Sorry, Charlie (Poconos Pack) (6 page)

The driver’s door of the smaller SUV opened. Kincade pointed at Seb, probably telling him to stay put while Kincade figured out what the hell was going on. Seb, for once, seemed to listen, as he stayed right where he was until Kincade had approached the Lodge. She caught his gaze and winked at him, hoping he’d get the idea that she was fine, but she never knew with Kincade. He could be breaking out laughing inside, and on his face was nothing but blank sternness.

Seb, on the other hand, showed everything. He was watching her like a hawk. When she looked at him, he glanced at Ted and raised his brows. She nodded, letting him know silently that she was standing next to her mate.

The grin that crossed his face was quickly wiped away, but she’d seen it. Ted was in for the time of his life. She just hoped that his heart could take whatever Kincade and Sebastian dished out.

Rick uncrossed his arms, but the stern expression never left his face. “We welcome you, Kincade Lowe, to our Pack lands.”

Charlie almost choked out a laugh. The royal we? Really? She bet Belle was rolling her eyes as Rick continued to speak.

“We offer the safety of our den and the freedom to run on our lands. May your hunts be successful and your prey distracted.”

Kincade nodded his head, and the larger SUV’s doors opened, spilling out a few men Charlie had met before. All of them worked for Kincade, therefore all of them were dedicated to keeping Sebastian safe.

The men approached the smaller SUV. One of them opened Sebastian’s door and he finally stepped out. There was a faint smile on his lips as he looked at the men and women on the porch, a smile Charlie knew. Sebastian was amused by all the formality, but unless he decided he didn’t like the Alpha and his Pack, Sebastian would follow their Protocol. He stepped forward and allowed his men to form a semi-circle behind him. “Alpha Lowell. Thank you for your hospitality, and for taking care of my sister, Charlene.”

Rick didn’t bow his head, choosing instead to nod as Sebastian had. Rick was on his Pack lands, and while Sebastian held rank over him, in this area Rick reigned supreme. He’d chosen to meet her brother as an equal, Alpha to Alpha, rather than Alpha to Leo. Sebastian was going to love that. It meant he’d be freer to act and be himself than he would be with an Alpha who insisted on treating him as the Leo.

Rick spoke the welcoming words that would finish the formal greetings, or so she hoped. “Welcome, Alpha, to the Poconos Pack.”

That confirmed it. Rick was going to treat Seb as an equal, not the Leo. Sebastian’s amused expression deepened, but she could tell he was busy laughing at himself, not Rick. Her brother was having the time of his life right now.

“May your visit be filled with joy,” Rick intoned, fully into his Alpha role now, his voice deep and low, “and your house be filled with cubs.”

“Kits,” Belle hissed.

“Kits,” Rick corrected. “Ted.”

Ted stepped forward, pausing to glance back at Charlie. She tilted her head, wondering why he had a small frown on his face.

She understood when he held out his hand. She took it and sauntered down the steps with him, eager to see her brother and cousin.

Before she could hug them hello, Rick’s voice rang out again. “We celebrate the mating of Charlene Lowe to our Second, Teodoro Pedrozo. We will confirm Charlene Lowe as Pack this evening before dinner.”

They would? She thought that with Ted’s mating mark she already was Pack. Even Belle looked confused, her gaze glued to her mate now instead of Sebastian.

Finally, Ted stepped forward, past Rick and Belle. His grip on her hand was painfully tight. “Welcome to the Red Wolf Lodge, Mr. Lowe.” He held out his free hand, his tone stiff and uncomfortable. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Sebastian winked at her before taking Ted’s hand. “The same to you, Mr. Pedrozo. Call me Sebastian. We’re family now, after all.”

That didn’t seem to soothe Ted at all. If anything, the grip on her hand got tighter. “Call me Ted.”

“Sure thing.” Seb opened his arms wide for her. “C’mere, pain in my ass.”

Charlie didn’t hesitate. “Sebby!” She squealed, leaping into her brother’s arms and wrapping her legs around his waist. “I missed you, Sebby.”

Seb sighed. He
hated
that nickname. The only one allowed to use it was Charlie, because he knew she could wipe the floor with his ass if she felt like it. They’d been wrestling since she was three, and even with a three-year age difference she annihilated him.

“Charlie. Missed you too.” He hugged her tight, rubbing his cheek against hers, scent-marking her. She could faintly hear Ted’s low growl but didn’t stop her brother. They scent-marked each other all the time. And ew; this was her
brother
, not some random Lion who could possibly take her away from her mate.

The moment Seb put her down she was all over Kincade. “Kinny!”

“Charlie!” He laughed as he twirled her around, totally breaking that stoic bodyguard image he so adored. This was the cousin who’d put frogs in her shoes and who’d helped her glue Seb’s guitar strings to the body because dear lord, her brother was tone-deaf and refused to believe it. Kincade put her back down, also ignoring Ted’s increasingly loud growls. “How much trouble have you gotten into since you got here?”

She toed the earth with one foot while batting her lashes innocently at her cousin. “I’ve been good.”

The Pack snickered behind her, some of them loudly. One outright guffawed.

“Mostly.” She glared at the Pack over her shoulder, but they weren’t afraid of her one little bit. If she’d been Belle they would have been cowering in their doggie boots.

Bastards. Wasn’t she queen of the jungle? Weren’t they supposed to cower before her greatness?

“Uh-huh.” Kincade eyed her with familiarity. “I don’t want to know. You’re Alpha Lowell’s problem now.”

“Thank God,” one of the guards muttered.

She snarled at the guards in general, since she wasn’t certain which of them had said that. None of them looked guilty or scared. In fact, all of them seemed remarkably relaxed and happy.

“Hmph.” Charlie turned back to her cousin. “You need to meet Teddy.”

“Teddy?” Ted said softly.

“C’mere, Teddy.” She crooked her finger, smiling when he did as she asked.

Kincade looked Ted up and down, seemingly unimpressed. “So he comes when called, huh? Does he sit and stay too?”

She felt Ted stiffen next to her, just then realizing what she’d done to him. Ted had been so accommodating toward her she’d forgotten that he needed to be seen as strong by his Pack mates. “Ted’s the Marshall’s Second. Trust me, he’s a badass when he needs to be. I wouldn’t have mated him otherwise.” She grinned at Seb. “He beat me at wrestling the other day. Something
you’ve
never done.”

Sebastian didn’t need to be seen as tough or strong, not right now anyway. Throwing him under the bus was no problem for her.

Sebastian stuck his tongue out at her.

Charlie returned her attention to Kincade. “Ted was one of the men hand-selected to guard Belle and Sheridan Giordano when both women were hurt by a stalker. Ted also helped to calm our Omega’s human mate when he found out the hard way that shifters exist.” That last might have been an exaggeration, but not much had happened around the Lodge since she’d gotten there. “Ted’s job is to protect his Pack mates. Trust me, a man like Rick Lowell wouldn’t have picked a wuss for the job.”

“No, I wouldn’t have.” Rick’s deep voice was far warmer than it had been in greeting Sebastian, something she was sure both Kin and Seb noticed. “Ted’s a very well-liked Pack member.”

The murmuring of the Pack behind her had Charlie beaming with pride. She’d known Ted was liked, but the entire Pack was showing their support of him. Ted was almost blushing at the praise of not only his Alpha but his Pack.

Kincade didn’t seem all that impressed. Worse, Sebastian once again looked amused. Until Ted proved himself to them they’d think he was nothing but a pushover.

Little did they know he was only a pushover for her. She tilted her chin. “Wanna go hunting while we’re here?”

Kincade and Sebastian exchanged glances. Seb looked eager, practically bouncing on his toes. “Yes!

“No,” Kincade growled at the same time.

“We’re going, Kincade.” Sebastian’s tone changed. He wasn’t speaking as a friend, he spoke as the Leo, forcing Kincade to bow his head in acknowledgment. Sebastian could focus his power on all or one, or a small group in a large one. His power as the Leo was so precise he could call someone on the phone and, with his voice alone, get complete compliance.

She’d always sort of envied him that ability, but she didn’t wish the responsibilities that came with the position on anyone, not even her worst enemy. Whoever that might be. Being Leo sucked ass as far as Charlie was concerned. No power was worth not knowing who your friends truly were.

“Yes, your worshipfulness.” Kincade glared at Sebastian, his brown eyes going Lion gold in his frustration.

“Thanks.” Sebastian grinned and slapped Kincade on the back. “So.” He rubbed his hands together and stared at the Pack. “I hear there’s a party going on?”

Rick looked at Belle before chuckling. “Sure thing, Alpha. Follow me.” Rick led the way into the Lodge as the rest of the Pack scattered back to their jobs. “The Red Wolf Ski Lodge and Spa has been in the Lowell family for generations.”

Charlie watched her brother take in in the red leather club chairs, the geometric red, brown and tan rug, and the dark leather sofa. Dark walnut end tables were scattered between the chairs with tall wrought iron lamps providing reading light. Huge wrought iron chandeliers illuminated the space. Dark walnut exposed beams were a rich contrast to the creamy yellow walls and the pale fieldstone floors. The check-in desk was the same dark wood touched with rich golden accents, as were the elevator doors across the lobby.

Charlie loved the look of the Lodge, and loved even more that the offices were done in the same warm tones and with the same homey touches. Nowhere else did the boss make sure that the workers were as well taken care of as the guests, but this was a Pack-run facility. That meant that most of the workers were family to the Alpha, and he treated them accordingly.

She tuned Rick’s spiel out and turned to Ted. “You okay?”

The death grip on her hand eased. Maybe by the end of the day she’d have feeling in those fingers again. “Yeah, I’m good.” He kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

“Pfft. You’re my mate. Of course you’re a badass.” Charlie flipped her hair back over her shoulder. “I’d accept nothing less.”

He chuckled, watching as Rick showed Kincade and Sebastian the front desk area. “Of course not. You’re a brave, beautiful Lioness.”

“You think so?” She glanced up at him out of the corner of her eye.

“I know so.” He put his arm around her waist, his shoulders finally relaxing. He’d been more nervous than she’d realized. “I’m just sorry I didn’t put my big girl panties on and claim you sooner.”

She tilted her head. “I’d pay to see that.”

“See what?”

“You in big girl panties.”

He choked on a laugh.

Chapter Seven

Teodoro Pedrozo, badass Second of the Poconos Pack (at least according to his mate), stood before the double doors of one of the wedding/banquet halls and shook like a seventeen year old boy about to ask Wendy Thompson, the prettiest girl in his twelfth grade class, to the prom. Unfortunately, Wendy turned out to be a bitch in more ways than one. Thankfully he found that out when she dissed Ben Malone. He’d stood her up and spent the evening with his buddies.

She still didn’t speak to him any more than she absolutely had to and only for Pack business. He counted it a shame that she hadn’t followed Gina into exile, but even Wendy wasn’t as big a bitch as Gina Maldonado had been.

“It’ll be fine.” Charlie’s voice interrupted his internal freak-out. “Look, Seb is talking to Rick at the head table.”

Eep. The head table, where Ted was supposed to sit with Charlie and the rest of the Pack’s hierarchy. “Can we go back to the room and order in pizza?”

“No, Chicken Little, we can’t.”

He edged back, watching Sebastian as he talked to Rick. When Rick actually
bowed his head
to the Leo Ted made a noise between a wounded cat and a nail gun with a broken air hose.

Charlie barked out a laugh. “What the hell was that? It sounded like a cat farting and meowing at the same time.”

“It’s the signal for me to board the Nopetrain to Fuckthatville.” Ted turned around, only to be brought up short by Charlie. Jeez, his mate was strong.

“Consider yourself nope-blocked. It’s like cock-blocked, but lasts longer if you don’t get your ass in there.”

“Yes, ma’am. Going into the scary room, ma’am.” Ted turned back around and marched right through the double doors.

“I don’t get it,” she muttered through her smile. How she managed to speak without her lips moving would forever remain a mystery to him. “You’ve already met Seb and Kincade. Why the freak-out?”