“Speaking of bears, that’s why I’m calling. Dawson is overrun with them. You know anything about what’s happening?”
Evan chuckled. “I know everything, man. It’s politics. Every so many years—and no one seems to know exactly how many—the bears meet to redistribute territory and such. Their hierarchy is way more formal than the way we wolves do things. They vote and shit.”
No way. “Like, no beating each other up or ripping out throats for leadership? They vote on bits of paper and that decides the leaders?”
“Barbaric, isn’t it?”
“Totally.” They both laughed hysterically for a moment. Shaun took a deep breath. This stopping-being-Peter-Pan was tough. “Okay, level with me. If I suggested to the Dawson pack Takhini’s got their back, would you agree or should I start running for Siberia?”
Dead silence greeted him. “Shaun, did I just hear you make a considered, grown-up suggestion all on your own?”
“Fuck you.”
“Not really interested in swinging that way, darling. You should be getting enough from Gem—oh, wait a minute. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You trying to impress your new lady?”
His Alpha was far too close to the mark. Shaun resumed pacing the boardwalk. “I repeat, fuck you.”
Evan laughed at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be guiding your mate somewhere into the bush for the next couple weeks? Is this like last fall when you caused all kinds of mischief and then took off?”
Shaun growled. “Hardly. Last year I purposely hid so you couldn’t order me to tell you where I’d taken my friends for a little private R&R. This go-round I have to leave, which is why I suggested Takhini as a backup, not just me.”
“So last year you flaunted my authority, this time you’re asking for permission?”
The answer stuck in his throat. “Argh. Um, maybe.”
Evan crowed. “Sweet. You beg so well…” Shaun opened his mouth, “…and don’t bother to tell me to fuck anything.”
Bastard.
His Alpha continued, all humour and joking vanished. “Here’s the deal. Tell them we’re available if they need us. I’ve got three other outlying packs that owe me favours. If trouble arises, Dawson can call. Rumor is the first stages of the bears’ meetings are in Dawson City. Second set might move our direction. I hope the northern packs will reciprocate if we need a hand.”
Shaun nodded. “Makes sense. I’ll drop in on them this morning.”
“Last thing. This has to stay quiet. Remind Dawson of that as well. Keep an eye on what’s happening with the bears, but any wolf alliances are to remain hush-hush. Bears are usually reasonable creatures, but if they think they’re about to be overrun by pack, things could get out of hand.”
That made sense. Shaun scratched his head. “How come I didn’t know any of this? Did the meetings and shit just start in the last couple days?”
Again, silence for a moment. “Nah. There’s been signs for a while. You’ve had things on your mind.”
Shaun swore. That was bullshit, and they both knew it.
The light laughter on the other end of the line was both annoying and reassuring, it was so Evan. “Look. You have a good idea here. Roll with it. Forget the past and move forward. Oh, and have a great time with Gem, okay? Shit. Gotta run. The screw-ups are back, and I have to go put the fear of their Alpha into them. Call me if you need anything.”
Shaun hung up, feeling slightly dirty. This following-the-rules thing wasn’t…normal.
The scent of unwashed bodies struck him with the force of a brick wall. There were times having enhanced smelling ability sucked. The solid pack of people milling in front of the bar doors and blocking his path didn’t budge as he shouldered through.
He sidestepped a familiar-looking dark-haired brute already teetering drunkenly at barely noon. It was the biggest of the bears Shaun had thrown out of the Moonshine Pub only a few days ago. Obviously even the lowest class of bear was involved in these talks.
Shaun glanced down the street and considered. If he was going to be all self-sacrificing and shit, he may as well start right now. Armed with Evan’s permission—gag—Shaun turned toward the Dawson pack house.
One final concern hit as he marched toward his goal. Potential shifter wars were nothing he wanted Gem to worry about. As if crazed politics were a selling feature that would entice her to settle in the north. No, he’d have to find some way to do what he needed to without letting her know he was potentially knee deep in trouble. Situation normal, all fucked up.
She shouldn’t be upset. He hadn’t done anything wrong.
Had he?
Gem tried to remember the specific details of what they’d talked about right before she left the breakfast table.
Her stomach grumbled for the fifteenth time in the past half hour.
“Fudge.”
She opened the curtain and stared into the street. It was nearly six. She hadn’t gone downstairs to grab lunch, thinking Shaun would return at any minute. There had to be a mistake. He couldn’t have meant to leave her alone all day. Or…had he said he’d see her at supper?
Her phone rang, and she stared at the display with rising frustration. Her father. Again.
She clicked off the ringer and threw the phone on the bed.
It bounced a foot.
The small act of violence was so satisfying, she moved without thinking. Picked up the phone, stepped back a couple additional paces. Cocked her arm and flung her cell harder than previously. It bounced higher.
Not enough. She grabbed it again, raced across the room, her back to the door and took a couple of running steps. This time when she let go, she spat out the word even louder.
“Fudge!”
The phone bounced, hit the edge of the lamp, ricocheted sideways and crashed into the garbage can. Both tipped in opposite directions, and she watched in horror as they landed, the can softly, the lamp with a terrifying crash.
“That was interesting.”
Gem twirled, covering her heated cheeks as she stared into Shaun’s laughing eyes.
“I, um…”
“Didn’t like the décor?”
There really was something happening in this northern air. Her hands shook in aggravation as she moved to clean up the mess. “I’m sorry, I don’t usually do things like that.”
Shaun was at her side, grabbing the garbage can and holding it for her. “Hey, I don’t mind. If I’m not on the receiving end of the throwing, it’s kinda fun to watch.”
She dropped another shard of pottery into the can. Great. Now she was back to entertaining people. Gem clamped her teeth together and concentrated on moving the lampshade from where it lay tangled around the side table.
He caught her wrist and held her immobile. “Hey.”
Gem sighed as she examined his face.
There was no longer amusement there. “I wasn’t trying to insult you. I think what I said came out wrong. You okay? Why are you throwing things in the first place?”
An ache pulsed inside. “My father.”
Shaun lifted her off her knees and took her to the couch. “I thought you got along with your old man.”
“I do, except for him forgetting that I’m not a baby, and that I’d like to have some control over my own life.”
Shaun leaned back, keeping her hands in his. “Did you call him?”
She shook her head. Layers of guilt, deep and colourful, had made her almost break her promise to herself and contact him. “He doesn’t know.”