“How did you manage to escape, Puppet?” Farrah asked as she stood with her back against the far wall. Trig was sitting against the wall, propped on up pillows and looking very pampered. Brie was seated on the sofa with a plate full of the ham and potatoes leftover from their dinner the evening before and Nickolai was behind her, as if standing guard while Grange and Dawn sat curled up together in the large chair.

“Her name is Brie.” Nickolai quickly corrected and Trig grunted as he adjusted himself against the pillows.

“Farrah didn’t mean nothing by it, Nickolai.” Nickolai’s brow rose a fraction in response and Brie smiled apologetically at Farrah.

“The Master was so upset about you leaving that he became blindly focused on figuring out where you went. I took advantage of his distraction and the lack of guards and snuck away.”

“And how did you find us?” Dawn asked. Grange kissed her hair.

“Her wolf would have brought her right to Nickolai. The same as Farrah’s cat brought her to Trig. And the same as you were drawn to this tiny nowhere town because I was here.”

“I didn’t realize Master would even know I was gone.” Farrah said and then she looked at the walls around her. “They don’t close in here.”

Grange shook his head, wondered what he did to deserve such a crazy person in his pack and then turned back to Brie.

“Do you know what ‘masters’ name is?”

“I was forbidden to ever say it but, yes, I heard others call him by it. His name is Faugrimm.”

Grange, Trig and Nickolai all shared looks but neither had heard the name before.

“How far from here were you?” Grange asked, looking at both Farrah and Brie.

“I ran for nearly three days to get here. It wouldn’t have taken as long as a wolf but Master… I mean Faugrimm, taught us quick that we are not allowed to shift at will.” Brie replied and Farrah nodded.

“It took me less time but I shifted and came as a cat part of the way.”

“What about when you had to shift?” Trig asked Brie as he picked at his bandage and Farrah reached down and smacked his head. He glared up at her but the glare quickly turned into a goofy grin when she smiled down.

“He would put us in chains, in a cage, and he would watch or assign someone to watch.” Brie stated simply.

“How long did he have you?” Nickolai, who had been silent for a long time finally asked. Brie seemed to think for a long time and then she looked back and up at him.

“I don’t know for sure.” she replied. “A long time. I remember a man, a wolf, the one who told me you were dead and he called me daughter… Yes he was my father, I’m starting to remember more now.” Brie pressed her fingers into her tempers and closed her eyes as if in pain. Nickolai’s hand closed gently around her shoulder and Dawn stood quickly.

She poured Brie a glass of tea and took her now empty plate to the kitchen before going back to Grange in the chair.

“Thank you.” Brie said gratefully as she sipped at the tea.

“What did your father tell you happened to me, my Brie?” Brie sighed and leaned back against his touch.

“It all just seems like a dream now but I know it wasn’t. I was in our room, pacing, wishing you were not so overprotective of me so that I could help you. That stupid wolf you told to guard me kept opening the door every single time I breathed too loudly just to make sure I was okay. Father came to me and he looked tired, bloodied and sad. He told me you had been killed and I remember falling to the floor and sobbing…”

“I was told, by your father, that the wolf I had left to guard you abandoned you and that a wolf from the rival pack came in and killed you.” Nickolai growled, a shiver washing over him at the memory. Then he frowned. “But why would Colin lie to both of us?”

“What happened next, Brie?” Grange urged. Brie took another sip of tea and picked at the torn hem of her thin dress.

“Faugrimm came. I was still reeling from learning of Nickolai’s death. I remember catching snippets of the conversation between he and my father. My father was in desperate need of money because he had borrowed some from some unsavory dwarves and could not pay them back. Faugrimm handed him a huge jingling sack and then he took me away.”

“Colin sold you?” Nickolai whispered, his voice seething with anger.

“Damn Nickolai, I’ve never seen you so emotional before.” Trig stated with a grin and this earned him a sharp look from everyone. He smiled guiltily and shrugged his good shoulder. “Not a good time for jokes?”

“Grange.” Nickolai said as he stood straighter and squared his shoulders. Grange looked at him with a raise of his brow.

“What?”

“I’m only asking permission out of respect since you are the alpha but I want to go kill him. I want to go up to Canada and tear his head clean off his shoulders.”

“Of course you do.” Grange replied simply and Brie shook her head and leapt to her feet. She turned to face him, wishing she could get closer but the sofa was in the way.

“No, Nickolai.” she stated firmly. “You will not go after him.”

“Why? Simply because he is your father?” Nickolai demanded with passion. Only Brie had ever managed to bring passionate emotions from him. Lust, love, anger, jealousy, sorrow, temper. Only his Brie.

“No not simply because he is my father.” Brie replied, her face flushing and her green/gray eyes flashing. “If he comes here, if he somehow finds out we’re both here and tries to come, then you have my full support in tearing his head clean off his shoulders!” she exclaimed. “But I finally have you back, Nickolai! We are finally together! Why go make war? Why go risk your life simply for revenge or vengeance? Let’s simply be together and my father and that pack be damned?”

“You cursed.” Nickolai stated, his lips curving with sudden amusement when Brie blushed and bit her lip.

“Only you could ever make me curse.” she mumbled and Nickolai leapt over the couch and gathered her up in a tight hug.

“I tend to agree with Brie.” Grange admitted. “We have enough trouble coming our way without going out and looking for more. From the way it sounds we have Faugrimm’s two favorite ‘pets’ and I’m sure challenging wolf packs will show up here eventually. I need my Beta’s here.”

Nickolai sighed and forced himself to use logic instead of letting his emotions control him. Grange and Brie were right. Vengeance for the events of three quarters of a century ago had to come second to the welfare of the pack. He had his Brie here now and that was all that mattered. But with any luck, Colin would show up to challenge Grange and give Nickolai the opening he needed to end his life.

He simply bowed his acceptance of Grange’s decision.

“How long before Faugrimm finds us?” Brie asked, her voice shaking a bit. Nickolai held her tighter and Grange rubbed his neck.

“Days.” he replied simply. “Trig, focus on healing. Nickolai, Farrah, you should probably begin training Brie as well as Dawn. Brie, tonight we will all shift so that you can practice since you have not done so in a while. I will go patrol and make sure the scent is strong around the cabin. With any luck Faugrimm will come straight here and bypass the town. I’d like to have as little damage done to the people there as possible.”

“Wow, you just sounded like an alpha.” Trig said with a grin. Grange rolled his eyes.

“I am an alpha.”

“You are?” Trig asked with shock. “You almost knocked my teeth down my throat for calling you one a few weeks ago.” Grange growled and stood up.

“I have work to do.” he grumbled. He kissed Dawn’s hair and then left the cabin.

“So moody.” Trig teased as he laid back against his pillows and closed his eyes.

“You have to stop poking at him like that.” Dawn warned. “He’s going to really kick your butt one of these.” Trig laughed and then winced as he clutched at his chest.

“Hearing him grumble uncomfortably until then will make that day worth it.”

***

Everyone other than Dawn and Trig were still gone from the cabin when Henry showed up nearly an hour later. Dawn was washing up the dishes while Trig slept and she slipped out the door without waking him.

“Good afternoon, Henry.” she said with a warm smile as she wiped her wet hands on her cream colored apron.

“Good afternoon, Dawn.” he replied, returning her smile as he slid from the saddle and then stretched out his back. “That’s a awful long ride.”

“What brings you all the way out here?” Dawn asked. “We’ll be in town tomorrow. I’m going to open the bakery for a few hours.”

“Could I get some chocolate cookies?” Henry asked hopefully and Dawn laughed lightly.

“I think that could be arranged.” His eyes rolled back as he groaned.

“You are an angel.”

“So what does bring you all the way out here, Henry?”

“Actually there was a letter for Grange at the post office. Now normally I wouldn’t have brung it all the way out here but Grange never gets mail and it was marked urgent so I brought it for him.”

“Thank you, Henry.” Dawn said as Henry pulled the letter from his pocket and handed it to her. There was no return address and Dawn wondered who it could be from. “Would you like to stay for dinner, Henry?” Dawn asked out of politeness. Honestly she hoped he’d say no since she wasn’t sure what shape everyone would be in when they got back.

“No, I can’t stay.. But sheriff Bishop did say something about another woman staying out here…” Dawn sighed at the nosiness of bored townsfolk.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Isn’t that cabin getting a little crowded?”

“A little.” Dawn admitted, wondering what that twinkle in Henry’s eyes was about.

“Well you know Gladys Bishop was real upset that she couldn’t throw you a real shindig of a wedding and well now it’s the town tradition to throw a party and a wedding for folks around here when they get married. Grange has been part of our town a long time and we never thought he’d settle down so since he finally has we want to do something.”

“Nobody has to do anything.” Dawn started but Henry shook his head.

“Nonsense. The sawmill has agreed to donate some lumber and some of us men have agreed to donate our time and we’re gonna help you expand this place so you have more room for the nice little family y’all are building.” Dawn’s eyes widened.

“Henry!” she exclaimed. “That’s just too much!” She wasn’t sure at all that Grange would like this idea. He was very private and did not like gifts or charity on his behalf. He didn’t like feeling as if he ’owed’ someone.

“Nonsense.” Henry replied with a scoff. “This town might not completely understand Grange or some of the things about him but he’s a good man. He helps everyone out when he can and he has always been a good man. We want to do this for him.”

“Well see the truth is that I don’t know how much longer we’re gonna be here…” Dawn admitted and Henry frowned.

“Does this have to do with the fact that Grange doesn’t age and he’s worried that he’s gotta leave?” Dawn blinked several times and she was sure she resembled a fish out of water as she struggled to think of something to say and make her mouth work.

Henry just smiled and patted her on the back.

“This town has a lot of people that come and go but few that stay a real long time. Those few long time residents that are here trust Grange. We’ve noticed that he doesn’t seem to get any older, and while I have to admit that it’s caused a few jealousy issues, we certainly don’t want him to leave because of it.”

“O…Okay.” Dawn stuttered. Henry just grinned and climbed slowly back up onto his horse.

“Make sure you talk to Grange about our offer and about staying. We’d really hate to lose you all, especially since no one else can make those chocolate cookies quite like you.” Dawn just nodded, still feeling shocked by what Henry had said.

She watched him ride away and then looked down at the letter still in her hand. She was about to open the sealed envelope when something inside of her spoke up and said not to. It was addressed to the alpha and therefore she should let him open it.

“I’m his mate.” she grumbled to the obedient wolf inside her. Still when she thought of opening the envelope the feeling of betrayal was too strong so she sighed and simply slipped it back in her pocket. This obedient wolf gig was complete and utter nonsense.

She sighed and turned around, knowing she needed to get dinner finished because she would have a houseful of hungry were creatures very soon.

When she stepped into the cabin she realized Trig was awake and watching her from his makeshift bed on the floor.

“What was that about?” he asked as he scratched his bare stomach.

“As a guard dog, you are worthless.” Dawn stated with a wave of her hand and Trig laughed loudly before whimpering in pain and clutching at his chest.

“Don’t make me laugh.” he whined. “And I could smell him, I knew it was just Henry.”

“What if he’d had bad intentions?” Dawn questioned as she stirred the frying potatoes on the stove. She loved to give Trig a hard time because he was just as good at giving it right back to her.

“If you cannot handle one feeble old man with bad intentions, my alpha, then I greatly fear for the future of our mismatched pack.”