Fighting For Their Mate

by Vella Day

  “Fine. I won’t say a word if you find my camera for me.” She had an idea.

  “I thought we all agreed the photo you took of Brad and Tom was probably destroyed.”

  She never liked admitting that she’d lied. “That’s not why I want my camera. Since you’ve been so honest with me, I’ll be with you. I backed up my photos to Dropbox.”

  “You did?” Tyson rushed over and hugged her. He let go a second later, but his warmth actually brought comfort and relief.

  “Yes, but I’ll need access to a computer if you want to see the photos.”

  Ford sat on the bed again. “If you have access to that photo, why do you want your camera so badly? I want the truth.”

  “I’m a professional photographer. I have a telephoto lens on my camera, along with a doubler. I was thinking I could hide quite far from the lab and take pictures of who goes in and who comes out. I thought it might be helpful later on to identify the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.”

  Ford shrugged. “Perhaps, but as far as we know, they’ll all be bad.”

  “Even the scientists and nurses? Are you certain they’re there by choice?”

  Tyson’s lips turned down. “She’s got a point, bro. We didn’t sense any of the nurses had shifter blood.”

  “Fuck. She’s right,” Ford said, more excited than she’d ever seen him. “It’s possible we could recruit some of the nurses to help us. Maybe one of them would turn a blind eye when we escort Tatum out.”

  The men actually thought she had a good idea. Their plan of bringing Tatum out had adrenaline coursing through her. Her mind spun. “My nurse, Clare, didn’t seem happy. She never said anything specifically to that affect, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she had to be there.”

  Tyson nodded. “I’ve spoken with her, too. She appeared worried and a bit depressed.”

  “You would, too, if you had to do bad things to people,” Ford added. He stood. “How about we head to the facility? Ty, you can drop me off in front of the furniture store. I’ll head in through there to the lab. While they’ll know it’s me by my scan, I’m thinking neither George nor Nate will be able to watch me enter, as there aren’t any cameras there. They might not alert Statler to my presence.”

  “Do you know where they keep my stuff?” she asked. She didn’t want to consider they’d destroyed it all.

  He shook his head. “No, but I’ll snoop around. If I find your camera, I’ll bring it out the same way I came in. If Statler does question me, I’ll tell him I needed to tell Ty something. I’ll say, he needs to deal with your body.”

  That sounded good to her.

  Ford held up a finger. “If I can get your camera gear, do you promise you’ll do as you say? We can’t have you anywhere near that lab.”

  “I totally get what would happen if I were caught. I just want to help and will be calmer if I do. I’m not the inactive type.”

  Tyson looked over at Ford. “We could send the photos to General Armand.” He faced her. “He’s our Pack boss.” He looked back at Ford. “If we have Bailey share her Dropbox photos with General Armand, he could look at the photos and do a background check on the nurses and doctors.”

  “Cool.” She really liked how they treated her as an equal. Maybe there was something to this mate stuff after all.

  “Let’s go,” Tyson said as he helped her off the bed. “Sorry about the accommodations.”

  “That’s okay.” She glanced down at what she was wearing. “Is there any way we can stop at a store so I can buy a few more things?” She stilled. “Oh, shit, I don’t have any money. If you could lend me some, I promise to pay you back.”

  “Sure,” Tyson nodded. “I might pick up some stuff, too. I think Statler would think it odd if we left our little room at the lab with a suitcase.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much trouble.” She really meant it.

  Ford opened the room door. “It’s no trouble at all. We’re in this together now.”

  Bailey didn’t want to get her hopes up, afraid to believe these men were as good as they seemed. It was never fun to have your dreams destroyed.

  Once more, the men sheltered her as they rushed to the car. She doubted this dump had surveillance cameras around, but she couldn’t be sure.

  This time, they had her sit in the back. Before Ford got in, he pulled two blankets from the back. “I want you to lie down and cover up from head to toe. If someone should stop us, I don’t want him to see you.”

  Way to make this already scary situation worse, but she completely understood that any mistake on her part could cost all of them their lives. “Okay.”

  Chapter Nine

  Having a seemingly normal conversation with Tyson and Ford while sprawled out on the floor behind the driver’s seat covered in blankets was a bit odd, but Bailey wouldn’t complain. Because Ford was about to risk his life to go back into the lab, she hoped her contribution would be beneficial not only to Tatum but to the other girls as well.

  She prayed those asses hadn’t tossed her gear in a dumpster. If they had, she didn’t feel right borrowing a few thousand dollars to buy another camera.

  The car stopped and the driver side door opened. “I’ll text you if I find something,” Ford said. “If I can’t locate her gear, take Bailey away from here. We don’t need anyone spotting her.”

  Her nerves shot up her arms and down her legs. As soon as the door closed, Tyson slid into the vacated seat, but he didn’t drive off.

  She wanted to hurl. She wasn’t cut out to be a spy, but for her sister’s sake, Bailey had to do this.

  Think of anything but getting caught. Bailey concentrated on the good times she and Tatum had on their AT adventure. Their first night on the trail, they’d laughed so hard trying to get their hammocks strung up. Eventually, they gave up on the rain fly, praying the skies would remain clear. Bailey sighed. Tatum, Tatum. A tear leaked out and she swiped it away.

  But dreaming wouldn’t get her sister free. Her focus needed to be on these two men. The more she understood them, the better she could cope.

  Bailey readjusted the blanket over her face. “How did you two get involved in saving the world?” They seemed perfect for it. They were big, strong, and pretty much indestructible.

  Tyson chuckled, put the car in gear, and drove off. Ford must have made it inside without being arrested. Good. Knowing he was safe—at least temporarily—helped ease the ache in her belly. Or should it have made it worse? Any second, this Statler dude could find him and question him. Would Ford fold? Would he give her up in exchange for his life? A knife to the throat could be a powerful motivator.

  Stop it.

  A few minutes later, Tyson pulled to a stop and kept the engine running. “The Pack has branch offices all over the United States with the main one in Florida. My dad runs one near Asheville.”

  She hadn’t given thought to the idea of them having parents. “That’s not even a day’s drive from my folks.” If she were their mate, would they be willing to drive that far? Bailey still hadn’t come to grips with any of this. What was going to happen after Tatum and the women were free? Would these two let her go, especially since they claimed this was their one chance at finding a mate? She still wasn’t buying it.

  Stop worrying. That was unproductive. She wasn’t even sure she’d be alive in a few days. Bailey adjusted the blanket so that part of it supported her head. The floor wasn’t very comfortable. Then again, neither was being strapped down on the bed with a tube in her arm. “Continue with your story.”

  “About a year ago, we got wind of an arm’s deal going down in our neck of the woods. When Ford and I served in Afghanistan, guns became my specialty, whereas Ford’s was hand-to-hand combat. Dad, and a bunch of the other shifters, tried unsuccessfully to find any information on the dealers. These Colters were that good. Out of options, my father suggested Ford and I go undercover to see what we could learn.”

  How could a father send his sons into something so danger
ous? Oh, yeah. The same way all parents send their sons and daughters into the military. “How were you able to blend in? Can’t a werewolf tell the difference between a Pack member and a bad Colter?”

  “All Colters are bad, but no. It’s the same with humans. You look at someone and judge them, but can you be sure you’re right?”

  “No.” People took one look at her straight teeth, nice clothes, and fancy car and assumed she was a rich snob. The rich part was true, but she was no snob.

  “It took Ford and me about eight months to gain their trust.”

  “Wasn’t it hard to pretend to be friends with those horrible people?” She could never do it.

  “Harder than anything I’d ever done in my life, but I believed it was what I was put on this earth to do. Against humans, a werewolf is practically unstoppable. Someone has to prevent the bad ones from trying to take over the world.”

  She thought he was exaggerating until she analyzed it. “Oh, crap. Do you believe a lot of murders are committed by werewolves? Once they killed their victim, they could shift and slip away into the night.”

  “Precisely. It’s pretty damned scary, isn’t it?”

  She had no idea something this terrible was going on under the noses of the American people. “What about your mom? Does she fight crime, too?”

  “No. Women can’t shift. She does her part, though, by being supportive. We see well at night, so we’re often out late hunting. She stays home and worries.”

  Poor woman. That must be tough. He said they hunted. “Do you kill animals and eat them?”

  “No, baby. We’re not savages. That’s not to say I don’t love a good romp in the woods or a rare steak—but I get mine at a restaurant just like you humans. Running in wolf form helps clear my head. Hold on. Got a text from Ford. Yes! He’s got your camera. We’re heading back to the parking lot.”

  Relief poured through her as the SUV lurched forward. As excited as she was to have her camera back, being near this lab renewed her anxiety. Sweat beaded on her forehead and acid rose up into her throat.

  “You okay back there?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Not really, but why worry him?

  “Everything will work out just fine.”

  She wasn’t banking on it. Nothing had gone right since she saw that wolf in her camera. Why should things go smoothly now?

  The car slowed then rolled to a stop. “I see Ford,” he said.

  Bailey almost sat up until she remembered she couldn’t. The passenger side door opened, and cold air rushed in. Ford ducked in and closed the door.

  “Here’s her camera case. The locker was empty except for this. I’m guessing they trashed everything else.”

  Damn.

  “I’m surprised they kept the camera,” Tyson said.

  “Me, too. How’s she doing?” Ford’s voice was tinged with genuine worry.

  He was acting like she wasn’t even there. Bailey wanted to answer for herself. “I’m fine.”

  “Glad to hear it.” His cell dinged. “Fuck. I just got a page from Statler. He wants to see me. Wish me luck.”

  At the thought of possibly not seeing him again, a rush of anxiety and fear swamped her. Bailey wanted to jump out of the car and give him a hug, but that would be stupid.

  Ford slammed the door shut, and Tyson drove off. “I have a spot where you can shoot from. Stay down until I tell you it’s safe.”

  She had no intention of disobeying. By taking the photos, she was putting both of them in danger, but she hoped it would be worth it in the end.

  He drove for about two minutes then cut the engine. “Here’s your bag. Go ahead and sit up, but be ready at a moment’s notice to duck back down.”

  “If you don’t think I should be doing this, just tell me.”

  “No. Your idea has merit.”

  Merit wouldn’t necessarily keep them safe. Her hands were so shaky she had a hard time putting her spare disk in her camera. “Those jerks took my flash drive, you know.”

  “They probably checked the photos, saw Tom and Brad, or whatever their real names are, and trashed it.”

  Asshats. When she sat up, she was disappointed at the angle. She could see the side of the furniture store, but that was all. “Where do most of the workers enter the lab?”

  “See that white door about sixty feet from the front?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s where the nurses go in. The rest of the men live in the lab. Some, I think, rarely go out.”

  That was a bummer. She put on her doubler, then her zoom lens and rolled down the window to use as a makeshift tripod. To make sure the faces weren’t in shadows, she opened the aperture two stops. And then she waited. And waited. Only one woman exited.

  “Can we get closer? I’m not really seeing much.”

  “Ah, babe, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Don’t you want good pictures?” Damn. She should listen to him, but she wanted to help.

  He twisted around. “Fine, but I won’t stay long and chance anything happening to you. How about getting under your covers again? I’ll park at the edge of the lot in front of the furniture store. If I don’t sense anyone, you can take a few shots, but then we have to go.”

  That worked for her. “Thank you.”

  As soon as he left the safety of their hidden spot, her breathing became labored. She curled up in a tight ball, praying this wasn’t going to be her undoing, but she had Tyson, and that comforted her. He was a weapon’s expert, but even if he had a gun with him, she doubted he’d start shooting.

  Questions bombarded her. Against a human, a gun could kill, but against another wolf, didn’t he say those bullets had to have poison inside?

  “We’re here,” Tyson said. “Stay down while I scope it out.” From his slow delivery, he was as concerned as she was. “Okay. Sit up slowly and get your bearings. I suggest you don’t roll down the window. It might draw attention.”

  The moment she sat up, her pulse immediately went into overdrive. She inhaled a few times to calm her racing heart, but it didn’t do much good. From this vantage point, someone could be hiding behind a car, watching her. A woman and two children entered the furniture store, which helped Bailey focus on the task at hand. “I’m guessing we’re not interested in the store customers.”

  “I’m thinking you’re right.”

  Bailey turned on her camera and set the mode to aperture priority, needing as big a depth of field as possible. Wouldn’t it be terrible if the background was clear and the face blurry?

  It was hard to keep looking toward the sides of the building to find people when she believed at any moment, someone would spot her and drag her from the SUV.

  “Clare at two o’clock,” Tyson said, excitement in his voice.

  For moment, she was confused where to look. Then she spotted the nurse. Bailey lifted the camera and took what she thought were some pretty good shots. “Got her. What is she doing out in the middle of the afternoon?”

  “Beats me. Oh, there’s a shifter in the parking lot to the west.”

  Like she knew a shifter from a human? “Which one?”

  “Blue uniform.”

  Her hands shook. “Holy fuck. That’s Brad.”

  No one had to tell her this was bad. Instead of snapping a photo, she dove to the floor.

  “He’s coming towards us.” The engine shot to life. “I hope he didn’t see you. You covered?”

  She hoped so. “Yes.”

  With slow precision, Tyson eased out of his slot and drove away. “I think he saw us. Shit.”

  “What can he do? He’s on foot.”

  “He can get in his car and follow us.”

  Contents from her stomach tinged her mouth. Her chin trembled and blood pounded in her ears. She nearly peed in her pants. This was bad. What if he recognized her? “Can’t you lose him?” Hurry.

  “Don’t worry.” Something dinged. She guessed it was his phone. “This came in a bit late, but it’s from Ford. H
e said Tony Khan was assigned to monitor the exterior of the building. Normally, that would be my job.”

  She didn’t know who Tony Khan was, nor did she care. “Is he following us, too?” The motion of the car, the grating of the engine, and the fucking fear made her nauseated.

  “Not that I can tell. I’m going to do a little evasive maneuver to be sure.”

  She didn’t care as long as she wasn’t caught. As much as she wanted to ask Tyson what was going on, he didn’t need her constantly asking for updates. Tyson took more turns than she thought possible. Good thing she wasn’t a real hostage because she’d never be able to say where they were.

  He slowed then drew to a stop. “You can sit up now.”

  She wasn’t sure she had the strength. “Where are we?”

  “At the motel.”

  “Thank God.”

  The back door opened. “Come on. You’ll be safe once you’re inside.”

  When she stood, her legs buckled. Immediately, Tyson wrapped his arm around her for support. “Thank you.”

  Once in the room, he led her over to the bed, pulled down the spread, and had her sit. “You did great back there.”

  He wouldn’t have said that if he’d been in her body, but just hearing his support released a torrent of pent up anxiety. Tears streaked across her cheeks. “I was so scared that he’d get me.”

  Tyson sat next to her on the bed and pulled her close. “I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you.”

  She wanted to believe him. She really did. His hug tightened. God, but his arms felt so fucking good. She sniffled and leaned back. Holy shit. His eyes were gold.

  “Bailey?”

  “Yes?”

  “I want you.”

  Oh. My. God.

  Chapter Ten

  Bailey’s body trembled. Conflicting thoughts bombarded her as Tyson’s lips claimed hers. While she’d slept with a few guys in her life, none had been older than twenty-four. This twenty-eight year old was experienced, a war hero, a real man—or rather a lot more than a real man. Who was she kidding? The guy could fucking shift into a wolf. When she got home, none of her friends were going to believe her.