Page 15 of Rogue Wolf

And time for a shower and clean clothes. He didn’t think he could stomach food yet. First the paint, and then he would unleash hell on the vampires.

“When you’re done lighting the fire,” Kodiak said softly, “can you get the paint from the front gate? Moki can help you.”

And give the upstart something to do.

Onai nodded his head, eyes shadowed once more with grief.

Kodiak headed inside the clubhouse. His shower could wait. He wanted to speak with Ash in private about Tamaska’s change.

He stopped inside the door and took in the scene. Everyone was doing their bit in getting things sorted. They’d rearrange furniture later, but for now the repetitive task of cleaning helped soothe souls.

It pleased Kodiak to see Moki working hard with Ash, cleaning on the other side of the room. He still didn’t entirely trust Moki, but for now at least he was pulling his weight.

Couches in the center of the room would need to join the carpets on the fire. Those were ruined, their fabric covered with bloodstains, claw scratches. Even their stuffing oozed out. Every little detail reminded Kodiak of what had happened. The other couches were salvageable for now. Still beaten up and destined for the tip or a fire, but those could be covered with a sheet or two for now.

“Moki, help take these ruined couches out and then join Onai in burning the carpets. Afterwards, help bring in the paint. Start painting in the front rooms and work your way back here,” said Kodiak. “Others will help.”

“Yes, boss,” he said, forcefully throwing his now-red cloth into a bucket of water.

Kodiak glared at him. Moki kept his eyes cast down as he left the room. For now, he was obedient.

“You think we’ll get this place cleaned up today?” asked Ash, climbing down from the stepladder.

“We have to. There’s no more time. The vampires could come back.”

“So why bother cleaning, then?”

He cut her a look. “You know why, Ash. Morale is part of it, as is order.”

“Yes, but are we really sitting about waiting?” She breathed out. “We should find them and crush them.”

“Opal first, and we need to know what it does.”

“How? Throw your girl at them and see what happens?” She stopped at his dark expression he shot her way. Ash held up her hands. “I like Tamaska. I’m just saying sitting about isn’t a plan.”

He ran a hand over his face and leaned against one of the ruined couches. “No, it isn’t. But I don’t think they’re coming back in a hurry. They’ll be hurting, too. But they’ll be back and we should be ready.”

She crossed her arms. “Again, Kodiak. We don’t sit around.”

He knew what she was asking; had he gone soft because of Tamaska. It was something he privately asked himself. Because she made him vulnerable. And he fucking hated that.

However…

“We’re running out of time to putter about. We need to be ready this evening for them. I know they’ll attack again because we have Tamaska, but there’s nothing to stop us from attacking them.” He paused. “After we get the opal. And change Tamaska. If we can.”

One more thing needed to happen today—the ceremony to anoint him as alpha of the pack. Kodiak wanted to complete that tonight. They needed to be as cohesive as possible before they launched whatever they were going to launch of the blood suckers.

“I’ve never done so much cleaning in my life.” Ash dumped her cloth in the bucket, rested her hands on her lower back and stretched backwards. Like the rest of the pack members, she’d pushed her grief aside and tried to put their clubhouse back together.

But she’d also neatly side-stepped the Tamaska issue. So he straightened and went up to her. “Ash?”

“Kodiak—”

“Did you learn anything about changing her?” He lowered his voice. He didn’t want to let anyone else overhear.

“She’s been asking me about it,” said Ash, moving to Kodiak. “I’m not sure what to say.”

Kodiak went still. “Does that mean you found something?” Ash was great at finding information quickly.

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