Follows Armistice Broken
Part Three of the Dark Moon series.
Buck and Josiah sat up late at the kitchen table, talking quietly over coffee. Both gave their alpha an inquiring look as he padded in from the hall. He had left a mildly sedated Vin curled up asleep in the bedroom. Larabee filled a cup from the carafe on the counter, before joining them, his handsome face grim.Unable to take the silence, Buck spoke up, his voice uncharacteristically hushed.
"How is he, Chris?"
Nathan and Rain had left earlier, after cleaning and bandaging Vin's wounded arm. Not even a cheerful introduction to Rain had coaxed a smile out of the silent young man. He had lifted his head from Chris' shoulder long enough to regard her pretty, gentle face with grave, wary eyes for a few moments, then turned away and buried his face in Chris' throat again.
Larabee lifted a hand and kneaded the bridge of his nose. The bout with Mary had left him tense and wired with adrenaline. Now he was just tired.
"He's closing me off, Buck. I can barely feel him now. I think his feelings were hurt more than his arm. Mary took him by surprise. Before he felt safe, happy. Now... he doesn't know what to feel. Mostly I think he's ashamed."
This last statement brought a scowl to both Buck and Josiah's faces. Wilmington folded his arms and leaned back in his chair with a huff.
"That bitch ambushed him, Chris. None of us saw that coming. The boy has got nothing to be ashamed of."
"Indeed, brother Buck. Our younger brother showed laudible restraint."
Larabee scowled at this last statement.
"Hell, Josiah, he was in shock! The last thing he expected was to be attacked in the middle of his own pack!" He scrubbed his hands over his face. "I should have seen that coming."
"Chris, you ain't psychic. I sure as hell never saw the prissy bitch reacting like that, and I'm the one that warned you about how pissed she was when you and Vin got together."
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In the dark bedroom, Vin groggily lifted his head from Chris' pillow. He could hear the low rumble of others' voices down the hall. Slowly he pushed himself up to a sitting position and gingerly examined the bandage on his left arm. It throbbed a bit, but was tolerable. However, he knew that if he shifted, the damage to the anatomy of a wolf's slender foreleg would be considerably worse, and would leave him running lame on three limbs.
Slowly he ran a hand through his hair. Part of him wanted to seek out the comfort of his mate's arms. The other part longed to retreat to the known safety of his tiny sandstone den in the distant mountains. He had explored the outskirts of the Medicine Bow pack's territory for weeks before finding the courage to answer Larabee's song.
The most he had hoped for was companionship. He had been so lonely. While he had dim memories of his parents, he had spent his childhood in wolf shape, lovingly tended and cared for by the old she wolf that had found him after his mother's death. Even then, he had had little pack interaction. His wolf 'mother' was a lone wolf, her mate dead, content to hunt in the distant mountains far from human or pack contact.
He had happily spent his childhood in lupine form, only rediscovering his shapeshifting abilities when he reached his teens, and his body began to mature. It had been something of a shock to awaken one morning, after a particularly interesting dream, to discover himself in human form.
Later when his hunger for companionship and growing sexual urges drove him to seek a mate, his only contact had been with a lupa in heat who had sought him out, only to reject him afterwards to return to her pack and established mate. He had been nothing more than a diversion for her, she had been bored with her mate, but unwilling to lose her pack status. She had eagerly helped her pack drive him away. She had never deigned to show him her human face.
Confused and hurt, he had once again retreated to the safe haven of his mountains. It was years before his curiosity drove him to again seek out company. Sheer loneliness had forced him to timidly approach the isolated Basque sheepherder he had spent a summer with. The old man had died before Vin had much of a chance to relearn human speech and habits. Now he was in a whole new world. Some bits dimly remembered, other strange, wonderful things made safe by Larabee's calm, strong presence. The bond that had formed instantly between them had been both a shock and revelation.
One moment he had shyly met a pair of sharp green eyes, the next his mind had been flooded with unfamiliar emotions and images. The tidal wave of emotion had overwhelmed them both, and Vin woke in the tall, dewy grass the next morning enfolded in a pair of warm, possessive arms, a hairy, muscular thigh wedged between his. Larabee's seed was trickling from his sore ass while the bite marks on his shoulders and the nape of his neck throbbed with every heartbeat. Chris had claimed him body and soul.
He had willingly followed his mate into a new world. A world in which he had felt totally safe, which he had explored happily, with the pure joy and giddiness of a young pup. Everyday there were new wonders to discover. Electricity and hot running water were marveled at.
The television had nearly caused him to jump out of his skin the first time he saw it on. He had 'murdered' Chris' elderly alarm clock after it noisily shrilled in his ear one morning. He still kept a sharp eye on the toaster. He was awed by Larabee's big, black truck, but willing to ride in it with Chris. He loved Ripley's kittens and the horses. He still found the plump, foolish chickens hilarious.
In short, he had trusted his mate and totally dropped his guard, foolishly abandoning a lifetime of caution. He had hundreds of questions that Chris patiently answered. Unfamiliar with pack law, he fearlessly met other pack members, his new family, not realizing that one might desire to harm him. Mary's savage attack had been a shock. He had been hurt, but also humiliated. In short, he felt like a fool.
He knew his severe lack of language skills handicapped him, and he relied heavily on Chris to read human body language, to explain strange customs and rules, but he was an adult and felt he should at least be able to defend himself. What if she had attacked Chris instead? His mate could have been killed while he stood stupidly by. Larabee deserved a strong mate, who was smart enough to defend him.
Maybe Vin didn't belong here after all. He had brooded on that fact all afternoon, even as he clung to Chris, unwilling to leave the comfort of his mate's arms. Silently he rose from the bed, and awkwardly tugged the worn tee shirt off over his head. He undid the jeans and let them drop and pool around his feet. Naked, he padded down the hall and slipped into the den. The sliding glass door was ajar and he eased out into the cool night air.
He leapt down from the back deck and trotted for the distant rail fence bordering Larabee's yard and stable areas. The tall, cool grass whipped his thighs, and he lifted his head to scent the night breeze. He reached the fence, and hauled himself up to perch on the top rail. He tilted his head in the breeze, torn. Stay or go? Reluctantly, he started to swing a leg over the top rail.
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In the kitchen, Chris had just stood for a refill, while Buck and Josiah discussed the possibility of tracing Vin's former pack affiliations. Ezra had earlier mentioned a Tanner family pack he knew of down in Texas, and offered to do a computer trace for any existing paper trail. They were all curious about Vin's lost history.
"So Chris, if Nate thinks Vin's age is somewhere in his early twenties, that means he..." Buck was cut off with an abrupt gesture for silence from his alpha. Blond head tilted, Chris suddenly snarled wordlessly and tossed his cup in the sink before sprinting out of the kitchen.
Buck and Josiah leapt up and followed as far as the back yard before Josiah stopped Buck with one big hand. They could scent Tanner's recent passage on the wind. They watched as Chris disappeared into the night, focused on finding his mate.
"It's between them, Brother." Reluctantly they withdrew into the house.
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"It's a little late to go roaming tonight, pard. Don't you think?" Larabee's low voice startled Tanner out of his thoughts.
He flushed and dropped his head, the wind whipping his long hair over his face. He had not heard Chris approach, he had been so lost in thought. A big hand dropped on his thigh, and stroked gently. Chris slowly eased closer, unwilling to let Vin out of his space. Their link was still muted, a confused muddle of emotions, but Vin's confusion and pain was almost audible.
"Why don't you come down from there and talk to me?" Chris coaxed, as he slid his hand up and curled his fingers around Vin's left hand. Tanner tried to pull away, but he held tight. He reached up and began to massage Vin's bare back gently with his free hand.
Vin turned his head blindly away, face half veiled by his long hair. He shook his head mutely, and again made an attempt to tug free of Larabee's gentle grasp. Chris refused to let go, instead gave the hand a reassuring squeeze. He waited patiently. Finally, Vin stammered out a reply.
"N-no."
"Why not, sweetheart?"
"S-s-stupid, Chris. I's stupid." He stumbled over the unfamiliar word.
He flinched when he felt Larabee's anger surge through their bond, then cringed when strong hands abruptly closed around his waist and yanked him down off the fence to tumble back into Larabee's arms. Eyes closed tight, he tilted his head to bare his throat to his alpha's teeth. Instead of being sharply bitten in punishment, he was hugged close and a calloused hand impatiently brushed his hair out of his face. Warm lips pressed hotly against his, then peppered his face and throat with loving kisses.
"You are not stupid, Vin Tanner. I don't want to hear you say that again. You have a new life now, and a lot to learn. You are NOT stupid." Each growled word was punctuated with a firm kiss.
Vin gave a half-sob, half-groan and clung to his mate, unfamiliar tears spilling for the first time that day, as he tried to again bury his shamed face in his lover's shoulder. Larabee refused to allow it, cupping the hot face and forcing it up as he licked and kissed the burning tears away until Vin began to respond, hungrily tilting his mouth up for more.
Larabee pulled Vin down into the grass and made love to him with tender ferocity, reclaiming his mate, intent on teaching him just how important he was with every kiss and caress. He was determined to show Vin how much he was loved. Vin responded, meeting Larabee's passion with a fierce need to belong that left them shaking in the aftermath, sweat drying on cooling skin.
It was nearly dawn before Chris tugged up his jeans and lifted his groggy young lover up into his arms to carry him back to the house. A sleepy, mumbled protest was gently kissed away and ignored. Buck rose to meet them out of the tall grass in lupine form. Yawning and stretching, he led them from his sentinel post near the brood mare barn down to the house, tail waving like a flag. At the porch, Josiah slid the door open for them, and watched benevolently as his alpha carried his now soundly sleeping mate to bed.
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At breakfast Vin was still deeply asleep, the stress and the painkillers Chris had given him finally taking their toll. The three men sat around the table sleepily working their way through mounds of hotcakes and syrup. The mood was subdued, Chris having quietly confided Vin's misgivings about his intelligence. Josiah had calmly repeated that Miss Nettie would be pleased at the opportunity to tutor Vin.
"She's anxious to meet our boy, Chris. May do him some good to have a mother figure to fuss over him."
Chris nodded absently, eyes far away. Mary Travis had a lot to answer for. He was beginning to regret not having snapped the bitch's neck. As he blew on his coffee to cool it, the distant crunch of gravel as a car turned off the access road into his drive, brought everyone to full alertness. Nate wasn't due back to check on Vin until afternoon, and no one else had an open invitation to the ranch.
The sight of the unfamiliar vehicle brought all three uneasily to their feet. Chris slipped down the hall to quickly check on Vin, finding him still asleep and curled around Chris' pillow. The blond smoothed the tousled hair and tugged the comforter up over Vin's bare shoulders before heading back up the hall. He stepped out on the porch to meet the visitor, squinting into the bright morning sunlight.
A thin, frizzy-haired, dishwater blonde human woman emerged from the old Ford. She glared sourly up at Larabee through wire-framed glasses. Larabee gifted her with a toothy, white smile. She blinked, swallowed hard, then spoke abruptly.
"I'm looking for Buck Wilmington. I was told I could find him here."
Larabee tilted his head in response, and spoke softly.
"Buck."
The handsome rogue emerged immediately in response to his alpha's soft summons, face curious as he eyed the stranger. He gave her a friendly smile. She regarded him coldly in return, eyes flinty with dislike.
"Buck Wilmington?"
"Yep. In the flesh."
She nodded sharply once, and turned back to her car. Opening the back door, she withdrew a battered cardboard box, and a full backpack, which she briskly tossed onto the porch. This was followed by a small, grubby toddler with a droopy diaper that she plunked unceremoniously down at Buck's feet. The child regarded the men with big, hazel eyes fringed with dark lashes, from beneath long, dark bangs, one thumb stuck firmly in his mouth. His nose was running.
"Blossom sends her regards. This one is yours. His name is John Daniel."
Before an astonished Wilmington could open his mouth to protest, she hopped into her car and gunned the engine, leaving in a determined cloud of dust. Josiah emerged from the house, and three tall men stared in silent amazement down at one very small boy. Big teary eyes looked solemnly back, and a lip began to quiver.
"Ah, shit," Buck said in heartfelt tones.
The wide eyes riveted on his face, and the thumb was removed from the busy mouth.
"Da Da!" John Daniel chirped.
Josiah and Chris turned thoughtful eyes on Buck's sputtering face. He held his hands up, palms up in a placating posture. The baby toddled over and happily latched onto his leg with one arm, the free thumb returned to his mouth.
"I swear to God, I didn't...not with a human woman...Chris... Josiah...no way is he mine..."
Chris and Josiah exchanged a speaking look, pivoted, and without a word returned to the house, leaving a pleading Wilmington on the front porch to bond with his new offspring.
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An hour later, a frazzled Buck Wilmington sat at the kitchen table with the baby cradled gingerly in his lap. The child nursed hungrily at the bottle they had found tucked in the backpack, big eyes contentedly locked on Buck's face, one tiny hand clutching his shirt. Josiah was carefully reading through a battered envelope of documents also discovered in the bag, while Larabee sorted through the box.
Young John Daniel's sole possessions appeared to include a batch of pampers, a tub of baby wipes, several jars and cans of baby food and formula, a box half full of threadbare clothing, and a ratty, stuffed animal of indeterminate species. Larabee plucked it out of the box, and examined it thoughtfully. Buck lifted his head from his glum contemplation of premature fatherhood.
"What the hell is that?"
"Looks like it was supposed to be a rabbit."
Larabee arched an amused brow and indicated the long, droopy, fuzzy ears and worn cottony tail. Little John Daniel brightened, and dropped his bottle to reach happily for the toy.
"Bun Bun!"
"Well, Buck. There you go. It's a bun-bun."
Larabee's voice was deadpan, and Buck shot him a wary look. His alpha had been ominously silent since the child's arrival, and that made Buck nervous.
As alpha, it was Chris who would choose the baby's fate. While Wilmington was certain he wasn't the father, the child smelled human to him, he felt a certain responsiblity for it anyway. The baby's mother had, by naming him the sire, gifted him that duty. However, the decision of what to do with the baby was Larabee's, and as beta, it was Buck's duty to abide by it.
Buck cleared his throat, eyes on the little dirty face whose big eyes were so trustingly locked on his. The baby nursed quietly, one small arm clutching the ragged bunny tight.
"What are we gonna do with him, Chris?"
"He's human, Buck..."
Larabee paused thoughtfully. He watched as Buck tensed, and Wilmington's big hands unconsciously cradled the baby closer. Buck was notorious for his soft heart, and taking in strays. The big man had been raised by a lone lupa, and lived on the fringes of pack life in his early years. He cherished his role as beta in the Medicine Bow pack. It was the only family he had.
Plus, they had all seen the dark fingertip bruises on the thin little arms and legs, and the rash on the small bottom that indicated neglect, when they had changed the child's diaper. Larabee huffed out a breath. Sometimes it seemed his entire pack consisted of misfits and strays who somehow merged. Startled, he wondered when he had started thinking of them as HIS pack. He was mulling that thought over, when a whisper of sound from the hall announced his mate's arrival.
He felt a wide smile blossom at the sight of the shy face peering hopefully into the kitchen. Vin hovered just outside the door, sleepily knuckling his eyes. Chris wordlessly held out an arm, pleased when his mate didn't hesitate to come to him and nuzzle into an embrace. Chris dropped an affectionate kiss on his forehead, his own eyes closing with pleasure as Vin nipped and licked at his throat and jaw in greeting.
Larabee wrapped both arms around the slighter man and gave him a squeeze. He smiled down into contented blue eyes.
"Did you sleep good?"
Vin nodded as he happily rubbed his jaw against his mate's. He turned to greet Buck and Josiah, and blue eyes widened at the sight of the child in Buck's arms. He turned questioning eyes on Buck, then Chris when he saw the pleading look Wilmington was directing at his alpha. Larabee remained silent.
Shyly, Vin approached Buck and tentatively held out a hand to the baby. Buck smiled encouragingly, and tilted John Daniel so that Vin could get a better look. Carefully, Tanner touched one small hand. Unperturbed, the child reached out and wrapped small fingers around Vin's, hazel eyes trustingly on his. Vin gave a delighted, lopsided grin and turned to his mate.
"Pup?"
Larabee sighed, aware of both Buck and Josiah's waiting eyes on him. He gave his mate a small smile, before casually turning back to the stove to prepare Vin a plate. He slid a mound of flapjacks on the plate before turning back. He met Buck's anxious eyes squarely before replying briefly.
"Baby. Buck's pup."
Wilmington let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, wondering to himself when his dismay at John Daniel's unexpected arrival had changed to blatant possessiveness. He beamed at his alpha in thanks, grinning broadly when Larabee shrugged and turned away to the table. Chris was as softhearted as he, only he hid it better. He turned to meet Josiah's toothy grin.
"Congratulations, brother."
Sanchez waved a birth certificate.
"Looks like you're the father of a bouncing year old boy."
Larabee pulled out a chair and waved Vin into it, placing his plate in front of him. He showed the young man how to pour maple syrup over the cakes, and handed him a fork, waiting until he had enthusiastically dug in before turning sharp eyes back on Buck.
"There's a lot more to taking care of a human baby than knowing how to change a diaper. I suggest you talk with Nathan, Rain and Miss Nettie." Larabee absently stroked a hand through Vin's hair as he ate, thoughtful eyes on the baby.
Wilmington gave a whoop and swung the toddler up in an exuberant arc before giving him a happy hug. There was a loud, wet belch and Buck suddenly found his shirt front doused with regurgitated formula. John Daniel gave a contented gurgle. Dismayed, Buck held the damp child away gingerly, nose wrinkling at the smell. Josiah chuckled and Vin snickered, mouth full of pancake.
Larabee gave an exasperated huff and pinched the bridge of his nose. Buck had a LOT to learn. Well. That's what a pack was for. He plucked a damp dish towel off the rack and tossed it to Wilmington, then turned to Josiah with a sigh of resignation.
"Call Miss Nettie and Nathan and start making a list," he ordered briskly.
He felt an involuntary smile tug at his mouth at the look on Buck's face. Josiah wore his familiar wide, toothy grin and Vin was staring, still fascinated by the baby. Things were getting more lively by the day. It looked like his solitary days of peace and quiet were long gone. Green eyes lingered on Vin's contented face. His smile grew. It was worth it.
Continues in Hiding in Plain Sight
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