Free Love's Baggage by T. A. Chase Page B

important to what you're doing here."
    Gianni let the non-answer slide, and Bandit was glad for that. He didn't want to get confrontational right at the beginning. Max knew things and his knowledge might help them.
    "From what I understand, you're coming back to challenge the alpha of your pack. You were coming back anyway, even after I specifically told you never to do so." Max studied Allen and Roman.
    "We wanted to come back and check on our mother and other siblings. They were really young when we were sold." Roman spoke for both brothers.
    "When did the crazy idea to challenge for the alpha position pop into your heads?" Max glanced between the brothers with an inquiring gaze. "Remember what I said would happen if you did so."
    Roman started to open his mouth, but Allen beat him to it.
    "I made the decision when Gianni came and told us about all the things that happened since we left." Allen held up his hand to keep Max from saying anything else. "It was my decision, Max. No one's forcing me to do it... I'm choosing to take my rightful place in the pack."
    "Right. Well, to be honest, I don't really care one way or the other about what happens to your pack. Gianni is right that something does need to be done about the alpha. He's going bat shit crazy. I was going to send a couple of my guys over to deal with Kinsey and Stephan, your father, but there's no one to fill the vacuum when they're dead. We can't have a leaderless pack."
    Bandit narrowed his eyes and studied Max. What was the older lycan playing at? Just a few minutes ago, he'd been acting pissed off because Allen was considering challenging the alpha. Now he acted like it didn't matter because he'd been thinking about sending someone after him.
    "Who are you to send out kill squads?" Bandit looked around at the others sitting at the table with them. "Because that's what you're talking about."
    Max waved his hand. "It doesn't matter who I am, Bandit."
    "Bullshit."
    Bandit shot to his feet and slammed his hand on the table. He leaned over and met Max's eyes. He saw them widened slightly. Staring Max directly in the eyes wasn't the smartest thing to do, but he didn't care. The only group who got to blow him off was his pack. No one else got to treat him like he didn't matter.
    "It does matter to me who you are, Max, because I'm responsible for this mission. I'm not going to let anything happen to Allen or Roman, and that means if you don't tell me what's going on right now, we're leaving, and their pack can rot in hell for all I care." Bandit didn't blink. He wouldn't back down from any of them.
    He meant what he said. If Max didn't tell him everything, Bandit was taking Allen and Roman back to Canis pack territory, even if it meant he had to tie them both up and toss them in the backseat of his truck. His entire purpose in living right now was to keep his mate alive and unharmed. Allen being stronger than him had no effect at all on Bandit's emotions.
    "Really? I'd think Allen and Roman would have something to say about that." The patronization in Max's voice grated on Bandit's nerves.
    "We do have something say about it, and we stand with Bandit." Allen rested his hand on Bandit's shoulder. "If you don't explain what the fuck is going on here, Max, we'll leave, and you can deal with whatever it is on your own."
    "Yes. As much as I'd like my pack saved from the bastard destroying it, I won't have Allen used in some sort of secret agenda." Gianni stood up as well, throwing his lot in with Bandit and Allen.
    Max leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. "Well, it does appear all the pups have grown up."
    Bandit growled low in his throat and he knew his eyes were changing by the way Max straightened in his seat. Malik and Rhonda tensed, but Raze and Ba'el stayed relaxed where they sat. He still wasn't completely sure which side those two would land on and he didn't want to fight either of them, but he would if it meant keeping Allen safe.
    The