Part 5 (2/2)

No women around. Everything back to normal. Grey stole a look over at his boss. Everything and everyone would be the same but Dek.

Oh, h.e.l.l. Someone was going to have to step in, and why the f.u.c.k did it have to be him?

aYouare a fool, and you have it all wrong.a Grey told her, almost pleasantly. aDonat you see the alpha b.a.s.t.a.r.d is doing this for you? He and Lowell both are tearing themselves up inside so you can have things any way you want. They both want you that badly. Real weres never get chances like that. Heas letting you leave if you donat want to be part of the pack. You can have him with us, but you canat have him without. What he really ought to do is take you by the scruff and shake sense into you until you canat leave.a Head asked her to leave. Was the giant pain in her chest from her fall, a wound she hadnat felt before, or was it just from his words? The hurt clawed into her as if it were physical. Leila gasped for air.

Doing this for her? Greyas vinegary tone had cut the panic and pain long enough for her to think. Dek had said he wanted her to have a choice. That had to be some kind of first in were history, but she needed to know why.

aYou can shut up now, Grey. And you, Dek --a He looked over at her, his expression polite and remote and totally unDek-like. She opened her mouth and decided words werenat enough. If she was going to have to be honest no matter what, she was going to make it count. And he wasnat allowed to be distant from her.

Leila walked over and grabbed Dekas shoulders, shaking him with every other word. aI love you. I love all of the pack, but I love you. Thatas not a were emotion, I suppose. You donat love me. Iam your mate or your responsibility or whatever it is females are to you, but itas different for me. So if youare doing this to make it easy on me or to punish me or -- Donat.a Oh, h.e.l.l. She was crying and her nose was clogging up and her voice was getting all quivery. This was not the way to make a forceful statement. Leila let go of him to wipe her eyes and tried to come up with the right words. But all she could manage was aJust -- just tell me what you want, Dek.a aWere you really afraid Iad leave you?a Dekas low rasp in her ear and his tight embrace made her c.u.n.t tighten even before the wordsa meaning hit her brain. aAre you trying to get yourself f.u.c.ked silly in front of the entire pack?a He sounded like they did when they had s.e.x. He was as hard against her as he was when they did, too. G.o.d, it was just like when he was so crazy for her he couldnat stand it anymore. But if she had no intention of making public s.e.x a mainstay of their relations.h.i.+p, shead better start talking and stop bawling. She could do that. She was strong.

aI wouldnat mind.a Leila gulped and blinked the last of the tears away. aSo long as you were doing it.a Well, that didnat come out the way it should have. Dekas eyes got even hotter and more intense. Whoa, baby, she was going to melt.

aMe, either. Except for Lin.a Dek straightened and spoke louder. aI take it that means you donat want to go?a aI donat want to, really. Not unless you leave. But what it really means is that Iall go wherever you do, boss.a She almost giggled at the way his eyes narrowed when she called him that last word. He could look as fierce as he wanted, but she knew he liked it. aBut there are going to be some changes around here. Iam going back to school, like it or not. And weare going to see that Lin has plenty of opportunities to do what she wants ... and ...a aMommy? Did you see me?a Lin ran up to pull at her elbow just then.

With an effort, Leila got her mind off being f.u.c.ked silly. aYes, honey. I did. Youare getting very big.a aPretty soon Iall be big enough to fight the bad guys, too, and not just hide.a Lin looked at her nails thoughtfully. aIall need some claws, though.a She stretched her hands out to Lowell and smiled.

aYouall have huge claws when you grow, princess. You can decorate them when you arenat going into battle.a Lowell squatted down to Linas eye level. aI wanted to be sure to tell you what I just told everyone else. Iam leaving today. Iall miss you.a Lin stared at him, slack-jawed for a moment. Then she glanced at everyone else to see their reactions. Finally she scowled and crossed her arms. aNo! You belong to us. Who will get me at school? Who will clean up after everyone? Who will Grey yell at? You have to stay.a aAnother strayall come by to do all that soon enough, princess. I have to go find another place for myself.a Lowell straightened and backed away. as.h.i.+t. Somebody take her before she cries.a aLowell, sheas right. What she and I both told you. You belong here as much as any of us do.a Dek kept his hand on Leila, but his voice was calm.

aI donat want to challenge you, Dek, bad as I want your mate. Besides, I couldnat do it now and win, even if I wanted to. Neither of us wants me to spend years waiting for you to show a weakness, getting ready to fight you. But I canat stay here as I am.a Lowell shrugged. aSo Iall take my chances on leading some other pack. Finding a mate of my own.a aAdios, then, Lowell.a Grey cuffed him lightly on the head. aBe careful.a aNo fun in that.a Lowell grinned, a little uncertainly. aGood-bye.a * * * * *

aI was told I had to come and give you this.a The teenaged kidas lower lip was stuck out in the biggest pout Dek had seen since his five-year-old was told she couldnat have dessert. But the catch in the kidas throat sounded like grief, rather than temper.

aHey. Some present.a Grey looked in the bag. aA tail and ears.a aThat was our packas alpha. My dad. The new boss ran me off.a Their messenger swallowed. aI was told to come to you. He said there was an opening for me here.a aI think Lowell made sure that pack wonat be sniffing after us.a Grey shook his head. ad.a.m.n. I didnat know the little b.u.g.g.e.r had it in him. His first try, too.a aHis first try that he meant to win,a Dek corrected and sniffed the bag. aAll in all, itas a real nice token of his appreciation. Our little boy has grown up.a aYou, pup. Whatas your name?a Grey turned to the gangly adolescent.

aRossi.a aWell, Rossi, thereas no time to clean you up, but mind your manners. Youare going to be the ring-bearer.a aWhat?a The kid looked startled out of his misery, and Grey roared with laughter. aWelcome to your new pack, kid. We can do that ceremony after we get done with this silly-a.s.s one.a aMy G.o.d. You live in this huge place with no one but Lin and those two yummy men?a Sasha gave her the thumbs-up sign. aSome women have all the luck. Why didnat that big brute take one look at me and chase me down that night at the bar?a aHey, I invited you to the wedding. If youare nice to me, Iall throw the bouquet in your direction.a Leila twitched the spaghetti strap of her gown into place and stared at the corsage pinned at her shoulder. aIs everything straight?a aYouare gorgeous.a Thea hugged her.

aThe other big one. Is he attached?a Sasha peeked out to where Dek and Grey stood, looking as GQ as Leila had ever seen them.

aNo. Not exactly.a Leila paused and grinned. aBut donat get any ideas. You were right about Grey.a aI was right?a aYeah. Heas gay. Just as gay as you said back in the bar. In fact, head probably love to jump Dek right now. He might even be willing to make it a threesome as long as he could get his hands on my husband-to-be.a aLeila, are you kidding us?a For the first time ever, Thea and Sasha both looked stunned almost speechless.

aNope. But thatas OK. Weare all really, really close.a Leila winked. aI might be willing to consider the idea someday. After the honeymoon glow fades.a d.a.m.n, she just might. Give her a little inspiration, a full moon, and Dek to make her feel wicked, and it could happen.

Her two buddies blinked at her, mouths open. Then they laughed.

ad.a.m.n it, girl, you got us.a Thea shook her head. aYou always used to be so nice, too.a Snickering, they all headed for the room that held the minister and Dek.

For a moment Leila thought she heard a wolf howl in the distance.

Vaya con Dios, Lowell.

aGo on, girl. Stop hovering at the door. I might make that man of yours change his mind if you wait too long.a Thea poked her in the back.

Leila started and took a hesitant step into the living room.

No. There shouldnat be hesitation today. A bride should glide down the aisle, the center of attention. Like royalty. Like a princess.

aMommy, youare beautiful!a Lin trilled out across the room, jumping up and down in her new sequined shoes. aYou look just like a fairytale.a Dek smiled at her from across the room. d.a.m.n decorum. Leila picked up her skirt and ran to him. Straight to him. He caught her before she tripped over her ridiculously long skirt. Lifted her right off the ground to twirl her around. Her hair tumbled and her face flushed. And she didnat care.

Dek. Ah, Dek.

aLeila, I just want you to know something right now.a Her groom cleared his throat and braced himself the way he hadnat needed to when he kept her from falling. aWhen we make the promises to love each other? I mean them.a aAhhh.a Thea audibly sighed behind her.

She wanted to sigh, too. Or weep. But Leila smiled instead. aIf you make me cry and ruin my make-up, Iall -- Iall bite you after the ceremony, Deklin.a aMore promises, baby? Then letas start this wedding thing now.a aIam very glad I decided to run away with you all those years ago, Big Bad Wolf, seeing as it led us here.a Dek grinned, just the way he had back then, and whispered in her ear. aJust wait atil tonight, Red. You know what big bad wolves do to little girls like you once we catch you in bed.a

Treva Harte.

Treva Harte read far too many romances for far too long. One day the inevitable happened. She started writing her own brand of romance. She claims taking care of the family's neurotic miniature dachshund and raising two elementary school age kids is a full time job itself, but in addition she works as an attorney in a city with many other attorneys. She and her husband both like writing in whatever time they have left, so they often fight over--sorry, since they are attorneys they NEGOTIATE-- keyboard time.

You can visit Treva on the Internet ator email her at

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