by Lisa Kessler
“The sniper. That’s why he wasn’t shooting anymore. He went to help with recon. Fuck.” My fingers twitched, aching to hit something. “I have to find her.”
Naomi grabbed my arm, squeezing it tightly enough to get my attention. “We can’t chase them all the way to Phoenix right now. In a few hours you’ll be a wolf. She’ll be safe for now. Becca is his only leverage. He needs her alive.”
“To trade for my kids!” I shouted, jerking my arm free from her grasp. “I can’t just let them take her and go shift when the other half of my soul is in danger. How can you even ask me to?”
“Because I trust Becca.” Naomi crossed her arms over her chest. “She’s smart, and she knows you’ll come for her. The last thing she’d want is for you to get arrested during the full moon. She knows what’s at stake here.” She shook her head slowly, her gaze locked on mine. “She would tell you to think about Hawk and Henry.”
Rage simmered in my gut. Naomi was right. I fucking hated it, but she was. He needed Becca alive, and she needed me to keep my head and stay out of jail.
I balled my hands into tight fists. “I will tear him apart.”
Naomi walked with me through the parking lots and back to my truck. “I know this sucks, but your mate is strong.” We stood by my tailgate, and she met my eyes. “I have faith in Becca. You should, too.”
She left me there without waiting on a reply. I got in my truck and let out a primal scream, all my anger and fear filling the cab of my truck. Then I turned the ignition and drove out of the parking lot.
Shadows stretched across the valley by the time I got to the ranch. I’d stopped at Becca’s house and replaced the doorknob first. It was a stupid, pointless task, but I needed something to focus on or I was going to lose my fucking mind worrying about her, and I didn’t want my fear to scare my boys when I made up some lie about where Becca was. I needed to keep my head so I could shield them from this mess.
Naomi’s words kept playing through my head like a mantra. I had to trust Becca. She was strong.
And tomorrow nothing was going to stop me from holding her in my arms again.
When I drove up the driveway to Asher and Naomi’s house, General Sloan’s black sedan was parked in front. Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any shittier. I marched up to the house and pulled open the door.
Dex came over and clasped my forearm before he gripped my shoulder with his other hand. “Sorry he got to her. We’ll all help you bring Becca back.”
“Thanks, man.” I truly appreciated the offer, but after scanning the room and seeing no sign of the general, I took a step back. “Where’s Sloan?”
“He’s out back with Serenity.” Dex hissed out a breath. “Pretty fucked-up situation.”
“Yeah.” I glanced his way. “What about Asher?”
“Office,” Dex replied.
I started for the hallway when Hawk came screaming around the corner from Bart and Ben’s room. “Daddy!”
I picked him up and hugged him, closing my eyes and smelling his hair. I choked on an unexpected sob, grateful he couldn’t see my face. So much for keeping my emotions under control. I didn’t want to frighten him, but holding him made it impossible to rein in the dread that I was on the edge of losing more than I could fucking bear.
He whispered against my ear. “What’s wrong? Are you sad?”
I wasn’t sure I could look at him without falling apart. I kissed his ear. “I missed you, bud. I needed this hug.”
He pushed back, his gaze wandering over my face. “Where’s Becca?”
I cleared my throat, struggling to keep my voice even. “She’s not coming to the full moon this time.”
“Oh.” He pondered that a moment and then gasped. He grinned wide. “We should see her tomorrow.”
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “For sure.”
He studied me, and I struggled to bottle up my rage and fear, praying he wouldn’t be able to see it. I wanted to be a superhero for my boys so they wouldn’t have to be afraid of this dangerous world I’d brought them into.
His little hands pressed against either side of my face as he pulled me in close so our foreheads touched. “You smell sad, Daddy.”
I couldn’t fucking do this. I set him down. “You go run and play, okay? I need to find Asher.”
“Okay.” He hesitated for a second before following my instructions.
I turned around and went to Asher’s office. He and Vance were speaking in hushed tones.
Mine was nowhere near as controlled. “I’m going to shift, and then I’m hauling ass to Phoenix. I’m not leaving her there.”
Asher got out of his chair. “Trust me, I understand how you’re feeling.”
“What I’m feeling is helpless.” I spit the word out through tight lips. “Becca is… I don’t even know where the fuck she is, and it’s eating me up inside.”
Asher came around his desk and stopped in front of me. “You live to fight another day.” He looked past me to the door before meeting my eyes again. “Sloan is shifting with the pack tonight. He knows where Mitch Jones lives, and tomorrow you’ll ride with me to Phoenix. Vance will go with Sloan, and we’re hoping Serenity and Ryker will come with us. That’ll depend on how things are going out back.”
Dex had told me Serenity was on the back patio meeting Sloan for the first time, and since we’d only recently discovered he was her biological father, and he may or may not have known Dr. Harlow was raising her, I had no idea if she’d hug him or tell him to fuck off.
I ground my teeth. “While I appreciate the support, I’m not ready to put my trust in a man who decided I would make a good werewolf soldier in some war I didn’t sign up to fight.” I pointed at the other hallway, down which the kids played. “I potentially just lied to my little boy by telling him he’d see Becca tomorrow. I’m not resting until I can make good on that promise.”
Asher shook his head. “Even if you shift and then manage to force another shift back, it’ll beat the shit out of you physically, then you’ll have to drive two hours to drive to Phoenix. He’s got armed jaguar assassins with him and a restraining order that could get your ass thrown in jail.” He crossed his arms. “You don’t have to like my plan, but I won’t have you running into enemy fire as a lone wolf. Those boys need you alive.”
“Daddy? Are you okay?” I turned around to see Henry and Hawk hovering at the door. My heart sank seeing the fear in their eyes. “Why are you mad?”
I sighed and scooped them up, hoping they hadn’t heard too much of our conversation. Sometimes having little ones with heightened senses made it tough to shield them from the danger brewing around us. I kissed each of their cheeks. “Sorry, guys. I’ll be okay.”
They both wrapped their arms around my neck, and Hawk whispered, “Please don’t die.”
I closed my eyes, holding them tighter. “I won’t.”
Henry lifted his head from my shoulder. “Promise?”
“Yeah.” I lowered them to the floor. “Where’s Uncle Chandler?”
Hawk put a hand on his hip and shook his other finger as he explained, “He’s trying to make his babies sleep, but they’re just crying because they’re babies.”
Damn, I loved these boys. “All right. Better go keep Bart and Ben company until he’s done.”
“Have fun with the wolves!” Hawk called as he chased after his brother.
I lifted my gaze to Asher’s face, my heart and soul being ripped in two. “Don’t make me choose between my children and my mate. I need them both.”
Asher glanced over at Vance, who had been silent since I’d entered. “What do you think? Can you come up with a better plan?”
“I say we wait until morning. Maybe Serenity can astral-project and find Becca that way. She could deliver a message, maybe a rendezvous point if she can break out of her uncle’s place.” Vance crossed his arms and focused on me. “My money is on Becca. I think you’re selling your girl short that she needs a werewolf to run i
n and save her.”
He turned to Asher. “She knows her uncle better than we do, and if she can get away from him, she can navigate trails most people can’t even find. He’d never find her. She never loses her sense of direction, and if she had to, she could set up camp on top of a rock and be fine.” His eyes flicked to my face. “Running in at anything but one-hundred percent when there are trained jaguar assassins waiting for you with sniper rifles is a recipe for disaster, mate.”
There was reason in what he said, and the rational part of my brain recognized that, but tonight the wolf was taking over and every animalistic instinct was demanding to find our mate, to know she was safe.
“I’ll try to wait,” I said. “But no guarantees.”
Asher came over and gripped my shoulder. “It’s going to work out. You’ll see.”
All I could see was Becca sleeping in that hospital bed, battered and bruised, and right now she was alone with the man who had put her there.
CHAPTER 20
Becca
I sat on the bed in the guest room of my uncle’s upscale Phoenix home. No. Home sounded cozy. This place seemed more like a desert castle, and I was Rapunzel locked in a second-story guest room. It wasn’t actually locked, though. I could get to the bathroom if I needed it, but there was an armed shapeshifter right outside the front door, so I wasn’t going anywhere. I stared up at the full moon through the window, imagining Gage as a wolf, running free through the valley.
Back in the hospital, I’d thought I might get to see his wolf tonight. Instead, I found myself a prisoner in the home of someone who was supposed to be my family. A week ago, I wouldn’t have imagined any of this was possible.
Without a clock or my phone, I had no idea how long I’d been here. I’d gone through waves of anger, helplessness, and fear, and I finally found myself left with this empty, detached numbness. If my uncle wanted me dead, I wouldn’t be breathing right now, that much was certain. But since he’d taken that serum, he wasn’t himself. The mania and paranoia had tainted him somehow. I didn’t recognize this man, and I couldn’t trust him. But I was too wrung out to muster any real emotion toward him anymore.
Being emotionally drained did make it possible for me to contemplate my options with a clear head at least. If I stayed here and waited for this to play out, no doubt he would try to trade me for his grandchildren. He must know by now that Gage would come for me.
But there was no way in hell I was letting my uncle anywhere near those boys. Which meant I needed to get away somehow. It wouldn’t be easy with his armed guards. Since they seemed to have the similar heightened senses and abilities that Gage had, they would be able to track me even if I did manage to climb out of this second-story window.
And where would I go? My uncle had friends in law enforcement. He could make a few calls and I’d be right back in this room where I started. I didn’t have my phone so I couldn’t call Gage or Asher to come and get me, either.
I stared up at the stars. No clouds tonight. No chance of a monsoon this time of year, and in March, the daytime temperatures wouldn’t be deadly hot. If I did get out of this house, maybe I wouldn’t have to escape Phoenix right away. If I could get far enough away before the jaguar shifters came after me, I could hide out on Lookout Mountain for a couple of days. It would be hot but not the death heat of summer.
Dammit, but I’d need water. And I had no money.
I lay back on the bed as frustration tore me up inside. There had to be a way.
There is a way.
My eyes popped open as I sat up in bed and scanned the empty room. My mouth went dry. I was alone.
A drawer opened on the dresser, and I gasped, jumping off the bed.
I need a pen.
My heart hammered in my ears. This voice was coming from inside my head, but it wasn’t mine. Maybe the stress of all this had made me have a psychotic break, but somehow the voice sounded familiar.
Help me find something to write with.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
Serenity. Ryker’s mate.
She was a psychic. Ryker had listed off some of her skills, but I hadn’t really understood until now. Goose bumps prickled my arms as I got up and assisted in the search.
“Can you hear me?” I asked.
Yes. I’m astral-projecting.
I’d lived in Sedona long enough to know about metaphysical properties of crystals, vortex energy, and ley lines, but I didn’t have a clue about astral projection.
“What does that mean?” I whispered.
We can talk about it later.
In the closet, I found some file boxes full of old case documents. I searched each box without finding any pens or pencils. Shit. I kept looking. There had to be something. Finally, I lifted the lid on a box and smiled. It was full of office supplies—a stapler, scissors, and a cup of pens and pencils. I plucked one out, along with a yellow legal pad.
I set them on the bed and waited. The pen rose and scraped across the paper. I went back to the closet. If I stared at that pen moving by itself any longer, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep quiet. This was all too much. I focused on the box again, then took the pair of scissors and slipped them into my pants pocket. If I got out of this room, I could use the scissors for protection. I also took a pencil and folded up a piece of paper with a few paperclips inside.
Everyone is asleep right now. This is your chance. One guard is outside watching the front door. Go out the back.
When I turned around, the pen sat on the notepad with an address and a name scrawled on top. I tore off the page and jammed it into my pocket. Tremors in my hands made tying my tennis shoes difficult, but once I finished the double knots, I sucked in a deep breath. I could do this. I just needed to get out and then go to the address on the paper.
Holding my breath, I turned the knob on the door and pushed it open without making a sound. So far so good. The guest room opened onto a landing that looked down on the spacious living area below. Everything seemed dark and quiet. I padded down the stairs, grateful for the solid construction. There wasn’t a single squeak as I made my way down, then across the darkened living room and into the kitchen.
The back door was in sight.
And so was an alarm keypad.
Shit. I moved closer, checking the illuminated digital screen: ARMED.
Dammit. I was so close to freedom. I glanced up at the second-floor landing and then looked over to the front door. If they had to run down the stairs, and the other guy had to make it all the way around the house, I’d have a head start. I wasn’t an Olympic track star, but I was in good shape, and my uncle’s community was on the edge of the city. If I could get into the foothills, I could hide out until they gave up.
I’d have to cover my scent.
I went to the fridge and scanned its contents. I grabbed a bottle of water and jammed it into my front pocket, followed by a small container of minced garlic. Would it disguise my natural scent or just give them a new one to track? I didn’t understand how it all worked. Maybe if I used the garlic when I was farther away? Or I could spread it around. I’d figure it out later. I put it in my other pocket and faced the door alarm again. Adrenaline coursed through me making my muscles ache for action.
“Let’s do this,” I whispered.
I opened the door, and an automated voice announced through the intercom that the door was ajar.
But I was free.
I raced across the graveled backyard toward the back fence. As I got closer, I hoped the adrenaline would be enough to get me over. It hadn’t looked this tall from the bedroom window. Behind me, the outdoor lights came on. My lead was dwindling. I launched myself at the wooden fence, catching the edge of the horizontal beam. I reached one hand to grip the top of the wood planks and pulled myself up.
A bullet hit the wood to my right, and my uncle shouted, “Don’t shoot!”
So I was right: he did need me alive.
I dropped down on the other side and ran t
hrough the scrub brush and sand. In the glow of the full moon, I found a worn coyote trail and followed it farther away from the lights of the city. I took refuge behind a large boulder, catching my breath as I dug out the garlic and took off the lid. I dropped the lid and sprinkled some in the dirt and wiped some on the side of the rock. I dribbled some along the trail and then threw the bottle, hoping they’d follow. Even if they figured out it was a dead end, it would buy me some time. I wiped my hands on my pants and forced my legs to pick up the pace again, putting more distance between me and my uncle’s place.
I stayed away from the flatland, opting for the rockier brush-lined hills. Once the sun came up, I needed someplace I could lie low. I wasn’t sure how far I’d traveled by the time the sun peeked over the horizon, but I hoped it was enough. My energy was drained. I had to rest. When I found an outcropping of small bushes, I ducked underneath them and pulled my knees up to my chest to make myself small. I took out the water and limited myself to two swallows. I’d need to ration it until I could get to the address in my pocket. If this had been a hike or a backpacking trip, I would’ve brought nuts with me for a little protein boost, but I hadn’t planned this trip in advance.
“Are you there?” I whispered to Serenity’s disembodied voice, feeling silly.
The only answer was a screech from a red-tailed hawk circling overhead. I was alone, but I was free. Hopefully, the men following me had already given up.
No way to know for sure yet.
I put the water back in my pocket and held still.
CHAPTER 21
Gage
We’d been attacked during the full moon a few times since I’d become a werewolf, but none of those shifts had been as torturous for me as this one. Surrendering to the wolf while knowing our mate was in peril, and having no way to get to her, made me impatient and angry.
Having every bone in your body broken and reforged could bring the strongest person to their knees, but I’d learned that if I didn’t fight the change, I could distance myself from the pain like an observer instead of a participant.
