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“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She pulled away from his hand to take a deep breath. “I’m not saying never. I know that’s a big part of your life and who you are. I just don’t know if I’m ready for it yet, and I really do have a lot of work today. It’ll be all right, Bennett.”
Damn it. If she just kept saying his name like that, he’d do damn near anything she pleased. “Fine. I’ll make this as quick as possible, and then I’ll be back. If anything seems off, even just a little out of the ordinary, then call me.”
“I will.” She leaned in to give him a slow, languorous kiss that tempted him to lock the doors and drive immediately back home.
Bennett waited until she’d gone through the back door, and he knew it was shut. Then he waited a bit longer, just to be sure. His wolf was pissed. It didn’t like this any more than he did. Bennett had a feeling it wouldn’t appreciate the next thing he was about to do, either.
He turned south. How long had it been since he’d visited the Glenwood packhouse? His work kept him busy enough that he didn’t make it to many meetings. Even when he did, he already felt like he was on the outskirts of the pack. His skills were useful, so it wasn’t like his Alpha and the other leaders of the pack didn’t call on his help every now and then, but he knew his hands were stained.
The low clouds were drizzling consistently by the time he pulled up to the big, cedar-sided home backed by acres and acres of woods. Bennett had spent plenty of time there when he was younger. It was always a treat when his father had business there and he got to play with the Glenwood boys and the other young shifters. This was the one place in the world where they never had to worry about being their true selves.
But it was different for Stephanie. She’d been honest enough to say she was uncertain about diving headlong into the shifter world. It’d surprised him a bit, since she’d fired off round after round of questions the previous night once they’d gotten back to his place. As far as Bennett could tell, she was fascinated by the whole idea. That didn’t erase the fact that his parents had been blatantly against their relationship. How much was that knowledge affecting her?
He stepped up to the front door, where Brody greeted him. “Hey, Ben. Long time, no see.” The pack’s third in command reached out and pulled Bennett in to slap his back.
“I always hated it when you called me that.” Bennett stepped into the living room. The Glenwoods had been a strong pack for many years, and it showed in the framed original artwork and gleaming hardwood floors. He’d certainly had some of this in mind when he’d built his own place.
“I know. That’s exactly why I kept doing it,” Brody replied with a grin. “Rex is expecting you. He’s in his den.”
“What kind of mood is he in?” Bennett asked. He eyed the tattoos on Brody’s arms, thinking it was about time he got a little new ink himself. Once life settled down, of course, which it never did.
Brody lifted his brows. “Is this something that serious?”
Bennett thought about Stephanie, working all alone at the clinic, vulnerable to the Bloodmoon Crew. They were already a problem for him before, but the issue had grown far more vital now that she was involved. “I think so.”
“Well, you know Rex. He’s always got his plate full, but he likes that. He’s been working a lot with the new Alpha of the Morwoods to get them all straightened out.” Brody motioned toward the door. “I’ve got to get back home, but I’ll catch you later.”
“See ya.” Bennett headed through the living room and turned down the hall. He knew this house as though it were his own. In many ways, it was. The Glenwood pack had always been a generous and charitable one. Empty rooms were always ready for anyone in need. He and his mother had stayed in some themselves shortly after the restaurant had burned down, when they’d needed to be around their pack more than anything. He needed them again now.
The door was open, and he knocked on the frame.
Rex sat at his desk, frowning at his computer. The consistent drizzle moved in waves down the window behind him. As soon as he saw Bennett in the doorway, the Alpha got up and came around the desk. “Bennett. Good to see you, man. I have to admit I was kind of surprised when you asked to meet with me. Have a seat. I’d offer you a whiskey if it wasn’t so early in the day.” He led the way to the two armchairs in front of the fireplace. It wasn’t cold enough yet for the fire to be lit, but it still created a cozy corner in his den.
“No worries. Sorry for such short notice.” He sat, remembering when he and Rex were too young for this room to mean anything more than the place where adults talked about boring stuff. “It really couldn’t wait.”
“It’s not a problem,” Rex assured him. “I spend at least a few days a week here for pack business and try to split my time the best I can with Selene’s. I’ve been busy, so it’s been difficult to finalize it, but I think I’ve got it all down. Anyway, you didn’t come here to talk about my rock club.”
“No,” Bennett agreed. “I need to talk to you about the Bloodmoon Crew.”
Rex was sitting back in his armchair, looking relaxed, but his shoulders tensed slightly at the mention of the name. “The leadership of the Silvergrove pack? I haven’t heard anything about them in a long time.”
“Well, they haven’t exactly been staying underground if you know what you’re looking for. Their activity has picked up lately. They’ve been all over town, pushing drugs, selling weapons, and demanding protection payments.” His wolf roiled angrily inside him. The bastards were everywhere, and he was out there in the woods sitting on his ass. Bennett should be doing something about it. He reminded himself that coming out there to talk to Rex was doing something about it, but he worried it wouldn’t be enough.
Rex put his elbow on the arm of the chair and ran his thumb just under his lips. “Can I assume there’s a reason you’re taking a particular interest in them right now?”
“Work,” Bennett replied simply. “I was hired by a member of the Silvergroves to take them out. They’re running their pack into the ground, threatening their own members, and worse. They came to me, and I took the job. The problem is that the Crew has grown much more powerful over the years. I can’t take them out alone.”
“Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?” Rex asked slowly, his blue eyes burning into Bennett’s.
“I am. I need the pack’s help. The Bloodmoon Crew has already tried to exact their revenge on me. They left me for dead, and I probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for some lucky circumstances.” He’d save the part about letting his shifter secret out for later. Rex was obviously already on edge. “There are more members than there used to be, and they’ve been at this long enough to know what they’re doing. The job is too big for one person, but it will save many lives once it’s done.”
Rex’s nostrils flared as he pulled in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. He steepled his fingers together, holding them just under his chin. “Bennett, you know the Glenwood history with the Bloodmoon Crew as well as I do. My father was Alpha when they burned down your dad’s restaurant. We evened it out when we came after them at that little dive bar they were operating. He was careful to ensure that we didn’t go over the top, taking out the same amount of damage and lives that Nelson and his men had. It was a show of force, one that let the Silvergroves know that we meant business. My father and Nelson made a truce, and we haven’t had any trouble with them since then.”
“I’m aware of that.” Not that Bennett thought they could ever truly do enough to exact revenge for his losses, and he sure as shit didn’t need the history lesson.
“Then you understand there’s nothing I can do,” Rex concluded, his jaw firm. “It was decided long ago that they would leave us alone, and we would leave them alone.”
Bennett sat forward. “You don’t really mean that, do you?”
