Summer's Alpha (9 page)

“That’s why he’s a
beta.”  I say putting boxes of cereal in the pantry.  “You’re in charge now so
you should charge what you want.”

“Shirley lives
there.”  He looks at me.  I shrug. 

“Who else lives
there?”  If they’re wolves, maybe that’s why they’ve kept it cheap.

“All humans, no
one associated with the pack.”  He raises his eyebrow at me and I grin.  He’s
already turning into the pack alpha.

“She’ll be putting
her unit up for sale soon.  Send a letter to the residents and tell them that
on the first of the year the fee will go up to two hundred and will continue to
rise over the next five years until it is comparable to the surrounding
buildings.  The pack can’t support a building without an income.”  He nods
sharply.  “How about the cabinet place, did that go well?”

“Yeah, it’s
great.  They’re undercharging too.  I want to put that on the internet.  Sell
the old world charm angle.  They will need apprentices to keep up with business
when it hits.  So I want them in place before we put it out there for the world.” 
I nod then I heard a horn outside and then another.  “I think your sister has
arrived.”  I nod and head for the front door.  Autumn nearly knocks me down
when I open it.  Tim is laughing from the bottom of the stairs and Jackson
grabs him in a bear hug.  They’ve been friends forever too.

“Sissy!”  We both
say at once.  “We’re starved, is there food?”  Autumn asks.  That’s Autumn, no
‘Hi how are you?’ just ‘feed me.’  Well, what did I expect? 

“Yeah bring your
crew in and you can help me make sandwiches.”  Kelly was suddenly smarter than
I’d thought.  Autumn brought her group in with her.  There were five cars
all-together, and twelve new wolves, two newly mated pairs besides Tim and
Autumn.  Five mated pairs were here now including mine and that meant that
Jackson and I were keeping up our end of the deal.  The pack required mated
pairs and new members, we certainly achieved that.  Autumn’s friend Claire was
unmated but handy in the kitchen.  She organized an assembly line to make the
sandwiches.  I was on mustard and mayo duty, Autumn had meats and Claire
handled vegetables and cutting.  We made enough to feed everyone in no time.  I
brought out two bags of chips and several bottles of soda from the pantry.  The
boys put the leaves in the table and brought chairs into the dining room.  By
the time that Shirley and Dad appeared in the doorway we were mid lunch. 

“Did you all have
a nice drive?”  My father’s voice boomed from the doorway.  Every member of the
pack stilled.  “Well?”  Several of them nodded.  “Good.  I want you all to make
me proud.  You are now under Jackson and Summer’s care but they will need your
help.  This pack has been dwindling for a long time but you’re here now.  You
will need to pitch in and work together to make this pack profitable and
productive again.  Do you understand?”  They nodded.  “I enjoyed being your
alpha but I am turning you over to Jackson now.  Remember you are always
welcome back home to visit or stay.  I wish each of you the best lives and the
best of luck.”  Dad smiled.  “Now, I am some kind of hungry, who’s going to
pass me a sandwich?”  The others made room at the table for Dad and Shirley to
sit down and passed the food down the table.  Dad laughed and joked with them. 
I was proud of him.  He was so different than he was at home.  I wasn’t sure,
if it was Shirley’s influence or if it was because there was no pressure here. 
I put a chip in my mouth and chewed.  This was going to turn out okay.  I grew
up with these pups.  We were a great team when we needed to be.  I watched them
laughing and talking.  When most of them had finished I asked for their attention.

“We think it’s
best if we take a tour of the housing that is available.  Mated couples get
first pick of the houses.  Shirley, will you come with us and conduct the tour,
tell us about the houses, which are empty, any interesting points?”  She nodded
and wadded her napkin.  “Good.  Is everyone finished?  The trash can is over
there.”  I point to the can in the corner.  “Assemble at the front of the
house.”  I make a face at Jackson and he smirks.  “It’s like camp.”  He shakes
his head and holds his hand out to me.

We take the tour
and it doesn’t matter that the roof is half-rotten, or the plumbing is in need
of repair, Autumn chooses the Victorian.  Jackson and I both tried to warn her
but she wasn’t having it.  As soon as she saw it, it belonged to her.  She was
in love with the turrets and castle like exterior.  Originally, the Victorian
was the alpha house Shirley said.  Two alphas before Mark, there was an alpha
that refused to live in what he called a girly house. 

By the end of the
day, all of the pairs had chosen a house and were settling in.  I had six
unmated wolves using my remaining guest rooms.  It was as if I were running a
hotel.  Single wolves could occupy the remaining houses, sixteen in all and if
we ran out of housing, they would need to double up.  We still had ten empty
houses to fill with werewolves.  I wondered if anyone from Kelly’s old pack
would show up and fill them.  I would get Autumn on the internet tomorrow to
recruit.  Jackson and I fell into bed exhausted. 

I spent the next
week learning the books from Shirley.  Once my father left for home, Shirley
wanted to hurry to join him.  She taught me by day and packed by night.  It was
cute.  She was like a teenager with a crush except that before he left, he’d
marked her.  It made me happy that they were going to be happy together.  Dad
hadn’t had much of a life since my mother died and I was finally seeing it.  I
know if anything happened to Jackson, I would be lost and lonely too.  I tried
to learn the books, the website, and the store procedures as quickly as I
could.  Claire moved into the apartment over the store and we were training her
to run the store too.  Shirley said that I needed a back up because I wouldn’t
always be available.  Jackson spent most days learning the cabinet business or
learning to fix things at the condominium building.  He’d had to settle one
fight between the single wolves but he solved it easily.  All three of the
unmated males showed an interested in creating the cabinets.  I think it’s
because they have power tools.  I still hoped that from the six single wolves
we would get at least one pair.  Jackson thought that the tall and lanky wolf
named Mike was interested in Sandy but it seemed like Sandy was more interested
in Daniel.  I hoped that she would stop waiting for Daniel to notice her and
she would notice Mike.  I would have to suggest that gently to her.  Kelly and
Earl spent most of their time at his house alone.  Autumn and Tim were trying
to fix up their house.  There was a lot of banging over there.  Gregory took a
shine to Autumn like she was his long lost granddaughter.  He stopped by every
evening to help.  It didn’t hurt that when it came to flirtation and
manipulation, Autumn was a natural.  His motives may have been selfish though because
he had his rookie crew helping.  They were learning while they helped Tim fix
things.  This way, if it was wrong or got broken, they wouldn’t have to start
over on furniture that would be for sale.

I watched the
three pickup trucks ease down the gravel road.  All three were newer than my
car and the leader had two big wolves in it.  The truck rumbled to a stop at
the foot of my front steps.  The big passenger rolled his window down and
smiled at me.  I trembled.  Something was off.  “Hi.  I’m Donny.  I heard that
your pack is taking new members.  I know Kelly, Frank’s mate.  Are you the
female alpha?”  I stayed on the middle step.  I should’ve shaken his hand but
something was still off and to be honest I was a little scared.  Where is Jackson? 
He should be here with me if they want to be pack.

“I’m Summer and
yes I am the female alpha.”  I wonder for half a second if I can take him the
way I took Frank.  He’s big, huge.  As big as he is though he isn’t an alpha,
he’s a beta at best.  He’s still twice the size that Frank was but in the end
it wouldn’t have mattered how big Frank was I would’ve went after him anyway.  The
wolf in the driver’s seat though, I’m suspicious of him, he has that alpha feel
about him. 

“Where is your
alpha?”  He asks as if I am not good enough all of the sudden for him.  I look
him over and pull out my new cell phone that Jackson bought for me.  It’s the
latest tech and it matches his.  I text Jackson and Kelly at the same time and
tell them about the five big wolves from Frank’s pack and that I’m scared. 
Kelly comes first with Earl.  Earl is great.  I really respect him as her mate
and my new brother in law.  He takes such good care of my sister.  He pampers
her and treats her like a princess.  I am Earl’s biggest fan.  He is also
Jackson’s beta with Larry and Tim.  They’re a good team.  Jackson texts back
that he is on his way.  I relay that to the new wolves as Earl and Kelly
approach.  I can see from her face that she’s nervous.  She eyes the driver of
the first truck after waving at the two in the rear. 

“Christian.” 
Kelly says sharply.  “What are you doing here?  I thought that you were going
to be the alpha now.”  He got out and towered over her.  Shit.  He was bigger
than I thought.  Kelly melted into Earl’s side.

“I got to ask
Kelly what you are doing here.  You have Frank’s pup in your belly.  That pup
belongs to us.”  Kelly backs up a step.  “What happened to Frank?”  Kelly’s
chin quivers.  Jackson is suddenly next to me. 

“What’s going
on?”  He murmurs to me. 

“They know Kelly
and they want her pup.  They want to know what happened to Frank.”  I whisper
back.

“Gentlemen, I’m
Jackson Reynolds, alpha of the East View pack.  What can we do for you?”  The
drivers of the two rear trucks get out and approach.  Kelly’s eyes get wide as
they flank Jackson and I realize a moment too late what is about to happen. 
Kelly slips free of Earl and bolts for her house, she shifts midstride into a
gorgeous small white wolf.  My sister is a thing of beauty in any form but she
is the most submissive female to run on four paws.  Earl starts after her but
two of the visitors grab him.  The one called Christian grabs me and stares
Jackson down.  I try to shift but he has a tight hold on me and I’m powerless. 
So is Earl.

“Let’s go alpha
boy, inside before I snap your mate’s neck.”  They marched us up the steps and
inside the house.  “Where is your restraining wall?”  Jackson makes a face and
looks at me.  I shrug because I don’t understand what he means.  Jackson looks
at Earl for help when Christian tightens his grip on my neck.  I struggle
against him and he nudges my rear end with his crotch.  Eww.  “Struggle all you
like female, I’m more than happy to oblige.”  I snarl at him and I know my eyes
are angry amber.  Jackson’s growling as well and having trouble holding his
self in check.  This is not going to end well. 

“It’s in the basement.” 
Earl growls.  He’s snarling and struggling.  I know his mind is on Kelly.  Jackson
leads the way and I see him looking around for a weapon.  I know that if we get
out of this he will stash them all over the house so this can never happen
again.  Dad preached for years to us about how important allies are and how
it’s always important to protect the pack from threats but we never learned the
lesson because no one ever attacked us.  We are heading to the back of the
basement now to a room I’ve never been inside of before.  We haven’t been in
this house long and I haven’t explored every inch of it yet.  It seems stupid
that I haven’t now.  It should’ve been the first thing on my list after
internet and cable.  I blow out a breath trying to calm myself.  My heart is
pounding and I’m wavering between wolf and human.  I can’t shift because he’s
on me like a second skin.  As long as he has a hold of me, he controls
Jackson.  As long as he controls the alpha, he controls the pack. 

“So what do you
assholes want?”  I growl.  Christian snarls and laughs at the same time. 

“I like my women
feisty so keep it up little one.”  He nudges me again.  I can feel his hardness
and it is not pleasant like when Jackson does it.  Jackson snarls because he
can feel my emotions.  I can feel his too.  He’s anxious, frightened, and
angry, not in that order.  The room is all cement with two small windows near
the ceiling.  There are shackles attached to the walls but only one set.  They
must not have counted on more than one prisoner at a time.  I hear my captor
grunt.  “Lock them up.  I’ll keep her with me.”  Jackson snarls and starts
toward us but Christian tightened his grip on me and I can’t breathe.  Jackson
backs off and lets them shackle him to the wall next to Earl.  “Here’s what is
going to happen.  I am now the alpha of the East View pack.  I’ll keep her as
my female and as long as she behaves, I’ll let her live.  You two will stay
here until I decide how you will die.”  Jackson struggles against the shackles
and chains but he’s stuck.  Christian pushes me from the room and locks the
door from the outside.  The other three walk ahead of us and help themselves to
my house.  “You’ll behave and you’ll do as you’re told or I will kill your
mate.  Do you understand?”  I nod sharply.  “Good, go make us some food, it was
a long drive.”

“I can’t cook. 
Kelly is supposed to teach me.”

“Bull shit.  There
isn’t a woman alive that can’t cook something.”

“I can’t, I can
make a sandwich well enough, maybe scrambled eggs.  Kelly did the cooking.”

“Fine,
sandwiches.”  I nod and go to the kitchen.  I can hear the others in the
house.  They are going through our things in the bedroom and office.  “Where
are the guest quarters?” 

“You can go through
the door in the living room or access them from outside on the porch.”  I finish
with a growl that escapes me.

“You will not
growl or snarl at me and you will not shift.  You will be submissive if you
want that handsome young man to stay handsome and alive.”  He cups my chin and
squeezes my cheeks.  I nod again jerking away and go to the pantry for
supplies.  As soon as he leaves me, I send out a text to my whole address
book.  A smart captor would’ve taken my cell first thing.  This bunch was not
smart.

-Need help, the
alpha and beta locked in basement, alpha house full of four intruders that mean
us all harm, get help! 

I immediately get
a text from Autumn who is connected to her cell phone like it is an additional
limb.

-What are you
talking about Summer?

-Get Dad now! 
Frank’s betas are here to take over East View.  I push send as he comes up
behind me and grabbed it away from me then smashed it on the floor under his
heel. 

“Hey!  I just got
that!”  I scream at him before I think.  I immediately cover my mouth with both
hands.  He is standing over me with cruel amber eyes.

“Your mate will
receive two lashes for that.  Where is my lunch?”  I point the unassembled
sandwiches on the counter.  “He will receive two more for that.  Every time you
displease me, I will whip him.  Do you understand?”  I nod.  Shit.  Jackson
pays for my crimes.  I make the sandwiches and put out chips and soda.  I hope
he gets loose before that happens.  One of the wolves drags Kelly into the
kitchen.  She went home and hid.  Stupid girl, just once, why couldn’t she get
a backbone?  Kelly begins to clean up.  She keeps her head down but I see that
they bruised and split her lip.  There may be a shadow of a bruise on her eye. 
She was trying to protect the pup.  Maybe she showed a little backbone after
all.

“What happened to
you Sis?”  I murmured.  The others filed in and sat at my dining room table.  I
brought the plates of sandwiches.  One of them said thank you.  Kelly glanced
at him.  Something was going on and I watched her.  Christian is their alpha,
Donny is the beta, and I’m not sure about the other two but they are probably
betas too.  If all that is true though, who is taking care of the pack?  I help
Kelly clean up the kitchen, when I glance outside; I see Jackson and Earl
racing across the field.  Jackson’s black wolf ran just in front of Earl’s
brown one.  I turn my head to hide my smile.  Jackson Reynolds former juvenile
delinquent and major mischief-maker picked the locks.  Why didn’t I think of
that?  Of course, he’d picked them.  I never could keep him out of my locker at
school.  Jackson is free and so is Earl, hopefully they have a plan.  I would
like nothing better than to fight my way out but I know I don’t stand a chance
against the four of them.  Kelly gives me a curious glance and I ask again,
“What happened to your face?”

“The one in the
flannel came to my house and I tried to fight him off.”  She whispered.

“Good girl.”  I
murmur gathering the meat and cheese to carry to the refrigerator.  Kelly grins
proudly.

“His junk hurts.” 
She smiled prettily at me and I gave her another ‘good girl.’  I hope Jackson
hurries.  When they’ve finished eating, they put Kelly and me in front of the
TV.  They go back to the dining room to discuss their plans.  My wolf ears
aren’t good enough to hear them.  I study the front door.  It’s bolted shut. 
If it was unlocked, I may be able to get her out of here.  The window is an
option.  I can break through and she can shift and follow.  I wonder how fast
they would catch us and decide it’s not worth the effort.  I sigh.  Kelly
watches me for a moment then lies down and covers herself with a blanket.  “Can
you get me some warm milk please?”  I nod and go back into the kitchen.  All
eyes are amber and on me. 

“Kelly needs
milk.  Sorry to interrupt.”  I pull a mug off the shelf and fill it then put it
in the microwave for a minute.  They are still watching me.  I grab a soda from
the fridge and take the milk from the microwave then leave the kitchen.  Their
conversation continues.  For hostage takers they are docile and I wonder if I
can dominate them.  It’s not unheard of for a female to dominate lesser males
but with Kelly in the house, I decide not to try it.  I go back to the living
room to find an open window and Kelly gone.  I smile and say to the empty
room.  “Here you are Sissy.”  I still hear them in there, no one has moved. 
They aren’t the smartest of criminals since everyone has escaped except me.  I
cross to the big window and step out of it.  It cranks and it opens out instead
of rising up so they didn’t hear her with their attention on me.  She’s smarter
than she looks.  I shift and dash in the same direction that Jackson ran.  I
follow his scent.  There are no other wolves around because he has gotten them
all to safety.  He’s a good alpha.  I follow the trail for more than a mile.  I
was nearing the creek and the cave when Jackson’s wolf tackled me and sent
sideways onto my back.  He nips at me playfully then yips.  We both shift and
his mouth is on mine.  I hear Earl laughing.  Jackson is trying to consume me. 
His hands are everywhere pulling and grabbing.  I want him.  I want him right
here but the others are watching.  I pull back.  His lips are moving over my
skin, across my cheek and down my throat to his mark.  When he is satisfied,
that I am alive and well he steps back.

“Did you follow
Kelly out of the window?”  I smile and nod, my eyes find Kelly.  She’s wrapped
her body around Earl.

“Did you bring my
milk?”  Kelly giggles.

“Sure, it’s on the
coffee table, I’ll go get it.”  I roll my eyes and she laughs.

“Okay, now that
everyone is okay we’ll make our plan for war.”  Jackson says.  He gathers the
men around and they discuss it.  I calm the females who have huddled in the
cave.  Kelly borrows Autumn’s phone and calls someone in her old pack.  Her
informant tells her that they kicked Christian out of the pack with his
followers.  The pack did not want to continue with the way that Frank ruled,
they wanted a change.  They’d decided before putting Christian in the alpha
position that they were going to modernize.  There would be no more hunting
humans and there would only be one mate per wolf.  He did not agree.  He wanted
a harem.  That was old school big time.  Packs frequently did that hundreds of
years ago.  The alpha would keep all of the young fertile females for his
pleasure and would only release them when they were no longer pleasing to him. 
Christian wanted to renew those rules and when he informed them, they turned on
him.  He was about to suffer that fate again.  Autumn and her friend were on
the social networking sites spreading the word that we were under attack. 
Someone told her that Dad and his alliances were on their way and were two hours
out.  God help Christian when he met up with my father.  Dad is on the council
that governs and doles out punishment to errant wolves.  He’s also a real hard
ass when he wants to be and I hope for our sake that Shirley hasn’t softened
Dad up any.  The thought of tearing his throat out though is still very
appealing to me.  Jackson sits down beside me. 

“I want you to
stay here and guard the females.  We are going to take the alpha house back and
lock these guys up until your dad and the council arrives.”