Chapter 3.16 Rule #1

 

“It was so fucking awesome!! I was so strong. I took on two vampires. I don’t know what you were talking about earlier. Vampires are not ​that scary. Ryker was there too, but I was all like ​Who’s the fur coat now, bitch?!”

I was overly animated as I reenacted my night’s events for Bert. The sun was starting to rise over the mountains, and I had been up for almost 18 hours straight. I should have been tired as hell, but I couldn’t fall asleep now, even if I had wanted to. The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins. I was super pumped about what had just happened, and I was still feeling the effects of the full moon. I still had so much energy that I could have run a marathon. However, Bert was not amused.

“You shouldn’t mess with the vampires,” Bert reprimanded me now for the 100th time. “You humiliated them, and vampires don’t take that lightly. They will surely be seeking vengeance. That troubles me verily.”

Before I could think of something reassuring to say, I was interrupted by a very loud banging on my front door.

 

It was daylight outside, so I assumed that it wasn’t the vampires seeking revenge. However, a small large part of me was nervous to see who was at the door.

“Vampires can’t come in unless they are invited, right?” I asked Bert, making sure I had my vampire lore correct.

“Nope, that is just a myth.” Bert said in his​ I told you so tone. “And they don’t give a shit about garlic either.”

“What about a stake through the heart?”

“Umm duh, a stake through the heart will kill pretty much anything. You wouldn’t happen to have any just lying around the house, would you?”

 

Bert doesn’t breathe, but if he did he would be holding his breath right now.

Quietly as I could, I walked over to the front door to see who was there. Relief immediately swept over me when I saw who was at the door.

“It’s just Ryker,” I called to Bert to reassure him everything is alright. “He’s probably here to congratulate me on my awesomeness last night. Maybe even to tell me that I am the new Alpha. That wouldn’t surprise me.”

I cracked open the door, ready share in my awe-inspiring performance of my first full moon. But as soon as Ryker could get his hand through, he swung the door open and pushed me up against the kitchen counter. All in one quick motion.

“You arrogant little shit,” Ryker shouted at me, his face inches from mine. “What is your major malfunction?”

I tried to talk. I tried to move. I tried to catch my breath. But I couldn’t do any of that. Ryker was too strong. I was using all of my strength to try to fight him, but it was no competition. He had me up pinned against the counter, and it looked like he wasn’t even trying.

“Do you have any idea what you have done?” Ryker demanded.

 

“What are you talking about?” I was truly flabbergasted at Ryker’s actions. “I was awesome last night. If anything it is ​you who should be apologizing to ​me for leaving me after everyone shifted.”

That comment did not sit well with the Alpha. For a second I thought that he was going to hit me. He almost did. But instead he flung me from against the counter and on to one of my dining chairs. I was free to get up, but I dare not move a muscle. Ryker was tossing me around the room like I was an old rag doll. And he wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

“You are an obnoxious, arrogant son of a bitch. You know that?! No one left you. Camilla had eyes on you the entire time. Rule #1 is: never leave a member of your pack behind. But you wouldn’t know anything about that would you; caring about something other than yourself? Duty is a 4-letter word to you isn’t it?”

I didn’t know how to respond. So, I just sat in silence. Too terrified to even blink.

“Camilla was watching you as you acted like a complete jackass. I ordered you to stay south of the river, but you couldn’t be bothered to listen. I don’t owe you any sort of explanation, but since you have your head so far up your ass I will have to spell things out for you. The vampires have all of the power! You are a guppy in a giant shark tank, and if you don’t wise up you are going to be eaten alive my friend. And of course you couldn’t piss off just any vampire. No, you had to get into it with the MOST POWERFUL vampires in all of Moonlight Falls!”

 

There was more that Ryker wanted to say to me. He was just getting started in on my verbal onslaught, but he was interrupted. Once again there was a loud knock on my door.

Who the fuck is it this time?

“Open this door,” demanded a deep, gruff voice. “Open up in the name of your Supreme Town Commander, Grendel Saavedra and his son Alcander; The Chief Tenet Enforcer.”

Ryker swore to himself, but loud enough for me to hear him say, fuck me.

“Open the door this instance.” the gruff voice grew louder and more impatient. “I will not ask again!”

Ryker went to open the door, while I followed close behind him. Before he opened it Ryker whispered, “Don’t say a word. Let me do all of the talking. And don’t make any sudden movements either. Alcander is faster than a rattlesnake, and his magic is ten times more deadly.”

 

“Nice to see you today, Alcander. What brings you by on this lovely morning?” Ryker’s fake greeting was overflowing with sarcasm. It took all of my willpower not to laugh.

“What are ​you doing here?” Alcander demanded. He was visibly enraged by the fact that Ryker was at my door. And Ryker’s disrespect only made Alcander more furious.

What I really want to know is what any of you are doing here? This is my fucking house after all. Or did everyone suddenly forget that?!?!

“Not that it is any of your business, but if you must know: I am here visiting a member of my pack.” As Ryker spoke he made his way past where Alcander was standing and down to the middle of my front yard.  At the same time, I made sure that I had him as a buffer between myself and Alcander.

I couldn’t help but notice that Ryker was talking louder than normal. Loud enough for more than just myself and Alcander to hear. Whatever was about to go down, Ryker wanted to ensure that the entire neighborhood was outside to witness it.

“That fleabag of yours violated the law last night,” Alcander pointed his finger in my direction. “Therefore, he must suffer the consequences!”

 

I thought that I was done for. I assumed that Ryker would have given me up to Alcander without hesitation. After all, he had just spent the better part of the morning yelling at me and telling me what a worthless piece of shit I am. Yet, Ryker put his arm in front of me to block me from going anywhere.

“That land belonged to the Beaumont Pack. It had been that way for generations,” Ryker stated. “Your father had no right to hand that land over to ​anyone, especially not to Osiris.”

To my surprise Alcander didn’t get mad. No, instead he actually smiled at us.

And then everything went black.

 

Ryker wasn’t kidding when he said that Alcander was faster than a rattlesnake. With one flick of his wrist Alcander had Ryker on the ground clutching his heart. With the same motion Alcander also had me gasping for air as if my lungs were being crushed by a 20 ton weight.

I thought that the worst pain I would ever experience was when Becca cursed me. But that pain was only a slight tickle compared to how helpless I felt under Alcander’s magic. And the pain only became more and more intense with every breath I tried to take. My muscles burned as they craved for oxygen. Blood was rushing from my head, I was seeing stars, and all I could hear was my rapid heartbeat pounding in my ears.

Then as quickly as it started, the pain suddenly stopped.

 

It took me a few moments to regain my proper sense of sight as well as my hearing. My legs were too weak to be able to stand on my own, so I had to lean on Ryker for support. Who, by the way, looked like he had made a full recovery. Almost as if Alcander’s magic didn’t even phase him. As much as I hate to admit it, the Alpha had me impressed.

When I came to I noticed that a small crowd had gathered across the street. If Ryker wanted the town’s attention, then he succeeded (but notice how none of them actually stopped to help us). I saw Renatta looking terrified, while Flint tried to comfort her. Camilla was with another female werewolf. Two other members of our pack were holding that other female, while Camilla was trying to care for two hysterically crying children. There were several others that I didn’t recognize, and didn’t bother to care about. Then there was Mira running over to us with a pleading look in her rainbow-colored eyes.

 

“I must say, you are looking positively exquisite Mira,” Alcander tried to hold her hand, but she quickly pulled it away. “I see that last night’s full moon did wonders for your beauty.”

Whatever Alcander was selling Mira wasn’t buying. That didn’t stop him from trying to charm her with empty flattery though. As he talked Alcander flexed his steroid induced biceps. He was laying it on thick; as thick as molasses in the middle of winter.

“What is going on here?” Mira asked as she glanced over at Ryker and I.

“I was just dealing with some disrespectful hooligans. I am the Chief Tenet Enforcer after all,” Alcander flexed his biceps while still trying to work his charm, and still with no success, “there is nothing here to worry your pretty little empty head about. Why don’t you run home and bake me some of those famous Crumplebottom blueberry tarts.”

 

Whatever Alcander said seemed to hit a nerve for Mira. She was mad, madder than I had ever seen her. Madder than I thought someone who is always so cheery could be. Through clenched teeth she said, “You’ve made your point, and now I think that it is time for you to leave.”

“I’ll go,” Alcander conceded, but not before trying to kiss Mira’s hand one more time. “Just keep that mangy mutt away from me. And remember what I said before Mira. My offer is still open– for now.”

 

“Linc, are you okay?” Mira asked me once Alcander had left.

By that time I was able to stand on my own. And I was cursing myself for ever getting mixed up in this whole stupid shitty mess. I cursed Alcander for his witchcraft. I cursed Ryker for making me a part of his stupid pack. I cursed Camilla for introducing me to Ryker in the first place. And I cursed the day I said yes to Mira and her stupid friendship. I don’t need these assholes in my life. I am done with them. All of them!!

“I want everyone off of my lawn.” I growled. “Now!”

Mira didn’t say another word. She just smiled her stupid meek smile at me and walked home. I could see that Ryker wanted to say something to me, but for whatever reason he declined to comment. However, before everyone goes there is still one thing that I need to know.

“Why did you stand up for me?” I asked Ryker’s back as he was walking away. “Why didn’t you just give me up when Alcander demanded it?”

Ryker turned around and said, “I told you, you never abandon your pack.”

 

Side Note:  You may have noticed that Alcander looks a bit different from the way he did when I first did my character introduction special. There is a reason for that.  During my massive CC Hunt I somehow downloaded a corrupt file.  Unfortunately, since I had downloaded so much all at once there was no way for me to see which one of was bad one.

I basically started from scratch, putting in a few CC items at a time.  At the same time, I continued to look for new CC, just to use as backup.  The look I was going for can be described as a  “Toxic Masculine Douche Bag”.  And I really think that I achieved that here.   And don’t worry, we will get to learn more about Alcander in my next post.

And before I go I have to once again say a huge THANK YOU to Jowita, who created the kissing bicep pose for me.  You can find the pose here, along with the other poses she was so nice to create for me.