Greg swayed side to side, and he lifted his face to the moon, echoing the former packs’ howls. Sam bounded up to his side. In moments, the two werewolves were men again and Sam gently took Greg’s badly bleeding body into his arms and cradled him to his own naked skin, slick with his own sweat.
“It is done!” Sid declared, calling out to the wolves. They howled in excited reply. “What do you want the sheriff to do with your former alpha?”
Three male and three female wolves took form as humans in front of us. They were clearly mated pairs, and they stepped forward, looking right at Romeo.
“Floyd raped our mates,” one man said. “For that, we want him scourged before he’s driven from Frederick pack lands.” Howls went up from the other pack members still in wolf form. “Sheriff! Please let us take him as pack law commands.”
“You have my permission…as your pack law commands.”
“It is forbidden for pack members to touch a disgraced alpha if he hasn’t died in the fight for his title,” Sid said.
Romeo cut the witch a sidelong glance.
Sid pointed to Floyd lying face up on the road, panting and bleeding. His breathing was wet, and I found it hard to believe that even a man as strong as Floyd would be able to withstand further punishment his pack intended to mete out.
“We’re going to have to help him back into Frederick where the pack will take over,” Sid said. He looked at Rome. “Let’s get him into Vincent’s car. He can’t walk in his condition.”
I shuddered at the thought of how fun it was going to be to get werewolf blood out of my leather upholstery.
Rome nodded. “Or there’s an easier way,” my mate said.
I could feel the bright snap of adrenaline in the air as only a moment later, Romeo was in his glorious white unicorn form. His rainbow mane swirled around his long neck, and I stopped to admire it. Every time I saw him in this form, I marveled at the breathtaking horn that came out of the center of his forehead. The air was suddenly filled with a million tiny sparkles as the sky fairly lit up with stars. The wolves howled as one as Floyd’s broken and bleeding half-dead body was suddenly lifted off the bloody road, twirling in a slow spiral as it hovered off the ground.
I watched in awe as the unicorn beside me tossed his head, carrying the former alpha up and over the trees where he disappeared. The wolves howled and moments after Floyd was gone, I knew he’d been set down, helpless to get up somewhere in town, perhaps in a clearing where the werewolves met. I had no idea. The pack, now shifted to human form, rushed Greg, cheering and helping him to his feet. The big bartender laughed as he leaned on Sam who stood stalwartly beside him, ever his best friend and closest confidant.
Another large male draped their new alpha’s arm over his shoulders. Greg’s grin was a glorious thing to see, and I felt a pang in my heart as the outcome of the fight truly sank down deep. The Frederick pack had a new alpha, and he was a good man. There was no doubt in my mind that Greg would be a fair and just leader.
No doubt at all.
Chapter Fourteen Prosper Woods Chronicle. Letters to the editor:
“I’m writing to warn anyone who’s thinkin’ about buyin’ goldfish from the Pet Emporium. As soon as I got mine home and put on some Dolly Parton to relax, that sucker jumped out of her bowl and into my Stetson.” Signed, “Never name a fish Jolene.”
Romeo
I was worn out once Vincent and I got Greg and Sam settled in my cabin for the night. The two men were resilient and even though they’d suffered the loss of everything they owned, I knew they’d be all right, if only Greg could recover from his horrific wounds. Before we’d piled the werewolves into the Civic, Sam had forced Greg to shift back and forth several times. I was told this was the only way werewolves could heal. What did I know about werewolves? All my knowledge about mythological creatures came from TV shows and movies.
Except that these men weren’t a myth. They were walking, talking werewolves and they were…my friends.
I nearly stumbled into Vincent’s home, unsteady on my feet from bone deep exhaustion. The whole day had been an ordeal, and my adrenaline spike was long gone, leaving me tired. I noticed my hand was bruised and realized it was from grasping Vincent’s during Greg’s fight to become the new alpha of the Frederick pack. I was both happy and nervous for the bartender. He was a good man. I’d sensed it from the first time we’d ever met.
I hoped Greg’s pack would accept him and offer him their loyalty. He deserved it. I had to admit, getting rid of Floyd Reardon was a good thing for both small towns. I didn’t know whether he’d survive the punishment the pack had waiting for him, but if he did, I hope he’d leave the area. He’d been humiliated by Greg, and in my book, that was a good thing for everyone involved, werewolves and humans alike.
“Come here and sit down,” Vincent said, guiding me to the couch after closing the front door. I collapsed onto the leather and watched my mate grab a throw blanket and then gently cover me with it. He leaned down close and whispered against my ear, “I’m going to heat up some of that mac and cheese you made. I know you haven’t eaten and before you sleep, you need a little
