Oath Sworn - K.N. Banet Page 0,55
poisoning and burning his flesh, one that could kill him the second I decided to.
“Did you not hear me? My name is Jacky Leon. I live outside of Jacksonville, Texas, and have for the past six years. A few days ago, Carey Everson—the human daughter of werewolf Alpha, Heath Everson— called me into Duty and I became her oath-sworn protector. Werewolves took her from me before I returned her to safety. I’m not here for werewolf business, just her. So if you’re a good boy, you’re going to tell me who has her and where. If not, you can tell me whatever you know.”
“I can’t help you. I’ve had no idea where she’s been. Not everyone in the pack had even met her before shit went down. Heath is really protective over his little girl. If anyone knows where she is, it’ll be someone higher up than me,” he answered.
“So, back to my first question. Who are you loyal to?”
He didn’t answer, baring his teeth.
“I’m going to take that as…not Heath Everson.”
Again, he stayed silent.
I’d never thought that I was capable of torture, but I moved the knife a little, creating a small slice across the werewolf’s skin, just under his Adam’s apple. A scent hit my nose as I realized he’d lost control over his bladder.
“A little human girl, all of eleven years old, is in danger, wolf. It’s against the Law to use humans against other supernaturals, or endanger them in any way with the purpose of causing distress to them personally. Accidents happen, but nothing that has happened to her has been accidental. They came with guns and silver bullets. They’re going to use her to get to her father, who has the right as a supernatural being to know his daughter should be safe with a werecat, thanks to the Law.” I was bordering on the edge of violence just by speaking. My rage grew. Part of me, a very big part of me, just wanted to end it and kill the wolf underneath me.
The wolf, bless his damnable heart, had the smarts to realize he was underneath a very dangerous, very mad, and maybe a little crazy, werecat who was tired of the fucking games.
“I support the bid against Heath, but you-you have to understand. I never knew they were going to take Carey. I thought we were going to do it right. That our leader was going to challenge the Alpha and it would be a clean fight.”
“Who?” I demanded.
“I don’t know! I take orders. It’s kind of like the military in a wolf pack, lady. Sometimes you don’t know who’s above the guy, only that they’re going to make things the way you want them.”
God damn it. Fucking morons. I would never let orders come down from someone I didn’t know. “Who do you answer to?” I asked.
“A guy named Timothy. We call him Little Tim. He’s a wily shit, but he’s a good man.”
“Obviously not,” I growled. I had three options now. Let the wolf go with a message, kill him, or follow him into some shit that I might not be able to handle. Since the last two options were both potential trouble I couldn’t afford, I pulled the silver dagger and stood up. “Get out of here, and you tell Little Tim the werewolf that big, pissed-off Jacky the werecat is in town and I’m coming for whoever took my girl. I’ll kill anyone who stands in my way and anyone who tries to stop me from keeping her safe or taking her back.”
He nodded as he stood up, touching his neck. Then he started running, a single werewolf who was smart enough to know that he needed reinforcements if he wanted a piece of a werecat.
I was somewhat proud of him. Most meatheads saw women like me and thought they could handle me.
With him gone, I stood in the alley for a moment, catching my breath finally. I thought back on what he said. He had no idea who led the charge? I actually was wrong. When I was human, I didn’t know the names of all of my coworkers, or all of my bosses. There were tons of middle men and things coming down the pipeline, and I didn’t have any idea where they came from.
As for the rest…Little Tim. Hopefully the werewolf took my warning seriously. I had no belief they would just hand Carey over, but they had the small right to know that if they