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“No, it’s not good,” Benny said. “Apparently it translates as power battery. And there is a myth that there are women who are so powerful they can tap into the earth itself and funnel its power into the man who controls her. Those twins? Chen thought they were dònglì diànchí.”
“Is it true?” Ryder asked, a bit bewildered. This was above his paygrade.
“Don’t know,” Benny said. “And if I wasn’t needed up here, that’s what I’d be doing —tracking down those myths. Figuring this shit out. But no, I’ve got to come up here and settle some asshole Alpha who is stirring things up right when we don’t need any kind of fuss!”
Ryder laughed silently. His brother was all riled up. “Well, we’ll try to make it quick and then we can get on with our lives,” he said.
He thought Benny was going to say something then, and he waited. But Benny was silent. “One thing?” Benny said at last. “I don’t know if you picked up on it. The reason Chen had to threaten her mother and sister? He didn’t think he had the dominance to force her to heel like that. He was afraid she’d rebel in front of his men.”
Whoa. She was more powerful than a pack Alpha? And Vancouver wasn’t some small podunk pack either. Ryder frowned. Was she more powerful than he was? He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. And it shamed him to think like that — not as badly as he’d feel if his mother learned of it, though, he thought with a laugh.
Listen to me, he thought, smiling. I’m practically giddy. Damn, I feel good.
He asked his wolf, Is she? Is she stronger than I am?
Mate, his wolf said complacently. Ryder snorted. Guess it didn’t bother his wolf. And if it didn’t bother his wolf, her dominance wasn’t going to bother him either.
Not when he felt this good.
“I guess I better not piss her off,” he joked to Benny. Benny snorted.
“After she did surgery in wolf form on your spine? No, I wouldn’t piss her off.”
Ryder grinned. That had been wild, he admitted.
“Good job, Tom George Garrison,” Benny said. “Very good job.”
And with that approval —Benny was his big brother after all — Ryder went to sleep. And for the second night, he slept with his arms wrapped around a woman, a woman who had his back.
Chapter 5
Day 158 of the re-emerged Hat Island pack, Tuesday, Nov. 12, Osoyoos
The morning was cold. Benny could see his breath, as he jogged in place while someone built up the fire and heated the grill. More venison. He liked venison as much as the next person — it was some of the best meat ever — but he wouldn’t mind some variety. He wondered if someone could be sent into Osoyoos after something. Bread? Eggs? Bacon? And he’d never admit it to Okami, he wouldn’t even mind some fruits and vegetables.
Titus was in human form, dressed in contributions from the men — sweats, socks, and a pair of Birkenstocks contributed by Ken, who just shrugged sheepishly when they all stared at him. “They’re great for camp and motel rooms,” he said.
