ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (58 page)

Winnie’s shoulders shook with the effort to not laugh.  She lost the battle, leaning over the table cackling like one of her hens, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.  Autumn had no idea what she was laughing at, but it was contagious.

Winnie fanned her face and blew air through her puckered lips.  “Whew!  I always thought Dalton was incompetent.” 

“What do you mean?”

“As an alpha.”  She stopped fanning, gaining control of herself.  “But, I see a difference in him.  In just a very short time you have changed him.”

“Me?”  Autumn touched the center of her chest.

“Yes, you.  You’re bringing out the best in him.” 

When Dalton returned to Winnie and Chuck’s, he found Autumn bent over Winnie’s portable sewing machine.  She slowly ran a dark fabric under the needle, pushing it gently.  He had to smile at the way the tip of her tongue was stuck out of the side of her mouth and her brow was furious in her concentration.

“What’s she making?”  He whispered to Winnie.

“Right now some lopsided curtains.  She wants to make clothes.” 

“Clothes?”

Winnie shrugged.  “She needs clothes, Dalton.”

Chuck answered the shrill ringing phone, his voice low and muffled as he pulled the cord as far as it would allow.  When he came back and hung up, he gave Dalton an apologetic look. 

“I gotta go back to the lumber mill tomorrow.” 

“No problem.”  Dalton nodded.  “I appreciate the help on this job.”

“You know, if you can get some steady work lined up, I can just work for you full time.  Then I won’t have to worry about layoffs and cut backs at the yard.”    

“True.”  Dalton said distractedly as he watched Autumn sew.  Winnie stepped forward and touched her shoulder. 

“Alright pioneer woman, that’s enough for today.” 

Autumn sat back and sighed.  “This is hard.”

Winnie laughed, glad someone finally noticed how hard her job within the pack really was.  “Yes, it is, but you’ll get the hang of it.” 

Dalton touched Winnie and motioned her out of the house, leaving Autumn and Chuck to put the sewing machine away.  He handed her a fifty dollar bill. 

“What’s this?”

“Tomorrow can you take Autumn out and buy her some clothes?”

Winnie took the money and crossed her arms.  Her eyes were steely.  “What are you doing, Dalton?  She’s not a plaything.”

“I know that.”  He said defensively.  “What do you care?  You didn’t want me to bring a human home anyway.”

“No, I didn’t, but now she’s here, and worth her weight in gold I might add.”

“I know that too.”  He said gruffly.  “Just take her, ok?” 

Winnie sucked on her lip.  “Sure.  I’ll take her.” 

Dalton walked back in, catching the tail end of some joke Chuck was trying to tell her.  She laughed and he pictured happy birds speaking to each other.  It was a pleasant sound, and one he wouldn’t tire of.  

“We need to talk about tonight.” 

Chuck gave him a level look.  “What about Brian?”

“Brian will be with us.  I’ve already spoken to him.  I think it best that only the three men go.” 

Winnie held up her hands.  Dalton closed his eyes briefly.  He had known this was coming. 

“Whoa!”  You guys can’t leave me here!  “What if there’s trouble?”

“There won’t be.”  Dalton said.  “This is just a meeting.  He’ll talk his bravado and give an ultimatum, that’s it.” 

Winnie crossed her arms sharply.  Her gray eyes dark.  “No way, we all go!”

“Winnie…”  Chuck began.  She shot him a hard look, silencing him immediately, before pinning Dalton again.  “We bring our whole pack…all six of us.” 

Autumn pulled herself straighter, a smile tugging at her full lips.  Winnie glanced her way, and winked. 

Dalton placed his hands on his hips and thrust a hip forward.  “All six?  Are you crazy?  We can’t take Mika and Autumn!” 

“Fine.  It’s up to Brian about Mika, but Autumn has earned her place here, human or not.  She’s busted her ass for two days on our little farm, and wants to come back again tomorrow.  She has real talent, and honestly, I need the help.” 

Dalton shook his head, his lips forming a thin dangerous line.  “No.” 

Winnie stepped towards him, but not in a confrontational manner.  Her voice was soft, barely audible.  “She’s earning her place, Dalton.”

Dalton glanced out of the corner of his eye at Autumn’s straight backed defiant pose.  Her jaw was set, and her eyes glistened excitedly. 

Winnie’s voice spoke again, even softer.  “She belongs with us.  I don’t know why, but I feel it.” 

Dalton nodded, knowing Winnie was right. 

A cool breeze blew through Old Mill Park as the six of them parked their two vehicles and stepped out into the night.  Mika was a ball of colorful nervous energy.  Autumn was equally excited, but kept her nervous energies under control.  They left the vehicles parked on the street and began walking silently down the steep incline to where the picnic tables were. 

Three figures stepped out of the darkness as they approached, and Dalton breathed in the thick scent of wolf.  As they approached he allowed his eyes to focus and assessed if there were any others lurking around. 

Mike Rodgers was flanked by two larger men, Rick being one of them.  Mike’s frame mirrored his own.  Brian had been absolutely right about that point.  He flashed a cold grin when Dalton came to a stop.  As planned earlier, Mika took her place behind Brian, and Autumn stood behind Dalton.  Chuck and Winnie stood side by side on his left, Brian to his right. 

“Just think, a week ago you audaciously called asking about available she wolves, and now we are going to negotiate your absorption.”  He shook his head.  “Things move along fast for you, huh?”

Dalton lifted his chin an inch.  “You can’t jump territory.  You only have Fredericksburg.  You can’t skip over east Spotsy and think you can take my area.  What do you want it for anyway?  It’s small.”

Mike chuckled.  His black hair catching the moonlight, making the hairs on the top of his head shine.  “I already have eastern Spotsylvania.” 

“No.”  Dalton said slowly.  “You don’t.” 

Mike’s smile faltered.  “We are in negotiations.  By the time I’m finished, I’ll be running all of central Virginia and part of Northern.  Who knows, One day maybe the entire state?” 

Dalton laughed out loud, the sound echoed across the short distance, making Rick squirm.  An owl hooted a short response.  The other man just stared flatly at Dalton, his face partially hidden in shadow. 

“You find that funny?”  Mike asked, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. 

Dalton nodded.  “I do.  You’ll never take Williamsburg, and you certainly won’t take the mountains.” 

“Right.  Let’s get down to business.”  He leaned slightly to the side, his eyes roaming over Autumn, before leaning the other way and looking at Mika amused.  “So, it’s come to this for you?  Now you’re recruiting humans?  Pitiful.” 

“They’re none of your concern.  What do you want?”

“I’ll leave your little…group…alone, unless of course I call upon you for jobs.  Your little farm will also be accessible to my entire pack.”

“Our little farm can barely keep us fed.”

“Nonsense.  I saw Winnie at the farmer’s market over the summer, and soon she’ll be there selling cute little jars of goodness with ribbons tied around them.”  He shifted his gaze to Winnie.  “Isn’t that right?”

“It’s none of your business, hybrid.”

“Ouch!”  Mike laughed.  “Hybrid I may be, but I’m an alpha nonetheless.”  He looked back to Dalton.  “I think you’ll find the agreement…well agreeable.”

Dalton regarded him coldly.  “No, I don’t find it agreeable, and I don’t agree to it.” 

Mike spat on the ground, his face looked like stone.  All the joking and smiles were gone.  “You just signed your death warrant.”

“I don’t think so.”  Dalton looked at Rick, a sense of satisfaction going through him as Rick lowered his eyes.  “Give Misty my best, Rick.”  Silence was his answer. 

Dalton took Autumn by the hand and started back for the hill.  Mike’s voice rang out clear behind him. 

“You’ll be hearing from me, Dalton!  This isn’t over!” 

The group kept moving.  The only one to look back was Mika.  She jumped as Mike Rodgers issued a final warning. 

“Your death warrant!”

Dalton poured whiskey into a shot glass and sent the amber fire down his throat in one gulp.  Everyone except Autumn was practically waiting in line for the bottle. 

“What now?”  Brian asked as he lifted his shot glass to his lips.  He poured one for Mika and slid it to her.

“Now we wait.  He knows he doesn’t have eastern Spotsy.  He’ll have to take that first.” 

“Can we get help from them?”  Chuck asked. 

Winnie snorted.  “Yeah, and risk having another rival pack trying to take us over?”

Dalton nodded.  “She’s right.  Eastern Spotsy is in turmoil right now.  Hector allowed two strong alpha’s to stay within the pack for too long.  They have their own problems right now.” 

“Making them vulnerable to Mike.”

Dalton looked at Autumn with pride.  “That’s right.”  Dalton sat at the kitchen table and drummed his fingers.  “We need some help.  At least temporarily.” 

Winnie sat opposite from him.  “Thomas?” 

“I think it would be wise to at least get his opinion.  Maybe he can send a few shifters to help out protecting the property for a while.”

Autumn felt a nervousness run circles through her stomach.  “What happens if a rival pack comes?”

Everyone looked to Dalton to answer her. 

He lifted his head and Autumn noticed how his eyes were changing colors.  It didn’t bode well for a pleasant answer.  

“We either succumb or they will try to make us.”

“Meaning?”  Autumn hated the waver in her voice.

“Meaning they’ll kill us for it.” 

Autumn laid awake for several hours allowing Dalton’s words to sink in.  It didn’t do any good.  The stuff was medieval!  Killing over land?  It didn’t make sense to her 21st century mind.  She had listened to Brian and Dalton’s voices talking quietly until after midnight.  Mika’s soft footsteps had taken her to bed a little after eleven.  Autumn could see a strip of dim light still shining under her doorway.  She stood and padded to the door, laying an ear to the particle wood door.  When she didn’t hear anything, she stepped into the hallway.  She could see Dalton sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands. 

“Hi.”  She said and sat across from him.  “Can’t sleep?”

“Nope.”  His eyes were bleary, and she could tell that he had drank more.  She stood and put the bottle back in the cabinet.  As she reached for the shot glass, Dalton grabbed her arm and pulled it over his shoulder, laying his head in the crook of her arm.  She bent her arm and rubbed at his chest with a flat palm. 

“I can’t seem to get this stuff right.”  He slurred slightly. 

“What stuff?”

“All of it.”  He whispered.  He pushed back from the table, pulling her down into his lap at the same time.  He nuzzled her neck, kissing it gently. 

Autumn stiffened slightly.  The smell of the whiskey reminded her of Teddy, but Teddy had never made her feel like that while he was drinking. 

Dalton murmured against her collar bone.  “You really do belong here.” 

“Don’t say things I want to hear while you’re drunk.  It’s too painful.” 

Dalton lifted his head.  “I mean it, Autumn.”  He stood and lifted her easily. 

“Where are we going?”  She asked, knowing full well where he was taking her.  She wanted to stop him, but her pulse pounding in her ears, and the throbbing of her flesh had rendered her paralyzed. 

Dalton kicked his bedroom door open and laid her down clumsily in the dark.  He shut and locked the bedroom door, and Autumn could hear the swish of fabric being pulled over his head.  The bed moved as he placed one knee on the edge.  A hand came down heavily beside her for balance, and the other touched the front of her t-shirt.  His hand grazed lightly back and forth making her nipples come alive.  Dalton moaned slightly and kissed her hard, forcing her backwards. 

Autumn’s body screamed for him to continue, her legs automatically opened to him, even though she was still dressed.  He moved against her, and neither the thin fabric of her leggings, nor the thicker fabric of his jeans were a match for his erection.  It threatened to rip all fabric apart to get to her. 

I have to stop this.  God, I don’t know how, but I need to stop this!  I won’t have our first, and maybe only, time together happening while he’s drunk! 

“Dalton?”  She strained against his mouth.

He lifted his head a half inch.  “Yeah?”  His voice was husky and full of need. 

“I think we better wait.”

“I need you.” 

She closed her eyes and prayed for strength.  She pushed at him gently until he was rolled flat on his back.  She moved away from him as he tried to reach for her.