Wolf's Strength (5 page)

One behind the other, they were ushered across dusty fields toward the Alpha’s residence. Because of her family’s long standing relationship with Tristan Arnou’s father, she had the privilege of visiting his home before. There weren’t that many occasions to appear before the Alpha. There were friendly invites, and there were invites that were followed by immediate force—like this one.

The rooftops of the estate came into view as they were emerged from the fields and marched higher up the hills, and Naomi’s nagging suspicion about the reason they were being summoned heightened.

The Enforcers pushed them through the double doors of the east room of the Arnou estate. It wasn’t a good time to show opposition. Not in the presence of their respected leader. The crew members were lined up one next to the other—except for Nathan, who took his place several feet in front. This simple display of authority showed he took responsibility for each of them. It also meant he held his position high over them. Nathan wasn’t a follower.

Tristan was seated on his stone throne. Two wolves lay next to his feet on guard. There were two others near the entrance doors
.
The Alpha’s mahogany-colored hair had grown past his shoulders since the last time she saw him. That was a couple months ago and during the fighting tournaments he always attended. The Alpha had a passion for blood sports, and he thrived off corruption and force. He played a risky game when it came to the Pack—and anything else for that matter. It was why he needed Enforcers and Elites to back him up and clean up after his messes. He bartered for anything he wanted, and if he couldn’t have it, he forcefully took it. These particular customs gave the Arnou Pack a most hated reputation by those outside of it above all others. All because of a stubborn wolf who wanted things his way. He had yet to meet his match or the person who could transform his ways. This was probably why he remained their Alpha to this day. In the Arnou Pack any wolf could challenge the Alpha for the position, and they didn’t need to be a relative of the previous one.

Thick long lashes hooded Tristan’s eyes. For a man who was known for having a heart as cold as the stone upon which he sat, he was handsome in every way. If he wasn’t so evil, he could have used his good looks to charm anyone. As always he didn’t appear to be happy. In fact he glared at them with a critical stare. His lips were stretched in an angry line.

The double doors slammed behind them, and Naomi forced her attention back to the situation. Why did the Alpha call them?

Tristan lifted his head, and his gaze calculated and examined them. This reminded her of being lined up cattle for testing.

Naomi wondered if she hadn’t covered her tracks well enough. She averted her stare when Tristan’s attention fell on her. To have the Alpha singled one out  could prove advantageous or disastrous. She was unprepared for the punishment she would be sure to receive for her decisions. But she knew reprimand would come sooner or later, and she’d have to pay for the betrayal tenfold. In her case, loving a mate wasn’t only becoming a risky game, but also an expensive one.

“Crew thirty-eight,” Tristan identified them. “How many members strong are you?”

“Eleven, Alpha,” Nathan replied.

“Eleven members. But you’re in need of one more to earn another badge,” Tristan said, lifting a goblet of wine to his lips and took a sip. “Isn’t that what you need to climb the ranks?”

Once twelve members were sworn in officially, a crew was said to be complete. Earning badges to put on the Belt was an honor among Arnou. Nathan held three badges to date: one which was handed down from the previous leader of Crew 38, another for scoring the highest in a past tournament, and finally the Alpha awarded him for an act of bravery. A fourth badge would rank Nathan high among the top Arnou leaders. Nathan Valentine’s ultimate goal was to earn a seat on Arnou’s advisory board. It would have been further than their father had gotten.

“I don’t recruit for the sake of numbers. I have three candidates but have yet to make a final recommendation before the board.”

Tristan snorted. “Which of your eleven members were responsible for the monkey celebration at the bar by the pier, then?”

His escalating tone caused a silence to fall over the room.

Nathan cleared his throat. “I’ll take the blame. We were celebrating Theo’s birthday. We weren’t looking for trouble. Only fun.”

“Fun?” Tristan laughed. He rose from his throne, and the wolves at this feet rose with him. “Does being vulnerable include fun?”

“I don’t understand,” Nathan said. “We came under attack for a reason not our own, and we held our own quite well. I brought back all ten members behind me alive.”

“You aren’t an Enforcer. None of you are.” Tristan lumbered past him and ventured to the end of the line. He stopped in front of Theo. “I gave strict orders for E2s not to engage in skirmishes unless sent to do so. Did I not?”

“Yes, Alpha, you did,” Theo said.

Naomi bit her tongue. Hard. She didn’t regret holding her ground at the club. What did the Alpha expect? Did he want them to get trampled because they were ordered not to defend themselves?

“I take it you know what the punishment is for disobeying my order.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Theo said again.

Tristan moved down the line. He paused in front of each Crew 38 member and sized them up before coming to an abrupt halt in front of Ruby. The Alpha picked up a lock of Ruby’s golden hair, placed it against his nose, and inhaled deeply.

Naomi’s breath hitched inward as Tristan let out a considerable growl.

“Who was responsible for this new recruit” Tristan demanded.

Naomi took a step forward out of the line formation at the same moment Nathan turned. “I was,” they both said.

“One of you is lying,” Tristan snapped.

Naomi exchanged a couple of angry glances with her brother. Nathan wanted her to keep her mouth closed. She could see the plea written all over his face, but like she always did, she spoke her mind. “I was, Alpha. I’m the eldest female in the group. I was in charge of taking care of her last night.”

Tristan’s veins protruding on his neck. He ground his teeth together. “Well then, Naomi sister to Nathan leader of Crew thirty-eight. Daughter to Enforcer Senior Valentine. Can you tell me why she smells of betrayal?”

Ruby’s second gasp of surprise was heard loud and clear.

This time it was Naomi who was confused. “Alpha, all of us were involved. Both
Other
and Caedmon blood were shed. Even with two showers, I smell the evidence of a fight, and you probably do as well.”

Tristan grabbed Ruby’s forearm roughly and she screamed. He pulled the poor girl to the end of the line to stop in front of Naomi. She could barely look Ruby in the eye because they were riddled with fear and guilt—and those were things Naomi detested.

Tristan held Ruby’s chin, exposing her neck. “What the fuck is this?” He pointed to Ruby’s jugular. “This isn’t the mark of a wolf! Arnou nor Caedmon.”

Naomi forced herself to take a glimpse and there was a bite that could only be achieved in the throes of passion. The mark was in a very intimate region on the neck. A hickey some would call it, and it confirmed Tristan’s suspicion. The bites were from a human, not a wolf. And the mark was fresh. It had happened recently. Ruby’s mouth were pressed together and she remained silent.

“Remove your Belt,” Tristan ordered Ruby.

“I…I…” Ruby mumbled, but Tristan tightened his grip and cut off her protests.

“You put our Pack in danger. You bear the enemy’s mark and they traced you here.” Tristan growled. “Remove it!”

Ruby scrambled with the Belt, pulled it out of the loops of her jeans, and then handed it to Tristan, who snatched it.

In his other hand, he held a single badge. “This is how I knew there was a traitor in your crew.” The badge sparkled under the lights overhead. “No one removes their badge from the Belt unless they somehow lost it or I tell them. Someone sent me this badge late last night, probably after they traced Ruby here. Losing your badge is like losing your balls. Someone would have to be really close to remove it without notice.” He spun and eyed Ruby with a lethal stare. “Close enough to fuck.”

“I told you all!” Jeremy yelled. “She’s a whore!”

Tristan snarled, lifted Ruby’s Belt high in the air, and brought it across Jeremy’s face. Naomi cringed as it made contact with his skin. Jeremy yelped in pain. “Don’t speak out of turn!” Tristan yelled. “No one asked for your opinion.”

Naomi swallowed and kept her glare straight forward, only to stare at her brother’s back. His shoulders were slumped low, but his fists were balled at his sides. Nathan was furious but not furious enough to match Tristan’s outrage.

“You have a chance to confess,” Tristan told Ruby. “Although the damage has been done and your punishment won’t be light.”

“The badge is mine.” Ruby lowered her gaze. “I got what I wanted from him and when it was over, he had it. He told me in order to get it back, I would have to lure another man of his choosing to a corner of the room by offering sex. I didn’t want to leave without my badge so I did, but he never returned it. By the time I figured out it was Dawson Caedmon he wanted, it was too late. I knew the rules about the badges, and my only concern was to get it back despite the risks. I was trying to avoid the shame. I was unsuccessful.”

“And for your bad decisions you’ll lose your Belt. I remove you from this crew. You are demoted immediately. No badge. No Belt.” Tristan turned to one of the wolves. “Keep her in a holding room until I come up with suitable punishment.”

“No!” Ruby screeched when the wolf shifted into human form and bound her hands.

Tristan tossed Ruby’s Belt on the floor, and it slid across the room until it landed against his throne with a loud clank. “No one leaves yet. Someone must pay for disobeying my orders.”

“I will, Alpha. I’m the leader and I’ll take the punishment.” Nathan snatched his Belt from his loops and handed it to the Alpha.

“Nathan, no.” Naomi couldn’t help herself. She just had to interject.

“Do I hear opposition?” Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Are you accepting the punishment for Crew thirty-eight?” He was so close his nose came in contact with her neck.

“Yes.” She shrank back and met his gaze. He returned a doubtful expression. That sign of weakness was gone before she could analyze it fully. “I was responsible for mentoring her.”

“You?” Tristan continued to observe her unwaveringly. “Are you enjoying your life as an Elite?”

“I was born for this,” she answered without hesitation. “My father was one of your best Enforcers before he was forced to retire.”

“Valentine. I remember him.” He smiled. “Although I appreciate your father’s loyalty, there are requirements to serve under me as an Enforcer. Unfortunately, once he reached old age, he failed the physical endurance test more than once. I can’t stand weak links. We have a Pack to protect.”

“Everyone understands your requirements, Alpha.”

“The offer still stands…” he whispered hoarsely.

No. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—bring that up. Not now. Not ever. “This isn’t the time. I haven’t changed my mind. My allegiance lies with you but not in that way.”

“Times have changed,” he whispered almost too softly. “Are you sure of this?” He titled her chin and viewed each side of her profile. “You’ll serve under me. That won’t change, but there will be no danger involved. Some women like it that way.”

Naomi felt the bridge of her nose crinkle in irritation. She couldn’t help herself. “I’m an Elite,” she declared. “I’m far better than
some
of your women.”

“I want you as Enola.” He mouthed the words into her ear.

Enola. A woman who served a mate-less Alpha’s carnal needs. Sexual needs. Enolas had no ranking at all, but in comparison to his servants and even some of his E1s and E2s, they were held highly.

“No. I vowed to serve you, not service you. We had a deal. A trade-off, don’t you remember?”

“There will be no more offers like this afforded to you.”

“Good.”

Tristan frowned.

Nearly every crew member stiffened. In Arnou culture many women would welcome the opportunity never to have to work a day in their life. There were families in their communities who offered their daughters as potential Enolas. He had three of them. What would he want with a fourth? His sexual appetite couldn’t have been that great. As history had proven gluttony could be the downfall of any wolf or man.

A tinge of dread ran up her spine, but she didn’t want the Alpha to think that she was vulnerable. “I know there is a punishment for rejecting. I accept what I deserve, but I cannot assent to your offer.”

“I’ll remember that, daughter of Valentine.” He backed up, assessing her slowly from head-to-toe before his focus fell on her Belt. “I can see you’ve earned two badges since I last saw you.”

Maybe he planned to strip her for refusing. “Both of them were from scoring the highest rank in a tournament category,” she replied.

“Which category?”

“Direct combat.”

“Of course. You were the female who bested a grown man for the title. Never knew you had that kind of talent in you.”

“Most of the time one’s eyes fail to see beyond the surface, and seeing things only at face value won’t allow anyone to measure true worth or capability.”

Tristan’s left eyebrow lifted. “Then you are more than capable of accepting punishment as it is given? Because there will be no trade-off this time.”

“Yes.”

Nathan’s brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. “Naomi, stand down. Assume your position in the line and shut up!”

Nathan’s expression told Naomi she better stop while she was ahead. Challenging him and taking the punishment for the crew would make him look like a punk in front of his followers and his Alpha. She didn’t want her brother to have that reputation.