Crimson Storm

by V L Moon

  You will; small steps remember.

  You called the vampire king Malachi, but the name I was given for him was Azarian. I’m confused. I must have been dreaming at the time because it was an angel that told me his name. But then Roan, an alpha from an Anchorage pack, confirmed the angel was real. Was he? Real? Copi inquired trying not to sound too stupid.

  Nervous laughter danced through his mind. Oh, he’s real alright. I’ve never had the honor of meeting him in person, but both my Uncle Jorn and my cousin, Tobias, have. From what little I heard, Laziel’s somewhat of an enigma. Tobias says he’s hilarious, wears sparkly G-strings and swears like a sailor. But, he’s fierce especially with the vampire king. When my uncle’s pack was attacked not long ago, Malachi turned up alone and joined the fight. They’re usually inseparable as Laziel guards the king with his very life. When Laziel failed to show up, people started to worry. Laziel is the only person who can tame Malachi’s fearsome temper.

  Turns out, Laziel is more of an enigma than anyone suspected. While the king was honoring the terms of the treaty by providing his renowned fighting skills to protect the wolves, Laziel was back in Rome giving birth to the daughter they had conceived together. This is one crazy ass world, Copi, and you’re only just getting your feet wet.

  Copi was speechless and slightly overwhelmed. As Sage’s explanation of events ended, Copi felt the undercurrent of her sadness. Feelings of pain, betrayal and loss joined with her need to be with her family. It seemed to be the driving force behind her strength of will. He hoped she’d keep her word and help him find a way to Rome. Maybe Tobias was the link. If Sage contacted him, he might send word to Malachi. Hope surged through Copi’s heart. He’d taken a chance in helping Sage, one that could work in his favor. He just needed to make sure to keep her safe.

  Thankfully, they made good use of their speedy abilities. Copi ran alongside Sage, keeping close in the dark. When the outskirts of Thunder Bay came into view, Copi placed the bag of clothes in her mouth and took guard while she changed. Two hours later, Copi was sated. He was a little hazy from over consumption of blood, but all the stronger for its nourishment. He used what little cash he had to pay for a motel room and closed the curtains against the encroaching dawn. Sage watched him, her eyes showing the mistrust of being holed up with a stranger.

  “I don’t know what happened to you, Sage. But, I promise on the life of the vampire I love, I will not harm you or touch you. I will protect you until you find wherever it is you need to go. So please, relax. Get some sleep. You look like shit.” The last bit was said to break the ice, hopefully make her laugh. It worked, as did the pillow that smacked him in the face.

  “Cheeky shit. You better pray I don’t open the curtains while you’re in dead mode and give you an all over tan,” she teased letting a little of her personality show. With a shy smile, she lay back, pulled up the sheets around her neck and closed her eyes. It didn’t take long before her breathing signaled she’d fallen into sleep.

  ~*~*~*~

  Chapter Thirty

  ~*~*~*~

  Thunder Bay, Ontario

  Alexa strolled alone and barefoot along the shore of Lake Superior. The weekend’s events rifled through her mind. Lost in thought, she barely registered the chilly bite of the surf as it washed over her feet, or the vast expanse of water that stretched to the horizon to greet the setting sun. Deep inside, her wolf paced and whined sharing her mood.

  Dropping into a squat at the water’s edge, Alexa twined her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. The conversation with Damian two nights before played through her mind. It had seemed so right at the time. But in retrospect, she questioned her impulsiveness. What had she been thinking asking Damian to take on Trenton? It would be a fight to the death. Basically, she’d asked her best friend to die for her. A whine wafted into the air; Alexa’s wolf was scared and with good reason. The thought of Damian broken and dying because of her. Alexa sprang to her feet. Long jerky strides betrayed her agitation.

  The pack’s plight weighed heavy on her shoulders. The need to see them free of Trenton’s tyranny swelled stronger every time she visited the island. By defeating Trenton, Damian could change everything. He would become alpha. Honorable and loyal to his core, he would bring prosperity back to the pack, be the leader, the alpha, they needed. Alexa desperately wanted that for them, but at the risk of losing Damian?

  Memories of her best friend flashed before her eyes. He was her strength, her partner. He’d been at her side for as long as she could remember. To lose him was unthinkable. Alexa stumbled to a stop on the beach. Her heart hammered in her chest and her breath hitched in and out. Terror gripped her tight in its fist. Damian was hers.

  The thought had Alexa doing a swift mental back pedal. Damian wasn’t hers. The love she felt for him was because he was her best friend. Wasn’t it? Confused by the unexpected rush of emotion and torn over what she’d asked of Damian, she set out again knowing she couldn’t go back to the cabin so conflicted. Not only would Damian sense it, the boys would pick up on it as well. None of them needed the agitation. Trenton was scheduled to visit Iniquity before the club opened for business. They had to have their shit together.

  Despite their escape from Trenton’s tyranny on the island, Alexa and her males were still required to pay dues. If she refused, her friends back home suffered for her obstinacy. She had enough ready cash to satisfy the greedy bastard’s usual demands, but she never knew when he would up the ante. She detested paying him. It always left her uncomfortably close to the red. It wasn’t that the club didn’t make money because it did. But, Alexa used the proceeds to cover the dues for any family that needed assistance. The more she had to pay, the less she had for the others.

  Weary of the ping pong game in her head, Alexa stopped and sat in the sand. With her eyes locked on the sinking sun, she shoved everything out. She had to center herself while she was on the island, or she’d never be able to deal with Trenton. He required her full concentration. The bastard was too wily to meet with her head screwed on backwards.

  Slowly, her eyes drifted closed. The sound of the gently lapping waves rolled over her, soothing her scattered nerves. Alexa deepened her breathing, listening and catching the heartbeat of Mother Earth.

  “I thought I’d find you here.” Damian’s deep voice floated over her shoulder. Seconds later, he settled behind her. His long legs bracketed her hunched form. With ease born of familiarity, he grasped her hips and tumbled her back into his lap. Instead of being irritated at his interruption of her meditation, she gladly made herself comfortable stretching her legs out between his spread thighs. Her head rested on his well-muscled chest.

  “I’m sorry I put you on the spot, Damian. You don’t have to do this. Please, forget I asked.”

  “Lexi, baby, it makes perfect sense. I know the risks. I want to do this.” The conviction in his voice eased some of the turmoil rollicking in her gut.

  “Then you had better beat him, Damian.” She tilted her head up and waited until he met her eyes. “I can’t lose you.” His gaze didn’t waiver and though she waited, he didn’t answer. Instead, he tightened his arms around her waist. Comforted by his familiar embrace, Alexa turned and curled into him. The tough exterior she presented to the world slipped away. He alone saw her vulnerable and scared. He never spoke of it; he simply held her. She knew it would never be mentioned, not even to the boys.

  “They all look so beaten,” she sighed. “Every month, they seem to get weaker, more dejected. I hate seeing them like this.”

  Damian rubbed her back soothingly. “I know, Lexi. It sucks ass. But, unless Trenton is killed, you can’t do any more than you are.” He tilted her chin up forcing her to meet his eyes. “You are helping them. Iniquity is making a difference. And we have a plan now.”

  She turned her cheek into his palm to hide the threatening tears. “I just wish I could do more.” She stopped when the underbrush behind them rattled. Shaver poked his head out and
waved.

  “Khad and I are heading back to the mainland. We’ve packed up the cabin and shut off the hot water heater. We’ll catch you back at the club.” They both waved and Shaver disappeared again.

  “He’s in love with Khad.”

  “Khad’s in love with him.”

  They spoke at the same time and then laughed. The tension was broken for the moment. “Suppose they will ever figure that out?” Alexa asked while absently tracing a finger over the design on Damian’s tee shirt. She wanted to knock their heads together, but it wasn’t her place to reveal their secrets.

  “Maybe in time, but all we can do is wait.” Damian’s response, in sync with her own thoughts, made her smile. They had been like that for as long as she could remember. They were so in tune it was a wonder they hadn’t been born of the same womb. He was her best friend; her closest confidante. She trusted him as no other. He knew her deepest darkest secrets. It was no wonder she loved him so fiercely. With one problem resolved, Alexa relaxed against Damian. They sat in comfortable silence watching the sun making its final descent. Just as it kissed the lake, Damian spoke.

  “We best get back ourselves. We can’t miss Trenton’s visit.” Alexa nodded against his chest and wished she could stay right there safe in the embrace of his body. She loathed dealing with Trenton, but at least, it would be on her turf. Trenton hated leaving the island, but he was far too greedy to miss a pick up date.

  ~*~*~*~

  When the boat docked, Alexa climbed up to the pier and stretched while Damian tied up the vessel. The wind off of the water whipped around her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. The subtle hint of female wolf drifted in on the breeze. A deeper, bolder scent confused her. Neither scent belonged to the island pack or their four wolf pack.

  She glanced back over her shoulder at Damian. Their gazes collided. She saw the knowledge in his eyes. They were being watched. As unobtrusively as possible she scanned the marina, but nothing moved.

  “Hurry up, Damian, we don’t want to be late. Toss me the bags.” Meeting his eyes, she gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. The female radiated fear. If they acknowledged her presence, she would likely run.

  “Slow ya roll, female. Iniquity doesn’t open for a few hours. We’ve got plenty of time.” With exaggerated care, they proceeded with unloading the boat. Alexa caught the various duffels Damian tossed up to her and slung a few over her shoulder. When he was done, he jumped easily up on the dock.

  “Why don’t we walk? The night air feels good.”

  Come on little wolf. We won’t hurt you or your friend. Alexa sent the thoughts out into the night, but there was no mistaking the she wolf had fled around the lip of the shoreline. Frustrated that she couldn’t follow their mysterious visitors, Alexa flung open the back door and slipped inside the club ahead of Damian.

  ~*~*~*~

  Damian strode through the ground floor of the bar, flipping on lights as he went. They did not need a distraction with Trenton due at the club. But, he knew Alexa. She wasn’t going to leave the female out there. She just didn’t have it in her to ignore a wolf in trouble. Behind the bar, he dropped the duffel bags and pulled out a bottle of Jack. He waited for Alexa to lean against the bar before he spoke.

  “She is not a good idea; getting involved is not a good idea.”

  “You know what Trenton does to strays. If you don’t remember, just ask Khad.”

  “That’s a fucking low blow, Lex. Khad still has shadows in his eyes, but she, no they, are not our problem. Bringing them in here is a mistake. He already hates us. He’ll take great pleasure in charging us extra for their presence. Besides, her fear won out. She fled as soon as she whiffed us. She could be miles away by the time Trenton leaves here. And, the other one is a huge risk. I can’t place his scent. We can’t have strangers wandering around in here while we make plans.”

  Alexa’s eyes flared. “I’ll pay whatever it costs to keep any wolf out of his hands. There’s no time to hide their scent trails and he’s already on his way. He’s going to smell both of them, especially the female, but it’s all down by the water. No need for him to associate the pair with us. We play dumb.”

  Damian hated her logic. “And if he doesn’t buy the idiot routine?”

  Alexa slipped her hand into his. Damian's wolf chuffed. God, he cherished the quiet moments when the weight of their problems dissolved by the simple joining of hands. Even with their little visitor hovering outside and the threat of Trenton's visit looming over them, Damian and his wolf eased.

  “He’ll buy it, Dame. He already thinks we’re all beneath him. Worst case scenario, he’ll go looking for her. Best case, he’ll be too worried about stashing his money to chase after a pair of strays.”

  Damian drank in the faint sweetness of Alexa’s calming aura. His fur brushed soft under his skin as the wolf curled into himself. Damian looked at Alexa and gave her hand a tight squeeze. When she broke her gaze away from the door to look back at him, he noticed her eyes had taken on the wild flame of her red wolf. She was preparing herself for Trenton’s arrival.

  Damian brushed his nose up along the line of Alexa's throat. As Damian leaned in and inhaled, the aroma of Alexa's scent changed. Not by much, but enough for Damian's wolf to alert. He growled low, the deep pitch a threat.

  “What the fuck? Alexa?” Damian's eyes widened and his nostrils flared. “You’re attracted to her.”

  The female wolf had been shielding herself, suppressing her wolf's abilities so hard her scent was hardly there. It came in small wisps of lingering perfume carried on the breeze. And, Alexa's wolf was right there, rolling in the sweetness. Her reaction ripped his heart into shreds.

  Alexa leaned into Damian. Keeping her voice whisper soft, she brushed her lips over Damian's ear. “She's strong, Dame, so strong. But, there's something else. She's scared, oh God, she is so fucking scared. I don’t know if it’s because of who or what is with her, or if it’s us, or something else entirely.”

  Wrapping an arm around Alexa’s waist, he used his free hand to open Iniquity’s side door. Damian fought his wolf’s natural protective instinct to shove Alexa behind him. She wouldn’t appreciate it and the resulting skirmish would distract her from Trenton’s arrival. He sighed and rested his cheek on the top of Alexa’s head. Whoever the outsiders were, they had no clue of the danger headed their way.

  “Damn it.” Frustration tinged his words. Her fear stung his conscience. Trenton would surely sniff her out, and knowing their alpha, it wouldn't be pleasant when he did. Memories of Khad, young and afraid, rose to the surface. Alexa was right. They had no choice; they had to help. And just like that, Damian's mind cleared.

  He dropped his head to breathe in deep from the curve of Alexa's neck. Her scent drowned out the prevailing aroma of fear. If Trenton scented the strange wolf and felt the same power Alexa recognized, shit was going to hit the fan.

  “Lexi, if Trenton gets even a hint of the power she’s putting off, he'll think we're hiding something from him. It'll raise his suspicions and put the fucker on alert. We don't want that. If he thinks for one moment that we're up to something, our plans could fail before they've begun. The pack won't stand a chance of ever getting stronger. This is bad fucking timing.”

  “Trenton is already going to be pissed off about having to come over here to pick up his dues. Hopefully, that will distract him, but if not, we'll have to make him angrier than normal to keep our visitors off of his radar. Call the boys; tell them to steer clear for the next hour or so. I don't want them here when Trenton turns up. They can stop at O'Hara's for the lemons and limes for the bar. Maggie will insist on feeding them. That will give us some time to figure out what to do about our strange little she wolf and her mysterious visitor and get Trenton out the way.”

  Damian had his cell to his ear before she finished the sentence. It was best if the boys weren’t around if Trenton lost his temper. Shaver answered on the third ring; his voice sounded strained. Damian hea
rd the faint sound of female laughter in the background and immediately understood why.

  “Can't take him anywhere can ya?” Damian tried to keep his voice light, but he could almost feel Shaver's distress as he briefly explained what was going on at the club. The silence on the other end meant Shaver had either moved for more privacy or Khad had overheard and was listening in on the call.

  “You understand what I'm saying? Stay away for a few hours; I'll hit you up when Trenton's gone.”

  “Gotcha, boss. Be careful. We're only five minutes away. If you need us, howl.” Khad's voice came sure and firm as did Shaver's when he agreed.

  “Stay safe, and Khad, behave.” Damian hung up to the sounds of Shaver and Khad closing the doors of the jeep and starting the engine.

  “The boys are heading to O'Hara's now so we have some time. Don't worry about them, Lexi. They'll be fine; they know the score. They don't like it any more than we do, but they'll do as they’re asked.”

  Alexa opened her mouth to reply when a rolling wave of fetid power swept into the bar and raised every hair on the back of Damian's neck. His wolf rose up inside of him, snarling and snapping at the invasion. Alexa took the brunt of the blast. Her body acted as a beacon to the Alpha’s potent power. She bowed as if in pain, but Damian knew better.

  Alexa drank in the noxious bitter scent of Trenton's power and bathed in his fury. When she righted herself, Alexa was smiling, an all-knowing smirk. She clasped his hand tight just once before the door to the bar broke open behind them. They twisted around and pulled the side door closed. Trenton descended the few steps toward them.

  His very presence permeated the room like a dark cloud of blistering anger, hate and disgust all rolled into one. He walked straight past them for the bar where he helped himself to a bottle of Jack from the top shelf. Damian watched, his fists clenching at his sides, as their alpha broke the seal and drank the liquor straight from the bottle like he owned the God damn place. Damian seethed with resentment for the male responsible for ruining their pack.