by E. J. Powell
“We don’t do anything until they make their move first. We need Agnes, but I’m not about to take on the strongest alpha in existence. If we have to leave, we will.”
Robb nodded as his father left to go back into Jessie’s room. He walked over to the couch and sat down, letting his head fall back. He looked up at the ceiling before he closed his eyes. His sister meant the world to him. And he would take on the world to keep her safe.
CHAPTER 4
Rocco looked at the human in front of him. Completely naked, the woman bent over the bed, her ass hanging in the air. Now that was a sight to see. Her long legs were thin as they stretched down from her back. He unzipped his jeans and let them fall to the floor. He walked over and smacked the prostitute’s ass hard enough to leave a mark. The whore yelped, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t pay her to talk. He was just about to pummel the woman into oblivion when his phone rang. He let out a growl as he reached down and pulled out his phone. Fuck. Not the number he wanted to see. The only number he would ever stop fucking for.
“Yes,” he answered shortly.
“Am I interrupting you?” the deep voice said over the phone.
“Would it matter?”
“No. I need you to find someone for me.”
“I’m off duty.”
“You’re never off duty for me. Or would you like me to take back those powers I gave you?”
“I am at your service.”
“I need you to bring me a girl.”
“Getting lonely in your dark cave?”
“She needs to be brought to me alive,” the voice continued, ignoring him.
“Where can I find her?”
“New Orleans.”
“You will have to be more specific. There are a lot of people in New Orleans.”
“She’s a wolf.”
The only female wolf Rocco knew that was in New Orleans was Ashley. She was the most powerful werewolf in existence. Even with his powers, Rocco didn’t stand a chance.
“You want the Gregorian?”
The deep voice let out a laugh.
“No. I want a different wolf. She’s… special.”
“How am I supposed to find her? I don’t have her scent.”
“You won’t need it. She’s the daughter of an old friend of yours. You remember your brother Rickon?”
Rocco let out a growl so fierce the whore jumped from the bed.
“I can find him,” Rocco said.
“Good. Bring the girl to me. Remember, I want her alive. I don’t care about the rest of them.”
The line went dead. Rocco tossed the phone back to his jeans on the floor. He hadn’t seen his brother in a very long time. Not since Rickon had banished him from the pack after their father died. Now, he would like nothing more than to make him pay. And he will pay with his blood.
Rocco looked back at the whore. She was already up and getting dressed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he said. She was trembling as she looked at him.
“I think I should go.” She glanced to his hands which were now claws. He let out a laugh. “I-I-I won’t say anything. Please, just let me go.”
“No. I haven’t had dinner yet.”
Her screams echoed through the motel room as he tore into her flesh. He should have had his fun first, but then again, only cats played with their food.
CHAPTER 5
“What’s up with you?”
Daniel looked up from his drum set to see Boyd standing in front of him. At six foot five, Boyd was taller than him and Daniel had to crane his neck to look up at the blue-eyed Dark Lord.
“Nothing. Why you ask?”
“I don’t know. You seem a little lost in thought.”
Daniel let out a laugh. “Just planning my next prank.”
“You never think that hard about your pranks.”
Boyd stared him down as he wrapped the chord of his mike around his bulging arm. For a man that almost never works out, he was well off in the muscle department. Daniel went back to tightening his snare drum.
“Have you heard from Jessie yet?”
“She’s still resting,” Daniel replied. “Rickon let me come over for few minutes, but she was still really tired. Rickon wouldn’t let me stay long.”
“I’m sure she will be fine, Daniel.”
“Yeah, it’s just…never mind.” Daniel went back to his drum set.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing,” Daniel said.
“Come on, dude. How long have we been friends? Three, no, four hundred years? You know you can talk to me.”
Daniel stopped and looked up at Boyd.
“You know I’ve never really had a problem with the ladies,” Daniel said.
“Yeah.”
“Well, with Jessie, I don’t know, it’s just different.”
“Different?”
“It just is. I can’t seem to get it right. If we’re alone, it’s usually in places like the back alley. Not a very romantic spot.”
“Romance?” Boyd asked, putting the coiled chord in the box. “When have you ever cared about doing it in the back alley?”
“Never… until now. I just want it to be special.”
“Wait, you haven’t had sex with Jessie yet?” Daniel shook his head as he looked at the surprise on Boyd’s face.
“No. Like I said, I want it to be somewhere other than a back alley and preferably where my brothers, or hers, won’t walk in.”
“I think I can help you with that.” Boyd reached in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He unclasped one from the keyring before putting the keys back in his jeans. “Here.”
Daniel took the key and looked at Boyd.
“It’s to an apartment in the Quarter. I’ve been renovating it.”
“You moving out?”
“No. Maybe. I just bought it thinking more of flipping it. It’s nearly done. 620 Decatur Street. Apartment B.”
“Thanks!”
“No problem, although, if you don’t mind, keep it between us.”
“Yeah, sure thing.”
Boyd jumped down from the stage. “Oh, and no pranks, please,” he said, turning back to Daniel. “I would prefer not to find the furniture welded to the floor, or a bucket of paint strapped to the top of the front door.”
“What? Those were some of my best pranks. Ashley nearly threw her back out trying to move those stools by the bar.”
Boyd shook his head as he walked upstairs. Daniel looked back at the key in his hand. Now he had somewhere to take Jessie. He just needed to find a time to do it. He put the key in his pocket as he stood from behind his drums. He would do it tonight, but he was supposed to play. As the drummer in the house band, his absence would be noticed. Maybe tomorrow tonight? The bar would be open, so his family would be distracted. And if he could get Robb and Justin here to drink, they wouldn’t even notice their sister was gone. The band wasn’t scheduled to play tomorrow, so nobody would miss him. That just might work.
Daniel looked up as he heard the door open. Sunlight flooded into the bar as a man stood in the doorway.
“We aren’t open yet,” Daniel called out, heading to the stairs. “Come back tonight.”
“We aren’t looking to party.”
Daniel stopped and took a look at the man. He was tall with long brown hair. His aviator glasses were still on his face. His jeans were dark and his white T-shirt was dirty under his black leather jacket. Daniel breathed in deep as the man walked into the bar followed by three more. All wore leather jackets and dark jeans, and they still had their sunglasses on. Daniel could smell the blood on their clothes as they stepped farther into the bar. And then he caught their scent. They were werewolves.
Another pack has come to town, and from the looks of them, and the scent of blood that drifted around them, Daniel knew they weren’t going to be as friendly as Jessie’s pack.
“I said we are closed.” Daniel crossed his arms and stared down the new pack.
“I
didn’t think it was true,” one of the other men said as he took off his glasses. His pupils reflected the bar light like a canine. “A werewolf owned business. I guess a wolf can be tamed.”
“Leave or you will find that I’m not so tame,” Daniel said.
The first man let out a laugh, as did the other three. They slowly walked around, two of them making their way behind Daniel.
“I’m Rocco,” the man said. “This is Baxter,” pointing to the one who had taken off his glasses. “And Blu and Cash. We’re looking for someone. He’s about six one with brown hair. Goes by the name Rickon.”
“Haven’t heard of him. Now get out.”
“No need to be rude. I just want to talk to him.”
Daniel glanced around as the four men circled him. The ones called Blu and Cash made their way behind him. He looked back to the leader. How they knew Rickon, he wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t about to tell them anything.
“Like I said, I haven’t heard of him, and we’re closed.”
“You own this place?” Baxter asked. His dirty hand swept across the top of the bar.
“Me and my pack.”
“But I’m guessing you’re not the alpha.” He turned to Daniel. “You don’t smell like an alpha.”
“My sister is.”
“Sister? A woman alpha? You’re not just tamed, boy, but whipped as well.”
“Leave, or I will show you what whipped looks like.”
The man cracked a smile, but it held no joy. His canines were elongated, showing Daniel that this guy was more wolf than man. A pack that was more in tune with their wolf side tended be more dangerous. They were more rabid, and this man stunk of the wild.
Daniel stared as the man stared back. It felt like minutes, although, it was only seconds. And then he saw the man look to his left. Daniel quickly ducked as a fist from behind passed over his head. He turned on a dime and kicked Blu in the chest. Cash launched for him, but Daniel side stepped and grabbed the man by the collar, slinging him back into the wall. Baxter grabbed Daniel’s shoulder and slung him to the ground. Daniel kicked him back and then leapt to his feet, punching Baxter in the face. Blu grabbed his arm before he could land another punch, but Daniel head butted him back. He then elbowed Cash as he tried to grab him again.
Rocco swung his fist into Daniel’s side and Daniel doubled over as his kidney screamed in pain. Rocco was stronger than the other three combined and Daniel felt it as Rocco slammed his fist into Daniel’s jaw. The pop was loud and the pain even louder. Blu kicked him in the back, jutting Daniel forward right into Cash’s fist. Blood filled Daniel’s mouth as he spat it out. He felt his arm get pinned behind him as his face slammed into the bar top.
“Where is Rickon?!” Rocco shouted.
“Like I said,” Daniel managed to wince out as his face was pushed farther into the bar. “Never heard of him.”
“He’s lying,” Blu said. “I can smell Rickon on him, and a female.”
Daniel’s eyes flared.
“I’m going to give you one more chance,” Rocco said. “And then I’m going to rip off your head. Where is Rickon?”
They flipped Daniel over, Cash and Blu each holding one of Daniel’s arms. Daniel looked at Rocco as he spat more blood from his mouth.
“I told you I don’t know him.”
Rocco’s fist swung for him, landing in Daniel’s eye. He swung again and Daniel felt the hit in the side of his face. He had never felt a hit as hard as that before. At least not from anyone but Bender. He sucked in his breath as he tried to keep himself composed.
“You can do better than that,” Daniel said, righting himself back up. “My sister hits harder than you.”
Daniel felt the hit to his rib cage. He would have fallen over if Blu and Cash weren’t holding him up. Again and again Rocco hit him. The last one taking his breath away.
“Where is Rickon?!”
“Bite me,” Daniel said, spitting out more blood.
“If you wish.”
Daniel saw Rocco’s teeth headed for his neck. Daniel pushed back, freeing his arm. He swung his fist up and landed it in Rocco’s face. Rocco staggered back, blood seeping from his broken nose. The other three wolves looked to their leader before quickly securing Daniel’s arms back to his side.
“You will pay for that, mutt,” Rocco said, wiping his nose. He went to swing again, but his arm was caught in midair. Daniel cracked a smile as Rocco turned to see Bender standing behind him. Darion was by Daniel’s side in a second, sending Blu flying toward the wall. Cash was the next to go flying as Boyd then took his place. Baxter made to run, but Torrick sent a right hook into the wolf and sent him flying to the floor.
“What is this?” Rocco asked. His arm was still caught in Bender’s grasp.
“This is my bar,” Ashley said, coming up beside Daniel. “And this is my brother.”
“So you’re the female alpha,” Rocco said. “I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re hotter than I would have thought.”
Daniel saw Darion move to Rocco’s side. He ripped him from Bender’s grasp and slammed him into the table, pinning him down.
“You must be her mate,” Rocco spat out. “Figures you would be human.”
“I’m not human,” Darion said. “I’m a Dark Lord, and you’re trespassing.”
“Dark Lord?” Daniel could see the surprise in Rocco’s eyes before his eyes went cold.
“And I’m not just an alpha,” Ashley said, coming up beside Darion. “I’m Ashley Gregorian, Alpha of Alphas. Now, get out of my bar.”
Darion let Rocco go as the four men scurried to the door. Before Rocco was out, he turned back to the bar. “Tell Rickon this isn’t over.”
Torrick pushed him the rest of the way out, slamming the door behind him.
“Are you okay?” Ashley asked, turning to Daniel. Daniel flexed his jaw, wiping the blood from his mouth.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“What was that all about?”
“They were looking for Rickon.”
“We need to let him know he has company,” Boyd said.
“On it,” Drew said, pulling out his phone.
“You should have called for help,” Torrick said, turning to Daniel. “I haven’t had a good fight in a while.”
“Nah, I had it,” Daniel said. “I was just about to make my move.”
“Yeah, right into his fist apparently.”
Daniel sat down on the stool and rubbed his sides. They were definitely going to bruise. He could already feel his eye and lip swelling.
“Why didn’t you shift?” Ashley asked, coming up beside him with an ice pack in her hand. She pushed it against the side of his face, not so gently.
“I like this shirt. I didn’t want to rip it by shifting.” Daniel took the ice pack from her hand and held it up himself.
“Yeah,” Boyd said. “It looks even better with your blood staining it.”
“Why were they looking for Rickon?” Ashley asked, ignoring Boyd.
“They didn’t say, but they caught Jessie’s scent on me.”
“You do reek of her,” Torrick commented. Daniel rolled his eyes.
“If Rickon is bringing more packs into the city, this could get bad,” Ashley said.
“They didn’t seem like friends of his,” Daniel said.
“Either way, we need to get this new pack out of New Orleans,” Ashley said. “Did you smell them? They’re wild. And wild Cambions don’t mix well in populated cities.”
“I doubt they will make much fuss,” Darion said. “Now that they know Dark Lords are here.”
“Still,” Ashley said. “I don’t want to chance it.”
“Okay,” Drew said, coming back to the group. “I can’t get a hold of Rickon, Robb or Justin. I left a message, but no one answered.”
“They’re probably out with the twins,” Gareth said. “Showing them how to be wolves and all.”
“Keep trying them, Drew,” Ashley said. “I want to know what this new pack
wants with him.”
Drew nodded and headed back upstairs, pushing buttons on his phone.
Ashley was right. They did need to know what this pack wanted, and Daniel needed to make sure Jessie was safe. Daniel walked into the kitchen and tossed the melting ice pack in the sink. His face felt like it had been hit by a train and his ribs were no better, but now was not the time to lick his wounds. He needed to see Jessie.
A couple of hours passed and there was still no word from Rickon yet. Drew, Boyd and Gareth were all trying to call him or anyone from his pack.
Daniel heard Ashley and the rest still talking in the bar. If he left now he could still make it back in time for the bar to open. He didn’t need to debate it. His mind was made up. He walked out the back door to his motorcycle and peeled out of the back alley.
***
Jessie woke with a pounding headache. She looked around her dark room and then out her window. The sky still had a tinge of color to it. She reached for her phone and saw some missed calls from Daniel, Boyd and Drew. She pushed her covers off as the pounding continued. It took her a minute to realize that it wasn’t in her head. Someone was pounding on the door. She stood up as the cold, wood floors touched her bare feet. She shuffled her way to the living room where the pounding grew louder.
“I’m coming!” Jessie shouted. “If you lost your key again, Justin, I’ll kill you myself.”
Jessie walked to the door and opened it. Expecting to see one of her brothers, or another member of her pack, she was caught off guard as the stranger stood in front of her. She could smell the werewolf in him instantly. He was tall and everything about him was dark. His brown hair was tied behind his neck and his aviators sat on his nose, hiding his eyes. His square jaw was covered in a five o’clock shadow.
Jessie instinctively took a step back. She peered behind the man, but there was no sign of anyone else around, including her family.
The man took a deep breath in. “You must be Rickon’s daughter.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Rocco. I was wondering if Rickon was around.”
“I’m sure he’s close,” she said. Something about this man didn’t sit well with her. Jessie was known to give people the benefit of the doubt, but right now, every warning alarm was echoing in her head. Jessie saw the man’s head tilt down, and although she couldn’t see his eyes, she could feel them on her.