Meat

Chapter Eight

Kaleb brought up the rear of the pack. Some might have expected him to go first, to get the kill. It was his right. He was the alpha after all. He could take any of the others' kills if he chose. The moment he approached the others would back away, flattening their ears and tucking their tails between their legs.

Instead, Kaleb waited for the others to get their fill before he went to feed. They spread the kills over the nights surrounding the full moon, the only three nights when they could access their wolf forms. Kaleb often ate only on the final night, ensuring that every member of their pack had been able to feed. He helped with the chase, he reveled in it, but the moment the kill was done he would back away. He knew Carson thought it made him look weak, that it wasn't the proper behavior of their alpha. Perhaps some of the others agreed with his brother-in-law but Kaleb didn't argue the point. He was the alpha and it was his job not only to lead their pack but to protect them. Ensuring that they fed was a part of that. He never went hungry, so what did it matter?

Despite the brothers' joking that they wanted to eat healthily, both had taken an arm off the girl Jack had managed to chase down. Jemima was prowling and ensuring everyone ate, like he was.

Kaleb headed closer to the woods, following Priya and Carson's scents. Carson was fast and skilled, he had no doubt that his pack brother had managed to catch his prey. Their scent was everywhere, only growing stronger as he bounded up the bank of the stream.

Priya met him instantly, a playful yap as she circled around him. Kaleb bowed down before launching himself up at her, sending the young wolf bouncing into the air. There was another wolf, one of the youngest of their pack, Zeke. He crept away from the kill the moment Kaleb came close, flattening his body in the grass. He sniffed the body. This was Carson's kill. So where was his boisterous brother-in-law?

Nudging him in the shoulder, Priya turned to face the trees, pawing at the ground and whining. Kaleb nudged her back, directing her back to the kill. He set off through the trees after Carson.

His scent was easy to follow. He had bounced off the trees, his claws leaving deep ridges in the bark as he chased down his prey. There was one human unaccounted for and Kaleb's hackles were raised as he chased the younger wolf down. Carson knew the rules and he had no right to take a kill from someone else to ease his frustration.

But there was something else in the air, a scent Kaleb recognised. He searched across the ground, burying his nose into the fallen leaves and fresh grass. Boots with the scent of the city had been here.

Launching himself along, Kaleb's blood pumped through his ears, it bristled along his fur and drove through his nose. He was getting closer.

He came to a sudden stop at the sight before him. Carson prowled the base of a large oak tree. He snapped and snarled, baring his long fangs to the leafy canvas overhead. The scent was stronger than ever.

Leaping up at the trunk, Carson snapped his jaws. A boot shot up into the branches and a light chuckle vibrated through the air. Kaleb pounced forwards and Carson barely glanced at him before launching himself up again. The man kept laughing.

"Good dog," he murmured cheerfully.

Kaleb rounded his younger brother, forcing the wolf backwards. Only one of Carson's ears flattened against his head, his tail high and curled over his back. Kaleb growled and the other ear flattened.

He approached the tree slowly, prowling closer to the trunk the way Carson had done. He pawed his way up onto his hind legs, not to catch the man but to get a better look.

Bright hazel eyes stared down at him, a lithe man in his late twenties with dark brown hair. He grinned and Kaleb didn't need to see the points of his fangs to know who it was. He had seen this man only two nights before. He had seen the way Caine protected him. Spencer.

He leapt away from the tree, down to all fours. He inhaled deeply and sure enough the scent was the same, stronger now than it had been in the city. Clean, masculine, and drenched in blood.

Carson leapt at the tree to continue his assault. Kaleb growled loudly and bared his fangs. A few more snaps and a heavy swing of his tail, but Carson ignored the warning. Growling, Kaleb drove forwards and knocked him from the tree, forcing him back. Carson's eyes were molten and he bared his teeth against his alpha. Still, he retreated. He paced at a safe distance, never once taking his gaze from the vampire up the tree.

Kaleb stared up at him too, watching as the vampire moved. Spencer let his legs hang down from the branch, swinging them back and forth. Leaning forwards, he smirked down at him.

"You'd be Kaleb, then," he said.

Nodding twice, Kaleb ignored the growl that rumbled from behind him. He backed up a few steps and bowed down, pressing his chest to the grass. Leaping forwards to join him, Carson barked his dissent. Kaleb snapped at him and returned to the vampire.

The man clambered down from his branch, hanging from it for a few moments before he released his grip. He landed softly, crouching before them. Even in his unchangeable human form, the vampire looked as much the predator as they did. He straightened up, rolling his shoulders back and stretching his neck.

A blur flew past him, large paws slamming into the vampire's chest. Stumbling backwards, Spencer lifted his hands to defend himself but it was too late. Carson's jaws clamped onto his forearm as he landed, snarling around the flesh. Spencer yanked his arm back and swore. Carson only bit down harder.

Jumping forwards to join them, Kaleb's growl rumbled through the trees and leaves. He bit down on his pack brother's shoulder, twisting and yanking until Carson released the vampire with a piteous yelp. He slunk away, and though his ears had flattened, his tail hanging low, Kaleb could see the murderous anger in his bright eyes. Blood and slaver dripped from his bared fangs as he growled.

Kaleb lurched at him, sending the younger wolf running. He was heading back to his kill, no doubt, to lick his wounded ego.

Straightening up, Kaleb turned back to the vampire. He was cradling his arm, looking down at the deep fang marks in the flesh. He smeared the blood across his skin with his thumb.

"Was that one of the ones with you in the city?" he asked, gazing after Carson.

Kaleb shook his head and let his tongue loll. His tail curved over his back, swaying gently back and forth. At least the vampire had the sense not to make begging jokes like Caine had done. Maybe the boy realised that he wouldn't get away with insulting them, not whilst he was on their turf, surrounded by a pack.

Just in case, Kaleb looked around the trees. He padded around three or four before Spencer shifted his weight.

"They're not here," he said. "It's just me."

Kaleb met his gaze, brought in a deep snort, and turned, leading the vampire back across the fields to the farm house. He'd need to be inside if they wanted any answers from him once he was in a form to ask the questions.