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Or in the future.
I was the alpha.
“This had better be the truth, Stone. We are under duress and must work together. I will not tolerate anyone, including you, usurping my command.” I tilted my head, allowing my beast to breach the surface. For a man like Stone, backing down in any manner was difficult if not impossible. While he’d been forced to take over for his father, accepting the alpha position without question, the Wolfen would always be considered top dog. “Who is this pack?”
“I did not hear a name, only that they are almost as ancient as the Wolfen,” Stone snarled. “I am no historian, Max. I simply keep the peace.”
Gregor flanked my side, his breathing ragged. “Max is right. We have to work together. The shit going down is just the beginning. We fight this together or we perish.”
Stone’s nostrils flared, the veins popping along the side of his neck. “While you were free to choose to live your life differently, Max, I was pulled out of everything I’d worked so damn hard to achieve. Your father is to blame for that alone. While you refused to accept your role as the prince of your people, preparing to take over, I was suffering from losing everything I gave a fuck about. You need to keep that in mind.”
Gregor hissed and to my surprise was prepared to fight for superiority, his body shaking from anger. I pushed my way in front of him, shaking my head. “Stone is correct. I took what was granted to me by birth for granted. That can no longer happen. Together, we’ll forge a new way, but not until we hunt down this fucker.”
His mouth twisting in anger, Stone had to make his choice right now. Either stand with the Wolfen or be banished completely. When he finally took a deep breath, taking a step back, his decision had been made.
“Then we do this. My instinct tells me that we must flush out this wolf soon.” I didn’t want to add that I had a terrible feeling we were bait in the killer’s hunt, another way of ridding the city of the Wolfen. An ancient pack. I racked my mind, trying to remember what I’d been taught as a child.
“Agreed,” Gregor said first.
“Yes, agreed.”
“Good.” I motioned toward the front of the ranch. My father wouldn’t agree with my decision, but he’d wanted me to step up to the plate and I was doing just that. It was time to end the feud.
I knocked on the door and the moment my father answered, the anger I’d expected was immediate, but to my surprise, relief also flooded his face. He glanced from right to left, taking several deep breaths.
“We may be at war soon, Father. I’m certain you’re aware of the body found on our soil,” I stated, staring him in the eyes.
Blackhawk was a very proud man, whatever sickness he was facing something he’d refused to give into until I formally accepted my role. “The young woman was not of our world.”
“No, but she was selected for a reason. That’s why we’re here. I believe you may know than you’ve told me.” I knew the accusation wouldn’t sit well, but it was one he needed to hear.
He’d always been a harsh taskmaster, a man refusing to allow me to get away with antics of any kind. I’d learned the value of hard work early on. While other Wolfen children were playing, I was tending to the ranch. “Understood. You have healed wounds that I’d long since forsaken. You have grown to be a wise man, my son.”
I darted a glance at the others, hoping they realized they were in the presence of a true leader, the kind of man I could only hope to be.
As he walked closer to Stone, he held out his hand. “I am very sorry for the loss of your father. He was a good man, a proud man, and one who didn’t deserve to be dishonored.”
Stone was rock hard, his face stoic. He certainly had every right to hate my father, but I only hoped that he realized just how much my father had sacrificed. Exhaling, Stone accepted the shake, lowering his head out of respect. “My father was a difficult man, Blackhawk. That much you already know, but he was a damn good doctor.”
My father remained quiet for only a few seconds. When he spoke, I was surprised his tone was apologetic. “I was a fool for far too long, taking out my personal sadness on an entire pack. My son is perhaps more intelligent and humble than I ever gave him credit for. Please come in. There is much to discuss.”
I remained on the porch for several seconds, staring out at the rugged terrain; snowcapped mountains and a massive forest surrounding what I considered to be paradise. What I knew in my heart was that a force unlike anything we’d dealt with before was preparing to strike, humans merely being used in a violent game.
“Tell me about Captain Drake Walters, Father.” I could tell instantly that my father did indeed know more that he’d told me. When he began to speak, I gathered a boulder had been ripped from his shoulders.
We’d been fools to sit on our laurels for all these years and now the biggest, baddest wolf had emerged from our nightmares with a taste for power.
And for blood.
The hunt was truly on.
CHAPTER14
Kathleen
Danger.
That’s the only word that remained in my mind. I could no longer think about what Max had finally confided or the consequences for believing his story. I’d read enough of the fascinating old book to realize why a hell of a lot of people bought the legend. But real-life werewolves? Hell, from Max’s reaction, it was easy to tell that this special community didn’t appreciate the moniker, but what else was I supposed to call them?
