GABE
The man, an obvious Alpha; stood tall and proud looking around the bar flanked by his two men, I took note that one had a Beta aura, and the other was a guard. His eyes landed on me, and I lifted my glass and downed the liquid in one go, still holding eye contact.
Two of my men stood up blocking the Alpha’s path to me. This was either going to be a shit show or the Alpha wanted something.
By the look of desperation written all over his face, I was guessing the latter.
*Let him through* I linked my men. I would praise them later for doing their job, as I had told no one we were expecting a meeting with an Alpha. Curious eyes from the bar were all trained on the unknown Alpha, and I could see my Zeta’s stiffen, ready to fight if needed.
The Alpha was unknown to me, not one I had previously encountered. The older man stepped forward closing in on our table, his men close behind him, constantly looking around watching their Alpha’s six.
Good loyal men, who were all dressed nice, too nice for an establishment like this. Their suits make them stick out like a sore thumb. This Alpha was super ballsy coming in here unannounced.
I cleared my throat but didn’t bother to stand up and greet him. He was in my house.
“What can we do for you Alpha?” Jamerson took the lead, scrutinizing him and his men with a watchful eye.
The Alpha was tall, older, maybe fifty-ish. Despite his obvious desperation, he held a confident air around him. His eyes trained on me, looked away for a brief moment at Jamerson then back to me.
Ignoring Jamerson he spoke directly to me “I am looking for Gabriel Grayson. I would like to hire him and the Renegades.” He spoke confidently.
“For what reason?” Jamerson asked, annoyed that the Alpha had ignored him.
Finally, the Alpha took notice of Jamerson and regarded him. Casting his eyes over my partner and after assessing thoroughly, he spoke, “Please, excuse me, I am Alpha James Jordan of the Raven Knights Pack.”
He didn’t smile but offered his hand to Jamerson, who hesitated for a moment but eventually took the outstretched gesture and shook it. The Alpha then repeated the motion offering me the same hand. Instead of taking his hand, I gestured for him to have a seat.
“…and what services are you requiring from the Renegades Alpha James?” I asked as he took a seat next to Jamerson and across from me. His men were stationed just feet away from the table watching the movements of my wolves.
His head hung lowly, as if he had already been defeated, then lifted it to look me directly in the eye. “My pack is on the brink of war, we are small and strong, but not strong enough to go up against the Cardinal Moon pack.” He admitted with shame in his eyes.
I had heard of the Cardinal Moon pack, Alpha Crane. And from what I had heard he was a piece of shit dirtbag, a bully, and one of those Alpha’s who liked to push the smaller packs around.
My curiosity was peaked. “And why would you be going to war with this Alpha?”
“I assume you are Gabriel Grayson?” I nodded at his question confirming his assumption. “Alpha Crane has insisted on taking my daughter as his chosen mate… his third chosen mate.”
“And you don’t agree?” Jamerson asked with surprise.
“No. I don’t.” The Alpha shook his head, “Crane is my age and besides my daughter and I refusing his claim, he is not a good man, and I would fear for her safety in his pack. He will declare war on my pack if I do not hand my daughter over to him in two weeks.” His blue eyes steeled “We do not want war but giving that lame excuse of an alpha my daughter is not an option.” He declared with determination and finality.
“I take it you are not willing to let him claim her?” I was starting to see where this was leading.
“No.” He replied to me sternly, still holding that determined look in his eyes “Over my dead body would I let that murdering son of a bitch lay his old ass hands on my daughter.”
I was beginning to like this guy, hearing the conviction in his voice, and reluctance to hand his daughter over to the other Alpha. It took guts to go against the norm of society.
“And what does your daughter say about this?” Jamerson asked him, trying to get as much detail as possible before we made a decision on whether we would accept the job.
“She, of course, does not want to be mated to him. However, knowing my daughter, she will sacrifice her own happiness for the safety of the pack.” He grimaced with the thought “She shouldn’t have to do that.”
I could clearly see the love he held for his daughter, and it internally warmed me thinking he would go to such measures to ensure her safety. I glanced across the busy bar, my eyes landing on my sister, who was smiling while serving. If only our parents had been that protective of their daughter.
“So exactly what do you want from the Renegades? You have obviously heard of us and our reputation or you wouldn’t be here?” I say pulling my concentration back to the conversation.
“Your reputation precedes you young Alpha.” The older Alpha replies using my rank “We are a small pack, but we have good strong warriors. Unfortunately, there are not enough of us to take on the Cardinal Moon pack. I would like to buy your assistance. Join us against Cardinal Moon and help save not only my daughter from a dark fate but also my pack. With you and your Renegades, I believe we can win.”
“You are talking a lot of money, Alpha James. Can you back up what you are asking?”
His lips pulled into a thin line and his eye crinkled “I can pay you 1.5mil that is all I have.”
Jamerson let out a slow whistle “Not to be rude Alpha,” he started “A million and a half is a lot of money but take into consideration what you are asking us. You are asking us to go to war over a woman. We would be pulling all our resources for you, nor can you guarantee the lives of our men, or if we would even win the battle.” I could always count on Jamerson to be levelheaded and not jump at the chance of the color of money, his main concern being our pack members.
I had never seen an Alpha lose their game face as fast and look so deflated as Jamerson brought the situation to reality.
“I know this.” The Alpha gritted out a pained reply “Without an ally or outside help we would all be dead anyway. This is why I came to you, I have heard rumors of Gabe Grayson, you are feared, and your Renegades are unmatched. Unless the rumors are just hearsay? And the young Alpha and his men really can’t defeat an army that’s twice the size of their mercenary pack?”
I chuckled, knowing this would make Jamerson fume. Also, I had to hand it to the old Alpha, his tactic had game and he had balls.
“Give us forty-eight hours to think over your proposal. Leave your contact information with the doorman and we will get back to you with our decision.” I tell him, knowing just our presence alone could scare the other pack into retreat.
The Alpha took the queue and stood. “Thank you for hearing me out gentlemen, I hope you will seriously consider my offer and help my pack.” With that, he left. His beta and guards in tow, one of his men stopping to give the doorman his info. As soon as the Alpha and his guards had vacated the bar, I linked my guy by the door and had him bring me the information.
“What do you think?” Jamerson asked me once we were alone again.
“I don’t know to be honest,” I rubbed the back of my neck, mulling over the short conversation we had just had. “He seems sincere, but the money is on the low side for what he is asking from us.”
“True that!” replied my friend, “I mean we have made more not even lifting a finger.”
“Indeed, we have, what are your thoughts on Alpha James?” Truly interested to hear his take on the Alpha. The money was small fries, but the reason was the same as why I deserted my pack in the first place. Again, I cast a glance at my sister, knowing what her opinion would be if asked.
My first reaction was to turn the offer down. The compensation just wasn’t enough to entice me to risk my men’s lives for a woman and pack we knew nothing about.
It was indeed a strange night.
I hope you enjoyed the first five chapters. I will be posting a chapter daily. Together we can take this adventure and see where it leads Gabe and Stix's.
STIXSMy father came back late into the night, two days after he had left. I stayed up waiting for him, pacing the front of the pack house like a possessed cat. Ready to pounce as soon as he steps out of the car or through the door, and demand answers from him. I hate being left in the dark and not knowing what is going on.Finally, around 2 am his car pulls up. He, Beta Branston, and two of his top warriors exit the vehicle. He looks tired and worried, and I detect a little edginess in him. Heightening my curiosity at where he might have been even more.“Pops,” I call out to him as he tells his men goodnight. I stood there with my hands on my hips and an accusatory look on my face. “Where have you been?” I glare at him when he acknowledges me.“Tomorrow, Hope. Let’s talk tomorrow. This old man is too tired tonight.” He says while hooking an arm around my shoulder and leading me back into the pack house.I knew he was tired; I wasn’t an idiot. I could see the dark circles under his ful
STIXI glanced towards my father who was wearing a sheepish look. Yeah, he should have talked to me last night. “You can call me Stix’s” I reply coolly, taking his large hand and feeling the warmth from it. I expected him to show dominance and grip me, instead, his large thumb stroked the back of my small hand in a flirtatious kind of way.My stomach flutters as this handsome man locks his deep blue orbs with mine. He was easy on the eyes, confident and built, and a good foot plus taller than me. His blue-washed jeans hugged his thighs and his white shirt stretched across his arms tightly showing off his toned muscles. The black vest he wore donned the skull of a wolf with crossbones.I furrowed my eyes, trying to think where I had seen that image before.“Stixs? That’s unusual,” The blond hunk chuckles.“She was given that nickname as a kid, it stuck.” My father laughs along with him but for a different reason.Stixs was the name my mother had given to me because I didn’t take any st
GABEKillian had come back last night after spending a day at the Raven Knights' pack. I’m sitting in the usual booth waiting for him to grace me with his presence. I would have had a sit-down last night, but he didn’t pull into town until the early hours of the morning, saying he needed sleep and attention. Making a point to say ‘attention first then sleep’.The Raven Knights pack was a good day’s drive from here, so he had been gone almost three days.I watch my sister dry and shelve glasses, preparing to open this afternoon. I smile to myself knowing the bar gives her purpose and insanely keeps her sane.“I can feel your eyes on me, Gabe!” She shouts with her back turned to me. “Why?” She questions still putting up glasses.“It's because big bro loves you to death,” Jamerson says walking in through the back of the bar and leaning over the end of the counter.I let out a low growl when I see the way my best friend's eyes roam over my sister. *Whatever you are thinking… I’ll kill you.
STIXSPulling the heavy door open to one of the enormous greenhouses that sit on our pack lands, I contemplate what my father is trying to do. The hot air hits me and I struggle to pull air into my lungs. The vast difference between the heat outside and the muggy heat inside the greenhouse is a sudden change and it takes a minute to adjust.I lift my nose and scent the air, trying to catch a whiff of Ruby’s perfume. The only thing I can smell is the overbearing scent of oranges.I couldn’t get it out of my head that my father was willing to give every penny he had to a mercenary pack of wolves just to keep me from falling into Alpha Crane's hands.On one hand, I’m proud of my father for sticking up for me. On the other hand, I just can't wrap my head around him sacrificing so much just for me. We couldn’t go to war with the Crimson Moon pack. We would lose for sure. With or without this band of rogue wolves. That and I wasn’t worth the lives of our warriors or the future of this pack.
GABE“So, what are you thinking oh fearless leader of ours?” Jamerson asks as I roll another barrel his way to change out.I lean against a case of liquor, some of our own brand, Propping an elbow on top. He was talking about the Raven Knights pack. “I think you should tell me your thoughts.” I shrug watching him re-hook the line to the keg.“No. No. You don’t get to put this on me.” He laughs, glancing at me. “This is your call, Gabe.”Swiping a hand down my face, realizing I need to shave when I feel the rough stubble scratch my palm. “The cause is sound. The money not so much.” I cut Jamerson off as he tries to rebuttal my statement. “But… I keep thinking of my sister. How she didn’t have a choice, how her voice wasn’t heard. Then think of how the alpha is willing to give up everything he has to keep his daughter out of the hands of a tyrannical pack.”“So, we’re taking the job?” Jamerson stands to his full height now all the kegs have been changed, crosses his arms, and sits on the
STIXSShifting uncomfortably, I looked at myself in the vanity mirror. The midnight blue dress was too tight. Too poofy. Too pretty. And so not me. I wasn’t used to wearing glamorous clothes such as this. But it had belonged to my mother.I only wish I wasn’t wearing it for creepy Crane and instead, wearing it to some fancy gala or party.Ruby finished putting the last touches on my hair. Even that was too fancy for me.“You look just like your mother.” I glance back in the mirror to see my father filling the door frame to my room.I smile when I see the sheen that coats his eyes. I once asked him why he never took another mate. He told me he could never love another like he did her and that the pain of her loss still sat heavily on his heart.Through the years I had hoped that he would meet someone to fill that void. But he never has to my knowledge. I was young when my mother was murdered and though I felt her absence and had fond memories of her, it wasn’t the same for me.“Thank yo
STIXSThe clock on the wall reads 10 pm. Internally I groan and outwardly I shift uncomfortably in my seat. The dress annoys the shit out of me as it gathers around my waist.I wonder how much longer I needed to sit with my father and entertain Alpha Crane. Who was not going easy on the wine either.The ticking of the second hand on the clock got louder as I tried to drown out Crane’s slimy voice while he proceeded to tell my father the benefits of our packs merging under him once he claimed me.I tilt my head and flick my gaze from the clock to my father whose face seems to be reddening with each passing second. Finally, I pay attention to the conversation.“With our growth and your fuel crops Crimson Moon will be the most powerful pack this side of the world.” Crane sips the dark berry drink, a few drops dribbling down his potholed chin. Not bothering with a napkin, he wipes the spillage with the back of his suit jacket. “You will be able to step down from Alpha and my heir will take
GABEThrowing the last few items I would need into my pack; I zipped it up and threw it over my shoulder before heading downstairs to say goodbye to Seffy and make sure everything was covered.I would only be gone for three days. Four at the max but I still worried about my sister even if Jamerson was staying to make sure shit ran smoothly around here.“Alpha?” Bailey's sweet and innocent voice traveled through the apartment and to my ears. I had almost forgotten that she was still in my bed.“Get dressed and go home,” I tell her without any emotion. “I’ll be gone for a few days.”“I heard the Renegades are going to war?” She questions timidly thinking it wasn’t any of her business.I nod, “We are. Maybe. It depends on the people we may fight against.” The truth was, getting involved in pack wars was every Renegade’s business, including the Goodtime Girls.I wouldn’t hide anything from our group of outcasts. I hoped they would all fight with us, and they would if they wanted a payday.