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Chapter 16: Alpha Rising
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 17: Alpha Rising
Neal stood in the middle of his living room as Bane glared at him, unable to stop the shaking of his body under the man's scrutiny. Even with his recent epiphany of what an alpha really should be, Neal still feared the alpha of the coyotes. The man was notorious for his unscrupulous tactics used to achieve his goals. And, he wasn't alone. He was never alone.Off to the side and slightly behind Neal stood Tina, looking just as frightened as Neal felt. He should have known the confrontation would come when he tossed Cody off Ash's property the other day; it was just a matter of time. Bane Kastner didn't suffer failure, especially from those he assumed he controlled, and now, he no longer controlled Neal. Or, more importantly, Bane no longer controlled the alpha of Bull Creek. "What's done is done," Neal said, doing his best to keep the tremor from his voice. "The Council sent another alpha because I failed, and they were right to do so.""You sniveling little weasel," Bane spat. "The Cou
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 18: Alpha Rising
"Just couldn't wait until I got down there before you stirred some shit up, could you?" Lainie said through the phone. "There's only two of you down there, remember? What happens if this coyote pack tries something?""I think I know a redhead who's pretty good in a fight," Dimitri said, trying to lighten the mood. It didn't work.He sighed as he lifted his coffee cup to his lips and took a sip, the dark liquid burning his lips and throat as he listened to his sister rant into the phone. Nothing like that first sip in the morning. Of course, he would have enjoyed it more if Lainie wasn't chewing him out for not waiting on her before confronting the coyotes. He had filled her in on what Josh and he stumbled upon in the forest while scoping out the area, as well as his run in with Augur last night at Everglades. Josh and he sat at the bar after that, a couple of the others joining them, asking questions before shaking their heads, saying they needed to see it to believe it, and wandering
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 19: Alpha Rising
Dimitri drove east to Melbourne to get the supplies he would need for the night's bonfire REO Speedwagon blaring from the speakers about how she doesn't like the tough guys. The problem with being out in the middle of nowhere was that you needed to drive thirty minutes in any direction just to hit a grocery store. Or a drug store. Hardware store. Decent restaurant. Well, just about anything really. Of course, the upside was that it cut down on traffic jams in the immediate area as well as loud neighbors. Plus, he wouldn't need a burn permit for his bonfire. He chuckled to himself. There's always a silver lining if you look hard enough.Josh offered to remain behind and clear out the area they had spotted their first day in Bull Creek to ensure there would be nothing burning except the wood they intended to torch. Of course, Josh continued to mutter about what a stupid idea it was to have a giant blaze going during the hottest—and driest—part of the year, but Dimitri had grown used to h
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 20: Alpha Rising
Josh pulled the rake across the leaf-strewn ground, mumbling the entire time about the stupidity of having a bonfire in the middle of summer and raking the woods. He stood, staring at the ground. I'm actually raking the forest floor. This is nuts. Yet, he kept raking the leaves into a pile off to the side, making sure there was a cleared area where Dimitri could have his silly fire. Even in the heat, it beat the thick sulfur smell of the pulp mill he had to endure every day back in Draven Falls.After a while, he heard shuffling off to the side behind a small set of birch trees. He had been so focused on his grumbling, he almost missed it. He stood straight, holding the rake with both hands as he wondered about the sanity of being alone in an area filled with coyotes who wanted him gone. He took a sniff of the air, trying to detect…a wolf? He only knew of one wolf in the area so far. Alanna. His panther purred within, and Josh felt a stirring in his groin.With a deep breath, Josh rela
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 21: Alpha Rising
Dimitri could tell there was something going on with Josh by the way his friend kept avoiding his gaze. Of course, Dimitri just assumed it had something to do with the wolf scent he detected on his friend, as well as the musty scent of sex in the air, which made Dimitri keep his mouth shut. If Josh wanted to tell him, he would. In the meantime, Dimitri had enough to figure out with his bonfire tonight and Tina's words echoing in his mind.Down the street from Publix was a Home Depot, and Dimitri had swung in there to purchase some folding tables and a few camp chairs, a couple of bins to use for trash, a couple of coolers for beer and ice, and some decorative rocks to surround the firepit. If things went the way he hoped, these fires would be a normal occurrence, and he would need the supplies, anyway. Might as well make a good first impression if at all possible.When Dimitri finally arrived back in Bull Creek, Josh had the designated area cleared and a nice-sized hole in the center w
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 22: Alpha Rising
Neal couldn't believe what Tina told him. "Why would you do that? It wasn't your place to say anything to Dimitri, especially about what Bane expects me to do." Neal knew Tina was only trying to help, perhaps warn Dimitri off, but all she really did was prove to the new guy that Neal was just not alpha material.She leaned back against the kitchen island, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at him—glared would be a better word for it. "Whose place was it? Yours? You've already said you have no intention of standing up to Dimitri, of maintaining your position as alpha. What do you want me to do? Just stand here and wait for Bane to show up and keep his promise? This isn't just about the humans any more, Neal. This is about my life. Your life. You should be thinking about how to protect your mate."Neal took a deep breath, running his hand through his light brown hair. Tina would not be satisfied until she caused total chaos. "Bane isn't going to kill you. He's just hoping to m
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 23: Alpha Rising
The flames flickered up into the warm night air as Dimitri stood at the fire's edge, a beer in one hand, his other hand in his front pocket. So far, only Josh and himself filled the small clearing, and while Dimitri was disappointed, he wasn't surprised. The residents of Bull Creek were leery and for good reason.Josh shrugged as he lifted his beer bottle to his lips. "It's not like we actually invited people. You should have made fliers or something. We could have posted them on doors. Besides, it's still in the upper eighties even with night closing in on us. Most people probably think this fire proves you're nuts." He chuckled. "They wouldn't be wrong."Dimitri glanced over at his friend with a soft laugh and a shake of his head. "True. I guess I hoped people would scent the fire and wander over to see what was happening, just to tell me how stupid I was. I guess the residents of Bull Creek just aren't that curious.""They're skeptical and for good reason," a male's voice sounded fr
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 24: Alpha Rising
Dimitri took a deep breath as he braced for the fight rushing his way. This was about to be the shortest period any alpha ever held the position. He could hear his father mocking him at his funeral now. I told him not to go. He should have remained in Draven Falls to help carry out the family business. This is what happens to those who break from tradition, who don't obey their alpha.Screw you, Dad, Dimitri thought as he shifted to face the men coming at him, his arms still at his sides as he hoped for a miracle. Neal and Josh stood behind him, the three of them forming a small circle, their backs to each other. Dimitri knew there was no way he would win this fight, but he would sure as hell take some of them with him. He clenched his fists and braced himself for the battle ahead."He's not as alone as you think he is," a female's voice came from behind Bane.Everyone paused, turning to face the newcomer as Alanna walked out of the darkness toward the fire, a camp chair dangling from
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Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 72: Bear Necessities
Ezra sat in one of the rockers on the front porch of the cabin, his arm in a sling and his shoulder bandaged. Doc Henderson arrived, bandaging Ezra's gunshot wound and Liam's broken arm while Lainie and Johnson took Hoyt and his men to the sheriff's department. Colton arrived just as everything ended, filling the other three Para-Force members in on Mason being the mole and the fight between them, which ended in Mason's death. Erin remained with Ash, Agatha Rochester on the phone helping the girl pull her magic back into herself and out of the dolls and stuffed animals. The little girl didn't need to see the mayhem up and down her street or the destruction inside the cabin. Dimitri and the others started cleaning up the cabin, making a pile of broken furniture to burn while the doctor worked on his patients.Liam sat in the rocker next to Ezra, holding a beer in his uninjured arm. The smaller man remained silent for most of the early evening, lost in whatever dark thoughts roamed his m
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 71: Bear Necessities
Milli walked into Julian's office, moving over to the empty chair in front of his desk, and helping herself to it. "They got the bastard," she said without preamble as Julian cocked an eyebrow at her. "Dent called. Our team arrived too late to help with Hoyt's arrest, but the people in Bull Creek took him and four of his goons down. Hoyt shot Ezra in the process, and Liam has a broken arm." She pressed her lips into a thin line as she took a deep breath. "Mason is dead. Colton and he got into a fight, and it didn't go well for Mason." She shook her head. "He got off easy as far as I'm concerned. He helped Hoyt kill families and sell children."Kacey appeared in the doorway, arms over her chest as she leaned on the doorframe as she listened in on the conversation. Benny stood behind her, hands shoved into his pockets as he stared into the office at Milli.Julian glanced at them briefly and then returned his attention to Milli. "Has Hoyt said where he sold the other children?" he asked.
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 70: Bear Necessities
The bullet barely missed Ezra as he dove to the side out of the way. As soon as he saw the monkey fling himself through the open door, Ezra knew that gun would be an issue. He sat up from the ground, his hand going to the gunshot wound he suffered a few days ago when he threw himself in front of Lainie Everest to protect her from a crazed suitor. As he gritted his teeth, he growled, his bear bursting at the seams of his restraint, wanting out to destroy Hoyt. Glancing around, he watched as Hoyt grabbed Liam's neck, tossing the tiny monkey across the room as Josh struck Hoyt in the gut with the fireplace poker, doubling the man over. Ezra growled as he launched himself from the floor, diving over Hoyt and grabbing the man by the waist as he turned in on himself, pulling Hoyt backward into a reverse somersault. Both hit the floor hard, Ezra smashing up against the wall next to the front door.Two more men stormed through the front door, and Ezra heard the back door bust open as more of H
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 69: Bear Necessities
Colton stared out the window as Ash sat on the couch, little Erin close to her side. He couldn't believe the little girl had enough magical power to enchant so many dolls and stuffed animals with a part of herself, hopefully enough to throw off whatever locator spell Hoyt's sister placed on Erin. He was still unsure how the possessive magic Dimitri talked about worked, but he hoped it worked the way the alpha of Bull Creek thought it would. He hoped the pile of stuffed animals led Hoyt straight to the other cabin and away from Erin. The little girl needed this nightmare to be over. They all did.He could hear the older woman talking to the little girl behind him, doing her best to keep Erin calm in the midst of the chaos that became her life. Ash did a better job of it than either him or Liam did. Colton grinned. Of course, Liam entertained Erin well as a monkey. Colton chuckled as he shook his head. God, what a crazy-ass unit Para-Force was.A knot formed in his gut, anger twisting in
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 68: Bear Necessities
Ezra sat in the cabin, staring at a battered teddy bear that was missing one eye and possessed a hole under its left arm. Josh had been right; Dimitri's idea was one of the wackiest he had seen. They spent the next thirty minutes with Erin putting her tiny hands on each doll and stuffed animal, asking each one of them to talk to her like her doll, Betsy, and then they took the toy into a back bedroom to see if Dimitri's idea would actually work.The biggest surprise was that the idea worked perfectly.Dimitri then sent each of the others off somewhere in Bull Creek with a couple of the dolls to hide them in various places, hopefully, weakening the locator spell, leaving the rest of the toys in a giant pile in the back bedroom, including the original doll, Betsy, which had the most of Erin's essence inside of it. He wanted them in the back bedroom, limiting Erin's reaction to whatever happened in the toys' presence. Colton then snuck Erin out of the cabin, taking her to Ash's home where
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 67: Bear Necessities
As they approached the cabin, Dimitri noticed Cody Wolfe, now in dry clothes, standing off to the side, arms over his chest as he leaned on a tall birch, talking into his cell phone. He glanced up at them, nodding at whatever he heard in the phone."Does anyone else think that man pops up a lot?" Nathan asked as they all came to a stop and stared at the shaggy-haired man. "He's like a bad coin that keeps surfacing when you're in front of a vending machine. Good for nothing.""Do you think him being at the lake and now outside the cabin means he's working for Hoyt?" Josh asked, his panther's hiss evident in his voice. "I'd be more than happy to go have a talk with him, if you know what I mean."Dimitri just shook his head. "No, I'll talk to him. See what he knows, if anything, or if he's just snooping for Bane. That man's been too quiet lately, and I don't like it." He turned to the others. "You guys go ahead and get inside, figure out what we need to do since it's obvious someone knows
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 66: Bear Necessities
Kacey knocked on Julian's door and then entered without waiting for permission. "We have Elizabeth cuffed in the conference room. Jess is watching her. She still isn't talking, though, outside of telling us it's too late."Julian glanced up from a report he was reading, staring at her with his dark eyes. "Unfortunate, but expected."Tyra poked her head through the open door. "Benny is back and says he needs to talk to you. He doesn't look pleased with whatever he discovered."Julian nodded once as he stood, shoving his desk chair back into the wall behind him with his sudden movement. "Let's go see what he discovered. Tell him to meet us in the conference room. Perhaps, his news will loosen Elizabeth's tongue. How much longer before the others make it to Bull Creek?" "They land in Orlando in about an hour, and then, it'll take another hour to reach Colton and Liam," Tyra replied.Julian nodded as he turned to Kacey. "Ask Milli to meet us in the conference room, please."Kacey felt ang
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 65: Bear Necessities
Ezra stared down at the freshly turned earth. He killed men before, but never like this, never so out of control that his rage spurred him into a frenzy. This wasn't him. He sighed as he shoved his dirty hands into his pockets. He never should have allowed them to drag him out of his campsite."You know, I don't blame you," Dimitri said as he stood beside Ezra, leaning on a shovel. "Who knows what that man would have done to that little girl? You reacted to a dangerous situation in the heat of the moment. You helped save that girl. That's all that really matters at this point.""I think I went a little overboard," Ezra said, his gaze still fixed on the grave.Josh stood on his other side, his hands also wrapped around a shovel. He had joined them as soon as Colton and Liam made it back to the cabin. Ash remained with the little girl, playing dolls with her, and Nathan followed Josh to the cemetery. Lainie had called. They shoved the second kidnapper—a Darren Frisk—into an interrogation
Bull Creek Chronicles Chapter 64: Bear Necessities
Kacey stared through the glass of the door as the tall dark-haired woman smiled and giggled at the students in front of her. Elizabeth Cheffron appeared like any other elementary school teacher, excited to be in front of her students, lost in the gift of teaching. Too bad she was a dark witch helping her brother kidnap innocent children as well. How had Para-Force never put this together?"We need to get her out of there," Jess Barrigan said as he leaned back on the wall beside Kacey. "She definitely doesn't belong around children.""I just can't believe Elizabeth would do anything to hurt her students," Principal Ivy said as she stood beside Kacey, staring at the teacher in the classroom. "She's always filled in with such enthusiasm. Never a complaint at last-minute changes or whining about some of the rougher students."Probably because she spelled them to silence while she was in charge of the classroom, Kacey thought. She then turned to the principal. "Can you get her out of there?
