Aryn

The disgusting human race. The weakest of all ancestral links, the easily disposable and exploitable. My kind wanted nothing to do with them except it was for the occasional slave market dealings or the underbelly of illegal sex work. That's what I hated most about them, their inability to fight against their oppressors, not that they could ever win. But the chase got uninteresting after a while. The willing prey, there was no fun in that.

However, what a bitter irony all this was. Karma the bitch was acting up again because right now the weak, willing prey was becoming the clever, little hyena. And the ever growing thorn in the side of the lycanthrope race.

"Are you certain the power box is there?" I growled out, for the umpteenth time, to my beta, Roy.

"Positive Alpha," he momentarily took his eyes off the road to nod at me before he turned back, "My sources say that Linda Rodriguez, the famous archaeologist, found it on one of her expeditions to Greece," he swerved the car into another street and stopped at the red light.

"Tell me again why an archaeologist would want to meet at a mafia den," I questioned, unconvinced.

"She's a cover up for a dangerous tomb raiding operation," he smirked and I raised an eyebrow, signalling that he should continue. "They are known as the association of tomb raiders, T.A.B.R for short," he explained.

"Oh, how ingenious," I said with a wry smile and roll of my eyes.

"The group is basically a melting pot of different nationalities and races, from Mexicans to Asians, Africans, Caucasian, the whole lot. But they are not gathered for a world meeting, no, they are one of the dirtiest, meanest, ruthless, complex, connections of mafia out there," he declared theatrically. I swear his talents were wasting away as my beta.

"And yet you managed to crack their connection," I pointed out with a drawl.

"Too many cooks spoil the broth, you know and I happen to be the best IT tech out there." He replied, smugly. "Anyway, they were extremely lucky with this find," he said, referring to the power box. "Initially their plan was to raid King Alexander's tomb."

"Like as if they ever could," I mumbled, turning to look out the window. The tomb was the most secured and anybody that ever dared it never came out alive to tell the tale.

"Well the block heads went with it anyway," he continued with a shrug of his shoulders. "Their plan was to dig an underground tunnel to the back entrance of the tomb where security was lax," he explained. "But the lucky bastards stumbled upon the power box instead and thought it would make a worthwhile investment than the imaginary riches of the tomb"

"A bird in hand is worth two more in the bush," I commented, dryly and turned to look at him.

"Something like that," he furrowed his forehead in concentration and turned into a dark alleyway full of dumpsters. Then he turned off the ignition and faced me. "So from the top. Who are you today?' he asked, expectantly.

When Roy had found out that the T.A.B.R had got a hold of the ancient white-wolf power box, he had researched Linda and found out all about her, including her apparent addiction to tinder. So he had posed as Josh the nerdy, lonely, twenty-three-year-old. Five years younger than his true age. She had fallen for the bait and they had gone out on several dates much to my annoyance when I found out.

I needed to have the power box as soon as I heard of it, but Roy had convinced me to go with the stealthy and deadly tiger tactic. Here, we infiltrate them through Linda, the most important role player but the weakest. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Then through that link we would gain some kind of access into the group. I would have loved nothing more than the attack and kill strategy, humans were weak and nothing against my pack and I. However, this would only draw the attention of the other four wolf clans and the power box had to remain a secret.

So here I was seated in Roy's car, dressed as Abraham Lincoln and about to pose to his girlfriend, Linda, as his aristocrat older brother interested in the power box for my vast artistic collection. The humans didn't know just how powerful and important that power box was to the lycanthrope race and this was our advantage. It also didn't hurt that Linda was Marcus Rodriguez daughter, the current leader of the T.A.B.R

"Louis de Cardevac," I sighed, irritatedly. "Your stinking, rich, older brother all the way from Paris," I said, annoyed with a fake, exaggerated French accent.

"We still have to work on that French accent," he mumbled disapprovingly with a hand to his chin.

"Would you get out of this car and lead the way before I package you and send you off to France on a mission to perfect their accent," I growled, warningly.

"Oh sure Alpha," he carried the black suitcase hurriedly and jumped up from his seat. The sudden movement caused him to bump his head before getting out of the car and turning back he cursed the car roof furiously.

He should be cursing his clumsiness, it was the begin and end of all his problems.

I got out of the car slowly and tried not to yank off the stupid bow tie that was currently stopping my air supply. The waistcoat fitted like a glove against my tall broad torso and the black suit pants hugged the length of my lower body. My hairstyle, old school bad boy cut as Roy called it, was tapered short at the sides with medium length hair on top.

With each step that I took the top hair would occasionally fall into my eyes and on my face was a pair of ridiculously styled but expensive glasses. Roy even made sure I had the pocket watch dangling from one of my waist coat buttons for good measure.

Seeing as I had agreed to let him dress me, he even went as far as suggesting that I get the walking cane and top hat but one look at my murderous expression was enough to stop him in his tracks. Wolves. You give them a little liberty and they push you past your limit.

"I hope for your sake this plan works," I whispered threateningly as I neared him. I was irritated with the fancy hairstyle and outdated clothes and the hard bob of his Adam's apple signified that he understood my warning loud and clear. Then he turned and led the way out of the dark alley and towards the club.

The club's billboard, Ecstasy paradise commonly known as its alias Big Joe, was lit up with neon lights and next to it was the statue of a bimbo whose lightning made it look as if she was crossing and uncrossing her legs repeatedly. Around the club, numerous teenaged humans spread out either making out or smoking. They laughed without a care in the world and momentarily they forgot the pain of their broken homes, bullying problems, school stress, psychological battles and all that stuff. The woes of the world, it was not discriminatory to any race and affected us all.

We reached the entrance of the bar and entered. The smell of cigarettes was much more overpowering here and the artificial perfume scents were just as nasty. Another thing I hated about this race was their obsession with horrid smelling chemicals. Perfumes, washing detergents, cologne and soaps. Just about everything had to be chemicalized.

Apart from the smell, the interior decoration was quite upscale. Tufted velvet covered walls lined the sides of the corridor, providing insulation against the noise coming from further within the bar. The chandeliers positioned some space apart shone down from the titled ceiling and the faux wool plush carpet provided a soft ground to walk on.

The long corridor was divided by a sliding, non-transparent door and in front of it standing akimbo was the bouncer with his chest puffed out and a number of tattoos covering half of his face and forearm. Humans surely thought of him as intimidating, a force to be reckoned with but coming up to only half my full height, he resembled a penguin to me.

We walked closer to him and feelings of inadequacy emitted in strong waves off his body, it was a scent I was all too familiar with and one that gave me immense joy. He then stood even taller than his height and cracked a forced smirk. He was sizing us up.

"Fancy gent and his servant," he said, referring to Roy and I. "The theatre is next door," he sneered with his fingers pointing back to the exit.

Did I really have to wear this stupid suit, I growled down the mind-link.

Apologies Alpha but the realer the better, Roy explained. Don't worry I'll take care of him, he added.

I wasn't having any of this. Been in this stupid suit was humiliating as it is and all because we wanted something from a human. Now to top it all off, this bouncer thought he was a worthy opponent of mine.

"Move aside, midget," I growled, cutting off Roy's chance to talk.

The bouncer wasn't expecting my reaction because I saw and smelt the fear that emitted from his body and his stance momentarily faltered as he looked from me to Roy.

"I'm Josh, Linda's boyfriend," Roy said, stepping in to calm the air with a relaxed smile. "And this is my brother Louis. Didn't Linda tell you...." his words were cut off by a loud piercing scream. I turned back and sighted an excited Linda rushing towards Roy whom she enveloped in a bone crushing hug.

At last, retribution for this horrible clothes and hairstyle.

"You came! Daddy would be so excited to meet you," she squealed. "I thought you weren't even going to show up but you did," she said in disbelief. "And your hair," she noted with her mouth agape at Roy's new haircut and gushed. "You trimed it for me?' She asked, surprised.

He had traded his long dark locks for a medium length cut.

"Yup babe, just for you," he replied, his voice dropping even lower than normal. I was starting to think he was enjoying this act.

Linda was tall, almost as tall as Roy, at five-feet-nine with blonde hair, brown-chestnut eyes and a very bad fashion sense. Her biker mini-skirt was several sizes too small, it hugged her hips in a stranglehold and barely covered her butt cheeks. Her see-through, low cut, red crop-top outlined the mounds of her breasts and the pink rosebuds of her erect nipples. This body display was an eyesore and it didn't help that she had lathered a generous amount of perfume and whatever other chemicalized concoction she owned, over her whole body.

She abruptly turned towards me and gasped. "Is he your aristocrat brother?" she whispered to Roy.

"Yep, the one and only Louis de Cardevac," he replied, smiling.

"Hi I'm Linda, Josh's girlfriend," she beamed, hopping excitedly on her feet. This sudden movement caused her breasts to bounce up and down, almost escaping out of their tight hold.

"Ah yes, pleasure to meet you," I said, turning up the charm and with it my fake French accent.

Surprisingly, she fell for it and beamed brightly. Then she moved closer and leaned into me.

"I heard you are interested in that weird looking box," she whispered, winking at me as if it was a secret code. I looked towards Roy who smiled sheepishly.

She had to be the stereotypical dumb blonde huh, I drawled down the mind-link and blocked it before he could answer. Then I whispered back seductively.

"Yes, I'm very much interested in it, darling." The smell of her arousal permeated the air and she moved back, dazed, to peer at me from lust filled eyes. "Shall we?' I said, breaking her gaze.

"Oh yeah sure," she sputtered confused and turned towards the bodyguard who quickly opened the door.

We entered into the inner bar and to one side was the drink bar lined with high stools. Around it was a small crowd staring in awe at the bartender who performed tricks with the mixing of the drinks. The huge dance floor was filled with a mass of bodies grinding and swaying in time to the music. To the other side of the bar were several LED pole dancing platforms placed in front of an arrangement of corner lounge couches. The pole dancers maneuvered their bodies expertly around the pole, performing different acrobatic moves to the excited hollering of their patronizers.

Suddenly, I was hit with an unusual sweet smell of blossom flowers, it wafted up to my nostrils and my wolf, Adolf, growled in satisfaction.

Find the source of the scent, he chanted pacing about restlessly in his cage. The scent was so intoxicating and strong. It assaulted my senses with its sweet allure, beckoning me towards it in a siren call.

"This way," Linda called out above the music, pulling me out of my trance as she climbed up the stairs into another part of the bar. I reluctantly turned my attention away from the scent, much to my wolf's dismay and followed her up.

Any idea where we are going, I mind-linked Roy.

The VIP lounge, he answered.

True to word we arrived at the VIP lounge which overlooked the main bar below. A couple of black suited bodyguards surrounded an individual, who sat to the far left of the lounge on a modern leather sofa with his upper body hidden in the shadows. His left hand was placed on the sofa arm and his red ruby ring glittered in the dimly lit room.

In between his index finger and thumb finger sat a gold plated hookah mouthpiece. The hose was attached to an equally gold plated, ancient North American totem hookah. The spoils of their loot, I see. The thick smoke from the hookah hovered over his head and grew in size as he continued to puff out.

Your clients? I sneered down the mind-link.

Understanding the meaning behind my words Roy was quick to answer. I would never advise a display of stolen wealth and thick smoke tricks to assert an air of dominance.

I looked towards the half-hidden individual again and noticed that attached to his ruby ring was a chain which led to a collared woman, kneeling by his feet. She was naked save for the silver plated collar on her neck and on her breasts were nipple rings pierced into her white flesh. Her head was bowed in submission and her red-hair was held in place above her head with a bun stick.

"Daddy they're here," Linda announced loudly before she hopped to stand in between Roy and I.

There was a moment of silence before Marcus Rodriguez shifted his weight on the couch to drop the hookah mouthpiece on the glass table and I caught a glimpse of his hardened face and direct stare.

"The long awaited guests are finally here,' he drawled. "I was starting to think the French gentleman was not interested anymore"

"It's Monsieur Louis..." I corrected and from my peripheral vision I saw Roy smile slightly at my supposedly improved French accent. "...to you Marcus and I'm here now so let's get down to business," I finished and took my seat opposite him.

I was not eager to sit on the soiled and dirty couch used by lord knows how many people. However, I was an Alpha and I was certainly not going to stand and be addressed by a mere human.

Roy came over to stand beside the couch where I was seated and Linda stood there with her mouth agape. It was either in awe or because she was frightened that I had called her father by his name and that I had the audacity to sit when I hadn't been told to. I could care less.

"Rude, impudent, impatient French gentleman who has done his research. I see," he mused in his thick spanish accent.

He waited for my reply and when he saw that none was forthcoming he moved closer to the edge of his couch and bared his face to peer closely at me. His movement caused the chain attached to his ring to yank forward and with that the red-haired sex slave moved swiflty to his side. She was sure to have carpet burns when all this was over.

I saw the slight surprise that crossed his features at my huge, domineering built but he quickly masked it up with a slight conceited grin.

He was a man approximately in his late fifties with dark dyed hair, blue stealy eyes and a jagged scar running down across his eyes and over to his jaw bone. His forehead was high and tight, a result of his face lift surgery, and this gave him an expressionless demeanour. For his smiles never reached his eyes courtesy of the immovable forehead skin.

He could have fixed his scar, I thought down the mind-link and Roy tried to conceal a growing smirk.

"Impatient to get this done and over with are we," he commented.

"My dumb brother finally proved he was useful," I drawled, pointing towards Roy. "By finding a secret desire of mine, the antique box which is now in your possession," I stated matter-of -fact.

"It's a pricey antique box," he clarified, smirking at me. Once again he looked like a chucky doll, smiley on his lower face with a haunted expression on his upper face.

"I would go to any lengths to fulfil my artistic desires," I replied with a bone chilling smirk of my own. "Name your price,"

He studied me intently for another minute before he spoke up. "You didn't show up on any of our searches. Why would that be? If you're such a big shot in Paris," he enquired.

Roy had stated that in order to make our story legit and believable, creating an online presence with history and backdates would be useful but I had waved that off. I was certainly not going to such lengths for anybody much less humans.

"I love my privacy just as you love yours," I replied, unfazed and stared coolly into his eyes. "A bar as a facade against your much dirtier work," I mused, turning around to look at the room.

His face widened in shock because he thought I was referring to his tomb raiding business and he looked towards his daughter, no doubt wanting to know if she had slipped up. Sensing their boss' apprehension, the bodyguards moved to form a defensive stance around him ready to shoot at us if we even thought of a move.

They are not supposed to know that we know the truth, Roy said frantically down the mind-link. Did we really have to get into the bar only to go the attack and kill route?

Hold your horses, I replied coolly. We are earning their trust.

"I didn't think your underground sex slave auction bussiness was going to elicit such a reaction," I chuckled softly and stood up.

One guard moved to tackle me and I counterattacked swiftly throwing him over my shoulder. Linda fell to her knees, her face to the ground as she trembled in fear and Roy took on a defensive stance, ready to attack if they moved again.

I turned to look at Marcus who signalled for the guards to stop with a raise of his palm. "It's another one of my secret pleasures," I continued as if nothing had happened. "And how thoughtful of you to have both," I praised earning a slight smile from Marcus. "Paris is a wonderful city, yes, with lots of wonderful enterprises like yours and being away for a day was starting to tear at me," I lamented. "And trust me, I know a place where uninhibited sexual desires can be fulfilled when I see one," I motioned to the collared woman kneeling by his feet and she instinctively shied away from me, moving backwards.

Her movements were halted by Marcus who yanked her back and grabbed her hair roughly, forcing her to look up at me.

"You like what you see," he asked, grinning widely.

"Very much," I growled lowly. "My stay here won't be so boring after all,"

Marcus laughed out loud and stood up. He was stockily built with muscled arms and thighs.

"I like a gentleman who loves the spoils that he can afford," he said with his arms outstretched in an attempt to shake me.

"What's your price?" I demanded referring to the power box. This play of trust was getting on my nerves.

"3 million US dollars," he said coolly with his arms still outstretched.

I had guessed as much, the greedy money bag would charge exuberantly for the box. However, it was worth it and I would still get my money back. They didn't just know it yet.

"Where is it?" I asked.

"You'll see it when I get my money," he replied unmoved.

"I better," I warned threateningly and his stance faltered a little.

I snapped my fingers and Roy came immediately to my side placing the black suitcase on the glass table. "I like you," Marcus remarked, gaining back his demeanor with his arms still outstretched. "A man who thinks ahead," he mused and when he noticed that I was not going to shake his hands anytime soon he signalled one of his guards with a raise of two fingers and moved to sit down.

"Why don't you relax while he counts the money," he said referring to the bodyguard who was now counting the money with a machine. "And I could call up some willing beautiful ladies to fufil your every desires," he smirked, petting his red-haired sex slave's hair.

"Business before pleasure," I replied, walking to stand by the balcony that overlooked the dance floor while Roy stood back to oversee the transaction.

I surveyed the dance floor which was starting to thin out as dawn began to break. We had spent too much time here. I moved to turn away from the railings when I caught the whiff of that sweet, smelling blossom scent. It was mixed with lavender and smelt like a sunny day in spring.

Adolf, who had been ignoring me ever since I dragged him away from the intoxicating scent to climb up the stairs, started to move about restlessly in his mental cage urging me to go down and find the source of the scent.

Find scent, find scent, he growled. I was confused as to why he was acting like this because we were on human territory and humans didn't carry a scent. Unless it was a wolf. But it wasn't just any wolf, this scent was unique and truth be told it was pushing my wolf and I towards the edge.

I moved my gaze slowly across the bar and as if on cue it came to rest on a petite female dressed in khaki-coloured cargo pants with a black fitted top, her silvery-white hair was tied up in a ponytail and her slender neck continued upwards to meet a delicately formed jawline with pink heart-shaped lips and enchanting green eyes.

Those eyes that started back at me in awe as she mouthed a silent word. Beside her was another she-wolf who tugged at her arm, desperate to get her away.

The whole world stopped and I failed to hear Roy's sharp intake of breath as he sighted the power box or Marcus gleeful laugh when he announced that the money was complete and for the sex-slaves to come in.

Because I only focused intently on her and growled; Mine.
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