Head Down

Chapter 13

NATE'S POV

Over the link, Tom says:

'Okay, we're at the address you have us. Your scent is here but the rouges are hard to find, you're sure this is the right place? I can hear guys inside-and are they smoking weed?'

While my father and Laura know of Katie's.......home situation, the rest of the pack does not. Aside from the need to tell our Alpha we are going to grant her wish of her brother's activities being kept secret. Based on the weed being smoked from inside -which I am not surprised about- her abuse isn't the only criminal activity John engages in. With their reported moving around on his business, I'd assume he's a dealer or something along the lines. I'll have to aproach that particular subject with my mate soon.

Tom, though, is obviously going to have to know at some point. Tonight doesn't seem like the right time to drop Katie's past on him as a distraction (out of all likelihood he'd be thinking about the pack repercussions, as I should be, but am and have been too distracted with her safety to really give a shit) so I reply with:

'You've got the right house. Ignore the drugs and focus on interrogating the wolves. Kill them if it's necessary. Be sure to ask them about the conversation they had with Katie in detail.'

My rage is adamant, but second to the businesslike Alpha tone I learned from listening in on countless phone conversations of my father's. Third to that is my paranoia. Having your mate confronted by two dangerous, buzzed rouges will do that to you.

Tom give me a brief:

'You got it.'

before pulling the plug on the link.

It's clear that I can't let her go back to the house or be unattended for a while, for her safety as well as my sanity. Right now it's aggravating to even blink because it takes my eyes off my mate, I can't fathom letting her go without protection. Or me. It worries me the way she is sitting silently, and makes me wonder exactly what happened inside. It was stupid of me not to have had the full focus of my senses on her, it would have made the questioning I asked -ordered, same difference- Tom and James to do of the rouges unnecessary. It would have been a simple kill or let live situation if I had heard everything.

Katie continues to look out the window, which she has been doing for some time now. Her gray eyes portray her emotions with flashes of understanding or narrowing in confusion, and I realize her expressive face is a trait I like about her. She hasn't asked me where we're going -because she trust me or she hasn't thought to ask I don't know. Usually I wouldn't have considered the latter, but, as entering her house seems to do, she is a little reclusive.

Of course I'm taking her to the pack house, she needs the protection. At least, I thinks so and there's no reason other than her protest that could convince me otherwise. I figured she could use some of Laura's clothing, or if push came to shove Tom's little sister's, if I convinced her to stay. There are plenty of guest bedrooms, though I'm not sure how sleeping in the same house but apart would effect us.

Tom's little sister's name is Lucy, and shes as close to the baby of the pack as anyone has ever gotten, with her blonde curls and sweet disposition, and is spoiled rotten by everyone. Especially Tom and I. Usually big brothers an their fiends are supposed to be aloof and patronizing, but being werewolves we tend to be a bit closer knit than most. It's one reason why the Beta family lives in the pack house with us (Laura is my father's sister, and in being the pack doctor is expected to live in the pack house. She is mated with Luke, who is Beta by birthright, and father of Tom and Lucy).

A tiny smile quirks at end of Katie's lips as she says, "We're going to your house?"

"Yes, is that okay?" I'm surprised she could recognize the road that she's only travelled on once before and is currently in the dark, but my mate has displayed acute observation before. And with all the window gazing I'm not surprised she took note of the landscape.

"Won't I be bothering your family? It's eight o'clock on a Tuesday night."

"No," I say surely. Wolves aren't exactly the type to go to bed early, and we require little sleep. "It'll be fine. They're probably just picking out tonight's movie anyway."

"Tonight's movie?" she asks with honest curiosity in her voice.

"Yeah, my family is pretty close. We watch a movie every night as bonding time," I reply. She smiles lightly, and I have to ask, "Do you mind meeting them?"

"Not at all. John and I aren't exactly cordial, so it'll be nice to see what family is like," she says smoothly, still smiling. How anyone can say that while smiling, I don't know.

"What exactly does your brother do?" I ask, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly once again. We're almost to the house, meaning the conversation will be short, and I'm not sure whether I want that or not. It would be nice not to have HIM at the forefront of my thoughts, but I really do need to know this and if Katie dodges the question I won't get any answers.

She sighs and says, "Nothing legal." I'm not shocked in the least, but still need specifics. I give her a 'please sir may I have some more' look, and she continues,"Details don't matter."

Damn it.

"I beg to differ."

"Good for you."

"I'm being serious."

"So am I. Look, whatever he's doing right now I can promise you its safer than the job he had in New York, or ever before for. As Caitlyn would say, It's Murphy and nothing interesting could possibly happen."

"You're not Caitlyn."

"Nether is George Clooney."

"What?"

"What?" she replies, clearly mocking to some extent. As soon as her brother is mentioned Katie's hackles go up and her sarcasm runs rampant.

I sigh, "Please?"

"I'm not trying to play games or be coy or anything, Nate. If I wanted you to know, you would."

"I know that, but it's not about wan-" I'm cut off by our pulling into the crowded pack house driveway.

Uncharacteristically, I don't immediately hop out to open her door. I'm not exactly in a playful mood right now either. I'm strained, coming off my adrenaline rush, and frustrated -though not at my mate. Never at Katie. Just with her brother and the rouges and my lack of answers.

Katie jumps out of the car and I follow, and she waits for me on the drive in front of my truck. "Sorry," she says quietly as we walk towards the life filled house.

"Nothing to be sorry about," I reply, and I'm not lying. "But I'm not going to just lie down."

"Thought as much," she says as we approach the door.

A/N: I'm pathetic, making what should have been one chapter into three. So I want to know, would you guys like SUPER short chapters but everyday updates, or normal sized chapters and long updates?

Thanks to those who read.

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