Chapter 10
“You’re serious about her being your mate?” Joe wanted to know. “That’s not just a convenient label to put on the mother of your child?”
Hank shook his head. “Emma is great, but I came back here originally—before I even knew about Emma—because I could never get Tracy out of my mind.”
“Took you long enough,” Joe grumbled, his wolf growling a bit through his words.
“It did, and for that, I will probably never forgive myself. My only excuse is that I was doing what I thought was right for her, for myself, and for my Clan. I really have been on constant duty for the last two-plus years. My Clan has been in need of my skills, and I wasn’t going to say no when duty called.
But, always in the back of my mind, was this place… and Tracy.”
“How many women have you slept with since leaving her?” Joe asked bluntly.
Hank squirmed. It was one thing to admit this to Tracy, in private. It was quite another to discuss his lack of a love life in the harsh light of day, in the middle of a diner full of nosey werewolves who could probably hear most, if not all, of their conversation.
But…this was for Tracy. Pride had to take a backseat to the need to claim his mate. Hank might feel—and look—like a fool, but at least he’d be an honest fool. And, maybe, everybody would figure out just why he was so grumpy.
Hank took a deep breath then stated the flat truth as quietly as he could manage.
“Not a one. And yes, I know that should’ve been my first clue that I’d left my mate behind here in Texas, but like I said…
stupid. It took coming back here and seeing her again, to realize how completely idiotic I’ve been. ”
Joe’s gaze measured him. A lesser man would have flinched or squirmed under the intensity of the Alpha’s stare, but Hank sat calmly. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but he wouldn’t be cowed by simple dominance games like a stare-down. At length, the Alpha wolf spoke.
“Not a one, eh?” A smile broke over Joe’s face as he shook his head slightly. He looked impressed, if Hank was any judge of the other man’s expression.
Thankfully, the food arrived at that moment, and the conversation halted while plates were sorted out and utensils readied. Joe began to eat, and Hank followed suit.
“In theory, I know that cross-species matings do happen from time to time,” Joe said quietly, after a few minutes spent eating steadily. His tone was reflective. “Can’t say we’ve had much of that here, though, so it’s bound to take some getting used to.”
“That was part of my problem, too. All my life, I thought…if I was ever lucky enough to find a true mate…she’d be a jaguar. Or, at least, some sort of big cat. I never even considered…”
Joe put down his coffee cup and looked at Hank, as if assessing his value, then looked down and shook his head just once, before speaking again.
“I’m not sure what to think about all this, but if my daughter is your mate—and little Emma seems to be the proof of that—then…
I won’t stand in your way.” Joe sighed deeply before continuing.
“I’ll be honest and say my inner wolf isn’t crazy about the idea of a cat for a son-in-law, but if the Mother of All has other ideas, then who am I to say nay? ”
Hank didn’t quite breathe a sigh of relief, but he definitely felt some of his tension ease. With the Alpha of the Pack on his side—or at least, not against him—he would have one less thing to worry about.
“Thank you, Alpha,” Hank replied, with all due respect. Tracy’s dad was the man in charge around here. Maybe he didn’t have quite as much money or international clout as Mark Pepard, but he was still a force to be reckoned with in his own territory. Hank would not forget that.
Hank decided to be as honest as he could be with Joe, since the Alpha seemed to have thought through this situation. Hank told Joe about Mark’s invitation for Tracy and Emma to travel with Hank to Jaguar Island.
“Tracy and Emma are still members of this Pack,” Joe stated, seeming concerned.
“I’m glad to hear you say that, even considering that Emma carries a jaguar spirit,” Hank said patiently, trying to explain as best he could to this man who held such power in this area.
“Tracy and Emma both have a right to know more about my people. Mark doesn’t let just anyone onto our island, but Emma and Tracy will always have clearance to go there.
They are part of the Jaguar Clan, now, too.
Whether they choose to use that connection is strictly up to them, but it remains.
Emma is welcome on the merits of the animal spirit she carries, and Tracy is welcome based on her connection to Emma… and me.”
“I see.” Joe looked pensive and a little less angry than he had when Hank had first mentioned the idea of taking the girls away to visit the island.
“I hope to convince Tracy to make a quick trip. Just a visit, really. I just want her to see the place and let my Alpha meet Emma and recognize her formally. I want to build those connections, so Tracy knows she can always rely on them.” He didn’t say it, but Hank knew Joe was smart enough to realize Hank wanted to make sure Tracy and Emma would know who to go to in the Jaguar Clan in case something should ever happen to Hank.
Life was uncertain. Shifters knew that hard lesson better than most. Although Hank didn’t plan on dying anytime soon, his fate—as always—was in the hands of the Mother of All.
If something happened, Hank wanted to be sure Tracy knew she had alternatives to the Pack of her youth.
He wanted to be certain Emma would have the chance to be a jaguar.
To learn from other jaguars and grow up with jaguar friends.
That was something that was only available on Jaguar Island, now that Mark was gathering all the jaguars together.
Joe sat back and gave Hank a measuring look.
“I can see where that’s important to Emma’s future, in particular, and I like that you’re thinking of my daughter’s and granddaughter’s safety.
They are, and always will be, part of Big Wolf Pack, but even I can see the advantages of affiliation with an Alpha of Pepard’s stature.
” Joe seemed to relax a fraction. “I’ll support your efforts to get her to visit, but I’m not prepared to have either Tracy or Emma stay on that island permanently.
I want your assurance that, if they go, they have the freedom to leave any time they want. ”
“You have my promise, of course,” Hank was quick to reply.
“I would never keep either of them against their will. I’ll fly them out myself anytime Tracy wants.
It’s all up to her. But I’ll go one further for you.
I’ll have Mark give you a call—Alpha to Alpha—so you can be reassured of their safety and freedom to come and go. ”
“You’re on a first name basis with Pepard? He’ll do that kind of favor for you?” Joe asked, seeming a bit skeptical.
Hank nodded slowly. “Mark and I go way back. I’m a troubleshooter for the Clan, and I have the Alpha’s confidence, his permission to negotiate on behalf of the Clan in certain matters, and his friendship. I’ll set up the call.”
Joe seemed to think about that for a moment, then nodded. “Have him call me before you leave, if Tracy agrees to go with you. Otherwise, I’m prepared to trust your word…for now.”
They spent the next few minutes discussing strategy, and Joe proved to be a good accomplice.
Tracy wasn’t sure why she invited Hank to dinner again, later that day.
He came into the restaurant for lunch, and she immediately sensed his presence.
When she walked into the dining area from the back, she noted the hushed way her Pack mates were watching the lone cat in the room as he ordered his food and handed the menu back to the teenager who was waitressing in his section.
Young Millie seemed flustered and barely squeaked when she spoke to the jaguar.
Tracy chuckled as the girl went on her way with Hank’s order, and Tracy decided, right there, to take the bull by the horns.
She very deliberately walked calmly over to his table and sat down opposite him, daring her Pack mates to take exception. None did.
She wasn’t the daughter of an Alpha for nothing.
Since becoming a mom, Tracy had found her own deeply rooted power.
She’d become aware of her place in the Pack—and it wasn’t low.
Tracy was a powerful woman, and if she’d had political aspirations, the wolves currently in leadership positions would’ve had to be wary.
As it was, she was more interested in protecting her child, and the children of the Pack.
She spoke to her father and his lieutenants on issues the Pack faced with their kids.
She’d become a bit of a spokesperson for the other moms in the Pack.
She hadn’t quite expected that result, but she couldn’t say she was displeased with it.
As a result of her work for the moms and kids in the Pack, she’d gained respect, not only from the mothers and children, but also their mates.
Her status within the Pack had risen, and Tracy felt the rightness of her role as an advocate for those who were weaker than herself.
She liked helping people—especially those too little to speak for themselves, or too timid because of their submissive nature.
Tracy wasn’t at all submissive or weak—a fact Hank seemed to already comprehend, much to her satisfaction.
Her inner wolf had always liked the way he treated her, not like some hothouse flower, but more as an equal.
Even if the wolf didn’t quite understand his feline intellect, it respected his power.
For there was no doubt that Hank had an Alpha presence.