Prophesy (The King & Alpha Series Book 1)

by A. E. Via

  Taleb put his hand up and responded before Alek could speak. “I think it’s safe to say that humans don’t handle incarceration or solitary confinement very well, either, Chief. Your city’s violent offender’s recidivism rate rose from forty-two to fifty-nine percent last year. With all due respect, sir, your prisons are not all that effective, either. Please, let Justice take the wolves. His enforcers will escort them personally to our facilities.”

  “Give me something, Justice. The vampire leader will be enforcing the death penalty. Did you know they had that?” The chief reared back in his seat, his navy-blue suit jack pulling tight across his thick midsection.

  “No, I did not.” Justice was stunned. The death penalty? What kind of leader just killed off his own brotherhood without a second thought? Justice had always heard vampires were cold, vicious beings but he hadn’t wanted to believe nay-sayers since he’d never encountered one personally in his thirty-three years. Justice was reconsidering if collaborating with the head vampire would work. He couldn’t be sure the Vampire King wouldn’t attack him. “I will not kill my wolves. I will discipline them, I give you my word.”

  Another officer tapped on the door, simultaneously peeking his head inside. Justice turned and faced the uniformed rookie. He looked excited and a bit scared. “Chief. The Vampire’s leader just arrived with about six other cars. He’s come to get the vampires.”

  “You guys certainly don’t travel light do you?” The chief stood and adjusted his tie. “I spoke with this individual on the phone. He’s not what I expected. Maybe you should ask him about his correctional system. Looks like it might be more effective than yours, Alpha. All due respect.” The chief sneered, walking past with his officers, leaving Justice and his pack alone in the room.

  “The Vampire King is here? Now?” Alek looked at Justice. “You wanted to meet him, right? Well, now’s your chance.”

  Justice stood, his siblings and enforcers watching him closely. He couldn’t appear confused, he had to act surely and quickly. “Yes. Let’s see if we can at least arrange something.”

  Alek instructed the two enforcers that accompanied them. “The King is probably here with his entire escort. Peacefully,” Alek stressed, “Approach his number two – I think it’s called his captain – and let them know the Alpha Zenith would like a brief word before he leaves.”

  “Yes, Alpha.” One of the large shifters answered Alek respectfully and left to fulfill his task.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea, Justice?” His little sister asked, standing directly in front of him, her eyes showing more worry than calm. “He just ordered three of his own vampires killed like it was nothing.”

  “They have different rules than we do, Farica. Doesn’t make them less than us, and it doesn’t make them our enemy,” Justice reasoned.

  His youngest brother Taleb was quiet, patiently waiting. He really didn’t speak unless he had something important to say. Macauley was on his tablet, looking up one of the many things he researched daily for Justice. Right now, Mac was trying to find a higher up in the American government who was willing to step in and help them get their shifters back and into a proper restraint center. Fighting for their rights in Washington D.C. was a tedious, ongoing battle, but they did have allies they could rely on.

  Justice put his muscular arms around his sister’s shoulders and pulled her in close to him. She felt fragile, worn, and he could sense the tension for him in her wolf. Justice pushed some of his power to her, making her rub her cheek against his chest, reveling in the comfort only he could give. His wolf rumbled inside him, content to care for his sibling, for his pack.

  The two enforcers came back into the room and reported to Alek. “After the Vampire King’s Captain finished securing their vampires, we gave him your request. The King immediately agreed. He’s preparing to come in now.”

  “Thank you.” Justice nodded. “Did you see him?”

  “No.” The huge shifter grumbled. “Only his captain – which is his third, not his second by the way – and about ten or twelve more vampires.”

  “How do they seem to you?” Farica hurried to ask, still standing close to Justice.

  “I haven’t encountered many vampires in my day either, so I can’t say what the norm is, but these particular ones seem stiff and very disciplined.”

  “Of course, they are.” Justice nodded, trying to reassure his sister. “See. Trust Warren. He’s a good judge of character and sniffing out deceit.”

  “Vampires can shield their scent,” Farica argued back.

  “Enough,” Justice ordered. “We don’t know if that’s a fact. But what we do know is they have exceptional senses, including hearing. So be mindful of what you say. We want to—” Justice turned towards the door, releasing his sister so abruptly she stumbled back into Alek. Justice’s canines dropped in a blink as he growled at the door like something or someone dangerous was about to come through it. His brothers and enforcers went on full alert.

  “What the hell? What’s going on?” Alek was beside Justice, clamping his hand on his shoulder trying to turn him to face him, but Justice couldn’t look away from the door.

  His animal growled and snarled inside him. Justice grunted and cursed while he fought to keep his wolf under control. What was wrong with him? What the hell was coming? He could feel it as sure as he could feel his beating heart, his racing pulse and his mighty wolf trying to get out and explore. He’d never had to reign in his animal so fiercely. Justice was finally able to open his eyes, not realizing they were squeezed shut in concentration.

  “Justice! You’re forcing a lot of power, man.” Mac’s strong voice cut over the incessant presence trying to reach his mind.

  Justice growled again. Something’s in my head. “Clear the room.” Justice’s voice was strained, spitting his words through clenched teeth. His wolf was clawing at him, ripping him apart, wanting out.

  “Justice you’re scaring me. I can feel you fighting.”

  He could hear his baby sister begging but he couldn’t focus on his siblings when he was barely keeping himself together. It had to be the Vampire King doing something to him. If Justice shifted and went crazy right here in a police headquarters, only the heavens knew what would happen to his people. “Get my family out of here.” Justice grabbed Alek’s arm in an authoritative grip. “Everyone. Out. Now.”

  “We’re your betas. We won’t leave you, Justice,” Taleb snarled, looking in the same direction as Justice.

  “Alek!” Justice thundered. He needed him to act for him.

  “You heard your Alpha, Taleb. Warren, get them in the RV and back on the Humboldt pack lands now! Protect them with your lives,” Alek barked to the enforcers, who immediately began to shuffle Justice’s sister and his younger brothers out of the room and to the safety of their vehicle. Alek watched them down the hall until they turned out of view. His brother looked up and down the corridor before dipping back inside the room and locking the door.

  “I think the Vampire King just turned the corner. Is it him doing this to you? I’ll kill him right now,” Alek growled.

  “No!” Justice’s voice was sharper and stronger than he intended. He was still leaning hard against the wall farthest from the door for support, holding both clenched fists against his chest as if that alone could keep his wolf from bursting free. Justice closed his eyes and tried to center himself. He needed to breathe, relax. But with each second, the feelings intensified, an all-encompassing entity in his head.

  “I can feel you too.”

  “Oh shit. Was that you, Alek?” Justice grabbed his brother’s arm and yanked him to face him. “Did you just speak to me?”

  “What? No? I am speaking to you now. Justice, goddamnit! You’re pushing too much energy.” Alek released a pained grunt. His brother looked like he wanted to break the window behind them and just get them the hell out of there. He’d never seen Justice behave this way, so out of control, and wasn’t sure what he was about to be faced with,
but knew he may have to fight it alone because Justice was in a complete state of disorder.

  It was an accented, smooth voice. “Something. Someone just said—” Then he smelled it. That faint, delicious scent that appeared last night was back, only it wasn’t diluted by nature’s elements. This time it was full strength, concentrated, and like nothing he’d ever smelled before. Impressive and so damn compelling. Justice’s thick cock pushed against his loose jeans and his wolf howled inside him, fighting to break free. His animal was so strong. Justice gritted his teeth together and hung on. Oh, Mother… please. Can’t… it just can’t. Justice heard footsteps right outside the door and his body began to shake from effort.

  “Justice,” Alek warned. “You gotta tell me what’s going on, brother, so I can help you.”

  How the hell was he supposed to explain this?

  Justice saw the knob jiggle for a second before it was completely ripped from the door. Neither he nor Alek flinched at the show of strength. They had strength of their own. Justice thought dozens of vampires would storm the room, but only two walked in and Justice knew exactly which one was in his head. The Vampire King. The sexy, beautiful one. But how?

  “I think you know how.” Wick had to keep advancing towards that amazing scent. In all his hundred-plus years, blood had never called to him so relentlessly. If he wasn’t a disciplined vampire, he’d already have his fangs deep in the shifter. Because he was his.

  “You know who I am? Don’t you.” Wick asked, still using their link, since the one other person in the room with the AZ looked like he had no idea what was going on.

  Justice wasn’t responding, only staring back at him in shock, but mostly dismay. When he finally did speak, his voice was a rumbling whisper, a prayer. “You can’t be my… my mate.”

  He looked repulsed and Wick felt his insides burn and something mewl deep inside him. A sense of rejection washed over him and Wick struggled to keep his face neutral, to not show his initial hurt. But he must not have done a good enough job because his captain gripped his elbow and began to pull Wick behind him.

  A fierce growl tore through the large room and was probably heard throughout the building and beyond. The Alpha Zenith moved faster than Wick realized shifters could and was on his captain, slamming him into the wall by his throat so aggressively the drywall and plaster exploded behind him and fell down around the vampire’s dangling feet. Wick’s captain hissed and gasped but nothing he did could free him from the large shifter’s grip. In one quick, effortless jerk, the big Alpha could snap his captain’s neck.

  “Do not touch him. Mine! I can see your corrupted soul.” Justice’s eyes shifted to an astonishing ice blue as he barked angrily at the limp vampire, his wolf making a terrifying appearance. His long canines extended past his full bottom lip, making his voice sound like an out of tune Harley.

  “Justice! What are you doing? Let him go!” His beta tried to get through to Justice, but he acted like he couldn’t hear him. Couldn’t even see his brother.

  Wick used his flash speed and was at Justice’s side in a second. “Let my captain go. He was only trying to protect me. He doesn’t know.” Wick kept his voice low and easy. He wanted to touch Justice so badly but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be appreciated. Wick couldn’t be happy at Justice’s words, his reaction at another touching him. It was his animal’s instincts. Nothing more. The Alpha’s wolf called Wick his. But Justice – the man – did not. The man looked appalled that fate had dealt him such a shitty hand. It’d been written all over Justice’s ruggedly gorgeous face.

  Wick watched Justice drop his captain like a pile of rubbish and step back, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe what he’d just done. “Damnit,” Justice spat. “I don’t know you. But I’m sorry, okay. I had no right. Shit. I don’t know why… I mean, I—”

  “Justice we need to go.” The large beta wolf was still trying to hustle Justice away. Away from Wick. He couldn’t let him go until he heard the words. Until Justice said it.

  “I’m Aleksei Volkov, Justice’s brother and first beta. He’s obviously not himself tonight. We’ll have to reschedule the meeting.”

  Wick appreciated the considerate beta trying to be diplomatic and all, but this had nothing to do with any other shifters or vampires… only the two of them. Wick needed five minutes alone. To say goodbye. Inside he cringed at the crushing sadness. Justice made a noise Wick couldn’t decipher, but something down in Wick understood the wolf in Justice was angry… and hurting. That wouldn’t do.

  “Can I speak with you privately for a few minutes?” Wick looked dead at Justice when he asked his question, but the brother stepped in front and answered for him. Which may be the norm in their pack, but Wick didn’t appreciate the interference, and apparently neither did his beast. Wick’s vision flashed and he saw the colors change right before his eyes. Vibrant colors went from radiant to dull and dim. Wick blinked repeatedly, trying to clear his sight. His chest vibrated and rumbled, making him feel off balance, like he was trying to comfort two wounded souls instead of one. When he opened his eyes, he gasped at how close Justice was to him. Right on top of him. Looking long and hard into his eyes now. Justice wasn’t looking through his human eyes but through his wolf’s. He was so close. Nothing else in the room mattered. Wick placed one shaking hand on Justice’s hot chest and a jolt of power shot up his arm and straight to his heart. Justice was so warm and full of life and Wick feared he’d never know how deep the warmth went.

  “What are you?” Justice rumbled sexily. Large drops of sweat rained down his temples, slicking down the fine hairs around his face. He’d been working so hard to deny what was happening between them, the man was now a big, sweaty mess but damn, did he still smell appetizing.

  Wick wanted to wrap himself in that dominating tone. Plunge his face in the dark hairs peeking out from the flannel shirt and rub his smooth face against the coarseness. He needed to bathe in Justice’s scent and mark himself with it. Wick didn’t know why, but it felt like that would soothe the beast within. Wick was more certain now than ever that he had something living inside him and the AZ could somehow communicate with it. Only one other person knew of Wick’s secret and he was still thousands of miles across the ocean.

  “Erman, wait outside,” Wick told his captain. He looked to be fully recovered from Justice’s brief assault but it didn’t stop him from glaring daggers at the AZ and his beta. “Now.”

  Justice turned to his brother, who was kicking some of the drywall out of the way. “Wait out front, Alek, please. Don’t let those police in here, either. Tell them we’ll pay for any damage.”

  They both waited for the seconds it took his captain and Justice’s brother to leave before turning back to each other.

  “You don’t want me.” Wick cut right to the point. He was never coy, always so assured and take-charge, but at the moment he could barely get those words out. Just the thought of walking away right now…. Wick heard a soft whine and wondered where it came from.

  “You’re a shifter?” Justice inched in even closer, sniffing all around him, this time their chests touching just enough to make Wick want. His dick was stiff and aching in his tailored slacks, and he did nothing to shield his arousal. His fangs began to descend more, needing to taste, to feed.

  “No.” Wick frowned, then really thought of Justice’s question. “Why? Can you see…? I mean can you—?”

  “I can feel it. It’s… it’s talking—” Justice swallowed hard and took a few large steps back until his hip hit the conference table. “It’s talking to my wolf. Stop it.”

  “How? Why? What’s it say—?”

  “If you don’t know, how the hell am I supposed to know?!” Justice yelled, his fists balled tight and pounding at his chest. “My wolf is all over me one minute and now it’s distant and quiet, content to communicate with your animal – that you seem to be denying or claiming no knowledge of – and you’re asking me what it’s saying. I DON’T KNOW!”

 
Wick put his hands up and tried to pull back to give the frantic man some space. Pulling away seemed like the opposite of what he should do. It was contrary to what he wanted to do. This was very confusing and he needed answers that Justice seemed to have. Wick didn’t know what was going on either, but he was sure they were supposed to figure it out together. Otherwise, why would nature do this to them? Wick wanted to rejoice, wanted to celebrate. That’s how he always thought it should be. “I’m sorry we’re only just meeting. Justice… that’s your name, right? Justice Voltov?”

  “Volkov. I’m Siberian,” Justice corrected. “We’re meeting because your kind keeps antagonizing my young wolves.”

  Your kind. Wick decided to take a different approach, because clearly small talk wasn’t what Justice wanted. He didn’t know what the man wanted. He didn’t know what more to do or how to fix this. The thought of throwing his hands up and walking away wasn’t sitting well with Wick. Matter of fact, it felt like it would kill him. He had to get through to Justice. “My name is Chadwick Earl-Kyne Bentley.”

  “Your name is Chadwick?” Justice asked dryly.

  Damn, why did that hurt Wick too? Did Justice not like his name, because he loved his. Justice sounded so noble and trustworthy. Maybe the big wolf didn’t know what Wick’s name meant. “I know what Justice means in America. In the old world Chadwick means, ‘battle warrior’. But if you don’t like it, you can call me Wick. I prefer it. Or you can—”