Page 26 of Frenzy
I paused, not wanting to spill secrets that weren’t mine to tell, but Dominic spoke up and solved my indecision. “We rescued them and the Omega from a research facility south of the border. They were cross-bred with another full-blooded shifter and, well, your medical professional suggests that the two beasts are fighting a battle that their bodies can’t handle.”
The older Alpha’s eyebrows shot up, but soon enough he was frowning again as he mulled over that statement. And there was a lot there to unpack. Two lost Manix from the same area? What were the chances of that? I had a feeling that there might be a little Legion Force contingent heading to the warmer climates south of the border real soon.
Finally, he nodded. “I’d like to meet with the new Alpha—before the challenge, if I could. I can probably sway some of the other Generals, because like you, I believe a change in leadership has been warranted for some time now. But I will not hand over the lives of my people to a man I’ve never met, who I can’t be sure has the best interests of us all at heart, not just his own Pack.”
Dominic snorted. “If there’s something Courtland has, it's a savior complex. None under his care have been harmed in any way.”
“And what is it your Pack did before you arrived in Maxton?” Joshua said, a little imperiously.
Dominic just grinned. “Contract logistics.”
I shook my head. “They ran drugs and probably other illegal goods across the border. They were criminals.”
I could feel the searing heat of Dominic’s gaze. “And why do you think that?” He didn’t dispute my claim.
Now it was my turn to look imperious. “I’ve met your men. I’ve made some deductions. Plus, I’m not an idiot—I can connect the dots. But I think it's best to start this whole thing with truth.” Dominic continued to stare at me, and although we were different species and on a similar power level, I had to try really hard not to drop my eyes. His gaze promised retribution later, but there was a slight heat in them that told me I might like it.
Finally, I dragged my eyes away, clearing my throat. “I’ll schedule the challenge for this full moon, Sir.” Standing, I dipped my head in respect. “I’ll set up a formal meeting before then.”
Joshua looked around the office. “It might be best if we meet up at the old Sanctum dormitories.” He pointed to his ears and then the walls. “I shall bring a gift for the young. The Legion used to give gifts to all new cubs, and unfortunately it’s just another tradition that has been pushed to the side for far too long.”
I smiled. “I’ll pass it by the Alpha, but I think that would be best, Sir.”
We said polite goodbyes and left, Dominic trailing just behind me. As we passed the supply closet, Dominic reached out and grabbed me, dragging me into the tiny darkened room. He pressed me against the tower of copy paper, and I let out a small oof. He pressed a leg between my own, and I could feel the hard press of his cock against my thigh.
“Beta, you tempt me more than you fucking should,” he growled, gripping my jaw in his hand and kissing me hard. Pulling away with a gasp, he ran his tongue up the sharp line of my jaw. “One day soon, my Alpha is going to fuck you and you will only ever call one man Sir again.” His grin was feral and filled with mischief, and then he was gone, leaving me panting and painfully hard surrounded by office supplies.
16
Courtland
The week before the full moon had devolved into a cycle of endless meetings, and I was beginning to miss a time that I could pick up a nine millimeter and let it do the talking for me. Now it was all negotiations and political maneuvering, hand holding and reassuring a bunch of aging Alphas that I was the right choice.
I would never win a Miss Congeniality pageant, and it was beginning to strain my already thin patience. Or maybe it was that Dominic, Bonnie and Radic had been fucking like monkeys and I hadn’t yet gotten a taste.
I tapped my finger on my thigh, as another ‘concerned’ citizen had something they wanted to talk about, which was basically them needing reassurance that I wouldn’t steal their business/money/Omegas from them.
“I assure you, I have no interest in taking over the whole of Maxton. Life will continue as it has before, with the exception of less hoarding of resources, and removing the prison bars around this town,” I appeased once more.
Radic appeared at the door of the formal sitting room we’d been using for these meetings. He was smiling but his eyes looked worried. “Sir, your next meeting is here.”
I didn’t have another meeting, but I hurriedly cut the meeting short with… Fuck, I’d forgotten his name already. One of the sheep. A Beta who’d been content with the status quo because it benefitted him.
Once he’d left, I stood as Radic moved into the room. He was pale, and I automatically went for my gun. A brief gust of wind was the only warning I got before there was a huge fucking vampire grabbing my wrist.
“Won’t need that,” he purred with a faint British accent.
Fuck, I had Baby Two strapped to my chest—would it be dangerous to shift with him attached? My eyes darted quickly to Radic, trying to work out how I could extract us all from this situation.
As if he saw my Beast rising, he raised a hand. “The Convocation is here, Courtland.”
I shook my hand out of the vampire's grasp, and I knew he let go because he wanted to, not because he was compelled to. I looked at this big, tattooed bastard. “Since when does Alexander use vampires?”
A light, tinkling laugh echoed from just outside the room. “Alexander doesn’t, but he’s ancient and cocky and decided that considering you guys were basically extinct, you come under my purview.”
A pretty girl with bright red hair wandered in. Behind her were two more vampires. The girl looked like she was eighteen at most, but then my nose filled in the gaps. She was a vampire, though something else niggled at my senses just below the surface.
“I’m not a vampire though.”
