† Maddock †

I hated leaving her there.

Agreed.

But Lisa had vowed there would be no mention of mates until Sage was ready to understand. For now, these visits would be about helping my witch unchain the burdens she carried.

Then she would be free to act on her own desires and she’d be ready to feel what I felt for her.

She can feel me.

I ignored my grumpy wolf and refused to be ruffled by his taunts any longer. Progress was progress. If she could sense my beast then we were one step closer to completing the mating bond.

He could have his victory. I had mine.

She’d walked out of our den this morning clothed in my scent. Any shifter would smell me on her from a mile away.

It was a strong enough protection in this backwards town with these bastard wolves who wouldn’t stop fighting for one damn weekend so I could spend time with my fated mate.

Handle this and we’ll bring her another rabbit, my wolf demanded as I forced the shift.

“She’ll get sick of rabbit,” I mumbled as I rose to my full height in Apollo’s yard. “And I told you to stay quiet around her so you don’t scare her away.”

She wants me. My wolf’s thoughts came with a humph as he settled back into the darkness of my mind. And she likes rabbit.

I strode barefoot across the overgrown grass, ready to smash in the face of the first wolf who got in my way as I came to the request of the belligerent Alpha who was throwing another one of his fits.

Bruce threw open the doors to the mansion as I approached and ran a hand through his ragged hair. “Sorry to bother you today. We all heard about the mate situation. Congratulations, Enforcer.”

My fangs elongated as he spoke about my witch with his nasty mouth. “Where is he?” I growled, needing to get away from this wolf before I killed him. I started marching through the house.

The front room was destroyed. Bookshelves were tipped over and a glass vase was smashed into the oak coffee table that had barely survived

the last fight.

“They’re out back in the orchard. He’s on one today,” Bruce explained as he followed. The smell of sour wine was hot on his breath. I knew whatever this situation was, the poor excuse for a replacement of my dead brother had instigated it in some way.

I turned to the Beta, barely containing my disgust. “Who is the challenger?”

“That’s the thing.” Bruce chuckled and the sound grated on my nerves. “He called a meeting to discuss the new arrivals, your mate and the latent pup, and when no one could give him more information, he accused all the elders of conspiring against him. When we tried to calm him down, he singled out Stockton and Wallace. He says they issued the challenge.”

“Fuck.” I took off at a sprint and raced through the back of the

house.

Stockton, Ava’s father, and his friend Wallace were some of

Apollo’s most loyal supporters. After Ava leaving, I had to wonder if Stockton was starting to rescind his blind faith. If not, this was sure to push him over the edge.

None of the elders would have any knowledge of my mate or her sister. Apollo had to have known that. He’d promised me he’d wait until the pup was ready before I brought her into the pack.

This was some sort of sick game. He was flexing his muscles again.

And I was willing to bet he was shitfaced. My brother was really starting to piss me off.

*

Stockton and Wallace had already shifted. The massive wolves were lowered on the ground with soft whines of submission as Apollo paced between the apple trees.

A few of the other elders hung further back out of reach of Apollo’s rampage. A growl came from either Joseph or Brian. Both men voiced their dislike for the Alpha and were clearly displeased at the show of force, but did nothing to stop it.

Apollo stumbled, catching himself on a tree and it swayed against his bulk as he bared his teeth at the shifters with spit foaming in the corners of his mouth. I didn’t have to scent him to know he was drunk. His eyes were black and full of murderous rage.

At least he had enough sense left to wait for me to arrive before he engaged. As Enforcer, I was the only one who could declare it a legal

challenge and regulate. If Apollo had charged in bloodlust and broken the rules of an Alpha challenge then I’d be forced to put him down for going feral.

It wasn’t the first time in my life I was faced with this situation.

Apollo walked a fine line.

I still wasn’t sure I wanted to kill my own brother though.

“What took you so long?” Apollo snarled as he kicked off his boots. His shirt was already shredded and his pants were coming next. “I’m going to kill these traitors.”

“Enough,” I said, stone-faced.

I didn’t want to put him in a headlock and drag him away until I absolutely had to.

He’d been embarrassing himself enough for the past few years. “Stockton and Wallace, you know the rules. Shift back so you can

officially declare your intent.”

The two massive wolves shifted and came to stand as two men who were twice my age with pot bellies and liver spots coating their arms.

They’d been alive long enough to remain loyal to my father and his son after him.

Stockton stepped forward, baring his neck. “No challenge was issued, Enforcer.”

Wallace echoed his statement.

I folded my arms over my chest, nodding at the two shifters and toward the group who’d stayed as witness. “There is no challenge here today. You all are free to go.”

“Cowards.” Apollo spit on the ground behind me. The shifters wasted no time changing and sprinting off through the woods.

Stockton lingered a minute longer than the rest and nodded his thanks to me, but I didn’t miss the first spark of rebellion that gleamed in his eye. I watched him shift, making a mental note to speak with him when I went to help fix his fence.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I turned to shove my brother. The bark of the tree cracked as he slammed against it.

His fist flew towards my nose.

Had he been sober or a half second quicker, it might have connected.

I ducked under his arm, grabbing it as I went, and twisted it painfully behind his back.

He threw his weight forward and took us both to the ground. The tendons bulged in his neck as he tried to shake me.

I tightened my grip, threatening to dislocate his shoulder, and shifted to my heels. My knee landed on the back of his neck. “Are you done now?”

“Get off of me!” His free hand clawed at the dirt as his fingers extended into claws.

“Not today, brother.” I caught his second arm and pinned it behind his

back.

Then I lifted the big bastard by his elbows and dragged him through

the orchard.

“Is this your official challenge?” Apollo growled. His wolf was dangerously close to the surface. “Because I’m waiting for the day…”

The rest of his rant was cut off when I dunked his head into the algae tinted green stagnant water of the chipped garden fountain.

Apollo came up sputtering with the foul liquid spewing from his lips as he cursed the Gods.

I tightened my grip, readying him for another dip. “Don’t make me put you under again.”

“Fuck you!” His muscles convulsed and I almost lost my hold. I shoved his head back down to make my point clear.

“You need to sober up,” I said calmly as I lifted him from the muck. “Let go of me.” The crack of an Alpha command rippled through the

air.

“Not happening, little brother.” I smirked. “You know that Alpha shit doesn’t work on me. Say uncle and I might ease up a bit.”

“Maddock.” He growled a warning, but the wolf in him was retreating.

Even the beast was tired of this game.

“You’re done now.” I loosened my hold just enough for him to break

free.

Apollo jerked back, slamming his ass onto the stone fountain bench,

and ran his hands over his face to clear off the slime. He glared up at me with bloodshot eyes, but he was already burning through the alcohol in his system.

With shifter metabolism and rage fueled adrenaline, it was a miracle he could even get or stay drunk. It took a lot to maintain his habit.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” I sighed as I sat beside him and rested my arms on my thighs.

“They’re weak and have lost their edge.” Apollo growled. He sounded more like a petulant pup than the Alpha of the Cerberus pack, but I knew this tone was reserved for me. He’d never let anyone else hear it. “When I asked if they knew there were outsiders from the purist city in our territory, they said it was the Alpha and Enforcer’s job to care so it was

none of their concern.”

I didn’t bother to point out the fact that this was mostly correct as he continued his rant.

“They have no pride in their pack. No sense of loyalty. There is no honor here anymore.”

This was true, but it didn’t matter how many times I’d stated the

obvious cause. Apollo couldn’t see the error in his ways. “Why did you say that they challenged you?”

“Everything they do is a challenge.” He scoffed. “Stockton had the balls to say that if I couldn’t handle pack issues, maybe it was time to step down. I didn’t hear him complaining when he was sending his daughter to my bed for a chance to raise his position in the pack. Wallace stood beside him, but couldn’t find the balls under his gut to say the words out loud. I should have ripped their hearts out for the insolence, but I chose to offer them the challenge like a man.”

“Such a diplomat.” I clapped Apollo on the back so hard he nearly fell off the bench. “But if you want to fix the loyalty issues, you might want to let the longest standing pack members and supporters of your birth right claim keep their hearts intact.”

“There is no fixing this shit. It’s all broken.” He breathed out a heavy sigh and then his gaze narrowed on me. “Why do you smell like you’ve been baking cookies?”

Apollo was the last person I wanted to talk to about my mate, especially since he was the reason I had to leave her and I knew there would be issues once he saw the pup’s resemblance to her mother. But being the enforcer didn’t allow me to show weakness to anyone else, so I couldn’t help the wolfish smile that spread across my face.

He was the only brother I had left anyway.

“She smells amazing. Like cinnamon and toasted acorns. I could breathe her in all day.”

He let out a hearty laugh as he clapped me on the shoulder. “You claimed her then. Good for you. Now we can all finally meet the witch.”

A growl rumbled in my chest.

Neither my wolf or I liked his too familiar tone about what my mate did or didn’t do in the bedroom.

“You didn’t claim her.” Apollo sobered as he picked up on my anger. “They say the jealousy isn’t as strong once the mating bond is sealed. Do it soon for both of our sakes.”

The deep sadness in his tone hung heavy in the air and we both sat with it in silence for a moment.

“She doesn’t know that she’s a witch or that we’re fated,” I said, needing to get it off my chest. “And she’s been caring solely for the latent pup since she was a teenager so she’s burdened and reserved.”

“She’ll fit in with us just fine.” He smirked. “Tell her she’s welcome to join our club.”

“I don’t want that for her.” I turned to my brother, but he was staring at the decaying mansion with glassy eyes and I knew he was about to go on the hunt for a drink.

“I sent her to Lisa so she could help with the witch part.”

That got his attention and he chuckled. “If she’s alone with our mother now, you’ll have a wildling on your hands when she returns.”

I laughed with him, remembering yesterday as she ran through the woods with her brown hair billowing behind her and the sharp sting of her aim with a rock. “She’s already wild.”

“I’m happy for you, brother.” Apollo choked down a sob and then pretended to cough as he looked around for his boots.

He was stoic and composed when he stood from the bench. “And I

agree that it’s best not to push your mate into something she isn’t ready for. But the latent pup must be tortured too since her wolf isn’t free. Bring her to me soon so I can help coax the shift. It’s what Melinda would have

wanted.”

When Apollo had these moments of clarity, I saw the Alpha he was meant to be. A wolf of conviction who fought hard and loved deeply. If he wasn’t tormented by the decisions of his past, I knew he’d be a powerful leader for this pack.

It was his destiny.

I could see it even if he couldn’t and maybe that was my weakness.

If he would somehow recognize his true worth, then Cerberus pack could crawl from the ashes and regain its rightful place in the hierarchy of nature.

But he’d have to get over his demons first.

“About the latent pup,” I treaded slowly, not knowing when I’d get a moment with him like this again. “I repeat my earlier warning. She is under my protection and no harm will come to the girl. But I need you to know beforehand that she looks just like Melinda so prepare yourself for the

shock.”

Apollo swallowed hard. His wolf shone in his eyes, but he blinked him back and remained in control. “When should I expect this shock?”

“Soon I’d guess.” I rubbed the back of my neck to ease the strain of tense muscles. “With the way Kera has attached herself to the girl, I expect she’ll be at the training session tomorrow.”

“Kera?” He looked around the yard. “What does she have to do with

this?”

You didn’t even realize she was gone. I shook my head as I recalled

Sage’s sweet concern.

Maybe this was for the best. Kera needed people who would show her kindness. It was a cutthroat world for my niece, but if she was going to

fulfill her role as future Alpha then having someone teach her empathy would go a long way in balancing out the mess her father’s legacy had left behind.

“Kera has been staying with me and helping to protect my mate while she gets adjusted. There’s not another warrior in the pack that I would trust with the task.”

Apollo seemed like he wanted to argue and I got ready for another fight. The topic of Kera was a difficult one between us.

Without the destined triplet birth, Kera was the next in line for Alpha. Even though she was young, there wasn’t another wolf that could bring her down in a fight except for her father and me. She’d trained her ass off to

prove herself.

But he refused to acknowledge her legitimacy because she was

female and the line of unmated women willing to sleep with Apollo on the off chance of a triplet birth had just dried up when Ava left.

It wasn’t going to happen. He knew it as well as I did.

“Maybe it’s for the best.” Apollo nodded. “She spends too much time around men. Being with females will help her learn her place.”

“You know her place.” My wolf surged forward before I could react and our voice came out thick with a growl.

Apollo watched me, but instead of releasing his own wolf, he sighed. “She’s too young.”

“What?” I took a step back and my wolf retreated. In all our arguments, he’d never said anything about her age being a factor. This was the progress I’d been fighting for. “I agree she is too young right now, but maybe it’s time to start thinking about retirement in the coming years.”

“Are you eager to be rid of me so soon, brother?” Apollo’s lips curled into a ghost of a smile.

“You’re not getting any younger.” I punched his shoulder.

He didn’t flinch, but he did rub the sore spot. “I don’t plan to be around forever, but none of you bastards have the guts to bring me down. Now that you found yours, I have hope that Kera will find her own fated mate and he’ll be strong enough to take my place.”

Gods. One step forward and two steps back.

We should just kill him now.

“I’ll let you get back to your witch.” Apollo turned and walked away. I thought about chasing him down and continuing this conversation.

Maybe beating his head with a rock until I knocked some sense into it. But for once, my brother was right. I didn’t want to be here anymore or deal with all this bullshit.

I wanted to get back to my mate.