I stalk out of the bedroom without apologizing to the female. I have to bite back more harsh words I want to fling at her. She's hurt, grievously, and I need to let her recover. She's a bad female. She'll mess up, and Rhet will finally see reason and send her away.
I walk to the mudroom and strip. Outside, I let my body shift. My wolf howls, letting his brothers know he's going for a run. A soft yip of acknowledgment comes from the house.
My paws pound the dirt as I flee the scene in the house. Her eyes are really pretty—blue and green with sparks of golden brown. I like having her eyes on me. I like it too much. I can't deal with a female like that; I just won't survive it. My wolf won't survive.
She's a rotten female.
---
Alpha Jax
It's a blood moon tonight. She hangs in the sky like a malevolent spirit with none of the cool glow we are used to.
It feels like a fucking blood moon, too. As usual, the pack is going nuts. The medical clinic is chock full of the most ridiculous injuries.
I can hear shouting and wailing as I approach the doors. Internally I roll my eyes just like a teenager. I hate these nights. You would think that wolves would love a full moon, but too many of us lose control to our wolves, and as alpha, it's my job to make sure that no one gets too crazy.
"Alpha Jax!" Roberta bustles over to me with a small smile on her face. "What can I help you with?"
I ignore the discomfort stabbing me between my shoulder blades. I have to just carry on and deal. No use in dwelling on my son's mistakes. He's with Cloe now, trying to fix their mating at my uncle's pack on the west coast. Hopefully, Daan can pull it together and finally Mark the poor female.
"I'm just here to check on things, Roberta," I tell her, forcing my face into a smile.
She nods, just as a clatter can be heard down the hall. "Crap," she mutters under her breath. "Give me just a moment, Alpha. Or, if you want, you can meander down the unrestricted corridor. We have a couple of wolves locked up in isolation that are very ill, so avoid that hall?" she calls out as she hurries toward the noise.
I turn in the opposite direction, choosing to take her advice instead of standing around with my hands in my pockets.
"Alpha!" Mark Wilson greets me with a sheepish smile at the first curtained-alcove.
I can easily see why he's here. A considerable gash has been bandaged on his forehead, and his eyes still look dazed by what must have been a heavy hit. Bar fight, knowing Mark.
"How's the other guy?" I ask sardonically, pointing at his head.
"Ah, well, great, I guess. It was my fault. I got up in Cal's face, and I'm pretty sure one of his brothers conked me with a bottle."
I wince for him. That element of the pack has always teetered out of control. I'll have to call up Max, my Beta, to see what the department has dealt with tonight. He will which of our officers responded to the incident.
I tell Mark to watch himself before heading down to the next bed. These packmates are both sleeping. Flu, I believe. It shouldn't be long before they are both recovered.
In the fourth bay, I see Giles McCormack. I can smell why he's here. He scents of females and the two-prong mark on his neck clearly state that a taser took him down. I sigh, mentally wondering if this is a bigger problem than I want to deal with. I look him over silently as he sits on the bed, refusing to meet my gaze. He's not handcuffed, so I assume he wasn't arrested.
"Giles," I greet him in a stern voice.
"Alpha," he mutters back.
"Anything you need to tell me?"
"Not much," he mumbled, "just some bitches who got out of hand."
I growl lowly; my wolf riled up by this male who speaks so poorly of his pack's females. "You want to try that again?"
He's sullen when he amends his statement, "Julie and I were having some fun, and Kylie got pissed. She's always been jealous."
I'll have to speak with Julie to make sure she's OK. I try to get some more answers out of Giles, but he's not cooperative. I'll talk to him again after I speak with Julie.
The last occupied bay has the curtain pulled tightly shut. My wolf goes alert; something behind that curtain if giving him a bad vibe. I peel it back and feel my heart sink at the frightened eyes that look back at me.
"Dahlia?" I approach the young female slowly. She must be only, what, fifteen, sixteen? Sixteen, I decide when I get closer. I can scent her wolf in her.