The Wayward Alpha (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) by Joanna Wilson Page A

big guns for.
     
    And yeah, I was the big guns.
     
    “What’s the mission, Green?” I asked after I collected myself, knowing that I’d regret it. I loved my job, but lately It’d become my life. I’d settled into the pattern of waking up, eating breakfast, and going on missions for the council. Did I save lives, prevent wars, and serve the greater good? Yeah, but even superman had sick days.
     
    “We need you to go to Istanbul to track down Alpha Redthorn. Seems he’s gone on some sort of revenge trip, and left his pack in crisis mode.” Green filled in and I could hear him shuffling through papers.
     
    I ran another hand through my wet hair as I watched two black sedan’s pull out and a group of “scrubbers” hop out. Scrubbers were the people that swept up after I’d made a mess with weres, vamps, or other supernatural creatures. They made hair, fingerprints, and whatever else vanishes into thin air.
     
    I turned away from the team and wondered what the alpha was thinking. Redthorn had just become alpha of the Vermont pack via a coup d’état. No one had batted an eye at the hostile takeover because the alpha before him had deserved everything he’d gotten.
     
    I still remembered the first time I met the old alpha, known to everyone as Steel. For the longest time, I thought everyone said steal as a play on how he stole girl’s innocence, young wolves lives, and the only means a pack family had to survive. He’d been a sorry excuse of a man and a monster instead of a wolf.
     
    Redthorn might have murdered the man in cold blood, but he’d also weeded out the bad seeds and helped restore the pack to its former glory. The man was a youngster compared to me, but I still held him in high esteem even if I hadn’t met him.
     
    “I’m sure he’ll come back.” I shrugged. From what I knew about Redthorn, he’d been a pretty consistent alpha, I couldn’t believe that he’d just up and leave the pack without some kind of help. “Isn’t there a beta managing the place?” Why do I have to go get the alpha when it was well known he had two of the best betas around with him?
     
    “There were, but both of them were poisoned.” Green growled through the phone. “They’re in custody and undergoing treatment right now. And it just so happens, Steel’s son is sniffing around in Vermont.”
     
    I slapped my palm on my forehead. It all made sense now, and I finally understood why I’d been called. This was a high priority case. The Vermont pack wasn’t small by any stretch, and while killing an alpha and taking over his pack was okay, taking over his pack while he was away was unacceptable, and—in my opinion—the cowards way.
     
    I tried to find the anger I’d had just a minute ago over my vacation being ruined, but it had all but vanished. No doubt Green was happy about that.
     
    “Have you even—?” I began to say, wondering if anything had been arranged or I’d just wing it like I've done a time or two.
     
    “Wait for it.” Green cut me off over the phone.
     
    On cue, a black town car pulled up and one of the council drivers hopped out. I turned back to the scrubbers and the dead vamp, but the team had packed up, the scene looked spotless.
     
    Green couldn’t have timed the entire event better even if he’d been a seer. And as far as I know, he wasn’t.
     
    “Will wonders never cease?” I chuckled and walked over to the car, nodding to the driver as he held the back door open for me.
     
    I could practically see Green’s self-satisfied smile as he answered me. “Your suitcase is in the trunk—I had Vera pack it for you. I got you a present since I’m stealing your vacation. It'll be on the plane. Your flight leaves in an hour. Ride and hotel are already booked for arrival in Istanbul.”
     
    I crossed my legs and switched the phone to my other ear, thoroughly impressed with Green. “Got to hand it to you, Green, it's perfect.”
     
    For some reason, knowing Green and the