That was another thing he wouldn’t allow. Betsy’s first full moon would not be in a situation he couldn’t control.
****
“Are you okay?”
He was becoming concerned. Betsy hadn’t spoken since they’d gotten off the plane.
The pack had settled into the house he’d rented. It had seemed smarter to have a home base to come and go from rather than a bunch of hotel rooms. It turned out that they’d been able to rent one large house that had three guest homes associated with it. Between the three structures, they all had rooms, and no one had complained about sharing.
“I guess I didn’t realize how much I do not want to be back here.”
He knew what she meant. He’d have to be dense not to. Still, teasing her might get her out of her funk. He pointed to the floor. “Here? In this house? Have you used Vacation Home Rentals before? Stayed here?”
She pursed her lips. “Ha ha ha.”
“Oh, come on, it was amusing.”
He could see her trying not to grin. She looked away from him, and eventually her cheeks turned pink. Finally, she must have given in because a smile crossed her face. “You know I meant I didn’t want to be back in Montana.”
“Doesn’t seem so bad to me. I mean it’s been pitch-black and cold, but the air smells nice, and it seems like a person could hear himself think out here. Isn’t it considered to have a big sky or something?”
A knock on the door cut off what she would have said. “Come in,” he called out.
“My Alpha.” One his pack mates, John, stood at the door. “We went ahead and secured the perimeter. No unusual smells catching our attention. I think it’ll be safe for the pack to rest.”
Cyrus nodded. “Thank you.”
He’d had to leave Mitchell and Jensen behind. They were his two most trusted pack members. Mitchell was now his second-in-command—he had to hold New York in Cyrus’ absence—and Jensen needed to be with the kids. It was incredibly gratifying to see the others step up in their places. That was how a functioning pack was supposed to work. If one part fell, the others filled the void.
“You’re welcome. I’ll guard the door tonight. You and your mate can sleep peacefully.”
“No,” Betsy called from behind him. “You go to bed too, John. Get some rest.”
“Ma’am, I have to insist. It is our duty and privilege to keep you safe.” John planted his feet shoulder-width apart. Cyrus could read the insistence in his eyes. He’d once been the same when he’d been young. At seventeen years old, he’d wanted to die for Shepherd. Then he’d gotten a better sense of the man. How old was John? Eighteen? Nineteen?
Thanks to Betsy’s earlier conversation, all he could do was imagine the young man challenging him for Alpha. Cyrus growled, and John took a step back.
“Sir? Have I displeased you?”
“No.” Damn it. “Are you happy in this pack?”
“Happy, my Alpha?”
Cyrus tapped his foot. “Do you need a definition of happy, John?”
“Is that a trick question, sir?”
Betsy stepped forward. “Go to bed, John. The Alpha didn’t sleep on the plane. He’s tired. You’re doing a good job. But give us some privacy. Ten feet from the door, won’t you?”
John nodded, looking between them. “Yes, ma’am. As you say.”
When the other male had left, Betsy rounded on him. “Have you lost your mind? You were terrifying that kid.”
“I kept wondering if he was gunning for me. Thinking about becoming Alpha himself.”
His mate groaned and put her arms around him. “Sweetheart, when I brought it up earlier, it wasn’t to make you think all the members of your pack were gunning for you.”
“I know that.” He shook his head. “Maybe I am exhausted.”
“Don’t you think you’d be able to smell it?”
“We can’t smell people’s thoughts. Emotions sometimes. But I don’t know what you’re thinking based on scent alone.” He sometimes wished he could. That would certainly give him an edge in business meetings.
“The hostility would be obvious. And, besides, the only thing I got from John right now was how much he wanted to look out for us. Forget I said anything. If anyone came after you, I’m sure you’d be able to handle them. If you couldn’t, I would, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
His mate was so darn cute. He pulled her against him. “You would, would you? Take on an Alpha challenger for me? Going to act like some kind of enforcer werewolf? My personal bodyguard?”
“Don’t laugh like I couldn’t do it.” She pushed at his chest. “Don’t forget, in stressful situations, I can shift my hands into claws.”