"Well, first off I want to know if you'll be my best man in the wedding," Hank asked.
"I'd be honored, my brother," he answered with emotion.
I felt my throat get tight and I was so happy I was witnessing this moment—a moment I never thought would come. I had stupidly and mistakenly thought Hank had cheated on me and had left Hung Island without talking to him. I was impulsive like that. However, I'd grown up in the year I was away and had become an accomplished agent for the WTF. I was now a deadly fighting machine and I still got my guy. Irony of all ironies, Hank had also secretly joined WTF because he thought I wasn't coming back. Now we both were owned and employed by our governing Council. Hence the talk with Junior…
"I understand that Dwayne is wearing a dress," Junior said cautiously. "While I think that is brave and appalling, I just want to put it out there that… "
"You'll be in a tux, man," Hank said quickly.
"Thank Jesus." Junior heaved a huge sigh of relief and I bit back my laugh. The thought of Junior in a dress was so wrong it was awesome.
"So what else you got?" he asked Hank.
Hank gently moved me off his lap and went to his brother.
"It's come time for you to step up to your rightful place," he said quietly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Junior yelled as he jumped to his feet, taking the bookshelf behind him down. "I have a list." He shoved the paper in Hank's face. "I have to bag Sandy Moongie… Wait." He groaned and slapped himself in the head. "I do not mean bag. I mean, I do mean bag, but not until we've gone on at least two dates." He glanced over at me for approval.
"Fifteen dates and I'm being conservative," I said.
"Are you serious?" he shouted. "This is going to be harder than I thought. Maybe I should confess to her father."
"Confess what?" Hank asked, bewildered.
"My sins."
"Holy shit." Hank whistled and laughed. "You're a dead man walking."
"I know," Junior said morosely. "Now do you understand why this is a really bad time for me to become the Alpha and sheriff?"
"I'm WTF now. I can't be the alpha anymore," Hank said.
"What the hell? When did you join the Werewolf Treaty Federation?" Junior demanded as he realized the ramifications of Hank's enlistment.
"About a year ago—right after Essie did."
"Did you know about this?" Junior asked in a high-pitched voice as he rambled around the office leaving disaster in his wake.
"Only for a week," I admitted.
"Wait, so you went to Chicago and joined WTF? What did you do—stalk Essie for a year?"
"Pretty much," I said as Hank shrugged and grinned at me.
"Wow, that's kinda hot," Junior said grudgingly.
"Right?" I agreed.
"We have a mission and we leave in three days," Hank told a now pale Junior.
"Son of a beeotch," Junior muttered as he dropped onto the couch and stared at the ceiling. "This just sucks."
"Junior, you're ready," Hank said firmly. "You've been ready for a while, but you never would have challenged me. This is the way it should be. You're fair, smarter than hell and deadly. The Georgia Pack will be lucky to have you."
"Do you think being Alpha will help me get Sandy?" he asked, totally serious.
"Oh my god," I mumbled wondering if an Alpha that thought with his wanker was going to be a huge clusterhump.
"Um… possibly, but you're gonna have to put Sandy on the back burner for a while," Hank told him. "You have to have your shit together to lead the Wolves and all the other Weres in Georgia. Your pecker is going to have to stay in your pants."
"I can do that," Junior said somewhat doubtfully. "It would prove to the world I'm not a man whore and then Sandy would have to go out with me."
I exchanged a covert glance with Hank who was biting his lip.
"Okay," Hank said encouragingly. "That's a good start. You are going to use your big head, not your little one."
"It's not little," Junior cut in.
"Whatever," Hank grunted in frustration. "You're gonna keep it in your pants and dedicate yourself to governing our people and keeping them safe. You follow?"
Junior sat in silence and digested the information for a long moment.
"Yep. I can do this. You're right. It's time, but the pants thing is gonna be hard. No pun intended," he said honestly.
I rolled my eyes and gave Junior a hug. "You are strong, brilliant and compassionate. You will be an outstanding leader."
"You forgot good-looking." Junior amended my list with a wink.
"And humble," Hank added sarcastically as he took his brothers hand in his own and shook it.
Both Hank and I went to our knees in respect for our new Alpha. Junior was overwhelmed for a second and then gently laid his hands on our heads. I felt his magic entwined with Hank's fill the room. I was awed as I closed my eyes and let their power wash through me. Junior was going to be fine.
I just hoped our mission in Chicago would work out as well.
Chapter 3
"It was glorious," Dwayne gushed as he danced around the shooting range. "Layla was balled up in the corner with the peignoir sets rocking like she was insane, but Lori pulled up her big girl panties and got with the program fast."