Chapter 11

SHANE

I, sit on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands. My wolf, Caspian, is howling in my head, his voice full of fury.

"You fool!" he says. "You've ruined everything! You can't just go around telling humans they're your mate!"

I wince as his words hit me like a punch to the gut. He's right. I've made a terrible mistake. And now I have no idea what to do.

“This is all because we’re weak now.” I frowned remembering how I fought with Roy and how I was bitterly beaten.

"I think we’re weak because of the curse," Caspian says, his voice low and rumbling. "We're weak because of the curse placed on us by the witches. The only way to break the curse is to find our true mate. And I think this human, this Harley, is our mate."

I feel a surge of disbelief, mixed with a flicker of hope. "A human? As my mate? That's ridiculous. How could a human ever be a mate for an alpha like me?"

"No more!" Caspian growls. "You're not powerful anymore. You can't keep going on like this. We need a mate, and I think Harley is the one. You have to trust me on this. I know it's hard to believe, but I have a feeling, deep in my bones, that she's the one we've been waiting for."

I close my eyes, trying to wrap my head around what he's saying. A human, my mate? It doesn't seem possible. But I can't deny the tug I feel, the pull toward her.

I sense someone approaching, and I fade into the shadows, my heart racing.

A woman walks through the door, humming a tune under her breath.

She's holding some papers in her hand, and she opens the drawer in the desk and puts them inside.

Then, she leaves, closing the door behind her. As soon as she's gone, I step out of the shadows and approach the desk.

I open the drawer and pull out the papers. They're bills - stacks and stacks of bills. My eyes widen as I take in the sight. What is this? Where did this money come from?

"She's trying to frame Harley!" Caspian snarls. "We should kill her, rip her to shreds!"

I feel my blood boiling, but I try to stay calm. Killing the woman won't solve anything. And what if I'm wrong? What if I'm jumping to conclusions and it's all a misunderstanding?

"No," I say to Caspian. "We can't kill her. We have to find out the truth." My wolf growls, frustrated.

"You're such a fool, Shane. She's playing you like a fool."

I ignore Caspian's taunts and focus on the situation at hand.

I have to find out what's really going on here. I know Harley wouldn't do anything illegal, but I can't just take her word for it. I have to investigate.

I start to think through my options. Who could I talk to about this? Who can I trust? I feel hopeless, like I'm completely lost.

I sink to the floor, feeling defeated. Then, I have an idea. There's one person who might be able to help me.

I step into the dimly lit bar, the smell of smoke and beer filling my nostrils.

The bartender eyes me warily as I take a seat at the bar. The other patrons stare at me, their faces filled with disgust. I'm not exactly welcome here.

But I don't care. I need to talk to the one person who can help me. The bartender approaches me, a wary look on his face.

"What'll you have?" he asks. I ignore his question and ask my own. "Where's jasper?"

The bartender drops the glass he's holding, and it shatters on the floor.

The room goes silent as everyone stares at me. I can feel the tension in the air, like a knife's edge. I know they don't like me being here, but I have to find out what's going on.

I have to find Jasper. The bartender looks at me, his eyes hard.

"You shouldn't have come here," he says. "You know what he'll do to you if he finds you." I meet his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Do you know who I am?” I asked. “If you do, you’ll listen to me.”

"I don't have to listen to you!" the bartender shouts. "I don't know where Jasper is, and I don't care! Now get out, before I call the police!"

I start to feel desperate. I need to find Jasper. I need to know what's going on.

"Please," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. "I just want to talk to him. I won't cause any trouble. I just need to find out the truth." The bartender's face is like stone. "I told you to leave," he says, his voice low and dangerous.

My eyes widen as I see the bartender's eyes start to glow blue.

Suddenly, I realize what's going on. The bartender is a werewolf. And not just any werewolf - he's a beta.

I'm surrounded by a pack of wolves, and they're all staring at me, their eyes glowing, their fangs bared. I'm outnumbered and outgunned.

My heart is pounding, and I'm starting to feel the first stirrings of panic.

What do I do now?

In a flash, I feel my body begin to change. My clothes tear as my body shifts, my bones cracking and popping as I become a wolf.

My body grows and changes, my senses heightening. When the transformation is complete, I'm on all fours, and I let out a loud, fierce howl.

The room is silent, the wolves staring at me in shock and fear. I look at them, my eyes glowing red, and I see them all bow their heads.

“What are you doing in the human world, Alpha Shane.” The bartender asked, he’s head still bowed.

I sighed.

“Where is the brothers of the west?” I asked, shifting back to my human form. All my power was drained from that roar. I can feel my wolf already dying inside.

“Jasper, Connor and kade.” The bartender look to the other male man beside him. “We can’t say Alpha king.”

The wolves look at each other, unsure of what to do. Before they can say anything, a new voice speaks up.

"My friends, stand up. You have nothing to fear from this wolf." The wolves look up, and I see Jasper standing in the doorway, his eyes glowing red. He's the alpha of the West pack, and he's my friend. The wolves all stand, still looking uncertain.

" Jasper," I say, my voice deep and rumbling.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"I came to find you and your brothers," I say, my eyes glowing red.

I let out another howl, this one higher-pitched, and they all drop to the floor, trembling.

"What's wrong with your howl?" Jasper asks, concern in his eyes. "It sounded different, less powerful than before. And what's happened? You look different, changed somehow."

I look down at myself, seeing the changes I've undergone since I last saw him.

"I've been through a lot, Jasper," I say. "I need your help. Can you help me find the rest of the brothers?" Jasper nods.

"Of course, friend. I'll help you however I can." I feel a surge of relief. I've finally found someone who can help me.

I turn to the wolves, who are still watching me with wary eyes.

"Thank you for your hospitality," I say, bowing my head. "I must be on my way. I have a long journey ahead of me, and I must find the brothers."

With that, I turn and head for the door, Jasper at my side. As we walk out into the night, I feel the weight of what I have to do pressing down on me.

I must find the brothers, and I must stop the power inside me from deteriorating. But first, I must find out what it is, and where it came from.