by JC Holly
“Unfortunately that rarely means naked oil wrestling.” Avani pouted. “Mama can’t get no fun.”
Paul kicked her in the shin, and she kicked back. Darren laughed. The pair got on like brother and sister rather than best friends.
Ethan pulled another folder from a drawer and handed it to Darren. “This contains the details of our pack rules, as well as what we require of a potential should they wish to join. It’s nothing difficult or life threatening, but if someone doesn’t meet the requirements, they’re no good to us.” He shrugged. “Just the way it is.”
“Thanks.” Darren put the folder on his lap, unsure as to whether he should read it now.
“It also dispels a few myths about our race, and details what we can do, though by now I’m sure you’ve discovered most of it. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have now, too.”
“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure Paul covered any questions I had.”
Ethan nodded. “Fair enough. In that case, we’re all done for tonight. My number’s in the folder, as is Avani’s, so if you have a problem let us know.”
Darren stood and shook Ethan’s hand again. “I will, thanks.”
He and Paul went to leave, but Ethan called Paul back.
“I need a quick word if you don’t mind. Darren, you can wait in the club with Avani.”
Avani hopped off the table and took Darren by the hand. “Come with me, cutie.”
For a moment, Paul looked worried, but when he realized Darren was looking at him, he quickly smiled. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
Darren followed Avani out of the office, leaving Ethan with Paul.
* * * *
Ethan waited until the pair had left before standing and turning to look out the window.
“Cold night,” he said over his shoulder.
Paul swallowed, then joined his boss by the large window. “Yeah. Winter’s definitely set in now.”
Ethan nodded once. Paul waited. Had Avani said something? Ethan never normally bothered with one-on-one meetings, unless it was something very serious.
“Do we have a problem with Gabriel?” Ethan said finally, his gaze still on the street below.
Paul sighed. “Avani told you.”
“She told me some of it, yes, though how much I don’t know. She claimed to be hazy on the details, though.”
“I didn’t tell her much.”
Ethan turned to face Paul, his steel-blue eyes seeming to bore right through him. “Well I think you should tell me everything, don’t you?”,
Paul nodded and sat on the edge of the table. “Where should I start?”
“From the meeting with Gabriel.”
“He called me out of the blue, saying he wanted me to do something for him.” Paul chewed his lip as he decided how much he should tell Ethan. “It wasn’t the first time.”
“Oh?” Ethan sat back in his chair, turning it slightly to face Paul.
“In the past, he’s used…certain information about me to blackmail me into doing things for him. It’s never been big stuff, just along the lines of theft or beating a guy up.”
“Stuff he doesn’t want his pack members to do.”
“Exactly. It’s not stuff I’m proud of, but I thought if I did it, he’d leave me alone.”
Ethan smiled sadly. “Never works out like that.”
“No.” Paul swallowed. “He wants me to kill someone.”
Ethan’s smile disappeared, and his jaw clenched. Paul resisted the urge to flinch.
“What is he holding over you?” he said, his voice too steady, as if he was trying to keep calm.
“I’d rather not say.”
“I’m not giving you an option here, Paul.” Ethan sighed. “My pack comes first, and I need to know if someone outside the pack can exert control over one of my members.”
“All right, but please keep it to yourself. I’ve not told anybody this.”
“You have my word, Paul.”
Paul chewed his lip again, wincing as he broke the skin. How the hell did you broach a subject like this? There was no way to put it nicely, or to soften the blow. He could only hope Ethan would hear him out.
“Well?” Ethan said.
“I killed Gabriel’s brother.”
Chapter Nine
Ethan just stared straight ahead. For the longest time he didn’t seem to be aware of his surroundings. Paul could only wait nervously to see how the big man would react. A part of him laughed at himself for being so nervous. Hell, he was an enforcer. Conflict came with the job description. Still, Ethan was a force unto himself. Paul had seen him fight in both forms, and nobody even came close. If the man took offense at him joining his pack without revealing such information, Paul wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Tell me what happened,” Ethan said as he rubbed at his neck.
“I joined Gabriel’s pack when I was newly turned. I thought I was something special, and that the world owed me.” Paul smirked. “Gabriel felt the same and happily took me on as an enforcer. Only in his pack that’s something different to yours.”
Ethan nodded. “I know of his pack. Brutal and often close to lawless.”
Paul couldn’t disagree. “Well, I was supposed to be the law. If someone was out of line, I had free reign to teach them a lesson. And I did. Frequently.”
He kept the details to himself. Ethan didn’t need to know how many Weres he’d beaten down. How many times he’d gone home in the early hours of a morning with someone else’s blood on his hands.
“Go on,” Ethan said.
“Well, one night we’d all had a bit too much to drink. An argument started over something, I don’t even remember what.” Paul shook his head. “Gabriel’s brother, Andy, was the second-in-charge, even though I officially held the title, and he waded in to defend one of his friends. I stepped up to defend someone on the other side of the fight, and Andy took offense and challenged me.” He clenched his fists, then released them again. “Andy was bigger and stronger than me, but I shifted quicker and got him on the ropes. I went in to put my muzzle to his neck to gain submission and…I guess the alcohol got the better of one of us.”
“You killed him.”
Paul nodded, blinking away a tear. “I don’t know what happened. Either he struggled, or I was too close, but the next thing I know I taste blood and Andy’s bleeding out on the floor. I passed out from the shock, and the next thing I know I come around chained to a chair, being questioned by Gabriel.”
Paul stood and stretched a cramp from his thigh. “The pack eventually decided that it was a mistake, and I hadn’t done it intentionally, but Gabriel refused to accept it. They wouldn’t allow him to kill me, so instead he beat the shit out of me and then kicked me out the door.”
Ethan rubbed at his face. “And ever since he’s been using that as leverage for when he needs something outsourced.”
“Pretty much, yeah. It’s never been anything like murder, though. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this when I joined. I know it’s inexcusable, but I’m not asking for help in this. You do what you see fit about me, and then I’ll do what I can about Gabriel. This won’t come back to you.”
Ethan turned to the desk’s drawer and slid it open. Paul braced himself for what might come out in his hand, then frowned as Ethan thudded two beers onto the desk and popped the caps with a thumb. He handed one to Paul and swigged from the other before shrugging.
“Shit happens, Paul. You didn’t intentionally kill the guy, so I can’t hold that against you. I’m a little pissed that you didn’t tell me from the get-go, but if you had maybe I wouldn’t have wanted you in the pack. And that would have been a mistake, as you’re a great guy.”
Paul restrained himself from yelling in relief, instead taking a long sip of beer til his smile subsided. “Thanks, boss. I don’t know how, but I’ll take care of the situation. I’m speaking to him tonight, since he tried to recruit Darren on our territory, so maybe I’ll be able to talk my way out of it.”
Ethan n
odded, staring into space again. “Got a better idea.”
* * * *
Gabriel’s pack’s haunt was a warehouse on the other side of town, slotted in between a meatpacker’s and an abandoned box factory. Real classy. Paul pulled his truck up in a spot that was just out of sight of the front door. With the way the wind was blowing, though, chances were they already knew he was coming.
Ethan’s words still buzzing around his head, he steeled himself and stepped out of the truck and headed through the snow to the warehouse. The one outside light was on, illuminating the entrance in a pool of yellow light. In his previous life Paul had spent many a night leaned against the wall, watching his old friends play dice in that light.
As he approached, the welcoming committee appeared. Six Weres stepped out of the door, four in wolf form, two not. He recognized three of them through either sight or scent, but the others were new.
“Well, look who we have here,” a big man at the back of the group said. “Thought you were dead.”
Mickey something. Smith? Paul ignored him—he’d never liked the cocky asshole—but his comment had him wondering. Was he joking, or had Gabriel kept his activities to himself? He made a note to enquire when he found the boss. The wolves snarled as he got closer.
“Is he in?” he said, not slowing his pace.
“What’s it to you?” Mickey asked.
“None of your fucking business.”
The other human Weres laughed. Paul kept coming, only feet from the wolves now. Slowing or showing fear would be disastrous, regardless of the very real possibility of death.
Mickey folded his arms over his chest. “I moved up in the world, Paul. I’m the second, now, so it’s entirely my fucking business.” He smirked. “You gonna tell me or kill me, like the last guy?”
Paul smirked as the newer Weres suddenly looked uncertain. Mickey had saved him some time spent intimidating.
“I’ve got places to be, Mick. No time for killing.”
“Shame.” Mickey turned and called out over his shoulder. “Boss, someone here to see you.”
Gabriel appeared a moment later, and looked less than happy to see his new visitor. “Been a long time, Paul.”
That answered his previous question. Gabriel had been keeping his dealings private. That could give me some leverage.
“I want to talk,” Paul said, then nodded at the warehouse. “Can I come in?”
Gabriel smirked. “You’d willingly walk into the wolf’s den? Brave or stupid, I’m not sure.”
His cronies laughed and parted for Paul as Gabriel walked back inside. They crowded around as Paul stepped into the low-lit front office, blocking his escape. Gabriel passed through the back door and into the main warehouse, then led Paul across the vast floor space to yet another office. As Paul stepped inside, Gabriel closed the door, blocking the others from entering.
Gabriel sat at a large desk and steepled his fingers. “I knew you had balls, Paul, but this is practically suicidal. Coming back to the place where I very nearly killed you after what you did.”
“You know that was an accident.”
Gabriel shrugged. “The jury’s still out on that. I’d ask my brother, but mediums are rather unreliable these days.”
Paul ignored the jab. “You need to stay the hell away from Darren.”
“Who?”
“Cut the crap. You know who.”
Gabriel smiled. “Oh, you mean the wolf I bumped into yesterday? I didn’t realize you knew each other.”
“Spare me the innocent routine. You smelled me all over the guy.”
The man smirked. “Well and truly.”
“If you want me to play along with your little plan, you’ll stay the hell away from him.”
“Oh? And I wonder what Ethan would have to say about that.”
Paul bit his lip. Ethan had told him to keep his collusion secret for now. “And I wonder what your pack would say if they found out I was still working for you.”
Gabriel’s eye twitched. “They already do.”
“Funny that, given Mickey’s and your greetings when I turned up on your doorstep.”
He stared at Paul for a long minute. Darren could practically see the cogs whirring as he weighed up the pros and cons. Finally, he nodded.
“I’ll stay away from your boy. But no more messing about. You give me a yes right now, or not only will I tell Ethan everything, I’ll also tell Darren. I’m sure I’d enjoy watching his heart break when he learns you’re no angel.”
Paul clenched his fists, but held back from doing anything stupid. “I’ll have to arrange some alibis, which means I need information.”
Gabriel beamed. “Wonderful. Of course, you understand I can’t give you anything personally. That would be too incriminating. Can’t have your fuckups besmirching my good name.” He gestured to the door. “You’ll come across a folder in the next day or so.”
Paul nodded and let himself out of the office. The folder drop was how the last “favor” had been arranged. He’d got off work one day and headed to the park to eat his lunch, and found a sheaf of papers on the seat beside him. He doubted it would hold up in a court of law, but he also doubted he’d ever get near a police station if he wanted to report it.
He stepped out into the main warehouse to find a semicircle of Weres waiting for him. There were a dozen at least, with more standing behind them. Paul doubted he’d happened to come on a pack-meeting night, which made him wonder just how many members Gabriel had recruited. We’d better make sure we avoid a pack war. Mickey headed the group, his arms crossed and his head cocked to one side.
“Why did you come back?” He smirked. “Miss us?”
“Not in the least.” Paul pushed past him, and the rest stepped aside. “The best thing I ever did was leave this pack.”
“Leave?” Mickey snorted. “You were beaten, tortured, and exiled. You had no say in the matter.”
Paul kept walking, not looking back. “And yet here I am, strolling through the pack’s home and you can’t do a thing about it. Funny how things play out.”
He left amid a hail of insults, mostly spouted by Mickey. He didn’t hurry to the truck, but he sure as hell didn’t slow down, either.
Chapter Ten
Darren settled onto the sofa with the folder Ethan had given him placed on his knees. Paul had said he’d call to say everything went okay, so until then Darren decided it would make sense to bone up on Weres and Ethan’s pack.
For the most part, the information was nothing new to him. It dispelled the myths of silver, looking like a cross between a wolf and a human, and unwanted shifts during full moons. It was harder to resist during full moons, but it was usually no harder than resisting a second beer on a warm night. According to the papers, though, it got harder with age.
There were no detailed accounts of the other members of the pack, but it did mention that some of the older members had spent more of their lives as Weres than as humans. Darren wondered how hard it was to resist their urges.
One piece of information he did find handy was a short section on healing.
A Were can heal from almost any wound, given time and rest. They are also immune to any and all diseases, including cancer and other similarly terminal illnesses. Illnesses present during a human’s transformation into a Were will be nullified as soon as the shift is complete.
“Wow.” He smirked. “I’m freaking awesome.”
He’d had no experience with wounds or illness, other than a few paper cuts and the like. They had healed fast, but he’d had no idea how much a Were’s body could deal with. His mind wandered to Gabriel, leaning against that tree. No wonder he was so complacent at the time. Short of tearing his throat out, Darren probably couldn’t have done anything Gabriel couldn’t defend against and then heal from.
As Ethan had already mentioned, the rules of his pack were very simple. Don’t start fights, don’t dishonor your pack members, don’t go against the alpha without good reason, no shi
fting in public…He smirked. If anyone picked up the folder they’d think he was studying a role-playing game manual.
Once he was done with the majority of the folder, he plugged his shredder in and destroyed the pages, leaving only the final page left, the page containing the information on the qualifications he needed to join the pack. He hadn’t even looked at it yet. If it said something that discounted him, he’d be devastated. And to think, a few days ago I barely even thought of packs.
Paul arrived an hour later, his mood dour despite his attempts to look chipper. He perked up when Darren kissed him hard on the lips, then suggested they go through the last of the details together.
“So, you’re still interested in the pack,” he said with a grin. “That’s great.”
Darren led Paul into the lounge and they took up the sofa. Paul picked up the page and scanned it, nodding to himself.
“Shall I read it to you?”
Darren chewed his bottom lip, then nodded. “Best get it over with.”
“Number one. You must be an upstanding member of the community.” Paul smirked. “That’s posh speak for ‘no dicks’.”
“Well, I’ve got one, but I’m not one. Tick the box.”
“There are no boxes.” Paul ticked the air. “That do?”
“Perfect. Next.”
“Number two. You must attend all meetings punctually, unless you are unavoidably detained, or have preplanned to be away, in case of holidays.”
“Yeesh, it’s like a school.” Darren smirked. “Tick the box. I’m never late.”
The rest of the requirements ran along the same lines, and as Ethan had said, boiled down to just being a regular kind of person. Darren could do that. The pair got closer and closer as they discussed the page, and by the end, Darren was snuggled up against Paul’s side. Paul seemed to favor the position, as he draped his arm around Darren’s neck.
“So, last thing, and this is the toughie. Comparatively, anyway.”
Darren tensed a little until Paul calmed him, rubbing his chest with his free hand.
