Chapter 46

My brother was hulking in the doorway, looking around the room. His eyes found me and he strode in my direction.

He was tall and rangy, but didn’t look healthy. He was better groomed than the last time I’d seen him, with a neat haircut he’d probably gotten specially to do whatever he was here to do today. But he looked thinner, like he hadn’t been eating enough.

I couldn’t find any sympathy for him.

The last time I’d seen him had been years earlier, when he and my father had come to tell me they’d spent all the money for grandmother’s ESRD care and that they needed more. It had been when I was a new delta, before I became Chief and before I married Hunter. Actually, it had been the key reason I’d needed to say yes when Hunter asked me to start our secret arrangement.

He and my father looked alike. Both pale with reddish tinged hair and scruffy facial hair. More importantly, they were both addicts. My father an alcoholic, and my brother a gambler. They were sick. I knew that. But I would have had more sympathy for them if they didn’t keep doing things that put grandmother’s life at risk by spending all the money for her care. If they seemed to have any interest in changing or getting help.

“James,” I said finally, as he came toward me.

He looked me up and down as well. I wondered what he was observing about me. If he cared at all about what he saw.

“What do you want?” I continued.

“I need money,” he said simply. It always struck me that he never seemed ashamed to ask. I guessed he was past that. I would have been so embarrassed in his position. He always asked for what he wanted without any sense that he might not deserve it.

“You know I can’t do that, James,” I started, but he cut me off.

“And a position in the pack,” James continued. This was new. He’d asked for money many times before, but never a job or status.

He never ceased to shock me. After everything he’d done to grandmother, to me, it was appalling that he thought he could ask this of me.

But I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t go away quietly if I didn’t give him what he wanted.

The door opened and the other deltas started to file back in, having gone out for lunch.

I didn’t want there to be a scene. I had to get rid of him quickly.

“Leo, can you—” I started, and Leo nodded and rose. It was lucky Leo, one of few people who knew the history with my brother and was imposing enough to make an impact on my brother, was here right now.

Before he could do anything, though, the door opened again.

Hunter and Maya, holding hands and walking right toward us.

I saw James’ eyes brighten with opportunity. He knew Hunter, a little. Why not go right to the source of the money?

I watched the hard set of Hunter’s jaw as James made the same demands of him. He stood with arms crossed, but his posture was relaxed. He wasn’t upset or intimidated.

James was like a housefly to him: irritating, but not threatening.

Maya looked distraught though. She had her hand over her mouth like she was in shock. I narrowed my eyes slightly in her direction. Was that real? Could she be that aghast at some idiot asking her mate for money and status?

She’d need to develop a thicker skin if she was going to be this pack’s Luna.

Maya took a step back, as if she was scared of James. She was being ridiculous. This was upsetting to me because it was my life, but it didn’t affect her.

I walked over and Leo followed. I needed to make this stop, somehow.

“Kara,” Maya said. There was a slight tremor in her voice, but her hands were steady. I was pretty sure she was playacting all of this. “Is this a family member of yours? I didn’t realize you had that sort of—background.”

My cheeks flamed. How could she talk to me like that in front of Hunter, and Leo, and all the other Deltas?

“James,” Leo said quickly, He stepped closer and spoke loudly but in a friendly tone. “I’m going to head back to the pack house, have a couple of beers. Join me and you can talk to Hunter and Kara there in a little bit.”

I saw James open his mouth to argue, but Leo clasped him on the shoulder in a way that could be read as friendly, but also guided him toward the door.

“There we go. You can relax for a bit then have a more private conversation.”

Leo gave me a weak smile when they reached the door, and I returned it. I was grateful to him for knowing what I needed and how to make it happen.

I managed to mostly calm myself by the time I went back to the pack house an hour or so later. I’d needed some time to collect myself, but knew I needed to face James as soon as possible if I was going to have a shot at making this problem go away.

He was sitting on a sofa in the study, a row of empty beer cans beside him. I didn’t know how else Leo would have gotten him to agree to come back here, but I did wish he hadn’t been drinking. I saw Leo watching from the hallway, staying nearby in case I needed help.

James sneered up at me.

“So,” he said smoothly, “how the mighty have fallen.” He didn’t slur his words at all. I supposed he must have a decent level of tolerance at this point. He wasn’t as bad as dad. More of a functional alcoholic. Of course, the main function he did was lose all our money gambling.

“What are you saying, James?”

“You had a lot more status last time I was here. Wife of the Alpha—even if it was secret. It looks like you’ve been replaced. Not that I can say I blame him. She’s a pretty young thing.”

His words sliced. My own brother, commenting on Maya’s appearance and me being replaced.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“It’s my business because you owe this family. You’re supposed to be able to improve our status. You had to go and lose favor and get dumped. Now what am I supposed to do?”

I didn’t know what “status” he wanted, or why he thought I could or would give it to him. But it really all came down to money.

I’d been saving for starting over with the pup. I had a decent amount. I sighed as I went to get my checkbook.

I didn’t want to do it, but I was positive it was the only way to make him go away. He’d make more trouble for me if I didn’t.

And the last thing I needed was more trouble.