The Pack's Nemesis (Quirin's Story) novel Chapter 1

Quirin

Fucking Jasper is attacking my pack. Again. When is this asshole going to realize that he can’t defeat me. This time, he must have gotten some friends to help him, but they aren’t the scrappy fighters that my warriors and I are. Other than me, my pack is made up solely of rogues, the misfits that the other packs kicked out. Okay, yeah, some of them are dangerous and I have to keep them in line, but they’re deadly, and Jasper needs to learn that no amount of money is worth your life.

When I claimed my father’s pack at eighteen, I learned just how hard he’d worked to ensure my financial stability when I took over the pack. I know a lot of the wars that he fought were to obtain better pack lands, easier and cheaper access to water, electricity, and other necessities. He did it all for me. And now, I am by far, the richest Alpha I’ve ever met. I'm richer than Henry and richer than Warren. You’d never know it to look at me and my pack members. We don’t dress like we’re rich, we don’t strut around like we’re high and mighty like the rich do, but my pack wants for nothing.

More than anyone, the rogues understand protecting what’s theirs. It’s another reason that I took them all in. They’re fantastic fighters to have lasted in the wild on their own, which is the primary reason that I allow them into my pack. Not only that, but they also understand the value of protecting what they have. And what they have is this pack, a home, and me as their Alpha.

I don’t know how fucking Jasper gets away again, but I know that I practically ripped his leg off this time. I’d chase after him and kill him, but I have a birthday party to attend tonight.

Connor and Kennedy Hill turned eighteen today. Connor will take over the pack from his father, Alpha Warren, who I despise with every bone in my body. I’ve refused to create an alliance with him because the man killed my father. I watched him do it. That memory is burned into my brain and is one of the worst moments of my life.

My father was a great man. Alpha Harold told me that he was greedy, that he was responsible for most of the pack wars that occurred back then. But I know that he did it all for me. My father loved me. I definitely know that. My father loved me more than his own life, giving his life for mine. My mother wasn’t that way. She protected me, but once she realized that I was safe and she lost her status in the pack, she let herself wither away and die. In the end, she loved her status more than she loved me.

‘Alpha, what should we do with the dead?’ Kier, my Beta asks.

I look around, pleased that my warriors killed so many of Jasper’s pack or the pack members of those he recruited to attack me.

“Pile them up and dump them outside Jasper’s pack lands,” I growl.

Kier smiles. “With pleasure, Alpha.”

“I have to go get ready for this fucking party. Are you good?” I ask.

He snorts. “That should be fun.”

“An Alpha’s duties never end,” I say.

“Do yourself a favor, Alpha. Find yourself a sweet little pussy to bury yourself in.”

I grunt in response and head up to my room. While I don’t shy away from a woman who wants me, I’ve never fucked anyone in Alpha Warren’s pack. It’s not because I care what he thinks about me. I could give a shit what Warren thinks of me. It’s her. That little witch of a woman who has always seen way too much.

I climb into the shower, letting the blood and guts wash off of me as I think about her. Kennedy. I’ve watched her grow into a woman who far outshines her mother. Luna Yara is beautiful, no one can deny it. But Kennedy? That girl is something to behold. I guess today she’s technically a woman.

I smile as I think about her. She hates it that I still call her 'pup'. I’ve long since stopped thinking of her as a pup. That ended the first time I woke up, having a wet dream about that beautiful woman. Maybe because of that, I became even more antagonistic about calling her pup when I saw her.

And her scent, her sweet citrus and mint scent has only gotten stronger and more mouthwatering as she’s gotten older. What hasn’t changed is her watchfulness and her insightfulness. The woman sees everything, far more than she should. And for some reason, her focus seems to be almost entirely on me.

I should despise it, I should be mad or irritated that she’s constantly watching me, noticing me in ways that others don’t. But from her, I almost crave it. I love that such a beautiful girl, a beautiful woman, watches me.

I’ve seen the others falling all over themselves to get to her. Kennedy, being Connor’s twin sister and the oldest of the Alpha females in Warren's pack, is much sought after by other Alphas. I know that even Henry, who has yet to find his mate, wants her. But I’ve seen her ignore their advances just to watch me. I’m not sure that she knows how often I see her watching me, but every time I’m in the room with her, I keep an eye on her, watching her watching me.

And every time I see her, that golden glow around her, that beautiful light of sweet and delicate inner beauty glows brighter and brighter.

Part of me hopes that she finds her mate tonight. The other part of me wants to kill anyone who comes close to taking her from me. That part comes from Raif, my wolf. He’s been enamored with Kennedy since she was a pup. He’s snubbed every other female we’ve ever seen, and goddess forbid that I talk about taking a chosen mate. He snarls and throws such a tantrum in my head that I can’t sleep, and it makes my head throb until I relent.

Not that any woman is dumb enough to accept me as her mate. I’m not stupid. I’m an Alpha and women want the prestige of being a Luna. But being mated to me wouldn’t be easy. I’m too dark and eventually, I drag anyone who gets too close to me into the darkness that surrounds me.

It’s another reason that I hope that Kennedy finds her mate tonight. She deserves better than the darkness that someone like me could give her. I told her years ago that she should be afraid of me, but for some reason, that little pup never heeded my words. A part of me, deep down in my heart, is glad that she didn’t.

I’m distracted as I get out of the shower, so I don’t smell his scent until he barks at me.

“What the fuck, Q? You were in a battle today? Why the fuck didn’t you call me?” Henry says, glaring at me from across my room.