AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you following me?” I snapped. “What the hell do you want?”
“My, my, you’re testy today, Mr. Lucas,” she said gleefully. “No need to get grouchy.”
“I don’t take kindly to being stalked,” I said.
“Well, ain’t that a bit of pot and kettle?” she said with a giggle. “A wolf telling a human he doesn’t care to be stalked? Kind of ironic, don’t you think?” she continued, seemingly impervious to my anger. “Your kind is always lurking around, keeping tabs on things, seducing poor human girls, trying to influence our children with your inclusive schools. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, you don’t care for it?”
I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to grab her by the throat and toss her aside like the annoying fly she was. Instead, I narrowed my eyes and shook my head dismissively. “You’re delusional,” I said. “All any shifter wants is to live their lives like anyone else. We have our own dreams and desires that have nothing to do with you or any other humans. Not all of us are diabolical and paranoid.”
“Not diabolical?” She giggled again. “Honey, we know you’re starting a pack! That you’ve been recruiting. That your best friend is becoming a shifter, and that you and that sweet girl you’ve brainwashed have been fighting about her becoming one, too. How do you plan on forcing her to do it, hm? Threatening her?”
I laughed bitterly. “You really have no idea what you’re talking about, do you? I don’t know who you have watching me, but they suck at their job. If you’re having someone eavesdrop on us, at least make sure they get it right.”
“You expect me to believe that you’re on the opposite end of that argument? That you’re refusing to let her do it? Come now, Mr. Lucas. I know I’m not the brightest bulb, but I’m not that naive.”
I sighed heavily, my patience wearing thin. “Look, Ms. Paulson,” I began, my voice low and dangerous, “If you must know, Marley wants to transition because she believes it will keep her safe. She has seen too much violence at the hands of humans to ignore the potential benefits of being a shifter. And while part of me wants to protect her from harm, another part of me knows she is strong and capable and does not need me to tell her how to live her life.”
“It’s so convenient that you’re so accepting of something you claim to hate,” she remarked.
“Can we cut the shit?” I hissed. “If you know I’ve been setting up a pack, you’ve been following me for a while. If you’re approaching me now, I assume it’s because you have some message for me. Let’s get it over with.”
Her smile faltered a little, and I could have sworn I saw rage flash across her face. It was gone by the time I blinked again.
“I’ve come to warn you, but also give you an opportunity to divert the course you’re on,” she said. “You need to halt your efforts to create a pack, or you’ll wind up in a lot more hot water than you’re prepared to deal with.”
“Why should I listen to you?” I snapped. “Your organization discriminates against my kind and threatens to widen the split between those born as shifters and the non-shifters they care about and call friends. I don’t trust you.”
“Perhaps if you understood our intentions better, you wouldn’t harbor such animosity toward us,” she countered calmly. “Anti-shifter organizations aren’t solely filled with monsters; there are many individuals who simply seek peace between species and hope to establish boundaries without resorting to violence. Divided not only for our benefit, but also for yours.” Her tone shifted to one of condescension. “If you think about it, your kind isn’t exactly welcome among the human population anymore. Look at the news for the last ten to fifteen years. The violence, the danger—it’s all only made things worse. We all know your kind exists now, but it would be better if we all lived separate lives.”
“What makes you think we’ll buy into your bullshit?”
“Because if you don’t, the consequences will be dire,” she said cheerfully. “Your pack would never stand a chance against us. Our resources, our manpower, our connections—we far outnumber anything you could possibly put together. And the human population would surely side with us. Who would you turn to then? Don’t you see, Mr. Lucas?” She smiled again. “Cooperation is key here.”
I looked at her skeptically. “Just how far are you willing to go to uphold these so-called ‘boundaries?’”
“Mr. Lucas,” she said, a hint of respect coloring her tone, “there’s no reason to continue down this path you’re on. Join forces with our group, and we can ensure both sides are protected equally under our guidance. With your help, we can work in the best interest of both shifters and humans. We can work together to restore the natural order of things. All we have to do is get on the same page.”
I was starting to pick up on what she was getting at. She wasn’t interested in working together; she wanted me to work under her. She didn’t necessarily want me to stop building my pack; she wanted me to build a pack, but run that pack as her puppet.
What better way to convince shifters to stay in their place than to have another shifter telling them to stay there? She wanted me to betray my kind, to become a poster boy for well-behaved shifters smoothing things over with humans by allowing them to turn us into their glorified lap dogs.
I would have no part in it.
“No.” My tone brooked no argument. “If you want a dog to train, buy a puppy.”
Her laughter dripped with venomous spite. “You really are such a stubborn beast of a thing. It’s almost sad how much you’re going to regret saying no to this.”
“Tell it to someone who gives a shit,” I said. “And in the meantime, while you look for them? Stay the fuck away from me, my family, and my pack. I’m not interested in what you’re selling.”
The corners of her mouth tightened in displeasure. “Foolish boy,” she murmured. “Do you truly believe we can coexist alongside one another forever?”
“Let me make myself perfectly clear,” I replied, my gaze unflinching. “I will not collaborate with your cause nor allow myself to be used as a means to control my own kind. We may share similar goals, like wanting to maintain peace between our two groups. But your methods? They’re poisonous to everything we aim to achieve.”
Paulson’s expression turned vicious, her lips pulling back from her teeth in a feral grin. “Very well,” she said, turning her back to me and walking back out the way she came, her feet strangely quiet. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Her voice carried a menacing undertone. Despite my bravado, a chill ran down my spine. I realized just how much danger lay ahead, not only for my pack, but potentially for Marley and Travis, too. We were no match for Lanyon Clover, at least not when it came to numbers. It didn’t matter how strong a shifter was. If dozens of humans decided they had a problem with a single shifter, it wouldn’t be that hard for them to overpower that shifter.
It was becoming increasingly clear that we needed to double our efforts when it came to recruitment. We needed strength in numbers. I couldn’t guarantee our safety alone. My decision was firm and resolute, grounded in my love for Marley and Travis. In a world full of dangers and threats, forming a solid alliance with other shifters was essential for survival. Our only weapon against adversities was unity, and I refused to let fear prevent me from achieving that goal.
