AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But what about the rest of them? Had the Alpha provided?
Had anyone even asked about that? Had it been considered?
Somehow she doubted it.
Men go to war, and women pay the price, she thought, her outrage growing at what had been done here. “How many men died, Titus?” she asked.
He shrugged and shook his head. “Duncan said 200 and some at breakfast.”
“Two hundred men died,” she said flatly. “Leaving 100 plus households without income? How the hell was that covered up? And who provided for the women and children? Did your Alpha, or the others, even think about them?”
Titus shook his head again. “No, they didn’t,” he said. “You have to realize how much rage there was. Haru and Yui Ito were tortured for 10 days. And although Haru Ito tried to block it from seeping into the Tanaka pack, his pack bond with his Alpha was open. Alpha Tanaka killed some of them with his bare hands. Ito was off healing. Okami was with him and Yui Ito. But Tanaka and his men, Tom and me and some of our men? We killed a lot of people. And Tanaka would have killed more, if we hadn’t stopped him.”
Jessie blew out a long sigh and rotated her shoulders. Old news, she reminded herself. “Well, somehow they managed,” she said. “Some came here. We need to make sure that all the women and children were cared for. That’s a lot of widows and orphans. Can a pack provide for that many?”
Titus took the time to actually consider the question. “Probably this one could — it appears they did,” he said. “It has always been a prosperous pack. Not because of that fool Alpha, but just because they all settled in, built things, started companies. The pack runs a lumber mill, extensive logging operations and a feed store. I don’t know what all else. It probably added on some tourist businesses as tourism picked up. It became a part of the town. Not like the Okanogan pack. We don’t have any businesses at all. The men work, of course, but those are their paychecks, right? Not the same thing as owning the businesses.”
That needed some more thought, too, she decided, but she got it. “And this pack has been here since this area was settled,” she said slowly. “So generations added on to it. Generational wealth.”
Titus nodded. “All of our pack growth in the Okanogan is from the war-wounded making their way to find us,” he said. “And we’re small in number and getting fewer. Although as long as there are wars, I suppose there will be places like the Okanogan that attract those who are running from bad memories of war.”
“And Ryder’s Wolves are like that,” she said, thinking about the ones she’d met. Even Maggie had been a vet.
“Younger generation, but yeah, they fit right in,” Titus agreed. “Horse Creek is different, I hear. They’ve got a human town for neighbors. Families. But I don’t think even there they own the businesses. This pack? Vancouver? Tanaka in Seattle? They’re both pack and business.”
“So if he needed the wall for defense, what else did he have set up?” she asked, changing the subject. “That wouldn’t be enough, would it?”
Titus smiled at her as if he was proud of her. She snorted. He was a teacher with one student. Well, she thought he might have been one of Benny’s teachers once. And Ryder’s as well. She could do worse. “No, he’s got more,” Titus agreed. He gestured with his chin toward the house. “See those dormer windows at the top — in the roof? Looks like an attic? He could position men with rifles up there and command the area all around the house. They’re on both sides. And with this wide lawn? It would be like target practice.”
Good to know, she thought, surveying the situation.
Very good to know.
Titus was watching her, and she gave him a quick smile. “The others are cooking something,” she said. “You hungry?”
“You’re thinking about something,” Titus said.
“Usually am,” she teased.
He snorted. “Why the questions about defense?” he asked more directly.
Jessie paused. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “But I think someone should be stationed in those attic windows to keep watch.”
Titus nodded. “I’ll grab a sandwich, and go on up,” he said.
“You don’t think I’m being paranoid?”
“In this situation? It’s not paranoia, it’s common sense,” Titus said. “But you’re also pack Second, Jessie. I know Benny’s helped you keep things blocked off a bit while you adjust — and wouldn’t I like to know how to do that, myself —but you’re still getting stuff from the pack. And if you sense something’s coming that we might need to defend against? I’m going to look for a gun safe and see if this man keeps rifles, or if he’s too old fashioned for that.”
He nodded once at her and stomped off toward the house.
Please God, let it be needless paranoia, she thought as she followed him inside.
It was early afternoon when Dennis pulled up at the gate in a dark green SUV. He honked the horn and Jessie used the security console she’d found to open the gate and let him drive in. It was a sweet console, she thought, with a security camera and everything. It had been stashed behind a door off the entry. Jessie had thought it was a closet. But she’d found herself moving restlessly through the house, opening every door and peering into to all kinds of nooks and crannies. Including the security closet.
Dennis pulled up right to the front door. Four women got out of the back, and Dennis went around to help Duncan McKenzie out of the front passenger seat. Jessie exclaimed, “What the hell happened?”
“One of the men at the last house had a knife,” Dennis said tensely. “It had poison on the blade. It’s in the glovebox. Can you grab it and my bag? I’m thinking I’m going to need to set up a medical clinic here.”
