Kate cast a wary glance at Damon before she accepted his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you. I think.”
Braxton snorted. “You won’t think so once you’ve seen him get angry.”
Damon glared at Braxton and then turned his attention to Kate. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Kate motioned toward the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, thank you. I see you have better manners than Braxton.” Damon jerked his thumb in Braxton’s direction as he followed them into the kitchen.
Braxton rested his arms on the kitchen island and cut his eyes at Damon. “I suppose you know what happened in Louisiana. I need to know something. Are you here to start trouble?”
Damon snorted. “Actually, I think you already took care of that.” Damon muttered his thanks to Kate as she offered him a hot mug of coffee. “I’m here because the powers that be aren’t very happy with what you’ve done.”
Braxton straightened. “I didn’t kill my father.”
Damon shrugged. “From what you told me I wouldn’t blame you if you did. He sounded like a prick.” He lifted the mug to his lips.
“Then why are you here?” Braxton caught the hesitancy in his friend’s expression as Damon’s gaze flickered over Kate. “You can speak in front of her. She knows what I am, what we are.”
Damon eased onto a kitchen stool and nodded for them to sit. “Barrett sent me here because those Assassins have broken Arkansas Pack Law. The moment they crossed the Arkansas border, they failed to inform Barrett they were in the territory. That’s a big no-no. Then they shoot you in our state—in broad daylight—risking exposing us to humans. Needless to say my Pack Master isn’t exactly feeling rainbows and puppies toward the Louisiana Pack.”
Hope swelled in Braxton’s chest. Maybe Barrett could help him. He didn’t know the Pack Master that well, but he did know that Barrett was fair. “Did Barrett send you to help find my father’s killer?”
Damon shook his head, looking pained. “He’s gone to Louisiana to raise hell with their Pack Master about letting those Assassins loose on Arkansas territory. He’s working on getting you a formal Tribunal in Louisiana. He sent me here to bring you to Little Rock and make sure they don’t kill you before that happens.”
“What’s a Tribunal?” Kate looked between him and Damon.
“It’s kind of like a court for our kind.”
“A court for werewolves?” Kate cocked her head.
“Yeah.” Damon cringed. “No offense, but it feels weird discussing this with a human.”
“Kate’s cool.” Braxton wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tugged her into his chest. She relaxed against him.
Damon nodded. “A Tribunal is a court for Weres when there is a dispute or a law is broken. There are certain laws that, once they are broken, carry an immediate judgment.”
“Sounds like a lively bunch,” Kate deadpanned.
“It’s a fucking barrel of monkeys.” Damon took another sip and nodded. “You make good coffee. Better than Ava.” Damon cut his eyes at Braxton. “Don’t ever tell her I said that.”
“Is Ava your wife?” Kate asked.
“She’s my mate.”
Braxton turned to her. “Being mated is a stronger bond than being married. Once you are mated, you are bound together for life.”
“What happens if there is infidelity?” Kate looked from him to Damon.
“There is no infidelity. We are not like humans, Kate. Once we find our mates, it is impossible for mated couples to have sex with anyone else.” Braxton had never considered being mated. But now, looking into Kate’s eyes, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like.
“So the equipment doesn’t work.” Kate raised her eyebrow.
“Right.” Damon grinned.
“Back to the topic at hand. Look, Damon, I appreciate you coming all this way, but I can’t leave with you. If I leave, the Assassins will find me. I don’t mind dying. But I’m not ready to die for something I sure as hell didn’t do.”
Damon set the coffee cup down with a clink. “Doesn’t matter what you want. I have my orders. You have to come back with me.”
“And I have to find the killer. At least that’s what I was trying to do before those assholes put a hole in me.” He absently rubbed his shoulder. The pain had eased up a day or two ago, leaving behind a slight ache.
Damon lifted his chin, a frown creasing his brow. “How the hell did you survive a silver bullet, anyway?”
“Kate’s friend is a vet. He dug it out of my shoulder and patched me up.” Braxton pulled his shirt up to his almost fully healed wound.
“Nice job. I take it he’s a Were too?” Damon asked.
“Yes.” Braxton squeezed Kate’s shoulder.
“I’ve got to hand it to you guys. You know how to keep your paranormal species a secret. Until I found Braxton on my porch, I had no idea werewolves even existed.” Kate snorted.
Braxton nodded at his friend. “Looks like you came all this way for nothing.”
Damon glared. “I still have my orders.”