Chapter 108

Roman’s Pov

Standing back watching Robert run off like a pathetic wimp fills me with a miserable sense of regret. How could this weakling come from me? He’s probably more like his mom. I think back to that skank, I don’t even remember what her face looks like. Some memorable one nightstand that was.

It’s not even cold out, yet my breath comes out in visible huffs of hot air. Sweat rolls down my back and blood pumps through my veins.

I spit some blood on the ground. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the thrill of a fight. For a moment no one moves, not even the slimy journalist. My cell phone rings, cutting through the silence with a jarring interruption. I bend down to pick it up from the ground, it must’ve fell from my pocket at some point.

I check the caller ID and see it’s my publicist, Cindy. “Yeah?” I grow bored as she fills me in on the latest reviews as per the fight between me and Robert. It used to fascinate me how quickly common werewolves tuned in to give their opinions of the Hurricane Pack, but honestly what else do regulars do?

It is irritating that I’ve had a pristine reputation and Robert makes one lousy appearance and now my ratings are dropping. According to Cindy, there are those that don’t like the accusation of me having an illegitimate son. They believe it to be immoral of someone with such a high status to be participating in such lowly acts.

I can’t help but laugh at the ridiculous hypocrites. It would seem to me that those leaving these reviews are outing themselves. I mustn't have an affair, that’s only for the boring regular werewolves with nothing more exciting happening in their lives.

I pick at the dirt underneath my fingernails while Cathy continues to lecture me about the bad example I’m setting for young boys who look up to the alpha. For goddess sake, why on earth do I keep Cathy hired?

Noting my surroundings, I can see mother and Almara have retreated to themselves while Jack catches the security guards, Peter and John, up to speed. As for the news crew, they’re touching up their makeup as if dirt flying about from the fight got onto their plastic, porcelain faces.

“The other part of the reviews involve those showing disfavor of you almost suffocating your accused illegitimate son. Either people don’t like that he exists at all as that sheds bad light on your morale, or they don’t like you’d badly beat up someone who might be your son.”

I let out an agitated sigh. As if I care what anyone thinks, they still buy my products. I look up at the sky, the sun is setting. We don’t have much time now.

“Cathy, while I do always appreciate your calls I am in the middle of something in case you haven’t heard. Is there any good news we can skip to?”

“Of course. You can thank your mother for this one. People are loving her call to the public to send in a remedy for Arthur’s, uh, condition. Apparently, the common public like to feel a sense of inclusion with the royal family.” Cathy says as if dropping a hint for me to learn from my mother.

I roll my eyes. “Wonderful, so my mother is saving the family reputation?” I ask.

“I wouldn’t go that far, yet. Ratings are still piling in so I’ll keep an eye on what the verdict is. What I can say is, in addition to feedback flooding in, hundreds of people and werewolves are sending in recipes to remedy Arthur.” Cathy says as she’s holding something back.

“Well, go on what’s the ‘but’ about it?” I ask, cutting to the point.

“But,” Cathy concedes, “we don’t know which are the right ones and which are made up or downright dangerous.”

“Well, find us some guinea pigs to test on, I’ll pay whatever. I’ve got to go now. Bye, Cathy.” I hang up before hearing her reply. I approach Peter and John. As they become aware of my nearing closer, everyone else in the forest is on standby, waiting for my command.

“Peter and John.” I call out to them. They turn from jack and square themselves straight as if military officers awaiting their command. I appreciate the respect. “One of you, find that little worm that just ran out of here like a crying little girl.” Peter nods and steps forward.

I focus my eyes on him. “Don’t do anything to him, I’m going to call in a favor from friends downtown. I just want you to make sure he doesn’t run off too far.” Peter nods in confirmation and sets off to hunt down Robert’s tracks.

“John and Jack, you two set off looking for Arthur. I’ll be right behind you.” I turn to Almara and Bess, “You two stay here in case Arthur comes by this way, trying to leave or something. He might stop if he sees you two here.”

Almara looks as though she wants to protest, but I shoot her a glance that causes her to fall silent. Smart girl. “As for the news crew,” I call out to them flashing them an all-time crowd favorite smile. “Piss off.”

I pull my cell back out and dial in the extension of the police officer I want to reach. Mark picks up on the first ring.

Mark is a friend since before I married my first wife, she was my girlfriend at the time. We met when he pulled me over for speeding, it also so happened to be at the time when police were in search of a particular man by the name of Joesph Campbell, wanted for hijacking some sensitive government documents.

Now I’m not a snitch, but this Joesph guy made a pass on my girlfriend so I simply pointed Mark in the right direction. He gave me a warning and as a thank you I took him out for drinks where he met a lovely red-headed woman.

The rest is history. I figured it wouldn’t hurt having a cop-friend close by.

“What the Hell, Roman? What is going on?” Mark asks, moreso out of concern than curiosity which I can appreciate, but don’t have time to explain right now.“Listen, I’ll explain later-”

“Yeah you better, don’t think I forgot you still owe me from the last favor you called in.” Mark says alluding to the situation where I needed him to bury a measly gambling error. The bouncer thought I was cheating in a game, unfortunately for him he didn’t know that I could do no wrong.

“Yeah, well I need another one.” I grumble.

“Of course you do.” Mark tries to sound annoyed, but I know he loves helping out the former Alpha. It gives him a boost to his ego.

“I need you to arrest the wimp you saw on the news for slander and stalking. His name is Robert.”

“You mean the one you assaulted live on T.V?” Mark asks with a snort.

“That’s the one. Can you help me or not?” I snap.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

I end the call. Time to put a stop to this once and for all.