Out of Reach: Tales from the Adirondack Pack: Adirondack Pack, #5

Out of Reach

Tales from the Adirondack Pack

K.C. Stewart

Contents

Over the Line

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Too Far Gone Deleted Scene

A Break in the Path

In Pursuit

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Unleashed

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Unhinged

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Over the Line

An Adirondack Pack Prequel

When writing Too Far Gone I never could find the right way to added Tyson’s story of how and why he went feral. It needed more than just a scene. In fact, in needed a novelette.

Over the Line is the prequel to the series. It’s a quick look into the man, wolf and enforcer Tyson used to be.

One

There wasn't much that could put that look on Owen's face. In all their years together as quasi-brothers, best friends and pack mates, Tyson had only seen that particular look a handful of times and he knew there would be no time off for him in the foreseeable future. As pack enforcer it was Tyson's job to find the reason for the look on his Alpha's face and bring justice. He was protector, detective, judge and jury. His hands were bloodier than anyone else's in the Adirondack Park and maybe even in the state of New York. Justice often meant death because once a wolf went over the line, there was no coming back.

Tyson could see the line. He knew where it stood and where those in his pack stood in relation to it. Being feared, and often times hated, was just one of the downfalls of the job. Neither of which bothered him.

Owen was alpha. He was the most dominant wolf in the pack and that meant he was the one they relied on. The one they turned to for help. The one who would protect them with everything he had. The pack was his family’s legacy but that didn’t mean it was his birthright, he was just right for the job. When someone was born to do something, nothing—not even being an outcast, could stop them from being who they were meant to be.

Tyson was meant to bring justice and protect the pack.

Owen was meant to lead.

I can tell by your expression that you have good news for me, Tyson strolled into Owen's office and took one of the seats in front of the massive oak desk.

Owen glanced up from the newspaper he had spread out. Usually a remark like that would have gotten a rise out of him but Owen was too far lost in thought to do much more than show mild interest. Whatever it was had caused his best friend to suppress the man and allowed the alpha wolf to take charge.

Just tell me, he said this time.

A snarl was just barely being held back. There was another one. For a guy who usually spoke in low, soft tones he knew how to add venom when needed. Tyson reached across the desk and turned the newspaper around. Another body ravaged by animals. But it wasn't just an animal that had torn and bit into the flesh of the dead man, it was one of them: a werewolf, shifter, lycanthrope. The killing was a message, just not one the human population could read. The message, like all the rest, was for them.

Humans are fodder. Nothing more, nothing less.

A radical group of wolf shifters who liked to call themselves Canidae, believed that between the two halves of the lycanthrope soul, the wolf is the stronger half and they should lean towards the way of the animal. Their kind had evolved. At one point, they had leaned heavily on the wolf side of their instincts but in the world as it was today, they relied on the human instead.

Canidae? he asked but only for confirmation.

What do you think?

That would be a yes. What are you thinking, Owen? Obviously something if you called me in here.

I haven't wanted to make waves with Canidae.

I know. Everything Owen did, he did for the good of the pack. Keeping his head down in this debate may have been seen as submissive by some, but Tyson knew it had kept many of them alive.

I've kept middle of the line even though I think they are a bunch of ass sniffing dogs who only want a reason to kill freely. This though, he tapped the newspaper, this is their way of telling me to pick a side. Three dead in the last month. We can't have that. Many more and the police will start connecting the dots.

Government intervention was the very last thing any of them wanted. The government knew about their kind, unlike the rest of the human population. They had yet to do any more than make idle threats. However, giving them bodies, gave them a reason to make nice on those threats.

I think we have a mole. Someone is feeding Canidae leaders pack information. I've been talking to the White Mountain pack and they were having the same problems. Turns out, someone from their pack was in Canidae and they were slowly gathering followers. I don't want to believe any of ours would go against me like that but...

Yeah, but. Tyson saw just how honest and honorable wolves could be. He had no doubts that there were some in their pack that were capable of espionage and brutal human killings.

Owen folded up the paper and filed it in his desk, probably with all the other articles from the past year on animal killings and attacks. There was something else that was bothering him. Tyson saw anger and exhaustion in Owen's face. Canidae was the cause behind the anger, but he never lost sleep over it.

Everything ok?

His laugh was half sigh. No. Lee's on her kick again.

Jesus, he groaned. After almost two years you'd think she would get it through that thick doctor skull of hers that you love her.

You'd think, he agreed. I can't really blame her though. I quell the gossip when I hear it but it always gets back to her.

Those old hags can go fuck themselves. So she can't have kids. It's not like it's the end of the world.

No, just the end of my line. He wasn't bitter per say, but Tyson heard the accusation. They had been dancing around their mutual attraction ever since they were pups. Unable to have kids wasn’t a deal breaker for Owen but it was always there between them. They worked together as long as Lee couldn't hear the gossip.

The clock in the corner of the room struck with three long, deep gongs. Both of them looked and waited for the sound to end. Tyson hated that clock. He needed to be going anyway. Jenny was expecting him soon. What do you need of me? He asked referring to the Canidae problem.

Owen looked him square in the face. To do your job.

Two

They had a standing date at 4 p.m. every Sunday. Sometimes that would include dinner, other times it was just to make sure they got to see each other, even if it was only for five minutes. Tyson's sister lived on the main street of their fair little town of Andora, New York. With the Adirondack Mountains surrounding them, Andora was nothing but a freckle in the middle of the park. He had been born to a pack fifty miles east but Andora was his home. Tyson and Jenny had made it one.

Jenny was only three at the time; she never remembered her parent’s deaths or the weeklong trip through the wilderness in search of safety. They had arrived at the Alpha's doorstep cold, sick and hungry. He had taken them in and cared for them alongside his son, Owen. To Jenny, this was always her home.

Her duplex was three blocks down from the center of town. She had worked her ass off to buy it and harder yet to make it her own. There was pride in every paint stroke, every tile, and every bookshelf. She made what she couldn't afford and refinished anything that came her way. Tyson was damn proud of her.

She however, was not proud of him. His sister with her auburn dyed hair that just brushed her shoulders stood with her arms crossed over the t-shirt that was splattered with tomato sauce and dusted with flour. Out of one of her fists came a wooden spoon stained with years of failed attempts at cooking. She scowled at him as he jogged up the front walk and kissed her cheek.

You are late, she announced.

By two minutes.

Still late.

Tyson wiped a spot of tomato sauce off her forehead. Then I'll stay two minutes later to make up for it. I thought you said you were not going to try and make spaghetti sauce anymore?

She relaxed and waved him inside with the spoon. I know. I know. But it's annoying that I can re-tile the bathroom but I can't make a basic tomato sauce without burning it.

I like it that way. Adds a crunch.

Her slap was hard and fast on the back of his head. Same spot she always hit him. He was pretty sure he had lost feeling there years ago. Watch it, tough guy. So what is it this time?

He didn't bother pretending to not know what she was talking about. Jenny knew. She always knew. Another Canidae killing.

Shit.

Yeah, he shrugged. Couldn't tell her much more than that. Not this time at least. Tyson pulled out his usual spot at her round kitchen table in the corner and sat.

Jenny was back at the stove stirring the red concoction. You work too much.

This was one of her typical gripes. She would complain to him at least once every visit about how little sleep he got, the amount of work he was doing, how much food he was eating. She was at times his sister and at times his mother.

Jenny, he said warningly.

Whatever, she tapped the spoon on the side of the pot and set it aside. What do I know anyway?

You know many things, Baby. His skull is just too thick to listen.

Tyson turned from his spot at the kitchen table to nod at Jack. Jenny smiled as he swooped in and kissed her. They hadn't been together long, only four months or so, but it was the longest relationship she had ever had. At twenty-six she should have had a horde of ex-boyfriends but guys had been too scared to date her because of Tyson. The thing about Tyson was, no matter how nice of a guy he was or how down to earth he was, he was never given the time of day to show that of himself. He was pack enforcer and that meant he was the pack killer. It was legit, honest killing but killing none the less. When he showed up, people slinked away. Even the cleanest of wolves acted guilty when he was around.

To him, it was just how it was. To Jenny, it was a perpetual cock block. When she was in high school, no one was brave enough to ask her out because they'd have to pick her up and meet Tyson. It wasn't like he was trying to be intimidating, that shit just came natural.

Jack, for all his smiles and jokes, wasn't brave. He was good at putting on a brave face but that was far from actually being brave. To be honest, Tyson thought he was a little parasitic shithead but Jenny seemed to like him so he never said anything. She deserved to have a relationship, no matter how weak-minded the wolf was. One day she'd wake up and see Jack for the leech that he was but until then, Tyson would keep quiet.

Tyson was just telling me about the Canidae attack.

Like fuck he'd talk about his job in front of Jack. Tyson was just on his way out, he responded instead.

Jenny's smile fell. Really? But I made spaghetti.

It was said with such heartfelt hopefulness at this batch being the one that wasn't ruined and actually edible that he laughed. I'll stop by sometime this week for dinner. And he would bring it. Seriously, his sister's cooking was borderline poisonous.

Fine. She picked the spoon back up to stir some more. He wanted to tell her that no amount of stirring would make it taste better but kept his mouth shut. One slap upside the head was enough for today.

Love you, Sis. He stepped close enough that Jack had to step away. Be good. He kissed her cheek and after another nod of acknowledgment to Jack, he left.

Three

The next day Tyson was awoken by his ringing phone. It was the ass crack of dawn and he had gotten very little in the way of sleep the night before. Research was the majority of his job. It was also the part he liked the least. Spending most of the night doing it had not put him in the happiest of moods that morning.

What? He barked as a greeting.

Wake your ass up, Enforcer, Owen's I've already had two cups of coffee voice responded.

I need a reason. He didn't. Tyson was already sitting up and rubbing some feeling back into his face.

Because I said so.

He snorted. Ok, Mom.

Ignoring him, Owen continued. Jack found another attack. Looks to be fresh. He promised to hold off on bringing in the troops until you've had a chance to look it over.

He pinched the phone between his ear and shoulder in order to pull on jeans. Where at?

About a mile into the Black Hawk Trail.

He picked up a shirt off the floor and smelled it. Good enough. Dead body would out-smell him anyway. I'm on my way.

Tyson tossed the phone on his bed and pulled the shirt on. This month there were 36 attacks in the state of New York that could be Canidae. He had talked to other packs throughout New England and many were experiencing the same problems. Then again, some of them might be linked with the group but that wasn't the issue at the moment.

It took him twenty minutes to get to the trail and another ten to find Jack and the body. It wasn't hard; the smell was more than enough of a trail. He skipped the hiking trail and opted for cutting straight through the trees. He came across Jack first. A hearty, hello, greeted him as he stepped out of the trees onto the trail. Tyson nodded and offered a hey, in return. Jack tried to coax him into a conversation but his sister wasn't around so he didn't have to play nice. Tyson gave the occasional grunt but otherwise stayed silent as he studied the area. He was here to work after all and not gossip with his sister's plaything.

Unfortunately for him, the man had not died easily. He was a hiker and out for a long trek by the looks of his gear. The pack had been discarded a few hundred yards down the trail. He walked down to it. Later, Tyson would go through the victim's things but he doubted they would tell him anything of real importance.

As he turned he saw the tracks on the trail. They showed a chase and a takedown. The wolf played with him then, nipping at his calves and at one point getting a solid bite and shake in. When the man finally fell, the wolf had circled him. Tyson followed the trail of paw prints around where the body lay. He could almost picture it. The wolf jumping in to snap his teeth. The victim scrambling back every time but unable to go far since the wolf was faster. The kill itself was clean with a bite to the throat. The pool of blood he laid in had begun to soak into the dirt. It had dried completely in spots on the skin. And from the smell, Tyson could tell he had been dead a few hours.

Tyson got down on his hands and knees and smelled the tracks. Jack. He leaned over the body and inhaled. Jack. Frustrated, he circled around to the other side and did the same. Jack.

Has anyone touched the body? Being a wolf, Jack should know that scent was their biggest advantage. If he could smell the body before anyone else contaminated the scene, then he would have an infinitely greater chance at tracking down the wolf that had done this.

But Jack was an idiot.

Nah. Just me. I found it up here on my morning run. Which explained why he wasn't in uniform.

And why is it that I smell you everywhere? Tyson wasn't happy. He was far from the emotion of happy. He expressed this in his voice and by way of his face. Jack finally caught the lack of happiness in the tone he used and dropped the cheery smile.

It's a little embarrassing, Tyson. I'm sure you understand that I'd rather keep it to myself. His posture had changed. He had tensed, readying himself for anything Tyson was about to throw his way.

Well Jack, I don't think I do understand. This guy here sure doesn't understand. I'm sure once they are informed; his family isn't going to understand either. So no, I don't understand why your scent is the only scent I smell out here.

A flash of dominance flashed brightly in his eyes. Jack was nowhere close to Tyson’s status in the pack but he wasn't submissive either. They stared at each other. Jack was trying to play with the adults and that was not going to fly. What did he think he was doing? Proving himself. Picking a fight. Being a douche bag. All of the above. It took strength greater than Tyson had thought he possessed not to slam the stupid fuck into a tree and teach him some manners in dominance.

Only when Tyson started forward did Jack lower his eyes. I was running as my wolf when I smelled blood. I detoured from my usual route and found him here. I checked it out. I smelled everything but nothing was familiar. The wolf that did this wasn't pack. I then ran back to my truck to change and call Owen.

That's not embarrassing, Jack. That's stupidity. Are you embarrassed by your own stupidity?

Yes, well, we all can't be the almighty Tyson. I've been training to become an enforcer. That's the embarrassing detail that has no relevance to any of this.

No relevance my ass. Had he not been trying to play where he wasn't supposed to then maybe Tyson would have