Bonded (24 page)

“And that’s what
you think Brandi wants? A pack and a home with a ‘safe’ male at her
side?”

He gave a dark
laugh. “Don’t they all?”

“Well...” Damien
paused and shrugged. “Some, but not all. Beth doesn’t seem to care
either way. She says she likes a man with an edge of danger about
him and,” he paused and chuckled. “She thinks this whole rogue
business is highly over-rated. According to her, I’m...er...”
Damien stumbled, a faint flush creeping up his neck, but he managed
to finish the sentence. “...an oversized lap dog.”

Reno would have
laughed if it wouldn’t have hurt his head so much. The idea of
Damien being a lapdog was ridiculous. He’d seen him in action and
knew the kid could be as cold and dangerous as the situation called
for. “Next time I see her, I’ll tell her a few stories about you
that might change her mind.”

“Go ahead. She
might seem pretty meek but my Beth doesn’t frighten easily.”

“
Your
Beth?” Reno questioned the term. “How long have you known her? A
week?”

“Yeah. A week. But
she’s mine.” The corners of Damien’s mouth curled up, his gaze
confident. “I told her what I did for a living, that there’s some
rogue in my makeup. She said she didn’t care, that when you love,
you take the good with the bad. She’s even willing to live in the
housing with me.”

Even with a
hangover, Reno’s senses went on high alert. Something was wrong
with Damien. The kid didn’t talk that way. He banged females then
sent them on their way. Frowning, he studied his partner carefully.
“Who are you and what have you done with Damien Masterson?”

“Say what?”

“Last time I
checked, Damien Masterson’s mantra was the old ‘wham, bam,
thank-you ma’am’ and now you’re talking about Beth living in the
housing with you?”

Damien shrugged
and looked uncomfortable for a moment, then seemed to catch himself
and sat up straighter. “Maybe I don’t want to be that person
anymore.”

“Does she know
you’re on call twenty-four seven and could be away for weeks at a
time?”

“Yeah. She’s cool
with that.”

“What about
pups?”

Damien shrugged
and raised his chin, a sure sign he was getting pissed at Reno’s
questions. “If that happens, we’ll get a place on the edge of town
and I’ll try to get put on shorter cases.”

“And when they
grow up and need a pack? Did you think of that, kid?” Some devil
was prompting him to squash his partner’s plans with a heavy dose
of reality.

Damien suddenly
stood up and growled. “Dammit, Reno. Quit calling me a kid. I’m
twenty-four! And no, I don’t know what will happen if we have pups.
I don’t have all the answers. I know most Enforcers never mate.
That being here is almost a life sentence but I’m not willing to
settle for that. Not anymore.” He shoved his chair out of the way
and stalked over to the window pulling the blinds aside. “I’ve
never had anything that was my own, Reno. I’m like those refugees
out there. This is
my
chance. With Beth, I can have a real
life and I’m not going to waste the opportunity.” He paused and
seemed to be trying to reel in his temper. “You shouldn’t
either.”

Reno was silent.
Damien didn’t get riled up about much. The kid was pretty laid back
and had never given a hint that he wanted more than the life he had
here. Apparently his partner had been harbouring some secret hopes
and dreams behind a devil-may-care attitude. It was sobering to
realize he didn’t know him as well as he’d thought. Staring into
his coffee cup he responded quietly. “I hope it works for you. I
hope you and your Beth can have a good life together.”

“Me too.” Damien
shoved his hands in his back pockets and turned around, a
self-deprecating look on his face. “Mind you, I haven’t asked her
yet. She’s coming to the lunar run with me at the end of the week,
though.”

“Good luck to you,
kid...er...Damien.” Reno had used the term ‘kid’ when Damien first
joined the Enforcers as a way to keep him in line, to remind him
who was the senior partner. Since then, the name had stuck and it
would be a hard habit to break. Still, he’d try.

Reno stood up,
having had enough of the heavy, heartfelt conversation for the time
being. His head protested the sudden movement and he groaned. “I’m
going to get some food from the cafeteria. Do you want
anything?”

“Nah. I’m good.
But Reno? I meant it. Don’t give up on Brandi too fast. I think
she’s what you need.”

Reno didn’t
answer. There was nothing to say.

Once in the
cafeteria, he tried to eat but the food curdled in his stomach.
Damien’s words kept playing through his mind. “Don’t give up on
Brandi...she’s what you need.” Well he knew firsthand that you
didn’t always get everything you wanted or needed in life.
Sometimes you were dealt a shitty hand and you had to play it as
best as you could.

“Hey, Reno!”
Someone gave his shoulder a friendly tap and he looked up to see Al
grinning down at him. “Great party last night, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. Great.”
Hoping Al would take the hint and leave, he turned and stared at
the plate of food in front of him. He tried to give the impression
of eating by poking the contents with his fork. Instead, the man
sat down and continued talking.

“The food was
awesome and I think everyone was there. Even Captain Fielding put
in an appearance. Of course, it’s no surprise since everyone likes
Brandi.”

Reno grunted.
Yeah, everyone liked Brandi, even people who had no business liking
her, such as himself.

“I saw you two
talking last night. Make any progress?” Al gave him a speculative
look and Reno struggled to contain his growl of annoyance. What was
it with everyone lately? Did he look like a fucking candidate for
the lonely hearts club or something?

“And you care
because...?” His tone was deadly but the other man didn’t seem
concerned.

Al shrugged and
grinned. “I just think you two would make a great couple and it’s
frustrating to sit on the sidelines and watch both of you acting
like pig-headed fools.”

Reno stared at him
stone-faced, wondering if Al had a death wish.

“Brandi talks to
me and I’m good at reading between the lines. She has a thing for
you; she just won’t admit it. And I’ve noticed how you watch her,
too. Tell you what, when she comes back from vacation, ask her out.
I’ll put in a good word for you.” Al stood up still talking. “Yeah,
that should work. You gotta make your move soon, Reno, before she
gets her own territory. You know what they say about he who
hesitates.”

“I’ll keep that in
mind.”

Al patted his
shoulder and left. Reno relaxed the hand he’d been clenching to
prevent himself from hitting the man. God, for a DC officer Al was
thick as a brick or just plain stupid. Any fool should have been
able to sense the waves of irritation coming at him and left after
the first ten seconds. He shook his head wondering how Brandi had
managed to stand working with the man every day.

He stared at the
fork in his hand. It was now bent into an unusable shape and he
gave a snort of disgust. Dropping the mangled utensil onto the tray
of uneaten food, he got up and dumped the whole thing in the
garbage before wandering outside.

The hot summer sun
was a blazing orb in the sky, heat rising from the ground in
shimmering waves. Most of Lycan Links' members were inside right
now, hiding from the oppressive weather in the cool underground
halls of the complex. In the distance, the drone of cars on a
highway could be heard but beyond that all was still. Even the
insect life seemed to be dozing as the midday temperatures
rose.

The solitude might
have bothered some but Reno appreciated the quiet. His body still
protested the alcoholic abuse he’d subjected it to and Al’s
blathering had made his head pound even worse than it already was.
The serenity was soothing.

Finding a tree
with a modicum of shade he sat down and leaned against the rough
bark. Grass, brown and crisp from the summer drought, pricked at
his palms as he braced himself but he ignored the small
discomfort.

Instead, he
focussed inward, trying to calm his thoughts and still the anxious
feeling that filled him. Brandi was leaving on vacation today—had
in fact left already—and somehow he was sure he could feel her
increasing distance almost like a physical tug on his heart. It
made no sense. Two physical encounters and a heated kiss didn’t
create a bond between two wolves, at least not one like this. At
times, he was almost sure he heard her inside his head but could
never make the words come into focus. God, was he going crazy?

Last night he’d
tried to drink himself into oblivion but all he’d done was waste a
good bottle of booze. He’d fallen asleep near dawn but dreams of
Brandi had punctuated his slumber, all their encounters, their
fights, the sex... More than once he’d woken up hard as a rock and
aching with need. Finally, he’d stumbled out of bed and stood under
a cold shower until all his body parts were numb.

Reno rubbed his
forehead and stared out across the vast expanse of the prairies. He
was on a bluff that provided a bit of a view beyond the tree-lined
perimeter of Lycan Link. A slight breeze ruffled his hair and sent
the long grass into a swaying motion like waves rolling across the
ocean. This was his home and had been for the past eight years but
today it felt strange, as if he no longer belonged here and needed
to be somewhere else.

Giving in to an
impulse, he shifted forms and set out at a moderate trot. Perhaps
this was what he needed. It had been a while since he’d allowed his
wolf free rein to roam. And the full moon was less than a week
away. That might account for his restlessness.

Small openings in
the fence around Lycan Link provided an easy means for the
werewolves to slip in and out of the complex unnoticed. Reno made
use of one, heading out with no particular destination in mind.
There was no peace in his soul but running until he was exhausted
might provide some relief.

For a moment he
stood still, allowing his wolf to test the air and scan for any
danger that might lurk outside the compound. Nostrils flaring, ears
twitching, the beast catalogued each scent, sight, and sound before
giving a satisfied huff and shaking its head. Pleased to be free,
it stretched languidly then pranced about before beginning to
run.

As muscles warmed,
his stride lengthened until he reached his maximum speed. Wind, hot
and dry, whipped his eyes and whistled past his ears as he sped
along. The dry grass crackled underfoot, some of the sharp edges
slicing his leathery paws but he didn’t care. He ran to escape the
loneliness that filled him, the restlessness that was afflicting
him with ever increasing frequency. At thirty-one years of age he
shouldn’t be facing a crossroad in his life. However, no matter how
hard he tried to deny it, it was there and it was all tied to
Brandi Johansson.

He let his human
self sink lower, hiding from the troublesome emotions behind the
wolf’s consciousness. In what was akin to a half-somnambulant
state, he idly listened to the wolf’s thinking.

Survival.
That’s what’s important. Food, water, shelter.
His eyes flashed
back and forth as he ran, alert to find the basic necessities
.
Establish a territory. Protect it. Gather a pack. Find a
mate...

The wolf’s stride
faltered. He slowed to a walk and finally stopped unsure what to
do.

Every wolf
needs a mate. There was a suitable one present but the man who is
our Alpha let her go. Now she is moving farther and farther
away.

Cocking its head
to the side, the wolf considered the problem
.

A chase. That’s
what’s needed! Perhaps the female wishes to be pursued. That’s why
the man let her go.

Excitement flared
at the idea of using its wiles to track down the runaway female.
Throwing back its head, the wolf howled its intent, giving warning
to all that the hunt was on. Taking off at full speed, he raced
over the plains, mile after mile until he began to stumble from
exhaustion. His sides heaved, his tongue hung from his mouth.

Scenting nearby
water, he made his way to a shallow pool. It was almost dried up,
weeks having passed since the last rain. Dried mud, baked hard and
deeply cracked, lined the edges and he picked his way through until
he reached the remaining moisture.

It was tepid but
drinkable and he slaked his thirst while keeping a watchful eye on
his surroundings. A field mouse scuttled by, rustling the dried
grasses. A hawk circled overhead drifting on the air currents while
searching for its next meal. All was calm and peaceful in the
animal kingdom. If only he could be so lucky.

Though hot and
tired, the wolf had no intention of stopping, sure if it just ran
far enough and fast enough his mate would be found. Reno sighed and
pushed his way to the surface, though a part of him longed to stay
hidden. No. He couldn’t let the wolf continue. Brandi was gone,
probably flying to some exotic resort on a tropical island. His
wolf couldn’t track her, no matter how good its skills.

Sorry, boy, he
murmured, trying to sooth the beast by mentally scratching the
creature’s ears. There’s more to life than a mate, he assured it.
Our duty is more important. Duty to the pack, to the entire Lycan
community, supersedes our personal needs.

The wolf didn’t
agree and muttered darkly that both were possible but Reno knew
better.

You are in
charge, the Alpha in our relationship.
The wolf stated
emphatically.

Reno nodded in
agreement wondering what point the creature was trying to make.
Several times he and the wolf had fought for dominance but he’d
always proved to be the stronger personality.