“Thank you darling. I’ll see you in a moment.” Victoria approached Bailey and placed air kisses to her cheeks.
*****
Dante was giving directions to Decker and he had just told him to turn down the last street onto a long dirt road. “Tara, call the others and let them know we’re close. About a minute down this road and we’ll be there, what’s the plan?”
Tara took out her phone and began to make calls when she heard Decker. “We go in, get the pups and rough up anyone who gets in our way.”
Dante nodded his head. “Okay, but the entire pack will take Allen’s side; this will turn into a pack war. Isn’t there another way to have this go down?”
Decker responded. “I don’t care what you do with your pack as long as we get our kids back.”
Dante smiled. “You’ll be a great father Brett Decker.”
Decker looked back at him. “As will you.”
They both held each other’s stares as they heard Tara softly snivel. Decker looked back to the road and took Tara’s hand “It’ll be fine. We’ll get the pups back and work on being a family.”
Dante was flabbergasted.
Tara said. “I love you Brett. You’re an amazing man and would be a benefit to any pack. I’m glad we found you.” She lifted their joined hands and brushed her lips over his knuckles.
Decker could feel himself blush and become aroused. “Stop or I won’t be able to walk right with the wood I’m sporting.” Tara looked down at his crotch and licked her lips “Later Tara, we need to focus.”
Chapter 12
Bailey was beginning to become nervous. The twins were fed and changed and Allen had sent in one of her pack mates to inform her he was ready to start the ceremony. Bailey had delayed by saying Abby needed to burp before she went out or risk getting spit up on Alpha’s robes, so it would be just a few minutes more. That was five minutes ago. Bailey was pacing in the sitting room to calm herself and little Abby, who was picking up on her tension.
Bailey stopped her pacing and began to use her heightened senses to listen for cars. That’s when she heard it, the crunch of gravel in the distance, about a mile down the road. Help was coming. Bailey suddenly knew that if she could hear it, so could the others.
Bailey ran over to collect Brady so she could hide; she was too late.
“Where are you getting off to child?” Her mother was standing in the doorway looking astonished. Surely you weren’t going to run off, right?”
Bailey straightened with both of Dante’s children tucked in her arms. “Of course not mother. Allen sent someone earlier to collect them but Abby was still fussing. They are both calm and ready now; I was bringing them out to you.”
As Bailey walked past her mother she heard an inhale followed by, “You little bitch! You were going to disgrace me, like your pansy of a brother, and leave.” Victoria shoved Bailey hard in the back but she remained upright “I’ll not have it. You will take those horribly whining pups to Allen straightaway.”
“These horrible whining pups are your grandchildren. Have you no feelings, or respect.”
Victoria was taken aback. “You dare to speak to your mother that way? I should have beaten you as a child. I’ll show you respect dear.” She said in a sugary sweet voice.
Victoria grabbed Bailey’s hair and led her to the initiation area. Bailey could do nothing to protect herself because she had a pup in both arms. She silently preyed that Dante would hurry up.
*****
Dante walked up to the front door and pulled. “It’s locked.”
Decker jogged to the window in the front of the house and put his booted foot through it. Kicking the sharp edges inward, “No problem, they left the window open.” He climbed in the window and assisted a smiling Tara inside.
“Good idea.” She beamed up at him, “I’m so glad you’re in our lives.”
Decker saw the other cars pull in so he motioned them over to the window. Decker turned to Dante. “Where to?”
Dante went into the sitting room and saw the pup’s empty car seats. He became angry, “Bailey was probably forced to go to the ceremony room. Let’s go.”
Tara and Dante knew the layout of the house. They led while Decker covered the rear. He had his weapon drawn and was ready for a fight.
They entered what appeared to be a basement with a platform in the corner, creepy ceremony room. Dante saw his pack gathered in the corner but couldn’t find Bailey. He motioned for Decker. “The platform is where the ceremony will take place. I don’t see my mother, sister, pups or Allen. There’s a meeting room over to the left if you want to look for them. I’m going to speak with the pack members, let them know what is going on.”
Decker nodded and pulled Tara along after him.
“Where are they, Brett?” Her voice was shaky.
“Dante says there is a room off to the left, let’s look there first.”
Jake and Shana with Katie and Conner had followed their scent. They burst into the ceremony room and Jake began speaking to the Allen pack members about honor and loyalty. He was telling them that the old ways weren’t always the best ways. He informed them they could find their true mates if they searched. There was no need to settle for less while Dante agreed.
The pack members observed the bonds between Katie and Conner as well as Shana and Jake. Questions were answered and mating explained. The entire Allen pack seemed intrigued. Some of the old timers seemed on the fence about changing their lifestyle but admitted things lately were strained in the pack.
*****
Decker rounded a sharp corner and was hit with something; it instantly took him to his knees. He stood up quickly enough to block Tara’s way. Tara was yelling behind him and trying to get past him, but couldn’t. Decker’s large body was blocking the entire hallway and Tara could see and smell his blood. She wanted to protect him like he’d protected her, but he was still in the way.
“Back up Tara and leave. Get Paul or Jake to come in, but I want you to go. Now!” His back was to her.
“But Brett…”
“God dammit, Tara! Leave now! Go get Paul.” He was roaring his fury, like a shifter. He stood in front of a smiling Victoria; her gun pointed directly at his chest.
Decker felt Tara’s small hand touch his back before he heard her footsteps signaling she’d done what he’d asked.
“What’s your problem lady? You think Tara’s such a bad person, a whore, but you want her pups. It doesn’t make sense.”
Victoria’s response was clipped. “We need breeders, her children will be adequate.”
Decker became furious, without thinking, he advanced on her. He heard the single shot and saw Victoria’s startled eyes as the shot hit him dead center in the chest. He let his look of pain come across and be seen by Victoria, along with a few gasping breaths, he couldn’t control before falling flat on his face.
Oh shit! Alpha Allen wasn’t going to be happy cleaning up the mess she’d just made. Oh well, all in the name of furthering the pack. Victoria walked over to Decker’s body, bent down to feel for a pulse, which was so beneath her.
Decker was holding his breath hoping the old bitch would come close. He heard her advance but also heard Paul’s heavy footsteps running down the hall with the sound of lighter footfalls. Damn, Tara was coming too.
Paul rounded the corner and saw Decker on his face with an old lady standing over him.
“What the fuck happened? I can smell his blood.” Paul heard Tara gasp and try to advance. “Stay back Tara, let me handle this.”
Victoria sneered, “No need to handle anything. I’ve shot him and he’s dead. Simple really.”
Paul was holding back a screaming Tara while trying to understand what had happened. He looked down at Decker and saw his shallow breathing; he was playing possum. But Paul could still smell his blood, which means he was injured. He pinned Tara with a glare, “Hold it together.” She looked directly at him he mouthed, ‘he’s alive.’
Tara’s ga
ze became hard and she suddenly slapped him across the face. He knew that she was playing along. Tara was the most non-violent person alive, which was ironic that she was mated to a cop, go figure.
“Why didn’t you just let us come back? You knew I wanted to return to my old pack and allow the pups to be raised by real wolves.” Tara was trying to distract the old coot.
Victoria looked confused. “Why didn’t you just leave?”
“Are you kidding? Have you seen their security system? I never left the house; I wasn’t allowed.”
Victoria was still not buying it. “Flip him over so I can check for a pulse.”
Paul and Tara came closer and both hunched down on one side of Decker while Victoria bent down to confirm his death.
Decker could feel Paul and Tara’s hands on him; he hoped they would forgive him the dishonor he was going to do. They both rolled him onto his side and he felt another’s hands on his neck. He kept his eyes closed but balled up his right fist and grabbed Victoria’s hand in an iron hard grip while swinging his other fist up to connect with her jaw.
He connected with Victoria’s jaw and he felt the snap of her bone. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell backwards, hitting her head on the tile. He stood quickly, just in case she came back at them, and noticed the ache in his chest from the impact of the bullet to his vest. Damn, it hurt.
Tara ran at Decker, jumping into his arms, not noticing his wince of pain while Paul walked over to Victoria.
“That’s one evil bitch.” Paul did something that shocked them all. He pulled back his booted foot and slammed it into her chest. “She’ll not only be eating with a straw but I broke a few of her ribs; she’ll have a hard time running away. Those shifter bitches are tough.”
Decker put Tara back on her feet and began limping down the hall towards the room he could smell the pups in. He vaguely heard Tara’s, “Where are you going? You’re hurt so you should stay behind. I’ll take Paul and we’ll get the pups.”
Decker shot her an irritated look. “I’ll be going, without question, understand? I’m sorry I hit a lady, but I’d do it again. I’m fine, let’s go.”
Decker was kinda creeped out that he could smell the kids from down the hall. He’d think about that later.
Paul pulled in to take the lead, sniffing furiously. “Do you smell that?”
Tara paused. “I smell the pups, unharmed, thank God. The Alpha and Bailey are there as well. What’s wrong?”
Paul got a dreamy look in his eyes. “It smells like cotton candy.”
Decker pushed past him. “I’ll buy you all the cotton candy in the world of you’d focus.”
Decker rounded yet another corner and saw something that had his heart in his throat. There was a young woman cradling his pups in both arms. Her black hair was in disarray, and there were clumps of her hair on the floor around the room. He could tell she had been sorely abused, attempting to protect their precious kids. There was a short man with grey hair standing behind her with a knife in one hand and a clump of her hair in the other. He was pulling back on her hair to place the knife on her exposed throat.
She whimpered as the knife bit into her skin, as the man Decker could only assume was Alpha Allen spoke, “Ah, Tara it’s so lovely to see you again. Your children will be a wonderful addition to this pack. Thank you for doing your duty.”
“As you remember I didn’t have a choice. Please release Bailey, and the pups. They’re innocent. We’ll do whatever you ask.” Tara regretted the words as soon as they were out.
“Good. Leave and I’ll release them.” His smile was mocking.
Paul, who was usually calm and patient, looked like he was barely restraining his fury. “Let the woman go or I’ll shoot; without thinking twice.” Paul pulled his gun and took aim at Allen.
“Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You could hit this lovely young woman, or the children. It would be a shame to lose more of our breeding stock.”
Paul wanted to kill this man more than he wanted to do anything else in his life. “Release the woman.”
Decker looked over at Paul. “Hold it together man. Put the gun away.”
Paul closed his eyes, only a moment, and took a deep breath of the cotton candy scent they’d been following. He lowered his weapon. “Alright, how would you suggest we proceed?”
Allen scoffed at them. “Move into the room and away from the door. I’ll release them as soon as I’m free.”
Decker countered. “You’ll release them at the door and we won’t follow.”
Allen began to move towards the door as the others moved further into the room. “Agreed.”
When Allen was in front of the door with Tara, Decker and Paul on the opposite side of the room Allen snickered. He pulled Bailey’s hair back even further to expose her neck before saying, “You’re a disappointment to your Alpha; you will be punished.” He took the blade and attempted to slide it along her neck. However, Bailey knew it was coming; she ducked and turned as the blade connected.
Bailey felt white hot agony along her neck and collar bone. She could feel the blood dripping down her chest but she crouched down to protect the babies and felt another stabbing pain to her side. She couldn’t breathe but she had to keep the babies safe, so she remained crouched over them.
Who knows how much longer…?
Bailey felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Tara crying. Bailey didn’t have much strength so she rolled slightly as Tara took her pups from under her. The two men who had come with Tara were standing back. One smelled like gun powder and blood; he had a bullet hole in his shirt and one in his leg. The beautiful man with the gun was on his cell phone calling someone, he was watching her. She lifted her head to smile at him, let him know she was okay. She wanted to take in his scent, but her head felt heavy; she promptly passed out.
Chapter 13
Paul called 911 emergency, and requested an ambulance. At the same time he saw Decker phone Dante and tell him what had happened. “I don’t know if she’ll be fine but we called an ambulance and I’ll take care of her like she’s pack. Find Allen.”
Dante hung up the phone and informed the pack of what had happened. Jake was the one who spoke. “Dante, where does that hallway exit? We need to end this.”
Dante motioned them over to the other side of the ceremony room. “Leave someone at the entrance here and we’ll go weed out the rat.”
Jake sent Katie and Shana back to the cars to lock themselves in to keep their pregnant selves safe. “Conner, stay here and call me if you see Allen.”
Dante was the first one in the hallway. He could smell Allen faintly and informed Jake. “This place was built with several hidden corners so go slow and don’t get hurt.”
“Same to you.”
They proceeded down the hall, running into Allen, who was frantically trying to get into a connecting door that had been bolted years ago. Dante could smell his sister and her blood on Allen. It took every ounce of self-control to restrain himself from killing the man. This had to be done properly though.
“Allen, I challenge you as Alpha of this pack. We fight to the death, now.”
Jake slowly went over to an anxious Allen and pulled him up by the back of his shirt. “Shall we get this over with so Dante can tend to his injured sister?”
Allen winced. “I do not accept your challenge. You have no honor, challenging an old man.”
Dante got in his face. “We’ll see old man. I think it’s you who have no honor, kidnapping pups and assaulting innocent female shifters. I’ll show you today how honorable I am, by taking control of this pack. Making it thrive.”
Jake picked up a struggling Allen and carried him to the ceremony room where the challenge would be taking place. “I would save my strength if I were you.”
Jake threw him down on the floor in the ceremony room. When Allen stood, he saw the looks of scorn on his pack mates faces. They had formed a circle around Dante and himself. “Are you going to
let this happen? I am your Alpha. I demand you force Dante to back down.”
“I informed the pack of my intentions upon arriving today. I’ve explained to them that my mother will be banished for kidnapping pups from a mated couple. And I will challenge you for the title of Alpha-to the death.”
Jake began. “As American Canyon pack Alpha, I ask if anyone is willing to defend their Alpha?” There was silence. “Is there anyone who objects to Dante’s challenge?” Further silence, “The challenge is within pack rule and will commence now.”
At Jake’s words Allen charged as Dante side stepped him. When Allen lost his momentum he stumbled a bit and Dante gave him a minute to get to his feet. Allen charged again, this time he held a shining object in his hands and swung it at Dante. Allen was fast, but Dante was equally fast. Dante pulled back and felt a small pinch to his shoulder where the knife had made a small cut. Dante smiled. “Bad form old man.”
Jake bellowed. “Allen, you’ve broken pack rule by bringing a weapon to a challenge. If you, by chance, win I will challenge you. I don’t anticipate that you’ll survive the first challenge.”
Allen lunged again, his right arm extended. Dante grabbed his wrist and bent it while twisting. He felt the satisfying pop of bone as Allen howled in pain, dropping the knife. Dante, while still holding Allen’s wrist kneed him in his ribcage, once again, hearing the pop of bone. Allen’s color became ashen.
Dante yelled over the crowd. “I think the tradition of murdering the old pack Alpha is barbaric. Why don’t we make it a new tradition; he can simply step down and abdicate the position to the strongest wolf?”
There were cheers; this pack had seen enough violence and force under this Alpha’s reign. Dante heard several things all happening at once. He could hear Jake’s booming voice. “Your new Alpha Dante.” It was followed by a swooshing sound to his left. Dante turned in time to see Allen swinging the blade he must have picked up at Dante’s back.
Dante didn’t think, he reacted by swinging around and using Allen’s momentum grabbing his hand, and following his imbalance due to his broken arm, plunging the knife in his chest. Allen gurgled, but promptly fell face forward, impaling himself further on the knife. Dante crouched down beside him and rolled him over frantically dialing 911 on his phone.
A Pack Family Page 9
