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“Pack Second — a woman?” another man protested. Another Campbell. Benny didn’t remember his first name. “That’s not possible.”
“It is possible,” Benny said gently. “You can all feel it; the bonds accepted her. Six months ago, the packs of the New World didn’t believe that women could be pack Alphas either. That was never true — Alpha Ayta Vuk has been a pack Alpha in Russia for centuries. Now we have two more female Alphas in the Northwest. And now we also have a female pack Second.”
“No,” said the younger Campbell. “I won’t have it. We’ll be the laughingstock of all the packs.”
A gray-and-brown wolf leaped at the man and tore out his throat. Jessie-wolf stood over the body and howled her success while the man bled out. No one moved.
“Any more questions?” Benny asked. “I suggest you all think carefully about showing disrespect for the Alpha or his Second.”
Jessie-wolf trotted back up to Ryder and shifted back, pulling on her sweater and jeans. And wouldn’t he like to know how she got out ofthatsweater without anyone noticing. All eyes were fixed on her getting back into her clothes, however. It wasn’t lasciviousness — it was fear. Well, that would be a start. Respect would come.
“Any other challenges should perhaps wait until after dinner,” Ryder said, and there was enough of a growl in his voice that people ducked their heads, acknowledging him as their dominant— their Alpha. “So Duncan and Dennis, can you two join Benny up here at the head table with Jessie and me? And the rest of you, if you would sit according to your family it would help me get an orientation of how the pack fits together.”
He looked around, and Benny thought, here it comes. He’s pissed and watch out. Benny moved to stand closer to him in case someone attacked. “I notice there aren’t many women here,” Ryder said. “That’s unfortunate. Duncan? As the eldest of the pack, could you escort the senior women of each family to dine with us? I’m sure some of the younger men would be willing to give up their seats.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Duncan murmured, forestalling any protests. He left the room, and a half-dozen men followed him out. Benny could hear them arguing outside in the entry. He spotted Marta watching from the door he suspected led to the kitchen.
“Are you ready to start serving?” he asked with a smile. “I think we’re ready, too.”
She nodded and directed a bunch of teen girls to begin bringing in platters of food. Benny hesitated. Did he trust this pack? No, he thought. He wandered up to the girls and inspected the dishes. “Looks good,” he praised. He took a platter of roast beef at random and pointed to another young woman with a bowl of mashed potatoes. “Let’s take these to the Alpha, shall we?”
Ryder met his eyes when he approached, but he didn’t say anything. Benny looked away and down as was proper —not submission, but courtesy. The food was put on the table, and Ryder filled his plate, and took his first bite. “Excellent,” he said, smiling at Marta. “I’m not surprised. Will you join me, Mrs. McKenzie? I’d be honored.”
Benny escorted her to the table and gave her his chair. “I’m sure I can find a seat somewhere,” he said with a lazy smile. “You can see if my brother has learned his table manners. I trust that his mother tried, but you know how it is?”
Marta actually laughed at that. “I do know how it is,” she said, and smiled at Dennis. That’s right, Benny remembered. Dennis was her son. The smart one.
And that seemed to relax people a bit. Duncan escorted a number of other women into the room, and Benny went back to help seat them.
Benny headed toward the kitchen to get himself something to eat. He was too edgy to actually take a seat. The young women in the kitchen were giggling when he walked in. “Don’t let me stop you,” he said with a smile. “What are you giggling at?”
“The Alpha,” one girl said, a bit bolder evidently. “He’s good-looking! Even if he is....” she stopped.
Benny’s smile twisted. “Well, I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear that,” he said. “But the woman that just defended her position as pack Second is his new mate. I wouldn’t cross her if I were you.”
“No,” the girl said faintly.
“Is she really?” one of the other girls asked timidly. “She’s really the pack Second?”
Benny nodded. “You’re pack, aren’t you? You should be able to feel it,” he said, falling into his teaching role. “Find the pack — feel that warmth? And the bond that says you belong? It now links to Alpha Garrison in there, and you should feel that. And you should be able to feel another bond to the pack Second. She stands at his back.”
The girls were concentrating hard. Finally they nodded. “That’s so cool!” one of them exclaimed.
“It is,” Benny said, smiling at them. “It is a story I will enjoy crafting and telling forever. About the woman who claimed justice, and won, and the pack she protects.”
The girls smiled at him.
Benny turned to go back. “Teacher?” one of the girls whispered. Benny looked at her. “Treachery.” And then she fled. The other girls hadn’t heard her, he didn’t think. He started to follow, but no, without guards, he couldn’t be far from Ryder and Jessie. He looked after her with a bemused smile, as if she’d said something flirtatious. He sauntered back into the dining room.
Treachery?
Not challenge. But treachery.
And what came to mind was the poisoned blade. He glanced around the room, watching people eat. He wished now he knew more about the man who had used the blade. He’d been pack, Benny thought. Older, the driver of the dark-green Expedition now sitting out in the parking area. What else did he know about him? Not much. Dead. He was dead. Benny was grim. He wanted to go look and see who the car was registered to. It all but compelled him. Sometimes his damned curiosity was a hindrance.
Treachery. Poison. Food. Well, he’d probably blocked that with picking the serving dishes at random. Everyone was eating, so that hadn’t been it. Would someone take out the whole head table? He looked at who was sitting there. In a heartbeat. If another family wanted to take the pack, now would be the time. And taking out the remaining leadership of the McKenzies wouldn’t make them blink. Or were there more McKenzies? Maybe. Probably, he conceded.
Benny caught Duncan’s eye, and gestured with his head. Duncan made his excuses and headed his way. He pulled him out into the entry. “Quick,” he said. “Who was the man with the poison blade today?”
