Chapter 26-Joe's Mole

Joe started pacing around the car, talking to himself.  Roe and the guys sat in the car silently, at least that's how it seemed to Joe.

Oh, shit. Now what?  Shane asked.

He'll calm down in a few minutes.  Roe replied calmly.  I've seen him lose his temper before.

He's talking to his wolf, isn't he?  Adrian asked her.

Yes, he is.  I bet he's also trying to figure out if I'm right, and who it is.

Wouldn't it be easier if he asks you why you think that first?  Shane asked.

It probably would be, but you know how your wolves are.  They want to try to figure stuff out on their own before they'll let the human side ask questions.

Shane thought about it for a second.  You've got a point.  Especially when it's something this big.  Really, he may be trying to calm his wolf down long enough to listen to you.

You're probably right.  Roe agreed.  He's really not happy right now.

How are we going to find this person?   Shane asked.

Adrian is going to read their minds, and see what he can find out.  Roe told him then sighed.  One of the reasons Joe's so upset about this is that only his high ranking wolves would've known where we were, therefore whoever the mole is, is a trusted friend.

And that makes it worse.  Adrian said.   To be betrayed by a friend.

That does suck. I'm surprised he's still human.  Shane said.

He probably won't be after this conversation.  Roe said wryly.

Joe jerked open the car door and slumped down into the seat.  "I'm assuming that you think I have a mole because of how fast PBI found you, correct?"

"Yes.  That and the fact that they didn't seem to know who these guys were," She motioned to Shane and Adrian. "just that they were dangerous and wanted for something."

"That doesn't prove that it was one of my guys."  Joe said defensively.

"I know that, and I'm hoping we're wrong."  Roe told him sadly.  "But we're going to have to investigate it anyway."

"Just how do you think we're going to do that huh? Especially without making my guys think that I don't trust them?"  Joe snapped.

"If you can get everyone that knew where we were going together, we can find out."

"Even Marcy?"  He snarled.

"No.  I trust your Luna, and you."  Roe replied calmly.

"If I get them together, then what?"  Joe asked, still mad.

"Adrian can read their minds."

"He can what?"  Joe exclaimed.

"Adrian can read minds."

"Why do I not know this?  How long were you going to pretend to have an alliance with me, while reading my mind every time I saw you?"

"Joe."  Roe said, reclaiming his attention.  "It's a new development."

"How can that be new?  Nobody just suddenly develops a new power like that."

"Well, he had help."  Roe said sheepishly.

Joe sat there stunned for a few seconds,  then seemed to deflate as the anger rushed out of him.  "Oh, Roe.  Tell me you didn't."

"I can't tell you that, Joe."

"But-why a vampire?"  Joe whined.

"Actually, it wasn't just a vampire.  I got what I wanted."

"You marked both of them?"  He exclaimed.

"They marked me, but yes.  I'm now tied to both."

Joe took a deep breath then sighed.  "I'm glad you got what you wanted, Roe."

"Thank you, Joe.  As you know, it really meant a lot to me."

"I know Roe, and I'm happy for you."  He smiled at her, then frowned.  "But what about an heir for Shane?  He's an alpha.  He has to have an heir."

"I'm going to help him find a mate."  Roe told him smiling.  "I'm just marked, not mated yet.  So he can find someone good for his pack to mate."

"Does he think you're not good enough?"  Joe scowled at Shane.

"No, Joe.  That's not the issue.  I don't think I'd be a good Luna, considering how much I want to fix the interspecies relations around here.  I couldn't devote enough time to both, and I'm afraid the pack would suffer because of it."

"Well, I think you'd make a great Luna."  Joe said, still scowling at Shane.

Roe reached over and touched his hand.  "Joe, I mean it.  I'm the one who thinks I wouldn't be good for them."

"Okay, Roe."  He nodded and quit scowling at Shane.

"I would appreciate it if you'd keep this between us, and Marcy, for now please.  There are a couple of things we need to work out before everyone knows."

"Like what?"

Like the witch that may need to be rescued.  "We'll talk about that after we deal with this Marsden jerk."

"Okay, Roe."

"Thanks Joe.  Now back to the matter at hand, do you think you can have those people together when we get to your pack?  We can get this over with, and hopefully clear them.  Then we won't have to worry about it anymore."

Joe slowly nodded his head.  "Yeah, best to get it over with.  If I don't, it's going to bother me, and make me second guess everything and everyone."

"Yeah."  Roe said sadly.  "I'm sorry Joe, and I hope I'm wrong."

"Me too, Roe. Me too." Joe said, resignation filling his voice. He sighed then put the car back in gear and pulled back out onto the main road. "Oh yeah, Shane. Roe told me that your wolf was antsy earlier. Is he still that way, or has he calmed down?"

"Well, it's hard to explain. Yes, I still feel antsy, but it's different." He shook his head, looking at his hands as he tried to explain. "The feeling from earlier is gone, but another one has taken its place."

"Ask your wolf if he knows what's going on."

"Okay." He was quiet for a little bit, then looked up with a confused look on his face. "He says he's not sure, either. But it's getting worse the closer we get to your pack."

"I was afraid of that. You and Roe are going to have to stay close together while you're in my pack. You marked Roe, so your instinct is to keep her safe and away from other males. Your wolf is having trouble figuring out how to do that in a pack that's not under your control. You're feeling antsy now because of it."

"Why didn't I know that?" Shane asked. "I should, and now that you said it, it makes sense."

"From what I've heard of you from your father, you've been resisting talking about the mate bond. You didn't see the point in knowing about it, since you hadn't found your mate." He shook his head. "I've made it mandatory in my pack to have to learn about it among other things, and I wish every pack did. It would help a lot."

Shane bristled. "Are you insulting my pack, my father?"

"No, son. Not intentionally. This is one of those conversations Roe and I have had about the things that need to change about how our kind educates their children, and it's not just your pack." He shook his head again. "I think everyone, both male and female, needs to know what to expect when they find their mate. At least I do now that Roe beat it into me." He smiled at Roe.

Roe smiled back at him. "I didn't beat it into you, old man."

"Well, technically no, but you did badger me incessantly about it, and so did Marcy." He laughed. "I finally just gave in to you two."

"It's helped, though hasn't it?"

"Yes, it has. Especially with the younger wolves when they turn of age to find their mates."

"Wait, I didn't think we found our mates much anymore." Shane said.

"We didn't, but since Roe convinced me that the youngsters needed to be taught what to expect and exactly how to recognize their mates, they've been finding more of them."

"Just in your pack?" Shane asked.

"No, they haven't been finding their mates in our pack, at least most of them haven't. They've been finding them in neighboring packs. I arranged with the Alphas around us to let us meet in the neutral territory with some of our unmated wolves every three to four months, and it seems to be working. More of our wolves have found their mates in the last year or so than in the last five years." He took a deep breath and sighed. "I am beginning to believe that Luna didn't take our mates from us, we just lost the ability to find them because of our own stupidity and not knowing what we were seeing when we did find them."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes." Joe nodded. "But, you have to know that some of my pack have been finding their mates in unconventional places."

"What do you mean?" Shane asked suspiciously.

"My pack now has a couple of vampires, shape shifters, and a faerie. Because they chose to live where their mate's pack was."

"Why did they choose to live with your pack?" Adrian asked curiously.

"Most of the females just wanted to stay with their mates. The males tried to take their mates home with them, but didn't recieve a very warm welcome, so they came back to our pack."

"What do you mean?" Shane asked.

"What would your dad say if you brought me home?" Roe asked him.

"Well..." Shane hedged.

"Under normal circumstances, and just me?" She amended her question.

"He'd be thrilled." Shane replied.

"Okay, but what if I was a werepanther? What would he say then?"

"He wouldn't be thrilled, but he'd be fine because I found my mate."

"Have you discussed this with him, or are you guessing?"

"The last time I went looking for my mate, he told me that if I found one I was interested in to bring her home, no matter what she was, and we'd deal with it."

"Good for him." Roe said. "Now, think about what your grandfather would've said if you'd brought a werepanther home as a mate."

"He would've flipped his lid." Shane said, shaking his head. "I think I understand now. If they had an Alpha like my granddad, they would've come back to Joe's pack because they'd be accepted there."

"Right." Roe said.

Joe turned the car down a gravel road. "We're almost there. Is there anything else I need to know before we get there?"

"Not that I know of." Roe said. "What time did you tell Agent Maitland to be here?"

Joe looked at his watch. "We've got a couple of hours before he gets here. Why?"

"I thought you'd rather have your personal pack business taken care of before he got here. Also, I think the three of us would love a shower and a change of clothes." She looked at the topless guys in the back seat. "Or some more clothes in some cases."

Joe smiled. "Sorry, I forgot to tell you. There are some extra shirts back there for you two. I think the rest of what you want can be arranged. Which do you want to take care of first?"

"Let's take care of business first." Roe said. "If Maitland has to wait a little for us, it'll be okay. I'm not sure how well Shane's wolf is going to take me showering in a house full of unmated males. We may have to shower one at a time, so they can 'guard' me."

"Good idea, Roe."

"Hey, I'm not that bad." Shane protested.

"No, you're not." Roe reassured him. "You act just like a werewolf should. Speaking of that, Adrian why aren't you posessive like Shane is?"

"I am." He growled. "But I have more self-control than he does. I've been around a lot longer, and have learned to hide my emotions better."

"I understand." Roe said, smiling at him. "I wasn't complaining, I was just curious."

Shane grumbled under his breath as Joe parked the car in front of a huge house. It was four stories, and looked more like a giant bed and breakfast than a house. The outside was wood paneled, so it blended in with the woods surrounding it. Other smaller houses were scattered through the woods near the pack house.

They got out of the car, and walked up to the front door of the pack house. "I called everyone into the conference room, as you wanted." Joe told Roe. "I also ordered everyone to stay away from the front of the house until I tell them otherwise."

Roe nodded, then followed Joe into the house. They followed him down the hall and through the door of the conference room. The six wolves Joe had gathered were stunned when they walked in. They all started talking at the same time, greeting Roe, asking what had happened and who the two with her were. Joe held up a hand for silence.

When they had quieted down, Joe started talking. "I need y'all to line up along the wall and stand there. Do not speak unless you're asked a specific question, and do not say anything to anyone outside this room. I'll explain everything in a few minutes." His voice was so stern and full of his Alpha power thant no one wanted to argue with him. After they had all lined up against the wall, Joe nodded at Adrian for him to go ahead and read their minds.

Can you get them thinking about that day? Adrian asked Roe.

"Do y'all remember the day I was kidnapped from the motel on the edge of town?" She asked them. When they all nodded their assent, she continued. "You all knew where I was going, correct?" Again the six men nodded. "Did any of you tell anyone about it?" She watched very closely to their reactions. All of the men looked confused by her question except one. The next to last one on the right. Did you see his reaction to me asking that? She asked Adrian.

I did. He replied tersely.

Let's do that one first. We may not need to do the rest of them. She told him.

Adrian walked down the line of men until he was standing in front of the one in question. He stared into the man's eyes, until he looked away. "Look at me." Adrian told him. The man avoided Adrian's eyes until Joe spoke up.

"Look at him." He told the man.

The man looked confused, but did as Joe commanded him. "Did you tell anyone where we were going?" Adrian asked the man, who was captured by Adrian's gaze and unable to look away. The man didn't answer. He and Adrian were silently staring at each other while the other men in the line looked at each other in confusion, wondering what was going on.

After a few minutes, Adrian stepped back. "Do you want to tell your Alpha what you did, or do you want me to?"

The man looked at the ground then spoke very quietly. "I will."

Adrian nodded and stepped back behind Roe.

"What did you do, Frank?" Joe snarled, angrily.

"I told someone where they were going to be." He looked up at Joe. "But I never meant for anything bad to happen to Roe."

"What did you expect to happen when you called PBI and told them dangerous supernaturals were at the motel?" Joe asked dumbfounded.

"I- But I- I didn't tell PBI." Frank stuttered out.

Joe looked confused. "Then who did you tell?"

Frank looked back at the floor. "I told Angie."

"You told Angie where they were going? Why would you do that?" Joe asked him.

"Um...she asked." Frank said sheepishly.

"I specifically told you not to tell anyone, yet you tell her!" Joe exclaimed, exasperatedly. One of the other men in the line held up his hand. "What Carl?" Joe snapped.

"You know she's the pack slut, Sir. She probably said she wouldn't sleep with him anymore if he didn't tell her. Or that she would if he did." Carl shrugged. "That sounds like something she'd do, she's tried it with me before to get information."

"Shit. Seriously?" Joe asked.

Carl nodded, and Frank said "Yes, Alpha. She said she'd sleep with me if I told her where Roe was going. I didn't know what she was planning on doing, I promise. I'm so sorry Alpha, Roe."

"I called her to come in here." Joe said. "Adrian, do you think you can do the same thing with her?"

"Probably. As long as no one lets her in on what we're doing."

Joe nodded. "Alright, guys. You don't have to stand there anymore, you can move. Frank, you know you're in trouble, but I'll deal with you later."

Roe stepped back, slightly out of sight from the door. I want to surprise her, and come up behind her when she comes in.

They waited in silence until Angie walked into the room. She was a slim young woman with long blonde hair and large breasts, shown off by the low cut shirt she was wearing. When she walked in, she saw all of the men in the room, and zeroed in on the two new ones, Adrian and Shane. She walked straight up to Shane, and rubbed her hand up his arm. "You're new around here, aren't you?" she asked in her best seductive voice.

"New yes, but not available." Roe said, stepping up next to them. She didn't expect to see me. I saw that surprised look on her face, though she covered it quickly.

"He's with you?" Angie sneered.

"For now, yes."

"Oh, well I'm sure I could show him a better time." She purred at Shane. "You know you'd rather be with a werewolf like me, than with that witch." She said, saying witch like it was the most disgusting thing on Earth.

Roe let Shane handle Angie, though she could feel a little jealous at how close the she-wolf was to Shane. "Get away from me." Shane said, stepping away from her. "I'd rather have a witch than a make-up caked slut like you."

Angie pouted. "You know you'll come back to me eventually." She smiled smugly at Roe. "Everyone does."

"Angie." Joe said, getting her attention. "Did you know where Roe was going the other day?"

"No, Alpha. I don't know anything about Roe." She answered, sweetly.

"I know you knew about it. Don't lie to me." Joe snarled at her.

She glanced at Frank, then looked at the floor, like she was ashamed. "I'm sorry, Alpha. Yes, I knew. I said I didn't because I didn't want to get Frank in trouble."

"Let's skip the lying, Angie. Look into Adrian's eyes." Joe said, motioning to Adrian.

"Yes, Alpha." Angie said, looking Adrian up and down and obviously liking what she saw. She stared into Adrian's eyes, hoping to ensnare him with her looks.

"Who did you tell about where Roe was going after Frank told you?" Adrian asked.

Her voice monotone, she answered. "I told my friend at PBI."

"What's his name?" Adrian asked her.

"His name is Jack Reynolds."