Chapter One
Hunter wrapped his arms tighter around his little sister’s body. She trembled, not from being in the cold and damp cave for three days, but because of who was in the cave with them and what they’d done. “Don’t look at them,” he whispered to Ezie.
Ezie whimpered and pulled her gaze away from where their mother and father lay on the ground and buried her face in the armpit of his pajamas. She trembled more violently, but no matter how hard he hugged her, he could not still her shaking.
“They’ll kill us next,” she whispered back.
He glanced to where the Vampires, twelve of them, slept. They were spread apart, one not touching the other, but lay strategically blocking the only way out. If he and Ezie got close to one, it would grab and drain them dry even while it slept. Vampires didn’t need to be awake to kill.
His mother and father had fought them like he’d never seen them fight before, but that hadn’t mattered. The Vampires had bested them. Hunter couldn’t think of anyone who could beat up his dad, save for their Alpha, Moric Farkas. As the Alpha’s second, Robert was a renowned and seasoned fighter.
But these Vampires…they had toyed with him.
“We’ll survive this somehow, Ezie. I promised Father.”
It was now his duty to take care of her. His father had used his last dying breath to ask that of him.
But how was he going to take care of her against savage Vampires?
He looked over at his parents’ lifeless bodies. Like he and Ezie, they still wore their nightgowns. But while his and Ezie’s clothes were dirty from the mud and mold of the cave, his parents’ were blood-soaked. His mother’s vacant eyes stared back at him, her mouth parted in a scream that had died when she had.
She had been the first to die.
The Vampires had drunk from her, draining all the life out of her while his father had struggled against the bonds they had secured him with. Robert had shifted from wolf to man and vice versa until he’d been too tired to shift anymore. As man, he’d fought, yelled and tried to break free of the chains that were bolted to the sheetrock walls. As wolf, he’d snapped his vicious teeth, howled and tried to gnaw away his restraints. In the end, it had proved futile, because after they’d finished with Mother, they had feasted on Father.
And if he couldn’t figure out how to get around the sleeping Vampires while the sun still worked in their favor, he and Ezie were next.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Hunter awoke with a start, bolting upright in bed with half of a scream on his lips. His body was slick with sweat even though the temperature in his bedroom was set to a balmy sixty degrees. It took him a few seconds to acclimate himself to where he was. His eyes darted to his dresser, his dirty clothes hamper, the open door that led to his bathroom, and his nightstand. His heart still beat hard against his chest, but his breathing began to relax.
He wasn’t in the cave he’d been trapped in almost one hundred years ago. He wasn’t the scared ten-year-old boy who’d wondered how to protect his younger sister from Vampires. He was grown. He was home. And he was safe.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
With his hands still shaking, he grabbed his cell phone off the nightstand. “Hunter here.”
“Hey, Hunt. It’s Andras. The Vampires are arriving tonight. Are you sure that you’re up for this? If not, I can have someone else stand in for you.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I’m fine. I’ll see you in a few.” Hunter disconnected the line and fell back onto his bed.
Andras had gone to desperate measures to stop the hemorrhage of Dark Wolf Enterprises’ bank accounts. Hiring the Vampire accounting firm was a last-ditch effort to stop the embezzling from bankrupting the company. Whoever was stealing was now emptying the accounts at an alarming rate, and no matter what Andras and Kristof tried, the embezzlement continued.
Normally, Wolf-Shifters and Vampires didn’t get along. For that matter, Vampires usually didn’t get along with any other species. Vampires thought they were at the top of the paranormal food chain and didn’t have a problem reminding everyone else of their position. Although they were methodical and would most likely prove successful in tracing the embezzler, they were cold and unfeeling.
Hunter and his wolf had been around Vampires since his parents’ murder. Not enough to get to know any of them personally, but enough to understand that the Vampires who’d attacked his family so long ago were not acting under orders of the Vampire Council and they were considered rogue criminals who had been targeted for disposal by their own kind. But knowing that did little to relieve him of his prejudice against the entire lot of them. Just a few months ago, he and Kristof had gone up against a Vampire who’d claimed to be behind the embezzlement and who had also hired the Russian Shifters to go after Trudy and her co-worker Mark. Even though the Vampire had gotten away, it had felt good to take a bite out of him.
Being in the Vampire’s presence had brought back old memories of what had happened so long ago, and was probably the reason why the bad dreams had started again. Hunter would’ve preferred not to have to deal with the Vampires at all, but since Lajos and his new bride, Meisha, had gone on their honeymoon, and Hunter was the second-highest-ranking security officer and fourth in the Pack, he’d been tasked with taking over Lajos’s duties until he returned.
I fucking hate Vampires.
* * * *
Hunter made his way down the deserted hall. His boots hitting the carpet were the only sounds that echoed off the barren walls. If he were in any other part of the building he would’ve ran into co-workers or family members, either in their human or wolf form, but the hallway leading to Andras’ office was always quiet.
Out of the three brothers—Andras, Kristof and Lajos—Andras was the only one who kept an office in the executive suite. Kristof, the Chief Financial Officer of Dark Wolf Enterprises, preferred his office in the financial wing of the building, and Lajos, the Head of Security, kept his office in the security office near the main entrance of the building. Lajos chose that location so he could keep an eye on the goings-on in the building. Hunter was sure that when his older cousin had this suite built he’d intended for all the brothers to have their offices here. He’d come to that logical conclusion because of the two empty offices that occupied the three-office executive suite.
When Hunter reached the half-opened door, he rapped on it. He could’ve poked his head in to announce himself, but he afforded Andras privacy. After all, he was the Alpha of the Pack.
“Come in,” Andras announced in a deep voice from the other side.
When Hunter entered, he found Andras sitting behind a large, hand-carved, U-shaped wooden desk. He looked regal in the chair he’d had made just for him. Today he wore a blue business suit and gray tie. Andras looked very much like his younger brothers, with dark hair and eyes, but his face showed age and wisdom. Being over two hundred years old made Andras the oldest Wolf-Shifter in their territory.
Out of the three brothers, Andras was the one who kept to himself. Outside the Pack, no one would guess Andras was a billionaire, even if he gave you the balance of his bank account. He preferred the low-key, easy lifestyle of raising horses. Imagine how the other Shifters talked about him—a wolf raising horses—behind his back, of course.
Hunter almost didn’t notice the phone pressed against Andras’ ear.
When Andras glanced up at Hunter, he waved him in. “How many Vampires total?” Andras said into the phone.
Hunter didn’t take the seat opposite Andras’ desk, even though he knew he could without being offered. He didn’t see the point in sitting only to stand again in a few minutes.
Andras was quiet as he listened. Human ears wouldn’t have been able to hear the phone conversation but Hunter listened with ease.
“Five coffins?” Andras exclaimed. “I was under the impression there would only be three.”
Hunter’s interest was piqued as Rael, one of the Shifters on the security team, gave Andras details about the Vampires. Ever since their plane had landed, their every move had been tracked. The Vamps were guests, but that didn’t mean Andras would trust them blindly in Pack territory.
“Do you want us to do something about the extra bodies?” Rael asked.
“Not at the moment. I’ll just have to make it clear to them that any more surprises won’t be tolerated. Inform Kristof that they’ve settled into the house they’re renting and will arrive here at dusk.” Andras hung up the phone and rubbed a hand down his face. “I was hoping this business relationship would go off without a hitch.”
“They’re already playing games, I see?” Hunter asked.
He’d just reviewed the contract Andras had signed with the Vamps and, according to what had been agreed upon, the Vamps were allowed to bring two accountants, a human assistant and one bodyguard. But, apparently, the Vamps didn’t intend to uphold the contract terms.
“All it would’ve taken was a phone call beforehand to discuss a possible change in one little clause.” Andras shook his head. “But they couldn’t even do that.”
Hunter stretched his neck from side to side. He didn’t like dealing with the Vamps, but he still had a job to do, and no one came to Dark Wolf Enterprises unannounced. “Do you want me to visit their den before they even make it to our property? They wouldn’t take too kindly to that, but it would show them that we won’t tolerate their BS.”
Andras appeared to think about it for a second then blew out a breath. “That won’t be necessary. I think I’ll hit them where it hurts. Financially. If they can’t adhere to the terms of our contract, then I want a ten-percent discount to cover the added security needed to guard them. Tell Gergo and Daniel that they’re on babysitting duty with you now.”
Hunter cocked a half-smile at that. Vampires were notorious money mongers. When you lived upwards of thousands of years, the only thing that remained constant was property and wealth. And the Vamps had learned how to successfully accumulate both.
“I sure will. But first can I ask you a candid question?”
“Shoot.”
“Why did you hire the Vampires when we know that one of their own is working against us?”
“The Vampires that I’ve hired are the best in the business and they come with an excellent track record for getting the job done. They’re aware of the situation and they’ve assured me that they can stop the embezzler. The Vampire that has a hand in this? He’s also their problem, whether they admit to it or not. I’ve alerted the heads of the paranormal houses. Hopefully they’ll find him, but until they do, we have to handle the situation that we have going on in our house.”
Hunter balled his hand into a fist and punched his thigh. “I can’t believe one of our own is working with one of those blood-suckers. When I find out who it is I’m going to kill him.”
Whoever was behind this had to be a traitorous bastard. It didn’t happen often, but every now and again, he heard of a bad egg in a Pack. He hated to think that they had one in their close-knit family.
“We’re a fairly new Pack. I have an open-door policy—all are welcome. I should’ve vetted everyone carefully before offering sanctuary. I admit that it never occurred to me that one of our own might be in bed with the Vampires.”
This was the first time he’d ever heard doubt in his Alpha’s voice. “You shouldn’t have to vet anywhere here. We’re all related.”
Andras tapped the desk. “Yet, here we are.” He leaned back in his seat and ran a hand down his tie. “I hate to throw all this on you. I know how you feel about them.”
“Don’t think anything of it. I’m not afraid of them. I hate what their kind did to my parents and to me and Erzsebet, but I won’t have any trouble doing my job. I’ll do anything to protect the Pack.”
Andras gave a short nod. “I have no doubt that you’ll do your job effectively.” Then he stilled his hand mid-stroke and gave Hunter an assessing stare.
Hunter cast his eyes downward. As Alpha, Andras commanded respect and wouldn’t take kindly to a direct stare on a normal day, and since Hunter stood while he sat, Hunter knew his Alpha’s wolf would come to the surface just to assess the situation.
Hunter moved slowly, putting his hand on the guest chair, prepared to slide into it and submit to his Alpha.
Knowing what he had intended to do, Andras stopped him with the flick of a finger. “How are you?” Andras asked.
“Everything is fine. We’re all continuing to do business as usual, even though Lajos is gone. When he comes back from his honeymoon, he’ll be able to slide right back into his position.”
Wolf-Shifters jockeyed for higher ranks within the Pack every day, but Hunter liked exactly where he was—fourth. He wasn’t so high that the Pack’s problems fell on his shoulders, and he wasn’t so far down that he didn’t have a say. That was the only reason Lajos felt safe with leaving him in command. There wouldn’t be any coups while Lajos was gone. Hunter would be more than willing to give the reins of control back to him.
Andras continued to watch him. His eyes saw past the man and assessed the wolf underneath. “I’m not interested in how you’re running the security team in Lajos’s absence. You have my full confidence in that area. I’m asking about your personal life.”
Hunter frowned, puzzled by the question. In all these years, he couldn’t ever remember them discussing their personal lives. “What exactly are you asking me?”
Hunter had been a little worried about Erzsebet’s behavior lately, but not so upset that he would feel the need to bring Andras into it. If every older brother brought their concerns about how their younger sister spent her free time to the Alpha, Andras wouldn’t have enough time to deal with real issues. Hunter could handle Erzsebet by himself.
“It’s not a hard question, Hunter. How are you doing?”
Hunter’s eyebrows furrowed at the question. “Um, I don’t know. I guess I’m fine.”
Andras chuckled and shook his head. The mood in the room lightened. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It just seems that you have a lot on your mind and, instead of being intrusive and picking through the thoughts in your head, I thought to ask.” While each Pack member had the ability to communicate with each other telepathically using Pack bonds, as Alpha Andras was the only one who could read a Pack member’s mind. Andras waved a hand in the air. “Don’t mind me, I’m trying to be more in touch with everyone. Katalin thinks I’ve become a dictator and that I don’t know ‘the people.’”
“You’re the Alpha of our Pack. It is a dictatorship.”
“That’s what I told her, but you know Katalin. She’s so dramatic, and since she’s moved out of Kristof’s house to give him and Trudy space to be newlyweds, she’s now my problem, and honestly, that girl is wearing me down.”
Hunter laughed. Katalin was the youngest and only female of the Farkas clan. When she’d come of age, she’d begged her parents to let her move from Hungary, where they were all originally from, to live with her older brothers in Marquette, Michigan. She’d been living with Kristof and working as his assistant for the past few years and she’d given him a run for his money. It looked like his Alpha would have a lot on his hands, trying to keep his younger, precocious sister under his thumb.
“I know exactly how little sisters can wear on one’s nerves. Erzsebet is a constant thorn in my side. I almost hope that she finds a mate soon so she’ll be his problem and not mine.”
The smile dropped from Andras’ mouth. “I would kill anyone if they came close to Katalin.”
Hunter bit back his smile. Katalin was gorgeous, with dark, sun-kissed skin and light-brown hair. The younger wolves were tripping over themselves to hang around her and the only reason she didn’t have any real suitors was because they were all too afraid of Andras, Kristof and Lajos to ask her out on a date. But now was not the time to remind his Alpha that if Katalin found her life-mate, nothing, not even Andras, would be able to keep them apart.
“Return at dusk to meet our guests,” Andras said in a gruff voice.
“Yes, sir.” Hunter left Andras’ office, only letting out a laugh when he was in the other part of the wing and far out of his Alpha’s earshot.