Page 4 of Wolf's Mark

Now I gave her my middle finger, which sent her off into hysterics.

Meanwhile, the reading stuck in the darkest part of my mind.

And I didn’t like it one bit.

CHAPTER 2

Jax

“Can you believe this bullshit?” Chase asked as soon as he jumped off his Harley. My younger brother’s outrage was understandable, but his histrionics continuously frayed my nerves.

“It was a mandate from the Council of Wolves. Actually, I’m surprised you bothered to show up.” Riker had his arms crossed over his barrel-like chest. His deep voice was laced with the same animosity I felt.

While Chase looked like he was attending a photoshoot, a highly paid model preparing a spread in some fashion magazine, my older brother’s appearance made him appear like the dangerous man I knew him to be.

He wore dirty, well-worn jeans with holes in the knees, a dark tee shirt covered in spots of red paint, and a flannel shirt that had seen better days. Along with his shit-kicking boots and the scruffy beard he’d grown while on vacation, his masculine look was more reflective of our ancestry.

There were already three or four dozen wolves who’d arrived, all considered Alpha in the pack order. More had been told to attend. The Wolfen rules were very strict, punishment harsh, which included banishment from the pack and more pain-filled methods as well.

“I wonder why Mom didn’t give us a heads up,” I said casually. I stood in my typical business suit and dark shades, my attire just as questionable as Riker’s. I had a damn good excuse. I was the CEO of a billion-dollar business, keeping many of the wolves chatting and laughing employed.

Cartersville was like any other small town, colorful people keeping small businesses alive. Ours was the largest, a highly profitable sports car manufacturing corporation. The ache behind my eyes had occurred the minute I’d read the email sent via the Wolfen communication system. I kept them covered by sunglasses. I hated the old ways, our ancestry outdated and unwanted.

“My guess is they wanted to surprise us,” Riker said, laughing.

“Maybe we’re going to start the ancient games again,” Chase chortled as he paced the terrain in front of the makeshift stage that had already been put together. The eight chairs suggested all the council members would be in attendance.

That meant something was wrong or our lives were about to change. I didn’t like either concept. I was far too busy to worry about pack politics.

“Oh, do you remember the old jousting event?” Riker asked.

I tilted my head in his direction, not surprised he was grinning from ear to ear. He was a rough and tumble guy, his vacationtaken to build a new garage on his house himself. I could only imagine the luxuries he’d put into it.

“You mean the spearing method of death,” Chase snarled. “I hated that shit. We’re too old to play games proving our wealth. And too human.”

“Aw, you’re just pissed because you never won an event.” Riker was forced to step back as Chase lunged for his throat.

“Stop it,” I hissed. “Let’s just hear what they have to say.” There hadn’t been a mandated meeting in at least twenty-five years if my memory served me. Maybe longer. Maybe it was just protocol, but I didn’t like the fact the council members had arrived from every corner of the world.

“What if we’re forced back into the old ways? Are you going to vote for the change?” Chase always knew how to get under my skin. He should be happy the Wolfen had shifted into becoming a democracy instead of running the organization like Stalin or Napoleon. I’d been alive long enough to see some shit go down in the packs.

Chase had too, although he refused to associate himself with members of the pack. His continued push back at the rules could be considered criminal activity within our ranks. He wasn’t above the law.

All three of us noticed several limousines pulling up along the road behind the stage.

“There they are, the majestic eight,” Chase spit out through gritted teeth. “Whoopedy do.”

“Just shut your damn trap,” Riker hissed. “Our brother is right. We listen. We learn.”

“Learn what? That we’re really bloodthirsty wolves chomping at the bit to feast on small animals and humans?” Chase was laughing when I knew there were some within our pack and others who wanted nothing more.

The old ways.

“I wonder what they have in mind.” Riker was talking more to himself than to either one of us, but I could sense his concern.

The worldwide count of members of the Wolfen hadn’t strengthened in the last two decades since the hundreds of packs had voted to alter practices.

Everyone wanted to be a human.

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