Noah (Rise of the Pride, Book 10)

by Theresa Hissong

  “I know I am, Taze, but I’m fighting for what I want for once in my life,” she sighed. “Please leave my house. I don’t want to talk about this with you. I made my decision when I turned twenty, and I ask that you respect that.”

  “Fine, but…” Taze began, but her front door flew open, revealing her brother standing on her doorstep.

  “Well, shit,” she mumbled.

  “What are you doing here?” Malaki growled.

  “Just stopping by,” Taze tossed out, not taking his eyes off of hers. He didn’t even look over his shoulder to see if Malaki was going to jump him. “I said what I needed to say, and now I’m leaving.”

  No one dared to speak until Taze was out the door and down the road. Malaki’s narrowed eyes pissed her off just as much as Taze coming into her home, throwing out all of the reasons why she needed to train.

  “You can leave, too,” she ordered, pointing toward the door. “I don’t want to talk about Taze with you.”

  “Stay away from him,” Malaki warned as he turned to leave. “I heard him from outside your door, and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  The softening of her brother’s voice was her undoing. She held on strong until he left. Only then did she drop to her knees and weep, because Taze’s mating scent still lingered in the air. She knew her brother scented it too, and that alone was the reason why she wouldn’t choose between the family that kept her alive in the past and the male destined to be her future.

  Chapter Seven

  Noah was already in a mood because he had to cancel his dinner plans with Landon, again. The need for Guardians on the street was too important, and thankfully, Landon wasn’t upset with him. The male, however human, understood the reason why Noah had to put it off for another night.

  He called for his panther to come to the surface for warmth. It was two days before the new year, and they were bracing for another cold night as they searched for the alpha responsible for the wolves he and Taze had rounded up the night before. The FBI agents, Murdock and Tabor, were a quarter mile away checking out an abandoned warehouse in the heart of downtown Memphis.

  They’d finally gotten a name out of the few Gadaí they’d captured and sent to Colorado to be reformed with Gabriel’s blood. Talon had called a quick meeting after dinner earlier in the evening.

  The alpha they were looking for was named Holden Manzelli, and he was the male responsible for the criminal activity in Memphis. The rogues didn’t have much information, telling the alpha in Colorado the leader kept to himself other than to give them directions on what businesses to hit, how many females to bring back to a hideout, and to not speak of him.

  The description they had of him wasn’t very precise. He wore hats and scarves whenever he was in their presence. One of the males described him as in his mid-forties with a deep, gravelly voice. He was tall and muscular, but that didn’t give them much.

  Noah could hear the crowds a few blocks over as they mingled along Beale Street, hitting up the bars and clubs that lined the road. Memphis police were everywhere, patrolling the streets because of the upcoming end of year celebration the city put on every New Year’s Eve.

  Taze held out his hand to stop Noah from passing a small alleyway between two old buildings. The younger Guardian held up his hand and pressed one finger to his lips. Noah blocked out the noise from the partying and let his beast hone in on what the other male was hearing.

  Faint whimpering from the alley set them on edge. Noah keyed the mic on his issued radio and called for backup, turning the volume down before the agents responded. His eyes adjusted to the darkness within seconds, and what he saw boiled his blood.

  A human female was curled up at the back of the alley against a fence that blocked cars from using the narrow road as a detour to the other street. Her jacket hung in tatters from the shoulder to her wrist. Blood coated her hand, and a half-shifted wolf stood over her, baring his yellowed fangs.

  “Hey, man, you don’t want to do this,” Noah warned, holding his hands up where the wolf could see him. The stench of the wolf turned his nose, but he locked it down and focused on capturing him. “You’re being told what to do by a rogue alpha, and we need you to back away from the female so we can get you some help.”

  “Help me!” the female screamed, closing more in on herself as he tried to turn the woman on her hands and knees.

  Noah felt Taze step to his left so he could be in a direct line to grab the woman should the male continue with his plans. The wolf snarled in their direction, pausing them in their movements when he put his wrist to his mouth, biting into his own flesh. “Step away from the female. I won’t warn you again.”

  “She’s mine,” he claimed, spittle dripping from his chin. The male was feral, his eyes bouncing all over the place. He scented of dirt, piss, and chemicals. His short, brown hair was caked with mud and stuck to his head in several different directions. “Mine!”

  “I think he’s on some sort of drug,” Taze mumbled.

  With a howl, the male gathered the woman’s long hair and jerked her head to the side, sinking his canines into her neck. Noah and Taze started to move as the agents arrived on scene. Their footsteps came to an abrupt halt as Noah heard each of them reach for their weapons, sliding the cold metal out of their holsters. Werewolves were the only shifter that had an allergy to silver, and the human authorities had been issued bullets containing the substance. They were only to be used in a life or death situation.

  Flashlights glared from behind them as Noah and Taze shouted, “No! Kill the lights!”

  “What the fuck?” Tabor gasped as all hell broke loose.

  With his superhuman strength, the werewolf scooped the female up and jumped high on the chain link fence at his back. Noah called on the power of his panther and used its strength to launch himself at the male. His instincts were to not touch the female, but thankfully, they’d been equipped with gloves to protect them from skin-on-skin contact with anyone they might’ve encountered. With precision, he wrapped his left arm around her waist, forcing her out of the werewolf’s grasp, falling to the ground as the male escaped. Noah took the brunt of the fall, cradling the woman in his arms.

  “I’ve got him,” Taze yelled as he cleared the fence, taking off on foot after the male.

  The female was gasping for air, and the small amount she did get into her lungs was used for her cries. Noah immediately began checking her over, placing his gloved hand over the spot on her neck where the wolf had bitten her. Tabor and Murdock came running up to his side.

  “Man, we didn’t know what the hell was going on back here,” Tabor apologized.

  “I need you to use that flashlight now,” Noah gritted, trying his best to keep his voice calm. Why did the humans have to be involved, anyway? They could handle these rogues on their own. “We can talk about the other stuff later.”

  Murdock squatted at his side and used a smaller light to shine on the female’s neck and arm. The werewolf’s claws had lacerated her arm deep enough to require stitches. Her neck was mangled and bleeding. When her face came into view, Tabor cursed softly.

  She was a beautiful human, barely old enough to drink. She was dressed modestly, and upon further inspection, Noah noticed she wore a work shirt for a local eatery. Her blonde hair was coated in her own blood, and she scented of the stench of wolf. Her honey-colored eyes were wet with tears.

  “You’re safe now, ma’am,” he promised, keeping pressure on her neck. Blood soaked into his gloves, but he wasn’t going to let go of the female until an ambulance arrived. Her panicked gaze was his undoing. They needed to get a hold on the problem, and it was equally important they find that damn alpha soon. “We are going to get you checked out at the hospital.”

  Murdock called for an ambulance, and soon enough, the place was swarming with local law enforcement and paramedics. Once she was handed off, Noah turned for the agents. “Any word from Taze?”

  “He lost the male,” Tabor replied, shaking
his head. “He’s on his way back now.”

  “Man, what the fuck did we just witness?” Murdock asked as the woman was loaded onto a gurney.

  “You basically scared a rabid dog,” Taze accused as he arrived, still catching his breath. “We are going to have to come up with a new rule if human agents are going to be working with us. That can’t happen again.”

  “He was trying to mount her like…like a dog,” Murdock gasped as he replayed what had happened. “He bit her and himself.”

  “He was attempting to force a mating on that female,” Noah shivered. “These males are being instructed to find mates, and I don’t know why. We can’t procreate with humans, but we can turn them. Even if that female had been turned into a wolf, she wouldn’t have been able to carry his pups unless they were fated mates. So, I don’t understand what they’re planning.”

  Taze looked back toward the area they’d found the male, then back to the agents. Noah raised an eyebrow at him, wondering what the hell was going through his mind. He was just about to ask when the young Guardian cursed so loudly it echoed off the surrounding buildings.

  “They’re collecting females to turn, knowing Guardians would never harm a female in a fight. They’re not looking for mates, Noah,” Taze guessed, turning toward the agents when they looked puzzled. “We have one rule, and it’s the most sacred rule we live by.”

  “And what is that?” Murdock asked, his eyes narrowing on the Guardian.

  “We never, ever raise our hands against a female of our species.” It didn’t take a lot of science for the human agents to figure out what Taze was telling them. The alpha running those Gadaí wasn’t just some money hungry thief, he was smart, and he had a plan. He knew exactly what he needed to do to get his dirty work done.

  Malaki was quiet on the ride to work the next morning. He kept his eyes on the road and everything around them as they made their way to the clinic. Landon didn’t ask him what was wrong, and neither did Sophia. Whatever put the Guardian in a bad mood had to have something to do with his sister, Calla. Everyone knew how protective he was of the female.

  “Stay in the car until I can walk through the clinic,” Malaki ordered as he parked by the door. Landon looked over his shoulder to see Sophia shrug. “I’ll leave the car running. If anything happens, drive straight back to the pride.”

  As soon as he was gone, she whispered so the Guardian’s enhanced hearing didn’t pick up her words, “I don’t know what’s gotten into him since yesterday.”

  “I don’t either,” Landon replied.

  They watched as he entered the office and turned off the alarm. He was inside for a few minutes before reappearing to wave them inside. Landon turned off the ignition and got out of the vehicle, waiting for Sophia to go ahead of him. After they entered and Sophia walked to the breakroom to drop off her lunch and purse, Landon gave Malaki a questioning look.

  “Talon will discuss it later,” the Guardian mumbled, looking over Landon’s shoulder when Sophia reappeared. The shifter’s eyes sparked amber for a split second before he gritted his teeth and turned away.

  Landon knew something was amiss. Late last night, Dane was called to a secret meeting with Talon and the other Guardians. He wouldn’t say what was discussed, and as with most things related to the pride, he was ordered to tell his mates the alpha would call a meeting at the circle if he wanted anything known.

  The day started, and Landon was swamped with work. He had to perform two small surgeries and did several checkups on new pets before lunch. He reminded the new owners how important it was to accept their kittens and puppies as part of their families. He didn’t want to see them end up at the local animal shelter.

  Sophia and Landon sat at the small table in the back room and ate their lunch in silence while Malaki stood at the front of the office like a guard at the royal palace. He wouldn’t take a break, nor would he eat anything.

  “I wish he would tell me what’s going on,” Sophia mumbled around her sandwich. “I can feel my alpha, and he is uneasy. It’s making me nervous.”

  Landon would never understand the power Talon had over his pride. It’d been explained to him early on, and he respected the connection they all shared, but even he had to admit it was strange. He knew animals and their behavior, but these shifters were totally different in their nature. It was part animalistic, part magic.

  “Talon always knows what’s best for the pride,” Landon said, hoping to ease some of the female’s fears. “Have faith in knowing that he will have our best interest at heart and will make sure everyone is protected.”

  “I hope so.” She sighed and dropped her sandwich on her napkin. “I’m sick to my stomach.”

  She rested her head on her arm after pushing away her food. Landon wanted to comfort her, but he knew better than to touch a female.

  “What’s wrong?” Malaki’s deep voice boomed as he entered the small breakroom. His eyes flashed amber as he took one step toward her side, dropping to one knee. “Sophia, talk to me.”

  “Stress,” she mumbled, keeping her head down. “Pride stress. It’s bothering me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he replied, his voice softening. “Everything is going to be okay. You have to trust us.”

  “That’s what Landon said,” she replied, lifting her head and cursing when she looked at the clock on the wall. “We have to get ready for more patients.”

  Landon watched Sophia leave, but noticed Malaki’s eyes following her as well. He hadn’t moved from his spot on the floor. The male’s eyes were still amber, and he noticed Malaki’s arm rippling from the beast that lived beneath his skin. Cleaning up their food, he decided to leave that alone. He’d seen that happen to Noah a few times when he was agitated.

  Thinking of Noah, Landon wondered what he was doing. He knew the shifter had been on rotation, and it was a little sad he didn’t come by the house for dinner the night before he went on shift. He’d probably been getting some extra sleep since he was working on the streets overnight.

  His heart stopped in his chest. He prayed the late-night meeting wasn’t because Noah had been hurt on the job.

  “Landon, Ms. Fredrick is in room two,” Sophia interrupted his thoughts as she leaned in the breakroom door.

  “Okay, thanks,” he replied, but held up his hand to get her attention before she turned away. “Hey, did you happen to notice if Noah was home from his shift yet this morning?”

  “No, he wasn’t,” she frowned. “You don’t think?” She let the question hang.

  “I’m going to call him really quick,” he blurted. “I’ll be two minutes.”

  Sophia nodded and stepped out of the room to give him some privacy. Landon debated on calling him, because if he’d come home late, the male was probably sleeping.

  Pulling up his phone, he stared at the screen for several seconds, knowing he only had a moment to check on him. Instead of calling, he shot off a text, hoping Noah would reply when he woke.

  Just checking on you. I know something happened last night, but no one is talking. Are you okay?

  He slid his phone into his pocket when there wasn’t an immediate reply. He tried his best to keep the bad thoughts at bay, but as he reached for the door handle to room number two, he noticed his hands were shaking.

  Chapter Eight

  Noah came awake around seven that evening. He and Taze hadn’t returned to the pride until almost noon. They’d finally found the male close to sunrise, hiding in an abandoned warehouse not far from where the agents were originally looking for Holden Manzelli. The paperwork and intake bullshit took forever, and the escort to the plane heading for western Colorado was late.

  The male had to be sedated by Harold to keep him from attacking the agents and Guardians. The collar they’d fitted him with was the only thing keeping the male from shifting and ripping them to shreds. Of course, the male wouldn’t talk before his sedation, and the drug tests showed he had cocaine in his system. With the shifters ability to burn off most drugs
and alcohol, it was shocking he even tested positive. When the male had been searched, after he’d gotten to the jail for intake, they’d found a small baggie of the substance sewn into the pocket of his jeans. The drugs were sent off for analysis, but it could be weeks before they knew exactly what was in the cocaine the werewolf had taken.

  Noah knew his brother had held a secret meeting with the Guardians and Protectors to discuss what had happened the night before, elaborating on Taze’s suspicions. It still chilled him to the bone knowing there would possibly be a time where they would be fighting female Gadaí.

  He rolled over and grabbed his phone, seeing a missed text from Landon and one from Talon. Talon wanted to see him as soon as he was rested, but the text from Landon had his panther sitting up in his mind.

  I’m fine. Just came in really late and went straight to bed. I just woke up. Where are you?

  He waited several minutes for a reply, and he was about to call the male when his phone pinged with an incoming message.

  At home. We just finished dinner. There are leftovers if you’d like to stop by.

  Noah’s heart swelled, knowing Landon had thought of him and cared for his wellbeing. His panther purred inside his mind. The beast wanted Noah to forget what his brother wanted so he could immediately go to the male’s home. They both wanted to see Landon.

  I have to meet with Talon. I’ll come by after I’m done.

  He jumped in the shower and hurriedly drank a cup of coffee before taking off for the alpha’s home for a meeting with his brother. When he arrived, Liberty was finishing up the dishes from their own meal; both of their cubs were playing in the living room floor.

  “Uncle Noah!” little Ember yelled as soon as she saw him, climbing to her feet and running to his open arms.

  “Hey, kiddo,” he said, accepting a tight hug from the little girl. She’d just turned five and would be shifting for the first time any day now. Declan was quieter and tugged on his pants. “Hey, big guy. What have you got there?”