by Raven Steele
“That can’t be,” Dominic growled. “They didn’t just disappear. Someone knows something!”
“Sir,” I said, appearing in the doorway. He scowled and opened his mouth to probably yell at me to get out, but I cut him off. “I have what you want.”
Chapter 17
He eyed me up and down, leaving a chill across my skin in the wake of his gaze. “Sit down. Heather, leave.”
She stood up, her hands out in a pleading gesture. “But—”
“Out.”
She lowered her head and slunk from the room. I winked at her as she passed by. She growled low in her throat, but I ignored her and stepped into the office.
Once again, I found myself across from Dominic. He looked more tired than I’d ever seen him before, almost sickly. It made me wonder what exactly went on at these Ministry meetings to make him look like that.
“Tell me,” he ordered. “It’s been a long day.”
“I found them. The Greybacks.”
He stood up so quickly, his chair fell backwards. “How?”
“By spreading word that I was looking to overthrow you as Alpha.” I grinned, feeling a thrill in my lie. “One of them sought me out last night.” I inhaled a breath, considering my words.
“Keep talking.”
“They blindfolded me and drove for several miles, somewhere away from the city. Once there, they asked me all sorts of questions about my loyalty. Let me tell you, I put on quite a show.” I grinned even wider. “They lapped it all up.”
“Where are they?”
I waited a beat for dramatic flair before I said, “Doner Prairie.”
“I can’t believe they’ve been hiding out in that dump all this time. I would’ve never thought to check there.”
“Now what?” I preened, happy to give him the information. Now he would trust me, and Ryder would get justice for what they did to him.
“We put them back into their place. The Greybacks have been undermining my position with the Nocturnas. I can’t have them interfering.”
“Then we will stop them. Remind them who runs this city.” I used my cruelest voice, one I knew Dominic would like. Silas had liked it, anyways.
He examined me, his lips finally turning upward. “You’ve done well. I want you to be part of the group that goes in to teach them said lesson. Do well there, and I’ll see what we can do to get you back onto the pack’s security team.”
“Thank you.” I lowered my head like a good little wolf should do.
“Send in Luke, Heather, and Gerald. I want them leading this.”
I left the room, smiling to myself. Everything was going exactly as planned. I only wished I had some Scorpion’s Breath to give me an extra boost. I put my hands in my pocket, even though I didn’t have any on me.
I shook my head and firmly told myself I did not need a drug to get the job done. Maybe if I kept repeating it, I’d to start to believe it.
It didn’t take long for word to spread about the Greybacks, and everyone was excited. There had been so much tension lately that a good fight was exactly what the pack needed. I thought Dominic would want to wait a few days before attacking, like actually come up with a good plan. But when Luke left his office, he quickly cornered me.
“How the hell did you know where the Greybacks were?”
I grabbed him and pulled him into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. “I’m the one who gave them the warning to leave last time. Now, I’m using this knowledge to my benefit.”
“By getting them killed?”
“You don’t know that. Plus, it’s not like they don’t deserve it.”
“Not everyone in the pack is bad.”
I folded my hands over my chest, and he glanced down at them. “Why are your hands shaking?”
Shit. Was it that obvious?
I shoved them in my pockets. “Excited is all.” I changed the subject. “The Greybacks stood by while they tortured Ryder. In my book, that makes them just as guilty.”
Surprising me, he pushed me back into the wall, and my breath caught. His lips captured mine in a kiss. It was rough and possessive, and his hands went to the back of my head. He wrapped his hands in my hair and pulled it back so that my neck was bare to him. He nibbled down the soft flesh and then back up to my ear, whispering softly. “I will back you up on this, Pup, but only you can decide if you’ve made the right choice or not.”
Then he turned away, leaving me breathless against the wall. He opened the door and, not giving me a chance to respond, walked off. I touched my lip, my fingers trembling. I scowled at my weakness and threw open the door. Instead of looking for him with the rest of the pack, I made my way outside, where Ryder was standing by himself, staring into the distance.
When I walked up, he glanced at me, then back towards the road. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Always.” I grinned, showing confidence I didn’t feel. I opened my mouth to tell him that I might need him to back me up, but decided against it. Better to keep it a surprise, just in case his conscious started getting to him. If I put him on the spot, I knew he’d back me up. That’s what friends were for.
Standing this close to him, I could feel the blood bond between us. He was nervous.
I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Everything will be fine, trust me.” He stared into my eyes, then nodded. Relieved, I squeezed his shoulder. “Whose security team will you be on?”
“Heather’s. I hate that chick. I never know if she’s going to put a knife in my back or not.” His screwed up his face in a grimace. “I just hope we don’t hurt too many of the Greybacks. Some were my friends.”
I shrugged. “I think he just wants to scare them.”
He looked thoughtful as he continued to watch the darkness, and I began to doubt myself. Had I really done the right thing?
“Hey, Ryder?” I touched him lightly on the arm.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for being such a good friend. I couldn’t have done all of this without you.”
The glass door slid open behind us. Gerald poked his head out. “It’s time.”
“Do you want to ride with me?” Ryder held the door open for me. I noticed he didn’t respond to my comment.
“Actually, I’m going to take the bike.”
“It’s hard to give up once you start.”
“It’s an addiction for sure.” I immediately thought of the Scorpion's Breath again. What I wouldn’t give to have just a little before we left. I could use some liquid encouragement about now. I was betting high that Dominic would believe me over Jackson. My very life was on the line.
Out front, everyone piled into their vehicles or hopped onto bikes like me. I helmeted up and waited nervously, my knee bouncing, until Dominic finally left the house. As soon as I saw him, I fired up the bike and tore off down the driveway, the tires chewing at the gravel road. I raced through the darkness, not caring if the others were behind me or not. I needed something right now and this was all there was.
I must’ve gone five miles before I heard the rumbling tell of another bike. It slowly edged past me; I recognized Dominic’s bike. He glanced over and gave me a nod before he sped off, darting ahead of me. I tore after him until we were unintentionally racing. He sped up. I followed and whizzed past him. Then he caught up.
I began to smile, then laugh. I couldn’t tell if he was doing the same, but at least I was having fun.
When we were a few miles out from Rouen, Dominic veered off onto a dirt road. I followed him down it, the only two vehicles in the darkness. He stopped when we were fully concealed within the forest. The rendezvous point. He pulled off his helmet, his mouth turned up in a rare grin. “When did you learn to ride?”
I pulled off my helmet, shaking my hair out. “As a teenager. I’ve always loved it, but could never afford my own bike.”
He eyed me like he was seeing me for the first time. He opened his mouth to say something, but we were flooded with light. The cavalry
had arrived. At least a dozen vehicles parked along the road, along with several bikes. Lilith exited one of the trucks. I didn’t know she was coming, but I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me. She was Dominic’s biggest defense against his enemies. She walked over to him, texting something into her phone. Dominic grabbed her hand and pulled her close, taking away her cell phone. She grinned and stood on her toes to kiss him. Eww, gross. She backed him against his bike, forcing him to sit down, and slyly slid her phone out of his hand and into her back pocket, still kissing him.
Luke called everyone to order and went over the plan one more time.
Three teams were to divide up and surround the old town. Only Luke’s team, which included Dominic, Lilith and me, were to engage the Greybacks. Growing impatient with Luke’s last-minute instructions, Dominic pushed Lilith off his lap and stood. “Time to move out.”
Lilith giggled with excitement and began to jog towards the trees after Dominic. Within seconds, we were running through the forest. Some discarded their clothes and shifted into their wolf, but I stayed in my human form. I liked having my weapons with me. Couldn’t do that as a wolf.
It didn’t take us long to get to the abandoned town. The old, worn buildings with broken windows and saggy roofs absorbed the faint moonlight. In the center of town, flames burned high from a dozen barrels and Greybacks huddled around them, laughing and drinking.
“How do you want to do this?” Luke asked Dominic, as our pack divided and the others circled around the perimeter.
“Let me handle it from here.” He glanced back at Lilith to make sure she was paying attention to him. “On me.”
She nodded and followed him from the darkness. The rest of our team trailed behind. We were within fifty yards before we were noticed.
“Silver Claws!” A Greyback shouted the warning, and their pack immediately scattered. Most of them tried to run off into the woods, and it took several minutes before everyone was captured and dragged back into town. They huddled together in the center of town, flames from their fire licking at their backs.
“Jackson!” Dominic shouted.
It was silent except for the occasional embers cracking and popping from the fire.
From the rear of the group, their pack parted to let Jackson through. His face was all harsh and angry lines around his eyes and mouth, but he forced his lips into what some might call a smile. “Welcome, Dominic. I wish we would’ve known you were coming. We would’ve prepared more food.”
Dominic stalked toward him. “This isn’t a social call.”
When Dominic reached him, he cocked his fist back and punched Jackson in the jaw. Jackson’s head snapped back, and he stumbled two steps. He recovered quickly and glared at Dominic. The two powerful men faced each other for a few tense seconds.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding,” Dominic said. “We’ve been looking for you.”
“We didn’t want to be found.”
“Clearly.” Dominic surveyed the area.
“How did you find us?” Jackson’s eyes scanned his pack with a deadly eye, probably thinking the betrayer among them.
“I believe we have a mutual friend.” Dominic called over his shoulder, “Briar! Come up here.”
I did as he said, swallowing what felt like a knife in my throat. I can do this.
Jackson’s expression darkened, his brows creasing. “You?”
“Sorry, man, but it’s time the Greybacks paid their dues.”
“You betrayed us.” He breathed heavily through his flared nostrils. Several of their pack members snarled in my direction.
“Tell me about your association with Silas,” Dominic ordered. “If you answer honestly, I might lessen your packs’ punishment for disappearing and running out on the debt you owe us.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie! Your men were working with Silas to overthrow me. We found your mangy shit on our property, all dirty and filled with diseases.”
Jackson drew his fist back to hit Dominic but just before it connected, his fist stopped midair, trembling against an unseen barrier. His eyes flashed to Lilith. “Still need a witch to protect you, I see.”
Dominic stepped forward. “I will ask one more time. Tell me about Silas.”
“Are you deaf? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Dominic reached behind his back and removed a gun so fast it took me a second to realize what it was. Without looking where he was pointing, he fired three rounds into the crowd. I instinctively ducked; I didn’t trust Dominic not to turn the gun on me. Three people dropped to the ground, bullets burning through their heads.
“Stop!” Jackson shouted, his hands out in front of him.
I stared in shock at the crumpled bodies. Their eyes were open, blood pooling under them and seeping into the dirt. Several Greybacks whimpered. One, a woman, dropped to the ground near the feet of a killed man and let out a terrible cry.
Dominic lowered the gun. “Let me tell you how this is going to go down. Effective immediately, you will pay the Silver Claws what you owe us. Second, you will return to the city and carry out other duties we assign you. Lastly, I want you to tell me about Silas.”
“I’m telling the truth.” Jackson’s eyes flashed to the dead. “One of my men might have been working with him. If that’s the case, I’ll find the bastard and kill him myself.”
Dominic seemed to consider this. “We found proof that someone in the Greybacks was working with him. I want to know who.”
“Fine, but while we’re rooting out our traitor, maybe you should be rooting out yours.” His gaze found mine, and he pointed at me. “That she-wolf is not who she seems.”
Blood drained from my face, and my pulse raced.
“Because she pretended to befriend you? She did what any good Silver Claw would do. Her loyalty lies with me.”
“She came to us first. In fact, she is the one who warned us you were coming for us a few months ago.”
I felt Luke’s eyes on me.
I snarled at Jackson. “That’s a lie! I’ve only met the Greybacks twice. The first was when I rescued Ryder. The second was yesterday.” I ignored Jackson’s protests. “When I tricked them into showing me where they were hiding.”
“I will kill you, bitch.” Jackson’s threat made goosebumps run up my back, but I didn’t look away from Dominic’s stare. I couldn’t show any weakness. I knew if Dominic found the truth, I would be dead faster than I could blink.
So I dug into my deception, pulling the innocent into my web of sticky lies. “I can prove it.”
I raised my voice to make sure Heather’s group, who was hiding behind an old house just down the street, could hear me. “Ryder drove me, but stayed in the car for obvious reasons.”
“Ryder!” Dominic’s voice cut through the darkness. “Come here.”
After a few tense breaths, Ryder emerged from behind a building, his face pale. Jackson let out a warning growl, but Ryder ignored his father.
“Is this true?” Dominic asked him.
Stunned, Ryder slowly looked over at me. I stared back at him with pleading eyes, my heart in my throat. Sweat poured down my back and made my hands clammy. One wrong word from him and my life was over. Come on, Ryder. Don’t let me down.
“It’s true,” he finally said, his voice hollow.
“You too, son?” Jackson said, a hint of hurt in his voice, but I didn’t think it was real. Jackson had nearly killed his son just weeks ago.
This seemed to satisfy Dominic, and he gave a nod to Ryder. Ryder turned his back to me, his expression stone, and everything in me went still. He may have just backed me up, but he was no longer my friend. I’d just killed anything good between us; I could feel the coldness from him in our bond.
Somehow, I’d find a way to fix it.
Dominic turned back to Jackson. “Do you agree to my terms, or do I need to kill a few more of you?” He raised the gun and pointed it at a woman standin
g near Jackson. She yelped and began to tremble.
“We agree,” Jackson said quickly.
“Good. Now tell your pack to return home. No more living like street scum. You need to start earning for my pack again.”
Jackson’s jaw flexed in defiance.
“Do it.” Dominic’s voice held no room for that kind of rebellion. He pointed his gun again and pulled the trigger. The woman near Jackson fell face forward into the dirt. But Dominic wasn’t done. “Do I need to bring your pups into this? Because if that’s what it takes, I’ll march them all out—”
Jackson didn’t wait for Dominic to finish. He turned back to his pack, snarling. “Do what he says. Pack up. We’re going home. Let the women and children know.”
They rushed to obey, fanning out towards the dilapidated buildings. A young man, his long brown hair knotted in messy twists, dropped to his knees at the woman’s body. His eyes were pained, and he stared at me, his hand on the dead woman’s shoulder. The back of her head was missing, and grey matter mixed with blood and skull fragments pooled at his knees.
His angry eyes burrowed into mine, digging under my skin. I scratched at my arm, my chest, my neck. This was my fault.
“Leave her there.” Dominic stepped between the man and me, blocking me from his view. “The dead will stay to be eaten by vultures. Let their corpses be your reminder and a warning. Don’t ever cross me again, or your whole pack will beg for mercy at my feet.”
“Let us give them a proper burial,” Jackson urged.
“Denied. Obey me, mongrel.”
The young man snapped and jumped to his feet, rushing at Dominic. Dominic raised his gun and shot him in the head before he could get within arms’ length.
“The dead stay!” Dominic yelled, waving the gun at the retreating Greybacks. “Learn your place, Greybacks! No more have to die.”
They scurried away, pulling each other out of view behind cracked and dirty doors. Jackson was the last one to slowly back away, still facing Dominic with rage in his eyes.
Dominic smirked at him, stepping forward. He bent over the woman with his knife drawn. “So you remember.” He stared at Jackson while his blade hacked into her face, and he carved the woman’s eyes out.
