But all wasn't bad. There were the sympathizers. They were humans who believed all life was precious. They lobbied for changelings and vampires to have rights, along with medical and dental, and the right to marry and raise their children in peace like everyone else.
There were also groupies—humans who thought changelings were like rock stars or some shit. They followed changelings around, invading their privacy, going through their trash, and showing up at their jobs if the groupies found out where a changeling worked.
It was all madness.
Two of his pack members had to change which branch of the chain of groceries stores they worked for three times. That hadn't helped. They were still hounded by the infatuated humans. Rick was running out of stores to transfer them to. Little did the corporation he worked for know that almost all of its employees in four major stores were changelings.
Rick had set it up that way. He had worked hard over the years taking care of his pack, and he would be damned if hate groups and Bible-thumpers ruined that for them.
"There is little I can do about Miguel's nominee. You know as well as I do that once a person is picked, they are in until I make my decision."
Nate nodded and then grinned. "You could always choose Omar or Silvia."
"I won't base my decision on who is changeling and who isn't. I'm the damn alpha. I'll pick the one most suited to be with me."
"Now you're talking." Nate laughed. "I knew you wouldn't crumble under their scrutiny."
"Their opinion is important to me, but this is my life we're talking about, not a dispute or something irrelevant. I have to live with the decision I make. True, they will have to obey whoever I choose, but I'm the one who has to live with this person day in and day out. I won't be bullied into choosing who the pack likes best."
Nate stood, coming to stand next to Rick. "You know I'll stand by any decision you make, human or changeling."
"Thanks." Rick turned and headed for the door. He wasn't even supposed to be here today. This was a day for his pack, not the alpha. He would get to know all three soon enough. Today was their chance to get to know the three that were chosen, to celebrate Rick's decision to finally
settle down, and to test the character of the person who just might become their alpha's mate.
Rick had been curious, and hadn't planned on letting them know he had stopped by, but when he saw the pack converging on Dorian—and the terrified look on the human's face—Rick had felt compelled to step in.
It was a stupid move. It only made Dorian look weak in his pack's eyes.
But Rick couldn't stand by and watch the human nearly pass out with fear.
Rick just prayed Dorian made it through today. If he did, the human stood a chance. If he didn't, Rick was going to need a new deli clerk. It was harsh, but so was being in a werewolf pack. This was why humans could never find out the inner workings of changeling society. They would boycott any and all decisions an alpha made.
It wasn't easy living a werewolf changeling life, but it had worked for many centuries. It kept them at the top of the food chain. Their pack was one of the strongest in this territory, rivaled only by the wereleopards to the south. Rick planned on keeping it that way.
Hopefully one day, the humans would butt out of their business and let packs rule their own as it had always been. But Rick, as well as the other alphas and kings of the changeling species, knew that this was just beginning. There was no telling which way the winds would shift.
He just prayed the humans' decision was in his their favor. If not, they were screwed.
As he walked to his car, Rick thought about the three candidates. If he chose solely by strength, and who would make a good partner, Silvia would be his choice. She was a very social person, strong willed, and was a favorite among the pack.
But Rick refused to choose the pack's favorite. This was his life they were messing with. If he was being forced into this, then he was going to make the decision based on who—oh hell, he wasn't sure what he was going to do.
Omar wasn't a bad choice. The blond male knew how to engage in witty conversation and dressed sharp as a tack. The changeling looked like he belonged on the runway in Milan and was a true intellectual.
Rick wasn't too sure about Omar, though. The man just might bore him to death. The werewolf tended to go on and on about his political views and, in Rick's opinion, was a little obsessed sometimes about conspiracy
theories. Rick really didn't consider Omar a crackpot. But the man's thoughts on the government storing DNA in databanks to use as a weapon in a secretly brewing war against the nonhumans wasn't one of Rick's favorite topics.
And then there was Dorian.
Rick didn't know a damn thing about the guy. He was Rick's employee.
That didn't mean he hung out in the deli section and shot the shit with the man. He had heard Dorian defend nonhumans before. That was a plus for him. But he was human. Rick wasn't sure he could handle a human mate.
Changelings were very aggressive, especially when mating. He could unintentionally snap the guy's bones trying to have sex with him.
What in the hell had Miguel been thinking?
"I thought I'd find you here."
He glanced down the row of cars to see Sasha Monroe leaning against Rick's silver Mustang. The alpha of the wereleopard changeling leap smiled knowingly at him. "You aren't supposed to attend your own candidacy ceremony, Rick."
"Why are you here, Sasha?" Rick asked as he neared the leopard.
Sasha stood, his flowing blond hair spanning out as he took a step back, allowing Rick to open the car door. "Because I have just discovered today that we have something in common."
Rick highly doubted that. Sasha was a cat, and he was a wolf. Besides being shifters, they had nothing in common. "And that would be?" Rick stood in the opening of the door, waiting for Sasha to get on with it so he could leave. There was already enough bullshit to deal with without the alpha laying more on him.
"I know you read today's paper." It was a statement.
Rick nodded. "Every nonhuman keeps an eye on the news."
"Then you know what this could mean."
"What, employment and the ability to vote? I've voted for years, Sasha.
Some dumbass law isn't going to prevent me from exercising my rights."
Sasha shook his head, the golden strands waving out around him. "No, that's not what I was talking about. You obviously didn't read the entire paper."
"Get to the point, cat."
Sasha hissed at him. "We are both alphas. Some respect would fucking be appreciated."
Rick was not in the mood for this. "Why did you come here, Sasha?"
He climbed in, shut the door, but rested his arm on the open window frame.
"I have things to do."
Sasha narrowed his kelly-green eyes at Rick, letting the leopard be seen behind the irises. It was a trick all changelings were capable of. The meaning was very clear. Don't fuck with me. Sasha stepped a bit closer.
"Three bodies were found down by the waterfront last night. Two belonged to my leap. The other was your nephew, Alexander." Sasha turned and walked away. "Just thought you would want to know what the humans think of us coming out to the world."
Rick sat there stunned and then slipped from his car. "Are you sure?"
Sasha didn't bother turning around. "Very. Your nephew liked playing with the cats. One of my men immediately recognized him. If you go claim your nephew's body, you'll be outing yourself. Send Nate."
Rick stood in the middle of the street, feeling the loss of his nephew profoundly. Alexander had been a good guy. He was in his second year in college, and here on summer break. Rick had known the man liked cats. It was strange, but he hadn't stopped his nephew from hanging out with Sasha's leap.
But now he was dead.
And for what, being changeling?
Fisting his hands, Rick climbed back into his car. Tonight was for his pack, a celebration.
But tomorrow was Rick's to have for revenge. If he found out it had been changelings or vampires who had killed Alexander, Rick knew he was going for blood.
But if it was humans, Rick was going to show them exactly how a werewolf sought out his revenge. There would be no jail or court involved.
Whoever killed the poor juvenile would only see Rick's cold, vengeful eyes before they died a brutal death.