by Jenny May
A loud moaned poured from Zara and at the tightening of her around his thickness, he knew he couldn’t hold off anymore. Cooper felt his arm jerked forward just as his cum shot from his cock. Rogue’s teeth sunk into his flesh, just as he felt his teeth embedding in Zara’s shoulder. From where her head was, he knew she was putting her mark on Rogue’s chest. What felt like electricity shot through Cooper’s limbs. Spots covered his vision and he felt himself sway. It was typical to pass out after the bonding, but he hadn’t given that a second thought when they’d started.
As Cooper’s body sagged to the bed of the truck, right next to Rogue, he barely felt the cover spreading over them. He assumed it was Rogue doing it, but darkness was quickly taking over, and before he realized it, Cooper was sucked into the heavenly unconsciousness of his mating.
Chapter 13
A throat clearing had Rogue blinking. He put his hand over his eyes, blocking the sun. Where the hell was he? Slowly, he lifted his head and noticed Zara was asleep on his chest and Cooper was curled against his side. Logan and Chief came into his view and he saw they were smiling.
“Y’all have a good time, last night?” Logan asked, raising his eyebrow.
A big grin came to his face as he remembered their bonding. “Sure did. Best night of my life, actually.”
“I take it the mating went through pretty well, then.” Logan rested his forearms against the edge of the bed of the truck and Rogue pulled the cover higher to cover Zara’s shoulders.
“Yep. Now, ah, if you don’t mind.” Rogue looked at his mates and Logan nodded.
“We’ll wait for you up here. We just got a call from Riley and Wyatt that your truck was out here and wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
Zara stirred on his chest, and as she started to lift, Rogue pinned his arm against her back. Her eyes flew open and he knew he’d startled her by accident. “Calm, darlin’, they’re just here, checking on us. Didn’t want you showing them what belongs to me and Coop.”
“Oh.” She yawned and snuggled her face against his chest. The pride and love he felt at the action warmed his heart. He moved his arm to hold her.
“We should get dressed.” He turned to Cooper and kissed his forehead. “Coop.” A few seconds went by. “Cooper.” Still he didn’t wake up. “Pet!” Cooper bolted to a sitting position. He looked around lost, and then turned back and stared at them. Rogue tried not to laugh. “We need you to get dressed and get our clothes out of the truck. Logan and Chief are here.”
“Oh.” Cooper reached down and put on his suit. He was a bit wobbly as he climbed down the truck and headed to the front. Rogue could have stayed like they were for hours. Both of his mates by his side was something he was looking forward to seeing every morning he woke up.
Cooper’s arm outstretched and Rogue and Zara took their clothes. As they were getting dressed Rogue froze and looked at her. “You took your plug out last night. When?”
The grin she had on her face melted away at his question. “When you both were getting stuff out of the back of the truck. I threw it.” She pointed. “That way.”
Rogue licked his lips. “You’ll pay for that.”
“I was counting on it,” she said, looking down, smiling.
Fuck, he was already getting hard thinking about it. He lifted her face and pressed his lips gently against hers. Before it could get out of control he pulled back and finished getting dressed. He helped Zara down and handed Cooper the keys so they could cool off inside the truck, while he walked over to Logan and Chief.
As Rogue headed in their direction, the sound of the diesel engine turned on behind him.
“You look fucking nice.” Logan shook his head. “Shit, you sure do clean up good. I’m with Damien. You look like a damn celebrity, Rogue. Who knew all that was hiding under that scruffy face and long hair?”
Rogue rolled his eyes. “Thank you, I think. We met her father last night. Thought I’d dress to impress. Not sure how he took me showing up, looking like nothing he was expecting. I wanted him to question me. To be unsure of who he was messing with. With the vibes I got from him, truthfully, I think he knows what we’re all up to. Everything felt like such an act. Nikolas did make one thing clear though, and that was that he wanted me in with him. At least that’s the impression he gave off. He could have just been feeling me out though. Maybe, see if it was even possible. It was hard to tell.”
“You be sure to let us know when you decide the time is right. We’ll come pull rank when you call him out, if that’s the case. There’s no way to trust that the fight will be fair if you’re by yourself. You’re deep in enemy territory for crying out loud. I can’t stand that you’re so exposed. If for some reason he thinks you’re plotting to take him, it’ll get bad, and fast. None of us want that.” Logan nodded toward the truck. “Especially them. Don’t risk doing anything stupid. They need you. Especially Zara.”
“I know. I’ll call when we know something for sure. I really want to see if I can somehow expose him to his pack. I know some of them know what he’s doing. But if they all were to see, it would make me taking over a lot easier.”
“I’m sure it would. From what I hear from McCullen, the humans have been moved from their locations. Proving that now to anyone would be impossible unless you can find out where he took them.” Logan wiped sweat from his forehead. “My best advice is maybe try to get on his good side, see if you can learn something.”
“I might do that.” Rogue glanced back to his mates. “We three have a lot to talk about. The sooner we get started, the faster Nikolas’s reign is over.”
“Well, I’ll let you all get back to Triple Z. Gotta say, I’m kind of surprised to see you here to begin with.”
Rogue shrugged. “Just kinda where we ended up. We weren’t really clearheaded if you know what I mean.”
“Understood.” Logan slapped Chief’s shoulder. “Let’s go, big man.”
He turned and paused, looking back at Rogue. “Be careful when you’re around Nikolas. I’m serious. Don’t play the hero, Rogue. Call me, one of your brothers, or Jack, if anything happens, or when you’re ready.”
“I said I would.” Rogue watched Logan climb in the truck with Chief. As they turned to leave, he headed back to his own vehicle. If he was one thing, it wasn’t stupid. If you didn’t have people pulling rank for you, an alpha fight could quickly turn into a massacre. Now that he had his mates, Rogue wasn’t risking anything to put them in harm’s way.
The cool air from the AC felt good as he climbed in the driver’s side. Cooper had his seat laid back and opened one eye as he got in. Zara looked as chipper as could be. The bonding had been harder on Coop, for sure. With Rogue and Zara being alpha, they took to it a lot easier.
“I’m starving,” Zara said, reaching for the radio. She turned it on, and Cooper groaned, holding his hand to his head. The moment she noticed, she turned it off. “I’m sorry. Are you okay? You don’t look so well.”
“Headache,” he whispered. “Killer freaking headache. But food should make it better. I’m pretty hungry too.”
Rogue tried to avoid the rutted parts of the road while he went the distance to the highway. It didn’t take long before he was heading through Fort Stockton and into Triple Z territory. What he wasn’t expecting was to see a fancy black Escalade sitting in front of Zara’s house. She instantly stiffened.
“My father. I wonder what he’s doing here?”
Rogue felt his wolf surge through him defensively. He suddenly didn’t have a good feeling at all.
Nikolas walked out of the front door, his eyes narrowed. Their gazes met, and Rogue threw the truck in park, turning it off.
“Rogue,” Zara whispered. “Calm. Your wolf is scaring me.”
Cooper unbuckled and looked over at him. The protectiveness behind his mate’s face told him he knew Coop would be watching his back. Somehow that put him at ease. Rogue never felt like he ever needed anyone, but knowing he had a mate that was willing to he
lp protect him comforted Rogue more than he could explain.
“I’m sorry, Zara.” He tried grinning, but knew it didn’t come out like he’d wanted. He opened the door and stood, waiting for Zara to climb out on his side. The first thing he did was take her hand and shut the door. Even though she was almost just as strong as him, he couldn’t help but want to protect her. She’d already been hurt so much, and he wasn’t about to let anything put her through more pain.
“You left Triple Z,” Nikolas snapped, climbing down from the porch. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
Rogue gave him a bored look. Inside he was seething. “I wasn’t aware we weren’t allowed to leave.”
“You already said you got your stuff. There was no reason for you to go back. I’m your alpha now.” He came to stand in front of them and suddenly four large men walked out from inside the house. “If you’re going to leave, you have to pass it through me first. For all I knew, you were taking my daughter away and I was never going to see her again.”
Rogue shook his head. “Why would I do that? I’d never take Zara away from her home. She loves it here. Her happiness is my first priority.”
“How am I supposed to know that? Who’s to say you weren’t out telling your former alpha all about my ranch and the best ways to sneak in?”
The four men circled around, behind Nikolas. Rogue studied their locations. If something went down, he wanted an order he was going to attack in. Zara’s father would be a hell of a challenge all on his own. Could his two mates take out the four men if he couldn’t beat Nikolas fast enough? There were too many questions.
Rogue looked at the alpha. “You can assume whatever you want. But I hate to tell you, if Dark Days, Hidden Hills, The Big C, or even Whiskey River Ranch, wanted to come in here and try to take you over, they already know the best ways to do it. Me joining your pack is the best thing that could have ever happened to you, so if I were you, I’d watch getting on my bad side.
“Now get out of my god damn face. If you weren’t Zara’s father, I would have already made you. But I respect her, and I’m giving you the benefit that maybe you were actually worried about her instead of just freaking out about your territory.” Rogue projected his wolf out with every bit of force he had. He might not throw the first punch at Nikolas, but he wasn’t going to let him get away with bullying him around without the alpha knowing who he was messing with.
Nikolas stood, glaring at him. His expression never changed. What that told Rogue was absolutely nothing. He’d yet to feel Nikolas’s maximum power, and that was unnerving as hell. He had an idea, but that was it. What if he was too overconfident? What if he wasn’t stronger than the veteran? Or maybe that’s just what Nikolas wanted him to think.
“Is there anything else?” Zara looked up at him. “I have a lot to do. Like make breakfast. I’m hungry.”
“Load up,” Nikolas growled at his men. “You’re not allowed to leave Triple Z again without letting me know first. And you can assume my answer will be no so don’t even bother asking.” He turned, and paused, looking at Zara. “By the way, I helped you pack your house. Your disrespect astounds me. I didn’t raise a weak daughter. Time to man up, Z. You had the strength once. You’ve grown soft. That time’s over. I need soldiers, and you’re going to be one, again. I didn’t spend the first twenty years of your life training you for nothing. You are to proceed me.” His eyes glared at Rogue. “I made a mistake, before.” He turned back to Zara. “Don’t you dare think of failing me or you’ll regret it. Tomorrow you start training all over again. Be there before sunrise.”
Rogue stepped forward and Zara gripped his forearm tightly. “I’ll be there,” she said.
“Good.” He turned and walked back to the SUV. Rogue’s body was trembling at the amount of anger he felt. His wolf was positively reeling to get out. That man was making a big mistake if he thought Rogue was going to stand back and let Zara pay for whatever had set the alpha off.
“Let’s go inside.” She pulled him toward the porch, but Rogue never took his eyes off of the Escalade until it was out of sight. Zara finally got him to the door and at her gasp he looked into her house. “Oh my…” Her hand dropped and she stepped inside. Rogue could feel his eyes go big, and he followed, stepping around Cooper.
All the pictures she had on the walls of her and George were ripped up, lying in pieces in a neat pile. A sickening feeling rushed through him, and Rogue knew it wasn’t from him. To feel her so upset and deeply sad had his wolf pounding against his insides. Nikolas was going to pay. God, mark his words, he would not be getting away with this.
“I’m so sorry,” Cooper whispered. He pulled Zara into his arm and she nearly collapsed into him.
“I was going to take them down.” She sobbed. “I was. I had every intention of packing them away when we got home. Now there’s nothing left.” A tear streamed down her face, and she eased to her knees in front of the pile.
Rogue lowered beside her. “We’ll tape and put them together as best as we can. I have a friend who works at the surveillance cabin at Dark Days. He’s great with things like this. Photo editing, or whatever it’s called. I’ll have him fix them. They’ll be like new, again. I promise you.”
Her tear-filled eyes rose to him, and she threw her arms around his neck. Rogue held her as she cried. Cooper kneeled and stared into his eyes. There were no words needed for him to relay that Nikolas was going to pay. Rogue could hear it so clearly. He nodded, slowly, and Cooper stood. “I’ll get the tape and you both can start fixing them. I’ll start breakfast. How does that sound?” He grinned at Zara, and she nodded, wiping her face.
“I seriously have the best mates in the world. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying so much. The pictures were just that. Pictures. Memories. It’s just how it was done so cruelly. I think that’s what gets me the most. He knew it would hurt me, yet he did it anyway. That’s the father I remember. Not the one from last night. That wasn’t him. Now I guess you both see the Nikolas I know.”
Cooper handed him the tape. “No, I wasn’t fooled last night. I knew just what type of person he was. His energy is dark. Seeing his true colors today just shows me I wasn’t wrong.” He gestured to the pictures. “I wish I would have been, though. That man has no heart. He proved that here, today. I have no doubt that he’s behind all the bad things he’s accused of. I’m sorry, Zara. He’s got to go.”
“No one knows that better than me.” She pushed the pieces out but kept her head down. “With me being there, I’m sure I’ll find out.”
The more of Zara’s pain that consumed him, the more Rogue was having a hard time sitting still. No one was going to hurt his mates. No one. He didn’t care that Nikolas was her father. The man had crossed the line. Big-time.
As Cooper disappeared into the kitchen, he helped Zara piece the pictures back together. Only three were finished by the time Cooper started carrying the plates to the table. The smell of the bacon and eggs turned his stomach, but Rogue would have to force it down. He needed all the energy he could get.
“Come, Zara. Let’s eat. You and Coop can continue to work on them once we’re finished.”
“Wait.” She looked up at him. “Are you going somewhere?”
Rogue held his hand out to her and helped her up. “I’m going to take these three pictures over to Miguel once I’m finished. I’ll let him get a head start.”
“Oh. But how are you going to do that? You’re not supposed to leave Triple Z.”
Rogue led her to the table. “No one tells me where I can go. If he wouldn’t have ruined them, then I wouldn’t have to go get them fixed. Now stop worrying, and eat. You had a big night. I want you full, and rested up.”
The look on her face was one of worrying. And he didn’t like it. Zara turned to her plate and he sat down. “Thanks for breakfast, Coop.”
He smiled. “You bet.”
The meal was eaten in silence. He had no doubt they all had a lot on their minds. What was going t
hrough Rogue’s all revolved around his anger. He finished up and headed to the room. The closet was full of all of their clothes, and it wasn’t anywhere near big enough. They were really going to have to figure out what to do. The house really needed to be added on to. He grabbed a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and his leather jacket. As he walked through the living room, Cooper and Zara were already working back on the pictures.
“I shouldn’t be gone too long. Truck keys are on the counter if either of you need to take it anywhere. I’m gonna take the bike.” Rogue grabbed the three pictures, tucking them in the hidden pocket on the inside of his jacket. He zipped it up, and took in their faces. “Cooper.”
His mate’s gaze widened, and he knew Cooper picked up on his meaning. He wanted him to watch over Zara in case anything happened. Nothing probably would, but just in case.
“Rogue.” He slowly stood, and his arms came around Rogue’s neck. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he whispered.
“Never.” Rogue pulled back and kissed Cooper’s mouth. “I’ll be back shortly.” He walked over, kissing Zara’s forehead. The moment the door shut behind him, Rogue’s wolf stalked his insides. The anger projected out around him and he thrived in the role. This was the man he knew. The predator. The undercover killer. His mates would never see this side of him. He kept it locked away good and tight. The only time it was revealed was when he was past the point of no return, and Nikolas had pushed him over the edge.
The door to the barn squeaked while he gave it a hard push. He was really going to have to fix the damn thing. Tomorrow.
A deep purr filled the air, and Rogue didn’t wait as he sped out of the barn. Zara’s father was about to find out firsthand what it was like to get on his bad side, and he could guarantee the man wasn’t going to like it at all.
Chapter 14
Zara gripped the reins tightly. She smiled and looked over to Cooper, who stood a few feet away. “No cheating this time. You don’t start running until I say go.”
