Mistress of Blood and Fur

Chapter 6 - The Chase

Onyx

So, what’s that woman doing here? Just when I think I’m making progress with Grace, Carlotta returns. She’s not from the pack, but nobody considers her to be mate material, either. But I guess since the Opium Hills wolves are desperate, they have to take in every willing female.

I know she’s willing. Even though I don’t like her, I can see the point. Her arrival stirs the pot. The wolves no longer just have a picking between two innocent girls. Now, there’s Carlotta, and her arrival just may fuel the growing rivalry between Dash and me.

Or perhaps, the better word is reignite?

After all, we both f****d her at some point.

Carlotta shamelessly walks in the middle of a dozen young wolves, ages eighteen to twenty-four. She knows she’s making a statement. Justine seems to be leaning toward Logan, and Grace has mostly been spending time with Dash, Fox, and me. It leaves many of the Opium Hills wolves without any woman. They are getting restless. It’s either stay here and wait for more women, or go back to their old lives. Many of them won’t regret doing the latter, but some want the approval of fellow wolves. Then, there’s Carlotta, who’s not just any woman. I have to admit she’s most red-blooded male’s wet dream.

“While I like the city and its conveniences, I’m just an ordinary guy there,” Logan told us the other day. “My dad’s also been putting in the pressure.”

I’m right there with him. If my dad hadn’t called me, I would be pursuing a career that I had worked hard for. He said that I could still used what I learned by rebuilding Opium Hills, saying that my civil engineering

“I don’t mind that,” Fox replied. “Anyway, no matter what we do, our wolves will still stir. We will still sniff around for a mate.”

“Is that what’s happening to you there, huh, Fox?” I asked.

“Yeah.”

I shouldn’t be here. However, this little competition for Grace has given me a reason to stay. I haven’t been rejected by a female yet. I’m the one who leaves. I’m the one who makes it clear that I’ll never stay.

“She’s beautiful,” Grace breathes. “No wonder the guys are rushing toward her. It’s going to be quite a competition. For her, I mean.”

“Not as beautiful as you,” I say, meaning every word. I hope I can reassure her that I have already made a choice. She’s still hanging there and my dad has made a point that any female relative of Domino’s have to make a choice. I can’t see Grace choosing more than one man, but who knows? Maybe she wants more protection. Right now, though, she’s just starting to get comfortable in her own skin.

Grace blushes, proving my point. She looks down at her feet, and shuffles her weight from one foot to the other. She’s not used to the attention of men. I wonder what she’s like in high school because she has admitted that she hasn’t been in college yet. She’s missing out here. I wish she didn’t have to get called so young. Carlotta is only a couple years older than her at twenty, but she’s more experienced and has never shown any interest in further education. She’s not all bad, though. She’s an important member of her pack because of her strong sense of hearing. It’s a sacrifice for them to send her here. Hell, it’s a sacrifice for any of the other packs to even consider sending their women here.

“And Carlotta? She’s more of a witch than wolf. She’s a sound wolf. Her power is in her voice and ears,” I continue.

“I can’t wait to hear her voice. It must be just as beautiful as she is,” Grace says, guileless and innocent. “I - I heard that she was your ex.”

Ex is pushing it, but I did sleep with her more than once. Okay, quite a few times. That’s saying a lot coming from me. That was two years ago, and I was thinking that the young debutante was innocent. I actually thought that she chose me and that I needed to protect her because of her youth. But guess what? I was the i***t. She was the one playing a game, then.

What if I’m going to make the same mistake here with Grace? I don’t actually know her. I know of her and the blood flowing in her veins. Many wolves would like to compete for that kind of pedigree but they started stepping aside when they saw Dash and me pursuing her.

“She wasn’t my girlfriend, if that’s what you’re trying to find out. I slept with her a few times.”

It’s best to stick with honesty here. Carlotta and Grace are like night and day, at least from what I can tell. I haven’t said anything much, and the scent wolf is already blushing. I wonder if I should just ask Dad to send her back home, far away from here.

“And Dash slept with her, too?” she asks, her eyes widening. She’s been marked by the Sloanes with her grey eyes. I have admired he father, Gideon Sloane, from afar. Anyone who topples down an evil empire is number one on my list. Anyone who goes rogue for the sake of principle is a hero in my eyes.

But, oh, f**k. Grace’s words pull me back down to earth. She’s probably thinking that Dash and I either have the same type or are in it for the competition. I can’t even say she’s wrong because Dash and I have always been at odds, and the sad thing is that, I’m always painted as the villain.

“Well, I’m not a tattle-tale, but I’m going to guess you heard it somewhere. Fox, maybe?”

“Yeah,” she says, sheepishly, as if she doesn’t want to tell on a friend. Fox has that kind of effect on women. He’s harmless and friendly, and willing to cook for you. Damn. I realize that he’s also going to be good competition considering how innocent Grace is. He’s the guy that she should trust - not me.

“Let’s join them,” I urge, taking her wrist gently. She looks at me, startled, but doesn’t protest. She follows me down the hill where the wolves have gathered. Some have already taken Carlotta’s luggage, ready to play her servant.

“Why?”

“Because whenever Carlotta is here, she starts a chase.”

“Huh?”

“Sound travels faster through solids, and slowest through gas. There must be some kind of vibration, but Carlotta proves that she can run fast without hitting anything,” I say, wearily. It’s one of the most entertaining part of the sound wolf. It’s also her way of finding someone worthy enough to f**k. I still remember how Dash and I raced just to prove our masculinity. I was pretty sure I won that race, and Dash came in second, but she still f****d us both.

“Is that why she’s wearing all those shells?” Grace asks, getting the point the first time. Carlotta is covered with shells and beads. When she runs, she makes a lot of sound and gains strength from it. She’s also a very good singer. I give credit where it’s due, but she’s an awful person not I pretend to be any better.

“It’s time for a race, boys,” Carlotta calls, as if she knows we have been talking about her. She sees me. Yes, I know she’s looking straight at me. Then, she gives me a mischievous smile. Two years ago, it made me hot for her. Right now, it just annoys me. I know what she’s like, and damn it, women may think the same of me, too. We’re not supposed to be mate material. We’re supposed to be rogues, drifting from one place to the next because we can’t stand to be motionless and stable.

She runs. The beads and shells make sounds that are louder than the usual they can make. The wolves, still in their human form, growl and run.

“Are they racing for her? To become her mate?” Grace asks, as she sees the rabid way the wolves run.

“They are racing for her,” I admit. “But maybe not to become her mate. If the winner is lucky, he’ll share her bed tonight.”

“Dash is in the race,” Grace says, sounding a little hurt.

It’s easy to see his blond head among the mostly dark-haired ones. Meanwhile, Fox is a bystander as usual. He doesn’t really care about these things, and Carlotta scares him.

“Dash and I were in this race two years ago.”

It doesn’t make sense to make her see me as any better than Dash. I’m just as bad. I’m worse, if you ask most of the wolves here. I just can’t stand the hypocrisy of putting myself on a pedestal.

“Oh, it looks like he’s stopping.”

I don’t like the sound of hope in Grace’s voice. I’m right here beside her, and she’s glad that Dash opts out of the chase. Worse, the smug asshole is heading our way.