by Dianna Love
“The pieces are starting to fall into place,” Adrian confirmed.
She filled him in on everything, adding, “I smelled a sickness at times around Reinhold’s pack. He would not allow any of his shifters to come around me. I was glad he didn’t want me to bond with his pack right off the bat, but I later realized he had been planning on Kaiser kidnapping me at some point. I told his pack nothing about my mother or the Kodiak clan. I wore a sheer skin covering made for my face in Alaska with a little makeup to hide my identity and never shifted around them. That’s why I used the name Jane with the pack.”
“If you had shifted, that would have freaked them out.”
She laughed. “Probably. Right before they tried to neutralize me.” After a moment, she shared, “Reinhold killed his mate when she told him to kill Kaiser. She didn’t want to raise his bastard. I think the alpha killing his mate could be the cause the sickness in the pack.”
Adrian stared at the wall. “Leonard said he once joked that Kaiser might belong to the mailman since he didn’t favor him or Tanza much. That enraged his father, which made Leonard feel bad, so he worked harder to be a good brother. It would have destroyed Leonard to know this about his father. I have to find a way to help Tanza. She seems to be the one innocent in all of this.”
Jaz tried to concentrate, but Adrian moved his fingers up and down her thigh, not being intentionally sexual.
Intent didn’t matter.
His touch disrupted her entire body.
She grabbed his hand. “Either stop this or the conversation. Both can’t happen at the same time.”
Eyes sparking with devilment, he says, “I’m done talking.” He laid her back on the rug and rolled over the top of her. “I have better uses for my mouth.” He pulled her shirt up and over her head, then did some twisty action to wrap up her wrists.
He licked one nipple then the other. “You don’t have to do anything except lay there.”
Heat rushed to her womb. She curled her fingers into her palms, digging in to hold on.
In no hurry, he took his time using his hands and his mouth to torture her breasts in the sweetest way. She moaned, pleaded, then demanded more.
He paused in kissing her body to smile. “You’ll get what you want in time.”
She growled at him. “You’ll beg harder when it’s time for payback.”
“Promises, promises.” He slid down between her legs and turned that wicked tongue on the one spot that cut off all ability to think.
Chapter 28
Adrian leaned on his elbow, staring at Jaz while she slept next to him. No nightmares for him or Red last night. He’d like to think they were gone, but he doubted it.
Still, he’d take one night of peace with his wolf.
He missed her while she slept, but he’d wait for her to rouse. He had to tell her she would no longer be on the run. Not as long as he had breath in his body. He’d protect her from whatever situation Eli saw in her dream.
Reinhold probably deserved to die, but not at Jaz’s hands. She hurt every time she talked about Kaiser. That kill weighed on her even though he’d been hurting Daisy and he’d attacked Jaz.
Leaning over, he kissed her forehead.
“Mmm.” She frowned and wiggled around some then her eyes opened. Her smile followed close behind. “Good morning. I thought you’d sleep later after last night.”
He loved her early-morning-after-a-night-of-loving voice and should still be out cold himself, but he’d slept so hard without the nightmares he felt rejuvenated. “I don’t need as much rest as a woman,” he teased.
She lifted up and sent a warning with her gaze. “I will make you regret those words.”
“I’m so scared.”
Jaz bit his nipple. Hard.
He laughed and rubbed the abused part. When she smothered a laugh, he said, “There’s so much I want to say.”
She adjusted her position to lean on her elbow and prop her head on her hand. “I thought we shared all our secrets last night.”
“No, but we can take our time getting to know each other better.”
Her scent changed from playful to intense curiosity. “What are you saying?”
“I’m going to be dealing with my issues for a while, but for the first time ever I can see down the road. I can see my wolf and the woman I hope who will stick around while I figure out everything.”
“You do realize I’m still guilty until I find Daisy and convince her to tell her part of what happened, right?”
“I know, but I’ll be there to make sure everyone gets it right. I just want you to know that you’re so important to me. I’m not asking for anything in return, only for you to know that I can be trusted with your heart. You’ve opened it to people who should have loved you in return. Their loss that they failed you. I will not.”
Running her fingers back and forth on his chest, she took a long time to answer and he prepared for her to say she wasn’t ready to discuss them when she had no idea where she’d be tomorrow.
If he’d bet on that, he would have lost money.
She leaned over and ran her lips across his then whispered, “Here’s what I say. I. Love. You.”
His heart bounced around like a four-year-old who ate an entire bucket of Halloween candy. “Shit fire. I love you, too, Jaz.” He rolled her over and kissed her, then thanked his woman the best way he could with a good morning orgasm.
No matter what came up next, he could face anything with her, Tarski, and Red at his side.
He loved her. She loved him.
They’d face the Kaiser issue next and finally have some time to get to know each other without a world of trouble hanging over their heads.
Love meant everything. Mating would be another big step. She said her Kodiak family would not accept a wolf shifter mate. Of all the family she had, that group had loved her.
He wouldn’t trample on what they’d just declared to each other by pressing her to consider mating, which would start a conflict with her Kodiak clan.
She’d fought long enough to just be loved.
She was. That’s all she needed to think about right now.
Jaz fell asleep again, probably a sign of her body rebuilding energy. Her breathing evened out and she slept deeply.
According to his watch, daylight would come soon.
He eased out from her arms, tucked her limbs beneath the lightweight cover, then hunted his boxer shorts. He’d let Red have a run. His wolf had been incredible all night. Adrian would show some faith and free him for a bit.
Outside the cave entrance, he pushed the covering back in place and flipped the latch holding it. Next he piled rocks to hide the opening, but Jaz could get out if she needed a nature break before he returned. She had a small cord inside tied to the release switch.
Smart woman.
He’d like to meet her clan one day just to thank them for raising her and teaching her how to protect herself.
Once he took care of his personal needs, he dropped his boxer shorts and shifted into his wolf.
Red sounded surprised and asked, Problem?
Not at all. Adrian enjoyed replying, We both slept sound with no nightmare. I think the more we return to our normal ways, the better everything will be.
Yes. Where?
Adrian said, You can run and get some exercise. I’d like to take a look at the motorcycle to see that it’s not disturbed. No scents around it.
In response, Red headed straight for the bike.
When Red padded up to the bike, nothing appeared to be touched.
The rain had stopped. No prints around the motorcycle.
All good signs.
Then Red tensed. Smell enemy.
Adrian went on alert with his wolf.
Red backed up, then he saw someone coming in a crouched position.
Definitely enemy.
Red growled viciously and sent one question to Adrian. Plan?
Adrian had never attacked anyone in human form, but he
had a treasure to protect from monsters.
With his wolf pinned in place and no other option, Adrian told Red, We can’t let them find our mates. Attack.
Muscles bunched, Red launched his big body airborne and landed in a dead run.
The shifter in human form lifted his rifle at the same moment and shot.
Red dodged, side to side.
The next shot struck him in his shoulder. He didn’t slow. Adrian’s wolf closed the distance to twenty five yards.
The human dropped the weapon and jumped behind a wide oak tree.
Darts struck Red on both sides of his body.
With his heart beating so fast, the drug flooded his system. His mighty wolf howled in fury, before stumbling and rolling hard down the hill.
They crashed into a tree. It knocked Red unconscious.
Adrian yelled, No. They’ll get Jaz and Tarski.
He fought the drugs, trying to burn them with his energy, but he needed his animal awake to do that.
Then he lost consciousness.
When he next came alert, the drugs still pressed down on him. Still in wolf form, Red snorted and coughed, then shook his head, trying to clear out the drugs. He blinked, but couldn’t hold his eyes open.
A boot slammed his side. “Never steal any of my vehicles. They are all tagged with tracking devices. I have captured you as a favor, but also because you helped the Golden Kodiak wolf escape.” The man growled and smelled of wolf. “This is not as satisfying when they are not listening,” he complained to someone.
“We hit him with four heavy loads, sir,” some underling replied.
“Wake the wolf. The human inside can hear. I want him to understand what it means to betray the Blood King.”
Blood King? Red? Red! Wake up.
“Put him up where I do no have to bend down.”
Adrian had the sensation of rising in the air, but no hands touched him.
He knew the Blood King’s voice now and recognized the laugh before, “This will wake him.”
A sharp spike stabbed his neck.
Red howled.
Another sharp stick drove into his chest.
His wolf growled and made hideous sounds of pain while that bastard chuckled.
Red snarled and his eyes opened wide. He glared, ready to kill whoever had been hurting them. Then watching through Red’s eyes, Adrian knew the second his wolf realized they stared at thick titanium bars.
A cage.
Red struggled and jerked, trying to stand. Muscles in his huge wolf body convulsed in the small area.
Adrian refused to believe what he saw. No! Please no.
His wolf snarled and howled, desperate to move. He couldn’t lift or turn his head.
Adrian shared Red’s pain and misery. He would give his life right now to free Red.
The Blood King said, “That is more like it. You will make a fitting gift to my brother. He will enjoy making you pay for protecting his son’s killer.”
Red made crazy sounds and shouted insanely. Golden wolf. Adrian. Tarski. Female human. It all devolved into Red repeating, Mate. Mate. Mate!
The Blood King leaned in and stroked his hand on Red’s thick coat. Red strained to twist and bite the hand treating him like a pet. “This wolf must be kept alive. The female will now be mine.”
Female? Adrian’s heart fractured and ripped apart.
Jaz.
The sound that came out of Red ripped what was left of Adrian’s heart into shreds.
Noooo! Red cried in Adrian’s mind. Tarski!
Chapter 29
Tarski yelled in Jaz’s mind, Mate in trouble!
Jaz shot straight up from being asleep. Her heart thumped wildly. Where was Adrian?
Her wolf had never been so agitated. Red gone! Hurry. Mate need me. Something wrong. Go now.
Shit. Tarski’s panicked voice terrified Jaz. She rushed to yank on clothes and shoes, asking her wolf, How do you know?
Red is mate. I feel him not near.
Well, hell. She hadn’t felt anything weird happen to her energy, but Tarski and Red had made some connection.
Once she unlatched the cover to the opening, she jumped out then reset the shield in place. With a deep breath of crisp fresh air after the rain had passed, she picked up Adrian’s scent.
But she inhaled the smell of another wolf shifter as well.
Someone had made it to the cave.
If they had Adrian in hand, maybe they followed her scent over the top of the rocks to the waterfall, where it normally ended. She made that trek many times on each visit. Her scent might get old, but a wolf would be forced to follow it with no other option.
She’d grabbed Adrian’s phone, money, and her knife before leaving the cave in case they couldn’t get back. He must have gone out for the call of nature and, based on the direction of the scent trail she followed, he’d visited the bike.
Slowing as she approached, she scanned everything.
The bike had not been touched, but more than one wolf shifter had been here. The closer she got to the bike, the stronger the scents.
Tarski had always been reserved even during battles, but her wolf howled in misery. Red hurt. Drugs. Too many for Red.
Jaz’s heart squeezed painfully. She told her wolf, I recognize wolf scents from the Blood King’s pack.
Go now, Tarski ordered. Kill all wolves.
They were in agreement.
Someone stupid would face the lethal Golden Kodiak wolf.
She knocked all the covering off the bike. She’d only been on a motorcycle one other time before last night with Adrian. Back when she’d rode one like a reckless teenager who thought she couldn’t die. Rolling the bike down the incline, she listened to Tarski demanding she hurry.
Jaz had a better appreciation for when Adrian had to deal with a combative Red. Speaking out loud, but under her breath, she said, “If I try to drive this down a mountain, I could kill us or wound us bad enough we’d have to lay there and heal.”
That silenced her wolf.
When she reached the dirt road, Jaz parked the bike and called Scarlett, who might have heard something from Adrian’s people.
“Nope,” Scarlett said. “We thought he would be with you. What happened?”
Jaz explained, then told her friend she was going after Adrian who had been captured by the Blood King.
Scarlett warned, “Adrian’s boss knows he’s hunting you. He called Adrian’s teammates back when he found out Adrian had gone rogue. Trust me when I say they had no choice but to come clean when their boss demanded all the details. He thinks you’re tricking Adrian by convincing him you want to be his mate.”
“That’s bullshit. Why would he think that?” Jaz demanded.
“Adrian’s team found where you were being held. He told them he was going in to get you out. They tried to talk him out of making rash moves when they needed to tell their boss and get reinforcements. Adrian refused to wait. He said everyone would understand, because you were his mate.”
Jaz had a moment of vertigo. “He said that?”
“Yep, but I don’t think his boss is buying it, because he feels if you had nothing to hide you’d come in.”
Even Tarski would agree with that logic.
Now Adrian would be considered an accomplice. She told Scarlett about Kaiser and what happened. “I’ll call back if I find him, but ... I may not survive where I’m going. If I don’t, promise me you’ll make that eagle shifter find Daisy and prove my innocence so Adrian isn’t dragged down by having gotten involved with me.”
“Dammit, Jaz.”
“Promise me, Scarlett!”
“I promise. Now let us help.”
Jaz could do this now with the knowledge someone would save Adrian from more heartache. “No, Adrian would not want to involve any of you. I don’t want to drag you into this mess either. I don’t see a happy end to any of this.”
Scarlett argued vehemently, “That’s not fair after you two helped us save my famil
y. You were both there when I fought my father. You can’t keep us out of this.”
“Yes, I can.” Jaz had to limit the collateral damage starting right now. “Thank you for being my friend, Scarlett, but you need to never acknowledge being someone close to me. Tell Gan he has my blessing if he’ll stand by you on that. I will let no one stand in my way. If I find Adrian and we survive, he won’t leave me no matter what I say. The price on my head will go up with him tagged as an accomplice. I’m glad you have Gan. Don’t screw up your life by association with mine.”
“No, Jaz. Stop—“
Jaz hung up and tossed Adrian’s phone in a trash can. She had no more calls to make.
Now was the time to face the Blood King before he killed Adrian. The fact that they hadn’t left a bloody body in the woods after finding the motorcycle meant the Blood King knew she and Adrian were together.
He would torture her mate to find her.
Jaz made a hell-ride return trip to the Blood King’s home, parking in the woods after killing the engine. She ran to the top of the hill they’d jumped to view the home and grounds.
No vehicles parked outside.
No women chained to trees.
No wolf shifter guards.
Racing down the hill and through the yard, she stopped and listened. Not a sound of life anywhere. The Blood King had packed up and left.
How would she find that bastard now?
She inhaled deeply. Tarski came close to the surface and said, No scent fresher than four hours.
So this group must have packed up after the raid to free her. How could she fail Adrian this way?
Tarski sounded pitiful. Red wolf has different life than us. He would know what to do.
To soothe her inner animal, she said, That’s true, Tars, but we can figure this out.
