Chapter 3: The Wolf In The Park

The days that followed were a flurry of activity. Claudia and Zeke spent hours at a time behind closed doors, discussing the news with select personnel. Security measures needed to be put in place prior to making an official announcement to the entire pack. There had been an increase in attacks by the rogues throughout the city, and things only seemed to be getting worse.

Zeke sat in on these meetings without fully listening to anything that was said. Try as he might, his brain kept inevitably drifting back to what Azia had said to him outside the bar. So, he had a reputation--and one that had crossed enemy lines. Former enemy lines, although Azia didn't seem to be in any particular hurry to make him feel that way. Zeke thought he had a decent pulse on everything that was said, and done within the Knowles pack. They were his future responsibility, after all. He sat in on these meetings, rubbing his temples, wondering how such rumors had slipped by his grasp. And why Azia seemed so inclined to believe them.

Three days after the fateful night in the bar, the Alphas, and their heirs arranged to meet again. The day was sunny, yet unseasonably cold for October, making Hyde Park feel deserted. Claudia and Zeke sat on a stone bench, placed parallel to the sidewalk, while they waited.

"They should be here any minute now," Claudia said, straightening the hem of her maroon dress. Her wolf blood kept her sufficiently warm against the brisk autumn wind.

"Wonderful," Zeke replied, unable to keep the sarcasm from leaking into his tone.

"Ezekiel," Claudia began with a sigh.

He threw his hands up. "I know, I'm sorry. I just wish you could have seen the disgust on her face, mom. No woman has ever looked at me like that."

"Which only shows she doesn't know you yet," Claudia replied, patting at his arm. "And when she does, she will fall in love with you."

He chuckled good naturedly. "As my mother, you're only slightly biased," he teased.

She looked at him pointedly. "As your mother, have I ever been wrong?" she countered.

He opened his mouth to reply, but had no ready retort.

"Ahh, here they are," Claudia said, looking to the west. She stood up, and Zeke begrudgingly followed suit.

Zeke watched Vivian and Azia approach from several yards away. The Bronson Alpha walked with calculated grace. She wore a cream colored lace shawl draped around her shoulders, and a long, flowy dress. Zeke imagined humans probably pegged her as a new age witch, by the way she dressed.

The Bronson heir was another story entirely. Zeke bit back a laugh, as he compared the two. Azia practically strutted beside her mother, moving with her shoulders rather than her hips. She wore ripped, skinny black jeans that disappeared into her heavy, black boots, and a white moto jacket. Everything about her felt so tomboyish, so unlike what he usually sought out in a woman. He eyed her up and down, and turned away in surprise, realizing he found her sexy.

Vivian gave the Knowles wolves a brief smile in greeting as she approached. "My Beta, Gamma, and my compound guards have all been informed of our alliance, and the upcoming nuptials," she said. "We are prepared to make the announcement whenever you are."

"Zeke and I have done the same. We have also come to offer our great hall for the party. It will hold both our packs combined. Perhaps the marriage ceremony could be performed there?" Claudia asked, blue eyes sweeping from Vivian to Azia and back again.

Vivian, too, turned towards her daughter with her eyebrows raised expectantly.

"Uh, sure. Thanks," Azia said stiffly.

"Have you decided on your colors?" Claudia asked, smiling softly at her.

Azia shifted awkwardly on her feet. "My what?"

"Your colors?" Claudia repeated. "For the wedding?"

"Aren't I supposed to wear white?" Azia asked, frowning up at her.

Zeke laughed in surprise, weirdly amused by the absurdity of the situation. Vanessa, his first serious girlfriend, began dropping hopeful hints of their wedding two months into the relationship. Not only did she have her wedding colors picked out, she knew what cake she would serve, what her bridesmaids would wear, and how she would fashion her hair. Girls all over the compound spent hours at a time fantasizing about what it would be like to marry the heir. Now the woman who finally would be couldn't possibly care --or know--any less. Naturally.

He laughed again, then immediately stopped upon seeing the look on Azia's face. Her eyes, which he noted were a beautiful ochre color, shot daggers at him.

"Oh, no. I wasn't laughing at you," he insisted, raising his hands palm up.

"Of course you weren't," she said flatly before returning to look at his mother. "How about black as a wedding color?"

Vivian pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "Azia, be serious," she chastised.

Azia shrugged beside her mother. "Seems fitting to me," she murmured quietly. Her eyes darted back towards Zeke as if she couldn't help herself.

Zeke licked his lips. It was time to switch tactics with this stubborn, young woman. "You don't have to wear the traditional white if you don't want to," he said to Azia, offering up a half smile. "I'm sure you look incredible in black."

"Great, now you're gonna kiss my a*s?" Azia complained, folding her arms across her chest. "Make up your mind, why don't you?"

Zeke whistled and tossed his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "I can't possibly fathom why you're still single, my dear," he said, certain the pet name would strike a nerve, in addition to the insult.

Azia opened her mouth to reply, then immediately clamped her lips shut. Her eyes moved to something past Zeke's shoulders. Her face, usually a subtle golden shade, grew pale within seconds.

"Oh God," she muttered, and took off at a sprint towards a young man that had just appeared at the entrance to the park. The young man staggered forward, with his arms clutched around his middle. Even from a distance, Zeke could smell the man was a Bronson wolf.

Even from a distance, Zeke could see the stain of blood growing on the stranger's light blue shirt.