“Of course! I actually wanted to go into town today anyway, so that’s perfect. I was going to meet up with my best friend, Athena. We’re going to grab lunch. She would love to meet you.” She replied happily. I’m thankful that those two are hitting it off so well.
“Uh hey, Scarlett. Are you talking about Athena Rose?” Asks Jackson sheepishly.
“Yup, the one and only. Why?” Scarlett asks him, but I can already tell she knows where this is going.
“Of course it would be my luck to date your best friend. You both act just alike! Now I'm never going to escape the sass and torture.” He laughs and shakes his head.
Jackson quickly looks at me.
“No offense man. You see how she is, now there will be three women to torture us all. Her, Athena, and Hazel. They're all bad enough alone. Now they’re going to get lunch together. The outcome of this should be interesting.” Jackson states.
I throw a placemat at his head. I couldn’t help but laugh too because he’s right. We have quite a few strong-headed females in our pack, but these three girls together, I’m sure will take the cake. I haven’t met Athena yet, but I’m just imagining a girl with Scarlett’s attitude. Yup, we're all in for some trouble.
A little while after breakfast, Scarlett and Hazel left for their trip into town. I didn’t like the idea of Scarlett leaving and not having me around after the news from yesterday, but she won’t be alone. And I need to fill my guys in on what happened at the meeting.
The guys helped me clean up after the girls left, so when they came back everything would be up to their standards. I called a pack meeting and we gathered in the backyard to discuss what happened in Cheboygan.
I stood up on the porch while Finn and Jackson sat on the porch steps and the rest of the pack gathered in the yard. Some sitting and some standing, they all remained quiet throughout my recall of events from the alpha meeting. Sifting through some of their thoughts with my ability, I was shocked to find that they were less scared and more angry. Most just wanted to go hunting to find these rabid beasts and wipe them out before they brought any harm to them or their families. If I pride myself on anything, it’s my ability to keep my pack strong mentally and physically. They need to be prepared for anything.
I continued to tell them that there was nothing to do right now but keep our eyes and ears open. I’d be in close contact with packs all over the state. The more in touch we keep, the better handle on the situation we can hold.
“If any of you come across a rabid wolf or a sick vampire, you are to look for assistance from a fellow pack member before you even think about trying to handle the situation on your own. Trust me when I say they do not go down easily. Finn and I’s encounter with the rabid wolf was worrisome. They are sick, but they are strong. Their strength is not something to underestimate. If it wasn’t for Finn being with me I would have not been so lucky. I’m your alpha and you all know my strength. So by all means, do not take this matter lightly. Do not travel alone. If you absolutely have to, keep your phone on you just in case of an emergency.” I said seriously.
After dismissing the pack meeting, I went back into the house and grabbed some lunch. I made myself a BLT. As I sat down at the desk in my office with my plate of food, Finn and Jackson waltzed in and made themselves comfortable in the two chairs in front of my desk.
“Alright, out with it. I don’t have to know what you’re thinking to know something’s up.” I said with a mouthful of food.
They looked at each other and then back at me. I was starting to get impatient at this point.
“Listen you two, I have emails and phone calls to return, what do you want.” I growled.
“Okay man, chill. This isn’t something we wanted to bring up to you with all that’s going on. But things are escalating among the pack. It involves Scarlett.” Finn said hesitantly.
Instantly they had my attention when Finn brought up Scar’s name.
“What do you mean things are escalating among the pack? I haven’t sensed or heard of any issues. And if you don’t start being less cryptic, we are going to have some issues. Spit it the fuck out guys, you’re talking about my mate and your future alpha female.” I growled.
“Sorry man, you’ve been so busy, we figured we would take care of the situation. But now it’s calling for alpha attention. Your girl is going to have to prove herself to the pack. They know she’s more dominant than them, but they want proof. She’s from another pack and she just kinda showed up one night, and they were told she will be the alpha female. Most of the pack love her already, but there are a few who aren’t convinced. I’m sure you know who they are.”
Jackson said quickly trying not to test my patience further.
I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. This isn’t fucking happening right now. There’s only one way to deal with this situation to get it out of the way quickly.
I sighed. “I’m going to talk to Scarlett immediately. There’s only one way to handle this. And it’s better that it gets done quickly. I’m guessing the few pack members you’re mentioning would include Suri, Greer, Zahara, and Apollo. I know those four are good for testing the dominance of other wolves. Am I right?”
They both nodded.
“There’s one more. Declan. Not only does he want to challenge Scarlett. He wants to challenge you for Scarlett.” Finn said with a wince.
All I could do was stare at them. I felt the anger flowing through my body. I stood up with such a force that my chair flew back and hit the wall. I took my fist and punched my desk, cracking the wood. Fuck. This was my dad’s desk. I’m going to have to fix that before Hazel sees it. Finn and Jackson were now standing and their eyes were yellow.
“Dude, you look absolutely feral right now.” Finn said with worry.
“That’s because I’m about to go feral on Declan. That mother fucker is about to get his skull caved in. If it’s a fight he wants, it’s a fight he will get. Both of you out, I need to get a hold of Scarlett. We are ending this shit right fucking now.” I said with such fury.
The guys scattered out the door, closing it behind them. I grabbed my chair and sat back down. Breathing in and out slowly, I tried to calm myself.
Rhett, baby, what’s wrong!? I can feel your rage. What is going on?
Scarlett said with such worry. She’s not going to like this.
Scarlett, you need to get back here immediately. It’s been brought to my attention that we are being challenged by some of my pack for dominance check and alpha status. We need to end this before it spreads into a wildfire.
I sent back to her, hoping she gets the message. I instantly felt as much fury and rage within her that I had building up. If not more. I hate that this is happening to her, but I’m not completely surprised. I’m also kind of curious to see what my girl can do.
We are on our way back right now. Get the pack gathered. This ends NOW!
At least she got the memo. I mentally screamed in my head. I need a fucking vacation. Maybe Scarlett and I will take one after our mating ceremony. We’ll see.
PACK MEETING. RIGHT NOW.
I commanded through the pack bond. I made my way to the front porch. The crowd started to come through the trees. Finn and Jackson already waiting on the steps. I could already see our challengers in the front, they held scowls on their faces. Scarlett, Hazel, and Athena pulled up in her Ford F-250. The fucking thing ate those girls up. It was huge. And they are all tiny. It made me chuckle inside seeing these small women hop out of that beast of a truck. It was cute. Scarlett made her way to the porch and stood beside me. Not saying a word. She was ready to prove herself. That’s my girl. Athena and Hazel took seats on the porch by Finn and Jackson.
I looked down at Scarlett.
Do what you have to do. I mean it. They are challenging you. I cannot by any means interfere. A challenge can be won by killing or by your opponent calling their forfeit. They know what the rules are.
Scarlett nodded, still not looking at me. Her e
yes completely focused on the pack.
I know the rules, it’s law. And trust me, I don’t forfeit, or die easily.
A smug smirk came across my face. She is mine. I will rip Declan’s head off for even considering he could win a challenge against me and get my mate. He’s in for a rude awakening.
Again Scarlett nodded in agreement, she could hear what I was thinking. The whole pack was now back in the yard we gathered in earlier to discuss important matters.
“Scarlett Steele! I challenge you in a battle of dominance.” Apollo said as he stepped forward.
Scarlett and I growled at the same time. Our eyes turned yellow with fire behind them.
“I accept!” Yelled Scarlett as she instantly shifted into her wolf, her clothes tearing apart and falling under her. She stood there, growling. This fucking female has fire in her blood. Let the show begin.
Apollo was in mid-shift when Scarlett jumped off the porch, flying through the air and landed on his chest, forcing him to fall on the ground. She snarled and then sank her teeth into his neck. At this time he fully shifted under her. Apollo started slashing at her underbelly with his back paws. Scarlett didn’t act like it hurt her whatsoever. She bit down harder, blood oozing out of her mouth from his neck. Apollo thrashed and thrashed under her until he was able to break free from her grip.
End him now, Scarlett!!! Do not drag the fight out, you will get tired and won’t be able to fight the others.
I screamed through our bond. As if that fueled her anger more, Scarlett ran with lightning speed and lunged at Apollo. Attaching herself to his throat again. With force she reared up on her back paws, lifting him with her. She used all of her strength to throwback down onto the ground. Apollo yelped as he hit the ground with a thud. She took her front paws and landed them on his chest. Holding him to the ground, she gnawed at his jugular. With a final bite and pull, she ripped it out, blood spilling everywhere. Again she bit what was left, pulling his neck and pushing his body harder, his head ripped right off, leaving his body lifeless.
Scarlett dropped his head from her mouth and started to viciously attack his body. Her white wolf was covered in blood. It was something you’d see in a horror movie. She was absolutely fucking terrifying. I’ll have to remind myself not to ever piss her off.
“Scarlett, enough. You won the challenge.” I yelled out to her.
She stopped eating Apollo’s flesh. I was told that I looked crazy when I fought, but fuck, she’s as feral as it gets. Turning around she trotted back up to the porch and sat down next to my feet. She started to lick the blood at her paws. Beautiful creature.
“I know there’s more of you who are here for a challenge. Who’s next?” I growled.
With Apollo now gone, that leaves Suri, Declan, Greer, and Zahara. Waiting for one to step forward, and thinking for a second that after what they saw, that they might have changed their minds, Zahara steps forward.
“Scarlett Steele, I challenge you in a battle of dominance!” Zahara yelled up to Scarlett.
Scarlett stared at her for a second and then nodded, again jumping off of the porch into the circle that the pack had formed with their bodies. The atmosphere was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop. Zahara started to shift and again Scarlet lunged before she was fully shifted. This time she went for her leg, pulling her down onto her back. With Zahara’s leg in her mouth, she clamped down, breaking her leg. You heard a snap, and Zahara screamed. Scar let go of her limp leg and went for her throat. She started to death roll like crocodiles and alligators do, trying to sever Zahara’s head from her body. Zahara was having a hard time fully shifting. She took a fist and landed a hard blow into Scarlett’s ribcage. You heard a few cracks, Scarlett yelped, and whimpered, letting go of Zahara’s neck and backing off. She couldn’t put her full weight on her front right leg now and was limping. Fuck.
Zahara was now fully shifted. She shook her fur quickly. Her broken leg had healed by this time. She saw that Scarlett was injured and went for the plunge. She latched onto Scarlett’s back and threw her a few feet, causing her to land hard. She whimpered some more and blood leaked from her bite wounds that were being soaked up by her fur. It was so hard to watch her being hurt, I so badly wanted to run down there and protect her. I could feel everything she felt. Every broken bone and bite. I couldn’t let it show. I just couldn’t. I know she can win this too.
Scarlett got up just in time as Zahara once again lunged at her. Scarlett dodged it by an inch. Quickly coming around with her mouth wide open, catching Zahara’s tail. She pulled her by the tail bringing her closer to her, moving her jaws to Zahara’s neck scruff. She bit her hard and threw her down on the ground. Scarlett climbed on top and started chewing the side of her neck. She had her pinned on her side where Zahara’s paws couldn’t scratch the underneath of her belly. Smart move. Learned from her last opponent.
Scarlett opened her mouth wider, bringing her jaws down around Zahara’s neck again. She sunk her top canines into Zahara’s backbone. I heard a sickening crunch of bones shattering. Scarlett used one paw to hold down Zahara’s shoulder and the other on her face. Harder and harder Scar bit down. Finally, when she had crushed Zahara’s neck enough, she started violently shaking her, back and forth. Zahara’s body just hung limp at that point. One more hard shake and Zahara’s head and body went flying in different directions.
Scarlett shook her fur and sat down. This time she didn’t bother leaving the circle. The pack members looked around at each other. Suri, who was a good friend of Zahara’s, just looked at her lifeless body and started to cry. Scarlett saw her and started growling, and snarling, shaking her head, sending spit everywhere. Intimidation. Suri just looked at Scarlett in fear she was going to eat her alive. Suri took a step out of the circle. Scarlett instantly went on defense mode.
Suri looked at Scar and then looked away quickly. She put her palms up and slowly bent down on one knee.
“I’m sorry Scarlett. I’m not going to challenge you. I do not wish to die today, and I know I would. I don’t have even half of your strength. I only wanted to fight because of Zahara. You’ve made it clear how dominant you are. I’m sorry. You have my respect, I promise.” she said with her head down, not wanting to look Scar in the eyes.
Scarlett just stared at her.
Surprisingly, Greer stepped out behind Suri. Following her steps. Palms out, and down on one knee.
“I wish to have no battle with you, Scarlett. You’ve shown us that you’re worthy of being an alpha female. I apologize for even thinking that I could take you on.” He said with heavy sorrow and embarrassment.
Pussies
Scarlett said through the mate bond. I chuckled. That’s my girl.
Scarlett looked up to the porch at me, I nodded at her. She looked back at Greer and Suri who was still kneeling. She shifted back to her human form. Stark ass naked. She walked past Suri and Greer and through the circle that the pack created, and made her way up to the porch. Everyone had their eyes down to give her privacy. Finn handed me a blanket that was sitting on the porch swing. I wrapped it around Scarlett’s shoulders, concealing her gorgeous body from the world.
“Anyone else care to challenge Scarlett?” I asked with a threatening tone.
No one stepped forward or said a word. But instead, they all nodded and bent down on one knee. Scarlett looked at me and smiled, then nodded to the pack. The only one didn’t kneel was Declan. He stood and glared. Finally, he made his way to stand at the bottom of the porch steps.
“Rhett Jameson. I challenge you for your position as alpha. And I challenge you for your mate.” He said while giving a sick smile to Scarlett. That infuriated me.
“I accept!” I yelled, flying off the porch, shifting in mid-jump. Landing on Declan, my mouth came down on his face. I bit as hard as I could. I wasn’t going to let him have the satisfaction of shifting. I chomped on his face until I heard every bone shatter and crumble in my grip. I held him down firmly. He took something out of his pocket a
nd I saw that it was shiny. I knew instantly what it was, and before I could react, he forced it into my ribcage. Searing pain went through my chest. I stumbled backward and fell onto my side. Every move burned. Who the fuck brings a knife to a wolf fight. What the fuck. It was getting harder to breathe. I heard Scarlett let out a screech before covering her mouth. I can only imagine how hard that was for her to see.
The knife was short but long enough to stick into my ribcage to where I couldn't pull it out on my own. I had to fight with it stuck in there. Fuck! Declan had shifted and charged me. I was barely able to get on my feet in time to move at the last second. I was able to hear what he was saying and it was all blood and gore. He wanted my death. He wanted Scarlett to watch me die. And then the worst possible thought he could have let pop into his mind, appeared. And he knew he fucked up as soon as he thought it. That’s when I lost it. Everything went black. Declan turned around for another attack, he ran at me with speed. But at this point, he was already done for. Right as he got to me, I used all of my might to jump high off the ground, and came down on his back, snapping it as he ran under me. He yelped so loudly I thought my eardrum blew. He was limp, couldn’t move. But his backbone was starting to heal quickly. I turned around and grabbed the back of his neck with my teeth. Both paws pushing hard on his shoulders, I yanked as hard as I could. Finally, you heard a snap and then a pop. His head came off of his shoulders. Instant relief.
As soon as the relief came, it was gone. My wolf fell on his side. Scarlett panicked and came running down the steps to me. I tried to lift my head to look at her but I couldn’t move. She came up to me and knelt down beside me. My breathing was labored.
“My mate! You’ll be okay, I’m here. I’ve got you. Just stay still, okay baby? Just stay still.” she said as she grabbed the knife in my ribs and pulled it out as quickly as she could. I yelped. Things started to get blurry. She put her hands on my side and I felt a warmth and some pressure. I started to feel better instantly right when I was about to pass out. My vision cleared, I could breathe fine. My senses were back to one hundred percent. My little healer, she’s so incredibly amazing. Finn had walked up to me with a blanket. I shifted and he placed the blanket on my shoulders. I went to pull Scarlett in for a hug when all of a sudden her body just went limp. She fell to the ground, not moving.
Blood Of The Cursed Page 7
