by Tigertalez
Rudo groaned. He wanted to lecture his mate for endangering himself, but he also loved his mate’s determination, because it was exactly how he, himself, felt for the little vamp.
Five people in lab coats started coming down the hall. He could hear them talking as they approached.
“We acquired two new specimens last night,” a male’s voice was saying. “One is a rhino. I’ve given it a lycan injection that forced its body into its animal form, and an inhibitor to lock it in that form.”
The five people kept themselves far enough away from his cell, as they stood and looked at him, to prevent him from harming them. They each had clipboards, and several were writing down notes. He growled at them as the speaker continued.
“Today, I want it sedated and the horn removed. Careful not to cut too low or it won’t grow back. Rhino horns are worth a lot of money, so we want it to continually grow back. With their regenerative abilities, I’m hoping it will be a faster growing rate. Have tests run from some of the shavings. Also, while it’s out, I want you to do a full work-up. We’ll decide what to do to the creature after that. Next,” the group moved a little down the hall, and looked in Gavin’s cell, “we have a badger. Nasty creatures.”
Rudo heard Gavin snort. “Says the monster who buys innocent people, locks them up, and tortures them until they die.”
The doctor gave him a dirty look, but continued talking to the group. “I decided not to give it an inhibitor, yet, because I have some specific tests planned for it, but as you well know, badgers are some of the worst tempered. If this one gives us too much trouble, we will have to lock in it in its human form, as it will be far easier to handle.”
Rudo listened to Gavin gripe at them. “There isn’t one person on this planet who would be okay with being abducted, experimented on, starved, tortured, and killed, yourselves included. And then you get all irritated when we aren’t sweet and cuddly with you. Seriously, how did you guys get your PhDs? Or am I assuming too much, and you really don’t have any degrees?”
Rudo would have snickered if he was in his human form.
“What is amusing?” Ryker asked.
Rudo didn’t hide his mirth from his mate. “Gavin is living up to his species. He’s badgering the scientists.” He was positive he felt Ryker’s eyes roll.
Rudo listened to the scientists continue to discuss what experiments they were going to run today, as they move further down the hall. Hearing what they had planned, he was grateful he knew their plans would be thwarted.
“We’re in position, stud. Get ready.”
Rudo snorted as he stood up and raked his nicely sharpened horn against the bars. He was very glad that his shifter side grew his horns out so quickly because he was sure he was going to use them.
“Hey, Rudo, what’s got you worked up? Is dawn approaching?” Gavin asked, quietly.
Rudo grunted once.
“All right then, I’m ready for it.”
Rudo heard ligaments popping and bones realigning, and guessed that Gavin just turned into his badger.
Ryker whispered into this mind. “We’re breaching in three … two … one.”
Rudo didn’t hear anything at first, but he felt his mate’s heart-rate speed up, and the strength of Ryker’s fear, and anger, bled through their bond.
Rudo bellowed and continued to rake his horns along the bars. He tossed his head up in the air anxiously and bellowed again. He soon heard gunfire in the distance, and footsteps fast approaching. Three men in black SWAT gear came into view. Rudo scented that the three men were vampires. Two aimed their guns in opposite directions as the third one dug around in his pants.
“You Rudo?” he asked, as he pulled out a set of keys.
Rudo nodded his large head and grunted once.
The man began using a pair of keys to try to open his door. He fumbled through the keys, unfamiliar with which one to use, but finally found it, and the door swung open. Rudo stepped out into the hall just in time to see two armed men in security uniforms come around a corner. The vampire facing their direction fired at them, hitting one in the shoulder, but the other one ducked back around the corner. Rudo charged down the hall, and just as the man peeked around, he saw his eyes go wide moments before he tossed his head up, impaling his long, sharpened horn into his sternum. The man gurgled, and his body went limp. Rudo tilted his head letting the lifeless corpse slip off his bloodstained horn.
Backing up, Rudo spotted the first man who was shot scooting away in a horizontal position, trying to back away. He saw him start to reach for his gun, so Rudo expertly flung his horn out and knocked the gun from the man’s hands. The gun glittered on the ground, and slid a little further down the hall.
The vampire who’d shot the man appeared around the corner. He pulled out zip-ties and bound the guard’s hands behind his back. The injured man shouted in pain as his captor was merciless regarding his injury. Rudo couldn’t find it in him to feel any sympathy.
Rudo didn’t like the antsy feeling he had. He needed to find his mate to keep him safe. Returning to the others back down the hall, he saw the last cell being opened. All-in-all, aside from him and Gavin, there were three wolves, a tiger, a lion, and two lionesses. The tiger and lion were too weak and injured to walk out on their own, so one wolf and the two lionesses offered to stay with them until the emergency medical crews were able to make their way in to help. One of the vampires also chose to stay. That left two of the vampires, two wolves, him, and Gavin in his badger form, to head out and join the battle that they heard continue to rage throughout the building.
Rudo trotted beside the lead vampire. Blood dripped down his horn and over his snout. He heard Gavin’s small growl mix with the louder growls of the wolves as they trotted not far behind him. The sound of gunfire was nonstop as the group made their way through the halls.
The team ran into other security guards, as well as men and women in white, or blue lab coats, and smocks. The ones in lab coats and smocks didn’t fight them so much, and were easily tied up, but many of the security personnel died fighting. Rudo impaled them, and the two wolves would tear their throats out, but Gavin was the one he thought fought the most viciously. He was fearless, relentless, and inflicted a lot of damage before he’d bite into an artery and slash it open for the victim to bleed out.
Rudo suddenly felt his mate’s pain, right before he caught up to him. Ryker’s group was in a loud and bloody battle, and his mate had taken a hit by a bullet in the side. Rudo arrived just in time to see his mate fall to his knees. Ryker was holding his side as he continued his decline, down on his heels, and fell against the side of a desk.
Rudo bellowed his rage so loud, the battle momentarily stopped as they all turned to look at him. Rudo’s hooves shook the ground as he stampeded across the space. He bellowed again and dipped his head, and swung it up, skewering a man and launching him high into the air. The man’s body slammed into the ceiling, but before he even starting making his way down, Rudo was launching another man in the same fashion. He rammed his head against another man and whipped his massive bulk around to stomp on him, causing his body to hit two other men, and launching them halfway across the room. Bones crushed under his feet as he stomped and kicked the fallen man beneath him. When he was done, he looked around for more to kill, but he saw the guards who were left were putting their hands up, surrendering to the other vamps and shifters. He snorted and quickly trotted over to his mate, who was still lying against the desk.
Rudo could only stand helplessly over his mate as Rye’s brother attended to him. He didn’t know what to say through their link, so he just sent all of his love through instead. That seemed to help, as he saw Ryker begin to relax, and a sigh escaped past his lips. He heard a small growl and looked down. Gavin stood next to him in silent support. There wasn’t one part of him not covered in blood. It was so thick, you couldn’t tell the white from the black of his coat underneath.
A warm hand rested on his shoulder, and Rudo turned t
o see Neto in SWAT gear, standing next to him.
“He’s going to be all right, Rudo, now that he’s got you back. As much as I am glad to see you both are all right, I personally don’t want to ever see our little red suffer through you getting abducted again.”
Rudo grunted his agreement.
Chapter Ten
Everyone had been worried when they heard about Rudo’s and Gavin’s abductions. Now, standing around Enzo, over the speakerphone were all of the ranked who were left at home, their mates, and the mates of those who had left with Alphy. Enzo rubbed his forehead as he listened to Alphy reporting over the speakerphone.
“From what we’ve discovered so far, one of the Philly vamps was killed during the raid. We have several wounded, including Ryker, but we believe everyone injured will recover. We are more concerned now for the survivors. There weren’t as many as the last time, but most of them are in serious condition. One of them is a falcon that went missing from the local falcon cast, and we found a missing hawk from the local hawk cast, as well as another hawk, but we have yet to discover where she is from. They are all staying here in Philly with the two casts.
“There are only eight others, and all of them are coming home with us. Is Maysa there?”
“I’m here.” Maysa’s voice wasn’t strong, but it didn’t waver either.
“We found your sister. She’s in pretty poor health, but Sea’s hopeful she’ll recover.”
Enzo saw Maysa’s face slightly crumple in teary relief.
“When is everyone heading back?” Enzo asked.
“I’m going to send Nix’s crew back, and Slate, along with Seamus and the survivors, in Tyler’s jet, but I’m going to stay here for another day or two, with Gale, Ryker and his team, and Matteo. We have a big mess to clean up here. I agreed to read-in the local coven and both casts on everything we know. We have a bunch of prisoners to question, and a couple hard drives we were able to save before the techs had a chance to purge them during the raid. Topping all of that off is Rudo’s situation. His house and shop were robbed and burned. The local sheriff is human, but Ryker says he knows about shifters, and has been trying to help Rudo. He’s discovered some things that I want to check out.”
“All right, Alphy, we’ll make sure to take care of the survivors when they arrive,” Enzo told him. Enzo hung up with Alphy after receiving a few more orders. Then he started organizing everyone. It had been a long night, and it was going to be a long day. Enzo rubbed his temples as a headache started to form.
****
Heath sat in the corner and watched everyone work together to prepare for the arrival of the survivors. Watching his mate take charge was sexy hot, but he was still freaking out a little on the inside. After their talk in the shop, Enzo had walked him around the property and opened up everything. He talked about his family turning their backs on him when he came out, and how Nix had stayed by his side. He’d told him about when he met Alphy, and certain events during his time in the military. Then he’d told him about Alphy making the pack and everything that had happened since then. Heath found it hard to believe that much drama had happened within a month and a half. They had been interrupted when Alphy had called Enzo about the two pack-members being abducted.
I have to admit, even though it all freaks me out, Enzo didn’t hold any information back. In spite of probably knowing it would likely upset or unsettle me, he lays it all out there, and doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“Heath?” Enzo motioned for him to follow him.
Heath followed Enzo back into his office. Enzo placed some papers on his desk and turned around, wrapping his arms around him. Heath hummed as he instantly relaxed. No matter how freaked out I am, I always feel safe in his arms.
“How ya doin’?” Enzo asked him, and planted a kiss on his temple.
“I’m fine when I’m wrapped in your arms.”
“I was thinking. You seem to know what flowers mean. And even if nobody else does, it still evokes that kind of emotion, a subliminal message, if you will. Why don’t you go pick, or buy, flowers for around the house and office? It will be a good thing to greet those survivors.”
“Okay, I can do that.” Heath’s mind already started flitting through his memories, to which flowers he wanted.
Enzo’s eyes dropped down to his mouth. Heath backed up, knowing Enzo wanted a kiss, but Heath didn’t want to further complicate his already confusing and out of control emotions.
Enzo looked hurt when he pulled away. Heath almost stepped forward again, but someone knocked on the open door.
Enzo growled. “Give me a second.”
Heath heard the footsteps retreat, and Enzo looked back down at him, giving a disappointed sigh. “Find Havana. She might want to help you with the flowers.”
Enzo walked around him and out of the office door. Heath felt guilty for backing away, and he felt his heart hurt as he watched Enzo distance himself.
Damn it. I’ve gotta get my head out of my ass. Maybe Havana can help me find a way to make it up to him, because as much as I am freaked about the paranormal thing, I don’t think I could survive living without him. That means I need to find a way to get over it.
Havana was in the main office, standing next to her large mate. After screwing up his courage, Heath approached her.
“Uh, Havana, can I get your help with a couple things?”
Havana smiled at him. “Sure.” She turned and planted a kiss on Dultyn’s lips, then followed Heath down the stairs, out of the office.
“So what’d ya need my help with?” she asked cheerfully.
“I need help with two things. The first one is kinda simple. Enzo thinks it would be a good idea to get a bunch of flowers placed all around the house and office to greet the survivors. He thinks it will impress a kind of message upon them.”
“Hey, that sounds fun, and I think he’s right. I was here when they brought back the survivors from the first raid. I can assure you that every little thing makes a big difference.” The two climbed the stairs to the front door and stopped in front it. “And scent is especially a big deal for shifters. It can have a calming effect, just as comfort foods do. So, what’s the other thing you need help with?”
Heath looked slightly around before looking back at her. “I want to be with Enzo, but I keep finding myself shying away, and it’s hurting him. I need to find a way to get over my fears, and I need help doing that.”
Heath held his breath waiting for Havana’s response. It was a blow to his pride to have to ask for help, especially on such a personal matter, but after everything he had learned about Enzo, and watching how he worked with the others in the pack, as well as his patience with him, he knew Enzo was more than worth the price. In fact, he couldn’t think of much that he wouldn’t do for him, which was an entirely different kind of scary.
Havana’s eyes knitted slightly together, and her lips pressed together in a straight line. “Hmm, I don’t know, but I do know who would.” Her face lit up. “Aunt Betty and Connie. They should both be in the kitchen, so let’s go ask them.”
Before Heath could protest, Havana hooked her hand around his forearm and began dragging him through the house and into the kitchen. She sat him down at one of the stools at the breakfast bar. Heath looked around at the other people in the room. He felt mortified that this was suddenly a public case. He kept reminding himself over and over in his head, he’s worth it. Enzo is worth it.
Havana pointed to one of the women. “I don’t know who Enzo has introduced you to yet, but that’s Aunt Betty. Her mate is Councilman Tyler Ghost. She’s also our alpha’s aunt, and mine. Next to her is Connie. She’s human, and is mated to an elk shifter. Her daughter is Alphy’s mate.” Havana directed her next statement towards them. “Heath here needs advice. He wants to be with Enzo, but after the horrible way he was introduced to us, he needs advice how to get over his fears and hang-ups.”
Underneath his embarrassment, Heath actually appreciated the understanding that she had for
him. He had been rather brutally introduced to paranormals, which fed into a good deal of his fear.
Connie approached him with a sympathetic look on her face. “I remember when my mate, Tom, revealed his world to me. I have to say, my kids handled it far better than I did. My advice is to take a giant blind leap, like move in with him, or something. It may sound scary, or terrifying even, but it helps you acclimate much faster than walking into it slowly. I promise you, your mate will always catch you. That’s one of the benefits of being the mate to a paranormal.”
Katie, whom Heath had learned was not only mated to the enforcer, but was also the pack nurse, walked in and sat down just as Betty approached him.
Betty leaned against the other side of the island. “I agree with Connie. Has Enzo shown you his wolf yet?”
Heath silently shook his head.
“You should ask him to shift for you. He could never hurt you, in either form, so acquaint yourself with his wolf. It will help conquer your fear of that side of him.”
Katie interrupted. “You trying to find a way to get over your fear of shifters?”
Heath slightly shrugged and looked down at his fingers. “Yeah. Part of me feels like he’s the one, and I love how I feel when I’m in his arms, but I’m weirded out, really afraid, and confused about what he is, and I keep shying away.” He looked up at her and couldn’t hide the sorrow on his face. “It’s hurting him. It’s killing me that I’m the one who’s causing it.”
Katie sat and listened until he was done. “I know something you can do that will help, but it’s a big something. Do you believe Enzo is worth it?”
Heath felt anger burn in his gut. “Of course!” He gave her an angry look. “I wouldn’t be baring my soul, begging for help, if he wasn’t.”
“Good,” Katie said, “because you’re going to need that kind of determination if you want do this, and get over your fear. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
