Wolf's Den - A BBW Shifter Romance Novel (30 page)

“I might not say this right but I don’t subscribe to Violet’s view of the world. She wants to be some kind of benevolent dictator near as I can tell. She wants to control us and she claims to want to protect us but look at what that means. She brutalizes girls and she separates families. She’s a tyrant bent on shaping the world and the people in it to her will,” he began but Sprocket took over.

“Look at what she does to those people that get in her way or worse yet, what she does to those that she deems a necessary part of her plans. We fought to depose people like that, Amp and me. Violet seeks some kind of shifter utopia but she’s building it on a foundation of lies and pain. We all cherish our freedom and none of us would ever ask another to give up anything for our sake. Violet demands some give up everything so others, especially her, can enjoy it instead. I don’t want to live that way,” Sprocket said.

“But you didn’t have to come to my aid,” I replied. Murphy laughed.

“That’s the difference, Cassie. Violet would demand everyone around her sacrifice so she can have her way. But we would sacrifice everything to ensure others can live free,” he told me. I understood that, I suppose. I needed to hear it. I needed to see the group nod in agreement and they did.

“Thank you, all of you. I promise that tomorrow, I’ll do whatever I can to make this right. I know I didn’t start it but I think I need to finish it. How, I have no idea but I take heart in your support,” I said. That was all I had to offer. I had no idea how this might go but everyone here had pledged, not to me or to anyone else but to themselves, to do what they could to secure not only their own freedom but the liberty of those at Wolfsbane. The contrast between these friends and Violet couldn’t have been more stark.

Yeager and I didn’t run that night. Hardly anyone did. I laid in his arms in the motorhome. Edie and Agnes shared the rickety and lumpy sofa that folded out into a bed. They thought they were being quiet but Yeager and I heard them clearly as they made love. When we heard Agnes growl and Edie giggle, I turned and smiled at Yeager. He wore a goofy smile that told me he was both aroused and a bit uncomfortable listening to the girls just on the other side of the accordion door.

“You could sneak a peek,” I suggested playfully and very quietly.

“You’re bad,” was all Yeager said. I giggled softly. I rather enjoyed the sounds. Life would go on no matter what and I took some comfort in that. When I died, whether tomorrow or fifty years from now, others would live, love and laugh beyond me just like my life went on after my mom passed. I didn’t want to die but if my sacrifice could ensure others could live their lives peacefully, it would be worth it. I guess I understood what Amp and Sprocket had said and why they went off to war.

When I fell asleep, blanketed in a strange peace, Edie and Agnes were still at it. They had ceased to be quiet, their excitement apparently getting the best of them. Even Yeager, however, gave into his weariness. We woke in the early morning hours and I found Edie and Agnes naked in one another’s arms, the blankets barely covering them. I covered them before making coffee and breakfast. As I fried bacon and scrambled eggs, Edie sat up.

“Smells good,” she observed.

“I bet. Sounded like you worked up quite and appetite last night,” I remarked.

“What do you...Oh, could you hear that?” Edie replied sheepishly.

“At first just barely but after a while...,” I told her leaving my thought unsaid. Edie blushed.

“Sorry,” she said. I laughed softly.

“Actually, it was nice. I was glad to hear that even with all of this doom and gloom, there is still passion and love in the world,” I told her. Edie looked back over her shoulder and found Agnes was still asleep. Then she looked to see if Yeager was out of earshot. He was still in the bedroom dressing.

“Is it weird that I find her tail sexy?” Edie asked me in barely a whisper. I laughed and suddenly my tail pushed my sleep shirt up. I wagged it for effect.

“Yeager loves mine,” I told her. Edie blushed a deeper shade of red but she laughed.

“That is so awesome,” she told me. We laughed together and it felt good.

“What’s so funny?” Yeager asked as he entered and saw my tail. “Whoa!” he exclaimed.

“Girl stuff,” I replied. I turned to look at Edie and found Agnes sitting up behind her, both girls holding the blankets over their naked bodies.

“Yours is fluffier than mine,” Agnes remarked and wagged her own tail. Yeager gasped and we all laughed at him.

“I knew you liked my tail but I had no idea you were a tail man,” I joked. Yeager just shook his head. Edie turned and squealed when she saw her mate’s tail. Agnes and I laughed at her surprise.

“OK, that’s enough of that,” Yeager remarked but with a smile.

“Aww!” Agnes and I complained in unison. Despite what we faced that morning, it was nice to laugh and have a bit of fun. “Breakfast is just about ready anyway,” I told everyone. Agnes rolled out of bed, and slipped into her own long t-shirt and tossed Edie hers. The young black shifter helped me serve while Edie poured coffee. We all turned to see Yeager at the small dinette wagging his own tail. We all shared one last laugh before we ate.

After breakfast, however, it was all business. We prepared to move out and our mood changed quickly. Very few words were spoken as we went about our work. The weight of the day’s coming events was settling upon us. An hour later, we were on the road to meet our destiny. I for one was happy to be moving. No more waiting, no more contemplation. Soon, I would meet my fate and I looked forward to doing so, if not the potential consequences.

The sky grew lighter, shades of purple, pink and red coloring the eastern sky. The light revealed a landscape I’d seen before, the road to Wolfsbane Ranch. Yeager drove the motorhome, his bike secured to the rear, as Edie, Agnes and I rode along. Murphy rode before us on his bike followed by the two Jeeps of Amp and Sprocket. The others rode behind us. I remembered the morning I saw this convoy approach to secure my escape and I took heart in the memory of how that made me feel.

But before I was ready, as if I could ever be ready for what was about to happen, the gate with the metal wolf’s head appeared and the large main lodge behind it. I could probably never be fully prepared but as the moment approached, I felt my chest grow tight. Yeager sensed my trepidation and reached over to take my hand. He didn’t say a word and he didn’t have to. I took all the strength I could from his touch but nothing would make this go away. This was happening and I felt now as if I was no longer in control. Events would unfold as they would and all I could do now was react.

However, we found the Ranch quiet and still as we approached. Several gunmen watched us coming from the covered porch, one disappearing inside as we stopped short of the circular drive. “Uh, I was expecting...something,” I remarked.

“Yeah. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?” Yeager wondered.

“I suppose we won’t find out sitting in here,” I replied and stood to exit the motorhome. I stepped outside, the others following me. The rest of our band climbed from bikes, trucks and Jeeps and stood ready to see what might happen. As we steeled ourselves against what might come to pass, Lady Violet and several wolves came from the house as more gunmen appeared but they made no move to attack us. I glanced at Yeager and then Edie and Agnes before walking to meet Violet at the center of the circular drive. Some of our group had shifted into their wolf forms and accompanied me to offset Violet’s wolf protectors.

“Ah, the upstart and her rabble return. How nice,” Violet said dismissively.

“And I can’t get enough of your sarcasm, Lady Violet,” I shot back.

“I expect you’ve come to kill me and take over,” Violet replied, ignoring my jab.

“You’re half right,” I assured her.

“Yes, you’re such an idealistic sort,” Violet observed and then turned to her gunmen. “Bring her!” she ordered. I looked towards the big house and saw Ginnie led from inside by two men. She appeared to have been beaten, her clothes in tatters. I felt my optimism drain away. I closed my eyes and fought the urge to blame myself. The gunmen marched her down next to Violet and forced her to kneel. She looked up at me, regret and sorrow in her eyes.

“You should learn to clean up your messes, child. It was simple to follow your scent to her cabin after we found the dead guards. Gerard was a good man, a loyal man. More than I can say for this mongrel. Kill her!” Violet ordered. Amp pushed past me, his rifle at the ready. I wondered what he was doing acting so rashly but a moment later, I knew Ginnie was the one he scented. Ginnie was his mate.

“She dies, you die!” he growled at Violet. The other gunmen reacted but Violet stayed them. Amp was willing to die and Violet sensed that. She wasn’t willing to kill Ginnie at her own expense.

“No matter. Let the girl go. She never told anyone of your plans. All of these wolves remain loyal to me,” Violet announced and waved her hand. The gunmen let Ginnie go. Amp grabbed her and pulled her away protectively. But he stopped cold as we all watched. Wolves, a hundred or more, appeared along the ridge behind the old lodge.

Along with the two dozen or so human gunmen, we were outnumbered four or five to one. This had become a death trap for us. “I’m sorry, Cassie. They came for me, made me talk,” Ginnie told me as she began to cry.

“It’s OK,” I lied. I didn’t hold it against her but this was not OK. My worst fears were about to come true.

“You never had a chance, child. These men and wolves are loyal to me. I rule them and they do my bidding. One way or another, I keep them in line. Your plan was clever but not well executed. I expected as much when I sent Phillip to you. I knew you’d take the bait because you don’t have it in you to do what’s necessary to win. Only I can protect our kind and I won’t let you get in the way,” Violet told me.

“You sent Phillip?” I asked incredulously.

“I allowed him to go. He was weak too. He served his purpose and I’ll miss his company but he had become expendable. War is hell, is it not?” she replied. I looked at Yeager and saw my own disgust reflected in his eyes.

“He loved you,” I told her.

“That, child, was his first mistake. But he did as I expected and so did you. Now, you and your pitiful band of rogues are mine. I would ask if any would care to join us here but I know the answer. I can see the zeal in their eyes. They cling to some antiquated idea of self-reliance and freedom. This world wants none of us and without a leader such as me, one willing sacrifice to secure our safety, we will all perish. Honestly, I’ll be doing you a favor by killing you and your friends. You just don’t fit in anymore,” Violet said. She was beginning to irritate me.

“You know he lied. There is no essence. Phillip lied to keep you happy,” I told her. Violet didn’t look surprised.

“Does it matter? These wolves can destroy humans by the thousands. As others of our kind witness our victories, they will come to me, pledge their lives to me. I don’t need the world. Just a corner free of humanity that we can defend. For the time being anyway. I’m patient and a new order where our kind rule over humans will be my legacy,” she said.

“You’re insane. They won’t let you do that. We won’t let you do that,” I replied.

“You are in no position to challenge me,” Violet told me. Challenge her! Suddenly I saw a way out. Why hadn’t I seen it before? This wasn’t about armies and battles. That’s not how wolves settled things. Now I knew how to beat this woman and save my friends along with her captives. I’d been approaching this problem as a woman. I needed to approach it like a wolf.

“But I am, Violet. I challenge you and your dominance. I’m the alpha, not you. Fight me. Prove your dominance or are you afraid?” I said loudly enough so those around us could hear. Violet reacted viscerally to that. The wolves that protected her looked at Violet and waited. I’d spoken to their instincts and to hers. She claimed I was in no position to challenge her but she was wrong. Now she was in no position to decline.

“You have no right,” she said but her voice suddenly had no power in it.

“I have every right. Hear me!” I shouted to those that could hear, likely all of the wolves with their keen senses. “I challenge The Lady to single combat. I challenge her dominance before all of you. It is my right as a shifter, as a wolf,” I yelled. The wolves along the ridge were suddenly unsure.