Protecting the Pack

by L. S. Slayford

  I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a second. When I opened them, I lifted my chin and narrowed my eyes. “You have two hours to pack up your stuff and get gone. You’re not allowed here.”

  Mr Nasty Smell snorted. “And if we don’t go?”

  I fixed him with a smile that had once made my old potions teacher step back. I hated playing the bitch, but they needed to be out. If that thing came back again it could hurt the kids. I wasn’t heartless enough to see them dead. So, I’d play the bitch goddess and get them out before they got hurt. My forest would clean once again. Bonus. “Then I’ll introduce you to my friends, and we’ll see if you want to stay after that. Just remember to pick up your shit before you leave.”

  Six

  “You know, your temper is legendary. It’s amazing how you can go from normal to hot-headed in two seconds.” A combination of amusement and impressiveness laced Daniel’s words.

  If the forest hadn’t been devoid of its usual sounds, it would’ve plunged into silence. I stopped and narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean, my temper is legendary?”

  Those green eyes glimmered in the light beaming through the canopy of trees. They were hundreds of years old, their trunks wider than my king-sized bed, and taller than any building I’d want to go in. A mischievous grin pinned to his mouth. “I’d heard of you when I went back to the Academy a few years ago. There are tales of how you bespelled the potions teacher.”

  “He was irritating. He kept marking my tests wrong,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “There was another that said you’d magicked a girl’s dorm in poison ivy and it took a week to get rid of it.”

  I snorted. “Those four bitches flushed my friend’s head down the toilet. They deserved it.”

  “But my favourite one was when you snuck into the kitchens and sprinkled lactulose powder in Gregory Price’s cakes.”

  A chuckle bubbled out of my mouth before I could help it. The sight of that annoying shit soiling his pants in class was etched in my memory forever. “Gregory Price was a nasty little boy who kept trying to get his hands up my skirt in Geography. Karma has a way of going around, you know what I mean?”

  “I think those campers will find out what you mean if they stay,” Daniel snorted, commencing the walk along the trail we’d been heading up.

  A sigh escaped and pushed back the guilt that nibbled at me as I stepped in line with him. “Sometimes you’ve got to be cruel to be kind.”

  “I always hated that expression as a kid.”

  “Same,” I agreed. “My dad was always saying it to me. Usually just before he grounded me.”

  “In my case it was my mother.”

  “Were you a brat as well?” I asked, a smile tugging at my mouth as I stepped over a rotting log.

  Daniel gave me a wink, one corner of his mouth pulled up into a devilish smile. Something clenched down below. “Somewhat, but I have a feeling nowhere near as bad as you.”

  I shrugged. “I wasn’t that bad. It’s just that when people start acting in certain ways, it pisses me off. You know how they say every action has a reaction? Well, I tend to be the reaction. That’s all.”

  Laughter bubbled on the air and I swear it went straight between my thighs. I hadn’t had sex in three years, not since Neil left. Maybe it was time to end the dry patch. No pun intended. “Babe, I think we’ll get along great.”

  We carried on down the trail that my family had made throughout countless generations. The tops of the trees stretched overhead, the weight of centuries bowing them, and it seemed as if they were reaching for those on the other side, trying to grasp long-loved ones. There was no sign of that cold, dark shadow, but still, the silence of the forest sent ripples of unease through me. It wasn’t right. Normally, I loved the hush that came from being out here, craved it, but today I wanted noise.

  I had to break the silence. “Are you a professor?”

  Daniel gave me a sideways glance as he weaved through two thick trunks. “Huh?”

  “You said you were at the Academy. Do you teach there?”

  There was a brief pause. “No. My younger cousin was starting school. She needed a family member to take her.”

  “What about her parents?”

  “Her parents died a few months before she started.”

  Oh. What the hell does one say to that apart from the normal awkward things? “I’m sorry.”

  Daniel shrugged. “It’s okay. She’s been dealing with it pretty well, all in all. The first few months at the Academy were rough but Millie’s made of strong stuff. She has no choice.”

  “She’s made it longer than me,” I quipped, hoping to ease some of the awkwardness. I don’t think it worked too well, though.

  Another snort. “I don’t think anyone has been expelled from the Academy as quickly as Alana Ash, the troublesome witch. Your reputation precedes you.”

  “It can precede me as long as people get out of my way,” I say, my tone coming out haughtier than what I would’ve liked. Then something hit me. “You never told me what you are.”

  Another pause. “No, I didn’t.”

  “So what are you exactly? You’re not a witch.”

  “I’m not a witch.”

  “I just said that. Answer the question.” The demand in my tone was hard to ignore.

  A sigh reverberated around the forest, edged with something I couldn’t quite place. “I’m a wizard.”

  Great, just what I need. Wizards were a royal pain the arse and whilst witches were mostly female, male witches were rare, wizards could be any gender. They were also dangerous. “What’s your last name, Daniel?”

  “Locke.” His tone was flat, as if he knew what was coming.

  Holy fuck. My feet stopped moving and everything faded away from me. There was only one wizard family by the name of Locke. “Don’t tell me you’re related to Gideon Locke?”

  “I’m his younger brother.” He turned and faced me, his face devoid of any humour. He held up a hand. “Look, I know my brother has a bad reputation -”

  “Bad? Your brother almost wiped out an entire coven ten years ago!”

  “- but we’re not all the same -”

  “And your other brother was locked away after draining three witches of their magic and using it to make weapons!” I swear my voice was climbing the pitch scale.

  “- as Gideon and Marcus. My sisters and I are different, Alana,” he finished. His voice was flat, but there was a tightness around his eyes and mouth. “I came here to protect you and the pack.”

  The Locke brothers were two of the worst criminals in the supernatural community for the last fifty years. The Council had ordered their executions last year. Their father, Peter Locke, was one of the council elders and a slimy bugger if there was ever one. How he’d managed to keep his position was beyond me. Who knows how many he’d had to bribe to hold onto his power.

  My magic welled up, this time heavy and burning. Gods alive, how could I ever have been so stupid to trust a stranger again? The last time I’d done that, it had almost cost me a trip to the Gaols, the prison for magical creatures. Anger blazed through my veins, but I kept my voice low and steady. “I don’t trust you.”

  Daniel’s shoulders visibly shrugged, and a weary sigh escaped from the confines of his mouth. “And that’s why I didn’t tell you. Because you’d never trust me if I had.”

  “You’re right,” I told him, sidestepping around him and moving further away. “I don’t. For all I know, you sent the shadow thing here for your own nefarious schemes.”

  “Oh, for the love of…” Daniel started, frustration lacing both his face and his tone. He threw his hands up and rolled his eyes.

  “Don’t come near me,” I told him, icicles dripping from my words. Energy crackled in the palms of my hands. I wasn’t taking any chances. Not with a Locke wizard around me. “You’ve got ten minutes to get off my land.”

  “Alana, please. We’ve got to get to the pack. I need to keep th
em safe.”

  “I’ll keep them safe.”

  “Don’t do this. You’ll regret it.”

  “Honey, the only thing I regret right now is that I let you in my house. Don’t follow me, otherwise you’ll see just what I’m capable off.”

  Seven

  Why am I such a bloody idiot? All my life, it’s been the same damn thing. I rush headfirst into things, I don’t think, don’t plan. I just react and damn the consequences. My parents always said it was my worst quality.

  Annalise, my younger sister by eighteen months, was the polar opposite to me in every way. She had white-blonde hair cut into a stylish pixie cut compared to my chestnut brown locks that flowed past my shoulders. Her blue eyes were the exact same shade as a summer’s day, and her lips were often compared to a delicate rose petal. My eyes were the colour of fresh dirt and my mouth always felt too wide, too full, in comparison.

  But it was the same thing when it came to our characters. I was the passionate one, the one that rushed things and couldn’t slow down. Annalise was the practical one, the one who’d take her time, think things through. Be logical. She was a hot-shot lawyer now, representing witches who couldn’t afford legal advice on their own.

  I always remember after her graduation, she’d wrapped her arms around me and smiled. “I’ll always take care of you, sissy,” she’d said, her tone soft, gentle, serious. “When you need my services, I’ll be there.”

  Not if, but when. And I had needed it, three years ago. She’d kept her word, because that’s what sisters do.

  But I wasn’t going to dwell on that today.

  I had the pack to check on. I’d never forgive myself if something had happened to them while I’d been sipping vodka and huddled under my duvet.

  My feet carried me along the trail. Branches and twigs crunched beneath my boots, and the breeze whistled through the leaves. This was the same path I’d been walking along since I was a small child. My parents would take Annalise and I each week to see the pack, to check on them, and to socialise. Even as a child, I hated being around other people. It didn’t matter if they were norms or magical. I wanted the woods and solitude. It was a good thing I hadn’t been born five hundred years ago. Otherwise I’d have been burnt at the stake like so many other witches and innocent humans.

  When I was landed with the guardian of the pack job three years ago, I’d all but given up on socialising. My few supernatural friends and boyfriend had abandoned me to my fate, and I only ventured into the human world to stock up on supplies and some personal things a few times a year. I grew my own vegetables and herbs and lived well within my means. There was no one in the outside world for me.

  The pack were my only friends. They were the only ones I wanted to deal with. They were a decent size, just under thirty members and never left the woods. I didn’t blame them for that. The outside world was nothing but a pain in the arse.

  A howl greeted me a few minutes before I walked into what my family called Wolf Village. Eight wooden buildings sat in a circle, positioned around a massive hearth where a fire would be lit most nights. The buildings were forty-feet-long, and each cabin was divided into several rooms. They were the homes for the werewolves and were just as familiar to me as my own. Goodness knew how many hours I’d spent in there growing up with them. West of the houses were two buildings; the larger one was the school where Marcy taught the cubs, and the other was a storehouse. They were mostly self-sufficient, but there were certain things they needed, and everything was shared between the pack equally. Every time I went into town, I picked up stuff they’d require, school supplies, clothes, shoes, books. Chocolates for the kids.

  Wine for the parents. Come on, every parent needs wine. It’s essential. Like chocolate. Anyone who says it’s not obviously hasn’t had kids.

  “Alana!”

  A grin started to appear on my face, and I braced myself. Sure enough, within seconds a whirlwind sped in my direction and jumped into my arms, almost knocking me back. Laughter bubbled out of me as I gazed down at my favourite cub. “Hey, Lucy. I think the next time you rush at me like that, you’re going to break my ribs.”

  “Oops, sorry, but I was so glad to see you,” the vivacious seven-year old told me, stepping away from me but not looking very apologetic. She swept a lock of black hair away from her face and her eyes glistened with anticipation. “Did you bring any sweets today?”

  “Sorry, maybe next time. Did you eat everything I brought already?”

  “Oscar ate all mine before I even got the chance to have any,” she told me, her bottom lip forming into a pout. She crossed her arms. “It’s not fair. He’d already had his.”

  I loved this kid. I ruffled her hair. “Okay, next time I’ll bring you an extra pack. You want the strawberry laces or the cola bottles?”

  “Ooo, can I have the milk bottles instead? I love those!”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. She was my favourite out of them all. “Sure thing.” Movement from ahead caught my eye. “Hey, Matthew.”

  “Hey, Alana. Did you know there are humans out there?” Curiosity and excitement threaded through his words. Only fourteen, Matthew possessed hair the colour of copper at midnight and blue eyes that gleamed like sapphires. Still considered a cub, he was one of the best trackers in the pack. Nothing got past him.

  I carried on walking towards the village. A couple of the mothers were already outside, tidying and doing motherly things with their cubs. Only a few months ago, Darcy and Megan had given birth to a litter of three each. They’d been the first babies born since Lucy.

  As I walked up, the cubs must have heard or scented me, because they raced in my direction. In wolf form, they were gorgeous, all shades of black and grey and white. One of my favourites was a girl called Selene. Her fur was pure white, her eyes an icy shade of blue. They yapped and clawed up at my legs, trying to compete for my attention.

  They all won.

  The feel of their fur through my fingers was heavenly. There was nothing quite like it. I sank to my knees and ruffled their coats. They were unique. Most werewolves only had one child at a time, and usually it was the eldest who possessed the gene that allowed them to shift from human to wolf.

  But this pack were different. Every single wolf had the ability to shift into wolf form. It didn’t matter if they were the second, third, or even the eighth child; everyone could transform. Plus, they didn’t have to wait until puberty to experience the first change. With my pack, they could transform the first full moon after their birth.

  They were exceptional in a world known for its amazing abilities. There was no other pack that I knew off that could do what they could.

  And they had to be kept secret from everyone.

  “Sorry, Alana,” Megan laughed as she tried to grab her cubs. Darcy quickly followed suit as soon as they were in their mother’s arms all began crying. “They’re a bit frisky this morning.”

  “No worries,” I told them, laughing, as I rose to my knees. “Is Max around? I need to talk to him.”

  “I’m here.”

  I twisted my neck in the direction of the voice. Low, rich, and comforting, it was a voice I’d loved since I was a child. The smile on my face faded as I looked at the alpha sitting on the steps of the cabin to my right. The damned man needed a bell around his neck. Trepidation snaked through me. I inhaled and tried to steady my nerves as I met piercing amber eyes. “We need to talk.”

  A weary sigh fluttered through the soft breeze. “Yes, I think we do.”

  Eight

  After an hour’s walking on very little sleep, my body thanked me as I finally sat down at the well-worn table that had been hand-carved by his grandfather, Richard, back at the turn of the century. He’d been a hundred and eighteen when he’d finally died. There were times when I envied werewolves’ longevity. Max sat a cup of tea in front of me, his weather-beaten face glancing down at his own. His golden eyes looked troubled in the light. Steam swirled through the air, infusing it with th
e scent of bergamot. Earl Grey was my favourite.

  “We know what happened yesterday.”

  Max’s matter-of-fact voice ripped me from my reverie. My head snapped up to watch him slide into a chair opposite. “What?”

  “Matthew was on the western edge when he caught track of all the humans. What are they doing?” There was no anger in his voice, just genuine curiosity.

  “Leaving if they know what’s good for them,” I snorted, taking the first sip of the tea, the liquid burning my throat. “The earthquakes have destroyed their homes and they thought it’d be safer to camp out in the forest instead of the town. How they managed to make a mess in twenty-four hours is beyond me, but they managed it.”

  “Humans are messy creatures,” he said, his voice thick with derision.

  “Yep. Got there this morning and it was worse. I gave them two hours to get out.”

  “Good,” Max told me, his tone forceful. “While I’ve got nothing against humans, it’s just best if they steer clear. Especially with what’s out there.”

  His words sent the hairs on the back of my neck standing upright to attention. I set the cup down and fixed him with a long look. I wanted answers. “Max, what’s out there? It caught me yesterday.”

  “Tell me what happened. Leave nothing out.” His eyes remained steady and unblinking on his face, and his mouth narrowed into a thin line.

  The words spilled out of my mouth, starting with how I’d found the campers to meeting with Daniel and the shadowy creature that seemed to suck all the warmth from my body. Finally, I told him about Daniel’s true identity as a member of one of the most nefarious wizard families in Britain. Max swallowed the last of his tea and sighed. “What you encountered was a scout.”

  “A scout?”

  Max nodded, his eyes darkening to a burnished gold. Each alpha’s eyes would burn like liquid gold when the previous alpha died, making it an easy succession compared to how other packs chose their leaders. Less bloody this way, too. “They’ve not been seen here for over a century, but I remember my grandfather telling me when I was a young cub. He was only ten, and his father was alpha at the time. They’d been patrolling the outer ridges of the forest when everything just fell into darkness. Something was out there, lurking in the shadows. They could feel it, and then suddenly, it slunk from the inky depths of the earth and rushed at them.” His expression shadowed and his voice took on an undeniable tremor.