Crimson Storm

by V L Moon

  “Now, Trenton, you know I’m not responsible for the entire wolf or human population. You want to be a bit more specific and tell me who ‘they’ are?” Deliberately, she dropped her voice to a throaty purr. At Trenton’s back, the male wolves whined as her pheromones hit them. Even in their weakened state, their libido started to rise. Their eyes turned glassy with lust.

  Alexa.

  Damian’s angry warning vibrated through her skull. It went unheeded as hunger magnified the soulless eyes of the twisted alpha standing so close to her. Alexa knew being his daughter wouldn’t protect her. If he wanted her, he’d go after her in two legged or four legged form. She’d grown up watching the atrocities the male forced on women. To protect Damian, she would sacrifice herself. It was a fight she’d take on willingly.

  Trenton smirked raising a hand to trail grimy fingers over her bare skin. Gritting her teeth, Alexa stood her ground flinging out a restraining hand to the black wolf on the opposite side of the counter. Damian’s ire filled her nose.

  “You play a dangerous game, daughter. Blood kin or not, you are female and subject to my dominion.” Thick fingers teased the scooped neckline of her top.

  “And, you know very well, Trenton, I submit to no male, alpha or otherwise.”

  Raucous laughter echoed in the nearly empty room. “Ahhh, the irony, Alexa.” He turned back to the bar and took another seemingly casual sip of the drink. “You have been such a disappointment to me. I handpicked a male for you, even going so far as to put him right under your nose. But you…” His finger stabbed against her chest. “You have defied me from your first breath.”

  Air froze in Alexa’s lungs. Handpicked male. Under your nose. Startled eyes swung to meet the vivid green glare of Damian’s wolf. Oh God, no. Everything crashed down around her. It all made sense. The confusion with Damian, the aching in her chest, the possessiveness. Her wolf was bonded to Damian, a bond forged at birth, a bond she’d never had a chance to fight. A sob threatened to choke her.

  All of her life, she’d fought this bastard, fought to escape his tyranny, fought to escape the shadow of his debauchery. All of it for nothing. He’d won the battle before she’d even known to fight. Her wolf howled in agony. Its mate had chosen another, it pined for Sage. A life of loneliness loomed in her future. Pain stabbed her chest as the howl dwindled to a whimper. Trenton’s eyes glowed with victory when she flicked her gaze back to him.

  “Oh yes, Lexi. He was my choice for you. Just enough alpha blood to mate you and make you stronger; yet, not enough to rule you. Why do you think you’ve never wanted a male? Your wolf always knew; you already belong to one. The one I chose.” He tossed Damian a disdainful sneer.

  “But, what a sad fucking choice I made. Where the fuck are your balls, wolf? She was given to you on a silver platter, and you’ve done nothing but act as her lap dog and follow around behind her.” He tossed back the rest of the drink and threw the glass against the wall behind the bar. As it shattered, shards flew. “And now, to bring your little band of miscreants full circle, they’ve gone and followed in your fucking footsteps.”

  Reeling from the revelation, Alexa choked out. “Who?”

  Spittle bathed her face when he crowded against her and spat. “Your mutts, Khad and Shaver. I couldn’t care if he’s the son of the Summus or Jesus Christ dressed in drag. They’ve fucking bonded.” A disgusted snarl, matched the derision on his face. Despite the turmoil roiling within, elation swept over her and Alexa smiled. She couldn’t have stopped the grin if she’d tried. Neither Khad nor Shaver were obviously aware of the bond, but it didn’t stop Alexa from wanting to shout her delight for them. However, her joyful reaction only served to enflame Trenton’s temper.

  “Your glee will be short lived. Fucking faggot wolves. You’re aware of the law within this pack. It gives me the right to kill them on sight. They are of no use to me now.” He bared his teeth in a macabre semblance of a smile, evil incarnate in his gaze. “Where are they, they must answer to their alpha. Now.”

  Steely determination straightened Alexa’s spine. “They aren’t here.” Shit! Just this once, she hoped Shaver ignored her and steered clear, for his own safety. She’d already told him Khad’s location, but he was out of Trenton’s reach. Safe. It wouldn’t have mattered. She wouldn’t hand over either of them for any reason. Her red wolf snarled in her head as fur brushed beneath her skin.

  “Besides, they aren’t your pack, Trenton. They are mine.” A hand snaked out, and she felt the sharp sting of knuckles against her cheek as he backhanded her. She stumbled from the force of the blow catching herself on the bar. A tremendous rumble radiated from Damian. A sound so deep and fierce, the hair on Alexa’s neck stood up. Gentle fingers pushed her hair aside and tried to tilt her face up for inspection. Jerked from the touch and dazed from the blow, her world spun crazily until Trenton’s face filled her vision again.

  “You don’t have a pack, bitch. You belong to me.”

  Damian’s challenging roar filled the room.

  “You’re my property you stupid, fucking, bitch!” Fingers clamped around her windpipe cutting off her air. Maddened eyes slammed into her as Trenton began to violently shake her.

  Let her go! Damian snarled through their bond.

  Damian. Do it. Take this motherfucker down. Desperately, Alexa shoved the thought into Damian’s mind, praying he would listen. At the same time, Alexa brought her hands up to try and pry Trenton’s hands loose. Behind the crazed alpha, the two males hit the ground both convulsing in ferocious seizures as he sucked their life force from their wolves.

  “I’ve stood by long enough and let you prance around with your tail in the air,” Trenton snarled and slammed her back against the bar, bending her painfully at the waist. “I. Am. Your. Alpha. Bitch.” Amber eyes hardened.

  “Not. Ever.” She managed to gasp as she struggled against his hold. Empowered by the other two males, Trenton imprisoned her easily. Sharp yellowed teeth descended. He intended to bite her across the nose and mouth in a show of dominance. Not happening, daddy-o. She fought in earnest, pounding her fists against his back and bucking against the bar.

  A fierce howl spilled into the night. Shaver crashed into the room. Chaos ensued. The tawny wolf went after Khurn with a ferocious growl. Distracted by the commotion, Trenton snapped his head to the side. His wolf’s fangs dragged along Alexa’s cheek, tearing the flesh and drawing blood. Incensed by the sight and smell of Alexa’s blood, Damian’s wolf cleared the bar. He slammed into Trenton, sending the alpha sprawling across the floor. Damian lunged, landing hard against Trenton’s chest.

  A barrage of minds crashed into her own. The strength and possessiveness of Damian’s alpha and the protective power of Shaver’s null filled her. The beauty of their wolf forms filled Alexa with a sense of well-being. Using it as a focus, she shoved the power of their united force into Damian, infusing him with the energy and the love of their pack.

  Fight, my wolf. Fight for our family. The power of Damian’s mind brushed hers once softly, tenderly before retreating to focus on the alpha attempting to shift beneath him.

  ~*~*~*~

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  ~*~*~*~

  Pure energy raced in a blaze of white hot fury through Damian’s veins and boiled the blood of his wolf’s bitter rage. The satin black pelt bristled with loathing and derision for the alpha he faced. Rows of canine teeth and fangs salivated. Damian’s wolf growled and snarled, demanding Damian attack. He needed to tear the heart from Trenton’s chest. He wanted to kill, to bathe in the crimson warmth of the greedy alpha’s freshly spilled blood and sate itself in the knowledge that the bastard was dead.

  He watched through glowing emerald eyes as the grimy, power hungry alpha squirmed beneath him in a frantic bid to force another change. He’d already drained those around him whom he’d pledged to protect; yet, he was able to call more. Trenton’s power surged through Iniquity like a rush of vehement wind. When two more of their withered pack mates fe
ll to the floor, Damian’s beast mourned with a haunting whine for their plight.

  They lay where they’d fallen, silent as death itself. The only proof they still lived was the barely audible beat of their hearts. They were nothing more than the left over husks of once strong men. Their only errors in life had been to trust and ally themselves to an alpha that ravenously betrayed them. He sold them all out for power while abusing their females and stealing their strength.

  Fear for the pack mixed with the deep seated loathing Damian harbored for Trenton. Together, they ripped apart the fragile grip Damian maintained on his wolf. Inside his mind, Damian screamed against the onslaught of pure untamable rage.

  Trenton’s maniacal laughter rang in his ears. Stupid pup, you think you have the balls to take me? Trenton’s laughter rang in his head. The alpha’s face contorted into a loathsome mask of rage and disdain.

  You’ll never be worthy to lead this pack. You’re nothing. You couldn’t even take for yourself what was shoved in your face. She’d have made a fearsome mate if you’d had half the strength that ran in your blood to claim it as yours. But no, you stood aside like a scolded child while she lay with and fucked whoever she damn well pleased.

  Damian snapped and snarled as he leaned in closer, digging his claws into Trenton’s chest.

  Alexa’s done more for this pack than you ever have. You’re an abomination as an alpha. If there was any way to do it, I would have you up on charges of genocide for what you’ve done to this pack. Damian growled, slamming his thoughts into Trenton’s mind.

  The room stilled as Trenton defied the bitter tide of Damian’s fury. His anger at their challenge built into a storm of ill-tempered will. Damian knew things were about to go south. The scent of Alexa’s blood filled him, as did the link that connected him to his pack. It snapped into place, bringing with it the soft brush of Alexa’s mind as she touched his wolf’s mind. The game was on.

  Shaver stood back, between him and the strange wolf. He was an encompassing wall of strength that enveloped the unfolding war to keep the surges of power confined within Iniquity’s walls. He bristled with energy as it swept up against him like a cresting wave. But, instead of crashing into him, Shaver consumed its force and fed from its strength.

  Trenton twisted and turned beneath him. His eyes shifted first. Transfixed by the emanating power flowing through the room, Trenton’s greedy glare swept the bar. The bastard’s greed at experiencing such a dominant display of undiluted power was all the proof Damian needed. Trenton no longer bore any respect for his pack, or its laws. He craved power as a junkie craved its drug of choice. And, the bitter truth of it was, Damian’s pack mates were his next big hit.

  His blood spiraled through his veins, akin to the rush of his very first shift into wolf. Damian felt a new level of power grow inside of him. A calling whispered through his mind to take what was his, to take down the kill. Eyes wide, Damian pushed into Alexa’s thoughts. With their minds connected, he enabled Alexa and the rest of their pack to hear and feel exactly what was running though his mind.

  When her eyes met his, Damian felt the feather-light touch of her thoughts against his. He whined softly and showed Alexa through their link, the blood that coated the side of her face. The black wolf watched as Alexa’s fingers reached up to trail over the deep gouge from Trenton’s teeth. He felt the bitter swell of her anger. Damian fed on that anger, drank it down taking all of her fury and years’ worth of rage deep within his furious beast.

  A low growl filled the air as Trenton transformed into the heaving fat mass of his silver grey wolf. Fangs bared and snarling, he shifted the load of his wolf’s weight. Because of greed and thirst for power, he’d become lackadaisical in maintaining his wild side. He was cumbersome and slow as he backed up and coiled himself in anticipation of Damian’s next move.

  With a feral snarl, Damian attacked. Trenton certainly outweighed him, but Damian possessed the upper hand with his youth and speed. Beneath his pelt, there lay an ample supply of well-defined muscle. With both in his favor, Damian stood a chance against the older, more experienced wolf. But, he had to be fast; he had to take Trenton by surprise and keep him fighting long enough to wear the bastard down. He had studied Trenton since he was a pup. He knew how his adversary fought, and it all came down to his strength. Damian circled, and Trenton’s eyes never wavered from the threat before him. Damian could taste the old wolf’s anger. A move to the left sent Trenton backing himself against the far wall. He had nowhere to run.

  The black wolf moved in a blur of speed, darting sideways at the older grey wolf. Damian clamped his jaws onto Trenton’s throat and shook him savagely. He tore at the flesh until his mouth filled with the alpha’s blood. It ran down Damian’s throat like liquid fire. He’d never tasted so much raw power. Trenton howled and bought up his immense front paw. The razor sharp claws raked through Damian’s under belly, scoring through the soft flesh. Pain seared through Damian as the scent of his own blood filled the air. The thought of what Trenton would do to his pack mates should he fail filled him with a sense of dread.

  He cast a quick glimpse at Shaver. The look of sheer terror written on the tawny wolf’s face told Damian all he needed to know. If he didn’t take down the alpha, none of them would see another sunrise or get to share in the joys of their love. Trenton would kill them, and it would be all Damian’s fault.

  Taking advantage of his distraction, Trenton charged. Fangs tore at Damian’s face. The old alpha latched on and hurled Damian around and onto his back. Blood spilled from Trenton’s mouth to pool in Damian’s eyes. His blood, hot and thick and filled with the essence of an alpha’s true calling.

  Images of Shaver and Khad being torn apart and fed to the pack on Damian’s death filtered through his mind. Trenton gurgled a deep hateful growl. More of Damian’s blood puddled on the floor. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Alexa move. Damian roared.

  STAY WHERE YOU FUCKING ARE. THIS IS MY FIGHT.

  The blast of his thoughts sent Alexa stumbling back against the bar. Her movement drew Trenton’s attention. Damian didn’t waste time. Bringing up all four paws, he drove them home with strident power, piercing Trenton’s soft underbelly. He raked down through the flesh, gutting the alpha. Trenton’s intestines spilled out in a steaming heap across Damian’s fur. The desperation to win mixed with what was left of Trenton’s adrenaline died in his eyes. The grey wolf slumped to the floor, blood pouring from the gouges in his chest and abdomen. He turned and his eyes locked on Damian.

  You’ll never be enough for her. She’ll never want or need you.

  Even faced with certain death, Trenton refused to let go. Damian moved forward and tore through the ruff of the alpha’s throat. He clamped down, crushing Trenton’s wind pipe. He held fast, cutting off Trenton’s air supply until he heaved one last breath. When Damian rose, his muzzle was coated and dripping with blood. He howled triumphantly, the euphoric tenor carrying on the wind until the accompanying sound of his pack joined in with the call of his wolf.

  When the calls died down, Damian tore through Trenton’s chest and buried his muzzle deep. Victorious, he tore out the dead wolf’s heart. Damian growled as he made his way across the room and presented himself before Alexa’s fiery form. He laid the heart of her father gently at her feet and waited. Minutes passed. When Damian next looked up, Shaver was right there next to him, eyes wide with fear and relief. To his left in wolf form, the members of their new pack stood waiting patiently for their red she-wolf to acknowledge Damian as her champion, accept his kill and take her fill.

  ~*~*~*~

  Chapter Sixty

  ~*~*~*~

  Rome, Italy

  He had lost count of the number of times he’d paced past his bedroom door; he was ready to go fucking insane. That or end up bald. He hit redial for the hundredth time and fought hard not to slam his phone against the wall when the same fucking voice mail picked up. Fur bristled close to the surface of his skin as Khad’s fear for his pack a
nd family grew.

  The soft rap of knuckles against the door drew Khad’s attention. Seconds later, Tobias popped his head around the door. Concern etched his face as he let himself in and closed the door behind him.

  “What’s going on?” Tobias stopped him in his tracks by gripping Khad’s upper arms. He held him in place.

  “I need to go home. Alexa and the guys need me. I never should have left.” The tension of the last few hours coiled inside his gut. It had started with the phone call to Shaver. The hurt and pain in his voice had damn near broken Khad. On top of that, the shit had hit the fan with Trenton while he wasn’t there. That was the straw to break the camel’s back. They were his pack, his family. He was supposed to protect them, not run off to play happy families as their world fell apart.

  “Have a little faith, bro.” Tobias smiled.

  Khad cocked a brow at Tobias’s invasion on his thoughts.

  “Dude, I’m your brother. It’s my duty to get in your business. Besides, it was either me or dad. And, believe me when I tell you, you got lucky. Dad would have fretted and worried and drove you insane. He cares. A lot. Having you back has changed him. He smiles more now.” Relief tinged Tobias’s eyes as he winked.

  “So, I’m guessing you’ve called Alexa, but have you called Shay?” Tobias tried to hide the smirk but failed miserably.

  “You’re an ass. I’m beginning to believe what everyone says about you,” Khad returned the smirk, hoping to avoid answering his brother’s question.