I looked around, breathing in the fresh nighttime air. It felt cool on my flesh, refreshing, and I loved the scent of nature surrounding me. I smelled it more acutely than I had ever before. Another sign I was about to become wolf. I looked around again at the crowd that was gathered and saw Elias chatting with a group of wolves. It had been at least two years since the last time we’d spoken. I made my way over to him, smiling.
“Sorry to interrupt, gentlemen. I just wanted to speak with Elias,” I said.
They looked at me, then back to Elias, and there was a bit of a chuckle shared between them and some looks that didn’t escape my notice before they parted ways. It left me with a sense that, perhaps, I had been the topic of discussion before I came over and it wasn’t positive.
“So, tonight is a special one for you. Finally becoming the one thing you’ve always wanted to be,” Elias said, but the tone of his voice wasn’t a friendly one. There was an undertone of scorn.
I frowned. “Have I offended you, Elias?” I asked, getting right to the root of what I perceived to be a problem between us.
He looked around at the other wolves, knowing they could all hear our conversation. He looked back at me. “I appreciate you bringing me into the pack… but I have since learned that it was all part of your mission. Your rise to power. You should be a grunt in his pack, omega like the other wolves who will have their transformation. But you, by manipulating me, have earned yourself a ranking you don’t deserve.”
His words struck me like a blow. I had considered Elias my friend. I could have let him die the night he underwent his transformation, and no one would have given a damn, except me. But I didn’t want to lose him, his friendship. We’d spent years together, going to galas where he’d taught me how to dance the waltz and how to mingle with the echelon of British social elite. He had even taught me the other languages he knew like French and Italian. I’d taught him how to fight and how to hunt, and the nights where we’d fucked had been quite fulfilling to us both. To have him turn on me, even after I’d given him everything he’d wanted… it hurt. I didn’t have many friends. Winston never really allowed me to leave his presence growing up. Elias, though he was my mission at one time, I felt was my friend.
“Who told you such things?” I asked, wanting to know who’d turned Elias’ love for me against me. Although we hadn’t seen each other in two years, our last encounter had been a pleasant one. This felt like such a betrayal.
“Does it matter if it’s true?” he asked.
“I was sent to befriend you, yes. Our alpha wanted someone of your stature in our pack. But I never lied to you about what I was and what the pack was,” I said. “And even though I was sent to befriend you, it was still a real friendship to me, Elias.”
He snorted. “No, you just lied about ever being my real friend. You used me, Deacon. You hated Winston and clung to me to avoid having to stay with him. I bet you were happy those hunters killed him, if that was even how the attack truly transpired. One can never know what’s real and what’s false where you’re concerned. So, congratulations to your promotion within the pack. I hope it was worth it.”
“That’s not fair, Elias. You act like you didn’t use me when it suited you,” I said, alluding to how he believed he was manipulating me to kill his father.
His smile was cruel and he nodded. “As if that didn’t benefit you as well. At least, I won’t have to call you ‘Sir’ as I am a Beta Capo, outranking you, because I’m worth more to our Alpha. Take care, Deacon.”
With those last words, he walked away from me to return to the group he’d been conversing with before I’d interrupted. Among the group was one wolf of note to me. Angus, the wolf who’d been raping my mother the night my family had been taken from me. Four wolves entered my home that night and their names were forever engrained in my mind. Winston, Angus, Bernard, and Graham. I had already indulged in my revenge against Winston. No matter how long it would take me, I would also have my revenge regardless of the cost on the remaining three.
Angus had not only soiled my mother’s body with his putrid seed, I could only imagine what she’d suffered at their hands. My father helpless to defend her as he’d been severed into two pieces, and her son… too much of a coward then and too weak to protect her. I’d rather they had dispatched her as quickly as they had my father than put her through the torture they did. As if that atrocity to me wasn’t enough, he had now poisoned the mind of my friend. He would pay for it all!
I could feel my anger rising within me like a volcano ready to erupt when the crowd broke into cheers. It jarred me out of my rage and I turned to see Connor come out of his home with his wife, Patricia, beside him. Royce’s mom looked like she was the same age as her son. I hoped that one day, he would find his mate, because that would make us a more powerful pack. He walked into the middle of the crowd that had gathered and all eyes were on him. There was a fire going, and inside the fire was an iron brand I knew I would have to accept. The crest of our pack. For so long, I had dreamed of proudly baring that lone wolf howling on a mountain top on my flesh. Finally, the day had come.
Royce came up beside me. “I heard that conversation, don’t let it get to you, Deacon. You earned your promotion. Some wolves are just jealous.”
I was still staring at the offending wolves, feeling my anger boiling. “Doesn’t matter, I will never lower myself in order to be accepted by those lesser than me, regardless of rank. Let them be jealous, as unremarkable people usually are when faced with greatness,” I said.
Royce laughed. “Well, here I came over to try to cheer you up, but your ego remains intact.”
I turned to Royce and laughed under my breath. “Yes…” I made an offhanded gesture. “My defense mechanism.”
“A strong one, don’t ever lose it.” He smiled, then turned to give his father his undivided attention and I did the same. The conversation with Royce helped ease my anger, as I had more important things happening for me tonight. I was going to be honored.
“Wolves, we are fortunate tonight that we welcome four new pups into our pack,” Connor said, then made a sweeping gesture to include everyone. There were some cheers and clapping and I felt even more accepted. “We are stronger now than we have ever been and we will become stronger after tonight.”
More cheers and clapping.
Connor’s gaze settled upon me and I felt Royce nudge my back from behind. “Deacon, come forward.”
I obeyed and placed one foot in front of the other until I was standing in front of Connor. He clamped one hand on my shoulder and turned me around to face the pack. “This young natural-born has long since proven himself a worthy member of this pack. Loyal and fierce, he has more than earned this position that I will give him. Once he has made the final change, he will be your Capo of district ten. I will expect you all show him the respect that is due his title.”
There were some cheers and claps, but not from everyone. Elias and those around him did not celebrate my ascension. Still, no one protested, as they knew better than to challenge the Alpha on his decision. I knew many didn’t think I deserved the high rank, but I disagreed. In my time as a human, I had managed to bring in other humans into the pack. Seducing them with power and immortality, and they had become valuable members of the pack. I was so skilled at weeding out the humans who were useless that Connor had given me the position of recruiter. The money I received in bonuses I’d been saving for the time when I’d be given the title of Capo. Everything I’d been working toward was falling into place and I didn’t care if others were jealous.
I smiled and thanked my Alpha for his generous gift.
“You have earned it, Deacon,” he said. “Now, it is almost time, you should undress and prepare to make your oath and take your branding.”
I nodded, then removed my clothing. I was joined by the other three natural-borns who were also making their first change tonight. We were all lined up and Connor stepped in front of me and I felt my pride rise knowing
I was about to be inducted.
“Do you swear to always be loyal to this pack and all of your brothers and sisters within until your death?” Connor asked.
“I swear, Alpha.” I said. He cut his wrist with one of his sharp claws, then offered his blood to me. I pressed my lips to his flesh and licked his blood. I could immediately feel a surge flow through me, connecting me to Connor as my Alpha and through him, to my pack. He did the same to the other three, having them swear the oath and take his blood. Next, he came back to me with the branding iron, the crest of our pack smoking as it glowed bright red. I presented my forearm for the branding.
He smiled and pressed the glowing red end of the brand to my arm. Royce had already told me how much it was going to hurt and I gritted my teeth as the iron burned the image into my smoldering skin.
Connor nodded as he pulled the branding iron away and examined the burn. I breathed a sigh of relief once the pain wasn’t as intense. “Very nice, and you took it like a man.” He winked, then went to the next wolf.
The wolf next to me, Wendel, did scream and the pack laughed, but at least he didn’t snatch his wrist away, which was where he was branded. After reheating the branding iron, Connor branded James and Marcus, and neither of them screamed, but Marcus did growl. Finally, our initiation was over and were now just waiting for the moment when nature took over. In the meantime, some of the pack took naps while others wrestled or fucked. Wolves were a frisky bunch and being idle wasn’t our strong point. I killed the time chatting with Royce and a few other wolves who did care about me. The idle conversation was nice.
The moon was high in the sky, shining brightly, and that was when I felt the first pangs of pain. My muscles tightened and I cried out as they felt like they were being pulled and twisted. My body contorted and I fell to my knees. One by one, the other three who stood with me began their transformations. The wolves surrounding us all cheered and howled as it happened as their way of celebrating the new pups being inducted. I, of course, couldn’t celebrate with them at the moment. I was in too much excruciating agony.
I fell into a fetal position, holding my stomach as my insides churned. I could literally feel my organs shifting to accommodate my wolf form and it was so bad, I wanted to vomit. My bones cracked, shifted, and reformed one by one, and all I could do was scream. If this was what it felt like with the potion Royce had given me, I couldn’t image the pain I’d be experiencing if I hadn’t taken it. It was almost enough to drive a lesser person insane. Sweat poured from my pores as gray fur sprouted from beneath my skin.
The transformation felt like it took forever, with my body breaking apart and coming back together to form a wolf. I was shaking, unable to stand for the time being. The ache was starting to fade, but I was still in shock. I whimpered as I felt the nudge of my Alpha’s nose. He pawed me, urging me to rise. He then did the same to the other three until we all had to steady ourselves on our brand-new, four wolf legs. That was when he released a howl the rest of the pack echoed. The sound was so seductive and commanding, I couldn’t help myself. I had to join in the group howl. I tossed my head back, releasing my own wolf’s call. It was done, I was full pack.
After the howl ended, the Alpha darted off into the forest and the entire pack followed him. I caught up, running with my new wolf legs, and I felt sheer exhilaration. The wind rushed past me as the leaves and twigs brushed along my fur-covered flank and I had never felt so connected with nature as I did at that moment. Just running free made me feel a happiness that had eluded me for twenty-five years. I finally understood why Winston and even my parents had endured the pain of their transformation to hunt in wolf form. This was a gift, no doubt. A gift from whatever god had granted it to my kind.
The hunt was on and the pack feasted on deer, fox, and I found myself a rabbit to enjoy. This was everything, and I wanted this night to go on and on. I played with members of my pack and it all felt so natural. I even got a chance to fuck one of my brothers when he slid along the length of my body, seducing me. The orgasm I experienced went on longer than any I could have hoped to have in my human form. I nearly blacked out afterward, but I did take a nap. I got up a few hours before sunrise and hunted again, then frolicked with several members of my pack before falling asleep again.
What I didn’t enjoy was the pain of my transformation back into my human form. It was faster than the first one, but still extremely unpleasant. I was trembling and sweating as I leaned on my hands and knees. My stomach ached and I felt a wave of nausea roll through me I couldn’t hold back. I vomited the half-digested fox I’d eaten in the early hours and it was gross as hell. The eyeball was still intact, and that made me even sicker.
“That will pass,” Royce said, then I felt him patting my back. “Sometimes, after the first hunt, young wolves are sick. Your stomachs are still adjusting to your wolf form. The next time you change and hunt, you should be all right.”
I spit the last of the bile on the ground, then shrank away from the mess. I looked up at Royce, shivering. “Will I feel this pain the next time?”
“Some of it, but not as intensely. Everything will be less painful and faster, but it is the price we pay for the privilege,” he said.
I nodded and once I felt I’d regained my strength, I rose to my feet with his help. His beautiful wife, Agnes, jogged over to us, smiling. I cared a great deal for her. She had pretty much taken me under her wing, treating me with the kind of compassion a mother shows to a child. Her brown eyes were so warm as she looked at her husband and me, then she reached out, caressing my cheek.
“See, I told you it would be fun,” she said.
I laughed. “After the pain, yes, it was fun.”
“And I see you met a new friend.”
I smiled. “I did, and it was amazing.”
“Why do you think wolves love to fuck?” Royce asked, then patted me on the shoulder before stepping closer to his wife, wrapping her in his arms. “I’m sure I’ll plant my seed in this one soon.”
“Oh, Royce, you cad,” Agnes yelped before sharing a passionate kiss with her husband.
He slapped her bared arse when he broke the kiss. “Let us go back home. I do have work to attend to this morning.”
She nodded, then trotted off to retrieve their clothes. Meanwhile, I walked back with Royce to where I’d taken off my own clothes. “Can I stay with you until I get my own home?” I asked.
He nodded. “For a time, but as Capo, you will need your own home, your own post.”
“I want that, perhaps I will rebuild the cottage.”
Royce cocked an eyebrow. “That will take time.”
“Faster if wolves do it, right?”
He laughed. “Correct. Are you sure you want to live there?”
I nodded. “I like the seclusion, yet it is not too far away from the district I have to protect.”
“It is an hour’s ride by horseback, less if you travel as wolf. I think my father will approve.”
“Good. I will begin making arrangements today.”
The one good thing Winston ever did for me was give me the land the cottage had been built on. I should have already rebuilt, but truth was, I was uncertain if I wanted to live on the same property that held so many bad memories for me. It wasn’t until I was hunting in the forest did I come to the mind that I wanted my own private forest to run free on. The home I would build for myself would have all the luxury I felt I was entitled to. And as a Capo, I wouldn’t have to pay wolves as much as I would have to pay humans, because they would have to follow my orders with some compensation.
I was ready to begin my new life and along with it, all the perks.
CHAPTER TEN
The Silver Lining
I had been a wolf for over fifty years, and now that I was officially pack, I got a chance to meet more wolves. To go to gatherings where the inner workings of the pack was discussed and I’d been allowed to add my own input. I took none of it for granted. Another thing it allowed me to do was mon
itor those who were on my list to eliminate. I was targeting Angus now, for his offenses against me had been most egregious. I knew I had to take my time with these endeavors, for killing off pack members wasn’t a crime taken lightly. If I were to be discovered, I would be tried by the pack and no doubt, found guilty and savagely murdered.
That, I didn’t want, so one had to be patient in such matters of revenge, and I enjoyed playing the long game. For instance, I had discovered that dear Angus had developed a taste for pudding and often would visit Pudding Lane to a certain bakery there for his treat. Paying off the baker, Thomas Farynor, was easy enough. Making sure he kept quiet about my plan was another story. I had threatened his life if he dared to reveal what I was planning to anyone. One thing I had learned in all these years, especially when dealing with humans, was that many, if not all, were motivated by financial gain. A lesson Royce had taught me.
I gave him ten shillings to lace only the pudding Angus wanted with a mixture of yellow and blue wolfsbane. Upon doing so, I would give him another ten shillings. He had promised to do so, and I was depending on his greed to carry it through. This was the night and the right time for it. I had made certain that my scent wasn’t in the area, and if it was, it was too faint for it to matter if Angus had somehow picked up on it. I had met with Thomas over a month prior and made certain that this night would be timed in accordance with my plan.
September 2nd, 1666, was a date that would not only turn the human world upside down, it was also a day that would change my pack forever. I was waiting in a tavern a mile away from Pudding Lane. It was in the very early hours of the morning, but I knew Angus would go by the bakery for his pudding after his shift on security. The bakery would be along his route to his home and he’d often made sure Thomas was awake to service him even if it were one in the morning.
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