First to Fall

by Alexa Whitewolf

  Whatever Lucas communicates to him via his glare, it’s done in silent language and it’s enough to aggravate Finn. He clenches his jaw, angling his body so he’s partly between me and Lucas. “Dom made it clear Luz is his, and if you harm her, you’ll have to pay. You know the rules.”

  “Does she?” Lucas’ growl takes me by surprise, but I don’t back down. When his dark glare settles on me, he sneers. “Do you even know who you’re shacking up with?”

  The sting in my palm is the only indication of what I did. I stare down at the redness of it, then into Lucas’ face. My imprint is visible on the side of his face, and a muscle ticks in his jaw.

  I gulp, realizing I may have pissed off the alpha to the point of no return.

  Lucas glares at Finn next, then stomps off. Tristan watches him leave, muscles corded and just as tense. “You alright?”

  When he turns his gaze on me, I nod. “Yeah. No harm done.”

  “Forgive Lucas. He’s under a lot of pressure and Dom isn’t helping things out.”

  “Err... I just slapped your alpha. I'm pretty sure he has to forgive me, not the other way around.”

  Tristan snorts at that. “In all honesty, he deserves it when’s acting like a babaca.”

  I’m pretty sure he means Lucas is asking like a bastard, but when I glance to Finn for confirmation, he only rolls his eyes and looks at the ceiling. After a beat, I get us back on track. “What’s going on? Besides Dom and Jared’s pack? Does it have to do with this creature?”

  Finn inclines his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. A few weeks ago, bodies of animals showed up, eviscerated. At first we thought it was a human psycho, but all clues seem to point to this monster being the culprit.”

  “And it skulks around your place, or so Dom told us.” Tristan's admission increases my heartbeat. The idea of that monstrosity anywhere near where I sleep is enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck.

  “Why is it... killing like that?”

  “We don’t know.” Finn’s admission doesn’t make me feel any better. “We’ve been trying to track it down, but so far only Dom succeeded. Twice, it seems.”

  I wonder if I should tell them what else I’d seen, as we ran off to the car. When Tristan and Finn level their gazes on me, I sigh. Might as well. “You guys will want to up your game...because that creature’s not alone.”

  There’s a stunned beat of silence, then Finn steps closer. “What are you going on about, Red?”

  “I mean...” I gulp past my nervousness. “When we were fighting the wolves, the only reason we escaped is because of the creature that showed up—along with its buddies. It let us go... That’s why Dom and I were able to return here unharmed.”

  A string of curses escapes Finn, but in contrast Tristan is almost eerily calm. He follows his pacing friend, stepping to him and clasping his shoulder. “Go tell Lucas and find Dom. I’ll bring Luz back home and wait until she’s safe.”

  With one last glance at me, Finn takes off. And I’m left wondering if I made a mistake telling them this at all.

  “Venha comigo,” Tristan says, grabbing his car keys and a light jacket. “Let me tell you some more stories while I take you home... Give you some food for thought.”

  Dominic

  After fighting Lucas, I took off on a run and didn’t stop until I was back in the forest where I got attacked. Only four bodies litter the ground—all Reapers, Aiden’s guys. Their guts are hanging out, much like the previously attacked animals.

  Despite my need to retch and the stench driving me off, I push closer. I might as well try to figure out what's going on here. Maybe it will get Lucas off my back for good.

  Why I didn’t tell him about the creature letting us go, I don’t know. If I had to guess, I would say it has to do with my own theories about what, exactly, it is. I’d seen the way it attacked the Reapers, and I recognized something of myself in it.

  So yeah, deep down, I’m just being a coward because I’m afraid Lucas and the guys will turn on me if they figure out Tristan was right and this thing really is a vrykolakas.

  Or they’ll think I’m contaminated.

  Who even knows? Either way, I kept my silence, and now I’m nose-deep in disgusting shit. But as I inspect the carcass of the wolf, I notice something. There’s a deeper hole running through its chest, towards...

  Ah, hell no.

  I rip into the rest of the body with my claws, hoping I’m wrong. But, nope. After a few minutes that leave me bloody, I’m staring at an empty cavity where the heart should be.

  And by the way the stomach is gutted open, I realize the one thing we’ve been missing: these killings are happening while the hosts are still alive. All to take out their beating hearts... and consume them.

  I back away, having now received the answers we need. On my way out, I catch a fresh scent and follow it in the woods. My paws are silent on the ground, a shadow in the darkness. Night camouflages me and there’s no moon out there to brighten the landscape.

  After what feels like an hour, the scent stops. I’ve reached a frozen river, but a patch of ice is broken through—almost purposefully. I don’t even hesitate before jumping in and swimming across. Once on the other side, I take measured steps, not sure if this is a trap or a lair.

  The answer comes soon enough when I part through some bushes, keeping low to the ground. I’m on top of some hill, and about twenty feet down and across is the entrance to a cave. It’s dug deep in the mountain, pitch black.

  I’m not stupid enough to go there without backup, especially since I catch their scents from here. But who are they?

  You know the answer to that question.

  I jump up, looking around for the voice. Nothing jumps out of the shadows.

  We are kindred, you and I.

  My eyes keep scanning the surroundings, and they land back down. In the darkness of the cave, I see two yellow eyes staring straight at me. It’s only then I realize the wind must have carried my scent down to the creature... And its companions, if I’m to guess by the amount of yellow eyes joining the first speaker.

  Shit. I better get out of here.

  As I crouch backwards, I hear a tinkling laugh. I run from the monsters as far as my feet will carry me, but out of the corner of my eyes I could have sworn seeing some kind of nymph hop through the trees. Running out of time, and not wanting to get caught, I let it go.

  Instead, I push my feet towards The Cave. I know Lucas, at least, will be there tonight as he is every Saturday night.

  ∞ ♦ ∞

  Lucas is playing pool with two human women and Finn. He’s fooling around, acting all nonchalant but I see the tension in his back muscles, and in the way he hits the balls too hard.

  I clear my throat when I’m behind him. He freezes, as does everyone else around him.

  “Leave us.” His tone is curt to the girls, who scurry away like scared rabbits. Finn meets my gaze, almost trying to warn me.

  Before I can figure out what he means, Lucas whirls around, his fist catching me under the solar plexus with enough force to hurt. I grimace, but don’t back away, instead tensing my abs. His next right hook hits me under the jaw, and I stagger backwards.

  Still, my eyes don’t waver from his face—and that’s how I see the hurt and anger in his gaze.

  “You not only disobey your leader, but lie to him!” Lucas growls, hitting me again—this time in the ribs. He’s switching up his punches on purpose so I can’t predict them, and while I could fight back, I choose not to.

  I know the deal by now: you do something stupid, there are consequences. This is what I have to suffer through for Lucas to come out winner on the other end.

  Finn steps between us when it looks like Lucas won’t stop. “We’re drawing attention. Let’s at least take this outside.”

  Lucas glances at the bar where people have taken to staring our way. He nods and Finn ushers me outside, Lucas following our trail. My Irish buddy takes advantage of the slight repr
ieve and whispers, “Luz told me and Tristan about the creature. She didn’t tell Lucas, stood up to him.”

  I glance back, noticing a slight reddening to Lucas’ cheek. “Looks like she did more than stand up to him.”

  “Aye, he might have made a smart comment or two.” Finn’s mutter has my blood boil, but I know fighting my alpha now would be suicide.

  So I push the urge back down instead. We emerge from the back of the bar into the alley they dump garbage in, and I turn to face Lucas. His right hook catches me again in the face, and I step out of his reach.

  “Will you hear me out, at least?”

  His glare is more telling than his words. “You not only lie to your alpha, but you get your girlfriend to keep secrets. Don’t forget she’s only protected by this pack at my edict, something I can easily rearrange."

  And just like that, my control snaps. I snarl at Lucas, moving closer. “Don’t you dare put her in danger to get back at me!”

  He searches my expression, his hard as granite. “Tell me what you’ve been hiding. Everything. And then I’ll consider it.”

  Through gritted teeth, I reveal all I know. Aiden’s attack in the woods, the creature allowing our escape, and how there’s more than one. I even mention finding their lair and their comments to me. At Finn’s encouraging nod, I also give Lucas a play-by-play of our interrogation of Tiny, and what he revealed about the Reapers being victims.

  When I'm done, I widen my stance, centering myself in case Lucas plans to take another swing at me. Luckily, he’s too busy reflecting on the information to say anything, at least for a few moments.

  I take advantage of it and turn to Finn. “Where’s Luz?”

  “Tristan took her home and said he’ll make sure she’s safe.”

  “Good.” I address my next comment to Lucas. “The creature was around Luz’s place because of me. Though I don’t understand what this means, or how they’re ‘kindred’ to me, I’m more than happy to play bait.”

  “No.” Lucas’ tone catches me by surprise.

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Remove yourself from this and let me, Tristan and Finn figure out what’s going on.”

  “Don't do this, Lucas, not when you need another person to patrol!”

  He steps closer, so we’re nose to nose. “I said no. Capisci?”

  My nostrils are flaring, but by some last shred of control I inhale deeply and not strike back. “Fine.”

  I turn to leave, but he’s not done yet. “And you’re also to keep away from Lucrezia.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Do I need to repeat myself?” He crosses his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow. “Stay. Away. Do not claim her. I forbid it.”

  “That’s bullshit!” I look to Finn for backup, but he only shakes his head in response. “You can’t do this!”

  Lucas stalks to me and raises his hand to my throat. I grab it midway, not about to submit. We crush each other’s grips, snarling. “I am your alpha, and you will obey me. I forbid you to claim Lucrezia.”

  “Fuck you!” I let go of him and storm off, a need raging within me. My wolf is just as agitated, pushing to gain control and fight Lucas for alpha.

  I know he’s doing it to punish me. Beating me up is not enough, Lucas wants me to submit completely, to drop all my ideas of rebellion and obey. The word alone makes my mouth taste metallic, and I realize I’m gritting my teeth so hard I’ve manage to bite into my lip.

  A few deep breaths do nothing to calm me down, so I turn to the closest thing I can—which happens to be the bumper of a car— and slam my fist into it. The bite of pain doesn’t even register, and I stomp away.

  If Lucas thinks this’ll be enough to make me listen, he’s sorely mistaken. Nothing and no one will keep me away from Luz, not now that she knows what I am, and accepts me.

  My feet bring me closer to Luz’s place with each angry stomp. I climb up the fire escape, and tap on the window. She appears clad in sweatpants and a shirt and lets me in. Relief is on her face when she hugs me.

  “Dom, I was scared! I’m sorry about what I said, you were right about Lucas—”

  I stop her with my index on her lips. His name is the last thing I want to hear pouring from her. Then my nostrils flare, smelling...

  “Is that my shirt?”

  She chuckles, glancing down at the oversized clothing I must have left here last time. “Yeah.”

  Whatever restraint I have evaporates at the realization my scent is on her. I pull her close, my mouth claiming hers with a fervor I barely recognize. Her lips open under mine, pure heaven. My hands move to her ass, lifting her so her legs wrap around me.

  I move us to the dresser, lowering her so she’s comfortable. My hands move up to her nipples, grasping them through the shirt and rolling them between my fingers.

  Luz moans, and it’s music to my ears.

  “Dom...” There’s an awed quality to her voice, like she’s amazed at the sensations running through her, but I’m not about to stop.

  “Shh... I may not be able to claim you, but I can give you this.”

  Lucrezia

  His words make no sense, all I’m aware of is the need in my blood.

  When Dom showed up, looking an avenging angel in need of consolation, I thought he’d missed me. When his lips made contact with mine, I felt his need, his hunger, and it awakened something inside me.

  Now, with his body hovering over mine, his lips on my neck, I feel the ceiling swirl just like everything inside me. There’s a tornado trying to take hold of me, something I can’t control, something I can’t stop...

  “Dom...”

  His fingers move between my thighs, touching me over my clothing. “Do you want me to stop?”

  I manage to open my eyes halfway, enough to read his expression, see the need in his face. That same yearning is unraveling within me, and leaving me panting. One word alone escapes my lips. “No.”

  Dom takes my mouth again, at the same time his hand pushes aside my panties. His fingers trace me, then move within me, and I am gone. A puddle of nerves, emotions, sensations....

  And then all I see is stars.

  As my panting subsides, Dom lowers his forehead to mine, hovering just above my lips. When the kiss comes, it's tender and loving, but unforgiving. He takes everything in that embrace, and pulls back without saying a word.

  In the darkness, his expression is haunted, his eyes unreadable. I know he wants me, the evidence is there.

  Yet in the blink of an eye, he’s gone in the night like the most forbidden of dreams.

  ∞ 11 – Schimbare ∞

  “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on

  fighting the old, but on building the new.”

  -Socrates-

  LUCREZIA

  I spend most of Sunday wallowing and waiting for Monday. Dom doesn’t call, doesn’t come by, and something tells me to give him space. So I do, despite wanting to see him, to figure out what, exactly, happened that Saturday night.

  Deep down, I also just want to get it over with and tell him my feelings already. Keeping them locked up makes me go almost crazy, especially when I think of the misunderstanding between us.

  In the evening, I see Tristan jogging around my place, and I figure he’s probably checking out the area. I’m grateful to them for worrying about me, but I'd rather not be a nuisance or a weak link.

  So I spend the remainder of the night working out on self-defense moves, then fall into a fitful sleep. I don’t know what to expect the next day when I start work.

  After the way we left things, you’d think Dom would at least talk to me, but he won’t even look at me. When he shows up at the office, he only nods my way, then heads straight to the garage. Finn and Tristan follow close on his heels, and I’m not about to start a scene with the guys there.

  It’s not that I’m hurt, per se. I mean he offered me a very wonderful experience, dropped some cryptic words about claiming, then took
off. If anything, after my last chat with Lucas, a weird heavy weight seems to have settled in my stomach.

  So I bide my time until lunch.

  Lucas’ glares and sullen attitude are not much better for my nerves, though it doesn’t bother me as much as Dom’s silence. That, more than anything, confirms what I’ve already figured out: it’s Dom I care about, not Lucas.

  Funnily enough, it’s only Finn and Tristan that act normal towards me—maybe too much so.

  During one of their breaks, Finn comes by to bring me a coffee. He did a run for everyone earlier. It used to fall in my tasks, but by some unspoken agreement it seems to have now gone to someone who can turn into a wolf at a moment’s notice.

  I’m not sure if this is yet another way to protect me from hidden dangers like the Reapers and those creatures, but I try to see it as protectiveness rather than limitation. I realize they mean well, but there’s a limit. Still, I take the coffee from Finn with a smile, and sip it. The warm liquid cascades down my throat, and I grin wider at the hint of hazelnut.

  “How did you guess?”

  He glances to the garage, catching Dom’s eye before he turns away. “A little birdie told me.”

  I follow his gaze, then sigh. “Why is he keeping a distance, Finn? Last night...”

  When I trail off, blushing, he smacks his forehead with a hiss. “Please tell me nothing happened between you two.”

  Flushing crimson, I avoid his knowing gaze. “Define nothing.”

  “Christ.” He’s looking in Dom’s direction again. “He must have a death wish.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Finn searches my expression, and I can see the conflict warring in his face. He mutters under his breath and drags me away to the kitchen. “They never said I couldn’t tell you. Listen, Lucas ordered Dom to stay away from you.”

  “But... why?” And why would Dom listen?

  As though hearing both my questions, Finn purses his lips. “You have to understand the pack bond, Luz. This has nothing to do with the strength of Dom’s feelings for you, but rather with his wolf.”

  Something in my face must have given me away, because he lets go of my shoulders and moves away, running a hand through his hair. “All right, let’s try it this way. A dog loves you unconditionally, yeah?”