A Shifter's Curse - Raven Steele (best e reader for epub .txt) 📗
- Author: Raven Steele
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"Careful,” Gerald warned. "He’s still our Alpha."
Jerry turned to him real slow. "But should he be? This isn't the first time I've caught him or Silas doing shady things.”
I leaned back into the seat, letting them do all the talking. It would be huge if I could get Jerry on my side. He was one of the older pack members and was seen as a father figure to many.
“I admit,” Gerald said, “punishing someone in private is highly unorthodox.”
Jerry snorted. "Unorthodox? It's forbidden! Not only that, but have you seen that human Silas keeps in the basement lately? I don’t think the dude is even human anymore. These drugs Dominic is getting from the Nocturnas are straight out of a horror film. I don’t think we should be introducing it to the States." He shook his head. “I can’t imagine what it would do to supernaturals.”
Gerald tapped on the back of the seat deep in thought. "It’s dangerous working with vampires. That's what got my father killed when his pack tried to work with them. They can't be trusted, but what can we do about it?”
Jerry swiped at his forehead. “Let's see how this plays out. If things don’t settle down, maybe we can call for a pack tribunal. There hasn’t been one in over ten years, but maybe it's time. The only problem is, who’s going to challenge Dominic as Alpha?”
Gerald leaned back in his seat and rested his elbow up on the windowsill. “No one.”
I finally spoke. "You could challenge him, Gerald.” I meant it too. He would make a good Alpha. A stickler for rules and honor. He would always make the right decision for the pack.
Gerald laughed, but when he looked over at Jerry who was glancing back and forth between him and the road, his face expectant, he shook his head. "You can't be serious."
"I don't know. The gal’s got a point. You’re strong, smart. The other pack members like you. Why the hell not?"
"I'm better at following orders. Besides, I’m pretty sure Dominic could kick my ass in a fight."
I fell back against the seat, sighing. I wasn’t sure he would win either. I had bested him in a fight after all, but then again, that wasn’t really fair. I wasn’t like most wolves.
I hadn't thought about who would become Alpha after I killed Dominic. I assumed I would just kill everyone involved with my family’s death and move on. But what if I could leave the pack stronger than what it was? Some of these guys weren’t half-bad. I bit my lip, thinking. I bet Luke could be Alpha. He’d make a great one.
Jerry steered the vehicle onto the long lane leading to Fire Ridge. The road was packed with cars parked on both sides. Dominic really had called every pack member back to the mansion. That was twice in less than forty-eight hours. Something bad was going to happen. I could feel it in my gut.
The mansion was packed full of people, practically shoulder to shoulder. I pushed my way through the crowd trying to find either my uncle or Ryder. As I made my way across the throng of shifters, I felt the tiniest pricks of coolness crawling across my spine. I glanced back only to meet Silas’ deadly glare from across the room. I quickly averted my gaze. Dude was a creeper.
Dominic moved out of the crowd, walking halfway up the sweeping staircase. He waited a moment while his commanding presence, the power he emanated as Alpha, silenced the room.
Once he had everyone’s attention, he opened his arms. “Now that everyone has decided to show up, we can get on with why I called this meeting." His weighted gaze fell over the pack. “One among us is a traitor. No one will be leaving until I find who.”
The strength of his Alpha power reached out in long tendrils, touching each one of us with invisible icy fingers. “And when I do, that person will pay with their life.”
Hurried whispers erupted across the pack. Punishment by death was a big deal. It required the approval of everyone in the pack. Once again, Dominic was changing the rules.
I found Gerald in the crowd. He was shaking his head in disgust. Luke happened to be next to him, looking just as pissed.
“Everyone outside!” Silas barked. “Form three uniformed lines, and shut your damn mouths!”
It took several minutes to organize everyone. Every pack member age eighteen and older was there. Samantha stood on my left with Ryder on my right. My uncle stood at the end of my same line. Our eyes locked, and I saw the worry hidden beyond their glassy surface.
The evening sun hung low over our backs, and my heart pounded, waiting. Our shadows stretched from beneath us. My gaze lowered to mine. It looked darker than the others somehow.
Dominic walked out the back door with his usual entourage. Silas was just behind him, followed by Lilith’s sister, Maera. I wondered what she was doing here. I’d only seen her one other time.
Luke finished the procession, his head down as he typed furiously into his phone. He looked especially broody, if that were even possible.
Dominic, calm as ever, took his place in the front of the pack. He clasped his hands behind his back and lifted his chin a little. "As all of you are aware, the Greybacks broke into our home and destroyed what's ours right under our very clueless noses. In addition, they stole something very valuable. A drug that would've made us richer than any of us could ever imagine. None of you would ever feel the sting of hunger again. Your families would be provided for for decades. Your children could go to the best schools.”
The pack whispered to each other, some apprehensive, others excited. Dominic paused, waiting for everyone to turn their full attention to him again.
“I always believe in being honest with my pack,” he said. “I think that's why many of you chose to follow me. And so I am honest with you now. We are in a fragile alliance with the Nocturnas. Everything depends upon the briefcase the Greybacks stole. If the vampires can’t trust us with one briefcase, they certainly won’t give us enough to distribute.” He paused dramatically, his eyes moving over the crowd. "How many of you are willing to let the Greybacks steal your future? Your children's future?"
Shouts of disapproval polluted the air. A few howled. Jerry was one of them, sucked in by the Alpha’s words and emotions.
Me, I wanted to roll my eyes.
Dominic continued. “I pondered for a long time, wondering how the hell the Greybacks were able to disappear so completely. And again, how they continue to evade us. They can’t just disappear into the fucking air!” His face was red now, the only time I’d ever seen him lose control. “There’s only one answer. They had help. From one of our own. Someone is feeding them information."
Heads turned as a rumble moved throughout the crowd. Everyone was looking at each other, giving each other distrustful or curious looks, as if they would be able to spot the traitor. I did the same. As long as Ryder and my uncle stayed quiet, no one would know our deceit.
Silas stepped forward, his cane hitting pointedly on the ground. “The traitor will be found! You can try to keep your lies hidden, but we have ways of uncovering the truth.” He lifted his hand and waved Maera forward. "Do what you do best."
“With pleasure.” She smiled slow and deliberately, her blue eyes so light, they were almost transparent. She wore a short black dress, black thigh stockings and a corset top that pushed her boobs up tight. Her high heels dug into the ground as she stepped toward the first person in line, a smaller woman with short brown hair and upturned nose. She looked barely eighteen. “Do you know anything about the Greybacks’ location? The smallest detail will do.”
The young shifter vehemently shook her head, her bottom lip trembling. “I didn’t do anything. I swear it!”
“We’ll see about that, Tiffany.” Maera leaned in, stopping inches from Tiffany’s face, and searched her eyes. Maera lifted her fingers and brushed them across the top of Tiffany’s head. Tiffany grimaced as if she were feeling physical pain.
Maera frowned, disappointed. “She’s clean.”
“Move on,” Silas ordered.
Maera continued her interrogation. She took her time asking different questions, all related to the missing Greybacks. Whatever she was doing to their minds, it was clearly painful. Several flinched, while others literally cried out and begged for mercy.
I hadn’t had much experience with witches, but I trusted my own power would be strong enough to mentally block her. I glanced sideways at Ryder and my uncle. But what about them?
My palms grew sweaty, and my pulse raced. The sudden beads of sweat
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