Demonic Regime

Chapter 27: The Patriarch (Jed)

    "The moment you..." I gritted my teeth. "The moment you... you turn me; I'll kill you."

    He brushed his claws against my skin. "Even as a werewolf, I don't need my toxins to put you in your place. I'm the beta of Wolfsbane. Remember?"

    "And I would be your mate," I breathed. "Dominants can't hurt their mates."

    Axil leaned back in his seat with a smug look. "Maybe in Midfield, but not here."

***

I couldn't turn my eyes away from the window. Werewolves were everywhere, walking along the sidewalks along the rows of buildings. They parted and a large open field appeared. At the end of it was a black stone house with a steel fence around it. The Wolfsbane insignia was on the front of the building along with the flag flying at the front. The gates opened when the car pulled up to them.

"Where are we?" I turned around in my seat. 

"The alpha's home. We live over there." He pointed to one of the buildings that ran around the park.

I clasped the mark on my shoulder. I'd have to be careful. Axil's toxin hurt bad enough; I didn't want to feel the alphas. The car stopped and so did my heart. He was going to take me in there. I was going to be face to face with the alpha. Axil climbed out and walked around the car. I couldn't do this. I didn't feel good again.

The door opened.

"Come on."

Shaking my head, I laid it against the seat in front of me.

"Jedrek, now."

"I don't feel good okay!"

"Fucking hell." Axil ran a hand through his head fur. "Humans." He snatched my arm and yanked me out. Pulling my shirt to the side, he licked the mark on my collarbone. The pain left and my head started to clear.

"Better?"

I nodded.

"Let's go. They're waiting."

The door was opened for us by a human servant wearing a tux. I looked at him confused. He had a black band around his throat that had a small box attached to the front. I stumbled along as Axil directed me inside. Voices came from a nearby room.

A human wearing the same fancy clothes hurried along in front of us.

"Alpha, sir, the beta and Nate are here with the boy."

A laugh rang out and a werewolf met us at the entryway. I stared up at the black creature with bits of gray on his face and chest.

"My boys." He hugged Axil.

"Hi dad," said Axil.

The werewolf hugged Nate as well. "Finally home. Your mother wants you both over for dinner."

"I'll plan on it," said Nate.

"Now." The black and gray werewolf stepped back. "Let's have a look at my son-in-law." He reached for my hair.

I lurched back.

The werewolf smiled. "The coloring is nice."

"Matches his attitude," muttered Axil. "Jed this if my father, Damien." He pushed me into the room. "This is the alpha, Judah, and the patriarch of the family, Jet."

My eyes landed on the two black werewolves on the other side of the room. One's fur was speckled with gray and a thick scar around along his throat. The other had small red markings on his fingers and a patch on his ear. They both wore deep red robes with black and gold trim.

"Come sit down." Judah motioned to the surrounding seats. "Did you just get off the plane?"

Axil nodded and led me to the loveseat between the two large couches. Nate and Damien took the other. Putting my hands in my lap, I bowed my head.

"It's been a long day." Axil placed his arm along the back of the couch.

Jet growled before taking a drink. "So much trouble for a human."

I forced the lump down in my throat. I had heard plenty of stories about the founder of the Wolfsbane pack. He was not a man to anger.

"So what's our timeline?" said Judah. "We can't have Midfield out shining us. Max may be the next alpha, but you are the reigning beta of Wolfsbane."

"Change him first," stated Jet. "Make sure this boy is worth the effort."

"His blood has been tested," said Judah.

"Doesn't matter," said the old werewolf. "I don't trust those test. You can only know for sure when you see his fur."

Axil glanced at me. I was confused by what Jet was saying. He'd have to mate with me to know my fur color. Did this pack kill their mates if they didn't turn out the way they wanted?

"I'm sure." Axil propped his head up against his fist. "I've already marked him as soon as I can get him to agree to the mating, I'll do it."

My eyes lit up. I had to agree. There was a way out of this.

"Just do it," snapped Jet. "Why are we trying to be all proper? Back in my day, you took what you wanted and the lower rank knew they better submit or they'd be in real pain." He flexed his claws against the couch.

"Daddy!" A small werewolf in a pink skirt with a cape on ran into the room. She leaped into the alpha's lap.

"Hello my love, are you having fun?"

"Of course. Grandpa Lette and I are playing damsel in distress. He's the damsel, though."

A white werewolf with a red patch on his chest shuffled into the room and went to Jet. The retired alpha quickly pulled the sub into his lap. "This is Axil's potential mate."

The sub smiled at me. "Welcome to the family."

I tried not to let the disdain for the comment show in my expression.

"Maybe you'll get some red in your line," said Judah to Axil, leaning forward to pour himself a drink.

"Perhaps." Axil ran a hand through my hair. "I mostly didn't want Max to be the only one to benefit from this family line.

"He's not a sub, though," stated Jet firmly. "That boy will be a middle rank and with that comes problems. Humans are only good when they rank as subs." He pointed at me.

"Hmm..." Judah smiled to himself as he put his arm around his daughter. "Did you get the better brother at least?"

Axil nodded. "He tested higher than Max's sub."

"Tests," scoffed Jet. "Give him the artificial injection."

"Jet," said the sub. "That's cruel."

The dominant raised an eyebrow and the sub fell quiet. Lette leaned into his mate's side and glanced in my direction.

"Do it," said Jet. "That's an order. The beta line is just as important to me as the alpha. If he turns out how we hope, then mate with him. If the boy knows what's good for him, he'll agree to it." He tightened his hold on the sub. "Wolfsbane needs to stay strong. My years may be limited, but I will never let Midfield or Northern Ridge over take us. Not while there's some strength left in me. I worked too hard to build this pack. Don't become the weak link in the chain of command."

Peering over at me, Axil grabbed my hand. "I understand, and I will do as you ask."