Knight Rescue (Rise of the Wolf Nation Book 1) Read online

  “Tell us about the drugs,” Silas said.

  Ricardo froze and met his gaze. For the first time Silas saw and then smelled fear. “Drugs?”

  “Yes, your pack’s been experimenting with drugs. It’s causing problems, serious problems. Tell us,” he waved to the other Alphas. “About the drugs. We need to know so we can work together to fix the problem.”

  Ricardo swallowed hard and looked at his hands. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I smell a lie,” Hector said in a hard voice.

  “Talk to us, we’re pack,” Pedro said.

  “No one will mention anything that’s said in this room from this moment on,” Silas said looking at each Alpha. “But you’ll tell us about the drugs on your own. I prefer you share rather than tell what I know.”

  Ricardo swallowed hard and spoke slowly. Franz had been taking a drug that altered his human abilities. The man was super strong, had excellent hearing and vision. Initially, Ricardo assumed Franz thought he was human and played with the idea of selling drugs to humans to make more money. But he later discovered Franz knew about full-bloods and offered them drugs that would enhance their abilities as well. Unfortunately, the side effects caused them to lose control over their beasts, they became irrational and dependent on the drug. It had been a horrible mistake he admitted and wished he’d never started taking the drug.

  “Can you quit?” Pedro asked softly.

  “Yes and no,” Ricardo said. “Supposedly there’s a cure, something that breaks the grip of the drug but the main ingredient is in a cave that’s on Red Wolf’s turf. Franz wants us to get it so he can fix the problem. Otherwise I must take it every other day.”

  Silas looked at Hawke. “Do you have any of the drug?”

  Ricardo looked surprised and then nodded. He pulled a small yellow packet from his pocket and showed it to Silas.

  Hawke walked over, took and smelled it. He called out a few ingredients Silas didn’t recognize. “This smells familiar, something from the Liege days. I can probably make something to counteract it once I get back to the lab.”

  “I’ll send Umi to the States...Theron in Texas, in the morning with the sample, Passen can have it picked up from there. Work with him to get this done ASAP,” Silas said.

  “Sounds good, I’ll brief the Doc on my suspicions,” Hawke said.

  “Can we keep a sample of this to send to the lab so they can create an antidote? I promise we will fix this and send it to you for your pack. Breaking that addiction is the first order of business as their Alpha.”

  Ricardo stared at him with a shocked expression. “Yes, Sir. You’ll let me remain their Alpha? After everything I’ve said and done?”

  “It’s not my job to make changes on that level. As long as your pack wants you and pledge fealty to the national Alpha it’s good.”

  “Fealty?” Hector asked. “What does that mean?”

  “Every full-blood in this country will pledge loyalty, and obedience to the Goddess’ Alpha. He’ll have the ability to make sure they do or suffer the consequences. Understand once the Alpha is chosen, his abilities will be amplified. He will be able to call the pack together from all over, mind speak to everyone or just his Alphas and heal those who are sick.”

  “We’ve never been able to do that,” Jose said.

  “You will,” Silas said. He created mental links to each Alpha and then added Angus and Hawke to the connections. “Can you hear me?” Silas asked.

  Ricardo’s brow rose as a slow smile spread across his face. “Si...Si.”

  Pedro smiled as he nodded. Hector, Jose and Tonio all nodded as they answered, “Si.”

  Hawke and Angus nodded but remained silent.

  Next, Silas interconnected the Alphas with each other. Jose and Tonio, the brothers already shared mind links. They looked at Hector, then Pedro and Ricardo as they tested their links. Silas remained silent in the background as the five Alphas greeted each other via this more personal method of communication.

  Minutes later Silas called their attention. “This is the first step in unifying this country. You’re one pack. If one Alpha has a need for his people, he should be reach out to another Alpha for help. We don’t turn to humans, not to help pack.”

  The conversation turned to problems within the country and how to correct them. Silas, Angus and Hawke listened and offered advice sparingly, allowing the Alphas to make decisions regarding change and implementation within their packs.

  With the help of the Alphas, Silas had split the country into five regions, leaving most of the Alphas in charge of their current areas with increased acreage and the understanding that the future Alpha could change everything. Hours later, the Alphas left in an upbeat frame of mind and acceptance of the Goddess’ plan for their country.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  THE NEXT EVENING, SILAS allowed Umi to drive them to the park. The man had made the trip to Texas at the break of dawn and returned eager to work. Angus and Hawke had been downstairs dealing with full-bloods with questions regarding the competition tonight. The response had been overwhelmingly positive. Hawke and Angus spent a couple hours using the applications to set up the fights for tonight. There would be three at a time with the winner resting until much later for another elimination round. If they remained on schedule they’d finish with the first set of eliminations by midnight. Tomorrow, they’d have final rounds and hopefully choose an Alpha and regional Alphas. Then the Goddess could empower the new Alpha to bring the country together.

  He and Jasmine dealt with issues back home most of the day. There were issues she wanted to discuss with him and they briefly touched on which country, Mexico or Canada, should they review for expansion first. Jasmine wasn’t excited over the prospect but understood it was a part of his job that needed to be done. She voted for Canada because the trained Alphas, Knights and KnightForce agents, predominantly spoke English. They could send the other Alphas to school to learn Spanish while they worked on Canada.

  Sound reasons made it easy to agree and have her review the list of candidates for them to make decisions on later. Also, he’d send the Knights to Canada to assist in the transition. Jasmine suggested they announce their intentions to the Canadian pack, but Silas wasn’t sure and wanted time to review the situation first.

  Alphas from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, Costa Rico, Panama and El Salvador arrived at the hotel during lunch and asked to meet with him. He met with them an hour later to answer their questions and concerns. Their primary concern centered around an Alpha for Central America which Silas had no knowledge of and couldn’t address. Next, they wondered if the Goddess would place an Alpha in each of their countries. They agreed Silas and Barticus had been successful and wanted the same. Silas encouraged them to seek the Goddess for answers and directions on establishing a National Alpha. He warned the Alpha would need Her support otherwise it wouldn’t work. At the end of the two-hour meeting, several decided to participate in the Honduran challenge since their pack lands bordered on Honduras.

  Between consulting with Jasmine, meeting with the Central American Alphas, refusing to meet with any U.S. officers requesting an audience as well as reassuring the Honduran President his mission would benefit their country and accepting their promise to not interfere, Silas was ready to be done with this assignment.

  A large crowd greeted them on arrival. Silas waved and spoke to those closest as he made his way to the edge of the park. Umi followed with a large bag holding orange cones, poles and yellow caution tape. Working quickly while Angus and Hawke dealt with the challengers, Silas and Umi ran the tape the length of the general area where the competition would take place. A few volunteers approached offering assistance.

  Silas supervised the placing of poles and yellow caution tape five feet behind the first row of tape. Everyone would need to stand between the tape because he would close the bubble behind it.

  Next, he separated the three areas for the fights to occur with cones and
tape. Once he finished, he enclosed the area, those on the opposite side of the yellow tape ran to the front to get inside. Silas waited for Angus and Hawke to finish before allowing anyone else to enter.

  “Ready,” Angus said as he walked to toward Silas. “I’m bringing in the challengers, Hawke’s got the door.”

  “I’ll help at the door,” Silas said and opened another area for entrance. He stopped several humans who tried to enter.

  Franz and a few other humans stood in the distance watching. Silas had refused a personal meeting with him earlier. He would have to do something about Franz, the man was bent on enslaving wolves. Ricardo mentioned the blood samples Franz constantly collected, and promised not to be involved with the man any longer. Silas wasn’t sure how long that would last, Hawke spoke to Matt regarding the drug and hoped they could get something soon.

  Silas was pleased to see Solo and two of the gang members from the night before. The crowd was much larger tonight which wasn’t a surprise. Wolves loved watching fights as much as fighting. Silas allowed those who were in line to enter even though it was a few minutes after the start time. Late comers were running toward the event when he closed it. Silas dimmed the bubble on the outside to prevent anyone from seeing the challenges.

  Angus set up the first round of fights in each ring. Hawke oversaw the ring to Silas’ left, and Angus watched the one on the right. Silas’ first contestants had to be two high school students. Once the fight began the two fought in earnest, but nowhere near what was needed as Alphas. It was difficult to choose a winner, they were both bad, neither had been knocked out. Silas choose one and gave his name on the roster for another elimination round.

  And so the night went on. Angus stopped a contestant from shifting early by grabbing him by his neck and shaking him hard. Hawke and Silas had no real problems with the first rounds. The crowd grew more excited and in the enclosed area tempers flared. When the second fight broke out in the crowd, Silas shifted to his two-footed beast and yelled. “Stop this shit.”

  Either everyone was shocked to see him in this form or the noise in such close quarters hurt their ears to the point they covered them. Bottom line, they stopped shoving and fighting for the rest of the eliminations.

  Solo surprised Silas by winning against another pup in the elimination round. He had heart and fought with skill. At the end of the elimination rounds, Silas made an announcement.

  “Tomorrow, should be the next elimination rounds. Well done to all of you who’ve made it to the next level. Alphas Hector, Pedro, Ricardo, Jose, Tonio and several others will be joining us tomorrow as challengers.” Groans, cheers and whoops filled the air. Silas waved down the noise.

  “Honduras requires a strong Alpha, and you will have one. He will be gifted to fill the position. Some of you are thinking when I leave and a new Alpha is in place things will return to normal. I’ve even heard some of you fear for my life and that of any Alpha placed in a position of power.” Silence filled the space as everyone watched him. “Let me be clear, the Alpha position may start with these challenges, that’s for you. But the Alpha is chosen by the Goddess. She empowers me, and will empower your Alpha to do the job of keeping the pack safe, keeping our secrets safe, and give him or her the wisdom to carry out her dictates. Don’t worry about your Alpha, save that for your enemies.”

  The crowd cheered and clapped.

  “Go home. Tomorrow we start the challenges in the afternoon.” He dismissed the crowd and watched for trouble. Angus and Hawke spoke to the winners from tonight while Silas listened to the pack as they left. Umi pulled up the poles and took down the tape with the help of a couple volunteers.

  In the distance, he sensed Franz and the bitch, Raven’s sister Tasha, watching. “We need to eliminate Franz, he’s a problem,” Silas said to Angus and Hawke.

  “Ricardo didn’t check in today,” Angus said without looking up.

  “Franz wanted a one on one with you, wonder what he wants?” Hawke said while sending a challenger off with instructions.

  He didn’t care what Franz wanted, the idea that this man used drugs on pack angered Silas.

  “What about the three Red Wolf guys who used explosives, what do you want to do about them?” Angus asked.

  “Let the new Alpha handle them,” Silas said while scanning the area for trouble.

  “A bloody start might not be a good idea,” Angus said. “We could make them disappear, save him the headache.”

  Silas didn’t respond. He followed Umi to the car and scanned it before the servant reached it. “Wait Umi.”

  “Check it Hawke,” Silas said when Umi stopped and looked at him.

  Hawke moved through the crowd and walked around the car. “Some asshole placed an explosive device under the car. You’ll need to surround it, before I can move it.”

  “We’ll wait until the park’s almost empty before we move it,” Silas said as he scanned the car again, located the device and wrapped it in layers of protective energy. Then he and the others leaned against the car and discussed the fights as his anger simmered.

  There were innocents in the clearing, children and adults. For someone to attack him was one thing, to do something to harm pack in an open setting like this another. He stooped and pulled the device from the undercarriage. It was barely visible, he’d wrapped it so tight.

  “What should we do with it?” He looked at Hawke.

  “If you can contain the explosion, detonation would work best, save time too,” Hawke said. “Or I could try to defuse it.”

  “Get something to put it in, a box or bottle, something I can enclose.” Silas looked around the car.

  “Sir, La Patron, there’s something wrong with Ricardo,” Alpha Hector said. “He called to me in the last hour but has not responded to me. I’m on the way there with Pedro. Can you meet us there?”

  Silas placed the energy wrapped device in a small brown corrugated box Umi found in a trash bin and enclosed it in a tight bubble. He pulled energy from a few of his Alphas to make sure the explosion was contained.

  “We will meet you there, Hector.” Silas looked at Hawke. “Now what? How does it detonate?”

  Hawke took the box, shook it and tossed it across the park. It went off in mid-air, like a fire-cracker. The sides of the box expanded but didn’t break.

  Silas slapped the back of the car. “Umi, head back to the hotel, we’ve got some things to take care of and will see you later.” Umi’s room on their floor was automatically shielded against anyone entering except him.

  “Yes, Sir,” Umi said as he slid in behind the wheel.

  “Let’s go,” Silas said and took off running toward the mountains. Angus and Hawke followed without questions. Once they reached the forest, Silas shifted into his wolf and they headed toward Ricardo’s home.

  SECURITY WAS LAX WHEN Silas arrived at Ricardo's. He sensed a large concentration of full-bloods near the mansion and headed in that direction.

  “Ricardo, this is La Patron, I’m on the way. Hang on, I’ll help you.”

  “Si, Gracias,” came the weak reply.

  Minutes later Silas leaped onto the balcony and walked into a large room. Pack members gasped and pointed as the three of them padded across the floor to Ricardo who lay limp and sweating on a sofa.

  “He’s in distress from the drugs,” Hawke said.

  Silas morphed to human and stood over Ricardo. He touched his stomach, and sent healing energy through the Alpha. The other Alphas arrived causing a stir with the Sups.

  “How are you my friend?” Pedro asked Ricardo.

  “Feeling better by the second,” Ricardo looked at Silas with wonder in his gaze. Drops of sweat loaded with the poison exited Ricardo’s body and hit the floor

  Pack members watched amazed as Ricardo sat up, his color returned and a smile on his face. “Gracias, La Patron. Gracias,” he said. He met Silas gaze. “I tried to quit the drug on my own, I don’t want it in our pack. It knocked me down, in truth I thought I was dying.
How can I tell them to stop the use when it devastates us so?”

  “The sample was flown to my lab in the States this morning, give them another two or three days. Once we have the solution, then take them off.”

  Ricardo nodded and stood. He looked at the other three Alphas who came to his aid, embraced them and offered refreshments.

  “Biggest wolf I’ve ever seen,” a pack member said.

  “Never felt that much energy before either,” another whispered.

  “I bet no one ever challenges him,” someone said.

  Silas ignored the chatter and searched for the pack members using the drugs. He identified 22 in the immediate area and asked Ricardo how many users were in his pack.

  “Around 52,” Ricardo said.

  “Which means whoever controls the drug controls those members,” Silas said. “Franz is the only supplier?”

  “Si.”

  “Surround yourself with members who don’t use the drug, expect Franz to make a power move by calling the 52 who depend on him to either serve him or start another pack. Prepare for war in your pack,” Silas said.

  Ricardo's eyes widened. “He’s human military.”

  “He’s been setting this up for a while, he wants what he cannot have, to be a full-blood and human. Leading a pack of drugged full-bloods the next best thing.” Silas paused. “Of course, I cannot allow it.”

  “Por favor, please do not destroy them, my niece, nephew work closely with him, so many others who took the drug because of me, I ask for mercy on their behalf,” Ricardo begged.

  “Once the antidote for the drug arrives, everyone will be given a choice to take it and be rid of the poison. Those who don’t cannot be allowed to disrupt the pack.” Silas spoke through the links to all the Alphas, Angus and Hawke. The Alphas nodded slowly and looked at Ricardo who eventually agreed.