Page 108 of Jake

Jake glared at the killer Alpha. Chaz had kidnapped Dimitri’s mate, killed Nick, Jax’s beta. As he stood nude before him, reeking of death, Jake’s thoughts raced. After Chaz had orchestrated a brutal attack in New Orleans, Gillian and Dimitri had eviscerated him on the spot. Acadian Wolves had buried the bodies off pack land, but there had been no question; he’d been dead.

The triad.Demonic magick had resuscitated its body. Necromancy. Chaz had rallied, returning to kill Alexander.

“You’re a coward. Waiting until I left to take out Alex?”

“I waited until we’d merged fully again. The triad. We’re unstoppable,” he claimed.

“Not anymore. The triad is dead. Seems to me it’s just you and the vampire. Nothing special about you at all. You’re nothin’ more than rotting vermin.” The muffled cries of wolves ripped through his soul; they were being held in a nearby location. Jake scanned the area, spying a light in one of the several surrounding cabins. “Where are my wolves? Come to me. This is your Alpha, speaking. Jake Louvière.”

“You think it’ll be that easy? My wolves are loyal. The rest? They’ll die one by one until they submit.”

“It’s a good thing I showed up then, isn’t it?” Jake gave a cool smile, considering what Chaz had done to the wolves. He’d only taken over a few weeks ago. When he’d been demon, he’d more easily forced them into submission. They hadn’t realized his dilemma. Jake reasoned the pack was being held hostage by force. It’d be likely Chaz and Kasdeya had used silver ammunition to keep them in order. He’d have to smoke out the guards, and pick them off, but his wolf growled, reminding him that Chaz would die first.

“I think you might be interested in meeting a few new members of my pack.” Chaz snapped his fingers.

Jake rooted his feet into the ground as Kasdeya flashed to the stage. She held Cassandra’s limp body in her arms, dumping it onto the porch. Jake refused to take the bait, patiently waiting. He prayed like hell Quintus would yield to his demand.

The air grew thick with magick, a familiar fragrance swirling around him. Jake froze, readying to attack as a female stumbled out onto the porch, wearing a dirty, tattered bra and panties. Like a feral animal that had been trapped in a snare, her eyes were glassed over, her fear and agony palpable. Chaz snatched her by her hair, dragging her to him.

Shilan, Jake heard Kia scream in his mind. Stay back, he told her, knowing it would take every shred of restraint for his mate not to go to her sister.

“Let her go and I’ll spare you,” Jake lied. “I want my wolves here to see this.”

“She’s mine. You see, Kasdeya and I…we’ve been waiting for a taste of the pixiu. Her sister.” Chaz stuck out his tongue and dragged it over her cheek. He grabbed her breast, jolting the girl upward. Tears streamed down her face, but she spoke no words.

“We tasted the pixiu. She was delicious. We’d planned on being her master. All her power would someday be ours. But after she flew away, that’s when I realized we needed a mate. We needed to breed.”

“She’s not a wolf,” Jake shot back.

“The child would be born of the devil. She’s very, very special to us. We like her. She’s going to be ours forever. Bear our children.”

“Give me my sister back, you asshole!”

Jake glanced to Kai who ran toward Chaz. As she went to go for her sister, Jake caught her arm.

“Bring out my wolves. Do it now!” Jake commanded.

Concentrating, he called on every wolf in the pack to obey. He sensed a few wolves that ignored his order, and guessed they were rogue. He closed his eyes, forcing his power into the night, ensnaring the rogues in his command. They’d comply, forced to release his wolves. He compelled them to step forth for a challenge.

A door flew open, and several armed guards held their aim on the wolves as they stepped outside the building onto the grass. Their bloodstained fur told him they’d been fighting in challenges. The others wore dull coats, indicating they’d been kept from shifting. Mothers with pups followed in their human form, protectively clutching their children. As the last wolf padded out into the yard, Jake shifted and leapt into the air.

Growling, he tackled Chaz, the brown wolf shifting to accept the challenge. Shilan crumpled onto the ground and he caught sight of Kai out of the corner of his eye. Crouching, she took Shilan in her arms but was unable to rouse her sister. A loud hiss sounded as the vampire wrestled with Quintus.

Determined to kill Chaz, the Alpha tore into his fur, his teeth sliding into his back. The tainted blood coated his mouth, the rancid taste of rotting flesh on his tongue. Chaz shoved Jake onto his side, attempting to force him onto his back. Hell fucking no. With a great heave, Jake shouldered the wolf, pinning him into the earth. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Kai dragging her sister toward the helicopter.

Chaz snapped at him, desperately struggling, his paws flailing. Jake’s rage surged, reminded of the evil he’d perpetrated. This asshole had killed Jax’s beta, Nick. Chaz had abducted Shilan, attempted to kill Gillian, had a hand in Dominique’s children’s deaths and had tortured an already traumatized pack. I will never leave you again, Jake inwardly told his wolves, infusing them with his strength and commitment.

With a guttural growl, Jake tore into Chaz’s neck. My pack. He sank his teeth into the wolf’s fur, ripping at its flesh. The Alpha fed off his fear and shredded the arteries in his enemy’s neck, eviscerating the soft tissue. Chaz thrashed, his paws shoving at Jake’s fur. As the life drained from the wolf, the Alpha spat out the rotting flesh, maggots dripping onto the dirt. Jake restrained the evil wolf, granting no mercy as it coughed, the blood draining from its body.

He glanced to Quintus who had pinned the vampire against the house. She screeched as she stabbed her hideous talons into his back. They rolled onto the porch and down the stairs. With his fangs lodged in her neck, Quintus held tight, but Jake was concerned as Kasdeya barreled him onto his back.

Quintus rolled away from Kasdeya, his eyes burning red. As she lunged at him, he gave a sidekick, sending her flying into the gravel. Kasdeya quickly rallied, leaping onto her feet and licking a bloodied finger.

Quintus pressed onto his knees, but toppled as he struggled to stand. He rolled onto his stomach, and Jake spied the blood gushing from the puncture wounds on his back. Quintus’ eyes met Jake’s as he convulsed on the ground. Kasdeya hissed as she stalked toward him, baring her fangs.

The Alpha considered his options, but detecting a faint heartbeat, he refused to leave his kill. He buried his teeth deeper, again shredding the wolf’s flesh. Never again would Chaz threaten his pack or others. Anzober Wolves.

A tremendous roar came from the sky, and Jake’s chest tightened as he caught sight of Kai’s spectacular beast. Tempted though he was to release Chaz to go to her, Jake held tight. Like a bird of prey, she soared, hunting. Golden wings flapped overhead as she set her sights on Kasdeya. Kai’s luminescence lit up the night sky as she dove at the vampire. Her fierce mouth opened, and her energy slammed into the ground with an audible hum. Like a jet engine bearing down, Kai growled. Kasdeya’s eyes widened as the terrifying beast came at her. With precision, the mighty pixiu swooped in, attacking her prey, her teeth lodging around the vampire’s neck. Kasdeya’s body flailed as Kai crushed her spine, decapitating her. She spat out the remains, and once again took flight.

Jake heard a familiar howl and caught a glimpse of Hunter scraping his paw over a wolf, the bodies of Chaz’s guards strewn at his feet. Jake released Chaz, his dead carcass tumbling onto the cracked earth. His attention shifted to Quintus, but the vampire had disappeared. No longer sensing his presence, he suspected he’d materialized in search of blood.

Jake called to his wolves. Anzober. He shifted, standing proudly as he demanded the submission of his pack. Alpha.

“I’m here to claim this pack as mine. Is there anyone here who challenges me?” The hum of the pack sizzled through him, their exaltation and appreciation smashing through his mind. “Anzober Wolves. Acadian blood flows through my veins, but from here on out I’ll lead you. I am your Alpha.”

One by one, the wolves submitted to the mighty Alpha, crouching before him. Kai descended from the heavens, landing at his feet. She knelt in submission yet kept close, claiming her rightful place at his side. My mate.My pack. Always.