by Piper Stone
“I believe we have enough proof based on my interactions with the governor as well as a contact made to my mate,” I said as I glanced at Traeger. I hadn’t told anyone the news discovered by Shannon and Raven, nor did I want to disclose the situation at this time. No good could come out of the fact that I had a limited time to live unless a serum was developed.
Luca studied me, his eyes searching mine. While we all had the ability to communicate amongst the various Breeds, only true mates were able to read minds. “We release the Breeds. Then we formulate a plan of attack. I will provide whatever additional soldiers that are needed. Are the other Breeds prepared to provide assistance?”
Traeger snarled. “They are prepared, although many refuse to believe that they’ve been betrayed once again. Everyone hungers for peace.”
“The Breeds desire to return to their animal form, Traeger. They also long to have offspring, something that hasn’t been able to occur with one exception,” I retorted. “And I assure you that an alpha finding his fated mate isn’t going to be easy. It might take time, time that various Breeds don’t have. The wolves will lose their fight within two years if something doesn’t change.”
“Especially if these mates are all human females,” Rollins added, obviously full of disgust at the concept.
“That is why the appearance of so many alphas is both a joyous occurrence and one for celebration, but it also our greatest weakness and one that various members of the government are well aware of. We should all be extremely concerned. If one alpha is lost, there will be dire consequences,” Luca added. “Every Breed must be made to understand the situation.”
Whether or not that was the case would only be determined in time. Could the very gods above be attempting to merge the two species on a permanent basis? I refused to believe in legends and folklore. If Raven was able to develop a serum enabling procreation between existing members of the Breed population, then that would be the time for celebration.
The meeting with the wolves had been strained, the bears minimally better. With Rollins’ presence, perhaps he could talk some sense into the tigers, but I had my doubts. All three alphas remained in denial, more than happy to continue their way of life uninterrupted. However, every alpha was well aware of the alliance necessary in order to keep every Breed safe. And they’d damn well better honor my request. “If you have influence on your brethren, Rollins, I suggest you use it.”
Rollins huffed, giving Luca a quick look. “They will do what is required.”
“Good. When was the last time you had a conversation with the president?” I asked Luca.
“A month, maybe more. Why?”
“Have you heard any rumors regarding the finalization of serums to aid the Breeds, allowing them to shift easily?”
He narrowed his eyes. “No, but that’s not something he would allow the public to hear until the tests had been vetted. You can imagine what that would do to his credibility. Plus, President Wilkes certainly wouldn’t want to place the Breeds in any additional danger with the rogue assholes consumed with condemning our kind.”
“Then you’re saying he’s aware of a surge in the numbers of dissidents.”
Luca chuckled. “Who isn’t, but yes, from what little he told me during our last meeting, he is aware and very concerned. That’s one of the reasons for his visit in a couple days. We may be able to use his arrival to our advantage. I doubt the dissidents will make any sweeping attempts while he’s in the city. Who has this supposed serum you’re talking about?”
“Maybe the governor of this great state, although given the recent events, I don’t believe a word coming out of his mouth,” I said with a slight grin crossing my face. “In fact, he wanted volunteers from the Claw to see if the new serums were effective.”
“That’s bullshit. You didn’t agree, did you?” Rollins asked scornfully.
I snapped my head in his direction. “I’m certainly no fool. We will assume the governor is involved in this extermination plan. He’s certainly drawing in the help of additional members of law enforcement.”
Snarling, Luca glanced at Rollins. “Then we will need the additional manpower even if the area Breeds are prepared to fight. Once the captured Breeds are released from the zoo, I doubt we’ll have much time before another attack occurs. Every single village and camp needs to be prepared. My soldiers will ensure every local Breed will provide assistance.”
“Okay. This time, I have a feeling they’ll be attacking more than just the panthers. I feel it in my blood and bones.” I could see the tension on Luca’s face as I said the words.
“A true alpha,” he chortled. “By the way, where is your mate? She may know more than she is telling you. She also must be kept safe.”
His question dragged my mind into another haze as I tried to reach out to her.
A flash entered my thoughts, a gut feeling that Raven was reaching out to me. For a few seconds, I was lightheaded, uncertain of what to make of the sensations.
“Raven...”
I loathed the fact the mating had yet to be finalized.
While I wanted to be incensed as his insinuations, instead, hackles raised on the back of my neck, my beast clawing at the surface. Something was terribly wrong.
“What is it?” Luca asked.
“I’m not certain. I can no longer feel her.”
Traeger snarled, his upper lip curling. “Degan was responsible for keeping her safe. If there is an issue, why hasn’t he contacted you?”
That I didn’t know.
Then I felt his presence and Degan was alone.
The sound of heavy footsteps outside the door did little more than fuel my rage. I moved toward the door, throwing it open. “What’s happened?” I demanded, my entire body shuddering as my beast threatened to take over.
“I have news and you’re not going to like it. Raven Youngblood is missing. I fear she was taken. She didn’t show up to work, nor had anyone seen her.” Degan shifted his gaze toward Luca, his chest rising and falling. “I searched for almost an hour in hopes of finding her.”
While I hadn’t felt her death in my system, she could be badly hurt, and it was possible that I wouldn’t be able to feel it. Anger rushed into every corner of my system. “Taken. What in the hell are you talking about? It was your responsibility to remain by her side at all times.”
“I’m sorry, Jabari. She managed to get away from me this morning, her scent disappearing. She used the shuttle train, returning hours later to her scientific facility.”
“You fucking asshole,” I said under my breath.
“That’s unacceptable, Degan,” Traeger added. “And punishable by our laws.”
“She knew what she was doing, Traeger,” Degan snapped. “Why weren’t you able to tell she was prepared to disappear? Why was she allowed to remain outside of the village in the first place?”
“Enough!” I snarled. “We will find her. Period.” I could feel his remorse, as well as his appreciation of the woman I’d come to adore. His guilt was eating him alive. “Whoever was that brazen will use her against me.”
“While this might mean nothing, I felt the presence of a member of law enforcement. I could smell his stench from where I was standing.” His words were said with a certain amount of embarrassment.
“Did he take her?” I demanded.
“I wasn’t able to tell, but I could no longer gather her scent after he left.”
“Then we fucking find him!” My snarl reverberated into the room.
“There are ways for humans to mask their scent,” Luca stated, obvious anger in his tone of voice.
My canines erupted, my rage almost uncontrollable. He’d opened his eyes wide, prepared for my wrath. I looked away, trying once again to feel her presence. “When we are finished with this crisis, you will face punishment for allowing her to get away.”
“Understood, Jabari. I take full responsibility,” Degan said quietly, lowering his head out of respect.
“Where
the hell could she be?” Traeger asked.
“It’s entirely possible the governor has taken her as collateral. A bargaining chip. By now he is very well aware that I removed my scanning device,” I barked. While I wasn’t certain of the timing, it was entirely possible the officer who’d talked with the governor had been given the order to kidnap her. How had the man gotten close? The facility where she worked was supposed to be secure.
A sharp pain occurred close to my heart, my beast anguished. I closed my eyes, imagining her face.
“Raven...”
There was no answer, no indication that she was capable of responding. I had to get to her. Nothing would stop me.
And my rage continued to increase.
After closing my eyes, I concentrated, trying to feel anything.
“Jabari...”
Her cry was faint, as if she was in a vacuum. But as another flash erupted in my mind, I bolted into the kitchen, grabbing my phone. “Fuck!”
“What the hell is wrong?” Traeger asked after following me.
“She fucking called.” As I listened to the message, something caught my attention. A voice in the background. Although I was unable to make out the words, the inflection was clear.
A woman’s voice. I walked back into the living room, my beast prepared to claw to the surface. “There is no doubt she’s been taken.”
“Shit,” Degan snarled.
“What was your mate working on and why did you allow her to return to the city?” Luca demanded.
“Raven was working on cure for the Breeds, including the ability to reproduce as well as enabling every Breed to shift at will. She returned to her scientific facility in order to procure her work. While the serum she used proved helpful in breaking the drug the dissidents used when capturing me, the formula was missing a compound. She was certain she’d found the missing piece.” My voice was riddled with anger.
“Then she is just as valuable as any alpha,” Rollins stated. “And she’s in danger.”
“You must find her,” Luca responded. “She may be the key that we’ve all been looking for. I will make contact with the president. It is time he understands fully what we are dealing with before his arrival.”
I thought about the conversation I’d had with Raven. I knew little about her personal life, nor had I been able to read enough of her thoughts to know where else she might have gone. What I did know is that she was hiding something, her required independence likely to be the reason for her death. A series of emotions rolled through me, the rage combining with more sadness than I was used to. And she’d asked about using one of our secure telescans.
Who the hell had she been intent on contacting?
I turned toward the others. “While we will be ready for the extraction as early as tonight, my first priority is to retrieve my mate.”
Luca gave a single nod. “As it should be. She will be your salvation as well as that of your Claw. If she is successful in her scientific endeavors, then she will likely be more than that to the rest of the Breeds. At your command, I will handle the operation with your soldiers. Once they have been rescued, I will remain at your disposal. We will find her, Jabari. You have my promise.”
While Traeger bristled, I walked closer until I was only a foot away from the great lion. “You have my blessing. Do what is necessary. She is my... life and there will be no one who will destroy that.” The words didn’t come easily, although in my heart, she’d already become the only thing that mattered. I shifted my attention toward Traeger. “Prepare our soldiers. I will take Degan and Micah with me on a hunt.”
Traeger exhaled, his disdain obvious. He searched my eyes, knowing damn good and well that I didn’t trust Micah. It was time to flush out all our enemies. “As you wish.”
I bolted out the door, jumping on my Harley and rolling toward the small facility owned by the doctor, Degan following in his truck. For a few seconds, I could swear I felt her heartbeat.
“Raven. Where are you?”
I barely rolled the motorcycle in front of Shannon’s door before jumping off. She’d anticipated my arrival, opening the door.
“Raven is missing. I understand that she made a call while she was here.” I had difficulty saying the words, my heart thudding to the point my breathing was ragged.
“She did,” Shannon said in a calming manner. “While I didn’t hear everything, it was obvious she has a friend in one of the departments of law enforcement.”
“What?” Everything I was hearing smelled of a setup. Why hadn’t she told me about her friend?
She nodded. “She was asking him questions regarding if he knew about the organization involved. He seemed angry that she contacted him.”
“Who the fuck is he?”
“I don’t know his name, Jabari. However, he works for the Police Integration Task Force.”
“She used your telescan unit. Correct?”
Shannon nodded. “She knew better than to use hers because of the tracking possibilities.”
“Let me see it.”
After retrieving the device, she handed it to me. “What are you hoping to find?”
“Every system has the capability of determining the last call made. As long as the caller didn’t hide his identity, I’ll be able to find his name.” Within seconds, I found what I was looking for, including the man’s address. I turned toward Degan. “Did you see this officer?”
“Just a glimpse. He was tall with dark hair, but he wasn’t in a uniform. However, there was no denying who he was. What are you planning?”
“It’s time to go on a hunt.” As I started to walk out, I turned toward my friend. Perhaps I wasn’t the only one who’d been betrayed. “And this time, we hunt to kill.”
Chapter Sixteen
Jabari
Night was already falling, the skies overcast. I could feel in my bones a storm was brewing. While we remained in human form, both Micah and Traeger knew that shifting could be necessary. The house in question was close to the outskirts of the city, our approach without incident. While I could smell the presence of other humans in close proximity, I wasn’t able to gather the scent of danger.
However, as a member of law enforcement, the asshole who remained behind the closed doors should be considered armed and dangerous. We would handle our arrival as humans, but if he didn’t cooperate, we’d shift and tackle using other methods.
Animalistic methods.
If he didn’t have her, he knew exactly who did. G. Rawlings. It was time to decipher the identity of the woman in question and without a doubt, Daniel Montgomery of the Police Integration Task Force would know.
I pulled the vehicle to the side of the road, cutting the lights and scanning the area. The moment I eased onto the street, I was able to gather a whiff of her scent. While it wasn’t strong, it gave credence to the fact Degan had seen her with this officer in particular.
“She’s not here,” Degan said under his breath as he tipped his head back and took another deep inhale.
“But he knows where she is,” I growled.
“What if this is nothing more than a ploy? What if your mate is a part of the planned extinction?” Micah threw out.
My hand was wrapped around his throat within seconds, my fingers digging into his skin. “I suggest you learn your place, Micah. Raven will be treated with respect. She is now one of us. Her beast will rise to the surface.”
When he realized what I was saying, his eyes opened wide. “You’ve turned her.”
“Does it matter?” I hissed.
“You have yet to fully mate,” Degan said. “How can that happen?”
“I don’t know.”
Micah lifted his hands. “I will not question her again.”
“She is the mate of our alpha. She will be protected at all costs,” Degan snarled.
I released my hold, taking long strides toward the house. With no hesitation, I burst inside, finding the human all alone in the house.
“What the...”
Daniel didn’t have the opportunity to finish his sentence. I threw him against the wall, snarling as he slid to the floor. “Where is she?”
Coughing, he rubbed his chest as he glanced from one to the other beasts standing in his home. “Who?”
I jerked him into the air, holding him aloft. “You know who. My mate.”
His body shaking, he swallowed several times. “You’re Jabari.”
“As if you didn’t know. I will not ask you again. Where is Raven?”
“I have no idea. She threw out several accusations, including the fact my fiancée is...” When he didn’t finish, I slammed him against the wall.
“Finish.”
“Raven believes my fiancée is a woman we believe is behind an organization to destroy the Breeds,” Daniel continued.
“Let him down, Jabari. I smell an air of truth about him,” Degan said between clenched teeth.
I threw a harsh look in his direction but eased the human onto his feet. “I will not hesitate to rip out your throat. I already know who you are and who you work for. What I don’t know is how deep you are in with the governor.” I smiled, seeing the look of surprise on Daniel’s face. “Talk or die.”
Daniel shifted away, taking several deep breaths. “That means you are aware of a plan to attack the Breeds, removing the alpha males?”
“Yyyeeesss... The question is what is your involvement?” I moved around the room, yanking the revolving picture-scape from one of the shelves. While there were only a few photographs, the majority depicted Daniel with his arm around a woman, one I didn’t recognize.
“I’m working with members of the president’s task force in an attempt to round up the leaders of a group called the Revolution. They are dangerous and growing in numbers, the various dissident groups believing in their bullshit and banding together. Apparently, Raven is also aware of their existence. She even accused me of being involved with them, which is crazy.”
“Is the governor involved?”
He studied my face, shaking his head. “I’ve heard you were a member of the governor’s pet projects.”