Judah (The Strong Pack Book 3)

  The Strong Pack series

  Book 3

  Judah

  By Crystal Dawn

  Editing by Eagle Editing

  Cover by Desi De Orto

  Publisher Eagle Eye Publishing

  2016 Copyright by Crystal Dawn All Rights Reserved.

  Disclaimer:

  Any resemblance to persons living or dead are strictly a coincidence. While some actual places may be named, they are used only in the context of imaginary events. The story is strictly created from the author’s imagination and all of the events are fictitious.

  Jericho

  The Strong Pack 1

  Jericho is Aristotle’s son and future alpha of the Strong pack. He’s not the settling down type which isn’t uncommon with alpha wolves who have long life spans. He goes on a blind date assuming T.J. is a pity date. He is surprised in more ways than one when not only is she knock his socks off gorgeous, but she turns out to be his soul mate. What follows is an attempt to woo a very resistant mate and a situation that seems funny to everyone but Jericho and T.J. Other forces want to keep them apart, but Jericho’s heart is set on T.J. and he won’t let her go without a fight. It’s a fight his father backs all the way.

  While all this wooing and protecting is going on, T.J.’s sister makes an unexpected and rare visit. Aristotle sees Sherona and immediately knows she is his soul mate. The problem is she’s a writer and perhaps an adrenaline junkie since she goes to the most dangerous places in the world for her stories. He tries to protect her by sending a guide to follow and watch over her, but he is at the end of his rope. Next time she comes to see T.J. she will have Aristotle to deal with.

  Aristotle

  The Strong Pack 2

  Sherona finally comes home. Now the struggle begins as she tries to fight fate and Aristotle’s desire to make her his. She’s drawn to him so she has to fight herself too. On top of that, danger follows them, threatening their lives at every turn. Nothing new for Sherona but what is new is the fear for the people she cares about including one stubborn risk taking alpha.

  When they finally manage to work out their relationship, Aristotle’s youngest son comes home bitter and inundated with hate towards anyone who is different. They will have to work hard learning to be together before they can help Judah work out his angst.

  Prologue

  It wasn’t easy to recognize the racists or even the races among the supernaturals. Even among the humans only those racists that spewed their hate were easy to see. Races were distinguished by color or features in humans and scent among supes but the lines were being blurred generation by generation in both the human and supe worlds. Once a white wolf was claimed and changed, they were just as super as any other supernatural being, more so than many. Judah was torn, his superior officer had filled him with facts about how these white wolves breeding into their race would diminish it. They weren’t strong, attractive, able, or smart enough to breed with wolves who were a superior species.

  The problem was now that Judah knew some of these white wolves personally, what he knew of them didn’t support the so called facts that had been hammered into him and his fellow soldiers. It was beginning to worry Judah that he had been sold a red herring. If that was true, his behavior was unforgivable. Maybe his actions were unforgivable either way. He had not treated the lady like a lady so now she was treating him like a tramp.

  Judah

  Chapter 1

  Home Again

  Yes, he was home again the place he both dreamed of and feared to be. All those cold nights in the desert followed by burning hot days where he’d fondly reflected on his youth in the years before he’d become a bitter disenchanted young wolf anyway. Speaking to his brothers in arms he’d come to realize over the years how good he’d really had it. He’d only had his father and Jericho, his brother, but he’d known they loved him. They had even spoiled him completely. It wasn’t until he was sixteen that his attitude had changed. It was during that time when someone had told him he was unimportant to the pack because he was just a backup for his brother. It wasn’t something he wanted to believe, but the proof had been in front of him.

  Jude knew now it had been a failing in him, a need to feel more important that had made him a rebel, causing his father so much trouble that when he had asked to join the human army permission had been granted. At the time Jude had thought they just wanted rid of him, but now he saw his dad had looked at it as a last hope for his son to straighten out in the rigid and disciplined atmosphere of the military.

  He’d spent nearly thirteen years in the army before someone had become suspicious of his commanding officer and disbanded his unit. Few had been allowed to stay in the service and he suspected those might have been informers or males placed undercover inside their unit. His new theory was the CO he had thought the world of might be running some kind of purist terror group. It would explain why he’d never been let into the inner circle. Maybe they had decided once he was around his pack and his family they’d change his way of thinking.

  T.J. and Sherona were something else, but even those two females couldn’t hold a candle to Mal, their cousin. Just as he thought of her she appeared but something was horribly wrong. Her luscious locks of deep black had been dyed a light blonde. She probably did it to piss him off, something the smirk on her face seemed to corroborate.

  “It’s alright, Baby. I love blondes too.” He whispered as she tried to hurry by.

  She shot him a look that should have killed him and left him a smoldering pile of ash. Jude didn’t know why he had to push her buttons but he couldn’t seem to stop. It wasn’t like she didn’t push his too. The difference was he had treated her poorly while she hadn’t turned on him until he had gotten crude with her. It was when he sensed she was attracted to him that he had moved into her personal space in an attempt to seal the deal. That’s when he had been shot down cruelly even if deservedly.

  He wasn’t sure he would ever work his way back into favor again especially if he didn’t learn how to keep his mouth shut. Instead of snarking on the beautiful white wolf he couldn’t forget, he should be trying to figure out if the males he would have died for while he was in the army were about to become the enemies he might have to kill. His father and brother certainly thought so. The problem was his mind was on her so he got up and followed her out to where that unfortunate conversation had taken place. It had been something about fucking the want out of them both.

  She’d not taken it well and he wondered if she still fumed over it. He didn’t get the chance to ask her because she seemed caught up in a hug with some guy, human by the scent. Well she certainly worked fast. Jude pushed back the pain that seemed to grip his heart. No, she was nothing to him. That was something he needed to remember. Turning back to the house he left her with the human that was clearly her lover. It was time for him to put the past behind him and become someone who worked for the good of the pack. A female wolf was what he needed to find, she would understand him.

  His dad was motioning to him so he went to see what he needed. “Hey Jude.” His dad said with a chuckle. It was an old joke, playing on the name of a song. Everyone knew it annoyed him, only his dad and his brother had the brass balls to say it to him.

  Jude rolled his eyes. “What did you want Dad?”

  “You’ve been back a couple weeks now which is time to get settled in and reacquainted. I’m sure you want to do something useful.” His dad said echoing the thoughts he’d had himself.

  “Sure Dad. You have any ideas?” He asked wondering what the hell this was all about.

  “Our area is growing, so is the pack. We have a dozen businesses at least, going right now with plans to start more. I want y
ou to run a business for us. We’ve been thinking of starting a security company. Alarms, armored car deliveries, guard services. The whole nine yards not just for our businesses either. There’s a real need but the closest company that’s any good is four hours away.”

  “I’d love to but I don’t have any technical training.”

  “You mean with the alarms, computer’s, and stuff like that?”

  “Exactly. I could train guys for protective services, take charge for personnel, even deal with customers, but I know nothing about the electronics involved.”

  “It’s not a problem. We have two pack members working at that company I mentioned who are experts at installing and servicing alarms. There’s also a favor I’ll call in with Tyne Wolf. You remember him don’t you? He has a company just like the one we want to start except he does abductions and international stuff. He’s the best and he’ll train you and a small group you pick for your management team. If you’re not sure, take a few days to think about it.”

  “I’m sure Dad if you’re sure I’ll have some knowledgeable people and training in areas I’m unfamiliar with.”

  “You have my promise. There’s one more thing.”

  Jude felt a shiver run down his spine. This wouldn’t be good at all. “Yes, Sir?” He said slipping into the way he used to speak to his dad when he was a pup.

  “Can you make up with Mal? We need her to set up your computer system, website, and office. The girl is a genius.” He said sounding almost worshipful. Everyone who got to know her did making him wonder what he was missing. Sure she was gorgeous, talented, and he’d even heard she could fight well enough to beat most men. Hell, maybe he hadn’t missed anything after all.

  “I could try. She doesn’t seem to like me.” He shut up realizing he was fucking whining.

  His dad chuckled. “I’m not sure that’s the problem. Maybe she likes you too much and you hurt her feelings.”

  Jude snorted. “If that was true she wouldn’t be wrapped around some human out on the porch.”

  Now his dad laughed. “Maybe she’s not the only one in too deep. The human out there is her cousin, Sherona and TJ’s brother. He’s not the warmest guy in the world and losing his wife to cancer hasn’t helped. Mal is one of the few relatives they have that he cares anything for. According to Sherona he treats Mal like a little brother. I guess she was a tomboy growing up and they were all best friends. You might enjoy talking to him. He’s also former army and a school principal. His wife’s illness caused him to retire.”

  “I’ll do the best I can, Dad.” Jude felt like a fool both for drawing the wrong conclusion and also for caring that she might have a romantic interest.

  The recently changed she wolf was of no interest to him at all. That he felt better now was strictly because his dad had faith in him running a business for the pack. This showed more clearly than anything that his dad believed in him. He’d always known he loved him but there were times that he’d wondered if he ever felt proud of him, the way anyone could see he was of Jericho. It had been the fact that Jericho was heir apparent that had brought out bitter jealousy in Jude so long ago.

  It was why he’d felt unimportant, useless to the pack even. He’d learned over the years that he could be an important part of the pack without being the pack alpha. There were many positions that helped keep the pack safe and cared for. He’d been a foolish pup to let the hateful words of a bitter pack member influence him as he had, it was something he’d learned through experience. That pack member was long dead, but the damage he’d done to Jude’s relationship with his family had lasted years past his death. Now it seemed he’d made a mistake in listening to the wrong people again. Once he collected some information he would have a heart to heart with his dad and come clean about his mistakes. That was something he owed his father.

  His cell phone buzzed almost as if he’d conjured the call. It was Colonel Hamish Kirk, his ex CO. Jude was no dummy, Kirk and his organization wanted to use him to hurt his pack and his family. That would never happen even if he still believed the rubbish they spouted about white wolves.

  “Hello.”

  “LT Strong. This is Colonel Kirk. Have you given any thought to my proposal?” LT his nickname because of his rank from when he worked for Kirk.

  “I have but I can’t go against my pack. A wolf has to give them his first loyalties.” Besides, Jude was beginning to see some signs that Kirk might be unhinged.

  “That was what I was afraid of. We won’t be contacting you anymore. It’s a matter of you’re either with us or against us and you, my boy, are strictly in enemy territory.”

  “I’m aware of how you view things. My mind’s made up. Family comes first.”

  “It was nice knowing you once upon a time.” The line went dead. There was no doubt now that he needed to have a talk with his dad. Kirk was planning a nasty surprise. Maybe he should have gone along with it and pumped him for information but his heart wasn’t in it.

  Jude headed back to the last place he’d seen his dad. Sherona was with him now making him look the happiest Jude had ever seen him. If that white wolf could give his dad that much happiness, there was something special and worthwhile about her.

  “Dad, Sherona.” He nodded to them both. “Could I borrow your mate for a few minutes?” He ask Sherona. “I promise I’ll have him back in no time.”

  “Sure.” She said smiling as she leaned forward kissing him then she walked away to where his brother, T.J., and the little one were lounging around.

  “I just had a call from my ex commanding officer, Colonel Kirk.”

  “I wondered if you would tell me.”

  “You knew?”

  “That he’s been trying to recruit you for his purist organization? Yes, I’ve known since before you came home. I waited for you to make your decision, praying to the goddess it would be the right one.”

  “You didn’t say a thing.”

  “Neither did you.”

  “While I was in the army I knew better than to say anything to anyone. Kirk had a way of finding out and those males that talked never returned from their missions. Everyone knew, so before long we all learned to stay alive you kept it zipped. Once I got back I was struggling to decide if there was any truth in what he was saying.”

  “You may not believe this, but he doesn’t even believe the bullshit he’s spouting. There’s been a split in the purist organization recently. Kirk had become a separatist instead. He believes in breeding with the white wolves but he wants them to be a separate class. They would be a sub class of wolf. They would be a mistress not a mate. The children he had with his mistress would serve him and any children he had with a full blood mate. It was because the purists informed on him that the army discharged him. It was an honorable discharge simply because they couldn’t prove anything.”

  “That view is barbaric. It’s almost like slavery.”

  “I’m sure his intention is to gain ground until it is slavery. The male is unbalanced.”

  Jude felt stunned. He had once wanted to be part of what Kirk was doing, but now he was horrified by what he’d discovered it to be. “He has a plan to take action against our pack. Maybe I should have played along to try to find out what it is, but I never felt like I had his complete trust. Kirk only planned to use me, I feel sure of it.”

  “I agree. They have some informers in his organization who said he felt he could get information out of you that would help him take Sherona, TJ, and Mal.”

  “What would he want them for?” Jude ask as his dad sent him a pitying look.

  “He wants to breed a pack of lesser wolves that he can use as an army. He doesn’t mind having to start off with pups, raising them to obey him and only him.”

  Jude knew he turned crimson with anger. Kirk wanted his own personal harem like some ancient king? He wanted Jude’s family and his female? Well not his female, not really, oh hell why didn’t he just admit it? Not his yet! He’d kill Kirk before he allowed him to take t
hose females or any others from his pack. “That, will never happen as long as I live and breathe.”

  “I agree but that’s another reason I want you to start the security company. We also want a training program for security guards which will be open to the public. Every pack member will go through it including the teenagers. We’ve had too many threats to our member’s safety. This needs to be done and you are the male to do it.”

  “Thank you for your faith. It means everything to me.” Jude meant it. He wouldn’t let his father or his pack down. “When do you want to begin?”

  “Tomorrow we will start gathering applications and we’ll talk to Tyne about when he can visit us. The training program needs to go in place first so we can train and test our guards.”

  “You don’t mess around.”

  “You’ve always known that.” His dad said. Jude knew that was true. He could also admit he wanted to get started on things, especially if it would ensure the safety of his pack. Over the years he had come to realize that he was as important to his pack as he made himself. By running away, he had distanced himself, making his lack of importance a self-fulfilling prophecy. He was home now for good.

  “I’m ready to get this going so I’ll see you at breakfast if not before.”

  Breakfast started at five and ran through ten. Different people had different shifts with some of the night workers coming in as late as seven. Dayshift or people on their days off, often ate breakfast later coming in as late as nine to start eating. There was a short break between breakfast and lunch when all food was cleared away and fresh food put out. Pack living was a true communal experience. All meals could be eaten at the pack house, laundry service provided, and maids cleaned the bedrooms and even the nearby homes twice a week.