NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team

by Chelsea Handcock

  “Aw, man, it’s not like it’s the first time that’s happened, you’re just usually inside the room waiting to make your escape,” Bas said, playfully nudging Ethan’s shoulder.

  “Yeah, might be right,” Ethan quipped back.

  Their playful nature was a ruse, and Jacks knew it. The tension in the room was thick.

  “Cash, get Wyatt on the phone, he’s expecting the call. We have a half hour before this line is no longer secure, so I want this finished as soon as possible.

  “Roger, Alpha.”

  Looking to Senior, he asked the question; he genuinely didn’t want to, but due to his rank, Jacks needed to defer to him.

  “How do you want to handle this?

  “Your team, your lead Jacks.”

  “Got him, Alpha.” Cash didn’t like the position Jacks was being placed in. He needed to remind their former CO that Jacks was their go to person. Calling him Alpha when Senior was within hearing distance, showed that.

  “Okay, everybody, listen up. This sit-rep is going to be quick. I’ll answer your questions, but right now you need to just listen. Rye and I, and Dalton and Emma aren’t the only mated pairs. It seems coming into contact with the Holly Group has created a domino effect. Two other Alphas have already mated and several of their men have also found their fated mates.” Jacks held up his hand when he noticed the guys starting to speak. He needed them to listen.

  “Franklin’s original six seem to all be Alpha mates and the other women, were other experiments he did without Pandora’s knowledge. They have that information now and are trying to track the children down. We need to stop that from happening. Franklin’s last group of children are coming into puberty. They’re the ones who Pandora is unquestionably interested in. Like Cassie Larson, they all hold only one strand of Shifter DNA.

  “That’s not all. We have leaks all throughout NAC. All Teams have been infected. Senior dispatched Matthias to ferret out the traitors. Everyone in this room, including Wyatt, have been cleared. He did the same with The Holly Group’s original six. He’s making his way through the other teams. A few have been discovered. Michael from Bravo. James and Noah from Charlie. All of them were working for the Association, same as Eli. They have been dealt with accordingly.

  “Abernathy is gone, but his reach isn’t. Charlie Team tore apart Harlan Jones’s house and they turned up information that leads us to believe the fucker was working with someone. The problem is he was such a pompous ass, it’s going to be hard to find out who that person or persons happen to be. He had too much information about Franklin’s children and Shifters to have only gotten it from his parents. When Senior got Ryleigh out, all the data was destroyed. There’s no way a teenager could’ve remembered so much, even if he was in the loop at that time.

  “That leads us to Kenna. She’s showing signs of being a Shifter way earlier than anyone could’ve predicted. Mia said that when the first bomb went off, Emma had a hard time holding on to her. We have all sensed her animal; I wouldn’t be surprised if she shifted for the first time soon, which should be impossible.”

  “It’s imperative that an Alpha is around the baby at all times,” Declan spoke up, “so that if need be, he can force the change.”

  “No fucking way are you going to hurt my little girl like that, Jacks. I’m a fucking grown man, and I can tell you the pain a forced change causes would damage Kenna. I won’t let that happen. No way in hell.” Dalton growled.

  “Shit, Dalton, do you really think either of us wants to do that to Kenna? Use your fucking head. Our first shifts never go as planned and there’s a possibility of the animal taking completely over without guidance. It’s hard enough to talk a teenager through the process, how the hell are we supposed to help an infant or toddler through it?” Jack stated.

  “Goddamn it.” Dalton grunted.

  “Listen, this is only one possibility. Right now, we’re all guessing. We need more information. We need to know what these women and Kenna were enhanced with if anything at all. Delta is working on trying to find the information. Zulu is trying to track down any and all women associated with Franklin. We don’t have all the answers, yet. Jacks stated.

  “As of right now, Alpha is on a soft lock down. Your mission is to keep the women and Kenna safe. I’ll keep you all in the loop as will the other Alpha’s, but until further noticed you’re needed right where you are. Once Wyatt completes his mission, he needs to return along with Miss Jones. She knows too much to be left out in the wind. Declan declared.

  “Times running out we need to wrap this up.” Cash said.

  “Yeah, okay. Pandora has developed a tranquilizer that will freeze our animals. If you get shot with one, it takes hours for it to run out of our systems. Echo and Bravo got hit with these on their mission. We have people working on a countermeasure, but so far, we have nothing. We also know the fuckers are desperate for a new supply of specimens, specifically sperm. All teams and clansmen have been advised to stay away from clinics or doctors’ offices for the time being. We don’t think Pandora would be stupid enough to try old tactics, but hey it worked before.” Jacks said.

  “Son of a bitch! Do we even know how the fuckers knew or have known about us? Where did they get their information? How are we just hearing about all of this know and why were we kept in the dark in the first place?” Wyatt asked.

  “We have theories, but no concrete answers. We’re hoping Delta will be able to get more information. They’re systematically hitting known Pandora facilities, but he fuckers are wily. They close one and open up two more. Once Bravo clears their cases, which should be soon, they’ll join Charlie. Jacks stated.

  “All I can say is watch your asses, boys, things are about to get bumpy and the ride will not be worth it.” Declan declared.

  The End.

  Don’t worry NAC & The Holly Group will continue with Wyatt & Peyton’s story next. Turn the page for a sneak peek.

  Wyatt

  Alpha Team

  NAC & The Holly Group

  Author: Chelsea Handcock

  www.chelseahandcock.com

  Copyright © 2017, Chelsea Handcock

  First electronic publication: February 2017

  All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted works is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author’s permission.

  Note from the Author:

  This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to person, living or dead, actual events, locale, or organizations is entirely coincidental. The author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third party websites or their content.

  Published in the United States of America.

  Chapter 1

  Peyton Carlton was a simple woman. All she needed was the safety and security of her mountain, her job—which felt more like playtime than work, and her puppies—her pride and joy. At least, that’s what she was trying to convince herself, but it wasn’t the complete truth. She also wanted a real family and some connection to another human being. She was lonely, but she knew better; people hurt you whether they tried to or not. Animals were much simpler because they loved unconditionally and only acted out when cornered or harmed. Peyton could relate to that.

  Peyton often wondered what her life would be like if she decided to join the living instead of living in her self-imposed exile. She knew with her mother, Judy, still out there, she really didn’t have a choice, but she could dream. The woman would destroy anything good that happened in Peyton’s life unless it benefited her in some way. It was a chance Peyton wasn’t willing to take. It had
happened many times before, and Peyton wasn’t going to put anyone else on the evil woman’s radar. She had to remember all the lives which had been destroyed because of her mother and needed to stay one step ahead. Peyton couldn’t do that if she had to worry about other people and what her mother would do to exploit them.

  For as long as she could recall, Judy wrecked anything decent that might come into Peyton’s life. When she was around five or so, she remembered having an innocent friendship with a little girl when Peyton was allowed to attend school on a regular basis for the first time. In fact, there weren’t many after that until the state took her. The little girl lived on the same street, and Peyton had been thrilled to have a friend. They did the usual stuff; sleepovers, brownies, playing on the playground at school. Gemma was the little girl's name, Peyton recalled. Damn, it had been years since she thought of her. Gemma had given her a Barbie, the first and only one Peyton ever had. In fact, it was the only gift she had ever received. Peyton loved spending time with Gemma and her family. It was so different from her life; they were warm and loving people who really seemed to enjoy playing and spending time with their child. Peyton would dream her life could be the same.

  Once Peyton had asked her mother why they didn't have a family like her friend Gemma—one which had both a mother and father, ate their meals together at the kitchen table, played games, and who laughed and hugged each other—all the things Peyton innocently craved in her own life.

  “Oh, Peyton, you’re such a stupid little girl,” her mother sneered. “Those people actually wanted their little girl. You, my child, are and will always be baggage. Don’t you ever forget it.”

  Peyton was too young to understand what her mother was talking about, but the words still stung. Peyton had never gotten the hugs, kisses, and loving encouragement of a simple “I love you” other children received. Shoot, if she scraped her knee, there was no care, sympathy, or soothing words of any kind. She couldn’t even cry because there were unpleasant consequences for that. So, she held back the tears and pain. If she was lucky, she would find a band-aid to cover the mess, nothing more.

  Gemma started to pull away from her shortly after that, and Peyton had no idea why. Still young and idealistic, she tried to fix it by offering to give the Barbie back, but Gemma threw her precious Barbie to the ground and yelled, “What are you doing? I don’t want your cooties!” then ran away. Peyton didn’t understand why her friend had turned mean and spiteful. She wanted to fix it, but her five-year-old brain had no idea how. They no longer played together on the playground, and Gemma would go out of her way to talk about her with her new friends, friends who didn’t like Peyton. One day, Peyton couldn’t help it, she so desperately wanted that friendship.

  “Why don't you want to be my friend anymore?” she asked Gemma, crying.

  “My mom told me you're dirty, just like your mommy, and we don’t want anything as dirty as you in our house, no matter what my Daddy thinks.”

  Peyton didn’t understand; she wasn't dirty. Shortly after that, Peyton and her mother moved once again. Judy had no problem telling her five-year-old self exactly what had happened.

  “I don’t know, Peyton, you might have a use yet. That man, the daddy you liked so much, was such an easy mark,” she laughed that ugly laugh she used when remembering something. “Remember this and remember it well, little girl, men want one thing, and if you give it to them, they can give you the world.” At the time, Peyton thought that meant money because her mother was fanning herself with a stack of bills, and Peyton knew, even at that young age, what drove her mother. Judy was never satisfied and always strived for more.

  That same scenario played out a few more times while she was growing up, always ending the same way. Peyton finally gave up trying to make friends, it would only put them in her mother’s path. Her mother stopped trying to hide her ‘Johns’ or ‘marks’ from Peyton. As she got older, the realization set in that her mother was nothing but a con artist. If that wasn't bad enough, finding out the woman would use anything—her body, the mailman, or even her child—to get what she wanted was a devastating blow. But nothing hurt worse than knowing you weren’t and never would be loved by the person who brought you into this world, and there was no hope things would change. Peyton could never escape her situation.

  Looking back, there were obvious signs of abuse, but Judy could con anyone into believing anything she had to say. They never stayed in any one place long enough for there to be a second occurrence to send up a red flag. Once in third grade, the school nurse questioned Peyton about the bruises. Judy was called in, and the show began. With manufactured concern and a sickeningly sweet theatrical tone to her voice, Judy began, “I’m so sorry, my girl is so clumsy, she can’t even walk in a straight line,” laughing about the bruises decorating her child's body. Another time, the police were called to whatever hovel they had lived in at the time because of loud partying. Judy was celebrating her latest cash windfall from her most recent unfortunate mark. When the officers showed up, without missing a beat, Judy began, “Oh, officers, I’m so very sorry! I just got home to find that my daughter had invited all these people over without my permission. Thank the lord you showed up when you did. Can you please help me get them out?” she said, batting her fake eyelashes. Then there were the numerous men—fat, skinny, ugly, or handsome—Judy Carlson had the ability to wrap any man around her stick thin legs. It disgusted Peyton.

  It was safer to stay removed and alone. Peyton often wondered why she couldn’t pull the trigger and rid herself of her mother, permanently. She had the skills and could definitely get the ammunition, but for some reason, she couldn’t follow through and pull the damn trigger. Maybe she was still that little girl, craving the family connection she had witnessed through her brief friendships and their family members, like Gemma and her parents. She was grateful for the short amount of time she had been able to experience it even if it had only been residually through her friends. That is until Judy came in and destroyed it. Maybe she was as stupid as Judy often told her she was. It was hard to shake the negative feelings from her childhood even now that she was an adult, having little to no contact with her mother.

  Caught up in her thoughts, she thought of her stepbrother, Sebastian. He had referred to her as a recluse, but she really wasn’t. She liked people, loved interacting with the teams who came to her training center and often wished her life could be different. But she wasn't willing to take a chance until Judy either disappeared permanently or died. The thought didn’t hurt her like she thought it should. The woman was her mother or at least the only person she had for that role. Judy Carlson was mean to the very marrow of her bones. So, Peyton was stuck doing what she always did, watching from the shadows, dreaming things could be different, and hoping for a time they would.

  Sipping her coffee, she looked out from her perch on the old porch. It needed paint and stain, and she vowed to get to it someday, but that day was not today. Too much weighed on her mind. She hated when the seasons changed—summer turning to fall, then ultimately to winter. It brought to the surface the many memories of being cold and alone. She always broke out in a cold sweat when the leaves started to fall.

  The colder months had scared her as a child and continued to affect her as an adult. She didn’t want to get sucked into the memories of her childhood, but that had already happened with her memories of Gemma. Watching the leaves fall pulled her in deeper to the worst memories—the cold nights, hiding under a random bed if she could find one or hiding in the dark outside from the predators her mother often welcomed into their lives.

  One memory was trying to break through. Forcing herself to look at the clear blue sky, she attempted to divert her attention. However, that didn’t stop the sounds or the memories which came with them. She could still hear how the bare tree branches scraped against windows in that creep’s house, creating shadows which reminded her of skeletal arms and fingers. She could still feel the fear of having no place to hide or
anyone to save her. She could hear the creak of the door opening and know something bad was going to happen.

  No, she thought, I’m not doing this. Fall and winter are just seasons, like spring and summer. I’m safe here. Peyton had made sure of that. No one, not even her mother, can take that away. Her dogs would protect her, like the other ones did back then. Peyton could also protect herself. She wasn’t a scrawny thirteen-year-old any longer. She was a strong, independent woman, and no man would ever make her that vulnerable again. It was better to think of happier, safer times, like meeting her brother.

  Sebastian came into her life during a time she really needed him. They didn’t click instantly, but over time, they offered each other something both were lacking in their lives—stability, connection, and loyalty. Peyton learned Sebastian, or Bastian as she called him, would always have her back. She’d been a petulant child with major trust issues. Her mother moved them around so much, Peyton was often surprised the woman hadn’t left her behind at some point. She always let her know she was baggage and worth nothing. It happened so often, Peyton frequently hoped one of the times she would forget about her and move on. Peyton would be surprised if the woman she called Mother ever had a kind word to say to anyone she wasn’t trying to con. Her words and actions were especially toxic toward Peyton. The woman loathed her as much as Peyton loathed her in return.

  Bastian almost immediately started taking care of her. Peyton often thought she provided something for him as well, but could never really figure out what that was. He probably needed someone as much as she had at the time. His brothers had been sent away to live with their mother, but Bastian wasn’t allowed to go with them, his dad wouldn’t allow it.

  When Peyton had finally gotten up the nerve to ask him why his brothers were able to go, but not him, all he said was he was the bad seed of the family. Neither of their parents were good people in any sense of the word. Thankfully, at the time, the two were only concerned with each other. Despite the fact they only stayed together in the same house for a little over six months, Bastian had proved himself a loyal friend and protector, and Peyton cherished him. He would get in the way of Judy’s toxic presence when she went off on one of her terrors; he also kept Peyton off his father’s radar. Bastian’s dad emitted evil and cruel vibes which rivaled her mother’s.