by Price, E A
She wondered how Gabe coped with the need to be with her. Was his need for her as great as hers for him? The way her sex fluttered and liquid heat poured through her veins she found it hard to believe. He was always so cool so calm, she just wanted to find him and rub herself all over him, she wanted to smooth her hands down his taut body and kiss every inch of him…
“Everything alright Kira?”
Kira started as she found Deedee stood beside her with a curious look on her face. Kira had been gripping a spoon in her hand so hard that she had managed to bend it in half.
Kira plastered a smile on her face to hide her heated embarrassment. “Fine… umm don’t know my own strength!”
Deedee nodded, gave her a strange look and ambled back to the kitchen. Kira rushed to the bathroom and splashed water over her heated face. Looking in the mirror she was shocked at her appearance, her eyes looked downright wild!
Yes she’d always felt the pull of the full moon, since she was 19 she’d always shared the same urges as her fellow wolves. The desire to hunt and mate. But since the best forgotten full moon where she lost her virginity she’d always kept herself in check and now here she was virtually having a meltdown.
Maybe it was worse because of her burgeoning Omega powers. Before she’d always thought they offered protection from feeling the more extreme cravings of her wolf. But now that the floodgates were open… She felt a thirst inside that only her mate could quench. Her wolf wagged her tail and yipped.
Only a few more hours and Gabe would be here. If she could just last that long she would be in the arms of her mate and everything would feel better. Yep, keep telling yourself that.
*
Acksel Lucas, the pack’s Chief Enforcer sniffed the trap again. He had shifted to wolf form in the hopes that his heightened senses would detect something, or anything, from the bear trap.
The wolf whined and pulled away. Other than the scent of the deer that had been unfortunate enough to get caught in the trap he found wolfsbane. Painful in small doses to wolf shifters but toxic in large doses.
Acksel shimmered back to his human form and gladly pulled on the coat Gabe held out to him. He rubbed his hands together. “Wolfsbane.”
Adam looked at him sharply. “You’re sure.”
Acksel nodded. “It’s faint but it’s there.”
Alec stepped away as his phone buzzed.
Earlier in the day one of his Enforcers, a young wolf called Felicity had called in that she’d found an illegal trap whilst out on patrol. To Acksel’s annoyance it wasn’t that unusual. The pack owned a large area of private woodland. Over the years numerous human hunters and come and gone wishing to hunt on their land. The humans often ventured into the pack’s territory and set traps. It was infuriating. The traps could be lethal to the shifters who often ran through the territory as their wolves. Females or pups could easily be caught in them and they could bleed to death before anyone found them.
Any hunters who had been caught doing this had been handed over to the police. A little worse for wear after Adam was been done with them. But still more kept coming.
Acksel couldn’t see the point in setting traps. He liked nothing more than hunting in his wolf form. Where was the fun in hunting an animal that was trapped and bleeding out? Where was the thrill in that? The chase was the thing! Humans had some funny ideas.
Felicity insisted he come out and see the trap himself. She was sure there was something off about it. Acksel didn’t doubt her word. Even though she was new and still learning she was well on her way to being his best Enforcer.
Acksel had called both the Alpha and the Beta too. Adam always wanted to deal with hunters personally. Acksel called in all his other Enforcers as well as any volunteers he could lay his hands on to do a sweep of the woods to check for other traps. It was vital that they find them before the snow started falling; if the ground was covered in snow they truly would be invisible to the naked eye.
In the meantime the Beta had put out word to all pack members that they weren’t to go out running until they were sure they had found them all. Thankfully given the cold temperature it wouldn’t be much of a problem.
Acksel had arrived shortly before the Alpha Adam, then the Beta Alec and Gabe who had been out on a call with Alec.
Felicity was right; there was something off about the trap. For one thing it was brand new. The type of men who came sniffing round their land were those who were too cheap to actually travel to the real hunting areas. The traps were usually old and well used. This one was a fancy ass piece of equipment.
For another there were no human scents on the trap. Felicity had carefully untangled the deer and dragged it away. The stench of the blood was strong but there should have been some lingering human scent of the men who had placed it here.
Lastly if hunters had set the trap where were they? By the time Felicity found the deer she estimated it had been there for at least a couple of hours. Why hadn’t the hunters checked on their trap? It had been set and then seemingly just left.
Unfortunately Don the pack tracker was out of town for the day. Otherwise he could have come and taken a look around and perhaps gotten a little more than them. Acksel had spent hours training with Don but still couldn’t quite measure up. The wolf was a marvel. It was a source of frustration to Alec that Don had scented his mate Liv’s pregnancy before he did. Acksel and Adam ribbed the stuffy Beta about it as much as possible.
Alec turned back to them. “That was Mal. He just found two more traps a mile from here. They were covered in leaves. They hadn’t caught anything but Mal thinks he can detect wolfsbane but he isn’t sure.”
“Do you think human hunters are using wolfsbane to throw us off?” Asked Felicity.
Adam grunted. Humans didn’t generally realize the full effects of wolfsbane on shifters. Only someone with knowledge of shifters would know how bad it was. Humans in general assumed that wolves when in skin form were just like them. Thankfully most didn’t realize how debilitating silver truly was to shifters either.
“I doubt it. Even if they did all we have to do is sit here and wait for them to come and collect their traps. I don’t think the people who set these traps cared about coming back for them.” Adam breathed in and out. “Where are Kira and Lilah?”
Gabe snapped his head in the direction of his Alpha as his wolf howled. “You think this was done by the Charming pack?”
Adam shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Lilah’s at Jolene’s and Mac’s with her. Kira’s at work.” Said Alec.
“Alec send Jake over to the Jolene’s and Felicity you get over there too just in case.”
Alec started dialing while Felicity nodded at her Alpha quickly stripping and shifting. Her wolf loped off mindful of the potential traps.
“Kira…” Ground out Gabe. His wolf was prowling.
Adam gave the younger wolf a steady gaze. “Is at the Diner surrounded by people. The Charming pack want Lilah. She’s next to the Sheriff’s station. If she needs help back up will be close.”
“You don’t know that!” Roared Gabe.
Acksel stilled as Alec moved forward to Gabe. Adam motioned for Alec to stop. “You two go and join the search.”
Immediately Acksel and Alec moved off.
Adam’s jaw twitched. As far as Alpha’s went Adam was pretty easy going but he expected his orders to be followed. Wolf packs weren’t democracies. And Adam expected to be treated respectfully at all times.
Gabe in spite of his wolf’s snarls bared his neck in submission to his Alpha.
Adam nodded his acceptance. “Our priority is finding the traps. I can’t risk a member of the pack getting hurt by one. Our pups play in these woods, they have to be safe. And I need to know for sure that whoever set these traps isn’t hanging around. That means every available pack member is out here looking. Kira is part of the pack but she doesn’t take precedence over the other members.”
Gabe felt thoroughly chastised. Although he had
to disagree with that last part. To him she was more important than anyone in the Universe. “I’m sorry I…”
Adam put a hand on his shoulder, not in an unfriendly way. “It’s alright. I’d be the same if it was my mate. Look you’re a good tracker; I want you out here but call the station. See who’s there and get someone to watch over your mate.”
Gabe flushed. “How do you know she’s my mate?”
Adam chortled with laughter. “You’re kidding right? You can’t keep anything quiet in this pack. And by the way if I were you I’d give horse riding a miss in future.”
Gabe grinned. “Oh I don’t know. It had its moments.”
Adam snorted. “I’ll bet. Come on we better get moving. Won’t be long until the snow starts settling.”
Gabe couldn’t help but feel uneasy. If the Charming pack had set these traps it didn’t bode well. It was a vicious act; it showed how little regard they had for innocent lives.
He had to be sure Kira was safe. He pulled out his phone and quickly started dialing the station.
Chapter Fourteen
It was 10.30pm and Kira was practically jumping up and down with needy excitement. Not long until Gabe arrived! She calmed a little at seeing the first few flakes of snow falling. The beauty and coolness of the weather at least afforded her a little pause.
Again Deedee had gone home a little early, pleading family issues. The gentle bear shifter apologized effusively. She felt guilty at leaving Kira to lock up again but the she-wolf insisted it was fine. In the end she practically had to chase Deedee out the door.
Deedee wasn’t actually leaving her alone, within half an hour Gabe would be there. Besides both Deanna the bobcat Deputy and Carly had been hanging around for the last hour. Deanna had been watching her like a hawk.
Kira had tried to press the bobcat but Deanna wouldn’t be drawn. Whatever was happening Gabe was clearly worried about her. Deanna’s emotions were fairly calm; she was slightly worried but not overly agitated. Kira tried to probe Carly’s emotions but came up against a wall. The little Omega gave her the stink eye and Kira tried to plead ignorance. She suspected Carly didn’t believe her, she imagined the more powerful Omega could sense her guilt a mile away.
Kira started wiping down tables as both Deanna and Carly sipped what must be cold coffee by that point. They’d stopped serving fifteen minutes ago.
“You know you two can go Gabe will be here to pick me up soon.”
The way Kira was feeling she wasn’t overly keen on the two women being around when Gabe arrived. If Kira did just jump her mate and ravish him it might be a little awkward…
Deanna smiled tightly. “Not until I finish my coffee.”
“Hmmm me too.” Murmured Carly.
Kira rolled her eyes and watched the snow falling through the window. Growing up in New Mexico she’d never seen snow at home. She had seen it on a couple of family vacations but it wasn’t the same. Virginia wasn’t overly prone to freezing cold weather but at least there was snow now and again. She loved shifting and trotting through the snow as her wolf. It was one of the things she loved most about being in Virginia. Well that and Gabe…
There were already a good few inches on the ground, and the sky was heavy. Bathed in the streetlamps the white blanket made the town look beautiful. It was so still and peaceful.
A couple of cars rumbled slowly along the road. Kira cupped her hands against the window hopeful one would be Gabe’s. It was hard to tell in the flurry of snow but neither vehicle looked like either Gabe’s car or the patrol car he used on duty. Her wolf sighed impatiently and Kira tried to instill patience in the beast.
She watched the vehicles with interest and was surprised when four burly looking men and three wolves trundled out. Carly shuddered and dropped her coffee cup. Kira stilled as she recognized at least two of the men. Oh no…
It was her old Alpha and his son, Kira’s husband, Joseph.
Kira stepped back from the window breathing heavily as her wolf panicked. “We have to get out of here.”
Kira quickly pulled Carly along with Deanna following close behind. They ran out through the kitchen toward the back door. Kira flung it open and shrieked to find two wolves snarling and snapping their jaws.
Deanna drew her gun and shot one of the wolves as it lunged at Carly. The wolf slumped to the floor whining. Kira tried to slam the door shut but a beefy shifter came up behind the wolves and put his shoulder to it.
The other wolf snarled and moved toward Kira as Deanna shot him too. Kira picked up a frying pan and threw it at the shifter’s head. He howled furiously as Carly pulled Kira behind Deanna who trained her gun on him.
His livid expression morphed into a nasty smile.
“Kira.” The commanding voice of her former Alpha bellowed behind her.
She turned to see the Alpha looming in the door to the kitchen. His face was blank but his eyes burned dark amber. As Deanna spun round the shifter stepped over the fallen wolves and snaked an arm round her chest whilst disarming her. She snarled and her fangs descended; she bowed her head and sunk them into his fleshy arm. The shifter roared and let go of her, her gun dropping to the floor.
Deanna stared at the shifter murderously, his blood trickling from her mouth. The shifter grunted and raised his hand.
“Enough.” The Alpha strode forward and painfully grasped Kira’s arm.
He dragged her back out into the Diner with Carly and Deanna being pushed along by the other shifter, now clutching his bloodied arm and muttering curses to the bobcat.
Kira and her wolf growled as she saw Joseph. The arrogant young man was sat idling in a chair, his feet resting on the counter like he hadn’t a care in the world. He sneered when he spied Kira.
The other shifter and wolf were stood outside the entrance to the Diner. Blocking the escape route. It struck Kira that they hadn’t even bothered to check on the two wolves Deanna had shot. They could care less about their own people apparently. Carly looked at her feet whilst Deanna was trying to outstare the sullen shifter she had bitten.
The Alpha’s determined gaze bore into Kira. Everything about him told her to submit, to bare her neck and bow down to the Alpha. But she forced herself to be strong. Her wolf railed against her nature, railed against the power of the Alpha. This man had allowed her twin sister to be hurt over and over again, he had failed to protect one of his pack to cover up for his son’s disgraceful behavior. In Kira’s book he didn’t deserve to be an Alpha. Real Alphas protected all their pack, like Adam would, not just some of them.
Overcoming her animal nature she met his eyes and jutted her chin at him. His eyes faltered a little at her defiance but he stood his ground.
Joseph snorted. At her or at his father she couldn’t tell. But if the Alpha’s flickering eyes were anything to go by it was at him. Perhaps there had been recent rumblings about Joseph becoming Alpha soon. It was a difficult thing to do for an Alpha to concede his power to a younger wolf, to admit he was no longer the strongest or the best. Made even worse by a cocky bastard like Joseph.
The Alpha’s eyebrow ticked. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You, me and Joseph will go get Lilah. You will tell her she is to come with us.”
Ha! Kira folded her arms. “Not going to happen.”
The Alpha raised an eyebrow and walked over to Carly. He placed a meaty paw on her trembling shoulder. Carefully he rubbed his clawed thumb over her neck. “If you don’t my pack mates here will rip this little wolf and bobcat to pieces.”
The Alpha winced slightly and Kira wondered at it. “How do I know you won’t do that anyway?”
“You have my word as Alpha.”
Kira balked. “Your word? Like when you promised to protect my sister when she joined your pack, and instead you allowed this animal to treat her like dirt?!”
Joseph leapt to his feet and grabbed Kira by her hair. He twisted her face round to look at him; his face was ugly with fury. “Disrespectful bitch! You should learn some manners about
how to talk to your betters.”
Kira’s felt tears spring to her eyes at his savage grip but she made herself look him in the eye. Her wolf snarled and her muscles shivered as she sought her shift.
“Joseph!” Snapped the Alpha. “That’s enough.”
Joseph trained his gaze on his father in disbelief. “But she…”
“I don’t care. We’re only here to take back what is ours.” The Alpha told him firmly.
Joseph quaked slightly almost as if he was in pain and closed his eyes. “Fucking wuss.” He spat.
“What?” Roared the Alpha. He gripped Carly firmly but she held as still as a statue.
The shifter whining over his bloody arm looked between the Alpha and his son nervously. Deanna noting his distraction began edging toward the kitchen. Back to her gun.
“You’re a coward!” Yelled Joseph. “If I was the Alpha…”
His father was fuming. “You’re not the Alpha I am!”
Joseph was almost spitting. “I should be. I’m younger, stronger and better able to lead than you ever were! You’re too old and too much of a coward!”
The Alpha laughed nastily. “You’re a pathetic little asshole not even fit to lick my boots. You’ve been a disappointment to me your whole life.”
Joseph threw Kira aside. She landed on the ground and looked between father and son in amazement. She knew there was a bit of tension but yeesh! Joseph Sr loved his son, and forgave him everything he did. All the selfish, stupid mistakes he made were covered up due his loyalty and love for his son.
The Alpha let go of Carly and the two males growled at one another. Kira’s gaze flickered between the two before alighting on the deathly still Omega. Suddenly it dawned on her why she was so still. It was Carly who was doing this! Carly was manipulating the two wolves’ emotions. She was playing on the small feelings of resentment and uneasiness that resided in the two males and amplifying them to provoke an extreme reaction. Yikes, never get on Carly’s bad side!
