Page 58 of Forced Bonds

Now there was utter silence. I didn’t care. I kept going. “The book is gone and now the most powerful vampires have it. There should be no more fights coming your way, and I’m leaving.”

The murmurings started, most sounding truly surprised I was leaving them, likely not knowing if I meant it permanently or like a happy little vacation. So, I figured I would speak plainly. “I’m resigning as your alpha. I want nothing to do with this town ever again. I never wanted to be alpha in the first place, and I’ve spent the entire time fighting witches and rogues, battling desperate mothers who wanted me to mate with their daughters. Then I had to fight for my mates’ right to stand beside me. I’m done. I hope whoever you choose will lead you better. My mates and I will pack up our stuff and leave now.”

I turned and went into the office. Sal and Benji right behind me. It didn’t take long after the door had closed behind us that a knock sounded.

“Come in,” I called, expecting either Juniper or Freddy. It was Freddy.

“You’re seriously leaving?” he asked, closing the door behind him and leaning against it. I’d felt him when I made the summoning, so I knew he was alive. Seeing him walking around without even an ounce of pain was nice. I liked Freddy, when he wasn’t winking or smiling at Benji, of course.

“We are,” I confirmed. “You should step in as alpha. You’d be good at it.”

He smiled shyly at that. “You really think so?”

I nodded. “Takes a bit of getting used to with the whole pack mentality taking over, plus the summonings. But I think you’d be able to handle it better than I ever did.”

“That wasn’t why I came in here, but thanks.”

“Why did you come?” I asked.

“Because I wanted to say goodbye,” he shrugged, looking much younger than he was at that moment.

Benji stepped forward. “I’m glad you came in. I don’t remember what happened when I was taken, and have only heard a little about it, but I know you tried to defend me, so thank you for that.”

Freddy smiled widely at that, his charm already in full force.

“No,” I growled. “You don’t look at him.”

Both Freddy and Benji laughed at that, but Sal was glaring at Freddy so at least I had my vampire mate on my side.

“You should head out as soon as possible,” Freddy advised seriously. “Some in the pack aren’t too happy with you, weren’t before the meeting and aren’t after it.”

“Shouldn’t they be happy he’s leaving then?” Benji asked.

Freddy shook his head. “Packs don’t just leave, especially alphas. They see it as him abandoning them and thinking he’s better without us. It’s a werewolf thing and they might get violent if they keep stewing in that anger.”

I sighed. “Let’s just go now and if a fight breaks out, then they’ll see just how strong and sexy Sal is when he’s fighting.”

Sal gave me a salacious grin and winked. “I aim to please.”

Benji laughed happily and together we followed Freddy out of the office and down the metal stairs. We hadn’t even reached the bottom step before howling from outside reached us. The howls hadn’t come from a shifted wolf. I shared a grim look with Freddy and then my mates. That had been werewolf howls, and we all knew they weren’t exactly accepting of outsiders, which we now were.

Great.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Salizar

We were met by five angry werewolves as we left the warehouse. Most of the pack had stayed to watch the show, standing a safe distance away as the four male werewolves and one female were howling and growling at us. I hated this for Chris. He hadn’t deserved their ire or their hatred. The book was the reason for everything and they were too stupid to face it. Sometimes people needed someone to blame, but Chris didn’t deserve to be that guy here.

“Seriously?” Chris snapped, standing protectively next to Benji with me on the other side of our human, making sure he was safe while this shit went down.

If it had only been Benji and me, I would’ve just carried him with me and used my vampire speed to leave this fucking town, but Christopher was here, too, and I couldn’t carry them both. This would end in bloodshed, no matter what.

The werewolves just continued to growl and snap their fangs. When Chris had shifted, he’d been hot as fuck, with his chest covered in hair and those fangs out. These werewolves however… they looked messed up. The female one still had her shirt on, it being the sort of fabric that could stretch. She did not, however, wear any pants. A grey half wolf, half human, with a tight purple crop top on was… interesting. The male ones had ridiculous abs, she did not, just a hairy belly. This curse truly favored the men.

Freddy suddenly stepped in front of me and my men, shielding us from his pack. “What were you thinking?!” he yelled, staring them down. “Why let your werewolves take over? Do you have any idea what will happen if you attack them?”

Benji moved before I could force him back, my focus fully on what the hell Freddy was doing. So when Benji tugged Freddy back and put himself in front, it surprised me and was enough for one of the werewolves to get a swipe in, cutting through Benji’s shirt and maiming his arm.