"I'm not implying anything," there was humor in his tone, "I'm flat out telling you."

"She wasn't that bad," Cindy challenged.

Dell shook his head with a wince, "She was. No more blind dates."

"It doesn't hurt anything to at least date. Have a one night fling. Get laid."

He frowned up at his sister offering a sarcastic, "Nice."

"Well!" She jabbed a finger towards him, "You're going to need to start looking. It's not good to have a mate-less Alpha."

"It's dangerous to have a mated one," he countered.

"That's so archaic and you know it. No one would dare challenge you let alone try to harm your mate to hurt the pack. It hasn't happened in...I can't even remember the last time it occurred."

Dell slammed down his pen, "Has it escaped you that I'm trying to work here?"

Cindy wordlessly grabbed a stack of paperwork from his desk when her ears picked up an approaching vehicle. She tensed and her eyes flicked to Dell who was already halfway to the window.

"Finally!" he rumbled turning quickly. "Mama's home."

s.h.i.t! She chased quickly on Dell's heels as he strode quickly down the long hall, through the kitchen, then out the back door.

Mama's cherub-like cheeks glowed with a pink hue as she smiled her greeting. She had just gotten out of her SUV when her feet stuttered to a halt and her smile faded. She lifted her head and took a slow breath in through her nose. "What's wrong?"

Cindy rushed out the back door and slammed into Dell's back shouting over his shoulder, "Nothing! Welcome back. How was it? Is Aunty Connie doing well?"

Mama ignored her and frowned up at Dell, "What's wrong?" she demanded.

"We need to talk." Dell took her bag and ushered her inside.

Mama led the way heading straight for the office, not even bothering to remove her coat. Inside she turned and eyed Dell anxiously, "Well?"

Dell approached and grabbed her coat, helping her ease her arms from the sleeves before he folded it over the back of a chair and extended his arm indicating that she should sit. He knew she'd refuse if he didn't start talking. "What do you know of the Lott family?"

"I know much," she pursed her lips frowning up at Dell as she took a seat, "be more specific."

Once Mama sat Dell crossed to lean on the edge of his desk, crossing his thick arms across his chest. "Are they medicine people?"

Mama frowned, "No."

"Do they have ties to medicine people?"

Cindy, who'd been standing silently by the door interrupted, "Dell we shouldn't bother Mama with this now, she's exhausted." Cindy smiled tensely at her mother, "Don't you want to take a nap?"

Mama frowned at Cindy, knowing she was trying to be a distraction. "Son, what's going on?"

Dell sighed and dropped his arms, turning to frown out the window. "I think Chloe Lott has been using medicine on me."

Mama's eyes widened and she slowly stood pointing a finger at Cindy.

"Mama!" Cindy hissed, "It'll only end badly. Think of Mace."

"It's not your place to decide young lady!" Mama shook her finger at Cindy and turned then grabbing her son's hand. "Dell, Chloe isn't using magic on you son. She's done nothing wrong."

Dell could sense his mother's fear that he'd harm Chloe for what she'd done to him. "I don't want to hurt her." Dell's tone was accusatory.

Mama grinned, "Of course you don't, nor could you. It'd be impossible for you to harm your most valued gift."

His brows knitted, "Valued gift? What in the h.e.l.l are you talking about?"

"Don't!" Cindy tried to intervene but only succeeded in earning herself disapproving frowns from both Mama and Dell.

When she looked back to Dell, Mama's eyes lit with a fire as her lips spread in wide smile, "Son, she's your mate."

Taking a step back, he visibly paled. "What? You're wrong."

"I'm not wrong. If you stop and listen for a moment, you'll feel her." Mama lifted a fragile knuckle to rap it on Dell's solid chest just above his heart. "Right there. Still yourself son." Mama leaned closer and closed her eyes with a smile. "Listen. Do you feel her?"

Dell didn't still. He stepped away from his mother's touch. "It's medicine. She's fooling you."

Mama's eyes flew open and her cheeks flamed with indignation, "If anyone's the fool here it's you." Then she jabbed a finger in Cindy's direction. "Her too. She's been lying to you to protect you."

Dell turned a scowl on his sister. "It's forbidden. A pack member cannot intentionally deceive their Alpha."

In response Cindy dipped her head. "I would gladly take the punishment for such offense if it kept you from harm."

"You admit it?" Dell challenged.

Her words were strong with conviction, "I deceived my Alpha to protect my brother." She held his gaze and jutted her chin defiantly, "I'd do it again."

Dell stood frowning at her, unsure how to react. He could punish her.

"Son, what matters here is what is happening to you. For you. You've been gifted with your mate. You need to claim her."

"Claim her? I can't claim her." He turned and stomped to the window leaning heavily on the sill. "She hates us. All of us, most especially me!"

"She'll forgive you..."

"No! She won't." He stood and shoved an angry hand into his hair. "We're not discussing this. She is not my mate and there will be no claiming."

Mama tensed. "Your wolf has decided. It cannot be undone. It is impossible."

"Nothing is impossible!" Dell growled furiously turning to scowl at Mama. "I am the Alpha and I'll decide my own fate. I am finished discussing this, it's not to be addressed again."

Anger flared to life high on Cindy's cheeks and she moved to stand behind Mama, placing a hand rea.s.suringly on her mother's shoulder.

Mama spoke calmly, "Mace was supposed to live a long and full life. We all thought this. You refused to learn our stories, learn our rituals because you a.s.sumed you didn't need to. Like the rest of us you a.s.sumed he'd always be there. Now, you need to know. Once a mate has been chosen, your wolf will not deny her. It will become more and more painful for you the longer you keep from her. Until then it'll be just as physically painful for you to touch her. You will not be allowed to have her until you're prepared to accept her as your mate. We are designed this way so you can't try to get her out of your system. She'll not leave your thoughts son, you can't out run her."

"Enough!" Dell commanded angrily.

"Whoa, what's going on?" Briggs stopped with the door to the office half opened as he eyed first Dell then his mother and sister.

"Nothing!" Dell snapped.

Briggs stepped back to allow his brother to stomp past.

Briggs turned to his mother. "What did I miss?"

Having quickly been apprised of the situation, Briggs raced out of the house to catch up with Dell. As he typically did when he was stressed, Dell had stomped off into the forest.

When Briggs finally caught up to him he said nothing, but simply kept pace at his brother's side.

"I think your mother's senile!"

Briggs smiled. He knew Dell would talk if he was just given time. "My mother?" he scoffed. "How come every time she says or does something you don't agree with she becomes my mother?"

Dell snorted, a light smile lifting a corner of his mouth. "Because I find it hard to believe that any relation of mine would believe something so idiotic."

Briggs tried to hide his smile. "You know she's been around long enough to know what she's talking about here right?"

Dell growled, "It can't work!"

"How do you know?"

"How do I know?" Dell spun on his brother in incredulity grabbing both of his arms roughly, "We killed her brother and she f.u.c.king hates me! That's how I know!"

"First of all, we didn't kill her brother. Second, give her some credit. She might not hold a grudge."

Dell rolled his eyes and shoved Briggs back. "Clearly, you haven't met her."

Briggs shrugged, "I could seek her out."

Dell stopped. The flash of jealousy that shot through him felt like a punch to the gut. "Don't!" he growled the warning.

"I'll just have a talk with her," Briggs feet halted when Dell pulled to a standstill, "if she's not agreeable to a meeting with you, I'll just throw her in the trunk and haul her a.s.s up here."

Dell knew Briggs was baiting him, trying to draw him into a physical confrontation. The three brothers had done it for each other often over the years. When one was stressed or under great pressure the other two volunteered as punching bags. Now though was the first time Mace wouldn't be present, and his absence hurt. Compounding matters was the fact that Dell didn't want to just hurt Briggs for threatening Chloe; he wanted to literally rip him apart. The swell of violence was startling and Dell couldn't help but wonder if there was something to the mating thing between him and Chloe after all.

"Don't talk about her Briggs. It angers me."

"Good," Briggs punched Dell in the bicep, "that's what I was trying for. You need to get out some stress." Briggs reached up and pushed Dell hard in the chest, "Let's go."

Dell dipped his head and growled menacingly, "Don't."

"Aw, what's wrong?" Briggs quickly pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside before kicking off his shoes, "You don't want this big bad wolf hunting your little red riding hood?"

Dell didn't move, but his hands balled into tight fists as he continued to growl. He was trying to restrain himself, as he often had, but something about the way Briggs was referencing Chloe had his blood boiling.

"You just don't want me around her because you don't want her to think I'm the better specimen." Briggs rolled his shoulders and grinned at his brother, "I am viable you know, maybe I'll just go over and sniff around. If I like what I scent, I'll take a little taste. Let you know if she's worth the ha.s.sle."

That was all it took. Dell launched himself at Briggs, hitting his brother solidly in the chest. The two rolled and Briggs didn't get the chance to recover before a large fist connected with his jaw. His head snapped to the side and he was surprised at the power behind it. He threw his own punch that Dell swiftly ducked.

Grabbing Brigg's extended arm, Dell fell back and trapped the arm between his legs and pulled back in what he knew had to be a painful arm-bar. It was one thing for a shifter to get his a.s.s kicked in a fight, but to make one submit was quite an achievement. None of the three brother's had ever submitted to each other in battle, or to anyone else for that matter. It didn't stop them from trying.

Briggs howled before he shifted. Dell lost his grip and also shifted as he rolled. The brothers went at each other and fur flew. Vicious snarling rent the air and twenty minutes later the two brothers lay laughing on the forest floor. Blood trickled from Briggs' nose and Dell's lip was cracked. Each bore bruises and scratches and when Brigg's picked part of a dry leaf off his tongue the brothers erupted into laughter again.

"Christ, you like to cheat in your old age!"

"Old age?" Dell laughed, "I'm a spring chicken."

"Yeah," Briggs lifted a hand to rub his sore bicep, "a chicken at least."

Dell sat up then hauled himself to his feet before extending a hand to help his brother up. "What's wrong? Did this big bad wolf hurt more than just your body?"

Briggs frowned at his brother, but accepted his hand. "I a.s.sure you my pride is intact." He dusted leaves off himself when he stood. "Besides, I had to let you win. You're the Alpha."

Dell winked at his brother then rolled his head from side to side. "I needed that."

Briggs slapped him on the back, "Anytime."

"Same time tomorrow?" Dell challenged.

"h.e.l.l no," Briggs rubbed his lower back gingerly. "You better call Pony he's younger and has more to prove. I'm getting too old for this s.h.i.t!"

The brothers both laughed as they headed back toward the compound.

Chapter 12.

Chloe had just finished showering and dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans and t-shirt. She'd spent the morning at the local rec center gymnasium. While the facility was cramped and dingy, it was suitable for her needs, plus she didn't have to worry about any more wolf encounters.

She was descending the stairs when the doorbell rang. She paused at the landing wondering who could be calling. When the bell sounded again, she descended the last few steps to jerk the door open. Shock froze her in place as she stared at the woman she knew to be Dell Blackbird's mother.

Chloe simply stood and stared slack-jawed at the elderly woman before she finally found her tongue. "Uhh, forgive me." Chloe stood back holding the door wide, "Please come in."

Mama smiled but remained outside. "You know who I am?"

Chloe nodded, "Yes."

"And you know my son Dell?"