The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(14)

“He’s carried on past but we are close. I know we are. I smelled the scent of the other wolves that took him, and they’ve moved, but I think we’re getting nearer.”

“Where exactly are we?” Sam asked.

“Human settlement right between Hendrick and Malachi pack lands. The village is called Hunterberry and is the buffer Hendrick and Malachi worked out years ago. Both packs are allowed access but neither of them can settle or claim it. Only licensed humans are allowed to live here and the profit is split equally between both Alphas.”

“Your pack lands,” Sam insisted. Luca smiled. It would take some getting used to.

Luca heard the sound of a human moving toward them. “Help you, gentleman?”

Luca knew the old man was no threat but the large knife he was carrying might be. Luca turned slowly. “My beta has need of clothes.”

The old man sighed and eyed Sam. “You’ll be lucky. My spare pair of pants is in the wash and there’s not any big enough for you, anyway.” He lowered the knife quickly, as if suddenly realizing he could get into a lot of trouble for threatening a wolf. The man frowned. “My son has long legs but still shorter than yours, so why don’t you get some from the camp?”

“Camp?” echoed Luca, and the old man squirmed a little, clearly wondering if he had said something he shouldn’t have.

“A wolf camp?” Sam asked eagerly. The man nodded.

Luca stepped up to the man towering over him and put out his arm, reaching for the human’s elbow. The man stared in shock. No werewolf would ever greet a human as an equal. His bony fingers clasped Luca’s arm, their forearms lined up.

“My name is Luca Hightower and I am the new Alpha of Caedra. My omega has been kidnapped by those wishing to do him harm, and I may need some help to get him back. I can scent he is close and likely in the wolf camp you mention.”

The man looked Luca in the eye, again something humans weren’t allowed to do. “You taking over from Hendrick?”

Luca nodded. “Things will be a lot different.”

The man huffed. “Well, they couldn’t be much worse.” He took a decisive breath. “I believe you. Name’s Richert and I manage all your farmlands to the east. Hope I’m not going to regret this, but I can get ten big lads to help you. We have no weapons—well, a few knifes.”

“Excellent,” Luca said. There was a lot he could do with a knife apparently.

“Follow me. They aren’t going anywhere. They always camp in the woods, kill any game they find, and drink themselves stupid.”

Luca needed the weapons, so he agreed. “I need to be as quick as I can. I do not trust them with my unmated omega.”

Richert stilled and worry chased his face. “We will be quick.”

Richert, it turned out, was somewhat of an unofficial leader in the village. He was also surprisingly fast for a human. In less than an hour, Sam was clothed, and they had ten men and an assortment of makeshift knives and spears. Luca knew the humans would have no chance trying to overpower the wolves but apparently there were human guards at the camp and he was more concerned he might need help with those. Sam and he would have to take care of the gammas. Richert didn’t think there were more than three or four in total.

“So, outnumbered sire? We should have thought to bring some gammas.” Sam chuckled, his face a picture of unconcern. Luca strapped four knives into the belt he wore.

“Richert’s boy says they were drinking all last night,” Luca said grimly acknowledging Sam had the right of it, but once he had scented Kit he couldn’t think of anything else. “I’m hoping most of them may be the worst for wear.”

“Except the two that took Kit,” Sam reminded him.

“Do you want to shift?”

Luca shook his head. “For a large group, I am better with the knives than I am with my teeth. I also plan on being able to speak.”

“You are giving them a chance to surrender?” Sam’s eyebrows rose.

“As soon as I have secured Kit.”

“It is more than they would have done.”

Luca agreed, but he would start ruling as he meant to right now. Mercy wherever possible. Luca looked up as Richert’s son, Asher, came creeping back. They had no choice but to send a human to snoop. The gammas would pick up on his and Sam’s scent instantly.

Asher crept close. His green eyes glinted in barely contained excitement. “There is a small hut at the back of the camp. There are two guards on the door but as I watched, Alpha Gareth went inside.”

“He’s not an Alpha,” Sam growled.

Asher frowned. “And what would you like me to call him that won’t get my head separated from my neck?”

“Asher,” grunted Richert. “Show some respect.”

Sam narrowed his eyes at Asher’s defiant shrug but Luca was thankful he kept silent. Asher had a point. “How many werewolves did you see?”

“Four outside but drinking heavily, and two that went in the hut with...Gareth.” Asher seemed satisfied to cut the honorific from Gareth’s name.

Luca nearly laughed at the consternation on Sam’s face. Asher was being insulting but at the same time doing exactly what Sam had instructed. He glanced admiringly at the human. He would have put him around the same age as Kit but he was as different to Kit as night and day. Asher had nearly black hair and deep green eyes. He was tall and built well for a human. Huge strapping muscles lined his arms and his lower calves. The rags he wore stretched over a wide chest, a testament to the amount of physical labor he did, no doubt. He would make a good guard, Luca thought. He had also seen a flash of intelligence in those green eyes as well. Luca filed the thought away for later.