Wolf's Strength

by Kirk, Ambrielle

This time it was Naomi who was confused. “Alpha, all of us were involved. Both Other and Caedmon blood were shed. Even with two showers, I smell the evidence of a fight, and you probably do as well.”

  Tristan grabbed Ruby’s forearm roughly and she screamed. He pulled the poor girl to the end of the line to stop in front of Naomi. She could barely look Ruby in the eye because they were riddled with fear and guilt—and those were things Naomi detested.

  Tristan held Ruby’s chin, exposing her neck. “What the fuck is this?” He pointed to Ruby’s jugular. “This isn’t the mark of a wolf! Arnou nor Caedmon.”

  Naomi forced herself to take a glimpse and there was a bite that could only be achieved in the throes of passion. The mark was in a very intimate region on the neck. A hickey some would call it, and it confirmed Tristan’s suspicion. The bites were from a human, not a wolf. And the mark was fresh. It had happened recently. Ruby’s mouth were pressed together and she remained silent.

  “Remove your Belt,” Tristan ordered Ruby.

  “I…I…” Ruby mumbled, but Tristan tightened his grip and cut off her protests.

  “You put our Pack in danger. You bear the enemy’s mark and they traced you here.” Tristan growled. “Remove it!”

  Ruby scrambled with the Belt, pulled it out of the loops of her jeans, and then handed it to Tristan, who snatched it.

  In his other hand, he held a single badge. “This is how I knew there was a traitor in your crew.” The badge sparkled under the lights overhead. “No one removes their badge from the Belt unless they somehow lost it or I tell them. Someone sent me this badge late last night, probably after they traced Ruby here. Losing your badge is like losing your balls. Someone would have to be really close to remove it without notice.” He spun and eyed Ruby with a lethal stare. “Close enough to fuck.”

  “I told you all!” Jeremy yelled. “She’s a whore!”

  Tristan snarled, lifted Ruby’s Belt high in the air, and brought it across Jeremy’s face. Naomi cringed as it made contact with his skin. Jeremy yelped in pain. “Don’t speak out of turn!” Tristan yelled. “No one asked for your opinion.”

  Naomi swallowed and kept her glare straight forward, only to stare at her brother’s back. His shoulders were slumped low, but his fists were balled at his sides. Nathan was furious but not furious enough to match Tristan’s outrage.

  “You have a chance to confess,” Tristan told Ruby. “Although the damage has been done and your punishment won’t be light.”

  “The badge is mine.” Ruby lowered her gaze. “I got what I wanted from him and when it was over, he had it. He told me in order to get it back, I would have to lure another man of his choosing to a corner of the room by offering sex. I didn’t want to leave without my badge so I did, but he never returned it. By the time I figured out it was Dawson Caedmon he wanted, it was too late. I knew the rules about the badges, and my only concern was to get it back despite the risks. I was trying to avoid the shame. I was unsuccessful.”

  “And for your bad decisions you’ll lose your Belt. I remove you from this crew. You are demoted immediately. No badge. No Belt.” Tristan turned to one of the wolves. “Keep her in a holding room until I come up with suitable punishment.”

  “No!” Ruby screeched when the wolf shifted into human form and bound her hands.

  Tristan tossed Ruby’s Belt on the floor, and it slid across the room until it landed against his throne with a loud clank. “No one leaves yet. Someone must pay for disobeying my orders.”

  “I will, Alpha. I’m the leader and I’ll take the punishment.” Nathan snatched his Belt from his loops and handed it to the Alpha.

  “Nathan, no.” Naomi couldn’t help herself. She just had to interject.

  “Do I hear opposition?” Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Are you accepting the punishment for Crew thirty-eight?” He was so close his nose came in contact with her neck.

  “Yes.” She shrank back and met his gaze. He returned a doubtful expression. That sign of weakness was gone before she could analyze it fully. “I was responsible for mentoring her.”

  “You?” Tristan continued to observe her unwaveringly. “Are you enjoying your life as an Elite?”

  “I was born for this,” she answered without hesitation. “My father was one of your best Enforcers before he was forced to retire.”

  “Valentine. I remember him.” He smiled. “Although I appreciate your father’s loyalty, there are requirements to serve under me as an Enforcer. Unfortunately, once he reached old age, he failed the physical endurance test more than once. I can’t stand weak links. We have a Pack to protect.”

  “Everyone understands your requirements, Alpha.”

  “The offer still stands…” he whispered hoarsely.

  No. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—bring that up. Not now. Not ever. “This isn’t the time. I haven’t changed my mind. My allegiance lies with you but not in that way.”

  “Times have changed,” he whispered almost too softly. “Are you sure of this?” He titled her chin and viewed each side of her profile. “You’ll serve under me. That won’t change, but there will be no danger involved. Some women like it that way.”

  Naomi felt the bridge of her nose crinkle in irritation. She couldn’t help herself. “I’m an Elite,” she declared. “I’m far better than some of your women.”

  “I want you as Enola.” He mouthed the words into her ear.

  Enola. A woman who served a mate-less Alpha’s carnal needs. Sexual needs. Enolas had no ranking at all, but in comparison to his servants and even some of his E1s and E2s, they were held highly.

  “No. I vowed to serve you, not service you. We had a deal. A trade-off, don’t you remember?”

  “There will be no more offers like this afforded to you.”

  “Good.”

  Tristan frowned.

  Nearly every crew member stiffened. In Arnou culture many women would welcome the opportunity never to have to work a day in their life. There were families in their communities who offered their daughters as potential Enolas. He had three of them. What would he want with a fourth? His sexual appetite couldn’t have been that great. As history had proven gluttony could be the downfall of any wolf or man.

  A tinge of dread ran up her spine, but she didn’t want the Alpha to think that she was vulnerable. “I know there is a punishment for rejecting. I accept what I deserve, but I cannot assent to your offer.”

  “I’ll remember that, daughter of Valentine.” He backed up, assessing her slowly from head-to-toe before his focus fell on her Belt. “I can see you’ve earned two badges since I last saw you.”

  Maybe he planned to strip her for refusing. “Both of them were from scoring the highest rank in a tournament category,” she replied.

  “Which category?”

  “Direct combat.”

  “Of course. You were the female who bested a grown man for the title. Never knew you had that kind of talent in you.”

  “Most of the time one’s eyes fail to see beyond the surface, and seeing things only at face value won’t allow anyone to measure true worth or capability.”

  Tristan’s left eyebrow lifted. “Then you are more than capable of accepting punishment as it is given? Because there will be no trade-off this time.”

  “Yes.”

  Nathan’s brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. “Naomi, stand down. Assume your position in the line and shut up!”

  Nathan’s expression told Naomi she better stop while she was ahead. Challenging him and taking the punishment for the crew would make him look like a punk in front of his followers and his Alpha. She didn’t want her brother to have that reputation.

  Tristan chuckled darkly. “A little sibling rivalry.” He slid the badges off Nathan’s Belt and let them fall to the floor, and then he tugged each end of the Belt sharply. The leather snapped loudly in the air.

  Nathan removed his shirt and threw it next to his badges.

  “Eleven lashes for your crew, plus six more
for your sister,” Tristan declared.

  “No!” The protest rushed from Naomi’s mouth.

  “Zip it shut, Sister.”

  “I’m capable of taking my own punishment!” she cried.

  “Assume your position like your leader says, or he’ll receive more lashes for not being able to control his crew members,” Tristan ordered and held the Belt high in the air above Nathan’s back.

  Naomi turned, refusing to witness her brother being punished. She couldn’t prevent the sound of thick leather connecting with the skin and muscle. She bit into her lip, drawing blood as Tristan struck her brother again. And again.

  It seemed an eternity passed before the punishment ceased. Still, she couldn’t bear to look.

  “You have a disobedient but courageous leader.” Tristan’s voice sent chilly jolts up her spine. “For one month you are all under suspension and strict watch. Don’t leave the Compound under any circumstances. That is an order. Should you disobey, it will be the last order you receive as an E2.”

  Someone shuffled their feet and another gave a muted growl.

  Tristan’s eyes widened and his lips tightened. “Did I hear an objection?”

  Complete silence fell over the room.

  “You’ve handled yourselves like fucking dogs in the public eye.” He turned on Nathan. “And you, do I need to appoint someone else to lead Crew thirty-eight?”

  Nathan’s shoulders stiffened. He held his lips taut because of the pain of the Belt punishment. “No, Alpha.” He shuddered.

  “Re-claim your Belt and get out of my sight immediately. All of you!”

  Without hesitation, they filed out of the room in an unorderly fashion.

  “Naomi!” Her name rang out from across the room. The call came from Tristan, who had taken his seat on the throne.

  She turned to face her Alpha, her eyes brimming with tears she refused to spill.

  “Send my regards to your father.” Although his lips, which were set in a grim line, and his face, which was expressionless, showed no signs of it, she clearly made out the teasing sparkle around his irises.

  Bastard.

  Naomi didn’t utter a word as she followed her crew out of the estate. It wouldn’t be long before Senior Valentine learned she’d turned down an offer that, true to Tristan’s word, only came once in a lifetime.

  Chapter Six

  There comes a time in a man’s life when he must accept defeat. He must do so shamelessly and with honor because a single defeat does not equal total failure. Every being has a purpose on this earth, and that purpose extends beyond life. There is no greater reward than knowing those you have mentored will pick up your torch and claim a victory.

  Roman closed his journal and placed his fountain pen in its holder. He got up and lit the last candle sitting on the fireplace mantle. He rested his cane against the hearth and made his way to the other end of the cabin. A small table was there with a setting of tea for two. He picked up the small teapot and poured piping hot water over the dried leaves and potions. The steam floated toward his lips, and the warm herbal elixir greeted him. He experienced a rush of tranquility.

  A swift wind picked up outside and gushed past the shutters of the open windows. As he expected, he had a guest. And he smelled her anger. Her treachery and deceit. As the oldest Seer in the village, Roman had the gift of foresight. He knew why she’d come tonight. He’d known for decades what would happen.

  As her footsteps neared Roman, he sat calmly in the chair and tipped the teacup to his lips and drank the hot concoction.

  The door to his cabin slammed open and the hinges nearly broke off the frame, but he didn’t flinch. This guest didn’t deserve the benefit of a pleasant greeting.

  She had grown old. All of her youthful life had wasted away with time. Although Roman had been blind since the day he was born, he used touch, scent and energy above other things to make his assessments.

  “Where is my daughter?” Faydra, Roman’s distant ex-lover, bellowed.

  “Where are your manners?” he asked calmly, setting the cup on its saucer.

  Some vases smashed to the floor, but Roman figured the hag had done this on purpose. “Where? Where is my daughter?”

  “It’s been six years. Did you really think she would like to reunite with you in your drunken stupor?”

  He smelled the whiskey surrounding her, even from where she stood in his doorway. She came inside and pushed his belongings to the floor as she passed them. “And you, Roman, you’re still a measly servant. Haven’t you grown tired of wasting your precious talents?”

  “My talents haven’t been wasted.” Roman held the edges of the table for support. “I can’t say the same about yours since you never had talents at all.”

  Faydra scoffed and inched closer. “You’re still as blind as a bat, but you haven’t aged as quickly as the rest of those Elders. Tell me where I can find her. I’ve searched throughout the village.”

  “How did you get past the guards along the perimeters? You’re no longer Caedmon.”

  “I’m not but my sister is. I can’t believe she chooses to live among dogs. She’s even mated to one.” She chuckled. “But not for long…”

  “Did you harm her?” Roman demanded.

  “No,” she said sweetly. “I would never do that to my little sister.”

  “The Caedmon Spirit left you—”

  “Ha! Is that what you think? That it left me?”

  “You’ve betrayed us!”

  Faydra placed a hand to his chest. “You and I could’ve been good together, don’t you know that? We could’ve ruled this Pack. You knew the last Alpha would grow sick. You knew there would be no suitable heirs. You had the power to break the cycle. But no, you chose to stand by your whoremongering Alpha and mentor that bastard Devin Caedmon.” She poked his chest. “You subdue your powers, but you know you’re stronger than them. You’re stronger than all of them.”

  “Enough!” His anger grew red hot, and the glass in the windows shattered but didn’t fall.

  “You descended from the original Caedmon line, yet you remained behind the scenes, doing their bidding while they enjoy the fruits of your labor—of your gift.”

  “Don’t challenge my purpose, woman!”

  “You were the son your father scorned. He didn’t want you.” Faydra laughed. “That’s why you pity Devin so much, isn’t it? You pitied him so much you let him rise to the Alpha position. You understand how it feels to be a lowly servant and cast out by your flesh and blood. Still you stand there and accept your measly life of servitude.”

  “Stop it!” The chairs and tables turned over on their sides.

  Her evil laughter rang throughout his small home. “Ever since the day you were born, your father shunned you. You had the gift of foresight but he didn’t give a shit. All he saw was a potential blind Alpha. One who wasn’t strong enough to lead a Pack.” She slid her fingers across his jawline and beard. “He tried for decades, but your fragile mother couldn’t conceive another. That old stubborn fool didn’t want his brother to rise when he died, so he took a whore and Daniel Caedmon was the result of that affair. That means your last Alpha—your brother—was a bastard.” She clucked her tongue. “They’re all bastards and don’t even know it. Your parents kept it a secret. Your father kept taking whores until your mother ended it all. Suicide, wasn’t it? She jumped to her death off a mountain. He took the easy way out and followed her to the grave.”

  The amount of information Faydra produced shocked Roman to the core. “How did you—”

  “Doesn’t look as though your talents helped you that much? You can see bits and pieces of the future. Isn’t that right?”

  Roman swallowed hard. Everything she recounted was the truth. He loved this woman once. Once. He’d bedded her dozens of times long ago. Back then, his hopes were high for a companion, even in the absence of a mate. But when Daniel Caedmon marked Faydra to please him in bed, Roman knew their relationship would never be the same.
No woman would refuse to be the Alpha’s mistress. Not back then when the practice was customary and considered an honor. When Faydra had accepted, Roman felt betrayed.

  “How can you know so much?” he demanded, his hands balled into fists at his sides.

  “Use your good sense,” she said. “I became pregnant with Daniel Caedmon’s offspring. That’s when the visions started. At first I thought someone cursed me. It took me months to figure out what I was seeing while I carried her. Glimpses and images of the past. It seemed like nonsense to me, then. But now, everything makes sense. At the moment of conception, Daniel’s child had the gift.” Her breath came in pants. “Elisa. She has the gift of hindsight, doesn’t she?”

  Roman gasped.

  “You kept this information from me. You kept my daughter from me. You did. Daniel did. You’re a pack of bastards. You’ve deceived the Caedmon people. All bastards should be banished of the Spirit.”

  “You tried to kill your child, Faydra!” Roman shouted. “You made several attempts in her nursery. We had to keep you from her. Daniel didn’t want you around her or in the village. You were a threat to her life and you were a threat to him. Daniel and I agreed to protect the Caedmon Pack as it stood.”

  “I wanted Daniel to pay for what he did to me. He promised me a lifetime of happiness but he didn’t deliver. All he used me for were sexual favors. I gave her life and that’s why I can take it. Where is she?”

  “No, you can’t!”

  “She’s been taunting me. I see her in my dreams. They stalk me day and night. Putting visions in my head. Visions of my past. Things I don’t want to remember. Things no one can know about me.”

  “She’s just a child,” he declared. A vicious wind picked up outside, causing the tree branches to beat the top of the roof.

  “A devil child! And she’ll destroy both of us if she’s not dealt with.”

  Roman felt the ends of her dress brush against his pants as she turned hastily. Without hesitation he called his powers silently and sent a strong force toward the door. It slammed shut before Faydra could exit.

  “It ends here, Faydra.” His anger consumed him. “You won’t taint or destroy our legacy.”