Connell

  Wild Claw Pack, Volume 1

  S L Davies

  Published by S L Davies, 2022.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  CONNELL

  First edition. October 31, 2022.

  Copyright © 2022 S L Davies.

  Written by S L Davies.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilogue

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  About the Author

  Prologue

  Granger

  I sat in the corner of the cell. The same cell I’d been in for the last few hundred years. Nothing changed. Well, not until recently. There had been a lot of shake-ups lately, with escapes and guards playing both sides of the legal system. It’d been interesting to watch. It gave me a chance to gather information. In this place, information was like currency. The more information I held, the richer I was.

  So, that’s what I did. I sat, and I watched. I took in everything. I knew that some of the guards thought I was on Ettore’s side. Ah, Ettore. He was a fool. He thought he had me in his pocket. But it wasn’t the case. I was in no one’s pocket. I was just here doing my time. The crazy redcap Nephilim that everyone feared.

  The stories weren’t true. I was innocent, but I’d trusted the wrong people. I’d been in the wrong place because of that trust, and of course, no one wanted to believe the guy that had spent his years growing up in and out of mental asylums or whatever the hell they called them now.

  I was just a guy who had the stick's raw end. I wasn’t even crazy. Well, not as crazy as some of the fuckers I’d seen. Yeah, I saw things that weren’t there. I was a supernatural born in a time when supernaturals were feared and hunted. I could alter into any shape I wanted, and that terrified the humans that lived around me. I was considered evil, straight from the devil, they said. I was there to do the devil’s work. And yet, it was humans that did the majority of the devil’s work. They were the ones that killed and tortured supernaturals for years.

  I’d been alive so long that I’d seen how time had changed. There was still an element of the human population that said we were something to be feared. But they were in the minority. Their power didn’t hold much weight anymore. They had to find new ways to control and destroy us.

  They made up stories about a crazy redcap Nephilim who killed his family. I was also suspected of killing all the reigning members of the Redcap Council. Of course, I didn’t do any of that. If they had looked closely, they would have seen that it was Abaddon, the fallen angel who was responsible for the death of the Redcap Council. All because they refused him to have a seat at their table. The same fucking angel was kicked out of the other side by the gods because he couldn’t be trusted. As for my family, that lay at the feet of Ettore. And even then, technically, it wasn’t my family he’d killed, but his own.

  Abaddon had managed to be captured for other crimes, something to do with killing the Witch Council. But then he escaped prison. Like, they seriously thought they could hold him here. Fools. All of them. Fools. Now there was Ettore. Abaddon had recruited Ettore while they were both imprisoned. I know this because they shared the cells beside me. I heard their scheming along with the others that had been held in maximum supernatural security. We were held under the heaviest wards.

  At least they didn’t insist on the silver cuffs anymore. Those things were awful. But the wards were so strong that the only way to escape was to befriend one of the guards and convince them to help them. Something that Abaddon did quickly. Abaddon had a way with words; he could schmooze and butter up the weaker guards, and he knew just what to promise them to have them go along with his plans. He and Ettore ran. Of course, I heard that Abaddon was killed around twenty-five years ago. But Ettore was always free; I wasn’t sure why they’d never been able to find him or why he managed to gain the power he did in the underworld. Yep, I heard everything that he was doing on the outside. He still worked those guards just like Abaddon had taught him. He hadn’t tried to be as forceful as Abaddon in his plans to eradicate humans. Abaddon had been foolish and been too quick to act. But Ettore learned quickly; he slowed his attack and bided his time.

  Slowly Ettore worked the system, and only in the last five years had I seen him start to pop up. I’d been shocked the first time he’d arrived in the cellblock. I’d thought the wards were too strong for him to break through. But then I quickly discovered it was the guards that had been letting him in. Ettore had used glamor to fool those that weren’t working for him. First, it was just short visits for Nystrom, Blaise, and Vex. The other three prisoners were held down here. Then Nystrom was released. The guards started visiting more often; they would bring us gifts from Ettore. They would talk about letting us free.

  Blaise and Vex swallowed everything the guards talked about and used it to their advantage. They wanted to work with Ettore. Although Ettore didn’t realize it, what they wanted to do was overthrow Ettore and take his role in the underworld. Ettore didn’t hear the scheming when he wasn’t around. But I did. Ettore believed everything Blaise and Vex fed him.

  We’d grown up together. Me, Blaise, Vex, Ettore, and Nystrom. I’d always been on the outside of the group. I never really fit in, nor did I want to. Ettore was trouble from a kid, and I knew it. I didn’t want to be part of his schemes. But somehow, I’d always managed to get dragged in. Eventually, landing in prison because I was blamed for the crimes, no doubt from Ettore.

  I knew precisely what Blaise and Vex had planned. I heard every little detail about how they would bide their time and do as Ettore asked, follow him until the time came that the prophecy started to play out. The prophecy spoke of a generation of children that would rise in an army to fight against him. Then Vex and Blaise would kill Ettore and look like victors to the supernaturals and humans. They would take over the role that Ettore left behind.

  Except for as evil as Ettore was, Blaise and Vex were one hundred times worse. But what could I do about it? I was stuck in this place, watching it all happen behind steel bars. Ettore visited me too. He made me promises. Offered me all the riches I could want. A place of power and a chance to rule over the redcaps.

  But he didn’t understand. I didn’t want any of that. I just wanted a peaceful life of freedom. If I ever got out of this hell hole, I’d go and find a place in a forest, away from everyone, and wouldn’t look back. I’d live in peace. That was all I wanted, peace. But to survive in this place, I had to play a role.

  I acted my heart out and pretended to lap up everything Ettore put down in front of me. Oh, he firmly believed that I was on his side. But I was on no one’s side. Once Vex and Blaise escaped prison, Gordon, the governor of the prison, built the wards; he stopped all visitors to this cellblock. I was cut off. In one sense, it was good; Ettore no longer was able to drop in. But it was also incredibly lonely. Not that I should care. I was well used to the feeling of loneliness; it had been something I’d been experiencing since a young child. No one wanted me. No one liked me. After all, I was the crazy redcap that was to be feared. The one that killed people. The one that heard voices, the one that could hear people’s thoughts. I was to be avoided at all costs.

  “Hey, Granger, you’re getting a cell buddy,” Richard called out. I glanced up at the guard. One of the ones that were in Ettore’s pockets. He thought Ettore gave a shit about him. If he only knew that Ettore would kill him the minute he was done with his usefulness, the guard might think twice about his alliances.

  “Yeah?” I spoke.

  It wouldn’t be the first cellmate I had. Most of them never lasted very long. They found some way to get away. My reputation preceded me, and most of them were terrified of me. Suited me just fine. I preferred my own company anyway. Nothing was worse than a cellmate who just wanted to talk constantly.

  “Yep. An alpha this time.”

  I raised my brow at Richard. I was an omega. They’d never put an alpha with me for that reason. A flurry of concern filled my gut as I scrambled in my mind to work out whether this was from Ettore or not.

  “Who sent them?” I asked.

  Richard shrugged his shoulders. “Dunno. It was handed down to me from the chief.”

  The chief. The name the screws used for the governor of the prison. Gordon Sharman. I didn’t have a lot to do with him. Only those that stepped out of line had something to do with the chief. The rest of us were ignored, which was precisely what I wanted.

  I hummed and nodded my head. Something was going on, and I didn’t know what it was. I’d seen it happening over the last few weeks. Changes in guards. New screws I’d never met before.
The difference was happening, but I wondered what side of the battle the changes were coming from.

  Chapter One

  Connell

  “I’ve spoken to Gordon, and we’ve organized to have you share a cell with Granger,” Kade said to me on the trip from the court to the prison. I got sentenced to three years for the death of Kragen after he and his mate Serge took my son, and we finally tracked them down.

  I was worried about leaving the Wild Claw Pack without an alpha leader. But I knew that my men would step up and lead the group. They were going to be moving out to the land we’d purchased next to the Devil’s Advocates compound. It was perfect, considering we would be working closely with the Devil’s Advocates to bring down Ettore.

  Ettore had Granger Redburn in sight and wanted to bring him onto his team. The redcap Nephilim, though, had yet to be released from the prison. That could mean many things; one, we were wrong about whom Ettore was trying to get on his army, or he just hasn’t been able to get Granger out yet. That was why I was happy to take a three-year sentence.

  I guess sharing a cell with Granger would help me to understand some of what Ettore had planned. It allowed me to relay the information back to Kade to help them further their fight to shut Ettore down.

  “What is he in there for?” I asked.

  We were sitting in the back seat of a police car driving along the vast highway. “Murder. But from what Arcadia has found, he might be innocent.”

  I raised my brows, and my eyes widened. “Seriously? Why is he still in there?”

  Kade sighed. “Unfortunately, he was imprisoned over five hundred years ago when humans hated supernaturals. It didn’t take much for them to lock up a supernatural. It’s more surprising that they didn’t execute him.”

  My frown deepened, and I shook my head. “Have you met him?”

  Kade nodded his head. “Yeah, a couple of times. He plays the crazy man very well, but I don’t think he is crazy. That is what he’s been told he is over the years, but he is switched on.”

  “I guess I’m wondering why Ettore helped Vex and Blaise to escape but instead left Granger. It makes me wonder if Granger didn’t want to leave or if Ettore didn’t want him.”

  Kade nodded again. “Yep, it’s hard to say.”

  “What do I need to know about the guards?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “Ettore has a few of them in his pocket. We’ve been able to work out which ones that is.”

  “Are any of the ones in the unit I’ll be sent to on Ettore’s payroll?”

  Kade nodded his head. “Yeah. Two. Richard and Steve. The others have either been fired or moved to other parts of the jail. They are being closely watched.”

  “Why haven’t they moved Richard and Steve?” I asked.

  “Gordon didn’t want to make it obvious that we were onto the guards. We want them to keep them comfortable by thinking that they are pulling the wool over our eyes.”

  “That’s clever.”

  “Ultimately, I would like you to befriend Richard and Steve and let them believe that you are on Ettore’s side.”

  I hummed as I wondered how I was going to do that. My disgust for Ettore was usually written all over my face. But I had to act. This was part of the dance of war. Some of us were crucial in playing a role. Quite literally.

  “Alright, I’ll do that. What information are you looking for specifically?”

  “Anything to do with the plans Ettore has. If you can find out where breeding facilities might be, that would be good too. But we want to know the plans he has going and possibly who is on his team.”

  I nodded my head. “Yeah, I can do that. I’ve got three years; that should be enough time to find out plenty.”

  “How are your pack dealing with you not being there?” Kade asked. I yawned and stretched.

  “They weren’t happy, and I know there is likely to be some teething problems, especially with the move to Lalbert. But I trust my guys, the other alphas. I know they will work hard to take my place.”

  “You’re not worried you won’t have a place when you come back?”

  I shook my head. I was more concerned about my safety inside the prison. I wasn’t worried about losing my position in the pack because I knew the men that took my place were trustworthy. Even if they decided not to give me my role back as the head alpha, that would be fine by me. Ward, Fenris, and Herrick were good men. Our pack was a big family. I knew that they would be safe without me.

  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I was terrified if I was honest. It felt like there was so much relying on me and what information I could glean from Granger and the guards. It was time that I learned how to act, and I needed to learn fast.

  Chapter Two

  Granger

  Richard and Steve leaned against the bars of my cell. They didn’t realize what a stupid move it was. I could kill them within seconds. I didn’t even have to call on my powers or shift. Not that I could do any of that. But they were so comfortable in the silver that lined the cells that they often let their guards down, thinking I wouldn’t snap one day and kill them with my bare hands.

  “So, we get the wolf shifter today,” Richard said.

  I’d been expecting my cellmate for a few days now, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d been curious. I could feel something happening and changes in the air, but I hadn’t been able to work out what was going on. Some of the guards that had been regularly in these quarters hadn’t been around for a while. The only two that were old guards were Richard and Steve.

  “He’s in for murder, yeah?” Steve asked.

  Richard nodded as they talked like I wasn’t sitting behind bars listening to every word they said. Why should they be secretive? They believed that I was in Ettore’s army. They didn’t know that I had no intention of joining that loose cannon. There was only one person I would ever trust, and it wasn’t Ettore.

  “Yeah. Killed his own brother and the brother’s mate. They abducted his kid when he was born, and the wolf shifter only managed to track them down.”

  Interesting. I wondered if the new cellmate would be someone Ettore would be interested in. I could see Richard and Steve’s interest was piqued. They saw the wolf shifter as a dangerous man. Ettore liked hazardous men. That’s why he liked me or wanted me, I should say. I don’t think Ettore likes anyone other than himself. But he saw me as a benefit to him. My reputation was that of a dangerous man, even though it wasn’t true. And Ettore knew how untrue it was because he was the reason I was sitting behind bars.

  The doors slid open with a loud buzz that warned any guards. Richard and Steve snapped to attention and moved towards the door. I stood and walked to the cage doors; craning my neck, I could see a glimpse of the governor, Gordon, as he whispered to Richard and Steve. I knew the other prisoner was there but couldn’t see him.

  Rolling my eyes, I shook my head and stepped away from the cage doors, sitting back down on my bunk. I didn’t know why I was interested; I really shouldn’t care. But there was something that intrigued me since I discovered that this prisoner was destined to share a cell with me.

  The voices started to get louder as Richard, Steve, Gordon, and the prisoner drew closer to the cell. It was unusual for Gordon to escort a prisoner. That made me think that he was someone special. I wondered if Gordon was in on Ettore’s plan too. Maybe this was all some big ruse. I couldn’t tell. And I’d adopted the don’t care attitude, which I had to keep up. I couldn’t ask any of them what was going on because it would seem too much like I gave a shit what Ettore was doing.

  Richard and Steve reached my cell and stopped in front of the door. Steve pulled the keys from his pocket and unlocked the cage door, watching me warily. Once the door was opened, Gordon stepped around the guards and entered the cell with the new prisoner behind him.

  A delicious scent of apples and cinnamon wrapped around me. The prisoner’s eyes widened, and he gasped.

  “What the fuck?” Richard said as he attempted to push the prisoner into the cell. But the man stood there staring at me with his mouth ajar and his eyes wide.