More? I suggested. Smart, well-bred?
Not a half-breed coyote, she snapped. Her wolf was in her eyes, and her voice was raw. Not a stupid mechanic or a freaking fireman. There isnt even a proper word for what I am. Fireman. He needs someone soft, someone feminine.
He deserves so much, I said slowly. I had her, even though it made me sick. Coyotes arent cats; we dont play with our prey. I think he deserves a pack who has his back.
I have his back, she said. I couldnt see her hands. Through all this shed held to parade rest, and her hands were hidden behind her back. From the flex of her biceps I would bet that they were clenched in fists, and her voice wasnt as hard and certain as she meant it to be. But her words told me what Id been watching for, told me that she hadnt wanted him dead. That made the rest of this both harder and easier. Harder because she was going to be hurting even more before this was overeasier because she would survive it.
You have his back, do you? I kept my voice soft, my body relaxed. Funny, I could have sworn that you just set him up to be killed.
I got him out, she said. I ran in after him with Darryl and pulled him out.
Not soon enough, Mary Jo, I said. He could have easily died in there. I had to take a breath so I could maintain my relaxed posture. He could have died. But I had to keep up the momentum, make her listen to me, make her listen to herself.
Who was it that was out there with you? I asked coolly. Ben says whoever it was, he has to be more dominant than you. It wasnt Warren or Darryl. Ben would have noticed if Darryl hadnt been at the meeting. Hed have said something to me because if it was Darryl who was running the show, it would have been too dangerous to hold his tongue. The same was true of Auriele.
How does the pack run from there? I watched her sweat. Ben was right that it was someone higher up. She was expecting me to name him soon, so not too far down the pack hierarchy. Auriele. It wasnt her either, was it? She likes Adam. Shed never send him into a burning building to rescue someone who wasnt there.
She stiffened at the dig.
Then there is Paul. That got herwasnt that interesting? But I knew better. It wasnt him, though. Adam doesnt trust Paul at his back. Hed have kept him right here through the whole pack meeting. Paul had been my pick for the jerk whod influenced me at the bowling alley before Id understood how angry Mary Jo was. Hed probably been Adams pick, too. Paul was still angry about losing a fight to Warren, and hed put the blame on Adam for that. Like Ben, Paul was a bitter and difficult person who didnt like many people. Mary Jo was one he did like, her and her boyfriend, Henry.
I watched her face closely. She was worried Id guess. Not Paul, then who? Further down the ranks things could get murky to an outsider as I had been and really still was. I ran the wolves I knew well through my head, then stopped. Henry? He was a nice guy. Smart and quick. A banker, I thought, but I wasnt sure, something with finances. He would neverHmm. Never was an awfully strong word.
I wondered how Henry felt about Mary Jos crush on Adam.
Henry, I said experimentally and watched her face whiten. Maybe she didnt know how much she was telling me without opening her mouth at all. Henry was out with you last night. Henry told you to leave the fae alone when they set my house on fire.
Jesses door opened, and Adam came in and shut it gently behind him. He was obviously stiff, and, from the set of his jaw and the tightness of the skin around his eyes, he was in pain as well. If I could see it, he was hurting a lot more than he showed. And the Alpha didnt show weakness if he could help it.
He was dressed only in a pair of gi bottoms that ended mid-calf, leaving the weepy wounds on his feet clearly visible. Oh, there were other bits in rough shape, but next to his feet, nothing looked all that bad.
I heard your voice, he told me, pulling my eyes away from his feet and up to his face. So I pressed my ear to the door, and even with the noise my daughter calls music blaring, I overheard what you said, Mercy. He looked at Mary Jo, who had turned around to face him and lost her formal parade-rest stance. She just stood there, looking vulnerable.
Had it been Samuel standing there, Id have worried that he would be too soft on her. But Adam didnt really see women as the weaker sex, and he knew how to organize and how to recognize organization when he saw it.
His unreadable face was focused on Mary Jo. So Henry was there when the fae set Mercys house on fire. And here I thought you were out there alone. Because I knew Henry was in the house when I had plainly told him to back you up last night. Doubtless if I asked him, hed tell me that he thought I only meant for him to be there while the meeting was going on . . . or hed come up with some other explanation.
Henry was the one to tell you my house was on fire, wasnt he? I said. Like Adam, I was watching Mary Jo. I couldnt see her face, but her shoulders tightened. A friend of mine from college, a drama major, told me that the shoulders are the most expressive part of the body. I had to agree with him. She was almost to the point of seeing the big picture, because she expected Adam to say yes.
I see youve followed this to its logical conclusion, Mercy, he told me, but his eyes were on Mary Jo. I wonder if shes seen it yetor if shes part of it.
Henry ran in and got you out to the trailer before anyone else came out of the house? Mary Jos voice was stark, but she wasnt arguing.
Thats right, Adam agreed. More or less. He wandered into the kitchen. Before I could ask him why he wasnt out watching Mercy, he looked out the window, and said, Whats that? Is that a fire? My God, the house is on fire.
He knew, Mary Jo said uncertainly. He saw them start it. He wouldnt let me confront them because he was afraid Id get hurt. He said Mercy and Sam were gone, what was the harm if the upstart coyotes house went up in flames? She deserved a little hurt because of all the pain shed caused.
Mary Jo looked at Adam. He meant to me. He was really angry about how the vampires had attacked us . . . how I was hurt because they were trying to get to Mercy. He wanted to get back at Mercy.
He could care less about me, I told her. His girlfriend didnt like me better than she liked him. Henry was interested in Adam. He saw an opportunity to get back at Adam, and he jumped at it. I looked at Adam. The next time you leap into a burning building after me, youd better make damned sure Im in there. And wear your shoes, damn it. I looked at his feet again. Youre leaking nasty burn ooze on the carpet.
He smiled. I love you, too, sweetheart. And thanks to the time you bled all over it, I now know a place that can clean almost anything off the carpet.
He wanted Adam hurt, I told Mary Jo. Because if hes hurt, then hes vulnerable. An Alpha can be challenged at any time. Since Adam is hurt, usually he could put it off without anyone complaining, especially since the Marrok doesnt allow fights for an Alpha position without his consent. But the pack is I looked at Adam. Sorry, I know its my fault. But the pack is broken. Adam cant put this offnot when the pack is in this much turmoil. If he does, hes liable to have worse than a formal fight on his handshell have a rebellion.
See, I grew up in a werewolf pack. I know the dangers. Not even fear of the Marrok can completely control the nature of the pack. Thats why an Alpha will do anything in his power to hide his weakness in front of the pack.
Henry challenged you? Mary Jos voice was shocked. The Marrok will kill him, if you dont manage it first.
Almost right, said Adam. Paul is actually the one who challenged me. Climbed in the window of the bedroom about four minutes ago and challenged me in front of Ben, Alec, and Henry. Henry having volunteered to drive Ben to pick up some clothes for Mercy because Bens hands are still too sore for him to drive easily and suggested Alec tag along.
He paused, and said heavily, Henry is helpful like that.
Mary Jo nodded. And Alec is known as a neutral party. Not one of your biggest fans, but not one of the hotheads either.
Adam continued in a gentler voice. They must have had some signal so that he and Paul appeared in my bedroom at virtually the same moment when neither Warren nor Darryl was there to interfere. Ben and Henry witnessed the challenge. Henry was appalled that Paul would challenge me when I was hurt.
They set you up, said Mary Jo numbly. They used me to set you up.
Thats what I was trying to tell you, I said, then added a question casually. Was it just you and Henry at the bowling alley, or did Paul help, too?
She nodded, not even noticing all the assumptions Id made because she was too distracted by the realization that things might not have been as shed thought they were. Paul, Henry, and I. Paul suggested it to me. Cant have a coyote second in rank in a respectable pack.Mary Jo looked at Adam. He said she wasnt good enough for youand I agreed. Henry was pretty reluctant. I had to talk him into it. He set me up, didnt he? Both of them set me up.
I felt sorry for her. But Id felt more sorry for her before Id found out that the wolf whod challenged Adam was Paul. Henry was a good fighterId seen him play fight a time or twobut he wasnt a tithe on Paul. Paul . . . Normally I wouldnt worry about Paul taking Adam either, but normally Adams feet werent oozing goo on the carpet, and his hands werent swollen and raw.
That was why I wasnt sorry enough for Mary Jo that Id let her escape blame by pointing her finger at the other two.
The bowling alley was you, I said. Oh, Paul wouldnt cry if Adam and I broke upbut he wants to get rid of Adam more than he wants to get rid of me. Henry . . . Maybe that was the straw that broke the camels back for Henryyoud know better than I. Was that the first time he realized how much you wanted Adam?
Adam jerked his head toward me. I guess he hadnt noticed how Mary Jo felt.
Paul, began Mary Jo. Then she stopped. Closed her eyes and shook her head. Not Paul. She gave Adam a wry smile. Paul is tough, and hes not stupidbut hes not a planner. Hed never have figured out how to force you to accept a challenge before you were ready. Shes right. Its Henry. What can I do?
Not a darn thing, he said. Just be smarter next time.
Whens the fight? I asked, trying to be cool, trying to be a good coyote who lets her mate go out and fight a duel to the death when it hurts him to walk. I had to do it, because sobbing and fussing wouldnt change anything except make his job harder. If he refused the challenge, Paul would be Alphaand if I knew Paul, his first act would be to kill Adam. Henry was hoping so, anyway.
And the reason it was Paul who challenged and not Henry was because as soon as the Marrok heard about thisPaul was a dead man. And that would leave Darryl in charge of the pack with Warren as his second. The pack would not tolerate having a gay man in the second position because if something happened to Darryl, Warren would run the pack. So Warren would be killed or be moved by Branleaving Henry as the second in the pack.
Of course, Adam would have to lose to Paul for that to happen. I felt sick.
Adam looked at Jesses clock, which read 9:15. Fifteen minutes from now in the dojo, he said. Would you go down and let Darryl and Warren know theyll be wanted for witnesses? I think Ill go lie down for another ten minutes. He was in the hallway when he said, If I survive, Mary Jo, well have to come up with a suitable reparation for the bowling alley. You ruined a very promising evening, and I wont forget about it.
* * *
YOUR FOOD IS COLD, GROWLED DARRYL, AS I ENTERED the kitchen. I hope your business was important.
Jesse was still there, drying, while Auriele washed. There was no saving this, not if Paul specified the fight be hereno chance of talking Jesse into waiting this one out somewhere safe; she was too much her fathers daughter.
Pauls challenged Adam, I told them. Fifteen minutes from now in the dojo in the garage.
Darryl whirled around with a growl, and Auriele stepped between him and Jesse, though I dont think Jesse realized it because she was staring at me.
How did he get to Adam? said Auriele. Who was supposed to be watching him?
Me, I said after a stunned moment. I guess that would be me.
No, said Auriele. That would have been Samuel. Ben said he left Adam with Samuel and you.
Samuels not pack, growled Darryl, eyes light gold in the darkness of his face.
Sam wasnt Samuel, I thought. In the normal course of things Samuel would have kept that challenge from happening. I wondered if Paul or Henry had realized that. Probably not.
My fault, I said.
No. Id left Mary Jo in Jesses room, but she must have followed me down. Not your fault, Mary Jo said. Maybe Warren or Darryl could have stopped Paul, but Henry was very careful to make sure they werent there. She gave me an inscrutable look that would have done credit to Darryl, inscrutable but not overtly hostile. They wouldnt have thought Samuel would interfere. They think of him as a lone wolf, not as Adams friend.
The look, I realized, was to let me know that she wouldnt tell them about Samuel unless I did.
Henry? Darryl was shocked into dropping his anger. Henry?
Mary Jo lifted her chin. He planned it. She looked at me, then away. He wants Adam dead and is using Paul . . . used me, too, in order to accomplish it.
Is that what they told you? Henry himself came into the kitchen. He was a compact man, a little taller than me, with a quick smile and hazel eyes that could look either gray or gold rather than the more usual brown and green. He wore his hair in a conservative cut and almost certainly shaved with a regular razor rather than an electric because an electric never produces quite the same well-groomed look. Mary Jo
Inconvenient, I murmured. Not being able to lie to another werewolf.
If Mary Jo hadnt stepped in front of me, hed have hit me. She took the hit for me and it knocked her into the center island. The granite top broke loose under the impact and slidJesse caught the granite slab before it overbalanced and fell on the floor, shoving it back on its base. If hed hit me that hard, I wouldnt have gotten up the way Mary Jo didand she was holding her ribs.