Northwood

Days passed after the encounter with Tobias and while things carried on as normal in the Northwood mansion it was quite a different story over with Tobias and his family.

“Boy!” Roared a voice from the office, Tobias knew it was his father and he had no choice but to get there as quickly as the speed of light, anything less would disappoint his father.

Dropping his knife and fork to his plate he lifted his head and looked up at his mother who looked more than a little frightened, “go to him honey,” she stuttered out as she held a dish towel to her chest, “I will fix you a meal later on.” She motioned her head towards the hallway where his office sat.

Ambrose, the head of the Woodard family and father of Tobias, Bodie, Calen and the youngest Mila was more than a totalitarian and everyone in his family had noticed his rampage for power and glory had intensified since taking everything from the Hutton family.

It had shocked his family just how ferocious he was in taking out the Hutton family and though they would never speak out of turn they were all beginning to question his sanity and reasoning for why he wanted to expand the packs lands.

Tobias ran to his father’s office for he knew what the consequences would be should he dawdle and take his time. Pushing the door open he sat himself down in one of the small casual chairs he’d placed in front of his desk. Tobias hated being called in to his father’s space, it was as if he were reliving his days at high school and having to explain himself to the principal. Tobias had learned quickly that his father was far scarier than any school teacher or principal could ever be.

“Father?” He questioned as his father had his back to him looking out the window. Seeing a shadow move in the corner on the far side of the room made Tobias turn his head, usually his father sat in his office alone. Who had he brought with him?

“I have been thinking about the future son,” he began with an authoritive tone in his voice and it didn’t sound good, not at all.

“And what have you been thinking of father?” He questioned the old man quickly but made sure to keep his tone to a minimum. The smallest thing could set his father off and with his sudden unpredictable nature Tobias was silently afraid of just what his father could do.

Again the shadow in the corner of the room moved and made itself known as Ambrose finally turned to his son, “I have been thinking that you are not living up to my expectations of you and I will be naming someone else as my successor.” The smug look on his father’s face made Tobias want to smack it off but he knew that would be like opening Pandora’s Box.

The man that stepped from the shadows looked no older than Tobias, he had dark brown hair and was covered in tattoos, and he held a small smug smirk at the corner of his lips and looked at Tobias as if he was nothing.

“Meet Luce, he is your replacement.” Ambrose stood from his seat and shook Luce’s hand firmly, Tobias was not at all impressed with what had just happened but challenging his father would only make it worse. The longer he looked at Luce the more his confidence grew in thinking it would be easier to take him out of the top spot rather than his father.

“Father?” Was the only word that could escape Tobias’ lips as he looked from his father to Luce and back again. The man looked at the intruder with all the adoration he could muster. Adoration that should have been lavished on Tobias was now being given to this stranger who he’d also named his successor. It made no sense to him.

“He is brother to Kane. Tossed out when he challenged him for Alpha.” It angered Tobias greatly to see the smug smirk on Luce’s face, how dare he take what was rightfully Tobias’.

“And yet he stands here with you father and not as Alpha of the Northwood pack,” Tobias knew it was smart of him to say and he would endure his father’s wrath later but he did not at all like the idea of someone taking over from him and all his hard work.

It wasn’t fair.

“Hold your tongue boy or I’ll rip it from your mouth,” he growled quickly. Ambrose wasn’t the toughest or the largest of men but he had one thing others lacked. Cunning.

Of all the men there had ever been in the region Ambrose was by far the most cunning of them all and he’d found someone in which his ambitions and desires were mirrored and unfortunately for Tobias that was not him.

A silent tension filled the room quickly as Ambrose glowered at his son for speaking out of turn. He was quickly showing that he wasn’t the son Ambrose wanted, none of them were. There was no ambition or drive to better themselves.

“It’s alright Ambrose,” began Luce as he stepped away from Ambrose and towards Tobias. “The reason I am not Alpha of Northwood right now is because my brother is a cheat and a scam artist. There is no way he would have beat me if I were completely rested and well.”

Though Tobias heard his words he also heard many excuses for why things hadn’t gone in Luce’s favour. Tobias got a strange feeling from the scrawny future Alpha and he didn’t like it one bit, how could his father be so damn blind?

“You need not explain yourself to him Luce, he is your Beta and he will submit to you,” smirked Ambrose quickly as a sneer presented itself on Tobias’ features. He would not submit to someone like Luce. He knew he should have challenged his father long ago.

“Is there anything else you need of me father? Or was that all you had to tell me?” He questioned his father bluntly. If this was all he wanted to say then Tobias could think of many other things he would rather be doing.

“Leave, get out of my sight,” yelled Ambrose loudly as anger quickly took over. He was sick of his good for nothing son and having to do everything himself.

Tobias pushed the seat back against the wooden floor with such force that it left marks. Standing momentarily he took in the sight of his father standing with his replacement and it served only to anger him more.

Without another word Tobias walked from the room with purpose, if his father was going to be extreme with his decisions so Tobias could be too.

Walking through the kitchen where his mother was washing up he ignored her questions and continued out the front door. For a moment he thought he might shift and take a run through the woods but the more he thought about hurting his father and his campaign of terror the more he formulated an idea for defeat.

Turning back towards the house momentarily a smile settled upon his lips, he knew one way he could hurt his father. It would mean punishment for him but he was in a different state of mind.

He wanted to cause pain to his father, no one but him.

Heading for his truck he climbed in and threw it in to drive and headed off down the driveway and towards town. Pulling up to an abandoned looking warehouse he jumped out and walked towards it quickly. Pulling a small metal door open he entered a world of darkness, the smell that filled his nostrils was horrendous but he knew where he was going, his momentary torment would not last long.

Heading towards the back of the building there was a small corrugated iron room with a tiny window at eye level. The glass covered completely with grime and dust, he peered through and saw two shadowy figures, Tobias could not believe what he was about to do but his father had angered him so much he knew he needed to send a message to the man and this one would send a message loud and clear.

Pulling the rusty door open it creaked with its age and became stuck. The gap between the door and the frame however was wide enough for Tobias and the two men inside the room to fit through, of that he was sure.

“You’ve got some nerve coming here,” croaked one of the men. His voice almost a whisper.

“I’m here to free you,” admitted Tobias freely, he did not bother trying to hide what he was about to do, there was no use.

“Why?” Croaked the other quickly, there seemed to be some suspicion in his voice and Tobias could not blame them one bit. Life hadn’t been easy for the two men for some time. They had been beaten, tortured, starved and denied water, they were chained like animals in a dark room and were only visited when information was needed.

“Because,” began Tobias as he thought of the best way to say what he was about to say. “I want my father dead,” it was not a request or a question but statement, he wanted his father dead, he wanted Luce dead, he wanted to take the pack that was rightfully his but he didn’t want to be where he was now.

“Why should we believe you?” Asked one of the men quickly, sceptical of why he was there. “For all we know you’re here to torture us again.”

Tobias frowned and shook his head, “if I were going to torture you don’t you think I’d be doing that already?” He countered trying to convince the two that he was there to release them. “Besides,” he began again with caution, “your sister is alive.”

He saw the two men look at each other with great surprise, “how do you know? Where is she? She made it to Carriere?”

The questions came thick and fast as Tobias struggled with what he was about to do.

“She is alive and well but she isn’t with Carriere, she is with Northwood and as it turns out she is Kane Northwood’s mate.” He didn’t need to say much else, the two brothers looked at each other astonished but also worried.

“When I release you take my truck parked out the front, go north east to their border. She’ll be happy to see you,” something had completely taken over Tobias, it was completely unlike him to do what he was doing now but his father’s decision had affected him so much that he wanted nothing more than to sabotage that. “If you remember anything of this please keep this one deed in mind.”

Tobias released the two brothers and watched as they fell to the ground, neither were in a fit state to move much but their survival instincts kicked in. “When your pack is being overrun by Carriere or Northwood we will make sure they spare your life.” Said the taller of the brothers as they stood and supported each other.

Tobias handed over his keys freely and watched as they left the building, he found himself hoping and wishing they made it to Northwood. He had a plan and that involved two unlikely allies coming together to defeat his father.