Tainted Souls: A Shadow Creek Novel

by J. C RIMELL

  Seventeen

  Madeleine realized all at once that she wasn't dead.

  No, I'm not dead. The pain she felt was too real.

  A few seconds later she tried to move… Argh! Bad idea.

  Opening her eyes with deliberate slowness, the warm glow of a fire roared beside her and in her periphery she could see she was in some kind of… wooden house? Her keen sense of smell scented thick, refreshing pine and timber, but it was aged and the scent laced with wood oil.

  A log cabin.

  Madeleine knew shifting back into human form wouldn't be possible until some of her injuries had healed. And she couldn't use her healing ability to its full potential while in her animal form. For now, she had to rely on her wolf to keep them both safe, even though they were in one helluva vulnerable position right now.

  She heard heavy footfalls, bare feet on polished, wooden floorboards. Sucking in a lungful of air to try to catch the scent, her ribs cracked as they expanded and screamed in protest. Madeleine tried to bite back the yelp.

  And suddenly he was there.

  His big, strong body blocking the firelight and his huge palm smoothing her pelt.

  “Ssh, she-wolf, you can rest here,” he soothed, concern in every word. “No one will harm you.”

  Madeleine relished the contact. His fingers sliding through her fur, over aching muscles and broken parts of her body. The smell of him, wild and untamed like a summer storm, was so intoxicating it almost made her forget just how much her body hurt.

  “I figure it'll take a couple of days to get you healed well enough so you can shift.” He checked the dressing he'd applied to her back leg. “It was a clean break, you'll be fine.”

  Moving away he stoked the fire. Shadows danced across his face as he stripped off his clothes before a mesmerizing flash of fireworks dazzled her as the shift took place.

  Through her wolf's eyes, Madeleine saw his magnificence. Everything inside of her wolf cried out for him. A strange longing, a need that ran to the very core of the woman sheltered within the animal. It confused her. Madeleine loved Ryker, yet there was something raw and natural echoing in every beating pulse of her heart and she couldn't ignore it. Despite god only knew how many reasons she should—being a possible suspect for the attack on the club last night was only one of them—Madeleine knew she should revolt every pang of desire for him.

  He came toward her, a huge wolf with black pelt tipped with silver flecks. He lowered his muzzle to hers, a tender nudge that spoke a thousand words. He curled his powerful body around her and she shuddered at the contact, felt the heat from him like rays from a summer sun.

  Madeleine forgot about the pain. She forgot about everything and found herself drifting away into a deep sleep with a shifter she hardly even knew, and she had no other choice but to trust him.

  By late morning the following day, Fleet had checked Madeleine's quarters, medical room, Lab, and the rest of the lair. He'd even searched every inch of the training grounds. Standing on the edge of the assault-course, he waited for the dawn patrollers to return.

  His sharp hearing picked up the sound of Nevada's and Delta's voices before they came into view. It was Nevada who appeared from the mouth of the forest first, followed by Delta.

  “Hey, Chief.”

  “Nevada, Delta,” he greeted them. “All quiet out there?”

  Nevada nodded. “Sure is. Why? Is something wrong?”

  Fleet run a hand through his hair. “Did either of you see Madeleine?”

  The two women shared glances before answering, “No,” Nevada replied. “Funny you should mention it, though, I did pick up her scent, but lost it close to the perimeter.”

  Fleet blew out a curse. “She bolted out of here last night and it doesn't look like she's come back.”

  “Damn, I should have tracked her.”

  Fleet shook his head. “No. You did the right thing coming back first. If she's gone over the border we'll have to get a team ready to go after her.” He wheeled around, sent a telepathic message to Gunner to meet them in the Communication room. Maybe he was jumping the gun. But he knew Madeleine, and he knew the dangers for her if she'd crossed the perimeter.

  Heading straight to the Comm room, Fleet entered and found Gunner and Ryker already waiting.

  Ryker's face was a map of worry lines. “Chief, is this because?”

  “I think so, it didn't go down too well, put it that way.”

  Fleet heard the shifter curse and could sense the confusion in the air. But now wasn't the time to start explaining to other pack members about the business of Madeleine's memories. Or lack of them.

  “Take a seat, I've got a call to make.”

  Ten minutes later, every available Shadow Pack member was sitting around the table. Fleet was glad to see Murphy sitting alongside Cade, Gunner, and Ryker. Nevada, Eve, Delta, and Snow were sitting opposite.

  “I just got off the phone with Mitch Stevens, the FU leader. It appears two young rogues needed some medical assistance last night, both with nasty injuries.”

  “Are they suspected of being part of the splinter cell?” Ryker was agitated, worry laced his voice and Fleet knew the guy was dying to get out there and find Madeleine.

  Fleet paced behind his seat, his wolf was just as eager as Ryker was to find their missing pack member. And he was having a hard time trying to convince himself that none of this was his fault.

  “Mitch seems to think so.”

  “Yeah, but it's being run by a much more intelligent and older leader.” Cade tossed a file onto the desk. “Snow and I have been tracking calls coming from the Society's building since we bugged the place. Alex Warden had a conversation with an unknown male just minutes after the explosion at Fire & Ice. We're still trying to trace the cell phone.”

  The room fell silent, but minds were busy trying to fathom why the hell one of their own would do a thing like that.

  “You're sure it was Alex Warden?” Fleet was taken aback, but he had to ask. It was one hell of a serious allegation, and one he couldn't quite believe.

  “Affirmative.”

  Fleet smoothed a hand down his face. “Okay, so we know we can't trust him. I don't want to alert him or any other member of the Society for the time being. Mitch couldn't give an indication of how many rogues are involved, so I want Nevada and Ryker to gear up and take the All Terrain.” It would take them longer to get there: the mountains could prove tricky for vehicles in isolated places, but they might need wheels if anyone got hurt. Plus, they could also carry weapons and medical supplies.

  Jumping up without a moment's hesitation the group began to fall out. “Snow, I want you monitoring the situation with the calls. Any Intel you can get on this, the quicker, the better.”

  “Got it. Oh, and by the way...” he said as he got up ready to leave, “… the male's voice, it didn't sound like the guy from the club. I think we're looking for someone else. There was a lilt to his accent, maybe Russian or German.”

  “Good to know. We move out in ten.”

  After seeing the explosion at Fire & Ice on the news, Gabrielle's stomach had gone into free fall. She stopped her sulking about how things had ended between her and Ryker. Getting a grip, she headed over to the compound to check everyone had made it back okay.

  Snow's voice came over the intercom. “Up bright and early Agent Robinson.”

  She stuck her head out of the window and smiled up at the camera. “Yeah, I just saw the news. Please tell me you're all okay?”

  “All fine. Come on in, the main door will be open.” The security gates rolled aside and she breathed a huge sigh of relief as she drove up to the front of the compound and parked. She walked at a fast clip into the main building and…

  Bumped. Straight. Into. Him.

  You've got to be kidding me.

  “I'm sorry… I...”

  Ryker tugged at his cap. “Ah, no. No it was my fault. Wasn't watching where I was going.”

  Silence.

  S
he took a small step back and noticed how Ryker looked as though he was about to go on a mission. Wearing a pair of black fatigues, military boots and a camo vest kitted out with knives, bullet clips, and a gun holster on his hip loaded with a .45 Glock.

  “Going somewhere?” she asked, bringing her eyes back up to meet his, only, he had that damn cap on again and she couldn't see them.

  “Ah, yeah. Got an incident to deal with. I'm heading out, so...”

  “Oh, right,” she muttered, aware that he needed to go and she was holding him up. “I just came to make sure everyone got back safely, you know, after what happened at the club.”

  He nodded, but his face was grim and lips drawn into a tight line. Something was off.

  Maybe it was the way you hollered and yelled at him. Naked. Like some crazy woman.

  “There was a lot of casualties, no one from here.” He paused, his hands moving to rest on his hips. “Madeleine's gone missing, though.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, we're heading out to try to find her.”

  She heard the concern in his voice. It was clear he felt something for the woman, even if the two of them weren't involved.

  “Can I help? I'd really like to.” She may not be best friends with Madeleine, then again she hardly knew her, but that didn't mean she couldn't be of assistance or make herself useful. It was her day off and she had no other pressing matters to take care of.

  He mumbled something low under his breath she couldn't quite catch. “I'd have to get it cleared and we don't have the time… I'm sorry.”

  Nodding, Gabrielle started moving out of his way. “Sure. You know where I'll be if you decide you need anything.” She spun on her heel, opened the door and marched across the front porch.

  The scent of her ignited that burning ember still aglow in the pit of his stomach. It had been smoldering all night long, a low heat he was only just able to control. Hot enough that his wolf was content. Low enough so he could continue to function. Just.

  Now? It was like a raging, fucking, volcano.

  Ryker watched her ass in those skinny jeans as she walked away. The sway of her hips, the waves of her silky hair down her back and all the blood from his head rushed straight to his groin. He began to sweat, his fingers trembling. His wolf lunged forward in Ryker's mind and the assault almost overthrew him.

  His long legs chewed up the space between him and Gabrielle. He jumped the steps from the porch down to the ground, and before he knew it his hand was coiling around her waist and he spun her around to face him.

  “Ryker?”

  God help him, he was insane with lust. And as she looked at him all wide eyed with lips parted, he just lost all control and his brain went into slow-mo. He kissed her with hard, passionate need, and for chrissakes, she melted against him, her hands smoothing up his arms, gripping onto his biceps…

  And that was it.

  She moaned into his mouth and he hauled her up with his hands under her ass.

  “Hey, big guy!”

  Was someone calling him? Who the hell knew… like he even cared.

  “Yo! Ryker, buddy!”

  Gabrielle wrenched herself free and the cold air across his lips brought him back to his senses. “I think you'd better go,” she said, her eyes indicating over his left shoulder.

  He whipped his head around to see Nevada, an eyebrow raised and a quirky smile on her face. “Sorry, but we gotta roll.”

  “Give me a minute.” He brought his gaze back to Gabrielle. Searched her eyes. Everything in him wanted her. He felt a raging desire like he just didn't want to let her go. He wanted to devour her. Mark her. Fuck her until he sated his beast, and she was…

  Mine. Mine. Mine.

  “Ah, shit.” He dropped her slowly to her feet. What the hell was he doing? Madeleine was missing, and here he was making out and thinking with his cock for fucks-sake.

  With guilt suddenly laden in his gut and dousing the roaring flames, he released Gabrielle and moved back a step. Tugging the peak of his cap lower, he felt like a complete jerk.

  Again.

  “It's okay, Ryker,” she said with surprisingly warm affection. “Go find her. When she's back and she's safe, we'll talk.”

  He stared at her, speechless.

  Wow. How the fuck had he got so lucky?

  Eighteen

  Kit was relieved to see her aunt up and about, and most importantly, eating. Sitting at the kitchen table she poured her mother and Jo another cup of tea. It was so good to see them both together. Her mother hadn't aged a day in the few years they'd lived apart. Except, as she looked at her more closely, Kit noticed fine lines around the edges of her hazel eyes when she smiled.

  “So, when do I get to meet him?” her mother asked with a wry smile and a twinkle in her eye.

  Kit took a sip of her own tea before answering. “Soon, Cade has to work right now, but I'm hoping we'll all have dinner together later tonight.” She hoped and prayed they'd find Madeleine. Cade had assured her there was nothing she could do to help right now, but promised to let her know the moment he had any news.

  “He'll make those cheeks of yours as red as berries, Margaret, he's that so damn good looking,” Jo teased. It was lovely to hear her voice, her laugh, see her smile and the light shine brightly again behind the green and brown flecks of her eyes.

  “I've seen a photo.”

  “Tosh, it won't have done him justice. Don't you tell him I said that.” Jo gave Kit a pointed stare. “It'll only make his head swell.”

  “Well, he's obviously good for you,” her mother said, taking a gentle hold of Kit's hand. “I can't remember when I last saw you looking so happy and so radiant.”

  Kit smiled. It was true. She was so happy and felt amazing thanks to her mate's preternatural DNA running through her veins. She wished she could tell them both the truth, but that wasn't even a possibility. If the truth ever got out, it would endanger them all and they'd become the hunted. Freaks of nature to be tested upon by scientists and God only knew what else.

  “Mmm, if I had me a man like that, I'm sure I'd look and feel ten times younger too,” her aunt chuckled. “I mean, the sex alone, heavens, I can only imagine what that would be like.”

  “Jo!” Kit's cheeks flamed red.

  “What? Did I embarrass you, honey?”

  Changing the subject with haste, Kit said, “So, you know I'm off to Alaska in a couple of days, right?” She'd explained her midwife duties were taking her there with Lakota to care and check on pregnant females living in remote territories. After all, it was mostly the truth.

  Jo got up and cleared the table. “I sure as hell hope you've packed your thermals. This time of year, you'll freeze your ass off up there.”

  Yeah, she had her own central heating system now, which just happened to run a hell of a lot higher than a human's body temperature. “Stop worrying. I'll be fine.”

  “I'm going to head over to the café,” her mom said as she got up. “Get it ready for re-opening tomorrow.”

  It was great to have her mom here. She only wished her dad could have made it too, but being a high-flying lawyer in London meant limited time off. Still, there was a chance he'd make it out before her mom had to go back to the UK.

  “Has dad mentioned if he can get over?” she asked, swiveling in her seat to face her mom who was now drying the dishes while her aunt washed.

  When her mom failed to answer, Kit assumed she hadn't heard her. “Mom?”

  After several heartbeats her mom turned around, her expression stilled. “Kit, Dear...”

  Kit's brows furrowed. Okay, this didn't sound good.

  “… Your dad and I have decided to get a divorce.”

  Kit felt her mouth gape. “Oh?”

  §

  Smoke coming from the chimney signaled the property was occupied. Nix and his younger brother had tracked the scent of their targets during the night. Keeping low to the ground, Nix shifted back into his human form, then crept around the sid
e of the timber-built building to peer through a window.

  He smirked, watching the two wolves sleeping beside the hearth. Crawling back, he shifted back into his wolf. They're both here, he telepathically informed his brother waiting for him.

  Should we set the trap and attack now, take them by surprise?

  Nix prowled around for a moment before coming back to his brother. “Yeah, but remember, leave me to deal with the female.” He was going to show her just who the boss was now. The damn she-wolf and that rogue would regret the day they'd confronted him and made him look like some kind of fool in front of his group.

  Madeleine stirred, feeling the need to move and stretch. Her eyes fluttered open and for a second she panicked, her heart rate spiking. She forgot where she was, who's paws were draped all over her and snoring into her neck. Once she realized, though, she controlled her breathing and her pulse dropped back down to normal.

  With careful deliberation, she tested her injuries. Nothing seemed to hurt that bad, still a little sore, but she could shift, she was sure of it.

  Lifting her head, the spinning stopped fairly quickly and then she slipped out from under those heavy limbs. Getting up on all four paws, she glanced down at the sleeping wolf. He was a magnificent beast and her wolf wanted to crawl back into the protective arc of his body. But Madeleine quickly took control of those emotions. Looking around, she padded over to another door, nudged it open with her nose. It was a bedroom. She wandered inside and glanced back to make sure he was still sleeping.

  The shift was painful. The newly knitted muscle fibers and bone growth burned as they stretched and changed in shape and density.

  Sucking in a breath, she waited while the trembling of her body steadied and the burning sensations subsided. Standing naked, she checked over her injuries.

  Wow. Jared had actually done a good job, she thought, while bent over and inspecting her leg.

  “Now that is a glorious sight to wake up to.”

  Madeleine closed her eyes on a silent curse and straightened up. She figured she had two options. Act all haughtily female and damn well ask for some clothing. Or just turn around. Seen one naked body, you've seen them all, right?