Page 30 of Unexpected Alpha's Claim

“That’s it! Right there!” Brad pointed at him, his voice dripping with false admiration. “That’s why I always liked you, Sam. You’re the smart one in the family.”

“So, you need me to help fight off that vampire clan,” I concluded. “And after that? What’s next?”

“We’ll settle our score, the wolf way,” he declared, his intense gaze meeting mine. “I’ll show you the meaning of pain. That’s if you survive. Have fun, Crawford. Use the little time you have left to enjoy yourself.”

At that, he smirked yet again, before turning away and walking back out of the bar. My brothers and I stared after him and Kenny until they were out of the bar and the door swung shut behind them.

“Can I go outside and rip his fucking head off?” Ray asked, tapping his fingers on the mouth of his glass.

“That wouldn’t be such a bad idea,” I maintained, bringing my gaze to his face. “But this fight is not yours to deal with. Besides, we have to see if that story Kenny just spat off checks out.”

“It sounds real to me,” Sam shared his opinion. “He gave details, like names and places. He was being specific. If hewas bullshitting us, he would have given us some random descriptions. He would have left names out.”

“That’s just a theory,” I argued, downing the rest of my drink. “We need to mobilize, people.”

“I agree, but, um…” Sam faltered, scratching his jaw. “I smell a rat here. Abigone.”

“I’m all ears,” I said, focusing my attention on him.

“Raul, we’re part of a big, strong pack,” he said, looking me in the eye. “You’re one of our best warriors. We all know that, but when was the last time Brad put the good of Dawson ahead of his own whims?”

I averted my gaze from him, thinking of the long years of Brad’s reign. He wasn’t a caring Alpha. In truth, he was far from a considerate leader, or a leader who thought of what was best for his people.

He had been harsh to individuals for almost no reason. Once, he had taken his old Buick to Shane Kirsten’s workshop, to fit it with a better stereo. Shane did put a brand new stereo into that old piece of junk, but the 3,000 Watts it generated were too much for the rear windshield. Despite Shane’s warnings, Brad insisted on that specific kit. When the windshield shattered, he demanded a replacement or a refund. Poor Shane had had to replace it at his own expense.

“Never,” I answered, staring into the void. “He’s always been ‘me, me, me.’”

“So, why now?” Sammy posed the million-dollar question. “What’s different this time?”

“A clan of vampires?” Ray ventured a guess. “Guys, we’ve heard our folks’ stories about those sons of bitches. They’re our natural enemies. They’ll stop at nothing to get what they want. Maybe Brad’s afraid of them.”

“Or he’s counting on them to take me out,” I said what both of my brothers were thinking but avoiding saying. “Answer me this. If those bloodsuckers wanted to attack Dawson, wouldn’t Helena warn us about it? Because, when she showed me the future in her orb, she didn’t mention anything about vampires. All I saw, was a pack determined to tear me to shreds.”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s go find her.” Sam’s said, which sounded like the correct course of action.

I left two twenty-dollar notes on the counter, my own words echoing in my mind. Brad’s story was neat. If it had come from someone trustworthy, I would have believed it without question. However, there were things that didn’t add up, like his sudden demonstration of care for his people. That and Helena’s prediction, which I trusted a hell of a lot more than him. Which was saying something in itself, putting my trust in a witch for any reason. Something I never would have thought possible. But perhaps the witch could shed some light on this. Right now, it seemed like she was the only one who could.

20

MONICA

“Thank you kindly for this. I really needed it.”

That was an understatement. I couldn’t put my need to get out of that sanctuary into words. My first day at work was not what I had expected. I met each and every one of my colleagues. They were not that many of them, but the doctors and nurses were not my issue.

It seemed that word about Shandaken’s new doctor had spread far and wide. Making me into an absolutely uncomfortable spectacle that Monday morning. The locals were apparently enthralled by the fact that a New Yorker had decided to “honor them with her presence” in Shandaken’s Medical Center. At least those were the mayor’s words.

Themayor… it was astounding to my New York City sensibilities that the town’s highest-ranking official had chosen to be there, and so very early in the day no less. After his short speech, many of the town’s three thousand residents had paraded through the halls of the medical center, hoping to catch a glimpse of their new doctor. I must have shaken more hands in eight hours thanI had in two years at the Metropolitan Hospital. By the time my shift was over I was exhausted and had a throbbing headache.

Heading back to that “dungeon” as Raul had called it was not an option. I needed space. Wide-open, big space with sky and most of all, no gawking crowds. When I met Helena that afternoon and she was about to transport us back to the sanctuary, I instead asked her to take me to the place where Raul and I had kissed for the first time.

“I can understand your frustration,” she said in a cheerful tone as the two of us strolled through the brush. “You’re new here and not used to this sort of attention. I should have warned you about the locals. They’re small town folk, which means everyone knows everyone. Everybody’s business, no matter how hush-hush, tends to get out and sometimes, they do get a bit too friendly.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked looking over at her and trying to understand.

I’d never in my life been in a small town for more than a night. Everything she had just said sounded so weird as to be completely alien. In the city you minded your own business. Period.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s really not a big deal,” Helena said. “It’s just that they tend to be a little too cordial at times. Like this one time a local farmer, Walter Telford, had a cow in labor. Christopher Lansdale, the local vet, came and delivered her. Everything went just fine. Cow and calf were in perfect health. Walter was so happy, God rest his soul... He hugged Lansdale so hard that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.”

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