Nisha's POV
I stayed by the stream, drinking my fill and trying to get my body to work again. My stomach and chest protested any movement; the slashes were still healing, and a few scabs opened as I moved. I closed my eyes, using my nose to sense things. I could smell my blood strongly, as well as the warriors who had dumped me here. I could smell Alpha Todd's scent on me from the fight, something I needed to be rid of as soon as possible. I could also smell Erica's scent and it was fresh.
First thing was to wash the blood off and get that bastard's scent off me. I moved along the stream until I found a deeper pool and laid in it. The cool water from the underground spring helped ease the sting of the wounds and helped wash the dried blood from my light fur. When I was ready, I braced myself and shifted back to human.
The pain nearly caused me to black out again.
I stood in the eighteen-inch-deep water, breathing and taking the pain in so I could overcome it. Using my hands, I washed away the dried blood from my skin and looked at my torn-up body. I was a mess.
I walked out of the stream, letting the warm sun filtering through the forest trees and the wind dry my body as I walked. I followed the scent of Erica to the west. A few minutes later, I saw the backpack and smiled. My friend had not abandoned me. I reached the pack and zipped it open, pulling out underwear, cargo shorts, a T-shirt, socks and hiking boots. My purse was in there, and I grabbed my cash and driver's license out of it and put it in my pocket. She had even brought the bank card, which accessed the account with my inheritance from my parent's estate. The lawyer held Niesha's half for her, and my portion was not a fortune, but it was enough to get a fresh start. Alphas, at least honest ones, weren't getting a lot of personal wealth because they plowed the earnings back into the Pack.
I said a silent prayer to Selene asking her to protect Erica for what she had done. It was incredibly brave of her to leave this for me after my exile, but it made my getaway so much easier. I put the backpack on and started walking west.
It was well after sunset when I reached the gas station and mini-mart on I-94, and I was starving. I used my money to buy a few sandwiches, some beef jerky and snacks, and a tall coffee. I ate outside, stashing the snacks in my pack for later, and watched the pumps for someone who might help.
Hitchhiking wasn't as common anymore, especially for young girls. I wasn't as defenseless as a human, but I wasn't stupid either. I kept an eye out for someone with out-of-state plates or an independent trucker, since the freight companies had rules against passengers. I passed on men under fifty unless they were family.
Somehow, being a beat-up sixteen-year-old didn't work well for getting a ride. The first few people I asked, including a younger couple, offered to call the police for me which I declined. Another thought I was a working girl and offered me cash and a ride for a blowjob, which I politely but forcefully declined. I was sitting by the door when a Mercedes sedan came in, with Louisiana plates. A beautiful woman got out, her red hair cascading down in waves to mid-back. She was in a simple black dress and heels, her pale skin almost glowing in the fluorescent light. She looked to be in her late twenties and had no ring on her finger. She filled up the tank, then walked towards me. I caught her scent and fear went through me like a cold knife.
Vampire.
She had my scent as well and looked me over. "What's a little injured pup like you doing out here all alone, wolf?"
"Cast out," I said. "Look, I don't want any trouble from you and I'm in no shape to fight. If you're going to kill me, do it quickly."
She just nodded and went inside to pay. I got up, my body protesting the movement as it continued to heal. She came out as I was halfway across the lot and she caught up quickly. "Come with me," she said. I froze; there was no way to escape her if I was at full strength, much less now. "I'll give you a ride and you can tell me your story. My name is Marceline, Marceline Covington, but you can call me Marcy."
What the hell, I thought. All of the Packs would have been informed of my exile by now, and by law none would give me aid or shelter. A wolf who was exiled was exiled for life, destined to live a loner (peaceful wolf outside of a Pack) or a rogue (same thing but lives around Pack lands and is hunted). If I was going to be killed, she would have done it already. "Thank you," I said. "I am Nisha Hunt, formerly of the Tomah Pack."
"The Alpha daughter?"
"I was. Now I'm nothing."
"I'm sorry about your parents, the Vampires respected them and left them alone. Suspicions were being raised that Vampires had taken your sister, but I can assure you that is not the case. No one would risk war with the werewolves over an underage girl, especially one whose Pack was not an enemy of the Council." For some reason, I knew she was speaking the truth. "The Vampire Council met in St. Paul last night. We had representatives from every Coven present and none of us were involved."
I followed her to her car, which was a Mercedes S-550 luxury sedan. "Hang on," she said as she grabbed a blanket from the back seat and spread it over the leather passenger seat. "No offense, but your wounds are still bleeding. It's distracting, and the leather will stick to them."
"None taken. Thank you for the ride." I got in and settled into the comfortable bucket seat, as she got in and fired up the twin-turbo V-8 engine. We pulled onto I-94 east towards Madison, and she drove like she didn't fear death or State Patrol officers. "We'll get pulled over in a heartbeat around here, the State Troopers are thick between Tomah and the Dells," I said from experience.
"Vampires don't get tickets," she said. "We have the ability to control the minds of humans, so I never get more than a warning." She smiled as she pushed it up over a hundred miles an hour. "You aren't as afraid of me as I expected."
"I accepted my own death not even twelve hours ago, and you would give me a quicker death than the Pack would." It was true. I watched the road signs whip past, we were well outside my Pack territory now. I thought of my friends, of everyone in the Pack that I loved and would be forever separated from. Erica was bound to be discovered and punished for helping me. Tears ran down my eyes as we sped towards Madison. "You really want to hear my story?"
"Nisha, my coven is led by Jarrod Covington of the New Orleans pack. It's a two-night drive, even with me driving," she said. "You intrigue me; rarely is a werewolf calm enough to have a conversation with. At my age, I appreciate someone I can learn from."
"How old are you," I asked, immediately regretting it.
"Jarrod turned me when I was twenty-eight, the year was 1740. My father had arranged a marriage to a wealthy man in New Orleans, a man I had no wish of joining. The ship I was sent over on had been captured by pirates and I was taken as a slave. Jarrod was hired by my fiancé to get me back. He killed them all and offered me a chance to go free, but the last thing I wanted was to be married. He returned to New Orleans with me and reported that I had been killed during the attack. I was the first one in our Coven that was turned by him."
"Wow." She had been alive for the entire existence of the United States and more. "My story isn't that exciting."
"Still, we have time." I told her everything, the events, my suspicions, even how my friend had risked herself to help me. We were on I-39 in southern Illinois by the time I finished. "All I want to do is find my sister and get my Pack back," I said.
"But you have to defeat Alpha Todd in the ring to take your Pack back."
"Yes, either I or my mate would have to beat him. Since I'm no longer welcome in any of the Packs, finding my true mate is going to be near impossible. Most Packs will kill me on sight if I step on their lands."
She thought for a while. "I need to talk to Jarrod, but I can promise you this much. Swear to me that you won't attempt to harm me or my Coven, and I will swear to you my Coven will listen to you and let you go free if you do not wish to stay."
I just laughed. "Me hurt you? As if."
"Sunlight, packs and wooden stakes are still weaknesses for my kind, and I need to trust you if we are to travel together," she said.
"I swear I will not attempt to harm you or your coven. You have helped me and I owe you a debt for that." I held my hand out.
"And I swear you will be safe with us until you wish to leave," she said as she took it. Her hand was slightly cold but strong.
"Good. Then we can drive straight through. You can drive, can you not?"
"I can," I said. I'd gotten my license three months ago.
We were near Memphis as sunrise approached when she pulled off the freeway, heading to the back of a strip mall that wasn't open yet. "Come on," she said, popping the trunk and leaving the car running. I walked to the back and was surprised to see the trunk had been modified quite a bit. A mattress covered it, pillows were in there, as well as LED lights and some books. "Vampires don't need to sleep, but we do need to avoid light. My trunk can function as an emergency shelter during the day; once it closes, it won't open again unless there is no UV light present. We can still talk, I'm sure we'll be able to hear each other through the back seat if you don't crank the radio," she said with a smile.
"I'll drive safe," I said.
She crawled in the trunk. "The GPS system has the location of our home loaded, just follow instructions and don't get pulled over. I'll let them know you are coming and when to expect you." She pulled her phone out. "I like you, Nisha. You remind me of how I was when I was younger."
I stopped for gas twice and got a drive-through breakfast, so I made it to the beautiful New Orleans mansion by lunch time. The gate opened as I approached, and the garage door was open as a man in a suit waved me in. He closed the door as I turned the Mercedes off, and I was awestruck by the size and contents of the garage. The Mercedes was the least expensive car in the six-stall garage, I figured. I heard a bar slide as I got out, locking the door. The man moved curtains around, making sure the door did not leak sunlight, then turned the overhead lights off to verify. "It is safe, Miss Marceline," he said.
The trunk popped open and he helped her out, still holding her phone. "Good, it was getting a little stuffy in there. Nisha Hunt, this is Malcolm, he is one of the familiars here and in charge of the day staff."
"A pleasure, Madam," he said with a bow. "Your bag?"
I handed it over as Marcy grabbed her bag out of the back seat. "Malcolm, set her up in the guest suite. Nisha, follow me, I need to introduce you to my Master." We walked to the back of the garage, where she used her thumbprint to open a door leading to a small vestibule. The heavy metal doors locked, then she punched a code in to the second and it opened for her. "Come on." We went down the stairway which was barely lit with LED lighting, then through a narrow tunnel with doors on each side. It finally opened into a sitting area, a fireplace in the center, and lounge chairs arranged around it. Two men and one woman looked up at me as I entered, all were young and beautiful. The tall male that came towards me was tall, strong and handsome, with straight black hair that was cut at shoulder length. "Welcome to my home, Nisha Hunt. I am Jarrod Covington, Master Vampire and Coven Leader."
"Nisha Hunt, Lone Wolf," I said as I shook his hand. I was glad I'd had fifteen hours of driving to get used to being around a vampire, so I wasn't as nervous as I should have been. "Thank you for your hospitality."
The other two, Eduardo and Anastasia, introduced themselves as Malcolm came down with champagne and a tray of snacks. "Please, eat. You are still healing, she-wolf."
The tray was heavy on meats and cheeses, and Malcolm handed me a tall glass of juice. "Marceline helped me escape, and I am in her debt for that. She said you might have use for me."
Jarrod nodded. "She did, but you are not ready yet to perform the service we would ask of you. If you agree to my proposal, we will shelter you, provide for your needs and train you into the weapon you can become."
"Weapon? Me?"
"Yes. You want to take your Pack, and for that you must become a fierce warrior who can defeat a strong male Alpha. We will help you train until you are that she-wolf. In return, you will help us to eliminate problem wolves our Council wants gone, but without implicating our kind in the act."
"You want me to kill werewolves for you?"
"A few, and no one who does not deserve death. You will know who and why, and if you don't agree they deserve death we will not force you. You solve problems for us in a way that won't blow back on the Covens."
I owed the Alphas nothing, I thought to myself. "I agree to your proposal," I said as I held out my hand.
"Excellent," he said. "Eat some more, then Malcolm will take you to your room. You must be tired, and we will discuss this further at dinner tonight."
He led me to a room, it was large and beautifully furnished with antiques. My clothes were already hanging in the armoire or in the chest of drawers, and my documents were on the desk. Malcolm pulled the draperies closed to darken the space as I caught a glimpse of the gardens and the pool. "I will wake you an hour before dinner," he said as I walked around.
"Half an hour, I'm not a person who takes a lot of time getting ready," I said.
"Very well, Ma'am. If you require of anything, this intercom goes to the kitchen and one of the staff will provide it."
"Thank you." He left, and I pulled my clothes off and walked into the large bathroom. The shower was amazing, and now that my wounds had healed I scrubbed myself well before putting on a long shirt and crawling into bed. I slept like the dead.
Fitting since I was in a vampire coven now.
Erica's POV
I drove my Mini Cooper back to the Pack House garage and parked it before going back to my room which I shared with two other girls. Michelle was waiting on my bed for me. "What did you do?"
"Nothing I will tell you," I said.
"Is she alive?"
"Barely." I took a quick shower and changed to make sure no scents would follow me to dinner, but there was no hiding my scent in the woods. In her room I could claim it was residual from last night if they didn't go in there right away. Michelle followed me to the dining room, which had been decorated in celebration of the new Alpha for the Tomah Pack.
My stomach churned as I watched Alpha Todd come up on the elevated front table with the Alpha Council and the visiting Alphas and Lunas. Chairman Andreas said a few words of congratulations, ending with everyone raising their glass in a toast to his new position. Alpha Todd then addressed us all. "Thank you for joining me and the Tomah Pack as we usher in a new age of peace and prosperity. I would like to acknowledge the help of the Alpha Council in this difficult time, as well as the support of the surrounding Packs. I look forward to continuing the alliances that our Pack has always treasured."
I noticed that the LaCrosse Alphas were not smiling at that, in fact they were glaring at him. That alliance would not be easily repaired after what had happened to Nisha, and what he said about searching for Niesha. I sent to Michelle privately. "Now that Nisha was no longer in the Pack, would anyone bother to look for her sister?"
"Alpha Todd won't. She still has the Alpha bloodline and if mated to an Alpha, could challenge for the Pack again." She shook her head. "Do you see all those sluts trying to get Todd's attention? Word is he's planning to audition Lunas every night, and his calendar is already booked weeks out."
"Selene, I can't believe they would fuck that," I said.
"For a chance to be Luna, they'd do more than that. Bunch of bitches, and just wait until he starts traveling to other packs."
We stopped talking as the dessert came out, a turtle cheesecake that was to die for. I was halfway done when I felt eyes on me; looking up, the Alpha was staring at me, livid. People started moving away from me as he stood. "ERICA CONNALLY, COME HERE," he growled.
"Oh fuck," I said as Michelle looked at me in horror. I got up, walking forward to the table. His dominance washed over me and I dropped to my knees, showing my neck in submission.
"Erica, what did I order when my challenger was banished?"
I looked up at him, shaking, and somehow found my voice. "You said no one was to speak her name or help her in any way, and anyone who did would be guilty of treason."
"And what did you do?"
"I packed some of her things and left them for her outside the territory, sir." There were gasps in the room as they realized what was happening. I was as good as dead.
"And if someone helped her?"
"They would be committing treason, Alpha."
The room was silent for a few moments. "The last thing I wanted to do to start my reign is to deal out punishment, but the first thing YOU did was to commit treason. Warriors, strip her and take her to the punishment pole." The men moved forward, claws ripping off my clothes with little regard for the skin under them as I shook in fear. Michelle ran forward, but I shook my head no; this was my choice and my punishment.
I was led out of the room and the entire Pack followed, along with the guests. My legs started to give way in my fear, but the men just lifted me so my feet barely touched the ground. The pole looked to outsiders like a flagpole, but it was anything but. My hands were tied together with the rope before they were pulled high, lifting me up onto my toes. The warrior tied the rope off, leaving me helpless. "Relax your body, struggling will make the pain worse," he said as he stepped back.
The Alpha came close as I sobbed. "For the crime of treason, Erica Connally will receive twenty lashes before she is branded and cast out."
I started to cry harder, hearing others cry and plead for mercy, but it was not to come. The Alpha unfurled the whip; it had silver dust imbedded into it, slowing the healing and increasing the pain from each cut. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but when I heard the whoosh of air and the crack, it took a second for the pain to explode in my mind and all other thoughts ended.
I screamed in agony.
The second was on its way before my scream ended, and they kept coming. Pain mounted until I couldn't scream any more, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. I didn't even recognize when it was done until he was next to me again. He was holding a metal brand, heating it with a propane torch until it glowed red-hot. "Treason against a Pack is one of the worst offenses a wolf can commit. Death is too good for a traitor; instead, we mark their cheek so all who see them know what they are and why they are rogue. She will live the rest of her life in fear, running from Packs, being beaten or used by whoever wants to, trusting no one and not being trusted. She is the lowest of the low." He grabbed my hair, holding me tight to the pole before the brand was pressed to my left cheek.
I must have passed out, because I woke up in a man's arms. My back and buttocks were aflame from the whip, and my cheek ached from the brand, which was followed by rubbing in silver dust so it would scar badly. I opened my eyes, I was cradled to a broad chest, his arms supporting my legs and my neck. I took a sniff and recognized the scent, I had visited the LaCrosse pack with Nisha and Niesha before. "Alpha Clark?"
"You're safe, child," he said. "We're almost home."
I didn't understand, I was rogue and branded with the 'T'. There was no Pack that would take me in. My life was over, no man would ever consider mating me now. "Home?"