Chapter Ten

Russell Edginton took a deep breath, smelling the air. It was odd. He could smell the old scent of Norse fires, snow, and the sea. That was Northman. There was another scent in the air like his only it was fresher and sharper. Near that scent, was something else. Something powerful and perhaps magical. He smiled at the thought; the rumor was true, Madelyn Townsend was in Jackson. He jumped down from the rooftop and started walking. He needed to chat with his pack again. One member in particular, who still had a score to settle with Alcide.

Russell could hear the music and glasses breaking before he even got to the door. He walked in, giving the bouncer a cold look. The man didn't even seem to notice. He kept walking, until he noticed Debbie Pelt in the corner. She was still nursing a black eye and bruises. What or who ever got a hold on her in Maine had done a number on her. He smiled a little. As useful as Debbie was, Russell didn't like her. She was just a little too unstable for his taste. He sat down across from her.

"Hello my dear," Russell said smoothly.

Debbie looked up. Her eyes along with her hair were as wild as usual. She must have found somewhere else to have to get her vampire blood, but she was not coming down. She smiled a little.

"Your majesty," she said instantly sucking up.

"It's good to see you too, Debbie. I have a favor to ask you."

Debbie smiled. "Anything for you."

Russell grinned. This would be easier than he thought. He looked over at the bar tender, motioning for him to bring Debbie whatever she was drinking. Debbie grinned and greedily took it. Russell watched her for a moment and then smiled.

"Do you still want your ex dead?" Russell asked.

Debbie shrugged a little. "I want his new play thing dead."

Russell nodded. He wasn't sure how he really felt about that. He might need her. He needed her alive until he figured out how that magic around her worked. He already knew what it was. Her damn necklace. He had hoped that her wonderful grandmother had just left it in the house. However, it had not worked that way. He now had a wolf in the way along with a vampire probably.

"I need her," Russell said seriously. "But after, she's all yours."

Debbie nodded and a sly smile slid across her face. She wanted Madelyn dead, but she couldn't kill Alcide. She had thought about it and threatened it many times. She just couldn't do it. She had loved him at one time. He was just too good for her.

"Where is the bitch?" Debbie asked.

Russell grinned that scary and dangerous grin. He leaned forward and looked at her for a long moment. "She's here. In Jackson."

Debbie suddenly perked up. Alcide had brought her to her Jackson. Their home, their city. She felt very sick inside. She looked up at Russell with a very cold look. Russell couldn't resist a smile.

"He's going to die for bringing her here," Debbie announced lowly.

Russell felt his smile get a lot bigger. He was happy to hear that Debbie would not let him down. Once he got the wolf out of the, he would figure out what to do with Eric. It wouldn't be hard. Eric could be bought for anything. Maybe using Madelyn would be enough. He leaned over and kissed Debbie on the cheek.

"I just need him out of the way long enough to speak with the bitch, and then you can kill them both."

Russell didn't wait for Debbie to answer. He knew that most likely she wouldn't kill the wolf, but all she needed was him out of the way. He walked outside, taking a deep breath. He could smell the magic in the air. He closed his eyes, thinking about what he knew of the necklace. It wasn't much except that it was very, very powerful. It also attracted vampires and werewolves to its wearer.

He had seen it change owners over the century and each time, the new owner had been surrounded by wolves. They seemed to protect the owner. However, there had been times when packs had feuded over it. He started walking toward the scent. He wouldn't confront them tonight, but it would be soon. Debbie would probably stop by tonight, and that would be fine.

Debbie walked close to Alcide's apartment building. The place always smelled like Alcide so it was hard to tell if he was there. But she could smell his new girl. Debbie growled a little as sniffed the air. The girl liked a bitch in heat at the moment. Debbie rubbed her fist into her palm. She already knew the girl was nothing but a human. She also knew that Alcide would die for her. She snarled again and finally left the building. She would need help.

She ended up at another were bar in the area. It was not nearly as nice as Lou Pine's. It was actually quite the opposite. Her old lover, Cooter used to come here with her when they were coming down. She walked in and could feel the cold reception of eyes on her. She walked over to the far corner and found an older man sitting there. He was drinking wild turkey like it was light liquor. He looked up when he sensed Debbie standing there.

"What do you want, Pelt," he said lowly with a voice tainted with boozes.

Debbie sat down and motioned for the bar tender to bring them two. He walked over and put down the glasses. Debbie only stared at the liquor. Wild turkey was not her favorite drink. The man across from her had no problem with it. He drank his and hers too. She watched him closely. He had been a member of numerous pack, including Alcide's once. Alcide and his father had pushed him out when he had gone after...

Debbie suddenly looked up at him. She was staring at the man that had sealed Alcide's and Madelyn's relationship. The man now drowning in liquor had tried to rape Madelyn the first night Alcide had taken her out. She had only heard vague rumors of that night, but she knew that Alcide had given him the whipping of a lifetime and then kicked him out of the pack.

"I have a favor to ask you, Craven," Debbie said with soft but dirty smile.

Craven looked up at, brushing his greasy hair back from his face. "And what do you have to offer me?"

Debbie fished a vial out of her jacket pocket and sat it down on the table. The liquid glowed a very dark red. Craven licked his lips in longing to have what was in the bottle. He reached for it, and she yanked it up faster than he thought she ever could. He growled at her as he started to get up.

"Don't," Debbie hissed. "But it will be yours after."

"After what?"

Debbie smiled a little. "After you pay back Alcide Herveaux for making a fool out of you."

Craven looked at her for a moment and then smiled. He did Alcide for all the humiliation over a human girl that was useless. Well, he wouldn't really say that. The woman had been lovely with dark, reddish-brown hair that at the time flowed down her back. She had on tight jeans and a cute top. He could still remember how she moved, laughed, and talked with Alcide. She had been too hard to resist.

"Why don't you go after him yourself?" Craven asked suddenly.

Debbie smiled. "That is for me to know. Now, are you interested?"

Craven sat there a minute and let an evil smile cross his features. "What about the girl?"

"Yours," Debbie grinned. "Once I'm done with her."