Crimson Storm

by V L Moon

There against that broad chest, he finally let it all go. Scalding pain washed through him. Tears slid slowly down his cheeks as harsh sobs wracked him. He cried for Khadlyn and the atrocities life had dealt him. He cried at the loss of his hopes and dreams for a future with a male he loved more than anything. He cried because he hurt and the man who held him understood him and loved him anyway.

  Eventually, the turmoil roiling through him abated to a manageable level. Awareness returned to him. His father sat on the floor legs spread wide with Shaver cradled in his arms. Soothing words rained down around him as Gaelon rocked him. Gentle hands stroked his back. Shaver rested there a moment longer before sitting up.

  “I’m sorry. I …,”

  “You have no reason to be sorry, Shay.” His father’s fingers tilted his chin up until their eyes met. Tear tracks lined his father’s face and wetness still glimmered in his eyes. “Your mother and I are always here for you. Nothing you ever do will stop us from loving you.” His father took a breath and exhaled slowly while dropping his hand. “You should go find your male. Tell him how you feel. He might surprise you.”

  Shaver shook his head. “I can’t.”

  “Your wolf has bonded with him.” It wasn’t a question, but Shaver nodded anyway.

  “Then you have to tell him. There will never be another for you.”

  “I know. It’s him. It has always been him.”

  “Shay…”

  Shaver stopped him with a weak chuckle. “I know, Dad. When you see something you want, reach for it. But this isn’t about just me. Khad has his own dreams, his own needs. I want him to be happy.”

  “Seems to me, every time his life gets chaotic, he turns to you.” Hope bloomed in Shaver’s chest, but he quickly smashed it back down into the darkness.

  “We’re best friends.”

  “All I’m saying is keep your eyes and heart open. He’s been in and out of our home since he arrived on the island. I’ve watched him, and you. Trust in what you feel. Believe, Shaver. Hope does wonders for the soul. Now, I have a cradle to finish.” Gaelon surged easily to his feet and offered Shaver a hand up. Clasping it, Shaver rose and was pulled close in a last hug. His father’s nose ran along the back of Shaver’s ear. “I love you, son.”

  Shaver clutched the back of his father’ shirt and nodded against his shoulder. “Love you too, Dad.” He broke away and rubbed his fingers against his gritty eyes. “I’m going to the house and catch some sleep. Alexa gave me the night off.”

  “I’ll be up later to start dinner. My night to cook.”

  “I can throw something together if you’d rather work longer.”

  His father laughed. Loudly. “I want to eat dinner tonight, not pry it off of my plate.”

  Shaver grinned and waved before backing out of the door. He couldn’t cook for shit no matter how hard he tried. Jogging the short distance to the house, he let himself in and went straight to his bedroom. He glanced around at the trinkets and posters from his childhood. Amidst his things, Khad’s few mementos lay scattered about. Their room. Shaver rarely if ever thought of it as only his room, not since Khad had first climbed through the window. Sighing, he stripped and lay down on the bed. He thought about calling Khad. But, exhausted from the tension at Iniquity and the overwhelming emotional outpouring, Shaver’s eyes drifted closed.

  ~*~*~*~

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  ~*~*~*~

  The temperature inside of the bar plummeted. Their time was up; their cover had been blown. Alexa wasn’t surprised. She’d half expected Trenton to arrive earlier considering the amount of food and the number of Nephilim fighters Jorn had sent their way.

  Seeing the relief on the faces of the people she loved was well worth the confrontation that was about to take place. However, when an unfamiliar cloak fell over Trenton’s signature scent of bitter disdain, Alexa growled. The scent of a stranger accompanied her father’s scent. The wolves were at the door and hungry for more than the food she had stored in the club.

  Static electricity hummed in the air. Its acrid stench taunted Alexa’s wolf. It howled in defiance of the stranger at their door. The danger surrounding the club fueled the rage of her wolf. It snarled against its containment and clawed against her skin. It wanted to fight, wanted to face the evil malevolence and sink its fangs into the stranger’s throat.

  “Damian, he’s here for a fight. If he wins, everything Jorn’s provided will be taken. We can’t stand by and let him take what rightfully belongs to the pack. Not again. We’ve both seen what he can do, what he's capable of doing. We've been there before too many times. We’ve come too far to back down. It has to be tonight.”

  Alexa didn’t fear a fight; in fact, she welcomed it with open arms. Alexa drew strength from her wolf, fed from her alpha power as it flooded her system. It nourished her with a raw unpolluted strength held only by those with the hereditary genes passed down from alpha to alpha. She felt strong and ready to tackle whatever awaited them.

  Hands tightened around her waist. A guttural snarl tore from Damian’s lips. “We do this now for our boys and for our pack.” Damian cocked his head, listening. The quick flick of his head released the fall of his hair. The aroma of his wolf, deep and musky with a subtle undercurrent of the pine woods and earth teased Alexa’s nose.

  His voice rumbled from low in his chest. The sound was deep, gravel rough and held a warning growl. “Lexi get Shay back here, this is gunna get rough.” He looked down at her from his towering height. She suddenly felt small and insignificant compared to his stature and size, until he cupped her face in the palm of just one of his hands. The tenderness he showered her with roused something inside of her heart. The strange sense of belonging grew with the need to claim. What the ever living fuck? No way.

  Mate…claim…blood…pack. Her wolf’s mantra chanted in her head. Maybe, if they’d found each other in a different time and place, she would have been his, rewarded him for his gentle manner and empowering strength. She never doubted her love for him. They were friends, had been all of their lives. Her wolf was confused. She’d been attracted to Sage.

  “Whatever you’re thinking about Lexi, hold the thought.” Damian's wicked grin glinted in his eyes, and for the briefest of moments, Alexa’s heart stuttered. Had he picked up her thoughts?

  “Fuck Damian, I can hear his thoughts. Whoever that motherfucker is, he’s out for blood. Teaming up with Trenton is feeding his need.” Alexa’s growl tore through the bar. She couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not with the pack’s safety hanging in the balance. Whatever her feelings were, they would have to wait.

  "Lexi, we don't have time to go into this now. Whoever is waiting out there will use our thoughts against us. We need to be strong; we need to be the team we always have been, regardless of our feelings and who they are for.”

  Damian's gaze met Alexa's disgruntled stare. The words had been said; the gauntlet had been thrown down. There was no mistaking their weight. Had Alexa just admitted that Damian was marked as hers? If so, then what of her feelings for Sage? Could an alpha be mated to two females? Alexa couldn’t contain the wry smirk from tilting her lips. Damian must have been listening to her deepest thoughts because that little revelation seemed to really lighten the big guy’s mood.

  Alexa tried with the casual and shrugged. Damian's face damn near split in two from the expanse of the grin painted across his handsome face. His mood was contagious. Even though they knew something bad was coming for them, Alexa couldn't help but feel empowered by the male’s love and acceptance.

  Fumbling with the high tech phone, Alexa hit speed dial for Shaver. She let it ring hoping impatiently he'd hear it. Shaver had been so sullen and quiet. They knew he missed Khad; they all did. Alexa feared for his wellbeing, especially considering the amount of time Shaver spent in his wolf form. When there was still no answer after the second attempt, she scrolled down her family list and once again hit send.

  Khad had said he’d be there should they need him. T
he only problem was Khad was in Rome. She listened to the ringing phone and watched as Damian paced. Her fists clenched and released to reveal the talon like claws of her seething wolf. She breathed a sigh of relief when Khad answered on speaker phone.

  “Khad. The shit is about to hit the fan with Trenton. He must have gotten wind of Jorn’s supplies. It’s about to go down. I know you can’t be here, but Shay’s gone AWOL and won’t answer my calls. I need you to call him. He went back to the island to see his parents. I’m worried about him and you’re probably the only one he’ll listen to. Tell him to get back to the club, or lay low until the storm blows over.” Alexa spoke fast, not knowing how much time they had.

  “Babe listen, I’m sorry. I know it sucks. I know you guys are trying to deal with a lot of personal issues, but I need him safe. Someone is with Trenton. They’re out for blood. No! Don’t come back. One way or another it will be over before you get on the plane. Yes, I promise. I’ll call you as soon as I can, just please call him, talk to him. He’s missing you. I have to go. Love you, kiddo.” Alexa cut the call. A part of her felt bad for calling and spoiling Khad’s time with his family, but this was his pack, too, his home. He needed to know.

  “Time to let loose, Damian,” Alexa whispered into the club’s silent interior. She squirmed as her body started the change and ground her ample breasts against the hard muscular skin of Damian's back. She pushed out her power and poured it into the hulking black mass of Damian's wolf. Alexa bowed as the surge of power rode through her veins in a searing rush of dominant bliss.

  Alexa changed with a triumphant howl. Her wolf charged to the surface and rammed against the wall of her mind. A feral growl ripped from her chest. Blood thundered in her ears as fur tore through her skin. Bristling with power, Alexa padded to where Damian eagerly awaited her. An ocean of power opened up between them. Its flow poured through their bond, heightening their senses and filling them both with untold strength.

  The loud crack of splintering wood preceded a deep challenging growl. It echoed through the dimly lit confines of Iniquity’s bar. Seconds later, the inner door was smashed from its hinges to reveal a male, fat with greed and bristling with the consumption of raw power. Alexa growled in displeasure. Hellacious malevolence lurked behind Trenton’s beady amber eyes.

  Energy radiated around the rotund male. It seeped from his skin, swirling out around him, as though searching, reaching out for the rest of her pack. Damian edged closer, fur bristling. Alexa drew in a small taste of the power leaching from Trenton’s pores. The power her father emanated wasn't his own. He could call himself an alpha all he damn well liked, but Alexa knew better. As she stood before him on four paws, she knew the whiplash of power coursing through his veins belonged to more than one wolf whose energy he'd stolen for his own.

  Such an abhorrent consumption of power from a pack broiled Alexa’s blood. How he could ravage the strength of his pack, leaving it weak and prone to attack. A howl strangled her. The yearning to protect her pack against such an abusive alpha coursed through her veins like a river of vengeful rage. Her muzzle curled away from her teeth. A lethal snarl rumbled from her chest as she exposed the full extent of her huge sharp teeth. Movement to the side of the hulking alpha's obese form proved her senses correct. Her father was a coward, and didn’t even possess the spine to face his own daughter alone.

  Alexa shifted to take a dominant stance right next to Damian. The black wolf bared his teeth at the stranger behind Trenton. Alexa moved forward, lithe in her wolf form and powerful. She took exception to being protected, but understood Damian's possessive need as they both stood their ground in an open challenge to the alpha at the door. The bastard that starved their families and raped his own pack. Their open defiance and rebuke enraged him. Neither of them cared. They stood their ground against the tyrant oppressor to protect their pack.

  Damian's aggression ran soul deep. It flowed in a bitter river of resentment. Damian snarled. Alexa edged in front of him to address Trenton.

  Well hello, Daddy dearest. I take it you've come for your latest payment of blood money. Or, is it the bounty you’re after. The supplies sent by the Summus himself. Did you know he was here? Standing right here in this very bar? He’s a really great guy. Couldn’t thank him enough for all of his help. I should warn you. He was more than a little interested to learn about Khad. You know, the blonde, the kid you claim to have found seventeen years ago. Well, it turns out Khad’s his son.”

  “You’re lying, you little bitch.”

  Alexa snarled at him again. There’s no reason for me to lie. Can you sense Khad? No? That’s because he’s not here. He’s in Rome at the vampire enclave. That’s right, Daddy-o. Your reign of terror is over. To say Jorn was pissed would be an understatement. He’s not going to let this go. He’ll be back. And, to make your night even peachier, I’m afraid your little trip has been wasted. If you expect me to hand over what Jorn had delivered here, you’re going to be disappointed. If you want it, you’ll have to come and take it. If you dare. Alexa challenged and watched as the scarred stranger backed away.

  Khurn, you’re neck deep in shit as it is. You back away now and you’ll be signing your own death warrant. You won’t have any allies in the wolf realm. Once we take care of this trash, we can challenge the Summus and take what’s ours. That bitch omega, Khad, their magic will be ours to do with as we please. Trenton roared. But the stranger shook out his ragged fur and took another step back. Eyes wary, he watched in fear to see if the Summus appeared.

  With Damian at her side, Alexa faced the monster that fathered her. The confrontation with Trenton couldn't have been more ill-timed, but true to his status as her best friend and ally, Damian had her back and gave her the strength she needed. But, this fight wasn’t hers. Damian would be the one risking his life to save the pack.

  Trenton snarled baring inch long fangs effectively drawing her from her thoughts. Power slammed into her as he took a step in her direction. Her wolf huffed, the ruff around her neck going stiff at the threat. Her own power surged through her bloodstream enhanced by adrenaline. Baring her teeth, she held her ground eyes full of contempt as he strutted across the dance floor. Beside her, Damian growled, a reverberating challenge to the other wolf. Alexa sidestepped to keep her position between the two males, and cocked a brow.

  Afraid my wolf's not interested in playing. You got something to say, spill it. Otherwise, get your ass out of my bar. This isn’t pack territory, and you have no cause to be here. She snapped her powerful jaws, eyes flaring in direct challenge.

  My, my. What a disrespectful way to address your father and your alpha. The mental reproof in his voice skated along her skin like razor blades. The wolf before her was in a dangerous mood. She felt the lightning stab of his mind against hers and braced her walls. She bared fangs and pawed the ground eager to pierce his skin with her teeth.

  Deliberately, she ignored Damian’s frustration at her taking the lead. Her eyes flicked to the small array of weakened male wolves shuddering behind Trenton. Apologetic eyes met hers before lowering in shame. Emaciated bodies trembled as Trenton sucked their life force from them fueling his alpha nature. Her heart ached for the men who stood against her. She knew they’d never have agreed to participate by choice. She tried to convey with a look her understanding, but after the first glance, they maintained their eye lock with the polished wood floor.

  Focusing on the lethal form of her father’s wolf, she struggled to find a solution that would get everyone out of the bar without bloodshed. She wasn’t ready for the take down; she’d wanted more time to prepare, to have a solid plan in place. By showing up in her bar, Trenton had forced their hand. She believed they could defeat him, but they needed the boys, needed the five of them together and strong. She had to stall.

  You were a sperm donor, nothing more. I’ve long since renounced you as my father. As for that thing you bought with you, he doesn’t deserve respect. Alexa seethed as another wash of power tainted by malevole
nce crawled over her skin. Barely resisting the urge to shudder in distaste, Alexa waited for the explosion.

  Instead, Trenton changed into his human form and swaggered butt ass naked to lean on the bar. “I want a Scotch on the rocks, make it a double.”

  Alexa followed suit, using the height of the bar to hide her transformation. She dressed quickly and grabbed an old pair of sweats and threw them in Trenton’s general direction. She had no clue what game he was playing, so she ordered Damian to remain in his wolf form.

  “You want to drink; you sport some green. This is a business, not a charity.” Only the tightening of the male’s knuckles belied the immense fury swirling around the room. When Alexa didn’t move, Trenton sneered and dug for his wallet. A twenty fell on the bar.

  “Now, fix my drink, I’m a paying customer.”

  Without taking her eyes from the alpha, Alexa backed to the edge of the bar. Damian followed her behind the mahogany expanse sticking like glue to her back. The glass slid across the bar stopping just shy of Trenton’s hand. After taking a sip and savoring the flavor, Trenton very carefully replaced the glass on the napkin in the exact spot from which he’d picked it up.

  “Where are they?” The question confused Alexa. They? Questions from Damian pushed into her mind, but she shut him down. Communication between them was too risky. Did he mean Shaver and Khad, or was Trenton referring to Copi and Sage? Had he somehow picked up on some lingering scent?

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Alexa pasted a bored expression on her face. Maybe, Trenton’s infamous fury could play in their favor. With an exaggerated swing of her hips, she strolled out from behind the bar and went eye to eye with him. It pissed him off that in the six-inch-heels she favored, she stood equal to his height. As she drew closer, his stench turned her stomach, but she didn’t waver, pressing her chest against his with her exposed cleavage on full display. Despicable beast that he was, his eyes latched hungrily on the ripe mounds of her breasts. Behind the bar, Damian snarled. The musk of his fury conveyed clearly to her sensitive nose. Alexa didn’t care. The sick bastard could stare at her chest all night if that kept his attention diverted from the lack of Khad’s and Shaver’s presence.