Chapter 6

Replacement

~Shiloh

I collapsing in the snow, struggling to breath. Curling into a ball, I tried to block the freezing wind. I was so tired.

My ear twitched to the side.

The voices were distant but closing.

I stumbled onto four legs and ran off into the storm, hopefully toward Ranger.

~West

Keith opened the car door. I slipped past him. The door on the other side open, and Adam climbed into the vehicle. I sat still in the center with the two men on either side.

“Put your seatbelt on,” said Keith, taking out his phone.

I grabbed the strap and yanked it over. Adam’s suit jacket was over the buckle. I just stared at it. He already didn’t like me, so did I dare touch his things.

Keith grabbed the buckle. “Move your coat.”

Adam do so without looking away from his tablet. Keith did up my seatbelt, before settling back. The two tapped away on their electronics, sending messages and looking at strange charts. Civil packs were so strange. Even after spending years at the factory this still felt awkward.

The car started to move. I kept my eyes forward. Keith reached over and pressed his hand to my knee. I hadn’t realize before I was bouncing it.

“Sorry,” I breathed.

He gave my leg a squeeze before withdrawing his hand.

Adam sighed. “Boss wants to see him.”

Keith rapped his knuckles against the window. “See if tomorrow works.”

“Today. He has meetings tomorrow and doesn’t want to be bothered.”

I glanced over at Adam’s screen. Messages kept coming in, but my lack of literacy was showing.

Keith’s hand shot out and grabbed my chin. “That’s one thing you should never do. Werewolves have been killed for less.”

Staring into his dark brown eyes, I nodded. “Sorry. I-I didn’t understand anything.”

He raised an eyebrow and dropped his hand. “You’re traditional, I thought they?”

“Yes, but my pack, we didn’t.” I wrung my hands together.

Adam started to chuckle.

“Shut up.” Keith reached over and hit the other man’s arm. “Leave him alone.”

The smaller dominant pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to hold in his laughter. “You picked a great one. Out of all the possibilities, you get the middle rank, who can’t even read.” He glanced across the car. “At least he has a good bloodline.”

Clenching my jaw, I gripped my legs tightly. “No one ever taught me. I’m not stupid, I just never had the chance.”

“Excuses are useless, West,” stated Adam, plainly. “Learn that now.”

I hate him. He was a self absorbed jerk, and I was tempted to punch him even though he was stronger.

Keith’s arm went around my shoulders, and he pulled me over to him. I remained stiff against his side as he pressed his lips to my ear.

“Adam is an experienced fighter,” he whispered. “He’s Boss’s assistant, and he earned that position. Don’t do anything stupid. I will protect you, but not when you deserve it.”

My eyes shot up to his. They didn’t waver.

“My father,” he rubbed my arm. “When you meet him, don’t say anything.”

I sucked in my lips and nodded. I tried to sit back up, but Keith didn’t relax his arm.

“Why don’t you stay right there for awhile?” He put his hand on the side of my head.

Lowering it to his chest, I took a deep breath. What kind of pack is this? They killed people and thought nothing of it. I glanced up at my fiance. He seemed nice, but this was not the kind of mate I wanted. Hell, I never thought I’d end of in the sub’s position.

I shifted and felt a tinge from my mating bite. Worse part of the whole engagement process, and I had it done twice. The last scar took days to stop bothering me.

“Did it heal?”

“I’m fine.”

I felt a zip of pain in my neck and contorted in my seat. Keith turned me to him and lick the small prick from his claw.

As soon as the pain faded enough that I could function, I slammed the heel of my palm into his chest. “Why would you do that!” I sunk down onto the seat and turned away, clasping my neck. “That hurts.”

Keith chuckled and gave me amused expression. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I didn’t,” I muttered. “I am fine.”

He reached out toward me, and I flinched back.

With a smile, Keith grabbed my chin. “Are you?”

I clenched my jaw as I felt his fingertips press into my skin. Pulling over my shirt, I looked away. “Fix it.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Please,” I added softly.

Keith pulled me to him and licked the scar. It soothed any lingering pain. He kept me pressed to his side for the rest of the journey into the city.

The car pulled up to a tall building with a wall around the base. The top had black spikes. They stopped outside a guard both. The man waved, and the gates parted.

“Any thought of running now,” whispered Keith as the car pulled forward and headed to an underground parking.

I shook my head. “No.”

He gave me a smile. “Good, very good.”

The car stopped, and Keith exited. He offered his hand to help me out. I glanced down the line of black vehicles. Most had a seal with a purple flower and a full moon partially blacked out in the center on the door. Words were scrolled along the outside. Keith took my hand and led me to the elevator. The same purple flower was on it.

“What is it?” I nodded toward it while Adam swiped a card and pressed a button.

“Wolfsbane,” chuckled Keith. “Comical that mortals obsessed with the supernatural think a flower would be our weakness.” He gave me a small smile. “My father thought it was a fitting symbol and name for the pack.”

The doors parted, and we stepped into the elevator. The walls were made from deep red wood with the subtle purple coloring of the flower were present here and there. We rose a couple floors, before the elevator stopped. I took a deep breath, but when the doors parted it was just werewolves in organized little boxes typing on computers. This didn’t look like the headquarters for the alpha of a rogue pack.

Keith kept a hold on my hand as he led me through the lobby. A woman sat at a large desk with the seal on the front. The werewolf working behind her glanced up at Keith and nodded respectively.

“Boss is waiting for you.” Her eyes went to me.

Adam took out his phone and pressed a button. I was led to an elaborate looking elevator with only an up arrow. I swallowed hard and glanced to the window. There really was no escaping here.

“Yes,” said Adam. “I’ll bring them right away.”

The doors parted, and I stepped inside. Keith and Adam stood in front of me.

“Is he in a good mood?” asked Keith.

“He wasn’t the one who answered, so I couldn’t tell.”

I leaned back against the wall and took deep breaths. This man was going to kill me.

“Who did answer?”

“August, he returned yesterday. Think went very well overseas.”

Keith sighed. “He’ll be in a good mood then.”

The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. I couldn’t breath. My body was shaking. The aura in the area was strong and dark. They would kill me. If they didn’t like me, they would kill me.

“West?” Keith rubbed my shoulder. “It’s fine. Just do like I said. Don’t say anything and follow any orders you’re given, alright?”

I nodded and took his hand.

“Like I said,” muttered Adam, rubbing his brow. “No better than a sub.” He led the way to the two large oak doors.

The man sitting at the desk, out front, nodded to us. “Go right in.”

Adam opened the door and motioned us forward. I squeezed Keith’s hand. I couldn’t stop shaking. Every one of my instincts said to not go in that room, but my fiance didn’t give me a choice.

It was dim in the room. Only the floor to ceiling window that were behind the desk were the source of light, and dark clouds had covered up the sun. The room was a mixture of red woods and gave off a blood like glow. The seal was on the front side of the desk. Behind it, a large chair was facing away from us. A white tail was laying over the armrest.

I glanced around to see a few other men in the room. August was one of them. He flashed me a smile.

“When you said you decided on a mate, Keith, I didn’t think it would be West.”

I glared at him. He did this. Everything that happened that day was his fault. He was a murder.

“Oh come on.” August rose from the couch he was sitting on and walked over. “You should be happy to see me.” He leaned down to my level. “We’re both Hidden Peak.”

I shook my head. “You’ll never be Hidden Peak.”

Keith yanked me to his side and gave me a firm stare. “Silence.”

Bowing my head, I suck in my lips.

August chuckled. “You’ve already got him trained.”

Keith shrugged, not paying much attention to him as his eyes remained on the person in the chair.

August looked me over. “I only did what your father did to me. Funny how things shifted. You’re the bitch now.”

My fiance let out a low growl. “Leave him, August.”

Laughing softly, the werewolf returned to the couch.

Keith let go of my hand and walked forward. “Dad?” He stepped around the desk and leaned down. They spoke in whispered for a moment.

The white wolf shifted on the man’s lap.

“Come here, Lette.” Keith helped the small werewolf on his father’s chair.

The sub had a small splash of red in the center of his chest. He quickly ran off to a couch in the corner and pulled his feet to his chest. His tail wrapped around his legs. I watched him for a moment. He reminded me so much of Shiloh.

“West,” called Keith.

My eyes snapped over and saw him motioning for me to come forward. Adam slipped behind me and gave me the initial shove.

“Don’t make him wait.”

I staggered forward to the desk and stopped. The chair slowly turned, and my knees nearly gave out when I was met with that man’s stare. This was a alpha. His presence carried the same effected as Darius. He could and would kill me without a second thought and my wolf knew he had the power to do it.

His hair was as black as his eyes. A mangled scar covered the alpha’s neck. I glanced between the two. Keith was black, and this man was clearly white.

“His mother was from an African pack,” said a low raspy voice.

The room was instantly quiet. It may have been forced, but it still demanded everyone to listen and listen closely.

I nodded, afraid to make a noise myself.

The alpha motioned for me to come around the desk. I did so and stood at Keith’s side, keeping my eyes pointed at the ground.

“Traditional?”

I nodded.

“Where?”

I glanced up. “Hidden Peak.”

The alpha shook his head. “The pack is dead.”

I swallowed hard. “Northern Ridge?”

The man sunk back in his chair and he smiled. “You’re one of the wolves Ranger is looking for.”

My mouth fell open. I quickly shut it and nodded.

“He won’t find you.”

Looking out the window, I clenched my jaw.

His hand shot out and grabbed my chin. I gasped and didn’t fight it when he pulled me closer. My knee landed between his as he brought me to his face. “You’re being defiant,” he said quietly.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “Sir.”

“I’ve been watching Ranger. He’ll never get close enough to save you.” The alpha smile and looked to his son.

“You don’t know that,” I said quietly. “You don’t know Ranger.”

The corner of the man’s mouth lifted up for a moment. “I like him. His blood will produce a good son. Shift.” He ordered, releasing me.

Gasping for air, I moved back and took off my clothes with trembling hands. Keith helped me with my shirt. I shifted and stood there as he inspected me. I rubbed my hand along my dark golden fur. The alpha didn’t appeared impressed by it.

“This is what you want?”

Keith nodded. “Yes.” He put an arm around my shoulders.

“Mate him properly.” He snapped his fingers, and the sub ran over. The alpha lifted the small werewolf into his lap and ran his hands down the white fur.

“I do know,” said the alpha. “Bloodhound will fall along with Northern Ridge. I’ll take back what’s mine.” He traced the red patch of fire on the sub’s chest.

Boss motioned, and Adam hurried over. He leaned down, and the alpha whispered something. Adam nodded and moved out of the way as the man stood. He met my gaze.

“Then Midfield will crumble, along with Ranger.”

I clenched my jaw. “He’s stronger than you,” I hissed.

“West.” Keith squeezed my shoulder. “Enough.”

The man looked out over the city, stroking the sub’s fur. “He’s just a replacement. A substitute alpha is of no worth. Bloodhound will never run through his veins.” He hugged the sub tightly to him. “Just a replacement.” He rubbed his cheek against the boy’s soft fur. “My replacement.”

***

I was excited to hear the response for this one, so I updated early! Enjoy :)

I'm sure if you think it through you'll understand how this is possible. 

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