***Bryan***
I leaned close to the wall to take a close view. My prey had just stepped out of Lois Wold's house. They appear to be having an argument of some sort. Today must be my lucky day! Killing Alpha Ashley's daughter will put more fear in them. I've been chasing the unimportant members of the Anderson pack since I started my hunt. I had my eleventh kill last week. I know the Andersons are scared but it's Alpha Ashley that I desperately want to see in pain. Taking his daughter away from him will be the onset of his misery. That pretty wife of his will die at my hands too. I'll destroy his businesses, take everything away from him, just like he took everything away from me. When I'm done with him, if his misery doesn't end him, I'm left with no choice but to finish him off. After I'm done with the Andersons, those cunning bastards, the Foss pack, are next! I continued to follow Lois and her friend closely from behind, watching as they walked slowly down the illuminated street. The street lights would make it hard for me to abduct Scarlett. I'll patiently wait until they've taken a bend leading towards the next street. That street is not as brightly lit as this one. I only hope Lois gets away from this so-called friend of hers before I strike. Lois and I are from the same pack, the Mo pack; that's why I'm concerned. I din't want her discovering this side of me. Lois placed her arm around Scarlett's shoulder. "It's going to be okay. Curtis can be like that sometimes. You'll be surprised to discover that it's not a big deal." "I doubt that." Scarlett shook her head. "Did you see the look your mate gave me? That was a look of pity." "You are overthinking this. You're well aware that your father doesn't bluff. This marriage has to take place because that's the only way you can protect your pack. It's what you told me. And If you ask me, I doubt there's anything you can do; that's if Curtis were to tell you whatever it was he was keeping to himself." Listening in on the conversation these two ladies were pumping out caused me to miss a step. I quickly balanced my weight before I came crashing behind them like a bloody human mountain. Marriage! I heard them mention marriage. That's some twist right there. Why didn't I hear about anyone getting married in this town? I focused on them again to find out more. "You're right. Asking to know what wrong Evans Foss has done might be of no help to me," Scarlett said. "Looking at it the other way round or in a positive light, I'm the one who would be gaining from this union. I and my pack need the protection." Aha! So that's the shit they've been planning. A marriage of convenience. The Andersons need the Foss to help protect their pack. Realizing this almost makes me burst out laughing. The Foss don't know they're in trouble too. This is interesting. For twelve years I've struggled to sleep well at night. The disturbing images still give me nightmares. For twelve years I've seen the same faces, one by one, fresh in my memory as they all lay in the pool of their blood that horrible night. My parents were killed. Every member of my pack was annihilated that night. The Andersons and Foss followed every member of the Haaland pack to their homes, pierced a stake through their hearts and burned everything to the ground. Nothing and no one survived. Just me. It just feels like yesterday when everything happened. I left Silvercrest Range years ago to prepare for my revenge. I've been carrying it out for the past few months. I don't care how long it will take me to achieve it. I'm sure I'm going to get my revenge. "Why didn't you drive here in your car?" Lois asked Scarlett. I was happy they had taken the bend leading to the darker street. "There are days I feel too lazy to drive. Today is one of those days. It's not that late. It won't take me thirty minutes with a cab." "You should head back in time. Have a good sleep and clear your head before tomorrow, okay." "Thanks dear." Scarlett leaned in for a hug. "I appreciate your kind words." "You're welcome." Lois hugged her back. "Hurry now." I slipped deeper into the bushes as I watched Lois leave Scarlett to head back home. This was the perfect time. It excites me to know that Alpha Ashley is so scared and weak that the only option he could think of is to offer his daughter up for marriage to the most ruthless werewolf in Silvercrest Range. Pitiful! They can't protect themselves from me. Never! I only got back to town five months ago but I already know Evans Foss is bad news. Asides what he and his father, Fred Foss did twelve years ago, Evans Foss has outstandingly outshone his father when it comes to viciousness. My plans for him are grand. Evans would be saved for last, so I'll have all the pleasure in the world to repay him the same way he treated me twelve years ago. With each step Scarlett took, my feet followed, slowly and quietly behind her. She seemed calm and comfortable. Do I feel bad that I am about to do this? Hell no! Scarlett didn't do anything to me but it's bad enough that she shares the same blood with my enemy and she's getting married to another enemy of mine. This automatically makes her my enemy too. Such a terrible fate…so why would I care? I quickened my step to close the distance between us. I don't abduct all my victims in human form. I shift before I attack them. None has ever been able to escape me when I've turned into that big vengeful beast. My claws extend. Fangs dropped. Fur begins to sprout out of my skin… "Bryan is that you?" A female voice called from behind. My claws quickly turned into fingers. Fangs and fur disappear, I turned around. "Hey, Lois," I said, smiling shrewdly. Why was she back here? I just saw her head back in the direction of her apartment. "What are you doing?" She asked, looking at me suspiciously. "Taking a stroll." I turned around but Scarlett was gone. This made me so angry. I bit my bottom lip to control myself. I almost had her. Damn it! I clenched my fist. Lois just destroyed my whole plan. "And you. Why are you here?" I asked through gritted teeth. "I escorted a friend but while heading home I saw you. I wasn't sure if it was you, so I followed." "Ah. I see. I was taking a stroll. Who is this friend of yours by the way." I asked, pretending not to know what she was talking about. "Scarlett Anderson," she happily answered. "She's getting married to Evans Foss tomorrow." "Hum. Why am I just hearing of this news?" I continue to pretend not to have an idea about what she's talking about. "Almost everyone in town knows, even Curtis. Although her father only informed her today." "Well I haven't really spoken to anyone lately. Alpha Westby sent me to take care of some stuff." "I feel bad for her," Lois said sadly. "She's going to be stuck with someone she doesn't love all her life." I shook my head at Lois' words in disagreement. "They deserve each other—" With narrowed eyes and a shocked expression, she asked, "What did you say?" "What did you hear me say?" I shrugged. "That they deserve each other. That's a mean thing to say. Bryan, she's only going into this marriage to protect her pack." "Like that will ever work." I hissed. I was beginning to get tired of this boring conversation. "Bryan, I don't like the way you're speaking today. You are next in line as Alpha of our pack. Don't be so cold. I know you don't like Evans Foss but Scarlett is a nice person." Lois cried out. I didn't want to get more furious. She made my prey slip away from me. Getting away from Lois right now was for her own safety. I turned around to go back home. "I'll head back now. Goodnight." "You're done strolling already?" She blurted out. "It looks like that," I said, without turning to face her. I could feel Lois staring at me as I walked away from her. She was speechless. I don't care if she vouches for her friend's good behavior or how she's a sweetheart. I'm not dispensing rewards for good character. I'm dishing out punishment. It's sad her friend had to be caught in the middle of all this...***Bryan*** Alpha Westby just concluded an emergency meeting in the Mo packhouse. He's concerned about the killings that have been taking place in Silvercrest Range. The two recent bodies found were from the Foss pack. "Bryan, wait behind," he ordered. "I'd like a word with you." I nodded and maintained my seat. I wondered what he wanted to talk about. Perhaps it was about the succession ritual. He rubbed my shoulder from behind giving me a gentle squeeze. "Hope you're warming up." "Do I need to warm up?" A raspy laugh escape my throat. "Well, I think you need to." He sat down to face me. "Silvercrest Range is currently going through some shit. Someone is out to get everyone. At first I thought it's just the Andersons. Now the Foss are being hit too." "I've told you many times not to worry, Westby. We are the Mo pack," I whispered. "Nobody will dare touch us." Westby's eyebrow furrowed. He's surprised by my words obviously. "Why are you so confident that we aren't the next
***Bryan*** "Jensen! Where are you off too?" I called out to my friend as I watched him hurry along the sidewalk. "What's up, Bryan?" he asked. "Lois is going for a condolence visit. I just thought I should tag along." I haven't heard news of any death within our territory. "Who died?" "I don't know. Curtis asked if I wanted to tag along. He said Lois' friend lost her father a few minutes ago." "Huh. That's sad." Jensen pointed at a car heading our way. "Aha. Here they come. You can ask them." The car stopped right in front of us. Curtis and Lois stepped out and bowed their heads to greet me. Almost everyone greets me that way now. It will take some time for me to get used to it. As the soon-to-be Alpha, some of the respects an Alpha gets are already being extended to me. My gaze was on Lois. "Jensen told me you're going for a condolence visit. Who died?" "Scarlett lost her dad. Alpha Ashley Anderson is dead." "What?"I yelled. Lois wasn't looking good. "Scarlett call
***Scarlett*** I'm still in shock. It's only been twenty-four hours since the incident. It's been confirmed that my father, Alpha Ashley Anderson was killed. His drink was poisoned. Whoever my father had a meeting with has a hand in this. The bad news is no one knows who my father met. Many said he was alone in his office sorting some documents but had no idea who came to see him. Evans thinks the wandering killer has finally succeeded in striking my father. That's what everyone in Silvercrest Range calls the killer now; the wandering killer. I don't want to argue with him but this is too easy. The killer wouldn't have gained access into my father's working chambers without help from the inside. The elders of the pack say an investigation will be carried out to ascertain if this was the work of the wandering killer or an insider. Evans dragged the tray of food close. He lifted the warm glass of milk and handed it to me. "You have to eat, Scarlett. Dina has been worried sick
***Scarlett*** My father was cremated as the tradition demands for werewolves in the range. My stepmother and I had to wait behind to collect his Ash. I doubt if my father's death will make us close. I have a feeling it will only push us farther away from each other because we were never close to begin with. Dina wiped a tear that trickled down her right cheek. "Your father was a good man. The best man I've ever met." "You don't have to be dramatic about it," I said feeling irritated by her display. Evans caressed my arms. "That's no way to talk to your stepmother, babe. She is hurt too, you know." I ignored Evans. The last thing I need now is an argument. Dina began to sob more. "I wish she could care for me as much as I care for her." I rolled my eyes at the pathetic show she kept on displaying. It was funny that she was shedding a tear from just one eye—she looked funny honestly. Who was she trying to deceive? Not me of course. If I was a private investigator, I wouldn
***Scarlett*** I couldn’t hold it anymore. I’m surprised that I still clutched onto my bag tightly, even with the shocking display of my husband's infidelity satring back at me. I backed away. Unfortunately, my back hit the wall behind me. They must have heard my movement because I heard them stop. “Who is there?” Dina called out. I ran for the exist as fast as I could. There was no time to even turn around. There was no need to because with my wolf hearing, I could tell they were out of the room already to find who had alked in on them. No way was I going to make it out of this place in time. So I did the one thing I could do—hide. I went through the main door but instead of running straight for the gate, I sneaked behind the house and entered through the emergency door, into the kitchen. I gently pushed the door. I gasped…too loud for a fact. My eyes narrowed...I wasn’t expecting to see anyone. “Shhh… stay quiet or they would find you." Sir Vik, the butler pointed t
***Scarlett*** Sir Vik got his composure back. He opened the store, reaching out for me with one of his hand. “Let’s get you out of here.” I nod, taking his hand in mine. “Uncle Vik, how do I get out of here?” “Leave that to me," he said. I trusted him. When he told me to leave it to him, I didn’t doubt him for a second. I knew he would know what to do. He used the emergency door which I had used earlier. So I followed him. “Where are we going to? What’s at this side of the house?” I asked as we continued to walk further away from the house. “You need to hurry, Scarlett.” I increased my pace. “I’m sorry, you almost got hurt because of me. Thank you for masking my scent.” I lowered my head, feeling sorry for what had happened back in the house. “It’s okay.” He turned around to face me. “Are you okay? I …mean …you saw them doing it too, didn’t you?” I stared back at him. My eyes narrowed. “You knew about it?” He nodded slightly and looked away. “I saw them at a hotel in to
***Bryan*** I’m going insane. It’s over a week since I set my eyes on Scarlett Anderson. I haven’t remained the same man ever since. Getting hard ons frequently just by thinking about her is making me lose my mind. This has stressed me beyond words. I recalled the day I had gone with Jensen, Lois and Curtis for the condolence visit. I had fled the premises without any explanation. I had to. I couldn’t sit there having sexual fantasies about a woman I am supposed to kill. The mere color of her skin and how pretty her face was, turned me on. I imagined how those slender legs of hers would feel when wrapped around me when I take her. Damn! This was fucked? A knock on the door pull me back to the present, distorting my train of thoughts. “Yes. Who is it?” “It’s Jensen.” I pushed the door and peeked through it. I wasn’t in the mood to see anyone. “Dude! There’s something called a call or a text. Why are you here knocking at my door on a weekend?” Jensen stepped in pushing me out of
***Scarlett*** At first it seemed impossible. I couldn’t keep up with faking my emotions, pretending everything is okay. Now, it’s become easier. Not ever loving Evans at this time is a lifesaving mechanism for me. If this shit happened after I have fallen for him, it would be devastating for me. It would have crushed me. “When would you be moving into the mansion?” Lois came in not too long ago to check on me. Lois had been there to give me a shoulder to cry on. When I told her about Evans and Dina, her scream almost tore the roof of my house down. “Tomorrow.” I poured some juice in her glass before I proceeded to fill mine. Lois picked her glass. “It’s cool that your father willed the mansion to you.” “Not so cool if you ask me. Maintaining that house is one hell of a job. Not only that; father willed everything to me.” Lois narrowed her eyes then sighed. “You are one lucky bitch. You should know that. But you don’t seem too happy he left everything in your name.” Lois adju