by M H Soars
Red
I still haven’t wrapped my head around Kenya’s mother knowing about the shifters, the witches, and everything else in between this effing weirdo village as I head to the compound’s mess hall, flanked by Dante, Samuel, and Tristan, aka my captors. The open space, a rustic barn-like building with a domed ceiling and exposed wooden beams, is packed to the max. Long picnic tables are occupied by a loud group of shifters, but once our presence is acknowledged, the conversations cease abruptly. Everyone turns to stare at us, or more precisely at me. The newest omega. No, bitterness doesn’t pool in my mouth when I think about what that term means.
I spot that bitch Lyria right away, and the humiliation she put me through tinges my gaze crimson. She smirks at me, basking in my faster-than-lightning descent in the pack’s rank. A low growl rumbles, and I belatedly realize it’s coming from me. A touch on my lower back catches my attention. Cutting my eyes to my right, I see Dante. His hand doesn’t linger, though, but his voice echoes in my mind.
“You don’t want to challenge Lyria, at least not until you have a chance of winning the fight. If you do, she has grounds to kill you… and we won’t be able to stop it.”
I swallow the huge lump that has formed in my throat, but I’m not sure if it’s fear or anger that’s squeezing my chest tight and giving me this bout of apprehension. Tristan and Samuel walk ahead of me, making a beeline for the table where Lyria sits. Dr. Mervina is there as well. So, that’s where the cool kids in the pack sit. Fuck them. Dante throws me an apologetic glance before he follows his brothers. What—does he think I want to sit over there with the bitch who tried to kill me? He’s out of his mind.
Conversations resume. Now that the betas have deserted me, the rest of the pack is no longer interested in me. I’m nothing more than a lowly omega after all. I search the perimeter, looking for my counterpart. I find Billy sitting at a table in a far corner of the room. Alone, he’s hunched forward as he eats his meal quietly.
After I grab a tray, I put random food on it. My mind is racing, and I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to eat anything. But right now, I’m more interested in blending in and learning from observation. Dante’s comment that I can change my status in the hierarchy of the pack is forefront in my mind. He never really gave me details on how I can do that, but by the little I’ve seen, I can guess it will be bloody and maybe even deadly.
Billy looks up when I sit next to him. He smiles before whispering, “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Not by choice,” I reply through clenched teeth.
“It’s gonna get better. I promise you.”
“You can’t make that promise. You’ve been a wolf your entire life. You have no idea what’s like to go from a regular human to this.”
“You make it sound like a curse.” He puts his fork and knife down, appraising me. “The fact you were able to survive the shift and go through the process so quickly tells me you weren’t a regular human at all.”
I narrow my eyes, suspicious now. Does he know my grandmother is a witch? “What do you know?”
With a shrug, he resumes eating. “I’m an omega, but I’m not stupid. Plus, I love to read. I probably know more about the pack’s history than the alpha himself.”
My spine goes taut as my interest is piqued. “Really? I’d love to get familiar with it as well.”
“That’s a smart move. As an outsider, you’re at a serious disadvantage.”
I open my mouth to ask Billy more questions, but feel a presence looming in front of our table. There are two teens smirking at us, and dread drips down my back. I know by their mean looks that they’re up to no good.
“Hey, Billy. Give me that pie,” the tallest says.
“Why? You hate chocolate.” Billy leans back, his expression one of boredom.
“Give me the fucking pie, Billy.”
With a sigh, Billy begins to push the plate across the table. I snap out my arm to hold his wrist, stopping him.
“Don’t talk to him like that. You want pie? Get your own.” My voice is cold and tight.
The kid turns to me with mouth slightly open, but the surprise only lasts a split second before a sneer twists his face into an ugly mask.
“Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that, mutt?”
I was never one to take shit from anybody—the fact I let Lyria make me cower is still an event I’m trying to understand—but right now, I’m not getting lip-serviced by a pimple-covered punk. Placing both hands on the table, I stand slowly.
“I’m not a mutt, and I won’t tolerate that kind of bullshit in front of me.”
“You are an omega. You can’t talk to him like that,” the younger teen says.
“I’m not a fucking omega. I’m Amelia Redford.”
“She has no respect for the pack,” a man sitting at the table next to us says. Murmurs of agreement follow his statement.
“Then it’s time we teach her a lesson.” A redheaded chick stands up, then marches toward me.
I saunter around the table while curling my hands into fists. I’ve never once took martial arts or self-defense lessons, but I’m hoping the action movies I’ve watched will help. My wolf is churning inside my chest, its savagery pumping into my veins. I’m braced for the fight that’s sure to come when a booming voice echoes in the mess hall, freezing me to the spot.
“Enough!”
The redhead stops in her track as well, lowering the arm that was poised to strike me.
A tall man with massive shoulders and a neck as thick as a tree trunk strides into the room. His hair is silvery, but his face is too similar to Tristan’s to not clue me in that the alpha has just arrived. Even if there wasn’t any resemblance, it would be impossible not to guess his status. The man oozes power. As he walks in my direction, I have to lock my knees tight to avoid my legs from giving out under me. His scrutinizing gaze makes my entire body shake. The redhead moves out of the way, all aggression gone from her stance as she lowers her gaze to the floor.
The alpha stops in front of me. Every instinct I have is shouting I should look down. But I can’t… and it’s not because I’m defying him. I’m paralyzed.
“So, you’re the reason I was called home.”
I don’t know what to say, so I just remain quiet.
Dr. Mervina joins her husband, but her presence is neither comforting or antagonizing. I’m sure what I did was completely unacceptable by their standards, but I couldn’t help myself.
“This Amelia Redford, Wendy’s granddaughter.”
“That explains the rebellious nature,” the alpha says, his voice still very much cold.
I frown, not knowing where he’s going with this. It doesn’t sound like he’s angry at me, though.
“So, you’re not happy with your lot as the newest omega, is that right?” he asks.
My tongue is dry and stuck to my mouth, but I somehow find a way to reply. “No, sir.”
He nods. “I accept your challenge. You and Rochelle will fight tomorrow at dawn.”
“What?” The redheaded chick lifts her head.
The alpha turns to her, his jaw clenched hard. “You heard me. The omega didn’t yield to you. You know the rules.”
The woman drops her gaze and mumbles, “Yes, Alpha.”
The man swings around with Dr. Mervina by his side. It’s only when he leaves the mess hall that I turn to Billy.
“What just happened?”
“You fool. You challenged another wolf, someone who is much stronger than you.”
Folding my arms, I watch Billy through a narrowed gaze. “What was I supposed to do? Sit meekly in my corner and let her do whatever she pleased with me?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what you were supposed to do.”
“I’m not a doormat!”
Billy shakes his head, laughing without humor. “Doormat… you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really? In my world, it makes you a doormat when you let bulli
es do as they please with you.”
“You’re not in your world anymore. You know what? I don’t care what you do. Just stay out of my business.”
Billy shoves the chocolate pie plate into his tormentor’s hand, then strides out of the hall.
Fuck, what the hell did I do wrong?
Chapter 16
Dante
“Dad, you can’t let Red fight Rochelle. She’s not ready,” I say.
From behind his mahogany desk, our father leans back on his leather chair, folding his hands together. “She should have thought about it before she openly challenged the enforcer.”
“She didn’t know any better.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
I turn to Sam and Tristan. “Help me out here?”
Sam shrugs. “I think you’re making a big deal out of this. Red can handle Rochelle.”
“She’s one of our best enforcers!” I throw my hands in the air.
“It will serve the woman well to lose the challenge to Rochelle. If she weren’t so busy fighting the inevitable and trying to run away, maybe she would have learned a thing or two about what it means to be a wolf.” Tristan crosses his legs, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He’s not fooling anyone with the casual stance. I can see the tension emanating from his frame in waves.
“Your concern for the omega is troubling, Dante. You know very well we can’t bend the rules to benefit one individual. Amelia will fight Rochelle, and you will not interfere.” Dad pierces me with his alpha stare, and any retort dies on my lips.
“Now, we have more pressing matters to discuss. Tell me everything you know about the Shadow Creek rogue and the device you found on him.”
Tristan stands straighter, while Sam switches his weight from foot to foot.
“It seems the device was used to control the rogue,” Tristan replies.
Dad leans back, his eyes narrowing to slits. “Is that the opinion of an expert?”
Samuel and Tristan exchange a glance before Sam answers, “The guy who works at the hardware store.”
I see the change in my father immediately. His shoulders tense as he rests his elbows on the desk, linking his hands together. “I need more than the word of an amateur to look further into this matter. I don’t need to remind you how tense our relationship with the Shadow Creek pack is. One wrong move on either part, and we’ll have enough bloodshed to mirror the Thirteen Days of Chaos.”
A shiver runs down my spine. We were born right after the event that almost tore Crimson Hollow apart. A portal to a hellish dimension was opened, and what came through it was worse than any nightmarish creature residing in our peculiar town.
“And now that Montgomery has gotten involved…” Dad continues.
“Wait. What does that witch have to do with anything?” Tristan takes a step forward, his face twisting into an angry scowl.
“She’s backing the claim that the new Wolfe Construction’s development land belongs to the Shadow Creek pack.”
“What? That fucking bitch!” Tristan balls his hands into fists, starting to pace. “I knew she was planning something foul. I knew it!”
“Their claim is without merit, but she’s going with it because I refused to endorse her run for re-election.”
“You’ve never endorsed her before. Why is she pissed that you refused now?” I ask.
“Because she’s lost support from a number of factions in the community, and she needs me.” Dad’s gaze turns inward as he stares at point on the wall. “I can’t support her. We need fresh blood in the office. Montgomery hasn’t had the best interest of the supe community in years.”
A dark cloud descends upon us. I can’t speak for my brothers or my father, but my biggest concern right now is Red. I understand the need to discover if the Shadow Creek wolves are up to no good, as well as put a stop to Mayor Montgomery’s nefarious plans, but to me, Red’s imminent fight with Rochelle trumps all other problems.
“I’d like to train Red for her challenge,” I say after a minute of impenetrable silence.
My father cuts me a glance so glacial it’s almost impossible to maintain eye contact with him. All my wolf instincts are screaming for me to lower my gaze, but if I do, I can forget getting permission to help Red. So for her sake, I’ll openly challenge the alpha.
“That will disrupt the balance in the pack. Betas have no business showing preference to omegas.”
“I don’t think Red is a true omega. Her actions today and the fact she was able to challenge Tristan without fear proves that.” I catch Tristan shifting where he stands from the corner of my eye, but he doesn’t contradict me. Maybe his ego is sore that he couldn’t scare the shit out of a newly turned wolf.
Dad keeps scrutinizing me, but at least he dialed the alpha stare down a notch. I open my mouth to continue my argument, but Sam beats me to the punch.
“We failed Red. She was a regular human only three days ago. We never really let her accept her new reality before we introduced her to the pack. Did you throw Mom to the wolves as soon as she shifted, or did you prepare her?”
Dad’s eyebrows soften at the mere mention of his mate. “Your mother was a different case. She already knew about us before she chose this life.”
The realization hits Dad all at once. He loses the tightness around his mouth and his shoulders sag a little. He just made my case, and I’m sure it wasn’t his intention. He’s silent for a couple of beats, shifting his gaze from each one of us before contemplating the wall behind me. My guess is that he’s weighting the pros and cons in his head before giving his final decision.
“You may explain things to Red in the privacy of her room. No practical lessons out in the forest. I don’t want word to get out that you’re assisting her in any capacity.”
Fuck. How am I supposed to train Red to fight Rochelle if we’re constrained to her room?
“Can I train her in my studio? It’s bigger and secluded enough. No one ever goes up the mountain.”
“You’re pushing it, Dante. Be prepared to face the consequences if anyone finds out.”
“I’ll be careful. May I be excused? I’d like to start now. We don’t have much time.”
Dad nods once before asking to see the device we found on the rogue wolf. I make my leave as quickly as I can, catching the look of incredulity in both my brothers’ gazes as I do so. I’m glad I wasn’t present when Sam and Tristan paid a visit to the hardware store. My father would for sure request that I stay if I had.
I stride toward Red’s room with a sense of urgency. I’m not sure in what state of mind I’m going to find her. Before I knock on her door, I hesitate, focusing on my enhanced hearing. It’s not as powerful as it would be in wolf form, but it’s more acute than human senses.
Dead silence. Is she even in her room?
I knock on the door. “Red? Are you there?”
“Go away, Dante.”
“Please, can come in?”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone.”
I rub my face, feeling frustrated. It seems I’ve lost the little trust I gained with her. “I want to talk about your challenge.”
She doesn’t reply this time, but then soft footsteps pad on the carpeted floor before the door swings open. Red’s face is flushed, her eyes puffy and red. She’s been crying, and my guilt expands until it’s all I can feel in my chest.
“What about the challenge?” she asks.
I don’t want to talk about it here in the hallway. Even though this is the alpha’s private home, we never know who is around.
“Fancy going for a walk? I’d like to show you my studio.”
Narrowing her eyes, she crosses her arms in front of her chest. “I have zero interest in seeing your studio. Why don’t you just spill what you have to say already and go?”
There she goes again, defying another wolf without fear. Her attitude makes my blood pump faster, and the desire to touch her, mark her in a way only an imprinted wolf can, is almost o
verwhelming. I take a step closer, invading her space, then lean down until my lips are inches from hers. Red’s breathing hitches as her mouth parts with a gasp.
“I’m here to help you, Red. You have to believe me,” I whisper, then ease back. Being this close to her is giving me way too many ideas, the wrong kind, and I’m not here to start anything with her, no matter how badly my body wants to.
She’s still looking at me with distrust in her eyes, so I continue. “You’re unprepared for your fight with Rochelle. You say you don’t want to be an omega, but you have to earn the pack’s respect. Losing terribly to one of our best enforcers will not accomplish that.”
“You say it like losing is inevitable.”
“Would you prefer if I lied to you? You’ve only been a wolf for three days, and you haven’t managed a shift without the use of anger to push you through. The chances you’ll be victorious tomorrow are almost nonexistent.”
“Then why is your father forcing me to fight that woman?”
“Because you challenged her!” I raise my voice a little, and Red winces. Running my hand through my hair, I look away. “Listen, we could spend hours here debating how the pack’s rules are unfair, but we don’t have much time. Contrary to what you may think, I don’t wish to see you get hurt.” I pause, then look at Red once more. “Actually, it’s going to kill me watching you fight a wolf more skilled and stronger than you.”
I catch Red’s hard swallow right before she rests a fisted hand on the center of her chest. We engage in a silent staring contest that seems to last an eternity. I can’t read anything in her gaze that gives me any clue as to what’s going on in her head.
“Okay, let’s go then.” She walks out, closing the door behind her.
Chapter 17
Red
I follow Dante in silence, too busy with all the troubling thoughts running through my head to make idle conversation. He knows I’ve been crying—there was no way to hide the redness in my eyes—but better him see that than the other two brothers. My chest is heavy, but not only because I’m worried about my approaching doom. My heart feels bruised, as if the brothers’ lack of support back at the mess hall was a betrayal of epic proportions. If I think rationally about it, their behavior is consistent with the little I’ve learned about the pack’s interactions. Dante, Samuel, and Mr. Asshole are too high in the food chain to bother with troubles from little fish. But my heart has not gotten the memo about that.