Page 25 of Pack Nightmare

“Alpha, welcome to my humble home,” he smiles, gesturing to the surrounding space that is anything but humble. The smile doesn’t reach his eyes, and he sits in one of the high-backed chairs facing us. “To what do I own this honor?”

The man’s eyes are strange. While most people in the pack have something warm in their eyes, as if I can almost sort of see the wolf inside, there is nothing of that in Peter Jean-Yves. His eyes are cold and hard like ice-blue stones, and the only thing that pops in my head, bizarrely, is ‘snake eyes’.

Roxanne replies first. “Thank you, Peter. You know I can never resist dropping by for some of these lemon cookies.” I note she uses his first name, refusing him any deference. “We are here because several of your neighbors believe you may be mistaken about your property lines, and asked the alpha to sort it out for them.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I don’t believe we have an issue.” His gaze travels to me, and he stares at me like an animal stalking prey, despite speaking to Roxanne.

I swallow hard, holding his gaze and putting on my best smile. “From what we’ve found in the city records, it seems to be a valid complaint. Roxanne?”

She pulls a sheaf of papers from her briefcase, laying out several. “Here you can see the property lines as filed with the city. And here,” she gestures to an aerial photograph, “you can see the lines overlaid on this image of your property. It’s very clear the construction you’re doing here and here,” she points,” goes over your neighbor’s property by a good deal.”

He looks over the images as if studying them carefully, but I can already sense that he doesn’t care. In fact, based on his emotions, he actually seems satisfied about it.

“That may be true, based on the plans filed with the city,” he allows. “But my neighbors granted me a verbal easement onto their land. They weren’t using it, and given the terrain, the location was better suited for my new pool and stables, respectively.”

“Do you have any sort of written agreement to this effect?” I ask with as much restraint as I can muster. He knows he’s lying directly to my face, and his smug smirk tells me as much.

His answer comes out slowly, as if he thinks I’m too stupid to keep up. “No, as I said, it was a verbal agreement. However, I promised them use of both as a concession to the easement.”

“Well, unfortunately, they are both complaining about your projects, and insisting you’ve done it without their permission. So it appears you were mistaken about their agreement with your plans.” I don’t know where this smooth, lawyerly talk is coming from, but it feels right, so I keep going with it. Perhaps Roxanne was correct about my instincts.

“People often change their minds after making promises,” he replies dismissively. “That doesn’t change the reality, or the consequences. I’m sure if we have a conversation, I could help remind them of our agreement.”

The way he says it brings to mind the sort of tactics a mafia boss would use to get someone to agree to what they want, like busting kneecaps. My blood flows hot in my veins, and I struggle to contain it. “I think not. Regardless of what sort of arrangement you believed you had, there is nothing filed with the city office, and nothing in writing to the effect of allowing you to take that land from your neighbors. As they clearly are not in agreement now, I will have to ask you to adjust your plans and move your construction fully onto your property. You clearly have enough to accommodate both facilities easily.”

“No, I don’t think I will,” Peter levels his gaze at me, a direct challenge that raises my hackles. “I’ll have a discussion with my neighbors and sort it out. There’s no need for your concern, alpha.”

A fiery ball of power rises in my chest at his condescending tone. I resist the urge to stand for emphasis, and instead level him with my steeliest stare when I tap into the double-timbre of the alpha voice. It resonates in my chest as I speak, causing an odd vibration in my ears.

“Since you are leaving me no choice, I am ordering you to stop construction at once, and move your projects so they are completely on your land, with at least a ten-foot distance from your property line so as not to disturb your neighbors further. In addition, I am commanding you to restore your neighbors’ property to its original state, and you will not speak to them about this matter again. My decision is final. Do we have an understanding?”

Peter Jean-Yves glares at me with his pale blue eyes practically bulging from their sockets. A dark red flush creeps up his cheeks, and the fury within him grows even hotter. I can tell he’s trying to fight the alpha command; he’s not breathing, and his entire body is clenched so tightly he’s shaking. I hold his gaze, refusing to blink, and wait for him to comply. It’s a battle of wills, even with the alpha command, but I will win.

Eventually he blows out a heavy breath and draws in a strangled gasp, some of the red fading from his face. “Yes, alpha,” he replies, bowing his head in submission. “It will be as you command.”

I grab another cookie from the plate and lean back in my seat as casually as I’m able, with my heart about to pound out of my chest. “Wonderful. I’m glad we could come to an agreement.” I take my time finishing the pastry, watching the man across from me grow more indignant while having absolutely no agency in his own home.

Finally, I rise, brushing crumbs from my lap onto his likely expensive carpet, and Roxanne stands beside me. “Thank you for your hospitality, it was lovely to meet you. We’ll leave the maps with you, so you can ensure your projects remain on the correct side of the property lines from here on out.”

“Yes alpha,” he says again, the barely restrained fury making his voice shake. Apparently not trusting himself to say anything else, he doesn’t speak again.

When Roxanne and I emerge from the sitting room, Albert bustles up to see us out, carrying a small tin in his gloved hand.

“Alpha, the chef wanted you to have some cookies to take home with you, with her compliments.” His cheeks are flushed, and when he smiles, it’s with genuine warmth.

“Thank you, Albert,” I accept the tin and grin widely. “I will have to hide these in my room to make sure they last more than a day. My fated can put away cookies like nobody’s business.”

He chuckles lightly. “Well, if you ever need a refill, just let me know. We would be delighted.”

I thank him again, then follow Roxanne outside to the waiting car. I don’t draw in a full breath until the doors are closed and we’re driving away.

“Great job,” Roxanne beams at me, patting my knee. “You handled that very well. How do you feel?”

“Aside from the aftermath of the adrenaline spike, I don’t feel too different,” I shrug, my heart rate slowly returning to normal. “Tired a bit, I guess? Maybe more like… sort of drained.”

“That’s from using the compulsion,” she nods sagely. “It’ll take a while to get used to, like strengthening a muscle. And it will draw on your magic every time he tries to test it.”

“Test it? Test it how?”

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