by Quinn Loftis
Chapter 10
Fane and Brian were getting into Brian’s car when he felt Jacquelyn’s alarm and heard her scream at him, “Fane, what the hell is on my back!”
For a brief moment he got a flash of the picture in her mind of her back, but he quickly shut her out not wanting to intrude on her privacy. He decided then not to answer her even though it broke his heart to leave her in a state of confusion and fear, but he felt like some things were better said face to face. Especially if you’re going to be telling someone that they have Canis Lupus markings on their body because they have found their werewolf mate they didn’t know even existed. You know, the standard ‘hey let’s get to know each other bit.’
He flinched a bit when she screamed and Brian noticed and asked if he was okay.
“Yeah, I’m good, just had some ringing in my ears for a minute,” Fane lied.
“So do you know where you want to go?” Brian asked.
“Just stop at the first dealership you see that has motorcycles. I’m not picky and I’m good at working on them so it’s okay if it needs a little work,” Fane explained.
As they drove past Jacquelyn’s house he found himself looking at it, fighting the urge to slip into her mind and see how she was. It had felt weird when she had called out to him; it was the first time she had done so without him prompting her first. It pleased his wolf that she was turning to him for help; he was after all her protector. He quickly reminded the preening animal part of him that she didn’t exactly have anywhere else to go. That got a growl out of him that he had to disguise as a cough.
Brian, as requested, pulled into the first dealership he saw that had motorcycles out front. As Fane got out of the car his eyes fell instantly on a solid black Honda shadow, with chrome pipes, and wide wheels. It was used but still looked to be in good shape.
Fane liked his bikes to be simple. Nothing flashy or fancy, he just wanted to ride, not show off.
A salesman came walking out into the heat and went immediately to Brian first, he was after all the adult, and Brian pointed him in Fane’s direction.
“Can I help you?” the salesman asked and in that same instant took a breath in. Fane was positive he heard a low growl as the salesman abruptly stepped back a few steps turning his head ever so slightly so that his neck was exposed to Fane.
Fane looked at him briefly confused and then it hit him, and the thought nearly sent him to the ground: Canis Lupus.
Brian, thankfully, had begun to wander around the car lot not paying attention to them, so Fane stepped toward the salesman, Steve his name tag said, and sniffed. Sure enough, he was a Grey.
Instinctively Fane growled as his wolf perked up at the presence of another male Grey in the area that Fane had deemed his territory. After all he was not aware of any Greys in Coldspring.
After a moment the Grey named Steve asked, “Who are you, why are you in the Alpha’s territory?”
Alpha, Fane thought, what Alpha was he talking about? Fane didn’t want to divulge too much to this Grey, in case he and his Alpha were a threat.
“I wasn’t aware there were any Grey’s in this area,” Fane stated vaguely.
“Who are you that you think you deserve to know what Greys are where? You’re just a pup, with a human at that,” he spat at Fane.
Fane’s wolf pushed to come out and Fane let him out just a little, his power poured over him and the Grey felt it instantly and nearly bowed involuntarily as his wolf realized he was not more dominate than this pup he had so hastily named.
“I don’t have to dignify you with an answer, but just so you will know what you have provoked, I will oblige you. I am the Prince of the Romanian Canis Lupus. I am next in line to be Alpha and I submit to no one but the Alpha of all the Romanian Canis Lupus.” Putting as much push in his words as he dared without unleashing the full power of his line, he asked, “Who is your Alpha and how long has there been a pack of Greys in Coldspring?”
The Grey, Steve, whined just a little but answered, “I have heard of your father, it is said he makes all Alphas bow just by his presence.”
“Answer my question Steve. Now,” Fane glared.
“My Alpha is Lucas Steele. I have been a member of this pack for 3 years. I don’t know how long it has been active. Why are you here? You’re a teenager from another country, what could you possibly be doing in Coldspring, Texas?” Steve asked bewildered.
“My business is not yours. Setting aside this interesting turn of events for a moment please, I would like to purchase that black Honda Shadow, how much?” Fane asked.
“Don’t you want to test drive it?” Steve asked.
“No. How much?” Fane asked again.
“$2,500, there is no warranty left on it. It has five thousand miles on it, the tires are new, never been in an accident,” Steve rattled off like a recording.
Fane pulled out his credit card and handed it to him. As Steve walked off with his parents’ credit card Fane realized he had just made a big mistake. Steve now had his father’s full name. He imagined this might be a moment where his fiery little Luna would say something along the lines of, “go directly to jail, do not pass go and do not collect $200.” Yes she would definitely say something like that.
Brian had wandered back over to where Fane was but Fane didn’t realize it until Brian said something, “So you find something to buy?”
“Yeah actually, I’m going to purchase that black Honda Shadow. It looks to be in pretty good shape. Do you think you could take me to wherever it is that I get the license and do whatever else I need to in order to finalize the sale?” Fane asked.
“That’s not a problem. Let me know when you are ready,” Brian responded.
“Ok, mulţumesc, Brian, I really appreciate your help,” Fane told him.
“You’re welcome,” Brian said with a smile.
Fane turned to see Steve coming across the lot toward him. He had some paperwork in one hand and Fane’s credit card in the other. He handed Fane the credit card first once he reached him.
“Could you step inside for a moment to sign these papers?” Steve asked Fane.
Fane simply nodded and started to follow Steve in the direction of the building. They stepped inside and just a few steps to the right was a table. Steve sat down, Fane did not. He simply leaned down and signed the places Steve had marked. Once everything was signed Steve stood back up and handed Fane the keys. Before Fane turned to leave Steve said “I have a message from my Alpha.”
Fane turned back and looked Steve in the eyes, the less dominate Grey instantly dropped his gaze but continued. “He says don’t unpack.” And with that Steve turned and walked away.
Fane pushed the door open and walked back out to where Brian stood.
“Okay Brian, I’m ready if you are,” Fane said trying very hard to contain his anger. His wolf was not happy. There were other wolves in a territory he had claimed based on information that told him there were no other Greys here. On top of that his mate was in the same area un-bonded. He would say things couldn’t get worse, but that would be a huge mistake when it came to talking about Canis Lupus.
As Fane pulled into the drive way to the Henry’s house he was pleased at how well the motorcycle ran. Brian had insisted they go straight to a motorcycle shop and buy a helmet since they didn’t have one at the dealership. He opted for a full face helmet with a dark visor and bought a clear visor to change out for when he was riding at night. It felt so good to be on a bike again, Fane thought to himself. He parked behind Brian’s car and locked his and the helmet he had impulsively bought Jacquelyn on the side of his bike.
As he was walking to the front door he saw Lilly pulling into her driveway across the street. He hadn’t realized she had left.
As she was getting out of her Volkswagen convertible she turned and saw Fane and waved.
“Fane, hey, I wanted to invite you over for dinner tonight,” she hollered across the lawns, “the girls are having pizza. You are welcome
to come, that is if you don’t mind hanging out with a group of teenage girls,” she said with a wink.
Fane was a little surprised at the invitation but he was not about to miss an opportunity to spend time with Jacquelyn.
“I would be honored. Mulţumesc,” Fane responded.
“Great, we will order the pizza around 5:00, oh and tell Brian and Sara they are invited as well, we’ll make a night of it and play some games,” Lilly said enthusiastically.
Fane couldn’t really put his finger on it but Lilly seemed a bit edgy. Maybe he was imagining it, but something was definitely off with her. She waved and turned to go into her house as he did the same.
Sara was sitting on the couch reading a book when he entered and he told her they were invited to Lilly and Jacquelyn’s for pizza and games.
“Oh, that sounds great,” Sara said excitedly. “I will make some brownies to take. Do you like brownies Fane?”
“Yes I do actually. I’m going to excuse myself and go call my parents to say hello, if that is okay,” Fane told her.
“Of course that’s fine, you don’t have to ask us, you are practically a grown man Fane, so long as you aren’t selling drugs or going to all night raves and orgies you do what you want. We trust you until you give us reason not to,” Sara said casually.
“Mulţumesc” was all he said in response and then turned to go up stairs to call his father and tell him what he had discovered today. He was also going to have to explain how he lost his temper and revealed his title, and gave the Grey his credit card with his Alpha’s name on it. Honestly, he’d been in Coldspring one day and he’d found his mate, met another Grey, found out about a pack that wasn’t suppose to even be here, and been threatened not to stay. Needless to say it hadn’t been boring since he arrived.
He dialed his father’s number for the second time that day. His father answered on the first ring,
“Colega ta este in pericol, (your mate is in danger),” were the first words Fane heard his father say.
