Chapter Four
Rob stepped out of the shower feeling more refreshed than he had since he woke up that morning. It was an intense day starting with some conditioning drills with his trainer and then some batting practice, and then of course this was followed up with his drug test and a couple of quick interviews at the club house that he hadn’t planned on, but the Skipper told him to go answer a few questions so they could get the reporters out of there. He was happy to oblige.
But now he was tired and it was time for a quiet evening of relaxing at home. He toyed with the idea of going out and having some fun, but decided that a couple of beers and a movie in his custom made home theatre was going to be the perfect way to relax this evening.
He did not want to spread himself too thin with the first playoff game coming up in five days. He was a bit nervous, he had to admit; but he was also very excited and he knew that he was ready for anything they would throw at him.
He was just grabbing a beer out of the fridge when his phone rang. He did not recognize the number. He figured it was telemarketers or if it was important someone would leave a message or call back another time. As he finished putting together some snacks he heard his phone beep, letting him know he had a voice mail.
He played the voice mail and his blood ran cold.
“Hello Rob,” the voice said. It was low and deep. “You might not recognize me, but if you don’t want Doria dead then you are going to want to call me back in the next five minutes.”
What? Doria? What the hell?
Rob dialed the number back and the same voice answered after the first ring.
“Who are you? What is going on?” Rob demanded.
“I’ll ask the questions here,” the voice said. “My name is Kade. You don’t know me, but you know the people I am descended from. I am the last of the Ganno tribe.”
“The Ganno—?” The Ganno Tribe had been eliminated a hundred years ago. This could not be happening.
“I assure you that I am who I say.”
“What do you want?”
“Well, it just so happens I have found a lady friend of yours and I have her in my possession.”
“She isn’t my lady friend; I hardly know her,” Rob said realizing quickly that this was not the point. Besides he was afraid the truth was evident in his voice; it was true he hardly knew Doria but he had not been able to go a minute without thinking about her. He wanted her. He needed her. He ached for her. She was his one true mate and he knew his life would never be complete until they were mated.
“Oh, so she isn’t your true mate?” Kade asked.
Rob was silent. How did he know? What game was this man playing?
“Yes, I know all about it,” Kade continued. “You see, I’ve been watching you for a while. Being a world famous athlete hasn’t really done much to put you in a low profile. I know what you are; I’ve been searching for you for so long.”
“Why? What do you want?” Rob asked.
“Now, you still haven’t figured it out? Frankly I’m disappointed. Did your tribe not tell you about who you really are?”
“They told me,” Rob replied. The anger was rising inside of him; he had to stay calm.
“Then they told you about how your family slaughtered every member of my tribe? They told you how they killed off all of the Ganno?”
“They told me. You were trying to destroy my tribe; my family are all that survived. And they told me that every member of the Ganno was dead. That war is over.”
“Oh, that battle maybe; but not the war. And yes they did kill most of the Ganno. But you see, not before Amika bit me and made me what I am. I had only started my journey to become a wolf. I didn’t even know what was happening to me. But just as I was on the cusp of figuring everything out and learning what I had become your people destroyed the last of the Ganno in what I understand was an epic battle. I would have loved to be a part of it.”
“You still haven’t told me what you want. I’m a little bored with the bed time story.”
Kade laughed. It was a hideous cackle that sent chills down Rob’s spine.
“Very well; I’m a hybrid. I’m sure you know all about hybrids and look down on them.”
“Not really, I look down on the scum who forced a curse on an innocent person.”
“Oh, didn’t your parents do that by having children?”
“No. Being a pure blood is different. We are born into it; we have a family bloodline, a pack. A hybrid has no real ties to anyone. They are forced to be lone wolfs. They have no pack, they do not have the power that pure blood has and they are slaves to the cycle of the moon. And unless they have iron will power they are slaves to an unquenchable bloodlust. And they can transmit the curse to others through the bite; pure bloods can only do that by birth.”
“Oh, I see. You are well-informed on the subject; so am I.”
“Let the girl go; she is innocent in all of this.”
“You know when I first discovered that one of the tribe I was looking for was you, I couldn’t believe it. But then I saw you for myself and I knew. I saw the anger and the rage smoldering beneath your human disguise in that bar. And I saw the way you kissed this woman. I saw the way the two of you responded to each other. I knew, even if she didn’t. But then again, she is a young wolf.”
“Let her go, now. This is between us.”
“Well, actually this is between all of us. I know what she means to you. And I know what will happen if the two of you become mated. You see, I’ll let the girl go, but you have to play along.”
Rob was getting flustered. “Play along at what?”
“You are the leader, the alpha of your tribe. You are the youngest, yes but your own powers have far surpassed even those of your father.”
“How do you know that? I am not—“Rob began.
“Don’t play games with me. You are the alpha. Alphas are born and they are made. You were born into it; I took the power by killing humans and by making others into more of my kind. You see I’ve been developing a great little pack. They are all young and inexperienced, but they are wolves all the same. I would have started sooner, but it took me so long to discover the path to greatness.”
“You have a tribe?” Rob asked. This was the worst thing he ever could have heard. A wolf with a tribe was so much stronger; their energies fed off each other. And a good bit of that power went to the alpha.
“That is right. Is the picture coming together for you now? I need you to sacrifice yourself to my tribe. Then we will be unstoppable. And your pack will be history. But if you don’t do what you are told, I will kill this girl. And your chances of becoming mated, gaining immortality, and of strengthening your pack will all be lost. It’s your choice. Meet me tomorrow night at seven. I’ll text you the address. By the way. Come alone or the girl will be dead before you can blink.”
With that the line went dead.
Rob knew what he had to do.