NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team

by Chelsea Handcock

  Sophie knew what he was talking about, but Ethan just growled, Sophie snuggled closer rubbing his chest calming him and his beast.

  “I will be leaving soon. Jackson has informed me that my ride is en route, but I wanted to thank you before I left. I didn’t like what you had to do to help me, but I appreciate it none the less.”

  “Oh, Lucas, no thanks are necessary. I told you then, I didn’t know if it would work, I’m just glad it did.”

  “If you ever need anything, Sophie, anything at all, all you have to do is call.” Lucas stepped closer grabbing her hand and placed a small kiss on the top of it one time just like the gentleman she thought him to be. “I will be there for you, just as you were there for me.”

  “Thank you, Lucas, but you have to know you helped me, too. I wouldn’t be here today if you hadn’t talked to me and told me your stories. I wouldn’t have let myself open up enough to trust Ethan. Those are things I can never repay you, so we’re even. If you want to call me sometime to chat, I will always accept your calls, growly bear next to me or not.”

  Lucas left shortly after, and Sophie already missed him. She didn’t have any feelings for him other than friendship, but he meant something to her, she hoped that they stayed in touch. Ethan introduced her to the other men in the cabin. They were all tall, and of course, handsome. Wyatt was a geeky stud complete with a t-shirt sporting some comic book character. Jacks was formidable, but had the prettiest green eyes Sophie had ever seen, but the last man, Matthias, didn’t project the same safe feeling she had been feeling all day. This man scared her.

  “I’m going to go and change if that is okay, then we can get to all of your questions.” Sophie didn’t wait for the others to say anything, looking to Ethan. When he nodded, Sophie took off to the bedroom where she had woken. Using the bathroom and dressing, she felt a little more normal. Walking back out, she found everyone seated at the dining room table. Peyton and Wyatt had laptops in front of them, but everyone else was just waiting for her.

  Sophie went to take the vacant seat next to Ethan, but he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her into his lap, a move she was grateful for. For the next three hours, the men grilled her while Peyton checked aspects of her story using the internet. Sophie wasn’t a computer person, she could use one, but nothing like Peyton could. She would say, ‘I was in Tulsa in February,’ and Peyton would find her on some feed and verify it to the room; it was really amazing stuff.

  Throughout the meeting, Matthias just stared at her, asking a couple of questions, but not much; it unnerved her. She even tested it by moving exaggeratedly a couple of time just to see if he would continue to watch her, and he had.

  “You guys need to go back to Free and see if you can get any additional information. We need to know where this Overseer is and how to contact him, or at least get our hands on this William person’s cell phone to track him that way. We are also going to need more samples of the drugs they have been using for analysis. I will stay here while you three conduct the searches. When you return, I suggest you take Sophie back to Alpha for safe keeping.

  Sophie wanted to bristle at the man, but kept her mouth shut, so did the others in the room. She wanted to believe it was out of respect, but something else was going on, and she decided she would ask Ethan about it later. Offering her two cents, Sophie said that she could help with the search. She was given a polite denial. She really hadn’t expected them to take her with them back to Free, but hey, when in Rome.

  When everyone left the table to get ready for their mission, Sophie followed Ethan to the bedroom. Sitting on the bed, she watched as he got ready, first putting on new dark jeans and a black t-shirt.

  “It was you!” Sophie whisper yelled when he grabbed a black hoodie out of the closet.

  Ethan cocked his eyebrow up at her silently asking her what she was talking about.

  “Before we met at the Club, I saw you coming out of the boat house; you looked right at me. I remember thinking you were important, but damn, I never knew you were this important.”

  Ethan sat down next to her, draping the sweatshirt over his lap.

  “I felt you that day, I didn’t know what it was, but I felt something. Now, that you’re saying you felt something, too, I have to admit the fates have a funny way of putting people together. I ignored the feeling, just went about my mission. Hell, baby, I could have had you out of there before any of this had started. I’m sorry.”

  “Okay, this needs to stop. There have been way too many Thank You, and I’m Sorry said. We didn’t know, period. Hell, I think it’s going to be a long time before I truly trust myself or my feelings.”

  Ethan knew Sophie was saying she trusted him on some level, but not entirely, and that hurt him. He also knew he hadn’t earned that trust yet, and he was determined that one day soon, he would. Ethan brushed a kiss against her lips, and it soon turned into much more. He knew that he needed to leave, but it was the last thing he wanted to do right now.

  “Babe, I have to go,” he said, pulling back, “but I promise, after this we will spend some serious time together getting to know one another.”

  “I don’t want you to go, but I know you have to. Please, be safe Ethan. These people are capable of anything.” Sophie was tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. She didn’t want Ethan to leave, but she knew he had to go; he had a job to do, and she needed to let him do it without worrying about her

  “Come on, let me tuck you into bed, you’re fried, and I want you to get some sleep while I’m gone.” Ethan pulled the covers back on the bed, and Sophie didn’t hesitate to jump right in. She was tired, and sleep would be a great way to make the time apart move faster.

  “I’ll be back soon, Sophie, sleep now.” Ethan stayed for a little while, but before he even made it to the door, Sophie was out. Dreaming of everything the future might hold.

  Chapter 22

  Ethan, Jacks, and Wyatt were going through the rooms at Free. It pissed Ethan off. He shouldn’t even be here, he should be back at the cabin with Sophie. But, no, like the good little solider he always had been, he was here, where he sure as hell didn’t want to be. Ethan had this feeling that he had once again made the wrong decision, and it wasn’t helping his mood any. Kicking a chair, he watched as it sailed through the room, hitting the wall with enough force to break it. That felt good, maybe that was what he needed a good fight.

  Turning, he eyed Wyatt and Jacks, they both deserved to be bleed for tranquilizing him and keeping him away from Sophie and her rescue. It should have been him who took her away from this place and those fuckers, but he had been denied that honor. She was his mate; hell, it felt weird admitting that if even to himself, he had fought so hard to keep the bond from forming. He hadn’t kissed her anywhere but on the cheek until earlier today, and he hadn’t fucked her because he had been afraid. Afraid she wouldn’t be what he thought he wanted; a sweet, submissive woman to spend the rest of his days with. Now, all that bull shit seemed trivial. Sophie was perfect.

  The things that had bothered him before didn’t even come into his mind. They were perfect for each other, and although, it was much too soon, he was pretty sure he loved her already. His bear most certainly did; he hoped she would allow him to introduce them soon. After all that she had been through, he was a little apprehensive about how she would react, but since he planned on taking her home to Alpha Team, she needed to get used to the idea of living with and being around Shifters. Shifters that weren’t pieces of shit like the ones who had held her.

  Just thinking about William and the others caused him to kick another chair into the wall. Those assholes hadn’t deserved the quick ending they had received. He would have dragged it out for days, maybe even weeks. Making each of them pay for the hell they put Sophie and her sister through for six fucking years.

  Shit, they needed to come up with a plan to get Carley and her baby away from the Overseer guy. Ethan had watched Matthias when Sophie was telling her story, and he noticed the man was en
tirely too laid back. He knew something and was keeping it from them; if Ethan had to guess, the man knew exactly who the Overseer was, and that added to Ethan’s mood in a bad way. NAC should be working together to defeat these people, not holding back information that could get people killed.

  They weren’t finding much, but what they did find would be useful. They had already found Williams cell phone and sent the number to Peyton; she was running traces and trying to find a location for the Overseer. But something wasn’t sitting right with him. They should have already been half way back to the lodge by now. There were other people inside of NAC who could have done this search.

  He looked back to Jacks and Wyatt. They had been surprised by Sophie’s information, he had seen that, but Jacks was holding something back as well. Ethan knew it, and he was going to find out exactly what it was. Stalking him, Ethan stopped a foot from him and braced himself. He knew that he had been pushing it with Jacks since he got here, but he needed answers.

  “Jacks, what aren’t you telling me.”

  “What do you mean?” Jacks questioned, turning to face him.

  “I mean, I know there is more, and for some reason, you are holding back. I want to know what it is.”

  “No, man, you don’t you want to challenge me. You’re pissed, and like I told you before, you have every right to be, but you need to get over this shit and do it quick because my bear doesn’t like the way you keep pushing. Understand?”

  “Then tell me, god damnit.”

  “Fuck, fine, listen, we don’t know if what you’re feeling towards Sophie is real or artificial. There were a lot of drugs here man. If these people have a way of taking our animals away chemically, who’s to say they don’t have a drug that will entice the beast into thinking a person is a mate, when they aren’t.”

  “So, it’s either you don’t trust me, or you don’t trust Sophie. She told us everything, and I have been telling you since the start that she attracted me like no other, the connection started from sight alone. Hell, man how can you even think it’s chemical when the first time I saw her we were miles away from each other? Hell, I even talked to you about it.”

  “Listen, I get that you all think I have put up barriers where the mates are concerned. Fuck, do you think I like it or even want to? But I have an obligation to this team and NAC. I also have one to the mates of this team. Sophie admitted she was sent here to get you to take her back to Alpha, so that she could report Skylar and Kenna’s whereabouts. Do I think she would do that now, no. But it is my job to make sure of that. I know how the mating connection feels. I also know how it feels to deny it. But your actions have been intensified, you have lost control more than once.”

  “I was in control. I left her, my mate, every day as required. I did everything fucking thing expected of me.”

  “Fuck, man, you had to be tranquilized just so you would get some fucking sleep. Then we have to add in the Matthias portion of this fucked up little mission. He shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be interfering or calling any shots, and yet, he is. Can you see where I would be a little suspicious of all this?”

  “What you mean is my mission. This had been his mission from the start; find and rescue Lucas, and yet, I was conveniently kept out the actual rescue. I get what you’re saying, hell, I felt the effects of the drug I breathed in every single day, but I was dealing. If you don’t want Sophie coming back to Alpha, I will leave and take her somewhere else, I’m not leaving her behind this time. Have Mia run her test, but as soon as we get out of here, I plan on claiming her, and then you will see that she is a true mate and not some plant seducing me with drugs.”

  “Fuck, I hope you’re right, Ethan. I want that for you, I want you to have what Rye and I have and the rest of the team. Hell, leave now and prove me the fuck wrong, it will make my day. I can’t take the leap you are willing to take, and you have to understand why.”

  “I might understand, Jacks, but with everything that has gone down, my bear wants blood. Do you get that? Fuck, my mating is only a small part of it. It’s everything. I have always been loyal, fuck, I still am, but I’m questioning that, Jacks. My bear is questioning it. You allowed him to be torn from my body.”

  “Jesus, I didn’t have a fucking choice, it was either that or damage you. Dominance does not work when mating is involved. But you’re still not asking the right questions, Ethan. You know that feeling we had after Matthias first visit?” asked Jacks.

  “Fuck, man, that is just the thing. Why is he here? Why is he interfering in this? Senior wouldn’t have; nothing is adding up. Hell, he is the Enforcer for the entire Shifter world. Why isn’t he here looking for clues with us? Why did he insist on staying back with the girls?”

  “Did you notice how he couldn’t keep his eyes off of Sophie?” Wyatt asked.

  Ethan had seen, but he ignored it, thinking Matthias was just trying to intimidate her or something. Had he been wrong?

  “What do you think that was all about, Jacks?” Ethan asked.

  “I don’t know, you seem to know the man better than the rest of us. What did you make of it?”

  “I think he’s up to something. I also think he was trying to read Sophie, but something was blocking him.”

  “Read her like he did with the kids and Skylar?” Wyatt asked.

  “Yeah, I’ve seen him do it before, and it usually only takes a touch or intense concentration; when he has the information, it’s almost like relief flows over his mind and body, but I didn’t see any of that. Then again, I was more interested in what Sophie was saying than what Matthias was doing, I could have missed it.”

  “I don’t think you did,” Jacks said. “I was listening to Sophie, but I was watching him, he was becoming more agitated the longer she talked. I thought it was because of all the abuse she had describe, but it could have been something else. It could be that the bastard isn’t getting what he needed or wanted from being around Sophie while we were present. Maybe that is why he was so focused on us leaving to do this shit.”

  “Fuck, you have to be kidding me. You think he set us up so he could do something more to Sophie?”

  “Well, you said that he either needed intense concentration or touch. I’m thinking with the way you reacted when Sophie hugged Lucas, he wasn’t willing to take the chance while you were there. I also think that he wouldn’t want Wyatt or I to be present because we would have prevented him from touching your mate. I might not be one hundred percent on board with this mating, Ethan, but you said she was yours, and I would do anything within my power to protect your woman, you have to know that. I just have to do the same for the other woman and children of Alpha, too.”

  “I think we need to get back to the cabin and ask the bastard himself.” Ethan ran his hand through his hair and then brought it down over his face. This was all jacked up.

  “Yeah, I agree, lets close this place up and get on the road.:

  “Guys listen, we have a problem. I have sent Peyton several text messages and have even called a couple of times. She isn’t answering. Fuck closing this place, up we need to go now!” Wyatt growled more than yelled. His beast was on the surface, clamoring to get to his mate. Shit, Ethan knew how he felt. Wyatt’s eyes were bright, and his body was taking on the power of the animal, making his already huge frame even bigger. Ethan was sure that if they didn’t move now, claws and fur would be sprouting on the man. Hell, he wasn’t much better off, his beast needed to know that Sophie was safe and where he left her. Jacks’ grumbled ‘motherfucker’ didn’t go unnoticed; Ethan was pretty sure either he or Wyatt would shift and soon.

  Jacks pushed his dominance out, but Ethan and Wyatt were too far gone. Ethan watched his Alpha and almost pleaded with his eyes because he was beyond talking at the moment, for him to do something, anything. He and Wyatt couldn’t shift, the Club might be isolated, but they were still too far away from the cabin. Ethan pulled all his strength, then he thought about the bond between him and Sophie. It was weak, but it still
connected them, focusing all is energy on the thin line, he was able to feel that Sophie was okay. She was sleeping that calmed the beast within his body, allowing him to calm enough to speak.

  “Wyatt, trace your bond with Peyton. Focus all your energy on it, you will be able to feel what she’s feeling. Focus, brother.” Ethan watched the other man struggle, but he also was able to see when Wyatt got ahold of his beast and was able to push him back. Shit, he hoped that meant that Peyton was okay because he feared that if anything ever did happen to one of the mates, there would be no stopping the beasts.

  “Fuck, thanks,” Wyatt said, breathing heavily. Damn, I should have thought of that. I think she’s sleeping, but that doesn’t make sense, Peyton wouldn’t have just decided to take a nap on the job. Plus, she doesn’t like to go to bed without me. Something still isn’t right even if I don’t sense any stress or pain from the bond. They were all headed for the door; Jacks ‘Let’s move!’ wasn’t needed. Fuck, what now?

  Chapter 23

  Sophie was starting to wake up and the first thing she noticed was that Ethan’s heat wasn’t at her back, and she missed it immediately. They hadn’t gotten to spend much time together, but feeling him and his arms around her were quickly becoming one of her favorite things. Why wasn’t he here now? He said that when he got back, he would wake her. Shit, how long had she been sleeping? Was he back from Free, had they found anything or damn it had… Sophie bolted up instantly. When her eyes adjusted to the dim light in the room, she realized she wasn’t at the cabin anymore, it looked like she was in a hotel room. Fuck, what the hell:

  Looking around, she noticed the very large dark man sitting at the little table next to the door, sitting in a way too small chair. Sophie would have laughed because his size dwarfed the chair he was sitting in, but his gaze was right on her, and it was anything but kind. It wasn’t exactly cruel either, just intent. Sophie didn’t like it, but she wasn’t going to cower in front of this man.