Page 63 of Bane of Hate and Silver (Primordial Inheritance #1)

Once it must have become apparent that the majority of his pack was seeing something he wasn’t, Carson turned to look behind him. Luca prepared himself, this kind of disrespect was generally considered a punishable crime. But Carson made no move against them.

The woman spoke without waiting to be addressed. “Micah is dead. Carson, we need your help.”

“Demetria Harrison,” Carson said invitingly, which was odd.

A few of the wolves near Carson, who had been hanging on his every word, jeered at the audacity of interrupting their Alpha’s speech.

Carson rose his bulky arm to silence them. “This woman has come back home, we will welcome her,” Carson instructed. “Ben, Luca,” he said, then motioned for them to join him by the woman’s side.

Max bounded up beside them, but Carson held out his hand, sending the over-eager wolf away.

“Tell me what happened, Demetria,” Carson instructed, almost softly.

“I didn’t see it happen, but my son Ricky did.” Demetria motioned toward the teenager.

Ricky glared back.

“Tell our Alpha what happened, baby,” Demetria instructed the boy sweetly.

Ricky rolled his eyes and paused. “It was a vampire,” Ricky said finally.

Carson’s eyes grew brighter, hungrier.

“How do you know? What did it look like?” Ben asked.

“I didn’t get a great look, but…fangs, pale skin, red hair…”

“Female?” Carson nearly shrieked.

“No, it was definitely a dude.”

Carson’s face fell.

“When did this happen?” Luca asked.

“A few days ago.” Ricky didn’t say more.

Luca flinched. Poor kid.

“We’ve been living in Fort Miles,” Demetria said.

“Micah was looking into the string of murders there. They were vampire killings, he was sure of it. He must have closed in on the demon. When it attacked, it overpowered him, but he fought hard. His sacrifice gave our son a chance to run,” Demetria’s voice cracked as she spoke.

She reached out for her son’s hand. He yanked it away before she could take it.

Carson rested a hand on her lower back. The gesture was a bizarrely intimate one.

“Demetria, I’m so sorry. Where are you staying now?” Ben asked.

Luca was starting to put things together. This woman must have been part of this pack’s past. A past that took place before he had come to Aboit.

“Nowhere yet. We grabbed the important things and came straight here. I didn’t want to take the risk that that monster would come back to finish the job.”

“I understand,” Carson said. “You and the boy can stay with me. At least until you get back on your feet. I must say, it will be nice to have you back with us.”

“I’m truly grateful, Carson.” Demetria smiled at Carson like he had just rescued her from certain death.

“It’s not a problem in the slightest,” he assured her, putting one hand on her shoulder, close to her neck. “It’s my job as Alpha now, to take care of you. Do you have a car?”

“We do.”

“Let’s go now, so you can get settled before the pack arrives,” Carson decided.

“Are you sure? The full moon…” Demetria looked around at the many pack members hovering nearby, pretending they couldn’t hear the conversation being had. Luca couldn’t believe she had blatantly questioned him.

“Of course, I’m sure. We can be back to the Den by the moon’s apex, and my Beta can lead the hunt tonight,” Carson said smoothly, motioning dismissively toward Luca.

Luca’s fingers twitched, it was a lot of power to hold, leading the Moon Hunt.

“Your troubles are over, dear one.” Carson brushed Demetria’s cheek with one finger. “You are no longer alone; you have me now.”

Demetria nodded her thanks.

Ricky rolled his eyes but said nothing.

“Wolves!” Carson demanded the pack's attention. “Your Alpha must take his leave. Your Beta, Luca Cain, has command.”

Demetria’s eyes grew wide at the announcement of his surname. Several wolves muttered their approval. The boy, Ricky, Luca noted looked mildly interested, but only for a moment.

Carson began to propel Demetria in the direction of the preserve’s entrance.

“I want to run with the pack,” Ricky announced, not following his mother.

“I don’t know Sweetie. I…” Demetria began, turning to face him.

“Demetria, dear, let him. After what he’s been through, the hunt may be just what he needs. Besides, this way you and I can catch up.” Carson instructed, but Luca seriously doubted there was any concern for the boy in Carson’s motives.

“He can catch a ride back with me,” Luca offered.

Demetria looked from Luca to her son and back, then she conceded. “I’d like that,” she said to Carson. She was now looking up at Carson like he’d hung the moon.

With that, Carson and Demetria walked towards the entrance to the preserve. Luca turned away from their receding forms.

“Find me after the hunt,” Luca told Ricky, then moved to address the pack. It was obvious that he held the position of power now, all faces turned obediently toward him.

During the following minutes, Luca allowed the pack to prepare for the change.

Some wolves began to remove their clothing, some simply their outerwear.

Some of the teenage girls tucked their phones in their bra’s.

Whatever a wolf changed with stayed with them, became part of them.

So, how one chose to run was seen as a highly personal decision.

Luca always found that the less you had tying yourself to your humanity the more freeing the run, the more animalistic his werewolf nature became.

This is how he preferred it. This is how he let the wolf fully take over, to leave everything behind.

After only a few more minutes, Luca knew the time was right.

The moon had risen high in the night sky.

But most importantly, Luca could feel the pull of the animal inside him intensify.

“With the moon, with the hunt, with our pack, let’s do this!

” Luca shouted, building their anticipation with his own.

The need to run as one was taking over his senses.

Kip, Ben, and Kyle appeared at his side. Ben glared at Kyle. “You lucky dog,” Kip whispered to Kyle while glancing over at Hayley, who stood next to her family, prepared for the change from woman to wolf.

Luca’s insides twisted, the moon’s power pulling the change from inside him.

Normally, when Luca shifted into wolf form, he was still himself inside.

Even as a wolf, he was in full control of his thoughts and actions.

Tonight, things were different. Tonight, like all other full moons, Luca would lose the part of him that made him human. Tonight, the wolf would run free.

Luca’s shoulders bent forward, his body curling in on itself.

It was time. He turned his back to the pack and let out a great howl, which started a chorus of responses.

Luca focused what was left of his concentration, he bounced on his heels a moment longer and then bolted, in human form, farther into the forest.

He could hear the footfalls of the pack taking off behind him.

Once his adrenaline was pumping, his mind was clear, and his pack was paces behind him, he launched himself into the air.

In a flash of light, he turned from man to beast. His swift paws landed soundlessly on the forest floor.

The man he was, now fully buried inside the animal.

Luca was lost in the hunt, fueled by heightened senses, and gathering strength from those who ran with him.

He sniffed, the scent of deer came to his nose.

He turned, leading the pack in a new direction.

The wolf ran as fast as he could, his heart pounded in rhythm with his pace.

He was liberated from his conflict with Carson, from his concerns for Jules, all of it.

For this moment, he was consumed by the freedom of the pack.

He howled as he closed in on his prey, the moonlight glistening off his silver coat.