Night Broken
Page 8
I thought of the impression Zack had given me in my garage, and said, Hey, Darryl. If you could back down a bit? This guy isnt Peter, who might have been submissive but wasnt scared of anyone. This wolf is going to take one look at you and run.
Darryl gave me a ticked-off look. I am not irritated with the new wolf. Im irritated with you. You are causing me trouble, woman. Darryls voice sounded like it was coming from the bottom of a very deep barrel. It was the kind of voice I imagined a dragon might speak inif there were dragons. Which didnt exist. As far as I knew.
Id thought Darryl was mostly just grumpy, but Adam growled with intent that lent Darryls declaration more seriousness. Darryl tipped his head away from me, but that didnt make him any happier.
What did I do? I asked.
You upset Christy, and that upset Aurielewho doesnt think that leaving Christys general well-being to Adam is the right thing to do, he snapped. I do not enjoy being put in the middle of this.
I upset Christy? I asked. When?
This afternoon. You insisted she sleep in the ground-floor suite when she has a stalker after her. Shes just a little bit of a thing
Darryl, I said.
I dont know what you were thinking, he said, forgetting Adam entirely. Downstairs isnt safe. Shes human and in danger from a stalker who, Auriele tells me, may have already killed a man.
Darryl, I said again, then quit waiting for him to give me space to speak and just took it. I admit I thought Christy would be more comfortable in the suite where she would have her own bathroom. The windows are alarmed, and there are werewolveswerewolves, Darrylin the house to hear when any stranger approacheseven on foot. I tried unsuccessfully to keep the exasperation from my voice. In any case, shes staying upstairsand I didnt object in any size, shape, or form as I wasnt even home when she got there. I was at work.
He stared down at me, and I met his gaze. He didnt look away, and I finally threw up my hands in exasperation. No. I am not thrilled by my husbands ex-wife moving into my house and sleeping in the bedroom next to me. But I am not making her unwelcome. I am not putting her in danger. And you know, you know that I am not lying.
Darryl inhaled. Looked away.
Ah damn, he said with less eloquence than a man with a Ph.D. who worked in a government think tank should use. Shes doing it again. Id almost forgotten.
Im doing what again? I asked. I was starting to get mad, too.
Its Christy, Mercy, said Adam. Christy is doing it again. She has a way of making people worry about her.
And thats the kindest way to put it, Darryl said, sounding poleaxed. Youd think Id have seen it. Ive had a lot of experience. Ill explain what happened to Auriele, and shell realize that she misunderstood what Christy said. Just like the last ten times she misunderstoodit will end up being my fault because I should have realized she misunderstood what Christy told her. My only excuse is that Ive had years to forget, and Auriele is blind to the faults of people she loves. I am the most fortunate man in the world because I am the beneficiary of that blindness, but I forget that other people are beneficiaries, too.
Education and brains dont help when dealing with my ex-wife, Adam said, sounding amused, of all things. You arent wired to see through Christy, and neither is Auriele. Now lets go meet
I dont know how long Zack had been standing outside his hotel room listening to us, but, from the look on his face, it had been long enough. He saw me watching, and his face went blank.
Zack, I said. Let me introduce my husband, Adam Hauptman, and his second, Darryl Zao. Gentlemen, this is Zack Drummond.
Hi, he said warily. He still looked tired and too thin. Come in. Lets get this over with. Enthusiasm was notable by its absence.
Zack turned and walked through the open door of the motel room. Adam followed Zack, and Darryl gestured for me to go ahead. I stepped in and had to fight not to gag.
Maybe a humans nose wouldnt have picked up the odors in that motel room, or maybe it wouldnt have picked up all the odors. Maybe. But I didnt think even an asthma patient who hadnt smelled a scent in months could have stayed in that room for longer than ten minutes without being nauseated.
Cigar, cigarette, pipe, and every other substance anyone could smoke permeated the room, along with the smell of sex, urine, feces, and old alcohol. Ive heard people complain that there is nothing worse than the smell of stale beer, but that room proved them wrong. Stale beer was the least unpleasant scent in the room. There was also mold, mildew, and mouse. All it needed was a skunk.
Neither Adam nor Darryl showed any sign of distress. Zack looked at me and gave me a faint smile. Beggars cant be choosers.
You can move in with us for a few weeks, I said. As it happens, we have a freshly cleaned bedroom suite that no one is using.
No, he said gently. Im sorry, but Id rather put up with this than Your house dont sound like a safe place to be at the moment. I dont like pack politicsthem and me dont get along.
Darryl would have said somethingsubmissive wolves usually do fine in pack politics because, like Christy, no one wants to hurt thembut Adam made a subtle hand gesture that meant stop.
Thats fine, said Adam. Welcome to the Tri-Cities, Zack Drummond. Usually, we would throw a party to welcome youand we willbut the constraints of your schedule means that cannot happen this week. We have vampires in this town and half fae and a host of other denizens of the Forgotten and Hiding, many of which would love to find an unaffiliated werewolf to hunt.
I understand, said Zack when Adam stopped speaking.
Okay. My full name is Adam Alexander Hauptman. What is yours?
Zachary Edwin Drummond.
Adam shut his eyes and took in three deep breathsunder the circumstances in that room, it was a braver act than it usually was. Every time he breathed in, I could feel the pull of pack magic and felt it gather to his need.
My mate opened his eyes and focused his full attention on Zack. Look me in the eyes with no offense taken or meant, Zachary Edwin Drummond.
Zack raised his chin and met Adams gaze. I see you, Adam Alexander Hauptman, Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack.
Will you join with us, to hunt, to fight, to live and run?
Under themoon, Zack said. I will hunt, fight, live and run with you and yours who shall be mine.
We claim you, Darryl said, and pulled out a pocketknife and opened it one-handed.
We claim you, I said when Adam glanced at me.
I claim you, said Adam, and he took Darryls knife and cut a chunk of meat the size of the tip of my little finger off his forearm with practiced ease. Alphas flesh and blood you shall be.
He offered the bloody bit to Zack, who ate it off his fingers. Blood welled up from the wound on Adams arm. Four fat drops fell to the carpet, and then the gouge scabbed over. In less than an hour, there would be no sign of the wound at all. A simple cut would have healed even faster.
From this day forward, Adam said. Mine to me and mine. Pack.
Yours to you, mine to me, answered Zack. The smoothness of his answer told me how often hed done this.
Magic sizzled and zipped between us, burning in my chest as if someone had set a match there. But I shared that power with the whole pack, who received Zack along with me. Zack got the whole of his end, and he cried out and wrapped his arms around his chest and sank down on the bedspread.
It would have taken more than a jolt of pack magic to make me touch that bedspread.
Darryl was made of sterner stuff. He sat down beside Zack and wrapped one of his long arms around the other mans shoulders.
Breathe through it, he advised. I know it burns like freaking nitrous. But it will be over before you know it.
Better joining than leaving, said Zack in a tight voice. But the worst was over, and his muscles started to relax. Until he noticed that Darryl was holding him.
Darryl saw it, too, and released him immediately. All done, he said, standing up.
Now, said Adam. Tell me about this job you have.
Im washing dishes at a restaurant, he said. Its fine. Ive done a lot of dishwashing jobs.
Under the table or over the table? asked Adam.
Zack heaved an impatient sigh. Youre one of those Alphas, he said in a long-suffering voice. Its safe. Im legal, and the job is legitimate. Not quite full-time, so Ill have to find another job to get out of this dump. But I can do that. Im good at finding jobs. I need a pack, not a parent.
Mildly, Adam said, Its my job to make sure all the members of my pack are safe and well fed, so they dont get desperate.
Ive been a werewolf a very long time, said Zack. A hundred and thirty years give or take a couple. Im not going to go out and start eating children.
Good to know, Adam murmured. But you arent sleeping here, anyway. Who knows who will break in here and force you to defend yourself? The Marrok has been very clear that he doesnt want any wolf put in that sort of situation if it can be helped. He pulled out his phone and hit a button.
Hey, boss, said Warren in long-suffering tones. No killer stalkers or arsonists here yet. But Im thinking that it might be a good idea to up the number of guards tomorrow. Just to make sure Christy is safe.
Maybe Christy hadnt been complaining to Warren about how no one was taking her plight seriously. Maybe Warren really felt that they needed more werewolf guards to protect Christy from her stalker, who was, after all, only human. Maybe.
Agreed, Adam said easily. Well keep four on guard duty until we catch the stalker. I have already set up shifts for tomorrow morning. After that, well have to do some scheduling. In other news, Zack, our new wolf, is in unacceptable accommodations. He is working not-quite full-time and is probably willing to take on another job for an upgrade from the Nite Owl.
I stayed there for a couple of weeks, said Warren. He wasnt lying, and he knew that Zack could overhear. It seriously sucked. How about he come stay in one of our guest rooms. It wouldnt hurt my feelings to have another werewolf around when I cant be. Kyle just fired our yard crew and was making noises about getting the lawn mower out himself. If Zack wouldnt mind taking on the lawn, I reckon he could have room and board in return until such time as he wants to do something else. Make sure he knows that its a big yard.
Adam tipped his head toward Zack and raised an eyebrow.
Zack made an exasperated noise, but said, Okay. Yes. Okay.
Uhm, I said. Someone should let you know that Warren is third in the pack hierarchy. They should also tell you that he is gay, and Kyle is his partner. And Kyle is human.
Zack looked at me.
Someone should tell him that, for sure, Warren drawled. Ah reckon someone should also let him know that Kyle and me arent looking for a third. And the house is big enough that if he keeps his door closed, he shouldnt need to worry about what other folk get up to in their bedrooms.
And Kyle is pretty snitty if he thinks that you disapprove, I added. Hell do his best to embarrass you.
Ill make sure Kyle knows how much you like him, Mercy, Warren assured me.
He knows I love him, I told Warren. But warning the werewolves who go to your house what the situation is so no one gets hurt has been my job from day one. An uncomfortable werewolf might take a bite that everyone would regret.
As long as no one pees in the corners, said Zack with a wry look at the corner nearest the door, it has to be better than this. And as long as everyone is above the age of consent and has enough sense to be able to give informed consent, I could care less what anyone does in their own space.
Kyle and I are over the age of consent in all fifty states, said Warren, then gave in to full-out TV cowboy for the last bit. And ah reckon ah can refrain from peen in corners, though ah dont know if ah can be responsible for anyn else.
Darryl was still feeling guilty for yelling at me because he volunteered to drive Zack over and introduce him to Kyle. When we got home, Warren was still getting information out of Christy.
I wanted to go to bed, but if I did that, then Adam would be alone with Christy when Warren left. The minute I figured out that was why I was lingering, I yawned and kissed Adam on the side of his neck.
Ive got to be up at odark thirty, I told them. Im going to bed. If some pyro decides to arson my house again, make sure Im up, would you?
Ill try my best, Adam said courteouslyand for just a moment I had a flashback to Adam, burned horribly and frantic because he thought I was in my trailer.
Darryl gave me a ticked-off look. I am not irritated with the new wolf. Im irritated with you. You are causing me trouble, woman. Darryls voice sounded like it was coming from the bottom of a very deep barrel. It was the kind of voice I imagined a dragon might speak inif there were dragons. Which didnt exist. As far as I knew.
Id thought Darryl was mostly just grumpy, but Adam growled with intent that lent Darryls declaration more seriousness. Darryl tipped his head away from me, but that didnt make him any happier.
What did I do? I asked.
You upset Christy, and that upset Aurielewho doesnt think that leaving Christys general well-being to Adam is the right thing to do, he snapped. I do not enjoy being put in the middle of this.
I upset Christy? I asked. When?
This afternoon. You insisted she sleep in the ground-floor suite when she has a stalker after her. Shes just a little bit of a thing
Darryl, I said.
I dont know what you were thinking, he said, forgetting Adam entirely. Downstairs isnt safe. Shes human and in danger from a stalker who, Auriele tells me, may have already killed a man.
Darryl, I said again, then quit waiting for him to give me space to speak and just took it. I admit I thought Christy would be more comfortable in the suite where she would have her own bathroom. The windows are alarmed, and there are werewolveswerewolves, Darrylin the house to hear when any stranger approacheseven on foot. I tried unsuccessfully to keep the exasperation from my voice. In any case, shes staying upstairsand I didnt object in any size, shape, or form as I wasnt even home when she got there. I was at work.
He stared down at me, and I met his gaze. He didnt look away, and I finally threw up my hands in exasperation. No. I am not thrilled by my husbands ex-wife moving into my house and sleeping in the bedroom next to me. But I am not making her unwelcome. I am not putting her in danger. And you know, you know that I am not lying.
Darryl inhaled. Looked away.
Ah damn, he said with less eloquence than a man with a Ph.D. who worked in a government think tank should use. Shes doing it again. Id almost forgotten.
Im doing what again? I asked. I was starting to get mad, too.
Its Christy, Mercy, said Adam. Christy is doing it again. She has a way of making people worry about her.
And thats the kindest way to put it, Darryl said, sounding poleaxed. Youd think Id have seen it. Ive had a lot of experience. Ill explain what happened to Auriele, and shell realize that she misunderstood what Christy said. Just like the last ten times she misunderstoodit will end up being my fault because I should have realized she misunderstood what Christy told her. My only excuse is that Ive had years to forget, and Auriele is blind to the faults of people she loves. I am the most fortunate man in the world because I am the beneficiary of that blindness, but I forget that other people are beneficiaries, too.
Education and brains dont help when dealing with my ex-wife, Adam said, sounding amused, of all things. You arent wired to see through Christy, and neither is Auriele. Now lets go meet
I dont know how long Zack had been standing outside his hotel room listening to us, but, from the look on his face, it had been long enough. He saw me watching, and his face went blank.
Zack, I said. Let me introduce my husband, Adam Hauptman, and his second, Darryl Zao. Gentlemen, this is Zack Drummond.
Hi, he said warily. He still looked tired and too thin. Come in. Lets get this over with. Enthusiasm was notable by its absence.
Zack turned and walked through the open door of the motel room. Adam followed Zack, and Darryl gestured for me to go ahead. I stepped in and had to fight not to gag.
Maybe a humans nose wouldnt have picked up the odors in that motel room, or maybe it wouldnt have picked up all the odors. Maybe. But I didnt think even an asthma patient who hadnt smelled a scent in months could have stayed in that room for longer than ten minutes without being nauseated.
Cigar, cigarette, pipe, and every other substance anyone could smoke permeated the room, along with the smell of sex, urine, feces, and old alcohol. Ive heard people complain that there is nothing worse than the smell of stale beer, but that room proved them wrong. Stale beer was the least unpleasant scent in the room. There was also mold, mildew, and mouse. All it needed was a skunk.
Neither Adam nor Darryl showed any sign of distress. Zack looked at me and gave me a faint smile. Beggars cant be choosers.
You can move in with us for a few weeks, I said. As it happens, we have a freshly cleaned bedroom suite that no one is using.
No, he said gently. Im sorry, but Id rather put up with this than Your house dont sound like a safe place to be at the moment. I dont like pack politicsthem and me dont get along.
Darryl would have said somethingsubmissive wolves usually do fine in pack politics because, like Christy, no one wants to hurt thembut Adam made a subtle hand gesture that meant stop.
Thats fine, said Adam. Welcome to the Tri-Cities, Zack Drummond. Usually, we would throw a party to welcome youand we willbut the constraints of your schedule means that cannot happen this week. We have vampires in this town and half fae and a host of other denizens of the Forgotten and Hiding, many of which would love to find an unaffiliated werewolf to hunt.
I understand, said Zack when Adam stopped speaking.
Okay. My full name is Adam Alexander Hauptman. What is yours?
Zachary Edwin Drummond.
Adam shut his eyes and took in three deep breathsunder the circumstances in that room, it was a braver act than it usually was. Every time he breathed in, I could feel the pull of pack magic and felt it gather to his need.
My mate opened his eyes and focused his full attention on Zack. Look me in the eyes with no offense taken or meant, Zachary Edwin Drummond.
Zack raised his chin and met Adams gaze. I see you, Adam Alexander Hauptman, Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack.
Will you join with us, to hunt, to fight, to live and run?
Under themoon, Zack said. I will hunt, fight, live and run with you and yours who shall be mine.
We claim you, Darryl said, and pulled out a pocketknife and opened it one-handed.
We claim you, I said when Adam glanced at me.
I claim you, said Adam, and he took Darryls knife and cut a chunk of meat the size of the tip of my little finger off his forearm with practiced ease. Alphas flesh and blood you shall be.
He offered the bloody bit to Zack, who ate it off his fingers. Blood welled up from the wound on Adams arm. Four fat drops fell to the carpet, and then the gouge scabbed over. In less than an hour, there would be no sign of the wound at all. A simple cut would have healed even faster.
From this day forward, Adam said. Mine to me and mine. Pack.
Yours to you, mine to me, answered Zack. The smoothness of his answer told me how often hed done this.
Magic sizzled and zipped between us, burning in my chest as if someone had set a match there. But I shared that power with the whole pack, who received Zack along with me. Zack got the whole of his end, and he cried out and wrapped his arms around his chest and sank down on the bedspread.
It would have taken more than a jolt of pack magic to make me touch that bedspread.
Darryl was made of sterner stuff. He sat down beside Zack and wrapped one of his long arms around the other mans shoulders.
Breathe through it, he advised. I know it burns like freaking nitrous. But it will be over before you know it.
Better joining than leaving, said Zack in a tight voice. But the worst was over, and his muscles started to relax. Until he noticed that Darryl was holding him.
Darryl saw it, too, and released him immediately. All done, he said, standing up.
Now, said Adam. Tell me about this job you have.
Im washing dishes at a restaurant, he said. Its fine. Ive done a lot of dishwashing jobs.
Under the table or over the table? asked Adam.
Zack heaved an impatient sigh. Youre one of those Alphas, he said in a long-suffering voice. Its safe. Im legal, and the job is legitimate. Not quite full-time, so Ill have to find another job to get out of this dump. But I can do that. Im good at finding jobs. I need a pack, not a parent.
Mildly, Adam said, Its my job to make sure all the members of my pack are safe and well fed, so they dont get desperate.
Ive been a werewolf a very long time, said Zack. A hundred and thirty years give or take a couple. Im not going to go out and start eating children.
Good to know, Adam murmured. But you arent sleeping here, anyway. Who knows who will break in here and force you to defend yourself? The Marrok has been very clear that he doesnt want any wolf put in that sort of situation if it can be helped. He pulled out his phone and hit a button.
Hey, boss, said Warren in long-suffering tones. No killer stalkers or arsonists here yet. But Im thinking that it might be a good idea to up the number of guards tomorrow. Just to make sure Christy is safe.
Maybe Christy hadnt been complaining to Warren about how no one was taking her plight seriously. Maybe Warren really felt that they needed more werewolf guards to protect Christy from her stalker, who was, after all, only human. Maybe.
Agreed, Adam said easily. Well keep four on guard duty until we catch the stalker. I have already set up shifts for tomorrow morning. After that, well have to do some scheduling. In other news, Zack, our new wolf, is in unacceptable accommodations. He is working not-quite full-time and is probably willing to take on another job for an upgrade from the Nite Owl.
I stayed there for a couple of weeks, said Warren. He wasnt lying, and he knew that Zack could overhear. It seriously sucked. How about he come stay in one of our guest rooms. It wouldnt hurt my feelings to have another werewolf around when I cant be. Kyle just fired our yard crew and was making noises about getting the lawn mower out himself. If Zack wouldnt mind taking on the lawn, I reckon he could have room and board in return until such time as he wants to do something else. Make sure he knows that its a big yard.
Adam tipped his head toward Zack and raised an eyebrow.
Zack made an exasperated noise, but said, Okay. Yes. Okay.
Uhm, I said. Someone should let you know that Warren is third in the pack hierarchy. They should also tell you that he is gay, and Kyle is his partner. And Kyle is human.
Zack looked at me.
Someone should tell him that, for sure, Warren drawled. Ah reckon someone should also let him know that Kyle and me arent looking for a third. And the house is big enough that if he keeps his door closed, he shouldnt need to worry about what other folk get up to in their bedrooms.
And Kyle is pretty snitty if he thinks that you disapprove, I added. Hell do his best to embarrass you.
Ill make sure Kyle knows how much you like him, Mercy, Warren assured me.
He knows I love him, I told Warren. But warning the werewolves who go to your house what the situation is so no one gets hurt has been my job from day one. An uncomfortable werewolf might take a bite that everyone would regret.
As long as no one pees in the corners, said Zack with a wry look at the corner nearest the door, it has to be better than this. And as long as everyone is above the age of consent and has enough sense to be able to give informed consent, I could care less what anyone does in their own space.
Kyle and I are over the age of consent in all fifty states, said Warren, then gave in to full-out TV cowboy for the last bit. And ah reckon ah can refrain from peen in corners, though ah dont know if ah can be responsible for anyn else.
Darryl was still feeling guilty for yelling at me because he volunteered to drive Zack over and introduce him to Kyle. When we got home, Warren was still getting information out of Christy.
I wanted to go to bed, but if I did that, then Adam would be alone with Christy when Warren left. The minute I figured out that was why I was lingering, I yawned and kissed Adam on the side of his neck.
Ive got to be up at odark thirty, I told them. Im going to bed. If some pyro decides to arson my house again, make sure Im up, would you?
Ill try my best, Adam said courteouslyand for just a moment I had a flashback to Adam, burned horribly and frantic because he thought I was in my trailer.
