CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:

Lycan Headquarters

Lucian's appearance was met with cheers and more howling. Both human and lycan forms could be seen crowding around the returned leader.

Alex tried to keep her nerves in check. It was hard when it had been ingrained in her to kill these creatures, no questions asked. She was pretty sure Selene felt the same way, because she could feel waves of tension emanating from the slender vampire.

She, Michael and Selene stayed together; stepping back as Lucian was swamped with well wishers. She didn't want to intrude on this moment, and to be honest, she just as soon the lycans take as little notice of her as possible. But she knew that wasn't going to happen.

Even from across the room, she could feel eyes watching her every move. She had tried to be inconspicuous, but to hell with discretion. She looked around and found Raze blatantly staring at her. She assumed the big man was Lucian's right hand man; therefore, he must know who Selene and Michael were. So, she was a curiosity to the big lycan. He was obviously trying to intimidate her, but she didn't scare easily. She took the initiative and walked over.

Raze was furious. He had known Michael Corvin was going to become a part of their colony. He didn't have a problem with the crossbreed's presence. It was the two women he had issues with.

He thought Lucian was insane for bringing the female death dealer into their midst. She was directly responsible for the losses and injuries they had recently sustained. He had buried too many of his brothers and sisters to even think about allowing her to live with them. How could Lucian expect them to trust Selene, much less fight side by side against the vampires with her? He didn't understand, and in his current state of mind he had no intentions of even trying.

Then there was that agent of the Council, Alexandra. Not many knew of the Council's existence, he was one of the few that had met up with the Council and had lived to talk about it. The only time the Council got involved with lycans or vampires was when they had orders to execute them. There had never had a hit put out on him, but he knew of the Council and their reputation. They only hired the best and their motto was to take out the monsters and ask questions later. He was going to have to talk to Lucian to see what exactly was going on. He couldn't believe he had brought in the only enemies they had, and expected the lycans to accept them into their fold.

He was watching the small group, especially the woman from the Council. He wanted them to feel anxious and unsettled. He wasn't about to welcome them with open arms; they would be damn lucky if he didn't kill them before the night was over.

Alex had caught him staring at her. He didn't look away. The sooner they realized they were not wanted here, the better.

But instead of being frightened, the chick from the council began walking over to him. Raze was shocked, but he didn't move a muscle. He continued to openly stare at her as he waited for her to come to him. And to his surprise, she stared right back; never once breaking eye contact.

Alex made her way over to the fearsome looking lycan, determined not to let him intimidate her. She didn't want to be here anymore than he wanted her here. But before she could leave, she needed to find out all she could about the leak in the Council as well as Michael Corvin's importance to the shapeshifters. Somehow she knew Lucian wasn't going to be that forthcoming with information.

She moved to stand directly in front of Raze. She still kept her eyes trained on his face, but standing this close meant she had to look up to do so.

"So, what's your take on this whole scenario?" she asked him, though, she could tell by the look on his face exactly how he felt.

"I'm happy to have found Lucian alive", was all he said.

"Actually, big guy, I'm the one that found him alive. In fact, I saved his life; so to speak. So, I'm thinking you might be a little grateful that I was there to resuscitate your leader. Keeping that in mind, I'm kinda interested in knowing where I stand with you?" she asked him honestly.

He was dumbstruck. Raze couldn't believe she had the audacity to claim that she had saved Lucian, much less tell him he owed her a debt of gratitude for it.

"I owe you nothing, remember that woman", he managed to spit out between clenched teeth.

"Ahh, I see you're not real happy with the current situation. I can't say that I blame you", she informed him. "I know I'm not feeling the love myself."

"Why are you here?" he asked her.

"Because Lucian demanded I come. Well, actually, he more or less told me that if I wanted out of the chains he had me in, I would have to go with him and play nice with the lycans", she replied offhandedly.

She could actually see his temper rising. His fists were balled up at his side and his jaw was clenched so tight, she could almost hear his teeth grinding. She hadn't purposely come over to provoke the man. She really wanted to see if it was possible to strike a deal with him. Maybe he if he wanted her gone bad enough, he might be willing to provide her with the name of the Council member that had sold them the ultraviolet ammo.

But her mere presence seemed to ignite his anger. She looked him over, noting he was a big man; probably the biggest one in the room. So he was capable of doing a lot of damage. But she didn't think he would do anything in front of Lucian....she was wrong.

Before she knew what was happening, the big man lashed out and caught her across the face; with a blow to her cheek.

She took the blow standing; surprising the hell out of Raze. He had cut her lip, he could see the blood welling in the corner of her mouth. Of course, he had held back and not used all of his strength, but she still should have at least dropped to her knees, if not fallen down completely.

Damn, that hurt! Alex was looking at the floor, but had somehow managed to stay on her feet. That was a miracle. If that dumbass lycan thought he was going to be able to push her around, he had another thing coming.

When she had walked over to the shapeshifter, she noticed he carried a large knife in a sheath on his belt, as well as gun in a shoulder holster. She leaned into him, like she was going to fall. As he reached out to catch her, she grabbed the handle of the knife and in the blink of an eye, she had the wickedly curved blade resting against the lycans's crotch

"Now, that was just plain rude", she told him. Looking him in the eye, she noticed he looked wary and uncomfortable.

By now, they had attracted an audience, and Lucian was striding towards them. He looked pissed! But she wasn't letting Raze get off with a slap on the wrist. He may not like her, but she didn't deserve the blow he had dealt her.

She pressed the point of the knife in just hard enough to go through his pants and draw blood. Then she said, "Just in case you're thinking I wouldn't dare dismember your...member, guess again. I'm very good with a knife, and I have no qualms about performing a Lorena Bobbit on your big, black ass. So, let's get a few things straight. You may be bigger than I am, but it's pretty obvious that I can take a punch, even one that's pulled. I am quite capable both physically and mentally; and I'm not afraid of you or anyone else in this room. I am here under duress; and, in case your limited vocabulary doesn't comprehend the meaning of that word, it means I don't want to be here anymore than you want me here. But, I am trying to behave and not cause any problems. So, if you have an issue with me, then I suggest you take it up with your fearless leader."

She said all of that in a very calm, rational voice; her tone very conversational. So, she didn't sound like she was angry, but this was the voice she used when she was extremely pissed, and just about to hurt someone.

By then, Lucian had made his way to the front of the crowd. He saw Alexandra had drawn a knife and was threatening to cut Raze. He wasn't going to let that happen.

"Alexandra", he called out sharply. "Give me the knife as well as your gun", he told her.

"Not gonna happen, Lucian", she told him, never taking her eyes or the knife off of Raze. Did he think she was crazy? If he took away her weapons, she was open to attack from every lycan present. And after having humiliated Raze publicly, she knew she hadn't made any friends.

If he let her talk to him like that in front of the other lycans, Lucian knew he would loose respect in their eyes. And right now, it was important that they trusted him. She left him little choice in the matter.

He walked over to them and grabbed Alex around the base of her neck pulling her away from Raze by her hair. As the knife came away from Raze's body, he used his other hand to capture her wrist in a painful grip. He squeezed until the knife fell from her hand onto the floor.

He looked over to Raze, "Are you okay?" he asked his friend.

"You're kidding me, right?" Alex asked astonished at the question.

"I'm not speaking to you Alexandra", Lucian coldly pointed out.

"I'm fine", Raze assured him.

"Good", Lucian told him. Without even looking at Alex he turned back to the lycans that surrounded them. "I am sorry my friends, that our reunion has been cut short. But there is a matter that I need to attend to. I will meet with all of you later and we will resume where we left off", he promised them.

Still holding her by the neck, Lucian tried pulling Alex along with him. Pissed beyond belief, Alex jerked back hard enough to make Lucian loosen his hold on her.

She stopped dead in her tracks, "If you wish for me to go with you, I suggest you ask", she informed him.

Not even bothering to look at her, Lucian called out, "Taylor, please escort our guest to my chambers. I'll meet you there momentarily."

One of the lycans stepped forward and motioned for two others to come with him. They surrounded Alex, two of them grabbing her by the arms. The third one came up behind her and together, they forced her to leave the room.