Chapter 19

The clacking of Zina's heels echoed in the hallway of the Brayshell Community Center. Her army had gathered and eagerly awaited orders to begin their takeover of the Council and Le Croix Industries. With still no word from Gerard whether or not they had the girl, Zina was growing impatient. Her ear comm rang and she turned it on. "Speak."

"My Alpha, we are en-route to you."

"Very good, Gerard. I will see you when get here." Zina turned and held up her hand for silence.

"Many of you have been with me since the beginning. We suffered a major setback thirteen years ago, but we learned valuable lessons from that failure. And now we are here, ready and strong to take down the Council who branded us traitors and outcasts.

"No longer will we be dominated by our brethren who believe themselves superior to us while not being subject to the same rules they hold us accountable to. No longer will we allow abominations to be born and cherished as if some great gift from God. No longer will we allow the humans to control our lives with their antiquated laws that show their fear and prejudice.

"Now is the time for all pure Weres to rise up and let their voices be heard. Our deeds will blaze across the world, showing the way for the lost to make their way back to the light. We are superior to all others. We are the best, the strongest, the brightest, the most powerful! They will kneel before us or be crushed underneath our feet!"

The assembled men and women roared with one voice, bloodlust in their eyes as she worked them into a feverish pitch. "We will no longer skulk in the shadows, waiting for our day in the sun. We are the future and it is here! Our time is now! Rise up, my brothers and sisters, and let us take what we are owed!"

"Zina! Zina! Zina!" The chant swelled in volume until it shook the walls.

Her smile grew wider when she heard a vehicle pull up outside. "And my friends, we shall begin with the abomination that started it all--the daughter of Henry Le Croix!"

She turned, hand outstretched to the door that opened to reveal Gerard and the men who had gone with him. Her eyes narrowed and she stormed toward Gerard, her hands changing to claws. The other men flinched except for Gerard and Alexis who stood stoically in the face of her wrath.

"Where…is…the…girl?" Zina was nose to nose with Gerard.

"We ran into a snag, my Alpha. Donil Silentshadow was there protecting her. He used his Alpha shielding. We couldn't get to her."

She backed up a step and, with a furious swipe of her claws, ripped Gerard's shirt and flesh. "Why did you not call for backup?"

"You set a strict deadline. You told us not to deviate, my Alpha."

She gave him a vicious slap that staggered him. The entire building had gone silent as the gathered Weres watched in fear. 

"I told you that I needed that girl! Without her, Henry will not bow down and the Council will back him. You are a disgrace, letting one newbie Alpha stop the five of you!"

"My Alpha!" Gerard's face was bleeding from the slap. Her claws had cut into his cheek. "Donil may be new to his Alpha powers, but he is stronger than most. Alexis and I combined our powers and still couldn't get past him."

Zina's fury was still hot, but she listened to what Gerard said. This could change things. If the Silentshadow clan sided with Le Croix, she might be defeated. No, she could not allow this alliance. Once again, it was the abomination's fault.

She moved away from Gerard and came to stand in the center of the small stage. "Listen, my people. This is a taste of what we can expect. A pure Were turned on his fellows for one reason only--to protect an abomination that shrouds itself in deceptive innocence and beauty, but underneath is the downfall of all we hold dear. If even our strongest is susceptible, it is even more vital that we get rid of the problem. I want volunteers for a mission to take the abomination from its minions so that we can be rid of it! Who wishes this honor?"

"I do!" a voice shouted from the assembled.

"No, I want it!"

"Good, good. I will make my selection and tomorrow we will set the plan in motion. Let us hunt and celebrate what it means to be pure!"

Still ignoring Gerard and his disgraced group, Zina led the way outside to the forest that stood behind the community building. She flung back her head and howled as she threw off her dress. Smoothly she transformed into the tan and brown wolf form that she gloried in. Sleek, lean and lethal. All around her humans were turning into various animals. She howled again, announcing the hunt and the predators as one entered the forest.