A week later we were back in the US and finding a new hotel, we paid cash. Ethan was getting on my nerves, and I wished I had stayed on my own and ditched him at our first stop after the death of Kyle and Max. I wondered if that was why we had never been friends at school, though I hardly remembered him from back then.

Imagining him as Leanna’s mate was even harder, he was an ass.

“Why are you going to the gym?” He followed me down the corridor to the elevator like a lost puppy and I was close to knocking him out for five minutes alone.

“To keep fit?”

“We’re shifters, all that running we did the last few days will keep us in shape.” Having been a swimmer, I was surprised at how narrow-minded he was in regards to fitness.

“You’re an idiot.”

“You keep saying that.” He teased, and continued to follow me anyway.

By the time I had enough of punching a bag while imagining his face, my wolf was itching to go for a run too. Now we were in more of a city, there wasn’t anywhere for a wolf to go that wouldn’t look strange. Getting back to room I did it there, sitting out the balcony we just observed the town below us. It wasn’t long until she turned her nose into the breeze, inhaling deeply as it felt like she was looking for something. Her disappointment surprised me before my own sadness kicked in at realizing what she was doing.

Cody.

‘You wanted to go too.’ I reminded her. In fact the night we left she had been the one more in control.

“What are you doing? Someone might see you!” Ethan came to stand beside me and instantly I growled before turning back inside.

“I don’t understand shifters.” Slipping on an oversized t-shirt I went to get my hairbrush and paused by the dresser where his wallet was open.

“What don’t you understand? I guess not having one to help you must’ve been tough.” He locked up the balcony door and I pulled out the picture in his wallet, my lip instantly shaking as I tried to hold back my tears.

Leanna was frozen in time, smiling her perfect fake smile, it never quite made her eyes and I could just imagine the way she’d burst out laughing or pull some stupid face the second the photo was taken. This was the taken the year before she was murdered, the hot pink streak she put down the left side had been to annoy her Mum. Her head was tilted slightly to make the most of it and the fight she had with Aunt Alice when the pictures were sent home had been one of their most epic battles.

“It’s the only picture I had of her, your house was boxed up before I could find any others and her Mum kind of burnt their house down.”

“Aunt Alice survived?” I just presumed they had all died that night too, the prospect of being able to see her let the tears win.

“Not quite, she died a couple of days after that. I’m sorry.”

Of course she did. Why would I think I still had family out there, someone who would care that I was still alive?

Cody.

‘Not now.’

“It’s fine.” I lied, wiping my eyes. I dropped the photo by his wallet, unable to make my hands work enough to put it back in the holder and curled up with a pillow in the corner of the bed against the wall.

“You don’t have to talk about her Bianca, but I just.” Ethan sighed, rubbing his eyes and groaning went to leave.

“She loved sunsets and could paint really well. I don’t know if you ever saw the picture outside my Dads office, but she painted that. She must have been the only person in the world to hate chocolate and on the night of my birthday she told me she was scared of dying during her first shift.”

He stopped by the door, turning back to where I sat and ended up lying beside me.

“She hated chocolate?”

“Yeah, the only dessert or sweet thing she’d eat was ice-cream and she could eat a tub to herself in less than five minutes on a bad day, six on a good.”

Ethan and I had something in common; we both lost our mates before we could even know them. The only difference was, I knew what he was missing out on.  It felt strange talking about her, like I was betraying her by gossiping behind her back. The cruel reality was this was her only way of existing now and sharing her memory with Ethan gave her new life.

It was bittersweet. She made us both so happy yet for every smile and laugh, there were just as many tears.

“Thank you for sharing her with me.” Ethan finally got up and went to his bed, laying so we were still facing each other. My pillow was damp from all the crying and even with the lamp off I could still see him well enough.

We went quiet for a few minutes, and for the first time since joining up with him, I felt safe enough to actually sleep.

“We will kill him Bianca; make him pay for what he has done.”

It wasn’t exactly the good night, sweet dreams that normal people would tell each other before bed, but it made me smile.

“I know.”

-

While I finally slept during the night, I was awake by three and taking Ethan’s phone I slipped into the bathroom. I dialled in the number I had learnt to heart and waited.

“Hello?” The anger was clear, despite the sleepy slurred nature of his voice. “Hello?”

I didn’t know what to say, I just needed to hear his voice.

“Bianca?”

Hanging up, I put the phone on the counter and slid down the cabinet to the floors, somehow falling asleep and come morning Ethan gently woke me up.

“We do have beds to sleep in you know?”

I didn’t offer him any explanation, kicking him out of the bathroom so I could shower. After breakfast Ethan wanted to check in with one of his contacts within the pack and I stayed out of it, listening in from a safe distance.

“There have been more shifter deaths, the Alpha is furious. You should really get out before he blames you.” The woman was nervous and I wondered if she knew anything about Ethan’s plans.

“I want him to blame me, my parents are safe and there is no one left for him to hurt to get to me. I will be challenging him again; I just need to get my timing right.”

My wolf tried to growl, but I managed to hold her back. Ethan wouldn’t be the one to kill Damon and he certainly wouldn’t be doing it by challenging him. I wasn’t even sure he was up to leading a pack, despite our bonding session last night; my wolf and I didn’t think he had it in him. He still thought because I was a girl, I wasn’t even capable of taking down a male shifter.

In his mind there was nothing wrong my luck.

“With Kyle and Steven out, Aden and Simon are being extra cautious, but nothing like Damon. He has put out a reward for any information on the murders.” The woman had our interest, if he was scared it could make him slip up.

Even though the pack will work to separate one deer from the herd, sometimes opportunity comes with another as they panic and break out from the safety of the mob. Maybe if we could spook Damon enough, he would split and make a run for it on his own.

Later that night Ethan wasn’t sold on my theory and the only pissed my wolf and I off further. Despite being the one to take down two of Damon’ guard dogs, he still didn’t think I had it in me and he kept telling me to buy a lotto ticket.

Now we knew where we were at with the pack, we headed away from the city and the second we hit the national park, I had shifted and made a run for freedom. My wolf had missed the wilderness, even if she was constantly telling me we belonged in the city and with other people.

She easily found something to hunt, and was about to give chase to the rabbit when instead Ethan tried to tackle her. The response he got told him it wasn’t playtime and the tension I had been trying to avoid with his comments and assumptions exploded instead.

It wasn’t a pretty fight and surprisingly he held his ground so any chance of taking it easy on him went out the window. The fight only excited my wolf, and Ethan began to tire before she had even peaked and this was what I didn’t understand about shifters. It was like they forgot they were part wolf, neglecting their skills and condition, presuming because they were better than humans; that was enough.

My wolf kept at him until he ended up collapsing, no longer showing any signs of even thinking of getting back at her. My wolf while tired, was not going to let him know it and ended up finishing her hunt and by the time we got back, he had only just managed to shift.

“What was that?” He growled.

“I told you not to underestimate me Ethan.”

“You’re the alpha’s spoilt little girl who goes shopping and throws parties and walks around school like she owns it. You’re not a fighter, I was always meant to be the one with the potential to lead the pack!”

“Don’t you get it? I’m not that Bianca anymore and the only pack you’re fit to lead is the hypothetical one in your mind. If my father was still here, I would never let a wolf like you take his place!”

Somehow, this managed to surprise him.

“You’re a bitch, a crazy fucking bitch!”

“That’s it? That’s all you can say?”  I yelled back.

He shifted, clearly sulking and started to walk away. Grabbing my backpack, I followed him and we headed on to lower ground. Setting new tracks, we didn’t mention our fight again. We used his credit cards at each town and finding a suitable one to stay at, got comfortable in the hotel at the edge of town and waited.

As expected it only took two days for shifters to start arriving and it wasn’t just one or two, but they came in lots of three. Some Ethan was able to easily identify from the pack, others were locals and they were keen to assist at the mention of the reward.

While Ethan stayed in the human run hotel I knew just the thing to get around unnoticed.

“There may come a time when you need to be human, walk amongst the wolves without them knowing who or what you are.”

Now was that time.

I walked confidently through the streets, my mind set on going to get some groceries to take back to our room. Anytime I passed a shifter I tried not to flinch, but even the humans seemed to give them space and I didn’t have anything to worry about as none of them even looked at me.

Stopping by a café, I went inside to order a coffee. Not because I wanted it, but the smell reminded me of being back at the ranch.

“Do I know you?” Turning the woman behind me was looking at me curiously and I wanted nothing more than to put some distance between us.

“No sorry, I don’t think you do.” I answered with a smile, glancing towards the barista who seemed to be taking his time with my coffee. I didn’t need it; I could just leave now only that would only raise her suspicions.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a picture of you somewhere, did you go to UCLA?” The edge to her tone told me wasn’t going to drop it until she worked it out and she didn’t have the patience to play guessing games.

“No, I’ve just come down from Alaska to visit family. Have you been there?” I asked, trying to stop myself from sounding annoyed. I soon noticed the large diamond on her finger and her Gucci bag, which seemed a little out of place in a town like this. She clearly had money and that wasn’t anything new amongst shifters, especially if they were connected with an Alpha position. My wolf recognised her as a threat, not just for snooping, but also for the wolf within her.

“Oh no, never mind.” Her smile was fake, and as she left the café I kept the red head in my sights she went over to a couple of other local shifters. I was human now; she shouldn’t have been able to sense anything about me. At least no one else had been able to and thankfully none of them looked in my direction before they walked away.

“You don’t want to get caught staring at her.” The barrister startled me and he glanced back out the window where they had been standing.

“Why?”

“Let’s just say, her partner runs this town and they’re not the nicest of people.” An Alpha’s mate; it made sense.

“Thanks for the coffee.” I mumbled distracted, and dropped a few coins in the jar beside him as a tip.

Leaving the café the cup felt warm in my hands and walked down the street, it wasn’t hard to miss the leader now I knew who I was looking for. They seemed to join up with a few of the other shifters from Damon’s pack and went into a bar. Ditching the coffee I waited a few minutes and went in, finding a spare seat at the bar and ordered a drink.

“Thank you for your assistance; we appreciate you letting us in to your territory.” Listening was easy enough, as humans were limited in their numbers, they spoke freely in the corner and glancing over the bartender had already put a few glasses of beer down on the table.

“Any shifter murderer deserves what they get. Caprice is our best weapon; maybe she will be able to lure him out.” The red head nothing from where she sat beside her mate and the more I observed, the more I realised she was the dominant one out of the pair. Shifter men, like Ethan too, presumed women to be weak and that their testosterone made them better than us. Maybe in human form we were smaller and maybe even a little more defenceless, but as a wolf – it didn’t matter.

I could see her assessing each of the men around her, judging them silently. Only a couple held my own interest as a possible threat, the others were nothing.

“If you think she was up for it?” The man wasn’t showing her enough respect and she leapt forward, ramming his head against her knee before pushing him down against the table.

“What Alpha sends such a worthless shifter out to do his work?” She hissed and I found myself liking her, if only for the fact she wasn’t putting up with their shit.

“Do not speak of our Alpha that way!” Another retorted. Their voices began to rise and as the first glass got smashed on the floor the few humans left, clearly not strangers to bar fights happening around here.

“You do not speak to ours with such disrespect!” One of the locals piped up and all the wolves in the bar started to move closer.

I didn’t leave, instead moved towards a table by the door curious to see how this would work out. The locals clearly were in this for the money, not the glory and as the fight began I watched in awe. The locals were good fighters, dominating over Damon’s pack. 

No one seemed to rush in to break it up and I guess it was part of a territorial dispute. These things had a way of working themselves out as soon as the intruders know they were outnumbered and a minute later that was exactly what happened and before anyone even had a chance to shift.

I’d have to watch the Alpha’s while I was here, they were not a force I wanted to stand against on my own. If we were to kill anyone while we were here, I had a feeling their punishment would be quick and just as deadly. This was the wrong place and getting back to the hotel, I had to convince Ethan to leave.

“It works in our favour; they’ll probably end up fighting with each other even more the longer they’re here. The distraction will benefit us!” The threat outweighed the slim chance we had to succeed and I decided if he wouldn’t leave, I’d go without him.

“You’re stupid to think that, these are smart shifters.”

“But we’re smarter. I know this is the right place to be!”

‘Leave.’

My wolfs wants were obvious and I agreed. There was a part of me that didn’t want to see Ethan hurt, and I felt like I owed it to Leanna to watch out for him.

“It’s not Ethan, and I think we should go. I’m not going to leave you though, but if anything happens no arguments!” I demanded.

“Good. Now I’ve been watching closely and I swear I saw Aden. He never leaves the hotel across the road without a hat on and at least three others with him.” We went up to the roof and looking down the three stories, it was easy to watch them all. Sure enough come nightfall, the group of shifters emerged.

What was even more interesting was how we’d missed Caprice joining them. The red head lead the pack, almost as if she was escorting them out. With Aden was there, I wondered if that was exactly what she was doing. I had taken half a leaf and still had three hours or so of human time left, so dressing to go out for dinner ended up finding them at one of the nicer restaurants in town.

Sitting alone in the corner, I studied the menu like I was about to tested on it and with my back to the group, relied on the mirror behind the bar to let me see them. Despite the hum of chatter, it was easy to focus on the voices I wanted.

By the time my mains arrived, nothing interesting had been mentioned. Generally it was more polite chit chat than a get to know you and I decided to order dessert, just in case. It was a good gamble and paid off, the lowering of their voices instantly had me interested.

“So tomorrow night at the end of the wine festival, Aden will present the trophy to the best vineyard. If we’re right, and its Damon’s guard that are being targeted, I doubt that shifter will not notice him being here.” One of the locals started going into their plan how they were going set up the bait.

Even if I hadn’t heard, I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to fall for it. Ethan on the other hand would have, I knew it. He didn’t think ahead, focusing on the moment not the outcome. It was why he was a terrible fighter and preferred to throw his weight around rather plan his next move.

“So we’ll keep everyone on guard as he goes back to the hotel, if not at the festival it’ll be when he leaves. If he goes alone, it’ll be hard for him not to attack.”

“How did the others die?” Caprice wondered, and the group fell silent. The voice I knew as Aden was the one to do the talking now.

“Kyle was left ripped to pieces in the forest and Rowan had his neck snapped.” There was no missing the sadness in his voice at his dead pack mates.

“Wolf or human?” She asked, not showing any signs of sympathy.

“Wolf.”

“Then don’t shift. Clearly he will try and lure you into the fight. We’re shifters and sometimes the human is the better option.”

This had them all talking, her pack agreed with her while the others didn’t know what to think. It made sense, but at the same time when we were in trouble our wolf was our first choice of fighting form. It had been too easy really, so maybe Caprice was onto something.

“Damon is trusting your pack will end this, he can be very generous to his allies.” Aden reminded her.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

With Caprice’s answer I got up and went to clear my bill, trying think about the best way to go about getting Aden off our list. Ethan was no help; I had to tell him a hundred times we were not going to risk taking the bait. The second I could shift I did and my wolf spread over the single bed, letting me sleep while we tried to come up with something.

Rowan, the first shifter had been easy. Kyle had put up a fight, but in the end we were better. Getting to them had been simple, unmated wolves could be easily distracted by a piece of ass or if they had a high prey drive and a lack of morals like Rowan, it wouldn’t matter what his prey was.

Caprice warned Aden to stay human, thinking he had a better chance of survival if he didn’t shift like his pack mates. I didn’t think it mattered, but if they wanted to play human – so would I. Thankfully my wolf found the solution and the vision of the silver gun in Damon’s hand that he used to shoot Ethan came to me in a dream.

Shifting, I quickly tried to wake Ethan, knowing exactly how we were going to kill Aden.

-

We checked out early that morning and while Ethan found us a new car, I went to the grocery store to get a few supplies. In reality, the lemon, lime and paprika filled tomato juice was just a disgusting mix of ingredients. To Ethan, I convinced him it was a magical concoction that would allow us to be human and walk in the streets without anyone looking at us.

I used a full leaf of the wolfs bane for each of us this time, and with him keeping his own hat and sunglasses on, we enjoyed the day tasting some wine and local produce. This side of Ethan was fun, he could be a nice guy and I knew Leanna would have made sure he wasn’t a jerk as often as he was now. It was when Aden went up onto the stage we left the party, nothing more than a happy couple walking down the street after having too much wine. All day we had watched the local pack set up, wolves patrolled the forest that surrounded the way out of town. Shifters wandered in groups of four and what had my attention were the ones with guns that had been spaced along the path Aden would take to go home.

“Go to the car and make sure you’re ready to go when I get there.” I commanded and Ethan obliged. I had my suspicions he had a hard time killing, he was happy to help just not actually commit the crime and I didn’t care. My wolfs bloodlust outweighed my own reservations and as he carried on down the street, I climbed up onto the roof where one of the guards was waiting.

“Sorry, you cant be up here.” He growled, sniffing the air cautiously he relaxed.

“I didn’t realise anyone was up here. I was hoping to watch the fireworks from up here. This is the only building that had a ladder for access.” I paused, spying the rifle that had been leant against the side of the wall. “Is that a gun?”

I wondered if I could be an actress after this, the hysteria in my voice even fooling me.

“I said you can’t be up here.” He warned.

“I’m calling the police Mr! You’re all in black, what are you some kind of sniper? Oh my god you are!” I turned to run back to the ladder and apart from a grunt, he didn’t seem to report this to anyone so he was probably not wired. He tackled me to the ground, the rumble in his chest unmistakable.

If I had been a human, I would have screamed and demanded the attention from everyone in town. That should have been his first clue of what was about to happen. With a kick between his legs which more force a human should have, I punched him under the chin and he fell backwards awkwardly.

“Sorry about this.” I muttered, finding some rope and tying his wrists. My wolf was urging me to kill him; he was a witness and would be able to tell them it wasn’t Ethan doing the killings. It wasn’t his fault he was here and I knocked him out instead. By the time he woke up, we’d be gone anyway.

I had no idea how to use this kind of gun. The barrel was already loaded and it took me a few minutes to turn off the safety. Watching the street, it was empty now and I couldn’t believe my luck when the fireworks started and the lone wolf appeared opposite me on the street.

“Please let me hit the can!” I whispered, firing my first shot I hit the pole behind him and panicking he foolishly ran into the middle of the road. Another shot missed and I tried to pre-empt his next movement and again. From behind him, a wolf appeared and a couple of humans, all looking around for the shooter.

I missed Connor, and titling the tip slightly I managed to hit him in the chest. I had hoped for a headshot, but I’d take what I could get. My plan had been getting him in one shot and running, instead four shots later I was on the roof with everyone emerging from their hiding places.

Keeping the gun with me, I jumped down and ran behind the building, through the alley way and listening around took a risk and ran to where Aden had just shifted. The scent of his blood hit me first and crouching behind the bin, I couldn’t miss with this range. By killing him, I gave away my position and ditching the gun, heading towards the hotel. The footsteps all stopped as they reached his body and going into the building I tried to walk calmly towards the elevator, smiling politely at the receptionist who had been on last night. More bangs were faintly heard from outside, the fireworks masking the noise well and stopping at the first floor, went out the back way to the pool area.

It was then I realised something about the conversation in the restaurant. They had never mentioned Max’s death, only the other two. We were miles away from that hotel, but surely if a body had turned up in a pool it would have made the news no matter how the shifters tried to hide it.

My wolf growled in warning and from the dark, the pool light caught the reflection of yellow eyes in the night. As calm as I could manage, I stripped off and jumped into the icy water. Any scent of the gun would be lost in the water, and after a few laps another hotel guest appeared to join me, her eyes confused as she realised I wasn’t in a bikini but actual underwear.

Getting out I gathered my things and grabbed a complimentary towel, drying off quickly before wrapping my clothes in it and dumping it in the bin by the gazebo. My wolf was still alert, well aware of the wolves prowling outside. Shifters tend to stay in hotels where their own kind is. If shifting accidents happen, it made explaining it easier and things were in place to accommodate those mishaps.

I didn’t smell like a shifter, I was in a human hotel and as more humans appeared, they left. Stealing the woman’s kaftan I slipped it on with her flip-flops and disappeared back inside before she could notice. This had been close, to close for my liking and after a few minutes went back outside, avoiding the path to the pool and jumped the fence to the alley.

I had to go up two blocks to where Ethan was waiting and I could see the car when my wolf became alert. Daring a look behind me, Caprice stood with her mate who was yelling at some of his pack while she was simply staring in my direction. Getting to the car, Ethan started it and the second my door closed he had us speeding down the road out of town.

“What the hell happened?” He screamed as I put on my seatbelt.

“I need some more shooting lessons.”

It only took us about a minute to work out we were being followed and as we approached a service station, I got him to pull over. We were human; they had no business with us. Before we stopped, I grabbed a pair of pants from my bag, pulling them on awkwardly before we got out.

I didn’t expect one of the wolves to be Caprice and as we entered the diner at the side of it, she was slipping on a small dress and walking inside.

“Whatever happens, follow my lead.” I muttered to Ethan, taking his hand in mine I started laughing as she entered with her mate behind her. “So did you want to share a burger?”

“Sure babe.” Ethan answered, glancing over the menu.

“Oh coffee shop girl. What are you doing here?” She greeted, her eyes meeting mine I felt the challenge and prayed the leaf hid all signs of my wolf that was willing to accept it.

“Just grabbing a late dinner before carrying on our way.” I smiled, and her eyes turned to Ethan.

“Why the hurry to get out of town?”

“No hurry, we stayed for the festival and if we want to get home for my boyfriend’s Grandmother’s funeral, we couldn’t afford to stay one more night.” I lied, “You know what, I’m Daisy. This is Alan and the more I see you, the more I think I do know you from where!”

She smirked, not buying it.

“Did you used to work at Hooters?” I asked innocently.

“Oh, from the calendar. Miss March!” Ethan piped up. Her mate glared at Ethan, who didn’t fold under the pressure of his gaze and Caprice didn’t let her eyes leave me. She looked at Ethan one last time; the way her nostrils flared told me she was buying the human cover. Unable to find anything, she leant closer down to my ear, and I gripped Ethan’s hand to the point I may have dislocated a finger, trying not to bite back.

“No.” She answered unimpressed and pointed a perfectly manicured fingernail in Ethans direction. “Your lucky I’m not taking you to see a friend of mine, because I know you’re hiding something from me. I just don’t know what it is. Come back to my town again, you’ll find us less welcoming.” Her threat was obvious and rather than keep on poking at her, I did what any human would when someone spoke to them in such a deadly manner.

I cried.

“Wow lady, I have no idea who you are but I think it’s time to go before I call the police for harassment!” Ethan warned, getting up he moved to my side and I threw myself against him as he comforted me in the chair.

Caprice said nothing, shaking her head in disgust at my weakness and a few minutes after they left, the sounds of their howling echoed outside.

“Don’t mind them love, there are some weird things in this town and those two seem to the king and queen of it!” The slim waitress tried to comfort us as she came to our order and the voice didn’t match the body, which was much older than she would have you believe. Ethan quickly ordered something we actually had no interest in and she left us alone.

“That was way to close!” Ethan breathed out heavily and skulled a glass of water as if that would fix our problems.

“She is smart, any other time I think I may have liked her.”

“Sorry to interrupt your social life.” He growled. I only rolled my eyes, and seeing the food arrive I realised I was actually starving. Just to annoy him, I made sure I hate everything and excusing myself to go to the bathroom, I stopped by the payphone. It had been close tonight, things were only going to get worse and there was something I needed to do.

“Hello?”

“Hi.”

Silence.

“Pretty sure you were meant to hang up, not answer me.” Cody muttered bitterly. It was the most I had heard him say since the night I left, and it was hard to miss the resentment in his tone. Either way, I just wanted to hear his voice, even if he hated me.

I deserved it.

“I’m sorry Cody and…”

“So am I.”

Cutting me off, he then hung up. I hesitated before finally putting down the receiver and went back to Ethan.

“You ok?” He instantly asked as I got to the table. I only stared at him, completely lost as to how he could be such a jerk one minute, but then this really observant sweet guy the next. He got up and gave me a hug, leading me out of the diner. He didn’t speak until we were half hour down the highway and I wished he hadn’t.

“Why the sudden change, you were all I want to be that woman’s friend and now you look like your best friend died.” He cringed as he realised what he said.

“It’s nothing.” I slumped further down the chair; pushing the seat back slighttly I stared out into the darkness.

“Wanna drive? That usually makes you happy?”

“I’d rather not.”

He gave up trying to talk to me and once again I fell asleep in the car, dreaming of the day Cody would want me again.

---

“f you want something done, do it yourself” Damon muttered under his breath, snatching the bouquet of white roses from his housekeeper. The growling snarl that then erupted from him had her running down the corridor and even the guards that had followed him into the foyer all cringed away as the vase was thrown across he room. It smashed instantly upon impact, the roses falling apart as they hit the tiles to lie in ruin amongst broken glass and a puddle of water.

“HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?” He roared, his face turning red as his anger had complete control. His eyes were wide with fury and blood dripped from his clenched hands where his nails cut into his palms.

“Alpha, Caprice doesn’t think it’s the shifter pup. Two humans…”

“I don’t give a FUCK what that bitch thinks. “ Saliva sprayed from his mouth as he continued to scream at Simon. He was the last of his most trusted advisors, the last part of what had been a well thought out plan of dominance when Damon gained control of his Uncles pack. So far the others had failed in bringing down some egotistical pup and the only solution was for Damon to take care of it himself.

“Sir, she thinks he has humans helping him. She never caught his scent anywhere, yet there were two…”

Simon didn’t get a chance to defend the towns Alpha’s as Damons fist connected with his jaw and he fell to the ground with a growl of his own.

“A town run by shifters, with MY own pack there to assist and they think, HUMANS were involved?”

“Aden was shot down, Kyle mauled and Rowan could have found his end with humans hands. The pup could be using them help him, I think you need to talk to Caprice and learn what you can from her.” Jordan spoke up, choosing his words carefully and staying out his Alpha’s reaching distance.

The flash of red amongst the white roses caught Damon’s attention and ignoring the broken shards of glass on his bare feet, he went to retrieve it. Even though the water had started to turn the card to mush, he managed to get the envelope off it and the blurred writing was still easy to read.

Three down, two to go.

xx

“Bring her to me, if she refuses kill her.” No one moved at his command, and growling he screamed again. “NOW!”

As chaos ensured around him with everyone disappearing to fetch the Alpha, he held up the card again deciding it was time to pay a certain gypsy another visit.