“Then tell me.” Noah swept his hand out to encompass the room. “There’re no more recording devices. What’s said here, remains here.”
“What’s the point? I don’t buy the whole therapeutic ‘let’s talk about our feelings’ crap. The past is over. I survived.”
“But what about those who haven’t? Or the ones still locked up?”
A tic developed on Owen’s jaw. His eyes narrowed to slits, and Noah knew he’d guessed right. Owen was a dominant at heart, always had been. Other people’s suffering would’ve angered him, especially knowing he’d been helpless to stop it.
Noah closed the distance between them. “Talk to Riley. Or one of the others. Get your shit together so you can go after them. That’s what you really want, isn’t it? You want to save those who can’t save themselves.”
“I wish my reasons were that noble.” Owen shook his head. “They’re not. But yeah, that’s what I want. To go back. Nothing will keep me away.”
With that, Owen slipped past Noah and walked toward the bedroom. The door closed behind Owen with a click. Noah stared at it a few moments more, then left. His visit might not have been as successful as he’d hoped, but he’d learned what he needed to know. Owen was not only salvageable but invaluable.
And won’t that piss off Michael. The male he’d deemed worthless has an ability even alphas don’t possess.
Then again, maybe there was a reason for it.
Chapter Thirty
The magical hour that harkened each full moon was minutes away. Hannah would’ve much rather greeted it with Ethan by her side, but he had to meet his destiny alone. After that? Well, she never wanted to be separated from him again. At least she had Noah. His presence calmed her, even with the tension building in the room.
She glanced over her shoulder at Noah, who stood with Quinn and Sean on the opposite side of the kitchen. All three males appeared ready to go at each other’s throats.
Noah cursed and ran a hand through his hair. “Would you shut up for just a minute and listen to me?”
“No. I’m happy the threesome thing worked out for you guys, but it isn’t going to happen in my case. I am not attracted to Alex. End of discussion.” Quinn sidestepped him and walked toward the patio doors. “I’m out of here.”
Sean blocked Quinn’s path with his body. “Not alone you’re not.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“Until I’m confident you’re going to keep your shit together and not get in a fight with Alex, I’m not letting you walk away.”
Quinn balled his fists and got up in Sean’s face. “I want Maria back. I don’t give a shit about Alex or if he’s upset. I am not attracted to him, and your insistence I talk to Noah about his love for cock is not going to change my mind.”
Hannah gasped, and Noah spun Quinn with a hand on his shoulder. “I am not trying to convince you of anything. I’m trying to get you to understand that Maria might need more than what you can give her. If you love her, you’ll ask her instead of fighting with her. A threesome doesn’t have to involve you touching Alex’s cock. Ever. It’s about giving Maria what she needs. Both of your sorry asses.”
“What?” Quinn shoved Noah back. “Are you going to blame me for her run—”
The sound of the front door banging open preceded the heavy clunks of running feet. Chris burst into the kitchen with Owen on his heels and a human shifter agent.
Owen zeroed in on Noah. “The clearing where I dreamt about Maria and the bear shifter… Chris knows where it is.”
Chris nodded. “It’s not a clearing, but the field behind the backyard of the Kagan Industries’ office, out past the pond. Owen described the fountain in perfect detail, despite never having seen it.”
“We need to go there. Now.” Owen motioned toward the patio door. “Before the full moon rises. I know I’m asking a lot. I might be crazy but—”
“No buts. If there’s a chance you can help us get Maria back, I’m taking it.” Quinn rushed forward. “Let’s go.”
The human agent, a male in his thirties with a military haircut and dark brown eyes, spoke up. “I brought our largest SUV. We can all fit in it. It’ll be quicker to drive than if you shift and run.”
Hannah frowned. “All of us? What about Owen? Who’s going to take him back to the cabin?”
Owen glared at her. “I’m not fucking unstable or crazy, and I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I never said you were, but the human government gave us strict orders to—”
“I told them about my dreams. I had to. I need to go along in case I see something else. During the full moon’s window, I get glimpses of the future while I’m awake.” Owen glanced at the human wearing black fatigues. “He cleared it with his supervisors. I just have to wear this tracking device.”
Owen raised his hand, showing off the metal-link bracelet. “More agents are meeting us there too.”
“Great.” Quinn jogged to the door, the human agent at his side. “Let’s get out of here. We’re wasting time.”
Owen and Sean followed, but Noah remained rooted to the spot. He turned conflicted eyes on her. “I don’t like the idea of Owen out there by himself. He’s going to run. He told me nothing would stop him from going back to where he’d been kept.”
“So he can free the rest of shifters?”
Noah nodded. “Or kill his previous owners.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to stop him?”
“No.” Noah snorted. “But he’ll stay for you.”
“For me?”
“Yeah. When we get there, I’m going with Quinn and the others, and you’re staying in the vehicle with the human agent and Owen. I’m going to leave Owen in charge of your safety.”
“Proving that you trust him.”
He grabbed her hand and led her to the door. “Exactly.”
She fell into step with him, but worry tightened her chest. She didn’t doubt Owen’s ability to protect her. What churned her stomach was knowing both of her mates would be facing danger without her. Who would protect them?
Chapter Thirty-One
All Ethan’s plans were falling into place. Ella had confirmed that Michael’s family was hidden and under strict surveillance. Noah and Hannah were safely surrounded by her loved ones. Owen was with the Kagans, and the shifter agents were on Maria’s trail. If that wasn’t enough to ease the tension in his shoulders, Michael himself had announced to the pack yesterday that he would be passing on the spirit wolf to Ethan. The only thing left was the actual transfer.
There was no reason to worry, but he did. A sense of trepidation had settled over him and his wolf. He couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong.
A thorough scan of the grounds around the sacred circle didn’t reveal anything suspicious, but with the number of shifters congregated in the clearing, it was difficult to zero in on any threats. The entire pack, children and elders alike, had come out to watch the ceremony most often performed between father and son.
Even the few males who watched him with anger didn’t surprise him. He met their gazes, one by one, until they glanced away. Their subtle acceptance of him as more dominant wouldn’t keep trouble at bay. He fully expected to have to deal with their animosity after taking over, maybe even face a challenge.
Violence and danger were part of pack life. He might not like it and wished it were different, but change didn’t happen overnight. All he could do was attempt to avert it. Well, that, and guide his pack into the modern world where they had to respect human laws and ethics as much as the ones of nature. No longer could they live in seclusion or view themselves as superior.
If they did, they were nothing more than a race of fools.
Head held high, Michael strode forward. He took a similar position next to Ethan inside the ceremonial ring that would seal around them in mere minutes. Whoever
was inside its boundaries during the magical window would be subject to the one rule established by the gods—the pack alpha would either have to pass on the spirit or kill his opponent.
He surveyed the crowd, then snorted. “Do you see the jealousy in their eyes? I do. They will be on you the moment you become alpha.”
“I can handle them.” And he could. It just saddened him to have to do so.
Michael snorted. “If you say so, but you realize you’ll never have their respect, don’t you? The speech I gave about how I viewed you as my son and that I believed you were the right choice to lead the pack into the next era was a load of bullshit. They know it, and the rumors have started flying about how you were able to manipulate me into giving up my pack.”
“Tomorrow they’ll learn the truth.”
“Yeah.” Michael surveyed the clearing, then faced Ethan. “And you’ll wish you’d acted like a true dominant, not a human wannabe. They’ll be furious that you allowed me to walk away.”
There was truth in his statement. Many shifters would demand Michael’s blood for his crimes. Ethan was one of them. He wanted Michael to scream and beg for his life. Ethan wanted to break his legs and set his house on fire. He wanted Michael locked away in a cage and turned into a damn lab rat. But… He wanted the trafficking ring shut down more.
“A dominant is someone who cares for and protects those weaker than him. It’s you who’s forgotten that.”
“An alpha is forced to make the tough decisions, and I struggled with my choice for years. I finally came to one conclusion.” Michael waved his arm to encompass the pack. “It’s not the individual bodies that matter, but the essence of the pack spirit we hold. Without it, we are nothing. Ensuring it survives is more important than any single life.”
“And without a strong communal bond, we are nothing more than animals.”
Michael shrugged, then glanced at the moon. Seconds away from the moon’s peak, the magic of the spirit wolf hung heavy in the air. It teased Ethan’s psyche with hints of power. His skin tingled, and his breathing quickened. He inhaled, dragging the sweet-scented air into his lungs.
“It wants you.”
Michael’s whispered words held defeat.
“Yes.” Ethan glanced at the male beside him. “I am a Jager, its rightful host. The gods chose my ancestor to be their warrior.”
Michael swept his gaze over him. Recognition dawned in his eyes. “The Hunter.”
Ethan nodded. The group of human soldiers hand-selected by the gods were named for the traits they’d embodied. The Jager was the most successful hunter of the ancient world. The Kagan was the group’s leader, a great thinker who held a wealth of knowledge. There were others—healers, trackers, slayers, and soldiers. Each male was the best of the best and became the first hosts to their animal spirits—the first alphas. Or at least that was the story told in the book he had acquired, the one written by a Kagan pack member.
“You know our history, then?” Ethan asked.
Michael gazed in the direction of the Kagan pack lands. “My grandmother was a Kagan. She loved to tell stories.”
“Not stories. They’re truth.”
Michael shrugged. “If you believe in that sort of thing.”
“I do.”
“And I believe in karma, Ethan Jager.”
The satisfied look on Michael’s face sparked Ethan’s unease, but the time to find out what it stemmed from was up. Within one heartbeat and the next, the full moon reached its peak. A wave of energy swept out from the center of the ring, and an iridescent dome formed around them, locking both Michael and Ethan inside. Colors flashed in the hazy covering. From red to gold, the bright sparks danced over the surface.
Though it was beautiful, Ethan took in the sight from the corner of his eye. He kept his gaze locked on Michael and watched in awe as the spectral shape of a wolf formed behind him. The ghostly animal tipped its head back on a silent howl. The call was meant for its host, the keeper of their pack’s living soul.
Ethan felt it reverberate within him, demanding he claim his destiny. He stepped forward, and the spirit wolf turned its glowing amber eyes on him. Intelligence and cunning showed in the spirit’s expression. Ethan met the animal’s gaze… The Hunter’s gaze.
“There’s a sale going down today featuring several feral males who’ve proven themselves as hunters.” Ella’s words drifted through his head.
Realization dawned. It wasn’t just the first alpha who embodied the traits. They all did. Each and every member of their pack held the same potential.
“An alpha is given two choices each time he enters the circle with another male.” Michael’s voice carried over the clearing, loud enough for those watching them to hear. “Death or transfer.”
“Which have you chosen?” Ethan asked the words expected for the ceremony.
“To abide by the spirit wolf’s desires. It wants to teach us a lesson.” Michael unleashed a single sharpened nail. He gouged a deep slice into his palm. Blood dripped. “On strength and worthiness.”
Michael held out his hand, palm side up.
“Then let it. I don’t fear its teachings or desires. We are shifters, and survival is in our nature.” Ethan inflicted a similar wound on his palm, then grasped Michael’s hand.
A flip switched inside Ethan, and the force of the spirit wolf swamped him. Warmth surrounded and penetrated him. Ecstasy and pain followed. He squeezed Michael’s hand, tearing a groan from the male. The spirit rushed from Michael to Ethan through their mixed blood.
On and on, the power of the spirit wolf flooded him. He saw flashes of faces, from long-dead members to their children. All held a piece of the spirit wolf. The thin threads wove into Ethan’s psyche, joining each and every member to him, including the ones who no longer resided on their pack lands. Ethan connected with their missing members, catching glimpses of their life, their pain, their heartache, but, more importantly, their surroundings.
Like a slideshow on fast-forward, each scene flashed before him too quickly. He couldn’t focus on any yet he knew he’d be able to recall them. He opened his mind and accepted the gift of knowledge from the spirit wolf. Within one heartbeat and the next, the pictures faded, but the spirit wolf didn’t release him.
One last image burned in his mind—Owen tossing Hannah from a moving car, rage on his face.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Heart in her throat, Hannah grasped Noah’s wrist before he could climb out of the van. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
Noah rubbed his palm over her knuckles. “I know. It’s a trap.”
As soon as they’d arrived, the heavy aroma of bear had lingered around the Kagan Industries’ building. After one whiff, Owen had flipped out, saying he recognized the males.
She glanced over her shoulder at Owen, who sat next to her in the humans’ SUV, tense and vibrating with anger, then faced Noah. She widened her eyes, letting him see the question hovering in them. “Are you sure about…”
Noah flicked his gaze to Owen. “They want us to know they’re here, don’t they?”
Owen gave a sharp nod. “Yeah. This is going to blow up in our faces.” He leaned forward and asked the human agent. “Where are the other agents? You said they’d meet us.”
“Not sure.” The human shrugged. “But they’re coming.”
“Well, we’re not waiting for them. You’re getting Hannah and Owen out of here,” Noah ordered the male.
The idea of being separated from Noah churned her stomach. “But—”
Noah shook his head. “No buts. You’re going back to Kagan territory, and I’m going after Sean and Quinn. I can’t let them face the bears alone.” He pulled her in for a quick kiss. “I love you, Hannah. You’re the reason I breathe.”
With that, he left. She followed his retreating back until darkness swallowed him, then faced the human
agent. “Well, you heard him. Get us out of here.”
The guy grinned. “My pleasure.”
The vehicle started and turned onto the two-lane highway leading out of town. Hannah surveyed the rapidly disappearing landscape as they sped away for any sign of Noah or trouble, but nothing moved. Finally, she turned around and glanced at Owen. Lips parted, he stared blankly into space. She watched in shock as his pupils expanded and overtook the rest of his eyes, changing them into black fathomless pools.
With jerking, unnatural motions, he reached over her and unlocked the door. Mouth at her ear, he whispered in a voice that sounded nothing like his, “Do you remember how you survived falling from Noah’s bedroom window?”
She nodded.
“Do it again.”
He opened the door and shoved her out. Her scream got lost in the wind, but instinct took over. She tucked her head into her chest a second before she slammed into the pavement. The impact stole her breath and her vision. Pain radiated up her spine, and then darkness wiped it all away.
Ethan slammed on the brakes of his car. It spun, coming to a stop on the neatly trimmed front yard of the Kagan’s office building. He hopped out of his vehicle without bothering to kill the ignition. The unmistakable musk of bear filled his lungs with his first inhale. The strong, heady smell saturated the area, but it didn’t cover up Noah’s scent. His lingered, telling Ethan two things—Nic had been right in his guess of where Hannah and Noah had gone, and Ethan had arrived too late to warn them of the danger they faced.
His frustration mixed with anxiety. A quick scan didn’t reveal his lovers, or anyone, for that matter. He ran toward the rear of the property. The sound of squealing tires stilled his steps. He glanced over his shoulder. Nic and Alex jumped from another car.
Nic surveyed the property the same way Ethan had, but the Kagan alpha did a double take, then pointed to a spot along the tree line. Ethan followed the direction of his gaze. A flash of green, wolf eyes caught his attention. Noah was bolting toward them in his animal form.
Shared for Love: Kagan Wolves, Book 2 Page 29
