Claimed by the Beasts: A Shifter Reverse Harem Romance, page 23
“Sheriff Jefferson, we need to talk.” He tried to gather a sense of the other man, having seen him on the television that morning. While he was fully aware the visitor was the mayor, a single and very brief snapshot of his thoughts gave him pause.
“Larken Myers. Get out of my office or I’ll have you thrown out.” The sheriff was red-faced as he pointed his finger, his arm shaking.
“Don’t worry. I won’t bother you for long, Sheriff.” Larken waited, keeping his stance, prepared to back the man down if necessary.
“Let the man speak, Joe,” the mayor said offhandedly, pushing the sheriff’s arm. “I’m Marcus Welby, mayor of this fine town, son. What can we do for you?”
“I know who you are, Mayor. I apologize for breaking in on your meeting, but I came here to offer a truce.” Larken inched closer.
“A truce?” The mayor seemed more than curious.
“I know who the fuck you are. You and your people have been hunting our good townspeople, murdering them in cold blood.” Sheriff Jefferson took a decided step away from the mayor, choking on his wad of tobacco.
“My people? You mean my Pride, shifters?” Just saying the words gave both men pause. “You know that isn’t the case. I witnessed one of your kills and the savagery performed afterward.” Larken took a long stride closer, allowing his eyes to shift slightly. He leaned over the desk, his words little more than a whisper. “If you dare to try to arrest any members of the Pride for the murders that I know were committed in order to frame my people or if you attempt to destroy our village, my people will retaliate in ways only visited in nightmares.”
The quiet was deafening.
The sheriff was befuddled, his face twisting in rage. “You’re threatening me? What are you talking about? Some Pride. Jesus Christ.” He looked away, his action screaming guilt.
Larken snickered, refusing to stand down.
“Son, we don’t need to make any threats. We can all get along,” the mayor stated with conviction.
“Fuck that!” Sheriff Jefferson blinked several times, sweat beading along his disappearing hairline.
“Hold on, Joe. Let’s not play games any longer. You and I both know that we’ve been living amongst powerful creatures.” Mayor Welby grinned, as if making light of the situation would ease the tension.
Larken couldn’t get a good read on the man, but there was a flash of a house, just briefly. The mayor was thinking about Viola’s house. He shifted his gaze toward the mayor, issuing an almost inaudible growl, “Viola.”
“I can see you’re confused, son. I knew Viola Dumane very well. In fact, I was real sweet on her. I heard all the stories, just like several others in this town. She was forthcoming in her beliefs, as I think you know very well. And I gotta tell you, I believe in the existence of were-creatures roaming the countryside, living peacefully as they have for centuries. Y’all are good people, from what I can tell.”
“Marcus. This is crap!” the sheriff insisted. “There are no creatures, just human monsters killing our people. I have evidence.”
“Just cut the bullshit, Joe. I’ve also witnessed your investigations, if that’s what you call the crap you’re doing. You and your boys are trying to bring fear into the hearts of the good people of Lafayette. That’s just shit and unacceptable. In fact, that’s why I came here today, to make certain you understood my position. This fine-looking young man just beat me to it.” Marcus smiled and walked closer to Larken. “Viola was a very special and amazing woman, and I cried when I heard she died. I suspect there’s some foul play involved, and I plan on getting to the bottom of her demise.” He shot the sheriff a hard shift of his eyes.
Larken filtered through the veil the mayor had attempted to place around his memories. He was telling the truth. Viola had trusted him.
“By the way, I heard her granddaughter is the spittin’ image of her.” This time, the mayor beamed.
When he held out his hand, Larken was surprised but accepted the shake. The instant they touched, the confirmation was made. The man was a friend instead of an adversary. “I appreciate that. We just want to live in peace.”
“And the Red Moon?” the sheriff asked, a smirk on his face. “Been hearing this fucking shit for years. Some horrible night where the earth just might be destroyed.”
“Better batten down the hatches, Joe, cause if what the scientists say are true, we’re in for some nasty shit.” Marcus nodded to Larken out of respect. “Now, you gonna admit the truth, or do I need to have a chat with the Feds?”
Larken was surprised at the direct threat, but thankful for the man’s assistance. He leaned back, folding his arms, a sneer curled on his lip.
“Fine. Fucking fine. You’re right, Marcus. I know of their existence, these damn animals. My pappy and granddaddy made certain I knew of the horrors living in the forest, murdering every human who got in their way. They killed my Martha.”
Marcus exhaled. “Joe, Martha was carjacked by some kids. There was no evidence of anything else.”
“That’s a lie. You didn’t see her body or have to the medical examiner. These… people are monsters and should be killed.”
“Not on my watch.” Marcus hiked up his pants.
An untenable tension swallowed up the air.
Larken exhaled before speaking. “The story of the Red Moon is accurate, and the mayor is correct, there will be certain natural disasters that are scientifically explained. As far as the Pride, we are only one of dozens of alternative species that have survived much longer than man, but there is no reason to fear us. We will live on the same way we have before. In peace. That is, as long as you will allow it.”
The sheriff opened his mouth, obviously uncertain of what or if to say anything. Instead, he scoffed, hissing under his breath.
“I give you my word that no harm will come to your people,” the mayor said quietly.
He ended the slight transformation, allowing his eyes to return to normal. “Thank you.” There was nothing else to say. He walked out of the office and down the hall, one hundred perfect certain that the sheriff and his redneck buddies would try to destroy the village. He’d seen enough in the asshole’s mind to gather a hint of his plans.
And he had no apologizes for doing everything it took to keep his people safe.
Even if that meant murder.
Seconds before he brought the Harley’s engine to life, he heard the sound of his cell phone. There were three missed calls from Scarlet and one voicemail. A cold shiver turned into a massive rush of adrenaline. Seeing Trevor’s number, his entire body became electrified. “What’s wrong?”
“Scarlet is missing.”
* * *
There was almost no light, the shimmer of sunlight having disappeared almost thirty minutes before. Scarlet hunkered down behind a tree, trying to catch her bearings. Whatever had terrified the hell out of her wasn’t human, but if the beast was tracking her, it was keeping a distance. Sniffing, the damp stench indicated she’d gone deeper into the forest. In truth, she was hopelessly lost. Whatever creature she was becoming, her senses were useless, providing nothing in the way of additional perception.
Brushing damp hair from her face, she controlled her breathing and reached for her phone. “Fuck.” Panicking, she tapped every pocket, the realization settling in. She’d dropped the damn phone somewhere after racing away from the water’s edge. Think. Think! She stood slowly, scanning a complete circle. There was zero way of telling which direction she’d come from, let alone the way toward the village. She ventured out, taking cautious steps, her eyes constantly sweeping the area. The wind had increased during the last hour, creating a howling through the trees. If another damn storm approached, she could venture miles away. Even the lions would have difficulty locating her given the rain.
Steeling her nerves, she pressed on, determined to find any landmark. Then the wind brought a distinct clinking noise. She sucked in her breath, turning in a full circle. Hair stood up on the back of her neck, bile forming in her throat. Where had the sound come from? Maybe the presence had never left. A few more tentative steps. The breeze pushed a new scent in her direction, one that was vile.
And very human.
Click! Pop!
She’d know the sound anywhere, having spent far too much time around cops performing her job in Chicago. Guns being loaded. They were surrounding her. Scarlet wasted no time, keeping low to the ground as she headed through the forest, leaping over fallen limbs, dodging shrubs and rocks, trying to home into her animal instinct. Everything seemed the same, towering ominous trees, biting underbrush. Her arms were covered in scratches, twigs snapping against her face and neck. All she could think about was getting away from them, as well as warning the others. They were all in danger.
Larken. Hear me.
Whether he heard her silent cry, she would never be certain, but she continued to cry for him as the light faded, thunder rumbling in the distance. God, help me. Tripping, she had to fight to keep from yelping as she went down hard, her hands and forearms taking the brunt of the fall. She licked her dry lips and rolled over, trying to focus. Everything seemed blurry, as if she’d hit her head. Another rumble of thunder was followed by a hard crack of wood, forcing her to her feet.
As she stood in the shadows she could make out some kind of light in the distance. From the color, she knew they were holding what had to be torches. Fuck. Fuck! She took off running just as the sounds of dogs and men yelling too close for comfort smothered over her.
“There she is!”
“Go get her!”
As Scarlet pelted through the woods, fighting briars and low-swinging branches, she concentrated on her breathing and homing in on the blackness. Able to see at least a few feet in front of her, she forged on even as briars snagged her skin, ripping her flesh. All she could think about was getting away. The monsters had dogs with them. Their baying sounds were more like hungry howls dancing in the wind.
What seemed like hours later she realized she couldn’t shake the men hunting her. She could smell blood in the air as if they’d slaughtered an animal in vengeance, or perhaps to leak the scent to the Pride. Of course. That’s exactly what the bastards would do. She kept running, cognizant of the fact her vision was clear, her hearing sharp. Hearing the growls and wolf calls behind her only fueled her to run faster. After heading for an opening in the line of trees, she caught the haze of the moon and stopped short. Almost entirely red, the flash of lightning bolts shooting sideways through the center was breathtaking. Damning. A storm without clouds.
The end of the world.
No, she wasn’t thinking clearly. She had to press on, get as far away from the murderers as possible. Weak and exhausted, she tripped several times. She was getting nowhere fast. Her senses were on overdrive, but she was unable to grasp what she was seeing or hearing. As the world reeled by, she panted. Nearing what she thought was a clearing, she pumped her legs faster and harder as adrenaline rushed through every cell in her body. The sounds and smells of the dogs seemed closer.
Hide. This was the only concept in order to garner her strength, wait for daylight. Then her saviors would come. The village. Her mates.
“I know where she is!”
The angry voice shattered the night sky and she backed away, holding out her hands, praying to the light and heavens above. As they advanced, her life flashed before her eyes and in the last seconds, every cell and muscle was suddenly electrified.
A wild growl came from the depths of the forest, savage in nature, full of rage. In a blurring image of pure white, a beast rushed toward the humans.
Then she heard blood-curdling screams.
* * *
“What in the fuck happened?” There was no controlling his anger, no acceptance of an entire group of soldiers losing their queen. Larken stood in the middle of his people, every soldier, including those from the Vukani Pride standing in a ragtag circle. The wind continued to whip around them, lightning sending a dazzling display of colors.
“From what we can tell, she set off on her own,” Trevor finally answered. “We searched the woods and surrounding area on foot and in cars. There’s no sign of her. There’s also no sign of forced entry.”
“I don’t understand how you could allow this to happen,” Larken snapped. He studied the group, noticing almost immediately that Jax was AWOL. His instinct kicked into overdrive. Every call he’d made to her cell phone had gone to voicemail. The message she’d led had nearly ripped apart his heart.
I miss you. I need to be able to sit and talk. Things are… Her laugh seemed nerve-racked. Things are so complicated and while I appreciate your reassurance, I’m unsettled. Hell, I’m terrified. Please come back soon.
Larken could never erase the anguish furrowing in every word, breathless and rushed, as if she had no idea who she was any longer. Maybe none of them did.
“She’s already changing. Why couldn’t she find her way home?” Bristol insisted, charging closer to the group.
“She must have been taken,” Blade offered. “You already said the townspeople were gunning for her.”
Larken found it difficult to believe that the sheriff would immediately start a war. The timing was off, which could indicate another force at work. Unless the kidnap attempt had already been in the works. “There has to be more.” He’d sensed her cry to him, but hours had passed. He’d searched the surrounding area himself, reaching out to her with his mind. She’d failed to reply.
“Her senses were dulled along with her pain and her natural desire to turn.”
Snapping his head, Larken was taken aback by Tina’s words. “What did you say?”
Tina walked closer. “A special medicine was produced years ago.”
Trevor and Bristol flanked Larken’s side. “What the hell are you talking about?” Trevor demanded.
“Who authorized this and its use on Scarlet?” Bristol demanded.
“And why wasn’t I told?” Larken asked quietly, tilting his head in the direction of his father. Everything was coming to a head. All the secrets and all the lies.
“I was under strict orders to keep the development quiet.” Tina kept her eyes locked on Larken. “The effects will wear off and I assure you that dosing her was needed. Without ingesting the formula, she would have succumbed to her desire to shift and the agonizing transformation would have killed her.”
The soldiers grumbled, several swearing under their breath.
“This is insane!” Trevor exclaimed.
“This is treason,” Bristol added, moving closer to Tina.
Tina’s expression turned into one of trepidation and she took a step back. “I was following direct orders.”
“Yeah?” And whose orders are we talking about?” Trevor cocked his gun.
“My father and the other Elders,” Larken answered. “Isn’t that correct, Father?”
“What?” Bristol turned toward Dartan. “What is going on?”
“Seems we haven’t been told the truth about many things.” Larken swung his gaze in Blade’s direction, chuckling. “How long until the effects of the drug wear off?”
Tina hesitated.
“How the fuck long?” He issued a powerful snarl.
“Five hours. I carefully dosed her to leave enough time before the ceremony.” Tina’s answer was controlled.
“And the effects?” Larken remained incensed he hadn’t been told.
“She will have limited abilities until then, almost no keen senses. But she will know our kind.”
Several of the men raised their guns, upset by the news.
“Put the guns away.” Dartan moved further into the crowd, the other two Elders remaining behind.
Everyone hesitated, looking toward Larken for direction.
“Put the damn guns away!” Dartan repeated.
Larken hissed then nodded, giving the command. “You’re no longer in charge, Father.”
“That may be, but violence isn’t the answer. Not tonight. Not ever.” Dartan was shaking. “There were certain necessities required, mandates that started long before you were born. And yes, there is much you need to learn.”
Larken shook his head. “I want every man scouring the area. If you find any human, you are to bring them here. If you find Scarlet, I want to know immediately. And you will find her. Am I clear?” He didn’t wait for their answer. There was little time and he was finished with the bullshit. As he tried to move away from the crowd, Trevor grabbed his arm.
“Don’t, Larken. Whatever is going on is second to finding her.” Trevor’s voice was filled with sorrow.
“You don’t understand,” he whispered. “I can’t feel her any longer.” Hearing the choking sound coming from his friend’s throat, he glanced into his eyes, Trevor’s tears a confirmation of his wretched instinct.
Scarlet was dead.
Trevor nodded, blinking several times as he squeezed Larken’s shoulder. “I love her too, you know.”
“I know. This must be done. We were all lied to. Find Jax. Bring the fucker to me.”
“I will personally.” Letting Larken go, he wrapped one hand around his weapon, wiping his tears with the other.
Larken took several deep breaths, turning his attention back toward Dartan. “Let’s talk, Father. Alone.” He stormed into the communal hall and into his father’s office.
“You are becoming the true leader of this Pride. I am very proud of you, son.”
“I don’t know what game you are playing, but it ends right here. I want the entire truth. I want to know who I am and what is really going to happen in twenty-four hours.” His entire body shook from adrenaline, every cell and muscle aching from the intense hunger as well as his fear everything he’d known was a fabrication. “Talk to me!”
“We have many enemies, my son and—”
“I’m not hearing the crap any longer. You’ve lied to me my entire life. Lied.” When his father said nothing, he closed the distance, clenching his fists. “I read the journal, every page. I know that Viola was keeper of the ancient teachings, the very ones providing information about the Primal Pride, the king and queen meant to save our kind, but she was hiding another secret. Wasn’t she?” To see the look on his father’s face was telling enough.
