NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team

by Chelsea Handcock

  Wyatt’s only reply was a quick “Roger that.” He then pressed a series of buttons on his handheld and waited for the meeting to start.

  “Okay, everybody, listen up. This sitrep is going to be quick and to the point,” Jacks addressed the group.

  Wyatt could tell by his tone Jacks was pissed, but mostly stressed. He wasn’t looking forward to what he was about to hear.

  “I’ll answer all your questions, but right now, you need to listen. Wyatt can only secure his line for thirty minutes. First and foremost, I want you to know that 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 as a result of tracking down Franklin's children.”

  Wyatt could hear movement, but without a visual, he could only assume Jacks was trying to calm the rest of his team. Shit, he was pacing himself. This was big, bigger than Wyatt thought.

  “Franklin’s original six all seem to be Alpha mates,” Jacks revealed. “We don’t know all the details yet, but several Alphas have already met their mates or experienced the mating draw when coming in contact with one of The Holly Group women. You need to be aware if you come into contact with your mate and you choose to ignore the draw, going rogue won’t be the worst of your worries. We have reports coming in that the guys who ignored the draw experienced extreme psychosis. Other physical problems can be side effects, one of them being uncontrolled shifts. Zulu lost Zoran to this.

  “I want you guys to be aware and open-minded. I realize our very beliefs are being shaken, but if you even think you’re experiencing the mating draw, you need to explore it. Zoran told his teammates what he was feeling. I realize this is pretty crappy information, but I’ll forward you all the symptoms. We also have no idea if it will affect everyone in the same manner.

  “Senior contacted the Elders and has them combing through any history we have of this condition. All I can tell you is if you start to feel unnaturally attracted to a woman or feel an undeniable urge to protect and possess, we need to look into that further. Keep in mind, fuckers, I’m not giving you the green light to drop trou and fuck anything and everything which catches your attention. These urges will be unlike anything you’ve felt before. I realize that’s not much to go on, but we really don’t have anything else.

  “I can only tell you my experience, and Dalton has agreed to do the same. Since these situations are personal and private in nature, I only ask you think first before you ask. No way in hell either one of us is going to disrespect our mates for your benefit if you get what I’m saying. But as I said, we both will be available to any of you for questions.

  “The other thing is, so far, the other women who were part of Pandora and Dr. Franklin's experiments who have already been located are also testing positive for having Shifter genes. It’s possible all of them could be true mates. We have had one confirmed match. You all already know some of this. We have a list of names Ryleigh was able to procure with birth dates and conception dates. We also have locations of the inseminations. What we don’t know is if the children were kept in the same area. We also know we aren’t the only ones who have this information.

  “Other teams are actively trying to track the children down. Now, before any of you ask, we’re not going to be having any fucking meet-and-greets or social gatherings of any sort. These women have no idea what we are or who they could be to us. For now, it needs to stay that way. If nature takes its course and a mating results, excellent, but that’s not the focus of our mission. Keeping them safe has to be our priority.

  “All indications show that Pandora, Davis Defense, and The Association also have this information or some form of it. We need to stop them from finding the children. The easiest way to do that is to find them first and protect them. All indications point to Dr. Franklin’s last group of children who are only now coming into puberty. That’s why we’re seeing the increase in kidnappings, like Cassie Larson and a few others, which have come to light as of late.

  “The Cassie Larson case was a tough one and the one which spearheaded all this new information coming our way. She was taken from a school trip and held in a Pandora facility. Pandora wanted to impregnate her, but had to wait until her contraception wore off.”

  Wyatt hated thinking about what those people had planned. Cassie was still a child. Then again, Pandora was proving not to have much of a moral guide. He was glad the others couldn’t see him right now. The pacing wasn’t helping his agitation. Additionally, being in the middle of bum fuck Egypt while his team needed him only pissed him off further. Wyatt needed to complete his mission and get back to base.

  He needed to help protect these children as much as the rest of the team. At least now, they were getting the whole scope of the problems they faced. Stopping, he leaned his body against his car. His body was tight with tension and demanded action, but Wyatt was determined to stand still and listen to the rest of what his Alpha had to say. He knew Jacks didn't like this conversation or the state of things any more than he did.

  “The last batch of children are the ones that Pandora, Davis, and The Association are unquestionably interested in,” Jacks continued. “Just like Cassie Larson, it’s believed they all hold only one strand of Shifter DNA. At least, that’s the theory we’re working with until something more concrete comes our way.”

  Wyatt could hear his teammates rumbling with outrage. The distress and anger permeated the phone line, making his animal twitch. He knew the men back in that room were getting those vibes one hundred-fold. He was really surprised no one had snapped yet. Wyatt felt it himself, but remained quiet, tensing his body while waiting for the unexpected blow which was sure to come. Time was running short, and he needed to get as much information as he could before he had to end the call. Then, and only then, would he let his animal out to release the pressure.

  “That’s not all. We have leaks all throughout NAC,” Jacks revealed. “All Teams have been infected. Senior dispatched Matthias to ferret out any and all traitors. So, watch your backs.”.

  Damn, Matthias was a ghost something or other. Wyatt had only come in contact with the man once, and it had set his animal on edge. The man, or whatever he was, could mask his scent right up until he was on you, with no indication he was ever present before he chose to make himself known. Being a Shifter that was impossible. His and all the guys’ senses were superior; sight, smell, touch, and instinct fueled their animals. But if Matthias chose it, he could negate those things. He was one scary mother. What had always bothered Wyatt the most was Matthias also didn’t smell of an animal. He didn’t carry any scent signatures. Wyatt didn’t exactly know what Matthias was, but he definitely wasn’t human.

  Whatever he was, he was the only person Senior called in when major shit was hitting the fan. Dalton might be the Enforcer of The Alpha Team, but Matthias was the Enforcer for the entire race. Shit.

  “Everyone in this room,” Jacks continued, “along with Wyatt, has all been cleared.”

  Wyatt wanted to scream at that statement. Of course, they’d all been cleared. Had their loyalty really been in doubt? Then he remembered Eli and his betrayal. They’d all thought he was loyal. The man had attacked his team, leaving Wyatt, Cash, Ethan, and Bas for dead, then setting their temporary base on fire.

  Eli then went after Jacks and Ryleigh, capturing Ryleigh, and holding her, so her fucked up brother could do what he wanted to her. But that changed when Eli revealed his own intent. He was a member of The Association, a group of Shifters who wanted to contain the status quo of keeping Shifter bloodlines pure. They wanted the children with only one strand of Shifter DNA to cleanse the human filth out of their bloodlines. In Wyatt’s opinion, they were all sick fuckers. Shit, they hadn’t been pure for over a century. Wyatt really needed to focus because this information was imperative to all their futures.

  “Matthias has done the same with The Holly G
roup, at least the original six. He’s making his way through the other teams. A few traitors have been discovered: Michael from Bravo; James, and Noah from Charlie. All of them were working for the Association, same as Eli.”

  God, Wyatt knew those men. He’d worked with them over the years, saved their asses, and had the favor returned. Never once would he have suspected them of being purists or traitors. Then again, he lived and worked with Eli for years and if asked, he would have never questioned him, either.

  “They’ve been dealt with accordingly,” Jacks stated.

  Wyatt knew what that meant, those men were no longer breathing. It hurt to think of someone you thought of as a friend gone. But it hurt worse realizing their common goal of protecting women and children had gone so completely haywire. These people, the purists, probably scared Wyatt the most. Fanatics had a way of taking things one step further. Greed and power-hungry people you could deal with by cutting off the supply. Fanaticism was an animal all on its own. History proved that in many ways.

  “Abernathy has been eliminated, but his reach continues. Charlie Team tore apart Harlan Carlton’s and the Hamilton brothers’ houses apart. As you know, these men were linked to Davis Defense. They found information in Abernathy’s home which leads us to believe this is bigger than we first suspected. Ryleigh was Abernathy’s end goal, but we now know he was also the one who funded Emma’s abduction and impregnation.”

  Julius Abernathy was Ryleigh’s so-called brother, and he was one sick fucker. Wyatt had wanted to be in on his ultimate demise, but had suffered a head injury inflicted by Eli, one of his trusted teammates. As it turns out, maybe having everyone vetted wasn’t such a bad idea. Even if it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  “The search of Carlton and the Hamilton brothers yielded little useful information regarding Davis Defense or The Pandora Group. Abernathy, on the other hand, had a wealth of information. The fucker was such a pompous ass, he destroyed or blacked out any or all information which would indicate where he got the information. According to Ryleigh and the intel we have, Abernathy didn’t have the knowledge or intellect to come up with all of this on his own. We believe he was working with someone higher up. It’s going to be hard to find out who that person or persons are.

  “He had too much information about Franklin’s children and Shifters to have gotten it only from his parents. They were already dead by the time he was a teenager. When Senior got Ryleigh out, all the data was destroyed within the lab where she was being kept. Also, we believe there’s no way a child could have remembered so much, even if he was in the loop at that time.

  “That leads us to Kenna. She is showing signs of being a Shifter way earlier than anyone could have predicted. Mia said when the first bomb went off, Emma had a hard time holding on to Kenna, she was showing signs of strength that no infant should possess. Her eyes also changed to the bright glow, indicating she’s near shifting. These incidents have only occurred when Emma or another adult in her company is agitated. It is our belief she has been enhanced somehow. None of us shifted before puberty, but Kenna is showing signs she’ll do so well before she ever reaches that. Everyone in this room has sensed her animal. I wouldn’t be surprised if she shifted for the first time soon, which should be an impossibility.”

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

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

  Hearing the obvious pain and anger in his friend’s voice hurt Wyatt. He hadn’t been there for the confrontation with Hamilton and his men at the base, but he’d heard about it. The assholes had busted up Ruby and her cook in order to get Emma’s location. They then breached the team’s perimeter and proceeded to place bombs around the lodge. Jacks had gotten the women and the child to the safe room. The men were then able to capture Derrick Hamilton, the brother of the man who had abused Emma.

  Meanwhile, Dalton went on a rampage, in bear form, to eliminate the others, ultimately getting bloodlust. This was a phenomenon where a Shifter is more animal than man, craving vengeance and blood, demanding justice. At least, that’s what Wyatt hoped, having never experienced it himself. He could only guess the basic concept of bloodlust.

  Ethan had to shift and attack Dalton. He did this in an effort to keep Dalton from attacking Cash and Bas. But Jacks was ultimately the victor, forcing both to change back. Wyatt shivered at the thought. It was said that forcing a shift brought on the worst pain imaginable. If the Alpha wasn’t careful, it could backfire, causing permanent damage to the beast and the man. Wyatt was glad he hadn’t witnessed it.

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

  Wyatt couldn’t agree more. His first shift had been horrible. Thinking he was man enough, he tried to complete it on his own, but the animal was too strong. He remembered how scared and out of control he’d felt, and he couldn’t imagine a baby going through that. Feeling your bones pop and break to accommodate the animal and all the heightened instincts, was a terrifying experience. There wasn’t another word for it. His Dad had warned him, told him what would happen, but it was one of those things that until you actually experienced it for yourself, you really had absolutely no idea what you were in for.

  He had been one of the lucky ones, his animal at the time was relatively mild. When Wyatt decided to shift back, he did without dispute. His father told him it was a family tradition, a rite of passage, for the members of the Green family to shift on their own for the first time. If they made it, they were considered a man. If they didn’t, they weren’t mentioned again.

  Wyatt’s family life growing up was different from many of his friends. Not horrible or abusive like some of his teammates, but different all the same. His parents stayed together, but were not mates, more like companions. Wyatt’s dad was free to do whatever he wanted, and his mother accepted that. It meant when the urge hit, his old man would find someone to satisfy that itch. They slept in separate rooms and rarely showed each other any type of affection.

  They had been older when they conceived Wyatt, and he always justified their lack of attention where he was concerned with them already being set in their ways. Wyatt was not a happy surprise for the couple. He was just there, often left to his own devices more often than not. He developed closer ties to his teammates than his blood relatives. He was given shelter, clothing, and food—the basics. They also gave him his first computer, which he was grateful for. But besides providing for him, his parents offered nothing else. He was an inconvenience they had to deal with. It was just the way it was.

  When Wyatt was younger, it really bothered him. Now that he was older, it still got to him sometimes. Shit, when his mother passed away, his dad didn’t even bother letting Wyatt know. He found out because of Jacks. His dad had told his Alpha about it. When Jacks came to Wyatt to ask if he wanted to leave to attend the funeral, Wyatt hadn’t even known what his Alpha was talking about. That was how his family was. Needless to say, he didn’t go back home for the funeral.

  Now that he was older, his shifts took more effort. His beast was harder to control and fought harder to stay present. Wyatt kept a firm leash on the beast. Shit, they all did. He was afraid, one day, his efforts wouldn’t pay off, and Jacks or one of the others would have to put him down. He didn’t fear much, but going rogue was something he never wanted to happen. Not for his sake, but for the sake of the men he had come to think of as brothers because it would be their responsibility to put hi
m down. He knew if he was ever had to face that with one of them, it would kill a part of his soul.

  God dammit. Wyatt hated hearing the despair, but agreed with his friend. He hadn’t met Emma or Kenna yet, but the team had sent him pictures and talked fondly about them. He couldn’t wait to become an uncle in person. The little girl was a doll, all pink and chubby. He was sure she would have him just as wrapped around her little finger as the rest of the guys. Shit, in a way, she already did.

  “Listen, that’s only one possibility,” Jacks explained. “Right now, we’re all guessing. We need more information. We need to know what these women and Kenna were enhanced with. Delta is trying to find the information. We just don’t have all the answers yet.

  “You all know that we’re on lockdown. Our mission is to keep the women and Kenna safe. I’ll keep you all in the loop as will the other Alphas, but until further notice, you’re needed right where you are. Once Wyatt completes his mission, he needs to return, along with Miss Carlton. She is too much of a liability to be left out in the wind. Sorry, Bas, I know she’s your sister, but you have to understand, not only is she a target, but she’s also a possible victim just waiting to happen. We assume we have maintained her anonymity, but if you honestly believe she’s a product of Franklin's experiments, that only increases her vulnerability.”

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

  Shit, Wyatt thought, at least someone was paying attention to the time. That was usually his job, but what Jacks was saying was blowing his mind. He needed to get moving, find Bas’ sister, and get back to base. That’s where he was needed, not standing here in the fucking woods.

  “Yeah okay,” Jacks continued, “you all also need to be aware Pandora has developed a tranquilizer which will freeze our animals. I’m not talking about putting you to sleep like a normal tranq. If you get shot with one, it takes hours for it to run out of our systems. It’s unlike any drug we’ve ever come across before. Our metabolisms can’t process it as fast as other drugs. Echo and Bravo got hit with these on their mission, and from all the reports, the process wasn’t pleasant. It was like trying to deal with an amputation. Your animal is there, but you can no longer communicate with it. 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.”