Trayis (VLG Series Book 11) Read online

  Arlis shot him a deadly glare. “Silence. Now. You talk again, and Pete is going to break your jaw. I smell her fear. She also would never fucking touch you. You’ve always looked down on her.” Her alpha met her gaze again. “What did he do, Shay?”

  Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back. “He came in here going on about some crazy plot, and he thought I’d know about it. He said Kale and Marcia are together. I haven’t talked to her since yesterday, so it was the first time I’d heard about it. He put his hands on me and made threats, wanting the details of some plot that doesn’t even exist. He thinks if Kale mates Marcia, you’ll chose him for the enforcer position. He’s lost it, Arlis.”

  Arlis released her and gently nudged her toward Martin. “Take care of her and get her home.”

  “She’s lying!” Tegan hissed.

  Arlis moved fast, grabbed Tegan by his throat. “What the fuck? You smell weird. Did you take something?”

  Martin quickly came forward and lifted Shay into his arms. It surprised her, but she didn’t protest as he carried her out of the office. She heard a loud snarl, and then something crashed inside the office. Martin kept walking, and she tucked her head against his chest, closing her eyes. He was a mountain of a man, but she wasn’t afraid. She knew the enforcer wouldn’t hurt her.

  “It’s going to be okay, Shay. Arlis will fuck him up good. I’m almost sorry it’s not going to be me doling out his punishment. And Tegan never stood a chance of taking over for Ted. He’s not suited for the position. The only reason he even became a sentry is because it would have made him meaner if he’d been assigned a lesser job.”

  “Thank you for coming.”

  “It’s what we do. Protect pack. It just shouldn’t be from each other. Arlis might kill him for this. But don’t feel bad if it happens. Any asshole who’d attack a woman deserves it…but especially you.”

  “What did Arlis mean when he said Tegan smelled weird?”

  “I picked up on that, too. His scent is wrong for some damn reason.”

  Voices drew her attention, and she opened her eyes, seeing pack members gawking as Martin strode past them with Shay in his arms.

  “I can walk, Martin. We’re making a spectacle. They’ll gossip and come to the wrong conclusion, seeing you carrying me. Especially when you’re not mated.”

  He snorted. “I don’t give a fuck what they think. You’re still shaking. And no offense, honey, but you’ve got those short legs. I want to get you home and return to the office ASAP, to see if anything is left of Tegan. I never liked that prick. He was forever in trouble as a youth, and I can’t tell you what a headache it was trying to make something of him. Not that I thought it would work. He had his chance, and he blew it this morning. Good riddance.”

  “He was acting insane. I don’t know why.”

  “I can guess. Someone broke into the medical storage last night and drugs are missing. I think Tegan probably took them, judging by how he smelled. I know he’s been stressed lately, but fuck. What kind of male takes drugs to deal with shit?”

  Shaw saw Sylvia rushing toward them, jogging to catch up with Martin’s brisk pace. “Are you hurt, baby?”

  She met her foster mom’s worried gaze. “I’m fine.”

  “What happened? Can you stop, Martin? I want to check her over.”

  “Nope. I need to get back. I’m taking her home. Keep up if you want to know the details.”

  “I’m okay,” Shay repeated.

  No one spoke until Martin reached her porch and set her on her feet. “You’re safe now. But stay here, Shay. I’m sure Arlis will check on you later today, or Ginny will.” He took off running back the way he’d come.

  “Baby, what happened?” Sylvia started pulling at her shirt, trying to inspect her body. “I don’t smell blood. Did someone hit you? Hurt you?”

  Shay grabbed her hands. “I’m fine. One of the sentries decided to go insane, and I was his target.”

  Pure rage flashed in her foster mother’s eyes. “Did some bastard try to make you blow him? Did he use his vibes on you?”

  “No and yes. No blow job attempts were involved, but lots of vibes. It’s a long story.”

  “I’m going to make you breakfast and you’re going to tell me everything.” She pulled Shay to her front door and pointed at the lock.

  Shay punched in her code and opened the door.

  “Have you talked to Marcia? I’ve called her twice since last night, but she hasn’t responded. Call her now. She’s going to flip if she hears Martin was toting you around in his arms in front of the pack. She’ll think the same thing I did—that some asshole tried to force you to your knees.”

  Shay sighed. Great. Everyone in the pack will probably assume that, too. She’d call Marcia, but if she was still with Kale, her bestie wouldn’t answer. No way was she going to be the one to break the news to Sylvia about why her daughter wasn’t returning calls.

  Kale might be Marcia’s dream mate, but her parents thought she’d do better with a submissive Werewolf. It was a topic that had already caused many arguments over family dinners.

  It meant Shaw would have to dodge big parts of her explanation of what happened with Tegan in the retelling. Which she would do. Shay didn’t want to watch her foster mom flip out even more.

  * * * * *

  Trayis smiled when he entered the alpha house. The strong smell of coffee, bacon, and other foods filled his nose. He enjoyed having breakfast with his half-brother’s enforcers and their mates. It was something he’d considered doing many times with his own clan. He liked the way they all joked and teased each other. It was also a less stressful way to discuss any issues they had to deal with before going into the office.

  Two other women helped Ginny in the large kitchen. She smiled when she saw him, rushing his way.

  He gave her a gentle hug. “Where’s the baby?”

  “Sleeping. The twins are already at school. Arlis will be down in a minute. He had to take a shower.”

  “He actually stayed in bed until after the sun rose? Having a new baby must be wearing him out,” he teased.

  She rolled her eyes. “He had to wash off some blood. Do you want coffee or juice?”

  “Blood?” His good mood dimmed. “What happened?”

  “A sentry decided to give my mate a reason to remind him who’s in charge…and why rules shouldn’t be broken.”

  Trayis understood. It happened at times. “Coffee, please. I can get it.”

  She spun away. “Sit at the table. I’ll bring it.”

  Arlis came down the stairs and grinned. “You made it!” He hugged Trayis and led him to the table, where others already waited, even pulling out his chair.

  Trayis saw the state of his brother’s split knuckles. They’d stopped bleeding but the freshly healing wounds looked angry. “What in the hell did the sentry do? That looks like a serious beat down.”

  “I’m retiring.” Ted raised his hand.

  His mate, Donna, seated next to him, smiled at Trayis. “I want him to finally spend more time with me.”

  Arlis plopped into the seat at the head of the table next to Trayis. “Tegan was never in the running, but it seems he believed I might choose him to replace Ted. He’s egotistical, can be pretty reckless on a good day…and on top of that, he took some drugs.”

  “Drugs?” The very idea shocked Trayis.

  “He said it was to steady his nerves and to calm him, but it did the opposite. He fucked up bad, and I had to punish him. He’ll heal in about a week but the down time will be a good lesson. I demoted him to outer patrol. That way, he’ll have no interaction with the pack for six months. He’s also paying for the drugs he stole from our healer.”

  “He’s a moron,” Martin muttered. “I would have killed him in your place.”

  Arlis unwrapped his silverware. “I know your patience is long gone when it comes to Tegan. Wasn’t he the one always in trouble during training?”

  Martin gave a nod. “He’s stup