Chapter Twenty-Seven:

The phone was ringing when Marcus stepped into the house to get clothes for everyone. He growled, stalked naked to the phone and jerked it off the stand, "Hello?" he demanded.

"Marcus, this is sheriff Bingham again. I need to speak to you, Abbey and Julian as soon as possible. I don't want to have to bring you in in cuffs."

"Cuffs?" Marcus laughed humorlessly. "It'd take more than a set of cuffs."

"Marcus, this is serious. Some things have come to my attention and I need the three of you here immediately. If you don't do as I say then I'll be forced to go over your head."

"Over my head?" Marcus's blood froze but he kept his voice even, "I don't appreciate threats, Sheriff."

"And I don't like making them, Marcus. Not against you and your brother. The two of you have never been any trouble before and you've done a lot to help out the community around here but this is serious. Either get in here or I'll be forced to take other measures to bring you in."

"And why is it you have to talk to us now?" Marcus questioned. "What is this all about?"

"Just get here," Sheriff Bingham ordered. "If you're not here by lunch I'll be forced to make a phone call that I don't want to make. I don't need that attention brought to this area but I'll bring it here just the same.'

"We'll be there dammit," Marcus growled before slamming the phone back down. "Shit," he muttered before shoving his hand through his hair. This wasn't good. Marcus only hoped he'd done a good enough job making Joseph and Jason's death look like an accident and the sheriff could be satisfied without calling in the council of alpha's.

Marcus had no doubts that was the call the sheriff was threatening him with. The alpha council wouldn't waste time hearing his side of things, or Julian's side of things or Abbey's side of things. Those pompous arrogant assholes who believed that only pack wolves deserved to breathe would happily order their life long imprisonment or their executions without batting a single eye.

The werewolf council was a fairly new thing having come about in the last seventy-five years or so. Once humans began to learn that werewolves were real they wanted to see that werewolves could manage their own kind while abiding human laws and living among them peacefully.

So the council had been formed. The council was made up of every alpha of all ten of the established packs. They did not meet often, usually only when trouble arose and they needed to discuss how to handle it.

The council had instituted rules that wolves had to follow. The rules made the humans feel safer and more tolerant of their presence. No one could change any human to a wolf without at least one council members approval even if that person was your mate. No harming any human unless that human is about to take your life or the life of a pack member. Even though Joseph and Jason had shot Marcus, Marcus had still broken the rule because his life had not been in danger from their bullets. Giving immortality to the pups by mating with their mother would definitely be a no-no in the council's eyes.

Hell just drawing breath was a no-no seeing as how Julian and Marcus were rogues and not members of any established pack. It didn't help that the alpha who had killed their father and kicked them out of their own pack was on the council....

If the council was called in it would very likely end with Marcus, and everyone he cared about, dead or rotting in a werewolf prison.

Marcus growled low in his throat. He and Julian were going to have to take Abbey to talk to Sheriff Bingham today there was no getting out of it. With any luck they could ease whatever worries the sheriff had and get this Samantha woman to leave town without anything bad happening.

Marcus never had been the type to think positive but just about now he was willing to give it a try.

***

Abbey swallowed hard as she looked at the door of the tiny building that housed the Sheriff's office. Audrey was safe at school, Tanner was still safely with Ernest at the garage and Abbey had Julian and Marcus standing on either side of her looking ready to take on anything just to keep her safe.

So why was she feeling less than confident? Gone was that lack of fear she'd felt when she'd first been bitten and bitten Julian and Marcus. She supposed it was the wolf and her own self meshing and learning how to share her body. She was not quite as afraid as she had once been but not overly confident either.

It didn't help that she could smell the uneasiness rolling off of Julian and Marcus in waves. They had spent the entire drive into town explaining to Abbey about the werewolf council and how it worked. They explained to her that because they were not part of any pack they had no protection and were seen as worthless and expendable.

That was what frightened Abbey worse than anything. They were expendable. No matter how strong Marcus and Julian were they could not stand up to an entire pack coming down on them.

"It'll be okay, Abbey," Julian assured her, giving her hand a squeeze. Abbey breathed deeply, though the barrage of scents here in town were nearly overwhelming. She found that she wasn't having nearly as much trouble controlling her emotions as she had yesterday.

"No one will harm you," Marcus growled in agreement.

Julian held the door open for Abbey to step in and she recognized Sheriff Bingham instantly.

"You showed up," he sounded surprised as he stood and walked around the counter. Abbey looked him up and down, knowing that if it came to it she could take this human out with very little effort.

She shook her head to clear that thought and felt Julian squeeze her hand again, bringing her back to focus.

"I told you we would," Marcus snapped. "Now what the hell is this about?"

Sheriff Bingham gave him a sharp look and then led the three of them down a short hall and into a tiny office with only two chairs for them to sit in. Julian and Abbey took seats while Marcus stood behind Abbey with his arms crossed tightly across his chest.

"Mrs. Martin—" Sheriff Bingham was interrupted by Marcus's possessive growl. Abbey saw Julian turn and shoot Marcus a tense look and she knew the two of them were arguing in their heads. Finally the tension left Marcus's shoulders and he took a deep breath, "I trust you're aware of what we found on the mountain yesterday?"

"Yes," Abbey replied quickly, not even able to feign sadness.

"Your husband is dead ma'am." the sheriff explained as if perhaps she didn't truly know.

Abbey shook her head, "He was never a good husband, Sheriff Bingham, and I'm not saddened by the loss."

"Mrs. Martin—"

"Call me Abbey," Abbey insisted quickly when Marcus tensed once again.

"Okay, Abbey—" Sheriff Bingham kept his eyes on Marcus a moment before turning his gaze back to Abbey. "It has come to our attention that there was bad blood between you and your husband. We were told that there were custody issues with your children and that you kidnapped them in an attempt to ensure your husband wouldn't see them again."

Abbey felt that tingling in her blood again. She felt the wolf wanting to be let loose as this lies were spouted about her but she took several deep breaths and willed her temper back down. "Sir, my dead husband was a drug addict, a drunk and he was abusive. The law enforcement in our town would do nothing because his brother was an officer and ensured that Joseph wouldn't be punished. I left my husband and he found me at a hotel and very nearly killed me and our children. That is why I took the truck and the kids and ran. I didn't stop running until I wrecked the truck into a snow bank outside of town and Julian and Marcus found us."

"See she didn't kidnap anyone, she was trying to save them. Why are we here?" Julian asked. His tone was polite but Abbey could sense his impatience.

"Abbey, your husband's death appears to have been an accident. He and his brother were up on the mountain during the blizzard and it looks like they came upon a fallen tree, swerved and were unable to stop before they went over the edge. My question to you would be why was your husband up on that mountain?"

"I have no idea,." Abbey lied.

"I don't believe that."

Damn her inability to lie convincingly, "Well it's the truth, sir." she insisted.

"Why does it matter why he was there?" Marcus demanded. "He was there, he wrecked, he died, end of story. I still don't understand why we're here."

"Because something just doesn't feel right," Sheriff Bingham replied, tapping his pen on his desk. "You claim this man was abusive but yet there are no police reports filed indicating that and no proof of your claims. You crossed state lines with two minor children without his permission, in a vehicle registered to him. He gets close to figuring out where you are and just winds up dead on top of a mountain in a blizzard by chance?"

Before Abbey could reply Marcus came between she and Julian's chairs and slammed his hand on the desk, splintering the wood. Sheriff Bingham jumped back and laid a hand over his chest as Marcus stared him down, "That's exactly what fuckin' happened and if you had any brains in your head you'd think twice before accusing her again of whatever it is you're accusing her of."

"I don't necessary think it was her."

Marcus raised a brow and clicked his tongue. "You got balls, sheriff, I'll give you that much." He pushed himself off the desk, stepped to the door and waved his hand, "Let's go, you two."

Abbey obeyed the command and stood quickly while Julian slowly did the same. She turned toward the door and found herself pulled against Marcus as his big arms wrapped her in a protective hold.

"We're not done here," Sheriff Bingham warned. "There's still the matter of your living arrangement. You've changed her haven't you?"

"I can't see how that's any concern of yours," Julian countered.

Sheriff Bingham tossed his pen down, "Dammit, quit being so difficult! You turned that woman and I haven't heard a word from the council. Something tells me they don't know..."

"Then call them and quit with the fuckin' threats!" Marcus exclaimed, his voice booming throughout the sheriff's office. "Now unless one of us is under arrest, which would be a big mistake on your part, we're leaving."

Abbey found herself moved behind Marcus and she followed after him without hesitation. He strode confidently from the sheriff's office and out the front door. Abbey could feel Julian behind her and knew the men were forming a shield around her.

"Did we really just curse, threaten and disrespect the Sheriff?" Abbey's dumbfounded voice filled the awkward silence as the trio made their way around the courthouse and back toward main street.

"No, I cursed, threatened and disrespected the Sheriff," Marcus shoved his hand through his hair.

"Probably not the best approach," Julian spoke up.

"You should have told the Sheriff that when he started spouting out that bullshit."

"But it wasn't bullshit, Marcus," Abbey reminded him. "There is more going on than what we've told him."

Marcus snorted and shook his head but said nothing. Abbey grabbed his arm and brought him to a stop on the sidewalk. The sun was bright but the wind was cold as it slammed against their faces.

"One of you—" Abbey looked at both men in turn, "—needs to explain to me why he brought up the council when it came to changing me."

"Abbey, now isn't the time," Julian chided gently.

"Now is the perfect time," Abbey argued, crossing her arms over her chest and staring him down. "There is something going on that you're not telling me and that's not fair. We don't keep secrets from one another."

Julian looked like he was going to argue but Marcus spoke before he could, "We've broken a lot of rules, Abbey. Stopping those two bastards, taking you for a mate, sharing our immortality with the pups..."

Abbey held up her hand to stop him, "But the kids were a package deal with me. Why would taking me for a mate be breaking the rules?"

Julian's shoulders heaved as he took a deep breath, "Because we're rogues. Hell we're lucky that they've left us alone this long. Most rogues live like fugitives nowadays."

Abbey felt her temper rising once again and with it there was hurt. She could barely bring herself to look into Julian's eyes, "So this morning, when you told me there was nothing for me to worry about, that was a lie?"

"Abbey..." Julian's voice was pained but Abbey didn't want to hear his excuses for his dishonesty.

"I'm going to see my son," she snapped. Abbey let her feet lead her quickly toward the garage. She could feel the blood rushing to her head as her fists were clenched tightly.

The thought of her mates being dishonest was more than she could stand. She had spent so many years of her life with a man who didn't respect her, being disrespected by her mates was not something she would tolerate.

Abbey could hear Julian and Marcus following behind her and calling out for her to stop but she ignored them. She could feel that wildness building in her soul, that tingle in her veins, that tugging in her gut. She knew the change was coming and the pain in her bones proved that. Abbey tried breathing deeply and she was nearing the garage when she began to believe she was indeed calming down then she heard her.

"Stop right there, Abigail!"

Abbey turned, her eyes flashing as she took in the sight of her sister-in-law. Samantha was pale with dark freckles and red curls that were wild around her face and hanging down her back.

Abbey felt the wolf rage to life. Here was the woman who had come to town and threatened Abbey's new life. The woman who had laughed in her face, shrugged her shoulders and refused to help Abbey all those years ago. The woman who accused Abbey of being a kidnapper and had not a single shred of decency in her body.

Pain tore through Abbey as she lunged for Samantha. Her hands were less than inches from closing around Samantha's throat when a set of strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back.

"Calm down, Abbey," Marcus whispered in her hear but Abbey couldn't hear him. Didn't care what he said.

Kill the threat!

That was the mantra replaying itself over and over inside her mind.

Kill the threat to her pack, her mates, her pups, herself. It would be simple. One quick tearing of the throat...

The pain came again not as intense as yesterday but still there. Abbey saw Samantha's brown eyes widen into saucers as she stumbled back several steps.

"Marcus, get her out of here and calmed down!" Julian exclaimed but Marcus was already moving. Abbey felt herself being scooped off the ground and suddenly the sunlight was gone as Marcus ran into the garage with her held against his chest.

He took her into a bathroom in the back ignoring Ernest and Tanner who both called out to them.

Marcus sat her on her feet in front of the dingy mirror and began to whisper in her ear. At first Abbey couldn't understand the words, so lost in her bloodlust that nothing else was able to occupy her mind.

Then slowly his words began to sink in, "Come back to me, Abbey. Calm down, little minx. We love you. We're sorry. We didn't want you worrying about anything because you already had so much on your mind. You can't kill her. I would let you if I could. Hell I'd kill her if folks weren't so uptight when it came to murder."

Abbey leaned her body into him as the red haze slowly faded from her vision. She took in her own reflection as her veins ceased to bulge, her green eyes lost the gold and blue flecks and her breathing evened out.

"Ugh!" she covered her face with her hand as she sank into Marcus's chest. "This temper is ridiculous. But I'm warning you Marcus," she turned and pointed her finger at his face. "I will not be lied to. I know that I haven't been the strongest of women since you've known me but I'm tougher than I seem. If there is something that threatens me, you, Julian or the children then you darn well better let me know about it from now on."

Marcus growled low but then nodded, "Yes ma'am."

"Do you think she knows I'm a werewolf? Was it obvious?" Abbey questioned, not wanting to give Samantha anymore ammunition to use against her.

Marcus chuckled, "No, of course not. All the cool moms have golden eyes, pointy teeth and bulging muscles these days."

***

"Oh my God...." Samantha's eyes continued to stare into the garage long after Marcus and Abbey had disappeared from view.

"Samantha I assume?" Julian inquired, sizing the woman up. She was pretty enough with her pale skin, red hair and slim figure but that all faded away when you looked into her eyes.

As she met his gaze Julian was shocked by what he saw there. They claimed that the eyes were the windows to the soul and if that was the case then Samantha had the soul of Satan. Her eyes were cold, mean and the closest thing to pure evil that Julian had ever seen.

"What is wrong with her? Is she sick?"

Julian just shook his head, "Do you care?"

"Who are you?" Samantha demanded as she looked him up and down. "And who was that man that carried her away from here? I've been asking around about Abbey but no one here seems to want to talk."

"Because everyone around here has a thing against strangers asking questions about folks in town," Julian crossed his arms over his chest. "It makes them uncomfortable."

"That's not what I've been told. I keep hitting a brick wall called, 'We won't say a bad word about the DeLuca boys or who they keep company with. If you have questions ask them.'" Samantha shrugged. "So I'm asking—are you a DeLuca boy?"

"I'm not a boy, ma'am, but yes my last name is DeLuca." Samantha surely had nerve, Julian would give her that much.

When Samantha stepped toward the garage door Julian quickly stepped in front of her and blocked her path, "What do you think you're doing?!" she demanded.

"Stopping you from making the biggest mistake of your life."

Samantha snorted, "Really? I have a few things to say to Abigail."

"Listen if you walk in there just now there's a good chance that you'll leave in a body bag. Now I'm not warning you because I care what happens to you but I don't want Abbey to have that on her conscience. She's a gentle, kind woman and it would bother her later."

"You will let me by. I have issues to discuss with Abigail and if you think for one moment she's a danger to me than you don't know her very well." These words were spoken with a humorous disdain that had a growl coming from Julian's chest.

"It's you that doesn't know her, the new her. She's not someone you want to mess with now. And she's no longer alone for bullies like you and that monster of a husband she had to attack and beat down."

"Let me guess, she has you DeLuca boys to do her fighting for her?"

"Did it look like we needed to? My brother just saved your life by taking her away from here but if you keep running that mouth I'll tell him to bring her back."

"I will speak to her..." Samantha began again but she was interrupted by Tanner running from the garage.

"Papa!!" the boy exclaimed before leaping into Julian's arms. Julian returned the hug the boy gave his neck before propping Tanner on his hip.

"Papa?" Samantha frowned. "Tanner, do you remember me?" she asked reaching for the boy.

Julian growled low and threatening as he took a step back and Tanner hid his face in Julian's neck. Seeing Tanner, who liked everybody, acting so upset by the sight of his own aunt told Julian all he needed to know about the woman.

"Tanner, come see Aunt Samantha," she repeated, taking another step toward Julian and attempting to put her hand on Tanner's back.

Julian growled and smacked her hand away, "You won't touch my pup."

"Pup?" Samantha looked at Julian, then at the garage, then back to Julian and to Tanner and she gasped as she stumbled three steps away.

"Werewolves! You're werewolves!"

"Give the woman a goddamn cookie," Marcus's deep voice intoned as he and Abbey stepped out of the garage and Tanner leapt into Abbey's arms.

"Are you okay, mommy?"

"Mommy's just fine, bub," Abbey assured him with a kiss.

Julian had to admit she seemed much calmer. (She's okay, Julian. I wouldn't have brought her back out here if she wasn't.)

(Samantha is a monster.) Julian informed his brother. (I don't know how our Abbey survived in a family of predators like this family.)

Marcus grinned, (She's tougher than she looks—and she let me know that with that delicious little finger pointed at my nose.)

"Let's go home," Abbey said as she took Julian's hand.

"Not so fast," Samantha spoke up. "We have some things to talk about."

"I can't see what we could possibly have to talk about, Samantha. We didn't like each other when we related and now that Joseph is dead we no longer have any reason to have to tolerate one another."

"Well listen who has a backbone now. Of course if I had two werewolf bodyguards I'd be mouthy too."

"I don't need bodyguards," Abbey's eyes flash with gold as she leaned closer to Samantha and grinned. "You'll find that I can take real good care of myself these days."

"You're one of them..." Samantha seemed dumbfounded.

"Go home, Samantha. Take Joseph and Jason with you and just go home. I have a new life here with mates who love me and my children. I don't want to have anything more to do with you or anyone else from my past."

Abbey turned and began to walk away, her hand still clasped tightly around Julian's. Julian knew that his touch was helping to calm her and it made his heart swell with pride.

They took several steps before Samantha's voice once again reached their ears, though Julian was certain she didn't mean for them to hear her.

"She's sleeping with two men? What a slut."

Abbey growled low and whirled around. Julian was worried but Abbey made no move to step closer to Samantha, instead she hollered rather loudly so the other woman could hear her, "So did you ever tell Jason that you were fucking his boss? Pleasing two men is a lot of work but I guess since your husband is dead now your booty call will have you all to himself."

Marcus laughed loudly and Julian found himself chuckling as well. Samantha finally seemed speechless as she turned and fled quickly back up the street.

Julian knew that the trouble was far from over. Samantha was no threat but the council was and there was a very good chance that the council would be coming soon. But for now, for today, their Abbey had had a victory. A victory that her spirit had needed badly and so, for that, Julian was grateful.