Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

BEN

Contrary to recent days, Ben wasn't the type to ignore good advice. When the bus reached Redland, he hobbled off the bus and into the station. Closing his eyes, he chose a direction at random and slapped down enough cash to get there.

Then, he left the station and trusted his luck to wave down a passing car. The woman inside happened to be heading east. Toward Westplains Pack territory.

They travelled for several hours before the woman kindly dropped him off at a small town. He soon caught a fresh lift with a sweet, white-haired man on the way to visit his grandson along the coast. The grandfather obligingly fed Ben snacks and dropped him off in some two-bit town by a swampy little lake with a small diner before turning south.

Ben entered the diner, hungry and admiring the view over the lake. He checked his cash as he slid into a booth.

"What'll it be, sugar?" the waitress asked as she came by, pushing her glasses up her nose. She looked over fifty, with a gentle smile, ample hips and laugh lines at the corners of her eyes.

"Oh, um, what's the special?"

The waitress looked him over, taking in his torn shirt and disheveled appearance. Ben tried to smooth down his shirt. "Don't you worry, dear. I'll have the cook serve up something nice and filling."

Ben relaxed and smiled at her. "Thanks."

She bustled off, and Ben allowed himself a deep, calming breath. A low agitation settled under his skin, like something was about to happen.

He discretely counted his cash, seeing there was close to five hundred. He could do a lot with that, more than any human. The way his luck acted lately, though, made him reluctant.

He smiled when the waitress returned with a burger dripping with sauce and fries. "Thank you."

The waitress winked. "Anytime, sugar. You staying long or passing through?"

It depended on how long it took for Vaughn to track him down. But this town wasn't a bad spot to wait. Instinct told him to stay put.

"I'm not sure," Ben said. "Is there anywhere to stay in town?"

"There's the inn just up the street. It has lovely views of the water, and this time of year, the rates are good. No tourists," she added with another wink.

"I'll check it out," Ben said, feeling more settled.

The waitress left him to it, heading behind the counter to talk to the cook through the chef's window.

Ben allowed himself to relax in the booth, taking his time. The brown water of the lake sparkled in the afternoon light, the far bank dotted with scraggly reeds. While the water wasn't pristine, he could smell enough freshness to tempt him.

Maybe he'd risk swimming and sink under the water for a bit. He couldn't remember when he last submerged in water deeper than a bathtub.

The bell above the door jingled.

Glancing over the tops of the booths, Ben violently spat out his fries when a small group of men came into the diner. They stood out in their black shirts and pants, all tall and muscled, with the predatory grace that came with wolves. Ben's gaze went to the alpha in the lead, feeling a low, unfamiliar buzz under his skin.

The wolves quickly spotted him, showing varying levels of surprise and irritation. Well, the alpha looked irritated. Ben wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve that, really.

Kris gave a soft crow of delight. "Ben!"

Coughing, Ben hurriedly took a mouthful of water and slunk lower in the booth.

Stone stalked toward him, seeming to fill up all the space and air with his stupid alpha hotness.

"What the actual hell, Stone," Ben muttered sulkily. "Go anywhere I want. That's what you said."

Running his icy blue eyes over Ben, Stone seemed to come to a decision and sat in the booth. His knee hit Ben's as he turned to squint at the menu. "What's good here?"

Seamus slid in beside Ben, cramming him against the window. He helped himself to one of Ben's fries.

"For fuck's sake," Ben muttered, throwing up his hands. He glared across at Stone. "What are you doing here?"

"Passing through. Like you better be," Stone added with a growl.

"Are you following me?"

Stone pinned him with a look. "I made us stop here because we needed a feed. You're supposed to be on the other side of the country."

Ben folded his arms. He'd trusted his luck to guide him somewhere best positioned to take on Vaughn. There was something wrong if he'd instead been waiting for the Oakford Pack to show up.

Kris and Anders settled at the bar, arguing over what to order. Jake wandered to the restroom and returned a short time later to the bar, where the other two enforcers made room for him.

The waitress arrived with fresh mugs, pouring coffee for Stone and Seamus. "What'll it be, boys?" she asked.

Seamus pointed at Ben's plate. "More of the same, hun, but make it double."

Ben resisted rolling his eyes.

"And you, sweetie?" the waitress asked Stone, apparently oblivious that she spoke to the most powerful alpha in the country.

"Just coffee for me, thanks," Stone said quietly, eyes still on Ben.

The waitress nodded then went to the three enforcers at the bar, laughing good-naturedly when Kris gave her a look up and down and began to flirt.

"Keep eating," Stone said, eyes briefly flicking to the glittering lake outside. "How are all your injuries?"

"Fine," Ben said, feeling his resentment flare. "All healed up."

Sprites might not heal as quickly as wolves, but it was still much faster than humans.

"Good."

Seamus helped himself to more fries.

Sighing, Ben nudged his plate towards Stone, too, figuring he might as well accept that his meal was ruined.

Stone paused, studying Ben before popping some fries into his mouth. Ben watched as he chewed and swallowed, gaze drawn to the alpha's throat.

Seamus grinned as if enjoying some private joke and took a big slurp of his coffee.

"I don't see Craven with you," Ben said before the quiet became uncomfortable. "I guess he's sleeping in the van."

He glanced at the parking lot, wondering how he'd missed the van pulling up. He was usually far more observant than that. Perhaps he was more run down than he thought, exhausted from too many months—years—of hiding.

"We handed him over to some friends," Stone said, purposely vague.

"Vaughn's got a real hard-on for you, pretty boy," Seamus muttered, cracking his knuckles. "We got intel he's heading this way. Might want to do something about that."

The food sat heavily in Ben's stomach. "Yeah? What do you suggest?"

The full weight of Stone's attention settled on Ben again. "You can keep running. You've clearly got some talent, the last few days notwithstanding, so you might outrun Vaughn until he either gets bored or justice gets him."

Ben fiddled with his glass, turning it about in his hands. There was an emptiness growing within him that threatened to take over. It was why he needed to kill Vaughn while he still had the strength and will to do it. Running no longer worked because he was so damn tired . The only escape was to finally destroy Vaughn.

Swallowing, Ben said, "Sounds like there's a second option."

"There is. You can come with us."

Ben looked up at Stone carefully. "As your luckbringer?"

A sick feeling settled in his stomach. He noted his abandoned fork from the corner of his eye, ready to grab it depending on what the alpha said next. He couldn't afford to have more packs as enemies, but he'd risk it if this wolf planned to keep him.

"What? No." Stone reared back as if insulted. "My pack doesn't need you. It'd be temporary until you get back on your feet, and the fact it'll piss off Vaughn when he can't find you is a bonus."

"Way to sell it, boss," Seamus said dryly.

Except in another life, Ben might have been tempted. The alpha wolf stirred up wants and desires Ben didn't know existed. He suspected he'd like it if the handsome alpha wolf caught him in different circumstances.

Instead, Ben said, "Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine on my own."

Stone's eyes narrowed. "Then what are you doing here? You're much closer to Vaughn's territory than when we first found you. I expect you'd want to be far from him, considering the close call with Craven."

"I'm not your concern, wolf," Ben said.

It only sharpened Stone's attention. His icy blue eyes turned dark and cutting, like he could see into the depths of Ben. "You're hiding something, Ben."

Ben shrugged and shoved some fries into his mouth, though they now tasted like salty ash.

Then, the alpha growled, "Why are you here, Ben?"

"None of your business, Stone," Ben snapped, holding the alpha's gaze when instinct told him it was dangerous.

Rage spawned in the alpha's cold gaze. He likely wasn't used to anyone defying him. "Your luck isn't this bad, so I can only conclude that you're here on purpose. You want Vaughn to find you."

Ben felt himself half-blink, trying to come up with the right lie.

Seamus swore under his breath as the silence stretched out. The enforcers at the bar grew quiet as tension swelled. None of them turned toward the booth, but Ben sensed they were ready for anything.

Stone shook his head. "No."

Ben frowned at the wolf. "No? What do you mean no?"

"I mean no. It's not happening. You're not throwing yourself at Vaughn. Do you think he'll be merciful? You want him to have control over you?"

Ben slammed his fist on the table. "I want him dead!"

The cook peered through the chef's window, scowling at the noise. The waitress stood behind the counter, waiting on plates of food. She whispered something to the cook.

Ben bit his lip at drawing attention to himself. The wolf seemed to get under his skin like smoke and water.

Stone appeared unmoved. "You're not capable of killing him, Ben. You trip over your own feet and have no natural fighting ability. Vaughn will eat you alive."

Ben leaned forward. "Fuck. You."

Stone's gaze flicked briefly to Ben's mouth. "I don't think so. You're coming with us."

"I'm really not." Ben sneered. "I dare you to try and drag me out of here, Stone. We're not in some dodgy motel room this time. I'll scream, and you can explain your bullshit to the cops."

Stone's eyes gleamed like a wolf on the hunt.

A sudden whoosh came from the kitchen, followed by a flash of orange light.

The waitress shrieked and pointed at the stove. "Danny! Fire!"

Swearing, the cook yanked away from the chef's window and frantically batted at the orange flames spewing from a fryer and across a hotplate.

Seamus craned his neck for a better view. "Oh, man, there goes my burger!" he complained.

Suddenly, the fire sprinklers burst overhead, drenching them all in water. The waitress shrieked and ducked, covering her head with a menu.

Ben hunched, gasping from the cold water quickly running down his spine.

Stone smiled at him, hair dripping and all teeth. "Well, isn't this fortunate."

Ben froze for a heartbeat too long.

Lightning-quick, Stone launched over the table and smacked the fork away before Ben could stab him. He took Ben's arm in an unbreakable hold. Seamus grabbed Ben's other bicep and yanked him sideways, working with Stone to drag him out of the booth. Ben slipped on the wet floor, barely able to keep his feet as Jake, Kris and Anders crowded around him, jostling and buffeting him towards the exit.

"Get away from me!" Ben yelled over the noise of streaming water and the cook's frustrated swearing.

Seamus slapped some cash on the soaked counter where the waitress stood dripping and gaping. "Good luck with the mess!"

The wolves pulled Ben through the door, down the three steps and into the parking lot, pushing and shoving to keep him disoriented. Ben yanked back, his skin slick from being wet, almost slipping free.

Suddenly, powerful arms wrapped around his chest and lifted him off the ground, his legs grabbed and tucked under Anders's armpit as the wolves jogged towards the van.

"Cut it out, Ben," Stone growled in his ear.

"No—help! Someone help!" Ben screamed, bucking.

A large hand clamped over his mouth as the wolves moved undeterred to the van. Ben kicked and wriggled to no avail as Seamus opened the side door.

Ben was carried into the dark interior, but instead of being dropped on the bench like last time, the wolves dropped him in a corner. Kris produced a pair of cuffs, and Stone clicked one around Ben's wrist and the other into a metal cargo ring bolted to the floor of the van.

"Hey!" Ben frantically yanked on the ring. "Let me go, assholes!"

Jake slammed the side door closed and ran to the driver's side, quickly starting the van. A few heartbeats later, they pulled onto the road leading out of town. Jake drove at an insultingly sedate pace for a vanload of kidnappers.

All four other wolves in the back of the van stared at Ben.

Ben gave his darkest glare. If they were near his grotto, he'd pull power from the vile waters and wish them boils and dick rot. If he wished it hard enough, surely something would take hold.

Except his rage seemed to slide over them like mist.

Stone squatted before him, giving him a slow, measuring look. "You going to give me any more trouble? I'll gag and sedate you if I have to."

Ben hissed, unable to stop himself from yanking on the cuff again. "If you do this, you're no better than Vaughn!"

Connor smirked, eyes lighting up like he saw Ben as a challenge he wanted to win. "Oh, I'm very different, as you'll discover. I'm not the type to let someone get killed because they're too stupid and stubborn to see when they're in over their head."

"You're wrong?—"

"I'm so very right, Ben. Even your luck keeps coming my way."

Frowning, Ben closed his mouth as the van slowed at a traffic light.

It was true misfortune hit him both times he'd run into Stone. His luck seemed determined to give the alpha whatever he wanted, even if it went against Ben. He didn't know what Stone had done to get his magic to betray him so quickly.

Ben looked Stone up and down, trying to see past the olive skin and handsome face to the wolf underneath. Attractive things tended to be the most dangerous. "You going to take me to a casino, Stone? Try your hand at poker with a luckbringer in your back pocket?"

It was Stone's turn to sneer. "I don't give a damn about money, but I will keep you safe, even if it means protecting you from yourself."

That made no damn sense.

"I'm not one of your wolves, Stone! You can't boss me around!"

Stone leaned forward, getting in Ben's face, his smile a little mean. "I'm just getting started. You're going to live and breathe me, Ben, and by the time I'm done, Vaughn will be a distant memory."

By the dark gleam in the wolf's eyes, he meant it.