Page 49 of A Cursed Noel

“I talked to the wolfin charge of the Upstate New York pack,” Odin says, luring me fromthe level of poverty ahead. “He’s coming with a few of his ownafter New Year’s. Says he wants to talk to me and take a look atwhat I’m doing and what all I’ve done.” He pauses. “He saidif everything checks out, he’ll help us, give us money to getstarted, and even set up our own Den in time. He’s apure,like you.”

I smirk. I can’t helpit. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

“For some of us, itis a bad thing,” he says. “Wasa bad thing at least.”

Puresare fewand far between. Although we’re considered royalty and held in highesteem, it’s just a title as far as I’m concerned. Some of ourkind see us as elitist. They’re unaware as pures, we’re dutyboundto helpwereslike those in Odin’s pack. At least, in theorywe are.

For all I’ve talkedup ridding the world of evil these past few years, the onlywereI’ve helped is myself.

“He listened to whatI had to say,” Odin continues. “He didn’t like some things Idid and told me I needed to make changes. But he listened, ya know?No one like him has listened to me in a long time.”

I bow my head, mostlyashamed. I wouldn’t have listened to Odin, either. I was tootrapped in my own problems, until Celia.

“I owe you Alpha, youand your female.”

I keep my gaze ahead.“You owe me nothing,” I say. “Just get me to the Griselda. I’lltake care of the rest. But, if something happens to me, I need you toswear you’ll protect her.”

There’s nohesitation. “I’ll swear it,” he replies. “Maybe we can absorbher into the pack or somethin’.

“Celia doesn’tbelong in a pack.” I scoff. “I don’t know if her and her familybelong anywhere. They’re different and…” And what? I’m notsure how she’ll manage without me? “Just make sure you watch outfor her, without her knowing you’re watching out for her.” Ialmost smile. Almost. “She won’t like that.”

“No, she won’t,will she?” he says, laughing.

The urban setting, Iremember too well, fades away morphing from beatdown streets tobetter kept multi-family homes. Odin cuts a right down WoodlandAvenue. Old Victorians in need of repair pop into view beforetransitioning into smaller, older homes. I should take it all in, Isuppose. This is where my Celia grew up. All it does is remind me ofwhat happened here and fires me up to get where I need to be.

We pass Maxon MiddleSchool, where blue-collared residences make up the street. In thenext block, the area abruptly changes. I straighten, no longercertain I can trust Odin.

Cookie-cutter old isreplaced with long-standing, distinguished Tudors and sprawlingmansions.

“I thought you saidGriselda lived in Plainfield,” I say.

“Easy, Alpha,” Odintells me. “This here is Plainfield, close to its neighbor SouthPlainfield, but still Plainfield. A long time ago, this was the placeto be before it all turned to shit. The gay community is now takingover, bringing back the history of this place. They still have a longway to go, but this part here has benefitted.” He motions to theright. “You hit Park Avenue, where the old hospital used to be, andyou’ll find what’s left of ‘Doctor’s Row.’ All dem doctors,lawyers, and such, had their businesses all up in there. In time,maybe the rich folk will do right by this city. Or they may forgetabout it all over again.”

He cuts the lights androlls to a stop behind a three-story Victorian. He points. “Griseldalives in the brown and white Tudor on the left, just past this house.A high metal gate surrounds the property. Front yard is smaller,backyard goes back almost an acre.” He grins, not that there’smuch humor behind it. “You didn’t expect Griselda to live likewe’ve been livin’, did ya? In small-assed apartments we barelymake rent on?”

I shake my head. “No.But I didn’t expect this.” Snow slides down the roof when I openthe door. I pull off my shirt and toss it into the cabin. For thefirst time tonight, it was actually dry. My jeans are still damp.They’ll be harder to tear through, so I lose them along witheverything else.

Odin’s expressionremains firm. “You don’t need to do this by yourself, Alpha. Mypack and I’ve got you.”

“No,” I order. “Youhave enough to explain to the alpha without adding a coven of deadwitches to your resume.”

He leans back into hisseat, his right hand still at the wheel. “You gonna kill all ofthem?” he asks.

“Probably. If theyaid Griselda, they’re just as guilty.” I shrug. “If they run, Imay spare them, or I may not.”

“Depends on yourwolf?” Odin asks. “How mad he get?”

I understand hisquestion. Beasts are harder to control when their counterparts arejust as angry. Regardless, I’m the one in charge. “The spellalone gives me cause to kill her and anyone who kept her in power.”

“And because she hurtyour woman?” Odin asks.

That goes withoutsaying.

Odin let’s out a longwhistle when more of my fury pokes through. “I get it, Alpha. Justyou remember, Griselda didn’t become who she is by being weak.”

I meet his gaze then.“Neither did I.”

Chapter Fourteen

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