Chapter 18

Charlotte was very thankful for Amber's thoughtfulness. Her cooking dinner had eased a burden. She loved to cook, but sometimes, like now, processing ideas for meals was a bit difficult. She was still tired and looking over at Amber, she realized the agent was too. She felt guilt wash over her. Amber had taken something that should have been her responsibility.

"Amber, I am so sorry. I was just so tired and I slept longer than I meant to." Charlotte said, biting her lip.

"Nonsense. You are still recovering Charlotte. Only a complete ass would hold that against. When Rio and I realized that you were still sleeping, we started dinner." Amber explained. "Besides, since Rio will be the second in charge of the clan, as his mate, my job will be to help you in any way that I can." Amber smiled. "I'm just getting ready to step into my place as your second."

Charlotte felt her eyes go wide. Amber had been correct. She would have to have a second, and as Rio's mate, she was the perfect choice. She smiled, realizing that for the first time ever, she had a female friend. A girlfriend. Someone to chat with, gossip with, shop with.

"Thank you. I really like that idea."

Rio and Jaxson looked at each other, not sure how to react. Their emotions were part happy because the two women got along well and would eventually make great friends, and part trepidation. Because two women who were friends and mated to brothers could set them on their ears.

Sitting down to eat, bowls were passed around, plates were filled, tea was poured and food consumed.

"Amber, this is delicious. Your gravy is so much better than mine. Your macaroni and cheese is terrific, also." Charlotte said as she reached for a bowl to get some more of the dish.

Amber smiled and got up to get the blueberry pie off of the stove and five plates.

Nathan sat on one side of the table watching the byplay between the two females. Both women were very gracious, friendly and truthful to each other. He was drawn out of his thoughts as a plate with a generous slice of pie sat in front of him.

"Anyone want ice cream? I believe I have some vanilla in the freezer." Jaxson asked.

A chorus of affirmative answers sounded, so he retrieved the tub and an ice cream scoop.

All of the men pitched in to clean. Charlotte offered to help but she was waved off. So she and Amber took their glasses of teas and went to sit on the back porch. It was getting into the evening and the nocturnal critters were starting to move about. Jaxson had told her that there was a vixen that had a den of kits close by and sometimes they would come close to the house.

When they finished, the men joined them.

Rio looked over at his boss and asked him a question. "How much longer do you think you will need to be here, Nathan?"

"That depends on a few things."

"Oh? Care to share?" Rio asked.

Nathan Powers was silent for a minute or two before he spoke.

"Well, for one thing, Jaxson has "friends" coming in a few days. I'm thinking tomorrow. You boys want to finish your mating to claim your mates, and my wife wants me to join her. Then, because of who the warrants are for, the trials will be held as soon as possible, so there is that to prepare for. I'll probably try to leave again tomorrow."

They sat in silence for a bit before Jaxson made a silencing noise and pointed out into the yard. It was darker than dusk but not quite dark. As Charlotte looked to where he was pointing, she saw movement in the grass. Then again. They waited. Soon enough, their patience was rewarded. The vixen, female fox, approached the porch where the humans and bears were. With her were three kits, their rust-colored fur just starting to deepen to an orange that the red fox was known for. Their ears and tails had black tips. The vixen was skittish, but the kits, being babies and having no fear, climbed up the steps and took turns smelling each of the humans. When they got the two bears. the three kits hissed. Their little tails bushed out and their backs arched up, looking like a cat does when they try to make themselves look bigger.

Seeing this, the vixen called her kits back to her. Surprisingly, one of the kits stopped between Amber and Charlotte and sniffed both again, then licked their hands, before running off.

They collectively watched the fox family get farther and farther away in silence.

That silence was broken when Amber sighed. It was wistful and sounded so out of place coming from the former federal agent.

"What's wrong, Amber?" Rio had sat down on the edge of the porch next to her and put one of his arms around her shoulders, drawing her close to his side.

"I'm a city girl. But, just now, sitting out here on this porch, watching that fox family, I have to wonder why. What was so scary about being out in the country? I am coming to enjoy the lack of hustle and bustle and noise of the city." Looking up at him, she smiled. "I think I love it here. There's something to be said for living in a setting like this. Sitting here, I can't imagine going back to the city to live. Visit, yes. Live no."

Rio looked at this brother with intent.

Jaxson took notice and asked Charlotte, "What about you, Charlotte? Do you think you can live here and be happy? In the quiet, with no city noise?"

Charlotte got up and went to where her mate was sitting. He reached up and grabbed her arm, pulling her down in his lap. She leaned into him to lay her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"As long as you are there, I could live anywhere, I believe."

"Damn. I miss my wife." Nathan said.

The mood was lifted as everyone laughed.

"Don't worry, boss. You should be with her soon." Rio said with a smile.

Charlotte kept nodding off on Jaxson's shoulder. Picking her up, he stood with her in his arms and carried her to bed. She mumbled in her sleep as he undressed her and put one of his shirts on her. Covering her, he undressed down to his boxer briefs and climbed in next to her. As always, he gathered her in his arms and pulled her close and drifted off to sleep.

Nathan lay in his empty bed. He had been honest when he said that he missed his wife. His time in the field had been short, because of his appointment by the president. That same president was how he knew who Charlotte really was. She wasn't kidding when she said that her true identity would only protect them. But, that was her secret and her story to tell. She had told Jaxson, but not Rio or Amber. When her identity comes out at the trials, it would be a media sensation. The sharks will start circling in the form of the news media and paparazzi.

Rio and Amber were lying in bed quietly discussing their future when he realized something.

"Well damn!" he said.

"What's the matter, Rio?"

"I have to call Mom and Dad."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Think about it, Amber. My last twenty years have been spent in deep cover, five of those years were spent in prison. They think I'm a career criminal, a gangster, a thug." Rio scrubbed a hand over his face. His emotions were plain to see. "My poor momma is probably heartbroken, My dad, the former Alpha, will probably disown me."

"I'm sure that is an exaggeration. If they love you, they will understand." Amber did her best to comfort her mate and rubbed her hand up and down his arm.

"Amber, let me explain something about shifters. They will turn on family and even the closest friends if another shifter hurts their mate, in any way. I have seen lifelong friends split apart because of because of mistreatment of one's mate." He looked completely panicked. "If lifelong friends will do that, what will my dad do to me after hurting my mom like that? I broke her heart. I hurt her in ways no child should ever hurt their parent."

"Rio, you and your brother are good men. Really good men. You don't grow up to be like that without having a good, strong role model. Something tells me that they might be angry, but I believe that they will forgive you."

Amber rolled over to face him and placed an open mouth kiss on his chest, causing him to shudder.

Morning came too soon for the couples and Nathan. But it was time for Nathan to try to leave. They were going to smuggle him into town and Bill was getting a helicopter to fly him to the state capital.

Loading up the mates and Nathan in Rio's rental truck, they went to town. They pulled up to the back of the sheriff's office and got Nathan in quickly. 'then they drove off to the town store.

Jaxson helped Charlotte down from the truck and held her hand while going through the store. As people passed the brothers and their mates, people seemed to acknowledge them with a slight nod or bowing of their heads. It was a whole different scene from the last time Jaxson was in town and no one knew who he was.

Pulling open the door they stepped inside the grocery store. Jaxson could still hear the same cashier gossiping. He indicated that the two women get a cart. As they walked through the store, he grabbed anything that he saw caught Charlotte's eye. Rio did the same with Amber. Pretty soon both carts were full and they were headed to the register to pay.

The cashier now looked at him in wonder. "Who told?" He asked simply.

"The sheriff. He told us that the Alpha was home and so was his brother, the Beta. Does that mean that you will be moving into the family home here in town?" She asked.

"Don't know yet. Got a lot to do before that."

She nodded and gave him their total. They paid for their items and put them in the back of the truck and left like nothing was wrong.

When they got to the turn-off to the house, Jaxson felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"Rio stop!" He said with quiet urgency.

"Open the glove box. You'll find a loaded 9mm and an extra clip. Amer, reach under the seat. There is a shotgun with a belt of shells. The shotgun holds five shells. Go ahead and load it. Charlotte, get down. This truck doesn't have armor plating, so get as far down into the floor as you can." Rio said in a stern voice.

Everyone did as instructed and Rio began to drive the truck down the driveway, slowly. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but something was off.

As the house and barn came into view, a group of men were standing around next to a bunch of bikes. These men were hard-looking, scarred, inked, and all different sizes. Some were almost as tall as Jaxson, some were heavily muscled. But one in particular stood out. He had red hair, one eye was covered with an eye patch and he had some of the largest arms. As the truck rolled up, he stepped forward and held up his hand.

"It's okay, Rio. Stop the truck."

"Friends of yours?" Rio asked.

"Yeah. Former special forces soldiers. Somehow they heard what was going on and called me to tell me that they were on their way." Jaxson grimaced as he realized that he had forgotten to tell his brother to expect company. "Sorry, Bro. I really did forget."

"All good, Jaxson, We have all had a lot on our minds and have been through a lot, as well." Rio threw the truck in gear and turned it off. "Come on, let's go meet your friends."

Both men got out and went to help their mates get out of the truck. Walking over to the group, Jaxson extended his hand and said, "It's good to see you brother. How did you know that I needed you?"

The man looked over the two men and then let his eyes wander to the two women, his eyes widening just a fraction when they landed on Charlotte, before coming to rest on Jaxson again.

"Mama T. She told Eagle that the bear would need someone to watch his back and to protect his den." Jaxson nodded. Eagle was a sniper. His name was because he had the best long-distance vision and his native heritage. His mama was a Cherokee medicine woman and had 'dreams' and when she told you she had a dream, you better listen.

"So, do you? Need someone to watch you back and your den?" He asked.

"Yeah, I kinda do. It's just my brother and I and our mates. Come on inside and we'll sit down and talk. I have some things to tell you that are going to blow your mind. But first, we have a crap ton of groceries in the back of the truck. How about you guys help carry them all in?"

All of the men pitched in and made short work of the load. After everything was put away, the red-headed man, Jaxson, Rio and the others sat around the back porch talking, Jaxson telling them everything that had been going on up until the point they came back from town and saw the group waiting.

"Hold on a minute, you mean to tell me that this little bitty girl is your mate? Do you ever realize the size difference between you two?"

I'm sorry, who are you again? I am stronger than I look and Jaxson would never do anything to hurt me." Charlotte said in a frosty tone of voice.

'My name is Hunter, ma'am. Jaxson and I used to be in the same platoon, years ago."

"Just where do you get off on making a statement like that, anyway, you asshole!" Charlotte was incredibly upset, implying that Jaxson would be hurt because of his size. Climbing up in his lap, she lay her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"And that is why we don't piss off Charly. She's got some sass to her and she isn't afraid to use it." Rio said laughing at the Hunter's expression.

"After what she has been through, she can have all the sass she wants. I'm just thankful that she pulled through." Jaxson said with a smirk on his face. "She is my equal in every way but size. As my female Alpha, she'll need that attitude to deal with some people, after all."

Hunter nodded his head, reflecting on what his friend had said.

"It seems that I have made a judgment in error. I do apologize ma'am."