Pack Council

Savannah stepped into her shower stall and sighed with relief as the hot water flowed over her. The expected cold front had hit hard and she was frozen to the bone. Even having the heater on in her vehicle while patrolling hadn't seemed to be enough as she'd had to keep getting out and talking to people.

Normally, she enjoyed checking on residents at the edge of town like she'd been doing the last couple of nights. She had reconnected with several people whom she had grown up with. But on a cold night like tonight, she was just exhausted. Tired, cold and miserable.

She'd made it a point to visit every house to make sure they had plenty of firewood and gas, wanting to be sure the residents of her town would be okay if they lost power. She'd checked generators and taken count of numbers of family members, just in case.

On her way back home, she'd driven by the big compound that the shifters resided in. She'd checked in at the gate and had been assured they were prepared for anything Mother Nature brought them. She knew that Kurt had recently moved out of the compound and into a house close to Sara's, but Savannah had been hoping for a glimpse of him. No such luck. She'd driven back to her own house thinking about the handsome shifter.

But she would be seeing him the next afternoon when they had Thanksgiving dinner over at Sara and Clint's, though, so she did have something to look forward to. She hoped to find a little alone time with Kurt sometime soon. With the water pounding at the sore muscles of her neck, Savannah picked up her scented shower gel and poured a liberal amount onto her shoulders and chest. She rubbed the vanilla-scented soap into her body before closing her eyes and leaning back against the shower wall.

Truth be told, she'd been spending too much time fantasizing about Kurt when she was in the shower, driving or lying in bed. Okay, she was constantly thinking about having Kurt buried inside her and the two of them going at it. Sex was a great stress reliever. Sex with Kurt? That, she knew, would be earth-shattering.

Thinking of Kurt's touch instead of her own, she ran her hands around her breasts to pull at her nipples. The result was a zing that traveled to her core. She followed the feeling with her fingers to tease at her clit. She rubbed, lifted one leg up, playing with herself.

Oh, that's good.

She hummed, pressing harder against the little nub. She wanted Kurt's hands on her like this. God, how she wanted him!

Savannah braced one foot against the wall as she slipped her hand lower and fingered her folds. The tip of her finger entered her pussy easily. She pushed in deeper.

It had been a while since she'd had a lover. And her fingers were no substitute for a nice, hard cock.

Adding a second finger, she pumped deeply and rocked her hips. She lowered her other hand and played with her clit again. Her breathing picked up and her cunt tingled.

She climaxed with a small moan. The release was nice, but nowhere close to what she was really craving.

Savannah removed her fingers from her pussy and picked the shower gel up. She gave her body a quick wash. At least she felt warmer. Rinsing off, she smiled, thinking about Kurt showering with her the next time.

She had to get up early to make sure that her two promised dishes would be ready to take to Sara's. Sara had told her that she'd given Kurt the job of bringing the salad since he was, after all, a man. Savannah had laughed at that. It was just another thing she needed to learn about the man she was interested in. Did he like to cook? If he didn't, she could teach him a few easy but good meals.

Most of the information she did know about him, she had gotten from Sara and Clint. But she wanted to know him, to find out what made him tick. There was only so much a person could learn about someone without really spending time with them.

She wanted to know all the little things that made Kurt so fascinating.

She turned off the water and reached blindly for the towel she'd hung over the shower rod. She wiped the water from her face, wondering about his habits. Did he prefer to shower in the morning or at night? Did he like to curl up on the couch. and watch movies or was he more of a book person? Was he an early riser or did he like to sleep in?

Those were things she wanted to find out by experiencing them with him.

She would start working on finding the answers the next day.

After wiping off the excess water from her body, Savannah wrapped the towel around her. The bedroom lamp was dimly lit in the corner of the bedroom as she stepped from the bathroom to her room. She still had boxes stacked up against one wall. Since she had gone straight to work, Savannah hadn't had the time to unpack. She wasn't even sure how long she'd be in the small rental house.

The family who'd once lived in the home had been happy to rent it out for a small fee. Luckily for Savannah, all the utilities were still on. Sheriff Webb had planned on whoever the deputy was staying there, so Savannah was fortunate enough not to have to bunk with someone else. Although Sara had offered her a spare room, Savannah didn't want to put her friend out when Clint had just moved in.

Plus, Savannah enjoyed having her own space. She'd lived on her own for too long to have roommates.

Not unless there was a sexy shifter in her bed.

At least for a couple nights.

She wasn't planning on living with Kurt any time soon, but some sleepovers with him would be great.

Instead of dressing, Savannah tossed the towel onto a chair before climbing underneath the heavy gray comforter on her bed. She'd skipped dinner, but she was too exhausted to even think about cooking.

Burying herself under the mound of blankets, she peered over to the empty side of the bed. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be empty for long.

Savannah smiled before closing her eyes and letting herself begin to drift off to sleep.

****

Kurt knew Sara had given him the easiest assignment of food for the dinner-a salad for eight. Not that difficult to do. He'd picked up the ingredients earlier in the week. He could have bought a pre-made salad-in fact Sara had probably thought he would-but he wanted to surprise her. She had, after all, been giving him a hard time about not being able to cook.

But he would show her. He had his laptop open on the counter with the web page that he had saved. He'd googled simple, easy salad recipes and had found one that even he couldn't screw up. Not that he was trying to impress anyone... Oh hell, who was he kidding? He wanted to impress Savannah. And if he pleased Sara with his contribution to dinner, she was sure to share that with her friend.

He'd already showered and dressed in his best pair of jeans and a dark blue long-sleeved Henley. After he finished putting his ingredients together, he would be ready to go. He chopped up the iceberg lettuce then added it to the romaine he already had in the bowl.

Kurt had about an hour before he needed to leave for Clint's. Living just a couple of blocks away would

enient since a snow storm had hit the night before. The first snowfall of year had come with two solid inches. Even now there

were still small flurries falling. He hoped the roads weren't bad. Since there hadn't been time for the snow to melt and freeze again, he didn't think they would be too dangerous and he really wanted Savannah to make it over for dinner. Kurt finished the last of the lettuce before lining up the carrots to slice. He worked quickly until he had all the ingredients inside the large plastic bowl he'd purchased. He snapped the lid closed before tossing it up in the air and catching it easily. It was a tossed salad, after all.

Laughing at himself, he set the bowl to the side and headed into the back of the house to get his boots and jacket. He paused by the front door and picked up his keys from the side table. He pressed the remote start and, hearing the two beeps, pocketed his keys.

The hall down to his bedroom had been painted tan and a few pictures hung neatly on the wall. The majority of the pictures were of his unit in the Army. They'd served together for eight years and he missed his men. Clint was the only one he saw daily. The other members of his elite unit had spread out and gone their separate ways. They still kept in touch, but as time went by, the calls were becoming less and less frequent.

It was just another big change in his life.

He paused in front of the last photo-the most recent. This picture was of his younger brother, Kenny, and Kenny's mate, Todd, the scene captured right after the two men had performed their mating ceremony. It had been a proud moment for Kurt to witness.

He wished Kenny and Todd had been able to come up for the day or long weekend, but Kenny was still training Mike Jackson to take over his position with the Pack. Kurt understood that his brother couldn't make it, even if he was disappointed. He wanted his brother to meet Savannah and Savannah to get to know his family. Christmas was just around the corner, though, and Kenny had promised to visit for that holiday.

Kurt continued back to his bedroom that he'd decorated for comfort. The dark walls mixed nicely with his dark wood furniture. He didn't have photos on his bedroom walls but instead had purchased a large mural for the wall over his bed. The art showcased a pack of wolves standing tall at the top of a hill. The artist had captured the sunset and the wolves looked strong and protective. He'd seen the mural for sale on the Internet and had just had to have it. It was the first large purchase he'd made for his new home.

He grabbed a pair of socks from his drawer before picking up his boots from the end of the bed. He finished dressing quickly and headed out. He slung on his winter jacket before picking up his salad bowl.

One last look around to make sure that everything was in place and he was out of the door. His walkway wasn't icy, but his boots crunched over the crisp snow. His truck heater warmed him as he opened the door and climbed inside. He appreciated the technology of the remote start. Not having to go outside in the winter to warm up the vehicle was fantastic.

He carefully pulled out of his drive and started toward his best friend's house.

The drive to Clint and Sara's was quiet. The streets were empty and the untouched snow that blanketed the town was gorgeous.

Several cars were already in the drive when he arrived. He recognized Savannah's SUV and Ryan's truck. Ryan was one of the guards at the Council compound and he was dating Sara's assistant at the coffee shop, Cecil. Kurt liked both men and was glad to see they were joining them.

He parked behind Savannah and shut off his truck. He took a deep breath, grabbed the salad then hurried up to the front door. He knocked and the door was opened immediately by Clint.

"Good, you're here," Clint greeted and pulled him into a hug.

Kurt returned the embrace before pulling back and holding up his container. "And with food."

Both men laughed. Clint closed the door and swung his arm around his shoulders, leading him away from the entry. "We're hanging in the kitchen. Sara's dad got a call about a small fender bender so she wants to wait for him before we eat." Clint caught the happy sound of conversation just before he entered the kitchen. Sara and Savannah were behind the kitchen island, covering the serving dishes with foil. Ryan sat at one of the bar stools with Cecil standing between his legs. Ryan lifted a beer to Kurt and Cecil gave him a small wave. Sara came around the counter to take the salad and gave him a quick hug.

He gave everyone a greeting, but his gaze was really locked on the other woman in the room. Savannah wore a pair of snug black pants and a bright red sweater, and her silky long blonde hair cascaded down her back. She looked absolutely beautiful. She smiled at him then followed Sara's lead and gave him a hug.

He slipped his arm around her waist and held on. "Happy Thanksgiving," he murmured quietly.

"Happy Thanksgiving to you," she responded, easily fitting in his embrace.

Clint opened the fridge and held out a bottle of beer in question. Kurt nodded. There was nothing better than a nice cold beer while gathering with friends. Clint popped the top off before he slid the bottle over to him. Kurt caught it and took a long pull.

Savannah and Sara were sipping on glasses of wine, talking about old friends from their school days. Ryan was teasing Cecil about his cooking. Kurt glanced up and met Clint's gaze.

Clint was grinning at him. Clint peered from Kurt to Savannah then back to him. Clint's eyebrow lifted in question.

Kurt just shrugged in response and ran his fingers up and down Savannah's side. If she was accepting his touch, he would not complain about it. Yes, it was a change from only a few short days ago, but Kurt was taking Tony's advice to heart. Tony was having to live with Colt working undercover and couldn't be with him. Kurt was lucky that Savannah was within arms' reach.

Clint nodded in acceptance.

That few seconds of silent communication warmed Kurt. In his own way, he had claimed Savannah and Clint accepted her as part of them. Kurt knew that Clint would look to protect Savannah at all costs, as Kurt would do with Sara. That was what they did for each other-looked out for each other and their loved ones.

A knock at the door had conversation halting around the island.

"That's probably Tony," Clint said, placing his beer on the counter. "I invited him to join us."

Clint left the room, and Savannah looked up at Kurt. "Did you find anything else on the Church?"

"A little," he admitted. "We have enough to draw a connection to all the parties, but we still don't know the end game."

Tony joined them in the kitchen. The stress and worry on his face were obvious.

"Everything okay?" Kurt asked his friend.

Tony nodded but didn't look too sure. "Colt missed his check-in. I hate when that happens."

"How long?" Clint questioned, coming up behind Tony.

"He was supposed to call last night," Tony informed them.

It was a little before noon now. Kurt frowned. "When was the last time you spoke to him?"

"Three days ago." Tony accepted a bottle of beer from Clint. "He's missed check-ins before, but never this long. There's probably nothing to worry about. He knows to get out if he thinks there's an immediate threat on his life. There will always be some kind of danger, but he needs to survive this assignment."

Tony spoke quietly and Kurt wanted to reach out and offer him some support. What Tony was going through couldn't be easy. "If you need anything at all, you let me know," Kurt told him. Tony smiled. "I will. But let's not think about it right now. Colt can take care of himself and I don't want to ruin anyone's holiday."

"You're not ruining anything," Sara assured him. "But if we don't eat soon, the food won't be as good. We should go ahead and eat. I'll make my dad a plate when he comes back."

Sara and Savannah instructed the men where to put dishes. The kitchen table had been pulled away from the wall and a leaf had been added to make the seating fit eight people instead of four.

The table had already been set and, after the food was arranged, they took their seats. Kurt was pleased when Savannah sat between him and Tony. He liked having her so close and knew he didn't have to worry about Tony hitting on her. Food began to be passed around the table and Kurt filled his plate with turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, salad, casserole and cranberry sauce. He looked at his overflowing dish and grinned.

Savannah elbowed him. "What are you smiling about?"

Kurt chuckled. "I was just thinking about last Thanksgiving." Clint snorted next to him.

"Oh?" Savannah inquired.

"We were chasing a rogue in South America," Kurt said, still laughing.

"Fucking MREs," Clint grumbled.

"What are MREs?" Cecil asked. He looked between Kurt and Clint.

"Meals ready to eat," Kurt supplied. "Basically, the worst shit in the world. Packaged up for years and we add water and eat them. Sometimes we have a fire to at least warm up the food, but not all the time." "That's just wrong!" Savannah exclaimed.

Kurt stabbed a piece of turkey. "Yeah, and the company wasn't as good."

"That little shit was psycho," Clint added. "We caught up to him the day before Thanksgiving and couldn't get a flight back until Friday."

"I thought Clint was going to skin and roast the little pissant," Kurt continued, still laughing.

"Thought about it," Clint admitted. "Would have been better than the MREs we ate."

Everyone around the table laughed.

He'd really missed family gatherings during the holidays. He hadn't had much downtime and looked forward to more celebrations like this.

He looked over at Savannah, knowing he wanted to spend them with her as well as everyone else.

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The people at the table were slowly taking the place of his birth family. Kurt wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. He owned his home. He was putting down roots. Hey, he could even host a holiday at his house. Savannah leaned over, pressing against his arm. "You okay?"

Her voice was soft, but the shifters would be able to hear anyway. Still, Kurt didn't mind. "I'm really good. I forgot how nice having family around was for important days."

Savannah smiled back before peering around the table. At their friends. "You're right. I haven't looked forward to the holidays since I moved away."

"Well, this is just the beginning," Clint stated. He lifted his beer. "We have a home now. A place to call our own."

"A family of our choosing," Sara added. She leaned over and kissed Clint's cheek.

"To family," Savannah announced, holding up her wine glass.

"To family," everyone repeated.

As he clicked his bottle to Savannah's glass, he held her gaze. Kurt could picture many more dinners like this. Maybe with the sound of kids running around. Well maybe Clint's kids, because Kurt wasn't sure he was ready to go there quite yet. He set down his beer and picked his fork up. It was time to dig in.

The turkey was moist and flavorful. All the food was good. Kurt had even scooped up a spoonful of cranberry sauce because Savannah had made it.

Cecil laughed so hard, causing him to choke, that Ryan had to reach over and pat the young man's back. Kurt hadn't been joking about what he and Clint had been doing the last Thanksgiving. He hadn't thought to complain at the time. They'd been given a mission and Kurt always completed missions. Clint hadn't seemed to mind anything other than the food. A shifter could not survive on MREs. Not like a human solider. There had even been times over the years he and Clint had had no choice but to shift and hunt down their own food.

He preferred the store-bought turkey than trying to catch one with his teeth.

Savannah's elbow brushed his arm as she reached for a roll.

Yeah, the company was a definite improvement as well. Even with the sheriff missing and Tony's sad expression, Kurt was going to remember this holiday. The Council had offered him so much more than a job.

The Council had given him the chance to settle.

To start his life when many of others his age had already chosen a mate and began a family. He might be late, but Kurt was excited for his future.

Savannah was in heaven. Good food, great company and a handsome man at her side. It was one of the best holidays she'd had in a long time.

She'd been on patrol in Arizona the year before. The weather had been warm and without the calendar, she wouldn't have even known it was Thanksgiving. The snow on the ground here could be bothersome, but to Savannah she saw it as a welcome to winter and what really started the holiday season. It also helped that the entire atmosphere of the house was warm and loving. Savannah wasn't alone this year.

Back in Arizona, she'd had friends, but having worked so much Savannah hadn't truly been close to many people. If she hadn't been on duty, she still wouldn't have had a place to go unless she traveled to see her family. Not that she hadn't met good people in Arizona. At one of her stops, a store owner she'd become friendly with had given her a Tupperware with turkey and all the fixings. So, it had turned out to be a good day. But nothing compared to this year. She'd woken that morning to the sight of snow-covered lawns and had been very pleased. She had missed the snow while she had lived in Arizona. The only season that Arizona had was summer. It was hot, always hot, and even at the end of November there was little break from the heat.

Once the food had been consumed, Sara stood to begin brewing a special blend of coffee she'd been saving. Already the strong, fragrant aroma was filling the kitchen. Savannah rose to begin to clear the table.

"Sit down," Sara ordered. "You're our guest."

She shook her head. "You just stay over there and make me some of the awesome-smelling coffee. I got this."

"Let me help too, then," Cecil said as he jumped up.

Savannah hadn't known Cecil when she'd lived there before, but she liked Sara's assistant. He was funny and sweet. Cecil was also obviously in love with Ryan. Ryan hadn't been in town much longer than Kurt and Clint.

Before the shifters had come out to the public, Savannah hadn't had any idea that they lived so close to town, or that the sheriff's department worked with them to keep both the town and the Council safe. There had been an agreement between the shifters and law enforcement for decades.

Savannah set the plates in the sink after Cecil. She went back to the table as Cecil went to help Sara.

She pressed against Kurt's arm as he spoke to Tony about Tony's brother and his mate. Tony was sharing the story about how Cain and Emily were dealing with being first-time parents.

Kurt smiled before sliding his palm down her back as she leaned over him, collecting more of the plates and silverware. It took a few trips back and forth from the table to the sink and Savannah enjoyed flirting with Kurt.

No, she might not be in high school anymore, but Kurt made her feel young and free again. She could laugh and joke with him, run up and entice him until they got the chance to be alone. Savannah didn't have plans for the rest of the night so maybe she'd even invite him over to see her new place. Although she really should have planned that idea better. Other than a few dishes, her clothes and bathroom items, she hadn't unpacked anything. It would be hard to entertain at her house. Hell, she hadn't even hooked up her TV yet.

Kurt didn't seem to mind her teasing, either.

As she passed him, Kurt's hand moved over more intimate places until he brushed over the side of her breasts. Yeah, they were on the same page, all right. With the table cleared, she sat back down beside Kurt as Sara and Cecil finished up getting the drinks. Was it her imagination or was Kurt's chair closer?

He pressed his knee against hers, and yes indeed, he'd moved one of the chairs to where they would be in very close quarters.

Cecil came back to the table and passed out cups. The aroma of the coffee wafted up and she took a deep breath. Savannah took a sip and moaned.

Sara took her seat and grinned. "Good?"

"I don't know how you do it. This is fantastic," Savannah told her.

"She's a genius," Clint complimented and kissed Sara's cheek.

Sara blushed. "It's not that difficult."

Cecil laughed. "Yeah, right. Don't let her try to fool you. I'm usually the one that has to try them all and it's a long process."

Sara snorted. "You love it."

The younger man shrugged. "Perks of the job."

"Well, it goes perfectly after the meal," Kurt praised.

"It was a good dinner," Sara agreed. "But I have to say I didn't expect a salad like that from you. I figured you would get one of the pre-made salads from the grocery store."

Kurt beamed. "I know." He looked pleased that she'd mentioned it.

Sara narrowed her eyes. "You did make the salad, right? It doesn't count if someone made it for you." She looked between Kurt and Savannah.

Savannah held up her hands. "It wasn't me, I swear."

Kurt laughed. "I knew you gave me the salad because you didn't think I could make anything else."

"You can't!" Clint exclaimed. "I've lived with you before. I've told Sara the horror stories. Like when you tried to make popcorn on the stove and we had to leave the apartment for two days because of the smell."

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Kurt pouted.

The look was foolish on him and Savannah laughed.

"I'm hurt, man," Kurt claimed. He turned his head and winked at her.

"No, you're not!" Clint argued. "So, tell the truth. Who made the salad?"

"I did," Kurt claimed. "I swear."

Savannah leaned into his arm.

"I really did," he told her, trying to get Savannah on his side.

She laughed and patted his hand. "I believe you." He was so adamant that even if he'd cheated, she couldn't have cared less. Plus, this gave her an excuse to invite him over. She could show him a few simple recipes that would impress Clint

and Sara.

Sara and Clint didn't look convinced but let it go.

The back door opened and Sheriff Webb walked in from the cold. Sara jumped up and rushed over to help him with his coat. Snow fell from his shoulders and arms.

"Damn, it's really coming down out there," Jim Webb grumbled.

"Let me get you some coffee to warm you up," Cecil offered and rose.

"Appreciate it." He smiled. "Sorry I took so long."

Clint stood also. "No problem. Take a seat and we'll get you a plate warmed up."

The sheriff nodded before accepting the hot, steaming cup Cecil brought him.

"Everything okay?" Savannah asked her boss as he joined them. She wasn't on call for the day, but she would help if he needed her.

"There was a car on the side of the road over off Route 15. Mrs. Thompson was heading to her son's and slid into it. She's fine, but we couldn't find the driver of the other car. The snow was piled on top so it had been there a while," he told

them.

"Probably got picked up in this weather. I can't see anyone walking with the snow coming down," Kurt added.

"That's what I figure. The plates are out of state, so it's probably someone coming to visit family. Not used to the snow." Sheriff Webb took a long drink of his coffee. "This is good, Sara."

Sara brought her dad a plate. "Thanks. What state was the license plate from?"

"Colorado."

Kurt and Tony stiffened next to Savannah. She glanced over at Kurt.

"It wasn't a red Mustang, was it?" Tony asked quietly.

"Yeah, it was. Do you know who it belongs to?"

Tony glanced at Kurt. "Colt."

"Oh no!" Savannah whispered. That was not good news. Tony had started to perk back up by the end of the meal, but the worry was still obvious.

"Wait!" Sheriff Webb demanded. "Are you talking about your Colt? The one out with the Church?"

Tony and Kurt stood. Clint was still standing by the table, patting his pockets. "I'll drive."

"Now, wait just one second!" Sheriff Webb ordered, although he rose as well. "What is going on?"

"Colt didn't check in last night as planned," Tony told him. "I haven't been able to contact him and he missed his check in time."

"Shit!" Sheriff Webb looked down at his untouched plate. "Better wrap the food back up, honey."

"Sure, Dad," Sara agreed.

"I'll take Tony with me. Clint, you and Kurt follow us," Sheriff Webb commanded.

"Right," Clint said.

"What can I do?" Savannah asked. She was a deputy and had trained for this sort of situation.

"Ryan and Savannah, I want you to stay here with Sara and Cecil. I don't want to leave them alone until we know what's going on," Sheriff Webb told them.

Savannah opened her mouth to argue, but Kurt grasped her hand and squeezed.

"Yes, sir," Ryan answered.

"Sure," she said, although she didn't like being left behind. She carried a gun and had the authority that neither Kurt nor Clint did. And Tony wasn't even a guard. He was more of a social shifter.

"We'll meet back here. No one leave until I give you the all-clear," Sheriff Webb said before grabbing his coat once again.

The sheriff and Tony left by the back door. Kurt leaned over and kissed Savannah quickly. "I know you want to come with us, but I really need you to stay here. Keep a watch out and be careful. Getting a hold of either one of them would be a win in the Church's book."

She knew Sara and Cecil had been targeted before but hadn't considered how severe the threat still was. It was better that she stayed behind to make sure this wasn't a trick for the church to try again. "You got it," Savannah stated. Clint was speaking to Sara next to the island. She nodded and hugged him tight. "Be careful and find him," Sara said softly.

Kurt and Clint left. Savannah stood with Sara at the door until they had disappeared from sight, Kurt's truck heading down the road. She glanced at Ryan. "Let's check the doors and windows."

Savannah felt dread in the pit of her stomach as she exited the kitchen to check the rest of the house. The day had been going too well. There was no telling where Colt was or what he was going through. All she could do was hope and pray for Colt's safety while making sure nobody in the house got pulled back into danger.