by Brenda Trim
“I’m protected,” she answered and locked arms with Lawson. “I’ve got Outlaw to keep me safe,” she said and smiled up at her husband.
“You got that right, Sunshine,” Lawson said with a wink. “Ain’t nobody getting to you without going through me first,” he declared and bent to kiss her lips.
“Can you two stop so we can get this show on the road?” Knox interjected and threw his hands up in the air. Liv pulled away, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“Let’s do it,” Lawson announced and led the way toward the building. Liv followed at Lawson’s back, and Devin and Knox flanked her sides. She was definitely well-guarded by these shifters.
Unsure of what to do, Bart took a stance behind Liv, mostly to protect the rear but also to stay out of harm’s way. He knew he was the weaker of the four men and wasn’t about to pretend otherwise. He wanted to make it out of this excursion with all of his limbs intact.
His heart raced in his chest as he watched their quiet, methodical approach. The men had obviously done this before and seemed calmer than the eye of a storm. He, on the other hand, was literally shaking. He hoped the others couldn’t hear his knees knocking together. His palms broke out in a sweat as they reached the glass doors and he said a quick prayer. Please, God, don’t let me die. And, if I do, please keep me from shitting myself in front of everybody. Amen.
Lawson, Devin, and Knox brandished their weapons as the group barreled through the front doors of the building. When they breached the doorway, they were greeted by several security guards. All held guns, and they were pointing them in their direction.
“Don’t take another step!” yelled one of the guards. He was a tall, lean man and Bart watched as he aimed his gun at Lawson.
“Throw down your weapons and get the fuck out of here. You’re trespassing, shifters!” shouted another as he cocked his rifle then pointed it toward Knox. The man was older than the other guards, but he looked like he could hold his own in a fight.
Liv gasped, and Bart took a small step backward, hoping the others would follow suit. Clearly, someone knew about their visit. These men were ready and waiting for them. But who would do that? Surely, not a shifter. What would be the reason to rat out one of their own? Was there a traitor amongst Lawson’s pack?
“I don’t think so,” Lawson growled. “Not until we’ve had a look around. I suggest you put down your weapons before someone gets hurt,” he threatened. His deep voice held not one ounce of fear and Bart gulped. This was about to get ugly.
“I’m not going to ask again. Get the fuck out before I shoot,” barked the older security guard.
Before Bart knew what was happening, Lawson tossed a small object toward the guards. Was that a fucking bomb? In the next breath, smoke filled the room. Devin reached into his backpack and pulled out several gas masks, tossing one to each of them.
Bart quickly pulled it over his head and secured the straps. Thankfully, he knew how to operate the piece of equipment. He glanced over and was surprised to see Liv knew what to do, too. Apparently, she’d needed to wear one before today. He shook off those thoughts and quickly turned the oxygen knob then took a deep breath. This was no ordinary respirator, he thought as his ability to see through the thick cloud of smoke improved. He could easily make out the guards bent over and coughing as they struggled to breathe.
Knox rushed over and cold-cocked one of the security guards with the butt of his assault rifle. The guard dropped quicker than lightning and Knox did a quick search of his body. Bart was confused until Knox pulled a small card from the guard’s pocket. He recalled seeing Liv use one when she worked at PRL to gain access to locked rooms.
“C’mon. We don’t have much time,” Lawson explained then grabbed Liv’s hand before dashing down a long hallway.
Their group followed and the next thing Bart knew they were checking room after room, looking for shifters. Each cell was empty. All they found were mattresses on the floor and cuffs anchored to the wall above each mattress.
“Fuck! Where are they? We’re running out of time,” shouted Lawson.
“Come with me,” Liv ordered and rushed from the room. She ran to the end of the hallway where a steel door was located. “This is probably the lab where they take blood. This might be where they’re keeping them,” she explained.
Devin wormed his way through their huddle and swiped the access card in front of the keypad, and the lock clicked. Devin opened the door and stepped inside, while at the same time, an ear-piercing alarm sounded.
“Looks like they’ve added extra security,” Lawson shouted as they cupped their ears against the loud noise.
As soon as Bart entered the room, he spotted four large wolves. They were strapped to metal tables, and tubes jutted from their furry forms. Red liquid ran through the tubes and filled containers placed near the tables.
A sudden scream permeated the air. “Nooo!” screamed Lawson as he snatched the mask from his head and ran toward a tan-colored wolf on one of the tables.
“What is it? Or should I say, who is it?” Liv asked as she ran to Lawson’s side.
“Ryan,” he replied as he cradled the wolf in his arms.
“Are you sure?” Liv asked as she leaned over the animal.
“Of course, I’m sure,” he muttered. “I can’t tell if he’s breathing, Liv,” he added as he yanked the tubes from the wolf’s body. “What if he’s dead?”
“Okay, stay calm. First, we need to get out of here. Each of you carry one of the wolves. I’ll lead us out,” Liv declared as she grabbed Lawson’s assault rifle.
“Do you know how to use that?” Bart blurted in shock.
“Yep. And, I won’t hesitate to use it,” Liv said through clenched teeth. Her green eyes blazed with anger. Bart had never seen Liv so determined and acknowledged she’d changed a lot since marrying the alpha of a wolf pack.
Devin and Knox ran to the nearby tables, and each of them grabbed a wolf. Bart made his way to the fourth animal, a light grey wolf with a black face, and yanked the tube from its belly. The animal looked dead to him, but he wasn’t about to argue that point. He noticed this wolf was much smaller than the other three. The others were close to the size of a horse, but this wolf wasn’t much bigger than a foal. He wondered if wolf litters had runts and if that’s what this was.
“Babe, be careful,” Lawson commented as he gathered the wolf in his arms. Bart could see the torment on his face. He knew Lawson lost his father during a similar situation and could only imagine what was running through the guy’s mind.
“I plan to. And, we’re all getting out of here. Your brother will be fine, Lawson. You must believe that, okay?” Liv reassured, and Lawson nodded before she turned toward the door.
“Lead the way, warrioress,” Knox called out, and they followed Liv from the room.
Thankfully, the long hallway was empty. Their group quickly maneuvered toward the main entrance of the building. The wolf was heavier than Bart anticipated, so he found himself struggling to keep up with the others. When they reached the large entryway, Bart spotted the security guards they’d encountered on their way in. The men were passed out on the floor, no doubt from smoke inhalation.
“Let’s get out of here before they come to,” Liv muttered as she shuffled past the downed guards and held open the glass door for them.
Bart and the three shifters carried the wolves out of the building. As Bart made a beeline toward the van, he heard a gunshot followed by a scream. He quickly turned to see one of the guards laying on the floor, pointing a gun toward Liv. Another pop rang out, and Bart watched as blood soaked through her light pink sweater. Liv immediately fell to her knees, grabbing her side.
“Liv!” shouted Lawson and he placed the wolf on the ground then raced toward her.
Bart was about to do the same when Liv rolled to her back and pointed the gun at the guard. Several shots echoed and the bullets found purpose in the guard’s skull. His head dropped to the floor, along with, the gun
he was holding.
Lawson reached Liv and picked her up, carrying her toward the van. “Move it. Now!” he shouted as he ran past Bart.
Bart picked up his pace and rushed to the vehicle. When their group reached the van, they placed the wolves inside. Knox ran back and picked up Ryan’s wolf then put him on the floor of the van. Lawson tended to Liv as the others threw their weapons into the back of the van then jumped inside the vehicle.
“Is she okay?” Bart shouted to Lawson as he cradled the small wolf. Its head rested in his lap as he stroked the silky black fur.
“She’ll be fine. Just a flesh wound,” Lawson remarked as he grabbed a towel and placed pressure over Liv’s injury. “My mate’s a badass. It’ll take more than a bullet to take her out,” he added and smiled at Liv.
“I learned from the best,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Now let’s get back to my lab so we can treat your brother and the others,” Liv instructed.
Lawson leaned over and placed a tender kiss to her lips. Bart watched the interaction and jealousy reared its head. Not because he still wanted Liv for himself, but because he wanted what they shared. To have a woman love him so deeply and to feel the same in return.
A whimper escaped the wolf, and Bart sighed his relief as he glanced down at the creature. At least this one was alive which gave him hope that the others would survive, as well. The animal opened its eyes, staring at Bart. The wolf had the most incredible eyes he’d ever seen. For a brief moment, he was mesmerized by the pools of blue. They reminded him of the sky on a perfect summer day.
“Hey there,” he whispered, and the wolf whimpered again. “We’re going to get you to a safe place. You’re going to be fine,” he cooed to the animal.
Bart thought about what he’d seen at the facility. He couldn’t deny the abuse toward shifters any longer. He rubbed the wolf’s face, and the animal sighed. Whatever it took, he would see to it that shifters were protected, once and for all.
Chapter 15
The haze finally cleared, and Ryan’s muddled thoughts fused together. Was he alive or dead? Alive he decided. Death must come with more peace and less pain. At least he hoped it did.
He tried to open his eyes, but his body demanded sleep. As he peered through the thick fog, he realized he was in a swamp. The muddy water was waist-high, making it difficult to walk.
“Lawson, stop beating yourself up. You had no idea Ryan was being held captive again,” intruded a female’s soft voice.
Was that Liv? Was she nearby? He didn’t see her anywhere.
“I know, but it’s my fault he left in the first place. I should’ve stayed by his side after we found him. If only I hadn’t left Cassie alone with him…” a deep voice trailed off.
It was his brother. Lawson was there with him. He tried again to open his eyes, but they wouldn’t budge. Ryan tried to speak, but nothing came out. He took two steps but sunk further in the mud. Whatever was wrong with him refused to let him go so he could wake up and set things right with his family.
“Hey, if that’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I knew Cassie was weak when it came to Ryan. I should’ve told her no when she asked for privacy with your brother. So, if you want to blame someone, blame me,” insisted Liv.
“I would never do that. Because of you, Ryan is stable. Because of you, he’s still alive,” Lawson countered.
“Yeah, but he’s still in a coma. I’ve given him several infusions of blood, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I don’t get it. His wolf is here, but we can’t reach Ryan. I thought for sure giving him your blood would do the trick,” Liv explained, and Ryan heard the shuffle of paperwork.
Relief flooded his system. His wolf reemerged and claimed control. It wasn’t his imagination. He reached deep within, searching for his animal and the wolf answered with a howl. Ryan thanked Gaia for answering his prayers. He took a few more steps in the thick mud, trying to move toward the sound of Lawson’s voice. Darkness enveloped him, making it impossible to decipher his surroundings.
“I thought so, too. Maybe the Ravin is preventing him from returning to us,” Lawson suggested.
Ryan considered his brother’s words. Was the Ravin there? He delved deep, searching for any trace of the creature. He felt nothing but his wolf. So, why couldn’t he get out of the swamp?
“Well, what we’ve learned from your experience and Jeremiah’s, Ryan has to want to get better. If he allows the Ravin control, there’s nothing we can do to combat it. It’s an inner battle more than a physical one,” Liv relayed.
“You’re right about that. Last time I saw Ryan he wanted nothing to do with me or the rest of our family. I can’t give up though. I refuse to turn my back on him,” Lawson commented, and Ryan heard the determination in his tone.
Ryan fought to open his eyes, to speak, or just move. Anything to let his brother know he was there. Lawson needed to know the Ravin was gone, and that he was sorry for the way he treated him. He forged ahead through the cold sludge, toward his brother’s voice.
“Do you want to go home for a bit? Eat and shower. Maybe rest for a while. You haven’t slept in two days,” Liv murmured.
“You go ahead, babe. I’m not leaving until Ryan wakes up. You need to get some sleep, too. Go home,” Lawson urged.
“Not a chance, Outlaw. I’m not leaving your side. I’ll call Ashley and have her send some food over,” Liv replied.
“Hey, did you talk with Cassie?” Lawson asked.
Ryan perked at the mention of Cassie. Hopefully, she’d give him a chance to apologize. He didn’t expect her forgiveness, but at least she’d know he was genuinely sorry for the way he treated her.
“Oh, shoot. I’ve been so busy with Ryan and the others, I forgot. I’ll call her now. I’m going to use the vacant room to shower and grab some shut-eye.”
“Let me know what Cassie says. I think it would help if she visited. Maybe hearing her voice would bring him around,” Lawson offered.
“My thoughts exactly. Be back in a bit,” Liv said, and kisses echoed in Ryan’s ears.
“Enjoy your shower,” Lawson said, and a loud pop filled the air followed by Liv’s screech. Ryan guessed Lawson smacked Liv on her ass. Lawson couldn’t keep his hands off his mate and Ryan couldn’t blame the male. On the rare chance he won Cassie back he wouldn’t hesitate to show her how much she meant to him.
“Care to join me?” Liv purred, and Ryan heard more kisses follow.
“Mmm, I do recall our special room. We’ve had some pretty good times in there,” Lawson murmured, and Ryan heard the rustle of clothes.
Please don’t let them have sex right now, Ryan thought. He couldn’t open his eyes, but his fucking ears were functioning correctly.
“I better stay here just in case he wakes up. Raincheck?”
“Anytime, Outlaw. You know where to find me if you change your mind,” Liv replied, and he heard soft footsteps leave the room. Thank fuck his brother was thinking with his big head instead of the smaller one.
“Well, it’s just you and me, bro. What should we talk about?” Lawson asked then went on to update him on the happenings at Safe Haven, their sisters, and the pack. His heart ached to see Hannah, Haylee, and Brenlee. He adored his sisters and missed them something fierce.
Ryan was shocked to hear how much had changed in such a short period. New members had joined, their welding business was growing by leaps and bounds, and the addition of Jeremiah’s land made for a flourishing pack in Hollow Rock, Tennessee. His brother really was a born leader and, for the first time, his heart swelled with pride instead of jealousy.
His wolf howled in agreement. Now, if only Ryan could wake up and reunite with his family. He had to get out of this fucking swamp, he thought as he took another step forward.
The sound of ringing interrupted Ryan’s efforts. “Hey, Bart. What’s up?” Lawson blurted.
Ryan strained to hear what the caller was saying, but it was a jumbled blur. Bart was the governor of Tennessee and Liv’s ex
-boyfriend. From what Ryan remembered, there was no love lost between Lawson and Bart, so why was the male calling? Several minutes passed and all Ryan heard was the occasional ‘uh-huh’ and ‘I see’ from Lawson.
Finally, Lawson offered enough information and Ryan understood the reason for their conversation. “Thank you for taking a stand on our behalf. I wish I could be there at the press conference, but Ryan is still in a coma. I can’t leave right now. Would you like me to send one of my pack members to fill in for me?”
About time the male did what was right. He was governor, after all. If he didn’t stand up for shifters, then no one would. Ryan recalled Jensen’s wife and the use of electroshock therapy on shifters. Bart needed to be told about that, as well. That shit had to stop.
“Yeah, that’s a good point. Well, good luck and keep me posted. Thanks again, Bart,” Lawson said then Ryan heard the call end.
A deep sigh escaped Lawson then the room went quiet. His brother was evidently lost in thought. He wanted to reach out and comfort him, but his body wouldn’t comply.
“Bro, I really need you to come back to me,” Lawson pleaded, breaking the silence. “There’s a lot of shit about to go down, and I need your support. Knox has done a great job, but he’s not you. I could use your insight and knowledge right now. You know more about these humans than I do. I still don’t know if I can trust Bart, but he’s all we’ve got,” he explained.
His brother needed him? He never knew that. Lawson always seemed so sure of himself, so Ryan never once saw doubt or hesitation in Lawson’s eyes. More than anything, Ryan wanted to stand by his brother’s side. If given the opportunity, he’d never let him down again. He had to find his way out of this fucking swamp, Ryan concluded and continued his slow trek through the mud.
Ryan’s wolf howled in the distance. It was loud and distinct, guiding him. Ryan trudged through the thick mud, following the sound. Each howl was nearer than the one before, and his pace quickened when the fog slowly evaporated. Up ahead, he could see a sloping bank. He was so close he could taste it.
