Pack Meeting

SPENCER

The wolves were out in force; I hadn’t seen a gathering this big for a few years.

All that was missing were those who took care of pups, including my mom who would soon be taking care of Levi, the alpha would inform them later.

Flank steps next to me as Dad took front and center with Alpha Chad Johnson, the owner of Harper’s place of work.

She didn’t know he was the alpha, not yet anyway. She was going to have to adjust to a lot, and it always played in the back of my mind that she wouldn’t accept me. No, I couldn’t think like that.

As we transformed back into human form and we took our places on the ground out the front of the pack house, Alpha barked curtly, silencing the large crowd.

“Alright, last night there was movement along the western border of town. Upon investigation, scents of Hunter Bloodlines were picked up, that putrid tangerine acidy taste filled the air, wafting around us like a warning.

They have definitely been watching our movements for some time in order for that much odor to remain. We’ve dealt with this before, we know what this means, all pack members must be on high alert.

If you see anything suspicious, you need to ring it in immediately, we can’t make any mistakes. We have recently acquired new humans into our clan, our beta’s son has found his mate…”

A gasp rippled over the horde. “Yes, I’ve seen it with my own eyes, the bond is already taking effect.

“Each of you will be issued with a post and your times for sentinel duty. No one, and I mean no one, is excused from this. A mate pairing these days is almost unheard of, so we need to be extra vigilant. For a mate pairing at this time of uncertainty to bless us means something significant.

We need to spread the word to our other kinfolk, without this piece of information falling into the lap of our enemies. Because if they find out, they will go straight for our human and dire and drastic consequences will plague not only our community but our species as a whole, you all know what’s at risk. Now, we must talk strategy…

What Chad spoke of was true, he and his wife were the only other mate pairing we knew of.

Though both of them were born carrying the wolf gene, they were unable to conceive a child thanks to a previous Hunter attack. He was never able to pass on his alpha title as they are meant to.

The responsibility would fall on my shoulders.

Since I was not born of a true mate pairing, it meant the next alpha in line, would be an heir, male or female, that was bred from a definitively blessed mating—mine and Harper’s.

If I failed in producing an heir, then the responsibility and future of our pack falls to whoever is the next lucky soul to receive a mate.

If the alpha dies before an heir is fully matured, then the beta will assume the title until the rightful pup is of age.

If no heir is produced and there are no others strong enough to step into the alpha role, then we all become rogues, packless wanderers and nomads.

Most will travel to other packs seeking refuge, some will take up comfort with a human counterpart, essentially breeding out the wolf gene but without a pack, any wolf’s chance at survival is slim.

It wasn’t always this way, that’s the sad thing about our predicament.

We debated long after the sun’s light disappeared, and I was itching to get back to my woman but a zephyr crept past me and with it, the pungent scent of a whore.

“You think she is your mate?” The snarl of the woman who I hated most in the world comes creeping like vermin from the shadows.

“Oh look, a cock, quick, off you go before you lose it.”

“You know you miss me, you just need to see, you need to be reminded of what we had, of how perfectly matched we are.”

Sheila had nothing on my girl, everything about her repulsed me. As I caught her in the corner of my eye, her head dipped low but her defiance shone brightly in her glare.

She was beneath me, not only in rank but personally as well, her wolf knew but her human side was the problem.

“That’s where you are wrong, and the reason why you will always remain nothing more than an omega.” I kept my tone light, I had hurt enough over this mutt but she could no longer affect me.

I had my mate and absolutely nothing compared to her.

“No, you’re wrong, Spency, we-we were meant—”

“You think I would sacrifice my perfection for you?” I laughed in her face. “You think I would want you at all? You’re more delusional than I thought.”

Her canines extended, clearly not liking my dismissal of her and she growled with warning.

“Let’s see just who is laughing when she doesn’t exist anymore,” she snapped, “I will allow them entry when it’s my turn to watch over her, I will watch on happily as they rip her limb from li—”

I lost control before she had a chance to finish her wretched words.

Furious, violent anger rose like an out-of-control fire within me, and I leaped from my spot, shifted into my monstrous primal form.

My wolf spirit, pure black with a sapphire-tinged silky coat and deadly satanic pitch-black eyes, focused on one thing— the bitch.

My sharp and dangerous canines embedded into her neck with concise exactitude.

With only one final clamp down, my teeth would sever not just her jugular but her head clean off, and I was seriously considering doing just that.

Did she really just threaten my mate? Did she really not understand the power I had brimming below the surface?

I was not just the son of a beta; I was the great-grandson of an alpha. Was she really so incapable and stupid to not know how unhinged I would become after she threatened what was mine?

It was the first fucking thing we were taught as pups.

She was a foolish she-wolf and the reason why she would remain nothing more than an omega, which now that I think about it, is the only reason Sheila probably hooked up with me.

My title made her a ‘someone’ when she was always a nobody. Once upon a time she held beauty, but an evil heart infects like a weed.

“Calm down, Son,” I heard my father command, but I couldn’t calm down. Sheila, out of jealousy, had threatened my family, and I was beyond reasoning.

Her limp form hung from my muzzle, blood dripping from the lacerations in her neck as I dragged her along the dirt ground.

The sound of her whimpering only encouraged my animal; he held just as much fury as I did for the repugnant words that slithered from her tongue like the snake that she is.

The pack watched on with curiosity at the display in front of them. They all learned of her deceitful behavior and Justin and Sheila had been shunned because of it.

They also knew how possessive a wolf can become, especially over a mate, residing in primitive actions with no mercy given.

For her to have even come back meant she had groveled to our alpha, promising something she was clearly incapable of delivering. Who knew what the real reason was for her return?

I cared not. The bitch was not worthy of air.

“Spencer,” Alpha barked, his pure masculine essence vibrated from deep within his chest.

Try as I might, my wolf's natural reaction was to submit to the only one that could force a submission, especially in beast mode.

He dropped her body, with a thud, spitting the toxically poisonous blood from his saliva. Well, not poison, but anything she touched, Sheila cursed.

I was shuddering with fierce hatred and transforming back into human form would be close to impossible in the mood I was in.

My wolf looked up at Alpha, you could see the concern shining in his eyes.

He knew I would never act so irrationally without just cause, but he also knew how much hurt I endured thanks to that worthless mutt.

Chad Johnson was our alpha, but also Dad’s best friend, had been since they were in diapers.

He definitely looked the other way in my teenage years but now, he would need an answer, one I could not provide until I was calm.

The mere thought of what she said would cause my beast to attack again.

Instead, I turned and bolted. Though still in my primal state, I needed to get to her, my mate, my Harper.

I was over an hour late already and hopefully being near her would make it easier for my wolf to relinquish control and my human form would return.

I hid in the shrubbery near her front door, watching on as Harper stood in the entranceway looking out over the darkness for headlights that would never arrive.

After all, I had not driven there. We were meant to be celebrating, we had confessed our love for each other and now our night was ruined and it was my entire fault.

My impeccable heightened eyesight caught the sadness that consumed her, the light tears as they slipped down her cheeks.

I had sworn I would be there for her, I swore I would never hurt her and that she could trust me, but our first night alone was now blown.

She looked so incredible too. She had worn a red thigh-high tight dress with matching heels and she had curled her long silky tresses.

My heart ached as she took one last longing look at her phone before heading inside and locking the door. I heard the pin snap into place, even at the distance.

Sneaking around the side of Clade’s house, I peered through her window.

She dropped her exquisite red dress to the floor, wiping away the smeared evidence of disappointment the tears had carried down her face.

Shrugging on her comforting sweats, she switched off the light and climbed into bed.

My heart broke knowing what I had done to her, as my hearing zeroed in on her soft sobs, my mind was scrambling to come up with a plausible excuse.

One that was valid enough that she wouldn’t ask questions and persuasive enough that she wouldn’t feel rejected.

I left her window as she cried herself to sleep.

Finally, upon my return to my truck; my wolf was ready to allow me control; after all, he knew he couldn’t fix this.

I dressed quickly, climbed in behind the wheel and headed straight for her house. I needed to make this right, had to make this right, in any way possible.

My phone rang on the way to Harper’s but I refused to answer it, I knew whose number that was and right now, I was too upset to deal with Dad.

I skidded into Clade’s driveway, coming to a halt just in time as I flew out my driver’s door.

I knew she left the bathroom window open to aerate the build-up of condensation that occurred when she showered.

It was the only way to stop the growth of mold as old houses did not possess ceiling fans—and I was in luck.

Doing a small happy jig at the open window, I went to climb in, only to hear a snarl.

The alpha was here.

He shifted and strode over to me as I kept my head lowered, “the entire pack saw you, how am I meant to let your actions remain unpunished?” I tilted my eyes up to meet his startling grays.

“Before you say anything, Chad, you know me, you know I don’t lose my temper for no goddamn reason—”

“You almost snapped her neck,” he cut in with a deadly rasp.

“Sheila promised that when it was her turn to guard Harper, she would allow the Hunters through to murder her.”

His eyes blazed with black fire, our rules on mate pairings are very clear due to our near extinction and how rare a bond like this is these days, there was no justifying her behavior.

“I should have realized she would try something,” he sneered.

“You are busy, you have a pack to protect.”

“I have a god-son to watch over, dammit. Spence, our future lies in your hands.”

“I know that, but keeping all of this from her is hard. I had planned on telling her tonight but we ran over time. As I was leaving, Sheila started with her venomous shit, now Harper is hurt and I need to get in there, tell her how sorry I am and make her accept my apology…”

“Is that why you are climbing through the window?”

I huffed as my head fell in shame. “She locked the door.”

Chad chuckled and rolled his eyes. “Mates…” He nodded.

I had no idea why he said it like that but I presumed it was similar to the whole, “women” exasperation.

“Look, I think Luna should deal with punishment for Sheila’s disregard of your mate. God knows if I do, I will murder that shifty bitch. For now, get in there and fix this.”

I nodded my head in thanks as he strode back into the darkness, and I pulled myself up and through the bathroom window.

I had severely underestimated the size of the window frame against my bulky structure because it was not an easy thing to slide through.

Once inside, though, I stripped bare, washing the dirt from my body that had collected when I was in spirit form, and then snuck into her room.

The scent of honey glaze and tears hit my snout as I lifted the sheets; instant regret washed over me. I had caused this. I had hurt her.

As I slid my arm around her waist, she turned with wide blinking eyes and a creased forehead. “Hey, sweet cheeks.”

“What the fuck?” her voice croaked. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

I dove straight in; we had wasted enough time. “Harper, I’m so sorry—”

“How did you get in, Deputy Marcelo?” There was a lick of warning in her voice and a pointed challenge to the way she used my name.

“The window…sweet cheeks—”

But she cut me off. “Go out the same way,” she bit harshly and rolled over, grabbing the blankets and placing them over her head.

Well, this isn’t going so well. “Harper…”

“I’m tired, Deputy Marcelo, go home.”