The Pack and The Ruffian

Calming the Raging Wolf

Amber stood, the screaming, which had started as two low voices going at each other, was now full-blown shouting and definitely more than just two voices. She followed the screaming and found Mya leaning against Sam’s door frame, arms crossed over her chest. “What’s going on?” Amber asked her.

“Mark wants Sam to release Jake to him.”

“Oh.” Amber knew that this would come. Ever since she’d spoken to Diane and found out that she’d almost walked in on the two men going at it. She hated that it was causing trouble between Mark and Sam. But it was also understandable that Sam was reluctant to let an enemy loose on pack ground. Jake had proven on more than one occasion that he would betray them without a second thought. “Who’s winning the argument?” Amber asked. Diane and Lucy were in the middle of the fight too.

“Well, honestly. No one. This is just a screaming match, with no one listening to each other.” Mya shook her head. “Sam won’t let him loose, right?”

“I don’t think so,” Amber said. She took a deep breath and walked into the middle of the argument. “Enough!” She shouted when none of them paid attention to her. She slammed a hand down on Sam’s desk. “I said enough!”

Sam spun on her. “I’m handling this!” She growled out. Her voice was rough, anger making every word vibrate. “Stay out of it!”

Amber raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me!” Sam snapped and spun back to her father. “There is no chance in hell that I will let that mongrel, walk around my pack members. He can’t be trusted, and he’s proven that, over and over!”

“Sam…” Amber began.

“I said, stay out of this,” Sam emphasized each word with a snap of her teeth. When Mya stepped between her and Amber, Sam saw red, she snatched Mya by the collar and shook her. “Don’t you for one second think I won’t snap your neck!” She shoved Mya backward and spun on her father. “He stays in that cell!” She knew she was losing control of her wolf. Knew that she was snapping at the wrong people. But she was so f*****g tired of her pack being under attack, of losing people she cared for! “I don’t want to hear another word about this.”

“Everyone out,” Amber said quietly. “Give us a minute. Please.”

“Amber, I don’t think…” Mya began.

“It’s okay, we’ll be fine.” Amber folded her arms across her chest. “She’s going to behave herself.”

“I am not a f*****g child, Amber!”

“Then stop acting like one!” Amber snapped. Her patience is at an end too. “Out.”

When it looked like Mark would protest, Mya grabbed his arm and pulled him outside. Diane and Lucy followed. Mya closed the door behind them with one last look at Amber.

“I am still the alpha of this pack! My decision on this matter is final.” Sam ground out the words, her eyes blazed as she glared at Amber. “You come in here, and take over when I’m dealing with s**t, undermines my authority.”

“Screaming and shouting like children, that undermines authority,” Amber said calmly. “Do you really want the whole building to know why you were shouting at your father?”

“I don’t care what they hear! I only care that he thinks that bastard has any redeeming qualities!” Sam started to pace. “f*****g excuse of a wolf! How in this f****d up world did he convince my father that he’s the good guy?” She leaned back and almost squeaked the last few words. “That son of a b***h nearly destroyed us, he almost killed me and my father,” she pointed to the door.

“He wants me to let him run free. Sure, go on Jakey boy, see how much s**t you can cause in one day, Jesus.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Has everyone lost their minds?” She spun back to Amber. “Oh, and then, to top it off, my mother tells me, that a stranger walked up to Addi at the lake and started talking to her. How the f**k did that happen?”

“What stranger?” Amber asked, confused. She’d not been told about that.

“Jane’s sister. She arrived this morning, and just walked up to Addi and spoke to her. Like she knew her.” Sam shook her head. “Why was she allowed to just walk around the compound?”

“At the risk of fuelling your fire here. Your security at the gate, the protocols there, allow it.” Amber shook her head as Sam grabbed her glass and flung it into the fireplace.

“Great, just great, now I have to check up on my heads of security too.”

“Stop, just stop for a second, and calm down.” Amber rubbed her hands over her face, forcing herself to stay calm. Both of them in a fury won’t be good for anyone. “Let’s deal with one problem at a time.”

“I can deal with my own pack problems. I don’t need you to hold my hand through every one of them!”

“Sam, this is where you start thinking before you speak. Because if you’re trying to make me angry, then okay, your plan is working. But if you plan on talking with me and allowing me to help, then you had better start behaving.” She knew it was a risk to use the word, behaving and, for some reason, Sam was over the top furious and finding it hard to calm herself and her wolf. Her fur showed on and off as if she was fighting not to shift. But she’d be damned if she’d allow Sam to treat her badly.

“I am thinking! I think that everyone should remember who the goddammed alpha is!” Sam spun toward Amber and just as quickly as the fire in her blood started and raged, it disappeared.

Amber watched, fear, replaced her anger as Sam’s eyes went flat and sorrow filled them. “Sam…”

“Or maybe I should step down, and you should take my place,” Sam said. She sank down on the couch in her office. Laid her head back and closed her eyes.

“Sam, no.” Amber walked to her, knelt in front of her. “What are you…”

“I took her to Amber City. I led her to that fight. I let her go alone, without backup. She’s dead because I am a shitty leader. My pack isn’t safe with me as Alpha. People walk around without escorts, my father has s*x with a prisoner, then wants me to release him. There’s a madwoman that’s threatening Mya. Jane…” Her voice cracked on Jane’s name. “I killed her.”

“Oh, baby, no.” Amber took her hands, squeezed. “What happened with Jane was not your fault, it wasn’t anyone’s fault but that bastard who took her life and this woman’s. And we will catch her. She won’t hurt anyone else we care about.”

“You can’t say that. And I can’t promise my pack that. I’m not worthy of leading this pack.” Sam sat up, pulled her hands from Amber’s. “Deal with this any way you see fit.” She gestured to the door, indicating the people outside. “I’ll stand by whatever decision you make.”

“No, you’re just making me angry again,” Amber said, not moving out of Sam’s way when she tried to get up. “First, I wasn’t trying to take over earlier, I was trying to get you all to calm down and listen to each other. And second, this pack, this pack won’t last without you. Sure, we’ve hit a few bumps, but we always, always figure it out.” Sam started to shake her head. “Don’t shake your head at me. See past your grief and pain for a second. Mya trusts you with her life and Taylors.”

“She shouldn’t.” She winced and swore as Amber slapped her knee.

“She does, and that should tell you a lot,” Amber continued. “We all trust and believe that you will lead us through. We always have.” Amber leaned closer and kissed Sam. “Lean on me, Sam. That’s what I’m here for.”

“Gods, I was a dick.”

“Yes,” Amber smiled. “Mya and Taylor are vouching for Tris. And that problem is easy to deal with. Just change the way the guards handle strangers at the gate. And admit that you and Mya were wrong, and Taylor was right. As for Jake, I agree, he can’t be let loose. Yet.” She held up her hand when Sam wanted to start raging again. “Compromise, you’re going to have to. We’ll sort that out, but for now, he stays where he is.” She straddled Sam’s lap and pushed her back against the couch. “As for this b***h threatening our family. We’ll get her. All of us, together.” She kissed Sam lightly. “That’s what we do. We rally behind you, because we believe in you, in our Alpha.”

Sam cupped Amber’s face and drew her down for a long, deep kiss. “I love you.” She whispered.

“And I love you.” Amber shifted off Sam and stood. “Now, let’s deal with them.” She pointed to the closed door. “Mya, bring them back in.”

Sam stood and took Amber’s hand. “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Alpha,” Amber said as the others filed back in.