The Alpha Wants Everything Book 2 The Devil's Baker
Chapter 4: Ridgeview Pack!

The drive to the Ridgeview packhouse was silent. Adonis sat in the back seat, mulling over everything he was told about his tiny dancer. She had a dark past, and he had a feeling what Maggie did disclose to him was just the tip of it. Maybe when Tyler got here in the morning he would have him investigate some of the people in this town. The Mayor! Maybe he would run against him in the next election. Maggie said the man had deep pockets, he doubted they were as deep as his. The boyfriend! Maggie hinted at violence, but she never came right out and said it. He was tough when it came to women, but going up against a man he was a coward. Maybe that was how he would get rid of him. The sister! Maggie said she was the worst one of all. Crushed her, while taking what she wanted. What would she want from Kenzi? Follow the rabbit hole! Yes Odin, follow the rabbit hole, see where it goes! With more of his memory coming back of their initial meeting in the woods of Algonquin Park, he remembers seeing scars on her back. He was starting to wonder about those as well. The boyfriend? No, they looked pretty old! The sister? Maybe….! The orphanage? Would be my guess! Who started the rumour? That’s a good question, it prevented our tiny dancer from getting a good home! We’ll take care of her! Of course we will, she’s our whole. We’ll become unstoppable, and she’ll be worshipped like the Queen she is! We should get her a crown! Why? Queens wear crowns! Maybe! We’d look good in a crown! Why do we need a crown? If she’s a Queen then we’re a King and King’s wear crowns! I think you just want a crown! Who doesn’t want a crown?

Elijah was in the driver seat but he would catch him every once in a while looking at him through the rearview mirror. He knew he would want his sole focus on the meeting they were going to, but knowing what he knows about his mate, and what he thinks he knows keeps pulling his thoughts away. If we don’t focus we can’t help her! That is true, we’ll be too busy focusing on watching our backs! Though it wasn’t unheard of for packs to establish themselves without first talking to others in the area, they usually didn’t last very long. Though Alpha Leon couldn’t do anything to him or his pack should they just take the south, his pack was far too strong, he just now had more important things to do with his time. And a war, albeit a small one, would be an inconvenience to him. He’ll play nice tonight, so he can focus his energy where it is needed. Like our mate!

“What did Alpha Leon say exactly?” Adonis asked, addressing Elijah for the first time since he got in the SUV.

“He was shocked to hear that the meeting with his daughter didn’t go well. He was sure you two would hit it off.” Elijah replied,

“She insulted me with her whorish behaviour. Other Alphas might like being pet in public, but I am not one of them” the words he just spoke, caused Elijah’s eyes to widen.

“And she still has both her hands?” The last she-wolf to try such a bold move ended up with a dislocated wrist.

“I was trying to stay peaceful, someone hammered into my head the importance of the meeting, or it would have been handled completely different.” Adonis growled, he could see the crinkle of Elijah’s eyes in the mirror.

“Regardless, he sends his deepest apologies, and would still like to negotiate a possible alliance with us. They are throwing a dinner in your honour” Elijah stated,

“Fucking fantastic!” He replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was getting a headache. Can’t we just kill them all! That would solve our problems! How many more would it create? There was some truth to that. It wouldn’t, being the only pack in this crater, it wouldn’t create any problems. They could have the whole thing, with the mountains as a natural defensive wall, and entrance and exit to the east and west, that wasn’t a bad idea at all. Let’s call that plan B Odin!

“Are you all right? You’ve been deep in thought since we started the drive here. Did it not go well with your mate?” Elijah broke him from his thoughts, debating what to tell him Adonis stayed quiet. He’ll replace out anyway! True!

“She seems to have a dark past” He finally said,

“A dark past?” Elijah questioned the vague statement,

“More and more of our first encounter has been coming back, and I remembered seeing scars on her back. I was informed she grew up in an orphanage and I am wondering how she came by those scars. I am also wondering what is meant by her boyfriend is tough with women, but cowardly around men. If it means what I think it does, then I can not guarantee his blood won’t be shed.” Adonis replied,

“That sounds like domestic violence to me Alpha!” He could hear the growl in Elijah’s voice.

“I will focus on this meeting Elijah, you have my word. I have more important things to worry about, adding Alpha Leon’s retaliation into the mix is not going to be one of them. That being said, if that whore puts her hands on me again I can not guarantee my control over Odin will be maintained” Elijah looked in the rearview mirror one more time and flickering flames stared back at him. Adonis was The Devil, Odin was the hellbeast. They were an insync pair and when they fought, they brought hell with them.

“Understood Alpha!” Was his only reply.

Pulling up the long driveway the Ridgeview packhouse came into view. It was big, white and gaudy. Wolf sculptures littered the front lawn, the columns that surrounded the front entrance were carved into wolves.

“This is the ugliest house I have ever seen,” Adonis commented from the back seat.

“They’re definitely not trying to hide anything.” Elijah agreed. Alpha Leon, his wife Luna Mara and their daughter Kiara were waiting for them on the front steps.

“Would it be rude if we skipped dinner? If this is the outside the inside might blind me with its hideousness” Adonis muttered from the back seat. Elijah let out a low laugh, but informed him again the dinner was in his honour and it would indeed be rude. They pulled into a parking spot, and proceeded to exit the vehicle. The only redeeming quality was the air smelled fresh and clean.

“This fuckin house blows. It tacky an the bitches here are fuckin fugly, desperate an can’t take no for a fuckin answer.” A huge grin spread across Adonis’s face as he heard the disparaging remarks from the deep raspy drawl of his Beta. Things just got more interesting. Each of his ranks had their qualities about them. Elijah though practical, was business savvy, and well versed in many languages. Not only was he one hell of a negotiator but their best torturer. He turned getting more into an art form. He was well read, well educated and could research information on werewolf culture better than anyone. Tyler was their intel gatherer, give the man a name and he could dig up what he had for lunch in second grade. Computers were his playground and he could utilize them like no other. It was terrifying the information he could replace on people. Then there was Jackson, Tyler’s older brother, all mouth but had the muscle to back it up. He was bark, bite and everything that fell in between. If Elijah’s brains couldn’t figure it out, Jackson’s brawn could and he used it frequently.

“Adon, please fuckin tell me we ain’t stayin here” Jackson said as he walked up behind him.

“We’ll see how dinner goes,” Adonis replied, turning around to face him.

“Then I hope dinner fuckin suck, this place give me nightmares” Jackson commented, his brother Tyler nodding beside him.

“You boys are early!” Adonis stated,

“Wit the way Eli goin on, it soun urgent so we haul ass. Tyler cut through the mountains.” Jackson replied, then lowered his voice. “Four warriors here as well, they jus need to know where to go.”

“Who?” Adonis asked quietly,

“Derek, Cage, Xander an Mike waitin at the bottom of the drive on the north side” Tyler replied,

“Good, send them all to the local hotel, have them secure rooms for us as well. We need to be careful boys, we’re being watched here, and in town.” Adonis warned them.

“Why we bein watch in town? What’d you do? Or should I ask who you do this time?” Jackson asked, cracking a grin as they moved towards the house.

“You fine her?” Tyler asked, when he saw the grin on Adonis’s face.

“No fuckin way! No shit! You fine her?” Jackson asked in disbelief, until he saw the look on his Alpha’s face.

“Fuckin hunt her all over Canada, an here her hidin in a lil bitty town? Now you can tell yur old man an brothers to fuckin suck it” Jackson smacked Adonis on the back. Being one of the only ones that could get away with that, Jackson took advantage of it. Standing nearly as tall as Adonis, Jackson had a similar build though not as big, slate grey eyes and rich dark brown hair.

“You owe me $50” Tyler looked pointedly at Jackson. Reaching into his pocket he pulled the red bill from his wallet and placed it into his brother’s outstretched hand. Tyler was a contrast to his brother, the same slate grey eye colour but he was smaller, standing at only six feet with natural platinum blonde hair, he had the same raspy drawl though a pitch higher with similar facial features. They were only a few years apart, but they were close, where one was the other was close by, they were thick as thieves. Adonis never had that with any of his brothers, including Evan, not even when he was younger before he underwent his….changes. He sometimes found himself envious of the relationship between Jackson and Tyler, no one could deny they were brothers. Whereas everyone questioned whether or not Adonis was even part of his family.

“We bet her the reason Eli call,” Jackson replied before Adonis could ask.

“You fucking assholes!” The closer they got to the front steps, the more Adonis tried to keep Odin in control. He did not want to be there, Odin did not want to be there, they both wanted to be back at the bakery. Surrounded by the scent of their mate and her delicious baked goods, it’s where they belonged.

“Alpha Adonis, good to have you here” Alpha Leon greeted them when they reached the front steps.

“This is my beautiful mate Luna Mara, and of course you have already met our lovely daughter Kiara.” Yuck, I think he meant to say red lipped bottom feeding succuwhore! Odin shuddered in his head, the memory of Kiara running her hands over him still fresh in his mind. He nodded his greeting towards Luna Mara and the daughter but spoke only to Alpha Leon.

“Alpha Leon, thank you for inviting us, your house is….nice. It is most gracious of you to want to further continue negotiating the terms for an alliance. This is my Gamma Elijah Burns, you spoke to him on the phone” Elijah should be proud, he was using his big boy words.

“These two belong to you?” Alpha Leon asked motioning towards Jackson and Tyler,

“Yes they do. This is my Beta Jackson Monroe and Delta Tyler Monroe. Were they any trouble while you waited for my arrival?” Adonis asked, arching his eyebrow.

“Of course not! It was harmless fun, that we found them in my office, with their feet on my desk” Alpha Leon replied, he didn’t make it sound like it was fun. Adonis tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face.

“Why is the short one not wearing shoes?” Kiara snarked as she took in Tyler’s appearance.

“No, Tyler!” Adonis was quick to interfere, before Tyler could say something back to her.

“That Delta Tyler to you” Tyler replied instead,

“We jus walk right in the door, nobody say shit to us. We sat there thirty minutes before someone finally discover us. I los a other $50” Jackson added to the conversation. Adonis looked at Jackson. Guess being the only pack in the crater, they let their guard down and got a little lazy! He saw a few out of shape wolves wandering the grounds.

“Where is your Beta, Alpha Leon? I am surprised he is not here to greet us as well” Adonis asked. It was customary for all ranks to meet and greet.

“We met already, not sorry bout his head” Jackson replied,

“He the one that discover us in the office, Jackass say he could get him out the chair he could take us to the dungeon. Jackass took his head off the desk before he threw him into the wall an he was still sittin” Tyler explained trying not to burst out laughing. Lazy werewolves indeed, what are we getting out of this deal? Odin asked. The south half of the crater!

“Sounds like my boys weren’t causing any trouble at all” Adonis stated, sarcasm dripped from his words, while Tyler and Jackson laughed.

“Shall we continue to my office for further discussions?” Alpha Leon asked, motioning for them to follow him. Kiara fell in step beside Adonis trying her best to brush her hand against his in hopes he would grab it. Jackson could see Adonis visibly growing tense at this and he stuck his foot out just enough to catch the heel of her shoe. ….eeeeeep…. THUD! The action sent her toppling to the ground. Adonis made a half assed effort to stop her fall, but she hit the ground fast with a scream and a hard thud.

“Shit! You a klutzy one ain’t you?” Jackson commented as he stepped over her. Tyler lagged behind a little bit, to overhear what Luna Mara and Kiara were talking about after she picked her up off the floor.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He heard the mother,

“Nothing, I tripped that was all” Kiara snapped back,

“Well stop. Alpha Adonis is looking for a mate, and you need him to think you’re the right fit. He won’t accept some clumsy little girl” Mara snapped back,

“He will be mine, rest assured. If it wasn’t for that stupid baker he would have been mine at the bakery. Stupid ugly slut wrecked everything” Kiara stated sharply.

“Leave the baker to me, you focus on Alpha Adonis. Now go put on more sensible shoes and something more alluring before dinner. He’s a man they require visuals” Mara replied back. That didn’t sound good. Tyler moved to catch up to the others, repeating through the link to Jackson what he just overheard.

“Well ain’t that interestin!” Tyler could only nod his head.

Walking into the office, Adonis saw the hole in the wall from where Jackson threw the Ridgeview Beta. How fucking hard did he throw him?

“I din’t say I wouldn’t fight back” Jackson cracked up laughing as he grabbed a seat on the couch without even being invited to sit. Alpha Leon stood behind the desk and offered the chairs across from him to Adonis and Elijah. Tyler had already found a seat in one of the other chairs next to Jackson. As the negotiations got under way, Jackson decided now was a good time to fill Adonis in on what Tyler overheard.

“They’s a dirty she-whore comin for you” Jackson called through the link.

“What? Who?” Adonis asked, though he had a feeling he already knew.

“The daughter bout ready to jump yur ass!” Jackson replied,

“Fuck!” this didn’t make him happy at all, he thought she would take the hint from earlier.

“Her makin guarantees her gonna bag herself a Alpha”

“No interest!” He found his mate, even if he didn’t he had no interest in the whore. She picked you! I didn’t pick her back!

“Say her had you at the bakery if it wasn’t for some baker” Not a fucking chance! Adonis thought. Yuck! Came Odin’s reply.

“Like fuck she would have, I almost stabbed her with the fucking fork they gave me” he could feel, Elijah’s eyes periodically on him.

“Mama-whore pushin for it, say her take care of the baker” feeling his body stiffen at that. Like fuck she will! That bitch lays one finger on his baker and he’ll rip her to pieces.

A map was open on the desk in front of them and Adonis watched Elijah get up, grab a pen and mark what they wanted.

“We want the whole south. From the edge of the town, the roads and cities here to the mountains. With the town itself remaining neutral territory, no one controls it, and twenty five warriors.” He heard Elijah saying. This was not what was discussed between them. The link was open and Elijah heard the whole conversation between Jackson and his Alpha. His Luna was just threatened, this did not sit well with him. Yes when he first saw her, she was the tiny distraction taking his Alpha’s attention from more pressing matters, but it made sense after he found out who she was.

“Twenty five? You want me to give you twenty five of my pack members?” Alpha Leon was flabbergasted. Why would they want warriors? They already had the strongest pack! Alpha Leon frowned, furrowing his brow about the reasoning behind this.

“Twenty five is a starting point, we could take less or we could take more.” Elijah spoke slowly and in a very condescending tone. It was clear to Adonis how Elijah viewed the other Alpha.

“What do you need with more pack members?” Alpha Leon asked,

“Not your concern” Elijah commented, “But should you accept the deal I would have your pack ready for inspection immediately, we don’t like to waste time.” Alpha Leon couldn’t understand why they wanted more pack members but it was clear to him he was not going to get any answers from the Gamma or Alpha Adonis. It also baffled him why Alpha Adonis was not saying anything, and letting his third in command do all the talking.

“You would need permission from the town council to clear some of the forest to build a packhouse” He spoke instead, looking directly at Adonis

“Then you better get us that permission” Elijah replied, retaking his seat. Adonis sat there listening as his Gamma aggressively negotiated with the other Alpha.

“You let your Gamma negotiate for you, Alpha Adonis?” Alpha Leon addressed him. Adonis sat there debating on which way he wanted to take the question. He could shrug it off and continue saying nothing, he could take offence and heads would roll or he could answer. He looked over at his third in command and a half smile spread across his face.

“Your whole pack let two unknown wolves in the house. They sat in your office in that very chair for half an hour before they were discovered. When they were, your Beta was too weak to simply remove the man that was sitting there, and in turn ended up in the medical ward for his trouble. They could have easily been from a rival pack, not one trying to make an alliance with you. If they were, you would be dead and the whole crater would belong to them. We are only asking for half, and twenty five pack members that is generous, we could ask for more. We are not getting much else out of this deal. And my Gamma is the more diplomatic of the two of us, you would rather negotiate with him than me” Adonis replied, tilting his head slightly as he spoke. Tyler and Jackson were fighting to control their laughter, it was working very well, the sound was beginning to fill the room.

Alpha Leon sat behind his desk thinking long and hard about the deal in front of him. What choice did he really have? He was hoping his daughter could seal the deal before it got to this point, but clearly that was not going to happen. He needed this deal, should Alpha Adonis decide he wants the whole crater, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop him. At least having an alliance in place, would prevent anything from happening.

“You have a deal Alpha Adonis” Alpha Leon stood up and extended his hand, doing the same Adonis shook. Another deal for The Devil! Odin howled. The joke is not funny anymore Odin! It’ll always be funny!

“I will have the papers for the alliance drawn up for you to sign, Kiara will show you to your rooms where you can freshen up and then dinner will be served” Alpha Leon declared. Getting to their feet as Kiara sashayed into the office. She was wearing a bright red dress with a slit up the leg and a deep plunging neckline that showed off the curves of her bust. Her eyes greedily roamed over Adonis, though he never turned to face her he could feel them moving down his body. This bitch don’t quit, I want our mate Adonis! I do too! I miss her smell! We have only been away from her for a few hours! So what? I miss her and I want her and I am getting angry at the succuwhore for looking at us! You had your chance to eat her and you blew it! You blew your chance at kissing our mate in the bakery! That was a low blow Odin even for you!

“Thank you, I highly advise you to assemble your pack on the lawn so they can be looked over,” Elijah spoke. Adonis stood there and arched his eyebrow at the other Alpha, who could only nod his head.

Following Kiara out of the office and down a hall towards the guest rooms she showed Jackson and Tyler where they were staying informing them they had to share, since they didn’t know they were coming. Elijah was across the hall from them and Adonis got the bigger room, again something that was customary when Alphas visited.

“Jackson!” Adonis spoke through the link

“Yeah!” Came Jackson’s reply,

“Take Tyler and Elijah and go see what this pathetic excuse for a pack has to offer us” Adonis ordered, he would do it but he had a feeling they had nothing.

“That be fun too! This room suck, yur room suck?” Jackson replied back.

“Nightmares might be too gentle of a term” Adonis responded as he gave the room a quick once over.

Adonis went to close the door on Kiara, but she blocked it with her foot.

“What do you want?” He asked, growing impatient with her, she again eyed him up and down.

“You seem tense baby, I could help you relax” she purred stepping closer to him, he clenched his fists breathing in deep when she again ran her hands over him. Pushing her hands away and shoving her back out the door. She stood in the hallway staring wide eyed in disbelief at him.

“I’m not interested. I wasn’t interested at the bakery and I’m not fucking interested now ….grrrrrr….” he growled, before he slammed the door shut. Stupid fucking succuwhore! Odin growled in his head.

Grabbing a quick shower, he waited in his room. He was not interested in having anymore conversations with anyone from this pack. He wanted the hell outta here. Jackson wasn’t wrong when he said the house was tacky. Wolves decorated almost every surface and wall. Even the shower head was a golden wolf head, that was a little unnerving. Maybe Alpha Leon should put more effort into training his pack then into letting the world know wolves lived here. It wasn’t settling with him that they entered into an alliance with Alpha Leon, sure they were getting land and maybe some pack members but something about the man didn’t sit right with him. He would rather just crush this pathetic pack and be done with it that way. A knock to his door broke him from his thoughts. Bet it’s the succuwhore again! Better not be! She’s probably naked this time! Gross Odin! He felt the shudder rip through his body at the thought. You’re gonna open that door and there’s gonna be a naked red lipped succuwhore on the other side! Adonis hesitated, he didn’t want to see that. He’d rather see his baker naked, focusing on the memory of her dancing in his head, instead of the image of Kiara naked, he opened the door. Letting out an audible sigh of relief when he saw Elijah standing there holding a file folder, he moved to the side to let him in.

“You look relieved to see me” Elijah exclaimed,

“Odin had me convinced a naked succuwhore was on the other side of the door. I wasn’t to keen on opening it” Adonis replied,

“Well, he’s a special one!” Elijah stated,

“Is dinner almost ready?” Thinking this had to be the reason Elijah was coming to get him.

“No, they said another hour, and I wouldn’t hold your breath on it tasting good. Something smelled….burnt when I passed the kitchen earlier” Elijah answered,

“Then what do you need?” Adonis inquired,

“The contract is ready to be signed, and Jackson told me to let you know….nothing. We even checked the dungeons” he replied, though he seemed slightly confused by that. He had watched Tyler and Jackson walk through all the pack members, but they both just shook their heads and then Tyler got frustrated and hit one.

“Of course it is, that they can get done in the blink of an eye, but a simple meal is complicated and seems too complex for them. This has to be the most useless, disorganized pack we have come across.” Adonis snapped, ignoring the unasked question floating through his Gamma’s mind over Jackson and Tyler’s odd behaviour.

“Having second thoughts!” Adonis’s agitation was clear, he was having second thoughts. This was not a good idea to be tied to this pack.

“This is a waste of time, we should just cut ties now, before we sign that alliance agreement” Adonis growled,

“Sign the agreement!” Elijah encouraged,

“Why?” Adonis snapped,

“Because it will unravel” Elijah answered,

“What are you talking about?” Adonis arched his eyebrow at him.

Pulling a map from the inside of his suit pocket he laid it out on the coffee table. Two areas were circled on the map, with question marks over top of them.

“He’ll never get the permission to cut down the trees. A decision like that needs all the town council members on board, all it takes is one no and that’s it. I negotiated that as part of our deal, he won’t be able to come through in the end, hence negating our deal.” Elijah explained,

“How do you know this?” Adonis asked,

“I had Tyler do some digging, he found out that the Mayor has indeed tried to sell parts of the forest, but needs council approval to do so. Seven members said no. The same seven members have said no everytime. These seven members will not let the trees be cut down either” Elijah went on,

“This doesn’t sound good for us building our own packhouse. And I sure as fuck don’t want this one!” Adonis stated. Elijah motioned towards the map and the circled areas.

“This is an old camp with a lodge, it is commercial land, suitable for building and the town has no claim to it, the land is for sale. You put in an offer, just waiting to hear back from the agent. If it is a go ahead, then we can tear down the existing structure and rebuild it. There are also ten cabins on the property right now, with the potential ability to add twenty five more. But what is really interesting is this area here.” Elijah pointed to the next area on the map.

“Looks like a community!” Adonis commented,

“It is and it’s located five minutes away. It’s what led to the downfall of the camp, when the community went up, people stopped going to the camp. You own this house. You made a cash offer this morning and they accepted immediately.” Elijah replied, laying down a house listing.

“Why and when did I buy a house?” Adonis asked, looking at him.

“Today, while you were cake tasting, you can move in in three days. You also took over these three businesses in the left city, there will be a welcome party for you at one on Saturday, I’m just waiting on the details” Elijah responded, handing over the file folder he was holding for Adonis to look at. He skimmed the folder briefly, a hotel, an investment company and a telecommunications company, but he was more interested in why he bought a house.

“Why did I buy a house?” Adonis repeated his question, a smile graced Elijah’s face, when he pointed at the house to the left of his newly purchased home on the map.

“Because this one belongs to her. Took some digging, I’m not as fast as Tyler but I got the information I needed” Elijah replied,

“Well, I was certainly a busy man today” Adonis commented, his own smile adorning his face, this made him extremely happy.

“Yes sir, highly productive. This community is located thirty minutes south outside of the town, so well within our new territory, as soon as you sign the contract and claim the territory” Elijah returned,

“You set Alpha Leon up to fail!” Although said as a statement, Elijah could see the questioning look on his Alpha’s face.

“She is my Luna and when I heard that she was disrespected, I was left with an unsettled feeling. What you told me in the car coupled with what I heard through the link, I knew I needed to act fast and changed the direction of our negotiations” Elijah explained,

“Let’s go sign a contract Elijah, unless there is something else we need to discuss first” Adonis clapped him on the back.

“Can you please tell Jackson to stop calling me Eli? He knows I hate it.” Elijah asked,

“I can tell him, but he won’t listen. Where are the demon brothers?” Adonis laughed, at the frustrated huff Elijah released and they proceeded to leave the room.

“I believe causing mayhem in the games room” Elijah replied.