CALIFF
“What do you have?”
Duke shook his head. “Nothing. He won’t say a thing. I cut him with a silver laced knife, and he just laughed and spotted blood on my face.”
“That son of bitch is well-trained. Did you find anything from the PD?” Being rich did come in handy. I donated a tremendous amount of money to the local police, and in return, they cut a few red tapes for me. When there were reports of murders or RTA, we cooperated and helped them. The only thing they knew was that these people were under my protection, or they probably thought we were some cult, but they left us alone to live how we wanted.
“Yeah. Decker Adams. He had a long rap sheet from DUI, resisting arrest, assault, and parking tickets. And here’s the best part. Domestic violence and sexual abuse allegations.”
“I should have let Shadow kill him. Why is he not in jail?”
“For domestic violence and sexual abuse, allegations were made by the same woman, but maybe he threatened to kill her, so the charge was dropped, and the human left town.”
“That’s probably what he did.”
“What are we gonna do to him?”
“Keep him locked up for a while, but make sure he can’t escape. Let the guards stay away from him. He’s dangerous. Does he have something in his clothes?”
“No. He’s butt naked now.” Duke hid his smile while I didn’t.
“Keep him butt naked, and don’t give him anything. Let him starve to death. He deserves that after what he did to that poor human. I got to go and see the family.”
Duke followed me outside of the cell. “So when are you gonna make an announcement?”
“About what?” I looked over my shoulder.
“You and Shadow.”
“I promise her to keep it secret until she’s ready. She wants to gain everyone’s trust without my influence and being my mate.”
“She’s giving herself a hard time, you know. I can already see the image of Luna in her. She doesn’t abuse her rank and takes advantage of it. She will be a good Luna for everyone. She reminds me of your mother.” I saw the pride in Duke’s eyes. I was glad he liked her but never hid his disapproval of Everlee because he believed I had a mate waiting somewhere to be found.
“Glad you like Shadow.”
“At first, I didn’t because she was a rogue, and she likes to disobey and violate rules, but now I understand why. She wants you to see her as equal.”
We got into solitary confinement, but I ordered them to put the family in a well-equipped room with complete furniture and a TV because they had a pup.
They stood up and lowered their gaze as soon as I joined them with my Beta. Shadow and Kindra were there to check on them and the pup.
“Alpha, Beta.” Marcus took a step forward. “Thank you for not putting us in a cell.”
“I haven’t decided yet, and it depends on how you can answer my questions and give information about the threat before the attack.”
“Of course, Alpha. I will do my best to tell you everything.”
“Do you know this guy?” Duke showed the picture of Decker from the cell.”
He looked closely and shook his head. “I haven’t seen him before, but I can give you the list of my pack. We have the list of our pack if you allow me to access the internet. We also have a group chat.”
Duke gave him his phone, but he was watching him closely.
“How are you, Clara?”
“Grateful, Alpha. I couldn’t thank you enough.”
“Once we get what we want and the information checks out that your family is not a threat to our pack, I will place your family in a temporary room. I will provide a place for your son. We have a dormitory for pups around his age.”
“Thank you.” She was about to cry, but Shadow was beside her to rub her back.”
“Does your pup need anything?”
“Amari. Her name is Amari, Alpha. Shadow and Kindra gave everything I needed for her.”
“I will try to find a toy for you, right, Amari?” Shadow caressed the pup’s face.
One day, we could have our own, but not right now when an imminent threat came our way. And we hadn’t gone through the mating process. Last night was special and unforgettable. Something deep inside me fluttered. Kindra didn’t miss seeing the reaction on my face.
“Got it, Alpha.”
Duke and I sat on the couch across from them. “Tell us what kind of Alpha Matias was?”
“He is-” He swallowed. I could see he cared about his Alpha.
“Baby, can you listen to his heartbeat if he is lying,” I said through our link.
I met Shadow’s gaze. She got my message and nodded.
“He was reliable. He made us his priority aside from his family. We like going fishing or hunting every weekend. He divided the catch equally among families. Sometimes, he was too lenient, giving the one who made a mistake a second chance.”
“Like how?”
“We have a member, a late bloomer. He shifted when he was nineteen and went out of control when bullied at school by our pack member. He hurt him pretty badly, but Alpha Matias didn’t give him punishment. The parents couldn’t accept that decision.”
“What did they do?”
“Nothing, but they talked of leaving the pack and finding a new pack in the other town.”
I shifted my gaze to Shadow. She smiled at me.
“Is it possible the family went to the attackers and cut a deal?” Duke questioned him.
“I wish I could give you more information, Beta.”
“May I ask Clara?”
“Of course.”
“Women usually talk, not necessarily gossip. Is there a tension going on in the pack?”
“I’m a cook at the diner downtown, but I still got gossip from the women in my pack, but mostly unhelpful. More on women fighting against their men.”
Shadow hid her smile. “Oh, it happens, is it?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry, Alpha. We were just caught off guard. If we didn’t go to the picnic, we could be one of those dead.”
“Mom even forced me to join them. I don’t like celebrating it because I had plans with my friend, but Dad wanted to spend time together.”
I had a feeling their story was well-rehearsed. This picnic thing may be true, but they were hiding something.
“If you’re scared that something might happen to your family, don’t be. I will do everything to protect all of you, especially Amari, but if you are protecting someone who might slow the process of discovering what happened to your pack and who attacked you, think about your family first. I know I would do the same to my people, but I also want justice for those who have fallen.” Shadow reached out to Clara’s hand. “Please? I don’t have rank in this pack, but I have sworn my loyalty to Alpha Califf. If you want to stay in the compound and want our protection, you need to be honest with us or so help us. I won’t and never put my pack in harm’s way.”
How did she know that?
“Tell us, or I will talk to Santi and Jonas. I want to be frank with you right now. We won’t need you when we get the truth from them anymore. I’m sorry to all of you for what happened to your pack, but Alpha has to protect hundreds of lives in this pack. I will drive you to the safest place, give you food for two days, and some cash, but other than that. I can’t do anything.”
“Good Job, baby,” I told her in our link.
I rose from my seat.
“Someone offered us a deal,” Marcus said. “It’s true, we were on a picnic, but not because to accept the deal. It was true that Adrian just shifted. I told Alpha Matias about it because of my loyalty. The pack members have divided decisions, mostly favoring our Alpha. Still, the rest wanted to accept the alliance for protection because the Alpha who came to us had fifty members. That’s what he said.”
“Where were Jonas and Santi lay in the decision?” I asked.
“They were one of those loyal to Alpha. I’m sorry. I felt ashamed that my pack was weak and had fallen to trust that son of a bitch.” His anger brewed in his eyes. “I swear to Goddess. I will be in the first line to kill those bastards if I get the chance.”
“Are you sure your Alpha didn’t switch sides?”
“I swear to you, Alpha. I know Matias. He’s my brother.”
“Or you want his rank for yourself?”
“No. Never. I didn’t even want to be his Beta either.” A single tear fell down his cheek.
I could sense his pain, and Shadow’s face contorted as she looked at Marcus in such misery.
“Let’s say I believe your story. What help can you give us, Marcus?”
“If you take my family as new members of your pack, I swear with my life to help you protect everyone. I served in the military. I know how to create IEDs that could kill our kind. I know it’s brutal, but they never hesitated to take the lives of my pack.”
“Who’s the Alpha that offered an alliance?”
“He’s not stopping asking other packs to join him. It’s only the beginning. Alpha Keane.”
Shadow and I couldn’t help but share a look.
Shadow growled in anger. “I will kill him with my bare claws. That son of a bitch!”