Apex

by B. A. Stretke

  …

  Calum was pacing the floor and watching the clock. He would pick Chance up at seven, and he planned to tell him everything. Last night was everything he hoped it would be, Chance pliant in his arms, begging for more. He needed to move this relationship along before his dragon did it for him. He would only be denied so long and last night was a close call. He needed Chance here by his side, building their new lives together. He went over to the large leather sofa and sat down, but still kept an eye on the clock.

  He knew Chance was ready, he saw it in his eyes last night. He looked at Calum and saw beyond the muscles and tattoos, he saw the man and the power beneath, and he did not falter. He would tell him who he was and show him if need be. Chance was not afraid, not anymore anyway. His touch and the longing in his eyes told Calum that he was ready.

  Sleeping not more than a few feet away from him last night had been pure torture. He feared his dragon might take matters into his own hands, so Calum had snuck out and under the darkness of the night and shifted and flew into the mountains. It gave his dragon a release which calmed him for a while. When he returned to the house, all he could feel was the presence of his mate, the aroma saturated the air. He could not endure too many nights like that, so he was going to set his cards on the table and claim Chance as soon as possible. He was pulled from his thoughts when Alrick entered the room and sat down beside him.

  "We have more information on the wolves." He began. "Their makeshift Alpha, Conrad Lee was kicked out of his pack in Colorado for being insubordinate. Apparently, he has a real problem with any authority that is not him. After several bouts of corrective action, Conrad still refused to follow orders. His Alpha recognized a growing threat to his rule and didn't want to deal with it so had him banished. The guy has a huge chip on his shoulder, and from what I hear, he's here in Laramie attempting to build his own pack. The only problem is the guy has shit leadership skills, and the people he is attracting are all like himself." Alrick took a deep breath and continued.

  “What I’m going to tell you now is probably going to enrage your dragon, so be prepared.” Calum centered his dragon and clamped down his power and waited for Alrick to continue.

  "Donell went out last night, back over to Night Whispers. He found a willing body over there the other night and planned on hooking up again. The wolves hang out there, and as you know, Chance's cousin Blake works there." Calum nodded and urged Alrick to get to the point.

  "Donell overheard two of the wolves discussing Chance with Blake. Apparently, the wolves paid Blake to keep an eye on Chance and to deliver him to Conrad when the Alpha called for him. You see, they think Chance is a human omega and Conrad plans to mate and breed him." Alrick stood and stepped back from his Chieftain knowing that the information would enflame.

  Calum jumped to his feet, flames and smoke curling out of his nose and mouth while his shift was barely being held in check. His black hair shot through with iridescent scales, and his features began to elongate. He needed to have Chance with him, now. The threat to his mate was intolerable.

  "They were demanding that Blake bring Chance to them, but he didn't know where he was. They theorized about the tall biker who reeked of shifter, but no one seemed to know who the guy was." Alrick placed his hand on Calum's shoulder calming him and helping him to center his dragon. Calum took a deep, steadying breath.

  "Let's go get Chance and bring him here. Then we visit the wolves." Calum would eliminate any and all threats.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Dane was not listening, and Chance was not going to walk away from the best thing to enter his life, ever. "You don't know him, Chance." Dane was stuck on that one sentence, and Chance could not get him to budge.

  "I do know him. Come with me tonight, and I will introduce you to them all. They are kind and well spoken, they are not what you think.

  “You thought Blake was a good guy too, remember?”

  “I never thought he was a good guy, I just never thought he was as bad as he turned out to be. That is not the same thing.” Chance was losing his patience.

  “It wasn’t long ago that you were hiding for your life behind my refrigerator. You thought he would rip your head off.” He took Chance by the shoulders and shook his lightly. “You can’t trust him, Chance.”

  Chance jerked away from his friend, but before he could respond, Blake and Zack came into the back room of the café. "You're not allowed back here," Dane said, but it made no difference to the two men. They entered and closed the door after them.

  “So, you’ve been hiding with your friend here.” Blake turned his attention to Dane. “You know, Dane, you’ve turned into just as big of a pain in my ass as my loser cousin here.” Blake then looked over at his friend.

  “What do you say we take them both? Dane’s not bad in the looks department, I’m sure we could make a few dollars off him.”

  Zack walked up to Dane and grabbed him by the crotch. Dane recoiled, and Chance tried to push Zach away.

  "Keep your fucking hands off me," Dane said as he balled his hands into tight fists.

  “Yeah, we’ll take them both. I want a piece of that tight, little ass.” Zack shot back. “Conrad can have Chance, but I get first fuck with little Dane here. When I’m through, you can sell him off, if there’s anything left to sell.”

  The sickening look on Zack's face turned Chance's stomach, and it was then that he knew they were both in for a world of trouble. He tried to reach for his phone, but Blake snatched it before he was able to raise and alert.

  “Who you going to call, Chance? You calling your boyfriend, who saved you the last time?” Blake laughed and grabbed Chance by the neck and hauled up close. “No one is going to save you this time, loser.” He pushed Chance towards the back door as Zack reached for Dane.

  Dane punched Zack in the face but it did nothing but raise is anger. He backhanded Dane who flew across the room and slumped to the floor unconscious. Zack walked over and picked him up and tossed him over his shoulder. “I prefer my men unconscious.” He joked and pushed at Blake to get going. The left through the back door that opened onto the alley. They’d parked their truck nearby.

  …

  Calum entered the salon and was told that Chance had taken his lunch break a half an hour ago. "They don't know where he went for lunch but said he would be back by two thirty." Calum looked up and down the street but knew that Chance had brought his lunch with him so he wouldn't have gone to a restaurant. Then it hit him, the scent of fear, dread, and panic. Chance was in danger.

  "Come," he yelled to Alrick and they raced down the street to the café where he'd first met his mate. They tore through the place and out the back door. The air was thick with the panic and terror of his mate. Calum was unable to hold back his emerging dragon and began to shift in the alley behind the café.

  Alrick grabbed him roughly and shoved him into a group of mid-sized pines along the far side of the alley. It wasn’t much cover but it was all he had. It was early afternoon and people were out and about. This was not the place to shift and take to the skies.

  “Calum, you can’t shift here. We have to follow and we will find hm, control your dragon.” Alrick held Calum in his arms as he struggled to overcome the power that threatened to burst forth. It was only a few moments before he settled and Alrick released him.

  “I know where they are.” Calum strode out of the alley and headed for his bike. “I felt Chance calling out to me.”

  “We’ll get to him, Calum. They will pay.”

  “They will pay.”

  …

  Chance sat in one of the back room of the bar called Night Whispers. He'd never visited this bar before, even though his cousin worked here. It had an ambiance that just felt creepy. He wasn't wrong, once inside, the creep value was suffocating. They were tied together on the floor like two bundles awaiting delivery. Blake and Zack had roughed them up pretty good before leaving the room. Dane got the brunt of it all. They were a little easier on
Chance.

  “You okay, Dane?” Chance whispered. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”

  “I’m okay.” Chance could tell by his breathing that Dane wasn’t as okay as he claimed. “This wasn’t your fault.”

  “Calum will save us.” Chance wasn’t sure how he knew that to be true, but he did.

  “I hope so, but I kind of doubt it.” Dane started to cough and it sounded painful.

  “Don’t talk Dane. Just try to hold on. He will be here, I promise.” Chance turned his hand a bit and was able to wrap his fingers around a couple of Dane’s.

  Chance could hear men talking outside the door. It was Blake and Zack and another man. He had a coarse tone that grated along Chance’s spine. The three of them came into the room Blake walked over and took Chance by the hair and twisted his face up towards the man with the grating voice.

  “Here he is Conrad, no worse for the wear. Ready for whatever you have in mind.” Blake suddenly sounded like a used car salesman hawking his wares. The man crouched down next to where Chance lay on the floor and took his chin between his thumb and forefinger. Calum had held him like that and it had been lovely and gentle, this man seemed intent on leaving a bruise.

  "He'll do. I plan to build my legacy and only an Omega can provide me strong, healthy pups. Human omegas are so fragile, I hope he survives his pregnancy so he can go through a second.” He released Chance and stood.

  "A wolf litter will probably tear him apart," Zack interjected. He sounded excited by the idea.

  “No matter, as long as the pups survive.” The man moved towards the door. “Bring them, I want this one pregnant by morning. You can do whatever you wish with the other.” He handed Blake a wad of cash.

  Before they made it to the door, there came a crash from the outer room that captured their attention. Conrad moved back to Chance and reached down to grab him by the upper arm and bring him to his feet. He cut the ropes that bound him to Dane before dragging him to the door. “I’ll take this one with me. Go see what’s happening out there and report back to me later at the house.” He gave the order to Zack, who seemed less than thrilled at having to leave his new toy.

  Zack pulled Dane to his feet and kissed him hard and painful, leaving a trail of blood that ran down Dane’s chin. Zack laughed at the horror and pain clear in Dane’s eyes. “Oh, that’s just the beginning, baby. I will have you screaming and begging for your life before the night is over.” He laughed again and tossed Dane over to Blake. “Hold him until I check out the other room.”

  As Zack was opening the door, it suddenly burst inward sending him sprawling backward onto the ground. Blake dropped Dane and tried to escape but was hauled back into the room by a rough hand encircling his throat. Zack remained on the floor moving backward away from the two men.

  Calum and Alrick entered the bar and were immediately embroiled in a battle. The ruffians and thugs that filled out the numbers of Conrad's pack thought they were attacking a couple of average paranormals. It wasn't until the smoke and flames began to fill the room and the body count began to rise that they realized their mistake and those who could vacate did so.

  Calum could feel his mate and quickly moved to the back of the bar down a short hallway to a door. His mate was somewhere close and his dragon wanted out. If he didn’t find Chance in the next few minutes, he would release his dragon. He did not hesitate to go through the door with Alrick close behind. The wolf went down easy as did Blake, both were spineless. He noticed Dane on the floor tied up, as did Alrick, who hesitated for a moment before hurrying to his side.

  “That twink is mine!” Zack yelled and made a move towards Dane. Alrick grabbed him by the throat and, in a bloody fashion, ended him. Luckily Dane was unconscious or the sight of Alrick’s half shift and the wolf parts spread around the room would have traumatized the man. Alrick never did anything half way, and he seemed particularly enraged at the moment.

  Calum concentrated on Blake who he was holding half off the ground by his throat. "Where is Chance?" He would get one opportunity, to tell the truth, and only one. Blake spit and gagged a bit and then answered.

  “Conrad took him.”

  “Where?”

  "They left through the back door. He's taking Chance to the Pack House, it's an old warehouse near the abandoned rail yard. It's the only warehouse still standing." Calum brought Blake's face close to his and let him see the dragon beneath. "Bother him again and I will kill you. Do you understand? Do you want to look like your friend Zack here?" Blake nodded rapidly in terror. Calum tossed Blake to the far side of the room and walked over to where Alrick held an unconscious Dane in his arms.

  The moment he looked into Alrick’s eyes he knew the situation for what it was and was filled with the satisfaction of their quest, even under these dire conditions. “Is he yours?” He asked and Alrick nodded. “Stay with him, I can handle the warehouse.” He looked around the room and then back at Alrick. “Clean up before you leave.” He then strode out of the room and out of the bar.

  …

  Chance was scared out of his mind. The thought of having sex with Conrad Lee was making his stomach wretch. The guy was dirty and smelly and looked like hell. Zack had commented that he preferred his men unconscious and Chance could only hope that Conrad felt the same. Unconscious was the only way he would allow such a filthy man near him. Conrad had made reference to wolves and pups and Chance had no idea what he was on about and frankly he was afraid to analyze it too closely.

  His mind drifted to Dane and he prayed that whatever was causing the commotion in the bar had played in Dane’s favor. If anything happened to Dane, he would never forgive himself. The car he was in suddenly stopped and a door opened just before someone reached into the backseat and pulled him out.

  "Get on your feet," Conrad yelled and jerked him forward towards a rundown warehouse. There were several cars parked out front along with a couple of cycles. This must be their hideout, he thought and took a quick look around when Conrad opened the metal door and tossed him inside.

  There were a few men standing around but no one seemed surprised to see him or interested in helping him. They turned away when Conrad grabbed him by the back of his shirt and started hauling him through the large open room. He saw the makeshift beds on the far side of the room and his panic intensified. “Oh fuck, this shit is getting real.” He didn’t realize he’d voiced his fear until Conrad answered.

  "I'll show you real, bitch. Real hot and real hard." He pushed Chance onto one of the mattresses on the floor and fell on top of him. Chance squirmed to try and get away, but with his hands tied he was near helpless and the feeling was devastating. Where was Calum? Where was his champion? He felt Conrad's hands on him and without thought started yelling. "Calum!" His voice croaked when Conrad backhanded him but he didn't stop calling for the one person who he knew could save him. "Calum, help me!"

  "No one can hear you." Conrad taunted. His eyes turned a piss yellow and his teeth dropped down revealing sharp fangs much like a dog. Chance didn't know what he was looking at, but Conrad's appearance was shifting from that of a scumbag to a wild animal.

  Chance closed his eyes tight as the inevitable seemed to be about to happen. A crash sounded, and then the weight of Conrad was gone. Chance opened his eyes to see Conrad, who looked like a Lon Chaney wannabe, half man half wolf, fly across the room. The most marvelous of sights was the massive winged beast that stood breathing fire and roaring to the heavens.

  There was a huge hole in the roof of the warehouse where the creature had gained entrance, it was unbelievable. Chance stared in awe at the magnificence of what stood before him and, although still bound, he managed to get to his feet and move away from the fray. He watched as the dragon, yes it was a dragon, made war on the warehouse and the wolves defending it.

  The other men in the room who were there simply to watch Conrad demoralize and assault him, where now shifting into desperate creatures and trying to get away from Chance’s champion. He pres
sed himself against the wall and waited. The beast was clearing the area and soon there was nothing left except Chance, the dragon, and the smoldering remains of those who didn’t run fast enough.

  The most satisfying moment of the event was witnessing the panic and fear fill Conrad’s expression as he tried to run away. The bastard had hurt so many people and had been suspected in the deaths of others, yet nothing was ever done about it, until now. Conrad Lee would never hurt anyone again.

  The dragon, huge but not lumbering, moved swift and sure to a position in front of Chance. He didn’t get too close. He slowly lowered his large head covered in shiny iridescent black scales towards Chance. His eye bore down with a question hanging between them.

  Chance didn’t look away; the eyes were so green with a light that made them look they were ablaze. He knew those eyes, he’d looked into them with every kiss and stared into them when he was brought to a fantastic climax. This day made no sense and bent his very concept of reality, but he knew who this was, he knew.

  "Calum." He said the name and the dragon began to shift. Slowly the massive beast, that had filled the very room and shook the ground with his presence became the man who had filled all his dreams and desires. Calum, naked and sweaty, stood before him with a look of need and want that had Chance pushing away from the wall and running towards him. He needed Calum's strong arms around him.

  Calum broke the bindings that were holding Chance’s hands behind his back, scooped him up into his arms and planted a flurry of kisses that left them both breathless. He didn’t know how Chance would take the truth of who he was, but their bond had shown him the dragon’s true nature and there was no fear in Chance’s eyes, only love. Yeah, it looked like love had taken root in those baby blues, and that love belonged to Calum.

  "This isn't how I wanted you to find out," Calum spoke softly as he continued to kiss the side of Chance's beautiful face. He carried him out of the building where Bryn was standing and waiting with a large SUV. He opened the door for them and they slipped into the backseat. Calum never released him. Bryn drove them back to their home.