Torrent (Alpha Love - a Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance Book 4) (18 page)

“Lindsey, make it clear to the other packs that if we lose Spring Canyon then their home could be next. It’s in their interest to help Ashton and the rest of the pack.” Sofie looks at Lindsey who is standing with her mouth open, but no words are coming out. “Well get to it, Linds. We’re kind of on a deadline here.” Lindsey’s mouth snaps shut and she looks as if she’s at war with herself over what it is that she’s going to say. “You said you would follow where I led,” Sofie reminds her quietly. “Well, this is me leading. So are you prepared to follow?”

Lindsey frowns at her friend, tilting her head as if she’s appraising her and then a smile spreads across her face. “I’ll need Hec’s help. I can use our bond to magnify the reach of my telepathy, spreading a wider net.”

“Whatever you need, Linds.” Sofie waves at the couple to get to work and they both hurry off in the direction of the barn.

Gus stands still, his eyes trained on her, waiting expectantly. “What? If you’re looking for a fight, Gus then can we just park it for now and deal with it later? Right now there are more important things to talk about than how you don’t agree with anything I’m saying.” Sofie’s voice is sharp, but she doesn’t have time for the tension between them. If her plan is going to work then they need to band together, all of them.

Gus lifts his head a little higher, looking her straight in the eyes. “I’m not looking for a fight. I’m looking for orders.”

Sofie feels like she’s just been thrown for a loop. “You don’t take orders from me, Gus. I’m not an Alpha.”

Gus waves her words away as if they’re not important. “You’re Ashton’s mate. You’re the Pack Mother. That’s all I need to know. What are your orders?”

Sofie is touched by his words, by the loyalty of this man of few words and strong convictions, but there’s no time to get all touchy feely. “Get the rest of the pack ready, they need to be prepared for a show of force. Tell them to put their game faces on. Once you’ve done that, come back here, you’re coming with me to the drill site. I have a lot to learn and not a lot of time to do it. I need you to teach me how to turn…on the fly.”

Gus doesn’t question her, he doesn’t even raise an eyebrow, as if what she’s asking of him is nothing out of the ordinary, just another day. He nods curtly and goes to carry out her orders, padding away silently.

Finn and Darwin look like they’re in awe of her and it’s only then that she realizes what’s just happened. She’s been accepted into the pack, not just by becoming a werewolf, but by leading them, by being what they need her to be.

“What can we do?” Darwin looks at her eagerly, actually excited at the prospect of what’s about to happen.

“Umm, I’m already doing what I can.” Finn holds his hands up as if he’s expecting someone to disagree with him. “I’ve almost got everything that we need; proof of what Luke’s been up to, his hacking, his sexual harassment of employees, his poisoning of the environment. I love it when a plan comes together!” He smiles at her, unbelievably pleased with himself.

“Good, as soon as you have it all, send it to everyone and I mean everyone; the local authorities, the Feds, to the press, post it on friggin’ Facebook, just get it out there!” Sofie waves her hands expansively as if to demonstrate the ‘there’ she’s talking about. “The sooner we can get the tide of opinion to change against Luke the better chance we have.” She doesn’t add that it’s not just a better chance at winning, but at surviving.

Sofie makes a move to leave the two men, but Darwin hasn’t finished yet. “What about me? What should I do?”

Sofie settles a hand on his shoulder, looking into his watery brown eyes. “I need you to keep yourself safe and well away from the drilling site. I don’t want you to get hurt, boss.” She smiles at him kindly but the disappointment is written all over his face.

“Sofe,” Finn’s voice breaks the moment.

“Yes Finnbarr.” She turns around to him, ready for him to deliver some bad news; it was what she’d gotten used to hearing.

“So now that you’ve died and come back as a werewolf. Does that make you a werewolf-zombie?” Finn’s eyes actually light up at the prospect.

Sofie laughs, thankful to have her friend with her, the one person that can make her laugh when everything else seems to be crumbling around their ears. “There’s no such thing as zombies, Finn. Surely you don’t believe in fairy tales.” She smiles at him enigmatically, feeling a surge of something flow through her.

As she turns around to walk into Ashton’s house, she feels like her head is a little bit higher, her back a little straighter than it was before. She has no trouble hearing Finn’s excited whisper to Darwin as she reaches the front door.

“Holy shit! Did her eyes just glow? Did you see that, man?” She can almost see Finn hopping up and down in excitement. “This is going to be freakin’ awesome!”

Sofie smells the drilling site before she even sees it. It smells like smoke and the stench of oil is so strong it sticks in her throat, threatening to gag her. She covers her mouth and nose with her hands.

“How do you stand it?” She looks at Gus, her eyes wide as she feels like her senses are being overloaded.

“You can scent it? Already?” Gus makes no effort to hide his surprise behind his battered and bruised.

“You can’t?” She looks at him in disbelief. The smell is so strong it’s like it’s lodged in her nose.

Gus shakes his head, his face assume its neutral expression again. “We’re still a good few miles away. That’s incredible.”

“Is it because I’m...new?” Gus has given Sofie a little bit of background on what to expect as they travelled on foot towards the drilling site, but there were still quite a few holes to fill.

“I don’t know.” Gus looks at her strangely. “Ashton’s the only other were I know that can scent over that kind of distance, but he’s an Alpha.”

Sofie doesn’t dwell on what that means. She’s been doing that a lot recently, parking her questions, her hypotheses and suppositions for another time. It was something that the scientific side of her brain rebelled at. But she knows that if she let herself go down that road, she wouldn’t be able to do what needs to be done; she wouldn’t be able to save Ashton.

Sofie has to swallow hard to stop herself from vomiting at the smell from the site. Gus notices her discomfort and holds his arm out to stop her in her tracks. “Tune it out.” He doesn’t offer any further explanation and Sofie looks at him as if he’s speaking Chinese. He sighs impatiently, forgetting that she’s as clueless as a new-born about her new abilities. “If you let the smell get to you then it’ll take over, you won’t be able to think about anything else. It’ll make you sick.” He looks at her to check that she’s understood. “Pick out another scent, whatever it might be -- the smell of the grass or of the drops of water on the leaves of the trees.” Gus’s eyes seem far away as he talks about the land he loves. “Pick one out and focus on that, get your head straight.”

Sofie nods, glad that Gus isn’t babying her and just giving it to her straight. If he were being gentle with her then she feels like she might break into a million tiny pieces. This way he was helping her be strong. She lifts her head and tries to push past the smell of the oil and smoke, trying to find something else to hold onto. And there it is. She picks it out, pushing everything else out of her senses. It’s Ashton, she would know his scent anywhere; the mix of the fresh outdoors and the musky manliness, a combination that drives her wild.

“He’s down there.” Sofie looks through the trees as if she would be able to see him. She doesn’t need to tell Gus who she’s talking about. “Let’s go.” They advance on the site, carefully picking their way through the trees, traveling as fast as they can, but keeping their eyes open for hunters. Sofie doesn’t believe for a moment that Luke isn’t having the surroundings of the site patrolled. She just hopes that the other pack members are being as careful, they were mobilized all over the clearing, prepared to attack, to defend Ashton if they needed to.

As they get closer, it’s not just Ashton that Sofie can sense anymore, there are voices being carried on the wind and hundreds of other smells. Gus looks at her and the apprehension on his face tells her that he’s noticed the same.

“Oh God.” Sofie’s voice is a groan as they get close enough to see what’s going on. Her eyes zero in on Ashton. He’s standing by the tree line, head held high, as Luke puts on a show in front of his followers, his hundreds of followers. They were even more outnumbered than she had thought. “Damn you, Luke.” She grits her teeth, finding it hard to even say his name without feeling that red mist of rage descend on her again.

A strong hand on her shoulder brings her back. “Don’t let it take over.” Gus’s voice is gruff. “At least not until you need it to.”

Sofie nods, remembering his first lesson. He had explained that being a werewolf was like having two parts to yourself, one constantly at war with the other; the human and the wolf. The trick was to learn how to allow both sides to live in harmony, to choose who was in charge.

“How long did it take for you to do that?” Sofie had asked as she tried to digest everything he was telling her, feeling like she was cramming for a pop quiz.

“A few years,” Gus had replied, offhand before realizing what he’d said. “But you’re probably a quicker study than me.”

His words come back to her now as she swallows her anger at Luke, trying to find a place of calm, where Sofie the Scientist is running the show. She almost has it when Luke starts in on his speech.

“Here we have the leader of the animal pack.” Luke points towards Ashton, as if anyone could miss him. The big man stands strong and noble and regal as a king as all eyes are on him, dissecting him. Sofie can smell the waves of hate and excitement coming off of the crowd. They shout out ‘Wolf Scum’, ‘Monster’, ‘Beast’. Ashton doesn’t even react to it and Sofie feels a surge of pride in him.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we should hear what the creature has to say. I, for one, am dying to know what his explanation is for the crimes he’s committed against this town and this people.” Luke’s smile looks more like a snarl as he hands the floor over to Ashton. A roar of approval goes up amongst the crowd, adoring Luke as if he were a rock star rather than an environmental terrorist.

“I have no explanations to give,” Ashton starts, his voice booming out but Luke doesn’t let him finish.

“I knew it! I knew it! So you admit then that what you have been putting this town through; the lies, the mysterious disappearances of good townsfolk and God knows what else, you admit that there’s no excuse for it?” Sofie can see the way Luke’s eyes light up with glee.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Sofie can tell, even from this distance that Ashton is starting to get angry and she sends up a prayer to anyone that’s listening that he can hold it together for a little longer. “We haven’t committed any crimes against the good people of this town and, as far as I’m concerned the people that have disappeared got what they deserved. That is unless you think child killers should be allowed to just walk free. Is that what you think, Mr. Calambor?” Ashton’s voice is low and menacing and Sofie can’t help but smile as Luke struggles to find something to say.

“We can all throw accusations around, but do you have any proof to back up what you’re saying?” Luke leans over the podium that has become his preaching post, staring hard at Ashton, clearly sure of the answer he’s about to receive.

Ashton’s jaw hardens. “If you want proof you’d have to speak to the little dead girl, but unless you have a medium that’s probably not going to happen.”

A rumble goes around the crowd as they comment on what’s happening in real time. The crowd is lapping the drama up, feeding off of it. The power of the mob, Sofie thinks to herself.

“Well, isn’t that convenient?” Luke waves Ashton’s explanation away.

“Not for the little girl, or her family.” Ashton’s voice is low, but the force of it carries across the canyon.

The sounds coming from the crowds are changing, almost imperceptibly things seem to be shifting. The man in front of them is becoming less of a creature than they had expected. Ashton is winning them over, one at a time. Sofie just hopes it’s enough.

“Let’s stick to what you came here for, shall we?” Luke clears his throat and straightens his suit, probably wondering which angle is better for the cameras.

“By all means, I wouldn’t dream of wasting your time. I can see you’re a busy man.” Ashton grins wolfishly at Luke, leaning lazily against a tree. “What is it that you actually do, apart from giving press conferences and getting rich from oil that doesn’t belong to you?”

There are chuckles and gasps from the crowd as Ashton’s attack hits its mark. Luke’s eyes look like they’re about to bulge out of his head. Gus snorts, the closest thing she’s heard to a real laugh from him. “Maybe Ash doesn’t need our help after all.”

“You have no idea how much I hope you’re right.” Sofie keeps her eyes focused on the scene in front of them, knowing that this is nowhere near over.

“Shale Corp has provides thousands of jobs all over the country, hundreds right here in Beaumont. Are you telling me that you don’t agree with helping the economy, Mr. -?” Luke lets the question hang in the air despite knowing very well what Ashton’s name is. He’s making it clear that he’s far too important to bother himself with the surname of a Lycan.

“Just Ashton is fine.” Ashton flashes the crowd a winning smile and Sofie can’t help but grin. He’s just shown everyone that he’s like them, he’s an everyman, not a big shot head of a company that doesn’t give a crap about them. “And exactly how many of those jobs in Beaumont went to people from round here? Can you even name any of the people working on this site?” The challenge in Ashton’s eyes is clear; he’s thrown the gauntlet down.

Luke takes a deep breath as if he’s showing how patient he is, but Sofie suspects that he’s just buying himself some time. “Let’s not get distracted from the real reason that you’re here, Mr -...Ashton.” Luke stumbles over the informality of the address, making himself look even more stuck up than he already does. “I understand that you’re here to reach an agreement with us over what happens to the Lycans currently hiding in the woods.”

“Residing.” Ashton’s voice is firm. “We’re not hiding, we’re residing there. This is our home.”

Ashton’s moved on to playing on the heartstrings of the crowd. The shouts of ‘Wolf Scum’ and ‘Humans First’ are becoming fewer and fewer. Ashton won’t be able to win over all of them, no matter how charming he was, there were too many hard-line xenophobes out there. But the people who are just along for the ride, the ones there for the excitement rather than the purpose, he was slowly bringing them round to his side of the fence.

As if Luke could sense the tide of opinion starting to turn, he goes onto the attack. “Well, if you’re not hiding then why have you refused to come out from wherever you were
residing
?” He couldn’t have sounded more sarcastic if he had tried.

“I was waiting for a formal invitation.” Ashton’s reply is so off-the-cuff and natural that chuckles go up amongst the crowd. “I’m just polite like that.” He shrugs laconically, looking completely at ease.

“Well, now that you’re here. Shall we proceed with the terms of the agreement?” Luke narrows his eyes at Ashton, looking more like a ferret than a future Governor. He doesn’t wait for Ashton’s assent to continue. “We, the people,” he smiles winningly at the camera and Sofie has to stifle a groan, “We, the people, demand that all members of your pack come out of hiding and join the newly-formed Lycan register. We would request that you give us all the information you have on any other packs that you know of.”

“What happens then? We all get to go back to our homes and go on with life as normal? I’m guessing that’s not part of your grand plan.” Ashton straightens himself up, squaring his shoulders, his attention solely focused on Luke.

“Well, why don’t we ask the people? Would y’all feel safe in your homes knowing that a vicious creature, as we know these Lycans to be might be living next door?” Luke looks at the people around him as he deliberately plays on their fears. “Would you feel safe letting your children play outside knowing that at any moment they could be snatched and even killed by one of these monsters?”

“No! No!”

“Send them away!”

“Humans First!”

“Get out of here, Wolf Scum!”

Luke turns back to Ashton with a triumphant grin on his face. “I believe that the people have spoken.” He holds up his hands as if he were merely delivering the will of the masses.

“Doesn’t this guy ever get tired of the sound of his own voice?” Gus’s voice is a growl in Sofie’s ear.

“Not that I’ve ever seen,” she mumbles back, waiting for whatever’s coming next.

“So we can’t go back to our homes. Where do we go?” Ashton’s voice is edged with anger as he starts to pace in front of the crowd.

“We would find a suitable secure place to relocate you.” Luke shrugs as if to show how simple his suggestion is.

“Secure?” Ashton’s eyes on Luke are like laser beams.

“You would be held in enclosures, away from populated areas, for your own safety as well as that of the citizens of this fine country.” Luke raises his hand as some of the rednecks start hooting and letting off pistol shots.

“You want to put us in cages.” Ashton can barely contain his anger. His eyes flash golden and the people in the first row of the crowd take a step back, flinching away from him.

“That’s where vicious animals belong, isn’t it Ashton?” Luke smiles at him unsympathetically, enjoying the moment far too much.

“Enough! We are not animals!” Ashton’s anger explodes as he rounds on Luke, snarling at him. A cry goes up amongst the crowd and it seems to bring him back to his senses. Sofie watches as he visibly struggles to get himself back under control. “I won’t sacrifice my pack, I won’t bargain with their freedom.”

Luke looks at him with pity and distaste. “You came to come to some kind of a truce, did you not, Ashton? Or perhaps you don’t want to live in peace with us humans, is that where the problem lies?”