Rafe was under no illusions now. They needed help. If there was someone, something, out there that could kill a Pack of Wolves, then Rafe would ask for help from anyone he could. Including the Council.
He smirked as he pictured the Council leader’s face when Rafe called asking for help. He never contacted them for anything, so he was certain they’d be surprised when he called asking for assistance.
Atherton Denholm was old, even for a Wolf, but he ran the Wolf Council with a rod of iron. Although their rules and regulations annoyed the hell out of Rafe, he was well aware that Atherton would help any Pack in times of need, and this definitely counted as that. Rafe just didn’t relish actually having the conversation.
He’d make it short. As short as possible. That way it would be over and done with and the Council could step in and help. After all, Rafe didn’t look forward to going through a camp of dead Wolves and laying them to rest. Nope. That was definitely on his “absolutely never to do” list.
As he finished that thought, he saw the cabin in the distance, throwing over his shoulder, “Nearly there.”
Jacy appeared pleased, prodding the man in front of him and gleefully spitting out. “You hear that? Nearly at the place where you’re going to have a world of hurt. I’m looking forward to this.”
Rafe heard the hatred in his Beta’s voice. He would have to be deaf not to. It didn’t surprise him one bit. His Beta led his life devoted to the Pack and what these rogues had done was horrific. Neither Rafe, nor Jacy, could comprehend the destruction of an entire Pack, men, women, and kids. Outraged was how Rafe felt and he was pretty damn sure Jacy was too.
He’d have to ensure his Beta didn’t lose it and kill this lowlife before they could get any answers. Hell, he need to make sure he didn’t kill the fucker.
Not until he got all he could from him. After that? It was a toss-up whether he’d tear him apart or hand him over to the Council.
Rafe was well aware of some of the punishments handed out by the Council. Having their beast ripped magically from them, or being forced to transform and magic used to keep them in Wolf form. Both of these were excruciatingly painful, and permanent.
Would it be a fate worse than death?
It would for Rafe but he wasn’t so sure about the rogue. They didn’t value what they were, what they should be part of. Apart from the pain inflicted, he doubted they’d care either way of the outcome.
“Rip him apart it is,” Rafe said inside his head, his beast yipping with glee at the prospect.
Rafe pulled the door to the small cabin open. “Inside,” he growled at the rogue who stumbled inside after a hefty push from Jacy.
“Tie him to the chair.” Rafe rummaged around in a large wooden box, pulling out some rope they used to tie up larger kills.
“You think that will hold me?”
Rafe ignored the man as Jacy pulled out a chair from the table and pushed the rogue down roughly. His Beta went to work, binding the man’s arms behind him but also to the chair, before bending to tie his ankles to the legs. When he stood, Rafe sent him a private message.
“Transform, your Wolf might come in handy.”
Without a word, Jacy shrugged off his jeans and let loose his beast, the cabin suddenly feeling much smaller with his Wolf taking up so much space. It snarled at their prisoner before heading behind him, pacing back and forth with growls rumbling from its chest.
Rafe sent another message. “If he doesn’t answer my questions, or if he’s just being a dick, give him a few nips to remind him you’re there.”
“With pleasure,” Jacy replied, his voice full of loathing but tinged with excitement at being allowed to inflict some of his own punishment.
“Name?” Rafe demanded.
“Fuck you.” The rogue sneered, his eyes full of disgust as he glared at Rafe.
“I said,” Rafe ground out, opening up his Alpha power and allowing it to pour toward their prisoner, “name!”
The man’s eyes widened as pain lanced through his body and mind. The intense pain inflicted by the Alpha power invading his every pore and causing his face to pale, his teeth to grind together as he fought against it.
“I can up the stakes anytime.” Rafe shrugged, sending a fraction more of his power toward the rogue. “I haven’t even started in earnest yet so I suggest you answer.”
Rafe rarely used this particular Alpha ability. He hated to inflict pain of any kind, but the one doled out using his Alpha power was beyond cruel. Hence, he rarely utilized that part of him. For this rogue he’d make a damn exception.
“What difference does knowing my name make?” the rogue groaned out, his breathing ragged as he tried to fend off Rafe’s power. “I can tell you and it won’t make one jot of fucking difference so why don’t you just get on with what you really want to know.”
Rafe turned away, his anger boiling up inside him. He focused on the window, looking through it to the lush greenery outside. His forest, his land, his haven. It usually calmed his soul, taking in the beauty of the trees, bushes, animals that shared their homes with his Pack, but today all he felt was worry when he looked outside.
There was a threat to him, his people, his land, and he had to garner information to combat that peril.
“Very well,” he said coldly, turning back to face the bloodied man. “Tell me what happened to Tasha’s Pack?”
“Who’s Tasha?” the rogue asked a moment before his eyes twinkled evilly. “Oh wait, is she that tasty bitch we caught earlier?”
Rafe held himself in check but Jacy nipped the rogue’s thigh and the resulting yelp of pain caused Rafe to feel pleasure he didn’t know he was capable of as he spat out. “Answer the question.”
“All right!” The rogue’s voice rose as Rafe sent another wave of his power to invade him.
“I’m not a patient man,” Rafe advised, his tone cold as ice.
“First, you need to understand I’m not high up on the food chain, so to speak.” The man raised an eyebrow toward Rafe. “The first guy you killed earlier, he would know more than me, that’s for sure but I’ll tell you what I do know.”
Rafe crossed his arms and glowered at the man, sending another shockwave of power to keep him on track.
“Ouch! Will you stop that?”
Rafe merely shrugged, smirking.
“Okay, okay,” the rogue said quickly. “Someone wants land, a lot of land, and they’re prepared to go to any lengths to get it. I’m not sure how they made those Wolves sick, but we were told to wait for five days then go in and kill them all. Nobody was to be allowed to live, or leave.”
Rafe’s anger grew as the words spilled from the rogue’s mouth and he couldn’t help himself from sending another, stronger wave toward the lowlife.
“Please!” he yelped, grinding teeth to withstand the pain running through him.
“How many of you were there?” Rafe asked quietly. He needed to know how many rogues they might have to deal with.
“There was about thirty of us but most of them left when everyone was dealt with. We knew one had escaped, so my boss, the guy you killed, his name was . . .”
“Irrelevant,” Rafe spat out. “Go on.”
“We tracked her until we caught up to her today.” His eyes looked into Rafe’s showing the lack of compassion held within.
“And you were going to play with her then kill her. Right?” Rafe asked, knowing the answer.
“Sure.”
“Then what?”
“What?”
Rafe exhaled loudly, barely controlling himself as he snarled. “What were you to do after you’d taken care of her? Where were you to go? Who were you going to meet? What was your next job?”
“We were to meet up with the rest and wait on word of where next to strike.” He paused. “As I said, the big boss, whoever that is, wants land, as much as he can get and you know how he’s going to get it. Take out anyone inhabiting what he wants. He’s got the magic to do it and he obviously doesn’t give a
shit about a Pack of Wolves standing in his way.”
“Shit!” Rafe growled, desperate to know who was behind this horror. “Tell me where you were meeting up with the rest of your rogues?”
“If I tell you will you let me go?” the man whined.
Rafe snorted, shaking his head. “No. You have two choices. I hand you over to the Council or I deal with you.”
“But I’ve answered your questions! I was just following orders.”
Jacy gave the man another nip, his resulting yell causing Rafe to smile. “You killed an entire Pack who were infected with god knows what but something that made them vulnerable and unable to defend themselves. You cannot understand how that makes me, as Alpha of my own Pack, feel. I swear to Mother Earth I want nothing more than to end you and nothing, I repeat, nothing you’ve said changes that.”
The rogue’s face changed into a mask of hatred and loathing, his eyes closing to slits as he shouted, spittle flying everywhere as vitriol spewed from him viciously. “I demand the right to a fair fight! I challenge you, Alpha, and if I win I’m taking your goddamn Pack!”
Rafe couldn’t help the laugh that tore from him at the pure stupidity of the man. “Really? You’re challenging me?”
“Yes! Right here and now.”
“You don’t have the right to challenge me, you fuckwit. You’re a damn prisoner with no rights whatsoever.” Rafe shook his head. “But I’ll be reasonable and allow you a fight. I can’t exactly say a fair fight because you’re injured but I don’t give a damn about that. Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll fucking take it!”
Rafe undressed quickly then untied the prisoner, pointing to the door. “After you.”
As Rafe followed behind the rogue, Jacy’s Wolf nudged his thigh, sending his thoughts through loud and clear.
“I can take care of him for you.”
Rafe could feel the pent-up energy inside his Beta. He was raring to go. Jacy wanted to tear into this asshole as much as Rafe did.
“He had my mate in his filthy hands. Threatened her life. No, my friend, this bastard is all mine.”
Following the nameless rogue from the cabin, Rafe noticed the sun going down through the trees. The forest sounds reminding him just how precious his land was as small animals hurried around unseen, birds singing, and the scent of the multitude of plants and wildflowers filled his nostrils. He had to protect this.
It had been his family’s for generations, many hundreds of years ago they’d settled here in the plush, but wild land. He loved it as much as he loved anything and he’d die before he would allow anyone to destroy his home, his Pack, everyone he loved, including the mate he’d been certain he didn’t need.
How foolish had he been?
Tasha meant everything to him and he couldn’t wait to return to her and finally hold her to him as his lips found hers in that first, exquisite kiss. First he would deal with the lowlife that had dared to hunt her down and put his soiled hands on her perfection.
“Rafe!”
Jacy’s yell in his head brought him out of his inner thoughts with a jolt. The rogue already transformed and leaping toward him, jaws wide, teeth glinting off the waning sun and with one thought: to rip his head off.
Rafe darted to the side, morphing as he went, barely escaping the rogue’s attack. Realizing he’d been too wrapped up in his thoughts, Rafe had given the rogue the opportunity to transform and begin healing its wounds. The Wolf attacking him was a seasoned fighter, then again, he would be if he went around murdering innocents.
Its dirty grey fur rippled as it circled around, trying to catch Rafe off-guard. His own beast snarled viciously before launching toward its opponent, meeting mid-air in a clash of fangs and claws. The scent of blood filled the air as both made contact. Rafe suffering a shallow gouge along his flank as they tumbled on the ground.
In the background, he heard wild-life scatter and run, scared by the battle going on and heading for safety. Saddened that this rogue had caused such chaos to his peaceful haven only made his blood boil all the more. His anger rising to heights Rafe didn’t know he was capable of as he focused on destroying the Wolf before him.
Everything around him disappeared. Rafe could only see, focus, and deal with the beast hell-bent on killing him. He knew that wouldn’t happen. No matter how strong the rogue thought he was, he could never match a strong Alpha and Rafe was well aware he was one of the strongest. His grandfather and father before him were known for their strength and that had been passed onto him, in spades.
He never abused that power, using it only when the situation required it. This was one of those times. Rafe harnessed every ounce of his supremacy as he barreled into his opponent, knocking him flying through the air to land with a dull thud. His Wolf sprang high into the air, pouncing on top of the dazed rogue, opening his huge jaws and sinking his teeth around its vulnerable neck.
Rafe applied pressure, fangs puncturing skin and sinew as blood spurted to cover his fur with its crimson stain. The metallic scent filling his nostrils as he shook his head from side to side, ripping and tearing until he felt the throat tear away in his jaws. Spitting out the filthy remnants, he moved slightly to encompass the side of the rogue’s neck, shredding viciously until he felt bone.
His Wolf savagely continued until the sound of bone breaking rang in its ears. The rogue collapsed beneath him as he released his death-grip, his beast’s head rearing up to howl its victory for all to hear.
Bloodlust running rampant through his Wolf, Rafe allowed it for a few moments before taking control. His heart beating wildly in his chest as he transformed, head bowed, drenched in his enemy’s blood.
He’d had his fair share of fights, both human and beast, but this was the first time he’d reveled in the death of another. He wasn’t sure what to think of that fact, but he didn’t have the luxury of time to ponder on it. There was far too much to do to ensure the safety of his people, so he shoved it away into the recesses of his mind to revisit at a later date.
Possibly. He might never think of this bastard again, or how good he felt at ending him. Whatever. He’d done what any good Alpha would do: take out the trash and protect his Pack.
“Are you all right?” Jacy asked, keeping his distance and eyeing him warily.
“I’ll feel better when we find who’s behind this so I can tear his damn head off.”
“Okaaaaaaaaaay,” Jacy said slowly. “But for now, are you injured?”
“I’m fine,” Rafe said, pausing to take note of his body. Aches and pains, nothing major apart from that and a few scratches.
Now all he wanted to do was get back to his mate and check on her. His insides churning as he wondered whether she’d managed to heal her broken ankle. Rafe had experienced more than his fair share of broken bones, knowing they hurt like a bitch, so he hoped Tasha was feeling better. The thought of his mate in pain caused a visceral reaction deep inside him. One that reinforced his vow to do whatever it took to keep her safe and destroy anything that threatened her.
Rafe took a deep breath in, exhaling slowly to calm himself as his friend spoke, breaking his inner musings.
“I’ll get rid of the trash,” Jacy sneered as Rafe went to the cabin to grab his clothes.
“Thanks.” Rafe nodded, throwing his jeans and boots on quickly. He left his top off, carrying it instead of putting it on and covering it with blood.
“If you need me just holler,” Jacy said, his eyes still wary as he watched his Alpha. “Maybe you should go for a run or something. You look a little wired, you might scare your mom and Tasha if you go home looking like that.”
Rafe ignored that. “I’ll see you in the morning. Before dawn so we can go to Tasha’s place and see if Myrtle can come up with anything. If magic is behind this then we’ll need her help and possibly her mother’s. I know her mom isn’t Pack, but she’s a good woman and a strong Witch. She’ll help if we need her.”
“Yeah,” Jacy confirmed. “Her mom is high up
in the Witch Council now, she got some kind of promotion last month. She’ll be the one to ask if we need them on our side.”
“Another damn Council.” Rafe shook his head at the thought. “But if we need to then we will.”
“You can ask Myrtle to get in touch with her mom if needed. That way you don’t have to deal with all the BS.”
Rafe smirked, liking that solution very much. “Good thinking. We’ll see what happens tomorrow and then decide.”
“I freaking hate all that magical mojo.” Jacy shivered dramatically, his face screwing up. “I much prefer facing a threat head on and dealing with it, not having to worry about some spell or other.”
“You and me both, my friend. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He didn’t hear his Beta’s reply as he took off, jogging back toward camp, to his future, his mate. His Tasha.
Rafe felt the adrenaline still pumping through him so he sped up, trying to burn it off before he reached home. His thick thighs pumping hard as he flew through the forest, leaping over fallen trees and darting around blackberry bushes. The further he got from where he’d fought he realized he could sense, hear, and also see the critters of the forest again. Soothing his soul, both man and beast, with the familiar sights and sounds.
Once again he knew he couldn’t allow anyone, anything, to take this from him and his people.
His resolve hardened as his steps slowed to a walk, the last mile or so calming him in ways only his land could. By the time he reached the camp he felt much better, not relaxed entirely, but not ready to bite someone’s head off either.
Skirting the outskirts he could smell a tantalizing aroma wafting toward him, causing him to inhale deeply. He’d know his mother’s cooking anywhere and by the smell he was certain it was his favorite: deer steak.
Great! He was starving.
Slowing down he sneaked toward the back porch, silently approaching and careful not to use the stair that creaked, he stopped to look through the window. The scene he spied on had his heart soaring. His mom at the stove, chatting to Tasha who was setting the table. He stayed in place, watching the two people who were the most important to him: his mother and his mate.
A Ravenous Pack: Wolf's Hunger 5 Books Page 5
