Opening the Cage (14 page)

“Have a seat.” He grabbed a blanket and tossed it over Wend, saw Riana’s tail disappear under the sofa. Canyon bit back a sigh. She really needed to start meeting people, at least.

Mesa sat at the kitchen table. “Thanks.” He opened a beer, glanced at the sofa. He could see the gleam of Riana's eyes. “So…”

Canyon chuckled. “She won’t be human. He’s terrified of Granite. They’re both amazing.”

“I bet.” Mesa grinned a little. “She’s not used to being human, yeah? She’ll figure out that it has uses. The pack is getting crowded, though. I need some input.”

“Sure. Are you going to send the others off with Granite until they find an Alpha or are you going to keep them?” The cheese ball was full of bacon and chives and dill and was delicious.

“Well, I don’t know that Granite is up to it. He’s still weak. He’s also a little heart sore, you know?” Mesa's head tilted. "The others? You're not sending these two?"

“What?” He caught himself growling, snarling deep in his chest. How could Mesa say that?

"Easy. Easy, brother. I'm just giving you shit." Mesa grabbed a cracker, ate. “I talked to Granite some. Looks like the Guardian he replaced, this Russet? His lady, April, came to him, told him about her big secret, her sister. She came to Granite's girl with the information after Markus started killing off anything that defied him."

"Wait. Wait. Markus' Guardian gave them up?"

"Russet was Markus' second."

“So?” That was an excuse to betray his mates? Canyon was a second. He wouldn’t do that.

“So, if you learned a secret that would affect the Clan, you would come to me.” Mesa shook his head, but there was admiration there. “It’s what seconds do. You know that.”

Riana was staring at them, vibrating.

“I would never give up my Mates.”

“Even if—”

He snarled. “Never.”

“Touchy, touchy.” Mesa snorted, leaned back in the chair. “No one’s asking you to do anything. I’m saying Granite didn’t know Markus was a fucking psycho until it was too fucking late. Hell, the man didn’t know these two could change, that they were real. He’s in shock. And no offense to anyone, but he and Jewel were lovers, not mates. Get it?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I can get that.” Canyon grinned, trying to dial down the tension. He got what Mesa was saying. Hell, he was weirdly happy to hear it. He and Granite had been friends a long, long time. The man was a stud. He also inspired a lot of loyalty, somehow.

“Anyway, I think we need a plan B.”

Canyon nodded. “Okay. Plan B. How many more cabins will we need? Is there enough food for the winter? I could go back to the deserted pack land, see what I can gather.”

Riana’s growl was sharp, clear.
You cannot.

I may have to.
It was his job, after all.

“We can’t make it through unless we get supplies from outside, and that opens us up to attack.”

Damn. “What about lodging?”

Mesa shrugged. “I’ve got ten adults in my house, Granny’s got another four. Then there are the pups.”

Fourteen. Damn. That almost doubled them. “That’s harsh.” He chewed his lip. “I don’t know, man. Even if I can get supplies, that’s a lot to handle, space-wise.”

“Yeah.” Mesa shrugged, looked at the table, then looked back up, a sheepish grin on his face. “Gonna be another one coming, too, in the spring.”

“Another what?”

“Pack member.”

Canyon raised a brow. “Sammy? No shit?”

Mesa’s grin grew, slow and smug, the pride just shining. “You’re the only one I’ve told.”

Granny and Juniper would have known without telling. So would Kody, of course. Hell, Kody had probably told Mesa.

“Congratulations, man!” He stood and grabbed Mesa, giving his brother a back-pounding hug, so tickled he could hardly stand it.

Wend sat up with a little bark, staring at them. “Canyon?”

“It’s okay, love. It’s okay. This is good.” He couldn’t stop grinning.

Wend smiled, settling down. “Good.”

Mesa nodded. “Amazing. Hey, Wend.”

Wend nodded back, eyes wide, but not wild or scared. “Hi.”

Canyon clapped Mesa on the back again before sitting them back down. “So, we definitely need to get something else set up. What about Dominic? He might be able to protect a small pack.”

Mesa nodded. “Maybe. He hasn’t shown any tendencies, but he’s young. Still searching for his mates. He needs a couple, after all.”

Canyon blinked. A couple. Wait. Only Alphas had couples, right? No. No way. He scowled. “You got something to say, bro?”

“Hmm?” That was a butter-didn’t-melt-in-Mesa’s-mouth look.

“Just spit it out.” Damn it, he hated pussyfooting.

“Spit what out? Dominic needs two mates if he’s going to be Alpha. Alphas need two.”

“You’re a shit. You know that Riana and Wend are my mates. I’m not an Alpha, Mesa.” He was a second. A protector.

“Well, how do you explain this? Are they mates? Are you going to give them to someone else?”

Canyon puffed up, then he heard the sound of Riana’s claws on the floor—click clack click clack—then she pushed between him and Mesa, a soft growl sounding.

He chuckled, reaching out to stroke her fur, which was thick and luxurious again, her scars healing so fast. “My girl’s a little jealous.”

Mesa looked at her, rumbling softly, and Canyon felt her shiver, but she didn’t back away, and Wend stood up, obviously worried now.

Canyon stood, working her behind him, putting his body between his mates and his brother, who has always been his best friend. “Mesa?”

Mesa arched an eyebrow, eyes fastened on Riana’s. “I am the Alpha here.”

Riana curled her lip and Canyon heard Wend’s soft voice. “Canyon’s our Alpha.”

His sweet girl was terrified, he could feel it, but she defended him.

“This is Mesa’s pack land, love.” He said it to both of them. “It’s okay.” It wasn’t, but he would make it okay. Somehow.

“I am the Alpha here.” Mesa still wouldn’t look away from Riana.

Canyon’s hackles started to rise. He barked at Mesa. “She’s my mate!”

“If she stays here, she obeys Pack Law.” Mesa looked at him. “We all do.”

Wend came over, touched her. “Come with me?”

No.
Riana sounded so sure.
My Alpha. Canyon is my Alpha.

Mesa looked back up at him. “You need to talk with her, brother. We have rules for a reason.”

“I know. She’s never been in a pack, okay? She’s been in a fucking cage for five years.” He sighed. “I won’t apologize for something she can’t help. I will try to figure this, though.”

Mesa nodded. “I’m going home.”

Canyon wasn’t surprised. Mesa would have the urge to be with Sammy, from now until the babies came.

“I’ll talk to you later, huh? You and Granite.” They’d need a plan. A good one.

“Yeah. Yeah. Enjoy the beer.” Mesa looked at Riana again, then left, leaving him with two shaken mates.

Canyon blew out a breath before smiling at Wend and Riana. “I’m sorry.”

Wend nodded. “She didn’t mean to.”

Riana growled deep in her chest.

I know you meant it.
He was proud of her, deep down. This was a cluster fuck, though. Him? An Alpha?

She rested against his legs, then slowly shifted, looking up at him. She was getting so good at that. “You will not give me away.”

“Hell, no. You’re my girl. Just like Wend is mine, too.” He drew her up into his arms and held on, nose in her hair.

“Yes.” He thought she was getting stronger, braver, every day. She’d gone up against Mesa without blinking, even though she was shaking now. He was so proud.

He stroked her hair, her cheek, then smiled at Wend. “Can you find her a robe, lovely man?”

He’d ease her into clothes.

Wend nodded, eyes still a little dark with shock. He padded back a few moments later with the soft, fuzzy robe Junie had given him.

She let them wrap her up, and Canyon knew he had a win when she leaned, fingers rubbing the material. Somewhere in all the pain and isolation of her early life was a girl who liked soft things, pretty things. He was surprisingly eager to give that to her.

He slowly dragged his fingers through her thick hair, smoothing it, careful not to pull.

Blinking, she relaxed against him, and he stood, heading for the big couch in the front room. He wanted Wend to sit with them.

His lover bounced over easily, unworried now that they were both there, at peace.

A lot like Kody was with Mesa.

Canyon closed his eyes. They were going to have to leave. They couldn’t stay, not if they were really the kind of mated three that Mesa, Kody and Sammy were.

He felt Riana pull away, the barest bit.
I’m sorry. We can be so quiet. I’ll stay in here so you can stay. I promise not to growl again.

Stop.
She didn’t understand pack politics, and he didn’t want her to think it was her. “It’s not just you, sweet. Two Alphas can’t live in the same place. We’d be tying it up all the time.”

“I won’t lose you your place. You have a house. A real house.”

He saw Wend nod. “And fuzzy socks.”

Canyon laughed. “I can build another house. I’m actually pretty good at it.” He’d have to figure out how to recapture his satellite and all; he needed his technology.

“No. No, we will be good.” Riana’s eyes met Wend’s and he knew they were talking, leaving him out.

“Hey.” He barked a little, and they both jumped. “Who’s the Alpha?”

You.

Their voices sounded as one.

Then I make the decision whether we stay or go.
Hell, they needed a solution to the overcrowding. As soon as it was safe, they could sort of take a whole pack and go.

Wend relaxed against him, Riana frowned. “This is your home, Canyon.”

“I grew up here. That doesn’t mean I have to stay.” He grinned, poking Wend a little in the ribs. “We’re wolves. We migrate with our pack.”

“We’re not Pack.” Riana was beginning to aggravate him. Stubborn girl. Stubborn, beautiful, wonderful girl.

He thought about popping her butt, but it would just scare her. “You’re my Pack now, and I keep what’s mine.”

A soft laugh sounded as his front door opened. “I’m glad to hear you say that, brother.”

He looked up, his baby sister’s eyes laughing at him.

“What is this, family day at the zoo?” He laughed, too, though, beckoning for Junie to come on in.

* * * *

Riana stared at the woman who was sitting in a big chair, her legs curled under her.

She’d been lovely, gentle, quiet, but Riana didn’t know what to do, what to say. She wasn’t used to having anything
to
say. April had always talked to her, gossiped even, but Riana had never been human. Like she was now.

“I brought some clothes, a nice hairbrush. Soft panties and bras and such.”

“Thank you.” She knew that was the polite thing. Wend had told her when someone gave you things you said thank you.

Junie smiled and the look was warm. “I love your hair. It’s like the moon herself.”

Riana blinked, then smiled back. “Thank you.” This time she meant it. That was sweet.

“When you’re ready, I’ll show you all the fun stuff. You can come to my house, see everything. Did you know Sammy’s having a baby?” Junie bounced. “A baby!”

Riana nodded. April had wanted babies. Poor April. “Your brother wants us to leave.”

“Why? You can’t leave! You just got here. He’s addled. There’s a baby coming. New pack members.”

“The big one.” She moved her hands, trying to make the shape of Canyon’s brother. “He says Canyon can’t stay.”

“Nonsense.”

Riana thought Junie sounded so sure. She shrugged. “You can talk to them.” She didn’t know what else to say. Everything she did was wrong.

Junie made a soft noise, shook her head. “You don’t have to be angry, Riana. I mean, you probably should be because they were mean to you, but we won’t be.”

She looked at Canyon, who had come back from the kitchen, unsure what she was supposed to do now.

“No one is going to be mean to my girl.”

Juniper chuckled. “Of course we wouldn’t! You belong with Canyon. You and Wend.”

Riana had a headache, and she went to the bag of things that Juniper brought, nostrils flaring. They smelled good, and there were colors like flowers.

She touched one of the pieces of cloth, and it was soft. Like the thing she wore that Canyon called a robe.

Juniper sat close. “That’s the softest shirt. There’s a skirt that goes with it.” Another piece of clothing was offered to her. “I thought jeans would be a little much at the start.”

“Jeans.” She brought the cloth to her face and rubbed her cheek on it. “Clothes are hard.”