by Susan Bliler
Shaking his head, Modess snorted in disgust as he eyed the other women who sat with his pack. “Do any of them really want to be here, doing this?”
“Of course,” Michael’s response was immediate. “They could opt out like Hillary and Simone. They are where they want to be.”
His words bothered Modess though. In his pack, women weren’t treated like bargaining chips, and none of them would throw themselves at any man unless there was legitimate interest. He admired Simone and whoever this Hillary person was for their conviction. Eyeing the room, he couldn’t help but ask. “Which one is Hillary?”
Michael didn’t even scan the room. “She’s not here. She’s working tonight.”
Disappointment swept through Modess but he ignored it. His curiosity would have to go unsatisfied. Shoving back from the table, his pack mates jerked their attention to him and stood in unison. The dining hall fell silent and Modess turned to Michael. “I’m ready for sleep.”
Chapter 3
Modess stretched in the massive bed of the guest cabin he’d been assigned. Much like at Blood Lust, Michael, being Alpha of Shadow Wolf, resided in the largest house on the pack lands. Because Modess was dominant, the two Alphas had to sleep as far from each other as possible. Modess had to admit the Shadow Wolf guest cabin was much nicer than the one they had back at Blood Lust. The cabin was large and housed a small kitchenette and two bedrooms each with their own bathroom. Wolf shifters were notorious for not sharing well. A living room with expensive furnishings had him wondering if he needed to consider remodeling his pack’s accommodations.
Climbing from the comfy bed, he made quick work of showering and readying for the day. Shoving his feet into his boots, he tensed at the soft knock on the door. Brows furrowing, he walked to the door and jerked it open to find a petite woman holding a tray.
“B-breakfast.” Nervously, she held the tray out.
Grabbing the tray with one hand, Modess turned his back on the woman without a second glance. He was about to close the door when she cleared her throat and drew his attention. Without turning, he glanced over his shoulder. “What?”
“My Alpha thought you might enjoy a morning…romp?”
His frown deepened. Clearly, the woman was afraid of him. She couldn’t even make eye contact. The fact that she’d been sent to him for that and was willing to offer herself up so freely to someone she was afraid of were both equally irksome. Besides, she was tiny. Too tiny. He’d break her in a second. He preferred women with a little more meat on their bones.
“No.” He slammed the door in her still down-turned face and carried his tray to the two person dining table.
Whatever was under the silver dome on the tray smelled absolutely fabulous and had his gut clenching in hunger. Sitting, he pulled the lid off expecting typical bacon and eggs. What he got was a mound of biscuits smothered in what smelled like sausage gravy. A second plate held still steaming fried potatoes, a heap of fluffy scrambled eggs, a small pile of fresh strawberries, and six sizzling sausage links. Mouth watering, he took up his fork and dug in, once again realizing that something else at Shadow Wolf was better than they had Blood Lust. Back at his compound, meals were pretty cut and dry. The pack ate just like Shadow Wolf with everyone meeting in the dining hall for the three daily meals. His sister, Wanda, ran the kitchen and while he knew she was an excellent cook, the meals she’d been serving for the past few years had been less than stellar. In fact, there was a set schedule. Breakfast was almost always bacon and eggs, and when it wasn’t, it was sausage and eggs. Lunch was always sandwiches and chips, and dinner was on a rotating schedule with the best night being Thursday, which was steak and baked potato night. None of the meals were spectacular, and he hadn’t realized until now that they’d been eating for necessity back at Blood Lust rather than for enjoyment.
He devoured all the food on his plates and finished it off with the tall glass of orange juice that sat on his tray. He pulled the glass back after a few swallows to stare at it. Hell, even the OJ tasted better here. It was frothy with a hint of vanilla and it looked creamy like it was mixed with milk.
Stuffed and content, Modess left his tray where it was and stalked to the door, pulling it open and already considering hanging around until the noon hour so they might catch lunch at Shadow Wolf.
Stepping out onto the porch, he eyed the set up of Michael’s compound. It was similar to his. He could see the multiple cabins dotting the area and in the distance he saw the community center and main house.
“You get biscuits and gravy for breakfast?”
The question had his eyes sliding to where Bull stepped out onto the porch of his cabin next door.
“Yeah.”
“Is it my imagination,” Bull continued, “or is the food here out-fucking-standing?”
Modess snorted, but dipped his head in a nod. “Is that all you had for breakfast?”
Bull stretched his arms over his head before lowering them and rolling his head from side to side. “Yeah.”
“No side of Simone, eh?”
Chuckling, Bull shook his head, but Modess could scent his disappointment. “Nah. Didn’t see her again after dinner.”
Modess watched his Beta’s eyes rove the grounds as if he were searching for her. “If you want, I can…”
“No!” Bull bit out, cutting off Modess’ suggestion.
Shrugging, Modess clomped down the stairs, his large frame causing each stair to bow under his weight. “Don’t say I didn’t offer.”
“I appreciate it.” Bull met him and they walked together toward the main house. “Just don’t want to find a mate that way. I figure if it’s meant to be…” He let his words die off.
A grunt was the only response from Modess, but it was odd that instead of Bull’s mind going straight to a night of pleasure, it went to a potential mate. Interesting.
***
A few hours later, Modess and Bull had been given the grand tour of Michael’s territory. Modess was itching to get on the road, annoyed by Michael and his incessant badgering. When Michael had declared they’d be having the chef’s specialty for lunch, he decided to wait it out. Few things excited him as much as the prospect of a good fight, a good fuck, or a good meal. Unfortunately, that meant he was subjected to watching a training session alongside his pack and Michael. Michael’s wolves were pathetic. Nothing they did was right, and the setup in their fighting arena was all wrong. The Shadow Wolf pack needed help, and he doubted even his most experienced fighters could bring them up to form.
After the training session and the relentless requests of Michael, Modess was irritated and tired, but a bell rung out loud and clear. Michael beamed and clapped him on the back. “Lunch is ready.”
It was mid-day when Modess and his pack were led back into the mess hall. Claiming their same seats up on the dais, Modess’ belly growled at the scents filling the room as trays were brought in. Bull, sitting at his right, was distracted by the beautiful Simone who was down on the floor serving the members of her pack. Two women appeared on the dais and Modess didn’t even bother looking at them as his plate was served.
The crispiest fried chicken he’d ever seen sat beside a mountain of smooth mashed potatoes and a heap of creamy looking corn. Again, without waiting, he took up his fork and dug into the potatoes. He was halfway through when one of the women approached and then stalled. Frowning up at her, she looked uncertain as she asked, “G-gravy?”
Well fuck! If he’d known there was gravy, he would have waited. He nodded and pointed to a spot near his plate. The woman left the entire gravy boat and hurried away. Dunking his finger into the gravy, he pulled it out and shoved it into his mouth. Damn! The Shadow Wolf chef was world-fucking-class. Lifting the boat, he dumped gravy onto his remaining potatoes and corn then looked down to see gravy left with no place to put it. Like a barbarian, he lifted it to his mouth and drank down the rest of the gravy before setting the dish down. He swiped at his lips with the back of his arm then ripped into a piece of chi
cken with his teeth. Mouth full of succulent meat, he lifted his eyes and found the entire mess hall staring at him in shock. Undeterred, he narrowed his eyes and continued chewing. His harsh look was enough because everyone lowered their heads and concentrated on their own food before low murmurs filled the room.
“This shit is fantastic!” Bull spoke around a bite, eyeing the piece of chicken in his hand. “I don’t usually like weeds on my food, but this is good.”
Eyeing his own chicken, Modess flared his nostrils trying unsuccessfully to place the green herbs he could see.
Bull took a second bite and mumbled, “Thanks for saving me some gravy, by the way.”
Glancing over, Modess watched his pack devour their food, not even breaking to converse with each other, which was odd.
“There’s more where that came from,” Michael pointed out as he motioned toward the woman serving them to bring more food. “Soooo,” Michael leaned toward Modess. “Several of your men enjoyed my pack females last night. Surely, there must be something I can barter to convince you to help me out.”
Without even breaking stride in his eating, Modess shook his head.
“Nothing?” Michael barked sounding offended. “Really?”
About to shake his head again, Modess stilled when the woman brought him a second plate of food. Looking down at it, an idea struck and had him asking, “How many men we talking and for how long?”
A grin took Michael’s face.
Chapter 4
Hillary walked into the Alpha’s house and immediately stalled at the door. Michael was there along with the pack Beta and several other high ranking pack males. In front of him stood, who she assumed was, the visiting Alpha of the Blood Lust pack. The women who’d served dinner last night were alight with excitement as they retrieved plates from the kitchen to deliver to the dining hall. A few had nearly gotten into actual fights arguing over who’d serve the sexy-as-sin Blood Lust Alpha. Hillary had been annoyed and a little disgusted by their behavior. Like, really, who put their boobs on display in hopes of drawing the attention of a man? Alpha or not, it’d be a cold day in hell before she ever threw herself at any man. It was one of the things she hated most about her pack and her Alpha. He had no qualms about using the pack females to get what he wanted in negotiations. Only she and Simone refused to be offered up in that manner. Regardless of how excited the other pack females were at the prospect of mating an Alpha, they weren’t looking to find their mates like that. Funny though, the giddy excitement of the other females didn’t last past the initial drinks. By the time Hillary had finished the main course, the females were begging each other to deliver food to the Alpha. She heard one of them say his name was Modess. When she’d asked Simone what all the fuss was about, she’d whispered, “The Blood Lust Alpha is terrifying!” She’d had to hurry out with dessert, so Hillary didn’t get the chance to question her further and then the remainder of the night was a flurry of cleaning up after the huge meal.
Now, staring at the wide expanse of the visiting Alpha’s back and his towering form, Hillary understood what Simone meant by terrifying. Even without him facing her, the man was intimidating. The room was full of weighty authority that was clearly making the lower ranking members uncomfortable. She didn’t even want to begin to dissect what the pressure was doing to her. Her belly flopped violently and she nearly gagged with the need to retch or flee.
“Here we go.” Michael motioned toward her. Modess slowly turned. At first his eyes hit the door over her head as if he were expecting someone much taller. Instantly, his face morphed into an even deeper frown than he’d been wearing as his eyes lowered to hers.
“What the fuck is this?” he asked.
If he was asking her, she had no idea what he was talking about. Even if she had, she wouldn’t have been able to answer him anyway. Was it even proper to consider a man this savagely virile as beautiful? His hair was so dark it looked like oil. It even had black and purple hints that only served to make his eyes pop, and oh those eyes. Once, she’d gone with the pack to Alaska to watch shifters compete in the Iditarod. It’d been the first time she’d seen the Northern Lights and the sight had been indescribably beautiful. Right now though, looking at Modess’ eyes, the churning emerald there reminded her of those lights. All she could think as she stared at the man with the sexy scruff on his jaw and thickly muscled form, was that he was unfairly attractive even if his lower lip was pregnant with a fat pinch of tobacco.
“This is her,” Michael said, breaking her trance.
Blinking, she realized she was staring directly into the eyes of an Alpha. Realizing her faux pas, she dropped her eyes to Michael’s knees and listened intently.
In front of her Modess snorted a displeased sound. “I didn’t expect a woman.”
In her periphery, she caught Michael’s shrug before he snapped. “Dalton and Lee, go collect her things.”
Collect my things? Suddenly, her palms were sweating. She flicked a glance up to her Alpha and asked quietly, “Michael?”
He didn’t even look at her. Instead he extended his hand to Modess who reluctantly accepted it. “It’s a deal then?” Michael asked excitedly.
Modess was quiet as he shook Michael’s hand before finally sighing. “Fine. Yeah. It’s a deal.”
Hillary’s stomach dropped out. She lifted her head to look at Michael and asked in a panic-laced tone, “What…what’s happening?”
He finally looked at her and beamed a proud grin. “Hillary, you’re going to Blood Lust.”
Uh, the fuck I am!
“This is Hillary?”
Modess question had her eyes narrowing on him suspiciously. How did he know her?
“Yes it is.” Michael turned his attention back to her. “It’s an honor, Hillary.” Michael dropped Modess’ hand and turned to grip both of her shoulders. “You’re helping the pack. Your former pack,” he amended and then beamed a smile at Modess. “Alpha Wilder is willing to loan several of his best fight trainers in exchange for you.”
Hillary jerked back from her Alpha’s hold and shot her gaze to his boots when his brows snapped down at the action. He knew she wouldn’t agree to that!
“It’s only temporary. Don’t make a scene.”
Don’t make a scene? What in the actual fuck! “Why me?” Any of the other unmated females would be more experienced and able to please a man like Modess. “I’m not looking to…” Her words trailed off as she thought on how to tactfully turn down Alpha Wilder. “I wouldn’t be compliant. You should find another female.”
Beside her Modess snorted an amused sound and Michael laughed. “You misunderstand. He’s not looking for a mate or a…distraction. He’s looking for a chef.” The asshole Michael actually chucked her in the shoulder like she was a ten-year-old tomboy. “I wouldn’t choose you for his carnal delights, Hillary.”
Well fuck you! But she tried to swallow down her anger at the slap to her ego because if Modess wasn’t looking to bed her, then maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed. “A chef?” she asked, hoping for more clarification as she ignored the singe that was burning high on her cheeks.
“Yes. Your culinary skills have worked their magic and secured us an alliance, if this temporary exchange goes well.” He clapped Modess on the shoulder. “Alpha Wilder found all of our females lacking and we had no bargaining chip until you. Seems the way to a beast’s approval is through his belly. Like I said, it’s temporary. His fighters will stay here and train our men and you’ll go to Blood Lust and train his people on how to properly feed an Alpha male.”
She peeked up at Modess. His eyes were narrowed on her as he watched her a little too intently. Tearing her eyes from his she asked, “H-how long?”
Michael shrugged as if the answer didn’t really matter. “Until our men learn to fight like the Blood Lust wolves.”
Great. Never then!
Behind her the door opened. Dalton and Lee were back. They each held familiar suitcases and now she was good and pi
ssed. She should have been allowed to pack herself. How would those two dip-shits know what she needed? Why was she getting the bum’s rush?
Modess jerked his chin and both of her suitcases were grabbed by one of the large members of his pack. Looking at them fully now, Hillary noted that every man with Modess was larger than any male in the Shadow Wolf pack. It was no wonder Michael wanted them to train his men.
Modess spoke, the deep timber of his voice sent chills blasting up her spine as he addressed Michael. “I’ll be in contact.”
“Yes,” Michael smiled. “Hillary will give you no problems and I’m sure if she does, you know how to handle her.”
She jerked her gaze to her Alpha and shot him a dark look because, well, fuck him, and what could he do if he was sloughing her off onto Modess. From here until who knew when, she was basically part of the Blood Lust pack.
Exiting the Alpha’s house, Hillary actually considered making a run for it, but just then, the Blood Lust member carrying her suitcases turned and looked at her over his shoulder. “Kitchen Help, you’re with us.”
Kitchen Help! Her fingers itched to flip-off his back, but Modess was somewhere behind her and she didn’t want to chance getting caught. Stupid jerk. Stupid muscled up Hercules. Stupid fucking Jercules! She hated that he’d summed her up so quickly because, well, to be honest, all she was at Shadow Wolf was well…kitchen help. She didn’t really have any friends other than Simone because the other females didn’t understand her lack of desire to mate a high-ranking pack member. The men all ignored her because she knew she wasn’t that pretty, at least, not compared to the busty stunners that filled the pack. Nope, she was a pancake while most of the other females were mouth watering waffles slathered with whipped cream, chocolate chips, and topped with giant juicy cherries. Twat waffles! She smirked to herself, but it vanished when a bout of loneliness swamped her. She may not have many friends, but she did have Simone and she should have been given the opportunity to say goodbye at least! Eying the area, she saw a group of women, but knew none of them would care that she was being sent off and they sure as hell wouldn’t pass on any message to Simone for her. She just couldn’t understand what the problem was. She grew up with the other women yet they still held her at arm’s length. Maybe it was because while they liked to shop, she liked to read or while they liked to drink, she liked to research new recipes. Most likely it was because while they enjoyed dolling themselves up to dangle their wares in front of the pack’s numerous bachelors, Hillary spent most of her time in the kitchen. Honestly, she enjoyed cooking and it felt great providing for the pack in manner that no one else could, not the way she did. Admittedly, she’d thought it was her culinary skills that had secured her a place with the pack. The fact that Michael had given her up so easily and without even discussing it with her chaffed like a mo-fo.
