Shattered Alpha

by Erin R Flynn

  “If you can’t smell it, Chief, I doubt he could,” he muttered, taking notes.

  I put on the gloves and touched the main wounds a bit, seeing the tearing that indicated a body dump and would make our job harder. “Not ours. So wolves not local, hand cut off while shifted, and this one’s a paw, so not strong enough to have a third form. Federal land and now in front of the mayor’s office. This is a message.” I stood and glanced around, not catching any cameras Harris missed. “You did good laying out the area.”

  “Thanks, Chief.”

  “I want to look into dumps that cut off hands. I don’t think it’s related to any human cases, but I want background on the message. Some countries still take the hand of a thief. Mob cuts off fingers. There’s a message here, and I want the background to put together ideas.”

  “We’ll handle it. Another ten reports came in from the council, and Davis is wrapping up the file on that witch Nina had sentenced. Nina’s willing to be named an elder, officially, as she already is among witches I guess, so that’s a nice target on her if we can’t keep that quiet.”

  “I’ll tell Monroe and make sure it stays quiet if I have to kick some ass,” I muttered, glad we got that settled. “Any report from Remington or Cooper?”

  “Cooper’s got Minneapolis in hand,” he promised. “Most of it stemmed from some aids in the mayor’s office who knows a wolf that works in the building, and they brought in their buddies. Once he got enough for a real case, he went to the mayor and she laid the smack down. So, yeah, it’s going better than we thought.”

  “Grand Rapids?” I checked, sighing when I felt his tension. “Yeah, I figured. It’s a problem with the Alpha, so it’s trickier. I’ll get with him and figure out a plan.”

  “You could take over Grand Rapids too,” he joked, his tone sounding about as tired as I felt.

  “Yeah, because that’s not a huge fucking mess Theon’s wading through. Fuck.” I went to turn from the body, and something caught the light. “Bag.” I took the one he handed over and, since I still had the gloves on, reached over and picked up the hair that had caught the light. “Fur.” I sniffed it before bagging it. “I can’t tell. It’s too fucking cold and not fresh.”

  “We’ll get the lab on it,” he promised as I handed it over. “How’s the dinner?” He sighed when I didn’t say anything, tearing my gloves as I pulled them off speaking volumes. “We just never get a break, do we?”

  “No. No we do not, Harris. Let me know when the ME gets findings. Nicely done today.”

  “Thanks, boss.” He beamed at the praise but kept it professional as he called over the guys to wrap up for us.

  I was back at the club by the time dinner finished and the main floor was about to open… And I had no idea of the plan. Luca filled me in as I changed in the office. One of the large tables had bailed on their reservation and paid just to cover the host’s cut, and another Simone offered a bottle of fairy nectar to if they pushed back their reservation to ten. Done and done.

  That meant we had two of the large tables to have dessert and drinks at in the corner of the restaurant, and there was enough room there plus cover with the way security moved and the privacy screens we also had for such reasons. Honestly, we should consider adding a party room or something, but I didn’t think expanding was on the agenda. Or budget.

  “Not local,” I told Monroe as I joined everyone. “I’ve got Harris looking into some things.”

  “Good.” He looked tired and ready to get out of there, so I had a feeling he was getting the same crap the rest of us were. Awesome.

  I pulled Axel off to the side to talk about Grand Rapids, but he thought it was for another reason, mashing his lips to mine when we were alone in the hallway off the kitchen that led to the offices. I fed from him, my siren needing the energy and happy to get his that was so strong and tasty.

  “I want to rip out their throats,” he growled, kissing along my neck as his hands mapped every inch of my ass.

  “I know.”

  “They so get their balls torn off for how they talk to you.”

  “I know,” I panted and kissed him again. “I really wanted to talk to you about Grand Rapids.”

  “Give me permission and I’ll handle it with your SAiC,” he promised.

  “Yes, my tiger,” I purred, moving his hand to my breast. “Handle it for me.”

  “Always,” he groaned, massaging me as he kissed me silly. “I’ll always handle whatever you want me to, but I won’t be yours, Sera.”

  “I love a good chase,” I teased him, pulling away and heading back to the party, knowing full well he needed a minute or five.

  “Chief Thomas, a moment?” that same congressman said as he intercepted me, his eyes raking over my body. “You were having fun.”

  “No, we were talking about work,” I chuckled, swallowing the need to bash his head in when he touched my arm and I saw what he was about. “I did just come back from a crime scene and have a lot of active cases and not the resources to handle it all.”

  “I can help with that,” he murmured, guiding us back into that hallway, waving off his security and not seeing Axel who was watching from closer to the security room. “I can help with this nasty business of the NSA wanting you too.”

  “Thank you for your concern,” I said, unsure of how to really respond. “But it’s under control.”

  “For now only,” he argued, leaning in as he backed me up against the wall. “There are certain protections I can grant to those close to me.” He moved his hand next to my head. “Very close to me, Chief Thomas. I’m a powerful man, and you could want for nothing.”

  As his mistress. That was the part he was leaving unspoken. It was absolutely clear from the way he looked at me, the images I got from him. I leaned in and pressed my lips against his ear, letting my body mold to his.

  “Congressman, you wouldn’t survive the fun I have with the people close to me like that,” I purred, annoyed when he got even more excited at my rejection. “And I’ve got my own power on the international stage, so thank you, but I’m not looking to be a mistress at the moment. I will add your name to the list and line if you want, but married men bore me.”

  I felt Axel move in closer and ducked the congressman, going to Axel and accepting his arm when he offered it.

  “Alpha, let me escort you back,” he said, power flashing in his eyes as he looked at the congressman. “A lady shouldn’t have to miss dessert because of the fancies of men who don’t understand their place in life.”

  I nodded, swallowing down the need to laugh at the burn, the congressman looking less than thrilled. Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly happy with him either.

  Some left after a bit of shop talk, and others actually stayed to watch the show at Galvin’s invitation. I was equal parts shocked and not. They were obviously hypocrites, preaching morals and standards while propositioning us and making sure to get the chance to see some naked women… That they probably wouldn’t respect like humans either. Or—and this was the scarier option—they treated all women like this and were rotten to the core.

  Hestia did a great job at the siren show, the flare and adoration something her siren would love. I felt the other three new sirens watching, learning, and hoped it would work out so Hestia could handle Milwaukee like I needed her to. We had wanted her to take over one of the packs in New York, but apparently that was on hold.

  The rules were a bit vague with the visa program and non-US citizen Alphas, but we were working on a way around that like this having a pack under my umbrella. Because I didn’t seem to have enough on my fucking plate.

  Fuck a duck, and some days I just wanted to say fuck everyone.

  17

  We headed downstairs to walk out the rest of the “guests,” and by then half the dining room was finished, as we didn’t leave all the bookings open for the last reservations. Not until we had more interest in it or we were ready to hire more people because the hosts also did the dance numbers, so
there was a lot of juggling involved. Simone had said we were there but wanted to check it wasn’t just the increase in holiday parties.

  But that left us with a lot of space and no one paying attention when Simone came back with a bottle of booze and lots of shot glasses.

  “Miranda, can you get some blood for our guests?” she muttered, talking to one of her panthers that had come just to help out tonight. She was interested in picking up host only shifts to supplement her income, and after seeing how well she handled assholes, she had my vote.

  “Why am I the only one here thinking that went well?” Galvin asked, flinching when several of us gave him a look like he might be daft.

  “He can’t hear what we can,” I reminded them as I stretched out my tired neck. “I wouldn’t have guessed it would have been like that either. I mean, that bitch senator, fine, but the rest…”

  “And vampires get a rap for using and abusing our power,” Apollo grumbled as he tossed back a shot. “How many propositioned you?”

  “Ten, no, eleven,” I sighed, taking a shot and toasting Galvin before tossing back the drink. “No, I’m not kidding. Two said they’d make my NSA problems go away if I was their out of town mistress basically, and I don’t know if I’m more insulted they think I’m mistress material or that I’m too stupid to know they don’t have the kind of juice to have the pull. So yeah, asking with an empty promise is just extra insulting.”

  “Oh, I was told if I could bring my whole clan for a ‘wild time,’ they’d stop opposing the blood serving license,” Simone drawled. “I don’t know if I’m more offended they think so little of paranormals and like we’re all just whores they don’t have to pay for, or if that’s how people in our government treat all women. I’m not sure which is worse.”

  “I thought the same thing earlier,” I admitted.

  “It wasn’t only you lovely ladies,” Apollo clarified. “I heard two making such offers to Axel, and I had one as well.”

  “Apparently the senator so opposed to gay marriage is in the closet, and only a tiger can make him come out for fun,” Axel drawled. “Pissant. The founders of this country would be sickened. And I say that as someone who fought in the Revolutionary War. I didn’t condone how they treated the native people, but some of that we didn’t know until too late or were told as stories. There wasn’t the internet back then.”

  “Shit, you’re old,” I teased him, smiling when he rolled his eyes at me. “I could see you being worth coming out of the closet for.”

  He snorted. “I wanted to stuff that one in the dumpster when he clarified he meant him and his whole security detail because that was about the only way to make it more insulting.”

  I took another shot, the tension in me getting worse. “Yes, another thing to thank Jason and his big mouth for. That guy had DOD connections and heard I like to party. And? Even if I was the wildest woman in the world, why do some men just think that there’s always a welcome mat out for anyone then? It is the most absurd logic. I give rides in my vehicle a lot too, and that doesn’t mean it’s just accessible to anyone always.”

  “I apologize on behalf of my species and gender,” Galvin whispered, looking truly horrified. “I thought I would only have to apologize for the one, as she wouldn’t even touch food made by animals because it would infect her.”

  “Yeah, she’s a peach,” Simone growled. “Like overripe and needs to be tossed out. She’s like those assholes that think all gays have HIV and just… Fuck, I have no hope in ever getting real equal rights. We should have stayed hidden.”

  I shrugged. “We have immortal lives, and that generation will die out before we know it. I want to make sure we do better with my generation and even Gen X. Progress is made by progressing. Hiding had problems too, I’m sure.”

  “For someone so cynical, sometimes you are the most positive of us all,” Simone said after a moment. “Really. You have such faith things can change.”

  “It has to or what’s the point of trying?” I muttered, showing the root of what drove me to work so hard. I had to believe in change or the world might suffocate me. There might have been more I was going to say, but Carter moved over by me and leaned in.

  “Mistress, there is an open hot tub room until midnight. Would you allow me to escort you for a soak? You keep rubbing your neck as if you need to release some tension.”

  I swallowed loudly, hearing him clearly. I nodded, getting to my feet and meeting Axel’s heated gaze. “Will you be my security? We know they all weren’t flying out tonight, and some were pissed at my rejection.”

  “That and there’s just always trouble around you,” he agreed, giving a nod.

  I said goodnight to everyone, telling Simone I was leaving to her place after the soak and heading to the elevator. Carter swung by the bar up there and got me a frozen drink before leading me into the right room. He set it on the table and went to the controls on the wall. Then he turned to me, heat in his eyes that made me shiver.

  “Mistress, I didn’t kill any of the threats against you tonight, and I beg for my reward. The rewards you said I might have earlier.” He leaned in, and his hands moved into the slits of my dress, his fingers dancing along my legs.

  “Do you want the full fun?” I checked, smirking when he moaned. I looked over at Axel. “It will affect you too being this close if I let it out. Do you want to feel it?” He frowned, and I hurried to explain before he shot me down. “I wouldn’t touch you if you’re under my influence. I wouldn’t do that unless you asked beforehand. I’m asking if you want to feel it.”

  “You want to,” Carter promised, kissing my collarbone and then licking the spot.

  “Influence me,” Axel agreed.

  I nodded and looked back at Carter. “You can have a sip too, but I believe you know how you have it.”

  “Yes, Mistress,” he moaned as I let out my power, both of them gasping as I enthralled them. Carter moved me up against the wall, facing it as he knelt behind me and lifted my dress. I turned my head and stared at Axel as Carter licked me everywhere good, talented as could be. He brought me once, and that was when he bit me, Axel’s eyes glazing over as he seemed about to break out of his pants.

  I turned to face Carter when he stood and slipped the dress off, standing before him naked with only the high heels he liked. “I still have more tension you can relieve.”

  “My pleasure,” he promised, leaning over and taking care of my breasts as his fingers pleased between my legs.

  “You’re my guard,” I reminded Axel as he stepped towards us. “And you’re not invited when riding my power.”

  He fisted his hands and nodded, leaning against the door as if trying to keep as far away from me as he could to not give in.

  When I finished that time, I took off the heels and went over to the hot tub, kneeling on the seat outward and smiling at Carter. He yanked off his clothes so fast I could barely see it but didn’t hear any tearing, so the suit was fine.

  Good, it was a nice suit he wore very well.

  “I’m not worthy of such an offer,” he murmured as he joined me, leaning over and kissing my back.

  “Then give your best performance.”

  Oh, did he ever. He brought his best game as I stared at Axel the whole time, seeing his desire, his lust for me.

  I turned around to sit on the lip of the hot tub and fed from Carter while he recovered, drinking heavily as the night might not have been physically draining nor had I used power, but emotional shit sucked us all dry too. It was then I realized what Simone had hinted at was truly what I wanted. My life was too chaotic and crazy for serious. I wanted fun.

  I wanted easy . I had chains on me all over the place—FBI, Alpha, siren, the boys, owner… I didn’t need any other commitments. I needed fun. I needed that twenties crazy Brian said most others went through.

  Carter laid me down on the lip of the whirlpool, and we had sex right there while another man watched, longed for me. He treated me respectfully, but that
was it. It was sex. It was fun. There was no drama or promises or nothing asked of me besides that moment. That was what I needed. I needed to take a step back from the rest, and that was what Simone had meant.

  That was where she’d been leading me to, knowing I wouldn’t have liked it. Well, the idea I liked, but backing away from responsibilities and commitments. But honestly, I was okay with it. I understood the need for it, and it wasn’t about running or ditching responsibility. Things had changed, and I was allowed to change my mind, change how I did things. I had earned that, I had a valid reason to.

  “I am not doing my job if your mind is wandering,” Carter growled as he pulled me to sit up.

  “Actually you helped me realize what I need for right now,” I confessed, giving him a kiss of apology I got distracted during sex.

  Understanding filled his eyes. “You need to be free, at least for now. No husbands or serious lovers that might be wonderful men but bring more to your plate.”

  “Yeah,” I sighed, feeling selfish for saying it and wanting it. “Simone says I need to be more selfish, and that’s what selfish Sera wants. There just keeps being more and more and more . And anytime I try to fix something or make it better, it complicates more like sirening Dain and now I’m mated, married. I need less . This was easy, fun, and you’ll expect nothing from me tomorrow or moments after.”

  “No, but I will still thank you as a gentleman should,” he murmured against my lips. “You need to be free until you have a better handle on your life. There is nothing wrong with saying that, Sera.”

  “He’s right,” Axel agreed. “And if those guys can’t understand that, then they weren’t the right ones for you. But I think they will. They’re scared you’re done with them, kicking them out or dumping them. That’s not what you’re saying. You’re saying because of what happened—and not only with them but Lyon and all of it—you need to take a step back and a time out. That’s very understandable, Sera.”

  “Good, thanks.” I was done with the conversation though and wrapped my leg around Carter. “Now I believe you were getting a reward of some sort?” I flipped us and guided him to lie down, moving my knees to either side of his hips. “Is this the reward you wanted?”