Chapter Nine

The guest cottages were ready by the time the first of Mike’s friends arrived. Becca was both nervous and anxious to meet the people Mike considered his real family.

“You ready for this?” Nikki came up behind her. They were standing in the middle of the backyard getting ready for the impromptu barbecue to welcome everyone. Mike, RJ, Todd and Kenny had run into town to pick up the lumber and sheetrock that her father had ordered.

“No,” Becca confessed. “This is crazy.”

“Well, look on the bright side,” Nikki suggested. “You get this all out of the way at once.”

“Yeah, great,” she muttered.

“It probably won’t help that my brothers will be here, as well. Brandon and RJ have this love–hate thing going on.”

“I like Brandon,” Becca said.

“Just don’t like him more than RJ or I’ll deal with a pouting mate until we leave.”

Becca had to smile. The relationship these friends had made her appreciate her own. Todd and Kenny were as special to her as Mike’s group was to him. They weren’t as colorful.

“I don’t pout.”

Both woman squealed and jumped as RJ spoke behind them. Becca whirled around to glare at him.

“And no one likes Brandon more than me,” RJ claimed.

Becca squinted at him. “Are you sure? Maybe we should take a poll.”

“God, please don’t encourage this feud between them,” Mike said, joining them. He automatically put his arm around her shoulder. Becca leaned into him. “They’re both infuriating.”

“I resent that,” RJ stated. He spun on Nikki. “And you have to stop taking your brother’s side. I don’t care if he raised you. You are my mate! I’m always right.”

“Except when you argue with me,” Nikki replied.

“Or me,” Mike said.

“Especially me.”

Becca’s head was spinning. Mike turned her toward the new voice and she almost swallowed her tongue. Two gorgeous men stood in front of them holding hands.

“Casey. Zachary,” Mike greeted. “You made good time.”

“Because he drives like a hell cat,” the taller of the two said.

“Forgive Zach,” Casey, or who Becca assumed was Casey, said. “He doesn’t appreciate my fine motor skills.”

“I appreciate all your skills, my love. You just don’t have any when it comes to driving.”

“It’s true,” RJ said. “Casey rolled over more vehicles than anyone else in the unit.”

“You came in a close second,” Casey told RJ.

Mike laughed before bending to whisper into Becca’s ear, “He is the most mature out of all of us. Now I’m questioning the rest of our sanity.”

“I heard that,” Casey exclaimed. “And come greet me properly before introducing me to your girl.”

Mike stepped forward, but Casey was already rushing to grab him and lift him into a bear hug. Mike grunted, beating on Casey’s back, and Casey chuckled manically. Finally, after several long minutes, Casey dropped Mike back down to his feet.

“Damn, man,” Mike complained. “Do you ever stop working out?”

“Of course not.” He pointed toward Zach. “People keep trying to kidnap my man.”

Zach stepped forward, holding out his hand. “Nice to see you again, Mike.”

“You, too.” In a much more civilized manner, Zach and Mike greeted each other. “I’d also like to meet your lady.”

“Yeah? Who told you?” Mike asked. “I would have liked to tell everyone myself.”

“Who do you think?” Casey replied.

Everyone looked at RJ.

“What?” RJ threw his hands up. “Of course, I told. No one is surprised.”

Becca didn’t know what to make of the introductions to the feline Prince and his mate. This was not how she expected the interaction to take place. She found herself smiling, even though she was still nervous.

“Okay,” Mike said. “Zachary, you’re the most normal one here. I’d like to introduce you to Becca.” With a firm hand on her lower back, Mike urged her forward.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Becca,” Zachary shook her hand. “I’ve spoken to your father several times and can see why he speaks so highly of you.” He bent his head to kiss the top of her hand. “It’s a true pleasure.”

Becca shuddered. She might be falling hard for Mike, but Zachary was a whole other level of smooth. His deep voice sent tingles down her spine.

“Good, isn’t he?” Casey asked Mike while Mike frowned. “This is what I put up with.”

“Okay, never mind.” Mike retook her hand from Zachary. “You don’t get to talk to Zach.”

Zachary chuckled then winked at her. Yeah, the Prince was screwing with Mike.

“This is my old team leader and Zachary’s mate, Casey.” Mike motioned. “He’s almost as bad as RJ, so don’t believe anything he says about me.”

“Hey!” Casey smacked Mike. “Be nice. I still know how to take you down.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “Where’s your shadow, Zachary?”

Casey snorted. “Craig met a girl. He’d already committed to meeting her parents this weekend, or he would have been here. Actually, he tried to get out of his obligations by using you as an excuse, but Zach finally made him go,” Casey said.

“He’d canceled three times already,” Zachary stated. “Luna’s parents were going to think she’d made him up.”

“Oh, wow.” Mike glanced at her. “Craig is Zachary’s personal bodyguard. I thought he stayed in the room when they—”

“Mike,” Casey growled out a warning.

“What?” Mike laughed. “That’s what RJ told me.”

Becca couldn’t hold back any longer. She laughed, leaning into Mike to hold her up. Oh, this was going to be fun. She hadn’t needed to worry. Mike’s friends—his family, really—were awesome.

“Let the party begin!”

“Brandon!” Nikki rushed over to her older brother.

“Hey, squirt,” Brandon said before lifting her off her feet to swing her around.

“Put me down, you big lump,” Nikki complained.

Brandon merely hugged her tighter. Becca already knew Nikki’s brothers Brandon and Justin, as well as the man she held hands with. Ben was RJ’s younger brother and she’d met him at the mating ceremony. She greeted everyone before looking around. Spotting Kyle and Todd hovering by the back door, she waved them over. It was time to mix her own bit of crazy in with the group.

Mike bent down to pull a couple of beers out of the ice chest before straightening up to peer over the yard. Thanks to Becca’s father and Pack, the cleanup had already been done on Becca’s cottage before his friends had arrived. That had helped with planning on where to begin.

Casey had worked with Becca to design the changes she wanted to bring in while informing her of what would need to be replaced. Mike had no idea that his former leader had experience and talent in construction. He was impressed.

Mike was also shocked that the damage wasn’t as bad as it had first appeared. With the debris cleared away, they were actually making progress. And it had only been a few days.

“It’s going well.”

Mike handed RJ one of the bottles as his best friend joined him. “Yeah,” he agreed. “At this rate, Becca will be moved back in about a week.”

“Which means the two of you can be out of the Alpha house.” RJ fake shuddered. “I can’t imagine you have any fun being under the Alpha’s roof.”

Thinking back on what he and Becca had gotten up to, Mike could only grin. When he was with Becca, it didn’t matter where they were—he couldn’t keep his hands off her body.

“Really?” RJ thumped him on the back. “You dog.”

Mike punched RJ in the leg. “Dog?”

“Woof. Woof.”

“I swear, I don’t see how Nikki puts up with you,” Mike said.

“Hey! She loves me just the way I am. You’ve been my best friend longer,” RJ pointed out. “What’s that say about you?”

“You’re right,” Mike said. “I need to have my head examined.”

“Nah,” RJ told him. “You’re my brother from another mother.”

Mike groaned.

“Speaking of mothers, yours called.”

“What?” Mike jerked away. He was having a great day. The last thing he wanted to think about was his family.

“Ben has been watching my shop for me while I’ve been gone,” RJ explained. “I guess you haven’t been answering the phone, so your mom called my place this morning. Ben told her that we were both out of town, but he didn’t know whether she believed him or cared. She told him to let you know that you’re expected home next week. There is some big event she wants you to attend.”

Mike snorted. “Yeah, right.”

“I don’t know, man, from what Ben told me, she’s pretty insistent.”

Of course, she was. It didn’t matter what Mike had going on in his life. His parents expected him to jump whenever they said. He wasn’t going to do it this time, though. Mike had responsibilities here and he wouldn’t let Becca down. “They’ll have to manage without me.”

RJ snorted. “I know the others don’t know about your family, but this is me you’re talking to.” RJ grabbed his arm before pulling him farther from the others. When he turned Mike to look at him, RJ was frowning. “You know the shit your mom will pull if you ignore her. Hell, you being halfway around the world didn’t keep her off your back.”

Mike sighed. After one intense mission, his commander had tracked him down to inform him that his mother had called his office every single day. While his commander refused to give his mom any information on his whereabouts, he’d been frustrated by the way Mike’s mother had acted.

After a huge blow-up with his parents when he’d finally arrived back in the States, they’d backed off, for about two months. Now it appeared they’d forgotten the promises they’d made. Mike would return home when he was able. Not at their command. “I can handle them.”

RJ snorted. “They’ll love Becca.”

“They’re not going to meet her.”

“Yeah, right,” RJ scoffed. “I hate to tell you this, Mike, but you’re already falling in love with Becca. I know how that goes. You’re not going to want to leave her. Not even to visit your parents.”

“I’ll make it a quick weekend trip when I get time,” Mike responded.

RJ shook his head. “No, you won’t.”

Mike threw his arms up in the air. “What do you want me to do?”

“Admit how you feel,” RJ replied. “Don’t lose the best thing that ever happened to you.”

“I don’t plan on it,” Mike snapped.

“So you’re staying here?”

“I…I haven’t—”

“Because Becca is never going to leave her Pack, her father.”

“I know that.”

“I can see you’d fit in here,” RJ said. “They need a strong solider who’ll put himself in the line of danger.”

“You don’t think this is over?” Mike had only been concerned about getting Becca back in her home and where they’d go from there.

“I don’t think Dan Carter will be the only one who targets this Pack,” RJ stated. “They’re going to need help, lots of it.”

Mike turned so he could take in his friends, Becca’s family, and other Pack members who were spending hours to rebuild a home. They were taking time from their own lives to help someone else. They didn’t have to, but this was what family did. “I won’t let anything happen to them,” Mike promised.

“Then you’re staying?” RJ was behind him.

From where they stood, both men had a direct line of sight to where Becca and Nikki stood sanding down a few of the new porch steps. “I’m staying.”

As the words left his mouth, Becca lifted her head to peer at him. There was no way that she’d heard him, but as their gazes met, she grinned at him. God, he wasn’t going to be able to leave her. RJ was right. He would be by Becca’s side all the time. She was everything he didn’t know he’d wanted.

* * * *

“I don’t think it takes four people to place a lumber order,” Mike bitched as he drove through town.

Beside him RJ chuckled. “We’re picking up pizza, too. And beer.”

“Becca and I could have handled it,” Mike told him.

“Yes, but I’m hungry,” RJ whined. “That means we don’t have time for you to park and get some alone time.”

Mike glanced into the rearview mirror to look at Becca. She gazed back with a smile. That had been exactly their plan.

“Besides,” RJ said, “Brandon was getting on my nerves.”

Nikki snorted. “You were the one baiting him.”

“It’s just so easy,” RJ said. “He always acts like he’s so smart.”

“Because he is,” Mike taunted. “He’s had your number since day one.”

“He’s pissed because I’m sleeping with his sister.”

“Hey!” Nikki smacked RJ.

“No, he couldn’t stand you before that,” Mike pointed out.

“I don’t think you’re helping,” Becca said.

Mike laughed.

“This is payback.” RJ shrugged. “Mike thinks he’s funny, but in reality, he knows I’m always right.”

He scoffed. RJ might be his best friend and the person he trusted the most, but he was definitely not always right.

“Pull over,” RJ demanded in a hard voice as he sat up straight in his seat.

Mike didn’t hesitate. He jerked the steering wheel to the right while slamming on the brakes. They skidded to a stop. “What’s wrong?”

“Look.” He nodded ahead of them on the road.

He squinted through the windshield at the two big black SUVs blocking the street. “What the hell?” he muttered.

“What’s going on?” Becca peered between the front seats.

“You and Nikki stay in the car,” Mike ordered. He unbuckled his seatbelt before glancing over at RJ. RJ nodded in return.

“Excuse me?” Nikki spat. “We’re not staying in the car.”

“Yes, you are,” RJ demanded.

“Please.” Mike held up a hand when he saw Nikki starting to argue. “We might need to make a quick exit.”

Nikki huffed. “Fine.”

Mike turned to Becca. “If RJ and I start to shift, you get behind this wheel and take off. This might be an attack against you and the Pack. You’ll have to warn your dad.”

Becca held up her phone. “I will. be careful.”

RJ laughed. “We’re trained for this. It’s about time we had some real fun.”

Nikki shook her head. “Hurry up and deal with this. I want my damn pizza.”

“And beer,” Mike added.

“Yes, beer,” Becca murmured. “Lots and lots of beer.”

Mike offered her a confident smile. “It’ll be okay.”

She nodded.

He reached for the door handle, taking deep breaths. The hairs on his arms were standing up with his unease. There was no reason anyone should be out in the dark blocking them from town. Only people from the Pack would drive this direction.

Mike and RJ came together in front of their own vehicle and stood tall. Experience and knowing what RJ would do in most situations would see them through whatever they’d battle.

“Can you smell anything?” RJ questioned.

“No, they’re too far away.”

“I don’t like this,” RJ said. “They can’t know it would be us coming down this road.”

“Just stay ready,” Mike warned.

Several doors opened, but it was the man who’d exited from the farther SUV’s back seat who had his attention.

“Dan Carter,” he spat.

Beside him, RJ was growling. Mike was glad his best friend was with him. RJ might be a little crazy, but he’d make sure Mike didn’t do anything stupid.

Carter strolled with a cocky stride, stopping about a dozen feet from him.

“I got your back,” RJ whispered.

“Keep an eye on the girls,” Mike said. “This could be a trap to get Becca.”

“No one will get past me,” RJ promised.

Mike stalked forward. He made certain that he stared Carter in the eye the entire time.

“Mike Jackson,” Carter said. “I was hoping it would be you who left that property first.”

“Something you need?” Mike asked. “If not, why don’t you get your vehicles out of the fucking road? You’re in my way.”

Carter sneered. “I’d like you to give a message to the other creatures like you.”

Mike didn’t snarl. Instead he let his fangs drop and gave his toothiest grin.

Carter’s arrogant façade faltered. As close as Mike was, he could smell the man’s fear. Good, Carter should be scared of me.

“Be careful with your words,” Mike suggested. “The police are already searching for you. You don’t want to add any more problems to your load.”

“If the police are going to side with animals, then they will no longer be able to hold positions of authority. Times are changing,” Carter stated.

“They are,” Mike agreed. He took two steps forward. The sweat gathered at Carter’s temples. “You won’t get away with hurting people.”

“People?” Carter repeated. “You’re an animal.”

“No, that’s you, attacking a town that never did anything to you.”

“Yet. How long until your kind decides you should rule over us? Make us your slaves?”

“We don’t want slaves. We want to live our lives out in the open.”

“It doesn’t matter what you say. I’m giving you a warning to pass along. Do with it what you want,” Carter said.

“Go ahead.” Mike crossed his arms over his chest. He let the muscles flex to show Carter he had more than one way to hurt him.

“Hide,” Carter threatened. “Run and hide. Anyone left will be taken out like the animals they are.”

Mike did snarl this time. “Who are you to threaten us?”

“I’m the man, the human, who will shoot you myself.”

Mike lunged, but Carter was pulled back by one of his men and a gun was pointed at Mike’s head. Behind him, RJ growled.

“You’ll see me again,” Carter warned.

It took everything in him not to attack. If Becca hadn’t been close enough for a stray bullet to hit her, Mike would have taken Carter down. It was hard to let Carter walk away. He didn’t deserve to be free. Mike would track him down, though.

Carter climbed back in the SUV before his men walked slowly backward to join him. Mike kept his sharp teeth. He wanted to shift completely but that would leave him vulnerable.

He didn’t take his eye off the threat until the two SUVs backed away and drove off. Only then did he turn to RJ.

His best friend was pissed. RJ’s eyes were glowing and his fangs showed, as well.

“Mike!”

The back doors flew open as both Becca and Nikki raced toward them.

“Are you okay?” Becca launched herself into his arms.

“Shh,” he soothed. She was trembling.

“When I saw that gun at your head, I thought I was going to lose control. I almost shifted,” she whispered.

“I’m okay,” he assured her. Mike looked over her head at RJ and Nikki. Nikki appeared pissed as RJ spoke quietly to her. “It’s all going to be okay.”

She pulled back. “It’s not over. Even after all of this they’re going to keep coming after us.”

Becca was right. Mike needed to talk to the council. There was going to be trouble coming to all the shifters. “I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to take care of your family. I promise.”

She lay her cheek against his chest. “I believe you.”

“Good,” Mike told her. “Let’s get our errands done. We need to contact your dad and the council.”

“Okay.” She gripped his hand tightly as they walked back to the vehicle.

Mike nodded to the driver’s side. “You mind?” he asked RJ.

“No problem.” RJ redirected Nikki to the seat behind him.

Mike helped Becca settle in before reaching for her phone. “I need to talk to your dad.”

“Sure.” She pressed her cell into his palm. “I had him on the phone as you spoke to Carter. We heard most of it. I told him I’d call him back once Carter left.”

As RJ got them back on the way, Mike pressed the most recent call on Becca’s phone.

“Becca? Are you all okay?” Alpha Nelson said in greeting.

“It’s Mike. Carter’s gone. No one was hurt.”

“I called the police. I’m hoping they can pick him up, but I doubt it. Carter would know we’d try to get him arrested. I’m sure he had an escape plan without being seen.”

“I agree,” Mike said. “We need to tell the others. I think he’ll leave us alone for a while and target someone else.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. But he may leave some of his followers behind. Since he’s wanted, I expect him to already be gone.”

The Alpha sighed. “It seems we’ll be on high alert for a long time. At least until Carter and the other humans like him get caught.”

“Carter is truly afraid. I know the council worked with some of the other shifters to come out. We need to get the word out to everyone. Zach can help with the felines,” Mike replied.

“I tried to keep our troubles out of the media so we didn’t lose the tourism business. Our town relies on that to survive.”

“I understand and don’t blame you.”

“Maybe it wasn’t the right move.”

Mike turned to look at Becca and Nikki in the back seat. “Actually, that was smart. Now you can decide how and what comes out.”

“You have a plan?” Alpha Nelson asked.

Becca glanced up at him and nodded. As shifters, everyone in the car was able to hear both sides of the conversation. “Yes, I think I know what to do. We’ll have the details worked out by the time we get back.”

“Do you want me to send Kenny and Todd out to meet you? I don’t like the four of you being on your own.”

“Probably best to keep everyone else away from town until we know Carter is gone for good.”

“Okay, hurry back. And watch over my girl.”

“I promise.” Mike hung up. He passed the phone back to Becca.

“What do you want us to do?” Becca asked.

“We’re going to use some of those devastating photos of yours before taking some more.”

“You want us to tell everyone what happened?” Nikki asked.

“No,” Mike replied. “We’re going to show everyone how we’re rebuilding. Instead of leading with fear, we’re going to be positive and show the humans they won’t win. The Packs will stand together.”

Becca smiled. “I like that.”