Inequities (12 page)

Her mom did a double take at her words, but she wouldn’t take them back. Russ squeezed her shoulder before holding out a hand.

“I believe I spoke to your mate on the phone. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs
Sommer
.”

“Please, it’s Roberta. I have a car waiting for us. Roger, my husband, is at the hotel. The ceremonial grounds are about an hour away. We’ll take care of the—trial tomorrow.”

“Do we have a place to hold Ryerson?” Grey managed to get out.

He still looked weak and Vivian didn’t miss the look of disgust on her mom’s face at seeing Peter with his arm around Grey. Like she couldn’t see the other fox was hurt. She was right, this was no drug,
this
was hate pure and simple. She wanted to go home.

“We have a room set up. But I see no need for the gun.” Roberta looked at Russ.

“There is every need. Ryerson will be watched until he can be brought up on charges. He already attacked Grey on the plane. I’ll not have any more members of my pack hurt by him. When we get to the hotel I would like to see Mr
Sommer
as well as his betas. We have some talking we need to do. Once Ryerson is taken care of tomorrow, we’ll be leaving.” Russ was firm on this.

Vivian couldn’t be happier. She wanted the mess over with.

“So soon?”
Roberta looked nervous and clutched at the pearls adorning her throat.

“Yes. Do you see a need for us to stay longer?” Russ’ tone was cool.

He suspected something too. Her mother was acting strung out. Was there something to this magic? She still doubted it would bring forth something that wasn’t already there.

“I thought we could—visit—I’d like to get to know—” Roberta grimaced. “My new son—” She almost choked on the words.

“No need to put yourself out, Mother. I’m sure you’ll be happy to see the last of us. And so you know,
Ive
and Grey will be staying with me.”

They finally reached the car. When they got to the hotel, Grey would have to shift one more time and rest so he could get his strength back. They were going to need it. Vivian had a bad feeling about this visit.

The ride to the hotel was done in silence. Her mother kept looking back and forth between them all. Vivian had no clue
who
was driving the vehicle. She hadn’t seen him before, but that didn’t really mean too much. Vivian had stopped caring about the tribe a few years ago.

She gnawed on her lip, worried about what could happen. Russ leant over to her and soothed her abused flesh with his finger. She smiled at him.

Okay. I can do this.

The car stopped at a battered hotel. Vivian wasn’t sure why they were staying at such a run down place. The last time they’d made a visit to Greenland it had been on the den’s land. Something was very off.

“Here we are. Oliver, one of our betas, will escort Russ and the rest of us—”

“No thank you, ma’am.
We’ll be doing this meeting together. Oliver is more than welcome to join us.”

Roberta looked at Oliver for permission. It was then she knew. Her parents weren’t in charge any more.
This—whoever he was—had taken over.
Shoot. She wished she could push her thoughts through to Russ. She had to warn him somehow. Why all the subterfuge? Russ would have talked to the person in charge, no matter who that was.

And why did they want to separate them.

“Wait,” Vivian demanded.
“Grey, shift.”

If anyone was stunned by the order, they were silent. And Grey hurried to obey. The shift was over fast. It had given the man more of his strength and he would have a jolt of energy.
Enough that they should be able to take care of this situation before he crashed.

Pete
r helped him back on his feet and Russ nodded at her.

“Okay, Oliver. If you’d show us the way,” Russ announced.

Good. They were on the same page. Russ had noticed the hesitation in her mother’s response. She hoped that one of the betas would be able to take over the den. Her father obviously wasn’t strong enough if they were deferring to someone else.

When they got into the room, Vivian’s father was on the bed staring at the ceiling and not moving.

“What’s wrong with him?” Russ demanded.

Grey and Peter surrounded Oliver. Russ shoved Ryerson into a chair.

“What’s going on, Mother?
The truth.”

* * * *

Russ didn’t like the situation at all. They needed to take care of this before anyone else showed up. Vivian had been great, having Greycen shift before they got into the room, it would give them a slight advantage and they might need it. Vivian must have seen her mother waiting for Oliver to okay the situation. No way
an alpha would
do that in front of strangers. They’d want to show no weakness for fear of being overthrown. Roger was no more than a puppet. Russ had to wonder who else was under Oliver voluntarily.

Roberta burst into tears at Vivian’s question and they didn’t have time for the nonsense. Oliver wasn’t talking and had a shit-eating grin on his face. It would be Russ’ pleasure to knock it off. He stalked forward.

“I don’t think so alpha man. This is my show.” Oliver brought forth a ball of power in his hands. It wasn’t the same as Russ had seen in the past. The colour was a muddy black.

Could it be this easy? Was Oliver the source of the drug? If so, he’d seriously underestimated Russ. He continued forward and Oliver let loose. The ball of energy hovered around Russ and dissipated before it could touch him.

Oliver cursed and readied another ball. Russ continued forward. Again, the energy disappeared.

“What the hell? You have no magic. I was told—” The confusion was clear on Oliver’s face.

“No. I don’t have any magic. But there is one thing you didn’t think of. I’m immune to most of it. Now why don’t you sit your ass down and start talking.”

Russ pushed him none-too-gently into the seat next to Ryerson. There would be no trial, but the trip wasn’t a total waste. Ryerson’s shoulders slumped. He must have realised he was on the losing end of this fight.

“I don’t
wanna
die, man. I was just doing what I was told and going after what was mine.” Ryerson snivelled.

He couldn’t control the growl he released.

“Where did the drug come from?” Russ asked Ryerson

“Where do you think, asshole.
Talk to me.
Not the help. I’m in charge here and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll head back home and let my main man take care of you when he’s ready,” Oliver answered for Ryerson.

“And what main man would that be you piece of shit?” His temper was fraying. Usually he had more control, but with Vivian there and maybe in danger, his wolf wanted this situation done with.

“Like you don’t know,” Oliver scoffed.

Russ backhanded him. It felt good. He grinned showing his canines.

“Dmitri. Okay! He put Oliver in charge. I need—please,” Ryerson whimpered.

“Shut the fuck up!” Oliver surged out of his chair and put both hands on Ryerson’s chest. They began to glow.

Grey and Peter moved forward as one. Russ thought he might be too late.

“Stop!” he shouted.

Pete
r and Grey froze, but Oliver kept going, laughing the whole time. He was mad.

Russ knocked Oliver away, but Ryerson was already dead from the magic Oliver had pushed into Ryerson’s body.

 
“Dmitri is dead.” Russ didn’t shout. He whispered the words, but they were enough to stop the cackle from Oliver.

“You lie.” Oliver stood like he would charge Russ, but his eye darted around.

He was going to have to take the other man down. Now that Russ knew who was behind everything, he really didn’t need Oliver any more. Dmitri was gone, cast back to the Vessel and
Djimon
was in control of his own body now. He might not even be aware that Dmitri had set this in motion. Russ and his pack were safe from that avenue. Oliver moved in Vivian’s direction.

That was the last move he made. Russ charged him, half shifting so his claws popped out. He slashed Oliver’s throat. Justice was served.

“Russ!” Vivian shouted.

“Roberta, are there any others?” Russ needed to know. Their safety was of the upmost importance.

The woman was rocking back and forth with her husband’s head in her lap.
“N-no.
Oliver said he wouldn’t need anyone else.”

“How are things at home?” Russ wondered if Oliver had left his people in charge there.

“Now that Oliver is gone it should be fine.” Roberta soothed her husband’s head, her fingers tangling in the man’s hair.

“What happened to Roger?” Russ asked quietly.

“Oliver drugged him.” Roberta wouldn’t look back up.

“How long has this been going on?” Vivian asked.

Russ could hear her anger.

“Years.
I—sorry—I—oh
Viv
.”
Roberta still wouldn’t look up.

“What about the hate? The no inter shifter mating? Was that all Oliver?” Vivian pressed on.

Roberta looked at Russ before averting her eyes.

“I—don’t—I—” She sobbed into Roger’s chest.

“
It’s
okay, Mom. I should have known. I should have—” Vivian sat on the other bed and just stared at her parents. “You know Dad can’t be alpha any more, right? There is no way the tribe will respect him after this.”

His mate wasn’t pulling her punches.

“But—” Roberta stood. “It wasn’t Roger’s fault. Why should he—I—that isn’t fair.”

“I know. But face facts. Even with the drugs, he was weak.
A puppet.
You two will have to help rebuild, but from the side-lines.” Vivian reached out for her mom, but stopped from actually touching her.

Russ hoped that bond could be repaired with time.

“It’ll destroy him,” Roberta whispered.

“At least he’ll be alive. If he steps down, he’ll have the respect of your den. If he helps the new alpha, it will only bring strength. I’m sure Roger will agree. If not, he’ll be challenged again and again for the right to remain in charge. Is there someone who would be willing to step in?” Russ was in complete agreement with Vivian’s words.

“I would say Greycen. Roger has always admired him.”

Pete
r rumbled behind Russ, “Even if he’s gay?”

“Hey now.
Peter.” Greycen tried to stop Peter.

“What? Didn’t you tell them? Don’t they know?” Peter looked hurt.

“Well, now they do.” Greycen gave a lopsided grin.

Pete
r looked crestfallen, his face going pale and he charged from the room.

“Thank you for the support, Roberta, but I have other responsibilities now. Russ, I’ll be back to help with the bodies. I need to find Peter.” Greycen followed his mate from the room.

“He knew and he didn’t care. I—I hate to say it, but I was the one who pushed for only fox mating. And how unnatural men—” Roberta paused.
“Anyway.
That wasn’t your father. I want you to know that. I had—there were things in my past I’m not going to talk about. Are you happy, Vivian?”

Russ stood back watching the two women interact. He wanted to comfort his mate, but she stood tall and proud. He wouldn’t take this moment from her.

“I’m very happy, Mother. And I want you to be happy for me. But you have some things to take care of first. And I would suggest Holt be raised as alpha. He’s always been fair and he’s a strong beta and will be good with Dad guiding him.”

“I’d listen to your daughter. She’s very smart.” Russ grinned at Vivian.

She managed a weak smile back and walked towards him. Russ held out his arms and welcomed her.

“Will Dad be okay?” Vivian worried her lip.

“He should be. Oliver didn’t use the magic to drug him like he did Ryerson. He’ll be himself in a couple days.” Roberta went back to the bed. “It’s good that you’re happy. Where is
Ive
? I expected her to be with you.”

“She found her mate and she had somewhere she needed to be.” Vivian didn’t expand on her statement.

“That man.
That—Peter? He is
Greycen’s
mate?” Roberta looked to the door.

“Yes,” Russ confirmed.

“That’s—good.”

Russ took that as a good sign.

“We have other things to talk about. You and Roger will come with us on the plane. Once we get to your home, I’ll speak with Holt and hopefully your husband will be more aware. We have a bigger issue that your den needs to be aware of. We’ll leave in the morning. I’m going to take Vivian to our room. I’ll help move you and Roger as well. Then Greycen, Peter and I will take care of things here. Is this a shifter friendly place?”

“Yes. A cousin owns it.” Roberta nodded.

“Good. Let’s go.”