by Sydney Addae
Unable to help it, she laughed. He had the most adorable incredulous expression on his face. “They don’t appreciate you calling their mama a bitch,” she said smugly.
He glanced at her and then back at her stomach. “They do that a lot?” There was a bit of awe in his voice.
“More the past few days than before.”
“You’ve been stressed.” He rubbed her belly and laid his cheek on the mound. “Listen up, I’m your Alpha and you need to take it easy on my bitch.”
Although pleased that he claimed her as his, she still hit him on the top of his head. “Watch it, wolfie.”
His hand snaked up her body and pinched her nipple. “Wolfie? I don’t think so.” He placed another kiss on her stomach and rose on his elbow. “Thank you.” His voice had deepened and his eyes had returned to a calm blue.
Clearing her throat, she met his stare. “For?” A hopeless romantic, she wanted to hear him say it.
“For my pups. Your babies. For going to great lengths to make sure they survive. The Goddess chose well with you and I’m glad she did.”
As declarations of feelings went, that was pretty lame, but she accepted it with a nod.
“Plus, you calmed my wolf. I was in a bad way when I got here this morning. It’s been a few days since I laid between your thighs. Once we hit the compound, my wolf smelled you and took over. I thought I scared you –”
“You did. For a moment I wondered what the hell was I doing beneath a wolf.”
His brow rose. “And then?”
Her lip curled. “Your dick moved. My body explained the rest to my mind in explicit detail.”
He laughed and slid up beside her, spooning her into a more comfortable position. “Rest, sweet Jasmine. Rest.”
“I will as soon as I figure how to get these bitches to shut up.” She looked over her shoulder. “Teach me how to block them out.”
“What? Who?” He leaned up and looked down at her.
“I hear voices, didn’t Rese tell you?”
“Yeah, but I thought it was Arianna. You’re hearing other voices?” He sat up and pulled her with him.
“Last night, this morning. Not while you were inside me though.” She grinned to lighten the mood.
“As much as I’d like to, I can’t be there all the time. What are they –” His cell beeped. “Hold on, it might be the hospital.”
Tired, she snuggled back into the blanket. The muted women’s voices were a constant buzz in her head, sort of comforting in a strange way. She yawned, completely wiped.
“What?” Silas stood, grabbed his pants and pulled them on.
She looked over her shoulder at the pinched look on his face and groaned. Something bad had happened, again. Her heart grieved for him, seemed like he couldn’t get a break.
“Where?” He barked into the receiver while slipping on his shirt. “Damn it, follow them and do not let them take his blood. Say it’s against his religion or something. Do whatever you have to, just stop them from working on him until I can get him transferred to a shifter hospital” he yelled into the phone as he ran out the bedroom door.
“Rone? Rese?” Silas called out.
Jasmine thought about going to find out about the newest crisis, but discovered she was too tired. Instead, she lay listening to the voices talk.
“Sir?” Tyrone asked as he came down the staircase pulling on his jacket. Tyrese followed not far behind.
Silas snapped the phone shut wishing it were Samantha’s neck. “Jacque was picked up on the main road leading to the compound by an ambulance.” He felt the twins’ confusion through their links. He held up a finger as the call he’d just made to the director of the Were hospital answered.
“Beckford?”
“Sir?”
“I need you to set up a patient transfer to LB. I just received word that my assistant Jacque has been taken to Jenks Memorial. I’ve instructed Samantha to tell them she’s his sister and that it’s against their religion for blood to be taken or given. Hopefully that’ll buy us some time. How soon can you go pick him up?”
“I’ll get right on it. Thirty minutes tops without traffic.”
Silas relaxed slightly. “Okay, make it happen sooner if possible. How’s Jayden and Theron?”
“Coming along well. They should be leaving tomorrow, ready to travel the day after. I assume they will be convalescing at your compound.”
“Yes. But why’d you ask?”
“Although their injuries are healing, they are not completely healed and need more down time before flying or running great distances. Sitting in one place for too long might cause complications. Complications I’d rather avoid if possible.”
“Thanks. I’ll take care of it.” Silas’ mind race with various scenarios. He waved to the living room chairs and took a seat with the twins. “I received a call from Samantha. She claims she was on her way to see me when she saw a man wobbling on the highway before he fell. Several cars stopped and by the time her car reached the scene she heard sirens. She only stopped because she saw the tattoo on the man’s arm and knew he was one of mine.”
The skeptical looks on the twins’ faces probably mirrored his the first time he'd heard her accounting of what happened.
“According to her, the ambulance came and took him away. She told them she was his sister and on her way to visit him. She’s following the ambulance to the hospital and called me on the way.”
The three men sat in silence.
“I should go to the hospital see what’s happening,” Tyrese said into the silence. Silas and Tyrone looked at him.
Tyrone laughed. “You’d kill her and not think twice. I should go to keep an eye on Jacque.” Tyrone and Tyrese stood at the same time.
“You just got back in town. I need to stretch my legs a bit,” Tyrese said. He and Tyrone stared at each other a bit before Tyrone nodded slowly.
“Okay.” Tyrone looked at Silas. “You agree somebody needs to go make sure everything’s above board?”
Silas nodded. “I need to set some things up before you get there. I have wolves on staff for this type of emergency. Beckford will contact them to prep Jacque. But I’ll need to set up a side tour. Leave in ten minutes, with the drive time, everything should be in place. Mask your wolf just in case one of the human females is nearby.”
“The last time we met the human female, she knew I was a breed,” Tyrone said, looking at Tyrese. “Maybe you should sit this one out chief, could get sticky.”
“I hide my scents, both of them better than you little chief. Plus, I need to get a better understanding of what we’re dealing with. You have an idea of their scents, I don’t. I’ll walk the courtyard and then leave.”
Silas shook his head. “Open the window. Catch the scent from here. There might be someone watching. No need to chance them recognizing you later.” He stood and wiped his hands. He needed to focus on setting a trap for Arianna and updating his Alphas on the latest happenings. Inhaling, he deciphered every scent in his compound and strengthened the wards. But first, he wanted to deal with Jasmine’s voices.
“Yes, Sir.” Tyrese turned and left them in the room.
Silas smiled at Tyrese’ eagerness to leave his mom’s den. He knew the young wolf needed to get out in the air and there wasn’t much he could’ve done to stop him from going outside. This hospital assignment would suffice, besides he intended to monitor Tyrese at all times.
“I’ve got to account for every wolf who was involved in this fiasco. Their Alphas have to be notified.”
“I thought if a mated wolf died, his mate died as well,” Tyrone said.
“That’s true. But I still give an accounting to the Alpha so that the pair can have a dignified service of honor.” He gazed at Tyrone. “Every wolf who died this weekend, died with honor. They reacted to something beyond their control. We make sure that’s plain. I’m not sure how much I intend to tell regarding the incident, but I am clear that each wolf was honorable.”
; Tyrone nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“You’re going to work in Jacque's office. Let me know when you get to the hall leading into the administration section and I’ll give you a passcode, it’ll lock behind you. Once you go into his office, lock the door and turn on his computer. I’ll get you through his passcodes. Then I want you to pull up all the employees who were still here when Arianna came. There should be a form letter in his files. Create a letter for each person, shouldn’t take long. Then bring them here. I have the lists from Theron and Jayden, but they are coming tomorrow and will determine what happened to their pack members.”
Standing, Tyrone nodded and headed for the door. “You’re staying here? With mom?”
Silas drew his shirt over his head as he stood. “Yes. She’s hearing voices and I need to make sure she doesn’t hurt anybody.”
Tyrone laughed as he left toward the metal gate leading to the other wings.
Chapter Thirteen
Tyrese stepped into the hospital and inhaled. He pushed his glasses up his nose and pulled the top of his baseball cap down as he filtered the scents. There were no wolves in the main waiting room. Opening his senses, he searched for breeds and was surprised by the number in the area. Had Arianna sent a crew of half-breeds instead of full-bloods to spy for her? Locking down his scent, he used a trick his father had taught them as boys and focused on his humanity. He remained still for another second until he sensed his wolf was completely submerged and moved forward.
“Excuse me,” he said to the female on the other side of the Plexiglas.
She glanced at him dismissively and then her head shot up. For a moment she stared without speaking.
“Miss?” He added a dollop of sexy interest into his voice and allowed his lips to curve up a notch.
“Yes.” She shook her head. “I mean, what can I give you?”
He smiled as her hand flew to cover her mouth.
She coughed and sent him a tiny smile. “What do you need? And I’m not going to keep apologizing for putting my foot in my mouth because I can tell you know exactly what I’m trying to say.”
He laughed at her candor. If she were thirty years younger and didn’t have that rock on her hand, he might consider taking her out for coffee and a quick feel. She smiled and leaned forward, her palm cupping the side of her face.
“Ump, ump, ump - they’re making 'em younger and finer these days.” She sighed as though that was a problem. “What you need, son?”
His brow rose. “Son? I don’t think so. Don’t let appearances cloud your keen judgment.” He winked at her. His aunt once told him the best way to get on a woman’s good side was to play down her age. A few seconds later as he walked down the corridor into the emergency room, he made a mental note to thank his aunt.
Inhaling, he followed the potent scent of two full-blooded wolves sitting in a separate waiting room. Heads turned as he strode into the room. Even without the picture Silas had shown him of Samantha, he would’ve picked her out in the crowded room.
The woman was gorgeous.
Moving to the opposite side of the room, he grabbed a seat and pulled out his phone to play a game. Checking his filters, he began blocking out sounds and voices until he zeroed in on Samantha and the woman with her.
“Here she comes,” Samantha said to the female wolf standing next to her.
A moment later the door opened and a short Latina woman with large breasts entered the room. Heat shot through him as he followed the movement of her high, round ass. After a quick glance around the room, she looked at Samantha, and then took a seat in the corner opposite from him.
After rearranging his arousal, and taking a quick glance in her direction, he continued playing his game. Five minutes later, his nostrils twitched. Summoning his strength, he locked down his wolf and focused on all things human. Within moments, the irritating smell dissipated and he continued playing the game on his phone.
Another female entered the space. He glanced at her as she turned to the short Latina. After a moment or so, the newcomer walked over to Samantha.
“What’s his status?”
“My brother is going to be transferred soon.” Her voice was full of derision. “Whatever you plan to do, you better do it soon.”
“So he’s not coming? I thought you said this man was his top guy.” The newcomer didn’t sound happy.
“He is. I got the impression he's going to be waiting for him at the other hospital.”
There was silence.
He continued playing his game as a wave of heat ran through the room.
“Mom, it’s getting hot in here,” a small kid whined. Tyrese was happy to hear the humans were affected as well as him. He looked over at the kid and smiled. The only clothing he wore was a short-sleeved shirt, and cargo shorts. The heat had him wishing he could take those off.
“She smells funny, Mom,” another kid said, pointing to the newcomer.
“Hush,” her mom said, pulling the child away and sitting as far away as possible.
Tyrese, along with everyone else in the room, looked at the female the child had pointed to. She appeared to be in her early thirties, dirty blond hair, mud brown eyes, slim but not skinny, attractive but not super pretty. She returned everyone’s look, including his, before turning back to Samantha.
Tyrese glanced at his watch, and then looked at the door, waiting for someone to come in with news regarding his fake relative. To give credence to the story, he stared off into space as though wondering what was happening. The weight of the pistol and knife in the pockets of his shorts were constant reminders of the importance of following the script Silas laid out.
His cell beeped.
“Yeah?” he answered, knowing his conversation was being overheard.
“How’s she doing?” Tyrone asked.
“I don’t know, I’m waiting for the doctor to come out. Nobody’s been in here yet.” Tyrese continued playing the role. He and Tyrone had been doing this for years when they went human-deep and couldn’t talk mind to mind. The tone of Tyrone’s conversation let him know things were okay at home.
“Well you haven’t been there long. Give it a few.” That was code for someone’s going to come get you so you can leave.
“Most definitely. I need to know her condition, hopefully it’s not serious. Tell everyone when I leave here I’m gonna swing by the mall and pick up my suit. The alterations are done. Then I’ll head home.”
“Will do. Let me know when you hear something.” Tyrone hung up.
Conversation resumed between Samantha and the human female. “Go check and make sure everything’s okay.” A few moments later Samantha and her sidekick left the waiting room. The short Latina moved to seat near a window.
Ten minutes after Tyrone’s call, a nurse walked in. “Charlene Gribbs, anyone here for Charlene Gribbs?” Tyrese choked back a smile at the code name he hadn’t heard in years as he stood. “Me. Is she alright?” He pocketed his cell and walked toward the nurse.
“Excuse me?” The older human female who’d sent Samantha out the room, touched his arm. Other than causing the hair to rise on his arm, he felt nothing.
He stopped and looked at her. “Ma’am?”
She stared at him a few moments longer with a confused look and then released his arm. “Nothing, I thought you were someone else. Pardon me.”
He took his time giving her a long once over as though he was considering her charms, and then nodded. “Lucky guy.” He smiled and walked to the nurse. “How is she?”
“She should be okay, minor bruises, but otherwise she’s fine.” They continued walking down the hall talking. He passed Samantha and she gave him a flirtatious look. Her companion obviously didn’t appreciate the gesture and grabbed Samantha’s arm, pulling her away.
There’s something going on there.
The nurse took him through multiple corridors and doorways until she stopped in front of a room and pointed. He entered a darkened room where someone with gau
ze wrapped around their head lay unmoving on a bed. She appeared to be asleep. He stood next to the bed and brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand. Next, he pulled up a chair beside the bed. Inhaling, he hid a smile. The person on the bed was heavily drugged and wouldn’t be waking any time soon. That’d give him enough time to observe Jacque's departure. After ten minutes, Silas’ definition of a respectable amount of time, he walked to the nurses’ station.
One nurse separated from the others and met him halfway. “Through here.” They went down a long corridor and through some smaller rooms in silence. At the end of another hall there was a door with no visible lock, only a push down handle. She pointed toward the room, turned and left.
Tyrese glanced over his shoulder at her hasty retreat before opening the door. He stepped into a room full of security monitors. There was a window in the rear wall. He moved to the window and looked down just in time to see Jacque being moved into a large SUV. One of Jayden’s betas oversaw the transfer while Samantha waited out front for more information.
He contacted Silas and Tyrone. Within minutes he'd brought them up to date with what he’d seen and overheard. Silas and Tyrone were interested with his interaction with the human. They all agreed she was a breeder like Arianna.
“Would you like me to take care of her?” Tyrese asked, watching the SUV leave the facility.
“No. Not yet. That’s two human breeders in the space of three days. Not a coincidence. Plus, they’re trying to get your mom to come meet them for some reason.”
“She told me,” Tyrone said.
“She thinks it’s funny that they feel she should have some sort of bond with them.” Tyrese took a seat at the bank of monitors, studying them to get a feel for the layout of the hospital. One of the cameras showed the Latina and human breeder talking. He zeroed in on the shorter female now that he was no longer in the room. Oval face, perky nose, strong chin, full lips, gorgeous skin and compelling eyes. His cock twitched as he watched her lips move. When the older woman wasn’t looking, she rolled her eyes and glanced away.
