by Tasha Black
She hopped to her feet, shaking her shaggy coat as though she could shake off the experience.
Cressida was dressing Erik down. His ears were down and he panted at Ainsley.
“You know this is her first time! Maybe it seems like fun to you, but we’re not playing!”
Great. Now even Cressida was condescending her.
Ainsley growled at Cressida. Immediately the girl stepped back and shut her mouth.
Ainsley bounced quickly onto splayed front legs in a staccato gesture she hoped they would interpret correctly as an invitation for more fighting.
“That’s what I like to see, Connor. You better be ready this time.”
Cressida melted back into a wolf and disappeared as Erik slowly circled her.
It was going to be a long day.
CHAPTER 4
By the time the sun was in the center of the sky, Ainsley was exhausted and despondent.
When Erik dropped her again, she growled. He stepped back.
She shifted into her human form, without even bothering to sit up.
“There’s no point,” she whispered.
He nuzzled her face with his wet nose as she tried to hold back her tears.
“He should kill me. I would be a terrible alpha. I’m too weak.”
“You’re just hungry,” Cressida said in a casual tone. She had appeared next to Ainsley and shifted without warning.
At that, Erik shifted too.
“Come on, let’s get some food. We can talk more after that,” he said, pulling Ainsley to her feet.
She hated to take any support from him - it hurt her pride. But she was so tired she felt like he could have carried her into the house and she wouldn’t have cared. Besides, he was her mate, he was supposed to take care of her.
They made their way back inside and Erik deposited her on the soft out on the porch.
“I’ll be right back with sandwiches,” he promised.
Cressida sank to the floor at her feet and leaned her blonde head against the sofa.
“This isn’t going to work,” Ainsley said as soon as he was out of their hearing. “Erik is trying to spare my feelings, but I know you’ll tell me the truth.”
“Erik will tell you the truth too,” Cressida said. “And it’s not hopeless, you’re just not trying hard enough. Eat and then try again.”
“It’s just going to be more of the same. I’ll never be big enough to beat Erik or fast enough to catch you.”
Cressida turned and knelt up to look into Ainsley’s eyes.
“You are my alpha now, Ainsley Connor. I will not answer to Clive Warren. You’re gonna have to figure this out.”
Ainsley stared back at her angrily.
Erik came in with plates of turkey sandwiches, a couple of mugs and a gallon of chocolate milk on a tray.
“What’s going on? I was only gone for a minute!”
Cressida stood down, but Ainsley was still furious.
“Erik, this isn’t going to work.”
“Eat, please, Ainsley,” he replied calmly as he settled himself on the floor opposite Cressida.
She wanted to argue but the sandwiches smelled too delicious. She ate ravenously while the other two watched.
Erik poured a mug of chocolate milk and handed it to her. She downed in a gulp.
When she slowed down on her second sandwich Erik and Cressida began to eat too. There was a friendly silence as they ate together. Ainsley wondered idly whether that was a wolf thing too.
Finally they finished and Erik carried the tray back to the kitchen.
Cressida leaned companionably against Ainsley’s legs. Ainsley would have pushed her off except that after the meal she was feeling so much better. And Cressida was warm and languid. It made Ainsley sleepy.
Before she could drift off, Erik reappeared.
“So, what did you learn today?” he asked.
Cressida sat up again and looked to Ainsley.
“I learned that I’m strong but not strong enough. And I’m fast but not fast enough.”
“What does that tell you?”
Ainsley thought about it.
“It tells me that Clive Warren is going to kill me and wear my pelt like a sweater to keep everyone else in line.”
Cressida barked out a quick laugh before Erik silenced her with a stern look.
“It tells me that there must be something else, Ainsley.”
“What do you mean?”
“We all have different abilities. For example, I’m big and strong, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think Clive is stronger than I am?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think I can do that he can’t?”
Ainsley thought about it.
“You’re smarter than he is.”
“Yes, and I’m more patient – more disciplined. If I fought Clive, I would have to avoid a direct battle of strength. Instead I would have to frustrate him and take him when he’s impatient and vulnerable.”
Ainsley nodded. It made sense, in theory.
“What about Cressida?” Erik asked.
“She’s quick as hell, and she fights dirty.”
Cressida nodded proudly, like she was accepting an award.
“She sure does,” Erik said. “Clive wouldn’t know what hit him. And Cressida is small enough and fast enough that she could wear him out trying to find her. Then she would just need enough strength to finish him.”
Ainsley nodded.
“So what you do have, Ainsley?” Erik asked. “What’s special about you – that no other wolf has? How are you going to do it?”
Ainsley wished she had an answer.
CHAPTER 5
The telephone rang, leaving the question hanging in the air.
They turned their heads as one to look at it.
Its sound was so bright and normal, it felt out of place in their conversation.
Erik hopped up and answered.
“Hello... Um, yes, she is - hang on.” He covered the receiver with his palm. “Ainsley, it’s Grace for you.”
Ainsley slid off the sofa, lightly caressing Cressida’s soft blonde head on her way. She took the receiver from Erik and headed to the kitchen.
“Hi, Grace.”
“Ainsley, what in the world is going on?”
Good lord. Where to begin?
“I’m the alpha.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Apparently.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“WOW.”
“Yeah.”
There was a pause.
“So things still seem…intense in town. Is everyone on board with this?”
“That’s a nice way to put it.”
“Ainsley, make no mistake, I think you’ll make a fantastic alpha. I can’t think of anyone better suited. Maybe I should have just asked… how I can help?”
Ainsley laughed.
“Grace, you’re the best friend a woman could have, you know that right?”
“If we pull this off you’ll have to put your money where your mouth is. I’m talking about coffee and a real discussion of an Oprah’s Book Club selection.”
Ainsley couldn’t begin to imagine such a thing. Even in New York she hadn’t had time for that sort of thing. But it sounded really nice. She laughed.
“If you get me out of this we can do that once a week for the rest of our lives.”
“Tell me everything.”
She did.
By the end of the conversation, Ainsley was pretty sure Grace was barely hiding her shock. And Ainsley hadn’t even told her about Cressida’s visit to the house a few days ago.
“So what are you going to do?” Grace asked when Ainsley had finished.
“Probably be killed,” Ainsley said glumly.
“Are you telling me that you are more intimidated by Clive Warren than by those tough New York rich guys you’ve been dealing with?”
“Hm, I never th
ought about it that way. Of course those guys aren’t trying to kill me.”
“Aren’t they? It seems like a pretty dog eat dog business to me.”
Ainsley laughed.
“As long as I’ve known you, you have never once failed at anything that was really important to you. Remember the Girl Scout cookies - and the softball final where you pulled your shoulder? Remember the spelling bee?”
Oh god, that spelling bee. She had been obsessed with winning even though she couldn’t compete at Regional because of a softball game.
“You’ve got this, Ainsley. Call me when you figure out how I can help,” Grace said.
Erik padded into the kitchen and twined Ainsley’s hair around his fingers. Cressida followed a few paces behind.
“Thank you, Grace.”
“Be careful. I’ll talk to you soon.”
CHAPTER 6
C live paced back and forth restlessly on the rubber mulch of the playground. It was after 2:00, and there was no one here except Justin and Will and some dumb kid from the coffee shop.
Will and Justin were actually swinging and giggling like little kids. The old swings squeaked in a very annoying way with every movement. The coffee shop kid was sitting on a bench tapping away on his cell phone, like he was their au pair or something.
Clive had thought that the town toddler park would be a central place to meet. Since it was closed down to exterminate hornets, nobody would get in their way.
Of course family after family had tried to come in. These damned stay-at-home losers clearly couldn’t find the time to read the local paper or they would know better.
Every time someone came to the gate he would be excited. Only to realize they had a stupid toddler with them.
“Park’s closed,” he said to the most recent arrival.
The guy had a baby in one of those chest carriers. He looked like a total moron.
“Oh, Dylan and I are here for the meeting,” the guy said with a big goofy smile.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
“Alright, come on in.”
“I’m David Drury.”
Shit, of course he was. Clive remembered the guy from high school. He was a total drip.
Clive couldn’t understand why nobody was here. He was the sheriff, for fuck’s sake. He was the best looking guy in town – there should at least have been women here.
And the guys still respected him from high school football. He’d given up a scholarship and a chance at the pros to come back to this town.
They must be afraid.
As soon as Clive came forward tonight, though, the others would have to stand behind him. They wouldn’t really allow Ainsley Connor to lead them. Not when they had Clive Warren willing to serve.
It was 2:15pm. Time to get started.
Clive turned to address his supporters.
“Okay, people, let’s huddle.”
The coffee kid put away his phone and stood. Justin and Will flung themselves off the swings. David Drury ambled over – he had been looking at the “Lost Cat” posters that lined the back of the fence. When David got close enough the baby locked his gaze with Clive’s. He made a raspberry sound with his tiny lips. Christ. Even the baby was a drip.
“He likes you!” David said.
Clive figured the best thing he could do was ignore him.
“We’re here because we agree that Ainsley Connor is not the right choice for the leader of this pack. Right?”
They all nodded.
Clive had envisioned a huge crowd with a bunch of big guys yelling and fist pumping at that.
“We’re going to strike tonight – we don’t want to give her much time to think. I’ll challenge her. She won’t have a chance.”
They stared at him. Coffee shop kid nodded.
Fuck this. He was really going to freak them out.
“And just in case, I have…this.”
He pulled a velvet jewelry box out of his pocket. He opened it carefully so as not to touch the contents.
“I thought she already turned you down, man,” David said sympathetically.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Do you seriously think that if she beats me in a fight I’m going to propose to her?”
Clive held out the box. In it, a smooth silver shape gleamed.
They all gazed into the box. Will broke the silence.
“Just one?”
“They don’t exactly sell these at WalMart!” Clive snapped. “Besides, one is all it’ll take.”
Clive reached for his weapon. He was carrying his father’s old Smith & Wesson service revolver today, on account of the special occasion. He slid the gun out of its well-oiled holster and deftly shot a bullet though the heads of all six lost cats on the posters.
There was utter silence as he emptied the shells and carefully loaded the silver bullet.
When he looked up there was a lady with a twin stroller staring at him from the other side of the gates. There was an expression of terror on her face.
“The park is closed for extermination today. Can’t you read?”
The lady scurried away.
“Let’s get out of here,” Clive said. “Meet me at the inn construction site at 9. Tell everyone.”
He didn’t wait to see how they would respond. He took off and jumped the gate instead of trying to figure out the child locks.
A few more hours and he’d be alpha. Then he wouldn’t have to deal with drips and adult-sized children anymore.
CHAPTER 7
J ust before dusk, Ainsley was roused by the approach of a wolf.
For a moment she was disoriented. Then she realized she was lying in Erik’s arms. Cressida snoozed on the floor at their feet. They had continued her training after lunch and must have fallen asleep while they were discussing strategy after dinner.
She sat up and grabbed Erik’s hand. His eyes opened instantly and he reached for Cressida’ blonde head.
There was a gentle knock at the door.
Erik pressed Ainsley’s shoulder down as he got up, indicating that he wanted her to stay back.
Cressida slid onto the sofa next to her, leaning back against Ainsley’s chest as if to shield her.
“Yeah?”
“I’m here on behalf of Sheriff Clive Warren and the pack of Tarker’s Mills. Sheriff Warren wishes to challenge Ainsley Connor for control of the Tarker’s Mills pack tonight at 9:00, at the building site for the Tarker’s Mills Inn.”
The young man looked familiar. It was Justin – one of the college kids who had moved her furniture. Ainsley was stunned.
“Ainsley Connor, alpha and heir of the Tarker’s Mills pack, will answer Clive Warren’s challenge tonight at 9:00, at the building site for the Tarker’s Mills Inn,” Erik replied evenly.
The two men nodded at each other. Then Justin disappeared into the night.
“At least he didn’t keep us waiting,” Erik said.
Ainsley couldn’t answer. She had never had so much as a schoolyard tussle. Was she really going to fight the biggest wolf in Tarker’s Mills to the death at a construction site in the middle of the night?
Cressida turned to her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“You’re at a crossroads, Ainsley Connor, and the decision you make right now decides if you live or die.”
“I’m going to fight, Cressida, don’t worry.”
“No, not that decision.”
Ainsley stared into Cressida’s brown eyes, waiting.
“You can decide that you are scared. You can worry and you can over think this and you will be killed immediately. OR you can do what you did the other night.”
“What do you mean?”
“When Clive came after you. Did you get scared? Or did you get angry?”
“I got angry.”
Erik knelt by Cressida’s side to listen.
“Ainsley do you know what the pack will do to Erik and to me if Clive takes you down tonight?” Cressida continued.
“No.”
/> “Neither do we.” Cressida said. “How does that make you feel?”
“Responsible? Scared?”
“No,” Cressida replied. “How does it make you feel?”
Ainsley closed her eyes and tried to turn her brain off.
A wave of fury surged through her chest. Challenging her leadership and threatening the inner circle of her pack was an unspeakable audacity. Clive Warren would pay for it dearly.
A deep growl emanated from her chest and opened into a howl that shook the whole forest. Erik and Cressida added their voices in a cacophonous harmony.
“What now?” Ainsley asked when their song was done.
“Eat, drink, walk to town,” Erik said.
Ainsley wasn’t hungry, but she knew she’d better take any sustenance she could.
CHAPTER 8
Grace had a bad feeling.
Something wasn’t right about the call. First of all, it didn’t come from dispatch. Secondly, Clive was not the type of guy to get personally worried about a situation in the middle of the night. He was more the type to forget he was on call and drink beer while the emergency calls rang until they were forwarded to the Springton Police.
But Grace was a good cop. And this was a domestic with a little kid involved. She could ask all the questions she wanted later. For now she had to do whatever needed to be done to save the little boy.
She hopped into her patrol car and headed out to Hillside Avenue, in the far northwest corner of Tarker’s Mills. It seemed like there were more cars on the road than would be typical on a weeknight at 8:45. And there were people out walking too. It must be the unseasonably good weather. Or maybe there was something going on over at the college campus.
Clive usually put out word if there were anything unusual going on over at campus, though. And nobody out tonight really looked like they were headed anywhere fun. As a matter of fact, to Grace they all looked like they were going to a funeral.
She would head over and check it out herself, as soon as she finished this call.
CHAPTER 9
A insley could feel the vibration of her pack’s anticipation. She wasn’t surprised when she entered the construction site to find so many in attendance.
Erik and Cressida followed behind her.
