Noah (Rise of the Pride, Book 10)

by Theresa Hissong

  “And what’s that, cat?” the largest one spat. The other one wasn’t much smaller, but that didn’t matter to Noah. They wouldn’t best them. Taze and Noah were Guardians for a reason, and that was why they were here to help. Ah, who was he kidding anyway? The Guardians were always ready for a battle, and helping the government was a good way to kick some rogue wolf ass. “Why don’t you run along and get your own females. These are ours.”

  “I don’t think so,” Taze tsked, taking a moment to look at his phone. “I have more important things to do tonight. So, if you’ll come with me to the new shifter intake station, I would appreciate it.”

  Noah chuckled to himself. Taze was trying to abide by the rules set forth in the agreement with the government, but he got the wording all wrong. Noah wanted to face palm himself and remind Taze to read them their rights, but he’d get to that later.

  “We aren’t going anywhere,” the second wolf snarled. His hazy yellow eyes showed his anger, and that was what the Guardians needed to take them into custody.

  With lightning speed, Noah reached for the male, spinning his body so fast, he didn’t have time to fight back before cuffs were placed on his wrists. Taze was there to slap a collar on the wolf, much like the ones used on Calla and Evie while they were held captive. The device insured the wolves wouldn’t shift.

  “That’s one,” Noah huffed, dropping the shifter face down on the concrete. He stepped on the shifter’s back right between his shoulder blades to keep him from moving as he turned to his buddy. “Resisting arrest…what will be your charge?”

  “You’re not the fucking cops,” the other male gasped, seeing his buddy on the ground.

  “I beg to differ,” Taze chuckled, producing a badge. “We are now working with the government to round up your kind.”

  “Fucking sellouts,” the other male accused, launching himself at the Guardians. His clothes shred, and the sounds of the human females screaming from the door as they walked out turned the street into chaos.

  “Fucking great,” Taze huffed as he unleashed his claws and swiped at the wolf as he lunged for his throat. Noah chuckled when the wolf yelped and fell to its belly on the dirty concrete sidewalk. His fellow Guardian squatted down and wrapped his beefy hand around the wolf’s throat and gave it a little shake. “You’ll be in a cell next to your buddy.”

  “We are only doing what we have been ordered to do,” the first, and obviously smarter, one blurted as Noah turned his amber gaze on him.

  “About that,” Taze began, reaching for the male. He didn’t resist, but that didn’t mean anything. “We need to know who your alpha is and where we can find him.”

  “I…” the wolf shook his head and cleared his throat. “Um…I…”

  “Cat got your tongue?” Noah asked as he fitted the male with a collar. Taze took care of the handcuffs as Noah shot off a text to Storm to meet them with the van to await transfer to Colorado.

  “I can’t say it,” the male said, looking stricken. Noah sighed, knowing whoever the alpha was had ordered them to not give away his name or location. Once an order was given, the wolves couldn’t disobey. They physically and mentally were blocked from doing so.

  “Don’t worry,” Taze called out as he hauled the now shifted, and naked, second wolf up by his hair. The only thing the male wore were the handcuffs and spiked collar placed on his neck by the Guardian. “We have someone who can get the information from you.”

  Storm arrived within a few minutes and helped load the wolves into the back of the van. Noah walked over and picked up the shredded clothing of the male who’d shifted and rifled through his pockets, looking for any identification. Taze loaded the two males into the awaiting van as Storm approached with a clipboard. Underneath the clip was a stack of paperwork that needed to be filled out before he could leave with the wolves. Noah looked at the stack and cringed.

  “Wish we could’ve just stuck to the old ways and killed them in the street,” Noah mumbled as he clicked the pen Storm handed over.

  “And burned their bodies on our land,” Storm added with a smirk.

  “Fuck,” Taze groaned. “What have we gotten ourselves into?”

  Christmas Day came early for Landon. A frantic call from one of his patient’s owners had him rushing to the office at five that morning. Mrs. Miller’s German Shepherd had gotten out of the house, and in its panic, ran into the road. He was hit by a car, but thankfully, not killed.

  He sat in his office, looking at the chart and jotting down notes to leave for Amaya. His night nurse would be in soon to care for the animal. She’d offered to stay at the clinic throughout the day and into the next morning so the others could spend time with their families. She’d made a joke out of the fact that she didn’t really celebrate the holiday anymore since she’d been out on her own. Landon didn’t ask about her past, and he would give her that privacy. She’d either tell him about her life outside the walls of the clinic, or she would continue to hide those scars on her arms and keep her secrets to herself.

  He heard the front door lock disengage and a few seconds later, he heard her voice as she entered. “It’s too damn cold for the middle of the day.”

  “It’s six in the morning,” Landon chuckled and rose to his feet. He held the dog’s chart in his hand as he rounded the corner leading into the kennel area.

  “Morning for you. Night for me,” she smirked, then immediately hid a yawn behind her hand. She held a mug of coffee in the other hand while a quilt was folded over her arm and a pillow was tucked between that and her chest. “I’m going to sleep in here once the dog is settled.”

  “That’s perfectly fine,” Landon agreed, taking the coffee when she held it out toward him. “I really appreciate you offering to stay here over the holiday.”

  “Ah, it’s no problem.” She waved him off and dropped her belongings in the office chair before accepting her mug back from Landon. “Show me what you have planned and get the hell out of here.”

  Landon gave her a rundown of the care plan. Once he was through, Amaya pushed him out of the office and waved goodbye before locking the door. “Have a great Christmas Day,” she yelled through the glass panes on the door.

  As soon as he was in his truck, Landon immediately felt the loneliness of the holiday weigh down on him. Cole had never been one to celebrate, and since it was usually just the two of them, they’d have dinner at the only place open in town. This year, Olivia was going to make a meal for them, but he wasn’t so sure about the new tradition she was trying to set for his brother.

  Christmas had always been a big deal around their house when Cole and Landon were young. Their parents had gone all out on gifts and the family dinner, but things had changed once Landon matured and came out to his parents.

  The few years he’d been out on his own had been hell, and he remembered those three Christmases alone on the streets with nothing but the shirt on his back and the drugs in his pocket. With a shiver, he crushed those images. He wasn’t that guy anymore, and he’d overcome so much because of Cole’s help.

  Now, he was facing another obstacle.

  Noah had claimed him with his words, and Landon wanted to give in to him, but the scar on his back kept him from breaking through the trauma of his abduction. If Noah had come into his life only months before his brother’s run-in with the cartel, Landon would’ve forced the touching issue with Noah.

  But now…he wasn’t so sure.

  Could he let Noah see him intimately?

  As he arrived at the pride, Kraven was working the gate. The male stopped him from proceeding with a stoic look on his face. The shifter was usually a little friendlier, and he wondered what had happened to cause the look on his face.

  “You’re wanted at the alpha’s home,” he ordered.

  “Why?” Landon frowned. “Has something happened?”

  “Noah is waiting for you in the security room,” he stated, not giving much away.

  Landon nodded and waited for the gate to o
pen, wondering what the hell had happened. There wasn’t a lot of activity around the pride, so he was certain there hadn’t been a breach of any kind…or at least he hoped there wasn’t a security threat. A shiver rolled down his spine as he parked in front of the alpha’s home.

  Before he had a chance to open the door, it was pulled open and Noah stood there with an angry scowl. “Why did you go into the office alone?”

  “Um, well, I had an emergency.” Landon frowned as Noah stepped aside to allow him to enter. He followed Noah to the security room and took a seat where the male pointed to an extra chair by the bank of monitors. Each and every one was lit up with images of the cameras around the land, bar, and his office.

  “You should’ve called Malaki to escort you in,” Noah scolded, pinching the bridge of his nose.

  “I was safe,” Landon promised. “I had to stabilize a dog and wait for my night nurse to arrive.”

  “Still,” Noah growled low in his throat. The shifter’s eyes were speckled with the amber of his panther. “We’ve started working to get these Gadaí off the streets, and they now know who we are. Security is about to get a lot tighter around here, and I need you to be on alert and protected.”

  “I’m sorry,” Landon apologized. A shiver rolled down his spine again, and he heard Noah sigh heavily. “Wait, why are you here, anyway? I thought you were on rotation with Taze.”

  “Kye called me when he saw you leave the land in a hurry,” Noah admitted.

  “You didn’t have to do that.” Landon paused when he caught Noah’s mating scent. It calmed him, and with a heavy sigh, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Noah, I was safe.”

  “My job is to keep you safe,” Noah whispered, taking a deep breath. “I worry for you more than I think you even realize, Landon.”

  “I’m not used to having someone with me, yet,” he replied, feeling bad for making Noah worry. “I’ve got to get used to the new normal when it comes to being a part of this pride.”

  “You are our family here, Landon, and we want you to be safe.”

  “I want to be safe, too,” he replied. “I’ll make sure to call Malaki next time.”

  Noah relaxed, his eyes returning to his normal color. “If I could be posted at the clinic, I would, but I’m needed out in the field.”

  “I know, and it’s okay,” Landon replied, almost reaching out to touch the male, but he stopped himself in time. Their no touch policy drove him insane. “You should finish your shift so you can get some sleep today.”

  “I’ve called off for the morning,” he replied, standing when Kye returned to the security room with a cup of coffee in hand. His mate, Evie, followed him in shortly after.

  “I’m sorry I worried everyone,” Landon announced.

  Evie and Kye nodded as Noah moved out of the female’s way. It was still strange to see how the males moved around mated females. There was an unseen boundary around them that was strictly adhered to and one he hoped he could learn himself. Humans were affectionate by nature, and touch was an integral part of their lives. These traits came naturally to the shifters, and again, he was fascinated by their species.

  “Just be cautious of your coming and going from the pride,” Kye suggested. “We are not in danger, yet, but we know it’s coming. These Gadaí are going to want revenge when we round up their alphas. When their alphas are taken away, they will become unstable without the leadership. They’re already unstable as it is. Add in the knowledge they will be dying without their alpha present, and it’ll make them unstoppable.”

  “That’s dangerous for everyone,” Landon noted, nodding toward the three of them. “That includes all of you.”

  “We are trained to handle them,” Evie announced, holding her shoulders high. Landon was happy to see she’d worked through her problems from the other night. He had much respect for the female and had seen her train once. It was shocking to see how powerful she was despite her size.

  “I trust you all,” he replied. “I’ll be going so Noah can get some rest. I don’t plan on leaving again until tomorrow morning, unless the animal brought in this morning takes a turn for the worse today. I’ll call Malaki if I have to leave.”

  Landon showed himself out the door. He was a little exhausted and planned on taking a nap before lunch. The security room’s door opened and closed right as he reached the end of the hallway. He didn’t need to turn to know Noah had followed him out.

  “Are you okay?” Landon asked as the male came to his side; close enough to feel his heat, but not close enough to touch.

  “I’m exhausted,” Noah replied with a yawn, covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “Same,” Landon nodded. “I’m going home to take a long nap.”

  “Would you like to have dinner at my place tonight?” Noah asked. “I’ll cook.”

  “You cook?” Landon’s surprised look made Noah laugh. The sight wasn’t something he’d seen. His icy blue eyes sparkled, and the skin around his eyes crinkled. The male was beautiful.

  “Yes, I cook.” Noah rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I just hate cooking for myself.”

  “What’s on the menu for tonight, then?” Landon pressed, propping his shoulder against the wall where the hallway met the foyer.

  “Um, I haven’t even thought about that yet,” Noah frowned. “I guess I’ll surprise us both.”

  “Okay,” Landon replied with a smile. “Get some rest and call me when you wake up.”

  “Since I’m off rotation tonight,” Noah blurted. “Maybe we can watch a movie, too?”

  “I’d like that…a lot.”

  Calla smiled widely and fist pumped the air when she received her latest test score. She’d passed all of her classes for the semester and could relax for a few weeks before heading back after the holidays.

  She was going to get her law degree if it killed her. Which it probably would. It didn’t matter, though. She’d study day in and day out until she could graduate and pass the bar exam. New laws were being made regarding the shifters and they would need representation. She was personally making it her life’s goal to be the one to help her species.

  Malaki had caught her up on the new laws the government was implementing in regards to the alphas and the shifters under their control. She’d skimmed through the packet the night before, but she didn’t get a chance to finish reading everything. She’d been exhausted and promised to spend the day focusing on it since she was off work.

  She folded her legs underneath her as she settled into her soft suede couch, sipping a fresh cup of coffee. In the packet, the agreement between the Shaw pride and the government was full of information about their compensation, the contract length, and a bunch of standard legal wording that would otherwise give someone a migraine just trying to understand the lingo.

  She bypassed the compensation, trying to give everyone their privacy on their earnings, and went straight to the new laws. In the packet, it stated that the alphas would be the ones charged for the crimes committed by the Gadaí, or “rogues” as stated in the contract. It appeared the government was well informed on the ways of the shifter world, except for the terminology for the Gadaí, and Calla wondered why. If she knew anything about her alpha, she knew he wouldn’t give them all the information about their kind. Talon would only share what they needed to know.

  The “rogues” would be taken to a facility in western Colorado, and an alpha, Gabriel Jackson, would encourage them to take his blood to break their bond with the Gadaí alphas. Calla had to laugh at the use of the word “encourage”. Those males would be so brainwashed by the bad alphas, they wouldn’t be of sound mind to make the choice. The alpha would be forcing them to take his blood.

  Malaki had assured her the alpha in charge was a good guy, and she really hoped he was right. She didn’t trust anyone, and a chill rolled up her spine when she imagined the worst.

  “Fuck,” she squealed when a knock landed on her front door.

  With he
r heart racing, Calla jumped up and ran over to her door. She froze with her hand on the knob. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the wooden door, trying her best not to inhale his scent.

  She failed.

  “Open the door, Calla,” Taze ordered, his voice vibrating the door.

  “Taze,” she said as she opened the door all the way. His scent hit her like a freight train, but she locked down her beast and her desires. “Why are you beating on my door? You scared the shit out of me.”

  “You need to come train with the other females,” he stated, his eyes darkening when they traced over her body. She didn’t let his scent, or his roaming eyes for that matter, sway her.

  “I’m really busy, Taze,” she hedged. Well, she lied. She wasn’t busy, she was exhausted from school and work.

  “You haven’t trained in months,” he began, narrowing his eyes. Taze stepped over her threshold, causing Calla to take a step back. There was no way she would accidentally touch him. “Hell, you haven’t trained in almost a year if we want to be honest.”

  “I don’t want to train, Taze,” she snapped, crossing her arms and turning away from him. She didn’t want to go over her decisions with him again, but it looked like she was going to have to give him a reminder. She really wished he’d just give it a rest. “It’s not who I am anymore. I have school and a real job where I’m learning about the human’s legal system. I want to put that to good use and help our species.”

  “You need to know how to protect yourself,” he reminded her. “Calla, you are not immune to being targeted just because you work with humans. Hell, these Gadaí are going after humans and their businesses. They’re kidnapping and attacking women…in some of the worst ways.”

  She shivered from the thought before she straightened her spine. “I’m careful when I’m away from the pride. I haven’t forgotten how to defend myself.”

  “Gods, you are so fucking stubborn,” he growled, his eyes glowing amber. His scent filtered through the air, and Calla felt her shoulders relax.