Midnight Temptation

by L Ann

  Gemma laughed, surprising herself. “That’s not much of a secret, Deacon.”

  He grinned and stepped backwards, drawing her along with him. “What can I say? My skills lie elsewhere, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Are you fishing for compliments?” Her own lips curved up into a smile, and it felt good!

  “No, but if you want to stroke …” he paused, cocked an eyebrow, “… my ego, I’m happy to let you.”

  Another laugh escaped her and she shook her head. “I don’t think you need that sort of encouragement.”

  “Encouragement is always–” He broke off as a sound shattered the silence of the forest. His head canted to the side, waiting for the startled birds to resettle in the trees.

  “What was that?”

  Deacon lifted a finger to her lips and placed his mouth against her ear. “We need to go back.”

  Another loud sound cracked through the air and Gemma flinched, her ears ringing.

  “Let’s go.” Deacon spun her round in front of him and pressed his hand to her back.

  “But what is it?”

  “Just keep walking, Starshine.”

  A third sound rang out and Gemma stumbled when Deacon crashed into her back.

  “Deacon?” She started to turn, and his hand caught her hip.

  “No, don’t turn round. Keep moving,” he said, his tone grim. “Fuck!” The curse came out as a raspy whisper and his grip loosened. “I need you to run. Get back to the house.”

  “Why? What’s going on?” She heard a thud and turned to find Deacon on his knees, his head down, panting heavily. “Deacon? What’s happening?”

  “Listen to me. Run. Get back to the house and find Shaun. Send him back for me.”

  Another sound rang out, and Deacon flinched, falling forward onto his hands. “Gemma, for once do what I say! Get out of here,” he snarled.

  Gemma dropped to her knees in front of him. “What’s wrong with you?”

  When the now familiar sound rang out again, she felt air rush past her cheek. The breath caught in her throat. “Is someone shooting at us?”

  Two more shots in rapid succession caused Deacon to throw himself forward. He knocked Gemma to the ground and covered her body with his. She felt him jerk in time with the sounds.

  Her throat closed up, and she swallowed, fearing the worst. “Deacon?” Gemma worked a hand out from where it was trapped between their bodies. It felt wet and, with a horrified gasp, she saw it was coated red. “You’re hurt.”

  “There’s someone in the trees.” His head dropped against her shoulder. “Not close though. Sniper, I think.”

  “Tell me what to do!” When he didn’t answer, she shook his shoulder. “Deacon!”

  Deacon rolled off her and onto his back with a groan. Gemma crawled over to him, her heart stopping at the sight of the red stain spreading across his t-shirt.

  “I’m sorry, Starshine. I promised to keep you safe,” he whispered.

  Gemma hands shook as she tried to peel the material away from his stomach and see how bad it was. Deacon caught her fingers in his and lifted them to his lips.

  “Don’t. There’s nothing you can do, so don’t look.” He turned his head away, coughed, and sucked in a shuddering breath. “I need to tell you something … My wolf wants …” He coughed again and blood pooled at the corner of his mouth, staining his lips. “I didn’t think … I was ready. I should have … That no promises thing I said at the barbecue? I lied.”

  “Stop talking!” Eyes burning, she leaned over him and pressed her palms to his face. “Just hold on. Tell me what to do!”

  “I can’t do both, you’ll need to pick one.” He laughed weakly, and it turned into another cough.. “Find cover … stay safe until my …” his breath hitched and his fingers, still holding hers, spasmed. “Sorry. I’m sorry, Starshine.” His grip loosened and, as his eyes slid closed, they fell away from hers to the ground.

  “Deacon? Deacon?” Gemma screamed his name. “Open your eyes! Deacon, please open your eyes,” she whispered, sobs choking her voice.

  Deacon didn’t respond, his head lolling sideways as she shook him. Gemma touched shaking fingers to his throat, trying to find a pulse and finding nothing.

  ~ It’s not too late ~ A female voice sounded close to her ear and Gemma jerked around.

  “Who’s there? Where are you?”

  ~ I’m right here. I can help you. I can help him. ~

  Gemma rose up on her knees, one hand clutching at Deacon’s shirt. “Show yourself!”

  A low musical laugh sounded. ~ I can do that if you give me leave to do so. Decide quickly. There’s not much time. I need your permission. ~

  “Yes! Yes, anything! Just help me!”

  ~ I need you. ~ Shaun staggered back as Deacon’s voice sounded through his mind like a whip crack.

  “Are you okay?” Cassie touched his face, palm to his forehead, and he caught her hand and pulled it away.

  “It’s not me, It’s DJ.” He frowned. “He’s hurt. Get Mac.” Shaun set off at a run toward the back door.

  “I’m here, I heard him.” Cormac sounded behind him. “He went into the forest with Gemma. But I can’t feel him now.” He glanced at Cassie. “Find Chase. I fear we’ll need him.” Without waiting to see if Cassie did as he instructed, he caught up to Shaun.

  “Something has startled the birds,” Cormac commented softly as they moved through the trees. “It’s far too quiet.”

  Shaun nodded. “Did you catch anything from him? I felt a pain.”

  “Surprise and pain. He may have passed out.”

  “You’d still feel him in the Pack-bond, if that was the case. Can you feel him, Mac?”

  Cormac’s response came slowly. “No.” He frowned. “But there is something … someone else there.”

  “Damien?” Shaun’s query was sharp.

  “No.” Cormac lifted his head, scented the air. “Something is … off.” He pointed to the left. “That way.”

  They rounded a large, old tree and stopped, taking in the sight before them.

  “What the fuck?” Shaun breathed and started forward, his eyes on the still form of his brother.

  “Wait.” Cormac’s soft warning came with a hand on his arm, holding him back. “Look.”

  Shaun followed Cormac’s gaze and froze. An unfamiliar white wolf crouched at Deacon’s head, lips curled back in a snarl, blood dripping from its muzzle. Arctic blue eyes tracked their every move.

  “Is that–” Shaun whispered.

  “I believe it is. She’s not quite right, though. Can you feel it?” Cormac took a slow step forward and the wolf growled, tensing. “Gemma,” his voice rose, directed at the wolf. “We need to check on Deacon. He’s hurt.”

  The wolf’s aggressive stance didn’t change. ~ My human half is not here. ~ The female voice which sounded through both their minds was similar to Gemma’s but there was a tone to it that wasn’t quite the same.

  “I can only hear one heartbeat,” Shaun muttered, his eyes returning to his twin. “We need to get to him, Mac.”

  “Patience, brother. Just for a few minutes more.” Cormac’s eyes flared, the silver brightening. “There is only one Alpha here, she-wolf,” his wolf overlaid his words. “Submit.”

  The white wolf’s lip curled higher. ~ You are not my Alpha. ~

  “False.” Cormac took another step forward. “Deacon is mine. And you have chosen to bond yourself to him.” Another step closer, with Shaun close on his heels. He held the she-wolf’s eyes with his own. “Submit.”

  ~ Deacon …. ~ the wolf’s voice faltered and changed, her eyes flickering between light and dark blue, and then she tensed. ~ No! My human is too weak. ~

  Cormac growled. “Submit!” The power behind his voice rocked Shaun off his feet, forcing him to his knees, the breath hissing between his teeth.

  The white wolf’s ears flattened, and she returned his growl even as she lowered onto her belly and bared her throat in submission.


  Cormac crouched beside Shaun. “Check for a pulse,” he murmured, keeping his eyes on the female wolf, not trusting her to stay compliant if he turned away.

  “Nothing. Fuck, Mac, there’s nothing! He’s not breathing.” Shaun leaned over his twin. “Come on, man. Give me something!” He pressed his fingers to Deacon’s throat, checking for a pulse.

  “How long have you been disconnected?” Cormac addressed the wolf.

  The wolf bared her teeth at him. ~ Since the mongrel took my human. He forced us to shift. He preferred my form to hers. ~

  “Why did you come out now?”

  “We don’t have time for this, Mac. We need to get him back to Sanctuary,” Shaun snapped.

  “A few more minutes won’t make any difference, Shaun. You know that.”

  ~ She was panicking. The blood scared her. I took over as I did before. ~

  “Cormac? Shaun?” Chase’s voice echoed through the forest.

  “Move slowly,” Cormac cautioned in a low voice.

  Their sandy-haired doctor appeared a second later, paused at the sight of the wolf crouched close to Deacon, then moved swiftly to take position beside Shaun.

  “How long has it been?”

  “I don’t know. He wasn’t breathing when we got here.” Shaun’s voice was bleak. “There’s a lot of blood. I didn’t dare move him in case I made things worse.”

  “Do you know what happened?”

  ~ There was a noise. Loud. He fell. My human thinks someone has shot him. ~

  “If the bullet hit an artery, it would account for how fast he slipped into unconsciousness,” Chase whispered, tearing open Deacon’s t-shirt. “There.” He pointed to the dark bloody mess covering his abdomen. “There’s one exit wound.” His gaze swept over Deacon’s unmoving form, locking onto the spreading stain on his thigh. “Another one there. If it caught the artery in his leg–” he left the sentence hanging.

  He rose to his feet. “Let’s take him back to Sanctuary. Nothing we do now will cause further damage.”

  “There’s still a chance we can fix this?” Shaun demanded.

  Chase sighed. “If Deacon were a cat, he’d have used his nine lives a few times over by now.” His eyes were sad. “I don’t know, Shaun. I can’t make any promises.”

  “We need Gemma back,” Cormac told the she-wolf.

  ~ She is not ready for this. ~

  “Because you have caused an imbalance.”

  ~ A necessary one. ~ The wolf rose to her feet. ~ I will return with you, but my human will remain protected for now. ~

  Shaun and Chase lifted Deacon’s body between them and the three men, and the wolf, made their somber way back to the house.

  Pack members appeared from various buildings as they approached and stood in silent vigil as they passed. Jaden and Caleb stood at the door, holding it open to allow Chase and Shaun to take Deacon’s body inside.

  Like they had when Shaun had been brought home, the Pack members all followed as they transported him upstairs.

  “Put him in my room,” Cormac instructed. “The she-wolf can go into Deacon’s.” He turned to look at the wolf in question. “I expect the female to be there when I return.”

  ~ You may be an Alpha, but you are not my alpha. ~ The wolf padded past him into Deacon’s bedroom and hopped up onto the bed, turned in a circle and lay down with her head facing the door.

  Cormac closed the door and made his way to his own room where Chase and Shaun awaited him. His eyes touched on each Pack member as he passed them, acknowledging their worry and fear with a dip of his head. He paused, making eye contact with Jaden.

  “I want that forest searched. Find where the shooter hid, how they got onto the property. Track the scent. I want them found.”

  Jaden nodded. “I’ll take Caleb. Between the two of us we’ll make better time and cover more ground.”

  “Get Asher to make sure the females are safe. I want everyone kept indoors until we know who is responsible.”

  With another abrupt nod, Jaden peeled away from the wall and, with a tap on Caleb’s shoulder, they both disappeared down the stairwell.

  Cormac took one final glance at the wolves lining the walls of the hallway, pushed open the door to his room and stepped inside.

  “Chase has an idea.” Shaun pushed himself upright from where he leaned over the bed.

  “Did you see the mark on his shoulder?” Chase asked, pointing at Deacon’s left shoulder.

  Cormac joined them and bent to study his brother’s still form. “That looks like a bite.”

  “The she-wolf’s muzzle had blood on it.” Chase glanced at Cormac. “If she bit him and started the mating process, his wolf might still be there. If you can force the shift …”

  Cormac straightened. “At this point, I’m willing to try anything.” He placed a hand over Deacon’s heart and bowed his head.

  A pulse of power enveloped the room, setting Shaun and Chase’s teeth on edge, raising the hairs on the back of their necks.

  “Shift.” Cormac whispered softly, and both men groaned, fought against their Alpha’s command.

  “Shift.” His voice rose, and the power behind it drove Chase to his knees.

  A chorus of howls sang out beyond the bedroom door as all the wolves in the house lost the battle to deny their Alpha’s command.

  “SHIFT!” Cormac’s eyes flew open, blazing silver, and swept over the other two shifters in the room. His gaze settled on Shaun. “Brother, I need your strength.” He reached out with his left arm and touched Shaun’s shoulder.

  Shaun grimaced, feeling the power surge through his body like an electric shock. He lifted his head, released the mental grip he held on his own Alpha Wolf’s power.

  Chase cried out as the intensity drove him to all fours, his head thrown back as his own howl joined the rest of the pack. Shaun placed his other hand on top of Cormac’s where it rested on top of Deacon’s chest.

  The next time Cormac uttered the command, he pulled on Shaun’s power, combined it with his own and directed it at their brother.

  “Damn you, Deacon,” he hissed. “SHIFT!”

  As the power hit, there was a pop and a hiss, and a shower of glass hit Shaun, Cormac and Deacon as the overhead light exploded. Both men staggered back, exhausted from the drain on their power.

  They stood, panting, feeling the weight of failure pressing down upon them. In the faint light of the room, through the drawn curtains, they could see Deacon’s body, still in human form, lying on top of the bed.

  “She mustn’t have bitten him,” Shaun whispered.

  “Or we were just too late,” Cormac replied tiredly.

  ~ Wait. Listen. ~ Chase’s strained thought came to them from the other side of the room.

  The two brothers froze, tilted their heads, searching for whatever Chase could hear.

  And then …

  “Which one of you bastards ran over me with a fucking tank?”

  Deacon sat at the end of the bed, arms resting on his thighs and leaning forward, while Chase poked and prodded his back.

  “Ouch!” He yelped and twisted his head around to glare at the doctor. “What the fuck are you doing back there?”

  “You’ve been shot … three times. For someone who should be dead, you’re making a lot of noise.”

  “It feels like you’re stabbing me with a cattle prod.” He looked at his brothers, who had been staring at him in silence for the past ten minutes. “And I wasn’t dead. I passed out from blood loss.”

  “You weren’t breathing, Deke,” Shaun said.

  “And your heart had stopped beating,” Cormac added.

  “Okay, so it’s a fucking miracle. Praise the Lord. Now stop looking at me like I’ve grown a second head.”

  “How do you feel?” Chase asked from behind him.

  “I’d feel a lot better if you stopped jabbing at me and let me take a shower.” Yes, he was whining. They’d have to deal with it.

  “The gunshot wounds have almost complete
ly healed up. Other than the skin where they were being a little more sensitive to touch.” Chase demonstrated by sliding a finger across the faint scar near Deacon’s spine, making him jerk forwards and swear. “He seems fine.” Chase smiled at Shaun. “As you can hear.”

  Cormac nodded. “We know an Alpha can heal small wounds, but I’ve never heard of one being able to heal something like this.” He looked at Shaun. “I think our combined power took the Pack strength to a new level. We need to see what the three of us can achieve.”

  “Don’t get too excited,” Deacon said dryly, hearing the interest in Cormac’s voice. “You didn’t bring me back from the dead. I could hear you all talking.”

  “Then how do you explain it?” Shaun demanded.

  “Hibernation,” Chase said before Deacon could respond.

  “Hibernation? I’m not a fucking squirrel!”

  “No one’s saying you’re a squirrel,” Cormac sighed. “Explain that please, Chase.”

  “We know our wolves are partially sentient and can function without us in certain situations, as evidenced recently. If Deacon’s wolf was aware of how bad his injuries were, he could have taken over, slowed his heartbeat to a speed we could not hear. Add that to Gemma’s wolf taking the first step toward mating–”

  “Wait a minute, what?” Deacon cut in. “Gemma’s wolf?”

  “Did you notice how it was the wolf part of that comment and not the mating part that caught his attention?” Shaun murmured.

  “Shut up, Shaun. What’s this about Gemma’s wolf?”

  “When we found you, Gemma had shifted. Her wolf refuses to shift back or relinquish control. Apparently,” Cormac’s lips quirked into a faint smile, “I’m not her Alpha.” His pointed look made it clear who he thought was her Alpha.

  Deacon pushed himself upright, swayed slightly, then caught himself. “Where is she?”

  “You need to rest, shift, and let your wolf heal you,” Chase told him, reaching out to push him back down.

  Deacon shrugged him off. “Don’t fuck with me, Chase. You’ve already said the wounds have healed. Where is she?” His eyes sought out Cormac. “You might as well tell me. You know I’m not going to quit until you do.”