The Gamma's Birthright - Book 2

Toni stared at the stranger in front of her, only her eyes moved as she assessed them.

The woman staring back at her looks fierce, dangerous almost with an air of mystery but yet strangely alluring, She was not a classical head-turning beauty, nor would she be described as ethereal looking; but there was something about her that drew you in, trapping you, like quicksand, leaving you ensnared before you realised you needed to escape.

The stranger turns slightly, she’s wearing a short, plum bodycon dress, that leaves little of her body a mystery, a toned physique is shown off in all its splendour, each movement they make shows off their muscles, highlighting the danger and yet, they still have curves in all the right places, acting like bait, to draw in their prey.

She sports a striking, Prussian blue pixie haircut that can't be ignored, claiming your attention, it's slightly longer and messier at the top; beneath that are dark brown eyes accentuated with smoky makeup.

All of that is balanced with shiny pink lips that soften the look, giving her an innocence that the rest of the body vehemently denies.

She takes one more look at the stranger before her

“What do you think?”

Susan asked curiously as Toni turned to her.

“What did you do to me?”

Toni takes another look at her reflection in the mirror.

After a few days in one of the smaller towns, Susan had finally worn her down on the extent of the makeover she was allowed to do; she no longer looked the plain nondescript person she acknowledged in the mirror each morning, the perfect assassin's face.

Susan had promised she wouldn’t recognise herself and had lived up to that.

She’d been plucked, waxed, and forced into a spa day where people had poked and prodded her with all sorts of their lotions and potions, before finally being dragged on a seven-hour shopping marathon, leaving her with items of clothing she wasn't even sure she knew how to wear, let alone when.

Luckily, with no real expenses in the pack, a salary from fourteen and money from her parent’s estate, her bank balance had hardly moved.

When they finally got to this town, her resolve about having her hair cut faltered, Susan found a human hair wig in her natural hair colour and had it cut to her normal style, so she could become the ‘Gamma’ anytime she needed to.

Afterwards, Susan had dragged her to a hairdresser in the hotel they were staying in, where, for a healthy tip, which Toni thought was more a bribe or hush money, all mirrors had been covered before she was led back blindfolded back to their suite.

At which point she’d been dressed, and had makeup applied before she had been allowed to see the final result.

In truth, Susan had become a friend, it may have only been four days, but apart from sleeping, they’d spent the rest of the time hunting, training, talking and relaxing in each other’s company.

Susan had seemed to see straight through Toni's mask to see the real person before Toni had even considered dropping the mask she wore.

Gamma Antonia Woodfield had well and truly disappeared.

“I can’t believe you’ve made me look so…so…not myself!”

Susan laughs

“It’s a rare skill I have, so what’s your answer?”

Toni sighs,

“In three days, I’ll take you round the safer Nightshade allies to search for your mate” Toni sighs

Susan squeals, throwing her arms around Toni, causing her to tense slightly, but Susan either doesn’t care or doesn’t notice, holding on until Toni relaxes.

“But….. I will have to release you from the command to call me Emma.

There it will be Gamma Woodfield and you need to realise I will be cold and distant to you, treating you like an annoyance – you get that right?”

The caution in Toni’s voice is clear

“That’s OK, especially if I get to meet my mate!”

“I will not take you to the Nightshade pack.

If you should find a way to visit with someone else to look for your mate.

We will need to ignore each other and I will have to treat you coldly, as if I don't know you.

Do you understand?” Toni’s voice is firm

“Yes, I know!!

Now, are we going to pop your clubbing cherry or not!”

Susan’s excitement causes Toni to let a wry smile appear on her face, wondering what she’s let herself in for.

As they approach the club the hotel recommended named ‘Layers’, Toni is feeling a little more relaxed in her outfit.

It was at least, while short and close fitting, not constricting, allowing Toni to feel that she could kick ass if she needed to, at least once she’d gotten rid of the heels Susan had made her wear, every day, for the last few days in an attempt to give her a 'feminine' touch.

Susan has already given Toni a lesson on clubbing etiquette, which boiled down to don’t kill, threaten, or beat anyone up, it’s not considered polite behaviour.

Also, to smile and let people put their hands on her, as long as it wasn't inappropriate, without maiming them, don’t let your drink leave your sight and the number one rule… relax!

It all seemed like a lot of rules for no real gain, but Susan had convinced her this was a rite of passage and what being normal meant for someone her age and Toni was determined to pass as a nobody and live normally for a few more days.

The club they are going to is over four floors including the basement, each species, or sub-species having its own floor and entrance.

As they walk past the bouncers towards the end of the wolf line Toni laughs to herself, not remembering the last time she had to queue for anything, Goddess had she become so used to that treatment that queuing seemed alien to her.

“Ladies”

The voice of one of the bouncers calls to them

Susan stops and turns smiling at them, nudging Toni to do the same

“Good evening sir”

Susan gives her broadest smile to the bouncer, Toni relaxes her face and lets herself smile, still not completely comfortable with the action with strangers

He unhooks the rope for them.

“Why thank you”

Susan beams, nudging Toni again as she sashays her way over.

“Yes, thank you” Toni adds a little awkwardly

A human female wearing too much perfume and makeup starts muttering

“Why do they get in, we’ve been here an hour!”

The bouncer turns to them

“They are wolves, classy and don’t make me choke on their perfume, I can’t say the same about you.

You want in quickly – head to the human door.

Want to be a wolf groupie…. You wait and be thankful I don’t send you further back in the line.”

He growls out the last statement making the human take a few steps back.

Toni’s eyes roam over him without knowing it

’He’s a strong wolf, would give us strong pups’

Tyra licks her lips appreciatively

‘Tyra, chill, god what are you like and not even in heat!’

‘We can look and admire, and if we don’t find our fated mate, he’d be a good pick!’

Tyra flicks her tail up high, showing Toni her ass.

“Like what you see”

The bouncer winks at Toni breaking her out of her conversation with Tyra, but she does like what she sees, he’s got muscles in all the right places and doesn’t look to be intimidated easily.

“I do”

Toni grins cheekily, her boldness taking her by surprise, holding his gaze.

She’s not lying and having spent a few days with Susan, she’s learning to just speak her mind, even if inwardly she’s shocked at her actions.

“But you probably don’t want to mix with my kind, I’m not from a good pack.”

She winks at him, engaging his interest as Tyra takes over, her eyes becoming full wolf, he takes a small step back feeling a little of her power, but doesn’t break the eye contact, Tyra growls approvingly in her head.

She starts to berate Tyra who had taken control for a moment.

“Apologies, my wolf seems to like you, which I guess is a stupid thing to say since she just went all dominant for a second.”

Toni says, not looking at the stupid grin Susan has at that interaction

“I’m not easily put off, not one of those weak ass wolves that are intimidated by a strong she-wolf.

Rather, I like a challenge” he winks at her

“And don’t apologise, I’ve never met a she-wolf that feels…. hmmm…. so strong, so you can look all you like Darling.

As to not wanting to mix with your kind, well I wouldn't care if you were the Dark Gamma herself, something interests me about you.” he answers appreciatively

“Cage”

He holds out his hand to her, almost daring her to take it

“Emma” she replies shaking his hand

“Interesting name, is that your real name or is there a story behind it?”

She's curious, it's not a name she's come across before.

“It's the only name I use, but yes, there is a story behind it, you’d have to take me for a drink and get to know me before I’ll tell you the story!”

His eyes are full of amusement

“Well, if I stick around I may just do that Cage.”

She laughs as his eyes widen, knowing he's probably used to dropping the line and watching people decline, but both she and her wolf are impressed he didn’t completely back off when Tyra showed her dominant side.

There's something freeing to Toni to pretend she's normal, She may have taken it further than she thought, but if nothing else, it's consolidated her desire to fight for a normal life.

Susan stands on in amazement, she’s assumed Toni wouldn’t handle the banter and attention, but she's dominating it and almost thriving in it

“Leif one to test”

Cage calls into the doorway grinning, nodding to Toni as they walk towards the door

“Test?” she queries

“To see if you get full access to the Vampire and Witch floors” he winks

“I’ve dealt with vampires before; I have no desire to head there”

Cage just shrugs

“I'm just doing as I'm told, Darling” He grins

“You know where to find me if you decide you want to hear that story!”

He calls out as Toni walks through the door.

“Go on get tested, it will be fun, I’ve never met either before!”

Susan sounds giddy at the idea causing Toni to sigh and roll her eyes

Before she can answer, a tall blonde, pale man ushers them into a simple side room, she assumes he is the one called Leif.

What she also knows is that he’s a Vampire, she can smell it, turned not an original, but he smells old, yet his body looks like he’s in his twenties, a measure of when he was turned.

The palest of blue eyes, unique and showing no tint of red, tells her he was powerful, possibly even one of the Exalted, otherwise known as a General for his sire; gifted the vampire status on the brink of death but not having to die to achieve that status, they still have a soul, such as it is.

Toni doesn’t let her eyes drop from this vampire, if she’s right, he’s more dangerous than your average vampire.

He starts walking around her.

“You’re hiding yourself, wolf,” he says simply

“Not hiding, just confident in myself and no need to bring attention, when it’s not needed, especially not to an ancient bloodsucker”

She answers disdainfully.

“I have no desire to mix with Vampires, no need to test me”

She crosses her arms automatically staring him down

He laughs lightly

“Feisty, I like that, but your little friend does, she’s curious about us”

The corner of Leif’s mouth twitches upwards as he speaks.

“She’ll get over it in time, I’m not here to pander to her every whim”

Toni’s voice is colder and harder, her eyes showing flecks of her wolf in them, automatically falling into her Gamma persona, not knowing her words left Susan looking a little deflated.

He moved quickly to draw his cold hand over her cheek but no sooner than it was raised, than she grabbed it holding it away from her easily, not once dropping eye contact.

“Don’t touch me without permission.”

The deadly calmness of her voice makes Susan take a step back, concerned.

“Fast, strong as well, not hiding as much now it seems!” he chuckles

“Shall we see how strong your mind is, don’t worry, nothing illegal will happen…. Cameras are watching”

He indicates to the corners of the room.

“Cage is good at spotting the strong ones, not that many get referred, you will be the first in over two years and the first female, you should be proud of yourself!

Not that the last ones passed, but… they were tested.” he smiles at them winking

Toni has already called Tyra to the fore in case of issues, vampires make her skin crawl, and if wolves are animalistic, vampires are parasitic in her eyes.

He stilled in front of her, a little way away, locking eyes.

“Kiss me”

His voice drops to a husky whisper, eyes glowing red as he compels her

Toni’s head moves forward but towards the side of his head, near his ear.

“I’d rather rip out my tongue with a blunt, rusty knife.”

She answers quietly causing Leif to roar with laughter.

“You get a pass” his eyes roam over her body

“Damn wolf, you intrigue me.

So strong, I could tell not even the slightest pull to obey me” he grins

“What a challenge you’d have given me if only this were a century or so ago”

He turns to Susan

“Want to be tested?”

Toni can smell her slight fear, probably her first time coming face to face with a vampire, her reaction is a good thing, self-preservation is warning her of the danger.

Behind the civilised face this vampire presents, lies a dangerous creature, the wolf's natural enemy, someone who is as proficient in fighting and can match their strength and beat their speed.

“Wait”

Toni states all eyes coming to her as she walks to Susan, placing herself between them

“Do you honestly want to meet more like him?”

She asks nodding her head back towards Leif, stopping herself from calling him a bloodsucking parasite, finally acknowledging he was important in this club, best not to push it too much.

“I’m not sure, but you know, it’s an experience I’ll never get a chance to try again”

Toni shakes her head

“Your brother will kill me if I survive the month” Toni mutters voice deathly quiet