by Brenda Trim
The bear exited the water and swallowed the fish whole. When Brenlee saw the size of the creature’s razor-sharp teeth, she decided that running was her best bet. She didn’t want to become its main course. Adrenaline dumped into her system, and she waited for the bear to turn its back so she could escape.
Suddenly, the air changed, and swirled around the bear. Blue light filled the whirlwind, and the Grizzly lifted its head, releasing a loud growl. Brenlee was spellbound at the sight. Magic was the only word that came to mind. She’d never seen anything like it, and her paws were cemented in place. She tried to run but couldn’t. She had to see what happened next.
Moments later, the bear’s form blurred. For an instant, she thought the animal would disappear into thin air as its body coalesced with the whirling tunnel of color, but then the shape transformed. The cyclone morphed into the form of a male, and the blue light changed to that of flesh.
Brenlee’s wolf startled and she feared the male, or whatever would sense her presence. As a shifter she was very familiar with transformations, but this was different from what she and her fellow shifters went through. It made her wonder if this creature was from another world.
The male was taller and more muscular than any shifter she’d ever seen. He had long, dark hair and a thick beard. Her enhanced vision zeroed in closer, and she noticed his eyes were pitch black. She couldn’t determine where the pupil ended, and the iris began. It was chilling, and her wolf shivered in response.
Without warning, the being took off running in the opposite direction. As soon as he disappeared into the woods, Brenlee turned and ran toward the hotel. She didn’t know what the hell was happening, but she needed to tell Lawson. Were there other creatures living amongst humans and shifters? If so, how many were there, and why hadn’t she seen one before now?
Chapter 12
Brenlee’s wolf charged through the tent city, ignoring the taunts and catcalls from the other packs. Beelining for the hotel, she shifted when she reached the back door. Without pausing she raced through the kitchen. Knox and Ashley called out to her, but she didn’t bother responding to them, either.
By the time she reached Lawson and Liv’s suite, she was out of breath. Chest heaving, she pounded on their door. “Lawson. Are you in there?” She shouted and gasped for air.
The door swung open, and Brenlee pushed her way inside. “You aren’t going to believe what just happened,” she spouted then came to a sudden halt.
Sitting on the sofa was Liv, and right next to her was Zane. His eyes bulged when he saw her, and realization crashed like a tidal wave. She was stark naked, and Zane was staring at every inch of her body.
Several things happened at once. Zane turned his head in the opposite direction, Brenlee grabbed the nearest thing she could find, which was Lawson’s jacket slung over a nearby chair, and her brother yelled, “What the fuck is going on, Bren?”
She wouldn’t have thought twice about being nude in front of her brother, or even Liv, for that matter. But to have Zane see her was beyond embarrassing. Still, she couldn’t worry about that right now. They needed to know about the magical bear from the woods.
Brenlee put on the jacket and covered her body as best she could. “You aren’t going to believe what I just saw,” she sputtered. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm down so she could tell her story.
“Where were you? I’ve been waiting here for the past hour. I was sick with worry,” Zane relayed. There was no stopping her wince when she saw a mix of emotions in his green eyes. Concern, relief, anger. He was obviously upset she rushed out without an explanation.
She felt bad for worrying him, but that conversation could wait. This was more important. “I was in the woods, along the north side of the stream,” she explained to Lawson as her heart rate finally returned to normal. “I smelled a strange scent, so I followed it. A black bear emerged from the water…I assume it was the one we saw at the cave,” she said and glanced at Zane then shifted her gaze away.
“What bear at the cave?” Lawson barked.
“I meant to tell you about that, but things have been so crazy after the explosion,” Zane interjected.
“That’s not why I’m freaking out,” Brenlee shouted over their conversation. “Would you let me finish?”
“Go on,” Lawson replied and rolled his hand in circles as if to hurry the story.
“Anyway, I was waiting for the bear to leave so I could run away when the winds picked up. It was a whirlwind with colors of blue inside. Before I knew what was happening the bear…it…I don’t know how to say this, but the bear changed into a human. At least, it looked human. But what happened to him was nothing like when we shift. This was some magical shit, that’s all I know,” she said then quickly added, “It’s eyes weren’t normal, either. They were all black. He looked possessed.”
“And then what happened?” Lawson blurted.
“Then, it took off. As soon as I knew he couldn’t see me, I took off, too. Ran home as fast as I could.”
“And, you’re saying it looked human, except for the eyes,” Lawson clarified as his brow furrowed.
“Yes, as far as I could tell. What do you think it was? Another type of shifter maybe?” Brenlee asked as she glanced around the room. Liv looked as confused as Brenlee felt, and her brother was deep in thought. Zane, on the other hand, looked pissed.
“I have no idea,” Lawson answered as he rubbed his jaw, and began pacing.
“I wonder if there’s more of them,” Liv added as she held a hand loosely around her throat.
“When we saw the bear at the cave, I aimed my gun and told it to leave. I swear it seemed to understand me. It makes sense now, especially if it’s some form of human and understands our language,” Zane informed the group, but his indignant gaze never left Brenlee.
She knew he had questions and wanted answers, but she couldn’t deal with him right now. The bear episode had left Brenlee shaken to her core, and all she wanted was to go to her room and soak in the bathtub.
A phone rang, and Lawson reached into his back pocket. “I need to take this. Don’t leave yet,” he instructed Brenlee and Zane then walked into the bedroom. Great. Now, she had to make small talk until her brother returned.
Again, it struck her that she needed to get dressed. Luckily, Lawson’s jacket covered all her private areas, but that didn’t mean she felt any less uncomfortable. She stood off to the side, praying Lawson’s phone conversation ended quickly.
“Bren, would you like something to drink? Water, tea, shot of tequila?” Liv offered. “I think I would need an entire bottle after what you experienced.”
“I’m fine, thanks. I just want to go to my room and take a long, hot bath,” she replied and immediately wished she hadn’t said anything. An image flashed in her mind of her and Zane in the hot spring. Her gaze drifted to Zane, and she wondered if he was thinking about the same thing.
Again, his expression told her nothing. Not once had she seen him smirk or make a joke. She imagined he was furious at her for running out on him.
Lawson suddenly burst out of the bedroom, drawing everyone’s attention. “That fucking cunt!” Her brother cursed. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed before he punched the air several times. His face was beet red, and Brenlee half-expected smoke to pour from his nostrils with the fury emanating from his body.
Liv rushed to his side. “What happened?”
“That was my informant, J. I hoped after Erika’s trial that the abuse would stop, but apparently, I was wrong. He’s located another lab, and believes shifters are being held captive there,” he explained.
“By Elaine?” Liv asked, and Brenlee assumed she was referring to Jim Jensen’s wife.
Jim and Elaine Jensen were the two most evil humans on the planet. Jim kidnapped Lawson and held him captive for three years. He beat and tortured him until Liv accidentally discovered what was happening in the lab. She fell in love with Brenlee’s brother and helped him escape. When J
im Jensen went missing, Elaine took control of the business.
Truth was, Jim Jensen was dead. Liv killed him after he shot Lawson and attacked her. His body had been burned on the property at Safe Haven, and his vehicle was at the bottom of the lake behind the workshop. Good riddance as far as Brenlee was concerned.
Not that long ago, Elaine hired two men to kill Bart Smith. Erika’s wolf had saved him, but Erika had been accused of murder. After the charges against Erika were dropped, Elaine went MIA. Until now it seemed.
“That’s my guess. I swear I’ll kill her with my bare hands if I find one shifter being held captive. Our conversation about the bear will have to wait until I get back. The lab is roughly an hour from here. I need to get with Ryan, Knox and Devin ASAP. I’m taking the big guns this time. I’m so fucking tired of playing by the rules, and getting burned,” Lawson growled. Brenlee had no doubt her brother still wanted revenge. And she couldn’t blame him. After he and their other brother, Ryan, had been tortured for years, they’d lost their parents.
“Can I make a suggestion?” Zane interrupted. Lawson’s gaze darted toward the male, and he nodded. “Why don’t you record any abuse you find. It might help where the senator is concerned. If he sees it with his own two eyes, how can he deny the fact that shifters deserve equal rights.”
“What? And, leave them in captivity? Not on your fucking life,” Lawson spat vehemently.
“No, I’d never suggest that. I’m just saying to get video proof of the abuse. And anything else you might be able to recover. Your word against Elaine’s might not be enough. We need hard evidence,” Zane explained. Brenlee admitted he had a valid point. They couldn’t chance another court hearing, especially considering the volatile situation between humans and shifters.
“You’re right. Would you mind coming with us? You can record any findings while we focus on the rescue,” Lawson suggested. Brenlee’s shocked gasp left her mouth before she could stop it. She didn’t like that suggestion at all.
“That’s a terrible idea,” Brenlee blurted. What was her brother thinking? It was too dangerous for Zane to go with them.
“Sure, I’ll go,” Zane replied, ignoring her. The glare he sent her way only pissed her off. Was he goading her? If so, it wasn’t going to work. Brenlee narrowed her eyes and scowled at the male. His stubbornness could get him killed.
Lawson looked from Brenlee to Zane and shook his head. “You two figure your shit out. We need help gathering evidence while we focus on victims,” Lawson said then turned toward Liv. “I’ll call you when I know more, Sunshine,” he told and pulled her into an embrace.
“Please be careful, Outlaw. Me and this baby need you,” Liv professed and stood on tiptoe, kissing him passionately.
Zane stared at Brenlee as if he was waiting for her to say something. When she didn’t, he grunted and stood up. “I’ll meet you outside,” he said and patted Lawson on the shoulder as he walked past the couple.
Her heart pounded in her chest as he reached the door. What if something happened to him? She couldn’t let him walk out the door without making things right between them.
“Zane, can we talk?” Brenlee asked when his hand grabbed the knob.
He paused but didn’t turn around. She was about to go to him when Zane answered. “Not now. I’ve got things to do.” With that he walked out and shut the door behind him.
Zane stared out the window from the back seat of the van. It was close to midnight, and they were about thirty minutes from the facility in Jackson, Tennessee. Ryan was driving, and Lawson was in the passenger seat. Knox and Devin were in the seat in front of Zane, and the four shifters were strategizing about the rescue mission.
Zane clutched the ski mask and gloves in his lap. Apparently, they needed to disguise their identities. It was clear they’d gone on rescue missions many times. His nerves were taut and ready to snap if plucked. He hated fighting with Brenlee. Not that they were a couple or really fighting. But he’d been pissed at her earlier and hurt by her running off. He’d also admitted to himself that she’d hurt him with her continued rejection.
And then there was his family. He missed them. He wondered what his parents would think of him breaking the law by joining Lawson and the others. It was a stark realization. They were breaking the fucking law. Granted, it was necessary if they were to save innocent shifters, but it still went against every oath he’d taken.
On the other hand, Zane was impressed with their knowledge of hacking security systems. While part of him hoped Lawson’s contact was wrong, and they didn’t find any shifters inside the lab, he also hoped they got the proof needed to sway the senator to their side of the shifter rights issue.
“Zane, make sure you stay at a safe distance behind us,” Lawson instructed. The alpha had turned in his seat to make eye contact. “My sister will skin me alive if anything happens to you,” he said with a chuckle.
“I doubt that,” he mumbled under his breath.
Brenlee didn’t want him because he wasn’t shifter enough for her. Zane recalled walking out of Lawson’s suite. Brenlee had asked if they could talk, but he’d ignored her. He had to. He couldn’t continue pursuing a woman who wasn’t interested. He wasn’t that guy. If she’d only given him one shred of hope. Anything to let him know she felt a fraction of the passion he did toward her. When she had run into the room talking about the bear the kernel he hoped to water had been scorched instead. Now he was done chasing Brenlee Scott.
“Once we get inside, and secure the place, you can record whatever you see. This might be a dead end, which would be fine by me,” Lawson relayed as they pulled into an empty parking lot. Zane could see the facility up ahead, and his heart kicked up a notch as adrenaline raced through his veins.
Ryan parked the vehicle close to the entrance, and Devin opened his laptop and went to work disarming the security system. Several minutes later, the shifter blurted, “We’re in! Let’s bolt.”
The four shifters proceeded to don black masks and gloves, and file from the van. They walked to the rear of the vehicle and opened the door. Zane had no idea they kept such an arsenal of weapons and ammunition inside the van. You’d think they were invading a country, not a scientific laboratory. As if anyone in their right mind would challenge this hulking group of men. He understood their need for protection. The gas station incident was proof enough of that. Zane felt the inside pocket of his leather jacket, and the hard line of his handgun gave him a small dose of assurance. Hopefully, he wouldn’t need to use it.
On swift feet, the men made their way to the entrance of the building. Zane held his breath as Lawson reached for the handle. He prayed Devin knew what he was doing. Otherwise, the police would be breathing down their necks in about five minutes. He exhaled his trapped breath when silence greeted them from inside the building.
“Stay back,” Lawson repeated to Zane as the four men barreled inside.
Zane assumed Lawson’s contact gave him the layout of the place because the small group beelined toward a closed door and forced their way into a small security room.
An elderly man startled, and his mouth dropped when he saw the masked men. When Lawson pointed his weapon at the man’s face, terror filled his blue eyes.
“Hands in the air!” Lawson barked and the guy immediately held both arms above his head.
Ryan rushed toward the guy and grabbed a revolver from his holster then snatched the access card hanging around his neck. He handed both to Devin then proceeded to pat him down, searching for additional weapons. He retrieved a small dagger from inside the man’s boot and handed it to Devin, as well.
“Do as I ask,” Lawson ordered and looked at the man’s nameplate pinned to his uniform, “Randy, and you won’t get hurt. Understand?” Lawson growled as Ryan pulled a couple pieces of rope from his back pocket and tied Randy’s hands behind his back then secured his feet to the legs of the chair he was sitting in.
Randy nodded. The fear wafting from his body was tangible, and Zane
felt sorry for the guy. He had to be in his seventies. An incident of this magnitude could send him into cardiac arrest.
“Where are the shifters?” Lawson demanded.
“Sh-shifters? I-I-I don’t know what you mean,” Randy stuttered.
“Do you know what shifters look like?” Lawson countered.
“Y-y-yes, but I’ve never seen any here,” the guard replied.
“He’s telling the truth,” Knox intruded. He said it with such conviction, Zane wondered if the guy were telepathic.
“That doesn’t mean they aren’t here,” Lawson countered then crouched to where he was eye level with Randy. “Are there any staff members here with you?”
Randy shook his head. “No. No one will be here until about seven a.m.”
“Good. We’re going to take a look around. Knox, stay here with our friend,” Lawson instructed then motioned for the rest to follow him.
Ryan and Devin flanked Lawson’s sides, and Zane stayed a few steps behind. Once again, Lawson appeared to know his way around the place. He didn’t falter as he led them down one hallway then turned onto another, more narrow corridor. The passageway dead-ended into a large steel door. A sign read RESTRICTED ACCESS Authorized Personnel Only.
Lawson placed the access card against a magnetic pad, and the lock clicked. Lawson grabbed the lever handle and twisted. A second later the heavy door swung wide. A fetid stench wafted from the room making Zane gag. He covered his mouth and nose with his jacket sleeve to keep the smell from choking him.
“Fuck,” Lawson blurted and rushed into the room. The others were hot on his heels. Zane came to an abrupt stop when a large heap came into view. Wolves. Five large animals. All of them were dead.
“Nooooo!” Lawson shouted and pounded the wall with his fist. Sheetrock crumpled from the force. White plaster rained down to the tiled floor in a cloud of debris and dust.
