My stomach fluttered as the plane touched down. I didn't want to look out the small window. I was in Wolfsbane, the worst pack on this side of the world for a human. Letting out a deep breath, I glanced at Axil. He didn't seem affected by anything going on.
The werewolf undid his lap belt as the others started to move around. I sat very still. They should turn this plane around because I wanted to go home. Bowing my head, I gripped my knees. My shoulder was hurting so bad. I just wanted this aching pain to go away, along with the headache that had been pounding in my skull since we took off.
"Let's go." Axil held out his hand.
I shook my head.
The werewolf muttered under his breath. "You're grating on my nerves, just so you know."
I swallowed hard and leaned back in my seat.
"Now." Axil stood in front of me.
Sweat started to bead up on my forehead. "I don't feel good."
He cursed under his breath. "Humans. Your kind is annoyingly fragile." He licked his finger and rubbed it across my shoulder.
My head fell to the side and took slow breaths. It was helping, but the pain didn't completely go away.
"Better?"
I nodded.
"Now, let's go," he said firmly.
Undoing my seat belt, I stood and shuffled toward the door. I still felt nauseous but it wasn't bad enough that I was going to throw up. A black car was sitting at the bottom of the steps.
The gray werewolf from before was waiting. "So you found him?"
Axil chuckled as he walked down the steps behind me. "It wasn't hard. That woman did most of the work."
"I hate her. She always been such a kiss-ass" The werewolf lifted my chin with his claw when I was in reach. "He's looking a little haggard."
"The kid has a mouth."
"I'm Nate if you don't remember me."
"Don't care. All you damn werewolf look the same," I muttered.
Nate laughed. "I'm glad he's your problem." He opened the car door. "Dad and the patriarch want to meet him. They're at the main house with the alpha."
Axil nodded and nudged me toward the car. I climbed inside and scooted over to the other side. Axil followed and shut the door as Nate sat in the passenger seat.
The car started to move. My nerves started to build, making my hands sweat. They were taking me to see the Wolfsbane alpha. I flinched when Axil's hand landed on the back of my neck.
"Breathe."
"Don't." I shrugged him off me and leaned against the door.
He shook his head at me. "You really do need to work on your attitude and realize where you are. This is Wolfsbane. We're not nearly as lenient as Midfield. I decided whether you get to live."
"I already told you just to kill me. If would be better than to be turned into..." I sucked in my lips.
"Into what?"
"A werewolf," I muttered. I knew better than to use any other word.
Axil grinned at me. "I don't know. I don't mind it." He scratched under his chin. "It comes with its perks."
"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."