Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)
Chapter 53 - Crescendo

***

Gagnon

“Would you consider becoming an Alpha, Caleb?”

Even the best of plans had unforeseen consequences. How you dealt with them determined what kind of a leader you were.

Gagnon was determined to see this one through – the right way.

“Alpha,” Caleb repeated.

“Three Alphas can overthrow any Pack Order ruling,” Gagnon got to the point.

Caleb quickly nodded, understanding passing through his eyes. The young wolf was in many ways savvier in the political aspect than many residing Alphas, Collins included. Gagnon didn’t even bother to acknowledge him as an Alpha. The senior wolf acted senile enough for Gagnon to question his loyalty, which was never a good sign. Edmund Collins was the sole reason why they were in this mess all together. His mistakes multiplied – from using trigger-happy rogues and allowing them to live and stir trouble, to plain old disrespect for their arrangement.

Since Gagnon called out Collins on the liability he brought to the group, the elderly Alpha had been nothing but a procrastinator. Gagnon’s patience was running thin. He needed to be paid. Procuring Creed was risky enough without Pack Order lurking around. Once he received the payment, the only way Collins walked out of this alive was if they were three Alphas working in union. Just like in the golden days, prior to Pack Order and its bureaucracy.

The smirk on Collins face told Gagnon he had come to the same conclusion.

“Rossi’s land belongs to me,” Collins reconfirmed his claim on the land as set in their original agreement.

Gagnon ignored him focusing on the young wolf. While many would be flattered at the possibility of the title, Caleb was more calculated than most. Challenging a seasoned Alpha came with deadly consequences.

“Never mind that,” Caleb rightfully dismissed Collins’ concern. “How am I supposed to keep it?”

That, right there, was why Gagnon bothered with their lot. Caleb’s words spoke loud of his intentions. He was not only in favor of the proposal but had considered the next step - succession. Becoming an Alpha was difficult but not nearly as hard as keeping the rank.

The first forty-eight hours of such ascension were crucial. Once named Alpha, you inherited responsibilities and duties for life. However short or long your life would be depended on skill, influence and friends. Alpha Challenges were till death for a good reason, and there was no shortage of pretenders – pack or otherwise. The bloodline needed to be cut, so disputes did not fester to become blood feuds.

Weak Alphas did not fare well for a reason. There was no room for mercy.

Nature did not have room for packless Alphas. Banished, their nomad life always ended in despair or Pack Order-assisted suicide. Feral wolves would only inadvertently expose shifters to the human world.

Once you were bathed with blood, only then were you found worthy.

And Gagnon had, more often than others.

Until Connor.

“Pack Order already prepared you for this. We,” Gagnon pointedly looked at Collins, “can help legitimize your ascendance.”

“It would require proximity to one of you,” Caleb quickly responded.

“So do you prefer long winters or summers?” Gagnon shrugged uninterested.

The benefit was there no matter the physical location.

“As long as we agree, Rossi’s lands are mine,” Alpha Collins interrupted. His eyes settled on Gagnon, daring him to defy him. Gagnon sighed at the shortsightedness of the older wolf.

“Needier than a maiden,” Gagnon’s words struck gold as Collins visibly shook from anger at the comment. Gagnon addressed Caleb. “Pick your flavor. The Devil’s Creek Alpha needs to be taken down a notch, or a head?” Gagnon smiled at his own dark humour. “Or if you want to stay in this hell hole, then we dump more Creed in the reservoir. The water currents will carry it downstream to Aberdeen.”

The union between Rossi, Aberdeen and Tassone would cease one way or another. While Alpha Rossi was a dead wolf-walking, Aberdeen could not even do that. Even his own pack detested the wheelchair-bound Alpha. Those who could not shift had no business ruling over shifters.

But Ethan Aberdeen had Rossi and Tassone’s support. While the optics of his execution alone could be easily managed, nobody willingly surrounded himself with enemies.

“You are the solution to Pack Order’s requirement for strong leadership,” Gagnon hinted Pack Order’s training prepared its officials to take down an average Alpha.

“You can shift, now,” Alpha Collins was again two steps behind the actual conversation.

“Time heals,” Caleb shifted his nails. He then looked at Gagnon. “You’re not surprised.”

“I heard of Jack’s near death experience,” Gagnon replied.

While others could search for some deep meaning and make sense of Fate, Gagnon chose facts. Jack’s allergic reaction was far from accidental. It came at the very right time and place, leaving many witnesses and no clues. If it smelled like Pack Order job, it most probably was done by one of their own.

Caleb.

“Life is too short to deny yourself true love,” Caleb kept a small but proud smile on his lips, while his eyes searched for Gagnon’s reaction. Caleb’s words resonated with Gagnon’s propaganda about the necessity of mating – choice or fated. Gagnon smiled allowing Caleb the small victory of foolishly believing he could play a player.

“So Aberdeen,” Gagnon concluded.

“What about Violet?” Caleb asked.

Now that was a question, Gagnon did not expect.

“What about her?”

“I want her unharmed,” Caleb demanded.

“Are you interested in her or her chosen?” The wheels in Gagnon’s mind quickly turned.

“She is a friend, and he is lethal,” Caleb answered with honesty which surprised Gagnon.

“Undeniably so,” Gagnon agreed.

Wesley was not worth messing with.

“Then why did you text Karim?” Caleb questioned obviously bothered by the Beta’s presence.

“What is life without some excitement,” Gagnon replied. Caleb’s face distorted in anger at the vague reply and Gagnon considered adding, “I spared her life for a reason.”

“You want her,” Collins suggested.

“Not everything revolves around a crotch. Or does it?” Gagnon wickedly smiled.

Violet may resemble but would never hold a candle to the woman of his life.

“Karim stirred enough trouble to bring the family under one roof,” Caleb answered.

Gagnon laughed at Collins, schooled by a pup, half his age.

***

In the Howler’s pack house

Then

“Thank you for helping with breakfast, Aidan. But you really need to get going before things turn ugly.”

Now

***

Violet

Erika and Lesley’s stupidity left a bitter taste in her mouth. It wasn’t until Violet stood up, she realized the reason for the bitterness she felt.

Karim.

His eyes burned her skin as he gawked at her.

“What are you staring at?” Violet snapped at nobody in particular. She ignored Karim even if her comment was mainly directed at him. She was above all this pettiness, but at the same time she wasn’t. These were supposed to be her people. Yet, they had done nothing but emotional terrorists, taking advantage of something as pure as the mating bond.

Violet maintained eye contact with Karim, who avoided her glare, thus submitting to her.

“Violet,” Alyssa intervened in the hopes of preventing anyone else from noticing the balant submission Lazuli displayed.

“I’ve witnessed my dose of foolishness for today,” Violet snapped coldly.

Aidan’s growl was a warning but it did little for Violet. Whether he thought he was protecting his family or standing up for his Fated, Violet did not care. They all needed to go.

Violet didn’t envy any one of them. The tension created by the half-truths they’ve been telling themselves was exhausting. The only good thing about this morning was she now knew where everyone stood.

“We’re leaving,” Aidan’s words called her attention on his person.

Finally, Violet thought.

While the Wesley twins might have looked alike, Aidan didn’t have the strength Landon radiated. Aidan had been given everything - from parental approval to high rank and even his Chosen. He who had only lived to take, now struggled to fight for his future.

Violet’s phone rang, the screen illuminating, displaying a caller ID she knew too well.

Antonio Rossi.

Aidan didn’t even try to hide his blunt curiosity. Ranked wolves couldn’t help themselves but stuck their noses in everyone’s business. Aidan bid his lip undoubtedly trying to stop the questions forming in his mind. His face fell expressionless like a mask, but his eyes trailed from the phone to Violet, leaving no doubt he had seen the caller ID.

“Tony, now is not a good time,” she picked up walking away from the group only to realize it was pointless. Their enhanced hearing already picked the labored breathing from the other side of the phone. Violet only hoped the phone-call wasn’t accidental as she had no desire to listen in on Tony’s escapades. He did get around.

A second later she wished it was just a pocket dia. The distorted cry for help chilled her blood and without even considering it she rushed towards Landon’s office. It wasn’t that she could not handle a problem herself. She didn’t have to. The Fixer was part of her life now and she would be a fool not to consult him.

“What’s wrong, Tony?” She didn’t waste any time.

“I am dosed,” his voice was weak, teeth clattering.

“Creed?” Violet asked.

“Ye-e-es,” Antonio slurred.

“Talk to me,” Violet urged him rushing around the corner, narrowly missing planting her face in Conner’s chest. He quickly steadied her and was about to start a conversation, but Violet had no time to lose. She pivoted and tugged on his sleeve silently pleading to follow her. Connor looked over her shoulder clearly not wanting to go back to the Beta’s office. Violet didn’t ask twice instead pushed the doors open, her eyes immediately finding Landon’s.

“We got you, Tony. Landon will walk us through it. Creed isn’t a hundred percent lethal,” she encouraged while simultaneously catching up Landon of what had happened.

“My wolf is still within me,” Antonio replied.

Violet tried to control her voice, her hands shaking as she turned the phone on speaker.

“Where are you?” Landon questioned Antonio but his attention was on Violet, his hands wrapping around her, giving her some of his warmth and slipping his phone in her palm.

“H-o-me,” Antonio’s teeth clattered.

There was no need for words. Jacob was their Alpha and the situation required his involvement. It was one thing to challenge an Alpha or Heir, and a whole other to remove them with poison. The law of nature - survival of the fittest - suddenly transformed into survival of the shadiest.

And that was a world no one dreamed about.

“Did you try linking?” Landon inquired only for goose-bumps to raise over Violet’s back. His tone was stern, urgent. Violet looked up at Landon to confirm he was simply inquiring about possible help source. “Antonio, focus. Can you mindlink anyone?”

Violet held her breath as everyone else in the room.

“Noone is answering.”

***

Jacob

Jacob kept tapping his foot. This was not his first call, nor his first emergency. Yet, the pounding in his chest increased exponentially with every text he read.

“Antonio Rossi was dosed with Creed.”

“No pack’s mindlink.”

“Emergency protocol activated.”

The chemical agent of choice was none other than Creed, leaving little doubt as for intentions. This was a cue to end the Rossi’s bloodline. A coordinated and targeted intoxication with Creed would mean mass casualties in the pack. Any trace amount of Creed needed to be sanitized before normal pack life could continue. He hoped the absence of the mindlink did not mean they were too late.

“Listen up,” Jacob called out catching the attention of his crew. “Decontamination team is inbound but we’ll be first on the scene. Reports suggest Creed. Full gear, masks on, buddy system. Damon and Yu, set up triage, everyone else - recovery.”

Somber mood settled across the familiar faces. No matter their species, human or shifter, they were dealing with a contraband drug, well-known for its lethal overdoses. The shifters looked up to Jacob and he quickly shook his head. The humans would describe it as a “bad batch” or “suicide cult”, depending on the Pack Order narrative and never see it as mass murder.

Genocide.

Right before their eyes, a pack was cleansed. Only unshifted pups were spared but they were just defenseless children who could not raise alarm for the imminent invasion.

Jacob clenched his teeth.

His squad was going to make first contact.

***

Antonio

When he first woke up on the bathroom tile floor, Antonio vowed to never do a pub-crawl again. The numbness in his fingers and the slight shakiness of his knees pointed to Bane-intoxication. Last night’s memories confirmed there was a lot of Bane and gaming. It was a wild one for sure. The smile on Antonio’s face quickly disappeared as panic started to set in. No matter how much Bane he had, his body should have recovered by morning. It all morning all right, the brightness of it contributing to his pounding headache.

Antonio pushed himself up in a sitting position, or so he intended. The process seemed to take on forever and it was better described as peeling himself off the floor. Dialing Violets number with shaky hands took long enough to produce beads of sweat over his forehead.

Things went from bad to shit in seven seconds flat as he tried mind-linking somebody.

Anybody.

There was no response.

“Noone is answering,” Antonio stared at the phone, still processing his own words.

No one was answering the pack link. While many would have assumed their repressed wolf did not allow them access to the mindlink, Antonio knew better. He had enough experience with Bane to know there was a dose-effect correlation. A stronger wolf needed more substance to achieve the desired effect. By what he could gather, this was Creed. There was no other pharmaceutical agent this potent, victimising shifters. It wasn’t a big leap to assume Creed would behave like Bane.

If he, the Alpha heir, was feeling the effects, then most of the pack would have already succumbed to Creed. Even if by some miracle Antonio survived, his life as he knew it was over.

Maybe death wasn’t such a bad option.

“Tony, you’re not going to give up, even if it means I have to haul your ass off the ground or beat you five different shades of blue. You hear me?”

Violet’s stern voice brought him back from the morbid thoughts. She was the friend he never was to anyone. He feared being responsible for the life of others. He could now admit it, even if it was only to himself.

“You’re amazing,” Tony complimented her, wondering just how blind Lazulli was to have chosen another. Thankfully, Wesley did not suffer from the same illusion. “You’ve always been a fighter.”

“Don’t you dare give up,” Violet snapped quickly seeing what this phone call truly was - a goodbye. He didn’t have a Fated or chosen to live for, nor for his pack.

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Although he was now close to the so much needed relief of his wolf’s presence, now that he was so close to such peace he came to terms with his mortality, and he felt angry. Pissed at whoever did this to him, to his pack, to his possible Fated.

“Go to the pack’s daycare, or school,” Landon’s stern voice instructed him. “Unshifted pups would be immune.”

While Violet appealed to their personal relationship, Landon knew how to engage whatever sense of dignity and duty were left in both Tony’s bones. It urged his wolf to crave revenge. Antonio Rossi owed it to the pups whose families were dying to survive and to protect them. So that they could be one day be proud Moonwalkers once again.

But how do you fight when you were alone?

‘Not alone,’ Antonio corrected himself.

No matter how many were lost today, Antonio would always have the memories of them. Those memories could never be taken away. Unless he was dead, too.

He also had Violet, the beacon of hope that not all was lost. And indeed, it wasn’t. The three-Alpha truce stood strong. Antonio could even rely on the Fixer’s allegiance to help guide him through the rough times that were ahead.

Tony’s heart raced, contradiction to the numerous ones that were slowly down. He randomly heard hushed goodbyes and ripples of pain that suddenly coursed through his body.

There was no mistaking it.

Alpha David Rossi had fallen.

But there was no time for mourning. The pack’s future were the pups, and Tony needed to survive and protect them.

Where there was a will; there was a way.

Deciding the fight was easy. Doing it, well, another story.

“Haul your ass to the preschool,” Violet half-demanded, half-begged him.

Antonio eyed the distance between him and the closet. He shook his head to clear his vision but it didn’t shorten the trek to his clothes. There was no chance in hell, he could dress up before his main motherboard fried for good. That signified Game Over, and Tony doubted there would be a button ‘Restart’.

Tony decided the towel wrapped around his waist would suffice and aim for the stairs. Modesty between shifters was a loose term anyways. There was no shame in nudity among shifters, but the human geek in him still held onto the concept of what’s proper. Flashing kids was most definitely not.

There was impossible to make it down two flights of stairs to the pack’s homeschool, when his body ached and did not comply with the simplest task of standing up much less walking, Tony decided to roll.

“Tony?” Violet screamed over the speaker as Antonio plummeted down the stairs.

“Downstairs,” Antonio wheezed, rubbing his tailbone.

The fall did not do him any favors. He only hoped he lived long enough to regret nose-diving as a shortcut. The beads of sweat finally became large enough to roll over his eyebrows and down his cheeks. They were the reminder his ordeal wasn’t over.

“Shit, I’m burning now.”

“Heath-attack. You need to cool down your torso and head,” Landon’s voice was leveled.

Tony just loved how the Fixer kept his cool. It was something he had to work on. Until then, he was allowed to freak out.

“Before it fries my brain,” Tony sarcastically added, pulling himself up against the counters and to the sink, running his head under the cold water. “Fuck. My eyes are burning. I’m blind.”

“Don’t touch the water,” Landon raised his voice.

“No shit,” Antonio replied, his hand reaching to find a towel only to stop midway at the realization why the Fixer lost his cool. “It’s in the water, isn’t it?”

“Dip your head in the fridge,” the urgency in Landon’s voice stopped Antonio from arguing.

A moan of satisfaction escaped Antonio’s lips as soon as the coolness of the freezer’s mist reached his face.

“I was in the shower before I passed out,” Tony informed them. It was useful information for first responders. They did not need any more Creed-exposures than they already were.

“Take a mouthful of ice-cream and smear as much of it on your face, neck, chest,” Landon instructed.

“Kinky much,” Antonio’s poor attempt at a joke did not lighten the mood. A low grumble sounded on the other side before Violet’s voice came through.

“I believe you are trying to say thank you,” Violet rephrased for him.

“You’re welcome,” Antonio responded only to provoke a snarl from the Fixer.

***

Jacob

It was worse than Jacob imagined. As soon as the fire truck pulled in front of the Pack House, he knew there was no turning back.

“What the fuck?”

The voice did not register as Jacob witnessed first hand the devastation Creed left behind.

Death came in many shapes and forms. The grotesque mid-shift transformation of the dying, convulsing and freezing wolves sprawled all across the lawn was gruesome as a scene from a horror movie.

Several firefighters pulled out their masks, emptying their stomach over the lawn.

All humans.

Everyone else awaited his command.

Jacob removed his face mask, defying his own orders. If Creed was airborne, nobody in fifty miles radius was safe. The pressurized oxygen sizzled in protest. Jacob waited for the sweet taste of Cread, but as nothing happened more shifters followed his example.

The vibration in his pocket supplied the much needed information.

“It’s in the water,” Jacob announced loud enough for everyone to hear. All shifters took off their gear, revealing somber expressions. They knew what was at stake, yet needed no further instructions as they wordlessly converted the fire engine to water station, setting up for triage.

The humans though had questions.

“Seriously messed up shit,” Rick asked, using the toe of his boot to turn over a man trapped in mid-shifter.

“Be respectful,” Jacob cautioned him before there was an incident between the men under his command.

Creed was a drug of many contradictions. Fever, sweat and heat-stroke versus shivering and frostbite leading to blood clots, limb amputation, gangrenes. Dead tissue on a living being. The victims were degraded to convulsing corpses trapped in a semi shift.

“Alpha,” a pup wrapped both hands around Jacob’s leg. “Mama is cold.”

There are few things you could never forget in life.

Feeling profoundly helpless was one of them.

“Cap, what does he mean by Alpha?” Rick asked, but Jacob ignored the young recruit.

There was no turning back. Pack Order could twist their tongue every which way, but there was no other possible explanation. Werewolves were coming out.

Jacob only hoped the world was ready to accept them.

***

Landon

Creed was deadlier now more than ever before. It was in the water supply and while they could waste precious time figuring out the exact point of contamination, the water pipes carried it to multiple households. It undoubtedly diluted downstream, making it less deadly but there was a risk to all shifters miles apart. They could save only the few, who did not yet display symptoms. Once fever and chills started fighting over the body’s temperature control, many were bound to lose their lives, or a loved one.

Mothers. Fathers. Sisters. Brothers.

Families would suffer in silence, grief of their loss. Packs would be torn apart.

“Jacob is on his way,” Landon informed Antonio.

The text alerts went out simultaneously - “Creed in municipal water” - to Pack Order, Alphas, schools and daycares. Landon doubted they gave enough warning for many.

Violet reached for Landon’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Landon felt he had failed Noah again.

"Lan,” Violet mindlinked him, shaking her head. “This is not on you.”

“I should have seen it coming,” Landon replied.

“How? It’s on whoever poisoned the water,” Violet replied.

“We both know who has enough Creed to do this.”

“Gagon won’t pick a fight he can’t win. Pack Order would be on him.”

“In time,” Landon agreed. ”Until then they’ll be busy dealing with the fallout. Creed’s deaths are usually mid-shift.On this scale, it will leak.”

“After today, everything changes,” Violet quickly responded.

He did not need to explain himself. Violet always read him well. He loved that about her.

“Go, I’ll stay with Tony,” she told him, pressing a soft kiss over his lips.

Landon pulled her into his body, arms wrapping tight around her, greedily demanding for more. He wished he could stay with her like this forever. His duty prevailed.

While there was only so much he could do for Antonio, he needed to manage the immediate fall out. The Howlers and surrounding packs were about to witness the near extinction of once thriving pack. While they could only do so much for the acute phase victims, they needed to be prepared for the mass cremation of over ninety percent of the adult members of the Moonwalkers. And if that was not enough, losing someone was worst on the people who had to keep living. Survival guilt and the total collapse of a pack would only mean refugees most of which kids under the age of thirteen needing a home. They needed support and security.

Safety was the main priority. Patrols needed to be increased. Man power, schedules and routes needed to be discussed and approved. If the water supplies could be so easily contaminated once, they needed to put in place measures to prevent the next attack. to prevent another attack.

He touched his forehead to hers.

They will have more tomorrows.

Landon pressed a kiss over Violet’s lips, savoring the fact she was safe. As the Beta of the Howlers Landon needed to rise above personal conflicts, and do right by all shifters.

If there was ever a time he needed his twin, it was now.

“Aidan, mom,” Landon called out as he saw them heading out of the kitchen. Alyssa and Erika both halted their ascend up the stairs, watching him closely. “Creed is in the municipal water. We are on lock-down.”

“Where?” Karim quickly asked.

“Moonwalkers,” Landon replied pointedly looking at Karim for an insight as to where his allegiance would fall. They have had differences and no matter what Gagnon promised him, Landon hoped he would not have to explain to Jacob how Lazulli’s life ended.

“I don’t condone mass murder,” Karim stated. Landon really wanted to believe him, but still he did not trust him. “I’m the only one here who can withstand Creed. You are mated.”

“You’d help,” Landon remained skeptical.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Karim replied.

“Since when do you do the right thing,” Conner’s thundering voice accused him.

“He’s your father not mine,” Karim snapped back, baring his teeth at Conner.

“Then you should know your place, Beta," Conner was not afraid to publicly accept his heritage as an Alpha-heir, thus outranking Karim.

Landon found a wicked satisfaction in witnessing their argument. While he wanted to say many things and do worse to the man who broke Violet’s heart, he also wanted to thank him as twisted as it sounded but it lead her to Landon and he could not be happier.

“Are you done measuring dicks? We have a disaster to deal with,” Landon reminded them.

“You are seriously not considering this,” Conner questioned. Landon could see the wheels turning in his mind, trying to guess what Landon saw in Karim.

“My Alpha is alone out there and I am in charge. Everyone else is a liability,” Landon informed them, then looked at Karim. “We already informed the public, first responders, and Pack Order.”

“You will let him roam free?” Conner questioned.

“No, he will do water quality checks,” Landon looked at Karim for objections. It was a tough ask, but it needed to be done.

“Where ever you need me,” Karim agreed. Landon still didn’t trust him.

“If you leave Gamma Ryan’s sight, you are going to be an intruder,” Landon explained.

“There is a kill on sight order during lock-downs. I understand,” Karim accepted the restriction too easily. Landon wondered if Karim’s plan all along was to stay in the Pack House.

Things did not add up.

“I need to secure the land before Pack Order takes over. I’d like you to stay and help Violet here,” Landon finally addressed Aidan.

“Help Violet?”

“Yes, Ma. She is in charge. So either stay in your room or help her out. While tensions run deep, I hope I don’t need to remind either one of you, that the Howler’s will eliminate all threats to their Beta Female,” Landon looked at each of the she-wolves in front of him, then told Aidan, “Vi is in my office.”

“I’ll keep her safe,” Aidan quickly responded, clasping Landon’s hand then sliding his palm to clasp his elbow. Landon smiled at the familiarity of the greeting. It was ironic the Wesley twins found common ground when the world was falling apart.

***

Antonio

It was one thing to know what Creed did to your body. To see it with your own eyes on people who you have known all your life - now that was what nightmares are made of.

Antonio did not spare a moment to acknowledge how ridiculous it must have looked for him to lead the home schooled pups out of the packhouse, carrying a jug of ice-cream, dressed in nothing but oven gloves and a towel. He didn’t dwell on the fact that his body was sticky nor that flies circled him.

He was the Alpha of the Moonwalkers and they had survived.

The price was heavy, but payment was due.

And he would accept only blood.

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