My Shifter Boss

Chapter 7

Nathan, Lucy, and Maryann rode together to the Head’s funeral. All wore black, as was the custom, and all carried their favorite flower to lay on his tomb. Unlike in the country, where the werewolf custom was to burn the bodies of their dead, the Guard owned a tomb specifically for the Heads who had passed away. The funeral was to be held outside of the tomb.

The werewolf council member, Emmett, who had volunteered to plan the funeral had sent word out that anyone who wished to speak to commemorate the Head’s memory would do so from the stairs leading up to the door of the tomb. When Nathan, Lucy, and Maryann walked up, he stood on the steps of the tomb and waited for everyone to gather around. He raised his arms and called out to quiet the large crowd who had come to pay their respects.

“Ladies and gentlemen, first let me thank you for coming today. The man we are saying good bye to, the Head, William Green, passed before his time under horrible circumstances. He was a good man, a good werewolf, who did not deserve such a terrible death. We loved him, and that’s why we are here.” The old man stopped for a moment to collect himself. His voice had broken when he’d said the word loved. He cleared his throat and continued. “If you would like to speak, please step forward. We would love to hear some happy memories of this well-respected man.”

Several weres stepped forward to speak. Some of the memories evoked laughter among the crowd, while others caused sniffles. The most beautiful speech, the most heartfelt, was delivered by Sarah, who had been the Head’s secretary for his entire career as Head. Rumors had thrived that the two of them had been in love, and though Nathan did not believe the Head had felt more than brotherly affection for her, the speech she delivered was one straight from the heart. She had loved him. No eye was dry when she walked down the steps, supported gently by a young man Nathan did not know.

Emmett stepped up to invite any other speakers to come forward. He opened his mouth but a howl interrupted. The crowd of people turned simultaneously to see what werewolf had chosen that inappropriate moment to howl. A crowd of weres, led by a sleek werecat, stood on the hill that rose above the cemetery, glaring down on the large group honoring the man their leader had murdered.

Lucy felt Nathan’s arm tense as he watched the werecat, flanked by a werewolf and a werebear, lope down the hill and into the crowd. The crowd parted to let them pass, and the trio ascended the steps of the tomb. The older werewolf held his ground, shaking in fury.

“You murderer. You evil beast,” Emmett cried angrily. He gestured to the crowd. “No one wants you and your group of mutinous bas*ards here. Leave.”

Marissa, still in her werecat form, watched him curiously as he spoke. She moved towards him slowly; he watched her warily. Nathan broke away from Lucy as he realized what Marissa was about to do. He sprinted for the front, but was too late. The crowd gasped when her claws cut the man’s chest deeply. Blood splashed on the steps of the tomb; Emmett’s body tumbled down the steps and landed at Nathan’s feet. Nathan knelt beside him; he wouldn’t die from the wounds, but they were deep. Emmett shifted into a gray werewolf so the wounds would heal more easily.

Many in the crowd screamed; some moved forward while others tried to move away. Marissa’s band of weres howled and roared at the sight of blood.

Marissa shifted and smiled her evil smile at Nathan. He surged forward, but the werewolf and werebear moved to block him.

“Marissa! What the hell is wrong with you?” Nathan yelled. The crowd silenced again to listen to the exchange. “Why are you here?”

“Hello, Nathan.” She looked away from him and addressed the crowd. “Hello, weres! I’ve come to issue an invitation.”

“An invitation to become a traitor?” a voice yelled.

“You vile bi*ch!” another voice called.

Marissa smiled beautifully at her haters. “Weres, hear me out before you judge.” A group near the front moved to join Nathan. Marissa raised an eyebrow. “Ladies and gentlemen, please do not imagine you will win should you choose to attack.” She gestured to the hill above them and around them. “My weres are poised to attack. You will have far more casualties than I will.”

Nathan stepped on the first step and addressed the crowd. “This is not the time or place for bloodshed. She is trying to start a war!” He turned back to Marissa. “You’ve caused your scene, you’ve made your point. Now get the hell out of here.”

Marissa laughed, and again she addressed the crowd. “My invitation to you is to join my group. We will create a new city, a city of only weres. We’ve been in hiding long enough. Weres deserve a place of their own. Join us, and we will live here in a city of weres. We will create a paradise!”

Murmured conversations rumbled through the crowd. None who had witnessed Marissa’s unwarranted attack on Emmett would join her. Sarah stepped away from the crowd and yelled, “Marissa, no one here will join you! Leave, and take your minions with you.”

Marissa shook her head as if she pitied the poor souls who refused her offer. “Those who do not join me will either be banished from the city or killed. Choose wisely, weres!” She shifted and leapt off the steps. She swiped at several weres as she passed, as did the werewolf and werecat.

Nathan yelled after her, “You will not succeed, Marissa!”

At the top of the hill, surrounded by her small army, Marissa shifted again. She looked down at Nathan. “You’ll be the first to die.” The weres around her roared and howled in appreciation of her statement. Marissa smiled at waved haughtily, shifted, and led her group away.