"In the diaper bag." Mica said. She saw it sitting on the floor by the bassinet where the larger of the two wolves stood.
Lea wailed in her crib suddenly and one of the wolves turned toward her. Mica screamed in terror. As the intruding werewolf moved so did Scott. He lunged at the creature. The other wolf moved in towards her and she saw Scott managed to grab the first before it could reach Lea. He yelled in pain as the thing bit into his arm. Mica double over and the other wolf whimpered a little. It backed away as an ungodly scream ripped from her lips.
Pain raced up her back and her stomach felt as if it was being twisted into knots. A blaze of heat ran over her and everything in the room swam as she crashed to her hands and knees on the floor. Mica felt her skin go hot as it warped, tightened and a strange ache flowed over her muscles. Then her back arched and her bones cracked and pulled.
"Oh god this hurts!” She screamed. Her body was thrown into tormented anguish as her joints snapped. Her flesh rippled and her body twisted and contorted as she changed.
The night air around her was ripped by a howl and the wolves in the room both turned on her. Instinct kicked in. They stood between her and her pup. With a ferocious snarl she attacked them. Fearless of her own well being, she bit the throat of the larger one as his partner bit into her hind leg. Mica's only thought was to protect her child. As her fangs sank deeply into the neck of the other wolf she felt the blood fly from the torn jugular. The other wolf let out a loud yelp and she turned to see a human over the still form of the other fallen wolf. Mica growled deeply at the human holding the bloody knife. Her animal nature wanted to kill it.
With a quick snap she bit the man's hand and he yelled. The man stepped back and away from her pup. His hand bled from where she’d bit him. Sniffing the air she caught the scent of his fear and the scent of him on her baby. Her lips pulled back over her bloody fangs and she snarled as she growled deeply
"It's me! Mica for god sakes it's me!” The human said. He tossed the knife on the bed and got down on all four and lowered his head. Submissive and docile now he was less of a threat. She felt something in her flow to the surface as a more human thought entered her mind. The human was a friend, her friend and her protector. Scott. The name came to the wolf and in a flood of emotion she felt herself shift again.
Mica looked around the room and saw the dead werewolves. The torn and tattered clothes that had been hers where on the floor.
"What happened to me?” She looked down at her naked blood covered body and back up to Scott who had just stood up.
"Oh god...the experiments...” He stammered. He stared at her and his face went as white as a sheet.
"There are no shifting females...Oh god I hurt you!” She sobbed as the thoughts of the wolf filtered into her mind. It had wanted to kill him. It was such an odd feeling, something sitting on the fray of her conscious mind waiting to be let loose again.
"We can't stay here. Come on let's get you cleaned up and get the hell out of here before someone calls the cops." Scott said. In a rush they did.
They stepped outside into the cool night air and a flash of lightening streaked across the sky. The rain had become harder. Mica tried to cover the baby with a coat as they rushed towards the car that was parked several yards away. Before they could reach it Mica caught the smell of the werewolves.
"There are more of them.” She yelled to Scott. She could see them as they came out from their hiding places behind parked cars, garbage cans and the vending machines.
Scott stepped in front of her as the wolves began to surround them. There was an odd scent in the air and as Lea wailed in her arms she saw Scott tense and pull his knife.
"Get in the car Mica!” He said as he tried to keep himself between her and the pack of wolves.
"Scott!” She cried out the warning as one of the wolves broke from the pack. It leapt at him as two others were moved in as well.
Mica pulled the gun from the diaper bag and tried to muff Lea's ears with her other hand and her chest. She pointed the gun and pulled the trigger. The resulting explosion and the short yelp of the wolf caused the rest to fall back. Scott moved her to get into the car. The werewolf who had just bitten Scott lay dead on the ground and several others howled as she fired the gun again just before they got into the car.
There was no time to put Lea in her seat, no time to think or be afraid. Scott gunned the engine and roared out of the motel parking lot.
"They must be a local pack...” She said stuttering. "They would have killed you, I had too."
"Mica it's okay. You did what you had to."
"Oh god.” She muttered. She’d never killed anyone before and now as her hand shook violently she dropped the gun on the seat between her and Scott. The wolf inside her could care less if the attacking wolf had died. She’d protected what was hers. It was the way it should be. Her human side though, was having a hard time dealing with it.
"Mica try and take a few deep breaths." Scott said as the Motel faded behind them.
"What do we do now?” She asked in a panic still
"We keep moving east.” He told her.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Victor heard the scream from inside the motel room. He grabbed the car door and Ajei stopped him.
"No not yet.” She said in an eerie voice. He turned and stared at her and felt a shiver run down his spine. Ajei's eyes were a milky white and her hand was ice cold against his skin.
"Why?” He asked but Frank motioned with his finger for Victor to be quiet.
"She will tell you when to make our move” He whispered.
As they sat in the car awaiting the signal, Victor saw several wolves enter the area and move into a position to ambush who ever came out of the motel room. Five minutes ticked slowly by and then Ajei spoke in that eerie voice.
"You must not leave the car Victor not until we are at the barn!” She said and her eyes returned to normal.
"The barn?” He asked just as the motel door opened.
"Yes it will only be safe then!” She said being as cryptic as ever, but Victor had learned Ajei's vision were extremely accurate.
The man that he’d seen at the bar stuck his head out very cautiously and looked around nervously for a second and then stepped outside. He’d a bandage wrapped around his left arm as well as his right hand and both had bleed through. He motioned for someone to follow him and Victor saw Mica step out.
"Oh god!” He muttered. His heart lurked in his chest and tears stung his eyes. She was holding a small bundle close to her chest and a diaper bag over her shoulder. She had the baby. His baby and all he wanted was to run to them. She looked afraid but unhurt and as the urge to go to her washed over him, he felt Ajei touch his arm.
"Not yet Victor. I know you want to hold them. Soon I promise, but you must wait."
The wolves moved in and as one attacked the tall man, Mica drew a gun and killed it. She’d protected the man, had killed a werewolf to save the human and Victor was left a bit stunned by it.
"Follow them from a safe distance with the lights off." Ajei instructed. Mica and the man fled in the car.
For nearly an hour they followed them down bleak dark country back roads until they finally turned down into an old rough dirt road full of potholes. It looked like an old farm gone fallow. The other car’s headlights shone ahead allowing Victor to make out the old barn. The waiting was killing him and as Mica and the man entered the barn he nearly broke the car door trying to get out.
The entire group moved into a position to defend the barn if the other wolves had followed. Now as he cautiously opened the barn door, he could barely see the faint light off to one side in a stall. He made his way carefully towards it and smelt her scent and had to fight his wolf. He looked into the horse stall and saw the three of them curled up together. A small flashlight was in Mica’s hand. The human had his arms wrapped protectively around Mica and his baby. His lips were on Mica’s mouth, they were kissing.
Victor felt his cla
ws erupt and his fangs elongate as he growled low and deep. The growl was a warning for the man to get his hands off her. Mica whipped her head around and looked at him. The look of shock was unmistakable and Victor stepped towards them. The human pulled a gun from his side.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Alaric Dickson stood in front of his Beta looking at him in shocked disbelief.
"What do you mean Victor Feral is still alive?” He snarled.
"I have a source inside their new amalgamated pack and they told me that Victor is still alive." Greg said as he paced the floor.
"I want him dead!” He snarled.
"Well it's not as easy as that now. The pack is much bigger than we thought and after our first incursion with the mercenary pack we learned they had more them the original seven wolves. My new Intel shows they have five times or more that and are growing rapidly as other smaller packs join their growing force." Greg told him.
Alaric glared at him and knew he should have eradicated them after his daughter's murder like he wanted to. Greg had convinced him not to, as the repercussions of the slaughter of the Timber pack had started to be felt.
"Gather the rest of the Alliance members. Tell them it's time to take the war to the Amalgamation. Oh and Greg I want Frank Valtor dead, without him heading the Amalgamation it will most likely start an inner battle for a new leader leaving them distracted." Alaric growled and watched Greg leave.
He knew the two real leaders of the Alliance would back him on this move. They wanted the Ferals and Valtors out of the way as much as he did. He sat down at his desk and wrote an email to both Alpha Tomas, and Alpha Laurence. It was a simple missive stating his plans.
He picked up the picture of his daughter on his desk and fought the tears in his eyes. She’d been a good girl until Victor changed her. Turned her against her pack and the values they held dear. Forced her to be his mate and somehow managed to seduce her into claiming him. Alaric would never forgive the bastard. He wanted every last one of the Feral pack dead and would not rest until it was done. Victor Feral would die, this time by his own hands. The Laws didn't matter anymore to him, just avenging his family.
Chapter 20
At first she’d thought she was hallucinating but then the smell of him wafted to her nose and her inner wolf howled. Scott had nearly shot him thinking he was going to attack them and she had to get between them before they killed each other. Scott refused to leave her side and Victor was refusing to let him come, until the woman named Ajei demanded Scott join the pack. Victor gave in to the strange woman's orders and it shocked Mica.
It had taken hours to get here and during the drive Ajei and Frank explained what had happened in the many months she’d been a captive in the facility. Once they arrived back home, the Valtors and Scott went to the hall. There he would be debriefed about what he knew then he’d be put up in one of the homes here.
Now Mica was numb as she stared into the scarred face of her mate. As she sat on the sofa staring at him she didn't know what to say. For months she thought him dead, her heart had mourned his loss and now she didn't know how to feel. He’d tried to kiss her and hug her but she’d pushed him away. Fear of him not being really still on the edge of her mind.
"Mica!" Victor said firmly. She looked to the floor again.
"Please talk to me!” He said and she heard him move from the chair and felt the cushion of the couch sink down as he sat beside her.
Everything that she’d been through in his brother facility had come flowing back into her head. It crowded her thoughts and she was not able to talk. Every time she tried to open her mouth to speak she felt the sob of anguish trying to escape her lips. How could she tell him what had happened to her, what his own brother had done.
The warm gentle hand on hers made her look up into his eyes. They looked so tired and strained. He too must have been through hell and she felt the tears begin to overflow her lids and spill down her cheeks.
"I love you Mica, please tell me your okay?” His voice quivered as he said it and she shook her head no.
He pulled her into his arms and she bawled. She was overjoyed he was alive and here, but now she’d need to tell him everything that had happened. It was not something she thought she could do.
"Mica oh god how I missed you!” He murmured into her hair and she felt safe again for a moment.
"Victor I thought you were dead... I thought I was alone. Me and Scott...nothing happened between us other than to kiss...I'm so sorry!” She said. Now she tried to justify kissing Scott. But she knew in her heart that part of her was in love with the human too.
"It's okay, all that matters is you two are safe and here with me. She's beautiful just like you Mica." Victor sounded on the verge of crying.
Mica pulled away and looked at her mate. Desire raced over her as she smelt his own desire in the air. The beast within her was edging to the surface and she fought to control the urges over running her.
"Mica?" Victor's face looked at her in near horror. Just as she’d always been able to sense a werewolf shifting she figured he too must be able to sense the change and now his eyes went wide.
"Oh god what happen!” He asked and she steadied herself trying to calm the beast inside her so she could tell him what had happened to her.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Victor held her close. His own tears flowing from his eyes as she sobbed into his chest. His inner rage simmered and he swore he’d kill Collin. The bastard had tortured her, experimented on both her and his baby. There was more, he knew just by the way she acted and he fought the growing suspicion of what that something was. Without questioning her any further, he tried to get her to lie down. But she refused to let go of him.
"Mica I need to go speak with Frank and let him know what has happened.” He said looking at her red puffy face.
"No don't leave me...please Victor!” She begged.
Those words brought back memories of the night her father dragged her from his arms just before he gave his beta the order to kill him.
"Okay, it can wait until tomorrow.” He said and the baby cried.
"I need to change and feed her." Mica told him and moved to their daughter in her car seat on the living room floor.
"I'll call Jenni to get some supplies for her. We will have to set up a crib in Mike's room. My old room is where Shea is sleeping.” He explained.
"How long will Shea be staying here?" Mica asked as she changed the baby's bottom.
"Until her father decided on who her mate should be."
"She's okay with that?" Mica asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well...I don't know."
"Well I hope Frank has more common sense than my father did.” She growled.
Victor knew that having the Alpha pick and choose the mates for the pack was a sore point with Mica. She wanted to change it, had demanded Victor let his females pick their own mates. Now he needed to try and tell her that Frank and himself planned on pledging Lea to Frank’s youngest son Ash. Looking at her as she pulled her shirt opened and brought Lea to her breast to nurse her, he figured it could wait until everything else had calmed down.
The sudden crunching of tires in the drive took his attention away from her briefly and he felt her tense.
"It's okay it's only Frank.” He said as he saw the car at the end of the driveway.
"I'll need my small blanket please.” She asked and he passed her the bright pink thin sheet of material. She took it with a weak smile.
"Thank you” She said and covered herself over as Lea nursed.
Victor got the door before he heard the knock and he saw Frank walking up the short steps. Behind him was not his mate, however, but the human Scott. The man irritated his beast nature, made it flow dangerously close to the surface. Frank gave him a look and raised an eyebrow.
"Is this a bad time?"
"No...Come on in.” He all but growled out.
"You got coffee. It’s going to be a long night Victor." Frank said as the
two men walked into his kitchen.
Mica's face lit up at seeing the human and Victor growled a deep warning to her. He felt jealous of the look that passed between them and he knew that they had feelings for one another. Scott's desire for Mica was evident in his scent and now he was a part of the pack, it wasn't sitting well with him at all.
"Mica maybe you should go to the bedroom and feed Lea!" Victor said more sternly than he’d meant.
"Why?” She looked at him demandingly and he knew this was going to be a problem. Mica was still headstrong and stubborn. He watched as she settled more comfortably on the couch and stared at him almost daring him to say something.
With a low chuckle from behind him Frank slapped Victor on the back in a friendly gesture.
"I see I'm not the only one with a head strong mate!” He said.
"Yes well I'm just glad she's back." Victor said.
"Me too. Now that brings us to why I brought Scott here." Frank said. The pitch in his voice changed drastically.
"Why what's up?"
"Mr. Feral has a tracking device embedded in both Mica and the baby!" Scott said. He looked towards Victor’s mate with worry showing in his eyes.
"I had been able to block it with a jamming signal, but it's only a matter of time before they correct it and find her.” Scott continued.
Frank's face looked more than just concerned with this information.
"There’s more, he’s working hand and hand with Greg from the Dickson pack and they have some deep connections with the government." Scott continued.
"How long do you think we have before he picks the signal back up?" Victor asked.
"Two days, maybe three tops."
"Well I think we need to get these tracking chips removed." Victor said as he looked at Mica with new fears of losing her again.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Collin walked into his office and turned on the stereo to listen to the weather forecast. They were calling for rain and thunderstorms. It was going to be a miserable flight to the Pentagon. Ensuring his paperwork was all in order and that the trial test results were also in order, he checked his watch. It would be another fifteen minutes before his helicopter was due to pick him up. He poured himself a glass bourbon from his small liquor cabinet behind his desk. As he carefully placed the documents in his briefcase he heard a knock at his door. He raised an eyebrow to one of the two guards.
The Lycan Wars- Revised Edition Page 13
