Song of the Alpha, page 6
part #9 of Full Moon Series Series
The others agreed it was all clear, and they knew what they needed to do. Drake was the center of attention again, and they needed to do all they could in their combined efforts to protect him. It was a major cliché, but the future of mankind depended on it.
“It’s hard to believe, we’ve gone from making sure the pack’s protected to making sure humans and wolves are protected,” Maria said in amazement. “Why do you think it’s all been dumped on us to sort it out?”
Dustin smiled as he slid his empty mug across the table. “Fate has a funny way of showing itself. We all strive to make our own destiny, when in fact; it’s all mapped out for us.”
Kelvin butted in; as always. “Then you get a dick like this Sander’s dude who screws everything up.”
A giggle was raised around the table. Kelvin was right, although his way of phrasing things certainly put a differing slant on things. The pack stood and exited the coffee shop, and headed back toward the condo.
Maria stopped suddenly. She doubled over and clutched her stomach. “What’s wrong?” Dustin asked.
Maria retched and dribbled saliva onto the path leading through the condo gardens. “I don’t feel right. Maybe I’ve eaten something which hasn’t agreed with me.” Dustin rubbed her shoulders as her hand was pushed to her knees. Maria’s body tensed as she hurled. “I’m going to bed and see if I can sleep it off.”
“Make sure you drink plenty of water.”
“I know. It’s like a hangover, all over again.”
Maria collapsed on her bed and wriggled free from her boots and jeans. She lay on the bed and rolled herself in the bedsheet. The room spun as she wiped her head with a damp facecloth. She rested her head back on the pillow. Her eyes closed and her heart labored. Short, shallow breaths escaped from her lungs as she slipped into a deep sleep.
She started to dream. And the dream wasn’t nice, and it wasn’t of a place she knew, either.
Maria dreamed of the future.
“First was a girl, and then there was a boy. A gleeful smile and acting all coy.”
Chapter 7
Button It
“I see no ships, only hardships.”
The sun started setting when Megan left the apartment and made her way downstairs. She exited the condo as the gardener was winding up his hose.
“How far is the beach away from here?” she asked, in a tone which made most people take an almost instant dislike to her.
“You walking or taking a cab?”
“Walking,” she said, still using a tone that gave her no complement.
Megan smiled, but it didn’t look half as appealing with the deep scar down her cheek. The gardener never flinched as he’d replied. He pointed with his left hand and said about twenty to thirty minutes’ walk. He didn’t want to sound too helpful; he’d taken an almost instant dislike to Megan.
Megan could do with the fresh air. Sat in the back of the van for the most of the day wasn’t the healthiest of conditions. She strode with a sense of urgency in her steps. Sanders would be waiting, and she didn’t want him to stand for too long before she arrived. She walked under the causeway as the shadow enveloped her. There was a low rumble of traffic through the concrete road which passed overhead as it buzzed lowly in her ears. The smell of freshly cut grass wafted over her as she passed the golf-course, and then the smell of the ocean. She heard the breaking of the surf on the beach, from just over a block away. The yelps and screams of teenagers, who were playing in the final beams of sunlight before they packed up and headed off, were also heard. First and second base might be a probability. Third base, depending on the girl, was (perhaps) a maybe.
Fuck!
Megan stood looking at the bridge over the last stretch of water. There was no footpath. The traffic was light, and she only had one option. She needed to turn and run through the head-on stream of cars coming in her direction. She skulked back into the shadows and called on her inner wolf. She flexed her shoulders and cricked her neck to get ready. Her snout poked from the shadows as she looked across the bridge. It seemed the traffic slowed and thinned. She bolted toward the bridge. The road banked upward as she left the ground level. She glanced across the marina to her side. The boats bobbed on the darkening water below her. She was blinded by a row of headlights heading in her direction. She had nowhere to run, apart from straight ahead. Water streamed across her cheek as all the lights focused on her one good eye. She blinked and held her head to the side to divert the scattered beams of the headlights.
I’m going to have to jump.
Megan increased her speed as the cars neared. She spotted that two were SUVs, and one was a hatchback. She switched lanes. Her head bowed and she ran toward the smallest of the vehicles. She counted her paces and decided another ten or twelve would be needed before she needed to jump. Her fur blew in the wind that swayed across the bridge. The gusts increased as she reached the highest part of the road.
Seven…eight…nine…
Her muscles coiled as she reached nine. On ten she released all her power. The hatchback passed beneath her as the wind caught her and carried her to the side. The side window of the SUV smashed into her ribs. She heard the thud and turned her head. A child in a baby seat sat shaking a baby’s rattle and gurgling. She fell to the road as the car halted. The driver stepped onto the concrete and looked back. Megan was long gone and hidden from sight; she peered back toward the stationary vehicle where the driver stood, now scratching his head.
Megan heaved a massive sigh of relief and changed back to her human form. She crossed the street and passed through the motel gardens. Two silhouetted figures stood at the water’s edge.
“You’re late!” Sanders commented, double-checking his watch to see how late Megan was.
“It’s not so freakin’ easy; jumping over a traveling vehicle with only one eye, you know,” she replied. Normally she wouldn't have bothered, but she was getting a little pissed at people drawing attention to (or making little digs at) her blind eye.
NOT HER FUCKING FAULT, she thought, very loudly in her angry mind.
“I see,” he replied, instinctively sensing the anger rising up inside of her.
“Well, they know you’re here, and they’ve got Drake under constant supervision. Two people at all times. Tomorrow, Declan’s taking Gabriel to the witch who helped him get back to being his wolf, but I heard them talking. She isn’t powerful enough to change him back. All she can do is give advice on the next step, whatever that’ll be,” Megan explained.
“So, we can only get Drake from them and then see how we can get the information we need. We might have to pay this witch a visit ourselves.” Sanders turned to face the ocean as it lapped over his shoes. Tanya walked back toward them with the wind blowing her long hair across her face.
“It’s blowing a gale. I can’t keep the hair out of my eyes,” she said as Megan stared and then snarled at her. “Sorry! I never intended that to come out. You know I’ll always have a thing for you.” Tanya walked toward Megan and ran her hands over her cheeks. She pushed her lips hard against Megan’s and kissed her passionately.
“Steady on girls, this isn’t the time or the place. We could take it back to the motel room though, if you want to continue?” Sanders commented, rubbing his growing crotch.
Megan removed her hand from Tanya’s breast and said she’d love to, but she needed to get back. If she was gone too long, it’d raise too many suspicions. And although she’d proved herself in the woods, she always felt like an outsider. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t a pack member —and never would be, or they just didn’t trust her, deep down.
“I reckon they’d have done something about it if they didn’t trust you. How many times do you need to prove yourself to become accepted?” Sanders commented as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and enveloped her in the flowing, cape-like coat that he wore. He pulled Megan close to his body and ran his fingers over her scar. “I like it; it makes you more beautiful, if anything.”
He lowered his head and kissed her. He tasted the sweetness of Tanya on her lips. He pulled his head back. They turned and walked up the damp sand and toward the row of palm trees that lined the road. Sand kicked up and peppered their cheeks as they crossed the street to the motel’s gardens.
“I’m going to get a cab to the other side of the bridge. The crosswind blew me into a SUV,” she remarked. “The last thing I want is to end up in a hospital, or in the damn marina under the bridge.”
“Yes! The wind can pick up without you knowing, especially on a bridge that high. Get a cab and be safe.” They walked to the front of the motel as Megan hailed a cab. “Keep me informed about tomorrow night. It’s a full moon, and we might have to be on our toes with the witch. These Everglades are nothing like the forest in Cripple Creek.”
Megan laughed as she held her hand on the cab door. “I know. Some people say it’s an enchanted place, and…” she said, pulling the cab door open.
“And what do the others say about it?” Sanders asked, quizzically.
“The others reckon it’s like hell on earth.”
Sanders smiled and held his arms out to his sides. “Now; that’s my kind of place.”
Gabriel woke and noticed that Megan wasn’t around. He sat up on the couch and stretched. He checked the bedroom and then exited the apartment. He walked to Maria’s room and tried the door. It wasn’t locked, so he poked his head inside.
“Maria?” he called.
He heard moaning from the bedroom and walked inside. He saw that Maria was fast asleep and was lying on the bed in her panties, and in a soaking wet t-shirt. He neared the bed and shook her shoulder.
“Maria,” he whispered.
Maria muttered gibberish. Her words made no sense, and she wouldn’t wake. He grabbed the cloth and soaked it with fresh water. He went back to the bedroom. Maria was sitting up in bed and stared with dead eyes.
“You’re awake, after all,” he said, to no response.
She sat motionless and was staring at nothing. He waved his hand in front of her eyes. Maria never blinked, and Gabriel lowered her body back to the bed and placed the cloth on her forehead. He walked into the hallway and down to the lobby as he saw the angelic figure walking up the path carrying a large bag.
“Let me help you with that,” he said. “And I need a favor.”
“Something for nothing? I knew it didn’t exist.”
“It’s not that. Maria doesn’t seem well, and she’s talking in her sleep and soaked in sweat. Can you take a quick look at her?”
They entered the apartment, and Sascha entered the bedroom in a rush. She checked Maria’s pulse and took her temperature. She turned and looked at Gabriel. “What’s she been saying?”
“It sounded like gibberish and then she sat up staring.”
“When did she become like this?”
Gabriel explained they’d been to the coffee shop and it was when she reached the condo that she’d doubled over and puked her guts up. Sascha went to stand as Maria’s body lunged forward. A stream of green puke projected itself all over Sascha’s pristine white uniform. Gabriel rushed to the bathroom and grabbed a couple of towels. He returned to see Sascha removing her top. Her breasts… her juicy plump breasts sat cradled in a pink lacey bra. She dropped her white top into the empty trashcan and stood to remove her pants. Gabriel turned to be polite and saw the athletic body of Sascha’s in the mirror.
Geez! She’s so damned hot.
Gabriel held the towels for Sascha to wrap around herself. She lifted her gaze and noticed Gabriel watching her every move. She blew him a kiss from her fleshy-ripe lips and wrapped the towel around her body. Gabriel felt his face flush, and he lowered his gaze.
“I’m a doctor. I see naked or half naked bodies all day. It doesn’t bother me that you’ve been watching me,” she said in a tone that was as soft as her skin looked. He turned once she was covered. Sascha wiped the dribble of puke from Maria’s chin and handed him the cloth. “Wet that and make sure you get rid of all the puke.”
Gabriel stood in the bathroom and was now scrubbing at the facecloth. He returned and handed it to Sascha.
“Is she going to be okay?” he asked.
“She’s fine th…” she started to say.
Gabriel interrupted. “She doesn’t look fine. The last time I saw this was in a movie about exorcism.”
Sascha smirked. “You’re not a million miles away with that assumption. Maria’s in a spiritual dream.”
Gabriel was stumped and asked what a spiritual dream was. Sascha explained that in this part of the country some of the spirits made contact with people when they had an important message for them.
“Is she going to be okay?” he asked, again.
Sascha explained she’d be fine. How long Maria would be under a spell, she wasn’t sure. She also told Gabriel she’d contacted Maria in her dreams, but it was very faint and she never really received an answer. Gabriel nodded and said Maria had heard voices in her sleep, and that explained where they were coming from.
“Why does it happen?” he asked.
“Beats me. It must be another side of the world. There are lots of things we can’t explain that happen.”
Gabriel laughed as Sascha finally stood from the bed and left Maria to sleep. It was a crazy world, and it’d changed so much from him thinking that werewolves were the only other type of form around, bar humankind. Since Hank and Willy had made an appearance, he’d learned of bear shifters, and now with the vlads, there were crossbreeds too. It was hard for him to comprehend, and humans. God, if they knew all this was going on it’d cause uproar and no end of unrest.
Sascha opened the balcony window. The fresh air washed over Maria. They exited the bedroom. Their voices faded. Maria heard them speaking, but was powerless to respond. She was locked in her dream state and tossed and turned at what she saw.
Turbulent waters lashed against their bodies as they rocked back and forth. She saw shouting and heard gunfire before there was silence. Maria saw the pack as they traveled strange lands. Huge storm clouds gathered overhead and the skies darkened. Rain battered them as they moved.
Maria spotted a dark ritual. The place was full of skulls and candlelight was everywhere. Animals were hung and their throats cut as fresh blood dripped into goblets. Another place came into her mind and she saw mountains across the horizon. An old church sat in a town at the side of the cobbled square. The walls were red, and bodies lay all around.
Maria tried to scream but her throat locked. She was trapped in her dream and couldn’t do anything to escape. Her nightmare was becoming too much, and she wanted to leave it, desperately so. Her head fell back on the pillow as her eyes rolled inside their sockets.
Sanders. She could see Sanders holding Drake above his head. The sky was blood red above him as he stood there, triumphantly. A large knife was in his hand. He brought it closer to Drake.
“Nooooooooooooo,” she heard, filling the town square.
Maria glanced around at all the carnage that lay before her.
Her heart raced and beat like a drum inside her chest. She slumped back against the pillow and slept. The body stood over her and looked down. The fingers brushed across Maria's cheek.
“Maria, beautiful Maria, what is it that you see?” Maria heard the voice. She saw it now. She needed to warn the pack. “Don’t fight it. Embrace the nightmare you’re in. It’ll all fall into place soon enough, and then you can make a choice for yourself.”
The fingers brushed Maria's hair from her brow and adjusted the damp cloth. The figure exited from the bedroom into the apartment and closed the door as they stepped into the hallway.
“Here she is. Where’ve you been?” Gabriel asked.
“I went for a walk,” Megan replied.
Gabriel said he’d looked all over for her. She got defensive and mentioned his early morning walk to the hospital, so it’d be better for him (and a much wiser choice) if he were to keep his mouth closed.
Gabriel kept his mouth shut. Megan smiled. Ask no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies.
“I see no ships, only hardships.”
Chapter 8
Shooting Hoops
“Blood appears on the steps, many thousands of years ago. Pray like hell before a fight, another kingdom to overthrow.”
Declan handed Drake to Sascha. She took him, and he threw his arms around her neck. Noelle made a point of him being a good boy for her, and not to cause any trouble. Drake understood as much as he could, but he’d cause trouble if he wanted to. Even from his very early age, he knew he was in charge, unless Noelle or Declan told him otherwise. Son of an alpha, and the firstborn male. Yes, a hybrid king in the making.
Declan led Gabriel and Noelle to his car. It was still the old one he owned in Cripple Creek. Gabriel started to laugh as he sauntered around the vehicle, now running his fingers over the old faded paintwork.
“I can’t believe you’ve still got this old thing,” he said. “How many years is it now?”
“I’ve known you for eleven or twelve, and I’ve had it all that time.”
Gabriel shook his head in disbelief. He clenched his fist as if to say Declan never spent any money on anything. He thought better of it, and now wasn't really the night for making fun of one another. He looked up at the moon and its full silvery-glow met him and embraced him as it cast its ethereal glow over the land. Gabriel basked in the cool light as if it was a sign something good was going to happen. He tugged on the door handle and tilted the seat forward for Noelle to climb onto the rear seat.
“Do we have everything?” Declan asked Noelle.
“Yeah. Knife, flashlight, and some cookies.”
Gabriel started to laugh as soon as Noelle mentioned cookies. He wasn’t aware they were headed on a trip to enjoy themselves, he thought it was serious.
“It’s a sign of respect. The witch loves cookies, and if you bring them she knows you’re a legitimate candidate for a sitting.”
