by Renee Rose
Jared shrugs again, as if he doesn’t care either way. “And Sheridan? What you gonna do about her? Besides lie around and cry.”
“Fuck you, man. I remember what you were like with Angelina.”
“Yeah, and now I have a gorgeous mate and get laid every night. What’s the deal, bro? This is the second time you’ve gotten torn up over this she-wolf.” My friend cocks his head to the side, suddenly serious. “She’s the one, isn’t she?”
I blow out a breath. “Yeah. I... actually already marked her. But...”
“But what?”
I cast an impatient hand around the place. “What do I have to offer her? A shitstorm of no good, same as always.”
Jared cocks a brow. “Don’t you think you’re selling her a little short? Her parents may be snobby assholes, but Sheridan never was. You think she would’ve been slinging drinks here or prancing into vampire territory if she didn’t love slumming it with you?”
I grimace at his choice of words and shrug.
“Dude. You have to go and get her.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is that simple. You’re a fucking wolf. You gave her your mark. That means she’s yours. If she can’t put up with you, chain her to your bed and give her orgasms until she changes her mind.”
Jared’s crude advice forces a reluctant smile from me.
My dick is fully on board with the plan.
Fully.
On board.
Tying Sheridan up would give me a chance to explore all the naughty costumes she has in her closet. Maybe I’d let her go only when she promised to model them for me. “Of course, she might kill me when my back is turned.”
“That’s what the orgasms are for, dumbass.” Jared rolls his eyes. “Get her sweet, keep her sweet. Add a little playful punishment; before you know it, she’s begging for your dick.” My friend puts his arms behind his head with the smug smile of a man who’s getting it and getting it often. “Then, you train her to give head.”
Sheridan, tied and begging, opening her hot little mouth. Aww, fuck, now I’m hard as stone. “That’s not a bad idea, actually.”
“Told you I’m a genius.”
“Wait,” I sigh. “What about the pack?”
“What about it?”
“This is Sheridan. Everyone remembers what she did to us. Garrett hasn’t even forgiven her, and she’s his cousin.”
“Garrett mated a human. Remember how we took it at first? Didn’t exactly lay out the welcome mat.” He shrugs. “The way I see it, you want this female, you claim her. Lay it out and make sure she has your back like you got hers. Things will work out with the pack.”
“Think so?”
He shrugs again. “Anything is better than having you bum around like you’re PMSing.”
“Fuck you.” I flip him off, but I do it with a smile.
“No, thanks, bro. That’s Angelina’s job,” Jared smirks, and adds while I groan, “Pack meeting tonight at the club. Garrett wanted to make sure you knew. You haven’t been answering your phone.”
“It’s off.” I pull it out and wave it before powering it up. “Just needed some space.”
“Yeah, I get it.” Jared claps me on the back. “Welcome back to the land of the living.”
“Thanks.” I wave him out and square my shoulders. Now I just have to figure out how to fix this shit with Sheridan.
Once and for all.
Chapter Fourteen
Twelve Years Ago
Trey
I should’ve expected it sooner, honestly. When I ride home from Garrett’s and find Lance Green at my house, I realize I’ve been waiting for this moment since the first time I kissed his daughter.
He’s sitting on our shabby couch, an untouched glass of water on the coffee table in front of him. My mom surges up from the armchair, a wild, frightened look in her eyes.
Who could blame her? Mr. Green is CFO of Wolf Ridge Brewery and sits at the very head of the pack after Emmett Green, Garrett’s dad. My mom is the lowest of the pack—an omega. Which means keeping Lance happy is at the very top of her list, and I’ve fucked it up for her.
“Trey, honey,” my mom chirps, twisting her hard-worked fingers together. “Mr. Green stopped by to see you.”
I went still the moment I stepped in, but I force myself to incline my head in his direction now.
He walks toward me. “I’ll have a word with you.” He keeps going, right out the front door.
I follow him out, attempting a reassuring smile for my mom’s benefit.
He walks down the steps and stands beside my motorcycle, arms crossed. He’s glaring at it, like it’s the monster dating his daughter instead of me. Or like it’s the bike that killed his son.
“She got into Stanford.”
“Yes, sir, I know.”
His head snaps up, fury blazing in his eyes. “She doesn’t want to go.” He speaks through clenched teeth. “Because of you, no doubt.”
I work to swallow. “I made sure she sent in her acceptance.” I don’t know why I said it—he’s not going to find me to be the hero here by any stretch of the imagination.
He sneers like he doesn’t believe me. “End it. You end things with her right now so she can go to college and focus on what’s important—her education. I’m not going to let you screw up her whole goddamn life.”
Despite the fact that he ranks way above me, my fingers curl into fists. Not at the insults to me, but because my wolf can’t stand the threat to his claim. To the mating that hasn’t yet been completed.
I somehow keep my upper lip from curling and showing my teeth. “I can’t do that, Mr. Green.”
In a flash, he tackles me to the ground, his hand around my throat. I hear my mom gasp from the doorway, and it’s that sound that reminds me not to fight back. To surrender to his dominance.
“If you don’t want me to throw you and your mom out of this pack, boy, you’ll do what I tell you. Break. It. Off. You have one week.”
I glare, but lift my chin to show my throat, which he still has in a choke hold. It’s a sign of submission. One I have to offer.
He squeezes harder, cutting off my air. I refuse to struggle or show signs of stress—I just glare into his yellow eyes.
Fucker.
“I won’t let you ruin her,” he repeats, then abruptly releases me and gets up. He climbs in his car and drives away without another backward glance.
I walk inside and hold my mom, who’s trembling and crying. “It’s all right, Mom.” I speak against her hair. “You don’t need to worry about it. I already broke up with her.”
* * *
Present
Sheridan
The pack clubhouse—aka Garrett’s nightclub Eclipse—is wall-to-wall stuffed with leather-clad wolves. I sneak in the back, ignoring ugly looks and burrowing deep into Trey’s jacket. I’d hoped the Tucson wolves had mostly forgiven me for what I’d done to them twelve years ago. Guess I was wrong.
“Why is she here?” one grumbles to his friends. Another shakes his head, looking straight at me, not bothering to hide his disgust. “Sad to see a wolf act like a rat.”
Wolf Ridge basically shot itself in the foot kicking out Garrett, Trey and Jared, because nearly every young virile wolf in our generation and after followed them to Tucson. That’s part of the reason I’m so high up in the pack—a female. Fifteen years ago it would’ve been unheard of. It should be Garrett poised to take the helm of Wolf Ridge Brewing, and of the pack.
I raise my chin and push to the front so I can see. My cousin Garrett stands on the stage, fingers hooked into his belt loops. Tank, the pack second, stands a little behind him to the right, massive arms folded across his chest. Neither look happy.
“Quiet down,” Garrett says, and everyone settles. He doesn’t shout, but he doesn’t have to. His voice is infused with command. “We’re here to talk about the events at the shifter fight club and the proposed treaty between us and the leeches.”
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sp; “Burn ‘em down,” someone shouts, and a few more voices rumble approval.
“Shut up,” Tank growls, and silence falls again.
Garrett continues, “The fact is, we had an agreement, and a few days later, they broke it.”
“Not formally,” Jared comments. He’s right next to the platform, a boot propped on it. “We don’t know which leech was behind the dead body.”
“No, we don’t,” Garrett admits. “But we know it was a vampire. Whether or not Frangelico sanctioned the kill, it happened after the treaty, and on the premises of a shifter owned business. While we don’t claim that part of town formally as our territory, Trey and Jared are our brothers. We have their back.”
“Thanks, boss,” Jared mutters.
Garrett nods. “Like it or not, we gotta do something.” He glances at Tank, who steps forward and jerks his chin at the audience. “Floor’s open,” he announces. “Say your piece. Keep it civil or I’ll throw you out.”
Immediately, a rough looking wolf speaks up, “I say war. We take them out.” A few rumbles of approval and Jared shakes his head.
“War means deaths and collateral damage. Last thing we want are vampires going after innocents.”
“They already are,” a dissenter points out, and everyone agrees.
Jared raises his voice, stepping onto the platform. “A few years ago I might be into fighting until death and glory. But now I have a mate. If there’s a way to make this treaty work, I say we do it.”
“But the vampires broke the treaty,” the rough looking wolf says.
“Not Frangelico,” I call out, pushing forward. “I met with him and I don’t think he’s behind it.”
“Remind me how you’re part of this, traitor?” someone mutters.
I whirl, teeth bared, but Garrett barks, “Sheridan, up here. Now.”
Tucking my head a little, I obey. My cousin looks pissed.
“You met with Frangelico, right? What was his reaction?”
“He’s not happy about this body, either.” He seemed more unhappy about his orders being disobeyed than the actual death, but I leave that part out. “I think one of his lieutenants, might be acting without his permission. Just a gut feeling,” I hasten to explain. “Nero has, um, a thing for me. He’s been willing to stir up trouble.” A glance around the room tells me the wolves don’t believe me, and why should they? I’m an outsider who betrayed them once before. “Trey,” I blurt before I can stop myself. Garrett raises a brow and I wish I could rewind and erase. Trey doesn’t deserve to get dragged into this.
“What about Trey?” Garrett prods.
Darn. “Trey was with me. He can tell you more.”
Garrett raises his voice. “Where’s Trey?”
“Here,” a rough voice makes my heart leap. Trey’s tall form shoulders through the crowd. When he steps on the platform, the light hits his bruised face and a few shifters gasp.
“What happened?” Garrett growls.
“Had a little disagreement with a leech, so I fought him.” Trey’s expression is unrepentant.
“Got to be some real damage if it’s still showing,” Tank points out, and Trey shrugs.
“Let me get this straight,” Garrett frowns. “You fought a vampire?”
“Not a vampire. One of his seconds. Frangelico doesn’t let his leeches fight. But what Sheridan says sounds about right.” My heart quickens at Trey backing me up, only to realize he hasn’t once looked at me. “I think one or a few of Frangelico’s lieutenants are rogue.”
“If that’s the case, Frangelico should want to know who broke the treaty as much as we do,” Tank says.
“Wolves and the leech king on the same side?” Garrett sounds doubtful, but shrugs.
More wolves start shouting out their opinions, and jostling each other. Someone pushes against me, and I push back, fighting to stay on my feet.
“Enough,” Tank roars. Garrett holds up his hand for silence and gets it immediately.
“All right, discussion over. This isn’t a democracy. We’re a pack. I’m the leader, and if I see fit to deal with vampires, that’s what we’ll do. We stand our ground without a full out war. Keep looking for the killers, and hope Frangelico will do the same.”
Even though they were about to riot a moment ago, the wolves around me nod agreement. I let myself relax.
That’s when my dad and Alpha Green walk in.
My heart plummets.
They chose a back exit, so they come up behind the platform. Tank turns first, stepping off the platform to make way for Garrett’s dad, the Wolf Ridge alpha. My alpha. Father and son face off, faces blank. They look so alike, only a few touches of gray signaling the elder.
Garrett speaks first. “Dad.”
“Son,” Alpha Green’s voice is just a touch deeper than his eldest’s. His stance is more wary, but he is the odd one out here. Most of the wolves present belong to Garrett. The split between the packs was mostly peaceful, but that could change.
Fates, I hope not. A war between packs would be worse than one with vampires.
“We’re here because you’re having a little trouble with the humans.”
“It’s a vampire problem, actually.” Garrett steps closer to his dad and plants his feet. “But we’re getting it under control.”
Alpha Green raises a brow, just like his son does when he’s skeptical. “I just spent the past twenty four hours meeting with contacts at the FBI and state police, calling in favors. They’re labeling the body a drug overdose—elements of a toxic substance were found in the victim’s blood stream. They also agreed to keep any curious details from the human media. For now.”
The room seems to heave a relieved sigh. Garrett nods. “I appreciate your help. The whole shifter community does.”
“I did what I had to do to protect our species,” Alpha Green answers. “The question is, are you?”
Garrett bristles, but appears to gather patience. “We’re dealing with the vampires. We have reason to believe this death was caused by a rogue leech. If we catch him, we can turn him over to Frangelico, end the deaths and keep the peace.”
Alpha Green nods slowly.
“What about the fight club?” My dad clicks his teeth as if tasting the scent of prey. “It has been causing trouble for us since it opened. It is obviously a point of weakness for us wolves. First the authorities investigate the fights and the drug dealing, and now this body. Seems to me, we won’t have much time to back you against the vampires if we’re too busy hiding evidence from the humans. Cleaning up your mess.”
“Well, son?” Alpha Green says to Garrett. “What do you intend to do about the fight club?”
“I can answer that,” Trey calls out. All eyes turn to him, and he steps up on the platform, facing my dad, who visibly grimaces at the cuts and bruises all over Trey’s face. “It was mostly my idea.”
“Mine too,” Jared puts in quickly, but Trey shakes his head.
“It was my idea to give the vampires free reign in the club. And I hired Grizz, too. He fought for us, and I thought he was solid. Now I realize we’re caught up in something big here. Possibly a vampire coup. I don’t want anything I’ve built to jeopardize my pack. I’m willing to pull the plug on it, if that’s what my alpha thinks is best.” He makes it obvious, he’s looking at Garrett, not Alpha Green.
As Trey speaks, a smug look spreads over my father’s face. My own hands clench into fists.
“Shut it down?” Garrett asks. “Is that what you want?”
Trey shrugs. Jared shakes his head, but mumbles something like, “Whatever you think is best.”
Now my father is outright gloating. “It sounds like the best thing for the pack is shutting the fight club down. For good.” A murmur goes around the room, rumblings of discontent. The fight club is popular. It’s brought a lot of new wolves to town, new pack members. If Trey would just speak up, he’d find how many backers he has in the room. Instead, he folds his arms and stares out the window.
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p; I want to run to Trey, and force him to look at me instead of my father. Why won’t you defend yourself? I want to scream.
“Sounds like you have a clear course of action,” Alpha Green says to his son. Garrett’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say anything. From what I know of my cousin, he’s still thinking, and when he makes his decision, it could spell the end of Trey’s dream. And for what? Because my dad used his political clout against my ex-boyfriend, and twisted everything to make it sound like Trey’s fault.
It’s not fair. But am I brave enough to stand against my pack, and, more importantly, my dad?
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Not now, Lao Tzu.
I move closer to the platform. My dad catches my eye and I stop.
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. — Anais Nin.
Great. I’m so scared my life is flashing before my eyes, and it consists entirely of cheesy wisdom quotes.
Trey steps down, and starts to walk away. It’s now or never. I step onto the stage just as he’s about to walk through the exit.
“Wait a minute,” I hear myself say.
* * *
Trey
I can’t believe it. Sheridan steps up onto the platform, bold as you please. It’s getting a little crowded, but she puts her hands on her hips in a proud Wonder Woman pose. “This isn’t right, and you know it.”
Her father bristles but Alpha Green raises his hand. “Say your piece.”
“Frangelico decided to move here and claim territory. He’s old, he’s powerful, no one can stop him without lots of bloodshed. So far, we’ve had a peaceful treaty. Fight Club had nothing to do with the death, in fact, they were a target. We shouldn’t be shutting it down. We should be defending it. Because we need a place like it. A place that’s neutral where both vampire and shifter can interact. Someone saw the possibility of that, and decided to target it. And if you shut it down, you’re playing right into their hands.”