Raising Wolves

by Preston Walker

  "Go ahead, Shania," Jeffery said. "Tell me what you came here to tell me."

  "I don't trust them," she said shakily, nodding her head left and right. "How do I know they aren't working for... him?"

  "Because we are the ones he's been desperately trying to defeat," Steel said, firmly. "Now tell Mr. Moranis what you came here to tell him, or be gone back to Montague's hostel."

  "Harem," she corrected, glaring at Steel. "And I will. But first... is there coffee?"

  Steel hit a buzzer by his left hand, calling one of the guards in.

  "Coffee and something for my guests to eat," he said.

  The guard nodded and bowed out. They waited in awkward silence for several minutes, until he finally returned with a tray.

  "Now, my dear," Steel said. "It's time to relieve yourself of your burden. Tell us everything."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Shania chewed slowly, savoring the food as if she hadn't eaten in days. Her thick blonde hair was terribly matted, and she was dressed in a simple, shapeless shift. If Jeffery had to guess, he'd say that she hadn't slept since the last time he saw her. He waited patiently for her to tell her tale, painfully aware that Steel was making her terribly uncomfortable.

  "He came to the shop," she began, finally. "Called himself Nero Hunt."

  "Montague?" Steel asked sharply, leaning forward.

  Shania shook her head. "I've met Montague," she told him. "This was someone else. Well-dressed. Poorly groomed. Wore a grey fedora."

  Jordan and Jeffery exchanged a meaningful look.

  "He went upstairs... I heard... heard the screaming..." Her voice caught, strangling her with suppressed horror. She wrestled herself under control and continued. "I ran up to see... see what was going on, and... He was coming down the stairs. He looked... the way you look now," she said, indicating Steel with a nod. "And he... he had her blood... in his m–m–mouth? And on his hands? But not... not on his clothes. He pushed... pushed me against the wall, and said... 'The Outreach sends its regards'. Then he bit me. Not... not enough to bleed much, just a nip, but it scared me. He left... I thought he was going to kill me... and I ran upstairs, and... And..."

  "It's alright," Jeffery told her, reaching across the table to pat her hand. "I saw what was up there. Skip to the next part. What happened after I brought you the tea and went upstairs?"

  "I don't know," she gasped. "It was like I was torn apart from the inside. Then... then I was a dog; a wolf I guess, and I figured it out. I... I didn't know what to do. I ran, and... He said the Outreach, so I... I went to Montague instead. He... he took me in and took care of me. Told me I was going to be his new Beta Omega. Said his last one... disappeared? And he was so nice, and friendly, and he made me feel better about everything. Told me that he would get revenge on the Outreach scum who did this. And... And I believed him? But… but then later, when I had been there a little while, I saw him. I wasn't supposed to see, but you see I couldn't sleep, so I was just walking around, you know, I swear I wasn't spying on him, I wasn't, I..."

  "Shania," Jeffery said, firmly. "It's okay. I believe you. Skip to what you saw."

  "It was him," Shania burst through a sob. "The man in the fedora. Talking to Steel. Telling... telling him that he'd turned another. Saying he blamed it on the Outreach, just like Montague told him to. Then... then Montague paid him, a great stack of money, and the man left. Said he was on the trail of a little girl, and I couldn't... oh God, I just couldn't bear the thought of that horrid man doing to a little girl what he did to my April."

  She broke down into shaking, wracking sobs, and Jeffery moved around the table to rub her shoulders and pat her back.

  "What happened next?" he urged her, gently.

  "Next," she sniffed. "Next, I burst into the room. I accused him of everything, having my sister murdered, all of it. And he... he laughed at me. Told me I'd been demoted to Omega. He took me... by my hair... and, and he threw me in this room; a cement room, filled with straw and women. Women like me, all… all terrified and crying and werewolfish and terribly, terribly hungry. I was so afraid for that little girl that I... I kind of lost my head. The next time someone came back there with a woman I… I shifted, I don't know how, and I tore into him. I don't know if I killed him, but I know I made it past him. I ran away, ran as far and as fast as I could. I found my way back to the store, and found her map... April's map... and I came here. Now here I am, and oh God, you have to save the little girl!"

  She broke down again, exhausted beyond measure. Jeffery held her while she sobbed.

  "Hey," he told her. "That little girl? Her father and grandfather are in this room right now. We saved her. She's here."

  Shania's head shot up and she stared at him. "Here?"

  "Yes," Jeffery told her. "She's safe."

  "Safe," Shania sighed. The tremors began to lessen, and her eyes began to clear. Jeffery couldn't believe the weight she had been carrying.

  "Here's what we need from you, Shania," Jeffery said, calmly. "We need an address or a map to the place where Montague is keeping the women. We can save them all, but we need your help."

  She nodded, eager to help, and took the paper and pen that Steel slid across to her. She drew a cross street with street names, and counted five houses before she drew a square. She labeled it "Seaside Acres" and under that "San Perdido".

  "Perfect," Jeffery said, squeezing her tight. He grabbed the map. "I'll get right on this now; I'll commission the helicopters and mobilize all teams to this location, I'll..."

  "Jeffery," Steel interrupted.

  Jeffery froze, then his face fell. "I'll, um... pass this on to Bates," Jeffery corrected himself.

  Steel nodded very seriously, and Jordan raised an eyebrow. Jeffery waved the question away. Obviously they would have plenty to talk about later.

  "Take Miss Sprinkle with you," Steel ordered. "Hand her over to the Tau. They'll arrange a place for her to stay. Mr. Hacker, you are excused also. I appreciate your input this evening. You've given me hope for a future."

  Jordan nodded respectfully and trailed out the door after Jeffery, who was hard at work wondering what on earth Jordan had done for Steel, and why on earth he'd done it. He wouldn't have a chance to ask until later though, as a guard had taken it upon himself to escort Jordan back to the barracks. He was still on lockdown, Jeffery realized, and would be until he'd completed his trials. Once Shania was safely handed off to the Tau (who ran all things domestic within the colony), Jeffery hurried back to his room.

  Once there, he and Jordan caught each other up over a game of chess.

  "Wow," Jeffery whistled, after Jordan told him what happened. "I guess he really is grooming you to be his successor."

  "I guess so," Jordan said. "But why wouldn't he let you run the rescue mission?"

  "He wants me here, to train you for the games," Jeffery said. "He's invested in you winning. He thinks you're our only chance of beating Montague."

  "How?"

  Jeffery shook his head. "I don't know yet," he said. "But the old man is never without a plan and multiple contingencies. He has something in mind for you."

  Jordan lost the game again, and shook his head in disgust. "It won't matter who trains me if I keep rolling crap numbers," he said. "This game is killing me."

  "Careful what you put out into the universe," Jeffery said. "Never know who's listening."

  "When is the real match happening?" Jordan asked.

  "I didn't get a chance to talk to Steel. I'll head out now if you want to take a break."

  Jordan nodded, running a hand over his tired eyes. Jeffery squeezed his shoulder on his way out the door; a comforting gesture which gave more than it took. Guilt and fear wriggled in Jeffery's belly as he left their room. He wished there was a way to guarantee the outcome. He was happy for the walk, and worried about Jordan going stir-crazy before the job was done. On a whim, Jeffery took the opportunity to check in on Darla.

  The nursery sat on a lower level, just above t
he crashing waves at high tide. A great, wide window illuminated the nursery, giving the room a sunlit, open-air feeling. On one end, the nursery opened into a sunken, hidden garden which was inaccessible from the outside. It was a deep, spiraling, vertical hole in the cliff, surrounded on all sides by staggering sheer drops and topped with tangled, viciously thorny brambles. It was the perfect den for children. Jordan was exceptionally familiar with the place; he'd rehomed enough pups there to learn the routine and layout like the back of his hand. He flashed the nursery Deltas a grin as he approached the protected doors.

  "How's it going, fellas?" he asked.

  They smiled back, but said nothing. Jeffery shrugged and began to walk through the door, but was stopped by the Deltas crossing their spears in front of him.

  "What's the trouble?" he asked, confused. He'd never been blocked from the nursery before.

  "Password," one Delta demanded.

  "You need a password? Since when?"

  "Password," the Delta said again.

  Jeffery sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was on his way to see Steel anyway so would get this cleared up then. He waved to the Deltas as he walked away, taking the elevator down to the lowest floor in the colony. Deltas guarded the doorway and halls here too, but allowed him to pass without any hassle. Steel was expecting him, he remembered. He must have given his Deltas the all-clear. Jeffery pushed his way into the Alpha's reception chamber, and found it empty.

  "In here," a gruff voice called.

  Jeffery followed the sound, opening a door into a steam-filled room. Steel was lying in a pool of bubbling hot water, moving his knees and elbows stiffly.

  "Three hours a day," Steel said. "Otherwise I can't walk. Have a seat, get me up to date."

  Jeffery sat on a steam-slicked bench, digging his toes into the dirt floor so he didn't slide.

  "He's good," Jeffery said. "He's damn good. He wants to practice for two days, then challenge the master."

  "Does he know who the master is?"

  Jeffery shook his head.

  "Good," Steel said. "Keep it that way. If he throws the game, we'll know where his priorities lie."

  "Yes, sir. Speaking of which, I couldn't get into the nursery this morning."

  "No, and you won't. You're barred until Jordan passes his trials. Or fails them. You see, son, I also need to know where your priorities lie. If either of you want to be involved in that little girl's life, you'll do what needs to be done. In the meantime, no contact. No observation. Trust the colony to care for the child."

  "She hasn't been brought up in our ways," Jeffery pointed out. "She won't understand."

  "She's a quick learner," Steel said, with a twinkle in his eye. "I was observing her this morning. She's getting the hang of it faster than you did."

  Jeffery flushed hot, recalling his first weeks of hell in the colony. He'd tried to forget, but werewolves had long memories and thought that the best way to avoid future screw-ups was to remind those who had screwed up of their past shame. It was an irritating aspect of shifter society that he was still trying to learn to live with.

  "Is she happy?" Jeffery asked, quietly.

  "Happiness is momentary, it isn't a state of being," Steel told him. "She's adjusting. She misses her father, and her... Jeffy..." Steel grinned. "But as I say, she's adjusting. She's curious about the other children and tries to climb out of the garden. She's a pistol. But she's eating, and she slept last night. She carries that doll around with her like it's her own pup. She will thrive here, with or without the two of you."

  Steel's words made Jeffery feel defeated. If she was thriving, what was the point? It was selfish to impose himself or Jordan on her if she didn't need them. He decided not to tell Jordan what Steel had told him, shaking himself and changing the subject.

  "You will set the date?" he asked. "Give us two days?"

  Steel nodded. "I'll have one of mine bring you the formal notice."

  Jeffery thanked him and bowed as he left. The dry air on the other side of the door felt oddly oppressive after the steam-filled sauna air, and it took him a moment to adjust. He traveled through the colony silently, lost in thought. Two days. He was going to have to press Jordan to think outside the box. He was good, but he was still too predictable. He found Jordan waiting for him with the game set up on the floor.

  "All set?" Jordan asked.

  "All set," he confirmed. "Let's play."

  They played for hours, and Jeffery grew more frustrated as the day went on. Jordan was winning by luck more often than he won through skill, and that simply wasn't good enough. He needed to do better. Jordan grew frustrated at Jeffery's frustration, and the atmosphere was heated when a knock sounded on the door.

  "Who...?" Jordan asked, on his feet in an instant.

  Jeffery shrugged and opened the door. Steel's subordinate stood on the other side, holding an official notice. Jeffery took it and thanked the man, scowling at the notice.

  "What is it?" Jordan asked.

  "That son of a bitch," Jeffery said. "He's set the date for tomorrow morning. I told him two days, goddamn it." He crumpled the paper in his hands and threw it to the floor.

  "Tomorrow? I'm not ready!"

  "I know!" Jeffery snapped. "God, I know. You don't stand a chance right now, and if... goddamn it, Steel."

  "If what?"

  "Nothing."

  "If what?!"

  "If you lose, you lose her forever. Forever, Jordan. Steel wouldn't even let me see her. If you lose this battle, it's over. Done. No Alpha Prime, no Darla, no happily ever after."

  Jordan gritted his teeth and pulled himself to his full height. His eyes blazed with grim determination. "Then I'd better win, hadn't I?"

  "Yeah, you better. We'll play again."

  "No," Jordan said, pushing his hand through his hair. "No, not now. I've had enough."

  "You have twelve hours to master this game!" Jeffery shouted. "How the hell do you expect to win if you don't practice?"

  "By not trying to fight like a werewolf," Jordan said. "I have the skills I need."

  "Your arrogance is going to cost you everything."

  Jordan shook his head. "It isn't arrogance," he said. "It's acceptance. I'm never going to win if I keep trying to play like you. I need to trust what I know."

  "What do you know?"

  "I know that I can't live without Darla, and I know there isn't a game in the world that's going to keep me from her. I'm a hacker, Jeffery. That's all I need."

  "You can't hack a damn board game," Jeffery said, hopelessly. "Please, Jordan, please play. Just a few more times. Show me what you can do."

  Jordan crossed the room, kicking the pieces aside, and pulled Jeffery roughly into his arms.

  "I will show you what I can do," he said, his voice a low growl.

  "Jordan..." Jeffery pleaded with him, but it was no use. Jordan crushed his mouth with a kiss and pulled him onto the bed. Jeffery resisted, but only just barely. He knew he couldn't change Jordan's mind, no matter how hard he tried, and Jordan's body on his was making it difficult to maintain his panicked state. He responded to Jordan's urging, arching against him, opening his mouth to him. They stripped with the frantic energy of desperation, slick bodies sliding together as their passions ignited. Jeffery drove his aching guilt down with great gulps of ecstasy, giving himself over utterly and completely to the carnal activity. They were men, they were beasts, and they were driven by lust in equal parts with terror. Everything could end tomorrow, so they drank deeply through the night.

  Jeffery opened to Jordan who locked himself inside of him, no longer afraid of his own body. They coupled, mentally, physically and emotionally, drawing strength from each other even as they spent their energy gyrating and pulsing together. The waves crashed below in time with Jordan's powerful thrusts. His scent filled Jeffery's senses, intoxicating him with the powerful primal scent of an Alpha. Jordan used his teeth on Jeffery's skin, a hint of threat and danger which left Jeffery screaming for m
ore. Jordan gave it, willingly, forcing Jeffery to come once, twice, and once more before he allowed himself to empty inside of his lover. They lay gasping in their embrace, and Jeffery floated off to sleep in a golden, lusty haze.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  The next morning, Jeffery was helping Jordan make a few last-minute preparations for the game.

  "There's a ritual aspect to these things," Jeffery said, opening the trunk at the end of Jordan's bed. "You want to play the game, you have to look the part."

  He pulled a pair of loose black pants from the chest, along with a matching black sash. Jordan slipped into the pants and Jeffery arranged the sash across his bare chest. He wasn't meeting Jordan's eyes, but Jordan didn't take it personally and he suspected that he knew the reason why.

  "The subordinates are waiting outside to escort you," Jeffery said, quietly. "I'll follow in a moment."

  "Thank you," Jordan said, earnestly. He tilted Jeffery's face up, but his lover still wouldn't meet his eyes. He didn't need to. Jordan kissed him firmly and turned to leave.

  "Good luck," Jeffery said softly, to his back.

  Jordan nodded and left without another word. He followed the subordinates to the ring, which turned out to be a long, deep cavern with bleacher benches carved into the walls. It reminded him of the pictures he'd seen of ancient Greeks and Romans and their gladiator arenas. Bread and circuses, he thought to himself. The bleachers were packed to bursting with shifters in all forms, of all ages, who cheered and howled as he stepped into the ring. The board was set up in the center, and was already filled with shifters, standing at attention in their squares. A tall observation box stood on either end of the board, and he assumed that he was meant to play from there, looking down on his pieces.

  "Will the master and the challenger take their places at center board," a booming voice instructed.

  Jordan walked around the pieces, coming up to the center of the board from the left. He turned, and saw his opponent approaching from the opposite side. They crossed the squares with synchronized steps, stopping within a foot of each other. The chess master wouldn't meet Jordan's eyes.