The blaring sound of a car horn from behind; startled Rebecca out of her previous thoughts. Putting the car into gear, Rebecca pulled out into traffic, fighting the feeling of fatigue that threatened to drown her. She still had too much to do before she could head to her small apartment, where she had a date with a scalding hot bubble bath and with her soft, warm bed. And it was that fantasy that would help her get through the rest of her day.
Hopefully, Eric would be too busy when he came home tonight to engage in another verbal battle with her and with any luck she could find a way to keep from throwing herself at him.
* ~ * ~ *
“You’re late, Alpha.” Looking up as he walked through the doors of Black Claw Hunting Lodge, the home base of his pack, Eric was greeted by his unhappy assistant and beta; Chris.
“I know. Has Damon arrived yet?” he asked while shrugging out of his black leather jacket.
“You’re lucky today. He called a little while ago and reported that he’d be late. Just like you.” Chris pointed out with an accusing look.
“You can drop the look anytime, Chris. I wouldn’t have been late if Rebecca would learn to stay out of my room.”
“I wouldn’t be complaining if I were you. When do I get to meet her?”
“Later.” The subject of his children’s nanny wasn’t something that he was keen on talking about around pack members. He’d always been a private person and he intended to keep it that way. Looking around, he noticed that Chris and he were the only ones within the spacious walls of the pack’s lodge.
“Where is everyone?”
“Jason called and said he was on his way, He’s running late because Myra wanted a ride up here.”
“Why the hell is Myra coming?”
Myra was one of the more attractive females of his pack and a pestering thorn in his side for the last five years. No matter what he did, she couldn’t take a hint. She was too busy keeping her eye on his mating status to care about anything he said.
Chris didn’t bother to hide annoyed but slightly amused smile. “She wants to show her respect and support to her Alpha by being by his side today.” His first beta was enjoying his pain too much.
“Call Jason and tell him not to bring her.” The last thing he needed was to have a lust crazed, she-wolf hanging around him all day long.
“Too late,” Smirking, Chris nodded in the direction behind Eric. Knowing already who it was that had pulled up in front of the lodge, Eric couldn’t suppress the groan of displeasure of what awaited him next.
Turning just as his other beta, Jason entered; he took in the unwelcoming sight of Myra. To others, Myra was considered an attractive woman; not that he could see why. Her long blonde hair fell around her high cheek bones and over her shoulders like a golden waterfall. Her thin and tanned body was overly exposed by the revealing red dress that she wore. With the low dipping neck line of her dress and how the thin material fell barely to her mid thigh, she was here for more reasons than to “Show respect and support” as Chris put it.
“Good morning, Alpha.” Her voice coming out husky as she approached him, tilting her head to the side, exposing her neck to him; a sign of respect among shifters to their Alpha.
“Thank you for coming, Myra. But it really wasn’t necessary.” His hard voice growled out as he turned his eyes away from her.
Smiling coyly up at him, she sauntered closer to Eric. “Necessary or not, I’m here. I’m sure you’ll find some way I can be of use to you.”
Pressing her slender body against his, her small unrestrained breasts brushed enticingly against his chest. What should have made him harder than steel, Eric was surprised when his wolf growled and shrunk back from her touch. Myra’s touch once brought him pleasure, now only felt like ice against him, having no pleasurable affect on him what so ever.
Clasping her upper arms, he pushed her away from his uninterested body. “I have stuff to do. If you insist on staying make yourself useful elsewhere.” Striding past her, Eric headed for the quiet atmosphere of his office, slamming the door closed behind him. Hands braced on his hips, he began furiously pacing back and forth across the floor.
An unknown and undeniable rage flooded his mind and body. Myra’s touch had enraged his wolf to the point of insanity. Even now his wolf clawed for freedom, a freedom he couldn’t afford to give him now. His wolf was on edge. Eric’s hands tightened into fists as he fought dominance over his unruly wolf. He had never been out of control and neither had his animal half. Something was wrong, out of place; it was the only thing that could stir up his animal this much. What could it possibly be?
A loud knock on the office door interrupted his thoughts, pushing the door open his second beta, Jason stuck his dark head in between the door frame and the dark oak door.
“Chris and me thought we’d order some food before Damon gets here, if that’s alright with you?”
Eric nodded, “Go ahead.”
Once Jason closed the door, Eric found himself slouching down in his chair, looked over the tall piles of documents, floor plans, and sketches. Dragging a weary hand over his eyes, he wasn’t looking forward to organize his messy desk before going home tonight.
Deciding not to wait, fifteen minutes later, he’d organized his neglected workspace and transformed it into a more manageable work area. Lain out across his newly cleaned desk was everything he need for the meeting today. Everything from the floor plans to the architecture design of the doorways and windows for a large three level house the Beta from a neighboring pack had hired him to design. All his attention focused on going over every detail lain out before him, in the back of his mind Eric recognized the sound of his office door opening.
At first he dismissed it as unimportant and assumed it was one of his Beta’s bringing him some of their food. Until the strong smell of sweetened floral perfume filled his office and burned his sensitive nose. Looking up, he saw Myra leaning against the now closed door. Her small manicured fingers swiftly flipped the lock into place, while flashing him a lusty smile. Slowly running a hand down the front of her dress, Myra's fingertips trailed down the low neckline of her dress and skimmed over her exposed flesh.
Rolling his eyes, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes moving back to the papers scattered across his desk. His wolf growled his warning as Myra approached from behind his chair. Her hands slid from his shoulder and over his hard chest. Once again her touch was cold, causing his wolf to want to snap his jaws at this unwanted female.
Ignoring the frightening glow of his eyes, Myra moved between the desk and his chair. Leaning back on the desk, kicking off her red stilettos, she planted one bare foot beside his thigh and the other on the opposite arm of his chair. Her position spread her thighs wide, flashing her black lace thong.
“Myra,” His voice held an irritated tone. “I have work to do,”
Grasping a hold of his tie, she tugged him forward. “All work and no play make you a very dull wolf, Alpha.” Leaning closer, a hairs length between their lips, Eric pulled away with a look of displeasure set on his face.
“You forget your place, Myra.”
“Then show me my place, Alpha. I remember where yours was—”
Grasping his hand she pulled him forward, shoving his hand between her warm thighs. The thin thread of his wolf’s control snapped and as his wolf leapt towards her in anger. Jerking his hand from between her thighs, his hand shot out, wrapping around the thin column of throat.
In his anger, he shoved her down on her back and pinned her against the wood of his desk. Leaning over her, his irises glowed brightly as his wolf rose to the surface. His jaw ached as it reshaped and his teeth lengthened. His killing gaze swept over her startled face as his face partially shifted. His facial bone reshaped with loud crunching sound until his face resembled a wolf's more than his human face. His wolf growled dangerously and snapped his jaws at the trembling female beneath him.
He growled in a deep rumbling voice, “Get out.” Eric jerked away from
her, his wolf slowly receding back within him. His partially shifted face slowly faded back to normal.
Glaring at him, Myra slowly slid off his desk and bent down collecting her heels. Intentionally lingering in her bent over position as her low neckline dipped lower, flashing her braless chest at his angry eyes.
“Get out before I throw you out.” He growled out, as his eyes narrowed dangerously at her.
“She was never your mate, Eric. Open your eyes! She’s never coming back! I’m the strongest female in the pack; I would make a proud mate for you.” Her voice rose with each step she took toward him.
“Myra, you will address me as “Alpha” and nothing more if you value your place within my pack. Furthermore; were I ever to take another mate that wasn’t my true one, it would never be you.”
Instead of a look of hurt, he’d expected to cross Myra's features, her expression only shown with anger and the promise of revenge that she no doubt would collection on. Spinning away from him she marched towards the door with angry strides. Her delicate hand covering the door knob, Myra turned to look over her shoulder at him, angry flames filling her gaze. Jerking the door open she sent him a smothering glare before slamming the door shut behind her.
Breathing heavy, Eric slammed his hand down on his desk with a snarl. This wasn’t like him, he knew that. Normally he could brush aside Myra’s attempts to worm her way back into his bed very easily and without emotion on his part. But this time his wolf reacted so violently that he’d nearly ripped her throat out. He had to get a handle on whatever was happening to his beast before he lost control and harmed someone. He was Alpha; he was never out of control. It was unthinkable and unacceptable.
When the door opened again, Eric’s anger filled eyes lifted. His lips peeling back in a snarl. “What?!” he shouted as Chris poked his head in between the door jam and the door. Seeing his fierce expression, Chris looked warily at Eric.
“Are you alright?” Chris asked. His wary expression gave away to a look of confusion.
Shoving a hand through his hair, Eric huffed out a heavy breath. “I will be once I get through today.” He muttered. “What did you need?”
Slipping into the office, Chris closed the door behind him softly before turning back to look at Eric. His lips twisted into an uncertain expression. Hesitantly, he spoke. “The elders are here.”
Scowling, Eric’s lips pinched together while his hands moved to rest on his hips. “What?”
Why would the elders be here? In shifter packs; elders were the only individuals that held any semblance of power; other than the Alpha. They helped to maintain the laws and they irritated the shit out of Eric. If all four of the elders were here, it meant that something was up.
“They are waiting for you in the meeting room and have asked that you make yourself available now.” Chris said with obvious distaste. His beta didn’t like the elder’s underhanded attitude any more than Eric did. Often times the elders abused their rights as councilors to the Alpha to push him around to their liking and he was getting tired of it.
Rubbing a tired hand against his forehead, Eric nodded. “Let’s get this over with.” Striding around his desk, he followed Chris out into the wide lobby of the pack’s lodge. Turning down a hallway to the left, Eric strode toward the meeting room with Chris following behind him. The long hallway was flooded with morning light from the countless chest high windows on the left of the long hall leading to their destination. Idly, Eric’s gaze shifted out the windows as he walked. His gaze took in the sight of the lush forest that surrounded the pack’s lodge. He’d rather be running in his wolf form out there than facing a group of sour faced elders.
His strides didn’t slow when he entered the meeting room. The room was basically empty save for a long table that stretched the length of the room. Coming to a stop at the head of the table, Eric noted that the elders had already made themselves comfortable in the padded chairs at the middle the carved table. Adopting a blank expression, Eric turned his attention on the scowling faces of the elders.
The elders sat in a close unit with two sitting on either side of the table. He recognized the head elder; Peter Smyth, a willowy man that treasured tradition and hated anything that didn’t glorify or strengthen the pack. He sat in his chair as straight and stiff as a board.
Pulling out his chair, Eric sat down in a relaxed manner; his eyes flickered over the room. Chris had pulled the door closed as they entered in an effort to keep this meeting private. For that, he was very thankful for. He highly doubted that the elders had ordered this meeting to talk about the weather with him.
“Good morning.” He murmured. None of the occupants at the table returned his greeting.
This was going to be fun…he thought dryly.
“Alpha,” Peter began, displeasure evident in his tone. “We have come to discuss several pack matters that concern us.”
Ignoring the way the elder glanced at Eric like he was a child about to be reprimanded, he shrugged. “I wasn’t aware of any issues among my pack.”
“That is precisely why we are here.” A second elder commented. The second elder was a woman; not that he could care to recall her name, but he noted that her expression was aloof and stiff as she regarded him. “It has come to our attention that some of your decisions of late may not be in the best interest of our pack.”
Before Eric could reply the Peter explained. “One of those being your decision to form an alliance with those filthy Mackenzie’s,” The elder’s face held a look of distaste. “A decision that you neglected to share with this council before hand; I might add.”
Eric had to fight the urge to smile. It had been months since he’d heard from Doyle and his pack, much to his relief. Doyle’s pack may be an odd one among shifters, but Eric respected Doyle. As Alpha of his pack; Doyle welcomed many different shifters and offered protection where it was needed. He found it amusing that others of his pack viewed Doyle with such distaste. The grizzly bear shifters may be a bit odd and extremely possessive of their mates, but they at least didn’t fight amongst themselves like these people before him were doing. He didn’t care about the challenges that Doyle was battling at the moment, it wasn’t his business. He had enough to worry about with his own pack. What he cared about was their alliance, nothing more.
“The peace treaty with the pack of Darkwood Springs is what this pack needs.” he stated firmly as he tapped his finger against the table.
“And who said that was what this pack needed?” Derik; the third elder stated with a scoff.
“What you should be doing is focusing on strengthening your pack; not making friends. There are several wolf shifters in Darkwood Springs, not to mention several rival packs nearby. Why haven’t you made any attempt to expand this pack’s reach?” He asked, giving Eric a rude, accusing look.
“Expanding the pack’s reach” was just another way of saying to make war with other packs in effort to take control. In the past it’s what was done amongst wolf packs. But the thought held no taste for Eric. He was by no means a peace loving man; he was a man that did what had to be done. Damn the consequences as long as the outcome was worth it in the end. He did want his pack to be strong. Constantly engaging in pack wars for more power was not what he wanted.
“The treaties with other shifter packs are important to the survival of this pack. One of these days, there will come a time that we will need the aid of the shifters of Darkwood Springs. For this pack to survive and thrive we need to have allies. That is what will increase our strength, not warring with other packs for more territory.” His hard gaze fell on each of the elders as he spoke firmly.
Silence stretched through the room, as the elders must have seen that his mind wouldn’t’ be changed on the topic.
“Our pack will never be strong until we have an Alpha pair to protect and govern us.” Jonathan; the fourth elder reasoned gently, earning several approving nods from the others.
And there it was, the true reason for the elder’s
ambush meeting today. Eric growled in the back of his throat. Why couldn’t they just leave this matter alone? He was a strong and fair leader. What the hell would having a woman at his side matter?
“What does this have to do with the security of my pack?” his voice rumbled out with displeasure.
Peter folded his hands on top of the table before answering. “An Alpha female is required within any shifter pack. The reasons for this are unimportant, but it is something that needs to be addressed.” At the end, his thin finger tapped against the table in emphasis. Peter’s voice rang out with a tone of authority that he seemed to think he possessed in that moment.
“This is not the fifteenth century,” Chris stated, moving from his guarding position by the door to come and stand beside Eric. Folding his arms over his chest, he frowned at the arrogant elders. “It’s never been a requirement that our Alpha has to have a mate to control and run this pack.”
Eric was grateful for his friend’s support, but he was too furious to summon the effort to show it. None of the elders ever liked how he’d won the title of Alpha. Unlike most Alphas; who were born into the position and only had to challenge their parent for the title, Eric had been different. He’d been born of two low ranking parents that held no title within the pack. He’d always known that he wouldn’t be content to follow the leadership of another. So, he’d fought and shed his own blood for his title and he’d be damned if some snooty elders were going to find ways to take that away from him.
“As of this moment, we’ve come to an agreement.” The female elder said gently, responding to Chris’s words as she waved her wrinkled hand toward the other expressionless faces around her. “We’ve agreed that it should be a requirement. Your recent interests have shown us that you are not concerned with what is best for all the members of this pack and its future and that puts the safety of this pack at risk of attack from another. By seeking out other; unnecessary alliances and your refusal to seek out a replacement for the position of Alpha female, you have made us appear to be a weak pack and we cannot tolerate that.”
Hunger of the Heart (Wolves of Ravenwillow Book 1) Page 3
