To him, the strange woman’s voice sounded like a thousand voices in harmony. Long after she had gone her voice still sang in his ears, yet for the first time in his life he suddenly felt something similar to hatred towards the Councilwoman – a very negative feeling reeked from the new female, despite her friendly greeting to the Councilwoman. No, not hatred, but he soon realized that it was jealousy he now felt radiating from her.
As the days passed and the council members spent more time together, Kahn found that he couldn’t keep his eyes off of the newcomer, Ryder. His senses felt numbed, and he wasn’t alert to his surroundings anymore. And though he was frustrated with this strange new weakness that overcame him whenever he was around her, he ached to be around her more. It was all very confusing. In the small hours of the morning one night, lying there with the bright stars shining down on him, he suddenly realized that this must be what it was like to fall prey to love.
Just then the guards horns sounded, and the women fled into the castle. They were being attacked! The creatures, the crowd and everyone else were shouting in terror. Kahn picked up the scent of the intruders, and bristled in response. He heard their paws on the pine needles in the woods outside as they ran through the fields, their sharp teeth glistening bright in the early morning air. As the enemies drew closer he could feel his body urging him to change back to his true form, and the howls of his animal nature tugged at his chest to be released.
Once he was sure that the council members were safely inside and guarded from the attack, he ran off toward the woods. Long before he was even near the far away trees he felt his body rise, contort and expand. His skin tingled, and he grunted as soon as his furry front legs hit the ground, off and running on all fours once again. What a wonderful feeling!
How he’d missed this! He could not put it into words – the pleasure of being his old self once again rippled through his body just as a howl ripped from his chest. The mournful sound pierced the quiet of the morning, then was immediately answered by his brothers back behind him. He snapped his teeth, jumped over several fallen logs, and ran faster than he had been able to in years. He was elated being in his new, old form! Just then he spotted the massive grey wolves through the cover of the trees, and cautiously weaved his way towards them.
“Brother,” he called out, and the familiar grey wolf turned his head, his eyes dark and ominous.
“There you are, Kahn. We have missed you!”
“And I you – it’s been way too long.”
They waited until more wolves arrived, and then, when they were all assembled, the leader gave the orders to the group. They were to attack the castle, leaving no survivors. As far as the leader was concerned, they were going to finish this centuries old war once and for all, right now.
Kahn immediately froze as he listened to this information. The war between the wolf factions had gone on for too long, it had to stop. But his loyalty has been torn, he shuddered at the thought of losing Councilwoman Reah, who he’d been guarding with his life for so many years, as well as the newcomer Ryder, who he wished to be with for the rest of them. Even though he had felt pangs of jealousy and other confusing feelings emanating from her toward Councilwoman Reah since their first meeting, he could not turn off his yearning for her.
Suddenly he broke from his reverie and realized everyone was looking at him – his hair rose at the back of his neck.
“We were asking about their weaknesses, Kahn” said Simon, the Alpha. “You’ve spent all this time with them. What do you have to report – where best do we start?”
Kahn went cold. This is what he was sent there for, to find the best way to kill them. But his emotions flared up and his lips pulled back in a snarl. The others were startled at first, not expecting this reaction from him, but very quickly it turned into a fight between them all. Minutes later he managed to escape the pack, bleeding on his neck and legs, hearing their snarls and curses in the forest far behind him.
He changed back to human form once he reached the edge of the woods, and limped the remaining distance to the castle. But he knew deep down that if the Other Wolves ever found him, they’d kill him for his deception. He had to find the council members, tell them all about what was happening – he had to save them. After a lot of confusion he did manage to get them out safely, and the attacking wolves had to retreat after much fighting because they couldn’t find the royal family. In the midst of all the chaos Ryder mysteriously turned up missing too.
“Did the Other Wolves take her?” the Councilwoman asked Kahn as he guarded his charges in a safe location, low below the castle proper. “Where is she? What happened to her?” But he had no answer.
When the battle had died down, and it was safe for the people to come out again, the delegation held a ceremony in which they honored Kahn for his bravery. Kahn, never a lover of the spotlight, stood quietly on the platform as the crowd cheered him on, overcome with a sadness that he’d never known before. He was now bound to this shape forever, and even though his love for the missing Ryder and his respect for Councilwoman Reah was worth it, he would never be able to be himself again, cursed to never be the wonderful wolf he once was. He was the greatest man of them all here assembled, but instinctively he realized he would always be less than the wolf he once was.
Book 3: The Alpha’s a Bitch: Rise Of The Pack Princess Chapter 2
Days later he awoke to the twinkle in Councilwoman Reah’s soft brown eyes which led him to the assumption that only a few seconds of time had passed by. But where was he? Maybe it was the crooked neck from looking up to her; but she was just reaching the top of a long spiraling stone stairway.
A majestically enchanting, leisurely strolling woman dressed in a long, shiny red robe splattered with diamonds, standing atop a lone rock two stories high in a cavern somewhere beneath the Garden’s earth perhaps had this type of effect on men. Could this be the tale he’d heard over the course of time during his stay? The way she lured men into loving her against their own will?
Confused, and a bit drained of energy for no reason whatsoever, Kahn lowered his head looking to the pleasantly placed torches within the domed stone structure, and then back up, gazing toward the torches on either side behind her thinking, this could be the source of her witchery.
Taking a deep breath, her left knee slightly arched to where the bone and lower leg’s outline taunted his animal cravings instantaneously. He took in a light whiff of the air – the very womanly scent she left behind – as the dripping water echoed, each trickle making random puddles around the two. Interesting, the sound was like a melody of moist kisses played in the background by the waterfall. Somehow this excursion of stream water seeping through cracks in the earth and rock, signaled her love for him would finally emerge from the crevices of her heart.
But he knew she did not lead him there to fulfill his fantasies.
Kahn had never been to this chamber before. In fact, never had he been anywhere in secrecy with Councilwoman Reah alone. Not like this, the distance and silence – it was a bit unnerving to say the least.
This can’t be good.
And the purpose of this all was still a mystery to Kahn.
Time carried on in the chamber and she still hadn’t said a word.
Maybe she knows about me. Maybe she knows the reason my clan sent me.
He felt as if he should address her now – but that would be a total mistake. He knew each individual on the council had their own methods – a calm madness surging throughout their lineage. He was also aware of Councilwoman Reah’s acuity on the shedding of blood, and by whose hands it should be shed if there was any to be had.
Coming back into the grip of reality, it was pretty much evident that she had something else on her mind. But if not the testament of his disloyalty or the cravings he knew not to desire, then what? What reason did she have for this affair, this spur-of-the-moment, surprise clandestine encounter? She kept her eyes on him, sharp and direct, now finally cracking her luscious lips t
o speak.
With a sincere authority and a hint of hurt in her voice, Councilwoman Reah questioned Kahn on the daily activities of Ryder. “I want to know each detail from the moment she set foot in our sacred land, up until her sudden disappearance of recent event,” she asked.
He, of course, detailed her pattern of daily rites and happenings, her dealings with other council members and other individuals of their fraction. Right down to her final meals.
And with that same sparkle in her eyes, the Councilwoman then questioned, “What were your personal affiliations with the unaccounted?”
This immediately caught him off-guard, but he quickly denied any misconduct out of a professional setting. “I do only what is asked of me and nothing more,” he said, an expected response considering the punishment.
It was so expected in fact that Reah cracked a half grin at his response; he clenched his fists to alleviate the sweat from his palms and then relaxed, thankful she had yet to question his trustworthiness; this was the only way he would expose the true nature of his presence.
But once he thought of doing just that, she lifted a hushing finger.
“But I haven’t said anything yet,” he said.
“Your thoughts are shared within these walls. There are no secrets here,” Reah returned coldly.
So this is how it’s done. She’s telepathic; or rather these confines are enchanted. “I do only what is asked of me, and nothing else… for Ryder, or anyone else that I am sworn to protect amongst this community,” he said, choosing his words with caution.
Reah held her composure. “Then perhaps it is the other way around,” she said, knowing he was diverting from making a direct answer.
Kahn struggled furiously within not to appear surprised in the least. But he failed miserably when his eyes lit up like a deer in headlights. “If it is, I wouldn’t know who,” was his subtle reply.
“True…” Reah said. “Well, with your fidelity I am entrusting you with the duties of carrying out a sacred assignment to seek out her whereabouts, study and observe her from afar while gathering any information you can on her deeds. Do this the same as you have done here so we can truly understand her untimely visit.”
Kahn’s brows lowered in suspicion. He asked, “Is she suspected of treason?”
“What the council infers is none of your concern. You are to carry out this mission as requested.”
“Request…? It doesn’t sound like your giving me a choice here, Councilwoman… really.”
Reah raised her voice a notch. “But what choice do you have,” she asked with a face of stone. “Complete the assignment and you shall be acquitted of your own felonious acts to our society.”
Kahn took a deep breath during her spiel. He did not say anything, only swallowed heavily, understanding his predicament.
“You do realize that I know your secret, correct? That I know who you are? The punishment for your crimes is a systematic and torturous process of throbbing agonies before an excruciating death. The only reason you’re still alive is because I’ve heard your heart speak. I heard your objection to infiltrating our humble Garden, felt the hurt you carried while turning your back on Simon and his men… and escaping a mauling to become a celebrity member of our royal family.”
She went on after a brief interval, “Your loyalty and courage was acknowledged, now to be tested. If you back out now your acquittal will be instantaneously revoked and you will face the council for immediate show cause before imprisonment. I am appalled of my findings, yet grateful of your service. You are a brave warrior Kahn, and I would truly hate to see you face such a demise. It would really be a waste of such an outstanding combatant.”
“But…” Kahn started.
The Councilwoman immediately interrupted him as she headed out of the chamber, “You shall leave at dusk to fulfill your duties.”
And with that statement, he knew there was nothing he could do but what was expected.
Book 3: The Alpha’s a Bitch: Rise Of The Pack Princess Chapter 3
He packed light carrying only a spare pair of jeans, a 3 pack of black t-shirts, three pairs of socks, a smart phone and a MasterCard. He didn’t get the hero’s farewell as he should have either, speeding across the curvy dirt road in a black SUV with mirror tinted windows; the only cheers during his departure were from crickets and the other nightlife creatures of The Garden.
And was that actually violins strumming mixed in with the flashings of lightning bugs and the faint howls of distant canine relatives he imagined low in his ears as he jumped in the truck? Nah, didn’t think so, but what did he care about that anyway, the hero’s farewell? Councilwoman Reah spared his life in return for terminal information. He was a lucky man for accepting her generous offer.
Looking through the rearview mirror with impassive eyes, surveying the trail, he suspected Reah would have him tagged. But by who and where, well, that was something he left for his thoughts to lightly ponder, considering he had plans on completing the task without incident.
As it stood, he only had two leads into discovering Ryder’s whereabouts, and strapped with a lock of her hair providing him with her scent, he was very well capable of finding a needle in a haystack, deprived of difficulty. How he was to carry out this mission was a wonder to even himself – to fulfill Reah’s wishes in stealth – while all along his heart yearned to be in Ryder’s presence once again. That’s exactly when he decided to lend the gas pedal a heavy foot all the way to the airport.
Kahn boarded the plane in Colorado and landed just outside of West Virginia. He rented an older model white Chevy Camaro, purchased a bundle of useful equipment and a black-marketed sidearm from a local dealer, and hit the trail to the snowy slopes of Canaan Valley, located in the highest valley east of the dirty old Mississippi River.
He began his stakeout just over a mile away from Simon’s secluded camp of tents and makeshift caves, a nice fire blazing in the center. He grew up in these parts, and knew the land as well as the backside of his sandpaper-rough hands. Perched in a pine tree high above ground, surrounded by timberland, he adjusted the view of his high-powered binoculars. He focused in on two large grey werewolves – guardians of the fort – circling the perimeter from opposite ends.
This is a new set up! What’s going on? He was up there for hours on end, scoping out the scene for his primary target. Finally, hours later here comes Simon. He’s with…
At that very moment the icy branch that Kahn was perched on cracked, snapped, and gave away right before he could make out the other individual stepping out of Simon’s cave.
“Losing ya touch, aye?” entered a heavy male’s voice no sooner that Kahn landed flat on his back.
His world went dark and bleak. He opened his eyes sometime later to a spinning world of white blurs. It was snowfall, and two shady images hovered over him with ominous grins straining their otherwise blurry faces. Kahn recognized the voice but was too impaled to respond, or even more, defend himself as these two men eased closer and more into view.
It was a shame however, how the silent shadow lifted what only appeared to be a blunt object before exalting a menacing growl; it was actually the butt of a double barrel shotgun. The last thing Kahn remembered from that moment on was only an ostentatious light before the painful obscurity of an involuntary night-night.
Book 3: The Alpha’s a Bitch: Rise Of The Pack Princess Chapter 4
Simon emptied a bucket of cold water over the head of a nude Kahn, who was bound by thick, heavy chains, partially hanging from the rafters of a cold and dank room. “Wake up ya quisling!” he said in a voice colder than Alaskan winter.
Kahn erratically trembled like a dog fresh out the pool. He exhaled a chilling smoke, struggling to free himself from captivity but failing in his dire attempt. Looking up, he realized his wrists to be chained together by silver bracelets. The chain linked into the stone structure of his cell.
He looked down to see his feet in silver shackles, impossible for him to brea
k free. But when he dismissed the thought of his bone chilling confinement, his eyes sank and focused on his captor, and he roared in a fashion that exhibited his feral anger.
“Pipe down Kahn. You chose this route, not me. How could you expect to waltz in here and set us up for failure?” Simon asked with a syndicating huff, placing the empty bucket on the flat stone floor as he began pacing around his captive.
“I knew you would show up sooner or later,” Simon continued. “I bet you feel like a big man now, obliging the council in their bullshit order… How could you trust such a cagey sect?”
Kahn roared once again. “Let me free of these chains and I’ll show you!” he growled.
Simon snickered. “When you’re free you’ll be only but a mere limp lump of a man.”
“What’s the matter? You scared I might tear you a new one?” Kahn snarled. “You’re a weak man Simon… a little weak man.”
“Let you tell it.” Simon said into Kahn’s ear once behind him.
“You sent me to infiltrate the camp of a peaceful people, our forerunners and prosperity, our past, present and future.”
“I sent you to infiltrate the enemy and instead you side with them,” Simon went on. “The punishment for treason, as you well know… is death.”
He’d already been threatened of that. But the real culprit had not.
“Then you should be tried, convicted and sentenced to it,” Kahn yelled at him, “because that attack was on your own kind you blundering idiot.”
The Alpha's a Bitch: Rise Of The Pack Princess Complete: A Paranormal Werewolf Romance Page 8