Pride to Pack (The Mount Roxby Series)

by Aimie Jennison

  Stephen and Mary. No one ever told me their names. Knowing them now makes them real people. Emmanuel killed them?

  “Not long after that, I found out I could control domestic cats and dogs, just a freak accident. I found Paddy drunk one night leaving Misty’s and just thought ‘what if?’. It worked, so I used him to attack Dominick. That way he’d have to blame Theodore. Paddy is his one of Theo’s wolves, after all. The opportunity came to take the Alyssa, so I did. The more werewolves I could use the more damage I could do.”

  “Jared? Why did you take him? He isn’t Theodore’s pack.” It just doesn’t make sense.

  “After he caused you to change in front of the bar I had to punish him. He seems like a person who likes to be in control and if he isn’t, well that sounds like good punishment to me.” He has a smirk on his face, which I’m not too keen on. The Emmanuel I’m looking at now isn't the Emmanuel I dated.

  “Theo, was that planned?”

  “No. That night I thought God must be looking down on me because I was so lucky! If I could control the alpha, I might be able to control the whole pack. It will save me taking them one by one. But it didn’t work Theodore is just too strong. He wouldn’t succumb to my control.” He pauses for a second staring off into the distance. I can feel his rage strengthening. “With the alpha missing, the pack should have fallen apart, but Wesley took control making sure that didn’t happen.” The way he said Wesley’s name was a concern. I think if he could cast a hex, poor Wesley would be in trouble, right about now.

  “It wasn’t Wesley that led the pack, it was me! As Theo’s mate that job fell on me. I’m highest in the pack, after Theo of course,” I admit, hoping to disperse some of that rage he’s aiming at Wes.

  I hear a noise behind me and watch as Emmanuel’s eyes dart around behind me. I don’t need to look; my nose is telling me that it’s Dominick and Billy.

  Dominick chooses that moment to enter my head again. “Rosabel, it’s only Billy and I. You need to persuade him to release his control.”

  “Emmanuel, you can’t control them forever. Please let them go and tell us where Theo is so he can go home,” I ask him in my most persuasive voice, while slowly and continuously walking towards him. I try to come across as friendly as I can in this situation. I’m not worried about him hurting me because I know Billy is behind me, and he’s quick. If Emmanuel tried anything Billy would be there before Emmanuel could cause me any severe damage. Billy won’t let anything happen to me. That fact I’m certain of.

  He looks at me sadly and shakes his head. “I can’t. If I tell you where I’m keeping Theodore, he’ll kill me. The only way I can stay alive is to keep him.”

  “You can’t do that!” Billy and I both shout in unison.

  “He’s right! If he lets Theodore go, he’ll be against a death sentence. He’s attacked pack. Theodore has to retaliate it’s law,” Dominick says out loud directed at me. “But Emmanuel you seem to have forgotten that you killed Stephen and Mary, who were my people. Therefore I can retaliate.” I hear the smile in his voice.

  Emmanuel steps back away from us all. “You can’t. You’ll never find Theodore if you kill me.”

  “That is none of my concern.”

  “WHAT?” I spin around and look at Dominick and find Billy staring at him just as perplexed as I am.

  Dominick doesn’t say anything out loud, he just stares at me with pleading eyes while addressing me in my head “Rosabel, he’ll have kept them in the same building if not in the same room. He’ll have had to have been close to them all. They’ll be able to tell us where that is when he releases them.”

  “So you’re playing bad cop?” I think back at him, wondering whether I should believe him. He is a vampire after all. Why would he care if we get Theo back or not?

  “Trust me, Rosabel.” he says in my head.

  Billy is looking back and forth between the two of us; something on my face must be showing that we are having a conversation somehow. Dominick’s face has shown no emotion the whole time, actually come to think of it; he very rarely shows emotion on his face at all.

  I turn my attention back to Emmanuel to find Wesley standing next to him. He must have come up another fire escape somewhere behind Emmanuel “Bel, you or Dominick need to kill him so we can get the others back. I would love to do it but unfortunately it falls on you.” He really did sound like he was disappointed that he couldn’t do it.

  I step up to Emmanuel, close enough so that I could kiss him, although what I am about to do is far worse than that. He has tears streaming down his cheeks. I suppose imminent death could bring the strongest of men to tears.

  “I’m sorry Bel; I wish it could have worked between us. You’re the one for me.”

  I can’t kill him! I think to myself as I look at the Emmanuel I dated.

  “You have no choice. You’re doing this for Theo!” Dominick says out loud, I don’t know if he is warning the others about what I was thinking or if he has forgotten to say it silently.

  You might be used to killing people but I’m not a murderer!

  “Any of us would make it a long and painful death. That is our nature. You cared for him; you can make it easier for him. You can make it quick.” I’ve been staring into Emmanuel’s eyes through this whole conversation and now I realise I have matching tears running down my face.

  How do I kill him quick without a gun? That would the quickest way, I think to myself. I feel Dominick is about to answer me, so I jump in before he does. Yes I know what I have to do. You don’t need to answer that.

  I lean to whisper in Emmanuel’s ear. “I’m sorry” I say on a sob.

  “Thank you, Rosabel,” are his last words.

  I place my hands around his neck and with a quick sharp twist, he drops slightly. I expect him to hit the floor with a thud because as soon as I heard the crack I had to let go. I look around to find Wesley had caught him and is lowering him gently to the floor. I drop to my knees and place my head in my hands.

  Someone lifts me up and walks me back towards the fire escape I came up, the voice that speaks belongs to Billy, “Let’s get you out of here.” He leads me down the steps but my legs are too shaky and I keep stumbling.

  There is no way I’m going to make it down four flights, without falling!

  Dominick appears next to me. There is only room for one on this fire escape so he must be levitating or something. He turns his back towards me, “Climb on,” he commands. I don’t argue. He wouldn’t offer if he couldn’t do it, plus I have just murdered someone I was dating only a few days ago; if I fell to my death I probably deserve it.

  I put my arms around his neck to hang on, trying not to picture Emmanuel’s neck and how easy it was to snap. Dominick is a vampire, so at least I can’t snap his by accident. It will take a lot more than Emmanuel’s did, plus I don’t know if that would actually kill Dominick?

  The shock starts to wear off as I find myself sat in the back of an open van that wasn’t here when I went up on the roof where I, oh god; did I really just do what I think I did?

  I need to think about something else.

  The others are huddled together about five metres away. It’s good to see Paddy and Jared back to themselves. I feel a lot of tension coming from them. I strain focus my hearing to hear what they are talking about.

  It’s Billy that is talking. He’s rubbing his stubble on his head with his hand in a motion from back to front. It looks like an anxious habit he must have. “So you don’t remember anything? None of you?”

  I shoot off the car and barge through the group in a split second. I don’t care who I’m shoving or what they are. If a human was watching, I don’t even think they would pick my movement up as a blur. I would just vanish from the van and suddenly be with the group. The guys here might catch a blur with their supernatural eyesight but I’m not sure and I don’t really care.

  “Did I just hear that right? They don’t know where they were kept?” I’m glaring at Dominick and
ready to stake him right now. Even if that makes it my second murder within minutes of my first. I guess once a murderer always a murderer, a second won’t really make much difference. He just made me kill the only person that knew where Theo is.

  “I’m so sorry Rosabel. I had no idea they were hypnotised. I thought they would remember everything.” He is sorry. I can feel his regret. I can even see it on his face and in his eyes. I know I shouldn’t look a vampire in the eyes because they can make you do things just by meeting their eyes, but I trust he won’t try anything. I’m not sure why but I do. Even after seeing the regret in his eyes I can’t calm down.

  “You’re sorry? I just killed the only person who knew where he was. On your word, that they’d be able to tell us. How the hell are we going to find Theo, now?”

  I can feel aggression run through the pack members in the alley at what I’ve just said.

  “Angel, you need to calm down. We’ve all been worked up tonight. Your tension could make us all change and that won’t be useful to the boss, will it?”

  I look at Paddy and Eddie; both their eyes are no longer human. I don’t need to look at any of the others to realise what Billy had said was right.

  “Okay, sorry.” I say through gritted teeth as I take a deep breath and reach out to find someone happy. I find Wesley and Alyssa who must be in Misty’s and pull their happiness into me. With that happiness clearing my head I get an idea. “Dominick, Theo mentioned a census for all the supes in town. Does it contain home addresses and other property addresses?” I can feel the hope run through everyone - that my idea might actually lead somewhere.

  “Yes. But there are a lot of us in town. It could take days to find Emmanuel’s entry. I‘ll get Patsy on it straight away, but if you get one of your men on it too they can start at opposite ends. If someone knows his last name that will help.” Patsy leaves immediately after he says her name.

  I look at Billy, having no idea who would know where the census information is kept. “I’m on it. Darren you take everyone to Theo’s shed and give Doc Patel a call; best to get everyone checked over. Don’t forget Selena. Don’t let her see any of you. Dave, can you go let Wesley know what’s happening and ask about for anyone in the bar who might know Emmanuel’s address?”

  “No, I’ll do that. Dave you go with Darren. Emmanuel was Misty’s friend, I feel like I should break the news to her. I’ll find out what she knows at the same time. Dominick, do you mind helping by asking about in the bar too?”

  “It’s the least I can do,” Dominick says as his guilt flows off him. I feel even guiltier now that I have just realised I killed one of Misty’s friends.

  “Rosabel, do you want me to stay and help you too?” Eddie asks. His eyes back to his human sky blue. Thank God!

  “That will be great. Thanks, Eddie.”

  He beams at me in delight.

  Everyone heads off in different directions. Billy is going for his bike. Darren, Dave, Phil, Paddy and Jared all get in the van I found myself sat in not long ago, leaving Dominick, Eddie and myself in the alley.

  I look up at the roof. Is he still up there? Oh my god! What did I do?

  “Rosabel, he gave you no option. Greg has taken him to the morgue. He’ll make sure everything is dealt with. Let’s get inside and focus on finding Theo,” Dominick says, making his way to the back door that Misty must have left propped open for us.

  28. FACING DOWN THE WOLF

  Rosabel

  We enter bar to a round of applause. Wesley had already spread the news. Ignoring the applause, I immediately look around for Misty but only find Lucy behind the bar on her own, which is really unusual for a busy night like this one.

  I lean over the bar and shout over the crowd “Lucy, where’s Misty?”

  “No idea. When Wesley announced that Emmanuel was dead, she ran off through the back. If you didn’t see her outside I’d guess she’s in the toilets or office.” I nod with a smile, to let her know I heard her over the rowdy crowd and turn to go find Misty.

  I nearly fall over Eddie, who had been standing directly behind me. “Oh Eddie, will you do me a favour and ask about in here for an address? Let Wesley know what everyone else is doing too.”

  As I look around the bar to make sure Wesley is still here, I see Dominick is already asking people questions.

  “Yes. Consider it done,” Ed says, slipping away into the crowd.

  I go straight through the back hoping to find Misty. I check the toilets as I pass but she isn’t there. I just hope she hasn’t slipped out between us entering the bar and now. As I open the door to the office, I get hit by a wave of sadness. It doesn’t do my guilt any favours. I killed one of her close friends.

  “Misty, I’m so sorry.” I have no idea what else I can say. Nothing will make her feel better.

  “It’s okay. Ya had no choice. Wesley explained everything. I just wish everyone wasn’t so happy about it. I feel so guilty that I set ya up with him. I had no idea he was like that,” she manages between sobs.

  “I went on dates with him and I had no idea either. He hid that side of him well, but he wasn’t all bad.” I start to cry. “I actually cared for him and if Theo and I weren’t true mates, who knows, I could have fallen in love with him. And yet I just killed him.”

  Misty comes over pulling me into a hug. “It’s okay don’t live ya life blaming ya-self, ya had no choice.” she consoles me, making me giggle at the situation.

  “I came in here to console you not the other way around. I need to ask you something too, do you know his address? He didn’t tell us where Theo is and the others don’t remember anything about what they’ve done, or where they’ve been.” I ask hoping for some good news.

  “I’m sorry no. We always met up away from our houses. He never knew where I lived until he walked ya home,” she says frustrated. Probably because she can’t help.

  “It’s okay. Patsy and Billy are both checking the census, and Dominick and Eddie are asking about in the bar too. I’m sure we’ll find it soon.” A shocked look washes over her face.

  “Oh poor Lucy, I left her alone and the bar is packed tonight.” With those words she dashes out the office leaving me standing alone staring at the door as it closes behind her.

  I look at the chair behind the desk and think how nice it would be just to sit down for two minutes. But I don’t have the time I need to find Theo and the only way I will do that is by finding an address. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.

  I open the office door and walk straight into Eddie, again. “We’ll have to stop doing this,” I say whilst rubbing my nose after bumping it on his rock hard chest.

  “I don’t know, I quite enjoy it,” he says with a cheeky grin.

  “No one knows anything in there. We’re going to have to wait on Patsy and Billy,” Dominick announces as he walks up behind Ed. He doesn’t sound happy at the prospect of waiting.

  “I know this might sound obvious, but can’t you just teleport to him? Billy said you can just think of somewhere with your eyes shut and be there when you open your eyes,” Ed enquires sounding eager for his plan to work.

  “I can do that, yes, but I need to be able to smell, see and feel the place in my head to get there. Not knowing where exactly he is means I have don’t have those senses about this place. I’ve never even seen him in his wolf form, so I can’t even try and do it by looking at him,” I say furious at myself for not being able to do it. Eddie’s eagerness fades within a split second.

  “But you know his scent. If you focus on just that, it might work. What have you got to lose?” Dominick always seems to know what to do. Eddie gives me the loveliest encouraging smile. How can I say no to that? I guess it’s worth a try.

  “Alright, I’ll give anything a try.”

  I close my eyes and focus on nothing except Theo’s dark spicy scent, letting it surround me like a blanket. On opening my eyes I find myself in Theo’s room with a shocked Ruby staring at me with her jaw to the floor.
>
  “Sorry, I’ll explain later.” I say before closing my eyes and trying again. I would rather keep looking for Theo then waste time explaining what I’d just done.

  This time I open my eyes hoping with every ounce of my being to see Theo in front of me, only to find myself in his lounge this time. Crap! At least Selena isn’t in here. I don’t think I’d be able to escape without an explanation if she was.

  I go back to the alley feeling totally defeated.

  “Did it work?” Eddie was so excited at the thought of me actually finding Theo. It’s such a shame to fill him with the disappointment I feel too.

  “No sorry. I just ended up in his bedroom and his lounge. I scared poor Ruby half to death.” I say trying to lighten the disappointment by adding that bit about Ruby. “If only he’d not stood me up the day he was meant to take me on a run, I’d be able to picture him too.” Now I’m mad at Theo, which isn’t really fair considering he’s the one trapped alone somewhere that no one knows about.

  “What colour fur does he have, Eddie?” Dominick asks.

  “It’s a rusty colour, why?” We both look at Dominick with the same questioning look.

  He answers me rather than Eddie, “Because if you picture a wolf with that colour fur while doing what you just did with his scent, you might find him.”

  I close my eyes and picture a rusty colour wolf just like Dominick suggested. I wrap Theo’s dark spicy scent around me. I feel the swirl that I felt when Dominick called me to him that first time, and as I open my eyes hoping I’m not at Theo’s house again, I find myself faced with a big rusty wolf. I did a good job with the colour. It’s just as I imagined. It’s just the size I was off on; he’s easily double the size I imagined - absolutely huge! And he’s growling at me. I didn’t imagine that.

  “Theo, it’s me, Bel! I’ve come to take you home!” I approach him cautiously, but when I am about a metre away, I notice he’s not here with me.