Drake nodded, then left to join his wives.
Elliot was the last to come down the stairs, and I was heading to the front door to join my own wives when I turned to see him. He didn’t bother to wear anything fancy. He had on a pair of black jeans, boots, and a button-down, gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I supposed it was the best one could ask for from him, because he preferred to wear leather pants. For Elliot, the fashion of the late nineteenth century was his favorite when chaps and spurs were essential.
“Let’s end this bitch, Sir,” he said as he passed me by.
I laughed and left the house, locking it up before climbing into our waiting limo. Anton and Matthew were already on their way to the feast, mainly because I thought they just wanted to eat. That and fucking, which was something I was sure plenty of wolves were looking forward to. We made it to Julie’s mansion within the hour and entered. The feast was being held in the backyard, which was decorated with lights streaming overhead making it look like stars. The tables were connected to form a large square and it was enough space to fit all two-hundred and eighty-three wolves. God, such a small number. Our pack was simply vulnerable, especially when the packs of the other Alphas numbered nearly a thousand, and some twice that size.
Wolves were gathered around and some were in groups, chatting, and even giving each other handjobs. Some were fucking while others were just sitting and waiting for the feast to commence. I did see Nicholette as she placed a few baskets of bread on the tables. Our eyes connected, but didn’t linger. Two weeks ago, I approached her in secret. Gave her the vial that cost me a pretty penny. It wasn’t easy to get dragon’s venom or the wolfsbane that I needed in order to mask the scent. With the promise of marriage, I sealed the deal with Nicholette. I also fucked her brains out against the tree, my way of letting her know what kind of pleasure her future husband could give her.
The plan had been in motion for the past two months, and I was ready to take my rightful place. We all began to take our seats at the table. Royce arrived fashionably late with Agnes, but he was there. The servants continued to bring dish after dish out, setting platters of meats, vegetables, potatoes, pasta, and cheeses on the table along with our bowls of soup. The chatter was joyful as wolves did love a party.
Julie rose and lifted up her glass of wine. We all did the same as we prepared to toast this feast. “Wolves, I’m so happy so many of you could make it. I wanted to welcome our newest members into the pack.” She paused for everyone to acknowledge and welcome the last recruits who had been brought in. Once that was done, she continued. “I also wanted to have you all here for fellowship. So, eat, drink, have fun. We all deserve it.”
“Before we toast to that, Julie, I have something to say,” Royce said, surprising everyone, including me.
“What is on your mind, Royce?” Julie asked.
Royce rose and held his wine goblet up. “I want you to enjoy this meal, knowing it will be your last.”
The shocked gasps that raced through all present was deafening. Hell, I even gasped, because I didn’t see this coming. He’d never been so bold before.
Julie lowered her glass. “Are you threatening me?” she snarled.
“I am challenging you… there is a difference.”
“How dare you!” Julie snapped. “I am your Alpha!”
“In name only,” Royce shot back. “Really, I should have challenged you a long time ago. Had my father not listened to your suggestions, we wouldn’t have fallen to those fucking dragons. We’d still have our London territory and probably theirs. He let his love for you blind him to reason, even ignoring my counsel, and we suffered because of it.”
“I fought alongside your father.”
“And I lost my mother that night too. All because of you. Julie, you are unworthy to be our Alpha. Even at the meeting of Alphas, you capitulated, allowing them to dictate how we grow our pack. Leaving us vulnerable to attack if they should fancy it.” Royce shook his head. “No longer will I stand by and allow my brothers and sisters to languish under your rule. So, enjoy your meal, for it will be your last.”
I looked around the table to see the expressions of the other wolves. Many were shocked, others were nodding as they agreed with Royce. This was good. “I second Royce’s Challenge of Authority,” I said, smiling at Julie, who seemed too stunned to respond.
“Salut,” Royce said, then he took a sip of his wine. The majority of the other wolves who sided with Royce also took a sip of their wine, as did I and my wives.
“This is ridiculous!” Graham snapped when it seemed that Julie could no longer speak for herself.
“It is pack law,” I reminded him.
“Royce! Royce!” Agnes cried out and all attention drew to Royce, who appeared to be choking.
I jumped up from my chair, as did others, and we rushed over to him. He began to vomit up blood and Agnes screamed in terror. Charlene grabbed her while I jammed my fingers down Royce’s throat in an attempt to get him to vomit up what he drank. His veins began to harden and rise on his skin, a sure sign of dragon venom poisoning. He shook in my arms as his flesh became sweaty. Tears flowed down my face and I didn’t have to fake them. I was watching one of my best friends die and I had to push away the fact that it was at my hands. Oh, God, I felt sick to my stomach, but I couldn’t let emotions rule me now. This was my opportunity.
There was so much confusion at the table amongst the pack. Many of them tossing their wine glasses to the ground. Only Royce was the one who had fallen ill and died. Agnes was in sheer turmoil, as she had just lost her husband of at least six hundred years. Their child would be born without a father and I had to own that terrible fact. Therefore, I couldn’t let Royce’s death be in vain. I closed his eyes and rose to my full height. I let my hate and rage toward Julie guide my moves.
“You did this,” I accused her.
She was sitting at the head of the table, still in shock. Her mouth dropped open and she shook her head. “I… I swear, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. You knew that he was going to challenge you. We have all heard the rumors!” I raged.
“He was… he was tired of you as our Alpha,” Barret said. Royce had recruited him a hundred years ago. Barret and Elliot got along very well and often partied together when it came to the younger wolves. Having him support my claim spoke volumes.
“Have you all gone mad?” Graham said as he looked around the table.
“Mad?” I shook my head. “No. Just ready to do what needs to be done. Now, one of you killed Royce. I’m willing to bet you had something to do with it.”
Graham sneered at me. “Watch your mouth, boy. You’re just a Capo, and a pathetic one at that. Don’t think about stepping out of line with me. I’m not as forgiving as Winston was.”
The mention of Winston’s name only enraged me more. That man scarred me more than any wolf I’d come across, and Graham was a part of that trauma. He would pay. I turned my attention to Julie. “I Challenge your Authority.”
“Don’t you dare!” Graham growled.
“You can’t interfere, Sir, a challenge has been issued!” Dane snapped. “It is pack law!”
Julie swallowed and I could tell she was still trying to put together all of the pieces. “I was right, you are a snake. To use this moment for your own gain. You dare challenge me? I am your Alpha.”
I began to walk over toward her, removing my suit jacket in the process. “And to think, nearly three- hundred years ago, you wanted to be a whore in my brothel.” The blow that followed my words caught me off guard and I stumbled backward, catching my balance on the table, disturbing some of the dishes. I could taste the blood from my split lip and I looked up to see Graham being restrained by my sons, Drake and Anton, along with Barret and Dane. “Truth hurts, I see.” I dabbed at the blood. “If Graham insists on breaking pack law, lock him away until the challenge is over. Besides, we need to conduct an investigation as to why this feast was thrown and why our beloved pack brother no
w lays dead.”
“Fuck yeah, I want some answers!” Barret growled and together, the four of them hauled Graham away even as he raged and cursed at me.
I righted myself and began to remove my vest. “Do you accept my challenge? It really doesn’t matter if you do, the challenge has been issued.” I handed my cufflinks to Elliot, who was right behind me, then began to roll up my sleeves.
The ire in Julie’s eyes… well, if looks could kill, I’d be a pile of ash right now “Scoundrel. Do you think you can do better?” she snapped.
I nodded. “Can and will.” I allowed my claws to extend and my fangs to grow as my eyes glowed their golden hue. “I will avenge my friend, Royce, and in doing to, rid the pack of your ineptitude.”
“I second his challenge of Authority,” Warrick shouted. He was also another wolf I had recruited who still respected me and Royce.
Julie began to take her strongest form, ripping out of the dress she’d been wearing as her body grew larger. It was her best chance to take me. I wondered just how much she knew regarding combat among wolves. Did she rely so heavily on the safety of her position that she never learned how to truly fight? I released a low growl, then charged forward after she’d taken her most powerful form. The pack surrounded us, clamoring and shouting as we fought. I clawed at her chest and face, but she hooked me good when one of my blows left me exposed.
I growled in pain and took a few steps back. As much as I didn’t want to ruin my own suit, I had no choice. She was a bit stronger than I had anticipated, thanks to Connor’s essence. I ripped my shirt open as I commenced my own transformation.
“Do it, Deacon!” I heard Elliot shout.
“Kill her!” Agnes screamed.
Having her blessing really rallied the pack behind me. Julie allowed me to transform as was customary in pack law when a challenge was issued. That was the only courtesy, all else was fair game. Julie charged me the instant I was complete and I used her momentum to sling her against a tree. The tree split in two from the impact and I knew that Julie had broken several bones in that attack. I didn’t give her a chance to recover before I was on her again. I grabbed her by the ankles and swung her hard against another tree, twice, and she howled in agony.
I slammed her hard on the ground and she whimpered, I could see in her eyes she knew this was the end. I took pleasure in ripping her throat out. Blood splattered my face and muzzle as I pulled the flesh apart. She choked on her own blood, but I knew it wasn’t a wound that would kill her. Rearing back, I punched through her chest, splintering her ribcage until I reached her heart. I gripped the organ, then ripped it from her body. Many members of the pack cheered, while others were shocked. The only thing that mattered to me was that I was victorious. With Graham imprisoned, he didn’t have the right to challenge me. That was my only concern as he was the only one who could win as far as I was concerned.
I rose and howled and the pack howled with me in celebration. Next, I ate her heart, taking in the essence of the former pack Alphas into my being. I could feel the surge of power connecting me with Alphas past and it went straight to my cock. I knew it wasn’t over yet, that I’d have to do a blood linking ceremony with all the pack. They had an oath to make to me as their new Alpha. Oh yes, I loved the way that sounded. I was Alpha. They cheered as I devoured the last of Julie’s heart. The battle was over quickly, as I had suspected she wasn’t the best fighter. That was a mistake of the pack even during Connor’s reign.
They didn’t particularly care to have women in the pack, if so, they might have spared my mother. But Connor put value on males, made sure they were trained to fight in all forms. The women, they were meant to keep house, spread legs, and birth natural-borns. I didn’t have those same ideals. I trained my wives how to fight, because if we were ever in war, every wolf counted. I encouraged my son to train his wives. Now, under my rule, all women would be trained to fight. Julie was an easy kill and it was her own fault. She might haven given me a run for my money had she had the skills to match her power.
I transformed back into my human form and both my wives ran to me, hugging me. I kissed them both and it didn’t matter that my mouth was bloody, they each returned my affection. Before I could celebrate any further, I had to walk back over to Agnes and Royce. I knelt and took Agnes into my arms. She had been crying over Royce’s body.
“I will get to the bottom of this, Agnes. Whoever is responsible will suffer to no end,” I promised.
“Oh, please, I want them to have an end.” She pulled back and looked up at me with reddened, teary eyes. “Kill Graham. It was him, I’m sure of it. His affection for Julie, he knew Royce would challenge her one day. He knew it! He did this to protect that bitch. She’s dead… he’s next.”
“Agnes, I can’t just kill Graham without proof.”
“He did it!” she yelled at me.
As much as I enjoyed the fact that her ire was directed at Graham, which was where I wanted it to go, I still had to play it impartial. I took her hand between my hands and forced her to look at me. “Agnes, I will find out who did this to Royce. I will not rest until I do and when I do, I will let you deal the final blow. I swear it.”
More tears flowed down her cheeks and she nodded. “You are a great friend, Deacon.”
I kissed her forehead. “I will not let his death go unpunished.”
“Thank you for not letting it be in vain,” Agnes said. “I bow to you as Alpha.”
I released her and rose to look around at the pack, the majority of which were present. “If there is anyone here who wishes to challenge me, do so now.”
As I looked around, none of the wolves bothered to step forward. To be Alpha meant more than being able to fight. It was a huge responsibility that not everyone wanted or was prepared for. I wasn’t anticipating any challengers, save Graham, and he was out of the way.
I nodded. “Very well. Let it stand that I go unchallenged. It is time to commence the ceremonial oath.” I pulled on my pants and what remained of my shirt, though being naked didn’t bother me. As a wolf, it was a natural state. But the fighting was over and it was time to move on.
Elliot was the first to take the oath. I split my wrist and bled into one of the wine glasses, and after he gave me the oath pledging his loyalty to me, my sons were next, then my wives. After them, it was Agnes, then the rest of the pack joined. Julie didn’t have to perform this ceremony when she took over, because she was already Alpha having undergone a special ceremony that linked her to Connor. Through his blood, we all shared the link. Now, I had to link the pack through my blood and it took several hours. Other wolves relieved the ones who couldn’t make it to the feast, so that they could take the oath.
I had Royce’s body removed and taken to one of our funeral homes so he could be prepared. I would send him off properly, it was the least I could do for his sacrifice. Once the ceremony was over, I entered the mansion, which was now mine. Everything Julie owned now belonged to me, making me even richer than I already was. In the basement were the cells used to house unruly wolves or those who needed to be in captivity for crimes committed, like Graham. I was sure he knew his woman was dead by the cheers of the pack. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who wanted her gone, but I was the only one who really needed no coaxing to make the move.
The plan, which was still in motion, was working even better than I had expected. The wolves who lived in the mansion returned to their rooms and the others went to their own homes. I stayed along with my wives and Elliot to go over all of the paperwork. Discussions were kept at a minimum, because I didn’t need the wolves who lived here to hear any part of our plan. The next day, I returned to my own home along with Elliot and my wives and it was then that we could truly celebrate.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
And Then There Were None
“How to we pin this on Graham?” I asked Elliot and Charlene over the table as Sanese served up breakfast.
“You needn’t worry about that,” Charlene said
.
“Meaning?” I asked.
“Do you trust me?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“Then, accept that I have worked this out. Assume reasonable deniability,” she said.
I sat back in my chair, because even though she was my wife… Charlene could send a chill down my spine every once in a while. Made me happy that she was loyal to me. I’d been Alpha for less than twenty-four hours and still felt unsteady. So much had to be dealt with. Finances, properties, bodies, and then I still had to announce the regime change to the other Alphas. I wasn’t looking forward to that meeting. First, I had to get my house in order. I also needed to visit Agnes, to help her make arrangements for Royce’s funeral.
“I’m going to visit Agnes today,” I said, and took a bite of my bacon.
“Let me do that. I think seeing you might be too painful,” Charlene said.
I didn’t argue because sometimes a sensitive situation required a woman’s touch. “Very well. I’ll return to the mansion and get things in order. For one, the wolves living there need to move out. I only want those I trust to be living within those walls. The Beta Capos there have spent their time kissing her ass and laughing at me. I’m sure they know their days are numbered too. Demotions are coming, because those ranks weren’t earned in my opinion.”
“So, am I looking at a promotion, Sir?” Elliot asked with a smirk.
I laughed. “If I could demote you to less than soldier, I would,” I teased.
He laughed, but he knew better. He knew I couldn’t wait to promote him and my sons, Drake and Anton, to Beta Capos.
“So, dad, how does it feel being Alpha?” Drake asked me, then took a sip of his orange juice.
“Like I was born for the role,” I said.
“You were,” Charlene added.
I winked at her and stuffed some fluffy eggs in my mouth. After breakfast, I went to the mansion to lay down the law. I gathered the wolves who lived there and let them know they had until the end of the month to find another place to live. That I needed to restore this mansion to suit me as the new Alpha. By the expression on some of their faces, I knew they didn’t like it, but it was done. No one challenged me, and when I dismissed them, it was without incident. Whatever grumbles they wanted to say behind my back, they kept to themselves.
Deacon Page 21
