Rouen Chronicles Box Set

by Raven Steele

  When he didn’t say anything else, I walked to him and, grabbing his hand, I gave him my most contrite look. “I’m ready when you are.” My lips turned up in a smile.

  He grinned and put his arm around my neck, swinging me around towards the front door. “After you, babe.”

  The long lane leading to Fire Ridge was packed with vehicles. I’d never seen it so crowded before. Luke didn’t bother finding a proper space to park in. He just drove the motorcycle to the front door and parked right outside of it. I loved that he didn’t care.

  Inside was completely full of bodies. So much so, that people spilled onto the back lawn. These weren’t just shifters, but friends and friends of friends. Everyone had heard what happened to Dominic and they all wanted to show they cared. In actuality, they wanted to gain favor with one of the most powerful men in the city.

  As soon as I walked inside, Lilith threw her arms around me in a tight hug. Her eyes were red and swollen. “Thank you so much! You saved my lover’s life!”

  I repressed a shiver and wished I could tell her to have higher aspirations. Samantha was next with Jerry and Gerald not far behind. Samantha draped her arm over my shoulders. “Have I ever told you that you’re my best friend?”

  “No.”

  She began to walk, taking me with her. “Well, you are, bestie.” She squeezed me tight. Within a few minutes, we were surrounded by people I mostly didn’t know.

  One of them jokingly asked me if I was going to be the Greybacks’ new Alpha; I had killed theirs, after all, and had every right to the claim. I genuinely laughed at that. I didn’t want to be anyone’s Alpha, let alone for the pack who killed Ryder. They continued to ask all sorts of questions, but I let Samantha do the talking. She seemed to like to hear herself speak, plus she made Dominic’s rescue sound so much cooler.

  "Briar!" a deep voice boomed from across the room.

  All heads turned in that direction. Standing a head taller than most in the room was Dominic, staring at me as if I’d just killed his mother, except the mother he hated. It was an odd mix of pride and horror. I guessed he didn’t know what to think about me yet.

  "Come here."

  The crowded room parted, and everyone practically bowed as I walked through them. I don't think they would've done so had they known my true intentions for Dominic. I admit though, I held my chin up a bit regardless. I stopped when I reached him to meet his weighted gaze.

  The shadows on Dominic’s face were more pronounced than usual, darker with sharp edges. He had healed considerably, but he still had a bunch of bruises visible anywhere his skin showed. He also leaned heavily onto a cane. Lilith came to his side.

  "Just before you killed Jackson," he began, "you were stabbed with a silver dagger. Tell me how.”

  Chapter 29

  I stared at Dominic, resisting the urge to swallow. Maintain eye contact.

  “Fate smiled upon me and it turns out that dagger was not made of real silver." I hated that everyone in the room was silent. There were even people crowding in the doorway from outside to listen in on our conversation.

  He cleared his throat. "For what you did for me, I will be forever grateful. I want to publicly apologize to you for ever doubting your loyalty toward the pack and your Alpha. I can see now that you have always been a faithful follower."

  I looked beyond him at the others in the room, feeling a bit guilty. I was anything but a faithful follower. My eyes locked with Luke's, and he gave me a nod. I shifted my gaze back to Dominic. "I only want to serve and use my talents to the best of my abilities."

  "Ah, your talents. I have never seen a shifter fight like you. You have raw power in you that will serve the pack well.” He cleared his throat. “I want to officially invite you to be on my private security team."

  My heart skipped a beat. This was it. It was finally happening.

  "This is the highest position you can obtain within a pack, other than being an Alpha yourself." He laughed at his joke, like the thought of me being Alpha was hilarious, and a bunch of shifters joined in with him. I wanted to roll my eyes, but instead, I forced a chuckle, my thoughts darkening. I would have the last laugh eventually.

  "What do you say?" he asked, leaning towards me eagerly. "Will you join me as one of my most trusted guardians?"

  I bowed my head slightly, thinking that would be an appropriate response. "I would be honored."

  The room filled with cheers and people began to shout my name. No one had ever yelled my name joyously before.

  I take that back.

  I recalled some gentlemen who had shouted my name a few times in a heated moment of passion. I’d liked it then, and I liked it now.

  Dominic held his hands up, palms down, and the cheers subsided. “Also, I’d like to announce that we’ll be absorbing the Greybacks into our pack.”

  The crowd’s reaction was mixed. Some of them cheered at the news. Others grumbled that there was too much bad blood between the packs. Dominic waited a few minutes before continuing. “Of course, I haven’t informed them of this yet.”

  A round of laughter filled the room, but Dominic grew serious again.

  “They need to pay for what they did to me, and I can’t think of a more fitting punishment then serving me the rest of their miserable lives. If any of them resist, they will be killed on sight.” The room was silent, as each member thought about this. “But tonight we will celebrate my return. Enjoy the evening, because after this, we have work to do.”

  The crowd cheered again, and the sound made the windows vibrate. I looked for Luke, hoping to celebrate with him, but he was nowhere to be found. I didn’t let it bother me as I joined the rest of the pack, partying like I hadn't done in months. Others seemed to be doing the same thing. I think they all felt this moment had finally brought everyone together after so much turmoil. Seeing Dominic safe, plus his public apology, went a long way in healing pack wounds. Someone broke out all the bottles of wine and special alcohol in the basement and asked me to put on one of my shows like I did at the bar. Feeling as good as I did, I eagerly accepted and put on a performance that would've been worthy of the hottest clubs in New York City. They went crazy for it, and I fed off their energy. Everyone drank; some shifters even danced.

  I breathed in the Scorpion's Breath and gave in to the night.

  Dawn had melted into the room through the windows and warmed my face. I groaned and turned away from the buttery light, but my face rolled into something cold and wet. My eyes flew open just as my nostrils filled with the sour stench of stomach bile and beer.

  Vomit.

  I scurried away and slapped at my face, trying to get it off my cheek, until I backed into the wall near the screen doors in the living room. I must’ve passed out here after last night’s party. A quick survey of the room told me several others had, too. Beer bottles lay scattered across the room along with empty bags of food. I even spotted a couple of bongs.

  I’d never seen the place such a mess. Dominic was going to lose his shit.

  I groaned and rubbed at the back of my neck. What happened last night? I remembered partying. Hard. I remembered Luke leaving. I remembered the Scorpion’s Breath singing its way through my body. I still felt its wistful sigh caressing my insides.

  “What a night, eh?” a voice said from the other side of the room. Samantha had pulled herself up and was draped over the back of the couch, her hair ratted and twisted in knots, a lone Cheeto stuck within its grasp. She took one look at the mess around us and moaned. “Dominic will eat our ass out if we don’t clean this up.”

  I cringed at the image, then I noticed her ankle. She had a new tattoo.

  I laughed at it, pointing. “Is that a cat being abducted by aliens?”

  “What?” She looked at her ankle in horror, and I couldn’t stop laughing. She threw me a dirty look, then growled and jumped towards me. I easily sidestepped her and went to the bathroom to pee and wash my face. When I got out, everyone was slowly cleaning the room. I jumped in
to help. A few hours of cleaning later and the place was back to normal, minus a few lamps and a couple of pictures that had been hanging on the wall. Those had to be trashed.

  When we were finished, I walked out the door to go home. I seriously needed a hot shower and clean clothes. The noonday sun was partially hidden behind clustered clouds. On the eastern sky, more dark clouds were moving in fast, bringing in a chill that seeped into my bones. Shit. I needed another hit.

  I was almost to the motorcycle I was going to borrow, when a commanding voice said, “Briar.”

  My flesh chilled at the sound, and I turned around to face Dominic. The bruises on his face had healed, but he still limped. He was wearing a tailored suit that looked too small for him. If he sneezed and rippled that massive chest, the tanned jacket would probably rip in two.

  “Yes?”

  “In three days’ time, it will be a full moon.”

  “Okay?”

  “That is when we will visit the Greybacks and make them a part of our pack. I want you with me when that happens.”

  My chest tightened, and I sucked in a breath to relieve the tension. “No disrespect to your leadership or anything, but haven’t there been enough deaths?”

  He watched me for a few painful seconds with those cold, calculating dark eyes. “They tried to kill me.”

  “The bastards!” I hoped he didn’t hear the sarcasm in my voice. “But I wasn’t really thinking about their lives. I meant our own pack. If we go in there balls out, there’s bound to be a few lives lost on both sides.”

  His face pinched, and he touched his chest, right over his heart. “Do you think me a monster?”

  Part of me wanted to scream a resounding, “Yes!” but I needed him to trust me. I’d never been this close before. “Of course not.”

  “You’ll see,” he interrupted. “I have a surprise for them, a mercy really.”

  “I’m not sure that’s how they’ll see it.”

  “Just stay close and don’t mention this to anyone yet. I don’t want it to upset our pack with how soon these changes are occurring.” He turned away, dismissing me and my doubts.

  I hopped onto the nearest bike, not caring who it belonged to just to get out of there quick. I ground my teeth, resisting an itch on my arm. I needed to get home where I still had Scorpion’s Breath. I hoped I had enough to last me past the full moon.

  Chapter 30

  The next few days passed quickly, thanks to the sweet breath of the Scorpion. I passed the time mostly at home watching mindless television or hanging out in my room. Samira didn’t show up. Not once. Maybe she was moving out.

  Lynx wasn’t at home much either. She claimed her mother needed her, but I think she was making that up just to stay away from me. Deep down, well below the haze of the drug, I felt hurt, lonely, and angry, but then I reminded myself why it had to be that way.

  Today we were supposed to make the Greybacks part of our pack. I had been dreading it since the moment I woke up. The dread dug deeper into my gut when my phone buzzed while I was watching a movie on the television. I read the text message from Dominic:

  All pack members must return to Fire Ridge immediately.

  Before I left, I sucked down another vial of Scorpion’s Breath, knowing I’d need its strength to get through the night.

  I was one of the first to arrive, but I didn’t stick around in the living room where I might run into Dominic. Instead, I lounged on a chair in the back yard, staring up at the sky as darkness slowly swallowed up the day. I laughed several times, imagining night as a literal monster with fangs and teeth or a ghost-like body slithering across through the air, intent on destroying any light.

  “You look stoned.”

  I sat up straight and blinked. Luke stood over me, his face all hard lines and shadows.

  “Well, I'm not.” I came to my feet and brushed myself off. I had a vague memory of daylight crumbs sprinkling from the heavens and onto my pants. I stopped the motion as soon as I realized how ridiculous that was. I laughed again. Fuck, I was so high.

  When I noticed Luke still staring at me, I cleared my throat. “Everyone here?”

  “We’re leaving in twenty minutes.”

  “Good. I'm bored.” I moved to pass by him, but he stopped me. His hand on my arm warmed my flesh, my blood … And sent heat straight to between my thighs. My face flushed at the thought of screwing him while high.

  His eyes burned into mine, as if he could sense my thoughts. After a moment, he lowered his hand, tracing it down my arm slowly, causing goosebumps to prickle my skin. When he spoke again, his voice was more serious. “You need to be careful tonight. The Greybacks aren’t going to come willingly.”

  “Dominic said he has a surprise for them, something that’s supposed to keep our pack safe.”

  “And you believe him?”

  I shrugged, no longer caring. Whatever happened, happened. It wasn’t going to affect what I had going on, so why should I care?

  “Briar.”

  My eyes locked with his.

  “You’re scaring me.”

  I searched his eyes, seeing his pain, his sorrow. It should’ve touched my heart, but Scorpion’s Breath had hardened it. Protected it.

  Collapsing the space between us, I snaked my hands up his chest and whispered, “You should be scared.”

  I saw him shiver before I brushed past him, grinning. I walked back into the living room, yelling, “Who’s ready to kick some Greyback asses?”

  It wasn’t long before everyone was loaded up. I continued to jaw to the pack about retribution until every single one of them, except for Luke, was begging for Greyback blood.

  Dominic winked at me from his bike. “Thanks for getting everyone pumped up.”

  “My pleasure.” I fired up my own motorcycle, enjoying the vibrations between my legs. I glanced back at Luke, who was also on his bike, and saluted him before racing after Dominic.

  Punching through the darkness, I laughed as once again my mind wandered to the night monster. Except in this daydream, I was the one ripping the night to shreds, making great ribbons of darkness curl and swirl at my feet. If I could destroy the night, what couldn’t I destroy?

  When we reached their ranch in the Dreilinger swamps, Dominic drove onto the Greybacks’ front lawn and parked. I did the same, but I didn’t just park. I held onto the brake while I also accelerated, making the back tire chew up the lawn until it left an angry mark.

  I chuckled as I swung my leg over the motorcycle and checked out my handiwork; it looked good. I’d expected the Greybacks to come running out of their homes at our arrival, but they were already outside, gathered in a field in back. Dozens of torches had been lit, flames illuminating their dark silhouettes. By their numbers, it looked like the whole pack was here, which meant this was probably some kind of ceremony. None of them moved. They just stared in our direction.

  As soon as we all arrived, Dominic ordered us to follow behind him. I stayed close to him, anxious to get in on any action that was bound to happen.

  Dominic stepped into the great circle lined with fire and looked around. No one spoke, but by their fearful expressions, they were terrified. No one expected to see him back here so soon.

  “Looks like I arrived just in time,” Dominic said. “Who are the challengers?”

  Challengers? I glanced back at Luke, who stood a few people behind me. He mouthed the word, “Alpha.”

  My eyebrows lifted. The Greybacks were choosing an Alpha tonight. I didn’t know why I hadn’t even thought of it.

  “I said,” Dominic thundered, “who are your challengers?”

  A shifter just as tall as Dominic stepped forward. His long, dark hair was tied behind his head, and he sported a full beard. “I am. Christopher, son of Anderson, the previous Alpha before Jackson. Jackson killed my father to become Alpha.”

  Christopher’s eyes found mine in the darkness and glowed a fiery red. He was still angry about his father’s death. He would fight passionate
ly.

  “And me,” another man said, joining him in the circle. He wasn’t as tall, but he was built like a tree trunk. “Raphael, son of Byron Sanders.”

  Dominic paused a beat before asking, “Any others?”

  When no one answered, he continued, “It should be no surprise that we have showed up tonight. What was done to me by this pack is unforgivable. Can we at least agree on that?”

  All eyes glanced around nervously, and some even stepped back into the shadows. Without having established an Alpha yet, none of the Greybacks knew who should speak for them.

  Eventually, it was Christopher who stepped forward. “Jackson’s actions were his own. Most of us didn’t know he was going to kidnap you. If we had, we would have stopped it.”

  “Is that so?” Dominic walked toward him. Raphael moved back a step, but Christopher held his position, unnerved by Dominic. I liked that about him.

  Dominic stopped just in front of him. “You know, I actually believe you, but that doesn’t take away the fact that someone needs to be punished.”

  “Then punish me, sir.”

  Dominic chuckled. “That’s brave of you, but what your Alpha did to me will require more than a few lashings.”

  Christopher’s throat bobbed.

  “But I think both our packs have suffered enough bloodshed. Would you agree?”

  “Yes, sir.” Christopher’s voice was hard.

  “Good. I think you’ll all like my proposition then.”

  “And that is?”

  Dominic looked from Christopher to Raphael. “Both of you were competing to be pack Alpha. What I propose is you both fight me. At the same time. If one of you wins, then I and my pack will leave here and our current arrangement will stay in place.”

  “And if you win?” Christopher’s voice had lightened; he almost sounded excited.

  “If I win, the Silver Claws will absorb the Greybacks into our pack. The Greybacks will be no more.”