The Power Of The Bite (13 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Dax threw the last box into the back of the truck and closed the big double doors, locking the contents inside. He wandered around to the driver’s side of the cab and smiled at Warwick, one of the local pack members and owner of his own small transport company. Warwick was a quiet gentle wolf, but a very hard worker.

“That’s the last of it, thanks, Warwick. Try not to let it all get lost on the way to the storage complex.” Dax was joking, but he could have sworn that Warwick looked uncomfortable for a moment. Damn, he hoped his suggestion of using the pack run business to shift Zane’s furniture into storage wasn’t a bad idea.

“The stuff will be all right, won’t it?” He said inflicting a bit of his Alpha power into his voice. “You weren’t planning on having an accident on the way there were you?”

“No Mr. Portrain,” Warwick said hastily. “Nothing like that. I’m just, I guess I’m a bit edgy heading over to the south side of town now it’s in vampire territory.”

“Warwick, I know you used to make that trip at least five times a week. Why should things be any different simply because we’ve all now learned that the pack only runs half the town, instead of all of it? The vamps are good guys and they really want to smarten up the south and west sides of town. Isn’t that a positive for anybody, pack or not?”

“I guess so Mr. Portrain.” Warwick didn’t look so sure about it though. “It’s just, there’s a lot of rumors going round the pack, you know?” Unfortunately Dax did know. The pack was a hot bed of gossip at the best of times, most of it made-up rubbish, but still it had been known to get out of hand in the past.

“Like what? Maybe I can help,” he said gently. Perhaps he could straighten out the Portrain pack one wolf at a time.

Warwick looked around nervously as though worried about being overheard. “They say,” he whispered, “that your mate has you in some sort of trance, and that he mind wipes you so that you don’t know about the orgies and the killings that vamps do every night when they have to feed.”

“Warwick, you should know better than to believe all that nonsense. Do I look like I’m in some sort of trance to you?”

Warwick looked at him, and Dax opened his eyes wide, letting the man stare at him even though his wolf riled at the obvious challenge. Fortunately Warwick dropped his eyes just as quickly. “No, Mr. Portrain. But everyone knows that when a vampire feeds that they just don’t stop. They go into these blood rages and they just keep sucking and sucking and they don’t stop until their victim is dead. The only reason no one hears about it is because your mate’s the detective in town and is covering up the murders, but everyone knows about it.” Warwick’s voice had dropped so low that Dax could barely hear him, but what he did hear had him rolling around in laughter. Warwick looked at him as though he’d gone insane.

“Mr. Portrain, please, I don’t understand why you think this is funny. Half the pack is terrified of going anywhere near town anymore.”

“Then they’re letting stupid fears and old wives tales blind them to the truth,” Dax said, pulling himself together. “My mate feeds off of me every day – do I look dead to you? No, clearly not. The other six vampires in the Portrain coven are mated pairs, just like me and Zane. They only feed off of each other. A mated vampire is not capable of feeding from anyone else, it makes them sick.”

Warwick didn’t look like he believed a word Dax was saying, but Dax knew that the wolf wouldn’t smell any deceit on him. “But other vampires will come, now there’s a coven here. What if they’re not mated?” It seemed like Warwick was determined to find some credibility in the rumors running around the pack. Dax wondered why his father was letting such nonsense get about. Those types of rumors incited hatred and violence and a lot of innocent people could get hurt if things got out of hand.

“Then they will drink the blood that the coven gets in from the blood bank at the hospital, from a bag, not a human or a wolf shifter or any other kind of paranormal. Vampires are not murderers, they are not psychopaths and they are no more likely to kill someone than I am.”

Warwick looked down at his hands, a worried look on his face. “It’s what everyone’s saying, Mr. Portrain. The pack is running scared, they want to know why your father isn’t doing something about it. They want the pack to take back their territory.”

“Warwick, this territory belonged to the vampires well before wolf shifters came into town. It was only because the coven leader and the Alpha at the time were mates, that the pack was granted any territory at all. You don’t have to believe me, you can get in touch with our paranormal council yourself and ask them. Anyone has the right to talk to a council member if they have any concerns about their safety. The council is supportive of the vampires being here because they want to see more integration going on between species. They were thrilled when they heard I had mated Zane.”

“They were?” Warwick seemed really surprised at that one. “But Cole’s been saying that the council is trying to find out what magic was used to make you think you were true mates. That the council is furious at your vampire for pretending to claim you and pulling you away from the pack.”

Fucking Cole. Dax remembered he still had to return Seb’s call about the man – apparently the vampires had been doing some digging and they hadn’t come up with good news.

“Maybe the pack should start wondering how it is that Cole can keep spreading lies throughout the pack and to the Alpha. Usually a wolf shifter can smell deceit, but no one seems to notice when Cole is lying through his eye teeth. I’ve seen evidence of it myself, and I know he lied to my father. So maybe, instead of worrying about ancient folklore concerning vampires which isn’t even true, you should all be worrying about what Cole is up to, because believe me, that man doesn’t care about you or me, or anyone in the pack except himself.”

“He doesn’t seem to spend a lot of time with the Alpha anymore, but he is talking to everyone else.”

“Spreading lies,” Dax said firmly. “Honestly, even with Zane being a Detective, and he’s not working at the moment, don’t you think that humans would start to notice if their loved ones were going missing? Don’t you think they would be calling the news stations and the papers and trying to find people that they care about? Think about it Warwick, what Cole is spreading is nothing but malicious lies and stupidity. Nothing he is saying is true.”

“He’s very convincing,” Warwick said slowly, but Dax could see that some of what he’d said had gotten through to the wolf.

“I don’t know how he does it, Warwick, but I promise you I aim to find out. All of Coles’ lies are aimed at the vampires to be sure, and I will do all I can to protect my mate like any shifter should. But if he stirs up trouble for the pack, then everyone is in danger. The Council could get involved, the pack could even be disbanded if there is an outright attack on the vampire territory. Can’t you see how dangerous this whole situation is becoming, just because I claimed the man the Fates deemed to be perfect for me?”

Warwick thought for a moment and then he looked up at Dax, a look of determination on his face. “You’re right, Mr. Portrain and you won’t get any trouble from me or my family. What you’re saying makes a lot of sense and I believe you. You didn’t have to call me in for this job today, and yet you did, knowing I could do with the work. I won’t let you down and I promise, no accidents with your mate’s possessions.”

“Thank you, Warwick, and give my best to your parents and sister when you see them next.” Dax would have liked to say more, but he had a more pressing matter to attend to. It was Cole who was causing all the trouble and would likely cause more if left unchecked. Problem was, was Cole acting independently or in cahoots with his father? Thinking hard, Dax waved Warwick off, locked up Zane’s now empty house and got in his vehicle, heading for the club. Hopefully he would find his mate there.

/~/~/~/~/

Dax was feeling positively agitated by the time he got to the club. Being a Sunday, the place was closed during the day, not opening until dinner time. It was only one more day until the next full moon, and Dax was aware that the power of the evening goddess wasn’t helping his mood. As he parked his car and headed into the club, he wondered whether or not Zane would go for a run with him on the coven grounds. It wasn’t as though he would be welcome at the pack, although the urge to go there and have a serious talk to this father was growing by the minute. Surely his father wasn’t blind to what Cole was doing or how much danger the whole pack could be in, if the stupid man wasn’t stopped?

Dax walked through the club, not bothering to turn the lights on even though the place was quite dark inside. He had owned the club for years, it was his baby, and he could walk through it blindfolded if he had to. He strode through the tables, his footsteps sounding an eerie echo in the quietness of the empty room, heading out into the kitchen. His chef had ordered some meat from a new supplier, and he wanted to run his nose over it to ensure that it was fresh. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his chef, the man was a genius in the kitchen, but with the pack problems and Cole’s threats Dax wasn’t taking anything for granted.

Once he had determined for himself that the prime cuts of beef were exactly as ordered and that there was nothing wrong with any of it, Dax went through to the bar. He could have gone up to his apartment, but Zane had left him a text letting him know he was at the coven grounds with Broz and Van. Maybe he should head out there himself. Seb said he had more information for him on Cole’s background.

Dax snorted to himself as he poured himself a slug of scotch. He thought he knew everything there was to know about Cole’s background. The guy had been his best friend for more than twenty years. They’d grown up together for goodness sake. But apparently he wasn’t a very good judge of character, not if Cole’s latest threats were anything to go by.

“Hello Dax.” Fucking hell. The guy just didn’t know when to quit. Dax turned, the grip on his glass of scotch tightening.

“What the fuck do you want, Cole? I told you I didn’t want you anywhere near me or this club again.”

“And I know you don’t mean that, babe.” Cole came forward and in the lights above the bar, Dax noticed Cole was wearing what he used to call his “pulling clothes” even though it was only around midday. Jeans so tight they were almost painted on, an equally tight shirt with half the buttons undone. Cole’s big wolf belt buckle glinted off the reflected lights in the glassware, and Dax knew without looking down the man would be wearing cowboy boots. As if Cole had ever been near a horse in his life.

“I did mean it, every word, and I am deadly serious. You come one step closer to me and I’ll fucking shred you where you stand. You’ve never called me babe before and you have no right to do it now.”

Cole leaned over the wide bar, sticking out his ass as though he was offering Dax a treat. “We’ve been friends a long time, you can’t cut me out of your life now.”

“Friends don’t threaten each other. You threatened my mate, for fucks sake. What did you think I was going to do, slap you on the back and tell you not to worry about it?”

“You could slap me on my ass and I wouldn’t worry about that. In fact, I’m sure I’d like it,” Cole said as he wiggled said body part for emphasis. For fucks sake. Really? Cole was on a seduction binge?

“I don’t want you Cole. I’ve never wanted you that way. We were friends, nothing more and for the last fucking time, I’m already mated.”

“It’s the night of the full moon tomorrow, Dax.” Cole had apparently changed tact. “Won’t your wolf miss running with the pack through the trees under the moon.”

Dax stifled a sigh, because yes, he would miss it. But he knew what he’d have to give up by mating Zane and he didn’t regret it for an instance.

“I will be running,” he said instead. “On coven land. That’s the only thing that’ll be different.”

“It’s no fun without the pack.” Dax didn’t bother answering. Cole was right, there was nothing more exhilarating than running with other wolves under the night sky. The thrill of the hunt, the scent and sound of creatures just like him.

“I have my mate, and that means more to me than anything else.”

Cole shifted around on his feet, and then looked at Dax, his grin splitting his face right open. “What makes you think you’ll have your mate after the full moon? After all, spells have to wear off sometimes and then you’ll be ripe and ready to claim me.”

“You still believe, no matter what I tell you, that Zane tricked me into being his mate?” Dax didn’t need Cole to answer verbally, it was written all over his face. But the one thing that Cole had forgotten, in all of his rantings and ravings about how Zane had tricked him into thinking they were mates, was that the one thing Dax did have a knowledge about, was magic. He was fascinated by it and had read about it, talked to witches and magic users and even considered studying it at one point. Suddenly the Wolfsbane in his drink made a whole lot of sense.

In one quick movement, Dax jumped over the bar, landing next to his ex-friend. Cole clearly had a strong sense of self-preservation because he backed up almost immediately. Dax helped the process by poking Cole in the chest edging him towards the door.

“Even if you were right,” he snarled, poking Cole again, “and Zane found some nefarious way to convince me to be his mate, it wouldn’t make any difference.” He poked again and Cole kept shuffling backwards. “There is nothing, no magic or power on earth,” Dax kept going, his wolf demanding Cole get out of his club, “that can beat the power of love. The love from the Fates, the love of a mate. The love I have for Zane.”