“Kai, thank you,” he said sincerely. Nodding to the other Alphas in the room, he took Evie by the hand and led her out of the Tarchannen jail.
“Remington, if you need help—” Lucien began.
“I don’t need your help,” Remington snapped. Lucien’s eyes glowed brightly for a brief moment before he calmed down.
“Your anger is misdirected, Remington. Since you don’t need my help, I bid you, farewell.” He turned and left.
The other Alphas didn’t bother to offer. They would stay and witness the punishment of the Tarchannen traitor.
Remington strode through Tarchannen, heading for the center of his city. His Soldiers and Tracker followed him. The Alphas walked behind them.
A large makeshift stage had been assembled in the center of town. The Elders stood on the stage while the rest of the pack surrounded the stage. They climbed the steps to stage and Remington turned to face his pack. His Soldiers positioned themselves behind the Elders.
“Rylan was framed by the wolf who assassinated my father,” Remington said loudly. “This wolf, this cunning wolf managed to hide his scent from my Tracker. Galen followed the carefully laid false trail to Rylan, where he found incriminating evidence, the M64 rifle.”
“Though he was cunning, this wolf couldn’t fool me. I found his scent where the shot was fired as well as in Evelyn’s home.”
“Reginald, I charge you with treason,” he declared. The wolves in the crowd let out a large roar.
An Elder assassinated their Alpha? The proud Tarchannen wolves demanded blood. They demanded vengeance.
Remington’s body was tense. He was ready for a fight. All the rage he felt the last few weeks erupted and he attacked.
Reginald scampered to the left, pleading for his life.
Ignoring his pleas, Remington stripped and shifted into a large black wolf with golden eyes. Reginald quickly tore off his clothes and shifted into a grey wolf. He whined and postured in a submissive way, head down on his paws while his hind legs kept his rear up. His tail was tucked between his legs and he whimpered. Remington-wolf barked viciously as he advanced. With a swipe of his massive paw, he slashed Reginald-wolf’s muzzle and nose. Blood sprayed across the stage and across Remington-wolf’s chest and front legs.
Remington continued to bark at the submissive wolf, daring him to attack. Remington wanted to unleash his rage on the wolf but felt it was cowardly to do so while he begged for mercy.
The wolf pack began chanting softly. It was a death chant. The rhythm of the chant increased, as did the volume. Soon the chant was in his blood and the blood lust took over. Remington-wolf snarled. Saliva dripped from his fangs as he advanced, snapping and growling.
Lying flat on the stage, Reginald-wolf placed his paws over his eyes to protect them. He never expected Remington to discover his devious plan. He had been so careful, so sly in its preparation and execution. Yet somehow Remington had figured it out. He had underestimated this Alpha, Reginald suddenly realized. And he would pay for it with his life. It was a small comfort to him that Remington had not discovered his accomplices, did not suspect that there was more than one traitor in his midst.
Reginald-wolf had committed an unforgivable crime. He had murdered his Alpha. No one would dare protect him. No one could protect him. He prayed for death to be swift. It was not.
Remington-wolf attacked Reginald-wolf’s side. He slashed his side with a sharp claw, deep enough to expose the ribs. The wolf cried out in pain, which seemed to delight the pack. He circled Reginald-wolf and repeated his attack on the other side. Again he cried out in pain. The chanting continued, becoming more intense as their blood lust surfaced.
Remington-wolf attacked his hind quarters next, removing a large chunk of flesh. He carried it to the edge of the stage and flung it to the crowd. They shouted joyfully with their reward then the chanting resumed. Remington-wolf removed more flesh and tossed it to the crowd. He continued to attack and disperse the traitor’s flesh, taking enough flesh to cause excruciating pain while leaving him still alive.
It took several hours before blood loss caused Reginald-wolf to lose consciousness. Remington-wolf hauled the carcass and tossed it over the edge of the stage, allowing his wolves to have their vengeance.
He stood on the edge of the stage and howled. His Soldiers shifted and stood behind him, then began howling. Once the frenzied attack on Reginald-wolf’s carcass was over, the rest of the pack shifted. They howled in unison, a pack united.
Remington had meted out justice according to pack law. As Alpha, he had duties that would keep him busy in Tarchannen for the next few months. Once he was satisfied that his pack was secure and everything was running smoothly, he would continue his hunt for his mate, Serena.
Chapter 19
Six months ago…
After Serena left Evie’s cabin, she dashed through the forest, anxious to return to her vehicle. Once she reached her silver Toyota RAV4, she shifted and removed the bag of money that hung around her neck. She dressed quickly then locked herself in the compact SUV.
She withdrew a thousand dollars and placed it in her purse. She stuck a few bills in her bra then hid Evie’s small bag in her duffle bag. Driving as safely as she could, she sped away from Tarchannen territory.
Knowing the Tracker and fearing Remington himself would pursue her in the morning, she had to get as far away from Tarchannen as possible. She drove nearly two hundred miles to a major city. She drove to a busy part of town and parked the RAV4. Remington had purchased the RAV4 as a wedding gift for her and she felt slightly guilty as she abandoned the RAV4. She left the SUV unlocked, the keys clearly on the passenger seat, as though she had forgotten it.
Hopefully someone will steal this SUV and Remington will waste time tracking the thief instead of me, Serena prayed.
She went into a restaurant and called a cab. Within the hour, the cab had dropped her off at a busy international airport.
This is far enough away from Tarchannen that Remington will have no power here, she thought.
Because she didn’t have a passport, she couldn’t take an international flight. She purchased her ticket, using the cash that Evie had given her. Her plan was simple. She would spend the next few hours going from one major city to another. She even bought several tickets for different destinations at different counters, so that if Remington ever made it to the airport, he wouldn’t know where she had gone.
Twenty four hours after Serena fled her mate, she walked into a small motel room and collapsed on the bed. Mentally and emotionally exhausted, she slept almost twelve hours. When she awoke, she took a long hot shower and dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans.
Having used about half of her cash to lay false trails, Serena realized she would have to get a job to support herself. She had chosen this city because it had no ties to werewolves, so she should be safe from her kind. She walked to a nearby diner and ordered lunch. On the way back to her motel, she picked up several newspapers, hoping to find a job in the classifieds.
Serena thought about the type of job that would keep her safe. She wanted to remain invisible. Knowing that by mere chance, someone could see or scent her while she was unaware; she preferred a job that would keep her out of the public sphere. Waitress and cashier were crossed off her mental list. She didn’t have the educational background to be any type of medical professional, so those jobs were crossed off her list as well. Finally, she found an ad that would suit her perfectly: Childcare Assistant at a daycare.
Excited, she wrote down the information and consulted the map she had picked up at the front desk earlier that day. She found the daycare center on the map. It was two blocks away. She bit her lip. What if someone saw her on the way to and from work? She checked the map, searching for other routes to and from the daycare center.
Finding alternative routes soothed her wolf and she began to prepare herself for the interview. The next day, she called the daycare center and an interview was scheduled for the followin
g day.
Serena was thrilled when she was hired. Having babysat Pack children in Tarchannen, Serena was comfortable with the human toddlers at the daycare. Her manager told her that as soon as her background check came back, she could start work. Serena thanked her profusely and desperately wished she could call Evie to share her good news. Knowing that she couldn’t risk Remington tracing the call, she decided she would keep a journal instead.
The next few months flew by quickly and Serena finally began to drop her guard. He must have given up on me, she thought hopefully. After all, I’m not his true mate. Perhaps he decided that he was better off without me. I’m sure he’s had offers from a dozen she-wolves happy to take my place beside him.
Though Serena was offended by Remington’s overt sexual nature, other wolves, power hungry wolves, would happily put up with him for the chance to become the Alpha Bitch. Money and power were two powerful incentives to mate with Remington. Serena desired neither. She was content to be free.
Despite being overjoyed that she had eluded Remington and The Tracker for over six months, her wolf was agitated. Having grown up in Tarchannen, she had always been surrounded by wolves. Her living situation was now opposite to the extreme: she was surrounded by humans. Needing contact with another wolf, wanting comfort from her kind, her wolf became restless.
One night, Serena decided that she would let her wolf run free in a nearby park. Since she lived in a major city, far away from any forest, her only refuge was the local park. She waited until midnight, stripped and shifted into her wolf. She leaped out of the motel window and scurried along deserted side streets until she reached the park. She sniffed the air, checking for both human and wolf. The park was deserted. She ran through the park, darting around trees, sprinting, barking softly as her wolf enjoyed its freedom. She ran for hours, loping through the park numerous times before she reluctantly decided to return to the motel.
Every night, Serena returned to the park, allowing her wolf to run free.
Chapter 20
December 17th…
Cursing his alpha for the tenth time, The Omega drove through the human town. His alpha had ordered him to go to a populous human city and scout the area, looking for trendy establishments. His alpha wanted to cater to the wealthy humans who would be visiting his town in the near future.
The Omega knew what humans really wanted: sex. But he doubted his alpha would build brothels for the rich men who would patronize their growing town.
Out of the corner of his eye, The Omega saw a grey wolf dart through the trees. He stopped the car, turned to look again, but the wolf was gone. He drove around until he found a parking spot. Cautiously, he walked back to the area where he thought he spotted the wolf. He walked into the park, heading for a dark spot among the trees. He stripped, shifted and began searching. Within minutes he found her scent. He followed it through the park and along side streets. The trail ended at a window of a motel room. He stayed back, observing as the light switched on and she took a shower. He trotted carefully to the front of the motel and found a sign with the name, Good Nite. He sprinted back to the park, shifted and dressed. He raced back to his car, excited.
A female wolf. Alone in the middle of a human town. It has to be her.
The Omega drove to a nearby motel and rented a room. He showered and went to bed, setting his alarm for five A.M. When his alarm went off, he showered again, hoping to remove as much of his wolf scent as possible. He dressed, drove to a fast food restaurant to get some food and drove to the Good Nite motel. He parked one block away, positioning his vehicle so that he could see the front of the motel.
Since it was a week before Christmas, Serena’s human coworkers were having a Christmas party after work. To fit in, Serena dressed in a festive red blouse and neutral black skirt. Their pack, did not celebrate Christmas. She thought it odd that humans cut down trees and decorated it. They seemed to enjoy nature by killing it.
She pulled her hair up into a bun and secured it with some bobby pins. She applied some makeup then put on her shoes, ready for another day with her young charges.
At seven o’clock, he spotted her. He watched as Serena left the motel and began walking toward him. He started his car and drove past her. He parked his car and watched as she moved down the block. As she neared the end of the block, he started his car and did a U-turn. He drove slowly down the street and made a left turn onto another street. He parked and observed as she continued walking. Once again, she reached the end of the street. This time she crossed the street and entered a building.
The Omega drove past the building, noting the name, ‘Wee Care Day Care.’ Reasoning that she must work there, the Omega drove off. He perfected his plan and returned to the day care later that afternoon.
He waited for hours, silently observing as parents picked up their children. When he didn’t see her leave, doubt began to set in. Had he made a mistake? When he realized that he didn’t see any of the other workers leave, he reasoned that they must all still be inside the building. He decided to wait and see. At last, he saw several women leave the building. She walked along with several women and he decided to move his car so she wouldn’t spot him. He parked along a dark street and stepped out of his car. Serena crossed the street, alone, and he ran after her.
Serena heard the pounding footsteps behind her and her heart began to race. Her wolf sensed danger and she began to run. Blindly, she ran, thinking, Oh no, he’s found me. He’s found me.
Fearing that Remington had found her, Serena panicked. Not knowing where to run, she faltered for a second. The Omega leaped, tackling her from behind. They fell to the ground. She struggled to get away from him. He withdrew a syringe and stabbed her in the leg. He released the drug and within seconds, Serena was unconscious.
The Omega glanced around. The street was deserted. No one had witnessed the attack. Pleased with himself, the Omega grinned. He tossed the syringe aside and picked up Serena. He carried her back to his car and placed her in the back seat. He climbed in next to her and shut the door.
A female wolf. An Alpha’s mate, he thought. His eyes roved over body. He slid his hand along her stocking covered leg. His hand moved further up her leg, slid under her skirt as he caressed her thigh. He ran his fingers along her panties, stroking her gently. Fully erect and painfully constrained by his pants, he was about to free his engorged cock when his cell phone rang.
The unique ring tone signaled it was his Alpha calling. Swearing, he took a deep breath and answered.
“Yes, Sir?” He listened for a moment as his Alpha gave him a new order. Excited at the prospect of seeing her again, he replied neutrally, “Yes, Sir. I’ll be there by morning.”
He glanced at the unconscious wolf beside him. She was nothing compared to the wolf he really wanted. He called the lab and told them of his latest acquisition. He made arrangements to drop her off at the lab then planned on taking a plane to his next destination.
Chapter 21
Just before midnight, the Omega pulled into the parking lot of Genesis 23. He parked in a spot near the entrance. As he exited his car, three Blue Falcons approached his car, one of them pushing a wheel chair. The Blue Falcons, a security team, had been hired to secure the wolves he brought them.
The Omega opened the back door and Tomas reached in. Lifting her under the arms, he dragged Serena out of the car and set her in the wheel chair.
Evan whistled. “She’s hot. For a wolf, I mean.” He turned to face the Trapper. “Doc is real excited about having a female,” he shared as he gave the Trapper a plain envelope. The Trapper didn’t bother opening the envelope. He simply tucked it into his jacket pocket. He didn’t capture and hand over wolves for money, though it was nice to have a little extra now and again. He had much bigger plans.
Tomas pushed the wheelchair toward the door and went inside. Ted and Evan remained outside with the Trapper.
“So when are you gonna share your secret with us, Trapper?”
“And sh
are the bounty?” he replied with a shake of his head.
“There’s plenty of money to be made, my friend,” Evan said. “Why don’t we go have a drink to celebrate the capture of that bitch?” Evan suggested. Since he had an hour to kill before his flight, he agreed.
“One drink, then I’m off to the airport.”
The Omega followed them to a bar ten minutes away. They entered the bar and sat at a table. While they ordered their drinks, he noticed two wolves sitting at the bar, chatting with a couple of human females. While he watched them, Evan and Ted began to needle him about his ability to trap werewolves.
“Just give us a hint, man,” Ted nagged.
“What do you look for? Excess hair?” Evan suggested. Ted burst out laughing and Evan chuckled at his little joke. The Omega sighed and took a sip of the drink the waitress had just brought to the table.
“It’s hard to explain. I just know it’s them.”
“Like a sixth sense?” Ted asked.
“I guess.” He paused for a moment. “There are two wolves sitting at the bar.” He described the men and finished his drink. Tired of their company, he left them at the bar and headed to the airport. He had more important business to take care of.
Chapter 22
December 18th…
Rylan lay comfortably on Evie’s lap as they watched the evening news. The kids had settled into bed and would be asleep soon. Once they fell asleep, he would carry Evie to their bed and fuck her until she finally admitted she was his.
He grinned and glanced over at their Christmas tree, at the present he had hidden beneath it. He was more excited about Christmas morning than the children were. He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she opened his present. She would know exactly how much she meant to him, would never doubt his love or his devotion to her.
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