Time Mends(18)

“Was?”

Talley looked around to see if anyone seemed interested in our conversation. There were several eyes glancing in our direction on a regular basis, but most everyone seemed more interested in talking about me than finding out what I was saying. “I don’t think anyone is paying attention to us,” I said.

Talley nodded towards the edge of the yard where Gramma’s ancient a/c hummed loudly. Catching on quickly, I walked over close enough that our voices would be drowned out without being too obvious to our intent.

“So, who is the up and comer? And please don’t say Makya, because that would be a very sad commentary on the strength of this Pack.”

“I already told you, Makya isn’t in the top five.”

“You think Robby can take Toby?” The Hagan in question sat on one of the benches, engaged in a lively exchange with a guy whose name might have been Mason. While Toby was lean and cut, Robby was built more like a linebacker. I could see where the fight would be close, but my money was still on Toby.

“Robby? Not a chance.” When she didn’t automatically continue I prompted her with an impatient wave of my hand. “It’s Jase. I think if he wanted, he could take over the Pack.”

“Delusional Talley says what?”

With the chaos my life was becoming, it was somehow comforting to hear Talley sigh at me in that exasperated way of hers. “You can’t see it because you’re too close.”

“Don’t see what?” From where I was standing all I could see was the brother who couldn’t remember to put the toilet seat down and had lost three different sets of keys in the past year. “Doesn’t leading a Pack require a responsibility prerequisite?”

“Responsibility can be learned, but what Jase has…” A couple of the younger Shifters wandered close to where we were talking. Talley stepped closer, linked her arm with mine, and rested her head on my shoulder. It was a familiar pose, one we assumed many times after some jerk trampled all over Talley’s feelings. This time, though, she wasn’t seeking comfort so much as way to get close enough we could lower our voices. “Haven’t you ever noticed the way other people react to him? The way people can’t help but be aware of him when he’s in a room? The way people always seem so eager to try to please him, to do something to make him proud?”

As she talked, it was almost as if I could see him through Talley’s eyes. Jase standing in the middle of a crowd, everyone focused on him; walking down a crowded hall, the masses shifting so so he had an easy passage to wherever he was going.

“And he’s a strong Shifter. Even as a newbie he could Change more quickly than Toby, and he takes lead on any hunt he goes on.”

“But it’s Jase…”

“He’s going to be our next Pack Leader.”

“If you say so…”

“I do.” Her blue eyes twinkled in the firelight. “And you know how often I’m wrong.”

“Rarely.” I jumped at the sound of Toby’s voice. Sneaking up on a Shifter was not easy. “Which is rather unfortunate,” I thought I heard him quietly complain. Surely he hand’t overheard us. Talley spoke so softly I barely heard her, and my ear was approximately four inches from her mouth. “Scout, we’re ready to start. Would you mind accompanying me up front?”

“No problem, Boss Man. You lead, and I’ll follow.” I gave a salute, not realizing I was copying Jase’s earlier action until it was too late.

“And they wonder why I think she’s going to be a problem,” Toby said to no one in particular.

Toby sat me on one of the front benches, and then went to sit on the edge of the stone wall surrounding the fire pit. Embers popped out of the fire and danced around him, but he seemed unconcerned, even when one burned a hole in the arm of his shirt.

“I’m not going to waste everyone’s time and talk about why we’re here. Everyone knows what happened last night and has already offered their opinion on what we should do. Someone was even considerate enough to make up little ballots so that everyone could have a vote as to what the wolf’s fate should be.

“Guess what? This isn’t a democracy.” Toby stood up and the mood of the entire group shifted. This wasn’t a family conversation around the fire, this was a Pack Leader addressing his Pack. “This is my decision and mine alone. Anyone who has a problem with it is more than welcome to challenge me.” Despite being a coyote, Toby managed a wicked wolfish grin. “I look forward to it actually.”

I had sparred with Toby enough times to know it was going to take more than strength, ambition, and anger to take him down. Like Talley, I was certain no one here was up to the challenge just yet.