Alessio's Fall

by Fel Fern

  Oh fuck. What would Alessio say to Sergio, that he slept with the enemy and ended up nearly killed, along with their baby sister? Christ, Sergio would skin him.

  “You didn’t know. No one expected them to resort to covert actions. The Order always liked doing things loud,” Jane said, leveling her gaze evenly with Alessio.

  With a start, Alessio realized she knew. Jared must have told her he went home with Kelias last night. Damn it, but Alessio sensed unexpected steel in Jane’s gaze now, something he’d never realize she’d possessed. Sure, he knew being pack enforcer wasn’t an empty title, but he hadn’t known until then the pups they raised had grown up. He understood the secret message she implied. They didn’t tell Sergio about Kelias, and if Alessio wished, Sergio would never know about his folly.

  “Thank you,” he said, temper fizzling. After Ward left, muttering about retuning later to check on him, Alessio was left with Jane. Jared and Isaac remained outside, discussing security matters.

  “With you like this, Alessio, we’re taking turns watching your back,” Jane began, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  Grunting, Alessio had to agree with her. In this state, he couldn’t protect himself from another attack from a trained hunter. “When is Sergio returning?”

  “He says he’ll arrive in three days,” Jane supplied, tentatively reaching for his hand. Alessio had always seen Jane as family, as a younger sister, but he couldn’t tell her about Kelias. She and Jared looked up to him far too much. Only Michella would understand. Jane continued, “We’ll get the bastard, Alessio. I promise you this.”

  Alessio cracked a smile. “Do me a favor. Watch your brother. We need to be on tight security now. We can’t afford to go on the offense until we find out more.”

  “Understood. You should rest a little.” Jane settled herself in the armchair beside the bed.

  “You’re staying here?” Alessio asked warily.

  “Sorry, Beta. Doctor’s orders,” Jane replied cheekily.

  Sighing, Alessio slumped against his pillow, admitting defeat for now. Did he tell Jane about going on the defensive because he refused to put out a hunt for Kelias? Letting the half-demon go and hoping he never returned to Darkfall seemed ideal, but Alessio knew better. What of the heat between them? That couldn’t be faked, and neither could his wolf’s reaction to Kelias. Their fates were bound, whether Alessio liked it or not. Despite his misgivings, he replayed Kelias’s betrayal in his head.

  Botched kills. Since Alessio and Michella lived, Kelias’s mission was a failure. Remembering the callous way the Order massacred their own men for failure made Alessio wonder what would happen to Kelias. Fuck. He shouldn’t give a damn. Would the Order send out another team to try again? If they did, it wouldn’t be soon, knowing the Darkfall wolves will be on guard.

  Christ, it hurt his head to think. Alessio still didn’t know how to explain his fuck-up to Sergio either. He closed his eyes and dreamt of Kelias, plunging his blade repeatedly into his chest, and his haunted eyes stayed with Alessio until morning.

  * * * *

  Deciding to hear the story first-hand, Sergio came immediately to the pack house, demanding explanations. Three days had passed since the attack, plenty of time for Alessio’s body to heal. Ward insisted he remain in bed. To make security easier, they stuck Michella and him in the same room.

  Seeing Michella bearing worse wounds took Alessio back to the past. Right after their parents’ death Sergio took matters into his own hands, but then, on his way home from work, a werewolf bit him. Alessio and Michella immediately agreed on Sergio turning both of them, so they could weather anything together.

  Being werewolves and experiencing everything together, like the sting of the first shift and learning to control their beasts, banded them closer than before. When they came to Darkfall, the little town had been a mess, fought over by two different animal groups. It had been awhile since anyone threatened the pack, and it was all because of Alessio’s carelessness.

  Sergio strode in early morning, his mate Ron hovering behind him, seething. He shoved the door open. Alessio felt his anger rippling off him in waves, his wolf filled with rage.

  Sergio’s gaze landed on Michella’s sleeping form first, softening, and then hardened again when it came to Alessio. “What happened? I want to hear it from your own lips, brother.”

  Ron drew back out quietly, shutting the door behind him, understanding their need for some private time.

  “I’m sure the other enforcers gave you their report.” Alessio crossed his arms. His still-healing shoulder protested at the simple gesture. Fuck, being kept in bed didn’t suit his mood. Alessio needed to be back on his feet, taking command.

  “Sergio,” Michella murmured softly, woken by their arguing voices. “Let him tell his side of the story.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m doing, baby sister,” Sergio said defensively.

  “No you’re not. Don’t judge,” Michella pointed out.

  Growling, Sergio waited. Alessio sighed, and began to talk. He gave Jared and Jane credit. They didn’t tell Sergio anything, but Alessio had always been honest with his siblings. They were blood, his only family, and they needed to hear his side of the tale.

  “I met Kelias at a bar,” Alessio began, remembering the sexy way Kelias hit on him.

  Once he started, he couldn’t stop, but he kept the dirty details, the intimate moments to himself. Michella drew a sharp breath when Alessio told her about Kelias twisting the blade in, but not finishing the task. Her story differed vastly from Alessio’s. The hunter tasked with killing her, the man Kelias called brother, didn’t possess Kelias’s indecision or uncertainty. The bastard’s blade found her heart, and if Dino and Raul weren’t nearby, she wouldn’t be alive.

  “Alessio, I wouldn’t have expected carelessness from you,” Sergio finally said.

  Disappointment coated his words, and his expression said the same. Alessio was no longer a kid, eager to earn his older brother’s approval, but Sergio’s words stung. Taking stock of their injuries, Sergio hardened his gaze. Coming to Kelias’s defense seemed inappropriate. As pack Alpha, Sergio carried a weight on his shoulders. If Alessio were in his shoes, he’d be furious, too. Their enemies struck where it mattered, right at the leaders, the core holding the pack together.

  Shaking his head, Sergio looked like he came to a decision. “Ales, you were right to put the pack in a defensive stance, but I’m here now. We’re not going to let these fuckers get away.”

  “Sergio, listen—” Alessio interrupted, but he raised a hand.

  “We’ve warned the Order once. They had their chance to keep the peace. Instead, they took advantage of our kindness. How will it appear to the other animal groups if we accept defeat with our tails tucked between our legs?” A dark look appeared in Sergio’s eyes, a look Alessio knew very well. Hell, Michella and he could practically smell Sergio’s bloodlust, his wolf bursting to the surface.

  “Rest up, you two. When you’re well, we’re going to plan and retaliate.” Slamming the door shut, Sergio left the room, his message clear—his decision wasn’t open to debate. It was final.

  “This is bad,” Michella muttered, closing her eyes, once they were certain Sergio was no longer within hearing range.

  “You think?” Alessio asked dryly.

  She opened her eyes, regarding him. Like always, Alessio didn’t like her silent assessment. Michella might be his baby sister, but her ability to sense the emotions of others made her seem older. Quietly, she said, “You care about him, the hunter responsible for the hole in your chest.”

  There was no judgment in her voice, just a need to understand.

  “I’m fucking pissed,” Alessio answered. “But I can’t hate Kelias, not completely. People make mistakes, Michella. Everyone deserves redemption.”

  “Not the hunters in the Order. They’ve been brainwashed and reconditioned since they were kids, Ales,” she said gently. “Everyone knows this.”

  “K
elias is different,” he replied defensively. “My wolf has never led me wrong, even though my human half will wonder. I agree with Sergio that the Order crossed the line, but Kelias was only following orders. He deserves a chance to explain himself.”

  Michella blinked in surprise, as the realization dawned on her. “This hunter is your mate.”

  Alessio nodded, surprised to hear the sound of her footsteps. “Michella, you shouldn’t be walking around with those injuries,” he protested.

  She sat at the edge of his bed, wincing slightly, and then held his hand in hers. “I’m with you on this, Ales. I’ll help convince Sergio.”

  Blinking in surprise, Alessio swallowed. “You’re not against my decision?”

  “Sergio forgets you’ve been by his side, when he defended and chose Ron as his mate,” she answered softly. “That nearly cost us a war with a rival pack, but I’ve never seen him any happier. You deserve as much, Ales. I take your word that Kelias is your fated half, even if Sergio needs convincing.”

  Michella’s eyes turned dark then, a little mischievous. “I can’t easily forgive the fact he drove a knife into your heart. Are you certain he won’t do it again?”

  Alessio let out a bitter laugh. “No. He might try again, but he’ll lose his resolve with each failed attempt. I’ll be there though, to remind him each time that he can’t get rid of me easily, and that our fates are intertwined.”

  “You’re insane,” Michella said, eyes wide. “But I understand, I think. We shifters abandon reason the moment we sight our mates. I hope it’s worth risking Sergio’s anger.”

  “I’ve never been sure of anything else in my life.” Patting her hands, Alessio gave her a genuine smile. “I’m thankful for your support, baby sister. Hell, I pity the poor bastard who’s going to be your mate someday.”

  She quirked a smile, and asked, “Why is that?”

  “Because the poor fucker’s going to need to get past Sergio and me,” Alessio said, showing teeth, making her laugh. It was good to hear her laugh, to unwind a little, after their near brush with death. After Michella went back to bed and to sleep, Alessio rubbed at his temples. He didn’t entirely disagree with Sergio. The Order of the Knife overstepped their bounds, and the pack had the right to defend their reputation and honor. Kelias, Alessio liked to think, was a separate problem.

  What did he know of members of the Order? Could he really undo years of conditioning and hate? Kelias’s hesitation told Alessio the half-demon wasn’t beyond saving, and besides, the challenge excited Alessio. Oh, they still had a score to settle. Silver didn’t heal easily and the wounds Kelias and his friend left on Alessio and his sister would always serve as a reminder, but Alessio looked forward to their reunion.

  Kelias would certainly return, drawn by the undeniable magnetism between them, and he had to account for the botched job. Again, he saw Kelias in his mind’s eye, on his knees, nervously rubbing his hands on his thighs, silently begging Alessio for forgiveness. He could also see them, in full Technicolor—Kelias’s cock straining for release, even while he pleaded, and Alessio’s own, eager to sink itself into Kelias’s ass. Their fucking would be rough, with no finesse, but after, Alessio would pull Kelias close to him in bed, stroking the marks he made, telling Kelias all was forgiven.

  Alessio would make sure the half-demon would pay the debt in full.

  Chapter Seven

  “Damn, it’s good to be home,” Hardy Warner exclaimed. Riding shotgun, Kelias’s stomach twisted into knots when he sighted the looming fortress of the Order’s headquarters ahead of them.

  “We’ve lost a man, but in the end we’ve done good work,” Jill said, seated at the back.

  “With the enormous wad of cash we’re getting, what are you guys buying?” Harry Warner asked. From the side-view mirror, Kelias saw Jill nudge Harry in the ribs as she sharply nodded to Kelias. Joseph, ever quiet, didn’t comment.

  The car entered the courtyard. “I’ll park. You guys want to make the report?” Hardy asked.

  “I’ll do it if you all don’t mind. Hunter Rayne used to mentor Seb and me,” Kelias said.

  No one argued with him on that score. With a heavy heart, he got out of the car. He made a quick shortcut to his room to change and gather his wits before reporting to Rayne. Kelias had made up his mind during the drive back home. Lying to the man he considered his father figure would dishonor Seb’s memory. Besides, better to die a traitor than live in shame. To his surprise, he glimpsed Joseph walking out of Rayne’s office. The hunter didn’t look at Kelias as he walked past him.

  “Joseph, wait,” Kelias interrupted.

  The other hunter turned, giving him a grunt of disgust. “You lie prettily, for a half-demon. You may have fooled the others, but not me. I’ve only told what I’ve observed and heard.”

  “You’re just doing your job,” Kelias answered, surprised by how calm he sounded. So did Joseph, who took his hand from the knife hilt tucked into his belt. “I will answer for all my sins, Joseph.”

  Joseph considered him gravely. “Whether it is really an accident or not, Kelias, I will hold you to your word.”

  After he left, Kelias took a deep breath, knocked on the door, then entered. Rayne stood with his back to the window, and the sight of his mentor summoned old feelings and memories in Kelias. Seb and he, at twelve, stood right where he did now, brash boys eager to prove themselves. Kelias had betrayed all that he’d known to save Alessio.

  “Kelias,” Rayne said, knowing it was he despite keeping his back turned. “Joseph has told me interesting lies about you, although knowing the boy, he’s never told a lie in his life.”

  Swallowing, Kelias mutely pulled out his hunting knives from his own belt, silver-edged blades any fledgling hunter of the Order had to earn. Rayne turned at the gesture, his hearing well-honed. Rayne relaxed, seeing Kelias merely withdrawing his weapons, including his revolvers. It hurt, placing each piece on Rayne’s desk, a silent offering.

  “What are you doing?” Rayne asked.

  “I am unfit to be called a hunter of the Order,” Kelias said, dropping his gaze. “By now, Master, I’m sure you know of our failure, and I am deeply sorry. I surrender myself into the Order’s care and accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”

  “Ah, Kelias,” Rayne murmured. Kelias blinked, raising his eyes. It was the first, and probably the last time he heard genuine affection in his old mentor’s voice. Rayne trained wary eyes at him. “I expected a cornered coward to run, to deny and lie through his teeth, but you did none of those things.”

  “Would it help?” Kelias asked. “No, I cared too deeply for Seb.”

  Rayne approached him, eying his weapons. “Why, Kelias? You do not have to take this reckless path. Let our in-house mystics and healers look at you. This isn’t like you. I have a feeling those furry bastards did some kind of magical number, some sinister spell—”

  “No, Master,” Kelias instantly said. The fact Rayne would defend him, would find some excuse to justify his actions made this harder. He cleared his throat. “You are right. It isn’t like me to betray our cost, but I didn’t account for one thing.”

  “What it is?”

  He anticipated Rayne’s disappointment, but Kelias wanted the truth out in the open. “I fell in love.”

  Rayne cursed under his breath. “You weak romantic fool, monsters do not know the meaning of love or devotion to duty.”

  Well, a much better reaction that Kelias anticipated, but he wouldn’t bother making the situation worse by refuting Rayne’s beliefs. Rayne was old-schooled, born and bred in the Order. His parents were also hunters, and he was devoted, almost fanatical to the Order. He kept his silence and waited for Rayne’s decision. Nonetheless, his sharp tongue got the better of him. “That’s not true, Master. They are just like us. Alessio is a decent man, he—”

  “Enough, I already lost one student, I will not lose two,” Rayne cut him off, silencing him. Kelias blinked when Rayne took his sheathed knives and shoved th
em back to his chest. “We’re going to fix this, Kelias. The council needn’t know, and I’ve sworn Joseph into silence.”

  “What?” Kelias asked, confused. Rayne walked to the cabinet on the side of his desk, where he stored his favorite weapons, Kelias knew. His pulse raced when Rayne picked up his favorite, a mini-Uzi loaded with silver clips. Seb and Kelias had only seen Rayne it once, during an attack on a vampire nest. Nothing survived those rounds.

  “Master?” Kelias whispered, watching Rayne walk to the door. He knew what was coming, but he had to ask.

  “We’re going to right your wrongs, boy. You and I are going on a wolf hunt.”

  Without another word, Rayne strode out, with Kelias following at his heels. His brain refused to function. Debating with Rayne seemed futile. Dissuading Rayne and staying in the headquarters would leave him trapped, condemned to death most likely for his actions. Heading back to Darkfall, though, meant seeing Alessio again. The Beta would throttle Kelias. Hell, he would even rip his throat out, but a huge part of Kelias longed to feel Alessio’s touch again.

  Either way, Kelias’s options were limited. He came back home, ready to die, but perhaps, he could choose the manner of his death. Kelias lost his way after Seb’s death, but maybe he could be useful for one last time. He could save the man he loved from Rayne’s wrath.

  “Get in,” Rayne said coldly once they arrived the large underground parking garage beneath the mansion.

  Kelias got in, closing the car door beside him. Rayne dispensed with the rare affection he’d shown earlier. The last time Kelias rode in this car, Rayne had taken Seb and him out to take their final test to earn their hunter licenses. That felt like another lifetime ago. Without needing violence to make his point, Rayne tossed the Uzi in the back seat. He drew another revolver from the dashboard and placed it in front of Kelias.

  “This is what’s going to happen. You’re going to make that shot again. Make sure the fucker’s dead, and after that, you can decide whether you want to forget this mess and continue being the obedient hunter I know you are,” Rayne said, not looking at Kelias as he drove the car out of the lot and back to the driveway.