Page 10 of Frenzy
“Uh, how can I help you guys?”
The Alpha looked at me with fathomless, dark eyes. “I would like to speak to your Pack decision makers.”
I hesitated, but picked up the phone. I needn’t have bothered though, because in the next breath, the Alpha General was there, eyeing the Alpha in the doorway as well as the seven or so men behind him. Each one looked dangerous, and if I judged the bulges beneath their jackets correctly, armed.
“Call the Force, Radic,” the Alpha General barked, and I did as I was told, picking up the phone and speed dialing the Force. I murmured softly for them to get their asses over here, while still keeping one ear on the conversation.
The big Alpha ran his eyes appraisingly over the Alpha General. “I would like to request aid for this Omega Manix and his young from your healer. He is part of my Pack, so I would request that my family be able to stay close while the babes are treated.” The Omega started, looking at the Alpha in surprise, but didn’t contradict him.
The Alpha General ran his eyes over their ragtag Pack, stilling on the babies swaddled in the Omega’s arms, his face twisting in disgust. The babies did smell... wrong somehow, but they were still innocents. We respected the life of the young here, but much more so if they were full-blooded Manix, apparently.
The lead weight in my stomach doubled in size as the Alpha General glared in their direction. “The Omega can stay. The rest of yourgroup”—he sneered the word— “aren’t welcome to stay in Maxton. This is a Manix only community.”
I knew what he meant though. I could feel the power coming off this Alpha in waves. The Alpha Generalknewthis stranger was stronger than he was. He was a threat and the Alpha General wanted him gone. I wanted to shout at the Alpha General that he was going about this all wrong, but he would be too stubborn to listen anyway.
The big Alpha’s eyes turned as hard as black ice. “Unfortunately, that will not work for me.” His voice was so cold that it sent a chill down my spine. “I don’t believe I’ve introduced myself. My name is Courtland De León, and I am challenging you for control of the Manix.”
Holy fuck.
6
Courtland
Isilently cursed my impulsiveness, though Dominic would laugh at the idea that I possessed such a quality. But I did; sometimes my anger overtook my good sense and I did stupid things like challenge an aging Alpha to the right to rule an entire fucking town. An entire species. But there was something about the twist of his face, the condescending tone he used to speak to me, that made me see red.
Dominic whistled, so maybe he wouldn’t be laughing so hard at the idea I was impulsive. But I’d learned that once you put something like this out there, you couldn’t take it back. All you could do was commit to it or bluff your way out of it.
The older Manix stumbled back a step like I’d physically struck him. “You can’t.”
Now it was my turn to sneer. “I can.” I looked at the handsome Beta behind the desk. “Are your leaders democratically elected, or is it done by Alpha battle, like old?”
The Beta looked between us, his face a little pale. “It hasn’t been, I mean, I think an Alpha battle? The strongest Alphas are the Legion Generals.” His voice was strong and sure, despite his obvious shock at my statement.
I let my eyes flick over him quickly. Sandy blond hair that contrasted with his straight, dark brows. Bright blue eyes and almost pretty pink lips. My Alpha roared to life, and he wanted to devour this Beta inch by inch. I pushed down the urge, concentrating on the problem at hand.
Dominic stepped closer to my back. “Boots coming up the front steps.”
I nodded, trusting that my Beta would handle it. I waited until the troops were slightly closer before raising my voice. “Are you too weak to accept my challenge, or do you not respect your own laws, Alpha?”
I could smell the gun oil, and sensed the tenseness of my men around me. There were seven with me and the Omega, and the rest were guarding the cars with my family in it. They were on a shoot-first order. The Manix were meant to be warriors, but the Alpha General was proof that they were out of shape, and probably unseasoned.
Iago, my uncle, had plucked my sister from these lands, from this security force, as easily as taking candy from an infant. I knew my men were more than enough to hold them off while I discussed finding a healer and a place to stay for my Pack.
And theyweremy Pack, even if the little Omega didn’t know it yet.Mine!The Beast roared inside my mind.
Yes. Ours.
“I requested aid for these two Manix infants and you rejected my request.” Well, basically true. “I think you are an unfit Alpha for this race, and I challenge you for control,” I repeated again, just so there was no doubt amongst the troops massing at my back.
The Alpha General shook his head. “No. If you think you can waltz into my town and make ultimatums, you’re fucking insane. No. I reject your challenge.”
I threw back my head and laughed. “Old man, you don’t get to reject a challenge. That isn’t how the laws of nature work, and according to the Beta, not how your society works.” I met the Beta’s eyes. “I promise, I mean this town no ill intent. I just want treatment for the young, somewhere safe for my Pack. Maybe get to know my kin.” And there it was, that softness I wasn’t known for but that had somehow wormed its way inside my heart anyway. I’d chosen Maxton because I wanted to be closer to Naja and the last of my blood. I’d worked so hard, for so long, to free my sister, that when it was over, I was lost. Dominic would say I had a savior complex. The asshole would probably be right.
I didn’t take my eyes off the Beta, who was obviously some kind of assistant. I didn’t know why it was important that he knew I meant the town—and him—no harm, but it felt vital.
Finally, he nodded. “The laws of Maxton, of the Manix, have always been that the strongest lead.” He cleared his throat. “But you’re a stranger, an outsider, and there's going to be resistance, Mr De Léon.”
The corners of my lips turned up. “Call me Courtland.”
