THE LIMOSUINE SLOWED to a stop on the tarmac, just beside the huge airplane. Jamie stepped out and stood aside for Alpha Preston to come out too. “Thank you.” Jamie said, with gratitude in his eyes. “...for everything.” Preston waved it aside. “Oh it’s nothing.” “Still so. I thank you. I doubt I would have handled it as well on my own.” Jamie replied. Preston cocked his head and looked at Jamie with an intelligent eye before he said, “Call Lydia back.” Jamie seemed to consider it for a moment but he shook his head sadly. “I can’t.” “She would add to your strength. You know they – I mean females with alpha blood – have a way of holding the pack together.” Preston said and then pressed on. “If she were here, I am very sure Grace and her husband would still be here.” Jamie kept shaking his head slowly. “Wait, when was the last time you spoke with her?” Preston asked. Jamie looked up at the elder alpha. “That does not matter.”“Then call her back.” Preston said. “She would want
ALPHA JAMIE SAT on the couch with a glass of whisky in his hand staring into the fireplace blindly. It has been two days since Alpha Preston left and he really needed another alpha blood by his side now. His mind was blank. His face was blank. His eyes were open but it was obvious that he was not seeing anything. He did not notice when his wife, Charlotte came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked up at her. “How are you doing?” She asked. “I’m trying my best to stay sane.” Jamie replied. He took a sip from his glass and asked. “How is he?” He gestured with his head, referring to Jake. “He is hanging in there.” She said, sitting down by his side. “He’s stronger than he looks but it’s hard.” “I know. It has been a hard past few months.” Jamie reached for the bottle on a small table by his side. Charlotte collected the bottle from his grip and set it down beside her feet. “I was not talking about you. Our son lost his cousin and friend... the whole
JAMIE’S MIND WAS not at rest. Although it was a bit calm after speaking with his son but there was still a little nibbling at the back of his mind. He shrugged on his coat and headed out the door quietly. There was no point in disturbing anybody or calling Gibson. He just wanted a little stroll and the night air to clear his mind. The night was dark and starless. The air was still. No wind tonight. “There was even no need for the coat.” He muttered to himself as he walked down the path. He took in a deep breath and held it for 3 seconds and then released it. He did that procedure 6 times and then his mind became clear and as he reflected on the past months starting from that dreadful night where he come upon that scene pike something from a horror movie. Was it up to a year now?Yeah. So fast, he mused. Time flies. The pack had never been the same since his sister left with the family. It felt like Beckham family ran the pack even more than he did... and he was alpha. He gave a
JAKE RAISED HIS face and sniffed the air. He caught his father’s scent and followed it. The air had messed some parts of the path up and so that infused Jake and set him back a few minutes. With each step came that sinking feeling that something was terribly wrong. The feeling grew stronger and he felt like he was walking to his doom. He subconsciously clutched his chest and glanced back at the direction of his house. After enduring the growing ache, Jake could not take it anymore. Without taking off his clothes, he shifted and took a great bound ahead. In wolf form, he followed the scent easier and was faster. As he ran ahead, he noticed some bushes around were trampled and scattered, like some elephants had ran mad and done acrobatic dances on the place. Jake stopped short and his heart skipped a beat when he saw his father slumped against a large tree, unmoving. He looked dead, his body was bloody.Jake heard a slight shuffle ahead and saw the figure of a large man on the floor
THE DOOR CREAKED open and a bloodied and battered Roland walked in, dragging the oak stick behind him with one hand. The other hand hung useless and limp. Two of his rib bones stuck out and tore through his skin, his stomach was almost torn open and he walked with a heavy limp.Rosetta glanced up from her nails she was painting. “Damn.” She exclaimed. “You look like you just hot hit by a train.”Roland ignored her and she went back to painting her fingernails. “What happened?” she asked without looking up.“You were supposed to be there. I thought you were behind me.” Roland said in a wheezing voice.“Oh yeah... I changed my mind and headed back home. I figured you are a big boy that can handle himself.” She said absently, blowing on her nails at the same time.Roland grunted.“Did you get Jamie?” Rosetta asked.“No I did not ‘get’ Jamie.” Roland snarled. “Jamie almost ‘got’ me.” He took in a sharp breath of pain.“So... he’s still alive.” Rosetta said, more of a statement than a ques
FATHER AND SON stayed in relative quiet for some minutes. Only the harsh breathing of Jamie and the constant beeping of the machine beside the bed broke the silence.“Doctor Jones said I’m helping you heal faster.” Jake said.“The pack is in distress, Jake.” Jamie replied. “You’re going a way better alpha than I am, Jake. Now, what the pack needs is a leader.”“So what should I do?” Jake asked in a tight voice. He wrung his hands together.“You should go out there and lead them.” Jamie said. “I’ll be fine. I’m sure your aunt Lydia is on her way here.”“But you need me here, now.” Jake tried to argue. He was afraid of leadership.What if he made a mistake?What if he fucked the pack up?What if –“Jake. Jake, look at me.” His father commanded. “You are on alpha.” His voice became strong and his red alpha wolf eyes shone. Jake’s eyes turned bright red too, in response to father’s.“You are an alpha.” Jamie repeated. “And the pack needs you more than I do. Do you understand me?”Jake nod
THE NEWS SPREAD fast.Alpha Jamie Morton of the North London pack was dead. Killed was a more precise word.Jake had been in the middle of organising an investigation pack on the southern border of the territory when he heard the howl.That was not his mother’s howl. It was a howl he had not heard in a long time.“Aunt Lydia.” He said softly.He dispersed the group and jogged all the way, following and treating his ears to the source of the howl.The hospital. Dad, the thought.He increased speed and ran even faster.It was early morning and the weather was very chilly. His breath turned to mist before his eyes as he breathed out steadily on the run.He entered the hospital and saw his mother, red eyed and quiet.His aunt Lydia came in behind him, putting on hospital scrubs.She had changed her clothes after shifting and was adjusting the collar area as she walked in and saw Jake.“Jake.” She said, hugging him close.“What of Jason? Is he here?” Jake asked, stretching to look behind h
“YES" HENRI SAID, walking into the cabin and closing the door gently. “Jamie is dead.” His voice was emotionless.“How sure are you?” Rosetta asked. Her voice held hope and glee.Henri waved his iPhone at her. “Just got an email ail. They are calling a high council meeting.”“High Council meeting?” Rosetta asked, looking up.“Apparently, the Alpha did not die of a natural cause or ailment.” He looked back at the people in the room.Sofia sat on a wicker chair in front of the fireplace, basking in the heat from the loud, crackling fire.Roland sat far in a couch, quietly admiring his new tattoos.Rosetta sat on a two seater, her legs were propped up and crossed on a coffee table. She was repainting her left hand a different shade of grey. She scoffed and said, “As if we didn’t know that already.” She gave Roland a small wink. “What reason did they say killed him?”“Poison. Magical poison, created by a witch.” He turned and levelled a strong stare at Sofia, whose face was straight.“Wha