Vivian Arend - Wolf Flight

Tad pulled hard and slipped away. He backed up quickly, darting a glance around the room to try to find a friendly face. A hand touched his shoulder and he acted on instinct and swung his fist landing a solid blow on…TJ’s jaw.

Damn. That wasn’t on the to-do list.

TJ flew backward to collapse at the feet of an angry crowd.

“See, just what I’ve said all along. We get no respect from half-bloods anymore.” A skinny man pulled TJ to his feet and tried to brush him off. “I do hope you’re all right, TJ. How extremely rude of this bum to hit you. Don’t worry about him, we’ll show him out.”

TJ slapped the man’s hands away and stomped up to Tad. Shaking his finger in Tad’s face, TJ glared at him. “Do you know what you’ve done? Jerk. You cost me twenty bucks.” He clapped Tad on both shoulders and his scowl turned to a grin. “I thought the brown-nosing would require at least a couple of hours to start. You’ve managed to get the suck-ups to show themselves not even fifteen minutes after Keil left the room. Good job, buddy.”

TJ turned and stared back at the gathering crowd. “I suspected some of you were assholes, now I know for sure. Did any of you think to ask my friend who he was? You know, a visitor in town for a special occasion, let’s welcome him, that kind of thing?”

The Queen of Sheba shoved to the front of the group and seemed intent on continuing to stir things up. “Why should we show him any manners? He’s a half-blood. Untriggered. At his age that must mean he’s packless.”

“What’s wrong, TJ?” The pack Beta, Erik, slipped beside them, his solid six-foot-five-inch frame an encouraging wall of safety.

TJ stared at the twenty or so wolves gathered in front of him. “Nothing’s wrong. Tad and I were just reviewing Manners 101 with these morons. Let’s go get something to eat while we wait for Keil and Robyn to return.” He directed them toward the food, speaking over his shoulder. “I know Robyn will be happy to see her brother after she shifts back.”

Stunned silence greeted his words.

“Oh come on, Tad, you knew wolves were just as bad as humans in some areas. Worse in others.” Erik forced away another wolf who tried to pull up a chair and join them. “Ranking means only a little less than breathing to some of these jerks, and now that they know you’re related to the Alpha—”

“—they all want to be my friend. I get it. I just don’t like it. They didn’t even want me in the building before. Is this an Alaskan thing? The Whitehorse pack had no problem accepting me as a half-blood. Untriggered. Heck, I don’t know if it’s a good idea for me to switch and join your pack, even if Robyn is now Alpha. Even if it’s the closest pack to my work base.” He shoved away his plate. He couldn’t eat if he tried.

What had started as an amazing day had turned dark and cold.

“They’re kissing up to you, are they?” Erik retrieved Tad’s plate and pulled off an untouched chicken drumstick.

“I got accosted when I hit the can. The Queen of Sheba, who must be close to eighty-five, offered me FirstMate.” Tad shuddered. “I know I’ve been waiting a long time, but hell will freeze over before I accept her.”

Erik grimaced. “Nasty. I hear you. Still, I’m sure there’s someone else who’s willing.”

Tad shook his head. “Don’t you see, what’s the point? I don’t want to have sex with someone who’s willing because Robyn is Alpha. I want someone who wants me for, well, me. Is that too much to ask?”

“The issue is no one can sense how strong you are. The girls don’t want to be trapped by a false mating,” Erik pointed out. “And since you continue to turn down offers from mated females, you’re out of luck.”

“I still don’t get why you don’t want to just accept FirstMate,” TJ complained. “The wolf offers, her mate is cool with it. Why aren’t you? I mean, heck I know Keil would never allow it, but if Robyn did offer and he did agree and if I still had FirstMate to complete, which I don’t, but if I did I would have no problem accepting a little loving from Miss Sweetcakes. Oww…” TJ howled as a firm grip on his ear twisted him to face Keil and Robyn, fully clothed and glaring daggers. TJ pulled a face.

Robyn lifted her arms and signed to Tad who hooted out loud. “Um, Robyn says it’s Alpha Sweetcakes to you, TJ.”

TJ grasped Keil’s hand and attempted to rescue his ear. “My apologies, oh most high rulers, but you are one hot babe, Robyn. Just in case Keil ever forgets to tell you.”

Robyn glanced back at Tad with a questioning look. He shook his head. There was no way he was explaining that conversation to her.

Tad pulled her in for a hug and a kiss, embracing her for a minute while he considered his options. Keil had asked him to stick around for a couple of days to help with sign language and make Robyn feel at home in Alaska with the Granite Lake pack. He’d originally said he’d do it, but now he knew it wouldn’t work. Not if the last couple of hours were any indication. There was far too much politics involved, and while he liked to socialize and problem solve, there was no use in trying it here. His lack of official status would make it impossible for him to accomplish anything of value.

Tad stepped back and lifted his hands to talk to Robyn in American Sign Language, glad to have a way to enjoy a private conversation in the middle of the crowded room.

“You look amazing,” he told her.

“I feel amazing. Oh, Tad, wait until you can shift. It’s so…” She stopped and wrinkled her nose at him. “You don’t feel comfortable here. You’re leaving.”

Tad dropped his hands in amazement. She really was a powerful wolf. “I see your damn Alpha insight is working already.”

Robyn stuck her tongue out him briefly. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m happy for you, sis. Really I am. In fact, this whole evening has helped me realize it’s time to move on. I need to stop waiting for something to happen to make me satisfied and go make it happen.”

Robyn frowned, her dark eyes staring into his. “Explain. You feel like you’re a bubble ready to burst.”

Tad sighed. It wasn’t really time for this conversation, but it needed to be said. She deserved to know he’d finally arrived at a decision. “I don’t want to mess up your celebration. It’s just I’m not going to worry about trying to trigger my wolf anymore, okay? Keil explained to you it’s tough for a half-blood like me to get triggered, and I’ve decided that I’m going to just ignore my wolf side and go make my human side happy instead.”

A myriad of emotions flickered across Robyn face. Confusion, disbelief, sadness. Then a hint of amusement. “What if you can have both? What you want as a human and what your wolf needs?”

Tad shook his head. “It’s not possible. You were lucky. You found Keil and you weren’t even looking for him. It’s better if I just forget the whole wolf thing.”

Robyn stomped her foot. “Bullshit. You can’t ignore your wolf and still be happy. That’s what was wrong with me before. I knew something was missing, and you will not believe how big a difference I feel now that my wolf is a complete part of me. Don’t give up. You really can be happy with yourself and trigger your wolf. I know it.”

“Making a proclamation as my Alpha?”

She rested her hands on her hips for a second, the gold flecks in her eyes swirling as she stared at him. Power rolled from her and his spine tingled. Holy shit, she was strong.

She raised her hands to sign again. “As both your Alpha and your sister. You’ve always looked out for me. I haven’t said thank you nearly enough. I love you, and I want you to be happy. It’s going to work out in the end.”