Savage Maui Boys by Crystal Steadman

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PROLOGUE:

Somewhere in the southern part of California, thirty-one years ago…

*

“It’s a boy.” The elderly woman smiled. “Just as was predicted.”

The baby let out an angry cry and kicked its tiny legs with such force the old woman almost dropped it.

“So strong.” She giggled, tightening her hold on the baby. But her delighted giggles turned into a gasp of horror when the baby’s eyes suddenly turned bloody red. “Oh, Great Luna!” Mama Meg turned as white as sheet.

The two attendants looking on turned to run out of the room just as one of the curtains burst into flames. The baby kept crying angrily.

“Give him to me Mama Meg.” The obviously tired mother instructed urgently. “Quick.”

She stretched out her arms and took her baby from the terrified old woman. Then she tenderly placed the screaming baby on her chest, noting the contrast between her own dark skin and her baby’s slightly lighter colour. He was the most beautiful baby she’d ever laid eyes on. The proud mother began to sing softly to soothe her screaming baby. But for the seriousness of the current situation, she would have laughed out loud when it dawned on her that her baby had actually taken more of her colour than her husband’s. She couldn’t wait to see the look on her husband’s face when she demanded her prize for winning the bet. She also couldn’t wait to see the real eye colour of her baby. Was it going to be the intense deep blue eyes his father had or dark amber like hers?

The proud mother didn’t even look up when her husband, the Alpha burst into the room. She kept singing. And as she sang, the baby’s cries gradually died down and to the shock of the others in the room, so did the curtain that had caught fire. Well, it was virtually burnt but at least the fire had gone out…by itself.

“He’s an Ojah.” Mama Meg gasped, her whole body trembling.

“Darling, are you okay?” The giant of an Alpha asked his beautiful wife.

Gloria, the head warrior and queen of the Stanwood Pack lifted eyes filled with pride, joy, and mirth to her anxious-looking husband and gave him a slow wink. “What do you think?” She breathed. “Come meet your son.”

Alpha Stanton grinned and sat beside his wife on the bed. They both stared at the sleeping baby, ignoring the almost frenzied prayers being whispered by Mama Meg. The elderly woman was terrified and rightly so. After all, they had in their midst an Ojah who could raze a whole community to the ground with just a snap of his finger. What made their situation even worse was the fact that their son was a mere baby and therefore had no control over his power. The Alpha and his queen knew they had a lot of work to do.

“He can’t be Alpha.” The old lady chanted. “An Ojah can’t rule. He’ll kill everyone. We are doomed. An alpha has to be tolerant. But it’s not in an Ojah’s nature to be tolerant.” Mama Meg was shaking so much she looked as though she had a seizure. That was the extent of her terror. “Everyone will perish at his hands. This has never happened before. We…”

“Calm down Mama Meg.” The alpha finally turned to look at the frightened woman. “I know something like this has never happened before but let’s consider the other possibilities. Wouldn’t his being an alpha rather control his Ojah side? And wouldn’t being an Ojah rather be an advantage to an alpha…help him protect his people even better? Think about it. Now, why don’t you go and gather the elders for an emergency meeting, Mama Meg?” The Alpha said gently, turning back to look at his sleeping son. “I’ll clean them up myself. Tell the elders I’ll join you immediately after I’m done here.”

The woman fled the room as if the hounds of hell were after her. And even as she hastened to do the bidding of her Alpha, she couldn’t help but feel the surge of power in the air…the power emanating from that little baby. She had faith in the Alpha and the queen to keep the pack safe, but she also couldn’t help but feel their lives were in danger. She prayed the couple and the elders would be able to contain all that power and keep them out of harm’s way.

“Merciful Luna, have mercy on us.” She prayed as she broke into a run.

And back in the room, the alpha and his wife couldn’t keep their eyes off their bundle of joy. To them, he was perfect.

“He’s going to be the most powerful alpha.” The queen muttered.

“I know.” The alpha grinned.

***

At the same moment…in the remote town of Pierre Part, Louisiana…

*

A doctor and three nurses stared at a newborn baby boy. The thoughts running through the head of each person was, ‘am I seeing right?’