19. Chapter Nineteen

When I woke up, I wasn't alone in the room. Stacy was snoring softly on her cot, something that wasn't normal for me, but oddly comforting. They trusted me to stay alone in the room with a human teenager. It was an honor, and also made sense, considering I was there because I wanted to save a human girl.

Sitting up, I rubbed my face and considered my last twenty-four hours. I went from dead werecat who lost her charge to honored guest of a werewolf pack. I was embroiled in a civil war, trying to get said charge out of it.

I was a long way from the simple bar owner life I had moved to Texas for. I wanted to get away from the supernatural nonsense that I had woken up to ten years ago, not get deeper into it.

I got up and found my bags in the room, pulling out clean clothes. I had no hope for a shower, but I grabbed my first aid kit from my gym bag next so I could, at the very least, clean my wounds. Pulling my old shirt off, I looked over the different holes in my body. My muscles were knitting back together nicely, and the stitches Brin had given me were well done.

I was halfway done when the door opened behind me.

"Oh shit," someone said in a hushed whisper.

I looked over my shoulder to find Heath and Shamus. Heath stepped around his advisor and frowned. "You showed me a few of those in the Explorer, but I didn't…" He was still frowning as he stepped closer. As his hand came up, I turned around fully, letting him see the damage in all its glory.

I wasn't one to worry about nudity, but I was happy I had kept on my sports bra while changing. His fingers grazed over one of the gunshots in my shoulder, then gently pushed me to show him my back again.

"There's some faint pinkness back here. Claws?"

"I had a wolf or two jump on my back during the first attack," I explained. "They should be pretty healed by now. I received an unexpected gift from a bystander." I shrugged aimlessly. "It is what it is."

"All of this to protect my daughter," he whispered. "I don't think I can truly say it enough. Thank you."

"It's fine." It wasn't, but neither was it really his fault. It was the system and the traitors. The system demanded I lay my life down at the feet of the one who called me to Duty. The traitors were the ones who broke the Law, challenged my protection, and did the damage. It wasn't a place I thought I would ever find myself, but it was a position I was willing to live with.

And see through to the end.

"Any news?" I asked, trying to change the topic.

"Were you cleaning these?" he asked. "Let me help."

"I've got it. Tell me if there's been any change," I demanded, stepping away from him.

"Feline, it"s in your best interest to let an Alpha help. You've done a great service to the pack, and as a father…" Shamus looked over to Stacy. "Just let him."

I narrowed my eyes at the advisor, but sat down on my cot without any more argument. Heath grabbed my kit as the other wolf left the room. I could hear him distantly calling for hot water and clean bandages.

"I don't need to be wrapped up," I said. "I can't Change if I'm covered like a mummy."

"Your thigh should be wrapped. That will fall away naturally when you Change. I would never wrap your abdomen," he said softly. "One of these is already scarred." His fingers grazed my shoulder blade where the first silver bullet had hit me.

"Like I said, I received an unexpected gift from a bystander. Someone who understands the importance of werecats succeeding." I pursed my lips, trying not to say any more.

"You didn't appreciate the gift. I'm going to make a guess and say some fae shoved his or her nose where it didn't belong."

"He has a human wife. He felt it was his personal duty to make sure the reputation that werecats can protect humans is protected." I rolled my eyes, trying to smirk. I needed to lighten the mood, because Heath's grey-blue eyes were too severe for me. They were intense and I didn't want to buckle under the weight of the power in his gaze.

"Yeah, that's fae," he said, his voice betraying a humor that his face didn't. "So, he healed you."

"Yeah. It's a tale, but Carey never knew what he was and none of us told her, so I didn't think to mention it to you." I didn't want to mention it to you. I changed the subject back to the scar. "That one I got in my bar, not even twenty-four hours after she showed up. I was in werecat form and she…ended up having to pull the bullet out of me."

He froze, his eyes going wide. "My daughter…had to treat your wounds?"

"It was silver. I couldn't Change back and there was no one I could call," I explained.

"God damn it." That made him lean over, groaning. Again, I saw the immensely worried father and not the steel-spined Alpha. "How did she do?"

"Well enough for an eleven-year-old digging around in my shoulder with tongs." I was able to summon a weak smile. "You remind me of each other."

"She got my eyes," he said, going back to cleaning the stitched gun shot on my gut.

"More than that. You both have steel in you that the world can see, but then you have these…flashes of vulnerability. Well, maybe that's not the right word for it. You cope and hide things until something reminds you of it, and then it shows up for just a second, whatever you're feeling underneath those defenses." I sighed. "There were moments where I could get her to smile and laugh, playing video games and keeping her busy, unable to dwell on everything going on. Then something…we would get talking and the tears would come. They would end soon enough, but I had to always remember that a fragile, scared girl was hiding underneath a veneer of strength. Her daddy taught her to be strong, and she knew how wolf packs worked. It didn't make it hurt less."

He blatantly stared at me, sorrowful eyes boring into my damn soul. "I couldn't let her grow up ignorant to the world her brothers and I are a part of."

"Of course not," I agreed. "Tell me about your sons while we're here, if you refuse to give me an update on what's going on. I want to hear about the brothers who always cheated to beat her in video games."

Heath laughed roughly, nodding. "They're both old wolves as well, so modern technology…we don't always get along. She's got great hand-eye coordination on top of it. She beats all of us. The boys tickle her to cheat."

"Oh, I heard. I finally gave up trying to beat her and did the same thing."

He continued to laugh. "Ah…Richard. He's my oldest, I think I've told you. My son from when I was still human. He's been a constant companion and family since the day he was born. Except for when I was fighting for America's freedom."

"A real patriot, aren't you?" I chuckled.

"I like to think I was one of the first," he said, the smile sticking now. I was grateful, because I didn't want any more of that damn intense stare. "Landon was born during the Civil War. Here's a picture of us all together, actually." He pulled out his cellphone and flicked his finger and tapped until he turned it for me to see. He pointed to the man who looked damn near exactly like him. "That's Richard." He pointed to a mixed young man who looked very little like the rest of the family. "That's Landon. Landon's mother was an escaped werewolf slave. Oh yeah, supernaturals had a problem with slavery too, especially being enslaved to humans, and she was a person of color so she got it from all sides. She and I met while I was fighting with the Union, knowing if we could end it, then wolves and humans like her would be able to walk free." He trailed off for a moment and sighed. "She died helping others escape about three years after Landon was born. Richard didn't fight, opting to take care of his new baby brother for me."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Then I couldn't resist just a touch of humor. "Three children with three different mothers," I noted, raising an eyebrow. "Woah there, stud."

"You think I'm a stud?" He looked as shocked as I felt.

"You're…an attractive man," I finally said as my face heated. "I was trying to make fun of you."

"Of course you were, but you called me a stud, and there's nothing insulting about that. Honestly, thank God someone finds me a catch. Three children and all of this? Ha. I can't get a date to save my life."

"I can't help you with that," I said blandly, trying to play off my own embarrassment. "And I never said you were a catch. A stud, for most animals, is just very good at getting others pregnant."

"Hm, but certain things are required to get women pregnant, and isn't a stud considered the cream of the crop, therefore everyone wants its children? And isn't he normally very good at those things?" The sly smirk that appeared on his face did nothing for my pulse.

Oh shit, he's actually flirting now? "I'm sure. We should put you on the market. Is there a Tinder for werewolves, or do you all just howl at the moon then roll in the dirt until both of you are ready to go home? And when we finally get you a date, just remember not to hump her leg. You didn't grow up in the modern era, but women don't really appreciate it."

"Are you sure? Have you seen how modern humans dance?" He kept smirking. "I'm sure I'll fit right in."

That broke me. I started laughing, and he joined in. "Ok, you have a point," I said, unable to stop laughing. I turned away, covering my face. "Is that how you picked up Carey's mom?"

He stopped and groaned. "Carey's mother was a mistake. I was tired, lonely, and she was pretty. She knew what I was, who I was. Nine months later, she brought me a gift and left, saying she couldn't be the wife of a werewolf, no matter how…fun I was in private. She wouldn't be seen in public with me."

"Oh, I'm sorry. That's rough."

"It's life as one of my kind. She gave me Carey thinking our little girl would end up a werewolf, but she's human. I'm always looking over my shoulder in case her mother comes back for her, but so far we've been in the clear."

"This isn't going to help if her mother finds out," I said gently. "You know that, right?"

"I do," he agreed. "She didn't give up her parental rights either, and I've been…too kind to have the lawyers take them away from her. I want Carey to have a chance at a relationship with her mother." He dropped what he was holding. "I'm done here. You can get a shirt on."

"Thanks." I had stopped noticing the sting thanks to the conversation and grabbed my new clean shirt, throwing it on just as Shamus walked in, finally, with a bowl of hot water and bandages.

"Took you long enough," Heath said with a bite.

"You two were having a conversation that I didn't want to interrupt," Shamus said quickly. "The cat gets fidgety when there's a lot of werewolves around."

"I thought I stopped being so obvious," I mumbled. Damn right I was fidgety with multiple wolves around. Any werecat with even a shred of self-preservation was fidgety around a lot of wolves. A shred was really all I had left, but it was enough.

"All right…" Heath looked between Shamus and I, then sighed. "Pants. Off."

"Excuse me? Change that please."

"Please remove your jeans so that I can bandage your thigh," he rephrased.

"Better," I muttered, unbuttoning my jeans. "This really isn't necessary."

"It is," he said softly. "You can go, Shamus."

I stood up for Heath so he could work easier, and hopefully faster. What I hadn't considered with that was the fact that he was kneeling in front of me, with my pants down.

Modern woman sensibilities and all, I was uncomfortable. He didn't seem worried at all and I couldn't catch anything in his scent that would betray him. My scent, however, was probably giving him all sorts of wonderful information.

He's a wolf. I barely know him. He's only down there for medical reasons. I've done it to other people. There's nothing attractive or sexual about this.

"Done," he announced, standing back up.

I swiftly pulled up my jeans and grabbed a jacket. As I started walking for the door, he chuckled again. "You know, I didn't understand how a woman like you lived so alone for all these years, but it's pretty clear now. You aren't good with people."

"I used to be," I said quickly, turning back to him. "But no one has seen me without pants since I was Changed." And that person had been Hasan, so there was nothing sexual about it, or even potentially sexual.

"I can tell," he murmured, still doing that annoying thing called chuckling. Who ever thought chuckling men were sexy? They weren't. I wanted to strangle the one in the room with me.

"Are you always like this with women, or am I just a shiny new toy you can tease?" I crossed my arms, not going through the door and blocking his way out.

"I find myself enjoying this," he admitted. "You're so skittish because I'm a wolf, but really, there's a lot I owe you for. For Carey. For the pack. I'm just trying to help you as an honored guest in my house, and you're making it really easy to bother you. The skittishness…amuses me, though."

"The worst," I muttered, leaving the room. I was ten feet away when I realized I really had nowhere to go except to another confined space to monitor his damn phone. I stomped into the office and found a wolf in my seat. "Hey, I'm here to take over," I told the little female.

"Oh, I just got here. Alpha doesn't want our guest working too hard. Says you'll need to take time to heal before the trade."

I ground my teeth as I heard the chuckling behind me. I looked over my shoulder and glared.

"I'm right and you know it. Why don't you relax and enjoy my hospitality until we receive word from the traitors?"

"I think I hate you." I wanted to stay busy. I needed to stay busy. Sitting around felt like I was doing nothing to save Carey. And that's not acceptable. I have to save Carey.

"That's okay, but really, after what I just saw, you do need to get some rest. You need to stop moving around and pulling the scars and stitches. Kick back and watch TV all day. Something. There's nothing to be done until we get a call." He leaned on the wall, crossing his arms. It was now a stare-down.

"You can't keep me here doing nothing," I warned softly.

"I can, and I will if I have to," he retorted. "I have over twenty-five wolves here. More than enough to handle an injured werecat, and I don't think you're going to kill any of the wolves helping get my daughter back."

He was right, but I hated it. I didn't want to be useless. Sure, I had no idea what I was doing, but I needed a task, any task and he even took my little job away from me.

"Let me man the phone, please," I asked, nearly begging. "I can't do useless."

"I'm not asking you to be useless. I'm asking you to heal so you can be the most useful at the right time."

Well, when you put it that way… "Fine. I'll…find somewhere to sit down. Anyone have a deck of cards or something?"

"I'm sure we can find one. No money, though. I don't let my wolves gamble. Terrible vice."

"Taking all the fun out of it then," I muttered, shaking my head. One of the reasons I made my bar into a billiard bar was for the light gambling done at the pool table. It added a bit of spice and I always made sure it was friendly. I didn't let pool sharks screw with my customers, because I could smell their intent from a mile away.

I let him lead me out of the office, feeling a little lost, very out of place, and insecure as we walked into the main area of the warehouse. It was still packed with wolves, all doing their own things in little groups. A few looked up at Heath and me as we walked, only adding to my belief that I had a sign over me that screamed ‘WERECAT' in big red letters. Maybe they thought I would be gone after a day, because something told me they were still as uncomfortable with me as I was with them. It was like everything was back at square one, the same as it was when I had arrived yesterday with their Alpha.

"Sit," he ordered. Before I could correct him, he rephrased. "Would you have a seat?" He indicated the chair at a table near the middle of the room. "Anyone have a deck of cards? I'm trying to keep our guest busy."

"Here, boss." One ran up and handed over exactly what he asked for.

Heath, in turn, handed them to me and sat across the table. "Would you like to sit down and play with us?" he asked the wolf.

I started shuffling, showing I had some skill in it. I played on the bar sometimes, and more than a few times, I'd hosted small poker nights at Kick Shot. I absolutely knew what I was doing.

"Sure…" The wolf fell into a seat as if his Alpha's words had been an order and not a question. The remaining three seats were taken slowly as I shuffled, waiting to see if anyone else dared to come play with the werecat. Once they were all full, I announced the game.

"Texas Hold ‘Em. We're in the right state for it and it's in vogue," I said, smirking. "I'll deal, and then pass counterclockwise."

"All right then." Heath waved a hand, welcoming the cards.

The game kicked off. None of the wolves really spoke to me, but it wasn't cold or rude either. Heath continued to strike up conversation, talking to others to put everyone off his own actions. I knew the strategy, keeping others distracted and hiding tells easier. I'd seen some blustery men try it more times than I could count.

About an hour in, I had won every other hand, grinning as I won another.

"Well, another game for me," I purred.

"I think one of us should shuffle the deck," a wolf muttered.

"I'm not cheating. Just practiced," I said softly.

"Sure." He took the deck anyway and began to shuffle. I shrugged when Heath stiffened up. It was rude to accuse a guest of cheating, but I wasn't going to take it seriously. I was a cat. For all they knew, I could very well cheat and have no problem with it because most of them had never met one of my kind.

So when I won the next hand, especially since four of them folded, it was no surprise when the wolf who had taken the deck from me jumped up. "This is ridiculous. Are we really going to let her play us like this, Heath?"

"She's not cheating. I've been watching her. Don't be a sore loser." The Alpha pointed the wolf to sit back down before settling those grey-blue eyes on me. "Professional?"

"No. Just a lot of practice against amateurs at my bar," I answered. "Everyone here except you has really obvious tells. If there was money involved, you would be the person with the most money because you play safe and keep everyone distracted. I would just clean out the fools."

"Fools?" the wolf snapped.

"You. The customers at my bar. Most people who get mad at poker with no money…" I raised an eyebrow, daring him to question my logic. "Don't make this a big deal. Just trying to kill time."

"Maybe, you should walk away," Heath warned his wolf.

"No! She's cheating, I know it."

"Let him," I ordered the Alpha, who tried to stand up to stop his wolf. I rose out of my chair, sighing. It would have annoyed me, but I had dealt with drunk men, angry men, and confused men. Kick Shot was quiet until the cards came out.

I spread my hands, let him check my seat—which was absurd— and even my pockets. When he touched my ass, probably an accident, I grabbed his wrist, spun him and pinned his arm behind his back.

"Happy now?" I asked softly. "I'm not cheating. Werecats are quite honorable. We know we have advantages. We don't need to cheat. My sense of smell isn't as good as yours, but it's still very good. You get upset over a bad hand, and it comes through in how you smell. Learn to control your reactions more and take the game less seriously." I released him, letting him step away from me.

"That was fast," he noted.

"I'm faster than your kind," I informed him, smiling.

"All right. Everyone sit back down or leave the table if you can't play nice." Heath sounded like he was done with the antics. I retook my seat politely and so did the other wolf, who was nodding to himself, mumbling about his scent. Heath leaned over to me. "We normally don't use our supernatural gifts for card games."

"I use every legal advantage I have," I told him. "How do you think my kind stays alive when we're loners?"

"Fair point."

We went back to the cards, and no one tried to accuse me of cheating anymore. Instead, when a guy lost to me, he leaned over. "How did you catch my bluff?"

"You tap the table once, softly, when you have a good hand. It's hard when you have a bad hand. A small act of aggression." I grinned as he groaned, leaning back. "I can hear the subtle difference."

"Don't turn my pack into professional poker players, please," Heath pleaded from his seat.

"I make no promises. If you got a pool table—"

"BOSS!" someone yelled. "Boss, they've contacted you!"

The cards were forgotten in an instant. Heath and I were both out of our seats at the same time. It was a race I won to the back office, and I leaned over the werewolf at the laptop, who made a disgusted noise as my scent must have hit her nose.

They had contacted. With a time and a location. It was in twelve hours, putting it after sunset.

Heath was behind me now, reading over it as well. "They don't want me bringing anyone except you, Jacky. You must have pissed them off."

"Or they know this will fail if you can't put Carey into someone's care," I said. "They might not want any of the wolves loyal to you, but I'm supposed to be impartial. Carey is my only concern."

"If I'm dead, the turmoil ends and whoever takes the pack has the right to challenge my will and claim my daughter as their own, ‘for her own protection' and as a ‘sign of good will,'" he said harshly. "They might think you'll hand her back over."

"Oh, that's really something I should have known before now," I muttered, shaking my head. "I'm not going to give her to anyone but you or one of your sons. I swear to it now."

"Even if one of them forced their way in as her new legal guardian?" He straightened up, looking down at me. I realized in that moment how much taller than me he was, just over six feet tall. For a second I felt very small.

Not all of it was thanks to his physical display.

I puffed my chest, all bravado and confidence even if I didn't feel it. "She deserves her family, and while under my protection…she is my family. I don't see any reason to believe she might be safe with the wolves who killed her father. I'll find anyone else or keep her before I let them have her."

"Thank you." He stepped away, beginning to shout orders, telling everyone in the pack the news as he walked out.

I realized I had just signed up to possibly care for a little girl for the rest of her life. It sank in. When Lani had said something about it, it seemed like a far off possibility. Now it seemed like a reasonable outcome.

Shit.