Page 14 of The Alpha's Ordeal

He'd sent photos of the dust up at the restaurant to Castille Florin letting him see for himself the danger that Eamon has placed around poor helpless Troy. He laid it on thick adding a bit of photoshop to make the scene even more pathetic than it already was. By morning he would be taking over this Pack and the membership would be kneeling to him. Alpha supreme would be his new title and anyone who didn’t like it would be killed.

Eamon was too kind and too fair to ever be a successful Alpha. A leader needed to be feared first and foremost, and Martindale looked forward to spreading his fear throughout the membership. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to solidify his position, and there wasn't anyone he wouldn't gleefully kill. The reckoning would be glorious.

"We have the blessing of the Council. This is a takeover that is long overdue. Do you want to bow down to a fucking vampire? The Alpha has lost his mind, and we must take the reins before he destroys us completely." Bates delivered the speech just as Martindale had written it. His friends and followers were eating it up, and their anger grew with each word.

There was a total of fifteen counting Bates, and he would have preferred a larger crowd but this number along with Castille and his men should finish the job nicely. At least halfof Eamon’s men were off on a wild goose chase up in the mountains. Martindale had sounded the alarm that a border had been breached and pack members in the area needed help. That would lessen the possibility of an assist for Eamon once they made their move on the Pack House.

He didn’t interfere with Bates and his minions choosing instead to quietly back away into the shadows and wait. As he made his way home walking through town he happened upon Sheriff Wellstone standing out front of the Crown Pub. “Drinking on duty now are we?” He chastised the man and waited for an explanation.

"As you are well aware, I'm sure, I was fired earlier this afternoon for insubordination, so when I choose to have a drink is my own damn business." Wellstone looked at him with contempt, something Martindale was not accustomed to tolerating.

“How dare you speak to me in such a tone.” He shot back.

"Fuck off." Wellstone turned to leave, but Martindale stopped him with a word.

“If you want revenge, I can give it to you.” He said and waited. Wellstone looked back at him over his shoulder and he did not look convinced. “Eamon Coles did this to you not me.” He added and Wellstone turned around.

"You and the Council have been working against the Alpha, attempting to siphon off power for yourselves. I'm just collateral damage." Wellstone was a lot smarter than he thought, and Martindale was taken aback for a moment. "I forgot who the leader of this Pack was and allowed you to control me, but that was my biggest mistake. I don't need revenge because I wasn't wronged; I was simply punished for my inappropriate behavior." Wellstone began to turn away once again.

"Either way, we're going to win, and I can give you back what you lost if you agree to stand with me in the end." Martindale offered, but Wellstone started walking.

"I don't stand with snakes." He said as he disappeared around the corner. Martindale was infuriated and swore to make Wellstone the first among those purged at the reconning. He would make him beg and squirm and regret his words. He took several deep breaths and calmed himself. Wellstone didn't matter because before this night was over, he would be the leader of the Salida Pack.

Martindale decided rather than stand back and wait and simply watch the downfall he wanted to be front and center. He wanted people to see him there in the lead and taking control. It was time to go pay the Alpha and his new mate a visit.

Eamon had a bad feeling stirring in his gut and he could not put his finger on exactly what was the matter. He felt so good so settled and complete with his mate and yet there was a shadow that lingered in the back of his mind.

Something had been off with his Pack for a while the peace and security he used to feel among his people had given way to paranoia and distrust. It was something he'd almost grown used to but suddenly now it had taken on a new form and was settling in his heart as clear and present danger.

He turned toward the house and saw that Troy was coming to join him on the deck and he had two beers with him. They’d just finished dinner, and Troy had insisted on helping Aaron clean up and wouldn’t take no for an answer. His mate was a complex man he was sophisticated but wild, privileged although easy and natural and cultured yet coarse. Eamon loved him more every minute he spent with him.

“Thank you for helping Aaron.”

Troy handed him the beer and sat down next to him on the bench. “Aaron would have preferred to do it himself.” Troy chuckled.

"Maybe so, but he still appreciated you." Eamon smiled and pulled Troy close to his side.

“Let’s say he did and leave it at that.” Troy laughed earnestly and took a sip of his beer. “He takes pride in his job, and I will not tread on his territory again.”

“He’s been the caretaker of the Pack House for nearly a century.”

“And yet he doesn’t look any older than forty at the most. I see wolves age like vampires.”

“We will have many years together, sweetheart.”

"Many years." Troy raised his can, as did Eamon, and they toasted the sentiment.

Suddenly out of nowhere that prevailing feeling of danger descended upon him once again and he stood reaching his hand out to his mate. “Let’s go back inside.” He said and Troy took his hand, and he helped him to his feet.

After searching his face, he asked. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” He glanced side to side and then held onto Troy and hurried him into the house and closed the door tightly behind them. “Something is wrong I can feel it.”

Sean and Noah, along with four other enforcers, arrived at the location indicated by the caller. "There is no sign of abreach here," Noah stated. "No one has been in this area in months."

“Do you have the name of the member who called?” Sean inquired.

"No, it was passed from person to person, and it was Lee Pearson at the Sheriff's office who gave me the message and just said it came from a local." Noah shook his head, realizing that they'd been had too late. "Why would they want us off on a wild goose chase."

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