A Ravenous Pack: Wolf's Hunger 5 Books

by A. K. Michaels

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You can’t just leave without . . .”

  Marissa could stand it no longer, her fingers latching onto his and bending his wrist painfully. She used only a fraction of her strength, but it was enough to force his hand from her body and bend at an awkward angle. His shout of pain brought a smile to her face. “Fuck off and if you try this shit again with anyone else, trust me, I’ll find you. I can track you anywhere and you’ll wish you’d never tried this shit.”

  She allowed her fangs to descend, her eyes to shine, and her face to ripple pre-shift. He sprang back, terror masked his face as he ran for the truck.

  “You’re one of them.”

  “I sure am.” She let out a low rumble, growling once more before she turned on her heel and marched into the forest.

  Royce ran a hand over his face, groaning. “My eyes feel full of grit. You two found anything yet, because I’ve got zilch.”

  “Hey, stop bitchin’, you’ve only been here for a couple of hours,” Ash threw an empty soda can at Royce who was on the floor, his laptop on the coffee table as they trolled through the archives of their Pack, and Shifters in general.

  “Sorry, I’m still tired. Last night was busier than usual and I swear it must’ve been a full moon or somat, ‘cause there were plenty of loonies in the club.”

  “And Shade was just one of them.” Ash chuckled.

  “I might be losing my mind to this hunger shit, but I’m not a looney tune just yet,” Shade quipped back, forcing himself to eat from the pile of chicken next to him and not to transform and go hunting for another deer.

  “Fuuuuuuuuuuck,” Ash sat up straighter, pulling his screen closer, his finger running along it as he read something.

  “What?” Shade and Royce shouted at the same time.

  “Wait up,” Ash held up a hand. “Gimme a minute, this is, wait, hold on. Yes! I’ve found it, I’ve found out what’s wrong with you.”

  “You have?” Shade’s body tensed, every muscle tightened so much it was painful as he held his breath.

  “Well, tell us, numbnuts!” Royce yelled. “Or I’ll . . .”

  “Shut up and let me process this into a language that you’ll understand,” Ash ground out around a warning growl, his eyes never leaving his screen.

  Shade’s heart thudded in his chest so fast he was sure he was on the verge of having a coronary, his beast howling in his head with . . . he wasn’t certain but it felt like anticipation. What the heck?

  “Okay, are you ready for this?” Ash sat back, his eyes finally leaving the screen to lock with Shade’s.

  “Tell me. Do I need to start looking for my replacement?” His fear of doing just that coursing through him like scorching hot lava.

  “You need to stay calm and don’t start shouting at me until I’ve finished.” Ash raised an eyebrow.

  “Get on with it,” Shade said in a voice cold and calm, and he wondered how he’d managed that when his insides were in a tumult of emotions he never experienced. Ones like apprehension, indecision, and downright fear.

  “The legends of old, and I’m talking about centuries ago, talk about this great Hunger, and yes, that’s with a capital H. It’s something that can affect a Wolf, usually an Alpha, but any strong leader, even a Beta, but in all cases it takes over them completely. They’re out of control and focus only on the Hunger, trying to stem the increasing need to hunt and feed.”

  Shade smirked. “Yeah, we’ve got that bit, Ash. Tell me something I don’t know. Something fucking useful, like how I get rid of it and get back to normal.”

  Ash shook his head, his face as serious as Shade had ever seen it which sent another round of fear lashing through him.

  “Sorry, Shade, according to this you’ll never be the same again. There’s only one cure and I doubt you’re gonna like it. If it’s true, then your life will definitely be changed forever,” Ash said cryptically which almost tore Shade from his chair to grab his Beta by the throat to get him to tell him what he needed to know.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Royce asked, his voice quiet and filled with worry. “Stop mucking around, Ash, just fucking tell us.”

  Ash’s eyes flicked back to the screen, reading as he spoke, his usual serious tone far more so than normal which amped Shade’s concern to levels he didn’t think he was capable of as he tried to concentrate. “Okay, so it says that this Hunger always, and it reiterates that it is always an indication that the Wolf afflicted by the Hunger, well, that their one true soulmate is nearby and that she may be in trouble. The Wolf has to accept this and once they do the Hunger will disappear and they have to go in search of their mate. It’s the one, and only way to cure the Hunger.”

  Royce whistled through his teeth as Shade’s body collapsed against his chair, shaking his head. “What? Ash, stop playing games. What does it really say?”

  Ash turned to Shade, his face telling him all he needed to know before he uttered one word. “I am, Alpha. I swear that’s what the Archives say. It gets worse. It says if the Wolf affected doesn’t accept this and fights against it, that they’ll go crazy. As in looney tunes nuts. You’ll end up with the Council coming to haul your ass away before you hurt anyone, Shade.”

  Shade slid his laptop to the floor, rising to pace around his home which suddenly seemed much too small. His Wolf whining in his head pitifully as if in great pain. He ran both his hands through his hair. “Holy fucking shit. This can’t be happening. I don’t fucking want a mate. Can you see me with a mate in tow?”

  Royce tilted his head to the side, eyeing Shade then nodded. “Sure I can. You’re Alpha, Shade. Let’s be honest, this playboy lifestyle you’ve been living isn’t viable for a good Alpha. You and the Pack need stability, and we all know that comes with having a mate by your side, and with the pups that comes with that.”

  “Stability?” Shade roared. “I’ve given the Pack that, in fucking spades. I’ve worked my ass off to do that, haven’t I? I’ve got our businesses up and running, made them profitable and provided for the Pack so that everyone benefits. Or am I wrong? Tell me I’m wrong.”

  Ash held his hands up. “Hey, we’re not saying you haven’t done all that, and more. But you also have to admit that the way you’ve been living has to stop at some time. Doesn’t it?”

  “Well, yeah, sometime.” Shade acquiesced grudgingly. “Not now. I’m not ready for this shit. A mate is . . . fucking huge.”

  Ash joined him, clasping his shoulder in one of his huge hands. “I know it is but you have to accept this, Alpha. You can’t ignore this or it will get worse. It says you should ask your Wolf, so why don’t you try that? What’s it doing right now? Is it still fighting to go hunt? Or not?”

  Shade pulled from Ash’s grip, storming away to pace again. He refused to admit, just yet, that his beast had quietened down the moment his Beta had mentioned a soulmate. That it was, at this very minute, urging him to go find their mate. Hell no. He wasn’t disclosing that knowledge right now. Not until he’d processed this shit in his human brain, and it was that side that was having a problem with all of this.

  A mate meant no more partying. No more one night stands. No more spending the nights at The Den with a bevy of girls on his arm. Hell, it meant his life ending as he knew it and he sure as fuck wasn’t ready for that. Was he?

  No.

  “Shade Shawcross!”

  A bellow from outside his cabin had them all turning, Ash and Royce frowning and rushing to the door. The voice did not belong to one of their Pack but Shade knew it. Damn.

  Royce reached the door first, opening it with such force it swung back to slam against the wall. “Who the fuck . . .”

  He stopped when he saw who stood waiting for them, Ash at his side as they strode outside, Shade beside them. Ash scowled as he pointed to his sentries who were with the three Shifters. “What the hell are you doing allowing this trash inside our camp?”

  “They said they had an important appointment with th
e Alpha.”

  “Yeah, we do,” the taller of the three said, smirking.

  “I’ll deal with you two later. Get back to your posts.” Ash snarled at the guards before turning a growl on the interlopers.

  Shade stepped down the stairs of the porch, stopping on the bottom one and crossing his arms. “Well, well, if it isn’t the Triple D’s, Dale, Derek and Dennis Evans. Shit, you all look so much alike how does anyone tell you apart? Talk about inbreeding?”

  All three snarled viciously, Dale, the oldest stepping forward, his blond hair and blue eyes mirroring those of his brothers. “You upset our little sister, treated her like . . .”

  Shade held up a hand, stopping him. “Are you serious? She told you about that? How fucking degrading that she came to you three dimwits and told you how easy she is. I told her then and I’ll tell you three now, she’s not my mate and never will be. So, guys, on your way before I lose my temper because today is not the day to test my patience.”

  Derek, the middle of the three, jumped forward, barely a foot separating him and Shade, his eyes glinting with temper as he poked Shade’s chest. “You led her on. Told her you’d make her your mate and Alpha and then forced yourself on her. That’s what you did, Shade Shawcross, and we won’t stand for that. No fucking way.”

  Derek prodded Shade’s chest again. Shade moved so quickly none of them saw it, grabbing Derek’s finger and bending it back until he heard it snap. Rapidly followed by his yell of pain and indignation. “First, I did not tell her any such thing, and second I have never forced myself on any woman. I understand that if your sister told you that then you’re obviously feeling outraged, but I’m telling you different. So, here’s the situation, boys, you either turn around and leave or I whoop all your asses right here and now.”

  Derek’s eyes closed to slits, glaring at him as Dale stepped forward, pushing his brother out of the way. “You expect us to believe our baby sister lied to us? No way would she do that.”

  Dennis didn’t look so convinced, his eyes glancing to his brothers’ then Ash and Royce. “What about them?”

  “They’re not involved in this,” Shade replied, shrugging. “This is between you three and me, simple. But, I’ll say again, the information you have is wrong and you have one last chance to turn around and walk away.”

  The three brothers stepped away, looking at each other, and it was obvious they were weighing up their odds. The adrenaline of being amped up with outrage at the perceived slight against their sister possibly dimming. That’s what Shade thought right up to the minute they spun around and flew toward him mid-shift, all at once,

  Shit.

  Shade dropped and rolled to the right, barely managing to miss the tangle of fangs and claws as the trio landed in a heap on his steps. Damn! The trio looked alike even in their Wolf forms. Shade had already instigated his own transformation, quickly changing into his formidable Alpha beast. His wolf was striking, the darkest shade of brown with a silver streak across his chest, his animal growled at his opponents before deciding on his course of attack.

  As the brothers were still entangled he leaped forward, grabbing a free hind leg and tugging it free furiously. His teeth biting deep, using every ounce of strength in his powerful jaws until he heard the satisfying sound of bones crunching as the Wolf howled in pain. Shade shook his opponent furiously to ensure the wound would not heal quickly. He’s the stupid fuck for coming onto his land to challenge him. He’d be mending that crushed leg for some time and he was definitely out of the fight.

  Down to two.

  While he’d incapacitated one, the other two had regrouped, prowling before him with snarls and growls that filled the silence and bringing out a crowd to watch. Shade ignored everything except the threat, determined to get this over and done with quickly so he and his Betas could get back to more important business. Like keeping him sane.

  His beast took that moment to lift its head to the sky and howl as it snarled in his mind. “Mate, now. Needs us.”

  Trixie’s brothers slunk forward, one bolder than the other, his paw reaching out to rake across Shade’s side. He jerked sideways, missing the fearsome claws, while jerk number two tried the same from the other side. These in-breds obviously fought together often enough to have a drill: one distracts, the other attacks.

  Not happening. Shade spun around, his hind legs kicking out to land a massive blow to one head, stunning the beast, while his jaws and claws went to work on the other. He knew he’d have to work fast, before the stunned Wolf rose to attack his rear. If not he’d be in trouble so he used every ounce of his impressive strength, jaws ripping an ear clean off, his claws finding purchase in the soft underbelly and ripping ferociously. The beast collapsed, a high-pitched sound unlike any howl Shade had ever heard tearing from its throat as it lay thrashing on the ground.

  His Wolf turned back to the only opponent left, his face dripping with blood, lips drawn back and fangs on show as he snarled a last warning. His meaning clear: back off now or suffer the consequences.

  The remaining brother’s beast looked at his two fallen siblings, whining, before transforming and rushing to the one Shade had just finished with. The gaping wound in its belly seeping blood onto the ground to disappear into the hard-packed earth. “He’ll die! You need to help him. Please. He’s gonna die. That’s a mortal wound.”

  Shade’s Wolf shook its fur, a roar of triumph filling the air before he morphed, shaking his head at the man kneeling next to his dying brother. “I gave you the option to leave. And what did you do? The three of you attacked me without warning. You deserved to die. All of you. But I’m not the bastard you seem to think of me so I’ll allow our Healer to try and help him. But I’m warning you now. Do not ever come onto my land again and tell that bitch you call a sister to stay clear of me, my land, and any of our establishments. None of your family is welcome.”

  Royce jumped down, picking up Shade’s tattered clothing, and ruined boots as Ash led Lana over to the fallen Wolf.

  “Hell, those were my favorite boots.” Shade shook his head, turning back to Ash. “Ash, get your guards to keep an eye on this lot. Lana, do what you can but be careful, these fuckers are not trustworthy so make sure you have guards with you at all times.”

  “Certainly, Alpha,” Lana replied, not looking up from her task of attempting to save the beast’s life.

  Royce followed Shade back into his cabin, muttering, “Damn stupid fucks. What did they expect going up against an Alpha?”

  “If they ever come back I won’t be so lenient,” Shade growled. “I’m going to get cleaned up then we’ll get back to that business we were working on.”

  “I’ll be here, waiting patiently for you to come to your senses so we can go find . . .”

  “Not another word, Royce, not one more,” Shade snarled, disappearing quickly before he did something he’d regret, like punching his friend in the nose.

  Marissa traipsed through the edge of the forest, keeping out of sight of the road. She’d been rushing through the area since leaving that idiot trucker the previous night. She was tired and hungry but knew she couldn’t stop.

  She couldn’t risk it. Not when she realized he hadn’t gone nearly far enough. After only an hour of making her way the previous night she’d felt the tingle again in her mind, the next hour it grew stronger and stronger. Finally her father’s voice in her head chilling the blood in her veins. “I can feel you, daughter. I’m coming for you and you’ll pay for your desertion.”

  Shit on a fucking brick. She was in deep trouble and needed to find another way out of the area, fast, or they’d find her and then her life would be over. Or worse, she’d be an ageing Alpha’s sex toy until she’d produced a child for him. If it was a girl, she doubted the child, or her, would live for more than a few minutes.

  What was that saying about a rock and a hard place? Yeah, that’s where she was right now. Terror ran through her as she fought to put one foot in front of the other, not sure how l
ong she’d been going, but it must be almost a day. The sun was already lowering and soon darkness would fall and she was still trying to thumb a damn lift. Not one of the cars had stopped when she’d heard them and rushed to stand, hand out, desperate for them to stop and offer her not just a lift but a lifeline. Her only deliverance from the nightmare she found herself in, and it was one of her own making.

  Then again, the other option had been to stay and be handed over to the Alpha.

  Her choice had been clear. She didn’t have a decision to make, not really, because she just could not let that mangy mutt put his hands on her, even if he was an Alpha. Her life hadn’t been great up until then, but at least her body in that respect, had been hers. No man had touched her, not just because she didn’t want any of the men in her Pack, but her father wouldn’t let anyone near her. He kept her pure so he could bargain her away to the Alpha for his own gain.

  “I wonder if I’m the only twenty-three year old virgin left?” she muttered, a giggle escaping her. One that was devoid of humor, instead it sounded on the verge of madness to her ears. “Finally losing it, Marissa.”

  Marissa heard another engine heading her way. Before rushing to the road, she sent out her enhanced senses but found no sign that the vehicles inhabitants were anything other than human, so she jogged up through the bushes and onto the verge. She plastered a smile on her face and held her hand out, thumb up and hoped this time they’d stop. A dark blue car came around the bend, old with scrapes on the bumper and stickers too many to count. They were so overlapped she couldn’t read any properly, even with her eyesight. They just looked like they’d been plastered on to cover damage, some did, some didn’t. Heck, she didn’t care, all she needed was a ride.

  The car slowed and her heart soared. A young woman was driving, her face pinched, and her bottom lip was being fiercely nibbled between her teeth. Marissa saw the indecision in her eyes and when she saw the baby seat next to the driver, Marissa knew she wouldn’t stop. No mother would and she didn’t blame her. Marissa was on her own, in the middle of goodness knew where, dirty and bedraggled. She probably looked like an escapee from the nearest sanitarium.