by C Y Jones
“What has been going on here? How did both of you being here happen?” I ask in an effort to change the subject. I watch Logan give his brother an odd look which quickly puts me on edge. “Go on tell me, what’s going on?” I repeat, giving them both a hard look.
“Well you see, firecracker, it would appear that your father is in deeper with Axil than we originally thought,” Logan starts.
“What does that mean?” I question confused.
“It means, love, that you are not the only thing Axil is here for,” Ethan answers, taking over for his brother. “There's no easy way to tell you this, so I’m just going to blurt it out. Your father has been handing over wolves from his pack to be killed and used in a drug Axil developed that would get supes high.”
“What?” I shriek. “That's impossible. He wouldn't.. I mean he..fuck,” I cry as I start to realize yes, yes he would do something that despictiable. “How is this even possible?” I ask defeated.
“I’m not sure of all the details. I’ve just learned the full extent of it myself. While here, Trevor told me lesser wolves from the outer edge of the territory were going missing and your father was doing nothing about it. Your friend cooked up a plan for Logan and I to trade places. When I left, I took Trevor’s mate with me because Trevor stated she wasn’t safe here, and once I got back to the hotel, April told me what’s been going on between your father and Axil.”
“And, sweetheart, it’s not just the wolves, but all supernaturals,” Logan says, picking up Ethan’s sentence. “Different supes cause different reactions and different highs. We knew we had to get you away from Bloodmoon, but we also needed to put a stop to this as well, so April came up with a more elaborate plan.”
“What kind of plan?” I ask. I’m still reeling over the fact that my father is selling out his own kind to make a buck. Axil, I’m not surprised, but my father.
“She thinks you should issue a formal challenge to your father as Alpha of the pack,” Ethan answers.
“What?” I shout, looking between the two like they’ve gone mad, but the more I look the more I see that they’re serious. “That’s crazy. My father may be a shite, but he’s a True Alpha with many years of experience. More than my eighteen years.”
“So? You’re a True Alpha also. It's in your blood. You’ll make a far better leader than your father, especially with him not firing on all cylinders right now. Would you really sit by and do nothing as the wolves in your pack suffer?” Ethan states, his voice lit with passion.
I get what he’s saying I really do. I’m not that horrible to sit around and watch wolves die. Hell, I even saved Kassie, but this is different, we’re talking about his death. I may have stated numerous times I wanted to kill him, but he’s still my father. When it comes down to it, I’m not sure I can go through with it.
“Is he really that bad? Maybe we can talk some sense into him. He did ask for me to be brought back from Axil’s pack after all,” I say, grasping at straws.
“Sweetheart, that was us not him,” Logan replies.
“Beg your pardon?” I question, raising my brow.
“I called your father, and told him I would turn myself in. That is why I’m here with Logan. Since being here, we’ve been getting into his head, driving the point that he has the advantage since Axil wants you as his mate so bad. We’ve been playing on his pride, knowing he's the type to have others control him. Finally, what we have been telling him sunk in and he gathered a couple wolves to drive off to Bloodmoon to collect you. He was supposed to return with you, so we’re sorry he left you behind and all that happened afterwards. It was all our fault,” Ethan, explains as his voice breaks no doubt thinking about what I told him I went through. What almost broke me.
“That wasn’t your fault. It’s no one's fault but Axil’s,” I tell him, grabbing his cheeks with my palms and bringing our foreheads together.
“But he hurt you,” he says in a small voice.
“Yes, he did. He’s been hurting me, and he will continue to do so if we’re mated. Don’t take the blame for something he has no intention to stop doing.”
“I know you’re scared, firecracker. Hell, I’m scared for you, but it's the only way. Your father is unsavable and the wolves here deserve a better Alpha than that,” Logan says rationally. He’s right, they both are, but can I do it? Am I strong enough?
“Hey, what’s going on with Kassie? When I was brought to my room, she was in the middle of the living space going to town on my uncle’s dick like nobody’s business.”
“If I have to take a guess, I would say she’s been drugged,” Logan starts.
“More than likely the succubus drug,” Ethan finishes, rubbing his chin deep in thought. “The last time I saw her, her eyes were vacant, like the lights are on but nobody’s home. We’ve even heard her going at it with both your father and your uncle in his office.”
I really want to not feel sorry for her, but no female no matter how despicable they are, deserves to be drugged and then taken advantage of. Even if she did orchestrate something like that to be done to me.
“Wow, so I came back to a steaming pile of shite,” I state.
They don’t answer, because we’re interrupted by a knock at the door. Logan quickly wraps me with my blanket from my bed and Ethan calls for whoever it is to come in. A second later, Trevor opens the door.
“Your father would like for you to get dressed and have dinner with him and the Bloodmoon Alpha.”
“Great, dinner,” I mutter sarcastically. Nothing ever good comes from dinner anymore. “I don’t suppose I have the choice to sit this one out, do I?” I ask innocently, already knowing the answer.
“Afraid not,” he answers.
“Fine,” I huff. “I’ll be down in a bit.”
“He also told me to tell you, you only have thirty minutes and to leave the twins here,” he says apologetically.
“Fine,” I repeat through clenched teeth. Killing my father is starting to look more and more promising.
Trevor leaves, and I stomp over to my closet looking for something to wear. Lord knows I’m not dressing up for those two. I’m sure my father expects me to wear a dress, but I no longer seem to care what he wants, so instead I pull out a pair of black leggings and a thick long grey jumper. Finishing off my outfit, I put on a pair of chunky ankle boots with a buckle on the side and gather my hair into a ponytail.
“You look nice, love, but I’m sure that outfit will piss your father off,” Ethan says, eyeing me critically.
“I’m sure it will, but it’s better than what I came here in,” I counter.
“Very true,” Logan murmurs.
Trevor comes back in thirty minutes on the dot. Hell, he probably never left the hall. I’m glad my mates were able to help him. I would hate if something were to happen to his while he’s here guarding me. We don’t talk the whole way to the dining room. The walls have ears. Even more so with Axil here.
I’m the last to arrive to dinner. My father was already there, sitting at the head of the table like a king. How can he just sit there with a smug smile on his face knowing he’s the cause behind countless deaths of his own pack. When he sees me, a scowl crosses his face as he takes my outfit in before he quickly puts on a fake smile.
“Daughter, you’re looking well,” he greets. I don’t bother to answer. Instead I look around the table. I see there's a seat open beside Axil who doesn’t even bother to hide his displeasure over my outfit choice. Instead of sitting by him, I choose the seat beside Kassie whose staring around blankly. Unlike me, she has on a dress. A very tight one that hugs her every curve. Her hair and make-up is done to perfection, and if I didn’t already know she’s been high most of the time she’s been here, I would miss the glassy look in her bright blue eyes. When I sit, she turns to look at me before unemotionally moving her attention back on the table.
“Aspen, beautiful as always,” my uncle muses as he folds a cloth napkin over his lap. Like my father, he’s dressed impecca
bly without a hair out of place. They look a lot alike except he has green eyes instead of the golden green like my father and I, and he’s not a True Alpha, just an Alpha.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing at, but your place is sitting by my side,” Axil growls from across the table. I wondered how long it would take him to say something. I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.
“My place is wherever the fuck I want and I choose to sit here,” I reply simply.
“How brave of you, pet. Don’t think because you’ve been off all day fucking those twins like a little whore you’ll be getting away with this insolence. Once you become my mate, I’ll make sure they’re tortured and then killed in front of you for touching what’s mine,” he threatens.
“Well, all the reason to not mate with you. I’m theirs, not yours,” I spit out. I was hoping this conversation could start after dinner, or I’d at least had a chance to eat something. I was starving, but the pissed off look in Axil’s eyes tell me he’s not letting this go.
“Don’t be silly, Aspen. I already told you you’ll be mating with Axil. If you wish nothing bad to happen to your twins, I’d suggest you not piss him off,” father says, throwing in his two cents.
“And as I already told you, father,” I say slowly as I stand up and lay my palms flat on the table. “I will not mate anyone but the mates I already have. You nor that jackarse,” I spit out, pointing at Axil, “will force me. You might as well kill me and use me to make your stupid drug if you think differently.”
Surprise crosses both of their faces, but anger quickly takes over and an enraged Axil stands prepared to charge me like a raging bull.
“See what happens when you offer females in your pack too much freedom. You get an insolent brat who sticks their noses in concerns that don’t pertain to them,” Axil rages.
“Fuck you, this is my pack. I say it concerns me quite well you overgrown bully. You’re a fucking coward. You and my father. You take innocent, lesser wolves who are too weak to fight and kill them off for your own financial gain.” I’m shouting now. My anger has risen to meet Axil’s and I’ve lost control over my powers. As my eyes blaze, a fierce wind circles us, blowing anything not heavy enough to be affected crashing onto the floor. Whoops. That’s another power I have let out the bag.
“I see you’re still keeping secrets, daughter,” father says with an amused voice, like he doesn’t care I’m ready to wipe him off the face of the Earth. My uncle is just sitting there like this shite happens everyday, and Kassie, well she might as well be a doll displayed on the self with all the emotion she’s showing. “I believe I warned you what would happen if you decided to not do what you’re told,” father says casually.
“What does that mean? Nothing you do will make me mate him.”
“Are you sure about that?” He asks with a wicked smile on his face. Why do I feel like I’ve walked straight into his trap? Instead of answering, he calls for one of his Betas and minutes later you can hear the sound of yelling and shuffling feet. Horrified I watch both Logan and Ethan being dragged in. Immediately, I kill the wind and run straight to them when Axil’s strong hand intercepts me.
“Let me go you overgrown brute,” I scream, which makes my mates react. They start fighting the ones holding them and Trevor moves to help them, but more guards come in and soon there are too many to fight and all three of them are subdued and brought down to their knees. My wolf roars inside me and I fight to pull out of Axil’s grip, but he’s too freaking strong. Standing, my father takes in the room.
“What do I have here?” He questions, looking straight at Trevor with blazing eyes. “A traitor in my midst. How long have you’ve been working with them?” He growls and slaps Trevor hard across the face.
What a fucking bitch. Pulling his leg up, he kicks Trevor in the gut over and over until I scream, “stop.”
“Why? Are you fucking this one too? Is that the reason he so easily turned? My wolves are going to enjoy making your pretty mate pay. Send someone to his home and bring her here and tie her to my bed.” I’m glad my mates got her away and I’m sure my father will be outraged when he finds out she’s gone.
“I suggest you let them go,” I order, looking my father dead in the eyes.
“Or what, pet? I have you now,” Axil growls in my ear. His voice has a dangerous edge, betraying his full intentions.
Responding to a silent signal the wolves surround my mates and start to beat the shite out of them and Trevor in front of me as Axil continues to hold me, making me watch. Having had enough, I tap into my wind ability and blow him off me and clear across the room. Aiming my anger on my father, I say clear and loud for all to hear, “I, Aspen Wolfhaven challenge you, Dante Wolfhaven, for Alpha of the Wolfhaven pack.” My words are like an off switch and everything in the room stops.
The men beating my mates stop, everyone stands still, not a sound can be heard until my father yells, “what?”
“You heard me, I challenge you for pack Alpha.”
“I’m going to give you one chance to take your words back. You’re an ignorant, spoiled child who doesn’t know what you’ve done.”
“You’re wrong, I know exactly what I’m doing,” I reply looking him straight in the eyes, twin to my own.
“As you wish, daughter, challenge accepted. Tomorrow, as soon as the sun sets we will fight to the death.”
“Fine, I agree to your terms.”
“What? Fuck no,” Axil roars, getting to his feet and stomping over. “I’ll fight in her stead, she will not be battling you.”
“The challenge has been issued, the terms accepted. Unless she chooses you to fight for her, there's nothing you can do about it,” Ethan informs Axil, as he clutched his hand to his side. I hope he doesn’t have another broken rib.
“Take it back,” Axil shouts, getting right in my face. If I didn’t know better I would think that’s fear in his eyes. If I died, would the psycho actually miss me?
“No,” I reply, looking him dead in the eyes.
“I’m not going to tell you again, little wolf. Take-it-back,” he orders, slowly pronouncing each word.
“Good, because you’ll get the same answer,” I tell him, walking away. When he tries to grab for me again, I use my wind power to keep his back. “Leave me alone,” I cry out, and my father intervenes.
“The challenge is going to happen, Axil, there isn’t anything you can do about it. Guards take these traitors to a cell.”
“No, you will let them go. They are my mates and a source of my power. You cannot keep them away from me or you’ll forfeit the challenge.” Take that dad. Apparently, I have learned some things when he thought he was keeping me ignorant to our world.
“They may be your mates, but he’s not,” he says menacingly, pointing at Trevor, “and the last I checked I’m still Alpha. Take him away,” he orders, and turns and walks away.
Before the guards pull Trevor away, I turn to him with as much conviction I can muster, I tell him,“I’ll get you out. I will win and you will be free.” He gives me a half smile and nods his head before the guards drag him away. I mean every word. I will get him out and reunite him with his mate. He did the right thing and chose to fight with mine when he could have stood still and did nothing.
15
Mekka
“Something big is going on,” April says, running into the room without knocking. I’m glad I wasn’t naked or something. It would be awkward to explain to Aspen how her best friend saw my dick.
“What have we said about knocking?” I grumble.
“There's no time for that,” she says, waving her hand. “Some informants of my mage friend said something big is happening in Wolfhaven.
“What are you talking about?” I ask exasperated.
“Informants of my friend within the Wolfhaven pack says the guards have been searching everywhere for that Kimberly chick. They say her mate has done something to piss the Alpha off and she’s been ordered to the main compou
nd,” she explains.
“Okay, we already knew there would be a possibility he’d find out she’s missing. What does that have to do with anything?” I question, confused about her reaction.
“They also said the Alpha has been challenged and tomorrow at sundown there will be a fight,” Well hell, why didn’t she lead with that?
“Aspen,” I whisper. “This is far quicker than I thought.”
“Yes, but it’s happening,” she says cheerfully.
“You need to be there tomorrow at that fight,” Alpha says, walking in. So much for privacy. “As her mate, you give her power. He cannot deny you being there. I have already made a call and told him we’re on our way.”
“And he didn’t say anything, or ask how you even knew?”
“He has three of my wolves. I already told him I was on my way to negotiate their return when I heard the news,” he answers. Well, that does make sense.
Aspen
I go to sleep held safely in my mates arms. Despite their injuries, they were comforting me, assuring me all their injuries were minor and they will be fine by morning. As I lay in bed, I think about what just happened. I actually challenged my father. I knew one day I would take over, but not like this. I knew he would be mad, but to ask for terms of to the death. Only one person will walk out that ring, and I damn sure planned on it being me. I can't leave my mates before I actually began to be with them. Not with all we’ve been through. I just found the twins again, I’m just beginning to learn all about Mekka, and poor Trevor. If I don’t get him out, he will be killed, his body sacrificed to make that stupid drug. With that, I think about all the wolves counting on me to win. To keep them safe from my own father.
