Pack Enforcer

Copyright © Crissy Smith, 2009
All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Total-E-Bound.

Excerpt From: Pack Enforcer

Emily Black kicked her shoes off and watched as they flew across her living room. Godforsaken things. She hated shoes no matter what kind they were. At least the tennis shoes she wore to class were more comfortable than the heels her friends wore.

She kicked them under the coffee table as she passed and stripped off her shirt and jeans while heading into the bedroom for loose shorts and T-shirt. Once comfortable, she headed into the kitchen. The fridge, which she kept overstocked, was cool as she opened it. She grabbed a bottle of water and the Tupperware full of lasagne she had packed.

Heating it up in the microwave, she sat on the counter to wait for it with a fork in her hand. Many people would consider her behaviour weird or think that she hadn’t eaten in hours. But, for her, it was just another day.

She had eaten lunch only two hours ago, but a shifter burned a lot of energy and needed to eat large regular meals.

She, however, ate many small meals. Especially around the few people she called her friends. Even though the world had finally admitted there were Shifter or Were creatures out there, she didn’t like to call attention to herself. No one at school knew about her. Of that she was pretty sure. To them, she was just a quiet girl who liked to study and keep to herself. She was pretty in a traditional way, but not a head-turner. She would leave being stunning and charming to those around her. She preferred to blend in and not draw attention to herself.

She could see her answering machine light blinking, indicating she had a message, but wasn’t in any hurry to check. It was probably someone trying to sell her something. She didn’t get many phone calls.

* * * *

Cain knocked on the door to his Alpha’s study and waited for the grunt meaning to come in. He entered and remained silent as Lamont finished his phone call. If Lamont hadn’t wanted the conversation overheard, he wouldn’t have let Cain in. Werewolf hearing was better than any device you could buy.

Cain immediately recognised the young Were’s voice on the other end of the line. She spoke softly to the Alpha of the Pack, although her tone showed frustration. Hearing her voice sent a shiver down Cain’s spine and a jolt to his cock.

They all worried about the young Were women who were out of the Pack’s territory. In all of the attacks that had recently taken place, the females were away from home, out of Pack territory. Showing why he was Alpha, Lamont was calling them home before Cain had thought of it.

“Have some bags packed when your ride gets there,” Lamont said sternly into the phone.

Cain barely held back a smile when he heard the order.

“No, someone will be there to pick you up.” He looked over at Cain. “It will be someone you recognise from the Pack. Do not leave with anyone else.”

Lamont listened for a few more minutes before cutting her off. “No. You will stay in one of the cabins. It will be fully furnished for your arrival.” He waited again. “You’ll stay until we know what is going on and I tell you it’s okay to go back.” That was all Alpha speaking to one of his Pack. Cain knew how Lamont felt about Emily. How everyone felt.

Emily had been changed as a child, which was against every rule and law they had. Most children could not handle the stress of change. That was why it was forbidden. Too many children had died back in the settling days before his family had a Pack leader. It was Lamont’s father who had forbidden the change of children or anyone who did not choose it. There were too many risks.

Someone could carry the Were DNA two ways—through birth or by being bitten. However, being bitten did not mean they would automatically change. They must carry the strain somewhere down their line.

Cain’s brother, Tony, could explain it better. Tony was a natural born talker. He could smooth over anything or anybody. He was the face of the Pack. When the Packs had decided to come out in the open, to stop hiding from the world, there needed to be a recognised face. A face that people could see and not think of a monster. Cain was just glad it wasn’t him. He would rather stay home in his Pack’s territory, keeping watch and protecting his Alpha.

He turned his attention to the man who sat behind the desk. A man he respected more than anyone else.

“Emily Black,” Lamont told him once he hung up the phone.

“She’s coming home?” Cain asked even though he knew the answer.

Lamont nodded at him. “I want every female home and safe. Especially her.”

Cain understood what Lamont was saying.

They had rescued her from the cage she had been put into after she had been changed—when the ones who had changed her couldn’t handle her. She had been filthy and bruised from head to toe. Neglected and scared with no idea what was going on. She’d been twelve. Now, ten years later, she would be coming home to be kept safe once again.

“I want you to go get her and get her here safely,” Lamont told him.