1. Warwick

Chapter 1

"You ever notice how Augustus and Dante are close? Really close?"

Damien looked at me, then back to them, and then back at me. "So?"

I blinked at Damien a few times before shaking my head and walking away. Fine. If he didn't think they were unusually close, then I wouldn't worry about it. I would go about my day and find something else to do. Maybe I should go find Frederick and see if he had another assignment to go out on. We had been teamed up for a few trips in the past couple of months, and he wasn't a horrible work companion. Some of the other enforcers seemed to have a need to fill any silence with conversation, and thankfully, Frederick didn't.

I left the training room, giving one last glance toward Augustus and Dante as I left the room. If at all possible, they'd moved even closer together, and I couldn't fathom what they were talking about that required they practically be sitting on top of one another. Augustus had never been that close to anyone before, me included.

I wound my way through the hallways of the council's building in search of Frederick. Or any other warlock, for that matter. I simply wanted something to do. Anything to take me away from Treasure Ridge for any amount of time. My beast had started acting strange while we went on runs, which had been my only real outlet since joining the council. I had tried to connect with the others, but nothing ever felt right.

As it turned out, I couldn't locate Frederick, but I found Benjamin and his team. "Warwick," Benjamin said as I stood in the doorway to their office. "What brings you this way?"

"Have you seen Frederick?"

"Not recently, no." Benjamin looked to Dimitri and then Raiden, who both shook their heads. "The last I saw him was several hours ago, and he was with Master Edison and Alpha Sergei. They were discussing an assignment at the holding facility in his territory."

That definitely caught my interest. "Thanks," I told him before taking off toward Alpha Sergei's office since it was closest. My hellhound would be as happy as a puppy on that assignment. It didn't take long to get to Alpha Sergei's office, but I found it dark and empty. Hoping they had moved to either a conference room or Master Edison's office, I went in that direction. I found Master Edison in his office, but the only other person there was his One, Wallace. I knocked on the doorway anyway in hopes of getting an assignment.

"Ah, Warwick. Come in." I knew that it would be expected that I sat, so I took a seat and waited to be addressed. "What is it that I can do for you?"

"I was curious if there were any assignments I could be put on? I heard that you and Alpha Sergei were talking to Frederick about going to the detainment facility in Alpha Sergei's territory."

"Yes. Frederick will be accompanying Atticus, West, and Spencer. Ramsey will be staying back this time around."

"Is a replacement needed for Ramsey?"

Master Edison shook his head. "Frederick was the replacement."

Well, that just wasn't fair. "Is it possible for me to be added to the team?"

Master Edison crossed his arms on his stomach. "No, they've already left and will be gone for a week." Master Edison went quiet for a moment before shaking his head. "You've either been on every assignment for the last several weeks or volunteered to join them. What is going on here that you so desperately want away?"

"Nothing. I just wish to keep busy."

"There is a difference between busy and burning out. You need to take time off, enjoy some downtime."

I wanted to argue because I didn't feel the desire to slow down. If anything, I wanted more. My beast needed more.

"I'm not feeling overwhelmed. In fact, I could use more assignments."

"No, Warwick. You are a good enforcer, and you have done amazing things for the council so far. But since the Colombia assignment, you haven't taken a day off. You are placed on leave for the next week."

"I don't need to be on leave, Master Edison," I said. I looked toward Wallace, hoping he might help. The alpha just sat there though, as if he wasn't even listening to our conversation. I was sure that he was, but I could understand and respect the fact that he was choosing to not get involved in his mate's activities with the council.

"How about two weeks? You seem to believe this is a suggestion. It's not."

I bit my lip. "One week off would be wonderful, thank you." I stood, wondering what I was going to do for an entire week of doing nothing. "Shall I start my vacation now, Master Edison?" I was unsure if I would be doing anything else for the council today, or was my vacation effective immediately?

"Now is fine." Master Edison stood and came around his desk. He placed a hand on my forearm and shook his head. "Don't think of this as a punishment. It's nothing of the sort. But you need to learn to take downtime and not be so focused on the assignments. Yes, there are people to rescue and wrongs to be righted, but you also have to take time for yourself. Enjoy life. Have fun. Relax. All of those things."

I nodded. I wasn't wired like that. My life revolved around the assignments, the tasks I'd been given. It was all I'd ever done. And the years after I'd first been banished from the only place I'd ever known had been pure torture. My beast had no purpose and had become difficult to control. For years, I'd roamed this realm, doing not-so-wonderful things. I was the vision of so many nightmares. Now, I was trying my best to make up for all of the wrongs I had inflicted on others.

I walked through the familiar halls of the council, my mind set on one thing: getting outside and shifting. I was on leave, effective immediately. I wasn't needed or wanted at the council at the moment. Master Edison would never know, but his words had caused my beast to immediately see red. It was only years of working on my own self-control and then the purpose that the council gave me and my beast that I was able to control myself. But Master Edison had taken my purpose away.

I walked past Slater at the check-in desk, offering a quick wave before I pushed through the doors that offered me my freedom. Once outside, I used the magic the goddess had returned to us and popped myself into my home.

I knew it was barren compared to the homes of my packmates. Atticus had an entire house that was filled with furniture even before he'd mated with Brice and they combined households. Damien had things, and since he'd recently mated with Ledger, they had things everywhere. Same with Augustus. His house was so much more inviting than mine. I had the basics: a bed and dresser, a couch, and a table and chairs. I glanced around my empty house and shook my head. I didn't have a reason to have more because I wasn't here except to shower, change, and sleep.

I walked through the house, moving to the back door. I used magic to walk through the sliding glass door and didn't even stop as I called for my beast. It was a seamless transition, and when I was standing on all fours, I stretched before shaking out my fur. It was sometimes comical when others saw all of us in our shifted forms. They would automatically assume I was the alpha of our little pack simply because I was so much larger than the others. I didn't have it in me to lead and was more than happy to consider Atticus my alpha.

Not sure what I was going to do for the next week, I decided to take off for a run. Maybe if I somehow managed to wear myself out, my beast would settle enough to remain on the mountain without too much issue. I took off running back toward the council building, and like it had been for the past several months, my beast became upset when I neared the back of the omega clinic. I knew that the omegas we rescued would be seen by Dr. King for certain medical care, but I couldn't understand why my beast was acting like he was. I wasn't interested in any of the omegas that we rescued, and I'd met Dr. King enough times to know that I wasn't interested in him.

I forced my beast to run past the omega clinic, and then I took a right behind the council building and headed off toward Dragon Falls. I could hopefully get lost there for at least an hour, and then I would see how I was feeling. My beast was so unsettled anymore when I was on Treasure Ridge, and I didn't like feeling this way. I was almost to the point that if I couldn't figure out why, I was concerned I would need to leave Treasure Ridge.

It took some effort, like it had become in recent weeks, to run farther away from the omega clinic. I was able to force my beast to do so, but I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be able to continue to control my beast. I didn't know what was going on with him, but I needed to figure it out before it became too late and I lost complete control. Perhaps talking to Master Edison would help? Or maybe Alpha Sergei?

It seemed that my beast responded to the dragon alpha, but then again, most shifters did. Alpha Sergei was not only powerful but well respected among all of those in the council—not just the enforcers. Despite the fact that I was finally starting to feel as if I belonged here, perhaps it was time for me to move on. I didn't know what was going on with my beast but did realize it wasn't a good thing.

I was about halfway to Dragon Falls when I heard a noise to my right. When my beast looked that way, we saw what would be considered impossible in Montana if not for the fact that we were on a mountaintop that was not only protected by the created warlock but was filled with shifters. What I saw was a polar bear. A juvenile one from the size of things. I couldn't recall if anyone had teenagers that were polar bears, so I shifted so I'd be able to talk to the youngster.

"Do you need help?" I called out. The white head popped up, staring me down immediately. He tilted his head to the side, then lifted his head in the air, making no effort to hide the fact that he was scenting me. "Are you lost?" I called out again. The bear shook its head and then slowly walked off. At first, I thought about following but decided against it. I didn't know who it was and didn't wish to get into any type of trouble with someone by seeming to be aggressive toward their child. I let the youngster go without following. Once they were out of sight, I shifted again and took off for the falls.

My beast immediately started acting up, and when I suddenly found myself trailing the young polar bear, it took every ounce of effort I had to stop him. When he continued to insist, I gave up and shifted. That in itself was also difficult, but in the end, I won. When I found myself standing on two legs instead of four, I popped myself back into the place I'd called home for the past year.

I glanced around and shook my head. I'd barely made it a home, unlike the others. Was that what was bothering my beast? Did he feel uneasy because I'd not put in much of an effort to make my place homey or forge friendships with the other enforcers? They were all kind, but most simply nodded at me because they had learned I wasn't going to respond. That was on me. I'd always either grunted or ignored them. I was an ass; there was no other way to put it.

I sighed, knowing what I needed to do. I went upstairs, taking the steps two at a time, and packed a bag. I needed to get away. I had been restless for too long, and perhaps going somewhere where I was unknown and able to burn off some pent-up energy would help calm my beast. When I returned, I would work diligently to make my place more welcoming. I would decorate, and I would try to be more open with my packmates. I wasn't sure about the rest of the enforcers just yet, but I was going to start with my pack.

I pulled the bag that I used for assignments out of my closet and then started adding the essentials: underwear, socks, and T-shirts. Jeans went in next, and then I went to the closet to throw in a few long-sleeve shirts and my leather jacket. I wasn't sure where I was going to end up, but it was late September, and if it happened to be somewhere cold, I didn't want to look too out of place.

I added a bathroom kit and then sent a text to Master Edison that I would be leaving the area for my week off. I didn't wait for a reply; I simply popped myself elsewhere. I made sure to use magic and to enter the new place invisible so I couldn't be seen by others if they were nearby. I didn't plan on there being other paranormals in the area though. When I made my sudden, albeit undetectable, appearance in Italy, I wasn't expecting to see someone who was walking along the sidewalk suddenly stop and look in my direction. I knew he couldn't actually see me, but he knew I was there.

He moved closer, glanced around subtly, and then leaned against the wall of the building I'd popped in next to. He said something to me, but I didn't understand a single word he said. I noticed he had stopped and stood next to the alleyway, so I walked in that direction and let myself become visible to him.

"I don't understand," I said. "But I'm only here for a week of downtime." I really needed to learn the language of places I planned on visiting, apparently. Master Ambrosius was from Italy, as were several others with the council. It really wouldn't hurt me to start learning the various languages.

The warlock who had followed me into the alleyway chuckled. "I had simply said that I wasn't sure who you were but that I could tell you weren't one of ours. My coven master isn't necessarily friendly to others dropping in unannounced."

"Understandable. I'm an enforcer with the paranormal council and am only here for a week of downtime. If it will be an issue with your coven master to have someone visiting his city as a tourist, I'll make sure to let the council know that we perhaps should look into things here."

The warlock grinned. "The council, huh?" He nodded slowly. "And any help the council is willing to provide, I'm certain many of our coven members would be happy to have things change." He held out his hand. "I'm Dominic. Do you need some advice on where to stay? Or someone to show you around?"

I found that incredibly interesting. I had just been warned about his coven master, yet here he was, offering to play tour guide? The enforcer in me couldn't let this go. There had to be a reason for it, and I was going to find out why.

"Warwick," I said as I took his hand and shook it. "I wouldn't mind a suggestion for a nice hotel to stay in," I told him.

"Sure. I can definitely help with that." He gestured over his shoulder, and I followed him out of the alleyway. I wasn't concerned he would try anything. If he was going to, he would have done so in the alley. But I honestly wasn't worried. I knew, and was sure he did as well, I was more powerful than he was. Even if I wasn't, I was a council enforcer, and to purposely attack one of us was considered an attack on the council, which came with severe consequences.

"Down on the right," Dominic said. "There are a few very nice places to stay. Quite touristy. On the water if that's what you're looking for."

I didn't care if the hotel was on the sea or not. I simply needed somewhere away from Treasure Ridge for a week in order to get my beast under control.

"Ocean view isn't necessary. Nice, but not needed," I told him. I glanced around us and noticed there weren't really a whole lot of people around. "And your coven is which direction?"

Dominic chuckled. "Not that way. It's actually quite a bit farther inland. On the other side of Venice, actually."

I nodded slowly. "Thanks for the suggestion. I'll go check it out and see if either has a vacancy."

Dominic stared at me for a moment, something I wasn't used to.

"You can ask, you know," I told him simply. I knew he was curious. Most people were.

"What are you? You have the ability to be invisible, and I know you're not human. Your aura is one of a magic wielder, but it also is one of a shifter."

I grinned. "That's because I am both," I told him. I nodded once before starting in the direction Dominic had suggested.

It only took about half of a block before I found myself with Dominic walking beside me. I glanced at him, curious what it was now.

"That's it? You're not going to elaborate?" he finally asked.

I shrugged. "Do I need to?"

"It would be the polite thing to do. Especially since I've offered a bit of advice to you without even knowing you."

"True. But I think I'll keep to myself for a bit longer. Perhaps in time, if I happen to see you again, I might be more forthcoming with information. If I feel as if you are trustworthy." I nodded to Dominic and then left him standing in the middle of the sidewalk. I knew for a fact that I would see him again. Not only would he seek me out, but I had no doubt I would be searching for the warlock as well. There was a whole lot he'd let slip in that one comment, and although I was technically on vacation, I was going to look into the local coven. For now though, it was time to secure somewhere to stay and then plan my next course of action.