First Love (9 page)

Chapter 9

              It took months to legally change her name, but she had done it.  What took even longer was transferring her family’s assets from her given name to her new one.  All that said, what took the longest was proving to the family lawyer who she was.  If not for the mating mark on her forearm he would have never have believed her.

              Mr. Hughes was loyal to the Brokefang family and pack, even to this day despite having moved under Maurison protection.  Tamika’s biggest fear was that he would choose loyalty to his new pack over loyalty to his old.  Just last year she had watched Jared almost killed and he seemed incapable of defending himself.  She knew then that they were far too different for the mating bond to be completed.  She ran, as much to protect him as herself.

              Tamika just could not leave her home, though.  The land was in her blood.  After enough brainstorming with Mr. Hughes, Lisa Brooks was born.  A new name, birthdate, and social security number.  They had created a credible backstory for her new identity, but she didn’t plan on using it.  The less that people knew about Lisa the better.

              The bar had been in her family for generations, but Mr. Hughes managed a forge a sales record.  Ms. Lisa Brooks now owned her family’s bar and any pack member who wanted to could trace it.  She smiled as she dusted the bar.  She wasn’t planning on reopening it as just a bar though. 

              There was a fine oak stage on the far end of the room that had once been used to host up and coming musicians.  They would never make their big break on the stage, but it brought live music to the bar and cost free entertainment was always good—or at least that is what her uncle had always said.

              If she reopened it like it had always been it would only be a matter of time before the pack council started meeting there.  No, she needed something a little more unacceptable to keep them away.  Which was why she put up job postings over the last day for both male and female strippers in addition to the bartender.

              She was interviewing a number of different men all at one in the afternoon—fifteen minutes from now to be exact.  To be exact she wasn’t interviewing them; if they were the least bit hot they had a job offer. 

              Lisa cringed as the first of her interviewees walked into the bar.  They embodied the expression ‘beat with an ugly stick.’ She actually cringed when they flirted with her.  Not that flirting was a bad idea, it was just a bad idea for them. 

              “Leave the girl be, y’all aren’t even on the same continent as her,” the new man said and then held his hand out to her, “Name’s Lance, I hear you need a bartender.”

              “I most certainly do,” she said with a relieved smile, “My name is—Lisa.” 

              She had paused because just about the time she was going to say her name two people she never expected walked into the bar—Jared and Jackson Maurison.  Lisa sent up a silent prayer that Jared wouldn’t recognize her.  Lance chuckled as he followed her gaze.

              “Look all you want, baby girl, but the taller one is untouchable and the shorter one is lucky to figure out how to zip his jeans and that is not a reflection of his brains, just his libido,” Lance advised her like an old friend.

###

              Tamika stood in confused awe at the head of David’s dinner table.  Council meetings use to be held in the council chamber.  Granted it was under the ruins of her family’s home, but she had always assumed the council had continued using them.  She certainly had not expected them to turn into a glorified dinner party.

              “Ms. Brokefang, please sit,” David said like an annoyed father while Jared bodily moved her into a chair.

              “This is not exactly what I expected,” she whispered to Jared.

              He simply shrugged as he slid into the seat next to hers.  Jared made sure to hold her hand under the table.  He had expected her to be nervous, not annoyed.  He squeezed her hand lightly, letting her know that he was there for her.

              A tall, tanned blond that looked to be in his thirties walked in.  She knew he was much older because Conrad Duran looked much the same he had when she was a child.  His brother Brent was almost his twin and he had not changed all that much either.

              Conrad walked to the head of the table and cleared his throat before he said, “My fellow alphas, welcome.  Today we come together on behalf of the Riverbed family, please tell us of your troubles Soren.”

              He sat down at the head of the table and listened as Soren stood and said, “My two children, the twins, Trent and Tara went missing earlier this week.  I thank you for calling this meeting so quickly.  We have contacted the human police, but I need the permission of the council for my pack to track them and bring whoever did this to justice.”

              Jared and probably every other alpha in the room scented Tamika’s anger flare, but surprisingly enough Conrad’s did as well.  Everyone waited to hear if there was more for Soren to say.  A few silent seconds ticked by and Tamika pushed herself up out of her chair and stood.

              “Permission to speak, Mr. Duran,” she said bowing her head.

              “Of course, Ms. Brokefang,” he said slowly.

              Tamika locked eyes with Soren and said with blatant condensation, “From the time I could walk the laws of this council were pounded into my head.  How dare you forsake your duties as an alpha and defer to this council instead of tracking your children down and getting them back.  How many days have your children suffered needlessly because you were too cowardly to act?”

              “Ms. Brokefang, that is enough,” Conrad practically yelled at her.  “That said, she is not wrong.  We are supposed to be a council of alphas.  Leaving your children to fend for themselves is unacceptable.”

              “With all due respect we’ve all seen what happens when an alpha does not cede to the council’s wisdom,” Soren said.

              “Enough, Soren, go send your men to find your children—now,” Conrad commanded him.

              Turning to Tamika he said gently, “Ms. Brokefang the way this council works has changed since your father’s day, as you can see it has not all been for the best.  There have been no more incidents like what happened with your family, though.”

              “Gentlemen, I believe you rushed to conclusions as to what caused the raid on my family’s compound, so let me shatter your assumptions right now.  Yes, my father was picking off the hunters that were encroaching on his territory, but if you are looking for someone to blame for the death of my family, look no farther than me.  I had befriended a little hunter boy and didn’t know it,” she said, her eyes darting to Jared for a brief moment, “He found out I was wolf.  His father led the raid.  You see, if my father had only worked a little quicker with killing the hunters he may still be alive.”

              The council members looked guilty as she took an exaggerated breath and added, “In interest of full disclosure, as the last of the Brokefang clan and a natural alpha, I have been hunting the hunters and killed most of those responsible for the death of my family.”

              “You did not have permission of the council!” Soren barked in outrage.  While other council members yelled out similar sentiments.

              “Enough,” Conrad said.  When no one seemed to hear him he slammed his fist down on the table and stood, yelling, “Enough!”

              “Tamika Brokefang acted within her rights as an alpha of the packs.  Many of you seem to forget it is our job to protect our packs and when that fails, avenge them.  As head of the council I have tolerate far too much over the last twenty years.  How long has it been since any of you have made a real decision regarding your packs?” he said with cold calm.

              Silence echoed throughout the room.  He sighed and collapsed into his chair, “Everyone get out.  Ms. Brokefang, stay.”

              Everyone got up to leave, including Jared.  She gripped his arm and said, “Stay.”

              “Conrad said everyone,” he said as if following Conrad was as natural as breathing.

              “You are my mate and you are supposed to be an alpha, so sit your ass back down, Jared,” she hissed.

              Meeting Conrad’s eyes she solidified her order by saying to him, “My mate stays.”

              He nodded without complaint, as his own brother stayed by his side.  He sighed as the last man out the door shut it and said, “Your father would be appalled at the state of the council.”

              “I
am
appalled at the state of the council.  It is as there is only one pack instead of six.  The other four pack leaders practically cower in your presence,” she said.

              “Branston had a knack for controlling them while making them stay independent.  I am not so talented.  Most of them are not naturally alphas.  Even your own mate has the tendency to follow instead of lead,” he pointed out.

              “My mate has enough alpha tendencies to make him a natural.  I think the difference is he has never been forced to act like one.  You’ve made it far too simple for all of them to defer any decision to you,” she said.

              Jared blushed as they talked about him like he wasn’t there and when he looked at Tamika he saw the unspoken power of a true alpha.  She would not cower or comfort Conrad.  He looked over at the man at the end of the table.  If they had been mated the two of them would have been a force to be reckon with.

              The thought of her even near the other man tied his stomach in knots.  Unfortunately, he felt out of his depth so he stayed silent.  Tamika squeezed his hand and leaned over and whispered, “Calm down this instant.”

              Jared stilled while she eyed Conrad and said, “You did not ask me to stay to talk about your failures.  What do you want, Mr. Duran?”

              Conrad sighed and smiled.  “It has been so long since there was another true alpha in the room.  While I find your directness…charming.  You are going to have to get used to the idea that you are not in charge, Ms. Brokefang.”

              “Mr. Duran, I believe if you would bother to read the charter of the council you would find that
no
alpha is in charge,” she countered.

              He bristled under her steady gaze.  His brother’s breathing was calm, but his heart rate betrayed his anger.  Jared gripped her hand a little tighter.  He would fight them for her, but he prayed it would not come to that.

              “Ms. Brokefang your father was quite thorough with your education,” he said slowly.

              “Knowledge is power, Mr. Duran.  As I am sure you well know.  So, you will understand any who choose to live under my protection will be under my protection first and the council’s second,” she said calmly.

              Conrad looked at her with pity as he said, “You are walking the same path that your father did.”

              “Perhaps, but my father was hesitant to do what was necessary.  I have no such qualms.  For instance, if I found out that anyone in council gave the hunters the codes for the family compound I would tear them apart without a second thought,” she said calmly. 

              Conrad wasn’t fazed by the statement, but his brother’s heart beat wildly out of control.  Jared felt the need to get her out of the room and away from the volatile wolf.  He stood up and said, “Tamika, I believe it’s time to go.”

              She nodded and Conrad smirked and said, “Looks like you do have some spirit, boy, but certainly not enough.  A prize such as Ms. Brokefang is wasted on you.”

              Sighing she got up from the table and allowed Jared to lead her out.  The moment they slipped into his Mercedes he looked over at her in frustration and said, “How long were you going to allow me to make a fool of myself?  It’s obvious I have no influence over you what-so-ever.”

              “You have much more influence over me than you think, Jared.  You always have,” she said quietly.  “I think it’s time we go back to the Brokefang seat,” she added more loudly.

              “The place was burned down, Tamika,” Jared said.

              “I rebuilt it five years ago.  It’s not the same, but if I have to claim alpha status for my lost pack then I need to do it from my own territory,” she said slowly.

              “Once you’re alpha what happens?  Do you kill the Durans?” he asked slowly.

              “You caught that, did you?” she asked.

              “Brent Duran either opened the gates of your compound to the hunters, or he knows who did.  If I hadn’t gotten you out of there I don’t know what I would do.  So, what do we do with the Durans?” he asked again.

              “I am already a recognized alpha.  No, I don’t kill the Durans.  Only the younger brother is guilty of contributing to the deaths of my family.  He will die, but his death has to be untraceable.  I don’t want a pack war when I have no pack,” she said slowly.

              “What you’re proposing could take years to accomplish,” Jared said, shaking his head.

              “Then I had better get started,” she said with a cold smile.