Page 34 of Blood Pack Beginning

“Did Nathan ever come through with a list of them?” While the packs did kick out those they considered defective, many kept track of their location in the off chance the Lycan gene proved latent and emerged at a later date. Extremely rare, but not entirely unheard of.

“He claims he’s going to contact them.”

“You sound as if you don’t believe him.”

“Nathan appears to be hell-bent on closing ranks, and by that, I mean shutting me, and anyone associated with me, out.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Isn’t he the one sending rogues and pack members who’ve been absent too long our way?”

“He was, but apparently that’s about to cease.” Thaddeus templed his fingers. “In our most recent conversation, he raised a concern about me amassing a Lycan army, and while he didn’t come out and accuse me of trying to replicate Morpheus and Roderick’s crime, the insinuation was there.”

“Nathan’s scared,” was Toni’s soft contribution. “He’s seeing our kind being used without care, sacrificed in the war this unknown person is trying to start.”

“I’m not his enemy.” Thaddeus’ reply sounded harsh, the anger not at Toni’s statement, but at the situation.

Marc finally added to the conversation, drawling, “You’re a vampire, who, despite not having an ounce of wolf blood, is somehow an alpha who is amassing unhoused Lycans. If they continue trickling in at their current rate, yours will outnumber Nathan’s pack, which is currently the largest.”

Thaddeus waved a hand. “Once we uncover who is behind the troubles, things can return as they were and those Lycans can rejoin their original packs.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Toni shook her head and placed her hands over her belly. “Things in the Lycan world are changing. There’s many who believe the old pack laws need a major revamp. Then there’s the fact the veil of secrecy that used to hide vamps has been torn away, causing many to question their previous beliefs and way of life. Modern times call for a new way of doing things. New laws. But not just for Lycans. You mustn’t forget to include the vampires, too.”

“Our kind will never agree to follow Lycan pack laws,” Thaddeus pointed out.

“It depends on how you present it,” Marc interjected. “If you call it pack law, then yeah, of course they’ll balk.”

“Are you suggesting we need a new name that encompasses flock and pack? Perhaps Flack or Plock?” Thaddeus mocked.

Toni shot him a dirty look. “Be serious. Mark’s making a good point.”

Sasha cleared her throat. “I actually agree with the dog…” She thought for a moment before blurting out, “We could call our mixed group ‘Blood Pack.’ For a vampire’s oath is given and bound by blood, and for Lycans, their strongest bond, that of mating, is also done by bite.”

“Blood Pack.” Thaddeus rolled the word around before nodding. “It’s actually not bad. It would differentiate our group from the others.” Before making a final decision, he looked to his two mates for approval.

Sasha anticipated the dogs objecting to the stark reminder of the vampire’s true nature, but her mention of the Lycan mating bite must have done the trick. They both nodded, and Thaddeus turned back to face Sasha.

“Blood Pack it is. Now that we have a name for a vampire-Lycan mixed bag, let us return to the more pressing business: figuring out who this master is Morpheus referred to. We need to locate them.”

“Does no one think it odd that the ghoul nest was within driving distance of us?” Marc queried. “Of all the places they could have planted some monsters, why so close to the one vampire who would actually do something about it?”

“Perhaps because Thaddeus is the one vampire who would do something about it. He was also Morpheus’ top target,” Sasha reminded. “Or how about the fact Morpheus swore his Master would seek vengeance?”

“Have there been no other ghoul sightings?” Thaddeus mused aloud. “In other areas, I mean.”

Sasha pursed her lips. “I honestly haven’t looked any farther than our current area, working on the assumption any Morpheus leftovers would be nearby. I’ll have Pierrot digging to see asap. If the ghouls are only popping up in our vicinity, thenthat would imply our culprit is also nearby and solely focused on Thad. However, if they’re becoming a worldwide issue…”

She didn’t need to finish that sentence, because they could all already follow the grave implications. If this so-called master was intent on picking up Morpheus’ quest to reveal vampires’ existence and had ghouls being created to cause havoc elsewhere, then there would be no hiding. Humans would finally notice, and that would be bad. So very, very bad.

While Sasha had not lived through the terrible centuries where vampires were hunted, she knew of them. Knew there was a time when the vampires eked out an existence as outcasts, hiding from society, living in fear. The queen had supposedly been the one to change all that, gathering the vamps who managed to survive, as well as getting hold of as many remains of those who’d departed as possible. Some had been left to ash in the sun, their essence forever lost, but many superstitious souls of the time used to behead the vampires, then bury the body and cranium separately. Once those split remains had been retrieved and properly disposed of, the flock reabsorbed their essence.

“Have Pierrot start digging. We need to know how widespread this issue is. Be prepared to travel. If there are more ghoul nests, we should endeavor to cleanse them, if possible. One can only hope the Lycans manage to protect themselves better, so as to not add more fodder to this master’s arsenal.”

“And if they switch to using humans?” Marc asked.

“Then we’re going to be busy as fuck taking them out.” Thaddeus uttered a rare expletive. “But I doubt any vampire is going to give up that much of its essence to create weak ghouls.”

Toni glanced at her wrist. “I’ve got to leave for my appointment.”

“I’ll get the car keys and meet you at the garage,” Marc offered as they left together.

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