Wolf Tracks

Chapter Ten

TJ closed the door to the cabin with reluctance. Neither of them was ready to leave. He turned to see Pam grinning at him, her pack already on her back as they prepared to meet the helicopter. It still seemed impossible she’d taken that final step and accepted him. One day to celebrate being fully mated—it wasn’t enough.

“I should have taken a two-week excursion. Then we could have stayed for another week.”

She held out her hand and he joined her, strolling to the meadow with their fingers linked together. TJ lifted her fingers to his mouth and kissed her knuckles lightly. “While I’d love more time alone, at some point we need to face the real world.”

Oh hell, and there would be some facing to do. Funny though, now that he and Pam were fully mated, he wasn’t nearly as worried to see what the fallout from his actions would be. They truly were together—there was no denying it—and no one could tear them apart. They dropped their packs at the side of the clearing and Pam returned to his arms, resting her head on his chest. She drew a deep breath. “Can we come back here sometime?”

“Definitely.”

He played with her hair as they silently stood together. Ever since they’d completed their mating, he had a solid line on what she was feeling. Compared to how it had been before, the richness and depth was incredible. Like having watched an old-fashioned black-and-white movie on a five-inch screen and now getting Blu-ray, hi-def flashing across a wall-sized monitor.

Right now she was content, and he was going to do everything he could to keep her that way.

“You know we’ve got a bunch of ‘meet the family’ to do, right?” he warned her.

Pam lifted her arms to drape them around his neck. “I think I can handle it. Maggie and Erik won’t be back yet, but I’m not afraid to meet your brother, or his wife, more formally. Or anyone else I need to see.”

TJ kissed her, unable to resist one more dose of her taste to bolster him. It was going to be an interesting day, if nothing else.

The sound of the chopper reached them long before they spotted it in the distance, and she clung to him for a second, squeezing him tight. “I know we’ve got a ton to figure out, but, honestly? It’ll all work out. I’m sure it will.”

“Of course it will.” Her faith became his faith, and together, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

Shaun landed, his grinning face peering out the window. They tossed their packs into the passenger area and scrambled after them, strapping themselves in and quickly donning headsets. They lifted off and Pam hung over him to gaze back at the cabin and lake as they swung around to return to Haines. Her body was warm and soft against him, and he wrapped an arm around her to keep her close.

“Well, I don’t have to ask if you had a good time.” Shaun’s voice cut in over the headset. “Congratulations, both of you.”

Pam glanced at TJ in surprise. He pressed the talk button to explain. “The wolf sense of smell. Shaun can tell we’re mates.”

“He can tell…” She flushed. “Okay, maybe I’m not so ready to meet your pack as I thought.”

TJ grabbed her hand and squeezed.

Shaun spoke again. “I need to give you the scoop. I managed to stay off your big brother’s radar for the past week, but I got a direct order from my Alpha in Whitehorse to report to him as soon as I get you two home safe. Which is fine, since that means I won’t have to face Keil.”

TJ swore. “I didn’t intend to get you in trouble when I asked for help.”

“Hey, no worries. You would have done the same thing for me if you could. You’re a good friend, TJ, and it’s nice to have been able to assist you two lovebirds. I don’t think my Alpha will give me shit—he’s a romantic at heart. Makes us watch bad chick flicks during pack meetings, yada yada.”

“Still, let me know if you need me to come and talk to your Alpha. I have a feeling I’ll be explaining myself constantly for the next while.”

Shaun held a thumbs-up. “Anyway, I contacted your pack via email to let them know I’d drop you at the airstrip. Someone should be there to pick you up. I’m afraid you’re on your own after that.”

Pam’s hand in his was all the reminder he needed. “I’m never going to be alone again.”

She leaned against him and used the headset. “So, the shit is about to hit the fan, is it?”

“Don’t know why it should. You’re not going to call the cops and have me arrested, right?”

“I am the cops.”

They grinned at each other.

A beige minivan stood at the side of the airstrip—Tad and Missy’s vehicle—and TJ breathed a sigh of relief. The pack Omegas would be the perfect people to talk to first. TJ passed down the packs to Pam then squeezed Shaun on the shoulder. “Thanks again for everything.”

“Hey, give me a second.” Shaun twisted in his seat to face TJ. “You know what? I think they’re going to be very surprised when they meet you, your brother and the rest of them. You’ve changed. Something happened to you and you’re more than the wolf I dropped off a week ago.”

TJ frowned. “What do you mean?”

Shaun shook his head. “Not sure, but let’s put it this way, I doubt I could order you to do anything for me anymore.”

Fuck. “Really?”

“Really.” Shaun winked at him and turned back to his instrument panel. “Now get out of here, your mate is waiting for you.”

TJ joined Pam on the tarmac and they shouldered their packs, heading toward the van. TJ’s mind spun. Shaun couldn’t order him around? Shaun had always outranked him—heck most wolves seemed to outrank him. Not that they made a big deal of it, but usually he was “the younger brother of the Alpha” and otherwise not very interesting to most of the pack.

Tad stepped from the van and popped the hatch. Then he stood back and looked them up and down while they piled their backpacks into the vehicle. His wry smile was somewhat reassuring.

“Welcome back. And welcome to the pack, Pam. Congratulations on your mating.”

Pam tugged on TJ’s sleeve. “Everyone knows on sight we’re mates. This is going to take some serious getting used to.”

TJ opened the passenger door for her and helped her in. “I said there were things that were hard to explain—you kind of have to experience them to understand.” He scooted into the backseat.

She turned to answer Tad who had crawled behind the wheel. “Thanks. You’ll have to warn me if I do something wrong. You’re the pack…Omega, right?”

Tad nodded. “TJ explained a little about how wolves operate?”

“Yeah, he explained a lot. That doesn’t mean much until I see it in motion. Bottom line, I didn’t plan on joining any country clubs, I just…”

“We just want to be together.” TJ eased forward between the seats, laying a hand on Pam’s arm.

“Well, together is great and all that, but I hope you’re ready to face the music. Robyn’s been walking around all week like a thunderstorm ready to happen, and Keil got back half an hour ago and he’s brewing up a storm as well. Missy is trying to settle them both down before we arrive, but we’ll see how well it works.”

“They’ll have to get over it.” The words were braver spoken than the pit in his stomach acknowledged. Pam glanced over her shoulder and a breeze-like sensation brushed him. She pictured them sitting together, him making music, her admiring the scenery. She gave her calm to him and he pulled her fingers to his lips. He kissed them softly then whispered, “Cool trick.”

She grinned. “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”

Tad hmmed. “This is very interesting. I can read you, TJ, like I normally can, but Pam—it’s like she’s wolf and yet not. I had no idea you were able to share emotions in a mating between humans and wolves.”

“But you haven’t been a full wolf for long, have you?” Pam asked.

“No. Still, at the core what I do sense from you two is that you belong together, and you’re good for each other. But that’s my interpretation, and it’s not my place to make decisions about your life for you.”

“Damn straight,” Pam muttered.

TJ laughed. “Speak up now, Pam, tell us how you really feel.”

Tad smiled. “So, what have you decided?”

She dragged aside the collar of her T-shirt to reveal the mark TJ had left when he bit her. The wound had healed way faster than they’d expected—some kind of wolfie magic.

Tad nodded. “Well, that’s pretty cut and dried. You know, it’s kind of interesting not being able to read you the same way I can read the rest of the pack. I think you’re going to be good for us all.”

He turned down the long, narrow driveway that led to the cluster of homes built against the trees on the outskirts of Haines. He pulled up in front of an older log house, a wide veranda running the length of the building. TJ scrambled out to join Pam. A tricycle with pink streamers sat in the middle of the walkway, and Tad pushed it to the side as they approached the front doors.

TJ grasped Pam’s hand in his, locking fingers.

“I feel like we should be offered a last meal or something.” Pam hummed part of the funeral dirge and TJ laughed.

Tad frowned at them. “What song was that?”

Pam rolled her eyes and glared at TJ. “See, I told you I couldn’t sing. So much for your lessons that night at the cabin.”

TJ shrugged. “I’m your mate, I’m not a miracle worker.”

She growled and swung at him. He caught the blow and pulled her against him, capturing her lips. She tasted like sunshine and sex, and if he didn’t need to go see what Keil and Robyn had planned as retribution, he would pick her up and go hide in the woods for a few hours.

Or a few days. He was easy.

She kissed him back, her fingers lacing through his hair. He loved the way her tongue took control, exploring and teasing until all his body heard the wake-up call. She moved closer, her soft skin and strong muscles matching him perfectly. Especially when he reached down and cupped her butt, dragging her tighter against him and—

“TJ, Pam. So glad you could drop in.” Keil’s deep voice cut through the sexual fog and they wrenched apart. His brother spun on his heel and entered the house, leaving the door open behind him.

Pam’s cheeks were flushed, but she lifted her chin high and stepped forward by his side.

“He’s not really a jerk. I mean, sometimes he is, but usually he’s a pretty good guy. Really.” Although it appeared this might be one of the “jerk” days.

Pam snorted. “Don’t worry about me, I have a feeling it’s your ass he wants in a sling.”

TJ nodded slowly. “Well, there is that.”

They entered the main room and TJ counted heads. Keil and Robyn, Tad and Missy. A number of other high-level wolves were in attendance, but on the whole it seemed like a pretty friendly gathering.

Well, friendly except for Robyn, who gave him the evil eye as she leaned against the far wall. Keil stood at the foot of the staircase, arms crossed in front of his chest like a freaking bulldozer, ready to crush him underfoot.

Complete confidence held TJ up. Beside him stood his mate, her amusement at the situation flowing to him and calming his concerns. Heck, if she wasn’t worried, why should he be? These were his family and friends. There was nothing they would do to him that wasn’t done out of love.

“Umm, hi, everyone. You all met Pam at the wedding, but I’d like to introduce her again. It’s official, she’s accepted me as her mate.”

Like that was a surprise to anyone with a nose, but he figured for Pam’s sake he should say it, before some wiseass decided to ask how in the world they had managed to get as sex-scented as they were. It wasn’t his fault they took that final shower together. It had been all her idea.

Keil moved closer, towering over him.

“Don’t you ever pull such a harebrained stunt again. What the hell were you thinking?” he roared.

TJ opened his mouth to respond when Pam stepped between them. She pasted her fists on her hips and glared up at Keil. “Don’t you shout at him. He’s already apologized to me and I’m the only one he needs to worry about.”

Holy shit. Keil’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Off to the side Tad stared at the ceiling, biting his lip. TJ watched closely and he would have sworn Tad was laughing.

Keil cleared his throat and glanced around the room sheepishly. When he spoke again, he turned down the volume and spoke more respectfully. “I’m sorry, you’re right. There’s no need for me to raise my voice. I’m not talking about you and him right now. I’m talking about him not leaving word of where he had arranged to take you, or having a backup plan to contact help if you got in trouble. He knows that’s not proper procedure in terms of safety in the wilderness.”

Pam nodded slowly. “Oh. I thought you were going to give him grief for kidnapping me. By all means, if he screwed up protocol—ream him out.” She stepped back and gestured with a hand. The room broke out with laughter.

Keil raised a brow. “So kind of you to give me permission.”

TJ scratched his face to hide his own smile. Yup, this was going to work out fine, once he took his lumps, because Keil was right about the safety issues.

Keil hauled a cell phone out of his pocket and slapped it into TJ’s palm. “You’ll probably need this—I found it back at base camp after you took off. Oh, and did you even try the satellite phone you took with you? The batteries on that one were nearly dead.”

A solid smack landed on his arm as Pam hit him. “Dead? What if I’d wanted to call for the chopper?”

“But you broke…” TJ buttoned his lip. There was no way he was even going to touch this one.

Pam growled at him, her eyes flashing. “Next time, let me do the trip planning.”

TJ tried to hide his smile. “Of course.”

“Holy crap, she’s the most alpha human I’ve ever met,” one of the observer wolves piped up.

Pam frowned. “Alpha? Isn’t that your position?” she asked Keil.

He shook his head. “Yes and no. Alpha isn’t just about leadership, it also refers to how strong you are, mentally as well as physically. There’s more than one alpha wolf in any pack. Heck, Erik and Maggie, the pack Betas, are as strong as Robyn and I, but they’ve chosen to use their strengths in a different way. We can’t all be bad-asses, you know.”

“So there’s no trouble with us being together?” Pam returned to TJ’s side.

Keil shrugged. “There are a few old-timers in the pack who are whining about how the world is going to hell in a hand basket, but it’s nothing I can’t take care of.”

Robyn clapped her hands and Keil pulled a face. “Oh yeah, and Robyn plans on having a long talk with your mate about some advice she gave that he ignored.”

Oh shit. Okay, that was scarier than getting called on the carpet by Keil. TJ waved at Robyn tentatively and she flipped him the bird.

Pam grinned at TJ. “You know how I said I wasn’t sure about dealing with your pack? No problem, I got it figured it. This is like hanging out at headquarters with the boys.”

Tad stepped forward and gestured to the couch. “If you’d like to relax, I think the formal hazing is over. I do have one last question I’m curious about, and maybe someone with more experience can answer. What’s up with TJ’s strength? I’d swear he’s gotten stronger since he left.”

“Shaun said the same thing. What the hell are you talking about? I don’t feel any different.” TJ sat next to Pam. She kicked off her shoes and curled up almost in his lap. She tucked a hand under his arm and tickled his ribs lightly. “The only thing I know is I don’t seem to be nearly as clumsy anymore. Well, relatively speaking.”

Tad’s mate, Missy, paced the floor to sit on the second couch across from them, one of her two-month-old babies cuddled against her shoulder. “Your wolf never has been clumsy.”

Pam leaned forward. “I think his wolf is more grown up. Matured a bit. If TJ is twenty-two, that means his wolf is…” She turned to face him and asked, “What are wolf years, seven like dogs?”

He groaned. “You promised you wouldn’t do that anymore.”

Pam smirked at him. “If you’re gonna play with the big dogs, you use every tool you can.”

He opened his mouth to protest and suddenly the cell phone Keil had returned to him rang. Some joker had reprogrammed the phone tones to “Who Let the Dogs Out” and Pam cracked up.

He stood to answer it, leaving Pam and Missy giggling together furiously.

“Hello?”

“You idiot. You couldn’t wait until we were done our honeymoon? Sheesh.”

“Hi, Maggie.” TJ took a deep breath. So much for him being stronger. There was no way he could get a word in edgewise with all these women around. He listened to her scolding for a minute before he had the most brilliant idea. “Hey, Maggie. I bet you need to talk to Pam. She’s right here.”

He held out the phone to his mate and she took it with surprise. Her surprise turned to delight and she rose to find a quieter spot to chat with her best friend.

TJ glanced around the room. Missy rocked one baby in her arms while Tad paced with her twin sister. Robyn was holding a conversation with someone, her hands moving rapidly.

Kara, Keil and Robyn’s two-year-old daughter, crossed the room to Pam’s side. She tugged on Pam’s pant leg then reached her arms up. Pam leaned over and picked up the little girl who immediately wrapped herself close, her face buried in Pam’s neck. Pam resumed her phone conversation.

Deep satisfaction filled TJ as everywhere he looked he saw family. Sharing together, laughing together. Little Jamie, Missy and Tad’s oldest child, rolled on the floor with a couple of the pack in their wolf forms.

It wasn’t the Waltons but it was home.

He glanced back at Pam to find her staring at him, a burning light in her eyes. She adjusted the girl in her arms and waggled her brows, tilting her head toward the child.

Oh shit. Oh shit, yeah. Well, maybe not this minute, but…

TJ winked at her and she grinned, blowing him a kiss.

Keil poked him in the shoulder. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you? What’s that goofy expression for?”

TJ took a deep breath. His head filled with the familiar scents of home, and overlaying it all was Pam. In his head, and his heart.

Forever.

“It’s because I’m finally in the right place, at the right time. Excuse me, I’ll be back for my lickings regarding safety, because you’re right, I screwed up. And I’ll apologize to Robyn in a minute as well. But there’s something I need to do with my mate.”

He stepped across the room and tugged Pam into the kitchen, taking little Kara along for the ride since she refused to let go of her newfound friend. He held out his hand for the phone.

“Mags? I gotta go. I think TJ wants me to take him for a walk.”

TJ rubbed his forehead as she said goodbye to Maggie. A dog handler. She must have a million jokes all lined up and ready to spring on him.

Pam handed back his cell and batted her eyes. “Well. I thought that all went marvelously.”

He groaned. “Yeah, I can see this relationship is going to keep me on my toes. I wanted to know if you still had the mate list.”

Pam frowned. “It’s in my pocket. Why?”

“I never got to finish it.”

She kissed Kara on the forehead then passed her to TJ. The little girl squirmed to be put down, returning with a laugh to the main room.

Pam reached into her back pocket and unfolded the paper on the counter. The edges were a little more tattered and ragged than when they started less than a week ago. She cupped his face in her hands. “You proved enough for me to take a chance, and while we’ve still got stuff to figure out, I think we’re on our way.”

TJ grabbed a pen. “I agree, but there’s something I need you to see. It’s important.”

There where the five circles overlapped, an empty space remained. He’d deliberately made sure it was a part of every single circle and with great care he filled in one word.

Forever.

Pam sucked in air and threw her arms around his neck. He stumbled for a second to catch his balance as she crawled up him and kissed him madly. Oh yes, she was going to fit in fine. A room full of people on the other side of the wall and she was happily attempting to touch his tonsils.

He clasped her under the hips and turned to carry her to one of the back guestrooms. No one would notice if they were MIA for an hour or so, would they?

“Stop.”

Shit. Please don’t get all human shy. “They’re all wolves. They wouldn’t care if we had sex in the room in front of them.”

Pam snorted. “Yeah, well, I doubt I’ll ever get to that stage of comfort, but just let me get…” She leaned over and snatched the mate list off the counter. “Okay, now we can go fool around.”

TJ laughed as he headed down the hall. “You going to keep that list?”

“Uh-huh. Just like you wrote. I’m planning on keeping it, and you, forever.”