Red Wolf
Book 2
Stanley
By Crystal Dawn
Edited By Eagle Editing
Cover by Cynthia Lucas Covers
2016 Copyright by Crystal Dawn
Any resemblance to any persons living or dead are simply a coincidence. Any locations or events are fictitious or used in a fictional manner. The story is strictly a product of the author’s imagination.
The Red Wolf
Book 1
Reese
He was the biggest badass around, but who knew he could fall for a human mate? Would meeting Megan, the pack alpha’s adopted daughter be his undoing? She was strong for a human, but then he found out she might have some of the strongest wolf bloodlines running through her.
Megan was terrified when the overseer turned his attention on her. She did what any logical female would do, she hurried home. Her parents had her smuggled out where he would never find her, unfortunately someone else did. When faced with a greater danger, she sent him a message hoping he would rescue her.
When they come face to face, will it be winner take all or will they both win in the game of love?
Prologue
Red wolves, like white wolves, had long been considered extinct by everyone. Thinking that they had also bred themselves into nonexistence just like the white wolves had seemed an unlikely possibility. When red wolves are discovered to exist after all, it brings out all kinds of claims. Magic is thrown in the mix making it hard to guess what will happen. Love can be a powerful ally in a game where you can lose everything in the blink of an eye.
It had only been a couple weeks since Delane, the evil bastard, had been hauled off by Terrill the warden. A lot had changed and now the pack that was encompassed by the city run between the overseer and their alpha and the pack run by alpha James both waited to see what would happen next.
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Chapter 1
To Challenge or Not
“You don’t have to take on the alpha if you don’t want to, but I’ll support you and make sure the fight is fair should you decide to.” Reese informed.
Three of us sat there deep in a discussion that would decide the future of our pack and the one run by alpha James. Reese had never looked happier in his life and I, as his best friend, was happy for him. I had my own shit to sort out and I hoped things would work out as well for me.
“What do you see yourself doing, Stan?” Alpha Roberts asked.
“I think it’s time to take a stand. My belief is that I’m the only one we can be sure will treat those females right.” I admitted. I knew they would never force me to make an alpha challenge, but I was going to anyway.
“Just think, a few weeks ago we never would have seen this coming.” Reese observed. A few weeks ago was before it was brought to our attention that females and the weaker wolves were being mistreated.
“If we’d known, Reese or I would have been honor bound to challenge and add their pack to ours. That’s not what we want to do, but we still could. An alpha challenge is a serious decision.” Roberts counseled.
“I know that’s true, but I am an alpha who is only third to the two of you. Most alphas that run packs don’t have anywhere near your strength. My faith in myself includes being able to kick James’ ass all the way to Sunday. In the future, I have always seen myself in a higher position. I thought I’d have to leave my friends behind, but this way I’ll be right next door. It’ll be downright cozy between the three of us.” No one would disagree with that. I’d never had the problems with Roberts that Reese had because he never saw me as a competitor.
“As long as you’re doing it for the right reasons, son.” Roberts approved.
“I’ll be honest, had I not seen and heard what those three females told you about the way they’d been treated by their pack and their alpha, I’d never have considered this. I don’t want to uproot or disgrace a leader that’s doing right by their people. What those females described as going on in their pack is unconscionable and can’t be allowed to continue. Females being basically pimped out, weak members being used like slaves and beaten anytime the higher ranking members feel like it, that is evil. Then add the mistreatment of children. Making them fight for food, those doing that are monsters.” I explained.
“I can’t agree with you more.” Reese said. “We wouldn’t allow it to continue either. To be honest, since you’re being that way, you are a perfect solution except I’m a selfish bastard. Win or lose, I’ll lose you as my second and I hate that. I love that you’ll be in a position you deserve and that you’ll still be close by, but damn I’ll miss seeing your ugly mug every day.”
“I feel the same way, Boss. That’s why I kept putting off what I knew I’d eventually have to do. Maybe it was all the fates aligning for the perfect outcome. Hell, I don’t know. I only know I have to do this and soon. Every day we wait, someone else suffers.” I explained.
“Don’t be so sure of that. They know three of their females came here and they know they can’t take us. I bet they behave until they think things have calmed down. We just need to make sure that we act in the next week or so. I’ll agree sooner is better.” Roberts admitted.
It felt good to have the support of Reese and Roberts. I figured they would support me and if I won, it would help our area to be more stable. Southern Arkansas wasn’t like the northern end of the state that was divided by two major packs with few exceptions. There were places there a few packs weren’t fully defined by the human divisions like Blake’s pack that pushed into Arkansas a little way. Otherwise there was just the Northeast Arkansas pack and the Northwest Arkansas Pack.
Down in southern Arkansas there were several pack towns like ours. This part of the state had a lot of small packs like the James’ pack. This was unusual because most states were divided in large sections. We had been like that down here once, but the two large packs that had claimed the southeast and the southwest had dwindled until they’d fragmented and small packs had moved into areas that weren’t covered by the packs that used to claim them. Those not strong enough to hold the land they claimed, no longer owned it.
My hope was that James was no longer strong enough to hold his pack. Even if he won, he would be investigated by the wardens and probably lose his pack before long. If he lost, I hoped I wouldn’t have to kill him. Killing was a last resort, funny coming from a trained killer, wasn’t it?
Roberts left, reassured that everything was about to be as it should. “You okay?” Reese asked.
“Yeah, I’m peachy.”
“Shit, don’t use that on me. I know it means mind your own business in Stan speak.” We both laughed. The male knew me too well. That was okay though because he would help me in any way he could. I would take over a broken pack if I won. If I lost, I would be dead, James never left a challenger alive to come back and challenge again. It was an old school rule that had served him well.
“I’m calling Terrill in and we’ll issue the challenge as soon as we know when he can get here. How’s that other thing going?”
Oh, shit! He just had to bring that up. His lovely mate had a sister who was just as lovely but she had a dirty mouth. That didn’t bother me nearly as much as the fact that she was a witch. “I don’t know. That woman is impossible to read. She’s also sweating Abs coming around again.” Abs was what Reese called some asshole male witch that had decided to imprison other witches into magical and sexual servitude. The witches’ council was offering one hundred thousand dollars for him if he was turned in alive. No bounty for his dead body, what a shame.
“She’s not alone in that concern. Remember, he added my mate to his wish list. I suspect he’ll
try to find them when they aren’t together and take them one at a time. He can’t overcome their combined powers, but if one is alone, hell, who knows what would happen.”
Reese picked up the phone and I kept quiet. He was calling Terrill the warden. He would probably want to talk to both of us so I was sure Reese would put it on speaker.
“Hello? Terrill? I’m putting this on speaker because Stan is the reason I’m calling.” Reese explained.
“Why, did he go rogue?” Terrill asked with a chuckle to show it was a joke.
“No, but there is a real problem with our neighbors.” I offered.
“Yes, I’m aware there is a problem, but anytime I go to investigate, everyone’s mouth is shut.” Terrill confirmed.
“I think you’ll find that has changed. We need you here as soon as possible.” Reese requested.
“What’s going on?” Terrill wondered.
“I’m challenging James for alpha.” Stan admitted.
“How? You’re not a member of his pack.”
“No, but he has committed atrocities to three females that have asked us for protection and justice.” Reese confirmed.
“How does that involve Stan?” Terrill asked.
“I’ve volunteered to be the instrument of their attempt to seek justice.” I informed.
“Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?” Terrill asked.
“I am fully aware. I am Reese’s second and I fill in when he’s not here. I also know the pack is broken and needs a firm but fair hand.” I answered.
“I had to ask, Stan. Everything sounds right and I can be there tomorrow. I’ll speak to the ladies first, but you can go ahead and make the challenge for the afternoon. I’ll be bringing some help just in case.” Terrill promised.
“Thank you. We look forward to seeing you.” Reese said.
“Thanks for being so quick.” I added.
“Bye, guys.” Terrill said as he hung up.
That had gone amazingly fast and now it hit me hard. Tomorrow I would have the fight of my life. I didn’t think I would have any problem beating him or any of his current pack members. Since this was also a matter of justice, according to the rules he could call on a champion, but who could he get in less than a day and who would he trust to give their all to fight for his life? There was no one I could think of which meant I’d be facing James himself. The older wolf wasn’t old enough for it to cause problems normally, but he lived a lazy life. Even shifters who normally had muscles without any work, lost some when they did nothing at all for days on end.
None of us knew what he ate, but somehow, he’d managed to develop a bit of a gut. It was something I would have said was impossible, but maybe the goddess had cursed him for his lifestyle and the way he treated his pack. It was a puzzle I had no time to figure out now, but his poor condition was a point in my favor. My extremely good physical condition was another point for me. I was also an exceptional fighter and I practiced with Reese and lately, a few times with Alpha Roberts, they were the two top fighters in the area. I gave them a challenge, at least for a while before they took me out.
It was gratifying that Reese and Roberts both seemed to believe I’d win. That boosted my confidence and that was an important factor too. Trusting in myself and not overthinking would be crucial in what I hoped would be a quick victory. One thing that would have helped settle my wolf was if Rachel would have agreed to be my mate. Unfortunately, she was having a hard time deciding what she wanted. If she didn’t decide soon, I would be an unmated alpha. I knew that wasn’t good.
Some might point out that Reese had been single for many years, but he hadn’t been in sole control of our town and the pack alpha had been mated. It would be hard on me without the support of a mate. I would also be the target of all the unmated females in the pack. Rachel was who my wolf wanted and needed, but she couldn’t see it.
Her being a witch might make her harder to accept as far as the pack was concerned, but the strength of her wolf, once she changed, would make them accept her. Wolves respected strength more than anything. It was just their nature and James had taken advantage of that using it to punish and repress those who couldn’t fight him.
It was late now and I was going to take a walk around the perimeter to help me and my wolf. The hint of an exotic scent perfumed the air. It was Rachel wearing that jasmine scent she loved. It was light and flirty, and not what I needed right now.
“Stan?” She called out softly. With all the wolves around she might as well have yelled.
“I’m here.” I admitted.
“I haven’t seen you all day.” She complained.
“That’s because I’ve been tied up with pack business. You don’t think I’ve avoided you, do you?”
“No, I just wanted you to know I missed you.”
“If you decide to leave, that won’t do me any good. It’s an answer I need and as soon as possible. Life doesn’t always give you time to reason every possibility out and maybe when you’re dealing with love, you shouldn’t have to.”
“My track record with men hasn’t been the best and you’ve been the biggest player around.”
“I’ve never lied to any of the females I’ve been with. You know what I want with you and if you don’t think I mean it, our relationship wouldn’t work anyway.” I stalked off like a male on a mission, but walking the perimeter wasn’t a necessity. Someone had just come back minutes before with an all clear.
So far, it still looked clear, but maybe the walk would tire me so I could sleep. I felt insulted, but the worst part was I felt rejected. It would have been better had I not seen her before the challenge at all. I made it around, once I changed to my wolf and ran all the town’s whole perimeter. This would probably be the last time I would do this and it was my way of bidding the home of my youth, the place I was born even, goodbye.
I went home to my apartment. The building was a lot like barracks and my apartment the best of them all. Throwing my clothes around haphazardly, I didn’t really give a shit. Reese would assign me help if I moved and the other guys would pick the place clean if I died, I had no one else to leave it to.
The shower relaxed me and all my worries went down the drain with the sweat and dirt of the day. Pulling out a cold beer, I popped the top and guzzled it down all in one big swallow then I belched. Yeah, that was a good one. I hadn’t even bothered to dry off, but now I’d drip dried.
Turning on the TV, I surfed through the channels and left it on a sports channel. It was some freestyle fighting, anything goes. Mad Wolf was taking on Griz Bear. This was no human channel. In an attempt to keep hidden from the average humans, shifters had been banned from playing on human teams or competing directly against humans in the open. It wasn’t a challenge anyway and could result in human deaths.
Years ago, supes had formed their own teams. Many were based on all one kind, but some mixed it up and took whoever the hell they wanted. Mad Wolf was truly mad to take on this bear, even though Reese had done it once to save the life of a child. Even he wasn’t crazy enough to do it for sport. It was true Mad was a big ass wolf like Reese, but Griz was still a damn bear.
While I worried about winning my challenge tomorrow, James was no bear. He was a sad, disgusting, and old has been alpha. Nevertheless, he’d been an alpha for a hundred years and he must have learned something in all that time. Reese always lectured me about underestimating my opponent. This time I would be careful not to do so.
Restless, but tired, I turned off the TV and went to bed tossing and turning for hours before I finally fell asleep. When I woke to the alarm clock, I would have sworn I’d just gone to bed if it wasn’t for the bright sunlight coming in the window. Dragging my ass out of bed, I would face today with all the courage I had. If I lost, at least it was when I was trying to be a better male. The goddess, I was sure, would judge me kindly since I was following her laws about the treatment of those weaker than me.
Dressing in a comfortable pair of jeans, I pu
t on an old, but clean T-shirt. A pair of combat boots were pulled on over comfortable but durable socks. The battle often started out in human form, so my clothes wasn’t my best and fit the purpose. Unbidden, my mind wondered if she would be there. I thought not, but I wanted her there anyway. It wasn’t my way to ask her.
Now that I was dressed I knew I needed to get to the office. The first part of the day would be like any other day. Until the challenge, I was still Reese’s right hand man. That meant I had a job to do, until I didn’t. Walking the short distance to Reese’s house, the smell of food hit me in the stomach hard. At least my last meal before the challenge would be a good one.
I liked Reese’s cheesy eggs, but I was still glad to see Megan at the stove. She was doing the meal up right with biscuits, gravy, bacon, sausage, and eggs over easy, the way I liked them. It let me know the meal was for my benefit. Everyone else liked their eggs cooked more but Megan had fixed them for me.
“Hey Stan.” Megan greeted.
“How are you this morning, my old friend?” Reese asked.
“Ready to kick ass and let someone else take down the names.” I replied.
“That’s the right attitude. The only way he could win is by cheating. We’ll be there to stop any of that.” Reese assured.
Rachel walked in and everyone shut up and watched her. “Good morning everyone. You are all looking at me like I have some kind of shit on my face which I know I don’t.” Everyone looked away except me.
I couldn’t look away from her if I tried. “Mornin’.”
“Is it true?” Rachel asked.
I didn’t bother to pretend I didn’t know what she meant. “Yeah, I’m going to fight a challenge this afternoon.”
“Why you?” Rachel asked.
“Because I can and it’s the right thing to do.” I answered.
Stanley (Red Wolf Book 2) Page 1
