The older man scrubbed a hand down his face. “She called us over the radio. Said that the boy was playing outside and never came for dinner. She searched and searched everywhere, but couldn’t find him.” His face grew somber. “Then she said one of the work trucks was missing, too.”
“Was it possible he stole it and went for a joy ride?” A vision of the truck turned over the side of the road crossed his mind, and he only hoped it wasn’t the case.
“Thing is …” Garland hesitated. “There was someone we couldn’t find either.”
His jaw ticked. “Who?”
“Samuel.”
“Motherfucker.” Rage rippled down his spine.
“Jackson? What’s going on?”
He turned around. He had forgotten about the others. Liz and Karen were standing behind them, as was Keith and Blake, all of them fully dressed.
“Is everything okay?” Keith asked.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s Austin. He’s missing, so I need to get back. We have to cut this trip short.” If Samuel was loose, then they could be in danger too.
“What?” Liz cried. “You can’t! We were just having fun. I was looking all over for you but I couldn’t find you!”
“It’s not safe,” Jackson said. “We need to go back.”
“This is unacceptable.” Liz’s face twisted in fury. “That brat of yours is probably just hiding somewhere, trying to get your attention. Forget boarding school; he needs to be locked in a cage!” Liz’s face fell and she covered her mouth. “Fuck! I didn’t mean it like that, I’m so—”
“You should leave, now.” Fury coursed through him, and he wanted nothing more than to strangle Liz. Why he ever thought she would be a good mate and mother, he didn’t know. “Garland,” he barked. “Pack everything up. Call the boys and have them bring the trucks to take everyone home.”
He ignored Liz’s pleading and stomped off. It was better he walk away before he did something that he might regret. The anger ebbed away as he drew further and further from the camp. Tomorrow, he would send Liz home. Good riddance. If Grant Anderson had a problem with it, then he could take it up with him.
When he was finally calm enough, he decided it was time to return to the camp. He only hoped Liz would take the hint and stay away from him. But, before he could head back, a loud sound pierced the air.
It was a long wolf howl. Full of fury and wrath. He didn’t know how, but a voice inside him said: Jordan.
Jackson shifted into his wolf in no time. He followed the sound; it was like a beacon, guiding him and his wolf.
Suddenly, the sound stopped, but it didn’t matter. He arrived at a clearing, not far from the camp, actually. His wolf skidded to a halt, and he quickly shifted back to his human form. Three figures stood in front of him.
“Motherfucker!” Carter screamed.
“Pa!” Austin cried. Carter held him against his body, a knife at the boy’s throat.
“Austin!” Jackson advanced toward him. “I’m going to tear you limb from limb, Carter!”
“Stop!” Carter pushed the knife closer to Austin’s skin. “I’ll do it. You know I will!”
Jackson froze. “What the hell is going on?” And where was Jordan? He glanced around. He didn’t see her or her she-wolf anywhere. “Samuel?”
The burly man was on his knees, a few feet away from Carter. His face was twisted in pain and his body convulsed with shakes. “A-a-Alpha,” he growled. “H-h-help.”
“Explain yourselves,” Jackson commanded.
Carter spat on the ground. “Well, looks like you walked right into my trap, Alpha. Earlier than I wanted, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?”
“Trap?” Jackson asked. “What do you mean?”
“Do you think you can cast me out and not pay the consequences?” Carter said. “No way I’m going back to being a Lone Wolf! No fucking way!”
“You got Marsden hurt,” Jackson retorted. “And what the fuck were you doing in the bullpen?”
“Haven’t figured it out yet, Alpha?” Carter sneered. “Who do you think’s been killing your animals?” He glanced at Samuel. “And who’s been helping him keep his secret?”
Realization flooded through him. Oh, no. He looked back at Samuel, who seemed desperately trying to hold on. To his human form that is. He was going feral.
“Goddamn idiot,” Carter cursed. “He couldn’t hold on, just until the probationary period was over and we could finally be part of the clan. Damn fool was gonna get us both kicked out. So, I helped feed the bloodlust. I brought him small things at first. Rabbits. Birds. But then he wanted more, so I went onto the chickens, then the goat. When that wouldn’t satisfy him, I thought, why not one of the bulls?”
“You should have told me,” Jackson said. “I could have helped.”
“Helped?” Carter said. “You could have us both kicked out! Or worse.”
Jackson would have felt sorry for the man, for what he had been through and because he could never trust anyone after what had been done to him. But he also had a fucking knife to his son’s throat, which is why he could only feel wrath toward Carter. “Well, what was your plan?” Keep him talking, he thought. He had to figure out how he was going to get Austin away from this asshole.
“I was going to get my revenge,” Carter said. “I got your boy, then told Samuel he had to come with me or I’d kill the kid. First, I was going to have Samuel tear your precious brat’s throat out, then lure you here so he could kill you, too.” He laughed. “Damn goodie-two shoes! You can’t control it, Samuel!”
“Shut up!” Samuel roared. “Don’t wanna …”
“You will!”
“You motherfucker,” Jackson roared. “I’m going to kill you and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.”
“Not before I could kill your boy,” Carter taunted. “Samuel,” he called. “Stop dicking around and shift!”
“No!” He clawed at the air. “Alpha … don’t want … no …”
It was obvious that Samuel didn’t want to hurt Austin or Jackson. He couldn’t help himself. The years of torture had broken him and his wolf. “Hang on, Samuel,” he urged. “We’ll get you help.”
“Please … Alpha.”
“Samuel, you piece of shit!” Carter pressed the knife to Austin’s throat so it drew blood. “Shift now and kill the Alpha or I’ll slit this boy’s throat!”
“No!” Samuel dug his fingers into the ground, as if trying to anchor his human form. However, it seemed to no avail as his face began to distort and his teeth lengthened.
Desperation clawed at Jackson, his wolf unable to move. They had to protect Austin at all costs. Even if that meant killing a man who was desperate to live.
Jackson roared as he shifted into wolf form, the speed of the change making him dizzy. He landed on all fours and faced the feral wolf. Bloodlust tinged the air—the feral wolf was out to kill.
The two wolves circled each other. Jackson’s wolf was unusually large, even for a Lycan, but Samuel’s matched him. Plus, the other wolf was out of control and had nothing to lose.
Jackson held back, waiting for the other wolf to make the first move. It lunged at him. He was ready and raised his paws to push him away. Teeth gnashed at him. The wolf was going straight for the kill, trying to reach his neck. Jackson roared and turned his head so he could clamp down on Samuel’s shoulder. He let out a howl of pain, but that didn’t seem to faze him as he continued to claw and bite at Jackson.
From the corner of his eye, he kept a watch on Austin. Carter still had him close. The situation was helpless, but he would die fighting for his son if he had to.
13
Jordan couldn’t move. Fear gripped her, paralyzing her wolf’s body as she stood and watched from where she hid.
When she saw Carter holding Austin hostage and Samuel trying to keep himself from shifting, she knew she had to do something. But what? Carter could kill Austin or Samuel could shift before she even had a chance to fight. She couldn’t leave to get
help either as she didn’t know where to go. She only knew she had to do something.
Must … protect … pup … mine.
And so she thought she would call out. She knew she was pretty close to camp, and if she howled loud enough, someone would hear.
She howled as loud as she could, pushing her wolf’s lungs to capacity. The sound was foreign even to her own ears, and she didn’t really put much thought into it. She relied on her instincts, hoping to God it would be enough.
When she saw Jackson’s wolf coming in through the trees, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her instinct told her to go to him, but her mind told her to stay. Carter had looked around when she started howling, but he seemed too occupied keeping both Austin and Samuel in check to investigate.
So, she was still here, hiding in the bushes. She could use that to her advantage. But how? Jackson and Samuel were now fighting, and it seemed like a lost cause. If Jackson won, Carter would surely still kill Austin. She had to do something.
Her eyes trained on Carter, watching his every move, like a patient predator waiting for an opening. When Samuel rolled Jackson over and got on top of him, Carter screamed in delight and raised the knife above his head in victory.
Save … pup … Go!
She sprang into action, leaping from her hiding place and straight at Carter. Holding out one paw, she aimed for his head her claws raking down his face. She swiped backwards to pull him away from Austin. He didn’t know what hit him.
Carter yowled in pain, screeching at the top of his lungs. Jordan only hoped that Austin would use this chance to get away.
“What the fuck!” Carter shrieked, covering his face as he rolled on the ground in pain.
This was her chance. Jordan jumped on top of Carter’s prone form, pinning him down. She didn’t even hesitate, and neither did the wolf inside her. It went straight for the shoulder, tearing at the skin with its sharp jaws. Carter’s screams were deafening, and he struggled to get the wolf off. Cartilage and bone cracked under its teeth, and when Carter stopped moving, Jordan reined the wolf back, releasing his shoulder. It backpedaled, but kept its eyes on Carter.
He was still, but his breathing was labored. Lycans were taught not to kill unless it was absolutely necessary. However, Carter was maimed enough that he wouldn’t be able to recover quickly.
“J-j-Jordan?”
She whipped her head around. Austin was sitting on the ground, a look of pure shock on his face, his body shivering. She padded over to him and he reached out, his small fingers running through her fur. The boy’s skin was cold as ice, and she rubbed her muzzle on his hand. He let out a soft cry and then embraced her, gripping her neck so tight all the air squeezed out of her. But she didn’t mind one bit.
“Samuel!”
She looked back, to where Jackson and Samuel had been brawling. However, Jackson had changed back into human form, while the other man remained in Lycan form. What the hell was he doing? He was no match for a Lycan, and a feral one at that.
Jackson was very still as Samuel snarled and gnashed its fangs at him. “Samuel,” he said in an authoritative voice. “Change back now.”
The power in his voice sent a tingle throughout Jordan’s body. The air around them was thick and charged. Even Jordan felt a compelling urge to do anything Jackson said.
“Samuel. As your Alpha, I order you to change. Now.”
The wolf let out a strangled squall, then bowed, its ears turning down and head sniffing at the ground. Slowly, it began to change, the fur turning to skin and paws to hands.
Jackson stood there for a few seconds, then his head turned toward Jordan and Austin. His face shifted from tension to relief and he dashed over to them.
“Austin!” He scooped up his son and held him tight. “Austin … are you okay? Did you … did he hurt.”
“Pa!” he sobbed as he buried his face in the crook of his shoulder. “Pa … Pa …” He was hiccupping and crying at the same time.
“Shh … it’s all right,” Jackson soothed. There was a slight tremor in his hands as he held his son. “You’re safe now. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
“Pa … Jordan … she … saved me.”
Jackson looked down at her. “Jordan … I …” He bent down to her wolf’s level, Austin still in his arms. His green eyes bore right into hers.
She wanted to hold him too, to tell him everything was going to be okay. However, she was still in wolf form, and well, frankly, she had to think practically. She would be fully naked if she shifted right now.
He must have realized what she was thinking. “Why don’t you and Austin head back to camp and you can get some clothes?”
Oh, thank God. She bobbed her head up and down, approximating a nod. Jackson’s hand brushed her neck affectionately, and she licked at his face, then Austin.
“Jordan, that tickles!” he giggled.
“Go on now.” Jackson stood up, then glanced over at Samuel and then Carter. “I’ll stay here and radio Garland. Just keep walking east for about half a mile.” He gripped his son’s shoulder. “Are you going to be okay to go head back by yourself?”
He looked at Jordan. “I’ll be okay. I won’t be alone.”
Jordan was pretty glad she didn’t get them lost. It would have been embarrassing, especially after Austin’s declaration. His words had made her heart soar with joy. And that he was safe was the most important thing. She didn’t know what she would have done if anything happened to him.
Austin followed her close as they walked back to camp. She didn’t even notice that the rain had stopped before it became a full-on storm, so the scent of the camp was still faint in the air. When they got there, the fire was blazing, and there were still people scrambling about. Radios crackled and voices grew frantic.
She nudged at Austin, swinging her head toward the camp. He must have understood what she was trying to tell him, so he dashed off toward the familiar figure of Garland. Satisfied that the boy was taken care of, she walked over to the ladies’ area.
With all the adrenaline gone from her body, she felt bone tired. It was an effort to change back, but she managed. There were towels ready for them placed in a tote hanging from one of the hooks. What she really needed was a shower, but this would have to do.
After wiping the blood off her and changing into her clothes, she walked back to camp. The excitement had somewhat died down, but she could still hear voices and activity as she approached.
“Jackson! Oh, thank God!” Liz’s voice was shrill. “I thought I’d lost you!”
Jordan halted, her blood pounding in her temples at the sight in front of her. Jackson and Liz, locked in an embrace, their lips pressed together.
And there it was. The perfect couple. The perfect family, really, with Austin there, who clung to his dad. She pivoted on her heel and walked away.
She could feel her throat closing up, but she refused to spill any tears. Not for Jackson. She thought … what the hell had she thought? That he would choose her over Liz?
Outside the sex, he couldn’t stand her. Even told her she could never be a mother to Austin. And she knew that. She was too self-centered. Her work was her life, though at this moment, she couldn’t quite remember why. When Jackson said he wanted to talk, he probably was trying to let her down easy. Well, she’d make it easy for him.
Her wolf howled in pain, scratching at her to get her attention, but she ignored it.
Think. She had to escape this place, but she was in the middle of nowhere. Maybe she could hike back, but she didn’t even know where the hell she was.
Her keen hearing picked up the sound of an engine. She followed it until she came on a cleared, but unpaved road. There was a truck waiting there, its headlights pointing straight at her, nearly blinding her. She didn’t hesitate.
“Hey,” she called to the man in the driver’s sat. She recognized him. Jesse.
“Jordan?” he asked. “What’re you doing here?”
“I … I need to
get back to the house.”
“Is everything all right? The Alph—”
“Are you going back?”
He scowled, then glanced behind him. “Yeah. I gotta take that bastard Carter back to the doctor to get him patched up. He’s stopped bleeding out and we’ve tied him down just in case.” He spat. “If you ask me, you shoulda left him for dead.”
Jordan couldn’t agree more, but there were more important things. “So, can I get a ride?”
“Of course,” he said. “Hop on.”
“Thanks!” she circled back around to the passenger’s side and slid in.
“Ready?”
Was she ever. “Let’s go.”
The truck rumbled down the path, further and further away from the camp. Jordan told herself this was for the best.
14
Disgust made the bile in Jackson’s throat rise, and he yanked Liz’s arms away from his neck. “Get away from me. I told you to leave, didn’t I?” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“But Jackson, I said I was sorry,” Liz said, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. “And I heard what happened. I couldn’t leave, not without knowing you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” he said. “And so is my son.” He pulled Austin close to him.
“Of course!” She bent down. “Austin, we were so worried. I was worried for you.” She reached out to touch the boy, but he recoiled and huddled against Jackson.
“As you can see, we’re both fine,” he said. “Now go. I never want to see your face again. Your invitation is formally rescinded.”
Liz’s lips pursed and her eyebrows drew together. “Fine. I never liked this place, anyway. It’s backward and you all are trashy—”
“Garland!” Jackson barked. “Escort Ms. Cimms out of my sight and the territory immediately.”
The older man huffed. “’Bout time.” He grabbed Liz by the arm and dragged her away. Jackson heaved a sigh of relief. Now that Liz was gone, he looked around. “Austin,” he began. “Where’s Jordan?”
“She must’ve gone to get dressed,” Austin said.
A Mate for Jackson: Bad Alpha Dads: A True Mates Standalone Novel Page 12
