“Hi, and not too bad, but back to the dog.” Asher’s eyes hadn’t left it. “Are you sure it’s not a threat? It sure looks like it is to me.”
“Trix can be a little high maintenance, but Ava deals with her just fine. The poor animal went through a very traumatic experience while in service, Ash. She went into a building after some perps, ended up being shot, then locked inside after they set fire to the room. They didn’t think she’d survive, and afterward, well, she had issues and had to be retired with nobody able to deal with her. When Ava found out she’d been marked down to be, well, you know, she stepped in and took her.”
“What? That happened here?” Asher asked quickly.
“No, a larger town a few miles away, but we hear everything here, and as soon as the news came about Trix being a lost cause, she wasn’t having it and she took her on.”
“I couldn’t quite picture something like that happening here,” Asher commented, his eyes still on the dog.
“We have our share of issues here, but we don’t have the need for dogs in the department.”
“Of course not.” Asher thought it would be an unnecessary expenditure to have them when there were shifters employed.
“Ash, you need to know, they have a very special bond, and trust me, Ava will not stand anyone saying a word against Trix. Please don’t start today with doing anything to upset her. She’s a force to be reckoned with and has a memory like an elephant.”
Asher tilted his head, his eyes scrutinizing the scene. “Who? The dog or Ava?”
“Both.” Jagger laughed. “But I meant Ava. We love her to pieces. She’s been working here forever, and she’s damn good at her job, but she loves that dog, and it took her a lot of hard work to get Trixie to where she is now. If you’d seen her when Ava took her in, you’d understand, Ash. The dog is her life and Ava is Trix’s. Don’t get between them, if you do, I don’t think you’ll come out alive, and I’m not sure which one would be the one to take you down. Hell, probably both.”
At that moment, Storm turned and waved at them, then walked away while Ava checked the road before heading in their direction. Jagger grabbed Asher’s elbow, quickly ushering him away. “Let’s get you inside before Ava arrives.”
“Why?” Asher allowed his friend to lead him into the building, perplexed at his hurrying him from the small woman.
“It’ll give her a chance to settle Trix down at her desk. She has a routine in the morning, and if they’re in place when I introduce you, well, it’s just better. Come on, I’ll take you in to meet Barnett first.”
“Fine, but I’m confused about all of this.” Asher snuck a glance over his shoulder at the woman closing in on them. She didn’t look much different to any others her age, so why was Jagger so intent on ensuring their first meeting went well?
“You’ll understand, trust me.” Jagger hauled the door open, going inside so Asher had no option but to follow.
He looked around, taking in the offices which would be his new workplace. Most of the desks were neat and tidy, which he liked, but one stood out to him. It was cluttered and appeared chaotic, with files piled perilously on the edge and several dirty coffee mugs added to the mess. Asher’s lip curled at the state of it and knew straight away it wasn’t Jagger’s. His friend had been in the service with him and he’d never leave his workspace in such disorder.
“Whose desk is that?” Asher nodded as they passed by.
“Ralph Rushton, he’s human and does most of the evening shifts.” Jagger smirked. “Yeah, he’s untidy, but he’s a good guy, and does his job well.”
“For a human,” Asher muttered.
Jagger stopped dead, turning to frown at him. “Yes, he’s human, Ash, as are a lot of the people we look after here. Dark Moon Falls isn’t populated by shifters alone. We have witches, and plenty of humans, as well as our pack members. We have to police all of them, and we don’t look on anyone any different because of what they are.”
Asher cocked his head to the side, sighing. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“What did you mean, because it sounded like you thought Ralph is somehow less because he’s human, and it’s not how we look at things around here,” Jagger returned.
Asher noted his voice was low and calm, but the look in his eyes showed him to be upset. He saw it clear as day when his friend’s eyes flashed over at him. Damn it. He’d been here all of five minutes and he’d managed to upset the guy who’d helped him when he’d needed it.
“I apologize. I just meant it must be harder for him than us because we can sense things he can’t, and we can track better. You know I’m not used to living in a town like this, but I’ll make a better effort, Jag. I promise. I didn’t mean to upset you or besmirch your friend.”
He watched while Jagger took a deep breath, then cracked his neck before closing his eyes and opening them again. “I know you will. I just don’t want you starting on the wrong foot. Ralph’s a good guy and he helps us out a lot when we need extra help.”
“I’m sure he’s great and I’ll invite him over for a beer the first chance I get. How’s that?”
“He’ll like that, thanks.” Jagger turned and continued down a hall leading to an office where they could now hear voices filtering out. “Sounds like we’ll get the chance to kill two birds with one stone.”
“What?”
“Alpha’s here,” Jagger replied before knocking on the closed door.
“Come in.”
Jagger pushed the door and disappeared inside before Asher had a chance to think. He had no option but to follow his friend to meet his new boss and Alpha. His gut clenched and his heart sped up. Would the meeting go well?
More importantly, would he be able to submit to his new Alpha? Or would his beast rebel, causing him more fucking trouble?
Chapter Two
Asher stepped inside the office, his heart stampeding in his chest, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end, and his skin clammy while he fought to control himself. He couldn’t fuck this up. This wasn’t just his chance to start a new life within another pack. This was a trial of his self-control, sure, but he couldn’t let his friend down, because Jagger had spoken up for him, and if he fucked up now, it would land on him.
He couldn’t allow Jagger to be at the ass-end of an Alpha’s anger because he acted like a fool in front of an Alpha, all because of his issues with pack authority. Could he? Hell no. Jagger didn’t hesitate when Asher called him asking about a job. Shit, he’d gone above and beyond, not only getting him a position in the department, but also a place in the pack. He couldn’t let his friend down now. He needed to remain calm for his friend’s sake. This was a test and one he must pass.
Taking a deep breath, Asher’s eyes roamed the room, noting the leisurely stance of a man leaning against the wall in the corner, and the man behind the desk, with his feet up on the desk. And Jagger? Hell, he had a big grin on his face while he dipped into a box, snatching a freaking donut. Cliché or what?
The entire scene was surreal and not what Asher expected at all. He’d been waiting for the usual full-on Alpha experience he’d been used to. The in-your-face show of who’s in charge and the bend-to-my-will-or-else shit he always reacted badly to. That’s when he’d snarl back and refuse to kneel before them because they were fucking assholes who treated the pack badly for their own ends. But, but … this wasn’t happening. Not here, not now anyway. Didn’t mean it wasn’t in the cards though. It could be coming, and Asher’s guard remained up, waiting and watching.
Jagger stuffed the sweet treat inside his mouth, mumbling around it. “Alpha, Beta, this is Asher Stone, my friend, new deputy and pack member.”
The guy in the corner peeled himself from the wall, his dark brown eyes scanning over him. Asher noticed a scar over his left eye as he came toward him, his body full of hard muscles, with a hand held out. “Mornin’, Asher, I’m Elias, Alpha of the pack. We don’t have too many rules, other than you don’t go around misbehavin
g, but I doubt you’d do that, seeing as you’re ex-military police and now a member of the department here. We’re quite easy going, however, if anyone steps out of line, I do deal with it. If you’re okay with that, then welcome to the pack.”
The power from Elias was palpable, Asher felt it flowing from him, but the man wasn’t pushing it to him for show or doing it to make him feel weak. It was simply his Alpha presence. Asher took his hand, shaking it firmly. “Thank you.”
“You’re a strong wolf,” Elias commented, looking Asher up and down. “I can see why you had, hmm, issues with the asshole in your previous pack.”
“Two of them actually,” Asher admitted, deciding truth to be the best policy. “The Alpha and the Beta, but it was the Beta I got into it with when I returned home.”
Elias’ brow rose, his lips pursed, then he gave a curt nod. “I see, well, I don’t exactly blame you. I’ve met them both and I’m not surprised, but their loss is our gain. You’ll be an asset to our pack and the community. Jagger’s told us about you, and sounds like you’ll do fine here.”
The sheriff interrupted, “I agree. Your time in the military police will help here. Welcome aboard, Asher.”
“Thanks,” Asher replied to the guy behind the desk. “I’m happy to be here, Beta.”
“Barnett,” he returned quickly. “Unless we’re dealing with pack business.”
“Okay, now, can you point me in the direction of where I can rent a place?”
“Taken care of,” Elias answered. “Jagger will take you to your cabin. It’s owned by the pack and it’s yours unless you decide to leave. I’m afraid it’s one of our older ones, but it’s sound enough and you can fix it up however you want. It has water, power, and basic furniture, anything else you want is up to you.”
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing or how well the meeting had gone. A cabin for him, just like that? Surely there had to be a catch. Nobody just handed over a home for nothing. It’s not how things happened.
“What do I owe for it? To you or the pack?” Asher asked, knowing his tone came out cold and hard.
He couldn’t help himself. This must be too good to be true. In his world, you didn’t get something for nothing, and he didn’t want to start off by being in the hole. Or worse, being beholden to anyone, even if the person happened to be the Alpha.
The tension in the room rose immediately. Asher felt it and saw Jagger’s face drop, Barnett’s eyes widened for a split-second before narrowing and locking onto him, and Elias? Well, his body language spoke damn volumes as he straightened up, his muscles tensed, and the pulse in his neck throbbed violently. Shit. He’d gone and done it again. He’d fucked up and put his damn foot it in … right in it up to his neck.
Jagger opened his mouth, but Elias held up his hand to stop him. “We do things differently here, Asher. You’ll find out for yourself after you’ve been here for a while, but the first thing you need to know is this … when I say something, you take it as the truth, and you don’t question it. Ever. You don’t owe me, or the pack. The cabin is yours because you’re a member of my pack. If you want to move and build your own home in the future, then you can. It’s completely up to you, but for now, you have a home because Dark Moon Falls is your new home and your new pack. If you want to stay a member, decide you like where you are and want to improve the cabin, then you can do that too. It’s up to you, but I’ll reiterate, you don’t question me, and you certainly don’t do it in front of any members of my pack. Understood?”
Elias’ power filled the room. Asher felt it and obviously Jagger and Barnett did too. Jagger’s eyes dropped to the floor while Barnett’s stayed locked onto Asher to see how he’d react to Elias’ clear reprimand.
This was the moment Asher had been waiting for. The one he’d dreaded but also been looking forward to with a sick sense of relish. When his beast always reared its head and betrayed him, when he couldn’t control it and its reaction to those wolves who were above him in the pecking order in the pack. Flashbacks of humiliating beatdowns ran inside his brain, causing him to remember why he’d left when he was nothing but a youngster and joined up to get away from his pack … only to find himself signed-up to another kind of authority-led situation he couldn’t get out of.
Another where authority caused him problems until he met Jagger who took him under his wing, showing him another way to fit in. After he excelled and thrived, with his skill set, strength, and power as a shifter. Where he’d blossomed, succeeded, and risen in the ranks until he gave the orders, instead of having to bow and take them with gritted teeth. Now, here he stood before an Alpha who’d offered him a place in his pack, a home to live in, and a job … if only he’d submit.
But was Elias forcing him to do that? Submit? He hadn’t asked him to. Not exactly. Elias offered him a home to live in, and he’d grown angry when Asher questioned him on the truth of his words. Basically, he’d called him a liar in front of Barnett and Jagger. Fuck. If Elias called him a liar, Asher would’ve gone off the deep end, and this was after he’d accepted him into his pack, after he’d been booted from his own because he’d fought with the Beta, in public.
Asher sighed, heavily, knowing he’d fucked this meeting up. He only hoped it wouldn’t blow back on Jagger because his friend didn’t deserve it. Not after everything he’d done for him. He had to force himself to deal with the situation, and salvage it if he could.
“Alpha, please accept my apology for my rudeness. This isn’t the way things worked in my old pack. I’m not used to being given anything without having to pay for it, or there being a hidden agenda. I understand I’ve offended you, and it wasn’t my intention…”
Elias stepped forward, right up into Asher’s space, causing him to stiffen. He expected the worst, indeed, he clenched his fists, expecting the need to defend himself. Jagger moved away, giving them space, which didn’t bode well either. Shit. Asher knew he’d just blown his chance at a new life, and now it looked like he’d be going toe-to-toe with a fucking Alpha.
He knew he was about to get his ass handed to him because he couldn’t keep his damn mouth shut. Again.
Elias glanced down, then his eyes locked onto his. “Unclench your fists, boy. There’s no battle going to happen here. I’m your Alpha, and yes, I demand respect from everyone in my pack. However, I don’t demand my people to go down on their damn knees like whipped dogs. I’ll let you off this time because you don’t know me, or the way I run things. As I said earlier, I don’t lie, so don’t question me again on such things, but in pack meetings we have discussions and everyone can put their point across, which I take into consideration, but at the end of the day, the final decision in anything is, and always will be, mine. So, Asher, that’s the way things are done here. You either live with it or walk away now. What’s it to be?”
“Ash…” Jagger started, then Elias’ hand snapped up in a fist.
“Quiet. This is his decision and his alone.”
And it was. Asher knew it as clear as his name, but there wasn’t one to be made. Not after he’d made a fool of himself. Not after Elias stepped up and put him in his damn place. And certainly not after he saw his future slipping away into the darkness, leaving him with the life of years ahead as a lone wolf.
Could he bear it? Being on his own with nobody around him? Not a damn soul? No other shifters, none of his own kind to hunt with? To howl at the night sky with? To just be with?
His heart missed a beat and his beast whimpered like a lost puppy inside him. He couldn’t endure a life without his own people around him. He’d wither and die without them, of not going on a hunt with them, and being deprived of a pack … he couldn’t survive. He was a shifter, and like all his kind, he craved his people, he pined to belong. In short, he needed a pack.
Strong arms wrapped around him, shocking him to his core. “You’re part of the pack, Asher, and I feel your pain. Stop being an ass and accept it, accept your place, and accept me as your Alpha.”
Asher�
�s body stiffened briefly before he acquiesced within the Alpha’s embrace, and for the first time in his life, he gave in to the power of the beast. He felt something pass between them, some sort of power flowing from Elias, which calmed him, helped him, and eased his very soul. In that moment, he knew where his future lay. Where he could be happy, truly happy, for the first time in his life, and all he had to do … was open his mouth and accept it.
“I do, Alpha. Thank you for giving me a place in your pack.”
His voice came out low, thick, and full of emotion. It didn’t sound like his at all and he felt his face flushing, covering it up with a cough when Elias stepped back with a rough smile. “Finally. Dammit boy, you’re the hardest new member I’ve ever met.”
Barnett chuckled, leaning over with the box of donuts in his hand. “Want one to celebrate?”
“No thanks, I hate them.”
Elias’ head fell back, laughter erupting. “What? You hate donuts? Now I’ve heard everything. What am I gonna do with you, boy?”
Asher shrugged, smirking back at his new Alpha. “No idea.”
“Me either.” Elias slapped his back, walking by. “I have to go, but Jagger will take you to your new home. Please don’t make too many waves, Asher. Not at first anyway.”
“I’ll try,” Asher replied, then added, “but I can’t promise.”
Chapter Three
“Jagger will set you up with your uniform, locker, and then take you to your cabin. You start tomorrow, but you’ll be partnered with him until you learn the ropes and the area. Once I think you’re ready, you’ll be let loose on your own, but I warn you, I don’t like hotheads, and I like my team to work together without any … issues. Is that understood?” Barnett’s voice didn’t rise, and he didn’t use his Beta power either, but it was clear to Asher he meant business.
Dark Moon Falls: Volume 2 Page 10