Chapter 4

• ~Foxy~
• The ceremony has started, and I haven’t been paying much attention because my ankle hurts. Besides, the speeches are boring as hell. All the new warriors will officially be announced once the Alpha arrives, and then I can get the hell out of here. I wish my dad had come to the meeting. He always at least makes jokes to entertain me when this crap goes on too long.
• I haven’t seen the Alpha in a while because he has this ego complex, and thinks the general pack being in his presence is beneath him. He only makes himself seen when some big event happens and only the higher-ranking wolves are in attendance. I think he just doesn’t want to be subjected to the likes of tribe peasants like me. Maybe he’s embarrassed by the shitstorm he created in this place and too afraid to face us. True, he’s made some positive changes recently, but behind the scenes has become a lot more dangerous for a little fox like me. I never knew him to make positive changes here, so I can bet he has an ulterior motive.
• Here are the facts of our glorious Kentucky clan that I haven’t mentioned yet. Not only are there a lot of overblown egos, but there’s also an underground seedy side of things that runs this place. Our biggest export is illegal moonshine and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. They don’t call this place Blue Moon for nothing. And yes, moonshining is still a big thing in this part of the country.
• They also take part in illegal horse betting, sales of stolen goods that include guns and weapons, and government corruption. I’m also pretty sure the Alpha owns the nightclub I work in. It’s only a burlesque club once a week, but it’s the only time I feel like a real dancer. The rest of the time, it’s a strip club. Yes, I’m a stripper when the club is open only to shifters. I hate to admit it because it makes me feel disgusting. Even though I hate it, it pays my bills. Besides, shifters pay good money for me to shake that ass. Working as a maid part-time at the pack house doesn’t help me provide for my family, and girl’s gotta eat, right?
• The pack owns a lot of nightclubs in the region, and I think it’s one of their legit businesses that cover up the seedy underbelly of this pack. The scary truth is that our Alpha has been rumored to have entanglements with mafia kingpins. They chose this little riverside village to keep the illusion of a small-town community, and whatever is going on with this mafia thing has me a little worried. In reality, it’s a scary place not fit for man or beast.
• I guess that’s why I fit in so well with some of the darker elements. Fox shifters are known to be a little… let’s say… crafty. Even in cartoons, foxes are known for being sketchy and doing messed-up shit. I’m not going into chicken coops and stealing eggs, but I’ve been known to lift a few wallets in my day from drunk shifters who got a little too hands-on with me at the club. The way I see it, they deserved it for being such disgusting pigs. Just because I strip doesn’t give them the right to touch me. So, I take a little on the side to make up for them pawing at me.
• As I sit watching this boring display of self-indulgent bullshit, they finally announce the arrival of the Don… I mean douchebag… oops… Alpha. Giggling to myself I scoot my legs under me so I can see over the crowd and get a better view of what’s so special about this jackass’ appearance today. He never makes appearances unless he’s barking orders at us.
• I’m so small compared to everyone else and I can barely see over their heads, so I move to a closer table so I can watch, ignoring the snarling lip of the he-wolf next to me who apparently didn’t like me in his space.
• When a man is announced as Alpha takes the stage, the crowd erupts in applause, as if he’s the king of the wolf shifters himself. When I look up at this man in his black tailored suit, I can’t keep my eyes off him. My God; he’s downright gorgeous. Then, I start hearing chants of him being an Alpha, I can’t believe my ears as they twitch from the new news.
• Wait… That’s not the same Alpha I expected to see today. The one I thought was still in full control of the pack was the fat bastard who used to make some of the maids at the pack house perform sex acts on him. This guy is definitely not Alpha Jones, and I have no idea what’s going on.
• As I look around, I’m starting to catch on. Is this dude a real mafia kingpin that has been rumored to be joining the pack, because those scary ass dudes surrounding him don’t look like they are from around here? They sure are not some run-of-the-mill rednecks. These guys look hardcore.
• Then it hits me.
• Shit… I’m screwed. If the regular shifters think I’m bait, what will a new round of wolf mob bosses think about me? By the way that these guys are dressed, I don’t think I’m wrong about them. I heard the mafia were infiltrating this pack, and I guess now it’s true.
• Stepping to the front of the stage, General Damon approaches the microphone with a proud aura about him. I can’t explain it, but something about it makes me feel more at ease. He always has a way of calming my nerves. I can’t say that about anyone else at this shit show.
• “Welcome, Blue Moon brethren. I won’t ramble on because I know you all have been waiting for a while for us to begin. So, without further ado, it is an honor to finally introduce to you our new leader, Alpha Ambrose Crestwood.”
• The surrounding people are all chattering about this guy, and even the guy next to me looks excited. Apparently, I’ve been sticking my head in a book too often because I have no idea what’s going on right now. Are they actually excited about this?
• Humm… Ambrose Crestwood? I know that name. Shit! That really is a mob family.
• Damon continues, “As you may have wondered, recently things have changed hands with our leadership. Alpha Crestwood took over a few months ago in place of Alpha Jones, while Beta Thaddeus was forced to leave town and went into hiding.
• I’m aware you all believed the Beta was in charge over the past few months, but this was just rumors. We decided to keep things quiet until the necessary transitions were made. It was best to keep our new Alpha out of the public eye, until now, so his people could get a true understanding of our pack order. We have had a lot of changes as of late, which I am sure Mr. Crestwood will be glad to explain. Before I turn over the microphone to our leader, it’s time we let you in on what’s transpired. Our former Alpha was recently defeated in the battlegrounds, and we are now officially under the leadership of the Crestwood family.”
• “Crestwood? Oh no. I hear those are the most ruthless wolf shifters on this side of the Mississippi River. Heck, even the world. They’re a huge crime family,” whispers the guy next to me. “This can’t be good.”
• No shit, genius. Did this guy just now figure this out? I just roll my eyes at the stupid wolf with a huff. He didn’t seem too pleased either because he growled at me again. Jerk.
• Turning my attention back to the stage, I’m mesmerized. This man next to Damon is pure sex in a fitted suit. Damn, why do I have this wolf fetish? Why can’t I just find a nice fox boy to settle down with? I know why. I like a little danger, and this wolfy god has danger written all over him.
• As Damon introduces the new Alpha, he steps up, gazing around the room before he speaks. Everyone is silent as this sexy beast in human form surveys his new pack. The man sure doesn’t look to be one to mess with. I don’t see anyone in this room who would be willing to stand up to this intimidating shifter.
• To be honest, I’m sort of glad someone new took over. The old fat shifter, Jones, used to give me the creeps. I hid from him at the pack house ever since I got the job there because one of the maids warned me that he was a pervert. Maybe this new guy won’t be as bad. I did notice over the past few weeks that the clubs have strict rules regarding patrons touching the girls now. Maybe it’s the same for the pack house maids and this guy is the reason.
• As he scans the room, I can’t help but look over this man’s body. He’s fit, tall, and ridiculously handsome. I can bet those cufflinks he’s wearing cost more than my year’s pay. He looks to be in his early thirties and the air of a rich business tycoon oozes off him. It’s clear to me that this guy is from old money. Damn, he’s so hot my tail is wagging.
• “Stop it, Red. Calm down,” I scolded my inner fox.
• The guy next to me gives a low growl because talking to your inner beast out loud is looked at as a weakness by the wolf shifters.
• Pulling my tail around me to hold it still against my chest, I can feel Red purr inside me. Yeah, girl. He’s yummy, but we can’t go around wagging our tail at every hot Alpha that comes around.
• As his eyes scan my side of the room, they settle on me with a confused glare. Oh, shit. He noticed me.
• The shifter next to me was right… This can’t be good.