A Ravenous Pack: Wolf's Hunger 5 Books

by A. K. Michaels

  “I can too,” Zohar admitted.

  “I’m feeling weird about leaving here too,” Maisy said as she looked around the small cabin wistfully. “This has always been my home and it feels wrong that Gwenola has moved out of the Alpha’s cabin. What if the Pack thinks we’re, I don’t know, somehow taking advantage of the situation and—”

  Zohar shook his head, using a finger to force her to look up at him. “That’s not going to happen. She was very clear on this, Maisy. She doesn’t want to stay there. It holds too many bad memories for her and her girls. For us, it’s just a building, one where we can make new memories. Our own, and the Pack is not upset, of that I’m sure. Danko would know if that were the case and he would’ve told me. Stop worrying, little one, everything is going to be fine.”

  “Are you certain? Things have gone so fast. With you terminating your employment with the Council and staking your claim as Alpha and our mating. Shoot, my head is in a spin with it all. I’m nervous as hell about everything.”

  “Don’t be,” Zohar reiterated. “I’ll be right beside you and this is just a party, nothing more. At the end of the night we’ll just be sleeping in a different bed . . . a brand-new bed. One that Danko got for us and he assures me that you’ll love it. Whatever the hell that means. He wouldn’t tell me anything else, other than that.”

  “Whew.” She sighed. “I’m glad about that. The thought of going to sleep in a bed that Jermaine used is just . . . ewwww!”

  Zohar chuckled before agreeing. “Yes, indeed. I have to admit I’d been thinking along those lines.”

  “Okay,” Maisy said, holding out her hand. “Let’s do this, Alpha.”

  His heart soared as soon as the word left her lips. The word wasn’t one he’d ever thought he’d hear being used to refer to him. One he’d used many times in the past with a derogatory inflection and wondered if he’d done so with a modicum of hidden jealousy. He’d never seen himself living within a Pack, thought it was not the life for him . . . or did he believe he wasn’t worthy?

  The latter was probably nearer the mark.

  Now, with his sunshine lightening his soul, he was realizing this was what he’d craved for so damn long. A Pack, a mate, a life with a future and, hopefully, someday they’d even be blessed with pups of their own. Shit. Did he just think that?

  Now that was scary.

  “Zohar, are you okay? You looked kinda weird there for a second.”

  Maisy’s worried voice tore him from his thoughts, tugging his lips up into a smile as he gazed into her emerald eyes. “I’m fine, more than fine, I’m the luckiest Wolf alive. I have my mate by my side and a new Pack to lead. What more could anyone want?”

  “Aww.” Maisy’s voice hitched as she batted at his chest. “You’re sounding all gushy.”

  “Me? Gushy?” Zohar shook his head, scowling. “Don’t say that ever again. I’ve a rep to protect. Now, come on, before I say something else that’ll get me into trouble.”

  Hand in hand they made their way to the door, the music from the party that was already in full swing growing louder with each step. Maisy pausing to draw in several deep breaths with Zohar’s hand on the door knob. “Ready?” he asked.

  “If I say no can we go back to bed?” she queried with a raised eyebrow.

  “No,” he laughed back, pulling the door wide.

  As soon as they stepped outside there was a deafening roar of welcome from the assembled Pack. Shouts of congratulations, welcoming cries to the new Alpha couple filling the camp as Zohar strode with purpose toward a table set up for them. He kept one arm around Maisy’s waist, using their link to send calming waves through to her, as well as a portion of his power and strength.

  He watched her carefully, saw her keep her head high, making eye contact with everyone they passed, and their resultant lowering looks. Thank the Goddess the Pack was accepting her role as his mate. If they hadn’t then the night would have been a nightmare clash of his wits against any who dared to challenge their place as Alphas.

  Of course, he would have no trouble establishing his position. Only a fool would challenge him but if anyone dared to oppose Maisy then he would have to force himself to stand by and watch as she dealt with the situation herself. That was not something he could envisage doing, but she’d made him promise that he would not intervene, and he couldn’t refuse her.

  Damn, he couldn’t refuse her anything. His sunshine had him under her spell and he’d do anything for her. He’d promise her the damn moon and move heaven and earth to get her it if he had to.

  Gwenola rushed forward, smiling as she arrived, arms outstretched before she remembered Maisy’s new rank. “Oh, sorry,” Gwenola gasped, her hand shooting to her mouth. “My apologies, Alpha,” she said in a subdued tone. “I’m so happy for you both and I wish you a happy life together. I’m glad you decided to stay, Zohar. The Pack needs you, and you Maisy, you’ll be a great team and I’ll always be here if either of you need any help, or advice on anything at all.”

  Maisy released Zohar’s hand, reaching for Gwenola, embracing the woman. “Thank you so much. I’ll be bending your ear so much you’ll regret offering.”

  “Aww, I’m happy to help, Maisy . . . sorry, Alpha.”

  “Maisy’s just fine.” Maisy peeked up at Zohar. “Isn’t it? Or not? Shoot, see, I don’t know about all this stuff.”

  Zohar gave a curt nod. “In informal situations, your name is fine, so long as that’s what you want. In formal meetings, or if you don’t wish to be called by your name, then it should be Alpha.”

  “Well, this is definitely informal, so Maisy is just fine.” Maisy grinned.

  Gwenola led them to the table, laden with food and drink. “I hope everything is to your satisfaction and if there’s anything else you need just holler.”

  Zohar pulled out a chair for Maisy, waiting until she was comfortable before sitting beside her, and whispering, “How long do we need to stay?”

  Maisy glanced over, smirking. “We’ve only just arrived.”

  “Sorry, what’s your point?” Zohar chuckled. “Can’t we leave yet?”

  “No,” Maisy answered with a laugh as Danko and the rest of his men arrived bearing gifts of bottles of single malt whisky.

  “Congratulations,” the men whooped out as one, obviously all of them had already been imbibing for some time.

  Danko’s smile was so wide it split his face in two. “Alpha, boy oh boy. I never thought I’d ever be calling you that, but I gotta say . . . it suits you, Zohar.”

  Zohar tilted his head, scrutinizing his friend. “How much have you had to drink?”

  “Me?” Danko’s eyes opened wide with shock. “Not a damn drop. I’m wired with happiness. I’m on duty and I don’t drink when on duty. You know that.”

  “Good.” Zohar hooked his finger, drawing Danko toward him. “That means I can ask you an important question.”

  Danko waved the rest of the squad away before leaning across the table. “What’s up?”

  Zohar glanced at Maisy before focusing on his friend. “What would you say to a change of career? Want to join me here as my Beta?”

  Danko shot back, standing upright, eyes wide and looking all around. Zohar could see the cogs in his friend’s head spinning as he gazed over the camp, taking in the Shifters assembled for the party and finally returning to Zohar. “For real? You’re asking me to give up the top spot at the Council and come here, to this backwoods Pack, and play second fiddle to you . . . again? With no hope of ever being top dog? Or, in this case, Alpha. You want me to walk away from my only chance of being number one?”

  Zohar’s face was his usual game face, no emotion showing whatsoever as he replied calmly. “That about sums it up. So, Danko, what’s your answer?”

  Maisy’s hand landed on his thigh, digging her fingers in tightly as they waited.

  Danko crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at him, his face as inscrutable. His friend looked at Maisy briefly then back at him before
he finally answered. “Seeing you two sitting there is nothing short of a miracle. You, Zohar Drake, the most feared Enforcer in the land and who now has a mate, and a Pack. I can’t deny being here has been different, a good different, and it’s shown me that things can change, that we can change. Hell, Zohar, if you can change then there’s hope for any of us. If I can have a chance at this,” Danko nodded at them, “then I’m in. Hell, I may as well admit it now . . . I called the Council yesterday and terminated my employment. I’m telling you, Denholm was not happy at losing us both in the same week. Fuck, he’s not just lost us, there’s a couple of the other guys who want to stay too. So, the answer is yes, Alpha, I’ll be your Beta, but don’t think I won’t call you on any BS if the need arises.”

  Maisy removed her death-grip on his thigh, clapping her hands in glee as she squealed. “That’s great!”

  Zohar merely nodded. “Glad you’re staying, Danko. We’ve been together for many years and it would seem strange not to have you around.”

  “Yeah,” Danko replied with a cheeky smirk. “I’d miss you too.”

  Zohar’s lips tugged up but he fought the urge to smile, instead he raised an eyebrow. “I thought you said you were on duty?”

  Danko shook his head, sighing. “I am, and I’m getting right back to it.”

  As he turned away there was a commotion to the side of the Alpha cabin, a truck pulling to a stop and several men jumping out. Danko rushed around the table, heading toward them with Zohar beside him.

  A man yelling, “What the fuck is going on here?”

  Zohar stopped in front of the man who’d spoken, setting his feet apart and crossing his arms. “More to the point . . . who the fuck are you?”

  Maisy tugged on his shirt. “That’s Marissa’s father, Saul Farrar and those others are Jermaine’s men, the ones he sent to bring her back.”

  Saul glared at Maisy, snarling. “What the hell? What are you doing telling this stranger our business? You’ll suffer for this when Marlon gets his hands on you.”

  Maisy stepped to the side, glowering at Saul. “I doubt that very much. He’s gone and won’t be hurting me, or anyone else, Saul.”

  Zohar’s heart swelling with pride at her courage as she stood firm against the angry Shifter whose face turned purple with rage. Saul’s confused and angry stare turned to him. “What’s she talking about? Where is our Alpha and Beta? And who the hell are you?”

  Gwenola had joined them, standing just behind Maisy with a cold smirk on her face as Zohar responded, “Jermaine is no longer Alpha and Marlon is dead. As for you, Saul, I’ve heard all about you and I’ve been waiting for your return.”

  “What are you talking about?” Saul’s head spun to Gwenola. “Where’s Jermaine? Who is this guy?”

  Gwenola shrugged. “I have no idea where he is and this is Zohar, our new Alpha, but I’m sure you’ve heard of him. The Council’s top Enforcer, you know, the one that’s got that reputation, well, this is him and Maisy is his mate so I’d be very careful what you do, or say, from here on, Saul.”

  Zohar growled, shaking his head. “I doubt it will make a difference.”

  Saul’s eyes darted to him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Several things but you don’t appear to have the intelligence to work them out so let me just break it down for you.” Zohar stepped forward, his hand shooting out to knock away one of the other men who’d moved at the same time. Danko already darting to intercept the Shifter.

  “I had a talk with a friend of mine, you know him.” Zohar poked Saul in the chest. “Or rather, you’ve met him . . . he’s your daughter’s mate, goes by the name of Shade Shawcross, and he sent me here to deal with the sorry son-of-a-bitch Alpha and his pet mongrel, Marlon, but he also told me that you were hunting Marissa. Your own daughter and you were hunting her down like a fucking dog. Now that doesn’t sit right with me. Not as an Enforcer, and definitely not as Alpha of this Pack.”

  Saul blustered, puffing his chest out. “She’s my daughter, it’s my right to do with her as I wish.”

  “No.” Zohar pushed the man, anger rising quickly to make his blood boil. “It is not your right but what is my right as Alpha is to challenge you right here and now.”

  Saul’s face drained of color, his head shaking vigorously. “I’m no match for you! You’re an Enforcer!”

  Zohar stepped back, shrugging. “I’ll give you an advantage. I’ll stay here and I will count to ten and I promise I will not move. I will not start my transformation until after I’ve finished counting. That means you can morph and attack while I’m still in my human form and nobody can intervene.”

  “Is this some kind of joke?” Saul looked to where Danko and the rest of his squad had rounded up the men that had arrived with him. “Your men are just going to stand there while you count and do nothing?”

  “Of course,” Zohar shrugged. “I’ve said it, so it will be. What? Don’t you think you can attack me in time?” Saul frowned as Zohar opened his arms. “Move back, everyone.”

  Saul looked slyly around as he started to undress, Zohar staying in place. Maisy looked between them, her face showing no emotion, before she turned on her heel and strode away. As his clothes dropped to the ground Saul kept his eyes on Zohar, obviously expecting him to follow suit. When he didn’t the man simply shrugged.

  “Ready?” Zohar asked and Saul nodded, although Zohar could see Saul was already cheating, fur sprouting from the man’s arms and legs before Zohar uttered the number one. He didn’t expect anything less of the low-life.

  By the time he spoke the number five Saul’s shift was halfway through, the man forcing it as quickly as possible, but Zohar knew it would not be fast enough. He’d played this game before and never lost and he didn’t plan on being defeated by this deadbeat dad tonight.

  As he shouted the number nine, Saul was on the ground, his transformation around the seventy percent mark. His face elongating as his jaw repositioned to accommodate his Wolf’s jaws . . . and fangs. Zohar didn’t move or flinch. He wasn’t concerned. Not one iota.

  What he was . . . was filled with fury.

  Mating with Maisy had changed him in so many ways and one of those was realizing how he’d feel if someone were sent to hunt down his mate. This Shifter in front of him had done just that. He’d mistreated his own daughter, Shade’s mate, and tried to sell her to Jermaine. The thought tumbling around inside his brain firing his synopses into an overload of rage.

  Zohar literally saw red as he glared at the almost fully transformed beast before him, pausing before he uttered the final number. He opened his arms wide, yelling, “Time’s up, Saul.”

  The men that had arrived with Saul laughed, one shouting. “Yeah, but you’ve still to transform! He’ll be on you before you—”

  Zohar cracked his neck, side to side, and summoned his beast . . . gasps and shouts of surprise echoing around the camp as they witnessed his unique gift. His conversion from man to beast happening so fast that most missed it while they blinked. His ears picked up so many cuss words and exclamations that he couldn’t help himself from rearing up on his hind legs to roar loudly.

  Saul’s light brown beast stampeded toward him, attempting to attack while he was upright and rake his claws across his soft underbelly. However, Zohar had fought many battles, against fiercer Wolves than Saul’s, and he’d expected such a move. His powerful hind legs thrusting him into the air and leaping over his opponent to land behind him, spinning around and swiping his massive paw viciously across Saul’s hindquarters.

  The brown Wolf howled in pain as blood spurted from the wound, turning around fast to snap at Zohar. His speed impressive but not nearly good enough. Zohar’s dark Wolf circled around, snarling, his lips curled back to show his opponent the size of his razor-sharp teeth. They matched the rest of him . . . huge. He could snap a Wolf’s neck clean through with one well-placed bite and Saul knew it.

  Zohar saw the fear in the other beast’s eyes but he also saw s
omething he’d seen too often in his years as an Enforcer . . . evil, pure, dark, evil.

  If he’d had any doubts about doling out his own justice to Saul Farrar that glimpse sealed the man’s fate. Zohar’s Wolf growled, his head lowering as he rushed forward, using his greater size and strength to knock Saul’s beast flying to tumble backward. He leaped forward, landing over the brown beast to cage it in, one of his paws on its chest, digging his claws in deep. Saul’s Wolf swiped up, drawing blood from his muzzle that dripped down to run over his adversary’s fur. The metallic odor filling his nostrils as he lowered his head, opening his jaws wide . . . ready to finish this and mark it down as one of the briefest fights he’d encountered.

  Good. That suited him just fine. He wanted nothing more than to end this debacle and get back to Maisy.

  Saul’s Wolf bucked beneath him, one of his paws scrambling to find a weakness, anywhere to inflict damage, but Zohar held firm, his weight and size immobilizing the smaller beast. With one last, quick movement, Zohar’s jaws encompassed Saul’s throat, snapping shut with a loud snap. His teeth penetrating fur, skin, muscle and finally bone to break the Wolf’s neck with a rough shake of his head.

  Spitting out the dead animal, disgust rolling through him, Zohar’s massive head lifted to the sky, a roar of epic proportions renting the night air. The sound reverberating around the camp, nearby windows shook in their frames, his fur rippled along his body where it shook from the power running through him—his Alpha power even more potent and formidable than he’d been as an Enforcer.

  Zohar stepped away from the broken body on the ground, snarling once more before prowling toward the men Danko still guarded. Once again he shifted with supernatural speed, standing naked and scowling at the now fearful Shifters. “You have a simple choice to make . . . leave now or die. You have no place in my Pack and if you utter one word of argument I’ll take you down so fast you won’t know what fucking hit you.”

  Danko shoved the one nearest him, growling. “You heard the Alpha. On your way.”