Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

T he sound of Ross's phone interrupted a weird dream of him surrounded by baby wolves and wolfy Dylan wearing an apron with Little Red Riding Hood on it, insisting the pups were his and he needed to step up and be a daddy.

The phone stopped and started again. To his relief Ross realized the pups were just a dream. He fumbled for his phone on the nightstand although Dylan was plastered to his front, so it wasn't an easy thing to do. He'd discovered his mate was a first class snuggler and didn't believe in personal space in bed. As Ross preferred to spread out in bed, it was taking some adjustment.

"Ross."

"The shifter doctor is here," Eli said. "Get over here."

And just like that, the tension slammed back into his mate. Dylan had clearly heard Eli's order.

Ross ran a soothing hand down Dylan's back. "We'll be there soon."

"Zeke is on his way to collect you, and Cal's made breakfast." Then Eli disconnected the phone.

In other words, Ross couldn't find any reason to delay their journey over to the ranch house.

"If he expects me to make a run for it, he should remember I've got four paws," Dylan grumbled, untangling himself and sitting up.

"He knows. He's just making a point."

Ross flopped back on the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure how nervous he was about this doctor arriving on the ranch. It was more than just his mate. The doc was part of Wild Creek pack, Cal and Owen's former pack, and as Owen had been exiled, the new alpha of Wild Creek was always pontificating some pack rule bullshit about Owen being killed for showing his face again. Joe had told them to take that rule and stuff it where the sun don't shine more than once, but it still rumbled on.

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Pontificating?"

"Seriously? You heard that?" Ross had just been musing.

"I did."

"We're going to have to talk about this. I have private thoughts too."

Dylan pursed his lips. "You're right. But you're so loud in my head. Maybe we could ask the doc about that." He grinned as Ross huffed. "Never mind, little cub."

Ross growled and flipped Dylan so that he was the one on the mattress and Ross straddled him.

"Nice move," Dylan said, somewhat breathlessly, his eyes wide.

To be honest, Ross hadn't been sure that would work. He knew Dylan was stronger than him. All the wolves were stronger than their human partners.

"Except for Joe Senior and Peter."

"Peter's not human," Ross pointed out.

"That wolf is the strongest wolf I've ever met," Dylan agreed. "Why didn't he form his own pack?"

"Not everyone wants to take over the world."

"Ross? Dylan?"

Ross grimaced as Zeke interrupted them. He thought they'd have longer than five minutes.

Dylan's mouth curved into a rueful smile. "Time to face the world, my mate."

"Kinda jealous I don't have four paws of my own to run away," Ross said. "Coming, Zeke. Did you bring coffee?"

"I'll make it. Get moving or Eli will send in the Cavalry."

"Ha ha." Ross sighed and sat up. "You can't have baby wolves, can you?"

Dylan froze, halfway out of the bed. He turned to stare at Ross. "What?"

"Don't worry about it. It was just a dream. You told me all the baby wolves were my children."

"I don't think biology has changed that much, Ross. Even for shifters," Dylan said dryly.

"You never know though. Maybe it will be possible in the future."

Dylan pulled on briefs and a pair of dark blue jeans. "Would you like to have kids?"

"I never really expected to meet someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and now I have, having children seems more real, you know?"

"Even with us both being guys?"

Ross tugged on an undershirt. "I never wanted to be with a woman."

"Me neither…I think."

"If you guys don't get in here, I'm coming to get you," Zeke yelled.

"Geez." Dylan scowled at the door. "Is it always like this?"

"Don't you remember?" Ross teased.

"Somehow I erased that from my memory."

Ross chuckled. "Come on. He will be in here if we don't move."

He grabbed a pair of socks and headed for the door. Dylan followed behind him, grumbling all the while.

Zeke raised one eyebrow. "You trying for his and his clothes? Do you have matching sweaters?"

Ross glanced at Dylan. "This is Cal's doing, isn't it?"

They were both dressed in identical green flannel shirts. He hadn't even noticed. He did notice now that the green stripe matched Dylan's eyes.

Dylan shrugged. "I don't care if you don't. Is the coffee made yet?"

Zeke pointed at two travel cups. "No time to drink it here. Eli's already called twice."

"That man is really getting on my last nerve," Dylan muttered.

"Welcome to our world," Zeke agreed, and Ross nodded.

Five minutes later they were on their way back to the road. Ross took a long swallow of almost too hot coffee. He'd claimed shotgun. Dylan looked surprised but took the back seat. Ross couldn't explain why he'd done it. He guessed he just needed some normal in his life and he always sat next to Zeke.

I know you can hear all this. There was no point trying to hide it from his mate.

I can. You can have your freakout in peace.

To his relief, Dylan sounded amused, not angry.

I won't do it again.

Don't make promises you can't keep. It's cool.

"How's Owen?" Ross asked Zeke, needing to change the subject. "I'm surprised you're away from him considering the circumstances."

"He's locked in talks with Wild Creek pack."

"Already?"

"They don't keep office hours." Zeke sounded unimpressed. "Peter and Joe Senior are protecting him. I wanted to stay but this is a wolf thing. I get it." His tone suggested he really didn't get it.

"It doesn't make it any easier to accept," Ross said with a sigh.

"No. But no shifter is gonna mess with Peter and Joe Senior. At least that's what Owen told me, to get me to agree."

"I admire you guys for being a mixed pack," Dylan said from the back. "Shifters don't like mixed couples."

"Oh, we know," Zeke said wryly. "The only reason they put up with us is because they want us to take out the hunters. The humans are good enough for that."

Ross agreed with him. This all started from Joe asking Eli for help. The world wouldn't know about the atrocities being perpetrated on shifters if it wasn't for one human making a phone call. They weren't saviors but they sure as hell didn't deserve to be treated as cannon fodder.

"You have to understand, it's been hard for shifters." Dylan sounded resigned. "We either stay within our packs like Cal did or walk between two worlds where we must hide who we are. If we come out of the shifter closet, we're hunted or dissected."

"I get it, but it doesn't make it any easier to leave my mate in the company of a wolf who thinks he should be killed."

"Is that what the doc said?" Dylan asked.

"No. That came from the new alpha, Cal's brother. And the worst thing is, I can't protect my mate from these assholes. Me."

The big, strong, tough, silent and scary man felt as weak as the rest of them. Ross knew just how he felt.

Dylan leaned forward and squeezed Zeke's shoulder. "It's not always about being tough. Sometimes it's about being his home."

"You think that's how Owen sees me?" Zeke's voice softened a fraction.

"You know he does. You've given him the one thing he didn't have, a home."

"Do you think it's the same for the other wolves?" Ross asked, looking over his shoulder at his mate.

"Cal got to be who he really is, thanks to his mate. Milo stepped out of the shadows to be himself, which is hysterical considering he's with the most alpha human possible."

"And you?" Zeke asked.

Dylan gave Ross a smile that made his toes curl. "I saw a beacon in the darkness. Someone calling to me. I was lost."

"And now you're found." Ross didn't know how he'd become a beacon, but he was more than happy to be Dylan's.

I was so alone.

Ross had an image in his head of the darkness lit by a solitary flaming beacon.

You don't have to be alone again.

He was so busy staring into Dylan's eyes, he tipped his cup to take a swallow of coffee, missed his mouth somehow and ended up with coffee down his chin and running down his neck. Dylan curled up in a ball of laughter.

"Classy," Zeke said and handed him tissue.

Ross mopped up the coffee and sighed. He was never going to be suave and sophisticated.

Dylan squeezed his shoulder. No, but you're mine and that's all I need.

That was all Ross needed too.

It was quiet in the kitchen of Sapphire Ranch, but Joe appeared as Dylan shut the door.

"Morning, Cal's dealing with the critters while I was busy. He made me promise I would feed you."

"I can do it if you're busy," Ross suggested.

"Would you mind?" Joe looked grateful. "I've got a problem with a delivery. Eli and Niles are dealing with a Cavalry issue. I think they've gone into town and then are heading for the office."

Ross would have preferred a heads up, but it wasn't like the office was their home and he hadn't left anything out to do with the case because there wasn't anything to hide.

"I can deal with your delivery problem if you want," Zeke suggested and cracked his knuckles.

Joe rolled his eyes. "If I let you anywhere near them, they'd never deliver to me again. The critters have got to eat."

Ross chuckled. "Come help me, big man."

"Why isn't Cal in with Owen?" Dylan demanded. "He's part of the alpha pair."

"They won't deal with Cal. Believe me, it's not our choice."

Ross looked at his mate. He could almost feel Dylan vibrating with anger.

"Alpha, we need to talk. Pack business. Now. Let Ross deal with your delivery issue. We need Zeke."

Joe huffed out a breath. "I've just been disrespected, haven't I?"

"You both have." It was Dylan's turn to crack his knuckles. "Get your mate back, alpha. It's time we dealt with it. Zeke, be prepared for a very angry mate."

"My favorite kind," Zeke assured him.

"Okay." Dylan shot them all a wicked grin and rubbed his hands. "Let's put the visiting pack in their place."

"They'll never speak to me again," Joe muttered.

"Do you care?" Ross asked.

Joe gave a slow blink. "You know what? I don't think I do." He seemed to zone out for a second. "Cal is on his way back. Eli, Niles, Milo too."

Cal must have gone superwolf speed because he burst through the kitchen door five minutes later, naked, filthy, and demanding to know what was wrong.

"Dylan's just pointed out I need to step up," Joe said, throwing him clothes. Ross noticed with amusement it was the same green flannel shirt as he and Dylan wore. "Get dressed, alpha mate. We've got a packmate to rescue."

Cal gave him the same wolfy grin that Dylan had. "You're on!"

When he was dressed, Joe regarded them, his expression somber. "We're all going in, including Ross. We're pack."

Ross had already decided he was going in anyway to protect his mate and pack. He wasn't letting his mate step into potential danger without him. The delivery issue could be sorted later. He felt a warm wave roll from his mate.

I always want you by my side.

He smiled at Dylan. That was the right answer.

Joe took a deep breath. Let's go.

Everyone, human and wolf, turned to stare at him.

He squinted at them. "What's wrong?"

"You just sent an alpha instruction to the pack," Dylan pointed out. "We all heard it."

Joe shrugged. "I'm tired of being the play alpha to suit whatever crisis is happening. I'm either the alpha or I'm not."

Cal nudged him. "About time."

Ross grinned inwardly and tried sending a message to Zeke. And how freaked is Niles going to be when he realizes he got the alpha order too?

Zeke snorted out a laugh.

I heard that, Niles said sourly.

We all did, Dylan pointed out. We'll work on that.

Ross's cheeks flamed at the faux pas, but he still thought it was funny.