by V L Moon
“Then bring me a bag of blood; otherwise, get the fuck away from me.”
Darklon chuckled. “Careful, vampire. Your pretty boy toy’s safety rides on your good temper.”
“Wrong, you son of a bitch. You go after Copi, and I’m out of here. You touch him, and I don’t give a damn whose laws I’m breaking, I will kill you. That’s a promise you can take to your cold grave.”
He didn’t care what he was giving away. Copi’s safety was more important than his own life. Vischeral would do whatever it took to keep Darklon away from the male he loved. He prayed Laziel had kept his word and found Copi. He didn’t dare attempt contact. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Copi’s safety.
“I’ll have the chains removed before daybreak. I expect you to be in my bed when I get back. I’ll have clothes delivered so you can take a bath. If you’re good, I might bring you a bag of O positive.” With a self-satisfied smirk, Darklon sauntered for the door. Closing his eyes, Vischeral exhaled slowly. Hell had just gotten a little bit darker for him.
~*~*~*~
Thunder Bay, Canada
Damian watched through hooded eyes as Alexa slipped through the private door at the back of the club. Without a doubt, she was going to check on Sage. Damian thanked the cleanup crew and continued counting down the night’s take while they slipped out into the breaking dawn. Copi closed and locked the door behind them.
Shaver busied himself restocking the glasses behind the bar while trying to avoid Khad. The other young wolf paced back and forth wiping down tables already clean. His gaze continuously flicked toward the door leading to their private quarters. Khad’s agitation mingled with Shaver’s confusion. His family was seriously off balance and Damian didn’t like it one fucking bit. Copi’s presence made them all uneasy. Damian felt the weight of his stare from clear across the room.
“Sage has a cousin. Tobias. On the way back here, she spoke of him and of her uncle. His name is Jorn; she called him the Summus?”
While Copi spoke, Damian saw Khad stumble into a table and then sit down. The towel in his hands tumbled to the floor. What the fuck?
“I was wondering if any of you have heard of them,” Copi continued. “Maybe, we could call, let them know where she is and that she’s safe?” Copi crossed the room and leaned against the bar to face him. Blood pounded in Damian’s ears.
“Her uncle is the Summus? Are you sure?”
Copi nodded. Damian’s hand trembled as he lifted the shot glass that Shaver placed before him. “Holy fuck!” Damian swallowed the bourbon in one shot.
“I’d say that’s a double fuck,” Copi replied and offered Shaver a smile of thanks when he handed Copi a glass.
“Turns out our little wolf in there is related to him.” Copi pointed back over his shoulder at Khad and suddenly Khad’s disquiet made sense. He was no longer a stray or an orphan. He had family and answers. Damian’s gaze swung to Shaver. The kid’s shocked gaze was locked on Khadlyn.
“By my estimation and from what she’s said, her Uncle Jorn is the Summus. Her cousin, Tobias, is the Summus’s son. Sage says she is the kid’s cousin and that he apparently disappeared years ago when he was a toddler. My guess is that makes Khad the Summus’s other son?”
Damian choked on the second shot. Shaver turned pale. They stared at each other before turning their attention toward Khad who wore a look of bewilderment and terror.
“Saints save us. Shaver, give me another shot; I think I need it.” Damian downed the second shot and shook his head. He could barely comprehend the enormity of Copi’s declaration. Inclining his head to the side, Damian inhaled and filtered through the signature scents of his pack mates. “Well shit. They’re tied, bonded.”
Glass shattered against the hardwood floor. “Who's bonded? What the fuck do you mean, Damian?” Shaver demanded. He looked as though he was about to bolt at any given moment. His pain dropped over them like a thick coating of molasses. Across the room, Khad whined, but he didn’t lift his head. Called by his distress, Alexa appeared from their apartment. She jogged across the room.
“Shaver, sweetheart, it’s going to be okay. We’ll pull together like we always do and figure this out. But first, let’s get Sage assessed by the doctor, and then we'll talk. Okay?” Alexa reached out to squeeze Shaver's shoulder, but the young male flinched away. Damian well understood his disquiet. He humphed slightly as his own mood spiraled down the rabbit hole to match Shaver’s misery. They’d landed in the middle of something that was way above their heads.
Shaver snagged a bottle from the shelf, but didn’t bother with a glass. “Oh, we'll be talking alright. After you get in touch with the Summus and let him know that we not only have his daughter, but we’ve been the ones taking care of his son for the last eighteen years. We’ve been the ones making sure he was safe and fed.” Shaver snapped his mouth shut, cast a haunted look in Khad’s direction and shoved out into the morning light.
Damian watched the young wolf disappear. The gravity of the situation and the effect of it on their family finally broke through Alexa’s infatuation with the she wolf. The look of shock on her face mirrored Khad’s troubled expression. They each stood lost for words as the echo of the slamming door filled the void. Khad shot up to pace again. Alexa took a step toward the door.
“He needs space.” All eyes turned to Copi. “Look, I know I’m an outsider, but I know a little something about the world shitting in your Cheerios. He’ll come back. It’s obvious you guys are tight. He has to figure some shit out on his own, and then he’ll be back for answers.”
Alexa wanted to argue. Damian saw it written all over her face. In the end, she nodded and excused herself to check on Sage. When she was gone, Damian clenched the bar with both hands until his knuckles went white. He hated not being able to control his wolf's urges, and he knew the other males in the room sensed what the Hell was going down with him.
He couldn’t help that parts of his body responded to Alexa in a way that was impossible to hide. His wolf howled inside his head. Damian turned to the only thing he knew would relieve the tension…rage. Keeping his back to Copi and the boys, Damian coiled his anger and growled. “One of you make sure Alexa places that call to the Summus and to the doctor before Trenton detects Sage and reigns his vengeance down on our asses.”
The low, scathing growl of his anger wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. Well, maybe at himself. The conflict of his emotions acted like a battering ram of hate, denial and pain. He wanted an end to the suffering of their pack so he could give in to his wolf and lose himself in the wild. He was tired of watching Alexa lead her life with him following behind like a dog on a leash.
As soon as the thought surfaced, Damian knew it was wrong. He and Alexa had more of a relationship than the insult he'd just served her. Turning around, Damian faced a worried Khad and a bemused looking Copi. The vamp-wolf hybrid was no fool. He knew exactly what fueled Damian’s fury.
“To love; a bitch of a mistress.” Copi clinked Damian’s glass with his own and tossed back the alcohol. Something about the look in Copi’s eyes portrayed Copi’s understanding of Damian’s hell.
~*~*~*~
Chapter Thirty-Eight
~*~*~*~
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Alexa backed out of the bedroom and tugged the door closed behind her. Pausing for a moment, she rested her forehead against the smooth polished wood and let the seriousness of the situation wash over her. The clusterfuck spiraling in her brain centered on the dainty she-wolf sleeping in their den. An Omega. A rarity few wolf packs ever saw, and one who just so happened to be related to their Summus and to Khadlyn, their lost pup.
What had possessed her to waltz into Trenton’s territory? Closing her eyes, Alexa recalled the vivid bruises that marred the alabaster skin and the scent of blood and pain that clung to her skin. She had to call Dr. DeRhys and inform the Summus of the situation. Christ, she’d need a drink before handling that one.
What sort of messed
up fuck would allow such atrocity to be visited upon an Omega? Frustrated huffs and restless shuffling drew her attention to the door leading out to the bar. She knew the answer; the same bastard that had abandoned her sweet little Khad to the elements as a battered and malnourished pup. Determination straightened her spine. She’d taken Khad in; he was one of them. Her family. She would do no less for Sage and Copi if the male so wished.
Alexa turned for the bar trying her best to ignore the strident voice of her wolf. She’s the one, Lexi. Our Mate. “Not. The. Time.” Alexa spoke aloud hoping to quell the primal need of her red beast to return to Sage’s side. Her pack and Copi were waiting for guidance from her. Tying up her red curls, she strode purposefully into their midst and met each stare.
Damian was back behind the bar, furious and close to his wolf. His eyes roamed over her defiant and aggressive. Khad sat nearest to the door leading to their pack bed. His blue eyes flicked between her and where he knew Sage still slept. Copi sprawled in a booth, flat watchful eyes assessing the situation.
And Shaver. The young wolf had returned only about an hour before. Alexa’s heart lurched in her chest. Raw pain lived in those blue eyes of his as he stared at Khad. She touched his mind and her temper seethed. Neither of them had thought to ease Shaver. Alexa clicked her teeth in frustration.
“Well. C’mon, let’s have it then.” She stopped in the middle of the room, hands on her hips glaring at Damian. The younger males cringed. Their eyes ping-ponged between her and Damian. Copi stood up ready to intervene if needed. Alexa held up a hand, motioning Copi to stay where he was. It wasn’t the first time she and Damian had clashed, and it sure as shit wouldn’t be the last.
He came at her fast and furious. His scent reached her first, coating her skin and tongue in his musk. Alexa held her ground not even flinching as he stopped, chest heaving, within inches of her.
“What the fuck were you thinking, Alexa? She was hurt and cornered. And him?” Damian flung a hand toward Copi. “You didn’t have a fucking clue who or what he was; yet, you put yourself at risk.”
Alexa tilted her head up to meet the deadly fire burning in his eyes. “I did what I had to do to win her trust, Daimo. I was never in any real danger. All of you were there.”
“And too fucking far away to do a damned thing if either of them saw you as a threat. If either of them had gone for your throat…” Damian shoved a trembling hand through his wild black hair. “You cannot risk yourself like that again. I won’t allow it.”
Alexa’s eyebrows arched as her temper spiked. “You won’t allow it?” She jabbed a finger in his chest. “I don’t believe you have any say over what I do, wolf. I belong to myself.”
Damian growled, his wolf so close to the surface she faintly felt the brush of fur when his fingers closed around her upper arms. “Damn it, Alexa. This is not a fucking game. It’s your life, our family at stake. If Trenton gets wind of her and what she is…and don’t get me started on Copi.”
She snatched free of his hold, but didn’t back away. “We’ll have a fight on our hands. You think I could forget that? I know better than anyone how Trenton thinks. Besides, you were all ready to take him on a few hours ago. To be the alpha this pack needs. How have two lost wolves changed your mind?”
Twin gasps echoed on either side of them. Alexa dropped her head when Damian cursed. “Fuck!”
“Yeah, fuck.” Damian’s voice came low and curiously full of pain. “This is why. Because you aren’t thinking, Lexi. Until Trenton’s taken care of, we’re all in mortal danger.” He flung out an arm toward Khad.
“They don’t have the ability to withstand Trenton’s mental prowess. They are our family, our boys. I know you; I can feel your reaction to her. This isn’t about protecting her. You want her. Tell me, Lexi, is she worth their lives, my life? I just hope for your sake the Summus gets here before Trenton does. Fuck this.” Damian spun and sprinted for the door.
“Damian, wait!” Alexa lunged after him, but Shaver stepped in front of her. His strong arms closed around her.
“Let him go, Lex. I’ll track him,” Shaver stopped and swallowed. “She needs you three here.” At Alexa’s jerky nod, Shaver released her and kissed her temple. “Don’t wait around for us. Make those calls.”
Without a word to Khad which spoke volumes as to where Shaver’s head was, he disappeared out the door. It slammed leaving her, Copi and Khad alone in silence.
Alexa glared at the door for a moment while her wolf howled miserably in her head. Half of her wanted to be there if Sage should need her; the other half clawed and bayed, frantic to go after Damian. He was her rock, her strength. She needed him. Yet, her wolf had made a strong connection with the other female. A fierce need to protect her tied Alexa in knots.
“Lexi?”
Alexa swiveled her head to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry, Khad. He’s right. I just fucked up and put you and Shaver in danger.”
“I know it’s easy for me to say after the fact, but there was never any risk to any of you. Not from Sage or from me. Your mate knows that. He’s just concerned, as he should be. I would be the same if I was in his shoes.” Copi’s voice sounded strained as he knocked back another shot.
“If you don’t mind, I need to get away from the light for a few hours, and I’d appreciate being close to Sage. She’ll be scared when she wakes up in a strange place.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry, Copi. Of course you do. Please go on back. There are fresh towels in the bathroom and a pillow and blankets on the sofa. We have black out curtains because we’re usually up most of the night. And, for the record, Damian isn’t my mate.
I’m going to make those calls. I’ll let you both know when the doctor and the Summus get here. With what I’m about to tell him, I dare say Jorn Chamberlin will be here within a few hours.” Alexa waited for Copi to go and sat in a heap at the bar. God she was tired.
Khad stood and crossed the distance between them. “I say it’s about time someone took Trenton out.” Tentatively, he closed his arms around her and rubbed his cheek against hers. “We’re going to be okay.”
Alexa locked her arms around the younger wolf hugging him tight and rubbing her nose along his neck, a comforting gesture for all wolves. “I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have blasted you like that.” She pulled back and framed his face with her palms. Voice husky, she patted his cheek. “You’ve always had a pack, Khadlyn. You are my pack. My family. Don’t ever forget that, or I’ll have to beat your ass. Got it?” A smile ghosted over his lips as he placed the phone in Alexa’s hand.
“Time to make those calls.”
~*~*~*~
Chapter Thirty-Nine
~*~*~*~
Thunder Bay sprawled before him, lost beneath the storm ravaging its streets. Tobias remembered coming to the city to visit his father’s family. It had grown over the years. The modern lines and new architecture breathed new life into the area. Down below, people ran through the streets seeking cover from the storm. A sudden stab of yearning woke the ever-present ache inside of him. He missed Roman. But, however much Tobias needed him, Sage needed Tobias more. An annoying ringtone jangled from his cell, Justin Bieber, his father’s signature. His lips quirked before he slid his thumb over the screen.
“Son? Oh god, Tobias, where are you?” Jorn’s panicked voice jerked his attention away from the city.
“Dad, what’s wrong? What’s happened? Is it mom?” Tobias feared the worst. “I’m in Thunder Bay. I can be home by nightfall.”
“No. Jesus no. You’re exactly where you need to be. Listen to me, Tobias. I’m shielding really hard right now. I don’t want anyone to hear what I’m about to tell you. Especially your mother. I had a call less than an hour ago from Alexa Stamos. She’s the estranged daughter of Trenton Stamos, the alpha in those parts. She’s found Sage. She’s injured and in need of medical help, all of which Alexa has handled.”
“Alexa runs a bar down by the bay, Iniquity. She’s there now with Sage and a couple of males sworn to her. It seems she’s an alpha in her own right. I need you to get there ASAP. I’ll be with you soon.” Jorn’s voice shuddered as he took in a much needed breath. Tobias sensed the fear and anxiety even with his father’s shields in place.
“Dad, what aren’t you telling me? You wouldn’t be coming if it wasn’t bad. Is Sage, is she…?” Tobias couldn’t say the word, couldn’t breathe past the lump forming in his throat.
More agitated breathing came across the line as his father struggled to regain his composure. “Sage is as well as can be expected. Khurn will pay for the violence inflicted on my blood. But, son, there was a hybrid with Sage when she was found. He’s been travelling with her, protecting her. He’s with them at the club.”
“Ok, but why does that upset you? Has he got some kind of hold on her?”
“No,” Jorn took a deep breath that ended in a howling sob. “Tobias, Alexa said…Sage…she recognized one of the males in Alexa’s pack. A white wolf.” Tobias’ stopped breathing. “She said his name is Khad.”
Tobias ran. He didn’t wait for his father to hang up the phone. He shifted on the fly, human to wolf in less than a second. His huge paws ploughed through the snow as he took a direct route around the city toward the bay. His heart raced. His wolf blurred against the heavily falling snow. His mind tumbled through chaos, visions of his little brother, of the awkward way his hair curled and fell over his face. His sweet little smile. Tobias couldn’t believe it; he wouldn’t until he saw for himself.
