Chapter Seven

“Are we sure about this?” Charles asked.

Mark stood next to him, his back ramrod straight. He didn’t look nervous, but Charles knew him. When Mark was nervous, he tensed and went cold. Right now, he was so cold that he could give an ice cream a run for its money.

On Mark’s other side stood Lester, who was visibly nervous. He kept playing with the seam of his t-shirt, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and tapping his fingertips on the porch railing. It was almost as if he was meeting someone important for the first time rather than seeing Sullivan again.

Maybe it wasn’t Sullivan who made Lester nervous but one of the people he was coming with. When Charles was told that Sullivan would be bringing his friend Braden and a few other people who wanted to help, he didn’t know what to think about it. Sullivan had assured them that Braden was one of the good ones, but Charles wasn’t sure they could trust Sullivan, let alone a coven leader.

He supposed he was about to find out.

Thankfully, he wasn’t standing alone. Mark and Lester would take care of each other, while Charles and Red would do the same. Red would stop Charles if he got angry, which Charles hoped wouldn’t happen but couldn’t swear on it. After all, he’d find himself in front of one of the people who’d decided to attack his clan.

James’s car appeared in the distance. Once again, he’d gone to pick up Sullivan. It probably wasn’t necessary since Sullivan had already been here, but when Chance had suggested they let Sullivan and his friends make their own way to the pack, James had growled at him and left, slamming the door. Everyone knew he wasn’t happy with what was happening, but Charles didn’t think they had a choice. If they wanted to defeat the coven, they needed Sullivan and his people.

The car got closer, and Charles wrapped an arm around Red’s shoulders. When Red looked up at him, Charles couldn’t resist and had to lean down to kiss him.

He couldn’t believe everything that had happened to him recently. He’d never been so happy, but at the same time, he’d lost most of his family and his best friend. He’d found Red, but the pain and loss were still fresh in his mind and his heart. It would take time, and having Red by his side could only help, but sometimes, it felt like Charles would never feel better. Every time he mentioned it, though, Red told him to give it time.

Charles hoped he’d be able to.

The car stopped in front of Chance’s house, and James quickly got out. He glared at the people in the car, and Charles wondered what had happened during the drive. Thankfully, Sullivan had only brought three friends, so they wouldn’t have to meet too many people, but it had to have been a tight fit.

Chance had been quietly talking with Theo, but as soon as the other people and Sullivan got out of the car, he left him on the porch and walked down the steps. He came to a stop in front of Sullivan and smiled at him, offering him his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

Sullivan shook Chance’s hand, then turned to the others. He’d arrived with two men and one woman, and all of them appeared wary.

Charles couldn’t blame them. They were technically in enemy territory, and they had no way to know if Chance would allow them to leave. They didn’t know him, so they didn’t know if they could trust him.

“These are three of the people who are willing to help us, including Braden.”

One of the men stepped forward. Charles wasn’t sure why, but he’d thought all mages were kind of short and more focused on magic than on building muscle. Sullivan fit that description, as did Lester and his friends.

Braden didn’t. He towered over everyone, and he was as big as a house. His shoulders were massive, and when he took Chance’s hand, the muscles in his arms bulged. He looked like he could snap Chance in two without breaking a sweat, and for a moment, Charles was afraid.

But Chance was a bear shifter. If Braden tried anything, he would shift and maul him. At the very least, it would slow Braden down.

Chance wasn’t the only one present. Houston wasn’t here today because he had something to do for the pack, but James had declared he wouldn’t let Chance out of his sight, and there was no way Theo was going anywhere. Both of them were bears, and of course, that was without counting Charles and Mark.

“I wish we’d met in a different situation,” Braden said in a deep, rumbling voice.

Chance didn’t look at all intimidated. Maybe it was because of the way Braden was smiling. It made him look approachable, even though he was so large.

Or maybe Chance wasn’t afraid.

“I agree, but unfortunately, this is the situation we’re in.” He turned toward the other two people who’d arrived with Sullivan. “I’m Chance, the alpha of this pack.”

The woman stepped forward without hesitation. “I’m Michelle.”

“Welcome to the Mayport pack, Michelle.”

That left only one guy. He looked like he was ready to bolt, but when Chance offered him his hand, he shook it. “Ryan,” he said.

Now he fit the image Charles had of mages. He was about five feet nine or ten, and so thin that a strong wind would have carried him away. It was almost as if he didn’t eat enough, and Charles wondered if this was how the coven leaders treated their people. If Ryan had been a member of Chance’s pack, Chance would’ve ensured he had enough food. It was what he’d done with Red and his family when they’d first arrived in town.

But Charles didn’t want to assume. Maybe there was something more to Ryan’s situation.

“What do you think?” Red asked as he leaned closer.

“I hope we can trust them.”

Red nodded. “If we have to fight them, I’m taking this Ryan guy.”

Charles bit the inside of his cheek so he wouldn’t laugh. Red wasn’t large, either. In fact, while he wasn’t as thin as Ryan, they were similar in height and body. If Charles had to take bets, he’d bet on Red. He wouldn’t have to struggle to win.

“Why don’t we go inside?” Chance asked as he gestured toward the front door.

Before any of them could move, loud voices made him turn. Charles winced when he saw Francis rushing toward them. Clearly, the man hadn’t learned anything from the last time he’d done this.

“Mages!” Francis bellowed. “After a bunch of dragons and weird shifters, now you’re welcoming mages into our pack?”

“Where has he been living?” Red whispered. “Doesn’t he know we already have mages in this pack?”

Charles was amused, but at the same time, he didn’t trust Francis. He gently pushed Red behind himself and ignored Red’s huff. If Francis did something stupid, Charles would ensure Red didn’t get hurt.

Chance looked exasperated as he faced Francis. “Is there something you want?” he asked.

Francis’s face turned red. “This is our pack. We’re bears.”

“We’ve never been a pack of only bears,” Chance said. “In fact, that’s why my great-grandfather made a point of calling this a pack rather than a sleuth. I seem to remember that your grandmother was a fox shifter.”

Francis’s head was about to explode. There was no way it could withstand that level of redness without exploding. “We’re not talking about my grandmother here. We’re talking about these people.”

Francis glanced at the newly arrived mages. Ryan looked like he wanted to hide behind the car, while Braden was incredibly calm, as if he was used to this kind of situation. Maybe he was, as a coven leader.

“They’re not becoming pack members,” Chance explained. “They’re only here for a meeting. It’s not the first time I’ve allowed other leaders and alphas to enter this territory to meet with me. What do you want, Francis?”

“For everyone who isn’t a bear shifter to leave,” Francis snapped. “You’re putting us in danger. Can’t you see it?”

“I’m trying to save us,” Chance snapped back, finally losing his patience. He’d lasted longer than Charles would have in the same situation.

“This is going to end in the death of the pack,” Francis said. “I won’t allow that. I’m taking my family and leaving.”

He paused. His expression made him look like he was waiting for Chance to tell him not to go. Charles almost snorted when Chance shrugged instead.

“You’re free to leave the pack whenever you want. I’ll be sorry to lose your family, since you’ve been pack members for generations, but I can’t force you to stay. Have a good life, Francis. Keep your family safe now that you’re responsible for them.”

Chance turned around and left, not looking back. Francis was gaping at him as if he couldn’t believe what had just happened. He should have known better than to threaten Chance.

There was nothing more important to Chance than his pack and his people, and now that Francis and his family weren’t pack members anymore, he wouldn’t have to protect them. Francis had just gotten himself and his family in trouble.

Charles hoped for their sake they’d manage to find their way out of it.