“Better?” Anders asked him.
Hollis snorted.
“What the hell happened to him? This is seriously fucked-up shit,” Mal whispered, staring down at what was Cyrus. “What the fuck did you do?”
“He sort of…exploded,” Dante added.
Anders grimaced down at Cyrus. “That was—is—the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Hollis’s wolf stared at the pulpy mess. Only one thing mattered, and his wolf wasn’t going to wait any longer. Hollis might be angry, but his wolf was ready to move on. He pushed past the rest of the pack and climbed into the van. He bit through her ropes, groaning at the feel of her hands sinking into his fur. Nothing in his life came close to it. Being near her, having her touch him, was heaven. He stared down at Ellen, nudging her with his nose. But the tears streaming down her cheeks caught him off guard. Why was she crying? Now, when it was over and the danger was gone. He nuzzled her face and throat, drawing her scent deep. Her scent. His mate. She was the only one who could tame his wolf.
…
“Oh, Hollis,” she whispered, her lips brushing his ear. He was beautiful and strong and safe. Watching him fight had been the most exciting moment of her life—and the most terrifying.
His wolf groaned, nudging her with his nose. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes. Neither of them were good with words. But this, now, was enough. It was good, even when his satisfied groan shifted to a reprimanding growl.
She’d broken her promise. “I’m sorry,” she said, nodding. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t let them hurt you—”
He nudged her again, baring his teeth.
“I couldn’t stand by and let them hurt you.”
This time he snorted. His wolf would forgive her, he told her that. But Hollis the man was hurt. He believed she hadn’t trusted his wolf—that she’d fought because she feared he wasn’t able. And Cyrus’s insults and digs only made matters worse.
She cradled his face, searching his vibrant green gaze. There was so much to ask, say, and forgive. But there was time now. With Cyrus gone, they had so much time.
His wolf rubbed his head against hers, a long groan rumbling from deep within his chest. She wished she could shift. Her wolf longed to meet her mate, to touch him, smell him, and experience the bliss of his touch. Happiness bubbled up inside of her, tentative and fragile.
He’d shifted to save her.
“I love you,” she whispered against his ear. Her beautiful wolf, this beautiful man.
His groan turned into a soft growl, a warning of sorts.
She nodded, letting him lead the way from the van. Letting their guard down now would be a mistake. The Others gathered were ready for a fight.
“Everyone accounted for?” Finn asked, his gaze sweeping the windows of the building. “No reinforcements for their team in there?”
“Hollis’s assistant is inside. No one else,” Ellen said. “This was a retrieval mission.” She kept a hold of Hollis, pulling from his strength. Regardless of the tension in the air or the rigid posture of those facing off in the dimly lit lot, his wolf knew no fear. If it came to a fight, his wolf would win.
“He always sends this many for a retrieval mission?” Anders asked.
“I get the feeling he was expecting trouble.” Dante nodded at the Others still wavering.
“Maybe not that sort of trouble.” Mal was still looking at what had once been Cyrus. “I have to say, even though I didn’t have shit to do this”—he nudged Cyrus’s foot with his own and looked at Hollis—“You did good.”
Hollis snorted, still too preoccupied by the possible threat they were facing. Ellen stroked the thick fur between his shoulders, taking heart from his protective stance. Hollis had found his wolf and his wolf was intimidating as hell.
“Are we fighting or what?” Anders asked, rolling his head. “Gentry’s got his big gun loaded and is chomping at the bit to use it.” He glanced over his shoulder at the Humvee that had followed the black Suburban.
Sure enough, she could see Gentry peeking through the roof, a massive gun resting on the roll bar. Exhaustion rolled over her, not just physical but emotional. “There’s no need for that. Too many have died for him. You are no match for this pack. Surely you all see how futile that would be now?”
“They are our enemy,” an Other spoke up, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
“According to him,” Ellen continued. “Cyrus was the one who tormented them. If he’d left them alone, they would never have sought him out. But power was all that mattered to him. He feared losing it, because he was afraid of them. He should have been.”
“We are expendable,” one of the female Others said.
The announcement was so matter-of-fact that all any of Finn’s pack could do was stare. Ellen, however, was familiar with Cyrus’s philosophy. She’d pitied those who’d so willingly believed it.
“Is that what he told you?” Finn asked.
The woman nodded. “We have one purpose.”
The man next to her nudged her, hard.
“He’s dead.” Mal pointed at the body. “You’re not going to get beaten or skinned, tortured or locked up for talking. That’s not how we do things.”
The man frowned.
“What’s the one purpose?” Finn asked.
“Your pack,” the woman said. “To capture and kill you.” She glanced at Ellen. “And bring her back. She’s the witch?”
Ellen saw the way the pack looked at her. She glared back at them. There was nothing to fear here.
“She can be a little mean sometimes but that doesn’t make her a witch,” Anders attempt to tease fell short.
“He says I am a witch because I refused to believe what he said,” she said. “Telling you I’m a witch made you hate me instead of pity me.”
Her words counted for nothing. A murmur rippled through the pack, ratcheting up the oppressive weight of the air.
“He wanted you to kill us. Now he’s dead. What’s the point?” Finn spoke calmly. “You don’t want to die tonight.”
“Why the hell did the son of a bitch hate us so much?” Anders asked. “What the hell did we ever do to him?”
“We existed.” Mal growled. “You want that fucking collar off?” he asked her, kneeling to dig in Cyrus’s pockets until he found the key.
The moment the collar fell to the ground, her strength returned—as well as a throb in her face. Cyrus’s work. He’d barely dragged her from the room before slapping her hard enough to leave her ears ringing. It was a taste of what was to come—he’d said. An empty threat. Cyrus was gone. Forever.
She leaned heavily against Hollis, trying to accept he was gone. Even if his pack tried to fight Finn, they’d lose. Cyrus had never been one to share power, he’d have made sure there was no one in the pack to challenge him. Now, there would be no one to lead the pack he’d left behind.
“He wanted justice,” the man spoke. “We’ve all lost people to you.”
Finn’s surprise was obvious. “Lost people?”
Ellen’s hand tightened in Hollis’s fur. “You’ve all had loved ones killed?” Her voice shook. Cyrus did this.
“By them,” the woman whispered.
“He lied to you. As he lied to me. His best recruits were those who shared in his common enemy.” She spoke clearly, hoping they’d listen.
“Motherfucker,” Mal ground out. “That’s how he recruits? Blaming us for things he probably did?”
“It’s smart,” Finn agreed. “And, from the looks of it, effective.”
She regarded Cyrus’s remains. The bastard had left a legacy full of hate and deceit. Was there a way to convince the Others their Alpha was the enemy, or was the damage Cyrus had done irreversible?
“Can you prove he lied to us?” the man asked.
“I can try,” Finn said. “In the ten years since I was infected, I have only killed those that attacked me or my pack.”
Another ripple among the Others—she counted eleven. Eleve
n pairs of disbelieving eyes and barely repressed hostility. They might be confused about Finn and his pack, but all of them had regarded her as the enemy.
Hollis’s wolf nudged her apart, wedging him between her and the Others. He saw it, too. She smiled at him.
“He said you’d say that. He said the witch would use magic on us to make us believe you.” The man’s voice grew thick and gruff, his shift barely restrained. “He said you’d lure us in and wipe us out.”
Hollis nudged Ellen toward the warehouse. Even after she’d shown him what she was capable of, he sought to protect her. And their child—her wolf was quick to remind her. That was why she let him shield her. He was no more comfortable with her fighting than she was when he did it.
“Why would he say anything different?” Finn asked. “He needed you to do his dirty work. Convincing you we’d done horrible things made it okay for you to do them to us.”
“You’re full of shit,” the man spit back, his skin going red.
This man was loyal to Cyrus, she saw it in his pale gaze. Any further conversation would only delay the inevitable. It would be a quick fight. Eleven Others versus their five—and Gentry and whatever canon he was holding.
“He was full of shit.” Mal pointed at Cyrus’s remains. “You want to die over some dead asshole’s lies, we can help you with that.”
Finn placed a hand on Mal’s arm, restraining him. “I’ll say it again. We’re not your enemies. We didn’t come here to fight, only to protect and defend out packmates. Pack is family. We protect one another. No matter what.”
There was a murmur among the group. “You’re outnumbered,” the man said, a slow smile creasing his face.
“Do we look worried?” Mal asked, bowing up.
“You should be,” the woman spoke, falling forward to shift.
The Others launched as one teaming mass of teeth and claws. But Finn and the pack were ready. They met, a teeming mass of growls, snapping teeth, and whimpers. Ellen dodged an Other, the sting of claws cutting through the flesh of her upper arm.
Hollis attacked, knocking her attacker to the ground and snapping his neck.
He growled at her, doing his best to herd her toward the lab while covering her. Running was against her nature. She gripped the hilts tightly. Promise or not, even her wolf knew it was foolish to remain unarmed. She picked up on movement from the corner of her eye. A gray wolf was on her, swiping her legs out from under her, and sending her sprawling on the concrete to whack her head—one blade sliding out of her reach.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A gunshot fired, giving Gentry the permission to unload his cannon on the Others.
Hollis forced his shift and looped Ellen’s arm around his neck, hurrying them across the parking lot. Breathing hurt like hell but he had to get them out of there. The Others had it out for Ellen. On top of the asshole he’d taken down, Mal and Finn had both jumped between her and a would-be attacker. With Gentry firing the M134 Minigun, laughing his ass off, and the efficiency with which the pack was taking down the Others, Hollis felt confident they could handle things without them.
“I’m fine,” Ellen snapped as he pulled her inside the warehouse.
He didn’t acknowledge her protest. An Other was tailing them and his wolf wanted to fight.
“Stop dragging me.” She tugged her arm, but Hollis held tight.
“Stop arguing,” he bit back, glancing over his shoulder to see Anders take down the wolf. He pressed the button on the elevator, frantic to get her to safety.
“Hollis,” Ellen’s tone turned soft. “Where is Kim?”
“Dammit.” He couldn’t leave Kim undefended. “Kim?” Hollis called out, impatient. “Kim!” Expanding his lungs to yell hurt like a son of a bitch.
The elevator opened.
“Dr. Hollis?” She crawled out from under the desk, wide-eyed and breathing hard. “What’s happening?”
“I’ll tell you upstairs.” Hollis waved her forward. “Hurry.” He glanced out the open doors, the noise and chaos outside had his wolf on high alert. But no one was coming.
Kim glanced outside, her mouth dropping open. “Oh my God. Should we call the police?” She paused. “Who are they?”
“Kim,” he snapped. “Elevator.”
She ran in and pressed herself flat against the back wall. “Who’s fighting? Why?”
“There are no simple answers to those questions,” Hollis said, hitting the elevator button. He pressed a hand to his side. Cyrus had cut deep, piercing a lung and cracking a rib. Unlike his shoulder injury, this one hadn’t healed well while he’d been in wolf form.
“I can stand, Hollis,” Ellen murmured, pulling from his hold. She pressed a hand to her head, swaying on her feet, until she rested her weight against the wall. “I’m fine,” she added.
“You can barely stay on your feet, Ellen. You’re not fine.” It took everything he had not to pull her into his arms.
Kim whispered, “Her head is bleeding.”
“We’ll need the first aid kit,” Hollis said.
“So is you shoulder.” Kim pointed. “And your side.” She paused. “Are you sure we shouldn’t call an ambulance?”
“I’m sure.” Hollis nodded. Gentry and Brown had plenty of connections to help them. But this was going to require a hell of a lot of clean up first. His chest rattled with each breath.
“Silver?” Ellen asked.
He nodded. “I think so. It still aches.”
“Bastard,” she hissed. “Cyrus,” she clarified.
“Yes,” he agreed. “He was.”
Her eyes opened, her gaze locking with his. “Was,” she whispered. “You were stabbed with silver and you still managed to shift back? You are a mighty wolf, Hollis Robbins.”
“A mighty what?” Kim stammered.
Her question hung, unanswered, until the elevator doors opened.
“I’ll get the medical kit,” Kim said, pausing at his side. “You’re naked, Dr. Hollis.”
He helped Ellen from the elevator, slid on his lab coat, and pulled an ice pack from the freezer. “Here.” He pressed it against the back of Ellen’s head, grimacing when she winced.
“I’m okay. It’s nothing.” Ellen said, covering his hand with hers. Her mismatched gaze held him captive. “I’m fine.”
His other hand reached up, cradling her cheek. Touching her eased some of his fear and worry. Still, there were things that needed to be said.
The elevator doors opened. Kim moved quickly, holding the medical kit, hiding behind Hollis and Ellen for protection. But it was Finn and the pack, bloody and disheveled, but in one piece.
“It’s over?” he asked.
Finn nodded.
“I sure as fuck hope so.” Mal growled, rubbing his jaw.
“Should I be scared?” Kim whispered, her gaze bouncing from Finn to Anders to Dante. Hollis did the same, trying to see Finn and his pack as Kim did. Big, naked, and banged up to hell—they could be considered intimidating. But he knew them for what they were: loyal wolves, good men, and his family.
Anders laughed.
“No,” Ellen assured her.
“We’re the good guys,” Anders volunteered. “Just a little underdressed.”
Kim stared pointedly at the ceiling. “You said it’s over? What about Mr. White?” Kim sniffed, tears filling her eyes. “M-my mother?”
“Mr. White is dead. Hollis killed him.” Ellen glanced at him before taking the woman’s hand. “Your mother is gone, Kim. I’m so sorry.”
One more casualty in a war they didn’t want. Cyrus was dead, along with so many more. Was it too much to hope that this rivalry, this violence, was over. He didn’t want anyone else to suffer for being their acquaintance. He didn’t want someone’s world to be destroyed to get to Finn and the pack. Kim’s sorrow rolled over them, her sobs shaking her small frame. She pressed her hand to her mouth, muffling the sound—but not the effect it had on those watching her fall apart.
“I’m sorry, Kim
,” he murmured. “What can we do?”
Kim shook her head.
“Should we call someone?” Anders asked. “Anyone?”
“She…she was all I had.” Kim sniffed.
“We’ll figure out what happens next. After we eat.” Anders voice softened, awkwardly patting on her shoulder.
Hollis watched Anders display in astonishment, then glanced at Ellen. She held Kim’s hands, clearly reading the woman’s reaction. He didn’t need to read Anders to see he was more than interested in the distraught woman. “Anders, Kim. Kim, Anders.”
“He thinks he’s hilarious.” Ellen smiled. “We all play along to keep him happy.”
Anders shook his head. “I am hilarious. But I’ll wait till after we’ve got some food in you.”
“I’d like to wash my hands and face,” Kim murmured. “Pull myself together.”
Anders nodded. “Is there a bathroom close?”
“Down the hall.” Kim pointed, glancing at Ellen. “You’re still worried?”
“We’re being cautious.” Anders smiled. “Lead the way.”
Hollis watched them, the way Anders looped Kim’s arm through his and the unmistakable curiosity on his face.
“That should be interesting,” Dante murmured. “Never seen Anders get remotely territorial like that.”
“That’s how it starts.” Mal grinned. “Still, we’ll need to keep an eye on her for a while, just to be sure she’s in the clear.”
Finn sighed. “If she has no place to go, and if there are any more crazy Cyrus followers out there, she’s better off at the refuge for now.”
Hollis agreed Kim needed their protection but taking her back to the refuge seemed drastic. Especially if Anders’s wolf was interested in more than taking care of her. Tonight had been horrible, but it wasn’t inescapable. The refuge was their world, a place there was no coming back from.
“Clothes?” Mal asked.
“In my office.” He tossed the keys to Mal. “Dante, you’re bleeding pretty bad. Want me to patch that up?”
Dante glanced at the long gash running from his lower back, along his hip, to his midthigh. “No. Let’s get the hell out of here before Gentry starts blowing things up.”
Protecting the Wolf's Mate (Blood Moon Brotherhood) Page 26
