Pack Bonds, page 10
part #4 of Amarok Series
“Command is beyond sloppy. The animals haven’t realized that Franklin is dead. Despite that, their numbers may allow them to triumph as long as Lady Pruella does not interfere. I agree it would be best to have them indebted to us. My thought is to apply pressure on them, inform them that it is Lady Pruella’s doing. They will come to us for assistance to level out the playing field.
“My men are currently searching for the Lady’s assets throughout the city. It seems her private security sleeps in the crypts behind the church she’s renovated for a home. The second largest group is at her library. Then I will see you later my lord.”
He hung up the phone, slipping it into his front pocket. A snap of his fingers brought the vampires with him to attention. “I want a team picking off the rogues. Nothing too obvious. One a day should keep them on their toes. Get people on the Freewood boy and arrange an accident. That should prompt them to action and give us the opportunity we need to make our move.”
-
The mood in the car was tense as Malcolm Eerie slowed down for the red light. In the passenger seat, Kyle sat with his chin resting on his knuckles as he stared out the window. The bruises that littered his face when they took off were reduced to slight swelling and that would be gone by the time the first bell rang. Malcolm hadn’t commented, waiting for Kyle to say something, but it was becoming increasingly clear that wasn’t going to happen. “…You going to say something?”
“Nothing to say.”
“So, you woke up with those bruises, I guess.”
“Don’t be stupid.”
The light turned green, but Malcolm didn’t move. Kyle sighed. “Fine then. Let’s talk about our feelings. My uncle dying makes me sad. People thinking I had something to do with his shady dealings and trying to kick my ass makes me angry. How do you feel?”
“…Guilty.”
“Gods, man. Can I turn down this invitation to your pity party?”
Malcolm pressed down on the gas, jolting his passenger who hadn’t bothered with a seat belt. “If you’re going to be like that, forget it.”
Kyle ran a hand through his hair. “Alright. I’m sorry. Okay? I’ve got a lot on my mind. All this crap with Franklin and the Council. Now the police are questioning me about my uncle’s death.”
“At least some of that’s my fault.” He regretted telling his father about Dugen going to the vampires the moment the words left his mouth and he saw the righteous fire light Martin’s eyes. The last thing any of them needed was a power struggle within the pack. His father had assured him he didn’t have any agendas, yet he whispered behind Dugen’s back, spreading seeds of doubt.
Dugen himself was unquestionable and Malcolm knew his father was unsure about a challenge. Rather than fight him, the businessman wheedled at the pack’s confidence in their new leader, hoping to use the dissent to force Dugen to step down.
Malcolm wanted to say something to Kyle, warn him so he could, in turn, warn Dugen. But every time the words started to rise, he swallowed them down.
Martin was his father. No matter the tactics he used, he was thinking about the pack. Speaking out against him felt like a betrayal.
A hand on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts. Kyle looked at him with a serious expression. “Look in the backseat and tell me what you see.”
“I don’t have to look to tell you. There’s nothing.”
“Yeah. Remember the two other idiots who always tagged along? Called themselves Guards in training when all they wanted was to be close to the next alpha. They’re nowhere to be seen. You’re right here. Whatever else happened or happens later, you’re still here. That’s what counts.”
Malcolm nodded, some of the tension going out of his shoulders. “Thanks.”
“No problem. We done with this?”
“We’re done.”
“Good.”
For someone who had been ready to cry into his fries the other day, Malcolm thought his charge was acting pretty bold. A part of him wanted to throw the other changer’s pity party back at him but he decided against it.
Better the bold Kyle who seemed ready to take action than the helpless one at his uncle’s mercy. “I guess you don’t have a plan to handle the rogues?”
“I’m working on it.”
“You should work faster.” It was no secret that the rogues were looking for him, holding a tight perimeter around the school. Pruella’s presence kept them from rushing in but Malcolm could feel them pressing closer, waiting for any opportunity.
“I’m not the only one working on it. Maybe you should—”
Malcolm heard the gunning engine and turned to see an old, rusty pickup truck barreling toward them. He yanked hard on the wheel, but the other driver was just as quick. The pickup turned with them, putting it back on a collision course with their car. With nothing else to do, Malcolm gripped the steering wheel as hard as he could and braced for the impact.
The pickup slammed into their side with tremendous force, sending the SUV sliding across the road. Malcolm grunted as the airbags deployed, knocking him back into the seat.
As soon as he regained his senses, his fingers reached for the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Malcolm!”
He turned to see Kyle standing outside the car, holding out a hand. Malcolm grabbed it and allowed himself to be pulled out through the passenger side. The two of them stood bruised and bloodied in the middle of the road, slightly dazed as the two car's alarms blared around them.
Malcolm’s reaction meant the pickup had hit them more on the back of the car than the front. They’d avoided serious injury, but the back of the car was flattened.
The pickup was in worse shape. The entire front end was compressed, and the windshield had shattered from the force of the collision. He turned to Kyle, nodding his head toward the car. The other boy gave him a grim nod in answer and they slowly approached it.
Malcolm moved to the driver’s door, which was thrown wide open. The bags hadn’t deployed, and blood was splattered across both seats. He took a deep breath, recoiling when a foul smell assaulted his nose.
“What is it?” Kyle asked over his shoulder.
Malcolm stepped back, waving toward the car as he held his nose. Kyle stepped in front of him and sniffed, scowling immediately. “I’ve smelled that before. That’s wolfsbane. Why would rogues have that?”
“Doesn’t matter.” Malcolm could hear other cars approaching along with curious pedestrians, drawn by the alarms. “We have to get out of here before someone asks any questions. Come on.”
He grabbed Kyle by the shoulder and pushed him in the direction of an alley, the two of them quickly disappearing up the street before anyone could notice.
-
Dean sat at the kitchen table, contentedly chewing on a plate of eggs while Rachel stood behind her, twisting her hair into the usual braid she wore it in. On the other side of the table, Viktoriya packed their bags. Their books and supplies had been lost in the respective destruction of their houses. One of Pruella’s runners came at an ungodly hour to drop off replacements. Their third mate muttered to herself as she looked back and forth between their schedules.
“Finished.” Rachel leaned over Dean’s shoulder, miming for the fork. Dean didn’t hand it over, but she fed the other girl a bite of her breakfast. “We ready to go?”
“Yeah.” Viktoriya pushed the respective bags across the table. Dean shoveled down the last of her food and stood up, shrugging the bag onto her shoulder. Rachel followed suit, locking arms with Viktoriya as they walked out of the house.
The rest of the group waited at the bottom of the steps. Clementine huffed when she saw them and climbed into the driver seat. Rudolph climbed into the passenger seat and the three girls got into the back.
“Pruella wants to see us the moment we get in,” Viktoriya said as the car pulled off. “And don’t forget that runner said Tobias wants to speak with you.”
“Maybe he heard about Zeke and wants to join the pack too,” Rachel said with a snicker. “Wouldn’t that be something? A changer pack with not one but two halflings.”
“Tobias Harmony helped save your life. I’d consider it.”
“Dean, I was kidding.”
“I’m not.” Lucien and her teacher told her that anyone who wasn’t one of them was an enemy. She could understand why they believed what they did. Her enemies were certainly numerous but if her time in Freewood taught her anything, it was that she couldn’t judge everyone by their race.
Viktoriya grabbed Dean’s chin and turned her so they were looking at each other. “Do you understand what you’re saying? Zeke calling you his alpha is one thing, but we start throwing around the word pack, it’s a different story. Are you ready for what that means?”
Dean met her serious gaze without hesitation. “Ready or not doesn’t matter. The world won’t wait till I’m ready. This is what fate has put on my shoulders and I do not intend to run from it.”
“…Okay.” Viktoriya let her go and stared out the window, her eyes unfocused as her thoughts raced.
In the front seat, Clementine turned her gaze away from the rear-view mirror, scowling as she refocused on the road.
-
The school was the same as before. Human adolescents hung about in the courtyard before the first bell, chatting about things Dean didn’t have any reference for. Their bright faces and relaxed postures. Looking at them, no one would think that war threatened to break out on the streets. One that would engulf them, their families, and their homes. The vampire knew how to maintain control in her territory, despite the danger lurking about.
“I counted five.”
“Seven,” Viktoriya said leaning close as she whispered. “You missed the ones at the end of the street when we turned in.”
Dean growled softly. “Those don’t count.”
“You’re a sore loser.”
“I’m—” She paused, her hand snapping out to a grab an object speeding toward them. Dean turned the football over. “Just to be clear, this isn’t a weapon, right?”
Rachel laughed loudly.
“Nice catch! Hey, wait.” The three of them looked up as Logan Wilcox came to a stop in front of them. “It’s you three. What’s up? Nobody’s seen you for a few days.”
Dean scrutinized his face. After thirty seconds, she looked over to Viktoriya who seemed to be having the same difficulty placing him. Rachel stepped in, taking the football from Dean’s hand and holding it out toward the running back. “Stop teasing him girls. You remember Logan. He sat down to have lunch with us a while ago.” She handed him back the ball.
Viktoriya’s eyes lit with recognition while Dean remained clueless. “Right. How are you doing?”
“Great, great. Dean, I bet you can throw with those arms.” He handed the ball over, waving at a group of boys on the opposite side of the grass. “Here, grip it by the strings, bend your elbow back and snap it forward.” He mimed a throw and then looked at her expectantly.
Dean was confused by the sudden change of events but a thumbs up from Rachel allowed her to shrug off the worries. She pulled her arm back as instructed and threw the ball gently.
The catchers waiting for it sprinted as it soared over their heads, the one in the lead diving to catch it and popping up to his feet with a whoop. Running forward to close the distance, he threw it back. A nudge from Rachel clued her in that the ball was for her. She tracked its wobbly path, taking three steps to the left before jumping up, grabbing it with one hand.
“Holy—” Logan caught the ball when she tossed it to him, grinning broadly. “You’ve got to come to practice. Girl or not, Coach sees that arm and he’ll get you on the team.”
“Team?”
“He means the football—” Rachel winced. “Oh, forgot. You probably don’t know what sports are. At least anything that’s not a blood sport. Sorry, Logan. We need to get moving but see you later? We can all sit together again.”
“Sure! It’s cool if I bring Specs back, right?”
“Bring whoever you want.”
The three of them entered the school under a cloud of whispers. “Alright, Dean,” Viktoriya whispered. “If you’re serious about being an alpha, there are some things we need to work on. Like your social skills. Stop scowling, start smiling.”
“What does it matter? These are humans.”
“It’s about building perception. Talk to Rosa. She can explain the importance of reputation and public personas. Every person you meet is a possible connection but none of these people you will talk to you. So, smile, please.”
Dean’s lips twitched. The expression was only marginally better than her normal bored glare and came off entirely forced. Viktoriya sighed. “I take it back. Don’t smile. Please don’t try to smile.”
“No, no. You’ve got to relax into it.” Rachel smiled easily, waving and exchanging quick greetings with strangers without missing a beat. Her expression didn’t dim in the slightest as she talked through it and the people she addressed responded to her warmly.
Dean watched, re-evaluating her third mate. “She’s rather impressive.”
“Definitely the daughter of a public relations officer,” Viktoriya agreed. “You’re terrible though.”
“We all have our strengths and weaknesses.”
-
They entered the administrative office. Addison sat at her usual place behind the front desk. She paused what she was doing as they came in. “Dean. Good to see you again.”
“I’ve yet to decide if I share your sentiment,” Dean replied coolly.
“I hope there aren’t any hard feelings from our last encounter.”
“None.” She recalled the tense moment in Franklin’s house when she stood between the blonde vampire and an injured Izekiel. If she hadn’t insisted on her claim, the boy would be dead. Addison looked ready to cut her down to reach him and Dean had no doubt she would have if she could. Remembering that cold gaze was all she needed to remind her that the vampires were not her allies. “Pruella in her office?”
“I would appreciate it if you did not address me so casually here.” Addison stood up and stepped to the side as Pruella walked into the room. The pale vampire took her seat. “If anyone should hear you, they might get the wrong idea. Addison, the file.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The secretary stepped away, returning moments later carrying a thick folder. At Pruella’s nod, she held it out to the girls. Viktoriya took it from her hand and started flipping through the papers. “That is a file on the visitor who is coming to my city. Thane Blood.”
“A relative of yours?” Viktoriya asked without looking up.
Pruella scowled. Dean didn’t react but noted the expression with interest. It was the most emotion she’d seen from the vampire to date. “He is not my family. We both share the Blood name, but I am descended from the true king. Those usurpers who call themselves royals were the servants of my ancestor. Now they dare to seek to command me!”
Her hands tightened where they lay flat on the desk. Then she took a deep breath and they relaxed along with her features. “But none of that is your problem. Inside the file is a list of his henchmen and security. I’ve also noted a few of his known conspirators coming into the city either secretly or on ‘business’. We’ll update you on any new intel that comes through and handle any resources you might need as it relates to this assignment.”
“I can already think of a few things,” Viktoriya mumbled. “I’ll have a list here by the end of the day.”
“Clarify exactly what we are looking for,” Dean asked.
“Like I said, any evidence that points to him moving against me. Catching Thane himself in a compromising position would be wonderful but exposing any misdeeds done by his minions should be enough to evict him from Freewood.”
The bell rung and the din of voices in the hall grew as the students rushed to class. Pruella rose from her chair. “I think it’s time you girls got moving. Dean, as we discussed, your homeroom teacher has been replaced with Tobias Harmony. Rachel, I’ve also transferred you into their class. I didn’t think you would mind.”
“Not at all.”
“Then I’ll see you later.”
-
Alpine studied the body, taking in the multiple stab wounds and the heavy stench of silver wafting off the corpse. He didn’t know many of the changers he’d picked up on his march to Freewood and only one of the rogues, Beckett.
The poor specimen in front of him likely belonged to the latter. Alpine figured that it must have been one of the half-mad ones, too senseless to know straying from the main force made him easy pickings. Not a terrible loss but it was one of his people and that made Alpine angry. Especially because he could smell traces of blood and magic. Most likely, this was Van’s response to their refusal but in this city, he couldn’t be sure.
