Brood of breasts

Dante Milburn

My eyes were so raw that I was certain they would explode into a ball of flames by the time I made it to the square.

Large white clouds were massed on the horizon, and red-leafed cherry blossom trees lined each side of the cobblestone path.

Emergency meetings like this usually meant one of the elite shifter wolves had gotten their knickers in a twist about something and were determined to hardball me in return.

The drill of chainsaws and the metallic clang of the iron masons working away at a new building made the square noisier than usual.

“Come on Dante. Let’s get this over with,” I sighed, giving myself an imaginary lat on the back as I ascended the steep stone stairs that opened to the double doors of the throne room.

Red uniformed guards with their spears and swords stood motionless on either side, bowing deeply when I crossed the threshold.

My eyes adjusted immediately to the dim throne court as the din of murmurs that filled the air a second earlier faded to silence.

The scent of dough and bacon filled the air and I felt my mouth water as I neared the roundtable where the seven were seate.

“Long live His Highness, King Alpha of the Infinity Pack,” The scribe announced in a sleepy monotone as the elders all stood, sitting only when I had settled at the head of the table.

They had been talking about me. That much I could gather from the stiff way they held themselves, their shifty eyes unable to hold my stare for longer than a second.

Laziel and Ronan were late. Odd. 

Caius’ minty scent drifted from behind me but I didn't turn back, already feeling his eyes burning a hole into the back of my neck.

“So? What’s the occasion?” I prompted when none of the men spoke up until the biggest of them shifted in his seat, drawing my eyes to him.

“We summoned you here, Alpha, to discuss our plans moving forward to make sure what happened last night never repeats itself.” 

“Seven thousand of our elite soldiers were lost to the war and The Darkness, Your Highness. Frederic came back infected, raving about ghouls in the mist. I had to put him down myself—” another wolf piped up, his long gold claws tapping the brownwood table in emphasis.

The lines of my face set into a grim mask when the scribe spread out a map before me.

“We were thinking along these packs for a mate for His Highness. One that would strengthen the pack from the merger—” Kefas started, stabbing his thick ugly fingers at the crisis-crossing red marks they had etched into the paper.

Now hold on a goddamned minute. Mate?

Amara Eldwood’s porcelain face flashed in my mind’s eye before I pushed up from my slouch, tearing her memory from my mind.

Why the fuck was I thinking about that reject now.

“That’s all fine and good, elders, but I never announced being in the market for a mate. I’m good. We will order recruits from all across Shadowville. Caius is well enough to handle the training—” I said gently, like I was dumbing down why I couldn't possibly take a mate to these men who had lived for centuries before I was even born.

“For moon’s sake! Will Caius also lead this pack in the next war?” Kefas snapped, slamming his mallet-sized fists down so hard on the table that the stationery jumped, sending doughnuts and paper flying.

“Someone’s finally having a mid-life crisis,” I muttered, making a snicker spread around the table and infuriating the hardass even more.

The veins in his broad, square-shaped head bulged angrily, throbbing as though he was about to blow a gasket.

“This is the problem with you, Milburn. You never fucking take anything seriously until its too late—” He spat, oblivious to the desperate tugs the other elders were giving him.

Okay, the doofus had my complete attention now.

“I’m taking your receding hairline seriously aren't I?” I quipped, unable to help myself when his jaw worked animatedly and his chest rose and fell with ragged breaths.

He looked like he was close to flying across the table and giving me a good shake. 

Except he couldn't do that…not if he didn't want to lose and eat all eleven of his fingers.

 “Not this war, not your father’s murder—” He growled, and the explosion in my ears was followed by dead silence.

I couldn't see, couldn't think, couldn't hear anything save for the rapid thump of my heart in my ears and the sickly sweet smirk that spread across the bastard’s chapped lips when he realised he’d hit a nerve.

A raw fucking one at that.

“What the fuck did you just say?” My voice was quiet, but it swept across the throne court like a tornado, vibrating the walls and rattling the glass of the sunroof in its pane.

My father’s murder was nothing to be taken lightly. Bringing it up like he was meant he was looking for a challenge.

One I wasn't sure I had the time to soothe.

“Perhaps it is time we start looking to one of your beloved brothers to lead this pack, Milburn.” the beady-eyed elder with the tattoo of a burning circle on his bald head said as he stood.

The silence that descended in the great court was almost deafening. 

I leaned forward on the throne chair, sending the seat screeching back when I pushed to my feet, away from the table.

“What did you say to me, Kefas?” I snickered, but the deadpan tone of my voice made the other six elders shift uneasily on their stools, uncomfortable with the heat that now suddenly strained the space between us.

Kefas stood, all seven-foot of his caveman frame towering over the rest of us.

He was big and powerful. That was why he was called the elite iron defender of the fortress.

Hell, a single punch from him would probably send my head flying into one of the ink black pillars that lined the red carpet.

A freaking wall. But he was slow, and I was not.

He had gotten bolder and bolder with his threats to impeach me over the years, but today, would be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“I’d say its time this pack casts off the emotional obligations to your dead father, and fight for what’s good for our pack.” He announced, glancing around the table as if expecting the other elders to support him.

Silence.

My fingers felt hot and the roar of adrenaline as it surged in my blood made it hard to control the dead-fish smile that I flashed the wolf.

It had been a long time since I’d killed an elder. One of the few blessed by the Moon Goddess herself with incredible powers.

I could still remember the night my father was murdered clear as day, and I was sure every damned wolf sitting at the table did too.

None of the sharks had ever forgiven me for it.

“The next time you speak to me in that tone would be your last. Kefas. Dare me, I beg you.” I gritted through a tight-lipped smile when his eyes narrowed on my face.

The tension in the space could have lit a goddamned dynamite for all it was worth, but the elder settled back in his chair after a beat, his lips twisted in fury as he reddened like a tomato.

“And if I catch even a lick of mutiny from any other wolf at this table, well, lets just say there won't be a warning next time.” I spat, glaring each of them in the eye until they turned away, clearly uncomfortable with being threatened.

There. Lets see how they liked that for a change.

“If you are uncomfortable with how I run this pack you are welcome to leave. Or challenge a duel. How you choose to die is completely up to you.” I continued, flinging the map in my hand at the table so that a few of them jolted, their faces twisting with disdain.

They were simmering. I could feel it. The ambush had put too many of them on the edge. I needed to do something…fast, or risk losing what threads of power I had left to bloody Kefas!

“We will discuss this some other time. Scribe. See to it that you send word of a ball to our ally packs. We’re going to need new recruits,” I growled, and a rush of murmurs spread through the string of wolves, calming the trepidation that had been crawling the entire day in my belly.

“Good save.” Caius mouthed when I turned back to see him leaning against the slick black walls behind me with his sword holstered at his hip.

His smile was free but didn't reach his gray eyes. 

No doubt a remainder of the rage I had felt from him when Kefas challenged me.

The old hothead would have charged at the elder immediately, but it was a good thing the Beta was learning some patience.

I would much hate to lose a brother now when things were going to shit town and back.

“Yo! Dante! Wait up!” Caius’ voice broke the haze of my thoughts and my ears perked up when I heard him jogging up behind me as I descended the long stone stairs.

Good grief, was it too much for an Alpha to want to catch a break in these parts? 

“Leave me alone, Caius. Why don't you go mooch off at the fortress tavern?” I said lazily over my shoulder, but the handsome wolf only rolled his eyes like I had suggested he stick his head in a sewer or something.

“Is there a reason why you wouldn't take a woman? I can find the best princesses for you if you’d like—” 

The smirk fell from my lips like diarrhea from a clenched bum when I realized the tight-lipped look he was giving me meant he was serious as an aneurysm.

One that I feared I was on the brink of getting.

“My love life is none of your business, Caius. I thought I made that clear—” 

The ache from fighting those mangled wolves had started to spread around my muscles, leave ache pockets so deep I was afraid our local acupuncturists wouldn't be able to get the knots free.

Whose side was he on damn it?

“Think of how much stronger this pack will be with a Luna….with an heir—” he nagged, dogging my heels like a mother hen and running his fingers through his hair in frustration when I scowled at him.

A woman and an heir. It was what every man wanted and I couldn't help the reflexive longing deep inside me for a bond like that.

But I knew better now, how some fantasies could quickly turn into a nightmare.

After what I had done, I wasn't capable of love. I didn't deserve one. 

The three wouldn't understand. 

“Geez, Caius, you sound like that old geezer Kefas. Tell you what, if the maidens are so perfect, then why don't you get yourself one and contribute your quota to our pack power—” I whispered with an air of fake conspiracy, clapping him on the shoulder before shoving past.

“This isn't about me and you know it. How long will you hold out because of a dead woman, Dante?” 

His words stamped into my heart like a searing iron and I felt my body stiffen as I slammed to a stop, not daring to face him for fear that I would lose my shit.

“You would not take Leila’s name again, or so help me God, Caius. I will kill you.” I breathed, hearing his sharp inhale before I stormed down the path.

I needed to clear my head, escape this madness even for a few minutes. And I knew just the place to do that.