by Leah Silver
“I’m fine with a good walk in the fresh air.”
“Then what are you groaning about?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Since you’re about to be in my pack, I believe I do need to worry about it.”
I stopped and looked her square in the eye. “You’re overstepping, little alpha. I am not, nor will I ever be, in your pack. I already have a pack. If you follow any kind of code, you should know better than to pilfer members from other packs. That will never go well for you. How would you trust your pack members?”
“Pilfer, huh? Nice. What I do is a bit more elegant than that.”
“Prey on the weak. That’s all I’m seeing here. Doesn’t take much finesse for that.” I turned and continued again, as did the rest of the pack. The downtown area was thinning, and we were walking to more of a residential setting. Soon, we’d come to the woods, and we’d get down to business. Good. I was getting antsy.
“I’m glad you know your place in the rankings among the weak, beta, because I intend to prey on you.”
My jaw ticked, but I said nothing. Let her think I was weak. Her arrogance would be her downfall in the end.
The longer this went on, though, and the deeper she got under my skin, the more I was beginning to realize I wouldn’t get out of this without bloodshed. But I hoped it would only be hers. Her pack was weak. And they wouldn’t fight me when I defeated her.
“For Bael’s sake, where is your den? We’ve been walking long enough,” I said when frustration got the better of me.
“Oh, I’m not taking you to our den. I’m taking you to the home of an old friend.”
I stopped. “Why?”
“Because we watch over it for her now that she’s gone.”
“Where did she go?” And why did this feel like another story of preying on the weak that I didn’t really want to hear?
“She’s gone beyond the void. I don’t think she’ll be back.” She said it so smugly I honestly had to restrain myself from going after her right then.
“Ah, here we are.”
The home was unremarkable. A white picket fence marked the lot line all the way out to the sidewalk. The old slat-board home was set back on the lot with a long sidewalk leading to the front porch. White columns held up the overhanging roof. Two huge oak trees dripping with Spanish moss made the yard very shady. It had an almost woodsy feel.
“Come on inside, won’t you?”
I groaned. Indoor fights were more difficult. Harder to control with so many obstacles. Outside was better. And she knew it. She thought she could restrain me. What gave her so much arrogance? Her pack of weaklings? It was hard telling what made some people tick. For someone like Merry, I liked to put in the time to find out. But for this arrogant alpha, I had zero interest.
The thought of Merry gave me a sense of urgency, knowing she’d be worried sick and doubling back to where we’d left Ed, but finding neither of us. I shook my head, frustrated with this little detour.
“I don’t really have time for this. If you’d get to your purpose for me quickly, so I can reject it and get on my way, I’d appreciate it,” I suggested.
“A cut-to-the-chase kind of man, I see. I like it,” the alpha said. She turned to one of her betas. “Why don’t you bring us some tea?” The girl was young, maybe early twenties. By the way she nodded so quickly and disappeared inside, I wondered if she’d been abused by this alpha.
“What did you say your name was?” the alpha asked me after we climbed the porch steps. She sat down in a rocking chair that faced the front yard.
“I didn’t.”
I leaned against the porch rail, facing her, keeping a standing position above her. I’d take every opportunity to display dominance over her I could get. Unfortunately, she wasn’t intimidated in the least. She acted like she hadn’t even noticed.
“Fine. My name is Julie. Obviously, you’ve figured out I’m the alpha here. I’d like you to be a member of my pack. A strong member of my pack.”
“I appreciate that you made that sound like an offer I had a choice in, but I will have to politely decline.”
“What if I can give you something in return?”
“I don’t want whatever you’re selling.” I turned to leave, testing her, wanting to see how far she would let me go.
“I have information about patient zero.”
Of all the things I expected her to say, that sure as the moon wasn’t it. “Why would I care about patient zero? She’s dead. We have everything we’re going to get from her already.” Not to mention how this wolf had even known about patient zero, and why did she think I would care? Not that our mission was classified top secret, but I did know the council was limiting the release of information to try to prevent a panic. So how did she know…unless she was working for the other side.
Instantly, my guard was up even higher as she eyed me like a fox surveyed its next meal.
“I know why she was patient zero.”
“What difference does the why make?” I asked, knowing it could make all the difference.
“Join my pack, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“Nope. That price is a bit too high, my dear. Have a nice life.” I strolled off the front porch, wondering just how far she’d let me get.
As it turned out, not very far. “That’s a shame, beta. I had hoped you’d work with me.”
I heard her coming. Her footfalls were as heavy as a damned ten-foot troll. I spun and faced her—now a medium-sized totally white wolf. She lunged at me, and I caught her. Using her momentum, I rolled to my back and tossed her behind me.
She landed hard and righted herself. I didn’t shift. I didn’t want to fight her.
“What did I say to you that gave you the impression I’d work with you? Was it when I said I didn’t want to join your pack? Or when I said I didn’t like how you preyed on the weak? Or maybe it was when I said I’d be going? So many mixed messages, huh?”
She righted herself and growled. The other wolves were circling the wagons now, having shifted, too. They barked and growled at our fight. I sighed. They didn’t want what I wanted. They demanded blood. Mine. And unfortunately for them, I wouldn’t let them have it.
I shifted quickly, letting the wolf take hold, and the world around me changed as it always did in my wolf form. Scents were even stronger than they were when I was human. Sounds were louder. The breeze ruffled my fur, making me alert to every wolf that surrounded me.
I growled at the alpha. She growled back, as if she were saying ‘come at me’. Deciding to take her invitation, I ran at her, sighting a tender spot on her neck. I’d get her on her back using that one weak point.
But something happened before I got to her. The ground went out from under me, and I was falling into darkness. I landed hard on my side, yelping at the sudden shock of pain. She glared down at me, back in her human form once again.
“You should’ve sided with me,” she said before closing the trap door above me.
I’m not a mailman, so don’t make me go postal on your ass
Wasn’t this a fine load of goblin shit? The pit she dumped me in was completely dark and silent, save for my own breathing. For the moment, I decided to stay in my wolf form, hoping it would give me an edge, possibly help me hear someone coming.
When the moments turned into what felt like hours and the darkness didn’t let up, I decided it was time to shift and call Merry. By Merry, I meant Oscar. Merry would flip her shit.
Much as I hated to admit it, calling for rescue was the fastest way out that I could see. This stupid little pack would be no match for Oscar and Merry, no matter how many trap-door tricks they had up their sleeves.
One thing stayed my hand as I took out my phone. The alpha knew about patient zero. What if they’d trapped me to lure Merry to them? If the alpha was working for the other side, she could potentially put an end to the super race’s opposition once and for all.
No. I co
uldn’t let that happen. I put my phone back in my pocket, grateful the human myths about clothes disappearing when shifting wasn’t true. Werewolf magic went deeper than just our skin. When we shifted, our clothes became part of our fur. Like the downy undercoat. When we shifted back, they returned to their original state.
All right, so, if I didn’t call for backup, how in Bael’s name was I going to get out of this mess? Deciding to use my phone for a light source, I took it back out and flipped on the flashlight. It didn’t reveal much. The chamber was small. Maybe six feet by six feet. Too wide to grapple up the sides, but too narrow to really stretch out if I wanted to lie down.
The sides appeared to be sheet metal, as did the floor. Too slick to get a grip on it. The ceiling was at least six feet out of my reach. As I contemplated options—it seemed I had none—the trap door opened. Something fell into the chamber, hitting me square in the face.
“Thought you might be hungry, beta. Let me know when you’re ready to talk,” the alpha said.
It was a steak, but I didn’t trust it. What had she laced it with? Despite how my stomach growled at the smell, I didn’t eat it. I worked to wipe my face clean, fearing whatever she put on it would get into my body through my eyes, or I’d lick it off my face or something. I didn’t need to be incapacitated. The Mother knew what that psycho would do to me if she had full control.
Two more times, she threw steak down to me, and I ignored it. The last time, she deliberately hit me rather than dropping it, throwing it at me without a word. I considered it a win. She was trying to break me. Instead, I was breaking her.
The last time the door opened, all I heard was “Get him out of there,” before a rope was tossed down into the chamber.
“Why should I come out? As far as I can tell, I’m at the advantage,” I called.
“Just get your ass out of there. Now,” the alpha said. The rope jumped around, as if whoever was holding it was trying to entice me with it.
I shook my head, knowing I didn’t have much choice. I couldn’t stay down in the hole forever. If I could gain control topside, I’d be in better shape.
Reluctantly, and not liking my options much, I took the rope and climbed out. Turned out, there were three females and one male at the end of it, all sweating from the effort of holding it for me when I crested the top of the hole. I patted the closest one on the shoulder. “Thanks,” I said.
She smiled meekly, but quickly stared at her feet when she caught the alpha glaring.
I shook my head. “What do you want?”
“To talk.”
“Fine. State your business. Calmly this time.”
She growled, but she stayed in her human form. “How dare you command me?”
“You have to admit, you’re not much of an alpha if your pack is made up of weaklings. A true pack should have a few who could give the alpha a run for their money, but who choose not to because they are loyal. A pack like that can never be overrun. A pack like yours could be picked off so easily I don’t understand why you’re still whole.” As I watched her, something in my mind clicked into place. “You’re being protected, aren’t you? By them. The ones creating the plague.”
A wry smile spread across her face, making her even less attractive. She thought she’d win this. “You’re not so dumb after all,” she said.
“I never pretended to be dumb in the first place.” Son of a motherless gravedigger. This super race had their hands in everything and everyone. “Tell me something, what do you give in exchange for this protection?”
“We guard this house.” So what was so special about it? “But they’ve asked us to expand our duties. We need a runner. That’s where you come in. You’re stronger than the rest of my pack. You could do it easily.”
I shook my head, but she held up her hands. “Hear me out. Do one delivery for us, and I’ll let you go. No fighting, which I believe is what you want. While you’re doing it, I’ll find someone else to do the deliveries.”
My eyes narrowed. Would she really let me go after I did one delivery?
“What do you need delivered, and to where?”
Her eyes brightened, as if she thought I was considering it. “We need a box dropped at a certain address.”
“What’s in the box?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. We know better than to ask questions. Just do it, and you’re free to go. Without bloodshed.”
“If I refuse, it will be your blood that is shed.”
“I know you don’t want that.”
I glared. As much as I hated how manipulative she was, she was right. I didn’t want to hurt her. Most of all, I didn’t want to hurt anyone in her pack.
“How far away is this address?”
“Washington.”
“What?” I yelled, and I could swear I saw her cringe. Was she afraid of me? Good. She should be. I was stronger than her. Yet, our struggle for control still wasn’t decided. If I did this for her, was she in control, or was I?
Bottom line, I didn’t have time for this shit. Especially not to be gallivanting across the damned country. “No. No way. I’m not going that far without my pack.”
“How do you know they’re even still here? They haven’t come looking for you. You’ve been here with me almost all day.”
She wasn’t wrong. The daylight was starting to wane, and Merry was probably worried sick. And by worried sick, I meant madder than a damned pixie who had its ass smacked with a stick.
“I know,” I said through my barely controlled anger toward her.
“Fine. They know. Make the trip out to Washington and back tonight, and you can be reunited with them in the morning.”
“Or wipe out your whole pack right now and go.”
She tensed, believing me. “I wouldn’t recommend that.”
“And why not?”
“There’s more here than just us.” Was that a threat or a warning? As I watched her, she guarded her face, making it hard to tell what she’d meant.
“I’m not going to Washington.”
“Fine. Perhaps a compromise?”
“I’m sorry. I thought that was the compromise.”
A light insincere chuckle escaped her. “You play a hard game, beta.” It felt like she called me beta to remind herself who was in charge, not me. “Two deliveries then, to a drop-off point here in town. The goblins can take it from there.”
My ears perked up. “Goblins?”
She nodded. “Sometimes, they’ll do an odd job for us. For a price.”
“Nothing comes free with the goblins.”
“Do we have a deal?”
I considered for a moment. The opportunity to get face to face with the goblins was too good to pass up. Maybe I could have Merry and Oscar meet me at the drop-off point. Tell them what was going on. Definitely tell them to stay back, since this pack was deeply entrenched with the enemy. Although, the more the alpha backed down, the more I felt like she hadn’t selected me deliberately. Or was that just a ploy? Maybe she had picked me deliberately because she thought she could control me. Now that she knew she couldn’t, she was on damage control. Who knew?
That was exactly why I liked Merry. There wasn’t any guessing where she was concerned. She let people have a piece of her mind the moment the thought flitted into her head.
“One question. Why can’t I deliver both packages at once to the drop-off point?”
The alpha shifted. “Because we don’t have both. We only have one.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. How long did she expect me to wait around? I might as well jaunt up to Washington if it was going to be faster. I narrowed my eyes. “I agree to both drops on one condition. The second must be ready by the time I come back from the first.”
“Fair enough.” She stuck out her hand. I crossed the distance between us and shook it.
“Don’t make me regret this,” I threatened.
“Ditto,” she said, but her eyes were filled with fear. What was she so afraid of suddenly
? And why did I have a sinking feeling I didn’t want to find out?
The Jolly Green Giant is a cunt cake, and so are his sprouts
“Follow me,” she said, brushing past me toward the house.
I cleared the stairs in a single step, and then followed her past the threshold. It looked like a standard New Orleans home on the inside. Very southern with some floral touches. A crystal vase with fresh flowers in it sat on a table.
“How long did you say the owner had been gone?”
“A little over a week, I think.” I could tell she was being deliberately vague.
“When will she be back?”
“She won’t.”
I didn’t press the issue further. Frankly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what her pack had done to the poor human. A photograph of a woman holding a snowboard sat on the mantle as we walked through the room, but the alpha breezed past so quickly I didn’t get a good look at it.
“This way.” We walked to a white door in the hall. “Down here.” She hesitated, and I wondered what we were waiting for. “Before we go down here, you need to not ask questions. Just get the box and go.”
“You know who I work for right? I mean, I told you I was with the council. There’s no chance I won’t tell them about what I find down there.”
She frowned. “Fine. Wait here.”
Now it was my turn to frown. She’d made whatever was down there sound rather enticing. Oh, well. I made a mental note to go sneaking around down there later. Maybe with the rest of my pack. If I ever could find Ed, that son of a dick weasel.
I sighed, my list of problems growing by the minute, with little time to check any of them off. It wasn’t how I liked to run things. I preferred a much more controlled approach. But nothing about this whole plague was controlled. It was all reactive. And there wasn’t much we could do about that, except be frustrated about it.
Action was what I needed. And that started with delivering this mystery package to the drop-off point. I’d get them both done tonight and be back in Merry’s arms before morning. Anything I could find out about the goblins in the process was icing on the cake. It would certainly help diffuse Merry’s anger at my absence.