Page 1 of The Alpha's Ordeal

CHAPTER ONE

The Salida Wolf Pack began to settle down or at least it appeared to once Alpha Eamon Coles put his inner circle in place and purged those who had sought to destroy the pack through murder and deception. The previous Alpha had died without an heir which threw the pack into chaos and members taking sides. Some sought to take over by causing a war with the humans and killing those in consideration for leadership but in the end good overcame evil.

Eamon Coles, the lead enforcer, was raised to the position of Alpha, and he elected his good friend Sean Brendon as his Beta. Noah Avrum, a loyal enforcer, was raised to the position of lead enforcer, and Alpha Coles was currently filling the vacant positions within his pack. Over half the enforcers were in league with those who were working to destroy the Salida Pack, and so were dispatched.

It was a time of flux, but Alpha Coles and his Beta were well up to the task of rebuilding the pack and bringing it back the power and influence it once held among its paranormal neighbors. Traitors were still among them, but it was just a matter of time before they were all found and destroyed.

…

"I'll be home this evening." Troy pulled over to the side of the highway to make his call. His brother Castille was expecting him earlier, but Troy had been held up for a few hours completing another photo shoot among the red rocks of Moab, Utah. It hadn't been far out of his way, and the pay was well worth the side trip.

“The Master discussed with me the prospect of you training for a position on the board.” Castille put it out there for a reaction and Troy was well aware of his desire to have Troy back home and serving within the community. Troy had a hunch it was more Castille’s wish than it was the Master’s.

“Castille I don’t believe I have the patience for such an assignment.” Troy shot back he appreciated his brothers desire to have him home, but the Vampire Board was not something he was at all interested in.

"You're going to age out of the modeling business soon, so it would be a good idea to start considering your options."

"I still look great," Troy said and glanced at his reflection in the rearview mirror. "I still have a few years left."

“You’re a vampire you’ll look great for centuries, but you can’t continue to model.” Castille laughed. “Your employers will start to wonder where your fountain of youth is located.”

"True, but the board is so stiff I can't see myself there," Troy whined.

“But it wields a certain measure of power.” Castille was tempting him.

“True and I do love power.” They both laughed and Troy looked forward to getting home and spending time with Castille. He had been working in Europe for the last few months and although he loved modeling, and he loved the money it broughtin he knew Castille’s concerns were valid. A vampire cannot be a public face for too long since their faces do not change.

“Drive safe, and I will see you tonight.”

“I will.” Troy closed the call and pulled back onto the highway. He would be taking the turn off for Salida that was coming up in a mile. Normally he would avoid the city due to its over abundance of wolves but today he was in a hurry and cutting through Salida saved him several hours.

He planned to just cut through, no stops, just straight through, so no one would be the wiser. Salida was wolf territory, and for an uninvited vampire to be caught within that territory could be problematic, especially with the upheaval going on in the Salida Pack. It was dark and late, so Troy was confident he could pass through unnoticed since he'd done it many times in the past.

He was casually listening to music and thinking about the next shoot scheduled for next week in Los Angeles when he heard a clank and a sputter and suddenly his ever reliable Subaru rolled to a stop. He managed to get off onto the shoulder of the road and tried several times to get it started but it refused to start.

Troy knew nothing about cars other than how to put in gas so checking the engine would be futile. Once he checked his phone he started to realize the dire predicament he was in. There was no service on this lonely stretch of road. He knew that since he’d taken this short cut before without incident.

His only option was to walk and hopefully get a signal before one of the wolves picked up his scent. Neither his brother nor the Master would thank him for causing a clash with the wolf pack. The Salida Pack was known to be neither friendly nor welcoming, so Troy would do his best not to be discovered. Butthat hope died the minute a police car with its lights on pulled up and parked directly behind him.

"Shit." He glanced back at them through his side mirror and recognized them as wolves the minute they exited their vehicle. Troy rolled down his window as the tall, thin one approached, and the shorter, heavier one came up on his right.

“You have trouble?” He said and then caught his breath and abruptly took a step back. He scented him and recognized him as vampire. “What are you doing in this territory?” He barked this time, all pleasantries gone.

Troy wasn't sure how to explain himself without making things worse, so he remained silent for the moment. Then, the other cop shouted at him to get out of the car. Troy kept his hands where they could see them and carefully got out of the car and stood next to it. The tall cop approached him slowly and pulled out his gun as he did so. A bullet was not deadly for a vampire, but it could definitely hurt like hell.

"Answer me, vampire." He said with considerably more malice.

"I was taking a shortcut home. I'm from the Denver Coven." Troy did not elaborate and kept his eyes on both officers.

“What is your name?”

“Troy Florin.” The officer got up close attempting to intimidate with his size and proximity. The name on the guys shirt was Bates and the other one who was now only a few feet to Troy’s right was Mason. Troy maintained his composure but did not challenge or antagonize. He had the feeling these two, Bates and Mason could go off with very little provocation.

“Why did you stop here?” Bates once again shouted at him.

“There is something wrong with my car.”

"You have no right to be here without permission, vampire, and we are within our rights to kill you right here and toss your body into the woods." That was rather harsh and not completely correct.

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