Pack, page 9
“Wiatt I just wanted to say that whatever you,” my throat constricts on me suddenly. Air leaves me and I tried to gasp. Pain shoots across my abdomen and I double over as I stagger forward.
“Bg?” Wiatt asks heading over to me.
Pain surges through my back and I feel myself arch outwards, bending back, violently. My eyes widen and I struggle to breathe. Something in me snaps. I start to fall backwards, but there are hands behind me that catch me softly.
“I got you.” Addison’s voice says softly as he holds me.
“What the hell is happening?” Wiatt asks.
My eyes look at him walking towards me. We’d gone to Addison’s place to explain what was now our theory on Wiatt’s brother’s disappearance. I hadn’t been feeling particularly well the entire ride over. But that was nothing new. I’ve been out of sorts for the past three days due to my inability to shape shift during lunar week. It’s been wrecking me, slowly. Like delayed torture.
“She’s shifting.” Conall answers them.
My body starts shaking as my temperature bakes me. “She’s hasn’t been able to shift all lunar week. “Ever since this all started.”
“How the hell did she get to this stage?” Addison who is holding my neck as I am lowered to the ground slowly, angrily asks Conall. I have no voice, it has left me as my body starts the painful process of letting my werewolf come to life. But I for now I can still hear everything they are saying and see everything around me.
“You Alpha’s were too wrapped up in running the show to notice anything else. Especially a beta wolf who was unwell.” Conall bitches back at Addison, He doesn’t have to show respect to Addison, he isn’t from the same pack. I can tell he is the one at the bottom of my legs. Wiatt is squatting down beside me as they all monitor me and ensure I got through the shift.
“She’s stuck.” Addison comments suddenly as my legs and body bounce up and down and pain surges up inside me. My mouth opens and I gasp in air like someone surfacing after a long time under water.
“Bg it’s okay. Just relax.” Wiatt says loudly, looking at me.
“You should go now.” Addison says turning his head to Conall, his voice serious. “We will handle this.”
“I’m not going. She’s a Breukelen, I’m her pack, not you.”
There is a silence amongst the three males as my body continues the fit it and I struggle to do more than breathe and ride it out. I don’t know what was said after that as the white noise of my own body fills my head, my eye sight blurs till there is no focus. At some point I lose consciousness.
20
I awake fourteen hours later, into the evening of the fourth day of lunar week. The night of the full moon.
Addison too believes what Wiatt has told him about my theory. Although Addison doesn’t want to not look for Paris. Conall has been sent back to Brooklyn and all Breukelen werewolves, bar me, were thanked but told that things are under control and they are no longer needed.
The three of us, Paris’s lover, best friend and brother, have decided that we will go about pack life as normal, Addison and Wiatt have informed Jules and Bohm to stop our search for Paris.
Jules questioned Addison’s decision. Jules disagreed with Addison’s decision. Jules wanted to fight Addison for his decision. But cool heads prevailed. Addison spun Jules some cover story as to why we should stop and get on with our lives. I still find it hard to believe Jules fell for it.
They started the plan yesterday, when I was out from shape shifting. They figured as the command filtered down through those assisting, that word would spread like wildfire through the pack, that we were not going after Paris anymore. We want this human nature of an action to happen.
Addison suggested there might be a way for us to continue or search for Paris in secret, but it would involve not informing any other members of the Manhattan Maen pack. We might through other connections be able to call on packs like the Seattle Alki for assistance. But for now, even pretending to go on as though not affected by Paris missing from our lives is proving hard enough to be okay with.
Addison has dragged me reluctantly from Paris’s apartment to our regular club hang out. He’s making sure I stick to the plan. Encouraging me to dress up as I would as though going out with Paris. Only this time, he is playing the part of Paris the pack leader and I am playing the part of the whore of Babylon who is hanging off the new pack leader’s arm.
It’s not that Addison isn’t attractive, or doesn’t emanate power and masculinity all in one. It’s just, I’m not in love with him.
We walk through the club, making sure everyone sees us. Making sure people notice that Addison guides me along with his hand on the small of my bare back. Everything is deliberately planned to give the false impression that the pack’s structure is for all intents and purposes, still at full power. We can tell that news of Paris had spread through the pack, looks are given, people murmur, the vibe is odd to say the least.
If I wasn’t liked before, now still being involved in their pack, supposedly with the new leader, sure isn’t going to win me any friends either.
I sit side by side with Addison, as he drapes his arm around my shoulders. We sit pretending to be happy, pretending we don’t care that Paris is gone. Trying not to squirm with anxiousness on the inside that we are being idle, deliberately. It is ruthless. My heart is hurting badly. Smiling is the biggest effort of all. My facial muscles feel heavy every time I have to smile or laugh at something.
Jules and Wiatt sit with us and we all order drinks and kept to ourselves, like normal. Just another lunar week all werewolves having fun. Addison even does little things, small touches that would make you think it was only natural, that I would default to the next pack leader.
We leave at an appropriate hour, the time I’d normally leave with Paris to shape shift for the night. Addison and I, hand in hand much to the concern and ill ease of Jules who takes Addison aside to give him an earful of the riot act and taking advantage of me and not looking for Paris. Addison takes it, because he has to, because it’s all part of the plan.
We go back to Addison’s residence. Addison unlocks his front door and ushers me inside, with a pat of my rump.
The minute he closes the door I am pulling off my high heels and throwing them on the ground, taking out my earrings and ridding myself of jewellery that I let fall with my shoes to the ground. I don’t feel very glamorous. I feel like I’ve just done the biggest betrayal anyone could manage. By not being true to themselves. We both sigh heavily and look at each. Who knew lying was so hard on the soul?
“I think everyone noticed us, especially since Jules decided to give me a serve over you.” Addison says walking through his house, stripping off his jacket and shirt. “I didn’t see that coming.” He grumbles. “He really let me have it too.” I walk slowly after him.
“I don’t have to shift for while yet.” He sys as we stop outside the darkened corridor opposite his bedroom. I nod my head. My hands rest on his bare chest. He has the physique that guys work out at gyms for hours for. It is damn near perfection. His right pectoral muscle is covered in a tattoo designed that proceeds down the right side of his torso.
“We’re doing the right thing, right?” I ask softly, my eyes on the tattoo. He isn’t as big as Paris.
“Right.” Addison agrees equally as soft, his hands covering mine as he looked down at me. His body is warm to touch. “Do you need help to shift?”
I didn’t feel the usual urge to shift, fourteen hours in my wolf form has done me well. But it is likely that my shape shift cycle has been thrown out of whack. Every werewolf shifts on the night of the full moon. There are no exceptions to that.
21
The night after full moon and again we played the new power couple. By this time, Jules is barely speaking to Addison and Gabby has made her presence known among our set again. I can’t help but think she is a vulture, looking for a way in, looking for some opportunity to exploit to her gain.
Again as the night becomes late and the moon wanes, we returned Addison’s residence. And so it goes for the next night. I figure robots feel like I do as I go through the motions I am instructed to portray. Wiatt, Addison and I have agreed that by the end of the lunar week we will start preparations with external wolves to help us continue or search for Paris if nothing changes, as it looks like nothing will. That we really are just wasting time that we should’ve been better spending on searching for Paris.
I pull my hair out of it’s binding as Addison and I walk down the hallway of his place. It is late and I am tired. Emotionally tired of everything.
I hate feeling like this. Like no amount of shape shifting will take this feeling of fatigue and heavy heart away. I don’t think Addison is fairing much better either. Paris means a lot to both of us. And by not going after him, we are going against every fibre in our body that screams we are wrong to do nothing.
A scaping sound at the back door of the darkened house catches our attention and we both turn to look back at the door as the handle turns. Addison tries to usher me away quietly. But I choose to stand behind him, in the hallway.
We haven’t turned on the lights in Addison’s place. We are both used to walking around in the dark. Seeing very well in the dark. We watch as the door opens and the moonlight spills in silhouetting the shape of our unannounced guest.
Addison stills instantly. I step out from behind him, looking at the male encased in darkness. His outline all too familiar for me. Paris D’arenberg stands before us in silence. What exactly was the right response from returning from a kidnapping? Honey I’m home?
I fling myself at him, wrapping my arms around him. Grateful for his return. I inhale the scent of almonds and fur. Paris’s scent. My heart feels light again at the touch of being in his arms. At figuring out that all of us have been played. But that didn’t matter for the next few minutes. There is time to relish and enjoy what we have. And I have Paris back. Addison walks over and clasps hands in a strong arm shake with Paris before joining in the hug.
Our pack reunited.
Then Paris says the two words that shatter our reality as Addison and I know it.
“Plum Island.” He gulps down air. “I was at Plum Island.” He says breathing heavily. We draw apart and stare at him hard. “Seriously.” He continues. I manage to blink back at him whilst Addison takes a bit more firm action.
“Come on, rest.” He says nodding his head to the living room where the blinds are drawn and it is showcased in shadows. “There’s plenty of time to talk.” Paris leads the way with me holding his hand, walking behind him and Addison walking behind me.
22
Rumours have always abounded of Plum Island and what exactly goes on there. Of course, it was all thought to be gossip, speculation and exaggeration. Nobody has ever come forward with proof. Because the theory was, no one ever returned from the deep dark recesses of Plum Island.
Now, here Paris is, back after a week of being missing, and saying he’d been there. Which means, those dark forces at Plum Island are real, they came for werewolves, they snatch them up off the street, they grab them in the middle of the night. The bogey-man, is real. Monsters do exist and they’re human. Now we have something to fear.
“We’re just grateful you’re back with us.” I say as we I all go to the living room and Paris and I sit down beside one another. I put my hand in his, unsure what else to say. Plum Island is a rather big bombshell to drop on us. All three of us have grown up with the urban rumour mill in overdrive on that particular place.
Just like we’ve all been told, all our young werewolf lives. How can it be true? Because Paris is telling me it is true. Paris has never lied to me in the whole time I’ve known him. Why would he lie about something like Plum Island as the location to where he’s been? He wouldn’t. It doesn’t make sense and that is probably what those dark forces at Plum Island want us werewolves to dwell on.
The uncertainty, the urban rumours. Pretty clever camouflage when you stopped to think about it. Evil government facility that has an invented reputation for being an evil government faculty that does things to werewolves is actually, just what all the claims to it say it is. Evil.
Paris looks across at me, his nose twitching as he leans in to me and sniffs. Fairly common werewolf behaviour, for scenting. One I wouldn’t normally be offended or afraid of. But I don’t want him scenting me now. Not when mine isn’t the only scent on me.
“You smell like Addison.” Paris says frowning at me as moves from behind my ear to my collar bone. I lean away from him and he grabs me. “Sit, still.” He mutters the annoyance evident in his voice. He brings his nose under my chin and moves around under my jaw to the other side.
“Paris, I can explain this.” I state as he pulls back from me and looks at me confused. I shouldn’t have another alpha, werewolf’s scent on my skin. Because I am his pack mate. Not a free agent. He draws back into me again, sniffing at the low cut of my top, he moves it aside, further so he’s now sniffing the skin of my breast. “Paris.” I try again.
“It’s here too.” He says letting the top fall back into place. “Is it all over? Did you let him come on you?” He asks heatedly releasing me “Is that it?” He moves swiftly around in front of me and drops before me, scenting his way up my bare legs.
“Paris! Please stop that. Right now.”
“Merde,” He mutters at my shins. “It’s here too.” His hands skim up my legs and he sniffs my knees. “Here.”
“Paris, don’t do this.”
His hands go to push my thighs apart and I fight him on it. “Stop it!” I yell at him. He stills, his hands on my thighs. “Would you please stop it? I said I can..” and before I can finish my sentence, he’s resumed sniffing the tops of my thighs. Allowing me to keep my legs together. He pulls back before getting to my crotch. Clearly not ready to confront whatever truth lays there.
He drops back on the floor looking at me directly. “He’s all over you.” He says through gritted teeth. It’s right about this time that Addison returns to the room.
“Does anyone want coffee?” He asks in time to see Paris turn his head, it’s angled down, his eyes are locked on Addison like missiles finding it’s intended target. He twists his body and leaps at the same time, in one furious motion of speed and charges straight at Addison.
“Stop!” I yell at him. But of course, it’s way too late for that. Addison sees him coming and like any werewolf who’s been brought up in the culture, he stands his ground, bracing for the attack rather than retreating from it. But even Addison isn’t quite strong enough to take the brunt of Paris tackling him full force. And both males fly backwards out of the room into the hallway, sliding into the hallway wall with a crashing thud.
“You fucked my wolf!” Paris yells at him, and the punches fly fast and solidly. Making Addison have to defend himself rather than give him the chance to retaliate.
“I didn’t…fuck…her.” I hear between knuckles hitting skin and bodies smacking into one another with anger as they wrestle and hit one another. Bouncing across the floor from one side of the hallway to the other.
“Stop it!” I try again, watching these two best friends hurt each other, viciously fast and hard. “Both of you! Just stop it! We don’t need this!” But the hits keep going and Paris is growling and Addison is too.
“I’m….telling….you….I never fucked her!” Addison manages to get out before Paris snaps his head back with another hard landing punch.
“Stop it! You’re friends! You’re pack! Stop it!” I yell at them both. But they keep struggling, pushing and pulling and hitting one another.
“Addison never fucked me!” I scream at the warring duo. But still Paris keeps fighting, there is too much anger in him to stop now. I’m his and I’ve been desecrated by another werewolf in his eyes. “Fuck you both! I’m leaving.” I mutter unhappily. I can’t watch this anymore. The week that has just been was already more than enough for me to get through. I can’t see best friends ripped apart over paranoia. I turn and start walking towards the front door.
“I never fucked her!” Addison yells at Paris. I hear the scuffling behind me “She wouldn’t let me.” And a deathly silence follows in the hallway. Nobody moves, nobody says anything.
“Don’t! Bg don’t go.” And I hear Paris stride up behind me. I still and try to be calm. I don’t actually want to go. I’ve missed him so much that it ached inside me. Into my bones. “Please,” He mutters softly.
“Only if you let me explain Addison’s scent on me.” I say with my back still to him. Despite what Addison’s said, it will probably still take much more to convince Paris of the truth.
“Okay.” The word is soft and I breathe out, my shoulders relax a little and I turn around and face him. He’s face is slightly red and swelling from where Addison managed to land a couple of hits to him. Paris extends an arm towards the vicinity of the living room. I sigh and return to the room.
23
I resume sitting again. More silence and I’m looking at Paris wondering how to do this without antagonizing him further, unintentionally.
“Well, explain it to me.” He says sitting on the edge of the coffee table opposite me.
No pressure what so ever, do it in your own time Bg. “Addison’s scent is all over me because,” I pause and look at him. He’s waiting, still ready to pounce depending on what I say. And I’m not sure if it’s at me or will be Addison again. I look up at Addison who’s got a split lip a bloody nose and a swelling eye and cheek.
“I’ll make coffee.” He mutters looking from me to Paris and walking back out again. “Seems we could all use it.” And he’s gone again.
“Promise me you’ll let me explain fully and not jump in and cut me off.” I say at him. Paris clasps his hands together and seems to think about this for a moment.
“The floor is yours Breukelen Girl.” Oh shit. He doesn’t address me by that name ever. It’s usually just Bg. He’s pissed. Really pissed. Which means despite what I say, he might be far too angry to actually here the reality of my words. Shit.
