by B F Worlds
"Not yet. But I don't need to be king to skin a cat."
"Is that a threat?"
He smiled. "We're out of here boys. I'm sure a hot tempered girl like her will have no problem defending herself from any threats. You have a goodnight Ms. Salvatore."
Rachel bristled. "Piss off."
Franklin left the building and got into the passenger side of the last remaining car. As the vehicle pulled into the street, he pulled out his phone and hit the first speed dial. It was picked up on the first ring, but the receiver stayed silent.
Franklin suppressed the urge to growl. I'm getting tired of all these rules. "You know who it is. We need to talk about why four Hunters are in my territory." Then he hung the phone up, crushed the device, and tossed it out the window.
-
Franklin was working at his desk when the door was thrown open, bringing his attention up from the computer screen. Standing in the middle of the room was a fuming Rosa, a displeased Dugen right behind her. "I'm sorry sir," the commander apologized, "but she insisted."
"You're damn right I did!" Rosa hissed. "Franklin, what the hell were you thinking?"
"It's alright Dugen." Franklin stood from his chair. "You can leave now."
"Aye." Dugen saluted stiffly before leaving the room, closing the door soundly behind him. Franklin examined the woman in front of him. Rosa Salvatore was a special person. Her goal was extremely similar to his own with one major difference; she wanted to bring all the breeds under one rule.
It was dressed up as something pretty like a safe haven for young, troubled changers as a stop measure to prevent them from going rogue, but the truth was she had a vast army and was not afraid to wield her power. She had even dared to make contacts in the human world through her charities. "What can I do for you Rosa?"
"For one, you can stop threatening my daughter."
"Is she accusing me of threatening her?"
"No, because she understands the moment she utters those words, it's war. My girl is smart enough to know that will be very bad, which makes her ten times smarter than you."
"You would be wise not to insult me in my own office."
"And you would be wise to shut the fuck up!" she growled. "This is not a conversation, this is me telling you what you need to do because apparently you need me to hold your hand. You are going to leave my daughter or any member of my pride alone, you will cut the strings you're trying to tie around Viktoriya Volkov, and you will tread carefully around Dean Rock."
Franklin retook his seat, crossing his hands on top of his desk. "Or what?"
Rosa looked at him like he had a second head. "Or else I'll be back here and I won't be talking."
"Do you think you could take me Rosa? Do you know what your pride is full of? Pups, cubs, kittens, and vagabonds. My Guards will destroy them. And we both know you can't take me on yourself."
"Says who?"
"Says history. We've been down this road before."
She rubbed her knuckles. "Yeah, we have. Do you remember the body count the last time our two sides fought? You want a repeat?"
"It wouldn't be a repeat. If we fought, it'd be a massacre."
"You're right. It would be because, this time, I won't be fighting fair."
Franklin narrowed his eyes. "What exactly does that mean?"
"I'm not stupid wolf. I've known you your entire life. There is nothing about you that would inspire thousands to bow to you. Nothing. But you're entirely confident that you'll be king. That means…someone is delivering your throne. And if you get to bring friends to the party, I do too."
"...Vampires?"
"You going to tell me who's holding your leash?"
"No one," he growled.
"Then we're done talking. This is the only warning you're going to get. Stay. Away. From. MY. FAMILY!"
She swept from the room, slamming the door hard enough to make it rattle on its hinges. Franklin lowered his head into his hands and rubbed his temples. His wolf had been fighting to get out as a response to the last few days, ever since the hunters' attack. Testing a new strategy, he'd withheld Viktoriya and Dean from school, demonstrating he was more than capable of separating them from the cats.
The girls had been passively resisting by staying in Dean's room, refusing to speak with anyone. On top of that, Dugen disapproved of his decision. The stoic commander would never speak out against his alpha, but it was clear that he wasn't happy.
Worse of all, his benefactors hadn't responded to his request for a meeting yet.
With a frustrated sigh, he flipped open his new phone, staring hard at the blank screen. It had arrived in the mail the day after he smashed his last one, but he had yet to receive a call. It seemed his benefactors became less generous everyday. In the beginning, they'd provided anything he could need; money, influence, soldiers, power.
In return, he'd promised results. Results took time and they weren't very patient people. He'd sensed disapproval in their last conversations and it appeared they were keeping him on the porch. Making me freeze in the cold so I'll appreciate the warmth. All his claims were jokes if he didn't have their support. There was no loyalty lost between them.
If they thought there was a better candidate for their plans, they wouldn't hesitate to move on. Like Rosa. He couldn't let that happen. He'd push harder, break every limit ever laid down if that was what it took. Whatever it took to be at the top.
He dialed a number from memory. "Hello? Yes. I have a job for you. Put eyes on Rosa Salvatore. I want to know everything, down to how many times she blinks. Yeah, I'll pay the usual fee. Report back to me in one week."
CHAPTER 23
"What's your favorite color?"
Dean reached over Viktoriya who was sprawled at her side to grab another grape from the fruit bowl on the nightstand. "Black? I don't know. The Warriors weren't known for being colorful…I like these."
"Okay." She scribbled in her notebook. "Try the apple next. Red really likes those. Favorite movie?"
"My pack lived in the middle of the woods, on top a mountain . We didn't even have TV's, let alone movies."
"Are you telling me that you've never seen a movie?"
"Once, when I was avoiding some vampires, I ducked into a movie theatre. I don't remember what was playing but it had a car chase that was fun to watch…Does that count?"
"A genre. It's something." She scribbled some more. "And-"
"Vikky," Dean groaned. "Why are you asking so many questions? And can we please leave the room now? I don't like confined spaces."
Viktoriya scribbled in her notebook one last time before slamming it closed and putting in on the nightstand. "First, I'm trying to get to know you. Our wolves might know each other but we only met each other less than a month ago. And, excuse me, but the part of me that's a woman is a little uncomfortable sleeping next to a stranger."
"...Point taken. I'm sorry if that sounded snappish but can we take a break?"
Viktoriya snapped the notebook closed. "Second, don't let me stop you if you want some air. I just...don't want to face Franklin right now."
"Because of what he said about Rachel?"
"It's not just about her. I heard from one of the Guards that Rosa had a meeting with him earlier. Nobody knows what was said, but she walked out spitting fire and cursing at anyone she saw. Before, I was fine following orders without knowing the plan. Now?…I'm honestly worried."
"If you want answers, why don't you try talking to him?"
She shook her head. "I can't face him with any doubts. I've spent years gaining his trust and he was just recently beginning to let me into the inner fold. If he thinks I'm challenging him, he'll slam the door in my face and there goes my chance at being commander."
Dean closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "I ruined things for you, didn't I?"
"No! I don't ever want you to think us meeting was a bad thing. It's just…brought a few issues I was trying to gloss over to the forefront and now…now, I'm being forced to dea
l with them."
The taller girl turned on her side and pulled Viktoriya closer, wrapping her in a loose hug. "I want you to know you don't have to deal with them alone. I know I haven't shown you my best sides yet, but I'm very dependable."
Viktoriya smiled, grabbing Dean's hand to place a kiss to the back of her wrist. "I'll remember that. And, I've just got an idea! How would you like to see how the Freewood wolves train?"
-
Dean followed Viktoriya into the backyard, where they found Dugen sitting in the grass. The guard commander looked up as they approached and pushed to his feet. "Viktoriya. Dean. I'm glad to see the two of you out and about."
"This one was becoming restless," Viktoriya replied, slapping Dean's stomach with the back of her hand. "I offered to show her how we trained, help burn off some of that extra energy."
"Aye? That's a good suggestion." He puffed up, flexing his biceps dramatically. "What do you say Dean? Do you think you can keep up with me?"
Dean grinned wryly. "I can certainly try."
He bent over and began unlacing his boots. Viktoriya followed suit. When she kicked them off, she noticed Dean was watching them with a confused expression. "Why are you just standing there?"
"Why are the two of you taking off your shoes?"
"We always remove them," Dugen replied. "A Guard who fights with their boots on isn't much of a fighter. In our Half-Form, our hind claws are just as useful as the ones on our hands. Not utilizing them is stupid."
Dean didn't look convinced. The Warriors learned a fighting style similar to boxing, mixed with grappling. It was all based on keeping a strong balance. If she risked that by twisting about trying to use the curved claws on her toes, Lou would have smacked her on the head.
But these were not Warriors and she had come to learn their way of doing things. Shrugging, she kicked off her own footwear and waited for further instruction.
"The first lesson every fighter under my command learns is.....how to run."
The darker girl snickered, but the other two watched her with unwavering gazes. Dean's smirk wilted as she glanced back and forth between them. "You're serious?" she asked slowly.
"Every fight could be your life. The smart Guard avoids fights they can. If you can run, you run."
Dugen broke into a jog and Viktoriya was hot on his heels. Dean bolted forward to catch up to their sprint and fell into their rhythm, her mind whirring with the his words.
If she had spoken such nonsense during her training, Lou would have ripped the uniform off her back and Lucien would have disowned her on the spot. Were her people really the monsters the world thought they were? Retreat wasn't even in their dictionary.
They circled the yard several times. Dean was surprised by their stamina. When they finally came to a stop, she collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, the back of shirt soaked with sweat. Viktoriya watched her in amusement, only showing minimum signs of exertion. Dugen was unfazed. Note. Wolves are very good at running.
Viktoriya's smile widened and Dean scowled. "What's next?" she asked.
"Next, we would do some hand to hand sparring, but I think that's too much for a submissive. We could accidentally hurt you."
"Yeah." The two girls looked at each other, struggling to hold in their laughter. Her mate shook her head slightly and Dean nodded, showing she understood. "That sounds like a bit too much."
"So we'll do some firearm training. Viktoriya?"
"I've got it," she called, already moving toward the house. In moments, she was jogging back, carrying a large black case over her shoulder. "To the car?"
"Aye. Come on Dean. You can ride shotgun."
-
They drove to a field with wooden posts, each one painted with a small bullseye. Dugen directed them out of the car and opened the case. From it, he pulled out a 9mm handgun, holding it out for Dean to take. "Most packs refuse to use weapons crafted by humans. They think it's insulting. Here, we understand the only thing that matters is survival. Have you ever used a firearm before?"
"No, never." Dean dangled it between two fingers, her brows furrowed. She'd been taught about guns during her training, but the blood wolves believed they were the ultimate weapon. I've seen first hand proof that's not true. Maybe its time to change the way I think.
She adjusted her grip and accidentally pulled the trigger. The resulting bang made her drop the weapon and hastily jump away from it. Her ears were ringing, but she could hear the other two changers guffawing loudly. Dean scowled and picked the gun up again, mindful of the trigger this time. "It's not funny."
Dugen recovered first. "Aye, it isn't. Sometimes, I forget you were sheltered. It appears we'll have to start from the beginning."
Viktoriya was still chuckling as she eased the weapon out of Dean's hand. "The very beginning. I've found something you're not good at."
"You sound too happy watching me fail."
"...So I'm competitive. Sue me."
-
Dean was beginning to feel aggravated. Three hours of practice and she was nowhere near hitting a target. Dugen had taken a break from teaching, leaving Viktoriya to continue the lesson. It wouldn't have been so bad if it were just the commander, but failing in front of her mate stung.
Viktoriya slipped up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you don't have to look so down. We're all terrible shots when we start out. You'll get better with practice."
"I know that, but how long? It could be twenty years before I hit the outer ring. This doesn't feel right."
"You didn't strike me as the type to give up."
Dean snapped her teeth. "I didn't say that. Amarok do not know the meaning of the word surrender…but it is equally important to recognize your strengths from your weaknesses. Firearms aren't my strength."
Her mate hummed in thought. "Follow me. I think I might have a solution." She grabbed the hem of Dean's shirt and pulled her to the back of the SUV. With a grunt, she pulled up the backseat, revealing a small arsenal. "There's more than one kind of gun." She pulled out a double barreled shotgun and pushed it against the taller girl's chest. "Wide fire. Doesn't matter if you can shoot or not. Just point and obliterate."
Dean hoisted the weapon up and down, getting a feel for it. Viktoriya showed her the proper way to hold it and then loaded it for her. "It's close range so you'll need to move up," she warned.
"Got it." Dean stepped halfway past the firing line and aimed for the closest target. The whole front half of the post was blown away, a shower of splinters flying into the air. "Hot damn!" she hollered, eyeing the weapon with a new appreciation. One of these pressed against a changer's head could bring it down in a second. She turned to Viktoriya, who was watching her with an amused smile. "You got anything bigger?"
CHAPTER 24
Rachel was in the kitchen cutting vegetables when her mother angrily stepped inside. Rosa tossed her jacket onto a chair and dropped a kiss on her daughter's head. "Hey sweetie. Thanks for handling dinner."
"Forget that!" The younger woman eyes narrowed angrily. "Did you see them? How are they?"
"I'm sorry baby. Franklin's pooches blocked me when I tried. I'm sure they're okay."
Rachel sighed, visibly deflating. "That man is beginning to piss me off with his stunts. He can't just keep them locked up. Did you know he confiscated her phone. It goes straight to voicemail every time I call!" She brought the knife down and the blade cut straight through the board, scratching the counter beneath. With a growl, she opened the cabinets beneath the sink and pulled out a new one, tossing the old in the trash. "I can't take much more of this."
"Oh, I know." Rosa rushed forward, wrapping her in a spine crushing hug. "It must be torture being away from them so long."
"Can we just go and get them?" Rachel mumbled into her shirt.
"I would love to, but that will complicate things further. Like it or not, Franklin's no pushover. And we've got bigger concerns."
"The hunters. Did he explain?"
&n
bsp; "What do you think?" Rosa released her. "That man is a bigger pain in my ass than your brother. I've got to work on this. If you need me, I'll be in the basement."
"What? I thought you were going to help me with dinner. Uncle Tip swung by with his gazillion kids and its a full dining room out there and you know how hard it is getting cubs to eat veggies, and-"
"That's wonderful," Rosa interrupted, moving toward the door. "If they clean us out, write up a grocery list and post it on the refrigerator for me alright?"
"Wait a min-"
"Oh, I don't have to work tomorrow so I'll be dropping the two of you off in the morning. Make sure you wake your brother up on time, I hate waiting on him. Okay? Great." She ducked out, ignoring her daughter's increasingly vocal complaints.
-
Rosa made a round of hellos before she retreated to the basement. She flicked on the landing light, locking the door with a small golden key that hung from her neck on a thin silver chain.
"A bit selfish of you but chores aren't very appealing."
She jumped as a shadow materialized at the foot of the steps. "Pru! When you said you wanted to talk, I was expecting a phone call."
Pruella chuckled softly. "I find phones to be impersonal and that is not how I would define our relationship, my rose."
The feline snorted. "I'm not your anything vampire. Now quit being creepy and step where I can see you."
The principal came up the stairs to stand on the landing. Everything about her was muted; her skin was pale as chalk, her lips were bloodless, and her long short hair was white as snow. She wore a white suit and skirt, her school ID hanging on a white lanyard. The only spot of color on her were her irises. They were a bright hazel that could almost be yellow in the right light. "That's very harsh Rosa."
"So's the world. What did you want?"
"You went to see Franklin."
"And if you know that, then you know every thing else. He's mixed up with the hunters, but he wouldn't talk...Stupid bastard."
"I might have an idea about that." Pruella frowned. "I need more time to research before I present any theories. For now, I would like you to call me if anything out of the ordinary should happen. Immediately."