by Dannika Dark
Izzy shifted her stance and looked away. “No, I don’t mind. When have I ever cared if you came home late because of work? It sounds like good money. Hey, I have an idea. Since the gig doesn’t start until eight, why don’t I swing by? … Sounds like fun.”
Then she giggled and turned her back completely, whispering intimately before hanging up.
“Jericho just ended their session in the studio, but he got a last-minute call about playing at Howlers.”
Austin leaned against the wall. “I set that up with Jake, the owner. Heat doesn’t play in their bar as much as they used to, so he was willing to pay extra.”
“They certainly bring in the crowd,” she agreed. “Plus, Jericho loves a live audience. I’d like him to get back into that now that the kids are older. He’s such a doting dad, always afraid he’ll miss a moment. But I don’t think he should have to sacrifice what he loves doing.”
Jericho’s band sold their music on a private Breed website sponsored by Howlers. Jake got a cut of the money, but nothing raked in fast, hard cash like a live show. Jericho’s band still played, just not as much as they used to. They had families now, and a viable alternative for making good money.
“Why don’t you change clothes, and we’ll get this over with,” Austin suggested.
“Something wrong with my attire?” she asked, widening her stance.
Austin looked at her feet and shook his head. “I don’t know what it is with women and bunny slippers.”
“If they’re good enough for the Packmaster’s mate, they’re good enough for me.” She twirled around and grabbed the doorknob. “Maybe if I run fast enough, they’ll think I’m a herd of rabbits.”
“Colony,” Prince said from behind.
Izzy furrowed her brow. “Huh?”
“A colony of rabbits.”
“I thought a colony was for ants,” she said.
“You’re both wrong,” Church interjected. “It’s a warren.”
Austin stuffed his hands in his pockets, jingling a few coins. “No, it’s a nest. I met a guy up in Kansas who was a Shifter rabbit. That’s the term he used.”
Izzy swung the door open. “This is the silliest conversation I’ve ever heard. And for your information, it’s a herd.”
She flounced out of the room, and they chuckled softly.
“I rarely argue with the women in my pack,” Austin mused, strolling toward the window.
Prince tilted his glass toward Austin. “To that I can agree.” After he polished off his drink, he set the glass on a square accent table beside his chair. “If the Northerners challenge us to verbal warfare, I’ll send in Kat.”
“And I would send in Ivy,” Church added.
Austin’s heated breath created a thin veil of fog on the glass. “That would be a short-lived war. Especially if Lexi was on the front line.”
“Are you certain we have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves, Cole?” Church joined his side, turning his gaze out the window.
“One thing you don’t know about my pack is how damn much they love laser tag.”
***
The only way Austin could watch Izzy while remaining undetected was to shift and lie low in the grass. An alpha could share his thoughts with his animal, making sure they stayed on the same page.
His wolf stalked through the high grass until he reached a nearby creek, his senses alert. He approached the edge of the clear water and rolled in the dirt, using earth and dried leaves to conceal his scent. He pawed the ground and writhed until dirt was sifting through his fur.
Austin didn’t like using Izzy as bait, but these tactics were necessary to gain a foothold in this war. He’d learned a lot about extreme (but necessary) measures from his former years as a bounty hunter. Besides, Izzy only looked meek—when in reality she was fearless and fast on her feet.
His wolf sneezed and shook his head. Izzy would be coming at any moment to the spot where the girls had been playing. Austin continued to lie low in the high grass near a line of trees.
Izzy approached, whistling a tune and holding a bird feeder as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She paused beneath a maple tree, studying the branches while letting the feeder swing between her fingers. A bird fluttered skyward, shaking a few leaves to the ground. The gentle sway of high grass created a soft hiss as a brisk wind rustled through it. The wind reversed direction only for a moment—long enough for Austin to lift his nose and make sure he didn’t pick up any scents behind him. Austin had instructed Izzy not to shift, concerned her wolf might inadvertently kill the rogue they meant to capture alive.
Izzy began singing one of Jericho’s songs while she hung the feeder on the branch, making enough noise to wake the dead. She had a sense of humor, but she’d changed out of the bunny slippers and put on jeans and a sweatshirt doused in enough perfume that Austin was certain the wolves in Oklahoma could smell it.
He froze when he spotted a rogue up ahead. The white animal crouched low to the ground, stalking its prey. Austin tasted the air to catch his scent, but he was too far.
Izzy seemed oblivious as she continued singing, briefly peering over her shoulder at Austin. She had her fingers wrapped around the branch, preparing to loop on the feeder.
Meanwhile, just yards away, the rogue bared his sharp canines and stealthily advanced.
Austin patiently waited for an opportune time to strike.
The leaves rustled in the branches overhead, masking the sound of the approaching enemy as he stepped out of the thicket of trees and into the open.
Austin’s heart raced at a dizzying beat—pounding against his rib cage like a drum. He lowered his head, nails digging into the soft dirt, every muscle rippling with waves of energy.
The wolf charged, his paws kicking up dirt behind him as he moved like a bullet toward Izzy.
With lightning speed, she swung her legs up and straddled the branch. The wolf bit her pant leg, and Austin exploded into action.
Izzy shouted at the wolf, but Austin couldn’t understand what she was saying without concentrating. The second she shook him off and stood on top of the branch, Austin collided with the wolf, rolling end over end.
Austin felt a puncturing bite in his shoulder, and he yelped, returning the bite threefold.
While they circled each other, a second wolf caught his eye, skulking near a bramble patch that was usually dense with blackberries in the summertime.
A sharp crack sounded, and Izzy yelped, hitting the ground with a thud and landing on her back. Her hair splayed around her head like a halo of fire.
Austin shifted and seized the wolf’s throat. “Shift,” he commanded, channeling as much power as he could into his words. It was a risky move since there was no guarantee the wolf would comply—especially with blood in his mouth. As soon as the rogue shifted, Austin punched him in the face three times and knocked him out.
Prince and Church ran down the hill, eyes scanning the perimeter. When the second wolf caught their scent, he turned from Izzy and fled.
Church reached the bottom first. “I’ll track him!” he shouted, his body changing shape from man to wolf in a graceful shift. When his grey animal’s paws hit the ground, he took off at breakneck speed.
Prince rushed toward Izzy and knelt down. “Are you injured?”
She scowled, looking at the fallen branch behind her. “I think I broke my tailbone.”
While she did a quick shift to heal, Austin unraveled the rope Prince had brought and tied the rogue’s hands behind his back. He was a lanky fellow with scruffy hair on his chin, gaunt features, and a swelling eye.
It was a quick trip back to the house. Once inside, Austin dragged the hostage into the adjoining heat house.
To prevent a further scuffle, he moved one of the tables out of the way and roped the man’s ankles together.
Izzy surveyed the room, removing anything the rogue could use as a weapon. “Are you sure you knocked him out? Let me know if he comes around so I can show him my gratitude
for ripping my good jeans.”
She bumped into Prince, who was entering the room from the long hallway.
“My associate should be here in a moment. He was waiting down the road on standby.” Prince nudged the rogue with his Italian-leather shoe. “He still hasn’t woken up?”
Austin folded his arms, thickening his biceps. “When I knock a man out, they’re lucky if they wake up.”
And he meant it. Austin had captured many men in his bounty hunter days, and he didn’t hold back on his punches.
The room had a musty smell, like old clothes that had been tucked away in a cedar chest for years. They used the heat house infrequently, so the natural smells of wood and linens had taken over. The living quarters were humble, yet provided occupants with everything they needed. At the entrance was a small bathroom on the left, a couch and television straight ahead, and a kitchenette against the far wall. To the right they had built a cubby area into the wall for the bed to give it a feel of privacy. Over the years, the women had added small touches to the room to give it personality. April’s books were inside the headboard shelf, Lexi chose the paintings, Naya always kept magazines in the drawers, Izzy hung a curtain to give the illusion of a window, and Maizy kept the kitchenette stocked. Some of the men were envious of the snacks they hoarded, which were off-limits.
Austin hiked up his jeans while the man roused from unconsciousness.
Prince strolled about the room and studied the Southwestern décor that Lynn had added.
Austin pulled a wooden chair out from a small desk and spun it around, sitting in front of the rogue, his arms draped over the back of the chair. “If you can hear me, you’re better off not screaming for help. Not unless you want a good skull-crushing.”
Prince draped a thin chenille throw over the man’s legs to cover his nudity.
Austin shot him a frosty glare. “Lexi’s gonna kill you. She loves that blanket.”
He leaned against the edge of the sofa. “I believe you can wash them.”
“Yeah, like I’m going to let her rub her face all over a blanket that touched another man’s balls.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Austin looked up.
Church entered the room, his shirt in hand and one of the laces on his boots untied. His cheeks and chest were flushed beneath his golden complexion. “The Vampire’s here,” he said, out of breath.
“Did you catch the other wolf?” Austin asked.
Church’s jaw set. “The varmint wanted a chase all the way to Dallas. I had to make a choice of letting him lead me into a trap or returning to help.” He gestured toward the rogue on the floor. “I’m sure he was heading back to his unit, and they’d love nothing more than capturing an alpha.”
Austin rubbed his bristly jaw against his shoulder, deep in thought. “Good point.”
“Did you invite him in?” Prince asked, pushing away from the couch and nearing the door.
Church briskly crossed the room and pulled his stretchy black shirt over his head. “He invited himself.”
A man appeared in the doorway, one Austin was certain he’d seen before in Lexi’s shop.
Prince invited him in and then closed the door. “Gentlemen, this is Atticus Rain. Thanks for coming on short notice.”
The Vampire had a friendly face—nothing memorable about his appearance other than his liquid-black eyes, which stood out against short hair that looked bleached to an almost silver shade, like Billy Idol but without all the spikes. Maybe it was his aquiline nose or rigid stance, but something gave Austin the feeling he was from old money. Atticus unbuttoned his long black coat while looking down at the gaunt man on the floor, who glared up at him with spiteful eyes.
Atticus smiled, his fangs punching out. “This shouldn’t take long.”
Chapter 12
“I’ve never seen anyone put away so many nachos,” Denver remarked with a hint of admiration.
I patted my belly from the backseat of his Jaguar. “They never give you enough in those paper boxes. I’m eating for two now.”
Maizy peered back at me with a wry grin. “But you ordered for five.”
I shrugged. “Would have been better with some chili and hot sauce on top.”
Denver lifted his visor and squinted at the house up ahead. “Do you think Austin’s done with his Grand Poobah meeting with the Packmasters?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “But in case he’s not, I think everyone needs to head upstairs to the game room. He’ll get pissed if we’re making too much noise and he’s still in a meeting with them.”
“What do you think, Peanut? A game of pool or a game of Denny?”
“Pool. It lasts longer.”
He chuckled. “But I have a longer stick.”
When she slapped his shoulder with the back of her hand, he snatched her wrist and kissed it adoringly.
“I vote for you two making some babies,” I said with a snort. “Then we’ll have cousins the same age.”
Denver waggled his brows at Maizy.
I teased my little sis because I knew she was holding off on kids for a little while. She wanted to get her feet wet with her reporting career before starting a family. Both she and Denver were young, so they had hundreds of years ahead of them to procreate. Maybe a few decades would help Denver in the maturity department.
As soon as everyone parked their cars, we got out and headed toward the house. Most of us were moving at a snail’s pace, exhausted from all the running up and down the ramps in the laser tag room.
“Whose bike is that?” Denver asked.
I glanced at the black motorcycle and shrugged. “Probably another Packmaster.”
Lennon and Hendrix raced each other until Wheeler caught the back of Hendrix’s shirt and swung him around playfully. Hendrix laughed, his eyes vanishing into slivers when his ruddy cheeks pushed up from his exaggerated smile. Wheeler disapproved when the boys competed against each other, so he usually stopped it, never picking on one boy over the other. Since they were both alphas, it was important not to show favoritism. When he released his hold, Hendrix took a slow stroll toward the house.
Naya snuck up behind Wheeler and ran her hands up the back of his shirt. Wheeler went rigid and gave her a provocative wink over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Reno and April held hands for a brief moment before he tucked her against his side.
Suddenly I was feeling like the extra wheel on the love train. Maybe I should have stayed home with Izzy since she hadn’t wanted to go without Jericho.
A gentle rain created a sound like distant applause. Trevor removed his shoes at the door and set them inside. He stripped off his necklace and belt before shifting into his wolf. Austin had two wolves on guard most of the time but had told us he didn’t want anyone on the property for several hours, which I found odd.
Reno’s wolf trotted outside, and I brushed my hand along his thick coat as he moved by me. He greeted Trevor for a moment before they branched in opposite directions, Reno toward the private road ahead and Trevor toward the field of high grass.
I picked their clothes up off the floor and folded them over a chair. My mom had gone to a meeting and would be late for dinner, but she liked the house tidy.
“Did you have a good time?” William asked Melody while hanging his keys on the nail above the letter W. He kicked off his shoes and ruffled his curly hair.
She unraveled the multicolored scarf from her neck and tossed it on a chair. “I demand a new system. The same people always win.”
He smirked. “Indeed.”
“I’m serious! Everyone always couples up, and that means I get stuck with you.”
He frowned dramatically, and Melody suppressed a giggle.
“You can’t play laser tag to save your life, Uncle Will. Next time, I want to team up with Uncle Reno. Or even Grandma.”
Katharine hung up her coat and sat down in the living room. “If you want to practice with the bow, I’ll take you out in a little while.”
Melody collaps
ed on the sofa, one foot on the floor. “I’m pooped. I’ve never had to run back to recharge so much in my life. Uncle Will was even shooting at me.”
He scratched the scruff on his jaw. “All I saw were blinking vests. Say, anyone want cocoa with marshmallows?”
I rapped my knuckles on the wall. “Can I have everyone’s attention? I need to make sure Austin’s meeting is over before we start rattling pans and blasting the TV, so I want everyone to head upstairs.”
“No problem, darling.” Naya patted my arm and then slinked up the steps. “I’ll get a game of cards ready. Girls only.”
“And why’s that?” Wheeler asked, leaning against the banister and wielding a judgmental look.
“Because somehow you men always invent a game that involves clothing removal.”
He winked. “That’s the only game where I don’t let you win.”
“Let me? You’re getting less funny.” She strutted the rest of the way up the stairs, and Wheeler leaned over the banister to admire her round bottom and curvaceous hips.
While everyone hung their coats and exhaustedly climbed the stairs, I poked my head into the kitchen and told William to do the same. He slept in a humble room in a hall behind the kitchen, and it happened to be a few doors down from Austin’s office. He complied and left the room while I tiptoed down the hall and gently knocked on Austin’s door.
When no one answered, I knocked again, this time pressing my ear against the wood. “Austin?”
The hinge creaked when I opened the door to the empty room.
Huh.
His Challenger was still out front, and neither of the two Packmasters had brought their own vehicle, which meant they had to still be here. I tapped my fingers against the doorjamb, wondering if they’d gone for a romp in the woods. When I returned to the living room, I heard the faint sound of chatter upstairs and pool balls cracking, so they weren’t up there either.
Which left me with only one conclusion. I headed toward the spare room behind the television in the living room—the one that connected to the heat house.
Much to my surprise, someone had locked the door from the inside. It was locked when one of us stayed in the heat house—that way if the kids were goofing off, they wouldn’t accidentally head down there when a couple might be in the throes of passion. We normally kept the key above the door for the mate when he wanted to pay a visit.
