Chapter Two Xavier #3
The brown wolf finished shifting before the others. Panting, he lay in the shape of a tall, light-skinned man with hair the color of his wolf’s fur, including a blond streak at the front, matching the blaze on his wolf form’s forehead.
By the time he sat up, his companions had finished shifting as well, a short, thin man with curly dark hair and a slightly taller, slightly stockier man with extremely light blond hair.
“Anax, our apologies.” The guy with the blond streak stood, pushing himself up with his hands, and bowed his head. “We meant no disrespect by entering your territory without warning.”
“And yet it was disrespectful.” The Anax moved toward him, and I stayed close beside him. I wouldn’t give these guys a chance to attack. “What are your names and your pack?”
“I am Gregory Malkin.” He lowered his gaze even more. “These men with me are Curtis King and Shannon Whittaker. We are trackers from Connecticut Pack.”
The Anax waited. Gregory didn’t say anything else. Scowling, the Anax demanded, “Why have you come here without consulting with me first? Or, more appropriately, having your Alpha contact me.”
I folded my arms, waiting to see whether this Gregory would answer. He could try to lie to the Anax, but that wouldn’t go well for him.
He apparently realized that. “Our Alpha is unaware that we’ve come here, Anax,” he said quietly. “We’re here on orders from our Beta and the head tracker, seeking a pack member who may be trying to defect without permission.”
Rage surged in me again. Ren had been right. These men were here to harm him. They would have to go through me to get to him. I moved half a step forward, mindful not to position myself ahead of the Anax but ready to defend or attack, whichever seemed more appropriate.
“Werewolves do not require permission to leave packs. Only to join them.”
The Anax paused. “A severely injured wolf appeared here not long ago. Beaten, from what I understand, because he is a transgender man. He is not of your pack. I’ve set him packless and under my direct rule. What were you planning to do with this werewolf if you found him?”
“We…” Bowing his head again, Gregory trailed off. “We were told only to bring him to the Beta, Anax. I don’t know his intentions.”
“You will return to your Beta and inform him that the wolf you pursued is under the rule and protection of the Anax of the United States.”
The Anax stood straighter, appearing taller.
A trick of his; I’d seen him do it before to assert his power and authority.
“And you will tell him I expect a formal apology for the invasion of my territory.”
“Y—yes, Anax.”
The Anax turned to me. “See that they have meat and something to drink before they shift back to wolf and depart. Gregory, Curtis, Shannon, you will remain where you are until my guard returns. You are barred from entering my home or any other buildings on my property.
After you’ve had something to eat and drink, you will shift back to wolf and go back the way you came. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Anax,” Gregory mumbled. The other two echoed him.
“Good. I’m going to contact your Alpha and inform him that pack members are acting behind his back. I’m sure he’ll have something to say about that.”
As the Anax glowered at them, they bowed their head so much their chins touched their chests.
“I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you did not choose to violate protocol or invade my territory. Prove me right by following my orders.”
“Yes, Anax,” the three repeated.
“Good.” He turned and went back up the steps. Xavier, they’re under compulsion. They won’t move while you get something for them from the kitchen. But keep an eye out the window just in case.
Yes, Anax. I followed him. After they leave?
I hoped he would send me to check on Ren, but of course that was outside the duties of one of the Anax’s guards, as his answer proved.
When Davion arrives, I’ll want one of you to patrol the property and make sure they’re actually gone.
I’ll let you decide whether you or he does it.
He opened the door. “If any of these men cause problems, Xavier, I grant you the power to decide how to handle them.”
The “granting” didn’t mean anything. The Anax couldn’t hand over responsibility to that extent. He’d said it for show, and the gasps behind us said that it had had the desired effect. I simply nodded and went inside.
In the kitchen, I assembled a platter of meats and cheese like I had for Ren, though with less on it.
I didn’t see the need to give these men much.
They would be heading back where they belonged soon enough.
Let their pack provide for them. I brought it to them along with bottles of water and watched while they ate and drank.
Within minutes, they shifted back to their wolf forms and walked away, heads low, tails drooping. They’d failed in whatever warped mission they’d had, and maybe they would have a price to pay when they reached their pack’s territory. I didn’t care. They were gone, and that meant Ren was safe.
Now I just needed to keep it that way. Without shirking my duties to the Anax.