Chapter 10 - Dash
CHAPTER 10 - DASH
Father’s eyes flashed silver as his wolf targeted me like a drone locking onto a target. “Taking Liv as your mate unites our packs and together, we’ll fend off a reprisal from Malice’s pack.”
If only it were that easy.
Flames crackled under my skin. “Are you fucking mad? Pack Malice has a good fifty soldier wolves on the Lumbry and Hester packs.”
Father trained us to handle attacks, mount offenses, and get ready for the war he predicted, culminating with the surrender of multiple tribes to the Malice mutts. For that I couldn’t fault him.
The same couldn’t be said for the Hesters. Liv’s grandfather got them into this mess, his death condemning the fate of his daughters and granddaughters to come. The moment Joe ascended to Umbra, he should have voided the contract and dealt with fallout with assistance from the Shifter Council before the Malices infiltrated them and asserted influence within members.
The Malices might be weak, unfit, lazy cowards, but their penchant for creativity was second to none. They used dirty tactics like poisoning our water supply, making us ill a day before launching an incursion on us. Drones dropping wolfsbane bombs to further weaken us. Releasing prey into our territory fed colloidal fucking silver. Spiked booby traps killed two of our men in our last conflict. I didn’t like our chances in a larger scale skirmish.
If Liv’s father was going to be this stupid, I wanted her as far away from the conflict as possible. Steele’s mate, too. Both staying with the Jackals, if necessary. Protection in the event of mine and Steele’s deaths. Although he rejected her, knowing my brother, he would punish himself if Heather were injured or killed.
“You’re Lunar matched, son.” Here came one of Father’s lectures about duty and law. “Dissolving the union would offend the goddess.”
Hot coals balled in my chest. “TJ doesn’t give a shit about the Lunar goddess and Lycan customs.”
My jaw locked into place at Father’s next words. “I will seek justice with the Shifter Council for TJ assaulting Steele’s mate. Request TJ’s execution. Though, I’m not hopeful, after his last two acquittals.”
Bribes to council members most likely. Land granted, women, or money. Fury swept through me like a storm that he kidnapped shifters like Whitney and used them as payoffs.
“Whatever happens, we will fight the Malices and ensure your mating proceeds.” Fuck. This asshole planned my future when I told him how I felt about a mate. He never respected my wishes. Wondered why we always came to blows.
I was willing to perform my duty to my pack. Anything but take a mate and break the contract with the Jackals’ Wrath MC.
This was my damn fault for stepping into the circle to back up Steele, and it fell to me to get out of this. I needed all the luck of the goddess to do this when Father never backed me whenever I made a decision.
“TJ’s a dipshit that doesn’t respect custom.” Father growled like the splitting heavens outside at my use of foul language in front of company. I didn’t give a shit. The time for formalities came and went. “He spat in the ceremonial circle. Assaulted a blessed. Spilled blood there. Do you think he’ll respect our fucking Lunar tattoo or the shifter council’s order?”
Support surged alone my shared Lunar bond with Liv, giving me strength. “You said it yourself. The shifter council has no power with the Malices. Have you already forgotten the conflict with the Long pack?”
My wolf yawned at her backing me.
Long pack’s Umbra petitioned for aid days before the Malices wiped them out. Official edicts sent by the shifter council failed to stop bloodshed. The Umbra of pack Long and his wife and children fled in exile and never returned.
Joe scratched his gray, speckled beard. “Worst case scenario, we’ll offer another candidate.”
Ice frosted the lunar bond shared with Liv. “Who?”
Joe poured another two drinks and the lid clinked as he capped the decanter. “Heather. She’s my only other daughter to fulfil the peace treaty.”
Fire melted the thin sheet of ice on our link. “No. Don’t you dare propose her. I will go in her stead.”
Pressure mounted in my chest at my wolf wresting for release to put a stop to their plans, at her proposal to surrender herself to save her sister. Control slipped away because of the moon, and I was seconds away from cracking and being taken over for the second time tonight.
I gripped the amulet tighter to hold onto the last semblance of influence. “Father, please. This plan is madness. I can’t take Liv as a mate. It’s too dangerous.”
Swords sprang to attention on our bond as Liv defended herself from another rebuff. Too many factors were at play, too many lives at stake, and all options proposed were unsafe for everyone.
I needed Father on my side if the Lumbrys and Hesters were going to survive this. “Believe me, I want to merge the forces of our pack and kill that asshole, TJ.” Father snarled at my cuss, and I ignored him for the hundredth time tonight. “It’s not wise right now.”
Or ever, if this debt hung over Pack Lumbry’s neck.
I couldn’t channel my focus into the club if I was distracted by a damn mate and a war over her.
Liv’s icy glare burned through my chest right to my heart that I left her out of the equation. Her pain cut me worse than fear of death, but losing her was the sacrifice I had to make for her and my pack’s survival.
I tried another tactic, desperate to change Father’s mind and make my Lunar mate understand. “Steele scented Whitney on TJ tonight. The Malices have her. If you force this union and break the pact, they’ll kill her for the insult and send us her head. Declare war on both our packs.”
Father went redder than blood and the second war this evening between parent and son commenced. “Do not defy me, boy.” His V8-engine growl made Joe’s crystal whisky flask rattle. “You will mate the girl and do this for your family.”
His response set my blood aflame, and I barely held my wolf back. “What about fucking Whitney?”
Father folded his arms over his chest, a move he made when he prepared to tear through my idea. “A necessary sacrifice for the survival of my pack.”
Spikes of heat pulsed through me as my patience ran thin. I couldn’t believe he’d forfeit Whitney for this alliance. Couldn’t believe Umbra Hester would sacrifice his second daughter to the Malices. Politics and power ruled their world. Father blinded by his need for Hester blood and to further his family’s reign when his rule slipped away at my unwillingness to be heir and take a mate. That and the constant threat of Beau’s family seeking to upend the Lumbry leadership and claim their own.
My wolf slipped into the front of my consciousness, and I fought to restrain him. “You might have abandoned Whitney, but Steele, my men and I won’t stop until we find her.”
Father’s woodchipper growl threatened to slice my dreams into a thousand pieces. “You’ll focus your efforts on our plans.”
A stab of cold fear pierced my breast. What fucking plans? Had these two been in discussions? Fuck. The Grove. Father leaving the ceremony to conduct mysterious business. Umbra Hester absent for the ceremony and only showing up after the clash with the Malices. These two conspired in the forest prior to discovering my lunar match to Liv. Handy little fortune straight from the goddess.
Walls closed in on me, sealing my fate. Finalizing Liv’s fucking fate. Father wouldn’t take no for an answer. It was either take her as mine, or kiss goodbye to Pack Lumbry and my newly established motorcycle club. I could get by without the pack. Lone wolf. No different from the last year. Set up a new pack if any fool chose to follow me. A big if.
Running the Jackals Lithgow chapter alone presented a serious problem, and I needed my five brothers to ensure its success. One man couldn’t ship the Jackals’ product to their distributor. I needed four men minimum for the ride to protect the shipment, and the rest of us and a road captain to guide us. Spare men for distractions with the cops. Slade and Alaric were scheduled to escort us on our first run, test our performance, and give us tips on how to improve. Protection of their product was paramount, and they would only entrust it to the right men for the job.
Fulfilling our contract required we deliver one batch of Pharaoh per month for three months, then twice a month for another three months. Failure to deliver meant our deal went up in flames. Three days wasn’t long enough to hire replacements, train them up and get them up to speed. Slade would kill the run if I showed up alone. Pride stopped me from ruining the club’s way out of debt and the one good thing in my life.
Worst case scenario—and I’d reserve this if shit got really hot—I’d call in the favor with the Jackals to fight with us and destroy the Malices. Best to keep that one close to my chest for now.
Worn down by my predicament, I scrubbed at my weary face. Fuck. What a mess. One I couldn’t get out of by myself. Father and I needed to work as a team, and that was always fire-fucking-works.
“What do you propose to take care of Malice?” I growled. “I don’t want Liv hurt in this, or our packs.”
My Lunar mate glanced at me, our bond softening a little, the swords tipped at my chest dropping for a few moments.
Father jumped into general mode, throwing around orders. “We keep the Lunar matching a secret. Both of you wear long sleeves to cover your markings. We continue with plans for Liv’s wedding and collaborate in the background.”
I scratched my forehead, not liking this plan. At-fucking-all. “What kind of collaborating?”
Umbra Hester surprised me with his bloodthirsty snarl. “The kind where we slaughter the Malices at TJ’s wedding.”
I let out a nervous laugh at their ludicrous plan. “You’re gonna Red Wedding them?”
Liv bent her head and covered her eyes with her palm. She thought the same as me and my wolf yawned again, pleased we were on the same page.
“Blood will flow at his wedding.” Father didn’t understand the Game of Thrones reference, too busy doing tasks around the pack or his house to watch TV.
“Father, that’s risky,” Liv got in, making her case. “What if any of the Malices noticed my Lunar brand and report it to TJ?”
Joe stroked his wrist where his Lunar branding bumped over corded tendons. “You’ve got a cake tasting tomorrow. Scrutinize him. Lay it on thick if you need to as a diversion.”
Over my dead fucking body. Liv wasn’t going near him. Not looking at him. Certainly not touching that bastard. That motherfucker didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her.
I snatched Liv’s wrist and thundered back, “You’re not putting her in jeopardy by letting her near that Malice cocksucker!”
Father’s vein pulsed like a semi-automatic spraying me with bullets. “Language. Show respect.”
Respect went both ways and so far, my father showed me none, nor any to my lunar mate. Those rash idiots exploited her for their harebrained plans and dropped her in a middle of a fucking war zone alone to defend herself. What if the Malices kidnapped her like they did Whitney?
Liv cracked a smile along our bond, and my wolf grumbled his thanks.
“He won’t do anything in public,” Joe jumped in to back up my father. “Too many witnesses. Cell phones and social media.” Devices forbidden to take to the Lunar ceremony. “Police less than one minute down the road.”
One minute too long for my liking. My fingers locked harder around Liv’s wrist, and she squirmed. “I don’t care. I want your enforcer and guards with her tomorrow.” Hell, I’d stand guard if I had to.
Father’s disapproving glare dropped for a second, and a flicker of pride oozed through. Asshole probably gloated that I went along with his game plan for once.
Fuck. What’s gotten into me? Being near her put her in danger. Far worse than the slavery of TJ fucking Malice.
Liv wrestled my hold, and I tightened it to the point of causing pain, and she got the message and stilled. “Taking that much security will rouse suspicions.”
Savvy little mate, my wolf praised.
The military strategist father drilled into me emerged with a plan. “Conceal them at strategic points where they’re in range to protect you if you need it.” I released her wrist and lifted mine, clicking the Apple Watch I put on before riding my bike from the ceremony. “What time is the cake tasting?”
“9AM.” Liv rubbed at the red circles on her wrist, and my wolf whined to lick her and soothe the sting I caused.
An idea brightened in my mind, and I put it forward. “Can we conceal poison in the cake? Something to make the Malices drowsy?” Payback for what they did to Pack Lumbry.
Father smiled, all sign of his temper gone, replaced by his contented general prepared to wage war against an enemy. “Risky.” He stroked the sharp lines of his cleanshaven jaw, the same ones worn by me. “That would exhaust everyone, including Hester soldiers we need to mount the attack.”
Liv paled and rubbed her eyebrows. “You’re involving wedding guests?” She hated the idea as much as me.
Joe approached her and set a hand on either shoulder. “We need our best men at the wedding as security.”
Father clapped his palms on his thighs. “We’ll reconvene once the cake testing is complete and develop the strategy.”
Faceless casualties flashed in my head. More shifters lost to the feud with the Malices. How many would it take and at what price? I just hoped it didn’t cost the lives of those I cared for.