Blood of the Pack

by Jenny Frame

  Kenrick would bet that Zaria got her genetics from West Asian packs, going by her darker colouring, and her deep brown hair and eyes. She was the most utterly beautiful woman Kenrick had ever seen.

  “Can I ask you a question, Zaria?” Kenrick asked. Zaria continued licking her ice cream, making Kenrick almost forget her question. “Um…what happened before we found you?”

  Zaria looked down and ran her free hand through the sand beneath them. “I made a mistake. Since I was sixteen, I’ve always moved around from place to place, job to job, never settling in one place too long, so Leroux and Ovid couldn’t find me.”

  Kenrick finished her ice cream and rubbed her hands together. “Why is Ovid so determined to find you? You never became mated.”

  “No, but it was announced in the pack, and Ovid thinks I still belong to her. She’s hunted me since I went through the rush, but I was protected until I was sixteen.”

  Kenrick sensed there was a lot of pain surrounding that incident, so she shifted the conversation back to what happened after that. “So, you were working in a diner?”

  Zaria let out a breath. She was probably relived she wasn’t being asked about Ovid.

  “Yeah, it was a nice place and I became friends with the manager. She was so kind, giving me extra shifts because she knew I need the money, and I always got the leftover food. I became too comfortable and stayed too long.”

  “The Lupas found you?” Kenrick asked.

  Zaria nodded. “I suppose the Alpha did her research and told you I attacked my landlord?”

  Kenrick nodded. “Yeah.”

  Zaria discarded what was left of her ice cream in the paper bag that sat between them, ready for the trash bin. “I never wanted to hurt him. I never want to hurt anyone. I hate violence.”

  “I know that, Zari,” Kenrick said affectionately.

  “He tried to—I mean, he wanted to take his rent out of me in another way.”

  Kenrick growled. “Fucking bastard, preying on young women. I’d like to see him trying that with me. I wouldn’t have just put him in hospital like you did. He’d be missing a few vital organs.” Kenrick’s wolf was raging that anyone tried to touch Zaria. She wanted to protect her and make sure something like that never happened again. “Sorry about the language. My ma would kick me up and down Wulver Loch for talking like that.”

  That brought a small smile to Zaria’s face. “That’s okay. No one’s ever been angry or stuck up for me before, except my sister.”

  “I’m here for you, Zari, if you want me to be.” Maybe Kenrick had said too much. After all, she hardly knew her, but her wolf was very clear about what she wanted. Kenrick felt an electricity whenever they were close, and she wondered if Zaria felt it.

  Zaria looked at Kenrick’s hand sitting between them, and then just went back to her story.

  “He had me up against a wall. I partially shifted and pushed him. He flew across the room and hit the wall. I ran. I knew then that I would have to leave the area, so the next morning I went to the diner to get my pay and let my friend Chrissy know I had to leave. The Lupa wolves arrived, and I fought, but I wasn’t strong enough against two dominants. They cuffed me, shoved me in the trunk, and—” Zaria’s voice cracked as tears came to her eyes. She tried to keep control but the thought of what a horrible death the Lupas gave Chrissy overwhelmed her.

  Kenrick turned around and opened her arms, and for only the second time in her life, Zaria went willingly into another wolf’s arms.

  Kenrick’s reassuring scent was so calming. She felt safe and she couldn’t help pressing her nose into her neck. “Chrissy died because of me, Ricky. I heard her screams.”

  “It’s okay, bonnie lassie. No one can get you now. Her death is on the Lupas, not you,” Kenrick said.

  It would be so easy to fall for Kenrick’s charms. So, so easy. She found her fingertips stroking the hairs at the nape of Kenrick’s neck. Zaria pulled back and gazed into Kenrick’s eyes. and Kenrick’s eyes turned yellow, a clear sign of wolf attraction. She assumed her eyes were the same.

  As their lips got closer, Zaria saw a flash of Ovid’s face coming at her. She jumped up and brushed the sand off her.

  “Zari, are you okay?” Kenrick got up quickly.

  “Yes, can you take me home?”

  “What about our run in the forest?” Kenrick asked.

  Zaria felt panic spread all over her body. She had to get away from Ricky. She couldn’t allow this growing attraction to take hold of her. She had to leave tonight.

  “I’m tired. I just need to go home, please?”

  Kenrick looked really confused and a bit disappointed. “Aye, all right then. Let’s go.”

  * * *

  When they got back to the apartment. Zaria found no guards, just as the Mater had said. Her Alpha listened and took her advice? Again Zaria’s guilt at deceiving these good people ate away at her. If they knew that she wasn’t being honest…

  She stopped at the door and said, “I’d like to be on my own if you don’t mind, Ricky.”

  “Oh, okay,” Kenrick said with disappointment.

  She felt terrible for hurting Kenrick this way, but she promised herself she would never be owned by a dominant like her sister was. That was the purpose of mating and a mate bite. And as kind as Kenrick was, she couldn’t risk losing her heart to this handsome wolf—she had to protect herself. Tonight, she had to finish her task here and leave.

  Kenrick stuffed her hands in her jeans pockets and stared at the floor. “If you want to go running tomorrow, I probably won’t be able to go till the evening. I’m starting my first day at Venator with Dante.”

  “Why are you working there?” Zaria asked.

  Kenrick ran her hand over her dreadlocks nervously. Whatever this was for, it stressed Kenrick out.

  “I told you I’m a bit of a jack of all trades in the Wulver pack…”

  Zaria nodded and Kenrick suddenly found her leather wristbands very interesting. It was strange and kind of sweet to see a dominant so unsure of herself. Zaria felt even more guilty at what she had to do tonight.

  “Well, I’ve got a new job in the office to start when I get home. Kind of a new life, and my pater thought it would be good for me to come here and shadow my cousin. Get used to working with figures, and staffing, that kind of thing.”

  “And you’re not looking forward to it?”

  Kenrick looked up at her and, almost like a child, said, “I have to wear a suit.”

  Zaria had the biggest urge to pull Kenrick into her arms then. There was something so innocently sweet in Ricky’s character.

  “And a suit’s bad?” Zaria said.

  Kenrick held out her arms. “Do I look like I would fit in an office? I’ve been dreading it—it’s not me.”

  “Then don’t take the job. Stick to the jack of all trades thing you enjoy.”

  Kenrick closed her eyes and then shook her head. “It’s not an option. Kind of a duty sort of thing. Anyway, you don’t want to hear me complaining. I’ll leave you to it. Night.”

  “Night, Ricky.”

  Zaria ached inside as she watched Kenrick walk away. Kenrick had given her so much comfort and support since she arrived, and Zaria couldn’t do the same for her.

  She went into the apartment and locked the door. When they left the lakeside, everything felt so clear to her. She had to get away from the biggest temptation she’d ever faced, a big hunk of a wolf, who was kind, generous, sensitive, and incredibly good-looking.

  Zaria couldn’t understand how she had come so close to kissing her. Since she went through the rush, she had associated the urge to mate and attraction to other wolves as something bound to end in pain. Nothing good ever came of giving over that part of yourself to a dominant wolf, but here she was nearly kissing one. Maybe it was living in this strange wolf pack where submissive wolves walked around with smiles on their faces, not haunted looks, and cubs were happy and anxiety free.

  Zaria let her head fall against
the back of the door. It can’t be what it seems, could it? Behind closed doors surely relationships were different?

  “I have to get out of here.”

  She hurried to the bedroom and packed the clothes that the Mater had given her, ready to leave as soon as she got back. The Lupas might be out there, but staying here and risking letting her emotions take hold of her was not an option.

  Zaria finished with the bag and waited for the dark of night to come. Then she headed for the window. She might not have guards on the door anymore, but she wasn’t completely trusted, and suspicions would be raised if they saw her wolf leaving by the front door.

  She took her clothes off, left them in a neat pile, and opened the window. She climbed out and down the fire escape. Once she was at the bottom and was sure she was alone in the back alley, Zaria shifted, and her wolf ran off, trying her best to keep away from the populated areas.

  About ten minutes out of town, Zaria reached a large house on the edge of the forest. She had never been this close before, never been this close to the reason that made her life of hiding, running, and barely making ends meet worthwhile.

  Her sister’s cub, her nephew, a child Leroux thought died along with her mate.

  Zaria crept around the back of the house quietly. She passed the kitchen window and quickly hid behind a tree when she saw Flash and Vance by the kitchen table. Zaria watched them for a while. They were drying some dishes together, and then Flash pulled a laughing Vance into his arms and they danced together. Vance was a submissive, but he didn’t seem to be the least bit fearful of his dominant partner. Everything was so different here, so apparently perfect, but it couldn’t be.

  While they were engrossed in each other, Zaria’s wolf made a dash for the side of the house from the tree she was hiding behind. She looked up to the bedroom window above her and gulped hard. Up there was the purpose for her life—Marco. Never in a million years did she think all those years ago when she ran to the Wolfgang County border with her newborn nephew in her arms, that he would have such a safe, comfortable life. She and her sister took a risk and trusted their instincts that the Wolfgangs were good wolves and would look after the boy and keep him from his pater—Leroux.

  Zaria had promised her sister she would always look out for her son, and she had, keeping close, checking in on him, and even when Leroux kidnapped Marco and the sheriff’s daughter Tia, she had followed them and helped lead the Alpha to them.

  Thank the Great Mother Leroux had no idea the significance of one of the cubs she had kidnapped. Over the years, Marco had spotted her wolf checking on him from the edge of the forest. He seemed to be drawn to her and to instinctively know they had a connection. He spoke to her every time, and it hurt so badly not to respond to him, her only family in the world.

  It was better Marco didn’t know about her or his past, lest Leroux work out her great secret. But now might be the time to move on. Marco was safe and protected, but now that Leroux’s wolves were very active again, her presence might lead her to him. Or was that just an excuse?

  Zaria’s wolf pawed the gravel beneath her paws. She had never felt so unsure of her purpose in life. Coming to Wolfgang County and seeing first-hand how they lived as couples, families, and a pack had opened her eyes. Then a certain big Scottish wolf bounced into her life and woke up her bruised, broken heart. Zaria was afraid of what would happen if she stayed. She would hurt Ricky by just leaving without saying goodbye, but otherwise Ricky might convince her to stay, even though Ricky was only here for a few weeks, and she might say yes. That was what worried her so much.

  This had to be goodbye. She looked up to Marco’s window and let out a soft whine, hopefully not loud enough to alert Flash and Vance. Zaria repeated the call a few times, and finally Marco came to the window. The biggest smile came to his face when he saw her. Zaria’s heart filled with joy to see him. He was a good-looking boy with so much of his mother in him.

  It was worth it. Even if I died tomorrow, my life would have been worthwhile.

  Marco opened the window and shouted down. “It’s you. Don’t move, please. I’m coming down.”

  As soon as he shut the window and began to run downstairs, Zaria knew she had to leave.

  I love you Marco. Have a good life.

  * * *

  Leroux felt like she had a new lease of life as soon as she received the enchanted ring. She was full of energy and vigour. She hadn’t felt this good since before she fought with Dante for the first time.

  Tonight she was doing her favourite kind of hunting, hunting for female humans. While on a night run in the wooded area behind their base, she caught the scent of a human female out jogging, and as fit as the human was, she couldn’t outrun a wolf.

  Leroux’s black wolf streaked through the trees and as she gained on the human, she tripped on a branch.

  I have you now, human.

  The human seemed to have injured her ankle because she couldn’t stand and could only drag herself away. Leroux shifted back to skin and the woman screamed. The scream and fear she scented gave her such a thrill. She could have any submissive wolf she wanted—a few had joined them from their pack lands when Leroux established a base in Knoxton—but Leroux wanted more of a challenge.

  Leroux wanted fear, power, and control and she got that by hunting women down. This pretty blond human backed up against a tree trunk.

  “Please don’t hurt me. Please let me go.”

  Leroux was breathing heavily, full of hunger for sex and dominance. “I don’t think so, human.”

  She flashed her eyes and bared her teeth. The human screamed and held her hands protectively over herself.

  * * *

  Ovid met her Alpha by the back door to the house. Leroux’s black wolf shifted back to skin and Ovid saw blood coating Leroux’s face and neck.

  She handed Leroux a change of clothes. “We have the seer, Alpha.”

  Leroux pulled on the clothes quickly. “Good. Send someone to do a clean-up in the forest. We don’t want any extra human attention.”

  They walked through the kitchen, and Ovid said to Cera, “You—clean-up in the woods. Now.”

  “Yes, Second.”

  Leroux grabbed a towel as she passed through the kitchen. “Where are they?”

  “She is in the cellar,” Ovid told her.

  “She? Nice.” Leroux grinned.

  She walked into the office and over to the safe in the corner. The safe turned out to be pretty handy—she had only obtained the combination from the previous owners thinking there might be money kept in it, but now it housed the enchanted ring. She didn’t trust anyone in her pack anywhere near it while she was in pelt, so it stayed here.

  Leroux took out the ring and slid it on her finger. Every time she put it on she got a rush of power, and she couldn’t wait to use it on Dante.

  “Why did you want a seer, Alpha?” Ovid asked.

  Leroux sat on the desk. “Because something is bothering me. There’s a connection between the Wolfgangs and Zaria, and it might be crucial to our plans. Why has Zaria stayed around this area since she ran? There are plenty of places she could have gone where it would be nearly impossible for us to find her.”

  “That’s true,” Ovid said.

  “I know, so let’s find out.” Leroux lifted the laptop they had recovered from Zaria’s studio and walked downstairs to the basement.

  Before she walked through the door, Ovid said, “The seer has a little brother with her. Might be useful as an incentive.”

  “Well done, Second.” Leroux entered the cellar and found a young woman, maybe twenty if that, and a little boy on her lap.

  The appearance of blood on Leroux’s face appeared to put fear into the woman and boy. “Let us go, please?”

  “If you help me, I will, so let’s not play games. Just get down to business. I understand you need an object to connect to another person?” Leroux said.

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  Leroux handed her the la
ptop and said, “Put down the boy and answer my questions.”

  * * *

  Sometime later Leroux and Ovid came up from the cellar. Leroux couldn’t believe Zaria had managed to keep this secret all this time.

  “Marta had the cub?” Ovid said.

  “Yes, it seems Zaria likes keeping secrets.” Leroux felt sick at the thought of her flesh and blood being brought up as a Wolfgang.

  “When we retrieve Zaria, do you want to take your cub?” Ovid asked.

  Leroux roared angrily. “He’s a Wolfgang now and no cub of mine. No doubt weak and pathetic, but we can use him to our advantage.”

  “How?” Ovid asked as they walked into the office.

  Leroux twisted the ring on her finger. “I want to draw Dante out of Wolfgang County, not fight her on her on land with her whole pack behind her. They are taking care of Zaria for some reason. If I tempt Zaria out, Dante might follow. In fact, I’m sure she will.”

  “As long as I get Zaria. What did you have in mind?” Ovid asked.

  “I need you to get hold of a phone number, Second.” Leroux grinned.

  Chapter Ten

  Kenrick felt like an idiot. An idiot in more ways than one. She took one last look at herself in the mirror and stuffed her tie in her pocket. This suit her mother had bought for her was everything she feared. Uncomfortable, constrained, and just not her.

  Her second reason for feeling like an idiot was her whining like a little cub to Zaria last night about it. Zaria didn’t need to hear her problems. Kenrick didn’t normally share her fears with anyone, but Zaria was different. She felt she could tell her anything.

  Kenrick hesitated at her bedroom door and thought back to yesterday by the lake. She had nearly kissed Zaria—like there was a magnetic pull, with her wolf egging her on to kiss her. At first she thought Zaria was responding, but then she recoiled in fear and Kenrick felt guilty.

  She knew Zaria had issues with mating and dominant wolves, and she obviously wasn’t ready for that. She was trying to be as gentle and careful as she could with Zaria, but every moment Kenrick spent in her company, her heart filled with want and a need to protect her.