Page 29 of Enemy Wolf

“You have until the end of the month,” the dragon said coolly, turning to leave.

“Please, you don’t understand,” I gasped. “You don’t know what you’re asking. It’s impossible to do in that time. If I could do it, I promise you I would, but this solution is ancient and extremely dangerous. I’m doing everything I can, please don’t hurt anyone…”

I was babbling, desperate. On some level, I knew my pleas were falling on deaf ears, but if there was even a sliver of hope that this psychopath would listen to reason and give me the tiniest of breaks, I would try. For the lives of everyone in Vargmore, I would try.

“The end of the month, witch,” the dragon repeated, not losing a single stride on his way out the door. “Or your precious territory becomes rubble and ashes.” He paused in the doorway and flashed me a toothy smile over his shoulder.

“Which would make it a perfect environment for a new clan of dragons, wouldn’t you agree?”

Chapter 11

Orson

“Not in the mood, Tryn,” I called when the knocking came to my door for the third time that day.

A dry chuckle floated through the wood. “Good thing I’m not him.”

Oh shit. I stood abruptly from my desk, pushing my rolling chair back. It hit the opposite wall as I went for the door and jerked it open. “Sorry, Alpha. I didn’t realize it was you.”

“Clearly.” Derric flashed me a smile, the scars on his temples blending with the lines at the corners of his eyes. “What are you up to, Orson?”

“Just, ah…” I gestured vaguely at my monitors. “You know, keeping an eye on things.”

“You know, I admire your dedication to your job in the pack,” he said. “But you don’t have to work all the time.”

“Well, I—”

“No vampires have been sighted, so Thorne is apparently holding up his end of the deal.” The alpha’s lip curls at the mention of Blood ‘til Dawn’s president. “And our finances appear to be in great shape, thanks to you.”

“Thank you, Alpha.”

He nodded and leaned against my door jamb, with no intention of going anywhere. “So take a break and come out with me.”

“Out?” I parroted.

“It’s the fall equinox,” he said. “The humans are having their equinox feast tonight. Come with me.”

I blinked. “Why are you going to a human holiday feast?”

“Because the humans of Vargmore are still my people.” A flash of regret crossed his face. “I need to make amends for how I regarded them before. So I’m spending more time with them and contributing to their feasts. I want them to know I’m here for them just as much as our own kind.”

“That’s noble of you, Alpha. I’d love to come, but I have a lot of—”

“Don’t feed me excuses, Orson,” he said with an edge of growl to his voice. “Like I said, the territory is secure. Our finances are good. Shit, everyone’s got a working phone. What could possibly be so urgent?” When I didn’t answer immediately, he smacked a hand against my stomach. “Great, meet us downstairs in two hours. Be ready to eat.”

“Us?” My mind was still reeling over how I got roped into a social event with humans.

“Sawyer and Fallon are coming too, along with their mates.” Derric flashed me a toothy smile as he headed off. “Don’t worry. You’ll be among friends.”

* * *

The human lodge was a single-story building in the northeastern part of Vargmore. From what little I understood about human culture, they didn’t form packs like wolves did. Many humans lived independently, like Shiloh, or with a partner and any children they had. Their “packs” were more like small family units consisting of parents and children, sometimes including grandparents or aunts and uncles.

For this reason, no one lived at the human lodge. It was more of a meeting place or event center for their species. Conversely, all the unmated werewolves of Howling Death also lived at our lodge. The one exception to that I’d seen had been Sawyer, who built a cabin for himself and lived there full-time even before he found his mate.

Generally speaking, it just made sense to our kind that pack stayed together. As antisocial as I was, being a lone wolf wasn’t in my wiring.

I wonder if Shiloh gets lonely, living and running a business by herself.

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