Jameson
I hadn't been this out of control since Ignus had taken away my humanity and turned me into a full-blown wolf during his experiments. I wasn't just human-pissed. I was wolf-pissed. The kind of angry that was definitely going to end in someone getting their head chewed off if I wasn't careful. I was the strongest of my pack. Especially when we turned. But the only person I really wanted to bite right then was Ulvic.
Fighting his command over us was futile. I was completely unable to. My limbs would move without me ever choosing to let them. It was a sick bloody hold he had over us. But in all the years he'd had that control, he'd never abused his power. Not until now. Over me. When he knew full-well, I would choose to leave with Varick and the others. I loved my pack fiercely. I'd die for them. But Varick was like a brother; I had a bond with him that probably would have outweighed my loyalty to my pack if I was ever released from Ulvic's hold.
I returned to the cabin, padding up the steps and ramming my head into the door so it nearly swung off its hinges. The other wolves were sitting inside, half of them already turned human again. I headed past them, hearing Emerico call after me in his Latino tones, “He does it to protect you, hermano!”
I snarled a response, heading into my bedroom that had been vacated by Thames; it was laden with band posters from the sixties, plus a record player that took up most of the remaining space in the small room. I might have been the Alpha, but Ulvic had yet to find me a female he deemed worthy of pair-bonding with me. So my room remained mine and was therefore the smallest. Did I care? Not one bit. In fact, I'd made it clear to Ulvic a long time ago that I wasn't willing to pair up with just any chick. I was a free entity. And I planned on remaining that way. One night stands aside...
I shifted out of my wolf form, dragging on some jeans and a shirt before storming back downstairs to face Ulvic.
Emerico was half dressed in chinos, pulling on a white shirt that stood out against his golden skin. He ran at me the moment I stepped off of the last stair, his ebony curls falling loose in his eyes. “Jameson,” he warned, thrusting a hand into my chest to hold me back. He was young, barely more than a pup at fifteen years old; the Omega of the group. So his hold on me was nothing more than a gesture.
My shoulders were squared as I gazed at Ulvic by the bar, casually pouring himself a drink. Nadine had an amused look on her face as she pulled on a too-tight jumper, showing off her hourglass curves. She gathered her plum-coloured hair up into a pony-tail, gazing between us keenly.
Blake and Kida padded down the stairs behind me, the Amazonian twins each taking hold of one of my arms.
“Enough,” Ulvic said, shaking his head. “Jameson wouldn't fight me.”
I shrugged out of the twins' hold and they shared a look that said they weren't convinced. Emerico backed up, letting me pass, his ebony eyes wheeling between us. I passed the remaining wolves who were growling at me, evidently concerned I'd actually attack our master. But we all knew that wasn't possible. All Ulvic had to do was command me not to. But he'd yet to say the words...
“You need to remember your place, Alpha,” Ulvic snapped, pinning me with a cold stare. “We are strongest as a unit. If the Helsings turn up here-”
“Then they will have your head on a platter and I'll be the first at the buffet.” I grinned at him and he glared right back. Course, I knew deep down I would never really betray Ulvic. I loved him in a way that was hard to explain. But liking him was another matter today.
Ulvic shook his head, looking to Emerico. “Will you set such an example to our newest member?”
“Em's been here for nearly five years,” I scoffed, shouldering Emerico playfully to show my solidarity.
Emerico bowed his head. “I know I have a lot yet to learn.”
I rolled my eyes and Nadine gave me a wicked smile.
Yeah lap it up, Nadine.
Ulvic sipped from a tankard marked with the flag of Wales. “Take Emerico to North Point. You'll be his teacher tonight.”
I groaned loudly at the punishment, but Emerico looked thrilled, his eyes widening like two bright pennies.
“I can go, too,” Nadine offered. “There's a few things I'd like to refresh myself on.” She sucked her fat lower lip and Ulvic nodded, waving a hand in agreement.
Great.
I ground my teeth. I was not in the mood for babysitting. If anything, all I wanted to do was figure out a loophole in Ulvic's command that meant I could follow Varick.
“You'll not leave the island and you'll be back by dawn,” Ulvic instructed, evidently reading my I'm-getting-the-crap-outta-here-one-way-or-another-bro expression.
“Fine,” I snarled, jerking my head toward the door. Nadine grabbed a pair of shorts, pulling them on under her jumper before following. Her tan legs were left on show to distract me. But her usual displays were going to get her all of nowhere tonight. Probably.
“Mi hermano! Tell us about Raskdød,” Emerico fell into step beside me, his feet bare.
Nadine joined my side, linking an arm through mine. “We heard you helped kill Ignus Helsing.”
“I guess I was kinda involved.” Exaggeration? Yep. I'd not even been in the same wing of the hotel when Varick had ripped his heart out still beating – man, he was badass.
“Ulvic won't talk about it,” Emerico said in hushed tones as we stepped into the trees.
Ulvic's relationship with Ignus had been secret for years, but he'd confided in me once, followed up swiftly by a command never to tell anyone. Trust wasn't a thing Ulvic dished out easily. Not that I would have ratted on him anyway. And besides, it hadn't been until a few weeks ago I'd learned how much of a psychopath his boyfriend really was.
Seeing as I was hella-pissed with Ulvic at that moment, telling them the truth would have been a dream come true. That he'd shacked up with a guy whose idea of fun was slicing Immortals open and seeing what he could make 'em do. But my pack were still fairly naive to the ways of the Helsings. Since Ulvic had come along and rounded us up one by one, we'd all lived fairly sheltered lives. Especially since he'd bought Skorpa Island. We rarely left the place. To keep us 'safe'.
“Well, I'll start at the beginning.” I puffed out my chest. Far-be-it from me to shun an opportunity to show off.
◐ ☼ ◐
North Point was the furthest corner of the island from our cabin. Not surprising, considering Ulvic probably didn't fancy me looking at him like he was a rare steak tonight. I wasn't going to forgive him easily. Nope. I was owed an apology. And some grovelling. And possibly some sort of expensive gift. And it had better be something good. An Xbox or a fifty-inch TV that I'd make him try to hang on my forty-inch wall.
“It'll definitely fit, Ulvic. I measured it”– sucker.
The cliffs at the north end of the island funnelled into a sharp point where the rocks curved upwards like a tidal wave, forming a cave within the curve. Ulvic had made the place semi-comfortable with fur blankets and an old gas lantern. There was even a camping stove and lighter fluid, but we wouldn't be cooking tonight. We'd be hunting game on the island, wolf-style. I was glad Nadine had come along for that purpose alone. Emerico was yet to grasp the unity needed for a hunt. But Nadine was in tune with her wolf form as much as I was mine. So we'd make a good team whilst Emerico learned by observing.
By the time the moon was dipping low toward the horizon, we'd made a decent kill, my muzzle bloodied and my heart pounding as I led the others back to North Point. Our clothes lay in piles around the rocky space, a fire crackling at the heart of it.
Nadine shifted out of her cloud-grey wolf form and took her time getting dressed. We'd all seen each other naked a thousand times. And it was an integral part of pack training that we learned to become disengaged with the sight of each other's naked bodies. Evidently Emerico was still grasping that trait as he gawped in Nadine's direction. She liked the attention, always trying to convince higher ranking males to take her on as their mate. Me most of all. But Nadine wasn't much my type, even though she was hot-AF. I'd always kept the place of my mate widely open. And held firmly to the opinion that no one would fill that spot unless they were exceptional. Admittedly, I knew that wasn't the real reason I avoided taking a mate. I didn't really believe anyone could fill that role. Exceptional or not. Once I'd had my time with a girl, I grew bored. It was always the same. Something I'd accepted a long time ago. I was meant to be alone. That's the way I was made. Fact.
I sat across from Emerico at the fire and Nadine fell into the space beside me. I felt the separation from Cass scoring through my body. We'd spent a lot of time together in the game, relied on each other for comfort. That's why I was pining. Why I wanted to follow her. Why I'd rather it was her pressing up against me over Nadine. But I let Nadine get close tonight, just for once. Seeing as I was feeling at a loss. Probably needed some sort of distraction anyway. It might as well have been her.
Asshole.
“Tell us the wolf code again,” Emerico demanded, his eyes bright and shining. The kid was about as close to a little brother as I'd ever had. Varick had always been on my level, if anything taking the role of older bro. But Emerico looked to me for guidance. And that was a feeling I liked, seeing as puffing up my ego was one of my favourite hobbies. Course, reciting the wolf code was about the last thing I wanted to do right then. If there was one time I'd ever not wanted to be a wolf, it was tonight.
I sighed, dropping back onto my elbows to prop myself up. “You know it.”
“But you say it best,” Emerico encouraged.
I sighed, looking to Nadine. “Go on, Alpha.” Her long lashes fluttered.
I cleared my throat, soaking in the feel of their gaze on me. “Alone we fail, in strength we rise. The wolf bows to no one but the pack. Together we set our eye on greatness, but beware the weak link for it is the pack's undoing.”
Emerico started clapping and I shook my head, bemused. Nadine ran her fingers up my arm. “No weak links here.”
I lifted my arms over my head – subtly shaking her off - cupping my head with my hands. “We'll agree to disagree,” I muttered.
“Who's weak?” Emerico gasped as if I were accusing him.
“Not you,” Nadine said. “He means Ulvic.” Her voice had lowered in fear as if my remark had been blasphemous.
“He's just a man, you realise?” I lifted a brow, angling myself toward her.
Her hair had fallen loose around her shoulders, framing her heart-shaped face. “He's our master.” Her words sounded almost reverent. I couldn't blame her. Before I went to Raskdød, I'd idolised Ulvic almost as much as them. He'd saved each and every one of us from being hunted into extinction with the rest of the Werewolves. We were in debt to him, which was why his hold over us was iron-clad. Once we'd let our guard down and trusted him fully, his command over us was binding. Like a dog to its owner.
“Well I think he's wonderful,” Nadine cooed. Half the girls had a crush on Ulvic at one time or another. Guess being our 'master' had its allure. Was I the only one who had any gay-dar around here?
“Dunno, think I'm getting tired of having a master.” I rolled over, exposing my bare back to them. I didn't fancy cub-sitting any longer. And certainly not two pups who were lovelorn over the man who'd just separated me from Cass - uh- Varick. This was about my friend, wasn't it? Damn, my head was messed up since we'd escaped the Helsings.
“You're supposed to be teaching us,” Emerico whined and I ignored him.
“Leave him alone, he's been through a lot.” Nadine laid down behind me like she might if we were in wolf form, her body curving around mine for warmth.
Not really appropriate but if I imagined real hard, I got a pretty nice image of a redhead with endless legs wrapping herself around me. Guess imagination was all I had left of her now. Unless I could convince Ulvic to let me follow them...
Yah – fat chance of that happening.
Nadine brushed her fingers down my back and I decided to let her soothe me. So what if I was being needy as hell? I had damn good reason to be. But was I really gonna lie there pining after some girl who had probably forgotten about me already? Alright, maybe not completely. I mean, who could really forget these abs? But she still wasn't going to be lying in a cave somewhere in a ball of self-pity over it. Nope, apparently that was just me. And it was a downright first by my records.
◐ ☼ ◐
We returned to the cabin before dawn in wolf form, my grumbling stomach reminding me I hadn't eaten much since we'd returned to Skorpa. I mean sure, I'd had breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I was a major snacker. Had I really been that distracted that I'd eaten less than usual? There was definitely something serious wrong with me...
Whilst Ulvic harped on at me about the wolf code and why I should put the pack first and forget about going after the others, I tuned him out and mentally cooked myself a breakfast.
Bacon...mushrooms...tomatoes...eggs – fried or scrambled? - fried...yeah definitely fried. Or wait...what about poached?
“Are you listening to me?!” Ulvic bellowed, his face turning red.
Some of the other wolves barked their laughter as I tried to stop drooling – not so easy when you're a one hundred and fifty pound wolf with a bottomless stomach. I shifted back into my human form, standing upright and grabbing a throw from the sofa to wrap around my waist.
“No,” I said frankly. “I was thinking about breakfast.” I glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the kitchen.
Ulvic pointed a trembling finger at me. Rage spewed from him. But I'd woken up in a much more normal mood than yesterday and today I was going to face his bullshit as I usually did; with complete indifference.
“You'd better start falling in line, Jameson, or I'll-”
“You'll what?” I drawled, brushing past him as I headed into the kitchen.
“You're acting like a spoiled cub!” he shouted after me, but I ignored him, opening the fridge and stacking food into my arms.
Emerico padded after me, looking like he was about to try and talk me down. “Save it,” I muttered, dumping a wad of bacon by the stove.
“I just think-” Emerico started, but I held up a hand, a noise catching my ear. “Come on Jameson, I hate all this tension.”
“Quiet, will you?” I hissed, dropping the rest of the food I was holding and moving to the window.
“What?” he whispered, hurrying to my side. Dawn was barely in the air yet, the stars still shining brightly down from the heavens. Though it seemed entirely calm beyond the window, every bone in my body sensed something was wrong.
“What is it?”
“Just listen,” I snapped and he turned his ear toward the window.
“Footsteps,” Emerico breathed, confirming my fears.
I nodded once, marching back to the cabin, “Ulvic-” I growled, doing a brief headcount of the room. My gut wrenched when I realised three of us were missing.
“Oh do give it a rest, Jameson. I'm weary of the argument.” Ulvic slumped into a chair, rubbing his eyes.
“Someone's here,” Emerico hissed, pointing at the door.
Without Mekiah and Reason, the next strongest wolves - besides me - were the twins. Blake and Kida were already stripping, readying to turn.
I took control, stepping to the centre of the room. “Blake, Kida, go find the others.” I rounded on Nadine. “Upstairs, take Emerico-”
“What?” she protested, springing to her feet from the sofa.
Before anyone had moved, a gut-wrenching howl sliced through the air, carrying to us from beyond the cabin. Another followed it and I didn't waste a second. A ripple of heat ran down my spine as my body changed, every inch of me splitting and tearing apart. But the pain was nothing today; the fear consumed me. The second I became a wolf, my hearing tripled and I heard everything. Heard the screaming howls, the breaking bones, heard my own heart pound in my ears like a rainstorm. Above it all, I heard them. The voices of two people who made my blood turn to ice.
The Helsings were here.