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
JAKE HAD WATCHED them go in circles for what seemed like eternity but was actually just 2 hours. The conversation had mainly been carried on by Preston, Drakys III and Faerie and Zhao.Drakys had suggested a centaur absent-mindedly.“A Centaur can’t take on an alpha werewolf on his territory.” Preston has countered. “Besides centaurs don’t just go on a killing spree.”Faeries had said, agreeing with Preston. “None of you had any bad blood with the alpha, do you.”There was shaking of heads all around the table.Faerie yawned a dainty yawn. Jessica sat, unmoving, her peripheral vision watched the still form of Jake. She knew he had something to say but had no idea why he was still quiet“The were jaguar then. Jamie’s nephew.” Zhao said in that lazy drawl of his. His watery eyes flicked a gaze at Jake.“I mean, he has motive. He was banished.” Henri added too. His first words in the meeting.It was that moment that Jake knew he had to join in. “It was not Jas.” Jake said. The alpha wolf
THE DRIVE WAS quiet. Neither man spoke, even their breathing was muffled and very quiet. While Henri paid his full attention on the road, Roland gaze flicked lazily out the window and over the ever changing scenery as Henri drove about 50 miles per hour over the speed limit. Roland kept expecting them to be flagged down but they were not. The car drove on heavily and soundly. The outside world changed from mountains and hills to random small houses and patches of farm to large ranches to a developed part of town with skyscrapers to flats and plains and finally thick trees. “The next turn on your right.” Roland said. Henri did not give any indication that he heard but he turned at the next turn. They drove on that lane for close to 10 minutes before Roland said, “Turn here.” “There’s no road.” Henri said. “Just turn.” Henri swerved sharply into the dirt and the Bentley bounced and groaned as the tires crushed the dry grass and gravel. There, in the middle of a large expanse of