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"Sorry, I haven't heard anything about it apart from the guy building his cabin on land that he bought and owned. God, Billy was acting like an idiot, but it was Ford who was winding him up and making him believe the guy was going to attack the pack at some point. It was ridiculous. They were just spoiling for a fight at the time." Andy refused to be a part of that foolishness. Billy was arrogant enough to think he could defy Coven DuCane's orders. He was risking the wrath of Master DuCane.
"I heard that the guy building his cabin was the beloved of one of the DuCane soldiers. They have a home in Coven territory, and they also reside in that cabin. It's their private little getaway. Don't you think that's romantic?" Elroy sighed softly.
"Are you yearning for your mate, Elroy?" Andy smirked.
“Isn’t everyone?”
"Billy doesn't want a mate. He said they'd be more trouble than their worth, and he hopes to never meet them." Andy told him, and poor Elroy looked completely shocked.
"That's terrible. Fated mates are a sacred gift and are not to be diminished or ignored." Andy nodded his agreement on that score. He hoped that he would find his mate one day and that the person would be kind and loving.
"Fated mates are a gift, Elroy, a wonderful gift."
Dallas checked in with his men patrolling the northern border before heading to the Palace for his meeting with his superior, Silas Patronne. He was scheduled to give a report on the cougar pack activities and the risk level they presented. They weren't a danger to the Coven, but they were becoming overly aggressive with outsiders, which could prove to be problematic.
He planned to keep an eye on them for a while longer. The tension in that camp was palatable, and he had a feeling they might be preparing for something. He didn't know what, but given that they were cougars, it could be any number of things for logic and feasibility were rarely factors that they considered.
Dallas submitted his report to Silas, who agreed to extend the surveillance for a few more days. "Billy Burns' pack is becoming unruly enough that if they continue in their current direction, the Master may order them disbanded and their encampment neutralized."
“Do you know anything about the younger Burns brother, Andy? The fact that he risked a lot to save that woman speaks highly of him. Although the fact that he still lives in that pack after going away to college and getting a degree makes one wonder what he gets from the relationship.” He was more interested in that young man than he should be, and he vowed to put it to rest after this.
"He's never participated in any of their brawls or attacks. They considered him among the lowest in the pack, but he's treated somewhat decently because he is the leader's brother. Billy is dismissive and cruel with Andy, but he wouldn't allow abuse. It would make him look weak if he allowed his brother to be abused." Silas explained, but he didn't have a lot of information.
“They have an odd view of the world and its workings.” Dallas mulled.
"Don't try to figure them out. There is no sense or soundness in a cougar pack." Silas commented with indifference, which Dallas understood. The cougars had been a thorn in the Coven's side for decades. Their heated tempers and tendency to violence did not sit well with the vampires or the other shifters in the area. Following his meeting with Silas, Dallas headed to the dining hall for dinner.
Andy was having dinner in his small cabin when Billy came to visit. He didn't knock or call out; he simply kicked the door open and walked in. "My God, you're a fucking embarrassment." He sneered, grabbed a chair, and sat down opposite him at the table. He then helped himself to the fried chicken Andy had prepared. "I miss your cooking, but I don't miss your stupid face." He said while finishing his chicken.
"What do you want, Billy," Andy asked, wanting to get the visit over as soon as possible. He cared about his brother, and he wished they could have a relationship and could act like a family. But that would never be as Billy had a view of the pack and the world that did not align in the least with Andy's view. In fact, they were complete opposites. His narrow-mindedness and selfish ways made it impossible for them to get along or agree on anything.
"I wish I had a brother that I could depend on, someone who would have my back and I could trust, but all I have is you, a weak, feckless loser." He was goading him as Ford had done. Andy saw the shadow of a grin as he delivered his insults.
“You don’t need me, you have Ford. His strength and bravery will carry you through any crisis.” Andy loaded his comment with sarcasm, but Billy simply nodded his head.
“Ford is the brother I never had.” He shot back.
"I'm happy for you, Billy; you've finally found someone as narrow and limited as yourself." The insult did not land as intended. Billy saw it as a compliment and slapped the table.
"If only you could emulate such a man as Ford and become a true cougar and join us in protecting and defending our people." Billy was looking at him seriously, and Andy did not know what to say. "We're going to the Wayfarer this evening, and I want you to come." That was a shocker. Billy never invited him along on their nights out. The Wayfarer was a bar downtown, not high class but not a dive like Zen. Andy was thoroughly confused by the offer.
“Why would you want me there?” He said honestly.
"Meet us there at nine, have a few beers with my boys, and try to act like a man while you're doing it." He couldn't just be normal; he had to throw in an insult.
“Okay, I’ll be there.” The look on Billy’s face said that he did not expect Andy to agree.
"Nine," Billy stated cautiously, obviously still a bit confused.
"Nine," Andy repeated. Billy stood and, without further conversation, walked out, leaving the door wide open. Andy walked over, slammed the door, and cursed the fact that he'd just agreed to meet Billy and his thugs at a bar in town.
He only agreed because he knew Billy didn't expect it, and it would throw him off whatever game he was playing. But now he was obliged to meet that group in three hours. They would come looking for him if he didn't show up, but that didn't mean he had to stay long. That group got into partying pretty quickly, so he could feasibly disappear after an hour, and no one would notice.
The Wayfarer was on Division Street, which was a block off Main and ran parallel. There were restaurants and small businesses in the area, a good neighborhood, and Andy was puzzled as to why Billy would choose the Wayfarer. He liked to roughhouse and get loud and usually hung out at the Zen Bar. He was just washing up and changing his clothes to go out when the reason hit him. The Wayfarer was frequented by the vampires, by Master Duane's men.
Billy was feeling emasculated after he was slapped down by the Coven for harassing the human who built a cabin near Cougar territory. The vampire named Archer humiliated Billy and a few of his men, and now Billy wanted some sort of payback.
He knew his brother too well, and he knew that Billy was hoping to get into it with a few of them and reclaim his sense of manliness. Unfortunately, Billy was no match for the trained soldiers of Coven DuCane, and he was delusional if he thought he could beat them.
