“Was he really thinking about trying to attack with that measly group?”
I looked over the vampire sitting in my kitchen. He was frozen in time in his early thirties. The man was dressed to impress and didn’t have a wrinkle on him. Victor was head of the Northwest division of vampires and oversaw all vampire covens in the area. It even stretched into Canada and he took a lot of the fey under his wing as well.
There was a race issue between the supernatural beings. Most werewolves hated all fey and vampires. Vampires usually tolerated fey to the point where as long as they didn’t get in their way, there were no issues. Too often then, packs would make a play for territory that was deemed vampire or fey protected areas. That’s where Victor and I stepped in. I was a traitor to my own kind. I housed fey in my pack, made friends with vampires, and outwardly showed my disgust for the Alpha King’s rule.
“Honestly, I don’t think he puts much thought into anything.” I leaned back against the counter, drink in hand.
We had attacked Alpha James’ main city center. They had some warriors waiting for us but it was a measly amount compared to the force Victor brought and who I had sent down with Scott.
“Why do they think we are easy picking? Do they think we don’t have lives? Children to protect? Families?” Victor ran a hand through his hair.
I shrugged. “Frankly, I don’t give a rat’s ass what the man does in his own territory but he can keep his territory where it is.”
“Speaking of territory, the local covens want to make the vampire road through the northwest into a paved two-lane highway.”
Looking at Victor with a raised eyebrow, he put his hands up in defeat. I shook my head and looked down. My legs were crossed as I stared down at my shoes.
“I can’t allow that. The road goes straight through the forest.”
He nodded. “That’s what I told them but they still wanted me to ask.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, thinking over the territory in the north. “If I push my border more north, up to the bottom of the Peak Pass, you could build the road along the rocky part just below the mountain. It’s already big enough to have a two-lane highway without needing to disturb the forest.”
“Can you do that?”
Shrugging, I looked at him. “I have to submit the documentation. There aren’t any contentions with the land, considering it is still within your territory. So if you also submit the documentation, we should be fine.”
Victor nodded, smiling. “Sounds good, Desmond. We will do that then.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “According to my Gamma though, there is a human moving into the territory on the north side. Just as a heads up, if you could warn your boys to stay away. I don’t really want a death of a human on my territory to deal with right now.”
He nodded again but gave me an interested look. “Thought you didn’t allow humans to buy property in your territory?”
“It’s the old Magis house. None of my pack is gonna move there and there is too much residual magic for the fey. They start to get antsy. So if I need to not just let the property cost us money, a human is the only one who can live there. Plus, they paid asking price.”
Victor chuckled. “Ever the businessman.”
We lapsed into silence. Drinking, lost in our own thoughts over our territories. Victor had been a good friend and someone I trusted if I needed advice on how to handle a situation. One that wouldn’t be so closely tied to the pack.
“The wife is throwing a birthday party. I would be remiss not to invite one of my oldest allies to attend.”
“Open bar?”
I nodded and he laughed.
“I wouldn’t miss it. What number will this be?”
I grumbled. “Forty.”
He laughed. “Getting up there Alpha. When are you turning your empire over?”
“I don’t know.” I frowned.
“Don’t you have a son?” I looked at Victor and his eyes went wide for a second. “Right, the whole Luna thing. Sorry. Your’re family drama, while fascinating, gets lost in the hundreds of years of baggage I carry.” Victor winked at me.
“Speaking of baggage, where is Bianca? I thought she was attached to you at the hip?”
He looked down at his glass. “Being within any pack territories are not really her scene.”
I nodded this time. She had some bad experiences within some packs on the east side. It made her very wary of any territories. I wished it wasn’t the story for most vampires or fey but I would be lying to myself.
“I’ll give you the details of when for the party. The wife is still deciding on the time, I think.”
Victor stood and I walked around the counter, clasping hands with him. “Thanks for the assist on this one.”
“Anytime, my friend.”
Scott walked into the room just as Victor was leaving. He shook hands with Victor and then his eyes lit up.
“You may know Victor, there is apparently a hunter headed this way. Do you know if they were hired by anyone?”
Victor shook his head. “I haven’t heard anything but Marcus would be the one to speak to in regards to the guild.”
Scott nodded absently. “Marcus hasn’t heard anything either.”
Victor shrugged and patted him on the back. “Try not to worry about it too much. Hunters come and go as they please.” He nodded back to me before leaving through the front door.
I looked at Scott, my eyes narrowing. “What was that about?”
“It’s just a rumor. I thought that maybe after the fiasco at the Alpha King’s castle he would have hired someone. Or Alpha James.”
“James hates the guild almost as much as he does the fey. He wouldn’t stoop so low when he feels he could just march his ass over here and try to kick my ass.”
Scott shook his head. “So that leaves the Alpha King who you humiliated in front of all the Alphas.”
I snorted. “I would like to see him try.”
“What if they are hired to kill you? We don’t have anyone to take over as Alpha if you were…”
I growled at him, cutting him off. Stalking up to him, I looked down at him. “Watch your mouth, Scott. I’m not about to die to some random hunter.” Scott looked down, not looking at me. “And if I were to kick the bucket, you would take over and help Liam step into the position.”
Ricky came out of his office with a bunch of papers in his hands. He froze, seeing the tension between us. He looked from me to Scott and then back at me. I pointed to his arms.
“I’m not doing any of that today.”
He grinned. “Don’t worry about this. I have it but there are some details that need to gone over…”
“No Ricky. Take the night off. I’ll handle it tomorrow. You too, Scott. Go home.”
“But Alpha…”
I growled. “Not up for discussion Gamma. Get going.”
They both nodded and left the pack house after mulling around for a bit. The pitfalls of having a younger Gamma and Beta. While they were go getters, they also didn’t know when enough was enough. The both of them had just turned thirty, taking over their father’s places within the past fifteen years. Whereas I had been Alpha for over twenty five years now. My father had me start early but was with me for the first few years of my takeover. He let me go when I did my first raid on a nearby pack for killing a dozen fey and putting their bodies on display. It was gruesome and I repaid them in tenfold. One of the fey had been a good friend of mine.
I felt more and more attacked lately over my age and handing the pack over. I didn’t know why it was such a big deal that I was turning forty and still head of my pack. My body was still in its prime. I was lucky that my Alpha genes had been stronger than my father’s. My mother had also come from an Alpha family and they had attributed my strength to the mix. I probably could carry on for another ten or fifteen years at least. I didn’t necessarily want to but I would do what was necessary for my pack.
Once I confirmed that the two of them went home, I left the pack house, locking it up behind me. I made my way down the street to the house. I stopped at the hardware store and opened the door. My father was standing behind the counter, tinkering with a power tool.
“Dad.”
He looked up and smiled. “Hey son! What brings you in?”
“Do you know if there has been word of a hunter headed this way? Scott brought it up and I thought you might know.”
There was a twinkle in his eye. My father, after retiring as Alpha, opened up the hardware shop. It was his life’s dream to own a shop and help out people through his curiously vast knowledge of everything that involved construction. He found out a few years in though that he missed a bit of the old Alpha spark. So he nestled himself into the chatter of the supernatural gossip chain, ‘the weeds’ as they called it. My dad could tell you what juicy details that got a witch arrested in Russia or what the Alpha King had for breakfast the day before. It was frightening how much gossip he took in.
“Yeah, there was one spotted heading west but not for a job. I haven’t heard of a hunter being requested for a while now. Scott asked me too but there still isn’t anything that’s come up in the weeds.” His eyes narrowed. “Why you insist on poking beehives, I will never understand.”
I smiled. “Alpha James had it coming.”
He shook his head at me disapprovingly. Laughing, I took the power tool out of his hand and twisted the bolt he had been working to unscrew the entire time I had been standing there. It loosened and I handed it back to him. “Thanks Dad. I’ll come by for dinner on Thursday.”
“Your mother says if you miss this one, I’ll be the one to sing you happy birthday at the party.”
I grimaced. “Oh goddess, I won’t miss it then. Want me to bring the kids by?”
He shook his head. “Leave those youngsters alone. No one wants to be forced to see old people.” My dad gave me a indignant look. “Don’t bring Helena either. She grates on your mother’s nerves.”
Sighing, I just nodded and turned to leave. My parents were never happy with my wife. When I had lost the scent of my mate, I chose Helena when she turned eighteen. I was twenty-two at the time and my parents were livid. They were big on the mate bond. She was a trophy wife in every way and she played her part well over the years. I gave her everything she asked for and she did everything I asked. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement for both of us. My parents, though, didn’t see it that way. They saw her as a gold digger and a power-hungry wolf which may be true but it made her a ruthless Luna. She needed to be next to me.
“Son.”
I turned just before I opened the door.
“The weeds are saying things are shifting. The fey queen has been spotted in the area. The fey are restless and you’re going around poking wolves. Try not to tempt fate because the goddess will not take kindly to it.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Dad, I’m not a child. I can take care of the pack and my business. Fate doesn’t scare me.” I held up my pinky. “My red string has been cut for decades.” Slamming the door behind me, I left before he could say anything else foolish.
The moment I walked into the house, I scowled. “Helena?” She stepped out of the kitchen, wide-eyed. “Sorry dear, I didn’t realize you would be home so early.” “Get it out of here. You know I can’t stand that smell.” Helena nodded. She took the Five Point Coffee cup and poured it down the drain. She rinsed out the drain and I took a deep breath, the smell of the hibiscus tea finally leaving my senses. I knew it was one of her and my daughter’s favorite teas. Hell, even my parents liked it. The smell of hibiscus, though, made me sick. I made sure it never was in the house while I was in the house. It was irrational but I hated the smell. One of the few rules I put my foot down. “Where are Liam and Natalie?” “At a friend’s house. I would say studying but you know that’s probably the last thing that’s happening.” She smiled. I nodded. “I’m going to shower and do some work in the office.” Helena came up to me and ran her hands down
“What the hell is all this?” My nose wrinkled as I flipped through the paperwork that Ricky sat down. “Work, Alpha. You know, when you aren’t setting fires to cities or helping with picking out colors of balloons for your birthday.” I growled. “I am doing work. What are you doing?” “Working, Alpha.” Ricky started to head out. “Our new buyers showed up for the Magis house. I’m going to hand over the keys and show the place.” He scoffed. “Show all the holes and moldy floorboards. It should be the most fun showing I’ve ever done.” “What took them so long? It’s been weeks?” Scott looked over at Ricky. He turned, rubbing his forehead. “Get this. They don’t drive.” “What do you mean they don’t drive? Like they just walked across three states?” “Exactly! Literally walked across states.” Scott and I looked at him, our eyes narrowing. “You sure you did a
I threw on a tank top and some sweats. Going down to the indoor gym, I started through my routine. Running, weight lifting, and today was specifically abs, back, and pecks. My home gym had more equipment than you found at the local gym. I preferred to work out alone. I would even help Liam out sometimes but I wouldn’t even work out with him. “Show no weakness.” I inhaled as I hung from the bar upside down, doing crunches while holding 50lbs. Breathing in and out, I counted out. “One. Two. Three. Four.” My mind wandered off, thinking about the Summer Festival that we would be throwing this year. We brought in a lot of money last year and we were wholly unprepared for just how many people wanted to come to our little town. This year we had ramped up our preparedness but we also were thinking about running some ad campaigns for the daily activities that people could join if they were in the area. We also set up a
My finger was tapping my desk. While I told Ricky I would take care of it, it didn’t mean I was happy about it. Looking at the two in front of me, you could tell they were mates. Other than the glaring mate mark on May’s neck, if either of them moved, so did the other. They just sat down in the office after Scott let them in and he was looking at me with a surprised expression. Taking a deep breath, I looked down at the paperwork in front of me. “So you’re a soldier for the Alpha King. What are you doing in my territory pup?” The man sat up and looked away from May’s hand which he was holding. “I was out visiting my grandmother. Ariel Stone.” I knew Ariel. I also knew she doted on Ricky and I wondered what she would think of May’s behavior. May looked everywhere but at me and I knew why. “Are you proceeding with a divorce then May?” I asked her directly and she snapped her eyes to me. Her mate looked at her, confused. “What do you mean divorce
My dad walked out of the hardware store and closed the door behind him. “I apologize, I didn’t realize you boys were coming over. The tea was a gift from our newest resident. It’s fantastic by the way, not that you care.” “Hey Marcus.” Scott shook hands with my father. My father nodded to him and smiled. “Hey Scott, good to see you. How is Richard doing with all this May business?” “Of course you would already know.” Scott rolled his eyes and patted me on the back. “He has been hanging in there. Our Alpha here kicked her mate off territory. Before she leaves though, she needs to provide the divorce papers.” He huffed. “Serves her right.” I stood up and blinked the tears away from the sudden bout of nausea. “Says the one who believes in the mate bond so fiercely.” “I believe in the mate bond but it doesn’t mean I don’t believe in love as well. The two of them loved each other. She should have thought about it before just throwing hersel
I felt hands run through my hair and I groaned. “Good morning sunshine.” My eyes snapped open and I looked up at Iggy who was sitting up, my head in his lap and we were both tucked into a bed. A wave of nausea and pain hit me and I squeezed my eyes back shut. “Fuck.” Iggy chuckled, still brushing through my hair. “Victor left a note and some headache medicine for us on the night stand. I already took some, so it’s your turn.” “Never again.” I mumbled. I sat up and the roomed seemed to be spinning until a cold glass of water was placed in my hand. Four pills were dropped into my other hand and I threw them back, taking sips of the water. “Did we…” I looked at Iggy. He shrugged. “I blacked out after you telling Helena off. Whatever we did last night left me wanting more this morning though.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Shit. Helena is going to kill me. Your mate is going to kill me.” Iggy laughed. “Helena mi
***Olivia’s POV*** I adjusted my backpack as I looked at the sign. 'Welcome to Lakeshore.'I grimaced. It had taken me longer to get here because of the weather. My feet hurt and I needed a shower six days ago. Why the hell the shaman would send me here, I didn’t know. I knew there were a lot of fey, witches, and even vampires living on this pack’s territory. While I applauded the Alpha for his forward movement, he also seemed a little too bold. At some point, he was just putting his pack at risk for nothing by petty squabbles with the new Alpha King. Walking past the sign, it was another hour before I made it into the town’s center. I walked up to the edge of it and stopped. “Fucking christ.” Every building had flower boxes with blooming flowers, white picket fences, the buildings were red brick and white columned colonial style buildings. There was even a grassy area that split the road in two with a gazebo and
I arrived to what I thought was the entrance to the property I now owned. It was a good way away from the main town and I was glad. It was overgrown and mystical. It made me feel right at home. I told the realtor that I would wait for him at the entrance of the property before going in. He said he wanted to make sure I didn’t get lost because it was actually a pretty big plot of land. At first, I planned to just stay for a couple months and try to rent out a house near the lake. However, I was told from the shaman that I should not limit my time that way and I could save money by trying to buy property and that way I wouldn’t have to worry about it. Those assholes. They knew exactly where they were throwing me. If they had even said the word mate, I would have disappeared so quickly. Next time I talked to them, they were going to regret it. I kicked a rock on the ground, seething. Bunch of nosey old men with nothing but time. Looking down the road, there was a Jeep d
Hello everyone! I know it's been a minute since I've updated on the things going on. I just wanted to update those who enjoyed this story in particular to a new story I am writing called The Rogue Kings. It's currently being updated and I know fans of Alpha Desmond will also enjoy that story. It's a stand alone werewolf book, that will actually be in two parts. However, it won't be separated into different stories but all one. I chose to mark it as a more mature story since the themes and the things that happen within the story will be strong emotionally. I really hope you guys will check it out. I think it is one of my bigger undertakings, just like Alpha Desmond and has been a labor of love that I've been working through for a while. For those wondering what is going on with my other story The King's Alpha. I promise you I am still working on that one as well. I hit a bit of a wall and ended up throwing a number of chapters out the window. As I was going through that, I've been hi
I heard whispering in the background, and I peeled my eyes open. Xander had his arms crossed over his chest, while Zain whispered angrily to Olivia. All these years she hadn’t changed. She stayed by my side as we got older, even picking up her duties as Luna before Xander and Zain took over. We decided to wait until they were seventeen to fully transfer the pack over to them. They decided to work in tandem, handling the pack together. I was proud of them. What they had accomplished over the years. The wolves they had become. “Don’t you dare speak that way to your mother.” My voice shook. My time was coming to an end. My father had passed away when he was ninety-two, my mother followed not long after. Olivia said it might be that because our bond was the one tethering her to this world, my life had been shortened. It didn’t matter to me, though. I had spent most of my days with my mate by my side and I wouldn’t trade that even for twenty or thirty more years. “Dad, please. You can’
The air in the house was electric. For the first time in over five years, the house seemed full and happy. Olivia and the kids decorated a tree in the corner, and she even started to use a bit of fey magic to decorate the house. Liam and I strung lights inside and outside of the house for Christmas at the behest of Olivia. She said that we have been lacking on our excitement for Christmas and was determined to change that. Xander and Zain were ecstatic to be a part of it.Olivia and I tag-teamed in the kitchen for Christmas Day. We were making so much food, considering the amount of people we were having. Everyone was also bringing something, but to feed an entire house filled with werewolves, vampires and even a few fey, we needed more than just the normal amount. We had sat down the night before and scheduled out when everything needed to be put in the oven. It was chaos, but I couldn’t stop smiling.Her touch as we would pass by each other doing chores or cooking. Her laughter fill
“Get under him. His strength will probably fail him as soon as I put it back.”I walked around Olivia and held Bucho under his right arm, Liam got his left. We braced for his weight to fall. She carefully closed her fingers over the flower before turning and placing her hand over his chest again. Her hand slowly slipped in and she turned her wrist before her hand came back out, now empty.As soon as her hand left his chest, I watched Olivia hold herself up against the counter. I felt the mate bond flicker for a moment, but before I could go to her, Bucho’s full weight fell on Liam and I. Liam grunted and I also groaned as we held him up.“What the hell does he eat?” Liam coughed out.“Take him to the couch, boys. Let him rest for a second.” Olivia chuckled. “His soul literally had an out-of-body experience.”Nat snorted. “Mom, what the hell?”With Liam, we carried Bucho over to the couch and placed him down gently. Stacy came over and sat next to me, holding his hand as he stirred. I
My anxiety was through the roof. Multiple times Liam had a hand on my shoulder to calm me down. Aamon was pacing. He had been relatively quiet this whole time. Now though, he nearly pushed forward, trying to force me to go back.“Dad, slow down.”I looked at the speedometer and thanked the goddess silently that we weren’t in the city. I would have been pulled over so quick that I might have ended up with a misdemeanor with reckless endangerment. Liam chuckled as I slowed down.“Sorry.” I mumbled.“Nat would have linked if there was an issue, Dad. Don’t worry.”I nodded absentmindedly. Looking at the clock, I saw we had left later than I wanted and took a little longer than anticipated. There was paperwork I wanted to grab from the pack house so I wouldn’t need to leave again until after Christmas. If anything, I could have Scott take the paperwork back with him on Christmas.Pulling into the dirt path, I pulled up and smiled. The boys were running around in the clearing, trying to tak
I leaned against the counter, sipping tea Olivia had made. She didn’t seem to need to sleep but was happy to sit on the couch as I fell asleep with my head on her lap. Her hands brushed through my hair as she hummed different songs that lulled me to sleep. My alarm went off at 5 a.m. to get ready for the day, but I didn’t know what I was going to do now. I was worried about letting her go, wanting to take Olivia with me, but if her guess was correct, she might not be able to stray too far from the ley line. She was standing in the kitchen with me, smiling at me as she sipped some tea as well. Changing out of her dress from last night, she was now wearing jeans and a band shirt. Both were hilariously big on her, but she looked much more normal.“What if only I can see you? Everyone will think I have gone crazy.”Olivia chuckled and lifted the mug to her lips. “I think it might be too late for that.”I scoffed. “I’m serious, Olivia.”“I think you worry too much.”Shaking my head, I lif
“Dad! I’m going to head to bed. The munchkins are already down.”I looked up from my book on the couch and smiled at Nat. She kissed my cheek and headed up to her room. Liam plopped down next to me, putting his feet up on the coffee table.“It’s nice to be back home. If I have one more person call me Dr. Wright, I think I am going to quit school.”I chuckled. “You’re on the road to becoming a doctor. You should get used to it.”He shook his head. “It’s nearly as bad as Alpha.” His face scrunched up and I shook my head.“You are welcome to become Alpha anytime, son. Those boys will be the death of me already. Being Alpha at this point is just another nail in the coffin.”Liam glared at me. “Don’t say that. You still can beat everyone’s ass. Even the most advanced newbies can’t even come close.”“Have you tried wrangling those two alone? I think they would take out the whole training group if I let them loose after a single glass of juice.”Liam threw his head back and laughed. He had g
The grey wolf stopped for a moment; his head cocked to the side. My heart started to pound in my chest.“Nasir, that can’t be…”His head cocked to the other side this time, making his ears flop. The boys laughed and Xander, who was in front, scratched behind his ears. The wolf continued his circular path around the clearing.'Dad, tell me you are free right now.''I’m at the store, what’s up? Something wrong?'I bit my lip, unable to wrap my head around what was happening in front of me. If Ricky or Nasir was still alive, if he was still here, then Olivia would be as well. He was her pact. If she died so did he. But if this was him then it meant she was alive, too.'I need you to come over right now. Please. Hurry.''Heading out now.'I shut off the mind link and just sat, watching. After about ten minutes, the wolf laid down and flopped over. The boys laughed as they tumbled off his back and started to play around him. At first, they ran around in circles but when that got old, they
“Dad! Dad!”I looked up from my desk to see Xander and Zain barreling into my office. They still had their backpacks and shoes on. Pushing back in my chair, I turned to allow the both of them to jump into my lap. Smiling, I helped them sit on my lap and ruffled both their heads.“Did you boys have a good day at school?”They both nodded furiously.“We made drawings! Look! Look!” Zain pulled at his backpack when Xander shook his head.“No! Mine is better!”“Nuh uh! Mine is better!” Zain whined at his brother.Sighing, I shook my head. “How about we just see these drawings?”“Kay!” They chimed together and I chuckled.They were twins even if they weren’t identical. I was thankful that they weren’t. They were mischievous enough as it was. Xander was a carbon copy of me when I was younger. If you put my four year old photo next to him now, you would think we time traveled. Zain, though, looked so much like Olivia. Her bright eyes and hair. Even his mannerisms sometimes shocked me, seeing