Slade, Book 1 in Team Greywolf Series Page 3

  A distant memory of hunting with his brothers haunted his soul. His fangs extended, and his claws snapped out. How could he live without them, his parents, his beta friends and his loyal omegas? Alone. The wolf growled. Yet, he abandoned them.

  “Prince Slade.”

  He cocked his head at her, now dressed in form-fitting blue jeans and a red sweater. Her amber eyes mesmerized him. This time, she wasn’t faking it. Her heartbeat raced. About time she showed respect.

  Despite her deference, she approached him, her hand extended. “Please, sit. I’ll bring you something to eat.”

  Slade slowly exhaled. “I’m not hungry.”

  “I know. You are grieving, and I understand.”

  Slade narrowed his eyes. “How could you?” He raked his uncombed hair back. “You know nothing.”

  “During the change, other stronger wolves died.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Imagine my pack’s disappointment when I, a useless runt, survived and stronger children had not.”

  He met her eyes. Even more beautiful as they glistened with wetness. “Never say you are useless. A runt able to survive the change is favored by the gods.” He stepped closer and thumbed away a tear.

  “Or a freak.”

  “When my older alpha brother bit me, I almost died.”

  Cricket smirked. “You?”

  “I suffered for two days as Stallo’s poison coursed through me.” He snorted. “I thought how bad could my brother’s bite be while he was human?” How ironic a human bite created the werewolf and not the other way around.

  “Try suffering the change for four days.”

  “What?”

  “I should have died after a couple hours, but I clung on and on. My mother told me the pack alpha almost put me out of my misery. Yet, because I fought so hard to stay alive, he let me fight one more day. And another. Until, weak and barely able to move, I uttered the words, I survived.”

  “You are more than special, you’re a miracle.”

  Cricket’s eyes widened, and her cheeks blushed. “Umm. Thanks.”

  Slade couldn’t help but admire her. Their life had not been easy. Actually, his had been much easier than hers, from the time he roamed the woods as a wolf with his pack to after the change when he was a prince and privileged. Cricket had been the lowest of the low. He imagined she never got the best parts of a kill, always had to be submissive even to the omegas, given a silly name and living with her humiliating frailty. Fated to die during the change. And yet, she’d suffered the agonizing pain of the change for four days, lived, and earned beta status within Rylee’s pack. Like him. A fighter. Like her, did he now have a purpose to serve his kind? Was that why he felt a strong bond with this petite she-wolf? He cleared his throat. “Any idea where to go?”

  “We can hike to headquarters. You have an appointment with Dr. Warner in a couple hours.”

  He snorted. “Why not? As long as drugs are not involved.”

  She lifted her chin. “Trust me, that’s not happening on my shift.”

  Confident Little Wolf. “Good to know.”

  Chapter 3

  Cricket shot Slade a guarded look as they stepped outside the front door. Do I trust he won’t go rogue wolf on me? On the other hand, if he did, maybe Rylee would decide he’d be better off with another omega. Anyway, beta guards patrolled Rylee’s territory so they were there in case she needed help. Then again, he might rip out their throats if he felt threatened. “I could drive us back to headquarters?”

  “I’ve been cooped up long enough.” He gave her a condescending smile. “But if you can’t keep up with me—or is it too cold?”

  The early-November fall weather was cold, but no snowfall. The trail paralleled the gravel road and even a human child could walk it. He acted as if she wasn’t wolf. She frowned. “I’m fine. Just don’t shift until we get there.” While human, he had better control of his wolf.

  Slade’s voice thickened, “I know I can’t bring back my pack, but going blood-thirsty mad will dishonor their memory.”

  A breakthrough, I hope. Cricket unlocked the gate, and he followed her out. She held her breath. Waiting for him to take off in the maddened state she’d seen this morning. Instead, he stood and waited for her to lock the gate. “Very well then, let’s go.” She took off in a dead run. Show him, I’m no weak runt.

  Slade growled and quickly caught up. “I never permitted you to run ahead.”

  Arrogant alpha. Cricket kept a good running pace and smirked. “Sorry, if I’m running too fast.”

  He grabbed her and held her arms in a vise-like grip. “You are mine to obey.”

  Fury took over her good senses. “The hell I am.” She met his eyes and tried to twist away, but his massive hands shackled her. “Let go of me.”

  Slade’s fangs emerged, and his tone turned deeper, menacing, “You need to know your place.”

  My place is with Team Greywolf. “Or what, you’ll maim me like you did Warner’s omega?”

  He stared, using his alpha mind control.

  Cricket caved and lowered her gaze. “Yes, sir.” What was she thinking teasing and then defying not only a royal alpha, but one on the edge of insanity?

  Slade released her, and his voice softened. “I’m sorry. Even with your bad manners, I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.” He shook his head. “I’ve never been rough with subordinates. I’m still out of control.”

  Cricket rubbed her arms, his red imprint remained, but no real damage. Obviously, the poor prince still suffered from deep grief. “I’m sorry for my bad manners.” She sighed. “Rylee is always on my case. Says I’m more human than wolf.” Except in the sex department.

  She continued on the trail with Slade, just slightly ahead of her. Alphas were wired to lead, ready to confront new danger. Didn’t he know they were in the safest area for lycans? The beta guards in wolf form trailed them, but at a distance, giving her and the prince a feeling of privacy.

  Slade smiled as if at a distant memory. “We Yukon weres rarely mingled with humans, but the ones I met, I found intriguing.”

  “How so?”

  “I suppose because they’re so opinionated and independent of their leader.”

  She laughed. “My human friend Mia compares our alphas to dictators.”

  “Enforcer Dominic’s mate.” He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck. “I read the report. The woman captured by the bastards that murdered my pack.”

  Her belly knotted. Shit. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

  “It’s okay. She too was a victim of Anton and his pack.”

  “Yeah, they murdered her father and came close to turning her into their blood mistress.” She blew out a noisy breath. “Anyway, she’s my new BFF, and Dominic is a hero in my book.”

  Slade shook his head. “I never thought I’d see the day a werewolf took a human as a mate, but leave it to Dominic,” he said, his tone laced with resentment.

  No doubt, he still blamed Dominic for robbing him of rightful revenge against the mob. “According to our geneticist, Mia and Dominic’s offspring will be good for our kind.”

  He scowled. “We’ll see.”

  Was their conversation about to trigger the release of his raging wolf? She took a long inhale. “Doesn’t the air smell fresh?”

  “Not as fresh as my territory.” He glared toward the forest and snorted. “The beta guards following us smell like wet dogs.”

  “So… have you decided if you'll return to your territory or work for Rylee?”

  “Not sure. I was trained to be my pack’s warrior, not its king. If I stay here, I’ll hire someone to take care of our holdings.”

  Yet, should he not return and claim his territory?

  Cricket hoped he didn’t join Team Greywolf. She had had enough of his bossy arrogant attitude. Worse, the thought of seeing him often and possibly with a she-wolf mate made her blood boil with jealousy. As if she had any right to claim him. Her place was simply as a subordinate to keep him calm unti
l he got back on his paws. “I’m sure when you feel better you won’t have problems meeting a suitable mate.” Resentment clouded her emotions. “Actually, I can help you in that department.”

  Slade laughed. “Trust me; your help is not needed. I’m sure my inbox is loaded with requests from she-wolves in every corner of the globe.”

  Figures. “Maybe you can hold a Miss Werewolf contest to see who gets the honors of being your mate.”

  He smiled, his eyes twinkling in mischief. “You can be on the selection committee.”

  Not! “Once you are well enough to date, I’ll have better things to do than setting up a Best in Show event.”

  “Better than helping me?” A smug grin plastered his face.

  “No offence, sir, but I really should help Team Greywolf investigate the missing werewolves cases.” She worked with several hot-looking lycans, so why did she care who he dated and mated with? To think she thought of seducing him to get kicked off caregiver duty. He would probably laugh his head off if she tried. Worse than the friend zone, she was probably in the little sister zone.

  His humor disappeared. “It’s your duty.” His fangs emerged and thick white fur lined his throat.

  What the…? She shivered. He definitely is not well. His condition reared its ugly head. “Yes, I’m honored to serve you, Prince Slade.”

  He snarled. “No more talking.”

  Fine by me.

  Slade sat alone on a chair facing Dr. Warner. Cricket waited outside the door, but he didn’t like her even a foot away. Somehow, he had gotten it in his head she was part of his pack and needed his protection. Worse, my loving devotion. Not happening. Not now. Not ever. Had the illness confused his wolf into thinking she was more than a subordinate? Rage overtook him. He wanted to destroy. Kill. Fur sprung on his back, his claws extended, and his wolf ears perked. He tuned in on her breathing and focused. For now, she was his drug to lessen his episodes of morphopsychosis. Nothing more.

  “Prince Slade, would you be more comfortable if Cricket joined us?”

  He hated being dependent on the presence of the lovely feisty runt, and almost preferred finding a replacement, an obedient omega. “No. Not necessary.”

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come and stay at my clinic? Our omegas are more…shall we say…submissive to your needs.”

  “Part of me thinks it would be a good idea…” But I can’t imagine leaving Cricket. “However, I don’t like being doped up and omegas fawning over me.”

  “I apologize for the dose I shot you with in Europe, but, in your condition, I feared you would harm others or even yourself.”

  His clawed finger tapped on the armchair. “Why did you allow your beta to inject me with the amnesia drug?”

  “I didn’t.” He shook his head. “It was a mix-up. Henri used it by mistake.”

  So that was his name. Slade didn’t remember biting him, until the next morning when his meal was brought and the server mentioned it. “Tell Henri, I apologize for biting his earlobe off. Or better yet, if he’s here…I can…”

  “No. He quit working for me. Before joining our staff, he lived as a lone wolf, so I imagine he left to continue living alone.”

  “I wasn’t aware omegas could just leave a pack.” His father almost disowned him for leaving their pack to pursue adventures. But, unlike his siblings, Slade felt suffocated by a pack that remained in one territory. The prospect of advanced warrior training in Europe had intrigued him. Away from the Yukon. A niggling fact that saved his life and sent him deep into morphogenesis. He hadn’t been there for his pack. Before he’d left, his father, King Frederick had called him a useless rogue of a son. I was.

  “Under normal circumstances, that’s true, but he begged me to let him go. Out of regret for his unfortunate maiming, I allowed him to leave.”

  A deep growl emanated from Slade’s throat. “My fault.” His shirt buttons snapped as his beast clawed its way for dominance.

  “You can’t blame yourself. You had business in Europe.”

  Why the fuck did everyone buy that bullshit? He left without his father’s permission. Slade dug his claws into the chair. “They forced our juvenile wolves to undergo the change years before their time. I could have saved them.”

  “I understand your guilt, but you are not to blame. The attack was unexpected.”

  His tone deepened. “It was my turn to guard them. Protect them. Instead, a beta watched them while, as my father said, ‘I went gallivanting in Europe.’ ” He growled. “They suffered in agony because of the hybrid’s fucking bite.” Slade’s heart drummed, blood boiled and his bones cracked, shifting. Out of control.

  “Prince Slade, take a deep breath.” Warner sounded composed, but his pulse raced. He stood and opened the door. “Step inside the cell.”

  Slade inhaled and slowly released his breath. The wolf retreated into its den. He remained human. “I’m all right.”

  “You are not. Go inside. Let your wolf release his anger.”

  No confinement. Slade glared at Dr. Warner. “No,” he rasped. His chest heaving, ready to roar, ready to destroy, ready to kill. He growled at the shrink.

  Warner set off the alarm, rushed into the cell, and sealed himself in.

  Slade’s clothes ripped, and he shifted. The large white wolf charged at the doctor, but the glass door prevented him from reaching him. He roared and then howled deep and long.

  Blue light illuminated the chamber. Meant to calm him. The wolf shook his head. Nothing helped. His thoughts clouded with fury.

  Outside, Cricket wiggled the doorknob, but it had automatically locked. “Slade! Open the door!”

  More voices. Male.

  One of the men demanded, “Stand back.”

  “No, give him time,” shouted Cricket.

  The wolf cocked his head. Angered by the stress in her voice, Slade raked at the door, growling to escape. Join her.

  The man outside the door commanded, “Return to your station, upstairs.”

  “Yes, sir,” Cricket snapped.

  She left. Slade howled in rage. No. Mine.

  One of the men spoke, “Prince Slade, I’m Commander Trevor. I implore you, sir, return to human form, and we’ll open the door.”

  Slade lowered himself to his belly in stalking position. No tranquilizers.

  “Talk to me, sir,” implored their commander.

  His cunning beast went partial human. “Put down your tranquilizer guns and taser, and I will do as you say.”

  “Is Dr. Warner, okay?” asked Trevor.

  “Safe inside the sealed chamber.” His upper lip twitched. Where the coward belonged.

  “Good. Are you fully human or partial?”

  Warner banged on the window and shouted, but in the soundproof room, not even a werewolf could hear him. Slade grinned at the shrink. Fool.

  “Turn on the intercom,” commanded Trevor.

  “No need, Dr. Warner wants you to let me out,” said Slade.

  “First, let him out, sir.”

  Slade snorted. “He took the key with him.”

  “Does Dr. Warner have his phone?”

  Slade grabbed the shrink’s phone from the desk and crushed it. “No.”

  The men grew quiet and waited.

  After five minutes, the door opened.

  Slade rammed the three men holding powerful tranquilizer guns. They scrambled up and shot at him, but he raced down the tunnel until his nose caught the scent of an exit to the caverns.

  Cricket left the underground headquarters. Rotten luck. Rylee had apparently left on business and wouldn’t be back until the evening. Wait until she hears what happened. Trevor and his security team threw her out. I should have some say in Slade’s treatment, but will anybody listen? No. Jerks. Go ahead then, follow your damn pack rules.

  Cricket needed the outdoors. She needed to ride. She needed Spitfire. Her fiery bay Arabian mare always invigorated her.

  Spitfire neighed as Cricket approached. Since their headquar
ters stood above a real working Montana ranch, they acquired horses and desensitized them to werewolves. Not an easy task for horses to be comfortable around predators, but Cricket had a knack for it, especially since to most prey she smelled more human than wolf.

  Cricket reached in a bag, pulled out a fresh carrot and handed it to Spitfire. “Hey, girl. Ready for a nice run?” A ride would take her mind off Slade. Not sure if his insanity or his womanizing ways bothered her the most. Maybe her insane attraction to him should worry her more?

  Cricket guided Spitfire out of her stall, and then saddled her. “Let’s get as far from here as possible.” She led the mare out, mounted, and then clucked.

  On a flat trail, Cricket asked the mare to canter. The feisty mare responded with a smooth gallop through the meadow. After a mile, she slowed Spitfire to a walk along the riverbank. Cricket dismounted and soaked in the afternoon sun. Soon, she’d need to return for dinner. Back to her charge. Slade had lost it again, and by now, must be tranquilized and resting in the cell. Letting him stay in the guesthouse and hiking freely had obviously been a mistake. She sat down and stared out at the distant fall colors on the trees as Spitfire grazed.

  Maybe she should have stayed at her station, or better yet, insisted on staying by Slade’s side when he went nuts with the shrink. How? She couldn’t disobey alpha Trevor. What if they hurt him? Cricket rubbed her brow, a headache threatened. Why should I give a rat’s ass about him?

  Dr. Warner, no doubt, figured out she had been next to useless in calming Slade down. Besides, he had an entire inbox of available alpha women. They could fly to Warner’s clinic in Maine and help him heal. Slade needed a mate, not some submissive to boss around, or worse, a little sister to protect. I don’t need some big oaf of an alpha to parent me.

  Still, she hated disappointing Rylee. Slade had trained as his pack’s warrior. He’d be an invaluable member of Team Greywolf. Once he conquered his grief.