Alpha’s Strength(70)

“Like bank robbers.” This from Kirk, who had an acerbic wit she’d come to like in the last few hours. He really knew how to lighten the mood.

“Hopefully we’ll be more successful than most bank robbers.” Otherwise, they’d be carting her out of there in a body bag and even Lake’s considerable skills wouldn’t be enough to bring her back.

Cyrus would have to conduct another moon ceremony. She shuddered at the thought of her poor mate having to give her back to the moon as he wondered why she had been such a complete idiot and not gone back to the house.

She walked toward the entrance to the compound, and John grabbed her arm. “You can change your mind. We’ll go back. No one will think the less of you.”

Betsy looked down to where he held her arm. “I would think the less of me.” John let go of her, and she kept walking. “I’m not a coward, and even though you can smell my fear, I don’t want you to think I can’t do this. I can. That’s bravery, right? Doing things that frighten you.”

“Maybe for humans. We’re not often afraid. Why don’t you let me do this for you? I can handle it on my own.”

“John.” She let out her breath as she raised her hand to knock on the door. “Remember the part about not being a coward?”

“I can’t help wanting to spare you this. For my Alpha’s sake as well as your own.”

“Thanks for that.”

She thought about what he said. Werewolves were not often scared. That was probably true, at least not in physical situations. They were bigger, stronger, and faster than humans. Inside the other buildings she could hear someone walking toward the door. Someone, other than Nathan’s father, was going to answer the door, but maybe she should start off the way she intended to continue.

The skeptic in her, the part of her that had been born the day Nathan had dragged her off to save her from her sexuality and force her into marriage to save her parents, knew they were likely already on camera. Nathan’s father, Joe Jones, would already be aware she stood at the door. Alexei was on alert in Boston. He had Nathan’s cell phone. Nothing would happen on that end until he got the go from her.

She regarded her hand. The kind of focus she’d had at the bar flew back at her. All she could see were her fingers. They appeared human, and that wasn’t what she wanted. No, right at that second, she needed claws and fur. The true believers inside the compound would know fear.

It hurt, but it worked. As she watched, her smooth skin grew fur, and her fingers reshaped into the long, sharp weapons that would kill in a fight. To call the pain agonizing would be too small a word, but she didn’t have time to care.

Betsy had never met the middle-aged man who opened the door. He had brown hair, graying on the sides, and brown eyes to match.

She smiled, and he opened his mouth to say something, only he never got the chance. With her shaking, shifted hand, she grabbed the human by the throat.

“I want Joe, and if you want to see another day of life, you’re going to get him here. Immediately.”

“Betsy?” She hadn’t cleared this part of the plan with John. It didn’t surprise her one bit that she’d startled him, but he was going to have to get with the new circumstances fast.

“Do I smell scared, John?” She hissed out her words.

“No actually.” He shook his head.

“Then don’t worry.” She turned her attention back to the man whose throat she held. “Did you hear me? Call for Joe.”

“There’s no need for that, Betsy.” Joe Jones came slinking out from farther down the hall. She caught a whiff of his aftershave. It was lemony and fresher than she would have liked. The man should wear a scent that matched the degradation in his soul. Something coarse and disgusting. Something that would make her gag.

“Joe.” She nodded to him not letting go of the throat she held

“I see you’ve found your claws. I’m very disappointed. You were our example of how the damned could be saved. All of those years you never turned, not even when provoked. Now look at you.”

There were a number of things she could say to that, including questioning him about what exactly they had done to try to provoke her, but she needed to keep her head in the game. Her objective was to find Cyrus and free her parents. Playing a game of words with a man who she knew hated her kind wouldn’t amount to anything useful other than satisfying her growing need for blood.

The claws must be bringing out her wolf side.

She smiled, and Joe took a step back. Good, he should feel fearful in her presence. Maybe she could be the monster he’d named her.