Wolf, Shifted by Rebecca Ethington
Asher
“This guyprobably thinks his shit is made of gold,” I mumbled as we walked into the huge ballroom twenty minutes later.
Why everything in this place had to be sprayed in Eau de Greyson was beyond me. The rooms themselves were enough of a territory mark. The room was huge, easily double the size of a high school gym. Although, it probably had to be to fit the two massive chandeliers that hung from the ceiling.
I was sure those would be beautiful all on their own, but with the strobe lights and spotlights that pulsed in time with the music they more resembled giant breasts.
Which I was sure was the entire point. The bottom jewels looked too much like nipples for it to be a coincidence.
I had gone for a run, as Dax had suggested, using a window on the first floor as my entrance and exit to stay unnoticed. While he was mapping out the estate, he found that the window was a blind spot for cameras and sensors, and as long as you kept the window open, no one came to check.
It worked like a charm, which was great for a few reasons. I had a feeling I was going to need to go on a few more runs while I was trapped here; and now we had our first possible escape route.
The fresh air had been divine, but it still hadn’t calmed my wolf. He was restless, needy. I don’t think anything would quiet him.
Nothing but seeing her.
So, I dragged Dax here, ignoring his repeated warnings just to see her. I had been sure that she would be here on Greyson’s arm like some kind of prize. But she wasn’t here, and neither was he.
All that was here was over two dozen alphas, about a hundred pups, and the hundreds of unmated wolves from the packs. They danced around the marble floors, twirling underneath the fairy lights that had been hung from chandeliers like this was some kind of supernatural shifter prom.
Which I guess it was. The scent of dozens of mating calls filled the air like old lady perfume. Even if the girl, my mate, was here I doubt I would have been able to scent her.
“I don’t care what his shit is made of as long as I find my mate,” Dax mumbled from beside me, his eyes already scanning the crowd for a female.
We may have been here to kowtow to Greyson, but that wasn’t the only reason. Dax’s fated mate wasn’t in our pack, which means she had to be somewhere here, or she was still a pup that hadn’t undergone her first shift. That possibility could be worse seeing as wolves extended lifespans could leave him waiting for a while; and Dax was impatient. I had been so wrapped up in my mate, I had almost forgotten.
“Go Dax, I’ll be fine.” He gave me a look that said he seriously doubted it, his barking laugh barely discernible over the music.
“You say that, but I’ve already had to save your ass from yourself twice today. I leave, and I bet my cabin that we will be in a war by the end of the week.” He grinned at me, but I couldn’t even be mad at him. I knew he was right. “I have two months to find her, I can wait.”
“Or, you are going to spend every moment searching,” I said, firmer that time. My eyes flashed and Dax narrowed his eyes at me, knowing what I had just done.
“Go, Dax. I’ll find Peyton. I’ll be fine.” He couldn’t even fight me, although he could glare at me, which he did before making his way over to a group of women who looked absolutely overjoyed to have him join them.
Most women were. Dax was a strong wolf, and a powerful beta. It probably didn’t help that he looked a little bit like The Rock smooshed together with Idris Elba. At least that’s what Peyton had said on more than one occasion.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if those two bonded after Peyton’s wolf emerged. There had always been something between them.
Which was probably why I was not surprised to find her scowling at Dax and his gaggle of girls from where she hovered around the punch bowl.
Shifter Prom.
“It’s been spiked,” Peyton said as she ladled some of the red punch into a cup for me, and then for her.
“If it’s been spiked then why are you drinking it?” I asked, taking the cup from her. It smelled so strongly of vodka that I was sure someone had emptied a whole bottle in.
“Oh, I’m not warning you. I’m announcing that I did it.” Peyton grinned at me before she downed her glass, already moving to pour herself another.
“We aren’t sympathy drinking are we? Because if we are, I should probably join you.” I held my glass out to her, which she promptly refilled.
“Drown your problems, brother. We are officially in hell.” She gave me a wicked grin, toasting to the crowd behind me. The crowd that was quickly deteriorating into an orgy.
Okay, so this many horny wolves in one place was probably not a good idea. Dax was now grinding against two females, there was a pile of far too many arms and legs in the corner, and with how everyone was moving I would have to guess that Peyton wasn’t the first person to have spiked the punch bowl.
This was going to be a long two months.
“Asher Williams!” I turned at the booming voice, my wolf pulling to attention as Carson Wulfson strode towards me. I had known Carson since I was a pup, although he was already a century into his life by that point. Most wolves lived to see about two hundred mortal years, and Carson was actually starting to show his age now. His face was lined, his hair flecked with grey. He must be nearing a hundred years by now. Despite his age, he was still the powerful Alpha of the Blue Moon pack down in Florida, and former best friend to my father. You know, before I had killed him.
Carson’s pack was one of the oldest in the country, hence the last name, and had long been considered one of the most powerful. Which is why it was almost unfathomable to think that he had been the first to submit to Greyson.
I would have to be really careful here, and the look Peyton gave me as I set down my drink damn near screamed it. I could not let Carson see the alpha in my wolf. I could not trust him. No matter how happy he appeared to see me; his betas, yes he had two, were not as good at pulling a convincing smile together.
“Carson!” I boomed, holding my hand out as I closed the space between us. “It’s been a while! How are you?”
“Not as good as you,” he leaned in, holding my hand tightly as he took control of the situation.
Damn wolves and their posturing. Mine was already on edge after the hallway and while the run had helped, facing this guy in yet another power play was taking me right back to that edge. Of course, I knew what would help it.
What body against mine would soothe every nerve…
Calm! Not now! We don’t want to start a war!
My wolf calmed down, although not enough. Carson’s eyes widened, clearly sensing my wolf. Damn it.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard,” Carson hissed, eyes flashing as his hand tightened. I forced myself to flinch. “You took down the old man, and shifted without an Alpha. You must be strong. I am sure Greyson would love to have you in his pack.”
“Well, I guess it’s too late for that, seeing as I have my own pack to run.” I pulled myself away, eyes flashing as Carson thankfully released my hand and we both forced out a laugh.
“Yes, you do.” Carson grinned, giving his betas a grin before he waved them off, leaving us alone in the middle of the thrashing bodies. “So, are you going to submit then?”
I tensed, I guess we weren’t the only ones to have been worried about that. I carefully arranged my face as I smiled, suddenly wishing I hadn’t been so hasty to put down my drink.
“You say that as though I have an option.” I forced out a laugh, but Carson only smiled, his ancient wolf flashing through his eyes.
“There is always an option,” Carson said, his wide hand clapping me on the shoulder as he pulled me back into him, his wolf looking right at me. He was so much weaker than I remembered him being. I had always seen him and my dad as these powerful wolves, but now Carson’s wolf was just a shadow.
Beaten.
Forced to submit.
The sound seemed to fade from the hall, as Carson hissed in my ear. I could feel the bass through the bottom of my feet, the bodies around us thrashing even harder. “Just be careful what you choose. He is not one you wish to double cross. Trust me.”
He pulled back and his wolf was gone, it was just him as he looked at me. I could have even sworn there was a bit of fear there.
“What are you saying, Carson?” I was snarling, my eyes flitting from him, to his betas, to Peyton, and then to Dax. Everyone else may have been oblivious to what was going on between us, but those five weren’t.
Carson pulled back, hand still on my shoulder as he smiled. “Nothing, nothing! I would just hate for you to make the same mistake we did.”
He sounded far too happy to be warning me. Far too happy for what he had just said. It all garbled in my head awkwardly as I stared at him, the hairs on the back of my neck prickling up to attention.
“What are you—”
“Your father was a good man,” Carson interrupted me, slapping his hand on my forearm like the grandfather he was. “I know you will live up to everything he had planned for you. Be like him. Be like The Southern Tooth used to be.”
He had barely finished speaking when his betas were on either side of him, snarling at me as though I had damn near attacked him.
My wolf reacted before I could stop him, eyes flashing as I stepped forward, chin up. None of them reacted.
“You will be a good Alpha, Asher. Make your father proud.” Carson gave me one last look before he and his betas disappeared back into the crowd. Swallowed up by flailing bodies and far too much skin.
“What was that about?” Peyton asked as she handed me back my drink, already sipping on what was clearly her third.
“I have no idea. Do you know what The Southern Tooth is?” I took a sip and nearly recoiled from the vodka burn. Peyton had clearly spiked the punch… again.
“It’s one of the three packs that turned Greyson down, wasn’t it? At least I think it was. Most people only think of High Bend because of what happened with the girl…” She shivered before she downed her drink and went back for a refill.
But I just stood there, cup in hand as I watched Carson’s betas lead him away, remembering exactly what had happened to High Bend, and how my father had turned the old man away when he had asked for help.