Wolf Bait

One

Sueco- Drama Queen

Jonas

This female is the strongest Beta I've ever encountered in the packlands. Even in her weakened state, she looks like she can put up a fight. That's what I've been looking for since Eva was killed. I've needed a replacement Luna if only to lure those who came for my mate out. It's been eight years since I lost her and our pup. The only thing I have left is a throne that has been weighing heavier and heavier as of late with her killer on the loose.

"She doesn't look like much," Silas says when she's escorted to the pack doctor. She needs a physical. I need to make sure she'll survive my mark when I bite her. She needs to be in perfect condition for this or I'm going to have to start over again. "The last one didn't get very far,"

"Then we'll keep looking," I wave him off.

"She has a mouth on her," he laughs. "What do you want with the Elder?"

"He'll keep her complacent. As long as we have him, she'll follow suit. Give him one of the villas and send for their s**t. I have to talk to the girl,"

"Try to be gentle on her. Looks like y'all got a lot in common," he smacks my chest as he walks out of my study.

Pernicious Phurry. Beta female. Twenty-three years old. Five-Eleven. One hundred and ninety-two pounds. Has a good education. Her parents were both Betas so she's got a good bloodline. There shouldn't be a reason why her body would reject the bite of a lycan. The alpha didn't include what she did for his pack. She might not do anything. She smells like alcohol and not like she had a fun night. It permeates her skin.

The dead look in her dark brown eyes says she's probably been drunk for the past five years. I have no room to judge on that. I was there myself not that long ago. I put everything I could get my hands on in my body. None of it ever helped. None of it ever killed me.

But if she's going to be the new Lycan Queen, she's going to have to shake that s**t out of her system. She has a role to play and whether she makes it out alive at the end of it or not, I need her to perform to the best of her abilities so that I can get what I want. What happens to her after will be up to her if she makes it out of this alive.

"My liege," Dr. Alvarez bows her head when I approach her office.

"Report,"

"She's in good condition, sir. This one is strong," she comes over to me with a tablet. "Perry has a few scars and is a bit malnourished, but it's nothing a good night's rest, hydration, and food can't fix,"

"Scars?"

"Yeah," she holds up the tablet.

There's a huge claw mark across her chest. Another on her back. A third on her right thigh. Nine scars that should have killed her nine times over. What the f**k did they do to this girl? A better question is what did she do to herself? Both questions will probably go unanswered.

"Are you sure she'll survive my bite?"

"My King, I know I sound like a broken record, but think of what this is doing to you. This will be the fourth female you've connected to. There is only so much your body can take and soul can take. This is damaging your transitions. If you don't make a real connection soon-"

"Thank you, Esme," I nod. She lets out a heavy sigh and motions the door.

"Just promise you'll try things differently. This girl looks like she's been through hell already. There's no reason to be forceful with her. She's vulnerable. You can ask. Tell her the truth. She might be able to help,"

"There's only one thing I need her for,"

"I know," she squeezes my shoulder. "And by the looks of her, she looks like a willing victim,"

Perry is sitting on the doctor's table when I walk in. She looks exhausted. There are dark circles around her eyes. Her long brown hair looks ashy. Her sun-kissed skin would be glowing if she took better care of it. It's been a long time since she's done her eyebrows. Despite all that, she looks like she works out. Like she's active. Her legs are thick with muscle. She has a small waist for someone who weighs as much as her. It's lean muscle.

"You can keep your mate's surname as a middle initial," I sit down on the office chair in here. She doesn't look up at me. "I'm sure you're wondering why I've brought you here,"

"Not really," she says quietly.

"Do you want to know?"

"As long as I don't have to f**k anyone, I'll do whatever you want me to," she finally lifts her tired eyes to look at me. I sit back setting the file down.

"Okay," I scratch the back of my neck. "I'm trying to lure some bad men here. I need a mate for that. I think you'd be perfect for the role,"

"To be your mate?" she asks skeptically.

"Correct,"

"What happens when your true mate comes around?"

"She won't. They killed her already,"

"Oh, so vengeance?" the edges to her lips pull up and with the callous way she presents herself she looks almost sinister.

"That's right,"

"And you need me for that?"

"Yeah, some very bad wolves and lycans are going to come after you and I'm going to kill them. That's it. That's the whole job,"

"Then what?"

"You might not make it out alive," I admit. "None of the others have,"

"Others?" she asks. Her tone changes. It's more interested now. Her eyes almost flare. Almost. She's just amused. "How many times have you done this?"

"You are the fourth,"

"Ooof," she shakes her head. "Who has a hard-on for making you suffer?"

"My brother. My mate was his ex-wife,"

"Wow," she leans back. Enough to crack her back. "And if I survive?"

"I doubt you will. You're a wolf. Your strength, no matter how great, will never compare to ours. Even once I mark you,"

"Wait, I have to let you mark me?"

"Yes, and you will mark me,"

"Mmm," she groans. "I don't like that,"

"I'm not asking you,"

"s**t," she shifts uncomfortably.

"If for some miraculous reason, you were to make it out alive, you'd still bear my mark. You'd still be the Lycan Queen,"

"What?" she laughs. It's cynical. "You're the Lycan King?"

"That is correct,"

"Wow," she says looking me over. "You look like it,"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Dude, you're wearing eight hundred dollar jeans. Not even my piece of s**t alpha has those," she shrugs. "You know it hurts right? You remember that? The way it feels to have the connection broken when you're mated to someone,"

"Yes," how does one forget something like that?

"All right," she hops off the table. I stand so we're at par. She looks up at me. Even with her size, I tower over her. "You are one big scary man," she says quietly. "I have one condition,"

"I own you. There is no condition,"

"Come on, Lycan King. I'm going to try and help you get your revenge. Just do me a solid,"

"What?"

"Okay, two. Super easy. I promise,"

"Perry," I growl.

"All right. All right," she puts her hands up in surrender. "One, don't hurt the old man. He's m mate's father. Just let him live out his life in peace,"

"That's not unreasonable. Very well. And other thing?"

"If, as you say, by some miracle I make it out alive. You kill me," she shrugs.

A wave of anxiety floods my body. It's not an unreasonable request either. I could do it now if I thought she wouldn't be helpful. She stands straight and holds out her hand for me to take the deal.

"And if I refuse?"

"I am going to make our lives so hard you're going to want to kill me anyway," she grins. "Agree and I'll even throw in PDA when we're out in public,"

"You will have to sober up,"

"Check,"

"You will be cleaned up," I say walking around her.

"Will you be providing those services?"

"Yes,"

"Check,"

"You will have to be the acting Lycan Queen as intended until the task is over,"

"Tell Lycans what to do. Double check," she nods.

"We will go out in public and you must stake your claim before anyone who tries to be little your position by whatever means you see fit,"

"f**k s**t up if bitches hit on you. Dude, it's like you're trying to give me the best death I can possibly get," she rolls her eyes. "Check,"

"I have one question for you,"

"What?" she sighs.

"The scars. How did you get them?"

"What does it matter? They didn't do what they were intended to do. I don't want to talk about them," she holds her hand out again. "Deal?"

"If you try to make this harder than it needs to be-"

"I won't. I get it," she says dropping her hand. "I got to kill the two rogues that killed him. If I didn't love her, I'd kill Morgan too. I just want it to stop, Lycan King. If you think this is somehow going to help you. Even better. I have a better excuse to go out with a bang. That's what I've been trying to do for the past five years, man. Not a single useless wolf out there has been able to kill me. So, if there's a lycan who can. Please, let us tear each other apart,"

Her words are simple. There's almost a sense of duty in the way she said them. As if dying at the hands of another is what she's been dreaming of her entire life. I get that. Ending myself has never been an option. Not while James is out there living his life without a care in the world. He needs to pay for what he did and I will stop at nothing to make sure he gets what he deserves.

"Deal," I hold out my hand for her to take. She smiles and smacks her hand against mine before firmly shaking it.

"Deal," she nods. Her face turns beet red when her stomach grumbles. "Sorry, it's been a while since I've last eaten,"

"We can't have that," I lift her chin again to get a better look. She looks wild. Feral almost. But she's not bad to look at. "A hungry Queen can be a fussy one. Let's get you fed. I'll call the maintenance crew,"

"That bad, huh?" she looks herself over.

"You look like a drunken cat lady," I say motioning to the door. "You smell like one too,"

"Thanks," she looks back at me with a smile. "That's what I was going for,"

Charming.

Her manners are garbage. She eats like she hasn't eaten in days and has no regard for her surroundings. When the spa girls show up. She's standing on the balcony of the room she'll be occupying for the remainder of her stay here. She's looking down at the courtyard where some of my hunters are sparing.

"Miss," one of the girls tries to catch her attention. The stubborn little wolf doesn't answer her.

"Perry," I call out and she finally glances back at me over her shoulder. She groans and pushes off the veranda before coming back inside the room.

"Stand here," the older woman orders. She glares at her but does as she asks anyway.

"What did we just talk about?" I ask her. "You said without difficulty,"

"Between us," she rolls her eyes at me and to say it infuriates me is an understatement.

"These are my people, Perry. You will treat them with the respect they deserve. If this is going to work you need to put in the effort,"

"Whatever you say, my liege," she says sarcastically.

"Begin," I order.

"Is there a preference, my King?" Laura asks as she walks around the girl. She pulls her hair back.

"Cut it all off. This is dead," I hold it up. "You don't have a problem with that do you, little wolf?"

"Would it matter if I did?" she sighs.

"Cut it short. Make it darker. Clean her face up,"

"Yes, sir. Miss Perry would you take a seat here," Laura motions her to chair. Perry drops into it slouching.

"Sit up straight, Pernicious," she tenses up a bit and does as I ask. "Chin up. Ankles crossed,"

Perry looks up at me with a glare and then shifts to do as I ask. Laura sprays her hair with water and starts to brush the length. I almost regret asking her to cut it all off. Wet, it goes down to her lower back. Perry's skin breaks out in goosebumps when the first snip of the scissors echoes in the silent room. She blinks away tears when the first long strand slides down to the floor.

Laura cuts it enough to expose her slender neck. She has a sharp jawline. The haircut shapes her face better. One of the younger girls comes over and reclines the chair back. The two of them start working on her face. I take a seat on the bed and start reviewing her school credentials.

"It says here you went to business school. You had on term left to finish,"

"Yup," she answers.

"Why didn't you finish?"

"I joined the Alpha's police force,"

"You're a huntress?"

"Was," she corrects me.

"Were you any good?"

"Depends on who you ask. I guess," she mumbles.

"I'm asking you,"

"Yes, the best hunters are the ones that hunt like they've got nothing to lose and well I can be a little reckless,"

"You ever get anyone killed?"

"Never,"

"What is your accuracy percentage?"

"Eighty percent,"

"Why isn't any of that in your files?"

"The alpha's son is a f*****g useless i***t. Took credit for most of my work. He was my team's leader,"

"Calvin?"

"That's the f*****g i***t,"

"What is your problem with him?"

"Aside from how pathetic he is? He's the reason why my mate is dead,"

"You do know that it's a Beta's job to protect the alpha and his mate, right? No matter the cost,"

"It's the alpha's job to make sure the pack is protected. Had he followed the protocol plans Darren established with the alpha, the rogues would never have been in the packhouse. He abandoned his position. Darren was nineteen going up against two alpha-rank rogues. Nothing you say is ever going to change my mind about him,"

"I'm not trying to change your mind. I just want to understand what happened,"

She pushes Laura away and sits up to look at me. Her face is red from all the prodding, but she looks so much better. Pretty even.

"We don't have to do this. I don't ask you about your mate. You don't ask me about mine. You want me to help you get to your brother and I'll do that. We don't need to get to know one another. You're taking enough as it is,"

"I can take what I want. You're mine. I paid for you,"

"Yeah, you did. Don't humanize me, Lycan King. It can lead to you breaking your promise. You're not going to like me if I get you what you want and you don't deliver what I want. The only thing you own is this vessel and I assure you, your greatness. It's pretty, but it's really f*****g empty,"

She falls back into the chair and waves for Laura to continue. The women glance over at me skeptically. I give them a nod and toss the file aside. She's got a point.

"I'm not trying to humanize you, Pernicious. I need to know what you're good at. Where I can place you so you can perform to the best of your abilities. I need you to be seen. You need to take a place that will catch his attention,"

"You don't need to know anything about me for that. I can tell you what I'm good at. I'm good at killing and I'm very good with money. Before joining the force I worked for Red Wood Finances. I was part of the team that created Paw Coin currency,"

"Now we're getting somewhere," that is impressive. "Were you still part of the team when it went global?"

"Yeah, I sold my shares for seven hundred and fifty million and invested the money in Lycan Tech,"

"You did?"

"Mhm, I own fifty-five percent. Each share is worth eight hundred million. My investment placed me at-"

"Two point seven billion. What do you plan on doing with all of that when you die?"

"I was going to give to Jacob. But since you're here and you promised me you were going to take care of him. Do whatever you want with it. I couldn't care less. It's just money,"

"We'll talk about that later. I need someone to help me with the finances here. My beta does his best, but he's mated now,"

"What about your hunters?"

"You're going to be the Lycan Queen, Perry. There is no f*****g way you're going to be joining my ranks. If you die before I can finish-"

"Yeah, yeah," she sighs. Laura lets her sit up. She leans forward without looking up at me. "On a scale from one to you're screwed and barely scraping by, how bad is it?"

"I'm screwed and barely scraping by," I admit. She looks up at me with a glare.

"You know, that's one thing that I f*****g hated about Calvin," she gets up. She looks better. There's a newfound confidence in her expression. "You know you're f*****g up but it doesn't matter so as long as you get what you want,"

"Don't act like you and I are any different,"

"But we are, Lycan King. I am just some she-wolf. There is nothing special about me. I am literally a f*****g speck in the wind. You're the Lycan King, asshole. People depend on you. Not just a pack or small city. An entire f*****g race is out there on their knees for you.

"Your mate would be ashamed of what you're doing in her name or his. I don't know what you're into," the women all lower their heads without looking at me. "Maybe when you're out there taking vengeance, think about them. We're very different. There is only one person in this world who will suffer with me being gone. Just one. That's how insignificant I am," she kicks the hair on the ground. "Show me what you're working with. Maybe the last nice thing I can do for this f****d up world is help a bunch of monsters be financially independent,"