dead.”
Len knew he talked about the women who had been kidnapped and were being held inside the mine.
Delbius gave a sharp nod. “When are the VampLycans reaching us?”
“Within a few hours. It might be best to leave those victims where they are until our allies are on scene.”
Fray’s body tensed. “The victims are going to need medical attention. Those males wouldn’t have treated the humans well. I’d bet on that.”
Hawk met his gaze. “I’m aware. The females will also be traumatized, and the sight of us will terrify them. I doubt they will trust us saying we mean them no harm after what they have already endured. The VampLycans can take immediate control of their thoughts to alleviate that.”
Kevin cleared his throat. “We can send in some of our females to free the human victims and lead them out of the mine. A few of the pack are healers. They could treat those women’s physical injuries until the VampLycans get here.”
Hawk shook his head, and when he spoke, his voice had deepened. “You admitted that Moe ordered you to keep all your females in lockdown to keep them safe. The VampLycans should arrive within a few hours after we have ended the threat of the remaining males of that colony. Don’t go against your alpha’s orders.”
Kevin gave a sharp nod.
“Dad,” Fray whispered. “Watch your tone.”
Hawk flinched and softened his voice. “Right. I forgot. Sorry, Kevin. Please don’t go against Moe’s orders.”
Len was curious about the interactions she watched but kept her mouth shut. She’d ask Fray later. Something on her face must have given her confusion away, though, because Fray stared down at her. “Dominance,” he muttered. “It’s why we avoid living with Lycans. We come across as powerful alphas if we don’t watch how we speak to them.”
Kevin chuckled. “Yeah, you do. Every instinct inside me wanted to follow Hawk’s orders.”
“Okay.” Len was willing to accept their explanation, even if she didn’t totally understand. It once again reminded her that she had a lot to learn. “Is there anything that I can do to help?”
“Just stay safe here.” Fray turned to her and searched her eyes with his intense gaze. “It’s still dangerous until we make sure all those bastards are gone. I counted six, but I may not have seen them all. This is one time I’d hate to be wrong. We had to sleep in a bed they provided.”
“And?” She wasn’t certain of the point.
“Our scents are on that bed. It would be easy for a Gargoyle to identify you if he got close.”
“Understood, and I hear you.”
Fray reached up and stroked her cheek. “You have helped.”
“I made sandwiches with Gina and passed out food.”
“You allowed me to focus on what needs to be done, knowing that I can trust you to stay safe.”
“That’s important,” Kevin agreed.
Len felt a little better. Then she felt like teasing Fray. “So you’re saying it’s helpful that I’m not a reckless idiot?”
He smiled. “Those are your words, not mine.”
She smiled back at him. “They are.” Then she sobered. “Be careful today.”
“I will. We have plans.”
“Stop right there and keep your plans to yourselves,” Chaz ordered. “We have the remaining colony to deal with and their victims to save.”
Len turned her head and brushed her lips against Fray’s hand. Then she backed off. “I’ll go help Gina with whatever.” She forced herself to walk away. Worry nagged at her, though.
Sure, Fray and Chaz have more kickass help, but something can go wrong.
Fray was starting to mean a hell of a lot more than a crush to her. She’d felt right as she’d snuggled against him while they’d slept. Both times she’d left him…she hadn’t wanted to. Gina had given her the advice of listening to her instincts. That meant sticking close to Fray.
Was it possible to fall in love with him? He was so great. Even better than she’d imagined all the times she’d fantasized about being able to spend any time with him. He’d saved her ass, protected her, and she’d trusted that he’d keep her safe. Maybe that had been instinct, too. She knew deep down she could trust Fray even if her mind had freaked out a few times. Bottom line, she’d always been strongly drawn to him.
Gina met her near the kitchen room of the basement and smiled. “How did it go? I was watching your face. You didn’t appear to show fear.”
“Hawk seems nice, but I understand what you mean now. Tough guy.”
“Ready to make more sandwiches? One of the scouts did a grocery run for us.”
“Everyone is going to be sick of eating sandwiches.”
“It’s crisis mode for us. They either eat something simple to prepare or go grab something alive and small to eat in fur.”
Len decided to let that slide without commenting. Werewolves weren’t human. She wondered, though, if Fray had a habit of eating small creatures without cooking them first. Part of her didn’t want to know the answer. His mouth was something she planned to kiss. There were things they didn’t need to share with each other. At least not at the beginning of their relationship.
The two of them got to work making sandwiches. At one point, Tina entered the room and walked toward them. “Can I pitch in here?” Her gaze kept darting to Len.
“Sure.” Gina motioned to the bathroom. “Wash your hands first.”
Tina did so quickly and then started to help. Her gaze kept darting to Len until it started to annoy her. She put the ham sandwich in the pile she’d started of them and frowned at the other woman.
“What? Is my hair drying weird or something? You keep looking at me.”
Tina paused what she was doing, her gaze locking on Len. “You’re human.”
“No shit,” Gina muttered, responding before Len could. “Is there a point that you’re sadly attempting to make, Ms. Obvious?”
“You aren’t permitted to be with Fray. Our alpha made it clear that only other humans are allowed to be with you. You’re being disrespectful as hell of our alpha once again.”
Gina went to step around her, but Len moved, blocking the other woman, and faced Tina. “I’m twenty-four, nearly twenty-five. That’s a grown adult. I’m really getting tired of saying that to people. As for Moe being your alpha, I didn’t know until yesterday that Werewolves are real. Everyone lied to me. Don’t expect me to follow rules that I didn’t even know existed. That’s idiotic to even half-ass expect. Plus, it’s none of your business. None.”
“We’re pack,” Tina’s tone harshened. “We police our own. I’m telling you that you aren’t allowed to be with Fray in any way. You need to back the fuck off him and give someone allowed to be with him a chance.” Tina glanced down at Len’s body, and then she gave her a false pity look. “He’s only being nice to you because you’re pathetically human.”
Gina snarled from behind Len. “Are you insulting humans, you stupid bitch? Our alpha female is one, and this is her daughter.”
Len opened her arms when Gina tried to step around her again. Gina actually halted, thankfully, since no way did Len believe she could actually stop her otherwise. She wasn’t a Werewolf, but she knew a petty person when she saw one.
She chose her words carefully before speaking. “Fray doesn’t want you, Tina. Get over it. Being a jerk to me won’t change that. He also isn’t just being nice to me. We’ve both been attracted to each other for years. That’s something we’ve discussed. Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ll share that much so you know you have zero chance. Is that clear enough?”
“It’s against our alpha’s laws,” Tina hissed.
“Moe isn’t my alpha. He’s my stepdad. And as you stated yourself, I am human. That means I’m not a Werewolf. Therefore, as far as I’m concerned, I can be with whoever I want. Now stop being petty and accept when a guy isn’t interested. You’re not going to scare or bully me into changing my mind about being with Fray.”
Tina snarled, and her fangs showed. Gina gripped Len’s arm and pushed it down, lunged forward, and grabbed Tina by her neck. In a heartbeat, she had the other Werewolf woman pinned against the nearest wall.
Tina clutched Gina’s wrist in a failed attempt to make her let go. Gina grabbed that hand gripping her wrist and tore it free. That’s when Len realized both had claws coming out of their fingertips. They looked sharp.
“Don’t you ever posture like that at Lenore again,” Gina snarled. “I’ll defang and declaw you if you do. Just because Lenore is now aware of what we are doesn’t change that you never fucking think about touching her.”
“Is there a problem?”
Fray’s deep voice started Len. He entered the room fast, with his father halting at the open doorway. Fray moved to her side.
“No problem,” Gina snarled. “Tina just needed a little instruction since she’s acting like a fucking pup.” She pulled the other Werewolf away from the wall by her throat before slamming her against it once more. It sounded painful. Then she released her and jerked her head. “Get!”
Tina fled—or attempted to. Hawk blocked the door. He was a scary guy, especially since his silver eyes had turned very dark. They weren’t black, but they were close. He made a low rumble noise before he moved aside. Tina whimpered but darted out the door.
Gina spun, and her claws shrank into her fingertips. She scowled at Len. “You and your mother are going to give me gray hairs. Let me handle bitches when they get out of line, okay? Tina was about to claw you. You and your mom believe a conversation can handle a rude bitch, but that’s not how it works in a pack.”
A deep rumbling noise came from the broad chest next to Len. It sounded remarkably just like the sound his father had made. Len turned her head, peering up at Fray. He wasn’t looking at her but instead glaring at the doorway.
“It’s handled,” Gina announced. “She didn’t touch Lenore. There would be a lot of blood, all Tina’s, if she had. She’d be leaving the room without some teeth and the loss of her fingers from the knuckles up.”
Fray turned his head to give Gina a nod. “Thank you.” Then he looked at Len. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She felt a little embarrassed, though. She’d just defended herself verbally against Tina’s bullshit. How that had turned into violence still stunned her a lot and also reminded her that she had a lot to learn. “I might need a damn tattoo,” she muttered.
“No. That would hurt.” Fray reached out and took her hand. “Why a tattoo?”
“It’s kind of a joke about a physical reminder to not do things. Never mind.” She peered up at him. “Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for letting me know.” She squeezed his hand. “Come back to me.”
“I will.” He raised her hand he held and kissed the back of it. “Stay here. Promise.”
“You got it.”
Then Fray looked at Gina.
Gina nodded. “Lenore is safe here. I plan to send Tina to another shelter. I’m tired of her shit. She’s done here. I’ll do that now.” Gina left, keeping a wide berth of Hawk, who remained by the door.
“What was that about?” Hawk crossed his arms over his chest.
Fray said nothing, so Len answered his father. “Tina wants Fray and was being a bitch to me.”
“Tina is a bitch,” Hawk sighed. “Lycan females can be very aggressive when they are interested in a male. Stick close to the lead enforcer’s mate. She’ll keep you safe.” Then he stalked out of the room.
Len sighed, feeling depressed. “He doesn’t like me, does he?”
Fray cupped her face. “Dad does like you. That’s why he gave you solid advice. Stick close to Gina. We’ll deal with this when I get back.”
“It’s not a big deal. Tina thinks you’re hot.” She shrugged. “She’s right. You are.”
The colors of silver and blue rapidly flashed in his eyes. “You’re the one I want.”
“I told Tina that. It’s probably why she wanted to slap me with her claws.”
He smiled. “You be safe.” Then his expression hardened. “If that female comes after you again, tell her that I’ll kill her if she lays one claw on you.”
“I think I might want to buy a stun gun. That will work on a Werewolf, right?”
His lips twitched. “A cattle prod would be more effective. Now I know what to buy you.”
She laughed. “I look forward to it.”
“Only if you never attempt to use it on me.”
“Never.”
“Fray!” That deep voice probably belonged to his father.
“I need to go. Be safe, stay close to Gina, and I’ll be back soon.”
Len hated it when he let her go and turned, walking away. “Watch your ass. I am.”
He chuckled as he left the room, going out of sight. She went back to the prep table and began to make more sandwiches. That was something she was comfortable with and knew how to do.