The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

“Did you notice anything suspicious there?”

“My younger brother John was having dinner with my former business partner, Todd Miller,” I said.

“Your brother is here?”

“Yes, I talked to him alone for a few minutes. He heard about the kidnapping attempt and wanted me to know he had nothing to do with it. He knows he blew it with Liv, and he’ll never be allowed into Vicki’s life. After all, he was married and fooling around, and he left her alone and pregnant. Vicki is still his daughter, and he loves her from afar.”

“Do you think he would take her?”

“And do what? Liv isn’t going to settle down with him, and he’s still married, with children of his own. He wanted to see for himself that she was all right. He knew I had saved her, and he knew I ate every Tuesday at Wiederholt’s, so he waited for me.”

She looked up from her notes. “This Todd Miller, who is he again?”

“He was my foreman, my right-hand man, as I built up Volkov Construction. After my wife died, I lost interest and sold my share of the company to him. He is the majority owner of the company now.”

She tapped her pen. “Volkov Construction? Do they own dump trucks?”

“Several. They still do contract plowing and road salting for some of the townships in the winter.”

“Did you recognize the truck? See any markings?”

“It was dark, all I saw was the headlights and the plow. I’m sorry.”

“Can you think of a reason why Todd Miller would want any of you dead?”

“I told him I was coming back out of retirement. Todd’s a decent supervisor, but a crappy owner. Give me a year, and my new company will be bigger than his and more profitable. Maybe he was scared I’d take my company back from him.”

The two looked at each other. “Anything else you can tell me?”

“Not that I can think of.”

“We’d like to talk to Olivia and Vicki,” she said.

“Olivia has been up all night with her daughter, and she didn’t see anything. She’s already given a statement to the deputies at the hospital. Vicki was asleep during the accident and didn’t wake until she was in the ambulance. If you leave your card, I’ll have Olivia contact you when she’s ready to talk.”

“Did anyone else see anything,” Agent Lockwood asked.

“If they did, they gave their statement to the deputies already.” I let out a yawn. “I got very little sleep last night, and the drugs aren’t helping. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“No, thank you. Here is my card, and another for Olivia. Please call us if you think of anything that might be helpful.”

“I will.” I called for Anita and asked her to show them out, then come back for me. She returned a few minutes later. “Spread the word to the Winona Pack members about what I said.”

“Already done, Alpha.”

“Then I want to go back to bed.”

We were in the hall when Brent called to us. “No time for that, the fevers have hit Liv. You’re needed up here, Alpha.”

>>>>>

Liv’s change was starting, right on schedule. “I will be up shortly. Is Vicki awake yet?”

“No, she’s still sleeping.”

“Let her, it’s going to be a while, and the screaming will eventually wake her.” I saw Larry approaching. “We need to get the FBI out of here as soon as possible; Liv’s change is starting.”

“I heard. Donna, Anita, and Brent are all up there with her. They’ll move her to the master bath, that’s farthest from the house. As long as she doesn’t scream while they are in the driveway, they’ll never know.”

“If they push to speak to her, it won’t be today. She’s exhausted and injured, and she didn’t see anything anyway.”

Larry nodded. “I understand. We’ll move them along. Now, what do you want to do about that fucking Todd?”

“Just like I sent out in my text, his neck will be in my teeth when I’ve recovered. In the meantime, he’s got Pack members who want out, my brother is out for his blood, the Council on its way, the FBI and Sheriff who will start poking around, and a pissed-off Momma Wolf about to come out. He’s got plenty to keep busy with.”

“And Alpha Brenda?”

I thought about it. I didn’t need Brenda or her Pack anywhere near here with the FBI and all my other problems. “You have friends on the Council?” He nodded. “Fill them in on the situation and ask them to pay a visit to the Marengo Pack. Tell her I know she wants Vicki dead, but I also know she hasn’t done anything to her yet. If she wants to live, it needs to stay that way. Vicki is my niece and my Heir. If she takes out MY heir, her own will not be spared when I come for her.” Larry’s eyes got wide; threatening children wasn’t done, but he understood what I was doing. “She is the reason my wolf has come back. If Vicki dies, I will stop at nothing for my revenge.”

“I will see to it your words are passed along verbatim,” Larry said. “I just hope she listens.”

We kept out of the way while coolers full of ice were carried upstairs to the apartment. I was glad her bathroom had the two-person jacuzzi and the window overlooking the yard, as both would help with the fever. When they came down, two of the Winona men just looked at me with big grins on their faces. “What?”

“Someone needs their old, beat-up ass taken upstairs,” one said.

“And I’m not carrying you bridal style,” the other said.

The two picked me up in a fireman’s carry, taking me up the stairs while Larry followed with my wheelchair. They set me back in and Larry wheeled me to the master bedroom. The three of them went back to the house, with Larry in charge of security. Liv was lying on top of her bed, her blanket pulled away, and only a thin sheet covering her body. “I’m sorry I let this happen to you, Liv. I never wanted to put you through this.”

“You didn’t bite me, Leo. It’s all right. Tonight, I’ll have a wolf, like my baby.”

I reached over and took her hand; she was already sweating, the fever was building. Soon she wouldn’t be lucid. “Who do you want to help you through this? You’ve seen how it is, and you’ll be naked for most of it.”

“Donna, Connie, and Anita will help me. I want you close by, but not in the room until the change is finishing. Brent, the same goes for you.”

“And Vicki?”

“Don’t keep her from me, but she doesn’t need to see it all. Keep her distracted, play with her, whatever.”

“I have to go check on her,” Brent said. “I’ll be right back.” Even at home, she still needed to be checked every hour while sleeping.

Donna put the thermometer up to Liv’s forehead. “One-hundred-four-point-two,” she said. “Time for the ice bath.”

“Ugh,” Liv said as she was helped up.

Anita pulled the sheet back with her one functional arm, exposing Liv’s thin shorts and crop top. “I’ll let Mike know when we need more ice. Come on, Liv. It only sucks once.”

Liv rolled her eyes as she stood up; she was a little wobbly as Donna and Connie helped her into the bathroom. I watched the door close and closed my eyes, saying a silent prayer to Luna. As much confidence as I had in her, in the back of my head, I knew the statistics. Luna didn’t always allow humans to make the shift, and no one knew what she was looking for.

I heard her cry out about the cold; a big tub full of cold water and a hundred pounds of ice wasn’t pleasant. I resumed my prayers, interrupted when Brent came back out of Vicki’s bedroom. “How is she doing?”

“Good. Vicki probably won’t sleep much past lunch.”

I could see his wolf pushing forward with every noise that came from the bathroom. “It’s going to be a long day, Brent, and she’s not ready for you to be with her. You need to go blow off some steam and get control of your wolf.”

His eyes flashed, and he looked at me, then at the door. “Liv needs her mate close by,” he said.

“Her wolf isn’t here yet, right now you’re a guy she barely knows, and she’s naked in a tub. She’s not letting you into her bathroom,” I said. “That wasn’t a suggestion, Brent. You have an hour before you have to check on Vicki again. Go out to the woods and run or go to the gym and work out. Go.” The Alpha command was behind it, and he let out a sigh and turned for the stairs.

“Keep me posted, I’m right outside if you need anything, Anita. I sent Brent to work some of his aggression out, and Vicki is sleeping.”

“You know how this will go, Alpha. She’s going to be in the tub for hours.”NôvelDrama.Org owns all content.

“I know.” With nothing else to do and no real way to move around with the wheelchair with one arm, I pulled out my phone and started going through the messages. My earlier texts, plus the word of the ‘accident’ we’d had, caused my feed to blow up. I decided to send an update, but only to those who asked about me or expressed an interest in my Pack. The message lacked the anger of before; I told them my pickup had been knocked into the ravine and rolled several times. I said that I had a severe ankle sprain and dislocated shoulder, and another Pack member broke her arm. Liv and Vicki were out, so I sent the truth on them as well. My young niece was recovering from a head injury, and her mother’s leg was chewed up badly. I finished by asking for prayers for speedy recoveries, and for the coming change.