Deacon

by Nicholas Bella

  “I have done nothing but be loyal to this pack, to you!” I snapped. “I only did what was asked of me. How dare you speak to me—”

  “How dare you speak to me as if we are equals. Leave now before I demote you to soldier!”

  I was so enraged, I literally saw red. I ground my teeth together as I rose and stormed out of her home. I stomped over to my car, snatching the door open and slamming it shut behind me. Elliot didn’t say anything, which was smart on his part. I wasn’t ready to speak. Not yet. I was so angry my hands shook, so much so, I couldn’t even start the engine.

  “Want me to drive, Sir?” Elliot asked me after a few minutes of silence had passed between us.

  I normally didn’t allow anyone to drive this particular car, but I was in no shape mentally to drive, so I nodded and Elliot and I switched seats. He drove us home and, on the way, I told him to pull over and he did. I got out and walked over to a large tree and unleashed my rage on it, punching the bark off the tree until my knuckles bled. The flesh was torn off, but I didn’t even feel the pain, I was so angry. My chest heaved and I screamed to release what was still lingering beneath the surface. I wanted to kill something, to rip it to shreds, but I refused to do any harm to Elliot.

  He sat in the car, not bothering to interrupt me. After a while, I began to calm down, and I walked back to the car. “Let me drive.”

  Elliot got out and I got in behind the wheel and drove us home. I went straight to my bar to pour myself a drink. Both Charlene and Sanese entered to find out if the recruit went well.

  “I’d take caution if I were you,” Elliot said.

  “What’s wrong?” Charlene asked.

  “His meeting with the Alpha didn’t go well, I’d gather,” Elliot said.

  I still had my back to them as they spoke about me. I could sense and smell Charlene coming closer to me and she ran her hands down my back. “Tell me what happened.”

  “That bitch!” I snarled.

  “Deacon, Julie is Charlene’s friend,” Sanese said.

  “Sanese, shut the fuck up!” I snapped. I watched her place her hand over her chest, shocked that I’d cursed at her. I rarely raised my voice at my wives. But at this point, I couldn’t apologize, I couldn’t give her comfort.

  “What did that bitch do?” Charlene asked, her own tone calm, measured.

  “She insulted me, Charlene. God, I wanted to rip her throat out,” I said. “I would have, too, if I didn’t think the fucking pack would kill me for murdering the Alpha.” My voice was low and I could feel my rage building again, so much so, I crushed the glass goblet I’d been holding into shards. The splinters cut into my hand and Charlene quickly plucked them out, then ripped some of her nightgown to wrap my hand up. “She told me that I wasn’t worthy of Beta Capo, that I was a snake and if I wasn’t married to you, she would have removed me from the pack.”

  “Oh shit,” Elliot said. “Now, I understand why you are so pissed, Sir.”

  Charlene took my face into her hands and forced me to look at her. “It is time, my love.”

  “Time?” I asked, frowning.

  She nodded, her brown eyes locking with my blue. “Time for you to take what she thinks you aren’t worthy of. Time for you to rise as Alpha.”

  “That means he’d have to kill Julie,” Sanese said. “She’s your best friend, Charlene.”

  Charlene never took her eyes off mine. “She is no friend of mine if she scorns my husband. The father of my children. As his wife, Sanese, you should only be on Deacon’s side. You should want him to rise to his potential.”

  “I do. I will always stand by Deacon’s side,” Sanese declared.

  “Then, we must move forward from this point on,” Charlene said.

  “I will never have the pack’s respect, not after she’s poisoned their minds by keeping me down all these years,” I said.

  “We do what Elliot suggested a century ago,” Charlene said.

  “To kill Royce?” I lowered my head. It hurt me just to think about it. I’d known Royce centuries, could I do it?

  “We must both sacrifice that which is dear to us in order for you to rise, Deacon. I’m willing to watch you rip out Julie’s heart and eat it. You must be willing to make Royce a martyr. It is the only way the pack will view you as a hero and not a betrayer. They will not want to follow you if Royce lives. You must convince him to challenge Julie, or at least let the rumor become a threat. I will do my part to make Julie paranoid. It is now that we must make our stand,” Charlene said.

  “Royce will kill Julie if he does challenge her,” I said.

  “Not if he never gets a chance to challenge her, Sir,” Elliot said. “I may have been drunk that night, but I do remember the details of my plan. It is even more possible now than it was back then. Back then, you weren’t ready to do what was necessary to become Alpha. But I think now you are.”

  Charlene released my face and kissed me before turning towards Elliot. “He is ready. I would have our sons be princes within his pack, not paupers.”

  “Good,” Elliot smiling.

  “Tell me every detail about your plan,” I said. I unwrapped the fabric Charlene had put on my hand and saw that I was completely healed. The benefits of being a wolf. I poured myself another drink, then sat down to hear the plan. Charlene and Sanese sat down on the sofa on either side of me.

  “You make Royce think he needs to challenge Julie, let him think that Graham is steering her thoughts,” Elliot began.

  “Which is what Royce thinks anyway,” I added.

  “We need to make sure Royce is serious about challenging her. So, when he is murdered before he can, the pack will suspect Julie, Sir,” Elliot said.

  “How will we… murder him?” I asked, barely able to say the word.

  “Nicholette works as a cook for them. I can get her to lace his drink with a special kind of wolfsbane and dragon’s venom concoction. The wolfsbane hides the scent of the venom. Once he drinks it, he will die instantly. No one will ever suspect you, because of your lifelong friendship. And when you rise up against Julie to avenge Royce’s death, those within the pack who once respected Royce will then respect you. And when you rip out that bitch’s heart, you will face no opposition,” Charlene said.

  “Well, there is a matter of Graham, Charlene,” Elliot said.

  “Graham will be next. His death is already foretold,” I said.

  “I think it’s about time you told me why you hate him so much, Sir?” Elliot asked.

  I looked at both of my wives, only Charlene knew my story. But I felt it was time, so l let Elliot and Sanese in on why Graham was on my hit list, so to speak. Sanese cried and kissed me after hearing my tale.

  Elliot fixed himself and drink, threw it back, and shook his head. “Damn. That’s fucked up. Yeah, that motherfucker can die, too.” He returned to his seat.

  “Charlene, you mentioned Nicholette, why her?” I asked.

  Charlene cocked an eyebrow. “Because, she fancies you, my love. I have seen her staring at you whenever she can sneak looks, when she doesn’t think I’m watching her. She wants your cock.” Charlene slipped her dainty hand between my legs and grabbed my flaccid dick and gave it a nice squeeze. I moaned and looked at her.

  “You would have me invite her into my bed?” I asked, knowing how jealous my dear wife could be.

  She nodded. “Make her your third wife and she will carry out your will. If she thinks she will be yours, she will poison Royce.”

  “We also need her to set Graham up as the killer. That his love for Julie prompted him to take Royce out to protect Julie and her position as Alpha,” Elliot said.

  I had to admit, it was a flawless plan if it all went according to how Charlene and Elliot had worked it out. I thought back to the words Julie had said to me. How lowly she thought of me, and as much it pained me to have to kill Royce… the chance to kill Julie overshadowed my friend’s death. Ascending to Alpha was never an easy thing, but this made it very personal. I refuse
d to be the laughing stock of the pack. Capo in name only, but Omega in her eyes. No telling how many wolves viewed me as lesser? I was sure all the Beta Capos who were promoted above me looked down on me. Once I was Alpha, we’d see who was lesser then.

  I sat back and put my hands around both of my wives’ shoulders and nodded. “It is a great plan and we need to move forward now. I will visit Royce tomorrow, stoke the fires of his rage until they are burning out of control.”

  “How and when will you have the chance to kill him where Nicolette can poison him?” Sanese asked.

  “I will convince Julie to serve a feast to boost pack morale. She trusts me. It will be at that dinner that Royce will fall and along with him, Julie’s reputation, leaving the door open for Deacon to make his grab for power.”

  “I will vow to find out what happened and that is when we ‘discover’ that Graham poisoned Royce. We take him into custody and I challenge Julie. Once I’m Alpha, Graham will die for his crime, making me look even more heroic,” I said.

  “Agnes will be grateful that you avenged her husband’s death. To have her support will go a long way to swaying the pack more to your side,” Charlene said.

  I nodded. “Once I am Alpha, I will marry Nicolette.”

  “Do you even fancy her?” Sanese asked me.

  I chuckled. “I have seen her and yes, she stirs my cock.”

  Sanese pouted a little, but didn’t add any more protest.

  “I never made a move on her because she was Julie’s cook. She already hated the fact that I had two wives and fucked men. The last thing I needed was her being angry at me for fucking her cook,” I said.

  “Well, that bitch’s days are numbered. Let’s get this show on the road, as they say, Sir,” Elliot said.

  I nodded. “It is time for a regime change.”

  The more I thought about being the Alpha, the more excited I became. I loved Royce, I really did. But Charlene was right, in order for me to rise, sacrifices had to be made. It was time to put this plan into motion.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  A Dish Served Cold

  For weeks now, Elliot, Charlene, Sanese, and three of my sons had been spreading the delicate rumor that Royce was going to challenge Julie for the position of Alpha. Meanwhile, I had been gently and slyly coaxing Royce in that very direction. He was visiting me today, proud of the fact that he was going to be a father for the very first time.

  “Do you have a name?” I asked as he lit his cigar, then my own.

  He was grinning from ear-to-ear and nodded. “Patricia, after my mother if it’s a girl and Andrew, after my grandfather if it’s a boy.”

  “I am so happy for you, my friend. I know the excitement you are feeling. Agnes must be beside herself,” I said, then took a puff of my cigar. The fact that Royce was about to become a father after all of these centuries was something I couldn’t let sway me.

  He nodded. “She already has me getting the nursery ready. Deacon?” Royce leaned forward, staring me directly in my eyes.

  “What?”

  “I wanted to ask you, will you be my child’s godfather?”

  I smiled. “I can’t think of a greater honor. Yes.”

  “I felt the same way when you asked me to be the godfather to your boys. I think it’s only right that we keep it in the family,” Royce said.

  “Honestly, I didn’t think you’d want me to be…” I paused for dramatic effect and shook my head, “Never mind.”

  Royce frowned. “Why wouldn’t I want you to be my child’s Godfather?”

  I sat back and sighed, then took another puff of my cigar. “I figured you’d want someone who… well, who the pack didn’t laugh at behind their back.”

  The smile faded from Royce’s face at the mention of my status within the pack. Proving beyond any shadow of a doubt I may have had that I was an Omega of sorts in the pack. That wolves followed my orders because I was a Capo, but I didn’t have their respect. I needed to change that perception and I knew how.

  “It is wrong how Julie has treated you, Deacon,” Royce said.

  “That is only because she didn’t have the vision your father did. Connor was a real Alpha; he knew how to move our pack in the right direction. Julie… well, all she wants is power and Graham. Honestly, I don’t even know what her issues are with me.”

  Royce sucked air in between his teeth and arched an eyebrow. “You’re not wrong. As for why she has a grievance with you, I can’t tell you. She’d never let me know considering how close we are.”

  “She is a danger to us, you know that, right?” I asked him.

  He only nodded, but didn’t add anything. “I should go. Agnes is expecting me to be home and to bring her some olives. My dear wife has the cravings.”

  I laughed. “Something I know all too well. I can’t wait to tell Charlene and Sanese the great news.”

  “Just keep it between the three of you. I’ll announce it to the pack at this feast Julie has planned to celebrate the newest members.” Royce rose from his chair.

  “I almost don’t even want to attend,” I said, sulking a little.

  “You should attend. Never let anyone weaken you, Deacon. You’ve come a long way from that ten-year-old boy you once were,” Royce said.

  Ahh, yes… I had, and only once did I show my weakness. Never again. I nodded. “Very well, I’ll drink and be merry.”

  Royce scoffed. “No one said you had to be merry.”

  I laughed as I rose to walk him to the door. We hugged and I congratulated him again on his good news. I watched him drive away in his Cadillac, last year’s model and a classic. He was my friend and the very thought of what I had to do to him made my heart ache. God, could I really go through with it? I knew it was a question I kept asking myself, only because the closer we came to the date of the feast, the more real it was all starting to get.

  “You love him,” Charlene said from behind me.

  I turned to see my lovely wife dressed in a beautiful floral shirt and pants. Something she really enjoyed having the option to wear. The modern fashion of this time was nice, although I preferred the fashion of the nineteen-twenties. There was an elegance to that time the sixties just didn’t seem to have to me. I missed the twenties. The bootlegging, for one, made me plenty of money. Glamour and glitz, girls, boys, and long nights partying. I loved every second of it. Still, I did have to admit, modern technology was always a perk. My wife walked over to me, kissing me.

  “I know you love him,” she said once our lips parted.

  “I honestly don’t know if I can be the architect of his death,” I admitted.

  Charlene shook her head. “All I need you to do is be ready when the time comes. Elliot and I have this, Deacon.”

  “How can you do it so easily?”

  “Because if you want something bad enough, you won’t let anything stand in your way. I want to see you get what you deserve. I want to see our children rise in status and it’s not like you’re wrong. Julie isn’t the best leader for us. You are. You have what it takes to lead us in the right direction. Royce…” she shook her head. “He is too noble.”

  “And I’m not?”

  Charlene laughed and turned away. “Julie was wrong when she called you a snake, my love. You’re not a snake.” She looked at me over her shoulder. “You’re a lion in a wolf’s body. A natural-born king. You make the hard decisions, and if you want something, you have the gumption and fortitude to see it through. Had you been in Royce’s shoes, you would have challenged Julie the moment we settled here in America. Had you been in Connor’s shoes, we’d still be in London.”

  I walked over to her and kissed her shoulder, neck, and then her cheek. “You are my compass, Charlene.”

  “In three days’ time, you will be Alpha.”

  That was all I needed to hear. My cock was raging and I made sure to make my beautiful wife scream in pleasure as I fucked her until neither of us could go on.

  ~*~

  I was dressed in
one of my favorite three-piece suits, a navy-blue pinstriped number. My cufflinks were diamond for the occasion and my leather shoes were so shiny, I could see my reflection. My wives were stunning in their evening gowns that costs more than what most people could afford with a year’s wages. Their necks sparkled with emeralds and rubies as well as their fingers and wrists. I was successful, a self-made millionaire, and I would flaunt it to all who thought I was unworthy. My sons were also dashing, like their father.

  Drake came down the stairs with his wives. He was going to leave his children home with the sitter. That same sitter would be watching my youngest, Rene. The feast and normal pack hunts were no place for children. Especially, not tonight. Drake knew how important this night was going to be and he winked at me as he approached.

  “So, father, looking good,” he said.

  “As are you,” I complimented, then kissed both of my daughters-in-law’s hands. “You two are ravishing as always.”

  “Charming, like your son,” Lisa said.

  “Why don’t you two wait for me in the car,” Drake said, then slapped both women on their asses. Lisa yelped, but nodded and they left.

  Drake crossed his arms over his well-toned chest. He looked the most like me; black hair, blue eyes, and handsome jawline and dimples. “What do you want to do with Graham?”

  “Kill him, but first, I need to make sure I have a reason to. If all goes according to plan, I want him taken into custody,” I said.

  My son, Drake, should have been a Beta Capo by now, Anton too. And yet, they were mere soldiers. I’d be damned if my children suffered because of that bitch. Tonight, all of that would change. I caressed the side of his face. I could actually see some of his namesake in him. He was also an inch taller than me, which I was sure he got from my father.

  “Go, we don’t want to be late.”