Page 17 of Cruel Alpha Daddy

As I hit the bottom of the mountain, I shift. The wolf takes over, blasting every last scrap of humanity from my heart. All I am is rage and power. A being of pure, primal force.

Memories from this morning tumble through my mind, making me even angrier. I can see the fear in Fiona’s blue eyes, smell her terror. When I remember how they crowded around her, touching her, I can’t hold in the roar of fury that builds in my chest and bursts from my throat. All around me, small creatures scurry out of the way and clear a path.

Don’t fear, little ones. I’m not hunting you.

I come down the mountain, not even slowing down as my paws hit the hard surface of the road. Not far ahead, there’s a campground where we keep a few trucks and supplies. I cross the distance in minutes, and as I slow down by the vehicles, I have to wrestle with my wolf a little to shift back. My deepest primal urges don’t want to give up control. Fury is still running hot in my blood, as if I have lava in my veins. With an effort of extreme will, I force myself into my human shape and stop by my old pickup truck to put on some clothes.

Taking slow breaths to calm my mind, I get in the truck and gun it to Sawpit. My rage is still simmering, but now I’m in full control.

Good. I won’t kill him too quickly. Now I’m calm enough to really drag it out.

Sawpit is tiny, and the only lights on are in the little bar at the end of town. This was the hub of Sawpit Pack long before Jethro. It has remained the only connection to the outside world of humans the pack has.

I walk quietly along the front porch, slipping through the sliding door. It’s dark and smoky inside, with people sitting at most of the tables. I can smell Tobias, so I know he’s in here, even if I can’t see him yet.

I’m about to announce my presence with a roar of fury when a nearby conversation catches my attention.

“Did you hear about that missing woman from Silver Meadows?”

“No, I didn’t. Does it have something to do with Sawpit?”

“Damn right it does. The biker guys… they went looking for a bit of trouble and kidnapped some girl they found in the forest.”

“Shiiit,” the older guy drawls. “That’s all we need.”

I don’t want to draw attention to myself, so I don’t break in on the conversation, I just listen. It’s Scotty and Frank, two extremely old wolves that have been around Sawpit even longer than the psycho alpha Bailey killed.

“All I know is what I heard,” Scotty says. “I didn’t believe it at first, but tonight Tobias was bragging, so it’s true. Well, some of it, anyway.”

Frank pauses and looks across the bar into a dark corner. Tobias and his gang must be sitting over there.

“Who did you hear it from?” Frank asks.

“Eh,” Scotty answers. “I talk to a lot of people, you know that. The only information I have is that Alpha Bailey has started to suspect we were behind it, and he’s thinking of coming up here to track her.”

“And we know for sure Tobias did it,” Frank says softly. “We could be fucked.”

That’s it.

“Tobias!” I roar, shattering the quiet with my voice. The entire bar falls silent. Some people even scuttle out of their chairs to get away from me.

“Well, well, little pup,” Tobias says, coming out of the shadows. He grins at me, cracking his knuckles. “Finally, come to nip my ankles, then?”

“Square up, motherfucker,” I mutter. “And kiss your ass goodbye.”

“Oh, check him out,” Tobias mocks. “Got himself all riled up! It’s a sweet little picture, isn’t it, boys?”

Behind him, his cronies appear. Russ, Gage, Jace, and Dave. They followed Jethro’s philosophy, and Elton’s before him.

Ever since Jethro died, they have been plotting against me.

“Not only did you touch my mate and assault your luna,” I hiss at him, “you have insulted Silver Meadows Pack, an alliance that I worked hard to achieve. You are a criminal, Tobias, and an enemy to your own pack.”

“Oh, fuck Bailey and his pretty boy face!” Tobias snaps. “That preppy pup couldn’t take me on even on his best day.”

I grin, shaking my head. “So, you must have been blind, dumb, and deaf when you saw him slaughter Elton?”

Tobias glares at me. “I don’t care who he’s killed. He’ll know his worth when he goes up against me, that’s for sure.”

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