The Alpha's Mutt

The last few days had been a whirlwind, passing by in a blur of activity. All of the hybrids had donated their blood and the doctors were feverishly working on manufacturing the vaccine to spread the blood as far as it could possibly go. Many of the ill wolves were being given injections of the attempts to perfect the vaccination. The doctors needing to determine what was the minimum amount of blood that could be used to cure the virus.

Alessa and Deene had, thankfully, recovered quickly and had joined Jamari in the effort to rescue the wolves from Bristlecone. We had sent several large vans to fetch all the wolves that were left from the three packs. It took a while to gather everyone together and even longer to convince the Bristlecone Pack members that this was for the best as one or two were reluctant to leave their homes. But they had finally been brought to the Elwood Pack territory where they could be properly protected.

When the warriors had returned to the property, we discovered that they had brought a gift with them. A vampire prisoner that we hoped to use to our advantage to gain information. Where had the vampires come from and why were they attacking now? Had they known about the virus or was this all some strange coincidence? I had a sneaking suspicion that they were somehow involved with everything that had been happening. The timing of everything seeming far too convenient.

I was now on my way to the basement dungeon where the vampire was being held. Farris was already there, waiting for me, as we were planning to interrogate the prisoner together. Though, I doubted very much that he was not already prepping him by roughing him up some. Farris had lost eight wolves in the vampire attack and a major ally in the Bristlecone Pack. He was furious about it. He was doing his best to control his rage but having the vampire in front of him was making that more difficult.

I could not say that I blamed him. As a matter of fact, I understood his anger completely. I had only lost three wolves, but I mourned their loss deeply. I had not yet had the proper time to grieve, and I doubted that I would anytime soon. Our world only seemed to be getting more hectic. To think we had believed that all of our problems were answered just a few days ago. What naïve fools we had been.

As I entered the basement, I could smell the metallic scent of fresh blood mingling with that of my own mate’s aroma. I hoped that Farris had not beaten the vampire too badly yet. We needed him for his information, and we were never going to get it from him if Farris beat him into a pulp.

“Farris, you need to stop.” I ordered as I entered the room and found Farris relentlessly punching the vampire in the face.

Farris froze mid-punch, his fist clenched in the air, prone and ready. He took a few deep breaths, his jaw clenched, sweat dripping down his face, his eyes burning with rage. Then he managed, using all of his self-control, to release the vampire’s shirt which he had held clenched in his other hand. He lowered his fist and took a few steps away from the vamp. His breathing harsh and heavy.

I quickly walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist and tilted my head to the side to expose my mark to him. He quickly threw his arms around me, pulling me close. His hand went into my hair, holding my head in place, as he pressed his nose to my mark, inhaling my scent. I could feel him slowly beginning to calm some as he held me against him. The bond flowing through us, allowing him to relax, becoming more himself again.

“Savages…” The vampire suddenly spat as blood trickled from his mouth. “You are even rough with your own females.”

I could feel Farris beginning to tense again. But before he could respond, I turned in his arms, and then quickly led his face back into the nape of my neck, so that my scent and touch could continue to soothe his rage.

“We are just as rough with them, I assure you.” I stated with a sly smile on my face.

“Doesn’t help my opinion any, bitch.” He grumbled in return.

Farris lifted his head from my skin and growled at the vampire in response to his insult. But he did not say anything else. Allowing me to handle things from here. Which I appreciated. He trusted me to take charge in this situation and it meant a lot that he would step back to allow me to do so.

“If I am correct, the definition of a ‘bitch’ is a female dog. I am not a dog. I am a wolf. And if you do not watch your mouth then I am going to allow this wolf…” I paused to gesture towards Farris behind me. “To continue using you as his own personal punching bag. Like it or not, I am your only lifeline down here, vamp. Your only chance to see the moonlight again.” I explained, speaking as sweetly as I could possibly muster. “Or…” I growled, stepping closer to him so that he could see the seriousness in my eyes. “I can be the one to drag your sorry ass up into the daylight and laugh as you burn.”

I paused for a moment letting my words sink in, watching as the terror became evident in his eyes. I did not really like being this person. I did not really relish in the torment of others. My pack had been formed around me in attempt to escape cruel Alpha wolves. But my pack had been threatened. My mate’s pack had been threatened. There was too much to lose, too much at risk. I had to be ruthless. I had brought my pack down from the mountains and placed them all in danger. I would do whatever it took to protect them now.

“For your own good, I suggest that you cooperate with us. You’re out of options now. Even if your people come for you, they will not find a pack of weak, sickly wolves as you did at Bristlecone. Your only hope is our mercy and the only way that you are going to get it is if you tell us everything that we need to know.”

“Your pack is not ill?” The vamp asked in surprise.

“We have a cure and once we have healed everyone here, we will begin distributing it to the other packs.”

“A cure? That is not possible?” The vamp gasped, speaking more to himself than to us.

“And why is that exactly?” I questioned, stepping in more and leaning towards him, bringing my eyes level with his.

Just as I had suspected, the vampires were, at least, aware of the virus. Perhaps even more than that.

For a moment, the vampire seemed reluctant to speak, knowing that he had already revealed more than he should have. But I was not prepared to let him off the hook so easily. I had my suspicions, but they needed confirming. And I needed to know why. What was there to gain from this sudden show of aggression by the vampires? Our species have avoided each other for centuries. Why the sudden change of heart?

“If you cooperate with us, I promise this will be a lot easier on you.” I reminded him, dramatically extended the claws on one of my hands, watching as he visibly gulped taking in the sight of the sharp talons.

I did not let it show on my face as I did not want this vampire to realize my own shock at my action. However, for the first time in my life, I had held complete control over my shifting. It had been done on my terms and at a time that I desired. This had never happened before. My eyes flashed back to Farris, and I could see him struggling to mask his surprise as well. How had I done that? Could I do more?

Unfortunately, my curiosity over my newfound control on my wolf, had to be set aside for now. There were more pressing matters at hand. We could address my shifting later.

“Okay…” The vampire huffed. “It is all part of a plan. The virus. The attack. It is all leading to a greater goal.”

“Where did the vampires get the virus?” I demanded.

The vampire foolishly clammed up again and I was growing tired of his sudden boughts of stubbornness. He would give a little and then decided against it. I did not have all day. We had a fight coming to our doorsteps and we have our packs to protect.

“Answer the question.” I tried again.

But when he still remained quiet, I felt that I had little choice. I had threatened him with pain and now I needed to follow through with it.

“Farris.” I called with a nod of my head, and he understood exactly what I meant.

With one solid swing of his fist, Farris connected with the vampire’s face. He had not even used all of his strength in the attack, but there was a sickening crack of the bones held with the vamp’s jaw. Several of his teeth were shaken loose as they flew outward from his mouth. If he had been human, that may have been the end of his ability to talk. I was grateful that he was supernatural, so that his healing would allow us to continue.

“Maybe, next time, let’s break something that we don’t need him to be able to use.” I whispered to Farris, and I drew him a few steps backwards from the vamp.

His anger was still consuming him, and I wanted to keep it under check for now. I brushed my fingers delicately across his back for a moment, reminding him to stay calm. Stick to the plan. Get the information.

“Would you like to answer my question now?”

“The witches.” He answered, his breathing heavy as he processed the pain. “The witches made it for us.”

“Why? What is the plan?” I pressed.

“Weaken the wolf packs and then attack.” He admitted.

“To what end? What is the purpose of all of this?!” I demanded, my voice rising along with my fury.

“Extinction.” He sneered, a final glint of rebellion showing in swollen eyes. “The absolute annihilation of the wolf species.”

I could not help myself. With the disrespect shining in his eyes and the hateful words coming out of his mouth, my anger got the better of me. I had rarely ever lashed out like this before. But I had little control over the rage that I felt at his admission. An entire species?! They were going to exterminate an ENTIRE species?! What could the wolves have possible done in the recent centuries to deserve such a fate?

Before I could stop myself, my hand shifted again, revealing my claws. I sliced them violently across his chest and the blood spilled forth. He cried out in agony, and I should have been more bothered by it than I was. But I was burning with a hatred that I had never known. All the innocent wolves that they had murdered so far. All the innocent wolves that they had intended to kill. The mothers. The fathers. The pups. Friends. Families. Mates. All gone.

“Who is behind this?!” I all but screamed, grabbing was what left of his tattered shirt and yanking him towards me.

He did not respond to me. Instead, he huffed, taking in deep breaths and releasing them quickly. I was certain the pain was quite overwhelming. I could only imagine how he must have been feeling. But I knew that it was not a fatal wound and I refused to feel sorry for him. Not until I had what I needed.

“Answer me!” I roared in his face, causing him to flinch. “Who is to blame?!”

“Farris…” I nodded to him again, calling him forward.

He took a few steps towards him, and the vampire’s resolve crumbled at the threat.

“Okay…okay…just no more of that...” The vamp cried, gesturing weakly towards Farris.

Farris quickly stopped his advance. His gaze set firmly on the vampire before us.

“Cooperate and I promise that Farris will not attack you again. You have my word as an Alpha of one pack and the Luna of another.”

The vampire eyed me carefully. Likely uncertain if he could believe my words. He was probably suspicious of my claim as an Alpha. Or if I was trustworthy at all. He obviously had a dislike of wolves. Why else would he been involved in such a hateful scheme? He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, nodding his head in acceptance.

“Master Belial.” He sighed in defeat.

“Thank you.” I responded, acknowledging this whole interaction as win. “Now, one final thing, where can I find him?”

“I don’t know.” He admitted and, for some reason, I did believe him. “I’ve only seen him a couple of times. He always comes to us. Only the generals go to him. He is not a very trusting man.”

I nodded to him in acknowledgment. Believing that I had all the information that I currently needed. I could work with what he had given me to come up with some kind of plan. And if I needed more information later, I could always come back for it.

I dusted off my hands and began to back away from him. I grabbed Farris’s arm and we headed towards to door.

“What are you going to do with me now? Are you going to kill me?” The vampire called out from behind us.

I turned towards him and stared him straight in the eye as I spoke my next words…

“Make sure that you get him some blood from a recent hunt. Something fresh. Clean him up and have the doctors check him to ensure that his bones set properly. Get him a change of clothes as well.” I instructed the guard who had been waiting nearby.

“Yes, Alpha.” The guard responded without hesitation.

“We are not all the savages that you would make us out to be.” I stated, turning his words back on him.

Farris merely chuckled with a smirk before we left the basement.

The shocked look on the vampire’s face still playing in my head. We would keep him around and give him what he needs to survive. He may not be treated perfectly, but he would not be treated poorly either. He was a prisoner after all. Once this whole mess was cleared up, hopefully we could release him. But for now, he would have to stay so that he did not report any information back to his leaders.