Quinn's Quest: Legacy, Book 4

by N. J. Walters

  Quinn jumped to his feet and raced from the room. Maybe it wasn’t too late. He took the stairs three at a time with Hank and Michael behind him. While Michael took the time to call out to the others, Quinn and Hank hit the street.

  “You go right,” he told Hank. The other male took off without hesitation, like a bloodhound on hunt.

  Quinn went left, sniffing the air as he went. If he could only catch her scent. Or even that of the other male. His heart was racing and there was a roaring in his head. He was so close.

  He could hear the others pouring from the building and fanning out to search. He kept his gaze on his surroundings, scanning, looking for anything that might lead him to his sister. Several homeless people slept beneath a makeshift cardboard lean-to. Another huddled by a dumpster desperately trying not to be noticed.

  It was difficult to try and pull Chrissten’s scent from the air, which was filled with the exhaust from vehicles, garbage from the dumpsters and the stench of human urine, sweat and vomit. City smells. He could pass within a dozen feet of his sister and possible miss her.

  His chest tightened even as he fought his growing despair. He couldn’t lose her. Not this time.

  A white van whizzed by the top of an alleyway. Quinn ran toward it, legs pumping, but it was gone before he could catch it. He managed to catch part of the license plate. Maybe it was nothing, but he’d have Craig check it out later.

  He was about to turn back down the alley when a scream echoed in his head. He jerked around as panic flooded through him. Bethany. She was in danger.

  The mating link between them flared to life like a warning system. He knew she didn’t know how to use it, how to reach out to him. He’d closed the mental door between them when she’d asked him to, but that didn’t matter. Her terror broke down the barrier and reached through to him, galvanizing him to action.

  Nostrils flaring, blood pumping, he raced toward the vehicles where he’d left her, praying he wasn’t about to lose another woman he loved. His search for his sister had taken him away from Bethany rather than toward her.

  He heard them before he saw them. Bethany’s scream chilled his blood and Craig’s yell had him pushing himself past his limits. His lungs burned and his muscles strained and still he drove harder. He had to get to his family. Had to protect his mate and his brother.

  He sprinted around the corner and found Bethany and the others under attack by two huge wolves. Saliva dripped from their jaws as they growled and cornered Teague. In spite of Isaiah’s orders, he’d partially shifted and was swiping at his attackers with razor-sharp claws. Neema was trying to get to her mate and Craig was desperately trying to get both women behind him even though both of them, with their wolf blood, were stronger than he was.

  Quinn didn’t hesitate. To hell with keeping a low profile. His mate was in trouble.

  He raised his weapon and fired, sending silver bullets flying toward the two large beasts, trying to distract them as much as hit them. One of them yelped as a bullet grazed him, but the other one managed to get out of the way in time to avoid being hit.

  These were pureblood werewolves. They were incredibly fast and strong. Quinn started to change as he raced toward them, allowing his wolf to take over. He yanked off his shirt and threw it aside. At the last possible second, he tossed his gun toward Teague. “Catch.”

  Teague quickly shifted back to full human form, snagged the weapon out of thin air and backed away from the beasts to place himself in front of the women and Craig.

  His wolf surged forward. He managed to shed the last of his clothing just in time. He met the largest of the wolves head-on. The beast was huge with pitiless black eyes. He tried to clamp his jaw around Quinn’s neck so he could snap it. There was no doubt he could do it too.

  At the last second, Quinn twisted aside and kicked at his opponent. He heard several more shots being fired and knew Teague was keeping the other wolf off him.

  This wasn’t good. Even in this derelict area of the city someone would eventually call the cops. They couldn’t afford to have the authorities involved. The need for secrecy was paramount.

  Head down and growling with fury, Quinn faced the other wolf. No way was he letting this beast anywhere near Bethany. She was his. To love and protect. His woman. His mate.

  The wolf leaped again and the sheer weight of him took Quinn down. He rolled and managed to get free, but not before the larger wolf snapped at his foreleg. Sharp fangs scraped over skin and Quinn could smell blood, coppery and warm as it rolled down his leg. Thankfully, the beast missed the bone and the wound was only a surface one. He didn’t know if he’d be that lucky next time the wolf struck.

  He caught a glimpse of Bethany struggling to shift in order to help him. Her nails turned into claws and then back into hands. Her jaw elongated and shrunk again. Shifting was too new for her to be able to do it on command under such extreme circumstances. It didn’t matter that her first change had come easily. Emotions affected everything and she still thought of herself as more human than wolf. The change came much easier to purebloods than to half-breeds.

  Undaunted, Bethany screamed and surged forward. She bent down and grabbed a piece of rusty pipe off the ground, clasping it in her hands like a baseball bat. She swung at the large wolf but it ducked and the pipe whooshed over its head. The beast snarled at her.

  Fury the likes of which he’d never known exploded inside Quinn. He leapt at the other wolf, landing on its back. They rolled across the ground in a snarling, snapping heap of fur and teeth.

  Suddenly the beast pulled away, turned and ran. Quinn started to give chase but Bethany’s cry stopped him. He turned back around to find her kneeling on the ground, the pipe abandoned beside her.

  The rest of their group was racing toward them. Quinn quickly glanced down the street, but both werewolves were gone. And with them, his chance to find his sister.

  He tilted back his head and howled his grief. Beyond him, he could see Craig, his brother’s face filled with despair. They’d been so close. But they’d lost her.

  Isaiah opened the back door of the van. “Get in. The cops are on their way.” Sirens screamed in the distance.

  Bethany climbed into the van and Quinn jumped in beside her. It was Craig who thought to gather Quinn’s clothing, the spent bullet casings and even the pipe that Bethany had used as a weapon. Her fingerprints would be all over it and they didn’t want to leave anything behind that would lead the cops to their door.

  And speaking of weapons. He glanced toward Teague and sighed with relief when he saw his 9mm tucked safely away. The van pulled away and he allowed the change to take him. The shift back from wolf to man wasn’t physically painful, but it was emotionally devastating. It represented his inability to rescue his sister. Being a werewolf wasn’t helping in his search for her. As a half-breed, he wasn’t as strong as a pureblood. He’d failed Chrissten yet again. And he’d almost failed Bethany.

  “Your arm is bleeding.”

  He shrugged off his brother’s concern as Craig handed him his clothing and he pulled on his jeans and sneakers. He took his shirt and wrapped it around the gash in his arm. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch.” Their gazes met and Quinn could see the tears in Craig’s eyes. His brother’s disappointment hit him with the force of a sledgehammer.

  He didn’t want to look at Bethany but couldn’t help himself. She was sitting beside him, her back against the wall of the van. Her legs were pulled up close to her chest and she had her arms wrapped around them and her face buried against her knees.

  She was shaking.

  God, his life was a mess. He’d let down the two women he loved most in the world. Chris was still missing and Bethany had almost been recaptured. He didn’t doubt for a moment that had been the goal of the purebloods. Once the males were taken down they could have easily subdued the two half-breed females. It ate at his guts to know he’d almost allowed that to happen to her. Only pure luck and Teague’s willingness to fight the two stronger
wolves had given him time to get there. The rogue wolves had run off when the rest of the pack had arrived, taking with them any knowledge of Chris.

  He wanted to touch Bethany, to reassure himself she was unhurt. It might be selfish of him considering the wall he’d put up between them after their mating, but he needed to feel her warmth and smell her sweet scent.

  Teague held his wife in his lap, running his hands over her back and arms as if to reassure himself she was okay. Kevin and Hank kept their gazes averted, both lost in their own thoughts. Craig stared out the back window. Michael was driving the van with his brother sitting beside him, but he knew they were as aware of Bethany as he was.

  In the close confines of the van it was impossible not to smell her musky, seductive scent. Where she’d only had time for a quick wash she stilled smelled like sex, like him.

  He put his arm around her and pulled her close to his side. “Everything is okay.” The words were meaningless but he had to say something.

  She shook her head and didn’t speak. None of them did. A deep sense of failure settled over the group. When they finally parked in the alley behind Haven, Quinn was more than ready for some time alone. But it wasn’t to be. Not yet.

  They trooped into the large kitchen. Teague went straight to work putting on a pot of coffee while Neema pulled out several large skillets. The last thing Quinn wanted was breakfast, but maybe Bethany was hungry. He worried about her. She was still too thin from her ordeal.

  He swallowed hard as thoughts of his sister threatened to choke him. What about Chrissten? Was she hungry? Scared? Had she given up hope? So many questions without answers.

  Isaiah and Meredith faced the group. Anger radiated from the alpha male. Was he angry about Quinn shifting in public? Too bad if he was. If they wanted him to leave, he would. And he’d take Craig and Bethany with him.

  That is if she’d even go with him. So far, she hadn’t so much as looked at him. But why would she? He’d failed his sister again and put Bethany in danger. Some mate he was.

  Frustration ate at him as fury fueled him.

  “We obviously missed them by minutes. Did you recognize either wolf?” The question was fired at Bethany. Quinn bristled at Isaiah’s tone and moved to stand behind his mate, resting his hands on her shoulders for support.

  He was surprised when she nodded. “Yes. The larger one. The one Quinn fought with. That’s Brian.”

  His fingers tightened, digging into Bethany’s shoulders until he felt her flinch. He rubbed the abused skin in mute apology. Brian. He didn’t doubt the bastard has raped his sister. He knew Bethany thought so too even though Chrissten had never confirmed it to her. The fact that his sister could shift into her wolf was confirmation enough that some wolf had taken her. And since Brian was the doctor’s assistant it stood to reason he was the bastard who’d done it. He wished he’d been able to kill him when he’d had the chance.

  “I don’t think the other male will make it.” Teague was busy breaking eggs into a large bowl. For a guy who looked more like a gang member, the half-breed was a whiz in the kitchen. Already he had several skillets filled with bacon and onions. “I shot him at least three times with those silver bullets. Once in the chest. And Quinn had already hit him.”

  “Good.” Isaiah nodded. “Anyone else have anything helpful to add?”

  “I do.” Quinn turned to his brother. “I got a partial plate on a white van that left the area in a hurry. Don’t know if it’s related to our search, but it couldn’t hurt to look.” He rattled off what he had and Craig nodded.

  “If no one needs me, I’m off to run this.” When Isaiah inclined his head, Craig took off for the office.

  “The rest of us need to shower and get some rest.” Meredith was in full mothering mode as she shooed them toward the door. “Come down and get something to eat before you settle down to sleep.

  She paused beside Quinn. “Don’t worry. We’ll find her. Damek will be back on the hunt at nightfall.” Meredith patted his arm and then hugged Bethany. “If you need me I’ll be in my apartment,” she told the younger woman.

  Bethany nodded her thanks, clinging to Meredith a few seconds longer before releasing her. “I’m going upstairs now.” Bethany made her announcement to the room at large. She glanced his way and he could see the indecision written on her face. She didn’t ask him to go with her when she left.

  He watched her go, feeling the condemnation of all the other males in the room. Isaiah stood, arms crossed over his chest. “That’s a good female. A male would have to be crazy not to cherish her as she deserves.”

  He bristled at the criticism even though he knew Isaiah was right. But he was trying to do what was right for her. Wasn’t he? But he was also being a jerk. They’d just mated and hadn’t even had time to talk about it before they’d run out of here to search for his sister. Bethany needed him, if only to talk. And God help him, he wanted to be there for her.

  “There are other males who’d be more than happy to cherish her,” Michael added.

  Quinn growled at the male. “Until she decides otherwise, Bethany is mine.” With that parting shot, he headed upstairs. He couldn’t stay away from her any longer. They had to talk.

  Hot tears flowed down Chrissten’s cheeks. Normally she didn’t allow herself to cry. It was a weakness she couldn’t afford. If she gave in to despair she might never find her way out of it again.

  Brian had come rushing into her cell, subduing and drugging her easily. They were feeding her less and less these days and the doctor seemed to be drawing more blood for his experiments. As a result, she was getting weaker and more lethargic.

  There were other wolves coming their way. Hope had leapt wildly in her chest and she’d struggled in Brian’s arms, but with the drug already working in her veins she hadn’t been able to do much. Dr. Morton had ordered Brian to take her straight to the van. She had a vague memory of cool air brushing across her face like a lover’s caress and then darkness had closed in around her. She’d scented several wolves, including her beloved twin brother. Quinn had been so close.

  He hadn’t found her in time.

  Beyond her new prison she could hear Brian yelling at Dr. Morton, ordering him to save his friend, his pack mate. Chrissten had always been aware there was at least one other male wolf involved with the doctor, possibly more. This only confirmed it.

  She strained to hear their conversation.

  “I don’t think I can do anything. Those bullets are coated in silver. The poison is already going through his system. The one in his chest is the worst. The poison is too close to his heart. I’ll remove them but that’s all I can do.” She could hear metal against metal as the doctor set up his instruments.

  “Just do it.” Something smashed against a wall and she knew Brian had thrown some object.

  “It’s his own fault for attacking the other pack. You should have just left them.”

  A tinkle of metal on metal and she knew one of the bullets had been removed.

  “Bethany was there.”

  “Ah, then I commend your forward thinking action. It would have been a coup to reacquire her.” Another clink. Another bullet. “We’ll have to stay in the city long enough to try again. Half-breed females aren’t exactly plentiful and she’s young and healthy.”

  Chrissten huddled closer to the slit in the door and peeked out. She couldn’t see anything but a thin line of light. But it made hearing them easier.

  “Fucking bastard attacked me. I got a swipe in but we had to make a break for it before I had the chance to kill him.”

  Relief flooded Chrissten. Quinn was all right. The rest of her family was safe. That was the best she could hope for.

  She was so cold. She moved away from the door, careful not to make any noise to draw attention her way. She curled up in a ball on the floor with her back to the wall. She inhaled, trying to remember her brother’s scent. It was so long since she’d seen him, hugged him. They’d always been close. The best of friend
s.

  Another scent kept intruding. This one was darker somehow. Chrissten licked her lips, wondering who it belonged to. It made her stomach flutter and her heart ache.

  She closed her eyes and tried to remember it exactly as she’d smelled it. Maybe it was something she’d dreamed. She couldn’t have scented anyone other than the doctor and Brian. There was no one else here.

  Footsteps hard against the concrete floor interrupted her. Before she could sit up, the door was flung open and Brian stood there, fury in every line of his body.

  “Time for you to make yourself useful, mate.”

  Chrissten gathered her meager strength to fight. One more time.

  Hank paced the floor of his room. It was impossible for him to relax. They’d been so close. He glanced at the two blankets folded at the bottom of his bed. A slightly dirty pillow sat next to it.

  Unable to stop himself, he went to them. He picked up one of the blankets first and inhaled deeply. Her scent was fresh and he could almost feel her warmth.

  Chrissten. She smelled like a fresh summer day. Like promises in the dark of the night. It was overlaid with a much deeper, musky scent. Male.

  Hank growled and dropped the blanket, picking up the pillow instead. Her scent was fainter here but it wasn’t tainted by the male’s smell.

  He knew she’d been a captive for more than a year. Knew she’d been taken against her will, mated to a male not of her choosing.

  That didn’t set well with him. Especially since he wanted her for himself.

  He breathed in her lovely scent once more and then carefully placed the pillow back in its place.

  He’d find her if it was the last thing he ever did. And then he’d kill the bastard that had taken her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Bethany stood in the shower, letting the hot water flow over her. Her skin was still sensitive and each droplet felt like a hot stroke, making her nerve endings tingle. The water also hid the tears that rolled down her cheeks. They hadn’t found Chrissten and the attempt had almost cost Quinn his life. If the other werewolf hadn’t backed off Quinn could have been seriously hurt or killed. They were half-breeds, not purebloods.