Behind The Alpha Series Book 6 Oliver

OLIVER

The discovery of the body in my pack has me riled inside.

We've had death here. We’re no stranger to someone flipping out and offing someone, but this turned my stomach.

I stand at the scene of a completely eviscerated wolf. I get a sick feeling, not physically sick, in my chest.

The Enforcers take all the evidence and I look at the pieces. I see a piece of fur on the ground. I squat down and pick it up by the fur. Resting my arms on my knees, I rub the gore off it and try to see the color. I can’t tell with this piece. I cup it in my hands and bring it to my nose. I take a small sniff and yank it back.

It's not her.

I toss it and stand. This is a rogue, but not the one I’m after. What was this one doing in the city? Who tore it apart?

“We’re there any reports?” I ask an Enforcer.

He nods. “Noise complaints. No one reported an attack.”

So whoever killed this guy, walked away without looking back. I wonder if my little rogue got into a little trouble. It looks like it.

“Let me know who this guy is.” I say as I wipe my hands off with a handkerchief. I throw it in the dumpster and walk away.

So she’s my prime suspect for the three outside. I think she got made. She’s hiding here and another rogue found her out. If she’s going to kill this easily, I need to get her off the streets. Time to up the hunt.

****

I walk into Eden’s Hell and the smell of what I’ve now determined to be spicy flowers hit my nose. Behind my serious face, a smile grows when I see her behind the bar. She’s stressed and wipes her forehead between drinks.

I backed off a little bit, seeing her every three days or so. I don’t want to seem creepy. Besides, the rogue is my focus. I’ve watched the building. Waited for her come out, and have yet to see her escape it. I don’t know how she’s getting out, but she does and I have to try catching her in the trees.

I've pointed out that she’s fast, but I didn’t realize how fast and crafty she is. I’ve tried to dart her several times and keep fucking missing. I've tried to run her down, she’s slippery and smart. I swear, I’m about to go ballistic on her ass.

I need to relax before I lose my shit, so I’ll sit and relax with Jane for a bit before I meet Deacon. He’s been wanting to find the reason for the rogue menace at his pack and he just had a three story building disappear. The whole damn building. Don’t ask me, I’m just glad that weird shit doesn’t happen to me. Normal I can barely handle. If I had to face half the shit the other have, I’d kill everything.

I sit down and she meets me as I get comfortable. I think she’s starting to warm up to me. We say very little to each other, but we seem to understand each other. I feel like we both come from some form of broken life. She won’t tell me about her life and that does peak my interest. I also haven’t told her that we have no record of her anywhere.

This situation is usually handled with a lot of bloodshed by me, but Jane keeps to herself, doesn’t cause problems so, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I can add her later when she’s ready. I really want her to trust me. I feel like she’s trying to build a new life like her old life wasn’t good. I’ll respect that. Fuck, the thought’s run through my mind more than a few times.

I lean on the bar and tip my beer back.

She stands in front of me. “You don’t have better to do?”

I place the bottle down and run my fingers up and down in the condensation. “I do…but I’d rather be here.”

She twists her lips. “Why?”

“I’m not sure yet.” I lift my eye to her.

She crosses her arms. “You don’t seem confused.”

“I’m not. You are.” I point to her.

“No. I’m not. I know I’m not.” She bites her lip and looks down the bar.

I fold my arms. “I think you are. You know what you want and you’re confused about asking for it. You’re scared.”

She scowls. “I’m not scared.”

I give a little smile. “It’s OK to be scared. It’s what you do with that fear that matters. I can see you are strong. Be proud that your fear fuels that. If you can master that, all your fear won’t be scary anymore.”

“All of it?” She asks. She folds her arms on bar.

I look at the lightly tanned skin of her hand. I slowly reach out and run my forefinger around the top of her hand. My hand looks almost gigantic compared to hers. I love that. I slightly wince my eyes as I get this sharp, warmth coming from her. It kind of waves up my arm as I draw small circles. My dick twitches in my track pants. “I can help you.” My eyes lock with her as I trace around her skin.

She gets the tiniest of smiles and the tops of her cheeks turn a faint pink.

Her smile suddenly fades and she pulls back. “I have to work.” She says quietly and turns away.

I furrow my brow. It looked like someone told her something. She was on the hook. I almost had her, but something spooked her.

I swig my beer as I watch her float up and down the bar. It’s so curious. One minute, there’s a tough bitch that will tell you off in a second, the second, a scared little girl begging for help. I’m trying to find the middle ground and can’t seem to pin it down. You don’t know what you’ll get. Each time I come in here, I have to test the waters.

Paulie tells her she can go and she grabs her jacket and her bag. I sit up, expecting her to walk out the front door, but instead she dipped out the back door. Clearly avoiding me.

I gotta know what she’s hiding in there.

I toss a 20 on the bar and leave. I walk around the bar and I don’t see her. I sniff the air and don’t smell her, but the earthy spice smell is back. I look to the trees.

Following the scent, I stop at the treeline. There’s tracks running into the woods. Curious.

I head over to the building and sniff around. Good, she’s in there.

I jump back in my Hummer and drive home to get the key to the place.

I head back and Deacons waiting.

I get out and he meets me.

“Dea.” I toss my cigar to the road.

“Ollie.” I side clap him and we turn to the building.

“Glad you found the building.” I say as I pull out a set of keys. They found the 3 story building in some pissant town on the east coast. Again, keep that magic shit away from me.

“I don’t give a shit about the building, I want what’s inside it.” He eyes me and looks clearly stressed.

“The bird.” I arch a brow.

“Uh…yeah…Jenny.” He meets my eyes and I hear something around the side of the building. She better not be leaving.

I look down the side of the building. “Jenny. Sweet. Sounds like fun to break.” It’s always the nice ones that turn into brats then you have to set them straight. Those are my favorite.

“No. I don’t break.” He scowls.

I smirk. “Too bad. It’s even more fun piecing them back together.”

Also true, you can turn a brat into a good girl, but then it’s fun to push her buttons again to turn her bratty. I’m a sick bastard, but I know what I like.

“OK.” He scratches his temple. “Oliver, you called me. What am I doing here?”

“I think I have answers for you.” I point to the door. “In there.”

“Alright.”

“Follow me and be…quiet.” I warn.

I unlock the door and open it. The earthy spice wraps around my head like a cloud. I feel almost lightheaded. I don’t want to puke, but I want to pass out, it’s that strong.

I follow it through the building and I start to heat up. I unbutton my shirt as I walk.

The place is dark. Some light filters in through broken windows. The inner walls have body sized holes and doors are either broken or missing. The floor is covered in wall debris and garbage.

The smell fades a bit as I pass a hall. I stop and lower my head. My nostril twitches and I walk down the hall. She was down here. I peer into offices and see nothing. I decide to go back and pick up the scent again.

Deacons been pretty vocal on how he feels about this girl. I find it curious. What makes a guy go to this length for a bird?

“This girl. She pretty?” I mumble as we walk.

“Yeah.” He answers.

“Special?” I glance over my shoulder.

“So special. I mean, I’ve never met anyone…”

I hear faint pants and the spice gets stronger. My heart races and I feel a wave of heat coat my skin.

Got you, dirty bird.

“Shut up!” I slam my palm over his mouth. He didn’t like it, but I don’t need his gushing scaring her off.

With a finger to my lips, I turn to a door ahead of us. The walls between the hallway and the room on the other side are broken. I see a shadow and her scent guides me in.

“I spotted her hanging around a few weeks ago. I’ve been trying to catch her, but she’s a smart little tramp.” I take my hand off his mouth.

“Ollie, I don’t think we should…” This guy I swear.

“Shut the fuck up!” I growl with a glare.

More panting and my eyes turn to the door. “I know you’re here.” I call out. I lace my words with a toughness that shows the little bird I mean business. Her scent fills my chest and I can’t get over it. “I just want to play a little.”

We walk into a storage area with tall glass division walls. Most of them are broken.

There’s very little light coming in from the upper windows, but wolf vision compensates.

“Come out. I won’t bite…much.” I smirk as I float my eyes around the room.

I lick my lips and take off my shirt. I toss it to the side and flex my chest as I walk.

A fast paced pant crosses the room. My head whips in the direction. My wolf growls as both a caution and interest. I flex my fists readying myself for round two.

This is the last fight. She’s going down today.

I step cautiously in the direction of the scent. I lead Deacon to the last glass wall. It’s hard not to smile when I see her. Finally, I have her cornered.

“Oliver, man…”

I spin around. “If you don’t shut your fucking mouth, I’ll chop you into little pieces and feed you to the sick mutt.” I tower over him and he shrinks.

“Whatever you want.”

I flare my nostrils. “Thanks.”

The glass wall has a head sized hole in it.

I lean down and peer into the hole. “There you are.” I slightly growl. I let Deacon have a look then shove him back.

I take this opportunity to really appreciate her before I kick her ass. “My, my, my…You’re a pretty bitch, aren’t you?” I drawl.

“Are you ok?” I turn to Deacon and he’s looking at me like I have a screw loose.

I scowl. “I’m fine.” I turn back to the hole “OK, baby. Here’s how things are going down. I give you three seconds to come out here and let daddy see you better or…I go in there and make you wish you made the first choice.”

I take a few steps back, Deacon does the same.

“One…”

I look around the floor then see what could show her I’m not playing.

I roll my eye to the wall. “Two…”

She growls low and I feel it in my chest. Yeah, baby. That’s it. Get good and mad.

“Ollie…” Deacon whispers.

“THREE!”

I barely get the word out before I snatch a cinderblock off the floor and throw it like a discus at the glass wall. It hits and the glass shatters. I shield my eyes enough to see her fly through the falling shards, jaws open and roaring a growl.

“OLIVER!”

I brace myself for the hit and catch her. We fall back through the glass wall behind us and I land on my back. I roll back, kick her stomach and she flies into a third glass wall. She lands on a concrete wall as I jump to my feet.

I felt a spider web of pain in my side. I look down to see a chunk of glass stuck in me. I grab it and yank it out. I eye her as I throw it on the ground.

I watch her struggle to her feet.

“You tried, baby. Now, let daddy show you how it goes.” I snarl and run at her.

Her wolf jumps with teeth bared. I jump up in the air and land a fist to her head. She yelps loud and slams into the concrete.

I land on my feet and walk around like a prize fighter. I wipe my lip and stare at her, whining as she struggles.

“Oliver…” Deacon says.

I hold a finger up and square myself to this sexy bitch.

“Get up.” I growl.

The wolf shakes her head as she tries to stand. I rung her bell good.

“Come on. I know you want me. Get…up!” I stand straight and pace as I dish my order.

She claims some strength and stands.

“That’s a girl.” I crouch with a smirk. I’m really starting to like these interactions with her.

“You can call your wolf…” Deacon suggests.

I shake my head. “Wolves don’t teach lessons. This needs a man’s touch. Doesn’t it, baby?”

I see her red eye focus on me. Yeah, you like this just as much as I do.

I brace myself and egg her on. “Come at me. Show daddy what you got.”

She lowers her head and snarls a growl. She barks as she runs and jumps at me.

I grab her tail and scuff, spin around while lifting her over my head and I slam her onto to floor.

She kicks her legs at me as she yelps and screams, trying to get away. That fucking hurt.

I smirk and crack my knuckles. Time to really scare the shit out of her.

With a deep dark growl, I ball a fist, jump up, raising my arm in the air and collect every ounce of my power into this punch.

“NO!” Deacon grabs her fur and I slam my fist into the concrete floor. The floor cracks under it.

The rogue plants her feet on his chest and pushes him over. She scrambles to her feet and runs for hole.

Fuck!!

I glare at Deacon and run after her.

I get into the hallway and stop. My heart leaps into my throat. She shifted to open the door. Just as she was leaving, I see a flash of black with red tips. The smell of flower spice hits my nose.

“No.” I whisper. The door starts to close and I run for it.

I hit the parking lot and look around.

“JANE!!!” I call out.

“Where is it?” Deacon pants.

I tick my jaw, turn and wrap my fingers around his throat. I pin his back to the door.

He struggles as I lift him off his feet and glare into his eye. I apply more pressure as he tries to punch my arm off.

“I should kill you.” I growl. I'm not pissed at him, I’m pissed at myself for being fucking played. Since I don’t do self punishment, Deacon’s a fine choice.

“Oli…” He chokes.

With an intense dark growl, I drops him and walk to the parking lot.

“I…couldn’t let…you kill…” He chokes.

“I wasn’t going to kill her.” I put my hands on my hips. I look out to the area around the place. I track her scent. I got it.

“Sure as hell looked like it.” He says.

I scrub my face. “You know why rogues are so hard to kill?” I turn and cross my arms.

“They’re sick?” He answers.

“That’s right. The rogue sickness gives them more stamina, more strength and twice the recovery of a normal shifter. If they weren’t so nuts, they’d make good soldiers.” I walk up to him and look into his eyes. “These new rogues. Make the old ones look like pups. What you saw in there…an act.” I raise my chin.

I got played fucking good.

He cinches his brow. “What?”

“An…act…dramatics to get me let her go and you fucking fell for it.” I arch a brow.

“Ollie. Rogues don’t…”

“Don’t act…I know…From this day forward, toss everything you think you know.” I lean to him. “This is a whole new ball game and we’re fucking losing. There’s no room for pussies.”

“Thanks for the help. Have a nice drive back.” I shift and run toward the scent. I’m tracking this bitch till the end of fucking time if I have to. If only to confirm it because I still don’t fucking believe it.

My wolf is running a charge through the trees. This is all fucking different now.

I see a flash of tricolor fur and take off.

Bitch!

I command as much power my wolf can put out. I fuel him with my rage, disappointment and fear.

He barks a growl as I close the gap on her.

Once he was close enough, he leaps into the air and lands on her back.

He grabs her scruff and viciously shakes her, letting out all his frustrations. She screams and cries as her body thrashes. Dust and dirt flies around us as our bodies blur in his shaking.

He stops with a dark growl. Holding onto to her scuff, he straddles her back and lays down. He applies all his weight on her. Her earthy spice surrounds him. She whines under his chest. He pushes on her and squeezes his legs. He’s ordering her to shift and she will comply.

She growls one last desperate talk back and his eyes glow gold. He gives a really hard push on her, making her yelp again.

I don’t know who shifted first, but the wind blew and I was holding her hair. I saw her face and let go.

I stumble back on my ass as she slowly gets to her knees and falls to her ass. She's panting hard and her nape’s bleeding.

My face softens for a minute then twists in anger.

I seethe and get to my feet. I take big, furious steps to her, grab her throat and lift her to my face.

My eyes glow gold as hers turn to slits and I glare into them. She chokes and holds my arm as her feet dangle.

My lip curls and my rage boils over. “EXPLAIN RIGHT…FUCKING…NOW!!”

My voice booms out all over the forest as I shake her with every word.