Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

J ax

As Riker opened the door, I could tell he was shocked to see me.

I’d surprised myself in coming out and ending up at my older brother’s house.

On a freaking Sunday evening.

It wasn’t like me. Sure, we were close as a family, but there were times of the week where we all unplugged on purpose.

Social media was the number one blight on the world.

Although not according to his daughter who adored every aspect.

“Did the world come to an end or maybe your house blew up?” Riker asked. He laughed and opened the door wider to allow me in. For a man who almost never wore anything but the highest quality handmade suits direct from his tailor in Italy at the office, he was more relaxed than I’d thought possible.

In jeans and a Chicago Bulls sweatshirt.

At least the man had taste.

“Or you just couldn’t get enough of my fabulous presence yesterday,” he added.

“You, the construction worker? Nah. Just wanted to pick your brain,” I told him as I closed the door behind me.

We all lived in different style houses, his something I’d usually see in a beach setting.

“Not the meeting again.”

“I haven’t said shit. However, I have been thinking and you’re an excellent sounding board.”

“And that couldn’t happen over the phone?” He led his way through the house to his inequity den, as he liked to call his specially designed man cave. I had no idea why he’d gone to all the trouble, including having a creative bar put in the room that could rival any bar in town.

Hell, the man had a pool table, arcade games, and tables set up for poker. Plus, he had a huge screen television and the softest media-room–style seating I’d ever experienced.

The laugh for me was the real popcorn machine that always seemed to churn, spitting out popcorn.

Including now.

A Bulls game was on as the season had recently started. I was a football man myself, basketball never doing it for me. I’d forgotten about the start of the season. Most people knew they had a death wish if they dared bother Riker during the season. All October through April.

But I wasn’t just anyone after all.

I was the CEO of Wolfen Industries, one of the most powerful corporations in the world, certainly a top five in the United States. We pulled weight and then some, politically as well as financially. Our sports cars were deemed the best for the money, every style winning award after award.

But accolades weren’t what we were going for.

Money.

The entire family loved money, especially since the Wolf beginnings were more like animals wallowing in blood and violence. That had been a long time before any of us were born. However, our mother refused to allow us to return to our carnal ways.

“Yeah, well, I’m certain you have questions about the meeting tomorrow as well as the fiasco we went through earlier. I have some thoughts. Instincts really, about what our mother is going to discuss.”

He eyed me and sighed, storming toward the remote and turning the volume of his beloved game down. “Do you want a drink? I have a feeling we’re both going to need one.”

“Now, why do you say that? Worried we might be having a crisis on our hands?”

“I’d put nothing past the council members, our mother included.”

Riker was a bear of a man, someone most people were afraid of when he walked into a room. His method of commanding an audience was simple. He preferred staring them in the eyes as his six-foot, six-inch frame towered over them. His hands were huge, capable of snapping someone’s neck in two seconds flat. He used his dangerous prowess to our benefit.

But his family knew his secret.

He was a big teddy bear.

Unless you crossed him.

“The real answer is,” he continued, “because when your instincts kick into high gear, that means we have issues to deal with. Some not always pleasant.” He moved behind his bar, not bothering to ask me what I wanted to drink.

We were vodka men, which I’d heard was one of the few traits we shared with our father.

Other than the obvious ancestry.

He pulled our favorite Polish vodka from his tasting room, the frost following him before he could close the vacuum-sealed door. As he plunked the bottle on the granite counter, he lifted his gaze.

“You really had this built?” I asked as I peered into the room. It was a high dollar area, complete with ice on the walls, a designated table for tasting, and hundreds of bottles of expensive vodka.

His grin was almost as infectious as his personality.

Or so I’d been told.

“A guy needs his toys,” Riker chortled.

“Yeah, I guess so. What’s wrong with my instinct? It’s saved our asses more than once.”

His snort was followed by a few select curse words. “You’re kidding yourself. Now, what are you worried about? Finding a suitable mate? That would be troublesome since you’re such an arrogant asshole.”

“Someone in this family needs to be.”

“I don’t mind telling you that I have no intention of following this new referendum. Such bullshit. What are they hiding?”

That was the question of the hour.

I waited until he’d poured two shots, sliding one in my direction. As I moved closer, he wrapped his huge paw-like hand around the tiny glass, lifting it in a salute.

“Maybe the sun always rise on your ass.”

“That’s a toast?” I asked, already laughing. He was also the comedian of the family.

“Hey, at least I can wing it. Now, talk. I want to hear your thoughts.” He threw back the shot and immediately poured another. I could tell he was annoyed I never kept up with him.

“There’s something in the air. Obviously, the packs are facing something the council didn’t want to mention.”

“An enemy.”

“Undoubtedly. Didn’t you smell the stench?” Often our pheromones overreacted when we were sexually aroused, enraged, or lying out our asses.

The poor guy almost choked as he attempted to do the second shot. Precious liquid spewed from his mouth and I could tell he was none too happy with the waste. “Yeah, it’s called the stench of shit. What are you talking about? You’re like some goddamn poet.”

I was more eloquent than either one of my two brothers, which was why I’d garnered the CEO and marketing position in the corporation. As Riker would say, I had the pretty face.

“The great Wolf family, caretakers of secrets and lies.” That’s the way I’d always thought about our ancestry. It wasn’t fair, not really, especially to our mother but members of our family were supposed to be the supreme alphas. It was as if we were still living back in barbarian times.

He took a deep breath. Our last name was on the nose, which had always brought the family more than a hint of amusement when discussed. It wasn’t necessarily considered legitimate given it had been thrown at our ancestors two centuries before. The name had simply stuck because the label had followed us decade after decade.

Until our DNA and makeup began to alter and the past became something of a legend.

But we still couldn’t change who and what we were, no matter the breeding with outsiders or the decades that went by. We were wolves.

Through and through.

We were dangerous predators.

And we could shift when needed, which was almost never.

“Why the fuck do you say that?” he asked. Neither Riker nor Chase liked to talk about the possibility of other packs attempting to interfere in our lives, or that we might have some unknown enemy out there waiting in the shadows. But the possibility always hung in the air. And it always would.

I had to admit it was something that still surprised me. “I almost turned the other night and it was with minimal provocation. My control wasn’t there. I hungered to shift. When has that happened?”

Riker waited until I threw back my drink, remaining quiet as he refilled the glass. “Why? Anger from the meeting?”

“No. Because a woman I was drawn to was almost accosted. I reacted automatically. I almost slaughtered the two men in front of the women.”

“You did so without thinking?”

“Yes.”

“And did you turn?”

Sighing, I shook my head. “Not fully, but I was right there. I could feel my wolf chomping at the bit. The desire for blood almost consumed me. I could see the men’s pulsing veins and hungered to rip them apart.” I didn’t even recognize my voice.

He rubbed his jaw before looking away. “We can’t allow that to happen. We’ve come too far. We have too much to lose. Whatever is going on, we can’t lose sight of what we do on a daily basis and what we believe in. I’m getting to be like Chase. I don’t give a crap about their rules.”

“They’ve kept us safe and out of the execution chambers. Don’t you think I don’t know that?”

“Don’t get pissy with me. You are the last one of us I would ever expect to lose your control. What about this woman? Was she the target?”

“The truth is I don’t know for certain, but I think the attack was random. She was mighty pretty though.”

The strange silence was shattered by his amused laugh. “Mighty pretty? You slept with her. You old dog, you.”

“She was… She is amazing.”

“Uh-huh. Well, at least that makes sense with you almost changing. Your woman. You were claiming her. Big he-man.”

Riker pounded his chest and did a deep howl like some freaking caveman.

“Very funny. That’s not all. I feel others in the midst, close enough all my senses are on edge. I’m surprised you can’t sense them as well.”

“You have that sixth sense, brother. I don’t.”

“Well, you should be wary. All of us should.”

His smile faded. “There’s nothing on the communications systems. There’s no chatter about a roaming pack.”

My brother had been put in charge of keeping the family peace, as our mother liked to say. There were hundreds of other packs in the world, most evolving as we had into law-abiding citizens with families and lives, enjoying barbeques and festivals just like everyone else. However, there was always the possibility our secrets would be discovered, or a rogue pack would attempt to bring our ancestry out into the light.

Or worse.

My mind drifted to a single story my mother has insisted was true. A stronger species of wolves. I didn’t like what I was thinking.

It was just a matter of time before all hell broke loose.

The communications system had been devised by a brilliant Wolfen over two decades before. It kept our ability to communicate with each other completely off the grid. No one could detect our signals or overhear our conversations. Council emails were sent, including updated information on every illness affecting us. Hell, there was even a job board. We took care of our own.

“That’s good to know, but I’m positive there’s something in the air.”

“If that’s the case,” Riker said quietly, “the bodies will begin to drop. We can’t and won’t have that in our territory.”

“No, we won’t.”

He cocked his head after I let out a deep breath. “Is there something else you’re not telling me?”

“I don’t know, Riker. There’s something about this woman that troubles me.”

“Well, think of it this way, brother. You haven’t had sex in so long, you’re probably still in la-la land.”

“You’re such a bastard.”

Sedona

All I could think about was how what I’d seen couldn’t be real. How was it possible?

I’d watched the video three more times, trying to accept any other plausible reason for what was right there in vivid color. At this point, I couldn’t. Still.

Maybe ever.

I was headed to pick up my daughter, the girl the reason for my life. Yet, all I could think about was the incident earlier in the day. The agent had yet to return my call and I continually looked over my shoulder. I half expected the horrible creature to return.

As I moved through the downtown streets, my mind continued to wander. I hadn’t realized I’d passed by the tarot card reading establishment until I hit the next block. Idling at the light, I made a decision.

The girl had issued a warning, her fear real. Lucia knew more than she’d wanted to tell me. Maybe I needed to press her on what that was.

I managed to find a parking spot close to the shop. I was shocked it was open on a Sunday but thankful. The mystery needed to be solved.

Or at the very least put into some kind of perspective.

As I headed to the small store, a strange sense of foreboding surrounded me. It was crazy, but I wasn’t superstitious, nor did I believe in creatures of the night. Horror movies were meant for entertainment purposes only.

The jingle of the bell didn’t bring anyone to the front of the shop immediately. I stood silently, the anticipation and dread killing me. Looking back and realizing Lucia had been genuinely terrified, I couldn’t even fathom a decent excuse for what I’d seen. Not one.

An older man moved through the curtain, a huge smile on his face. “The lady would like a reading.”

“I actually had one. Is Lucia here? I just need to ask her a couple questions.”

He was perplexed, even annoyed, but finally nodded.

I turned purposely toward a cabinet full of lit candles. Somehow, the light flickers didn’t calm my nerves. Neither did the comforting scents.

The soft whoosh indicated someone had returned through the curtains.

“Can I help you?” Lucia’s strong voice floated toward me.

When I turned around, just as I’d expected, another look of fear crossed her face. She turned as if getting ready to race away and I advanced.

“Don’t go, Lucia. I need your help.”

“I can’t help you.”

“I think you can. In fact, you might be the only person who has that ability.”

Her hesitation was enough that I advanced another couple of steps.

“You don’t understand,” she said. Her voice was just above a whisper.

“No, I don’t. Something happened to me today that I can’t comprehend. I’m a medical examiner. A victim of a horrible crime was brought into my office today for an autopsy, which I did as normal. I walked away for labs and…”

“He came alive.”

I nodded. “That’s not possible. He was dead.”

“As I said, I can’t help you.” Her tone was more defiant, stronger.

“Why? I’m only asking why you gave me the warning.”

“Because you need to stay away from them.”

“Them. Who are you talking about?” I was getting exasperated. The man had joined her and I had a feeling he was her father.

“They are dangerous. If I say anything, they will kill me.”

The man asked her a series of questions in a language I didn’t understand. After she answered, he stormed from around the counter, pointing toward the street.

“You need to go. Now. My daughter cannot help you.”

“But you don’t understand,” I pressed.

“Get out. Do not come back.”

Lucia had fled and I could swear even her father was shaking. I backed away. I had more questions than answers and that was the most unnerving aspect of all.

What if what I’d seen was real?