Page 2 of The Alpha's Ordeal

“No, you’re not within your rights. The agreement states that unless the offender is apprehended while committing a major crime that the offender will be taken into custody, and his leadership will be contacted.” Troy reminded them of the truth.

"You attacked my friend here, and I had to kill you in order to save him." Bates was a total lying bastard. Troy wondered if he handled all of his duties in this matter.

"Go for it." Troy taunted. "Let's see how far your lies will take you, perhaps all the way to the grave." Troy did not doubt Castille would avenge him. "I am not without friends and influence." He'd just as soon not die, but he refused to cower to this guy.

Bates gripped him roughly on the shoulder and slammed him back against his car. "You think you can just breeze through our land as if it was nothing." He was becoming angry. "You vampires think you're better than everyone else, and our rules don't apply to you." He grabbed Troy by the hair and punched him several times in the stomach. It hurt, but nothing too serious. The guy was working off some deep-seated issues, and Troy was the unfortunate recipient.

“Take it easy Bates let’s just take him back to the station and have the Sheriff work this out.” Mason was more level headed than Troy had given him credit.

"Vampires have been treating us like shit for centuries, and this is my opportunity to give a little back." Bates smiled, but he was dead in the eyes. "I'm not going to miss it." He followed that statement with another slug to Troy's midsection and a sharp knee to the groin. "Get the cuffs." He yelled at Mason.

“Use your own.” Mason shot back.

"I left them at home." He smiled sickly and tried to push Troy to his knees, but Troy resisted. He could handle a little beat down, but there was no way in hell he was going to get on his knees for this asshole.

Mason came up and cuffed Troy's hands behind his back and pulled Bates away from him. "Leave him be, damn it." Mason was okay, maybe not great, but he was okay in Troy's book. Bates stumbled back and reached out to take hold of Troy again, but Mason blocked him.

"I handle him; you drive." Mason manhandled him into the back seat and slid in next to him. Bates took the driver's seat, but he didn't look happy about it.

"Your car will be impounded." Mason told him, "And you will be allowed to make a call when you reach the station after you've been processed." He was sounding like a legit lawman now and not a fuckwit like his friend, and Troy could appreciate that.

Troy planned to call Castille as soon as he had the opportunity. It wasn't going to be pretty, but these fucking assholes deserved to meet the man known as Black Heart. Yeah, his brother had a terrifying reputation, and it was well-earned.

The tall one grabbed him out of the back of the vehicle and practically dragged him up the steps and into the station. He then bounced him off every piece of furniture between the door and the lockup and tossed him inside, slamming the doorbehind him. "Fucking vampire." He spat out. Troy jumped to his feet and stared at the deputy, taking in every aspect of his gaunt, pimply face. "What the fuck are you looking at?" He shouted.

"I'm going to remember you." He paused and then added. "Dog." He stated the last with as much derision as he could force into one word. The dog lunged at him, but it was all show, and he quickly stepped back when the Sheriff stormed into the room.

"What in the hell is going on here?" He was larger than the others and broader he too was wolf, but he had an intelligence about him that the other two did not possess. It was obvious why he was the Sheriff. The two deputies did not respond immediately as the Sheriff took in the scene.

He walked over to the cell and motioned for Troy to step forward. “Turn around.” He said and Troy complied. He reached through the bars and removed the cuffs from Troy’s wrists. “Take a seat.” He said and Troy walked over to the metal bench fastened to the wall and sat down rubbing his wrists and giving everyone in the room a solid dose of stink eye.

The Sheriff turned on the two deputies who had brought him in and ordered them to his office. Troy had exceptional hearing, so he was able to listen to some of it, especially when the Sheriff went off on Bates. It was mildly gratifying.

CHAPTER TWO

"Eamon, we got trouble here at the station. We need you here and you should probably bring Sean as well." Alin Murphy one of the new deputies under the new Sheriff Marius Wellstone sounded agitated and scared.

Sean and his mate Lowell were over. They'd had dinner and were now watching a movie Lowell had recommended. Eamon motioned for Sean to come with him as they headed for the door. Sean kissed Lowell and told him he'd be back as soon as he could. Lowell told him he'd meet him at home and waved him off.

They had a lovely relationship that was solid and respectful, as every bond should be. Lowell was human, but he understood Sean's position and his responsibility to the pack and never made it an issue between them. Sean was a lucky man, and so was Lowell.

“What’s it about?” Sean asked as they got into Eamon’s Jeep.

“That was Alin at the station apparently they picked up a vampire in our territory tonight and the officers involvedbecame a little overzealous.” Eamon raised an eyebrow as he glanced over at Sean who was shaking his head.

"That doesn't sound good, Eamon."

"Hopefully, it was just an innocent trespass, and hopefully, those brain-dead deputies didn't do him any harm." Eamon's tone got harsher with each word.

“The last thing we need right now is to go to war with a vampire coven.” Sean pointed out the obvious.

Eamon entered the station, and the officers stood around watching as if they were expecting something major. That reaction told Eamon that whatever the deputies did to the detained vampire, it wasn't good or necessary. Sheriff Wellstone came out of his office to meet them and brought them up to speed on what had taken place.

"He's a vampire, so I doubt that he's badly hurt," Eamon stated and then added. "The deputies were stupid, and I want them off the streets immediately, but I don't think this will become a bigger issue." Eamon made his assessment based on the information. "Release the man and apologize if you have no reason to detain him. Did you clear him of the trespassing? What were his reasons for not announcing his presence?" Eamon wanted a clear picture.

"I haven't gotten a clear picture of why, but I'm assuming it was a shortcut home, and he probably assumed since it was late, he could get through undetected. It would have most likely worked if he hadn't experienced car trouble." The Sheriff was calm and clear, but Eamon detected a shade of uneasiness in his demeanor.

"What aren't you telling me, Marius?" Eamon asked as Sean moved into the outer room and began scanning the area. There was a pervasive uneasiness in the air, and they both felt it.Sean nodded to Eamon and started toward the back cell where the vampire was being held.

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