If the rats’ nest was the poorest part of MacKenzie territory, then Blood Alley was the most dangerous. Not that you’d know it to look at it. Few wolves lived around here, it was solidly well-off humans – not the uber wealthy, but monied professionals like doctors, lawyers and the like. They went about their businesses, seldom noticing that the district they called home was used by werewolf gangs who needed a neutral battleground to sell bane. If a human were to be killed in these inter-gang squabbles then the police would clamp down, so the wolves were uncharacteristically careful, and from King’s Heights down to the junction of West Seventeenth there were two completely different characters, depending on your species.
To the Werewolf Squad, it was always Blood Alley. I had dragged too many wolf corpses out of there – first thing in the morning so as not to alarm the residents – to think of it as anything else.
As soon as we arrived in early evening, the tension was obvious. If I had been there alone then I could have walked through without hassle, but I was accompanied by three big, alpha-male wolves, who obviously meant business. Lookouts posted on the corners caught the approaching scent of Talbot, Kessler and Reed, and hurried off to report what they had smelled.
“Not going to tell us to be more subtle?” asked Talbot.
I shook my head. “Whatever tactic you think best - this is more your world than mine. I trust you.”
I did, but I also knew his tactic was right. You didn’t creep into Blood Alley - that was a sign of weakness - you strode in as if you owned the place, flaunting your strength and daring anyone to challenge you. Someone definitely would challenge you, but at least you would have the psychological upper hand that came with not looking scared.
I looked at my companions. It was not just that they didn’t look scared – they looked as if they had never even heard the word. Talbot led the way, strolling down the pavement with a mild expression on his face, as if he did this all the time. He was so casual that at first glance you might not even notice the muscles that bulged imposingly beneath his shirt. Kessler was a step behind him, his perpetual smile now seeming like an invitation; go on, try something, I dare you. Though he walked at the same measured pace as Talbot, there was a suppressed energy in his step – he was a coiled spring ready to burst forth at the slightest hint of threat. Finally came Reed, the tallest, the sternest, the darkest in his energy, safe in the knowledge that there was nothing out there scarier than him. As a trio, they radiated an aura of ‘Don’t fuck with us’.
But in Blood Alley, someone was always going to fuck with you.
One of the lookouts had returned, backed up by an enforcer – the sort of role Dog would have filled, back in his gang days – a hulking slab of unthinking muscle who looked to have been welded together rather than born.
“I smell Pack meat,” the lookout snarled as we passed, safe in the knowledge that he had protection.
Talbot’s arm moved so fast that I didn’t even see it, shooting out and grabbing the lookout by the throat before his crony could react. The enforcer pulled back a fist like a ham and swung it at Talbot with the force of a sledgehammer. Coolly keeping one hand on the lookout’s throat, Talbot ducked the enforcer’s fist and delivered a stunning backhand blow across the man’s face. Before the enforcer could recover, Talbot had grabbed his head and smacked it into the brickwork. The huge man slid to the ground unconscious and Talbot turned his attention back to the lookout.
“We’re looking for someone.”
Throughout this, Kessler and Reed had held back, watching Talbot at work. I now realized how smart this was – anyone watching would remember that Talbot had not needed help. Again, they had won the psychological battle alongside the physical one.
“We want to speak to the Curtis brothers,” Talbot went on.
The lookout managed a strangled yelp.
Talbot smiled. “Good. Lead the way.”
He released the little man, who gulped in air and looked up at Talbot with a terrified expression. “I don’t think they’ll be pleased to see you.”
“Then that’ll save some time.”
For a moment, the lookout seemed to be weighing up who was more scary, Talbot or the Curtis brothers, eventually, seeming to decide that the danger directly in front of him was the more pressing. “You buying or selling?”
“No,” replied Reed succinctly, adding his overbearing shadow to that of Talbot, looming over the lookout. I could have almost felt sorry for him if I hadn’t known how he made his living.
“I can’t…” Whatever further excuse he was about to make was cut off by Kessler taking one step forwards, underlining the fact that, willingly or unwillingly, the little man was taking us to see the Curtis brothers. “Okay. But you can’t blame me for what happens.”
The lookout led the way down a side street that was as handsome and well appointed as the avenue off which it had branched. Tall, cast iron streetlights that looked to have been there since the end of the nineteenth century were placed at regular intervals – in my neighborhood they’d all have been broken – and were just coming on as we approached. The smart houses all had trees out front, steps leading up to glossily painted front doors and one doorbell – none of these houses had been divided up to accommodate multiple families. Our guide looked wholly out of place in these surroundings and I guess that we did, too.
At the far end of the block, a neat little park with a fence about it and a children’s play area was sandwiched between houses. During the day, the slides and swings were occupied by the kids of the locals, watched over by nanny as they tore about the grass. During the night, however, it was a different story.
As we went through the park gate, our guide took off with an unexpected turn of speed into the shadows afforded by the trees, vanishing into the grey half-light of evening.
The guys made no attempt to stop him – he had done what they had needed; he had led us to the Curtis brothers. True, he had also led us into an ambush, but we had been expecting that, and the guys looked as calm and casual as ever. But while they were not nervous, there was a subtle change in their bearing; muscles tensed, eyes flicked about for any sign of attack.
“Curtis!” shouted Talbot.
“Any one will do,” added Kessler.
I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I had been here before, this was what it had been like on the squad and the instincts had not left me. I might be more anxious than my comrades – I was not a wolf, after all – but with anxiety came the thrill of adrenalin coursing through me. I couldn’t stop myself from grinning. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed that sensation, that feeling of anticipation. A tremor of excitement passed through me that was almost sexual, heightened by the presence of the guys, whose own readiness even a human like me could almost taste on the air.
Then, as we passed deeper into the little park, a pair of shadows sprang from the trees at Talbot and Kessler. Werewolves in wolf form.
Talbot changed on the instant, meeting his attacker on equal terms and hurling him to the ground. Kessler had been closer to the tree so was taken more unawares. He struggled to change, kicking and punching to defend himself in human form. But Reed was there to help in a heartbeat, shifting into wolf form, laying hands on Kessler’s assailant and tossing him aside. Kessler shifted just in time as another wolf sprang from the darkness at the heart of the park and Kessler took him out of the air. The pair landed heavily on the ground, rolling over as they fought, biting viciously for each other’s throats.
The next two wolves that broke from cover made straight for me – they had identified the weak spot in this team and perhaps planned to use me to force the guys to back down. But Talbot was on both of them as quick as lightning.
I had spent my working life around werewolves and most of the ones I dealt with had been of the big bad variety, but I had never seen a fighter like Talbot. Nor had I ever seen strength like Talbot. Hidden beneath the neat, businesslike shirts he wore, there had to be an incredible physi
que, that in wolf form blew up to impossible. His biceps bulged as he hooked a hairy arm around the necks of each of his prey, before lifting both off the ground with a roar and bringing them down to earth with terrific force, drawing howls and whimpers from both.
As he fought to protect me, the first wolf he had dealt with found its feet again and turned a red-eyed gaze at Talbot. I didn’t hesitate. I hadn’t brought my gun with me because some wolves can sense silver and taking it into this district was asking for trouble, but my old nightstick was in my hand as I ran forward. As the wolf sprang at Talbot, I leapt towards it, swinging my weapon and bringing it down on the creature’s head with a satisfying whack. The wolf practically screamed as it came down to earth, rolling over and back to its paws, growling with fury and ready to face me. But I was one step ahead and before it was even back on its feet my nightstick swung from beneath to take it under the jaw, hard enough to send the wolf head over paws.
Kessler finally kicked his assailant away, sending the wolf flying. It landed awkwardly and slunk off into the undergrowth, limping, while Kessler turned to face a fresh onslaught. Reed was facing off with the biggest wolf I had ever seen, the two of them, pacing in a circle, eyes locked, teeth bared, a rumbling snarl issuing from both. Suddenly, they both flew at each other, jaws snapping, claws slashing. Their bodies locked together and I saw both sets of muscles take the strain as they fought for supremacy. I could have cheered as Reed won, breaking his opponent’s grip and backhanding him to the ground before pinning him there till the big wolf let out a pained whine of submission.
As Kessler brought down what seemed to be the last of the advance guard, I looked about for Talbot. I had been completely caught up in what the others were doing – though I had slept with werewolves before, I had never then seen those wolves in a fight like this. Perhaps I should have been ashamed to think it, but it turned me on to know that those powerful, aggressive males had been on top of me, inside me, and that I had given almost as good as I got. They could have torn me apart, but instead they had rocked my world. The fact that they were animals didn’t bother me at all – they were my animals and the thought thrilled me as much as the fight.
But once I was done getting my ya-yas from watching my lupine fuck buddies kicking ass, I realized that Talbot was gone. Without waiting for the others, I ran on into the park. I heard the warning barks of Kessler behind me but I paid no attention.
At the back of the park, a thick hedge replaced the fence. A hole had been torn in it, like a herd of animals had stampeded through. I ran through and found myself in the garden of one of the well-off residents. I paused a moment and then heard a snarling wolf – more than one, in fact; not a fight, yet, but the prelude to one. Again, not stopping to think if it was a good idea, I ran on. I had held my own in the fight and if Talbot needed help taking down the Curtis brothers then I would be there at his side.
Skirting the backyard swimming pool – life is alright for some – I followed the growls till I came to the driveway where it led around the back of the house. The car was safe and snug in a garage that was bigger than my apartment, but in the corner where the wall of the garage met that of the garden, I found Talbot. Three wolves circled him, all three of the same family based on the white stripe down the center of their backs; the Curtis brothers. Despite being outnumbered, Talbot had chased them, because that was the kind of wolf he was. Now they had turned to fight, confident they had the advantage. And from where I stood, they were right.
I had come across the Curtis’s during my days in the squad. They were street wolves who had not let success make them soft. Even amongst their kind they were considered unnecessarily violent. Most wolves hunt to kill, but the Curtis’s liked to inflict pain. None of them had the impressive musculature that Talbot boasted, but they were lean and nasty. They fought dirty and the three of them together could take down all-comers.
Suddenly, everything seemed to happen at once. I opened my mouth to yell but Talbot’s eyes met mine, silencing me with a look. As he broke eye contact with his enemies they leapt on his distraction, all three lunging forward at once, jaws open. Two of them Talbot knocked back with quick slashes of his claws, but the third brother locked his teeth into Talbot’s leg and I saw his wince of pain as the teeth sunk into his flesh. As brother Three dragged Talbot back, One and Two lunged forward again, taking advantage of Talbot’s pain and incapacity.
But Talbot wasn’t so easily taken. Kicking fiercely back with his free leg, he caught Three in the face and the wolf let go just in time for Talbot to face the other two. He was limping now, but his size and strength still made him a formidable opponent. As they attacked, One came in high while Two went low, aiming for his belly. Talbot smacked Two aside as One snapped at his throat. I saw blood across Talbot’s chest as claws slashed. Then Three leapt onto his back, his teeth fastening onto Talbot’s shoulder. Talbot threw himself backwards, pounding Three against the wall to loosen his grip. Grabbing Three’s hanging arm, he swept the wolf out into one of his brothers, sending both tumbling into a heap. Talbot sprang on them, claws flashing, keeping them down, punishing any movement.
But behind him, brother Two was back up on his feet and rushing towards Talbot’s back.
He didn’t get there. Two werewolf-shaped blurs raced out of the night and took Three to the ground, snarling and spitting.
Reed stayed on Three as Kessler got back to his feet, shifting into human form as he turned to me.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Chapter 13
Although he tried to make light of them, Talbot’s injuries were not nothing and looked still worse when he shifted back into human form. There were four bloody scratches across his chest where one of the Curtises had managed to claw him, and he was limping from the bite in his calf.
“I still say we should go to the hospital,” I complained as I escorted the werewolf home.
“I’ve had worse,” scoffed Talbot. “Wolves heal fast.”
“And some are too thick-headed to know what’s best for them.”
“That too.” Talbot shrugged. “Maybe I’m just showing off.”
I quite liked that idea, but said nothing. The Curtis brothers were, even as we spoke, being taken back to the MacKenzie Pack Lodge by Kessler and Reed to be questioned. I was not sure I had yet made my peace with that. Every fiber in me said that that was a job for the police, and yet Regan had been very clear he didn’t want them and was quite happy for the brothers to be simply taken off his hands. They had been captured without due process and so would certainly walk free before coming to trial. Also, I had a hunch that werewolf interrogation might get more out of them than human.
It was not something I wanted to think about, but it helped to keep reminding myself that they were very bad people.
“Look,” Talbot went on, “I’m not saying the injuries aren’t nasty. But all they need is a bandage and a night’s sleep.”
He was probably right about that. Wolves did heal fast and he had been lucky that, bloody though they looked, his injuries had been mere flesh wounds.
“I certainly don’t need a nursemaid to get me home,” he added.
“If you pass out from blood loss and someone steals your pants, I don’t want you blaming me.”
“Why would someone steal my pants? They’re covered in blood.”
“There’re some funny people out there,” I said. “Anyway, your place is on my way home.”
Talbot pulled a face. “I… I wasn’t planning on going to my place.”
A little sliver of jealousy poked at my insides. “Oh? Where are we going, then?”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Talbot insisted. “I can handle myself. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I shook my head. “No way. Not until I at least know where you’re spending the night.”
“No.”
“What are you going to do about it?” I asked. “How can you stop me from following you?”
“Maybe you don’t
want to find out how I’d stop you.”
I laughed. “The big bad wolf act doesn’t fly with me. Partly because Sean told you to work with me and you always do what your Pack Leader tells you. Partly because if you try to restrain me then I’ll kick you in the leg and listen to you scream.”
Talbot looked conflicted and irritated but he knew that I was right. There was nothing he could do to stop me from following him, and in his current condition, it might be for the best.
“This way.”
We headed away from the nicer areas of town and into the rats’ nest. Why the hell were we going here? Did Talbot have a mate living here? I wondered how serious it might be.
Reaching a house that was down at heel but nowhere near the worst in the district, Talbot got out a key.
“I’m doing this under protest.”
“You’ve made that very clear.”
“Good.” He unlocked the door and I followed him in. “Mom? You about?”
Mom?
Of all the things I had expected, this had not even made the list.
A grey-haired woman with a kindly face that instantly reminded me of Talbot came to meet us.
“Talbot, I… What happened to you?”
“I was in a fight,” Talbot explained. “For work. I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding all over the place.”
“I’m fine.”
“Well, hang on, I’ll put some newspaper down.”
“Thanks, I’ll try not to bleed anywhere it shows. This is my friend Marley. She insisted on walking me home.” He looked at me pointedly. “Now she can go.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, stretching out a hand to Talbot’s mom, which she took with a smile.
“You, too, dear. Thank you so much for looking after him. He’s always getting into fights.”
Her Guardian Harem: Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance Page 10