Meat

Chapter Two

“Get your boots off the furniture,” Kaleb said, thwacking the side of Vince’s knee as he rounded the table. “You were raised better than that.”

Grumbling under his breath, Vince brought his feet off the chair and turned to face the large kitchen table. He rested his elbows on the worn wood and drew one of the dark knots with his finger. He had a pair of headphones plugged in and he stared at the empty plate in front of him. Despite the headphones, Kaleb couldn’t feel the vibrations of music or a heavy beat.

Kaleb went to the sink, clapping Carson on the shoulder as he passed. It didn’t go unnoticed that the younger man had taken the seat at the head of the table and a few indignant huffs rose from the other men as they filed into the large open kitchen. However, not one of them spoke up.

Carson had changed out of his police uniform and into a loose fitting t-shirt and jeans, his dark hair scruffy and curling at the ends. The moment the uniform vanished, Officer Embrey melted away to leave a headstrong, arrogant young man in his wake, the same man he’d been the first time Kaleb had stepped into the farm house.

“Good to see you, Carson,” Kaleb said, returning to the table and taking a seat opposite his son, Vince. “How’s the city treating you?”

The other men slid into seats around the table and watched. They were quiet as they began passing bowls and jars back and forth. Not one of them took a bite of the food set around them though Vince and Carson already had empty plates.

“You saw the drainer,” Carson said.

Kaleb fixed a polite smile and picked up a plate of toast. He shifted two slices onto his plate and was immediately passed the butter.

“August, yes.” Picking up a knife, he cut off a thin curl of butter and scraped it over the toast. “He was not too happy to see us. Lover’s quarrel, I think.”

At the end of the table Jack guffawed into a glass of juice and wiped off his mouth with the back of his hand, grinning.

“His friend is feisty,” he said. “I like him.”

Darren smacked his brother in the arm with the back of his spoon. Jack merely grinned.

“You should have told me you were going!” Carson interjected. “I was in the city, I could have helped.”

Sitting back in his chair, Kaleb turned the knife in his fingers and stared back at his brother in law. In a scuffle of activity, the other chairs were pushed back and the men around the table gathered up what they’d managed to grab of breakfast and hurried from the room. Only Vince remained, his eyes downcast.

“You too, Vin,” Kaleb said under his breath.

His son’s jaw tightened but he didn’t move. He nodded his head to a non-existent beat.

“Now,” Kaleb growled.

Vince lifted his gaze just long enough to throw a glare at him before he shoved his chair back and slumped from the kitchen. He waited a few more seconds before he turned back to his breakfast, grabbing a few slices of ham to place on his toast.

“You should have told me,” Carson said before Kaleb could speak. “I’m the best you’ve got!”

Taking a large bite of his toast, Kaleb chewed for a minute, not taking his gaze from Carson. The younger man bristled and straightened up. When he finally swallowed, he rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands beneath his jaw.

“We did not go for a fight, Carson,” he said slowly. “We went simply to remind August Caine that there are agreements in place.”

“That they’ve broken already!” Carson snapped, pushing his chair back. “Jem told me they’ve turned two in the last week!”

It would have been easy to get angry, to bark orders at Carson and tell him to keep his head. The headstrong teenage boy was still in there, desperate for approval but unwilling to bend to those who would give it to him. Kaleb was sure Carson had never forgiven him for marrying his sister and winning the place above their pack. He’d been sure that place was for him, the only son of the last Alpha.

“True they have turned, but they have not broken the agreement,” he said, gritting his teeth and keeping his voice even. “They also killed two of their own. Cleo, Caine’s sire, was killed under the agreement and Charles died the same day as the girl was turned. Their numbers remain.”

“You think that’ll continue with Charles out of the way?” Carson snarled. “New vampires kill more often, Kal. Charles barely counted.”

Kaleb took a deep breath and busied himself with taking another bite of his toast. He stared out of the kitchen window as he chewed. In the corner of his eye Carson was shifting and huffing.

“Now is not the time to attempt a move against them,” Kaleb said slowly. “The others understand this. Our strength is tied to the moon and we have to take care of the pack first. Once that is done, we will decide what is to be done about the vampires, if anything.”

Slumping back in his chair, Carson crossed his arms over his chest and glared down the table to the open doorway. Kaleb placed his hand on Carson’s shoulder and leaned towards him.

“You are my best, brother.”

Carson huffed and didn’t move.

“The one who will take this pack after I’m gone,” he continued. “But for now, your duty lies in our protection, a duty you can only perform if your record remains exemplary in the city. I did not leave you behind to slight you.”

When his brother in law finally looked at him, there was a hint of a smile on his lips. It vanished as quickly as it came but it was enough for Kaleb. He returned to his breakfast as Carson leaned on the table.

“So, what did he say?”

“He claims the deal remains intact. Charles’ death changes little.”

“You believe him?”

Kaleb chuckled.

“I believe August Caine has more to occupy his mind with than our turning. He will keep the peace.”

“You mean the others?” Carson asked. “They know about them?”

Glancing at Carson, Kaleb shrugged and took another bite of his toast. Talking through a full mouth, something he would never have dared had Jemima been there, he waved his hand dismissively.

“If they don’t already, they will soon. We are not the only ones Charles had agreements with.”

“They won’t stand for more sirings,” Carson said, glee at the edge of his voice.

“No, they won’t,” he replied. “But that’s not our problem, Carson. Our thoughts must go to the next few nights. After that, you can obsess about the vampires as much as you want.”

Carson grinned fully then.

“Yeah?”

“I promise. As long as you sister doesn’t find out. I may be in charge of this pack, but god help me if I go against her and put her precious baby brother in danger. You might get that Alpha position earlier than you thought.”

Carson jumped to his feet and gave a slick grin.

“I’ll go find the others. We have a lot of preparation to do.”

Kaleb nodded and watched as Carson ambled from the kitchen. Grabbing the rest of his breakfast, he got to his feet, eager to find Jemima before Carson threw another spanner in the works.