“Here. Here’s s-some water.” He carefully held the cup to Zander’s lips.
“Thank you,” Zander said when he was done.
Thaniel set the glass back down on the table, and shaking, he kept his gaze lowered, letting his hair fall back into his face as he sat back down. He could feel Zander watching him.
“C-can I g-get you anything?” he asked, hating the tremble in his voice.
“No, I’m good for now. You must be Thaniel.” Zander’s voice was still scratchy. Thaniel nodded.
“It’s nice to meet you, Thaniel, and I’m sorry we didn’t come for you sooner,” Zander said, shocking him.
Thaniel knew Tierney must’ve told her father about how they found him. “Y-you t-too sir, and you couldn’t have known,” he said quietly.
“I did know. My friend Gabreal called, asked for my help. I’m sorry, I had an appointment that I couldn’t miss, I thought right after I’d be able to help, but—” he said, and by the grim set of his features and regret in his eyes, Thaniel knew his appointment had been the one Tierney told him about, the one when the Ilyium had taken him.
“Tierney told me all about you,” Zander said, and Thaniel thought he was going to be sick.
This is it—
“Thank you for protecting me.”
Thaniel blinked, not sure what Zander was talking about.
“After they rescued me, Tierney said you protected me from the guards. Thank you, Thaniel. That couldn’t have been easy, or fun.”
Confused and stunned, Thaniel didn’t know what to say. He’d been asked to protect Tierney’s dad and that’s what he’d done. End of story. He didn’t expect any thanks. He was trying to think of what to say when the door opened and Tierney entered the room.
“You’re awake,” she said, then smiled at her dad.
Thaniel blinked at the love he saw on her face as she gazed at her dad. Feeling a little envious, he tried to remember what it felt like to be so loved, but it had been so long ago it seemed more like a dream, and maybe it was. He’d witnessed how frantic Tierney and Sami were to get Zander and Jax back from the Ilyium. He’d never had anyone that cared about him that much.
His thoughts shifted to his father, or the man he’d called Dad. He’d often wondered what happened to the man. Did he ever think about the little boy he so callously walked out on? He’d also often wondered who his real father was but knowing his mother, the guy was probably some drug-addict one-night stand.
As if Tierney knew what Thaniel was feeling, she put her hand on his shoulder, calming him. “Dad, this is Thaniel,” she said and Zander nodded.
“We met. I like him,” he said, smiling warmly. Thaniel sucked in a breath, sure he hadn’t heard right, but Zander nodded and the kindness in his eyes as he spoke made Thaniel come undone. “Welcome to our family, Thaniel.”
Sudden tears gathered in Thaniel’s eyes as he stared in shock at the large male before him. He was trembling––unable to wrap his mind around what he’d just heard. He thought he was going to be asked to leave, instead he was being welcomed into their family. He never in a million years expected this.
Emotions in a whirlwind of turmoil, Thaniel felt himself coming apart and knew he was about to change into his beast. Jumping up, he raced out of the room as Tierney called him, but he didn’t stop. He raced down the hallway and out into the great room where he hesitated until he spotted Lilly and Bastien. No, no, no! Not here! Turning, he raced through the kitchen, into the mudroom and flung the door open and hurried outside.
Chapter Thirty
Flee
TIERNEY WANTED TO RUN after Thaniel, but she was hesitant to leave her dad alone while he was awake. So far, he hadn’t been able to last very long before he needed to be put back into his magical coma.
“I see what you mean about Thaniel. Poor guy, I sure didn’t mean to upset him,” Zander said.
Tierney smiled sadly. “He’s always expecting the worst to happen. The things I saw when we freed him.” She shuddered, and not for the first time, wished she could pull him into her arms and hold him forever—promise he’d be okay. Judging from his harsh past, he’d likely never believe her, even if she dared to try.
Tears filled her eyes and she wiped them away, giving her dad a little smile. “He was so skinny when he got here. Now he’s got some meat—muscle on his bones.”
“I noticed,” Zander said, making Tierney blush, though she had no idea why.
A moment later, Sami’s frantic voice filled her head.
“Tierney,” he called and a shiver of dread rushed over her. Sami should be on a flight to Ireland right now.
“Sami? What’s going on, what’s the matter?”
“Tierney, it’s the wolf pack. They are on the property looking for Thaniel and Mark.”
“Oh fuck,” Tierney swore as she stood up.
“Where is Thaniel?” Sami asked, and Tierney thought she was going to be sick. If something happened to him. …
“He was upset and took off outside just a few minutes ago. I’ll get back to you,” she said as she turned to the door.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Zander asked, pulling her back around.
“It’s Sami, he’s had another vision. He says the Were-wolves are here looking for Thaniel and Mark,” Tierney said, fear pumping through her veins.
“Shit!” Zander ground out angrily.
Tierney bit her lip. She couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for her dad to have to lie in bed while the enemy crawled around their property. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to—”
“Yes, go.” Zander nodded.
Tierney started out of the room only to hesitate at the door. “I’ll call Kyrian.”
“I’ll be fine, just go,” he said, and with his chin gestured at the door.
“Right.” With a nod, Tierney rushed from the room and into her dad’s office next door, yelling for Jax as she went.
Quickly she entered the safe room and grabbed her Glock and the new silver rounds Sami had special ordered. She was strapping on her knives when Jax rushed in with a grim expression on his face.
“What happened?”
“It’s Thaniel. The wolves are here,” she said.
“How do you know?” Jax asked.
“Sami just contacted me, he had another vision. Said the Were-wolves are here—now—looking for Mark and Thaniel.”
“Fuck!” Jax grabbed his weapons and they raced through the house, not even noticing Chloe looking out the kitchen window as they flew past her into the mudroom and outside.
Tierney frantically searched the yard for Thaniel, but of course he was nowhere in sight.
“What’s he doing out here?” Jax asked, also searching around.
“Dad welcomed him to the family and he freaked, took off.”
“Shit. Poor Kitty,” Jax said.
“Kyrian.” Tierney called their friend as Mark hurried over from the cabin he was staying in.
“Tierney, I’m sorry, I’m in the middle of something,” Kyrian responded, sounding out of breath.
“Damnit!” Tierney swore, worried about Thaniel, and hoping her dad would be okay for a bit. She turned to Jax.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“I think Kyrian has found the Were-wolves,” she said right as Kyrian’s voice popped back into her head.
“What is it?” Kyrian asked, sounding stressed.
“It’s Thaniel, he’s out on the mountain somewhere, likely in leopard form, and the Were-wolves are here,” she said.
“Yes, I know. They aren’t the only ones out here, either,” he said and Tierney sucked in a breath and nodded at Jax who, having listened in on her connection with Kyrian, swore again.
She had a pretty good idea who else might be out there.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find Thaniel—I’m sending a couple wolves to you,” Kyrian told her.
“Thank you,” she responded and searched around once again, hoping to find Thaniel hiding in the bushes
close to the house.
“Thaniel!” she screamed. “Damnit, I should have gone after him right away,” she muttered as Jax filled Mark in on Sami’s vision.
Mark raised his nose and sniffed the air, then he let out a low growl only to grow quiet when a couple of Kyrian’s wolves appeared from the forest.
“Can you two guard the house?” Tierney asked when the wolves stopped in front of her. A moment later, with a shiver of power, both Okami wolves changed into their human form.
“We will stay here,” they answered.
“I smell Thaniel,” Mark said after a second. “He went that way.” He pointed at one of the well-used trails and took off. “Follow me!” he shouted back at them, but needn’t have bothered. Tierney and Jax were right behind him.
They had just rounded a curve in the trail when they spotted two big burly guys.
“Deke!” Mark shouted and one guy, covered with scars and greasy hair, turned to him, grinning. The other, with short hair and a serious expression, pulled a blade and faced off with Jax.
“Mark, we been lookin’ for ya,” Deke said as they circled each other.
Mark snorted. “Yeah, I escaped. Thanks for selling me out, buddy.”
“Heard they used you for their experiments,” Deke smirked, talking about the Ilyium.
Tierney watched Jax circle the other guy. She loved the way Jax moved and fought, but still couldn’t help worrying. All lethal grace and deadly skill, Jax wielded his twelve-inch blade like it was an extension of his hand. Tierney watched and waited, her own knife in one hand and her Glock in the other, ready to jump in if either he or Mark needed her help.
“Tiern, behind you!” Jax said at the same time that she heard a rustling in the bushes.
Tierney spun toward the noise. Used to regular wolves and Kyrian’s Okami wolves, which were bigger and absolutely beautiful, Tierney’s heart leaped to her throat at the sight in front of her. Thaniel, in leopard form, spit and hissed, clenched in the jaws of a huge, ugly-assed Were-wolf. Damn, wonder if he’s as ugly in his human form.
With a furious yell, she started for the Were-wolf then hesitated. She couldn’t risk hurting Thaniel. Then as he twisted and swiped at the wolf, Tierney advanced a bit more, eyes focused on Thaniel.
***
THANIEL COULDN’T BELIEVE how stupid he’d been. Terror had him shaking and hissing. The teeth biting into the pelt of his neck hurt, and visions of being chained up sent him into a frenzy of uncontrollable fear. He couldn’t let them take him back. He just couldn’t. He’d rather die! His fear blinded him to Tierney, Jax, and Mark fighting in front of him, his mind only on the one who wanted to hurt him.
Using everything he had, he twisted and swiped, momentarily surprised when the jaws holding him suddenly let go.
This is it, go, run! Another surge of adrenaline sent him leaping away, and rushing headlong through the forest. Branches slapped him in the head, while his paws pounded the earth. Flying over debris, twigs snapped underfoot in his terrorized rush to get away.
***
TIERNEY SHOUTED but it was too late. Thaniel was gone. A sudden bellow of pain had her glancing back at the men fighting behind her. “Jax?”
“It’s not me, I’m fine.”
She let out a sigh of relief and turned back to where Thaniel had been. Good for him, she thought, a slight smile twisting her lips as the Were-wolf who had been holding him howled at the deep gash across his nose before he too took off after Thaniel.
“Fuck!” Tierney wanted to go after them, but another burly Were-wolf had just entered the clearing.
Jax had just finished cutting the throat of the guy he was fighting when the new guy raised his gun. No! He was about to shoot Jax in the back! With a scream of rage, Tierney rushed forward. She jumped and kicked, knocking the weapon from the Were’s hand. As she barreled into him, knocking him back, he reached for her. Tierney spun, and kicked him to the ground.
“Go after Thaniel!” she yelled to Jax, keeping an eye on the Were as he warily climbed to his feet.
“No, Tiern—” Jax said, but she shook her head.
“I got this. Thaniel needs you. Go!”
They both looked at Mark. Deke seemed to be tiring. Good.
“Go!” she shouted again and nodding, Jax took off.
***
THANIEL FLEW through the forest, not watching or caring where he went. He didn’t even register his name being called—he was so frantic to put distance between him and the wolves. Then something hit him from the side and knocked the breath from his lungs, sending him flying sideways. He hit the ground and rolled over and over. An oomph was drawn from him when he came to an abrupt and painful stop against the trunk of a tree. Heart racing, he lay there for a moment, stunned. What happened?
A second later his cat caught the scent of wolf, and not the friendly kind. Get up! His mind screamed, but his body didn’t want to work.
Chapter Thirty-One
Cat Out OF The Bag
TIERNEY SURVEYED the dead Were-wolves, along with the one moaning on the ground, and then turned to Mark. “You all right?”
“Yup, you?” Mark asked.
“Yeah,” she answered, hoping that Jax had found Thaniel.
They were in the midst of picking up all the weapons from the dead men when the last living Were staggered to his feet. His eyes blazed angrily as he started toward them.
“Really? You want more?” Tierney asked, but the guy didn’t stop until Tierney had him rolling back on the ground, this time with a bloody lip, nose, and holding his arm.
Mark moved toward the guy and Tierney held her arm out, stopping him. “Wait.”
“What? Why?” Mark asked as Tierney watched the man on the ground. Fear replaced his anger as she lifted her Glock and pointed it at his head.
“No, don’t, please. I’ll go. Won’t tell anyone,” the Were said, holding his unbroken arm out, as if his hand would stop a bullet.
“Fine,” Tierney said, and paused as an idea began to take shape. She hated what the Were-wolves had done to Thaniel, and wanted to make them pay, but more, she needed to make sure they didn’t come back.
At her words, the big guy slowly got to his feet, but the flash of smug satisfaction in his eyes pissed her off, so she shot him in the leg.
After the Were stopped screaming, he covered the flesh wound with his hand and glared up at her. “Whaddya do that for?” he whined.
“Because I want you to know, shooting you doesn’t bother me, at all. It would just be one less asshole in the world who likes to hurt others. And, when I aim at your head, I won’t miss.” She stepped forward and pressed the Glock to his temple, drawing a whimper from him. “Now listen up. You will leave here and never, ever come back,” she said. Then, drawing on her power, she used her compulsion, even though she wasn’t as good at it as Jax. When he started to say something, she pressed the gun even harder into his head.
“Fine, I’ll go, I promise,” he said, hands raised in surrender.
“What else?” she asked, not letting up.
“I won’t come back,” the Were said.
Tierney wanted to cringe back when she got a whiff of his breath. Ugh!
“Is Arlow here today?” she asked, wondering who else was on the mountain.
“No, Arlow just sent a bunch of us with his new friends, the Ilyium,” he said and sneered.
“You tell Arlow, and all of your buddies to leave Thaniel and Mark alone. They no longer belong to your pack. If I see any of you here again, you won’t leave with a little wound. You’ll be left for the Okami wolves to pick your bones clean. Do you understand?” she asked, drawing on even more of her power to weave in the compulsion.
With a swallow, the creep nodded and Tierney indicated with the gun that he stand.
“You think that’s going to work?” Mark asked as they watched the Were-wolf, his former pack mate, hobble off with blood running down his leg.
“It should, though Jax is better at making peop
le do what he wants than I am,” she said, searching around for Jax and Thaniel.
***
JAX SPRINTED AFTER THANIEL, shouting the Were-leopard’s name, but after a few seconds he wasn’t sure if he was still going the right way, there were so many new scents. Slowing to a walk, he started to track Thaniel when he heard Kyrian in his head.
“Jax, Thaniel is here.”
“Where are you?” Jax asked scanning the forest all around him.
“I’ll send a wolf to lead you to us,” Kyrian said, and mere seconds later, a young, blond wolf edged out of the trees in front of him. The wolf stared at Jax for a moment, then turned and took off the way he’d come. Jax followed behind, keeping pace easily.
“Kyrian, is he okay?” Jax asked as he ran.
Kyrian didn’t answer and Jax swore silently. Those fucking Weres are going to pay if they’ve hurt my Thaniel, he thought.
Finally, the young wolf slowed and Jax followed him into a clearing where Kyrian and eight other Okami wolves fought a group of robed Ilyium, and Weres in both human and wolf form.
Seeing the bodies lying in pools of blood all over the ground, Jax swore again, then he heard a sound and spun around to find another Were-wolf with his hands wrapped around Thaniel’s neck. What the fuck? Can’t he stay out of their damn clutches? Kitty swiped and hissed at his captor, cutting his legs to shreds while the guy swore and shook Thaniel, threatening him.
“Let him go!” Jax shouted, dark rage beginning to rise. Shit, I promised I’d protect him! Raising his gun, he pointed it at the Were-wolf’s forehead when two more guys rushed him from the side.
One held a gun on Jax as the other circled him with a knife. Not about to give either of them a chance, Jax spun and shot the one with the gun between the eyes before turning to meet the Were with the knife.
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