Caught in the Crossfire (The Cloven Pack Series: Prequel)

by D. Fischer

  I place my hands on my naked hips and blow a stray hair from my face. “Did you like the show?” I don’t give a rat’s ass if she sees me naked. I’m not shy about nudity.

  The smirk leaves her face and she crosses her arms. “I wasn’t standing there long,” she says, her tone defensive.

  “Right.” I take my offered bra and shirt from Jeremy. “I’m sure your dreams will be more interesting as you relive my sex life through them.”

  A growl escapes her lips. She forgets her place. Jazz is the least dominant female in the Pack, but she struts around like she’s the Alpha female. She enjoys sleeping her way through the ranks like it’s a hobby.

  Jeremy interrupts, changing the subject before this conversation can be taken any further. “What are you doing out here? You’re not on patrol.”

  It’s a valid question. One, Jazz never patrols – a well-placed blow-job to the Alpha takes care of that - and two, it’s rare to see her place foot inside the woods, unless in wolf form. She doesn’t lift a finger to contribute in any way.

  “Craig asked me to see where you two disappeared to. He saw you go into the woods. You know how he is,” she replies, the picture of false innocence.

  Craig is a nosey bastard, so her excuse is valid. He’s also on the paranoid side, especially when he’s drunk.

  “Well, now that you know what we’re doing, you can run along and report back.” I wave my hands in a shooing motion before slipping my underwear and jeans on.

  Being effectively dismissed, she glares before turning on her high-heeled foot and returning the way she came. I release a pent-up sigh as soon as she’s out of earshot.

  Jeremy holds out his hand for me after I slip on my shoes. “You okay?” he asks, not one for big sentences.

  I take hold of his hand and we walk at a relaxing pace. Flint, Dyson, and Bre have yet to emerge from their kitchen duties.

  “Jazz? Sure.” I shrug. “She hits a nerve, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” I kick a stray stone and hear it bounce along the vegetation.

  He stops me and turns me to face him. Brushing his hand against my cheek, he says, “No, not about Jazz. You were quiet before. What’s on your mind?”

  I let out another sigh and fess up to my mate. It’s not like I can lie and brush it off. He’d feel it through our mating. “Brenna. I worry for her. This can’t keep going on, Jeremy. I don’t know how long I can keep my mouth shut.”

  A thoughtful look crosses his face. “Only when we hit rock bottom will we be able to push off and swim up.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to me?” I ask, after a short pause.

  He chuckles and drops his hand from my cheek. Pulling me close and resting my head against his chest, he explains. “It means this can only go on for so long until things will turn around. It won’t be like this forever. I refuse to believe that. Have some faith, Kels.”

  Content to keep my head resting here, I mull over his voiced thoughts. I agree with his theory, but he’s missing something. Things only ‘look up’ after something drastic happens to turn things around – when someone or something decide it’s had enough. There is no cosmic order. Drastic changes don’t happen on their own. They must be made to happen. Either a line will be crossed, or someone will have to step in and release us of this burden. I’m just worried who will get caught in the crossfire.

  Booming laughter reaches our ears before we hear the bantering of Flint and Dyson. I lift my head when they’re close and notice Bre several steps ahead of them, purpose in her step. I frown as she passes me, rolling her eyes. She’s in a mood, but I can’t blame her. Even I’m in a mood.

  Flint and Dyson continue their bickering behind Jeremy and me as we follow Brenna deeper into the trees.

  I curse as I trip over a twig while yanking my wet underwear from my sticky crotch. This is why I like having sex where there’s an easily accessible washroom.

  “Where are we going?” I grouch unnecessarily. “I thought we were letting our wolves run.”

  Bre doesn’t glance back when she responds, continuing with her march through the woods. “Not yet.”

  Jeremy and I continue our silence while Dyson and Flint, with no care in the world, banter about some chick they’re fighting over. Flint is the charmer of the two, so I have no doubts on who will get the girl.

  After a ten-minute hike through the trees, Bre stops by a boulder in the smallest of clearings.

  Flint bumps into my back and I whip around, frowning at him. He pays me no mind as his own brows are puckered on his forehead in confusion.

  “What the hell are we doing here?” he asks.

  “Shh,” Bre shushes. She glances around the trees and the rest of us follow suit.

  “What the hell are we looking for?” I whisper.

  Before she can answer, tree leaves wiggle in their branches and a large, burley, silhouette of a man, steps into the small clearing. Jeremy tries to push me behind him but I bat away his hand with an audible huff.

  Dyson, recognizing the man first, gasps. But it’s Flint who speaks. “Evo?” Flint takes a step forward.

  Evo’s familiar voice rumbles in greeting. “Hey.”

  My hand flies to my mouth. “Holy shit.”

  Evo is Craig’s only son. He left a few years ago to work for the FBI and hasn’t been home since. Frankly, I’m surprised Craig let him leave. Although I shouldn’t be – Craig is a weak Alpha. He struts his authority with a sadistic chip on his shoulder.

  I watch Bre fling her arms around Evo’s middle section. He engulfs her in a hug and she grunts in pain from the whip lashes marring her back.

  Evo pulls back, all expression void on his face. “Let me see them.”

  At first, Bre doesn’t move. But after a few moments, she gives in to his dominant vibes, turns her body, and lifts the back of her shirt. The anger coming from Evo is so thick I can taste it. My wolf whines at the dangerous and hostile vibes. Bre lowers her shirt before I can get a glimpse of the damage.

  “How are you here?” Jeremy asks, always the practical one.

  Evo glances at Jeremy, temporarily ignoring his question and walks to everyone, greeting each of us with one-armed hugs. He steps back in front of the group and folds his arms across his well-built chest. He has really grown up and gained himself some muscle working for the FBI.

  “Brenna called me,” he says in a matter of fact tone.

  Our heads swivel to Brenna. She quickly stuffs her hands into her pockets and glances at her toes.

  Dyson waves his hands in the air. “Wait – how did you get on the territory?”

  Evo shifts his gaze to him. “A well-placed call to Ben. He swapped patrol duty.”

  The lightbulb goes off in my head. That explains why Ben never showed up. I guess I assumed he didn’t want to come, like usual.

  I turn to Bre in disbelief. “So, all this time you had Evo’s contact information stored away like a squirrel with a nut?”

  I admit, it stung a little. We’ve all suffered and this whole time Evo was in reach to do something about it. Sure, it’s probably unfair that we place this burden on Evo’s shoulders, but he’s the only one who can possibly do something about it.

  Bre shrugs sheepishly. “I didn’t want the information in the wrong hands.”

  Flint chuckles behind me, always finding humor in odd situations. “Well, aren’t we two scoops of grumpy and a bowl of bitchy this evening,” he says to me.

  I cross my arms, glare, and turn back to Evo. I’d deal with my issues on this matter later. “What are you doing here?” I ask, accidently directing my anger toward him.

  Evo didn’t bat an eyelash at my attitude. “I came to challenge my father,” he says.

  Chapter Three

  Kelsey Rylend

  Shining behind my eyelids with its persistent wake-up call, the sun pulls me from my sleep. I groan before flinging my covers off me and crawl out of bed.

  After reli
eving myself and brushing my teeth, I make my way to our small kitchenette where my dad sits at the table reading a newspaper. He likes to keep up on human news. It’s a little hobby of his. A waste of time, but a hobby, nonetheless. I suppose that’s what all hobbies are: to occupy our free-time.

  Jeremy and I haven’t had the time to move into our own quarter together. Everything seems to be moving in fast-forward and we can’t seem to grasp the time to do so.

  Still nervous about last night’s admission, I quickly grab my cup of coffee and sit down at the table with my father. I impatiently wait for the brew to chill enough to drink while tapping my bare foot against the hardwood floor.

  My father lifts his eyes over the paper and quirks an eyebrow at me. The raised eyebrow creates wrinkles on his sun-aged skin and the all black hair that once covered his head is now sprinkled with gray.

  “Are we having issues this morning?” he asks after a moment of speculation to my anxiety.

  After talking with Evo last night, most of us were so consumed with our own thoughts that, when we finally let our wolves run together, they, too, were too stressed to play in the trees and chase the tiny creatures. They roamed around aimlessly, some attempting a playful attitude that was only half-hearted.

  I didn’t answer him, but instead, took a gulp of scalding hot coffee. “Where’s mom?”

  My father sets his paper down when I wince from the burn, and places his reading glasses on top of it. “She’s in the Alpha’s kitchen, preparing breakfast. She didn’t want to wake you since you were out late last night.” He pauses. “What’s going on, Kelsey.”

  Like a broken dam, the truth flows over my barrier of secrets and straight out my mouth. I’ve never been able to keep a secret. It’s such a flaw of mine that I actually prefer people not to tell me them at all.

  “Evo was on the property last night.” I take another sip, my lips creating a sharp line as I begrudgingly swallow the hot liquid.

  He remains stalk still, never one for over-reactions…at least he never shows it. “And what was he doing here?” he inquires.

  I tuck my chin in and look at him from under my eyelashes. “He’s going to challenge Craig.”

  This time, I do receive a reaction. He sucks in a quiet breath, hope lighting his eyes before it quickly vanishes. “You must keep this to yourself, Kelsey. If word gets out, if our Alpha finds out…this kind of information and rebellious behavior will be punishable by death.” He reaches out his large hand and takes mine inside it. Worry lines crease his forehead.

  “I’m not the only who knows.”

  He holds up a hand, effectively cutting me off, and closes his eyes. “I don’t want to know who else is privy to this information. You keep this to yourself. All of it. Don’t go down for this, Kelsey. What happens, will happen.”

  My father and I have a similar thought processes. But it won’t be as easy as he makes it sound. I see a future in the hands of Evo. We just have to get it there somehow. Life and happiness would be possible under his care as Alpha male.

  My father breaks off my thoughts. “Why don’t you go help your mother in the kitchen.” He leans back in his chair, places his glasses back over his nose, and picks the paper back up. If anyone were to walk in, they’d have no idea of the conversation we just had. They wouldn’t be able to read it on his face. My father is excellent at masking his feelings. I wish I picked that up from him. Unfortunately, I got my mother’s lack of mind to mouth filter.

  I watch him for a moment before I go to my bedroom, swap out clothes, and head toward the Alpha house, leaving him to his hobby.

  After breakfast, our little group, including Ben this time, sit on the front porch of the Alpha quarters, chatting and laughing away while the rain pounds the grass and the thunder rumbles overhead. The front door slams against the siding and we jump, interrupted by Craig flying through the entrance and searching with wild eyes. His eyes land on me and he stomps in our direction. A small group follows him out, curiosity and fright on their facial features. Except for Craig’s followers who have smug grins.

  Craig stops in front of me, his hands shaking in anger. My wolf shrinks away inside me while I do my best to not appear shaken on the outside.

  After a moment of his maliciously evil glare, he grabs me by the shirt and yanks me to my feet. Jeremy stands up behind me. Through our mating, I can feel his anger on my behalf for such treatment.

  Craig brings me to his face, spittle hitting my skin as he speaks. “You conspire against me,” he growls. “You bring my son here, where he plans to take my place as Alpha, and you expect to get away with it? You expect to live?” he shouts his rhetorical questions.

  Shocked to my bones, I remain silent. At this point, speaking will only do more harm. Instead of outing Bre, I keep it to myself that I wasn’t the one who called him here. She’s had enough beatings and I know she wouldn’t survive another one.

  I square my chin the best I can manage under his hold. Craig roars at my defiant behavior and throws me over the railing of the porch and into the rain. I land with a thud on the mushy grass.

  Taking a few deep breaths before I glance back at the balcony, I see Jeremy and Craig. Craig has Jeremy by the throat and uses his Alpha Command instructing him not to react. Once an Alpha Command is given, it’s very hard not to obey. Since Jeremy isn’t a dominant wolf, he has no choice.

  My father and mother rush out the door, and my father grabs my mother before she can travel the steps and aid me. My father’s eyes well with tears. I give him a small nod for his efforts in detaining my mother. This is my battle and I’ll accept what comes. If I must be the example of rebellion, so be it.

  I make my way to my feet as Craig thunders down the steps. The entire Pack is gathered on the porch, some even in the grass. Their shirts instantly soak with rain. Lightening cracks and thunder follows directly before Craig stands in front of me.

  “Your deed is punishable by death, little girl,” he sneers before disrobing his clothes. “You will not shift,” he whispers his Alpha Command.

  It is customary that the Alpha deliver the death sentence in his wolf form while the treasonous wolf shifter remains in human form. This is to ensure the death of those accused.

  I take a few steps back as I watch his bones crack and reshape, a mousy gray wolf taking his place. A snarl escapes the wolf’s mouth as he stalks in my retreating direction.

  I glance back at the balcony and note the recognizable smug smile on Jazz’s lips for what it is. That bitch – I’d put money down that she followed us to Evo and decided this would be the way to get back at me. Even if I live through this, I’ll have absolutely no evidence to hold against her.

  The wolf lunges at me and my breath seizes in my chest. A blur of white slams into the gray wolf. My eyes adjust and I watch as a white wolf - Brenna’s wolf - stands on all fours, snarling at her father’s wolf.

  Quick to lunge to his feet, Craig’s gray wolf growls a warning and paws the soaked ground. Bre’s wolf places herself in front of me before any fighting can be done, and a howl sounds at the edge of the woods.

  I whip my head in the direction of the sound. A massive white wolf, the exact shade as Brenna’s, emerges from the tree line. He takes carefully measured steps as he walks, snarling and heading in our direction.

  “Evo,” my whisper lost in the cracking of clouds.

  His wolf glances in my direction before circling the shocked-still gray wolf. Gathering his wits, the gray wolf shakes his fur and watches the white wolf circle him, his fierce growl audible above the thunder.

  By now, I’m soaked in rain and I begin to shiver from the cold breeze and crippling fear. Warm, harsh breath escape my mouth and mists through the air, fighting against the raindrops and quickly dissipating.

  My eyes land on Jeremy underneath the shelter of the porch, still stuck where he was demanded to stay. His worried eyes remain on me. I blink slowly, or at least it feels that way. Everything se
ems to be happening in slow motion. Even my breaths seem louder than usual.

  Evo’s white wolf stops in front of Craig’s gray wolf. He stands tall, much taller than the gray wolf. His body posture remains still and sure.

  Bucking at the show of dominance, the gray wolf snarls before he lunges. Quicker than my sharp eyes can process, the white wolf grasps the gray wolf by the neck with his teeth and throws him to the side.

  The white wolf remains where he is, but pivots his position so he faces the gray wolf. The gray wolf rises to his feet. Blood seeps from the bite wound around his neck and drips to the ground. The red droplets are a stark contrast to the clear raindrops, but quickly mixing. The gray wolf circles the white wolf, trying to find an edge of weakness where there is none. The white wolf is a statue of power.

  Craig’s gray wolf snarls before reaching his head forward, trying to gain purchase on the white wolf’s leg. The white wolf side steps before pouncing. They tumble through the grass, as earth-moving thunder conceals the sound of their snarls as they roll.

  The ball of two wolves head in my direction. Bre’s wolf nudges me back with her shoulder. Together, we take the necessary steps backward, water seeping into my shoes and soaking my socks as we step into a dip in the grass where a puddle has formed. Too consumed with the challenge, I don’t cringe at the sensation.

  The rolling stops, the white wolf pinning the gray wolf to the ground. A few blood-smeared bites are evident against the white fur, but not as many wounds as his opponent has.

  The white wolf snarls in the face of the gray wolf, a warning to surrender. He defies the warning and tries to gain purchase by attempting to bite the white wolf on the neck.

  As quickly as a lashing snake, the white wolf grabs hold of the gray wolf’s neck, his teeth slice into the fur and skin. Blood oozes quickly from the struggling wolf’s neck.

  The white wolf places a back paw on top of his opponents exposed abdomen and slowly rakes his claws across the surface. Momentarily, I look away, not wanting to see the deadly move and the guts and blood that will surely follow.