“What’s up, sweetheart, what do you want to tell us?” Senior asked.
“I think I know how to get all the information we need from Davis without detection,” Peyton said, “but it means I have to go into their facility.”
“No way you’re going into Davis Defense,” Wyatt objected. “They’re already after you. Shit, you and Senior barely made it out of the safe house.”
“But see, that’s where you’re wrong,” Peyton interrupted. “Declan was traced to the safe house, not me. I don’t think Judy and the suits are actively working with Davis, but rather working on their own agenda. If I’m such a big target why only send a couple of people? They could’ve taken me at any time before Judy played her hand. We know they want you guys, and apparently, they or someone else already knows where you’re located. The trackers proved that already.
“We need to figure out what’s going on, what Davis Defense and Judy and the suits are planning. We can do that if my plan works. Or at least we’ll be able to confirm if they’re working independently or together. If we could get our hands on Judy, we have a chance of figuring that out. She’s all about protecting number one, but she keeps going underground. At least my plan will give us real answers. All I need is to plug into one of their internal phone lines. It will open up the server to us and hopefully, give us the answers we desperately need. Doesn’t it surprise any of you that Davis was so entrenched in the Franklin family, but left his hard drive right where you could find it? I mean, it doesn’t make sense. If they want the children he created, why didn’t they use the information for themselves?
“Even Emma’s captivity doesn’t make sense. A rogue agent working for Ryleigh’s brother, but she was only taken after working for Davis for what six months? If Davis was really behind all this, why would they have waited? Why not just turn the data over to Pandora? I think there’s a lot more going on here than any of us suspect.
“Isn’t it smart to investigate further? Shit, wouldn’t it put everyone’s mind at ease if we could eliminate the biggest United States defense contractor as our enemy or at least confirm they are indeed working to create a new super species? Is it possible that Pandora wanted to divert our attention? For several months, you’ve been concentrating on Dr. Franklin’s data, then on Davis. In that time, did you find anything related to Pandora?”
“We have the list of known Pandora facilities from Franklin’s records,” Ryleigh commented. “Some of our teams took grave hits getting Cassie Larson out of the Colorado facility.”
“Did they?” Peyton asked. “Think about it. From what you told me, it was chaos. You got Cassie out unharmed, as well as several other women, but two of Echo team’s men were taken. Where are they? Why were they taken and the women let go? Why did the people at the facility use tranquilizers instead of real bullets?”
“That may be the case,” Ryleigh said “but the women were in pretty bad shape. Some won’t even talk about what happened to them while they were at the facility. We also know from the Intel that the breeding program is alive and well. I’ve confirmed that myself.”
“Yes, but you’re missing something,” Peyton claimed. “Pandora is taking women of a certain age, with the same blood type, and running tests for possible impregnation. But, Rye, what do they need more than the women to impregnate them?”
“Fuck, you’re right. Sperm, they need Shifter sperm.”
“You were able to, rather quickly, determine my heritage. Who’s to say Pandora doesn’t have the same capabilities? They also need time. What better way to get it than by making someone else the target? You also indicated Dr. Franklin was at the end of his supply. We assumed he had created both female and male babies, but what if only females made it to fruition? The algorithm has one thing in common. The number six is listed as the fifth number in all of them. What if that stands for ‘F’ or female?”
“Shit, if that’s the case, we played right into their hands. Fuck, we gave them a new supply, Rock and Greyson, two male Shifters at their prime. How could we be so fucking stupid?” Declan cursed.
“I agree with Peyton,” Jacks said. “We need to figure out who we’re really fighting here and to do that we need better intel. I don’t think sending anyone into Davis at this time is the right choice, but getting our hands on Judy Carlton and the suits could prove invaluable. Peyton, how do you feel about flushing Judy out into the open?”
“Oh, hell no!” Wyatt protested angrily. “You’re not using Peyton as bait. Shit, hasn’t she already been through enough? Fuck, Jacks, you wouldn’t put Ryleigh out there, and you know it.”
“You’re wrong, man,” Jacks countered. “Ryleigh was out there, right in the open, and you know it. It’s different now that she’s pregnant, but I know if given a chance, she would jump right in if we needed her.”
“I would,” Ryleigh agreed, “but I’m also a trained operative, Peyton isn’t. This woman means her harm, we can’t ask her to do that.”
“Who is to say that Peyton isn’t already pregnant? I don’t want my mate in harm’s way, period. There has to be another way.”
“They want me. Why can’t I be the bait?” Bas asked.
Peyton was floored. She never even thought of the possibility of her being pregnant, but they hadn’t used anything and had been going at it like rabbits. Rubbing her stomach, Peyton let her mind drift. She could see a little girl with her eyes and Wyatt’s curly hair or a little boy who looked just like his daddy. If she was pregnant, she knew she needed to end this thing with Judy, one way or another. It was one thing for the woman to cause Peyton problems, quite another thing to cause harm to her possible children or the rest of the Alpha team. Judy Carlton needed to go away, for good this time. Everyone was still arguing when Peyton spoke up.
“I’ll do it, but you need to promise me Judy Carlton will never see the light of day again after this. I won’t risk my future with her still lurking in the shadows. She needs to go away, forever.”
Wyatt was pissed, but he could feel Peyton’s determination. He would let her do this, but he would be right by her side, whether she liked it or not.
“I think we should head to my house,” Peyton suggested. “If Judy is going to show up, she’ll show up there. Let’s let the stalker become the prey, for once.” For the next few hours, the Alpha team planned their trap for Judy. When Wyatt and Peyton finally got some time alone, she asked him, “Wyatt do you really think I might be pregnant? Do you want this? It’s all happening really fast.”
“Oh, baby, I would love to see you swell with my cub, but I want you safe and protected more. I don’t like this plan. My bear doesn't like this plan. He’s screaming at me to keep you safe, not put you in harm’s way. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, I also understand you’re going to let me do what needs to be done. I can’t have Judy hanging over our heads anymore. She’s dangerous, Wyatt. I need her taken care of, so we can move on with our lives. I don’t want to look over my shoulder anymore. I know she’s only a part of that, but can you at least understand why I need to do this, not only for me, but for us?”
“Yeah, baby, I get it. I just don’t like it.”
“I know you’re going to worry no matter what I say, but Wyatt, I have a couple of aces up my sleeve. Or should a say, a couple of bears and pretty mean dogs,” she laughed.
“Shit, I didn’t even think about the dogs. What are you planning?”
“Well, you know how I trained my dogs to recognize Bastian? I also taught them to recognize Judy’s scent as well. With Alpha and my babies, we’ll know the minute she steps foot on my property. Then it’s just a matter of detaining and questioning her and finally getting her out of my life for good.”
Chapter 21
The team, minus Jacks and Ryleigh, made their way to Peyton’s house in the mountains. Making sure that Alpha’s presence wasn’t known, Peyton took on the duties she had before all this had started, trying to appear as if her life was normal. It only took two days for
Judy to take the bait. When the knock on the door sounded, Peyton was anything but surprised. She had heard the dogs out in the wild, barking at Judy’s arrival and that she had brought help. Peyton relayed all of this to the Alpha Team members who were hidden around the property. Opening the door, she was surprised to see Judy crying and frantic.
“Peyton, you need to come with me,” Judy pleaded. “They have Bastian. I didn’t know what they were going to do, but if you don’t hurry, oh Peyton, they are going to hurt him, bad. I didn’t know!” she cried and carried on with her theatrics.
Peyton didn’t fall for the act; Judy was trying to get her to leave with the only thing she knew would affect Peyton.
“Cut the crap, Judy, I know Bastian is alive and well and nowhere near the people you’ve been working with. Why don’t you tell me exactly what you want, Mother?” Peyton said with a distaste for using the word which didn’t describe the woman standing in front of her.
Judy came out of her distressed crying act so quickly, it was almost scary.
“Oh, so you think you have it all figure out do you,” Judy snapped. “Why, Peyton, you’ve no idea what’s really going on. It really doesn’t surprise me. You were always quite naïve and gullible, weren’t you? Too bad it took you so long to develop a backbone. I could have used that, but no worries, I found another way to make my sacrifice all these years finally pay off,” she laughed.
“If I had known it would take over twenty-five years to get paid for pushing you out,” Judy continued with her verbal assault, “I would have let the bastards at the lab have you back then. Oh well,” she said, pulling a gun from her pocket, “no need to look back, now is there? But let’s get some things straight once and for all. You are not my daughter. You, Peyton, are my payday.”
Peyton only uttered one word, “Angriff.”
Judy didn’t know what hit her as Brut lunged from Peyton’s side, dislodging the gun from Judy’s hand. The mighty Pit had her on the ground with his jaws clamped over her throat in a matter of seconds. Judy was visibly shaken, but didn’t utter a word.
“Now, Judy, you need to know a few things,” Peyton couldn't help but taunt her a bit. “I never thought you were my mother, but I’m happy to have confirmation of that little fact. Also, you might want to stay really still right about now. You see, my dogs are the best-trained animals around. All it will take is one word and the bane of my existence will be gone once and for all. I find it really ironic that one of the things you always taunted me with is the thing that has finally brought you down. You never did understand why my dogs meant so much to me, did you? No, don’t answer that. I really don’t care.” Noticing movement from behind her, Peyton said, “Declan, have the others been taken care of?”
“Yep, she came prepared, sweetheart, six armed men,” Declan declared. “We have them in custody, and if you give Zeus the order, I’ll take her off your hands, for good.”
“My pleasure. Rot in hell, Judy. Freisetzung,” Peyton commanded.
With that command, Brut released the woman, walking back to sit at Peyton’s side, a smile on his face only a Pit Bull could pull off. The guys took the prisoners away while Wyatt stayed behind with Peyton.
“What now, honey?”
“I want to go home, Wyatt. Can we just go home?”
“You got it, sweetheart, home it is.”
Peyton wasn’t involved in the questioning of Judy or the men she’d hired to help her abduct Peyton. The suits Judy had been working with were not with the group who had invaded Peyton’s property. They had waited back in town for Judy to bring Peyton to them, but they hit a snag in their plan by the name of the Ruthless Bastards MC. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it through that snag, so the Alpha team wasn’t able to question them. But Judy was another story, and she sang so much, they couldn’t get her to shut up. However, they also couldn’t trust that information without backup, which Judy had enough of, surprisingly.
As it turns out, Bastian was right, Judy had agreed to be a surrogate for a company who offered big bucks for healthy children. She had left before she gave birth, thinking she could get more money out of them by holding the child for ransom. But she quickly became spooked when she figured out after she gave birth, she was no longer of any use to the people who had paid for her to become pregnant.
The suits wanted to retrieve Peyton, but the bigger prize was the Alpha Team. By all accounts, they didn’t know what the people they worked for wanted the guys for, but the money was right, so they really didn’t care. Peyton was a bonus her surrogate was more than willing to give up, letting the suits know Pandora wanted her as well. Yes, it was confirmed that Pandora was behind the ransom which had been placed on all their heads.
Chapter 22
Peyton and Wyatt found out that she wasn’t pregnant, and decided it was best if they waited a while to bring children into the world, to give themselves time to get to know each other better. Winter was in full force, and Peyton enjoyed the family time. Ryleigh was getting close to her due date and watching Jacks follow her around like he was ready to catch the baby if it happened to pop out was hysterical.
Peyton regretted she wasn’t able to get into Davis Defense to plant her worm, but she understood that Declan would take care of it. He had a plan which hadn’t included any of the team. Peyton knew he was trying to keep all of them safe, and she loved him a little for it. The man took his role as honorary Dad to heart. Declan considered all the people who served with him his family, and Peyton decided she was going to adopt him herself.
So, that’s why on a stormy winter day, Peyton, Wyatt, Bastian, and Declan made their way down to the County Courthouse and made it official. No, they didn’t get married, they legally changed her name from Peyton Carlton to Peyton Green, and it was the best day of her life. Having Declan standing there like her proud papa was the final string Peyton needed. She had a family. Wyatt was the center, but all the others completed the circle. That name was the final thread linking her to Judy and her childhood. Wyatt was her future, along with Bastian and the entirety of the Alpha Team.
On the way back to the lodge, Peyton was surprised when Wyatt pulled off the main drag onto a little driveway.
“Where are we going, Wyatt?”
“It’s a surprise, baby, one I think you’ll really like.”
At the end of the driveway sat a log cabin with a wide covered porch. Peyton was confused, but figured okay, from what she knew, they were still on Alpha property. However, she didn’t know there were other houses on the property.
Wyatt asked her to wait for him as he jumped out of the SUV and walked around the front to her door. When she went to get out, he picked her up and carried her to the door.
Opening the door to the cabin, he said, “Welcome home, baby.”
Still confused she asked, “Home?”
“Yeah baby, I had this built for us. I like living at the lodge, but sometimes it can be a bit intense. I wanted somewhere we could just be us,” he laughed. “We can even run around naked if we want. Best of all, you can give me all those noises you tried in vain to hide last night. I know were holding back, not wanting the others to hear. Now you can let go.”
The cabin was beautiful. An open concept kitchen and family room greeted them with a massive stone fireplace dominating the room. Someone had already lit a fire, making the beautiful room warm and inviting. Wyatt walked her to the fireplace, laying her down on a pallet of quilts and a pillow which had been sprinkled with rose petals. Next to the pallet, Peyton noticed champagne chilling in a bucket of ice and a covered plate waited next to it.
“Who did all this?”
“The ladies helped, but it was my idea.” Wyatt laid down next to her and said, “Today you took my name, but you have been living in my soul since the day you were born. Peyton Green, I love you with all of my heart, my bear has claimed you, and the gods have blessed us. I have bound you to me in every way I can, and it’s still not enough. I’m only content while deep inside y
our body where I know I belong, where we are one.”
“I love you, Wyatt, since the first time I saw you to the last breath I take, I love you.”
The End.
Sebastian
Alpha Team
NAC & The Holly Group
Author: Chelsea Handcock
www.chelseahandcock.com
Copyright © 2017, Chelsea Handcock
First electronic publication: April 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, characters, 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 are 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.
Sebastian “Bas” Frost doesn’t believe in happy endings, legends or fairy tales. That is, he doesn’t believe in them for himself. He is going insane, his bear is taking over, and Bas believes he is going rogue. The problem is Bas doesn’t know what to do about it. Taking a mission is supposed to give him the control back that he so desperately needs. Only that’s not what happens when one tiny sprite of a woman walks into a bar and blows his well-earned control right out the door. He will fight it with everything he has but in the end, fate decides, and he is helpless to deny it or her.
NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team Page 81
