The Pack & the Ruffian

Amber sat at her desk, it was barely five in the morning, she was cranky, tired, and pissed off. She held the letter that Jane had given her as she'd walked into the Gamber, Amber/Garrison Security offices. She knew she should call Sam, let her read the newest threat from the woman who'd sent them a message through two men a year ago. Whoever she was, she'd gone quiet, and they'd had twelve months of peace and quiet. It seemed now, that that time was over, and they would have to step up their search for her. Their last information on her was that she was a Ruffian, a rare breed of immortal that solved their boredom by torturing and sometimes killing their victims. Usually women, with rare mention of men. No one really knew what they were. Except that you don't want to be the one caught in their web.Amber threw the letter on her desk and stood to walk to her window. She looked out to where Mya trained with the Gamber guards. She noticed that Sam and Jane had joined the guards

Sam watched as Mya punched a boxing bag, one was already lying broken on the floor. Sweat dripped from her brow and ran in rivulets down her back. Her hair, usually blue and black, was long, unkept and most of the blue had grown out. Her bare hands were bruised, and bloodstains stayed behind after each punch. Sam knew she’d been at the bags for over an hour. Taylor, who’d dealt with her grief by taking care of everything alone, had asked Sam to check on Mya. Sam understood that Mya was grieving, but Taylor was too. And leaving her with all the arrangements, and dealing with Jane’s things, was unacceptable.Sam leaned against the door frame and watched as Mya tore through another bag, and then hang another one. “You should take a break. Have some water, at least.” Mya gave no indication that she heard Sam, just adjusted her stance

Sam stood at the window of the conference room the next morning. She held a steaming cup of coffee and a bacon and cheese sandwich. Amber sat at the table with the same, talking softly with Morgan. Alex, Hunter, and Gem sat at the other end of the table. They were waiting on Michelle, Ash, Mya, and Taylor. Sam wanted to keep Mya and Taylor out of this, or as far as she could, but she knew Mya would never agree to it. She wanted to keep everyone safe. She thought back to the call she’d received late yesterday. Simile’s voice was still clear in her head.“I’m so sorry Sam, I’m just going to say this, but please know, I wouldn’t do it if I had no other option.” “What’s going on, Simile?” Sam asked. “An ex of mine, Paine, came to me tonight. She said th

Paine stood on her balcony. The smoke billowed around her head as she looked out over the expanse of her property. She’d bought the old ghost house since it was far from any neighbors. And she had privacy for her, not so quiet, extracurricular activities. She took another drag of her vape and blew the smoke out slowly. She knew she should get back to her current plaything. But the night was crisp and clear. And the man wasn’t going anywhere anyway. She chuckled to herself. Paine had been good. She’d not taken a treat for weeks. But tonight, when he’d followed her into the alley after she’d left the bar, it had been like fate. With Simile keeping her end of the bargain, she’d dropped Davey off at the bar as she’d promised. Unharmed. She hadn’t realized how tough it would be not to hurt the child. But it had taken all her self-control not to even give him a little scar. This man was her reward. Or at least that’s how she thought of

An evolved Amber.After Amber spoke to Dom and settled things for Simile and Emily, she decided to find Jake and bring him back to Silver Moon. As soon as she was out of their eye line, she called on her Lycan. She had no idea how it would react, or if it even could trace Jake’s scent. But she had to try. How she was going to convince Sam to go home without her, she’d worry about that when the time came. Fully shifted, she stood on her hind legs and tried to find the middle ground between her mind and her Lycan’s. She needed to merge them, needed to get comfortable with what she was. She’d use the time it would take to find Jake to do it. She could feel the wolf fight the vampire. And the vampire fights the wolf. She needed them to merge, all of them. The fae genes seemed to be dormant and trying to stay out of the other’s way. Amber shook her wolf-like head, spit flew as she growled. She could smell Jake, knew his direction and how fast he was m